सर्वगत्वात् कथमपि अव्यक्तत्वाच्च तद्वद
Because he is all-pervading and, in some way, unmanifest, thus it is said.
चतुर्मूर्तिर्जगन्नाथो यता ब्रह्मंस्तथा शृणु
Hear now how the Lord of the universe, the four-formed one, is like Brahman.
वासुदेवाख्यमाव्यक्तं स्मृतं द्वादशपत्रकम्
The unmanifest, known as Vāsudeva, is remembered as the twelve-petaled one.
कान्यस्य द्वादशैवोक्ता पत्रका तानि मे वद
Which are those twelve petals? Tell me their names.
श्रतं सनत्कुमारेम तेनाख्यातं च तन्मम
Sanatkumāra heard this, and he related it to me.
तवापि तेन गदितं वद मामनुपूर्वशः
He also told it to you; recount it to me in proper order.
संजातं मुनिसार्दुल योगशास्त्रविचारकम्
O best of sages, you have become one who examines the teachings of yoga.
तृतीयः सनको नाम चतुर्थश्च सनन्दनः
The third is named Sanaka, and the fourth is Sanandana.
दृष्ट्वा पञ्चशिखं श्रेष्ठं योगयुक्तं तपोनिधिम्
Seeing Pañcaśikha, the foremost, endowed with yoga and a treasury of austerity,
मानमुक्तं महायोगं कपिलादीनपासतः
Freed from pride, established in great yoga, attended by Kapila and others,
अपृच्छद् योगविज्ञानं तमुवाच प्रजापतिः
He inquired about the knowledge of yoga, and Prajāpati spoke to him.
यस्य कस्य न वक्तव्यं तत्सत्यं नान्यथेति हि
This truth is not to be spoken to just anyone, for it is indeed so and not otherwise.
न विसेषो ऽस्ति पुत्रस्य शिष्यस्य च पितामह
There is no distinction between a son and a disciple, O Grandsire.
धर्मकर्मसमायोगे तथापि गदतः श्रुणु
Even so, when dharma and action are joined, listen as I speak.
सेषपापहरः शिष्य इतीयं वैदिकी श्रुतिः
This Vedic teaching declares: 'The remainder removes sin; the disciple is purified.'
कस्माच्छेषं ततः पापं हरेच्छिष्यश्च तद्वद
Why does the remainder then remove sin, and why is the disciple purified by it? Tell me this.
तथैव चोग्रं भयहारि मानवं वदामि ते साध्य निशामयैनम्
In the same way, I will tell you about the dreadful, fear-dispelling human practice; listen carefully to this.
पारुष्यं सर्वभूतानां प्रथमं नरकं स्मृतम्
Harshness toward all beings is remembered as the first hell.
छेदनं वृक्षजातीनां द्वितीयं नरकं स्मृतम्
The cutting down of trees is remembered as the second hell.
विवादमर्थहेतूत्थं तृतीयं नरकं स्मृतम्
Disputes arising from material motives are remembered as the third hell.
भ्रंशनं निजधर्माणां चतुर्थं नरकं स्मृतम्
Abandoning one's own duties is remembered as the fourth hell.
मिष्टौकाशनमित्युक्तं पञ्चमं तु नृपाचनम्
Eating sweet food is said to be the fifth, and so is the punishment of kings.
यानयुग्यस्य हरणं षष्ठमुक्तं नृपाचनम्
Taking away a vehicle or its harness is declared as the sixth punishment of kings.
राज्ये त्वहितकारित्वं सप्तमं निरयं स्मृतम्
Acting harmfully in governance is remembered as the seventh hell.
लालासंकीर्णमेवोक्तमष्टमं नरकं स्मृतम्
It is said that mixing with saliva is remembered as the eighth hell.
विरोधं बन्धुभिश्चोक्तं नवमं नरपाचनम्
Opposition with relatives is declared as the ninth punishment of men.
शास्त्रस्तेयं धर्मनाशं दशमं परिकीर्तितम्
Stealing scriptures and destroying dharma is proclaimed as the tenth.
एकादशममेवोक्तं नरकं सद्भिरुत्तमम्
The eleventh hell is declared by the virtuous as the highest.
संस्कारपरिहीनत्वमिदं द्वादशमं स्मृतम्
Lack of proper rites is remembered as the twelfth.
संभेदः संविदामेतत् त्रयोदशममुच्यते
Division among agreements is called the thirteenth.