सत्यश्रियाश्च विद्वांसः शास्त्रग्रहणतत्पराः
And the learned followers of Satyaśri were devoted to the study of scripture.
बाष्कलिश्च भरद्वाज इति शाखाप्रवर्त्तकाः
Bashkala and Bharadvaja were the founders of branches.
जनकस्य स यज्ञे वै विनाशामगमद्द्विजाः
At Janaka’s sacrifice, the twice-born gathered, and destruction befell them.
जनकस्याश्वमेधे तु कथ वादाभ्यजायत
At Janaka’s Ashvamedha, a debate arose.
एतत्सर्वं यथा वृत्तमाचक्ष्त्र विदितं तव
All this, as it happened, I have told you, as you know.
ऋषीणां हि सहस्राणि तत्राजग्मुरनेकशः
Thousands of sages arrived there in many groups.
आगतान्ब्राह्मणान्दृष्ट्वा जिज्ञासास्याभवत्ततः
Seeing the assembled Brahmanas, curiosity arose.
इति निश्चित्य मनसा बुद्धिं चक्रे जनाधिपः
Having resolved in his mind, the king made his decision.
ग्रामान्रत्नानि दासीस्छ मुनीन्प्राह नराधिपः
The king offered villages, jewels, and maidservants to the sages.
यदेतदाहृतं वित्तं यो वा श्रेष्ठतमो भवेत्
Whatever wealth was brought, whoever proved to be the best among them—
जनकस्य वचः श्रुत्वा ऋषयस्ते श्रुतिक्षमाः
Hearing Janaka’s words, the sages, patient with the Vedas—
आह्वयाञ्चक्रिरे ऽन्योन्यं वेदज्ञानमदोल्बणान्
They challenged one another, displaying their formidable knowledge of the Vedas.
ममैतन्न तवेत्यन्यो ब्रूहि वा किं विकत्थसे
This is mine, not yours; so speak otherwise—why do you boast?
अथान्यस्तत्रवै विद्वान्ब्रह्मणस्तु सुतः कविः
Then another, learned and a poet, son of Brahma, was present there.
ब्रह्मणोंऽशसमुत्पन्नो वाक्यं प्रोवाच सुस्वरम्
Born from a portion of Brahma, he spoke words in a melodious voice.
नयस्व च गृहंवत्स ममैतन्नात्र संशयः
Take this home, child; this is mine, there is no doubt about it.
यो वा न प्रीयते विद्वान्समाह्वयतु माचिरम्
If any learned one is not pleased, let him summon me without delay.
तानुवाच ततः स्वस्थो याज्ञवल्क्यो हसन्निव
Then Yājñavalkya, composed, spoke to them, as if smiling.
वदामहे यथाशक्ति जिज्ञासंतः परस्परम्
Let us speak according to our ability, questioning each other.
सहस्रधा शुभैरर्थैः सुक्ष्मदर्शनसंभवैः
In a thousand ways, with auspicious meanings arising from subtle insight.
संत्युत्तमगुणैर्युक्ता नृपस्यापि परीक्षकाः
Those endowed with excellent qualities are also examiners of the king.
ऋषयस्त्वेकतः सर्वे याज्ञवल्क्यस्तथैकतः
All the sages were on one side, and Yājñavalkya on the other.
एकैकशस्ततः पृष्टा नैवोत्तरमथाब्रुवन्
Then, each was questioned individually, but none gave an answer.
शाकल्यमिति होवाच वादकर्त्तारमञ्जसा
He said, 'Śākalya,' directly addressing the disputant.
पणस्तु यजमानेन बद्धो नीतो यथा धृतः
The wager was bound by the sacrificer and taken as agreed.
प्रोवाच याज्ञवल्क्यं सपुरुषं मुनिसन्निधौ
Yājñavalkya spoke in the presence of the sages, along with his attendants.
विद्याधनं महासारं स्वयङ्ग्राहं जिघृक्षसि
You wish to seize for yourself the great wealth of knowledge.
ब्रह्मिष्ठानां बलं विद्धि विद्यातत्त्वार्थदर्शनम्
Know that the strength of those devoted to Brahman is the vision of the essence of knowledge.
कामप्रर्श्नधना विप्राः कामप्रश्नं वदामहे
O Brahmins, whose wealth is questions of desire, let us speak the question of desire.
एतच्छ्रुत्वा वचस्तस्य शाकल्यः क्रोधमूर्च्छितः
Hearing these words, Śākalya became enraged and faint with anger.