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.
तस्मिंस्तथा संकुले वर्तमाने स्फीते यज्ञे जनकस्योत राज्ञः। अष्टावक्रं पूजयन्तोऽभ्युपेयु- र्विप्राः सर्वे प्राञ्जलयः प्रतीताः
While this tumult prevailed at the prosperous sacrifice of King Janaka, all the delighted Brahmins, with joined palms, approached Aṣṭāvakra to honor him.
अनेनैव ब्राह्मणाः शुश्रुवांसो वादे जित्वा सलिले मज्जिताः प्राक्। तानेव धर्मानयमद्य वन्दी प्राप्नोतु गृह्याशु निमज्जयैनम्
By this very means, Brahmins who listened, having won debates, were formerly immersed in water; these same principles today the bard should attain—quickly immerse him as is customary.
अहं पुत्रो वरुणस्योत राज्ञ- स्तत्रास सत्रं द्वादशवार्षिकं वै। सत्रेण ते जनक तुल्यकालं तदर्थं ते प्रहिता मे द्विजाग्र्याः
I am the son of Varuṇa, O king; there was a twelve-year sacrifice there. At the same time as your sacrifice, Janaka, my foremost Brahmins were sent for that purpose.
ते तु सर्वे वरुणस्योत यज्ञं द्रष्टुं गता इम आयान्ति भूयः। अष्टावक्रं पूजये पूजनीयं यस्य हेतोर्जनितारं समेष्ये
All of them went to see Varuṇa's sacrifice and now return again; I honor Aṣṭāvakra, who is worthy of honor, for whose sake I will meet his father.
विप्राः समुद्राम्भसि मज्जिता ये वाचा जिता मेधया वा विदानाः। तां मेधया वाचमथोज्जहार यथा वाचमवचिन्वन्ति सन्तः
The Brahmins who were immersed in the ocean's water, conquered by speech or by wisdom—he raised that speech again by wisdom, just as the wise gather speech.
अग्निर्दहञ्जातवेदाः सतां, गृहान् विसर्जयंस्तेजसा न स्म धाक्षीत्। बालेषु पुत्रेषु कृपणं वदत्सु तथा वाचमवचिन्वन्ति सन्तः
Fire, burning, Jātavedas, does not consume the houses of the good with its energy; so too, when children or the sorrowful speak, the wise gather speech in that way.
श्लेष्मातकी क्षीणवर्चाः शृणोषि उताहो त्वां स्तुतयो मादयन्ति। हस्तीव त्वं स्तुतयो मादयन्ति। न मामिकां वाचमिमां शृणोषि
Are you exhausted, like a Śleṣmātakī tree with withered leaves, or do praises delight you? Like an elephant, do praises delight you? You do not listen to this speech of mine.
शृणोमि वाचं तव दिव्यरूपा- ममानुषीं दिव्यरूपोऽसि साक्षात्। अजैषीर्यद्वन्द्विनं त्वं विवादे निसृष्ट एष तव कामोऽद्य वन्दी
I hear your speech, divine in form, not human; you are visibly divine. You have conquered your opponent in debate; today, bard, your desire is granted.
नानन जीवता कश्चिदर्थो मे वन्दिना नृप। पिता यद्यस्य वरुणो मज्जयैनं जलाशये
No purpose is served for me by the bard while he is alive, O king; if his father is Varuna, then submerge him in the waters.
अहं पुत्रो वरुणस्योत राज्ञो न मे भयं विद्यते मज्जितस्य। इमं मुहूर्तं पितरं द्रक्ष्यतेऽय- मष्टावक्रश्चिरनष्टं कहोळम्
I am the son of Varuna and also of the king; I have no fear even if submerged. In this moment, Ashtavakra will see his father Kahola, long lost.
ततस्ते पूजिता विप्रा वरुणेन महात्मना। उदतिष्ठंस्ततः सर्वे जनकस्य समीपतः
Then those revered Brahmins, honored by the great-souled Varuna, all rose and went to the presence of Janaka.
इत्यर्थमिच्छन्ति सुताञ्जना जननकर्मणा। यदहं नाशकं कर्तुं तत्पुत्रः कृतवान्मम
Thus people desire sons for the sake of performing the duties of parenthood; what I could not accomplish, my son has done for me.
उताबलस्य क्लवानुत बालस्य पण्डितः। उत वाऽविदुषो विद्वान्पुत्रो जनक जायते
Sometimes a coward is born to a brave man, sometimes a wise son to a child, or a learned son to an ignorant father, O Janaka.
शितेन ते परशुना स्वयमेवान्तको नृप। शिरांस्यपाहरन्नाजौ रिपूणां भद्रमस्तु ते
With your sharp axe, O king, you yourself struck off the heads of your enemies in battle; may good fortune be yours.
महदैक्थ्यं गीयते साम चाग्र्यं सम्यक्सोमः पीयते चात्र सत्रे। शुचीन्भागान्प्रतिजगृहुश्च हृष्टाः साक्षाद्देवा जनकस्येह राज्ञः
Great unity is sung here, and the foremost Sama hymns; the Soma is properly consumed in this sacrifice, and the delighted gods themselves received pure shares from King Janaka.
समुत्थितेष्वथ सर्वेषु राजन् विप्रेषु तेष्वधिकं सुप्रभेषु। अनुज्ञातो जनकेनाथ राज्ञा विवेश तोयं सागरस्योत वन्दी
When all the Brahmins had arisen, O king, radiant and splendid, and were permitted by Janaka, then the bard entered the waters of the ocean.
अष्टावक्रः पितरं पूजयित्वा संपूजितो ब्राह्मणैस्तैर्यथावत्। प्रत्याजगामाश्रममेव चाग्र्यं जित्वा वन्दिं सहितो मातुलेन
Ashtavakra, having honored his father and been duly honored by those Brahmins, returned to the foremost hermitage, having defeated the bard and accompanied by his uncle.
ततोऽष्टावक्रं मातुरथान्तिके पिता नदीं समङ्गां शीघ्रमिमां विशस्व। प्रोवाच चैनं स तथा विवेश समैरङ्गैश्चापि बभूव पुण्या
Then Ashtavakra's father, near his mother, said to him: 'Quickly enter this river Samaṅgā.' He spoke thus, and Ashtavakra entered, and his limbs became whole and auspicious.
नदी समङ्गा च बभूव पुण्या यस्यां स्नातो मुच्यते किल्बिषाद्धि। त्वमप्येनां स्नानपानावगाहैः सभ्रातृकः सहभार्यो विशश्व
The river Samaṅgā became auspicious; one who bathes in it is freed from sin. You too, with your brothers and wife, should enter it for bathing and drinking.
अत्र कौन्तेय सहितो भ्रातृभिस्त्वं सुखोषितः सह विप्रैः प्रतीतः। पुण्यान्यन्यानि शुचिकर्मैकभक्ति- र्मया सार्धं चरितास्याजमीढ
Here, O son of Kunti, together with your brothers, you have dwelt happily with the Brahmins, well pleased. Other auspicious deeds, pure and devoted, have been performed here with me, O Ajamīḍha.