12170001a dhanino vAdhanA ye ca vartayanti svatantriNaH
12170001c sukhaduHkhAgamas teSAM kaH kathaM vA pitAmaha 'yudhiSThira said, 'Tell me, O grandsire, whence and how happiness and misery come to those that are rich, as also those that are poor, but who live in the observance of different practices and rites.' 2
12170003c klizyamAnaH kudAreNa kucailena bubhukSayA 'bhISma continued, 'In this connection is cited the old narrative of what was sung by Sampaka who had obtained tranquillity and achieved emancipation for himself. In former times a certain brAhmaNa, rendered miserable by a bad wife, bad dress, and hunger, and living in the observance of the vow of renunciation, told me these verses,
12170004a utpannam iha loke vai janmaprabhRti mAnavam
12170004c vividhAny upavartante duHkhAni ca sukhAni ca 'Diverse kinds of sorrow and happiness overtake, from the day of birth the person that is born on the earth.
12170005a tayor ekatare mArge yady enam abhisanMnayet
12170005c na sukhamM prApya saMhRSyen na duHkhaM prApya saMjvaret If he could ascribe either of them to the action of Destiny, he would not then feel glad when happiness came or miserable when sorrow overtook him.
12170006a na vai carasi yac chreya Atmano vA yad Ihase Though thy mind is divested of desire, thou bearest yet a heavy load. Thou dost not seek to achieve thy good (i.e., emancipation). Art thou not successful in controlling thy mind?
12170006c akAmAtmApi hi sadA dhuram udyamya caiva hi
12170007a akiJMcanaH paripatan sukham AsvAdayiSyasi If thou goest about, having renounced home and desirable possessions, thou shalt taste real happiness.
12170007c akiJMcanasH sukhaM zete samuttiSThati caiva hi A person divested of everything sleepeth in happiness, and awaketh in happiness.
12170008a AkiJMcanyaM sukhaM loke pathyaM zivam anAmayam Complete poverty, in this world, is happiness. It is a good regimen, it is the source of 'blessings,
12170008c anamitram atho hy etad durlabhaM sulabhaM satAm it is freedom from danger. This foeless path is unattainable (by persons cherishing desire) and is easily attainable (by those that are freed from desire).
12170009c avekSamANas trIl~ lokAn na tulyam upalakSaye Casting my eyes on every part of the three worlds, I do not behold the person who is equal to a poor man of pure conduct and without attachment (to worldly things).
12170010a AkiJMcanyaJM ca rAjyaJM ca tulayA samatolayam I weighed poverty and sovereignty in a balance.
12170010c atyaricyata dAridryaM rAjyAd api guNAdhikam Poverty weighed heavier than sovereignty and seemed to possess greater merits.
