तमसातीरमास्थाय कृत्वा मण्डपमुत्तमम् । द्विजानाहूय वेदज्ञान्सत्रकर्मविशारदान्
He went to the bank of the Tamasa river, erected an excellent pavilion, and invited Brahmins learned in the Vedas and skilled in sacrificial rites.
कृत्वा वेदीं विधानेन स्थापयित्वा विभावसून् । पुत्रेष्टिं विधिवत्तत्र चकार द्विजसत्तमः
He properly constructed the altar, installed the sacred fire, and that best of Brahmins performed the putreshti sacrifice there according to the proper method.
ब्रह्माणं कल्पयामास सुहोत्रं मुनिसत्तमम् । अध्वर्युं याज्ञवल्क्यं च होतारं च बृहस्पतिम्
He appointed Suhotra, the foremost sage, as the Brahma priest, Yajnavalkya as the Adhvaryu, and Brihaspati as the Hotar.
प्रस्तोतारं तथा पैलमुद्गातारं च गोभिलम् । सभ्यानन्यान्मुनीन्कृत्वा विधिवत्प्रददौ वसु
He also appointed Paila as the Prastotar, Gobhila as the Udgatar, and other sages as members of the assembly, and duly gave them wealth.
उद्गाता सामगः श्रेष्ठः सप्तस्वरसमन्वितम् । रथन्तरमगायत्तु स्वरितेन समन्वितम्
The Udgatar, the best among singers of the Sama Veda, sang the Rathantara hymn, composed of the seven notes, with proper intonation.
तदाऽस्य स्वरभङ्गोऽभूत्कृते श्वासे मुहुर्मुहुः । देवदत्तश्चुकोपाशु गोभिलं प्रत्युवाच ह
Then, due to repeated breathing, his voice broke again and again; Devadatta became angry and immediately spoke to Gobhila.
मूर्खोऽसि मुनिमुख्याद्य स्वरभङ्गस्त्वया कृतः । काम्यकर्मणि सञ्जाते पुत्रार्थं यजतश्च मे
'You are a fool, O foremost of sages! Because of you, the intonation has been spoiled in this ritual performed for the desire of a son.'
गोभिलस्तु तदोवाच देवदत्तं सुकोपितः । मूर्खस्ते भविता पुत्रः शठः शब्दविवर्जितः
Gobhila, greatly enraged, then said to Devadatta: 'Your son will be a fool, deceitful, and devoid of speech.'
सर्वप्राणिशरीरे तु श्वासोच्छ्वासः सुदुर्ग्रहः । न मेऽत्र दूषणं किंचित्स्वरभङ्गे महामते
'In all living bodies, the process of inhalation and exhalation is very difficult to control; I am not at fault in this matter of intonation, O wise one.'
तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य गोभिलस्य महात्मनः । शापाद्भीतो देवदत्तस्तमुवाचातिदुःखितः
Hearing these words of the great-souled Gobhila, Devadatta, frightened by the curse, spoke to him in great distress.
कथं क्रुद्धोऽसि विप्रेन्द्र वृथा मयि निरागसि । अक्रोधना हि मुनयो भवन्ति सुखदाः सदा
'O foremost of Brahmins, why are you angry with me without cause, when I am blameless? For sages who are free from anger always bring happiness.'
स्वल्पेऽपराधे विप्रेन्द्र कथं शप्तस्त्वया ह्यहम् । अपुत्रोऽहं सुतप्तः प्राक् तापयुक्तः पुनः कृतः
'O foremost of Brahmins, for such a minor fault, why have you cursed me? I am childless and already afflicted; now you have caused me further suffering.'
मूर्खपुत्रादपुत्रत्वं वरं वेदविदो विदुः । तथापि ब्राह्मणो मूर्खः सर्वेषां निन्द्य एव हि
Those who know the Vedas say that having no son is better than having a foolish son; yet, a foolish brāhmaṇa is always to be condemned by all.
पशुवच्छूद्रवच्चैव न योग्यः सर्वकर्मसु । किं करोमीह मूर्खेण पुत्रेण द्विजसत्तम
Like an animal or a śūdra, he is unfit for all rites; O best of twice-born, what can I do with a foolish son here?
यथा शूद्रस्तथा मूर्खो ब्राह्मणो नात्र संशयः । न पूजार्हो न दानार्हो निन्द्यश्च सर्वकर्मसु
A foolish brāhmaṇa is just like a śūdra—there is no doubt of this; he is not worthy of worship or gifts, and is to be censured in all rites.
देशे वै वसमानश्च ब्राह्मणो वेदवर्जितः । करदः शूद्रवच्चैव मन्तव्यः स च भूभुजा
A brāhmaṇa living in a land without Vedic knowledge should be regarded by the king as liable to pay taxes, just like a śūdra.
नासने पितृकार्येषु देवकार्येषु स द्विजः । मूर्खः समुपवेश्यश्च कार्यश्च फलमिच्छता
A foolish brāhmaṇa should not be seated in rituals for ancestors or gods by one who desires results.
राज्ञा शूद्रसमो ज्ञेयो न योज्यः सर्वकर्मसु । कर्षकस्तु द्विजः कार्यो ब्राह्मणो वेदवर्जितः
By the king, he should be considered equal to a śūdra and not employed in any rites; a brāhmaṇa without Vedic knowledge should be made a cultivator.
विना विप्रेण कर्तव्यं श्राद्धं कुशचटेन वै । न तु विप्रेण मूर्खेण श्राद्धं कार्यं कदाचन
Śrāddha should be performed without a brāhmaṇa, using only a blade of kuśa grass, rather than with a foolish brāhmaṇa.
आहारादधिकं चान्नं न दातव्यमपण्डिते । दाता नरकमाप्नोति ग्रहीता तु विशेषतः
Food beyond what is necessary should not be given to an unlearned person; the giver attains hell, especially the receiver.
धिग्राज्यं तस्य राज्ञो वै यस्य देशेऽबुधा जनाः । पूज्यन्ते ब्राह्मणा मूर्खा दानमानादिकैरपि
Fie on the kingdom of that king in whose land ignorant brāhmaṇas are honored with gifts and respect.
आसने पूजने दाने यत्र भेदो न चाण्वपि । मूर्खपण्डितयोर्भेदो ज्ञातव्यो विबुधेन वै
Where there is not even the slightest distinction in seating, worship, or giving between the foolish and the learned, the wise must discern the difference.
मूर्खा यत्र सुगर्विष्ठा दानमानपरिग्रहैः । तस्मिन्देशे न वस्तव्यं पण्डितेन कथञ्चन
Where the foolish are excessively proud through gifts and honors, a learned person should never dwell in such a land.
असतामुपकाराय दुर्जनानां विभूतयः । पिचुमन्दः फलाढ्योऽपि काकैरेवोपभुज्यते
The wealth of the wicked serves only to benefit the unworthy; just as the bhallātaka tree, though rich in fruit, is enjoyed only by crows.
भुक्त्वान्नं वेदविद्विप्रो वेदाभ्यासं करोति वै । क्रीडन्ति पूर्वजास्तस्य स्वर्गे प्रमुदिताः किल
A brāhmaṇa learned in the Vedas, after eating food, studies the Vedas; his ancestors rejoice in heaven, delighted indeed.
गोभिलातः विमुक्तं वै त्वया वेदविदुत्तम । संसारे मूर्खपुत्रत्वं मरणादतिगर्हितम्
O best knower of the Vedas, you have freed me from the bondage of Gobhila; in this world, having a foolish son is more blameworthy than death.
कृपां कुरु महाभाग शापस्यानुग्रहं प्रति । दीनोद्धारणशक्तोऽसि पतामि तव पादयोः
Have mercy, O greatly fortunate one, regarding the favor of the curse; you are able to uplift the distressed—I fall at your feet.
लोमश उवाच इत्युक्त्वा देवदत्तस्तु पतितस्तस्य पादयोः । स्तुवन्दीनहृदत्यर्थं कृपणः साश्रुलोचनः
Lomaśa said: Having spoken thus, Devadatta fell at his feet, praising him with a heart full of sorrow, pitiable and with tearful eyes.
गोभिलस्तु तदा तत्र दृष्ट्वा तं दीनचेतसम् । क्षणकोपा महान्तो वै पापिष्ठाः कल्पकोपनाः
Gobhila, seeing him there so dejected, was moved; great angers, though intense, are but momentary, while sinful wrath endures an age.
जलं स्वभावतः शीतं पावकातपयोगतः । उष्णं भवति तच्छीघ्रं तद्विना शिशिरं भवेत्
Water is naturally cold, but becomes hot by contact with fire; as soon as that is removed, it quickly becomes cool again.