परोपकरणं नाम साधूनां व्रतमाहितम् १२.
The vow of the virtuous is indeed to act for the benefit of others.
अप्रणोद्येषु पापेषु साधु प्रोक्तमसंशयम् १२.
In sins that are not to be rejected, the virtuous are declared without doubt.
अप्रमत्तः प्रणोद्येषु मुनिरेष प्रयच्छति १२.
This sage, attentive in matters not to be rejected, bestows (his favor).
कूर्म युक्तमिदं सर्वं त्वयाभिहितमद्य नः १२.
Kurma, all that you have spoken to us today is appropriate.
ब्रूहि राजन्सुविश्रब्धं सन्देहं हृदयस्थितम् १२.
O king, speak without hesitation the doubt that rests in your heart.
भगवन्प्रथमः प्रश्रस्तावदेव ममोच्यताम् १२.
O Lord, let the first question be stated by me now.
कुटीमात्रोऽपि यच्छाया तृणैः शिरसि पाणिगैः॥ १२.
Even the shade of a mere hut, with grass placed on the head by the hands—
मर्तव्यमस्त्यवश्यं च काय एष पतिष्यति १२.
Death is certain; this body will surely fall.
यस्य मृत्युर्भवेन्मित्रं पीतं वाऽमृतमुत्तमम् १२.
For one whose friend is death, or who has drunk the highest nectar—
इदं युगसहस्रेषु भविष्यमभविद्दिनम् १२.
This day has come to pass after thousands of ages.
कारणानुगतं कार्यमिदं शुक्रादभूद्वपुः १२.
This act, following its cause, has arisen; the body came from Shukra.
तदस्यापि कृते पापं शत्रुषड्वर्गनिर्जिताः १२.
Even for his sake, sin is committed by those conquered by the sixfold host of enemies.
तद्ब्रह्मण इहोत्पन्नः सिकताद्वयसम्भवः १२.
Thus, born here from Brahma, originating from the union of sand and wind,
तथापि वैष्णवी माया मोहयत्यविवेकिनम् १२.
Still, the Vaishnava illusion deludes the undiscerning.
दन्ताश्चलाश्चला लक्ष्मीर्यौवनं जीवितं नृप १२.
Teeth are unstable, fortune is unstable, youth is unstable, and life is unstable, O king.
इति विज्ञाय संसारसारं च चलाचलम् १२.
Thus, understanding the essence of worldly existence as both stable and unstable,
चिरायुर्भगवानेव श्रूयते भुवनत्रये १२.
Only the Lord is said to have long life in the three worlds.
प्रतिकल्पं मच्छरीरादेकरोमपरिक्षयः १२.
With each cosmic cycle, from my body, a single hair is lost.
पश्य जानुप्रदेशं मे द्व्यंगुलं रोमवर्जितम् १२.
Look at my knee region, two fingers wide, devoid of hair.
इत्थं निशम्य तद्वाक्यं स प्रहस्यातिविस्मितः १२.
Hearing those words, he smiled, greatly astonished.
पृच्छामि त्वामहं ब्रह्मन्यदायुरिदमीदृशम् १२.
I ask you, O Brahman, how did you obtain such a lifespan?
श्रृणु भूप प्रवक्ष्यामि पूर्वजन्मसमुद्भवाम् १२.
Listen, O king, I will tell you the origin from my previous birth.
अहमासं पुरा शूद्रो दरिद्रोऽतीवभूतले १२.
I was once a Shudra, extremely poor, upon the earth.
ततो मया महल्लिंगं जालिमध्यगतं तदा १२.
Then, I approached the great linga, which was within a net.
ततः प्रविश्य तद्वारि पीत्वा स्नात्वा च शांभवम् १२.
After entering, I drank and bathed in that water belonging to Shambhu.
अथ क्षुत्क्षामकंठोऽहं श्रीकंठं तं नमस्य च १२.
Then, with a throat parched from hunger, I bowed to Shri Kantha.
ततोऽहं ब्राह्मणगृहे जातो जातिस्मरः सुतः १२.
After that, I was born in a Brahmin's house, a son who remembered his past birth.
स्मरन्विलसितं मिथ्या सत्याभासमिदं जगत् १२.
Remembering, I saw the world as false, only appearing to be true.
तेन विप्रेण वार्धक्ये समाराध्य महेश्वरम् १२.
By that Brahmin, in old age, having worshipped Maheshvara,
ततः स विप्रो वात्सल्यादगदान्सुबहून्मम १२.
Then that Brahmin, out of affection, gave me many medicines.