12.139

युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥

[युधिष्ठिर (yudhiṣṭhira) - Yudhishthira; (proper noun, name of a person); उवाच (uvāca) - said; (from the root 'vac' - to speak);]

(Yudhishthira said;)

Yudhishthira said.

हीने परमके धर्मे सर्वलोकातिलङ्घिनि। अधर्मे धर्मतां नीते धर्मे चाधर्मतां गते ॥१२-१३९-१॥

hīne paramake dharme sarvalokātilaṅghini। adharme dharmatāṃ nīte dharme cādharmatāṃ gate ॥12-139-1॥

[हीने (hīne) - in the inferior; परमके (paramake) - in the supreme; धर्मे (dharme) - in dharma; सर्वलोकातिलङ्घिनि (sarvalokātilaṅghini) - transgressing all worlds; अधर्मे (adharme) - in adharma; धर्मतां (dharmatām) - the state of dharma; नीते (nīte) - having been led; धर्मे (dharme) - in dharma; च (ca) - and; अधर्मतां (adharmatām) - the state of adharma; गते (gate) - having gone;]

(When the inferior is considered supreme, when dharma is transgressed by all worlds, when adharma is led to the state of dharma, and when dharma has gone to the state of adharma.)

When the inferior is regarded as supreme, when dharma is violated by all, when adharma is considered as dharma and dharma as adharma, (then calamity arises).

मर्यादासु प्रभिन्नासु क्षुभिते धर्मनिश्चये। राजभिः पीडिते लोके चोरैर्वापि विशां पते ॥१२-१३९-२॥

maryādāsu prabhinnāsu kṣubhite dharmaniscaye। rājabhiḥ pīḍite loke corairvāpi viśāṃ pate ॥12-139-2॥

[मर्यादासु (maryādāsu) - in boundaries; (locative plural of maryādā) प्रभिन्नासु (prabhinnāsu) - having been broken; (locative plural of prabhinnā) क्षुभिते (kṣubhite) - agitated; (locative singular of kṣubhita) धर्मनिश्चये (dharmaniscaye) - in the determination of dharma; (locative singular of dharmaniscaya) राजभिः (rājabhiḥ) - by kings; (instrumental plural of rāja) पीडिते (pīḍite) - oppressed; (locative singular of pīḍita) लोके (loke) - in the world; (locative singular of loka) चोरैः (coraiḥ) - by thieves; (instrumental plural of cora) वा (vā) - or; अपि (api) - even; विशां (viśāṃ) - of men; (genitive plural of viś) पते (pate) - O lord; (vocative singular of pati);]

(In boundaries having been broken, in the determination of dharma agitated, by kings oppressed, in the world, or even by thieves, O lord of men.)

O lord of men, when boundaries are broken, the determination of dharma is agitated, the world is oppressed by kings or even by thieves.

सर्वाश्रमेषु मूढेषु कर्मसूपहतेषु च। कामान्मोहाच्च लोभाच्च भयं पश्यत्सु भारत ॥१२-१३९-३॥

sarvāśrameṣu mūḍheṣu karmasūpahateṣu ca। kāmān mohāc ca lobhāc ca bhayaṃ paśyatsu bhārata॥12-139-3॥

[सर्वाश्रमेषु (sarvāśrameṣu) - in all āśramas; (stages of life;) मूढेषु (mūḍheṣu) - among the deluded; (confused;) कर्मसु (karmasu) - in actions; उपहतेषु (upahateṣu) - being destroyed; (overcome;) च (ca) - and; कामात् (kāmāt) - from desire; मोहात् (mohāt) - from delusion; च (ca) - and; लोभात् (lobhāt) - from greed; च (ca) - and; भयम् (bhayam) - fear; पश्यत्सु (paśyatsu) - seeing; भारत (bhārata) - O Bhārata;]

(In all āśramas, among the deluded, in actions being destroyed, and from desire, and from delusion, and from greed, seeing fear, O Bhārata.)

O Bhārata, in all āśramas, when people are deluded and their actions are overcome, and when fear is seen arising from desire, delusion, and greed.

अविश्वस्तेषु सर्वेषु नित्यभीतेषु पार्थिव। निकृत्या हन्यमानेषु वञ्चयत्सु परस्परम् ॥१२-१३९-४॥

aviśvasteṣu sarveṣu nityabhīteṣu pārthiva। nikṛtyā hanyamāneṣu vañcayatsu parasparam ॥12-139-4॥

[अविश्वस्तेषु (aviśvasteṣu) - among those who are not trusted; सर्वेषु (sarveṣu) - among all; नित्यभीतेषु (nityabhīteṣu) - among those who are always fearful; पार्थिव (pārthiva) - O king; निकृत्या (nikṛtyā) - by deceit; हन्यमानेषु (hanyamāneṣu) - when being killed; वञ्चयत्सु (vañcayatsu) - when deceiving; परस्परम् (parasparam) - each other;]

(O king, among all, among those who are not trusted, among those who are always fearful, when being killed by deceit, when deceiving each other.)

O king, when all are untrustworthy and perpetually fearful, and when people are being killed by deceit and deceiving each other.

सम्प्रदीप्तेषु देशेषु ब्राह्मण्ये चाभिपीडिते। अवर्षति च पर्जन्ये मिथो भेदे समुत्थिते ॥१२-१३९-५॥

sampradīpteṣu deśeṣu brāhmaṇye cābhipīḍite। avarṣati ca parjanye mitho bhede samutthite ॥12-139-5॥

[सम्प्रदीप्तेषु (sampradīpteṣu) - in those that are blazing; (sam- intensifier, pradīpta- blazing, -eṣu in locative plural); देशेषु (deśeṣu) - in the regions; (deśa- region, -eṣu in locative plural); ब्राह्मण्ये (brāhmaṇye) - in Brāhmaṇya (the state of being a Brāhmaṇa, or the Brāhmaṇa class); च (ca) - and; अभिपीडिते (abhipīḍite) - being oppressed; (abhi- upon, pīḍita- oppressed); अवर्षति (avarṣati) - does not rain; (a- not, varṣati- rains); च (ca) - and; पर्जन्ये (parjanye) - in the cloud; (parjanya- cloud, -e in locative singular); मिथः (mithaḥ) - mutually; (mithaḥ- mutually, among each other); भेदे (bhede) - in division; (bheda- division, -e in locative singular); समुत्थिते (samutthite) - having arisen; (samutthita- arisen, -e in locative singular);]

(In the regions that are blazing, and with Brāhmaṇya being oppressed, and when the cloud does not rain, and mutual division has arisen.)

When the regions are blazing, Brāhmaṇya is oppressed, the clouds do not rain, and mutual division has arisen.

सर्वस्मिन्दस्युसाद्भूते पृथिव्यामुपजीवने। केन स्विद्ब्राह्मणो जीवेज्जघन्ये काल आगते ॥१२-१३९-६॥

sarvasmindasyusādbhūte pṛthivyāmupajīvane। kena svidbrāhmaṇo jīvejjaghanye kāla āgate ॥12-139-6॥

[सर्वस्मिन् (sarvasmin) - in all; दस्यु-साद्-भूते (dasya-sād-bhūte) - when become overrun by robbers; पृथिव्याम् (pṛthivyām) - on the earth; उपजीवने (upajīvane) - for subsistence; केन (kena) - by what; स्वित् (svit) - indeed; ब्राह्मणः (brāhmaṇaḥ) - a brāhmaṇa; जीवेत् (jīvet) - should live; जघन्ये (jaghanye) - in the worst; काले (kāle) - in time; आगते (āgate) - when arrived;]

(In all (the world) when it has become overrun by robbers, on the earth, for subsistence, by what indeed should a brāhmaṇa live, when the worst time has arrived?)

When the whole earth has become overrun by robbers and subsistence is difficult, by what means should a brāhmaṇa live when the worst times have come?

अतित्यक्षुः पुत्रपौत्राननुक्रोशान्नराधिप। कथमापत्सु वर्तेत तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह ॥१२-१३९-७॥

atit yakṣuḥ putrapautrānanukrośānnarādhipa| kathamāpatsu varteta tanme brūhi pitāmaha ॥12-139-7॥

[अतित्यक्षुः (atit yakṣuḥ) - one who has greatly renounced; पुत्रपौत्रान् (putrapautrān) - sons and grandsons; अनुक्रोशात् (anukrośāt) - from compassion; नराधिप (narādhipa) - O king; कथम् (katham) - how; आपत्सु (āpatsu) - in calamities; वर्तेत (varteta) - should behave; तत् (tat) - that; मे (me) - to me; ब्रूहि (brūhi) - tell; पितामह (pitāmaha) - O grandsire;]

(O king, one who has greatly renounced sons and grandsons out of compassion—how should he behave in calamities? That, tell me, O grandsire.)

O king, please tell me, O grandsire, how one who has renounced attachment to sons and grandsons out of compassion should act in times of calamity.

कथं च राजा वर्तेत लोके कलुषतां गते। कथमर्थाच्च धर्माच्च न हीयेत परन्तप ॥१२-१३९-८॥

kathaṁ ca rājā varteta loke kaluṣatāṁ gate। katham arthāc ca dharmāc ca na hīyeta parantapa ॥12-139-8॥

[कथं (kathaṁ) - how; च (ca) - and; राजा (rājā) - king; वर्तेत (varteta) - should act; लोके (loke) - in the world; कलुषतां (kaluṣatāṁ) - impurity; गते (gate) - having gone; कथम् (katham) - how; अर्थात् (arthāt) - from wealth; च (ca) - and; धर्मात् (dharmāt) - from righteousness; च (ca) - and; न (na) - not; हीयेत (hīyeta) - should fall away; परन्तप (parantapa) - O scorcher of foes;]

(How and the king should act in the world when impurity has arisen. How from wealth and from righteousness not should fall away, O scorcher of foes.)

How should the king act in the world when impurity has arisen? How should he not fall away from wealth and righteousness, O scorcher of foes?

भीष्म उवाच॥

bhīṣma uvāca॥

[भीष्म (bhīṣma) - Bhīṣma; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]

(Bhīṣma said;)

Bhīṣma said.

राजमूला महाराज योगक्षेमसुवृष्टयः। प्रजासु व्याधयश्चैव मरणं च भयानि च ॥१२-१३९-९॥

rājamūlā mahārāja yogakṣemasuvṛṣṭayaḥ। prajāsu vyādhayaścaiva maraṇaṃ ca bhayāni ca ॥12-139-9॥

[राजमूला (rājamūlā) - having kings as roots; (i.e., dependent on kings); महाराज (mahārāja) - O great king; (vocative); योगक्षेमसुवृष्टयः (yogakṣemasuvṛṣṭayaḥ) - prosperity, security, and good rains; (compound); प्रजासु (prajāsu) - among the subjects; (locative plural); व्याधयः (vyādhayaḥ) - diseases; (plural); च (ca) - and; एव (eva) - indeed; मरणं (maraṇam) - death; च (ca) - and; भयानि (bhayāni) - fears; (plural); च (ca) - and;]

(Having kings as roots, O great king, prosperity, security, and good rains; among the subjects, diseases and indeed death and fears and.)

O great king, the well-being of the people—prosperity, security, and good rains—as well as diseases, death, and fears, all depend upon the king.

कृतं त्रेता द्वापरश्च कलिश्च भरतर्षभ। राजमूलानि सर्वाणि मम नास्त्यत्र संशयः ॥१२-१३९-१०॥

kṛtaṃ tretā dvāparaś ca kaliś ca bharatarṣabha। rājamūlāni sarvāṇi mama nāsty atra saṃśayaḥ ॥12-139-10॥

[कृतम् (kṛtam) - the Kṛta age; त्रेता (tretā) - the Tretā age; द्वापरः (dvāparaḥ) - the Dvāpara age; च (ca) - and; कलिः (kaliḥ) - the Kali age; च (ca) - and; भरतर्षभ (bharatarṣabha) - O bull among the Bharatas; राजमूलानि (rājamūlāni) - rooted in kings; सर्वाणि (sarvāṇi) - all; मम (mama) - to me; न (na) - not; अस्ति (asti) - is; अत्र (atra) - here; संशयः (saṃśayaḥ) - doubt;]

(The Kṛta, Tretā, Dvāpara, and Kali ages, O bull among the Bharatas, all are rooted in kings; to me, there is no doubt here.)

O best of the Bharatas, the Kṛta, Tretā, Dvāpara, and Kali ages are all rooted in kings; I have no doubt about this.

तस्मिंस्त्वभ्यागते काले प्रजानां दोषकारके। विज्ञानबलमास्थाय जीवितव्यं तदा भवेत् ॥१२-१३९-११॥

tasmiṁstvabhyāgate kāle prajānāṁ doṣakārake। vijñānabalamāsthāya jīvitavyaṁ tadā bhavet॥12-139-11॥

[तस्मिन् (tasmin) - in that; (locative singular of 'tat') तु (tu) - but; (particle) अभ्यागते (abhyāgate) - having arrived; (past participle of 'abhi-ā-gam') काले (kāle) - time; (locative singular of 'kāla') प्रजानाम् (prajānām) - of beings; (genitive plural of 'prajā') दोषकारके (doṣakārake) - causing faults; (locative singular of 'doṣakāraka') विज्ञानबलम् (vijñānabalam) - strength of knowledge; (accusative singular) आस्थाय (āsthāya) - having resorted to; (absolutive of 'ā-√sthā') जीवितव्यम् (jīvitavyam) - to be lived; (gerundive of 'jīv') तदा (tadā) - then; (adverb) भवेत् (bhavet) - should be; (optative of 'bhū');]

(But in that time, when the cause of faults for beings has arrived, having resorted to the strength of knowledge, life should then be lived.)

But when that time comes which brings faults to beings, one should live then by relying on the strength of knowledge.

अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम्। विश्वामित्रस्य संवादं चण्डालस्य च पक्कणे ॥१२-१३९-१२॥

atrāpy udāharantīmam itihāsaṃ purātanam। viśvāmitrasya saṃvādaṃ caṇḍālasya ca pakkaṇe ॥12-139-12॥

[अत्र (atra) - here; अपि (api) - also; उदाहरन्ति (udāharanti) - they cite; इमम् (imam) - this; इतिहासम् (itihāsam) - history; पुरातनम् (purātanam) - ancient; विश्वामित्रस्य (viśvāmitrasya) - of Viśvāmitra; संवादम् (saṃvādam) - dialogue; चण्डालस्य (caṇḍālasya) - of the Caṇḍāla; च (ca) - and; पक्कणे (pakkaṇe) - in the cremation ground;]

(Here also they cite this ancient history: the dialogue of Viśvāmitra and the Caṇḍāla in the cremation ground.)

Here too, an ancient story is cited: the conversation between Viśvāmitra and the Caṇḍāla in the cremation ground.

त्रेताद्वापरयोः सन्धौ पुरा दैवविधिक्रमात्। अनावृष्टिरभूद्घोरा राजन्द्वादशवार्षिकी ॥१२-१३९-१३॥

tretādvāparayoḥ sandhau purā daivavidhikramāt। anāvṛṣṭirabhūdghorā rājan dvādaśavārṣikī ॥12-139-13॥

[त्रेता-द्वापरयोः (tretā-dvāparayoḥ) - at the junction of the Tretā and Dvāpara (yugas); सन्धौ (sandhau) - at the junction; पुरा (purā) - formerly; दैव-विधि-क्रमात् (daiva-vidhi-kramāt) - by the sequence of divine ordinance; अनावृष्टिः (anāvṛṣṭiḥ) - drought; अभूत् (abhūt) - occurred; घोरा (ghorā) - terrible; राजन् (rājan) - O king; द्वादश-वर्षिकी (dvādaśa-varṣikī) - lasting twelve years;]

(At the junction of the Tretā and Dvāpara (yugas), formerly, by the sequence of divine ordinance, a terrible drought lasting twelve years occurred, O king.)

O king, once, at the junction of the Tretā and Dvāpara yugas, by divine ordinance, a terrible drought lasting twelve years took place.

प्रजानामभिवृद्धानां युगान्ते पर्युपस्थिते। त्रेतानिर्मोक्षसमये द्वापरप्रतिपादने ॥१२-१३९-१४॥

prajānām abhivṛddhānāṃ yugānte paryupasthite। tretā-nirmokṣa-samaye dvāpara-pratipādane ॥12-139-14॥

[प्रजानाम् (prajānām) - of beings; अभिवृद्धानाम् (abhivṛddhānām) - of those greatly increased; युग-अन्ते (yuga-ante) - at the end of the age; पर्युपस्थिते (paryupasthite) - when arrived; त्रेता-निर्मोक्ष-समये (tretā-nirmokṣa-samaye) - at the time of the release of the Tretā (age); द्वापर-प्रतिपादने (dvāpara-pratipādane) - at the establishment of Dvāpara (age);]

(Of beings, of those greatly increased, at the end of the age, when arrived, at the time of the release of the Tretā (age), at the establishment of Dvāpara (age).)

When the beings had greatly increased and the end of the age had arrived, at the time of the release of the Tretā age and the establishment of the Dvāpara age.

न ववर्ष सहस्राक्षः प्रतिलोमोऽभवद्गुरुः। जगाम दक्षिणं मार्गं सोमो व्यावृत्तलक्षणः ॥१२-१३९-१५॥

na vavarṣa sahasrākṣaḥ pratilomo'bhavad guruḥ। jagāma dakṣiṇaṃ mārgaṃ somo vyāvṛttalakṣaṇaḥ ॥12-139-15॥

[न (na) - not; ववर्ष (vavarṣa) - rained; सहस्राक्षः (sahasrākṣaḥ) - the thousand-eyed (Indra); प्रतिलोमः (pratilomaḥ) - contrary; अभवत् (abhavat) - became; गुरुः (guruḥ) - the preceptor; जगाम (jagāma) - went; दक्षिणम् (dakṣiṇam) - southern; मार्गम् (mārgam) - path; सोमः (somaḥ) - Soma (the Moon); व्यावृत्तलक्षणः (vyāvṛttalakṣaṇaḥ) - with reversed characteristics;]

(Not rained the thousand-eyed (Indra); contrary became the preceptor; went the southern path Soma (the Moon) with reversed characteristics.)

Indra did not send rain; the preceptor turned contrary; Soma (the Moon), with reversed characteristics, went on the southern path.

नावश्यायोऽपि रात्र्यन्ते कुत एवाभ्रराजयः। नद्यः सङ्क्षिप्ततोयौघाः क्वचिदन्तर्गताभवन् ॥१२-१३९-१६॥

nāvaśyāyo'pi rātryante kuta evābhra-rājayaḥ। nadyaḥ saṅkṣipta-toya-ughāḥ kvacid antar-gatā abhavan ॥12-139-16॥

[न (na) - not; अवश्यायः (avaśyāyaḥ) - clouds; अपि (api) - even; रात्र्य्-अन्ते (rātry-ante) - at the end of the night; कुतः (kutaḥ) - from where; एव (eva) - indeed; अभ्र-राजयः (abhra-rājayaḥ) - masses of clouds; नद्यः (nadyaḥ) - rivers; सङ्क्षिप्त-तोय-उघाः (saṅkṣipta-toya-ughāḥ) - with diminished water streams; क्वचित् (kvacit) - somewhere; अन्तर्गताः (antargatāḥ) - disappeared; अभवन् (abhavan) - became;]

(Not clouds even at the end of the night, from where indeed masses of clouds? Rivers with diminished water streams somewhere disappeared became.)

Even at the end of the night, there were not even clouds; from where then could there be masses of clouds? The rivers, with their diminished streams, had in some places disappeared.

सरांसि सरितश्चैव कूपाः प्रस्रवणानि च। हतत्विट्कान्यलक्ष्यन्त निसर्गाद्दैवकारितात् ॥१२-१३९-१७॥

sarāṃsi saritaścaiva kūpāḥ prasravaṇāni ca। hatatviṭkānyalakṣyanta nisargāddaivakāritāt ॥12-139-17॥

[सरांसि (sarāṃsi) - lakes; सरितः (saritaḥ) - rivers; च (ca) - and; एव (eva) - indeed; कूपाः (kūpāḥ) - wells; प्रस्रवणानि (prasravaṇāni) - springs; च (ca) - and; हतत्विट्कानि (hatatviṭkāni) - devoid of water-creatures; अलक्ष्यन्त (alakṣyanta) - were seen; निसर्गात् (nisargāt) - by nature; दैवकारितात् (daivakāritāt) - by divine act;]

(Lakes, rivers, and indeed wells and springs were seen devoid of water-creatures, by nature, by divine act.)

Lakes, rivers, wells, and springs were seen to be devoid of water-creatures, naturally, due to a divine act.

उपशुष्कजलस्थाया विनिवृत्तसभाप्रपा। निवृत्तयज्ञस्वाध्याया निर्वषट्कारमङ्गला ॥१२-१३९-१८॥

upaśuṣkajalasthāyā vinivṛttasabhāprapā। nivṛttayajñasvādhāyā nirvaṣaṭkāramaṅgalā ॥12-139-18॥

[उपशुष्क (upaśuṣka) - dried up; जल (jala) - water; स्थाया (sthāyā) - remaining; विनिवृत्त (vinivṛtta) - ceased; सभा (sabhā) - assembly; प्रपा (prapā) - drinking place; निवृत्त (nivṛtta) - ceased; यज्ञ (yajña) - sacrifice; स्वाध्याया (svādhyāyā) - self-study; निर्वषट्कार (nirvaṣaṭkāra) - without the exclamation 'vaṣaṭ'; मङ्गला (maṅgalā) - auspicious;]

(Remaining with dried-up water, the assembly drinking places ceased; sacrifices and self-study ceased; auspiciousness without the exclamation 'vaṣaṭ'.)

The places for drinking water in the assembly remained dried up; the assembly halls and drinking places had ceased; sacrifices and self-study had come to an end; auspicious rites were performed without the exclamation 'vaṣaṭ'.

उत्सन्नकृषिगोरक्ष्या निवृत्तविपणापणा। निवृत्तपूगसमया सम्प्रनष्टमहोत्सवा ॥१२-१३९-१९॥

utsannakṛṣigorakṣyā nivṛttavipaṇāpaṇā। nivṛttapūgasamayā sampranaṣṭamahotsavā ॥12-139-19॥

[उत्सन्न (utsanna) - destroyed; ruined; कृषि (kṛṣi) - agriculture; गोरक्ष्या (gorakṣyā) - cow protection; cattle keeping; निवृत्त (nivṛtta) - ceased; stopped; विपण (vipaṇa) - market; अपणा (apaṇā) - shops; निवृत्त (nivṛtta) - ceased; stopped; पूग (pūga) - guild; association; समया (samayā) - meetings; gatherings; सम्प्रनष्ट (sampranaṣṭa) - completely lost; utterly destroyed; महोत्सवा (mahotsavā) - great festivals;]

(Destroyed agriculture and cattle keeping, ceased markets and shops, ceased guild meetings, great festivals completely lost.)

Agriculture and cattle keeping have been destroyed, markets and shops have ceased, guild meetings no longer occur, and great festivals have completely disappeared.

अस्थिकङ्कालसङ्कीर्णा हाहाभूतजनाकुला। शून्यभूयिष्ठनगरा दग्धग्रामनिवेशना ॥१२-१३९-२०॥

asthikaṅkālasaṅkīrṇā hāhābhūtajanākulā। śūnyabhūyiṣṭhanagarā dagdhagrāmaniveśanā ॥12-139-20॥

[अस्थि (asthi) - bone; कङ्काल (kaṅkāla) - skeleton; सङ्कीर्णा (saṅkīrṇā) - filled with; हाहाभूत (hāhābhūta) - filled with cries of lamentation; जन (jana) - people; आकुला (ākulā) - disturbed; शून्य (śūnya) - empty; भूयिष्ठ (bhūyiṣṭha) - mostly; नगरा (nagarā) - cities; दग्ध (dagdha) - burnt; ग्राम (grāma) - villages; निवेशना (niveśanā) - settlements;]

(Filled with bones and skeletons, crowded with people wailing in lamentation, with cities mostly empty, and settlements of villages burnt.)

The area was filled with bones and skeletons, overwhelmed by the cries of lamenting people, with most cities deserted and the village settlements burned.

क्वचिच्चोरैः क्वचिच्छस्त्रैः क्वचिद्राजभिरातुरैः। परस्परभयाच्चैव शून्यभूयिष्ठनिर्जना ॥१२-१३९-२१॥

kvaciccoraiḥ kvacicchastraiḥ kvacidrājabhirāturaiḥ। parasparabhayāccaiva śūnyabhūyiṣṭhanirjanā ॥12-139-21॥

[क्वचित् (kvacit) - at some places; चोरैः (coraiḥ) - by thieves; क्वचित् (kvacit) - at some places; शस्त्रैः (śastraiḥ) - by weapons; क्वचित् (kvacit) - at some places; राजभिः (rājabhiḥ) - by kings; आतुरैः (āturaiḥ) - by the afflicted; परस्पर (paraspara) - mutual; भयात् (bhayāt) - from fear; च (ca) - and; एव (eva) - indeed; शून्य (śūnya) - empty; भूयिष्ठ (bhūyiṣṭha) - mostly; निर्जना (nirjanā) - deserted;]

(At some places by thieves, at some places by weapons, at some places by kings, by the afflicted, and indeed from mutual fear, (the land became) mostly empty and deserted.)

In some places, due to thieves, in others due to weapons, in others due to kings and the afflicted, and indeed because of mutual fear, the land became mostly empty and deserted.

गतदैवतसङ्कल्पा वृद्धबालविनाकृता। गोजाविमहिषैर्हीना परस्परहराहरा ॥१२-१३९-२२॥

gatadaivatasankalpā vṛddhabālavinākṛtā। gojāvimahiṣairhīnā parasparaharāharā ॥12-139-22॥

[गत (gata) - gone; दैवत (daivata) - deity; सङ्कल्पा (saṅkalpā) - resolve; वृद्ध (vṛddha) - old; बाल (bāla) - child; विना (vinā) - without; कृता (kṛtā) - made; गोजावि (gojāvi) - cow and goat; महिषैः (mahiṣaiḥ) - by buffaloes; हीना (hīnā) - deprived; परस्पर (paraspara) - each other; हर (hara) - taking; आहरा (āharā) - bringing;]

(Gone is the resolve for the deities, made without old and young, deprived of cows, goats, and buffaloes, each taking and bringing from each other.)

Their devotion to the gods has vanished; the community is left without elders and children, bereft of cows, goats, and buffaloes, and everyone is taking from and bringing to each other.

हतविप्रा हतारक्षा प्रनष्टौषधिसञ्चया। श्यावभूतनरप्राया बभूव वसुधा तदा ॥१२-१३९-२३॥

hataviprā hatārakṣā pranaṣṭauṣadhisañcayā। śyāvabhūtanaraprāyā babhūva vasudhā tadā ॥12-139-23॥

[हतविप्रा (hataviprā) - slain-brahmins; हतारक्षा (hatārakṣā) - slain-protectors; प्रनष्टौषधिसञ्चया (pranaṣṭauṣadhisañcayā) - destroyed-medicine-collections; श्यावभूतनरप्राया (śyāvabhūtanaraprāyā) - become-dark-human-like; बभूव (babhūva) - became; वसुधा (vasudhā) - earth; तदा (tadā) - then;]

(Slain-brahmins, slain-protectors, destroyed-medicine-collections; become-dark-human-like became the earth then.)

At that time, the earth, with her brahmins and protectors slain, her stores of medicines destroyed, and her people mostly turned dark and corpse-like, became thus.

तस्मिन्प्रतिभये काले क्षीणे धर्मे युधिष्ठिर। बभ्रमुः क्षुधिता मर्त्याः खादन्तः स्म परस्परम् ॥१२-१३९-२४॥

tasmin pratibhaye kāle kṣīṇe dharme yudhiṣṭhira। babhramuḥ kṣudhitā martyāḥ khādantaḥ sma parasparam ॥12-139-24॥

[तस्मिन् (tasmin) - in that; प्रतिभये (pratibhaye) - dangerous; काले (kāle) - time; क्षीणे (kṣīṇe) - diminished; धर्मे (dharme) - dharma; युधिष्ठिर (yudhiṣṭhira) - O Yudhiṣṭhira; बभ्रमुः (babhramuḥ) - wandered; क्षुधिताः (kṣudhitāḥ) - hungry; मर्त्याः (martyāḥ) - mortals; खादन्तः (khādantaḥ) - eating; स्म (sma) - indeed; परस्परम् (parasparam) - each other;]

(In that dangerous time, with dharma diminished, O Yudhiṣṭhira, hungry mortals indeed wandered, eating each other.)

O Yudhiṣṭhira, in that perilous time when dharma had waned, hungry people wandered about, consuming one another.

ऋषयो नियमांस्त्यक्त्वा परित्यक्ताग्निदैवताः। आश्रमान्सम्परित्यज्य पर्यधावन्नितस्ततः ॥१२-१३९-२५॥

ṛṣayo niyamāṃstyaktvā parityaktāgnidaivatāḥ। āśramānsamparityajya paryadhāvannitastataḥ ॥12-139-25॥

[ऋषयः (ṛṣayaḥ) - sages; नियमान् (niyamān) - observances; त्यक्त्वा (tyaktvā) - having abandoned; परित्यक्त (parityakta) - completely forsaken; अग्नि (agni) - fire; दैवताः (daivatāḥ) - deities; आश्रमान् (āśramān) - hermitages; सम्परित्यज्य (samparityajya) - having entirely abandoned; पर्यधावन् (paryadhāvan) - ran about; इतः (itaḥ) - from here; ततः (tataḥ) - to there;]

(Sages, having abandoned observances, having completely forsaken fire and deities, having entirely abandoned hermitages, ran about from here to there.)

The sages, abandoning their observances and having completely forsaken their sacred fires and deities, left their hermitages and ran about in all directions.

विश्वामित्रोऽथ भगवान्महर्षिरनिकेतनः। क्षुधा परिगतो धीमान्समन्तात्पर्यधावत ॥१२-१३९-२६॥

viśvāmitro'tha bhagavān maharṣir anikētanaḥ। kṣudhā parigato dhīmān samantāt paryadhāvata ॥12-139-26॥

[विश्वामित्रः (viśvāmitraḥ) - Viśvāmitra; (proper noun) अथ (atha) - then; भगवान् (bhagavān) - the venerable; the illustrious; महर्षिः (maharṣiḥ) - great sage; अनिकेतनः (anikētanaḥ) - homeless; without a fixed abode; क्षुधा (kṣudhā) - by hunger; परिगतः (parigataḥ) - overcome; surrounded; धीमान् (dhīmān) - wise; intelligent; समन्तात् (samantāt) - on all sides; everywhere; पर्यधावत् (paryadhāvat) - ran about; wandered; ॥१२-१३९-२६॥ (॥12-139-26॥) - (verse number;);]

(Viśvāmitra then, the venerable great sage, homeless, overcome by hunger, wise, ran about everywhere.)

Then Viśvāmitra, the illustrious great sage, homeless and overcome by hunger, wandered everywhere in search.

स कदाचित्परिपतञ्श्वपचानां निवेशनम्। हिंस्राणां प्राणिहन्तॄणामाससाद वने क्वचित् ॥१२-१३९-२७॥

sa kadācit paripatan śvapacānām niveśanam। hiṃsrāṇām prāṇihantṝṇām āsasāda vane kvacit ॥12-139-27॥

[स (sa) - he; कदाचित् (kadācit) - at some time; परिपतन् (paripatan) - wandering around; श्वपचानाम् (śvapacānām) - of the dog-eaters; निवेशनम् (niveśanam) - dwelling; हिंस्राणाम् (hiṃsrāṇām) - of the violent ones; प्राणिहन्तॄणाम् (prāṇihantṝṇām) - of the killers of living beings; आससाद (āsasāda) - he approached; वने (vane) - in the forest; क्वचित् (kvacit) - somewhere;]

(He, at some time, wandering around, the dwelling of the dog-eaters, of the violent ones, of the killers of living beings, he approached, in the forest, somewhere.)

Once, while wandering, he came upon the dwelling of the dog-eaters, violent and murderous beings, somewhere in the forest.

विभिन्नकलशाकीर्णं श्वचर्माच्छादनायुतम्। वराहखरभग्नास्थिकपालघटसङ्कुलम् ॥१२-१३९-२८॥

vibhinnakalaśākīrṇaṃ śvacarmācchādanāyutam। varāhakharabhaṅnāsthipālaghaṭasaṅkulam ॥12-139-28॥

[विभिन्न (vibhinna) - various; separated; कलश (kalaśa) - pots; vessels; आकीर्णं (ākīrṇaṃ) - strewn; filled; श्व (śva) - dog; चर्म (carma) - skin; hide; आच्छादन (ācchādana) - covering; आयुतम् (āyutam) - endowed with; furnished with; वराह (varāha) - boar; खर (khara) - donkey; भग्न (bhagna) - broken; अस्थि (asthi) - bone; कपाल (kapāla) - skull; घट (ghaṭa) - pot; सङ्कुलम् (saṅkulam) - crowded; filled;]

(Strewn with various pots, furnished with coverings of dog skin, crowded with broken bones, skulls, and pots of boar and donkey.)

It was scattered with various pots, covered with dog skins, and filled with broken bones, skulls, and pots belonging to boars and donkeys.

मृतचेलपरिस्तीर्णं निर्माल्यकृतभूषणम्। सर्पनिर्मोकमालाभिः कृतचिह्नकुटीमठम् ॥१२-१३९-२९॥

mṛtacelaparistīrṇaṃ nirmālyakṛtabhūṣaṇam। sarpanirmokamālābhiḥ kṛtacihnakutīmaṭham ॥12-139-29॥

[मृत-चेल-परिस्तीर्णम् (mṛta-cela-paristīrṇam) - with dead cloths spread; निर्माल्य-कृत-भूषणम् (nirmālya-kṛta-bhūṣaṇam) - adorned with discarded offerings; सर्प-निर्मोक-मालाभिः (sarpa-nirmoka-mālābhiḥ) - with garlands of shed snake-skins; कृत-चिह्न-कुटी-मठम् (kṛta-cihna-kuṭī-maṭham) - hermitage marked with signs;]

(With dead cloths spread, adorned with discarded offerings, with garlands of shed snake-skins, a hermitage marked with signs.)

A hermitage was seen, its floor spread with old rags, adorned with remnants of offerings, garlanded with cast-off snake-skins, and marked with various signs.

उलूकपक्षध्वजिभिर्देवतायतनैर्वृतम्। लोहघण्टापरिष्कारं श्वयूथपरिवारितम् ॥१२-१३९-३०॥

ulūkapakṣadhvajibhir devatāyatanair vṛtam। lohaghaṇṭāpariṣkāraṃ śvayūthaparivāritam ॥12-139-30॥

[उलूक (ulūka) - owl; पक्ष (pakṣa) - wing; ध्वजिभिः (dhvajibhiḥ) - with banners; देवतायतनैः (devatāyatnaiḥ) - with temples of deities; वृतम् (vṛtam) - surrounded; लोह (loha) - iron; घण्टा (ghaṇṭā) - bell; परिष्कारम् (pariṣkāram) - adorned; श्व (śva) - dog; यूथ (yūtha) - pack; परिवारितम् (parivāritam) - surrounded;]

(Surrounded by banners with owl wings, by temples of deities, adorned with iron bells, surrounded by packs of dogs.)

It was surrounded by banners bearing owl wings and temples of deities, adorned with iron bells, and encircled by packs of dogs.

तत्प्रविश्य क्षुधाविष्टो गाधेः पुत्रो महानृषिः। आहारान्वेषणे युक्तः परं यत्नं समास्थितः ॥१२-१३९-३१॥

tatpraviśya kṣudhāviṣṭo gādheḥ putro mahānṛṣiḥ। āhārānveṣaṇe yuktaḥ paraṃ yatnaṃ samāsthitaḥ ॥12-139-31॥

[तत् (tat) - that; प्रविश्य (praviśya) - having entered; क्षुधा (kṣudhā) - by hunger; आविष्टः (āviṣṭaḥ) - overcome; गाधेः (gādheḥ) - of Gādhi; पुत्रः (putraḥ) - son; महा (mahā) - great; ऋषिः (ṛṣiḥ) - sage; आहार (āhāra) - food; अन्वेषणे (anveṣaṇe) - in seeking; युक्तः (yuktaḥ) - engaged; परम् (param) - supreme; यत्नम् (yatnam) - effort; समास्थितः (samāsthitaḥ) - undertook;]

(That having entered, overcome by hunger, the son of Gādhi, the great sage, engaged in seeking food, undertook supreme effort.)

Having entered there, the great sage, son of Gādhi, overcome by hunger, engaged himself in seeking food and made a supreme effort.

न च क्वचिदविन्दत्स भिक्षमाणोऽपि कौशिकः। मांसमन्नं मूलफलमन्यद्वा तत्र किञ्चन ॥१२-१३९-३२॥

na ca kvacid avindat sa bhikṣamāṇo'pi kauśikaḥ। māṃsam annaṃ mūlaphalam anyad vā tatra kiñcana॥12-139-32॥

[न (na) - not; च (ca) - and; क्वचित् (kvacit) - anywhere; अविन्दत् (avindat) - found; सः (saḥ) - he; भिक्षमाणः (bhikṣamāṇaḥ) - begging; अपि (api) - even; कौशिकः (kauśikaḥ) - Kauśika; मांसम् (māṃsam) - meat; अन्नम् (annam) - food; मूलफलम् (mūlaphalam) - roots and fruits; अन्यत् (anyat) - other; वा (vā) - or; तत्र (tatra) - there; किञ्चन (kiñcana) - anything;]

(And not anywhere did he, even while begging, Kauśika, find meat, food, roots and fruits, or anything else there.)

Kauśika, even while begging, could not find any meat, food, roots, fruits, or anything else anywhere there.

अहो कृच्छ्रं मया प्राप्तमिति निश्चित्य कौशिकः। पपात भूमौ दौर्बल्यात्तस्मिंश्चण्डालपक्कणे ॥१२-१३९-३३॥

aho kṛcchraṃ mayā prāptam iti niścitya kauśikaḥ। papāta bhūmau daurbalyāt tasmiṃś caṇḍāla-pakkaṇe ॥12-139-33॥

[अहो (aho) - alas; कृच्छ्रं (kṛcchram) - difficulty; मया (mayā) - by me; प्राप्तम् (prāptam) - attained; इति (iti) - thus; निश्चित्य (niścitya) - having ascertained; कौशिकः (kauśikaḥ) - Kauśika (the sage); पपात (papāta) - fell; भूमौ (bhūmau) - on the ground; दौर्बल्यात् (daurbalyāt) - from weakness; तस्मिन् (tasmin) - in that; चण्डाल (caṇḍāla) - outcaste; पक्कणे (pakkaṇe) - enclosure;]

(Alas, difficulty by me attained thus having ascertained, Kauśika fell on the ground from weakness in that outcaste enclosure.)

Realizing, "Alas, I have encountered great difficulty," Kauśika, weakened, fell to the ground in that outcaste's enclosure.

चिन्तयामास स मुनिः किं नु मे सुकृतं भवेत्। कथं वृथा न मृत्युः स्यादिति पार्थिवसत्तम ॥१२-१३९-३४॥

cintayāmāsa sa muniḥ kiṃ nu me sukṛtaṃ bhavet। kathaṃ vṛthā na mṛtyuḥ syāditi pārthivasattama ॥12-139-34॥

[चिन्तयामास (cintayāmāsa) - he thought; he reflected; स (sa) - he; मुनिः (muniḥ) - sage; किं (kiṃ) - what; नु (nu) - indeed; मे (me) - by me; for me; सुकृतं (sukṛtaṃ) - good deed; meritorious act; भवेत् (bhavet) - might be; could be; कथं (kathaṃ) - how; वृथा (vṛthā) - in vain; uselessly; न (na) - not; मृत्युः (mṛtyuḥ) - death; स्यात् (syāt) - might be; could be; इति (iti) - thus; so; पार्थिवसत्तम (pārthivasattama) - O best of kings; best among rulers;]

(He thought, the sage: "What good deed might there be for me? How might death not be in vain?" Thus, O best of kings.)

The sage reflected: "What meritorious act could I perform? How can I ensure that my death is not in vain?" Thus he pondered, O best of kings.

स ददर्श श्वमांसस्य कुतन्तीं विततां मुनिः। चण्डालस्य गृहे राजन्सद्यः शस्त्रहतस्य च ॥१२-१३९-३५॥

sa dadarśa śvamāṃsasya kutantīṃ vitatāṃ muniḥ। caṇḍālasya gṛhe rājan sadyaḥ śastrahatasya ca ॥12-139-35॥

[स (sa) - he; ददर्श (dadarśa) - saw; श्वमांसस्य (śvamāṃsasya) - of dog’s flesh; कुतन्तीं (kutantīṃ) - mat (for drying meat); विततां (vitatāṃ) - spread out; मुनिः (muniḥ) - the sage; चण्डालस्य (caṇḍālasya) - of the outcaste; गृहे (gṛhe) - in the house; राजन् (rājan) - O king; सद्यः (sadyaḥ) - just now; शस्त्रहतस्य (śastrahatasya) - of one killed by weapon; च (ca) - and;]

(He saw a mat for drying dog’s flesh spread out, O king, in the house of the outcaste, and also (the flesh) of one just now killed by weapon.)

O king, the sage saw in the house of the outcaste a mat spread out for drying dog’s flesh, and also (the flesh) of one just killed by weapon.

स चिन्तयामास तदा स्तेयं कार्यमितो मया। न हीदानीमुपायोऽन्यो विद्यते प्राणधारणे ॥१२-१३९-३६॥

sa cintayāmāsa tadā steyaṃ kāryamito mayā। na hīdānīmupāyo'anyo vidyate prāṇadhāraṇe ॥12-139-36॥

[स (sa) - he; चिन्तयामास (cintayāmāsa) - thought; तदा (tadā) - then; स्तेयं (steyaṃ) - theft; कार्यं (kāryam) - to be done; इतः (itaḥ) - from here; मया (mayā) - by me; न (na) - not; हि (hi) - indeed; इदानीम् (idānīm) - now; उपायः (upāyaḥ) - means; अन्यः (anyaḥ) - other; विद्यते (vidyate) - exists; प्राणधारणे (prāṇadhāraṇe) - for sustaining life;]

(He thought then, 'Theft is to be done by me from here. Indeed, now no other means exists for sustaining life.')

He then thought, 'I must commit theft here, for at present there is no other way to sustain my life.'

आपत्सु विहितं स्तेयं विशिष्टसमहीनतः। परं परं भवेत्पूर्वमस्तेयमिति निश्चयः ॥१२-१३९-३७॥

āpatsu vihitaṃ steyaṃ viśiṣṭasamāhīnataḥ। paraṃ paraṃ bhavet pūrvam asteyam iti niścayaḥ ॥12-139-37॥

[आपत्सु (āpatsu) - in calamities; in dangers; विहितं (vihitam) - prescribed; enjoined; स्तेयं (steyam) - theft; stealing; विशिष्टसमहीनतः (viśiṣṭasamāhīnataḥ) - from one inferior to a distinguished person; परं (param) - another; other; परं (param) - another; other; भवेत् (bhavet) - may be; can be; पूर्वम् (pūrvam) - before; previously; अस्तेयम् (asteyam) - non-stealing; abstention from theft; इति (iti) - thus; so; निश्चयः (niścayaḥ) - determination; decision;]

(In calamities, theft is prescribed from one inferior to a distinguished person; another, another may be (taken), but previously, non-stealing—thus is the determination.)

In times of calamity, theft is permitted from one who is inferior to a distinguished person; one may take from another, but the prior determination should be non-stealing.

हीनादादेयमादौ स्यात्समानात्तदनन्तरम्। असम्भवादाददीत विशिष्टादपि धार्मिकात् ॥१२-१३९-३८॥

hīnād ādeyam ādau syāt samānāt tad-anantaram। asambhavād ādadīta viśiṣṭād api dhārmikāt ॥12-139-38॥

[हीनात् (hīnāt) - from one inferior; आदेयम् (ādeyam) - to be accepted; आदौ (ādau) - at first; स्यात् (syāt) - should be; समानात् (samānāt) - from one equal; तत्-अनन्तरम् (tat-anantaram) - immediately after that; असम्भवाद् (asambhavāt) - from impossibility; आददीत (ādadīta) - should accept; विशिष्टात् (viśiṣṭāt) - from one superior; अपि (api) - even; धार्मिकात् (dhārmikāt) - from the righteous; १२-१३९-३८ (12-139-38) - 12-139-38;]

(From one inferior, it should be accepted at first; from one equal, immediately after that. From impossibility, one should accept even from one superior, from the righteous. 12-139-38.)

At first, one should accept from an inferior; next, from an equal. If not possible, one may accept even from a superior, provided he is righteous. 12-139-38.

सोऽहमन्तावसानानां हरमाणः परिग्रहात्। न स्तेयदोषं पश्यामि हरिष्याम्येतदामिषम् ॥१२-१३९-३९॥

so'ham-antāvasānānāṃ haramāṇaḥ parigrahāt। na steya-doṣaṃ paśyāmi hariṣyāmy-etad-āmiṣam ॥12-139-39॥

[सः (saḥ) - he; अहम् (aham) - I; अन्तावसानानाम् (antāvasānānām) - of the funeral rites; हरमाणः (haramāṇaḥ) - taking away; परिग्रहात् (parigrahāt) - from possession; न (na) - not; स्तेयदोषम् (steya-doṣam) - the fault of theft; पश्यामि (paśyāmi) - I see; हरिष्यामि (hariṣyāmi) - I shall take away; एतत् (etat) - this; आमिषम् (āmiṣam) - meat;]

(He, I, taking away from the possession of the funeral rites, do not see the fault of theft; I shall take away this meat.)

I am the one taking this meat from the funeral rites; I do not see any fault of theft in this act, so I will take this meat.

एतां बुद्धिं समास्थाय विश्वामित्रो महामुनिः। तस्मिन्देशे प्रसुष्वाप पतितो यत्र भारत ॥१२-१३९-४०॥

etāṃ buddhiṃ samāsthāya viśvāmitro mahāmuniḥ। tasmin deśe prasuṣvāpa patito yatra bhārata ॥12-139-40॥

[एताम् (etām) - this; (feminine accusative singular) बुद्धिम् (buddhim) - understanding; (accusative singular) समास्थाय (samāsthāya) - having adopted; (absolutive) विश्वामित्रः (viśvāmitraḥ) - Viśvāmitra; (proper noun, nominative singular) महामुनिः (mahāmuniḥ) - great sage; (nominative singular) तस्मिन् (tasmin) - in that; (locative singular) देशे (deśe) - place; (locative singular) प्रसुष्वाप (prasuṣvāpa) - slept soundly; (perfect 3rd person singular) पतितः (patitaḥ) - fallen; (nominative singular masculine) यत्र (yatra) - where; (relative adverb) भारत (bhārata) - O Bhārata; (vocative singular);]

(Having adopted this understanding, Viśvāmitra, the great sage, in that place, slept soundly, fallen, where, O Bhārata.)

O Bhārata, having adopted this resolve, the great sage Viśvāmitra lay down and slept soundly at that place.

स विगाढां निशां दृष्ट्वा सुप्ते चण्डालपक्कणे। शनैरुत्थाय भगवान्प्रविवेश कुटीमठम् ॥१२-१३९-४१॥

sa vigāḍhāṃ niśāṃ dṛṣṭvā supte caṇḍālapakkaṇe। śanair utthāya bhagavān praviveśa kuṭīmaṭham ॥12-139-41॥

[स (sa) - he; विगाढां (vigāḍhām) - very deep; निशां (niśām) - night; दृष्ट्वा (dṛṣṭvā) - having seen; सुप्ते (supte) - sleeping; चण्डालपक्कणे (caṇḍālapakkaṇe) - in the hut of the caṇḍāla (outcaste); शनैः (śanaiḥ) - slowly; उत्थाय (utthāya) - having risen; भगवान् (bhagavān) - the Blessed One; प्रविवेश (praviveśa) - entered; कुटीमठम् (kuṭīmaṭham) - the hut-monastery;]

(He, having seen the very deep night, with the caṇḍāla (outcaste) sleeping, slowly having risen, the Blessed One entered the hut-monastery.)

Seeing that it was deep night and the caṇḍāla was asleep, the Blessed One slowly rose and entered the hut-monastery.

स सुप्त एव चण्डालः श्लेष्मापिहितलोचनः। परिभिन्नस्वरो रूक्ष उवाचाप्रियदर्शनः ॥१२-१३९-४२॥

sa supta eva caṇḍālaḥ śleṣmāpihitalocanaḥ। paribhinnasvaro rūkṣa uvācāpriyadarśanaḥ ॥12-139-42॥

[स (sa) - he; सुप्त (supta) - asleep; एव (eva) - indeed; चण्डालः (caṇḍālaḥ) - outcaste; श्लेष्मापिहितलोचनः (śleṣmāpihitalocanaḥ) - with eyes covered by phlegm; परिभिन्नस्वरः (paribhinnasvaraḥ) - with broken voice; रूक्षः (rūkṣaḥ) - harsh; उवाच (uvāca) - said; अप्रियदर्शनः (apriyadarśanaḥ) - unpleasant to look at;]

(He, indeed asleep, the outcaste with eyes covered by phlegm, with broken voice, harsh, said, unpleasant to look at.)

He, the outcaste, who was asleep, with eyes covered by phlegm, with a broken and harsh voice, and unpleasant to look at, spoke.

कः कुतन्तीं घट्टयति सुप्ते चण्डालपक्कणे। जागर्मि नावसुप्तोऽस्मि हतोऽसीति च दारुणः ॥१२-१३९-४३॥

kaḥ kutantīṃ ghaṭṭayati supte caṇḍālapakkaṇe। jāgarmi nāvasupto'smi hato'sīti ca dāruṇaḥ ॥12-139-43॥

[कः (kaḥ) - who; कुतन्तीं (kutantīṃ) - the loom; घट्टयति (ghaṭṭayati) - operates; सुप्ते (supte) - when asleep; चण्डालपक्कणे (caṇḍālapakkaṇe) - in the hut of a caṇḍāla; जागर्मि (jāgarmi) - I am awake; न (na) - not; अवसुप्तः (avasuptaḥ) - completely asleep; अस्मि (asmi) - I am; हतः (hataḥ) - killed; असि (asi) - you are; इति (iti) - thus; च (ca) - and; दारुणः (dāruṇaḥ) - terrible;]

(Who operates the loom when asleep in the caṇḍāla's hut? I am awake, I am not completely asleep, I am killed, you are (killed) thus, and (this is) terrible.)

Who works the loom while asleep in the caṇḍāla's hut? I am awake, not fully asleep; I am slain, you are slain—thus, it is dreadful.

विश्वामित्रोऽहमित्येव सहसा तमुवाच सः। सहसाभ्यागतभयः सोद्वेगस्तेन कर्मणा ॥१२-१३९-४४॥

viśvāmitro'hamityeva sahasā tamuvāca saḥ। sahasābhyāgatabhayaḥ sodvegastena karmaṇā ॥12-139-44॥

[विश्वामित्रः (viśvāmitraḥ) - Viśvāmitra; (proper noun) अहम् (aham) - I; (first person singular pronoun) इति (iti) - thus; (quotation marker) एव (eva) - indeed; (emphasis) सहसा (sahasā) - suddenly; (adverb) तम् (tam) - him; (accusative singular of 'tad', he) उवाच (uvāca) - said; (third person singular perfect of 'vac', to speak) सः (saḥ) - he; (nominative singular of 'tad', he) सहसा (sahasā) - suddenly; (adverb) अभ्यागत (abhyāgata) - arrived; (past participle of 'abhi-ā-gam', to come towards) भयः (bhayaḥ) - fear; (noun) सः (saḥ) - he; (nominative singular of 'tad', he) उद्वेगः (udvegaḥ) - agitation; (noun) तेन (tena) - by that; (instrumental singular of 'tad', that) कर्मणा (karmaṇā) - by the act; (instrumental singular of 'karman', act, deed);]

(Viśvāmitra I thus indeed suddenly to him said he। suddenly arrived fear he agitation by that act॥12-139-44॥)

He, suddenly agitated by the fear that had just arrived, said to him at once, "I am Viśvāmitra." (12-139-44)

चण्डालस्तद्वचः श्रुत्वा महर्षेर्भावितात्मनः। शयनादुपसम्भ्रान्त इयेषोत्पतितुं ततः ॥१२-१३९-४५॥

caṇḍālas tadvacaḥ śrutvā maharṣer bhāvitātmanaḥ। śayanād upasambhrānta iyeṣotpātituṃ tataḥ ॥12-139-45॥

[चण्डालः (caṇḍālaḥ) - outcaste; तद्-वचः (tad-vacaḥ) - those words; श्रुत्वा (śrutvā) - having heard; महर्षेः (maharṣeḥ) - of the great sage; भावित-आत्मनः (bhāvita-ātmanaḥ) - of the one whose mind is purified; शयनात् (śayanāt) - from the bed; उपसम्भ्रान्तः (upasambhrāntaḥ) - greatly agitated; इयेष (iyeṣa) - he attempted; उत्पतितुम् (utpatitum) - to rise; ततः (tataḥ) - from there;]

(The outcaste, having heard those words of the great sage whose mind was purified, greatly agitated, attempted to rise from the bed from there.)

Hearing those words of the great sage whose mind was purified, the outcaste, greatly agitated, tried to get up from his bed.

स विसृज्याश्रु नेत्राभ्यां बहुमानात्कृताञ्जलिः। उवाच कौशिकं रात्रौ ब्रह्मन्किं ते चिकीर्षितम् ॥१२-१३९-४६॥

sa visṛjyāśru netrābhyāṃ bahumānāt kṛtāñjaliḥ। uvāca kauśikaṃ rātrau brahman kiṃ te cikīrṣitam ॥12-139-46॥

[स (sa) - he; विसृज्य (visṛjya) - having shed; अश्रु (aśru) - tears; नेत्राभ्यां (netrābhyām) - from the two eyes; बहुमानात् (bahumānāt) - out of great respect; कृताञ्जलिः (kṛtāñjaliḥ) - having joined palms; उवाच (uvāca) - said; कौशिकं (kauśikam) - to Kauśika; रात्रौ (rātrau) - at night; ब्रह्मन् (brahman) - O Brāhmaṇa; किं (kiṃ) - what; ते (te) - your; चिकीर्षितम् (cikīrṣitam) - intended to be done;]

(He, having shed tears from his eyes out of great respect, with joined palms, said to Kauśika at night: "O Brāhmaṇa, what is it that you intend to do?")

He, shedding tears from his eyes out of deep respect and with joined palms, addressed Kauśika at night: "O Brāhmaṇa, what do you wish to do?"

विश्वामित्रस्तु मातङ्गमुवाच परिसान्त्वयन्। क्षुधितोऽहं गतप्राणो हरिष्यामि श्वजाघनीम् ॥१२-१३९-४७॥

viśvāmitras tu mātaṅgam uvāca parisāntvayan। kṣudhito'ham gataprāṇo hariṣyāmi śvajāghanīm ॥12-139-47॥

[विश्वामित्रः (viśvāmitraḥ) - Viśvāmitra; (proper noun) तु (tu) - but; मातङ्गम् (mātaṅgam) - to Mātaṅga; (proper noun, accusative singular) उवाच (uvāca) - said; परिसान्त्वयन् (parisāntvayan) - soothing; क्षुधितः (kṣudhitaḥ) - hungry; अहम् (aham) - I; गतप्राणः (gataprāṇaḥ) - with life gone; हरिष्यामि (hariṣyāmi) - I shall take; श्वजाघनीम् (śvajāghanīm) - the dog-killer (cow);]

(Viśvāmitra but to Mātaṅga said, soothing: "Hungry I, with life gone, I shall take the dog-killer (cow).")

But Viśvāmitra, soothing Mātaṅga, said: "I am hungry and near death; I will take the cow that kills dogs."

अवसीदन्ति मे प्राणाः स्मृतिर्मे नश्यति क्षुधा। स्वधर्मं बुध्यमानोऽपि हरिष्यामि श्वजाघनीम् ॥१२-१३९-४८॥

avasīdanti me prāṇāḥ smṛtir me naśyati kṣudhā। svadharmaṃ budhyamāno'pi hariṣyāmi śvajāghanīm ॥12-139-48॥

[अवसीदन्ति (avasīdanti) - sink down; become weak; मे (me) - my; प्राणाः (prāṇāḥ) - vital energies; life-breaths; स्मृतिः (smṛtiḥ) - memory; मे (me) - my; नश्यति (naśyati) - is perishing; is being destroyed; क्षुधा (kṣudhā) - by hunger; स्वधर्मम् (svadharmam) - one's own duty; बुध्यमानः (budhyamānaḥ) - being aware; realizing; अपि (api) - even; हरिष्यामि (hariṣyāmi) - I will take away; I will seize; श्वजाघनीम् (śvajāghanīm) - the slayer of dogs; (here, refers to dog-meat);]

(My vital energies are sinking down; my memory is perishing by hunger. Even being aware of my own duty, I will seize the slayer of dogs (dog-meat).)

My life-breaths are failing; my memory is being destroyed by hunger. Even though I am aware of my own duty, I will eat dog-meat.

अटन्भैक्षं न विन्दामि यदा युष्माकमालये। तदा बुद्धिः कृता पापे हरिष्यामि श्वजाघनीम् ॥१२-१३९-४९॥

aṭanbhaikṣaṃ na vindāmi yadā yuṣmākamalaye। tadā buddhiḥ kṛtā pāpe hariṣyāmi śvajāghanīm ॥12-139-49॥

[अटन् (aṭan) - wandering; भैक्षं (bhaikṣam) - alms; न (na) - not; विन्दामि (vindāmi) - I obtain; यदा (yadā) - when; युष्माकम् (yuṣmākam) - your; आलये (ālayae) - house; तदा (tadā) - then; बुद्धिः (buddhiḥ) - mind; कृता (kṛtā) - made; पापे (pāpe) - in evil; हरिष्यामि (hariṣyāmi) - I will take away; श्वजाघनीम् (śvajāghanīm) - dog-killer (sin);]

(Wandering for alms I do not obtain when in your house; then, with mind made evil, I will take away the dog-killer (sin).)

When I do not obtain alms while wandering in your house, then, with my mind made evil, I will take away the sin of killing a dog.

तृषितः कलुषं पाता नास्ति ह्रीरशनार्थिनः। क्षुद्धर्मं दूषयत्यत्र हरिष्यामि श्वजाघनीम् ॥१२-१३९-५०॥

tṛṣitaḥ kaluṣaṃ pātā nāsti hrīraśanārthinaḥ। kṣuddharmaṃ dūṣayatyatra hariṣyāmi śvajāghanīm ॥12-139-50॥

[तृषितः (tṛṣitaḥ) - thirsty; कलुषं (kaluṣam) - impure; पाता (pātā) - drinker; नास्ति (nāsti) - there is not; ह्रीः (hrīḥ) - shame; अशनार्थिनः (aśanārthinaḥ) - of one seeking food; क्षुद्धर्मं (kṣuddharmaṃ) - the law of hunger; दूषयति (dūṣayati) - corrupts; अत्र (atra) - here; हरिष्यामि (hariṣyāmi) - I shall take away; श्वजाघनीम् (śvajāghanīm) - the sin of killing a dog;]

(A thirsty person drinks the impure; there is no shame for one seeking food. Here, the law of hunger is corrupted; I shall take away the sin of killing a dog.)

A thirsty person will drink even what is impure; for one who seeks food, there is no shame. Here, the law of hunger is corrupted; I will absolve the sin of killing a dog.

अग्निर्मुखं पुरोधाश्च देवानां शुचिपाद्विभुः। यथा स सर्वभुग्ब्रह्मा तथा मां विद्धि धर्मतः ॥१२-१३९-५१॥

agnirmukhaṃ purodhāśca devānāṃ śucipādvibhuḥ। yathā sa sarvabhugbrahmā tathā māṃ viddhi dharmataḥ॥12-139-51॥

[अग्निः (agniḥ) - fire; मुखं (mukhaṃ) - mouth; पुरोधाः (purodhāḥ) - priests; च (ca) - and; देवानाम् (devānām) - of the gods; शुचिपात् (śucipāt) - pure-footed; विभुः (vibhuḥ) - all-pervading; यथा (yathā) - just as; सः (saḥ) - he; सर्वभुक् (sarvabhuk) - all-consuming; ब्रह्मा (brahmā) - Brahmā; तथा (tathā) - so; माम् (mām) - me; विद्धि (viddhi) - know; धर्मतः (dharmataḥ) - according to dharma;]

(Fire is the mouth and the priests of the gods, pure-footed, all-pervading. Just as he, Brahmā, is all-consuming, so know me according to dharma.)

Fire is the mouth and priest of the gods, pure-footed and all-pervading. Just as Brahmā is all-consuming, so too, know me to be, according to dharma.

तमुवाच स चण्डालो महर्षे शृणु मे वचः। श्रुत्वा तथा समातिष्ठ यथा धर्मान्न हीयसे ॥१२-१३९-५२॥

tamuvāca sa caṇḍālo maharṣe śṛṇu me vacaḥ। śrutvā tathā samātiṣṭha yathā dharmānna hīyase ॥12-139-52॥

[तम् (tam) - him; उवाच (uvāca) - said; सः (saḥ) - he; चण्डालः (caṇḍālaḥ) - the outcaste; महर्षे (maharṣe) - O great sage; शृणु (śṛṇu) - hear; मे (me) - my; वचः (vacaḥ) - words; श्रुत्वा (śrutvā) - having heard; तथा (tathā) - thus; समातिष्ठ (samātiṣṭha) - act accordingly; यथा (yathā) - as; धर्मात् (dharmāt) - from dharma; न (na) - not; हीयसे (hīyase) - you may fall;]

(He, the outcaste, said to him: O great sage, hear my words. Having heard, act thus so that you do not fall from dharma.)

The outcaste addressed him, saying: "O great sage, listen to my words. After hearing, act accordingly so that you do not deviate from righteousness."

मृगाणामधमं श्वानं प्रवदन्ति मनीषिणः। तस्याप्यधम उद्देशः शरीरस्योरुजाघनी ॥१२-१३९-५३॥

mṛgāṇām adhamam śvānaṃ pravadanti manīṣiṇaḥ। tasyāpy adhama uddeśaḥ śarīrasya urujāghanī ॥12-139-53॥

[मृगाणाम् (mṛgāṇām) - of animals; अधमम् (adhamam) - the lowest; श्वानम् (śvānam) - dog; प्रवदन्ति (pravadanti) - declare; मनीषिणः (manīṣiṇaḥ) - the wise; तस्य (tasya) - of it; अपि (api) - even; अधम (adhama) - lowest; उद्देशः (uddeśaḥ) - purpose; शरीरस्य (śarīrasya) - of the body; उरुजाघनी (urujāghanī) - remover of great pain;]

(Of animals, the lowest (is) the dog, declare the wise. Of it even, the lowest purpose (is) the remover of great pain of the body.)

The wise declare that among animals, the dog is the lowest. Even among dogs, its lowest purpose is to relieve the body from great pain.

नेदं सम्यग्व्यवसितं महर्षे कर्म वैकृतम्। चण्डालस्वस्य हरणमभक्ष्यस्य विशेषतः ॥१२-१३९-५४॥

nedaṃ samyagvyavasitaṃ maharṣe karma vaikṛtam। caṇḍālasvasya haraṇamabhakṣyasya viśeṣataḥ ॥12-139-54॥

[नेदं (nedaṃ) - not this; सम्यक् (samyak) - properly; व्यवसितं (vyavasitaṃ) - decided; महर्षे (maharṣe) - O great sage; कर्म (karma) - action; वैकृतम् (vaikṛtam) - improper; चण्डालस्वस्य (caṇḍālasvasya) - of the property of a caṇḍāla; हरणम् (haraṇam) - taking; अभक्ष्यस्य (abhakṣyasya) - of the inedible; विशेषतः (viśeṣataḥ) - especially;]

(Not this properly decided, O great sage, action is improper; the taking of the property of a caṇḍāla, especially of the inedible.)

O great sage, this is not a proper decision; it is an improper act, especially to take the property of a caṇḍāla, particularly that which is inedible.

साध्वन्यमनुपश्य त्वमुपायं प्राणधारणे। न मांसलोभात्तपसो नाशस्ते स्यान्महामुने ॥१२-१३९-५५॥

sādhvanyam anupaśya tvam upāyaṃ prāṇadhāraṇe। na māṃsalobhāt tapaso nāśas te syān mahāmune ॥12-139-55॥

[साधु (sādhu) - good; virtuous; अन्यम् (anyam) - other; another; अनुपश्य (anupaśya) - consider; observe; त्वम् (tvam) - you; उपायम् (upāyam) - means; method; प्राणधारणे (prāṇadhāraṇe) - for sustaining life; न (na) - not; मांसलोभात् (māṃsalobhāt) - from desire for flesh; तपसः (tapasaḥ) - of penance; of austerity; नाशः (nāśaḥ) - destruction; ते (te) - your; स्यात् (syāt) - may be; महामुने (mahāmune) - O great sage;]

(O great sage, you consider another good means for sustaining life. Let not the destruction of your penance be from desire for flesh.)

O great sage, consider another virtuous method for sustaining your life. Do not let your penance be destroyed by a desire for flesh.

जानतोऽविहितो मार्गो न कार्यो धर्मसङ्करः। मा स्म धर्मं परित्याक्षीस्त्वं हि धर्मविदुत्तमः ॥१२-१३९-५६॥

jānato'vihito mārgo na kāryo dharmasaṅkaraḥ। mā sma dharmaṃ parityākṣīstvaṃ hi dharmaviduttamaḥ ॥12-139-56॥

[जानतः (jānataḥ) - of one who knows; अविहितः (avihitaḥ) - not prescribed; मार्गः (mārgaḥ) - path; न (na) - not; कार्यः (kāryaḥ) - to be done; धर्मसङ्करः (dharmasaṅkaraḥ) - confusion of dharma; मा (mā) - do not; स्म (sma) - indeed; धर्मम् (dharmaṃ) - dharma; परित्याक्षीः (parityākṣīḥ) - abandon; त्वम् (tvam) - you; हि (hi) - indeed; धर्मविदुत्तमः (dharmaviduttamaḥ) - the foremost knower of dharma;]

(For one who knows, a path not prescribed is not to be followed; confusion of dharma (is not to be done). Do not ever abandon dharma, for you are indeed the foremost knower of dharma.)

For one who knows, a path not prescribed should not be followed, nor should there be confusion of dharma. Never abandon dharma, for you are indeed the foremost knower of dharma.

विश्वामित्रस्ततो राजन्नित्युक्तो भरतर्षभ। क्षुधार्तः प्रत्युवाचेदं पुनरेव महामुनिः ॥१२-१३९-५७॥

viśvāmitras tato rājan nityukto bharatarṣabha। kṣudhārtaḥ pratyuvācedaṃ punareva mahāmuniḥ ॥12-139-57॥

[विश्वामित्रः (viśvāmitraḥ) - Viśvāmitra; (name of the sage); ततः (tataḥ) - then; from that; after that; राजन् (rājan) - O king; नित्युक्तः (nityuktaḥ) - constantly urged; always requested; भरतर्षभ (bharatarṣabha) - bull among the Bharatas; best of the Bharatas; क्षुधार्तः (kṣudhārtaḥ) - afflicted by hunger; प्रत्युवाच (pratyuvāca) - replied; answered; इदं (idaṃ) - this; पुनः (punaḥ) - again; एव (eva) - indeed; surely; महामुनिः (mahāmuniḥ) - the great sage;]

(Viśvāmitra, then, O king, constantly urged, O bull among the Bharatas, afflicted by hunger, replied this again indeed, the great sage.)

Then Viśvāmitra, the great sage, constantly urged and afflicted by hunger, again replied thus, O best of the Bharatas, O king.

निराहारस्य सुमहान्मम कालोऽभिधावतः। न विद्यतेऽभ्युपायश्च कश्चिन्मे प्राणधारणे ॥१२-१३९-५८॥

nirāhārasya sumahān mama kālo’bhidhāvataḥ। na vidyate’bhyupāyaś ca kaścin me prāṇadhāraṇe ॥12-139-58॥

[निराहारस्य (nirāhārasya) - of one without food; सुमहान् (sumahān) - very great; मम (mama) - my; कालः (kālaḥ) - time; अभिधावतः (abhidhāvataḥ) - is rushing; न (na) - not; विद्यते (vidyate) - exists; अभ्युपायः (abhyupāyaḥ) - means (of support); च (ca) - and; कश्चित् (kaścit) - any; मे (me) - for me; प्राणधारणे (prāṇadhāraṇe) - in sustaining life;]

(For one without food, my very great time is rushing. There is not any means for me in sustaining life.)

As I remain without food, a long time is passing for me. I have no means left to sustain my life.

येन तेन विशेषेण कर्मणा येन केनचित्। अभ्युज्जीवेत्सीदमानः समर्थो धर्ममाचरेत् ॥१२-१३९-५९॥

yena tena viśeṣeṇa karmaṇā yena kenacit। abhyujjīvet sīdamānaḥ samartho dharmam ācaret ॥12-139-59॥

[येन (yena) - by which; तेन (tena) - by that; विशेषेण (viśeṣeṇa) - in a special way; कर्मणा (karmaṇā) - by action; येन (yena) - by which; केनचित् (kenacit) - by any; अभ्युज्जीवेत् (abhyujjīvet) - should subsist; सीदमानः (sīdamānaḥ) - being in distress; समर्थः (samarthaḥ) - capable; धर्मम् (dharmam) - righteousness; आचरेत् (ācaret) - should practice;]

(By whichever means, by whatever action, in a special way, by any means, one should subsist; being in distress, if capable, one should practice righteousness.)

One should sustain oneself by any means possible, but if capable, even in distress, one should practice righteousness.

ऐन्द्रो धर्मः क्षत्रियाणां ब्राह्मणानामथाग्निकः। ब्रह्मवह्निर्मम बलं भक्ष्यामि समयं क्षुधा ॥१२-१३९-६०॥

aindro dharmaḥ kṣatriyāṇāṃ brāhmaṇānām athāgnikaḥ। brahmavahnir mama balaṃ bhakṣyāmi samayaṃ kṣudhā ॥12-139-60॥

[ऐन्द्रः (aindraḥ) - of Indra; धर्मः (dharmaḥ) - duty; क्षत्रियाणाम् (kṣatriyāṇām) - of the kṣatriyas; ब्राह्मणानाम् (brāhmaṇānām) - of the brāhmaṇas; अथ (atha) - and then; आग्निकः (āgnikaḥ) - relating to Agni; ब्रह्मवह्निः (brahmavahniḥ) - the fire of Brahman; मम (mama) - my; बलम् (balaṃ) - strength; भक्ष्यामि (bhakṣyāmi) - I will consume; समयम् (samayam) - at the time; क्षुधा (kṣudhā) - with hunger;]

(Of Indra, the duty of the kṣatriyas; of the brāhmaṇas, then, relating to Agni. The fire of Brahman is my strength; I will consume at the time with hunger.)

The duty of kṣatriyas is that of Indra; for brāhmaṇas, it is related to Agni. The fire of Brahman is my strength; I will consume (it) at the appointed time out of hunger.

यथा यथा वै जीवेद्धि तत्कर्तव्यमपीडया। जीवितं मरणाच्छ्रेयो जीवन्धर्ममवाप्नुयात् ॥१२-१३९-६१॥

yathā yathā vai jīved dhi tat kartavyam apīḍayā। jīvitaṃ maraṇāc chreyo jīvan dharmam avāpnuyāt ॥12-139-61॥

[यथा (yathā) - as; यथा (yathā) - as; वै (vai) - indeed; जीवेत् (jīvet) - one lives; हि (hi) - indeed; तत् (tat) - that; कर्तव्यम् (kartavyam) - to be done; अपीडया (apīḍayā) - without oppression; जीवितम् (jīvitam) - life; मरणात् (maraṇāt) - than death; श्रेयो (śreyo) - better; जीवत् (jīvat) - living; धर्मम् (dharmam) - duty; अवाप्नुयात् (avāpnuyāt) - should attain;]

(As, as indeed one lives, that should be done without oppression. Life is better than death; living, one should attain duty.)

One should act without causing harm for as long as one lives. Life is preferable to death; while living, one should fulfill one's duty.

सोऽहं जीवितमाकाङ्क्षन्नभक्षस्यापि भक्षणम्। व्यवस्ये बुद्धिपूर्वं वै तद्भवाननुमन्यताम् ॥१२-१३९-६२॥

so'ham jīvitam-ākāṅkṣan-nabhakṣasyāpi bhakṣaṇam। vyavasyē buddhipūrvaṃ vai tad-bhavān-anumanyatām ॥12-139-62॥

[सः (saḥ) - he; अहम् (aham) - I; जीवितम् (jīvitam) - life; आकाङ्क्षन् (ākāṅkṣan) - desiring; अभक्षस्य (abhakṣasya) - of the uneaten; अपि (api) - even; भक्षणम् (bhakṣaṇam) - eating; व्यवस्ये (vyavasyē) - I decide; बुद्धिपूर्वम् (buddhipūrvam) - with prior thought; वै (vai) - indeed; तत् (tat) - that; भवान् (bhavān) - you (honorific); अनुमन्यताम् (anumanyatām) - may approve;]

(He, I, desiring life, even the eating of the uneaten, I decide with prior thought indeed; that you may approve.)

I, desiring to live, have decided, after due consideration, to eat even what is usually uneaten; may you kindly approve this.

जीवन्धर्मं चरिष्यामि प्रणोत्स्याम्यशुभानि च। तपोभिर्विद्यया चैव ज्योतींषीव महत्तमः ॥१२-१३९-६३॥

jīvandharmaṃ cariṣyāmi praṇotsyāmyaśubhāni ca। tapobhirvidyayā caiva jyotīṃṣīva mahattamaḥ ॥12-139-63॥

[जीवत् (jīvat) - living; धर्मं (dharmaṃ) - duty; चरिष्यामि (cariṣyāmi) - I shall perform; प्रणोत्स्यामि (praṇotsyāmi) - I shall dispel; अशुभानि (aśubhāni) - inauspicious things; च (ca) - and; तपोभिः (tapobhiḥ) - by austerities; विद्यया (vidyayā) - by knowledge; च (ca) - and; एव (eva) - indeed; ज्योतींषि (jyotīṃṣi) - lights; इव (iva) - like; महत् (mahat) - great; तमः (tamaḥ) - darkness;]

(Living, I shall perform duty, I shall dispel inauspicious things and, by austerities and by knowledge indeed, like lights (dispel) great darkness.)

As long as I live, I will perform my duty and dispel inauspicious things; by austerities and knowledge, I will dispel great darkness just as light removes it.

श्वपच उवाच॥

śvapaca uvāca॥

[श्वपच (śvapaca) - dog-cooker; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]

(dog-cooker said;)

The dog-cooker said.

नैतत्खादन्प्राप्स्यसे प्राणमन्यं; नायुर्दीर्घं नामृतस्येव तृप्तिम्। भिक्षामन्यां भिक्ष मा ते मनोऽस्तु; श्वभक्षणे श्वा ह्यभक्षो द्विजानाम् ॥१२-१३९-६४॥

naitatkhādanprāpsyase prāṇamanyaṃ; nāyurdīrghaṃ nāmṛtasyeva tṛptim. bhikṣāmanyāṃ bhikṣa mā te mano'stu; śvabhakṣaṇe śvā hyabhakṣo dvijānām ॥12-139-64॥

[न (na) - not; एतत् (etat) - this; खादन् (khādan) - eating; प्राप्स्यसे (prāpsyase) - you will obtain; प्राणम् (prāṇam) - life; अन्यं (anyaṃ) - other; न (na) - not; आयुः (āyuḥ) - lifespan; दीर्घं (dīrghaṃ) - long; न (na) - not; अमृतस्य (amṛtasya) - of nectar; इव (iva) - like; तृप्तिम् (tṛptim) - satisfaction; भिक्षाम् (bhikṣām) - alms; अन्यां (anyāṃ) - other; भिक्ष (bhikṣa) - O beggar; मा (mā) - do not; ते (te) - your; मनः (manaḥ) - mind; अस्तु (astu) - be; श्वभक्षणे (śvabhakṣaṇe) - in eating dog's food; श्वा (śvā) - dog; हि (hi) - indeed; अभक्षः (abhakṣaḥ) - not to be eaten; द्विजानाम् (dvijānām) - by the twice-born (Brahmins);]

(Not by eating this will you obtain another life; nor a long lifespan, nor satisfaction like that of nectar. Do not let your mind, O beggar, be on other alms; in eating dog's food, a dog indeed is not to be eaten by the twice-born.)

You will not gain another life, nor a longer lifespan, nor the satisfaction of nectar by eating this. O beggar, do not let your mind desire other alms; for among the twice-born, eating a dog is indeed forbidden, just as a dog eats dog's food.

विश्वामित्र उवाच॥

viśvāmitra uvāca॥

[विश्वामित्र (viśvāmitra) - Viśvāmitra; (name of a sage); उवाच (uvāca) - said;]

(Viśvāmitra said;)

Viśvāmitra said.

न दुर्भिक्षे सुलभं मांसमन्य; च्छ्वपाक नान्नं न च मेऽस्ति वित्तम्। क्षुधार्तश्चाहमगतिर्निराशः; श्वमांसे चास्मिन्षड्रसान्साधु मन्ये ॥१२-१३९-६५॥

na durbhikṣe sulabhaṃ māṃsamanya; cchvapāka nānnaṃ na ca me'sti vittam। kṣudhārtaścāhamagatirnirāśaḥ; śvamāṃse cāsminṣaḍrasānsādhu manye ॥12-139-65॥

[न (na) - not; दुर्भिक्षे (durbhikṣe) - in famine; सुलभं (sulabham) - easily available; मांसम् (māṃsam) - meat; अन्य (anya) - other; च्छ्वपाक (cchvapāka) - to a dog-cooker (outcaste); न (na) - not; अन्नं (annaṃ) - food; न (na) - not; च (ca) - and; मे (me) - to me; अस्ति (asti) - there is; वित्तम् (vittam) - wealth; क्षुधार्तः (kṣudhārtaḥ) - afflicted by hunger; च (ca) - and; अहम् (aham) - I; अगतिः (agatiḥ) - without recourse; निराशः (nirāśaḥ) - hopeless; श्वमांसे (śvamāṃse) - in dog-meat; च (ca) - and; अस्मिन् (asmin) - in this; षड्रसान् (ṣaḍrasān) - six tastes; साधु (sādhu) - good; मnye (manye) - I think;]

(Not in famine is other meat easily available; to a dog-cooker there is not food, nor is there wealth to me. Afflicted by hunger and without recourse, hopeless, in this dog-meat I think (there are) the six tastes good.)

Other meat is not easily available in famine; a dog-cooker has no food, nor do I have any wealth. Afflicted by hunger, without recourse and hopeless, I consider this dog-meat to contain all six tastes and to be good.

श्वपच उवाच॥

śvapaca uvāca॥

[श्वपच (śvapaca) - dog-cooker; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]

(dog-cooker said;)

The dog-cooker said.

पञ्च पञ्चनखा भक्ष्या ब्रह्मक्षत्रस्य वै द्विज। यदि शास्त्रं प्रमाणं ते माभक्ष्ये मानसं कृथाः ॥१२-१३९-६६॥

pañca pañcanakhā bhakṣyā brahmakṣatrasya vai dvija। yadi śāstraṃ pramāṇaṃ te mābhakṣye mānasaṃ kṛthāḥ ॥12-139-66॥

[पञ्च (pañca) - five; पञ्चनखा (pañcanakhā) - five-nailed (animals); भक्ष्या (bhakṣyā) - to be eaten; ब्रह्मक्षत्रस्य (brahmakṣatrasya) - of Brāhmaṇas and Kṣatriyas; वै (vai) - indeed; द्विज (dvija) - twice-born; यदि (yadi) - if; शास्त्रं (śāstraṃ) - scripture; प्रमाणं (pramāṇaṃ) - authority; ते (te) - for you; मा (mā) - do not; भक्ष्ये (bhakṣye) - eat; मानसं (mānasaṃ) - mental (food); कृथाः (kṛthāḥ) - make;]

(Five five-nailed (animals) are to be eaten by Brāhmaṇas and Kṣatriyas indeed, O twice-born; if scripture is authority for you, do not make eating mental (food).)

O twice-born, five five-nailed animals are indeed to be eaten by Brāhmaṇas and Kṣatriyas; if you accept scripture as authority, do not consider eating what is mentally conceived as food.

विश्वामित्र उवाच॥

viśvāmitra uvāca॥

[विश्वामित्र (viśvāmitra) - Viśvāmitra; (name of a sage); उवाच (uvāca) - said; (he spoke);]

(Viśvāmitra said;)

Viśvāmitra said.

अगस्त्येनासुरो जग्धो वातापिः क्षुधितेन वै। अहमापद्गतः क्षुब्धो भक्षयिष्ये श्वजाघनीम् ॥१२-१३९-६७॥

agastyenāsuro jagdho vātāpiḥ kṣudhitenavai| aham āpadgataḥ kṣubdho bhakṣayiṣye śvajāghanīm ॥12-139-67॥

[अगस्त्येन (agastyena) - by Agastya; असुरः (asuraḥ) - the demon; जग्धः (jagdhaḥ) - was eaten; वातापिः (vātāpiḥ) - Vātāpi; क्षुधितेन (kṣudhitenā) - by the hungry; वै (vai) - indeed; अहम् (aham) - I; आपद्गतः (āpadgataḥ) - fallen into distress; क्षुब्धः (kṣubdhaḥ) - agitated; भक्षयिष्ये (bhakṣayiṣye) - will eat; श्वजाघनीम् (śvajāghanīm) - the destroyer of dogs (i.e., the demoness);]

(By Agastya, the demon Vātāpi was eaten by the hungry one indeed. I, fallen into distress and agitated, will eat the destroyer of dogs (the demoness).)

Agastya, being hungry, indeed ate the demon Vātāpi. Now I, distressed and agitated, will eat the destroyer of dogs (the demoness).

श्वपच उवाच॥

śvapaca uvāca॥

[श्वपच (śvapaca) - dog-cooker; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]

(dog-cooker said;)

The dog-cooker said.

भिक्षामन्यामाहरेति न चैतत्कर्तुमर्हसि। न नूनं कार्यमेतद्वै हर कामं श्वजाघनीम् ॥१२-१३९-६८॥

bhikṣām anyām āhareti na caitat kartum arhasi। na nūnaṃ kāryam etad vai hara kāmaṃ śvajāghanīm ॥12-139-68॥

[भिक्षाम् (bhikṣām) - alms; (accusative singular of bhikṣā) अन्याम् (anyām) - another; (accusative singular feminine of anya) आहरेति (āhareti) - bring; (imperative, 2nd person singular of ā-hṛ) न (na) - not; च (ca) - and; एतत् (etat) - this; कर्तुम् (kartum) - to do; अर्हसि (arhasi) - you ought; न (na) - not; नूनम् (nūnam) - indeed; कार्यम् (kāryam) - to be done; एतत् (etat) - this; वै (vai) - indeed; हर (hara) - take away; (imperative, 2nd person singular of hṛ) कामम् (kāmam) - at will; श्वजाघनीम् (śvajāghanīm) - dog-killer; (accusative singular feminine, epithet for meat);]

(Alms another bring, not and this to do you ought. Not indeed to be done this indeed, take away at will dog-killer.)

You should not bring another's alms, nor ought you to do this. Indeed, this should not be done; take away the dog-killer (meat) at will.

विश्वामित्र उवाच॥

viśvāmitra uvāca॥

[विश्वामित्र (viśvāmitra) - Viśvāmitra; (name of a sage); उवाच (uvāca) - said;]

(Viśvāmitra said;)

Viśvāmitra said.

शिष्टा वै कारणं धर्मे तद्वृत्तमनुवर्तये। परां मेध्याशनादेतां भक्ष्यां मन्ये श्वजाघनीम् ॥१२-१३९-६९॥

śiṣṭā vai kāraṇaṃ dharme tadvṛttamanuvartaye। parāṃ medhyāśanādetāṃ bhakṣyāṃ manye śvajāghanīm ॥12-139-69॥

[शिष्टा (śiṣṭā) - the learned; वै (vai) - indeed; कारणम् (kāraṇam) - reason; धर्मे (dharme) - in dharma; तद्वृत्तम् (tadvṛttam) - their conduct; अनुवर्तये (anuvartaye) - I follow; पराम् (parām) - supreme; मेध्याशनात् (medhyāśanāt) - from eating the pure; एताम् (etām) - this; भक्ष्याम् (bhakṣyām) - edible; मन््ये (manye) - I consider; श्वजाघनीम् (śvajāghanīm) - killer of dogs;]

(The learned indeed are the reason in dharma; I follow their conduct. Superior to eating the pure, I consider this edible, the killer of dogs.)

The learned are indeed the authority in matters of dharma; I follow their conduct. I consider this food, the killer of dogs, to be superior to eating what is pure.

श्वपच उवाच॥

śvapaca uvāca॥

[श्वपच (śvapaca) - one who eats dog meat; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]

(śvapaca said;)

The outcaste said.

असता यत्समाचीर्णं न स धर्मः सनातनः। नावृत्तमनुकार्यं वै मा छलेनानृतं कृथाः ॥१२-१३९-७०॥

asatā yat-samācīrṇaṃ na sa dharmaḥ sanātanaḥ। nāvṛttam-anukāryaṃ vai mā chalenānṛtaṃ kṛthāḥ ॥12-139-70॥

[असता (asatā) - by the untrue; by the unrighteous; यत् (yat) - which; what; समाचीर्णम् (samācīrṇam) - performed; practiced; न (na) - not; सः (saḥ) - that; धर्मः (dharmaḥ) - dharma; righteousness; सनातनः (sanātanaḥ) - eternal; नावृत्तम् (nāvṛttam) - not repeated; not returned; अनुकार्यं (anukāryam) - to be followed; to be imitated; वै (vai) - indeed; मा (mā) - do not; छलेन (chalenā) - by deceit; अनृतम् (anṛtam) - falsehood; untruth; कृथाः (kṛthāḥ) - do (you); perform (you);]

(That which is performed by the unrighteous is not eternal dharma. Indeed, that which is not repeated should not be followed. Do not perform untruth by deceit.)

That which is practiced by the unrighteous is not the eternal dharma. What is not repeated should not be followed. Do not commit falsehood by deceit.

विश्वामित्र उवाच॥

viśvāmitra uvāca॥

[विश्वामित्र (viśvāmitra) - Viśvāmitra; (name of a sage); उवाच (uvāca) - said; (he spoke);]

(Viśvāmitra said;)

Viśvāmitra said.

न पातकं नावमतमृषिः सन्कर्तुमर्हसि। समौ च श्वमृगौ मन्ये तस्माद्भक्ष्या श्वजाघनी ॥१२-१३९-७१॥

na pātakaṃ nāvamatam ṛṣiḥ san kartum arhasi। samau ca śvamṛgau manye tasmād bhakṣyā śvajāghanī ॥12-139-71॥

[न (na) - not; पातकं (pātakam) - sin; न (na) - not; अवमतम् (avamatam) - despised; ऋषिः (ṛṣiḥ) - sage; सन् (san) - being; कर्तुम् (kartum) - to do; अर्हसि (arhasi) - you ought; समौ (samau) - both; च (ca) - and; श्वमृगौ (śvamṛgau) - the two jackals; मnye (manye) - I think; तस्मात् (tasmāt) - therefore; भक्ष्यौ (bhakṣyau) - to be eaten; श्वजाघनी (śvajāghanī) - the dog-killer (cow);]

(Not a sin, not a despised act, being a sage, you ought to do. Both the jackals, I think, therefore, are to be eaten, the dog-killer (cow).)

Being a sage, you should not commit a sinful or despised act. Therefore, I think both the jackals and the cow that kills dogs are to be eaten.

श्वपच उवाच॥

śvapaca uvāca॥

[श्वपच (śvapaca) - one who cooks dog meat; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]

(śvapaca said;)

The outcaste said.

यद्ब्राह्मणार्थे कृतमर्थितेन; तेनर्षिणा तच्च भक्ष्याधिकारम्। स वै धर्मो यत्र न पापमस्ति; सर्वैरुपायैर्हि स रक्षितव्यः ॥१२-१३९-७२॥

yadbrāhmaṇārthe kṛtam arthitena; tena ṛṣiṇā tac ca bhakṣyādhikāram। sa vai dharmo yatra na pāpam asti; sarvair upāyair hi sa rakṣitavyaḥ ॥12-139-72॥

[यत् (yat) - which; ब्राह्मणार्थे (brāhmaṇārthe) - for the sake of a brāhmaṇa; कृतम् (kṛtam) - done; अर्थितेन (arthitena) - by one who is in need; तेन (tena) - by him; ऋषिणा (ṛṣiṇā) - by the sage; तत् (tat) - that; च (ca) - and; भक्ष्याधिकारम् (bhakṣyādhikāram) - right to eat; सः (saḥ) - that; वै (vai) - indeed; धर्मः (dharmaḥ) - dharma; यत्र (yatra) - where; न (na) - not; पापम् (pāpam) - sin; अस्ति (asti) - is; सर्वैः (sarvaiḥ) - by all; उपायैः (upāyaiḥ) - means; हि (hi) - indeed; सः (saḥ) - that; रक्षितव्यः (rakṣitavyaḥ) - must be protected;]

(Which is done for the sake of a brāhmaṇa by one who is in need, by that sage, that is the right to eat. That indeed is dharma where there is no sin. By all means, indeed, that must be protected.)

Whatever is done for the sake of a brāhmaṇa by one in need, and by that sage, that is the right to partake. That is truly dharma where there is no sin; by all means, that must be protected.

विश्वामित्र उवाच॥

viśvāmitra uvāca॥

[विश्वामित्र (viśvāmitra) - Viśvāmitra; (name of a sage); उवाच (uvāca) - said; spoke;]

(Viśvāmitra said;)

Viśvāmitra said.

मित्रं च मे ब्राह्मणश्चायमात्मा; प्रियश्च मे पूज्यतमश्च लोके। तं भर्तुकामोऽहमिमां हरिष्ये; नृशंसानामीदृशानां न बिभ्ये ॥१२-१३९-७३॥

mitraṃ ca me brāhmaṇaścāyamātmā; priyaśca me pūjyatamaśca loke. taṃ bhartukāmo'hamimāṃ hariṣye; nṛśaṃsānāmīdṛśānāṃ na bibhye ॥12-139-73॥

[मित्रं (mitraṃ) - friend; च (ca) - and; मे (me) - my; ब्राह्मणः (brāhmaṇaḥ) - brāhmaṇa; च (ca) - and; अयम् (ayam) - this; आत्मा (ātmā) - self; प्रियः (priyaḥ) - dear; च (ca) - and; मे (me) - my; पूज्यतमः (pūjyatamaḥ) - most venerable; च (ca) - and; लोके (loke) - in the world; तम् (tam) - him; भर्तुकामः (bhartukāmaḥ) - desiring to protect; अहम् (aham) - I; इमाम् (imām) - this (woman); हरिष्ये (hariṣye) - will take away; नृशंसानाम् (nṛśaṃsānām) - of the cruel; ईदृशानाम् (īdṛśānām) - such as these; न (na) - not; बिभ्ये (bibhye) - fear;]

(Friend and my brāhmaṇa and this self; dear and my most venerable and in the world. Him desiring to protect I this (woman) will take away; of the cruel such as these not fear.)

This brāhmaṇa is my friend, my very self; he is dear to me and the most venerable in the world. Desiring to protect him, I will take away this woman; I do not fear such cruel ones as these.

श्वपच उवाच॥

śvapaca uvāca॥

[श्वपच (śvapaca) - one who eats dog meat; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]

(śvapaca said;)

The outcaste said.

कामं नरा जीवितं सन्त्यजन्ति; न चाभक्ष्यैः प्रतिकुर्वन्ति तत्र। सर्वान्कामान्प्राप्नुवन्तीह विद्व; न्प्रियस्व कामं सहितः क्षुधा वै ॥१२-१३९-७४॥

kāmaṃ narā jīvitaṃ santyajanti; na cābhakṣyaiḥ pratikurvanti tatra. sarvānkāmānprāpnuvantīha vidvanpriyasva kāmaṃ sahitaḥ kṣudhā vai ॥12-139-74॥

[कामम् (kāmaṃ) - desire; नराः (narāḥ) - men; जीवितम् (jīvitam) - life; सन्त्यजन्ति (santyajanti) - abandon; न (na) - not; च (ca) - and; अभक्ष्यैः (abhakṣyaiḥ) - with inedible things; प्रतिकुर्वन्ति (pratikurvanti) - act in return; तत्र (tatra) - there; सर्वान् (sarvān) - all; कामान् (kāmān) - desires; प्राप्नुवन्ति (prāpnuvanti) - attain; इह (iha) - here; विद्वन् (vidvan) - wise one; प्रियस्व (priyasva) - make dear; कामम् (kāmaṃ) - desire; सहितः (sahitaḥ) - together with; क्षुधा (kṣudhā) - hunger; वै (vai) - indeed;]

(Desire, men abandon life; not and with inedible things act in return there. All desires attain here, O wise one, make dear desire together with hunger indeed.)

Men may abandon their very lives for desire, but they do not act in return with inedible things there. Here, O wise one, all desires are attained; therefore, cherish desire together with hunger indeed.

विश्वामित्र उवाच॥

viśvāmitra uvāca॥

[विश्वामित्र (viśvāmitra) - Viśvāmitra; (name of a sage); उवाच (uvāca) - said; (from the root 'vac' - to speak);]

(Viśvāmitra said;)

Viśvāmitra said.

स्थाने तावत्संशयः प्रेत्यभावे; निःसंशयं कर्मणां वा विनाशः। अहं पुनर्वर्त इत्याशयात्मा; मूलं रक्षन्भक्षयिष्याम्यभक्ष्यम् ॥१२-१३९-७५॥

sthāne tāvatsaṃśayaḥ pretyabhāve; niḥsaṃśayaṃ karmaṇāṃ vā vināśaḥ. ahaṃ punarvarta ityāśayātmā; mūlaṃ rakṣanbhakṣayiṣyāmyabhakṣyam ॥12-139-75॥

[स्थाने (sthāne) - in the place; तावत् (tāvat) - so far; संशयः (saṃśayaḥ) - doubt; प्रेत्यभावे (pretyabhāve) - in the state after death; निःसंशयम् (niḥsaṃśayam) - without doubt; कर्मणाम् (karmaṇām) - of actions; वा (vā) - or; विनाशः (vināśaḥ) - destruction; अहम् (aham) - I; पुनर्वर्त (punarvarta) - one who returns again; इति (iti) - thus; आशयात्मा (āśayātmā) - with such intention; मूलम् (mūlam) - root; रक्षन् (rakṣan) - protecting; भक्षयिष्यामि (bhakṣayiṣyāmi) - I will eat; अभक्ष्यम् (abhakṣyam) - the uneatable;]

(In the place, so far, doubt (exists) in the state after death; without doubt, of actions or destruction. I, one who returns again, thus, with such intention, root protecting, will eat the uneatable.)

There is indeed doubt regarding the state after death; but there is no doubt that actions perish. I, with the intention of returning again, will protect the root and eat what is uneatable.

बुद्ध्यात्मके व्यस्तमस्तीति तुष्टो; मोहादेकत्वं यथा चर्म चक्षुः। यद्यप्येनः संशयादाचरामि; नाहं भविष्यामि यथा त्वमेव ॥१२-१३९-७६॥

buddhyātmake vyastam astīti tuṣṭo; mohād ekatvaṃ yathā carma cakṣuḥ. yady apy enaḥ saṃśayād ācarāmi; nāhaṃ bhaviṣyāmi yathā tvam eva ॥12-139-76॥

[बुद्ध्यात्मके (buddhyātmake) - in the one whose nature is intellect; व्यस्तम् (vyastam) - divided; अस्ति (asti) - is; इति (iti) - thus; तुष्टः (tuṣṭaḥ) - content; मोहात् (mohāt) - from delusion; एकत्वम् (ekatvam) - oneness; यथा (yathā) - just as; चर्म (carma) - skin; चक्षुः (cakṣuḥ) - eye; यद्यपि (yady api) - although; एनः (enaḥ) - sin; संशयात् (saṃśayāt) - from doubt; आचरामि (ācarāmi) - I act; न (na) - not; अहम् (aham) - I; भविष्यामि (bhaviṣyāmi) - will become; यथा (yathā) - as; त्वम् (tvam) - you; एव (eva) - only;]

(In the one whose nature is intellect, division exists—thus content; from delusion, oneness, just as (between) skin (and) eye. Although I act sinfully from doubt, I will not become as you only.)

One whose nature is intellect perceives division and is content with it; due to delusion, oneness is imagined, just as the eye and skin are seen as one. Even if I act wrongly out of doubt, I will not become like you.

श्वपच उवाच॥

śvapaca uvāca॥

[श्वपच (śvapaca) - dog-cooker; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]

(dog-cooker said;)

The dog-cooker said.

पतनीयमिदं दुःखमिति मे वर्तते मतिः। दुष्कृती ब्राह्मणं सन्तं यस्त्वामहमुपालभे ॥१२-१३९-७७॥

patanīyam idaṃ duḥkham iti me vartate matiḥ। duṣkṛtī brāhmaṇaṃ santaṃ yas tvām aham upālabhe ॥12-139-77॥

[पतनीयम् (patanīyam) - to be fallen; (that which leads to downfall); इदं (idaṃ) - this; दुःखम् (duḥkham) - suffering; इति (iti) - thus; मे (me) - to me; वर्तते (vartate) - arises; exists; मतिः (matiḥ) - thought; दुष्कृती (duṣkṛtī) - evil-doer; ब्राह्मणम् (brāhmaṇam) - brāhmaṇa; सन्तम् (santam) - good; virtuous; यः (yaḥ) - who; त्वाम् (tvām) - you; अहम् (aham) - I; उपालभे (upālabhe) - reproach; blame;]

(To be fallen is this suffering—thus to me arises the thought. Evil-doer (am I), the brāhmaṇa, virtuous, who you, I reproach.)

The thought arises in me that this suffering is a cause for downfall. I am a wrongdoer, for I reproach you, a virtuous brāhmaṇa.

विश्वामित्र उवाच॥

viśvāmitra uvāca॥

[विश्वामित्र (viśvāmitra) - Viśvāmitra; (name of a sage); उवाच (uvāca) - said; (from the root 'vac', to speak);]

(Viśvāmitra said;)

Viśvāmitra said.

पिबन्त्येवोदकं गावो मण्डूकेषु रुवत्स्वपि। न तेऽधिकारो धर्मेऽस्ति मा भूरात्मप्रशंसकः ॥१२-१३९-७८॥

pibantyevodakaṃ gāvo maṇḍūkeṣu ruvatsvapi। na te'dhikāro dharme'sti mā bhūrātmapraśaṃsakaḥ ॥12-139-78॥

[पिबन्ति (pibanti) - they drink; एव (eva) - indeed; उदकं (udakaṃ) - water; गावः (gāvaḥ) - cows; मण्डूकेषु (maṇḍūkeṣu) - among frogs; रुवत्सु (ruvatsu) - when croaking; अपि (api) - even; न (na) - not; ते (te) - your; अधिकारः (adhikāraḥ) - authority; धर्मे (dharme) - in dharma; अस्ति (asti) - is; मा (mā) - do not; भूः (bhūḥ) - be; आत्मप्रशंसकः (ātmapraśaṃsakaḥ) - self-praiser;]

(Cows indeed drink water even when frogs are croaking; you have no authority in dharma; do not be a self-praiser.)

Cows drink water even when frogs are croaking; you have no authority in matters of dharma; do not praise yourself.

श्वपच उवाच॥

śvapaca uvāca॥

[श्वपच (śvapaca) - one who cooks or eats dog meat; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]

(śvapaca said;)

The outcaste said.

सुहृद्भूत्वानुशास्मि त्वा कृपा हि त्वयि मे द्विज। तदेवं श्रेय आधत्स्व मा लोभाच्छ्वानमादिथाः ॥१२-१३९-७९॥

suhṛdbhūtvānuśāsmi tvā kṛpā hi tvayi me dvija। tadevaṃ śreya ādhatsva mā lobhācchvānamādithāḥ ॥12-139-79॥

[सुहृत् (suhṛt) - well-wisher; भूत्वा (bhūtvā) - having become; अनुशास्मि (anuśāsmi) - I instruct; त्वाम् (tvām) - you; कृपा (kṛpā) - compassion; हि (hi) - indeed; त्वयि (tvayi) - towards you; मे (me) - my; द्विज (dvija) - twice-born; तत् (tat) - that; एवम् (evam) - thus; श्रेयः (śreyaḥ) - welfare; आधत्स्व (ādhatsva) - accept; मा (mā) - do not; लोभात् (lobhāt) - from greed; श्वानम् (śvānam) - dog; आदिथाः (ādithāḥ) - take;]

(Having become a well-wisher, I instruct you; indeed, compassion is mine towards you, O twice-born. Thus, accept that welfare; do not, from greed, take the dog.)

As your well-wisher, I instruct you; I truly have compassion for you, O twice-born. Therefore, accept this welfare and do not, out of greed, take the dog.

विश्वामित्र उवाच॥

viśvāmitra uvāca॥

[विश्वामित्र (viśvāmitra) - Viśvāmitra; (name of the sage); उवाच (uvāca) - said;]

(Viśvāmitra said;)

Viśvāmitra said.

सुहृन्मे त्वं सुखेप्सुश्चेदापदो मां समुद्धर। जानेऽहं धर्मतोऽऽत्मानं श्वानीमुत्सृज जाघनीम् ॥१२-१३९-८०॥

suhṛn me tvaṃ sukhepsuś ced āpado māṃ samuddhara। jāne'ham dharmato''tmānaṃ śvānīm utsṛja jāghanīm ॥12-139-80॥

[सुहृत् (suhṛt) - well-wisher; friend; मे (me) - my; to me; त्वम् (tvam) - you; सुख-इप्सुः (sukha-ipsuḥ) - desiring happiness; चेत् (cet) - if; आपदः (āpadaḥ) - difficulties; calamities; माम् (mām) - me; समुद्धर (samuddhara) - lift up; rescue; जाने (jāne) - I know; अहम् (aham) - I; धर्मतः (dharmataḥ) - according to dharma; by righteousness; आत्मानम् (ātmānam) - self; श्वानीम् (śvānīm) - female dog; उत्सृज (utsṛja) - abandon; let go; जाघनीम् (jāghanīm) - the one at the hips; (here, refers to the female dog);]

(O friend, if you desire my happiness, rescue me from difficulties. I know myself according to dharma; abandon the female dog at the hips.)

O friend, if you truly wish for my happiness, then rescue me from these troubles. I know myself to be righteous; therefore, let go of the female dog (the one at the hips).

श्वपच उवाच॥

śvapaca uvāca॥

[श्वपच (śvapaca) - dog-cooker; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]

(dog-cooker said;)

The dog-cooker said.

नैवोत्सहे भवते दातुमेतां; नोपेक्षितुं ह्रियमाणं स्वमन्नम्। उभौ स्यावः स्वमलेनावलिप्तौ; दाताहं च त्वं च विप्र प्रतीच्छन् ॥१२-१३९-८१॥

naivotsahe bhavate dātumetāṃ; nopekṣituṃ hriyamāṇaṃ svamannam। ubhau syāvaḥ svamalenaāvaliptau; dātāhaṃ ca tvaṃ ca vipra pratīcchan ॥12-139-81॥

[न (na) - not; एव (eva) - indeed; उत्सहे (utsahe) - am able; भवते (bhavate) - to you; दातुम् (dātum) - to give; एताम् (etām) - this; न (na) - not; उपेक्षितुम् (upekṣitum) - to overlook; ह्रियमाणम् (hriyamāṇam) - being taken away; स्वम् (svam) - own; अन्नम् (annam) - food; उभौ (ubhau) - both; स्यावः (syāvaḥ) - would be; स्वमलेन (svamalena) - by own impurity; आवलिप्तौ (āvaliptau) - smeared; दाता (dātā) - giver; अहम् (aham) - I; च (ca) - and; त्वम् (tvam) - you; च (ca) - and; विप्र (vipra) - Brāhmaṇa; प्रतीच्छन् (pratīcchan) - receiving;]

(I am indeed not able to give this to you; nor to overlook my own food being taken away. Both of us would be smeared by our own impurity: I, the giver, and you, O Brāhmaṇa, the receiver.)

I am truly unable to give you this; nor can I ignore my own food being taken away. Both of us would be tainted by our own impurity: I as the giver, and you, O Brāhmaṇa, as the receiver.

विश्वामित्र उवाच॥

viśvāmitra uvāca॥

[विश्वामित्र (viśvāmitra) - Viśvāmitra; (name of a sage); उवाच (uvāca) - said; (from the root 'vac' - to speak);]

(Viśvāmitra said;)

Viśvāmitra said.

अद्याहमेतद्वृजिनं कर्म कृत्वा; जीवंश्चरिष्यामि महापवित्रम्। प्रपूतात्मा धर्ममेवाभिपत्स्ये; यदेतयोर्गुरु तद्वै ब्रवीहि ॥१२-१३९-८२॥

adyāham etad vṛjinaṃ karma kṛtvā; jīvaṃś cariṣyāmi mahāpavitram. prapūtātmā dharmam evābhipatsye; yad etayor guru tad vai bravīhi ॥12-139-82॥

[अद्य (adya) - today; अहम् (aham) - I; एतद् (etad) - this; वृजिनम् (vṛjinam) - sinful; कर्म (karma) - action; कृत्वा (kṛtvā) - having done; जीवन् (jīvan) - living; चरिष्यामि (cariṣyāmi) - I shall proceed; महापवित्रम् (mahāpavitram) - greatly pure; प्रपूतात्मा (prapūtātmā) - with purified self; धर्मम् (dharmam) - dharma; एव (eva) - indeed; अभिपत्स्ये (abhipatsye) - I shall attain; यत् (yat) - which; एतयोः (etayoḥ) - of these two; गुरु (guru) - weightier; तत् (tat) - that; वै (vai) - indeed; ब्रवीहि (bravīhi) - tell; १२-१३९-८२ (12-139-82) - 12-139-82;]

(Today I, having done this sinful action, living, shall proceed to the greatly pure; with purified self, I shall indeed attain dharma; which of these two is weightier, that indeed tell (me).)

Today, having performed this sinful act, I will continue to live and seek great purity; with a purified self, I will pursue dharma alone. Of these two, O guru, tell me which is weightier.

श्वपच उवाच॥

śvapaca uvāca॥

[श्वपच (śvapaca) - one who cooks dog meat; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]

(śvapaca said;)

The outcaste said.

आत्मैव साक्षी किल लोककृत्ये; त्वमेव जानासि यदत्र दुष्टम्। यो ह्याद्रियेद्भक्ष्यमिति श्वमांसं; मन्ये न तस्यास्ति विवर्जनीयम् ॥१२-१३९-८३॥

ātmaiva sākṣī kila lokakṛtye; tvameva jānāsi yadatra duṣṭam. yo hyādriyedbhakṣyamiti śvamāṁsaṁ; manye na tasyāsti vivarjanīyam ॥12-139-83॥

[आत्मा (ātmā) - self; एव (eva) - indeed; साक्षी (sākṣī) - witness; किल (kila) - certainly; लोककृत्ये (lokakṛtye) - in worldly actions; त्वम् (tvam) - you; एव (eva) - indeed; जानासि (jānāsi) - know; यत् (yat) - what; अत्र (atra) - here; दुष्टम् (duṣṭam) - evil; यः (yaḥ) - who; हि (hi) - indeed; आद्रियेत् (ādriyēt) - would respect; भक्ष्यम् (bhakṣyam) - edible; इति (iti) - thus; श्वमांसम् (śvamāṁsam) - dog's flesh; मन्ये (manye) - I think; न (na) - not; तस्य (tasya) - for him; अस्ति (asti) - there is; विवर्जनीयम् (vivarjanīyam) - to be avoided;]

(The self indeed is certainly the witness in worldly actions; you indeed know what here is evil. Who indeed would respect as edible, thus, dog's flesh; I think for him there is nothing to be avoided.)

The self is truly the witness to all worldly actions; you alone know what is wrong here. Whoever would regard dog’s flesh as food, I think, for him, nothing is forbidden.

विश्वामित्र उवाच॥

viśvāmitra uvāca॥

[विश्वामित्र (viśvāmitra) - Viśvāmitra; (name of a sage); उवाच (uvāca) - said; (he spoke);]

(Viśvāmitra said;)

Viśvāmitra said.

उपादाने खादने वास्य दोषः; कार्यो न्यायैर्नित्यमत्रापवादः। यस्मिन्न हिंसा नानृते वाक्यलेशो; भक्ष्यक्रिया तत्र न तद्गरीयः ॥१२-१३९-८४॥

upādāne khādane vāsya doṣaḥ; kāryo nyāyairnityamatrāpavādaḥ। yasminna hiṃsā nānṛte vākyaleśo; bhakṣyakriyā tatra na tadgarīyaḥ ॥12-139-84॥

[उपादाने (upādāne) - in the taking up; खादने (khādane) - in the eating; वास्य (vāsya) - of what is to be consumed; दोषः (doṣaḥ) - fault; कार्यः (kāryaḥ) - to be done; न्यायैः (nyāyaiḥ) - by just means; नित्यम् (nityam) - always; अत्र (atra) - here; अपवादः (apavādaḥ) - exception; यस्मिन् (yasmin) - in which; हिंसा (hiṃsā) - violence; न (na) - not; अनृते (anṛte) - in untruth; वाक्यलेशः (vākyaleśaḥ) - trace of speech; भक्ष्यक्रिया (bhakṣyakriyā) - act of eating; तत्र (tatra) - there; न (na) - not; तत् (tat) - that; गरीयः (garīyaḥ) - greater;]

(In the taking up, in the eating, of what is to be consumed, there is fault; to be done always by just means here is the exception. In which there is no violence, no untruth, nor trace of speech, the act of eating there is not that greater.)

There is fault in the taking and eating of consumables; exceptions must always be made here by just means. Where there is no violence, no untruth, nor even a trace of speech, the act of eating there is not considered superior.

श्वपच उवाच॥

śvapaca uvāca॥

[श्वपच (śvapaca) - dog-eater; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]

(Dog-eater said;)

The dog-eater said.

यद्येष हेतुस्तव खादनस्य; न ते वेदः कारणं नान्यधर्मः। तस्मादभक्ष्ये भक्षणाद्वा द्विजेन्द्र; दोषं न पश्यामि यथेदमात्थ ॥१२-१३९-८५॥

yadyeṣa hetustava khādanasya; na te vedaḥ kāraṇaṃ nānyadharmaḥ. tasmādabhakṣye bhakṣaṇādvā dvijendra; doṣaṃ na paśyāmi yathedamāttha ॥12-139-85॥

[यदि (yadi) - if; एषः (eṣaḥ) - this; हेतुः (hetuḥ) - cause; तव (tava) - your; खादनस्य (khādanasya) - of eating; न (na) - not; ते (te) - for you; वेदः (vedaḥ) - Veda; कारणम् (kāraṇam) - reason; न (na) - not; अन्यधर्मः (anyadharmaḥ) - other law; तस्मात् (tasmāt) - therefore; अभक्ष्ये (abhakṣye) - in the forbidden; भक्षणात् (bhakṣaṇāt) - from eating; वा (vā) - or; द्विजेन्द्र (dvijendra) - O best of twice-born; दोषम् (doṣam) - fault; न (na) - not; पश्यामि (paśyāmi) - I see; यथा (yathā) - as; इदम् (idam) - this; आत्थ (āttha) - you have said;]

(If this is the cause of your eating, not for you is the Veda the reason nor any other law. Therefore, in the forbidden or from eating, O best of twice-born, I do not see fault as you have said.)

If this is the reason for your eating, neither the Veda nor any other law is the cause for you. Therefore, O best of the twice-born, I do not see any fault in eating the forbidden, as you have stated.

विश्वामित्र उवाच॥

viśvāmitra uvāca॥

[विश्वामित्र (viśvāmitra) - Viśvāmitra; (name of a sage); उवाच (uvāca) - said;]

(Viśvāmitra said;)

Viśvāmitra said.

न पातकं भक्षणमस्य दृष्टं; सुरां पीत्वा पततीतीह शब्दः। अन्योन्यकर्माणि तथा तथैव; न लेशमात्रेण कृत्यं हिनस्ति ॥१२-१३९-८६॥

na pātakaṃ bhakṣaṇamasya dṛṣṭaṃ; surāṃ pītvā patatītīha śabdaḥ. anyonyakarmāṇi tathā tathaiva; na leśamātreṇa kṛtyaṃ hinasti ॥12-139-86॥

[न (na) - not; पातकं (pātakam) - sin; भक्षणम् (bhakṣaṇam) - eating; अस्य (asya) - of this; दृष्टं (dṛṣṭam) - is seen; सुराम् (surām) - liquor; पीत्वा (pītvā) - having drunk; पतति (patati) - falls; इति (iti) - thus; इह (iha) - here; शब्दः (śabdaḥ) - statement; अन्योन्यकर्माणि (anyonyakarmāṇi) - mutual actions; तथा (tathā) - thus; तथैव (tathaiva) - in the same way; न (na) - not; लेशमात्रेण (leśamātreṇa) - by the slightest amount; कृत्यम् (kṛtyam) - action; हिनस्ति (hinasti) - destroys;]

(Not sin eating of this is seen; liquor having drunk falls thus here statement. Mutual actions thus in the same way; not by the slightest amount action destroys.)

It is not seen as a sin to eat this; the statement here is that one falls by drinking liquor. In the same way, mutual actions do not destroy an action even in the slightest amount.

श्वपच उवाच॥

śvapaca uvāca॥

[श्वपच (śvapaca) - dog-cooker; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]

(dog-cooker said;)

The dog-cooker said.

अस्थानतो हीनतः कुत्सिताद्वा; तं विद्वांसं बाधते साधुवृत्तम्। स्थानं पुनर्यो लभते निषङ्गा; त्तेनापि दण्डः सहितव्य एव ॥१२-१३९-८७॥

asthānato hīnataḥ kutsitādvā; taṃ vidvāṃsaṃ bādhate sādhuvṛttam. sthānaṃ punaryo labhate niṣaṅgā; ttenāpi daṇḍaḥ sahitavya eva ॥12-139-87॥

[अस्थानतः (asthānataḥ) - from improper place; हीनतः (hīnataḥ) - from inferiority; कुत्सितात् (kutsitāt) - from contemptible; वा (vā) - or; तं (taṃ) - him; विद्वांसम् (vidvāṃsam) - the learned; बाधते (bādhate) - afflicts; साधुवृत्तम् (sādhuvṛttam) - of good conduct; स्थानम् (sthānam) - position; पुनः (punaḥ) - again; यः (yaḥ) - who; लभते (labhate) - obtains; निषङ्गात् (niṣaṅgāt) - from attachment; तेन (tena) - by him; अपि (api) - also; दण्डः (daṇḍaḥ) - punishment; सहितव्यः (sahitavyaḥ) - to be endured; एव (eva) - indeed;]

(From improper place, from inferiority, or from contemptible (origin); that learned one of good conduct is afflicted. The position, again, which one obtains from attachment; by him also punishment is indeed to be endured.)

If a learned person of good conduct is afflicted due to improper position, inferiority, or contemptible origin, and if someone again obtains a position through attachment, then he too must indeed endure punishment.

भीष्म उवाच॥

bhīṣma uvāca॥

[भीष्म (bhīṣma) - Bhīṣma; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]

(Bhīṣma said;)

Bhīṣma said.

एवमुक्त्वा निववृते मातङ्गः कौशिकं तदा। विश्वामित्रो जहारैव कृतबुद्धिः श्वजाघनीम् ॥१२-१३९-८८॥

evam-uktvā nivavṛte mātaṅgaḥ kauśikaṃ tadā। viśvāmitro jahāraiva kṛtabuddhiḥ śvajāghanīm ॥12-139-88॥

[एवम् (evam) - thus; उक्त्वा (uktvā) - having spoken; निववृते (nivavṛte) - departed; मातङ्गः (mātaṅgaḥ) - Mātaṅga (the sage); कौशिकं (kauśikam) - Kauśika (Viśvāmitra); तदा (tadā) - then; विश्वामित्रः (viśvāmitraḥ) - Viśvāmitra; जहार (jahāra) - took away; एव (eva) - indeed; कृतबुद्धिः (kṛtabuddhiḥ) - having made up his mind; श्वजाघनीम् (śvajāghanīm) - the destroyer of dogs (the female, i.e., the dog-killing weapon);]

(Thus having spoken, Mātaṅga departed from Kauśika then. Viśvāmitra, having made up his mind, indeed took away the dog-killing weapon.)

After Mātaṅga spoke thus, he departed from Kauśika. Then Viśvāmitra, resolute in his decision, took away the dog-killing weapon.

ततो जग्राह पञ्चाङ्गीं जीवितार्थी महामुनिः। सदारस्तामुपाकृत्य वने यातो महामुनिः ॥१२-१३९-८९॥

tato jagrāha pañcāṅgīṃ jīvitārthī mahāmuniḥ। sadāras tām upākṛtya vane yāto mahāmuniḥ ॥12-139-89॥

[ततः (tataḥ) - then; जग्राह (jagrāha) - he took; पञ्चाङ्गीं (pañcāṅgīṃ) - five-limbed (object); जीवितार्थी (jīvitārthī) - seeking life; महामुनिः (mahāmuniḥ) - great sage; सदारः (sadāraḥ) - with wife; ताम् (tām) - her; उपाकृत्य (upākṛtya) - having taken; वने (vane) - in the forest; यातः (yātaḥ) - went; महामुनिः (mahāmuniḥ) - great sage;]

(Then the great sage, seeking life, took the five-limbed (object); with his wife, having taken her, the great sage went into the forest.)

Then the great sage, seeking to preserve his life, took the five-limbed object; together with his wife, he took her and went into the forest.

एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु प्रववर्षाथ वासवः। सञ्जीवयन्प्रजाः सर्वा जनयामास चौषधीः ॥१२-१३९-९०॥

etasminneva kāle tu pravavarṣātha vāsavaḥ। sañjīvayanprajāḥ sarvā janayāmāsa cauṣadhīḥ ॥12-139-90॥

[एतस्मिन् (etasmin) - in this; एव (eva) - indeed; काले (kāle) - time; तु (tu) - but; प्रववर्ष (pravavarṣa) - caused to rain; अथ (atha) - then; वासवः (vāsavaḥ) - Indra; सञ्जीवयन् (sañjīvayan) - reviving; प्रजाः (prajāḥ) - creatures; सर्वाः (sarvāḥ) - all; जनयामास (janayāmāsa) - caused to be born; च (ca) - and; औषधीः (auṣadhīḥ) - plants;]

(But at this very time, then Indra caused rain, reviving all creatures and caused the plants to be born.)

At that very moment, Indra made it rain, bringing all beings back to life and causing the plants to grow.

विश्वामित्रोऽपि भगवांस्तपसा दग्धकिल्बिषः। कालेन महता सिद्धिमवाप परमाद्भुताम् ॥१२-१३९-९१॥

viśvāmitro'pi bhagavāṃstapasā dagdhakilbiṣaḥ। kālena mahatā siddhimavāpa paramādbhutām ॥12-139-91॥

[विश्वामित्रः (viśvāmitraḥ) - Viśvāmitra; (proper noun) अपि (api) - also; भगवान् (bhagavān) - the venerable one; तपसा (tapasā) - by austerity; दग्ध (dagdha) - burnt; किल्बिषः (kilbiṣaḥ) - sin; कालेन (kālena) - by time; महतā (mahatā) - great; सिद्धिम् (siddhim) - perfection; अवाप (avāpa) - attained; परम (parama) - supreme; अद्भुताम् (adbhutām) - wonderful;]

(Viśvāmitra also, the venerable one, with sin burnt by austerity, in great time attained supreme wonderful perfection.)

Viśvāmitra, too, the venerable sage, having his sins burnt away by austerity, in due course of great time attained a most wonderful and supreme perfection.

एवं विद्वानदीनात्मा व्यसनस्थो जिजीविषुः। सर्वोपायैरुपायज्ञो दीनमात्मानमुद्धरेत् ॥१२-१३९-९२॥

evaṃ vidvān adīnātmā vyasanastho jijīviṣuḥ। sarvopāyair upāyajño dīnam ātmānam uddharet ॥12-139-92॥

[एवं (evaṃ) - thus; विद्वान् (vidvān) - the wise; अदीनात्मा (adīnātmā) - one whose self is not dejected; व्यसनस्थः (vyasanasthaḥ) - situated in adversity; जिजीविषुः (jijīviṣuḥ) - desiring to live; सर्वोपायैः (sarvopāyaiḥ) - by all means; उपायज्ञः (upāyajñaḥ) - knower of means; दीनम् (dīnam) - the dejected; आत्मानम् (ātmānam) - self; उद्धरेत् (uddharet) - should uplift;]

(Thus, the wise, one whose self is not dejected, situated in adversity, desiring to live, by all means, the knower of means, should uplift the dejected self.)

Thus, a wise person, even when facing adversity and wishing to survive, should, by every possible means, and with knowledge of all strategies, uplift their own dejected self.

एतां बुद्धिं समास्थाय जीवितव्यं सदा भवेत्। जीवन्पुण्यमवाप्नोति नरो भद्राणि पश्यति ॥१२-१३९-९३॥

etāṃ buddhiṃ samāsthāya jīvitavyaṃ sadā bhavet. jīvan puṇyam avāpnoti naro bhadrāṇi paśyati ॥12-139-93॥

[एताम् (etām) - this; (accusative singular feminine) बुद्धिम् (buddhim) - understanding; (accusative singular feminine) समास्थाय (samāsthāya) - having adopted; (absolutive) जीवितव्यम् (jīvitavyam) - to be lived; (gerundive, neuter singular) सदा (sadā) - always; भवेत् (bhavet) - should be; (optative, 3rd person singular) जीवन् (jīvan) - living; (nominative singular masculine) पुण्यम् (puṇyam) - merit; (accusative singular neuter) अवाप्नोति (avāpnoti) - obtains; (present, 3rd person singular) नरः (naraḥ) - man; (nominative singular masculine) भद्राणि (bhadrāṇi) - auspicious things; (accusative plural neuter) पश्यति (paśyati) - sees; (present, 3rd person singular);]

(Having adopted this understanding, life should always be lived. Living, a man obtains merit and sees auspicious things.)

One should always live life with this understanding. By living thus, a person attains merit and beholds auspicious things.

तस्मात्कौन्तेय विदुषा धर्माधर्मविनिश्चये। बुद्धिमास्थाय लोकेऽस्मिन्वर्तितव्यं यतात्मना ॥१२-१३९-९४॥

tasmātkauṇteya viduṣā dharmādharmaviniścaye। buddhimāsthāya loke'smin vartitavyaṃ yatātmanā ॥12-139-94॥

[तस्मात् (tasmāt) - therefore; कौन्तेय (kauṇteya) - O son of Kunti; विदुषा (viduṣā) - by the wise; धर्म-अधर्म-विनिश्चये (dharma-adharma-viniścaye) - in the determination of right and wrong; बुद्धिम् (buddhim) - intellect; आस्थाय (āsthāya) - having resorted to; लोके (loke) - in the world; अस्मिन् (asmin) - in this; वर्तितव्यम् (vartitavyam) - one must act; यतात्मना (yatātmanā) - with self-controlled (mind);]

(Therefore, O son of Kunti, by the wise, in the determination of right and wrong, having resorted to intellect, in this world, one must act with self-controlled (mind).)

Therefore, O son of Kunti, the wise, having resorted to intellect in determining right and wrong, should act with self-control in this world.