Parikshit and the Silent Sage

Verse 1 (1.49.1)

यदपृच्छत्तदा राजा मन्त्रिणो जनमेजयः । पितुः स्वर्गगतिं तन्मे विस्तरेण पुनर्वद ॥

yadapṛcchattadā rājā mantriṇo janamejayaḥ | pituḥ svargagatiṃ tanme vistareṇa punarvada

Tell me again, in full, what King Janamejaya asked his ministers at that time about his father's passing to heaven.

Verse 2 (1.49.2)

शृणु ब्रह्मन्यथाऽपृच्छन्मन्त्रिणो नृपतिस्तदा । यथा चाख्यातवन्तस्ते निधनं तत्परिक्षितः ॥

śṛṇu brahmanyathā'pṛcchanmantriṇo nṛpatistadā | yathā cākhyātavantaste nidhanaṃ tatparikṣitaḥ

Hear, O brahmin, how the king then questioned his ministers, and how they told him of Parikshit's death.

Verse 3 (1.49.3)

जानन्ति स्म भवन्तस्तद्यथावृत्तं पितुर्मम । आसीद्यथा स निधनं गतः काले महायशाः ॥

jānanti sma bhavantastadyathāvṛttaṃ piturmama | āsīdyathā sa nidhanaṃ gataḥ kāle mahāyaśāḥ

You know what befell my father: how that greatly renowned king met his death when his time came.

Verse 4 (1.49.4)

श्रुत्वा भवत्सकाशाद्धि पितुर्वृत्तमशेषतः । कल्याणं प्रतिपत्स्यामि विपरीतं न जातुचित् ॥

śrutvā bhavatsakāśāddhi piturvṛttamaśeṣataḥ | kalyāṇaṃ pratipatsyāmi viparītaṃ na jātucit

Once I have heard my father's whole story from you, I shall do what is for the good, and never the opposite.

Verse 5 (1.49.5)

मन्त्रिणोऽथाब्रुवन्वाक्यं पृष्टास्तेन महात्मना । सर्वे धर्मविदः प्राज्ञा राजानं जनमेजयम् ॥

mantriṇo'thābruvanvākyaṃ pṛṣṭāstena mahātmanā | sarve dharmavidaḥ prājñā rājānaṃ janamejayam

Questioned thus by the great-souled king, the ministers, all of them wise and versed in dharma, then spoke to King Janamejaya.

Verse 6 (1.49.6)

शृणु पार्थिव यद्ब्रूषे पितुस्तव महात्मनः । चरितं पार्थिवेन्द्रस्य यथा निष्ठां गतश्च सः ॥

śṛṇu pārthiva yadbrūṣe pitustava mahātmanaḥ | caritaṃ pārthivendrasya yathā niṣṭhāṃ gataśca saḥ

Hear, O king, what you ask about: the life of your great-souled father, that lord of kings, and how he came to his end.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 7 (1.49.7)

धर्मात्मा च महात्मा च प्रजापालः पिता तव । आसीदिह यथावृत्तः स महात्मा शृणुष्व तत् ॥

dharmātmā ca mahātmā ca prajāpālaḥ pitā tava | āsīdiha yathāvṛttaḥ sa mahātmā śṛṇuṣva tat

Your father was righteous and great-souled, a protector of his people. Hear how that great soul conducted himself in this world.

Note on the text: Corrected आसीदिहायथा वृत्तः → आसीदिह यथावृत्तः (misprint in Wikisource; 'इहायथा' is not a word here, the critical edition reads āsīd iha yathāvṛttaḥ).

Verse 8 (1.49.8)

चातुर्वर्ण्यं स्वधर्मस्थं स कृत्वा पर्यरक्षत । धर्मतो धर्मविद्राजा धर्मो विग्रहवानिव ॥

cāturvarṇyaṃ svadharmasthaṃ sa kṛtvā paryarakṣata | dharmato dharmavidrājā dharmo vigrahavāniva

He kept the four varnas each in its own duty and protected them. Knowing dharma, the king ruled by dharma, like dharma itself in bodily form.

Verse 9 (1.49.9)

ररक्ष पृथिवीं देवीं श्रीमानतुलविक्रमः । द्वेष्टारस्तस्य नैवासन्स च द्वेष्टि न कंचन ॥

rarakṣa pṛthivīṃ devīṃ śrīmānatulavikramaḥ | dveṣṭārastasya naivāsansa ca dveṣṭi na kaṃcana

Glorious and of matchless valour, he guarded the goddess Earth. No one hated him, and he hated no one.

Verse 10 (1.49.10)

समः सर्वेषु भूतेषु प्रजापतिरिवाभवत् । ब्राह्मणाः क्षत्रिया वैश्याः शूद्राश्चैव स्वकर्मसु ॥

samaḥ sarveṣu bhūteṣu prajāpatirivābhavat | brāhmaṇāḥ kṣatriyā vaiśyāḥ śūdrāścaiva svakarmasu

He was impartial toward all beings, like Prajapati. Brahmins, kshatriyas, vaishyas and shudras, each in their own work,

Verse 11 (1.49.11)

स्थितः सुमनसो राजंस्तेन राज्ञा स्वधिष्ठिताः । विधवानाथविकलान्कृपणांश्च बभार सः ॥

sthitaḥ sumanaso rājaṃstena rājñā svadhiṣṭhitāḥ | vidhavānāthavikalānkṛpaṇāṃśca babhāra saḥ

lived content, O king, well ruled by that king. He supported widows and orphans, the disabled and the poor.

Verse 12 (1.49.12)

सुदर्शः सर्वभूतानामासीत्सोम इवापरः । तुष्टपुष्टजनः श्रीमान्सत्यवाग्दृढविक्रमः ॥

sudarśaḥ sarvabhūtānāmāsītsoma ivāparaḥ | tuṣṭapuṣṭajanaḥ śrīmānsatyavāgdṛḍhavikramaḥ

He was pleasing to the eyes of all beings, like a second moon. His people were content and well nourished; he was prosperous, truthful in speech and firm in valour.

Verse 13 (1.49.13)

धनुर्वेदे तु शिष्योऽभून्नृपः शारद्वतस्य सः । गोविन्दस्य प्रियश्चासीत्पिता ते जनमेजय ॥

dhanurvede tu śiṣyo'bhūnnṛpaḥ śāradvatasya saḥ | govindasya priyaścāsītpitā te janamejaya

In the science of archery the king was a pupil of Kripa, son of Sharadvan. Your father, Janamejaya, was dear to Govinda.

Verse 14 (1.49.14)

लोकस्य चैव सर्वस्य प्रिय आसीन्महायशाः । परिक्षीणेषु कुरुषु सोत्तरायामजीजनत् ॥

lokasya caiva sarvasya priya āsīnmahāyaśāḥ | parikṣīṇeṣu kuruṣu sottarāyāmajījanat

That greatly renowned king was dear to the whole world as well. When the Kurus had dwindled away, Abhimanyu begot him in Uttara;

Verse 15 (1.49.15)

परिक्षिदभवत्तेन सौभद्रस्यात्मजो बली । राजधर्मार्थकुशलो युक्तः सर्वगुणैर्वृतः ॥

parikṣidabhavattena saubhadrasyātmajo balī | rājadharmārthakuśalo yuktaḥ sarvaguṇairvṛtaḥ

and so the mighty son of Subhadra's son came to be called Parikshit. He was skilled in the duties and policy of kings and endowed with every virtue,

Verse 16 (1.49.16)

जितेन्द्रियश्चात्मवांश्च मेधावी धर्मसेविता । षड्वर्गजिन्महाबुद्धिर्नीतिशास्त्रविदुत्तमः ॥

jitendriyaścātmavāṃśca medhāvī dharmasevitā | ṣaḍvargajinmahābuddhirnītiśāstraviduttamaḥ

master of his senses, self-possessed, intelligent and devoted to dharma; conqueror of the six inner enemies, of great understanding, and the foremost knower of the science of polity.

Verse 17 (1.49.17)

प्रजा इमास्तव पिता षष्टिवर्षाण्यपालयत् । ततो दिष्टान्तमापन्नः सर्वेषां दुःखमावहन् ॥

prajā imāstava pitā ṣaṣṭivarṣāṇyapālayat | tato diṣṭāntamāpannaḥ sarveṣāṃ duḥkhamāvahan

Your father protected these people for sixty years. Then he met his appointed end, bringing grief to all.

Verse 18 (1.49.18)

ततस्त्वं पुरुषश्रेष्ठ धर्मेण प्रतिपेदिवान् । इदं वर्षसहस्राणि राज्यं कुरुकुलागतम् । बाल एवाभिषिक्तस्त्वं सर्वभूतानुपालकः ॥

tatastvaṃ puruṣaśreṣṭha dharmeṇa pratipedivān | idaṃ varṣasahasrāṇi rājyaṃ kurukulāgatam | bāla evābhiṣiktastvaṃ sarvabhūtānupālakaḥ

After that, best of men, you rightfully received this kingdom, which has come down through the Kuru line for thousands of years. You were consecrated while still a boy, and you protect all beings.

Verse 19 (1.49.19)

नास्मिन्कुले जातु बभूव राजा । यो न प्रजानां प्रियकृत्प्रियश्च । विशेषतः प्रेक्ष्य पितामहानां । वृत्तं महद्वृत्तपरायणानाम् ॥

nāsminkule jātu babhūva rājā | yo na prajānāṃ priyakṛtpriyaśca | viśeṣataḥ prekṣya pitāmahānāṃ | vṛttaṃ mahadvṛttaparāyaṇānām

Never has there been a king in this family who did not do what was dear to his people and was not dear to them, above all when one considers the noble conduct of my grandfathers, who held fast to right conduct.

Verse 20 (1.49.20)

कथं निधनमापन्नः पिता मम तथाविधः । आचक्षध्वं यथावन्मे श्रोतुमिच्छामि तत्त्वतः ॥

kathaṃ nidhanamāpannaḥ pitā mama tathāvidhaḥ | ācakṣadhvaṃ yathāvanme śrotumicchāmi tattvataḥ

How did my father, a man such as that, meet his death? Tell me exactly as it was; I wish to hear the truth.

Verse 21 (1.49.21)

एवं संचोदिता राज्ञा मन्त्रिणस्ते नराधिपम् । ऊचुः सर्वे यथावृत्तं राज्ञः प्रियहितैषिणः ॥

evaṃ saṃcoditā rājñā mantriṇaste narādhipam | ūcuḥ sarve yathāvṛttaṃ rājñaḥ priyahitaiṣiṇaḥ

Urged thus by the king, the ministers, all of whom sought the king's welfare and pleasure, told the ruler everything just as it had happened.

Verse 22 (1.49.22)

स राजा पृथिवीपालः सर्वशस्त्रभृतां वरः । बभूव मृगयाशीलस्तव राजन्पिता सदा ॥

sa rājā pṛthivīpālaḥ sarvaśastrabhṛtāṃ varaḥ | babhūva mṛgayāśīlastava rājanpitā sadā

That king, protector of the earth and best of all who bear arms, your father, O king, was always fond of hunting,

Note on the text: The first line is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the second line corresponds to 1.45.20.

Verse 23 (1.49.23)

यथा पाण्डुर्महाबाहुर्धनुर्धरवरो युधि । अस्मास्वासज्य सर्वाणि राजकार्याण्यशेषतः ॥

yathā pāṇḍurmahābāhurdhanurdharavaro yudhi | asmāsvāsajya sarvāṇi rājakāryāṇyaśeṣataḥ

like mighty-armed Pandu, the finest of archers in battle; and he left all the affairs of state, without exception, to us.

Verse 24 (1.49.24)

स कदाचिद्वनगतो मृगं विव्याध पत्रिणा । विद्ध्वा चान्वसरत्तूर्णं तं मृगं गहने वने ॥

sa kadācidvanagato mṛgaṃ vivyādha patriṇā | viddhvā cānvasarattūrṇaṃ taṃ mṛgaṃ gahane vane

Once, having gone into the forest, he pierced a deer with an arrow, and after wounding it he quickly followed it into the deep woods.

Verse 25 (1.49.25)

पदातिर्बद्धनिस्त्रिंशस्ततायुधकलापवान् । न चाससाद गहने मृगं नष्टं पिता तव ॥

padātirbaddhanistriṃśastatāyudhakalāpavān | na cāsasāda gahane mṛgaṃ naṣṭaṃ pitā tava

On foot, with his sword at his side and his quiver and weapons with him, your father could not find the deer, which had vanished in the thicket.

Verse 26 (1.49.26)

परिश्रान्तो वयस्थश्च षष्टिवर्षो जरान्वितः । क्षुधितः स महारण्ये ददर्श मुनिसत्तमम् ॥

pariśrānto vayasthaśca ṣaṣṭivarṣo jarānvitaḥ | kṣudhitaḥ sa mahāraṇye dadarśa munisattamam

Exhausted, advanced in years, sixty years old and touched by age, and hungry, he saw in that great forest an excellent sage.

Verse 27 (1.49.27)

स तं पप्रच्छ राजेन्द्रो मुनिं मौनव्रते स्थितम् । न च किंचिदुवाचेदं पृष्टोऽपि स मुनिस्तदा ॥

sa taṃ papraccha rājendro muniṃ maunavrate sthitam | na ca kiṃciduvācedaṃ pṛṣṭo'pi sa munistadā

The lord of kings questioned the sage, who was keeping a vow of silence; but the sage, though asked, said nothing at all.

Note on the text: Corrected समुनिस्तदा → स मुनिस्तदा (misprint in Wikisource; the pronoun स had been run into मुनिः).

Verse 28 (1.49.28)

ततो राजा क्षुच्छ्रमार्तस्तं मुनिं स्थाणुवत्स्थितम् । मौनव्रतधरं शान्तं सद्यो मन्युवशं गतः ॥

tato rājā kṣucchramārtastaṃ muniṃ sthāṇuvatsthitam | maunavratadharaṃ śāntaṃ sadyo manyuvaśaṃ gataḥ

Then the king, tormented by hunger and fatigue, fell at once into anger at that sage, who stood motionless as a post, calm, holding to his vow of silence.

Verse 29 (1.49.29)

न बुबोध च तं राजा मौनव्रतधरं मुनिम् । स तं क्रोधसमाविष्टो धर्षयामास ते पिता ॥

na bubodha ca taṃ rājā maunavratadharaṃ munim | sa taṃ krodhasamāviṣṭo dharṣayāmāsa te pitā

The king did not realize that the sage was keeping a vow of silence. Overcome with anger, your father insulted him.

Verse 30 (1.49.30)

मृतं सर्पं धनुष्कोट्या समुत्क्षिप्य धरातलात् । तस्य शुद्धात्मनः प्रादात्स्कन्धे भरतसत्तम ॥

mṛtaṃ sarpaṃ dhanuṣkoṭyā samutkṣipya dharātalāt | tasya śuddhātmanaḥ prādātskandhe bharatasattama

With the tip of his bow he lifted a dead snake from the ground, O best of the Bharatas, and laid it on the shoulder of that pure-souled sage.

Verse 31 (1.49.31)

न चोवाच स मेधावी तमथो साध्वसाधु वा । तस्थौ तथैव चाक्रुद्धः सर्पं स्कन्धेन धारयन् ॥

na covāca sa medhāvī tamatho sādhvasādhu vā | tasthau tathaiva cākruddhaḥ sarpaṃ skandhena dhārayan

The wise sage said nothing to him, good or bad. Without anger he stood just as before, bearing the snake on his shoulder.