स त्वं याचात्र राजानं कंचिद्राजर्षिवंशजम् । अपीड्य राजा पौरान्हि यो नौ कुर्यात्कृतार्थिनौ
'Therefore, approach some king descended from royal sages; a king who does not oppress his subjects will fulfill our purpose.'
अस्ति सोमान्ववाये मे जातः कश्चिन्नृपः सखा । अभिगच्छावहे तं वै तस्यास्ति विभवो भुवि
'There is a certain king, a friend of mine, born in the Soma lineage; let us go to him, for he possesses great wealth on earth.'
ययातिर्नाम राजर्षिर्नोहुषः सत्यविक्रमः । स दास्यति मया चोक्तो भवता चार्थितः स्वयम्
'His name is Yayati, a royal sage of the Nahusha line, steadfast in truth and valor; he will give, especially if requested by me and by you yourself.'
विभवश्चास्य सुमहानासीद्धनपतेरिव । एवं गुरुधनं विद्वन्दानेनैव विशोधय
'His prosperity was immense, like that of Kubera; thus, O learned one, fulfill your teacher's fee by means of a gift.'
तथा तौ कथयन्तौ च चिन्तयन्तौ च यत्क्षमम्। प्रतिष्ठाने नरपतिं ययातिं प्रत्युपस्थितौ
Thus, as the two conversed and considered what was appropriate, they arrived at the city of King Yayati.
प्रतिगृह्य च सत्कारैरर्घ्यपाद्यादिकं वरम् । पृष्टश्चागमने हेतुमुवाच विनतासुतः
Having been received with due honors—offering of water for washing feet and other rites—the son of Vinata was asked the reason for their coming.
अयं मे नाहुष सखा गालवस्तपसो निधिः । विश्वामित्रस्य शिष्योऽभूद्वर्षाण्ययुतशो नृप
'O descendant of Nahusha, this is my friend Galava, a treasure of austerity; he was a disciple of Vishvamitra for many thousands of years, O king.'
सोऽयं तेनाभ्यनुज्ञात उपकारेप्सया द्विजः। तमाह भगवान्किं ते ददानि गुरुदक्षिणाम्
'This Brahmin, permitted by him out of a desire to render service, was asked by the venerable one, "What shall I give you as your teacher's fee?"'
असकृत्तेन चोक्तेन किंचिदागतमन्युना । अयमुक्तः प्रयच्छेति जानता विभवं लघु
'Though asked repeatedly, and with some displeasure, he was told, "Give me," by one who knew the extent of his wealth.'
एकतःश्यामकर्णानां शुभ्राणां शुद्धजन्मनाम् । अष्टौ शतानि मे देहि हयानां चन्द्रवर्चसाम्
'Give me eight hundred horses of lunar splendor, with one black ear each, pure and of noble birth.'
गुर्वर्थो दीयतामेव यदि गालव मन्यसे । इत्येवमाह सक्रोधो विश्वामित्रस्तपोधनः
'Let the teacher's fee be given, O Galava, if you think it right,' thus spoke Vishvamitra, rich in austerity, with some anger.
सोऽयं शोकेन महता तप्यमानो द्विजर्षभः । अशक्तः प्रतिकर्तुं तद्भवन्तं शरणं गतः
'This best of Brahmins, afflicted by great sorrow and unable to repay, has come to you for refuge.'
प्रतिगृह्य नरव्याघ्र त्वत्तो भिक्षां गतव्यथः । कृत्वाऽऽपवर्गं गुरवे चरिष्यति महत्तपः
'Having received alms from you, O tiger among men, he will be free from distress and, having fulfilled his obligation to his teacher, will undertake great austerity.'
तपसः संविभागेन भवन्तमपि योक्ष्यते। स्वेन राजर्षितपसा पूर्णं त्वां पूरयिष्यति
'By sharing his austerity, he will also benefit you; with his royal sage's penance, he will fully satisfy you.'
यावन्ति रोमाणि हये भवन्तीह नरेश्वर । तावन्तो वाजिनो लोकान्प्राप्नुवन्ति महीपते
O king, as many hairs as there are on a horse, so many worlds does a horse attain, O lord of the earth.
पात्रं प्रतिग्रहस्यायं दातुं पात्रं तथा भवान् । शङ्खे क्षीरमिवासक्तं भवत्वेतत्तथोपमम्
This is a worthy recipient for a gift, and you are likewise a worthy giver; let this be, like milk clinging to a conch shell, an apt comparison.
एवमुक्तः सुपर्णेन तथ्यं वचनमुत्तमम् । विमृश्यावहितो राजा निश्चित्य च पुनः पुनः
Thus addressed by Suparna with these true and excellent words, the king, attentive and thoughtful, considered again and again.
यष्टा क्रतुसहस्राणां दाता दानपतिः प्रभुः । ययातिः सर्वकाशीश इदं वचनमब्रवीत्
Yayati, lord of all the Kasis, performer of a thousand sacrifices, generous and powerful, spoke these words.
दृष्ट्वा प्रियसखं तार्क्ष्यं गालवं च द्विजर्षभम् । निदर्शनं च तपसो भिक्षां श्लाघ्यां च कीर्तिताम्
Seeing his dear friend Tarkshya and the eminent Brahmin Galava, and recalling the example of austerity and the praise of noble alms, he spoke.
अतीत्य च नृपानन्यानादित्यकुलसंभवान् । मत्सकाशमनुप्राप्तावेतां बुद्धिमवेक्ष्य च
Having passed by other kings descended from the solar dynasty, and having come to me, you have considered this course of action.
अद्य मे सफलं जन्म तारितं चाद्य मे कलम् । अद्यायं तारितो देशो मम तार्क्ष्य त्वयाऽनघ
Today my birth is fulfilled, today my debt is crossed; today, O sinless Tarkshya, my land is delivered by you.
वक्तुमिच्छामि तु सखे यथा जानासि मां पुरा । न तथा वित्तवानस्मि क्षीणं वित्तं च मे सखे
But, friend, I wish to tell you as you knew me before: I am not so wealthy now; my wealth, friend, is diminished.
न च शक्तोऽस्मि ते कर्तुं मोघमागमनं खग। न चाशामस्य विपर्षेर्वितथीकर्तुमुत्सहे
Nor am I able, O bird, to let your coming be in vain; nor can I bear to disappoint the hope of this suppliant.
पुत्रीं दास्यामि यत्कार्यमियं संपादयिष्यति। अभिगम्य हताशो हि निवृत्तो दहते कुलम्
I will give my daughter; whatever is to be done, she will accomplish. For when a hopeful man turns away disappointed, he burns his lineage.
नातः परं वैनतेय किंचित्पापिष्ठमुच्यते । प्रथाशानाशनं लोके देहि नास्तीति वा वचः
Nothing more sinful than this is spoken of, O son of Vinata: to say in the world to one who hopes, 'There is nothing to give.'
हताशो ह्यकृतार्थः सन्हतः संभावितो नरः । हिनस्ति तस्य पुत्रांश्च पौत्रांश्चाकुर्वतो हितम्
For a man who is disappointed and unfulfilled, yet honored, brings harm to the sons and grandsons of the one who does him no good.
तस्माच्चतुर्णां वंशानां स्थापयित्री सुता मम। `माधवी नाम तार्क्ष्येयं सर्वधर्मप्रदायिनी
Therefore, my daughter Madhavi, O Tarkshya, will uphold the lineages of four families; she is the bestower of all virtues.
इयं सुरसुतप्रख्या सर्वधर्मोपचायिनी। सदा देवमनुष्यणामसुराणां च गालव । काङ्क्षिता रूपतो बाला सुता मे प्रतिगृह्यताम्
She is famed as equal to the daughter of the gods, the supporter of all duties; always desired by gods, men, and asuras for her beauty, O Galava, let my daughter be accepted by you.
अस्याः शुल्कं प्रदास्यन्ति नृपा राज्यमपि ध्रवम्। किं पुनः श्यामकर्णानां हयानां द्वे चतुःशते
Kings will give even their kingdoms as her bride-price; what then of two pairs of black-eared horses?
स भवाप्रतिगृह्णातु ममैतां माधवीं सुताम्। अहं दौहित्रवान्त्स्यां वै वर एष मम प्रभो
Let him accept my daughter Madhavi; I shall have grandsons, and this, O lord, is my wish.