अष्टावक्रः केन चासौ बभूव तत्सर्वं मे लोमश शंस तत्त्वम्
How did Aṣṭāvakra come to be so? Tell me all this truthfully, Lomasha.
उद्दालकस्य नियतः शिष्य एको नाम्ना कहोळेति बभूव राजन्। शुश्रूषुराचार्यवशानुवर्ती दीर्घ कालं सोऽध्ययनं चकार
Uddālaka had a devoted disciple named Kahola, O king; obedient to his teacher, he studied for a long time.
तं वै विप्राः पर्यभवंस्तु शिखा- स्तं च ज्ञात्वा विप्रकारं गुरुः सः। तस्मै प्रादात्सद्य एव श्रुतं च भार्यां च वै दुहितरं स्वां सुजाताम्
The Brahmins mocked him for his tuft; knowing this insult, the teacher gave him at once both knowledge and his own virtuous daughter as wife.
तस्यां गर्भः समभवदग्निकल्पः सोऽधीयानं पितरमथाभ्युवाच। सर्वां रात्रिमध्ययनं करोषि नेदं पितः सम्यगिवोपवर्तते
In her, a child was conceived, fiery as Agni; while studying, he addressed his father: 'You study all night, but this, father, is not properly conducted.'
उपालब्धः शिष्यमध्ये महर्षिः स तं कोपादुदरस्थं शशाप। यस्माद्वक्रं वर्तमानो ब्रवीषि तस्माद्वक्रो भवितास्यष्टधैव
Rebuked among the disciples, the great sage cursed him in anger, saying: 'Since you speak crookedly while dwelling in the womb, you shall be crooked in eight ways.'
स वै तथा वक्र एवाभ्यजाय- दष्टावक्रः प्रथितो मानवेषु। अस्यासीद्वै मातुलः श्वेतकेतुः स तेन तुल्यो वयसा बभूव
Thus he was born crooked, known as Aṣṭāvakra among men; his maternal uncle was Śvetaketu, and he became equal to him in age.
संपीड्यमाना तु तदा सुजाता विवर्धमानेन सुतेन कुक्षौ। उवाच भर्तारमिदं रहोगता प्रसाद्य हीना वसुना धनार्थिनी
Then Sujata, pressed in her womb by her growing son, sought out her husband in private, and, humbly, being destitute and in need of wealth, spoke to him thus.
कथं करिष्याम्यधुना महर्षे मासश्चायं दशमो वर्तते मे। नैवास्ति मे वसु किंचित्प्रदाता येंनाहमेतामापदं निस्तरेयम्
How shall I manage now, O great sage? This is my tenth month, and I have nothing at all—no wealth, no one to give me anything by which I might escape this hardship.
उक्तस्त्वेवं भार्यया वै कहोळो वित्तस्यार्थे जनकमथाभ्यगच्छत्। स वै तदा वादविदा निगृह्य निमज्जितो वन्दिनेहाप्सु विप्रः
Thus addressed by his wife, Kahola, seeking wealth, went to her father; but there, bested in debate by the learned, the Brahmin was seized by bards and plunged into the water.
उद्दालकस्तं तु तदा निशम्य सूतेन वादेऽप्सु निमज्जितं तथा। उवाच तां तत्रततः सुजात- मष्टवक्रे गूहितव्योऽयमर्थः
Hearing from the charioteer that Kahola had been submerged in debate and water, Uddalaka said to Sujata, 'This matter must be kept secret from Ashtavakra.'
ररक्ष सा चापि तमस् मन्त्रं जातोऽप्यसौ नैव शुश्राव विप्रः। उद्दालकं पितरं सोऽभिमेने तथाऽष्टावक्रो भ्रातरं श्वेतकेतुम्
She guarded that secret as a mantra, and though the boy was born, the Brahmin did not hear of it; Ashtavakra regarded Uddalaka as his father, and considered Shvetaketu his brother.
ततो वर्षे द्वादशे श्वेतकेतु- रष्टावक्रं पितुरङ्के निषण्णम्। अपाकर्षद्गृह्यपाणौ रुदन्तं नायं तवाङ्कः पितुरित्युक्तवांश्च
Then, in the twelfth year, Shvetaketu, seeing Ashtavakra seated on his father's lap, pulled him away by the hand, saying, 'This is not your father's lap.'
यत्तेनोकतं दुरुक्तं तत्तदानीं हृदि स्थितं तस्य सुदुःखमासीत्। गृहं गत्वा मातरं सोऽथ विग्रः पप्रच्छेदं क्व नु तातो ममेति
Those harsh words spoken then remained in his heart and caused him great sorrow; returning home, he questioned his mother in distress, 'Where is my father?'
ततः सुजाता परमार्तरूपा शापाद्भीता तत्त्वमस्याचचक्षे। तद्वै तत्त्वंसर्वमाज्ञाय रात्रा- वित्यब्रवीच्छ्वेतकेतुं स विप्रः
Then Sujata, overwhelmed with grief and fearful of a curse, revealed the truth; learning all that had happened, the Brahmin spoke to Shvetaketu at night.
गच्छाव यज्ञं जनकस्य राज्ञो बह्वाश्चर्यः श्रूयते तस्य यज्ञः। श्रोष्यावोऽत्र ब्राह्मणानां विवाद- मन्नं चाग्र्यं तत्रभोक्ष्यावहे च
Let us go to the sacrifice of King Janaka, for his sacrifice is said to be full of wonders; there we shall hear the debates of Brahmins and partake of excellent food.
विचक्षणत्वं च भविष्यते नौ शिवश्च सौम्यश्च हि ब्रह्मघोषः
There, discernment will arise for us, and the auspicious and gentle sound of Brahman will be heard.
तौ जग्मतुर्मातुलभागिनेयौ यज्ञं समृद्धं जमकस्य राज्ञः। अष्टावक्रः पथि राज्ञा समेत्य प्रोत्सार्यमाणो वाक्यमिदं जगाद
The nephew and uncle set out together for the splendid sacrifice of King Janaka; on the way, Ashtavakra, being turned away by the king, spoke these words.
अन्धस्य पन्था बधिरस्य पन्थाः स्त्रियः पन्था भारवाहस्य पन्थाः। राज्ञः पन्था ब्राह्मणेनासमेत्य समेत्य तु ब्राह्मणस्यैव पन्थाः
There is a path for the blind, a path for the deaf, a path for women, and a path for those who bear burdens; the king's path is yielded to a Brahmin, but the Brahmin's path is never to be obstructed.
पन्था अयं तेऽद्य मया निसृष्टो येनेच्छसे तेन कामं व्रजस्व। न पावको विद्यते वै लघीया- निन्द्रोपि नित्यं नमते ब्राह्मणानाम्
Today I yield you this path; go as you wish. There is no fire swifter, and even Indra always bows to Brahmins.
स एवमुक्तो मातुलेनैव सार्धं यथेष्टमार्गो यज्ञनिवेशनं तत्। संप्राप्य धर्मेण निवारितः सन् द्वारि द्वाःस्थं वाक्यमिदं बभाषे
Thus addressed, he, together with his uncle, took the path as he wished to the site of the sacrifice; but, stopped at the entrance by the doorkeeper, he spoke these words.
यज्ञं द्रष्टुं प्राप्तवन्तौ स्म तात कौतूहलं बलवद्वै विवृद्धम्। आवां प्राप्तावतिथी संप्रवेशं काङ्क्षावहे द्वारपते तवाज्ञाम्
We have come, sir, to see the sacrifice, for our curiosity has grown strong; we have arrived as guests and await your command, doorkeeper, to enter.
ऐन्द्रद्युम्नेर्यज्ञदृशाविहावां विवक्षू वै जनकेन्द्रं दिदृक्षू। न वै क्रुध्यो वन्दिना चोत्तमेन संयोजय द्वारपाल क्षणेन
We wish to see the sacrifice of Indradyumna, and to behold King Janaka; do not be angry, O best of bards, but admit us at once, doorkeeper.
वन्देः समादेशकरा वयं स्म निबोध वाक्यं च मयेर्यमाणम्। न वै बालाः प्रविशन्त्यत्र विप्रा वृद्धा विदग्धाः प्रविशन्ति द्विजाग्र्याः
We are those who carry out the commands of the bard; listen to the words I speak: children do not enter here, only aged and learned Brahmins are admitted.
यद्यत्रवृद्धेषु कृतः प्रवेशो युक्तं मया द्वारपाल प्रवेष्टुम्। वयं हि वृद्धाश्चरितव्रताश्च वेदप्रभावेन समन्विताश्च
If entry is granted to the elders here, then it is right for you, doorkeeper, to let us in; for we are aged, steadfast in our vows, and endowed with the power of the Vedas.
शुश्रूषवश्चापि जितेन्द्रियाश्च ज्ञानागमे चापि गताः स्म निष्ठाम्। न बाल इत्येव मन्तव्यमाहु- र्बालोऽप्यग्निर्दहति स्पृश्यमानः
We are eager to listen, self-controlled, and steadfast in the pursuit of knowledge; do not think of us as mere children. Even a child, like fire, burns when touched.
सरस्वतीमीरय वेद जुष्टा- मेकाक्षरां बहुरूपां विराजम्। अङ्गात्मानं समवेक्षस्व बालं किं श्लाघसे दुर्लभा वादसिद्धिः
Invoke Sarasvati, beloved of the Vedas, the single-syllabled, manifold, radiant one. Consider the child as a limb of yourself—why boast? Victory in debate is hard to attain.
न ज्ञायते कायवृद्ध्या विवृद्धि- र्यथाऽष्ठीला शाल्मलेः संप्रवृद्धाः। ह्रस्वोऽल्पकायः फलितो विवृद्धो यश्चाफलस्तस्य न वृद्धभावः
Maturity is not known by the growth of the body, just as the silk-cotton tree grows large but bears little fruit. One who is small in form but fruitful is truly mature; one who is fruitless, though grown, is not.
वृद्धेभ्य एवेह मतिं स्म बाला गृह्णन्ति कालेन भवन्ति वृद्धाः। न हि ज्ञातुमल्पकालेन शक्यं कस्माद्बालः स्थविर इव प्रभाषसे
Children acquire wisdom from elders and, in time, become mature themselves. True knowledge cannot be gained in a short time—so why do you, a child, speak as if you were old?
न तेन स्थविरो भवति येनास्य पलितं शिरः। बालोपि यः प्रजानाति तं देवाः स्थविरं विदुः
One does not become old merely because his hair is gray; even a child who understands is considered old by the gods.
न हायनैर्न पलितैर्न वित्तैर्न च बन्धुभिः। ऋषयश्चक्रिरे धर्मं योऽनूचानः स नो महान्
Not by years, nor by gray hair, nor by wealth, nor by relatives did the sages attain righteousness; he who has learned is great among us.