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.
चिन्तयानः स धर्मस्य सूक्ष्मां गतिमथाब्रवीत्। श्रद्दधानेन वै भाव्ये गच्छामि मिथिलामहम्
Thinking on the subtle path of dharma, he said: 'With faith, I will go to Mithila.'
कृतात्मा धर्मवित्तस्यां व्याधो निवसते किल। तं गच्चाम्यहमद्यैव धर्मं प्रष्टुं तपोधनम्
It is said that in that city dwells a hunter who knows dharma and is self-controlled; today I will go to him, the ascetic, to ask about dharma.
इतिसंचिन्त्य मनसा श्रद्दधानः स्त्रिया वचः। बलाकाप्रत्ययेनासौ धर्म्यैश्च वचनैः शुभैः
Thus pondering the woman's words with faith and the trustworthy words of the crane, he set his mind on dharma.
संप्रतस्थे स मिथिलां कौतूहलसमन्वितः। अतिक्रामन्नरण्यानि ग्रामांश्च नगराणि च
He set out for Mithila, filled with curiosity, passing through forests, villages, and cities.
ततो जगाम मिथिलां जनकेन सुरक्षिताम्। धर्मसेतुसमाकीर्णां यज्ञोत्सववतीं शुभाम्
Then he reached Mithila, protected by Janaka, filled with the bridge of dharma, and adorned with sacrificial festivals.
गोपुराट्टालकवतीं हर्म्यप्राकारशोभनाम्। प्रविश्य नगरीं रम्यां विमानैर्बहुभिर्युताम्
He entered the beautiful city, adorned with gates, towers, splendid mansions, and many palaces.
पण्यैश्च बहुभिर्युक्तां सुविभक्तमहापथाम्। अश्वै रथैस्तथा नागैर्योधैश्च बहुभिर्युताम्
The city was filled with many goods for sale, had well-divided main roads, and was crowded with horses, chariots, elephants, and many warriors.
हृष्टपुष्टजनाकीर्णां नित्योत्सवसमाकुलाम्। सोऽपस्यद्बहुवृत्तान्तां ब्राह्मणः समतिक्रमन्
It was thronged with joyful, prosperous people, always busy with festivals; the Brahmin saw many events as he passed through.
धर्मव्याधमपृच्छच्च स चास्य कथितो द्विजैः। अपश्यत्तत्रगत्वा तं सूनामध्ये व्यवस्थितम्
He inquired about the righteous hunter, and the Brahmins there told him; going there, he saw him standing among his sons.
मार्गमाहिपमांसानि विक्रीणन्तं तपस्विनम्। आकुलत्वाच्च क्रेतृणामेकान्ते संस्थितो द्विजः
He saw the ascetic selling the flesh of snakes and other animals, and, because of the crowd of buyers, the Brahmin stood aside.
स तु ज्ञाता द्विजं प्राप्तं सहसा संभ्रमोत्थितः। आजगाम यतो विप्रः स्थित एकान्तआसने
When he recognized that a brahmin had arrived, he rose up in haste and came to where the brahmin was seated alone.
अभिवादये त्वां भगवन्स्वागतं ते द्विजोत्तम। अहं व्याधो हि भद्रं ते किं करोमि प्रशाधि माम्
He greeted him, saying: 'Revered sir, welcome to you, best of twice-born! I am a hunter—may good fortune be yours. What can I do for you? Command me.'
एकपत्न्या यदुक्तोसि गच्छ त्वं मिथिलामिति। जानाम्येतदहं सर्वं यदर्थं त्वमिहागतः
'You have been told by your wife to go to Mithila. I know all this, and the reason for which you have come here.'
श्रुत्वा च तस्य तद्वाक्यं स विप्रो भृशविस्मितः। द्वितीयमिदमाश्चर्यमित्यचिन्तयत द्विजः
Hearing these words, the brahmin was greatly astonished, and thought, 'This is another marvel!'
अदेशस्थं हि ते स्तानमिति व्याघोऽब्रवीद्द्विजम्। गृहं गच्छाव भगवन्यदि ते रोचतेऽनघ
The hunter said to the brahmin, 'This is not the proper place for you to stay. Let us go to my house, venerable one, if it pleases you, O sinless one.'
बाढमित्येव तं विप्रो हृष्टो वचनमब्रवीत्। अग्रतस्तु द्विजं कृत्वा स जगाम गृहं प्रति
The brahmin, delighted, replied, 'Very well.' Placing the brahmin in front, the hunter led the way toward his house.
प्रविश्य च गृहंरम्यमासनेनाभिपूजितः। `अर्ध्येण च स वै तेन व्याधेन द्विजसत्तमः
Entering the pleasant house, the best of brahmins was honored with a seat and with water for washing his feet by the hunter.
पाद्यमाचमनीयं च प्रतिगृह्य द्विजोत्तमः। ततः सुखोपविष्स्तं व्याधं वचनमब्रवीत्
Having accepted water for washing the feet and for sipping, the best of brahmins, comfortably seated, spoke to the hunter.
कर्मैतद्वै न सदृशं भवतः प्रतिभाति मे। अनुतप्ये भृशं तात तव घोरेण कर्मणा
'This work does not seem fitting for you. I am deeply troubled, my friend, by your dreadful occupation.'
कुलोचितमिदं कर्म पितृपैतामहं परम्। वर्तमानस्य मे धर्मे स्वे मन्युं मा कृथा द्विज
'This work is proper for my lineage, inherited from my father and grandfather. Do not be angry with me, brahmin, as I follow my own dharma.'