प्रज्वाल्य वह्निं घृततैलसिक्तं प्रदक्षिणावर्तशिखं स्वकाले । प्रविश्य दग्धः किल भावदुष्टो न स्वर्गमाप्नोति फलं न चान्यत्
Kindling a fire soaked with ghee and oil, with flames swirling to the right, and entering it at the proper time—if one is corrupt in intent, even if burned, he does not attain heaven or any other fruit.
श्रद्धत्स्वभूप तस्मात्त्वं माधवस्य फलं प्रति । स्वल्पं चापि शुभं कर्म विकर्मशतनाशनम्
Therefore, O King, have faith in the fruit of Madhava; even a little good deed destroys hundreds of misdeeds.
यथा हरेर्नामभयेन भूप नश्यंति सर्वे दुरितस्य वृंदाः । नूनं रवौ मेषगते विभाते स्नानेन तीर्थे च हरिस्तवेन
Just as, O King, all clusters of misfortune are destroyed by the fearless name of Hari, so surely, when the sun enters Aries at dawn, by bathing at a holy place and praising Hari, they are destroyed.
तेजसा वैनतेयस्य पाप्मानः पन्नगा इव । विद्रवंति च वैशाखस्नानेनोषसि निश्चितम्
By the radiance of Garuda, sins flee like serpents; certainly, by bathing in the month of Vaishakha at dawn, they are driven away.
गंगायां नर्मदायां वा स्नात्वा मेषगते रवौ । पापप्रशमनस्तोत्रं यः पठेद्भक्तिभावतः
Whoever, having bathed in the Ganga or the Narmada when the sun is in Aries, recites with devotion the hymn that removes sins,
एककालं द्विकालं वा त्रिसंध्यमपि भूपते । स याति परमं स्थानं सर्वपापविवर्जितः
Whether once, twice, or at the three junctions of the day, O King, he attains the highest state, freed from all sins.
अंबरीष महत्पुण्यप्राप्तये कुरु वीक्षणम् । माधवेमासि वै स्नानं प्रातर्नियमसंस्थितः
O Ambarisha, for the attainment of great merit, behold this: in the month of Madhava, bathe in the morning with proper discipline.
यदानर्त्तपुरे प्रोक्तं वसतां वर्षकोटिभिः । तत्प्रातर्माधवे मासि स्नानेनैकेन लभ्यते
That which is said to be gained in Anarta city by dwelling there for millions of years is obtained by a single morning bath in the month of Madhava.
इहार्थे यत्पुरावृत्तं तदाकर्णय भूपते । भार्यया सह संवादं देवशर्मद्विजन्मनः
Now listen, O King, to what happened in the past for this very purpose: the conversation between the twice-born Devaśarman and his wife.
रेवातीरे सुपुण्ये च तीर्थे चामरकंटके । कौशिकस्य सुतो जातो देवशर्मा द्विजोत्तमः
On the auspicious bank of the Reva, at the holy place Amarakantaka, was born Devaśarman, the best of Brahmins, son of Kaushika.
धनपुत्रविहीनस्तु बहुदुःखसमन्वितः । दारिद्रेण सुदुःखेन सर्वदैवप्रपीडितः
Lacking wealth and children, afflicted by much suffering, he was always tormented by severe poverty and distress.
पुत्रोपायं धनस्यापि दिवारात्रौ प्रचिंतयेत् । एकदा तु प्रिया तस्य सुमना नाम सुव्रता
Day and night he pondered ways to obtain a son and wealth; once, his virtuous wife named Sumanā—
भर्तारं चिंतयोपेतमधोमुखमलक्षयत् । समालोक्य तदा कांतं तमुवाच यशस्विनी
Noticed her husband, lost in thought and downcast; seeing her beloved thus, the illustrious woman spoke to him.
दुःखजालैरसंख्यैस्तु तव चित्तं प्रकर्षितम् । व्यामोहेन प्रमूढोसि त्यज चिंतां महामते
Your mind is overwhelmed by countless nets of sorrow; you are bewildered and deluded—abandon worry, O wise one.
मम दुःखं समाचक्ष्व स्वस्थो भव सुखं व्रज । नास्ति चिंतासमं दुःखं कायशोषणमेव हि
Tell me your sorrow, regain your composure, and find happiness; there is no suffering like worry, for it only emaciates the body.
तां संत्यज्य प्रवर्तेत स सुखेन प्रमोदते । चिंतायाः कारणं विप्र कथयस्व मम प्रभो
Abandoning it, one acts and rejoices happily; O Brahmin, tell me the cause of your worry, my lord.
नारद उवाच-। प्रियावाक्यं स संश्रुत्य देवशर्मा महामतिः । उवाच वचनं प्रीतो दुःखितोऽपि सतीसखः
Narada said: Hearing his beloved's words, Devaśarman, wise though afflicted, replied with pleasure to his faithful wife.
देवशर्मोवाच-। यत्त्वया चिंतितं भद्रे किंचिद्दुःखस्य कारणम् । तत्सर्वं तु प्रवक्ष्यामि श्रुत्वा चैवावधार्यताम्
Devaśarman said: What you have guessed, dear, is indeed the cause of my sorrow; I will tell you everything, so listen and understand.
न जाने केन पापेन धनहीनोऽस्मि सुव्रते । तथा पुत्रविहीनोऽस्मि एतद्दुःखस्य कारणम्
I do not know by what sin I am without wealth, O virtuous one; likewise, I am without a son—this is the cause of my sorrow.
सुमनोवाच-। श्रूयतामभिधास्यामि सर्वसंदेहनाशनम् । स्वरूपमुपदेशस्य सर्वविज्ञानदर्शनम्
Sumanā said: Listen, I will tell you that which destroys all doubts—the true nature of instruction, the vision of all knowledge.
संतोष एव परमं पुण्यं सौख्यादिकारणम् । असंतोषः परं पापमित्याह भगवान्हरिः
Contentment alone is the highest merit and the cause of happiness, so says Lord Hari; discontent is the greatest sin.
लोभः पापस्य बीजोऽयं मोहो मूलं च तस्य वै । असत्यं तस्य हि स्कंधो महाशाखा सुविस्तरात्
Greed is the seed of sin, and delusion is its root; falsehood is its trunk, and it has great branches spreading far.
मदकौटिल्य पत्राणि कुबुद्ध्या पुष्पितः सदा । अनृतं तस्य सौगंध्यमज्ञानं फलमेव च
Its leaves are intoxication and crookedness, always blossoming with evil intent; its fragrance is falsehood, and its fruit is ignorance.
कुड्यं पाषंडचौराश्च क्रूराः कूटाश्च पापिनः । पक्षिणो मोहवृक्षस्य महाशाखासमाश्रिताः
Heretics, thieves, cruel and deceitful sinners are like the walls, ropes, and birds that take shelter on the great branches of the tree of delusion.
अज्ञानं सुफलं तस्य रसो धर्मं फलस्य हि । भावोदकेन संवृद्धिस्तस्य श्रद्धा क्रतु प्रिया
Ignorance is its abundant fruit; the taste of its fruit is unrighteousness; nourished by the water of disposition, faith is dear to its ritual.
अधर्मेषु रसस्तस्य उत्क्लेदैर्मधुरायते । तादृशैश्च फलैश्चैवसफलो लोभपादपः
Its flavor is in unrighteousness, made sweet by fermentations; and with such fruits, the tree of greed is fruitless.
तस्यच्छायां समाश्रित्य यो नरः परिवर्तते । फलानि तस्य सोऽश्नाति स्वपक्वानि दिनेदिने
Whoever takes refuge in its shade and moves about there eats its ripened fruits day by day.
फलानां च रसेनापि अधर्मेण तु पोषितः । स संपुष्टो भवेन्मर्त्यः पतनाय प्रयच्छति
Even by the taste of its fruits, nourished by unrighteousness, a person who is thus fattened is led toward downfall.
तस्माच्चिंतां परिश्रित्य स्वामि लोभं न कारयेत् । धनपुत्रकलत्राणां चिंतामेतां न कारयेत्
Therefore, having abandoned such anxiety, one should not foster greed; one should not cultivate this anxiety for wealth, children, or spouse.
यो हि विद्वान्नचेत्कांत मूर्खाणां पथमेव हि । मृषा चिंतयते नित्यं दिवारात्रौ विमोहितः
Indeed, the learned one who, like the foolish, always thinks falsely, day and night, is deluded.