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.
दयावान्गोभिलस्त्वाह देवदत्तं सुदुःखितम् । मूर्खो भूत्वा सुतस्ते वै विद्वानपि भविष्यति
Moved by compassion, Gobhila said to Devadatta, who was deeply distressed: 'Your son, though he becomes foolish, will also become wise.'
इति दत्तवरः सोऽथ मुदितोऽभूद्द्विजर्षभः । इष्टिं समाप्य विप्रान्वै विससर्ज यथाविधि
Having received this boon, the foremost of twice-born was delighted; completing the ritual, he dismissed the Brahmins according to proper procedure.
कालेन कियता तस्य भार्या रूपमती सती । गर्भं दधार काले सा रोहिणी रोहिणीसमा
After some time, his wife, who was beautiful and virtuous, conceived; at the proper time, she, like Rohini, bore a child.
गर्भाधानादिकं कर्म चकार विधिवद्द्विजः । पुंसवनविधानञ्च शृङ्गारकरणं तथा
The twice-born performed the rites of conception and related ceremonies according to tradition, including the ritual for producing a male child and acts of adornment.
सीमन्तोन्नयनञ्चैव कृतं वेदविधानतः । ददौ दानानि मुदितो मत्वेष्टिं सफलां तथा
He also performed the ceremony of parting the hair as prescribed in the Vedas, joyfully gave gifts, and considered the ritual to have borne fruit.
शुभेऽह्नि सुषुवे पुत्रं रोहिणी रोहिणीयुते । दिने लग्ने शुभेऽत्यर्थं जातकर्म चकार सः
On an auspicious day, Rohini gave birth to a son, with Rohini's qualities; at a highly favorable time and ascendant, he performed the birth rites.
पुत्रदर्शनकं कृत्वा नामकर्म चकार च । उतथ्य इति पुत्रस्य कृतं नाम पुराविदा
After seeing his son, he performed the naming ceremony; the name 'Utathya' was given to the son according to ancient tradition.
स चाष्टमे तथा वर्षे शुभे वै शुभवासरे । तस्योपनयनं कर्म चकार विधिवत्पिता
Then, in the eighth year, on an auspicious day and occasion, his father performed the sacred thread ceremony for him according to tradition.
वेदमध्यापयामास गुरुस्तं वै व्रते स्थितम् । नोच्चचार तथोतथ्यः संस्थितो मुग्धवत्तदा
The teacher instructed him in the Vedas as he observed the vow, but Utathya did not recite, remaining silent like one bewildered.
बहुधा पाठितः पित्रा न दधार मतिं शठः । मूढवत्तिष्ठतेऽत्यर्थं तं शुशोच पिता तदा
Though his father repeatedly taught him, the stubborn boy did not grasp the lessons; he stood as if dull-witted, and his father grieved for him.