स्कन्धवस्त्रजवप्रोता वेधाक्ष्णा सुखम् ईक्षते । कथम् एनं भिनद्मीति तीक्ष्णानाम् एतद् ईप्सितम्
Threaded with a skein of yarn, the sharp-eyed needle observes with ease: 'How shall I pierce this?'—this is the desire of the keen.
समम् एव च कौशेये क्षौमे च वसने शिता । जडः क इव वा नाम गुणागुणम् उपेक्षते
Whether in silk or linen garments, the sharp needle passes equally; who but a fool would disregard the difference between virtue and vice?
सा दधानोज्ज्वलं सूत्रम् अङ्गुष्ठाङ्गुलिपीडिता । अन्त्रतन्तुम् इवानन्तम् उद्गिरन्ती निरीक्षते
Pressed between thumb and finger, it bears a shining thread, and, as if spitting out an endless cord, it gazes ahead.
तीक्ष्णास्यहृदयत्वेन सरसेषु न केषुचित् । सूत्रितापि पदार्थेषु विशत्य् अलसगामिनी
Because of its sharp and heartless nature, even when threaded, it does not enter into soft things, moving forward sluggishly among objects.
अगर्दभीमुखप्रोता सुतीक्ष्णापि न चापि धीः । अवेधिताप्य् अहृदया राजपुत्र्य् अपि दुर्भगा
Though exceedingly sharp, if threaded through the mouth of a donkey, the needle—unpiercing and heartless—remains unfortunate, like a princess.
विना परापकारेण तीक्ष्णे सरणम् ईहते । वेधनाद् रोधिता सूचिः कर्णपाशे प्रलम्बते
Without harming others, the sharp one seeks no path; after piercing, the needle is restrained and hangs from the ear-lobe.
शेते किं चारु मैत्र्येव बुसे करपरिच्युता । स्वरूपसदृशं मित्रं कस्मै नाम न रोचते
Fallen from the hand, it lies beautifully in the cotton, like friendship; who would not delight in a friend resembling their own nature?
मिश्रिता मूढचित्तानां वृत्तिभिः प्राकृते जने । तिष्ठत्य् आत्मसमां को हि सङ्गतिं त्यक्तुम् इच्छति
Who among ordinary people, whose minds are mixed with deluded tendencies, wishes to abandon companionship with those who are equal to oneself?
भवत्य् अयस्कारचितौ सन्त्यक्तान्तर्धिगामिनी । भस्त्रावातैर् विवलिता गगनोड्डयनोन्मुखी
Once abandoned, the inner-moving force becomes restless in the iron chamber, stirred by the bellows’ winds, eager to rise into the sky.
प्राणापानप्रवाहस्था हृत्पद्मान्तरगामिनी । दुःखशक्तिर् महाघोरा जीवशक्तिर् इवोद्यता
Situated in the flow of prāṇa and apāna, moving within the heart’s lotus, the power of suffering, extremely fierce, arises like the force of the living soul.
समानवैपरीत्येन समानसमगामिनी । उदानविपरीतत्वाद् उदानसमगामिनी
By the opposition of samāna, it moves along with samāna; by the reversal of udāna, it moves along with udāna.
व्यानस्था व्याधिजननी सर्वाङ्गरसचारिणी । हृत्कण्टशूलोत्प्लवनवैवर्ण्योन्मादकारिणी
Situated in vyāna, the generator of disease, it circulates through all the limbs’ essence, causing pain in the heart and throat, swelling, discoloration, and madness.
प्रायस् सौचिकहस्तस्था सुप्तोर्णागण्डकोटरे । बालहस्ते ऽङ्गुलीतल्पवेधनैकविलासिनी
Mostly found in the hand of the cleaner, asleep in the hollow of the nails, it delights solely in piercing the fingertip of a child’s hand.
पादप्रविष्टा रुधिरपानपाजिरविस्तृता । तुष्यत्य् अतितरां तुच्छभोजना तुच्छभोजनैः
Entering the foot, spreading through the blood and the channels of excretion, it is excessively satisfied by trivial food, with trivial food.
शेते कर्दमकोशस्था चिरकालम् अधोमुखी । इच्छानुरूपम् आसाद्य क इवास्पदम् उज्झति
It lies in the muddy cavity, face down for a long time; having attained what it desires, who abandons such a dwelling place?
क्रौर्येणापहृतात्मानं दर्शयत्य् उपवेधनैः । उत्सवाद् अपि नीचानां कलहो हि सुखायते
One whose mind is seized by cruelty displays it through various means; for even in celebrations, conflict brings pleasure to the base.
कपर्दिका वलभ्यान्तरात्मानं बहु मन्यते । दुरुच्छेदा हि भूतानाम् अहङ्कारचमत्कृतिः
A person who treasures a coin hidden in a box esteems it greatly; for the marvel of ego is difficult to uproot from beings.
श्वेतिकायुग्मलभ्येन साहृतेनात्मना नृणाम् । मृतिम् आधास्यते चित्रा स्वार्थे नोदेति मूढता
With a mind captivated by a pair of dice, a person brings about their own ruin; yet, in pursuit of self-interest, folly does not arise in the clever.
वस्त्रतन्तुविभेदेन परमारणम् आशु मे । इदं सम्पद्यत इति भवत्य् अत्यन्तनिर्मला
By the breaking of a thread in cloth, I quickly obtain the ultimate destruction; thus, this thought arises, utterly pure.
स्थापिता मलम् आदत्ते सूची यद् घर्षणं विना । परापवेधविरहाद् व्याधिस् सो ऽस्याः प्रवर्तते
A needle, when set aside, gathers dirt without friction; in the absence of external piercing, disease arises in it.
सूक्ष्मदृश्या वेधदात्री क्षणाद् विस्मृतिम् एति वा । तीक्ष्णा भेदकरी क्रूरा सूचिचेष्टेव दैविकी
Subtle, barely visible, the piercer may bring forgetfulness in an instant; sharp, penetrating, and cruel, it acts like a divine needle.
तन्तुवेधनमात्रेण हतो ऽन्य इति तोषिता । दुर्जनो येन तेनैव नाशितो वेत्ति दुष्टताम्
Satisfied when another is harmed merely by piercing a thread, the wicked person knows only that by which he destroys, not his own wickedness.
पङ्के मज्जति याति खे विहरति व्योमानिलैर् दिक्तटाञ् शेते पांसुषु भूतले पथि गृहे हट्टे वने ऽन्तःपुरे । हस्ते श्रोत्रसरोरुहे ऽथ मृदुनि स्वस्थोर्णिकागण्डके रन्ध्रे काष्ठमृदां च नाडिहृदये द्रव्यात्मसत्तैव सा
It sinks in mud, moves through the sky, plays with the winds of space, lies on the ground, on the road, in the house, in the market, in the forest, in the inner chamber; in the hand, in the lotus of the ear, or in soft woolen balls at home, in holes, in wood or clay, in the channels of the heart—such is the very substance of things.
इत्य् उक्तवत्य् अथ मुनौ दिवसो जगाम सायन्तनाय विधये ऽस्तम् इनो जगाम । स्नातुं सभा कृतनमस्करणा जगाम श्यामाक्षये रविकरैश् च सहाजगाम
After the sage had spoken thus, the day drew to its evening close; the sun set, and the assembly, having offered their salutations, departed to bathe, accompanied by the sun's fading rays.
अथ सा बहुकालेन कर्कटी नाम राक्षसी । सर्वेषां नरमांसानां नूनं तृप्तिम् उपाययौ
Then, after a long time, the demoness named Karkati truly attained satisfaction from consuming all human flesh.
पूर्वेणैव किलाह्ना सा तृप्ता रुधिरबिन्दुना । सूच्यां किम् इव मात्य् अन्तस् तृष्णासूचिस् तु दुर्भरा
Indeed, on the previous day she had been satisfied by a mere drop of blood; but how can the needle of thirst be filled within, when it is so hard to endure?
चिन्तयाम् आस हा कष्टं किम् इदं सूचितां गता । सूक्ष्मास्मि हतशक्तिश् च मयि ग्रासो न माति च
She thought, 'Alas, how wretched is this state I have reached, reduced to a needle's form! I am subtle, my strength is gone, and I cannot even consume a morsel.'
क्व मे तानि विशालानि गतान्य् अङ्गानि दुर्धियः । कालमेघविलासानि वने शीर्णानि पर्णवत्
Where have my vast limbs gone, O foolish mind? Like leaves withered in the forest by the play of dark clouds, they have vanished.
मय्य् अस्यां मन्दभाग्यायां मनाग् अपि न माति च । स्वादुमांसरसग्रासो वसावासित आसवः
In me, so unfortunate, not even a trace remains of the delight in consuming sweet, juicy flesh or the intoxication of fat and blood.
पङ्के ऽन्तर् विनिमज्जामि पतामि धरणीतले । हतास्मि जनपदौघैस् तस्करैर् दलितास्मि च
I sink into the mire, I fall upon the ground; I am destroyed by the multitudes of people, I am crushed by thieves.