क्षुधितस्य च भुक्ते ऽन्ने तृप्तिर्ब्रह्मन्विजायते
When a hungry man eats food, O Brāhmaṇa, satisfaction arises.
वह्निना पार्थिवेनादौ दग्धे वै क्षुरापीश्वः
When the sacrificial blade is burned by fire or earth at first—
क्षुत्तृष्णे देहधर्माख्ये न ममैते यतो द्विज
Hunger and thirst, known as conditions of the body, do not belong to me, O twice-born.
मनसः स्वस्थता तुष्टिश्चित्तधर्माविमौ द्विज
Mental well-being and contentment—these two are qualities of the mind, O twice-born.
क्व निवासस्तवेत्युक्तं क्व गन्तासि च यत्त्वया
When you asked, 'Where is your dwelling?' and 'Where will you go?'
पुमान्सवर्गतो व्यापीत्याकाशवदयं यतः
Know that the person is all-pervading by nature, like space itself.
सो ऽहं गन्ता न चागन्ता नैकदेशनिकेतनः
I am the one who goes, yet not one who comes; I have no fixed abode in any single place.
मिष्टन्ने मिष्टमित्येषा जिह्वा सा मे कृता तव
This tongue of mine, which says 'this is tasty,' was made by you.
मिष्टमेव यदामिष्टं तदेवोद्वेगकारणम्
Whatever is considered tasty, when it becomes distasteful, that alone is the cause of distress.
आदिमध्यावसानेषु किमन्नं रुचिकारणम्
At the beginning, middle, and end, what food is truly the cause of pleasure?
पार्थिवो ऽयं तथा देहः पार्थिवैः परमाणुभिः
This body, too, is earthly, composed of earthly atoms.
गुडः फलानीति तथा पार्थिवाः परमाणवः
Sugar and fruits, likewise, are made of earthly atoms.
तन्मनः शमनालबि कार्यं प्राप्यं हि मुक्तये
Restrain the mind, O wise one; this alone is the means to liberation.
प्रणिपत्य महाभागो निदाघो वाक्यमब्रवीत्
Having bowed down, the illustrious Nidagha spoke these words.
नष्टो मोहस्तवाकर्ण्य वचांस्येतानि मे द्विज
My delusion has vanished upon hearing these words of yours, O twice-born.
इहागतो ऽहं दास्यामि परमार्थं सुबोधितम्
I have come here; I will give you the highest truth, clearly explained.
वासुदेवाभिधेयस्य स्वरुपं परात्मनः
The true nature of the Supreme Self, known as Vāsudeva.
पूजितः परया भक्त्यानिच्छितः प्रययौ विभुः
Honored with supreme devotion, the Lord departed, though unasked.
निदाघज्ञानदानाय तदेव नगरं गुरुः
That very city became the teacher for Nidagha's gift of knowledge.
महाबलपरीवारे पुरं विशति पार्थिवे
He entered the earthly city, surrounded by a retinue of great strength.
क्षुत्क्षामकण्ठमायान्तमरण्यात्ससमित्कुशम्
With his throat parched from hunger, he came from the forest carrying sacred sticks and kuśa grass.
उवाच कस्मादेकान्तं स्थीयत भवता द्विज
He said, 'O twice-born, why are you sitting here alone?'
प्रविवक्षौ पुरे रम्ये तेनात्र स्थीयते मया
'I wish to speak in the beautiful city; that is why I remain here.'
कथ्यतां मे द्विजश्रेष्ठ त्वमभिज्ञो मतो मम
'Tell me, best of Brāhmaṇas, you are considered knowledgeable by me.'
अधिरुढो नरेन्द्रो ऽयं परितो यस्तथेतरः
'This king is mounted, and those others are all around him.'
भवता निर्विशेषेण पृथग्वेदोपलक्षितौ
'By you, without distinction, both are identified separately by the Veda.'
ज्ञातुमिच्छाम्यहं को ऽत्र गजः को वा नराधिपः
'I wish to know: who here is the elephant, and who is the lord of men?'
वाह्यवाहकसंबन्धं को न जानाति वै द्विज
'Who does not know, O Brāhmaṇa, the connection between the rider and the ridden?'
अधः सत्त्वविभागं किं किं चोर्द्धमभिधीयते
'What is said to be below as the division of beings, and what above?'
श्रयतां कथयाम्येष यन्मां त्वं परिपृच्छसि
'Listen, I will tell you what you have asked me.'