03.134
aṣṭāvakra uvāca॥
Aṣṭāvakra said;
atrograsenasamiteṣu rāja; nsamāgateṣvapratimeṣu rājasu. na vai vivitsāntaramasti vādināṃ; mahājale haṃsaninādināmiva ॥03-134-1॥
Here, O king, in the assemblies of Ugrasena, when all the incomparable kings are gathered, there truly is no difference among the disputants—just like the sounds of swans in a vast lake. (03-134-1)
na me'dya vakṣyasy ativādimāni; naṃglahaṃ prapannaḥ saritām ivāgamaḥ. hutāśanasyeva samiddhatejasaḥ; sthiro bhavasveha mamādya bandin ॥03-134-2॥
Do not speak to me disputatious words today; you have not come into a quarrel, but like a river's steady current. Like the flame of blazing fire, be steadfast here for me today, O bard. (03-134-2)
bandyuvāca॥
Bandyu said.
vyāghraṃ śayānaṃ prati mā prabodhaya; āśīviṣaṃ sṛkkiṇī lelihānam. padāhatasyeva śiro'bhihatya; nādaṣṭo vai mokṣyase tannibodha ॥03-134-3॥
Do not awaken a sleeping tiger; do not disturb a venomous snake licking with its fangs exposed. Just as, if you strike the head of one with your foot, know that unless bitten, you will not escape. (03-134-3)
yo vai darpāt saṃhananopapannaḥ; sudurbalaḥ parvatam āvihanti. tasyaiva pāṇiḥ sanakho viśīryate; na caiva śailasya hi dṛśyate vraṇaḥ ॥03-134-4॥
He who, out of arrogance and with only seeming strength but in reality very weak, strikes a mountain—his hand with nails is shattered, yet no wound is seen at all on the mountain. (03-134-4)
sarve rājño maithilasya mainākasyeva parvatāḥ | nikṛṣṭabhūtā rājāno vatsā anaduho yathā ||03-134-5||
All kings are insignificant before the king of Mithila, just as all other mountains are to Maināka, and as calves are to a cow that is not to be milked. (03-134-5)
lomaśa uvāca॥
Lomaśa said;
aṣṭāvakraḥ samitau garjamāno; jātakrodho bandinam āha rājan। ukte vākye cottaraṃ me bravīhi; vākyasya cāpy uttaraṃ te bravīmi ॥03-134-6॥
Aṣṭāvakra, in the assembly, roaring in anger, addressed Bandin, O king: "After a statement is spoken, respond to me with an answer; and to your statement, I too will give an answer." (03-134-6)
bandyuvāca॥
Bandyu said.
eka evāgnir bahudhā samidhyate; ekaḥ sūryaḥ sarvam idaṃ prabhāsate. eko vīro devarājo nihantā; yamaḥ pitṝṇām īśvaraś caika eva ॥03-134-7॥
The same fire alone is kindled in many forms; the one sun illumines all of this. The one hero, lord of the gods and slayer, Yama is the lord of the ancestors, and there is but one ruler. (03-134-7)
aṣṭāvakra uvāca॥
Aṣṭāvakra said.
dvāvindrāgnī carato vai sakhāyau; dvau devarṣī nāradaḥ parvataśca. dvāvaśvinau dve ca rathasya cakre; bhāryāpatī dvau vihitau vidhātrā ॥03-134-8॥
Indra and Agni, who move as friends, are two; the divine sages Nārada and Parvata are two; the Ashvins are two, and the wheels of the chariot are two; wife and husband—the pair created by the Creator. (03-134-8)
bandyuvāca॥
Bandyu said.
triḥ sūyate karmaṇā vai prajeyaṃ; trayo yuktā vājapeyaṃ vahanti. adhvaryavas triṣavaṇāni tanvate; trayo lokās trīṇi jyotīṃṣi cāhuḥ ॥03-134-9॥
Offspring worthy is said to be produced three times by action; three yoked beings carry the Vājapeya; the Adhvaryu priests perform the three Soma pressings; and they say there are three worlds and three lights. (03-134-9)
aṣṭāvakra uvāca॥
Aṣṭāvakra said;
catuṣṭayaṁ brāhmaṇānāṁ niketaṁ; catvāro yuktā yajñam imaṁ vahanti. diśaś catasraś caturaś ca varṇāḥ; catuṣpadā gauḥ api śaśvad uktā ॥03-134-10॥
The fourfold group is considered the abode of the Brāhmaṇas; four yoked beings carry this sacrifice. There are four directions, four classes, and it is always said the cow has four legs. (03-134-10)
bandyuvāca॥
Bandyu said.
pañcāgnayaḥ pañcapadā ca paṅktiḥ; yajñāḥ pañcaiva apyatha pañcendriyāṇi। dṛṣṭā vede pañcacuḍāśca pañca; loke khyātaṃ pañcanadaṃ ca puṇyam ॥03-134-11॥
There are five fires, the five-lined pankti meter, five sacrifices, and also five senses. The Veda mentions five crested ones and five. In the world, the sacred region of the five rivers (Pañcanada) is well known. (03-134-11)
aṣṭāvakra uvāca॥
Aṣṭāvakra said.
ṣaḍ-ādhāne dakṣiṇām āhur eke; ṣaḍ eva ime ṛtavaḥ kālacakram। ṣaḍ indriyāṇi uta ṣaṭ-kṛttikāś ca; ṣaṭ sād-yaskāḥ sarva-vedeṣu dṛṣṭāḥ ॥03-134-12॥
Some say there are six in the southern receptacle; there are indeed six seasons, the wheel of time. Six senses, six Kṛttikā stars, and six Sādyaskas are mentioned in all the Vedas. (03-134-12)
bandyuvāca॥
Bandyu said.
sapta grāmyāḥ paśavaḥ sapta vanyāḥ; sapta chandāṃsi kratum ekaṃ vahanti. saptarṣayaḥ sapta ca apy arhaṇāni; sapta-tantrī prathitā ca eva vīṇā ॥03-134-13॥
There are seven domestic animals and seven wild ones; seven meters bring forth one sacrifice. The seven sages and also the seven offerings; and the famous vīṇā has seven strings itself. (03-134-13)
aṣṭāvakra uvāca॥
Aṣṭāvakra said.
aṣṭau śāṇāḥ śatamānaṃ vahanti; tathā aṣṭapādaḥ śarabhaḥ siṃhagātī. aṣṭau vasūn śuśruma devatāsu; yūpaś ca aṣṭāsrir vihitaḥ sarvayajñaḥ ॥03-134-14॥
Eight śāṇas (fibers) are required to carry the weight of a hundred; similarly, the eight-footed śarabha is said to kill lions. We have heard of eight Vasus among the deities, and an eight-edged sacrificial post is enjoined in all sacrifices. (03-134-14)
bandyuvāca॥
Bandyu said.
navaivaoktāḥ sāmidhenyaḥ pitṝṇāṃ; tathā prāhurnavayogaṃ viṣargam। navākṣarā bṛhatī sampradiṣṭā; navayogo gaṇanāmeti śaśvat ॥03-134-15॥
Only nine Sāmidhenya offerings for the ancestors are stated; thus, they declare the act of ninefold conjunction as an offering. The Bṛhatī metre, having nine syllables, is prescribed; the ninefold conjunction is always reckoned. (03-134-15)
aṣṭāvakra uvāca॥
Aṣṭāvakra said;
daśā daśoktāḥ puruṣasya loke; sahasram āhur daśa pūrṇaṃ śatāni. daśaiva māsān bibhṛti garbhavaty o; daśerakā daśa dāśā daśārṇāḥ ॥03-134-16॥
It is said that a person has ten in this world; a thousand is comprised of ten complete hundreds. Pregnant women carry for ten months; there are ten fingers, ten directions, and ten toes. (03-134-16)
bandyuvāca॥
Bandyu said.
ekādaśaikādaśinaḥ paśūnā; mekādaśaivātra bhavanti yūpāḥ। ekādaśa prāṇabhṛtāṃ vikārā; ekādaśoktā divi deveṣu rudrāḥ ॥03-134-17॥
There are eleven animals for one who performs the sacrifice of eleven; here indeed, there are eleven sacrificial posts. There are eleven transformations among living beings, and in heaven among the gods, the Rudras are said to be eleven. (03-134-17)
aṣṭāvakra uvāca॥
Aṣṭāvakra said.
saṁvatsaraṁ dvādaśa māsam āhuḥ; jagatyāḥ pādaḥ dvādaśa eva akṣarāṇi. dvādaśa-āhaḥ prākṛtaḥ yajñaḥ uktaḥ; dvādaśa-ādityān kathayanti iha viprāḥ ॥03-134-18॥
They say that the year consists of twelve months; that each quarter of the jagatī metre has twelve syllables. The original sacrificial rite is known as the twelve-day ritual; here, the sages speak of the twelve Ādityas. (3-134-18)
bandyuvāca॥
Bandyu said.
trayodaśī tithiruktā mahogrā; trayodaśadvīpavatī mahī ca। lomaśa uvāca॥
The thirteenth lunar day is said to be very fierce; the earth has thirteen islands, and Lomaśa spoke.
etāvad uktvā virarāma bandī; ślokasyārdhaṃ vyājahārāṣṭavakraḥ। trayodaśāhāni sasāra keśī; trayodaśādīny aticchandāṃsi cāhuḥ॥03-134-20॥
Having spoken thus far, the bard became silent; Aṣṭavakra recited half of the verse. Keśī wandered for thirteen days; metres beginning with thirteen syllables are called aticchandas. (03-134-20)
tato mahānudatiṣṭhann ināda; stūṣṇīṃbhūtaṃ sūtaputraṃ niśamya. adhomukhaṃ dhyānaparaṃ tadānī; maṣṭāvakraṃ cāpy udīryantam eva ॥03-134-21॥
Then that great one rose up with a sound, after hearing the son of the charioteer become silent, while Maṣṭāvakra at that time, with his face turned down and absorbed in meditation, was just beginning to speak aloud. (3-134-21)
tasmiṁstathā saṅkule vartamāne; sphīte yajñe janakasyātha rājñaḥ. aṣṭāvakraṁ pūjayanto'bhyupeyuḥ; viprāḥ sarve prāñjalayaḥ pratītāḥ ॥03-134-22॥
While the sacrifice of King Janaka was thus crowded and flourishing, all the Brāhmaṇas confidently and with folded hands approached Aṣṭāvakra to honor him. (03-134-22)
aṣṭāvakra uvāca॥
Aṣṭāvakra said.
anena vai brāhmaṇāḥ śuśruvāṃso; vāde jitvā salile majjitāḥ kila। tāneva dharmānayam adya bandī; prāpnotu gṛhyāpsu nimajjayainam ॥03-134-23॥
It is said that by this person, the Brāhmaṇas who listened and won disputes were immersed in water. Let Bandin, who is of right conduct, today bring them; having seized him, drown him in the water. (03-134-23)
bandyuvāca॥
Bandyu said.
ahaṃ putro varuṇasyota rājña; statrāsa satraṃ dvādaśavārṣikaṃ vai. satreṇa te janaka tulyakālaṃ; tadarthaṃ te prahitā me dvijāgryāḥ ॥03-134-24॥
I am the son of Varuṇa and also of the king; there was indeed a twelve-year sacrifice there. By a sacrifice of equal duration to yours, O Janaka, for that purpose the foremost Brāhmaṇas have been sent by me. (3-134-24)
ete sarve varuṇasyota yajñaṃ; draṣṭuṃ gatā iha āyānti bhūyaḥ. aṣṭāvakraṃ pūjaye pūjanīyaṃ; yasya hetorjanitāraṃ sameṣye ॥03-134-25॥
All these, along with Varuṇa, have come here again to see the sacrifice. I worship Aṣṭāvakra, who is worthy of worship, for whose sake I shall meet the creator. (03-134-25)
aṣṭāvakra uvāca॥
Aṣṭāvakra said.
viprāḥ samudrāmbhasi majjitāste; vācā jitā medhayā āvidānāḥ. tāṃ medhayā vācam athojjahāra; yathā vācam avacinvanti santaḥ ॥03-134-26॥
The wise ones were submerged in the ocean waters; they, being ignorant, were overcome by speech and not by intellect. Then, by intellect, he raised up that speech, just as the wise discern speech. (03-134-26)
agnirdahañjātavedāḥ satāṃ gṛhā; nvisarjayaṃstejasā na sma dhākṣīt। bāleṣu putreṣu kṛpaṇaṃ vadatsu; tathā vācamavacinvanti santaḥ॥03-134-27॥
Fire, though burning brilliantly, does not burn the houses of the virtuous. Among children or sons speaking pitifully, good people thus choose their words. (03-134-27)
śleṣmātakī kṣīṇavarcāḥ śṛṇoṣi; utāho tvāṃ stutayo mādayanti. hastīva tvaṃ janaka vitudyamānaḥ; na māmikāṃ vācam imāṃ śṛṇoṣi ॥03-134-28॥
You, with phlegm in your ears whose brightness is diminished, do not hear; or perhaps the praises delight you? Like an elephant, O father, even when reproached, you do not listen to this speech of mine. (03-134-28)
janaka uvāca॥
Janaka said.
śṛṇomi vācaṃ tava divyarūpā; mamānuṣīṃ divyarūpo'si sākṣāt। ajaiṣīryadbandinam tvaṃ vivāde; nisṛṣṭa eṣa tava kāmo'dya bandī ॥03-134-29॥
I hear your speech, which is of a divine nature; although I am human, you truly possess a divine form. You have won over the panegyrist in debate; thus, today, this panegyrist—your wish—has been dismissed. (03-134-29)
aṣṭāvakra uvāca॥
Aṣṭāvakra said.
nānena jīvatā kaścid artho me bandinā nṛpa। pitā yady asya varuṇo majjaya enaṃ jalāśaye ॥03-134-30॥
O king, I have no purpose with this prisoner's life. If his father is Varuṇa, then have him drowned in the reservoir of water. (03-134-30)
bandyuvāca॥
Bandyu said.
ahaṃ putro varuṇasyota rājño; na me bhayaṃ salile majjitasya. imaṃ muhūrtaṃ pitaraṃ drakṣyate'ya; maṣṭāvakraściranaṣṭaṃ kahoḍam ॥03-134-31॥
I am the son of Varuṇa, also of the king; I have no fear while submerged in water. In this very moment, his father will be seen—Aṣṭāvakra will see the long lost Kahoḍa. (03-134-31)
lomaśa uvāca॥
Lomaśa said.
tatas te pūjitā viprā varuṇena mahātmanā। udatiṣṭhanta te sarve janakasya samīpataḥ॥03-134-32॥
Then the brahmaṇas, having been honored by the great-souled Varuṇa, all arose from the presence of Janaka. (03-134-32)
kahoḍa uvāca॥
Kahoḍa said.
ityartham icchanti sutān janā janaka karmaṇā। yad ahaṃ nāśakam kartuṃ tat putraḥ kṛtvān mama ॥03-134-33॥
It is for this reason that people desire sons: what I could not accomplish, my son has done for me. (03-134-33)
utābalasya balavānuta bālasya paṇḍitaḥ। uta vāviduṣo vidvānputro janaka jāyate॥03-134-34॥
Sometimes to the weak a strong person is born, to a child a wise person, or from an unlearned father a learned son is born. (03-134-34)
bandyuvāca॥
Bandyu said.
śitena te paraśunā svayamevāntako nṛpa. śirāṃsyapāharatvājau ripūṇāṃ bhadramastu te ॥03-134-35॥
O king, with your sharp axe, Yama himself has struck down the heads of your enemies in battle; may you be blessed. (03-134-35)
mahad-ukthyaṃ gīyate sāma ca āgryaṃ; samyak-somaḥ pīyate ca atra satre. śucīn bhāgān pratijagṛhuḥ ca hṛṣṭāḥ; sākṣāt devā janakasya iha yajñe ॥03-134-36॥
A splendid hymn is sung, the finest sāma-chant resounds, soma is perfectly drunk in this assembly; the pure shares were received in joy—here at Janaka’s sacrifice, the gods themselves were present. (03-134-36)
lomaśa uvāca॥
Lomasha said;
samutthiteṣvatha sarveṣu rāja; nvipreṣu teṣvadhikaṃ suprabheṣu. anujñāto janakenātha rājñā; viveśa toyaṃ sāgarasyota bandhī ॥03-134-37॥
Then, O king, when all the Brāhmaṇas had risen—those most illustrious ones—having been permitted by King Janaka, the bard also entered the water of the ocean. (03-134-37)
aṣṭāvakraḥ pitaraṃ pūjayitvā; sampūjito brāhmaṇais tair yathāvat. pratyājagām āśramam eva ca āgryaṃ; jitvā bandiṃ sahito mātulena ॥03-134-38॥
Aṣṭāvakra, after worshipping his father, and having been duly honored by those Brāhmaṇas, returned together with his uncle to the chief hermitage, having defeated Bandi. (03-134-38)
atra kaunteya sahito bhrātṛbhistvaṁ; sukhoṣitaḥ saha vipraiḥ pratītaḥ. puṇyānyanyāni śucikarmaikabhaktir mayā sārdhaṁ caritāsyājamīḍha ॥03-134-39॥
Here, O son of Kunti, you have resided comfortably together with your brothers and have been honored by the brahmins. You have performed other auspicious and pure deeds with single-minded devotion together with me, O descendant of Ajamīḍha. (03-134-39)
