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.
तात सर्वं परिज्ञेयं ज्ञानमत्रैव वै यतः ५.
Dear one, all knowledge must be understood, for knowledge truly resides here.
विचित्रं भाषसे बाल ज्ञातोऽत्रार्थश्च कस्त्वया ५.
Child, you speak in a strange way; what meaning have you truly grasped here?
एकत्रिंशत्सहस्राणि पठित्वापि त्वया पितः ५.
Even after you have recited thirty-one thousand verses, O father,
अयमयं चायमिति धर्मो यो दर्शनोदितः ५.
This is right, that is right—such is the dharma proclaimed by various views.
उपदेशं पठस्येव नैवार्थज्ञोऽसि तत्त्वतः ५.
You recite the teaching, but you do not truly know its meaning in essence.
तत्ते ब्रवीमि तद्वाक्यं मोहमार्तंडमद्भुतम्॥ ५.
Therefore, I will tell you that statement, the wondrous sun that dispels delusion.
अकारः कथितो ब्रह्मा उकारो विष्णुरुच्यते ५.
The letter 'A' is said to be Brahmā; the letter 'U' is called Viṣṇu.
अर्धमात्रा च या मूर्ध्नि परमः स सदाशिवः ५.
And the half-syllable at the crown is the supreme Sadāśiva.
ॐकारस्य च माहात्म्यं याथात्म्येन न शक्यते ५.
The true greatness of Om cannot be fully expressed.
पुनर्यत्सारसर्वस्वं प्रोक्तं तच्छ्रूयतां परम् ५.
Now hear again the supreme essence and entirety that has been declared.