तृणान्यभक्षयन्केचिन्नग्राश्च विविशुर्जनलम्
Some ate grass, and some entered the city of the people.
सत्वरं शरणं जग्मुर्वशिष्टं प्राणलोलुपाः
Eager to save their lives, they quickly sought refuge with Vasiṣṭha.
चारैर्विज्ञातवान्सद्यः प्रात्प श्चाचार्यसन्निधिम्
He immediately learned of this through spies and went to the presence of the preceptor.
त्रातुं च शिष्याभिहितं च कर्तुं विवारयामास तदा क्षणेन
Then, in a moment, he forbade both the act of protection and what was said by the disciples.
अन्धांश्च श्मश्रुलान्सर्वान्मुण्डान्वेदवहिष्कृतान्
And all those who are blind, bearded, shaven-headed, and excluded from the Vedas,
प्रहसन्प्राह सगरः स्वगुरुं तपसो निधिम्
Sagara laughed and spoke to his own teacher, the repository of austerity,
सर्वथाहं हनिष्यामि मत्पितुर्देशहारकान्
In every way, I will kill those who have usurped my father's domain.
स एव सर्वनाशाय हेतुभूतो न संशयः
He alone is the cause of total destruction—of this there is no doubt.
त एव बलहीनाश्चेद्भजन्ते ऽत्यन्तसाधुताम्
If those same ones, being weak, display extreme virtue,
तावत्कुर्वन्ति कार्याणि यावत्स्यात्प्रबलं बलम्
They act only as long as their strength is not overpowered.
साधुभावं च सर्पाणां श्रेयस्कामो न विश्वसेत्
One seeking what is best should never trust the goodness of serpents.
तानेव दर्शयन्त्याशु स्वसामर्थ्य विपर्यये
They quickly reveal their true nature when their own power is reversed.
अतीव करुणं वाक्यं वदन्त्येव तथाबलाः
Those who are weak always speak exceedingly pitiful words.
साधुत्वं समभावं च खलानां नैव विश्वसेत्
One should never trust the virtue or impartiality of the wicked.
दुष्टां भार्यां च विश्वस्तो मृत एव न संशयः
A man who trusts an evil wife is as good as dead—there is no doubt.
हत्वैतानखिलान् दुष्टांस्त्वत्प्रसादान्महीं भजे
Having slain all these wicked ones, by your grace I shall enjoy the earth.
कराभ्यां सगस्ययाङ्गं स्पृशन्निदमुवाच ह
Touching Sagara's body with both hands, he spoke these words:
तथापि मद्वचऋ श्रुत्वा परां शान्तिं लभिष्यसि
Even so, by hearing my words, you will attain supreme peace.
हातानां हनवे कीर्तिः का समुत्पद्यते वद
Tell me, what fame arises from killing those who are already defeated?
तथापि पापैर्निहताः किमर्थं हंसि तान्पुनः
Even so, why do you kill them again, though they have already been destroyed by their own sins?
आत्मा ह्यभेद्यः पूर्णत्वाच्छास्त्राणामेष निश्चयः
The self is indeed invulnerable because it is complete—this is the conclusion of the scriptures.
कर्माणि दैवमूलानि देवाधीनमिदं जगत्
All actions have their root in destiny; this world is under the control of the gods.
ततो नरैरस्वतन्त्रैः किं कार्यं साध्यते वद
Then, tell me, what can be accomplished by men who are not their own masters?
पापमूलमिदं ज्ञात्वा कथं हन्तुं समुद्यतः
Knowing this to be the root of evil, how could one set out to destroy it?
तस्मादिदं वपुर्भूप पापमूलं न संशयः
Therefore, O king, this body is indeed the root of evil—there is no doubt.
भविष्यतीति निश्चित्य नैतान्हिंसीस्ततः सुत
Having determined what will come to pass, do not harm these, O son, thereafter.
स्पृशन्करेण सगरं नन्दनं मुनयस्तदा
Then, the sages, together with Kṛta, touched Sagara and Nandana.
राज्याभिषेकं कृतवान्मुनिभिः सह सुव्रतैः
He performed the royal consecration with the sages of excellent vows.
काश्यपस्य विदर्भस्य तनये मुनसत्तम
O best of sages, for the son of Kāśyapa and Vidarbha—
वनादागत्य राजानं संभाष्य स्वाश्रमं ययौ
Coming from the forest, he spoke with the king and then went to his own hermitage.