Shankha and Likhita: The Rod of Punishment

Verse 1 (12.23.1)

एवमुक्तस्तु कौन्तेयो गुडाकेशेन भारत । नोवाच किंचित्कौरव्यस्ततो द्वैपायनोऽब्रवीत् ॥

evamuktastu kaunteyo guḍākeśena bhārata | novāca kiṃcitkauravyastato dvaipāyano'bravīt

Thus addressed by Arjuna, O Bharata, the Kuru prince, the son of Kunti, said nothing. Then Dvaipayana spoke.

Verse 2 (12.23.2)

बीभत्सोर्वचनं सौम्य सत्यमेतद्युधिष्ठिर । शास्त्रदृष्टः परो धर्मः स्मृतो गार्हस्थ्य आश्रमः ॥

bībhatsorvacanaṃ saumya satyametadyudhiṣṭhira | śāstradṛṣṭaḥ paro dharmaḥ smṛto gārhasthya āśramaḥ

Gentle Yudhishthira, what Bibhatsu has said is true. The householder's stage of life is declared to be the supreme dharma, as the scriptures see it.

Verse 3 (12.23.3)

स्वधर्मं चर धर्मज्ञ यथाशास्त्रं यथाविधि । न हि गार्हस्थ्यमुत्सृज्य तवारण्यं विधीयते ॥

svadharmaṃ cara dharmajña yathāśāstraṃ yathāvidhi | na hi gārhasthyamutsṛjya tavāraṇyaṃ vidhīyate

Knower of dharma, follow your own duty, as the scriptures and the rules direct. For one who gives up the householder's life, a life in the forest is not prescribed for you.

Verse 4 (12.23.4)

गृहस्थं हि सदा देवाः पितरोऽतिथयस्तथा । भृत्याश्चैवोपजीवन्ति तान्भरस्व महीपते ॥

gṛhasthaṃ hi sadā devāḥ pitaro'tithayastathā | bhṛtyāścaivopajīvanti tānbharasva mahīpate

The gods, the ancestors, the guests and the dependents all live always on the householder. Sustain them, lord of the earth.

Verse 5 (12.23.5)

वयांसि पशवश्चैव भूतानि च जनाधिप । गृहस्थैरेव धार्यन्ते तस्माच्छ्रेष्ठो गृहाश्रमी ॥

vayāṃsi paśavaścaiva bhūtāni ca janādhipa | gṛhasthaireva dhāryante tasmācchreṣṭho gṛhāśramī

Birds, animals and all other creatures, O ruler of men, are supported by householders alone. Therefore the householder is the best of all.

Verse 6 (12.23.6)

सोऽयं चतुर्णामेतेषामाश्रमाणां दुराचरः । तं चराद्य विधिं पार्थ दुश्चरं दुर्बलेन्द्रियैः ॥

so'yaṃ caturṇāmeteṣāmāśramāṇāṃ durācaraḥ | taṃ carādya vidhiṃ pārtha duścaraṃ durbalendriyaiḥ

Of these four stages of life this one is the hardest to practise. Practise now that discipline, Partha, which is so hard for those whose senses are weak.

Verse 7 (12.23.7)

वेदज्ञानं च ते कृत्स्नं तपश्चाचरितं महत् । पितृपैतामहं राज्यं धुर्यवद्वोद्दुमर्हसि ॥

vedajñānaṃ ca te kṛtsnaṃ tapaścācaritaṃ mahat | pitṛpaitāmahaṃ rājyaṃ dhuryavadvoddumarhasi

You have full knowledge of the Vedas and have practised great austerity. You ought to bear the kingdom of your father and grandfather as an ox bears the yoke.

Verse 8 (12.23.8)

तपो यज्ञस्तथा विद्या भैक्ष्यमिन्द्रियसंयमः । ध्यानं विद्या समुत्थानं संतोषश्च श्रियं प्रति । तथा ह्येकान्तशीलत्वं तुष्टिर्दानं च शक्तितः ॥

tapo yajñastathā vidyā bhaikṣyamindriyasaṃyamaḥ | dhyānaṃ vidyā samutthānaṃ saṃtoṣaśca śriyaṃ prati | tathā hyekāntaśīlatvaṃ tuṣṭirdānaṃ ca śaktitaḥ

Austerity, sacrifice and learning, living on alms, restraint of the senses, meditation, study and exertion, contentment where wealth is concerned, a disposition to solitude, satisfaction, and giving as far as one is able.

Note on the text: Three lines. The critical edition (12.23.8) has two lines: line 1 is a variant of 8a and line 3 a variant of 8c; the middle line (ध्यानं विद्या समुत्थानं संतोषश्च श्रियं प्रति) is not in the critical edition (vulgate only). The input had no alignment; the passage was in the unmatched list.

Verse 9 (12.23.9)

ब्राह्मणानां महाराज चेष्टा संसिद्धिकारिका । क्षत्रियाणां तु वक्ष्यामि तवापि विदितं पुनः ॥

brāhmaṇānāṃ mahārāja ceṣṭā saṃsiddhikārikā | kṣatriyāṇāṃ tu vakṣyāmi tavāpi viditaṃ punaḥ

These are the endeavours of brahmins, great king, that bring perfection. Now I shall speak of those of kshatriyas, though you know them too.

Verse 10 (12.23.10)

यज्ञो विद्या समुत्थानमसंतोषः श्रियं प्रति । दण्डधारणमुग्रत्वं प्रजानां परिपालनम् ॥

yajño vidyā samutthānamasaṃtoṣaḥ śriyaṃ prati | daṇḍadhāraṇamugratvaṃ prajānāṃ paripālanam

Sacrifice, learning, exertion, ambition where wealth is concerned, wielding the rod of punishment, fierceness, and protecting the subjects.

Verse 11 (12.23.11)

वेदज्ञानं तथा कृत्स्नं तपः सुचरितं तथा । द्रविणोपार्जनं भूरि पात्रे च प्रतिपादनम् ॥

vedajñānaṃ tathā kṛtsnaṃ tapaḥ sucaritaṃ tathā | draviṇopārjanaṃ bhūri pātre ca pratipādanam

Full knowledge of the Vedas, austerity well practised, the winning of abundant wealth, and giving it to worthy recipients.

Verse 12 (12.23.12)

एतानि राज्ञां कर्माणि सुकृतानि विशांपते । इमं लोकममुं चैव साधयन्तीति नः श्रुतम् ॥

etāni rājñāṃ karmāṇi sukṛtāni viśāṃpate | imaṃ lokamamuṃ caiva sādhayantīti naḥ śrutam

These are the well-done works of kings, lord of the people. We have heard that by them they win this world and the next.

Verse 13 (12.23.13)

एषां ज्यायस्तु कौन्तेय दण्डधारणमुच्यते । बलं हि क्षत्रिये नित्यं बले दण्डः समाहितः ॥

eṣāṃ jyāyastu kaunteya daṇḍadhāraṇamucyate | balaṃ hi kṣatriye nityaṃ bale daṇḍaḥ samāhitaḥ

Of these, son of Kunti, the wielding of the rod is called the greatest. For strength always belongs to the kshatriya, and punishment rests upon strength.

Verse 14 (12.23.14)

एताश्चेष्टाः क्षत्रियाणां राजन्संसिद्धिकारिकाः । अपि गाथामिमां चापि बृहस्पतिरगायत ॥

etāśceṣṭāḥ kṣatriyāṇāṃ rājansaṃsiddhikārikāḥ | api gāthāmimāṃ cāpi bṛhaspatiragāyata

These, O king, are the endeavours of kshatriyas that bring perfection. Brihaspati also sang this verse.

Verse 15 (12.23.15)

भूमिरेतौ निगिरति सर्पो बिलशयानिव । राजानं चाविरोद्धारं ब्राह्मणं चाप्रवासिनम् ॥

bhūmiretau nigirati sarpo bilaśayāniva | rājānaṃ cāviroddhāraṃ brāhmaṇaṃ cāpravāsinam

The earth swallows these two, a king who does not resist and a brahmin who does not travel abroad, as a snake swallows creatures that lie in burrows.

Verse 16 (12.23.16)

सुद्युम्नश्चापि राजर्षिः श्रूयते दण्डधारणात् । प्राप्तवान्परमां सिद्धिं दक्षः प्राचेतसो यथा ॥

sudyumnaścāpi rājarṣiḥ śrūyate daṇḍadhāraṇāt | prāptavānparamāṃ siddhiṃ dakṣaḥ prācetaso yathā

It is also heard that the royal sage Sudyumna, by wielding the rod, reached the highest perfection, like Daksha, son of Prachetas.

Verse 17 (12.23.17)

भगवन्कर्मणा केन सुद्युम्नो वसुधाधिपः । संसिद्धिं परमां प्राप्तः श्रोतुमिच्छामि तं नृपम् ॥

bhagavankarmaṇā kena sudyumno vasudhādhipaḥ | saṃsiddhiṃ paramāṃ prāptaḥ śrotumicchāmi taṃ nṛpam

Venerable one, by what deed did Sudyumna, lord of the earth, reach the highest perfection? I wish to hear about that king.

Verse 18 (12.23.18)

अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् । शङ्खश्च लिखितश्चास्तां भ्रातरौ संशितव्रतौ ॥

atrāpyudāharantīmamitihāsaṃ purātanam | śaṅkhaśca likhitaścāstāṃ bhrātarau saṃśitavratau

On this they also cite an ancient tale. There were two brothers, Shankha and Likhita, firm in their vows.

Verse 19 (12.23.19)

तयोरावसथावास्तां रमणीयौ पृथक्पृथक् । नित्यपुष्पफलैर्वृक्षैरुपेतौ बाहुदामनु ॥

tayorāvasathāvāstāṃ ramaṇīyau pṛthakpṛthak | nityapuṣpaphalairvṛkṣairupetau bāhudāmanu

Their two hermitages, each lovely, stood apart from one another along the river Bahuda, filled with trees that bore flowers and fruit all year.

Verse 20 (12.23.20)

ततः कदाचिल्लिखितः शङ्खस्याश्रममागतः । यदृच्छयाऽथ शङ्खोपि निष्क्रान्तोऽभवदाश्रमात् ॥

tataḥ kadācillikhitaḥ śaṅkhasyāśramamāgataḥ | yadṛcchayā'tha śaṅkhopi niṣkrānto'bhavadāśramāt

Then one day Likhita came to Shankha's hermitage, and Shankha, as it chanced, had gone out of the hermitage.

Verse 21 (12.23.21)

सोऽभिगम्याश्रमं भ्रातुश्चंक्रमँल्लिखितस्तदा । फलानि शातयामास सम्यक्परिणतान्युत ॥

so'bhigamyāśramaṃ bhrātuścaṃkramam̐llikhitastadā | phalāni śātayāmāsa samyakpariṇatānyuta

Entering his brother's hermitage, Likhita walked about and shook down fruits that were fully ripe.

Verse 22 (12.23.22)

तान्युपादाय विस्रब्धो भक्षयामास स द्विजः । तस्मिंश्च भक्षयत्येव शङ्खोऽप्याश्रममागतः ॥

tānyupādāya visrabdho bhakṣayāmāsa sa dvijaḥ | tasmiṃśca bhakṣayatyeva śaṅkho'pyāśramamāgataḥ

Taking them up, the brahmin ate them without misgiving; and while he was still eating, Shankha too returned to the hermitage.

Verse 23 (12.23.23)

भक्षयन्तं तु तं दृष्ट्वा शङ्खो भ्रातरमब्रवीत् । कुतः फलान्यवाप्तानि हेतुना केन खादसि ॥

bhakṣayantaṃ tu taṃ dṛṣṭvā śaṅkho bhrātaramabravīt | kutaḥ phalānyavāptāni hetunā kena khādasi

Seeing him eating, Shankha said to his brother, “Where did you get these fruits? For what reason are you eating them?”

Verse 24 (12.23.24)

सोऽब्रवीद्धातरं ज्येष्ठमुपसृत्याभिवाद्य च । इत एव गृहीतानि मयेति प्रहसन्निव ॥

so'bravīddhātaraṃ jyeṣṭhamupasṛtyābhivādya ca | ita eva gṛhītāni mayeti prahasanniva

Likhita came up to his elder brother, bowed to him, and said, as if laughing, “I took them from right here.”

Verse 25 (12.23.25)

तमब्रवीत्तथा शङ्खस्तीव्ररोषसमन्वितः । स्तेयं त्वया कृतमिदं फलान्याददता स्वयम् ॥

tamabravīttathā śaṅkhastīvraroṣasamanvitaḥ | steyaṃ tvayā kṛtamidaṃ phalānyādadatā svayam

Then Shankha, filled with fierce anger, said to him, “You have committed theft, taking the fruits yourself.”

Note on the text: Corrected तमब्रतीत् → तमब्रवीत् (misprint in Wikisource; broken conjunct; the critical edition reads tam abravīt). Lines 1–2 are 12.24.9a, 9c; the critical edition's three-line verse 12.24.9 continues with 9e, which Wikisource opens the next verse with.

Verse 26 (12.23.26)

गच्छ राजानमासाद्य स्वकर्म कथयस्व वै । अदत्तादानमेवं हि कृतं पार्थिवसत्तम ॥

gaccha rājānamāsādya svakarma kathayasva vai | adattādānamevaṃ hi kṛtaṃ pārthivasattama

“Go to the king and tell him what you have done: ‘O best of kings, I have taken what was not given.’

Note on the text: Speaker: Shankha (a whole verse of his direct speech; the previous verse introduces him; the page prints no heading; the input had Vyasa). Line 1 is 12.24.9e (a variant: the critical edition has prathayasva for कथयस्व); line 2 is 12.24.10a. The critical edition has two star lines after 12.24.9 (12.24.9f*0028, likhito 'tha tadā gatvā…), which Wikisource lacks.

Verse 27 (12.23.27)

स्तेनं मां त्वं विदित्वा च स्वधर्ममनुपालय । शीघ्रं धारय चोरस्य मम दण्डं नराधिप ॥

stenaṃ māṃ tvaṃ viditvā ca svadharmamanupālaya | śīghraṃ dhāraya corasya mama daṇḍaṃ narādhipa

Knowing me to be a thief, uphold your own dharma, and quickly, lord of men, inflict on me, the thief, the punishment.”

Note on the text: Speaker: Shankha (continuing his speech; the page prints no heading; the input had Vyasa). Lines are 12.24.10c, 10e.

Verse 28 (12.23.28)

इत्युक्तस्तस्य वचनात्सुद्युम्नं स नराधिपम् । अभ्यगच्छन्महाबाहो लिखितः संशितव्रतः ॥

ityuktastasya vacanātsudyumnaṃ sa narādhipam | abhyagacchanmahābāho likhitaḥ saṃśitavrataḥ

Told this, O mighty-armed one, Likhita, firm in his vows, went at his brother's word to that king, Sudyumna.

Note on the text: Corrected सुद्युम्न → सुद्युम्नं (misprint in Wikisource; dropped anusvara — the word is the object of अभ्यगच्छन्, and the critical edition reads sudyumnaṃ vasudhādhipam).

Verse 29 (12.23.29)

सुद्युम्नस्त्वन्तपालेभ्यः श्रुत्वा लिखितमागतम् । अभ्यगच्छत्सहामात्यः पद्भ्यामेव जनेश्वरः ॥

sudyumnastvantapālebhyaḥ śrutvā likhitamāgatam | abhyagacchatsahāmātyaḥ padbhyāmeva janeśvaraḥ

Hearing from the frontier guards that Likhita had come, Sudyumna went out on foot, with his ministers, to meet him.

Verse 30 (12.23.30)

तमब्रवीत्समागम्य स राजा धर्मवित्तमम् । किमागमनमाचक्ष्व भगवन्कृतमेव तत् ॥

tamabravītsamāgamya sa rājā dharmavittamam | kimāgamanamācakṣva bhagavankṛtameva tat

Meeting him, the king said to that best of the knowers of dharma, “Tell me why you have come, venerable sir. Consider it done.”

Verse 31 (12.23.31)

एवमुक्तः स विप्रर्षिः सुद्युम्नमिदमब्रवीत् । प्रतिश्रुत्य करिष्येति श्रुत्वा तत्कर्तुमर्हसि ॥

evamuktaḥ sa viprarṣiḥ sudyumnamidamabravīt | pratiśrutya kariṣyeti śrutvā tatkartumarhasi

Thus addressed, the brahmin sage said to Sudyumna, “Promise that you will do it, and once you have heard, you must do it.

Verse 32 (12.23.32)

अनिसृष्टानि गुरुणा फलानि मनुजर्षभ । भक्षितानि महाराज तत्र मां शाधि माचिरम् ॥

anisṛṣṭāni guruṇā phalāni manujarṣabha | bhakṣitāni mahārāja tatra māṃ śādhi māciram

O best of men, I ate fruits that my elder brother had not given me. For that, great king, punish me without delay.”

Note on the text: Speaker: Likhita (a whole verse of his direct speech; the previous verse introduces it; the page prints no heading; the input had Vyasa).

Verse 33 (12.23.33)

प्रमाणं चेन्मतो राजा भवतो दण्डधारणे । अनुज्ञायामपि तथा हेतुः स्याद्ब्राह्मणर्षभ ॥

pramāṇaṃ cenmato rājā bhavato daṇḍadhāraṇe | anujñāyāmapi tathā hetuḥ syādbrāhmaṇarṣabha

If you hold the king to be the authority in imposing punishment, then, best of brahmins, he should be the ground in granting pardon as well.

Verse 34 (12.23.34)

स भवानभ्यनुज्ञातः शुचिकर्मा महाव्रतः । ब्रूहि कामानतोऽन्यांस्त्वं करिष्यामि हि ते वचः ॥

sa bhavānabhyanujñātaḥ śucikarmā mahāvrataḥ | brūhi kāmānato'nyāṃstvaṃ kariṣyāmi hi te vacaḥ

So you are now pardoned, pure in deed and great in your vows. Ask for any other boon besides this, and I shall do what you say.”

Verse 35 (12.23.35)

संछन्द्यमानो ब्रह्मर्षिः पार्थिवेन महात्मना । नान्यं स वरयामास तस्माद्दण्डादृते वरम् ॥

saṃchandyamāno brahmarṣiḥ pārthivena mahātmanā | nānyaṃ sa varayāmāsa tasmāddaṇḍādṛte varam

Though the great-souled king pressed him in this way, the brahmin sage chose no boon other than punishment.

Verse 36 (12.23.36)

ततः स पृथिवीपालो लिखितस्य महात्मनः । करौ प्रच्छेदयामास धृतदण्डो जगाम सः ॥

tataḥ sa pṛthivīpālo likhitasya mahātmanaḥ | karau pracchedayāmāsa dhṛtadaṇḍo jagāma saḥ

Then the king had the hands of the great-souled Likhita cut off, and Likhita, having received his punishment, went away.

Verse 37 (12.23.37)

स गत्वा भ्रातरं शङ्खमार्तरूपोऽब्रवीदिदम् । धृतदण्डस्य दुर्बुद्धेर्भवांस्तत्क्षन्तुमर्हति ॥

sa gatvā bhrātaraṃ śaṅkhamārtarūpo'bravīdidam | dhṛtadaṇḍasya durbuddherbhavāṃstatkṣantumarhati

He went to his brother Shankha and, in distress, said this: “You ought to forgive me, ill-minded as I was, now that I have borne my punishment.”

Verse 38 (12.23.38)

न कुप्ये तव धर्मज्ञ न त्वं दूषयसे मम । सुनिर्मलं कुलं ब्रह्मन्नस्मिञ्जगति विश्रुतम् । धर्मस्तु ते व्यतिक्रान्तस्ततस्ते निष्कृतिः कृता ॥

na kupye tava dharmajña na tvaṃ dūṣayase mama | sunirmalaṃ kulaṃ brahmannasmiñjagati viśrutam | dharmastu te vyatikrāntastataste niṣkṛtiḥ kṛtā

“I am not angry with you, knower of dharma, nor do you wrong me. Your family, brahmin, is utterly spotless and famed in this world. But you transgressed dharma, and so your atonement has been made.

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki marks (backticks, quote marks and a doubled danda) from line 2. Three lines: lines 1 and 3 are 12.24.21a (a variant: the critical edition has च for त्वं) and 21c; line 2 is the star line 12.24.21b*0029_01, which is in the critical edition's apparatus only.

Verse 39 (12.23.39)

त्वं गत्वा बाहुदां शीघ्रं तर्पयस्व यथाविधि । देवानृषीन्पितृंश्चैव मा चाधर्मे मनः कृथाः ॥

tvaṃ gatvā bāhudāṃ śīghraṃ tarpayasva yathāvidhi | devānṛṣīnpitṛṃścaiva mā cādharme manaḥ kṛthāḥ

Go quickly to the Bahuda and make offerings of water, as is proper, to the gods, the sages and the ancestors; and do not set your mind on unrighteousness.

Note on the text: Lines are 12.24.22a, 22c (line 1 a variant: the critical edition begins sa gatvā).

Verse 40 (12.23.40)

ब्रह्महत्यां सुरापानं स्तेयं गुर्वङ्गनागमम् । महान्ति पातकान्याहुः संयोगं चैव तैः सह ॥

brahmahatyāṃ surāpānaṃ steyaṃ gurvaṅganāgamam | mahānti pātakānyāhuḥ saṃyogaṃ caiva taiḥ saha

Killing a brahmin, drinking liquor, theft, and union with a guru's wife: these are called the great sins, and so is keeping company with those who commit them.

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki marks (backticks, quote marks and a doubled danda) from line 1. Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it as the star passage 12.24.22d*0030 (lines 01–02).

Verse 41 (12.23.41)

न स्तेयसदृशं ब्रह्मन्महापातकमस्ति हि । जगत्यस्मिन्महाभाग ब्रह्महत्यासमं हि तत् ॥

na steyasadṛśaṃ brahmanmahāpātakamasti hi | jagatyasminmahābhāga brahmahatyāsamaṃ hi tat

In this world, brahmin, there is no great sin like theft, for theft is equal to the killing of a brahmin, O greatly fortunate one.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it as the star passage 12.24.22d*0030 (lines 03–04).

Verse 42 (12.23.42)

सर्वपातकिनां ब्रह्मन्दण्डः शारीर उच्यते । तस्करस्य विशेषेण नान्यो दण्डो विधीयते ॥

sarvapātakināṃ brahmandaṇḍaḥ śārīra ucyate | taskarasya viśeṣeṇa nānyo daṇḍo vidhīyate

For all sinners, brahmin, bodily punishment is prescribed; for the thief especially, no other punishment is ordained.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it as the star passage 12.24.22d*0030 (lines 05–06).

Verse 43 (12.23.43)

ब्राह्मणः क्षत्रियो वाऽपि वैश्यः शूद्रोऽथवा द्विज । सर्वे कामकृते पापे हन्तव्या न विचारणा ॥

brāhmaṇaḥ kṣatriyo vā'pi vaiśyaḥ śūdro'thavā dvija | sarve kāmakṛte pāpe hantavyā na vicāraṇā

Whether a brahmin, a kshatriya, a vaishya or a shudra, twice-born one, all who commit a sin deliberately are to be put to death; there is no question of it.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it as the star passage 12.24.22d*0030 (lines 07–08).

Verse 44 (12.23.44)

राजभिर्धृतदण्डा वै कृत्वा पापानि मानवाः । निर्मलाः स्वर्गमायान्ति सन्तः सुकृतिनो यथा ॥

rājabhirdhṛtadaṇḍā vai kṛtvā pāpāni mānavāḥ | nirmalāḥ svargamāyānti santaḥ sukṛtino yathā

Men who commit sins and are punished by kings go cleansed to heaven, like good men of good deeds.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it as the star passage 12.24.22d*0030 (lines 09–10).

Verse 45 (12.23.45)

उद्धृतं नः कुलं ब्रह्मन्नाज्ञादण्डे धृते त्वयि ॥

uddhṛtaṃ naḥ kulaṃ brahmannājñādaṇḍe dhṛte tvayi

Our family has been raised up, brahmin, now that you have borne the punishment imposed by command.”

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki marks (a doubled danda and a quote mark) at the end of the line. A single line, as printed (the page labels it 12-23-45a only); it is the whole of the critical edition's star line 12.24.22d*0030_11, with the reading ब्रह्मन्नाज्ञादण्डे धृते त्वयि where the critical edition has rājñā daṇḍe dhṛte tvayi (a recension variant). Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 46 (12.23.46)

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा शङ्खस्य लिखितस्तदा । अवगाह्यापगां पुण्यामुदकार्थं प्रचक्रमे ॥

tasya tadvacanaṃ śrutvā śaṅkhasya likhitastadā | avagāhyāpagāṃ puṇyāmudakārthaṃ pracakrame

Hearing those words of Shankha, Likhita then entered the sacred river and began to offer the water.

Note on the text: Speaker: Vyasa (narration; the page's next heading is Likhita's at verse 49; the input had Shankha carried over).

Verse 47 (12.23.47)

प्रादुरास्तां ततस्तस्य करौ जलजसन्निभौ । ततः स विस्मितो भ्रातुर्दर्शयामास तौ करौ ॥

prādurāstāṃ tatastasya karau jalajasannibhau | tataḥ sa vismito bhrāturdarśayāmāsa tau karau

Then two hands like lotuses appeared on him, and, astonished, he showed the two hands to his brother.

Note on the text: Speaker: Vyasa (narration; the input had Shankha carried over).

Verse 48 (12.23.48)

ततस्तमब्रवीच्छङ्खस्तपसेदं कृतं मया । मा च तेऽत्र विशङ्का भूद्दैवमत्र विधीयते ॥

tatastamabravīcchaṅkhastapasedaṃ kṛtaṃ mayā | mā ca te'tra viśaṅkā bhūddaivamatra vidhīyate

Then Shankha said to him, “This was done by me through austerity. Let there be no doubt in you about it; here it is fate that is at work.”

Note on the text: Corrected तेऽव → तेऽत्र (misprint in Wikisource; the conjunct त्र lost its त; the critical edition reads te 'tra). Speaker: Vyasa (the first half-line is narration; the input had Shankha carried over).

Verse 49 (12.23.49)

किंतु नाहं त्वया पूतः पूर्वमेव महाद्युते । यस्य ते तपसो वीर्यमीदृशं द्विजसत्तम ॥

kiṃtu nāhaṃ tvayā pūtaḥ pūrvameva mahādyute | yasya te tapaso vīryamīdṛśaṃ dvijasattama

“Why was I not purified by you in the first place, O greatly radiant one, you whose austerity has such power, best of the twice-born?”

Verse 50 (12.23.50)

एवमेतन्मया कार्यं नाहं दण्डधरस्तव । स च पूतो नरपतिस्त्वं चापि पितृभिः सह ॥

evametanmayā kāryaṃ nāhaṃ daṇḍadharastava | sa ca pūto narapatistvaṃ cāpi pitṛbhiḥ saha

“It had to be done this way by me; I am not the one who wields the rod over you. That king has been purified, and so have you, together with our ancestors.”

Verse 51 (12.23.51)

स राजा पाण्डवश्रेष्ठ श्रेयान्वै तेन कर्मणा । प्राप्तवान्परमां सिद्धिं दक्षः प्राचेतसो यथा ॥

sa rājā pāṇḍavaśreṣṭha śreyānvai tena karmaṇā | prāptavānparamāṃ siddhiṃ dakṣaḥ prācetaso yathā

By that deed, best of the Pandavas, that king became greater still and reached the highest perfection, like Daksha, son of Prachetas.

Verse 52 (12.23.52)

एष धर्मः क्षत्रियाणां प्रजानां परिपालनम् । उत्पथेभ्यो महाराज मा स्म शोके मनः कृथाः ॥

eṣa dharmaḥ kṣatriyāṇāṃ prajānāṃ paripālanam | utpathebhyo mahārāja mā sma śoke manaḥ kṛthāḥ

This is the dharma of kshatriyas: to protect the subjects from straying onto wrong paths. Great king, do not turn your mind to grief.

Verse 53 (12.23.53)

भ्रातुरस्य हितं वाक्यं शृणु धर्मज्ञसत्तम । दण्ड एव हि राजेन्द्र क्षत्रधर्मो न मुण्डनम् ॥

bhrāturasya hitaṃ vākyaṃ śṛṇu dharmajñasattama | daṇḍa eva hi rājendra kṣatradharmo na muṇḍanam

Listen, best of the knowers of dharma, to this beneficial word of your brother. Punishment alone, king of kings, is the kshatriya's dharma, and not the shaving of the head.