दृश्यते चैव यत्रैव सस्यं वापि कथंचन
Wherever any crop was seen at all,
एवमन्नक्षये जाते पीडिते धरणीतले
Thus, when famine arose and the earth was afflicted,
अत्रिश्चैव वसिष्ठश्च कश्यपः सुमहातपाः कौशिको जमदग्निश्च तथैवारुंधती सती
Atri, Vasiṣṭha, Kaśyapa of great austerity, Kauśika, Jamadagni, and the virtuous Arundhatī,
अथ तेषां समस्तानां चंडाभूत्परिचारिका
Then, among them all, there was a fierce attendant.
ततस्ते विषयं प्राप्ता वृषादर्भिमहीपतेः
Then they reached the domain of King Vṛṣādarbhi.
ततस्तैः पतितो भूमौ दृष्टो मृतकुमारकः
Then, by them, a dead boy was seen lying on the ground.
अपचन्यावदग्नौ तं क्षुधया परिपीडिताः
Afflicted by hunger, they placed him in the fire of disrespect.
राक्षसानामयं धर्मो महामांसस्य भक्षणम्
The custom of the rakshasas is the eating of great quantities of flesh.
सोऽहं सस्यं प्रदास्यामि ग्रामान्व्रीहीन्यवानपि ६.३२.
Therefore, I will give grain, villages, and even rice fields.
प्रतिग्रहस्य भूपाला दापत्कालेऽपि नो नृप
O king, even at the time of need, rulers must not accept gifts.
पश्चात्तपश्चरिष्यामो महामांससमुद्भवम्
Afterwards, we shall perform penance for the sin arising from the consumption of great flesh.
ग्राह्यो मत्तस्ततः सर्वैर्नात्र कार्या विचारणा
Let all accept from me; there should be no deliberation here.
स दूराद्ब्राह्मणैस्त्याज्यो विशेषात्कृतिभिर्नृप
He should be shunned from afar by brahmins, especially by those who are accomplished, O king.
दशसूनासमश्चक्री दशचक्रिसमो ध्वजी
He who acts is equal to ten sons; he who bears the banner is equal to ten chariots.
दशसूनासहस्रेण तुल्यो राजप्रतिग्रहः
The royal acceptance is equal to ten thousand sons.
रौरवादिषु सर्वेषु नरकेषु स पच्यते
He is cooked in all the hells, such as Raurava and others.
वयमन्यत्र यास्यामो ग्रहीष्यामो न ते धनम्
We will go elsewhere; we will not take your wealth.
परित्यज्य कुमारं तं मृतं तमपि भूमिपम्
Abandoning that prince, and even that dead king.
सोऽपि राजा ततस्तैस्तु भर्त्सितोऽतिरुषान्वितः ६.३२.
Then the king, rebuked by them, became exceedingly angry.
ततः सुवर्णपूर्णानि विधायोदुम्बराणि च
He prepared udumbara fruits filled with gold.
उदुम्बराणि संदृष्ट्वा जगृहुः क्षुधयार्दिताः
Seeing the udumbara fruits, afflicted by hunger, they took them.
अथ तानि समालक्ष्य गुरूणि मुनिसत्तमाः
Then, observing those heavy fruits, the eminent sages.
अत्रिरुवाच नास्माकं मुनयोऽज्ञानं नास्माकं गृहबुद्धयः
Atri said: 'We sages do not lack knowledge, nor do we possess householders’ minds.'
तस्मादेतानि संत्यज्य हेमगर्भाणि दूरतः
Therefore, abandoning these gold-filled fruits from afar.
सार्वभौमो महीपाल एकोऽन्यश्च निरीहकः
One is a universal sovereign, ruler of the earth; another is destitute and powerless.
धर्मार्थमपि विप्राणां संचयोऽर्थस्य गर्हितः
Even for the sake of righteousness or gain, the accumulation of wealth by Brahmins is censured.
त्यजतः संचयान्सर्वान्यांति हानिमुपद्रवाः
When one renounces all accumulations, losses and troubles depart.
निर्धनत्वं तथा राज्यं तुलायां धारयेद्बुधः
A wise person should weigh poverty and kingship equally in the balance.
अर्थैश्वर्यविमूढात्मा श्रेयसा मुच्यते हि सः ॥ ६.३२.
He whose mind is deluded by wealth and power is indeed deprived of true welfare.
अर्थसंपद्विमोहाय विमोहो नरकाय च
The prosperity of wealth leads to delusion, and delusion leads to hell.