Critical Edition
वैशंपायन उवाच स गन्धर्ववचः श्रुत्वा तत्तदा भरतर्षभ अर्जुनः परया प्रीत्या पूर्णचन्द्र इवाबभौ
M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said : Hearing these words of the Gandharva, that best of the Bharata race, Arjuna, was filled with devotion (towards him) and he stood as manifest as the full moon.
उवाच च महेष्वासो गन्धर्वं कुरुसत्तमः जातकौतूहलोऽतीव वसिष्ठस्य तपोबलात्
M. N. Dutt: His curiosity being excited by what he heard of Vasishtha's ascetic power, that best of the Kurus, that great bowman, thus spoke to the Gandharva,
वसिष्ठ इति यस्यैतदृषेर्नाम त्वयेरितम् एतदिच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुं यथावत्तद्वदस्व मे
M. N. Dutt: "I desire to hear the history of the Rishi whom you have mentioned by the name of Vasishtha. Tell me all about him in detail.
य एष गन्धर्वपते पूर्वेषां नः पुरोहितः आसीदेतन्ममाचक्ष्व क एष भगवानृषिः
M. N. Dutt: O chief of the Gandharvas, tell me who this illustrious Rishi was, he who was the priest of our forefathers."
Supplementary Passages:
1.164.4 After 4, D5 ins.: *1747 सुभिक्षं राज्यं लब्धं वै वसिष्ठस्य तपोबलात्
गन्धर्व उवाच तपसा निर्जितौ शश्वदजेयावमरैरपि कामक्रोधावुभौ यस्य चरणौ संववाहतुः
AI Translation: Gandharva said: Those two, who are always conquered by asceticism and cannot be conquered even by the immortals, Those two, Desire and Anger, bowed at his feet.
Supplementary Passages:
1.164.5 After gandharva u. (resp. its v.l.), Ñ1.2 V1 D (except Da) S ins.: *1748 ब्रह्मणो मानसः पुत्रो वसिष्ठोऽरुन्धतीपतिः After 5, Ñ2 V1 ins.: *1749 इन्द्रियाणां वशकरो वशिष्ठ इति चोच्यते while S (except G6 M5) ins.: *1750 यथा कामश्च क्रोधश्च निर्जितावजितौ नरैः जितारयो जिता लोकाः पन्थानश्च जिता दिवः
यस्तु नोच्छेदनं चक्रे कुशिकानामुदारधीः विश्वामित्रापराधेन धारयन्मन्युमुत्तमम्
M. N. Dutt: Though the excellent Rishi's anger was excited by Vishvamitra, though he was afflicted at the loss of his sons, though he was powerful, yet he appeared to be powerless.
पुत्रव्यसनसंतप्तः शक्तिमानपि यः प्रभुः विश्वामित्रविनाशाय न मेने कर्म दारुणम्
AI Translation: Even though he was powerful, he was tormented by the grief of his son. He did not consider the terrible deed of destroying Vishvamitra.
मृतांश्च पुनराहर्तुं यः स पुत्रान्यमक्षयात् कृतान्तं नातिचक्राम वेलामिव महोदधिः
AI Translation: He who brought back his dead sons from Yama's realm, He who did not transgress the appointed time, like the great ocean does not transgress its shore.
यं प्राप्य विजितात्मानं महात्मानं नराधिपाः इक्ष्वाकवो महीपाला लेभिरे पृथिवीमिमाम्
M. N. Dutt: (Namely) Ikshaku and others, became the lords over the whole earth. Getting the excellent Rishi Vasishtha as their priest,
पुरोहितवरं प्राप्य वसिष्ठमृषिसत्तमम् ईजिरे क्रतुभिश्चापि नृपास्ते कुरुनन्दन
M. N. Dutt: O descendant of Kuru, o best of the Pandavas, these kings performed many great sacrifices. That Brahmarshi performed the priestly duty of all these excellent kings, as Brihaspati did that of the celestials.
स हि तान्याजयामास सर्वान्नृपतिसत्तमान् ब्रह्मर्षिः पाण्डवश्रेष्ठ बृहस्पतिरिवामरान्
M. N. Dutt: Therefore, seek to appoint as your priest an accomplished Brahmana in whose heart virtue predominates and who is learned in the Vedas.
Supplementary Passages:
1.164.11 After 11, T G (except G3) ins.: *1751 तथा वसिष्ठेन सह सौदासः संगतस्तदा रक्षोभिर्विप्रयुक्तस्तु विश्वामित्रेण योजितैः तथा द्विजसहायाद्वै न गन्धर्वा न राक्षसाः शक्ताः प्रार्थयितुं वीर मनसापि महाबलाः
तस्माद्धर्मप्रधानात्मा वेदधर्मविदीप्सितः ब्राह्मणो गुणवान्कश्चित्पुरोधाः प्रविमृश्यताम्
AI Translation: Therefore, a Brahmin who is virtuous and desires to know the Dharma and the Vedas, who is devoted to Dharma, should be appointed as the Purohita.
क्षत्रियेण हि जातेन पृथिवीं जेतुमिच्छता पूर्वं पुरोहितः कार्यः पार्थ राज्याभिवृद्धये
AI Translation: For a Kshatriya who is born and wishes to conquer the earth, First, a priest should be appointed for the increase of the kingdom, O son of Pritha.
महीं जिगीषता राज्ञा ब्रह्म कार्यं पुरःसरम् तस्मात्पुरोहितः कश्चिद्गुणवानस्तु वो द्विजः
M. N. Dutt: Therefore, let an accomplished and learned Brahmana, who has conquered his senses and who is learned in Dharma, Artha and Kama, be your priest.
Supplementary Passages:
1.164.14 After 14, K4 Ñ1.2 V1 B D ins.: *1752 विद्वान्भवतु वो विप्रो धर्मकामार्थतत्त्ववित्