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—
न हि मांसं तृणात्काष्ठादुपलादपि जायते
For meat does not arise from grass, wood, or stone.
एतदेव हि दृष्टांतं मांसस्य परिवर्जने
This itself is the example for the avoidance of meat.
आत्मौपम्येन भूतानि तस्मात्सर्वाणि पंडितैः
Therefore, the wise regard all beings as similar to themselves.
हंता चैवानुमंता च विशस्ता क्रयविक्रयी
The killer, the one who consents, the butcher, the buyer and seller—
धनेन क्रयकृद्धंति भक्षणेन च खादकः
The one who purchases with money kills, and the eater by consumption.
कर्मणा मनसा वाचा यो हिनस्ति न किंचन
Whoever harms nothing by deed, mind, or speech—
शाकमूलफलाहारो ब्रह्मचर्यपरायणः
Who subsists on vegetables, roots, and fruits, devoted to celibacy—
एको वर्षशतं साग्रं तपस्तपति दुस्तरम्
He alone performs difficult austerity for a hundred years and more.
यंयं कामयते कामं दुष्प्रापमपि मानवः ६.२९.
Whatever desire a person wishes for, even that which is hard to attain—
कामगेन विमानेन दिव्यस्त्रीशतसेवितः
By a desire-created chariot, served by hundreds of divine women—