सरस्तीरे स्थितः कूर्मस्तान्निरीक्ष्य विदूरगान् १०.
Standing on the shore of the lake, the turtle observed those who had come from afar.
कौशिकोऽथ तमाहेदं प्रहस्य वचनं स्वयम् १०.
Then Kauśika, laughing, himself spoke these words to him:
अग्निर्द्विजानां विप्रश्च वर्णानां रमणः स्त्रियाम् १०.
Fire is for the twice-born; the Brāhmaṇa is for the castes; women are for delight.
विहाय तमिमं धर्ममातिथ्यविमुखः कथम् १०.
How, abandoning this dharma, can one neglect hospitality?
चिरंतनो हि जानामि कर्त्तुमातिथ्यसत्क्रियाम् १०.
I, who am ancient, know well how to perform the proper rites of hospitality.
सुमहत्कारणं चात्र श्रूयतां तद्वदामि वः १०.
There is a very great reason here; listen, I will tell you all.
अभ्यागतस्य कस्यापि सर्वसत्कारसद्व्रती १०.
He who is devoted to all proper hospitality and noble conduct towards any guest who arrives.
इंद्रद्युम्नो महीपालो बिभोम्यस्मादलंतराम् १०.
Indradyumna, the king, excels greatly beyond all others in this regard.
यज्ञपावकदग्धा मे पृष्ठिर्नाद्यापि निर्व्रणा १०.
My body, scorched by the fire of sacrifice, still bears wounds that have not healed.
आसुतीवलमाधाय भुवि धक्ष्यति संप्रति १०.
Having placed the embryo in the earth, it is now about to be burned.
पपात पुष्पवृष्टिः खाद्विमुक्ताप्सरसां गणैः १०.
A shower of flowers fell from the sky, released by the hosts of apsaras.
विस्मितास्ते च ददृशुर्विमानं पुरतः स्थितम् १०.
Astonished, they saw a celestial vehicle standing before them.
अयातयामाः प्रददुराशिषोऽस्मै सुरद्विजाः १०.
The gods and sages, who had not yet departed, bestowed blessings upon him.
ततो विमानमालंब्य देवदूतस्तमुच्चकैः १०.
Then, seizing the celestial vehicle, the divine messenger lifted him high.
नवीकृताधुना कीर्तिस्तव भूपाल निर्मला १०.
Now, O king, your fame has been renewed and is spotless.
गम्यतां ब्रह्मणो लोकमाकल्पं तपसोर्जितम् १०.
Go to the world of Brahma, attained through ascetic power, for the duration of a kalpa.
यावत्कीर्तिर्मनुष्यस्य पृथिव्यां प्रथिता भवेत् १०.
As long as a person's fame is spread upon the earth.
सुरालयसरोवापीकूपारामादिकल्पना १०.
The creation of lakes, wells, gardens, and other such arrangements in the abodes of the gods.
अमी ममैव सुहृदो मार्कंडबककौशिकाः १०.
These are indeed my own friends: Markandeya, Baka, and Kaushika.
तच्चेदमी मया साकं ब्रह्मलोकं प्रयांत्युत १०.
These, together with me, will surely proceed to the world of Brahma.
परेषामनपेक्ष्यैव कृतप्रतिकृतं हि यः १०.
He who acts without regard for others, doing what is done and reciprocated.
स्वार्थोद्युक्तधियो ये स्युरन्वर्थास्तेप्यसुंधराः १०.
Those whose minds are intent on their own interests are truly insignificant, even if their actions are appropriate.
प्राणिनां परमो लाभः केवलं प्राणिसौहृदम् १०.
The highest gain for living beings is solely mutual goodwill among them.
मित्रावसानिनः पापाः प्रायो नरकमंडनाः १०.
Those who end friendships are sinful, and are mostly the adornments of hell.
मम कीर्तिसमुद्धारः स प्रभावो महात्मनाम् तदाहमपि यास्यामि देवदूतान्यथा न हि॥ १०.
That will be the exaltation of my fame, the power of the great souls; then I too shall depart, just as the divine messengers do.
एते हरगणाः सर्वेशापभ्रष्टाः क्षितिं गताः॥ १०.
All these attendants of Hara, having fallen from grace, have come down to earth.
शापांते हरपार्श्वे तु यास्यंति पृथिवीपते १०.
At the end of their curse, they will return to the side of Hara, O King of the Earth.
न चैषां रोचते स्वर्गो हित्वा देवं महेश्वरम् इंद्रद्युम्न उवाच १०.
Heaven does not appeal to them, for they would have to abandon the great god Maheśvara.
तथा तथा यति ष्यामि भविष्यामि यथा गणः १०.
So too shall I strive, so that I may become one of the attendants.
स्वर्गः सदानुश्रविकस्तस्मादेनं न कामये १०.
Heaven is always spoken of, but for that reason I do not desire it.