Atri, Gautama and King Vainya

Verse 1 (3.188.1)

भूय एव तु माहात्म्यं ब्राह्मणानां निबोध मे । वैन्यो नामेह राजर्षिरश्वमेधाय दीक्षितः ॥

bhūya eva tu māhātmyaṃ brāhmaṇānāṃ nibodha me | vainyo nāmeha rājarṣiraśvamedhāya dīkṣitaḥ

Hear from me once more the greatness of the brahmins. There was a royal sage here named Vainya, who had been consecrated for a horse sacrifice.

Note on the text: Corrected ब्राह्मणआनां → ब्राह्मणानां (misprint in Wikisource; stray independent अ inside the word; the critical edition reads brāhmaṇānāṃ).

Verse 2 (3.188.2)

तमत्रिर्गन्तुमारेभे वित्तार्थमिति नः श्रुतम् । भूयोऽर्थं नानुरुध्यत्स धर्मव्यक्तिनिदर्शनात् ॥

tamatrirgantumārebhe vittārthamiti naḥ śrutam | bhūyo'rthaṃ nānurudhyatsa dharmavyaktinidarśanāt

Atri set about going to him in search of wealth, so we have heard. But then he ceased to pursue wealth, seeing that merit is spent once it shows itself as reward.

Note on the text: Corrected आरेबे → आरेभे (misprint in Wikisource; ब for भ; the critical edition reads ārebhe). First line = critical edition 3.183.1ef, second line = 3.183.2ab.

Verse 3 (3.188.3)

स विचिन्त्य महातेजा वनमेवान्वरोचयत् । धर्मपत्नीं समाहूय पुत्रांश्चेदमुवाच ह ॥

sa vicintya mahātejā vanamevānvarocayat | dharmapatnīṃ samāhūya putrāṃścedamuvāca ha

After reflecting, that greatly radiant sage chose the forest instead. He called his lawful wife and his sons and said this:

Verse 4 (3.188.4)

प्राप्स्यामः फलमत्यन्तं बहुलं निरुपद्रवम् । अरण्यगमनं क्षिप्रं रोचतां वो गुणाधिकम् ॥

prāpsyāmaḥ phalamatyantaṃ bahulaṃ nirupadravam | araṇyagamanaṃ kṣipraṃ rocatāṃ vo guṇādhikam

"We shall gain a reward that is supreme, abundant and free from every trouble. Let going to the forest at once, which holds the greater merit, please you all."

Note on the text: Speaker set to अत्रि: the whole verse is Atri's own words to his wife and sons, introduced by verse 3.

Verse 5 (3.188.5)

तं भार्या प्रत्युवाचाथ धनमेवानुरुन्धती । वैन्यं गत्वा महात्मानमर्थयस्व धनं बहु ॥

taṃ bhāryā pratyuvācātha dhanamevānurundhatī | vainyaṃ gatvā mahātmānamarthayasva dhanaṃ bahu

Then his wife, intent on wealth alone, answered him: "Go to the great-souled Vainya and ask him for much wealth."

Note on the text: Corrected बहुः → बहु (misprint in Wikisource; the adjective agrees with neuter धनं; the critical edition reads bahu).

Verse 6 (3.188.6)

स ते दास्यति राजर्षिर्यजमानोऽर्थिने धनम् । तत आदाय विप्रर्षे प्रतिगृह्य धनं बहु ॥

sa te dāsyati rājarṣiryajamāno'rthine dhanam | tata ādāya viprarṣe pratigṛhya dhanaṃ bahu

"That royal sage, who is performing a sacrifice, will give wealth to you as a petitioner. Take it from there, brahmin sage; accept much wealth,"

Note on the text: Speaker set to Atri's wife (भार्या): the whole verse continues her speech begun in verse 5. First line = critical edition 3.183.4ef, second line = 3.183.5ab.

Verse 7 (3.188.7)

भृत्यान्सुतान्संविभज्य ततो व्रज यथेप्सितम् । एष वै परमो धर्मो धर्मविद्भिरुदाहृतः ॥

bhṛtyānsutānsaṃvibhajya tato vraja yathepsitam | eṣa vai paramo dharmo dharmavidbhirudāhṛtaḥ

"divide it among your servants and sons, and then go wherever you wish. This, say those who know dharma, is the highest dharma."

Note on the text: Speaker: Atri's wife, continuing her speech.

Verse 8 (3.188.8)

कथितो मे महाभागे गौतमेन महात्मना । वैन्यो धर्मार्थसंयुक्तः सत्यव्रतसमन्वितः ॥

kathito me mahābhāge gautamena mahātmanā | vainyo dharmārthasaṃyuktaḥ satyavratasamanvitaḥ

"Fortunate lady, the great-souled Gautama has told me that Vainya is devoted to dharma and to wealth and keeps the vow of truth."

Verse 9 (3.188.9)

किंत्वस्ति तत्र द्वेष्टारो निवसन्ति हि मे द्विजाः । यथा मे गौतमः प्राह ततो न व्यवसाम्यहम् ॥

kiṃtvasti tatra dveṣṭāro nivasanti hi me dvijāḥ | yathā me gautamaḥ prāha tato na vyavasāmyaham

"But brahmins who are hostile to me live there, as Gautama has told me; that is why I cannot resolve to go."

Verse 10 (3.188.10)

तत्र स्म वाचं कल्याणीं धर्मकामार्थसंहिताम् । मयोक्तामन्यथा ब्रूयुस्ततस्ते वै निरर्थकाम् ॥

tatra sma vācaṃ kalyāṇīṃ dharmakāmārthasaṃhitām | mayoktāmanyathā brūyustataste vai nirarthakām

"Whatever auspicious words I speak there, joined with dharma, desire and wealth, they would twist and declare to be meaningless."

Note on the text: Corrected निरर्थिकाम् → निरर्थकाम् (misprint in Wikisource; the word is निरर्थक; the critical edition reads nirarthakām).

Verse 11 (3.188.11)

गमिष्यामि महाप्राज्ञे रोचते मे वचस्तव । गाश्च मे दास्यते वैन्यः प्रभूतं चार्थसंचयम् ॥

gamiṣyāmi mahāprājñe rocate me vacastava | gāśca me dāsyate vainyaḥ prabhūtaṃ cārthasaṃcayam

"Still, I will go, wise lady; your words please me. Vainya will give me cows and a great store of wealth."

Verse 12 (3.188.12)

एवमुक्त्वा जगामाशु वैन्ययज्ञं महातपाः । गत्वा च यज्ञायतनमत्रिस्तुष्टाव तं नृपम् ॥

evamuktvā jagāmāśu vainyayajñaṃ mahātapāḥ | gatvā ca yajñāyatanamatristuṣṭāva taṃ nṛpam

Having said this, the great ascetic went quickly to Vainya's sacrifice. Arriving at the sacrificial ground, Atri praised the king.

Note on the text: Speaker corrected from अत्रि (carried over) to मार्कण्डेय: narration resumes here; the critical edition heads this verse mārkaṇḍeya uvāca (3.183.10).

Verse 13 (3.188.13)

वाक्यैर्मङ्गलसंयुक्तैः पूजयानोऽब्रवीद्वचः । राजन्धन्यस्त्वमीशश्च भुवि त्वं प्रथमो नृपः । स्तुवन्ति त्वां मुनिगणास्त्वदन्यो नास्ति धर्मवित् ॥

vākyairmaṅgalasaṃyuktaiḥ pūjayāno'bravīdvacaḥ | rājandhanyastvamīśaśca bhuvi tvaṃ prathamo nṛpaḥ | stuvanti tvāṃ munigaṇāstvadanyo nāsti dharmavit

Honouring him with words full of blessing, he said: "King, you are blessed and you are the lord; you are the first king on earth. The hosts of sages praise you; there is no one but you who knows dharma."

Note on the text: Speaker corrected from अत्रि to मार्कण्डेय (narration introducing Atri's praise). The first line is not in the critical edition's constituted text (it appears there as star passage 907, after 3.183.10); lines 2–3 = 3.183.11.

Verse 14 (3.188.14)

तमब्रवीदृषिः क्रुद्धो वचनं वै महातपाः ॥

tamabravīdṛṣiḥ kruddho vacanaṃ vai mahātapāḥ

Then the sage Gautama, a great ascetic, spoke to him in anger:

Note on the text: Speaker corrected from अत्रि to मार्कण्डेय (narration). A single line in Wikisource, followed by the heading for Gautama; together with verse 15 it corresponds to critical edition 3.183.12.

Verse 15 (3.188.15)

मैवमत्रे पुनर्ब्रूया न ते प्रज्ञा समाहिता । अत्र नः प्रथमो धाता महेन्द्रो वै प्रजापतिः ॥

maivamatre punarbrūyā na te prajñā samāhitā | atra naḥ prathamo dhātā mahendro vai prajāpatiḥ

"Do not say that again, Atri; your mind is not composed. Here the first ordainer for us is the great Indra, lord of creatures."

Verse 16 (3.188.16)

अथात्रिरपि राजेन्द्र गौतमं प्रत्यभाषत । अयमेव विधाता च तथैवेन्द्रः प्रजापतिः । त्वमेव मुह्यसे मोहान्न प्रज्ञानं तवास्ति ह ॥

athātrirapi rājendra gautamaṃ pratyabhāṣata | ayameva vidhātā ca tathaivendraḥ prajāpatiḥ | tvameva muhyase mohānna prajñānaṃ tavāsti ha

Then Atri in turn, O king of kings, replied to Gautama: "This king is the ordainer, and he is likewise Indra, lord of creatures. It is you who are deluded by folly; you have no understanding."

Note on the text: Speaker corrected from the printed heading वैशंपायन to मार्कण्डेय: this is still Markandeya telling his tale (the critical edition has no heading here and continues Markandeya's narration; Wikisource itself returns to मार्कण्डेय at verse 33).

Verse 17 (3.188.17)

जानामि नाहं मुह्यामि त्वंविवक्षुर्विमुह्यसे । स्तौषि त्वं दर्शनप्रेप्सू राजानं जनसंसदि ॥

jānāmi nāhaṃ muhyāmi tvaṃvivakṣurvimuhyase | stauṣi tvaṃ darśanaprepsū rājānaṃ janasaṃsadi

"I know; I am not deluded. It is you who are confused in your eagerness to speak. You praise the king before the assembled people because you crave his favour."

Verse 18 (3.188.18)

न वेत्थ परमं धर्मं न चास्त्यत्र प्रयोजनम् । बालस्त्वमसि मूढश्च वृद्धः केनापि हेतुना ॥

na vettha paramaṃ dharmaṃ na cāstyatra prayojanam | bālastvamasi mūḍhaśca vṛddhaḥ kenāpi hetunā

"You do not know the highest dharma, and no purpose is served here. You are a child and a fool; you have grown old for no reason at all."

Verse 19 (3.188.19)

विवदन्तौ तथा तौ तु मुनीनां दर्शने स्थितौ । ये तस्य यज्ञे संवृत्तास्तेऽपृच्छन्त कथं त्विमौ ॥

vivadantau tathā tau tu munīnāṃ darśane sthitau | ye tasya yajñe saṃvṛttāste'pṛcchanta kathaṃ tvimau

As the two disputed in this way, standing in full view of the sages, those who had gathered at his sacrifice asked about them:

Note on the text: Speaker corrected from the printed heading वैशंपायन to मार्कण्डेय (the critical edition heads this verse mārkaṇḍeya uvāca, 3.183.16). Corrected द्रशने → दर्शने (misprint in Wikisource; transposed र; the commentary glosses दर्शने and the critical edition reads darśane).

Verse 20 (3.188.20)

प्रवेशः केन दत्तोऽयमनयोर्वैन्यसंसदि । उच्चैः समभिभाषन्तौ केन कार्येण विष्ठितौ ॥

praveśaḥ kena datto'yamanayorvainyasaṃsadi | uccaiḥ samabhibhāṣantau kena kāryeṇa viṣṭhitau

"How is it that these two were given entry into Vainya's assembly? For what business do they stand here, talking so loudly?"

Note on the text: Speaker set to the sages of the assembly (मुनय): the whole verse is their question, introduced by verse 19. Corrected धिष्ठितौ → विष्ठितौ (misprint in Wikisource; धिष्ठितौ is not a word here; the critical edition reads viṣṭhitau).

Verse 21 (3.188.21)

ततः परमधर्मात्मा काश्यपः सर्वधर्मवित् । विवादिनावनुप्राप्तौ तावुभौ प्रत्यवेदयत् ॥

tataḥ paramadharmātmā kāśyapaḥ sarvadharmavit | vivādināvanuprāptau tāvubhau pratyavedayat

Then Kashyapa, supremely righteous and knowing all dharma, told them that the two had come there as disputants.

Note on the text: Corrected सर्वधऱ्मवित् → सर्वधर्मवित् (misprint in Wikisource; ऱ for र). Speaker: मार्कण्डेय (narration).

Verse 22 (3.188.22)

अथाब्रवीत्सदस्यांस्तु गौतमो मुनिसत्तमान् । आवयोर्व्याहृतं प्रश्नं शृणुत द्विजसत्तमाः । वैन्यं विधातेत्याहात्रिरत्र नौ संशयो महान् ॥

athābravītsadasyāṃstu gautamo munisattamān | āvayorvyāhṛtaṃ praśnaṃ śṛṇuta dvijasattamāḥ | vainyaṃ vidhātetyāhātriratra nau saṃśayo mahān

Then Gautama said to the members of the assembly, those best of sages: "Hear, best of the twice-born, the question that has arisen between us two. Atri says that Vainya is the ordainer; on this we have a great dispute."

Verse 23 (3.188.23)

ततस्तु गौतमेनोक्तं वाक्यं वैन्यस्य संसदि । श्रुत्वैव तु महात्मानो मुनयोऽभ्यद्रवन्द्रुतम् ॥

tatastu gautamenoktaṃ vākyaṃ vainyasya saṃsadi | śrutvaiva tu mahātmāno munayo'bhyadravandrutam

When they heard the words Gautama had spoken in Vainya's assembly, the great-souled sages hurried off at once

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki quote marks (` and ') around the first line. Corrected दुतम् → द्रुतम् (misprint in Wikisource; dropped र; the critical edition reads drutam). The first line is not in the critical edition's constituted text (it appears there as star passage 908, after 3.183.19); the second line = 3.183.20ab.

Verse 24 (3.188.24)

सनत्कुमारं धर्मज्ञं संशयच्छेदनाय वै । पप्रच्छुः प्रणताः सर्वे ब्रह्माणमिव सोमपाः ॥

sanatkumāraṃ dharmajñaṃ saṃśayacchedanāya vai | papracchuḥ praṇatāḥ sarve brahmāṇamiva somapāḥ

to Sanatkumara, who knows dharma, to settle the doubt. Bowing low, they all questioned him, as the Soma-drinkers question Brahma.

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki quote marks (` and ') around the second line. First line = critical edition 3.183.20cd; the second line is not in the constituted text (star passage 909, after 3.183.20).

Verse 25 (3.188.25)

स च तेषां वचः श्रुत्वा यथातत्त्वं महातपाः । प्रत्युवाचाथ तानेवं धर्मार्थसहितं वचः ॥

sa ca teṣāṃ vacaḥ śrutvā yathātattvaṃ mahātapāḥ | pratyuvācātha tānevaṃ dharmārthasahitaṃ vacaḥ

Having heard their words, the great ascetic answered them truly, in words joined with dharma and with good sense:

Verse 26 (3.188.26)

ब्रह्म क्षत्रेण सहितं क्षत्रं च ब्रह्मणा सह । संयुक्तौ दहतः शत्रून्वनानीवाग्निमारुतौ ॥

brahma kṣatreṇa sahitaṃ kṣatraṃ ca brahmaṇā saha | saṃyuktau dahataḥ śatrūnvanānīvāgnimārutau

"Brahmin power joined with kshatriya power, and kshatriya power with brahmin power: united, they burn up enemies as fire and wind together burn up forests."

Note on the text: Speaker set to सनत्कुमार: his reply begins here (the critical edition heads 3.183.22 sanatkumāra uvāca). First line = 3.183.22ab; the second line is not in the constituted text (star passage 910, after 3.183.22ab).

Verse 27 (3.188.27)

राजा वै प्रथितो धर्मः प्रजानां पतिरेव च । स एव शक्रः शुक्रश्च स धाता च बृहस्पतिः ॥

rājā vai prathito dharmaḥ prajānāṃ patireva ca | sa eva śakraḥ śukraśca sa dhātā ca bṛhaspatiḥ

"The king is renowned as dharma itself and as the lord of his subjects. He is Shakra, he is Shukra, he is Dhata and Brihaspati."

Verse 28 (3.188.28)

प्रजापतिर्विराट् सम्राट् क्षत्रियो भूपतिर्नृपः । य एभिः स्तूयते शब्दैः कस्तं नार्चितुमर्हति ॥

prajāpatirvirāṭ samrāṭ kṣatriyo bhūpatirnṛpaḥ | ya ebhiḥ stūyate śabdaiḥ kastaṃ nārcitumarhati

"Prajapati, Virat, Samrat, Kshatriya, Bhupati, Nripa: who would not honour one who is praised by these names?"

Verse 29 (3.188.29)

पुरायोनिर्युधाजिच्च अभीष्टानचितो भवः । स्वर्णेता सहजिद्बभ्रुरिति राजाऽभिधीयते । सत्ययोनिः पुराविच्च सत्यधर्मप्रवर्तकः ॥

purāyoniryudhājicca abhīṣṭānacito bhavaḥ | svarṇetā sahajidbabhruriti rājā'bhidhīyate | satyayoniḥ purāvicca satyadharmapravartakaḥ

"The king is called Purayoni, Yudhajit, Abhishta, Anachita, Bhava, Svarneta, Sahajit and Babhru; and Satyayoni, Puravit, and the one who sets true dharma in motion."

Note on the text: Lines 1–2 = critical edition 3.183.24; the third line differs from 3.183.25ab (satyamanyur yudhājīvaḥ satyadharmapravartakaḥ). The reading अभीष्टानचितो is obscure; the commentary records the variant अभिया मुदित (the critical edition's reading). Kept as printed and rendered as names.

Verse 30 (3.188.30)

अधर्मादृषयो भीता बलं क्षत्रे समादधन् । तस्माद्धि ब्रह्मणा क्षत्रं क्षत्रेण ब्रह्म चाव्ययम् ॥

adharmādṛṣayo bhītā balaṃ kṣatre samādadhan | tasmāddhi brahmaṇā kṣatraṃ kṣatreṇa brahma cāvyayam

"Fearing adharma, the sages placed strength in the kshatriya. Therefore the kshatriya endures through the brahmin, and the brahmin through the kshatriya."

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki quote marks (` and ') around the second line. First line = critical edition 3.183.25cd; the second line is not in the constituted text (compare star passage 912, after 3.183.25).

Verse 31 (3.188.31)

आदित्यो दिवि देवेषु तमो नुदति तेजसा । तथैव नृपतिर्भूमावधर्मान्नुदते भृशम् ॥

ādityo divi deveṣu tamo nudati tejasā | tathaiva nṛpatirbhūmāvadharmānnudate bhṛśam

"As the sun among the gods in heaven dispels darkness with its brilliance, so the king on earth drives out adharma with force."

Verse 32 (3.188.32)

ततो राज्ञः प्रधानत्वं शास्त्रप्रामाण्यदर्शनात् । उत्तरः सिद्ध्यते पक्षो येन राजेति भाषितम् ॥

tato rājñaḥ pradhānatvaṃ śāstraprāmāṇyadarśanāt | uttaraḥ siddhyate pakṣo yena rājeti bhāṣitam

"Hence, on the authority of the scriptures, the king's primacy is shown, and the latter side prevails: the side that said 'the king'."

Verse 33 (3.188.33)

ततः स राजा संहृष्टः सिद्धे पक्षे महामनाः । तमत्रिमब्रवीत्प्रीतः पूर्वं येनाभिसंस्तुतः ॥

tataḥ sa rājā saṃhṛṣṭaḥ siddhe pakṣe mahāmanāḥ | tamatrimabravītprītaḥ pūrvaṃ yenābhisaṃstutaḥ

Then the high-minded king, delighted that his side had prevailed, spoke gladly to Atri, who had praised him earlier:

Note on the text: Speaker heading printed truncated as "मार्कण्डे उवाच"; normalised to मार्कण्डेय.

Verse 34 (3.188.34)

यस्मात्पूर्वं मनुष्येषु ज्यायांसं मामिहाब्रवीः । सर्वदेवैश्च विप्रर्षे संमितं श्रेष्ठमेव च ॥

yasmātpūrvaṃ manuṣyeṣu jyāyāṃsaṃ māmihābravīḥ | sarvadevaiśca viprarṣe saṃmitaṃ śreṣṭhameva ca

"Since you declared me here, before all others, to be the greatest among men, equal to all the gods and the best of all, brahmin sage,"

Note on the text: Speaker set to वैन्य: the whole verse is the king's speech to Atri, introduced by verse 33.

Verse 35 (3.188.35)

तस्मात्तेऽहंप्रदास्यामि विविधं वसु भूरि च । दासीसहस्रं श्यामानां सुवस्त्राणामलंकृतम् ॥

tasmātte'haṃpradāsyāmi vividhaṃ vasu bhūri ca | dāsīsahasraṃ śyāmānāṃ suvastrāṇāmalaṃkṛtam

"therefore I shall give you wealth of many kinds and in abundance: a thousand dark-complexioned serving women, finely dressed and adorned,"

Note on the text: Corrected अलकृतम् → अलंकृतम् (misprint in Wikisource; dropped anusvara; the critical edition reads alaṃkṛtam). First line = critical edition 3.183.29ef, second line = 3.183.30ab.

Verse 36 (3.188.36)

दशकोटीर्हिरण्यस्य रुक्मभारांस्तथा दश । एतद्ददामि विप्रर्षे सर्वज्ञस्त्वं मतो हि मे ॥

daśakoṭīrhiraṇyasya rukmabhārāṃstathā daśa | etaddadāmi viprarṣe sarvajñastvaṃ mato hi me

"ten crores of gold, and ten bharas of bright gold as well. This I give you, brahmin sage, for I hold you to be all-knowing."

Verse 37 (3.188.37)

तदत्रिर्न्यायतः सर्वं प्रतिगृह्याभिसत्कृतः । प्रत्युज्जगाम तेजस्वी गृहानेव महातपाः ॥

tadatrirnyāyataḥ sarvaṃ pratigṛhyābhisatkṛtaḥ | pratyujjagāma tejasvī gṛhāneva mahātapāḥ

Atri, duly honoured, accepted all of it in the proper way, and the radiant great ascetic went back to his own home.

Note on the text: Corrected तदत्रिनर्न्यायतः → तदत्रिर्न्यायतः (misprint in Wikisource; stray न; the critical edition reads tad atrir nyāyataḥ). Speaker: मार्कण्डेय (narration resumes).

Verse 38 (3.188.38)

प्रदाय च धनं प्रीतः पुत्रेभ्यः प्रयतात्मवान् । ततः समभिसंधाय वनमेवान्वपद्यत ॥

pradāya ca dhanaṃ prītaḥ putrebhyaḥ prayatātmavān | tataḥ samabhisaṃdhāya vanamevānvapadyata

Gladly giving the wealth to his sons, he then, self-controlled, set his mind on his purpose and went away to the forest.