मार्कण्डेय उवाच स तु विप्रमथोवाच धर्मव्याधो युधिष्ठिर। यदहमाचरे कर्म घोरमेतदसंशयम्॥
Markandeya said : O Yudhishthira, that virtuous fowler then said to that Brahmana, “The acts that I perform are certainly cruel, there is no doubt.
विधिस्तु बलवान् ब्रह्मन् दुस्तरं हि पुरा कृतम्। पुरा कृतस्य पापस्य कर्मदोषो भवत्ययम्॥
O Brahmana, Destiny in all powerful; it is difficuit to overcome the consequences of our past actions. This is the Karma, evil arising from sins committed in a former life.
दोषस्यैतस्य वै ब्रह्मन् विघाते यत्नवानहम्। विधिना हि हते पूर्वं निमित्तं घातको भवेत्॥
O Brahmana, I am always assiduous in eradicating this evil. The Destiny has already killed one when he is killed by another, the executioner is but an instrument.
निमित्तभूता हि वयं कर्मणोऽस्य द्विजोत्तम। येषां हतानां मांसानि विक्रीणामीह वै द्विज॥ तेषामपि भवेद् धर्म उपयोगे न भक्षणे। देवतातिथिभृत्यानां पितृणां चापि पूजनम्॥
O foremost of Brahmanas, we are but such agents in consequence of our Karma, O twiceborn one, those animals that are killed and the most of which are sold, also acquire Karma, for the celestials the guests and servants are entertained and Pitris are gratified with this dainty food.
ओषध्यो वीस्थश्चैव पशवो मृगपक्षिणः। अनादिभूता भूतानामित्यपि श्रूयते श्रुतिः॥
It is mentioned in the Shruti that herbs, vegetables, deer, birds and the wild animals are the ordained food for all creatures.
आत्ममांसप्रसादेन शिबिरौशीनरो नृपः। स्वर्ग सुदुर्गमं प्राप्तः क्षमावान् द्विजसत्तम॥
O foremost of Brahmanas, the son of Ushinara, Shibi of great forbearance, obtained heaven which is very difficult to obtain, by giving away his own flesh.
स्वधर्म इति कृत्वा तु न त्यजामि द्विजोत्तम। पुरा कृतमिति ज्ञात्वा जीवाम्येतेन कर्मणा॥
O foremost of Brahmanas, knowing this to be the duty of my order, I do not give it up. Knowing this to be the result of my own acts, I earn my livelihood by doing it.
स्वकर्म त्यजतो ब्रह्मन्नधर्म इह दृश्यते। स्वकर्मनिरतो यस्तु धर्मः स इति निश्चयः॥
O Brahmana, to abandon one's own duty is considered to be sin. To stick to one's own duty is certainly a meritorious act.
पूर्वं हि विहितं कर्म देहिनं न विमुञ्चति। धात्रा विधिरयं दृष्टो बहुधा कर्मनिर्णये॥
The acts done before (in one's own former birth) never leave any creature. In determining the various effects of Karma, the Creator did see it.
द्रष्टव्या तु भवेत् प्रज्ञा क्रूरे कर्मणि वर्तता। कथं कर्म शुभं कुर्यां कथं मुच्ये पराभवात्॥
A man, being under the influence of evil Karma, must always consider 'how he can done for his Karma and how he can extricate himself from an evil doom.'
कर्मणस्तस्य घोरस्य बहुधा निर्णयो भवेत्। दाने च सत्यवाक्ये च गुरुशुश्रूषणे तथा॥ द्विजातिपूजने चाहं धर्मे च निरतः सदा। अभिमानातिवादाभ्यां निवृत्तोऽस्मि द्विजोत्तम॥
There are various ways in which evil Karma might be expiated, such as, by making gifts, by speaking truth and by serving the preceptor, by worshipping the order of the twice-born, by becoming devoted to virtue, free from pride and idle talk. O foremost of Brahmanas, I do these things.
कृषि साध्विति मन्यन्ते तत्र हिंसा परा स्मृता। कर्षन्तो लाइलैः पुंसोध्नन्ति भूमिशयान् बहून्। जीवानन्यांश्च बहुशस्तत्र किं प्रतिभाति ते॥
Agriculture is considered to be a praiseworthy occupation, but it is well-known that even in it great harm is done to animal life. In ploughing the ground, various creatures and animal lives are destroyed. What is your opinion on this matter?
धान्यबीजानि यान्याहुज्ह्यादीनि द्विजोत्तम। सर्वाण्येतानि जीवानि तत्र किं प्रतिभाति ते॥
O foremost of Brahmanas, Vrihi and other so called seeds of rice are all living organisms, what is your opinion on this matter?
अध्याक्रम्य पशूश्चापि नन्ति वै भक्षयन्ति च। वृक्षांस्तथौषधीश्चापि छिन्दन्ति पुरुषा द्विज॥ जीवा हि बहवो ब्रह्मन् वृक्षेषु च फलेषु च। उदके बहवश्चापि तत्र किं प्रतिभाति ते॥
O Brahmana, Men hunt wild animals and kill them to eat their meat; they also cut up trees and plants. O Brahmana, there are innumerable animal organisms in trees and fruits and also in water, do you not think so?
सर्वं व्याप्तमिदं ब्रह्मन् प्राणिभिः प्राणिजीवनैः। मत्स्यान् चसन्ते मत्स्याश्च तत्र किं प्रतिभाति ते॥ सत्त्वैः सत्त्वानि जीवन्ति बहुधा द्विजसत्तम। प्राणिनोऽन्योन्यभक्षाश्च तत्र किं प्रतिभाति ते॥
O Brahmana, the whole universe is full of animals and animal organisms. Do you not see that fish preys upon fish and various other species of animals prey on various other animals and there are also some who prey upon one another.
चक्रम्यमाणा जीवांश्च धरणीसंश्रितान् बहून्। पद्भ्यां नन्ति नरा विप्र तत्र किं प्रतिभाति ते॥
O Brahmana, a man kills innumerable animals that live in the ground by trampling them by their feet. What have you to say to this?
उपविष्टाः शयानाश्च मन्ति जीवाननेकशः। ज्ञानविज्ञानवन्तश्च तत्र किं प्रतिभाति ते॥
Even wise and learned men kill many animals in various ways when sleeping or resting. What have you to say to this?
जीदैर्चस्तमिदं सर्वमाकाशं पृथिवी तथा। अविज्ञानाच्च हिंसन्ति तत्र किं प्रतिभाति ते॥
The earth and the sky are all full of animal organisms. Which are unconsciously killed by men from ignorance, what have you to say to this?
अहिंसेति यदुक्तं हि पुरुषैर्विस्मितैः पुरा। के न हिंसन्ति जीवान् वैलोकेऽस्मिन् द्विजसत्तम बहु संचित्य इति वै नास्ति कश्चिदहिंसकः॥
O foremost of men, who is there on earth who does not do harm to any creature? After full consideration, this is the conclusion (that I have come to that there is none who has not killed an animal.
अहिंसायां तु निरता यतयो द्विजसत्तम। कुर्वन्त्येव हि हिंसां ते यत्नादल्पतरा भवेत्॥
O foremost of Brahmanas, even the Rishis whose vows are not to destroy animals, (do destroy animals). Only on account of their very great care, they commit less destruction (of animals).
आलक्ष्याश्चैव पुरुषाः कुले जाता महागुणाः। महाघोराणि कर्माणि कृत्वा लज्जन्ति वै द्विज॥
Men of noble birth and great accomplishment perpetrate wicked acts in defiance of all and they are not ashamed of it.
सुहृदः सुहृदोऽन्यांश्च दुर्हदश्चापि दुहृदः। सम्यक प्रवृत्तान् पुरुषान् न सम्यगनुपश्यतः॥
Good men acting in an exemplary way are not praised by other good men, nor bad men acting in a contrary way are praised by other wicked men.
समृद्धैश्च न नन्दन्ति बान्धवा बान्धवैरपि। गुरूंश्चैव विनिन्दन्ति मूढाः पण्डितमानिनः॥
Friends are not agreeable to friends, however accomplished they might be. Foolish pedantic men (ever) find fault with the virtue of their preceptors.
बहु लोके विपर्यस्तं दृश्यते द्विजसत्तम। धर्मयुक्तमधर्मं च तत्र किं प्रतिभाति ते॥
Such reverses of the natural orders of things, O foremost of Brahmanas, are always seen (in this world). What is your opinion as to the virtuousness or otherwise of this state of things?
वक्तुं बहुविधं शक्यं धर्माधर्मेषु कर्मसु। स्वकर्मनिरतो यो ह स यशः प्राप्नुयान्महत्॥
There can be said many things as regards the goodness or the badness of our actions. But he who sticks to the Dharma of his own order acquires great fame.