26 - The story of Kuvalayáshva (continued). The Education of his Sons.

Two other sons are born, Subáhu and Shatru-mardana-A fourth so is born whom Madálasá names Alarka-She criticizes these names - The king objects to her way of educating them, and wishes them to brought up as kshatriyas-She prattles to Alarka. 

Jada spoke.

1 Now the queen trained up that son, as he grew day by day

2 to unselfish thought by talking and other means. As regularly gained strength, as he gained his father’s intellgence, even so he acquired knowledge of himself through his

3 mother’s talk. So the youth, instructed by her from hi birth, having understanding and being unselfish, did no turn his mind towards family life. 

4 A second son was born to her. His father named him.

5 When he said “This is Su-báhu,” Madálasá laughed. His also when a child she spoke to with prattle and other talk the same as before, and thus he, having a good intellect, acquired knowledge from his childhood. 

6       When the king named the third-born son Shatru-mardana she the beautiful-browed langhed again very long thereat.

7 The slender-limbed mother similarly instructed him also from childhood. Devoid of desire he performed ceremonies, but not anything beneficial. 

8 Now the king, when desirons of naming the fourth son, saw Madálasá, well-behaved as she was, laughing slightly: the king, somewhat eagerly curious, spoke to her as she was; laughing. 

The king spoke.

9 “Tell me the cause of your laughter, at the very time when the name is being given.  Vi-kránta, Su-báhu and the other

10 Shatru-mardana, -the names given by me are I think fine, suited to the kshatriya kindred, and indicative of heroism

11 and majesty. If these are not good, lady, -if you think this in your mind, - then do thou give a name to this my fourth son.”

Madálasá spoke.

12 “I must obey thy command, Mahá-rájá, as thou tellest me;

13 so I will give a name to thy fourth son. ‘Alarka’! Learned in religion he shall acquire fame in the world, and this thy youngest son shall have understanding.”

14     On hearing that name given the son by the mother, the king, laughing at ‘Alarka’ as inappropriate, said- 

The king spoke.

15 “This name that thou hast given to my son, beauteous lady, -why hast thou given such an inappropriate one? What is its meaning, O Madálasá?”

Madálasá spoke.

16     “This is my fancy, Mahá-rájá; I have given it as boing practical. So do thou listen, O king, to the meaninglessness

17 of the names given by thee. Since wise men speak of a pervading soul; and ‘kránti’ is described as the course which passes

18 from one place to another place; since tho soul is all-pervading in that it is ubiquitous and does not move about; therefore, this appellation Vi-kránta, ‘passed boyond,’ appears

19 to me meaningless. The appellation Su-báhu, ‘fine-armed,’ given to thoy second son, that too is meaningless because the

20 soul is incorporeal, O king. The name that thou hast given the third son, Ari-mardana, ‘foe-crusher,’ I think that too is inappropriate; and listen to the reason as regards it. Since there is only one soul in all bodies, who then, O king, is regarded as its enemy in this world, or who as its friend? 

22 Creatures are crushed by creatures; how can the incorporeal be crushed? This fancy is meaningless because of the

23 separate existence of anger and the other passions. If a bad name is fixed upon because of mutual dealing, why does thou think there is no meaning in the name Alarka?” * 

* Alarka, a furious dog, or a fabulous hog with eight legs. 

Jada spoke.

24 Being thus excellently addressed by the queen, the king having great understanding, assented to his loved wife who

25 spoke correctly. And the fine-brewed lady spoke to that son, just as to tho elder sons, what would arouse the intellect

26 The kinig said to her. “Why dost thou deal thus, O foolish one, with the temperament of my child, by giving him a mischievous

27 education as Thon didst before to my other sons. If thou shouldest do what pleases me, if my word should be acepted,

 28 then restrain this son within the path of activity. So the path of action will not lead to utter destructions O lady; and so the pinda offoring to the pitris will not cease, O virtuous

 29 one. The pitris dwell in the Deva-loka, they aro also born as brutes, they become non likewise, and they reside within the

30 class of elements. By offering the pinda and water a man busied in the ceremonies, ever nourishes them, O fine-browed

31 one, both the righteous and the unrighteous, those worn out with hunger, those harassed by thirst; he nourishes the likewise and guests. The gods, mankind, the pitris, departed

32 spirits, goblins, and guhyakas, birds, worms and insects live upon man indeed. Therefore, O slender-limbed, cause my son

33 to acquire thoroughly the whole duty of kshatriyas, as regards this life and life in the noxt world.”

The queen Madálasá, being thus admonished by her husband,

 34 apoke to her son Alarka, with prattling words. “Thrive my son! rejoice my husband’s mind with thy deeds

35 in order to benefit friends and destroy enemies. Happy art thou, my son, who alone, with never an enemy, wilt long protect the earth: from protecting it mayest thou have full enjoyment of happiness, and from righteousness thou shalt 

36 obtain the fruit, immortality. Mayest thou delight the bráhmans at the holy festivals! Mayest thou fulfil the longing among thy kinsmen! Mayest thou think kindly in thy heart for another! Mayest thou restrain thy mind from the wives

37 of others! Please continually the gods with numerous sacerifices, and the dvijas who resort to thee with wealth. And thou shalt long satisfy women with unparalleled affections, and

38 thy foes with battles, O hero! As a child gladden the mind of thy kinsmen; and as a boy the mind of thy teacher by observance of his commands; as a young man gladden the mind of women who are the ornament of high families; as an old

39 man the mind of the hermits in the forest. Exercising thy sovereignty mayest thou gladden thy friends! Guarding the good, mayest thou offer up sacrifices, darling! Destroying the wicked and thy enemies in battle, mayest thou meet thy death, my child, on behalf of cattle and brahmans!”