Narada's Verdict on Four Royal Brothers; Shibi Gives Up His Son

Verse 1 (3.201.1)

भूय एव महाभाग्यं कथ्यतामित्यब्रवीत् पाण्डवो मार्कण्डेयम् । अथाचष्ट मार्कण्डेयः । अष्टकस्य वैश्वामित्रेरश्वमेधे सर्वे राजानः प्रागच्छन् ॥

bhūya eva mahābhāgyaṃ kathyatāmityabravīt pāṇḍavo mārkaṇḍeyam | athācaṣṭa mārkaṇḍeyaḥ | aṣṭakasya vaiśvāmitreraśvamedhe sarve rājānaḥ prāgacchan

"Tell us more of the greatness of kings," the son of Pandu said to Markandeya. Then Markandeya told this story. All the kings came to the horse sacrifice of Ashtaka, son of Vishvamitra.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's text (it stands in its Appendix I No. 21, inserted after 3.190.82, §96–97; found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 2 (3.201.2)

भ्रातरश्चास्य प्रतर्दनो वसुमनाः शिबिरौशीनर इति । स च समाप्तयज्ञो भ्रातृभिः सह रथेन प्रायात् । ते च नारदमागच्छन्तमभिवाद्यारोहतु भवान् रथमित्यब्रुवन् ॥

bhrātaraścāsya pratardano vasumanāḥ śibirauśīnara iti | sa ca samāptayajño bhrātṛbhiḥ saha rathena prāyāt | te ca nāradamāgacchantamabhivādyārohatu bhavān rathamityabruvan

So did his brothers: Pratardana, Vasumanas and Shibi son of Ushinara. When the sacrifice was completed, he set out by chariot with his brothers. Meeting Narada on the road, they greeted him and said, "Please mount the chariot, sir."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's text (it stands in its Appendix I No. 21, inserted after 3.190.82, §97–98; found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 3 (3.201.3)

तांस्तथेत्युक्त्वा रथमारुरोह । अथ तेषामेकः सुरर्षिं नारदमब्रवीत् । प्रसाद्य भगवन्तं किंचिदिच्छेयं प्रष्टुमिति ॥

tāṃstathetyuktvā rathamāruroha | atha teṣāmekaḥ surarṣiṃ nāradamabravīt | prasādya bhagavantaṃ kiṃcidiccheyaṃ praṣṭumiti

He said to them, "So be it," and mounted the chariot. Then one of them said to Narada, the divine sage: "If you will allow me, revered sir, I would like to ask you something."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's text (it stands in its Appendix I No. 21, inserted after 3.190.82, §99–100; found in the vulgate recension). Removed stray line-break hyphens: किंचि- दिच्छेयं → किंचिदिच्छेयं.

Verse 4 (3.201.4)

पृच्छेत्यब्रवीदृषिः । सोऽब्रवीदायुष्मन्तः सर्वगुणप्रमुदिताः । अथायुष्मन्तं स्वर्गस्थानं चतुर्भिर्यातव्यं स्यात् कोऽवतरेत् । अयमष्टकोऽवतरेदित्यब्रवीदृषिः ॥

pṛcchetyabravīdṛṣiḥ | so'bravīdāyuṣmantaḥ sarvaguṇapramuditāḥ | athāyuṣmantaṃ svargasthānaṃ caturbhiryātavyaṃ syāt ko'vataret | ayamaṣṭako'vataredityabravīdṛṣiḥ

"Ask," said the sage. He said: "We are all long-lived and blessed with every virtue. Now, if the four of us were to set out for the lasting abode of heaven, who would have to come down?" "This Ashtaka would come down," said the sage.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's text (it stands in its Appendix I No. 21, inserted after 3.190.82, §101–103; found in the vulgate recension). Removed stray line-break hyphens: सर्व- गुण → सर्वगुण, चतुर्भि- र्यातव्यं → चतुर्भिर्यातव्यं.

Verse 5 (3.201.5)

किं कारणमित्यपृच्छत् । अथाचष्टाष्टकस्य गृहे मया उषितं स मां रथेनानुप्रावहदथापश्यमनेकानिगोसहस्राणि वर्णशो विविक्तानि तमहमपृच्छं कस्येमे गाव इति सोऽब्रवीत् । मया निसृष्टा इत्येतास्तेनैव स्वयं श्लाघति कथितेन । एषोऽवतरेदथ त्रिभिर्यातव्यं साम्प्रतं कोऽवतरेत् ॥

kiṃ kāraṇamityapṛcchat | athācaṣṭāṣṭakasya gṛhe mayā uṣitaṃ sa māṃ rathenānuprāvahadathāpaśyamanekānigosahasrāṇi varṇaśo viviktāni tamahamapṛcchaṃ kasyeme gāva iti so'bravīt | mayā nisṛṣṭā ityetāstenaiva svayaṃ ślāghati kathitena | eṣo'vataredatha tribhiryātavyaṃ sāmprataṃ ko'vataret

"For what reason?" he asked. Narada explained: "I stayed in Ashtaka's house, and he drove me about in his chariot. Then I saw many thousands of cows, sorted by their colours. I asked him, 'Whose are these cows?' He said, 'These are ones I have given away.' By telling it he praised himself. So he would come down." "Now, if three of us had to go, who would come down?"

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's text (it stands in its Appendix I No. 21, inserted after 3.190.82, §104–110; found in the vulgate recension). Split: the input merged Wikisource verses 5 and 6 under the number 6; the raw page prints this sentence-group without its number ("।।" only), and verse 6 begins at प्रतर्दन इत्यब्रवीदृषिः. The number 5 is supplied.

Verse 6 (3.201.6)

प्रतर्दन इत्यब्रवीदृषिः । तत्र किं कारणं प्रतर्दनस्यापि गृहे मयोषितं स मां रथेनानुप्रावहत् ॥

pratardana ityabravīdṛṣiḥ | tatra kiṃ kāraṇaṃ pratardanasyāpi gṛhe mayoṣitaṃ sa māṃ rathenānuprāvahat

"Pratardana," said the sage. "What is the reason for that?" "I stayed in Pratardana's house too, and he drove me about in his chariot.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's text (it stands in its Appendix I No. 21, inserted after 3.190.82, §111–113; found in the vulgate recension). Second half of the input's merged verse 6 (see the previous verse). Removed stray line-break hyphens: प्रत- र्दनस्यापि → प्रतर्दनस्यापि.

Verse 7 (3.201.7)

अथैनं ब्राह्मणो भिक्षेताश्वं मे ददातु भवान् निवृत्तो दास्यामीत्यब्रवीद् ब्राह्मणं त्वरितमेव दीयतामित्यब्रवीद् ब्राह्मणस्त्वरितमेव स ब्राह्मणस्यैवमुक्त्वा दक्षिणं पार्श्वमददत् ॥

athainaṃ brāhmaṇo bhikṣetāśvaṃ me dadātu bhavān nivṛtto dāsyāmītyabravīd brāhmaṇaṃ tvaritameva dīyatāmityabravīd brāhmaṇastvaritameva sa brāhmaṇasyaivamuktvā dakṣiṇaṃ pārśvamadadat

Then a Brahmin begged of him, 'Give me a horse, sir.' 'I will give it when I have come back,' he said to the Brahmin. 'Let it be given right away,' said the Brahmin. 'Right away, then' — and having said this to the Brahmin, he gave him the right-hand horse.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's text (it stands in its Appendix I No. 21, inserted after 3.190.82, §114–118; found in the vulgate recension). Corrected ब्राह्मणोऽभिक्षेत → ब्राह्मणो भिक्षेत (misprint in Wikisource; an optative cannot take the augment, and the stray avagraha makes it अभिक्षेत; the critical edition reads brāhmaṇo bhikṣeta). Speaker: Narada's account, continued from the previous verse.

Verse 8 (3.201.8)

अथान्योऽप्यश्वार्थी ब्राह्मण आगच्छत् । तथैव चैनमुक्त्वा वामपार्ष्णिमभ्यदादथ प्रायात् पुनरपि चान्योऽप्यश्वार्थी ब्राह्मण आगच्छत् त्वरितोऽथ तस्मै अपनह्य वामं धुर्यमददत् ॥

athānyo'pyaśvārthī brāhmaṇa āgacchat | tathaiva cainamuktvā vāmapārṣṇimabhyadādatha prāyāt punarapi cānyo'pyaśvārthī brāhmaṇa āgacchat tvarito'tha tasmai apanahya vāmaṃ dhuryamadadat

Then another Brahmin came who wanted a horse. Saying the same to him, he gave him the rear horse on the left, and drove on. Then yet another Brahmin came in haste wanting a horse, and he unyoked the left yoke-horse and gave it to him.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's text (it stands in its Appendix I No. 21, inserted after 3.190.82, §119–121; found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 9 (3.201.9)

अथ प्रायात् पुनरन्य आगच्छदश्वार्थी ब्राह्मणस्तमब्रवीदतियातो दास्यामि त्वरितमेव मे दीयतामित्यब्रवीद् ब्राह्मणस्तस्मै दत्त्वाश्वं रथधुरं गृह्णता व्याहृतं ब्राह्मणानां साम्प्रतं नास्ति किंचिदिति ॥

atha prāyāt punaranya āgacchadaśvārthī brāhmaṇastamabravīdatiyāto dāsyāmi tvaritameva me dīyatāmityabravīd brāhmaṇastasmai dattvāśvaṃ rathadhuraṃ gṛhṇatā vyāhṛtaṃ brāhmaṇānāṃ sāmprataṃ nāsti kiṃciditi

Then he drove on, and again another Brahmin came wanting a horse. He said to him, 'I will give it when I have reached my journey's end.' 'Give it to me right away,' said the Brahmin. Having given him the horse, he took hold of the chariot-pole himself and said, 'Now there is nothing left for Brahmins.'

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's text (it stands in its Appendix I No. 21, inserted after 3.190.82, §122–124; found in the vulgate recension). Removed stray line-break hyphens: ब्राह्मण- स्तम् → ब्राह्मणस्तम्.

Verse 10 (3.201.10)

य एष ददाति चासूयति च तेन व्याहृतेन तथावतरेत् । अथ द्वाभ्यां यातव्यमिति कोऽवतरेत् ॥

ya eṣa dadāti cāsūyati ca tena vyāhṛtena tathāvataret | atha dvābhyāṃ yātavyamiti ko'vataret

He gives, but he grumbles as he gives; for that remark he would come down." "Now, if two had to go, who would come down?"

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's text (it stands in its Appendix I No. 21, inserted after 3.190.82, §125–126; found in the vulgate recension). Removed stray line-break hyphens: कोऽव- तरेत् → कोऽवतरेत्.

Verse 11 (3.201.11)

वसुमना अवतरेदित्यब्रवीदृषिः ॥

vasumanā avataredityabravīdṛṣiḥ

"Vasumanas would come down," said the sage.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's text (it stands in its Appendix I No. 21, inserted after 3.190.82, §127; found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 12 (3.201.12)

किं कारणमित्यपृच्छदथाचष्ट नारदः । अहं परिभ्रमन् वसुमनसो गृहमुपस्थितः ॥

kiṃ kāraṇamityapṛcchadathācaṣṭa nāradaḥ | ahaṃ paribhraman vasumanaso gṛhamupasthitaḥ

He asked the reason, and Narada explained: "In my wanderings I came to the house of Vasumanas.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's text (it stands in its Appendix I No. 21, inserted after 3.190.82, §128–129; found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 13 (3.201.13)

स्वस्तिवचनमासीत् पुष्परथस्य प्रयोजनेन तमहमन्वगच्छं स्वस्तिवाचितेषु ब्राह्मणेषु रथो ब्राह्मणानां दर्शितः ॥

svastivacanamāsīt puṣparathasya prayojanena tamahamanvagacchaṃ svastivāciteṣu brāhmaṇeṣu ratho brāhmaṇānāṃ darśitaḥ

A ceremony of blessing was being held there to consecrate a flower-chariot, and I went along to it. When the Brahmins had pronounced the blessings, the chariot was shown to them.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's text (it stands in its Appendix I No. 21, inserted after 3.190.82, §129; found in the vulgate recension). Speaker: Narada's account, continued from the previous verse.

Verse 14 (3.201.14)

तमहं रथं प्राशंसमथ राजाब्रवीद्भगवता रथः प्रशस्तः । एष भगवतो रथ इति ॥

tamahaṃ rathaṃ prāśaṃsamatha rājābravīdbhagavatā rathaḥ praśastaḥ | eṣa bhagavato ratha iti

I praised the chariot, and the king said: 'The revered one has praised the chariot; this chariot is the revered one's.'

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's text (it stands in its Appendix I No. 21, inserted after 3.190.82, §129–130; found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 15 (3.201.15)

अथ कदाचित् पुनरप्यहमुपस्थितः पुनरेव च रथप्रयोजनमासीत् । सम्यगयमेष भगवत इत्येवं राजाब्रवीदिति पुनरेव तृतीयं स्वस्तिवाचनं समभावयमथ राजा ब्राह्मणानां दर्शयन् मामभिप्रेक्ष्याब्रवीत् । अथो भगवता पुष्परथस्य स्वस्तिवाचनानि सुष्ठु सम्भावितानि एतेन द्रोहवचनेनावतरेत् ॥

atha kadācit punarapyahamupasthitaḥ punareva ca rathaprayojanamāsīt | samyagayameṣa bhagavata ityevaṃ rājābravīditi punareva tṛtīyaṃ svastivācanaṃ samabhāvayamatha rājā brāhmaṇānāṃ darśayan māmabhiprekṣyābravīt | atho bhagavatā puṣparathasya svastivācanāni suṣṭhu sambhāvitāni etena drohavacanenāvataret

Then at another time I came to him again, and again there was need of the chariot. 'Rightly, this one belongs to the revered one,' the king said once more. Then I took part in a third blessing ceremony, and the king, showing the chariot to the Brahmins, looked at me and said: 'Ah, the revered one has performed the blessings for the flower-chariot very well!' For that spiteful remark he would come down."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's text (it stands in its Appendix I No. 21, inserted after 3.190.82, §131–135; found in the vulgate recension). Split: the input merged Wikisource verses 15 and 16 under the number 16, with the raw page's "।। 15 ।" left inside the text; the number is removed and verse 15 restored as its own verse. Removed stray line-break hyphens: स्वस्ति- वाचनानि → स्वस्तिवाचनानि. Also joined मामभि प्रेक्ष्य → मामभिप्रेक्ष्य (a stray space inside one word; the critical edition reads abhiprekṣya).

Verse 16 (3.201.16)

अथैकेन यातव्यं स्यात् कोऽवतरेत् पुनर्नारद आह शिबिर्यायादहमवतरेयमत्र किं कारणमित्यब्रवीत् । असावहं शिबिना समो नास्मि यतो ब्राह्मणः कश्चिदेनमब्रवीत् ॥

athaikena yātavyaṃ syāt ko'vataret punarnārada āha śibiryāyādahamavatareyamatra kiṃ kāraṇamityabravīt | asāvahaṃ śibinā samo nāsmi yato brāhmaṇaḥ kaścidenamabravīt

"Now, if only one could go, who would come down?" Narada answered again: "Shibi would go on; I would come down." "What is the reason for that?" he asked. "I am not Shibi's equal. For once a Brahmin said to him:

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's text (it stands in its Appendix I No. 21, inserted after 3.190.82, §136–140; found in the vulgate recension). Second half of the input's merged verse 16 (see the previous verse). Removed stray line-break hyphens: कारण- मित्यब्रवीत् → कारणमित्यब्रवीत्.

Verse 17 (3.201.17)

शिबे अन्नार्थ्यस्मीति तमब्रवीच्छिविः किं क्रियतामाज्ञापयतु भवानिति ॥

śibe annārthyasmīti tamabravīcchiviḥ kiṃ kriyatāmājñāpayatu bhavāniti

'Shibi, I want food.' Shibi said to him, 'What shall I do? Command me, sir.'

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's text (it stands in its Appendix I No. 21, inserted after 3.190.82, §140–141; found in the vulgate recension). Speaker: Narada's account, continued from the previous verse. शिविः kept as printed (the variant spelling Śivi).

Verse 18 (3.201.18)

अथैनं ब्राह्मणोऽब्रवीद् य एष ते पुत्रो बृहद्गर्भो नाम एष प्रमातव्य इति तमेनं संस्कुरु अन्नं चोपपादय ततोऽहं प्रतीक्ष्य इति । ततः पुत्रं प्रमाथ्य संस्कृत्य विधिना साधयित्वा पात्र्यामर्पयित्वा शिरसा प्रतिगृह्य ब्राह्मणममृगयत् ॥

athainaṃ brāhmaṇo'bravīd ya eṣa te putro bṛhadgarbho nāma eṣa pramātavya iti tamenaṃ saṃskuru annaṃ copapādaya tato'haṃ pratīkṣya iti | tataḥ putraṃ pramāthya saṃskṛtya vidhinā sādhayitvā pātryāmarpayitvā śirasā pratigṛhya brāhmaṇamamṛgayat

Then the Brahmin said to him: 'This son of yours named Brihadgarbha — he is to be killed. Prepare him and make the food ready; then I shall be waiting for you.' So Shibi killed his son, prepared him according to rule, cooked him, placed him in a dish, carried it on his head and went searching for the Brahmin.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's text (it stands in its Appendix I No. 21, inserted after 3.190.82, §142–143; found in the vulgate recension). Removed stray line-break hyphens: चोप- पादय → चोपपादय. Corrected संस्कत्य → संस्कृत्य (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped ṛ-sign; the critical edition reads saṃskṛtya) and पाश्याम् → पात्र्याम् (misprint in Wikisource; the critical edition reads pātryām, "in a dish").

Verse 19 (3.201.19)

अथास्य मृगयमाणस्य कश्चिदाचष्ट एव ते ब्राह्मणो नगरं प्रविश्य दहति ते गृहं कोशागारमायुधागारं स्त्र्यगारमश्वशालां हस्तिशालां च क्रुद्ध इति ॥

athāsya mṛgayamāṇasya kaścidācaṣṭa eva te brāhmaṇo nagaraṃ praviśya dahati te gṛhaṃ kośāgāramāyudhāgāraṃ stryagāramaśvaśālāṃ hastiśālāṃ ca kruddha iti

As he searched, someone told him: 'That Brahmin of yours has entered the city and, in his anger, is burning your palace, your treasury, your armoury, the women's quarters, the stables and the elephant-stalls.'

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's text (it stands in its Appendix I No. 21, inserted after 3.190.82, §144; found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 20 (3.201.20)

अथ शिबिस्तथैवाविकृतमुखवर्णो नगरं प्रविश्य ब्राह्मणं तमब्रवीत् सिद्धं भगवन्नन्नमिति ब्राह्मणो न किंचिद्व्याजहार विस्मयादधोमुखश्चासीत् ॥

atha śibistathaivāvikṛtamukhavarṇo nagaraṃ praviśya brāhmaṇaṃ tamabravīt siddhaṃ bhagavannannamiti brāhmaṇo na kiṃcidvyājahāra vismayādadhomukhaścāsīt

Shibi, his face and colour unchanged, entered the city and said to the Brahmin, 'Revered sir, the food is ready.' The Brahmin said nothing; in his amazement he stood with his face cast down.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's text (it stands in its Appendix I No. 21, inserted after 3.190.82, §145–146; found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 21 (3.201.21)

ततः प्रासादयद् ब्राह्मणं भगवन् भुज्यतामिति । मुहूर्तादुद्वीक्ष्य शिबिमब्रवीत् ॥

tataḥ prāsādayad brāhmaṇaṃ bhagavan bhujyatāmiti | muhūrtādudvīkṣya śibimabravīt

Then Shibi tried to win the Brahmin's favour: 'Revered sir, please eat.' After a moment the Brahmin looked up and said to Shibi:

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's text (it stands in its Appendix I No. 21, inserted after 3.190.82, §147–148; found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 22 (3.201.22)

त्वमेवैतदशानेति तत्राह तथेति शिबिस्तथैवाविमना महित्वा कपालमभ्युद्धार्य भोक्तुमैच्छत् ॥

tvamevaitadaśāneti tatrāha tatheti śibistathaivāvimanā mahitvā kapālamabhyuddhārya bhoktumaicchat

'Eat it yourself.' Shibi said, 'So be it,' and, as untroubled as before, honouring him, he lifted up the bowl and made to eat.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's text (it stands in its Appendix I No. 21, inserted after 3.190.82, §148–150; found in the vulgate recension). Removed stray line-break hyphens: तथैवा- विमना → तथैवाविमना.

Verse 23 (3.201.23)

अथास्य ब्राह्मणो हस्तमगृह्णात् । अब्रवीच्चैनं जितक्रोधोऽसि न ते किञ्चिदपरित्याज्यं ब्राह्मणार्थे ब्राह्मणोऽपि तं महाभागं सभाजयत् ॥

athāsya brāhmaṇo hastamagṛhṇāt | abravīccainaṃ jitakrodho'si na te kiñcidaparityājyaṃ brāhmaṇārthe brāhmaṇo'pi taṃ mahābhāgaṃ sabhājayat

Then the Brahmin caught hold of his hand and said to him: 'You have conquered anger. There is nothing you would not give up for a Brahmin's sake.' And the Brahmin paid honour to that greatly fortunate man.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's text (it stands in its Appendix I No. 21, inserted after 3.190.82, §151–152; found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 24 (3.201.24)

स ह्युद्वीक्षमाणः पुत्रमपश्यदग्रे तिष्ठन्तं देवकुमारमिव पुण्यगन्धान्वितमलङ्कृतं सर्वं च तमर्थं विधाय ब्राह्मणोऽन्तरधीयत ॥

sa hyudvīkṣamāṇaḥ putramapaśyadagre tiṣṭhantaṃ devakumāramiva puṇyagandhānvitamalaṅkṛtaṃ sarvaṃ ca tamarthaṃ vidhāya brāhmaṇo'ntaradhīyata

As Shibi looked up, he saw his son standing before him like a child of the gods, fragrant with a holy scent and adorned. And having set everything right, the Brahmin vanished."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's text (it stands in its Appendix I No. 21, inserted after 3.190.82, §153–154; found in the vulgate recension). Removed stray line-break hyphens: देव- कुमारम् → देवकुमारम्.

Verse 25 (3.201.25)

तस्य राजर्षेर्विधाता तेनैव वेषेण परीक्षार्थमागत इति तस्मिन्नन्तर्हिते अमात्या राजानमूचुः । किं प्रेप्सुना भवता इदमेवं जानता कृतमिति ॥

tasya rājarṣervidhātā tenaiva veṣeṇa parīkṣārthamāgata iti tasminnantarhite amātyā rājānamūcuḥ | kiṃ prepsunā bhavatā idamevaṃ jānatā kṛtamiti

It was the Creator himself who had come in that guise to test the royal sage. When he had vanished, the ministers said to the king: "What were you hoping for, that you did this knowing full well what it meant?"

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's text (it stands in its Appendix I No. 21, inserted after 3.190.82, §155–156; found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 26 (3.201.26)

नैवाहमेतद् यशसे ददानि । न चार्थहेतोर्न च भोगतृष्णया । पापैरनासेवित एष मार्ग । इत्येवमेतत् सकलं करोमि ॥

naivāhametad yaśase dadāni | na cārthahetorna ca bhogatṛṣṇayā | pāpairanāsevita eṣa mārga | ityevametat sakalaṃ karomi

"I do not give for the sake of fame, nor for wealth, nor from a craving for pleasures. The wicked have never trodden this path; that is why I do all of this.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's text (it stands in its Appendix I No. 21, inserted after 3.190.82, §157; found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 27 (3.201.27)

सद्भिः सदाध्यासितं तु प्रशस्तं । तस्मात् प्रशस्तं श्रयते मतिर्मे । एतन्महाभाग्यवरं शिबेस्तु । तस्मादहं वेद यथावदेतत् ॥

sadbhiḥ sadādhyāsitaṃ tu praśastaṃ | tasmāt praśastaṃ śrayate matirme | etanmahābhāgyavaraṃ śibestu | tasmādahaṃ veda yathāvadetat

The good have always followed it, and so it is praised; therefore my mind turns to what is praised. Such is the surpassing greatness of Shibi, and that is how I know it to be so."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's text (it stands in its Appendix I No. 21, inserted after 3.190.82, §158; found in the vulgate recension).