वैशम्पायन उवाच ततस्तत्र तु राजानं तिष्ठन्तं भ्रातृभिः सह। उवाच देवकीपुत्रः सर्वदर्शी जनार्दनः॥
Vaishampayana said Then Devaki's son Janardana endued with universal knowledge said to king Yudhishthira who stood there with his brothers,
वासुदेव उवाच ब्राह्मणास्तात लोकेऽस्मिन्नर्चनीयाः सदा मम। एते भूमिचरा देवा वाग्विषाः सुप्रसादकाः॥
Vasudeva said In this world, O friend, I adore only the Brahmanas. They are gods on Earth, have venom in their words, and are exceedingly easy to gratify.
पुरा कृतयुगे राजंश्चार्वाको नाम राक्षसः। तपस्तेपे महाबाहो बदाँ बहुवार्षिकम्॥
Formerly, in the Krita age, O king, a Rakshasa of the name of Charvaka, O mightyarmed one, practised austere penances for many years in Badari.
वरेण च्छन्द्यमानश्च ब्रह्मणा च पुनः पुनः। अभयं सर्वभूतेभ्यो वरयामास भारत॥
Brahma repeatedly asked him to ask for boons. At last the Rakshasa prayed for the boon, O Bharata, of being freed from fear of every being in the universe.
द्विजावमानादन्यत्र प्रादाद् वरमनुत्तमम्। अभयं सर्वभूतेभ्यो ददौ तस्मै जगत्पतिः॥
The Lord of the universe granted that high boon of freedom from fear of all creatures, subject to the only condition that he should be careful of how he offended the Brahmanas.
स तु लब्धवरः पापो देवानमितविक्रमः। राक्षसस्तापयामास तीव्रकर्मा महाबलः॥
Having obtained that boon, the sinful and powerful Rakshasa of terrific deeds and great power began to assail the gods.
ततो देवाः समेताश्च ब्रह्माणामिदमब्रुवन्। वधाय रक्षसस्तस्य बलविप्रकृतास्तदा॥
The gods, oppressed by the power of the Rakshasa, assembling together, approached Brahman, for bringing about their enemy's destruction.
तानुवाच ततो देवो विहितस्तत्र वै मया। यथास्य भविता मृत्युरचिरेणेति भारत॥
The eternal god answered them, O Bharata, saying,-I have already arranged the means by which the death of this Rakshasa may soon be encompassed.
राजा दुर्योधनो नाम सखास्य भविता नृषु। तस्य स्नेहावबद्धोऽसौ ब्राह्मणानवमंस्यते॥
There will be a king of the name of Duryodhana. Among men, he will be the friend of this creature. Out of affection towards him, the Rakshasa will insult the Brahmanas.
तत्रै रुषिता विप्रा विप्रकारप्रधर्षिताः। धक्ष्यन्ति वाग्बला: पापं ततो नाशं गमिष्यति॥
Pained by the wrong he will inflict upon them, the Brahmanas, whose power is in speech, will in anger censure him, at which he will die.
स एष निहतः शेते ब्रह्मदण्डेन राक्षसः। चार्वाको नृपतिश्रेष्ठ मा शुचो भरतर्षभ॥
That Rakshasa Charvaka, foremost of kings, killed by the curse of the Brahmanas, lies there, dead. Do not, O foremost of Bharata's race, grieve.
हतास्ते क्षत्रधर्मेण ज्ञातयस्तव पार्थिव। स्वर्गताश्च महात्मानो वीराः क्षत्रियपुङ्गवाः॥
Your kinsinen, O king, have all died while perforining the Kshatriya duties, Those leading Kshatriyas, those high-souled heroes, have all gone to heaven.
स त्वमातिष्ठ कार्याणि मा तेऽभूद् ग्लानिरच्युत। शत्रून् जहि प्रजा रक्ष द्विजांश्च परिपूजय॥
Do you attend to your duties now, O you of unfading glory, do not grieve, Kill your enemies, protect your subjects, and worship the Brahmanas.