उचितं तव पार्थैतद्यत्पृच्छसि गुणिन्गुणान् साधूनां धर्मश्रवणैः कीर्तनैर्याति चान्वहम्॥ २.
It is fitting for you, O son of Pritha, to ask about the virtues of the virtuous; for by hearing and praising the righteous, virtue increases day by day.
पापानामसदालापैरायुर्याति यथान्वहम् २.
Just as, through false and evil conversations, the lifespan of sinners diminishes day by day.
यथा श्रुत्वा विजानासि युक्तमंगीकृतं मया २.
As you have heard and understood, it is proper and has been accepted by me.
गतवान्ब्रह्मणो लोकं तत्रापश्यं पितामहम् २.
I went to the world of Brahma and there I saw the Grandfather.
विभाति विमलो ब्रह्मा नक्षत्रैरुडुराडिव २.
Brahma shone, pure and spotless, like the moon among the stars.
उविष्टः प्रमुदितः कपिलेन सहैव च २.
He was seated, joyful, together with Kapila.
प्रहीयंते हि ते नित्यं जगद्द्रष्टुं हि ब्रह्मणा २.
Those who constantly desire to see the world approach Brahma.
चक्षुषामृतकल्पेन प्लावयन्निव चाब्रवीत् २.
Flooding with nectar-like vision, he spoke as if bathing all.
किंचिदेवाद्भुतं ब्रूत श्रवणाद्येन पुण्यता २.
Speak of something wondrous, by hearing which there is merit.
सुश्रवानाम ब्रह्माणं प्रणिपत्येदमूचिवान् २.
Having bowed to Brahma, the best of listeners spoke these words.
तथापि खलु वाच्यं मे परार्थं प्रेरितेन ते २.
Yet still, I must speak, prompted by you, for the sake of another.
सारजिज्ञासया तस्थावेकांगुष्ठः शतं समाः २.
Desiring the essence, he stood on one toe for a hundred years.
पुण्ये सरस्वतीतीरे पृच्छ सारस्वतं मुनिम् २.
On the holy bank of the Sarasvati, ask the sage Sarasvata.
इति श्रुत्वा मुनिवरो मुनिश्रेष्ठमुपेत्य तम् २.
Hearing thus, the best of sages approached that foremost sage.
सत्यं केचित्प्रशंसंतितपः शौचं तथा परे २.
Some praise truthfulness, others austerity and purity.
क्षमां केचित्प्रशंसंति तथैव भृशमार्ज्जवम् २.
Some praise forgiveness, and likewise, greatly praise honesty.
सम्यग्ज्ञानं प्रशंसंति केचिद्वैराग्यमुत्तमम् २.
Some praise true knowledge, others supreme detachment.
आत्मज्ञानं परं केचित्समलोष्टाश्मकांचनम् २.
Some praise the highest self-knowledge, seeing earth, stone, and gold as equal.
व्यामोहमेव गच्छंति किं श्रेय इति वादिनः २.
Those who argue about what is best only fall into confusion.
वक्तुमर्हसि धर्मज्ञ मम सर्वार्थसाधकम्॥ २.
O knower of dharma, you should tell me that which accomplishes all aims.
यन्मां सरस्वती प्राह सारं वक्ष्यामि तच्छृणु वारांगनानेत्रभंगस्वद्वद्भंगुरमेव तत्॥ २.
Hear now the essence which Sarasvatī spoke to me; it is as unstable as the beauty of a courtesan’s eyes.
धनायुर्यौवनं भोगाञ्जलचंद्रवदस्थिरान् २.
Wealth, life, youth, pleasures, and the moon’s disk are all unstable.
दानवान्पुरुषः पापं नालं कर्तुमिति श्रुतिः २.
The scripture says: a generous person is not capable of committing sin.
सावर्णिना च गाथे द्वे कीर्तिते श्रृणु ये पुरा २.
Now listen to the two verses once spoken by Sāvarṇi.
पूज्यते स महादेवः स धर्मः पर उच्यते २.
He is worshipped as the great god; he is called the supreme dharma.
क्रोधपंके मदग्राहे लोभबुद्बदसंकटे २.
In the mire of anger, the grip of pride, and the narrowness of greed’s bubbles—
मज्जंतं तारयत्येको हरः संसारसागरात् २.
Only Hara rescues the one sinking in the ocean of worldly existence.
परोपकरणं कायादसारात्सारमुद्धरेत् २.
From this unsubstantial body, one should extract the essence: doing good to others.
इंद्रियार्थेषु वैराग्यं संप्राप्तं जन्मनः फलम् २.
Detachment from sense objects is the fruit of birth attained.
न कुर्यादात्मनः श्रेयस्तेनात्मा वंचतश्चिरम् २.
One should not act against one’s own good, for by that the self is long deceived.