Kurmastakadvyam

Author(s): Bhojdev Maharaj
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 44

Two Prakrit Poems At Dhar Translation....
54. 'Whatever is to be done to the meritorious in this world he indeed does it. But it is the Tortoise alone who has done good to the whole world! 55. He alone is said to be really born and only his life (janma) is said to be successful, the like of whom was not born (earlier) nor will be born in future !
56. That life (lit. birth) (of a person) is said to be successful or fruitful; let it be so; but what is its use (to others)? When one is born for doing good to others, his life is indeed successful.
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57. Those who are born only to feed their own belly, are, in fact, dead at that moment itself. Blessed indeed are they who devote their life to doing good to others.
58. O chief of Tortoises, you [alone] are really born. What is the use of others (simply) being born here on earth? That is something that you do-you show by example the true path whereby others are not born again here in this world.
59. What can be said, O Chief of Tortoises, the birth (life) of you alone is blessed! (or) Your birth alone is fruitful (successful) ! You who, in that indescribable manner, spent your whole life given as it is
devoted as
it is to doing good to others!
60. One and all (eveyone) care (cares) for (worldly) things with a view to serving their own interests. You alone O Tortoise, gave your self (devoted entirely your own self to do good to others only.)
61. That path, which was never seen before, was never heard of before, nor was ever directly perceived-experienced-was for the first time, found (discovered or shown) by you alone.
62. You alone, O Tortoise, are really born! What is the use of others who are (merely) born here on earth to no purpose, in vain (mudhā). For it was you who saved the earth-the world-that was sinking down in the nether world (pātāla) by supporting it on your back!
63. How many great (eminent) men were not born here on earth! This path, however, did not strike to any one of them. It is the Tortoise alone who indeed was born giving instruction for doing good to others. 64. It was the Tortoise who, for the first time, discovered here the path of doing good to others. The paths are first shown-discovered by the great. Later other people follow them happily, jofully (sukhena, at ease, comfortably).