01.087
aṣṭaka uvāca॥
Aṣṭaka said.
katarastvetayoḥ pūrvaṃ devānāmeti sātmyatām। ubhayordhāvato rājansūryācandramasoriva ॥01-87-1॥
O king, which of these two reaches assimilation with the gods first, as among the Sun and the Moon when both are racing? (01-87-1)
yayātir uvāca॥
King Yayāti said.
aniketo gṛhasteṣu kāmavṛtteṣu saṁyataḥ । grāma eva vasanbhikṣustayoḥ pūrvataraṁ gataḥ ॥01-87-2॥
The mendicant, who is self-controlled, not having a fixed abode among householders living by desire and living only in the village, has progressed further than both. (01-87-2)
aprāpya dīrghamāyus tu yaḥ prāpto vikṛtiṃ caret। tapyeta yadi tat kṛtvā caret so'nyat tatas tapaḥ ॥01-87-3॥
If one does not attain long life but having encountered adversity undertakes, he should perform austerity; having done that, if he continues, he should then undertake another austerity. (01-87-3)
yad vai nṛśaṁsaṁ tad apathyam āhuḥ; yaḥ sevate dharmam anarthabuddhiḥ. asvaḥ api anīśaḥ ca tathaiva rājaṁ; tat ārjavam saḥ samādhiḥ tat āryam ॥01-87-4॥
That which is cruel, they say is unwholesome; he who serves righteousness with wrong judgement. Even a horse that is incapable, and likewise a king—such straightforwardness is not really straightforwardness, such concentration is not concentration, such nobility is not true nobility. (01-87-4)
aṣṭaka uvāca॥
Aṣṭaka said.
kenāsi dūtaḥ prahito'dya rāja; nyuvā sragvī darśanīyaḥ suvarcāḥ। kuta āgataḥ katarasyāṃ diśi tva; utāho svit pārthivaṃ sthānam asti॥01-87-5॥
O king, by whom have you, a messenger, been sent today? You are young, garlanded, handsome, splendid. From where have you come, and in which direction? Or perhaps, is there a royal abode (you belong to)? (01-87-5)
yayātir uvāca॥
King Yayati said.
imaṁ bhaumaṁ narakaṁ kṣīṇapuṇyaḥ; praveṣṭum urvīṁ gaganād viprakīrṇaḥ. uktvā ahaṁ vaḥ prapatiṣyāmi anantaraṁ; tvaranti māṁ brāhmaṇā lokapālāḥ॥01-87-6॥
Having said to you, "I shall fall immediately after," as one whose merit is exhausted enters this earthly hell, cast down from the sky to the earth, the Brahmins and guardians of the worlds urge me. (01-87-6)
satāṃ sakāśe tu vṛtaḥ prapāta; ste saṅgatā guṇavantaś ca sarve। śakrāc ca labdho hi varo mayaiṣa; patiṣyatā bhūmitale narendra ॥01-87-7॥
But among the virtuous I was protected from falling, for all of them were associated and possessed excellences. Indeed, this boon was obtained by me from Indra for one about to fall onto the earth, O king. (01-87-7)
aṣṭaka uvāca॥
Ashtaka said.
pṛcchāmi tvāṃ mā prapata prapātaṃ; yadi lokāḥ pārthiva santi me'tra. yadyantarikṣe yadi vā divi śritāḥ; kṣetrajñaṃ tvāṃ tasya dharmasya manye ॥01-87-8॥
I ask you, do not fall into the abyss; if the earthly worlds are here for me, or if they abide in the sky or in heaven; I consider you the knower of the domain of that duty. (01-87-8)
yayātir uvāca॥
King Yayati said;
yāvat pṛthivyāṃ vihitaṃ gavāśvaṃ; sahāraṇyaiḥ paśubhiḥ parvataiś ca. tāvallokā divi te saṃsthitā vai; tathā vijānīhi narendrasimha ॥01-87-9॥
O lion among kings, know that as many cows, horses, wild animals, beasts, and mountains as there are on the earth, so many worlds are indeed established for you in heaven. (01-87-9)
aṣṭaka uvāca॥
Aṣṭaka said.
tāṁs te dadāmi mā prapata prapātaṁ; ye me lokā divi rājendra santi. yady antarikṣe yadi vā divi śritā; tān ākrama kṣipram amitra-sāha ॥01-87-10॥
I grant them to you; do not fall into the abyss. Those worlds of mine which exist in heaven, O king of kings, whether they are in the midspace, or situated in heaven, attack them quickly, O subduer of enemies. (01-87-10)
yayātir uvāca॥
Yayati said.
nāsmad-vidho'brāhmaṇo brahma-vicca; pratigrahe vartate rāja-mukhya. yathā pradeyaṃ satataṃ dvijebhya; stathādadaṃ pūrvam ahaṃ narendra ॥01-87-11॥
O king, one such as myself, who is not a Brahmin but a knower of Brahman, should not accept gifts, O best of kings. However, just as gifts are always to be given to the twice-born, so I too formerly accepted, O king. (01-87-11)
nābrāhmaṇaḥ kṛpaṇo jātu jīve; dyā cāpi syādbrāhmaṇī vīrapatnī. so'ham yadaivākṛtapūrvaṃ careyaṃ; vivitsamānaḥ kimu tatra sādhu ॥01-87-12॥
A non-brāhmaṇa who is miserable should never live; and even the earth ought to be a Brahmin woman, the wife of a hero. So, when I, desiring to understand, would do what has never been done before, what then is the right thing there? (01-87-12)
pratardana uvāca॥
Pratardana said;
pṛcchāmi tvāṃ spṛhaṇīyarūpa; pratardano'ham yadi me santi lokāḥ. yadyantarikṣe yadi vā divi śritāḥ; kṣetrajñaṃ tvāṃ tasya dharmasya manye ॥01-87-13॥
I ask you, O one of desirable form. I am Pratardana—if there are worlds for me, whether they exist in the atmosphere or in heaven, I consider you the knower of the field for that dharma. (01-87-13)
yayātir uvāca॥
King Yayāti said.
santi lokā bahavas te narendra; apy ekaikaḥ sapta saptāpy ahāni. madhucyuto ghṛtapṛktā viśokā; ste nāntavantaḥ pratipālayanti ॥01-87-14॥
O king, there are many worlds; for each, even the seven (sacred) days—sprinkled with honey, mixed with ghee, and free from sorrow—those (pleasures) that are not perishable await.
pratardana uvāca॥
Pratardana said.
tāṁs te dadāmi mā prapata prapātaṁ; ye me lokās tava te vai bhavantu. yady antarikṣe yadi vā divi śritā; tān ākrama kṣipram apeta-mohaḥ ॥01-87-15॥
I grant them to you, do not fall down the precipice; those worlds which are mine, let them now be yours indeed. Whether they reside in the sky or in heaven, quickly go there, freed from delusion. (01-87-15)
yayātir uvāca॥
Yayati said.
na tulyatejāḥ sukṛtaṃ kāmayeta; yogakṣemaṃ pārthiva pārthivaḥ san. daivādeśād āpadaṃ prāpya vidvān; na hi jātu rājā nṛśaṃsaṃ caret ॥01-87-16॥
O king, a person of equal splendor should not desire good deeds only for acquisition and preservation; being a king, even upon facing calamity due to fate, a wise king should never commit a cruel act. (01-87-16)
dharmyaṃ mārgaṃ cetayāno yaśasyaṃ; kuryān nṛpo dharmam avekṣamāṇaḥ। na mad-vidho dharma-buddhiḥ prajāḥ na kuryād evaṃ kṛpaṇaṃ māṃ yathāttha॥01-87-17॥
A king should follow a righteous and glorious path, reflecting and being mindful of righteousness. Someone like me, with a mind set on dharma, should not do to my subjects something as ignoble as you have suggested. (01-87-17)
kuryāmapūrvaṃ na kṛtaṃ yadanyaiḥ; vivitsamānaḥ kimu tatra sādhu. bruvāṇamevaṃ nṛpatiṃ yayātiṃ; nṛpottamo vasumanābravīttam ॥01-87-18॥
Vasumanas, the best of kings, thus spoke to King Yayāti: "Should we not do something unprecedented, not done by others? Why should what is right not be attempted there?" (01-87-18)
