इति ब्रुवन्नन्वचरत्स राजा पृथिवीमिमाम्। दर्पेण महता मत्तः कञ्चिदन्यमचिन्तयन्
Thus speaking, that king roamed this earth, intoxicated with great pride, considering no one else.
तं च वैद्या अकृपणा ब्राह्मणाः सर्वतोऽभयाः। प्रत्यषेधन्त राजानं श्लाघमानं पुनः पुनः
But the learned, fearless brahmins everywhere, not pitying him, repeatedly restrained that boasting king.
निषिध्यमानोऽप्यसकृत्पृच्छत्येव स वै द्विजान् । अतिमानं श्रिया मत्तं तमूचुर्ब्राह्मणास्तदा
Though repeatedly forbidden, he continues to question the twice-born; intoxicated by wealth and pride, he is addressed by the Brahmins at that time.
तपस्विनो महात्मानो वेदप्रत्ययदर्शिनः । उदीर्यमाणं राजानं क्रोधदीप्ता द्विजातयः
Ascetics of great soul, who perceive the certainty of the Vedas, the twice-born, inflamed with anger, spoke to the king as he persisted.
अनेकजयिनौ शङ्ख्ये यौ वै पुरुषसत्तमौ । तयोस्त्वं न समो राजन्भवितासि कदाचन
Those two, renowned for many victories, are foremost among men; O king, you will never be their equal.
एवमुक्तः स राजा तु पुनः पप्रच्छ तान्द्विजान्। क्व तौ वीरौ क्वजन्मानौ किंकर्माणौ च कौ च तौ
Thus addressed, the king again questioned those Brahmins: 'Where are those heroes? What is their birth? What are their deeds, and who are they?'
नरो नारायणश्चैव तापसाविति नः श्रुतम्। आयातौ मानुषे लोके ताभ्यां युद्ध्यस्व पार्थिव
'Nara and Narayana, ascetics—so we have heard; they have come to the human world. Fight with them, O ruler.'
श्रूयेते तौ महात्मानौ नरनारायणावुभौ । तपो घोरमनिर्देश्यं तप्येते गन्धमादने
Both Nara and Narayana, great souls, are famed; they perform severe, indescribable austerities on Gandhamadana.
स राजा महतीं सेनां योजयित्वा षडङ्गिनीम् । अमृष्यमाणः संप्रायाद्यत्र तावपराजितौ
The king, unable to bear it, assembled a mighty sixfold army and set out to where those two were undefeated.
स गत्वा विषमं घोरं पर्वतं गन्धमादनम्। मार्गमाणोऽन्वगच्छत्तौ तापसौ वनमाश्रितौ
He went to the harsh, dreadful mountain Gandhamadana, seeking those ascetics who dwelled in the forest.
तौ दृष्ट्वा क्षुत्पिपासाभ्यां कृशौ धमनिसन्ततौ । शीतवातातपैश्चैव कर्शितौ पुरुषोत्तमौ
Seeing them, emaciated by hunger and thirst, their veins prominent, and worn by cold, wind, and heat—those supreme men.
अभिगम्योपसङ्गृह्य पर्यपृच्छदनामयम्। तमर्चित्वा मूलफलैरासनेनोदकेन च
Approaching and greeting them, he inquired after their welfare; honoring them with roots, fruits, a seat, and water.
न्यमन्त्रयेतां राजानं किं कार्यं क्रियतामिति। ततस्तामानुपूर्वी स पुनरेवान्वकीर्तयत्
They invited the king, asking, 'What should be done?' Then he recounted the sequence of events once more.
बाहुभ्यां मे जिता भूमिर्निहताः सर्वशत्रवः। भवद्भ्यां युद्धमाकाङ्क्षन्नुपयातोऽस्मि पर्वतम्
'By my arms I have conquered the earth; all enemies are slain. Desiring battle with you both, I have come to this mountain.'
आतिथ्यं दीयतामेतत्काङ्क्षितं मे चिरं प्रति
'Grant me hospitality, which I have long desired.'
न ह्यस्मिन्नाश्रमे युद्धं कुतः शस्त्रं कुतोऽनृजुः । अन्यत्र युद्धमाकाङ्क्ष बहवः क्षत्रियाः क्षितौ
'There is no battle in this hermitage; whence weapons, whence unrighteousness? Seek battle elsewhere—many Kshatriyas are on the earth.'
उच्यमानस्तथाऽपि स्म भूय एवाभ्यभाषत। पुनः पुनः क्षाम्यमाणः सान्त्व्यमानश्च भारत
Though thus addressed, he spoke again and again, repeatedly excused and soothed, O Bharata.
दम्भोद्भवो युद्धमिच्छन्नाह्वयत्येव तापसौ । ततो नरस्त्विषीकाणां मुष्टिमादाय भारत
Born of pride, desiring battle, he kept summoning the ascetics; then Nara, taking a fistful of blades of grass, O Bharata—
अब्रवीदेहि युद्ध्यस्व युद्धकामुक क्षत्रिय। सर्वशस्त्राणि चादत्स्व योजयस्व च वाहिनीम्
Said, 'Come, fight, you battle-seeking Kshatriya; take up all your weapons and assemble your army.'
अहं हि ते विनेष्यामि युद्धश्रद्धामितः परम् । `यदाह्वयसि दर्पेण ब्राह्मणप्रमुखाञ्जनान्
'I will destroy your devotion to battle, which is excessive; since you summon the people, led by Brahmins, out of arrogance.'
यद्येतदस्त्रमस्मासु युक्तं तापस मन्यसे। एतेनापि त्वया योत्स्ये युद्धार्थी ह्यहमागतः
If you consider this weapon suitable against us, O ascetic, then I shall fight you even with it, for I have come here seeking battle.
इत्युक्त्वा शरवर्षेण सर्वतः समवाकिरत् । दम्भोद्भवस्तापसं तं जिवांसुः सहसैनिकः
Having spoken thus, Dambhodbhava, together with his soldiers, showered arrows from all sides upon that ascetic.
तस्य तानस्यतो घोरानिषून्परतनुच्छिदः। कदर्थीकृत्य स मुनिरिषीकाभिः समार्पयत्
The sage, countering those fierce arrows that could cut through bodies, struck them down and responded with reeds.
ततोऽस्मौ प्रासृजद्धोरमैषीकमपराजितः। अस्त्रमप्रतिसन्धेयं तदुद्भुतमिवाभवत्
Then, unconquered, he released a dreadful reed-weapon, an unspeakable missile, which seemed to have arisen suddenly.
तेषामक्षीणि कर्णांश्च नासिकाश्चैव मायया । निमित्तवेधी स मुनिरीषीकाभिः समार्पयत्
By his illusion, the sage struck their ears and noses with reeds, causing them to remain unharmed.
स दृष्ट्वा श्वेतमाकाशमिषीकाभिः समाचितम् । पादयोर्न्यपतद्राजा स्वस्ति मेस्त्विति चाब्रवीत्
Seeing the sky filled with white reeds, the king fell at his feet and said, 'May there be peace for me.'
तमब्रवीन्नरो राजञ्शरण्यः शरणैषिणाम् । ब्रह्मण्यो भव धर्मात्मा मा च स्मैवं पुनः कृथाः
The man said to him, 'O king, you are the refuge of those who seek refuge; be devoted to Brahman, righteous in soul, and do not act thus again.'
नैतादृक्पुरुषो राजन्क्षत्रधर्ममनुस्मरन्। मनसा नृपशार्दूल भवेत्परपुरञ्जयः
Such a person, O king, remembering the duty of a warrior, would not, even in thought, become a conqueror of others.
मा च दर्पसमाविष्टः वा तत्ते राजन्समाहितम् ।। कृतप्रज्ञो वीतलोभो निरहङ्कार आत्मवान्
Do not be possessed by pride, O king, nor let your mind be disturbed; be wise, free from greed, without ego, and self-controlled.
दान्तः क्षान्तो मृदुः सौम्य प्रजाः पालय पार्थिव ।। मास्म भूयः क्षिपेः कंचिदविदित्वा बलाबलम्
Be restrained, patient, gentle, and pleasant; protect your subjects, O ruler; do not attack anyone again without knowing their strength and weakness.