Vatsanabha and Dharma: Atonement for the Ungrateful

Verse 1 (13.33.1)

प्रायश्चित्तं कृतघ्नानां प्रतिब्रूहि पितामह । मातॄः पितॄन्गुरुंश्चैव येऽवमन्यन्ति मोहिताः ॥

prāyaścittaṃ kṛtaghnānāṃ pratibrūhi pitāmaha | mātṝḥ pitṝnguruṃścaiva ye'vamanyanti mohitāḥ

Tell me, grandsire, the atonement for the ungrateful: for those who, in delusion, despise their mothers, fathers and teachers,

Note on the text: Removed the speaker heading "`युधिष्ठिर उवाच" (13-33-1x, with a stray backtick) that had slipped into the verse text; it is made the speaker. The page's heading governs verses 1–2 (the input had no speaker on them). Not in the critical edition's constituted text: lines of the CE's inline Appendix I passage (App. I No. 2, printed after 13.11.20 as 13,011.020d@002_0001-0002); vulgate-only otherwise.

Verse 2 (13.33.2)

ये चाप्यन्ये परे तात कृतघ्ना निरपत्रपाः । तेषां गतिं महाबाहो श्रोतुमिच्छामि तत्वतः ॥

ye cāpyanye pare tāta kṛtaghnā nirapatrapāḥ | teṣāṃ gatiṃ mahābāho śrotumicchāmi tatvataḥ

and of any others, dear one, who are ungrateful and shameless. I wish to hear truly what end awaits them, O mighty-armed.

Note on the text: Corrected ये चाप्यन्ते परे → ये चाप्यन्ये परे (misprint in Wikisource; not a word in context; CE ye cāpy anye pare). Not in the critical edition's constituted text: lines of the CE's inline Appendix I passage (App. I No. 2, printed after 13.11.20 as 13,011.020d@002_0003-0004); vulgate-only otherwise.

Verse 3 (13.33.3)

कृतघ्नानां गतिस्तात नरके शाश्वतीः समाः । मातापितृगुरूणां च ये न तिष्ठन्ति शासने । क्रिमिकीटपिपीलेषु जायन्ते स्थावरेषु च ॥

kṛtaghnānāṃ gatistāta narake śāśvatīḥ samāḥ | mātāpitṛgurūṇāṃ ca ye na tiṣṭhanti śāsane | krimikīṭapipīleṣu jāyante sthāvareṣu ca

The fate of the ungrateful, dear one, is hell for everlasting years; and those who do not stay under the rule of mother, father and teacher are born as worms, insects and ants, and among things that cannot move.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text: lines of the CE's inline Appendix I passage (App. I No. 2, printed after 13.11.20 as 13,011.020d@002_0005-0007); vulgate-only otherwise.

Verse 4 (13.33.4)

दुर्लभो हि पुनस्तेषां मानुष्ये पुनरुद्भवः । अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् ॥

durlabho hi punasteṣāṃ mānuṣye punarudbhavaḥ | atrāpyudāharantīmamitihāsaṃ purātanam

For them a return to human birth is hard to come by. On this they tell this ancient tale.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text: lines of the CE's inline Appendix I passage (App. I No. 2, printed after 13.11.20 as 13,011.020d@002_0008-0009); vulgate-only otherwise.

Verse 5 (13.33.5)

वत्सनाभो महाप्राज्ञो महर्षिः संशितव्रतः । वल्मीकभूतो ब्रह्मर्षिस्तप्यते सुमहत्तपः ॥

vatsanābho mahāprājño maharṣiḥ saṃśitavrataḥ | valmīkabhūto brahmarṣistapyate sumahattapaḥ

There was a great and wise sage named Vatsanabha, firm in his vows, a brahmin sage, who practised great austerity while an anthill grew around him.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text: lines of the CE's inline Appendix I passage (App. I No. 2, printed after 13.11.20 as 13,011.020d@002_0010-0011); vulgate-only otherwise.

Verse 6 (13.33.6)

तस्मिंश्च तप्यति तपो वासवो भरतर्षभ । ववर्ष सुमहद्वर्षं सविद्युत्स्तनयित्नुमान् ॥

tasmiṃśca tapyati tapo vāsavo bharatarṣabha | vavarṣa sumahadvarṣaṃ savidyutstanayitnumān

While he practised that austerity, Indra, O best of the Bharatas, sent down a great rain with lightning and thunder.

Note on the text: Corrected समुहद्वर्षं → सुमहद्वर्षं (misprint in Wikisource; wrong vowel; CE sumahad varṣam). Not in the critical edition's constituted text: lines of the CE's inline Appendix I passage (App. I No. 2, printed after 13.11.20 as 13,011.020d@002_0012-0013); vulgate-only otherwise.

Verse 7 (13.33.7)

तत्र सप्ताहवर्षं तु मुमुचे पाकशासनः । निमीलिताक्षस्तद्वर्षं प्रत्यगृह्यत वै द्विजः ॥

tatra saptāhavarṣaṃ tu mumuce pākaśāsanaḥ | nimīlitākṣastadvarṣaṃ pratyagṛhyata vai dvijaḥ

There the Destroyer of Paka rained for seven days; and the brahmin, his eyes closed, bore that rain.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text: lines of the CE's inline Appendix I passage (App. I No. 2, printed after 13.11.20 as 13,011.020d@002_0014-0015); vulgate-only otherwise.

Verse 8 (13.33.8)

तस्मिन्पतति वर्षे तु शीतवातसमन्विते । विशीर्णध्वस्तशिखरो वल्मीकोऽशनिताडितः ॥

tasminpatati varṣe tu śītavātasamanvite | viśīrṇadhvastaśikharo valmīko'śanitāḍitaḥ

While that rain fell, cold and driven by the wind, the anthill, struck by lightning, had its peak shattered and broken.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text: lines of the CE's inline Appendix I passage (App. I No. 2, printed after 13.11.20 as 13,011.020d@002_0016-0017); vulgate-only otherwise.

Verse 9 (13.33.9)

ताड्यमाने ततस्तस्मिन्वत्सनाभे महात्मनि । कारुण्यात्तस्य धर्मः स्वमानृशंस्यमथाकरोत् ॥

tāḍyamāne tatastasminvatsanābhe mahātmani | kāruṇyāttasya dharmaḥ svamānṛśaṃsyamathākarot

As the great-souled Vatsanabha was being beaten by it, Dharma, out of compassion for him, showed his own mercy.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text: lines of the CE's inline Appendix I passage (App. I No. 2, printed after 13.11.20 as 13,011.020d@002_0018-0019); vulgate-only otherwise.

Verse 10 (13.33.10)

चिन्तयानस्य ब्रह्मर्षिं तपन्तमतिधार्मिकम् । अनुरूपा मतिः क्षिप्रमुपजाता स्वभावजा ॥

cintayānasya brahmarṣiṃ tapantamatidhārmikam | anurūpā matiḥ kṣipramupajātā svabhāvajā

As Dharma was thinking of that brahmin sage, so righteous in his austerity, a fitting thought quickly arose in him, native to his own nature.

Note on the text: Corrected ब्रह्मर्षि तपन्तम → ब्रह्मर्षिं तपन्तम (misprint in Wikisource; dropped anusvara; CE brahmarṣiṃ). Not in the critical edition's constituted text: lines of the CE's inline Appendix I passage (App. I No. 2, printed after 13.11.20 as 13,011.020d@002_0020-0021); vulgate-only otherwise.

Verse 11 (13.33.11)

स्वं रूपं माहिषं कृत्वा सुमहान्तं मनोहरम् । रक्षार्थं वत्सनाभस्य चतुष्पादुपरिस्थितः ॥

svaṃ rūpaṃ māhiṣaṃ kṛtvā sumahāntaṃ manoharam | rakṣārthaṃ vatsanābhasya catuṣpāduparisthitaḥ

Taking his own form as a buffalo, huge and beautiful, he stood on four legs over Vatsanabha to protect him.

Note on the text: Corrected वत्सनामस्य → वत्सनाभस्य (misprint in Wikisource; wrong letter; CE vatsanābhasya). Restored सुमहान्तं from the critical edition (13,011.020d@002_0022: svaṃ rūpaṃ māhiṣaṃ kṛtvā sumahāntaṃ manoharam): Wikisource prints a gap of asterisks ("*********") in line 1. Not in the critical edition's constituted text: lines of the CE's inline Appendix I passage (App. I No. 2, printed after 13.11.20 as 13,011.020d@002_0022-0023); vulgate-only otherwise.

Verse 12 (13.33.12)

यदा त्वपगतं वर्षं वृष्टिवातसमन्वितम् । ततो महिषरूपेण धर्मो धर्मभृतांवर । शनैर्वल्मीकमुत्सृज्य प्राद्रवद्भरतर्षभ ॥

yadā tvapagataṃ varṣaṃ vṛṣṭivātasamanvitam | tato mahiṣarūpeṇa dharmo dharmabhṛtāṃvara | śanairvalmīkamutsṛjya prādravadbharatarṣabha

When the rain, with its storm and downpour, had passed, then Dharma, in the buffalo's form, O best of upholders of dharma, slowly left the anthill and ran off, O best of the Bharatas.

Note on the text: Corrected महिषरुपेण → महिषरूपेण (misprint in Wikisource; short vowel for long; CE mahiṣarūpeṇa). Not in the critical edition's constituted text: lines of the CE's inline Appendix I passage (App. I No. 2, printed after 13.11.20 as 13,011.020d@002_0024-0026); vulgate-only otherwise.

Verse 13 (13.33.13)

स्थितेऽस्मिन्वृष्टिसम्पाते वीक्षते स्म महातपाः । दिशश्च विपुलास्तत्र गिरीणां शिखराणि च ॥

sthite'sminvṛṣṭisampāte vīkṣate sma mahātapāḥ | diśaśca vipulāstatra girīṇāṃ śikharāṇi ca

When the downpour had stopped, the great ascetic looked about, and saw the wide regions and the mountain peaks.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text: lines of the CE's inline Appendix I passage (App. I No. 2, printed after 13.11.20 as 13,011.020d@002_0027-0028); vulgate-only otherwise.

Verse 14 (13.33.14)

दृष्ट्वा च पृथिवीं सर्वां सलिलेन परिप्लुताम् । जलाशयान्स तान्दृष्ट्वा विप्रः प्रमुदितोऽभवत् ॥

dṛṣṭvā ca pṛthivīṃ sarvāṃ salilena pariplutām | jalāśayānsa tāndṛṣṭvā vipraḥ pramudito'bhavat

Seeing the whole earth flooded with water, and the pools of water, the brahmin was delighted.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text: lines of the CE's inline Appendix I passage (App. I No. 2, printed after 13.11.20 as 13,011.020d@002_0029-0030); vulgate-only otherwise.

Verse 15 (13.33.15)

अचिन्तयद्विस्मितश्च वर्षात्केनाभिरक्षितः । ततोऽपश्यत्स महिषमवस्थितमदूरतः ॥

acintayadvismitaśca varṣātkenābhirakṣitaḥ | tato'paśyatsa mahiṣamavasthitamadūrataḥ

He wondered, astonished: "By whom have I been protected from the rain?" Then he saw a buffalo standing not far away.

Note on the text: Dropped line 1 of the page, "अचिन्तयद्विस्मितश्चि विप्रः प्रमुदितोऽभवत्" (the row labelled 13-33-15a): a garbled repeat of line 2 of the previous verse (विप्रः प्रमुदितोऽभवत्) joined to the opening of the next line; the critical edition has nothing between 13,011.020d@002_0030 and 0031. Corrected विस्तितश्च → विस्मितश्च in the remaining line (misprint in Wikisource; CE vismitaś ca). Line 1 reads केनाभिरक्षितः where the CE has kenāsmi rakṣitaḥ; recension variant, kept. Not in the critical edition's constituted text: lines of the CE's inline Appendix I passage (App. I No. 2, printed after 13.11.20 as 13,011.020d@002_0031-0032); vulgate-only otherwise.

Verse 16 (13.33.16)

तिर्यग्योनावपि कथं दृश्यते धर्मवत्सलः ॥

tiryagyonāvapi kathaṃ dṛśyate dharmavatsalaḥ

"How can one who loves dharma be seen even in an animal birth?"

Note on the text: The verse is a single line on the page; it matches a single line of the Appendix passage, and nothing is lost. Not in the critical edition's constituted text: line of the CE's inline Appendix I passage (App. I No. 2, printed after 13.11.20 as 13,011.020d@002_0033); vulgate-only otherwise.

Verse 17 (13.33.17)

अतो नु भद्रमहिषः शिलापट्टमवस्थितः । पीवरश्चैव बल्यश्च बहुमांसो भवेदयम् ॥

ato nu bhadramahiṣaḥ śilāpaṭṭamavasthitaḥ | pīvaraścaiva balyaśca bahumāṃso bhavedayam

"So this must be a fine buffalo standing on a slab of rock: fat, strong, and heavy with flesh."

Note on the text: The page's gloss reads पीवरश्चैव वध्यश्चेति as a variant for the second line; not added. Not in the critical edition's constituted text: lines of the CE's inline Appendix I passage (App. I No. 2, printed after 13.11.20 as 13,011.020d@002_0034-0035); vulgate-only otherwise.

Verse 18 (13.33.18)

तस्य बुद्धिरियं जाता धर्मसंसक्तजा मुनेः । कृतघ्ना नरकं यान्ति ये च विश्वस्तघातिनः ॥

tasya buddhiriyaṃ jātā dharmasaṃsaktajā muneḥ | kṛtaghnā narakaṃ yānti ye ca viśvastaghātinaḥ

This thought arose in the sage, who clung to dharma: "The ungrateful go to hell, and so do those who kill the trusting."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text: lines of the CE's inline Appendix I passage (App. I No. 2, printed after 13.11.20 as 13,011.020d@002_0036-0037); vulgate-only otherwise.

Verse 19 (13.33.19)

निष्कृतिं नैव पश्यामि कृतघ्नानां कथञ्चन । ऋते प्राणपरित्यागाद्धर्मज्ञानां वचो यथा ॥

niṣkṛtiṃ naiva paśyāmi kṛtaghnānāṃ kathañcana | ṛte prāṇaparityāgāddharmajñānāṃ vaco yathā

"I see no atonement at all for the ungrateful, except by giving up one's life; so run the words of those who know dharma."

Note on the text: Corrected क्रते → ऋते (misprint in Wikisource; wrong letter; CE ṛte). Corrected प्राणिपरित्यागाद् → प्राणपरित्यागाद् (misprint in Wikisource; stray vowel sign; CE prāṇaparityāgād). Not in the critical edition's constituted text: lines of the CE's inline Appendix I passage (App. I No. 2, printed after 13.11.20 as 13,011.020d@002_0038-0039); vulgate-only otherwise.

Verse 20 (13.33.20)

अकृत्वा भरणं पित्रोरदत्त्वा गुरुदक्षिणाम् । कृतघ्नतां च सम्प्राप्य मरणान्ता च निष्कृतिः ॥

akṛtvā bharaṇaṃ pitroradattvā gurudakṣiṇām | kṛtaghnatāṃ ca samprāpya maraṇāntā ca niṣkṛtiḥ

"Without supporting one's parents, without giving the teacher his fee, and having become ungrateful, the atonement ends in death."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text: lines of the CE's inline Appendix I passage (App. I No. 2, printed after 13.11.20 as 13,011.020d@002_0040-0041); vulgate-only otherwise.

Verse 21 (13.33.21)

आकाङ्क्षायामुपेक्षायां चोपपातकमुत्तमम् । तस्मात्प्राणान्परित्यक्ष्ये प्रायश्चित्तार्थमित्युत ॥

ākāṅkṣāyāmupekṣāyāṃ copapātakamuttamam | tasmātprāṇānparityakṣye prāyaścittārthamityuta

"To neglect one who looks to you for help is the gravest of the lesser sins. Therefore I shall give up my life as atonement."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text: lines of the CE's inline Appendix I passage (App. I No. 2, printed after 13.11.20 as 13,011.020d@002_0042-0043); vulgate-only otherwise.

Verse 22 (13.33.22)

स मेरुशिखरं गत्वा निःसङ्गेनान्तरात्मना । प्रायश्चित्तं कर्तुकामः शरीरं त्यक्तुमुद्यतः । निगृहीतश्च धर्मात्मा हस्ते धर्मेण धर्मवित् ॥

sa meruśikharaṃ gatvā niḥsaṅgenāntarātmanā | prāyaścittaṃ kartukāmaḥ śarīraṃ tyaktumudyataḥ | nigṛhītaśca dharmātmā haste dharmeṇa dharmavit

With a mind free of attachment he went to the peak of Meru, meaning to atone and ready to cast off his body; but Dharma, righteous in soul and knowing what is right, seized him by the hand.

Note on the text: Corrected निस्यङ्केनान्तरात्मना → निःसङ्गेनान्तरात्मना (misprint in Wikisource; not a word; CE niḥsaṅgenāntarātmanā). Narration (Bhishma). The CE prints the heading "dharmaḥ" before line 0046; the page places Dharma's heading (13-33-23x) after this verse, and the verse stays with the narrator. Not in the critical edition's constituted text: lines of the CE's inline Appendix I passage (App. I No. 2, printed after 13.11.20 as 13,011.020d@002_0044-0046); vulgate-only otherwise.

Verse 23 (13.33.23)

वत्सनाभ महाप्राज्ञ बहुवर्षशतायुष । परितुष्टोस्मि त्यागेन निस्सङ्गेन तथाऽऽत्मनः ॥

vatsanābha mahāprājña bahuvarṣaśatāyuṣa | parituṣṭosmi tyāgena nissaṅgena tathā''tmanaḥ

"Vatsanabha, wise one, may you live many hundreds of years. I am pleased with this renunciation, free of attachment, of your own self."

Note on the text: Speaker: the page's heading reads "धर्मि उवाच" (13-33-23x), a misprint for धर्म उवाच (the CE has "dharmaḥ"); the input carried "धर्मि". Not in the critical edition's constituted text: lines of the CE's inline Appendix I passage (App. I No. 2, printed after 13.11.20 as 13,011.020d@002_0047-0048); vulgate-only otherwise.

Verse 24 (13.33.24)

एवं धर्मभृतः सर्वे विमृशन्ति कृताकृतम् । न कश्चिद्वत्सनाभस्य यस्य नोपहतं मनः ॥

evaṃ dharmabhṛtaḥ sarve vimṛśanti kṛtākṛtam | na kaścidvatsanābhasya yasya nopahataṃ manaḥ

"Thus all who uphold dharma weigh what has been done and left undone. There is no one, Vatsanabha, whose mind has not been wounded."

Note on the text: Sense uncertain: the second line (न कश्चिद्वत्सनाभस्य यस्य नोपहतं मनः) is ambiguous; translated as "there is no one, Vatsanabha, whose mind has not been wounded", the reading that makes the verse comfort Vatsanabha. Not in the critical edition's constituted text: lines of the CE's inline Appendix I passage (App. I No. 2, printed after 13.11.20 as 13,011.020d@002_0049-0050); vulgate-only otherwise.

Verse 25 (13.33.25)

यश्चानवद्यश्चरति शक्तो धर्मं च सर्वशः । निवर्तस्व महाप्राज्ञ पूतात्मा ह्यसि शाश्वतः ॥

yaścānavadyaścarati śakto dharmaṃ ca sarvaśaḥ | nivartasva mahāprājña pūtātmā hyasi śāśvataḥ

"You who live blameless and are able to practise dharma in every way: turn back, great sage; you are pure in soul and abiding."

Note on the text: Corrected महाप्राज्ञ् → महाप्राज्ञ (misprint in Wikisource; stray virama; CE mahāprājña). Removed the stray closing quote mark after शाश्वतः. Not in the critical edition's constituted text: lines of the CE's inline Appendix I passage (App. I No. 2, printed after 13.11.20 as 13,011.020d@002_0051-0052); vulgate-only otherwise.