शूद्रान्नेनोदरस्थेन ब्राह्मणो म्रियते यदि
If a Brahmin dies with food from a Shudra in his stomach,
कुलदेशोचितं धर्मं यस्त्यक्त्वाऽन्यत्समाचरेत्
Who abandons the dharma proper to his family and region and practices another,
एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं मया पार्थिवसत्तम ६.१८.
All this has been told to you by me, O best of kings.
तन्मे कीर्तय मांसाद विस्तरेण विशेषतः
Now recount to me, O meat-eater, in detail and especially,
यः पश्यत्यात्मवज्जंतून्न प्रेतो जायते नरः
He who sees living beings as himself is not born as a ghost.
अन्नदानपरो नित्यं विशेषेणातिथिप्रियः
Who is devoted to giving food, always especially fond of guests,
समः शत्रौ च मित्रे च समलोष्टाश्मकांचनः
Who is equal toward enemy and friend, and regards earth, stone, and gold alike,
दानधर्मप्रवृत्तानां धर्ममार्गा नुयायिनाम्
For those engaged in charity and dharma, who follow the path of righteousness,
यूकामत्कुणदंशादीन्सर्वसत्त्वानि यो नरः
Who regards all creatures, including lice, bugs, and biting insects,
सदा यज्ञक्रियोपेतः सदा तीर्थपरायणः
Who is always engaged in sacrificial rites and ever devoted to holy places,
वापीकूपतडागानामारामाणां विशे षतः
Especially of wells, ponds, reservoirs, and pleasure gardens.
गत्वा गयाशिरः पुण्यमेकैकस्य पृथक्पृथक् ६.१८.
Having gone to the sacred summit of Gaya, each one separately.
प्रेतत्वं याति येनेदं त्वत्प्र सादात्सुदारुणम्
By your grace, that which is most terrible—becoming a ghost—befalls one.
धर्माधर्मपरिज्ञानं तच्च कस्मात्प्रनिंदसि
Knowledge of righteousness and unrighteousness—why do you blame that?
गुणत्रयसमायुक्ता शेषैर्दोषैः समंततः
Endowed with the three qualities, and equally with the remaining faults.
एका जातिस्मृतिः सम्यगस्यामेवप्रजायते
Only one, true memory of birth arises among us.
एतद्गुणत्रयं प्रोक्तं प्रेतयोनौ नृपोत्तम
This threefold quality is said to exist in the ghostly state, O best of kings.
यदि तावद्वनादस्माद्यामोन्यत्र वयं नृप
If, O king, we go from this forest to another place,
तथा धर्मक्रियाः सर्वा मानुषाणामुदाहृताः
Thus all the rites of righteousness for humans have been described.
पश्यामो दूरतो राजञ्जलपूर्णाञ्जला शयान्
From afar, O king, we see people lying with hands joined and filled with water.
गच्छामः संनिधौ तेषां यदि पार्थिवसतम
Shall we approach them, O best of kings, if you permit?
तथा रसवती सिद्धाः पश्यामो दूरसंस्थिताः ६.१८.
Likewise, we see from a distance those who have attained perfection, endowed with taste.
तथा सुफलिनो वृक्षान्कलपक्षिभिरावृतान्
Similarly, fruitful trees covered with flocks of birds.
किंवा ते बहुनोक्तेन यद्यत्कर्म विगर्हितम्
But why say much to you? Whatever action is condemned—
न च्छिद्रेण विनाऽस्माकं प्राणयात्रा प्रजायते
Without a flaw, our sustenance does not arise.
एतस्मात्कारणान्नित्यं भ्रमामश्छिद्रहेतवे
For this reason, we ever wander, seeking a cause for a flaw.
यत्त्वं शंससि चाऽस्माकं खेचरत्वं महीपते
And as for what you say about our moving in the sky, O king,
क्रियते खेचरत्वेन किंकिं धर्मं विनिश्चयैः
What righteousness is truly accomplished by moving in the sky?
तस्माद्दोषादिमे राजन्गुणा यद्यपि कीर्तिताः
Therefore, O King, although these virtues have been described, they arise from a fault.
विषादो जायते भूयो गुणैरेतैर्नराधिप
Because of these virtues, O ruler of men, sorrow arises again and again.