The Three Fish and the Drying Pool

Verse 1 (12.137.1)

अनागतविधाता च प्रत्युत्पन्नमतिश्च यः । द्वावेतौ सुखमेधेते दीर्घसूत्री विनश्यति ॥

anāgatavidhātā ca pratyutpannamatiśca yaḥ | dvāvetau sukhamedhete dīrghasūtrī vinaśyati

He who provides for what is to come and he who has ready presence of mind, these two prosper in happiness; the procrastinator perishes.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text; it is the star passage 12.135.1*0307_01-02 (anāgatavidhātā ca pratyutpannamatiś ca yaḥ / dvāv eva sukham edhete dīrghasūtrī vinaśyati). The alignment found no match. The couplet is printed again as verse 20 on this page, where the critical edition has a different verse (see verse 20).

Verse 2 (12.137.2)

अत्रैव चेदमव्यग्रं शृण्वाख्यानमनुत्तमम् । दीर्घसूत्रमुपाश्रित्य कार्याकार्यविनिश्चये ॥

atraiva cedamavyagraṃ śṛṇvākhyānamanuttamam | dīrghasūtramupāśritya kāryākāryaviniścaye

On this, listen attentively to this excellent tale, which turns on a procrastinator, for deciding what should and should not be done.

Note on the text: Corrected द्रीर्घसूत्रमुपाश्रित्य → दीर्घसूत्रमुपाश्रित्य (misprint in Wikisource; a stray ra; the critical edition reads dīrghasūtraṃ). उपाश्रित्य for samāśritya is a variant, kept.

Verse 3 (12.137.3)

नातिगाधे जलस्थाने सुहृदः कुशलास्त्रयः । प्रभूतमत्स्ये कौन्तेय बभूवुः सहचारिणः ॥

nātigādhe jalasthāne suhṛdaḥ kuśalāstrayaḥ | prabhūtamatsye kaunteya babhūvuḥ sahacāriṇaḥ

In a pool of no great depth, rich in fish, three clever friends lived together, O son of Kunti.

Verse 4 (12.137.4)

तत्रैकः प्राप्तकालज्ञो दीर्घदर्शी तथाऽपरः । दीर्घसूत्रश्च तत्रैकस्त्रयाणां जलचारिणाम् ॥

tatraikaḥ prāptakālajño dīrghadarśī tathā'paraḥ | dīrghasūtraśca tatraikastrayāṇāṃ jalacāriṇām

Of those three water-dwellers, one knew the right moment when it came, another saw far ahead, and the third was a procrastinator.

Verse 5 (12.137.5)

कदाचित्तज्जलस्थानं मत्स्यबन्धाः समन्ततः । स्रावयामासुरथो निम्नेषु विविधैर्मुखैः ॥

kadācittajjalasthānaṃ matsyabandhāḥ samantataḥ | srāvayāmāsuratho nimneṣu vividhairmukhaiḥ

Once, fishermen on every side began to drain that pool through channels of many kinds into the low ground.

Note on the text: Corrected क्रदाचित् → कदाचित् (misprint in Wikisource; a stray ra; the critical edition reads kadā cit). स्रावयामासुः for niḥsrāvayām āsuḥ is a variant, kept.

Verse 6 (12.137.6)

क्षीयमाणं तद्बुद्ध्वा जलस्थानं भयागमे । अब्रवीद्दीर्घदर्शी तु तावुभौ सुहृदौ तदा ॥

kṣīyamāṇaṃ tadbuddhvā jalasthānaṃ bhayāgame | abravīddīrghadarśī tu tāvubhau suhṛdau tadā

Seeing the pool draining away as danger drew near, the far-sighted one said to his two friends:

Verse 7 (12.137.7)

इयमापत्समुत्पन्ना सर्वेषां सलिलौकसाम् । शीघ्रमन्यत्र गच्छामः पन्था यावन्न शुष्यति ॥

iyamāpatsamutpannā sarveṣāṃ salilaukasām | śīghramanyatra gacchāmaḥ panthā yāvanna śuṣyati

"This calamity has come upon all who live in the water. Let us go elsewhere quickly, before the way dries up.

Note on the text: Corrected ज्ञयमापत् → इयमापत् (misprint in Wikisource; ज्ञ for इ; the critical edition reads iyam āpat).

Verse 8 (12.137.8)

अनागतमनर्थं हि सुनयैर्यः प्रबाधते । स न संशयमाप्नोति तथाऽन्यत्र व्रजामहे ॥

anāgatamanarthaṃ hi sunayairyaḥ prabādhate | sa na saṃśayamāpnoti tathā'nyatra vrajāmahe

He who wards off a coming evil by sound policy does not fall into peril; so let us go elsewhere."

Verse 9 (12.137.9)

दीर्घसूत्रस्तु यस्तत्र सोऽब्रवीत्सम्यगुष्यताम् । न तु कार्या त्वरा तावदिति मे निश्चिता मतिः ॥

dīrghasūtrastu yastatra so'bravītsamyaguṣyatām | na tu kāryā tvarā tāvaditi me niścitā matiḥ

But the procrastinator among them said, "Very well, let us stay. There is no need for haste yet; that is my firm view."

Note on the text: Corrected शीर्घसूत्रस्तु → दीर्घसूत्रस्तु (misprint in Wikisource; श for द; the critical edition reads dīrghasūtras tu). सम्यगुष्यताम् ('let us stay well') for samyag ucyate is a recension variant, kept.

Verse 10 (12.137.10)

अथ संप्रतिपत्तिज्ञस्त्वब्रवीद्दीर्घदर्शिनम् । प्राप्ते काले न मे किंचिन्न्यायतः परिहास्यते ॥

atha saṃpratipattijñastvabravīddīrghadarśinam | prāpte kāle na me kiṃcinnyāyataḥ parihāsyate

Then the one of ready wit said to the far-sighted one, "When the time comes, nothing will fail me, by right means."

Verse 11 (12.137.11)

एवमुक्तो निराक्रामद्दीर्घदर्शी महामतिः । जगाम स्रोतसैकेन गम्भीरं सलिलाशयम् ॥

evamukto nirākrāmaddīrghadarśī mahāmatiḥ | jagāma srotasaikena gambhīraṃ salilāśayam

So addressed, the wise far-sighted one left, and by a single channel reached a deep pool.

Note on the text: Corrected एवप्नुक्तो → एवमुक्तो (misprint in Wikisource; प्न for म; the critical edition reads evam ukto) and अगाम → जगाम (misprint in Wikisource; अगाम is not a verb form here; the critical edition reads jagāma).

Verse 12 (12.137.12)

ततः प्रसृततोयं तं प्रसमीक्ष्य जलाशयम् । बबन्धुर्विविधैर्योगैर्मत्स्यान्मत्स्योपजीविनः ॥

tataḥ prasṛtatoyaṃ taṃ prasamīkṣya jalāśayam | babandhurvividhairyogairmatsyānmatsyopajīvinaḥ

Then, seeing that pool with its water flowing out, the fishermen caught the fish by various means.

Verse 13 (12.137.13)

विलोड्यमाने तस्मिंस्तु स्रुततोये जलाशये । अगच्छद्ग्रहणं तत्र दीर्घसूत्रः सहापरैः ॥

viloḍyamāne tasmiṃstu srutatoye jalāśaye | agacchadgrahaṇaṃ tatra dīrghasūtraḥ sahāparaiḥ

As the pool, its water drained, was being churned up, the procrastinator was caught there along with the others.

Note on the text: Restored from the critical edition (12.135.12c): Wikisource prints a gap ('----') at the end of the second line, after सहापरै; filled with ः (CE: dīrghasūtraḥ sahāparaiḥ). The page's separate poem block (printed above the table) reads this line in full and agrees with the critical edition.

Verse 14 (12.137.14)

उद्दानं क्रियमाणं तु मत्स्यानां वीक्ष्य रज्जुभिः । प्रविश्यान्तरमन्येषामग्रसत्प्रतिपत्तिमान् ॥

uddānaṃ kriyamāṇaṃ tu matsyānāṃ vīkṣya rajjubhiḥ | praviśyāntaramanyeṣāmagrasatpratipattimān

Seeing the fish being strung together with cords, the quick-witted one slipped in among the others and gripped the cord in his mouth.

Note on the text: Restored from the critical edition (12.135.13a,c): Wikisource prints gaps ('------', '-------') in both lines; filled with वीक्ष्य रज्जुभिः and (अग्रसत्प्रति)पत्तिमान् (CE: matsyānāṃ vīkṣya rajjubhiḥ / agrasat pratipattimān). The rest is Wikisource's own reading (तु for ca in line 1). The alignment found no match. The page's separate poem block (printed above the table) reads these lines in full and agrees with the critical edition.

Verse 15 (12.137.15)

ग्रस्तमेव तदुद्दानं गृहीत्वास्त तथैव सः । सर्वानेव च तांस्तत्र ते विदुर्ग्रथिता इति ॥

grastameva taduddānaṃ gṛhītvāsta tathaiva saḥ | sarvāneva ca tāṃstatra te vidurgrathitā iti

Holding that very cord, he stayed just as he was; and all those fish, the fishermen took to be strung up.

Note on the text: Restored from the critical edition (12.135.14a,c): Wikisource prints gaps ('----' in line 1, '---' in line 2); filled with स्त तथैव and दुर्ग्रथिता (CE: gṛhītvāsta tathaiva saḥ / sarvān eva tu tāṃs tatra te vidur grathitā iti). The rest is Wikisource's own reading (च for tu in line 2). The alignment found no match. The page's separate poem block (printed above the table) reads these lines in full and agrees with the critical edition.

Verse 16 (12.137.16)

ततः प्रक्षाल्यमानेषु मत्स्येषु विपुले जले । त्यक्त्वा रज्जुं प्रमुक्तोऽसौ शीघ्रं संप्रतिपत्तिमान् ॥

tataḥ prakṣālyamāneṣu matsyeṣu vipule jale | tyaktvā rajjuṃ pramukto'sau śīghraṃ saṃpratipattimān

Then, when the fish were being washed in the broad water, the quick-witted one let go of the cord and was quickly set free.

Note on the text: Corrected त्वक्त्वा → त्यक्त्वा (misprint in Wikisource; व for य; the critical edition reads tyaktvā) and प्रमुक्तोसौ → प्रमुक्तोऽसौ (the avagraha is dropped). विपुले for vimale is a variant, kept.

Verse 17 (12.137.17)

दीर्घसूत्रस्तु मन्दात्मा हीनबुद्धिरचेतनः । मरणं प्राप्तवान्मूढो यथैवोपहतेन्द्रियः ॥

dīrghasūtrastu mandātmā hīnabuddhiracetanaḥ | maraṇaṃ prāptavānmūḍho yathaivopahatendriyaḥ

But the procrastinator, dull of mind, poor in understanding and senseless, met his death like one whose senses are stricken.

Note on the text: Corrected हीनेयुद्धिः → हीनबुद्धिः (misprint in Wikisource; the critical edition reads hīnabuddhiḥ).

Verse 18 (12.137.18)

एवं प्राप्ततमं कालं यो मोहान्नावबुध्यते । स विनश्यति वै क्षिप्रं दीर्घसूत्रो यथा झषः ॥

evaṃ prāptatamaṃ kālaṃ yo mohānnāvabudhyate | sa vinaśyati vai kṣipraṃ dīrghasūtro yathā jhaṣaḥ

So the man who, through delusion, does not recognise the time when it has come perishes quickly, like the procrastinating fish.

Verse 19 (12.137.19)

आदौ न कुरुते श्रेयः कुशलोऽस्मीति यः पुमान् । स हि संशयमाप्नोति यथा संप्रतिपत्तिमान् ॥

ādau na kurute śreyaḥ kuśalo'smīti yaḥ pumān | sa hi saṃśayamāpnoti yathā saṃpratipattimān

The man who thinks, "I am clever," and does not do what is good at the outset falls into peril, as the ready-witted one did.

Verse 20 (12.137.20)

अनागतविधानं तु यो नरः कुरुते क्षमम् । श्रेयः प्राप्नोति सोऽत्यर्थं दीर्घदर्शी यथा ह्यसौ ॥

anāgatavidhānaṃ tu yo naraḥ kurute kṣamam | śreyaḥ prāpnoti so'tyarthaṃ dīrghadarśī yathā hyasau

The man who makes fitting provision for what is to come gains the greatest good, like that far-sighted fish.

Note on the text: Restored from the critical edition (12.135.19): the table prints here a repeat of verse 1 (अनागतविधाता च प्रत्युत्पन्नमतिश्च यः । द्वावेतौ सुखमेधेते दीर्घसूत्री विनश्यति), which displaces this verse (verse 1 is the CE star passage 12.135.1*0307_01-02). The verse is restored in its place, with the critical edition's words exactly (anāgatavidhānaṃ tu yo naraḥ kurute kṣamam / śreyaḥ prāpnoti so 'tyarthaṃ dīrghadarśī yathā hy asau); the page's poem block has the same verse (its verse 19). The alignment found no match.

Verse 21 (12.137.21)

काष्ठा कला मुहूर्ताश्च दिनरात्र्यः क्षणा लवाः । मासाः पक्षाः षडृतवः कालः संवत्सराणि च ॥

kāṣṭhā kalā muhūrtāśca dinarātryaḥ kṣaṇā lavāḥ | māsāḥ pakṣāḥ ṣaḍṛtavaḥ kālaḥ saṃvatsarāṇi ca

Kashthas and kalas, muhurtas, days and nights, kshanas and lavas, months, fortnights, the six seasons, time itself, and the years:

Note on the text: = CE 12.135.20 (Wikisource काष्ठा कला … मासाः पक्षाः षडृतवः for kalāḥ kāṣṭhā … pakṣā māsāś ca ṛtavaḥ, a variant). The alignment found no match.

Verse 22 (12.137.22)

पृथिवी देश इत्युक्तः स च कालो न दृश्यते । अभिप्रेतार्थसिद्ध्यर्थं दूरतो न्यायतस्तथा ॥

pṛthivī deśa ityuktaḥ sa ca kālo na dṛśyate | abhipretārthasiddhyarthaṃ dūrato nyāyatastathā

The earth is called place, and time is not seen; for the achievement of the desired end, both are to be judged from afar and by right method.

Verse 23 (12.137.23)

एतौ धर्मार्थशास्त्रेषु मोक्षशास्त्रेषु चर्षिभिः । प्रधानाविति निर्दिष्टौ कामे चाभिमतौ नृणाम् ॥

etau dharmārthaśāstreṣu mokṣaśāstreṣu carṣibhiḥ | pradhānāviti nirdiṣṭau kāme cābhimatau nṛṇām

These two, place and time, are declared by the seers in the sciences of dharma and wealth and in the sciences of liberation to be the foremost, and they are accepted by men in desire too.

Verse 24 (12.137.24)

परीक्ष्यकारी युक्तश्च स सम्यगुपपादयेत् । देशकालावभिप्रेतौ ताभ्यां फलमवाप्नुयात् ॥

parīkṣyakārī yuktaśca sa samyagupapādayet | deśakālāvabhipretau tābhyāṃ phalamavāpnuyāt

The man who acts after careful examination and is well prepared will carry it out properly; having both place and time as he wishes, he would gain the fruit by them.

Note on the text: Corrected तोभ्यां → ताभ्यां (misprint in Wikisource; ओ for आ; the critical edition reads tābhyāṃ).