केवलं मार्जनामात्रं मनाग् एवोपयुज्यते । स्वभावविमले नित्यं सुबुद्धिमकुरे तव
Only a slight cleansing is needed for your mind, which is always naturally pure, like a flawless mirror of clear understanding.
भगवद्व्यासपुत्रस्य शुकस्येव मतिस् तव । विश्रान्तिमात्रम् एवान्तर् ज्ञातज्ञेयाप्य् अपेक्षते
Just as the mind of Śuka, son of Vyāsa, so too your mind seeks only a state of rest within, even after knowing what is to be known.
भगवद्व्यासपुत्रस्य शुकस्य भगवन् कथम् । धियाप्य् आदौ न विश्रान्तं विश्रान्तं च धिया पुनः
O revered one, how is it that the mind of Śuka, son of Vyāsa, was at first not at rest, and then later became restful again?
आत्मोदन्तसमं राम वर्ण्यमानम् इमं मया । शृणु व्यासात्मजोदन्तं जन्मनाम् अन्तकारणम्
Rāma, listen as I describe to you the story of Vyāsa’s son, which is equal to the account of the end of my own self, and reveals the cause of the end of births.
यो ऽयम् अञ्जनवर्णाभो निविष्टो हेमविष्टरे । पार्श्वे तव पितुर् व्यासो भगवान् भास्करद्युतिः
He who sits beside your father, Vyāsa, resembling the color of collyrium and settled upon a golden seat, is the venerable sage radiant like the sun.
अस्याभूद् इन्दुवदनस् तनयो नयकोविदः । शुको नाम महाप्राज्ञो यज्ञो मूर्त्येव संस्थितः
He had a son with a face like the moon, skilled in wisdom, named Śuka, a great sage, established like the very embodiment of sacrifice.
प्रविचारयतो लोकयात्राम् अलम् इमां हृदि । तवेव किल तस्यापि विवेक उदभूद् भृशम्
As he deeply examined the course of the world in his heart, just as you do, a strong discernment arose in him as well.
तेनासौ स्वविवेकेन स्वयम् एव महामते । विचार्य सुचिरं चारु यत् सत्यं तद् अवाप्तवान्
Through his own discernment, O wise one, he himself carefully investigated for a long time and attained that which is true.
स्वयं प्राप्ते परे वस्तुन्य् अविश्रान्तमनास् ततः । नेदं वस्त्व् इति विश्वासं नासाव् आत्मन्य् उपाययौ
When his mind, tireless, reached the ultimate reality by itself, he did not hold the belief that 'this is not the true thing,' nor did he attain rest in the Self.
केवलं विररामास्य चेतो विगतचापलम् । भोगेभ्यो भूरिभङ्गेभ्यो धराद्भ्य इव चातकः
His mind simply became still, free from restlessness, withdrawing from the many fleeting pleasures, like a cātaka bird turning away from the earth.
एकदा सो ऽमलप्रज्ञो मेराव् एकान्तसंस्थितम् । पप्रच्छ पितरं भक्त्या कृष्णद्वैपायनं मुनिम्
Once, that pure-minded one, while staying alone on Mount Meru, respectfully asked his father, the sage Kṛṣṇadvaipāyana, with devotion.
संसाराडम्बरम् इदं कथम् अभ्युत्थितं मुने । कथं च प्रशमं याति कियत् कस्य कदेति च
O sage, how has this display of worldly existence arisen? How does it come to rest, and for how long, for whom, and when?
इति पृष्टेन मुनिना व्यासेनाखिलम् आत्मजे । यथावद् अमलं प्रोक्तं वक्तव्यं विदितात्मना
Thus questioned by his son, the sage Vyāsa, who knew the Self, spoke to him everything pure and appropriate that ought to be said.
अज्ञासिषं पूर्वम् एतद् अहम् इत्य् अथ तत्पितुः । स शुकश् शुद्धया बुद्ध्या न वाक्यं बह्व् अमन्यत
I had previously learned this from my father, but Śuka, with his pure intellect, did not regard those words as many or significant.
व्यासो ऽपि भगवान् बुद्ध्वा पुत्राभिप्रायम् ईदृशम् । प्रत्युवाच पुनः पुत्रं नाहं जानामि तत्त्वतः
The venerable Vyāsa, understanding his son's intention, replied again to him: 'I do not know this truly.'
जनको नाम भूपालो विद्यते वसुधातले । यथावद् वेत्त्य् असौ वेद्यं तस्मात् सर्वम् अवाप्स्यसि
There is a king named Janaka on earth; he knows the subject thoroughly. From him, you will obtain everything.
पित्रेत्य् उक्तश् शुकः प्रायात् सुमेरोर् वसुधातलम् । विदेहनगरीं प्राप जनकेनाभिपालिताम्
Thus addressed by his father, Śuka departed from the slopes of Mount Sumeru and reached the city of Videha, which was ruled by Janaka.
आवेदितो ऽसौ याष्टीकैर् जनकाय महात्मने । द्वारि व्याससुतो राजञ् शुको ऽत्र स्थितवान् इति
He was announced by the gatekeepers to the great-souled Janaka: 'O King, the son of Vyāsa, Śuka, is standing at the gate.'
जिज्ञासार्थं शुकस्यासाव् आस्ताम् एवेत्य् अवज्ञया । उक्त्वा बभूव जनकस् तूष्णीं सप्तदिनान्य् अपि
Desiring to test Śuka, Janaka, with a sense of disregard, said, 'Let him wait,' and remained silent for seven days.
ततः प्रवेशयाम् आस जनकश् शुकम् अङ्गनम् । तत्राहानि स सप्तैव तथैवावसद् उन्मनाः
Then Janaka had Śuka brought into the courtyard, where he stayed, absorbed in thought, for another seven days in the same manner.
अथ प्रवेशयाम् आस जनको ऽन्तःपुरं शुकम् । राजा न दृश्यते तावद् इति सप्तदिनानि तम्
After that, Janaka brought Śuka into the inner chambers, but for seven days he did not appear before him.
तत्रोन्मदाभिः कान्ताभिर् भोजनैर् भोगसञ्चयैः । जनको लालयाम् आस शुकं शशिसमाननम्
There, Janaka entertained Śuka—whose face was like the moon—with delightful women, food, and various enjoyments.
ते भोगास् तानि दुःखानि व्यासपुत्रस्य तन् मनः । न जह्रुर् मन्दपवनो बद्धपीठम् यथाचलम्
But those pleasures were like sorrows to the mind of Vyāsa's son; they did not move him, just as a gentle breeze does not stir a firmly anchored mountain.
केवलं सशमस् स्वच्छो मौनी मुदितमानसः । अतिष्ठद् अत्र स शुकस् सम्पूर्ण इव चन्द्रमाः
He remained there, tranquil, pure, silent, and with a joyful mind—like the full moon, complete in itself.
परिज्ञातस्वभावं तं शुकं स जनको नृपः । आनीय मुदितात्मानम् अवलोक्य ननाम ह
King Janaka, having understood the true nature of Śuka, had him brought in, and seeing him, bowed with a joyful heart.
निश्शेषितजगत्कार्य प्राप्ताखिलमनोरथ । किम् ईप्सितं तवेत्य् आशु कृतस्वागतम् आह तम्
Having accomplished all worldly duties and attained every desire, he quickly welcomed him and asked, 'What is it that you wish for?
संसाराडम्बरम् इदं कथम् अभ्युत्थितं गुरो । कथं प्रशमम् आयाति यथावत् कथयाशु मे
O teacher, how has this display of worldly existence arisen, and how does true peace come about? Tell me this clearly and without delay.
जनकेनेति पृष्टेन शुकस्य कथितं तथा । तद् एव यत् पुरा प्रोक्तं तस्य पित्रा महात्मना
When questioned by Janaka in this way, Śuka replied just as his noble father had previously explained to him.
स्वयम् एव मया पूर्वम् एतज् ज्ञातं विवेकतः । एतावद् एव पृष्टेन पित्रा मे समुदाहृतम्
I myself had already discerned this through my own understanding, and when my father questioned me, I answered only this much.
भवताप्य् एष एवार्थः कथितो वाग्विदां वर । एष एव च वाक्यार्थश् शास्त्रेषु परिदृश्यते
O best of speakers, you too have spoken this very meaning, and this is exactly what is found in the scriptures.