न ह्यतो दुष्करतरं मन्ये लोकेष्वपि त्रिषु। यः सपत्नश्रियं दीप्तां हीनश्रीः पर्युपासते
I do not think there is anything more difficult in all three worlds than one who, lacking prosperity, must serve the blazing fortune of a rival.
मरणं शोभनं तस्य इति विद्वज्जना विदुः। `अवमानमवाप्नोति शनैर्नीचसमागमात्
The wise know that for such a person, death is preferable; he gradually suffers humiliation through association with the lowly.
अतिवादा वक्त्रतो निःसरन्ति यैराहतः शोचति रात्र्यहानि। परस्य वै मर्मसु ते पतन्ति तस्माद्धीरो नैव मुच्येत्परेषु
Harsh words, once spoken, come forth from the mouth; wounded by them, a person grieves day and night. They strike at the vital points of another; therefore, the wise never let themselves be loosed upon others.
निरोहेदायुधैश्छिन्नं संरोहेद्दग्धमाग्निना। वाक्क्षतं च न संरोहेदाशरीरं शरीरिणाम्
A wound cut by weapons can heal, a burn from fire can heal; but a wound inflicted by words does not heal in the bodies of living beings.
संरोहित शरैर्विद्धं नवं परशुना हतम्। वाचा दुरुक्तं बीभत्सं न संरोहेत वाक्क्षतम्
A wound pierced by arrows can heal, a fresh cut by an axe can heal; but a terrible, harsh word does not heal—the wound of speech does not close.
ततः काव्यो भृगुश्रेष्ठः समन्युरुपगम्य ह। वृषपर्वाणमासीनमित्युवाचाविचारयन्
Then Kavi, the foremost of the Bhṛgus, approached, filled with anger, and spoke thoughtfully to Vṛṣaparvan, who was seated.
नाधर्मश्चरितो राजन्सद्यः फलति गौरिव। शनैरावर्त्यमानो हि कर्तुर्मूलानि कृन्तति
Unrighteousness, O King, does not bear fruit immediately, like a cow; but as it is turned over slowly, it cuts at the roots of the doer.
पुत्रेषु वा नप्तृषु वा न चेदात्मनि पश्यति। फलत्येव ध्रुवं पायं गुरुभुक्तमिवोदरे
If not in one's sons or grandsons, then surely in oneself, the fruit of sin is seen—just as food eaten by a teacher surely bears fruit in the belly.
अधीयानं हितं राजन्क्षमावन्तं जितेन्द्रियम्।' यदघातयथा विप्रं कचमाङ्गिरसं तदा। अपापशीलं धर्मज्ञं शुश्रूषुं मद्गृहे रतम्
O King, why did you have the Brahmin Kacha, son of Angiras, killed—he who was devoted to study, self-controlled, patient, sinless, learned in dharma, eager to serve, and attached to my household?
शर्मिष्ठया देवयानी क्रूरमुक्ता बहु प्रभो। विप्रकृत्य च संरम्भात्कूपे क्षिप्ता मनस्विनी
O lord, Devayānī was cruelly insulted by Śarmiṣṭhā with many harsh words, and, in anger, the high-minded girl was thrown into a well.
सा न कल्पेत वासाय तयाहं रहितः कथम्। वसेयमिह तस्मात्ते त्यजामि विषयं नृप
She is not fit to dwell with her; how can I, deprived of her, remain here? Therefore, O King, I renounce your realm.
वधादनर्हतस्तस्य वधाच्च दुहितुर्मम। वषपर्वन्निबोधेयं त्यक्ष्यामि त्वां सबान्धवम्। स्थातुं त्वद्विषये राजन्न शक्ष्यामि त्वया सह
Because of the undeserved killing of that one, and the harm done to my daughter, know this, Vṛṣaparvan: I will abandon you and your kin. I cannot remain in your realm, nor can I stay with you.
मा शोच वृषपर्वंस्त्वं मा क्रुध्यस्व विशांपते। स्थातुं ते विषये राजन्न शक्ष्यामि तया विना। अस्या गतिर्गतिर्मह्यं प्रियमस्याः प्रियं मम
Do not grieve, Vṛṣaparvan, nor be angry, lord of men. I cannot remain in your realm without her. Her fate is my fate; what is dear to her is dear to me.
यदि ब्रह्मन्घातयामि यदि वा क्रोशयाम्यहम्। शर्मिष्ठया देवयानीं तेन गच्छाम्यसद्गतिम्
Whether I kill a Brahmin or cry out in grief, if Śarmiṣṭhā has wronged Devayānī, by that act I go to a bad end.
अहो मामभिजानासि दैत्य मिथ्याप्रलापिनम्। यथेममात्मनो दोषं न नियच्छस्पुपेक्षसे
Alas, you think me, O Daitya, a speaker of falsehoods, since you do not restrain or correct this fault of yours, but disregard it.
नाधर्मं न मृषावादं त्वयि जानामि भार्गव। त्वयि धर्मश्च सत्यं च तत्प्रसीदतु नो भवान्
O Bhārgava, I know in you neither unrighteousness nor falsehood. In you are both righteousness and truth; may you be gracious to us.
यद्यस्मानपहाय त्वमितो गच्छसि भार्गव। समुद्रं संप्रवेक्ष्यामि पूर्वं मद्बान्धवैः सह
If you, O Bhārgava, leave us and go from here, I will enter the ocean first, together with my kin.
पातालमथवा चाग्निं नान्यदस्ति परायणम्। यद्येव देवान्गच्छेस्त्वं मां च त्यक्त्वा ग्रहाधिप। सर्वत्यागं ततः कृत्वा प्रविशामि हुताशनम्
Or I will enter the underworld or fire; there is no other refuge. If you, lord of planets, go to the gods, abandoning me, then, having renounced everything, I will enter the blazing fire.
समुद्रं प्रविशध्वं वा दिशो वा द्रवतासुराः। दुहितुर्नाप्रियं सोहुं शक्तोऽहं दयिता हि मे
Enter the ocean, or flee to the directions, O Asuras! I am not able to bear any harm to my daughter, for she is dear to me.
प्रसाद्यतां देवयानी जीवितं यत्र मे स्थितम्। योगक्षेमकरस्तेऽहमिन्द्रस्येव बृहस्पतिः
Let Devayānī be appeased, for my life depends on her. I am your protector of welfare, as Bṛhaspati is for Indra.
यत्किंचिदसुरेन्द्राणां विद्यते वसु भार्गव। भुवि हस्तिगवाश्वं च तस्य त्वं मम चेश्चरः
Whatever wealth of the lords of the Asuras exists on earth—be it elephants, cows, or horses—O Bhargava, you and I are its masters.
यत्किंचिदस्ति द्रविणं दैत्येन्द्राणां महासुर। तस्येश्वरोस्मि यद्येषा देवयानी प्रसाद्यताम्
Whatever riches belong to the mighty Daitya kings, O great Asura, I am the lord of it, if only Devayani may be appeased.
एवमुक्तस्तथेत्याह वृषपर्वा महाकविम्। देवयान्यन्तिकं गत्वा तमर्थं प्राह भार्गवः
Thus addressed, Vrishaparvan replied, 'So be it,' to the great sage, and, approaching Devayani, Bhargava spoke to her of this matter.
यदि त्वमीश्वरस्तात राज्ञो वित्तस्य भार्गव। नाभिजानामि तत्तेऽहं राजा तु वदतु स्वयम्
If you are truly the lord, O Bhargava, of the king's wealth, I do not know of it; let the king himself declare it.
शुक्रस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा वृषपर्वा सबान्धवः। देवयानि प्रसीदेति पपात भुवि पादयोः
Hearing Shukra's words, Vrishaparvan, together with his kin, fell at Devayani's feet, saying, 'Let Devayani be appeased.'
स्तुत्यो वन्द्यश्च सततं मया तातश्च ते शुभे।' यं काममभिकामाऽसि देवयानि शुचिस्मिते। तत्तेऽहं संप्रदास्यामि यदि वापि हि दुर्लभम्
You are always to be praised and honored by me, and you are like a father, O auspicious one. Whatever desire you cherish, O Devayani of pure smile, even if it is difficult to obtain, I shall grant it to you.
दासीं कन्यासहस्रेण शर्मिष्ठामभिकामये। अनु मां तत्र गच्छेत्सा यत्र दद्याच्च मे पिता
I desire Sharmishtha as a maid, together with a thousand maidens; let her follow me wherever my father may give me.
उत्तिष्ठ त्वं गच्छ धात्रि शर्मिष्ठां शीघ्रमानय। यं च कामयते कामं देवयानी करोतु तम्
Rise, nurse, go quickly and bring Sharmishtha; let Devayani do whatever she desires.
त्यजेदेकं कुलस्यार्थे ग्रामार्थे च कुलं त्यजेत्। ग्रामं जनपदस्यार्थे आत्मार्थे पृथिवीं त्यजेत्
One should abandon one for the sake of the family, a family for the sake of the village; a village for the sake of the country, and the earth for the sake of oneself.
ततो धात्री तत्र गत्वा शर्मिष्ठां वाक्यमब्रवीत्। उत्तिष्ठ भद्रे शर्मिष्ठे ज्ञातीनां सुखमावह
Then the nurse went there and spoke to Sharmishtha: 'Rise, gentle Sharmishtha, bring happiness to your kin.'