सायका इव तीक्ष्णाग्राः प्रयुक्ता दृढधन्विभिः
Like arrows with sharp points, released by strong archers,
आमयस्य विनाशाय शरीरमनुकृष्यते
The body is afflicted for the destruction of disease.
आयुरादाय मर्त्यानां रात्र्यहानि पुनःपुनः
Day and night, again and again, take away the lifespan of mortals.
जातं मर्त्यं जरयति निमिषं नावतिष्टते
Old age overtakes the one who is born mortal; even a moment does not remain.
आदित्यो ह्यस्तमभ्येति पुनः पुनरुदेति च
The sun indeed sets and rises again and again.
इष्टानिष्टा मनुष्याणां मतं गच्छन्ति रात्रयः
Nights pass according to the fortunes and misfortunes of people.
यदि स्यान्न पराधीनं पुरुषस्य क्रियाफलम्
If the fruit of a person's actions were not dependent on others,
दृश्यन्ते निष्फलाः संतः प्रहीनाश्च स्वकर्मभिः
We see virtuous people whose actions have failed and who are deprived by their own deeds.
आशाभिरण्यसंयुक्ता दृश्यन्ते सर्वकामिनः
People filled with desires are seen, bound by hopes and gold.
वञ्चनायां च लोकेषु ससुखेष्वेव जीयते
And in the world, one lives only in pleasures through deception.
कश्चित्कर्माणि कुरुते न प्राप्यमधिगच्छति
Someone performs actions but does not attain what is to be gained.
शुक्रमन्यत्र संभूतं पुनरन्यत्र गच्छति
Seed is produced in one place and then goes elsewhere.
आम्रपुष्पोपमा यस्य निवृत्तिरुपलभ्यते
For whom cessation is found, like the falling of a mango blossom.
सिद्धौ प्रयतमानानां नैवाण्डमुपजायते
Though striving for success, the egg is not produced.
आयुष्मान् जायते पुत्रः कथं प्रेतः पितेव सः
A son is born with long life—how then is he like a dead father?
दशमासान्परिधृता जायते कुलपांसनाः
After being carried for ten months, one is born as a disgrace to the family.
विमलानभिजायन्ते लब्ध्वा तैरेव मङ्गलैः
The pure are not born, even after obtaining those very auspicious signs.
उपद्रवैवादृष्टो योनौ गर्भः प्रपद्यते
Without any visible cause, the embryo enters the womb.
परित्यजति यो दुःखं सुखमप्युभयं नरः
The man who abandons both suffering and pleasure—
दुःखमर्था हि त्यज्यन्ते पालने च न ते सुखाः
Wealth is abandoned because of suffering, and even when maintained, it does not bring happiness.
अन्यामन्यां धनावस्थां प्राप्य वैशेषिका नराः
Men of distinction attain one state of wealth after another.
सर्वे क्षयान्ता निचयाः पतनान्ताः समुच्छ्रयाः
All accumulations end in decline; all elevations end in a fall.
अन्तो नास्ति पिपासायास्तुष्टिस्तु परमं सुखम्
There is no end to thirst, but satisfaction is the highest happiness.
निमेषमात्रमपि हि यो ऽधिगच्छन्न तिष्टति
Even one who attains it for the blink of an eye does not remain.
भूतेषु भावं संचिन्त्य ये बुद्ध्या तमसः परम्
Those who, reflecting with intelligence on the nature of beings, go beyond darkness—
संचिन्वन्नेकमेवैनं कामानावितृप्तकम्
Gathering only this one thing, unsatisfied with desires.
अथाप्युपायं संपश्येद्दुःखस्यास्य विमोक्षणे
Then one should also consider a means for release from this suffering.
शब्दे स्पर्शे रसे रूपे गन्धे च परमं तथा
In sound, touch, taste, form, and likewise in scent, the highest (experience) is found.
वाक्संप्रयोगाद्भृतानां नास्ति दुःखमनामयम्
For those who are sustained by the use of speech, there is no suffering or illness.
प्रणयं परिसंहृत्य संस्तुतेष्वितरेषु च
Having withdrawn affection, both in praise and among others,