ब्रह्माद्याः सर्वलोकाश्च अर्वाचीना हि पिप्पल । अर्वाचीना अमी लोका ये भवंति जगत्त्रये
Brahma and all the worlds, O Pippala, are accessible. These worlds that exist in the threefold universe are accessible.
पराचीनः स भूतात्मा यं सुपश्यंति योगिनः । मोक्षरूपं परं स्थानं परब्रह्मस्वरूपकम्
The inaccessible is the essence of beings, which yogis clearly perceive; it is the form of liberation, the supreme state, the nature of the supreme Brahman.
अव्यक्तमक्षरं हंसं शुद्धं सिद्धिसमन्वितम् । पराचीनस्य यद्रूपं विद्याधर तवाग्रतः
Unmanifest, imperishable, the swan, pure, endowed with accomplishment—this is the form of the inaccessible, O Vidyadhara, before you.
सर्वमेव मया ख्यातमन्यत्किं ते वदाम्यहम् । पिप्पल उवाच- कस्मादेतन्महाज्ञानमुद्भूतं तव सुव्रत
Everything has been declared by me; what else should I tell you? Pippala said: From where has this great knowledge arisen in you, O virtuous one?
अर्वाचीनगतिं विद्वान्पराचीनगतिं तथा । त्रैलोक्यस्य परं ज्ञानं त्वय्येवं परिवर्तते
Knowing the accessible path and likewise the inaccessible path, the supreme knowledge of the three worlds revolves in you thus.
तपसो नैव पश्यामि परां निष्ठां हि सुव्रत । यजनंयाजनंतीर्थंतपोवाकृतवानसि
I do not see the highest attainment of austerity, O virtuous one; you have performed worship, sacrificial rites, pilgrimages, and austerity.
तत्प्रभावं वदस्वैवं केन ज्ञानं तवाखिलम् । सुकर्मोवाच- तप एव न जानामि न कृतं कायशोषणम्
Tell me, then, the cause of this, how all this knowledge has come to you. Sukarma said: I do not know austerity, nor have I practiced bodily mortification.
यजनं याजनं वापि न जाने तीर्थसाधनम् । न मया साधितं ध्यानं पुण्यकालं सुकर्मजम्
I do not know worship or sacrificial rites, nor the accomplishment of pilgrimages; I have not practiced meditation nor earned merit through good deeds.
स्फुटमेकं प्रजानामि पितृमातृप्रपूजनम् । उभयोरपि हस्तेन मातापित्रोस्तु नित्यशः
I know only one thing clearly: the reverent honoring of father and mother, always with both hands.
पादप्रक्षालनं पुण्यं स्वयमेव करोम्यहम् । अंगसंवाहनं स्नानं भोजनादिकमेव च
I myself perform the virtuous washing of their feet, massaging their limbs, bathing, and serving food and the like.
त्रिकालेध्यानसंलीनः साधयामि दिनेदिने । पादोदकं तयोश्चैव मातापित्रोर्दिनेदिने
Absorbed in meditation three times daily, I accomplish each day the offering of water for the feet to my mother and father.
भक्तिभावेन विंदामि पूजयामि सुभावतः । गुरू मे जीवमानौ तु यावत्कालं हि पिप्पल
With devotion I serve and worship them sincerely, as long as my teachers are alive, O Pippala.
तावत्कालं हि मे लाभो ह्यतुलश्च प्रजायते । त्रिकालं पूजयाम्येतौ शुद्धभावेन चेतसा
For as long as they live, my gain is indeed incomparable; I worship these two three times daily with a pure mind.
स्वच्छंदलीलासंचारी वर्ताम्येव हि पिप्पल । किं मे चान्येन तपसा किं मे कायस्य शोषणैः
I live freely, moving as I wish, O Pippala; what need have I for other austerities, or for bodily mortification?
किं मे सुतीर्थयात्राभिरन्यैः पुण्यैश्च सांप्रतम् । मखानामेव सर्वेषां यत्फलं प्राप्यते द्विज
What need have I now for pilgrimages to holy places or other virtuous acts? The fruit obtained from all sacrifices, O twice-born,
तत्फलं तु मया दृष्टं पितुः शुश्रूषणादपि । मातुः शुश्रूषणं तद्वत्पुत्राणां गतिदायकम्
That fruit I have seen arising even from service to my father; likewise, service to the mother grants the path to sons.
सर्वकर्मसुसर्वस्वं सारभूतं जगत्रये । पुत्रस्य जायते लोको मातुः शुश्रूषणादपि
Of all actions, in all things, and in the three worlds, the highest essence is born for a son from serving his mother.
पितुः शुश्रूषणे तद्वन्महत्पुण्यं प्रजायते । तत्र गंगा गयातीर्थं तत्र पुष्करमेव च
In the same way, great merit arises from serving the father; there, the sanctity of the Ganga, the holy place of Gaya, and Pushkara are present.
यत्र मातापिता तिष्ठेत्पुत्रस्यापि न संशयः । अन्यानि तत्र तीर्थानि पुण्यानि विविधानि च
Wherever the mother and father reside, for the son there is no doubt: all other sacred places and various merits are found there.
भवंत्येतानि पुत्रस्य पितुः शुश्रूषणादपि । पितुः शुश्रूषणात्तस्य दानस्य तपसः फलम्
These become present for the son even from serving the father; from serving the father, he gains the fruit of gifts and austerities.
सत्पुत्रस्य भवेद्विप्र अन्य धर्मः श्रमायते । पितुः शुश्रूषणात्पुण्यं पुत्रः प्राप्नोत्यनुत्तमम्
For a virtuous son, the fruit is obtained; other duties become burdensome. By serving the father, the son attains supreme merit.
स्वकर्मणस्तु सर्वस्वमिहैव च परत्र च । जीवमानौ गुरूत्वेतौ स्वमातापितरौ तथा
Indeed, in this world and the next, all of one's actions and possessions—while the parents are alive—should be offered to them as to teachers.
शुश्रूषते सुतो भूत्वा तस्य पुण्यफलं शृणु । देवास्तस्यापि तुष्यंति ऋषयः पुण्यवत्सलाः
A son, having become devoted, serves them; hear now the fruit of such merit: even the gods and the sages who love virtue are pleased with him.
त्रयोलोकास्तु तुष्यंति पितुः शुश्रूषणादिह । मातापित्रोस्तु यः पादौ नित्यमेव हि क्षालयेत्
The three worlds are pleased here by serving the father; and whoever always washes the feet of mother and father—
तस्य भागीरथीस्नानमहन्यहनि जायते । पुण्यैर्मिष्टान्नपानैर्यः पितरं मातरं तथा
For him, bathing in the Bhagirathi (Ganga) is gained every day; whoever feeds father and mother with pure food and drink—
भक्त्या भोजयते नित्यं तस्य पुण्यं वदाम्यहम् । अश्वमेधस्य यज्ञस्य फलं पुत्रस्य जायते
With devotion, if he feeds them daily, I declare his merit: the fruit of the Ashvamedha sacrifice is born for that son.
तांबूलैश्छादनैश्चैव पानैश्चाशनकैस्तथा । भक्त्या चान्नेन पुण्येन गुरू येनाभिपूजितौ
With betel, clothing, drinks, and food, and by honoring his teachers with pure and devoted offerings—
सर्वज्ञानी भवेत्सोपि यशःकीर्तिमवाप्नुयात् । मातरं पितरं दृष्ट्वा हर्षात्संभाषयेत्सुतः
Even he becomes all-knowing and attains fame and renown; seeing his mother and father, the son should speak to them with joy.
निधयस्तस्य संतुष्टास्तस्य गेहे वसंति ते । गावः सौहृद्यमायांति पुत्रस्य सुखदाः सदा
For him, treasures are satisfied and dwell in his house; cows, always bringing happiness, come to the son in friendship.
सुकर्मोवाच- तयोश्चापि द्विजश्रेष्ठ मातापित्रोश्च स्नातयोः । पुत्रस्यापि हि सर्वांगे पतंत्यंबुकणा यदा
Sukarma said: O best of twice-born, when the mother and father have bathed, if water drops fall on the son's whole body—