इन्द्रोऽप्येषां प्रणमते किं पुनर्मानवो भुवि। अवलिप्ते न जानीषे वृद्धानां न श्रुतं त्वया
"Even Indra bows to them; what then of men on earth? But you, being proud, do not know this, nor have you heard the teachings of the elders."
ब्राह्मणा ह्यग्निसदृशा दहेयुः पृथिवीमपि। `सपर्वतवनद्वीपां क्षिप्रमेवावमानिताः
"Brahmins are like fire; if disrespected, they could quickly burn even the earth with its mountains, forests, and islands."
[नाहं बलाका विप्रर्षे त्यज क्रोधं तपोधन। अनया क्रुद्धया दृष्ट्या क्रुद्धः किं मां करिष्यसि]
"I am not a crane, O Brahmin sage; abandon your anger, O possessor of austerity. What will you do to me, angered by this angry glance?"
नावजानाम्यहं विप्रान्देवैस्तुल्यान्मनस्विनः। अपराधमिमं विप्र क्षन्तुमर्हसि मेऽनघ
"I do not look down on Brahmins, who are equal to the gods in mind. Forgive me this offense, O sinless one."
जानामि तेजो विप्राणआं महाभाग्यं च धीमताम्। अपेयः सागरः क्रोधात्कृतो हि लवणोदकः
I know the power of the Brahmins, and the great fortune of the wise; the ocean, though unassailable, became salty water because of their wrath.
तथैव दीप्ततपसां मुनीनां भावितात्मनाम्। येषां क्रोधाग्निरद्यापि समुद्रे नोपशाम्यति। `कस्तान्परिभवेन्मूढो ब्राह्मणानमितौजसः
In the same way, the fire of anger of those sages, whose austerity blazes and whose souls are purified, has not yet subsided in the ocean even today; what fool would insult Brahmins of immeasurable energy?
ब्राह्मणानां परिभवाद्वातापिः सुदुरात्मवान्। अगस्त्यमृषिमासाद्य जीर्णः क्रूरो महासुरः
Because of disrespect towards Brahmins, the wicked and cruel demon Vatapi was destroyed when he encountered the sage Agastya.
बहुप्रभावाः श्रूयन्ते ब्राह्मणानां महात्मनाम्। क्रोधः सुविपुलो ब्रह्मन्प्रसादश्च महात्मनाम्। अस्मिंस्त्वतिक्रमे ब्रह्मन्क्षन्तुमर्हसि मेऽनघ
Many wondrous powers are heard of the great-souled Brahmins; their anger is vast, O Brahmin, and their grace is also great. In this transgression of mine, O sinless one, you ought to forgive me.
पतिशुश्रूषया धर्मो य स मे रोचते द्विज। दैवतेष्वपि सर्वेषु भर्ता मे दैवतं परम्
The virtue that lies in serving one's husband is what pleases me, O Brahmin; among all the gods, my husband is my highest deity.
अविशेषेण तस्याहं कुर्यां धर्मं द्विजोत्तम। शुश्रूषायाः फलं पश्य पत्युर्ब्राह्मण यादृशम्
Without distinction, I would perform my duty to him, O best of Brahmins; see, O Brahmin, the fruit of service to one's husband.
बलाका हि त्वया दग्धा रोषात्तद्विदितं मया। क्रोधः शत्रुः शरीरस्थो मनुष्याणां द्विजोत्तम
It is known to me that you burned the heron in anger; anger is an enemy dwelling in the body of humans, O best of Brahmins.
मास्म क्रुध्यो बलाकेव न वध्याऽस्मि पतिव्रता'। यः क्रोधमोहौ त्यजति तं देवा ब्राह्मणं विदुः
Do not be angry like you were with the heron; I am not to be slain, for I am devoted to my husband. The gods recognize as a Brahmin one who abandons anger and delusion.
यो वदेदिह सत्यानि गुरुं संतोषयेत च। हिंसितश्च त हिंसेत तं देवा ब्राह्मणं विदुः
He who speaks truth here and pleases his teacher, and does not harm even when harmed—him the gods know as a Brahmin.
जितेन्द्रियो धर्मपरः स्वाध्यायनिरतः शुचिः। कामक्रोधौ वशौ यस्य तं देवा ब्राह्मणं विदुः
He who has mastered his senses, is devoted to righteousness, engaged in self-study, pure, and has desire and anger under control—him the gods know as a Brahmin.
यस्य चात्मसमो लोको धर्मज्ञस्य मनस्विनः। सर्वधर्मेषु चरतस्तं देवा ब्राह्मणं विदुः
He to whom the world is equal to himself, who knows righteousness, who is wise, and who acts according to all duties—him the gods know as a Brahmin.
योऽध्यापयेदधीयीत यजेद्वा याजयीत वा। दद्याद्वाऽपि यथाशक्ति तं देवा ब्राह्मणं विदुः
He who teaches or studies, who performs or causes sacrifices, or who gives as he is able—him the gods know as a Brahmin.
ब्राह्मचारी वदान्यो योप्यधीयाद्द्विजपुङ्गवः। स्वाध्यायवानमत्तो वै तं देवा ब्राह्मणं विदुः
Even a celibate, generous, and learned Brahmin, devoted to self-study and free from pride—him the gods know as a Brahmin.
यद्ब्राह्मणानां कुशलं तदेषां परिकीर्तयेत्। सत्यं तथा व्याहरतां नानृते रमते मनः
Whatever is beneficial for Brahmins, that he should proclaim for them; and his mind does not delight in falsehood, but in speaking truth.
धनं तु ब्राह्मणस्याहुः स्वाध्यायं दममार्जवम्। इन्द्रियाणां निग्रहं च शाश्वतं द्विजसत्तम
The wealth of a Brahmin, they say, is self-study, self-restraint, and honesty, and the constant control of the senses, O best of twice-born.
सत्यार्जवे धर्ममाहुः परं धर्मविदो जनाः। दुर्ज्ञेयः शाश्वतो धर्मः स च सत्ये प्रतिष्ठितः
Those who know righteousness declare that supreme righteousness is in truth and honesty; eternal righteousness is difficult to know, and it is established in truth.
श्रुतिप्रमाणो धर्मः स्यादिति वृद्धानुशासनम्। बहुधा दृश्यते धर्मः सूक्ष्म एव द्विजोत्तम
The elders instruct that the authority for righteousness is the scriptures; righteousness is seen in many forms, O best of Brahmins, and is indeed subtle.
भगवानपि धर्मज्ञः स्वाद्यायनिरतः शुचिः। न तु तत्त्वेन भगवन्दर्मं वेत्सीति मे मतिः
Even the blessed one, who knows righteousness, who is devoted to self-study and pure, does not truly know righteousness in its entirety, O blessed one—so I think.
यदि विप्र न जानीषे धर्मं परमकं द्विज। धर्मव्याधं तत पृच्छ गत्वा तु मिथिलां पुरीम्
If, O Brahmin, you do not know the supreme dharma, then go to the city of Mithila and ask the righteous hunter about it.
मातापितृभ्यां शुश्रूपुः सत्यवादी जितेन्द्रियः। मिथिलायां वसेद्व्याधः स ते धर्मान्प्रवक्ष्यति
There lives in Mithila a hunter who serves his mother and father, speaks the truth, and has mastered his senses; he will explain dharma to you.
तत्र गच्छस्व भद्रं ते यथाकामं द्विजोत्तम। `व्याधः परमधर्मात्मा स ते छेत्स्यति संशयम्
Go there, best of Brahmins, and may good fortune be yours; that hunter, whose soul is established in the highest dharma, will resolve your doubts.
अत्युक्तमपि मे सर्वं क्षन्तुमर्हस्यनिन्दित। स्त्रियो ह्यवध्याः सर्वेषां ये धर्ममभिविन्दते
Even if I have spoken too harshly, O blameless one, you should forgive me; for women are not to be slain by anyone who understands dharma.
प्रीतोस्मि तव भद्रं ते गतः क्रोधश्च शोभने। उपालम्भस्त्वया प्रोक्तो मम निश्रेयसं परम्
I am pleased with you, O auspicious one, may good come to you; my anger has departed, and your reproach has brought me the highest good.
स्वस्ति तेऽस्तु गमिष्यामि साधयिष्यामि शोभने। `धन्या त्वमसि कल्याणि यस्याः स्याद्वृत्तमीदृशम्
May blessings be yours, I will go now and accomplish this, O beautiful one; you are truly blessed and virtuous, whose conduct is such as this.
तया विसृष्टो निर्गत्य स्वमेव भवनं ययौ। विनिन्दन्स स्वमात्मानं कौशिको द्विजसत्तमः ।। वस्त्रिणो वस्त्रदा यान्ति अवस्त्रा यान्त्यवस्त्रदाः
Dismissed by her, the best of Brahmins, Kauśika, left and went to his own house, blaming himself; those with clothes give to the unclothed, and the unclothed go to those with clothes.
चिन्तयित्वा तदाश्चर्यं स्त्रिया प्रोक्तमशेपतः। विनिन्दन्स द्विजोऽऽत्मानमागस्कृत इवाबभौ
Reflecting on the wondrous words spoken by the woman, the Brahmin reproached himself, feeling as if he had committed a fault.