यथा न नश्यति तमः कृतया दीपवार्तया । तत्कर्म यन्न बन्धाय सा विद्या या विमुक्तये
Just as darkness is not dispelled by talk of a lamp, so that action which does not bind is true knowledge, and that which leads to liberation.
आयासायापरं कर्म विद्यान्या शिल्पनैपुणम् । शीलं परहितत्वं च कोपाभावः क्षमा धृतिः
Other actions are for toil, other knowledge is skill in arts and crafts; good conduct, working for others' welfare, absence of anger, forgiveness, and steadfastness—
सन्तोषश्चेति विद्यायाः परिपाकोज्ज्वलं फलम् । विद्यया तपसा वापि योगाभ्यासेन भूपते
Contentment—these are the shining fruits of the maturity of knowledge. By knowledge, or by austerity, or by the practice of yoga, O King—
विना कामादिशत्रूणां नैव नाशः कदाचन । (मनस्तु चञ्चलं रास्वभावादतिदुर्ग्रहम् । तद्वशः सर्वथा प्राणी त्रिविधो भुवनत्रये । ) कामक्रोधादयो भावाश्चित्तजाः परिकीर्तिताः
Without destroying the enemies such as desire, there is never any liberation. The mind is fickle by nature and very hard to control; every being in the three worlds is subject to it. Desire, anger, and the like are said to arise from the mind.
ते तदा न भवन्त्येव यदा वै निर्जितं मनः । तस्मात्तु निमिना राजन्न क्षमा विहिता मुनौ
They are not so, indeed, when the mind has been conquered; therefore, O King, Nimi did not show forbearance towards the sage.
यथा ययातिना पूर्वं कृता शुक्रे कृतागसि । भृगुपुत्रेण शप्तोऽपि ययातिर्नृपसत्तमः
Just as, in former times, Yayāti committed an offense against Śukra, and though cursed by the son of Bhṛgu, the noble king Yayāti—
न शशाप मुनिं क्रोधाज्जरां राजा गृहीतवान् । कश्चित्सौम्यो भवेत्कश्चित्क्रूरो भवति पार्थिवः
Did not curse the sage in anger, but accepted old age; some become gentle, some become harsh, O King.
स्वभावभेदान्नृपते कस्य दोषोऽत्र कल्प्यते । हैहया भार्गवान्पूर्वं धनलोभात्पुरोहितान्
Due to differences in nature, O King, who can be blamed here? The Haihayas, out of greed for wealth, previously—
ब्राह्मणान्मूलतः सर्वांश्चिच्छिदुः क्रोधमूर्च्छिताः । पातकं पृष्ठतः कृत्वा ब्रह्महत्यासमुद्भवम्
Seized with anger, cut down all the Brāhmaṇas, their priests, at the root; committing a great sin, they incurred the guilt of Brahminicide.
हैहयैर्धनाहरणेन सह भृगूणां वधवर्णनम् जनमेजय उवाच कुले कस्य समुत्पन्नाः क्षत्रिया हैहयाश्च ते । ब्रह्महत्यामनादृत्य निजघ्नुर्भार्गवांश्च ये
Janamejaya said: Of which lineage were those Kṣatriyas, the Haihayas? And those who, disregarding the sin of Brahminicide, killed the Bhārgavas?
वैरस्य कारणं तेषां किं मे ब्रूहि पितामह । निमित्तेन विना क्रोधं कथं कुर्वन्ति सत्तमाः
What was the cause of their enmity? Tell me, O Grandsire. How could the noble ones act in anger without a reason?
वैरं पुरोहितैः सार्धं कस्मात्तेषामजायत । नाल्पहेतोर्हि तद्वैरं क्षत्रियाणां भविष्यति
Why did that enmity arise with their priests? For Kṣatriyas, such enmity would not occur for a trivial reason.
अन्यथा ब्राह्मणान् पूज्यान्कथं जघ्नुरनागसः । बाहुजा बलवन्तोऽपि पापभीताः कथं न ते
Otherwise, how could they have slain the Brāhmaṇas, who were worthy of worship and innocent? Though strong and powerful, how were they not afraid of sin?
स्वल्पेऽपराधे को हन्याद्वाडवान्क्षत्रियर्षभः । सन्देहो मे मुनिश्रेष्ठ कारणं वक्तुमर्हसि
Who would kill Brāhmaṇas for a small offense, O best of Kṣatriyas? I am doubtful, O best of sages; you ought to tell me the reason.
सूत उवाच इति पृष्टस्तदा तेन राज्ञा सत्यवतीसुतः । उवाच परमप्रीतः कथां संस्मृत्य चेतसा
Sūta said: Thus questioned by the king, the son of Satyavatī, filled with great delight, recalled the story in his mind and spoke.
व्यास उवाच शृणु पारिक्षिते वार्तां क्षत्रियाणां पुरातनीम् । आश्चर्यकारिणीं सम्यग्विदितां च पुरा मया
Vyāsa said: Hear, O Pārikṣit, the ancient tale of the Kṣatriyas, wondrous and well-known, which I once learned.
कार्तवीर्येति नाम्नाभूद्धैहयः पृथिवीपतिः । सहस्रबाहुर्बलवानर्जुनो धर्मतत्परः
There was a Haihaya king named Kārtavīrya, mighty as Arjuna of a thousand arms, devoted to righteousness.
दत्तात्रेयस्य शिष्योऽभूदवतारो हरेरिव । सिद्धः सर्वार्थदः शाक्तो भृगूणां याज्य एव सः
He was a disciple of Dattātreya, like an incarnation of Hari; accomplished, bestower of all desires, devoted to Śakti, and the sacrificer for the Bhṛgus.
यज्वा परमधर्मिष्ठः सदा दानपरायणः । ददौ वित्तं भृगुभ्योऽसौ कृत्वा यज्ञाननेकशः
A great sacrificer, supremely righteous, always devoted to giving; he gave wealth to the Bhṛgus after performing many sacrifices.
धनिनस्ते द्विजा जाता भृगवो नृपदानतः । हयरत्नसमृद्ध्याढ्याः सञ्जाताः प्रथिता भुवि
Those Bhṛgu Brāhmaṇas, honored by the king, became wealthy, renowned on earth, rich in horses, jewels, and prosperity.
स्वर्याते नृपशार्दूले कार्तवीर्यार्जुने पुनः । हैहया निर्धना जाताः कालेन महता नृप
When Kārtavīryārjuna departed this world, O tiger among kings, the Haihayas became impoverished after a long time.
धनकार्यं समुत्पन्नं हैहयानां कदाचन । याचिष्णवोऽभिजग्मुस्तान्भूगूंस्ते हैहया नृप
Once, a need for wealth arose among the Haihayas; those Haihayas, being in want, approached the Bhṛgus and begged for land.
विनयं क्षत्रियाः कृत्वाप्ययाचन्त धनं बहु । न ददुस्तेऽतिलोभार्ता नास्ति नास्तीतिवादिनः
Even after showing humility, the Kshatriyas begged for much wealth; but those who were excessively greedy and declared 'there is nothing, there is nothing,' did not give.
भूमौ च निदधुः केचिद्भृगवो धनमुत्तमम् । ददुः केचिद्द्विजातिभ्यो ज्ञात्वा क्षत्रियतो भयम्
Some of the Bhrigus placed their excellent wealth in the ground; some, fearing the Kshatriyas, gave it to the twice-born.
कृत्वा स्थानान्तरे द्रव्यं ब्राह्मणा भयविह्वलाः । त्यक्त्वाऽऽश्रमान्ययुः सर्वे भृगवस्तृष्णयान्विताः
The Brahmins, overwhelmed by fear, moved their possessions elsewhere; abandoning their hermitages, all the Bhrigus, driven by desire, departed.
याज्यांश्च दुःखितान्दृष्ट्वा न ददुर्लोभमोहिताः । पलायित्वा गताः सर्वे गिरिदुर्गानुपाश्रिताः
Seeing the priests distressed, those deluded by greed did not give; all fled and took refuge in mountain fortresses.
ततस्ते हैहयास्तात दुःखिताः कार्यगौरवात् । भृगूणामाश्रमाञ्जग्मुर्द्रव्यार्थं क्षत्रियर्षभाः
Then, O dear one, the Haihayas, distressed but bound by duty, went to the hermitages of the Bhrigus, seeking wealth, these foremost of Kshatriyas.
भृगूंस्तु निर्गतान्वीक्ष्य शून्यांस्त्यक्त्या गृहानथ । चखनुर्भूतलं तत्र द्रव्यार्थं हैहया भृशम्
Seeing that the Bhrigus had left and their houses were empty, the Haihayas dug up the ground there intensely in search of wealth.
खनताधिगतं वित्तं केनचिद्भृगुवेश्मनि । ददृशुः क्षत्रियाः सर्वे तद्वित्तं श्रमकर्शिताः
While digging, they found treasure in a Bhrigu's house; all the Kshatriyas, exhausted by their efforts, saw that wealth.
यत्र यत्र समुत्पन्नं भूरि द्रव्यं महीतलात् । तदा ते पार्श्वभागस्थब्राह्मणानां गृहाण्यपि
Wherever abundant wealth arose from the earth, they also entered the houses of Brahmins living nearby.