The Dialogue of Vyasa and Shuka

Verse 1 (skanda.6.147.1)

॥ सूत उवाच ॥ ॥ तथान्योऽपि च तत्रास्ति देवः पुत्रप्रदो नृणाम् ॥ वटिकेश्वर नामा च सर्वपापहरो हरः

sūta uvāca tathānyo'pi ca tatrāsti devaḥ putraprado nṛṇām vaṭikeśvara nāmā ca sarvapāpaharo haraḥ

Suta said: There too is another deity, the giver of sons to men — the god Hara known as Vatikeshvara, the remover of all sins.

Verse 2 (skanda.6.147.2)

यस्मिन्वटिकया पूर्वं तपस्तप्तं द्विजोत्तमाः ॥ प्राप्ता पुत्रं शुके याते वनं व्यासात्कपिंजलम्

yasminvaṭikayā pūrvaṁ tapastaptaṁ dvijottamāḥ prāptā putraṁ śuke yāte vanaṁ vyāsātkapiṁjalam

O best of brahmins, here it was that Vatika formerly performed austerity, and, after Shuka had departed for the forest, obtained from Vyasa a son named Kapinjala.

Verse 3 (skanda.6.147.3)

॥ ऋषय ऊचुः ॥ ॥ कस्यासौ वटिका तत्र कथं तप्तवती तपः ॥ कस्माद्गृहं परित्यक्त्वा शुकोऽपि वनमाश्रितः

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ kasyāsau vaṭikā tatra kathaṁ taptavatī tapaḥ kasmādgṛhaṁ parityaktvā śuko'pi vanamāśritaḥ

The sages said: Whose was this Vatika, and how did she perform austerity there? And why did Shuka too abandon his home and take to the forest?

Verse 4 (skanda.6.147.4)

कथं कपिजलं पुत्रं व्यासाल्लेभे शुचिस्मिता

kathaṁ kapijalaṁ putraṁ vyāsāllebhe śucismitā

And how did that pure, smiling one obtain the son Kapinjala from Vyasa?

Verse 5 (skanda.6.147.5)

।। सूत उवाच ॥ ॥ आसीद्व्यासस्य विप्रेंद्राः कलत्रार्थं मतिः क्वचित् । निष्कामस्य प्रशांतस्य सर्वज्ञस्य महात्मनः

sūta uvāca āsīdvyāsasya vipreṁdrāḥ kalatrārthaṁ matiḥ kvacit niṣkāmasya praśāṁtasya sarvajñasya mahātmanaḥ

Suta said: O lords of brahmins, once, even in the mind of that desireless, most tranquil, omniscient great sage Vyasa, arose a thought of taking a wife.

Verse 6 (skanda.6.147.6)

ततः क्षयमनुप्राप्ते वंशे कुरुसमुद्भवे ॥ विचित्रवीर्यमासाद्य पार्थिवं द्विजसत्तमाः

tataḥ kṣayamanuprāpte vaṁśe kurusamudbhave vicitravīryamāsādya pārthivaṁ dvijasattamāḥ

O best of brahmins, thereafter, when the lineage born of the Kuru line came near extinction, taking up the matter of king Vichitravirya —

Verse 7 (skanda.6.147.7)

सत्यवत्याः समादेशात्तस्य क्षेत्रे ततः परम् ॥ स पुत्राञ्जनयामास त्रीञ्छूरान्पांडुपूर्वकान्

satyavatyāḥ samādeśāttasya kṣetre tataḥ param sa putrāñjanayāmāsa trīñchūrānpāṁḍupūrvakān

at Satyavati's command, in that same field (his wives), he then begot three heroic sons, with Pandu foremost among them.

Verse 8 (skanda.6.147.8)

वानप्रस्थव्रते तिष्ठन्सकृन्मैथुनतत्परः ॥ क्षेत्रजैस्तनयैर्वंशे कुरोस्तस्मादुपस्थिते

vānaprasthavrate tiṣṭhansakṛnmaithunatatparaḥ kṣetrajaistanayairvaṁśe kurostasmādupasthite

Remaining fixed in the vow of a forest-dweller, given to union but once, and thus, when the field-born sons had thereby come to the Kuru lineage —

Verse 9 (skanda.6.147.9)

ततः स चिंतयामास भार्यामद्य करोम्यहम् ॥ गार्हस्थ्येनाथ धर्मेण साधयामि शुभां गतिम्

tataḥ sa ciṁtayāmāsa bhāryāmadya karomyaham gārhasthyenātha dharmeṇa sādhayāmi śubhāṁ gatim

then he thought: Now let me too take a wife, and by the duty of the householder attain an auspicious end.

Verse 10 (skanda.6.147.10)

ततः स प्रार्थयामास जाबालिं तु सुतां शुभाम् ॥ वटिकाख्यां शुभां कन्यां स ददौ तस्य सत्वरम्

tataḥ sa prārthayāmāsa jābāliṁ tu sutāṁ śubhām vaṭikākhyāṁ śubhāṁ kanyāṁ sa dadau tasya satvaram

Then he asked Jabali for his auspicious daughter; and he quickly gave that auspicious maiden named Vatika to him.

Verse 11 (skanda.6.147.11)

ततस्तया समेतः स वनवासं समाश्रितः ॥ वानप्रस्थाश्रमे तिष्ठन्कृतमैथुनतत्परः

tatastayā sametaḥ sa vanavāsaṁ samāśritaḥ vānaprasthāśrame tiṣṭhankṛtamaithunatatparaḥ

Thereafter, together with her, he took to dwelling in the forest, and, remaining in the vanaprastha stage, engaged in union.

Verse 12 (skanda.6.147.12)

ततो गर्भवती जज्ञे पिंजला तस्य पार्श्वतः ॥ ऋतौ मोहनमासाद्य व्यासात्सत्यवतीसुतात्

tato garbhavatī jajñe piṁjalā tasya pārśvataḥ ṛtau mohanamāsādya vyāsātsatyavatīsutāt

Then, at his side, Pingala, attaining conception in her fertile season from Vyasa, the son of Satyavati, became pregnant.

Verse 13 (skanda.6.147.13)

अथ याति परां वृद्धिं स गर्भस्तत्र संस्थितः ॥ उदरे व्यासभार्यायाः शुक्लपक्षे यथा शशी

atha yāti parāṁ vṛddhiṁ sa garbhastatra saṁsthitaḥ udare vyāsabhāryāyāḥ śuklapakṣe yathā śaśī

Then that fetus, resting in Vyasa's wife's womb, began to grow steadily greater, like the moon waxing in the bright fortnight.

Verse 14 (skanda.6.147.14)

एवं संगच्छतस्तस्य वृद्धिं गर्भस्य नित्यशः ॥ द्वादशाब्दा अतिक्रांता न जन्म समवाप्नुयात्

evaṁ saṁgacchatastasya vṛddhiṁ garbhasya nityaśaḥ dvādaśābdā atikrāṁtā na janma samavāpnuyāt

Thus, as that fetus continued growing day by day, twelve years passed, yet it did not attain birth.

Verse 15 (skanda.6.147.15)

यत्किंचिच्छृणुते तत्र गर्भस्थोऽहि वचः क्वचित् ॥ तत्सर्वं हृदिसंस्थं च चक्रे प्रज्ञासमन्वितः

yatkiṁcicchṛṇute tatra garbhastho'hi vacaḥ kvacit tatsarvaṁ hṛdisaṁsthaṁ ca cakre prajñāsamanvitaḥ

Whatever words he happened to hear there while in the womb, all of that, endowed with wisdom, he fixed firmly in his heart.

Verse 16 (skanda.6.147.16)

वेदाः सांगाः समाधीता गर्भवासेऽपि तेन च ॥ स्मृतयश्च पुराणानि मोक्षशास्त्राणि कृत्स्नशः

vedāḥ sāṁgāḥ samādhītā garbhavāse'pi tena ca smṛtayaśca purāṇāni mokṣaśāstrāṇi kṛtsnaśaḥ

Even while dwelling in the womb, he mastered the Vedas together with their limbs, the Smritis, the Puranas, and all the scriptures of liberation.

Verse 17 (skanda.6.147.17)

तत्रस्थोऽपि दिवा नक्तं स्वाध्यायं प्रकरोति सः ॥ न च जन्मोत्थजां बुद्धिं कथंचिदपि चिंतयेत्

tatrastho'pi divā naktaṁ svādhyāyaṁ prakaroti saḥ na ca janmotthajāṁ buddhiṁ kathaṁcidapi ciṁtayet

Remaining there, he continued his study day and night, and gave not the slightest thought to the notion of being born.

Verse 18 (skanda.6.147.18)

सापि माता परा पीडां नित्यं याति तथाकुला ॥ यथायथा स संयाति वृद्धिं जठरमाश्रितः

sāpi mātā parā pīḍāṁ nityaṁ yāti tathākulā yathāyathā sa saṁyāti vṛddhiṁ jaṭharamāśritaḥ

His mother too, as he, resting in her womb, continued to grow, became increasingly distressed, overcome with great suffering.

Verse 19 (skanda.6.147.19)

ततश्च विस्मयाविष्टो व्यासो वचनमब्रवीत् ॥ कस्त्वं मद्गृहिणीकुक्षौ प्रविष्टो गर्भरूपधृक्

tataśca vismayāviṣṭo vyāso vacanamabravīt kastvaṁ madgṛhiṇīkukṣau praviṣṭo garbharūpadhṛk

Then, filled with astonishment, Vyasa spoke: Who are you, who, taking the form of a fetus, have entered my wife's womb?

Verse 20 (skanda.6.147.20)

न निष्क्रामसि कस्मात्त्वं किमेतां सूदयिष्यसि ॥ ॥ ॥ गर्भ उवाच ॥ ॥ राक्षसोऽहं पिशाचोहं देवोऽहं मानुषस्तथा

na niṣkrāmasi kasmāttvaṁ kimetāṁ sūdayiṣyasi garbha uvāca rākṣaso'haṁ piśācohaṁ devo'haṁ mānuṣastathā

Why do you not come out? Will you kill her? The fetus said: I am a rakshasa, I am a pishacha, I am a god, and I am also a human.

Verse 21 (skanda.6.147.21)

गजोऽहं तुरगश्चापि कुक्कुटश्छाग एव च ॥ योनीनां चतुराशीतिसहस्राणि च संख्यया

gajo'haṁ turagaścāpi kukkuṭaśchāga eva ca yonīnāṁ caturāśītisahasrāṇi ca saṁkhyayā

I am an elephant, and also a horse, a rooster, and even a goat; among the reckoning of the eighty-four hundred thousand wombs —

Verse 22 (skanda.6.147.22)

भ्रांतोऽहं तेषु सर्वेषु तत्कोऽहं प्रब्रवीमि किम् ॥ सांप्रतं मानुषो भूत्वा जठरं समुपाश्रितः

bhrāṁto'haṁ teṣu sarveṣu tatko'haṁ prabravīmi kim sāṁprataṁ mānuṣo bhūtvā jaṭharaṁ samupāśritaḥ

I have wandered through all of them; so what shall I say I truly am? Just now, having become a human, I have taken refuge in this womb.

Verse 23 (skanda.6.147.23)

मानुषं न करिष्यामि निष्कामं च कथंचन ॥ निर्विष्टो भ्रममाणोऽत्र संसारे दारुणे ततः

mānuṣaṁ na kariṣyāmi niṣkāmaṁ ca kathaṁcana nirviṣṭo bhramamāṇo'tra saṁsāre dāruṇe tataḥ

I shall never bring this to a human birth free of all desire (I refuse to be born), for, having entered it, I have long wandered in this terrible round of existence.

Verse 24 (skanda.6.147.24)

अत्रस्थो भवनिर्मुक्तो योगाभ्यासरतः सदा ॥ मोक्षमार्गं प्रयास्यामि स्थानान्मोक्षमसंशयम्

atrastho bhavanirmukto yogābhyāsarataḥ sadā mokṣamārgaṁ prayāsyāmi sthānānmokṣamasaṁśayam

Remaining right here, freed from worldly bondage, ever devoted to the practice of yoga, I shall attain the path of liberation, liberation itself, without doubt, from this very place.

Verse 25 (skanda.6.147.25)

तावज्ज्ञानं च वैराग्यं पूर्वजातिस्मृतिर्यथा ॥ यावद्गर्भस्थितो जन्तुः सर्वोऽपि द्विजसत्तम

tāvajjñānaṁ ca vairāgyaṁ pūrvajātismṛtiryathā yāvadgarbhasthito jantuḥ sarvo'pi dvijasattama

O best of the twice-born, knowledge, dispassion, and the memory of former births — all these persist only for as long as any being remains within the womb.

Verse 26 (skanda.6.147.26)

यदा गर्भाद्विनिष्क्रांतः स्पृश्यते विष्णुमायया ॥ तदा नाशं व्रजत्याशु सत्यमेतदसंशयम्

yadā garbhādviniṣkrāṁtaḥ spṛśyate viṣṇumāyayā tadā nāśaṁ vrajatyāśu satyametadasaṁśayam

But once he emerges from the womb and is touched by Vishnu's illusion, that knowledge is at once destroyed — this is true, without any doubt.

Verse 27 (skanda.6.147.27)

तस्मान्नाहं द्विजश्रेष्ठ निष्क्रमिष्ये कथंचन ॥ गर्भादस्मात्प्रयास्यामि स्थानान्मोक्षमसंशयम्

tasmānnāhaṁ dvijaśreṣṭha niṣkramiṣye kathaṁcana garbhādasmātprayāsyāmi sthānānmokṣamasaṁśayam

Therefore, O best of the twice-born, I shall never in any way emerge from this womb; from this very place, from this very womb, I shall attain liberation, without doubt.

Verse 28 (skanda.6.147.28)

॥ व्यास उवाच ॥ ॥ न भविष्यति ते माया वैष्णवी सा कथंचन ॥ सुघोरान्नरकादस्मान्निष्क्रमस्व विगर्हितात्

vyāsa uvāca na bhaviṣyati te māyā vaiṣṇavī sā kathaṁcana sughorānnarakādasmānniṣkramasva vigarhitāt

Vyasa said: That Vaishnava illusion shall in no way touch you; therefore, come out from this most terrible, despicable hell (of the womb).

Verse 29 (skanda.6.147.29)

गर्भवासात्ततो योगं समाश्रित्य शिवं व्रज ॥ तस्माद्दर्शय मे वक्त्रं स्वकीयं येन मे भवेत् ॥ आनृण्यं पितृलोकस्य तव वक्त्रस्य दर्शनात्

garbhavāsāttato yogaṁ samāśritya śivaṁ vraja tasmāddarśaya me vaktraṁ svakīyaṁ yena me bhavet ānṛṇyaṁ pitṛlokasya tava vaktrasya darśanāt

Leaving the abode of the womb, then, taking refuge in yoga, go to the auspicious state; therefore show me your own face, so that, by the sight of your face, I may be freed of my debt to the world of the ancestors.

Verse 30 (skanda.6.147.30)

॥ गर्भ उवाच ॥ ॥ वासुदेवं प्रतिभुवं यदि मे त्वं प्रयच्छसि ॥ इदानीं यत्स्वयं तन्मे जन्म स्यान्नान्यथा द्विज

garbha uvāca vāsudevaṁ pratibhuvaṁ yadi me tvaṁ prayacchasi idānīṁ yatsvayaṁ tanme janma syānnānyathā dvija

The fetus said: If you give me Vasudeva himself as surety, then my birth may occur now — otherwise not, O brahmin.

Verse 31 (skanda.6.147.31)

॥ सूत उवाच ॥ ॥ ततो व्यासो द्रुतं गत्वा द्वारकां प्रति दुःखितः ॥ कथयामास वृत्तांतं विस्तराच्चक्रपाणिने

sūta uvāca tato vyāso drutaṁ gatvā dvārakāṁ prati duḥkhitaḥ kathayāmāsa vṛttāṁtaṁ vistarāccakrapāṇine

Suta said: Then Vyasa, grieved, went swiftly to Dvaraka, and related to Chakrapani (Krishna) the whole matter in full.

Verse 32 (skanda.6.147.32)

तेनैव सहितः पश्चात्स्वगृहं पुनरागतः ॥ व्यासः प्रतिभुवं तस्मै दातुं विष्णुं निरंजनम्

tenaiva sahitaḥ paścātsvagṛhaṁ punarāgataḥ vyāsaḥ pratibhuvaṁ tasmai dātuṁ viṣṇuṁ niraṁjanam

Thereafter, together with him, Vyasa returned once more to his own home, that he might give the stainless Vishnu to him as surety.

Verse 33 (skanda.6.147.33)

॥ श्रीकृष्ण उवाच ॥ ॥ प्रतिभूरस्मि नाशाय मायायास्तव निर्गमे ॥ मद्वाक्यान्निष्क्रमं कृत्वा गच्छ मोक्षमनुत्तमम्

śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca pratibhūrasmi nāśāya māyāyāstava nirgame madvākyānniṣkramaṁ kṛtvā gaccha mokṣamanuttamam

Shri Krishna said: I am surety for the destruction of your illusion upon your emergence; therefore, coming forth at my word, go to supreme liberation.

Verse 34 (skanda.6.147.34)

ततो द्रुतं विनिष्क्रांतो विष्णुवाक्येन स द्विजाः ॥ द्वादशाब्दप्रमाणस्तु यौवनस्य समीपगः

tato drutaṁ viniṣkrāṁto viṣṇuvākyena sa dvijāḥ dvādaśābdapramāṇastu yauvanasya samīpagaḥ

O brahmins, then, at Vishnu's word, he swiftly emerged, twelve years of age, already nearing youth.

Verse 35 (skanda.6.147.35)

ततः प्रणम्य दैत्यारिं व्यासं च जननीं तथा ॥ प्रस्थितो वनवासाय तत्क्षणाद्व्यासनंदनः

tataḥ praṇamya daityāriṁ vyāsaṁ ca jananīṁ tathā prasthito vanavāsāya tatkṣaṇādvyāsanaṁdanaḥ

Then, bowing to the enemy of the daityas (Vishnu), to Vyasa, and to his mother, that son of Vyasa set out that very instant to dwell in the forest.

Verse 36 (skanda.6.147.36)

अथ तं स मुनिः प्राह तिष्ठ पुत्रात्ममंदिरे ॥ संस्काराञ्जातकाद्यांश्च येन ते प्रकरोम्यहम्

atha taṁ sa muniḥ prāha tiṣṭha putrātmamaṁdire saṁskārāñjātakādyāṁśca yena te prakaromyaham

Then that sage said to him: O son, remain in your own home, so that I may perform for you the birth-rite and other sacraments.

Verse 37 (skanda.6.147.37)

॥ शिशुरुवाच ॥ ॥ संस्काराः शतशो जाता मम जन्मनिजन्मनि ॥ भवार्णवे परिक्षिप्तो यैरहं बन्धनात्मकैः

śiśuruvāca saṁskārāḥ śataśo jātā mama janmanijanmani bhavārṇave parikṣipto yairahaṁ bandhanātmakaiḥ

The child said: Hundreds of sacraments have been performed for me birth after birth — bonds by which I have again and again been cast into this ocean of worldly existence.

Verse 38 (skanda.6.147.38)

॥ श्रीभगवानुवाच ॥ ॥ शुकवज्जल्पते यस्मात्तवायं पुत्रको मुने ॥ तस्माच्छुकोऽयं नाम्नास्तु योगविद्याविचक्षणः

śrībhagavānuvāca śukavajjalpate yasmāttavāyaṁ putrako mune tasmācchuko'yaṁ nāmnāstu yogavidyāvicakṣaṇaḥ

The Blessed Lord said: O sage, since this son of yours chatters like a parrot (shuka), let his name be Shuka — one skilled in the science of yoga.

Verse 39 (skanda.6.147.39)

नायं स्थास्यति हर्म्ये स्वे मोहमायाविवर्जितः ॥ तस्माद्गच्छतु मा स्नेहं त्वं कुरुष्वास्य संभवम्

nāyaṁ sthāsyati harmye sve mohamāyāvivarjitaḥ tasmādgacchatu mā snehaṁ tvaṁ kuruṣvāsya saṁbhavam

Free of delusion's illusion, he will not remain in his own home; therefore let him go — do not fasten your affection upon his existence.

Verse 40 (skanda.6.147.40)

अहं गृहं प्रयास्यामि त्वं मुक्तः पैतृकादृणात्॥ दर्शनादेव पुत्रस्य सत्यमेतन्मयोदितम्

ahaṁ gṛhaṁ prayāsyāmi tvaṁ muktaḥ paitṛkādṛṇāt darśanādeva putrasya satyametanmayoditam

I now go to my own abode; by the mere sight of your son you have already been freed from your debt to the ancestors — this I have spoken truly.

Verse 41 (skanda.6.147.41)

एवमुक्त्वा हृषीकेशो व्यासमामंत्र्य सत्वरम्॥ विहगाधिपमारूढः प्रययौ द्वारकां प्रति

evamuktvā hṛṣīkeśo vyāsamāmaṁtrya satvaram vihagādhipamārūḍhaḥ prayayau dvārakāṁ prati

Having said this, Hrishikesha, quickly taking leave of Vyasa, mounted the lord of birds (Garuda) and departed for Dvaraka.

Verse 42 (skanda.6.147.42)

ततो गते हृषीकेशे व्यासः पुत्रमुवाच ह ॥ प्रस्थितं वनवासाय निःस्पृहं स्वगृहं प्रति

tato gate hṛṣīkeśe vyāsaḥ putramuvāca ha prasthitaṁ vanavāsāya niḥspṛhaṁ svagṛhaṁ prati

When Hrishikesha had departed, Vyasa spoke to his son, who was setting out for the forest, indifferent to his own home.

Verse 43 (skanda.6.147.43)

॥ व्यास उवाच॥ ॥ गृहस्थधर्मरिक्तानां पितृवाक्यं प्रणश्यति ॥ पितृवाक्यं तु यो मोहान्नैव सम्यक्समाचरेत्॥ स याति नरकं तस्मान्मद्वाक्यात्पुत्र मा व्रज

vyāsa uvāca gṛhasthadharmariktānāṁ pitṛvākyaṁ praṇaśyati pitṛvākyaṁ tu yo mohānnaiva samyaksamācaret sa yāti narakaṁ tasmānmadvākyātputra mā vraja

Vyasa said: For those devoid of the householder's duty, a father's word comes to nothing; but he who, through delusion, does not properly heed his father's word, goes to hell — therefore, O son, at my word, do not go.

Verse 44 (skanda.6.147.44)

॥ शुक उवाच ॥ ॥ यथाद्याहं त्वया जातो मया त्वं चान्यजन्मनि ॥ संजातोऽसि मुनिश्रेष्ठ तथाहमपि ते पिता

śuka uvāca yathādyāhaṁ tvayā jāto mayā tvaṁ cānyajanmani saṁjāto'si muniśreṣṭha tathāhamapi te pitā

Shuka said: O foremost of sages, just as I have today been born of you, so too, in some other birth, you were born of me; thus I too am your father.

Verse 45 (skanda.6.147.45)

तस्माद्वाक्यं त्वया कार्यं यद्येषा धर्मसंस्थितिः ॥ नाहं निषेधनीयस्तु व्रजमानस्तपोवनम्

tasmādvākyaṁ tvayā kāryaṁ yadyeṣā dharmasaṁsthitiḥ nāhaṁ niṣedhanīyastu vrajamānastapovanam

Therefore, if this is indeed the order of dharma, then it is you who should heed my word; I ought not to be forbidden as I go forth to the forest of austerity.

Verse 46 (skanda.6.147.46)

॥ व्यास उवाच ॥ ॥ ब्राह्मणस्य गृहे जन्म पुण्यैः संप्राप्यते नृभिः ॥ संस्कारान्यत्र संप्राप्य वेदोक्तान्मुनिराप्यते

vyāsa uvāca brāhmaṇasya gṛhe janma puṇyaiḥ saṁprāpyate nṛbhiḥ saṁskārānyatra saṁprāpya vedoktānmunirāpyate

Vyasa said: Only through merit does a man obtain birth in a brahmin's house; only there, receiving the sacraments prescribed by the Veda, does one attain the state of a sage.

Verse 47 (skanda.6.147.47)

॥ शुक उवाच ॥ ॥ संस्कारैराप्यते मुक्तिर्यदि कर्म शुभं विना ॥ पाखंडिनोऽपि यास्यंति तन्मुक्तिं व्रतधारिणः

śuka uvāca saṁskārairāpyate muktiryadi karma śubhaṁ vinā pākhaṁḍino'pi yāsyaṁti tanmuktiṁ vratadhāriṇaḥ

Shuka said: If liberation is attained through sacraments alone, without good deeds, then even hypocrites bearing outward vows would attain that liberation.

Verse 48 (skanda.6.147.48)

॥ व्यास उवाच ॥ ॥ ब्रह्मचारी भवेत्पूर्वं गृहस्थश्च ततः परम् ॥ वानप्रस्थो यतिश्चैव ततो मोक्षमवाप्नुयात्

vyāsa uvāca brahmacārī bhavetpūrvaṁ gṛhasthaśca tataḥ param vānaprastho yatiścaiva tato mokṣamavāpnuyāt

Vyasa said: First one should be a celibate student, then a householder, thereafter a forest-dweller, and finally a renunciant — in this order alone is liberation attained.

Verse 49 (skanda.6.147.49)

॥ शुक उवाच ॥ ॥ ब्रह्मचर्येण चेन्मोक्षस्तत्षण्ढानां सदा भवेत् ॥ गृहस्थाश्रमिणां चेत्स्यात्तत्सर्वं मुच्यते जगत्

śuka uvāca brahmacaryeṇa cenmokṣastatṣaṇḍhānāṁ sadā bhavet gṛhasthāśramiṇāṁ cetsyāttatsarvaṁ mucyate jagat

Shuka said: If liberation comes through celibacy alone, then eunuchs would always attain it; and if it comes through the householder's stage alone, then the entire world would be liberated.

Verse 50 (skanda.6.147.50)

अथवा वनरक्तानां तन्मृगाणां प्रजायते

athavā vanaraktānāṁ tanmṛgāṇāṁ prajāyate

Or, if it comes to those devoted to the forest, then it would come to the very deer of the forest as well.

Verse 51 (skanda.6.147.51)

अथवा यतिधर्माणां यदि मोक्षो भवेन्नृणाम् ॥ दरिद्राणां च सर्वेषां तन्मुक्तिः प्रथमा भवेत्

athavā yatidharmāṇāṁ yadi mokṣo bhavennṛṇām daridrāṇāṁ ca sarveṣāṁ tanmuktiḥ prathamā bhavet

Or, if liberation for men came through the ascetic's duty alone, then all the destitute, having nothing to renounce, would attain that liberation first of all.

Verse 52 (skanda.6.147.52)

॥ व्यास उवाच ॥ ॥ गृहस्थधर्मरक्तानां नृणां सन्मार्गगामिनाम् ॥ इह लोकः परश्चैव मनुना संप्रकीर्तितः

vyāsa uvāca gṛhasthadharmaraktānāṁ nṛṇāṁ sanmārgagāminām iha lokaḥ paraścaiva manunā saṁprakīrtitaḥ

Vyasa said: For men devoted to the householder's duty, walking the righteous path, Manu has proclaimed the attainment of both this world and the next.

Verse 53 (skanda.6.147.53)

॥ श्रीशुक उवाच ॥ ॥ गृहगुप्तौ सुगुप्तानां बंधानां बंधुबंधनैः ॥ मोहरागसमावेशात्सन्मार्ग गमनं कुतः

śrīśuka uvāca gṛhaguptau suguptānāṁ baṁdhānāṁ baṁdhubaṁdhanaiḥ moharāgasamāveśātsanmārga gamanaṁ kutaḥ

Shri Shuka said: For those tightly bound within the home, held fast by the bonds of kinsmen, and immersed in delusion and attachment — how is walking the righteous path even possible for them?

Verse 54 (skanda.6.147.54)

॥ व्यास उवाच ॥ । कष्टं वने निवसतोऽत्र सदा नरस्य नो केवलं निजतनुप्रभवं भवेच्च । दैवं च पित्र्यमखिलं न विभाति कृत्यं तस्माद्गृहे निवसतात्महितं प्रचिन्त्यम्

vyāsa uvāca kaṣṭaṁ vane nivasato'tra sadā narasya no kevalaṁ nijatanuprabhavaṁ bhavecca daivaṁ ca pitryamakhilaṁ na vibhāti kṛtyaṁ tasmādgṛhe nivasatātmahitaṁ pracintyam

Vyasa said: For a man who dwells always in the forest, hardship arises not merely from his own body — the entire round of duties to gods and ancestors also becomes impossible for him; therefore one's own true welfare should be carefully considered while dwelling at home.

Verse 55 (skanda.6.147.55)

॥ श्रीशुकदेव उवाच ॥ ॥ भावेन भावितमहातपसां मुनीनां तिष्ठन्ति तावदखिलानि तपःफलानि ॥ यत्ते निकाशशरणाः पुरुषा न जातु पश्यंत्यसज्जनमुखानि सुखं तदेव

śrīśukadeva uvāca bhāvena bhāvitamahātapasāṁ munīnāṁ tiṣṭhanti tāvadakhilāni tapaḥphalāni yatte nikāśaśaraṇāḥ puruṣā na jātu paśyaṁtyasajjanamukhāni sukhaṁ tadeva

Shri Shukadeva said: For sages whose great austerities are steeped in true feeling, all the fruits of that austerity remain secure; men who take refuge in their presence never have to look upon the faces of the wicked — that alone is true happiness.

Verse 56 (skanda.6.147.56)

॥ व्यास उवाच ॥ ॥ गृहं परिग्रहः पुंसां गृहस्थाश्रमधर्मिणाम् ॥ इहलोके परे चैव सुखं यच्छति शाश्वतम्

vyāsa uvāca gṛhaṁ parigrahaḥ puṁsāṁ gṛhasthāśramadharmiṇām ihaloke pare caiva sukhaṁ yacchati śāśvatam

Vyasa said: For men established in the duty of the householder's stage, the household and its possessions grant lasting happiness, both in this world and the next.

Verse 57 (skanda.6.147.57)

॥ श्रीशुक उवाच ॥ ॥ शीतं हुताशादपि दैवयोगात्सञ्जायते चन्द्रमसोऽपि तापः ॥ परिग्रहात्सौख्यसमुद्भवोऽत्र भूतोऽभवद्भावि न मर्त्यलोके

śrīśuka uvāca śītaṁ hutāśādapi daivayogātsañjāyate candramaso'pi tāpaḥ parigrahātsaukhyasamudbhavo'tra bhūto'bhavadbhāvi na martyaloke

Shri Shuka said: By some strange chance, coolness might even arise from fire, and heat from the moon — but in this mortal world, happiness born of possessions has never occurred, does not occur, and never shall occur.

Verse 58 (skanda.6.147.58)

॥ व्यास उवाच ॥ ॥ सुपुण्यैर्लभ्यते कृच्छ्रान्मानुष्यं भुवि दुर्लभम् ॥ तस्मिँल्लब्धे न किं लब्धं यदि स्याद्गृहधर्मवित्

vyāsa uvāca supuṇyairlabhyate kṛcchrānmānuṣyaṁ bhuvi durlabham tasmi~llabdhe na kiṁ labdhaṁ yadi syādgṛhadharmavit

Vyasa said: This human birth, rare upon the earth, is obtained only with great difficulty through abundant merit; having obtained it, if one becomes versed in the householder's duty, what then remains unattained?

Verse 59 (skanda.6.147.59)

॥ श्रीशुकदेव उवाच ॥ ॥ यदि स्याज्ज्ञानसंयुक्तो जन्मकालेत्र मानवः ॥ निजावस्थां समालोक्य तज्ज्ञानं हि विलीयते

śrīśukadeva uvāca yadi syājjñānasaṁyukto janmakāletra mānavaḥ nijāvasthāṁ samālokya tajjñānaṁ hi vilīyate

Shri Shukadeva said: Even if a man were endowed with knowledge at the time of his birth, upon beholding his own condition, that very knowledge dissolves away.

Verse 60 (skanda.6.147.60)

॥ व्यास उवाच ॥ ॥ मुदितस्यापि पुत्रस्य गर्दभस्यार्भकस्य च ॥ भस्मलोलस्य लोकस्य शब्दोऽपि रटतो मुदे

vyāsa uvāca muditasyāpi putrasya gardabhasyārbhakasya ca bhasmalolasya lokasya śabdo'pi raṭato mude

Vyasa said: Even the crying voice of a delighted son, of a young donkey, or of an infant rolling in the ashes, is a source of joy to people.

Verse 61 (skanda.6.147.61)

॥ श्रीशुक उवाच ॥ ॥ रसता सर्पता धूलि लोके त्वशुचिना चिरम् ॥ मुनेऽत्र शिशुना लोकस्तुष्टिं याति स बालिशः

śrīśuka uvāca rasatā sarpatā dhūli loke tvaśucinā ciram mune'tra śiśunā lokastuṣṭiṁ yāti sa bāliśaḥ

Shri Shuka said: O sage, whoever finds contentment in this world from a child crawling long amid unclean dust is nothing but a fool.

Verse 62 (skanda.6.147.62)

॥ व्यास उवाच ॥ ॥ पुंनामास्ति महारौद्रो नरको यममन्दिरे ॥ पुत्रहीनो व्रजेत्तत्र तेन पुत्रः प्रशस्यते

vyāsa uvāca puṁnāmāsti mahāraudro narako yamamandire putrahīno vrajettatra tena putraḥ praśasyate

Vyasa said: In Yama's abode there is a most terrible hell called "Pum," to which one without a son goes; for this reason a son is praised.

Verse 63 (skanda.6.147.63)

॥ श्रीशुक उवाच ॥ ॥ यदि स्यात्पुत्रतः स्वर्गः सर्वेषां स्यान्महामुने ॥ शूकराणां शुनां चैव शलभानां विशेषतः

śrīśuka uvāca yadi syātputrataḥ svargaḥ sarveṣāṁ syānmahāmune śūkarāṇāṁ śunāṁ caiva śalabhānāṁ viśeṣataḥ

Shri Shuka said: O great sage, if heaven were attained merely by having a son, then heaven would belong to all — to pigs, to dogs, and especially to locusts.

Verse 64 (skanda.6.147.64)

॥ व्यास उवाच ॥ ॥ पितॄणामनृणो मर्त्यो जायते पुत्रदर्शनात् ॥ पौत्रस्यापि च देवानां प्रपौत्रस्य दिवाश्रयः

vyāsa uvāca pitṝṇāmanṛṇo martyo jāyate putradarśanāt pautrasyāpi ca devānāṁ prapautrasya divāśrayaḥ

Vyasa said: By the sight of a son, a mortal is freed from his debt to the ancestors; by that of a grandson, from his debt to the gods; and by that of a great-grandson, he secures a place in heaven.

Verse 65 (skanda.6.147.65)

शुक उवाच ॥ ॥ चिरायुर्ज्जायते गृध्रः संततिं पश्यते निजाम् ॥ क्रमेण संततं किं न स मोक्षं प्रतिपद्यते

śuka uvāca cirāyurjjāyate gṛdhraḥ saṁtatiṁ paśyate nijām krameṇa saṁtataṁ kiṁ na sa mokṣaṁ pratipadyate

Shuka said: The vulture lives long and comes, in due course, to see its own offspring's offspring — then why, seeing them continually thus, does it not attain liberation?

Verse 66 (skanda.6.147.66)

॥ सूत उवाच ॥ ॥ एवमुक्त्वा परित्यज्य पितरं स वनं गतः ॥ मातरं च सुदुःखार्तां प्रलपन्तीमनेकधा

sūta uvāca evamuktvā parityajya pitaraṁ sa vanaṁ gataḥ mātaraṁ ca suduḥkhārtāṁ pralapantīmanekadhā

Suta said: Having said this, abandoning his father and his mother, who wept and lamented again and again in deep sorrow, he departed for the forest.

Verse 67 (skanda.6.147.67)

तं दृष्ट्वा दुःखितो व्यासो निराशः पुत्रदर्शने ॥ पुत्रशोकाभिसंतप्तो भार्यया सहितोऽभवत्

taṁ dṛṣṭvā duḥkhito vyāso nirāśaḥ putradarśane putraśokābhisaṁtapto bhāryayā sahito'bhavat

Beholding him thus depart, Vyasa, grieved, despairing of ever seeing his son again, remained together with his wife, consumed by sorrow for his son.