Vishvamitra and the Chandala: Dog's Flesh in the Famine

Verse 1 (12.141.1)

हीने परमके धर्मे सर्वलोकविलङ्घिते । अधर्मे धर्मतां नीते धर्मे चाधर्मतां गते ॥

hīne paramake dharme sarvalokavilaṅghite | adharme dharmatāṃ nīte dharme cādharmatāṃ gate

When the highest dharma has declined and the whole world transgresses it, when unrighteousness has been passed off as righteousness and righteousness has turned into unrighteousness,

Verse 2 (12.141.2)

मर्यादासु प्रभिन्नासु क्षुभिते लोकनिश्चये । राजभिः पीडिते लोके चोरैर्वाऽपि विशांपते ॥

maryādāsu prabhinnāsu kṣubhite lokaniścaye | rājabhiḥ pīḍite loke corairvā'pi viśāṃpate

when all bounds have been broken, when the world's settled judgments are shaken, and when the world is oppressed by kings and by thieves as well, O lord of the people,

Note on the text: Corrected लोकिश्चये → लोकनिश्चये (misprint in Wikisource; a syllable has dropped out and the half-verse is a syllable short; the critical edition reads धर्मनिश्चये, dharmaniścaye, which is a different word and is not adopted). Lines = CE 12.139.2a, 12.139.2c.

Verse 3 (12.141.3)

सर्वाश्रमेषु मूढेषु कर्मसूपहतेषु च । कामाल्लोभाच्च मोहाच्च भयं पश्यत्सु भारत ॥

sarvāśrameṣu mūḍheṣu karmasūpahateṣu ca | kāmāllobhācca mohācca bhayaṃ paśyatsu bhārata

when all the orders of life are bewildered and their duties ruined, and, through desire, greed and delusion, people see only fear, O Bharata,

Verse 4 (12.141.4)

अविश्वस्तेषु सर्वेषु नित्यं भीतेषु भारत । नित्यं च हन्यमानेषु वञ्चयत्सु परस्परम् ॥

aviśvasteṣu sarveṣu nityaṃ bhīteṣu bhārata | nityaṃ ca hanyamāneṣu vañcayatsu parasparam

when no one trusts anyone and all live in constant fear, when people are forever being killed and cheat one another,

Verse 5 (12.141.5)

प्रदीप्तेषु च देशेषु ब्राह्मण्ये चातिपीडिते । अवर्षति च पर्जन्ये मिथो भेदे समुत्थिते ॥

pradīpteṣu ca deśeṣu brāhmaṇye cātipīḍite | avarṣati ca parjanye mitho bhede samutthite

when whole regions are ablaze and brahmins are sorely afflicted, when the rain-god sends no rain and discord has arisen among the people,

Verse 6 (12.141.6)

सर्वस्मिन्दस्युसाद्भूते पृथिव्यामुपजीवने । केनस्विद्ब्राह्मणो जीवेज्जघन्ये काल आगते ॥

sarvasmindasyusādbhūte pṛthivyāmupajīvane | kenasvidbrāhmaṇo jīvejjaghanye kāla āgate

when everything that sustains life on earth has fallen into the hands of bandits, by what means can a brahmin live in such a wretched time that has come upon us?

Verse 7 (12.141.7)

अतितिक्षुः पुत्रपौत्राननुक्रोशान्नराधिप । कतमापदि वर्तेत तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह ॥

atitikṣuḥ putrapautrānanukrośānnarādhipa | katamāpadi varteta tanme brūhi pitāmaha

A brahmin who, out of compassion, cannot bear to see his sons and grandsons suffer — what course should he follow in such a calamity, O lord of men? Tell me that, grandfather.

Verse 8 (12.141.8)

कथं च राजा वर्तेत लोके कलुषतां गते । कथमर्थाच्च धर्माच्च न हीयेत परंतप ॥

kathaṃ ca rājā varteta loke kaluṣatāṃ gate | kathamarthācca dharmācca na hīyeta paraṃtapa

And how should a king conduct himself when the world has sunk into corruption, so that he loses neither wealth nor dharma, O scorcher of foes?

Verse 9 (12.141.9)

राजमूला महाबाहो योगक्षेमसुवृष्टयः । प्रजासु व्याधयश्चैव मरणं च भयानि च ॥

rājamūlā mahābāho yogakṣemasuvṛṣṭayaḥ | prajāsu vyādhayaścaiva maraṇaṃ ca bhayāni ca

The well-being and good rains of the realm have the king as their root, O mighty-armed one; so too do the diseases of the people, and death, and all dangers.

Verse 10 (12.141.10)

कृतं त्रेता द्वापरं च कलिश्च भरतर्षभ । राजमूला इति मतिर्मम नास्त्यत्र संशयः ॥

kṛtaṃ tretā dvāparaṃ ca kaliśca bharatarṣabha | rājamūlā iti matirmama nāstyatra saṃśayaḥ

The Krita, the Treta, the Dvapara and the Kali, O best of the Bharatas — these too, I hold, have the king as their root. Of this there is no doubt.

Verse 11 (12.141.11)

तस्मिंस्त्वभ्यागते काले प्रजानां दोषकारके । विज्ञानबलमास्थाय जीवितव्यं भवेत्तदा ॥

tasmiṃstvabhyāgate kāle prajānāṃ doṣakārake | vijñānabalamāsthāya jīvitavyaṃ bhavettadā

When such a time has arrived, a time that brings ruin to the people, one must live by the strength of one's own discernment.

Verse 12 (12.141.12)

अथाप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् । विश्वामित्रस्य संवादं चण्डालस्य च पक्कणे ॥

athāpyudāharantīmamitihāsaṃ purātanam | viśvāmitrasya saṃvādaṃ caṇḍālasya ca pakkaṇe

In this connection people recount an ancient account: the conversation of Vishvamitra with a Chandala in an outcaste settlement.

Note on the text: Corrected अधाप्युदाहरन्तीमम् → अथाप्युदाहरन्तीमम् (misprint in Wikisource; ध for थ; the CE reads atrāpy udāharantīmam, a variant). Lines = CE 12.139.12a, 12.139.12c.

Verse 13 (12.141.13)

त्रेताद्वापरयोः संधौ पुरा दैवव्यतिक्रमात् । अनावृष्टिरभूद्धोरा लोके द्वादशवार्षिकी ॥

tretādvāparayoḥ saṃdhau purā daivavyatikramāt | anāvṛṣṭirabhūddhorā loke dvādaśavārṣikī

At the junction of the Treta and Dvapara ages, long ago, through a reversal ordained by fate, a dreadful drought lasting twelve years came upon the world.

Verse 14 (12.141.14)

प्रजानामतिवृद्धानां युगान्ते समुपस्थिते । त्रेतायां मोक्षसमये द्वापरप्रतिपादने ॥

prajānāmativṛddhānāṃ yugānte samupasthite | tretāyāṃ mokṣasamaye dvāparapratipādane

The people had multiplied greatly, and the end of the age had come — at the Treta's release and the Dvapara's arrival —

Verse 15 (12.141.15)

न ववर्ष सहस्राक्षः प्रतिलोमोऽभवद्गुरुः । जगाम दक्षिणं मार्गं सोमो व्यावृत्तमण्डलः ॥

na vavarṣa sahasrākṣaḥ pratilomo'bhavadguruḥ | jagāma dakṣiṇaṃ mārgaṃ somo vyāvṛttamaṇḍalaḥ

the thousand-eyed Indra sent no rain; Jupiter turned retrograde; and the moon, its orbit reversed, went off along the southern path.

Verse 16 (12.141.16)

नावश्यायोऽपि रात्र्यन्ते कुत एवाभ्रराजयः । नद्यः संक्षिप्ततोयौघाः किंचिदन्तर्गताऽभवन् ॥

nāvaśyāyo'pi rātryante kuta evābhrarājayaḥ | nadyaḥ saṃkṣiptatoyaughāḥ kiṃcidantargatā'bhavan

There was not even dew at the end of the night, let alone rain-clouds; the rivers, their floods shrunk, had in places withdrawn within themselves.

Verse 17 (12.141.17)

सरांसि सरितश्चैव कूपाः प्रस्रवणानि च । हतत्विषो न लक्ष्यन्ते निसर्गात्पूर्वकारितात् ॥

sarāṃsi saritaścaiva kūpāḥ prasravaṇāni ca | hatatviṣo na lakṣyante nisargātpūrvakāritāt

Lakes and rivers, wells and springs lost their brightness and could no longer be seen, by a course of nature ordained long before.

Verse 18 (12.141.18)

भूमिः शुष्कजलस्थाना विनिवृत्तसभाप्रपा । निवृत्तयज्ञस्वाध्याया निर्वषट्कारमङ्गला ॥

bhūmiḥ śuṣkajalasthānā vinivṛttasabhāprapā | nivṛttayajñasvādhyāyā nirvaṣaṭkāramaṅgalā

The earth, its waters dried up, was without assembly halls and water-huts for travellers; sacrifices and Vedic study had ceased; the cry of vashat and every auspicious rite had vanished.

Note on the text: Removed a stray invisible zero-width non-joiner inside निर्वषट्कारमङ्गला (Wikisource encoding glitch).

Verse 19 (12.141.19)

उत्सन्नकृषिगोरक्षा निवृत्तविपणापणा । निवृत्तपूर्वसमया संप्रनष्टमहोत्सवा ॥

utsannakṛṣigorakṣā nivṛttavipaṇāpaṇā | nivṛttapūrvasamayā saṃpranaṣṭamahotsavā

Farming and cattle-keeping were ruined, shops and markets shut, former agreements no longer held, and great festivals vanished.

Verse 20 (12.141.20)

अस्थिकङ्कालसंकीर्णा हाहाभूतनराकुला । शून्यभूयिष्ठनगरा दग्धग्रामनिवेशना ॥

asthikaṅkālasaṃkīrṇā hāhābhūtanarākulā | śūnyabhūyiṣṭhanagarā dagdhagrāmaniveśanā

Strewn with bones and skeletons, filled with the cries of "Alas!" from the people, most of its cities empty, its villages and settlements burnt,

Verse 21 (12.141.21)

क्वचिच्चोरैः क्वचिच्छूरैः क्वचिद्राजभिरातुरैः । परस्परभयाच्चैव शून्यभूयिष्ठनिर्जना ॥

kvaciccoraiḥ kvacicchūraiḥ kvacidrājabhirāturaiḥ | parasparabhayāccaiva śūnyabhūyiṣṭhanirjanā

emptied here by thieves, there by warriors, and there by afflicted kings, and everywhere, from mutual fear, left mostly empty and uninhabited,

Verse 22 (12.141.22)

गतदैवतसंस्थाना वृद्धबालविनाकृता । गोजाविमहिषीहीना परस्परपराहता ॥

gatadaivatasaṃsthānā vṛddhabālavinākṛtā | gojāvimahiṣīhīnā parasparaparāhatā

bereft of the shrines and images of the gods, of its old and its young, without cows, goats, sheep or buffaloes, its people striking one another down,

Verse 23 (12.141.23)

हतविप्रा हतारक्षा प्रनष्टोत्सवसंचया । शवभूतनरप्राया बभूव वसुधा तदा ॥

hataviprā hatārakṣā pranaṣṭotsavasaṃcayā | śavabhūtanaraprāyā babhūva vasudhā tadā

its brahmins slain, its protectors slain, its festivals and stores of wealth destroyed — the earth then became almost a land of corpses.

Verse 24 (12.141.24)

तस्मिन्प्रतिभये काले क्षीणधर्मे युधिष्ठिर । बभूवुः क्षुधिता मर्त्याः खादमानाः परस्परम् ॥

tasminpratibhaye kāle kṣīṇadharme yudhiṣṭhira | babhūvuḥ kṣudhitā martyāḥ khādamānāḥ parasparam

In that dreadful time, when dharma had dwindled, O Yudhishthira, starving men went about eating one another.

Verse 25 (12.141.25)

ऋषयो नियमांस्त्यक्त्वा परित्यक्ताग्निदेवताः । आश्रमान्संपरित्यज्य पर्यधावन्नितस्ततः ॥

ṛṣayo niyamāṃstyaktvā parityaktāgnidevatāḥ | āśramānsaṃparityajya paryadhāvannitastataḥ

The sages abandoned their observances and gave up their sacred fires and deities; leaving their hermitages, they ran hither and thither.

Verse 26 (12.141.26)

विश्वामित्रोऽथ भगवान्महर्षिरनिकेतनः । क्षुधा परिगतो धीमान्समन्तात्पर्यधावत् ॥

viśvāmitro'tha bhagavānmaharṣiraniketanaḥ | kṣudhā parigato dhīmānsamantātparyadhāvat

Then the blessed Vishvamitra, the great sage, homeless, wise but gripped by hunger, ran about in every direction.

Verse 27 (12.141.27)

त्यक्त्वा दारांश्च पुत्रांश्च कस्मिंश्च जनसंसदि । भक्ष्याभक्ष्यसमो भूत्वा निरग्निरनिकेतनः ॥

tyaktvā dārāṃśca putrāṃśca kasmiṃśca janasaṃsadi | bhakṣyābhakṣyasamo bhūtvā niragniraniketanaḥ

Leaving wife and sons somewhere in a crowd of people, indifferent to what may be eaten and what may not, with no fire and no home,

Note on the text: Corrected भ्रूत्वा → भूत्वा (misprint in Wikisource; CE bhūtvā). Not in the critical edition's constituted text: both lines are the CE star passage 12.139.26d*0348_01-02 (tyaktvā dārāṃś ca putrāṃś ca kasmiṃś cij janasaṃsadi / bhakṣyābhakṣyasamo bhūtvā niragnir aniketanaḥ). Wikisource कस्मिंश्च against CE kasmiṃś cij is kept as a variant. The alignment found no match.

Verse 28 (12.141.28)

स कदाचित्परिपतञ्श्वपचानां निकेतनम् । हिंस्राणां प्राणिघातानामाससाद वने क्वचित् ॥

sa kadācitparipatañśvapacānāṃ niketanam | hiṃsrāṇāṃ prāṇighātānāmāsasāda vane kvacit

he wandered about, and once, somewhere in a forest, came upon the dwelling of dog-cooking outcastes, cruel men who slay living creatures.

Verse 29 (12.141.29)

विभिन्नकलशाकीर्णं श्वमांसेन च भूषितम् । वराहखरभग्नास्थिकपालघटसंकुलम् ॥

vibhinnakalaśākīrṇaṃ śvamāṃsena ca bhūṣitam | varāhakharabhagnāsthikapālaghaṭasaṃkulam

It was strewn with broken pots, adorned with dog's flesh, crowded with the broken bones of boars and asses, with skulls and jars,

Note on the text: Corrected श्रमांसेन → श्वमांसेन (misprint in Wikisource; र for व). CE line 1 reads śvacarmācchādanāyutam, a recension variant. Lines = CE 12.139.28a, 12.139.28c.

Verse 30 (12.141.30)

मृतचेलपरिस्तीर्णं निर्माल्यकृतभूषणम् । सर्पनिर्मोकमालाभिः कृतचिह्नकुटीमुखम् ॥

mṛtacelaparistīrṇaṃ nirmālyakṛtabhūṣaṇam | sarpanirmokamālābhiḥ kṛtacihnakuṭīmukham

spread with the clothes of the dead, decked with withered offerings, the doorways of its huts marked with garlands of snake-skins,

Verse 31 (12.141.31)

कुक्कुटाराबहुलं गर्दभध्वनिनादितम् । उद्घोषद्भिः खरैर्वाक्यैः कलहद्भिः परस्परम् ॥

kukkuṭārābahulaṃ gardabhadhvanināditam | udghoṣadbhiḥ kharairvākyaiḥ kalahadbhiḥ parasparam

loud with the crowing of cocks, resounding with the braying of asses, and with harsh words shouted as people quarrelled with one another,

Note on the text: Corrected उद्धोषद्भिः → उद्घोषद्भिः (misprint in Wikisource; ध for घ; unsure of the intended form, since the CE star line reads tad yoṣidbhiḥ kharair vākyaiḥ). Not in the critical edition's constituted text: line 1 = CE star line 12.139.29d*0349_01 (kukkuṭārāvabahulaṃ gardabhadhvanināditam); line 2 = star line 12.139.29d*0349_02, with Wikisource variants. The alignment found no match.

Verse 32 (12.141.32)

उलूकपक्षिध्वनिभिर्देवतायतनैर्वृतम् । लोहघण्टापरिष्कारं श्वयूथपरिवारितम् ॥

ulūkapakṣidhvanibhirdevatāyatanairvṛtam | lohaghaṇṭāpariṣkāraṃ śvayūthaparivāritam

surrounded by the shrines of its gods, which echoed with the hoots of owls and other birds, fitted with iron bells, and ringed by packs of dogs.

Verse 33 (12.141.33)

तत्प्रविश्य क्षुधाविष्टो गाधिपुत्रो महानृषिः । आहारान्वेषणे युक्तः परं यत्नं समास्थितः ॥

tatpraviśya kṣudhāviṣṭo gādhiputro mahānṛṣiḥ | āhārānveṣaṇe yuktaḥ paraṃ yatnaṃ samāsthitaḥ

Entering it, hungry, the great sage, the son of Gadhi, set himself with the utmost effort to the search for food.

Note on the text: Corrected महानृपिः → महानृषिः (misprint in Wikisource; प for ष; CE mahān ṛṣiḥ). Lines = CE 12.139.31a, 12.139.31c.

Verse 34 (12.141.34)

न च क्वचिदविन्दत्स भिक्षमाणोऽपि कौशिकः । मांसमन्नं फलं मूलमन्यद्वा तत्र किंचन ॥

na ca kvacidavindatsa bhikṣamāṇo'pi kauśikaḥ | māṃsamannaṃ phalaṃ mūlamanyadvā tatra kiṃcana

But though he begged, Kaushika found nothing there at all — no meat, no grain, no fruit or root, nor anything else.

Verse 35 (12.141.35)

अहो कृच्छ्रं मया प्राप्तमिति निश्चित्य कौशिकः । पपात भूमौ दौर्बल्यात्तस्मिंश्चण्डालपक्कणे ॥

aho kṛcchraṃ mayā prāptamiti niścitya kauśikaḥ | papāta bhūmau daurbalyāttasmiṃścaṇḍālapakkaṇe

"Alas, what hardship has come upon me!" — so Kaushika concluded, and from weakness he fell to the ground in that outcaste hamlet.

Verse 36 (12.141.36)

स चिन्तयामास मुनिः किंनु मे सुकृतं भवेत् । कथं वृथा न मृत्युः स्यादिति पार्थिवसत्तम ॥

sa cintayāmāsa muniḥ kiṃnu me sukṛtaṃ bhavet | kathaṃ vṛthā na mṛtyuḥ syāditi pārthivasattama

The sage reflected: "What good course is left to me? How can I avoid dying to no purpose?" — so it was, O best of kings.

Verse 37 (12.141.37)

स ददर्श श्वमांसस्य कुतन्त्रीं पतितां मुनिः । चण्डालस्य गृहे राजन्सद्यः शस्त्रहतस्य वै ॥

sa dadarśa śvamāṃsasya kutantrīṃ patitāṃ muniḥ | caṇḍālasya gṛhe rājansadyaḥ śastrahatasya vai

The sage saw lying there, in the Chandala's house, a strip of dog's flesh, flesh of a dog freshly killed with a blade, O king.

Verse 38 (12.141.38)

स चिन्तयामास तदा स्तेयं कार्यमितो मया । न हीदानीमुपायो मे विद्यते प्राणधारणे ॥

sa cintayāmāsa tadā steyaṃ kāryamito mayā | na hīdānīmupāyo me vidyate prāṇadhāraṇe

He thought then: "I must steal from here; there is no other way now to keep myself alive."

Note on the text: Restored the lost letters in न--दानीम् → न हीदानीम् (Wikisource prints two dashes where text is missing; CE na hīdānīm upāyo 'nyo vidyate prāṇadhāraṇe). Wikisource मे for CE 'nyo is kept as a variant. Lines = CE 12.139.36a, 12.139.36c.

Verse 39 (12.141.39)

आपत्सु विहितं स्तेयं विशिष्टसमहीनतः । परस्परं भवेत्पूर्वमास्थेयमिति निश्चयः ॥

āpatsu vihitaṃ steyaṃ viśiṣṭasamahīnataḥ | parasparaṃ bhavetpūrvamāstheyamiti niścayaḥ

"In times of calamity theft is permitted, whether from the better, the equal or the lower; it is settled that one should resort to these in turn, taking the earlier one first."

Note on the text: Restored the lost opening ---सु → आपत्सु (Wikisource prints three dashes where text is missing; CE 12.139.37a āpatsu vihitaṃ steyaṃ viśiṣṭasamahīnataḥ). Line 2 (परस्परं भवेत्पूर्वमास्थेयमिति निश्चयः) differs from CE 12.139.37c (paraṃ paraṃ bhavet pūrvam asteyam iti niścayaḥ) and is kept as a recension variant; the page's own note on 12-141-39 records another reading. Replaced the single final daṇḍa with ॥.

Verse 40 (12.141.40)

हीनादादेयमादौ स्यात्समानात्तदनन्तरम् । असंभवे त्वाददीत विशिष्टादपि धार्मिकात् ॥

hīnādādeyamādau syātsamānāttadanantaram | asaṃbhave tvādadīta viśiṣṭādapi dhārmikāt

"One should take first from the lowest, next from an equal; if that is not possible, one may take even from a righteous man who is superior."

Verse 41 (12.141.41)

सोऽहमन्तावसायीनां हराम्येनां प्रतिग्रहात् । न स्तेयदोषं पश्यामि हरिष्याम्येतदामिषम् ॥

so'hamantāvasāyīnāṃ harāmyenāṃ pratigrahāt | na steyadoṣaṃ paśyāmi hariṣyāmyetadāmiṣam

"So I shall take this from the lowliest of men, from what they have received; I see no fault of theft in it. I shall carry off this meat."

Verse 42 (12.141.42)

एतां बुद्धिं समास्थाय विश्वामित्रो महामुनिः । तस्मिन्देशे सुसुष्वाप पतितो यत्र भारत ॥

etāṃ buddhiṃ samāsthāya viśvāmitro mahāmuniḥ | tasmindeśe susuṣvāpa patito yatra bhārata

Settling on this resolve, the great sage Vishvamitra lay down and slept in the place where he had fallen, O Bharata.

Verse 43 (12.141.43)

स विगाढां निशां दृष्ट्वा सुप्ते चण्डालपक्कणे । शनैरुत्थाय भगवान्प्रविवेश कुटीमुखम् ॥

sa vigāḍhāṃ niśāṃ dṛṣṭvā supte caṇḍālapakkaṇe | śanairutthāya bhagavānpraviveśa kuṭīmukham

Seeing that the night was deep and the outcaste hamlet asleep, the blessed one rose quietly and entered the doorway of the hut.

Verse 44 (12.141.44)

स सुप्त एव चण्डालः श्लेष्मापिहितलोचनः । परिभिन्नस्वरो रूक्षः प्रोवाचाप्रियदर्शनः ॥

sa supta eva caṇḍālaḥ śleṣmāpihitalocanaḥ | paribhinnasvaro rūkṣaḥ provācāpriyadarśanaḥ

Though still asleep, the Chandala, his eyes clogged with phlegm, his voice cracked and harsh, grim to look upon, called out:

Verse 45 (12.141.45)

कः कुतन्त्रीं घट्टयति सुप्ते चण्डालपक्कणे । जागर्मि नैव सुप्तोऽस्मि हतोऽसीति च दारुणः ॥

kaḥ kutantrīṃ ghaṭṭayati supte caṇḍālapakkaṇe | jāgarmi naiva supto'smi hato'sīti ca dāruṇaḥ

"Who is rattling the strip of dog-meat while the outcaste hamlet sleeps? I am awake, I am not asleep — you are a dead man!" said the fierce one.

Note on the text: Speaker: the question is the Chandala's direct speech (the page prints no heading); the closing words ca dāruṇaḥ are only a tag, so the whole verse is given to the Chandala. Lines = CE 12.139.43a, 12.139.43c (Wikisource नैव सुप्तोऽस्मि against CE nāvasupto 'smi).

Verse 46 (12.141.46)

विश्वामित्रोऽहमित्येव सहसा तमुवाच ह । सहसाऽभ्यागतं भूयः सोद्वेगस्तेन कर्मणा ॥

viśvāmitro'hamityeva sahasā tamuvāca ha | sahasā'bhyāgataṃ bhūyaḥ sodvegastena karmaṇā

"I am Vishvamitra," he answered at once, suddenly caught as he was and greatly agitated by what he had been doing.

Verse 47 (12.141.47)

विश्वामित्रोऽहमायुष्मन्नागतोऽहं बुभुक्षितः । मा वधीर्मम सद्बुद्धे यदि सम्यक्प्रपश्यसि ॥

viśvāmitro'hamāyuṣmannāgato'haṃ bubhukṣitaḥ | mā vadhīrmama sadbuddhe yadi samyakprapaśyasi

"I am Vishvamitra, long-lived one; I have come here hungry. Do not kill me, good-hearted man, if you see rightly."

Note on the text: Speaker: Vishvamitra's direct speech (the page prints no heading). Not in the critical edition's constituted text: both lines are the CE star passage 12.139.44d*0350_01-02 (viśvāmitro 'ham āyuṣmann āgato 'haṃ bubhukṣitaḥ / mā vadhīr mama sadbuddher yadi samyak prapaśyasi). The alignment found no match.

Verse 48 (12.141.48)

चण्डालस्तद्वचः श्रुत्वा महर्षेर्भावितात्मनः । शयनादुपसंभ्रान्त उद्ययौ प्रति तं ततः ॥

caṇḍālastadvacaḥ śrutvā maharṣerbhāvitātmanaḥ | śayanādupasaṃbhrānta udyayau prati taṃ tataḥ

Hearing the words of the great sage of purified soul, the Chandala sprang up from his bed in alarm and went toward him.

Verse 49 (12.141.49)

स विसृज्याश्रु नेत्राभ्यां बहुमानात्कृताञ्जलिः । उवाच कौशिकं रात्रौ ब्रह्मन्किं ते चिकीर्षितम् ॥

sa visṛjyāśru netrābhyāṃ bahumānātkṛtāñjaliḥ | uvāca kauśikaṃ rātrau brahmankiṃ te cikīrṣitam

With tears flowing from his eyes, and with joined palms in reverence, he said to Kaushika in the night: "Brahmin, what is it you wish to do?"

Verse 50 (12.141.50)

विश्वामित्रस्तु मातङ्गमुवाच परिसान्त्वयन् । क्षुधितोऽन्तर्गतप्राणो हरिष्यामि श्वजाघनीम् ॥

viśvāmitrastu mātaṅgamuvāca parisāntvayan | kṣudhito'ntargataprāṇo hariṣyāmi śvajāghanīm

Vishvamitra, comforting the outcaste, replied: "I am hungry, my life almost gone; I shall take the dog's haunch."

Verse 51 (12.141.51)

क्षुधितः कलुषं यातो नास्ति ह्रीरशनार्थिनः । क्षुच्च मां दूषयत्यत्र हरिष्यामि श्वजाघनीम् ॥

kṣudhitaḥ kaluṣaṃ yāto nāsti hrīraśanārthinaḥ | kṣucca māṃ dūṣayatyatra hariṣyāmi śvajāghanīm

"The hungry man is driven to wrong; one who seeks food has no shame. Hunger corrupts me here; I shall take the dog's haunch.

Note on the text: Speaker: Vishvamitra's direct speech (the page prints no heading). Lines = CE 12.139.50a, 12.139.50c; the page's order differs from the CE, which has 12.139.48-49 before this verse.

Verse 52 (12.141.52)

अवसीदन्ति मे प्राणाः स्मृतिर्मे नश्यति क्षुधा । दुर्बलो नष्टसंज्ञश्च भक्ष्याभक्ष्यविवर्जितः । स्वधर्मं बुध्यमानोऽपि हरिष्यामि श्वजाघनीम् ॥

avasīdanti me prāṇāḥ smṛtirme naśyati kṣudhā | durbalo naṣṭasaṃjñaśca bhakṣyābhakṣyavivarjitaḥ | svadharmaṃ budhyamāno'pi hariṣyāmi śvajāghanīm

"My life-breaths are failing, and with hunger my memory is going; I am weak, senseless, past telling what may be eaten and what may not. Though I know my own dharma, I shall take the dog's haunch.

Note on the text: Speaker: Vishvamitra's direct speech (no heading on the page). Corrected सोधर्मं → स्वधर्मं (misprint in Wikisource; CE svadharmaṃ budhyamāno 'pi). Three-line verse, as on the page (labelled 12-141-52a,b,c): line 1 = CE 12.139.48a, line 2 = the CE star line 12.139.48b*0352_01 (durbalo naṣṭasaṃjñaś ca bhakṣyābhakṣyavivarjitaḥ), line 3 = CE 12.139.48c. The CE's other star line 12.139.48a*0351_01 (damaged in the CE) is not on the page.

Verse 53 (12.141.53)

यदा भैक्षं न विन्दामि युष्माकमहमालये । तदा बुद्धिः कृता पापे हरिष्यामि श्वजाघनीम् ॥

yadā bhaikṣaṃ na vindāmi yuṣmākamahamālaye | tadā buddhiḥ kṛtā pāpe hariṣyāmi śvajāghanīm

"Since I find no alms in your dwelling, I have set my mind on sin: I shall take the dog's haunch.

Note on the text: Speaker: Vishvamitra's direct speech (no heading on the page). Lines = CE 12.139.49a, 12.139.49c; the page places this after CE 48.

Verse 54 (12.141.54)

अग्निर्मुखं पुरोधाश्च देवानां शुचिषाङ्विभुः । यथा च सर्वभुग्ब्रह्मा तथा मां विद्धि धर्मतः ॥

agnirmukhaṃ purodhāśca devānāṃ śuciṣāṅvibhuḥ | yathā ca sarvabhugbrahmā tathā māṃ viddhi dharmataḥ

"Agni is the mouth of the gods and their household priest, the pervading one who takes only what is pure; and as the all-devouring Brahma is, so, by dharma, know me to be."

Note on the text: Speaker: Vishvamitra's direct speech (no heading on the page). Lines = CE 12.139.51a, 12.139.51c.

Verse 55 (12.141.55)

तमुवाच स चण्डालो महर्षे शृणु मे वचः । श्रुत्वा तथा तमातिष्ठ यथा धर्मो न हीयते ॥

tamuvāca sa caṇḍālo maharṣe śṛṇu me vacaḥ | śrutvā tathā tamātiṣṭha yathā dharmo na hīyate

The Chandala said to him: "Great sage, hear my words, and having heard them, act so that your dharma is not lost.

Verse 56 (12.141.56)

धर्मं तवापि विप्रर्षे शृणु यत्ते ब्रवीम्यहम् ॥

dharmaṃ tavāpi viprarṣe śṛṇu yatte bravīmyaham

"Hear also the dharma that I tell you, O brahmin sage.

Note on the text: Speaker: the Chandala's direct speech (no heading on the page). A single line, as on the page (12-141-56a); it is the CE star line 12.139.52d*0353_01 (dharmaṃ tavāpi viprarṣe śṛṇu yat te bravīmy aham), not in the critical edition's constituted text. The alignment found no match.

Verse 57 (12.141.57)

मृगाणामधमं श्वानं प्रवदन्ति मनीषिणः । तस्याप्यधम उद्देशः शरीरस्य तु जाघी ॥

mṛgāṇāmadhamaṃ śvānaṃ pravadanti manīṣiṇaḥ | tasyāpyadhama uddeśaḥ śarīrasya tu jāghī

"The wise call the dog the lowest of beasts, and the haunch is the lowest part of its body.

Verse 58 (12.141.58)

नेदं सम्यग्व्यवसितं महर्षे कर्म गर्हितम् । चण्डालस्वस्य हरणमभक्ष्यस्य विशेषतः ॥

nedaṃ samyagvyavasitaṃ maharṣe karma garhitam | caṇḍālasvasya haraṇamabhakṣyasya viśeṣataḥ

"This is not rightly resolved, great sage; it is a blameworthy act — to steal what belongs to a Chandala, and above all something that is forbidden food.

Verse 59 (12.141.59)

साध्वन्यमनुपश्य त्वमुपायं प्राणधारणे । श्वमांसलोभात्तपसो नाशस्ते स्यान्महामुने ॥

sādhvanyamanupaśya tvamupāyaṃ prāṇadhāraṇe | śvamāṃsalobhāttapaso nāśaste syānmahāmune

"Look for some other and better way to keep yourself alive; from greed for dog's flesh your austerity will be lost, great sage.

Verse 60 (12.141.60)

जानता विहितो मार्गो न कार्यो धर्मसंकरः । मा स्म धर्मं परित्याक्षीस्त्वं हि धर्मविदुत्तमः ॥

jānatā vihito mārgo na kāryo dharmasaṃkaraḥ | mā sma dharmaṃ parityākṣīstvaṃ hi dharmaviduttamaḥ

"One who knows should follow the path ordained and not cause a confusion of dharmas. Do not abandon dharma; you are the foremost of those who know it."

Verse 61 (12.141.61)

विश्वामित्रस्ततो राजन्नित्युक्तो भरतर्षभ । क्षुधार्तः प्रत्युवाचेदं पुनरेव महामुनिः ॥

viśvāmitrastato rājannityukto bharatarṣabha | kṣudhārtaḥ pratyuvācedaṃ punareva mahāmuniḥ

Thus addressed, O king, O best of the Bharatas, the great sage Vishvamitra, tormented by hunger, answered him again:

Verse 62 (12.141.62)

निराहारस्य सुमहान्मम कालोऽभिधावतः । न विद्यतेऽप्युपायश्च कश्चिन्मे प्राणधारणे ॥

nirāhārasya sumahānmama kālo'bhidhāvataḥ | na vidyate'pyupāyaśca kaścinme prāṇadhāraṇe

"A very long time has passed for me, going about without food, and I find no means at all of keeping myself alive.

Note on the text: Speaker: Vishvamitra's direct speech resumes here (no heading on the page) and runs to verse 67. Lines = CE 12.139.58a, 12.139.58c.

Verse 63 (12.141.63)

येनकेन विशेषेण कर्मणा येनकेनचित् । उज्जिहीर्षे सीदमानः समर्थो धर्ममाचरेत् ॥

yenakena viśeṣeṇa karmaṇā yenakenacit | ujjihīrṣe sīdamānaḥ samartho dharmamācaret

"By whatever means and whatever act, one who is sinking and wishes to lift himself out should do so, and once he is able, he may practise dharma.

Verse 64 (12.141.64)

ऐन्द्रो धर्मः क्षत्रियाणां ब्राह्मणानामथाग्निकः । ब्रह्मवह्निर्मम बलं भोक्ष्यामि शमयन्क्षुधाम् ॥

aindro dharmaḥ kṣatriyāṇāṃ brāhmaṇānāmathāgnikaḥ | brahmavahnirmama balaṃ bhokṣyāmi śamayankṣudhām

"The dharma of kshatriyas belongs to Indra, that of brahmins to Agni. The fire of Brahman, the Veda, is my strength: I shall eat and quench my hunger.

Verse 65 (12.141.65)

यथायथैव जीवेद्धि तत्कर्तव्यमहेलया । जीवितं मरणाच्छ्रेयो जीवन्धर्ममवाप्नुयात् ॥

yathāyathaiva jīveddhi tatkartavyamahelayā | jīvitaṃ maraṇācchreyo jīvandharmamavāpnuyāt

"By whatever means one can stay alive, that is to be done without scruple; life is better than death, and a living man can attain dharma.

Verse 66 (12.141.66)

सोऽहं जीवितमाकाङ्क्षन्नभक्ष्यस्यापि भक्षणम् । व्यवस्ये बुद्धिपूर्वं वै तद्भवाननुमन्यताम् ॥

so'haṃ jīvitamākāṅkṣannabhakṣyasyāpi bhakṣaṇam | vyavasye buddhipūrvaṃ vai tadbhavānanumanyatām

"So, wishing to live, I resolve with deliberate mind to eat even what may not be eaten; let you give me your leave.

Verse 67 (12.141.67)

जीवन्धर्मं चरिष्यामि प्रणोत्स्याम्यशुभानि तु । तपोभिर्विद्यया चैव ज्योतींषीव महत्तमः ॥

jīvandharmaṃ cariṣyāmi praṇotsyāmyaśubhāni tu | tapobhirvidyayā caiva jyotīṃṣīva mahattamaḥ

"Living, I shall practise dharma and drive away my evils, by austerity and learning, as lights drive away deep darkness."

Verse 68 (12.141.68)

नैतत्खादन्प्राप्स्यसे प्राणमद्य । नायुर्दीर्घं नामृतस्येव तृप्तिम् । भिक्षामन्यां भिक्ष मा ते मनोऽस्तु । श्वभक्षणे श्वा ह्यभक्ष्यो द्विजानाम् ॥

naitatkhādanprāpsyase prāṇamadya | nāyurdīrghaṃ nāmṛtasyeva tṛptim | bhikṣāmanyāṃ bhikṣa mā te mano'stu | śvabhakṣaṇe śvā hyabhakṣyo dvijānām

"Eating this you will not gain life today, nor long life, nor the contentment that nectar gives. Beg other alms; let your mind not turn to this. For the dog is not to be eaten by brahmins."

Note on the text: Corrected मनोस्तु → मनोऽस्तु (missing avagraha in Wikisource; CE mano 'stu). Four lines, as on the page (12-141-68a-d); they are CE 12.139.64a-c in two long lines. Wikisource प्राणमद्य against CE prāṇam anyaṃ is a recension variant.

Verse 69 (12.141.69)

न दुर्भिक्षे सुलभं मांसमन्य । च्छ्वपाक नान्नं न च मेऽस्ति वित्तम् । क्षुधार्तश्चाहमगतिर्निराशः । श्वजाघनीं षड्रसात्साधु मन्ये ॥

na durbhikṣe sulabhaṃ māṃsamanya | cchvapāka nānnaṃ na ca me'sti vittam | kṣudhārtaścāhamagatirnirāśaḥ | śvajāghanīṃ ṣaḍrasātsādhu manye

"In a famine other meat is hard to find, dog-cooker; I have no grain and no wealth. Stricken with hunger, without refuge, without hope, I count the dog's haunch good, better than the six flavours."

Note on the text: Corrected च्छ्वपाकमन्ये → च्छ्वपाक नान्नं (misprint in Wikisource; CE chvapāka nānnaṃ), वित्तम → वित्तम् (dropped halant), क्षुघार्तः → क्षुधार्तः (misprint; घ for ध), and ष़ड्‌सात् → षड्रसात् (garbled in Wikisource, with a nukta and a stray zero-width non-joiner; CE ṣaḍrasān). Four lines, as on the page (12-141-69a-d). Lines = CE 12.139.65a, 12.139.65c with variants.

Verse 70 (12.141.70)

पञ्च पञ्चनखा भक्ष्या ब्रह्मक्षत्रस्य वै विशः । शल्यकः श्वाविधो गोधा शशः कूर्मश्च पञ्चमः । यदि शास्त्रं प्रमाणं ते माऽभक्ष्ये वै मनः कृथाः ॥

pañca pañcanakhā bhakṣyā brahmakṣatrasya vai viśaḥ | śalyakaḥ śvāvidho godhā śaśaḥ kūrmaśca pañcamaḥ | yadi śāstraṃ pramāṇaṃ te mā'bhakṣye vai manaḥ kṛthāḥ

"Five five-nailed creatures may be eaten by brahmins and kshatriyas: the porcupine, the hedgehog, the monitor lizard, the hare, and, as the fifth, the tortoise. If scripture is authority for you, do not set your mind on what is forbidden."

Note on the text: Removed the stray backtick and quote marks around line 2 (the page prints it in quotes). Lines 1 and 3 = CE 12.139.66a, 12.139.66c; line 2 = the CE star line 12.139.66b*0354_01 (śalyakaḥ śvāvidho godhāḥ śaśaḥ kūrmaś ca pañcamaḥ). Wikisource विशः against CE dvija is a variant. The alignment found no match.

Verse 71 (12.141.71)

अगस्त्येनासुरो जग्धो वातापिः क्षुधितेन वै । अहमापद्गतः क्षुब्धो भक्षयिष्ये श्वजाघनीम् ॥

agastyenāsuro jagdho vātāpiḥ kṣudhitena vai | ahamāpadgataḥ kṣubdho bhakṣayiṣye śvajāghanīm

"Agastya, hungry, ate the asura Vatapi. I too am in calamity and desperate; I shall eat the dog's haunch."

Verse 72 (12.141.72)

भिक्षामन्यामाहरेति न च कर्तुमिहार्हसि । न नूनं कार्यमेतद्वै हर कामं श्वजाघनीम् ॥

bhikṣāmanyāmāhareti na ca kartumihārhasi | na nūnaṃ kāryametadvai hara kāmaṃ śvajāghanīm

"Go and fetch other alms; you should not do this. It is surely not a thing to be done — yet take the dog's haunch if you will."

Verse 73 (12.141.73)

शिष्टा वै कारणं धर्मे तद्वृत्तमनुवर्तये । परां मेध्याशनादेनां भक्ष्यां मन्ये श्वजाघनीम् ॥

śiṣṭā vai kāraṇaṃ dharme tadvṛttamanuvartaye | parāṃ medhyāśanādenāṃ bhakṣyāṃ manye śvajāghanīm

"The worthy are the authority in dharma, and I follow their conduct. I regard this dog's haunch as fit to eat, better even than pure food."

Verse 74 (12.141.74)

असद्भिर्यः समाचीर्णो न स धर्मः सनातनः । अकार्यमिह कार्यं वा मा छलेनाशुभं कृथाः ॥

asadbhiryaḥ samācīrṇo na sa dharmaḥ sanātanaḥ | akāryamiha kāryaṃ vā mā chalenāśubhaṃ kṛthāḥ

"What the wicked have practised is not eternal dharma. Whether it be a thing to be done or not to be done, do not, by sophistry, do what is evil."

Note on the text: Lines = CE 12.139.70a, 12.139.70c (Wikisource अकार्यमिह कार्यं वा मा छलेनाशुभं कृथाः against CE nāvṛttam anukāryaṃ vai mā chalenānṛtaṃ kṛthāḥ is a recension variant of line 2). The alignment did not pair them.

Verse 75 (12.141.75)

न पातकं नावमतमृषिः सन्कर्तुमर्हति । समौ च श्वमृगौ मन्ये तस्माद्भोक्ष्ये श्वजाघनीम् ॥

na pātakaṃ nāvamatamṛṣiḥ sankartumarhati | samau ca śvamṛgau manye tasmādbhokṣye śvajāghanīm

"It is neither a sin nor a thing held in contempt for a sage to do this. I hold the dog and the deer to be alike; therefore I shall eat the dog's haunch."

Verse 76 (12.141.76)

यद्ब्राह्मणार्थे कृतमर्थितेन । तेनर्षिणा तदभक्ष्यं न कामात् । स वै धर्मो यत्र न पापमस्ति । सर्वैरुपायैर्गुरवो हि रक्ष्याः ॥

yadbrāhmaṇārthe kṛtamarthitena | tenarṣiṇā tadabhakṣyaṃ na kāmāt | sa vai dharmo yatra na pāpamasti | sarvairupāyairguravo hi rakṣyāḥ

"What was done for a brahmin's sake, at his request, by that sage was done not out of desire, and so was not forbidden. That is dharma in which there is no sin; and by every means one's elders must be protected."

Note on the text: Corrected कृतमर्थिनेन → कृतमर्थितेन (misprint in Wikisource; CE kṛtam arthitena, and the page's own gloss to this verse presupposes the same). Four lines, as on the page (12-141-76a-d); CE 12.139.72a, 12.139.72c.

Verse 77 (12.141.77)

मित्रं च मे ब्राह्मणस्यायमात्मा । प्रियश्च मे पूज्यतमश्च लोके । तद्भोक्तुकामोऽहमिमां जिहीर्षे । नृशंसानामीदृशानां न विभ्ये ॥

mitraṃ ca me brāhmaṇasyāyamātmā | priyaśca me pūjyatamaśca loke | tadbhoktukāmo'hamimāṃ jihīrṣe | nṛśaṃsānāmīdṛśānāṃ na vibhye

"This body of mine, a brahmin's own self, is my friend, dear to me and the most honoured thing in the world. Wishing to feed it, I mean to take this; I do not fear cruel men such as you."

Verse 78 (12.141.78)

कामं नरा जीवितं संत्यजन्ति । न चाभक्ष्ये क्वचित्कुर्वन्ति बुद्धिम् । सर्वांश्च कामान्प्राप्नुवन्तीति विद्धि । स्वर्गे निवासात्सहते क्षुधां वै ॥

kāmaṃ narā jīvitaṃ saṃtyajanti | na cābhakṣye kvacitkurvanti buddhim | sarvāṃśca kāmānprāpnuvantīti viddhi | svarge nivāsātsahate kṣudhāṃ vai

"Men may readily give up life, yet nowhere do they set their minds on forbidden food; know that they obtain all their desires, for one who bears hunger dwells in heaven."

Note on the text: Four lines, as on the page (12-141-78a-d); CE 12.139.74a, 12.139.74c. The alignment did not pair them. Wikisource स्वर्गे निवासात्सहते क्षुधां वै against CE priyasva kāmaṃ sahitaḥ kṣudhā vai is a recension variant.

Verse 79 (12.141.79)

स्थाने भवेत्स यशः प्रेत्यभावे । निःसंशयः कर्मणां वै विनाशः । अहं पुनर्व्रतनित्यः शमात्मा । मूलं रक्ष्यं भक्षयिष्याम्यभक्ष्यम् ॥

sthāne bhavetsa yaśaḥ pretyabhāve | niḥsaṃśayaḥ karmaṇāṃ vai vināśaḥ | ahaṃ punarvratanityaḥ śamātmā | mūlaṃ rakṣyaṃ bhakṣayiṣyāmyabhakṣyam

"Fame after death may be fitting; but the ruin of one's works is beyond doubt. I, however, ever steadfast in my vows and calm in spirit, will guard my root and eat the uneatable."

Verse 80 (12.141.80)

बुद्ध्यात्मके व्यक्तमस्तीति सृष्टो । मोक्षात्मके त्वं यथा शिष्टचक्षुः । यद्यप्येतत्संशयाच्च त्रपामि । नाहं भविष्यामि यथा न माया ॥

buddhyātmake vyaktamastīti sṛṣṭo | mokṣātmake tvaṃ yathā śiṣṭacakṣuḥ | yadyapyetatsaṃśayācca trapāmi | nāhaṃ bhaviṣyāmi yathā na māyā

"It is plain that this exists in what is of the nature of the intellect, as it was made; whereas you, in what is of the nature of liberation, see as the cultivated do. Even if I feel shame in this out of doubt, I shall not become what I am not, nor act from illusion."

Note on the text: Lines = CE 12.139.76a, 12.139.76c, with many Wikisource variants. The text is obscure; the page's own gloss to 12-141-80 records another reading (बुद्ध्यात्मके व्यक्तमस्तीति पुण्यं मोहात्मके यत्र यथा श्वभक्ष्ये), which resembles the CE star lines 12.139.75d*0355_01-02 and 12.139.76b*0356_01-02. The translation follows the base text and is tentative.

Verse 81 (12.141.81)

गोपनीयमिदं दुःखमिति मे निश्चिता मतिः । दुष्कृतं ब्राह्मणं सन्तं यस्त्वामहमुपालभे ॥

gopanīyamidaṃ duḥkhamiti me niścitā matiḥ | duṣkṛtaṃ brāhmaṇaṃ santaṃ yastvāmahamupālabhe

"My settled view is that this affliction should be kept secret; for I rebuke you, a brahmin though you are, for the ill deed you intend."

Verse 82 (12.141.82)

पिबन्त्येवोदकं गावो मण्डूकेषु रुवत्स्वपि । न तेऽधिकारो धर्मेऽस्ति मा भूरात्मप्रशंसकः ॥

pibantyevodakaṃ gāvo maṇḍūkeṣu ruvatsvapi | na te'dhikāro dharme'sti mā bhūrātmapraśaṃsakaḥ

"Cows go on drinking water even while frogs croak. You have no authority to speak on dharma; do not be a praiser of yourself."

Note on the text: Corrected वा भूरात्मप्रशंसकः → मा भूरात्मप्रशंसकः (misprint in Wikisource; व for म; CE mā bhūr ātmapraśaṃsakaḥ). Lines = CE 12.139.78a, 12.139.78c.

Verse 83 (12.141.83)

सुहृद्भूत्वाऽनुशोचे त्वां कृपा हि त्वयि मे द्विज । तदिदं श्रेय आधत्स्व मा लोभे चेत आदधाः ॥

suhṛdbhūtvā'nuśoce tvāṃ kṛpā hi tvayi me dvija | tadidaṃ śreya ādhatsva mā lobhe ceta ādadhāḥ

"As a friend I grieve for you, brahmin, for I feel compassion for you. So turn to what is best, and do not set your mind on greed."

Verse 84 (12.141.84)

सुहृन्मे त्वं सुखेप्सुश्चेदापदो मां समुद्धर । जानेऽहं धर्मतोऽऽत्मानमुत्सृजेमां श्वजाघनीम् ॥

suhṛnme tvaṃ sukhepsuścedāpado māṃ samuddhara | jāne'haṃ dharmato''tmānamutsṛjemāṃ śvajāghanīm

"If you are my friend and wish me well, lift me out of this calamity. I know myself in accord with dharma: give over this dog's haunch."

Note on the text: Corrected सृहृन्मे → सुहृन्मे (misprint in Wikisource) and जामऽहं → जानेऽहं (misprint; CE jāne 'haṃ). Lines = CE 12.139.80a, 12.139.80c.

Verse 85 (12.141.85)

नैवोत्सहे भवतो दातुमेतां । नोपेक्षितुं ह्रियमाणं स्वमन्नम् । उभौ स्यावः श्वमलेनानुलिप्तौ । दाता चाहं ब्राह्मणस्त्वं प्रतीच्छन् ॥

naivotsahe bhavato dātumetāṃ | nopekṣituṃ hriyamāṇaṃ svamannam | ubhau syāvaḥ śvamalenānuliptau | dātā cāhaṃ brāhmaṇastvaṃ pratīcchan

"I cannot bring myself to give you this, nor to stand by while my own food is carried off. We should both be smeared with the filth of the dog: I the giver, and you, a brahmin, the receiver."

Note on the text: Corrected प्रतीच्छम् → प्रतीच्छन् (misprint in Wikisource; CE pratīcchan, and the page's own gloss to 12-141-85 reads प्रतीच्छन्). Four lines, as on the page; CE 12.139.81a, 12.139.81c.

Verse 86 (12.141.86)

अद्याहमेतद्वृजिनं कर्म कृत्वा । जीवंश्चरिष्यामि महापवित्रम् । संपूतात्मा धर्ममेवाभिपत्स्ये । यदेतयोर्गुरु तद्वै ब्रवीहि ॥

adyāhametadvṛjinaṃ karma kṛtvā | jīvaṃścariṣyāmi mahāpavitram | saṃpūtātmā dharmamevābhipatsye | yadetayorguru tadvai bravīhi

"Having done this sinful deed today, I shall live and practise a great purification; with my self cleansed, I shall embrace dharma alone. Tell me which of the two is weightier."

Note on the text: Corrected वॄजिनं → वृजिनं (misprint in Wikisource; long ॠ for ऋ; CE vṛjinaṃ). Four lines, as on the page; CE 12.139.82a, 12.139.82c.

Verse 87 (12.141.87)

आत्मैव साक्षी किल धर्मकृत्ये । त्वमेव जानासि यदत्र दुष्कृतम् । यो ह्याद्रियाद्भक्ष्यमिति श्वमांसं । मन्ये न तस्यास्ति विवर्जनीयम् ॥

ātmaiva sākṣī kila dharmakṛtye | tvameva jānāsi yadatra duṣkṛtam | yo hyādriyādbhakṣyamiti śvamāṃsaṃ | manye na tasyāsti vivarjanīyam

"The self alone is the witness in acts of dharma; you yourself know what is wrong in this. For one who esteems dog's flesh as food, I think nothing at all is to be avoided."

Verse 88 (12.141.88)

उपधानैः साधते नापि दोषः । कार्ये सिद्धे मित्र नात्रापवादः । अस्मिन्नहिंसा नानृते वाक्यलेशो । भक्ष्यक्रिया यत्र न तद्गरीयः ॥

upadhānaiḥ sādhate nāpi doṣaḥ | kārye siddhe mitra nātrāpavādaḥ | asminnahiṃsā nānṛte vākyaleśo | bhakṣyakriyā yatra na tadgarīyaḥ

"No fault attaches to what is achieved by such means; once the purpose is served, friend, there is no reproach in it. Here there is no violence and not a trace of untruth in speech; an act of eating in which these are absent is not the weightier wrong."

Verse 89 (12.141.89)

यद्येष हेतुस्तव खादने स्या । न्न ते वेदः कारणं नार्यधर्मः । तस्माद्भक्ष्ये भक्षणे वा द्विजेन्द्र । दोषं न पश्यामि यथेदमत्र ॥

yadyeṣa hetustava khādane syā | nna te vedaḥ kāraṇaṃ nāryadharmaḥ | tasmādbhakṣye bhakṣaṇe vā dvijendra | doṣaṃ na paśyāmi yathedamatra

"If this is your reason for eating, then the Veda is no authority for you, nor the dharma of the noble. Therefore, best of the twice-born, I see no fault in eating what is forbidden, as in this case."

Verse 90 (12.141.90)

न पातकं भक्षमाणस्य दृष्टं । सुरां तु पीत्वा पततीति शब्दः । अन्योन्यकार्याणि यथा तथैव । न लेपमात्रेण कृतं हिनस्ति ॥

na pātakaṃ bhakṣamāṇasya dṛṣṭaṃ | surāṃ tu pītvā patatīti śabdaḥ | anyonyakāryāṇi yathā tathaiva | na lepamātreṇa kṛtaṃ hinasti

"No sin is seen in eating; it is only of drinking liquor that the saying goes, 'he falls.' As deeds are distinct from one another, so a mere smear does not destroy what has been done."

Verse 91 (12.141.91)

पादौ मूलं समभवद्वृन्ताकं शिर उच्यते । शेफात्तु गृञ्जरं जातं पलाण्डुस्त्वण्डसंभवः ॥

pādau mūlaṃ samabhavadvṛntākaṃ śira ucyate | śephāttu gṛñjaraṃ jātaṃ palāṇḍustvaṇḍasaṃbhavaḥ

"The radish arose from the feet; the brinjal, they say, is the head; the leek was born of the organ, and the onion arose from the testicles;

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; no CE star passage matches). Removed the stray backtick opening this bracketed interpolation. The page prints it under the speaker heading श्वपच, which is kept; it goes on in verse 92.

Verse 92 (12.141.92)

श्वरोमजः शैव्यशाको लशुनं द्विजसंभवम् । चुक्किनामा पर्णशाकः कर्णादजनि भूसुर ॥

śvaromajaḥ śaivyaśāko laśunaṃ dvijasaṃbhavam | cukkināmā parṇaśākaḥ karṇādajani bhūsura

the shaivya vegetable sprang from the dog's hair, garlic from its teeth, and the leafy vegetable called Chukki was born of its ear, O brahmin."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension; no CE star passage matches). Removed the stray closing quote mark and the doubled daṇḍa after भूसुर.

Verse 93 (12.141.93)

अस्थानतो हीनतः कुत्सिताद्वा । तद्विद्वांसं बाधते साधु वृत्तम् । श्वानं पुनर्यो लभतेऽभिषङ्गा । त्तेनापि दण्डः सहितव्य एव ॥

asthānato hīnataḥ kutsitādvā | tadvidvāṃsaṃ bādhate sādhu vṛttam | śvānaṃ punaryo labhate'bhiṣaṅgā | ttenāpi daṇḍaḥ sahitavya eva

"A learned man of good conduct is harmed by taking from an improper place, from a low source, or from a despised one; and he who gets the dog's flesh by forcible insistence must likewise bear the penalty for it."

Note on the text: Lines = CE 12.139.87a, 12.139.87c with Wikisource variants (the page's own gloss to 12-141-93 records another reading).

Verse 94 (12.141.94)

एवमुक्त्वा निववृते मातङ्गः कौशिकं तदा । विश्वामित्रो जहारैव कृतबुद्धिः श्वजाघनीम् ॥

evamuktvā nivavṛte mātaṅgaḥ kauśikaṃ tadā | viśvāmitro jahāraiva kṛtabuddhiḥ śvajāghanīm

Having said this, the Chandala drew back, and Vishvamitra, his mind made up, took the dog's haunch.

Verse 95 (12.141.95)

ततो जग्राह स श्वाङ्गं जीवितार्थी महामुनिः । सदारस्तामुपाहृत्य वने भोक्तुमियेष सः ॥

tato jagrāha sa śvāṅgaṃ jīvitārthī mahāmuniḥ | sadārastāmupāhṛtya vane bhoktumiyeṣa saḥ

Then the great sage, seeking to live, took up the dog's limb; bringing it along with his wife, he wished to eat it in the forest.

Note on the text: Corrected मियेप → मियेष (misprint in Wikisource; प for ष). Line 1 = CE 12.139.89a, line 2 = CE 12.139.89c (Wikisource जीवितार्थी/श्वाङ्गं … भोक्तुमियेष against CE pañcāṅgīṃ … vane yāto: recension variants).

Verse 96 (12.141.96)

अथास्य बुद्धिरभवद्विधिनाऽहं श्वजाघनीम् । भक्षयामि यथाकालं पूर्वं संतर्प्य देवताः ॥

athāsya buddhirabhavadvidhinā'haṃ śvajāghanīm | bhakṣayāmi yathākālaṃ pūrvaṃ saṃtarpya devatāḥ

Then the thought came to him: "I shall eat the dog's haunch by rule and in due time, having first propitiated the gods."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text: lines 1-2 of the CE star passage 12.139.89d*0357_01-02 (tathāsya buddhir abhavad vidhināhaṃ śvajāghanīm / bhakṣayāmi yathākāmaṃ pūrvaṃ saṃtarpya devatāḥ); Wikisource has अथास्य and यथाकालं. The alignment found no match.

Verse 97 (12.141.97)

ततोऽग्निमुपसंहृत्य ब्राह्मेण विधिना मुनिः । ऐन्द्राग्नेयेन विधिना चरुं श्रपयत स्वयम् ॥

tato'gnimupasaṃhṛtya brāhmeṇa vidhinā muniḥ | aindrāgneyena vidhinā caruṃ śrapayata svayam

Then the sage set up the fire by the Brahma rite and himself cooked an offering of grain by the rite of Indra and Agni.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text: lines 3-4 of the CE star passage 12.139.89d*0357_03-04 (tato 'gnim upasaṃhṛtya brāhmeṇa vidhinā muniḥ / aindrāgneyena vidhinā caruṃ śrapayata svayam). The alignment found no match.

Verse 98 (12.141.98)

ततः समारभत्कर्म दैवं पित्र्यं च भारत । आहूय देवानिन्द्रादीन्भागंभागं विधिक्रमात् ॥

tataḥ samārabhatkarma daivaṃ pitryaṃ ca bhārata | āhūya devānindrādīnbhāgaṃbhāgaṃ vidhikramāt

Then, O Bharata, he began the rites for the gods and the ancestors, calling on the gods, Indra and the rest, and giving each his portion in due order.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text: lines 5-6 of the CE star passage 12.139.89d*0357_05-06 (tataḥ samārabhat karma daivaṃ pitryaṃ ca bhārata / āhūya devān indrādīn bhāgaṃ bhāgaṃ vidhikramāt). The alignment found no match.

Verse 99 (12.141.99)

एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु प्रववर्ष स वासवः । संजीवयन्प्रजाः सर्वा जनयामास चौषधीः ॥

etasminneva kāle tu pravavarṣa sa vāsavaḥ | saṃjīvayanprajāḥ sarvā janayāmāsa cauṣadhīḥ

Just at that moment Indra sent down rain, reviving all creatures and bringing forth the plants.

Verse 100 (12.141.100)

विश्वामित्रोऽपि भगवांस्तपसा दग्धकिल्बिषः । कालेन महता सिद्धिमवाप परमाद्भुताम् ॥

viśvāmitro'pi bhagavāṃstapasā dagdhakilbiṣaḥ | kālena mahatā siddhimavāpa paramādbhutām

And the blessed Vishvamitra too, his sins burned away by austerity, in time attained a wondrous perfection.

Note on the text: Corrected किल्चिषः → किल्बिषः (misprint in Wikisource; CE kilbiṣaḥ). Lines = CE 12.139.91a, 12.139.91c.

Verse 101 (12.141.101)

स संहृत्य च तत्कर्म अनास्वाद्य च तद्धविः । तोषयामास देवांश्च पितॄंश्च द्विजसत्तमः ॥

sa saṃhṛtya ca tatkarma anāsvādya ca taddhaviḥ | toṣayāmāsa devāṃśca pitṝṃśca dvijasattamaḥ

Having completed that rite, without tasting that offering, the best of brahmins satisfied the gods and the ancestors.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text: the CE star passage 12.139.91d*0358_01-02 (sa saṃhṛtya ca tat karma anāsvādya ca tad dhaviḥ / toṣayām āsa devāṃś ca pitṝṃś ca dvijasattamaḥ). The alignment found no match.

Verse 102 (12.141.102)

एवं विद्वानदीनात्मा व्यसनस्थो जिजीविषुः । सर्वोपायैरुपायज्ञो दीनमात्मानमुद्धरेत् ॥

evaṃ vidvānadīnātmā vyasanastho jijīviṣuḥ | sarvopāyairupāyajño dīnamātmānamuddharet

So a wise man, steadfast in spirit, who is in distress and wishes to live, should lift up his sunken self by every means, knowing the means.

Verse 103 (12.141.103)

एतां बुद्धिं समास्थाय जीवितव्यं सदा भवेत् । जीवन्पुण्यमवाप्नोति पुरुषो भद्रमश्नुते ॥

etāṃ buddhiṃ samāsthāya jīvitavyaṃ sadā bhavet | jīvanpuṇyamavāpnoti puruṣo bhadramaśnute

Taking up this resolve, one should always live; living, a man gains merit and sees good fortune.

Verse 104 (12.141.104)

तस्मात्कौन्तेय विदुषा धर्माधर्मविनिश्चये । बुद्धिमास्थाय लोकेऽस्मिन्वर्तितव्यं कृतात्मना ॥

tasmātkaunteya viduṣā dharmādharmaviniścaye | buddhimāsthāya loke'sminvartitavyaṃ kṛtātmanā

Therefore, son of Kunti, a learned man of disciplined self, when deciding between dharma and adharma, should rely on his own understanding and conduct himself accordingly in this world.