Kapavya, the Robber Who Kept to Dharma

Verse 1 (12.135.1)

अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् । यथा दस्युः समर्यादो दस्युत्वात्सिद्धिमाप्तवान् ॥

atrāpyudāharantīmamitihāsaṃ purātanam | yathā dasyuḥ samaryādo dasyutvātsiddhimāptavān

On this too they cite this ancient tale: how a robber who kept within bounds attained perfection through his very life as a robber.

Note on the text: Corrected उदाहन्ति → उदाहरन्ति (misprint in Wikisource; the syllable र is dropped; the critical edition reads udāharanti). Line 1 = CE 12.133.1a; line 2 is Wikisource's own form of CE 12.133.1c (yathā dasyuḥ samaryādaḥ pretyabhāve na naśyati), with its ending borrowed from 12.133.3c. The alignment found no match.

Verse 2 (12.135.2)

प्रहर्ता मतिमाञ्शूरः श्रुतवाननृशंसवान् । रक्षन्नाश्रमिणां धर्मं ब्रह्मण्यो गुरुपूजकः ॥

prahartā matimāñśūraḥ śrutavānanṛśaṃsavān | rakṣannāśramiṇāṃ dharmaṃ brahmaṇyo gurupūjakaḥ

A striker, wise, brave, learned and free from cruelty, he protected the dharma of those in the stages of life; he was devoted to Brahmins and honoured his elders.

Note on the text: Corrected श्रुतवान्सुनृशंसवान् → श्रुतवाननृशंसवान् (misprint in Wikisource; सु for अ, 'very cruel' contradicting the praise; the critical edition reads śrutavān anṛśaṃsavān) and अक्षन्नाश्रमिणां → रक्षन्नाश्रमिणां (misprint in Wikisource; अक्षन् is not a word; the critical edition reads rakṣann).

Verse 3 (12.135.3)

निषाद्यां क्षत्रियाज्जातः क्षत्रधर्मानुपालकः । कापच्यो नाम नैषादिर्दस्युत्वात्सिद्धिमाप्तवान् ॥

niṣādyāṃ kṣatriyājjātaḥ kṣatradharmānupālakaḥ | kāpacyo nāma naiṣādirdasyutvātsiddhimāptavān

Born of a Nishada woman by a Kshatriya, keeping to the duties of a Kshatriya, a Nishada's son named Kapavya attained perfection by his life as a robber.

Note on the text: Corrected अनिषाद्यां → निषाद्यां (misprint in Wikisource; a stray initial अ, which would negate 'Nishada woman'; the critical edition reads niṣādyāṃ). The name is spelled कापच्य on this page throughout (the page's commentary lists the variants कायव्य, कापव्य, काश्यप); the spelling is kept in the Sanskrit and rendered Kapavya.

Verse 4 (12.135.4)

अरण्ये सायं पूर्वाह्णे मृगयूथप्रकोपिता । विधिज्ञो मृगजातीनां नैषादानां च कोविदः ॥

araṇye sāyaṃ pūrvāhṇe mṛgayūthaprakopitā | vidhijño mṛgajātīnāṃ naiṣādānāṃ ca kovidaḥ

Skilled in the ways of the different kinds of deer and expert in the ways of the Nishadas, he ranged the forest in the evening and the forenoon, when the herds of deer were roused.

Note on the text: Corrected वेधिज्ञो → विधिज्ञो (misprint in Wikisource; वेधिज्ञ is not a word in context; the critical edition reads vidhijño). Wikisource नैषादानाम् for nipānānām is a variant (the page's commentary records निपातानाम् as another), kept.

Verse 5 (12.135.5)

सर्वकाननदेशज्ञः पारियात्रचरः सदा । धर्मज्ञः सर्ववर्णानाममोघेषुर्दृढायुधः ॥

sarvakānanadeśajñaḥ pāriyātracaraḥ sadā | dharmajñaḥ sarvavarṇānāmamogheṣurdṛḍhāyudhaḥ

He knew every part of the forest, he always roamed the Pariyatra hills, he knew the dharma of all the classes, and his arrows never missed and his weapons were firm.

Verse 6 (12.135.6)

अप्यनेकशतां सेनामेक एव जिगाय सः । स वृद्धावम्बपितरौ महारण्येऽभ्यपूजयत् ॥

apyanekaśatāṃ senāmeka eva jigāya saḥ | sa vṛddhāvambapitarau mahāraṇye'bhyapūjayat

By himself he defeated armies of hundreds; and in the great forest he honoured his aged mother and father.

Verse 7 (12.135.7)

मधुमांसैर्मूलफलैरन्नैरुच्चावचैरपि । सत्कृत्य भोजयामास सम्यक्परिचचार ह ॥

madhumāṃsairmūlaphalairannairuccāvacairapi | satkṛtya bhojayāmāsa samyakparicacāra ha

With honey and meat, roots and fruits, and food of many kinds he fed them with respect and served them well.

Verse 8 (12.135.8)

आरण्यकान्प्रव्रजितान्ब्राह्मणान्परिपालयन् । अपि तेभ्यो मृगान्हत्वा निनाय सततं वने ॥

āraṇyakānpravrajitānbrāhmaṇānparipālayan | api tebhyo mṛgānhatvā nināya satataṃ vane

Protecting the forest-dwelling Brahmins and wanderers, he would kill deer for them and bring them constantly in the forest.

Verse 9 (12.135.9)

येऽस्मान्न प्रतिगृह्णन्ति दस्युभोजनशङ्कया । तेषामासज्य गेहेषु कल्य एव स गच्छति ॥

ye'smānna pratigṛhṇanti dasyubhojanaśaṅkayā | teṣāmāsajya geheṣu kalya eva sa gacchati

Those who would not accept from us, fearing a robber's food, he would leave it in their houses and be off by daybreak.

Verse 10 (12.135.10)

तं बहूनि सहस्राणि ग्रामणीत्वेऽभिवव्रिरे । निर्मर्यादानि दस्यूनां निरनुक्रोशवर्तिनाम् ॥

taṃ bahūni sahasrāṇi grāmaṇītve'bhivavrire | nirmaryādāni dasyūnāṃ niranukrośavartinām

Many thousands of robbers, who knew no restraint and no pity, chose him as their headman.

Verse 11 (12.135.11)

मुहूर्तदेशकालज्ञः प्राज्ञः शूरो दृढव्रतः । ग्रामणीर्भव नो मुख्यः सर्वेषामेव संमतः ॥

muhūrtadeśakālajñaḥ prājñaḥ śūro dṛḍhavrataḥ | grāmaṇīrbhava no mukhyaḥ sarveṣāmeva saṃmataḥ

Knower of the right moment, place and time, wise, brave and firm in your vows, be our chief and leader, approved by all.

Note on the text: Corrected सर्वेपामेव → सर्वेषामेव (misprint in Wikisource; प for ष; the critical edition reads sarveṣām eva). Wikisource प्राज्ञः शूरो दृढव्रतः for prājña śīladṛḍhāyudha is a variant, kept.

Verse 12 (12.135.12)

यथायथा वक्ष्यसि नः करिष्यामस्तथातथा । पालयास्मान्यथान्यायं यथा माता यथा पिता ॥

yathāyathā vakṣyasi naḥ kariṣyāmastathātathā | pālayāsmānyathānyāyaṃ yathā mātā yathā pitā

Whatever you tell us, we shall do just so. Protect us as is right, as a mother, as a father.

Verse 13 (12.135.13)

मा वधीस्त्वं स्त्रियं भीरुं मा शिशुं मा तपस्विनम् । नायुध्यमानो हन्तव्यो न च ग्राह्या बलात्स्त्रियः ॥

mā vadhīstvaṃ striyaṃ bhīruṃ mā śiśuṃ mā tapasvinam | nāyudhyamāno hantavyo na ca grāhyā balātstriyaḥ

Do not kill a woman, a frightened man, a child or an ascetic. One who is not fighting must not be killed, and women must not be seized by force.

Note on the text: Speaker: the page prints the heading as कापच्य उवाच; the name is Kapavya (कापव्य, CE kāpavya), so the speaker is given in the standard spelling.

Verse 14 (12.135.14)

सर्वथा स्त्री न हन्तव्या सर्वसत्वेषु बुध्यत । नित्यं गोब्राह्मणे स्वस्ति योद्धव्यं च तदर्थतः ॥

sarvathā strī na hantavyā sarvasatveṣu budhyata | nityaṃ gobrāhmaṇe svasti yoddhavyaṃ ca tadarthataḥ

A woman is never to be killed; know this among all creatures. Always wish well to cows and Brahmins, and fight for their sake.

Note on the text: Speaker: the page prints the heading as कापच्य उवाच; the name is Kapavya (कापव्य, CE kāpavya), so the speaker is given in the standard spelling.

Verse 15 (12.135.15)

सत्यं च नापि हर्तव्यं सारविघ्नं च मा कृथाः । पूज्यन्ते यत्र देवाश्च पितरोऽतिथयश्च ह ॥

satyaṃ ca nāpi hartavyaṃ sāravighnaṃ ca mā kṛthāḥ | pūjyante yatra devāśca pitaro'tithayaśca ha

Truth must not be violated, and you must not obstruct what is essential to others, in places where gods, ancestors and guests are honoured.

Note on the text: Speaker: the page prints the heading as कापच्य उवाच; the name is Kapavya (कापव्य, CE kāpavya), so the speaker is given in the standard spelling.

Verse 16 (12.135.16)

सर्वभूतेष्वपि वरो ब्राह्मणो मोक्षमर्हति । कार्या चापचितिस्तेषां सर्वस्वेनापि भावयेत् ॥

sarvabhūteṣvapi varo brāhmaṇo mokṣamarhati | kāryā cāpacitisteṣāṃ sarvasvenāpi bhāvayet

Among all beings the Brahmin is best and deserves release. Honour must be paid to them, even with all one's wealth.

Note on the text: Speaker: the page prints the heading as कापच्य उवाच; the name is Kapavya (कापव्य, CE kāpavya), so the speaker is given in the standard spelling.

Verse 17 (12.135.17)

यस्य त्वेते संप्रदुष्टास्तस्य विद्यात्पराभवम् । न तस्य त्रिषु लोकेषु त्राता भवति कश्चन ॥

yasya tvete saṃpraduṣṭāstasya vidyātparābhavam | na tasya triṣu lokeṣu trātā bhavati kaścana

Know that ruin awaits the man with whom these are thoroughly angered; no one in the three worlds can save him.

Note on the text: Speaker: the page prints the heading as कापच्य उवाच; the name is Kapavya (कापव्य, CE kāpavya), so the speaker is given in the standard spelling. Corrected कस्चन → कश्चन (misprint in Wikisource; स for श; the critical edition reads kaś cana).

Verse 18 (12.135.18)

यो ब्राह्मणान्परिभवेद्विनाशं चापि रोचयेत् । सूर्योदय इव ध्वान्ते ध्रुवं तस्य पराभवः ॥

yo brāhmaṇānparibhavedvināśaṃ cāpi rocayet | sūryodaya iva dhvānte dhruvaṃ tasya parābhavaḥ

He who disrespects Brahmins or wishes for their destruction is sure to be ruined, as darkness is by the rising sun.

Note on the text: Speaker: the page prints the heading as कापच्य उवाच; the name is Kapavya (कापव्य, CE kāpavya), so the speaker is given in the standard spelling.

Verse 19 (12.135.19)

इहैव फलमासीनः प्रत्याकाङ्क्षेत सर्वशः । येये नो न प्रदास्यन्ति तांस्तांस्तेनाभियास्यसि ॥

ihaiva phalamāsīnaḥ pratyākāṅkṣeta sarvaśaḥ | yeye no na pradāsyanti tāṃstāṃstenābhiyāsyasi

Staying right here, look for your gain from every side; and whoever will not give to us, against each one of them you shall march with this force.

Note on the text: Speaker: the page prints the heading as कापच्य उवाच; the name is Kapavya (कापव्य, CE kāpavya), so the speaker is given in the standard spelling.

Verse 20 (12.135.20)

शिष्ट्यर्थं विहितो दण्डो न वधार्थं विधीयते । ये च शिष्टान्प्रबाधन्ते धर्मस्तेषां वधः स्मृतः ॥

śiṣṭyarthaṃ vihito daṇḍo na vadhārthaṃ vidhīyate | ye ca śiṣṭānprabādhante dharmasteṣāṃ vadhaḥ smṛtaḥ

Punishment is ordained to correct, not decreed for killing. Those who oppress the good, their killing is declared to be dharma.

Note on the text: Speaker: the page prints the heading as कापच्य उवाच; the name is Kapavya (कापव्य, CE kāpavya), so the speaker is given in the standard spelling.

Verse 21 (12.135.21)

ये च राष्ट्रोपरोधेन वृद्धिं कुर्वन्ति केचन । तानेवानुम्रियेरंस्ते कुणपं कृमयो यथा ॥

ye ca rāṣṭroparodhena vṛddhiṃ kurvanti kecana | tānevānumriyeraṃste kuṇapaṃ kṛmayo yathā

Those who prosper by harassing the realm perish along with it, like worms in a carcass.

Note on the text: Speaker: the page prints the heading as कापच्य उवाच; the name is Kapavya (कापव्य, CE kāpavya), so the speaker is given in the standard spelling.

Verse 22 (12.135.22)

ये पुनर्धर्मशास्त्रेण वर्तेरन्निह दस्यवः । अपि ते दस्यवो भूत्वा क्षिप्रं सिद्धिमवाप्नुयुः ॥

ye punardharmaśāstreṇa varteranniha dasyavaḥ | api te dasyavo bhūtvā kṣipraṃ siddhimavāpnuyuḥ

But robbers who live by the law of dharma, even though robbers, quickly attain perfection.

Note on the text: Speaker: the page prints the heading as कापच्य उवाच; the name is Kapavya (कापव्य, CE kāpavya), so the speaker is given in the standard spelling.

Verse 23 (12.135.23)

ते सर्वमेवानुचक्रुः कापच्यस्यानुशासनम् । वृद्धिं च लेभिरे सर्वे पापेभ्यश्चाप्युपारमन् ॥

te sarvamevānucakruḥ kāpacyasyānuśāsanam | vṛddhiṃ ca lebhire sarve pāpebhyaścāpyupāraman

They all followed Kapavya's instruction; they prospered, and they ceased from their sins.

Verse 24 (12.135.24)

कापच्यः कर्मणा तेन महतीं सिद्धिमाप्तवान् । साधूनामाचरन्क्षेमं दस्यून्पापान्निवर्तयन् ॥

kāpacyaḥ karmaṇā tena mahatīṃ siddhimāptavān | sādhūnāmācarankṣemaṃ dasyūnpāpānnivartayan

By that conduct Kapavya attained great perfection, doing good to the good and turning robbers away from evil.

Verse 25 (12.135.25)

इदं कापच्यचरितं यो नित्यमनुचिन्तयेत् । नारण्येभ्योऽपि भूतेभ्यो भयमृच्छेत्कथंचन ॥

idaṃ kāpacyacaritaṃ yo nityamanucintayet | nāraṇyebhyo'pi bhūtebhyo bhayamṛcchetkathaṃcana

He who always keeps in mind this deed of Kapavya will never fear any creature of the wilderness.

Verse 26 (12.135.26)

न भयं तस्य मर्त्येभ्यो नामर्त्येभ्यः कथंचन । न सतो नासतो राजन्स ह्यरण्येषु गोपतिः ॥

na bhayaṃ tasya martyebhyo nāmartyebhyaḥ kathaṃcana | na sato nāsato rājansa hyaraṇyeṣu gopatiḥ

He has no fear from mortals, and none at all from the immortals, none from the good or the wicked, O king, for he is the protector in the wilds.