दिदृक्षुरस्मि संप्राप्तो बन्दिनं राजसंसदि। निवेदयस्व मां द्वाःस्थ राज्ञे पुष्करमालिने
Desiring to see the bard in the royal assembly, I have come. Announce me, O doorkeeper, to the king with the blue lotus garland.
द्रष्टास्यद्य वदतोऽस्मान्द्वारपाल मनीषिभिः। सह वादे विवृद्धे तु वन्दिनं चापि निर्जितम्
Today, doorkeeper, you will see us debating with the wise, and in the contest, the bard will be defeated.
पश्यन्तु विप्राः परिपूर्णविद्याः सहैव राज्ञा सपुरोधमुख्याः। उताहो वाऽप्युच्चतां नीचतां वा तूष्णींभूतेष्वेव सर्वेष्वथाद्य
Let the learned Brahmins, together with the king and his chief priests, witness today whether I rise or fall in this assembly, while all others remain silent.
कथं यज्ञं दशवर्षो विशेस्त्वं विनीतानां विदुषां संप्रवेशम्। उपायतः प्रयतिष्ये तवाहं प्रवेशने कुरु यत्नं यथावत्
How can you, a ten-year-old, surpass the learned and disciplined in a sacrifice? I will strive by proper means to gain you entry; do your best to enter as is fitting.
एष राजा संश्रवणे स्थितस्ते स्तुह्येनं त्वं वचसा संस्कृतेन। स चानुज्ञां दास्यति प्रीतियुक्तः प्रवेशने यच्च किंचित्तवेष्टम्
Here stands the king, attentive; praise him with refined words. He, pleased, will grant you permission and whatever else you desire for entry.
भोभो राजञ्जनकानां वरिष्ठ त्वं वै सम्राट् त्वयि सर्वं समृद्धम्। त्वं वा कर्ता कर्मणां यज्ञियानां ययातिरेको नृपतिर्वा पुरस्तात्
O king, foremost among the Janakas, you are indeed the emperor; all prosperity rests with you. You are the performer of great sacrifices, surpassing even Yayati or any king of old.
विद्वान्वन्दी वादविदो निगृह्य वादे भग्नानप्रतिशङ्कमानः। त्वयाऽभिसृष्टैः पुरुषैराप्तकृद्भि- र्जले सर्वान्मज्जयतीति नः श्रुतम्
The learned bard, skilled in debate, subdues opponents without fear, and it is said that those sent by you, accomplished men, make all others sink like stones in water.
सोऽहं श्रुत्वा ब्राह्मणानां सकाशे ब्रह्माद्य वै कथयितुमागतोस्मि। क्वासौ वनदी यावदेनं समेत्य नक्षत्राणीव सविता नाशयामि
Having heard this among the Brahmins, I have come today to speak of Brahman. Where is that bard? Let me meet him and, like the sun with the stars, cause him to vanish.
आशंससे वन्दिनं वै विजेतु- मविज्ञाय त्वं वाक्यबलं परस्य। विज्ञातवीर्यैः शक्यमेवं प्रवक्तुं दृष्टश्चासौ ब्राह्मणैर्वादशीलैः
You hope to defeat the bard without knowing the strength of his words. Only those who know his power can speak thus; he has been tested by Brahmins skilled in debate.
आशंसमाना वन्दिनं वै बिजेतु- मविज्ञात्वा तु बलं वन्दिनोऽस्य। समागता ब्राह्मणास्तेन पूर्वं न शोभन्ते भास्करेणेव ताराः
Those who hoped to defeat the bard, without knowing his strength, were like stars before the sun when they met him together with the Brahmins—outshone and diminished.
आशानुबन्धो हि तवात्र यत्नः स वन्दिमासाद्यतथा विनश्यति। विज्ञानवन्तो निकृतास्तु तात कथं सदस्तर्तुमिदं समर्थः
Your effort here is driven by hope, but when you face the bard, it will be in vain. Those with knowledge have been defeated—how will you, my child, succeed in this assembly?
विवादितोऽसौ न हि मादृशैर्हि सिंहीकृतस्तेन वदन्यभीतः। समेत्य मां निहतः शेष्यतेऽद्य मार्गे भग्नं शकटमिवाबलाक्षम्
He has not been bested by anyone like me, nor has he been cowed by another debater. But today, meeting me, he will be laid low, like a broken cart left on the road by a weak-eyed ox.
षण्नाभेर्द्वादशाक्षस्य चतुर्विंशतिपर्वणः। यस्त्रिषष्टिशतारस्य वेदार्थं स परः कविः
He who knows the meaning of the Veda, which has six spokes, twelve rims, and twenty-four segments, is the supreme sage.
चतुर्विंशतिपर्व त्वां षणअनाभि द्वादशप्रधि। तत्रिषष्टिशतारं वै चक्रं पातु सदागति
May the wheel, with twenty-four segments, six spokes, and twelve rims, always protect your path.
बडबे इव संयुक्ते श्येनपाते दिवौकसाम्। कस्तयोर्गर्भमाधत्ते गर्भं सुषुवतुश्च कम्
Like two mares yoked together, or the swoop of a falcon among the gods—who places the seed in them, and who brings forth their offspring?
मा स्म भूः स्वगृहे राजञ्शात्रवाणामपि ध्रुवम्। वातसारथिराधत्ते गर्भं सुषुवतुश्च तम्
O king, do not remain in your own house, for even among enemies, the wind-driven charioteer places the seed and brings forth the offspring.
किंस्वित्स्तुप्तं न निमिषति किंस्विज्जातं न चोपति। कस्यखिद्धृदयं नास्ति किंस्विद्वेगेन वर्धते
What is it that, though asleep, does not close its eyes? What is born but does not rise up? Whose heart is without sorrow? What grows with speed?
मत्स्यः सुप्तो न निमिषत्यण्डं जातं न चोपति। अश्मनो हृदयं नास्ति नदी वेगेन वर्धते
The fish, though asleep, does not close its eyes; the egg, though born, does not rise up; stone has no heart; the river grows with speed.
न त्वां मन्ये मानुषं देवसत्व न त्वं बालः स्थविरः संमतो मे। न ते तुल्यो विद्यते वाक्प्रलापे तस्माद्द्वारं वितराम्येष विद्वन्
I do not consider you human, possessing divine nature; you are neither a child nor an old man in my estimation. None is your equal in eloquence; therefore, O wise one, I grant you entry.
अत्रोग्रसेनसमितेषु राजन् समागतेष्वप्रतिमेषु राजसु। न मे विवित्सान्तरमस्ति वादिनां महाजने हंसविवादिनामिव
Here, O king, among the assembled kings as mighty as Ugrasena, I have no desire to compete in debate, just as swans do not contend among crowds.
न मोक्ष्यसे वै वदमानो निमज्जन् जलं प्रपन्नः सरितामिवाधनः। हुताशनस्येव समिद्धतेजसः स्थिरो भवस्वेह ममाद्य वन्दिन्
You will not escape by arguing, just as a poor man who has entered the water cannot avoid sinking; like fire blazing with fuel, remain steadfast before me today, O bard.
व्याघ्रं शयानं प्रति मा प्रबोध आशीविषं सृक्विणी संलिहानम्। पदा हतस्येह शिरोभिहत्य नादष्टो वै मोक्ष्यसे तन्निबोध
Do not awaken a sleeping tiger, nor touch a licking venomous snake; having struck one with your foot or head, you will not escape being bitten—know this.
यो वै दर्पात्संहननोपपन्नः सुदुर्बलः पर्वतमाविहन्ति। तस्यैव पाणिः सनखो विदीर्यते न चैव शैलस्य हि दृश्यते व्रणः
He who, out of pride and with weak strength, attacks a mountain, only wounds his own hand and nails, but no injury is seen on the mountain.
सर्वे राज्ञो मैथिलस्य मैनाकस्येव पर्वताः। निकृष्टभूता राजानो वत्सा ह्यनडुहो यथा
All the kings are inferior to the king of Mithila, just as all mountains are to Mainaka, or as calves are to the cow.
यथा महेन्द्रः प्रवरः सुराणां नदीषु गङ्गा प्रवरा यथैव। तथा नृपाणां प्रवरस्त्वमेको वन्दिं समभ्यानय मत्सकाशम्
As Mahendra is foremost among the gods, and the Ganga among rivers, so you alone are the foremost among kings; bring the bard before me.
एवमष्टावक्रः समितौ हि गर्ज- ञ्जातक्रोधो वन्दिनमाह राजन्। उक्ते वाक्ये चोत्तरं मे ब्रवीहि वाक्यस्य चाप्युत्तरं ते ब्रवीमि
Thus Ashtavakra, angered, thundered in the assembly, saying to the bard: 'Answer my words, and I will answer yours in turn.'
एक एवाग्निर्बहुधा समिध्यते एकः सूर्यः सर्वमिदं विभाति। एकोऽवीरो देवराजोऽरिहन्ता यमः पितृणामीश्वरश्चैक एव
There is only one fire, kindled in many ways; one sun that illumines all this; one Indra, the slayer of foes; and Yama alone is lord of the ancestors.
द्वाविन्द्राग्नी चरतो वै सखायौ द्वौ देवर्षी नारदपर्वतौ च। द्वावश्विनौ द्वे रथस्यापि चक्रे भार्यापती द्वौ विहितौ विधात्रा
Indra and Agni are two, moving together as friends; two are the divine sages, Narada and Parvata; two are the Ashvins; two are the wheels of a chariot; and two, ordained by the Creator, are husband and wife.
त्रिः सूयते कर्मणा वै प्रजेयं त्रयो युक्ता वाजपेयं वहन्ति। अध्वर्यवस्त्रिसवनानि तन्वते त्रयो लोकास्त्रीणि ज्योतींषि चाहुः
By action, offspring is produced threefold; three yoked horses draw the Vājapeya; three Adhvaryus perform the three Soma sacrifices; three worlds and three lights are spoken of.
चतुष्टयं ब्राह्मणानां निकेतं चत्वारो वर्णा यज्ञमिमं वहन्ति। दिशश्चतस्रो वर्णचतुष्टयं च चतुष्पदा गौरपि शश्वदुक्ता
Four are the abodes of Brahmins; four castes bear this sacrifice; four directions and four castes are spoken of; the cow is always said to have four feet.