12.312
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhishma said.
sa mokṣam-anucintyaiva śukaḥ pitaram-abhyagāt। prāhābhivādya ca guruṃ śreyorthī vinayānvitaḥ ॥12-312-1॥
Śuka, after deeply contemplating liberation, approached his father. Humbly saluting his teacher and seeking the highest good, he spoke. (12-312-1)
mokṣadharmeṣu kuśalo bhagavān prabravītu me। yathā me manasaḥ śāntiḥ paramā sambhavet prabho ॥12-312-2॥
O revered one skilled in the duties of liberation, may you declare to me so that supreme peace of mind may arise for me, O lord. (12-312-2)
śrutvā putrasya vacanaṃ paramarṣiruvāca tam। adhīṣva putra mokṣaṃ vai dharmāṃś ca vividhān api ॥12-312-3॥
Having listened to his son's words, the supreme sage spoke to him: "O son, study liberation and also the various dharmas." (12-312-3)
piturniyogājjagrāha śuko brahmavidāṃ varaḥ। yogaśāstraṃ ca nikhilaṃ kāpilaṃ caiva bhārata ॥12-312-4॥
O Bhārata, by his father's instruction, Śuka, the best among the knowers of Brahman, accepted the science of Yoga and the entire teaching of Kapila. (12-312-4)
sa taṃ brāhmyā śriyā yuktaṃ brahmatulyaparākramam। mene putraṃ yadā vyāso mokṣavidyāviśāradam ॥12-312-5॥
He considered him, endowed with divine splendor and valor equal to Brahman, as his son when Vyāsa became expert in the knowledge of liberation. (12-312-5)
uvāca gaccheti tadā janakaṃ mithileśvaram। sa te vakṣyati mokṣārthaṃ nikhilena viśeṣataḥ ॥12-312-6॥
He said, "Go," then to Janaka, the lord of Mithilā. He will tell you about liberation in full detail, especially. (12-312-6)
piturniyogādagaman maithilaṃ janakaṃ nṛpam। praṣṭuṃ dharmasya niṣṭhāṃ vai mokṣasya ca parāyaṇam ॥12-312-7॥
By his father's command, he went to King Janaka of Mithila to ask about the steadfastness in dharma and the supreme goal of mokṣa. (12-312-7)
uktaś ca mānuṣeṇa tvaṃ pathā gacchety avismitaḥ। na prabhāveṇa gantavyam antarikṣacareṇa vai ॥12-312-8॥
And you, as spoken by a human, should go by the path, thus unastonished; it is not to be traversed by a sky-wanderer through power, indeed. (12-312-8)
ārjaveṇaiva gantavyaṃ na sukhānveṣiṇā pathā. nānveṣṭavyā viśeṣāstu viśeṣā hi prasaṅginaḥ ॥12-312-9॥
One should proceed only with straightforwardness, not by the path of seeking pleasure. Distinctions should not be sought, for distinctions indeed lead to attachment. (12-312-9)
ahaṅkāro na kartavyo yājye tasminnarādhipe। sthātavyaṃ ca vaśe tasya sa te chetsyati saṃśayam ॥12-312-10॥
Ego should not be harbored during the sacrifice in the presence of that king; you should remain under his control, for he will dispel your doubt. (12-312-10)
sa dharmakuśalo rājā mokṣaśāstraviśāradaḥ। yājyo mama sa yadbrūyāttatkāryamaviśaṅkayā ॥12-312-11॥
That king, skilled in dharma and expert in the science of liberation, who is worthy of worship and mine, whatever he might say, that should be done without any doubt. (12-312-11)
evam-uktaḥ sa dharmātmā jagāma mithilāṃ muniḥ। padbhyāṃ śakto'ntarikṣeṇa krāntuṃ bhūmiṃ sasāgarām ॥12-312-12॥
Thus addressed, the righteous sage went to Mithilā. Though capable of crossing the earth with oceans through the sky, he went on foot. (12-312-12)
sa girīṁś cāpy atikramya nadīs tīrtvā sarāṁsi ca। bahu-vyāla-mṛga-ākīrṇā vividhāś cāṭavīs tathā ॥12-312-13॥
He crossed mountains, rivers, and lakes, and also passed through various forests filled with many serpents and wild beasts. (12-312-13)
meror hareś ca dve varṣe varṣaṃ haimavataṃ tathā। krameṇaiva vyatikramya bhārataṃ varṣam āsadat ॥12-312-14॥
Having crossed in order the two regions of Meru and Hari, as well as the Haimavata region, he reached the Bharata region. (12-312-14)
sa deśān vividhān paśyaṁś cīnahūṇaniṣevitān। āryāvartam imaṁ deśam ājagāma mahāmuniḥ ॥12-312-15॥
The great sage, after seeing various countries inhabited by the Chinese and Hūṇas, came to this land of Āryāvarta. (12-312-15)
pitur vacanam ājñāya tam eva arthaṃ vicintayan। adhvānaṃ saḥ aticakrāma khe acaraḥ khe caran iva ॥12-312-16॥
Having understood his father's words and reflecting only on that purpose, he crossed the path, appearing motionless in the sky, as if moving through the sky. (12-312-16)
pattanāni ca ramyāṇi sphītāni nagarāṇi ca। ratnāni ca vicitrāṇi śukaḥ paśyann na paśyati ॥12-312-17॥
The parrot, though seeing beautiful and prosperous cities, towns, and various gems, does not see them. (12-312-17)
udyānāni ca ramyāṇi tathaiva āyatanāni ca। puṇyāni caiva tīrthāni saḥ atikramya tathā adhvanaḥ ॥12-312-18॥
He, having thus passed gardens, pleasant shrines, holy places, and sacred fords on the way, continued his journey. (12-312-18)
so'cireṇaiva kālena videhānāsasāda ha। rakṣitāndharmarājena janakena mahātmanā ॥12-312-19॥
He soon reached the Videhas, who were protected by Dharmarāja Janaka, the great-souled one. (12-312-19)
tatra grāmānbahūnpaśyanbahvannarasabhojanān। pallīghoṣānsamṛddhāṃśca bahugokulasaṅkulān ॥12-312-20॥
There he saw many villages, abundant with food and delicious meals, prosperous hamlets and settlements, all crowded with many herds of cattle. (12-312-20)
sphītāṁś ca śāli-yavasair haṁsa-sārasa-sevitān। padminībhiś ca śataśaḥ śrīmatībhiḥ alaṅkṛtān ॥12-312-21॥
Abundant with rice and barley, frequented by swans and cranes, and adorned by hundreds of splendid lotuses. (12-312-21)
sa videhān atikramya samṛddhajanasevitān। mithilopavanaṃ ramyam āsasāda maharddhimat ॥12-312-22॥
Having passed through the Videha region, which was inhabited by prosperous people, he arrived at the beautiful and splendid grove of Mithila. (12-312-22)
hastyaśvarathasaṅkīrṇaṃ naranārīsamākulam। paśyannapaśyanniva tatsamatikrāmadacyutaḥ ॥12-312-23॥
Acyuta (Krishna), as if seeing and not seeing, passed over that place crowded with men and women, mixed with elephants, horses, and chariots. (12-312-23)
manasā taṃ vahanbhāraṃ tamevāarthaṃ vicintayan। ātmārāmaḥ prasannātmā mithilāmāsasāda ha ॥12-312-24॥
With his mind carrying that burden and reflecting solely on that purpose, rejoicing in his own self and with a tranquil mind, he indeed reached Mithilā. (12-312-24)
tasyā dvāraṃ samāsādya dvārapālairnivāritaḥ। sthito dhyānaparo mukto viditaḥ praviveśa ha ॥12-312-25॥
Having reached her door and being stopped by the doorkeepers, he stood there, absorbed in meditation, liberated and recognized, and then indeed entered. (12-312-25)
sa rājamārgam āsādya samṛddhajana-saṅkulam। pārthiva-kṣayam āsādya niḥśaṅkaḥ praviveśa ha ॥12-312-26॥
He reached the royal road, thronged with prosperous people, and, coming to the king's palace, entered without fear. (12-312-26)
tatrāpi dvārapālāstamugravāco nyaṣedhayan। tathaiva ca śukastatra nirmanyuḥ samatiṣṭhata ॥12-312-27॥
There too, the door-guards, speaking harshly, prevented him. Likewise, Śuka stood there without anger. (12-312-27)
na cātapādhvasantaptaḥ kṣutpipāsāśramānvitaḥ। pratāmyati glāyati vā nāpaiti ca tathātapāt ॥12-312-28॥
He, scorched by the sun and journey, and afflicted with hunger, thirst, and fatigue, neither faints nor becomes weak, nor does he depart thus from the sun. (12-312-28)
teṣāṃ tu dvārapālānāmekaḥ śokasamanvitaḥ। madhyaṅgatamivādityaṃ dṛṣṭvā śukamavasthitam ॥12-312-29॥
But among the gatekeepers, one who was filled with sorrow, seeing Śuka standing like the sun in the center. (12-312-29)
pūjayitvā yathā-nyāyam abhivādya kṛtāñjaliḥ। prāveśayat tataḥ kakṣyāṃ dvitīyāṃ rājaveśmanaḥ ॥12-312-30॥
After performing worship in the proper manner and saluting with joined palms, he then led him into the second chamber of the royal palace. (12-312-30)
tatrāsīnaḥ śukastāta mokṣamevānucintayan। chāyāyāmātape caiva samadarśī mahādyutiḥ ॥12-312-31॥
There, Śuka sat, O father, reflecting solely on liberation; whether in shade or sunlight, he, of great brilliance, viewed both equally. (12-312-31)
taṃ muhūrtādivāgamya rājño mantrī kṛtāñjaliḥ। prāveśayattataḥ kakṣyāṃ tṛtīyāṃ rājaveśmanaḥ ॥12-312-32॥
After a moment, as if having just arrived, the king's minister, with joined palms, then led him into the third chamber of the royal palace. (12-312-32)
tatrāntaḥpurasambaddhaṃ mahaccaitrarathopamam। suvibhaktajalākrīḍaṃ ramyaṃ puṣpitapādapam ॥12-312-33॥
There was a great garden, connected to the inner apartments, resembling Caitraratha, well-divided, with water-sports, beautiful, and filled with blossoming trees. (12-312-33)
taddarśayitvā sa śukaṃ mantrī kānanamuttamam। arhamāsanamādiśya niścakrāma tataḥ punaḥ ॥12-312-34॥
Having shown the excellent forest to Śuka, the minister, and having instructed him to take a worthy seat, he then departed from there again. (12-312-34)
taṃ cāruveṣāḥ suśroṇyas taruṇyaḥ priyadarśanāḥ। sūkṣmaraktāmbaradharās taptakāñcanabhūṣaṇāḥ ॥12-312-35॥
Young women with beautiful attire and lovely hips, pleasant to behold, wearing fine red garments and adorned with ornaments of molten gold, surrounded him. (12-312-35)
saṁlāpollāpakuśalā nṛttagītaviśāradāḥ। smitapūrvābhibhāṣiṇyo rūpeṇāpsarasāṁ samāḥ ॥12-312-36॥
They were skilled in conversation and charming speech, adept in dance and song, always speaking first with a smile, and in beauty, they were equal to the celestial nymphs (apsarases). (12-312-36)
kāmopacārakuśalā bhāvajñāḥ sarvakovidāḥ। paraṃ pañcāśato nāryo vāramukhyāḥ samādravan ॥12-312-37॥
Skilled in the arts of love, understanding emotions, and wise in all matters, fifty chief courtesans also hurried forward together. (12-312-37)
pādyādīni pratigrāhya pūjayā parayārcya ca। deśakālaupapannena sādhvannenāpyatarpayan ॥12-312-38॥
They received water for washing feet and other offerings, worshipped with supreme devotion, and also satisfied (the guests) with good food appropriate to the place and time. (12-312-38)
tasya bhuktavatastāta tadantaḥpurakānanam। suramyaṃ darśayāmāsurekaikaśyena bhārata ॥12-312-39॥
O Bhārata, after he had eaten, they showed him the beautiful inner-apartment forest, one by one. (12-312-39)
krīḍantyaś ca hasantyaś ca gāyantyaś caiva tāḥ śukam। udārasattvaṃ sattvajñāḥ sarvāḥ paryacaraṃs tadā ॥12-312-40॥
At that time, all the women—those who were playing, laughing, and singing—indeed, all knowers of essence, attended upon the parrot of noble nature. (12-312-40)
āraṇeyas tu śuddhātmā trisaṃdehas trikarmakṛt। vaśyendriyo jitakrodho na hṛṣyati na kupyati ॥12-312-41॥
But the descendant of Araṇa, pure in soul, possessing three bodies and performing three actions, with senses under control and anger conquered, neither rejoices nor becomes angry. (12-312-41)
tasmai śayyāsanaṃ divyaṃ varārhaṃ ratnabhūṣitam। spardhyāstaraṇasaṃstīrṇaṃ dadustāḥ paramastriyaḥ ॥12-312-42॥
Those supreme women gave him a divine bed-seat, worthy of the best, adorned with jewels, splendid and well-spread with coverings. (12-312-42)
pādaśaucaṃ tu kṛtvaiva śukaḥ sandhyāmupāsya ca। niṣasādāsane puṇye tamevārthaṃ vicintayan ॥12-312-43॥
Śuka, after purifying his feet and performing the twilight worship, sat on the auspicious seat, contemplating that very purpose. (12-312-43)
pūrvarātre tu tatrāsau bhūtvā dhyānaparāyaṇaḥ। madhyarātre yathānyāyaṃ nidrām āhārayat prabhuḥ ॥12-312-44॥
But in the early part of the night, he was there, absorbed in meditation; at midnight, the lord took sleep as was proper. (12-312-44)
tato muhūrtād utthāya kṛtvā śaucam anantaram। strībhiḥ parivṛto dhīmān dhyānam eva anvapadyata ॥12-312-45॥
Then, after a short while, having risen and performed purification immediately, the wise one, surrounded by women, engaged himself in meditation. (12-312-45)
anena vidhinā kārṣṇis tad ahaḥśeṣam acyutaḥ। tāṃ ca rātriṃ nṛpakule vartayāmāsa bhārata ॥12-312-46॥
In this way, Kṛṣṇa (Acyuta) spent the rest of that day and the night in the king's palace, O Bhārata. (12-312-46)
