वीरः कुवलयाश्वोऽयं पित्रे चासौ निवेदितः । ततो ननाम चरणौ नागेन्द्रस्य ऋतध्वजः ॥ २३.
This hero is Kuvalayashva, and he was introduced to their father; then Ritadhvaja bowed at the feet of the serpent king.
तमुत्थाप्य बलाद्गाढं नागेन्द्रः परिषस्वजे । मूर्ध्नि चैनमुपाघ्राय चिरं जीवेत्युवाच सः ॥ २३.
The serpent king raised him up and embraced him tightly with force; smelling his head, he said, 'May you live long.'
निहतामित्रवर्गश्च पित्रोः सुश्रूषणं कुरु । वत्स ! धन्यस्य कथ्यन्ते परोक्षस्यापि ते गुणाः ॥ २३.
Having vanquished your enemies, serve your parents, dear child! Even when you are not present, the virtues of the blessed are spoken of.
भवतो मम पुत्राभ्यामसामान्या निवेदिताः । त्वमेवानेन वर्धेथा मनोवाक्कायचेष्टितैः ॥ २३.
The uncommon qualities have been revealed by you and my sons; may you alone grow further in them, by your thoughts, words, and actions.
जीवितं गुणिनः श्लाघ्यं जीवन्नेव मृतोऽगुणः । गुणवान्निर्वृतिं पित्रोः शत्रुणां हृदयज्वरम् ॥ २३.
The life of a virtuous person is praiseworthy; one without virtue is as if dead, even while living. The virtuous bring joy to their parents and anguish to the hearts of their enemies.
करोत्यात्महितं कुर्वन् विश्वासञ्च महाजने । देवताः पितरो विप्रा मित्रार्थिविकलादयः ॥ २३.
By acting for his own good, and gaining the trust of the people, he pleases the gods, ancestors, brahmins, friends, those seeking help, and the afflicted.
बान्धवाश्च तथेच्छन्ति जीवितं गुणिनश्चिरम् । परिवादनिवृत्तानां दुर्गतेषु दयावताम् । गुणिनां सफलं जन्म संश्रितानां विपद्गतैः ॥ २३.
Relatives too desire the long life of the virtuous; those who refrain from slander, who are compassionate to the unfortunate—such a virtuous one's birth is fruitful for those who seek refuge in times of distress.
जड उवाच एवमुक्त्वा स तं वीरं पुत्राविदमथाब्रवीत् । पूजां कुवलयाश्वस्य कर्तुकामो भुजङ्गमः ॥ २३.
Jaḍa said: Having spoken thus to that heroic son, he then addressed him again, for the serpent wished to perform the worship of Kuvalayāśva.
स्नानादिकक्रमं कृत्वा सर्वमेव यथाक्रमम् । मधुपानादिसम्भोगमाहारञ्च यथेप्सितम् ॥ २३.
After performing the sequence of bathing and other rites, all in due order, he enjoyed honey-drinking and other pleasures, as well as food, as he wished.
ततः कुवलयाश्वेन हृदयोत्सवभूतया । कथया स्वल्पकं कालं स्थास्यामो हृष्टचेतसः ॥ २३.
Then, with Kuvalayāśva, their hearts rejoicing in festive conversation, they remained for a short while, delighted in spirit.
अनुमेन च तन्मौनो वचः शत्रुजितः सुतः । तथा चकार नृपतिः पन्नगानामुदारधीः ॥ २३.
With the approval of his silent father, the son of Śatrujita did just as the noble-minded king of the serpents had requested.
समेत्य तैरात्मजभूपनन्दनैर् महोरगाणामधिपः स सत्यवाक् । मुदान्वितोऽन्नानि मधूनि चात्मवान् यथोपयोगं बुभुजे स भोगभुक् ॥ २३.
Having gathered with his sons and the princes, the truthful lord of the great serpents, filled with joy and self-control, partook of food and honey as was appropriate, enjoying the pleasures.
अलर्क उवाच यत्कार्यं पुरुषाणाञ्च गार्हस्थ्यमनुवर्तताम् । बन्धश्च स्यादकरणे क्रियाया यस्य चोच्छ्रितिः ॥ २९.
Alarka said: What is the duty of those who follow the householder's path? What bondage arises from neglecting action, and what elevation comes from performing it?
उपकाराय यन्नृणां यच्च वर्ज्यं गृहे सता । यथा च क्रियते तन्मे यथावत्पृच्छतो वद ॥ २९.
What brings benefit to people, and what should be avoided by one living in a household? Tell me properly, as I ask, how these things are to be done.
मदालसोवाच वत्स ! गार्हस्थ्यमादाय नरः सर्वमिदं जगत् । पुष्णाति तेन लोकांश्च स जयत्यभिवाञ्छितान् ॥ २९.
Madālasā said: Child, by embracing the householder's life, a man sustains this entire world; through it, he conquers the realms and attains his desired aims.
पितरो मुनयो देवा भूतानि मनुजास्तथा । कृमिकीटपतङ्गाश्च वयांसि पशवोऽसुराः ॥ २९.
Ancestors, sages, gods, beings, humans, as well as worms, insects, flying creatures, birds, animals, and demons—
गृहस्थमुपजीवन्ति ततस्तृप्तिं प्रयान्ति च । मुखं चास्य निरीक्षन्ते अपि नो दास्यतीति वै ॥ २९.
—all live upon the householder, and thus they become satisfied. They look to his face, wondering, 'Will he give to us or not?'
सर्वस्याधारभूतेयं वत्स ! धेनुस्त्रयीमयी । यस्यां प्रतिष्ठितं विश्वं विश्वहेतुश्च या मता ॥ २९.
This, my child, is the cow of threefold form, the very foundation of all; in her the universe is established, and she is regarded as the cause of all.
ऋक्पृष्ठासौ यजुर्मध्या सामवक्त्रशिरोधरा । इष्टापूर्तविषाणा च साधुसूक्ततनूरुहा ॥ २९.
Her back is the Ṛgveda, her middle the Yajurveda, her mouth and head the Sāmaveda; her horns are sacrifice and charity, her body the hymns of the good.
शान्तिपुष्टिशकृन्मूत्रा वर्णपादप्रतिष्ठिता । आजीव्यमाना जगतां साक्षया नापचीयते ॥ २९.
Her dung and urine are peace and nourishment, her limbs are the castes and orders; as long as she is sustained, the worlds do not diminish, but endure.
स्वाहाकारस्वधाकारौ वषट्कारश्च पुत्रक ! । हन्तकारस्तथा चान्यस्तस्याःस्तनचतुष्टयम् ॥ २९.
O child, the utterances 'svāhā', 'svadhā', and 'vaṣaṭ', as well as 'hanta', are each represented by one of her four breasts.
स्वाहाकारं स्तनं देवाः पितरश्च स्वधामयम् । मुनयश्च वषट्कारं देवभूतसुरेतराः ॥ २९.
The gods drink the breast of 'svāhā', the ancestors drink the breast of 'svadhā', and the sages, along with gods, spirits, and demons, drink the breast of 'vaṣaṭ'.
हन्तकारं मनुष्याश्च पिबन्ति सततं स्तनम् । एवमाप्याययत्येषा वत्स ! धेनुस्त्रयीमयी ॥ २९.
Humans continually drink the breast of 'hanta'; thus, O calf, this cow, composed of the three Vedas, nourishes all.
तेषामुच्छेदकर्ता च यो नरोऽत्यन्तपापकृत् । स तमस्यान्धतामिस्त्रे तामिस्त्रे च निमज्जति ॥ २९.
The person who destroys these, who commits extreme evil, sinks into the deepest darkness and gloom.
यश्चेमां मानवो धेनुं स्वैर्वत्सैरमरादिभिः । पाययत्युचिते काले स स्वर्गायोपपद्यते ॥ २९.
But the man who, together with his own calves and the gods and others, lets this cow drink at the proper time, attains heaven.
तस्मात्पुत्र ! मनुष्येण देवर्षिपितृमानवाः । भूतानि चानुदिवसं पोष्याणि स्वतनुर्यथा ॥ २९.
Therefore, O son, a human must daily nourish the gods, sages, ancestors, humans, and beings, just as he nourishes his own body.
तस्मात्स्त्रातः शुचिर्भूत्वा देवर्षिपितृतर्पणम् । प्रजापतेस्तथैवादिभः काले कुर्यात्समाहितः ॥ २९.
Therefore, purified and protected, one should attentively perform offerings to the gods, sages, ancestors, and to Prajapati and the others, at the proper time.
सुमनोगन्धपुष्पैश्च देवानभ्यर्च्य मानवः । ततोऽग्नेस्तर्पणं कुर्याद्देयाश्च बलयस्तथा ॥ २९.
After worshipping the gods with fragrant flowers, a man should then make offerings to fire, and also give the prescribed portions.
ब्रह्मणे गृहमध्ये तु विश्वेदेवेभ्य एव च । धन्वन्तरिं समुद्दिश्य प्रागुदीच्यां बलिं क्षिपेत् ॥ २९.
Within the house, he should offer to Brahma and the Visvedevas; for Dhanvantari, he should place the offering in the northeast.
प्राच्यां शक्राय याम्यायां यमाय बलिमाहरेत् । प्रतीच्यां वरुणायाथ सोमायोत्तरतो बलिम् ॥ २९.
In the east, he should offer to Indra; in the south, to Yama; in the west, to Varuna; and in the north, to Soma.