धनं प्राप्य सुतान्दारान्मानं च विजयं तथा । तदप्राप्य महद्दुःखं भवत्येव क्षणे क्षणे
On obtaining wealth, sons, wives, honor, and victory, and on failing to obtain them, great sorrow arises for him at every moment.
कार्यस्तस्य सुखोपायः कर्तव्यं सुखसाधनम् । तस्यारातिः स विज्ञेयः सुखविघ्नं करोति यः
His duty is to seek the means of happiness and to perform actions that bring happiness; his enemy is to be known as the one who causes obstacles to his happiness.
सुखोत्पादयिता मित्रं रागयुक्तस्य सर्वदा । चतुरो नैव मुह्येत मूर्खः सर्वत्र मुह्यति
For one filled with attachment, a friend is always the one who brings happiness; the clever never become deluded, but the foolish are deluded everywhere.
विरक्तस्यात्मरक्तस्य सुखमेकान्तसेवनम् । आत्मानुचिन्तनं चैव वेदान्तस्य च चिन्तनम्
For one who is detached and devoted to the Self, happiness lies in solitary practice, in contemplation of the Self, and in reflection on the Vedānta.
दुःखं तदेतत्सर्वं हि संसारकथनादिकम् । शत्रवो बहवस्तस्य विज्ञस्य शुभमिच्छतः
All this—worldly talk and the like—is suffering for him; many are the enemies of the wise one who desires good.
कामः क्रोधः प्रमादश्च शत्रवो विविधाः स्मृताः । बन्धुः सन्तोष एवास्य नान्योऽस्ति भुवनत्रये
Desire, anger, and heedlessness are considered his various enemies; his only friend in the three worlds is contentment—there is no other.
सूत उवाच तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य मत्वा तं ज्ञानिनं द्विजम् । क्षत्ता प्रवेशयामास कक्षां चातिमनोरमाम्
The Sūta said: Hearing these words and recognizing that twice-born as a knower, the doorkeeper allowed him to enter a most delightful inner chamber.
नगरं वीक्षमाणः संस्त्रैविध्यजनसङ्कुलम् । नानाविपणिद्रव्याढ्यं क्रयविक्रयकारकम्
Observing the city, crowded with people of three kinds, filled with various market goods, and bustling with buying and selling,
रागद्वेषयुतं कामलोभमोहाकुलं तथा । विवदत्सुजनाकीर्णं वसुपूर्णं महत्तरम्
Full of attachment and aversion, overwhelmed by desire, greed, and delusion, noisy with disputes yet filled with good people, and abundant in wealth, it was truly great.
पश्यन्स त्रिविधाँल्लोकान्प्रासरद्राजमन्दिरम् । प्राप्तः परमतेजस्वी द्वितीय इव भास्करः
Beholding the threefold kinds of people, he proceeded to the royal palace; possessed of supreme brilliance, he appeared like a second sun.
निवारितश्च तत्रैव प्रतीहारेण काष्ठवत् । तत्रैव च स्थितो द्वारि मोक्षमेवानुचिन्तयन्
He was stopped there by the doorkeeper, remaining motionless like a log, standing at the door contemplating liberation.
छायायामातपे चैव समदर्शी महातपाः । ध्यानं कृत्वा तथैकान्ते स्थितः स्थाणुरिवाचलः
In shade and sunlight alike, the great ascetic, seeing both as equal, stood alone in meditation, unmoving like a pillar.
तं मुहूर्तादुपागत्य राज्ञोऽमात्यः कृताञ्जलिः । प्रावेशयत्ततः कक्षां द्वितीयां राजवेश्मनः
After a moment, the king’s minister approached him, palms joined in reverence, and led him into the second chamber of the royal palace.
तत्र दिव्यं मनोरम्यं पुष्पितं दिव्यपादपम् । तद्वनं दर्शयित्वा तु कृत्वा चातिथिसत्क्रियाम्
There, showing him a divine, delightful garden with blossoming celestial trees, he performed the proper hospitality for a guest.
वारमुख्याः स्त्रियस्तत्र राजसेवापरायणाः । गीतवादित्रकुशलाः कामशास्त्रविशारदाः
There, the chief women, devoted to royal service, skilled in singing and playing instruments, and experts in the arts of love, were present.
ता आदिश्य च सेवार्थं शुकस्य मन्त्रिसत्तमः । निर्गतः सदनात्तस्माद्व्यासपुत्रः स्थितस्तदा
The foremost minister instructed those women to serve Śuka, then departed from the chamber, leaving Vyāsa’s son standing there.
पूजितः परया भक्त्या ताभिः स्त्रीभिर्यथाविधि । देशकालोपपन्नेन नानान्नेनातितोषितः
He was worshipped by those women with utmost devotion, according to proper custom, and delighted with various foods suited to the place and time.
ततोऽन्तःपुरवासिन्यस्तस्यान्तःपुरकाननम् । रम्यं संदर्शयामासुरङ्गनाः काममोहिताः
Then, the palace women, enchanted by desire, showed him the beautiful inner garden of the palace.
स युवा रूपवान्कान्तो मृदुभाषी मनोरमः । दृष्ट्वा ता मुमुहुः सर्वास्तं च काममिवापरम्
He, young, handsome, charming, gentle in speech and delightful, upon being seen by them, caused all to faint, as if he were another god of love.
जितेन्द्रियं मुनिं मत्त्वा सर्वाः पर्यचरंस्तदा । आरणेयस्तु शुद्धात्मा मातृभावमकल्पयत्
Recognizing him as a sage who had conquered his senses, all served him; but the pure-hearted forest-dweller regarded them with the feeling of a mother.
आत्मारामो जितक्रोधो न हृष्यति न तप्यति । पश्यंस्तासां विकारांश्च स्वस्थ एव स तस्थिवान्
Absorbed in the Self, having conquered anger, he neither rejoiced nor suffered; seeing their transformations, he remained composed and steady.
तस्मै शय्यां सुरम्यां च ददुर्नार्यः सुसंस्कृताम् । परार्ध्यास्तरणोपेतां नानोपस्करसंवृताम्
To him, the women gave a splendid, well-prepared bed, adorned with costly coverings and furnished with various items.
स कृत्वा पादशौचं च कुशपाणिरतन्द्रितः । उपास्य पश्चिमां सन्ध्यां ध्यानमेवान्वपद्यत
He, diligently holding kuśa grass, performed foot purification, worshipped the evening twilight, and entered into meditation.
याममेकं स्थितो ध्याने सुष्वाप तदनन्तरम् । सुप्त्वा यामद्वयं तत्र चोदतिष्ठत्ततः शुकः
Having remained in meditation for one watch of the night, he slept; after sleeping for two watches, Śuka then arose.
पाश्चात्यं यामिनीयामं ध्यानमेवान्वपद्यत । स्नात्वा प्रातःक्रियाः कृत्वा पुनरास्ते समाहितः
During the last watch of the night, he again entered meditation; after bathing and performing morning rites, he sat once more, fully concentrated.
जनकोपदेशवर्णनम् सूत उवाच॥ सूत उवाच श्रुत्वा तमागतं राजा मन्त्रिभिः सहितः शुचिः । पुरः पुरोहितं कृत्वा गुरुपुत्रं समभ्यगात्
Description of Janaka’s instruction. Sūta said: Hearing of his arrival, the pure king, together with his ministers, placing the priest in front, approached the guru’s son.
कृत्वार्हणां नृपः सम्यग्दत्तासनमनुत्तमम् । पप्रच्छ कुशलं गां च विनिवेद्य पयस्विनीम्
The king performed proper honors, offered an excellent seat, and asked after his well-being, presenting a cow rich in milk.
स च तां नृपपूजां वै प्रत्यगृह्णाद्यथाविधि । पप्रच्छ कुशलं राज्ञे स्वं निवेद्य निरामयम्
He accepted the king’s worship as prescribed, and in turn asked after the king’s welfare, declaring himself to be free from illness.
कृत्वा कुशलसंप्रश्नमुपविष्टं सुखासने । शुक व्याससुतं शान्तं पर्यपृच्छत पार्थिवः
Having made polite inquiries about his well-being, the king questioned Śuka, the tranquil son of Vyāsa, who was seated comfortably.
किं निमित्तं महाभाग निःस्पृहस्य च मां प्रति । जातं ह्यागमनं ब्रूहि कार्यं तन्मुनिसत्तम
O highly fortunate one, for what reason, though you are free from desires, have you come to me? Tell me, O best of sages, what is your purpose.