Shibi Saves the Dove from the Hawk

Verse 1 (3.200.1)

देवानां कथा संजाता महीतलं गत्वा महीपतिं शिबिमौशीनरं साध्वेनं शिबिं जिज्ञास्याम इति । एवं भो इत्युक्त्वा अग्नीन्द्रावुपतिष्ठेताम् ॥

devānāṃ kathā saṃjātā mahītalaṃ gatvā mahīpatiṃ śibimauśīnaraṃ sādhvenaṃ śibiṃ jijñāsyāma iti | evaṃ bho ityuktvā agnīndrāvupatiṣṭhetām

Talk arose among the gods: "Let us go down to the earth and test King Shibi, son of Ushinara, to see whether he is truly good." Saying, "So be it," Agni and Indra set out.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's text (it stands in its Appendix I No. 21, inserted after 3.190.82, §67–68; found in the vulgate recension). Internal double dandas (।।) reduced to single dandas with line breaks.

Verse 2 (3.200.2)

अग्निः कपोतरूपेण तमभ्यधावदामिषार्थमिन्द्रः श्येनरूपेण ॥

agniḥ kapotarūpeṇa tamabhyadhāvadāmiṣārthamindraḥ śyenarūpeṇa

Agni, in the form of a dove, fled towards the king, and Indra, in the form of a hawk, pursued it for its flesh.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's text (it stands in its Appendix I No. 21, inserted after 3.190.82, §68; found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 3 (3.200.3)

अथ कपोतो राज्ञो दिव्यासनासीनस्योत्सङ्गं न्यपतत् ॥

atha kapoto rājño divyāsanāsīnasyotsaṅgaṃ nyapatat

Then the dove fell into the lap of the king as he sat upon his splendid throne.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's text (it stands in its Appendix I No. 21, inserted after 3.190.82, §69; found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 4 (3.200.4)

अथ पुरोहितो राजानमब्रवीत् । प्राणरक्षार्थं श्येनाद्भीतो भवन्तं प्राणार्थी प्रपद्यते ॥

atha purohito rājānamabravīt | prāṇarakṣārthaṃ śyenādbhīto bhavantaṃ prāṇārthī prapadyate

Then the royal priest said to the king: "Frightened of the hawk, this bird comes to you for refuge, seeking to save its life.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's text (it stands in its Appendix I No. 21, inserted after 3.190.82, §70; found in the vulgate recension). Internal double dandas (।।) reduced to single dandas with line breaks.

Verse 5 (3.200.5)

वसु ददातु अन्तवान्पार्थिवोऽस्य निष्कृतिं कुर्यात् घोरं कपोतस्य निपातमाहुः ॥

vasu dadātu antavānpārthivo'sya niṣkṛtiṃ kuryāt ghoraṃ kapotasya nipātamāhuḥ

Let Your Majesty give away wealth. A sovereign whose rule reaches the ends of the earth should perform an expiation for this, for people say that the alighting of a dove is a dire omen."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's text (it stands in its Appendix I No. 21, inserted after 3.190.82, §70; found in the vulgate recension). Speaker: the royal priest's words, continued from the previous verse.

Verse 6 (3.200.6)

अथ कपोतो राजानमब्रवीत् । प्राणरक्षणार्थं श्येनाद्भीतो भवन्तं प्राणार्थी प्रपद्ये अङ्गैरङ्गानि प्राप्यार्थी मुनिर्भूत्वा प्राणांस्त्वां प्रपद्ये ॥

atha kapoto rājānamabravīt | prāṇarakṣaṇārthaṃ śyenādbhīto bhavantaṃ prāṇārthī prapadye aṅgairaṅgāni prāpyārthī munirbhūtvā prāṇāṃstvāṃ prapadye

Then the dove said to the king: "Frightened of the hawk, I come to you for refuge to save my life. I am a sage who has entered these limbs with my own; wanting to live, I take refuge in you, who are my life.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's text (it stands in its Appendix I No. 21, inserted after 3.190.82, §71; found in the vulgate recension). Internal double dandas (।।) reduced to single dandas with line breaks.

Verse 7 (3.200.7)

स्वाध्यायेन कर्शितं ब्रह्मचारिणं मां विद्धि । तपसा दमेन युक्तमाचार्यस्याप्रतिकूलभाषिणम् । एवंयुक्तमपापं मां विद्धि ॥

svādhyāyena karśitaṃ brahmacāriṇaṃ māṃ viddhi | tapasā damena yuktamācāryasyāpratikūlabhāṣiṇam | evaṃyuktamapāpaṃ māṃ viddhi

Know me to be a celibate student, worn thin by Vedic study, endowed with austerity and self-control, one who never speaks against his teacher. Know me, so endowed, to be without sin.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's text (it stands in its Appendix I No. 21, inserted after 3.190.82, §71; found in the vulgate recension). Internal double dandas (।।) reduced to single dandas with line breaks. Speaker: the dove's words, continued from the previous verse.

Verse 8 (3.200.8)

गदामि वेदान्विचिनोमि छन्दः । सर्वेवेदा अक्षरशो मे अधीताः । न साधु दानं श्रोत्रियस्य प्रदानं । मा प्रादाः श्येनाय न कपोतोऽस्मि ॥

gadāmi vedānvicinomi chandaḥ | sarvevedā akṣaraśo me adhītāḥ | na sādhu dānaṃ śrotriyasya pradānaṃ | mā prādāḥ śyenāya na kapoto'smi

I recite the Vedas and study their metres; I have learned all the Vedas syllable by syllable. To hand over a learned Vedic scholar is no righteous gift. Do not give me to the hawk — I am no dove."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's text (it stands in its Appendix I No. 21, inserted after 3.190.82, §72; found in the vulgate recension). Corrected वेदानविचिनोमि → वेदान्विचिनोमि (misprint in Wikisource; the inserted a gives "I do not study" against the sense and makes the line one syllable too long; the critical edition reads vedān vicinomi).

Verse 9 (3.200.9)

अथ श्येनो राजानमब्रवीत् ॥

atha śyeno rājānamabravīt

Then the hawk said to the king:

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's text (it stands in its Appendix I No. 21, inserted after 3.190.82, §73; found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 10 (3.200.10)

पर्यायेण वसतिर्वा भवेषु । सर्गे जातः पूर्वमस्मात्कपोतात् । त्वमाददानोऽथ कपोतमेनं । मा त्वं राजन्विघ्नकर्ता भवेथाः ॥

paryāyeṇa vasatirvā bhaveṣu | sarge jātaḥ pūrvamasmātkapotāt | tvamādadāno'tha kapotamenaṃ | mā tvaṃ rājanvighnakartā bhavethāḥ

"Creatures dwell in one birth after another in turn; in an earlier creation you were born of this very dove. Now that you have taken up this dove, O king, do not stand in my way."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's text (it stands in its Appendix I No. 21, inserted after 3.190.82, §74; found in the vulgate recension). Speaker: the hawk's words, announced in the previous verse.

Verse 11 (3.200.11)

केनेदृशी जातु परा हि दृष्टा । वागुच्यमाना शकुनेन संस्कृता । यां वै कपोतो वदते यां च श्येन । उभौ विदित्वा कथमस्तु साधु ॥

kenedṛśī jātu parā hi dṛṣṭā | vāgucyamānā śakunena saṃskṛtā | yāṃ vai kapoto vadate yāṃ ca śyena | ubhau viditvā kathamastu sādhu

"Who has ever seen such a thing — a bird speaking in polished Sanskrit? Knowing what the dove says and what the hawk says, how can I act rightly?

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's text (it stands in its Appendix I No. 21, inserted after 3.190.82, §75; found in the vulgate recension). Corrected शकनेन → शकुनेन (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped u-sign; the critical edition reads śakunena).

Verse 12 (3.200.12)

नास्य वर्षं वर्षति वर्षकाले । नास्य बीजं रोहति काल उप्तम् । भीतं प्रपन्नं यो हि ददाति शत्रवे । न त्राणं लभेत्त्राणमिच्छन्स काले ॥

nāsya varṣaṃ varṣati varṣakāle | nāsya bījaṃ rohati kāla uptam | bhītaṃ prapannaṃ yo hi dadāti śatrave | na trāṇaṃ labhettrāṇamicchansa kāle

For the man who hands a frightened creature that has sought his refuge over to its enemy, the rain does not fall in the rainy season, and the seed sown in season does not sprout; and when he himself seeks protection in his hour of need, he finds none.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's text (it stands in its Appendix I No. 21, inserted after 3.190.82, §76; found in the vulgate recension). Corrected लभेत्राणम् → लभेत्त्राणम् (misprint in Wikisource; one त of लभेत् त्राणम् dropped; the critical edition reads labhet trāṇam).

Verse 13 (3.200.13)

जाता ह्रस्वा प्रजा प्रमीयते । सदा न वासं पितरोऽस्य कुर्वते । भीतं प्रपन्नं यो हि ददाति शत्रवे । नास्य देवाः प्रतिगृह्णन्ति हव्यम् ॥

jātā hrasvā prajā pramīyate | sadā na vāsaṃ pitaro'sya kurvate | bhītaṃ prapannaṃ yo hi dadāti śatrave | nāsya devāḥ pratigṛhṇanti havyam

His children die young, while still small; his ancestors never find a dwelling; the gods do not accept his offerings — the man who hands a frightened creature that has sought refuge over to its enemy.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's text (it stands in its Appendix I No. 21, inserted after 3.190.82, §77; found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 14 (3.200.14)

मोघमन्नं विन्दति चाप्रचेताः । स्वर्गाल्लोकाद्भ्रश्यति शीघ्रमेव । भीतं प्रपन्नं यो हि ददाति शत्रवे । सेन्द्रा देवाः प्रहरन्त्यस्य वज्रम् ॥

moghamannaṃ vindati cāpracetāḥ | svargāllokādbhraśyati śīghrameva | bhītaṃ prapannaṃ yo hi dadāti śatrave | sendrā devāḥ praharantyasya vajram

The heartless man gets his food in vain; he quickly falls from the world of heaven; and the gods with Indra hurl the thunderbolt at him — the man who hands a frightened creature that has sought refuge over to its enemy.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's text (it stands in its Appendix I No. 21, inserted after 3.190.82, §78; found in the vulgate recension). Corrected लोकाद्धश्यति → लोकाद्भ्रश्यति (misprint in Wikisource; a broken conjunct; the critical edition reads lokād bhraśyati).

Verse 15 (3.200.15)

उक्षाणं पक्त्वा सह ओदनेन । अस्मात्कपोतात्प्रति ते नयन्तु । यस्मिन्देशे रमसेऽतीव श्येन । तत्रमांसं शिवयस्ते वहन्तु ॥

ukṣāṇaṃ paktvā saha odanena | asmātkapotātprati te nayantu | yasmindeśe ramase'tīva śyena | tatramāṃsaṃ śivayaste vahantu

Let them cook a bull with rice and bring it to you in place of this dove. Wherever you most delight to be, O hawk, let the Shibis carry the meat there for you."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's text (it stands in its Appendix I No. 21, inserted after 3.190.82, §79; found in the vulgate recension). शिवयः is kept as printed (Śivi-, a known variant spelling of Śibi-; the critical edition reads śibayas).

Verse 16 (3.200.16)

नोक्षाणो राजन्प्रार्थयेयं न चान्य- । दस्मान्मांसमधिकं वा कपोतात् । देवैर्दत्तः सोऽद्य ममैष भक्ष- । स्तन्मे ददस्व शकुनानामभावात् ॥

nokṣāṇo rājanprārthayeyaṃ na cānya- | dasmānmāṃsamadhikaṃ vā kapotāt | devairdattaḥ so'dya mamaiṣa bhakṣa- | stanme dadasva śakunānāmabhāvāt

"I do not ask for a bull, O king, nor for any other meat greater than this dove. The gods have given him to me as my food today. Give him to me, for my food is the death of birds."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's text (it stands in its Appendix I No. 21, inserted after 3.190.82, §80; found in the vulgate recension). A hyphen added where the word अन्यद् runs over the half-line (as already printed at भक्ष-).

Verse 17 (3.200.17)

उक्षाणं वेहतमनूनं नयन्तु । ते पश्यन्तु पुरुषा ममैव । भयाहितस्य दायं ममान्तिकात्त्वां । प्रत्याम्नायं तु त्वं ह्येनं मा हिंसीः ॥

ukṣāṇaṃ vehatamanūnaṃ nayantu | te paśyantu puruṣā mamaiva | bhayāhitasya dāyaṃ mamāntikāttvāṃ | pratyāmnāyaṃ tu tvaṃ hyenaṃ mā hiṃsīḥ

"Let my men bring you a bull or a barren cow, whole and sound, and let them look to it themselves; let them bring it to you from me as the ransom for this terrified creature, as its substitute. But do not harm him.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's text (it stands in its Appendix I No. 21, inserted after 3.190.82, §81; found in the vulgate recension). Corrected भयाहितस् → भयाहितस्य (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped akshara; the critical edition reads bhayāhitasya).

Verse 18 (3.200.18)

त्यजे प्राणान्नैव दद्यां कपोतं । सौम्यो ह्ययं किं न जानासि श्येन । यथा क्लेशं मा कुरुष्वेह सौम्य । नाहं कपोतमर्पयिष्ये कथंचित् ॥

tyaje prāṇānnaiva dadyāṃ kapotaṃ | saumyo hyayaṃ kiṃ na jānāsi śyena | yathā kleśaṃ mā kuruṣveha saumya | nāhaṃ kapotamarpayiṣye kathaṃcit

I would give up my life, but never the dove. He is gentle — do you not see it, hawk? So do not trouble yourself here, gentle one; by no means will I hand over the dove.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's text (it stands in its Appendix I No. 21, inserted after 3.190.82, §82; found in the vulgate recension). Corrected प्राणाननैव → प्राणान्नैव (misprint in Wikisource; the extra a makes the line one syllable too long; the critical edition reads prāṇān naiva).

Verse 19 (3.200.19)

यथा मां वै साधुवादैः प्रसन्नाः । प्रशंसेयुः शिबयः कर्मणा तु । यथा श्येन प्रियमेव कुर्यां । प्रशाधि मां यद्वदेस्तत्करोमि ॥

yathā māṃ vai sādhuvādaiḥ prasannāḥ | praśaṃseyuḥ śibayaḥ karmaṇā tu | yathā śyena priyameva kuryāṃ | praśādhi māṃ yadvadestatkaromi

Tell me how I may act so that the Shibis, pleased by my deed, praise me with words of approval, and so that I may do what is pleasing to you, hawk. Instruct me; whatever you say, I will do."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's text (it stands in its Appendix I No. 21, inserted after 3.190.82, §83; found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 20 (3.200.20)

ऊरोर्दक्षिणादुत्कृत्य स्वपिशितं तावद्राजन्यावन्मांसं कपोतेन समम् । तथा तस्मात्साधु त्रातः कपोतः प्रशंसेयुश्च शिबयः कृतं च प्रियं स्यान्ममेति ॥

ūrordakṣiṇādutkṛtya svapiśitaṃ tāvadrājanyāvanmāṃsaṃ kapotena samam | tathā tasmātsādhu trātaḥ kapotaḥ praśaṃseyuśca śibayaḥ kṛtaṃ ca priyaṃ syānmameti

"Cut flesh from your own right thigh, O king, as much as equals the dove. In that way the dove will be well saved, the Shibis will praise you, and what pleases me will be done."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's text (it stands in its Appendix I No. 21, inserted after 3.190.82, §84; found in the vulgate recension). Internal double dandas (।।) reduced to single dandas with line breaks. Corrected शिबय → शिबयः (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped visarga; the critical edition reads śibayaḥ).

Verse 21 (3.200.21)

अथ स दक्षिणादूरोरुत्कृत्य स्वमांसपेशीं तुलयाधारयत् । गुरुतर एव कपोत आसीत् ॥

atha sa dakṣiṇādūrorutkṛtya svamāṃsapeśīṃ tulayādhārayat | gurutara eva kapota āsīt

Then he cut a piece of his own flesh from his right thigh and weighed it on the balance. The dove was heavier still.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's text (it stands in its Appendix I No. 21, inserted after 3.190.82, §85; found in the vulgate recension). Internal double dandas (।।) reduced to single dandas with line breaks. Speaker: narration resumes after the hawk's speech (the input carried श्येन on).

Verse 22 (3.200.22)

पुनरन्यमुच्चकर्त गुरुतर एव कपोतः । एवं सर्वं समधिकृत्य शरीरं तुलायामारोपयामास तत्तथापि गुरुतर एव कपोत आसीत् ॥

punaranyamuccakarta gurutara eva kapotaḥ | evaṃ sarvaṃ samadhikṛtya śarīraṃ tulāyāmāropayāmāsa tattathāpi gurutara eva kapota āsīt

He cut off another piece; the dove was heavier still. In this way he cut away his whole body and placed it on the scale, and still the dove was heavier.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's text (it stands in its Appendix I No. 21, inserted after 3.190.82, §86–87; found in the vulgate recension). Internal double dandas (।।) reduced to single dandas with line breaks. Corrected रतत्तथापि → तत्तथापि (misprint in Wikisource; a stray र; the critical edition reads tat tathāpi). समधिकृत्य is kept (the critical edition has samadhigatya). Speaker: narration (the input carried श्येन on).

Verse 23 (3.200.23)

अथ राजा स्वयमेव तुलामारुरोह । न च व्यलीकमासीद्राज्ञ एतद्वृत्तान्तं दृष्ट्वा त्रात इत्युक्त्वा प्रालीयत श्येनः अथ राजा अब्रवीत् ॥

atha rājā svayameva tulāmāruroha | na ca vyalīkamāsīdrājña etadvṛttāntaṃ dṛṣṭvā trāta ityuktvā prālīyata śyenaḥ atha rājā abravīt

Then the king himself climbed onto the scale, and he felt no displeasure. Seeing this, the hawk said, "He is saved," and vanished. Then the king said:

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's text (it stands in its Appendix I No. 21, inserted after 3.190.82, §88–90; found in the vulgate recension). Internal double dandas (।।) reduced to single dandas with line breaks. Corrected दृष्टाव → दृष्ट्वा (misprint in Wikisource; the critical edition reads dṛṣṭvā). Speaker: narration (the input carried श्येन on).

Verse 24 (3.200.24)

कपोतं विद्युः शिवयस्त्वां कपोत । पृच्छामि ते शकुने को नु श्येनः । नानीश्वर ईदृशं जातु कुर्या- । देतं प्रश्नं भगवन्मे विचक्ष्व ॥

kapotaṃ vidyuḥ śivayastvāṃ kapota | pṛcchāmi te śakune ko nu śyenaḥ | nānīśvara īdṛśaṃ jātu kuryā- | detaṃ praśnaṃ bhagavanme vicakṣva

"The Shibis would take you for a dove, O dove; but I ask you, bird: who was the hawk? No one who is not a lord could ever do such a thing. Explain this to me, blessed one."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's text (it stands in its Appendix I No. 21, inserted after 3.190.82, §91; found in the vulgate recension). Speaker: the king's question, announced at the end of the previous verse (the input carried श्येन on).

Verse 25 (3.200.25)

वैश्वानरोऽहं ज्वलनो धूमकेतु- । रथैव श्येनो वज्रहस्तः शचीपतिः । साधु ज्ञातुं त्वामृषभं सौरथेय । नौ जिज्ञासया त्वत्सकाशंप्रपन्नौ ॥

vaiśvānaro'haṃ jvalano dhūmaketu- | rathaiva śyeno vajrahastaḥ śacīpatiḥ | sādhu jñātuṃ tvāmṛṣabhaṃ sauratheya | nau jijñāsayā tvatsakāśaṃprapannau

"I am Vaishvanara, the blazing fire whose banner is smoke; and the hawk was the lord of Shachi, who holds the thunderbolt. O son of Suratha, bull among men, we two came to you to test you and know you truly.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's text (it stands in its Appendix I No. 21, inserted after 3.190.82, §92; found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 26 (3.200.26)

यामेतां पेशीं मम निष्क्रयाय । प्रादाद्भवानसिनोत्कृत्य राजन् । एतद्वो लक्ष्म शिवं करोमि । हिरण्यवर्णं रुचिरं पुण्यगन्धम् ॥

yāmetāṃ peśīṃ mama niṣkrayāya | prādādbhavānasinotkṛtya rājan | etadvo lakṣma śivaṃ karomi | hiraṇyavarṇaṃ ruciraṃ puṇyagandham

This piece of flesh that you cut off with your sword, O king, and gave as my ransom — I make it an auspicious mark upon you, golden in colour, lovely and fragrant.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's text (it stands in its Appendix I No. 21, inserted after 3.190.82, §93; found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 27 (3.200.27)

एतासां प्रजानां पालयिता यशस्वी । सुरर्षीणामथ संमतो भृशम् । एतस्मात्पार्श्वात्पुरुषो जनिष्यति । कपोतरोमेति च तस्य नाम ॥

etāsāṃ prajānāṃ pālayitā yaśasvī | surarṣīṇāmatha saṃmato bhṛśam | etasmātpārśvātpuruṣo janiṣyati | kapotarometi ca tasya nāma

From this side of yours a man will be born who will protect these people, glorious and held in high regard by the divine sages; his name will be Kapotaroman.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's text (it stands in its Appendix I No. 21, inserted after 3.190.82, §94; found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 28 (3.200.28)

कपोतरोमाणं शिबिनौद्भिदं पुत्रं प्राप्स्यसि नृपवृषसंहननं यशोदीप्यमानं द्रष्टासि शूरमृषभं सौरथानाम् ॥

kapotaromāṇaṃ śibinaudbhidaṃ putraṃ prāpsyasi nṛpavṛṣasaṃhananaṃ yaśodīpyamānaṃ draṣṭāsi śūramṛṣabhaṃ saurathānām

O king, you will have a son, Kapotaroman, sprung forth from your body; you will see him built like a bull, blazing with fame, a hero, the foremost of the line of Suratha."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's text (it stands in its Appendix I No. 21, inserted after 3.190.82, §95; found in the vulgate recension).