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—
एवमुक्त्वा महात्मा स पश्यतो मम सूतज
Having spoken thus, that great soul, as I watched, O son of the charioteer—
गन्धर्वैर्गीयमानस्तु स्तूयमानश्च किन्नरैः
He was sung by Gandharvas and praised by Kinnaras.
तस्मिन्गते तदा स्वर्गं दुःखं मे समुपस्थितम्
When he departed, then sorrow came upon me in heaven.
ततोऽहं कृतवांस्तत्र विप्रलापाननेकशः
Then I uttered many lamentations there.
अहो मया नृशंसेन बहवः प्राणिनो हताः
Alas, through my cruelty, many living beings have been slain.
सोऽहं हिंसां परित्यज्य चरिष्यामि महत्तपः
Therefore, abandoning violence, I shall undertake great austerity.
यत्किंचित्त्रिषु लोकेषु प्रार्थयंति नराः सुखम्
Whatever happiness people desire in the three worlds,
अधुनैकोऽहमेकाहमेकैकस्मिन्वनस्पतौ
Now I am alone, just myself, at each and every tree.
पांसुना समवच्छन्नः शून्यागारप्रतिश्रयः ६.२९.
Covered with dust, I take shelter in deserted dwellings.
एवं विलप्य यत्नेन मया सूतकुलोद्वह
Lamenting thus, with effort, I, O best of the Sutas,