Sumana's Teaching on Greed, and the Karmic Bond of the Deposit-Thief's Son

Verse 1 (padma.2.11.1)

ऋषय ऊचुः- सर्वज्ञेन त्वया प्रोक्तं दैत्यदानवसंगरम् । इदानीं श्रोतुमिच्छामः सुव्रतस्य महात्मनः

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ- sarvajñena tvayā proktaṁ daityadānavasaṁgaram idānīṁ śrotumicchāmaḥ suvratasya mahātmanaḥ

The sages said: You, all-knowing, have told of the battle of the daityas and danavas. Now we wish to hear of the great soul Suvrata—

Verse 2 (padma.2.11.2)

कस्य पुत्रो महाप्राज्ञः कस्य गोत्रसमुद्भवः । किं तपस्तस्य विप्रस्य कथमाराधितो हरिः

kasya putro mahāprājñaḥ kasya gotrasamudbhavaḥ kiṁ tapastasya viprasya kathamārādhito hariḥ

—whose son, O greatly wise one, was he, and from what lineage did he arise? What was that brahmin's austerity, and how was Hari worshipped by him?

Verse 3 (padma.2.11.3)

सूत उवाच- कथा प्रज्ञाप्रभावेण पूर्वमेव यथा श्रुता । तथा विप्राः प्रवक्ष्यामि सुव्रतस्य महात्मनः

sūta uvāca- kathā prajñāprabhāveṇa pūrvameva yathā śrutā tathā viprāḥ pravakṣyāmi suvratasya mahātmanaḥ

Suta said: Just as this story was heard before, by the power of Prajna, so, O brahmins, shall I relate the story of the great soul Suvrata—

Verse 4 (padma.2.11.4)

चरितं पावनं दिव्यं वैष्णवं श्रेयआवहम् । भवतामग्रतः सर्वं विष्णोश्चैव प्रसादतः

caritaṁ pāvanaṁ divyaṁ vaiṣṇavaṁ śreyaāvaham bhavatāmagrataḥ sarvaṁ viṣṇoścaiva prasādataḥ

—his purifying, divine, Vaishnava conduct, bringer of true good — all of it before you, by the grace of Vishnu himself.

Verse 5 (padma.2.11.5)

पूर्वकल्पे महाभागाः सुक्षेत्रे पापनाशने । रेवातीरे सुपुण्ये च तीर्थे वामनसंज्ञके

pūrvakalpe mahābhāgāḥ sukṣetre pāpanāśane revātīre supuṇye ca tīrthe vāmanasaṁjñake

In a former age, O greatly fortunate ones, in a fine field that destroys sin, on the bank of the Reva, at the greatly meritorious tirtha named Vamana—

Verse 6 (padma.2.11.6)

कौशिकस्य कुले जातः सोमशर्मा द्विजोत्तमः । स तु पुत्रविहीनस्तु बहुदुःखसमन्वितः

kauśikasya kule jātaḥ somaśarmā dvijottamaḥ sa tu putravihīnastu bahuduḥkhasamanvitaḥ

—there was born, in the lineage of Kaushika, Somasharma, best of the twice-born. He was without sons and was joined with much sorrow.

Verse 7 (padma.2.11.7)

दारिद्रेण स दुःखेन सर्वदैवप्रपीडितः । पुत्रोपायं धनस्यापि दिवारात्रौ प्रचिंतयेत्

dāridreṇa sa duḥkhena sarvadaivaprapīḍitaḥ putropāyaṁ dhanasyāpi divārātrau praciṁtayet

Tormented always by the suffering of poverty, he ceaselessly pondered, day and night, the means to obtain both sons and wealth.

Verse 8 (padma.2.11.8)

एकदा तु प्रिया तस्य सुमना नाम सुव्रता । भर्तारं चिंतयोपेतमधोमुखमलक्षयत्

ekadā tu priyā tasya sumanā nāma suvratā bhartāraṁ ciṁtayopetamadhomukhamalakṣayat

One day his beloved wife, named Sumana, of good vows, saw her husband sunk in thought, his face downcast.

Verse 9 (padma.2.11.9)

समालोक्य तदा कांतं तमुवाच तपस्विनी । दुःखजालैरसंख्यैस्तु तव चित्तं प्रधर्षितम्

samālokya tadā kāṁtaṁ tamuvāca tapasvinī duḥkhajālairasaṁkhyaistu tava cittaṁ pradharṣitam

Beholding her husband thus, that devoted wife said to him: 'Your mind is overwhelmed by countless webs of sorrow—'

Verse 10 (padma.2.11.10)

व्यामोहेन प्रमूढोसि त्यज चिंतां महामते । मम दुःखं समाचक्ष्व स्वस्थो भव सुखं व्रज

vyāmohena pramūḍhosi tyaja ciṁtāṁ mahāmate mama duḥkhaṁ samācakṣva svastho bhava sukhaṁ vraja

—'you are utterly bewildered by delusion; abandon this worry, O great-minded one. Tell me your trouble; be at ease and go toward happiness.'

Verse 11 (padma.2.11.11)

नास्ति चिंतासमं दुःखं कायशोषणमेव हि । यश्चिंतां त्यज्य वर्तेत स सुखेन प्रमोदते

nāsti ciṁtāsamaṁ duḥkhaṁ kāyaśoṣaṇameva hi yaściṁtāṁ tyajya varteta sa sukhena pramodate

'There is no suffering equal to worry — it truly withers the body. He who lives having abandoned worry rejoices in happiness.'

Verse 12 (padma.2.11.12)

चिंतायाः कारणं विप्र कथयस्व ममाग्रतः । प्रियावाक्यं समाकर्ण्य सोमशर्माब्रवीत्प्रियाम्

ciṁtāyāḥ kāraṇaṁ vipra kathayasva mamāgrataḥ priyāvākyaṁ samākarṇya somaśarmābravītpriyām

'Tell me, O brahmin, the reason for your worry.' Hearing his beloved wife's word, Somasharma said to her:

Verse 13 (padma.2.11.13)

सोमशर्मोवाच-। इच्छया चिंतितं भद्रे चिंता दुःखस्य कारणम् । तत्सर्वं तु प्रवक्ष्यामि श्रुत्वा चैवावधार्यताम्

somaśarmovāca- icchayā ciṁtitaṁ bhadre ciṁtā duḥkhasya kāraṇam tatsarvaṁ tu pravakṣyāmi śrutvā caivāvadhāryatām

Somasharma said: 'By desire is worry born, O gracious one; worry is the cause of suffering. I shall tell you all of it; hear it and take it to heart.'

Verse 14 (padma.2.11.14)

न जाने केन पापेन धनहीनोस्मि सुव्रते । तथा पुत्रविहीनश्च एतद्दुःखस्य कारणम्

na jāne kena pāpena dhanahīnosmi suvrate tathā putravihīnaśca etadduḥkhasya kāraṇam

'I do not know by what sin I am without wealth, O one of good vows, and likewise without sons; this is the cause of my sorrow.'

Verse 15 (padma.2.11.15)

सुमनोवाच- श्रूयतामभिधास्यामि सर्वसंदेहनाशनम् । स्वरूपमुपदेशस्य सर्वविज्ञानदर्शनम्

sumanovāca- śrūyatāmabhidhāsyāmi sarvasaṁdehanāśanam svarūpamupadeśasya sarvavijñānadarśanam

Sumana said: 'Listen, I shall speak — that which destroys every doubt, the very nature of true teaching, the revelation of all understanding.'

Verse 16 (padma.2.11.16)

लोभः पापस्य बीजं हि मोहो मूलं च तस्य हि । असत्यं तस्य वै स्कंधो माया शाखा सुविस्तरा

lobhaḥ pāpasya bījaṁ hi moho mūlaṁ ca tasya hi asatyaṁ tasya vai skaṁdho māyā śākhā suvistarā

'Greed is truly the seed of sin, and delusion is its very root; untruth is its trunk, and illusion its far-spreading branches.'

Verse 17 (padma.2.11.17)

दंभकौटिल्यपत्राणि कुबुद्ध्या पुष्पितः सदा । अनृतं तस्य सौगंधं फलमज्ञानमेव च

daṁbhakauṭilyapatrāṇi kubuddhyā puṣpitaḥ sadā anṛtaṁ tasya saugaṁdhaṁ phalamajñānameva ca

'Hypocrisy and deceit are its leaves; it ever blossoms through evil intent; falsehood is its fragrance, and ignorance alone is its fruit.'

Verse 18 (padma.2.11.18)

छद्मपाखंडशौर्येर्ष्याः क्रूराः कूटाश्च पापिनः । पक्षिणो मोहवृक्षस्य मायाशाखा समाश्रिताः

chadmapākhaṁḍaśauryerṣyāḥ krūrāḥ kūṭāśca pāpinaḥ pakṣiṇo mohavṛkṣasya māyāśākhā samāśritāḥ

'Fraud, false piety, false valor, and envy — cruel, deceitful, sinful — these are the birds that perch upon the branches of illusion on this tree of delusion.'

Verse 19 (padma.2.11.19)

अज्ञानं सुफलं तस्य रसोऽधर्मः फलस्य हि । तृष्णोदकेन संवृद्धाऽश्रद्धा तस्य द्रवः प्रिय

ajñānaṁ suphalaṁ tasya raso'dharmaḥ phalasya hi tṛṣṇodakena saṁvṛddhā'śraddhā tasya dravaḥ priya

'Ignorance is its fair fruit, unrighteousness the very juice of that fruit; watered by the waters of craving, faithlessness is its sap, my dear.'

Verse 20 (padma.2.11.20)

अधर्मः सुरसस्तस्य उत्कटो मधुरायते । यादृशैश्च फलैश्चैव सुफलो लोभपादपः

adharmaḥ surasastasya utkaṭo madhurāyate yādṛśaiśca phalaiścaiva suphalo lobhapādapaḥ

'Unrighteousness, its rich juice, tastes ever sweet and potent; with such fruits does this tree of greed bear its abundant harvest.'

Verse 21 (padma.2.11.21)

अस्यच्छायां समाश्रित्य यो नरः परितुष्यते । फलानि तस्य चाश्नाति सुपक्वानि दिनेदिने

asyacchāyāṁ samāśritya yo naraḥ parituṣyate phalāni tasya cāśnāti supakvāni dinedine

'The man who takes refuge in its shade and finds contentment there eats of its ripened fruits, day after day.'

Verse 22 (padma.2.11.22)

फलानां तु रसेनापि अधर्मेण तु पालितः । स संतुष्टो भवेन्मर्त्यः पतनायाभिगच्छति

phalānāṁ tu rasenāpi adharmeṇa tu pālitaḥ sa saṁtuṣṭo bhavenmartyaḥ patanāyābhigacchati

'Nourished by the juice of those very fruits, by unrighteousness, that mortal, though satisfied, goes surely toward his own downfall.'

Verse 23 (padma.2.11.23)

तस्माच्चिंतां परित्यज्य पुमाँल्लोभं न कारयेत् । धनपुत्रकलत्राणां चिंतामेकां न कारयेत्

tasmācciṁtāṁ parityajya pumā~llobhaṁ na kārayet dhanaputrakalatrāṇāṁ ciṁtāmekāṁ na kārayet

'Therefore, abandoning worry, a man should never indulge in greed; he should never dwell on anxious thoughts of wealth, sons, or wife alone.'

Verse 24 (padma.2.11.24)

यो हि विद्वान्भवेत्कांत मूर्खाणां पथमेति हि । मूर्खश्चिंतयते नित्यं कथमर्थं ममैव हि

yo hi vidvānbhavetkāṁta mūrkhāṇāṁ pathameti hi mūrkhaściṁtayate nityaṁ kathamarthaṁ mamaiva hi

'He who is truly wise, my dear, if he worries so, walks the path of fools indeed; the fool thinks always: "How may I gain wealth for myself—'

Verse 25 (padma.2.11.25)

सुभार्यामिह विंदामि कथं पुत्रानहं लभे । एवं चिंतयते नित्यं दिवारात्रौ विमोहितः

subhāryāmiha viṁdāmi kathaṁ putrānahaṁ labhe evaṁ ciṁtayate nityaṁ divārātrau vimohitaḥ

—'how may I find a good wife here, how may I obtain sons?" Thus he thinks constantly, day and night, utterly bewildered.'

Verse 26 (padma.2.11.26)

क्षणमेकं प्रपश्येत चिंतामध्ये महत्सुखम् । पुनश्चैतन्यमायाति महादुःखेन पीड्यते

kṣaṇamekaṁ prapaśyeta ciṁtāmadhye mahatsukham punaścaitanyamāyāti mahāduḥkhena pīḍyate

'For but a single moment, amid his worry, he glimpses some great happiness; but then awareness returns, and he is tormented again by great sorrow.'

Verse 27 (padma.2.11.27)

चिंतामोहौ परित्यज्य अनुवर्तस्व च द्विज । संसारे नास्ति संबंधः केन सार्धं महामते

ciṁtāmohau parityajya anuvartasva ca dvija saṁsāre nāsti saṁbaṁdhaḥ kena sārdhaṁ mahāmate

'Abandoning worry and delusion both, conduct yourself rightly, O brahmin; in this world there is truly no lasting bond with anyone, O great-minded one—'

Verse 28 (padma.2.11.28)

मित्राश्च बांधवाः पुत्राः पितृमातृसभृत्यकाः । संबंधिनो भवंत्येव कलत्राणि तथैव च

mitrāśca bāṁdhavāḥ putrāḥ pitṛmātṛsabhṛtyakāḥ saṁbaṁdhino bhavaṁtyeva kalatrāṇi tathaiva ca

—'friends, kinsmen, sons, father, mother, and servants, and wives likewise — these indeed become one's relations—'

Verse 29 (padma.2.11.29)

सोमशर्मोवाच- संबंधः कीदृशो भद्रे तथा विस्तरतो वद । येन संबंधिनः सर्वे धनपुत्रादिबांधवाः

somaśarmovāca- saṁbaṁdhaḥ kīdṛśo bhadre tathā vistarato vada yena saṁbaṁdhinaḥ sarve dhanaputrādibāṁdhavāḥ

Somasharma said: 'What sort of bond is this, O gracious one? Tell me of it in full, by which wealth, sons, and all these kin become relations.'

Verse 30 (padma.2.11.30)

सुमनोवाच- ऋणसंबंधिनः केचित्केचिन्न्यासापहारकाः । लाभप्रदा भवंत्येके उदासीनास्तथापरे

sumanovāca- ṛṇasaṁbaṁdhinaḥ kecitkecinnyāsāpahārakāḥ lābhapradā bhavaṁtyeke udāsīnāstathāpare

Sumana said: 'Some are bound by relations of debt, some are takers of a deposit entrusted to them; some become bringers of gain, and others again remain indifferent.'

Verse 31 (padma.2.11.31)

भेदैश्चतुर्भिर्जायंते पुत्रमित्रस्त्रियस्तथा । भार्या पिता च माता च भृत्याः स्वजनबांधवाः

bhedaiścaturbhirjāyaṁte putramitrastriyastathā bhāryā pitā ca mātā ca bhṛtyāḥ svajanabāṁdhavāḥ

'By these four kinds are born sons, friends, and women likewise — wife, father, mother, servants, kinsmen and relatives—'

Verse 32 (padma.2.11.32)

स्वेनस्वेन हि जायंते संबंधेन महीतले । न्यासापहारभावेन यस्य येन कृतं भुवि

svenasvena hi jāyaṁte saṁbaṁdhena mahītale nyāsāpahārabhāvena yasya yena kṛtaṁ bhuvi

—'each is born through his own particular bond upon this earth. Through the nature of a misappropriated deposit — whatever was done by whom, to whom—'

Verse 33 (padma.2.11.33)

न्यासस्वामी भवेत्पुत्रो गुणवान्रूपवान्भुवि । येनैवापह्रतं न्यासं तस्य गेहे न संशयः

nyāsasvāmī bhavetputro guṇavānrūpavānbhuvi yenaivāpahrataṁ nyāsaṁ tasya gehe na saṁśayaḥ

—'the true owner of the deposit becomes a virtuous, handsome son, born, no doubt, in the very house of the one who misappropriated that deposit.'

Verse 34 (padma.2.11.34)

न्यासापहरणाद्दुःखं स दत्वा दारुणं गतः । न्यासस्वामी सुपुत्रोभून्न्यासापहारकस्य च

nyāsāpaharaṇādduḥkhaṁ sa datvā dāruṇaṁ gataḥ nyāsasvāmī suputrobhūnnyāsāpahārakasya ca

'Having caused dreadful suffering through the theft of a deposit, that thief later departed this life; and the true owner of the deposit became a fine son to him who had stolen from him—'

Verse 35 (padma.2.11.35)

गुणवान्रूपवांश्चैव सर्वलक्षणसंयुतः । भक्तिं तु दर्शयंस्तस्य पुत्रो भूत्वा दिनेदिने

guṇavānrūpavāṁścaiva sarvalakṣaṇasaṁyutaḥ bhaktiṁ tu darśayaṁstasya putro bhūtvā dinedine

—'virtuous and handsome, endowed with every auspicious mark, showing devotion to him day by day, having become his son—'

Verse 36 (padma.2.11.36)

प्रियवाङ्मधुरो रोगी बहुस्नेहं विदर्शयन् । स्वीयं द्रव्यं समुद्गृह्य प्रीतिमुत्पाद्य चोत्तमाम्

priyavāṁmadhuro rogī bahusnehaṁ vidarśayan svīyaṁ dravyaṁ samudgṛhya prītimutpādya cottamām

—'sweet of speech, feigning sickness, showing abundant affection, gathering up his own wealth, and, having produced the deepest affection—'

Verse 37 (padma.2.11.37)

यथा येन प्रदत्तं स्यान्न्यासस्य हरणात्पुरा । दुःखमेव महाभाग दारुणं प्राणनाशनम्

yathā yena pradattaṁ syānnyāsasya haraṇātpurā duḥkhameva mahābhāga dāruṇaṁ prāṇanāśanam

—'exactly as much as was given by him, according to the first theft of the deposit — that same dreadful, life-destroying suffering, O greatly fortunate one—'

Verse 38 (padma.2.11.38)

तादृशं तस्य सौहृद्यात्पुत्रो भूत्वा महागुणैः । अल्पायुषस्तथा भूत्वा मरणं चोपगच्छति

tādṛśaṁ tasya sauhṛdyātputro bhūtvā mahāguṇaiḥ alpāyuṣastathā bhūtvā maraṇaṁ copagacchati

—'in that same measure, having become his son through this feigned friendship, with great virtues, and having become short-lived, he then meets his own death.'

Verse 39 (padma.2.11.39)

दुःखं दत्वा प्रयात्येवं भूत्वाभूत्वा पुनःपुनः । यदा हा पुत्रपुत्रेति प्रलापं हि करोति सः

duḥkhaṁ datvā prayātyevaṁ bhūtvābhūtvā punaḥpunaḥ yadā hā putraputreti pralāpaṁ hi karoti saḥ

'Thus, having inflicted equal suffering, he departs, taking birth again and again in this way. When the father, crying "Alas, my son, my son!" laments—'

Verse 40 (padma.2.11.40)

तदा हास्यं करोत्येव कस्य पुत्रो हि कः पिता । अनेनापहृतं न्यासं मदीयस्योपकारणम्

tadā hāsyaṁ karotyeva kasya putro hi kaḥ pitā anenāpahṛtaṁ nyāsaṁ madīyasyopakāraṇam

—'then the departed son's spirit merely laughs: "Whose son, indeed, and whose father? By this one my deposit was stolen — this was payment for it—'

Verse 41 (padma.2.11.41)

द्रव्यापहरणेनापि न मे प्राणा गताः किल । दुःखेन महता चैव असह्येन च वै पुरा

dravyāpaharaṇenāpi na me prāṇā gatāḥ kila duḥkhena mahatā caiva asahyena ca vai purā

—'"yet even by the theft of that wealth my life was not truly taken; that came only from great and unbearable suffering, before—'

Verse 42 (padma.2.11.42)

तथा दुःखं प्रदत्वाहं द्रव्यमुद्गृह्य चोत्तमम् । गंतास्मि सुभृशं चाद्य कस्याहं सुत ईदृशः

tathā duḥkhaṁ pradatvāhaṁ dravyamudgṛhya cottamam gaṁtāsmi subhṛśaṁ cādya kasyāhaṁ suta īdṛśaḥ

—'"so, having inflicted equal suffering, and having taken back my excellent wealth in full, I now depart. Whose son, indeed, was I in such a manner?'

Verse 43 (padma.2.11.43)

न चैष मे पिता पुत्रः पूर्वमेव न कस्यचित् । पिशाचत्वं मया दत्तमस्यैवेति दुरात्मनः

na caiṣa me pitā putraḥ pūrvameva na kasyacit piśācatvaṁ mayā dattamasyaiveti durātmanaḥ

—'"this one was never truly my father, nor was I ever truly anyone's son from the start. I have granted this evil-souled one the state of a ghost, in return"'—

Verse 44 (padma.2.11.44)

एवमुक्त्वा प्रयात्येवं तं प्रहस्य पुनःपुनः । प्रयात्यनेन मार्गेण दुःखं दत्वा सुदारुणम्

evamuktvā prayātyevaṁ taṁ prahasya punaḥpunaḥ prayātyanena mārgeṇa duḥkhaṁ datvā sudāruṇam

—having said this, he departs thus, laughing at him again and again; by this very path does he depart, having inflicted such dreadful suffering.

Verse 45 (padma.2.11.45)

एवं न्यासं समुद्धर्तुः पुत्राः कांत भवंति वै । संसारे दुःखबहुला दृश्यंते यत्रतत्र च

evaṁ nyāsaṁ samuddhartuḥ putrāḥ kāṁta bhavaṁti vai saṁsāre duḥkhabahulā dṛśyaṁte yatratatra ca

'Thus, my dear, do sons become the reclaimers of a stolen deposit; in this world such sorrow-laden cases are seen here and there.'

Verse 46 (padma.2.11.46)

ऋणसंबंधिनः पुत्रान्प्रवक्ष्यामि तवाग्रतः

ṛṇasaṁbaṁdhinaḥ putrānpravakṣyāmi tavāgrataḥ

'Now I shall speak before you of sons bound by relations of debt.'