Critical Edition
भीष्म उवाच अथ काले बहुतिथे पूर्णे प्राप्तो भुजंगमः दत्ताभ्यनुज्ञः स्वं वेश्म कृतकर्मा विवस्वतः
M. N. Dutt: Bhishma said Upon the expire of full fifteen days, the Naga king (Padmanabha), having finished his task of dragging the car of the Sun and obtained the latter's permission, returned to his own house.
तं भार्या समभिक्रामत्पादशौचादिभिर्गुणैः उपपन्नां च तां साध्वीं पन्नगः पर्यपृच्छत
AI Translation: His wife approached him with the qualities of washing his feet and so on. And the snake asked the virtuous woman who had been reborn,
अपि त्वमसि कल्याणि देवतातिथिपूजने पूर्वमुक्तेन विधिना युक्ता युक्तेन मत्समम्
AI Translation: But you are the one who worships the gods and guests, O fortunate one. According to the method previously stated, you are united with me who is united.
न खल्वस्यकृतार्थेन स्त्रीबुद्ध्या मार्दवीकृता मद्वियोगेन सुश्रोणि वियुक्ता धर्मसेतुना
M. N. Dutt: I hope, without yielding to that impure understanding which is natural to persons of your sex, you have, during my absence from home, been firm in the observance of the duties of hospitality. I trust that you have not gone beyond the barriers of duty and virtue.
नागभार्योवाच शिष्याणां गुरुशुश्रूषा विप्राणां वेदपारणम् भृत्यानां स्वामिवचनं राज्ञां लोकानुपालनम्
AI Translation: Nagabharti said: The service of the teacher by the disciples, the mastery of the Vedas by the Brahmins, The obedience to the master by the servants, the protection of the people by the kings,
सर्वभूतपरित्राणं क्षत्रधर्म इहोच्यते वैश्यानां यज्ञसंवृत्तिरातिथेयसमन्विता
AI Translation: The protection of all beings is said to be the duty of a kshatriya. For vaishyas, it is the performance of sacrifices along with hospitality.
विप्रक्षत्रियवैश्यानां शुश्रूषा शूद्रकर्म तत् गृहस्थधर्मो नागेन्द्र सर्वभूतहितैषिता
M. N. Dutt: The duty of the Shudra is to serve with humility persons of the twice-born orders, viz., Brahmanas and Kshatriyas and Vaishyas. The religion of the house-holder, O king of the Nagas, consists in doing good to all creatures.
नियताहारता नित्यं व्रतचर्या यथाक्रमम् धर्मो हि धर्मसंबन्धादिन्द्रियाणां विशेषणम्
M. N. Dutt: Frugality of fare and observance of vows in due order, form merit (for persons of all classes) on account of the connection that exists between the senses and the duties religion.
अहं कस्य कुतो वाहं कः को मे ह भवेदिति प्रयोजनमतिर्नित्यमेवं मोक्षाश्रमी भवेत्
M. N. Dutt: Who am I? Whence have I come? What are others to me and what am I to others?—these are the thoughts to which the mind should ever be given by him who leads that course of life which leads to Liberation.
पतिव्रतात्वं भार्यायाः परमो धर्म उच्यते तवोपदेशान्नागेन्द्र तच्च तत्त्वेन वेद्मि वै
M. N. Dutt: Chastity and obedience to the husband from the highest duty of wife. Through your instruction, O king of Nagas, I have learnt this well.
साहं धर्मं विजानन्ती धर्मनित्ये त्वयि स्थिते सत्पथं कथमुत्सृज्य यास्यामि विषमे पथि
M. N. Dutt: I, therefore, that am well versed in my duty, and that have you for my husband,—you who are devoted to virtue,-O, why shall I, falling off from the path of duty, tread along the path of disobedience and sin?
देवतानां महाभाग धर्मचर्या न हीयते अतिथीनां च सत्कारे नित्ययुक्तास्म्यतन्द्रिता
M. N. Dutt: During your absence from home, the adorations to the gods have not suffered in any respect. I have also, without the slightest negligence, performed the duties of hospitality towards persons arrived as guests in your house.
सप्ताष्टदिवसास्त्वद्य विप्रस्येहागतस्य वै स च कार्यं न मे ख्याति दर्शनं तव काङ्क्षति
M. N. Dutt: Fifteen days ago a Brahmana has come here. He has not given out his object to me. He wishes to see you.
गोमत्यास्त्वेष पुलिने त्वद्दर्शनसमुत्सुकः आसीनोऽऽवर्तयन्ब्रह्म ब्राह्मणः संशितव्रतः
M. N. Dutt: Living on the banks of the Gomati, he is anxiously expecting your return. Of rigid vows, that Brahmana is sitting there, engaged in the recitation of Brahma.
Supplementary Passages:
12.347.14 After 14, K7 D4.9 ins.: *909 तपोध्यानपरो नित्यं सत्यसंधो जितेन्द्रियः
अहं त्वनेन नागेन्द्र सामपूर्वं समाहिता प्रस्थाप्यो मत्सकाशं स संप्राप्तो भुजगोत्तमः
M. N. Dutt: O king of the Nagas, I have made a promise to him that I would send you to him as soon as you would return to your house.
एतच्छ्रुत्वा महाप्राज्ञ तत्र गन्तुं त्वमर्हसि दातुमर्हसि वा तस्य दर्शनं दर्शनश्रवः
M. N. Dutt: Hearing these words of men, O best of Nagas, you should go there. O you who hear with your eyes, you should great to that twiceborn person the object that has brought him here.