The Brahmin Tells Kunti of Baka

Verse 1 (1.174.1)

कुतोमूलमिदं दुःखं ज्ञातुमिच्छामि तत्त्वतः । विदित्वाप्यपकर्षेयं शक्यं चेदपकर्षितुम् ॥

kutomūlamidaṃ duḥkhaṃ jñātumicchāmi tattvataḥ | viditvāpyapakarṣeyaṃ śakyaṃ cedapakarṣitum

What is the root of this sorrow? I wish to know it truly. Once I know it, I may remove it, if it can be removed.

Verse 2 (1.174.2)

उपपन्नं सतामेतद्यद्ब्रवीपि तपोधने । न तु दुःखमिदं शक्यं मानुषेण व्यपोहितुम् ॥

upapannaṃ satāmetadyadbravīpi tapodhane | na tu duḥkhamidaṃ śakyaṃ mānuṣeṇa vyapohitum

What you say befits the good, lady rich in austerity; but this sorrow cannot be removed by any human being.

Verse 3 (1.174.3)

तथापि तत्त्वमाख्यास्ये दुःखस्यैतस्य संभवम् । शक्यं वा यदि वाऽशक्यं शृणु भद्रे यथातथम् ॥

tathāpi tattvamākhyāsye duḥkhasyaitasya saṃbhavam | śakyaṃ vā yadi vā'śakyaṃ śṛṇu bhadre yathātatham

Even so, I will tell you truly how this sorrow came about. Whether it can be helped or not, listen, good lady, to how things stand.

Note on the text: Removed a stray backtick. Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; CE apparatus 1.148.2*1625).

Verse 4 (1.174.4)

समीपे नगरस्यास्य बको वसति राक्षसः । इतो गव्यूतिमात्रेऽस्ति यमुनागह्वरे गुहा ॥

samīpe nagarasyāsya bako vasati rākṣasaḥ | ito gavyūtimātre'sti yamunāgahvare guhā

Near this city lives a rakshasa named Baka. Barely two krosha from here, in a ravine by the Yamuna, there is a cave.

Note on the text: Corrected वको → बको (misprint in Wikisource; व for ब — the demon is बक, as in verse 5 and the critical edition, bako) and गव्यूतिमात्रे।ञस्ति → गव्यूतिमात्रेऽस्ति (misprint in Wikisource; a garbled avagraha, the critical edition's apparatus reads gavyūtimātre 'sti). The first line = CE 1.148.3ab; the second is in the CE apparatus (1.148.3*1626).

Verse 5 (1.174.5)

तस्यां घोरः स वसति जिघांसुः पुरुषादकः । बकाभिधानो दुष्टात्मा राक्षसानां कुलाधमः ॥

tasyāṃ ghoraḥ sa vasati jighāṃsuḥ puruṣādakaḥ | bakābhidhāno duṣṭātmā rākṣasānāṃ kulādhamaḥ

In it lives that dreadful man-eater, bent on killing: Baka by name, wicked-souled, the basest of the rakshasa race.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; CE apparatus 1.148.3*1626).

Verse 6 (1.174.6)

ईशो जनपदस्यास्य पुरस्य च महाबलः । पुष्टो मानुषमांसेन दुर्बुद्धिः पुरुषादकः ॥

īśo janapadasyāsya purasya ca mahābalaḥ | puṣṭo mānuṣamāṃsena durbuddhiḥ puruṣādakaḥ

Mighty, he is lord of this country and of this city; fattened on human flesh, evil-minded, a devourer of men.

Note on the text: = CE 1.148.3cd + 4ab, aligned by hand.

Verse 7 (1.174.7)

प्रबलः कामरूपी च राक्षसस्तु महाबलः । तेनोपसृष्टा नगरी वर्षमद्य त्रयोदशम् ॥

prabalaḥ kāmarūpī ca rākṣasastu mahābalaḥ | tenopasṛṣṭā nagarī varṣamadya trayodaśam

A powerful rakshasa of great strength, able to take any form he wishes, he has afflicted the city for thirteen years now.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; CE apparatus 1.148.3*1627, which reads pralambakaḥ for प्रबलः).

Verse 8 (1.174.8)

तत्कृते परचक्राच्च भूतेभ्यश्च न नो भयम् । पुरुषादेन रौद्रेण भक्ष्यमाणा दुरात्मना ॥

tatkṛte paracakrācca bhūtebhyaśca na no bhayam | puruṣādena raudreṇa bhakṣyamāṇā durātmanā

Because of him we have no fear of enemy armies or of other creatures. Yet, devoured by that fierce and wicked man-eater,

Note on the text: The first line = CE 1.148.5cd; the second is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; Appendix I, No. 91). Wikisource lacks CE 1.148.4cd–5ab.

Verse 9 (1.174.9)

अनाथा नगरी नाथं त्रातारं नाधिगच्छति । गुहायां च वसंस्तत्र बाधते सततं जनम् ॥

anāthā nagarī nāthaṃ trātāraṃ nādhigacchati | guhāyāṃ ca vasaṃstatra bādhate satataṃ janam

the helpless city finds no lord to save it. Living in that cave, he torments the people without end:

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the critical edition gives this passage only in Appendix I, No. 91).

Verse 10 (1.174.10)

स्त्रियो बालांश्च वृद्धांश्च यूनश्चापि दुरात्मवान् । अत्र मन्त्रैश्च होमैश्च भोजनैश्च स राक्षसः ॥

striyo bālāṃśca vṛddhāṃśca yūnaścāpi durātmavān | atra mantraiśca homaiśca bhojanaiśca sa rākṣasaḥ

women, children, the old and the young alike, the wicked one. Here that rakshasa, with mantras, oblations and offerings of food,

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the critical edition gives this passage only in Appendix I, No. 91).

Verse 11 (1.174.11)

ईडितो द्विजमुख्यैश्च पूजितश्च दुरात्मवान् । यदा च सकलानेवं प्रसूदयति राक्षसः ॥

īḍito dvijamukhyaiśca pūjitaśca durātmavān | yadā ca sakalānevaṃ prasūdayati rākṣasaḥ

was praised and worshipped by the foremost Brahmins, yet stayed wicked. And when the rakshasa went on slaughtering everyone in this way,

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the critical edition gives this passage only in Appendix I, No. 91).

Verse 12 (1.174.12)

अथैनं ब्राह्मणाः सर्वे समये समयोजयन् । मा स्म कामाद्वधी रक्षो दास्यामस्ते सदा वयं ॥

athainaṃ brāhmaṇāḥ sarve samaye samayojayan | mā sma kāmādvadhī rakṣo dāsyāmaste sadā vayaṃ

then all the Brahmins bound him by a pact: 'Do not kill at your pleasure, rakshasa; we will always give you,

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the critical edition gives this passage only in Appendix I, No. 91).

Verse 13 (1.174.13)

पर्यायेण यथाकाममिह मांसोदनं प्रभो । अन्नं मांससमायुक्तं तिलचूर्णसमन्वितम् ॥

paryāyeṇa yathākāmamiha māṃsodanaṃ prabho | annaṃ māṃsasamāyuktaṃ tilacūrṇasamanvitam

by turns, lord, as much as you wish, meat and rice here: grain mixed with meat and sprinkled with sesame flour,

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the critical edition gives this passage only in Appendix I, No. 91).

Verse 14 (1.174.14)

सर्पिषा च समायुक्तं व्यञ्जनैश्च समन्वितम् । सूपांस्त्रीन्सतिलान्पिण्डाँल्लाजापूपसुरासवान् ॥

sarpiṣā ca samāyuktaṃ vyañjanaiśca samanvitam | sūpāṃstrīnsatilānpiṇḍām̐llājāpūpasurāsavān

mixed with ghee and served with relishes; three kinds of pulse, sesame cakes, parched grain, sweet cakes, sura and asava;

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the critical edition gives this passage only in Appendix I, No. 91).

Verse 15 (1.174.15)

शृताशृतान्पानकुम्भान्स्थूलमांसं शृताशृतम् । वनमाहिषवाराहभाल्लूकं च शृताशृतम् ॥

śṛtāśṛtānpānakumbhānsthūlamāṃsaṃ śṛtāśṛtam | vanamāhiṣavārāhabhāllūkaṃ ca śṛtāśṛtam

jars of drink, cooked and raw; great joints of meat, cooked and raw; the flesh of wild buffalo, boar and bear, cooked and raw;

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the critical edition gives this passage only in Appendix I, No. 91; its second line is not there either).

Verse 16 (1.174.16)

सर्पिःकुम्भांश्च विविधान्दधिकुम्भांस्तथा बहून् । सद्यःसिद्धसमायुक्तं तिलचूर्णैः समाकुलम् ॥

sarpiḥkumbhāṃśca vividhāndadhikumbhāṃstathā bahūn | sadyaḥsiddhasamāyuktaṃ tilacūrṇaiḥ samākulam

jars of ghee of many kinds and many jars of curd, with freshly cooked food heaped with sesame flour;

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the critical edition gives this passage only in Appendix I, No. 91).

Verse 17 (1.174.17)

कुलाच्च पुरुषं चैकं बलीवर्दौ च कालकौ । प्राप्स्यसि त्वमसंक्रुद्धो रक्षोभागं प्रकल्पितम् ॥

kulācca puruṣaṃ caikaṃ balīvardau ca kālakau | prāpsyasi tvamasaṃkruddho rakṣobhāgaṃ prakalpitam

and one man from a household, with two black bullocks. This share, set apart for the rakshasa, you shall receive without anger.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the critical edition gives this passage only in Appendix I, No. 91).

Verse 18 (1.174.18)

तिष्ठेह समयेऽस्माकमित्ययाचन्त तं द्विजाः । बाढमित्येव तद्रक्षस्तद्वचः प्रत्यगृह्णत ॥

tiṣṭheha samaye'smākamityayācanta taṃ dvijāḥ | bāḍhamityeva tadrakṣastadvacaḥ pratyagṛhṇata

Abide by our pact here.' So the Brahmins begged him, and the rakshasa said, 'So be it,' and accepted their terms.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the critical edition gives this passage only in Appendix I, No. 91).

Verse 19 (1.174.19)

परचक्राटवीकेभ्यो रक्षणं स करोति च । तस्मिन्भागे सुनिर्दिष्टे स्थितः स समये बली ॥

paracakrāṭavīkebhyo rakṣaṇaṃ sa karoti ca | tasminbhāge sunirdiṣṭe sthitaḥ sa samaye balī

And he guards us against enemy armies and forest raiders. With that share clearly fixed, the mighty one keeps to the pact.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; the critical edition gives this passage only in Appendix I, No. 91).

Verse 20 (1.174.20)

एकैकं चैव पुरुषं संप्रयच्छन्ति वेतनम् । स वारो बहुभिर्वर्षैर्भवत्यसुकरो नरैः ॥

ekaikaṃ caiva puruṣaṃ saṃprayacchanti vetanam | sa vāro bahubhirvarṣairbhavatyasukaro naraiḥ

One by one, the households hand over a man to him as his wage. The turn comes round only after many years, yet men find it hard to bear.

Note on the text: Wikisource lacks CE 1.148.6 (the rice and two buffaloes of Baka's wage); this verse is a variant of CE 1.148.7.

Verse 21 (1.174.21)

तद्विमोक्षाय ये केचिद्यतन्ते पुरुषाः क्वचित् । सपुत्रदारांस्तान्हत्वा तद्रक्षो भक्षयत्युत ॥

tadvimokṣāya ye kecidyatante puruṣāḥ kvacit | saputradārāṃstānhatvā tadrakṣo bhakṣayatyuta

If any men anywhere try to free themselves from it, the rakshasa kills them with their sons and wives and devours them.

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki marks (doubled danda and quote mark).

Verse 22 (1.174.22)

वेत्रकीयगृहे राजा नायं नयमिहास्थितः । उपायं तं न कुरुते यत्नादपि स मन्दधीः । अनामयं जनस्यास्य येन स्यादद्य शाश्वतम् ॥

vetrakīyagṛhe rājā nāyaṃ nayamihāsthitaḥ | upāyaṃ taṃ na kurute yatnādapi sa mandadhīḥ | anāmayaṃ janasyāsya yena syādadya śāśvatam

The king, who lives at Vetrakiyagriha, follows no sound policy here; dull-witted, he will not exert himself to find the means by which these people might be safe for good.

Note on the text: The first and third lines = CE 1.148.9; the middle line is in the CE apparatus (1.148.9*1628).

Verse 23 (1.174.23)

एतदर्हा वयं नूनं वसामो दुर्बलस्य ये । विषये नित्यवास्तव्याः कुराजानमुपाश्रिताः ॥

etadarhā vayaṃ nūnaṃ vasāmo durbalasya ye | viṣaye nityavāstavyāḥ kurājānamupāśritāḥ

Surely we deserve this, we who live under a weak ruler, settled for good in the realm of a bad king, having made him our refuge.

Note on the text: Corrected वचं → वयं (misprint in Wikisource; "we", as the plural verb वसामो requires — the critical edition reads vayaṃ).

Verse 24 (1.174.24)

ब्राह्मणाः कस्य वक्तव्याः कस्य वाच्छन्दचारिणः । गुणैरेते हि वत्स्यन्ति कामगाः पक्षिणो यथा ॥

brāhmaṇāḥ kasya vaktavyāḥ kasya vācchandacāriṇaḥ | guṇairete hi vatsyanti kāmagāḥ pakṣiṇo yathā

To whom are Brahmins answerable, and whose subjects are they, free as they are to go where they will? Like birds that fly where they please, they settle wherever there is virtue to hold them.

Verse 25 (1.174.25)

राजानं प्रथमं विन्देत्ततो भार्यां ततो धनम् । राजन्यसति लोकेऽस्मिन्कुतो भार्या कुतो धनम् । त्रयस्य संचयेनास्य ज्ञातीन्पुत्रांश्च तारयेत् ॥

rājānaṃ prathamaṃ vindettato bhāryāṃ tato dhanam | rājanyasati loke'sminkuto bhāryā kuto dhanam | trayasya saṃcayenāsya jñātīnputrāṃśca tārayet

One should first find a king, then a wife, then wealth. If there is no king in this world, where is a wife, where is wealth? By gathering these three one can carry one's kin and sons across.

Note on the text: Removed a stray backtick. Corrected वयस्य → त्रयस्य (misprint in Wikisource; "of these three" — king, wife and wealth, taken up again in verse 26 — as in the critical edition, trayasya). The first and third lines = CE 1.148.12 (which reads saṃcaye cāsya … dhārayet); the middle line is in the CE apparatus (1.148.12*1630).

Verse 26 (1.174.26)

विपरीतं मया चेदं त्रयं सर्वमुपार्जितम् । तदिमामापदं प्राप्य भृशं तप्यामहे वयम् ॥

viparītaṃ mayā cedaṃ trayaṃ sarvamupārjitam | tadimāmāpadaṃ prāpya bhṛśaṃ tapyāmahe vayam

But I acquired all three the wrong way round; and so, having fallen into this calamity, we suffer bitterly.

Note on the text: Corrected विपीरतं → विपरीतं (misprint in Wikisource; transposed vowel signs — the critical edition reads viparītaṃ).

Verse 27 (1.174.27)

सोऽयमस्माननुप्राप्तो वारः कुलविनाशनः । भोजनं पुरुषश्चैकः प्रदेयं वेतनं मया ॥

so'yamasmānanuprāpto vāraḥ kulavināśanaḥ | bhojanaṃ puruṣaścaikaḥ pradeyaṃ vetanaṃ mayā

Now that turn, which will destroy my family, has come round to us: I must give the food, and one man as his wage.

Verse 28 (1.174.28)

न च मे विद्यते वित्तं संक्रेतुं पुरुषं क्वचित् । सुहृज्जनं प्रदातुं च न शक्ष्यामि कदाचन ॥

na ca me vidyate vittaṃ saṃkretuṃ puruṣaṃ kvacit | suhṛjjanaṃ pradātuṃ ca na śakṣyāmi kadācana

I have no wealth with which to buy a man anywhere, and I could never hand over a friend or kinsman.

Note on the text: = CE 1.148.15ab–cd, aligned by hand.

Verse 29 (1.174.29)

गतिं चान्यां न पश्यामि तस्मान्मोक्षाय रक्षसः । सोऽहं दुःखार्णवे मग्नो महत्यसुकरे भृशम् ॥

gatiṃ cānyāṃ na paśyāmi tasmānmokṣāya rakṣasaḥ | so'haṃ duḥkhārṇave magno mahatyasukare bhṛśam

I see no other way of escape from the rakshasa, and so I am sunk deep in a vast sea of sorrow that is hard to cross.

Note on the text: = CE 1.148.15ef + 16ab, aligned by hand (the critical edition reads asutare for असुकरे).

Verse 30 (1.174.30)

सहैवैतैर्गमिष्यामि बान्धवैरद्य राक्षसम् । ततो नः सहितान्क्षुद्रः सर्वानेवोपभोक्ष्यति ॥

sahaivaitairgamiṣyāmi bāndhavairadya rākṣasam | tato naḥ sahitānkṣudraḥ sarvānevopabhokṣyati

Today I will go to the rakshasa together with all these kin of mine; then that vile creature will devour us all together.

Note on the text: = CE 1.148.16cd–ef, aligned by hand.

Verse 31 (1.174.31)

दुःखमूलमिदं भद्रे मयोक्तं प्रश्नतोऽनघे ॥

duḥkhamūlamidaṃ bhadre mayoktaṃ praśnato'naghe

This, good and sinless lady, is the root of our sorrow, which I have told you as you asked.

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki marks (backtick, doubled danda and quote mark). A single line in Wikisource (its 31a). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; CE apparatus 1.148.16*1631).