03.133
अष्टावक्र उवाच॥
Aṣṭāvakra said.
अन्धस्य पन्था बधिरस्य पन्थाः; स्त्रियः पन्था वैवधिकस्य पन्थाः। राज्ञः पन्था ब्राह्मणेनासमेत्य; समेत्य तु ब्राह्मणस्यैव पन्थाः ॥०३-१३३-१॥
The path of the blind is that of the deaf; the path of women is that of the litigant. The path of the king is not to be joined by the Brāhmaṇa; but if joined, it is indeed the path of the Brāhmaṇa. (03-133-1)
राजोवाच॥
The king said.
पन्था अयं तेऽद्य मया निसृष्टो; येनेच्छसे तेन कामं व्रजस्व। न पावको विद्यते वै लघीया; निन्द्रोऽपि नित्यं नमते ब्राह्मणानाम् ॥०३-१३३-२॥
Today I have set this path before you; go as you desire by whichever path you wish. There is indeed nothing lighter than fire; even Indra always bows to the Brāhmaṇas. (03-133-2)
अष्टावक्र उवाच॥
Aṣṭāvakra said.
यज्ञं द्रष्टुं प्राप्तवन्तौ स्व तात; कौतूहलं नौ बलवद्वै विवृद्धम्। आवां प्राप्तावतिथी सम्प्रवेशं; काङ्क्षावहे द्वारपते तवाज्ञाम् ॥०३-१३३-३॥
O dear father, we two have come to see the sacrifice; our curiosity has truly grown strong. Having arrived as guests, we both request your permission, O gatekeeper, to enter. (03-133-3)
ऐन्द्रद्युम्नेर्यज्ञदृशाविहावां; विवक्षू वै जनकेन्द्रं दिदृक्षू। न वै क्रोधाद्व्याधिनैवोत्तमेन; संयोजय द्वारपाल क्षणेन ॥०३-१३३-४॥
We two, who are the sacrificer and Indradyumna, have come here wishing to speak and to see the lord of men. Not out of anger or by reason of disease, but by the excellent one; O doorkeeper, permit our admission at once. (03-133-4)
द्वारपाल उवाच॥
The doorkeeper said.
बन्देः समादेशकरा वयं स्म; निबोध वाक्यं च मयेर्यमाणम्। न वै बालाः प्रविशन्त्यत्र विप्रा; वृद्धा विद्वांसः प्रविशन्ति द्विजाग्र्याः ॥०३-१३३-५॥
We are the performers of the master's command; listen to the statement now being spoken by me. Here, O sages, children do not enter; only the aged, learned, foremost among the twice-born enter. (03-133-5)
अष्टावक्र उवाच॥
Aṣṭāvakra said.
यद्यत्र वृद्धेषु कृतः प्रवेशो; युक्तं मम द्वारपाल प्रवेष्टुम्। वयं हि वृद्धाश्चरितव्रताश्च; वेदप्रभावेन प्रवेशनार्हाः ॥०३-१३३-६॥
If entry has been permitted among the elders here, it is proper for me to enter, O doorkeeper. For we are elders, have observed our vows, and by the power of the Veda, are worthy of admittance. (03-133-6)
शुश्रूषवश्चापि जितेन्द्रियाश्च; ज्ञानागमे चापि गताः स्म निष्ठाम्। न बाल इत्यवमन्तव्यमाहु; र्बालोऽप्यग्निर्दहति स्पृश्यमानः ॥०३-१३३-७॥
Those desirous of hearing and self-controlled, who have truly achieved steadfastness in the pursuit of knowledge—such should not be despised by thinking 'he is just a child,' for, they say, even a child, like fire, burns when touched. (03-133-7)
द्वारपाल उवाच॥
The doorkeeper said.
सरस्वतीमीरय वेदजुष्टा; मेकाक्षरां बहुरूपां विराजम्। अङ्गात्मानं समवेक्षस्व बालं; किं श्लाघसे दुर्लभा वादसिद्धिः ॥०३-१३३-८॥
Direct your speech, O Sarasvati, favoured by the Vedas, the one of many forms and illustrious as the one-lettered. Behold the embodied self as a child. Why do you boast? Victory in debate is rare. (03-133-8)
अष्टावक्र उवाच॥
Aṣṭāvakra said.
न ज्ञायते कायवृद्ध्या विवृद्धि; र्यथाष्ठीला शाल्मलेः सम्प्रवृद्धा। ह्रस्वोऽल्पकायः फलितो विवृद्धो; यश्चाफलस्तस्य न वृद्धभावः ॥०३-१३३-९॥
Growth is not known by increase of the body, just as the large prickles of the silk-cotton tree have grown. The short one, with a small body but bearing fruit, is considered grown; and for one who is fruitless, there is no real growth. (03-133-9)
द्वारपाल उवाच॥
The door-keeper said.
वृद्धेभ्य एवेह मतिं स्म बाला; गृह्णन्ति कालेन भवन्ति वृद्धाः। न हि ज्ञानमल्पकालेन शक्यं; कस्माद्बालो वृद्ध इवावभाषसे ॥०३-१३३-१०॥
Indeed, children here take intellect only from elders; with time, they become elders. Knowledge is not possible to gain in a short time; why do you, being a child, speak as if you were an elder? (03-133-10)
अष्टावक्र उवाच॥
Aṣṭāvakra said.
न तेन स्थविरो भवति येनास्य पलितं शिरः। बालोऽपि यः प्रजानाति तं देवाः स्थविरं विदुः ॥०३-१३३-११॥
It is not greying hair that makes one old; the gods consider even a youthful person who truly understands as an elder. (03-133-11)
न हायनैर्न पलितैर्न वित्तेन न बन्धुभिः। ऋषयश्चक्रिरे धर्मं योऽनूचानः स नो महान् ॥०३-१३३-१२॥
It is not by years, nor by gray hair, nor wealth, nor relatives that sages achieve dharma; he who is learned — he alone is great for us. (03-133-12)
दिदृक्षुरस्मि सम्प्राप्तो बन्दिनं राजसंसदि। निवेदयस्व मां द्वाःस्थ राज्ञे पुष्करमालिने ॥०३-१३३-१३॥
I have come, wishing to see the court bard in the royal assembly; doorkeeper, inform the king Puṣkaramālin about me. (03-133-13)
द्रष्टास्यद्य वदतो द्वारपाल; मनीषिभिः सह वादे विवृद्धे। उताहो वाप्युच्चतां नीचतां वा; तूष्णीं भूतेष्वथ सर्वेषु चाद्य ॥०३-१३३-१४॥
O doorkeeper, today the observer of this speech with the wise, as the debate has intensified, will be seen—whether there is greatness or meanness or even silence among beings or all, today. (03-133-14)
द्वारपाल उवाच॥
The gatekeeper said.
कथं यज्ञं दशवर्षो विशेस्त्वं; विनीतानां विदुषां सम्प्रवेश्यम्। उपायतः प्रयतिष्ये तवाहं; प्रवेशने कुरु यत्नं यथावत् ॥०३-१३३-१५॥
How will you allow a ten-year-old to enter the sacrifice? Among the humble and learned, who is eligible for entry? By whatever means, I will strive for your sake; properly make efforts so that I may enter. (03-133-15)
अष्टावक्र उवाच॥
Aṣṭāvakra said.
भो भो राजञ्जनकानां वरिष्ठ; सभाज्यस्त्वं त्वयि सर्वं समृद्धम्। त्वं वा कर्ता कर्मणां यज्ञियानां; ययातिरेको नृपतिर्वा पुरस्तात् ॥०३-१३३-१६॥
O King, most eminent among the Janakas! You are truly worthy of honor, and all abundance is found in you. Surely you are either the foremost performer of sacrificial deeds, or the unique sovereign, Yayati, from earlier times. (03-133-16)
विद्वान्बन्दी वेदविदो निगृह्य; वादे भग्नानप्रतिशङ्कमानः। त्वया निसृष्टैः पुरुषैराप्तकृद्भि; र्जले सर्वान्मज्जयतीति नः श्रुतम् ॥०३-१३३-१७॥
We have heard that the learned Bandī, having seized and defeated in debate the knowers of the Veda, without any suspicion, has all of them submerged in water by reliable men sent out by you. (03-133-17)
स तच्छ्रुत्वा ब्राह्मणानां सकाशा; द्ब्रह्मोद्यं वै कथयितुमागतोऽस्मि। क्वासौ बन्दी यावदेनं समेत्य; नक्षत्राणीव सविता नाशयामि ॥०३-१३३-१८॥
He, having heard this from the Brāhmaṇas, has indeed come to tell the Brahman-discussion. Where is that prisoner? As soon as I approach him, I will destroy him like the Sun destroys the stars. (03-133-18)
राजोवाच॥
The king said.
आशंससे बन्दिनं त्वं विजेतु; मविज्ञात्वा वाक्यबलं परस्य। विज्ञातवीर्यैः शक्यमेवं प्रवक्तुं; दृष्टश्चासौ ब्राह्मणैर्वादशीलैः ॥०३-१३३-१९॥
You are wishing to defeat the bard without understanding the force of the other's arguments. Only those whose ability is proven can speak in this manner; and he has already been examined by Brāhmaṇas skilled in debate. (3-133-19)
अष्टावक्र उवाच॥
Aṣṭāvakra said.
विवादितोऽसौ न हि मादृशैर्हि; सिंहीकृतस्तेन वदत्यभीतः। समेत्य मां निहतः शेष्यतेऽद्य; मार्गे भग्नं शकटमिवाबलाक्षम् ॥०३-१३३-२०॥
He has been challenged, but not by people like me, indeed; made lion-like by him, he speaks fearlessly. Having come upon me, he will be slain and left today on the road, like a cart with a broken axle. (03-133-20)
राजोवाच॥
The king said.
षण्णाभेर्द्वादशाक्षस्य चतुर्विंशतिपर्वणः। यस्त्रिषष्टिशतारस्य वेदार्थं स परः कविः ॥०३-१३३-२१॥
He who knows the structure—six-naved, twelve-spoked, twenty-four-jointed, and three-hundred-sixty-rimmed—understands the meaning of the Veda; he is the supreme sage. (03-133-21)
अष्टावक्र उवाच॥
Aṣṭāvakra said.
चतुर्विंशतिपर्व त्वां षण्णाभि द्वादशप्रधि। तत्त्रिषष्टिशतारं वै चक्रं पातु सदागति ॥०३-१३३-२२॥
May the wheel with twenty-four segments, six hubs, twelve spokes, and sixty-three rims, always in motion, indeed protect you. (03-133-22)
राजोवाच॥
The king said.
वडवे इव संयुक्ते श्येनपाते दिवौकसाम्। कस्तयोर्गर्भमाधत्ते गर्भं सुषुवतुश्च कम् ॥०३-१३३-२३॥
Like a female horse pair joined when the hawk of the gods descends, who among the two places the embryo, and to whom did the two give birth? (03-133-23)
अष्टावक्र उवाच॥
Aṣṭāvakra said.
मा स्म ते ते गृहे राजञ्शात्रवाणामपि ध्रुवम्। वातसारथिराधत्ते गर्भं सुषुवतुश्च तम् ॥०३-१३३-२४॥
O king, surely, even in your house, do not suspect that enemies' children are born; the wind-charioteer places the embryo and they give birth to him. (03-133-24)
राजोवाच॥
The king said.
किं स्वित्सुप्तं न निमिषति किं स्विज्जातं न चोपति। कस्य स्विद्धृदयं नास्ति किं स्विद्वेगेन वर्धते ॥०३-१३३-२५॥
What is it that, though asleep, does not close its eyes? What is it that, though born, does not die? Whose heart does not exist? What is it that grows with speed? (03-133-25)
अष्टावक्र उवाच॥
Aṣṭāvakra said;
मत्स्यः सुप्तो न निमिषत्यण्डं जातं न चोपति। अश्मनो हृदयं नास्ति नदी वेगेन वर्धते ॥०३-१३३-२६॥
A fish does not close its eyes when asleep; an egg, once produced, does not approach (again); a stone has no heart; a river increases with speed. (03-133-26)
राजोवाच॥
The king said.
न त्वा मन्ये मानुषं देवसत्त्वं; न त्वं बालः स्थविरस्त्वं मतो मे। न ते तुल्यो विद्यते वाक्प्रलापे; तस्माद्द्वारं वितराम्येष बन्दी ॥०३-१३३-२७॥
I do not consider you a human, but a divine being; I do not think of you as a child or as an old man. There is no one equal to you in speech; therefore, I, this guard, open the door. (03-133-27)
