नास्तिकानां च सर्पाणां विषस्य च गुणस्त्वयम् ४५.
This is the quality of atheists, of serpents, and of poison.
आपो वस्त्रं तिलास्तैलं गंधो वा स यथा तथा ४५.
Just as water belongs to cloth, oil to sesame, and fragrance to what is fragrant—so it is.
मोहजालस्य यो योनिर्मूढैरिह समागमः ४५.
The meeting of fools here is the very source of the net of delusion.
तस्मात्प्राज्ञैश्च वृद्धैश्च शुद्धभावैस्तपस्विभिः ४५.
Therefore, by the wise, the elders, and ascetics of pure mind—
न नीचैर्नाप्यविद्वद्भिर्नानात्मज्ञैर्विशेषतः ४५.
Not by the base, nor by the ignorant, nor especially by those who know only themselves—
तांश्च सेवेद्विशेषेण शास्त्रं येषां हि विद्यते ४५.
One should especially associate with those who possess the scriptures.
धर्माचारात्प्रहीयंते न च सिध्यंति मानवाः ४५.
Through righteous conduct, faults are removed, and men do not succeed otherwise.
मध्यैश्च मध्यतां याति श्रेष्ठतां याति चोत्तमैः यन्निन्दसि द्विजानेव यैरपेयोऽर्णवः कृतः॥ ४५.
With the middling, one attains mediocrity; with the best, one attains excellence. You reproach only the twice-born, by whom the ocean was crossed.
वेदाः प्रमाणं स्मृतयः प्रमाणं धर्मार्थयुक्तं वचनं प्रमाणम् ४५.
The Vedas are authority, the Smritis are authority, and speech endowed with righteousness and meaning is authority.
इतीरयित्वा वचनं महात्मा स नंदभद्रः सहसा तदैव ४५.
Having thus spoken these words, the great-souled Nandabhadra immediately—
बहूदकस्य कुंडस्य तीरस्थं लिंगमुत्तमम् ४६.
On the bank of a pond with much water, there was an excellent liṅga.
प्रणम्य चाग्रतस्तस्थौ प्रबद्धकरसंपुटः ४६.
Having bowed, he stood in front with hands joined in reverence.
स्रष्टारमस्य जगतश्चेत्पश्यामि सदाशिवम् ४६.
I see Sadāśiva, the creator of this world.
अपूर्यमाणं तव किं जगत्संसृजनं विना ४६.
What is the use of your being unfilled, apart from the creation of the world?
सचेतनेन शुद्धेन रागादिरहितेन च ४६.
With a conscious mind, pure and free from passion and the like,
निर्वैरेण समेनाथ सुखदुःखभवाभवैः ४६.
Without enmity, with equanimity, O Lord, toward pleasure, pain, birth, and non-birth,
कांश्चित्स्वर्गेथ नरके पातयंस्त्वं सदाशिव ४६.
Some you cast into heaven, others into hell, O Sadashiva,
इष्टैः पुत्रादिभिर्नाथ वियुक्ता मानवा ह्यमी ४६.
These humans, O Lord, are separated from their beloved sons and others,
अतीव नोचितं सर्वमेतदीश्वर सर्वथा ४६.
All this, O Lord, is exceedingly improper in every way,
एवंविधेन संसारचारित्रेण विमोहिताः ४६.
Deluded by such conduct in worldly existence,
मरणांतमेव यास्यामि स्थास्ये संचिंतयन्नदः ४६.
I shall go only to the end of death, remaining and reflecting upon that,
ततश्चतुर्थे दिवसे बहूकतटे शुभे ४६.
Then, on the fourth day, at the auspicious riverbank,
कृशोतीव गलत्कुष्ठी प्रमुह्यंश्च पदेपेद ४६.
Emaciated, with leprosy falling away, and stumbling as he walked,
अहो सुरूपसर्वांग कस्माद्दुःखी भवानपि ४६.
Ah! Though you are beautiful in every limb, why are you also afflicted with sorrow?
श्रुत्वा तत्कारणं सर्वं बालो दीनमना ब्रवीत् ४६.
Hearing all that reason, the boy, with a dejected mind, spoke,
संपूर्णेंद्रियगात्रा यन्मर्तुमिच्छंति वै वृथा ४६.
Those whose bodies and senses are complete, who wish to die, do so in vain,
तदहो भारतं खंडं सत्यायुषि त्यजेद्धि कः ४६.
Who indeed would abandon the land of Bharata while possessing true life?
अशक्तश्चलितुं वापि मर्तुमिच्छामि नापि च ४६.
Unable even to move, I neither wish to die nor can I,
संतोषोऽप्युचितस्तुभ्यं देहं यस्य दृढं त्विदम् ४६.
Contentment is proper for you, whose body is firm,
क्षणेक्षणे च तत्कुर्यां भुज्यते यद्युगेयुगे ४६.
Moment by moment, one should do that, if it is to be enjoyed in every age,