The Python's Way: Prahlada and the Sage

Verse 1 (12.177.1)

केन वृत्तेन वृत्तज्ञ वीतशोकश्चरेन्महीम् । किंच कुर्वन्नरो लोके प्राप्नोति गतिमुत्तमाम् ॥

kena vṛttena vṛttajña vītaśokaścarenmahīm | kiṃca kurvannaro loke prāpnoti gatimuttamām

O knower of right conduct, by what way of life may a man move over the earth free from sorrow? And by doing what does a man in this world reach the highest goal?

Note on the text: Line 2 differs from the CE, which reads prāpnoti paramāṃ gatim; Wikisource's गतिमुत्तमाम् is a recension variant, kept.

Verse 2 (12.177.2)

अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् । प्रह्लादस्य च संवादं मुनेराजगरस्य च ॥

atrāpyudāharantīmamitihāsaṃ purātanam | prahlādasya ca saṃvādaṃ munerājagarasya ca

On this subject they tell an ancient tale: the conversation between Prahlada and the sage who lived the way of the python.

Verse 3 (12.177.3)

चरन्तं ब्राह्मणं कंचित्कल्यचित्तमनामयम् । पप्रच्छ राजा प्रह्लादो बुद्धिमान्प्राज्ञसत्तमः ॥

carantaṃ brāhmaṇaṃ kaṃcitkalyacittamanāmayam | papraccha rājā prahlādo buddhimānprājñasattamaḥ

A certain brahmin was wandering about, clear in mind and free from affliction. The wise King Prahlada, best of the discerning, questioned him.

Verse 4 (12.177.4)

स्वस्थः शक्तो मृदुर्दान्तो निर्विधित्सोऽनसूयकः । सुवाग्बहुमतो लोके प्राज्ञश्चरसि बालवत् ॥

svasthaḥ śakto mṛdurdānto nirvidhitso'nasūyakaḥ | suvāgbahumato loke prājñaścarasi bālavat

You are healthy, capable, gentle and self-controlled, free of any scheme to undertake anything, and free of envy; you speak well, are honoured in the world and are wise, and yet you go about like a child.

Verse 5 (12.177.5)

नैव प्रार्थयसे लाभं नालाभेष्वनुशोचसि । नित्यतृप्त इव ब्रह्मन्न किंचिदिव मन्यसे ॥

naiva prārthayase lābhaṃ nālābheṣvanuśocasi | nityatṛpta iva brahmanna kiṃcidiva manyase

You do not seek gain, nor do you grieve over loss. O brahmin, like one ever content, you seem to count nothing as of any account.

Verse 6 (12.177.6)

स्रोतसा ह्रियमाणासु प्रजासु विमना इव । धर्मकामार्थकार्येषु कूटस्थ इव लक्ष्यसे ॥

srotasā hriyamāṇāsu prajāsu vimanā iva | dharmakāmārthakāryeṣu kūṭastha iva lakṣyase

While people are being swept away by the current, you seem detached; amid the pursuits of duty, desire and wealth you appear unmoved, like one standing apart.

Verse 7 (12.177.7)

नानुतिष्ठसि धर्मार्थौ न कामे चापि वर्तसे । इन्द्रियार्थाननादृत्य मुक्तश्चरसि साक्षिवत् ॥

nānutiṣṭhasi dharmārthau na kāme cāpi vartase | indriyārthānanādṛtya muktaścarasi sākṣivat

You do not practise duty and wealth, nor do you engage in desire; disregarding the objects of the senses, you go about free, like a mere witness.

Verse 8 (12.177.8)

का नु प्रज्ञा श्रुतं वा किं वृत्तिर्वा का नु ते मुने । क्षिप्रमाचक्ष्व मे ब्रह्मञ्श्रेयो यदिह मन्यसे ॥

kā nu prajñā śrutaṃ vā kiṃ vṛttirvā kā nu te mune | kṣipramācakṣva me brahmañśreyo yadiha manyase

What is your wisdom, sage? What is your learning, and what your way of life? Tell me quickly, O brahmin, what you consider the highest good here.

Verse 9 (12.177.9)

अनुयुक्तः स मेधावी लोकधर्मविधानवित् । उवाच श्लक्ष्णया वाचा प्रह्लादमनपार्थया ॥

anuyuktaḥ sa medhāvī lokadharmavidhānavit | uvāca ślakṣṇayā vācā prahlādamanapārthayā

Thus questioned, that man of insight, who understood how the world's ways are ordered, spoke to Prahlada in gentle and fitting words.

Verse 10 (12.177.10)

पश्य प्रह्लाद भूतानामुत्पत्तिमनिमित्ततः । ह्रासं वृद्धिं विनाशं च न प्रहृष्ये न च व्यथे ॥

paśya prahlāda bhūtānāmutpattimanimittataḥ | hrāsaṃ vṛddhiṃ vināśaṃ ca na prahṛṣye na ca vyathe

See, Prahlada, how beings arise from no apparent cause, and how they decline, grow and perish; I neither rejoice nor grieve at it.

Note on the text: Speaker supplied: the sage's reply. The page prints Bhishma's heading (12-177-9x) over the narrating verse 9 and no heading after it; the sage's speech runs unheaded from here to verse 36, and Bhishma's heading (12-177-37x) resumes at verse 37.

Verse 11 (12.177.11)

स्वभावादेव संदृश्या वर्तमानाः प्रवृत्तयः । स्वभावनिरताः सर्वाः प्रतिपाद्या न केनचित् ॥

svabhāvādeva saṃdṛśyā vartamānāḥ pravṛttayaḥ | svabhāvaniratāḥ sarvāḥ pratipādyā na kenacit

These activities are seen to go on by nature alone; all creatures are devoted to their own nature, and none can be turned from it by anyone.

Verse 12 (12.177.12)

पश्य प्रह्लाद संयोगान्विप्रयोगपरायणान् । संचयांश्च विनाशान्तान्न क्वचिद्विदधे मनः ॥

paśya prahlāda saṃyogānviprayogaparāyaṇān | saṃcayāṃśca vināśāntānna kvacidvidadhe manaḥ

See, Prahlada, how unions end in separation and accumulations end in destruction; therefore I set my mind on nothing anywhere.

Verse 13 (12.177.13)

अन्तवन्ति च भूतानि गुणयुक्तानि पश्यतः । उत्पत्तिनिधनज्ञस्य किं पर्यायेणोपलक्षये ॥

antavanti ca bhūtāni guṇayuktāni paśyataḥ | utpattinidhanajñasya kiṃ paryāyeṇopalakṣaye

I see that beings are finite and bound to the qualities, and I know their birth and death; why should I take note of them one by one?

Note on the text: Line 2 differs from the CE (kiṃ kāryam avaśiṣyate); Wikisource's किं पर्यायेणोपलक्षये is a recension variant, kept.

Verse 14 (12.177.14)

जलजानामपि ह्यन्तं पर्यायेणोपलक्षये । महतामपि कायानां सूक्ष्माणां च महोदधौ ॥

jalajānāmapi hyantaṃ paryāyeṇopalakṣaye | mahatāmapi kāyānāṃ sūkṣmāṇāṃ ca mahodadhau

I see in turn the end even of the creatures born in water, of great bodies and of tiny ones in the great ocean.

Verse 15 (12.177.15)

जङ्गमस्थावराणां च भूतानामसुराधिप । पार्थिवानामपि व्यक्तं मृत्युं पश्यामि सर्वशः ॥

jaṅgamasthāvarāṇāṃ ca bhūtānāmasurādhipa | pārthivānāmapi vyaktaṃ mṛtyuṃ paśyāmi sarvaśaḥ

Of moving and unmoving beings, O lord of the asuras, and of all who dwell on the earth, I see death plainly on every side.

Verse 16 (12.177.16)

अन्तरिक्षचराणां च दानवोत्तमपक्षिणाम् । उत्तिष्ठते यथाकालं मृत्युर्बलवतामपि ॥

antarikṣacarāṇāṃ ca dānavottamapakṣiṇām | uttiṣṭhate yathākālaṃ mṛtyurbalavatāmapi

Among creatures that move through the sky, O best of the Danavas, among the birds, death rises up in due time, even against the mighty.

Verse 17 (12.177.17)

दिवि संचरमाणानि ह्रस्वानि च महान्ति च । ज्योतींष्यपि यथाकालं पतमानानि लक्षये ॥

divi saṃcaramāṇāni hrasvāni ca mahānti ca | jyotīṃṣyapi yathākālaṃ patamānāni lakṣaye

I see the lights that travel in the heavens, small and great, fall in due time.

Verse 18 (12.177.18)

इति भूतानि संपश्यन्ननुषक्तानि मृत्युना । सर्वं सामान्यतो विद्वान्कृतकृत्यः सुखं स्वपे ॥

iti bhūtāni saṃpaśyannanuṣaktāni mṛtyunā | sarvaṃ sāmānyato vidvānkṛtakṛtyaḥ sukhaṃ svape

Thus, seeing all beings bound to death and regarding all alike, I sleep happily, wise and with my task done.

Verse 19 (12.177.19)

सुमहान्तमपि ग्रासं ग्रसे लब्धं यदृच्छया । शये पुनरभुञ्जानो दिवसानि बहून्यपि ॥

sumahāntamapi grāsaṃ grase labdhaṃ yadṛcchayā | śaye punarabhuñjāno divasāni bahūnyapi

When I get a very great mouthful by chance, I eat it; and again I lie down without eating for many days.

Verse 20 (12.177.20)

आशयन्त्यपि मामन्नं पुनर्बहुगुणं बहु । पुनरल्पं पुनस्तोकं पुनर्नैवोपपद्यते ॥

āśayantyapi māmannaṃ punarbahuguṇaṃ bahu | punaralpaṃ punastokaṃ punarnaivopapadyate

Sometimes people feed me with food, abundant and rich in good qualities; sometimes with little, sometimes with a mere morsel, and sometimes none comes at all.

Verse 21 (12.177.21)

कणं कदाचित्खादामि पिण्याकमपि च ग्रसे । भक्षये शालिमांसानि भक्षांश्चोच्चावचान्पुनः ॥

kaṇaṃ kadācitkhādāmi piṇyākamapi ca grase | bhakṣaye śālimāṃsāni bhakṣāṃścoccāvacānpunaḥ

At times I eat grains, at times I eat oil-cake; I eat rice and meats, and various foods, fine and coarse, besides.

Verse 22 (12.177.22)

शये कदाचित्पर्यङ्के भूमावपि पुनः शये । प्रासादे चापि मे शय्या कदाचिदुपपद्यते ॥

śaye kadācitparyaṅke bhūmāvapi punaḥ śaye | prāsāde cāpi me śayyā kadācidupapadyate

At times I sleep on a couch, and again at times on the bare ground; and sometimes a bed in a palace falls to my lot.

Verse 23 (12.177.23)

धारयामि च चीराणि शाणक्षौमाजिनानि च । महार्हाणि च वासांसि धारयाम्यहमेकदा ॥

dhārayāmi ca cīrāṇi śāṇakṣaumājināni ca | mahārhāṇi ca vāsāṃsi dhārayāmyahamekadā

I wear rags, hempen cloth, linen and deerskins; and at another time I wear costly garments.

Verse 24 (12.177.24)

न सन्निपतितं धर्म्यमुपभोगं यदृच्छया । प्रत्याचक्षे न चाप्येनमनुरुध्ये सुदुर्लभम् ॥

na sannipatitaṃ dharmyamupabhogaṃ yadṛcchayā | pratyācakṣe na cāpyenamanurudhye sudurlabham

Whatever lawful enjoyment comes my way by chance, I do not refuse it; nor do I run after it when it is hard to get.

Verse 25 (12.177.25)

अचलमनिधनं शिवं विशोकं । शुचिमतुलं विदुषां मते प्रविष्टम् । अनभिमतमसेवितं विमूढै । र्व्रतमिदमाजगरं शुचिश्चरामि ॥

acalamanidhanaṃ śivaṃ viśokaṃ | śucimatulaṃ viduṣāṃ mate praviṣṭam | anabhimatamasevitaṃ vimūḍhai | rvratamidamājagaraṃ śuciścarāmi

Unshaking, endless, auspicious, free from sorrow, pure, incomparable, entered upon by those held to be wise, unesteemed and unpractised by the deluded: this python vow I follow in purity.

Note on the text: Four-line verse, as on the page (12-177-25a-d); so are verses 26-36. Wikisource's प्रविष्टम् and विमूढै र्व्रतम् (the line break falls inside the sandhi र्) differ from the CE's niviṣṭam, ca mūḍhair; variants, kept.

Verse 26 (12.177.26)

अचलितमतिरच्युतः स्वधर्मा । त्परिमितसंसरणः परावरज्ञः । विगतभयकषायलोभमोहो । व्रतमिदमाजगरं शुचिश्चरामि ॥

acalitamatiracyutaḥ svadharmā | tparimitasaṃsaraṇaḥ parāvarajñaḥ | vigatabhayakaṣāyalobhamoho | vratamidamājagaraṃ śuciścarāmi

With mind unshaken, never fallen from my own duty, my wanderings limited, knowing the high and the low, free from fear, passion, greed and delusion: this python vow I follow in purity.

Verse 27 (12.177.27)

अनियतफलभक्ष्यभोज्यपेयं । विधिपरिणामविभक्तदेशकालम् । हृदयसुखमसेवितं कदर्यै । र्व्रतमिदमाजगरं शुचिश्चरामि ॥

aniyataphalabhakṣyabhojyapeyaṃ | vidhipariṇāmavibhaktadeśakālam | hṛdayasukhamasevitaṃ kadaryai | rvratamidamājagaraṃ śuciścarāmi

Where fruits, foods and drinks are not fixed, where place and time are apportioned by the working out of fate, which pleases the heart and is unpractised by the miserly: this python vow I follow in purity.

Note on the text: Corrected सुचिश्चरामि → शुचिश्चरामि (misprint in Wikisource; स for श in the refrain; CE śuciś carāmi).

Verse 28 (12.177.28)

इदमिदमिति तृष्णयाऽभिभूतं । जनमनवाप्तधनं विषीदमानम् । निपुणमनुनिशाम्य तत्त्वबुद्ध्या । व्रतमिदमाजगरं शुचिश्चरामि ॥

idamidamiti tṛṣṇayā'bhibhūtaṃ | janamanavāptadhanaṃ viṣīdamānam | nipuṇamanuniśāmya tattvabuddhyā | vratamidamājagaraṃ śuciścarāmi

Having observed with true insight how people, overcome by craving, say ‘this, this’ and sink in despair when they do not win wealth, I follow this python vow in purity.

Verse 29 (12.177.29)

बहुविधमनुदृश्य चार्थहेतोः । कृपणमिहार्यमनार्यमाश्रयं तम् । उपशमरुचिरात्मवान्प्रशान्तो । व्रतमिदमाजगरं शुचिश्चरामि ॥

bahuvidhamanudṛśya cārthahetoḥ | kṛpaṇamihāryamanāryamāśrayaṃ tam | upaśamarucirātmavānpraśānto | vratamidamājagaraṃ śuciścarāmi

Having seen how, for the sake of wealth, the wretched man here resorts in many ways to a noble or an ignoble patron, I, delighting in tranquillity, self-possessed and calm, follow this python vow in purity.

Verse 30 (12.177.30)

सुखमसुखमलाभमर्थलाभं । रतिमरतिं मरणं च जीवितं च । विधिनियतमवेक्ष्य तत्त्वतोऽहं । व्रतमिदमाजगरं शुचिश्चरामि ॥

sukhamasukhamalābhamarthalābhaṃ | ratimaratiṃ maraṇaṃ ca jīvitaṃ ca | vidhiniyatamavekṣya tattvato'haṃ | vratamidamājagaraṃ śuciścarāmi

Happiness and unhappiness, lack of gain and gain of wealth, pleasure and displeasure, death and life: seeing all these truly as fixed by destiny, I follow this python vow in purity.

Verse 31 (12.177.31)

अपगतभयरागमोहदर्पो । धृतिमतिबुद्धिसमन्वितः प्रशान्तः । उपगतफलभोगिनो निशाम्य । व्रतमिदमाजगरं शुचिश्चरामि ॥

apagatabhayarāgamohadarpo | dhṛtimatibuddhisamanvitaḥ praśāntaḥ | upagataphalabhogino niśāmya | vratamidamājagaraṃ śuciścarāmi

Free from fear, passion, delusion and pride, endowed with steadiness, discernment and resolve, and calm, having observed the serpents that enjoy only what comes to them, I follow this python vow in purity.

Verse 32 (12.177.32)

अनियतशयनासनः प्रकृत्या । दमनियमव्रतसत्यशौचयुक्तः । अपगतफलसंचयः प्रहृष्टो । व्रतमिदमाजगरं शुचिश्चरामि ॥

aniyataśayanāsanaḥ prakṛtyā | damaniyamavratasatyaśaucayuktaḥ | apagataphalasaṃcayaḥ prahṛṣṭo | vratamidamājagaraṃ śuciścarāmi

By nature without fixed bed or seat, endowed with self-control, observances, vows, truth and purity, with no store of fruits, and cheerful, I follow this python vow in purity.

Verse 33 (12.177.33)

अपगतमसुखार्थमीहनार्थै । रुपगतबुद्धिरवेक्ष्य चात्मसंस्थम् । तृषितमनियतं मनो नियन्तुं । व्रतमिदमाजगरं शुचिश्चरामि ॥

apagatamasukhārthamīhanārthai | rupagatabuddhiravekṣya cātmasaṃstham | tṛṣitamaniyataṃ mano niyantuṃ | vratamidamājagaraṃ śuciścarāmi

Turned away from the pursuits that lead only to unhappiness, with understanding gained and abiding in the self, I follow this python vow in purity, in order to restrain the thirsty, unsteady mind.

Note on the text: Corrected तृपितमनियतं → तृषितमनियतं (misprint in Wikisource; प for ष, which would mean 'satiated'; CE tṛṣitam aniyataṃ, and the page's own footnote reads तृषित). Line 1 (अपगतम्, उपगतबुद्धिः) differs from the CE (abhigatam), a recension variant, kept.

Verse 34 (12.177.34)

न हृदयमनुरुध्यते मनो वा । प्रियसुखदुर्लभतामनित्यतां च । तदुभयमुपलक्षयन्निवाहं । व्रतमिदमाजगरं शुचिश्चरामि ॥

na hṛdayamanurudhyate mano vā | priyasukhadurlabhatāmanityatāṃ ca | tadubhayamupalakṣayannivāhaṃ | vratamidamājagaraṃ śuciścarāmi

Neither my heart nor my mind is drawn after the rarity of what is dear and pleasant, nor after its impermanence; keeping both in view, as it were, I follow this python vow in purity.

Verse 35 (12.177.35)

बहु कथितमिदं हि बुद्धिमद्भिः । कविभिरपि प्रथयद्भिरात्मकीर्तिम् । इदमिदमिति तत्रतत्र हन्त । स्वपरमतैर्गहनं प्रतर्कयद्भिः ॥

bahu kathitamidaṃ hi buddhimadbhiḥ | kavibhirapi prathayadbhirātmakīrtim | idamidamiti tatratatra hanta | svaparamatairgahanaṃ pratarkayadbhiḥ

Much has been said on this by the wise and by poets spreading their own fame, who, each saying ‘this, this’ here and there, probe the deep matter by their own and others' doctrines.

Verse 36 (12.177.36)

तदिदमनुनिशाम्य विप्रपातं । पृथगभिपन्नमिहाबुधैर्मनुष्यैः । अनवसितमनन्तदोषपारं । नृषु विहरामि विनीतदोषतृष्णः ॥

tadidamanuniśāmya viprapātaṃ | pṛthagabhipannamihābudhairmanuṣyaiḥ | anavasitamanantadoṣapāraṃ | nṛṣu viharāmi vinītadoṣatṛṣṇaḥ

Having reflected on this straying, which the unwise among men have each embraced in their own way, endless and with no limit to its faults, I move among men with my faults and thirst subdued.

Note on the text: Corrected नृपु → नृषु (misprint in Wikisource; प for ष; CE nṛṣu). Wikisource's तदिदमनुनिशाम्य विप्रपातं and विनीतदोषतृष्णः differ from the CE's tad aham anuniśāmya viprayātaṃ and vinītaroṣatṛṣṇaḥ; recension variants, kept.

Verse 37 (12.177.37)

अजगरचरितं व्रतं महात्मा । य इह नरोऽनुचरेद्विनीतरागः । अपगतभयलोभमोहमन्युः । स खलु सुखी विचरेदिमं विहारम् ॥

ajagaracaritaṃ vrataṃ mahātmā | ya iha naro'nucaredvinītarāgaḥ | apagatabhayalobhamohamanyuḥ | sa khalu sukhī vicaredimaṃ vihāram

The great-souled man here who, with passion subdued, follows the python's way of life as a vow, free from fear, greed, delusion and anger, will truly roam happily in this manner of living.

Note on the text: Line 3 differs from the CE in word order (apagatabhayamanyulobhamohaḥ); a recension variant, kept.