स्त्रियो दुष्टा जना दुष्टाः सर्वे पापबलात्तदा। वृद्धो ज्ञाता द्विजस्तत्र तत्कार्ये न मतिं दधौ
At that time, all the women and people, corrupted by the power of sin, were wicked; the aged Brahmin there did not set his mind on that act.
तस्य भार्या तदा साध्वी पुरुदुःखेन संयुता। भर्तारं कृच्छ्रसन्तप्ता पुरकार्यं जगाद सा
His virtuous wife, afflicted by much sorrow, spoke to her husband, tormented by hardship, about the city's affairs.
ब्राह्मण्युवाच-। कष्टं मे वर्तते नाथ दृष्ट्वा त्वां दुःखसंयुतम्। ग्रामाचारमिमं यद्वाप्यऽपरं कर्तुमर्हसि
The Brahmin woman said: 'It is hard for me, lord, seeing you afflicted with sorrow; you ought to perform this village custom or some other.'
ततस्तत्र स दोषज्ञः स्मित्वा वचनमब्रवीत्। यस्तु जीवति पापेन त्यक्त्वा धर्मं परं हितम्
Then, the one who knew the fault smiled and spoke: 'He who lives by sin, abandoning righteousness, brings great harm.'
स वैधेयो महाभागे प्रगच्छत्यपुनर्भवम्। एते विप्रा दुराचाराः सदारास्सपरिच्छदाः
Such a one, O noble lady, is to be rejected, and goes to a state from which there is no return; these Brahmins are wicked in conduct, with wives and possessions.
अतिपातकयोगाच्च महापातकसंमताः। सह पापेन महता प्रयास्यंति रसातलम्
Because of their connection with grave offenses, they are considered great sinners; together with their great sin, they will go to the netherworld.
अंतेऽपुनर्भवं प्राप्यापराधांतो न विद्यते। अहमेकोत्र तिष्ठामि स्वपुण्यपरिरक्षणात्
At the end, having attained non-return, there is no further fault; I alone remain here, preserving my own merit.
ततस्सा तमुवाचेदं लोकहास्यवचस्तव। वक्तुमर्हसि नश्चाग्रे न पुरोऽन्यस्य कस्यचित्
Then she spoke to him these words, a matter of ridicule among people: you ought to speak to us in private, not before anyone else.
द्विज उवाच-। यदि यास्यामि चान्यत्र इतोऽहं तत्क्षणात्प्रिये। सवित्तैः स्वजनैरेव पुरीयास्यत्यथोगतिम्
The Brahmin said: If I go elsewhere from here this very moment, dear one, then with my wealth and my own people, the city will also go and attain its course.
इत्युक्त्वा परमप्रीतः संगृह्य च धनं स्वकम्। क्षिप्रं स च तया सार्धं ययौ सीमांतरं द्विजः
Having spoken thus, greatly pleased, and taking his own wealth, the Brahmin quickly departed with her to the border.
स्थित्वाऽपश्यत्पुरी तावत्स्थिरा तिष्ठति पूर्ववत्। सा चाह तं पतिं साध्वी पुरी चेयं न नश्यति
Standing there, he saw that the city remained firm as before; and the virtuous wife said to him, 'This city does not perish.'
विमृश्यतामुवाचेदं विप्रवर्यस्सुविस्मितः। किं नु तिष्ठति तत्रैव द्रव्यमस्मद्गृहाद्बहिः
A best of Brahmins, greatly astonished, said to her, 'Consider this: does any of our property remain there outside our house?'
विचार्य सा धवं प्राह मया भ्रांत्या उपानहौ। नानीते तिष्ठतस्तत्र धारयिष्यामि किं नु वै
Reflecting, she said to her husband, 'By my mistake, I did not bring the sandals; as they remain there, what shall I do?'
एवमुक्त्वा पतिं साध्वी गृहीत्वा ते उपागता। पत्युरभ्याशतो दृष्टं पुरं निर्व्यथनं गतम्
Having said this, the virtuous wife took them and approached her husband; seen from near her husband, the city had gone, free from distress.
ततो विप्रादयो वर्णाः कच्चराः पुरवासिनः। तिष्ठंति नरके घोरे दुःखिताश्चापुनर्भवे
Then Brahmins and other castes, and the city-dwellers who are wicked, remain in a terrible hell, suffering and without return.
कृच्छाद्यमपुरं यांति नास्ति तेषां च निष्कृतिः। पूतिगंधं ततो मेध्यं वर्जनीयं प्रकीर्तितम्
They go to a difficult, foodless city, and for them there is no expiation; because of the foul smell, it is declared to be impure and to be avoided.
पूर्ववद्भक्षणे प्रीतो ह्यद्यपापं करोति च। स्तेयशीलो निशाचारी बुधैर्ज्ञेयस्स वंचकः
Delighting in eating as before, today he commits sin; one addicted to theft and night-wandering is to be known by the wise as a deceiver.
अबुधः सर्वकार्येषु अज्ञातः सर्वकर्मसु। समयाचारहीनस्तु पशुरेव स बालिशः
Foolish in all actions, unknown in all duties, one devoid of proper conduct is indeed a childish beast.
एवमुष्ट्रादयस्संति भक्षादि नकुलादयः। हिंस्रो ज्ञातिजनोद्वेगरिते युद्धे च कातरः
Thus, there are camels and others, and eaters like mongooses; cruel, causing distress to relatives, and cowardly in battle.
विघसादिप्रियो नित्यं नरः श्वा कीर्तितो बुधैः। चौर्यकर्मरतो नित्यं बहुमित्रप्रवंचकः
A man who always delights in leftovers is called a dog by the wise; always engaged in theft, deceiving many friends.
मिथुने कलहो नित्यं मर्त्यस्तु परिकीर्तितः। प्रकृत्या चपलो नित्यं सदा भोजनचंचलः
A man who always quarrels with his partner is said to be fickle by nature, always restless for food.
प्लवगः काननप्रीतो नरः शाखामृगो भुवि। सूचको भाषया बुध्या स्वजनेऽन्यजनेषु च
A monkey, fond of the forest, is a man who is a branch-dwelling deer on earth; one who reveals by speech and intellect among his own and others.
उद्वेगजनकत्वाच्च स पुमानुरगः स्मृतः। बलवान्क्रांतशीलश्च सततं चानपत्रपः१०० 1.76.
Because he causes distress, that man is called passionate; ever strong, transgressing, and always shameless.
पूतिमांसप्रियो भोगी नृसिंहस्समुदाहृतः। तत्स्वनादेव सीदंति भीता अन्ये वृकादयः
One who delights in rotten flesh is called an enjoyer, a man-lion; at his very roar, other fearful wolves and the like sink down.
द्विरदादि नरा ये च ज्ञायंते दूरदर्शिनः। एवमादि क्रमेणैव विजानीयान्नरेषु च
Men who are recognized from afar, such as elephants and others, should likewise be discerned among people, step by step, in this manner.
सुराणां लक्षणं ब्रूमो नररूपं व्यवस्थितम्। द्विजदेवातिथीनां च गुरुसाधुतपस्विनाम्
We shall describe the characteristics of gods manifest in human form, as well as those of twice-borns, gods, guests, teachers, the virtuous, and ascetics.
पूजातपोरतोनित्यं धर्मशास्त्रेषु नीतिषु। क्षमाशीलो जितक्रोधः सत्यवादी जितेंद्रिंयः
Constant in worship, austerity, and ritual, versed in the scriptures and ethics, possessing patience, mastering anger, speaking truth, and controlling the senses—
दयालुर्दयितो लोके रूपवान्मधुरस्वरः। वागीशः सर्वकार्येषु गुणी दक्षो महाबलः
Compassionate and kind to the world, handsome, with a sweet voice, eloquent in all endeavors, virtuous, skillful, and of great strength—
साक्षरश्चापि विद्वांश्च गीतनृत्यार्थतत्त्ववित्। आत्मविद्यादिकार्येषु सर्वतंत्रीस्वरेषु च
Literate and learned, knowing the essence of music and dance, accomplished in self-knowledge and related pursuits, and sovereign over all disciplines—
हविष्येषु च सर्वेषु गव्येषु च निरामिषे। सद्योगास्वादद्रव्ये च प्रत्यग्रे चातिशोभने
In all offerings, in dairy products free from flesh, in substances that are freshly prepared and exceedingly splendid—