अद्रोहः सर्वभूतेषु कर्तव्यः सर्वदा बुधैः । स कथं राजशार्दूल गृहस्थस्य भवेत्तथा
Non-injury toward all beings should always be practiced by the wise; but how, O tiger among kings, can this be maintained by a householder?
वित्तैषणा न ते शान्ता तथा राज्यसुखैषणा । जयैषणा च सङ्ग्रामे जीवन्मुक्तः कथं भवेः
The desire for wealth is not calmed, nor the longing for royal pleasures; the urge for victory in battle persists—how then can one be liberated while living?
चौरेषु चौरबुद्धिस्तु साधुबुद्धिस्तु तापसे । स्वपरत्वं तवाप्यस्ति विदेहस्त्वं कथं नृप
Among thieves, there is the mind of a thief; among ascetics, the mind of a saint; the sense of 'mine' and 'other' exists for you as well—how then, O king, can you be free from embodiment?
कटुतीक्ष्णुकषायाम्लरसान्वेत्सि शुभाशुभान् । शुभेषु रमते चित्तं नाशुभेषु तथा नृप
You experience harsh, sharp, bitter, and sour tastes, and perceive both auspicious and inauspicious things; your mind delights in what is auspicious, but not so in what is inauspicious, O king.
जाग्रत्स्वप्नसुषुप्तिश्च तव राजन् भवन्ति हि । अवस्थास्तु यथाकालं तुरीया तु कथं नृप
Waking, dreaming, and deep sleep are your states, O king; these occur according to time—how then, O king, can the fourth state be attained?
पदात्यश्वरथेभाश्च सर्वे वै वशगा मम । स्वाम्यहं चैव सर्वेषां मन्यसे त्वं न मन्यसे
Foot soldiers, horses, chariots, and elephants are all under my control; I am the master of all—do you think so, or do you not think so?
मिष्टमत्सि सदा राजन्मुदितो विमनास्तथा । मालायां च तथा सर्पे समदृक् क्व नृपोत्तम
You are always pleased, O king, when eating delicious food, and likewise distressed; whether with a garland or a snake, where is equanimity, O best of kings?
विमुक्तस्तु भवेद्राजन् समलोष्टाश्मकाञ्चनः । एकात्मबुद्धिः सर्वत्र हितकृत्सर्वजन्तुषु
One who is liberated, O king, regards earth, stone, and gold alike; with a single-minded awareness everywhere, he acts for the welfare of all beings.
न मेऽद्य रमते चित्तं गृहदारादिषु क्वचित् । एकाकी निःस्पृहोऽत्यर्थं चरेयमिति मे मतिः
Today my mind does not delight anywhere in home, wife, or other things; my resolve is to wander alone, utterly free from desire.
निःसङ्गो निर्ममः शान्तः पत्रमूलफलाशनः । मृगवद्विचरिष्यामि निर्द्वन्द्वो निष्परिग्रहः
Detached, free from possessiveness, peaceful, eating leaves, roots, and fruits, I shall roam like a deer, without duality and without possessions.
किं मे गृहेण वित्तेन भार्यया च सुरूपया । विरागमनसः कामं गुणातीतस्य पार्थिव
What use are a house, wealth, or a beautiful wife to me, O king, whose mind is detached and who has transcended the qualities?
चिन्त्यसे विविधाकारं नानारागसमाकुलम् । दम्भोऽयं किल ते भाति विमुक्तोऽस्मीति भाषसे
You are concerned with various forms, filled with many attachments; this is mere pretension, for you claim to be liberated.
कदाचिच्छत्रुजा चिन्ता धनजा च कदाचन । कदाचित्सैन्यजा चिन्ता निश्चिन्तोऽसि कदा नृप
Sometimes you worry about enemies, sometimes about wealth, sometimes about armies; O king, when are you truly free from care?
वैखानसा ये मुनयो मिताहारा जितव्रताः । तेऽपि मुह्यन्ति संसारे जानन्तोऽपि ह्यसत्यताम्
Even the Vaikhānasa sages, who eat moderately and have mastered vows, become deluded in worldly life, though they know its falsity.
तव वंशसमुत्थानां विदेहा इति भूपते । कुटिलं नाम जानीहि नान्यथेति कदाचन
O king, those born in your lineage are called 'Videha'; know that this name is crooked, and it is never otherwise.
विद्याधरो यथा मूर्खो जन्मान्धस्तु दिवाकरः । लक्ष्मीधरो दरिद्रश्च नाम तेषां निरर्थकम्
Just as a Vidyādhara is ignorant, a person born blind is the sun, or a wealthy man is poor, their names are meaningless.
तव वंशोद्भवा ये ये श्रुताः पूर्वे मया नृपाः । विदेहा इति विख्याता नामतः कर्मतो न ते
All the kings of your lineage whom I have heard of before are renowned as 'Videha' by name, but not by their deeds.
निमिनामाभवद्राजा पूर्वं तव कुले नृप । यज्ञार्थं स तु राजर्षिर्वसिष्ठं स्वगुरुं मुनिम्
Nimi, named as king, was once in your family, O king; for the sake of a sacrifice, that royal sage invited his own guru, the sage Vasiṣṭha.
निमन्त्रयामास तदा तमुवाच नृपं मुनिः । निमन्त्रितोऽस्मि यज्ञार्थं देवेन्द्रेणाधुना किल
At that time, he invited him, and the sage said to the king: 'I have now been invited by Indra for a sacrifice.'
कृत्वा तस्य मखं पूर्णं करिष्यामि तवापि वै । तावत्कुरुष्व राजेन्द्र सम्भारं तु शनैः शनैः
'After completing his sacrifice, I will perform yours as well; meanwhile, O king, gradually prepare the materials.'
इत्युक्त्या निर्ययौ सोऽथ महेन्द्रयजने मुनिः । निमिरन्यं गुरुं कृत्वा चकार मखमुत्तमम्
Having said this, the sage departed for Indra's sacrifice; Nimi appointed another guru and performed a great sacrifice.
तच्छ्रुत्वा कुपितोऽत्यर्थं वसिष्ठो नृपतिं पुनः । शशाप च पतत्वद्य देहस्ते गुरुलोपक
Hearing of this, Vasiṣṭha became extremely angry and cursed the king: 'Your body will fall today for neglecting your guru.'
राजापि तं शशापाथ तवापि च पतत्वयम् । अन्योन्यशापात्पतितौ तावेव च मया श्रुतम्
The king also cursed him: 'Yours too shall fall.' Both fell by each other's curse; this is what I have heard.
विदेहेन च राजेन्द्र कथं शप्तो गुरुः स्वयम् । विनोद इव मे चित्ते विभाति नृपसत्तम
O king, how did the guru himself become cursed by Videha? This shines in my mind like a diversion, O best of kings.
जनक उवाच सत्यमुक्तं त्वया नात्र मिथ्या किञ्चिदिदं मतम् । तथापि शृणु विप्रेन्द्र गुरुर्मम सुपूजितः
Janaka said: 'What you have spoken is true; there is nothing false in this opinion. Still, listen, O best of Brahmins, my guru was greatly honored.'
पितुः सङ्गं परित्यज्य त्वं वनं गन्तुमिच्छसि । मृगैः सह सुसम्बन्धो भविता ते न संशयः
Abandoning your father's company, you wish to go to the forest; you will have close association with the animals, without doubt.
महाभूतानि सर्वत्र निःसङ्गः क्व भविष्यसि । आहारार्थं सदा चिन्ता निश्चिन्तः स्याः कथं मुने
The great elements are everywhere; where will you be free from attachment? There will always be concern for food; how will you be carefree, O sage?
दण्डाजिनकृता चिन्ता यथा तव वनेऽपि च । तथैव राज्यचिन्ता मे चिन्तयानस्य वा न वा
Just as you have worries about your staff and deer-skin even in the forest, so I have worries about the kingdom, whether I think of them or not.
विकल्पोपहतस्त्वं वै दूरदेशमुपागतः । न मे विकल्पसन्देहो निर्विकल्पोऽस्मि सर्वथा
You, afflicted by doubt, have come from a distant land; but I have no doubt or uncertainty, I am entirely free from all wavering.
सुखं स्वपिमि विप्राहं सुखं भुञ्जामि सर्वथा । न बद्धोऽस्मीति बुद्ध्याहं सर्वदैव सुखी मुने
O Brahmin, I sleep happily, I eat happily in every way; I am never bound in my mind, and always content, O sage.