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.
सम्पश्यन्विविधान्देशाँल्लोकांश्च वित्तधर्मिणः । वनानि पादपांश्चैव क्षेत्राणि फलितानि च
Observing various lands and people devoted to wealth and righteousness, forests, trees, and cultivated fields bearing fruit,
तापसांस्तप्यमानांश्च याजकान्दीक्षयान्वितान् । योगाभ्यासरतान्योगिवानप्रस्थान्वनौकसः
He saw ascetics practicing austerities, priests engaged in rituals, yogis devoted to yoga, forest-dwellers, and those in the vanaprastha stage.
शैवान्पाशुपतांश्चैव सौराञ्छाक्तांश्च वैष्णवान् । वीक्ष्य नानाविधान्धर्माञ्जगामातिस्मयन्मुनिः
He saw followers of Śiva, Pāśupatas, Sauras, Śāktas, and Vaiṣṇavas—various paths of dharma—and the sage marveled greatly.
वर्षद्वयेन मेरुं च समुल्लङ्घ्य महामतिः । हिमाचलं च वर्षेण जगाम मिथिलां प्रति
In two years, the great-minded one crossed Mount Meru, and in another year, he reached Mithilā after crossing the Himalayas.
प्रविष्टो मिथिलां मध्ये पश्यन्सर्वर्द्धिमुत्तमाम् । प्रजाश्च सुखिताः सर्वाः सदाचाराः सुसंस्थिताः
Entering the midst of Mithila, he saw its supreme prosperity, and all the people happy, well-conducted, and firmly established in good conduct.
क्षत्रा निवारितस्तत्र कस्त्वमत्र समागतः । किं ते कार्यं वदस्वेति पृष्टस्तेन न चाब्रवीत्
There, a guard stopped him, saying: 'Who are you who has come here? What is your business? Speak!'—but he did not reply.
निःसृत्य नगरद्वारात्स्थितः स्थाणुरिवाचलः । विस्मितोऽतिहसंस्तस्थौ वचो नोवाच किञ्चन
Having left through the city gate, he stood motionless like a pillar, astonished and deeply thoughtful, and spoke not a word.
प्रतीहार उवाच ब्रूहि मूकोऽसि किं ब्रह्मन्किमर्थं त्वमिहागतः । चलनं च विना कार्यं न भवेदिति मे मतिः
The gatekeeper said: 'Speak! Are you mute, O Brahmin? For what purpose have you come here? In my view, no task can be accomplished without movement.'
राजाज्ञया प्रवेष्टव्यं नगरेऽस्मिन्सदा द्विज । अज्ञातकुलशीलस्य प्रवेशो नात्र सर्वथा
'By the king's order, O twice-born, entry into this city is always regulated. One whose family and conduct are unknown is never permitted entry here.'
तेजस्वी भासि नूनं त्वं ब्राह्मणो वेदवित्तमः । कुलं कार्यं च मे ब्रूहि यथेष्टं गच्छ मानद
'You appear radiant—surely you are a Brahmin, learned in the Vedas. Tell me your lineage and purpose; then, O honorable one, go as you wish.'