कर्मैव कारणं राजन्नराणां सुखदुःखयोः । जन्ममृत्य्वोर्महाभाग भुंक्ष्व तत्कर्मणः फलम्
Action alone, O King, is the cause of happiness and sorrow for men; O greatly fortunate one, experience the fruit of your own deeds in birth and death.
पूर्वेपि च महात्मानो दिवं प्राप्ताः स्वकर्मणा । पुनः प्रयाता भूर्लोकं कर्मणः क्षयकालतः
Even in the past, great souls attained heaven by their own actions; but after their merit was exhausted, they returned again to the world of men.
नलो भगीरथश्चैव विश्वामित्रो युधिष्ठिरः । कर्मणैव हि संप्राप्ताः स्वर्गं राजन्स्वकालतः
Nala, Bhagiratha, Vishvamitra, and Yudhishthira—O King, they attained heaven at their proper time solely through their actions.
दिष्टं हि प्राक्तनं कर्म तेन दुःखं सुखं लभेत् । तदुल्लंघयितुं राजन्कः समर्थोपि हीश्वरः
Indeed, it is by previously determined action that one obtains happiness or suffering; O King, who, even among the gods, is able to transgress that?
अथ तस्मान्नृपश्रेष्ठ स्वर्गतस्यापि तेऽभवत् । क्षुत्तृष्णासंभवो वेगस्ततो दुष्टं हि कर्म ते
Therefore, O best of kings, even in heaven, hunger and thirst arose for you; this is because of your evil deeds.
यदि ते क्षुत्प्रतीकारो ह्यभीष्टो नृपसत्तम । तद्गत्वा भुंक्ष्व कायं स्वमानंदारण्यसंस्थितम्
If you desire relief from hunger, O best of kings, then go and consume your own body, which remains in the forest.
तव चेयं महाराज्ञी क्षुत्क्षामातीव दृश्यते । सुबाहुरुवाच- कियत्कालमिदं कर्म कर्तव्यं प्रियया सह
And this great queen of yours appears exceedingly emaciated by hunger. Subahu said: For how long must this action be performed together with my beloved?
तन्मे ब्रूहि महाभागानुग्रहो दृश्यते कदा । कस्य दानेन किं पुण्यं द्रव्यस्य मुनिसत्तम
Therefore, tell me, O most fortunate one, when will your favor be seen? By the gift of what, and of which substance, O best of sages, is merit obtained?
तत्प्रब्रूहि महाप्राज्ञ यदि तुष्टोसि सांप्रतम् । वामदेव उवाच- अन्नदानान्महासौख्यमुदकस्य महामते
Tell me that, O most wise one, if you are pleased at this moment. Vamadeva said: Through the gift of food, O greatly intelligent one, there is supreme happiness, and through the gift of water—
भुंजंति मर्त्याः स्वर्गं वै पीड्यंते नैव पातकैः । यदा दानं न दत्तं तु भवेदपि हि मानवैः
Mortals enjoy heaven and are not afflicted by sins. But when a gift is not given by men—
मृत्युकालेपि संप्राप्ते दानं सर्वे ददंति च । आदावेव प्रदातव्यमन्नं चोदकसंयुतम्
Even at the time of death, all give gifts. At the very beginning, one should give food along with water.
सुच्छत्रोपानहौ दद्याज्जलपात्रं सुशोभनम् । भूमिं सुकांचनं धेनुमष्टौ दानानि योऽर्पयेत्
One should give a beautiful water vessel with a pure mat and sandals. Whoever offers the eight gifts—land, gold, and a cow—
स्वर्गे न जायते तस्य क्षुधातृष्णादिसंभवः । क्षुधा न बाधते राजन्नन्नदानात्स तृप्तिमान्
For him, in heaven, hunger, thirst, and the like do not arise. O king, hunger does not afflict him; by the gift of food, he is satisfied.
तृष्णा तीव्रा नहि स्याद्वै तृप्तो भवति सर्वदा । पादुकायाः प्रदानेन च्छत्रदानेन भूपते
Intense thirst does not occur; he is always satisfied. By the gift of sandals and the gift of an umbrella, O king—
छायामाप्नोति दाता वै वाहनं च नृपोत्तम । उपानहप्रदानेन अन्यदेवं वदाम्यहम्
The giver attains shade and a vehicle, O best of kings. By the gift of sandals, I will tell you something else.
भूमिदानान्महाभाग सर्वकामानवाप्नुयात् । गोदानेन महाराज रसैः पुष्टो भवेत्सदा
By the gift of land, O most fortunate one, one attains all desires. By the gift of a cow, O great king, one is always nourished by juices.
सर्वान्भोगान्प्रभुंजानः स्वर्गलोके वसेन्नरः । तृप्तो भवति वै दाता गोदानेन न संशयः
Enjoying all pleasures, a man dwells in the world of heaven. The giver is satisfied by the gift of a cow—of this there is no doubt.
नीरुजः सुखसंपन्नः संतुष्टस्तु धनान्वितः । कांचनेन सुवर्णस्तु जायते नात्र संशयः
He is free from disease, endowed with happiness, content, and possessed of wealth. By the gift of gold, he becomes golden—of this there is no doubt.
श्रीमांश्च रूपवांस्त्यागी रत्नभोक्ता भवेन्नरः । मृत्युकाले तु संप्राप्ते तिलदानं प्रयच्छति
A man becomes prosperous, handsome, generous, and an enjoyer of jewels. But at the time of death, he should give sesame seeds.
सर्वभोगपतिर्भूत्वा विष्णुलोकं प्रयाति सः । एवं दानविशेषेण प्राप्यते परमं सुखम्
Becoming lord of all enjoyments, he goes to the world of Vishnu. In this way, by these special gifts, supreme happiness is attained.
गोदानं भूमिदानं तु अन्नोदके च वै त्वया । जीवमानेन राजेंद्र न दत्तं ब्राह्मणाय वै
The gift of a cow, the gift of land, and food with water—you did not give these to a Brahmin while living, O king.
मृत्युकालेपि नो दत्तं तस्मात्क्षुधा प्रवर्तते । एतत्ते कारणं प्रोक्तं जातं कर्मवशानुगम्
Nor did you give them at the time of death; therefore, hunger arises. This cause has been told to you, arising from the force of your actions.
यादृशं तु कृतं कर्म तादृशं परिभुज्यते । सुबाहुरुवाच- कथं क्षुधा प्रशांतिं मे प्रयाति मुनिसत्तम
As is the action performed, so is its enjoyment. Subahu said: How, O best of sages, will my hunger be appeased?
अनया शोषितः कायो ह्यतीव परिदूयते । क्षुधां प्रति द्विजश्रेष्ठ प्रायश्चित्तं वदस्व नौः
My body, dried up by this, is exceedingly tormented. O best of twice-born, tell us the expiation for this hunger.
कर्मणश्चास्यघोरस्य यथा शांतिर्भवेन्मम । वामदेव उवाच- प्रायश्चित्तं न चैवास्ति ऋतेभोगान्नृपोत्तम
How may there be peace for me from this terrible deed? Vāmadeva said: There is no expiation except through experiencing its results, O best of kings.
कर्मणोस्य फलं सर्वं भवान्स्वस्थः प्रभोक्ष्यति । यत्र ते पतितः कायः प्रियायाश्चैव भूपते
You yourself, in full awareness, will experience all the results of this action, O king, wherever your body and your beloved have fallen.
युवाभ्यां हि प्रगंतव्यमितश्चैव न संशयः । उभाभ्यामपि भोक्तव्यं कायमक्षयमेव तत्
Indeed, both of you must proceed from here—of this there is no doubt; and both must endure the inexhaustible body as your due.
स्वंस्वं राजन्न संदेहस्त्वया वै प्रियया सह । राजोवाच- कियत्कालं प्रभोक्तव्यं मयैवं प्रियया सह
There is no doubt, O king, that you and your beloved must each endure your own; The king said: For how long must I experience this with my beloved?
तदादिश महाभाग प्रमाणं तद्वचो मम । वामदेव उवाच- वासुदेव महास्तोत्रं महापातकनाशनम्
Tell me, O greatly fortunate one, the measure of that time—let your word be my authority. Vāmadeva said: The great hymn to Vāsudeva destroys even great sins.
यदा त्वं श्रोष्यसे पुण्यं तदा मोक्षं प्रयास्यसि । एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं गच्छ राजन्प्रभुंक्ष्वहि
When you hear that holy hymn, then you will attain liberation. All this has been told to you; go now, O king, and endure.