Udanka's Service to Gautama and the Quest for the Earrings

Verse 1 (14.56.1)

उदङ्कः केन तपसा संयुक्तो वै महामनाः । यः शापं दातुकामोऽभूद्विष्णवे प्रभविष्णवे ॥

udaṅkaḥ kena tapasā saṃyukto vai mahāmanāḥ | yaḥ śāpaṃ dātukāmo'bhūdviṣṇave prabhaviṣṇave

By what austerity was Udanka, that great-minded man, endowed, he who wished to curse the all-powerful Vishnu?

Note on the text: Corrected प्रभविष्ववे → प्रभविष्णवे (misprint in Wikisource; wrong conjunct, the critical edition has "prabhaviṣṇave"). Line 1 differs from CE 14,055.001a ("kena tapasā saṃyuktaḥ sumahātapāḥ"): recension variant, kept.

Verse 2 (14.56.2)

उदङ्को महता युक्तस्तपसा जनमेजय । गुरुभक्तः स तेजस्वी नान्यत्किञ्चिदपूजयत् ॥

udaṅko mahatā yuktastapasā janamejaya | gurubhaktaḥ sa tejasvī nānyatkiñcidapūjayat

Janamejaya, Udanka was endowed with great austerity. Devoted to his teacher and full of radiance, he worshipped no one else at all.

Note on the text: Corrected गुरभक्तः → गुरुभक्तः (misprint in Wikisource; dropped vowel sign, the critical edition has "gurubhaktaḥ"). Line 2 differs from CE 14,055.002c ("nānyaṃ kaṃ cid apūjayat"): recension variant, kept.

Verse 3 (14.56.3)

सर्वेषामृषिपुत्राणामेष आसीन्मनोरथः । औदङ्कीं गुरुवृत्तिं वै प्राप्नुयामेति भारत ॥

sarveṣāmṛṣiputrāṇāmeṣa āsīnmanorathaḥ | audaṅkīṃ guruvṛttiṃ vai prāpnuyāmeti bhārata

This was the wish of all the sages' sons: "May we attain such devoted service to the teacher as Udanka's," O Bharata.

Note on the text: Line 2 differs from CE 14,055.003c ("auttaṅkīṃ guruvṛttiṃ vai prāpnuyām"): recension variant, kept.

Verse 4 (14.56.4)

गौतमस्य तु शिष्याणां बहूनां जनमेजय । उदङ्केऽभ्यधिका प्रीतिः स्नेहश्चैवाभवत्तदा ॥

gautamasya tu śiṣyāṇāṃ bahūnāṃ janamejaya | udaṅke'bhyadhikā prītiḥ snehaścaivābhavattadā

Among Gautama's many pupils, Janamejaya, it was Udanka for whom he then felt the greatest affection and fondness.

Verse 5 (14.56.5)

स तस्य दमशौचाभ्यां विक्रान्तेन च कर्मणा । सम्यक्चैवोपचारेण गौतमः प्रीतिमानभूत् ॥

sa tasya damaśaucābhyāṃ vikrāntena ca karmaṇā | samyakcaivopacāreṇa gautamaḥ prītimānabhūt

Gautama was pleased with him for his self-control and purity, his vigorous efforts and his proper attendance.

Verse 6 (14.56.6)

अथ शिष्यसहस्राणि समनुज्ञाय गौतमः । उदङ्कं परया प्रीत्या नाभ्यनुज्ञातुमैच्छत ॥

atha śiṣyasahasrāṇi samanujñāya gautamaḥ | udaṅkaṃ parayā prītyā nābhyanujñātumaicchata

Then Gautama gave leave to thousands of pupils, but in his great affection he did not wish to give Udanka leave to go.

Verse 7 (14.56.7)

तं क्रमेण जरा तात प्रतिपेदे महामुनिम् । न चान्वबुध्यत तदा स मुनिर्गुरुवत्सलः ॥

taṃ krameṇa jarā tāta pratipede mahāmunim | na cānvabudhyata tadā sa munirguruvatsalaḥ

Gradually, dear Janamejaya, old age overtook that great sage, and he, so devoted to his teacher, did not notice it.

Verse 8 (14.56.8)

ततः कदाचिद्राजेन्द्र काष्ठान्यानयितुं ययौ । उदङ्कः काष्ठभारं च महान्तं समुपानयत् ॥

tataḥ kadācidrājendra kāṣṭhānyānayituṃ yayau | udaṅkaḥ kāṣṭhabhāraṃ ca mahāntaṃ samupānayat

Then once, O best of kings, Udanka went to fetch firewood, and he brought back a huge bundle of wood.

Verse 9 (14.56.9)

स तद्भाराभिभूतात्मा काष्ठभारमरिंदम । निचिक्षेप क्षितौ राजन्परिश्रान्तो बुभुक्षितः ॥

sa tadbhārābhibhūtātmā kāṣṭhabhāramariṃdama | nicikṣepa kṣitau rājanpariśrānto bubhukṣitaḥ

Overcome by the weight of the load, tired and hungry, he threw the bundle of wood down on the ground, O tamer of foes, O king.

Verse 10 (14.56.10)

तस्य काष्ठे विलग्नाऽभूज्जटा रूप्यसमप्रभा । ततः काष्ठैः सह तदा पपात धरणीतलम् ॥

tasya kāṣṭhe vilagnā'bhūjjaṭā rūpyasamaprabhā | tataḥ kāṣṭhaiḥ saha tadā papāta dharaṇītalam

A lock of his matted hair, bright as silver, had caught in the wood, and it fell to the ground together with the wood.

Verse 11 (14.56.11)

ततः स भारनिष्पिष्टः क्षुधाविष्टश्च भारत । दृष्ट्वा तां वयसोऽवस्थां रुरोदार्तस्वरं तदा ॥

tataḥ sa bhāraniṣpiṣṭaḥ kṣudhāviṣṭaśca bhārata | dṛṣṭvā tāṃ vayaso'vasthāṃ rurodārtasvaraṃ tadā

Then, crushed by the burden and seized by hunger, O Bharata, he saw that sign of his age and wept in a voice full of anguish.

Verse 12 (14.56.12)

ततो गुरुसुता तस्य पद्मपत्रनिभानना । जग्राहाश्रूणि सुश्रोणी करेण पृथुलोचना । पितुर्नियोगाद्भावज्ञा शिरसाऽवनता तदा ॥

tato gurusutā tasya padmapatranibhānanā | jagrāhāśrūṇi suśroṇī kareṇa pṛthulocanā | piturniyogādbhāvajñā śirasā'vanatā tadā

Then the teacher's daughter, her face like a lotus petal, her hips lovely and her eyes wide, understanding his feelings, caught his tears in her hand, her head bowed at her father's bidding.

Note on the text: Three-line verse: lines = CE 14,055.012a, 012c, 012e. Line 3 differs from CE ("pitur niyogād dharmajñā śirasāvanatā tadā"): recension variant, kept.

Verse 13 (14.56.13)

तस्या निपेततुर्दग्धौ करौ तैरश्रुबिन्दुभिः । न हि तानश्रुपातांस्तु शक्ता धारयितुं मही । गौतमस्त्वब्रवीद्विप्रमुदङ्कं प्रीतमानसः ॥

tasyā nipetaturdagdhau karau tairaśrubindubhiḥ | na hi tānaśrupātāṃstu śaktā dhārayituṃ mahī | gautamastvabravīdvipramudaṅkaṃ prītamānasaḥ

Her hands were scorched by those drops of tears that fell on them, for the earth could not bear to hold the falling tears. Then Gautama, pleased at heart, said to the Brahmin Udanka:

Note on the text: Three-line verse: lines 1-2 = CE 14,055.013a, 013c (not matched by the alignment); line 3 = CE 14,055.014a ("gautamas tv abravīd vipram uttaṅkaṃ prītamānasaḥ"). Speaker: narration by Vaishampayana, as headed.

Verse 14 (14.56.14)

कस्मात्तात तवाद्येह शोकोत्तरमिदं मनः । स स्वैरं ब्रूहि विप्रर्षे श्रोतुमिच्छामि तत्त्वतः ॥

kasmāttāta tavādyeha śokottaramidaṃ manaḥ | sa svairaṃ brūhi viprarṣe śrotumicchāmi tattvataḥ

"Why, my child, is your mind so full of sorrow today? Tell me freely, sage; I wish to hear the truth from you."

Note on the text: Lines = CE 14,055.014c, 014e (not matched by the alignment; line 2 ends "तत्त्वतः" where the CE has "vacaḥ" - variant, kept). Speaker: Wikisource prints no heading for these words, which are Gautama's speech (introduced by the last line of the previous verse); the input carried Vaishampayana over.

Verse 15 (14.56.15)

भवद्गतेन मनसा भवत्प्रियचिकीर्षया । भवद्भक्तिगतेनेह भवद्भावानुगेन च ॥

bhavadgatena manasā bhavatpriyacikīrṣayā | bhavadbhaktigateneha bhavadbhāvānugena ca

"With my mind fixed on you, wishing to do what pleases you, with devotion to you and following your wishes,"

Verse 16 (14.56.16)

जरेयं नावबुद्धा मे नाभिज्ञातं सुखं च मे । शतवर्षोषितं मां हि न त्वमभ्यनुजानिथाः ॥

jareyaṃ nāvabuddhā me nābhijñātaṃ sukhaṃ ca me | śatavarṣoṣitaṃ māṃ hi na tvamabhyanujānithāḥ

"I did not notice this old age, nor did I know happiness; and you did not give me leave, though I have lived with you for a hundred years."

Note on the text: Corrected नाघबुद्धा → नावबुद्धा (misprint in Wikisource; घ for व, the critical edition has "nāvabuddhā"). Corrected त्वमन्यनुजानिथाः → त्वमभ्यनुजानिथाः (misprint in Wikisource; अन्य for अभ्य; the page's own gloss explains "अभ्यनुजानिथाः"; the critical edition has "mām abhyanujānathāḥ").

Verse 17 (14.56.17)

भवता त्वभ्यनुज्ञाताः शिष्याः प्रत्यवरा मम । उपपन्ना द्विजश्रेष्ठ शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः ॥

bhavatā tvabhyanujñātāḥ śiṣyāḥ pratyavarā mama | upapannā dvijaśreṣṭha śataśo'tha sahasraśaḥ

"The pupils younger than I whom you have given leave, best of Brahmins, have gone away by the hundreds and thousands."

Verse 18 (14.56.18)

त्वत्प्रीतियुक्तेन मया गुरुशुश्रूषया तव । व्यतिक्रामन्महाकालो नावबुद्धो द्विजर्षभ ॥

tvatprītiyuktena mayā guruśuśrūṣayā tava | vyatikrāmanmahākālo nāvabuddho dvijarṣabha

"Bound to you by affection, and busy with your service to your teacher, I did not notice the long time that passed, O best of Brahmins."

Verse 19 (14.56.19)

किं त्वद्य यदि ते श्रद्धा गमनं प्रति भार्गव । अनुज्ञां प्रतिगृह्य त्वं स्वगृहान्गच्छ माचिरम् ॥

kiṃ tvadya yadi te śraddhā gamanaṃ prati bhārgava | anujñāṃ pratigṛhya tvaṃ svagṛhāngaccha māciram

"But now, Bhargava, if you wish to depart, take my leave and go home without delay."

Verse 20 (14.56.20)

गुर्वर्थं कं प्रयच्छामि ब्रूहि त्वं द्विजसत्तम । तमुपाहृत्य गच्छेयमनुज्ञातस्त्वया विभो ॥

gurvarthaṃ kaṃ prayacchāmi brūhi tvaṃ dvijasattama | tamupāhṛtya gaccheyamanujñātastvayā vibho

"What shall I give as the teacher's fee? Tell me, best of the twice-born. I would bring it and then depart with your leave, Lord."

Note on the text: Corrected गुर्वर्तं → गुर्वर्थं (misprint in Wikisource; the critical edition has "gurvartham").

Verse 21 (14.56.21)

दक्षिणापरितोषो वै गुरूणां सद्भिरुच्यते । तव ह्याचरतो धर्मं तुष्टोऽहं वै न संशयः । इत्थं च परितुष्टं मां विजानीहि भृगूद्वह ॥

dakṣiṇāparitoṣo vai gurūṇāṃ sadbhirucyate | tava hyācarato dharmaṃ tuṣṭo'haṃ vai na saṃśayaḥ | itthaṃ ca parituṣṭaṃ māṃ vijānīhi bhṛgūdvaha

"The good say that the teacher's fee is his satisfaction. I am satisfied with you as you practise your duty; of that there is no doubt. Know that I am so satisfied with you, descendant of Bhrigu."

Note on the text: Corrected तवि → तव (misprint in Wikisource; stray vowel sign, the critical edition has "tava hy ācarato"). Lines 1-2 = CE 14,055.021a, 021c; line 3 = CE 14,055.022a.

Verse 22 (14.56.22)

युवा षोडशवर्षो हि यद्यद्य भविता भवान् । ददानि पत्नीं कन्यां च स्वां ते दुहितरं द्विज । एतामृतेऽङ्गना नान्या त्वत्तेजोऽर्हति सेवितुम् ॥

yuvā ṣoḍaśavarṣo hi yadyadya bhavitā bhavān | dadāni patnīṃ kanyāṃ ca svāṃ te duhitaraṃ dvija | etāmṛte'ṅganā nānyā tvattejo'rhati sevitum

"If you become a youth of sixteen today, I shall give you a wife, my own daughter, O Brahmin. No woman other than her can bear to serve your radiance."

Note on the text: Three-line verse: line 1 = CE 14,055.022c; line 2 = CE 14,055.023a; line 3 = CE 14,055.023c (reading "त्वत्तेजोऽर्हति सेवितुम्", "एतामृतेऽङ्गना नान्या", variant of "etām ṛte hi nānyā vai"), kept.

Verse 23 (14.56.23)

ततस्तां प्रतिजग्राह युवा भूत्वा यशस्विनीम् । गुरुणा चाभ्यनुज्ञातो गुरुपत्नीमथाब्रवीत् ॥

tatastāṃ pratijagrāha yuvā bhūtvā yaśasvinīm | guruṇā cābhyanujñāto gurupatnīmathābravīt

Then he became a youth and accepted that renowned woman, and, permitted by his teacher, he said to the teacher's wife:

Note on the text: Speaker: narration (the input carried Gautama over from the previous heading); this is Vaishampayana's narrative.

Verse 24 (14.56.24)

किं भवत्यै प्रयच्छामि गुर्वर्थं विनियुङ्क्ष माम् । प्रियं हितं च काङ्क्षामि प्राणैरपि धनैरपि ॥

kiṃ bhavatyai prayacchāmi gurvarthaṃ viniyuṅkṣa mām | priyaṃ hitaṃ ca kāṅkṣāmi prāṇairapi dhanairapi

"What shall I give you? Appoint me to something for the teacher's sake. I wish to do what is dear and good for you, even at the cost of my life and wealth."

Note on the text: Speaker: these are Udanka's words to the teacher's wife (the input carried Gautama over from the previous heading).

Verse 25 (14.56.25)

यद्दुर्लभं हि लोकेऽस्मिन्रत्नमत्यद्भुतं महत् । तदानयेयं तपसा न हि मेऽत्रास्ति संशयः ॥

yaddurlabhaṃ hi loke'sminratnamatyadbhutaṃ mahat | tadānayeyaṃ tapasā na hi me'trāsti saṃśayaḥ

"Whatever jewel in this world is rare, wondrous and great, I shall bring it by my austerity; of that I have no doubt."

Note on the text: Speaker: Udanka (the input carried Gautama over from the previous heading).

Verse 26 (14.56.26)

परितुष्टाऽस्मि ते विप्र नित्यं भक्त्या तवानघ । पर्याप्तमेतद्भद्रं ते गच्छ तात यथेप्सितम् ॥

parituṣṭā'smi te vipra nityaṃ bhaktyā tavānagha | paryāptametadbhadraṃ te gaccha tāta yathepsitam

"I am pleased with you, Brahmin, with your constant devotion, blameless one. This is enough. Go, dear child, as you wish; may good fortune be yours."

Note on the text: Wikisource's line 1 differs from CE 14,055.027a ("parituṣṭāsmi te putra nityaṃ bhagavatā saha"; the page's gloss records the variant "नित्यं भगवता सह"): recension variant, kept.

Verse 27 (14.56.27)

उदङ्कस्तु महाराज पुनरेवाब्रवीद्वचः । आज्ञापयस्व मां मातः कर्तव्यं च तव प्रियम् ॥

udaṅkastu mahārāja punarevābravīdvacaḥ | ājñāpayasva māṃ mātaḥ kartavyaṃ ca tava priyam

But Udanka, O great king, spoke again: "Command me, Mother. I must do what pleases you."

Verse 28 (14.56.28)

सौदासपत्न्या विधृते दिव्ये ये मणिकुण्डले । ते समानय भद्रं ते गुर्वर्थः सुकृतो भवेत् ॥

saudāsapatnyā vidhṛte divye ye maṇikuṇḍale | te samānaya bhadraṃ te gurvarthaḥ sukṛto bhavet

"The two divine jewelled earrings that Saudasa's queen wears: bring them, and may good fortune be yours. Then the teacher's fee will be well paid."

Verse 29 (14.56.29)

स तथेति प्रतिश्रुत्य जगाम जनमेजय । गुरुपत्नीप्रियार्थं वै ते समानयितुं तदा ॥

sa tatheti pratiśrutya jagāma janamejaya | gurupatnīpriyārthaṃ vai te samānayituṃ tadā

Saying "So be it," he set out, Janamejaya, to fetch the earrings for the pleasure of his teacher's wife.

Verse 30 (14.56.30)

स जगाम ततः शीघ्रमुदङ्को ब्राह्मणर्षभः । सौदासं पुरुषादं वै भिक्षितुं मणिकुण्डले ॥

sa jagāma tataḥ śīghramudaṅko brāhmaṇarṣabhaḥ | saudāsaṃ puruṣādaṃ vai bhikṣituṃ maṇikuṇḍale

Then Udanka, the foremost of Brahmins, went quickly to Saudasa, the man-eater, to beg for the jewelled earrings.

Verse 31 (14.56.31)

गौतमस्त्वब्रवीत्पत्नीमुदङ्को नात्र दृश्यते । इति पृष्टा तमाचष्ट कुण्डलार्थे गतं च सा ॥

gautamastvabravītpatnīmudaṅko nātra dṛśyate | iti pṛṣṭā tamācaṣṭa kuṇḍalārthe gataṃ ca sā

Gautama said to his wife, "Udanka is not to be seen." Asked this, she told him that Udanka had gone for the earrings.

Verse 32 (14.56.32)

ततः प्रोवाच पत्नीं स न ते सम्यगिदं कृतम् । शप्तः स पार्थिवो नूनं ब्राह्मणं तं वधिष्यति ॥

tataḥ provāca patnīṃ sa na te samyagidaṃ kṛtam | śaptaḥ sa pārthivo nūnaṃ brāhmaṇaṃ taṃ vadhiṣyati

Then he said to his wife, "You have not done this well. That king is surely under a curse; he will kill that Brahmin."

Note on the text: Line 1 is narration and line 2 is Gautama's speech; the verse is kept whole under the narrator, as printed.

Verse 33 (14.56.33)

अजानन्त्या नियुक्तः स भगवन्ब्राह्मणो मया । भवत्प्रसादान्न भयं किञ्चित्तस्य भविष्यति ॥

ajānantyā niyuktaḥ sa bhagavanbrāhmaṇo mayā | bhavatprasādānna bhayaṃ kiñcittasya bhaviṣyati

"I sent that Brahmin without knowing this, Lord. By your grace no harm at all will come to him."

Verse 34 (14.56.34)

इत्युक्तः प्राह तां पत्नीमेवमस्त्विति गौतमः । उदङ्कोऽपि वने शून्ये राजानं तं ददर्श ह ॥

ityuktaḥ prāha tāṃ patnīmevamastviti gautamaḥ | udaṅko'pi vane śūnye rājānaṃ taṃ dadarśa ha

Thus addressed, Gautama said to his wife, "So be it." And Udanka, in a lonely forest, saw that king.

Note on the text: Speaker: narration (the input carried Ahalya over from the previous heading).