Hear from me, O Shalya, the sayings that have already passed into proverbs, that men young and old and women, persons while sporting utter as if they are their studies about the wicked Madrakas. the Brahmanas also recounted them formerly in the courts of kings. Hearing them, O fool, you may forgive or give a reply.
स्त्रियो बालाश्च वृद्धाश्च प्रायः क्रीडागता जनाः॥ या गाथाः सम्प्रगायन्ति कुर्वतोऽध्ययनं यथा। ता गाथाः शृणु मे शल्य मद्रकेषु दुरात्मसु॥ ब्राह्मणैः कथिताः पूर्वं यथावद् राजसंनिधौ। श्रुत्वा चैकमना मूढ क्षम वा ब्रूहि चोत्तरम्॥