सदापि लाभविरहो न परस्वं गृहीतवान्। तस्य जिज्ञासयैवाहं गृहीत्वा वस्त्रयुग्मकम्
Even when deprived of gain, he never took another's property; out of curiosity about him, I took his pair of garments.
अवकोटे नदीतीरे स्थितस्संस्थाप्य सादरम्। स दृष्ट्वा वस्त्रयुग्मं तन्न लोभे कुरते मनः
Standing at the riverbank in a secluded spot, I respectfully placed them there; seeing that pair of garments, he did not let his mind be seized by greed.
इतरस्य परिज्ञाय तत्क्षांत्या स्वगृहं ययौ। ततो विचिंतयित्वा तु हृदा स्वल्पमिति द्विज
Recognizing that they belonged to another, he returned home with forbearance; then, reflecting in his heart, he thought it was a small matter, O twice-born one.
उदुंबरं हेमगर्भं मया तत्रैव पातितम्। किंकरे च नदीतीरे विकोणे जनवर्जिते
I then placed a fig, filled with gold, right there at the riverbank, in a hidden, deserted place.
तस्य यातस्य देशे तु दृष्टं तेन तदद्भुतम्। अलं विधानमेतत्तु कृत्रिमं चोपलक्ष्यते
When he went to that place, he saw that marvelous thing; this arrangement was sufficient, and it was clearly artificial.
ग्रहणे वाधुना चास्य अलोभं नष्टमेव मे। अस्यैव रक्षणे कष्टमहंकारपदं त्विदम्
Now, upon taking it, his lack of greed was lost to me; in guarding this very thing, the burden of ego arises.
यतो लोभस्ततो लाभो लाभाल्लोभः प्रवर्तते। लोभग्रस्तस्य पुंसश्च शाश्वतो निरयो भवेत्
Where there is greed, there is gain, and from gain, greed arises; for a man consumed by greed, there is eternal hell.
यदि नो विगुणं वित्तं यदा वेश्मनि तिष्ठति। तदा मे दारपुत्राणामुन्मादो ह्युपपद्यते
If wealth lacking virtue remains in my house, then madness overtakes my wife and sons.
उन्मादात्कामसंजात विकारान्मतिविभ्रमः। भ्रमान्मोहोप्यहंकारः क्रोधलोभावतः परं
From madness arises desire, from desire distortion, from distortion confusion of mind; from confusion comes delusion, and from delusion, ego; from ego, anger and greed arise further.
एषां प्रचुरभावाच्च तपः क्षयं गमिष्यति। क्षीणे तपसि वर्तंते पंकाश्चित्तप्रमोहकाः
When these become abundant, ascetic power will be diminished; when ascetic power is depleted, the mud of mental delusion prevails.
तैश्च शृंखलयोगैश्च बद्धो नैवोद्धृतिं व्रजेत्। एतद्विमृश्य शूद्रोऽसौ परित्यज्य गृहं गतः
Bound by these chains and fetters, one does not attain liberation; reflecting on this, that Śūdra abandoned his home and departed.
स्वस्था देवा मुदा तत्र साधुसाध्विति चाब्रुवन्। निर्ग्रंथिरूपमादाय तस्यांतिक गृहं तथा
The gods there, being content, said, 'Well done, well done!' assuming the form of mendicants, they too went to his house.
गत्वाहं दैवसंवादमवदं भूतवर्तनम्। ततोभ्यासप्रसंगाच्च जनानां च परिप्लवात्
Having gone, I spoke of the divine conversation and the conduct of beings; then, due to the force of practice and the confusion of people—
तस्य योषा तदागत्य पप्रच्छ दैवकारणम्। ततोहमवदं तस्य यद्वा चेतोगतं द्रुतम्
At that time, his wife came and asked the reason for the divine matter; then I told her whatever quickly came to mind.
निभृतोथ निनादस्य कारणं कथितं मया। हृद्गतं पतिना तेद्य विधिना दत्तमज्ञवत्
In private, I explained the cause of the outcry; what was in your husband's heart has today been given by fate, as if to one ignorant.
परित्यक्तं महाभागे पुनर्नास्तीह ते वसु। यावज्जीवति दौर्विध्यं तस्य भोक्ता न संशयः
Abandoned, O noble lady, you no longer have wealth here; as long as he lives, misfortune will be his to enjoy, without doubt.
गच्छ मातर्गृहं शून्यमलब्धं तत्प्रपृच्छतम्। श्रुत्वा तद्वै शिवं सा च वचनं पत्युरंतिके
Go, mother, to your empty house and ask about what has not been obtained; hearing that auspicious word in her husband's presence—
गत्वा प्रोवाच दुर्वृत्तं तच्छ्रुत्वा विस्मयं गतः। स विचिंत्य तया सार्धमागतोसौ ममांतिकम्
She went and spoke to the wicked man; hearing this, he was astonished; reflecting, he came together with her to me.
निभृतं मामुवाचेदं क्षपणत्वं च कीर्तय। क्षपणक उवाच- चाक्षुषं चिरसंशुद्धं हेलया तृणवत्कथम्
In private, he said to me: 'Tell me about the mendicant's way.' The mendicant said: 'How could you, after long purification of the eye, cast it away carelessly, like grass?'
त्वया त्यक्तं यतस्तात नास्ति भाग्यमकंटकम्। ऐश्वर्यमतुलं शौर्यं शीर्यते भावुकं पुनः
Because you abandoned it, my friend, there is no thornless fortune; incomparable prosperity and heroism, once decayed, are again subject to feeling.
स्वबंधूनां महद्दुःखमाजन्ममरणांतिकम्। द्रक्ष्यसे चात्मना नित्यं मृतानां या गतिर्ध्रुवम्
You will see the great sorrow of your own kin, lasting until birth and death; and you will always see, with your own self, the certain fate of the dead.
तस्मात्तद्गृह्यतां तूर्णं भुंक्ष्व भोग्यमकंटकम्। ऐश्वर्यमतुलं शौर्यं लोकानां विस्मयं वरम्
Therefore, quickly take that and enjoy the fortune without thorns; incomparable prosperity and heroism are a wonder to the worlds and a supreme boon.
शूद्र उवाच- न मे वित्ते स्पृहा चास्ति धनं संसार वागुरा। तद्विधौ पतितो मर्त्यो न पुनर्मोक्षकं व्रजेत्
The Śūdra said: 'I have no desire for wealth; riches are a snare of worldly existence. Once fallen into that, a mortal does not attain liberation again.'
शृणु वित्तस्य यद्दोषमिहलोके परत्र च। भयं चोराच्च ज्ञातिभ्यो राजभ्यस्तत्करादपि५० 1.53.
'Hear the faults of wealth, both in this world and the next: fear from thieves, from relatives, from kings, and even from tax collectors.'
सर्वे जिघांसवो मर्त्याः पशुमत्स्यविविष्किराः। तथा धनवतां नित्यं कथमर्थास्सुखावहाः
All mortals are intent on killing, like beasts, fish, and birds; so how can wealth ever bring happiness to its possessors?
प्राणस्यांतकरो ह्यर्थस्साधको दुरितस्य च। कालादीनां प्रियं गेहं निदानं दुर्गतेः परम्
Wealth brings about the end of life and is the accomplisher of misfortune; it is the beloved home of Time and others, and the chief cause of ruin.
क्षपणक उवाच- यस्यार्थास्तस्य मित्राणि यस्यार्थास्तस्य बांधवाः। कुलं शीलं च पांडित्यं रूपं भोग्यं यशः सुखम्
The mendicant said: Whoever has wealth, has friends; whoever has wealth, has relatives. Family, character, learning, beauty, enjoyment, fame, and happiness—
धनेन तु विहीनस्य पुत्रदारोज्झितस्य च। कथं मित्रं कथं धर्मं दीनानां जन्मनः कथं
But for one deprived of wealth, and bereft of children and wife, how can there be friendship, how can there be righteousness, and what is the purpose of life for the destitute?
सत्वादिक्रतुकार्यं च पुष्करिण्युपकारकं। दानं नाकस्य सोपानं निःस्वस्य च न सिद्ध्यति
Acts of charity, sacrifices, and the maintenance of sacred ponds, gifts that are the steps to heaven—all these do not succeed for one who is penniless.
व्रतकार्यस्य रक्षा च धर्मादिश्रवणं भृशम्। पितृयज्ञादितीर्थं च निर्वित्तस्य न सिद्ध्यति
For one who has nothing, the observance of vows, the protection of religious duties, the hearing of dharma, and pilgrimages to ancestral shrines—all these are not accomplished.