Shloka 63
अग्निनाम-प्रादुर्भावः प्रायश्चित्त-विधानं च
Agni’s Epithets, Manifestations, and Expiation Procedures
तत्रैव रमते बुद्धिस्ततः पापं चिकीर्षति । जो किसी बहानेसे धर्माचरण करता है, वह वास्तवमें धर्मकी आड़ लेकर धन चाहता है। द्विजश्रेष्ठ। जब धर्मके बहानेसे धनकी प्राप्ति होने लगती है, तब उसकी बुद्धि उसीमें रम जाती है और उसके मनमें पापकी इच्छा जाग उठती है
tatraiva ramate buddhis tataḥ pāpaṃ cikīrṣati |
The hunter said: “Then the mind takes delight in that very gain, and the wish to sin is stirred. Whoever practices dharma only as a pretext, seeking wealth under its cover, truly desires riches while hiding behind righteousness. O best of the twice-born! When profit begins to come through the guise of virtue, the intellect revels in it, and in the heart awakens the urge to do wrong—for dharma has been lowered from a principle to a stratagem.”
व्याध उवाच