Vyasa Raises the Worm to a Prince

Verse 1 (13.180.1)

शुभेन कर्मणा यद्वै तिर्यग्योनौ न मुह्यसे । ममैव कीट तत्कर्म येन त्वं न प्रमुह्यसे ॥

śubhena karmaṇā yadvai tiryagyonau na muhyase | mamaiva kīṭa tatkarma yena tvaṃ na pramuhyase

Vyasa said: That you are not bewildered even in an animal's birth is owing to a good deed; and that deed, worm, is mine, by which you are not bewildered.

Verse 2 (13.180.2)

अहं त्वां दर्शनादेव तारयामि तपोबलात् । तपोबलाद्धि बलवद्बलमन्यन्न विद्यते ॥

ahaṃ tvāṃ darśanādeva tārayāmi tapobalāt | tapobalāddhi balavadbalamanyanna vidyate

By the strength of my austerity I carry you across at the mere sight of me; for there is no strength greater than the strength of austerity.

Verse 3 (13.180.3)

जानामि पापैः स्वकृतैर्गतं त्वां कीट कीटताम् । अवाप्स्यसि परं धर्मं मानुष्ये यदि मन्यसे ॥

jānāmi pāpaiḥ svakṛtairgataṃ tvāṃ kīṭa kīṭatām | avāpsyasi paraṃ dharmaṃ mānuṣye yadi manyase

I know that through your own sins you have fallen into the state of a worm. In a human birth you will attain the highest dharma, if you so agree.

Note on the text: Corrected अवाप्स्य्सि → अवाप्स्यसि (misprint in Wikisource; stray ्; CE avāpsyasi). Corrected परं र्धर्मं → परं धर्मं (misprint in Wikisource; stray र् before ध; CE paraṃ dharmaṃ). Line 2 otherwise a recension variant of CE 3c ('dharmastho yadi manyase').

Verse 4 (13.180.4)

कर्मभूमिकृतं देवा भुञ्जते तिर्यगाश्च ये । धन्या अपि मनुष्येषु कामार्थाश्च यथा गुणाः ॥

karmabhūmikṛtaṃ devā bhuñjate tiryagāśca ye | dhanyā api manuṣyeṣu kāmārthāśca yathā guṇāḥ

The gods, and those who are born as animals, enjoy what is wrought on the earth of action; and among men too the blessed enjoy desires and wealth according to their merits.

Verse 5 (13.180.5)

वाग्बुद्धिपाणिपादैश्च समुपेता विपश्चितः । किमायाति मनुष्यस्य मन्दस्यार्थस्य जीवतः ॥

vāgbuddhipāṇipādaiśca samupetā vipaścitaḥ | kimāyāti manuṣyasya mandasyārthasya jīvataḥ

The wise man is endowed with speech, mind, hands and feet; what, then, does a dull man's life bring him toward any purpose of his own?

Note on the text: Not matched by the aligner; = CE 13.119.5 (recension variant: CE 5a 'vāgbuddhipāṇipādaiś cāpy upetasya vipaścitaḥ', 5c 'kiṃ hīyate manuṣyasya mandasyāpi hi jīvataḥ'). Base reading kept.

Verse 6 (13.180.6)

दैवे यः कुरुते पूजां विप्राग्निशशिसूर्ययोः । ब्रुवन्नपि कथां पुण्यां तत्र कीट त्वमेष्यसि ॥

daive yaḥ kurute pūjāṃ viprāgniśaśisūryayoḥ | bruvannapi kathāṃ puṇyāṃ tatra kīṭa tvameṣyasi

Where one worships the gods, brahmins, fire, the moon and the sun, and speaks of sacred tales, there, worm, you will go.

Verse 7 (13.180.7)

गुणभूतानि भूतानि तत्र त्वमुपभोक्ष्यसे । क्रमात्तेऽहं विनेष्यामि ब्रह्मत्वं यदि चेच्छसि ॥

guṇabhūtāni bhūtāni tatra tvamupabhokṣyase | kramātte'haṃ vineṣyāmi brahmatvaṃ yadi cecchasi

There you will enjoy creatures that stand subordinate to you. Step by step I will lead you on to brahminhood, if that is what you wish.

Note on the text: Split at the speaker heading: the input ran Vyasa's two lines together with the line स तथेति प्रतिश्रुत्य कीटः समवतिष्ठत, which follows the printed heading 'भीष्म उवाच' (13-180-7x) and is now joined with the next line as verse 8. Lines here = CE 13.119.7a, 7c (line 2 a recension variant: CE 'tatra te 'haṃ vineṣyāmi brahmatvaṃ yatra cecchasi'). Not matched by the aligner.

Verse 8 (13.180.8)

स तथेति प्रतिश्रुत्य कीटः समवतिष्ठत । तमृषिं द्रष्टुमगमत्सर्वास्वन्यासु योनिषु ॥

sa tatheti pratiśrutya kīṭaḥ samavatiṣṭhata | tamṛṣiṃ draṣṭumagamatsarvāsvanyāsu yoniṣu

Bhishma said: "So be it," the worm promised, and held to it. And in all its other births it went to see that sage:

Note on the text: Joined from two single-line rows of the page: the line स तथेति प्रतिश्रुत्य कीटः समवतिष्ठत (13-180-7c, after the heading 'भीष्म उवाच') and the line *तमृषिं द्रष्टुमगमत्सर्वास्वन्यासु योनिषु (13-180-8a), which the input made verses 7 (third line) and 8. Together they are CE 13.119.8a and 8c (CE 8a 'sa tatheti pratiśrutya kīṭo vartmany atiṣṭhata'; Wikisource 'समवतिष्ठत'). Removed the apparatus asterisk before तमृषिं. The CE star passage 13.119.008b*0599_01-03 (three lines, also noted in the page's apparatus as an addition in one manuscript) is not in the Wikisource text and is not added.

Verse 9 (13.180.9)

श्वाविद्गोधावराहाणां तथैव मृगपक्षिणाम् । श्वपाकशूद्रवैश्यानां क्षत्रियाणां च योनिषु ॥

śvāvidgodhāvarāhāṇāṃ tathaiva mṛgapakṣiṇām | śvapākaśūdravaiśyānāṃ kṣatriyāṇāṃ ca yoniṣu

in the births of porcupines, iguanas and boars, and likewise of deer and birds, and in those of outcastes, shudras, vaishyas and kshatriyas.

Verse 10 (13.180.10)

स कीटे एवमाख्यातमृषिणा सत्यवादिना । प्रतिस्मृत्याथ जग्राह पादौ मूर्ध्नि कृताञ्जलिः ॥

sa kīṭe evamākhyātamṛṣiṇā satyavādinā | pratismṛtyātha jagrāha pādau mūrdhni kṛtāñjaliḥ

When the truthful sage had so spoken to the worm, he remembered it, and with folded hands raised to his head he clasped the sage's feet.

Note on the text: Not matched by the aligner; = CE 13.119.10 (Wikisource 'स कीटे एवमाख्यातमृषिणा सत्यवादिना' against CE 10a 'sa kīṭety evam ābhāṣya ṛṣiṇā satyavādinā', a recension variant; line 2 identical except मूर्ध्नि for mūrdhnā). Base reading kept.

Verse 11 (13.180.11)

इदं तदतुलं स्थानमीप्सितं दशभिर्गुणैः । यदहं प्राप्य कीटत्वमागतो राजपुत्रताम् ॥

idaṃ tadatulaṃ sthānamīpsitaṃ daśabhirguṇaiḥ | yadahaṃ prāpya kīṭatvamāgato rājaputratām

The Worm said: This is that matchless station, longed for and blessed with ten merits, which I have reached after being a worm — the state of a king's son.

Verse 12 (13.180.12)

वहन्ति मामतिबलाः कुञ्जरा हेममालिनः । स्यन्दनेषु च काम्भोजा युक्ताः समरवाजिनः ॥

vahanti māmatibalāḥ kuñjarā hemamālinaḥ | syandaneṣu ca kāmbhojā yuktāḥ samaravājinaḥ

Mighty elephants hung with golden garlands carry me, and Kamboja war-horses are yoked to my chariots.

Note on the text: Supplied the missing space in युक्ताःसमरवाजिनः → युक्ताः समरवाजिनः. Wikisource 'समरवाजिनः' against CE 12c 'paramavājinaḥ' (recension variant).

Verse 13 (13.180.13)

उष्ट्राश्वतरयुक्तानि यानानि च वहन्ति माम् । सबान्धवः सहामात्यश्चाश्नामि पिशिताशनम् ॥

uṣṭrāśvatarayuktāni yānāni ca vahanti mām | sabāndhavaḥ sahāmātyaścāśnāmi piśitāśanam

Vehicles drawn by camels and mules carry me, and with my kinsmen and ministers I eat a meal of meat.

Verse 14 (13.180.14)

गृहेषु स्वनिवासेषु सुखेषु शयनेषु च । वरार्हेषु महाभाग स्वपामि च सुपूजितः ॥

gṛheṣu svanivāseṣu sukheṣu śayaneṣu ca | varārheṣu mahābhāga svapāmi ca supūjitaḥ

I sleep, O illustrious one, in my own well-built dwellings, on comfortable beds fit for the finest, and I am highly honoured.

Verse 15 (13.180.15)

सर्वेष्वपररात्रेषु सूतमागधबन्दिनः । स्तुवन्ति मां यथा देवा महेन्द्रं प्रियवादिनः ॥

sarveṣvapararātreṣu sūtamāgadhabandinaḥ | stuvanti māṃ yathā devā mahendraṃ priyavādinaḥ

On every night, in its last watch, bards, heralds and panegyrists sing my praises in pleasing words, as the gods praise great Indra.

Verse 16 (13.180.16)

प्रसादात्सत्यसन्धस्य भवतोऽमिततेजसः । यदहं कीटतां प्राप्य स्मृतिर्जाता जुगुप्सिताम् । ननु नाशोऽस्ति पापस्य यन्मयोपचितं पुरा ॥

prasādātsatyasandhasya bhavato'mitatejasaḥ | yadahaṃ kīṭatāṃ prāpya smṛtirjātā jugupsitām | nanu nāśo'sti pāpasya yanmayopacitaṃ purā

By your grace, O you of firm truth and boundless splendour, I who reached the despised state of a worm have had my memory arise. Is there not, then, an undoing of the sin that I amassed long ago?

Note on the text: Three-line verse, as the page prints it (13-180-16a, b, c). Corrected स्मृतिजाता → स्मृतिर्जाता (misprint in Wikisource; the visarga-r is dropped, and the verse needs 'memory arose' as in CE 18c 'smṛtir jātā'). Corrected नाशोस्ति → नाशोऽस्ति (misprint in Wikisource; missing avagraha; CE 19a 'na tu nāśo 'sti'). Line 1 = CE 13.119.16a; line 2 is a recension variant of CE 16c / 18c; line 3 corresponds to CE 19a ('na tu nāśo 'sti pāpasya yat tvayopacitaṃ purā', there Vyasa's), here in the worm's mouth. Not matched by the aligner.

Verse 17 (13.180.17)

नमस्तेऽस्तु महाप्राज्ञ किं करोमि प्रशाधि माम् । त्वत्तपोबलनिर्दिष्टमिदं ह्यधिगतं मया ॥

namaste'stu mahāprājña kiṃ karomi praśādhi mām | tvattapobalanirdiṣṭamidaṃ hyadhigataṃ mayā

Homage to you, O greatly wise one! What shall I do? Instruct me. I have gained this, as pointed out by the power of your austerity.

Note on the text: Removed the editor's square brackets and the doubled danda before the closing bracket; verse-end mark normalised. Speaker (the worm, now a prince) continues from verse 16; the page prints no heading.

Verse 18 (13.180.18)

अर्चितोऽहं त्वया राजन्वाग्भिरद्य यदृच्छया । अद्य ते कीटतां प्राप्य स्मृतिर्जाताजुगुप्सिताम् ॥

arcito'haṃ tvayā rājanvāgbhiradya yadṛcchayā | adya te kīṭatāṃ prāpya smṛtirjātājugupsitām

Vyasa said: O king, I have been honoured by you today with your words, as chance would have it; today, on reaching the despised state of a worm, memory arose in you.

Note on the text: Removed the editor's square brackets (the closing bracket stood before the verse-end mark). Wikisource 'जुगुप्सिताम्' (accusative) against CE 18c 'jātājugupsitā' (nominative); recension variant, base reading kept.

Verse 19 (13.180.19)

शूद्रेणार्थप्रधानेन नृशंसेनाततायिना । ममैतद्दर्शनं प्राप्तं तच्च वै सुकृतं पुरा । तिर्यग्योनौ स्म जातेन मम चाभ्यर्चनात्तथा ॥

śūdreṇārthapradhānena nṛśaṃsenātatāyinā | mamaitaddarśanaṃ prāptaṃ tacca vai sukṛtaṃ purā | tiryagyonau sma jātena mama cābhyarcanāttathā

Though you were a shudra set on wealth, cruel and ready to do harm, you have come into my sight; that was a good deed done earlier, and also your honouring me when you were born in an animal birth.

Note on the text: Three-line verse, as the page prints it (13-180-19a, b, c). Not matched by the aligner: line 1 = CE 13.119.19c; line 2 = CE 20a (recension variant: CE 'mama te darśanaṃ prāptaṃ tac caiva sukṛtaṃ purā'; Wikisource 'ममैतद्दर्शनं प्राप्तम्'); line 3 = CE 20c. CE 19a ('na tu nāśo 'sti pāpasya …') appears in Wikisource as line 3 of verse 16.

Verse 20 (13.180.20)

इतस्त्वं राजपुत्रत्वाद्ब्राह्मण्यं समवाप्स्यसि । गोब्राह्मणकृते प्राणान्हित्वाऽऽत्मीयान्रणाजिरे ॥

itastvaṃ rājaputratvādbrāhmaṇyaṃ samavāpsyasi | gobrāhmaṇakṛte prāṇānhitvā''tmīyānraṇājire

From this princely state you will attain brahminhood, after giving up your own life on the battlefield for the sake of cows and brahmins.

Verse 21 (13.180.21)

राजपुत्रः सुखं प्राप्य ईजे चैवाप्तदक्षिणैः । अथ चोद्दीप्यत स्वर्गे प्रभूतोऽप्यव्ययः सुखी ॥

rājaputraḥ sukhaṃ prāpya īje caivāptadakṣiṇaiḥ | atha coddīpyata svarge prabhūto'pyavyayaḥ sukhī

Bhishma said: The prince, having reached happiness, performed sacrifices with their fees fully paid, and then he blazed in heaven, mighty, imperishable and happy.

Note on the text: Corrected प्रभूतोप्यव्ययः → प्रभूतोऽप्यव्ययः (misprint in Wikisource; missing avagraha). Not matched by the aligner; = CE 13.119.22 (CE 22a 'rājaputrasukhaṃ prāpya ṛtūṃś caivāptadakṣiṇān', 22c 'atha modiṣyase svarge brahmabhūto 'vyayaḥ sukhī', which is still Vyasa's address to the prince; Wikisource turns it into narration under Bhishma's heading, recension variant, kept).

Verse 22 (13.180.22)

तिर्यग्योन्याः शूद्रतामभ्यपैति । शूद्रो वैश्यं क्षत्रियत्वं च वैश्यः । वृत्तश्लाघी क्षत्रियो ब्राह्मणत्वं । स्वर्गं पुण्याद्ब्राह्मणः साधुवृत्तः ॥

tiryagyonyāḥ śūdratāmabhyapaiti | śūdro vaiśyaṃ kṣatriyatvaṃ ca vaiśyaḥ | vṛttaślāghī kṣatriyo brāhmaṇatvaṃ | svargaṃ puṇyādbrāhmaṇaḥ sādhuvṛttaḥ

From an animal birth one passes to the state of a shudra; a shudra to that of a vaishya, and a vaishya to that of a kshatriya; a kshatriya who prides himself on right conduct passes to brahminhood, and a brahmin of good conduct, through merit, to heaven.

Note on the text: Four-pada verse, as the page prints it (13-180-22a-d); CE 13.119.23 gives it as two long lines. Speaker per the page's heading (Bhishma); in the CE the passage is Vyasa's.