ततो मे चिंतयानस्य पुनर्जाता मतिस्त्वियम् ५.
Then, as I was reflecting, this new idea arose in my mind.
यस्मिन्विप्राः संवसंति मूर्तानीव तपांसि च ५.
Where Brahmins dwell, austerities appear as if embodied.
स्थाने तस्मिन्गमिष्यामीत्युक्त्वाहं चलितस्तदा ५.
Having said, 'I will go to that place,' I departed at that time.
अद्राक्षं पुण्यभूमिस्थं ग्रामरत्नमहं महत् ५.
I beheld a great jewel among villages, situated on sacred ground.
यत्र पुण्यवतां संति शतशः प्रवराश्रमाः ५.
Where hundreds of noble hermitages of the virtuous are found.
यज्ञभाजां मुनीनां यदुपकारकरं सदा ५.
Which always serves the sages who partake in sacrifices.
मुनीनां यत्र परमं स्थानं चाप्यविनाशकृत् ५.
Where the supreme abode of sages exists, which even destroys impermanence.
यत्र कृतयुगस्तार्थं बीजं पार्थावशिष्यते ५.
Where, for the sake of the Krita Yuga, the seed remains under the protection of the sons of Pritha.
स्थानकं तत्समासाद्य प्रविष्टोऽहं द्विजाश्रमान् ५.
Having reached that place, I entered the hermitages of the twice-born.
परस्परं चिंतयाना वेदा मूर्तिधरा यथा ५.
Reflecting together, as if the Vedas had taken form.
विचिक्षिपुर्महात्मानो नभोगतमिवामिषम् ५.
The great souls scattered, as if it were bait cast into the sky.
काकारावैः किमतैर्वो यद्यस्ति ज्ञानशालिता ५.
With cawing sounds, what use are your words, if you possess wisdom?
वद ब्राह्मण प्रश्रान्स्वाञ्छ्रुत्वाऽऽधास्यामहे वयम् ५.
Speak, O Brahmin, your questions; having heard them, we shall respond.
अहं पूर्विकया ते वै न्यषेधंत परस्परम् ५.
I, following the custom, indeed restrained them from one another.
ततस्तानब्रवं प्रश्रानहं द्वादश पूर्वकान् ५.
Then I spoke those twelve questions to them, as was proper.
किं ते द्विज बालप्रश्नैरमीभिः स्वल्पकैरपि ५.
What use are these childish questions of yours, O twice-born, even if they are few?
ततोतिविस्मितश्चाहं मन्यमानः कृतार्थताम् ५.
Then I was greatly astonished, thinking myself accomplished.
ततः सुतनुनामा स बालोऽबालोऽभ्युवाच माम् तथापि वच्मि मां यस्मान्निहीनं मन्यते भवान्॥ ५.
Then that boy named Sutanuna, though not a child, spoke to me: 'Still, I shall speak, since you consider me inferior.'
अक्षरास्तु द्विपंचाशन्मातृकायाः प्रकीर्तिताः॥ ५.
The fifty-two letters of the alphabet are declared.
ॐकारः प्रथमस्तत्र चतुर्दश स्वरास्तथा ५.
Among them, Om is the first, and there are fourteen vowels as well.
विसर्ज्जनीयश्च परो जिह्वामूलीय एव च ५.
There is also the visarga, and the guttural nasal.
इति ते कथिता संख्या अर्थं चैषां श्रृणु द्विज ५.
Thus their number has been told to you; now hear their meaning, O twice-born.
मिथिलायां प्रवृत्तोऽभूद्ब्राह्मणस्य निवेशने ५.
In Mithila, in the house of a Brahmin, it began.
येन विद्याः प्रपठिता वर्तंते भुवि या द्विज ५.
By whom the sciences that exist on earth, O twice-born, were recited.
क्षणमप्यनवच्छिन्नं पठित्वा गेहवानभूत् ५.
Having studied without interruption even for a moment, he became a householder.
जडवद्वर्त्तमानः स मातृकां प्रत्यपद्यत ५.
Behaving like a dullard, he took up the alphabet.
ततः पिता खिन्नरूपी जडं तं समभाषत ५.
Then his father, appearing distressed, spoke to that dull one.
अथान्यस्मै प्रदास्यामि कर्णावुत्पाटयामि ते॥ ५.
Now I shall give it to another, or I will tear out your ears.
तात किं मोदकार्थाय पठ्यते लोभहेतवे ५.
Dear one, why is it recited for the sake of sweets, as a cause for greed?
एवं ते वदमानस्य आयुर्भवतु ब्रह्मणः ५.
Thus, as you speak, may the lifespan of Brahman be yours.