सर्वभूतेष्वशेषेषु वकारार्थस्ततो ऽव्ययः
Therefore, the meaning of 'va' is imperishable among all beings without exception.
परमब्रह्मभूतस्य वासुदेवस्य नान्यगः
There is no other for Vāsudeva, who is of the nature of the supreme Brahman.
शब्दो ऽयं नोपचारेण चान्यत्र ह्युपचारतः
This word is not used figuratively, except elsewhere by convention.
वेत्ति विद्यामविद्यां च स वाच्यो भगवानिति
He who knows both knowledge and ignorance is rightly called 'Bhagavān.'
भगवच्छब्दवाच्यानि विना हेयैर्गुणादिभिः
Those denoted by the word 'Bhagavat' are without faults such as undesirable qualities.
भूतेषु वसनादेव वासुदेवस्ततः स्मृतः
Because He dwells in all beings, He is therefore remembered as Vāsudeva.
नामव्याख्यामनन्तस्य वासुदेवस्य तत्त्वतः
The true explanation of the names of the infinite Vāsudeva.
धाता विधाता जगतां वासुदेवस्ततः प्रभुः
He is the creator and ordainer of the worlds; thus, Vāsudeva is the Lord.
अतीतसर्वावरणो ऽखिलात्मा तेनास्तृतं यद्भुवनान्तरालम्
He transcends all coverings, is the soul of all; by him, the space between worlds is pervaded.
इच्छागृहीताभिमतोरुदेहः संसाधिताशेषजगद्धितो ऽसौ
Assuming a mighty form as he wills, he accomplishes the welfare of all worlds.
परः पराणां सकला न यत्र क्लेशादयः संति परावरेशे
He is the supreme among the supreme, where there is no suffering or the like, the Lord of the higher and lower.
सर्वेश्वरः सर्वनिसर्गवेत्ता समस्कशक्तिः परमेश्वराख्यः
He is the Lord of all, the knower of all creation, endowed with all powers, called the Supreme Lord.
तत्प्राप्तिकारणं ब्रह्म तवेतत्प्रतिपद्यते
That Brahman, which is the cause for attaining him, is thus realized by you.
स्वाध्याययोगसंपत्त्या परमात्मा प्रकाशते
Through the attainment of self-study and yoga, the Supreme Self becomes manifest.
न मांसचक्षुषा द्रष्टुं ब्रह्मभूतः स शक्यते
He who has become Brahman cannot be seen with the fleshly eye.
ज्ञाते यन्नाखिलाधारं पश्येयं परमेश्वरम्
When known, I would see the Supreme Lord, the support of all.
जनकाय पुरा योगं तथाहं कथयामि ते
I will tell you, as I once told Janaka, about yoga.
कथं तयोश्च संवादो योगसंबन्धवानभूत्
How did the conversation between those two, connected with yoga, take place?
कृतध्वजो ऽस्य भ्राताभूत्सदाध्यात्मरतिर्नृपः
Kritadhvaja, his brother, was a king always devoted to the Self.
पुत्रो ऽमितव्वजस्यापि खाण्डिक्यजनकाभिधः पुरोधसा मन्त्रिभिश्च समवेतो ऽल्पसाधनः
His son, though possessing little wealth, named Janaka of the Khaṇḍikya line, was surrounded by priests and ministers.
इयाडज सो ऽपि सुबहून यज्ञाञ्ज्ञानव्यपाश्रयः
He too performed many sacrifices, relying on knowledge.
एकदा वर्तमानस्य यागे योगविदां वर
Once, while a sacrifice was underway, O best of knowers of yoga—
ततो राजा हतां ज्ञात्वा धेनुं व्याघ्रेण चर्त्विजः
Then the king learned that a cow, the sacrificial animal, had been killed by a tiger.
ते चोचुर्नवयंविद्मः कशेरुः पृच्छ्यतामिति
And they said, 'We do not know; let someone ask who did this.'
शुनकं पृच्छ राजेन्द्र वेद स वेत्स्यति
O King, ask Śunaka; he knows the Veda.
न कशेरुर्नचैवाहं न चान्यः सांप्रतं भुवि
Neither Kaśeru, nor I, nor anyone else on earth at present knows.
स चाह तं व्रजाम्येष प्रष्टुमात्मरिपुं मुने
He said to him: 'I am going now, O sage, to question my enemy.'
प्रायश्चित्तं स चेत्पृष्टो वदिष्यति रिपुर्मम
If my enemy is asked, he will declare the expiation.
इत्युक्त्वा रथमारुह्य कृष्णाजिनधरो नृपः
Having said this, the king, wearing a black antelope skin, mounted his chariot.
तमायान्तं समालोक्य खाञ्जडिक्यो रिपुमात्मनः
Seeing him approaching, Khāṇḍikya, the enemy of his soul, said—