म्लेच्छा अपि सुतीर्थेषु ये मृतानात्मघातकाः
Even Mlecchas who die at excellent fords, and those who commit suicide,
अंधं तमो विशेयुस्ते ये चैवात्महनो जनाः
They enter utter darkness, as do those who destroy themselves.
आत्मघातो न कर्तव्यस्तस्मात्क्वापि विपश्चिता
Therefore, a wise person should never commit suicide anywhere.
यथेष्टमरणं केचिदाहुस्तत्त्वावबोधकाः
Some who have realized the truth say that one may die as one wishes.
अंत्यजा अपि ये केचिद्दयाधर्मानुसारिणः
Even those who are outcastes, if they follow the path of compassion and righteousness—
पल्लीपतिरभूदुग्रः पिंगाक्ष इति विश्रुतः
There was a fierce village chief known as Piṅgākṣa.
घातयेद्दूरसंस्थोपि यः पांथपरिपंथिनः
He would have travelers and wayfarers killed, even those who were far away.
जीवेन्मृगयु धर्मेण तत्रापि करुणापरः
He lived by hunting in accordance with dharma, yet was especially compassionate.
न तोयगृध्नून्न शिशून्नांतर्वर्त्नित्वलक्षणान् 4.1.12.
He did not covet water, nor children, nor those marked by inner wicks.
श्रमातुरेभ्यः पांथेभ्यः स विश्रामं प्रयच्छति
To weary travelers, he would offer rest.
मृगत्त्वचोतिमृदुला विवस्त्रेभ्यातिसर्जति
He would give the softest animal skins as clothing to those without garments.
न जिघृक्षति तेभ्योर्थमभयं चेति यच्छति
He did not seek to take wealth from them, and he granted them safety.
नित्यं कार्पटिकान्सर्वान् स पुत्रेण प्रपश्यति
He would always look after all the mendicants along with his son.
इति तिष्ठति पिंगाक्षे साटवी नगरायिता
Thus, Piṅgākṣa remained, making the forest into a city.
कदाचित्तत्पितृव्येण समीप ग्रामवासिना
Once, his paternal uncle, who lived in the village, came near.
लुब्धकस्तद्धने लुब्धः क्षुद्रस्तन्निधनोद्यतः
A hunter, greedy for that wealth, was a base man intent on killing for it.
तदा युप्यस्यशेषेण पिंगाक्षो मृगयां गतः
Then Piṅgākṣa went hunting with the remainder of the sacrificial post.
परप्राणद्रुहां पुंसां न सिद्ध्येयुर्मनोरथाः
The desires of those who harm the lives of others do not succeed.
न चिंतयेदनिष्टानि तस्मात्कृष्टिः कदाचन 4.1.12.
Therefore, one should never think of misfortune; thus, there should never be plowing.
तस्मादात्मसुखंप्रेप्सु रिष्टानिष्टं न चिंतयेत्
Therefore, one seeking their own happiness should not think of good or bad outcomes.
व्युष्टायामथयामिन्यामभूत्कोलाहलो महान्
When the night had passed, a great commotion arose.
मा मारयध्वं त्रायध्वं भटाः कार्पटिका वयम्
"Do not kill us, protect us, guards! We are mendicants."
वयं पांथा अनाथाः स्मो विश्वनाथपरायणाः
We are travelers, without support, devoted to Viśvanātha.
वयं पिंगाक्षविश्वासादस्मिन्मार्गेऽकुतोभयाः
We are fearless on this path, trusting in Piṅgākṣa.
इति श्रुत्वाऽथ पिंगाक्षो भटः कार्पटिकेरितम
Hearing these words spoken by the mendicants, Piṅgākṣa, the guard, then—
तत्कर्मसूत्रैराकृष्टो भिल्लःकार्पटिकप्रियः
The Bhilla, dear to the mendicants, was drawn by the cords of duty.
कोयंकोयं दुराचारः पिंगाक्षे मयि जीवति
"Who is this wicked one, while I, Piṅgākṣa, am alive?"
इति तद्वाक्यमाकर्ण्य ताराक्षस्तत्पितृव्यकः
Hearing those words, Tārākṣa, his paternal uncle—
कुलधर्मं व्यपास्यैष वर्तते कुलपांसनः 4.1.12.
Having abandoned family duty, this one acts as a disgrace to the lineage.
विचार्येति स दुष्टात्मा भृत्यानाज्ञापयत्क्रुधा
Thinking thus, that wicked-minded one angrily ordered his servants.