चण्डाला अपि वै श्रेष्ठा हरिभक्तिपरायणाः
Even outcastes, if devoted to Hari, are truly the best.
हरिसेवेति विख्याता भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदायिनी
Service to Hari is renowned as bestowing both enjoyment and liberation.
विष्णोरुपासनं कुर्यात्सो ऽक्षयं सुखमश्नुते
Whoever worships Viṣṇu attains inexhaustible happiness.
स स्नातः सर्वतीर्थेषु विष्णोः प्रियतरो भवेत्
He is as if bathed in all sacred waters and becomes most dear to Viṣṇu.
सर्वदुःखोपशमनं हरिपोदोदक स्मृतम्
The water of Hari’s feet is said to remove all suffering.
ये प्रपन्ना महात्मानस्तेषां मुक्तिर्हि शाश्वती
Those great souls who surrender attain eternal liberation.
पठतां शृण्वतां चैव सर्वपापप्रणाशनम्
For those who recite or listen to this, all sins are destroyed.
परदारपरद्रव्यहरणे सततोद्यतः
He who is ever intent on taking another’s wife or wealth,
हतवान्ब्राह्मणान् गाश्च शतशो ऽथ सहस्रशः
Who has slain hundreds or thousands of brāhmaṇas and cows,
उद्युक्तः सर्वदा विप्र कीनाशानामधीश्वरः
Who is always engaged, O brāhmaṇa, as the lord of evil-doers,
न तेषां शक्यते वक्तुं संख्या वत्सरकोटिभिः
Of such people, their number cannot be told even in tens of millions of years.
सौवीरराज्ञो नगरं सर्वैश्वर्यसमन्वितम्
He went to the city of the king of Sauvīra, endowed with all prosperity,
अलङ्कृतं विपणिभिर्ययो देवपुरोपमम्
Adorned with markets, resembling the city of the gods.
छदितं हेमकलशैर्दृष्ट्वा व्याधो मुदं ययौ
Seeing it covered with golden spires, the hunter felt joy.
जगामाभ्यन्तरं तस्य कीनाशश्चौर्यलोलुपः
The thief, greedy for stealing, entered its inner quarters.
परिचर्यापरं विष्णोरुत्तङ्कं तपसां निधिम्
There he saw Uttanka, a treasury of austerities, devoted to the service of Viṣṇu.
चौर्यान्तरायकर्तारं तं दृष्ट्वा लुब्धको मुने
Seeing the one who obstructed the theft, the hunter beheld the sage.
उत्तङ्कं हॄन्तुमारेभे विधृतासिर्मदोद्धतः
With weapon drawn and intoxicated with pride, he rushed at Uttanka to seize him.
हॄन्तुं कृतमतिं व्याधमुत्तङ्कः प्रेक्ष्य चाब्रवीत्
Observing the hunter intent on capturing him, Uttanka spoke thus:
मया किमपराद्धं ते तद्वदस्व महामत्ते
What offense have I committed against you? Tell me, O wise one.
नहि सौम्य वृथा घ्नन्ति सज्जना अपि पापिनः
Gentle one, even the virtuous do not kill the wicked without cause.
विरोधं नहि कुर्वन्ति सज्जनाः शान्तचेतसः
The virtuous, with peaceful minds, do not engage in hostility.
तमुत्तमं नरं प्राहुर्विष्णोः प्रियतरं सदा
They call such a man the highest, always dearest to Vishnu.
छेदे ऽपि चन्दनतरुः सुरभयति मुखं कुठारस्य
Even when cut, the sandalwood tree perfumes the axe with its fragrance.
सर्वसंगविहीनो ऽपि बाध्यते हि दुरात्मना
Though free from all attachments, he is afflicted by the wicked.
तत्रापि साधून्बाधन्ते न समानान्कदाचन
Even then, the virtuous are harmed, but never by equals at any time.
लुब्धकधीवरपिशुना निष्कारणवैरिणो जगति
In the world, hunters, fishermen, and slanderers are enemies without reason.
पुत्रमित्रकलत्रार्थं सर्वं दुःखेन योजयेत्
For the sake of son, friend, wife, and wealth, one endures all suffering.
अन्ते तत्सर्वमुत्सृज्य एक एव प्रयति वै
In the end, abandoning all that, one departs alone.
ममेदमिति जन्तूनां ममता बाधते वृथा
The notion 'this is mine' afflicts creatures in vain.