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.'
विवदन्तौ तथा तौ तु मुनीनां द्रशने स्थितौ। ये तस्य यज्ञे संवृत्तास्तेऽपृच्छन्त कथं त्विमौ
Thus, as those two argued, standing before the assembly of sages, those who had gathered at his sacrifice asked, 'Who are these two?'
प्रवेशः केन दत्तोऽयमनयोर्वैन्यसंसदि। उच्चैः समभिभाषन्तौ केन कार्येण धिष्ठितौ
'By whose permission have these two entered Vainya's assembly? For what purpose do they speak out loudly and persistently?'
ततः परमधर्मात्मा काश्यपः सर्वधऱ्मवित्। विवादिनावनुप्राप्तौ तावुभौ प्रत्यवेदयत्
Then the supremely righteous Kāśyapa, knower of all dharma, informed them about the arrival of those two disputants.
अथाब्रवीत्सदस्यांस्तु गौतमो मुनिसत्तमान्। आवयोर्व्याहृतं प्रश्नं शृणुत द्विजसत्तमाः। वैन्यं विधातेत्याहात्रिरत्र नौ संशयो महान्
Then Gautama, best of sages, spoke to the assembly: 'Hear the question spoken between us, O best of twice-born! Atri says Vainya is the Creator; here lies our great doubt.'
ततस्तु गौतमेनोक्तं वाक्यं वैन्यस्य संसदि'। श्रुत्वैव तु महात्मानो मुनयोऽभ्यद्रवन्दुतम्
Then, when Gautama spoke these words in Vainya's assembly, the great sages, having heard, rushed toward the messenger.
सनत्कुमारं धर्मज्ञं संशयच्छेदनाय वै। `पप्रच्छुः प्रणताः सर्वे ब्रह्माणमिव सोमपाः
All, bowing down, questioned Sanatkumāra, knower of dharma, to resolve the doubt, as the Soma-drinkers would question Brahmā.
स च तेषां वचः श्रुत्वा यथातत्त्वं महातपाः। प्रत्युवाचाथ तानेवं धर्मार्थसहितं वचः
And he, the great ascetic, having heard their words, replied to them as follows, with speech joined to righteousness and purpose.
ब्रह्म क्षत्रेण सहितं क्षत्रं च ब्रह्मणा सह। संयुक्तौ दहतः शत्रून्वनानीवाग्निमारुतौ
Brahman joined with kṣatra, and kṣatra joined with brahman—together they burn up their enemies, like fire and wind in the forest.
राजा वै प्रथितो धर्मः प्रजानां पतिरेव च। स एव शक्रः शुक्रश्च स धाता च बृहस्पतिः
The king is indeed proclaimed as righteousness, and is truly the lord of the people; he is Indra, Shukra, Dhata, and Brihaspati.
प्रजापतिर्विराट् सम्राट् क्षत्रियो भूपतिर्नृपः। य एभिः स्तूयते शब्दैः कस्तं नार्चितुमर्हति
He is Prajapati, the universal sovereign, the emperor, the Kshatriya, the lord of the earth, the ruler; who, being praised by these names, would not be worthy of worship?