शुक्राद्धि जायते कायः कुरूपः काय एव च । यथा पृथ्वी सृजेद्गंधान्रसैश्चरति भूतले
From semen, the body is produced, and the body itself is formed. Just as the earth generates fragrances and moves with tastes upon its surface.
तथा कायश्चरेन्नित्यं रसाधारो हि सर्वशः । गंधश्च जायते तस्माद्गंधाद्रसो भवेत्पुनः
In the same way, the body continually moves, being the repository of tastes in every respect. From it, fragrance is born, and from fragrance, taste arises again.
तस्माज्जज्ञे महावह्निर्दृष्टांतं पश्य भूपते । यथा काष्ठाद्भवेद्वह्निः पुनः काष्ठं प्रकाशयेत्
From that, the great fire is generated; observe this analogy, O king: just as fire arises from wood and again illuminates the wood.
कायमध्ये रसादग्निस्तद्वदेव प्रजायते । तत्र संचरते नित्यं कायं पुष्णाति भूपते
Within the body, fire is produced from taste, just so. It continually moves there, nourishing the body, O king.
यावद्रसस्य चाधिक्यं तावज्जीवः प्रशांतिमान् । चरित्वा तादृशं वह्निः क्षुधारूपेण वर्तते
As long as there is abundance of taste, the life-force remains tranquil. When the fire has consumed such taste, it manifests as hunger.
अन्नमिच्छत्यसौ तीव्रः पयसा च समन्वितम् । प्रदानं लभते चान्नमुदकं चापि भूपते
It intensely desires food, accompanied by milk. It receives food and water, O king.
शोणितं चरते वह्निस्तद्वद्वीर्यं न संशयः । यक्ष्मरोगो भवेत्तस्मात्सर्वकायप्रणाशकः
The fire moves through blood, and likewise through semen—there is no doubt. From this arises the disease of consumption, which destroys the entire body.
रसाधिक्यं भवेद्राजन्नथ वह्निः प्रशाम्यति । रसेन पीड्यमानस्तु ज्वररूपोभिजायते
When there is excess taste, O king, the fire is subdued. Overwhelmed by taste, it appears in the form of fever.
ग्रीवा पृष्ठं कटिं पायुं सर्वास्वेव तु संधिषु । आरुध्य तिष्ठते वह्निः काये वह्निः प्रवर्तते
The fire occupies the neck, back, waist, anus, and all the joints; it remains established in the body and operates as fire within.
तस्याऽधिक्यं चरेन्नित्यं कायं पुष्णाति सर्वतः । रसस्तु बंधमायाति बलरूपो भवेत्तदा
Its abundance continually moves, nourishing the body everywhere. Taste becomes bound and then takes the form of strength.
अतिरिक्तो बलेनैव वीर्यान्मर्माणि चालयेत् । तेनैव जायते कामः शल्यरूपो भवेन्नृप
When strength is excessive, it agitates the vital organs through vigor. From this, desire is born, and it becomes like a thorn, O king.
सकामाग्निः समाख्यातो बलनाशकरो नृप । मैथुनस्य प्रसंगेन विनाशत्वं कलेवरे
The fire with desire is called the destroyer of strength, O king. Through the act of intercourse, the body meets its end.
नारीं च संश्रयेत्प्राणी पीडितः कामवह्निना । मैथुनस्य प्रसंगेन मूर्छितः कामकर्शितः
When a being is tormented by the fire of desire, he seeks out a woman; overwhelmed by the urge for intercourse, afflicted by passion.
तेजोहीनो भवेत्कायो बलहानिश्च जायते । बलहीनो यदा स्याद्वै दुर्बलो वह्निनेरितः
The body becomes deprived of vigor, and loss of strength arises; when one is weakened, he becomes feeble, agitated by the fire within.
स वह्निः प्रचरेत्काये शोणितं शुक्रमेव च । शुक्रशोणितयोर्नाशाच्छून्यदेहोभिजायते
That fire spreads throughout the body, consuming blood and semen; with the destruction of semen and blood, an empty body is produced.
अतीव जायते वायुः प्रचंडो दारुणाकृतिः । विवर्णो दुःखसंतप्तः शून्यबुद्धिस्ततो भवेत्
A most fierce and dreadful wind arises; pale, tormented by suffering, and with a vacant mind, one becomes thus.
दृष्टा श्रुता तु या नारी तच्चित्तो भ्रमते सदा । तृप्तिर्न जायते काये लोलुपे चित्तवर्त्मनि
Whatever woman is seen or heard, his mind wanders after her always; satisfaction does not arise in the body, as the mind follows the path of craving.
विरूपश्च सुरूपश्च ध्यानान्मध्ये प्रजायते । बलहीनो यदा कामी मांसशोणितसंक्षयात्
Both ugliness and beauty arise in the midst of such contemplation; when the passionate one is weakened by the loss of flesh and blood.
पलितं जायते काये नाशिते कामवह्निना । तस्मात्संजायते कामी वृद्धो भूत्वा दिनेदिने
Gray hair appears on the body, consumed by the fire of desire; thus, the passionate man becomes aged day by day.
सुरते चिंतते नारीं यथा वार्द्धुषिको नरः । तथातथा भवेद्धानिस्तेजसोऽस्य नरेश्वर
During intercourse, a man thinks of a woman, just as an old man does; in the same way, his brilliance diminishes, O lord of men.
तस्मात्प्रजायते कायो नाशरूपं समृच्छति । अग्निः प्रजायते भूयो जरारूपो न संशयः
Therefore, the body comes to possess the nature of destruction; again, fire arises, taking the form of old age—of this there is no doubt.
प्राणिनां क्षयरूपेण ज्वरो भवति दारुणः । स्थावरा जंगमाः सर्वे ज्वरेण परिपीडिताः
A terrible fever arises among living beings in the form of decay; all, both stationary and moving, are afflicted by this fever.
नाशमायांति ते सर्वे बहुपीडा प्रपीडिताः । एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातमन्यत्किं ते वदाम्यहम्
All of them perish, tormented by many afflictions; all this has been told to you—what else shall I say to you?
एवमुक्तो महाराजो मातलिं वाक्यमब्रवीत्
Thus addressed, the great king spoke these words to Mātali.
ययातिरुवाच- धर्मस्य रक्षकः कायो मातले चात्मना सह । नाकमेष न प्रयाति तन्मे त्वं कारणं वद
Yayāti said: The body is the protector of righteousness, O Mātali, along with the self; yet this body does not ascend to heaven—tell me the reason for this.
मातलिरुवाच- पंचानामपि भूतानां संगतिर्नास्ति भूपते । आत्मना सह वर्तंते संगत्या नैव पंच ते
Mātali said: There is no union among the five elements, O king; they exist with the self, but not in union as five.
सर्वेषां तत्र संघातः कायग्रामे प्रवर्तते । जरया पीडिताः सर्वेः स्वंस्वं स्थानं प्रयांति ते
There, the aggregate of all arises in the community of the body; all, afflicted by old age, go each to their own place.
यथा रसाधिका पृथ्वी महाराज प्रकल्पिता । रसैः क्लिन्ना ततः पृथ्वी मृदुत्वं याति भूपते
Just as the earth, O great king, is made moist by fluids; being soaked by fluids, the earth becomes soft, O king.
भिद्यते पिपीलिकाभिर्मूषिकाभिस्तथैव च । छिद्राण्येव प्रजायंते वल्मीकाश्च महोदराः
It is broken by ants and likewise by mice; holes are produced, and large-bellied anthills arise.
तद्वत्काये प्रजायंते गंडमाला विचार्चिकाः । कृमिभिर्भिद्यमानश्च काय एष नरोत्तम
In the same way, swellings and ulcers arise in the body; this body, O best of men, is broken apart by worms.