05.095

वैशम्पायन उवाच॥

Vaiśampāyana said:

जामदग्न्यवचः श्रुत्वा कण्वोऽपि भगवानृषिः। दुर्योधनमिदं वाक्यमब्रवीत्कुरुसंसदि ॥५-९५-१॥

After hearing the words of Jāmadagnya, the venerable sage Kaṇva also spoke these words to Duryodhana in the Kuru assembly. (5-95-1)

अक्षयश्चाव्ययश्चैव ब्रह्मा लोकपितामहः। तथैव भगवन्तौ तौ नरनारायणावृषी ॥५-९५-२॥

Brahmā, the grandsire of the worlds, is indeed imperishable and eternal; likewise, those two blessed sages, Nara and Nārāyaṇa. (5-95-2)

आदित्यानां हि सर्वेषां विष्णुरेकः सनातनः। अजय्यश्चाव्ययश्चैव शाश्वतः प्रभुरीश्वरः ॥५-९५-३॥

Among all the Ādityas, Viṣṇu alone is the eternal one—unconquerable, imperishable, everlasting, the lord, the ruler. (5-95-3)

निमित्तमरणास्त्वन्ये चन्द्रसूर्यौ मही जलम्। वायुरग्निस्तथाकाशं ग्रहास्तारागणास्तथा ॥५-९५-४॥

But all the others—the Moon and the Sun, the Earth, water, wind, fire, space, the planets, and the stars—are subject to incidental destruction. (5-95-4)

ते च क्षयान्ते जगतो हित्वा लोकत्रयं सदा। क्षयं गच्छन्ति वै सर्वे सृज्यन्ते च पुनः पुनः ॥५-९५-५॥

And when their time in the world ends, always leaving the three worlds, they all indeed pass into destruction and are created again and again. (5-95-5)

मुहूर्तमरणास्त्वन्ये मानुषा मृगपक्षिणः। तिर्यग्योन्यश्च ये चान्ये जीवलोकचराः स्मृताः ॥५-९५-६॥

But others meet their end in a moment—humans, animals, birds, other creatures born in non-human wombs, and all other beings who are considered to dwell among mortals. (5-95-6)

भूयिष्ठेन तु राजानः श्रियं भुक्त्वायुषः क्षये। मरणं प्रतिगच्छन्ति भोक्तुं सुकृतदुष्कृतम् ॥५-९५-७॥

But most kings, after enjoying prosperity and when their lives end, encounter death to experience the results of their good and bad deeds. (5-95-7)

स भवान्धर्मपुत्रेण शमं कर्तुमिहार्हति। पाण्डवाः कुरवश्चैव पालयन्तु वसुन्धराम् ॥५-९५-८॥

Therefore, your highness ought to make peace here with Yudhishthira, so that both the Pandavas and the Kurus may rule the earth. (5-95-8)

बलवानहमित्येव न मन्तव्यं सुयोधन। बलवन्तो हि बलिभिर्दृश्यन्ते पुरुषर्षभ ॥५-९५-९॥

Do not think, Suyodhana, merely that 'I am strong.' For, O bull among men, the strong are indeed seen to be overcome by the more powerful. (5-95-9)

न बलं बलिनां मध्ये बलं भवति कौरव। बलवन्तो हि ते सर्वे पाण्डवा देवविक्रमाः ॥५-९५-१०॥

Kaurava, strength does not prevail among the strong, for all the Pandavas are mighty—possessed of godlike power. (5-95-10)

अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम्। मातलेर्दातुकामस्य कन्यां मृगयतो वरम् ॥५-९५-११॥

Here too, they tell this ancient story of Mātali, who was seeking a suitable husband for his daughter. (5-95-11)

मतस्त्रैलोक्यराजस्य मातलिर्नाम सारथिः। तस्यैकैव कुले कन्या रूपतो लोकविश्रुता ॥५-९५-१२॥

Mātali, the charioteer named in the mind of the king of the three worlds, had in his family only one daughter, renowned throughout the world for her beauty. (5-95-12)

गुणकेशीति विख्याता नाम्ना सा देवरूपिणी। श्रिया च वपुषा चैव स्त्रियोऽन्याः सातिरिच्यते ॥५-९५-१३॥

She was named Guṇakeśī and was well-known by that name. Divine in form, she indeed surpassed other women in beauty and appearance. (5-95-13)

तस्याः प्रदानसमयं मातलिः सह भार्यया। ज्ञात्वा विममृशे राजंस्तत्परः परिचिन्तयन् ॥५-९५-१४॥

O king, Mātali, knowing that the time had come for her to be given in marriage, together with his wife, focused on that and reflected upon it. (5-95-14)

धिक्खल्वलघुशीलानामुच्छ्रितानां यशस्विनाम्। नराणामृद्धसत्त्वानां कुले कन्याप्ररोहणम् ॥५-९५-१५॥

Indeed, shame on the taking root of a maiden in the family of illustrious, eminent men who are not of low character and have noble spirit. (5-95-15)

मातुः कुलं पितृकुलं यत्र चैव प्रदीयते। कुलत्रयं संशयितं कुरुते कन्यका सताम् ॥५-९५-१६॥

Where the maiden is given, she creates doubt for three families—the father's, the mother's, and that to which she is given—among honourable people. (5-95-16)

देवमानुषलोकौ द्वौ मानसेनैव चक्षुषा। अवगाह्यैव विचितौ न च मे रोचते वरः ॥५-९५-१७॥

Having entered and examined both the worlds of gods and humans with my mind's eye or with vision, still, the suitor does not please me. (5-95-17)

न देवान्नैव दितिजान्न गन्धर्वान्न मानुषान्। अरोचयं वरकृते तथैव बहुलानृषीन् ॥५-९५-१८॥

For the sake of choosing a boon, I did not take a liking to the gods, nor the Dānavas, nor the Gandharvas, nor humans—nor, likewise, to the many seers. (5-95-18)

भार्यया तु स संमन्त्र्य सह रात्रौ सुधर्मया। मातलिर्नागलोकाय चकार गमने मतिम् ॥५-९५-१९॥

But after consulting with his wife Sudharma during the night, Mātali resolved to go to the realm of the Nāgas. (5-95-19)

न मे देवमनुष्येषु गुणकेश्याः समो वरः। रूपतो दृश्यते कश्चिन्नागेषु भविता ध्रुवम् ॥५-९५-२०॥

Among gods and humans, I see no suitor equal to Guṇakeśī in beauty; surely there will not be anyone among the nāgas either. (5-95-20)

इत्यामन्त्र्य सुधर्मां स कृत्वा चाभिप्रदक्षिणम्। कन्यां शिरस्युपाघ्राय प्रविवेश महीतलम् ॥५-९५-२१॥

Thus, after taking leave of Sudharmā, circumambulating her respectfully, and touching the girl's head with his own nose, he entered the earth. (5-95-21)