Mahabharata — Volume VIII (Dutt edition) — Chapter 152
MBh 8 152.1
भीष्म उवाच स मोक्षमनुचिन्त्यैव शुकः पितरमभ्यगात्। प्राहाभिवाद्य च गुरुं श्रेयोऽर्थी विनयान्वितः॥ मोक्षधर्मेषु कुशलो भगवान् प्रब्रवीतु मे। यथा मे मनसः शान्तिः परमा सम्भवेत् प्रभो॥
bhīṣma uvāca sa mokṣamanucintyaiva śukaḥ pitaramabhyagāt| prāhābhivādya ca guruṃ śreyo'rthī vinayānvitaḥ|| mokṣadharmeṣu kuśalo bhagavān prabravītu me| yathā me manasaḥ śāntiḥ paramā sambhavet prabho||
Bhishma said “Thinking of Liberation, Shuka approached his father, and possessed as he was of humility and desirous of acquiring his highest good, he saluted his great preceptor and said,-You are well-versed in the Religion of Liberation. Do you, O illustrious one, describe it to me, so that I may enjoy supreme tranquillity of mind, O powerful one.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 152.2
श्रुत्वा पुत्रस्य तु वचः परमर्षिरुवाच तम्। अधीष्व पुत्र मोक्षं वै धर्मांच विविधानपि॥
śrutvā putrasya tu vacaḥ paramarṣiruvāca tam| adhīṣva putra mokṣaṃ vai dharmāṃca vividhānapi||
Hearing these words of his son, the great Rishi said to him,-Do you study, O son, the Religion' of Liberation and all the various duties of life.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 152.3
पितुर्नियोगाज्जग्राह शुको धर्मभृतां वरः। योगशास्त्रं च निखिलं कापिलं चैव भारत॥
piturniyogājjagrāha śuko dharmabhṛtāṃ varaḥ| yogaśāstraṃ ca nikhilaṃ kāpilaṃ caiva bhārata||
At the command of his father, Shuka, that foremost of all righteous men, mastered all the books on Yoga, O Bharata, as also the Science of Kapila.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 152.4
स तं ब्राह्मया श्रिया युक्तं ब्रह्मतुल्यपराक्रमम्। मेने पुत्रं यदा व्यासो मोक्षधर्मविशारदम्॥ उवाच गच्छेति तदा जनकं मिथिलेश्वरम्। स ते वक्ष्यति मोक्षार्थं निखिलं मिथिलेश्वरम्॥
sa taṃ brāhmayā śriyā yuktaṃ brahmatulyaparākramam| mene putraṃ yadā vyāso mokṣadharmaviśāradam|| uvāca gaccheti tadā janakaṃ mithileśvaram| sa te vakṣyati mokṣārthaṃ nikhilaṃ mithileśvaram||
When Vyasa saw his son to be endued with the resplendence of the Vedas, and the energy of Brahman, and fully conversant with the Religion of Liberation, he addressed him, saying,-Go you to Janaka the king of Mithila. The king of Mithila will tell you everything for your Liberation.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 152.5
पितुर्नियोगमादाय जगाम मिथिलां नृप। प्रष्टुं धर्मस्य निष्ठां वै मोक्षस्य च परायणम्॥
piturniyogamādāya jagāma mithilāṃ nṛpa| praṣṭuṃ dharmasya niṣṭhāṃ vai mokṣasya ca parāyaṇam||
Bearing the command of his father, O king, Shuka, proceeded to Mithila for enquiring of its king about the truth of duties and the Refuge of Liberation.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 152.6
उक्तश्च मानुषेण त्वं पथा गच्छेत्यविस्मितः। न प्रभावेण गन्तव्यमन्तरिक्षचरेण वै॥
uktaśca mānuṣeṇa tvaṃ pathā gacchetyavismitaḥ| na prabhāveṇa gantavyamantarikṣacareṇa vai||
Before he started, his father further told him,-Do you go there be that path which ordinary human beings follow. Do not have recourses to your Yoga-power for proceeding through the skies. At this Shuka was not at all surprised.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 152.7
आर्जवेणैव गन्तव्यं न सुखान्वेषिणा तथा। नान्वेष्टव्या विशेषास्तु विशेषा हि प्रसङ्गिनः॥
ārjaveṇaiva gantavyaṃ na sukhānveṣiṇā tathā| nānveṣṭavyā viśeṣāstu viśeṣā hi prasaṅginaḥ||
He was further told that he should proceed there with simplicity and not from desire of pleasure.-Along your way do not seek for friends and wives, since friends and wives are causes of attachment to the world.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 152.8
अहंकारो न कर्तव्यो याज्ये तस्मिन् नराधिपे। स्थातव्यं च वशे तस्य स ते छेत्स्यति संशयम्॥
ahaṃkāro na kartavyo yājye tasmin narādhipe| sthātavyaṃ ca vaśe tasya sa te chetsyati saṃśayam||
Although the king of Mithila is one in whose sacrifices we officiate, still you should not indulge in any feeling of superiority while living with him. You should live under his direction and in obedience to him. He will remove your doubts.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 152.9
स धर्मकुशलो राजा मोक्षशास्त्रविशारदः। याज्यो मम स यद् ब्रूयात् तत् कार्यमविशङ्कया॥
sa dharmakuśalo rājā mokṣaśāstraviśāradaḥ| yājyo mama sa yad brūyāt tat kāryamaviśaṅkayā||
That king is well versed in all duties and well acquainted with the Scriptures on Liberation. He is one for whom I officiate in sacrifices. You should, unhesitatingly, do what he orders.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 152.10
एवमुक्तः स धर्मात्मा जगाम मिथिलां मुनिः। पद्भ्यां शक्तोऽन्तरिक्षण क्रान्तुं पृथ्वी ससागराम्॥
evamuktaḥ sa dharmātmā jagāma mithilāṃ muniḥ| padbhyāṃ śakto'ntarikṣaṇa krāntuṃ pṛthvī sasāgarām||
Thus instructed, the pious Shuka proceeded to Mithila on foot although he was able to go through the skies over the whole Earth with her seas.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 152.11
स गिरीश्चाप्यतिक्रम्य नदीतीर्थसरांसि च। बहुव्यालमृगाकीर्णा ह्यटवीश्च वनानि च॥ मेरोहरेश्च द्वे वर्षे वर्ष हैमवतं ततः। क्रमेणैवं व्यतिक्रम्य भारतं वर्षमासदत्॥
sa girīścāpyatikramya nadītīrthasarāṃsi ca| bahuvyālamṛgākīrṇā hyaṭavīśca vanāni ca|| merohareśca dve varṣe varṣa haimavataṃ tataḥ| krameṇaivaṃ vyatikramya bhārataṃ varṣamāsadat||
Crossing many hills and mountains, many rivers, many waters and lakes, and many woods and forests full of beasts of prey and other animals, crossing the two insular continents of Meru and Hari successively and next the continent of Himavat, he came at last to the continent known by the name of Bharata.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 152.12
स देशान् विविधान् पश्यंश्चीनहूणनिषेवितान्। आर्यावर्तमिमं देशमाजगाम महामुनिः॥
sa deśān vividhān paśyaṃścīnahūṇaniṣevitān| āryāvartamimaṃ deśamājagāma mahāmuniḥ||
Having seen many countries inhabited by Chins and Huns, the great ascetic at last reached Aryavarta.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 152.13
पितुर्वचनमाज्ञाय तमेवार्थं विचिन्तयन्। अध्वानं सोऽतिचक्राम खेचरः खे चरन्निवा१६॥
piturvacanamājñāya tamevārthaṃ vicintayan| adhvānaṃ so'ticakrāma khecaraḥ khe carannivā16||
In obedience to the commands of his father and bearing them constantly in his mind, he gradually passed along his way on the Earth like a bird passing through the air.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 152.14
पत्तनानि च रम्याणि स्फीतानि नगराणि च। रत्नानि च विचित्राणि पश्यन्नपि न पश्यति॥
pattanāni ca ramyāṇi sphītāni nagarāṇi ca| ratnāni ca vicitrāṇi paśyannapi na paśyati||
Passing through many charming towns and populous cities, he saw various kinds of wealth without waiting to observe them.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 152.15
उद्यानानि च रम्याणि तथैवायतनानि च। पुण्यानि चैव रत्नानि सोऽत्यकामदथाध्वगः॥
udyānāni ca ramyāṇi tathaivāyatanāni ca| puṇyāni caiva ratnāni so'tyakāmadathādhvagaḥ||
On his way he passed through many charming gardens and planes and many sacred waters.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 152.16
सोऽचिरेणैव कालेन विदेहानाससाद ह। रक्षितान् धर्मराजेन जनकेन महात्मना॥
so'cireṇaiva kālena videhānāsasāda ha| rakṣitān dharmarājena janakena mahātmanā||
Before much time had passed he reached the country of the Videhas that was protected by the virtuous and great Janaka.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 152.17
तत्र ग्रामान् बहून पश्यन् बबनरसभोजनान्। पल्लीघोषान् समृद्धांश्च बहुगोकुलसंकुलान्॥
tatra grāmān bahūna paśyan babanarasabhojanān| pallīghoṣān samṛddhāṃśca bahugokulasaṃkulān||
There he saw many populous villages, and many kinds of food and drink and viands and houses of cowherds swelling with men and inany herbs of cattle.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 152.18
स्फीतांश्च शालियवसैहँससारससेवितान्। पद्मिनीभिश्च शतशः श्रीमतीभिरलङ्कृतान्॥
sphītāṃśca śāliyavasaiha~sasārasasevitān| padminībhiśca śataśaḥ śrīmatībhiralaṅkṛtān||
He saw many fields abounding with paddy and barley and other grain, and many lakes and waters inhabited by swans and cranes and adorned with beautiful lotuses.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 152.19
स विदेहानतिक्रम्य समृद्धजनसेवितान्। मिथिलोपवनं रम्यमाससाद समृद्धिमत्॥
sa videhānatikramya samṛddhajanasevitān| mithilopavanaṃ ramyamāsasāda samṛddhimat||
Passing through the Videha country full of rich people, he arrived at the delightful gardens of Mithila rich with many sorts to trees.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 152.20
हस्त्यश्वरथसंकीर्णं नरनारीसमाकुलम्। पश्यन्नपश्यन्निव तत् समतिकामदच्युतः॥
hastyaśvarathasaṃkīrṇaṃ naranārīsamākulam| paśyannapaśyanniva tat samatikāmadacyutaḥ||
Abounding with elephants and horses and cars, and peopled by men and women, he passed through them without caring to see the things that were presented to his eye.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 152.21
मनसा तं वहन् भारं तमेवार्थं विचिन्तयन्। आत्मारामः प्रसन्नात्मा मिथिलामाससाद ह॥
manasā taṃ vahan bhāraṃ tamevārthaṃ vicintayan| ātmārāmaḥ prasannātmā mithilāmāsasāda ha||
Bearing that caution in his mind and continually thinking of it, Shuka of cheerful soul and taking delight in internal survey only, reached Mithila at last.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 152.22
तस्या द्वारं समासाद्य निःशङ्कः प्रविवेश हा तापि द्वारपालास्तमुग्रवाचा न्यषेधयन्॥
tasyā dvāraṃ samāsādya niḥśaṅkaḥ praviveśa hā tāpi dvārapālāstamugravācā nyaṣedhayan||
Arrived at the gate, he sent word through the guards, he reached the king's palace and entered it without any-hesitation. The gatekeepers prevented him with harsh words.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 152.23
तथैव च शुकस्तत्र निर्मन्युः समतिष्ठत। चातपाध्वसंतप्तः क्षुत्पिपासाश्रमान्वितः॥ प्रताम्यति ग्लायति वा नापैति च तथाऽऽतपात्।
tathaiva ca śukastatra nirmanyuḥ samatiṣṭhata| cātapādhvasaṃtaptaḥ kṣutpipāsāśramānvitaḥ|| pratāmyati glāyati vā nāpaiti ca tathā''tapāt|
Thereat, Shuka, without any anger, stopped and waited. Neither the sun nor the long distance he had walked had tried him in the least. Neither hunger, nor thirst, nor the exertion he had made, had weakened him. The heat of the Sun had not scorched or pained or distressed him in any way.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 152.24
तेषां तु द्वारपालानामेकः शोकसमन्वितः॥ मध्यं गतमिवादित्यं दृष्ट्वा शुकमवस्थितम्।
teṣāṃ tu dvārapālānāmekaḥ śokasamanvitaḥ|| madhyaṃ gatamivādityaṃ dṛṣṭvā śukamavasthitam|
Among those porters there was one who felt mercy for him, seeing him staying there like the midday Sun in his effulgence.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 152.25
पूजयित्वा यथान्यायमभिवाद्य कृताञ्जलिः॥ प्रावेशयत् ततः कक्ष्यां द्वितीयां राजवेश्मनः।
pūjayitvā yathānyāyamabhivādya kṛtāñjaliḥ|| prāveśayat tataḥ kakṣyāṃ dvitīyāṃ rājaveśmanaḥ|
Adoring him in due form and saluting him properly, with joined hands he conducted him to the first chamber of the palace.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 152.26
तत्रासीनः शुकस्तात मोक्षमेवान्वचिन्तयत्॥ छायायामातपे चैव समदर्शी महाद्युतिः।
tatrāsīnaḥ śukastāta mokṣamevānvacintayat|| chāyāyāmātape caiva samadarśī mahādyutiḥ|
Seated there, Shuka, O son, began to think of Liberation only. Gifted with equality he considered impartially a shaded spot and one exposed to the Sun's rays.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 152.27
तं मुहूर्तादिवागम्य राज्ञो मन्त्री कृताञ्जलिः॥ प्रावेशयत्ततः कक्ष्यां तृतीयां राजवेश्मनः।
taṃ muhūrtādivāgamya rājño mantrī kṛtāñjaliḥ|| prāveśayattataḥ kakṣyāṃ tṛtīyāṃ rājaveśmanaḥ|
Soon after, the king's minister, coming to that place with joined hands, conducted him to the second chamber of the palace.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 152.28
तत्रान्तःपुरसम्बद्धं महच्चैत्ररथोपमम्॥ सुविभक्तजलाक्रीडं रम्यं पुष्पितपादपम्।
tatrāntaḥpurasambaddhaṃ mahaccaitrarathopamam|| suvibhaktajalākrīḍaṃ ramyaṃ puṣpitapādapam|
That chamber led to a spacious garden which formed a part of the inner apartments of the palace. It looked like a second Chaitraratha. Beautiful pools of water were here and there at regular intervals. Delightful trees, all of which were in their flowering season, were in that garden.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 152.29
शुकं प्रावेशयन्मन्त्री प्रमदावनमुत्तमम्॥ स तस्यासनमादिश्य निश्चक्राम ततः पुनः।
śukaṃ prāveśayanmantrī pramadāvanamuttamam|| sa tasyāsanamādiśya niścakrāma tataḥ punaḥ|
Bevies of damsels, of celestial beauty, were in attendance. The minister led Suka from the second chamber to that charming spot. commanding those ladies to give the ascetic a seat, the minister left him there.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 152.30
तं चारुवेषाः सुश्रोण्यस्तरुण्यः प्रियदर्शनाः॥ सूक्ष्मरक्ताम्बरधरास्तप्तकाञ्चनभूषणाः।
taṃ cāruveṣāḥ suśroṇyastaruṇyaḥ priyadarśanāḥ|| sūkṣmaraktāmbaradharāstaptakāñcanabhūṣaṇāḥ|
Those well-dressed well-dressed damels were of beautiful features, possessed to excellent hips, young in years, clad in red dresses of fine texture, and decked with many ornaments of burnished gold.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 152.31
संलापोल्लापकुशला नृत्यगीतविशारदाः॥ स्मितपूर्वाभिभाषिण्यो रूपेणाप्सरसां समाः।
saṃlāpollāpakuśalā nṛtyagītaviśāradāḥ|| smitapūrvābhibhāṣiṇyo rūpeṇāpsarasāṃ samāḥ|
They well-skilled in sweet conversation and maddening revelry, and consummate mistresses of the arts of dancing and singing. Always opening their lips with smiles, they were like the very Apsaras in beauty.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 152.32
कामोपचारकुशला भावज्ञाः सर्वकोविदाः॥ परं पञ्चाशतं नार्यो वारमुख्याः समाद्रवन्।
kāmopacārakuśalā bhāvajñāḥ sarvakovidāḥ|| paraṃ pañcāśataṃ nāryo vāramukhyāḥ samādravan|
Well-skilled in all the acts of dalliance, capable of reading the thoughts of men upon whom they wait, endued with every accomplishment, fifty damsels, of a very high order and of east virtue, surrounded the ascetic.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 152.33
पाद्यादीनि प्रतिग्राह्य पूजया परयार्चयन्॥ कालोपपन्नेन तदा स्वाद्वन्नेनाभ्यतर्पयन्।
pādyādīni pratigrāhya pūjayā parayārcayan|| kālopapannena tadā svādvannenābhyatarpayan|
Presenting him with water for washing his feet, and adoring him respectfully with the were offer of usual articles, they pleased him with excellent viands agreeable to the season.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 152.34
तस्य भुक्तवतस्तात तदन्तःपुरकाननम्॥ सुरम्यं दर्शयामासुरेकैकश्येन भारत।
tasya bhuktavatastāta tadantaḥpurakānanam|| suramyaṃ darśayāmāsurekaikaśyena bhārata|
After he had eaten, those damsels then, one after another, singly conducted him through the grounds, showing him every objection of interest, O Bharata.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 152.35
क्रीडन्त्यश्च हसन्त्यश्च गायन्त्यश्चापिताः शुभम्॥ उदारसत्त्वं सत्त्वज्ञाः स्त्रियः पर्यचरंस्तथा।
krīḍantyaśca hasantyaśca gāyantyaścāpitāḥ śubham|| udārasattvaṃ sattvajñāḥ striyaḥ paryacaraṃstathā|
Sporting and laughing and singing, those ladies conversant with the thoughts of all men, entertained that ascetic of noble soul.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 152.36
आरणेयस्तु शुद्धात्मा निःसंदेहः स्वकर्मकृत्॥ वश्येन्द्रियो जितक्रोधो न हृष्यति न कुप्यति।
āraṇeyastu śuddhātmā niḥsaṃdehaḥ svakarmakṛt|| vaśyendriyo jitakrodho na hṛṣyati na kupyati|
The pure-souled ascetic born in the firesticks, performing all his duties unhesitatingly, having all his senses under complete control, and a thorough master of his anger, was neither pleased nor angered at all this.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 152.37
तस्मै शय्यासनं दिव्यं देवाह रत्नभूषितम्॥ स्पास्तरणसंकीर्णं ददुस्ता: परमस्त्रियः। पादशौचं तु कृत्वैव शुकः संध्यामुपास्य च॥ निषसादासने पुण्ये तमेवार्थं विचिन्तयन्।
tasmai śayyāsanaṃ divyaṃ devāha ratnabhūṣitam|| spāstaraṇasaṃkīrṇaṃ dadustā: paramastriyaḥ| pādaśaucaṃ tu kṛtvaiva śukaḥ saṃdhyāmupāsya ca|| niṣasādāsane puṇye tamevārthaṃ vicintayan|
Then those foremost of beautiful women offered him an excellent seat. Washing his feet and other limbs, Shuka said his evening prayers, sat on that excellent seat, and began to think of the object for which he had come there.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 152.38
पूर्वरात्रे तु तत्रासौ भूत्वा ध्यानपरायणः॥ मध्यरात्रे यथान्यायं निद्रामाहारयत् प्रभुः।
pūrvarātre tu tatrāsau bhūtvā dhyānaparāyaṇaḥ|| madhyarātre yathānyāyaṃ nidrāmāhārayat prabhuḥ|
In the first part of the night, he gave himself of Yoga. The powerful ascetic, passed the middle part of the night in sleep.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 152.39
ततो मुहूर्तादुत्थाय कृत्वा शौचमनन्तरम्॥ स्त्रीभिः परिवृतो धीमान् ध्यानमेवान्वपद्यत॥
tato muhūrtādutthāya kṛtvā śaucamanantaram|| strībhiḥ parivṛto dhīmān dhyānamevānvapadyata||
Very soon waking up from his sleep, he performed the necessary rites of cleansing his body, and though surrounded by those beautiful ladies, he once again devoted himself to Yoga.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 8 152.40
अनेन विधिना काणि स्तदहःशेषमच्युतः। तां च रात्रिं नृपकुले वर्तयामास भारत॥
anena vidhinā kāṇi stadahaḥśeṣamacyutaḥ| tāṃ ca rātriṃ nṛpakule vartayāmāsa bhārata||
It was in this way, O Bharata, that the son of the Island-born Krishna passed the latter part of that day and the whole of that night in the mansion of king Janaka.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)