Parikshit and the Frog Princess; Vamadeva's Horses

Verse 1 (3.195.1)

भूय एव ब्राह्मणमहाभाग्यं वक्तुमर्हसीत्यब्रवीत्पाण्डवेयो मार्कण्डेयम् ॥

bhūya eva brāhmaṇamahābhāgyaṃ vaktumarhasītyabravītpāṇḍaveyo mārkaṇḍeyam

"Tell us still more of the greatness of brahmins," the son of Pandu said to Markandeya.

Note on the text: The critical edition prints 3.190.1–59 as prose sentences (lettered A–F within each number), which the automatic alignment did not match; the prose of verses 1–59 here agrees with 3.190.1–59 sentence for sentence, and the ce_ref values are assigned by hand.

Verse 2 (3.195.2)

अथाचष्ट मार्कण्डेयः ॥

athācaṣṭa mārkaṇḍeyaḥ

And Markandeya told this story.

Verse 3 (3.195.3)

अयोध्यायामिक्ष्वाकुकुलोत्पन्नः पार्थिवः परिक्षिन्नाम मृगयामगमत् ॥

ayodhyāyāmikṣvākukulotpannaḥ pārthivaḥ parikṣinnāma mṛgayāmagamat

In Ayodhya there was a king named Parikshit, born in the line of Ikshvaku. He went out hunting.

Verse 4 (3.195.4)

तमेकाश्वेन मृगमनुसरन्तं मृगो दूरमपाहरत् ॥

tamekāśvena mṛgamanusarantaṃ mṛgo dūramapāharat

He was following a deer on a single horse, and the deer drew him far away.

Verse 5 (3.195.5)

अथाध्वनि जातश्रमः क्षुत्तृष्णाभिभूतश्च कस्मिंश्चिदुद्देशे नीलं वनषण्डमपश्यत् । तच्च विवेश ॥

athādhvani jātaśramaḥ kṣuttṛṣṇābhibhūtaśca kasmiṃściduddeśe nīlaṃ vanaṣaṇḍamapaśyat | tacca viveśa

Then, worn out by the road and overcome by hunger and thirst, he saw in a certain spot a dark grove of trees, and he went into it.

Verse 6 (3.195.6)

ततस्तस्य वनषण्डस्य मध्येऽतीव रमणीयं सरो दृष्ट्वा साश्व एव व्यगाहत ॥

tatastasya vanaṣaṇḍasya madhye'tīva ramaṇīyaṃ saro dṛṣṭvā sāśva eva vyagāhata

In the middle of that grove he saw an exceedingly lovely lake, and he plunged into it, horse and all.

Verse 7 (3.195.7)

अथाश्वस्तः स बिसमृणालमश्वस्याग्रे निक्षिप्य पुष्करिणीतीरे समाविशत् ॥

athāśvastaḥ sa bisamṛṇālamaśvasyāgre nikṣipya puṣkariṇītīre samāviśat

Refreshed, he laid lotus stalks and fibres before his horse and sat down on the bank of the lotus pool.

Verse 8 (3.195.8)

ततः शयानो मधुरं गीतशब्दमशृणोत् ॥

tataḥ śayāno madhuraṃ gītaśabdamaśṛṇot

Then, as he lay there, he heard the sweet sound of singing.

Verse 9 (3.195.9)

स श्रुत्वाचिन्तयत् । नेह मनुष्यगतिं पश्यामि । कस्य खल्वयं गीतशब्द इति ॥

sa śrutvācintayat | neha manuṣyagatiṃ paśyāmi | kasya khalvayaṃ gītaśabda iti

Hearing it, he thought: "I see no sign of people here. Whose singing can this be?"

Verse 10 (3.195.10)

अथापश्यत्कन्यां परमरूपदर्शनीयां पुष्पाण्यवचिन्वतीं गायन्तीं च ॥

athāpaśyatkanyāṃ paramarūpadarśanīyāṃ puṣpāṇyavacinvatīṃ gāyantīṃ ca

Then he saw a maiden of surpassing beauty, gathering flowers and singing.

Verse 11 (3.195.11)

अथ सा राज्ञः समीपे पर्यक्रामत् ॥

atha sā rājñaḥ samīpe paryakrāmat

She came walking close to the king.

Verse 12 (3.195.12)

तामब्रवीद्राजा । कस्यासि सुभगे त्वमिति ॥

tāmabravīdrājā | kasyāsi subhage tvamiti

The king said to her, "Whose are you, lovely one?"

Verse 13 (3.195.13)

सा प्रत्युवाच । कन्यास्मीति ॥

sā pratyuvāca | kanyāsmīti

She replied, "I am a maiden."

Verse 14 (3.195.14)

तां राजोवाच । अर्थी त्वयाहमिति ॥

tāṃ rājovāca | arthī tvayāhamiti

The king said to her, "I desire you."

Verse 15 (3.195.15)

अथोवाच कन्या । समयेनाहं शक्या त्वया लब्धुम् । नान्यथेति ॥

athovāca kanyā | samayenāhaṃ śakyā tvayā labdhum | nānyatheti

Then the maiden said, "You may win me on a condition, and not otherwise."

Verse 16 (3.195.16)

तां राजा समयमपृच्छत् ॥

tāṃ rājā samayamapṛcchat

The king asked her what the condition was.

Verse 17 (3.195.17)

ततः कन्येदमुवाच । उदकं मे न दर्शयितव्यमिति ॥

tataḥ kanyedamuvāca | udakaṃ me na darśayitavyamiti

Then the maiden said: "I must never be shown water."

Verse 18 (3.195.18)

स राजा बाढमित्युक्त्वा तां समागम्य तया सहास्ते ॥

sa rājā bāḍhamityuktvā tāṃ samāgamya tayā sahāste

The king said, "So be it," and having united with her, he stayed there with her.

Verse 19 (3.195.19)

तत्रैवासीने राजनि सेनान्वगच्छत् । पदेनानुपदं दृष्ट्वा राजानं परिवार्यातिष्ठत् ॥

tatraivāsīne rājani senānvagacchat | padenānupadaṃ dṛṣṭvā rājānaṃ parivāryātiṣṭhat

While the king was sitting there, his army came after him. Tracking his footprints step by step, it found the king and stood around him.

Verse 20 (3.195.20)

पर्याश्वस्तश्च राजा तयैव सह शिबिकया प्रायादविघाटितया । स्वनगरमनुप्राप्य रहसि तया सह रमन्नास्ते । नान्यत्किञ्चनापश्यत् ॥

paryāśvastaśca rājā tayaiva saha śibikayā prāyādavighāṭitayā | svanagaramanuprāpya rahasi tayā saha ramannāste | nānyatkiñcanāpaśyat

When he had rested, the king set out with her in a closed palanquin. Reaching his own city, he lived with her in seclusion, taking his pleasure, and paid no heed to anything else.

Verse 21 (3.195.21)

अथ प्रधानामात्यस्तस्याभ्याशचराः स्त्रियोऽपृच्छत् । किमत्र प्रयोजनं वर्तत इति ॥

atha pradhānāmātyastasyābhyāśacarāḥ striyo'pṛcchat | kimatra prayojanaṃ vartata iti

Then the chief minister asked the women who waited on him, "What is the matter here?"

Verse 22 (3.195.22)

अथाब्रुवंस्ताः स्त्रियः । अपूर्वमिव पश्याम उदकं नात्र नीयतेति ॥

athābruvaṃstāḥ striyaḥ | apūrvamiva paśyāma udakaṃ nātra nīyateti

The women replied, "We see something unheard of: no water is brought in here."

Verse 23 (3.195.23)

अथामात्योऽनुदकं वनं कारयित्वोदारवृक्षं बहुमूलपुष्पफलं रहस्युपगम्य राजानमब्रवीत् । वनमिदमुदारमनुदकम् । साध्वत्र रम्यतामिति ॥

athāmātyo'nudakaṃ vanaṃ kārayitvodāravṛkṣaṃ bahumūlapuṣpaphalaṃ rahasyupagamya rājānamabravīt | vanamidamudāramanudakam | sādhvatra ramyatāmiti

So the minister had a garden laid out without water, with fine trees and plenty of roots, flowers and fruit, and approaching the king in private he said, "Here is a splendid garden with no water in it. Take your pleasure there."

Verse 24 (3.195.24)

स तस्य वचनात्तयैव सह देव्या तद्वनं प्राविशत् । स कदाचित्तस्मिन्वने रम्ये तयैव सह व्यवहरत् । अथ क्षुत्तृष्णार्दितः श्रान्तोऽतिमात्रमतिमुक्तागारमपश्यत् ॥

sa tasya vacanāttayaiva saha devyā tadvanaṃ prāviśat | sa kadācittasminvane ramye tayaiva saha vyavaharat | atha kṣuttṛṣṇārditaḥ śrānto'timātramatimuktāgāramapaśyat

At his word the king went into that garden with the queen. One day, as he wandered with her in that lovely garden, he grew tormented by hunger and thirst and utterly weary, and he saw a bower of atimukta creepers.

Verse 25 (3.195.25)

तत्प्रविश्य राजा सह प्रियया सुधातलसुकृतां विमलसलिलपूर्णां वापीमपश्यत् ॥

tatpraviśya rājā saha priyayā sudhātalasukṛtāṃ vimalasalilapūrṇāṃ vāpīmapaśyat

Entering it with his beloved, the king saw a well-made pool with a plastered floor, full of clear water.

Verse 26 (3.195.26)

दृष्ट्वैव च तां तस्या एव तीरे सहैव तया देव्या व्यतिष्ठत् ॥

dṛṣṭvaiva ca tāṃ tasyā eva tīre sahaiva tayā devyā vyatiṣṭhat

As soon as he saw it, he stopped on its bank together with the queen.

Verse 27 (3.195.27)

अथ तां देवीं स राजाब्रवीत् । साध्ववतर वापीसलिलमिति ॥

atha tāṃ devīṃ sa rājābravīt | sādhvavatara vāpīsalilamiti

Then the king said to the queen, "Go down into the water of the pool; it will do you good."

Verse 28 (3.195.28)

सा तद्वचः श्रुत्वावतीर्य वापीं न्यमज्जत् । न पुनरुदमज्जत् ॥

sā tadvacaḥ śrutvāvatīrya vāpīṃ nyamajjat | na punarudamajjat

Hearing his words, she went down into the pool and sank, and did not come up again.

Verse 29 (3.195.29)

तां मृगयमाणो राजा नापश्यत् ॥

tāṃ mṛgayamāṇo rājā nāpaśyat

The king searched for her but could not find her.

Verse 30 (3.195.30)

वापीमपि निःस्राव्य मण्डूकं श्वभ्रमुखे दृष्ट्वा क्रुद्ध आज्ञापयामास । सर्वमण्डूकवधः क्रियतामिति । यो मयार्थी स मृतकैर्मण्डूकैरुपायनैर्मामुपतिष्ठेदिति ॥

vāpīmapi niḥsrāvya maṇḍūkaṃ śvabhramukhe dṛṣṭvā kruddha ājñāpayāmāsa | sarvamaṇḍūkavadhaḥ kriyatāmiti | yo mayārthī sa mṛtakairmaṇḍūkairupāyanairmāmupatiṣṭhediti

He had the pool drained, and seeing a frog at the mouth of a hole, he gave orders in his anger: "Let all the frogs be killed! Whoever wants anything of me must come to me with dead frogs as his offering."

Verse 31 (3.195.31)

अथ मण्डूकवधे घोरे क्रियमाणे दिक्षु सर्वासु मण्डूकान्भयमाविशत् । ते भीता मण्डूकराज्ञे यथावृत्तं न्यवेदयन् ॥

atha maṇḍūkavadhe ghore kriyamāṇe dikṣu sarvāsu maṇḍūkānbhayamāviśat | te bhītā maṇḍūkarājñe yathāvṛttaṃ nyavedayan

When the terrible slaughter of frogs began, fear came upon the frogs in every quarter, and in their terror they told the king of the frogs all that had happened.

Verse 32 (3.195.32)

ततो मण्डूकराट्तापसवेषधारी राजानमभ्यगच्छत् ॥

tato maṇḍūkarāṭtāpasaveṣadhārī rājānamabhyagacchat

Then the king of the frogs came to the king in the guise of an ascetic.

Verse 33 (3.195.33)

उपेत्य चैनमुवाच । मा राजन्क्रोधवशं गमः । प्रसादं कुरु । नार्हसि मण्डूकानामनपराधिनां वधं कर्तुमिति ॥

upetya cainamuvāca | mā rājankrodhavaśaṃ gamaḥ | prasādaṃ kuru | nārhasi maṇḍūkānāmanaparādhināṃ vadhaṃ kartumiti

Coming up to him he said, "O king, do not give way to anger. Be gracious. You should not slaughter frogs that have done no wrong."

Verse 34 (3.195.34)

श्लोकौ चात्र भवतः । मा मण्डूकाञ्जिघांस त्वं कोपं सन्धारयाच्युत । प्रक्षीयते धनोद्रेको जनानामविजानताम् ॥

ślokau cātra bhavataḥ | mā maṇḍūkāñjighāṃsa tvaṃ kopaṃ sandhārayācyuta | prakṣīyate dhanodreko janānāmavijānatām

And there are two verses on this: "Do not seek to kill the frogs; hold back your anger, Achyuta. The abundance of wealth wastes away for men who act without understanding.

Verse 35 (3.195.35)

प्रतिजानीहि नैतांस्त्वं प्राप्य क्रोधं विमोक्ष्यसे । अलं कृत्वा तवाधर्मं मण्डूकैः किं हतैर्हि ते ॥

pratijānīhi naitāṃstvaṃ prāpya krodhaṃ vimokṣyase | alaṃ kṛtvā tavādharmaṃ maṇḍūkaiḥ kiṃ hatairhi te

Pledge yourself not to harm them; though anger has seized you, let it go. Enough of this wrongdoing — what will you gain by killing frogs?"

Verse 36 (3.195.36)

तमेवंवादिनमिष्टजनशोकपरीतात्मा राजा प्रोवाच । न हि क्षम्यते तन्मया । हनिष्याम्येतान् । एतैर्दुरात्मभिः प्रिया मे भक्षिता । सर्वथैव मे वध्या मण्डूकाः । नार्हसि विद्वन्मामुपरोद्धुमिति ॥

tamevaṃvādinamiṣṭajanaśokaparītātmā rājā provāca | na hi kṣamyate tanmayā | haniṣyāmyetān | etairdurātmabhiḥ priyā me bhakṣitā | sarvathaiva me vadhyā maṇḍūkāḥ | nārhasi vidvanmāmuparoddhumiti

To him who spoke thus the king, his heart overwhelmed with grief for the one he loved, replied: "This I cannot forgive. I will kill them. These wicked creatures have devoured my beloved. The frogs must die, whatever happens. You should not stand in my way, learned one."

Verse 37 (3.195.37)

स तद्वाक्यमुपलभ्य व्यथितेन्द्रियमनाः प्रोवाच । प्रसीद राजन् । अहमायुर्नाम मण्डूकराजः । मम सा दुहिता सुशोभना नाम । तस्या दौःशील्यमेतत् । बहवो हि राजानस्तया विप्रलब्धपूर्वा इति ॥

sa tadvākyamupalabhya vyathitendriyamanāḥ provāca | prasīda rājan | ahamāyurnāma maṇḍūkarājaḥ | mama sā duhitā suśobhanā nāma | tasyā dauḥśīlyametat | bahavo hi rājānastayā vipralabdhapūrvā iti

Hearing these words, he spoke, troubled in mind and senses: "Be gracious, O king. I am Ayu, king of the frogs. She is my daughter, Sushobhana by name. This is her wickedness: she has deceived many kings before."

Verse 38 (3.195.38)

तमब्रवीद्राजा । तयास्म्यर्थी । सा मे दीयतामिति ॥

tamabravīdrājā | tayāsmyarthī | sā me dīyatāmiti

The king said to him, "I want her. Let her be given to me."

Verse 39 (3.195.39)

अथैनां राज्ञे पितादात् । अब्रवीच्चैनाम् । एनं राजानं शुश्रूषस्वेति ॥

athaināṃ rājñe pitādāt | abravīccainām | enaṃ rājānaṃ śuśrūṣasveti

Then her father gave her to the king, and said to her, "Serve this king faithfully."

Verse 40 (3.195.40)

स उवाच दुहितरम् । यस्मात्त्वया राजानो विप्रलब्धास्तस्मादब्रह्मण्यानि तवापत्यानि भविष्यन्त्यनृतकत्वात्तवेति ॥

sa uvāca duhitaram | yasmāttvayā rājāno vipralabdhāstasmādabrahmaṇyāni tavāpatyāni bhaviṣyantyanṛtakatvāttaveti

And he said to his daughter, "Because you have deceived kings, your children will be hostile to brahmins, on account of your falsehood."

Verse 41 (3.195.41)

स च राजा तामुपलभ्य तस्यां सुरतगुणनिबद्धहृदयो लोकत्रयैश्वर्यमिवोपलभ्य हर्षबाष्पकलया वाचा प्रणिपत्याभिपूज्य मण्डूकराजानमब्रवीत् । अनुगृहीतोऽस्मीति ॥

sa ca rājā tāmupalabhya tasyāṃ surataguṇanibaddhahṛdayo lokatrayaiśvaryamivopalabhya harṣabāṣpakalayā vācā praṇipatyābhipūjya maṇḍūkarājānamabravīt | anugṛhīto'smīti

The king, having won her back, his heart bound to her by the delights of love, felt as though he had gained lordship over the three worlds. Bowing to the frog king and honouring him, he said in a voice choked with tears of joy, "I am favoured indeed."

Verse 42 (3.195.42)

स च मण्डूकराजो जामातरमनुज्ञाप्य यथागतमगच्छत् ॥

sa ca maṇḍūkarājo jāmātaramanujñāpya yathāgatamagacchat

And the frog king took leave of his son-in-law and went back the way he had come.

Verse 43 (3.195.43)

अथ कस्यचित्कालस्य तस्यां कुमारास्त्रयस्तस्य राज्ञः सम्बभूवुः शलो दलो बलश्चेति । ततस्तेषां ज्येष्ठं शलं समये पिता राज्येऽभिषिच्य तपसि धृतात्मा वनं जगाम ॥

atha kasyacitkālasya tasyāṃ kumārāstrayastasya rājñaḥ sambabhūvuḥ śalo dalo balaśceti | tatasteṣāṃ jyeṣṭhaṃ śalaṃ samaye pitā rājye'bhiṣicya tapasi dhṛtātmā vanaṃ jagāma

In time three sons were born to the king by her: Shala, Dala and Bala. When the time came, their father installed the eldest, Shala, on the throne and, his mind set on austerity, went away to the forest.

Verse 44 (3.195.44)

अथ कदाचिच्छलो मृगयामचरत् । मृगं चासाद्य रथेनान्वधावत् ॥

atha kadācicchalo mṛgayāmacarat | mṛgaṃ cāsādya rathenānvadhāvat

One day Shala went hunting, and coming upon a deer, he chased it in his chariot.

Verse 45 (3.195.45)

सूतं चोवाच । शीघ्रं मां वहस्वेति ॥

sūtaṃ covāca | śīghraṃ māṃ vahasveti

He said to his charioteer, "Drive me fast."

Verse 46 (3.195.46)

स तथोक्तः सूतो राजानमब्रवीत् । मा क्रियतामनुबन्धः । नैष शक्यस्त्वया मृगो ग्रहीतुं यद्यपि ते रथे युक्तौ वाम्यौ स्यातामिति ॥

sa tathoktaḥ sūto rājānamabravīt | mā kriyatāmanubandhaḥ | naiṣa śakyastvayā mṛgo grahītuṃ yadyapi te rathe yuktau vāmyau syātāmiti

So told, the charioteer said to the king, "Do not keep up the chase. You cannot catch this deer, not even if the Vamyas were yoked to your chariot."

Verse 47 (3.195.47)

ततोऽब्रवीद्राजा सूतम् । आचक्ष्व मे वाम्यौ । हन्मि वा त्वामिति ॥

tato'bravīdrājā sūtam | ācakṣva me vāmyau | hanmi vā tvāmiti

Then the king said to the charioteer, "Tell me about the Vamyas, or I will kill you."

Verse 48 (3.195.48)

स एवमुक्तो राजभयभीतो वामदेवशापभीतश्च सन्नाचख्यौ राज्ञे । वामदेवस्याश्वौ वाम्यौ मनोजवाविति ॥

sa evamukto rājabhayabhīto vāmadevaśāpabhītaśca sannācakhyau rājñe | vāmadevasyāśvau vāmyau manojavāviti

So threatened, afraid of the king and afraid too of Vamadeva's curse, he told the king: "The Vamyas are Vamadeva's horses, swift as thought."

Verse 49 (3.195.49)

अथैनमेवं ब्रुवाणमब्रवीद्राजा । वामदेवाश्रमं याहीति ॥

athainamevaṃ bruvāṇamabravīdrājā | vāmadevāśramaṃ yāhīti

When he had said this, the king told him, "Go to Vamadeva's hermitage."

Verse 50 (3.195.50)

स गत्वा वामदेवाश्रमं तमृषिमब्रवीत् । भगवन्मृगो मया विद्धः पलायते । तं सम्भावयेयम् । अर्हसि मे वाम्यौ दातुमिति ॥

sa gatvā vāmadevāśramaṃ tamṛṣimabravīt | bhagavanmṛgo mayā viddhaḥ palāyate | taṃ sambhāvayeyam | arhasi me vāmyau dātumiti

Going to Vamadeva's hermitage, he said to the seer, "Lord, a deer I have wounded is getting away. I want to catch it. Please give me your Vamyas."

Verse 51 (3.195.51)

तमब्रवीदृषिः । ददानि ते वाम्यौ । कृतकार्येण भवता ममैव निर्यात्यौ क्षिप्रमिति ॥

tamabravīdṛṣiḥ | dadāni te vāmyau | kṛtakāryeṇa bhavatā mamaiva niryātyau kṣipramiti

The seer said to him, "I will give you the Vamyas. When your work is done, you must return them to me at once."

Verse 52 (3.195.52)

स च तावश्वौ प्रतिगृह्यानुज्ञाप्य चर्षिं प्रायाद्वाम्यसंयुक्तेन रथेन मृगं प्रति । गच्छंश्चाब्रवीत्सूतम् । अश्वरत्नाविमावयोग्यौ ब्राह्मणानाम् । नैतौ प्रतिदेयौ वामदेवायेति ॥

sa ca tāvaśvau pratigṛhyānujñāpya carṣiṃ prāyādvāmyasaṃyuktena rathena mṛgaṃ prati | gacchaṃścābravītsūtam | aśvaratnāvimāvayogyau brāhmaṇānām | naitau pratideyau vāmadevāyeti

He took the horses, bade the seer farewell, and set off after the deer in a chariot yoked with the Vamyas. As he went he said to his charioteer, "These two jewels among horses are not fit for brahmins. They are not to be given back to Vamadeva."

Verse 53 (3.195.53)

एवमुक्त्वा मृगमवाप्य स्वनगरमेत्याश्वावन्तःपुरेऽस्थापयत् ॥

evamuktvā mṛgamavāpya svanagarametyāśvāvantaḥpure'sthāpayat

Having said this, he caught the deer, returned to his city and kept the horses in the inner palace.

Verse 54 (3.195.54)

अथर्षिश्चिन्तयामास । तरुणो राजपुत्रः कल्याणं पत्रमासाद्य रमते । न मे प्रतिनिर्यातयति । अहो कष्टमिति ॥

atharṣiścintayāmāsa | taruṇo rājaputraḥ kalyāṇaṃ patramāsādya ramate | na me pratiniryātayati | aho kaṣṭamiti

Then the seer thought: "The young prince has got a fine pair of steeds and is enjoying them; he is not returning them to me. Alas, how wretched!"

Verse 55 (3.195.55)

मनसा निश्चित्य मासि पूर्णे शिष्यमब्रवीत् । गच्छात्रेय । राजानं ब्रूहि । यदि पर्याप्तं निर्यातयोपाध्यायवाम्याविति ॥

manasā niścitya māsi pūrṇe śiṣyamabravīt | gacchātreya | rājānaṃ brūhi | yadi paryāptaṃ niryātayopādhyāyavāmyāviti

Having made up his mind, when a full month had passed he said to his disciple, "Go, Atreya, and tell the king: if you have had enough of them, return your teacher's Vamyas."

Verse 56 (3.195.56)

स गत्वैवं तं राजानमब्रवीत् ॥

sa gatvaivaṃ taṃ rājānamabravīt

He went and said this to the king.

Verse 57 (3.195.57)

तं राजा प्रत्युवाच । राज्ञामेतद्वाहनम् । अनर्हा ब्राह्मणा रत्नानामेवंविधानाम् । किं च ब्राह्मणानामश्वैः कार्यम् । साधु प्रतिगम्यतामिति ॥

taṃ rājā pratyuvāca | rājñāmetadvāhanam | anarhā brāhmaṇā ratnānāmevaṃvidhānām | kiṃ ca brāhmaṇānāmaśvaiḥ kāryam | sādhu pratigamyatāmiti

The king answered him: "This is a mount for kings. Brahmins are not worthy of such treasures. Besides, what business have brahmins with horses? Go back, and good day to you."

Verse 58 (3.195.58)

स गत्वैवमुपाध्यायायाचष्ट ॥

sa gatvaivamupādhyāyāyācaṣṭa

He went back and told this to his teacher.

Verse 59 (3.195.59)

तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनमप्रियं वामदेवः क्रोधपरीतात्मा स्वयमेव राजानमभिगम्याश्वार्थमभ्यचोदयत् । न चादाद्राजा ॥

tacchrutvā vacanamapriyaṃ vāmadevaḥ krodhaparītātmā svayameva rājānamabhigamyāśvārthamabhyacodayat | na cādādrājā

Hearing these unwelcome words, Vamadeva, filled with anger, went to the king himself and pressed him for the horses; but the king would not give them.

Verse 60 (3.195.60)

प्रयच्छ वाम्यौ मम पार्थिव त्वं । कृतं हि ते कार्यमन्यैरशक्यम् । मा त्वा वधीद्वरुणो घोरपाशै- । र्ब्रह्मक्षत्रस्यान्तरे वर्तमानः ॥

prayaccha vāmyau mama pārthiva tvaṃ | kṛtaṃ hi te kāryamanyairaśakyam | mā tvā vadhīdvaruṇo ghorapāśai- | rbrahmakṣatrasyāntare vartamānaḥ

"Give me my Vamyas, O king. With them you have done a deed that others could not. Do not let Varuna strike you down with his dreadful nooses, for you are setting yourself between brahmin and kshatriya."

Note on the text: Pada breaks reformatted: Wikisource marks the mid-line breaks of this verse with semicolons; they are set as line breaks here, with a hyphen where sandhi divides a word across the break. Wording unchanged.

Verse 61 (3.195.61)

अनड्वाहौ सुव्रतौ साधु दान्ता- । वेतद्विप्राणां वाहनं वामदेव । ताभ्यां याहि त्वं यत्र कामो महर्षे । छन्दांसि वै त्वादृशं संवहन्ति ॥

anaḍvāhau suvratau sādhu dāntā- | vetadviprāṇāṃ vāhanaṃ vāmadeva | tābhyāṃ yāhi tvaṃ yatra kāmo maharṣe | chandāṃsi vai tvādṛśaṃ saṃvahanti

"A pair of good, well-trained, well-tamed oxen — that is the mount for brahmins, Vamadeva. Go with them wherever you please, great seer. It is the Vedic metres that carry one like you."

Note on the text: Pada breaks reformatted: Wikisource marks the mid-line breaks of this verse with semicolons; they are set as line breaks here, with a hyphen where sandhi divides a word across the break. Wording unchanged.

Verse 62 (3.195.62)

छन्दांसि वै मादृशं संवहन्ति । लोकेऽमुष्मिन्पार्थिव यानि सन्ति । अस्मिंस्तु लोके मम यानमेत- । दस्मद्विधानामपरेषां च राजन् ॥

chandāṃsi vai mādṛśaṃ saṃvahanti | loke'muṣminpārthiva yāni santi | asmiṃstu loke mama yānameta- | dasmadvidhānāmapareṣāṃ ca rājan

"The metres carry one like me in the other world, O king — the metres that are there. But in this world these are my conveyance, and the conveyance of others like me, O king."

Note on the text: Pada breaks reformatted: Wikisource marks the mid-line breaks of this verse with semicolons; they are set as line breaks here, with a hyphen where sandhi divides a word across the break. Wording unchanged.

Verse 63 (3.195.63)

चत्वारो वा गर्दभास्त्वां वहन्तु । श्रेष्ठाश्वतर्यो हरयो वा तुरङ्गाः । तैस्त्वं याहि क्षत्रियस्यैष वाहो । मम वाम्यौ न तवैतौ हि विद्धि ॥

catvāro vā gardabhāstvāṃ vahantu | śreṣṭhāśvataryo harayo vā turaṅgāḥ | taistvaṃ yāhi kṣatriyasyaiṣa vāho | mama vāmyau na tavaitau hi viddhi

"Let four donkeys carry you, or the best of mules, or bay horses. Go with those. This is a kshatriya's mount. Understand that the Vamyas are mine, not yours."

Note on the text: Pada breaks reformatted: Wikisource marks the mid-line breaks of this verse with semicolons; they are set as line breaks here, with a hyphen where sandhi divides a word across the break. Wording unchanged.

Verse 64 (3.195.64)

घोरं व्रतं ब्राह्मणस्यैतदाहु- । रेतद्राजन्यदिहाजीवमानः । अयस्मया घोररूपा महान्तो । वहन्तु त्वां शितशूलाश्चतुर्धा ॥

ghoraṃ vrataṃ brāhmaṇasyaitadāhu- | retadrājanyadihājīvamānaḥ | ayasmayā ghorarūpā mahānto | vahantu tvāṃ śitaśūlāścaturdhā

"A brahmin's vow is called a fearful thing, O king, and this is mine while I live here: let great and dreadful beings of iron, with sharp spears, carry you off, torn four ways."

Note on the text: Pada breaks reformatted: Wikisource marks the mid-line breaks of this verse with semicolons; they are set as line breaks here, with a hyphen where sandhi divides a word across the break. Wording unchanged.

Verse 65 (3.195.65)

ये त्वा विदुर्ब्राह्मणं वामदेव । वाचा हन्तुं मनसा कर्मणा वा । ते त्वां सशिष्यमिह पातयन्तु । मद्वाक्यनुन्नाः शितशूलासिहस्ताः ॥

ye tvā vidurbrāhmaṇaṃ vāmadeva | vācā hantuṃ manasā karmaṇā vā | te tvāṃ saśiṣyamiha pātayantu | madvākyanunnāḥ śitaśūlāsihastāḥ

"Those who know you for a brahmin bent on killing, Vamadeva, by word, thought or deed — let them, driven by my command, with sharp spears and swords in hand, strike you down here along with your disciple."

Note on the text: Pada breaks reformatted: Wikisource marks the mid-line breaks of this verse with semicolons; they are set as line breaks here, with a hyphen where sandhi divides a word across the break. Wording unchanged.

Verse 66 (3.195.66)

नानुयोगा ब्राह्मणानां भवन्ति । वाचा राजन्मनसा कर्मणा वा । यस्त्वेवं ब्रह्म तपसान्वेति विद्वां- । स्तेन श्रेष्ठो भवति हि जीवमानः ॥

nānuyogā brāhmaṇānāṃ bhavanti | vācā rājanmanasā karmaṇā vā | yastvevaṃ brahma tapasānveti vidvāṃ- | stena śreṣṭho bhavati hi jīvamānaḥ

"Brahmins are not to be called to account, O king, by word, thought or deed. The learned man who follows Brahman through austerity in this way — by that he becomes the greatest while he lives."

Note on the text: Pada breaks reformatted: Wikisource marks the mid-line breaks of this verse with semicolons; they are set as line breaks here, with a hyphen where sandhi divides a word across the break. Wording unchanged.

Verse 67 (3.195.67)

एवमुक्ते वामदेवेन राज- । न्समुत्तस्थू राक्षसा घोररूपाः । तैः शूलहस्तैर्वध्यमानः स राजा । प्रोवाचेदं वाक्यमुच्चैस्तदानीम् ॥

evamukte vāmadevena rāja- | nsamuttasthū rākṣasā ghorarūpāḥ | taiḥ śūlahastairvadhyamānaḥ sa rājā | provācedaṃ vākyamuccaistadānīm

When Vamadeva had spoken thus, O king, dreadful rakshasas rose up. As they struck him with the spears in their hands, the king cried out aloud:

Note on the text: Pada breaks reformatted: Wikisource marks the mid-line breaks of this verse with semicolons; they are set as line breaks here, with a hyphen where sandhi divides a word across the break. Wording unchanged.

Verse 68 (3.195.68)

इक्ष्वाकवो यदि ब्रह्मन्दलो वा । विधेया मे यदि वान्ये विशोऽपि । नोत्स्रक्ष्येऽहं वामदेवस्य वाम्यौ । नैवंविधा धर्मशीला भवन्ति ॥

ikṣvākavo yadi brahmandalo vā | vidheyā me yadi vānye viśo'pi | notsrakṣye'haṃ vāmadevasya vāmyau | naivaṃvidhā dharmaśīlā bhavanti

"So long as the Ikshvakus, O brahmin, or Dala, or the rest of my people obey me, I will not give up Vamadeva's Vamyas. Men like him are not righteous."

Note on the text: Pada breaks reformatted: Wikisource marks the mid-line breaks of this verse with semicolons; they are set as line breaks here, with a hyphen where sandhi divides a word across the break. Wording unchanged.

Verse 69 (3.195.69)

एवं ब्रुवन्नेव स यातुधानै- । र्हतो जगामाशु महीं क्षितीशः । ततो विदित्वा नृपतिं निपातित- । मिक्ष्वाकवो वै दलमभ्यषिञ्चन् ॥

evaṃ bruvanneva sa yātudhānai- | rhato jagāmāśu mahīṃ kṣitīśaḥ | tato viditvā nṛpatiṃ nipātita- | mikṣvākavo vai dalamabhyaṣiñcan

Even as he was saying this, the king was slain by the yatudhanas and quickly fell to the ground. Learning that their king had been struck down, the Ikshvakus consecrated Dala as king.

Note on the text: Pada breaks reformatted: Wikisource marks the mid-line breaks of this verse with semicolons; they are set as line breaks here, with a hyphen where sandhi divides a word across the break. Wording unchanged.

Verse 70 (3.195.70)

राज्ये तदा तत्र गत्वा स विप्रः । प्रोवाचेदं वचनं वामदेवः । दलं राजानं ब्राह्मणानां हि देय- । मेवं राजन्सर्वधर्मेषु दृष्टम् ॥

rājye tadā tatra gatvā sa vipraḥ | provācedaṃ vacanaṃ vāmadevaḥ | dalaṃ rājānaṃ brāhmaṇānāṃ hi deya- | mevaṃ rājansarvadharmeṣu dṛṣṭam

Then that brahmin, Vamadeva, went to the kingdom and spoke these words to King Dala: "What is due to brahmins must be given; this, O king, is the teaching of every law."

Note on the text: Pada breaks reformatted: Wikisource marks the mid-line breaks of this verse with semicolons; they are set as line breaks here, with a hyphen where sandhi divides a word across the break. Wording unchanged.

Verse 71 (3.195.71)

बिभेषि चेत्त्वमधर्मान्नरेन्द्र । प्रयच्छ मे शीघ्रमेवाद्य वाम्यौ । एतच्छ्रुत्वा वामदेवस्य वाक्यं । स पार्थिवः सूतमुवाच रोषात् ॥

bibheṣi cettvamadharmānnarendra | prayaccha me śīghramevādya vāmyau | etacchrutvā vāmadevasya vākyaṃ | sa pārthivaḥ sūtamuvāca roṣāt

"If you fear unrighteousness, lord of men, give me my Vamyas at once, this very day." Hearing Vamadeva's words, the king said to his charioteer in a rage:

Note on the text: Pada breaks reformatted: Wikisource marks the mid-line breaks of this verse with semicolons; they are set as line breaks here, with a hyphen where sandhi divides a word across the break. Wording unchanged.

Verse 72 (3.195.72)

एकं हि मे सायकं चित्ररूपं । दिग्धं विषेणाहर सङ्गृहीतम् । येन विद्धो वामदेवः शयीत । संदश्यमानः श्वभिरार्तरूपः ॥

ekaṃ hi me sāyakaṃ citrarūpaṃ | digdhaṃ viṣeṇāhara saṅgṛhītam | yena viddho vāmadevaḥ śayīta | saṃdaśyamānaḥ śvabhirārtarūpaḥ

"Bring me that one arrow of wondrous make, smeared with poison, that I keep in store, so that Vamadeva, pierced by it, may lie in agony, torn by dogs."

Note on the text: Pada breaks reformatted: Wikisource marks the mid-line breaks of this verse with semicolons; they are set as line breaks here, with a hyphen where sandhi divides a word across the break. Wording unchanged.

Verse 73 (3.195.73)

जानामि पुत्रं दशवर्षं तवाहं । जातं महिष्यां श्येनजितं नरेन्द्र । तं जहि त्वं मद्वचनात्प्रणुन्न- । स्तूर्णं प्रियं सायकैर्घोररूपैः ॥

jānāmi putraṃ daśavarṣaṃ tavāhaṃ | jātaṃ mahiṣyāṃ śyenajitaṃ narendra | taṃ jahi tvaṃ madvacanātpraṇunna- | stūrṇaṃ priyaṃ sāyakairghorarūpaiḥ

"I know of your ten-year-old son Shyenajit, born of your chief queen, lord of men. Driven by my word, kill him — your dear one — swiftly with your dreadful arrows."

Note on the text: Pada breaks reformatted: Wikisource marks the mid-line breaks of this verse with semicolons; they are set as line breaks here, with a hyphen where sandhi divides a word across the break. Wording unchanged.

Verse 74 (3.195.74)

एवमुक्तो वामदेवेन राज- । न्नन्तःपुरे राजपुत्रं जघान । स सायकस्तिग्मतेजा विसृष्टः । श्रुत्वा दलस्तच्च वाक्यं बभाषे ॥

evamukto vāmadevena rāja- | nnantaḥpure rājaputraṃ jaghāna | sa sāyakastigmatejā visṛṣṭaḥ | śrutvā dalastacca vākyaṃ babhāṣe

When Vamadeva had said this, O king, the keen-edged arrow, once loosed, killed the prince in the inner apartments. Hearing of it, Dala spoke these words:

Note on the text: Pada breaks reformatted: Wikisource marks the mid-line breaks of this verse with semicolons; they are set as line breaks here, with a hyphen where sandhi divides a word across the break. Wording unchanged.

Verse 75 (3.195.75)

इक्ष्वाकवो हन्त चरामि वः प्रियं । निहन्मीमं विप्रमद्य प्रमथ्य । आनीयतामपरस्तिग्मतेजाः । पश्यध्वं मे वीर्यमद्य क्षितीशाः ॥

ikṣvākavo hanta carāmi vaḥ priyaṃ | nihanmīmaṃ vipramadya pramathya | ānīyatāmaparastigmatejāḥ | paśyadhvaṃ me vīryamadya kṣitīśāḥ

"Ikshvakus, look — I will do what pleases you! I will crush this brahmin and kill him today. Bring another keen-edged arrow, and see my valour today, lords of the earth."

Note on the text: Pada breaks reformatted: Wikisource marks the mid-line breaks of this verse with semicolons; they are set as line breaks here, with a hyphen where sandhi divides a word across the break. Wording unchanged.

Verse 76 (3.195.76)

यं त्वमेनं सायकं घोररूपं । विषेण दिग्धं मम संदधासि । न त्वमेनं शरवर्यं विमोक्तुं । सन्धातुं वा शक्ष्यसि मानवेन्द्र ॥

yaṃ tvamenaṃ sāyakaṃ ghorarūpaṃ | viṣeṇa digdhaṃ mama saṃdadhāsi | na tvamenaṃ śaravaryaṃ vimoktuṃ | sandhātuṃ vā śakṣyasi mānavendra

"This dreadful arrow, smeared with poison, that you are aiming at me — you will not be able to loose that fine shaft, lord of men, nor even to set it to the string."

Note on the text: Pada breaks reformatted: Wikisource marks the mid-line breaks of this verse with semicolons; they are set as line breaks here, with a hyphen where sandhi divides a word across the break. Wording unchanged.

Verse 77 (3.195.77)

इक्ष्वाकवः पश्यत मां गृहीतं । न वै शक्नोम्येष शरं विमोक्तुम् । न चास्य कर्तुं नाशमभ्युत्सहामि । आयुष्मान्वै जीवतु वामदेवः ॥

ikṣvākavaḥ paśyata māṃ gṛhītaṃ | na vai śaknomyeṣa śaraṃ vimoktum | na cāsya kartuṃ nāśamabhyutsahāmi | āyuṣmānvai jīvatu vāmadevaḥ

"Ikshvakus, see, I am held fast! I cannot release this arrow. Nor can I bring myself to destroy him. Long life to Vamadeva — let him live!"

Note on the text: Pada breaks reformatted: Wikisource marks the mid-line breaks of this verse with semicolons; they are set as line breaks here, with a hyphen where sandhi divides a word across the break. Wording unchanged.

Verse 78 (3.195.78)

संस्पृशैनां महिषीं सायकेन । ततस्तस्मादेनसो मोक्ष्यसे त्वम् ॥

saṃspṛśaināṃ mahiṣīṃ sāyakena | tatastasmādenaso mokṣyase tvam

"Touch this queen with the arrow; then you will be freed from that sin."

Note on the text: Wikisource prints this one-line verse without a number, between 77 and 79; it is the critical edition's 3.190.78, which is likewise a single line. Pada breaks reformatted: Wikisource marks the mid-line breaks of this verse with semicolons; they are set as line breaks here, with a hyphen where sandhi divides a word across the break. Wording unchanged.

Verse 79 (3.195.79)

ततस्तथा कृतवान्पार्थिवस्तु । ततो मुनिं राजपुत्री बभाषे ॥

tatastathā kṛtavānpārthivastu | tato muniṃ rājaputrī babhāṣe

The king did just that. Then the princess spoke to the sage:

Note on the text: Wikisource prints the critical edition's three-line verse 3.190.79 as two numbered pieces (both ॥७९॥), broken after its fourth pada; it is divided here instead after the first line, where the speech of the princess begins, and both parts keep the number 79. Pada breaks reformatted: Wikisource marks the mid-line breaks of this verse with semicolons; they are set as line breaks here, with a hyphen where sandhi divides a word across the break. Wording unchanged.

Verse 80 (3.195.80)

यथा युक्तं वामदेवाहमेनं । दिने दिने संविशन्ती व्यशंसम् । ब्राह्मणेभ्यो मृगयन्ती सूनृतानि । तथा ब्रह्मन्पुण्यलोकं लभेयम् ॥

yathā yuktaṃ vāmadevāhamenaṃ | dine dine saṃviśantī vyaśaṃsam | brāhmaṇebhyo mṛgayantī sūnṛtāni | tathā brahmanpuṇyalokaṃ labheyam

"Vamadeva, as I have day after day counselled him rightly as I lay beside him, seeking kind words for the brahmins — so may I, O brahmin, win a world of merit."

Note on the text: Divided from the preceding line at the change of speaker (see the previous verse): these are the second and third lines of the critical edition's 3.190.79, made up of the second line of Wikisource's first piece numbered 79 and the whole of its second. Pada breaks reformatted: Wikisource marks the mid-line breaks of this verse with semicolons; they are set as line breaks here, with a hyphen where sandhi divides a word across the break. Wording unchanged.

Verse 81 (3.195.81)

त्वया त्रातं राजकुलं शुभेक्षणे । वरं वृणीष्वाप्रतिमं ददानि ते । प्रशाधीमं स्वजनं राजपुत्रि । इक्ष्वाकुराज्यं सुमहच्चाप्यनिन्द्ये ॥

tvayā trātaṃ rājakulaṃ śubhekṣaṇe | varaṃ vṛṇīṣvāpratimaṃ dadāni te | praśādhīmaṃ svajanaṃ rājaputri | ikṣvākurājyaṃ sumahaccāpyanindye

"You have saved the royal house, fair-eyed one. Choose a boon beyond compare; I will grant it. Rule over these your people, princess, and the great kingdom of the Ikshvakus, blameless one."

Note on the text: Pada breaks reformatted: Wikisource marks the mid-line breaks of this verse with semicolons; they are set as line breaks here, with a hyphen where sandhi divides a word across the break. Wording unchanged.

Verse 82 (3.195.82)

वरं वृणे भगवन्नेकमेव । विमुच्यतां किल्बिषादद्य भर्ता । शिवेन चाध्याहि सपुत्रबान्धवं । वरो वृतो ह्येष मया द्विजाग्र्य ॥

varaṃ vṛṇe bhagavannekameva | vimucyatāṃ kilbiṣādadya bhartā | śivena cādhyāhi saputrabāndhavaṃ | varo vṛto hyeṣa mayā dvijāgrya

"I choose one boon only, lord: let my husband be freed from his sin today. And look with kindness upon him, with his sons and kin. This is the boon I choose, best of the twice-born."

Note on the text: Pada breaks reformatted: Wikisource marks the mid-line breaks of this verse with semicolons; they are set as line breaks here, with a hyphen where sandhi divides a word across the break. Wording unchanged.

Verse 83 (3.195.83)

श्रुत्वा वचः स मुनी राजपुत्र्या- । स्तथास्त्विति प्राह कुरुप्रवीर । ततः स राजा मुदितो बभूव । वाम्यौ चास्मै सम्प्रददौ प्रणम्य ॥

śrutvā vacaḥ sa munī rājaputryā- | stathāstviti prāha kurupravīra | tataḥ sa rājā mudito babhūva | vāmyau cāsmai sampradadau praṇamya

Hearing the princess's words, the sage said, "So be it," O hero of the Kurus. Then the king rejoiced, and bowing low he gave him back the Vamyas.

Note on the text: Removed the verse number ॥82॥ (in Latin digits) and a stray cross-reference "3.192.72" that had slipped into the text after it; the raw page numbers this verse 82, which the input had lost (wikisource_number restored). Pada breaks reformatted: Wikisource marks the mid-line breaks of this verse with semicolons; they are set as line breaks here, with a hyphen where sandhi divides a word across the break. Wording unchanged.