न तत्र मूढा विशंति पुरुषा विषयात्मकाः। कामलोभमदद्रोह क्रोधमोहैरुपद्रुताः
There, deluded men, those who are attached to sense-objects, afflicted by desire, greed, intoxication, malice, anger, and delusion, do not enter.
तुल्य मानापमानाश्च निर्द्वंद्वास्संयतेंद्रियाः। ध्यानयोगपराश्चैव ते तु गच्छंति पुष्करं
Those who are equal in honor and dishonor, free from dualities, with controlled senses, and devoted to meditation and yoga—these indeed go to Puṣkara.
आश्रमेषु यथोक्तेषु यथोक्तं वै द्विजातयः। ये वर्तंते यमं त्रातुं तेषां लोका महोदयाः
In the prescribed hermitages, as prescribed, the twice-born who abide by discipline—great worlds of prosperity belong to them.
ये न हिंसंति भूतानि कर्मणा मनसा गिरा। अनृशंसतराः संतः सर्वदा च प्रियंवदाः
Those who do not harm living beings by deed, thought, or word, who are exceedingly compassionate and always speak kindly—
अग्निहोत्ररता नित्यं नित्यं चातिथिपूजकाः। नित्यं स्वाध्यायवंतश्च नित्यं स्नानपरायणाः
Ever devoted to the Agnihotra, ever honoring guests, ever engaged in self-study, and ever dedicated to bathing—
मातृवत्स्वसृवच्चैव तथा दुहितृवच्च ह। परदारान्प्रपश्यंति सततं विगतस्पृहाः
They always regard the wives of others as mothers, sisters, or daughters, and are free from desire.
येधिक्षिप्ता न कुप्यंति न हिंसंति च हिंसिताः। समदुःखसुखाः संतो महात्मानो जितेंद्रियाः
Those who, when insulted, do not become angry, nor harm even when harmed, who are equal in sorrow and happiness, great-souled, and with senses subdued—
ते हि सर्वे प्रपश्यंति पुरा चेरुर्महीमिमां। समाधिना चिंतयंतो ब्रह्मलोकं सनातनं
All these indeed, having once roamed this earth, through meditation and contemplation, perceive the eternal world of Brahma.
अथाभवदनावृष्टिः कदाचिन्महती तदा। कृच्छ्रप्रायो ह्यभूत्तत्र सर्वलोकः क्षुधार्दितः
Then, at one time, there occurred a great drought; all people there, afflicted by hunger, were in distress.
ततो निरन्ने लोकेस्मिंश्चात्मानं ते परीप्सवः। मृतं कुमारमादाय कृच्छ्रप्रायास्तदापचन्
Then, in that world without food, desiring to preserve themselves, they took a dead boy and, being in dire straits, cooked him.
अथ पर्यचरत्तत्र क्लिश्यमानान्हि तानृषीन्। दृष्ट्वा राजा विषादार्त्तः प्रोवाचेदं वचस्तदा
Then, seeing those sages suffering, the king, overcome with sorrow, approached and spoke these words:
राजोवाच। प्रतिग्रहो ब्राह्मणानां दृष्टा वृत्तिरनिंदिता। तस्मात्प्रतिग्रहान्मत्तो गृह्णीध्वं मुनिसत्तमाः
The king said: 'For Brāhmaṇas, receiving gifts is an approved and blameless practice; therefore, O best of sages, accept gifts from me.'
वरान्ग्रामान्व्रीहियवान्रसान्रत्नानि कांचनं। गाश्च धेनूश्च तत्सर्वं मा मांसं पचत द्विजाः
‘Villages, rice, barley, food, jewels, gold, cows, and milch cows—all this I offer; do not cook flesh, O twice-born.’
ऋषय ऊचुः। राजन्प्रतिग्रहो घोरो मध्वास्वादो विषोपमः। तज्जानतां नः कस्मात्त्वं कुरुषे सम्प्रलोभनं
The sages said: 'O king, receiving gifts is dreadful; the taste of honey is like poison. Why do you tempt us, knowing this?'
दशसूना समश्चक्री दशचक्रिसमो ध्वजी। दशध्वजिसमा वेश्या दशवेश्यासमो नृपः
One who kills ten is equal to a charioteer; one who kills ten charioteers is equal to a banner-bearer; ten banner-bearers are equal to a courtesan; and ten courtesans are equal to a king.
दशसूना सहस्राणि यो वाहयति शौंडिकः। तेन तुल्यस्ततो राजा घोरस्तस्य प्रतिग्रहः
A butcher who slaughters a thousand animals is equal to a king; therefore, receiving gifts from him is dreadful.
यो राज्ञः प्रतिगृह्णाति ब्राह्मणो लोभमोहितः। तामिस्रादिषु घोरेषु नरकेषु स पच्यते
A Brahmin who, overcome by greed, accepts gifts from the king is tormented in the dreadful hells such as Tāmisra.
तद्गच्छ कुशलं तेस्तु सह दानेन पार्थिव। अन्येषां दीयतामेतदित्युक्त्वा ते वनं ययुः
Go now, O fortunate one, together with your charity, O king; let this be given to others—having said this, they departed for the forest.
अथ राज्ञःसमादेशात्तत्र गत्वाथ मंत्रिणः। उदुंबराणि व्यकिरन्हेमगर्भाणि भूतले
Then, by the king’s command, the ministers went there and scattered udumbara fruits filled with gold upon the ground.
ततो ह्यन्नं विचिन्वंतो गृह्णंश्चोदुंबराण्यपि। गुरूणि हि विदित्वा तु न ग्राह्याण्यत्रिरब्रवीत्
Searching for food, they also took the udumbara fruits; but knowing that they were heavy, Atri said they should not be taken.
अत्रिरुवाच। नास्महे मूढविज्ञाना नास्महे मंदबुद्धयः। हैमानीमानि जानीमः प्रतिबुद्धाः स्म ज्ञानिनः
Atri said: We are not of dull understanding, nor are we of weak intellect; we know these are golden, for we are awakened and wise.
इहैवेदं वसुप्रीत्यै प्रेत्य वैकुंठितोदयं। तस्मान्न ग्राह्यमेवैतत्सुखमानंत्यमिच्छता
Here, this is for the delight of wealth in this world; after death, it leads to Vaikuntha. Therefore, one seeking lasting happiness should not accept it.
शतेनगुणितं निष्कं सहस्रेण समन्वितम्। यश्चान्यतः प्रतीच्छेत्स पापिष्टां लभते गतिम्
If someone accepts a coin multiplied a hundredfold and joined with a thousand, but from another source, he attains the most sinful fate.
यत्पृथिव्यां व्रीहियवं हिरण्यं पशवः स्त्रियः। नूनं नैकस्य पर्याप्तमिति मत्वा शमं व्रजेत्
Considering that all the rice, barley, gold, cattle, and women on earth are not enough for one person, one should seek contentment.
वसिष्ठ उवाच। तपसां संचयो यस्य द्रव्याणां यस्य संचयः। तपःसंचय एवेह विशिष्टो धनसंचयात्
Vasiṣṭha said: The accumulation of austerity belongs to one, and the accumulation of wealth to another; here, the accumulation of austerity is superior to the accumulation of wealth.
त्यजतः संचयान्सर्वान्यांति नाशमुपद्रवाः। नहि संचयवान्कश्चिद्दृश्यते निरुपद्रवः
When one abandons all accumulations, troubles perish; for no one with accumulations is seen to be free from afflictions.
यथायथा न गृह्णाति ब्राह्मणोऽसत्प्रतिग्रहम्। तथा तस्य हि संतोषाद्ब्राह्मं तेजो विवर्द्धते
The more a Brahmin refrains from accepting improper gifts, the more, through contentment, his Brahminical radiance increases.
अकिंचनत्वं राज्यं च तुलया समतोलयत्। अकिंचनत्वमधिकं राज्यादपि हितात्मनः
He weighed poverty and kingship on a scale; for one who seeks the welfare of the self, poverty is greater than kingship.
कश्यप उवाच। अनर्थो ब्राह्मणस्यैष यस्त्वर्थनिचयो महान्
Kaśyapa said: For a Brahmin, the great accumulation of wealth is a misfortune.
अर्थैश्वर्यविमूढो हि श्रेयसो भ्रश्यते द्विजः। अर्थसंपद्विमोहाय विमोहो नरकाय च
A Brahmin deluded by the prosperity of wealth falls from excellence; the abundance of wealth leads to delusion and also to hell.