ताम् अवेक्ष्य महावीरौ तथैवाक्षुभितौ स्थितौ । न तद् अस्ति विमोहाय यद् विविक्तस्य चेतसः
Seeing her, the two mighty heroes remained unmoved; nothing can cause delusion in one whose mind is detached.
महाराक्षसि संरम्भो हासात्मा किम् अयं तव । लघवो ह्य् अथ वा नार्यो लाघवे ऽप्य् अतिसम्भ्रमाः
O great rakshasi, is this anger of yours merely laughter? Women are either light-hearted or, even in their lightness, excessively agitated.
त्यज संरम्भम् आरम्भो नायं तव विराजते । विषये हि प्रवर्तन्ते धीमन्तस् स्वार्थसाधकाः
Abandon anger; this agitation does not suit you. Wise people act in the world only to accomplish their own purpose.
त्वादृशीनां सहस्राणि मषिकानाम् इवाबले । अस्माकं वासनावात्याव्यूढानि तृणपर्णवत्
Thousands like you, O powerless one, are as insignificant to us as flies; our strong tendencies sweep them away like grass and leaves.
संरम्भज्वरम् उत्सृज्य समया स्वस्थया धिया । युक्त्या च व्यवहारिण्या सो ऽर्थः प्राज्ञेन साध्यते
Casting off the fever of anger, with a calm mind and practical reasoning, the wise person accomplishes his aim.
स्वेनैव व्यवहारेण कार्यं सिध्यतु माथवा । महानियतिनीत्यैव भ्रमस्यावसरो हि कः
Let the task be accomplished by your own action, O Mathava; for under the rule of great destiny, when is there room for confusion?
कथयाभिमतं किं ते किम् अर्थयसि वार्थिनी । अर्थी स्वप्ने ऽपि नास्माकम् अप्राप्तार्थः पुरोगतः
Speak what you desire; what do you seek, O petitioner? Even in dreams, we never pursue what is unattainable.
इत्य् उक्ता सा तदा तेन चिन्तयाम् आस राक्षसी । अहो नु विमलाचारं सत्त्वं पुरुषसिंहयोः
Thus addressed by him at that time, the demoness thought, 'Ah! Truly, how pure is the conduct and character of these lion-like men.'
न सामान्याव् इमौ मन्ये चित्रैवेयं चमत्कृतिः । वचोवक्त्रेक्षणान्य् एव वदन्त्य् अन्तर्विनिश्चयम्
I do not consider these two to be ordinary; this wonder is truly remarkable. Their words, voices, and glances alone reveal their inner resolve.
वचोवक्त्रेक्षितद्वारैर् धीमताम् आशया मिथः । एकीभवन्ति सरितां पयांसि वलनैर् इव
Through the gateways of words, speech, and glances, the intentions of the wise become united with each other, just as the waters of rivers merge through their channels.
आभ्यां प्रायः परिज्ञातो मम भावो ऽनयोर् मया । न विनाश्यौ मयेमौ वा स्वयम् एवाविनाशिनौ
By these two, my own disposition has been mostly discerned; and by me, theirs. These two are not to be destroyed by me, nor am I by them, for we are all inherently indestructible.
मन्ये भवत आत्मज्ञौ नात्मज्ञानाद् ऋते मतिः । प्रमृष्टसदसद्भावा भवत्य् अस्तभया मृतेः
I think these two possess self-knowledge; without self-knowledge, there is no true understanding. When the sense of existence and non-existence is cleansed, fear of death ceases.
तद् एतौ परिपृच्छामि कञ्चित् सन्देहम् उत्थितम् । प्राप्यं प्राप्य न पृच्छन्ति ये किञ्चित् ते नराधमाः
Therefore, I shall ask these two about a certain doubt that has arisen. Those who, having attained the opportunity, do not inquire about anything are the lowest of men.
इति सञ्चिन्त्य पृच्छायै तन् नानावसरं ततम् । अकालकल्पाभ्ररवं हासं संयम्य साब्रवीत्
Having thus reflected, she prepared to ask her question at an appropriate moment, restraining her untimely, cloud-like laughter, and spoke:
कौ भवन्तौ नरौ वीरौ कथ्यताम् इति मे ऽनघौ । जायते दर्शनाद् एव मैत्री विषदचेतसाम्
Who are you two, O sinless and heroic men? Please tell me. For, upon seeing those with pure hearts, friendship arises at once.
अयं राजा किरातानाम् अस्याहं मन्त्रितां गतः । उद्यतौ रात्रिचारेण त्वादृग्जनविनिग्रहे
This king is the ruler of the Kiratas, and I have attained the position of his minister; we are engaged in night patrols to restrain people like you.
राज्ञो रात्रिन्दिनं धर्मो दुष्टभूतविनिग्रहः । स्वधर्मत्यागिनो ये तु ते विनाशानलेन्धनम्
The king's duty, day and night, is to subdue wicked beings; but those who abandon their own duty become fuel for the fire of destruction.
राज्ञस् त्वम् असि दुर्मन्त्री दुर्मन्त्रित्वाद् अराड् अयम् । सद्भूपस्य भवेन् मन्त्री राजा सन्मन्त्रिणा भवेत्
You are a misguided minister to the king, and because of your poor counsel, this Arada has come; a good minister belongs to a virtuous king, and a king becomes noble through wise ministers.
राजैवादौ विवेकेन योजनीयस् सुमन्त्रिणा । तेनार्यताम् उपायाति यथा राजा तथा प्रजाः
At first, the king should be guided with discernment by a wise minister; through this, he attains nobility—just as is the king, so are his subjects.
समग्रगुणजालानाम् अध्यात्मज्ञानम् उत्तमम् । तद्वद् राजा भवेद् राजा तद्वन् मन्त्री च मन्त्रवित्
The highest knowledge of the Self is the collection of all virtues; likewise, a king should be a true king, and a minister should be one who knows counsel.
प्रभुत्वं समदृष्टित्वं तच् च स्याद् राजविद्यया । ताम् एव यो न जानाति नासौ मन्त्री न सो ऽधिपः
Authority and impartial vision arise from royal wisdom; whoever does not know this is neither a minister nor a ruler.
भवन्तौ तद्विदौ साधू यदि तच् छ्रेय आप्स्यथः । नो चेद् अनर्थदौ स्वस्याः प्रकृतेर् नाद्म्य् अहं युवाम्
If you both possess that knowledge, you are virtuous and will attain the highest good; otherwise, you bring harm, and I do not accept you as belonging to my nature.
एकोपायेन मत्पार्श्वाद् बालकाव् उत्तरिष्यथः । मत्प्रश्नपञ्जरं सारं चेद् विचारयथो धिया
By a single means, you two boys will cross over from my side, if you thoughtfully examine the essence of my cage of questions.
प्रश्नानि मां कथय पार्थिव नाथ मन्त्रिन्न् अत्रार्थिनी भृशम् अहं परिपूरयार्थम् । अङ्गीकृतार्थम् अददत् क इवास्ति लोके दोषेण सङ्क्षयकरेण न युज्यते यः
O king, tell me your questions; I am eager to fulfill your wishes. Who in this world, having accepted a request, does not grant it, unless hindered by some fault that brings decline?
इत्य् उक्त्वा राक्षसी प्रश्नान् सा वक्तुम् उपचक्रमे । उच्यताम् इति राज्ञोक्ते तान् इमाञ् शृणु राघव
Having spoken thus, the demoness began to ask her questions. When the king said, 'Speak,' listen now, O Raghava, to these questions.
एकस्यानेकसङ्ख्यस्य कस्याणोर् अम्बुधेर् इव । अन्तर् ब्रह्माण्डलक्षाणि लीयन्ते बुद्बुदा इव
In the one, in the countless, in the minute, as in the ocean—within, countless universes dissolve like bubbles.
किम् आकाशम् अनाकाशं नकिञ्चित् किञ्चिद् एव किम् । को ऽहम् एवापि सम्पन्नः को भवान् अप्य् अहं स्थितः
What is space, what is non-space, what is nothing, and what is something? Who am I, truly fulfilled, and who are you, and who am I that stands here?
गच्छन् न गच्छति च कः को ऽतिष्ठन्न् एव तिष्ठति । कश् चेतनो ऽपि पाषाणः कश् चिद्व्योमनि चित्रकृत्
Who moves yet does not move, who stands yet remains standing? Who is conscious yet like a stone, and who creates wonders in the sky?
वह्निताम् अजहच् चैव कश् च वह्निर् न दाहकः । अवह्नेर् जायते वह्निः कस्माद् राजन् निरन्तरम्
Who is fire that does not abandon its fiery nature, and who is fire that does not burn? From the non-fire, how does fire arise, O king, continually?
अचन्द्रार्काग्नितारो ऽपि को ऽविनाशः प्रकाशकः । अनेत्रलभ्यात् कस्माच् च प्रकाशश् च प्रवर्तते
Who is the imperishable illuminator, even without moon, sun, fire, or stars? And from what, though not perceived by the eyes, does light manifest?