चरमाणस्तु सोऽरण्ये तृणवीरुत्समावृते। कृष्णाजिनोत्तरासङ्गं ददर्श मुनिमन्तिके
While wandering in the forest thick with grass and shrubs, he saw near him a sage clad in a black antelope skin.
स तेन हिंसितोऽरण्ये मन्यमानेन वै मृगम्। व्यथितः कर्म तत्कृत्वा शोकोपहतचेतनः
There, thinking he was a deer, he harmed the sage in the forest; after committing that act, he was stricken with grief and his mind was overcome by sorrow.
जगाम हेहयानां वै सकाशं प्रथितात्मनाम्। राज्ञां राजीवनेत्रोसौ कुमारः पृथिवीपते
That prince, whose eyes were like lotus petals, went to the renowned kings of the Hehaya clan, O lord of the earth.
तेषां च तद्यथावृत्तं कथयामास वै तदा। `स कुमारो महीपालो हेहयानां महीभृताम्
Then, that prince, ruler of the earth among the Hehayas, told them all exactly what had happened.
तं चापि हिंसितं तात मुनिं मूलफलाशिनम्। श्रुत्वा दृष्ट्वा च ते तत्र बभूवुर्दीनमानसाः
Hearing and seeing that the sage, who lived on roots and fruits, had been harmed, they all became downcast in spirit.
कस्यायमिति ते सर्वे मार्गमाणास्ततस्ततः। जग्मुश्चारिष्टनाम्नोऽथ तार्क्ष्यस्याश्रममञ्जसा
All of them, searching here and there for whom this might be, then went straight to the hermitage of Tarkshya named Arishta.
तेऽभिवाद्य महात्मानं तं मुनिं संशितव्रतम्। तस्थुः सर्वे स तु मुनिस्तेषां पूजामथाहरत्
They greeted that great-souled sage, steadfast in his vows, and stood before him; and the sage then offered them hospitality.
ते तमूचुर्महात्मानं न वयं सक्रियां मुने। त्वत्तोऽर्हाः कर्मदोषेण ब्राह्मणो हिंसितो हि नः
They said to that great-souled sage: 'O sage, we are not worthy to receive your rites, for a Brahmin has been harmed by us through a fault in our actions.'
तानब्रवीत्स विप्रर्षिः कथं वो ब्राह्मणो हतः। क्व चासौ ब्रूत सहिताः पश्यध्वं मे रतपोबलम्
That sage among Brahmins said to them: 'How was a Brahmin killed by you? Where is he? Tell me together, and witness my ascetic power.'
ते तु तत्सर्वमखिलमाख्यायास्मै यथातथम्। नापश्यंस्तमृषिं तत्र गतासुं ते समागताः
They then told him everything exactly as it had happened; but when they gathered there, they did not see the sage, for his life had departed.
अन्वेषमाणाः सव्रीडाः सुप्तवद्गतमानसाः। तानब्रवीत्तत्रमुनिस्तार्क्ष्यः परपुरंजयः
Searching, ashamed, and their minds as if dazed by sleep, the sage Tarkshya, conqueror of enemy cities, spoke to them there.
स्यादयं ब्राह्मणः सोऽथयुष्माभिर्यो विनाशितः। पुत्रो ह्ययं मम नृपास्तपोबलसमन्वितः
'This Brahmin whom you have destroyed may indeed be my son, O kings, endowed with ascetic power.'
ते च दृष्ट्वैव तमृषिं विस्मयं परमं गताः। महदाश्चर्यमिति वै ते ब्रुवाणा महीपते
Upon seeing that sage, they were struck with the utmost astonishment, exclaiming, 'This is a great wonder, O King.'
मृतो ह्ययमितो दृष्टः कथं जीवितमाप्तवान्। किमेतत्तपसो वीर्यं येनायं जीवितः पुनः। श्रोतुमिच्छामहे विप्र यदि श्रोतव्यमित्युत
He was seen dead here, yet how has he regained life? Is this the power of austerity by which he lives again? We wish to hear, O Brahmin, if it is fit to be told.
स तानुवाच नास्माकं मृत्युः प्रभवते नृपाः। कारणं च प्रवक्ष्यामि हेतुयोगं समासतः। `मृत्युः प्रभवते येन नास्माकं नृपसत्तमाः
He replied to them, 'Death does not prevail over us, O kings. I will explain the reason and the connection of causes in brief—why death does not prevail over us, O best of kings.'
शुद्धाचारादनलसाः साध्योपासनतत्पराः। शुद्धान्नाः शुद्धसदना ब्रह्मचर्यव्रतान्विताः
Because of pure conduct, freedom from laziness, devotion to the worship of the Sādhyas, purity of food, purity of dwelling, and observance of the vow of celibacy.
सत्यमेवाभिजानीमो नानृते कुर्महे मनः। स्वधर्ममनुतिष्ठामस्तस्मान्मृत्युभयं न नः
We recognize only truth; we do not let our minds dwell on falsehood. We follow our own duty, and therefore we have no fear of death.
यद्ब्राह्मणानां कुशलं तदेषां कथयामहे। तेषां हि चरितं ब्रूमस्तस्मान्मृत्युभयं न नः
Whatever is beneficial for Brahmins, that we declare for them. We recount their practices, and therefore we have no fear of death.
अतिथीनन्नपानेन भृत्यानत्यशनेन च। संभोज्य शेषमश्नीमस्तस्मान्मृत्युभयं न नः
Having honored guests with food and drink, and servants with proper meals, we partake of what remains; therefore we have no fear of death.
क्षान्ता दान्ताः क्षमाशीलास्तीर्थदानपरायणाः। पुण्यदेशनिवासाच्च तस्मान्मृत्युभयं न नः। तेजस्विदेशवासाच्च तस्मान्मृत्युभयं न नः
We are patient, self-controlled, forgiving by nature, devoted to giving at holy places, and dwell in sacred regions; therefore we have no fear of death. And because we reside in regions of energy, therefore we have no fear of death.
एतद्वै लेशमात्रं वः समाख्यातं विमत्सराः। गच्छध्वं सहिताः सर्वे न पापाद्भयमस्ति वः
This, free from envy, is but a small portion I have explained to you. Go forth together, all of you; you have no fear of sin.
एवमस्त्विति ते सर्वे प्रतिपूज्य महामुनिम्। स्वदेशमगमन्हृष्टा राजानो भरतर्षभ
All of them, saying 'So be it,' honored the great sage and joyfully returned to their own lands, O bull among the Bharatas.
भूय एव तु माहात्म्यं ब्राह्मणआनां निबोध मे। वैन्यो नामेह राजर्षिरश्वमेधाय दीक्षितः
Now hear again from me the greatness of Brahmins. There was a royal sage named Vainya, consecrated for the horse sacrifice.
तमत्रिर्गन्तुमारेबे वित्तार्थमिति नः श्रुतम्। भूयोऽर्थं नानुरुध्यत्स धर्मव्यक्तिनिदर्शनात्
It is heard by us that Atri set out to approach him for wealth. Yet he did not pursue his request further, seeing the manifestation of righteousness.
स विचिन्त्य महातेजा वनमेवान्वरोचयत्। धर्मपत्नीं समाहूय पुत्रांश्चेदमुवाच ह
Reflecting, the mighty one chose the forest, and summoning his lawful wife and sons, he spoke these words.
प्राप्स्यामः फलमत्यन्तं बहुलं निरुपद्रवम्। अरण्यगमनं क्षिप्रं रोचतां वो गुणाधिकम्
We shall obtain abundant, uninterrupted fruit. Let the swift journey to the forest, which is rich in virtues, be pleasing to you.
तं भार्या प्रत्युवाचाथ धनमेवानुरुन्धती। वैन्यं गत्वा महात्मानमर्थयस्व धनं बहुः
Then his wife replied, desiring only wealth: 'Go to Vainya, the great-souled one, and request much wealth from him.'
स ते दास्यति राजर्षिर्यजमानोऽर्थिने धनम्। तत आदाय विप्रर्षे प्रतिगृह्य धनं बहु
That royal sage, the sacrificer, will give wealth to the one who asks. Then, O best of Brahmins, having received much wealth,
भृत्यान्सुतान्संविभज्य ततो व्रज यथेप्सितम्। एष वै परमो धर्मो धर्मविद्भिरुदाहृतः
Distribute it among servants and sons, then depart as you wish. This is indeed the highest duty, declared by those who know righteousness.
कथितो मे महाभागे गौतमेन महात्मना। वैन्यो धर्मार्थसंयुक्तः सत्यव्रतसमन्वितः
This was told to me, O highly fortunate one, by the great-souled Gautama: Vainya, endowed with righteousness and wealth, steadfast in truth.