समाधाने तु सर्वत्र प्रभावः सदृशः स्मृतः । वित्तस्यातिशयत्वेन प्रभावः कस्यचित्क्वचित्
In all matters, the power of equanimity is considered the same; but due to the excess of wealth, someone's influence may be greater in certain places.
दानवैर्निर्जिता देवास्ते दैवैर्निजिताः पुनः । इत्यन्योन्यं श्रितो लोको भाग्यैर्जयपराजयैः
The gods were conquered by the demons, and then the demons were conquered by the gods; thus, the world is mutually dependent, with victory and defeat determined by fortune.
एवं वस्त्रयुगं राज्ञां प्रस्थमात्रांबुभोजनम् । यानं शय्यासनं चैव शेषं दुःखाय केवलम्
Thus, for kings, a pair of garments, a measure of food and water, a vehicle, a bed, and a seat—these suffice; all else is only a source of suffering.
सप्तमे चापि भवने खट्वामात्र परिग्रहः । उदकुंभसहस्रेभ्यः क्लेशायास प्रविस्तरः
Even in the seventh palace, the only possession is a bed; from thousands of water-jars, there arises only toil and hardship.
प्रत्यूषे तूर्यनिर्घोषः समं पुरनिवासिभिः । राज्येभिमानमात्रं हि ममेदं वाद्यते गृहे
At dawn, the sound of instruments resounds together with the city-dwellers; the pride of sovereignty alone is proclaimed in the house as 'this is mine.'
सर्वमाभरणं भारः सर्वमालेपनं मलम् । सर्वं प्रलपितं गीतं नृत्यमुन्मत्तचेष्टितम्
All ornaments are a burden, all ointments are filth; all chatter, song, and dance are the actions of the intoxicated.
इत्येवं राज्यसंभोगैः कुतः सौख्यं विचारतः । नृपाणां विग्रहे चिंता वान्योन्यविजिगीषया
Thus, considering the enjoyments of kingship, where is happiness to be found? Among kings, there is conflict and anxiety from the desire to surpass one another.
प्रायेण श्रीमदालेपान्नहुषाद्या महानृपाः । स्वर्गं प्राप्ता निपतिताः कः श्रिया विंदते सुखम्
Most great kings, like Nahusha and others, intoxicated by prosperity, after attaining heaven, have fallen; who truly finds happiness in wealth?
स्वर्गेपि च कुतः सौख्यं दृष्ट्वा दीप्तां परश्रियम् । उपर्युपरि देवानामन्योन्यातिशयस्थिताम्
Even in heaven, how can there be happiness, seeing the blazing wealth of others, and the gods themselves constantly striving to surpass one another?
नरैः पुण्यफलं स्वर्गे मूलच्छेदेन भुज्यते । न चान्यत्क्रियते कर्म सोऽत्र दोषः सुदारुणः
In heaven, humans enjoy the fruit of their merit, but only by exhausting its root; no new action is performed there—this is a most dreadful flaw.
छिन्नमूलतरुर्यद्वद्दिवसैः पतति क्षितौ । पुण्यस्य संक्षयात्तद्वन्निपतंति दिवौकसः
Just as a tree with its root cut falls to the ground in time, so too, when merit is exhausted, the dwellers of heaven fall.
सुखाभिलाषनिष्ठानां सुखभोगादि संप्लवैः । अकस्मात्पतितं दुःखं कष्टं स्वर्गेदिवौकसाम्
For those devoted to the pursuit of pleasure, amidst the floods of enjoyment, sudden and severe suffering befalls the inhabitants of heaven.
इति स्वर्गेऽपि देवानां नास्ति सौख्यं विचारतः । क्षयश्च विषयासिद्धौ स्वर्गे भोगाय कर्मणाम्
Thus, even among the gods in heaven, there is no happiness upon reflection; and when enjoyment is exhausted, the actions that led to heaven come to an end.
तत्र दुःखं महत्कष्टं नरकाग्निषु देहिनाम् । घोरैश्च विविधैर्भावैर्वाङ्मनः काय संभवैः
There, in the fires of hell, embodied beings experience great and terrible suffering, arising from various dreadful states of speech, mind, and body.
कुठारच्छेदनं तीव्रं वल्कलानां च तक्षणम् । पर्णशाखाफलानां च पातश्चंडेन वायुना
There is intense cutting with axes, stripping of bark, and the violent wind causes the falling of leaves, branches, and fruits.
उन्मूलनान्नदीभिश्च गजैरन्यैश्च देहिभिः । दावाग्निहिमशोषैश्च दुःखं स्थावरजातिषु
There is uprooting by rivers, by elephants, and by other beings; and suffering among stationary beings from forest fires, cold, and drought.
तद्वद्भुजंगसर्पाणां क्रोधे दुःखं च दारुणम् । दुष्टानां घातनं लोके पाशेन च निबंधनम्
In the same way, for serpents and snakes, there is terrible suffering from anger; for the wicked, there is killing in the world and binding with a noose.
अकस्माज्जन्ममरणं कीटानां च मुहुर्मुहुः । सरीसृपनिकायानामेवं दुःखान्यनेकधा
For insects, there is sudden birth and death, again and again; for reptiles and crawling creatures, there are many kinds of suffering in this way.
पशूनामात्मशमनं दंडताडनमेव च । नासावेधेन संत्रासः प्रतोदेन सुताडनम्
For animals, self-restraint is enforced by beating with a stick; fear is caused by piercing the nose, and pain by striking with a goad.
वेत्रकाष्ठादिनिगडैरंकुशेनांगबंधनम् । भावेन मनसा क्लेशैर्भिक्षा युवादिपीडनम्
Binding with rods, wooden shackles, or an elephant-goad, affliction by intent and mind, and torment by begging or youth—all cause suffering.
आत्मयूथवियोगैश्च बलान्नयनबंधने । पशूनां संति कायानामेवं दुःखान्यनेकशः
Through separation from their own herd, forced movement, and confinement, animals experience many kinds of bodily suffering.
वर्षाशीतातपाद्दुःखं सुकष्टं ग्रहपक्षिणाम् । क्लेशमानाति कायानामेवं दुःखान्यनेकधा
The hardship of rain, cold, and heat is severe for captive birds and animals; thus, bodies endure many forms of suffering.
गर्भवासे महद्दुःखं जन्मदुःखं तथा नृणाम् । सुबाल्यदुःखं चाज्ञानं कौमारे गुरुशासनम्
Great suffering exists in the womb, and at birth for humans; childhood brings pain and ignorance, and in youth, strict instruction from elders.
यौवने कामरागाभ्यां दुःखं चैवेर्ष्यया पुनः । कृषिवाणिज्यसेवाद्यैर्गोरक्षादिक कर्मभिः
In youth, suffering arises from desire and passion, and again from jealousy; through farming, trade, service, and tasks like tending cattle, pain is found.
वृद्धभावे च जरया व्याधिभिश्च प्रपीडनात् । मरणे च महद्दुःखं प्रार्थनायां ततोधिकम्
In old age, affliction comes from decrepitude and disease; at death, there is great suffering, and even more in the longing for life.
राजाग्निजलदाघातचौरशत्रु भयं महत् । अर्थस्यार्जनरक्षायां भयं नाशे व्यये पुनः
There is great fear from kings, fire, water, blows, thieves, and enemies; in acquiring and protecting wealth, fear arises, and again in its loss and expenditure.
कार्पण्यं मत्सरो दम्भो धनाधिक्ये भयं महत् । अकार्ये संप्रवृत्तिश्च दुःखानि धनिनां सदा
Misery, envy, and deceit, and great fear in possessing wealth; constant suffering comes from engaging in wrongful acts for the wealthy.
भृत्यवृत्तिः कुसीदं च दासत्वं परतंत्रता । इष्टानिष्टाभियोगश्च संयोगाश्च सहस्रशः
Employment, usury, servitude, dependence on others, and countless unions with what is desired or undesired—all bring suffering.
दुर्भिक्षं दुर्भगत्वं च मूर्खत्वं च दरिद्रता । अधरोत्तरभागश्च नारकं राजविक्रमम्
Famine, misfortune, ignorance, poverty, inferior status, hell, and royal oppression—all are sources of suffering.
अन्योन्याभिभवं दुःखमन्यांन्यतो भयं महत् । अन्योन्याच्च प्रकोपश्च राज्ञो दुःखं महीभृताम्
Suffering comes from mutual domination, great fear from one another, mutual anger, and for kings, pain from their subjects.