आस्से ध्यानपरो नित्यमृणग्रस्त इवाधनः । का चिन्ता वर्तते पुत्र मयि ताते तु तिष्ठति
You sit constantly engaged in meditation, like a poor man burdened by debt; what worry persists, O son, while your father remains with you?
सुखं भुंक्ष्व यथाकामं मुञ्च शोकं मनोगतम् । ज्ञानं चिन्तय शास्त्रोक्तं विज्ञाने च मतिं कुरु
Enjoy happiness as you wish; cast off sorrow from your mind. Reflect on the knowledge taught in scripture and direct your intellect toward understanding.
न चेन्मनसि ते शान्तिर्वचसा मम सुव्रत । गच्छ त्वं मिथिलां पुत्र पालितां जनकेन ह
If peace does not arise in your mind from my words, O virtuous one, then go, O son, to Mithilā, which is governed by Janaka.
स ते मोहं महाभाग नाशयिष्यति भूपतिः । जनको नाम धर्मात्मा विदेहः सत्यसागरः
That king, O fortunate one, will dispel your delusion; Janaka, the righteous soul of Videha, is an ocean of truth.
तं गत्वा नृपतिं पुत्र सन्देहं स्वं निवर्तय । वर्णाश्रमाणां धर्मांस्त्वं पृच्छ पुत्र यथातथम्
Go to that king, O son, and resolve your doubts. Ask him, O son, about the true duties of the varnas and ashramas.
जीवन्मुक्तः स राजर्षिर्बह्मज्ञानमतिः शुचिः । तथ्यवक्तातिशान्तश्च योगी योगप्रियः सदा
That royal sage is liberated while living, pure in mind, possessing knowledge of Brahman; he speaks truthfully, is exceedingly tranquil, and is always devoted to yoga.
सूत उवाच तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य व्यासस्यामिततेजसः । प्रत्युवाच महातेजाः शुकश्चारणिसम्भवः
Sūta said: Hearing the words of Vyāsa, whose brilliance is boundless, Śuka, born from the Arani, replied with great radiance.
दम्भोऽयं किल धर्मात्मन्भाति चित्ते ममाधुना । जीवन्मुक्तो विदेहश्च राज्यं शास्ति मुदान्वितः
This, O righteous one, now appears as hypocrisy in my mind: Videha is said to be liberated while living, yet he rules the kingdom with joy.
वन्ध्यापुत्र इवाभाति राजासौ जनकः पितः । कुर्वन् राज्यं विदेहः किं सन्देहोऽयं ममाद्भुतः
That king Janaka, the father, seems like a barren woman's son; Videha governs the kingdom—how is this? This doubt of mine is astonishing.
द्रष्टुमिच्छाम्यहं भूपं विदेहं नृपसत्तमम् । कथं तिष्ठति संसारे पद्मपत्रमिवाम्भसि
I wish to see the king, Videha, the foremost among rulers; how does he remain in worldly life like a lotus leaf in water?
सन्देहोऽयं महांस्तात विदेहे परिवर्तते । मोक्षः किं वदतां श्रेष्ठ सौगतानामिवापरः
This great doubt, O father, revolves around Videha: Is liberation, O best of speakers, like that of the Buddhists or otherwise?
कथं भुक्तमभुक्तं स्यादकृतं च कृतं कथम् । व्यवहारः कथं त्याज्य इन्द्रियाणां महामते
How can what is eaten be considered uneaten, and how can what is not done be considered done? How, O wise one, should dealings with the senses be renounced?
माता पुत्रस्तथा भार्या भगिनी कुलटा तथा । भेदाभेदः कथं न स्याद्यद्येतन्मुक्तता कथम्
Mother, son, wife, sister, and even a courtesan—how can there be neither difference nor non-difference? If so, what is liberation?
कटु क्षारं तथा तीक्ष्णां कषायं मिष्टमेव च । रसना यदि जानाति भुंक्ते भोगाननुत्तमान्
If the tongue knows bitter, salty, sharp, astringent, and sweet tastes, it enjoys supreme pleasures.
शीतोष्णुसुखदुःखादिपरिज्ञानं यदा भवेत् । मुक्तता कीदृशी तात सन्देहोऽयं ममाद्भुतः
When knowledge of cold, heat, pleasure, pain, and so forth arises, what kind of liberation is that, O father? This doubt of mine is astonishing.
शत्रुमित्रपरिज्ञानं वैरं प्रीतिकरं सदा । व्यवहारे परे तिष्ठन्कथं न कुरुते नृपः
When one always recognizes enemy and friend, enmity and affection, how does the king, remaining in worldly dealings, not act upon them?
चौरं वा तापसं वापि समानं मन्यते कथम् । असमा यदि बुद्धिः स्यान्मुक्तता तर्हि कीदृशी
How can one regard a thief and an ascetic as equal? If discernment is lacking, then what kind of liberation is that?
दृष्टपूर्वो न मे कश्चिज्जीवन्मुक्तश्च भूपतिः । शङ्केयं महती तात गृहे मुक्तः कथं नृपः
I have never seen anyone who is both a living-liberated soul and a king, O ruler; I have great doubt—how can a king be liberated while living at home?
दिदृक्षा महती जाता श्रुत्वा तं भूपतिं तथा । सन्देहविनिवृत्त्यर्थं गच्छामि मिथिलां प्रति
A great desire to see that king has arisen in me after hearing of him; to dispel my doubt, I will go to Mithila.
शुकस्य राजमन्दिरप्रवेशवर्णनम् सूत उवाच इत्युक्त्वा पितरं पुत्रः पादयोः पतितः शुकः । बद्धाञ्जलिरुवाचेदं गन्तुकामो महामनाः
Sūta said: Having spoken thus to his father, Śuka, the great-minded son, fell at his feet, joined his palms, and spoke these words, wishing to depart.
आपृच्छे त्वां महाभाग ग्राह्यं ते वचनं मया । विदेहान्द्रष्टुमिच्छामि पालिताञ्जनकेन तु
I take leave of you, O highly fortunate one; your words must be heeded by me. I wish to see the Videhas, ruled by Janaka.
विना दण्डं कथं राज्यं करोति जनकः किल । धर्मे न वर्तते लोको दण्डश्चेन्न भवेद्यदि
How does Janaka rule his kingdom without punishment? If there were no punishment, people would not abide by dharma.
धर्मस्य कारणं दण्डो मन्वादिप्रहितः सदा । स कथं वर्तते तात संशयोऽयं महान्मम
Punishment is the cause of dharma, always established by Manu and others; how does it function there, father? This is my great doubt.
मम माता त्वियं वन्ध्या तद्वद्भाति विचेष्टितम् । पृच्छामि त्वां महाभाग गच्छामि च परन्तप
My mother is childless, and her behavior seems strange; I ask you, O highly fortunate one, and now I shall go, O subduer of foes.
सूत उवाच तं दृष्ट्वा गन्तुकामं च शुकं सत्यवतीसुतः । आलिङ्ग्योवाच पुत्रं तं ज्ञानिनं निःस्पृहं दृढम्
Sūta said: Seeing Śuka eager to depart, Vyāsa, son of Satyavatī, embraced his steadfast, desireless, wise son and spoke to him.
व्यास उवाच स्वस्त्यस्तु शक दीर्घायुर्भव पुत्र महामते । सत्यां वाचं प्रदत्त्वा मे गच्छ तात यथासुखम्
Vyāsa said: May you fare well, Śuka; live long, O wise son. Having given me your word, go, my child, as you please.
आगन्तव्यं पुनर्गत्वा ममाश्रममनुत्तमम् । न कुत्रापि च गन्तव्यं त्वया पुत्र कथञ्चन
After going, you must return again to my excellent hermitage; you must not go anywhere else, my son, under any circumstances.
सुखं जीवामि पुत्राहं दृष्ट्वा ते मुखपङ्कजम् । अपश्यन्दुःखमाप्नोमि प्राणस्त्वमसि मे सुत
I live happily, my son, when I see your lotus face; not seeing you, I experience sorrow—you are my very life, child.
दृष्ट्वा त्वं जनकं पुत्र सन्देहं विनिवर्त्य च । अत्रागत्य सुखं तिष्ठ वेदाध्ययनतत्परः
After seeing Janaka and dispelling your doubt, return here and stay happily, devoted to the study of the Vedas.
सूत उवाच इत्युक्तः सोऽभिवाद्यार्यं कृत्वा चैव प्रदक्षिणाम् । चलितस्तरसातीव धनुर्मुक्तः शरो यथा
Sūta said: Thus addressed, he saluted the venerable one, circumambulated him, and departed swiftly, like an arrow released from a bow.