The Sage Raises the Dog to a Sharabha and Curses Him

Verse 1 (12.117.1)

व्याघ्रस्तूटजमूलस्थस्तृप्तः सुप्तो हतैर्मृगैः । नागश्चागात्तमुद्देशं मत्तो मेघ इवोत्थितः ॥

vyāghrastūṭajamūlasthastṛptaḥ supto hatairmṛgaiḥ | nāgaścāgāttamuddeśaṃ matto megha ivotthitaḥ

The tiger, sated, lay asleep at the foot of the hut among the deer he had killed; and an elephant, mad with rut, came to that spot, risen like a storm-cloud.

Note on the text: Corrected व्याघ्रश्वोटजमूलस्थः → व्याघ्रस्तूटजमूलस्थः and नागभागात् → नागश्चागात् (misprints in Wikisource; neither form is a word in context; followed the critical edition, which reads vyāghras tūṭajamūlasthaḥ … nāgaś cāgāt).

Verse 2 (12.117.2)

प्रभिन्नकरटः प्रांशुः पद्मी विततकुम्भकः । सुविषाणो महाकायो मेघगम्भीरनिःस्वनः ॥

prabhinnakaraṭaḥ prāṃśuḥ padmī vitatakumbhakaḥ | suviṣāṇo mahākāyo meghagambhīraniḥsvanaḥ

He was tall, with temples split by rut, marked with lotus-like spots, with broad head-bosses, fine tusks, a huge body, and a voice deep as a thundercloud.

Note on the text: Wikisource prints dashes where letters are lost; restored from the critical edition (12.117.23: prabhinnakaraṭaḥ … suviṣāṇo): प्र--करटः → प्रभिन्नकरटः, सु--णो → सुविषाणो; also closed the space in निः स्वनः → निःस्वनः (CE nisvanaḥ). Wikisource विततकुम्भकः (CE vitatamastakaḥ) is a variant, kept.

Verse 3 (12.117.3)

तं दृष्ट्वा कुञ्जरं मत्तमायान्तं बलगर्वितम् । व्याघ्रो हस्तिभयात्त्रस्तस्तमृषिं शरणं ययौ ॥

taṃ dṛṣṭvā kuñjaraṃ mattamāyāntaṃ balagarvitam | vyāghro hastibhayāttrastastamṛṣiṃ śaraṇaṃ yayau

Seeing that rutting elephant approaching, proud of his strength, the tiger, terrified of the elephant, took refuge with the sage.

Note on the text: Wikisource prints dashes where letters are lost; restored from the critical edition (12.117.24: vyāghro hastibhayāt trastas): व्या → व्याघ्रो, and corrected हस्तिभयान्त्रस्तः → हस्तिभयात्त्रस्तः (misprint; wrong sandhi). Wikisource बलगर्वितम् (CE madagarvitam) is a variant, kept.

Verse 4 (12.117.4)

ततोऽनयत्कुञ्जरत्वं व्याघ्रं तमृषिसत्तमः । महामेघोपमं दृष्ट्वा स भीतो ह्यभवद्गजः ॥

tato'nayatkuñjaratvaṃ vyāghraṃ tamṛṣisattamaḥ | mahāmeghopamaṃ dṛṣṭvā sa bhīto hyabhavadgajaḥ

Then the best of sages brought that tiger to the state of an elephant; and the other elephant, seeing him like a great cloud, became afraid.

Note on the text: Corrected महमेघोपमम् → महामेघोपमम् (misprint in Wikisource; long ā dropped; the critical edition reads mahāmeghopamaṃ).

Verse 5 (12.117.5)

ततः कमलषण्डानि सल्लकीगहनानि च । व्यचरत्स मुदायुक्तः पद्मरेणुविभूषितः ॥

tataḥ kamalaṣaṇḍāni sallakīgahanāni ca | vyacaratsa mudāyuktaḥ padmareṇuvibhūṣitaḥ

Then he roamed gladly through lotus-beds and thickets of sallaki trees, adorned with lotus pollen.

Note on the text: Wikisource prints dashes where letters are lost; restored from the critical edition (12.117.26: vyacarat sa): व्य--रत्स → व्यचरत्स; corrected पझरेणु → पद्मरेणु (misprint; the critical edition reads padmareṇu) and removed a stray zero-width joiner in कमलषण्डानि. Wikisource सल्लकी (CE śallakī) is a spelling variant, kept.

Verse 6 (12.117.6)

कदाचिद्रममाणस्य हस्तिनः संमुखं तदा । ऋषेस्तस्योटजस्थस्य कालोऽगच्छद्दिवानिशम् ॥

kadācidramamāṇasya hastinaḥ saṃmukhaṃ tadā | ṛṣestasyoṭajasthasya kālo'gacchaddivāniśam

While the elephant played about before him, time passed, day and night, for that sage dwelling in his hut.

Note on the text: Corrected कदचिद्दममाणस्य → कदाचिद्रममाणस्य (misprint in Wikisource: dropped ā and द for र; the critical edition reads kadā cid ramamāṇasya) and तस्योटस्थस्य → तस्योटजस्थस्य (dropped ज; CE tasyoṭajasthasya). Wikisource संमुखं (CE sumukhaṃ) and दिवानिशम् (CE niśāniśam) are variants, kept.

Verse 7 (12.117.7)

अथाजगाम तं देशं केसरी केसरारुणः । गिरिकन्दरजो भीमः सिंहो नागकुलान्तकः ॥

athājagāma taṃ deśaṃ kesarī kesarāruṇaḥ | girikandarajo bhīmaḥ siṃho nāgakulāntakaḥ

Then there came to that region a lion, tawny with his mane, born in a mountain cave, terrible, the destroyer of herds of elephants.

Note on the text: Corrected गिन्विन्दरजः → गिरिकन्दरजः (misprint in Wikisource; the critical edition reads girikandarajaḥ).

Verse 8 (12.117.8)

तं दृष्ट्वा सिंहमायान्तं नागः सिंहभयार्दितः । ऋषिं शरणमापेदे वेपमानो भयातुरः ॥

taṃ dṛṣṭvā siṃhamāyāntaṃ nāgaḥ siṃhabhayārditaḥ | ṛṣiṃ śaraṇamāpede vepamāno bhayāturaḥ

Seeing the lion approach, the elephant, tormented by fear of the lion, trembling and overcome with terror, took refuge with the sage.

Note on the text: Wikisource prints dashes where letters are lost; restored from the critical edition (12.117.29: taṃ dṛṣṭvā siṃham āyāntaṃ): तं--- → तं दृष्ट्वा. Wikisource सिंहभयार्दितः (CE siṃhabhayākulaḥ) is a variant, kept.

Verse 9 (12.117.9)

स ततः सिंहतां नीतो गजेन्द्रो मुनिना तदा । तं च नागणयत्सिंहं तुल्यजातिसमन्वयात् ॥

sa tataḥ siṃhatāṃ nīto gajendro muninā tadā | taṃ ca nāgaṇayatsiṃhaṃ tulyajātisamanvayāt

Then the lord of elephants was changed by the sage into a lion; and he took no account of that other lion, since they were now alike in kind.

Note on the text: Wikisource prints dashes where letters are lost; restored from the critical edition (12.117.30: tataḥ sa siṃhatāṃ nīto): त-ः → ततः. Wikisource गजेन्द्रः, तं च and the order of words differ from CE (nāgendro, vanyaṃ), recension variants, kept.

Verse 10 (12.117.10)

दृष्ट्वा च सोऽभवत्सिंहो वन्यो हिंसन्नवाग्बलः । स चाश्रमेऽवसत्सिंहस्तस्मिन्नेव सुखी वने ॥

dṛṣṭvā ca so'bhavatsiṃho vanyo hiṃsannavāgbalaḥ | sa cāśrame'vasatsiṃhastasminneva sukhī vane

On seeing him, the wild lion, though he had meant harm, found his strength brought low; and the sage's lion lived happily in the hermitage, in that very forest.

Note on the text: Corrected चाश्रपे → चाश्रमे (misprint in Wikisource; प for म; the critical edition reads cāśrame). The first line (WS दृष्ट्वा च सोऽभवत्सिंहो वन्यो हिंसन्नवाग्बलः; CE dṛṣṭvā ca so 'naśat siṃho vanyo bhīsannavāgbalaḥ) is obscure in both; kept as printed and translated as: the wild lion, though he had meant harm, found his strength brought low.

Verse 11 (12.117.11)

न चान्ये क्षुद्रपशवस्तपोवनसमीपतः । व्यदृश्यन्त तदा त्रस्ता जीविताकाङ्क्षिणस्तथा ॥

na cānye kṣudrapaśavastapovanasamīpataḥ | vyadṛśyanta tadā trastā jīvitākāṅkṣiṇastathā

No other small animals were seen then near the penance-forest; they were terrified and anxious to keep their lives.

Verse 12 (12.117.12)

कदाचित्कालयोगेन सर्वप्राणिविहिंसकः । बलवान्क्षतजाहारो नानासत्वभयंकरः ॥

kadācitkālayogena sarvaprāṇivihiṃsakaḥ | balavānkṣatajāhāro nānāsatvabhayaṃkaraḥ

Once, through the working of time, there came a creature that kills all living things, strong, feeding on blood, a terror to creatures of every kind:

Verse 13 (12.117.13)

अष्टपादूर्ध्वनयनः शरभो वनगोचरः । तं सिंहं हन्तुमागच्छन्मुनेस्तस्य निवेशने ॥

aṣṭapādūrdhvanayanaḥ śarabho vanagocaraḥ | taṃ siṃhaṃ hantumāgacchanmunestasya niveśane

a sharabha, eight-footed, with eyes turned upward, roaming the forest, who came to the sage's dwelling to kill that lion.

Note on the text: Corrected अष्टपादर्ध्वनयनः → अष्टपादूर्ध्वनयनः (misprint in Wikisource; long ū dropped; the critical edition reads aṣṭapād ūrdhvacaraṇaḥ, a different second word, so Wikisource नयनः is kept).

Verse 14 (12.117.14)

तं दृष्ट्वा शरभं यान्तं सिंहः परभयान्वितः । ऋषिं शरणमापेदे वेपमानः कृताञ्जलिः ॥

taṃ dṛṣṭvā śarabhaṃ yāntaṃ siṃhaḥ parabhayānvitaḥ | ṛṣiṃ śaraṇamāpede vepamānaḥ kṛtāñjaliḥ

Seeing the sharabha come, the lion, overcome by fear of another, took refuge with the sage, trembling, with joined palms.

Note on the text: Removed the stray backtick and quote mark and the doubled danda Wikisource prints around this verse. The alignment found no match: it is the CE star passage 12.117.34d*0272_01-02 (taṃ dṛṣṭvā śarabhaṃ yāntaṃ siṃhaḥ parabhayāturaḥ / ṛṣiṃ śaraṇam āpede vepamānaḥ kṛtāñjaliḥ); Wikisource परभयान्वितः (CE -āturaḥ) is a variant, kept.

Verse 15 (12.117.15)

तं मुनिः शरभं चक्रे बलोत्कटमरिंदम । ततः स शरभो वन्यो मुनेः शरभमग्रतः । दृष्ट्वा बलिनमत्युग्रं द्रुतं संप्राद्रवद्वनम् ॥

taṃ muniḥ śarabhaṃ cakre balotkaṭamariṃdama | tataḥ sa śarabho vanyo muneḥ śarabhamagrataḥ | dṛṣṭvā balinamatyugraṃ drutaṃ saṃprādravadvanam

The sage made him a sharabha of surpassing strength, O subduer of foes. Then the wild sharabha, seeing before the sage that mighty, very fierce sharabha, quickly fled into the forest.

Note on the text: Corrected सं मुनिः → तं मुनिः (misprint in Wikisource; स for त; the critical edition reads taṃ muniḥ). Wikisource द्रुतं संप्राद्रवद्वनम् (CE saṃprādravad bhayāt) is a variant, kept.

Verse 16 (12.117.16)

स एवं शरभस्थाने न्यस्तो वै मुनिना तदा । मुनेः पार्श्वगतो नित्यं शरभः सुखमाप्तवान् ॥

sa evaṃ śarabhasthāne nyasto vai muninā tadā | muneḥ pārśvagato nityaṃ śarabhaḥ sukhamāptavān

Thus placed by the sage in the state of a sharabha, he stayed always at the sage's side, the sharabha enjoying happiness.

Verse 17 (12.117.17)

ततः शरभसंत्रस्ताः सर्वे मृगगणा वनात् । दिशः संप्राद्रवन्राजन्भयाज्जीवितकाङ्क्षिणः ॥

tataḥ śarabhasaṃtrastāḥ sarve mṛgagaṇā vanāt | diśaḥ saṃprādravanrājanbhayājjīvitakāṅkṣiṇaḥ

Then all the herds of deer in the forest, terrified of the sharabha, fled in every direction, O king, in fear for their lives.

Note on the text: Corrected संप्राद्रवत्राजन् → संप्राद्रवन्राजन् (misprint in Wikisource; त् for न्, which breaks the sandhi and the plural agreement; the critical edition reads saṃprādravan rājan).

Verse 18 (12.117.18)

शरभोऽप्यतिसंहृष्टो नित्यं प्राणिवधे रतः । फलमूलाशनं कर्तुं नैच्छत्स पिशिताशनः ॥

śarabho'pyatisaṃhṛṣṭo nityaṃ prāṇivadhe rataḥ | phalamūlāśanaṃ kartuṃ naicchatsa piśitāśanaḥ

The sharabha too, greatly elated and always fond of killing creatures, that eater of flesh, had no wish to live on fruits and roots.

Verse 19 (12.117.19)

ततः क्षुद्रसमाचारो बलेन च समन्वितः । इयेष तं मुनिं हन्तुमकृतज्ञः कृतान्वयः ॥

tataḥ kṣudrasamācāro balena ca samanvitaḥ | iyeṣa taṃ muniṃ hantumakṛtajñaḥ kṛtānvayaḥ

Then, petty in conduct though endowed with strength, ungrateful, though his very being was the sage's making, he wished to kill the sage.

Note on the text: The alignment found no match. Line 2 = CE 12.117.39c (iyeṣa taṃ muniṃ hantum akṛtajñaḥ …); line 1 differs from CE 12.117.39a (tato rudhiratarṣeṇa balinā śarabho 'nvitaḥ), which the page's own note cites as a variant (ततो रुधिरतर्षेण बलिना शरभोऽन्वितः); Wikisource's reading, and कृतान्वयः for CE śvayonijaḥ, are kept.

Verse 20 (12.117.20)

चिन्तयामास च तदा शरभः श्वानपूर्वकः ॥

cintayāmāsa ca tadā śarabhaḥ śvānapūrvakaḥ

And then that sharabha, who had been a dog before, thought:

Note on the text: Removed the stray backtick Wikisource prints at the start of this passage. One-line verse, as on the page (12-117-20a). The alignment found no match: it is the CE star line 12.117.39d*0273_01 (cintayām āsa ca tadā śarabhaḥ śvānapūrvakaḥ). Verses 20-26 are the sharabha's unspoken thoughts and stay with the narrator.

Verse 21 (12.117.21)

अस्य प्रभावात्संप्राप्तो वाङ्मात्रेणैव केवलम् । शरभत्वं सुदुष्प्रापं सर्वभूतभयंकरम् ॥

asya prabhāvātsaṃprāpto vāṅmātreṇaiva kevalam | śarabhatvaṃ suduṣprāpaṃ sarvabhūtabhayaṃkaram

"It is through this man's power that I have gained, by a mere word, the state of a sharabha, so hard to reach, a terror to all creatures.

Note on the text: Corrected वाङ्भात्रेणैव → वाङ्मात्रेणैव (misprint in Wikisource; भ for म; the critical edition reads vāṅmātreṇa). The alignment found no match: lines 1-2 = CE star lines 12.117.39d*0273_02-03.

Verse 22 (12.117.22)

अन्येऽप्यत्र भयत्रस्ताः सन्ति सत्वा भयार्दिताः । मुनिमाश्रित्य जीवन्तो मृगाः पक्षिगणास्तथा ॥

anye'pyatra bhayatrastāḥ santi satvā bhayārditāḥ | munimāśritya jīvanto mṛgāḥ pakṣigaṇāstathā

There are other creatures here too, seized by fear and tormented by terror, who live in the sage's shelter, beasts and flocks of birds.

Note on the text: The alignment found no match: lines 1-2 = CE star lines 12.117.39d*0273_04-05.

Verse 23 (12.117.23)

तेषामपि कदाचिच्च शरभत्वं प्रयच्छति । सर्वसत्वोत्तमं लोके बलं यत्र प्रतिष्ठितम् ॥

teṣāmapi kadācicca śarabhatvaṃ prayacchati | sarvasatvottamaṃ loke balaṃ yatra pratiṣṭhitam

He may some day give even to them the state of a sharabha, the best of all creatures in the world, in which strength is firmly set.

Note on the text: The alignment found no match: lines 1-2 = CE star lines 12.117.39d*0273_06-07.

Verse 24 (12.117.24)

पक्षिणामप्ययं दद्यात्कदाचिद्गारुडं बलम् ॥

pakṣiṇāmapyayaṃ dadyātkadācidgāruḍaṃ balam

He might even give the strength of Garuda to the birds some day.

Note on the text: One-line verse, as on the page (12-117-24a). The alignment found no match: it is the CE star line 12.117.39d*0273_08.

Verse 25 (12.117.25)

यावदन्यस्य संप्रीतः कारुण्यं तु समाश्रितः । न ददाति बलं तुष्टः सत्वस्यान्यस्य कस्यचित् ॥

yāvadanyasya saṃprītaḥ kāruṇyaṃ tu samāśritaḥ | na dadāti balaṃ tuṣṭaḥ satvasyānyasya kasyacit

For as long as he, pleased and given over to compassion, does not in his satisfaction bestow strength on any other creature,

Note on the text: The alignment found no match: lines 1-2 = CE star lines 12.117.39d*0273_09-10 (Wikisource अन्यस्य for CE anyatra, a variant, kept).

Verse 26 (12.117.26)

तावदेनमहं विप्रं वधिष्यामि च शीघ्रतः । स्थातुं मया शक्यमिह मुनिघातान्न संशयः ॥

tāvadenamahaṃ vipraṃ vadhiṣyāmi ca śīghrataḥ | sthātuṃ mayā śakyamiha munighātānna saṃśayaḥ

so long I shall kill this brahmin quickly. I can stay here only if the sage is killed; there is no doubt."

Note on the text: Removed the stray quote mark and doubled danda Wikisource prints at the end of this passage. The alignment found no match: lines 1-2 = CE star lines 12.117.39d*0273_11-12.

Verse 27 (12.117.27)

ततस्तेन तपःशक्त्या विदितो ज्ञानचक्षुषा । विज्ञाय च मुनिः प्राज्ञस्ततः शापं प्रयुक्तवान् ॥

tatastena tapaḥśaktyā vidito jñānacakṣuṣā | vijñāya ca muniḥ prājñastataḥ śāpaṃ prayuktavān

Then, through the power of his austerities and his eye of knowledge, the sage found him out; and having understood, the wise sage laid a curse upon him.

Verse 28 (12.117.28)

अहमग्निप्रभो नाम मुनिर्भृगुकुलान्वयः । मनसा निर्दहेयं च जगत्संधारयामि च ॥

ahamagniprabho nāma munirbhṛgukulānvayaḥ | manasā nirdaheyaṃ ca jagatsaṃdhārayāmi ca

"I am the sage called Agniprabha, of the line of Bhrigu. By my mind I could burn the world, and I also hold it up.

Note on the text: Removed the stray backtick Wikisource prints at the start of this passage. The alignment found no match: lines 1-2 = CE star lines 12.117.40d*0274_01-02 (aham agniprabho nāma munir bhṛgukulānvayaḥ / manasā nirdahe sarvaṃ jagat saṃdhārayāmi ca), after the heading munir uvāca (*0274_00); Wikisource निर्दहेयं (CE nirdahe sarvaṃ jagat) is a variant, kept. Speaker: the input gave Bhishma; verses 28-33 are the sage's own words (unheaded on the page).

Verse 29 (12.117.29)

मम वश्यं जगत्सर्वं देवा यच्च चराचरम् । सन्ति देवाश्च ये भीताः स्वधर्मं न त्यजन्ति ये । स्वधर्माच्चलितान्सर्वान्वाङ्मात्रेणापि निर्दहे ॥

mama vaśyaṃ jagatsarvaṃ devā yacca carācaram | santi devāśca ye bhītāḥ svadharmaṃ na tyajanti ye | svadharmāccalitānsarvānvāṅmātreṇāpi nirdahe

All the world is under my sway, the gods and all that moves and stands still. There are gods who, afraid, do not abandon their own duty; and those who slip from their duty I burn by a mere word.

Note on the text: Corrected वाङ्भात्रेणापि → वाङ्मात्रेणापि (misprint in Wikisource; भ for म; the critical edition reads vāṅmātreṇaiva). The alignment found no match: lines 1-3 = CE star lines 12.117.40d*0274_03-05 (Wikisource देवा यच्च for CE devān varjya, and सन्ति देवाश्च ये भीताः for CE santi devāś ca me bhītāḥ, are variants, kept).

Verse 30 (12.117.30)

किमङ्ग त्वं मया नीतः शरभत्वमनामयम् । क्रूरः स सर्वभूतेषु हीनश्चाशुचिरेव च ॥

kimaṅga tvaṃ mayā nītaḥ śarabhatvamanāmayam | krūraḥ sa sarvabhūteṣu hīnaścāśucireva ca

How much more, then, you, whom I raised to the unafflicted state of a sharabha — you who are cruel to all beings, base and impure!

Note on the text: Removed the stray quote mark and doubled danda Wikisource prints at the end of this passage. The alignment found no match: lines 1-2 = CE star lines 12.117.40d*0274_06-07.

Verse 31 (12.117.31)

श्वा त्वं द्वीपित्वमापन्नो द्वीपी व्याघ्रत्वमागतः । व्याघ्रान्नागो मदपटुर्नागः सिंहत्वमागतः ॥

śvā tvaṃ dvīpitvamāpanno dvīpī vyāghratvamāgataḥ | vyāghrānnāgo madapaṭurnāgaḥ siṃhatvamāgataḥ

You were a dog and became a leopard; from a leopard you became a tiger; from a tiger an elephant dripping with rut; and from an elephant you became a lion.

Verse 32 (12.117.32)

सिंहस्त्वं बलमापन्नो भूयः शरभतां गतः । मया स्नेहपरीतेन विसृष्टो न कुलान्वयः ॥

siṃhastvaṃ balamāpanno bhūyaḥ śarabhatāṃ gataḥ | mayā snehaparītena visṛṣṭo na kulānvayaḥ

As a lion you gained strength, and then became a sharabha. Out of affection I made you in these various forms; but by lineage you belong to none of them.

Verse 33 (12.117.33)

यस्मादेवमपापं मां पाप हिंसितुमिच्छसि । तस्मात्स्वयोनिमापन्नः पुनः श्वानो भविष्यसि ॥

yasmādevamapāpaṃ māṃ pāpa hiṃsitumicchasi | tasmātsvayonimāpannaḥ punaḥ śvāno bhaviṣyasi

Since you, sinner, wish to harm me, who am blameless, therefore, returned to your own birth, you shall be a dog again."

Verse 34 (12.117.34)

ततो मुनिजनद्वेष्टा दुष्टात्मा प्राकृतोऽबुधः । ऋषिणा शरभः शप्तस्तद्रूपं पुनराप्तवान् ॥

tato munijanadveṣṭā duṣṭātmā prākṛto'budhaḥ | ṛṣiṇā śarabhaḥ śaptastadrūpaṃ punarāptavān

Then that sharabha, hater of sages, evil-souled, common and ignorant, cursed by the sage, took on that form again.