न शक्नुयाम चरितुं धर्मं पुत्र यथासुखम्। रक्षमाणा वयं तात राजभिर्धर्मदृष्टिभिः
'We would not be able to practice righteousness freely, my son, if we were not protected by kings who uphold dharma.'
चरामो विपुलं धर्मं तेषां भागोऽस्ति धर्मतः। सर्वथा वर्तमानस्य राज्ञः क्षन्तव्यमेव हि
'We are able to practice great righteousness, and by right, they receive a share of its merit; forgiveness must always be shown to a king who acts properly.'
परिक्षित्तु विशेषेण यथाऽस्य प्रपितामहः। रक्षत्यस्मांस्तथा राज्ञा रक्षितव्याः प्रजा विभो
'Especially towards Parīkṣit, who, like his great-grandfather, protects us; just as a king guards his subjects, so must he protect them, O illustrious one.'
अराजके जनपदे दोषा जायन्ति वै सदा। उद्वृत्तं सततं लोकं राजा दण्डेन शास्ति वै
'In a land without a king, faults always arise; the people become unruly, but the king restrains them with punishment.'
दण्डात्प्रतिभयं भूयः शान्तिरुत्पद्यते तदा। नोद्विग्नश्चरते धर्मं नोद्विग्नश्चरते क्रियाम्
When there is fear of punishment, tranquility arises; then, one pursues righteousness and action without anxiety.
राज्ञा प्रतिष्ठितो धर्मो धर्मात्स्वर्गः प्रतिष्ठितः। राज्ञो यज्ञक्रियाः सर्वा यज्ञाद्देवाः प्रतिष्ठिताः
Righteousness is established by the king, and from righteousness, heaven is established; all sacrificial rites of the king are established, and from sacrifice, the gods are established.
देवाद्वृष्टिः प्रवर्तेत वृष्टेरोषधयः स्मृताः। ओषधिभ्यो मनुष्याणां धारयन्सततं हितम्
From the gods, rain is produced; from rain, plants are known to arise; from plants, the constant welfare of humans is sustained.
मनुष्याणां च यो धाता राजा राज्यकरः पुनः। दशश्रोत्रियसमो राजा इत्येवं मनुरब्रवीत्
And the king, who is the sustainer of people and the upholder of sovereignty, is said by Manu to be equal to ten learned Brahmins.
तेनेह क्षुधितेनैत्य श्रान्तेन मृगलिप्सुना। अजानता कृतं मन्ये व्रतमेतदिदं मम
Therefore, coming here hungry, weary, and seeking game, and acting unknowingly, I believe this act was done as my vow.
कस्मादिदं त्वया बाल्यात्सहसा दुष्कृतं कृतम्। न ह्यर्हति नृपः शापमस्मत्तः पुत्र सर्वथा
Why, out of childishness, have you rashly committed this wrongful act? O son, a king does not at all deserve a curse from us.
यद्येतत्साहसं तात यदि वा दुष्कृतं कृतम्। प्रियं वाप्यप्रियं वा ते वागुक्ता न मृषा भवेत्
Whether this was a rash deed, or a wrongful act, or whether your words were pleasing or unpleasing, let them not be false.
नैवान्यथेदं भविता पितरेष ब्रवीमि ते। नाहं मृषा ब्रवीम्येवं स्वैरेष्वपि कुतः शपन्
This will not happen otherwise, I tell you for your father; I do not speak falsely, not even among my own, so how could I utter a curse?
जानाम्युग्रप्रभावं त्वां तात सत्यगिरं तथा। नानृतं चोक्तपूर्वं ते नैतन्मिथ्या भविष्यति
I know your formidable power, O son, and your truthfulness in speech; you have never spoken untruth before, and this will not be false.
पित्रा पुत्रो वयस्थोऽपि सततं वाच्य एव तु। यथा स्याद्गुणसंयुक्तः प्राप्नुयाच्च महद्यशः
A son, even when grown, must always be addressed by his father, so that he may be endowed with virtues and attain great fame.
किं पुनर्बाल एव त्वं तपसा भावितः सदा। वर्धते चेत्प्रभवतां कोपोऽतीव महात्मनाम्
How much more so when you are still a child, always devoted to austerity; for in the powerful, anger grows exceedingly.
उत्सीदेयुरिमे लोकाः क्षणा चास्य प्रतिक्रिया।' सोऽहं पश्यामि वक्तव्यं त्वयि धर्मभृतां वर। पुत्रत्वं बालतां चैव तवावेक्ष्य च साहसम्
These worlds would perish, and there would be no remedy for a moment; therefore, I consider what should be said to you, O best of the righteous, considering your sonship, childhood, and this rashness of yours.
स त्वं शमपरो भूत्वा वन्यमाहारमाचरन्। चर क्रोधमिमं हित्वा नैवं धर्मं प्रहास्यसि
Therefore, be devoted to tranquility, subsist on forest fare, and act after abandoning this anger; thus you will not abandon righteousness.
क्रोधो हि धर्मं हरति यतीनां दुःखसंचितम्। ततो धर्मविहीनानां गतिरिष्टा न विद्यते
For anger destroys the righteousness painstakingly gathered by ascetics; and for those devoid of righteousness, the desired goal is not attained.
शम एव यतीनां हि क्षमिणां सिद्धिकारकः। क्षमावतामयं लोकः परश्चैव क्षमावताम्
Indeed, tranquility alone brings success to ascetics and the forgiving; this world belongs to the forgiving, and so does the next.
तस्माच्चरेथाः सततं क्षमाशीलो जितेन्द्रियः। क्षमया प्राप्स्यसे लोकान्ब्रह्मणः समनन्तरान्
Therefore, always practice forgiveness, self-controlled in nature; by forgiveness, you will attain the worlds adjacent to that of Brahma.
मया तु शममास्थाय यच्छक्यं कर्तुमद्य वै। तत्करिष्याम्यहं तात प्रेपयिष्ये नृपाय वै
But I, having taken refuge in tranquility, will do today whatever is possible; I will send word to the king, O son.
मम पुत्रेण शप्तोऽसि बालेनाकृतबुद्धिना। ममेमां धर्षणां त्वत्तः प्रेक्ष्य राजन्नमर्षिणा
You have been cursed by my son, a child of immature understanding; seeing this insult from you, O king, I could not bear it.
एवमादिश्य शिष्यं स प्रेषयामास सुव्रतः। परिक्षिते नृपतये दयापन्नो महातपाः
Thus instructing his disciple, the virtuous one, moved by compassion for King Parikshit, sent him forth.
संदिश्य कुशलप्रश्नं कार्यवृत्तान्तमेव च। शिष्यं गौरमुखं नाम शीलवन्तं समाहितम्
Having given directions to inquire about well-being and to report the matter at hand, he sent his disciple named Gauramukha, who was virtuous and composed.
सोऽभिगम्य ततः शीघ्रं नरेन्द्रं कुरुवर्धनम्। विवेश भवनं राज्ञः पूर्वं द्वास्थैर्निवेदितः
He, quickly approaching the king, the enhancer of the Kuru line, entered the royal palace after being announced by the doorkeepers.
पूजितस्तु नरेन्द्रेण द्विजो गौरमुखस्तदा। आचख्यौ च परिश्रान्तो राज्ञः सर्वमशेषतः
Then, honored by the king, the twice-born Gauramukha, though weary, reported everything to the king in full.
शमीकवचनं घोरं यथोक्तं मन्त्रिसन्निधौ। शमीको नाम राजेन्द्र वर्तते विषये तव
He recounted, in the presence of the ministers, the dreadful words of Shamika as spoken: 'O king, there is a sage named Shamika in your realm.'
ऋषिः परमधर्मात्मा दान्तः शान्तो महातपाः। तस्य त्वया नरव्याघ्र सर्पः प्राणैर्वियोजितः
He is a sage of supreme righteousness, self-restrained, peaceful, and of great austerity; O tiger among men, by you a serpent was deprived of life while he was silent and absorbed in meditation.
अवसक्तो धनुष्कोट्या स्कन्धे मौनान्वितस्य च। क्षान्तवांस्तव तत्कर्म पुत्रस्तस्य न चक्षमे
The snake, stuck by the tip of your bow, hung on his shoulder as he maintained silence; though Shamika forgave your deed, his son could not bear it.
तेन शप्तोऽसि राजेन्द्र पितुरज्ञातमद्य वै। तक्षकः सप्तरात्रेण मृत्युस्तव भविष्यति
Therefore, O king, you have been cursed by him today, unknown to his father: 'Takshaka will be your death in seven nights.'