अन्यः किं न करोत्येवं कृतं वै सत्त्वमूर्तिना । वामनं रूपमास्थाय यज्ञपातं चिकीर्षता
If such a thing was done by the embodiment of virtue, assuming the form of Vāmana and seeking to obtain the sacrificial offering, why would another not act likewise?
न च विश्वसितव्यं वै कदाचित्केनचित्तथा । लोभश्चेतसि चेत्स्वामिन्कीदृक्पापकृतं भयम्
Therefore, one should never place trust in anyone; if greed arises in the mind, O master, what terrible fear is caused by evil deeds!
लोभाहताः प्रकुर्वन्ति पापानि प्राणिनः किल । परलोकाद्भयं नास्ति कस्यचित्कर्हिचिन्मुने
Those overcome by greed indeed commit sinful acts; O sage, there is never any fear of the next world for anyone.
मनसा कर्मणा वाचा परस्वादानहेतुतः । प्रपतन्ति नराः सम्यग्लोभोपहतचेतसः
Men whose minds are afflicted by greed fall thoroughly—by thought, action, and speech—seeking to appropriate others’ wealth.
देवानाराध्य सततं वाञ्छन्ति च धनं नराः । न देवास्तत्करे कृत्वा समर्था दातुमञ्जसा
Men constantly worship the gods, desiring wealth; but the gods, having done their part, are not able to grant it directly.
अन्यस्यानीयते वित्तं प्रयच्छन्ति मनीषितम् । वाणिज्येनाथ दानेन चौर्येणापि बलेन वा
Another’s wealth is taken and given as desired—by trade, by charity, by theft, or even by force.
विक्रयार्थं गृहीत्वा च धान्यवस्त्रादिकं बहु । देवानर्चयते वैश्यो महर्द्धिर्मे भवेदिति
A merchant, taking much grain, cloth, and other goods for the purpose of selling, worships the gods, thinking, ‘May I obtain great prosperity.’
नात्र किं परवित्तेच्छा वाणिज्येन परन्तप । ग्रहणकाले तु सम्प्राप्ते महर्घञ्चापि काङ्क्षति
O scorcher of foes, in trade, what is there but desire for another’s wealth? When the time comes to acquire, he even longs for a high price.
एवं हि प्राणिनः सर्वे परस्वादानतत्पराः । वर्तन्ते सततं ब्रह्मन् विश्वासः कीदृशः पुनः
Thus, O Brahman, all creatures are always intent on appropriating others’ property; what kind of trust can there be again?
वृथा तीर्थं वृथा दानं वृथाऽध्ययनमेव च । लोभमोहावृतानां वै कृतं तदकृतं भवेत्
Pilgrimage is in vain, charity is in vain, and study is in vain; for those enveloped in greed and delusion, what is done becomes undone.
तस्मादेनं महाभाग विसर्जय गृहं प्रति । सपुत्राऽहं वसिष्यामि जानकीवद्द्विजोत्तम
Therefore, O highly fortunate one, send him away to his home; I will remain here with my son, O best of twice-born, like Jānakī.
इत्युक्तोऽसौ मुनिस्तावद्गत्वा युधाजितं नृपम् । उवाच वचनं राज्ञे भारद्वाजः प्रतापवान्
Thus addressed, the sage then went to King Yudhājit and spoke these words to the king, Bhāradvāja, full of prowess.
गच्छ राजन् यथाकामं स्वपुरं नृपसत्तम । नेयं मनोरमाभ्येति बालपुत्रा सुदुःखिता
Go, O king, as you wish, to your own city, best among rulers; this Manorama will not come, she is deeply distressed with her young son.
युधाजिदुवाच मुने मुञ्च हठं सौम्य विसर्जय मनोरमाम् । न च यास्याम्यहं मुक्त्वा नेष्याम्यद्य बलात्पुनः
Yudhājit said: O sage, abandon your stubbornness and send Manorama away; I will not depart without her, nor will I take her by force today.
ऋषिरुवाच नयस्व यदि शक्तिस्ते बलेनाद्य ममाश्रमात् । विश्वामित्रो यथा धेनुं वसिष्ठस्य मुनेः पुरा
The sage said: Take her, if you are able, by force from my hermitage today, just as Viśvāmitra once tried to take the cow from the sage Vasiṣṭha.
विश्वामित्रकथोत्तरं राजपुत्रस्य कामबीजप्राप्तिवर्णनम् व्यास उवाच इत्याकर्ण्य वचस्तस्य मुनेस्तत्रावनीपतिः । मन्त्रिवृद्धं समाहूय पप्रच्छ तमतन्द्रितः
Vyāsa said: Hearing the sage’s words, the king summoned his aged minister and questioned him attentively.
किं कर्तव्यं सुबुद्धेऽत्र मयाऽद्य वद सुव्रत । बलान्नयामि तां कामं सपुत्राञ्च सुभाषिणीम्
O wise one, tell me what should be done here today; I will forcibly take her, along with her sons, that virtuous speaker.
रिपुरल्पोऽपि नोपेक्ष्यः सर्वथा शुभमिच्छता । राजयक्ष्मेव संवृद्धो मृत्यवे परिकल्पयेत्
Even a weak enemy should never be disregarded by one who desires auspiciousness; when grown, like royal consumption, he should be considered as leading to death.
नात्र सैन्यं न योद्धास्ति यो मामत्र निवारयेत् । गृहीत्वा हन्मि तं तत्र दौहित्रस्य रिपुं किल
There is neither army nor warrior here who could restrain me; I will seize and kill there the enemy of my grandson.
निष्कण्टकं भवेद्राज्यं यताम्यद्य बलादहम् । हते सुदर्शने नूनं निर्भयोऽसौ भवेदिति
The kingdom will become free of thorns if I act by force today; once Sudarshana is slain, surely he will be fearless.
प्रधान उवाच साहसं न हि कर्तव्यं श्रुतं राजन् मुनेर्वचः । विश्वामित्रस्य दृष्टान्तः कथितस्तेन मारिष
The chief said: One should not act rashly; O king, you have heard the sage’s words. The example of Vishvamitra was told by him, O noble one.
पुरा गाधिसुतः श्रीमान्विश्वामित्रोऽतिविश्रुतः । विचरन्स नृपश्रेष्ठो वसिष्ठाश्रममभ्यगात्
Long ago, the illustrious son of Gadhi, Vishvamitra, renowned among kings, while wandering, approached the hermitage of Vashishtha.
नमस्कृत्य च तं राजा विश्वामित्रः प्रतापवान् । उपविष्टो नृपश्रेष्ठो मुनिना दत्तविष्टरः
Having bowed to him, the powerful king Vishvamitra, the foremost among kings, sat down, given a seat by the sage.
निमन्त्रितो वसिष्ठेन भोजनाय महात्मना । ससैन्यश्च स्थितो राजा गाधिपुत्रो महायशाः
Invited by the great-souled Vashishtha for a meal, the king, son of Gadhi, famed among men, stood there with his army.
नन्दिन्याऽऽसादितं सर्वं भक्ष्यभोज्यादिकं च यत् । भुक्त्वा राजा ससैन्यश्च वाञ्छितं तत्र भोजनम्
All kinds of food and delicacies were provided by Nandini; the king and his army ate the desired meal there.
प्रतापं तञ्च नन्दिन्याः परिज्ञाय स पार्थिवः । ययाचे नन्दिनीं राजा वसिष्ठं मुनिसत्तमम्
Recognizing the power of Nandini, the king approached the sage Vashishtha and requested Nandini, the cow.
विश्वामित्र उवाच मुने धेनुसहस्रं ते घटोध्नीनां ददाम्यहम् । नन्दिनीं देहि मे धेनुं प्रार्थयामि परन्तप
Vishvamitra said: O sage, I will give you a thousand milking cows; give me Nandini, the cow—I request you, O scorcher of foes.
वसिष्ठ उवाच होमधेनुरियं राजन्न ददामि कथञ्चन । सहस्रञ्चापि धेनूनां तवेदं तव तिष्ठतु
Vashishtha said: This is my sacrificial cow, O king; I will not give her under any circumstances. Even a thousand cows may remain with you, but this one stays with me.
विश्वामित्र उवाच अयुतं वाथ लक्ष्यं वा ददामि मनसेप्सितम् । द्देहि मे नन्दिनीं साधो ग्रहीष्यामि बलादथ
Vishvamitra said: I will give you ten thousand or a hundred thousand, whatever you desire; give me Nandini, O virtuous one, or else I will seize her by force.
वसिष्ठ उवाच कामं गृहाण नृपते बलादद्य यथारुचि । नाहं ददामि ते राजन्स्वेच्छया नन्दिनीं गृहात्
Vashishtha said: Take her by force today, O king, as you wish; but I will not give Nandini to you willingly from my house.