यद्यधीते षडंगानि वेदतत्त्वार्थविद्द्विजः। दमेन तु विहीनश्च पूज्यत्वं नेह गच्छति
Even if a twice-born knows the six limbs and the true meaning of the Vedas, if he lacks self-restraint, he does not attain honor here.
दमेनहीनं न पुनंति वेदा यद्यप्यधीताः सह षड्भिरंगैः। सांख्यं च योगश्च कुलं च जन्म तीर्थाभिषेकश्च निरर्थकानि
The Vedas, even if studied with their six limbs, do not purify one lacking self-restraint. Sāṃkhya, Yoga, family, birth, and bathing at sacred fords are all fruitless.
अपमानात्तपोवृद्धिः संमानाच्च तपःक्षयः। अर्चितः पूजितो विप्रो दुग्धा गौरिव गच्छति
From disrespect, austerity increases; from honor, austerity diminishes. A Brahmin who is worshipped and honored departs like a cow that has been milked.
पुनराप्यायते धेनुः सतृणैः सलिलैर्यथा। एवं जपैश्च होमैश्च पुनराप्यायते द्विजः
Just as a cow is replenished again with grass and water, so too is a Brahmin replenished again by recitations and offerings.
आक्रोशकसमो लोके सुहृदन्यो न विद्यते। यस्तु दुष्कृतमादाय सुकृतं स्वं प्रयच्छति
In this world, there is no friend like one who takes upon himself another's misdeed and gives his own virtue in return.
आक्रोशमानान्नाक्रोशेन्मन्युं स्वं विनिवर्तयेत्। सन्नियम्य तदात्मानममृतेनाभिषिंचति
One should not revile those who revile, but restrain one's own anger; thus, mastering himself, he anoints himself with immortality.
कपालं वृक्षमूलानि कुचेलमसहायता। अनपेक्षा ब्रह्मचर्यं नयन्ति परमां गतिम्
A skull, roots of trees, coarse clothing, solitude, indifference, and celibacy lead one to the highest state.
कामक्रोधौ विनिर्जित्य किमरण्ये करिष्यति। अभ्यासेन तु वै शास्त्रं कुलं शीलेन धार्यते
Having conquered desire and anger, what remains to be done in the forest? By practice, scripture is retained; by character, family is upheld.
गुणैर्मन्त्रा विधार्यन्ते क्रोधस्सत्त्वेन धार्यते। यस्तु क्रोधं समुत्पन्नं संधारयति चात्मनः
Mantras are preserved by virtues; anger is restrained by steadfastness. Whoever restrains the anger that arises within himself—
अक्रोधेन जयेद्वीरः कस्तेन सदृशो भुवि। यस्तु क्रोधं समुत्पन्नं संतं संयम्य तिष्ठति
A hero conquers by non-anger—who on earth is equal to him? He who, when anger arises, stands firm, mastering it—
तं सत्सारतमम्मन्ये नास्मिन्सीदति यः पुमान्। एष पैतामहो गुह्यो ब्रह्मराशिस्सनातनः
I consider him the best among the good, who does not sink in this world. This is the ancient, secret teaching of Brahma, the eternal.
धर्मस्य नियमो यो हि मया ते कथितो भृशम्। अन्ये च यज्वनां लोका अन्ये चापि तपस्विनां
This discipline of dharma has been thoroughly told to you by me. There are other worlds for those who perform sacrifices, and others for ascetics.
अन्ये दमवतां लोकास्ते वै परमपूजिताः। एकः क्षमावतां दोषो द्वितीयो नोपपद्यते
There are other worlds for those who are self-controlled, and they are greatly honored. Among the patient, there is only one fault; a second does not arise.
यदिदं क्षमया युक्तमशक्तम्मन्यते जनः। न चैष दोषो मंतव्यः क्षमा प्रज्ञावतां बलम्
If someone thinks that patience is weakness, this should not be considered a fault; patience is the strength of the wise.
प्रशमं योभिजानाति इष्टापूर्तं महीयते। यत्क्रोधयुक्तो जपति जुहोति च यदर्चति
He who knows tranquility is esteemed above sacrifices and gifts. Whatever is recited, offered, or worshipped in anger—
सर्वं क्षरति तत्तस्य भिन्नकुंभादिवोदकम्। दमाध्यायमिमं पुण्यं प्रातरुत्थाय यः पठेत्
All of that is lost for him, like water from a broken pot. Whoever recites this auspicious chapter on self-control upon rising in the morning—
स धर्मनावमारुह्य दुर्गाण्यति तरिष्यति। दमाध्यायमिमं पुण्यं सततं श्रावयेदिद्वजः
He, boarding the boat of dharma, will cross over difficulties. Whoever constantly has this auspicious chapter on self-control recited—
स ब्रह्मलोकमाप्नोति तस्मान्न च्यवते पुनः। श्रूयतां धर्मसर्वस्वं श्रुत्वा चैतत्प्रधार्यताम्
He attains the world of Brahma and does not fall from there again. Hear now the essence of all dharma; having heard, hold it firmly.
आत्मनः प्रतिकूलानि परेषां न समाचरेत्। मातृवत्परदारांश्च परद्रव्याणि लोष्ठवत्
One should not do to others what is disagreeable to oneself; one should regard the wives of others as one’s mother, and the wealth of others as a clod of earth.
आत्मवत्सर्वभूतानि यः पश्यति स पश्यति। पचनं वैश्वदेवार्थे परार्थे यच्च जीवितम्
He who sees all beings as himself, truly sees. Cooking for the sake of the gods, and living for the sake of others—
एतद्भवेच्च सर्वस्वं धातूनामिव कांचनम्। सर्वभूतहितं राजन्नधीत्यामृतमश्नुते
This should be regarded as everything, like gold among metals. Having studied what benefits all beings, one attains immortality, O king.
एवं वै धर्मसर्वस्वमुक्त्वा ते तु शुनःसखम्। तेनैव सहिताः सर्वे निविष्टास्सरसस्तटे
Thus, having spoken the essence of all dharma to you, O Śunaḥśakha, all of them, together with him, settled on the bank of the lake.
सरोपश्यन्सुविस्तीर्णं पद्मोत्पलजलावृतम्। तत्रावतारं कृत्वा ते बिसानि च कलापशः
Seeing the lake, vast and covered with lotuses and water-lilies, they descended there and gathered lotus-stalks in bundles.
तीरे निक्षिप्य सरसश्चक्रुः पुण्यां जलक्रियाम्। अथोत्तीर्य जलात्तस्मात्ते समेत्य परस्परम्
Placing the bundles on the shore of the lake, they performed auspicious water-rites. Then, coming out of the water, they assembled together.
बिसान्येतान्यपश्यंत इदं वचनमब्रुवन्। ऋषय ऊचुः। केन क्षुधाभितप्तानामस्माकं पापकर्मणाम्
Seeing that the lotus roots were missing, they spoke these words: The sages said: By whom, among us who are tormented by hunger and burdened with sinful deeds,
नृशंसेनापनीतानि बिसान्याहारकांक्षिणा। ते शंकमानास्त्वन्योन्यं पर्यपृच्छन्द्विजोत्तमाः
have the lotus roots been taken away cruelly by someone desiring food? Then, suspecting one another, the best of the twice-born questioned each other.
चक्रुश्च निश्चयं सर्वे शपथं प्रति पार्थिव। कश्यप उवाच। सर्वत्र सर्वं हरतु न्यासलोपं करोतु च
And all of them resolved to take an oath, O King. Kaśyapa said: May whoever has stolen the lotus roots lose everything everywhere, and may he commit the offense of violating a trust.
कूटसाक्षित्वमभ्येतु बिसस्तैन्यं करोति यः। दंभेन धर्मं चरतु राजानं चोपसेवताम्
Let him become a false witness, whoever has stolen the lotus roots. Let him act piously with hypocrisy and serve kings.
मधुमांसं समश्नातु बिसस्तैन्यं करोति यः। अनृतं भाषतु सदा विषयांश्चोपसेवतु
Let him eat honey and meat, whoever has stolen the lotus roots. Let him always speak falsehood and indulge in sensual pleasures.
ददातु कन्यां शुल्केन बिसस्तैन्यं करोति यः। वसिष्ठ उवाच। अनृतौ मैथुनं यातु दिवास्वप्नं निषेवतु
Let him give his daughter in marriage for a price, whoever has stolen the lotus roots. Vasiṣṭha said: Let him engage in sexual union unlawfully and indulge in daydreaming.