प्रत्यक्षदर्शी सर्वस्य नारदोऽयं महातपाः । माहात्म्यस्य तदा विष्णोः सोऽयं चक्रगदाधरः
This Nārada, great ascetic, witness of all, has directly seen Viṣṇu's greatness—he who bears the discus and mace.
दुर्योधनस्तु तच्छ्रुत्वा निश्वसन्भृकुटीमुखः। राधेयमभिसंप्रेक्ष्य जहास स्वनवत्तदा
But Duryodhana, hearing this, sighed, his brow furrowed; looking at Rādheya, he laughed aloud at that moment.
कदर्थीकृत्य तद्वाक्यमृषेः कण्वस्य दुर्मतिः । ऊरुं गजकराकारं ताडयन्निदमब्रवीत्
Disregarding the sage Kaṇva's words, the evil-minded one struck his thigh, shaped like an elephant's trunk, and spoke this:
यथैवेश्वरसृष्टोऽस्मि यद्भावि या च मे गतिः। तथा महर्षे वर्तामि किं प्रलापः करिष्यति
Just as I was created by the Lord, as fate decrees, and as my destiny unfolds, so I act, O great sage—what will your babbling accomplish?
ततः कण्वोऽब्रवीत्क्रुद्धो दुर्योधनमपण्डितम् । यस्मादूकं ताडयसि ऊरौ मृत्युर्भविष्यति
Then Kaṇva, angered, spoke to the unwise Duryodhana: 'Because you strike your thigh, death will come to you there.'
अनर्थे जातिनिर्बन्धं परार्थे लोभमोहितम्। अनार्यकेष्वभिरतं मरणे कृतनिश्चयम्
Bound to disaster, obsessed with greed and delusion for another's sake, delighting in unrighteous acts, and resolved upon death—
ज्ञातीनां दुःखकर्तारं बन्धूनां शोकवर्धनम् । सुहृदां क्लेशदातारं द्विषतां हर्षवर्धनम्
He who brings suffering to his kin, increases the sorrow of his relatives, gives distress to his friends, and increases the joy of his enemies—
कथं नैनं विमार्गस्थं वारयन्तीह बान्धवाः। सौहृदाद्वा सुहृत्स्निग्धो भगवान्वा पितामहः
How is it that his relatives do not restrain him here, though he has strayed from the right path—whether out of friendship, affection, or because the venerable grandsire is kindly disposed?
उक्तं भगवता वाक्यमुक्तं भीष्मेण यत्क्षमम्। उक्तं बहुविधं चैव नारदेनापि तच्छृणु
The words spoken by the venerable one, and those spoken by Bhishma that were appropriate, and the many teachings of Narada—listen to all these.
दुर्लभो वै सुहृच्छ्रोता दुर्लभश्च हितः सुहृत्। तिष्ठते हि सुह्यद्यत्र न बन्धुस्तत्र तिष्ठते
A true friend who gives good counsel is rare, and a well-wishing friend is also hard to find; for where a true friend stands, there a kinsman does not remain.
श्रोतव्यमपि पश्यापि सुहृदां कुरुनन्दन। न कर्तव्यश्च निर्बन्धो निर्बन्धो हि सुदारुणः
Even if something is to be heard or seen, O joy of the Kurus, it should not be insisted upon; for insistence is indeed very harsh.
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् । यथा निर्बन्धतः प्राप्तो गालवेन पराजयः
Here too they recite this ancient tale, how defeat came to Galava because of insistence.
विश्वामित्रं तपस्यन्तं धर्मो जिज्ञासया पुरा । अभ्यगच्छत्स्वयं भूत्वा वसिष्ठो भगवानृषिः
Long ago, Dharma, wishing to test, approached the ascetic Vishvamitra, having assumed the form of the sage Vasishtha.
सप्तर्षीणामन्यतमं वेषमास्थाय भारत। बभुक्षुः क्षुधितो राजन्नाश्रमं कौशिकस्य तु
Assuming the appearance of one of the Seven Sages, O Bharata, hungry and desiring food, he went to the hermitage of Kaushika.
विश्वामित्रोऽथ संभ्रान्तः श्रपयामास वै चरुम् । परमान्नस्य यत्नेन न च तं प्रत्यपालयत्
Then Vishvamitra, agitated, began to prepare an offering with great effort from the best rice, but he could not serve it to him.
अन्नं तेन यदा भुक्तमन्यैर्दत्तं तपस्विभिः । अथ गृह्णान्नमत्युष्णं विश्वामित्रोऽप्युपागमत्
When that food had been eaten by others—ascetics to whom it had been given—then Vishvamitra, too, approached to take the remaining, which was still very hot.
भुक्तं मे तिष्ठ तावत्त्वमित्युक्त्वा भगवान्ययौ । विश्वामित्रस्ततो राजन्स्थित एव महाद्युतिः
The venerable one said, 'I have eaten; wait here for a moment,' and departed; and Vishvamitra, the great radiant one, remained standing there.
भक्तं प्रगृह्य मूर्ध्ना वै बाहुभ्यां संशितव्रतः । स्थितः स्थाणुरिवाभ्याशे निश्चेष्टो मारुताशनः
Having taken the food in his hands, resolute in his vow, he stood motionless like a pillar, sustained by air alone, holding it near his head.
तस्य शुश्रूषणे यत्नमकरोद्गालवो मुनिः । गौरवाद्बहुमानाच्च हार्देन प्रियकाम्यया
The sage Galava, out of respect, great esteem, and heartfelt affection, made every effort to serve him.
अथ वर्षशते पूर्णे धर्मः पुनरुपागमत्। वासिष्ठं वेषमास्थाय कौशिकं भोजनेप्सया
Then, when a hundred years had passed, Dharma came again, having assumed the form of Vasishtha, desiring food from Kaushika.
स दृष्ट्वा शिरसा भक्तं ध्रियमाणं महर्षिणा । तिष्ठता वायुभक्षेण विश्वामित्रेण धीमता
Seeing the food still held at his head by the great sage Vishvamitra, who stood there, sustained only by air,
प्रतिगृह्य ततो धर्मस्तथैवोष्णं तथा नवम् । भुक्त्वा प्रीतोस्मि विप्रर्षे तमुक्त्वा स मुनिर्गतः
Dharma then took that same hot, fresh food, ate it, and said to the sage, 'I am pleased,' and departed.
क्षत्रभावादपगतो ब्राह्मणत्वमुपागतः। धर्मस्य वचनात्प्रीतो विश्वामित्रस्तथाऽभवत्
Having abandoned his warrior status, he attained the state of a Brahmin; thus, by the word of Dharma, Vishvamitra became pleased.
विश्वामित्रस्तु शिष्यस्य गालवस्य तपस्विनः । शुश्रूषया च भक्त्या च प्रीतिमानित्युवाच ह
Vishvamitra, pleased by the devoted service of his ascetic disciple Galava, spoke to him with affection.
अनुज्ञातो मया वत्स यथेष्टं गच्छ गवालव। इत्युक्तः प्रत्युवाचेदं गालवो मुनिसत्तमम्
Having been permitted by me, child, go as you wish to Gavālava. Thus addressed, Gālava replied to the eminent sage.
प्रीतो मधुरया वाचा विश्वामित्रं महाद्युतिम् । दक्षिणाः काः प्रयच्छामि भवते गुरुकर्मणि
Pleased, with gentle words, he spoke to the radiant Viśvāmitra: 'What gift shall I offer you for my instruction as a disciple?'
दक्षिणाभिरुपेतं हि कर्म सिद्ध्यति मानद। दक्षिणानां हि दाता वै अपवर्गेण युज्यते
For an act accompanied by a gift is fulfilled, O bestower of honor; indeed, the giver of gifts attains liberation.
स्वर्गे क्रतुफलं तद्धि दक्षिणा शान्तिरुच्यते। किमाहरामि गुर्वर्थं ब्रवीतु भगवानिति
In heaven, the fruit of sacrifice is that gift, which is called the peace-offering; what shall I bring for my teacher? Let the venerable one declare it.
स जानानस्तु भगवान्खिन्नं शुश्रूषणेन वै। विश्वामित्रस्तमसकृद्गच्छ गच्छेत्यचोदयत्
Knowing this, the venerable Viśvāmitra, seeing him wearied by his service, repeatedly urged him, 'Go, go.'
असकृद्गच्छगच्छेति विश्वामित्रेण भाषितः । किं ददानीति बहुशो गालवः प्रत्यभाषत
Though Viśvāmitra said many times, 'Go, go,' Gālava repeatedly asked, 'What shall I give?'