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.
क्षत्रियाणामयं धर्मो यत्प्रजापरिपालनम्
This is the duty of kṣatriyas: the protection of their subjects.
यत्राशक्तस्य मे दोषो नैवास्त्यपकृते त्वया
Where I am powerless, there is no fault of mine if you act wrongly.
जन्मोपर्भागलिप्सार्थमियं गज्यस्पृहा मम
This desire for sovereignty in me is for the sake of gaining a share of birth and fortune.
न याच्ञा क्षत्रबन्धूनां धर्मायैतत्सतां मतम्
Requesting from fellow kṣatriyas is not considered righteous by the virtuous.
राज्यं गृध्नन्ति विद्वांसो ममत्वाकृष्टचेतसः
The learned, whose minds are drawn by attachment, covet kingship.
अहं च विद्यया मृत्युं तर्तुकामः करोमि वै
And I, wishing to cross over death by knowledge, indeed act.
तदिदं ते मनो दिष्ट्या विवेकैश्चर्यतां गतम्
Therefore, by fortune, your mind has attained discernment and wonder.
अनात्मन्यात्मबुद्धिर्या ह्यस्वे स्वविषया मतिः
That understanding which sees the self in the non-self, and regards what is not one's own as one's own—
पञ्चभूतात्मके देहे देही मोहतमोवृत्तः
The embodied soul, enveloped in the darkness of delusion, dwells in a body composed of the five elements.
आकाशवाय्वग्रिजलपृथिवीभिः पृथक् स्थिते
Space, air, fire, water, and earth exist separately.