रोहितोऽरण्यमहिषमुद्धर्षति निराकुलः
The red deer fearlessly approaches the wild buffalo in the forest.
हुंडौ च मुंड युद्धाय न सज्जेते जयैषिणौ
In the arena, the bald and the shaven do not engage in battle, though they desire victory.
तृण्वंति तृणगुल्मादीन्श्वापदास्त्वापदास्पदम् 4.1.3.
The beasts of prey graze on grass and thickets, the very place of danger.
यः स्वार्थं मांसपचनं कुरुते पापमोहितः
He who, deluded by sin, cooks flesh for his own sake—
परप्राणैस्तु ये प्राणान्स्वान्पुष्णं ति हि दुर्धियः
Those wicked-minded ones who nourish their own lives with the lives of others—
जातुमांसं न भोक्तव्यं प्राणैः कंठगतैरपि
Flesh that is born should not be eaten, even if life has reached the throat.
वरमेतेश्वापदा वै मैत्रावरुणि सेवया
These calamities, O Maitrāvaruṇi, are preferable through service.
बकोपि पल्वले मत्स्यान्नाश्नात्यग्रेचरानपि
Even a crane in a pond does not eat fish that move in front of it.
एकतः सर्वमांसानि मत्स्यमांसं तथकैतः
On one side are all kinds of flesh, and on the other, fish flesh—thus is the distinction.
श्येनोपि वर्तिकां दृष्ट्वा भवत्येष पराङ्मुखः
Even a hawk, seeing a quail, turns away from it.
सुचिरं नरकान्भुक्त्वा मदिरापानलंपटाः
Those addicted to drinking wine endure long torments in hell.
अतएव पुराणेषु गाथेति परिगीयते
Therefore, in the Purāṇas, this verse is celebrated.
क्व मांसं क्व शिवे भक्तिः क्व मद्यं क्व शिवार्चनम् 4.1.3.
Where is flesh, where is devotion to Śiva? Where is wine, where is the worship of Śiva?
विना शिवप्रसादं हि भ्रांतिः क्वापि न नश्यति
Without Śiva's grace, delusion is never dispelled anywhere.
इत्याश्रमचरान्दृष्ट्वा तिर्यञ्चोपि मुनीनिव
Thus, seeing the ascetics, even animals behave like sages.
यतो विश्वेश्वरेणैते तिर्यञ्चोप्यत्रवासिनः
For by the Lord of the Universe, even these animals dwelling here—
ज्ञात्वा क्षेत्रस्य माहात्म्यं यो वसेत्कृतनिश्चयः
Whoever, knowing the greatness of this place, dwells here with firm resolve—
अविमुक्तरहस्यज्ञा मुच्यंते ज्ञानि नो नराः
Those who know the secret of Avimukta are released; the ignorant are not.
इत्याश्चर्यपरा देवा यावद्यांत्याश्रमं मुनेः
Amazed, the gods remain until they reach the sage's hermitage.
सारसो लक्ष्मणाकंठे कंठमाधाय निश्चलः ६७ कंडूयमाना वरटा स्वचंचुपुटकोटिभिः
A crane, motionless, holds Lakṣmaṇa's neck in its beak, while leeches scratch themselves with the tips of their own beaks.
निरुद्ध्यमान चक्रेण चक्रीक्रेंकितभाषणैः
The wheel is being blocked by the wheel-bearer, with speech marked by the sound of the wheel.
कलकंठः किलोत्कंठं मंजुगुंजति कुंजगः 4.1.3.
The cuckoo, with a dark throat, yearns for its mate and sweetly coos in the grove.
केकीकेकां परित्यज्य मौनं तिष्ठति तद्भयात्
The peacock, abandoning its call, stands silent out of fear.
पठंती सारिकासारं शुकंसंबोधयत्यहो
The female starling recites the song of starlings and, indeed, instructs the parrot.
कोकिलः कोमलालापैः कलयन्किलकाकलीम्
The cuckoo, with its gentle calls, utters its melodious song.
मृगाणां पक्षिणामित्थं दृष्ट्वा चेष्टां त्रिविष्टपम्
Seeing the actions of the deer and birds in this way, the dwellers of heaven—
वरमेतेपक्षिमृगाः पशवः काशिवासिनः
It is better to be these birds, deer, or animals dwelling in Kāśī.
काशीस्थैः पतितैस्तुल्या न वयं स्वर्गिणः क्वचित्
We are never equal to those who have fallen in Kāśī, even if we are gods.
वरं काशीपुरी वासो मासोपवसनादिभिः
It is better to dwell in the city of Kāśī than to perform month-long fasts and similar austerities.
शशकैर्मशकैः काश्यां यत्पदं हेलयाप्यते
Even the spot in Kāśī that is trodden upon by hares and mosquitoes—