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.'
विधात्रा विहितं पूर्वं कर्म स्वमनुपालयन्। प्रयत्नाच्च गुरू वृद्धौ शुश्रूषेऽहं द्विजोत्तम
'I carry out the work assigned by the Creator, and with effort I have served my elders and teachers, O best of brahmins.'
सत्यं वदे नाभ्यसूये यथाशक्ति ददामि च। देवतातिथिभृत्यानामवशिष्टेन वर्तये
'I speak the truth, do not envy others, and give as much as I am able. With what remains, I maintain the gods, guests, and servants.'
न कुत्सयाम्यहं किंचिन्न गर्हे बलवत्तरम्। कृतमन्वेति कर्तारं पुरा कर्म द्विजेत्तम
'I do not despise anything, nor do I blame what is stronger. The deed follows the doer, O best of brahmins, as it was done before.'
कृषिगोरक्ष्यवाणिज्यमिह लोकस्य जीवनम्। दण्डनीतिस्त्रयो विद्या तेन लोको भवत्युत
'Farming, cattle-keeping, and trade are the livelihoods of the people here. These three, along with the science of punishment, sustain the world.'
कर्म शूद्रे कृषिर्वैश्ये संग्रामः क्षत्रिये स्मृतः। ब्रह्मचर्यतपोमन्त्राः सत्यं च ब्राह्मणे सदा
'Farming is the duty of the shudra, trade of the vaishya, battle of the kshatriya; for the brahmin, always, are celibacy, austerity, mantras, and truth.'
राजा प्रशास्ति धर्मेण स्वकर्मनिरताः प्रजाः। विकर्माणश्च ये केचित्तान्युनक्ति स्वकर्मसु
'The king rules the people through righteousness, as they are devoted to their own duties; and those who act wrongly, he restrains from their own duties.'
भेतव्यं हि सदा राज्ञां प्रजानामधिपा हिते। मारयन्ति विकर्मस्थं लुब्धा मृगमिवेषुभिः
'The rulers, always intent on the welfare of the people, must be feared; they slay the wrongdoer, greedy like a hunter kills a beast with arrows.'
जनकस्येह विप्रर्षे विकर्मस्थो न विद्यते। स्वकर्मनिरता वर्णाश्चत्वारोपि द्विजोत्तम
'In the realm of Janaka, O sage among brahmins, there is no one acting wrongly; all four classes, O best of twice-born, are devoted to their own duties.'
स एष जनको राजा दुर्वृत्तमपि चेत्सुतम्। दण्ड्यं दण्डे निक्षिपति यथा न ग्लाति धार्मिकम्
This King Janaka, even if his own son acts wickedly, imposes punishment according to law, so that the righteous are not harmed.
सुयुक्तचारो नृपतिः सर्वं धर्मेण पश्यति। श्रीश्च राज्यं च दण्डश्च क्षत्रियाणां द्विजोत्तम
The ruler, with proper intelligence, observes everything by means of righteousness; wealth, kingdom, and punishment belong to the Kshatriyas, O best of Brahmins.