pari-kulkarni/itihasa-sanskrit-en-filtered huggingface dataset:
Sanskrit: लोमश उवाच एवमेतन्महाबाहो पश्यन्ति परमर्षयः। सरस्वतीमिमां पुण्यां पुण्यैकशरणावृताम्॥
English: Lomasha said: O mighty-armed hero, it is as you say. Thus do great Rishis see (all the worlds). Yonder is the sacred Sarasvati, thronged by persons who consider her to be their sole refuge.
Sanskrit: यत्र स्नात्वा नरश्रेष्ठधूतपाप्मा भविष्यसि। इह सारस्वतैर्यज्ञैरिष्टवन्तः सुरर्षयः। ऋषयश्चैव कौन्तेय तथा राजर्षयोऽपि च॥
English: O foremost of men, bathing in it, you will be freed from all your sins. O son of Kunti, the celestials Rishis performed here the Sarasvata sacrifice; so did the Rishis and the royal sages.
Sanskrit: वेदी प्रजापतेरेषा समन्तात् पञ्चयोजना। कुरोर्वै यज्ञशीलस्य क्षेत्रमेतन्महात्मनः॥
English: This is the altar of the Prajapati; it is five yojanas in extent on all sides round. This is the field of the high-souled Kurus who always performed sacrifices.
Sanskrit: लोमश उवाच इह मास्तनूस्त्यक्तवा स्वर्गं गच्छन्ति भारता मर्तुकामा नरा राजनिहायान्ति सहस्रशः॥
English: Lomasha said: O descendant of Bharata, if men give up their bodies here, they go to heaven. O king, thousands of men come here with the desire to die.
Sanskrit: एवमाशीः प्रयुक्ता हि दक्षेण यजता पुरा। इह ये वै मरिष्यन्ति ते वै स्वर्गजितो नराः॥
English: A blessing was pronounced here by Daksha when in the days of yore he was performing sacrifice at this spot. (It was as follows), “The men that will die here will go to heaven.”
Sanskrit: एषा सरस्वती रम्या दिव्या चौघवती नदी। एतद् विनशनं नाम सरस्वत्या विशाम्पते॥
English: O king, here is the charming celestials river full of water, named Sarasvati. It is here Vinasana of the Sarasvati (where she disappeared).
Sanskrit: द्वारं निषादराष्ट्रस्य येषां दोषात् सरस्वती। प्रविष्टा पृथिवीं वीर मा निषादा हि मां विदुः॥
English: O hero, here is the gate of the kingdom of the Nishadas; it is from the hatred of the Nishadhas that the Sarasvati entered the earth so that she might not be seen by the Nishadas.
Sanskrit: एष वै चमसोद्देदो यत्र दृश्या सरस्वती। यौनामभ्यवर्तन्त सर्वाः पुण्याः समुद्रगाः॥
English: Here is also Chamashodbheda where the Sarasvati again reappeared. Here she was joined by all the other sacred ocean-going currents.
Sanskrit: एतत् सिन्धोर्महत् तीर्थं यत्रागस्त्यमरिंदम्। लोपामुद्रा समागम्य भर्तारमवृणीत वै॥
English: O chastiser of foes, here is the greatly sacred place called Sindhu, where Lopamudra accepted the great Rishi Agastya as her husband.
Sanskrit: एतत् प्रकाशते तीर्थं प्रभासं भास्कराते। इन्द्रस्य दयितं पुण्यं पवित्रं पापनानम्॥
English: O sun-like effulgent hero, here is the sacred Tirtha called Pravasha which is truly sacred, sin-destroying and a favourite place of Indra.
Sanskrit: एतद् विष्णुपदं नाम दृश्यते तीर्थमुत्तमम्। एषा रम्या विपाशा च नदी परमपावनी॥
English: Yonder appears the excellent Tirtha called Vishnupada. Here also is the charming river and greatly purifying Vipasa.
Sanskrit: अत्र वै पुत्रशोकेन वसिष्ठो भगवानृषिः। बद्ध्वाऽऽत्मानं निपतितो विपाशः पुनरुत्थितः॥
English: Here from the grief at his son's death, the great Rishi Vasishtha threw himself into the Vipasa after first binding himself, but he rose again.
Sanskrit: काश्मीरमण्डलं चैतत् सर्वपुण्यमरिंदम्। महर्षिभिश्चाध्युषितं पश्येदं भ्रातृभिः सह॥
English: O chastiser of foes, behold with your brothers the sacred region of Kashmira, ever frequented by the holy Rishis.
Sanskrit: यत्रोत्तराणां सर्वेषामृषीणां नाहुषस्य च। अग्नेश्चैवात्र संवादः काश्यपस्य च भारत॥
English: O descendant of Bharata, here a conference took place between Agni and the Rishi Kashyapa and between the son of Nahusha (Yayati) and the Rishis of the north.
Sanskrit: एतद् द्वारं महाराज मानसस्य प्रकाशते। वर्षमस्य गिरेमध्ये रामेण श्रीमता कृतम्॥
English: O great king, yonder appears the gate of Manaka. A gap was opened by Rama in the midst of this mountain.
Sanskrit: एष वातिकपण्डो वै प्रख्यातः सत्यविक्रमः। नात्यवर्तत यद्द्वारं विदेहादुत्तरं च यः॥
English: O greatly powerful hero, here is the celebrated Vatikakhanda, which although near the gate of Vedika, lies on the north of it.
Sanskrit: इदमाश्चर्यमपरं देशेऽस्मिन् पुरुषर्षभ। क्षीणे युगे तु कौन्तेय शर्वस्य सह पार्षदैः॥ सहोमया च भवति दर्शनं कामरूपिणः। अस्मिन् सरसि सत्रैर्वै चैत्रे मासि पिनाकिनम्॥
English: O foremost of men, there is another very remarkable thing in connection with this place. It is this that at the end of every Yuga the deity Shiva who is capable of assuming every form at will may be seen here with Uma and his followers. In the yonder lake men, desirous of securing welfare to them, cheerfully gratify the wielder of Pinaka in the month of Chaitra by performing sacrifices.
Sanskrit: यजन्ते याजकाः सम्यक् परिवारं शुभार्थिनः। अत्रोपस्पृश्य सरसि श्रद्दधानो जितेन्द्रियः॥ क्षीणपापः शुभाँल्लोकान् प्राप्नुते नात्र संशयः। एष उज्जानको नाम पावकिर्यत्र शान्तवान्। अरुन्धतीसहायश्च वसिष्ठो भगवानृषिः॥
English: The religious-minded and self-controlled men perform their ablations in this lake and become free from all sins. They certainly obtain the blessed regions. Here is the sacred Tirtha called Ujjanaka where the holy Rishi Vasishtha with his wife Arundhati lived.
Sanskrit: ह्रदश्च कुशवानेष यत्र पद्मं कुशेशयम्। आश्रमश्चैव रुक्मिण्या यत्राशाम्यदकोपना॥ समाधीनां समासस्तु पाण्डवेय श्रुतस्त्वया। तं द्रक्ष्यसि महाराज भृगुतुझं महागिरिम्॥
English: Yonder is the lake called Kushavanisha in which grow the lotuses called Kushashaya. Here also is the hermitage of Rukmini where she attained peace by conquering her anger. O son of Pandu, O great king, you must have heard of the great hill Bhrigutunga. Behold it (now).
Sanskrit: वितस्तां पश्य राजेन्द्र सर्वपापप्रमोचनीम्। महर्षिभिश्चाध्युषितां शीततोयां सुनिर्मलाम्॥
English: O king of kings, behold Vitasta which cleanses all sins. The water of it is very cool and transparent and it is frequented by the great Rishis.
Sanskrit: जलां चोपजलां चैव यमुनामभितो नदीम्। उशीनरो वै यत्रेष्ट्वा वासवादत्यरिच्यत॥
English: (Behold) Jala and Upjala the rivers on both the sides of the Yamuna. Ushinara surpassed Vasava (Indra in greatness) by performing a sacrifice here.
Sanskrit: तां देवसमिति तस्य दासवश्च विशाम्पते। अभ्यागच्छन्नृपवरं ज्ञातुमग्निश्च भारत॥
English: O king, O descendant of Bharata, being desirous of testing the merit of that great king, Vasava (Indra) and Agni came to his celestialslike Sava.
Sanskrit: जिज्ञासमानौ वरदौ महात्मानमुशीनरम्। इन्द्रःश्येनः कपोतोऽग्निर्भूत्वा यज्ञेऽभिजग्मतुः॥
English: Being inquisitive to know Ushinara and being willing to bestow boons on him, those two celestials Indra and Agni, came to his sacrificial ground, Indra becoming a hawk and Agni a pigeon.
Sanskrit: ऊरू राज्ञः समासाद्य कपोतः श्येनजाद् भयात्। शरणार्थी तदा राजन् निलिल्ये भयपीडितः॥
English: O king, the pigeon from the fear of the hawk fell upon the king's thighs for protection; and it became almost dead from the great fear.
Sanskrit: लोमश उवाच रौद्दालकिः श्वेतकेतुः पृथिव्याम्। तस्याश्रमं पश्य नरेन्द्र पुण्यं सदाफलैरुपपन्नं महीजैः॥
English: Lomasha said: O ruler of men, behold the sacred hermitage of Shvatakatu, the son of Uddalka, whose fame as an expert in Mantras is so widely spread all over the world. It always abounds in fruit trees.
Sanskrit: साक्षादत्र श्वेतकेतुर्ददर्श सरस्वतीं मानुषदेहरूपाम्। वेत्स्यामि वाणीमिति सम्प्रवृत्तां सरस्वतीं श्वेतकेतुर्बभाषे।॥
English: Here did Shvatakatu see Sarasvati herself in her heavenly form. Shvatakatu said to Sarasvati when she appeared, “Make me endued with the gift of speech.”
Sanskrit: वास्तां मुनी मातुलभागिनेयौ। रौद्दालकिः श्वेतकेतुः पृथिव्याम्॥
English: In that Yuga, Shvatakatu, the son of Uddalaka and Ashtavakra, the son of Kahoda, who were uncle and nephews, were the foremost men learned in the Vedas.
Sanskrit: विदेहराजस्य महीपतेस्तौ विप्रावुभौ मातुलभागिनेयौ। प्रविश्य यज्ञायतनं विवादे बन्दिं निजग्राहतुरप्रमेयौ॥
English: These two Brahmanas of matchless energy went to the sacrificial ground of the king of Videha and defeated Bandi (in a controversy).
Sanskrit: उपास्व कौन्तेय सहानुजस्त्वं तस्याश्रमं पुण्यतमं प्रविश्य। योऽसौ बन्दिं जनकस्याथ यज्ञे॥ वादी विप्रायो बाल एवाभिगम्य वादे भक्त्वा मज्जयामास नद्याम्॥
English: O son of Kunti, worship with your younger brothers the sacred hermitage of him who had for his grandson Ashtavakra, who when he was but a child had caused Bandi to be drowned in a river after having defeated him in a controversy).
Sanskrit: युधिष्ठिर उवाच स्तथाभूतं यो निजग्राह बन्दिम्। अष्टावक्र: केन चासौ बभूव तत् सर्वं मे लोमश शंस तत्त्वम्॥
English: Yudhishthira said : O Lomasha, tell me all about the power of this Brahmana who had thus defeated Bandi. Why was he born as Ashtavakra (crooked in cight parts of his body)?
Sanskrit: लोमश उवाच उद्दालकस्य नियतः शिष्य एको नाम्ना कहोड इति विश्रुतोऽभूत्। शुश्रूषुराचार्यवशानुवर्ती दीर्घ कालं सोऽध्ययनं चकार॥
English: Lomasha said : Udhalaka had a self-controlled disciple who was known by the name of Kohada. He was entirely devoted to the service of his preceptor and he continued his studies for a long time.
Sanskrit: स्तां च ज्ञात्वा परिचर्यां गुरुः सः। तस्मै प्रादात् सद्य एव श्रुतं च भार्यां च वै दुहितरं स्वां सुजाताम्॥
English: That Brahmana served his preceptor for a long time. Recognising it his preceptor gave him a mastery over the Shastras and also bestowed upon him his own daughter Sujata.
Sanskrit: तस्या गर्भः समभवदग्निकल्प: सोऽधीयानं पितरं चाप्युवाच। सर्वां रात्रिमध्ययनं करोषि नेदं पितः सम्यगिवोपवर्तते॥
English: She became with child as cffulgent as fire and the child while engaged in study spoke thus to his father, “O father, you have been reading for the whole night, but your reading does not seem to me correct.
Sanskrit: उपालब्धः शिष्यमध्ये महर्षिः स तं कोपादुदरस्थं शशाप। यस्मात् कुक्षौ वर्तमानो ब्रवीषि तस्माद् वक्रो भवितास्यष्टकृत्वः॥
English: Through your grace I have become even in my this fatal state learned in all the Shastras and in the Vedas and in the Vedangas. But O father, I tell you what proceeds from your lips is not correct."
Sanskrit: दष्टावक्रः प्रथितो वै महर्षिः। अस्यासीद् वै मातुलः श्वेतकेतुः स तेन तुल्यो वयसा बभूव॥
English: Having been thus insulted before his disciples, the great Rishi cursed in anger the child in the womb. “As you speak from the womb, so will you be crooked in eight parts of your body." Thus the child was born crooked and the great Rishi was ever afterwards known by the name of Ashtavakra. He had an uncle, named Shvatakatu who was of the same age as himself.
Sanskrit: सम्पीड्यमाना तु तदा सुजाता सा वर्धमानेन सुतेन कुक्षौ। उवाच भर्तारमिदं रहोगता प्रसाद्य हीनं वसुनाधनार्थिनी॥
English: Having been much oppressed for the growth of the child in the womb, Sujata, who was desirous of obtaining wealth, conciliating her husband who had no wealth, spoke to him thus in private.
Sanskrit: कथं करिष्याम्यधुना महर्षे मासश्चायं दशमो वर्तते मे। नैवास्ति ते वसु किंचित् प्रजाता येनाहमेतामापदं निस्तरेयम्॥
English: "O great king, what shall I do now, as the tenth month of my pregnancy has come! Neither you nor I possess any wealth with which we can be delivered from this distress."
Sanskrit: उक्तस्त्वेवं भार्यया वै कहोडो वित्तस्यार्थे जनकमथाभ्यगच्छत्। वै तदा वादविदा निगृह्य निमज्जितो बन्दिनेहाप्सु विप्रः॥
English: Having been thus addressed by his wife, Kohada went to Janaka for wealth. That Brahmana was defeated (in a controversy) by Bandi who was learned in the science of arguments. The result was that he was drowned.
Sanskrit: उद्दालकस्तं तु तदा निशम्य सूतेन वादेऽप्सु निमज्जितं तथा। उवाच तां तत्र ततः सुजातामष्टावक्रे गृहितव्योऽयमर्थः॥
English: Having heard that his sin-in-law had been defeated by Bandi and that he had been drowned, Udhalaka thus spoke to Sujata, “You must keep it a secret from Ashtavakra.”
Sanskrit: ररक्ष सा चापि तमस्य मन्त्रं जातोऽप्यसौ नैव शुश्राव विप्रः। उद्दालकं पितृवच्चापि मेने तथाष्टावक्रो भ्रातृवच्छ्वेतकेतुम्॥
English: She (accordingly) kept it a secret (from Ashtavakra). Thus that Brahmana heard nothing of it when he was born. He regarded Udhalaka as his father and Shvataketu as his brother.
Sanskrit: रष्टावक्रं पितुरङ्के निषण्णम्। अपाकर्षद् गृह्य पाणौ रुदन्तं नायं तवारू: पितुरित्युक्तवांश्च॥
English: When Ashtavakra was in his twelfth year, Shvataketu one day saw him on his father's lap. He dragged Ashtavakra by catching hold of his hand and when he (Ashtavakra) began to cry, he said, “This is not your father's lap.”
Sanskrit: यत् तेनोक्तं दुरुक्तं तत् तदानीं हृदि स्थितं तस्य सुदुःखिमासीत्। गृहं गत्वा मातरं सोऽभिगम्य पप्रच्छेदं क्व नु तातो ममेति॥
English: These cruel word went to his heart and he became greatly aggrieved. Going home and coming to his mother, he asked “Where is my father?"
Sanskrit: ततः सुजाता परमार्तरूपा शापाद् भीता सर्वमेवाचचक्षे। वित्यब्रवीच्छ्वेतकेतुं स विप्रः॥
English: Thereupon Sujata greatly afflicted and afraid of his curse told him all that had happened. Having heard all, that Brahmana (Ashtavakra) spoke in the night thus to Shvataketu.
Sanskrit: गच्छाव यज्ञं जनकस्य राज्ञो बह्वाश्चर्यः श्रूयते तस्य यज्ञः। मर्थं चायं तत्र भोक्ष्यावहे च॥
English: “Let us go to the sacrifice of the king Janaka. We hear of many wonderful things in that sacrifice. We shall hear controversies there among the Brahmanas and (we shall also) eat excellent food.
Sanskrit: विचक्षणत्वं च भविष्यते नौ शिवश्च सौम्यश्च हि ब्रह्मघोषः॥
English: We shall also gain experience. The recitation of the Vedas is charming to hear and it is fraught with blessings."
Sanskrit: तौ जग्मतुर्मातुलभागिनेयौ यज्ञं समृद्ध जनकस्य राज्ञः। अष्टावक्रं पथि राज्ञा समेत्य प्रोत्सार्यमाणो वाक्यमिदं जगाद॥
English: Thereupon the uncle and the nephew went to the splendid sacrifice of the king Janaka. Having been driven away from the path, Ashtavakra on meeting the king thus spoke to him.
Sanskrit: अष्टावक्र उवाच अन्धस्य पन्था बधिरस्य पन्थाः स्त्रियः पन्था भारवाहस्य पन्थाः। राज्ञः पन्था ब्राह्मणेनासमेत्य समेत्य तु ब्राह्मणस्यैव पन्थाः॥
English: 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.
Sanskrit: राजोवाच पग्था अयं तेऽद्य मयातिदिष्टो येनेच्छसि तेन कामं व्रजस्व। निन्द्रोऽपि नित्यं नमते ब्राह्मणानाम्॥
English: 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.
Sanskrit: अष्टावक्र उवाच प्राप्तौ स्व यज्ञं नृप संदिद्दसू कौतूहलं नौ बलवन्नरेन्द्र। प्राप्ताविहावामतिथी प्रवेशं काक्षावहे द्वारपतेस्तवाज्ञाम्॥
English: Ashtavakra said : O king, O ruler of men, we have come to see the sacrifice, our curiosity was very great. We have come as Athithis (guests). We ask your order on the gate-keeper.
Sanskrit: ऐन्द्रद्युम्ने यज्ञदृशाविहावां विवक्षू वै जनकेन्द्रं दिदृक्षा वयं च नौ द्वारपालो रुणद्धि॥
English: O son of Indradumnya, we have come here with the desire of seeing the sacrifice and to see and to speak with king Janaka. We are burning with anger, for the gate-keeper stops us.
Sanskrit: द्वारपाल उवाच बन्देः समादेशकरा वयं स्म निबोध वाक्यं च मयेर्यमाणम्। न वै बालाः प्रविशन्त्यत्र विप्रा वृद्धा विदग्धाः प्रविशन्त्यत्र विप्राः॥
English: 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.
Sanskrit: अष्टावक्र उवाच यद्यत्र वृद्धेषु कृतः प्रवेशो युक्तं प्रवेष्टुं मम द्वारपाल। वयं हि वृद्धाश्चरितव्रताश्च वेदप्रभावेण समन्विताश्च॥
English: 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,
Sanskrit: शुश्रूषवश्चापि जिन्द्रियाश्च ज्ञानागमे चापि गताः स्म निष्ठाम्। र्बालोऽप्यग्निहति स्पृश्यमानः॥
English: 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.
Sanskrit: द्वारपाल उवाच मेकाक्षरां बहुरूपां विराजम्। अङ्गात्मानं समवेक्षस्व बालं किं श्लाघसे दुर्लभो वै मनीषी॥
English: 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.
Sanskrit: अष्टावक्र उवाच र्यथाष्ठीला शाल्मलेः सम्प्रवृद्धा। ह्रस्वोऽल्पकायः फलितो विवृद्धो यश्चाफलस्तस्य न वृद्धभावः॥
English: 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.
Sanskrit: द्वारपाल उवाच वृद्धेभ्य एवेह मतिं स्म बाला गृहणन्ति कालेन भवन्ति वृद्धाः। न हि ज्ञानमल्पकालेन शक्यं कस्माद् बालः स्थविर इव प्रभाषसे॥
English: 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?
Sanskrit: अष्टावक्र उवाच । न तेन स्थविरे भवति येनास्य पलितं शिरः। बालोऽपि यः प्रजानाति तं देवा: स्थविरं विदुः॥
English: 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.
Sanskrit: न हायनैर्न पलितैर्न वित्तेन न बन्धुभिः। ऋषयश्चक्रिरेधर्मं योऽनूचान: स नो महान्॥
English: 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.
Sanskrit: दिदृक्षुरस्मि सम्प्राप्तो वन्दिनं राजसंसदि। निवेदयस्व मां द्वा:स्थ राज्ञे पुष्करमालिने।॥
English: O gate-keeper, I have come with the desire of secing Bandi. Go, inform the king (Janaka) adorned with the garlands of lotuses.
Sanskrit: द्रष्टास्यद्य वदतोऽस्मान् द्वारपाल मनीषिभिः। सह वादे विवृद्धे तु बन्दिनं चापि निर्जितम्॥
English: O gate-keeper, you will today see me engaged in a controversial fight with all the learned men and also with Bandi and you will (also) find him defeated by me.
Sanskrit: पश्यन्तु विप्राः परिपूर्णविद्याः सहैव राज्ञा सपुरोधमुख्याः। उताहो वाप्युच्चतां नीचता वा तूष्णीभूतेष्वेव सर्वेष्वथाद्य॥
English: When others will be silenced, then the learned men and the king with his chief priests will judge my superiority or inferiority.
Sanskrit: द्वारपाल उवाच कथं यज्ञं दशवर्षो विशेस्त्वं विनीतानां विदुषां सम्प्रवेशम्। उपायतः प्रयतिष्ये तवाहं प्रवेशने कुरु यत्नं यथावत्॥
English: 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.
Sanskrit: अष्टावक्र उवाच भो भो राजञ्जनकानां वरिष्ठ त्वं वै सम्राट् त्वयि सर्वं समृद्धम्। त्वं वा कर्ता कर्मणां यज्ञियानां ययातिरेको नृपतिर्वा पुरस्तात्॥
English: 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.
Sanskrit: वृद्धान् बन्दी वादविदो निगृह्य वादे भग्नानप्रतिशङ्कमानः। जले सर्वान् मज्जयतीति नः श्रुतम्॥
English: 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.
Sanskrit: सोऽहं श्रुत्वा ब्राह्मणानां सकाशाद् ब्रह्माद्वैत कथयितुमागतोऽस्मि। क्वासौ बन्दी यावदेनं समेत्य नक्षत्राणीव सविता नाशयामि॥
English: 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.
Sanskrit: राजोवाच मविज्ञाय त्वं वाक्यबलं परस्य। विज्ञातवीर्यैः शक्यमेवं प्रवक्तुं दृष्टचासौ ब्राह्मणैर्वेदशीलैः॥
English: 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.
Sanskrit: मविज्ञाय तु बलं बन्दिनोऽस्य। समागता ब्राह्मणास्तेन पूर्वं न शोभन्ते भास्करेणेव ताराः॥
English: You hope to defeat Bandi, only because you do not know his powers. Many Brahmanas that assembled did not shine before him as the stars do not shine before the sun.
Sanskrit: स्तस्यान्तिकं प्राप्य विलुप्तशोभाः। विज्ञानमत्ता नि:सृताश्चैव तात कथं सदस्यैर्वचनं विस्तरेयुः॥
English: Being desirous of defeating him, they proud of their learning, have lost their glory on simply appearing before him. They have retired from his presence without even venturing to speak with the members of the assembly.
Sanskrit: अष्टावक्र उवाच विवादितोऽसौ न हि मादृशैर्हि सिंहीकृतस्तेन वदत्यभीतः। समेत्य मां निहतः शेष्यतेऽद्य मार्गे भग्नं शकटमिवाचलाक्षम्॥
English: 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.
Sanskrit: राजोवाच त्रिंशकद्वादशांशस्य चतुर्विंशतिपर्वणः। यस्त्रिषष्टिशतारस्य वेदार्थं स परः कविः॥
English: 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.
Sanskrit: अष्टावक्र उवाच चतुर्विंशतिपर्व त्वां षण्नाभि द्वादशप्रधि। तत् त्रिषष्टिशतारं वै चक्रं पातु सदागति॥
English: Ashtavakra said: May that ever-revolving wheel (Time) that has twenty-four joints, six naves twelve peripheries and sixty spokes protect you.
Sanskrit: राजोवाच वडवे इव संयुक्ते श्येनपाते दिवौकसाम्। कस्तयोर्गर्भमाधत्ते गर्भं सुषुवतुश्च कम्॥
English: 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?
Sanskrit: अष्टावक्र उवाच मा स्म ते ते गृहे राजञ्छात्रवाणामपिध्रुवम्। वातसारथिरागन्ता गर्भं सुषुवतुश्च तम्॥
English: 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.
Sanskrit: राजोवाच किंस्वित् सुप्तं न निमिषति किंस्विज्जातं न चोपति। कस्य स्विद्धृदयं नास्ति किं स्विद् वेगेन वर्धते॥
English: 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?
Sanskrit: अष्टावक्र उवाच मत्स्यः सुप्तो न निमिषत्यण्डं जातं न चोपति। अश्मनो हृदयं नास्ति नदी वेगेन वर्धते॥
English: Ashtavakra said: It is a fish that does not close its eyes when asleep. It is an egg that does not move even when born. It is stone that has no heart. It is a river that increases in its speed.
Sanskrit: राजोवाच न त्वां मन्ये मानुषं देवसत्त्वं न त्वं बाल: स्थविरः सम्मतो मे। न ते तुल्यो विद्यते वाक्प्रलापे तस्माद् द्वारं वितराम्येष बन्दी॥
English: 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.
Sanskrit: अष्टावक्र उवाच अत्रोग्रसेन समितेषु राजन् समागतेष्वप्रतिमेषु राजसु। नावैमि बन्दिं वरमत्र वादिनां महाजले हंसमिवाददामि॥
English: Ashtavakra said : O king, O commander of large army, cannot find Bandi, this chief of controversialists in that assembly of these kings of matchless power who have met together. I search for him as one searches for a swan on a vast expanse of water.
Sanskrit: न मेऽद्य वक्ष्यस्यतिवादिमानिन् ग्लहं प्रपन्नः सरितामिवागमः। हुताशनस्येव समिद्धतेजसः स्थिरो भवस्वेह ममाद्य बन्दिन्॥
English: O Bandi, you consider that you are the foremost of all controversialists. When you will engage with me to argue, you will then not be able to flow like the current of a river. I am like a flaming fire. Be silent before me.
Sanskrit: बन्धुवाच व्याघ्र शयानं प्रति मा प्रबोधय आशीविषं सृक्किणी लेलिहानम्। पदाहतस्येह शिरोऽभिहत्य नादष्टो वै मोक्ष्यसे तन्निबोध॥
English: Do not awaken a sleeping tiger. Know that you will not escape biting when you will trample on the head of a poisonous snake, which is licking the corner of its mouth with its tongue and which has been hurt by your foot.