Critical Edition
भीष्म उवाच एतच्छ्रुत्वा तु वचनं कृतात्मा कृतनिश्चयः आत्मनात्मानमास्थाय दृष्ट्वा चात्मानमात्मना
M. N. Dutt: Bhishma said Having heard these words of king Janaka, Shuka of purified soul and settled conclusions began to stay in his Soul by his Soul, having of course seen Self by Self.
कृतकार्यः सुखी शान्तस्तूष्णीं प्रायादुदङ्मुखः शैशिरं गिरिमुद्दिश्य सधर्मा मातरिश्वनः
M. N. Dutt: His object being fulfilled he became happy and tranquil, and without further questioning Janaka, he proceeded northwards to the mountains of Himavat with the speed of the wind and like the wind.
Supplementary Passages:
12.314.2 After 2ab, K7 D4.9 ins.: *791 प्रययौ योगमास्थाय तुष्टो दिशमथोत्तराम्
एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु देवर्षिर्नारदस्तदा हिमवन्तमियाद्द्रष्टुं सिद्धचारणसेवितम्
AI Translation: At this time, the celestial sage Nārada went to the Himalayas, attended by perfected beings and celestial musicians.
तमप्सरोगणाकीर्णं गीतस्वननिनादितम् किंनराणां समूहैश्च भृङ्गराजैस्तथैव च
AI Translation: Filled with groups of apsarases, resounding with the sound of singing, With groups of kinnaras and also with bees,
मद्गुभिः खञ्जरीटैश्च विचित्रैर्जीवजीवकैः चित्रवर्णैर्मयूरैश्च केकाशतविराजितैः राजहंससमूहैश्च हृष्टैः परभृतैस्तथा
AI Translation: With peacocks, with many-colored parrots, with various cranes and herons, With peacocks of variegated colors, shining with hundreds of rays, With flocks of royal swans, and with delighted parrots,
पक्षिराजो गरुत्मांश्च यं नित्यमधिगच्छति चत्वारो लोकपालाश्च देवाः सर्षिगणास्तथा यत्र नित्यं समायान्ति लोकस्य हितकाम्यया
M. N. Dutt: The four Regents of the world, the gods, and various classes of Rishis, used always to come there from desire of doing good to the world.
विष्णुना यत्र पुत्रार्थे तपस्तप्तं महात्मना यत्रैव च कुमारेण बाल्ये क्षिप्ता दिवौकसः
M. N. Dutt: It was there that the great Vishnu had practised the severest penances for the object of getting a son.
शक्तिर्न्यस्ता क्षितितले त्रैलोक्यमवमन्य वै यत्रोवाच जगत्स्कन्दः क्षिपन्वाक्यमिदं तदा
AI Translation: The power was placed on the ground, despising the three worlds. Where Skanda of the universe spoke, throwing this word at that time.
योऽन्योऽस्ति मत्तोऽभ्यधिको विप्रा यस्याधिकं प्रियाः यो ब्रह्मण्यो द्वितीयोऽस्ति त्रिषु लोकेषु वीर्यवान्
AI Translation: Who is greater than me, O Brahmanas, to whom you are dearer, Who is the second, the most venerable, the most powerful in the three worlds,
सोऽभ्युद्धरत्विमां शक्तिमथ वा कम्पयत्विति तच्छ्रुत्वा व्यथिता लोकाः क इमामुद्धरेदिति
AI Translation: "He should raise this power, or else shake it." Hearing this, the people were distressed, thinking, "Who will raise this?"
अथ देवगणं सर्वं संभ्रान्तेन्द्रियमानसम् अपश्यद्भगवान्विष्णुः क्षिप्तं सासुरराक्षसम् किं न्वत्र सुकृतं कार्यं भवेदिति विचिन्तयन्
M. N. Dutt: Vishnu saw all the gods and Asuras and Rakshasas to be greatly troubled in mind. He thought of what should be done under the circumstances. Without being able to bear that challenge regarding the hurling of the dart, he directed his eyes towards Skanda, the son of the Fire-god.
स नामृष्यत तं क्षेपमवैक्षत च पावकिम् स प्रहस्य विशुद्धात्मा शक्तिं प्रज्वलितां तदा कम्पयामास सव्येन पाणिना पुरुषोत्तमः
M. N. Dutt: The pure Vishnu caught hold of the burning dart with his left hand, and began to shake it.
शक्त्यां तु कम्पमानायां विष्णुना बलिना तदा मेदिनी कम्पिता सर्वा सशैलवनकानना
M. N. Dutt: When the dart was being thus shaken by the highly powerful Vishnu, the whole Earth with her mountains, forests, and seas, shook with the dart.
शक्तेनापि समुद्धर्तुं कम्पिता सा न तूद्धृता रक्षता स्कन्दराजस्य धर्षणां प्रभविष्णुना
M. N. Dutt: Although Vishnu was fully capable to raise the dart, still he contented himself with only shaking it. In this, the powerful lord only kept the honour of Skanda intact.
तां कम्पयित्वा भगवान्प्रह्रादमिदमब्रवीत् पश्य वीर्यं कुमारस्य नैतदन्यः करिष्यति
M. N. Dutt: Having shaken it himself, the divine Vishnu, addressing Prahlada, said,-see the might of Kumara! None else in the universe can raise this dart.
सोऽमृष्यमाणस्तद्वाक्यं समुद्धरणनिश्चितः जग्राह तां तस्य शक्तिं न चैनामप्यकम्पयत्
M. N. Dutt: Unable to bear this, Prahlada determined to raise the dart. He caught it, but was unable to shake it at all.
नादं महान्तं मुक्त्वा स मूर्छितो गिरिमूर्धनि विह्वलः प्रापतद्भूमौ हिरण्यकशिपोः सुतः
M. N. Dutt: Uttering a loud cry, he dropped down on the hill-top in a swoon. Indeed, the son of Hiranyakashipu dropped down on the Earth.
यत्रोत्तरां दिशं गत्वा शैलराजस्य पार्श्वतः तपोऽतप्यत दुर्धर्षस्तात नित्यं वृषध्वजः
M. N. Dutt: Going towards the northern side of those grand mountains, Mahadeva, having the bull for his emblem, had practised the austerest penances.
पावकेन परिक्षिप्तो दीप्यता तस्य चाश्रमः आदित्यबन्धनं नाम दुर्धर्षमकृतात्मभिः
M. N. Dutt: The asylum where Mahadeva had practised those austerities is encompassed on all sides with a burning fire. Unapproachable by person of impure souls, that mountain is known by the name of Aditya.
न तत्र शक्यते गन्तुं यक्षराक्षसदानवैः दशयोजनविस्तारमग्निज्वालासमावृतम्
M. N. Dutt: There is a fiery girdle all around it, of ten Yojanas in width and it is incapable of being approached by Yakshas and Rakshasas and Danavas.
भगवान्पावकस्तत्र स्वयं तिष्ठति वीर्यवान् सर्वविघ्नान्प्रशमयन्महादेवस्य धीमतः
M. N. Dutt: The illustrious God of Fire, endued with mighty energy, lives there in embodied form engaged in removing all obstacles from the side of Mahadeva of great wisdom who remained there for thousand celestial years, standing on one foot.
दिव्यं वर्षसहस्रं हि पादेनैकेन तिष्ठतः देवान्संतापयंस्तत्र महादेवो धृतव्रतः
AI Translation: The great god, who was observing a vow, stood on one foot for a thousand divine years, tormenting the gods.
ऐन्द्रीं तु दिशमास्थाय शैलराजस्य धीमतः विविक्ते पर्वततटे पाराशर्यो महातपाः वेदानध्यापयामास व्यासः शिष्यान्महातपाः
M. N. Dutt: At the foot of those mountains, in a retired spot, Parashara's son of great ascetic merit, viz., Vyasa, taught the Vedas to his disciples.
सुमन्तुं च महाभागं वैशंपायनमेव च जैमिनिं च महाप्राज्ञं पैलं चापि तपस्विनम्
M. N. Dutt: Those disciples were the highly blessed Sumanta, Vaishampayana, Jaimini of great wisdom, and Paila of great ascetic merit.
एभिः शिष्यैः परिवृतो व्यास आस्ते महातपाः तत्राश्रमपदं पुण्यं ददर्श पितुरुत्तमम् आरणेयो विशुद्धात्मा नभसीव दिवाकरः
M. N. Dutt: Shuka went to that charming asylum where his father, the great ascetic Vyasa, was living surrounded by his disciples.
अथ व्यासः परिक्षिप्तं ज्वलन्तमिव पावकम् ददर्श सुतमायान्तं दिवाकरसमप्रभम्
M. N. Dutt: Seated in his asylum, Vyasa saw his son approach like a burning fire of scattered flames, or resembling the Sun himself in effulgence.
असज्जमानं वृक्षेषु शैलेषु विषमेषु च योगयुक्तं महात्मानं यथा बाणं गुणच्युतम्
M. N. Dutt: As Shuka approached, he did not seem to touch the trees or the rocks of the mountain. Perfectly dissociated from all objects of the senses, and engaged in Yoga, the great ascetic came, resembling in speed an arrow shot off a bow.
सोऽभिगम्य पितुः पादावगृह्णादरणीसुतः यथोपजोषं तैश्चापि समागच्छन्महामुनिः
M. N. Dutt: Born on the fire-sticks, Shuka approaching his father, touched his feet. With due formalities he then accosted the disciples of his father.
ततो निवेदयामास पित्रे सर्वमशेषतः शुको जनकराजेन संवादं प्रीतमानसः
M. N. Dutt: With great cheerfulness he then described in full to his father all the particulars of his conversation with king Janaka.
एवमध्यापयञ्शिष्यान्व्यासः पुत्रं च वीर्यवान् उवास हिमवत्पृष्ठे पाराशर्यो महामुनिः
M. N. Dutt: After the arrival of his powerful son, Vyasa, the son of Parashara, continued to live there on the Himavat, engaged in teaching his disciples, and his son.
ततः कदाचिच्छिष्यास्तं परिवार्यावतस्थिरे वेदाध्ययनसंपन्नाः शान्तात्मानो जितेन्द्रियाः
M. N. Dutt: One day as he was seated his disciples, all well-read in the Vedas, having their senses under control, and gifted with tranquil souls, sat themselves around him.
वेदेषु निष्ठां संप्राप्य साङ्गेष्वतितपस्विनः अथोचुस्ते तदा व्यासं शिष्याः प्राञ्जलयो गुरुम्
M. N. Dutt: All of them had perfectly mastered the Vedas with their branches. All of them were observant of penances. With joined hands they addressed their preceptor in the following words.
महता श्रेयसा युक्ता यशसा च स्म वर्धिताः एकं त्विदानीमिच्छामो गुरुणानुग्रहं कृतम्
M. N. Dutt: We have, through your favour, been ended with great energy. Our fame, also has spread. There is one favour that we pray you to grant us.
इति तेषां वचः श्रुत्वा ब्रह्मर्षिस्तानुवाच ह उच्यतामिति तद्वत्सा यद्वः कार्यं प्रियं मया
M. N. Dutt: Hearing these words of theirs, the twiceborm Rishi answered them, saying,-You sons, tell me what that boon is which you want me to grant you.
एतद्वाक्यं गुरोः श्रुत्वा शिष्यास्ते हृष्टमानसाः पुनः प्राञ्जलयो भूत्वा प्रणम्य शिरसा गुरुम्
AI Translation: Hearing these words of the Guru, the disciples, with delighted minds, again folded their hands, bowed their heads to the Guru,
ऊचुस्ते सहिता राजन्निदं वचनमुत्तमम् यदि प्रीत उपाध्यायो धन्याः स्मो मुनिसत्तम
AI Translation: They all together spoke these excellent words, O king: "If the teacher is pleased, we are blessed, O best of sages."
काङ्क्षामस्तु वयं सर्वे वरं दत्तं महर्षिणा षष्ठः शिष्यो न ते ख्यातिं गच्छेदत्र प्रसीद नः
M. N. Dutt: We all solicit you, O great Rishi, to grant us a boon. Do you show us favour. Let no sixth disciple succeed in acquiring fame.
चत्वारस्ते वयं शिष्या गुरुपुत्रश्च पञ्चमः इह वेदाः प्रतिष्ठेरन्नेष नः काङ्क्षितो वरः
M. N. Dutt: We are four. Our preceptor's son forms the fifth. Let the Vedas shine in only us five! This is the boon that we pray for.
शिष्याणां वचनं श्रुत्वा व्यासो वेदार्थतत्त्ववित् पराशरात्मजो धीमान्परलोकार्थचिन्तकः उवाच शिष्यान्धर्मात्मा धर्म्यं नैःश्रेयसं वचः
M. N. Dutt: Hearing these words of his disciples, Vyasa, the son of Parashara, endued with great intelligence, well conversant with the meanings of the Vedas, endued with a pious soul, and always engaged in thinking of objects that grant benefits on a person in the next world, said to his disciples these righteous words, fraught with great benefit:-The Vedas should always be given to him, who is a Brahmana, or to him who is desirous of listening to Vedic instructions, by him who eagerly wishes to acquire a residence in the region of Brahman.
ब्राह्मणाय सदा देयं ब्रह्म शुश्रूषवे भवेत् ब्रह्मलोके निवासं यो ध्रुवं समभिकाङ्क्षति
AI Translation: It should always be given to a Brahmin who is devoted to the study of the Vedas. He who certainly desires to dwell in the world of Brahma,
भवन्तो बहुलाः सन्तु वेदो विस्तार्यतामयम् नाशिष्ये संप्रदातव्यो नाव्रते नाकृतात्मनि
AI Translation: May you all be prosperous. May this Veda be expanded. The Veda should not be given to a disciple who is not devoted, who is not in the vow, or who has not purified himself.
एते शिष्यगुणाः सर्वे विज्ञातव्या यथार्थतः नापरीक्षितचारित्रे विद्या देया कथंचन
AI Translation: All these qualities of a disciple should be known as they are. Knowledge should never be given to one whose conduct has not been tested.
यथा हि कनकं शुद्धं तापच्छेदनिघर्षणैः परीक्षेत तथा शिष्यानीक्षेत्कुलगुणादिभिः
AI Translation: Just as one tests gold by heating, cutting, and rubbing, so one should test disciples by their family qualities and so forth.
न नियोज्याश्च वः शिष्या अनियोगे महाभये यथामति यथापाठं तथा विद्या फलिष्यति
AI Translation: You should not engage your disciples in the great fear of non-engagement. As much as one's understanding and recitation, so much will the knowledge bear fruit.
सर्वस्तरतु दुर्गाणि सर्वो भद्राणि पश्यतु श्रावयेच्चतुरो वर्णान्कृत्वा ब्राह्मणमग्रतः
M. N. Dutt: Let all disciples master all difficulties, and let all of them be crowned with success. You are competent to expound the scriptures to persons of all the castes. Only ye should, while delivering instructions address a Brahmana, first of all.
वेदस्याध्ययनं हीदं तच्च कार्यं महत्स्मृतम् स्तुत्यर्थमिह देवानां वेदाः सृष्टाः स्वयंभुवा
M. N. Dutt: These are the rules about the study of the Vedas. This again is considered as a high task. The Vedas were created by the Self-create for the purpose of praising the gods therewith.
यो निर्वदेत संमोहाद्ब्राह्मणं वेदपारगम् सोऽपध्यानाद्ब्राह्मणस्य पराभूयादसंशयम्
M. N. Dutt: That man who, through stupefaction of intellect, speaks ill of a Brahmana well-read in the Vedas, is certain to meet with humiliation on account of such evil-speaking.
यश्चाधर्मेण विब्रूयाद्यश्चाधर्मेण पृच्छति तयोरन्यतरः प्रैति विद्वेषं वाधिगच्छति
M. N. Dutt: He who, disregarding all rules of virtue, seeks knowledge, and he who, disregarding the rules of virtue, communicates knowledge, both of them fall off and instead of that love which should exist instead of that love which should exist between preceptor and disciple, such questioning and such communication are sure to create distrust and suspicion.
एतद्वः सर्वमाख्यातं स्वाध्यायस्य विधिं प्रति उपकुर्याच्च शिष्याणामेतच्च हृदि वो भवेत्
M. N. Dutt: I have now told you everything about the way in which the Vedas should be studied and taught. You should treat your disciples thus, remembering these instructions.”