pari-kulkarni/itihasa-sanskrit-en-filtered huggingface dataset:
Sanskrit: व्यालकुञ्जरदुर्गेषु सर्पचौरभयेषु च। हस्तावापेन गच्छन्ति नास्तिकाः किमतः परम्॥
English: The unbelievers have to pass, with groping hands, through regions full of beasts of prey and elephants and pathless tracts full of snakes and robbers and other causes of fear. What more need be said of these?
Sanskrit: पुलाका इव धान्येषु पूत्यण्डा इव पक्षिषु। तद्विधास्ते मनुष्येषु येषां धर्मो न कारणम्॥
English: Those who are not pious should not be counted among men even as grains without kennel are not counted among grain and a6 cockroaches are not counted among birds.
Sanskrit: येन येन यथा यद् यत्पुरा कर्म सुनिश्चितम्। तत् तदेकतरो भुङ्क्ते नित्यं विहितमात्मना॥
English: Whatever the acts one does by whatever means and under whatever circumstances, are sure to be enjoyed and suffered by the doer in his next life.
Sanskrit: स्वकर्मफलनिक्षेपं विधानपरिरक्षितम्। भूतग्राममिमं कालः समन्तादपकर्षति॥
English: From every side Time is always dragging all creatures, following the rule about the distance to which they are thrown and which is commensurate with their deeds.
Sanskrit: सम्मानश्चावमानश्च लाभालाभौ क्षयोदयौ। प्रवृत्ता विनिवर्तन्ते विधानान्ते पदे पदे॥
English: Honour and dishonour, profit and loss, destruction and growth, are seen to set in. No one can resist them. None of them is everlasting for it must disappear in the end.
Sanskrit: आत्मना विहितं दुःखमात्मना विहितं सुखम्। गर्भशय्यामुपादाय भुज्यते पौर्वदेहिकम्॥
English: The sorrows one suffers is the outcome of his deeds. The happiness one enjoys originates from his deeds. From the time when one lies within the mother's womb one begins to enjoy and suffer his pristine deeds.
Sanskrit: बालो युवा वा वृद्धश्च यत् करोति शुभाशुभम्। तस्यां तस्यामवस्थायां भुङ्क्ते जन्मनि जन्मनि॥
English: Whatever acts good and bad one does in childhood, youth, or old age, one enjoys and suffer their consequences in his next life in similar ages.
Sanskrit: मलिनं हि यथा वस्त्रं पश्चाच्छुद्ध्यति वारिणा। उपवासैः प्रतप्तानां दीर्घं सुखमनन्तकम्॥
English: As a piece of dirty cloth is whitened by being washed in water, similarly the righteous, purified by continuous exposure to the fire of fasts and penances at last acquire eternal happiness.
Sanskrit: दीर्घकालेन तपसा सेवितेन महामते। धर्मनिर्धूतपापानां संसिध्यन्ते मनोरथाः॥
English: O you of great intelligence, the desires and purposes of those whose sins have been purged off by long-continued penances wellperformed, become fruitful.
Sanskrit: शकुनानामिवाकाशे मत्स्यानामिव चोदके। पदं यथा न दृश्येत तथा पुण्यकृतां गतिः॥
English: The path of the righteous cannot be discerned even as that of birds in the sky or that of fishes in the water.
Sanskrit: अलमन्यैरुपालब्धैः कीर्तितैश्च व्यतिक्रमैः। पेशलं चानुरूपं च कर्तव्यं हितमात्मनः॥
English: There is no need of speaking ill of others; nor of reciting the instances of their failure. On the other hand, one should always do what is delightful, sweet, and beneficial to his own self.
Sanskrit: युधिष्ठिर उवाच कथं व्यासस्य धर्मात्मा शुको जज्ञे महातपाः। सिद्धिं च परमां प्राप्तस्तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह॥
English: Yudhishthira said Tell me, O grandfather, how the great Shuka of austere penances took birth as the son of Vyasa, and how did he succeed in acquiring the highest success?
Sanskrit: कस्यां चोत्पादयामास शुकं व्यासस्तपोधनः। न ह्यस्य जननी विद्मं जन्म चायं महात्मनः॥
English: Upon what woman did Vyasa, having asceticism for his wealth, beget that son of his? We do not know who was Shuka's mother, nor do we know anything of the birth of that great ascetic.
Sanskrit: कथं च बालस्य सत: सूक्ष्मजाने गता मतिः। यथा नान्यस्य लोकेऽस्मिन् द्वितीयस्येह कस्यचित्॥
English: How was it that, when he was a mere boy, his mind became bent to the knowledge of the subtile? Indeed, in this world no second person can be seen in whom such marks could be seen at so early an age.
Sanskrit: एतदिच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुं विस्तरेण महामते। न हि मे तृप्तिरस्तीह शृण्वतोऽमृतमुत्तमम्॥
English: I wish to hear all this in full, you of great intelligence. I am never satiated with hearing your excellent and nectar-like words.
Sanskrit: माहात्म्यमात्मयोगं च विज्ञानं च शुकस्य ह। यथावदानुपूर्येण तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह॥
English: Tell me, grandfather, in their due order, of the greatness, and the knowledge of Shuka and of his union with the (Supreme) Soul!
Sanskrit: भीष्म उवाच न हायनैर्न पलितैर्न वित्तैर्न न बन्धुभिः। ऋषयश्चक्रिरे धर्म योऽनूचानः स नो महान्॥
English: The Rishis did not make merit depend upon years of decrepitude or riches or friends. They said that he amongst them was great who studied the Vedas.
Sanskrit: तपोमूलमिदं सर्वं यन्मां पृच्छसि पाण्डवः तदिन्द्रियाणि संयम्य तपो भवति नान्यथा॥
English: All this that you have asked has penances for its root. That penance, again, O son of Pandu, originates from the subjugation of the senses.
Sanskrit: इन्द्रियाणां प्रसङ्गेन दोषमृच्छत्यसंशयम्। संनियम्य तु तान्येव सिद्धिमाप्नोति मानवः॥
English: Forsooth, one incurs fault by letting loose his senses. It is only by controlling them that one succeeds in acquiring success.
Sanskrit: अश्वमेधसहस्रस्य वाजपेयशतस्य च। योगस्य कलया तात न तुल्यं विद्यते फलम्॥
English: The merit of a thousand Horse-sacrifices or a hundred Vajapeyas is not equal to even a sixteenth part of the merit of Yoga.
Sanskrit: अत्र ते वर्तयिष्यामि जन्मयोगफलं तथा। शुकस्याश्यां गतिं चैव दुर्विदामकृतात्मभिः॥
English: I shall, now, recite to you the circumstances of Shuka's birth, the fruits he acquired of his penances, and the foremost end he achieved. These are the topics which persons of uncleansed souls cannot understand.
Sanskrit: मेरुशृङ्गे किल पुरा कर्णिकारवनायुते। विजहार महादेवो भीमैर्भूतगणैर्वृतः॥
English: Once on a time on the summit of Meru adorned with Karnikara flowers, Mahadeva sported, in company of his followers, the terrible spirits.
Sanskrit: शैलराजसुता चैव देवी तत्राभवत् पुरा। तत्र दिव्यं तपस्तेपे कृष्णद्वैपायनस्तदा॥
English: The daughter of the king of mountains, viz., the goddess Parvati, was also there. There near that summit, the Island-born (Vyasa) practised extraordinary austerities.
Sanskrit: योगेनात्मानमाविश्य योगधर्मपरायणः। धारयन् स तपस्तेपे पुत्रार्थं कुरुसत्तम॥
English: O best of the Kuru, given to the practices of Yoga, the great ascetic, withdrawing himself by Yoga into his own soul, and engaged in concentration, practised many austerities for the sake of a son.
Sanskrit: अग्नेर्भूमेरपां वायोरन्तरिक्षस्य वा विभो। धैर्येण सम्मितः पुत्रो मम भूयादिति स्म ह॥
English: The prayer he offered to the great God was,-~O powerful one, let me have a son that will have the might of Fire and Earth and Weather and Wind and Ether.
Sanskrit: संकल्पेनाथ योगेन दुष्प्रापमकृतात्मभिः। वरयामास देवेशमास्थितस्तप उत्तमम्॥
English: Engaged in the austerest of penances the Island-born Rishi begged of that great God, who cannot be approached by persons of impure souls, by his Yoga.
Sanskrit: अतिष्ठन्मारुताहारः शतं किल समाः प्रभुः। आराधयन्महादेवं बहुरूपमुमापतिम्॥
English: The powerful Vyasa remained there for a hundred years, living on air alone, engaged in worshipping many formed Mahadeva, the lord ofUma.
Sanskrit: तत्र ब्रह्मर्षयश्चैव सर्वे राजर्षयस्तथा। लोकपालाश्च लोकेशं साध्याश्च बहुभिः सह।॥ आदित्याश्चैव रुद्राश्च दिवाकरनिशाकरौ। वसवो मरुतश्चैव सागरा: सरितस्तथा॥ अश्विनौ देवगन्धर्वास्तथा नारदपर्वतौ। विश्वावसुश्च गन्धर्वः सिद्धाश्चाप्सरसस्तथा॥
English: There were all the twice-born Rishis and royal sages and the Regents of the world and the Sadhyas along with the Vasus, and the Adityas, the Rudras, and the Sun and the Moon, and the Maruts, and the Oceans, and the rivers, and the Ashvins, the Deities, the Gandharvas, and Narada, and Parvata, and the Gandharva Vishvavasu, and the Siddhas, and the Apsaras.
Sanskrit: तत्र रुद्रो महादेवः कर्णिकारमयीं शुभाम्। धारयाणः स्रज भाति ज्योत्स्नामिव निशाकरः॥
English: There Mahadeva, called also Rudra, sat, adorned with an excellent garland of Karnikara flowers, and effulgent like the Moon with his rays.
Sanskrit: तस्मिन् दिव्ये वने रम्ये देवदेवर्षिसंकुले। आस्थितः परमं योगमृषिः पुत्रार्थपच्युतः॥
English: In those delightful and celestial forests populous with gods and heavenly Rishis, the great Rishi remained, engaged in high Yogacontemplation, for getting a son.
Sanskrit: न चास्य हीयते प्राणो न ग्लानिरुपजायते। त्रयाणामपि लोकानां तदद्भुतमिवाभवत्॥
English: His strength suffered no decrease, nor did he feel any pain. There at the three worlds were much surprised.
Sanskrit: जटाश्च तेजसा तस्य वैश्वानरशिखोपमाः। प्रज्वलन्त्यः स्म दृश्यन्ते युक्तस्यामिततेजसः॥
English: While the Rishi, gifted with immeasurable energy, sat in Yoga, his mattered locks, on account of his energy, were seen to blaze like flames of fire.
Sanskrit: मार्कण्डेयो हि भगवानेतदाख्यातवान् मम! स देवचरितानीह कथयामास मे सदा॥
English: I heard to this from the illustrious Markandeya. He used always to recite to me the acts of the gods.
Sanskrit: एता अद्यापि कृष्णस्य तपसा तेन दीपिताः। अग्निवर्णा जटास्तात प्रकाशन्ते महात्मनः॥
English: It is for this that the matted locks of the great Vyasa, thus enblazed by his energy on that occasion, seem to this day to be gifted with the hue of fire.
Sanskrit: एवंविधेन तपसा तस्य भक्त्या च भारत। महेश्वरः प्रसन्नात्मा चकार मनसा मतिम्॥
English: Pleased with such penances and such devotion, O Bharata, of the Rishi, the great God resolved to grant him his wish.
Sanskrit: उवाच चैवं भगवांस्त्र्यम्बकः प्रहसन्निव। एवंविधस्ते तनयो द्वैपायन भविष्यति॥
English: Smiling with pleasure, the three-eyed god addressed him and said,-O Island-born one, you will have a son after your heart.
Sanskrit: यथा ह्यग्निर्यथा वायुर्यथा भूमिर्यथा जलम्। यथा च खं तथा शुद्धो भविता ते सुतो महान्॥
English: Endued with greatness, he shall be as pure as Fire, as Wind, as Earth, as Water, and as Space.
Sanskrit: तद्भावभावी तबुद्धिस्तदात्मा तदपाश्रयः। तेजसाऽऽवृत्य लोकांस्त्रीन् यशःप्राप्स्यति ते सुतः।।२९।
English: He will be conscious of his being Brahma's self ; his understanding and soul shall be devoted to Brahma, and he shall completely depend upon Brahma so as to be at one with.
Sanskrit: भीष्म उवाच स लब्ध्वा परमं देवाद् वरं सत्यवतीसुतः। अरणी सहिते गृह्य ममन्थाग्निचिकीर्षया॥
English: Bhishma said Having got this high boon from the great God, the son of Satyavati, was one day engaged in rubbing his sticks for making a fire.
Sanskrit: अथ रूपं परं राजन् बिभ्रती स्वेन तेजसा। घृताची नामाप्सरसमपश्यद् भगवानृषिः॥
English: While thus engaged, the illustrious Rishi, O king, saw the . Apsara Ghritachi, who, on account of her energy, was then possessed of great beauty.
Sanskrit: ऋषिरप्सरसं दृष्ट्वा सहसा काममोहितः। अभवद् भगवान् व्यासो वने तस्मिन् युधिष्ठिर॥
English: Seeing the Apasara in those woods, the illustrious Rishi Vyasa, O Yudhisthira, became suddenly possessed by desire.
Sanskrit: सा च दृष्ट्वा तदा व्यासं कामसंविग्नमानसम्। शुकी भूत्वा महाराज घृताची समुपागमत्॥
English: The Apsara, seeing the Rishi's heart smitten with desire, changed herself into a she-parrot and came to that spot.
Sanskrit: तामप्सरसं दृष्ट्वा रूपेणान्येन संवृताम्। शरीरजेनानुगदः सर्वगात्रातिगेन ह॥
English: Although he saw the Apsara disguised in another form, the desire that had arisen in the Rishi's heart spread itself over every part of his body.
Sanskrit: स तु धैर्येण महता निगृह्णन् हृच्छयं मुनिः। न शशाक नियन्तुं तद् व्यास: प्रविसृतं मनः॥ भावित्वाच्चैव भावस्य घृताच्या वपुषा हृतः।
English: Inviting all his patience, the ascetic tried to suppress that desire. With all his efforts, however, Vyasa could not control his agitated mind. On account of the inevitability of what was to take place the Rishi's heart was drawn by Ghritachi's beauty.
Sanskrit: यत्नान्नियच्छतस्तस्य मुनेरग्निचिकीर्षया॥ अरण्यामेव सहसा तस्य शुक्रमवापतत्।
English: He tried his best for making a fire for suppressing his emotion, but despite all his efforts his vital seed came out in the wood.
Sanskrit: सोऽविशंकेन मनसा तथैव द्विजसत्तमः॥ अरणी ममन्थ ब्रह्मर्षिस्तस्यां जज्ञे शुको नृप।
English: That best of twice-born ones, however O king, continued to rub his stick without feeling any scruples for what had taken place. From the seed that feil, was born a son to him called Shuka.
Sanskrit: शुक्रे निर्मथ्यमाने स शुको जज्ञे महातपाः॥ परमर्षिर्महायोगी अरणीगर्भसम्भवः
English: On account of this incident about his birth, he came to be called by the name of Shuka. : Indeed, it was thus that great ascetic, that foremost of Rishis and highest of Yogins, was born from the two sticks.
Sanskrit: यथाध्वरे समिद्धोऽग्नि ति हव्यमुदावहम्॥ तथारूप: शुको जज्ञे प्रज्वलन्निव तेजसा।
English: As in a sacrifice a blazing fire spreads its effulgence all around when libations of clarified butter are poured upon it, similarly did Shuka take his birth, blazing with effulgence on account of his own energy.
Sanskrit: बिभ्रत् पितुश्च कौरव्य रूपवर्णमनुत्तमम्॥ बभौ तदा भावितात्मा विधूम इव पावकः।
English: Assuming the excellent form and hue of his father, Shuka, O son of Kuru, of purified Soul, shone like a smokeless fire.
Sanskrit: तं गङ्गा सरितां श्रेष्ठा मेरुपृष्ठे जनेश्वर॥ स्वरूपिणी तदाभ्येत्य तर्पयामास वारिणा।
English: O king, coming to the breast of Meru, in her own embodied form, the foremost of rivers, viz., Ganga, bathed Shuka with her waters.
Sanskrit: अन्तरिक्षाच्च कौरव्य दण्डः कृष्णाजिनं च ह॥ पपात भूमिं राजेन्द्र शुकस्यार्थे महात्मनः।
English: There fell from the sky, O son of Kuru, an ascetic's stick and a dark deer skin for the use, O king, of the great Shuka.
Sanskrit: जेगीयन्ते स्म गन्धर्वा ननृतुश्चाप्सरोगणाः॥ देवदुन्दुभयश्चैव प्रावाद्यन्त महास्वनाः।
English: The Gandharvas sang repeatedly and the various clans of Apsaras danced; and celestial kettle drums of loud sound began to bcat.
Sanskrit: विश्वावसुश्च गन्धर्वस्तथा तुम्बुरुनारदौ॥ हाहा हूहूच गन्धर्वी तुष्टवुः शुकसम्भवम्।
English: The Gandharvas Vishvavasu, and Tumvuru, and Narada, and those other Gandharvas called by the name of Haha, and Huhu, eulogised the birth of Shuka.
Sanskrit: तत्र शक्रपुरोगाश्च लोकपालाः समागताः॥ देवा देवर्षयश्चैव तथा ब्रह्मर्षयोऽपि च।
English: There the regents of the world headed by Indra, as also the gods and the celestial and the regenerate Rishis.
Sanskrit: दिव्यानि सर्वपुष्पाणि प्रववर्ष च मारुतः॥ जङ्गमाजङ्गमं चैव प्रहृष्टमभवज्जगत्।
English: The Wind-god poured there showers of celestial flowers. The entire universe, mobile and immobile, became filled with joy.
Sanskrit: तं महात्मा स्वयं प्रीत्या देव्या सह महाद्युतिः॥ जातमात्रं मुनेः पुत्र विधिनोपानयत् तदा।
English: The great and the highly effulgent Mahadeva, accompanied by the Goddess, and moved by affection, came there and soon after the birth of the Muni's son invested him with the sacred thread.
Sanskrit: तस्य देवेश्वरः शक्रो दिव्यमद्भुतदर्शनम्॥ ददौ कमण्डलु प्रीत्या देववासांसि वा विभो।
English: Shakra, the king of the gods, gave him, from affection, a celestial pitcher of excellent form, and some celestial dresses.
Sanskrit: हंसाच शतपत्राश्च सारसाश्च सहस्रशः॥ प्रदक्षिणमवर्तन्त शुकाश्चाषाश्च भारत।
English: Thousands of Swans and Shatapatras and cranes, and many parrots and Chasas, O Bharata, wheeled over his head.
Sanskrit: आरणेयस्ततो दिव्यं प्राप्य जन्म महाद्युतिः॥ तत्रैवोवास मेधावी व्रतचारी समाहितः।
English: Highly effulgent and intelligent Shuka, having obtained his birth from the two sticks, continued to live there, practising many vows and fasts.
Sanskrit: उत्पन्नमात्रं तं वेदाः सरहस्या: ससंग्रहाः॥ उपतस्थुर्महाराज यथास्य पितरं तथा।
English: As soon as Shuka was born, the Vedas, with all their mysteries and all their abstracts, came for living in him, O king, even as they live in his father.
Sanskrit: बृहस्पतिं च वत्रे स वेदवेदाङ्गभाष्यवित्॥ उपाध्यायं महाराज धर्ममेवानुचिन्तयन्।
English: For all that, Shuka, selected Brihaspati, who was a master of all the Vedas together with their branches and commentaries, for his preceptor, remembering universal practice.
Sanskrit: सोऽधीत्य निखिलान् वेदान् सरहस्यान् ससंग्रहान्।।२४ इतिहासं च कात्स्र्येन राजशास्त्राणि वा विभो। गुरवे दक्षिणां दत्त्वा समावृत्तो महामुनिः।।२५। उग्रं तयः समारेभे ब्रह्मचारी समाहितः।
English: Having read all the Vedas together with all their mysteries and abstracts, as also all the histories and the science of polity, O powerful king, the great ascetic returned home, after giving his preceptor the tuition-fee. Adopting the vow of celibacy, he then bagan to practise the austerest penances, concentrating all his attention thereon.
Sanskrit: देवतानामृषीणां च बाल्येऽपि स महातपाः। सम्मन्त्रणीयो मान्यश्च ज्ञानेन तपसा तथा॥
English: Even in his childhood, he became an object of reverence with the gods and Rishis for his knowledge and penances.
Sanskrit: न त्वस्य रमते बुद्धिराश्रमेषु नराधिप। त्रिषु गार्हस्थ्यमूलेषु मोक्षधर्मानुदर्शिनः॥
English: The mind of the great ascetic, O king, found pleasure in the three modes of life, keeping in view, as he did, the Religion of Liberation.
Sanskrit: भीष्म उवाच ततः स राजा जनको मन्त्रिभिः सह भारत। पुरः पुरोहितं कृत्वा सर्वाण्यन्तःपुराणि च॥
English: Bhishma said The next morning, king Janaka, O Bharata, accompanied by his minister and the whole household, came to Shuka, preceded by his priest.
Sanskrit: आसनं च पुरस्कृत्य रत्नानि विविधानि च। शिरसा चार्घ्यमादाय गुरुपुत्रं समभ्यगात्॥
English: Bringing with him rich seats and various sorts of jewels and gems, and bearing the ingredients of the Arghya on his own head, the king approached the son of his reverend preceptor.
Sanskrit: स तदाऽऽसनमादाय बहुरत्नविभूषितम्। स्पर्धास्तरणसंस्तीर्णं सर्वतोभद्रमृद्धिमत्॥ पुरोधसा संगृहीतं हस्तेनालभ्य पार्थिवः। प्रददौ गुरुपुत्राय शुकाय परमार्चितम्॥
English: The king, taking with his own hands, from the hands of his priest, that seat adorned with many gems, covered with an excellent sheet, beautiful in all its parts and dearly costly, presented it with great respect to his preceptor's son Shuka.
Sanskrit: तत्रोपविष्टं तं कार्ष्णि शास्त्रतः प्रत्यपूजयत्। पाद्यं निवेद्य प्रथममर्थ्य गां च न्यवेदयत्॥
English: After the son of Krishna had taken his seat on it, the king adored him according to prescribed rites. At first offering him water to wash his feet, he then presented him the Arghya and kine.
Sanskrit: स च तां मन्त्रवत्पूजां प्रत्यगृह्णाद् यथाविधि। प्रतिगुह्य तु तां पूजां जनकाद् द्विजसत्तमः॥ गां चैव समनुज्ञाय राजानमनुमान्य च। पर्यपृच्छन्महातेजा राज्ञः कुशलमव्ययम्॥
English: The ascetic accepted that worship offered with due rites and Mantras. That foremost of twice-born ones, having thus accepted the worship offered by the king, and taking the kine also that were presented to him, then saluted the king, gifted with great energy, he next enquired after the king's welfare and prosperity.
Sanskrit: अनामयं च राजेन्द्र शुकः सानुचरस्य ह। अनशिष्टस्तु तेनासौ निषसाद सहानुगः॥
English: Indeed, O king, Shuka asked about the welfare of the king's followers and officers also. Receiving Shuka's permission, Janaka sat down with all his followers.
Sanskrit: उदारसत्त्वाभिजनो भूमौ राजा कृताञ्जलिः। कुशलं चाव्ययं चैव पृष्ट्वा वैयासकिं नृपः। किमागमनमित्येवं पर्यपृच्छत पार्थिवः॥
English: Having a high soul and possessed of high birth, the king with joined hands, sat down on the bare ground and enquired after the wellbeing and unabated prosperity of Vyasa's son. The king then asked his guest the object of his visit.
Sanskrit: शुक उवाच पित्राहमुक्तो भद्रं ते मोक्षधर्मार्थकोविदः। विदेहराजो याज्यो मे जनको नाम विश्रुतः॥
English: Shuka said Blessed be you, my father told me that his client, the king of the Videhas, known all over the world by the name of Janaka, is well-versed in the Religion of Liberation.
Sanskrit: तत्र गच्छस्व वै तूर्णं यदि ते हृदि संशयः। प्रवृत्तौ वा निवृत्तौ वा स ते च्छेत्स्यति संशयम्॥
English: He ordered me to come to him forthwith, if I had any doubts to be solved in the Religion of either Action or Renunciation. He gave me to understand that the king of Mithila would remove all my doubts.
Sanskrit: सोऽहं पितुर्नियोगात् त्वामुपप्रष्टुमिहागतः। तन्मे धर्मभृतां श्रेष्ठ यथावद् वक्तुर्महसि॥
English: I have, therefore, come come here at the command of my father, for the purpose of receiving instruction from you. You should, O foremost of all righteous persons, instruct me!
Sanskrit: किं कार्यं ब्राह्मणेनेह मोक्षार्थश्च किमात्मकः। कथं च मोक्षः प्राप्तव्यो ज्ञानेन तपसाथवा॥
English: What are the duties of a Brahmana, and what is the essence of those duties that have Liberation for their object. How, also, is Liberation to be acquired. Is it to be acquired by the help of Knowledge or by that Penances?
Sanskrit: जनक उवाच यत् कार्यं ब्राह्मणेनेह जन्मप्रभृति तच्छृणु। कृतोपनयनस्तात भवेद् वेदपरायणः॥
English: Janaka said Hear what the Duties are of a Brahmana from the time of his birth. After his investiture, O son, with the sacred thread, he should give his attention to the study of the Vedas.
Sanskrit: तपसा गुरुवृत्त्या च ब्रह्मचर्येण वा विभो। देवतानां पितॄणां चाप्यनृणो ह्यनसूयकः॥
English: By practising penances and dutifully serving his preceptor, and observing the duties of Brahmacharya, O powerful one, he should satisfy the debt be owes to the gods, and the Pitris, and renounce all malice.
Sanskrit: वेदानधीत्य नियतो दक्षिणामपवर्त्य च। अभ्यनुज्ञामथ प्राप्य समावर्तेत वै द्विजः॥
English: Having read the Vedas with close attention, and controlled his senses, and having given his preceptor the tuition-fee, he should, with the order of his preceptor, return home.
Sanskrit: समावृत्तश्च गार्हस्थ्ये स्वदारनिरतो वसेत्। अनसूयुर्यथान्यायमाहिताग्निस्तथैव च॥
English: Coming back home, he should follow the domestic mode of life and marry a wife, confine himself to her, and live freeing himself from every sort of malice, and having established his domestic fire.
Sanskrit: उत्पाद्य पुत्रपौत्रं तु वन्याश्रमपदे वसेत्। तानेवाग्नीन् यथाशास्त्रमर्चयन्नतिथिप्रियः॥
English: Living as a householder, he should procreate sons and grandsons. After that, he should retire to the forest, and continue to adore the same fires and entertain guests with cordial hospitality.
Sanskrit: स वनेऽग्नीन् यथान्यायमात्मन्यारोप्य धर्मवित्। निर्द्वन्द्वो वीतरागात्मा ब्रह्माश्रमपदे वसेत्॥
English: Living virtuously in the forest, he should, at last, establish his fire in his soul, and freed from all pairs of opposites, and renouncing all attachments, he should pass his days in the anchorite-mode of life, which is otherwise called the mode of Brahma.
Sanskrit: शुक उवाच उत्पन्ने ज्ञानविज्ञाने निर्द्वन्द्वे हृदि शाश्वते। किमवश्यं निवस्तव्यमाश्रमेषु भवेत् त्रिषु॥
English: Shuka said If one acquires an understanding cleansed by study of the scriptures and true conceptions of all things, and if the heart succeeds in freeing itself permanently from the effects of all pairs of opposites, is it still necessary for such a person to follow one after another, the three modes of life called Brahmacharya, Garahastya, and Vanaprastha.
Sanskrit: एतद् भवन्तं पृच्छामि तद् भवान् वक्तुमर्हति। यथा वेदार्थतत्त्वेन ब्रूहि मे त्वं जनाधिप॥
English: This is what I ask you. You should me. Indeed, O king, do tell me this according to the true meaning of the Vedas.
Sanskrit: जनक उवाच न विना ज्ञानविज्ञाने मोक्षस्याधिगमो भवेत्। न विना गुरुसम्बन्धं ज्ञानस्याधिगमः स्मृतः॥
English: Janaka said It is impossible to aquire Liberation without the help of an understanding purified by the study of the scriptures and without that true conception of all things which is known by the name of Vijnana, again, without that cleansed understanding, one cannot get a Preceptor.
Sanskrit: प्लावयिता तस्य ज्ञानं प्लव इहोच्यते। विज्ञाय कृतकृत्यस्तु तीर्णस्तदुभयं त्यजेत्॥
English: The Preceptor is the helmsman, and Knowledge is the Boat. After having got that Boat, one becomes successful. Indeed, having crossed the Ocean, one may renounce both.
Sanskrit: अनुच्छेदाय लोकानामनुच्छेदाय कर्मणाम्। पूर्वैराचरितो धर्मश्चातुराश्रम्यसंकटः॥
English: For preventing the destruction of all the worlds, and for preventing the destruction of deeds, the duties belonging to the four modes of life were practised by the wise of old.
Sanskrit: अनेन क्रमयोगेन बहुजातिषु कर्मणाम्। हित्वा शुभाशुभं कर्म मोक्षो नामेह लभ्यते॥
English: By renouncing acts, good and bad, according to this order of acts, one succeeds, in course of many births, in acquiring Liberation.
Sanskrit: भावितैः करणैश्चायं बहुसंसारयोनिषु। आसादयति शुद्धात्मा मोक्षं वै प्रथमाश्रमे॥
English: That man who, through penances, practised in many births, succeeds in acquiring purified mind and understanding, and soul, certainly becomes able to acquire Liberation in even the very first mode.