न जहाति स्वभावं हि श्वपुच्छमिव नामितम् । तथा जात्यैव कृष्णोर्णा न शुक्ला जातु जायते
it does not abandon its nature, just as a dog's tail cannot be straightened. Likewise, black wool by its very nature never becomes white.
संशोध्यमानापि तथा भवेन्मूर्तिर्न निर्मला । जिघ्रन्नपि स्वदुर्गंधं पश्यन्नपि मलं स्वकम्
In the same way, even when purified, the form does not become spotless. Even when smelling its own foul odor or seeing its own filth,
न विरज्यति लोकोऽयं पीडयन्नपि नासिकाम् । अहो मोहस्य माहात्म्यं येन व्यामोहितं जगत्
people do not turn away from it, even while pinching their noses. Ah, such is the greatness of delusion, by which the world is bewildered.
जिघ्रन्पश्यन्स्वकान्दोषान्कायस्य न विरज्यते । स्वदेहस्य विगंधेन विरज्येत न यो नरः
Even while smelling and seeing the body's own faults, people do not turn away from it. The man who does not turn away from his own body's stench,
विरागकारणं तस्य किमन्यदुपदिश्यते । सर्वमेव जगत्पूतं देहमेवाशुचिः परम्
what other cause for detachment could be taught to him? The whole world is pure; only the body is supremely impure.
यन्मलावयवस्पर्शाच्छुचिरप्यशुचिर्भवेत् । गंधलेपापनोदाय शौचं देहस्य कीर्तितम्
By contact with the body's excretions and parts, even the pure becomes impure. Cleanliness is prescribed for the body only to remove odor and stains.
द्वयस्यापगमात्पश्चाद्भावशुद्ध्या विशुद्ध्यति । गंगातोयेन सर्वेण मृद्भारैर्गात्रलेपनैः
Only after both are removed does true purity arise. Even with all the water of the Ganges and with clay and ointments applied to the limbs,
मर्त्यो दुर्गंधदेहोसौ भावदुष्टो न शुध्यति । तीर्थस्नानैस्तपोभिश्च दुष्टात्मा न च शुध्यति
a mortal with a foul-smelling body and impure mind is not purified. Even by bathing at holy places and performing austerities, the corrupted soul is not purified.
स्वमूर्तिः क्षालिता तीर्थे न शुद्धिमधिगच्छति । अंतर्भावप्रदुष्टस्य विशतोपि हुताशनम्
Even if one's own form is washed at a sacred place, it does not attain purity. For one whose inner disposition is tainted, even entering the sacrificial fire,
न स्वर्गो नापवर्गश्च देहनिर्दहनं परम् । भावशुद्धिः परं शौचं प्रमाणं सर्वकर्मसु
neither heaven nor liberation is attained by merely burning the body. Purity of mind is the highest cleanliness and the standard in all actions.
अन्यथा लिंग्यते कांता भावेन दुहितान्यथा । मनसा भिद्यते वृत्तिरभिन्नेष्वपि वस्तुषु
A woman is perceived differently as a beloved or as a daughter; the mind's disposition changes even when the objects themselves are not different.
अन्यथैव सती पुत्रं चिंतयेदन्यथा पतिम् । यथायथा स्वभावस्य महाभाग उदाहृतम्
A woman, though the same, thinks of her son in one way and her husband in another; thus, the nature of things is illustrated, O noble one.
परिष्वक्तोपि यद्भार्यां भावहीनां न कारयेत् । नाद्याद्विविधमन्नाद्यं रस्यानि सुरभीणि च
Even when embracing his wife, a man should not act without feeling; nor should he eat various delicious and fragrant foods without appetite.
अभावेन नरस्तस्माद्भावः सर्वत्र कारणम् । चित्तं शोधय यत्नेन किमन्यैर्बाह्यशोधनैः
Therefore, in the absence of feeling, feeling is the cause everywhere; purify your mind with effort—what use are other external purifications?
भावतः शुचिशुद्धात्मा स्वर्गं मोक्षं च विंदति । ज्ञानामलांभसा पुंसः सवैराग्यमृदापुनः
Through feeling, one whose mind is pure and clean attains heaven and liberation; by the pure water of knowledge, a person gains detachment and gentleness again.
अविद्या रागविण्मूत्र लेपो नश्येद्विशोधनैः । एवमेतच्छरीरं हि निसर्गादशुचिं विदुः
The stains of ignorance, passion, and excrement are destroyed by purification; thus, this body is naturally known to be impure.
विद्यादसार निःसारं कदलीसारसन्निभम् । ज्ञात्वैवं दोषवद्देहं यः प्राज्ञः शिथिली भवेत्
Know that knowledge is without essence, lacking substance, like the core of a banana tree; understanding thus, the wise become relaxed regarding the faults of the body.
सोतिक्रामति संसारं दृढग्राहोवतिष्ठति । एवमेतन्महाकष्टं जन्मदुःखं प्रकीर्तितम्
He crosses over worldly existence and stands firm with a strong grasp; thus, the great suffering of birth has been described.
पुंसामज्ञानदोषेण नानाकर्मवशेन च । गर्भस्थस्य मतिर्यासीत्सा जातस्य प्रणश्यति
Because of the fault of ignorance and the influence of various actions, the mind of one in the womb is lost after birth.
सुमूर्च्छितस्य दुःखेन योनियंत्रनिपीडनात् । बाह्येन वायुना चास्य मोहसंगेन देहिनाम्
When deeply afflicted by pain from the constraints of the womb and by external air, the embodied beings are overcome by delusion.
स्पृष्टमात्रस्य घोरेण ज्वरः समुपजायते । तेन ज्वरेण महता महामोहः प्रजायते
As soon as one is touched by severe fever, it arises; from that great fever, profound delusion is produced.
संमूढस्य स्मृतिभ्रंशः शीघ्रं संजायते पुनः । स्मृतिभ्रंशात्ततस्तस्य पूर्वकर्मवशेन च
For one who is bewildered, loss of memory quickly occurs again; from that loss of memory and the influence of previous actions,
रतिः संजायते तस्य जंतोस्तत्रैव जन्मनि । रक्तो मूढश्च लोकोयमकार्ये संप्रवर्त्तते
Desire arises in that creature in the very same birth; thus, the world, attached and deluded, engages in improper actions.
न चात्मानं विजानाति न परं न च दैवतम् । न शृणोति परं श्रेयः सचक्षुरपि नेक्षते
He does not know himself, nor others, nor the divine; he does not hear the highest good, nor does he see, even with eyes.
समे पथि शनैर्गच्छन्स्खलतीव पदेपदे । सत्यां बुद्धौ न जानाति बोध्यमानो बुधैरपि
Walking slowly on the same path, he stumbles at every step; though his intellect is present, he does not understand, even when instructed by the wise.
संसारे क्लिश्यते तेन नरो लोभवशानुगः । गर्भस्मृतेरभावे च शास्त्रमुक्तं शिवेन च
Thus, a man suffers in worldly existence, following the power of greed; and in the absence of memory from the womb, the scripture spoken by Shiva is declared.
तद्दुःखकथनार्थाय स्वर्गमोक्षप्रसाधकम् । येन तस्मिञ्छिवे ज्ञाते धर्मकामार्थसाधने
For the sake of describing that suffering, which brings about heaven and liberation, when Shiva is known in the pursuit of righteousness, desire, and wealth,
न कुर्वंत्यात्मनः श्रेयस्तदत्र महदद्भुतम् । अव्यक्तेंद्रियबुद्धित्वाद्बाल्येदुःखं महत्पुनः
They do not act for their own highest good; this is a great wonder here. Because of undeveloped senses and intellect, childhood brings great suffering again.
इच्छन्नपि न शक्नोति वक्तुं कर्तुं न सत्कृती । दंतजन्ममहद्दुःखं लौल्येन वायुना तथा
Even when he wishes, he is unable to speak or act; the honored one endures the great pain of teething, and likewise the restlessness caused by wind.
बालरोगैश्च विविधैः पीडाबालग्रहैरपि । तृड्बुभुक्षा परीतांगः क्वचित्तिष्ठति गच्छति
Afflicted by various childhood diseases and the torments of evil spirits, his body is beset by thirst and hunger, sometimes sitting, sometimes moving.