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.'
सत्यलोकं समासाद्य भुंक्ष्व भोग्यं महेंद्रवत्। संख्या तेनापि वर्तेत भोग्यकालस्य धार्मिक
'Having reached the world of truth, enjoy pleasures like Indra; even by that reckoning, the time for enjoyment will be measured, O righteous one.'
इत्युक्तेषु च देवेषु शूद्रो वचनमब्रवीत्। कथं निर्ग्रंथकस्यास्य ज्ञानं चेष्टास्य भाषणम्
When the gods had spoken thus, the Śūdra spoke these words: 'How has this man, who is without possessions, gained such knowledge, conduct, and speech?'
किं वा हरिहरौ ब्रह्मा किं वा शक्रो बृहस्पतिः। किं वा मच्छलनादेव साक्षाद्धर्म इहागतः
'Is he Hari or Hara or Brahmā, or is he Śakra or Bṛhaspati? Or has Dharma himself come here in person, deceiving me?'
इत्युक्ते क्षपणश्चासौ स्मितो वचनमब्रवीत्। विज्ञातुं चैव वो धर्ममहं विष्णुरिहागतः
When this was said, that mendicant, smiling, spoke these words: 'To test your righteousness, I, Viṣṇu, have come here.'
विमानेन दिवं गच्छ सकुटुंबो महामुने। मत्प्रसादाच्च युष्माकं सदैव नवयौवनम्
Ascend to heaven in a celestial chariot with your family, O great sage; and by my grace, you all shall always possess youthful vigor.
भविष्यति महाप्राज्ञ भाग्यानंत्यं प्रलप्स्यथ। दिव्याभरणसंयुक्ता दिव्यवस्त्रोपशोभिताः
You shall attain endless fortune, O most wise one, and be adorned with divine ornaments, resplendent in celestial garments.
गतास्ते सहसा नाकं सर्वैर्बंधुजनैर्वृताः। एवं द्विजवरश्रेष्ठ लोभत्यागाद्ययुर्दिवम्
They swiftly reached heaven, surrounded by all their relatives; thus, O best of twice-born, those who renounce greed ascend to the heavens.
तुलाधारस्तथाधीमान्सत्यधर्म प्रतिष्ठितः। ये न जानाति तद्वृत्तं देशांतरसमुद्भवम्
Tuladhara, steadfast in truth and righteousness, whose conduct is unknown to those born in distant lands, was likewise wise.
तुलाधारसमो नास्ति सुरलोके प्रतिष्ठितः। तस्मात्त्वमपि भूदेव समं गत्वा दिवं व्रज
There is none equal to Tuladhara, established in the world of the gods; therefore, you too, O lord of the earth, go to heaven along with him.
य इदं शृणुयान्मर्त्यः सर्वधर्मप्रतिष्ठितः। जन्मजन्मार्जितं पापं तत्क्षणात्तस्य नश्यति
Whoever among mortals hears this, established in all dharmas, all the sins accumulated over many births are destroyed at that very moment.