Devi Bhagavata Purana — Skandha 1 — Chapter 17
DB 1 17.1
शुकस्य राजमन्दिरप्रवेशवर्णनम् सूत उवाच इत्युक्त्वा पितरं पुत्रः पादयोः पतितः शुकः । बद्धाञ्जलिरुवाचेदं गन्तुकामो महामनाः
śukasya rājamandirapraveśavarṇanam sūta uvāca ityuktvā pitaraṃ putraḥ pādayoḥ patitaḥ śukaḥ | baddhāñjaliruvācedaṃ gantukāmo mahāmanāḥ
(Chapter:) The description of Śuka's entry into the king's palace. Sūta said: Having spoken thus to his father, the son Śuka fell at his feet, and with hands joined he said this, the great-minded one, wishing to go:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 17.2
आपृच्छे त्वां महाभाग ग्राह्यं ते वचनं मया । विदेहान्द्रष्टुमिच्छामि पालिताञ्जनकेन तु
āpṛcche tvāṃ mahābhāga grāhyaṃ te vacanaṃ mayā | videhāndraṣṭumicchāmi pālitāñjanakena tu
"I take leave of you, greatly fortunate one; my words must be accepted by you. I wish to see the Videhas, ruled over by Janaka.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 17.3
विना दण्डं कथं राज्यं करोति जनकः किल । धर्मे न वर्तते लोको दण्डश्चेन्न भवेद्यदि
vinā daṇḍaṃ kathaṃ rājyaṃ karoti janakaḥ kila | dharme na vartate loko daṇḍaścenna bhavedyadi
How indeed does Janaka rule the kingdom without punishment? People do not abide in dharma if there is no punishment.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 17.4
धर्मस्य कारणं दण्डो मन्वादिप्रहितः सदा । स कथं वर्तते तात संशयोऽयं महान्मम
dharmasya kāraṇaṃ daṇḍo manvādiprahitaḥ sadā | sa kathaṃ vartate tāta saṃśayo'yaṃ mahānmama
Punishment, ever ordained by Manu and the others, is the cause of dharma. How then does he govern, father? This is my great doubt.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 17.5
मम माता त्वियं वन्ध्या तद्वद्भाति विचेष्टितम् । पृच्छामि त्वां महाभाग गच्छामि च परन्तप
mama mātā tviyaṃ vandhyā tadvadbhāti viceṣṭitam | pṛcchāmi tvāṃ mahābhāga gacchāmi ca parantapa
And this mother of mine is barren — such does her behaviour appear. I ask you, greatly fortunate one, and I am going, O scorcher of foes.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
DB 1 17.6
सूत उवाच तं दृष्ट्वा गन्तुकामं च शुकं सत्यवतीसुतः । आलिङ्ग्योवाच पुत्रं तं ज्ञानिनं निःस्पृहं दृढम्
sūta uvāca taṃ dṛṣṭvā gantukāmaṃ ca śukaṃ satyavatīsutaḥ | āliṅgyovāca putraṃ taṃ jñāninaṃ niḥspṛhaṃ dṛḍham
Sūta said: Seeing Śuka wishing to go, the son of Satyavatī embraced him and spoke to that son, who was a knower, desireless and firm:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 17.7
व्यास उवाच स्वस्त्यस्तु शक दीर्घायुर्भव पुत्र महामते । सत्यां वाचं प्रदत्त्वा मे गच्छ तात यथासुखम्
vyāsa uvāca svastyastu śaka dīrghāyurbhava putra mahāmate | satyāṃ vācaṃ pradattvā me gaccha tāta yathāsukham
Vyāsa said: May there be well-being for you, Śuka; be long-lived, O son of great mind. Having given me a true promise, go, my child, as you please.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 17.8
आगन्तव्यं पुनर्गत्वा ममाश्रममनुत्तमम् । न कुत्रापि च गन्तव्यं त्वया पुत्र कथञ्चन
āgantavyaṃ punargatvā mamāśramamanuttamam | na kutrāpi ca gantavyaṃ tvayā putra kathañcana
Having gone, you must come again to my most excellent hermitage; and you must not go anywhere else at all, my son, on any account.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 17.9
सुखं जीवामि पुत्राहं दृष्ट्वा ते मुखपङ्कजम् । अपश्यन्दुःखमाप्नोमि प्राणस्त्वमसि मे सुत
sukhaṃ jīvāmi putrāhaṃ dṛṣṭvā te mukhapaṅkajam | apaśyanduḥkhamāpnomi prāṇastvamasi me suta
I live happily, son, seeing your lotus face; not seeing it, I come to grief. You are my life-breath, child.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 17.10
दृष्ट्वा त्वं जनकं पुत्र सन्देहं विनिवर्त्य च । अत्रागत्य सुखं तिष्ठ वेदाध्ययनतत्परः
dṛṣṭvā tvaṃ janakaṃ putra sandehaṃ vinivartya ca | atrāgatya sukhaṃ tiṣṭha vedādhyayanatatparaḥ
Having seen Janaka, my son, and having dispelled your doubt, come here and dwell happily, devoted to the study of the Vedas.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 17.11
सूत उवाच इत्युक्तः सोऽभिवाद्यार्यं कृत्वा चैव प्रदक्षिणाम् । चलितस्तरसातीव धनुर्मुक्तः शरो यथा
sūta uvāca ityuktaḥ so'bhivādyāryaṃ kṛtvā caiva pradakṣiṇām | calitastarasātīva dhanurmuktaḥ śaro yathā
Sūta said: Addressed thus, he saluted his venerable (father) and circled him to the right, and set off exceedingly swiftly, like an arrow released from a bow.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 17.12
सम्पश्यन्विविधान्देशाँल्लोकांश्च वित्तधर्मिणः । वनानि पादपांश्चैव क्षेत्राणि फलितानि च
sampaśyanvividhāndeśā~llokāṃśca vittadharmiṇaḥ | vanāni pādapāṃścaiva kṣetrāṇi phalitāni ca
Beholding various lands and peoples whose dharma was wealth, and forests and trees and fields bearing fruit,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 17.13
तापसांस्तप्यमानांश्च याजकान्दीक्षयान्वितान् । योगाभ्यासरतान्योगिवानप्रस्थान्वनौकसः
tāpasāṃstapyamānāṃśca yājakāndīkṣayānvitān | yogābhyāsaratānyogivānaprasthānvanaukasaḥ
and ascetics practising austerities, and sacrificers furnished with consecration, and yogins devoted to the practice of yoga, forest-dwellers (vānaprasthas) living in the woods,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 17.14
शैवान्पाशुपतांश्चैव सौराञ्छाक्तांश्च वैष्णवान् । वीक्ष्य नानाविधान्धर्माञ्जगामातिस्मयन्मुनिः
śaivānpāśupatāṃścaiva saurāñchāktāṃśca vaiṣṇavān | vīkṣya nānāvidhāndharmāñjagāmātismayanmuniḥ
and Śaivas and Pāśupatas, Sauras, Śāktas and Vaiṣṇavas — seeing these manifold religious ways, the sage went on, greatly amazed.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 17.15
वर्षद्वयेन मेरुं च समुल्लङ्घ्य महामतिः । हिमाचलं च वर्षेण जगाम मिथिलां प्रति
varṣadvayena meruṃ ca samullaṅghya mahāmatiḥ | himācalaṃ ca varṣeṇa jagāma mithilāṃ prati
In two years the greatly wise one crossed over Meru, and in (another) year the Himālaya, and went on toward Mithilā.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 17.16
प्रविष्टो मिथिलां मध्ये पश्यन्सर्वर्द्धिमुत्तमाम् । प्रजाश्च सुखिताः सर्वाः सदाचाराः सुसंस्थिताः
praviṣṭo mithilāṃ madhye paśyansarvarddhimuttamām | prajāśca sukhitāḥ sarvāḥ sadācārāḥ susaṃsthitāḥ
He entered into the midst of Mithilā, seeing its supreme and complete prosperity; and all the subjects were happy, of good conduct, well settled.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 17.17
क्षत्रा निवारितस्तत्र कस्त्वमत्र समागतः । किं ते कार्यं वदस्वेति पृष्टस्तेन न चाब्रवीत् प्रथमस्कन्धे शुकस्य राजमन्दिरप्रवेशवर्णनं नाम सप्तदशोऽध्यायः
kṣatrā nivāritastatra kastvamatra samāgataḥ | kiṃ te kāryaṃ vadasveti pṛṣṭastena na cābravīt prathamaskandhe śukasya rājamandirapraveśavarṇanaṃ nāma saptadaśo'dhyāyaḥ
There he was stopped by a guard: "Who are you who have come here? What is your business? Speak" — thus questioned by him, he said nothing. (Thus ends) the seventeenth chapter in the first book, called the description of Śuka's entry into the king's palace.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 17.18
निःसृत्य नगरद्वारात्स्थितः स्थाणुरिवाचलः । विस्मितोऽतिहसंस्तस्थौ वचो नोवाच किञ्चन
niḥsṛtya nagaradvārātsthitaḥ sthāṇurivācalaḥ | vismito'tihasaṃstasthau vaco novāca kiñcana
Having come out from the city gate, he stood motionless like a post; amazed, laughing greatly, he stood and spoke not a word.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 17.19
प्रतीहार उवाच ब्रूहि मूकोऽसि किं ब्रह्मन्किमर्थं त्वमिहागतः । चलनं च विना कार्यं न भवेदिति मे मतिः
pratīhāra uvāca brūhi mūko'si kiṃ brahmankimarthaṃ tvamihāgataḥ | calanaṃ ca vinā kāryaṃ na bhavediti me matiḥ
The gatekeeper said: Speak! Are you mute, brahmin? For what purpose have you come here? And it is my view that there can be no going about without some errand.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 17.20
राजाज्ञया प्रवेष्टव्यं नगरेऽस्मिन्सदा द्विज । अज्ञातकुलशीलस्य प्रवेशो नात्र सर्वथा
rājājñayā praveṣṭavyaṃ nagare'sminsadā dvija | ajñātakulaśīlasya praveśo nātra sarvathā
Twice-born one, this city is always to be entered (only) by the king's permission; there is no entry here at all for one whose family and character are unknown.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 17.21
तेजस्वी भासि नूनं त्वं ब्राह्मणो वेदवित्तमः । कुलं कार्यं च मे ब्रूहि यथेष्टं गच्छ मानद
tejasvī bhāsi nūnaṃ tvaṃ brāhmaṇo vedavittamaḥ | kulaṃ kāryaṃ ca me brūhi yatheṣṭaṃ gaccha mānada
You surely appear radiant, a brahmin, most learned in the Vedas. Tell me your lineage and your business, and then go as you please, O giver of honour.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 17.22
शुक उवाच यदर्थमागतोऽस्म्यत्र तत्प्राप्तं वचनात्तव । विदेहनगरं द्रष्टुं प्रवेशो यत्र दुर्लभः
śuka uvāca yadarthamāgato'smyatra tatprāptaṃ vacanāttava | videhanagaraṃ draṣṭuṃ praveśo yatra durlabhaḥ
Śuka said: That for which I came here has been obtained from your words — to see the city of Videha, where entry is hard to get.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 17.23
मोहोऽयं मम दुर्बुद्धेः समुल्लङ्घ्य गिरिद्वयम् । राजानं द्रष्टुकामोऽहं पर्यटन्समुपागतः
moho'yaṃ mama durbuddheḥ samullaṅghya giridvayam | rājānaṃ draṣṭukāmo'haṃ paryaṭansamupāgataḥ
This is the delusion of me, the dull-witted one: having crossed over two mountains, wishing to see the king, I have come here wandering about.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 17.24
वञ्चितोऽहं स्वयं पित्रा दूषणं कस्य दीयते । भ्रामितोऽहं महाभाग कर्मणा वा महीतले
vañcito'haṃ svayaṃ pitrā dūṣaṇaṃ kasya dīyate | bhrāmito'haṃ mahābhāga karmaṇā vā mahītale
I have been deceived by my own father — to whom is the blame to be given? Or I have been made to wander over the earth by (my past) actions, O greatly fortunate one.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 17.25
धनाशा पुरुषस्येह परिभ्रमणकारणम् । सा मे नास्ति तथाप्यत्र सम्प्राप्तोऽस्मि भ्रमात्किल
dhanāśā puruṣasyeha paribhramaṇakāraṇam | sā me nāsti tathāpyatra samprāpto'smi bhramātkila
The hope of wealth is here the cause of a man's wandering about; I have no such (hope), yet I have arrived here, indeed out of confusion.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 17.26
निराशस्य सुखं नित्यं यदि मोहे न मज्जति । निराशोऽहं महाभाग मग्नोऽस्मिन्मोहसागरे
nirāśasya sukhaṃ nityaṃ yadi mohe na majjati | nirāśo'haṃ mahābhāga magno'sminmohasāgare
One without desire has constant happiness, if he does not sink into delusion; I am without desire, O greatly fortunate one, (yet) sunk in this ocean of delusion.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 17.27
क्व मेरुर्मिथिला क्वेयं पद्भ्यां च समुपागतः । परिश्रमफलं किं मे वञ्चितो विधिना किल
kva merurmithilā kveyaṃ padbhyāṃ ca samupāgataḥ | pariśramaphalaṃ kiṃ me vañcito vidhinā kila
Where is Meru, where this Mithilā — and (I) have come on foot! What is the fruit of my toil? Indeed I have been deceived by fate.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 17.28
प्रारब्धं किल भोक्तव्यं शुभं वाप्यथवाशुभम् । उद्यमस्तद्वशे नित्यं कारयत्येव सर्वथा
prārabdhaṃ kila bhoktavyaṃ śubhaṃ vāpyathavāśubham | udyamastadvaśe nityaṃ kārayatyeva sarvathā
What has begun (as karma) must surely be experienced, whether good or bad; effort too is always in its power — it (fate) certainly makes (one) act in every way.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 17.29
न तीर्थं न च वेदोऽत्र यदर्थमिह मे श्रमः । अप्रवेशः पुरे जातो विदेहो नाम भूपतिः
na tīrthaṃ na ca vedo'tra yadarthamiha me śramaḥ | apraveśaḥ pure jāto videho nāma bhūpatiḥ
There is neither a sacred ford nor a Veda here, for which my toil (would be worthwhile); (yet) there is no entry into the city — the king is named Videha.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
DB 1 17.30
इत्युक्त्या विररामाशु मौनीभूत इव स्थितः । ज्ञातो हि प्रतिहारेण ज्ञानी कश्चिद्द्विजोत्तमः
ityuktyā virarāmāśu maunībhūta iva sthitaḥ | jñāto hi pratihāreṇa jñānī kaściddvijottamaḥ
Having spoken thus he at once fell silent and stood as though become a keeper of silence. And the gatekeeper recognized (him as) some man of knowledge, a foremost twice-born.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 17.31
सामपूर्वमुवाचासौ तं क्षत्ता संस्थितं मुनिम् । गच्छ भो यत्र ते कार्यं यथेष्टं द्विजसत्तम
sāmapūrvamuvācāsau taṃ kṣattā saṃsthitaṃ munim | gaccha bho yatra te kāryaṃ yatheṣṭaṃ dvijasattama
That gatekeeper spoke to the sage standing there, beginning with conciliation: Go, sir, wherever your business is, as you please, O best of the twice-born.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 17.32
अपराधो मम ब्रह्मन्यन्निवारितवानहम् । तत्क्षन्तव्यं महाभाग विमुक्तानां क्षमा बलम्
aparādho mama brahmanyannivāritavānaham | tatkṣantavyaṃ mahābhāga vimuktānāṃ kṣamā balam
The fault is mine, brahmin, in that I turned you back; that should be forgiven, O greatly fortunate one — forbearance is the strength of the liberated.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 17.33
शुक उवाच किं तेऽत्र दूषणं क्षत्तः परतन्त्रोऽसि सर्वदा । प्रभुकार्यं प्रकर्तव्यं सेवकेन यथोचितम्
śuka uvāca kiṃ te'tra dūṣaṇaṃ kṣattaḥ paratantro'si sarvadā | prabhukāryaṃ prakartavyaṃ sevakena yathocitam
Śuka said: What fault is yours in this, gatekeeper? You are always dependent on another. The master's business must be carried out by a servant as is fitting.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 17.34
न भूपदूषणं चात्र यदहं रक्षितस्त्वया । चोरशत्रुपरिज्ञानं कर्तव्यं सर्वथा बुधैः
na bhūpadūṣaṇaṃ cātra yadahaṃ rakṣitastvayā | coraśatruparijñānaṃ kartavyaṃ sarvathā budhaiḥ
Nor is there fault in the king here, in that I was kept out by you; the recognizing of thieves and enemies must in every way be done by the wise.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 17.35
ममैव सर्वथा दोषो यदहं समुपागतः । गमनं परगेहे यल्लघुतायाश्च कारणम्
mamaiva sarvathā doṣo yadahaṃ samupāgataḥ | gamanaṃ paragehe yallaghutāyāśca kāraṇam
The fault is entirely mine alone, in that I came here; for going to another's house is the cause of being belittled.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 17.36
प्रतीहार उवाच किं सुखं द्विज किं दुःखं किं कार्यं शुभमिच्छता । कः शत्रुर्हितकर्ता को ब्रूहि सर्वं ममाद्य वै
pratīhāra uvāca kiṃ sukhaṃ dvija kiṃ duḥkhaṃ kiṃ kāryaṃ śubhamicchatā | kaḥ śatrurhitakartā ko brūhi sarvaṃ mamādya vai
The gatekeeper said: What is happiness, twice-born one, what is sorrow, what should be done by one who desires good? Who is an enemy, who a doer of good? Tell me all this today.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 17.37
शुक उवाच द्वैविध्यं सर्वलोकेषु सर्वत्र द्विविधो जनः । रागी चैव विरागी च तयोश्चित्तं द्विधा पुनः
śuka uvāca dvaividhyaṃ sarvalokeṣu sarvatra dvividho janaḥ | rāgī caiva virāgī ca tayościttaṃ dvidhā punaḥ
Śuka said: There is a twofoldness among all people; everywhere folk are of two kinds — the passionate and the dispassionate; and the mind of these two is again twofold.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 17.38
विरागी त्रिविधः कामं ज्ञातोऽज्ञातश्च मध्यमः । रागी च द्विविधः प्रोक्तो मूर्खश्च चतुरस्तथा
virāgī trividhaḥ kāmaṃ jñāto'jñātaśca madhyamaḥ | rāgī ca dvividhaḥ prokto mūrkhaśca caturastathā
The dispassionate man is indeed of three kinds: the knowing, the ignorant, and the middling; and the passionate man is said to be of two kinds: the fool and likewise the clever one.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 17.39
चातुर्यं द्विविधं प्रोक्तं शास्त्रजं मतिजं तथा । मतिस्तु द्विविधा लोके युक्तायुक्तेति सर्वथा
cāturyaṃ dvividhaṃ proktaṃ śāstrajaṃ matijaṃ tathā | matistu dvividhā loke yuktāyukteti sarvathā
Cleverness is said to be of two kinds: born of the scriptures and born of (one's own) intelligence; and intelligence in the world is in every way of two kinds, as fit and unfit.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 17.40
प्रतीहार उवाच यदुक्तं भवता विद्वन्नार्थज्ञोऽहं द्विजोत्तम । तत्सर्वं विस्तरेणाद्य यथार्थं वद सत्तम
pratīhāra uvāca yaduktaṃ bhavatā vidvannārthajño'haṃ dvijottama | tatsarvaṃ vistareṇādya yathārthaṃ vada sattama
The doorkeeper said: What has been said by you, O learned one—that I do not know the meaning, O best of the twice-born—all that tell me today in detail and according to its true sense, O most excellent one.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 17.41
शुक उवाच रागो यस्यास्ति संसारे स रागीत्युच्यते ध्रुवम् । दुःखं बहुविधं तस्य सुखं च विविधं पुनः
śuka uvāca rāgo yasyāsti saṃsāre sa rāgītyucyate dhruvam | duḥkhaṃ bahuvidhaṃ tasya sukhaṃ ca vividhaṃ punaḥ
Śuka said: He who has attachment to worldly existence is certainly called a passionate man; his suffering is of many kinds, and his pleasure likewise of various kinds.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 17.42
धनं प्राप्य सुतान्दारान्मानं च विजयं तथा । तदप्राप्य महद्दुःखं भवत्येव क्षणे क्षणे
dhanaṃ prāpya sutāndārānmānaṃ ca vijayaṃ tathā | tadaprāpya mahadduḥkhaṃ bhavatyeva kṣaṇe kṣaṇe
Having obtained wealth, sons, wives, honour, and victory too—when he does not obtain that, great suffering arises for him at every moment.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 17.43
कार्यस्तस्य सुखोपायः कर्तव्यं सुखसाधनम् । तस्यारातिः स विज्ञेयः सुखविघ्नं करोति यः
kāryastasya sukhopāyaḥ kartavyaṃ sukhasādhanam | tasyārātiḥ sa vijñeyaḥ sukhavighnaṃ karoti yaḥ
He must devise a means of happiness; a way of achieving happiness must be undertaken. He is to be known as his enemy who creates an obstacle to (his) happiness.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 17.44
सुखोत्पादयिता मित्रं रागयुक्तस्य सर्वदा । चतुरो नैव मुह्येत मूर्खः सर्वत्र मुह्यति
sukhotpādayitā mitraṃ rāgayuktasya sarvadā | caturo naiva muhyeta mūrkhaḥ sarvatra muhyati
For the man filled with passion, a friend is always one who produces happiness. The clever man is never deluded; the fool is deluded in everything.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 17.45
विरक्तस्यात्मरक्तस्य सुखमेकान्तसेवनम् । आत्मानुचिन्तनं चैव वेदान्तस्य च चिन्तनम्
viraktasyātmaraktasya sukhamekāntasevanam | ātmānucintanaṃ caiva vedāntasya ca cintanam
For the dispassionate man, devoted to the Self, happiness is the practice of solitude, and reflection upon the Self, and reflection upon the Vedānta.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 17.46
दुःखं तदेतत्सर्वं हि संसारकथनादिकम् । शत्रवो बहवस्तस्य विज्ञस्य शुभमिच्छतः
duḥkhaṃ tadetatsarvaṃ hi saṃsārakathanādikam | śatravo bahavastasya vijñasya śubhamicchataḥ
All this indeed is suffering for him: talk of worldly existence and the like. Many are the enemies of that wise man who desires the good.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 17.47
कामः क्रोधः प्रमादश्च शत्रवो विविधाः स्मृताः । बन्धुः सन्तोष एवास्य नान्योऽस्ति भुवनत्रये
kāmaḥ krodhaḥ pramādaśca śatravo vividhāḥ smṛtāḥ | bandhuḥ santoṣa evāsya nānyo'sti bhuvanatraye
Desire, anger, and negligence are said to be his various enemies; his kinsman is contentment alone—there is no other in the three worlds.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 17.48
सूत उवाच तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य मत्वा तं ज्ञानिनं द्विजम् । क्षत्ता प्रवेशयामास कक्षां चातिमनोरमाम्
sūta uvāca tacchrutvā vacanaṃ tasya matvā taṃ jñāninaṃ dvijam | kṣattā praveśayāmāsa kakṣāṃ cātimanoramām
Sūta said: Having heard that speech of his, and having judged that brahmin to be a knower, the doorkeeper let him enter an exceedingly delightful enclosure.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 17.49
नगरं वीक्षमाणः संस्त्रैविध्यजनसङ्कुलम् । नानाविपणिद्रव्याढ्यं क्रयविक्रयकारकम्
nagaraṃ vīkṣamāṇaḥ saṃstraividhyajanasaṅkulam | nānāvipaṇidravyāḍhyaṃ krayavikrayakārakam
Viewing the city, thronged with people of the three kinds, rich with the goods of many markets, busy with buying and selling,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 17.50
रागद्वेषयुतं कामलोभमोहाकुलं तथा । विवदत्सुजनाकीर्णं वसुपूर्णं महत्तरम्
rāgadveṣayutaṃ kāmalobhamohākulaṃ tathā | vivadatsujanākīrṇaṃ vasupūrṇaṃ mahattaram
filled with attraction and aversion, and crowded with desire, greed and delusion, thronged with good people quarrelling, full of wealth, very great—
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 17.51
पश्यन्स त्रिविधाँल्लोकान्प्रासरद्राजमन्दिरम् । प्राप्तः परमतेजस्वी द्वितीय इव भास्करः
paśyansa trividhā~llokānprāsaradrājamandiram | prāptaḥ paramatejasvī dvitīya iva bhāskaraḥ
seeing the three kinds of people, he went on to the royal palace; supremely brilliant, like a second sun, he arrived (there).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 17.52
निवारितश्च तत्रैव प्रतीहारेण काष्ठवत् । तत्रैव च स्थितो द्वारि मोक्षमेवानुचिन्तयन्
nivāritaśca tatraiva pratīhāreṇa kāṣṭhavat | tatraiva ca sthito dvāri mokṣamevānucintayan
And there he was stopped by the doorkeeper (and stood) like a piece of wood; and standing right there at the door he went on meditating on liberation alone.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 17.53
छायायामातपे चैव समदर्शी महातपाः । ध्यानं कृत्वा तथैकान्ते स्थितः स्थाणुरिवाचलः
chāyāyāmātape caiva samadarśī mahātapāḥ | dhyānaṃ kṛtvā tathaikānte sthitaḥ sthāṇurivācalaḥ
Of great austerity, looking with equal eye upon shade and upon the sun's heat, he thus meditated and stood in solitude, unmoving like a tree-stump.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 17.54
तं मुहूर्तादुपागत्य राज्ञोऽमात्यः कृताञ्जलिः । प्रावेशयत्ततः कक्षां द्वितीयां राजवेश्मनः
taṃ muhūrtādupāgatya rājño'mātyaḥ kṛtāñjaliḥ | prāveśayattataḥ kakṣāṃ dvitīyāṃ rājaveśmanaḥ
After a short while the king's minister came to him with joined palms and then led him into the second enclosure of the royal residence.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 17.55
तत्र दिव्यं मनोरम्यं पुष्पितं दिव्यपादपम् । तद्वनं दर्शयित्वा तु कृत्वा चातिथिसत्क्रियाम्
tatra divyaṃ manoramyaṃ puṣpitaṃ divyapādapam | tadvanaṃ darśayitvā tu kṛtvā cātithisatkriyām
There (was) a divine, delightful grove in bloom with divine trees; having shown him that grove and having performed the honours due to a guest,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 17.56
वारमुख्याः स्त्रियस्तत्र राजसेवापरायणाः । गीतवादित्रकुशलाः कामशास्त्रविशारदाः
vāramukhyāḥ striyastatra rājasevāparāyaṇāḥ | gītavāditrakuśalāḥ kāmaśāstraviśāradāḥ
there (were) foremost courtesans, women wholly devoted to the king's service, skilled in song and instrumental music, expert in the treatise on love,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 17.57
ता आदिश्य च सेवार्थं शुकस्य मन्त्रिसत्तमः । निर्गतः सदनात्तस्माद्व्यासपुत्रः स्थितस्तदा
tā ādiśya ca sevārthaṃ śukasya mantrisattamaḥ | nirgataḥ sadanāttasmādvyāsaputraḥ sthitastadā
and having instructed them to attend upon Śuka, that best of ministers went out from that dwelling; the son of Vyāsa then remained (there).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 17.58
पूजितः परया भक्त्या ताभिः स्त्रीभिर्यथाविधि । देशकालोपपन्नेन नानान्नेनातितोषितः
pūjitaḥ parayā bhaktyā tābhiḥ strībhiryathāvidhi | deśakālopapannena nānānnenātitoṣitaḥ
He was honoured with the highest devotion by those women according to the rule, and greatly gratified with various foods suited to the place and the season.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 17.59
ततोऽन्तःपुरवासिन्यस्तस्यान्तःपुरकाननम् । रम्यं संदर्शयामासुरङ्गनाः काममोहिताः
tato'ntaḥpuravāsinyastasyāntaḥpurakānanam | ramyaṃ saṃdarśayāmāsuraṅganāḥ kāmamohitāḥ
Then the women dwelling in the inner apartments, the ladies bewildered by desire, showed him the lovely pleasure-grove of the inner palace.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 17.60
स युवा रूपवान्कान्तो मृदुभाषी मनोरमः । दृष्ट्वा ता मुमुहुः सर्वास्तं च काममिवापरम्
sa yuvā rūpavānkānto mṛdubhāṣī manoramaḥ | dṛṣṭvā tā mumuhuḥ sarvāstaṃ ca kāmamivāparam
He was young, handsome, charming, soft-spoken, delightful; and seeing him, like a second Kāma, they all became infatuated.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 17.61
जितेन्द्रियं मुनिं मत्त्वा सर्वाः पर्यचरंस्तदा । आरणेयस्तु शुद्धात्मा मातृभावमकल्पयत्
jitendriyaṃ muniṃ mattvā sarvāḥ paryacaraṃstadā | āraṇeyastu śuddhātmā mātṛbhāvamakalpayat
Thinking the sage to be one whose senses were conquered, they all then waited upon him; but the son of Āraṇī, pure of soul, formed toward them the attitude of (their being his) mothers.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 17.62
आत्मारामो जितक्रोधो न हृष्यति न तप्यति । पश्यंस्तासां विकारांश्च स्वस्थ एव स तस्थिवान्
ātmārāmo jitakrodho na hṛṣyati na tapyati | paśyaṃstāsāṃ vikārāṃśca svastha eva sa tasthivān
Delighting in himself, with anger conquered, he neither rejoices nor grieves; and though he saw their amorous gestures, he remained just as he was, self-possessed.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 17.63
तस्मै शय्यां सुरम्यां च ददुर्नार्यः सुसंस्कृताम् । परार्ध्यास्तरणोपेतां नानोपस्करसंवृताम्
tasmai śayyāṃ suramyāṃ ca dadurnāryaḥ susaṃskṛtām | parārdhyāstaraṇopetāṃ nānopaskarasaṃvṛtām
And the women gave him a most delightful, well-prepared bed, furnished with exceedingly costly coverings and provided with various appurtenances.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 17.64
स कृत्वा पादशौचं च कुशपाणिरतन्द्रितः । उपास्य पश्चिमां सन्ध्यां ध्यानमेवान्वपद्यत
sa kṛtvā pādaśaucaṃ ca kuśapāṇiratandritaḥ | upāsya paścimāṃ sandhyāṃ dhyānamevānvapadyata
He, having washed his feet, kuśa grass in hand, unwearied, and having performed the evening (worship) of the western twilight, entered upon meditation.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 17.65
याममेकं स्थितो ध्याने सुष्वाप तदनन्तरम् । सुप्त्वा यामद्वयं तत्र चोदतिष्ठत्ततः शुकः
yāmamekaṃ sthito dhyāne suṣvāpa tadanantaram | suptvā yāmadvayaṃ tatra codatiṣṭhattataḥ śukaḥ
Having remained one watch in meditation, he slept thereafter; and having slept two watches there, Śuka then arose.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
DB 1 17.66
पाश्चात्यं यामिनीयामं ध्यानमेवान्वपद्यत । स्नात्वा प्रातःक्रियाः कृत्वा पुनरास्ते समाहितः
pāścātyaṃ yāminīyāmaṃ dhyānamevānvapadyata | snātvā prātaḥkriyāḥ kṛtvā punarāste samāhitaḥ
For the last watch of the night he entered upon meditation; then, having bathed and performed the morning rites, he sat again collected.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition