03.133
aṣṭāvakra uvāca॥
Aṣṭāvakra said.
andhasya panthā badhirasya panthāḥ; striyaḥ panthā vaivadhikasya panthāḥ. rājñaḥ panthā brāhmaṇenasametya; sametya tu brāhmaṇasyaiva panthāḥ ॥03-133-1॥
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)
rājo’vāca॥
The king said.
panthā ayaṃ te'dya mayā nisṛṣṭo; yena icchase tena kāmaṃ vrajasva. na pāvako vidyate vai laghīyā; indro'pi nityaṃ namate brāhmaṇānām ॥03-133-2॥
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)
aṣṭāvakra uvāca॥
Aṣṭāvakra said.
yajñaṃ draṣṭuṃ prāptavantau sva tāta; kautūhalaṃ nau balavadvai vivṛddham। āvāṃ prāptāvatithī sampraveśaṃ; kāṅkṣāvahe dvārapate tavājñām ॥03-133-3॥
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)
aindradyumner yajñadṛśāv ihāvāṁ; vivakṣū vai janakendraṁ didṛkṣū। na vai krodhād vyādhi-naiva uttamena; saṁyojaya dvārapāla kṣaṇena॥03-133-4॥
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)
dvārapāla uvāca॥
The doorkeeper said.
bandeḥ samādeśakarā vayaṁ sma; nibodha vākyaṁ ca mayeryamāṇam. na vai bālāḥ praviśanty atra viprā; vṛddhā vidvāṁsaḥ praviśanti dvijāgryāḥ ॥03-133-5॥
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)
aṣṭāvakra uvāca॥
Aṣṭāvakra said.
yadyatra vṛddheṣu kṛtaḥ praveśo; yuktaṃ mama dvārapāla praveṣṭum। vayaṃ hi vṛddhāścaritavratāśca; vedaprabhāvena praveśanārhāḥ ॥03-133-6॥
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)
śuśrūṣavaś cāpi jitendriyāś ca; jñānāgame cāpi gatāḥ sma niṣṭhām। na bāla ity avamantavyam āhur; bālo'py agnir dahati spṛśyamānaḥ ॥03-133-7॥
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)
dvārapāla uvāca॥
The doorkeeper said.
sarasvatīm īraya vedajuṣṭā; ekākṣarāṃ bahurūpāṃ virājam। aṅgātmānaṃ samavekṣasva bālaṃ; kiṃ ślāghase durlabhā vādasiddhiḥ ॥03-133-8॥
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)
aṣṭāvakra uvāca॥
Aṣṭāvakra said.
na jñāyate kāyavṛdhyā vivṛddhi; yathāṣṭhīlā śālmaleḥ sampravṛddhā। hrasvo'lpakāyaḥ phalito vivṛddho; yaścāphalastasya na vṛddhabhāvaḥ॥03-133-9॥
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)
dvārapāla uvāca॥
The door-keeper said.
vṛddhebhya eveha matiṁ sma bālā; gṛhṇanti kālena bhavanti vṛddhāḥ। na hi jñānam alpakālena śakyaṁ; kasmād bālo vṛddha ivāvabhāṣase ॥03-133-10॥
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)
aṣṭāvakra uvāca॥
Aṣṭāvakra said.
na tena sthaviro bhavati yenāsya palitaṃ śiraḥ। bālo'pi yaḥ prajānāti taṃ devāḥ sthaviraṃ viduḥ॥03-133-11॥
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)
na hāyanaiḥ na palitaiḥ na vittena na bandhubhiḥ। ṛṣayaḥ cakrire dharmam yaḥ anūcānaḥ saḥ naḥ mahān ॥03-133-12॥
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)
didṛkṣur asmi samprāpto bandinaṃ rājasaṃsadi. nivedayasva māṃ dvāḥstha rājñe puṣkaramāline ॥03-133-13॥
I have come, wishing to see the court bard in the royal assembly; doorkeeper, inform the king Puṣkaramālin about me. (03-133-13)
draṣṭāsyadya vadato dvārapāla; manīṣibhiḥ saha vāde vivṛddhe. utāho vāpyuccatāṃ nīcatāṃ vā; tūṣṇīṃ bhūteṣvatha sarveṣu cādya ॥03-133-14॥
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)
dvārapāla uvāca॥
The gatekeeper said.
kathaṁ yajñaṁ daśavarṣo viśestvaṁ; vinītānāṁ viduṣāṁ sampraveśyam. upāyataḥ prayatiṣye tavāhaṁ; praveśane kuru yatnaṁ yathāvat ॥03-133-15॥
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)
aṣṭāvakra uvāca॥
Aṣṭāvakra said.
bho bho rājan janakānāṃ variṣṭha; sabhājyas tvaṃ tvayi sarvaṃ samṛddham। tvaṃ vā kartā karmaṇāṃ yajñiyānāṃ; yayātir eko nṛpatir vā purastāt॥03-133-16॥
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)
vidvān bandī vedavido nigṛhya; vāde bhagnān apratiśaṅkamānaḥ। tvayā nisṛṣṭaiḥ puruṣair āptakṛdbhir; jale sarvān majjayatīti naḥ śrutam ॥03-133-17॥
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)
sa tac chrutvā brāhmaṇānāṃ sakāśā; dbrahmodyaṃ vai kathayitum āgato'smi. kvāsau bandī yāvad enaṃ sametya; nakṣatrāṇīva savitā nāśayāmi ॥03-133-18॥
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)
rājovāca॥
The king said.
āśaṁsase bandinaṁ tvaṁ vijetu; mavi-jñātvā vākya-balaṁ parasya. vijñāta-vīryaiḥ śakyam evaṁ pravaktum; dṛṣṭaś ca asau brāhmaṇaīḥ vāda-śīlaiḥ ॥03-133-19॥
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)
aṣṭāvakra uvāca॥
Aṣṭāvakra said.
vivādito'sau na hi mādṛśair hi; siṃhīkṛtas tena vadaty abhītaḥ. sametya māṃ nihataḥ śeṣyate'dya; mārge bhagnaṃ śakaṭam ivābalākṣam ॥03-133-20॥
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)
rājovāca॥
The king said.
ṣaṇṇābhér dvādaśākṣasya caturviṃśati-parvaṇaḥ। yaḥ triṣaṣṭi-śatārasya vedārthaṃ sa paraḥ kaviḥ॥03-133-21॥
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)
aṣṭāvakra uvāca॥
Aṣṭāvakra said.
caturviṃśatiparva tvāṃ ṣaṇṇābhi dvādaśapradhi। tattriṣaṣṭiśatāraṃ vai cakraṃ pātu sadāgati ॥03-133-22॥
May the wheel with twenty-four segments, six hubs, twelve spokes, and sixty-three rims, always in motion, indeed protect you. (03-133-22)
rājovāca॥
The king said.
vaḍave iva saṃyukte śyenapāte divaukasām। kastayorgarbhamādhatte garbhaṃ suṣuvatuśca kam ॥03-133-23॥
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)
aṣṭāvakra uvāca॥
Aṣṭāvakra said.
mā sma te te gṛhe rājañ chātravāṇām api dhruvam। vāta-sārathir ādadhte garbhaṁ suṣuvatuś ca tam॥03-133-24॥
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)
rājovāca॥
The king said.
kiṁ svit suptaṁ na nimiṣati kiṁ svij jātaṁ na ca upati। kasya svit hṛdayaṁ na āsti kiṁ svit vegena vardhate ॥03-133-25॥
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)
aṣṭāvakra uvāca॥
Aṣṭāvakra said;
matsyaḥ supto na nimiṣaty aṇḍaṃ jātaṃ na copati। aśmano hṛdayaṃ nāsti nadī vegena vardhate॥03-133-26॥
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)
rājovāca॥
The king said.
na tvā manye mānuṣaṃ devasattvaṃ; na tvaṃ bālaḥ sthaviras tvaṃ mato me. na te tulyo vidyate vākapralāpe; tasmād dvāraṃ vitarāmyeṣa bandī ॥03-133-27॥
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)
