4

· kaścid tāpasas vṛkṣasya chāyāyām ni-aṣīdat /

some ascetic in-tree’s-shade sat-down

· tasya samīpam gatvā ekas daridras mānuṣa: tam avadat /

of-him near having-gone a poor man him said

· kimartham atra niṣīdasi iti /

why here you-sit-down

· tāpasas tam daridram prati-avadat /

ascetic the poor-man replied

· dhyānam ācarāmi iti /

meditation i-practise

· tatas daridras tam apṛcchat kimartham dhyānam ācarasi iti /

thence poor-man him asked, why meditation you-practice

· tadanantaram tāpasa: tam punas prati-avadat

thereupon ascetic him again repied

dhyānena vidyayā ca nara: svargam adhigacchati iti /

with-meditation and with-knowledge man heaven goes-unto

· daridras adhunā acintayat yadi tasmāt eva

poor-man now contemplated if from-that

svargasya anyas mārgas na vidate tadā kim karomi iti /

of-heaven other path no find then what i-do

· tatas sas tāpasam punar avadat

thence the ascetic again said

tvām pṛcchāmi manuṣyāṇām paṇḍitatama

you i-ask of-men most-learned-one

svargas tebhyas eva vidyate

heaven to-them is-known

ye dhyānam ācaranti paramām vidyām ca vidanti iti /

who-all meditation practice foremost knowledge and knows

· tatas dīrgham kālam cintayitvā sas tāpasas tam daridram avadat

thence long time having-contemplated the ascetic the-poor said

bahava: svargās vidyante adhamās madhyamās paramās ca /

many heavens they-know low middle and high

· ye dhyānam ācaranti param satyam ca

who-all meditation practices and highest truth

vidanti tebhya: eva paramā: svargā: /

know from-them highest heavens

· tasya vacanam śrutvā daridras ānandas bhavāmi iti

his words having-heard, poor-man joyful i-am

cintayitvā svagrāmam agacchat //

having-comtemplated own-village went