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Having withdrawn affection, both in praise and among others,
अध्यात्मगतमालीनो निरपेक्षो निरामिषः
Absorbed in the self, indifferent, and free from desires,
सुखदुःखविपर्यासो यदा समुपपद्यते
When the reversal of pleasure and pain arises,
स्वभावाद्यत्नमातिष्ठेद्यत्नवान्नावसीदति
One should act according to one's nature; the diligent do not fall.
तानि पूर्वशरीराणि नित्यमेकं शरीरिणम्
Those previous bodies always belong to the one embodied being.
निर्दग्धं परदेहेन परदेंहं बलाबलम्
Burned away by another body, the strength and weakness of another body,
संगत्या जठरे न्यस्तं रेतोबिन्दुमचेतनम्
By union, the drop of semen, unconscious, is placed in the womb.
अन्नपानानि जीर्यन्ते यत्र भक्ष्याश्च भक्षिताः
Where food and drink are digested, and what is eaten is consumed,
गर्भे मूत्रपुरीषाणां स्वभावनियता गतिः
In the womb, urine and feces follow their natural course.
प्रभवन्त्युदरे गर्भा जायमानास्तथापरे
In the belly, embryos arise, and likewise others are born.
एतस्माद्योनिसंबन्धाद्यो जीवन्परिमुच्यते
From this connection with the womb, whoever lives is released.
गर्भस्य सह जातस्य सप्तमीमीदृशीं दशाम्
For the one born together with the womb, the seventh (month) brings such a condition.
नाभ्युत्थाने मनुष्याणां योगाः स्युर्नात्र संशयः
There is no doubt that, for humans, yogas arise from the navel.
व्याधिभिर्भक्ष्यमाणानां त्यजतां विपुलन्धनम्
For those consumed by diseases, abandoning their vast wealth,
वेदना नापकर्षन्ति यतमानाश्चिकित्सकाः
The pains do not depart, even though the physicians strive.
व्याधिभिः परिकृष्यन्ते मृगा ज्याघ्रैरिवार्दिताः
Creatures are tormented by diseases, as deer are struck down by hunters.
दृश्यन्ते जरया भग्ना नागैर्नागा इवोत्तमाः
One sees those broken by old age, like noble elephants defeated by other elephants.
श्वापदाश्च दरिद्राश्च प्रायो नार्ता भवन्ति ते
Wild beasts and the poor are generally not afflicted in this way.
आक्रम्य रोग आदत्ते पशून्पशुपचो यथा
Disease seizes living beings, just as a butcher seizes animals.
स्रोतसा महसा क्षिप्रं ह्रियमाणं बलीयसा
Carried away swiftly by a powerful current, one is taken by force.
स्वभावा ह्यतिवर्तन्ते ये निर्मुक्ताः शरीरिषु
Those who are freed from bodies transcend their own nature.