कृष्णाजिनत्वक्कवचभावेनास्मान्हनिष्यसि
With the black antelope skin as armor, you intend to kill us.
मृगानां वद पृष्टेषु मूढ कृष्णाजिनं न किम्
Fool, tell me: among animals with backs, is the black antelope skin not theirs?
स त्वामहं हनिष्यामि न मे जीवन्विमोक्ष्यसे
I will kill you; I will not let you go alive.
खाण्डिक्य संशयं प्रष्टुं भवन्तमहमागतः
Khāṇḍikya, I have come to you to ask a question.
ततः स मन्त्रिभिः सार्द्धमेकान्ते सपुरोहितः
Then, together with his ministers and the chief priest, he withdrew to a secluded place.
तमूर्मन्त्रिणो वध्यो रिपुरेष वशङ्गतः
The ministers said: 'This enemy, now under your power, should be executed.'
खाण्डिक्यश्चाह तान्सर्वानेव मेव न संशयः
Khāṇḍikya said to them all: 'There is no doubt about this for me.'
परलोकजयस्तस्य पृथिवी सकला मम
If he wins the next world, the whole earth will be mine.
परलोकजयो ऽनन्तः स्वल्पकालो महीजयः
Victory in the next world is endless; victory on earth is brief.
ततस्तमभ्युपेत्याह खाण्डिक्यो जनको रिपुम्
Then Khāṇḍikya approached his enemy Janaka and spoke to him.
ततः प्राह यथावृत्तं होमधेनुवधं मुने
Then he told the sage exactly how the sacrificial cow had been killed.
स चाचष्ट यथान्यायं मुने केशिध्वजाय तत्
And he explained everything properly to Keśidhvaja, O sage.
विदितार्थः स तेनैवमनुज्ञातो महात्मना
Having understood the matter, he was thus permitted by that great soul.
क्रमेण विधिवद्यागं नीत्वा सो ऽवभृथाप्लुतः
He duly performed the sacrifice step by step, and, having bathed at its conclusion,
पूजिता ऋत्विजः सर्वे सदस्या मानिता मया
All the officiating priests were honored, and the members of the assembly were respected by me.
यथाहं मर्त्यलोकस्य मया सर्वं विचष्टितम्
Just as I have recounted everything concerning the world of mortals,
इत्थं तु चिन्तयन्नेव संमार स महीपतिः
Thus, while reflecting in this way, that king prepared for departure.
स जगाम ततो भूयो रथमारुह्य पार्थिवः
Then the king mounted his chariot and proceeded further.
खाण्डिक्यो ऽपि पुनर्द्दष्ट्वा तमायान्तं धृतायुधः
Khāṇḍikya, seeing him approaching again, with weapon in hand,
अहं तु नापकाराय प्राप्तः खाण्डिक्य मा क्रुधः
But I have not come, Khāṇḍikya, to do you harm—do not be angry.
निष्पादितो मया यागः सम्यक् त्वदुपदेशतः
The sacrifice has been properly completed by me, indeed through your instruction.
इत्युक्तो मन्त्रयामास स भूयो मन्त्रिभिः सह
Thus addressed, he again took counsel with his ministers.
तमूचुर्मन्त्रिणो गज्यमशेषं याच्यतामयम्
The ministers said to him, 'Ask him for the elephant, all of it, without remainder.'
प्राहस्य तानाह नृपः स खाण्डिक्यो महापतिः
The great king Khāṇḍikya laughed and said to them,
एतमेतद्भंवतो ऽत्र स्वार्थ साधनमन्त्रिणः
'This, O ministers, is indeed the means for your own benefit here.'
इत्युक्त्वा समुपेत्यैंनं स तु केशिध्वजं नृपम्
Having said this, he approached that king Keśidhvaja.
बाढमित्येव तेनोक्तः खाण्डिक्यस्तमथाब्रवीत्
When he replied, 'So be it,' Khāṇḍikya then said to him:
यदि चेद्दीयते मह्यं भवता गुरुनिष्क्रयः
If you will give me the teacher's fee,
न प्रार्थितं त्वया कस्मान्मम राज्यमकण्टकम्
Why did you not ask for my kingdom, free from obstacles?
केशिध्वज निबोध त्वं मया न प्रार्थितं यतः
Keśidhvaja, understand why I did not ask for it from you.