कर्मदा यदि वा लोके कर्मसंबधि बांधवाः । कर्माणि चोदयंतीह पुरुषं सुखदुःखयोः
Whether in this world there are givers of action or relatives connected to action, actions urge a person toward happiness and suffering.
सुवर्णं रजतं वापि यथा रूपं विनिश्चितम् । तथा निबध्यते जंतुः स्वकर्मणि वशानुगः
Just as gold or silver is shaped according to its form, so too a creature is bound to its own actions, following their power.
पंचैतानीह सृज्यंते गर्भस्थस्यैव देहिनः । आयुः कर्म च वित्तं च विद्यानिधनमेव च
These five are created here for the embodied one in the womb: lifespan, action, wealth, knowledge, and death.
यथा मृत्पिंडतः कर्ता कुरुते यद्यदिच्छति । तथा पूर्वकृतं कर्म कर्तारमनुगच्छति
Just as a potter shapes whatever he wishes from a lump of clay, so too the action done previously follows the doer.
देवत्वमथ मानुष्यं पशुत्वं पक्षिता तथा । तिर्यक्त्वं स्थावरत्वं च प्राप्यते च स्वकर्मभिः
Divinity, humanity, animalhood, birdhood, as well as the state of lower creatures and immobile beings—all are attained by one's own actions.
स एव तत्तथा भुंक्ते नित्यं विहितमात्मना । आत्मना विहितं दुःखं चात्मना विहितं सुखम्
He alone experiences exactly that which is ordained for himself; suffering ordained by oneself, and happiness ordained by oneself.
गर्भशय्यामुपादाय भुंजते पूर्वदैहिकम् । संत्यजंति स्वकं कर्म न क्वचित्पुरुषा भुवि
Taking up the bed of the womb, one enjoys the results of previous embodiment; people never abandon their own actions anywhere on earth.
बलेन प्रज्ञया वापि समर्थाः कर्तुमन्यथा । सुकृतान्युपभुंजंति दुःखानि च सुखानि च
Whether by strength or by wisdom, though capable of acting otherwise, people experience good deeds, sufferings, and pleasures.
हेतुं प्राप्य नरो नित्यं कर्मबंधैस्तु बध्यते । यथा धेनुसहस्रेषु वत्सो विंदति मातरम्
Upon finding the cause, a person is always bound by the bonds of action, just as a calf finds its mother among thousands of cows.
तथा शुभाशुभं कर्म कर्तारमनुगच्छति । उपभोगादृते यस्य नाश एव न विद्यते
Thus, good and evil actions follow the doer; apart from enjoyment, there is no destruction of them.
प्राक्तनं बंधनं कर्म कोन्यथा कर्तुमर्हति । सुशीघ्रमपि धावंतं विधानमनुधावति
Who can alter the bondage of previous action? Even one who runs swiftly is pursued by destiny.
शेते सह शयानेन पुरा कर्म यथाकृतम् । उपतिष्ठति तिष्ठंतं गच्छंतमनुगच्छति
One lies with the companion as previously done by action; it approaches the one standing, and follows the one going.
करोति कुर्वतः कर्मच्छायेवानु विधीयते । यथा छायातपौ नित्यं सुसंबद्धौ परस्परम्
Action is performed by the doer, and its shadow follows accordingly; just as shadow and sunlight are always closely bound together.
तद्वत्कर्म च कर्ता च सुसंबद्धौ परस्परम् । ग्रहा रोगा विषाः सर्पाः शाकिन्यो राक्षसास्तथा
In the same way, action and the agent are closely bound together; planets, diseases, poisons, serpents, witches, and demons likewise.
पीडयंति नरं पश्चात्पीडितं पूर्वकर्मणा । येन यत्रोपभोक्तव्यं सुखं वा दुःखमेव वा
They afflict a person afterwards, afflicted by previous actions; wherever happiness or suffering is to be experienced by him.
स तत्र बद्ध्वा रज्ज्वा वै बलाद्दैवेन नीयते । दैवः प्रभुर्हि भूतानां सुखदुःखोपपादने
He is bound there with a rope and led forcibly by fate; for fate is indeed the master of beings in the bestowal of happiness and suffering.
अन्यथा चिंत्यते कर्म जाग्रता स्वपतापि वा । अन्यथा स तथा प्राज्ञ दैव एवं जिघांसति
Action is considered differently, whether awake or asleep; but the wise know that fate alone acts thus.
शस्त्राग्नि विष दुर्गेभ्यो रक्षितव्यं च रक्षति । अरक्षितं भवेत्सत्यं तदेवं दैवरक्षितम्
That which is protected from weapons, fire, poison, and fortresses, is indeed protected; what is unprotected becomes true, thus it is protected by fate.
दैवेन नाशितं यत्तु तस्य रक्षा न दृश्यते । यथा पृथिव्यां बीजानि उप्तानि च धनानि च
That which is destroyed by fate finds no protection; just as seeds and wealth sown in the earth.
तथैवात्मनि कर्माणि तिष्ठंति प्रभवंति च । तैलक्षयाद्यथा दीपो निर्वाणमधिगच्छति
In the same way, actions remain and arise in the self; just as a lamp is extinguished when its oil is exhausted.
कर्मक्षयात्तथा जंतुः शरीरान्नाशमृच्छति । कर्मक्षयात्तथा मृत्युस्तत्त्वविद्भिरुदाहृतः
When actions are exhausted, the creature attains destruction of the body; thus, death is declared by those who know the truth, as arising from the exhaustion of actions.
विविधाः प्राणिनस्तस्य मृत्यो रोगाश्च हेतवः । तथा मम विपाकोयं पूर्वं कृतस्य नान्यथा
Various living beings and diseases are causes of death; likewise, this result of mine is from what was done before, it cannot be otherwise.
संप्राप्तो नात्र संदेहः स्त्रीरूपोऽयं न संशयः । क्व मे गेहं समायाता नाटका नटनर्तकाः
It has come, there is no doubt; this is a woman, there is no uncertainty; where is my home, where have actors and dancers arrived?
तेषां संगप्रसंगेन जरा देहं समाश्रिता । सर्वं कर्मकृतं मन्ये यन्मे संभावितं ध्रुवम्
Through association with them, old age has taken hold of the body; I consider all that has happened to me as surely caused by action.
तस्मात्कर्मप्रधानं च उपायाश्च निरर्थकाः । पुरा वै देवराजेन मदर्थे दूतसत्तमः
Therefore, action is foremost, and other means are useless; formerly, by the king of the gods, the best messenger was sent for my sake.
प्रेषितो मातलिर्नाम न कृतं तस्य तद्वचः । तस्य कर्मविपाकोऽयं दृश्यते सांप्रतं मम
A messenger named Mātali was sent, but his words were not heeded; the result of his action is now seen in my case.
इति चिंतापरो भूत्वा दुःखेन महतान्वितः । यद्यस्याहि वचः प्रीत्या न करोमि हि सर्वथा
Thus, absorbed in thought and afflicted with great sorrow; if I do not do what this serpent says, out of affection, in every way.
सत्यधर्मावुभावेतौ यास्यतस्तौ न संशयः । सदृशं च समायातं यद्दृष्टं मम कर्मणा
Both truth and righteousness will depart, there is no doubt; and what has come to me is appropriate, as seen by my actions.
भविष्यति न संदेहो दैवो हि दुरतिक्रमः । एवं चिंतापरो भूत्वा ययातिः पृथिवीपतिः
It will happen, there is no doubt; fate is indeed difficult to overcome; thus, absorbed in thought, Yayāti, lord of the earth,
कृष्णं क्लेशापहं देवं जगाम शरणं हरिम् । ध्यात्वा नत्वा ततः स्तुत्वा मनसा मधुसूदनम्
Went to Krishna, the remover of distress, seeking refuge in Hari; meditating, bowing, and then praising Madhusudana with his mind.