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.
किंत्वस्ति तत्र द्वेष्टारो निवसन्ति हि मे द्विजाः। यथा मे गौतमः प्राह ततो न व्यवसाम्यहम्
But there are those who bear me ill will living there, O twice-born ones; as Gautama told me, therefore I am undecided.
तत्र स्म वाचं कल्याणीं धर्मकामार्थसंहिताम्। मयोक्तामन्यथा ब्रूयुस्ततस्ते वै निरर्थिकाम्
There, if they speak otherwise than the auspicious words I have spoken, which are in accord with righteousness, desire, and wealth, then those words of theirs will be meaningless.
गमिष्यामि महाप्राज्ञे रोचते मे वचस्तव। गाश्च मे दास्यते वैन्यः प्रभूतं चार्थसंचयम्
I will go, O greatly wise one; your words please me. Vainya will give me cows and abundant wealth.
एवमुक्त्वा जगामाशु वैन्ययज्ञं महातपाः। गत्वा च यज्ञायतनमत्रिस्तुष्टाव तं नृपम्
Having spoken thus, the great ascetic quickly went to Vainya's sacrifice; and having arrived at the sacrificial place, Atri praised that king.
वाक्यैर्मङ्गलसंयुक्तैः पूजयानोऽब्रवीद्वचः। राजन्धन्यस्त्वमीशश्च भुवि त्वं प्रथमो नृपः। स्तुवन्ति त्वां मुनिगणास्त्वदन्यो नास्ति धर्मवित्
Honoring him with auspicious words, he spoke: 'O king, you are wealthy and lordly; you are the foremost king on earth. The hosts of sages praise you; there is no one but you who knows righteousness.'
तमब्रवीदृषिः क्रुद्धो वचनं वै महातपाः
The sage, filled with anger, spoke these words to him.
मैवमत्रे पुनर्ब्रूया न ते प्रज्ञा समाहिता। अत्र नः प्रथमो धाता महेन्द्रो वै प्रजापतिः
'Do not say so again, O Atri; your understanding is not steady. Among us, the first is the Creator, Mahendra, the Lord of creatures.'
अथात्रिरपि राजेन्द्र गौतमं प्रत्यभाषत। अयमेव विधाता च तथैवेन्द्रः प्रजापतिः। त्वमेव मुह्यसे मोहान्न प्रज्ञानं तवास्ति ह
Then, O king, Atri also replied to Gautama: 'He alone is the Creator, and likewise Indra, the Lord of creatures. You are confused out of delusion; you do not possess true understanding.'
जानामि नाहं मुह्यामि त्वंविवक्षुर्विमुह्यसे। स्तौषि त्वं दर्शनप्रेप्सू राजानं जनसंसदि
'I know; I am not deluded. You, wishing to speak, are confused. You praise the king in the assembly of people, seeking his favor.'
न वेत्थ परमं धर्मं न चास्त्यत्र प्रयोजनम्। बालस्त्वमसि मूढश्च वृद्धः केनापि हेतुना
'You do not know the highest dharma, nor is there any purpose here. You are a child and a fool, though old in some way.'