Shamika's Warning and Kashyapa on the Road

Verse 1 (1.42.1)

यद्येतत्साहसं तात यदि वा दुष्कृतं कृतम् । प्रियं वाप्यप्रियं वा ते वागुक्ता न मृषा भवेत् ॥

yadyetatsāhasaṃ tāta yadi vā duṣkṛtaṃ kṛtam | priyaṃ vāpyapriyaṃ vā te vāguktā na mṛṣā bhavet

"Father, whether this was rash or a wrong deed, whether it pleases you or not, the word I have spoken cannot prove false.

Verse 2 (1.42.2)

नैवान्यथेदं भविता पितरेष ब्रवीमि ते । नाहं मृषा ब्रवीम्येवं स्वैरेष्वपि कुतः शपन् ॥

naivānyathedaṃ bhavitā pitareṣa bravīmi te | nāhaṃ mṛṣā bravīmyevaṃ svaireṣvapi kutaḥ śapan

It will not be otherwise, father—this I tell you. I do not speak falsely even in jest, much less when I pronounce a curse."

Verse 3 (1.42.3)

जानाम्युग्रप्रभावं त्वां तात सत्यगिरं तथा । नानृतं चोक्तपूर्वं ते नैतन्मिथ्या भविष्यति ॥

jānāmyugraprabhāvaṃ tvāṃ tāta satyagiraṃ tathā | nānṛtaṃ coktapūrvaṃ te naitanmithyā bhaviṣyati

"I know, my son, that your power is fierce and your word is true. You have never spoken an untruth before, and this will not prove false.

Verse 4 (1.42.4)

पित्रा पुत्रो वयस्थोऽपि सततं वाच्य एव तु । यथा स्याद्गुणसंयुक्तः प्राप्नुयाच्च महद्यशः ॥

pitrā putro vayastho'pi satataṃ vācya eva tu | yathā syādguṇasaṃyuktaḥ prāpnuyācca mahadyaśaḥ

Yet a son, even when grown, must always be counselled by his father, so that he may be rich in virtues and win great renown.

Verse 5 (1.42.5)

किं पुनर्बाल एव त्वं तपसा भावितः सदा । वर्धते चेत्प्रभवतां कोपोऽतीव महात्मनाम् ॥

kiṃ punarbāla eva tvaṃ tapasā bhāvitaḥ sadā | vardhate cetprabhavatāṃ kopo'tīva mahātmanām

How much more so you, who are still a child, though ever strengthened by austerity! If the anger of the powerful, great-souled ones grows beyond measure,

Verse 6 (1.42.6)

उत्सीदेयुरिमे लोकाः क्षमा चास्य प्रतिक्रिया । सोऽहं पश्यामि वक्तव्यं त्वयि धर्मभृतां वर । पुत्रत्वं बालतां चैव तवावेक्ष्य च साहसम् ॥

utsīdeyurime lokāḥ kṣamā cāsya pratikriyā | so'haṃ paśyāmi vaktavyaṃ tvayi dharmabhṛtāṃ vara | putratvaṃ bālatāṃ caiva tavāvekṣya ca sāhasam

these worlds would be ruined, and forbearance is the remedy for it. So I see that I must speak to you, best of those who uphold dharma, considering that you are my son, that you are young, and that you have acted rashly.

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki marks (` and ।') around the first line, which is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); lines 2–3 are 1.38.6. Corrected क्षणा → क्षमा (misprint in Wikisource; क्षणा gives no sense, and forbearance is the theme of the following verses). This correction is conjectural, since the critical edition lacks the line.

Verse 7 (1.42.7)

स त्वं शमपरो भूत्वा वन्यमाहारमाचरन् । चर क्रोधमिमं हित्वा नैवं धर्मं प्रहास्यसि ॥

sa tvaṃ śamaparo bhūtvā vanyamāhāramācaran | cara krodhamimaṃ hitvā naivaṃ dharmaṃ prahāsyasi

Become devoted to calm, live on the food of the forest, and go your way, giving up this anger. So you will not lose your dharma.

Verse 8 (1.42.8)

क्रोधो हि धर्मं हरति यतीनां दुःखसंचितम् । ततो धर्मविहीनानां गतिरिष्टा न विद्यते ॥

krodho hi dharmaṃ harati yatīnāṃ duḥkhasaṃcitam | tato dharmavihīnānāṃ gatiriṣṭā na vidyate

For anger robs ascetics of the dharma they have gathered through hardship, and for those bereft of dharma there is no goal worth reaching.

Verse 9 (1.42.9)

शम एव यतीनां हि क्षमिणां सिद्धिकारकः । क्षमावतामयं लोकः परश्चैव क्षमावताम् ॥

śama eva yatīnāṃ hi kṣamiṇāṃ siddhikārakaḥ | kṣamāvatāmayaṃ lokaḥ paraścaiva kṣamāvatām

Calm alone brings forbearing ascetics to perfection. This world belongs to the forbearing, and the world beyond as well.

Verse 10 (1.42.10)

तस्माच्चरेथाः सततं क्षमाशीलो जितेन्द्रियः । क्षमया प्राप्स्यसे लोकान्ब्रह्मणः समनन्तरान् ॥

tasmāccarethāḥ satataṃ kṣamāśīlo jitendriyaḥ | kṣamayā prāpsyase lokānbrahmaṇaḥ samanantarān

Therefore live always forbearing, with your senses mastered. Through forbearance you will reach the worlds that lie next to Brahma's own.

Verse 11 (1.42.11)

मया तु शममास्थाय यच्छक्यं कर्तुमद्य वै । तत्करिष्याम्यहं तात प्रेषयिष्ये नृपाय वै ॥

mayā tu śamamāsthāya yacchakyaṃ kartumadya vai | tatkariṣyāmyahaṃ tāta preṣayiṣye nṛpāya vai

As for me, I shall hold to calm and do what can be done today, my son: I shall send word to the king:

Note on the text: Corrected प्रेपयिष्ये → प्रेषयिष्ये (misprint in Wikisource; प for ष, as the critical edition shows).

Verse 12 (1.42.12)

मम पुत्रेण शप्तोऽसि बालेनाकृतबुद्धिना । ममेमां धर्षणां त्वत्तः प्रेक्ष्य राजन्नमर्षिणा ॥

mama putreṇa śapto'si bālenākṛtabuddhinā | mamemāṃ dharṣaṇāṃ tvattaḥ prekṣya rājannamarṣiṇā

'You have been cursed, O king, by my son, a boy of unripe judgment, who could not bear to see the insult you offered me.'"

Verse 13 (1.42.13)

एवमादिश्य शिष्यं स प्रेषयामास सुव्रतः । परिक्षिते नृपतये दयापन्नो महातपाः ॥

evamādiśya śiṣyaṃ sa preṣayāmāsa suvrataḥ | parikṣite nṛpataye dayāpanno mahātapāḥ

Having given these instructions, the great ascetic, true to his vows and moved by compassion, sent a disciple to King Parikshit.

Verse 14 (1.42.14)

संदिश्य कुशलप्रश्नं कार्यवृत्तान्तमेव च । शिष्यं गौरमुखं नाम शीलवन्तं समाहितम् ॥

saṃdiśya kuśalapraśnaṃ kāryavṛttāntameva ca | śiṣyaṃ gauramukhaṃ nāma śīlavantaṃ samāhitam

He sent Gauramukha, a disciple of good conduct and composed mind, charging him to ask after the king's welfare and to report how the matter stood.

Verse 15 (1.42.15)

सोऽभिगम्य ततः शीघ्रं नरेन्द्रं कुरुवर्धनम् । विवेश भवनं राज्ञः पूर्वं द्वास्थैर्निवेदितः ॥

so'bhigamya tataḥ śīghraṃ narendraṃ kuruvardhanam | viveśa bhavanaṃ rājñaḥ pūrvaṃ dvāsthairniveditaḥ

Gauramukha went quickly to the king who was the glory of the Kurus and, announced first by the doorkeepers, entered the royal palace.

Verse 16 (1.42.16)

पूजितस्तु नरेन्द्रेण द्विजो गौरमुखस्तदा । आचख्यौ च परिश्रान्तो राज्ञः सर्वमशेषतः ॥

pūjitastu narendreṇa dvijo gauramukhastadā | ācakhyau ca pariśrānto rājñaḥ sarvamaśeṣataḥ

Honoured by the king, the brahmin Gauramukha, weary from his journey, told the king everything without leaving anything out:

Verse 17 (1.42.17)

शमीकवचनं घोरं यथोक्तं मन्त्रिसन्निधौ । शमीको नाम राजेन्द्र वर्तते विषये तव ॥

śamīkavacanaṃ ghoraṃ yathoktaṃ mantrisannidhau | śamīko nāma rājendra vartate viṣaye tava

Shamika's grave message, just as it had been given, in the presence of the ministers: "O king of kings, there lives in your realm a sage named Shamika,

Note on the text: Spans the last line of 1.38.16 and the first half of 1.38.17 in the critical edition.

Verse 18 (1.42.18)

ऋषिः परमधर्मात्मा दान्तः शान्तो महातपाः । तस्य त्वया नरव्याघ्र सर्पः प्राणैर्वियोजितः ॥

ṛṣiḥ paramadharmātmā dāntaḥ śānto mahātapāḥ | tasya tvayā naravyāghra sarpaḥ prāṇairviyojitaḥ

supremely righteous, self-controlled, tranquil and great in austerity. On him, O tiger among men, you placed a lifeless snake,

Note on the text: Spans the second half of 1.38.17 and the first half of 1.38.18 in the critical edition.

Verse 19 (1.42.19)

अवसक्तो धनुष्कोट्या स्कन्धे मौनान्वितस्य च । क्षान्तवांस्तव तत्कर्म पुत्रस्तस्य न चक्षमे ॥

avasakto dhanuṣkoṭyā skandhe maunānvitasya ca | kṣāntavāṃstava tatkarma putrastasya na cakṣame

hanging it with the tip of your bow on his shoulder while he kept his silence. He forgave you that act, but his son did not.

Note on the text: Spans the second and third lines of 1.38.18 in the critical edition.

Verse 20 (1.42.20)

तेन शप्तोऽसि राजेन्द्र पितुरज्ञातमद्य वै । तक्षकः सप्तरात्रेण मृत्युस्तव भविष्यति ॥

tena śapto'si rājendra piturajñātamadya vai | takṣakaḥ saptarātreṇa mṛtyustava bhaviṣyati

He has cursed you today, O king of kings, without his father's knowledge: within seven nights Takshaka will be your death.

Verse 21 (1.42.21)

तत्र रक्षां कुरुष्वेति पुनः पुनरथाब्रवीत् । तदन्यथा न शक्यं च कर्तुं केनचिदप्युत ॥

tatra rakṣāṃ kuruṣveti punaḥ punarathābravīt | tadanyathā na śakyaṃ ca kartuṃ kenacidapyuta

Again and again he said, 'Take measures there to protect yourself.' For no one at all can make it otherwise,

Verse 22 (1.42.22)

न हि शक्नोति संयन्तुं पुत्रं कोपसमन्वितम् । ततोऽहं प्रेषितस्तेन तव राजन्हितार्थिना ॥

na hi śaknoti saṃyantuṃ putraṃ kopasamanvitam | tato'haṃ preṣitastena tava rājanhitārthinā

since he cannot restrain his son, who is full of anger. And so I have been sent by him, O king, for your good."

Verse 23 (1.42.23)

इति श्रुत्वा वचो घोरं स राजा कुरुनन्दनः । पर्यतप्यत तत्पापं कृत्वा राजा महातपाः ॥

iti śrutvā vaco ghoraṃ sa rājā kurunandanaḥ | paryatapyata tatpāpaṃ kṛtvā rājā mahātapāḥ

Hearing these dreadful words, the king, the joy of the Kurus, a man of great austerity, was tormented at having committed that sin.

Verse 24 (1.42.24)

तं च मौनव्रतं श्रुत्वा वने मुनिवरं तदा । भूय एवाभवद्राजा शोकसंतप्तमानसः ॥

taṃ ca maunavrataṃ śrutvā vane munivaraṃ tadā | bhūya evābhavadrājā śokasaṃtaptamānasaḥ

And hearing that the great sage in the forest had been under a vow of silence, the king was still more stricken with grief.

Verse 25 (1.42.25)

अनुक्रोशात्मतां तस्य शमीकस्यावधार्य च । पर्यतप्यत भूयोऽपि कृत्वा तत्किल्बिषं मुनेः ॥

anukrośātmatāṃ tasya śamīkasyāvadhārya ca | paryatapyata bhūyo'pi kṛtvā tatkilbiṣaṃ muneḥ

Recognising Shamika's compassionate nature, he grieved all the more over the offence he had committed against the sage.

Note on the text: Corrected भूयोपि → भूयोऽपि (misprint in Wikisource; missing avagraha).

Verse 26 (1.42.26)

न हि मृत्युं तथा राजा श्रुत्वा वै सोऽन्वतप्यत । अशोचदमरप्रख्यो यथा कृत्वेह कर्म तत् ॥

na hi mṛtyuṃ tathā rājā śrutvā vai so'nvatapyata | aśocadamaraprakhyo yathā kṛtveha karma tat

The godlike king did not grieve so much at hearing of his own death as he grieved at having done that deed.

Verse 27 (1.42.27)

ततस्तं प्रेषयामास राजा गौरमुखं तदा । भूयः प्रसादं भगवान्करोत्विह ममेति वै ॥

tatastaṃ preṣayāmāsa rājā gauramukhaṃ tadā | bhūyaḥ prasādaṃ bhagavānkarotviha mameti vai

Then the king sent Gauramukha back, saying, "May the revered sage show me his grace once more."

Verse 28 (1.42.28)

श्रुत्वा तु वचनं राज्ञो मुनिर्गौरमुखस्तदा । समनुज्ञाप्य वेगेन प्रजगामाश्रमं गुरोः ॥

śrutvā tu vacanaṃ rājño munirgauramukhastadā | samanujñāpya vegena prajagāmāśramaṃ guroḥ

Hearing the king's words, the sage Gauramukha took his leave and hurried back to his teacher's hermitage.

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki marks (` and ।।'). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 29 (1.42.29)

तस्मिंश्च गतमात्रेऽथ राजा गौरमुखे तदा । मन्त्रिभिर्मन्त्रयामास सह संविग्नमानसः ॥

tasmiṃśca gatamātre'tha rājā gauramukhe tadā | mantribhirmantrayāmāsa saha saṃvignamānasaḥ

As soon as Gauramukha had gone, the king, troubled at heart, took counsel with his ministers.

Verse 30 (1.42.30)

संमन्त्र्य मन्त्रिभिश्चैव स तथा मन्त्रतत्त्ववित् । प्रासादं कारयामास एकस्तम्भं सुरक्षितम् ॥

saṃmantrya mantribhiścaiva sa tathā mantratattvavit | prāsādaṃ kārayāmāsa ekastambhaṃ surakṣitam

Having consulted with his ministers, the king, who knew the heart of statecraft, had a mansion built on a single pillar and well guarded.

Verse 31 (1.42.31)

रक्षां च विदधे तत्र भिषजश्चौषधानि च । ब्राह्मणान्मन्त्रसिद्धांश्च सर्वतो वै न्ययोजयत् ॥

rakṣāṃ ca vidadhe tatra bhiṣajaścauṣadhāni ca | brāhmaṇānmantrasiddhāṃśca sarvato vai nyayojayat

He set guards there, with physicians and medicines, and posted on every side brahmins who had mastered mantras.

Verse 32 (1.42.32)

राजकार्याणि तत्रस्थः सर्वाण्येवाकरोच्च सः । मन्त्रिभिः सह धर्मज्ञः समन्तात्परिरक्षितः ॥

rājakāryāṇi tatrasthaḥ sarvāṇyevākarocca saḥ | mantribhiḥ saha dharmajñaḥ samantātparirakṣitaḥ

Staying there, guarded on every side, the king who knew dharma carried out all the business of state together with his ministers.

Verse 33 (1.42.33)

न चैनं कश्चिदारूढं लभते राजसत्तमम् । वातोऽपि निश्चरंस्तत्र प्रवेशे विनिवार्यते ॥

na cainaṃ kaścidārūḍhaṃ labhate rājasattamam | vāto'pi niścaraṃstatra praveśe vinivāryate

Once he had gone up there, no one could reach that best of kings; even the wind as it blew was kept from entering.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 34 (1.42.34)

प्राप्ते च दिवसे तस्मिन्सप्तमे द्विजसत्तमः । काश्यपोऽभ्यागमद्विद्वांस्तं राजानं चिकित्सितुम् ॥

prāpte ca divase tasminsaptame dvijasattamaḥ | kāśyapo'bhyāgamadvidvāṃstaṃ rājānaṃ cikitsitum

When the seventh day came, the learned Kashyapa, best of brahmins, set out to come and treat the king.

Verse 35 (1.42.35)

श्रुतं हि तेन तदभूद्यथा तं राजसत्तमम् । तक्षकः पन्नगश्रेष्ठो नेष्यते यमसादनम् ॥

śrutaṃ hi tena tadabhūdyathā taṃ rājasattamam | takṣakaḥ pannagaśreṣṭho neṣyate yamasādanam

For he had heard how Takshaka, best of serpents, was to send that best of kings to the abode of Yama.

Verse 36 (1.42.36)

तं दष्टं पन्नगेन्द्रेण करिष्येऽहमपज्वरम् । तत्र मेऽर्थश्च धर्मश्च भवितेति विचिन्तयन् ॥

taṃ daṣṭaṃ pannagendreṇa kariṣye'hamapajvaram | tatra me'rthaśca dharmaśca bhaviteti vicintayan

"When the lord of serpents has bitten him, I shall free him from the fever of the poison; and in that I shall gain both wealth and merit," he thought.

Verse 37 (1.42.37)

तं ददर्श स नागेन्द्रस्तक्षकः काश्यपं पथि । गच्छन्तमेकमनसं द्विजो भूत्वा वयोऽतिगः ॥

taṃ dadarśa sa nāgendrastakṣakaḥ kāśyapaṃ pathi | gacchantamekamanasaṃ dvijo bhūtvā vayo'tigaḥ

Takshaka, lord of serpents, taking the form of an aged brahmin, saw Kashyapa on the road, travelling with a single purpose in mind.

Verse 38 (1.42.38)

तमब्रवीत्पन्नगेन्द्रः काश्यपं मुनिपुंगवम् । क्व भवांस्त्वरितो याति किंच कार्यं चिकीर्षति ॥

tamabravītpannagendraḥ kāśyapaṃ munipuṃgavam | kva bhavāṃstvarito yāti kiṃca kāryaṃ cikīrṣati

The lord of serpents said to Kashyapa, that bull among sages, "Where are you going in such haste, sir, and what is it you mean to do?"

Verse 39 (1.42.39)

नृपं कुरुकुलोत्पन्नं परिक्षितमरिंदमम् । तक्षकः पन्नगश्रेष्ठस्तेजसाद्य प्रधक्ष्यति ॥

nṛpaṃ kurukulotpannaṃ parikṣitamariṃdamam | takṣakaḥ pannagaśreṣṭhastejasādya pradhakṣyati

"Today Takshaka, best of serpents, will burn with his fiery power King Parikshit, born in the Kuru line, the tamer of foes.

Note on the text: Corrected तेजसाऽध्य → तेजसाद्य (misprint in Wikisource; ध्य for द्य, the critical edition reads tejasādya).

Verse 40 (1.42.40)

तं दष्टं पन्नगेन्द्रेण तेनाग्निसमतेजसम् । पाण्डवानां कुलकरं राजानममितौजसम् । गच्छामि त्वरितं सौम्य सद्यः कर्तुमपज्वरम् ॥

taṃ daṣṭaṃ pannagendreṇa tenāgnisamatejasam | pāṇḍavānāṃ kulakaraṃ rājānamamitaujasam | gacchāmi tvaritaṃ saumya sadyaḥ kartumapajvaram

When that king of boundless might, fiery as Agni, who carries on the line of the Pandavas, has been bitten by the lord of serpents, I am hurrying there, good sir, to cure him of the poison at once.

Note on the text: Restored the missing word break in गच्छामित्वरितं → गच्छामि त्वरितं.

Verse 41 (1.42.41)

विज्ञातविषविद्योऽहं ब्राह्मणो लोकपूजितः । अस्मद्गुरुकटाक्षेण कल्योऽहं विषनाशने ॥

vijñātaviṣavidyo'haṃ brāhmaṇo lokapūjitaḥ | asmadgurukaṭākṣeṇa kalyo'haṃ viṣanāśane

I am a brahmin honoured by the world, who has mastered the science of poisons; by my teacher's grace I am able to destroy poison."

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki marks (` and ।।'). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 42 (1.42.42)

अहं स तक्षको ब्रह्मंस्तं धक्ष्यामि महीपतिम् । निवर्तस्व न शक्तस्त्वं मया दष्टं चिकित्सितुम् ॥

ahaṃ sa takṣako brahmaṃstaṃ dhakṣyāmi mahīpatim | nivartasva na śaktastvaṃ mayā daṣṭaṃ cikitsitum

"I am that Takshaka, brahmin. I shall burn that lord of the earth. Turn back—you cannot cure one whom I have bitten."

Verse 43 (1.42.43)

अहं तं नृपतिं गत्वा त्वया दष्टमपज्वरम् । करिष्यामीति मे बुद्धिर्विद्याबलसमन्विता ॥

ahaṃ taṃ nṛpatiṃ gatvā tvayā daṣṭamapajvaram | kariṣyāmīti me buddhirvidyābalasamanvitā

"I shall go to that king and, once you have bitten him, free him from the poison. That is my resolve, and it rests on the power of my learning."