Shuka's Entry into the King's Palace

Verse 1 (devibhagavatam.1.17.1)

सूत उवाच । इत्युक्त्वा पितरं पुत्रः पादयोः पतितः शुकः । बद्धाञ्जलिरुवाचेदं गन्तुकामो महामनाः ॥ 17.1 ॥

sūta uvāca ityuktvā pitaraṁ putraḥ pādayoḥ patitaḥ śukaḥ baddhāñjaliruvācedaṁ gantukāmo mahāmanāḥ

Suta said: Having spoken thus to his father, the son Shuka fell at his feet, and, with joined palms, eager to depart, that great-minded one said this:

Verse 2 (devibhagavatam.1.17.2)

आपृच्छे त्वां महाभाग ग्राह्यं ते वचनं मया । विदेहान्द्रष्टुमिच्छामि पालिताञ्जनकेन तु ॥ 17.2 ॥

āpṛcche tvāṁ mahābhāga grāhyaṁ te vacanaṁ mayā videhāndraṣṭumicchāmi pālitāñjanakena tu

'I take leave of you, O greatly fortunate one; your word has been accepted by me. I wish to see the Videhans, ruled by Janaka.'

Verse 3 (devibhagavatam.1.17.3)

विना दण्डं कथं राज्यं करोति जनकः किल । धर्मे न वर्तते लोको दण्डश्चेन्न भवेद्यदि ॥ 17.3 ॥

vinā daṇḍaṁ kathaṁ rājyaṁ karoti janakaḥ kila dharme na vartate loko daṇḍaścenna bhavedyadi

'Without punishment, how does Janaka indeed govern his kingdom? People do not abide in dharma if there is no rod of punishment.'

Verse 4 (devibhagavatam.1.17.4)

धर्मस्य कारणं दण्डो मन्वादिप्रहितः सदा । स कथं वर्तते तात संशयोऽयं महान्मम ॥ 17.4 ॥

dharmasya kāraṇaṁ daṇḍo manvādiprahitaḥ sadā sa kathaṁ vartate tāta saṁśayo'yaṁ mahānmama

'Punishment, ever established by Manu and the others, is the very cause of dharma; how, then, does he rule without it? This, father, is my great doubt.'

Verse 5 (devibhagavatam.1.17.5)

मम माता त्वियं वन्ध्या तद्वद्भाति विचेष्टितम् । पृच्छामि त्वां महाभाग गच्छामि च परन्तप ॥ 17.5 ॥

mama mātā tviyaṁ vandhyā tadvadbhāti viceṣṭitam pṛcchāmi tvāṁ mahābhāga gacchāmi ca parantapa

'This notion of mine appears just like a barren woman's son giving birth; I take leave of you, O greatly fortunate one, and go, O scorcher of foes.'

Verse 6 (devibhagavatam.1.17.6)

सूत उवाच । तं दृष्ट्वा गन्तुकामं च शुकं सत्यवतीसुतः । आलिङ्ग्योवाच पुत्रं तं ज्ञानिनं निःस्पृहं दृढम् ॥ 17.6 ॥

sūta uvāca taṁ dṛṣṭvā gantukāmaṁ ca śukaṁ satyavatīsutaḥ āliṅgyovāca putraṁ taṁ jñāninaṁ niḥspṛhaṁ dṛḍham

Suta said: Seeing Shuka eager to depart, the son of Satyavati embraced that wise, firmly desireless son and said:

Verse 7 (devibhagavatam.1.17.7)

व्यास उवाच । स्वस्त्यस्तु शक दीर्घायुर्भव पुत्र महामते । सत्यां वाचं प्रदत्त्वा मे गच्छ तात यथासुखम् ॥ 17.7 ॥

vyāsa uvāca svastyastu śaka dīrghāyurbhava putra mahāmate satyāṁ vācaṁ pradattvā me gaccha tāta yathāsukham

Vyasa said: May all be well, Shuka; may you have long life, my son, great-minded one. Having given me your true promise, go, dear one, as you please.

Verse 8 (devibhagavatam.1.17.8)

आगन्तव्यं पुनर्गत्वा ममाश्रममनुत्तमम् । न कुत्रापि च गन्तव्यं त्वया पुत्र कथञ्चन ॥ 17.8 ॥

āgantavyaṁ punargatvā mamāśramamanuttamam na kutrāpi ca gantavyaṁ tvayā putra kathañcana

'You must return once more to my unsurpassed hermitage; you must not go anywhere else at all, my son, by any means.'

Verse 9 (devibhagavatam.1.17.9)

सुखं जीवामि पुत्राहं दृष्ट्वा ते मुखपङ्कजम् । अपश्यन्दुःखमाप्नोमि प्राणस्त्वमसि मे सुत ॥ 17.9 ॥

sukhaṁ jīvāmi putrāhaṁ dṛṣṭvā te mukhapaṅkajam apaśyanduḥkhamāpnomi prāṇastvamasi me suta

'I live happily, my son, seeing your lotus face; not seeing it, I fall into sorrow — you are my very life-breath, my son.'

Verse 10 (devibhagavatam.1.17.10)

दृष्ट्वा त्वं जनकं पुत्र सन्देहं विनिवर्त्य च । अत्रागत्य सुखं तिष्ठ वेदाध्ययनतत्परः ॥ 17.10 ॥

dṛṣṭvā tvaṁ janakaṁ putra sandehaṁ vinivartya ca atrāgatya sukhaṁ tiṣṭha vedādhyayanatatparaḥ

'Having seen Janaka, my son, and having resolved your doubt, come back here and dwell happily, devoted to the study of the Veda.'

Verse 11 (devibhagavatam.1.17.11)

सूत उवाच । इत्युक्तः सोऽभिवाद्यार्यं कृत्वा चैव प्रदक्षिणाम् । चलितस्तरसातीव धनुर्मुक्तः शरो यथा ॥ 17.11 ॥

sūta uvāca ityuktaḥ so'bhivādyāryaṁ kṛtvā caiva pradakṣiṇām calitastarasātīva dhanurmuktaḥ śaro yathā

Suta said: Thus addressed, he saluted his noble father, and, having circumambulated him, set off with great speed, like an arrow released from a bow.

Verse 12 (devibhagavatam.1.17.12)

सम्पश्यन्विविधान्देशाँल्लोकांश्च वित्तधर्मिणः । वनानि पादपांश्चैव क्षेत्राणि फलितानि च ॥ 17.12 ॥

sampaśyanvividhāndeśā~llokāṁśca vittadharmiṇaḥ vanāni pādapāṁścaiva kṣetrāṇi phalitāni ca

Beholding various lands and peoples devoted to wealth and dharma, forests and trees, and fields laden with fruit,

Verse 13 (devibhagavatam.1.17.13)

तापसांस्तप्यमानांश्च याजकान्दीक्षयान्वितान् । योगाभ्यासरतान्योगिवानप्रस्थान्वनौकसः ॥ 17.13 ॥

tāpasāṁstapyamānāṁśca yājakāndīkṣayānvitān yogābhyāsaratānyogivānaprasthānvanaukasaḥ

ascetics performing austerity, sacrificers engaged in consecration, yogis devoted to the practice of yoga, forest-dwellers, dwellers of the wilderness,

Verse 14 (devibhagavatam.1.17.14)

शैवान्पाशुपतांश्चैव सौराञ्छाक्तांश्च वैष्णवान् । वीक्ष्य नानाविधान्धर्माञ्जगामातिस्मयन्मुनिः ॥ 17.14 ॥

śaivānpāśupatāṁścaiva saurāñchāktāṁśca vaiṣṇavān vīkṣya nānāvidhāndharmāñjagāmātismayanmuniḥ

Shaivas and Pashupatas, worshippers of the Sun, Shaktas, and Vaishnavas — beholding manifold dharmas, the sage went on, filled with wonder.

Verse 15 (devibhagavatam.1.17.15)

वर्षद्वयेन मेरुं च समुल्लङ्घ्य महामतिः । हिमाचलं च वर्षेण जगाम मिथिलां प्रति ॥ 17.15 ॥

varṣadvayena meruṁ ca samullaṅghya mahāmatiḥ himācalaṁ ca varṣeṇa jagāma mithilāṁ prati

In two years, that great-minded one, having crossed over Meru, and in another year the Himalaya, went on toward Mithila.

Verse 16 (devibhagavatam.1.17.16)

प्रविष्टो मिथिलां मध्ये पश्यन्सर्वर्द्धिमुत्तमाम् । प्रजाश्च सुखिताः सर्वाः सदाचाराः सुसंस्थिताः ॥ 17.16 ॥

praviṣṭo mithilāṁ madhye paśyansarvarddhimuttamām prajāśca sukhitāḥ sarvāḥ sadācārāḥ susaṁsthitāḥ

Entering the midst of Mithila, seeing its supreme all-round prosperity, and all its subjects happy, of good conduct, well-established,

Verse 17 (devibhagavatam.1.17.17)

क्षत्रा निवारितस्तत्र कस्त्वमत्र समागतः । किं ते कार्यं वदस्वेति पृष्टस्तेन न चाब्रवीत् ॥ 17.17 ॥

kṣatrā nivāritastatra kastvamatra samāgataḥ kiṁ te kāryaṁ vadasveti pṛṣṭastena na cābravīt

— he was stopped there by the gatekeeper: 'Who are you, who have come here? What is your business? Speak!' — thus asked, he did not answer.

Verse 18 (devibhagavatam.1.17.18)

निःसृत्य नगरद्वारात्स्थितः स्थाणुरिवाचलः । विस्मितोऽतिहसंस्तस्थौ वचो नोवाच किञ्चन ॥ 17.18 ॥

niḥsṛtya nagaradvārātsthitaḥ sthāṇurivācalaḥ vismito'tihasaṁstasthau vaco novāca kiñcana

Having withdrawn from the city gate, he stood aside, unmoving, like a stump; astonished, laughing greatly to himself, he stood there, speaking not a single word.

Verse 19 (devibhagavatam.1.17.19)

प्रतीहार उवाच । ब्रूहि मूकोऽसि किं ब्रह्मन्किमर्थं त्वमिहागतः । चलनं च विना कार्यं न भवेदिति मे मतिः ॥ 17.19 ॥

pratīhāra uvāca brūhi mūko'si kiṁ brahmankimarthaṁ tvamihāgataḥ calanaṁ ca vinā kāryaṁ na bhavediti me matiḥ

The gatekeeper said: 'Speak — are you mute, O brahmin? For what reason have you come here? There is, I believe, no good purpose without some motion of speech.'

Verse 20 (devibhagavatam.1.17.20)

राजाज्ञया प्रवेष्टव्यं नगरेऽस्मिन्सदा द्विज । अज्ञातकुलशीलस्य प्रवेशो नात्र सर्वथा ॥ 17.20 ॥

rājājñayā praveṣṭavyaṁ nagare'sminsadā dvija ajñātakulaśīlasya praveśo nātra sarvathā

'One may enter this city only by the king's command, O brahmin, always; there is no entry here, ever, for one of unknown family and character.'

Verse 21 (devibhagavatam.1.17.21)

तेजस्वी भासि नूनं त्वं ब्राह्मणो वेदवित्तमः । कुलं कार्यं च मे ब्रूहि यथेष्टं गच्छ मानद ॥ 17.21 ॥

tejasvī bhāsi nūnaṁ tvaṁ brāhmaṇo vedavittamaḥ kulaṁ kāryaṁ ca me brūhi yatheṣṭaṁ gaccha mānada

'You appear surely splendid, a brahmin most learned in the Vedas; tell me your family and your purpose, O giver of honor, then go as you please.'

Verse 22 (devibhagavatam.1.17.22)

शुक उवाच । यदर्थमागतोऽस्म्यत्र तत्प्राप्तं वचनात्तव । विदेहनगरं द्रष्टुं प्रवेशो यत्र दुर्लभः ॥ 17.22 ॥

śuka uvāca yadarthamāgato'smyatra tatprāptaṁ vacanāttava videhanagaraṁ draṣṭuṁ praveśo yatra durlabhaḥ

Shuka said: The very purpose for which I came here has been attained through your own words — to see the city of Videha, entry to which is now shown to be so hard to obtain.

Verse 23 (devibhagavatam.1.17.23)

मोहोऽयं मम दुर्बुद्धेः समुल्लङ्घ्य गिरिद्वयम् । राजानं द्रष्टुकामोऽहं पर्यटन्समुपागतः ॥ 17.23 ॥

moho'yaṁ mama durbuddheḥ samullaṅghya giridvayam rājānaṁ draṣṭukāmo'haṁ paryaṭansamupāgataḥ

This is merely the delusion of my own poor understanding: having crossed over two mountains, wandering, desiring to see the king, I have arrived.

Verse 24 (devibhagavatam.1.17.24)

वञ्चितोऽहं स्वयं पित्रा दूषणं कस्य दीयते । भ्रामितोऽहं महाभाग कर्मणा वा महीतले ॥ 17.24 ॥

vañcito'haṁ svayaṁ pitrā dūṣaṇaṁ kasya dīyate bhrāmito'haṁ mahābhāga karmaṇā vā mahītale

I have been deceived by my own father — upon whom is the blame to be placed? I have been made to wander, O greatly fortunate one, on this earth, by my own karma perhaps.

Verse 25 (devibhagavatam.1.17.25)

धनाशा पुरुषस्येह परिभ्रमणकारणम् । सा मे नास्ति तथाप्यत्र सम्प्राप्तोऽस्मि भ्रमात्किल ॥ 17.25 ॥

dhanāśā puruṣasyeha paribhramaṇakāraṇam sā me nāsti tathāpyatra samprāpto'smi bhramātkila

The hope for wealth is here the cause of a man's wandering; that I do not have — yet even so, I have arrived here indeed, through mere wandering confusion.

Verse 26 (devibhagavatam.1.17.26)

निराशस्य सुखं नित्यं यदि मोहे न मज्जति । निराशोऽहं महाभाग मग्नोऽस्मिन्मोहसागरे ॥ 17.26 ॥

nirāśasya sukhaṁ nityaṁ yadi mohe na majjati nirāśo'haṁ mahābhāga magno'sminmohasāgare

There is ever happiness for one free of hope, if he does not sink into delusion; I am free of hope, O greatly fortunate one, yet sunk in this ocean of delusion.

Verse 27 (devibhagavatam.1.17.27)

क्व मेरुर्मिथिला क्वेयं पद्भ्यां च समुपागतः । परिश्रमफलं किं मे वञ्चितो विधिना किल ॥ 17.27 ॥

kva merurmithilā kveyaṁ padbhyāṁ ca samupāgataḥ pariśramaphalaṁ kiṁ me vañcito vidhinā kila

Where is Meru, and where is this Mithila — and I have come here on foot! What is the fruit of my toil? I have indeed been cheated by Providence.

Verse 28 (devibhagavatam.1.17.28)

प्रारब्धं किल भोक्तव्यं शुभं वाप्यथवाशुभम् । उद्यमस्तद्वशे नित्यं कारयत्येव सर्वथा ॥ 17.28 ॥

prārabdhaṁ kila bhoktavyaṁ śubhaṁ vāpyathavāśubham udyamastadvaśe nityaṁ kārayatyeva sarvathā

Whatever is set in motion by past karma must indeed be endured, whether good or bad; effort, ever subject to that, causes only what is bound to happen, in every way.

Verse 29 (devibhagavatam.1.17.29)

न तीर्थं न च वेदोऽत्र यदर्थमिह मे श्रमः । अप्रवेशः पुरे जातो विदेहो नाम भूपतिः ॥ 17.29 ॥

na tīrthaṁ na ca vedo'tra yadarthamiha me śramaḥ apraveśaḥ pure jāto videho nāma bhūpatiḥ

There is neither a holy place nor a Veda here — that for the sake of which my toil was undertaken — and now there is no entry into the city of the king named Videha.

Verse 30 (devibhagavatam.1.17.30)

इत्युक्त्या विररामाशु मौनीभूत इव स्थितः । ज्ञातो हि प्रतिहारेण ज्ञानी कश्चिद्द्विजोत्तमः ॥ 17.30 ॥

ityuktyā virarāmāśu maunībhūta iva sthitaḥ jñāto hi pratihāreṇa jñānī kaściddvijottamaḥ

Having said this, he at once fell silent, standing as if he had become mute; the gatekeeper then recognized him as some wise, excellent brahmin.

Verse 31 (devibhagavatam.1.17.31)

सामपूर्वमुवाचासौ तं क्षत्ता संस्थितं मुनिम् । गच्छ भो यत्र ते कार्यं यथेष्टं द्विजसत्तम ॥ 17.31 ॥

sāmapūrvamuvācāsau taṁ kṣattā saṁsthitaṁ munim gaccha bho yatra te kāryaṁ yatheṣṭaṁ dvijasattama

That gatekeeper spoke conciliatorily to the sage standing there: 'Go, sir, wherever your business lies, as you please, O best of the twice-born.'

Verse 32 (devibhagavatam.1.17.32)

अपराधो मम ब्रह्मन्यन्निवारितवानहम् । तत्क्षन्तव्यं महाभाग विमुक्तानां क्षमा बलम् ॥ 17.32 ॥

aparādho mama brahmanyannivāritavānaham tatkṣantavyaṁ mahābhāga vimuktānāṁ kṣamā balam

'The fault is mine, O brahmin, in that I stopped you; that is to be forgiven, O greatly fortunate one — forgiveness is the strength of the liberated.'

Verse 33 (devibhagavatam.1.17.33)

शुक उवाच । किं तेऽत्र दूषणं क्षत्तः परतन्त्रोऽसि सर्वदा । प्रभुकार्यं प्रकर्तव्यं सेवकेन यथोचितम् ॥ 17.33 ॥

śuka uvāca kiṁ te'tra dūṣaṇaṁ kṣattaḥ paratantro'si sarvadā prabhukāryaṁ prakartavyaṁ sevakena yathocitam

Shuka said: What fault is there in you here, O gatekeeper? You are ever dependent on another; a servant must duly perform his master's business, as is proper.

Verse 34 (devibhagavatam.1.17.34)

न भूपदूषणं चात्र यदहं रक्षितस्त्वया । चोरशत्रुपरिज्ञानं कर्तव्यं सर्वथा बुधैः ॥ 17.34 ॥

na bhūpadūṣaṇaṁ cātra yadahaṁ rakṣitastvayā coraśatruparijñānaṁ kartavyaṁ sarvathā budhaiḥ

There is no fault in the king here either, in that you kept watch over me; the recognition of thieves and enemies must always be made by the wise.

Verse 35 (devibhagavatam.1.17.35)

ममैव सर्वथा दोषो यदहं समुपागतः । गमनं परगेहे यल्लघुतायाश्च कारणम् ॥ 17.35 ॥

mamaiva sarvathā doṣo yadahaṁ samupāgataḥ gamanaṁ paragehe yallaghutāyāśca kāraṇam

The fault is entirely mine alone, in that I have come here — for going to another's house is indeed a cause of one's own diminishment.

Verse 36 (devibhagavatam.1.17.36)

प्रतीहार उवाच । किं सुखं द्विज किं दुःखं किं कार्यं शुभमिच्छता । कः शत्रुर्हितकर्ता को ब्रूहि सर्वं ममाद्य वै ॥ 17.36 ॥

pratīhāra uvāca kiṁ sukhaṁ dvija kiṁ duḥkhaṁ kiṁ kāryaṁ śubhamicchatā kaḥ śatrurhitakartā ko brūhi sarvaṁ mamādya vai

The gatekeeper said: What is happiness, O brahmin, what is sorrow? What is to be done by one who desires good? Who is an enemy, who a benefactor? Tell me all this today, indeed.

Verse 37 (devibhagavatam.1.17.37)

शुक उवाच । द्वैविध्यं सर्वलोकेषु सर्वत्र द्विविधो जनः । रागी चैव विरागी च तयोश्चित्तं द्विधा पुनः ॥ 17.37 ॥

śuka uvāca dvaividhyaṁ sarvalokeṣu sarvatra dvividho janaḥ rāgī caiva virāgī ca tayościttaṁ dvidhā punaḥ

Shuka said: There is a twofold division in all the worlds; everywhere people are of two kinds: the attached and the detached; and the mind of each of these, again, is twofold.

Verse 38 (devibhagavatam.1.17.38)

विरागी त्रिविधः कामं ज्ञातोऽज्ञातश्च मध्यमः । रागी च द्विविधः प्रोक्तो मूर्खश्च चतुरस्तथा ॥ 17.38 ॥

virāgī trividhaḥ kāmaṁ jñāto'jñātaśca madhyamaḥ rāgī ca dvividhaḥ prokto mūrkhaśca caturastathā

The detached one is indeed of three kinds: the known, the unknown, and the middling; and the attached is declared to be of two kinds: the foolish, and likewise the clever.

Verse 39 (devibhagavatam.1.17.39)

चातुर्यं द्विविधं प्रोक्तं शास्त्रजं मतिजं तथा । मतिस्तु द्विविधा लोके युक्तायुक्तेति सर्वथा ॥ 17.39 ॥

cāturyaṁ dvividhaṁ proktaṁ śāstrajaṁ matijaṁ tathā matistu dvividhā loke yuktāyukteti sarvathā

Cleverness is declared to be of two kinds: born of scripture, and likewise born of native intelligence; and intelligence itself is, in the world, of two kinds, in every way — sound and unsound.

Verse 40 (devibhagavatam.1.17.40)

प्रतीहार उवाच । यदुक्तं भवता विद्वन्नार्थज्ञोऽहं द्विजोत्तम । तत्सर्वं विस्तरेणाद्य यथार्थं वद सत्तम ॥ 17.40 ॥

pratīhāra uvāca yaduktaṁ bhavatā vidvannārthajño'haṁ dvijottama tatsarvaṁ vistareṇādya yathārthaṁ vada sattama

The gatekeeper said: What you have said, O learned one, I, not knowing its meaning, O best of the twice-born — explain all of it today, in full detail, exactly as it is, O most excellent one.

Verse 41 (devibhagavatam.1.17.41)

शुक उवाच । रागो यस्यास्ति संसारे स रागीत्युच्यते ध्रुवम् । दुःखं बहुविधं तस्य सुखं च विविधं पुनः ॥ 17.41 ॥

śuka uvāca rāgo yasyāsti saṁsāre sa rāgītyucyate dhruvam duḥkhaṁ bahuvidhaṁ tasya sukhaṁ ca vividhaṁ punaḥ

Shuka said: He who has attachment to the world is surely called attached; his sorrow is of many kinds, and likewise his happiness is manifold too.

Verse 42 (devibhagavatam.1.17.42)

धनं प्राप्य सुतान्दारान्मानं च विजयं तथा । तदप्राप्य महद्दुःखं भवत्येव क्षणे क्षणे ॥ 17.42 ॥

dhanaṁ prāpya sutāndārānmānaṁ ca vijayaṁ tathā tadaprāpya mahadduḥkhaṁ bhavatyeva kṣaṇe kṣaṇe

Having obtained wealth, sons, a wife, honor, and likewise victory — not obtaining these, great sorrow arises, indeed, moment by moment.

Verse 43 (devibhagavatam.1.17.43)

कार्यस्तस्य सुखोपायः कर्तव्यं सुखसाधनम् । तस्यारातिः स विज्ञेयः सुखविघ्नं करोति यः ॥ 17.43 ॥

kāryastasya sukhopāyaḥ kartavyaṁ sukhasādhanam tasyārātiḥ sa vijñeyaḥ sukhavighnaṁ karoti yaḥ

The means to his happiness must be secured, the instruments of his happiness must be provided; his enemy is to be recognized as whoever creates an obstacle to that happiness.

Verse 44 (devibhagavatam.1.17.44)

सुखोत्पादयिता मित्रं रागयुक्तस्य सर्वदा । चतुरो नैव मुह्येत मूर्खः सर्वत्र मुह्यति ॥ 17.44 ॥

sukhotpādayitā mitraṁ rāgayuktasya sarvadā caturo naiva muhyeta mūrkhaḥ sarvatra muhyati

For one who is attached, a friend is ever the one who produces happiness for him; the clever man is never deluded about this, while the fool is deluded everywhere.

Verse 45 (devibhagavatam.1.17.45)

विरक्तस्यात्मरक्तस्य सुखमेकान्तसेवनम् । आत्मानुचिन्तनं चैव वेदान्तस्य च चिन्तनम् ॥ 17.45 ॥

viraktasyātmaraktasya sukhamekāntasevanam ātmānucintanaṁ caiva vedāntasya ca cintanam

For the detached one, delighting in the Self, happiness lies in dwelling in solitude, and likewise in the contemplation of the Self, and reflection upon the Vedanta.

Verse 46 (devibhagavatam.1.17.46)

दुःखं तदेतत्सर्वं हि संसारकथनादिकम् । शत्रवो बहवस्तस्य विज्ञस्य शुभमिच्छतः ॥ 17.46 ॥

duḥkhaṁ tadetatsarvaṁ hi saṁsārakathanādikam śatravo bahavastasya vijñasya śubhamicchataḥ

All that — worldly talk and the like — is, for him, sorrow indeed; and for the wise man who desires good, his enemies are many.

Verse 47 (devibhagavatam.1.17.47)

कामः क्रोधः प्रमादश्च शत्रवो विविधाः स्मृताः । बन्धुः सन्तोष एवास्य नान्योऽस्ति भुवनत्रये ॥ 17.47 ॥

kāmaḥ krodhaḥ pramādaśca śatravo vividhāḥ smṛtāḥ bandhuḥ santoṣa evāsya nānyo'sti bhuvanatraye

Desire, anger, and negligence are remembered as his manifold enemies; contentment alone is his kinsman — there is no other, in all three worlds.

Verse 48 (devibhagavatam.1.17.48)

सूत उवाच । तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य मत्वा तं ज्ञानिनं द्विजम् । क्षत्ता प्रवेशयामास कक्षां चातिमनोरमाम् ॥ 17.48 ॥

sūta uvāca tacchrutvā vacanaṁ tasya matvā taṁ jñāninaṁ dvijam kṣattā praveśayāmāsa kakṣāṁ cātimanoramām

Suta said: Hearing his words, and recognizing him as a wise brahmin, the gatekeeper let him enter the most enchanting inner courtyard.

Verse 49 (devibhagavatam.1.17.49)

नगरं वीक्षमाणः संस्त्रैविध्यजनसङ्कुलम् । नानाविपणिद्रव्याढ्यं क्रयविक्रयकारकम् ॥ 17.49 ॥

nagaraṁ vīkṣamāṇaḥ saṁstraividhyajanasaṅkulam nānāvipaṇidravyāḍhyaṁ krayavikrayakārakam

Beholding the city, crowded with people of the three social classes, rich with the wares of various markets, bustling with buying and selling,

Verse 50 (devibhagavatam.1.17.50)

रागद्वेषयुतं कामलोभमोहाकुलं तथा । विवदत्सुजनाकीर्णं वसुपूर्णं महत्तरम् ॥ 17.50 ॥

rāgadveṣayutaṁ kāmalobhamohākulaṁ tathā vivadatsujanākīrṇaṁ vasupūrṇaṁ mahattaram

filled with attachment and aversion, and likewise agitated with desire, greed, and delusion, thronged with disputing yet good people, overflowing with wealth, exceedingly great,

Verse 51 (devibhagavatam.1.17.51)

पश्यन्स त्रिविधाँल्लोकान्प्रासरद्राजमन्दिरम् । प्राप्तः परमतेजस्वी द्वितीय इव भास्करः ॥ 17.51 ॥

paśyansa trividhā~llokānprāsaradrājamandiram prāptaḥ paramatejasvī dvitīya iva bhāskaraḥ

— beholding these three kinds of people, that most splendid one, like a second sun, reached the towering royal palace.

Verse 52 (devibhagavatam.1.17.52)

निवारितश्च तत्रैव प्रतीहारेण काष्ठवत् । तत्रैव च स्थितो द्वारि मोक्षमेवानुचिन्तयन् ॥ 17.52 ॥

nivāritaśca tatraiva pratīhāreṇa kāṣṭhavat tatraiva ca sthito dvāri mokṣamevānucintayan

He was stopped there too by the gatekeeper, and stood there like a piece of wood, right at the door, reflecting only upon liberation.

Verse 53 (devibhagavatam.1.17.53)

छायायामातपे चैव समदर्शी महातपाः । ध्यानं कृत्वा तथैकान्ते स्थितः स्थाणुरिवाचलः ॥ 17.53 ॥

chāyāyāmātape caiva samadarśī mahātapāḥ dhyānaṁ kṛtvā tathaikānte sthitaḥ sthāṇurivācalaḥ

Equal in view of both shade and sunlight, that great ascetic, having entered meditation, remained there in solitude, unmoving, like a stump.

Verse 54 (devibhagavatam.1.17.54)

तं मुहूर्तादुपागत्य राज्ञोऽमात्यः कृताञ्जलिः । प्रावेशयत्ततः कक्षां द्वितीयां राजवेश्मनः ॥ 17.54 ॥

taṁ muhūrtādupāgatya rājño'mātyaḥ kṛtāñjaliḥ prāveśayattataḥ kakṣāṁ dvitīyāṁ rājaveśmanaḥ

After a short while, the king's minister came to him with joined palms, and then let him enter the second courtyard of the royal residence.

Verse 55 (devibhagavatam.1.17.55)

तत्र दिव्यं मनोरम्यं पुष्पितं दिव्यपादपम् । तद्वनं दर्शयित्वा तु कृत्वा चातिथिसत्क्रियाम् ॥ 17.55 ॥

tatra divyaṁ manoramyaṁ puṣpitaṁ divyapādapam tadvanaṁ darśayitvā tu kṛtvā cātithisatkriyām

There, having shown him that grove, divine, enchanting, in bloom, with divine trees, and having performed the rites of hospitality,

Verse 56 (devibhagavatam.1.17.56)

वारमुख्याः स्त्रियस्तत्र राजसेवापरायणाः । गीतवादित्रकुशलाः कामशास्त्रविशारदाः ॥ 17.56 ॥

vāramukhyāḥ striyastatra rājasevāparāyaṇāḥ gītavāditrakuśalāḥ kāmaśāstraviśāradāḥ

foremost courtesans, devoted to the service of the king, skilled in song and instrumental music, learned in the science of love, were assigned to attend upon him.

Verse 57 (devibhagavatam.1.17.57)

ता आदिश्य च सेवार्थं शुकस्य मन्त्रिसत्तमः । निर्गतः सदनात्तस्माद्व्यासपुत्रः स्थितस्तदा ॥ 17.57 ॥

tā ādiśya ca sevārthaṁ śukasya mantrisattamaḥ nirgataḥ sadanāttasmādvyāsaputraḥ sthitastadā

Having instructed them for the sake of Shuka's service, that best of ministers departed from that residence; the son of Vyasa remained there then.

Verse 58 (devibhagavatam.1.17.58)

पूजितः परया भक्त्या ताभिः स्त्रीभिर्यथाविधि । देशकालोपपन्नेन नानान्नेनातितोषितः ॥ 17.58 ॥

pūjitaḥ parayā bhaktyā tābhiḥ strībhiryathāvidhi deśakālopapannena nānānnenātitoṣitaḥ

He was honored with the greatest devotion by those women, according to due rite, and greatly gratified with various foods suited to the place and occasion.

Verse 59 (devibhagavatam.1.17.59)

ततोऽन्तःपुरवासिन्यस्तस्यान्तःपुरकाननम् । रम्यं सन्दर्शयामासुरङ्गनाः काममोहिताः ॥ 17.59 ॥

tato'ntaḥpuravāsinyastasyāntaḥpurakānanam ramyaṁ sandarśayāmāsuraṅganāḥ kāmamohitāḥ

Then the women dwelling in the inner apartments, those ladies bewildered with desire, showed him the lovely garden of the inner apartments.

Verse 60 (devibhagavatam.1.17.60)

स युवा रूपवान्कान्तो मृदुभाषी मनोरमः । दृष्ट्वा ता मुमुहुः सर्वास्तं च काममिवापरम् ॥ 17.60 ॥

sa yuvā rūpavānkānto mṛdubhāṣī manoramaḥ dṛṣṭvā tā mumuhuḥ sarvāstaṁ ca kāmamivāparam

Seeing him — youthful, handsome, charming, of gentle speech, enchanting — all of them were bewildered, regarding him as though a second Kama himself.

Verse 61 (devibhagavatam.1.17.61)

जितेन्द्रियं मुनिं मत्त्वा सर्वाः पर्यचरंस्तदा । आरणेयस्तु शुद्धात्मा मातृभावमकल्पयत् ॥ 17.61 ॥

jitendriyaṁ muniṁ mattvā sarvāḥ paryacaraṁstadā āraṇeyastu śuddhātmā mātṛbhāvamakalpayat

Regarding him as a sage of controlled senses, all of them then attended upon him; but the fire-stick-born one, of pure soul, regarded each of them with the feeling due to a mother.

Verse 62 (devibhagavatam.1.17.62)

आत्मारामो जितक्रोधो न हृष्यति न तप्यति । पश्यंस्तासां विकारांश्च स्वस्थ एव स तस्थिवान् ॥ 17.62 ॥

ātmārāmo jitakrodho na hṛṣyati na tapyati paśyaṁstāsāṁ vikārāṁśca svastha eva sa tasthivān

Delighting in the Self, having conquered anger, he neither rejoiced nor was troubled; beholding their amorous agitations, he remained, indeed, wholly unmoved within himself.

Verse 63 (devibhagavatam.1.17.63)

तस्मै शय्यां सुरम्यां च ददुर्नार्यः सुसंस्कृताम् । परार्ध्यास्तरणोपेतां नानोपस्करसंवृताम् ॥ 17.63 ॥

tasmai śayyāṁ suramyāṁ ca dadurnāryaḥ susaṁskṛtām parārdhyāstaraṇopetāṁ nānopaskarasaṁvṛtām

Those women gave him a most delightful, well-prepared bed, furnished with the costliest coverings, surrounded with manifold furnishings.

Verse 64 (devibhagavatam.1.17.64)

स कृत्वा पादशौचं च कुशपाणिरतन्द्रितः । उपास्य पश्चिमां सन्ध्यां ध्यानमेवान्वपद्यत ॥ 17.64 ॥

sa kṛtvā pādaśaucaṁ ca kuśapāṇiratandritaḥ upāsya paścimāṁ sandhyāṁ dhyānamevānvapadyata

Having washed his feet, and, tirelessly, with kusha grass in hand, having performed the evening rite, he engaged in meditation alone.

Verse 65 (devibhagavatam.1.17.65)

याममेकं स्थितो ध्याने सुष्वाप तदनन्तरम् । सुप्त्वा यामद्वयं तत्र चोदतिष्ठत्ततः शुकः ॥ 17.65 ॥

yāmamekaṁ sthito dhyāne suṣvāpa tadanantaram suptvā yāmadvayaṁ tatra codatiṣṭhattataḥ śukaḥ

He remained in meditation for one watch of the night; thereafter he slept; having slept there for two watches, Shuka then arose.

Verse 66 (devibhagavatam.1.17.66)

पाश्चात्यं यामिनीयामं ध्यानमेवान्वपद्यत । स्नात्वा प्रातःक्रियाः कृत्वा पुनरास्ते समाहितः ॥ 17.66 ॥

pāścātyaṁ yāminīyāmaṁ dhyānamevānvapadyata snātvā prātaḥkriyāḥ kṛtvā punarāste samāhitaḥ

In the last watch of the night, he engaged in meditation alone; having bathed and performed the morning rites, he sat again, composed.