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.
पञ्चाग्नयः पञ्चपदा च पङ्क्ति- र्यज्ञाः पञ्चैवाप्यथ पञ्चेनद्रियाणि। दृष्ट्वा वेदे पञ्चचूडाप्सराश्च लोके ख्यातं पञ्चनदं च पुण्यम्
The five fires, the five-footed metre, the Paṅkti, the five sacrifices, and the five senses—having seen in the Veda the five-tressed Apsarases, the renowned and holy land of five rivers in the world,
षडाधाने दक्षिणामाहुरेके षट् चैवेमे ऋतवः कालचक्रम्। षडिन्द्रियाण्युत षट् कृत्तिकाश्च षट् साद्यस्काः सर्ववेदेषु दृष्टाः
Some declare six acts of giving as prescribed; these six are also the seasons, the wheel of time; six senses as well, and the six Kṛttikās, and six Sādyaskas are seen in all the Vedas.
सप्त ग्राम्याः पशवः सप्त वन्याः सप्त च्छन्दांसि क्रतुमेकं वहन्ति। सप्तर्षयः सप्त चाप्यर्हणानि सप्तन्त्री प्रथिता चैव वीणा
Seven domestic animals, seven wild ones, seven metres carry a single sacrifice; seven seers, and seven offerings, and the seven-stringed vīṇā is also renowned.
अष्टौ शाणाः शतमानं वहन्ति तथाष्टपादः शरभः सिंहघाती। अष्टौ वसूञ्शुश्रुम देवतासु यूपश्चाष्टास्रिर्विहितः सर्वयज्ञे
Eight threads bear a hundred measures; likewise, the eight-footed śarabha, the lion-slayer; I have heard of eight Vasus among the gods, and the sacrificial post with eight corners is prescribed in every sacrifice.
नवैवोक्ताः सामिधेन्यः पितॄणां तथा प्राहुर्नवयोगं विसर्गम्। नवाक्षरा बृहती संप्रदिष्टा नवैव योगो गणनामेति शश्वत्
Nine are declared as the kindling sticks for the ancestors; likewise, they speak of the ninefold conjunction in the offering; the Bṛhatī metre is taught as having nine syllables, and nine is ever said to be the number for reckoning.
दिशो दशोक्ताः पुरुषस्य लोके सहस्रमाहुर्दशपूर्णं शतानि। दशैव मासान्बिभ्रति भर्गवत्यो दशैरका दशदाशा दशार्हाः
Ten directions are spoken of in the world of men; a thousand is said to be ten times a hundred; the Bhārgava women bear ten months, and there are ten fingers, ten gifts, and ten worthy ones.
एकादशैकादशिनः पशूना- मेकादशैवात्र भवन्ति यूपाः। एकादश प्राणभृतां विकारा एकादशोक्ता दिवि देवेषु रुद्राः
Eleven are the animals called Ekādaśins; here, too, eleven sacrificial posts exist; eleven are the modifications of living beings, and eleven Rudras are spoken of among the gods in heaven.
संवत्सरं द्वादशमासमाहु- र्जगत्याः पादो द्वादशैवाक्षराणि। द्वादशाहः प्राकृतो यज्ञ उक्तो द्वादशादित्यान्कथयन्तीह घीराः
A year is said to have twelve months; the Jagatī metre has twelve syllables; the natural sacrifice is said to last twelve days, and the hymns here speak of the twelve Ādityas.
एतावदुक्त्वा विरराम वन्दी श्लोकस्यार्धं व्याजहाराष्टवक्रः
Having spoken thus far, the bard paused; Aṣṭāvakra recited half a verse.
ततो महानुदतिष्ठन्निनाद- स्तूष्णींभूतं सूतपुत्रं निशम्य। अधोमुखं ध्यानपरं तदानी- मष्टावक्रं चाप्युदीर्यन्तमेव
Then, as the great sound arose, hearing the charioteer's son fall silent, his head bowed and absorbed in meditation, Aṣṭāvakra began to speak.