The Stranger's Teaching and the Fall of Vena

Verse 1 (padma.2.37.1)

ऋषय ऊचुः- एवं वेनस्य चैवासीत्सृष्टिरेव महात्मनः । धर्माचारं परित्यज्य कथं पापमतिर्भवेत्

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ- evaṁ venasya caivāsītsṛṣṭireva mahātmanaḥ dharmācāraṁ parityajya kathaṁ pāpamatirbhavet

The sages said: Thus, how did this fall of the great-souled Vena come about? Having abandoned righteous conduct, how did he become sinful-minded?

Verse 2 (padma.2.37.2)

सूत उवाच- ज्ञानविज्ञानसंपन्ना मुनयस्तत्त्ववेदिनः । शुभाशुभं वदंत्येवं तन्न स्यादिह चान्यथा

sūta uvāca- jñānavijñānasaṁpannā munayastattvavedinaḥ śubhāśubhaṁ vadaṁtyevaṁ tanna syādiha cānyathā

Suta said: Sages endowed with knowledge and wisdom, knowers of the truth, alone declare what is good and what is evil; here it can never be otherwise.

Verse 3 (padma.2.37.3)

तप्यमानेन तेनापि सुशंखेन महात्मना । दत्तः शापः कथं विप्रा न यथावच्च जायते

tapyamānena tenāpi suśaṁkhena mahātmanā dattaḥ śāpaḥ kathaṁ viprā na yathāvacca jāyate

That very curse, given by the great-souled Sushankha even while he was performing austerity, O brahmins — how did it not simply pass away, as it duly should have?

Verse 4 (padma.2.37.4)

वेनस्य पातकाचारं सर्वमेव वदाम्यहम् । तस्मिञ्छासति धर्मज्ञे प्रजापाले महात्मनि

venasya pātakācāraṁ sarvameva vadāmyaham tasmiñchāsati dharmajñe prajāpāle mahātmani

I shall relate to you the whole of Vena's sinful conduct; when that righteous, great-souled protector of the people was ruling,

Verse 5 (padma.2.37.5)

पुरुषः कश्चिदायातश्छद्म लिंगधरस्तदा । नग्नरूपो महाकायः शिरोमुंडो महाप्रभः

puruṣaḥ kaścidāyātaśchadma liṁgadharastadā nagnarūpo mahākāyaḥ śiromuṁḍo mahāprabhaḥ

there came a man disguised in false marks — of naked form, of great body, his head shaven, of great radiance,

Verse 6 (padma.2.37.6)

मार्जनीं शिखिपत्राणां कक्षायां स हि धारयन् । गृहीतं पानपात्रं तु नालिकेरमयं करे

mārjanīṁ śikhipatrāṇāṁ kakṣāyāṁ sa hi dhārayan gṛhītaṁ pānapātraṁ tu nālikeramayaṁ kare

carrying beneath his arm a whisk made of peacock feathers, holding in his hand a drinking-vessel fashioned from a coconut shell,

Verse 7 (padma.2.37.7)

पठमानो ह्यसच्छास्त्रं वेदधर्मविदूषकम् । यत्र वेनो महाराजस्तत्रायातस्त्वरान्वितः

paṭhamāno hyasacchāstraṁ vedadharmavidūṣakam yatra veno mahārājastatrāyātastvarānvitaḥ

reciting a false teaching that mocked the Vedas and dharma, he came in haste to where King Vena was.

Verse 8 (padma.2.37.8)

सभायां तस्य वेनस्य प्रविवेश स पापवान् । तं दृष्ट्वा समनुप्राप्तं वेनः प्रश्नं तदाकरोत्

sabhāyāṁ tasya venasya praviveśa sa pāpavān taṁ dṛṣṭvā samanuprāptaṁ venaḥ praśnaṁ tadākarot

That sinful one entered the assembly-hall of Vena; and seeing him arrived there, Vena then asked him this question:

Verse 9 (padma.2.37.9)

भवान्को हि समायात ईदृग्रूपधरो मम । सभायां वर्तमानस्य पुरः कस्मात्समागतः

bhavānko hi samāyāta īdṛgrūpadharo mama sabhāyāṁ vartamānasya puraḥ kasmātsamāgataḥ

'Who are you, who have come to me bearing such a form? From where have you come before me, into this assembly?'

Verse 10 (padma.2.37.10)

को वेषः किं नु ते नाम को धर्मः कर्म ते वद । को वेदस्ते क आचारः किं तपः का प्रभावना

ko veṣaḥ kiṁ nu te nāma ko dharmaḥ karma te vada ko vedaste ka ācāraḥ kiṁ tapaḥ kā prabhāvanā

'What is your garb? What indeed is your name? What is your dharma — tell me your deeds. What is your Veda, your conduct, your austerity, your power?'

Verse 11 (padma.2.37.11)

किं ज्ञानं कः प्रभावस्ते किं सत्यं धर्मलक्षणम् । तत्त्वं सर्वं समाचक्ष्व ममाग्रे सत्यमेव च

kiṁ jñānaṁ kaḥ prabhāvaste kiṁ satyaṁ dharmalakṣaṇam tattvaṁ sarvaṁ samācakṣva mamāgre satyameva ca

'What is your knowledge, what is your power? What is truth, what is the mark of dharma? Declare all this truth before me, and nothing but the truth.'

Verse 12 (padma.2.37.12)

श्रुत्वा वेनस्य तद्वाक्यं पापो वाक्यमुदाहरत् । पातक उवाच- करोष्येवं वृथा राज्यं महामूढो न संशयः

śrutvā venasya tadvākyaṁ pāpo vākyamudāharat pātaka uvāca- karoṣyevaṁ vṛthā rājyaṁ mahāmūḍho na saṁśayaḥ

Having heard this speech of Vena, the sinful one spoke this word. The sinner said: 'You rule your kingdom in vain, greatly deluded one, without doubt.'

Verse 13 (padma.2.37.13)

अहं धर्मस्य सर्वस्वमहं पूज्यतमोसुरैः । अहं ज्ञानमहं सत्यमहं धाता सनातनः

ahaṁ dharmasya sarvasvamahaṁ pūjyatamosuraiḥ ahaṁ jñānamahaṁ satyamahaṁ dhātā sanātanaḥ

'I am the whole essence of dharma; I am most worshipped even by the asuras. I am knowledge, I am truth, I am the eternal creator.'

Verse 14 (padma.2.37.14)

अहं धर्मं अहं मोक्षः सर्वदेवमयो ह्यहम् । ब्रह्मदेहात्समुद्भूतः सत्यसंधोऽस्मि नान्यथा

ahaṁ dharmaṁ ahaṁ mokṣaḥ sarvadevamayo hyaham brahmadehātsamudbhūtaḥ satyasaṁdho'smi nānyathā

'I am dharma, I am liberation, I myself am the very form of all the gods; born from the body of Brahma, I am true to my word, not otherwise.'

Verse 15 (padma.2.37.15)

जिनरूपं विजानीहि सत्यधर्मकलेवरम् । मामेव हि प्रधावंति योगिनो ज्ञानतत्पराः

jinarūpaṁ vijānīhi satyadharmakalevaram māmeva hi pradhāvaṁti yogino jñānatatparāḥ

'Know me as the form of the Jina, the very embodiment of true dharma; yogis devoted to knowledge hasten to me alone.'

Verse 16 (padma.2.37.16)

वेन उवाच- तवैव कीदृशं कर्म किं ते दर्शनमेव च । किमाचारो वदस्वैहि इत्युक्तं तेन भूभुजा

vena uvāca- tavaiva kīdṛśaṁ karma kiṁ te darśanameva ca kimācāro vadasvaihi ityuktaṁ tena bhūbhujā

Vena said: 'What is your practice, and what is your teaching? What is your conduct — tell me this' — thus spoke that king.

Verse 17 (padma.2.37.17)

पातक उवाच- अर्हंतो देवता यत्र निर्ग्रंथो दृश्यते गुरुः । दया चैव परो धर्मस्तत्र मोक्षः प्रदृश्यते

pātaka uvāca- arhaṁto devatā yatra nirgraṁtho dṛśyate guruḥ dayā caiva paro dharmastatra mokṣaḥ pradṛśyate

The sinner said: 'Where the Arhats alone are gods, where the naked ascetic is seen as guru, and compassion alone is the highest dharma — there liberation is manifest.'

Verse 18 (padma.2.37.18)

दर्शनेस्मिन्न संदेह आचारान्प्रवदाम्यहम् । यजनं याजनं नास्ति वेदाध्ययनमेव च

darśanesminna saṁdeha ācārānpravadāmyaham yajanaṁ yājanaṁ nāsti vedādhyayanameva ca

'There is no doubt in this teaching; I shall declare to you its practices — in it there is no [Vedic] sacrificing or officiating, nor study of the Vedas.'

Verse 19 (padma.2.37.19)

नास्ति संध्या तपो दानं स्वधास्वाहाविवर्जितम् । हव्यकव्यादिकं नास्ति नैव यज्ञादिका क्रिया

nāsti saṁdhyā tapo dānaṁ svadhāsvāhāvivarjitam havyakavyādikaṁ nāsti naiva yajñādikā kriyā

'There is no evening-worship, no austerity, no charity — it is devoid of svadha and svaha; there is no havya-kavya offering, nor any sacrificial rite at all.'

Verse 20 (padma.2.37.20)

पितॄणां तर्पणं नास्ति नातिथिर्वैश्वदेविकम् । क्षपणस्य वरा पूजा अर्हतो ध्यानमुत्तमम्

pitṝṇāṁ tarpaṇaṁ nāsti nātithirvaiśvadevikam kṣapaṇasya varā pūjā arhato dhyānamuttamam

'There is no offering to the ancestors, no rite of hospitality, no vaishvadeva; the highest worship is of the ascetic, and the finest meditation is on the Arhat.'

Verse 21 (padma.2.37.21)

अयं धर्मसमाचारो जैनमार्गे प्रदृश्यते । एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं निजधर्मस्यलक्षणम्

ayaṁ dharmasamācāro jainamārge pradṛśyate etatte sarvamākhyātaṁ nijadharmasyalakṣaṇam

'This is the righteous conduct seen in the Jaina path; all this I have declared to you — these are the marks of my own religion.'

Verse 22 (padma.2.37.22)

वेन उवाच- वेदप्रोक्तो यथा धर्मो यत्र यज्ञादिकाः क्रियाः । पितॄणां तर्पणं श्राद्धं वैश्वदेवं न दृश्यते

vena uvāca- vedaprokto yathā dharmo yatra yajñādikāḥ kriyāḥ pitṝṇāṁ tarpaṇaṁ śrāddhaṁ vaiśvadevaṁ na dṛśyate

Vena said: 'As is the dharma declared by the Vedas — where sacrificial rites, tarpana for the ancestors, shraddha, and vaishvadeva exist — none of these is seen in your path,'

Verse 23 (padma.2.37.23)

न दानं तप एवास्ति क्वास्ते धर्मस्य लक्षणम् । वद सत्यं ममाग्रे तु दयाधर्मं च कीदृशम्

na dānaṁ tapa evāsti kvāste dharmasya lakṣaṇam vada satyaṁ mamāgre tu dayādharmaṁ ca kīdṛśam

'—no charity, no austerity either; where then does the mark of dharma reside? Tell me the truth before me, and also: what is this dharma of compassion?'

Verse 24 (padma.2.37.24)

पातक उवाच- पंचतत्त्वप्रवृद्धोयं प्राणिनां काय एव च । आत्मा वायुस्वरूपोयं तेषां नास्ति प्रसंगता

pātaka uvāca- paṁcatattvapravṛddhoyaṁ prāṇināṁ kāya eva ca ātmā vāyusvarūpoyaṁ teṣāṁ nāsti prasaṁgatā

The sinner said: 'This body of living beings is formed and grown from the five elements alone; the self within it is of the nature of wind — there is no lasting relation between it and these elements.'

Verse 25 (padma.2.37.25)

यथा जलेषु भूतानामपिसंगमवेहि तत् । जायते बुद्बुदाकारं तद्वद्भूतसमागमः

yathā jaleṣu bhūtānāmapisaṁgamavehi tat jāyate budbudākāraṁ tadvadbhūtasamāgamaḥ

'Just as, know this, elements come together in water and a bubble's form arises — likewise does this coming-together of the elements occur.'

Verse 26 (padma.2.37.26)

पृथ्वीभावो रजःस्थस्तु चापस्तत्रैव संस्थिताः । ज्योतिस्तत्र प्रदृश्येत सुवायुर्वर्तते त्रिषु

pṛthvībhāvo rajaḥsthastu cāpastatraiva saṁsthitāḥ jyotistatra pradṛśyeta suvāyurvartate triṣu

'The state of earth rests in dust, and there water too is situated; there light [fire] appears, and in these three, good air abides.'

Verse 27 (padma.2.37.27)

आकाशमावृणोत्पश्चाद्बुद्बुदत्वं प्रजायते । अप्सुमध्ये प्रभात्येव सुतेजो वर्तुलं वरम्

ākāśamāvṛṇotpaścādbudbudatvaṁ prajāyate apsumadhye prabhātyeva sutejo vartulaṁ varam

'Then space envelops it, and thereafter the form of a bubble arises; in the midst of the water shines a fine, round, radiant form.'

Verse 28 (padma.2.37.28)

क्षणमात्रं प्रदृश्येत क्षणान्नैव च दृश्यते । तद्वद्भूतसमायोगः सर्वत्र परिदृश्यते

kṣaṇamātraṁ pradṛśyeta kṣaṇānnaiva ca dṛśyate tadvadbhūtasamāyogaḥ sarvatra paridṛśyate

'It is seen only for an instant, and in an instant it is seen no more; likewise is this union of the elements seen everywhere.'

Verse 29 (padma.2.37.29)

अंतकाले प्रयात्यात्मा पंच पंचसु यांति ते । मोहमुग्धास्ततो मर्त्या वर्तंते च परस्परम्

aṁtakāle prayātyātmā paṁca paṁcasu yāṁti te mohamugdhāstato martyā vartaṁte ca parasparam

'At the time of death the self departs, and those five elements merge into their own five sources; then mortals, deluded by illusion, do this among themselves—'

Verse 30 (padma.2.37.30)

श्राद्धं कुर्वंति मोहेन क्षयाहे पितृतर्पणम् । क्वास्ते मृतः समश्नाति कीदृशोऽसौ नृपोत्तम

śrāddhaṁ kurvaṁti mohena kṣayāhe pitṛtarpaṇam kvāste mṛtaḥ samaśnāti kīdṛśo'sau nṛpottama

'—out of delusion they perform shraddha, tarpana for the ancestors on the death-anniversary. Where does the dead one dwell and eat? What is this, O best of kings?'

Verse 31 (padma.2.37.31)

किं ज्ञानं कीदृशं कायं केन दृष्टं वदस्व नः । मिष्टान्नं भोजयित्वा च तृप्ता यांति च ब्राह्मणाः

kiṁ jñānaṁ kīdṛśaṁ kāyaṁ kena dṛṣṭaṁ vadasva naḥ miṣṭānnaṁ bhojayitvā ca tṛptā yāṁti ca brāhmaṇāḥ

'Whose knowledge is this, what kind of body, who has seen it — tell us this. Having fed them sweet food, the satisfied brahmins simply depart—'

Verse 32 (padma.2.37.32)

कस्य श्राद्धं प्रदीयेत सा तु श्रद्धा निरर्थिका । अन्यदेवं प्रवक्ष्यामि वेदानां कर्म दारुणम्

kasya śrāddhaṁ pradīyeta sā tu śraddhā nirarthikā anyadevaṁ pravakṣyāmi vedānāṁ karma dāruṇam

'—then to whom is the shraddha offering truly given? That faith is meaningless. Now I shall tell you more — this harsh rite prescribed by the Vedas—'

Verse 33 (padma.2.37.33)

यदातिथिर्गृहे याति महोक्षं पचते द्विजः । अजं वा राजराजेंद्र अतिथिं परिभोजयेत्

yadātithirgṛhe yāti mahokṣaṁ pacate dvijaḥ ajaṁ vā rājarājeṁdra atithiṁ paribhojayet

'When a guest arrives at the house, the twice-born cooks a great ox; or, O king of kings, he feeds a goat to the guest.'

Verse 34 (padma.2.37.34)

अश्वमेधमखे अश्वं गोमेधे वृषमेव च । नरमेधे नरं राजन्वाजपेये तथा ह्यजान्

aśvamedhamakhe aśvaṁ gomedhe vṛṣameva ca naramedhe naraṁ rājanvājapeye tathā hyajān

'In the horse-sacrifice, a horse is slain; in the cattle-sacrifice, a bull; in the man-sacrifice, O king, a man; and in the Vajapeya, goats likewise.'

Verse 35 (padma.2.37.35)

राजसूये महाराज प्राणिनां घातनं बहु । पुंडरीके गजं हन्याद्गजमेधेऽथ कुंजरम्

rājasūye mahārāja prāṇināṁ ghātanaṁ bahu puṁḍarīke gajaṁ hanyādgajamedhe'tha kuṁjaram

'In the Rajasuya, O great king, many creatures are slain; in the Pundarika sacrifice an elephant is killed, and in the Gajamedha too, an elephant.'

Verse 36 (padma.2.37.36)

सौत्रामण्यां पशुं मेध्यं मेषमेव प्रदृश्यते । नानारूपेषु सर्वेषु श्रूयतां नृपनंदन

sautrāmaṇyāṁ paśuṁ medhyaṁ meṣameva pradṛśyate nānārūpeṣu sarveṣu śrūyatāṁ nṛpanaṁdana

'In the Sautramani, a ram is seen offered as the sacrificial animal. Amid all these various rites, O prince, hear this—'

Verse 37 (padma.2.37.37)

नानाजातिविशेषाणां पशूनां घातनं स्मृतम् । यच्चापि दीयते दानं किं तद्दानस्य लक्षणम्

nānājātiviśeṣāṇāṁ paśūnāṁ ghātanaṁ smṛtam yaccāpi dīyate dānaṁ kiṁ taddānasya lakṣaṇam

'—the slaying of animals of many species is what is enjoined. And whatever gift is given there, what indeed is the mark of that gift?'

Verse 38 (padma.2.37.38)

ज्ञेयं तदन्नमुच्छिष्टं क्रियते भूरिभोजनम् । अत्यंतदोषहीनांस्तान्हिंसंति यन्महामखे

jñeyaṁ tadannamucchiṣṭaṁ kriyate bhūribhojanam atyaṁtadoṣahīnāṁstānhiṁsaṁti yanmahāmakhe

'That should be known as mere leftover food, when a great feast is served; in that great sacrifice, creatures who are entirely without fault are slaughtered.'

Verse 39 (padma.2.37.39)

तत्र किं दृश्यते धर्मः किं फलं तत्र भूपते । पशूनां मारणं यत्र निर्दिष्टं वेदपंडितैः

tatra kiṁ dṛśyate dharmaḥ kiṁ phalaṁ tatra bhūpate paśūnāṁ māraṇaṁ yatra nirdiṣṭaṁ vedapaṁḍitaiḥ

'Then where is dharma to be seen there, and what is its fruit, O lord of the earth, where the slaughter of animals is itself enjoined by the scholars of the Veda?'

Verse 40 (padma.2.37.40)

तस्माद्विनष्टधर्मं च न पुण्यं मोक्षदायकम् । दयां विना हि यो धर्मः स धर्मो विफलायते

tasmādvinaṣṭadharmaṁ ca na puṇyaṁ mokṣadāyakam dayāṁ vinā hi yo dharmaḥ sa dharmo viphalāyate

'Therefore that dharma has been destroyed, it is not the merit that bestows liberation; whatever dharma is without compassion, that dharma comes to nothing.'

Verse 41 (padma.2.37.41)

जीवानां पालनं यत्र तत्र धर्मो न संशयः । स्वाहाकारः स्वधाकारस्तपः सत्यं नृपोत्तम

jīvānāṁ pālanaṁ yatra tatra dharmo na saṁśayaḥ svāhākāraḥ svadhākārastapaḥ satyaṁ nṛpottama

'Where there is protection of living beings, there alone is dharma, without doubt. Svaha, svadha, austerity, and truth, O best of kings—'

Verse 42 (padma.2.37.42)

दयाहीनं चापलं स्यान्नास्ति धर्मस्तु तत्र हि । एते वेदा न वेदाः स्युर्दया यत्र न विद्यते

dayāhīnaṁ cāpalaṁ syānnāsti dharmastu tatra hi ete vedā na vedāḥ syurdayā yatra na vidyate

'—without compassion, these become mere restlessness; there is no dharma in them at all. Those Vedas are not true Vedas, where compassion does not dwell.'

Verse 43 (padma.2.37.43)

दयादानपरो नित्यं जीवमेव प्ररक्षयेत् । चांडालोऽप्यथ शूद्रो वा स वै ब्राह्मण उच्यते

dayādānaparo nityaṁ jīvameva prarakṣayet cāṁḍālo'pyatha śūdro vā sa vai brāhmaṇa ucyate

'Whoever, ever devoted to compassion and charity, protects every living being — be he a chandala or a shudra — he indeed is called a true brahmin.'

Verse 44 (padma.2.37.44)

ब्राह्मणो निर्दयो यो वै पशुघातपरायणः । स वै सुनिर्दयः पापी कठिनः क्रूरचेतनः

brāhmaṇo nirdayo yo vai paśughātaparāyaṇaḥ sa vai sunirdayaḥ pāpī kaṭhinaḥ krūracetanaḥ

'A brahmin who, devoid of compassion, is devoted to the slaughter of animals — he is utterly merciless, a sinner, hard-hearted, of cruel mind.'

Verse 45 (padma.2.37.45)

वंचकैः कथितो वेदो यो वेदो ज्ञानवर्जितः । यत्र ज्ञानं भवेन्नित्यं तत्र वेदः प्रतिष्ठति

vaṁcakaiḥ kathito vedo yo vedo jñānavarjitaḥ yatra jñānaṁ bhavennityaṁ tatra vedaḥ pratiṣṭhati

'The Veda spoken by deceivers is a Veda devoid of true knowledge; where knowledge always abides, there alone is the Veda truly established.'

Verse 46 (padma.2.37.46)

दयाहीनेषु वेदेषु विप्रेषु च महामते । नास्ति सत्यं क्रिया तत्र वेदविप्रेषु वै तदा

dayāhīneṣu vedeṣu vipreṣu ca mahāmate nāsti satyaṁ kriyā tatra vedavipreṣu vai tadā

'In Vedas devoid of compassion, and likewise in such brahmins, O great-minded one, there is no truth, no true rite there — among such Vedic brahmins.'

Verse 47 (padma.2.37.47)

वेदा न वेदा राजेंद्र ब्राह्मणाः सत्यवर्जिताः । दानस्यापि फलं नास्ति तस्माद्दानं न दीयते

vedā na vedā rājeṁdra brāhmaṇāḥ satyavarjitāḥ dānasyāpi phalaṁ nāsti tasmāddānaṁ na dīyate

'These Vedas are not [true] Vedas, O king of kings, and such brahmins are devoid of truth; there is no fruit even in charity there, and so true charity is never given there.'

Verse 48 (padma.2.37.48)

यथा श्राद्धस्य वै चिह्नं तथा दानस्य लक्षणम् । जिनस्यापि च यद्धर्मं भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदायकम्

yathā śrāddhasya vai cihnaṁ tathā dānasya lakṣaṇam jinasyāpi ca yaddharmaṁ bhuktimuktipradāyakam

'As is the mark of shraddha, so too is the mark of charity. And the dharma of the Jina, which bestows both enjoyment and liberation—'

Verse 49 (padma.2.37.49)

तवाग्रेऽहं प्रवक्ष्यामि बहुपुण्यप्रदायकम् । आदौ दया प्रकर्तव्या शांतभूतेन चेतसा

tavāgre'haṁ pravakṣyāmi bahupuṇyapradāyakam ādau dayā prakartavyā śāṁtabhūtena cetasā

'—that I shall declare before you, that dharma which bestows abundant merit. First of all, with a peaceful mind, compassion alone should be practiced.'

Verse 50 (padma.2.37.50)

आराधयेद्धृदा देवं जिनं येन चराचरम् । मनसा शुद्धभावेन जिनमेकं प्रपूजयेत्

ārādhayeddhṛdā devaṁ jinaṁ yena carācaram manasā śuddhabhāvena jinamekaṁ prapūjayet

'With the heart, one should worship that god, the Jina, by whom this whole moving and unmoving universe is pervaded; with a pure mind, one should worship the Jina alone.'

Verse 51 (padma.2.37.51)

नमस्कारः प्रकर्तव्यस्तस्य देवस्य नान्यथा । मातापित्रोस्तु वै पादौ कदा नैव प्रवंदयेत्

namaskāraḥ prakartavyastasya devasya nānyathā mātāpitrostu vai pādau kadā naiva pravaṁdayet

'Obeisance should be made to that god alone, and to none other. One should never bow even at the feet of one's own mother and father—'

Verse 52 (padma.2.37.52)

अन्येषामपि का वार्ता श्रूयतां राजसत्तम । वेन उवाच- एते विप्राश्च आचार्या गंगाद्याः सरितस्तथा

anyeṣāmapi kā vārtā śrūyatāṁ rājasattama vena uvāca- ete viprāśca ācāryā gaṁgādyāḥ saritastathā

'—then what need to speak of others, O best of kings? Hear this.' Vena said: 'These brahmins, and the teachers, and the Ganga and other rivers too—'

Verse 53 (padma.2.37.53)

वदंति पुण्यतीर्थानि बहुपुण्यप्रदानि च । तत्किं वदस्व सत्यं मे यदि धर्ममिहेच्छसि

vadaṁti puṇyatīrthāni bahupuṇyapradāni ca tatkiṁ vadasva satyaṁ me yadi dharmamihecchasi

'—these all declare the holy tirthas to be bestowers of great merit. If you here desire dharma, tell me the truth — how is this so?'

Verse 54 (padma.2.37.54)

पातक उवाच- आकाशाद्वै महाराज मेघा वर्षंति वै जलम् । भूमौ हि पर्वतेष्वेवं सर्वत्र पतिते जलम्

pātaka uvāca- ākāśādvai mahārāja meghā varṣaṁti vai jalam bhūmau hi parvateṣvevaṁ sarvatra patite jalam

The sinner said: 'From the sky alone, O great king, do the clouds rain down water; upon the earth and upon the mountains too, water falls everywhere in just this way.'

Verse 55 (padma.2.37.55)

स आप्लाव्य ततस्तिष्ठेद्दयां सर्वत्र भावयेत् । नद्यः पापप्रवाहास्तु तासु तीर्थं श्रुतं कथम्

sa āplāvya tatastiṣṭheddayāṁ sarvatra bhāvayet nadyaḥ pāpapravāhāstu tāsu tīrthaṁ śrutaṁ katham

'It floods and settles there, and compassion should be shown toward it everywhere; the rivers are but streams of sin — how then can a tirtha be spoken of in them?'

Verse 56 (padma.2.37.56)

जलाशया महाराज तडागाः सागरास्तथा । पृथिव्याधारकाश्चैव गिरयो अश्मराशयः

jalāśayā mahārāja taḍāgāḥ sāgarāstathā pṛthivyādhārakāścaiva girayo aśmarāśayaḥ

'The reservoirs, O great king, the tanks and the oceans too, and the mountains and heaps of stone resting upon the earth—'

Verse 57 (padma.2.37.57)

नास्त्येतेषु च वै तीर्थं जलैर्जलदमुत्तमम् । स्नाने यदा महत्पुण्यं कस्मान्मत्स्येषु वै नहि

nāstyeteṣu ca vai tīrthaṁ jalairjaladamuttamam snāne yadā mahatpuṇyaṁ kasmānmatsyeṣu vai nahi

'—in none of these is there any tirtha at all; among waters, that of the rain-cloud alone is best. If there is such great merit in bathing, why then is there none among the fish?'

Verse 58 (padma.2.37.58)

दृष्टा स्नानेन वै सिद्धिर्मीनाः शुद्ध्यंति नान्यथा । यत्र जिनस्तत्र तीर्थं तत्र धर्मः सनातनः

dṛṣṭā snānena vai siddhirmīnāḥ śuddhyaṁti nānyathā yatra jinastatra tīrthaṁ tatra dharmaḥ sanātanaḥ

'Perfection through mere bathing has never been seen; fish are not purified by it, nor indeed is anyone else. Where the Jina is, there is the true tirtha; there alone is the eternal dharma.'

Verse 59 (padma.2.37.59)

तपोदानादिकं सर्वं पुण्यं तत्र प्रतिष्ठितम्

tapodānādikaṁ sarvaṁ puṇyaṁ tatra pratiṣṭhitam

'Austerity, charity, and every kind of merit — all of it is established there alone.'

Verse 60 (padma.2.37.60)

एको जिनः सर्वमयो नृपेंद्र नास्त्येव धर्मं परमं हि तीर्थम् । अयं तु लाभः परमस्तु तस्माद्ध्य्यास्व नित्यं सुसुखो भविष्यसि

eko jinaḥ sarvamayo nṛpeṁdra nāstyeva dharmaṁ paramaṁ hi tīrtham ayaṁ tu lābhaḥ paramastu tasmāddhyyāsva nityaṁ susukho bhaviṣyasi

'The Jina alone is all-pervading, O lord of kings; there is no supreme dharma, no supreme tirtha beyond this. This alone is the highest gain; therefore meditate on this always, and you shall ever be happy.'

Verse 61 (padma.2.37.61)

विनिंद्य धर्मं सकलं सवेदं दानं सपुण्यं परयज्ञरूपम् । पापस्वभावैर्बहुबोधितो नृपस्त्वंगस्य पुत्रो भुवि तेन पापिना

viniṁdya dharmaṁ sakalaṁ savedaṁ dānaṁ sapuṇyaṁ parayajñarūpam pāpasvabhāvairbahubodhito nṛpastvaṁgasya putro bhuvi tena pāpinā

Thus, reviling the whole of dharma together with the Vedas, and charity and merit and the very form of the highest sacrifice, that sinner, instructing him again and again with his sinful teachings, made that king, the son of Anga, into a sinful man upon this earth.