तैश्च शृंखलयोगैश्च बद्धो नैवोद्धृतिं व्रजेत्। एतद्विमृश्य शूद्रोऽसौ परित्यज्य गृहं गतः
Bound by these chains and fetters, one does not attain liberation; reflecting on this, that Śūdra abandoned his home and departed.
स्वस्था देवा मुदा तत्र साधुसाध्विति चाब्रुवन्। निर्ग्रंथिरूपमादाय तस्यांतिक गृहं तथा
The gods there, being content, said, 'Well done, well done!' assuming the form of mendicants, they too went to his house.
गत्वाहं दैवसंवादमवदं भूतवर्तनम्। ततोभ्यासप्रसंगाच्च जनानां च परिप्लवात्
Having gone, I spoke of the divine conversation and the conduct of beings; then, due to the force of practice and the confusion of people—
तस्य योषा तदागत्य पप्रच्छ दैवकारणम्। ततोहमवदं तस्य यद्वा चेतोगतं द्रुतम्
At that time, his wife came and asked the reason for the divine matter; then I told her whatever quickly came to mind.
निभृतोथ निनादस्य कारणं कथितं मया। हृद्गतं पतिना तेद्य विधिना दत्तमज्ञवत्
In private, I explained the cause of the outcry; what was in your husband's heart has today been given by fate, as if to one ignorant.
परित्यक्तं महाभागे पुनर्नास्तीह ते वसु। यावज्जीवति दौर्विध्यं तस्य भोक्ता न संशयः
Abandoned, O noble lady, you no longer have wealth here; as long as he lives, misfortune will be his to enjoy, without doubt.
गच्छ मातर्गृहं शून्यमलब्धं तत्प्रपृच्छतम्। श्रुत्वा तद्वै शिवं सा च वचनं पत्युरंतिके
Go, mother, to your empty house and ask about what has not been obtained; hearing that auspicious word in her husband's presence—
गत्वा प्रोवाच दुर्वृत्तं तच्छ्रुत्वा विस्मयं गतः। स विचिंत्य तया सार्धमागतोसौ ममांतिकम्
She went and spoke to the wicked man; hearing this, he was astonished; reflecting, he came together with her to me.
निभृतं मामुवाचेदं क्षपणत्वं च कीर्तय। क्षपणक उवाच- चाक्षुषं चिरसंशुद्धं हेलया तृणवत्कथम्
In private, he said to me: 'Tell me about the mendicant's way.' The mendicant said: 'How could you, after long purification of the eye, cast it away carelessly, like grass?'
त्वया त्यक्तं यतस्तात नास्ति भाग्यमकंटकम्। ऐश्वर्यमतुलं शौर्यं शीर्यते भावुकं पुनः
Because you abandoned it, my friend, there is no thornless fortune; incomparable prosperity and heroism, once decayed, are again subject to feeling.
स्वबंधूनां महद्दुःखमाजन्ममरणांतिकम्। द्रक्ष्यसे चात्मना नित्यं मृतानां या गतिर्ध्रुवम्
You will see the great sorrow of your own kin, lasting until birth and death; and you will always see, with your own self, the certain fate of the dead.
तस्मात्तद्गृह्यतां तूर्णं भुंक्ष्व भोग्यमकंटकम्। ऐश्वर्यमतुलं शौर्यं लोकानां विस्मयं वरम्
Therefore, quickly take that and enjoy the fortune without thorns; incomparable prosperity and heroism are a wonder to the worlds and a supreme boon.
शूद्र उवाच- न मे वित्ते स्पृहा चास्ति धनं संसार वागुरा। तद्विधौ पतितो मर्त्यो न पुनर्मोक्षकं व्रजेत्
The Śūdra said: 'I have no desire for wealth; riches are a snare of worldly existence. Once fallen into that, a mortal does not attain liberation again.'
शृणु वित्तस्य यद्दोषमिहलोके परत्र च। भयं चोराच्च ज्ञातिभ्यो राजभ्यस्तत्करादपि५० 1.53.
'Hear the faults of wealth, both in this world and the next: fear from thieves, from relatives, from kings, and even from tax collectors.'
सर्वे जिघांसवो मर्त्याः पशुमत्स्यविविष्किराः। तथा धनवतां नित्यं कथमर्थास्सुखावहाः
All mortals are intent on killing, like beasts, fish, and birds; so how can wealth ever bring happiness to its possessors?
प्राणस्यांतकरो ह्यर्थस्साधको दुरितस्य च। कालादीनां प्रियं गेहं निदानं दुर्गतेः परम्
Wealth brings about the end of life and is the accomplisher of misfortune; it is the beloved home of Time and others, and the chief cause of ruin.
क्षपणक उवाच- यस्यार्थास्तस्य मित्राणि यस्यार्थास्तस्य बांधवाः। कुलं शीलं च पांडित्यं रूपं भोग्यं यशः सुखम्
The mendicant said: Whoever has wealth, has friends; whoever has wealth, has relatives. Family, character, learning, beauty, enjoyment, fame, and happiness—
धनेन तु विहीनस्य पुत्रदारोज्झितस्य च। कथं मित्रं कथं धर्मं दीनानां जन्मनः कथं
But for one deprived of wealth, and bereft of children and wife, how can there be friendship, how can there be righteousness, and what is the purpose of life for the destitute?
सत्वादिक्रतुकार्यं च पुष्करिण्युपकारकं। दानं नाकस्य सोपानं निःस्वस्य च न सिद्ध्यति
Acts of charity, sacrifices, and the maintenance of sacred ponds, gifts that are the steps to heaven—all these do not succeed for one who is penniless.
व्रतकार्यस्य रक्षा च धर्मादिश्रवणं भृशम्। पितृयज्ञादितीर्थं च निर्वित्तस्य न सिद्ध्यति
For one who has nothing, the observance of vows, the protection of religious duties, the hearing of dharma, and pilgrimages to ancestral shrines—all these are not accomplished.
तथा रोगप्रतीकारः पथ्यमौषधसंचयं। रक्षणं विग्रहश्चैव शत्रूणां विजयो ध्रुवम्
Likewise, the cure of disease, the gathering of wholesome food and medicine, self-protection, and certainly victory over enemies—all depend on resources.
स्त्रीणां च जन्मना वार्ता वसुयोगेन लभ्यते। भूतभव्यप्रवृत्तानां सुकृतं दुष्कृतं च यत्
For women too, livelihood is obtained through the possession of wealth; and for beings of past, present, and future, both good and bad deeds are shaped by it.
तस्माद्बहुधनं यस्य तस्य भोग्यं यदृच्छया। स्वर्गं वितरणादेव लप्स्यसे ह्यचिरादितः
Therefore, whatever is enjoyed by one with abundant wealth comes as it will; and by giving, you will soon attain heaven.
शूद्र उवाच- अकामाच्च व्रतं सर्वमक्रोधात्तीर्थसेवनम्। दया जप्यसमा शुद्धं संतोषो धनमेव च
The Śūdra said: The complete observance of vows is through absence of desire, pilgrimage is through absence of anger, compassion is equal to recitation, purity, and contentment is itself wealth.
अहिंसा परमा सिद्धिः शिलोंछवृत्तिरुत्तमा। शाकाहारः सुधातुल्य उपवासः परंतप
Non-violence is the highest achievement, gleaning is the best livelihood, eating vegetables is like nectar, and fasting is supreme, O scorcher of foes.
संतोषो मे महाभोग्यं महादानं वराटकम्। मातृवत्परदाराश्च परद्रव्याणि लोष्ठवत्
Contentment is my great enjoyment, my great charity, my gold coin; other men's wives are like mothers, and others' wealth is like clods of earth.
परदारा भुजंगाभाः सर्वयज्ञ इदं मम। तस्मादेनं न गृह्णामि सत्यं सत्यं गुणाकर
Other men's wives are like serpents; this is my universal sacrifice. Therefore, I do not accept her—truly, truly, O treasure of virtues.
प्रक्षालनाद्धि पंकस्य दूरादस्पर्शनं वरं। इत्युक्ते तु नरश्रेष्ठ पुष्पवर्षं पपात ह
It is better to avoid mud from a distance than to try to wash it off. When this was said, O best of men, a shower of flowers fell.
मूर्ध्रिदेशे तनौ तस्य सर्वदेवेरितं द्विज। देवदुंदुभयो नेदुर्नृत्यंत्यप्सरसां गणाः
On his head and body, flowers rained down by all the gods, O twice-born; divine drums resounded, and the groups of Apsarases danced.
जगुर्गंधर्वपतयो विमानं चापतद्दिवः। ऊचुर्देवगणास्तत्र विमानमिदमारुह
The lords of the Gandharvas sang, and an aerial chariot descended from the sky; the hosts of gods there said, 'Ascend this chariot.'