Kaushika and the Devoted Wife

Verse 1 (3.209.1)

कश्चिद्द्विजातिप्रवरो वेदाध्यायी तपोधनः । तपस्वी धर्मशीलश्च कौशिको नाम भारत ॥

kaściddvijātipravaro vedādhyāyī tapodhanaḥ | tapasvī dharmaśīlaśca kauśiko nāma bhārata

There was a certain eminent brahmin, O Bharata, a student of the Vedas rich in austerity, an ascetic devoted to dharma, named Kaushika.

Verse 2 (3.209.2)

साङ्गोपनिषदान्वेदानधीते द्विजसत्तमः । स वृक्षमूले कस्मिंश्चिद्वेदानुच्चारयन्स्थितः ॥

sāṅgopaniṣadānvedānadhīte dvijasattamaḥ | sa vṛkṣamūle kasmiṃścidvedānuccārayansthitaḥ

That best of brahmins studied the Vedas with their auxiliary sciences and Upanishads. Once he stood at the foot of a tree, reciting the Vedas.

Note on the text: Corrected सवृक्षमूले → स वृक्षमूले (two words run together in Wikisource).

Verse 3 (3.209.3)

उपरिष्टाच्च वृक्षस्य बलाका संन्यलीयत । तया पुरीषमुत्सृष्टं ब्राह्मणस्य तदोपरि ॥

upariṣṭācca vṛkṣasya balākā saṃnyalīyata | tayā purīṣamutsṛṣṭaṃ brāhmaṇasya tadopari

Above him in the tree a female crane had settled, and she let her droppings fall on the brahmin.

Verse 4 (3.209.4)

समवेक्ष्य ततः क्रुद्धः समपध्यायत द्विजः । तां बलाकां महाराज निलीनां नगमूर्धनि ॥

samavekṣya tataḥ kruddhaḥ samapadhyāyata dvijaḥ | tāṃ balākāṃ mahārāja nilīnāṃ nagamūrdhani

Seeing it, the brahmin grew angry and cursed in his mind that crane, O great king, perched at the top of the tree.

Note on the text: Corrected सममध्यायत → समपध्यायत (misprint in Wikisource; म for प, "cursed in his mind", cf. अपध्याता in the next verse; the critical edition reads samapadhyāyata) and बलकां → बलाकां (misprint in Wikisource; dropped vowel sign); separated समवेक्ष्यततः → समवेक्ष्य ततः (words run together); removed a stray wiki quote mark (`) before the second line. Line 1 is the critical edition's 3.197.4ab; line 2 is not in its constituted text, but its apparatus has it as the insertion 3.197.4b*0998 (with vilīnāṃ for निलीनां).

Verse 5 (3.209.5)

भृशं क्रोधाभिभूतेन बलाका सा निरीक्षिता । अपध्याता च विप्रेण न्यपतद्धरणीतले ॥

bhṛśaṃ krodhābhibhūtena balākā sā nirīkṣitā | apadhyātā ca vipreṇa nyapataddharaṇītale

Gazed upon by the brahmin, who was overcome with fury, and cursed by him, the crane fell down to the ground.

Note on the text: This verse is the critical edition's 3.197.4cd–5ab; धरणीतले is a recension variant of vasudhātale and is kept.

Verse 6 (3.209.6)

बलाकां पतितां दृष्ट्वा गतसत्त्वामचेतनाम् । कारुण्यादभिसंतप्तः पर्यशोचत तां द्विजः । अकार्यं कृतवानस्मि द्वेषरागबलात्कृतः ॥

balākāṃ patitāṃ dṛṣṭvā gatasattvāmacetanām | kāruṇyādabhisaṃtaptaḥ paryaśocata tāṃ dvijaḥ | akāryaṃ kṛtavānasmi dveṣarāgabalātkṛtaḥ

Seeing the crane fallen, lifeless and senseless, the brahmin was seized with pity and grieved over her: "I have done a wrong deed, driven by hatred and passion."

Note on the text: Corrected गतसत्वाम् → गतसत्त्वाम् (misprint in Wikisource; broken conjunct, the critical edition reads gatasattvām). This verse is the critical edition's 3.197.5cd–ef and 6ab; द्वेषराग- is a recension variant of rāgadveṣa- and is kept.

Verse 7 (3.209.7)

इत्युक्त्वा बहुशो विद्वान्ग्रामं भैक्षाय संश्रितः । ग्रामे शुचीनि प्रचरन्कुलानि भरतर्षभ ॥

ityuktvā bahuśo vidvāngrāmaṃ bhaikṣāya saṃśritaḥ | grāme śucīni pracarankulāni bharatarṣabha

Having said this again and again, the learned man went to the village for alms. Going the rounds of the pure households of the village, O best of the Bharatas,

Note on the text: Corrected इत्युक्ताव → इत्युक्त्वा (misprint in Wikisource; garbled akshara, the critical edition reads ity uktvā). This verse is the critical edition's 3.197.6cd–7ab; its 7cd (praviṣṭas tat kulaṃ …, "he entered the house where he had begged before") has no counterpart in Wikisource, which reads on without a visible gap.

Verse 8 (3.209.8)

देहीति याचमानोऽसौ तिष्ठेत्युक्तः स्त्रिया ततः । शौचं तु यावत्कुरुते भाजनस्य कुटुम्बिनी ॥

dehīti yācamāno'sau tiṣṭhetyuktaḥ striyā tataḥ | śaucaṃ tu yāvatkurute bhājanasya kuṭumbinī

he begged, saying "Give," and a woman told him, "Wait." While the housewife was cleaning the vessel,

Note on the text: Corrected कुटुम्बिवी → कुटुम्बिनी (misprint in Wikisource; व for न, the critical edition reads kuṭumbinī). याचमानोऽसौ is a recension variant of yācamāno vai and is kept.

Verse 9 (3.209.9)

एतस्मिन्नन्तरे राजन्क्षुधासंपीडितो भृशम् । भर्ता प्रविष्टः सहसा तस्या भरतसत्तम ॥

etasminnantare rājankṣudhāsaṃpīḍito bhṛśam | bhartā praviṣṭaḥ sahasā tasyā bharatasattama

at that moment, O king, her husband came in suddenly, O best of the Bharatas, sorely pressed by hunger.

Verse 10 (3.209.10)

सा तु दृष्ट्वा पतिं साध्वी ब्राह्मणं व्यपहाय तम् । पाद्यमाचमनीयं वै ददौ भर्तुस्तथाऽऽसनम् ॥

sā tu dṛṣṭvā patiṃ sādhvī brāhmaṇaṃ vyapahāya tam | pādyamācamanīyaṃ vai dadau bhartustathā''sanam

Seeing her husband, the virtuous woman left the brahmin and gave her husband water for his feet, water to sip, and a seat.

Verse 11 (3.209.11)

प्रह्वा पर्यचरच्चापि भर्तारमसितेक्षणा । आहारेणाथ भक्ष्यैश्च वाक्यैः सुमधुरैस्तथा ॥

prahvā paryacaraccāpi bhartāramasitekṣaṇā | āhāreṇātha bhakṣyaiśca vākyaiḥ sumadhuraistathā

Humbly the dark-eyed woman waited on her husband with food and delicacies, and with very sweet words.

Verse 12 (3.209.12)

उच्छिष्टं भाविता भर्तुर्भुङ्क्ते नित्यं युधिष्ठिर । दैवतं च पतिं मेने भर्तुश्चित्तानुसारिणी ॥

ucchiṣṭaṃ bhāvitā bharturbhuṅkte nityaṃ yudhiṣṭhira | daivataṃ ca patiṃ mene bhartuścittānusāriṇī

Devoted to him, Yudhishthira, she always ate what her husband had left. She regarded her husband as a god and followed his wishes.

Verse 13 (3.209.13)

कर्मणा मनसा वाचा नात्यश्नान्नापि चापिबत् । तं सर्वभावोपगता पतिशुश्रूषणे रता ॥

karmaṇā manasā vācā nātyaśnānnāpi cāpibat | taṃ sarvabhāvopagatā patiśuśrūṣaṇe ratā

In deed, in thought and in word she never ate or drank ahead of him. She was devoted to him with her whole being, delighting in serving her husband.

Note on the text: Corrected चापिवत् → चापिबत् (misprint in Wikisource; व for ब, "nor did she drink"; the critical edition reads cāpibat). कर्मणा मनसा वाचा is a recension variant of na karmaṇā na manasā and is kept.

Verse 14 (3.209.14)

साध्वाचारा शुचिर्दक्षा कुटुम्बस्य हितैषिणी । भर्तुश्चापि हितं यत्तत्सततं साऽनुवर्तते ॥

sādhvācārā śucirdakṣā kuṭumbasya hitaiṣiṇī | bhartuścāpi hitaṃ yattatsatataṃ sā'nuvartate

Of good conduct, pure and capable, seeking the welfare of the household, she always did whatever was good for her husband.

Verse 15 (3.209.15)

देवतातिथिभृत्यानां श्वश्रूश्वशुरयोस्तथा । शुश्रूषणपरा नित्यं सततं संयतेन्द्रिया ॥

devatātithibhṛtyānāṃ śvaśrūśvaśurayostathā | śuśrūṣaṇaparā nityaṃ satataṃ saṃyatendriyā

She was ever intent on serving the gods, guests and servants, and her mother-in-law and father-in-law, always keeping her senses restrained.

Verse 16 (3.209.16)

सा ब्राह्मणं तदा दृष्ट्वा संस्थितं भैक्षकाङ्क्षिणम् । कुर्वती पतिशुश्रूषां सस्माराथ शुभेक्षणा ॥

sā brāhmaṇaṃ tadā dṛṣṭvā saṃsthitaṃ bhaikṣakāṅkṣiṇam | kurvatī patiśuśrūṣāṃ sasmārātha śubhekṣaṇā

While serving her husband, the fair-eyed woman saw the brahmin standing there waiting for alms, and remembered him.

Verse 17 (3.209.17)

व्रीडिता साऽभवत्साध्वी तदा भरतसत्तम । भिक्षामादाय विप्राय निर्जगाम यशस्विनी ॥

vrīḍitā sā'bhavatsādhvī tadā bharatasattama | bhikṣāmādāya viprāya nirjagāma yaśasvinī

The virtuous woman was then ashamed, O best of the Bharatas, and the illustrious lady took alms and went out to the brahmin.

Verse 18 (3.209.18)

किमिदं भवति त्वं मां तिष्ठेत्युक्त्वा वराङ्गने । उपरोधं कृतवती न विसर्जितवत्यसि ॥

kimidaṃ bhavati tvaṃ māṃ tiṣṭhetyuktvā varāṅgane | uparodhaṃ kṛtavatī na visarjitavatyasi

"What is this, lady? You told me 'Wait', fair woman, and then you kept me standing here and did not send me on my way."

Verse 19 (3.209.19)

ब्राह्मणं क्रोधसंतप्तं ज्वलन्तमिव तेजसा । दृष्ट्वा साध्वी मनुष्येन्द्र सान्त्वपूर्वं वचोऽब्रवीत् ॥

brāhmaṇaṃ krodhasaṃtaptaṃ jvalantamiva tejasā | dṛṣṭvā sādhvī manuṣyendra sāntvapūrvaṃ vaco'bravīt

Seeing the brahmin burning with anger, blazing as it were with his ascetic power, the virtuous woman spoke to him gently, O lord of men, to calm him:

Note on the text: Corrected मनुष्येन्द्रसान्त्वपूर्वं → मनुष्येन्द्र सान्त्वपूर्वं (a vocative run into the next word in Wikisource).

Verse 20 (3.209.20)

क्षमस्व विप्रप्रवर क्षमस्व स्त्रीजडात्मताम् । प्रसीद भगवन्मह्यं कृपां कुरु मयि द्विज ॥

kṣamasva viprapravara kṣamasva strījaḍātmatām | prasīda bhagavanmahyaṃ kṛpāṃ kuru mayi dvija

"Forgive me, best of brahmins, forgive a woman's dullness. Be gracious to me, holy one; have mercy on me, O brahmin.

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki quote marks (` … ') and separated क्षमस्वविप्रप्रवर → क्षमस्व विप्रप्रवर (words run together). Not in the critical edition's constituted text; its apparatus has this verse as the insertion 3.197.19d*0999 (with strījaḍatvatām for स्त्रीजडात्मताम्). The woman's words begin here, without a printed speaker heading.

Verse 21 (3.209.21)

क्षन्तुमर्हसि मे विद्वन्भर्ता मे दैवतं महत् । स चापि क्षुधितः श्रान्तः प्राप्तः शुश्रूषितो मया ॥

kṣantumarhasi me vidvanbhartā me daivataṃ mahat | sa cāpi kṣudhitaḥ śrāntaḥ prāptaḥ śuśrūṣito mayā

You should forgive me, learned one. My husband is my great god; he came home hungry and weary, and I was serving him."

Note on the text: Corrected शुश्रूषितोमया → शुश्रूषितो मया (two words run together in Wikisource). विद्वन् is a recension variant of vipra and is kept.

Verse 22 (3.209.22)

ब्राह्मणा न गरीयांसो गरीयांस्ते पतिः कृतः । गृहस्थधर्मे वर्तन्ती ब्राह्मणानवमन्यसे ॥

brāhmaṇā na garīyāṃso garīyāṃste patiḥ kṛtaḥ | gṛhasthadharme vartantī brāhmaṇānavamanyase

"Brahmins are not the weightier, then; you have made your husband the weightier. Living by the householder's dharma, you slight brahmins.

Note on the text: Corrected ब्राह्मणआ → ब्राह्मणा (misprint in Wikisource; stray vowel letter, the critical edition reads brāhmaṇā).

Verse 23 (3.209.23)

इन्द्रोऽप्येषां प्रणमते किं पुनर्मानवो भुवि । अवलिप्ते न जानीषे वृद्धानां न श्रुतं त्वया ॥

indro'pyeṣāṃ praṇamate kiṃ punarmānavo bhuvi | avalipte na jānīṣe vṛddhānāṃ na śrutaṃ tvayā

Even Indra bows to them, let alone a man on earth! Proud woman, do you not know? Have you not heard it from your elders?

Note on the text: This verse is the critical edition's 3.197.22ab–cd; मानवो is a recension variant of mānuṣā and is kept.

Verse 24 (3.209.24)

ब्राह्मणा ह्यग्निसदृशा दहेयुः पृथिवीमपि । सपर्वतवनद्वीपां क्षिप्रमेवावमानिताः ॥

brāhmaṇā hyagnisadṛśā daheyuḥ pṛthivīmapi | saparvatavanadvīpāṃ kṣipramevāvamānitāḥ

Brahmins are like fire: if insulted, they could burn up the very earth, with its mountains, forests and islands, in an instant."

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki quote marks (` … ') around the second line. Line 1 is the critical edition's 3.197.22ef; line 2 is not in its constituted text, but its apparatus has it as the insertion 3.197.22f*1000.

Verse 25 (3.209.25)

नाहं बलाका विप्रर्षे त्यज क्रोधं तपोधन । अनया क्रुद्धया दृष्ट्या क्रुद्धः किं मां करिष्यसि ॥

nāhaṃ balākā viprarṣe tyaja krodhaṃ tapodhana | anayā kruddhayā dṛṣṭyā kruddhaḥ kiṃ māṃ kariṣyasi

"I am no crane, O brahmin seer. Give up your anger, you who are rich in austerity. With this angry look, what can you in your anger do to me?

Note on the text: Removed the editorial square brackets around the verse. Not in the critical edition's constituted text; its apparatus has this verse as the insertion 3.197.23d*1001 (with viprendra for विप्रर्षे).

Verse 26 (3.209.26)

नावजानाम्यहं विप्रान्देवैस्तुल्यान्मनस्विनः । अपराधमिमं विप्र क्षन्तुमर्हसि मेऽनघ ॥

nāvajānāmyahaṃ viprāndevaistulyānmanasvinaḥ | aparādhamimaṃ vipra kṣantumarhasi me'nagha

I do not despise brahmins, the wise ones who are equal to the gods. Forgive me this offence, O sinless brahmin.

Verse 27 (3.209.27)

जानामि तेजो विप्राणां महाभाग्यं च धीमताम् । अपेयः सागरः क्रोधात्कृतो हि लवणोदकः ॥

jānāmi tejo viprāṇāṃ mahābhāgyaṃ ca dhīmatām | apeyaḥ sāgaraḥ krodhātkṛto hi lavaṇodakaḥ

I know the power of brahmins and the greatness of the wise. In their anger they made the ocean undrinkable, its water salt.

Note on the text: Corrected विप्राणआं → विप्राणां (misprint in Wikisource; stray vowel letter, the critical edition reads viprāṇāṃ).

Verse 28 (3.209.28)

तथैव दीप्ततपसां मुनीनां भावितात्मनाम् । येषां क्रोधाग्निरद्यापि समुद्रे नोपशाम्यति । कस्तान्परिभवेन्मूढो ब्राह्मणानमितौजसः ॥

tathaiva dīptatapasāṃ munīnāṃ bhāvitātmanām | yeṣāṃ krodhāgniradyāpi samudre nopaśāmyati | kastānparibhavenmūḍho brāhmaṇānamitaujasaḥ

I know the power, too, of the sages of blazing austerity and perfected self, whose fire of wrath is not quenched in the ocean even today. What fool would slight brahmins of boundless might?

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki quote marks (` … ') around the third line. Lines 1–2 are the critical edition's 3.197.25 (समुद्रे for its daṇḍake, a recension variant noted in the Wikisource footnote and kept here); line 3 is not in its constituted text, but its apparatus has it as the insertion 3.197.25d*1002 (with kasmāt for कस्तान्).

Verse 29 (3.209.29)

ब्राह्मणानां परिभवाद्वातापिः सुदुरात्मवान् । अगस्त्यमृषिमासाद्य जीर्णः क्रूरो महासुरः ॥

brāhmaṇānāṃ paribhavādvātāpiḥ sudurātmavān | agastyamṛṣimāsādya jīrṇaḥ krūro mahāsuraḥ

It was through slighting brahmins that the very wicked, cruel great Asura Vatapi was digested when he met the seer Agastya.

Verse 30 (3.209.30)

बहुप्रभावाः श्रूयन्ते ब्राह्मणानां महात्मनाम् । क्रोधः सुविपुलो ब्रह्मन्प्रसादश्च महात्मनाम् । अस्मिंस्त्वतिक्रमे ब्रह्मन्क्षन्तुमर्हसि मेऽनघ ॥

bahuprabhāvāḥ śrūyante brāhmaṇānāṃ mahātmanām | krodhaḥ suvipulo brahmanprasādaśca mahātmanām | asmiṃstvatikrame brahmankṣantumarhasi me'nagha

Many are the powers told of great-souled brahmins; vast is the anger of the great-souled, O brahmin, and vast their grace. For this offence of mine, O sinless brahmin, you should forgive me.

Note on the text: This verse is the critical edition's 3.197.27ab–cd and 28ab; its first line is a recension variant of prabhāvā bahavaś cāpi śrūyante brahmavādinām and is kept.

Verse 31 (3.209.31)

पतिशुश्रूषया धर्मो यः स मे रोचते द्विज । दैवतेष्वपि सर्वेषु भर्ता मे दैवतं परम् ॥

patiśuśrūṣayā dharmo yaḥ sa me rocate dvija | daivateṣvapi sarveṣu bhartā me daivataṃ param

The dharma that lies in serving my husband is what pleases me, O brahmin. Among all the gods, my husband is my highest god.

Note on the text: Corrected य → यः (misprint in Wikisource; dropped visarga, the critical edition reads yaḥ). This verse is the critical edition's 3.197.28cd–29ab.

Verse 32 (3.209.32)

अविशेषेण तस्याहं कुर्यां धर्मं द्विजोत्तम । शुश्रूषायाः फलं पश्य पत्युर्ब्राह्मण यादृशम् ॥

aviśeṣeṇa tasyāhaṃ kuryāṃ dharmaṃ dvijottama | śuśrūṣāyāḥ phalaṃ paśya patyurbrāhmaṇa yādṛśam

I practise that dharma toward him without distinction, O best of brahmins. See, brahmin, what kind of fruit service to one's husband brings:

Note on the text: This verse is the critical edition's 3.197.29cd–30ab.

Verse 33 (3.209.33)

बलाका हि त्वया दग्धा रोषात्तद्विदितं मया । क्रोधः शत्रुः शरीरस्थो मनुष्याणां द्विजोत्तम ॥

balākā hi tvayā dagdhā roṣāttadviditaṃ mayā | krodhaḥ śatruḥ śarīrastho manuṣyāṇāṃ dvijottama

you burned a crane in your rage; that is known to me. Anger is an enemy that dwells in men's own bodies, O best of brahmins.

Note on the text: This verse is the critical edition's 3.197.30cd–31ab.

Verse 34 (3.209.34)

मास्म क्रुध्यो बलाकेव न वध्याऽस्मि पतिव्रता । यः क्रोधमोहौ त्यजति तं देवा ब्राह्मणं विदुः ॥

māsma krudhyo balākeva na vadhyā'smi pativratā | yaḥ krodhamohau tyajati taṃ devā brāhmaṇaṃ viduḥ

Do not be angry; I am not to be slain like the crane, for I am a devoted wife. Whoever gives up anger and delusion, the gods know as a brahmin.

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki quote marks (` … ') around the first line. Line 1 is not in the critical edition's constituted text; its apparatus has it as the insertion 3.197.31b*1003 (with kruddho for क्रुध्यो). Line 2 is the critical edition's 3.197.31cd.

Verse 35 (3.209.35)

यो वदेदिह सत्यानि गुरुं संतोषयेत च । हिंसितश्च न हिंसेत तं देवा ब्राह्मणं विदुः ॥

yo vadediha satyāni guruṃ saṃtoṣayeta ca | hiṃsitaśca na hiṃseta taṃ devā brāhmaṇaṃ viduḥ

Whoever speaks the truth here, satisfies his teacher, and when harmed does not harm in return, the gods know as a brahmin.

Note on the text: Corrected त हिंसेत → न हिंसेत (misprint in Wikisource; त for न, the critical edition reads na hiṃseta).

Verse 36 (3.209.36)

जितेन्द्रियो धर्मपरः स्वाध्यायनिरतः शुचिः । कामक्रोधौ वशौ यस्य तं देवा ब्राह्मणं विदुः ॥

jitendriyo dharmaparaḥ svādhyāyanirataḥ śuciḥ | kāmakrodhau vaśau yasya taṃ devā brāhmaṇaṃ viduḥ

Whoever has mastered his senses, is devoted to dharma, delights in sacred study and is pure, and keeps desire and anger under control, the gods know as a brahmin.

Verse 37 (3.209.37)

यस्य चात्मसमो लोको धर्मज्ञस्य मनस्विनः । सर्वधर्मेषु चरतस्तं देवा ब्राह्मणं विदुः ॥

yasya cātmasamo loko dharmajñasya manasvinaḥ | sarvadharmeṣu caratastaṃ devā brāhmaṇaṃ viduḥ

The wise knower of dharma to whom the whole world is like his own self, and who walks in every dharma, the gods know as a brahmin.

Verse 38 (3.209.38)

योऽध्यापयेदधीयीत यजेद्वा याजयीत वा । दद्याद्वाऽपि यथाशक्ति तं देवा ब्राह्मणं विदुः ॥

yo'dhyāpayedadhīyīta yajedvā yājayīta vā | dadyādvā'pi yathāśakti taṃ devā brāhmaṇaṃ viduḥ

Whoever teaches and studies, sacrifices and officiates at sacrifices for others, and gives as far as he is able, the gods know as a brahmin.

Verse 39 (3.209.39)

ब्रह्मचारी वदान्यो योऽप्यधीयाद्द्विजपुङ्गवः । स्वाध्यायवानमत्तो वै तं देवा ब्राह्मणं विदुः ॥

brahmacārī vadānyo yo'pyadhīyāddvijapuṅgavaḥ | svādhyāyavānamatto vai taṃ devā brāhmaṇaṃ viduḥ

The best of the twice-born who lives as a celibate student, is generous, and studies, who keeps to his sacred study and is never careless — him the gods know as a brahmin.

Note on the text: Corrected ब्राह्मचारी → ब्रह्मचारी (misprint in Wikisource; stray vowel sign, the critical edition reads brahmacārī) and योप्यधीयाद् → योऽप्यधीयाद् (missing avagraha). The rest of the verse is a recension variant and is kept.

Verse 40 (3.209.40)

यद्ब्राह्मणानां कुशलं तदेषां परिकीर्तयेत् । सत्यं तथा व्याहरतां नानृते रमते मनः ॥

yadbrāhmaṇānāṃ kuśalaṃ tadeṣāṃ parikīrtayet | satyaṃ tathā vyāharatāṃ nānṛte ramate manaḥ

Whatever is good for brahmins one should declare to them; for those who speak the truth, the mind takes no delight in falsehood.

Verse 41 (3.209.41)

धनं तु ब्राह्मणस्याहुः स्वाध्यायं दममार्जवम् । इन्द्रियाणां निग्रहं च शाश्वतं द्विजसत्तम ॥

dhanaṃ tu brāhmaṇasyāhuḥ svādhyāyaṃ damamārjavam | indriyāṇāṃ nigrahaṃ ca śāśvataṃ dvijasattama

They say the wealth of a brahmin is sacred study, self-restraint and straightforwardness, and lasting mastery over the senses, O best of brahmins.

Note on the text: This verse is the critical edition's 3.197.38ab–cd.

Verse 42 (3.209.42)

सत्यार्जवे धर्ममाहुः परं धर्मविदो जनाः । दुर्ज्ञेयः शाश्वतो धर्मः स च सत्ये प्रतिष्ठितः ॥

satyārjave dharmamāhuḥ paraṃ dharmavido janāḥ | durjñeyaḥ śāśvato dharmaḥ sa ca satye pratiṣṭhitaḥ

Those who know dharma call truth and straightforwardness the highest dharma. Eternal dharma is hard to know, and it rests on truth.

Note on the text: This verse is the critical edition's 3.197.38ef–39ab; स च is a recension variant of sa tu and is kept.

Verse 43 (3.209.43)

श्रुतिप्रमाणो धर्मः स्यादिति वृद्धानुशासनम् । बहुधा दृश्यते धर्मः सूक्ष्म एव द्विजोत्तम ॥

śrutipramāṇo dharmaḥ syāditi vṛddhānuśāsanam | bahudhā dṛśyate dharmaḥ sūkṣma eva dvijottama

Dharma has revealed scripture as its authority; such is the teaching of the elders. Dharma is seen in many forms, and it is subtle, O best of brahmins.

Note on the text: This verse is the critical edition's 3.197.39cd–40ab.

Verse 44 (3.209.44)

भगवानपि धर्मज्ञः स्वाध्यायनिरतः शुचिः । न तु तत्त्वेन भगवन्धर्मं वेत्सीति मे मतिः ॥

bhagavānapi dharmajñaḥ svādhyāyanirataḥ śuciḥ | na tu tattvena bhagavandharmaṃ vetsīti me matiḥ

You, holy one, know dharma, are devoted to sacred study and are pure; yet, holy one, I think you do not know dharma in its truth.

Note on the text: Corrected स्वाद्याय- → स्वाध्याय- and दर्मं → धर्मं (misprint in Wikisource; द for ध, the critical edition reads svādhyāya- … dharmān). This verse is the critical edition's 3.197.40cd–ef; भगवानपि and the singular धर्मं are recension variants of bhavān api ca and dharmān and are kept.

Verse 45 (3.209.45)

यदि विप्र न जानीषे धर्मं परमकं द्विज । धर्मव्याधं ततः पृच्छ गत्वा तु मिथिलां पुरीम् ॥

yadi vipra na jānīṣe dharmaṃ paramakaṃ dvija | dharmavyādhaṃ tataḥ pṛccha gatvā tu mithilāṃ purīm

If you do not know the supreme dharma, O brahmin, then go to the city of Mithila and ask Dharmavyadha, the righteous hunter.

Note on the text: Corrected तत → ततः (misprint in Wikisource; dropped visarga, the critical edition's apparatus reads tataḥ). Not in the critical edition's constituted text; its apparatus has this verse as the insertion 3.197.40f*1004.

Verse 46 (3.209.46)

मातापितृभ्यां शुश्रूषुः सत्यवादी जितेन्द्रियः । मिथिलायां वसेद्व्याधः स ते धर्मान्प्रवक्ष्यति ॥

mātāpitṛbhyāṃ śuśrūṣuḥ satyavādī jitendriyaḥ | mithilāyāṃ vasedvyādhaḥ sa te dharmānpravakṣyati

In Mithila there lives a hunter devoted to serving his mother and father, truthful and master of his senses; he will teach you the dharmas.

Note on the text: Corrected शुश्रूपुः → शुश्रूषुः (misprint in Wikisource; प for ष, the critical edition reads śuśrūṣuḥ). This verse is the critical edition's 3.197.41ab–cd; वसेद् is a recension variant of vasan and is kept.

Verse 47 (3.209.47)

तत्र गच्छस्व भद्रं ते यथाकामं द्विजोत्तम । व्याधः परमधर्मात्मा स ते छेत्स्यति संशयम् ॥

tatra gacchasva bhadraṃ te yathākāmaṃ dvijottama | vyādhaḥ paramadharmātmā sa te chetsyati saṃśayam

Go there as you wish, best of brahmins, and good fortune be with you. That hunter is supremely righteous; he will cut away your doubt.

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki quote marks (` … ') around the second line. Line 1 is the critical edition's 3.197.41ef; line 2 is not in its constituted text, but its apparatus has it as the insertion 3.197.41f*1005 (with saṃśayān).

Verse 48 (3.209.48)

अत्युक्तमपि मे सर्वं क्षन्तुमर्हस्यनिन्दित । स्त्रियो ह्यवध्याः सर्वेषां ये धर्ममभिविन्दते ॥

atyuktamapi me sarvaṃ kṣantumarhasyanindita | striyo hyavadhyāḥ sarveṣāṃ ye dharmamabhivindate

Pardon all that I have said, even if I have said too much, O blameless one. For women are not to be slain by any who know dharma."

Verse 49 (3.209.49)

प्रीतोऽस्मि तव भद्रं ते गतः क्रोधश्च शोभने । उपालम्भस्त्वया प्रोक्तो मम निःश्रेयसं परम् ॥

prīto'smi tava bhadraṃ te gataḥ krodhaśca śobhane | upālambhastvayā prokto mama niḥśreyasaṃ param

"I am pleased with you; good fortune be yours, and my anger is gone, lovely lady. The reproach you have spoken is my highest good.

Note on the text: Corrected प्रीतोस्मि → प्रीतोऽस्मि (missing avagraha) and निश्रेयसं → निःश्रेयसं (misprint in Wikisource; dropped visarga, the critical edition reads niḥśreyasaṃ). This verse is the critical edition's 3.197.43ab–cd; प्रोक्तो is a recension variant of hy ukto and is kept.

Verse 50 (3.209.50)

स्वस्ति तेऽस्तु गमिष्यामि साधयिष्यामि शोभने । धन्या त्वमसि कल्याणि यस्याः स्याद्वृत्तमीदृशम् ॥

svasti te'stu gamiṣyāmi sādhayiṣyāmi śobhane | dhanyā tvamasi kalyāṇi yasyāḥ syādvṛttamīdṛśam

Blessings on you; I shall go and accomplish my purpose, lovely one. Blessed are you, auspicious lady, whose conduct is such as this."

Note on the text: Removed a stray wiki quote mark (`) before the second line. Line 1 is the critical edition's 3.197.43ef; line 2 is not in its constituted text, but its apparatus has it as the insertion 3.197.44d*1006 (placed after Markandeya's closing line there).

Verse 51 (3.209.51)

तया विसृष्टो निर्गत्य स्वमेव भवनं ययौ । विनिन्दन्स स्वमात्मानं कौशिको द्विजसत्तमः ॥

tayā visṛṣṭo nirgatya svameva bhavanaṃ yayau | vinindansa svamātmānaṃ kauśiko dvijasattamaḥ

Dismissed by her, Kaushika, best of brahmins, went out and returned to his own home, reproaching himself.

Note on the text: Dropped a stray third line (वस्त्रिणो वस्त्रदा यान्ति अवस्त्रा यान्त्यवस्त्रदाः, "givers of clothes go clothed …") that Wikisource prints in this row under the mistyped id 3-203-51b: it is a duplicate of Wikisource 3.203.51b (the same line, same id, in adhyaya 203), unrelated to the sense here and absent from the critical edition's 3.197.44. निर्गत्य, स्वमात्मानं and द्विजसत्तमः are recension variants of nirgamya, dvijo 'tmānaṃ and narasattama and are kept. The Wikisource page ends here without its closing colophon; the next adhyaya (210) opens with the critical edition's 3.198.1, so nothing is lost.