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.
धर्माधर्मौं सहैवास्तामिहामुत्र न चापरः
Let virtue and vice remain together here and hereafter; there is no other.
मृतमग्निमुखे हुत्वा घृतान्नं भुञ्जते हि ते
Having offered food with ghee into the mouth of the dead, they partake of it.
धर्माधर्मौं न च धनं न पुत्रा न च बान्धवाः
Neither virtue nor vice, nor wealth, nor sons, nor relatives remain.
कामः संक्षयमायाति नराणां पुण्यकर्मणाम्
Desire diminishes for men of virtuous deeds.
वृथैव व्याकुला लोका धनादानां सदार्जने
People are troubled in vain by the accumulation and giving of wealth.
इति निश्चितबुद्धीनां न चिन्ता बाधते क्वचित्
Those whose minds are thus resolved are never afflicted by anxiety.
तस्माज्जन्म च मृत्युं च दैवं जानाति नापरः
Therefore, only fate knows birth and death; no one else does.
लोकस्तु तत्र विज्ञाय वृथायासं करोति हि
Yet people, even knowing this, make fruitless efforts.
महापापानि कृत्वापि परान्पुष्यान्ति यत्नतः
Even after committing great sins, they strive diligently to benefit others.
स्वयमेकतमो मूढस्तत्पापफलमश्नुते
But one foolish person alone experiences the fruit of that sin.