स च तांमन्त्रतः पूजां प्रतिगृह्य द्विजोत्तमः
And that best of twice-born, having received the worship with mantras,
उदारसत्त्वाभिजनो राजापि गुरुसूनवे
The king, noble in nature and lineage, addressed the son of his teacher.
किमागमनिमित्येव पर्यपृच्छद्विधानवित्
Knowing the proper procedure, he asked, 'What is the reason for your arrival?'
विदेहराजोह्याद्योमे जनको नाम विश्रुतः
The king of Videha, renowned as Janaka, is my ancestor.
प्रवृत्तौ च निवृत्तौ च सर्वं छेत्स्यत्यसंशयम्
In both activity and withdrawal, he will decide everything without doubt.
तन्मे धर्मभृतां श्रेष्ठ यथावद्वक्तुमर्हसि
Therefore, O best among those who uphold dharma, you should speak to me properly.
कथं च मोक्षः कर्तव्यो ज्ञानेन तपसापि वा
And how should liberation be attained—by knowledge, or by austerity?
कृतोपनयनस्तात भवेद्वेदपरायणः
Having undergone the initiation, O dear one, he should be devoted to the Veda.
देवतानां पितॄणां च ह्यतृष्णश्चानसूयकः
He should be free from thirst (desire) and envy toward the gods and ancestors.
अभ्यनुज्ञामनुप्राप्य समावर्तेत वै द्विजः
Having obtained permission, the twice-born should indeed return home.
अनसूयुर्यथान्यायमाहिताग्निरनादृते
Without envy, acting according to rule, maintaining the sacred fires, and not neglecting them.
तानेवाग्नीन्यथान्यायं पूजयन्नतिथिप्रियः
Honoring those very fires as prescribed, and being fond of guests.
निर्द्वन्द्वो वीतरागात्मा ब्रह्माश्रमपदे वसेत्
Free from dualities, with a mind devoid of passion, he should dwell in the stage of life devoted to Brahman.
न विना गुरुसंवासाज्ज्ञानस्याधिगमः स्मृतः
It is taught that knowledge is not attained without living with the teacher.
एतद्भवन्तं पृच्छामि तद्भवान्वक्तुमर्हति
I ask you this, sir; you are worthy to speak of it.
न विना गुरुसंबधाज्ज्ञानस्याधिगमस्तथा
Likewise, knowledge is not attained without connection to the teacher.
विज्ञाय कृतकृत्यस्तु तीर्णस्तत्रोभयं त्यजेत्
Having understood and accomplished his purpose, having crossed over, he should abandon both there.
कृत्वा शुभाशुभं कर्म मोक्षो नामेह लभ्यते
By performing good and bad deeds, liberation is not obtained here by name.
आसादयति शुद्धात्मा मोक्षं हि प्रथमाश्रमे
The pure-minded attains liberation indeed in the first stage of life.
त्रिधाश्रमेषु कोन्वर्थो भवेत्परमभीप्सतः
What, indeed, is the purpose in the three stages of life for one who seeks the highest?
सात्त्विकं मार्गमास्थाय पश्येदात्मानमात्मना
Following the path of goodness, one should see the self by the self.
संपश्यन्नैव लिप्येत जले वारिचरगो यथा
Seeing thus, he is not tainted, just as an aquatic creature in water.
विहाय देहं निर्मुक्तो निर्द्वन्द्वः शुभसंगतः
Abandoning the body, liberated, free from dualities, associated with the good.
धार्यते या द्विजैस्तात मोक्षशास्त्रविशारदैः
That which is upheld by the twice-born, O dear one, who are well-versed in the scriptures of liberation.
स्वयं च शक्यं तद्द्रष्टुं सुसमाहितर्चतसा
And one can see that directly, with a mind deeply concentrated in worship.
यश्च नेच्छति न द्वेष्टि ब्रह्म संपद्यते स तु
He who neither desires nor hates—he indeed attains Brahman.
पूर्वैराचरितो धर्मश्चतुराश्रमसंज्ञकः
The dharma practiced by the ancients is known as the fourfold order of life.
कर्मणा मनसा वाचा ब्रह्म संपद्यते तदा
By action, by mind, and by speech, one then attains Brahman.
त्यक्त्व कामं च लोभं च ततो ब्रह्मत्वमश्नुते
Having abandoned desire and greed, he then attains the state of Brahman.
समो भवति निर्द्वुद्वो ब्रह्म संपद्यते तदा
He becomes equal-minded, free from agitation; then he attains Brahman.