Critical Edition
अष्टावक्र उवाच अन्धस्य पन्था बधिरस्य पन्थाः; स्त्रियः पन्था वैवधिकस्य पन्थाः राज्ञः पन्था ब्राह्मणेनासमेत्य; समेत्य तु ब्राह्मणस्यैव पन्थाः
M. N. Dutt: Ashtavakra said: When no Brahmana passes along a path, it then belongs first to the blind, then to the deaf, then to women, then to the carriers of burden and then (last of all) to the king But when a Brahmana is met on the way, it solely belongs to him.
राजोवाच पन्था अयं तेऽद्य मया निसृष्टो; येनेच्छसे तेन कामं व्रजस्व न पावको विद्यते वै लघीया;निन्द्रोऽपि नित्यं नमते ब्राह्मणानाम्
M. N. Dutt: The king said : I leave the path, go in whatever way you like. Even the smallest fire is not to be slighted. Indra himself always bows down to a Brahmana.
Supplementary Passages:
3.133.2 After 2, S ins.: *653 लोमशः स एवमुक्तो मातुलेनैव सार्धं यथेष्टमार्गो यज्ञनिवेशनं तत् धर्मेण संप्राप्य निवारितः सन् द्वारि द्वाःस्थं वाक्यमिदं बभाषे
अष्टावक्र उवाच यज्ञं द्रष्टुं प्राप्तवन्तौ स्व तात; कौतूहलं नौ बलवद्वै विवृद्धम् आवां प्राप्तावतिथी संप्रवेशं; काङ्क्षावहे द्वारपते तवाज्ञाम्
AI Translation: Aṣṭāvakra said: We have come to see the sacrifice, our father; our curiosity has greatly increased. We have come as guests, desiring entry; we ask for your
ऐन्द्रद्युम्नेर्यज्ञदृशाविहावां; विवक्षू वै जनकेन्द्रं दिदृक्षू न वै क्रोधाद्व्याधिनैवोत्तमेन; संयोजय द्वारपाल क्षणेन
AI Translation: We, Indradyumna and Yajnadrishti, wish to see Janaka, the lord of the people. Do not detain us with anger or with the highest disease. Join us
Supplementary Passages:
3.133.4 After 4, D1.2 ins.: *654 मा च त्वमावां व्याधिना तप्यमानाव् अभिभू त्वं बालकौ बालिशौ च समायातौ मातुलभागिनेयौ संमोक्तव्यौ द्वारपाल क्षणेऽस्मिन्
द्वारपाल उवाच बन्देः समादेशकरा वयं स्म; निबोध वाक्यं च मयेर्यमाणम् न वै बालाः प्रविशन्त्यत्र विप्रा; वृद्धा विद्वांसः प्रविशन्ति द्विजाग्र्याः
M. N. Dutt: The gate-keeper said : We carry out the word of Bandi. Hear what I say. The boy are not permitted to enter here; only old and learned Brahmanas are allowed to enter.
अष्टावक्र उवाच यद्यत्र वृद्धेषु कृतः प्रवेशो; युक्तं मम द्वारपाल प्रवेष्टुम् वयं हि वृद्धाश्चरितव्रताश्च; वेदप्रभावेन प्रवेशनार्हाः
M. N. Dutt: Ashtavakra said: O gate-keeper, if this be the order that only old men can enter here, then we can enter. We also are old and we have observed severe vows. We are endued with the effulgence of the Vedas,
शुश्रूषवश्चापि जितेन्द्रियाश्च; ज्ञानागमे चापि गताः स्म निष्ठाम् न बाल इत्यवमन्तव्यमाहु;र्बालोऽप्यग्निर्दहति स्पृश्यमानः
M. N. Dutt: We have served our preceptor and we have subdued our passions and we have also obtained proficiency in knowledge. It is said that even boys must not be slighted; for the smallest fire if touched burns.
द्वारपाल उवाच सरस्वतीमीरय वेदजुष्टा;मेकाक्षरां बहुरूपां विराजम् अङ्गात्मानं समवेक्षस्व बालं; किं श्लाघसे दुर्लभा वादसिद्धिः
M. N. Dutt: The gate-keeper said: O boy, if you know, recite the verse demonstrating the existence of the Supreme Being, adored by the celestials sages and composed of one letter though multifarious. Do not indulge in vain boasting. Learned men are very rare.
अष्टावक्र उवाच न ज्ञायते कायवृद्ध्या विवृद्धि;र्यथाष्ठीला शाल्मलेः संप्रवृद्धा ह्रस्वोऽल्पकायः फलितो विवृद्धो; यश्चाफलस्तस्य न वृद्धभावः
M. N. Dutt: Ashtavakra said: True growth can not be inferred from the mere growth of the body, as the growth of the knots of Salmali tree cannot tell its age. That tree is called full grown, which, though slender and short, bears fruits.
द्वारपाल उवाच वृद्धेभ्य एवेह मतिं स्म बाला; गृह्णन्ति कालेन भवन्ति वृद्धाः न हि ज्ञानमल्पकालेन शक्यं; कस्माद्बालो वृद्ध इवावभाषसे
M. N. Dutt: The gate-keeper said : Boys receive instruction from the old and they thus in due time grow old. Knowledge cannot be obtained in a short time. Therefore why being but a child do you talk like an old man?
अष्टावक्र उवाच न तेन स्थविरो भवति येनास्य पलितं शिरः बालोऽपि यः प्रजानाति तं देवाः स्थविरं विदुः
M. N. Dutt: Ashtavakra said : One is not old, because his hair has turned white. Even boys who possess knowledge are considered to be old by the celestials.
न हायनैर्न पलितैर्न वित्तेन न बन्धुभिः ऋषयश्चक्रिरे धर्मं योऽनूचानः स नो महान्
M. N. Dutt: The Rishis have not ordained that a man's merit depends on years or on gray hair or wealth or friend. To us one who is versed in the Vedas is great.
दिदृक्षुरस्मि संप्राप्तो बन्दिनं राजसंसदि निवेदयस्व मां द्वाःस्थ राज्ञे पुष्करमालिने
M. N. Dutt: O gate-keeper, I have come with the desire of secing Bandi. Go, inform the king (Janaka) adorned with the garlands of lotuses.
द्रष्टास्यद्य वदतो द्वारपाल; मनीषिभिः सह वादे विवृद्धे उताहो वाप्युच्चतां नीचतां वा; तूष्णीं भूतेष्वथ सर्वेषु चाद्य
AI Translation: You will see today the gatekeeper speaking, when the debate with the wise has been intensified, or whether he has become haughty or humble, when all the others are silent.
Supplementary Passages:
3.133.14 For 14ab, B D subst. (changing over to anuṣṭubh rhythm): *655 द्रष्टास्यद्य वदतोऽस्मान्द्वारपाल मनीषिभिः सह वादे विवृद्धे तु बन्दिनं चापि निर्जितम् K4 T2 G3 ins. after 14ab: B D (except D1.2) ins. after 655*: *656 पश्यन्तु विप्राः परिपूर्णविद्याः सहैव राज्ञा सपुरोधमुख्याः
द्वारपाल उवाच कथं यज्ञं दशवर्षो विशेस्त्वं; विनीतानां विदुषां संप्रवेश्यम् उपायतः प्रयतिष्ये तवाहं; प्रवेशने कुरु यत्नं यथावत्
M. N. Dutt: The gate-keeper said : How can you, who are but in your tenth year, hope to enter into the grounds of this sacrifice into which only learned and educated men are admitted? I shall however try some means to admit you. You too make an attempt.
Supplementary Passages:
3.133.15 After 15a, D1.2 ins.: *657 प्रवेक्ष्यसे बन्दिनं नानुमन्त्र्य T2 G2-4 M1 ins. after 15: T1 (which om. 15cd) ins. after 15ab: *658 एष राजा संश्रवणे स्थितस्ते स्तुह्येनं त्वं वचसा संस्कृतेन स चानुज्ञां दास्यति प्रीतियुक्तः प्रवेशने यच्च किंचित्तवेष्टम्
अष्टावक्र उवाच भो भो राजञ्जनकानां वरिष्ठ; सभाज्यस्त्वं त्वयि सर्वं समृद्धम् त्वं वा कर्ता कर्मणां यज्ञियानां; ययातिरेको नृपतिर्वा पुरस्तात्
M. N. Dutt: Ashtavakra said: O king, O best of Janaka's race, you are an emperor and all wealth rest in you. In the days of yore, Yayati was the (great) performer of sacrifices and in the modern age you are the great performer of sacrifices.
विद्वान्बन्दी वेदविदो निगृह्य; वादे भग्नानप्रतिशङ्कमानः त्वया निसृष्टैः पुरुषैराप्तकृद्भि;र्जले सर्वान्मज्जयतीति नः श्रुतम्
M. N. Dutt: We have heard that the learned Bandi, after defeating (in controversy), men who are experts in discussion, causes them to be drowned by faithful servants employed by you.
स तच्छ्रुत्वा ब्राह्मणानां सकाशा;द्ब्रह्मोद्यं वै कथयितुमागतोऽस्मि क्वासौ बन्दी यावदेनं समेत्य; नक्षत्राणीव सविता नाशयामि
M. N. Dutt: Having heard this from the Brahmanas, I have come to expound the doctrine of the Supreme Being. Where is that Bandi? Tell me, so that I may destroy him, as the sun destroys the stars.
राजोवाच आशंससे बन्दिनं त्वं विजेतु;मविज्ञात्वा वाक्यबलं परस्य विज्ञातवीर्यैः शक्यमेवं प्रवक्तुं; दृष्टश्चासौ ब्राह्मणैर्वादशीलैः
M. N. Dutt: The King said: You hope to defeat Bandi, because you do not know his power. Can they, who know him, speak as you do? He had been tested by the Brahmanas who were experts in discussion.
Supplementary Passages:
3.133.19 After 19, K4 B2-4 Dc Dn D4.5 (marg.).6 T G ins.: *659 आशंससे त्वं बन्दिनं वै विजेतुम् अविज्ञात्वा तु बलं बन्दिनोऽस्य समागता ब्राह्मणास्तेन पूर्वं न शोभन्ते भास्करेणेव ताराः आशंसन्तो बन्दिनं जेतुकामास् तस्यान्तिकं प्राप्य विलुप्तशोभाः विज्ञानमत्ता निःसृताश्चैव तात कथं सदस्यैर्वचनं विस्तरेयुः
अष्टावक्र उवाच विवादितोऽसौ न हि मादृशैर्हि; सिंहीकृतस्तेन वदत्यभीतः समेत्य मां निहतः शेष्यतेऽद्य; मार्गे भग्नं शकटमिवाबलाक्षम्
M. N. Dutt: Ashtavakra said : Bandi has never had an occasion to hold a discussion with a man like me. It is only for this reasor, that he considers himself as a lion and goes about roaring like one. But when he will meet me today, he will lie down (dead) as a cart breaks down on the road when its wheels have been deranged.
राजोवाच षण्णाभेर्द्वादशाक्षस्य चतुर्विंशतिपर्वणः यस्त्रिषष्टिशतारस्य वेदार्थं स परः कविः
M. N. Dutt: The King said : He alone is a really learned man who understands the thing that has thirty divisions, twelve parts, twenty-four joints and three hundred and sixty spokes.
अष्टावक्र उवाच चतुर्विंशतिपर्व त्वां षण्णाभि द्वादशप्रधि तत्त्रिषष्टिशतारं वै चक्रं पातु सदागति
M. N. Dutt: Ashtavakra said: May that ever-revolving wheel (Time) that has twenty-four joints, six naves twelve peripheries and sixty spokes protect you.
राजोवाच वडवे इव संयुक्ते श्येनपाते दिवौकसाम् कस्तयोर्गर्भमाधत्ते गर्भं सुषुवतुश्च कम्
M. N. Dutt: The King said : Who among the celestials gives birth to those who which go together like two yoked mares and swoop down like hawks; and to what also do they give birth?
अष्टावक्र उवाच मा स्म ते ते गृहे राजञ्शात्रवाणामपि ध्रुवम् वातसारथिराधत्ते गर्भं सुषुवतुश्च तम्
M. N. Dutt: Ashtavakra said : O king, may God keep away from your house those two (thunder and lightning), nay cven from the house of your enemies. He who appears with the wind as his charioteer (cloud or mind) gives, birth to them and they also produce him.
राजोवाच किं स्वित्सुप्तं न निमिषति किं स्विज्जातं न चोपति कस्य स्विद्धृदयं नास्ति किं स्विद्वेगेन वर्धते
M. N. Dutt: The King said: What is it that does not close its eyes even when it is asleep? What is it that does not move when born? What is it that has no heart and what is it that increases in its speed?
अष्टावक्र उवाच मत्स्यः सुप्तो न निमिषत्यण्डं जातं न चोपति अश्मनो हृदयं नास्ति नदी वेगेन वर्धते
AI Translation: Aṣṭāvakra said: A sleeping fish does not blink, an egg is born and does not grow, A stone has no heart, a river increases in speed.
राजोवाच न त्वा मन्ये मानुषं देवसत्त्वं; न त्वं बालः स्थविरस्त्वं मतो मे न ते तुल्यो विद्यते वाक्प्रलापे; तस्माद्द्वारं वितराम्येष बन्दी
M. N. Dutt: The King said : Opossessor of divine energy, it appears that you are not a human being. I do not consider that you are a boy. I consider you to be a grown up man. There is none who can be compared with you in learning. Therefore I give you admittance. Yonder is Bandi.