स्थूलधर्मं प्रदृष्ट्वैव सुविचार्य पुनः पुनः । समारभेन्नरः कर्म मनसा निपुणेन च
Having carefully considered the general principle again and again, a person should undertake action with a discerning mind.
समूर्तिकारकः शिल्पी रसमावर्त्तयेद्यथा । अग्नेश्च तेजसा पुत्र ज्वालाभिश्च समंततः
Just as a sculptor who shapes forms causes the essence to flow, O son, with the fire's energy and the flames all around,
द्रवीभूतो भवेद्धातुर्वह्निना तापितः शनैः । यादृशं वत्स भक्ष्यंतु रसपक्वं निषेच्यते
The metal, when gradually heated by fire, becomes molten; in the same way, my dear, food is cooked and then consumed.
तादृशं जायते वत्स रूपं चैव न संशयः । यादृशं क्रियते कर्म तादृशं परिभुज्यते
Such is the form that arises, my dear, without doubt; as is the action performed, so is what is enjoyed.
कर्म एव प्रधानं यद्वर्षारूपेण वर्त्तते । क्षेत्रेषु यादृशं बीजं वपते कृषिकारकः
Action alone is primary, which operates in the form of results; just as a farmer sows whatever kind of seed in the fields,
तादृशं भुंजते तात फलमेव न संशयः । यादृशं क्रियते कर्म तादृशं परिभुज्यते
Such is the fruit, dear one, that he enjoys—there is no doubt; as is the action performed, so is what is experienced.
विनाशहेतुः कर्मास्य सर्वे कर्मवशा वयम् । कर्म दायादका लोके कर्म संबंधिबांधवाः
Action is the cause of destruction for him; we are all subject to action. In this world, action is the heir, and action is the connection of relatives.
कर्माणि चोदयंतीह पुरुषं सुखदुःखयोः । सुवर्णं रजतं वापि यथारूपं निषिच्यते
Actions here impel a person toward happiness and suffering; just as gold or silver is cast in whatever form,
तथा निषिच्यते जंतुः पूर्वकर्मवशानुगः । पंचैतानीह दृश्यंते गर्भस्थस्यैव देहिनः
So too is a being cast, following the force of previous actions; these five are seen here for the embodied one in the womb:
आयुः कर्म च वित्तं च विद्यानि धनमेव च । यथा मृत्पिंडकं कर्त्ता कुरुते यद्यदिच्छति
Lifespan, action, wealth, knowledge, and possessions; just as a potter shapes a lump of clay as he wishes,
तथा कर्मकृतं चैव कर्त्तारं प्रतिपद्यते । देवत्वमथ मानुष्यं पशुत्वं पक्षितां तथा
So too, what is fashioned by action is attained by the doer: divinity, humanity, animal birth, or birdhood,
तिर्यक्त्वं स्थावरत्वं वा याति जंतुः स्वकर्मभिः । स एव तु तथा भुंक्ते नित्यं विहितमात्मनः
Or the state of other creatures or of plants—a being attains according to its own actions; and he alone continually enjoys what is ordained for himself.
आत्मना विहितं दुःखमात्मना विहितं सुखम् । गर्भशय्यामुपादाय भुंजते पूर्वदेहिकम्
Suffering is ordained by oneself, happiness is ordained by oneself; taking up the bed of the womb, one enjoys the results of previous embodiment.
पूर्वदेहकृतं कर्म न कश्चित्पुरुषोत्तमः । बलेन प्रज्ञया वापि समर्थः कर्तुमन्यथा
No one, O best of men, is able by strength or wisdom to alter the action performed in a previous body.
स्वकृतान्येव भुंजंति दुःखानि च सुखानि च । हेतुतः कारणैर्वापि सोहं कारेण बाध्यते
They indeed experience only what they themselves have done, both suffering and happiness; whether by cause or by means, one is bound by one's own doing.
यथा धेनुसहस्रेषु वत्सो विंदति मातरम् । तद्वच्छुभाशुभं कर्म कर्तारमनुगच्छति
Just as among a thousand cows, a calf finds its mother, so too, good or bad action follows the doer.
उपभोगादृते यस्य नाश एव न विद्यते । प्राक्तनं बंधनं कर्म कोन्यथाकर्तुमर्हति
Except through enjoyment, there is no destruction of it; who else can undo the bondage of previous action?
सुशीघ्रमनुधावंतं विधानमनुधावति । शोभते संनिपातेन यथाकर्म पुराकृतम्
Swiftly pursuing, destiny pursues him; what was done before shines forth at the proper time.
उपतिष्ठति तिष्ठंतं गच्छं तमनुगच्छति । करोति कुर्वतः कर्मच्छायेवानु विधीयते
It attends upon one who stands, follows one who goes, acts with one who acts; karma is always present, like a shadow.
यथा छायातपौ नित्यं सुसंबद्धौ परस्परम् । उपसर्गा हि विषया उपसर्गा जरादयः
Just as shadow and sunlight are always closely joined together, so too are obstacles—sense objects and old age—inseparably linked.
पीडयंति नरं पश्चात्पीडितं पूर्वकर्मणा । येन यत्रोपभोक्तव्यं दुःखं वा सुखमेव च
They afflict a person afterwards, tormented by previous actions; whatever suffering or happiness is to be experienced by someone, it is due to that.
स तत्र बद्ध्वा रज्ज्वेव बलाद्दैवेन नीयते । दैवं प्राहुश्च भूतानां सुखदुःखोपपादनम्
Bound there by force, as if with a rope, he is led by destiny; destiny, they say, brings about happiness and suffering for beings.
अन्यथा कर्मतच्चिंत्यं जाग्रतः स्वपतोपि वा । अन्यथा ह्युद्यते दैवं बध्यते च जिघांसति
Otherwise, karma would be uncertain, whether awake or asleep; otherwise, destiny would be frustrated, bound, or even destroyed.
शस्त्राग्निविषदुर्गेभ्यो रक्षितव्यं सुरक्षति । यथा पृथिव्यां बीजानि वृक्षगुल्मतृणान्यपि
One may guard oneself from weapons, fire, poison, or fortresses, but just as seeds on earth—trees, shrubs, and grasses—
तथैवात्मनि कर्माणि तिष्ठंति प्रभवंति च । तैलक्षयाद्यथा दीपो निर्वाणमधिगच्छति
In the same way, actions remain and arise within oneself; just as a lamp is extinguished when its oil is exhausted,
कर्मक्षयात्तथा जंतोः शरीरं नाशमृच्छति । कर्मक्षयात्तथा मृत्युस्तत्त्वविद्भिरुदाहृतम्
So too, when karma is exhausted, the body of a living being meets its end; thus, death upon the exhaustion of karma is declared by those who know reality.
विविधाः प्राणिनां रोगाः स्मृतास्तेषां च हेतवः । तस्मात्तत्त्वप्रधानस्तु कर्म एव हि प्राणिनाम्
Various diseases of living beings are known, as are their causes; therefore, karma alone is regarded as primary for living beings.
यत्पुरा क्रियते कर्म तदिहैव प्रभुज्यते । यत्त्वया दृष्टमेवापि पृच्छितं तात सांप्रतम्
Whatever action was performed before is enjoyed here itself; and what you have seen or asked about, dear one, just now—
तस्यार्थं तु मया प्रोक्तं भुंजाते तौ हि सांप्रतम् । आनंदे कानने दृष्टं तयोः कर्मसुदारुणम्
Its meaning has been explained by me; they are now experiencing it. In the forest of delight, I saw their very terrible karma.
तयोश्चेष्टां प्रवक्ष्यामि शृणु वत्स प्रभाषतः । कर्मभूमिरियं तात अन्या भोगार्थभूमयः
I will tell you of their actions—listen, my child, as I speak. This is the realm of action, dear one; there are other realms for enjoyment.