मया हि सुमहत्पापं सर्वदा समनुष्ठितम्
Indeed, I have always committed very great sin.
एको दानानि सर्वाणि यच्छति श्रद्धयान्वितः
One person gives all gifts, endowed with faith.
सर्वतीर्थाभिषेकं च कुरुतेऽन्यो नरो द्विज
Another man, O twice-born, performs bathing at all sacred fords.
चांद्रायणसहस्रं तु कुरुतेऽन्यो यथोचितम्
Another performs a thousand Cāndrāyaṇa vows as prescribed.
वर्षास्वाकाशशायी च हेमंते सलिलाशयः
In the rainy season, one lies under the open sky; in winter, one stays in water.
अन्यः षडक्षरं मन्त्रं शुचिः श्रद्धासमन्वितः
Another, pure and endowed with faith, recites the six-syllabled mantra.
पितृपक्षे सदा चैको गयायां श्राद्धमाचरेत्
One always performs the śrāddha rite for ancestors at Gayā during the ancestor fortnight.
गोसहस्रं ददात्येकः कार्तिक्यां ज्येष्ठपुष्करे
One gives a thousand cows at Kartik on the Jyestha Pushkara.
संनिहित्यां नरः स्नाति राहुग्रस्ते दिवाकरे ६.२९.
A man bathes at the time of conjunction when the sun is eclipsed by Rāhu.
सोमे सोमग्रहेऽन्यस्तु सोमनाथं प्रपश्यति
Another, during a lunar eclipse, beholds Soma at Somnātha.
एकश्चण्डीश्वरं पश्येदयने चोत्तरे नरः
A man sees Eka-chaṇḍīśvara at the northern doorway.
भृगुपातं पतेदेकः केदारं वीक्ष्य भक्तितः
One, with devotion, beholds Kedāra after falling at the place of Bhṛgu's descent.
करीषं साधयेदन्यो दत्त्वा सर्वस्वमादितः
Another prepares the Karīṣa rite, having first given away all his possessions.
सर्व संगपरित्यागं कृत्वैको ज्ञानमाप्नुयात्
One who has completely renounced all attachments attains knowledge.
एतत्ते परमं गुह्यं मया विप्र प्रकीर्तितम्
O Brāhmaṇa, I have declared to you this supreme secret.
तथान्यदपि वक्ष्यामि हितबुद्ध्या द्विजोत्तम
Now I will tell you something else as well, for your benefit, O best of twice-born.
अहिंसा परमो धर्मः सर्ववेदे प्रकीर्तितः
Non-violence is the highest dharma, proclaimed in all the Vedas.
अहिंसकानि भूतानि यो हिनस्ति सुनिर्दयः
He who mercilessly harms creatures that are themselves non-violent—
चराचराणां भूतानामभयं यः प्रयच्छति ६.२९.
But he who grants fearlessness to all beings, moving and unmoving—
नास्ति भर्गसमो देवो नास्ति गंगासमा नदी
There is no god equal to Bharga, no river equal to the Gaṅgā.
अथाहमब्रुवं तं च तच्छ्रुत्वा तस्य जल्पितम्
Then, having heard his words, I spoke to him.
मन्यते वृद्धलोकानामेतद्वाक्यं श्रुतं मया
I have heard this statement from the elders.
प्रवदंति तथा वैद्या वैद्यशास्त्रविचक्षणाः
So too do the learned physicians, skilled in medical science, declare.
तदत्र विषये ब्रूहि परं निःश्रेयसं वचः
Now, on this matter, tell me the supreme and most beneficial word.
अथ मां स पुनः प्राह वद मैवं द्विजोत्तम
Then he again said to me, 'Do not speak thus, O best of twice-born.'
अहो शोच्यतमा लोके पापात्मानः सुनिर्दयाः
Alas, in this world, the most pitiable are the sinful and utterly merciless.
न मांसमायुषो हेतुरारोग्यस्य बलस्य वा
Meat is not the cause of longevity, health, or strength.
मांसाशिनोऽपि दृश्यंते रोगार्ता दुर्बलास्तथा
Even those who eat meat are seen to suffer from disease and weakness.
अमांसादा अपि क्ष्मायां दृश्यंते रोगवर्जिताः ६.२९.
Likewise, those who abstain from meat are observed to be free from illness.
यो भक्षयति मांसानि सत्त्वानां जीवितैषिणाम्
Whoever eats the flesh of creatures that desire life—