दिव्येऽस्मिन् सदसि ब्रह्मन् ब्रह्मर्षिगणसंवृते
In this divine assembly, O Brahman, surrounded by the hosts of Brahmarshis,
स्वकर्म भुज्यते तात सम्भूतैर्यत्कृतं स्वयम्
Each one experiences his own actions, O dear one, which have arisen and been performed by himself.
वायुना भाविता संज्ञा संसारे सा दृढीकृता
The consciousness shaped by the wind is firmly established in worldly existence.
अभिघाताभिभूतस्तु आत्मनात्मानमुद्धरेत्
Even when overwhelmed by affliction, one should uplift oneself by one's own self.
बन्धुं बन्धुपरिक्लेशं निर्मितं पूर्वकर्मभिः
A relative, a source of affliction to relatives, is created by previous actions.
मिथ्याप्रवृत्तः शब्दोऽयं जगद्भ्रमति सर्वशः
This word, set in motion falsely, causes the world to wander in every way.
यथा यथा क्षयं याति ह्यशुभं पुरुषस्य वै
Just as, little by little, the inauspicious of a person comes to an end,
संसारे प्राप्तदोषस्य जायमानस्य देहिनः 210.
for the embodied being, born into the world, who has acquired faults,
शुभाशुभकरीं बुद्धिं लभते पौर्वदैहिकीम् क्लेशक्षयं पापहरं शुभं कर्म करोत्यथ
he attains an intellect inclined to good and evil, shaped by previous bodies; when suffering is exhausted, he performs virtuous deeds that remove sin.
शुभाशुभं नरः प्राप्य कर्माकर्म तथैव च
A man, having obtained good and evil, likewise performs action and inaction.
स्वर्गः शुभफलप्राप्तिर्निरयः पापसंभवः
Heaven is the attainment of good results; hell arises from sin.
नारद उवाच शुभस्येह भवेदवृद्धिरशुभस्य क्षयोऽपि वा
Nārada said: In this world, can there be a decrease of merit or perhaps a destruction of demerit?
मनसा कर्मणा वापि तपसा चरितेन वा
By mind, by action, or by austerity, or by conduct,
यम उवाच कीर्त्तयिष्यामि ते सम्यक्पापदोषक्षयं सदा
Yama said: I shall properly declare to you the destruction of sin and fault, always.
प्रणम्य शिरसा सम्यक्पापपुण्यकराय च
Having bowed with my head to Him who is the cause of both sin and merit,
येन सृष्टमिदं सर्वं त्रैलोक्यं सचराचरम्
by whom all this, the three worlds with the moving and unmoving, was created,
यः समः सर्वभूतेषु जितात्मा शान्तमानसः
who is equal toward all beings, self-controlled, with a peaceful mind,
तत्त्वार्थं वेत्ति यः सम्यक्पुरुषं प्रकृतिं तथा 210.
who truly knows the reality of the principle, the person, and also nature,
गुणागुणपरिज्ञाता ह्यक्षयस्य क्षयस्य च
who knows both the qualities and the absence of qualities, of the imperishable and the perishable,
स्वदेहे परदेहे च सुखदुःखेन नित्यशः
in his own body and in another's, always through pleasure and pain,
अहिंस्रः सर्वभूतेषु तृष्णाक्रोधविवर्जितः
non-violent toward all beings, free from desire and anger,
प्राणायामैश्च निर्गृह्य त्वधः सन्धारणानि च
having restrained the life-forces through breath-control and also the lower restraints,
निराशः सर्वतस्तिष्ठेदिष्टार्थेषु न लोलुपः
He should remain free from desire everywhere, not greedy for the objects he wishes for.
श्रद्दधानो जितक्रोधः परद्रव्यविवर्जकः
He should be faithful, have conquered anger, and avoid the wealth of others.
गुरुशुश्रूषया युक्तस्त्वहिंसानिरतश्च यः
He who is devoted to serving his teacher and is constantly engaged in non-violence.
प्रशस्तानि च यः कुर्यादप्रशस्तानि वर्जयेत्
He should perform what is praised and avoid what is not praised.
योऽभिगच्छति तीर्थानि विशुद्धेनान्तरात्मना
He who approaches sacred places with a purified inner self.
उत्थाय ब्राह्मणं गच्छेन्नरो भक्त्या समन्वितः 210.
Rising up, a man should go to a Brahmin, filled with devotion.
नारद उवाच उपपन्नं च युक्तं च तत्त्वया समुदाहृतम्
Narada said: What you have declared is appropriate and fitting.
विविधैः कारणोपायैः सम्यक्तत्त्वार्थदर्शितैः
With various reasons and methods, you have rightly shown the meaning of the truth.