Mrityu Instructs Sunitha on the Sin of Striking the Innocent and the Virtue of Holy Company

Verse 1 (padma.2.33.1)

ऋषय ऊचुः- शप्ता गंधर्वपुत्रेण सुशंखेन महात्मना । तस्य शापात्कथं जाता किं किं कर्म कृतं तया

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ- śaptā gaṁdharvaputreṇa suśaṁkhena mahātmanā tasya śāpātkathaṁ jātā kiṁ kiṁ karma kṛtaṁ tayā

The sages said: Cursed by the great-souled Sushankha, son of a Gandharva — how was she affected by his curse, and what deed had she done?

Verse 2 (padma.2.33.2)

सा लेभे कीदृशं पुत्रं तस्य शापाद्द्विजोत्तम । सुनीथायाश्च चरितं त्वं नो विस्तरतो वद

sā lebhe kīdṛśaṁ putraṁ tasya śāpāddvijottama sunīthāyāśca caritaṁ tvaṁ no vistarato vada

O best of the twice-born, what kind of son did she obtain because of his curse? Tell us the story of Sunitha in full.

Verse 3 (padma.2.33.3)

सूत उवाच- सुशंखेनापि तेनैव सा शप्ता तनुमध्यमा । पितुः स्थानं गता सा तु सुनीथा दुःखपीडिता

sūta uvāca- suśaṁkhenāpi tenaiva sā śaptā tanumadhyamā pituḥ sthānaṁ gatā sā tu sunīthā duḥkhapīḍitā

Suta said: Cursed by that same Sushankha, Sunitha, slender-waisted, afflicted with grief, went to her father's house.

Verse 4 (padma.2.33.4)

पितरं चात्मनश्चैव चरितं च प्रकाशितम् । श्रुतवान्सोपि धर्मात्मा मृत्युः सत्यवतां वर

pitaraṁ cātmanaścaiva caritaṁ ca prakāśitam śrutavānsopi dharmātmā mṛtyuḥ satyavatāṁ vara

She related her whole conduct to her father; and he too, that righteous Mrityu, foremost among the truthful, heard it all.

Verse 5 (padma.2.33.5)

तामुवाच सुनीथां तु सुतां शप्तां महात्मना । भवत्या दुष्कृतं पापं धर्म तेजः प्रणाशनम्

tāmuvāca sunīthāṁ tu sutāṁ śaptāṁ mahātmanā bhavatyā duṣkṛtaṁ pāpaṁ dharma tejaḥ praṇāśanam

He said to Sunitha, his daughter cursed by that great soul: 'This wicked act and sin that you have committed destroys both dharma and splendor.

Verse 6 (padma.2.33.6)

कस्मात्कृतं महाभागे सुशांतस्य हि ताडनम् । विरुद्धं सर्वलोकस्य भवत्या परिकल्पितम्

kasmātkṛtaṁ mahābhāge suśāṁtasya hi tāḍanam viruddhaṁ sarvalokasya bhavatyā parikalpitam

'Why, O greatly fortunate one, did you strike that peaceful sage? This deed, contrary to the whole world, was devised by you alone.

Verse 7 (padma.2.33.7)

कामक्रोधविहीनं तं सुशांतं धर्मवत्सलम् । तपोमार्गे विलीनं च परब्रह्मणि संस्थितम्

kāmakrodhavihīnaṁ taṁ suśāṁtaṁ dharmavatsalam tapomārge vilīnaṁ ca parabrahmaṇi saṁsthitam

'He who was free from desire and anger, peaceful, devoted to dharma, absorbed in the path of austerity, established in the supreme Brahman—

Verse 8 (padma.2.33.8)

तमेवघातयेद्यो वै तस्य पापं शृणुष्व हि । पापात्मा जायते पुत्रः किल्बिषं लभते बहु

tamevaghātayedyo vai tasya pāpaṁ śṛṇuṣva hi pāpātmā jāyate putraḥ kilbiṣaṁ labhate bahu

'—whoever strikes such a one, hear the sin of it: a sinful son is born to him, and he incurs great guilt.

Verse 9 (padma.2.33.9)

ताडंतं ताडयेद्यो वै क्रोशंतं क्रोशयेत्पुनः । तस्य पापं स वै भुंक्ते ताडितस्य न संशयः

tāḍaṁtaṁ tāḍayedyo vai krośaṁtaṁ krośayetpunaḥ tasya pāpaṁ sa vai bhuṁkte tāḍitasya na saṁśayaḥ

'He who strikes back one who strikes, or cries out against one who cries out, partakes indeed of the sin of the one struck — of this there is no doubt.

Verse 10 (padma.2.33.10)

स वै शांतः स जितात्मा ताडयंतं न ताडयेत् । निर्दोषं प्रति येनापि ताडनं च कृतं सुते

sa vai śāṁtaḥ sa jitātmā tāḍayaṁtaṁ na tāḍayet nirdoṣaṁ prati yenāpi tāḍanaṁ ca kṛtaṁ sute

'One who is peaceful and self-controlled does not strike back the one who strikes him; but whoever has struck an innocent person,

Verse 11 (padma.2.33.11)

पश्चान्मोहेन पापेन निर्दोषेऽपि च ताडयेत् । निर्दोषं प्रति येनापि हृद्रोगः क्रियते वृथा

paścānmohena pāpena nirdoṣe'pi ca tāḍayet nirdoṣaṁ prati yenāpi hṛdrogaḥ kriyate vṛthā

'—and then, through delusion and sin, strikes the innocent again — such a one causes needless anguish to that innocent soul.

Verse 12 (padma.2.33.12)

निर्दोषं ताडयेत्पश्चान्मोहात्पापेन केनचित् । स पापी पापमाप्नोति निर्दोषस्य शरीरजम्

nirdoṣaṁ tāḍayetpaścānmohātpāpena kenacit sa pāpī pāpamāpnoti nirdoṣasya śarīrajam

'He who, through some sin and delusion, afterward strikes an innocent one, that sinner obtains the sin born of injury to the innocent one's body.

Verse 13 (padma.2.33.13)

निर्दोषो घातयेत्तं वै ताडंतं पापचेतसम् । पुनरुत्थाय वेगेन साहसात्पापचेतनम्

nirdoṣo ghātayettaṁ vai tāḍaṁtaṁ pāpacetasam punarutthāya vegena sāhasātpāpacetanam

'And if the innocent one, rising up in a burst of daring, strikes back at that sinful-minded assailant,

Verse 14 (padma.2.33.14)

पापकर्तुश्च यत्पापं निर्दोषं प्रति गच्छति । ताडनं नैव तस्माद्वै कार्यं दोषवतोऽपि च

pāpakartuśca yatpāpaṁ nirdoṣaṁ prati gacchati tāḍanaṁ naiva tasmādvai kāryaṁ doṣavato'pi ca

'—then the sin of the doer of that sin passes even to the innocent one; therefore, striking should never be done, even against one who is truly at fault.'

Verse 15 (padma.2.33.15)

दुष्कृतं च महत्पुत्रि त्वयैव परिपालितम् । शप्ता तेनापि याद्यैव तस्मात्पुण्यं समाचर

duṣkṛtaṁ ca mahatputri tvayaiva paripālitam śaptā tenāpi yādyaiva tasmātpuṇyaṁ samācara

'This great misdeed, O daughter, has been committed by you alone, and it is for that you have been cursed by him; therefore now practice merit.

Verse 16 (padma.2.33.16)

सतां संगं समासाद्य सदैव परिवर्तय । योगध्यानेन ज्ञानेन परिवर्तय नंदिनि

satāṁ saṁgaṁ samāsādya sadaiva parivartaya yogadhyānena jñānena parivartaya naṁdini

'Attaining the company of the good, transform yourself always; through yoga, meditation, and knowledge, transform yourself, my daughter.

Verse 17 (padma.2.33.17)

सतां संगो महापुण्यो बहुश्रेयो विधायकः । बाले पश्य सुदृष्टांतं सतां संगस्य यद्गुणम्

satāṁ saṁgo mahāpuṇyo bahuśreyo vidhāyakaḥ bāle paśya sudṛṣṭāṁtaṁ satāṁ saṁgasya yadguṇam

'The company of the good is of great merit and bestows abundant welfare; behold, child, this clear example of the virtue of holy company:

Verse 18 (padma.2.33.18)

अपां संस्पर्शनात्पानात्स्नानात्तत्र महाधियः । मुनयः सिद्धिमायांति बाह्याभ्यंतरक्षालिताः

apāṁ saṁsparśanātpānātsnānāttatra mahādhiyaḥ munayaḥ siddhimāyāṁti bāhyābhyaṁtarakṣālitāḥ

'—by the mere touch, drinking, or bathing in water, sages of great wisdom attain perfection there, purified within and without.

Verse 19 (padma.2.33.19)

शुचिष्मंतो भवंत्येते लोकाः सर्वे चराचराः । आपः शांताः सुशीताश्च मृदुगात्राः प्रियंकराः

śuciṣmaṁto bhavaṁtyete lokāḥ sarve carācarāḥ āpaḥ śāṁtāḥ suśītāśca mṛdugātrāḥ priyaṁkarāḥ

'All worlds, moving and unmoving, are likewise purified by it; water is peaceful, exceedingly cool, gentle, and pleasing,

Verse 20 (padma.2.33.20)

निर्मला रसवत्यश्च पुण्यवीर्या मलापहाः । तथा संतस्त्वया ज्ञेया निषेव्याश्च प्रयत्नतः

nirmalā rasavatyaśca puṇyavīryā malāpahāḥ tathā saṁtastvayā jñeyā niṣevyāśca prayatnataḥ

'pure, full of flavor, endowed with holy potency, and a remover of impurity — likewise should the good be recognized by you, and diligently served.

Verse 21 (padma.2.33.21)

यथा वह्निप्रसंगाच्च मलं त्यजति कांचनम् । तथा सतां हि संसर्गात्पापं त्यजति मानवः

yathā vahniprasaṁgācca malaṁ tyajati kāṁcanam tathā satāṁ hi saṁsargātpāpaṁ tyajati mānavaḥ

'Just as gold, through contact with fire, casts off its impurity, so too, through association with the good, man casts off his sin.

Verse 22 (padma.2.33.22)

सत्यवह्निः प्रदीप्तश्च प्रज्वलेत्पुण्यतेजसा । सत्येन दीप्ततेजास्तु ज्ञानेनापि सुनिर्मलः

satyavahniḥ pradīptaśca prajvaletpuṇyatejasā satyena dīptatejāstu jñānenāpi sunirmalaḥ

'Truth is indeed the blazing fire, kindled with the splendor of merit; made radiant by truth and, through knowledge too, made most pure,

Verse 23 (padma.2.33.23)

अत्युष्णो ध्यानभावेन अस्पृश्यः पापजैर्नरैः । सत्यवह्नेः प्रसंगाच्च पापं सर्वं विनश्यति

atyuṣṇo dhyānabhāvena aspṛśyaḥ pāpajairnaraiḥ satyavahneḥ prasaṁgācca pāpaṁ sarvaṁ vinaśyati

'—exceedingly hot through the power of meditation, untouchable by sinful men; through contact with that fire of truth, all sin is destroyed.

Verse 24 (padma.2.33.24)

तस्मात्सत्यस्य संसर्गः कर्तव्यः सर्वथा त्वया । पापभारं परित्यज्य पुण्यमेवं समाश्रय

tasmātsatyasya saṁsargaḥ kartavyaḥ sarvathā tvayā pāpabhāraṁ parityajya puṇyamevaṁ samāśraya

'Therefore you must, in every way, seek the company of truth; casting off the burden of sin, take refuge thus in merit alone.'

Verse 25 (padma.2.33.25)

सूत उवाच- एवं पित्रा सुनीथा सा दुःखिता प्रतिबोधिता । नमस्कृत्य पितुः पादौ गता सा निर्जनं वनम्

sūta uvāca- evaṁ pitrā sunīthā sā duḥkhitā pratibodhitā namaskṛtya pituḥ pādau gatā sā nirjanaṁ vanam

Suta said: Thus instructed by her father, the grieving Sunitha, bowing at her father's feet, went into a solitary forest.

Verse 26 (padma.2.33.26)

कामं क्रोधं परित्यज्य बाल्यभावं तपस्विनी । मोहद्रोहौ च मायां च त्यक्त्वा एकांतमास्थिता

kāmaṁ krodhaṁ parityajya bālyabhāvaṁ tapasvinī mohadrohau ca māyāṁ ca tyaktvā ekāṁtamāsthitā

That ascetic woman, abandoning desire, anger, and childish feeling, and casting off delusion, malice, and illusion too, settled into solitude.

Verse 27 (padma.2.33.27)

तस्याः सख्यः समाजग्मुः क्रीडार्थं लीलयान्विताः । तां ददृशुर्विशालाक्ष्यः सुनीथां दुःखभागिनीम्

tasyāḥ sakhyaḥ samājagmuḥ krīḍārthaṁ līlayānvitāḥ tāṁ dadṛśurviśālākṣyaḥ sunīthāṁ duḥkhabhāginīm

Her friends came there for the sake of play, full of merriment; those wide-eyed companions saw Sunitha, sharing in sorrow,

Verse 28 (padma.2.33.28)

ध्यायंतीं चिंतयानां तामूचुश्चिंतापरायणाः । कस्माच्चिंतसि भद्रे त्वमनया चिंतयान्विता

dhyāyaṁtīṁ ciṁtayānāṁ tāmūcuściṁtāparāyaṇāḥ kasmācciṁtasi bhadre tvamanayā ciṁtayānvitā

lost in thought, brooding; and those companions, themselves concerned, said to her: 'O gentle one, why are you so lost in this anxious thought?

Verse 29 (padma.2.33.29)

तन्नो वै कारणं ब्रूहि चिंतादुःखप्रदायिनी । एकैव सार्थकी चिंता धर्मस्यार्थे विचिंत्यते

tanno vai kāraṇaṁ brūhi ciṁtāduḥkhapradāyinī ekaiva sārthakī ciṁtā dharmasyārthe viciṁtyate

'Tell us the reason that is giving you this sorrow of anxiety. Only one anxiety is called worthwhile — the one pondered for the sake of dharma.

Verse 30 (padma.2.33.30)

द्वितीया सार्थका चिंता योगिनां धर्मनंदिनी । अन्या निरर्थिका चिंता तां नैव परिकल्पयेत्

dvitīyā sārthakā ciṁtā yogināṁ dharmanaṁdinī anyā nirarthikā ciṁtā tāṁ naiva parikalpayet

'The second worthwhile anxiety is that which delights yogis in dharma. Every other anxiety is fruitless and should never be entertained.

Verse 31 (padma.2.33.31)

कायनाशकरी चिंता बल तेजः प्रणाशिनी । नाशयेत्सर्वसौख्यं तु रूपहानिं निदर्शयेत्

kāyanāśakarī ciṁtā bala tejaḥ praṇāśinī nāśayetsarvasaukhyaṁ tu rūpahāniṁ nidarśayet

'Anxiety destroys the body, destroys strength and vigor; it ruins all happiness and brings about the loss of one's beauty.

Verse 32 (padma.2.33.32)

तृष्णां मोहं तथा लोभमेतांश्चिंता हि प्रापयेत् । पापमुत्पादयेच्चिंता चिंतिता च दिने दिने

tṛṣṇāṁ mohaṁ tathā lobhametāṁściṁtā hi prāpayet pāpamutpādayecciṁtā ciṁtitā ca dine dine

'Anxiety also gives rise to craving, delusion, and greed; anxiety brooded upon day after day likewise produces sin.

Verse 33 (padma.2.33.33)

चिंताव्याधिप्रकाशाय नरकाय प्रकल्पयेत् । तस्माच्चिंतां परित्यज्य चानुवर्तस्व शोभने

ciṁtāvyādhiprakāśāya narakāya prakalpayet tasmācciṁtāṁ parityajya cānuvartasva śobhane

'Anxiety brings forth the manifestation of disease and leads toward hell; therefore, O lovely one, abandon anxiety and follow the good path.

Verse 34 (padma.2.33.34)

अर्जितं कर्मणा पूर्वं स्वयमेव नरेण तु । तदेव भुंक्तेऽसौ जंतुर्ज्ञानवान्न विचिंतयेत्

arjitaṁ karmaṇā pūrvaṁ svayameva nareṇa tu tadeva bhuṁkte'sau jaṁturjñānavānna viciṁtayet

'What a man has earned before through his own deeds — that alone does this creature enjoy; the wise should not brood over it.

Verse 35 (padma.2.33.35)

तस्माच्चिंतां परित्यज्य सुखदुःखादिकं वद । तासां तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा सुनीथा वाक्यमब्रवीत्

tasmācciṁtāṁ parityajya sukhaduḥkhādikaṁ vada tāsāṁ tadvacanaṁ śrutvā sunīthā vākyamabravīt

'Therefore, abandoning anxiety, speak of whatever happiness or sorrow may come.' Having heard their words, Sunitha spoke this reply.