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.'
शुक उवाच यदर्थमागतोऽस्म्यत्र तत्प्राप्तं वचनात्तव । विदेहनगरं द्रष्टुं प्रवेशो यत्र दुर्लभः
Śuka said: 'The purpose for which I have come here has been fulfilled by your words: to see the city of Videha, where entry is difficult.'
मोहोऽयं मम दुर्बुद्धेः समुल्लङ्घ्य गिरिद्वयम् । राजानं द्रष्टुकामोऽहं पर्यटन्समुपागतः
'This delusion of mine, born of poor judgment, has led me to cross two mountains. Wishing to see the king, I have wandered and arrived here.'
वञ्चितोऽहं स्वयं पित्रा दूषणं कस्य दीयते । भ्रामितोऽहं महाभाग कर्मणा वा महीतले
'I have been deceived by my own father—who is to blame for this? O fortunate one, I have been made to wander the earth by fate or by my own actions.'
धनाशा पुरुषस्येह परिभ्रमणकारणम् । सा मे नास्ति तथाप्यत्र सम्प्राप्तोऽस्मि भ्रमात्किल
'The desire for wealth is the cause of a man's wandering in this world. I do not have that, yet still I have come here, apparently out of confusion.'
निराशस्य सुखं नित्यं यदि मोहे न मज्जति । निराशोऽहं महाभाग मग्नोऽस्मिन्मोहसागरे
'For one without hope, happiness is constant—if he does not sink into delusion. I am without hope, O fortunate one, yet I am submerged in this ocean of delusion.'
क्व मेरुर्मिथिला क्वेयं पद्भ्यां च समुपागतः । परिश्रमफलं किं मे वञ्चितो विधिना किल
'Where is Mount Meru, where is Mithila, and how have I come here on foot? What is the fruit of my effort? Surely I have been deceived by fate.'
प्रारब्धं किल भोक्तव्यं शुभं वाप्यथवाशुभम् । उद्यमस्तद्वशे नित्यं कारयत्येव सर्वथा
'Surely, what has been set in motion must be experienced, whether good or bad. All effort is always subject to that destiny.'
न तीर्थं न च वेदोऽत्र यदर्थमिह मे श्रमः । अप्रवेशः पुरे जातो विदेहो नाम भूपतिः
'There is no sacred place, nor the Veda here—why have I labored thus? Entry to the city is denied; the king is called Videha.'
इत्युक्त्या विररामाशु मौनीभूत इव स्थितः । ज्ञातो हि प्रतिहारेण ज्ञानी कश्चिद्द्विजोत्तमः
Having spoken thus, he quickly fell silent, standing as if mute; for the gatekeeper recognized him as a certain wise and eminent Brahmin.
सामपूर्वमुवाचासौ तं क्षत्ता संस्थितं मुनिम् । गच्छ भो यत्र ते कार्यं यथेष्टं द्विजसत्तम
With gentle words, the gatekeeper addressed the sage who stood there: 'Go, sir, wherever your business takes you, as you wish, O best of Brahmins.'