Shuka Journeys to King Janaka

Verse 1 (12.333.1)

स मोक्षमनुचिन्त्यैव शुकः पितरमभ्यगात् । प्राहाभिवाद्य च गुरुं श्रेयोर्थी विनयान्वितः ॥

sa mokṣamanucintyaiva śukaḥ pitaramabhyagāt | prāhābhivādya ca guruṃ śreyorthī vinayānvitaḥ

Reflecting only on liberation, Shuka went to his father, and after bowing to him, the seeker of the highest good, full of humility, said to his guru:

Verse 2 (12.333.2)

मोक्षधर्मेषु कुशलो भगवान्प्रब्रवीतु मे । यथा मे मनसः शान्तिः परमा संभवेत्प्रभो ॥

mokṣadharmeṣu kuśalo bhagavānprabravītu me | yathā me manasaḥ śāntiḥ paramā saṃbhavetprabho

"Revered sir, you are skilled in the dharmas of liberation; please teach me, so that supreme peace of mind may come to me, O lord."

Verse 3 (12.333.3)

श्रुत्वा पुत्रस्य तु वचः परमर्षिरुवाच तम् । अधीहि पुत्र मोक्षं वै धर्मांश्च विविधानपि ॥

śrutvā putrasya tu vacaḥ paramarṣiruvāca tam | adhīhi putra mokṣaṃ vai dharmāṃśca vividhānapi

Hearing his son's words, the supreme sage said to him: "Study, my son, liberation and the many kinds of dharma too."

Verse 4 (12.333.4)

पितुर्नियोगाज्जग्राह शुको धर्मभृतां वरः । योगशास्त्रं च निखिलं कापिलं चैव भारत ॥

piturniyogājjagrāha śuko dharmabhṛtāṃ varaḥ | yogaśāstraṃ ca nikhilaṃ kāpilaṃ caiva bhārata

At his father's command Shuka, best of those who uphold dharma, mastered the whole science of yoga and also the system of Kapila, O Bharata.

Verse 5 (12.333.5)

स तं ब्राह्म्या श्रिया युक्तं ब्रह्मतुल्यपराक्रमम् । मेने पुत्रं यदा व्यासो मोक्षधर्मविशारदम् ॥

sa taṃ brāhmyā śriyā yuktaṃ brahmatulyaparākramam | mene putraṃ yadā vyāso mokṣadharmaviśāradam

When Vyasa judged his son to be endowed with the glory of Brahman, equal to Brahma in prowess, and skilled in the dharma of liberation,

Note on the text: Corrected ब्राह्नया → ब्राह्म्या and श्रियः → श्रिया (misprints in Wikisource; CE brāhmyā śriyā). मोक्षधर्मविशारदम् is a recension variant of CE mokṣavidyāviśāradam, kept.

Verse 6 (12.333.6)

उवाच गच्छेति तदा जनकं मिथिलेश्वरम् । स ते वक्ष्यति मोक्षार्थं निखिलं मिथिलेश्वरः ॥

uvāca gaccheti tadā janakaṃ mithileśvaram | sa te vakṣyati mokṣārthaṃ nikhilaṃ mithileśvaraḥ

he told him, "Go to Janaka, the lord of Mithila; the lord of Mithila will tell you everything about liberation."

Verse 7 (12.333.7)

पितुर्नियोगादगमन्मैथिलं जनकं नृपम् । प्रष्टुं धर्मस्य निष्ठां वै मोक्षस्य च परायणम् ॥

piturniyogādagamanmaithilaṃ janakaṃ nṛpam | praṣṭuṃ dharmasya niṣṭhāṃ vai mokṣasya ca parāyaṇam

At his father's command he went to Janaka, the king of Mithila, to ask about the final ground of dharma and the supreme refuge of liberation.

Verse 8 (12.333.8)

उक्तश्च मानुषेण त्वं पथा गच्छेत्यविस्मितः । न प्रभावेण गन्तव्यमन्तरिक्षचरेण वै ॥

uktaśca mānuṣeṇa tvaṃ pathā gacchetyavismitaḥ | na prabhāveṇa gantavyamantarikṣacareṇa vai

He had been told: "Go by the way of men, without pride; you must not go by your power, moving through the sky."

Verse 9 (12.333.9)

आर्जवेनैव गन्तव्यं न सुखान्वेषिणा तथा । नान्वेष्टव्या विशेषास्तु विशेषा हि प्रसङ्गिनः ॥

ārjavenaiva gantavyaṃ na sukhānveṣiṇā tathā | nānveṣṭavyā viśeṣāstu viśeṣā hi prasaṅginaḥ

"You must go in simplicity, not as one seeking comfort. Do not look for special treatment, for special treatment belongs to those who cling."

Verse 10 (12.333.10)

अहंकारो न कर्तव्यो याज्ये तस्मिन्नराधिपे । स्थातव्यं च वशे तस्य स ते छेत्स्यति संशयम् ॥

ahaṃkāro na kartavyo yājye tasminnarādhipe | sthātavyaṃ ca vaśe tasya sa te chetsyati saṃśayam

"Show no pride toward that king, my patron; stay under his direction. He will cut away your doubt."

Note on the text: Corrected स्यातव्यं → स्थातव्यं (misprint in Wikisource; CE sthātavyaṃ).

Verse 11 (12.333.11)

स धर्मकुशलो राजा मोक्षशास्त्रविशारदः । याज्यो मम स यद्ब्रूयात्तत्कार्यमविशङ्कया ॥

sa dharmakuśalo rājā mokṣaśāstraviśāradaḥ | yājyo mama sa yadbrūyāttatkāryamaviśaṅkayā

"That king is skilled in dharma and versed in the science of liberation; he is my patron. Whatever he tells you, do it without hesitation."

Verse 12 (12.333.12)

एवमुक्तः स धर्मात्मा जगाम मिथिलां मुनिः । पद्भ्यां शक्तोऽन्तरिक्षेण क्रान्तुं पृथ्वीं ससागराम् ॥

evamuktaḥ sa dharmātmā jagāma mithilāṃ muniḥ | padbhyāṃ śakto'ntarikṣeṇa krāntuṃ pṛthvīṃ sasāgarām

Told this, the righteous sage set out for Mithila on foot, though he was able to cross the earth with its oceans through the sky.

Note on the text: Corrected शक्तोन्तरिक्षेण → शक्तोऽन्तरिक्षेण (missing avagraha in Wikisource; CE śakto 'ntarikṣeṇa).

Verse 13 (12.333.13)

स गिरींश्चाप्यतिक्रम्य नदीतीर्थसरांसि च । बहुव्यालमृगाकीर्णा ह्यटवीश्च वनानि च ॥

sa girīṃścāpyatikramya nadītīrthasarāṃsi ca | bahuvyālamṛgākīrṇā hyaṭavīśca vanāni ca

He crossed mountains, river crossings and lakes, and the wild tracts and forests thick with many beasts of prey and snakes.

Verse 14 (12.333.14)

मेरोर्हरेश्च द्वे वर्षे वर्षं हैमवतं ततः । क्रमेणैवं व्यतिक्रम्य भारतं वर्षमासदत् ॥

merorhareśca dve varṣe varṣaṃ haimavataṃ tataḥ | krameṇaivaṃ vyatikramya bhārataṃ varṣamāsadat

Crossing in order the two regions of Meru and of Hari, and then the region of Haimavata, he came to the land of Bharata.

Note on the text: Corrected मेहोर्हरेश्च → मेरोर्हरेश्च (misprint in Wikisource; CE meror hareś ca).

Verse 15 (12.333.15)

स देशान्विविधान्पश्यंश्चीनहूणनिषेवितान् । आर्यावर्तमिमं देशमाजगाम महामुनिः ॥

sa deśānvividhānpaśyaṃścīnahūṇaniṣevitān | āryāvartamimaṃ deśamājagāma mahāmuniḥ

Seeing many lands, some inhabited by Chinas and Hunas, the great sage came to this country of Aryavarta.

Verse 16 (12.333.16)

पितुर्वचनमाज्ञाय तमेवार्थं विचिन्तयन् । अध्वानं सोऽतिचक्राम खचरः खे पतन्निव ॥

piturvacanamājñāya tamevārthaṃ vicintayan | adhvānaṃ so'ticakrāma khacaraḥ khe patanniva

Heeding his father's word and thinking only of that purpose, he went along the road as swiftly as a sky-farer flying through the air.

Note on the text: Corrected पतविव → पतन्निव (misprint in Wikisource; broken conjunct, smallest fix to the evident word; CE has the different reading खे चरन्निव).

Verse 17 (12.333.17)

पत्तनानि च रम्याणि स्फीतानि नगराणि च । रत्नानि च विचित्राणि पश्यन्नपि न पश्यति ॥

pattanāni ca ramyāṇi sphītāni nagarāṇi ca | ratnāni ca vicitrāṇi paśyannapi na paśyati

He saw lovely towns, prosperous cities and wondrous jewels, yet seeing them, he did not see.

Verse 18 (12.333.18)

उद्यानानि च रम्याणि तथैवायतनानि च । पुण्यानि चैव तीर्थानि सोऽत्यक्रामदथाध्वगः ॥

udyānāni ca ramyāṇi tathaivāyatanāni ca | puṇyāni caiva tīrthāni so'tyakrāmadathādhvagaḥ

Delightful gardens, shrines and holy fords he passed as he went along the road.

Note on the text: Corrected उद्यावानि → उद्यानानि (misprint in Wikisource; CE udyānāni) and सोत्यक्रामदथाध्वगः → सोऽत्यक्रामदथाध्वगः (missing avagraha). The second line is a recension variant of CE so 'tikramya tathādhvanaḥ, kept.

Verse 19 (12.333.19)

सोचिरेणैव कालेन विदेहानाससाद ह । रक्षितान्धर्मराजेन जनकेन महात्मना ॥

socireṇaiva kālena videhānāsasāda ha | rakṣitāndharmarājena janakena mahātmanā

In no long time he reached the Videhas, protected by the righteous king Janaka, the great soul.

Verse 20 (12.333.20)

तत्र ग्रामान्बहून्पश्यन्बह्वन्नरसभोजनान् । पल्लीघोषान्समृद्धांश्च बहुगोकुलसंकुलान् ॥

tatra grāmānbahūnpaśyanbahvannarasabhojanān | pallīghoṣānsamṛddhāṃśca bahugokulasaṃkulān

There he saw many villages with plentiful food and savoury dishes, and prosperous herdsmen's settlements crowded with herds of cows.

Verse 21 (12.333.21)

स्फीतांश्च शालियवसैर्हंससारससेवितान् । पद्मिनीभिश्च शतशः श्रीमतीभिरलकृतान् ॥

sphītāṃśca śāliyavasairhaṃsasārasasevitān | padminībhiśca śataśaḥ śrīmatībhiralakṛtān

They were flourishing, rich in rice, barley and fodder, visited by swans and sarasa cranes, and adorned with hundreds of lovely lotus ponds.

Note on the text: Corrected शालियवसर्हंस → शालियवसैर्हंस (misprint in Wikisource; broken vowel sign, CE śāliyavasair haṃsa-).

Verse 22 (12.333.22)

स विदेहानतिक्रम्य समृद्धजनसेवितान् । मिथिलोपवनं रम्यमाससाद समृद्धिमत् ॥

sa videhānatikramya samṛddhajanasevitān | mithilopavanaṃ ramyamāsasāda samṛddhimat

Passing through Videha with its prosperous people, he reached the delightful and flourishing grove of Mithila.

Verse 23 (12.333.23)

हस्त्यश्वरथसंकीर्णं नरनारीसमाकुलम् । पश्यन्नपश्यन्निव तत्समतिक्रामदच्युतः ॥

hastyaśvarathasaṃkīrṇaṃ naranārīsamākulam | paśyannapaśyanniva tatsamatikrāmadacyutaḥ

Crowded with elephants, horses and chariots and thronged with men and women, that grove the unfallen one passed by, seeing it as though not seeing.

Verse 24 (12.333.24)

मनसा तं वहन्भारं तमेवार्थं विचिन्तयन् । आत्मारामः प्रसन्नात्मा मिथिलामाससाद ह ॥

manasā taṃ vahanbhāraṃ tamevārthaṃ vicintayan | ātmārāmaḥ prasannātmā mithilāmāsasāda ha

Bearing that burden in his mind and thinking only of that same purpose, delighting in the Self and serene in spirit, he came to Mithila.

Note on the text: Corrected बहन्भारं → वहन्भारं (misprint in Wikisource; ba for va, CE vahan bhāraṃ).

Verse 25 (12.333.25)

तस्या द्वारं समासाद्य द्वारपालैर्निवारितः । स्थितो ध्यानपरो मुक्तो विदितः प्रविवेश ह ॥

tasyā dvāraṃ samāsādya dvārapālairnivāritaḥ | sthito dhyānaparo mukto viditaḥ praviveśa ha

Reaching its gate, he was stopped by the gatekeepers. He stood absorbed in meditation, free of attachment, and when he had been announced, he went in.

Verse 26 (12.333.26)

स राजमार्गमासाद्य समृद्धजनसंकुलम् । पार्थिवक्षयमासाद्य निःशङ्कः प्रविवेश ह ॥

sa rājamārgamāsādya samṛddhajanasaṃkulam | pārthivakṣayamāsādya niḥśaṅkaḥ praviveśa ha

Reaching the royal road, thronged with a prosperous crowd, he entered the king's dwelling without fear.

Note on the text: Corrected समृद्धजनकसंकुलम् → समृद्धजनसंकुलम् (misprint in Wikisource; stray क, CE samṛddhajanasaṃkulam).

Verse 27 (12.333.27)

तत्रापि द्वारपालास्तमुग्रवाचा न्यषेधयन् । तथैव च शुकस्तत्र निर्मन्युः समतिष्ठत ॥

tatrāpi dvārapālāstamugravācā nyaṣedhayan | tathaiva ca śukastatra nirmanyuḥ samatiṣṭhata

There too the gatekeepers stopped him with harsh words, and Shuka stood there without anger.

Note on the text: Corrected द्वारपलास्तमुग्रवाचा → द्वारपालास्तमुग्रवाचा and शुक्रस्तत्र → शुकस्तत्र (misprints in Wikisource; CE dvārapālās, śukas).

Verse 28 (12.333.28)

न चातपाध्वसंतप्तः क्षुत्पिपासाश्रमान्वितः । प्रताम्यति ग्लायति वा नापैति च तथाऽऽतपात् ॥

na cātapādhvasaṃtaptaḥ kṣutpipāsāśramānvitaḥ | pratāmyati glāyati vā nāpaiti ca tathā''tapāt

Neither the heat of the road nor hunger, thirst and weariness wore him down; he did not droop or tire, nor did he step out of the sun.

Verse 29 (12.333.29)

तेषां तु द्वारपालानामेकः शोकसमन्वितः । मध्यंगतमिवादित्यं दृष्ट्वा शुकमवस्थितम् ॥

teṣāṃ tu dvārapālānāmekaḥ śokasamanvitaḥ | madhyaṃgatamivādityaṃ dṛṣṭvā śukamavasthitam

One of those gatekeepers, troubled at heart, seeing Shuka standing there like the sun at midday,

Verse 30 (12.333.30)

पूजयित्वा यथान्यायमभिवाद्य कृताञ्जलिः । प्रावेशयत्ततः कक्ष्यां प्रथमां राजवेश्मनः ॥

pūjayitvā yathānyāyamabhivādya kṛtāñjaliḥ | prāveśayattataḥ kakṣyāṃ prathamāṃ rājaveśmanaḥ

honoured him as was fitting, bowed to him with joined palms, and brought him into the first courtyard of the king's house.

Verse 31 (12.333.31)

तत्रासीनः शुकस्तात मोक्षमेवान्वचिन्तयत् । छायायामातपे चैव समदर्शी समद्युतिः ॥

tatrāsīnaḥ śukastāta mokṣamevānvacintayat | chāyāyāmātape caiva samadarśī samadyutiḥ

There Shuka sat, dear child, thinking only of liberation, equal in sight and equal in radiance in shade and in sunshine.

Verse 32 (12.333.32)

तं मुहूर्तादिवागम्य राज्ञो मन्त्री कृताञ्जलिः । प्रावेशयत्ततः कक्ष्यां द्वितीयां राजवेश्मनः ॥

taṃ muhūrtādivāgamya rājño mantrī kṛtāñjaliḥ | prāveśayattataḥ kakṣyāṃ dvitīyāṃ rājaveśmanaḥ

Soon afterwards the king's minister came to him with joined palms and led him into the second courtyard of the royal house.

Verse 33 (12.333.33)

तत्रान्तः पुरसंबद्धं महच्चैत्ररथोपमम् । सुविभक्तजलाक्रीडं रम्यं पुष्पितपादपम् ॥

tatrāntaḥ purasaṃbaddhaṃ mahaccaitrarathopamam | suvibhaktajalākrīḍaṃ ramyaṃ puṣpitapādapam

There lay a great grove joined to the inner quarters, like the Chaitraratha garden, with pleasure-pools for water-sport well laid out, delightful, and its trees in bloom.

Verse 34 (12.333.34)

तं दर्शयित्वा स शुकं मन्त्री जनकमुत्तमम् । अर्हमासनमादिश्य निश्चक्राम ततः पुनः ॥

taṃ darśayitvā sa śukaṃ mantrī janakamuttamam | arhamāsanamādiśya niścakrāma tataḥ punaḥ

Having shown Shuka this excellent place of Janaka's, the minister pointed out a fitting seat for him and went out again.

Note on the text: Corrected निश्चक्रामः → निश्चक्राम (misprint in Wikisource; stray visarga, CE niścakrāma). Line 1 तं दर्शयित्वा स शुकं मन्त्री जनकमुत्तमम् is a recension variant of CE tad darśayitvā sa śukaṃ mantrī kānanam uttamam, kept; the CE star passage 12.312.034b*0790_01 is a further variant.

Verse 35 (12.333.35)

तं चारुवेषाः सुश्रोण्यस्तरुण्यः प्रियदर्शनाः । सूक्ष्मरक्ताम्बरधरास्तप्तकाञ्चनभूषणाः ॥

taṃ cāruveṣāḥ suśroṇyastaruṇyaḥ priyadarśanāḥ | sūkṣmaraktāmbaradharāstaptakāñcanabhūṣaṇāḥ

Then lovely women in graceful dress, fair-hipped, young and charming to look at, wearing fine red garments and ornaments of refined gold,

Verse 36 (12.333.36)

संलापालापकुशला नृत्तगीतविशारदाः । स्मितपूर्वाभिभाषिण्यो रूपेणाप्सरसां समाः ॥

saṃlāpālāpakuśalā nṛttagītaviśāradāḥ | smitapūrvābhibhāṣiṇyo rūpeṇāpsarasāṃ samāḥ

skilled in conversation and talk, expert in dance and song, speaking first with a smile, and equal to the apsarases in beauty,

Verse 37 (12.333.37)

भावोपचारकुशला भावज्ञाः सत्वकोविदाः । परं पञ्चाशतं नार्यो वारमुख्याः समाद्रवन् ॥

bhāvopacārakuśalā bhāvajñāḥ satvakovidāḥ | paraṃ pañcāśataṃ nāryo vāramukhyāḥ samādravan

adept in gestures of feeling, knowing the heart, wise in the natures of men, more than fifty courtesans of the first rank, came hurrying to him.

Verse 38 (12.333.38)

पाद्यादीनि प्रतिग्राह्य पूजया परयाऽर्चयन् । कालोपपन्नेन तदा स्वाद्वन्नेनाभ्यतर्पयन् ॥

pādyādīni pratigrāhya pūjayā parayā'rcayan | kālopapannena tadā svādvannenābhyatarpayan

They received him with water for his feet and other offerings, honoured him with the highest reverence, and at the proper time satisfied him with sweet food.

Verse 39 (12.333.39)

तस्य भुक्तवतस्तात तदन्तः पुरकाननम् । सुरम्यं दर्शयामासुरेकैकश्येन भारत ॥

tasya bhuktavatastāta tadantaḥ purakānanam | suramyaṃ darśayāmāsurekaikaśyena bhārata

When he had eaten, dear child, they showed him one by one the very lovely garden of the inner quarters, O Bharata.

Verse 40 (12.333.40)

क्रीडन्त्यश्च हसन्त्यश्च गायन्त्यश्चापि ताः शुभम् । उदारसत्वं सत्वज्ञाः स्त्रियः पर्यचरंस्तथा ॥

krīḍantyaśca hasantyaśca gāyantyaścāpi tāḥ śubham | udārasatvaṃ satvajñāḥ striyaḥ paryacaraṃstathā

Playing, laughing and sweetly singing, those women, who understood the natures of men, waited in this way on the one of noble nature.

Verse 41 (12.333.41)

आरणेयस्तु शुद्धात्मा निःसंदेहस्त्रिकर्मकृत् । वश्येन्द्रियो जितक्रोधो न हृष्यति न कुप्यति ॥

āraṇeyastu śuddhātmā niḥsaṃdehastrikarmakṛt | vaśyendriyo jitakrodho na hṛṣyati na kupyati

But the son of the fire-stick, pure in self, free of doubt, and faithful to his three kinds of duty, with his senses mastered and his anger conquered, felt neither delight nor anger.

Verse 42 (12.333.42)

तस्मै शय्यासनं दिव्यं वरार्हं रत्नभूषितम् । स्पर्ध्यास्तरणसंकीर्णं ददुस्ताः परमस्त्रियः ॥

tasmai śayyāsanaṃ divyaṃ varārhaṃ ratnabhūṣitam | spardhyāstaraṇasaṃkīrṇaṃ dadustāḥ paramastriyaḥ

Those excellent women gave him a divine bed and seat, fit for the best of men, adorned with jewels and spread with costly coverings.

Note on the text: Corrected वरार्हः → वरार्हं (misprint in Wikisource; CE varārhaṃ).

Verse 43 (12.333.43)

पादशौचं तु कृत्वैव शुकः संध्यामुपास्य च । निषसादासने पुण्ये तमेवार्थं विचिन्तयन् ॥

pādaśaucaṃ tu kṛtvaiva śukaḥ saṃdhyāmupāsya ca | niṣasādāsane puṇye tamevārthaṃ vicintayan

After washing his feet and performing the twilight worship, Shuka sat on the pure seat, thinking of that same purpose.

Note on the text: Corrected शुक्रः → शुकः (misprint in Wikisource; the sage Śuka, CE śukaḥ).

Verse 44 (12.333.44)

पूर्वरात्रे तु तत्रासौ हुत्वा ध्यानपरायणः । मध्यरात्रे यथान्यायं निद्रामाहारयत्प्रभुः ॥

pūrvarātre tu tatrāsau hutvā dhyānaparāyaṇaḥ | madhyarātre yathānyāyaṃ nidrāmāhārayatprabhuḥ

In the first part of the night he made his offering there and gave himself to meditation; at midnight, as was proper, the lord took sleep.

Verse 45 (12.333.45)

ततो मुहूर्तादुत्थाय कृत्वा शौचमनन्तरम् । स्त्रीभिः परिवृतो धीमान्ध्यानमेवान्वपद्यत ॥

tato muhūrtādutthāya kṛtvā śaucamanantaram | strībhiḥ parivṛto dhīmāndhyānamevānvapadyata

Then, rising after a short while and finishing his purification, the wise one, surrounded by the women, took up meditation again.

Verse 46 (12.333.46)

अनेन विधिना कार्ष्णिस्तदहः शेषमच्युतः । तां च रात्रिं नृपकुले वर्तयामास भारत ॥

anena vidhinā kārṣṇistadahaḥ śeṣamacyutaḥ | tāṃ ca rātriṃ nṛpakule vartayāmāsa bhārata

In this manner, O Bharata, the unfallen son of Krishna Dvaipayana passed the rest of that day, and that night, in the king's house.

Note on the text: Corrected कर्ष्णिस्तदहः → कार्ष्णिस्तदहः (misprint in Wikisource; kārṣṇi, 'son of Kṛṣṇa', CE kārṣṇis).