नित्यकष्टा नरास्तत्र कलहश्च गृहे गृहे। नृपा म्लेच्छाः सुरापाश्च तथा मंत्रिपुरोहिताः
There, people constantly endure hardship, and quarrels arise in every household; kings are barbarians and drinkers, as are their ministers and priests.
मनुष्यैश्च बलिस्तेषां मत्स्यैर्मांसैर्निरामिषः। पाषंडायासयोगेभ्यः प्रधाना गुणवार्तयोः
Their strength comes from people, from fish and meat, and from those who abstain from meat; the leaders are heretics, and the main concern is with qualities and profit.
धनिकैः कोकिलैर्मंदैर्व्याप्तं तैस्तु महीतलम्। ततोन्योन्यं प्रिया मूढा वने वा नगरेषु च५० 1.76.
The earth is filled with wealthy men, slow-witted cuckoos, and such as these; then, everywhere, foolish lovers are found, whether in the forest or in cities.
भक्ष्याभक्ष्यं समश्नंति मत्स्यमांसादिकं नराः। वने द्विजातयश्चान्ये भुंजते चानुपापकम्
People eat all kinds of food, both proper and improper, including fish and meat; in the forest, other twice-born also consume what is not to be eaten.
भक्तिमंतं पशुं चान्यत्सर्वे यांत्यपुनर्भवम्। पातयंति पितॄन्पापाः सर्वे ते पूर्वदेवकाः
All those who kill a devoted animal go to a state from which there is no return; the sinful ones cause their ancestors to fall, though those ancestors were once gods.
पिशाचा राक्षसा ये च मुर्त्यका गुह्यका ध्रुवम्। एते चाविनयप्रीता न देवा न च मानुषाः
Those who are piśācas, rākṣasas, murtyakas, and guhyakas—certainly, these are attached to disrespect and are neither gods nor humans.
संजय उवाच-। कथं च मर्त्यभावेषु लक्षंजानंतितात्त्विकाः। एतं मे संशयं नाथ दूरीकुरु ततस्ततः
Saṃjaya said: How do those truly knowledgeable recognize the marks among mortals? O lord, please dispel this doubt of mine completely.
व्यास उवाच-। कृतपापानुरूपास्तु द्विजातिष्वन्यजातिषु। असुरा राक्षसाः प्रेताः स्वभावं न त्यजंति ते
Vyāsa said: According to their past sins, asuras, rākṣasas, and pretas are born among twice-born and other castes; they do not abandon their nature.
जाता ये चासुरा मर्त्ये सदाते कलहोत्सुकाः। कुहकाः कच्चराः क्रूराः विज्ञेया राक्षसाभुवि
Those asuras who are born among mortals are always eager for conflict; deceitful, wandering, and cruel, they should be known as rākṣasas on earth.
जनोद्विग्नादिकं दानं तथा देवार्चनं भुवि। उग्रभावाद्धनं लब्ध्वा राज्यं भुञ्जंति शाश्वतम्
By giving gifts that disturb people and by worshipping the gods on earth, they gain wealth through harshness and enjoy sovereignty for a long time.
जयं शौर्यादिकं पुण्यं पुनःपापक्षयं व्रजेत्। एवमुर्व्यां तथा नाके नागलोके यमालये
Through valor and such, they attain victory and merit, and again, by the destruction of sin, they proceed; thus it is on earth, in heaven, in the world of serpents, and in the abode of Yama.
उग्रेण तपसा कश्चित्सुरत्वं लभते दिवि। वासुदेवं समाराध्य प्रह्लादः सुरपूजितः
By intense austerity, someone attains divinity in heaven; by worshipping Vāsudeva, Prahlāda was honored by the gods.
हरं तथान्धको दैत्यः स्तुत्वा तत्सभ्यकोऽभवत्। तस्यैव गणमुख्यत्वं लेभे भृंगी महाबलः
Likewise, the demon Andhaka, having praised Hara, became a member of his assembly; and Bhrṅgī, of great strength, obtained chiefship among his attendants.
एते चान्ये च बहवो बलिरिंद्रो भविष्यति। गच्छंति सद्गतिं तात इहामुत्र च सर्वदा
These and many others—Bali will become Indra—always attain the highest state, both here and hereafter.
केचिद्दैत्यकुले जाताः पृथिव्यां सुरसत्तमाः। भावयंति पितॄन्सर्वान्शतशोथ सहस्रशः
Some, though born in the family of demons, are excellent among the gods on earth; they honor all their ancestors by the hundreds and thousands.
एकेनापि सुपुत्रेण कुलत्राणं च धीमता। एकोपि वैष्णवः पुत्रः कुलकोटिं समुद्धरेत्
Even one wise and virtuous son can protect the family; even a single Vaiṣṇava son can uplift ten million family members.
जितेंद्रियोपि धर्मात्मा द्विजदेवार्चने रतः। क्षये धर्मे कलौ शेषे पुरे जनपदेषु च
Even one self-controlled, righteous person, devoted to worshipping twice-born and gods, in the final decline of dharma in Kali, in the city or in the countryside—
एको रक्षति धर्मात्मा पुरे ग्रामं जनं कुलम्। विज्ञातृमेदुरं चासीद्ब्राह्मणानां पुरं महत्
A single righteous person protects the city, village, people, and family; there was once a great city of brāhmaṇas called Vijñātṛmedura.
तत्र सर्वे द्विजाः शश्वत्संध्योपासनतत्पराः। वेदपाठरता धीरा देवातिथिद्विजार्चकाः
There, all the twice-born are always devoted to worship at the times of twilight, intent on reciting the Vedas, steadfast, and worshippers of gods, guests, and Brahmins.
यज्ञव्रताग्निकर्माणः षट्कर्मपरिनिश्चयाः। अतिकृच्छ्रे च तेषां वै न पापे वर्तते मनः
Engaged in sacrifices, vows, and fire rituals, firmly established in the six duties, even in great hardship, their minds do not dwell in sin.
कुर्वंति सततं वीरा व्रतं यज्ञं सनातनम्। कदाचिद्दैवयोगाच्च गृहस्थश्च स कोविदः
The steadfast continually perform the eternal vow and sacrifice; and sometimes, by divine arrangement, even a householder becomes learned.
वह्नौ जुहोति विप्रर्षि राज्यं मंत्रेण मंत्रवित्। तस्मिन्काले च तस्यैव मूत्रकृच्छ्रं सुदारुणम्
The sage among Brahmins, skilled in mantras, offers oblations into the fire for the kingdom; at that time, he suffers from a severe urinary affliction.
तत्प्रोज्झितुं गतः सोपि रक्षार्थं स्थाप्य चेटिकाम्। तस्यास्त्वनवधानेन शुना चाज्यं च भक्षितम्
He went to relieve himself, leaving a maidservant to guard; due to her inattention, a dog consumed the ghee.
भिया तया ततः पात्रं स्वीयमूत्रेण संभृतम्। असंलक्ष्या जुहोदग्नौ स विप्रस्त्वरया ततः
Out of fear, she filled the vessel with her own urine; unnoticed, the Brahmin hurriedly poured it into the fire.
आश्चर्यं च ततो वह्नौ लक्षितं तेन तत्क्षणात्। कूटं हेममयं साक्षात्स्वर्णं जांबूनदप्रभं
Then, a marvel appeared in the fire at that very moment: a lump of pure gold, shining with the radiance of Jambunada gold.
गृहीत्वा तन्मुदा विप्रः पापयोगं चकार ह। पप्रच्छ विस्मयाद्दासीं कथमेतद्वद प्रिये
The Brahmin joyfully took it and committed a sinful act; astonished, he asked the maid, 'Tell me, dear, how did this happen?'
मुदा तत्र यथावृत्तं कथितं तु तया द्विज। ततो नित्यं यथाकालं तच्च तस्य प्रवर्तते
With joy, she told him what had happened; from then on, at the proper time, the same thing occurred for him regularly.
समृद्धिरद्भुता गेहे लोकविस्मयकारिणी। ततः परस्पराच्छ्रुत्वा सर्वैरेव च तत्पुरे
Extraordinary prosperity arose in the house, causing wonder among the people; then, hearing of it from one another, all in that city learned of it.
कृतं कर्म दुराचारं श्रुत्वा लोभादसाधुभिः। गुरुलोभाच्च सुमहत्स्वांते पंकं विशत्यपि
Hearing of the act, the wicked, driven by greed, performed it; due to excessive greed, even the greatest entered the mire at the end.
पंकादेव भयान्मोहान्मतिभ्रंशोऽभवत्ततः। अथ किल्बिषकूटेन दग्धमेव पुरं च तत्
From the mire, out of fear and delusion, their intellect was lost; then, the city was burned by the heap of sin.