Jajali's Pride and the Voice from the Sky

Verse 1 (12.267.1)

अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् । तुलाधारस्य वाक्यानि धर्मे जाजलिना सह ॥

atrāpyudāharantīmamitihāsaṃ purātanam | tulādhārasya vākyāni dharme jājalinā saha

On this subject they recount an ancient tale: the words of Tuladhara to Jajali about dharma.

Verse 2 (12.267.2)

वने वनचरः कश्चिज्जाजलिर्नाम वै द्विजः । सागरोद्देशमागम्य तपस्तेपे महातपाः ॥

vane vanacaraḥ kaścijjājalirnāma vai dvijaḥ | sāgaroddeśamāgamya tapastepe mahātapāḥ

There was a brahmin named Jajali who lived in the forest. Coming to the shore of the ocean, that man of great austerity practised tapas.

Verse 3 (12.267.3)

नियतो नियताहारश्चीराजिनजटाधरः । मलपङ्कधरो धीमान्बहून्वर्षगणान्मुनिः ॥

niyato niyatāhāraścīrājinajaṭādharaḥ | malapaṅkadharo dhīmānbahūnvarṣagaṇānmuniḥ

Self-controlled and restrained in his food, wearing bark, a deerskin and matted locks, and bearing dirt and mud on his body, that wise sage continued so for many years.

Verse 4 (12.267.4)

स कदाचिन्महातेजा जलवासो महीपते । चचार लोकान्विप्रर्षिः प्रेक्षमाणो मनोजवः ॥

sa kadācinmahātejā jalavāso mahīpate | cacāra lokānviprarṣiḥ prekṣamāṇo manojavaḥ

Once, O lord of the earth, that greatly radiant brahmin sage, living in the water, moved through the worlds, looking about him, swift as thought.

Verse 5 (12.267.5)

स चिन्तयामास मुनिर्जलमध्ये कदाचन । विप्रेक्ष्य सागरान्तां वै महीं सवनकाननाम् ॥

sa cintayāmāsa munirjalamadhye kadācana | viprekṣya sāgarāntāṃ vai mahīṃ savanakānanām

Once, in the midst of the water, the sage looked out over the earth, with its forests and groves, bounded by the sea, and he fell to thinking.

Verse 6 (12.267.6)

न मया सदृशोऽस्तीह लोके स्थावरजङ्गमे । अप्सु वैहायसं गच्छेन्मया योऽन्यः सहेति वै ॥

na mayā sadṛśo'stīha loke sthāvarajaṅgame | apsu vaihāyasaṃ gacchenmayā yo'nyaḥ saheti vai

"In this world of moving and unmoving things there is no one here equal to me. What other being could travel with me through the waters and the sky?"

Verse 7 (12.267.7)

स दृश्यमानो रक्षोभिर्जलमध्ये च भारत । आस्फोटयत्तदाऽऽकाशे धर्मः प्राप्तो मयेति वै ॥

sa dṛśyamāno rakṣobhirjalamadhye ca bhārata | āsphoṭayattadā''kāśe dharmaḥ prāpto mayeti vai

When the rakshasas saw him in the midst of the water, O Bharata, he slapped his arms in the sky and cried, "I have attained dharma!"

Note on the text: Line 1 corresponds to CE 12.253.7a (Wikisource जलमध्ये च भारत against CE jalamadhye 'vadat tataḥ). Line 2 (आस्फोटयत्तदाऽऽकाशे धर्मः प्राप्तो मयेति वै) has no counterpart at this place in the critical edition (it is vulgate-only here, and repeats the second line of verse 41).

Verse 8 (12.267.8)

अब्रुवंश्च पिशाचास्तं नैवं त्वं वक्तुमर्हसि । तुलाधारो वणिग्धर्मा वाराणस्यां महायशाः । सोऽप्येवं नार्हते वक्तुं यथा त्वं द्विजसत्तम ॥

abruvaṃśca piśācāstaṃ naivaṃ tvaṃ vaktumarhasi | tulādhāro vaṇigdharmā vārāṇasyāṃ mahāyaśāḥ | so'pyevaṃ nārhate vaktuṃ yathā tvaṃ dvijasattama

The pishachas said to him: "You ought not to speak so. Tuladhara of Varanasi, a trader by dharma and of great fame, does not presume to speak as you do, best of brahmins."

Note on the text: Three-line verse, as on the page (12-267-8a,b,c): line 1 = CE 12.253.7c (abruvaṃś ca piśācās taṃ naivaṃ tvaṃ vaktum arhasi), lines 2-3 = CE 12.253.8 (tulādhāro vaṇigdharmā vārāṇasyāṃ mahāyaśāḥ / so 'py evaṃ nārhate vaktuṃ yathā tvaṃ dvijasattama). The alignment found no match because of this regrouping. Speaker: the pishachas' speech is reported inside Bhishma's narration.

Verse 9 (12.267.9)

इत्युक्तो जाजलिर्भूतैः प्रत्युवाच महातपाः । पश्येयं तमहं प्राज्ञं तुलाधारं यशस्विनम् ॥

ityukto jājalirbhūtaiḥ pratyuvāca mahātapāḥ | paśyeyaṃ tamahaṃ prājñaṃ tulādhāraṃ yaśasvinam

Told this by the beings, the greatly austere Jajali replied, "I would see that wise and renowned Tuladhara."

Verse 10 (12.267.10)

इति ब्रुवाणं तमृषिं रक्षांस्युत्थाय सागरात् । अब्रुवन्गच्छ पन्थानमास्थायेमं द्विजोत्तम ॥

iti bruvāṇaṃ tamṛṣiṃ rakṣāṃsyutthāya sāgarāt | abruvangaccha panthānamāsthāyemaṃ dvijottama

As the sage said this, the rakshasas rose from the sea and told him, "Take this road and go, best of brahmins."

Note on the text: Corrected द्विजोत्तम् → द्विजोत्तम (misprint in Wikisource; final consonant of the vocative dropped its vowel; CE dvijottama).

Verse 11 (12.267.11)

इत्युक्तो जाजलिर्भूतैर्जगाम विमनास्तदा । वाराणस्यां तुलाधारं समासाद्याब्रवीदिदम् ॥

ityukto jājalirbhūtairjagāma vimanāstadā | vārāṇasyāṃ tulādhāraṃ samāsādyābravīdidam

Told so by the beings, Jajali went off dejected. Reaching Tuladhara in Varanasi, he spoke to him as follows.

Verse 12 (12.267.12)

किं कृतं दुष्करं तात कर्म जाजलिना पुरा । येन सिद्धिं परां प्राप्तस्तन्मे व्याख्यातुमर्हसि ॥

kiṃ kṛtaṃ duṣkaraṃ tāta karma jājalinā purā | yena siddhiṃ parāṃ prāptastanme vyākhyātumarhasi

What hard deed did Jajali perform in the past, father, by which he reached the highest perfection? Please explain that to me.

Note on the text: The page prints this verse under a युधिष्ठिर उवाच heading.

Verse 13 (12.267.13)

अतीव तपसा युक्तो घोरेण स बभूव ह । नद्युपस्पर्शनपरः सायंप्रातर्महातपाः ॥

atīva tapasā yukto ghoreṇa sa babhūva ha | nadyupasparśanaparaḥ sāyaṃprātarmahātapāḥ

He was exceedingly devoted to a terrible austerity, that great ascetic, bathing in the rivers at dusk and at dawn.

Verse 14 (12.267.14)

अग्नीन्परिचरन्सम्यक्स्वाध्यायपरमो द्विजः । वानप्रस्थविधानज्ञो जाजलिर्ज्वलितः श्रिया ॥

agnīnparicaransamyaksvādhyāyaparamo dvijaḥ | vānaprasthavidhānajño jājalirjvalitaḥ śriyā

That brahmin tended the sacred fires rightly and gave himself above all to Vedic recitation. Versed in the rules of a forest-dweller, Jajali shone with splendour.

Note on the text: Corrected वानप्रस्थ विधानज्ञो → वानप्रस्थविधानज्ञो (misprint in Wikisource; a stray space splits the compound; CE vānaprasthavidhānajño).

Verse 15 (12.267.15)

वने तपस्यतिष्ठत्स न चाधर्ममवैक्षत । वर्षास्वाकाशशायी च हेमन्ते जलसंश्रयः ॥

vane tapasyatiṣṭhatsa na cādharmamavaikṣata | varṣāsvākāśaśāyī ca hemante jalasaṃśrayaḥ

He remained at his austerities in the forest and saw no wrong in them. In the rains he slept under the open sky; in winter he lived in water;

Verse 16 (12.267.16)

वातातपसहो ग्रीष्मे न चाधर्ममविन्दत । दुःखशय्याश्च विविधा भूमौ च परिवर्तनम् ॥

vātātapasaho grīṣme na cādharmamavindata | duḥkhaśayyāśca vividhā bhūmau ca parivartanam

in summer he bore wind and sun, and he found no wrong in that either. He endured many kinds of painful beds, and rolling on the bare ground.

Verse 17 (12.267.17)

ततः कदाचित्स मुनिर्वर्षास्वाकाशमास्थितः । अन्तरिक्षाज्जलं मूर्ध्ना प्रत्यगृह्णान्मुहुर्मुहुः ॥

tataḥ kadācitsa munirvarṣāsvākāśamāsthitaḥ | antarikṣājjalaṃ mūrdhnā pratyagṛhṇānmuhurmuhuḥ

Then once, in the rainy season, the sage stood in the open air and received the water from the sky on his head again and again.

Note on the text: Corrected मूर्ध्नां → मूर्ध्ना (misprint in Wikisource; genitive plural makes no sense with "received on the head"; CE mūrdhnā).

Verse 18 (12.267.18)

आप्लुतस्य जटाः क्लिन्ना बभूवुर्ग्रथिताः प्रभो । अरण्यगमनान्नित्यं मलिनोऽमलसंयुतः ॥

āplutasya jaṭāḥ klinnā babhūvurgrathitāḥ prabho | araṇyagamanānnityaṃ malino'malasaṃyutaḥ

Drenched, O lord, his matted locks grew sodden and tangled. Always going about in the wilderness, he was soiled, yet he was untouched by sin.

Note on the text: Line 1 matches the CE star passage 12.253.18b*0703_01 (klinnā babhūvur grathitā āplutasya jaṭāḥ prabho); line 2 is CE 12.253.18c.

Verse 19 (12.267.19)

स कदाचिन्निराहारो वायुभक्षो महातपाः । तस्थौ काष्ठवदव्यग्रो न चचाल च कर्हिचित् ॥

sa kadācinnirāhāro vāyubhakṣo mahātapāḥ | tasthau kāṣṭhavadavyagro na cacāla ca karhicit

Once, taking no food and living on air alone, that great ascetic stood unmoving as a log of wood, steady, and never stirred.

Verse 20 (12.267.20)

तस्य स्म स्थाणुभूतस्य निर्विचेष्टस्य भारत । कुलिङ्गशकुनौ राजन्नीडं शिरसि चक्रतुः ॥

tasya sma sthāṇubhūtasya nirviceṣṭasya bhārata | kuliṅgaśakunau rājannīḍaṃ śirasi cakratuḥ

As he stood like a post, motionless, O Bharata, a pair of sparrows, O king, made a nest on his head.

Verse 21 (12.267.21)

स तौ दयावान्ब्रह्मर्षिरुपप्रैक्षत दंपती । कुर्वाणौ नीडकं तत्र जटासु तृणतन्तुभिः ॥

sa tau dayāvānbrahmarṣirupapraikṣata daṃpatī | kurvāṇau nīḍakaṃ tatra jaṭāsu tṛṇatantubhiḥ

That compassionate brahmin sage saw the pair building their nest in his matted hair with blades of grass and fibres, and let them be.

Verse 22 (12.267.22)

यदा न स चलत्येव स्थाणुभूतो महातपाः । ततस्तौ सुखविश्वस्तौ सुखं तत्रोषतुस्तदा ॥

yadā na sa calatyeva sthāṇubhūto mahātapāḥ | tatastau sukhaviśvastau sukhaṃ tatroṣatustadā

Since that great ascetic did not move at all, but stood like a post, the two lived there happily and at ease, trusting him.

Verse 23 (12.267.23)

अतीतास्वथ वर्षासु शरत्काल उपस्थिते । प्राजापत्येन विधिना विश्वासात्काममोहितौ ॥

atītāsvatha varṣāsu śaratkāla upasthite | prājāpatyena vidhinā viśvāsātkāmamohitau

When the rains had passed and autumn came, the two, trusting him and bewildered by desire, followed the way of procreation ordained by Prajapati.

Verse 24 (12.267.24)

तत्रोत्पादयतां राजञ्शिरस्यण्डानि खेचरौ । तान्यबुध्यत तेजस्वी स विप्रः संशितव्रतः ॥

tatrotpādayatāṃ rājañśirasyaṇḍāni khecarau | tānyabudhyata tejasvī sa vipraḥ saṃśitavrataḥ

There, on his head, O king, the two birds laid eggs. The radiant brahmin of firm vows knew of the eggs.

Verse 25 (12.267.25)

बुद्ध्वा च स महातेजा न चचाल च जाजलिः । धर्मे कृतमना नित्यं नाधर्मं स त्वरोचयत् ॥

buddhvā ca sa mahātejā na cacāla ca jājaliḥ | dharme kṛtamanā nityaṃ nādharmaṃ sa tvarocayat

Knowing this, the greatly radiant Jajali did not stir. His mind was ever set on dharma, and he did not approve of adharma.

Verse 26 (12.267.26)

अहन्यहनि चागत्य ततस्तौ तस्य मूर्धनि । आश्वासितौ निवसतः संप्रहृष्टौ तदा विभौ ॥

ahanyahani cāgatya tatastau tasya mūrdhani | āśvāsitau nivasataḥ saṃprahṛṣṭau tadā vibhau

Day after day the two came to him and lived on his head, reassured and very happy, O mighty one.

Verse 27 (12.267.27)

अण्डेभ्यस्त्वथ पुष्टेभ्यः प्राजायन्त शकुन्तकाः । व्यवर्धन्त च तत्रैव न चाकम्पत जाजलिः ॥

aṇḍebhyastvatha puṣṭebhyaḥ prājāyanta śakuntakāḥ | vyavardhanta ca tatraiva na cākampata jājaliḥ

Then, when the eggs had matured, young birds were born from them and grew up right there, and Jajali did not shake.

Verse 28 (12.267.28)

स रक्षमाणस्त्वण्डानि कुलिङ्गानां धृतव्रतः । तथैव तस्थौ धर्मात्मा निर्विचेष्टः समाहितः ॥

sa rakṣamāṇastvaṇḍāni kuliṅgānāṃ dhṛtavrataḥ | tathaiva tasthau dharmātmā nirviceṣṭaḥ samāhitaḥ

Guarding the eggs of the sparrows, firm in his vow, that righteous man stayed just as he was, motionless and composed.

Note on the text: Removed a stray zero-width joiner inside त्वण्डानि.

Verse 29 (12.267.29)

ततस्तु काले राजेन्द्र बभूवुस्तेऽथ पक्षिणः । बुबुधे तांस्तु स मुनिर्जातपक्षान्कुलिङ्गकान् ॥

tatastu kāle rājendra babhūvuste'tha pakṣiṇaḥ | bubudhe tāṃstu sa munirjātapakṣānkuliṅgakān

Then, in due time, O best of kings, they became birds, and the sage knew that the young sparrows had grown wings.

Verse 30 (12.267.30)

ततः कदाचित्तांस्तत्र पश्यन्पक्षीन्यतव्रतः । बभूव परमप्रीतस्तदा मतिमतां वरः ॥

tataḥ kadācittāṃstatra paśyanpakṣīnyatavrataḥ | babhūva paramaprītastadā matimatāṃ varaḥ

Then once, seeing the birds there, that man of controlled vows, best of the wise, was filled with great joy.

Verse 31 (12.267.31)

तथा तानभिसंवृद्धान्दृष्ट्वा चैवाप्तवान्मुदम् । शकुनौ निर्भयौ तत्र ऊषतुश्चात्मजैः सह ॥

tathā tānabhisaṃvṛddhāndṛṣṭvā caivāptavānmudam | śakunau nirbhayau tatra ūṣatuścātmajaiḥ saha

Seeing them grown up, he felt delight, and the two birds, fearless, lived there with their children.

Verse 32 (12.267.32)

जातपक्षांश्च सोऽपश्यदुड्डीनान्पुनरागतान् । सायंसायं द्विजान्विप्रो न चाकम्पत जाजलिः ॥

jātapakṣāṃśca so'paśyaduḍḍīnānpunarāgatān | sāyaṃsāyaṃ dvijānvipro na cākampata jājaliḥ

He saw the fledged young fly off and come back again, evening after evening, and the brahmin Jajali did not stir.

Verse 33 (12.267.33)

कदाचित्पुनरभ्येत्य पुनर्गच्छन्ति संततम् । त्यक्ता मातापितृभ्यां ते न चाकम्पत जाजलिः ॥

kadācitpunarabhyetya punargacchanti saṃtatam | tyaktā mātāpitṛbhyāṃ te na cākampata jājaliḥ

Sometimes they would come back and go away again, over and over, left to themselves by their mother and father; and Jajali did not stir.

Note on the text: Corrected नचाकम्पत → न चाकम्पत (misprint in Wikisource; words run together; CE na cākampata).

Verse 34 (12.267.34)

तथा ते दिवसं चापि गत्वा सायं पुनर्नृप । उपावर्तन्त तत्रैव निवासार्थं शकुन्तकाः ॥

tathā te divasaṃ cāpi gatvā sāyaṃ punarnṛpa | upāvartanta tatraiva nivāsārthaṃ śakuntakāḥ

In the same way, O king, those young birds would go off for the day and return in the evening to the same place to spend the night.

Verse 35 (12.267.35)

कदाचिद्दिवसान्पञ्च समुत्पत्य विहगमाः । षष्ठेऽहनि समाजग्मुर्न चाकम्पत जाजलिः ॥

kadāciddivasānpañca samutpatya vihagamāḥ | ṣaṣṭhe'hani samājagmurna cākampata jājaliḥ

Once the birds flew off for five days and returned on the sixth day; and Jajali did not stir.

Verse 36 (12.267.36)

क्रमेण च पुनः सर्वे दिवसान्सुबहूनथ । नोपावर्तन्त शकुना जातपक्षाश्च ते यदा ॥

krameṇa ca punaḥ sarve divasānsubahūnatha | nopāvartanta śakunā jātapakṣāśca te yadā

Then, little by little, all those birds, now fully fledged, stayed away for very many days and did not come back.

Verse 37 (12.267.37)

कदाचिन्मासमात्रेण समुत्पत्य विहंगमाः । नैवागच्छंस्ततो राजन्प्रातिष्ठत स जाजलिः ॥

kadācinmāsamātreṇa samutpatya vihaṃgamāḥ | naivāgacchaṃstato rājanprātiṣṭhata sa jājaliḥ

Once, after flying off for a full month, the birds did not return at all, O king, and Jajali set out.

Verse 38 (12.267.38)

ततस्तेषु प्रलीनेषु जाजलिर्जातविस्मयः । सिद्धोऽस्मीति मतिं चक्रे ततस्तं मान आविशत् ॥

tatasteṣu pralīneṣu jājalirjātavismayaḥ | siddho'smīti matiṃ cakre tatastaṃ māna āviśat

When they had all vanished, Jajali was full of wonder. He thought, "I have attained perfection," and pride took hold of him.

Note on the text: Corrected सिद्धोस्मीति → सिद्धोऽस्मीति (misprint in Wikisource; avagraha dropped; CE siddho 'smīti).

Verse 39 (12.267.39)

स तथा निर्गतान्दृष्ट्वा शकुन्तान्नियतव्रतः । संभावितात्मा संभाव्य भृशं प्रीतस्तदाऽभवत् ॥

sa tathā nirgatāndṛṣṭvā śakuntānniyatavrataḥ | saṃbhāvitātmā saṃbhāvya bhṛśaṃ prītastadā'bhavat

Seeing the young birds gone out into the world, that man of firm vows, well pleased with himself, thought well of what he had done and was greatly delighted.

Verse 40 (12.267.40)

स नद्यां समुपस्पृश्य तर्पयित्वा हुताशनम् । उदयन्तमथादित्यमभ्यागच्छन्महातपाः ॥

sa nadyāṃ samupaspṛśya tarpayitvā hutāśanam | udayantamathādityamabhyāgacchanmahātapāḥ

He bathed in the river, made offering to the fire, and then, that great ascetic, went to meet the rising sun.

Verse 41 (12.267.41)

संभाव्य चटकान्मूर्ध्नि जाजलिर्जपतांवरः । आस्फोटयत्तथाऽऽकाशे धर्मः प्राप्तो मयेति वै ॥

saṃbhāvya caṭakānmūrdhni jājalirjapatāṃvaraḥ | āsphoṭayattathā''kāśe dharmaḥ prāpto mayeti vai

Having nurtured the sparrows on his head, Jajali, best of those who mutter prayers, slapped his arms in the sky and cried, "I have attained dharma!"

Verse 42 (12.267.42)

अथान्तरिक्षे वागासीत्तां च शुश्राव जाजलिः । धर्मेण न समस्त्वं वै तुलाधारस्य जाजले ॥

athāntarikṣe vāgāsīttāṃ ca śuśrāva jājaliḥ | dharmeṇa na samastvaṃ vai tulādhārasya jājale

Then a voice sounded in the sky, and Jajali heard it: "In dharma you are not the equal of Tuladhara, Jajali.

Note on the text: Speaker: line 1 is Bhishma's narration; the voice from the sky begins in line 2 (धर्मेण न समस्त्वं वै …) and continues through the next verse.

Verse 43 (12.267.43)

वाराणस्यां महाप्राज्ञस्तुलाधारः प्रतिष्ठितः । सोऽप्येवं नार्हते वक्तुं यथा त्वं भाषसे द्विज ॥

vārāṇasyāṃ mahāprājñastulādhāraḥ pratiṣṭhitaḥ | so'pyevaṃ nārhate vaktuṃ yathā tvaṃ bhāṣase dvija

In Varanasi lives the greatly wise Tuladhara. Even he would not say what you say, brahmin."

Note on the text: Speaker: the whole verse is the voice from the sky, which speaks (from line 2 of the previous verse) without a printed heading; the page leaves it under Bhishma.

Verse 44 (12.267.44)

सोऽमर्षवशमापन्नस्तुलाधारदिदृक्षया । पृथिवीमचरद्राजन्यत्रसायंगृहो मुनिः ॥

so'marṣavaśamāpannastulādhāradidṛkṣayā | pṛthivīmacaradrājanyatrasāyaṃgṛho muniḥ

Overcome by indignation and wishing to see Tuladhara, the sage wandered the earth, making his home wherever evening found him.

Note on the text: Corrected सोमर्षवश → सोऽमर्षवश (misprint in Wikisource; सोम- is not meant; the sense is so 'marṣa-vaśam, as in CE so 'marṣavaśam āpannaḥ).

Verse 45 (12.267.45)

कालेन महताऽगच्छत्स तु वाराणसीं पुरीम् । विक्रीणन्तं च पण्यानि तुलाधारं ददर्श सः ॥

kālena mahatā'gacchatsa tu vārāṇasīṃ purīm | vikrīṇantaṃ ca paṇyāni tulādhāraṃ dadarśa saḥ

After a long time he came to the city of Varanasi, and there he saw Tuladhara selling his wares.

Verse 46 (12.267.46)

सोऽपि दृष्ट्वैव तं विप्रमायान्तं भाण्डजीवनः । समुत्थाय सुसंहृष्टः स्वागतेनाभ्यपूजयत् ॥

so'pi dṛṣṭvaiva taṃ vipramāyāntaṃ bhāṇḍajīvanaḥ | samutthāya susaṃhṛṣṭaḥ svāgatenābhyapūjayat

Seeing the brahmin approach, that man who lived by trade rose up in great delight and honoured him with a welcome.

Verse 47 (12.267.47)

आयानेवासि विदितो मम ब्रह्मन्न संशयः । ब्रवीमि यत्तु वचनं तच्छृणुष्व द्विजोत्तम ॥

āyānevāsi vidito mama brahmanna saṃśayaḥ | bravīmi yattu vacanaṃ tacchṛṇuṣva dvijottama

"I knew you were coming, brahmin, without a doubt. Hear what I have to say to you, best of brahmins.

Note on the text: The page prints a तुलाधार उवाच heading here; Tuladhara speaks to the end of the adhyaya.

Verse 48 (12.267.48)

सागरानूपमाश्रित्य तपस्तप्तं त्वया महत् । न च धर्मस्य संज्ञां त्वं पुरा वेत्थ कथंचन ॥

sāgarānūpamāśritya tapastaptaṃ tvayā mahat | na ca dharmasya saṃjñāṃ tvaṃ purā vettha kathaṃcana

You practised great austerity by the sea-shore, yet at that time you did not know dharma even by name.

Verse 49 (12.267.49)

ततः सिद्धस्य तपसा तव विप्र शकुन्तकाः । क्षिप्रं शिरस्यजायन्त ते च संभावितास्त्वया ॥

tataḥ siddhasya tapasā tava vipra śakuntakāḥ | kṣipraṃ śirasyajāyanta te ca saṃbhāvitāstvayā

Then, through the austerity of you who had become perfected, brahmin, sparrows were quickly born on your head, and you cherished them.

Verse 50 (12.267.50)

जातपक्षा यदा ते च गताः संचरितुं ततः । मन्यमानस्ततो धर्मं चटकप्रभवं द्विज । खे वाचं त्वमथाश्रौषीर्मां प्रति द्विजसत्तम ॥

jātapakṣā yadā te ca gatāḥ saṃcarituṃ tataḥ | manyamānastato dharmaṃ caṭakaprabhavaṃ dvija | khe vācaṃ tvamathāśrauṣīrmāṃ prati dvijasattama

When the fledged birds had gone off to roam, you, thinking that dharma had sprung from the sparrows, heard a voice in the sky concerning me, best of brahmins.

Note on the text: Corrected गता संचरितुं → गताः संचरितुं (misprint in Wikisource; visarga dropped; the subject is ते (plural)). Corrected वाचां त्वम → वाचं त्वम (misprint in Wikisource; accusative singular, object of अश्रौषीः; CE vācaṃ). Three-line verse, as on the page (12-267-50a,b,c): CE 12.253.50a, 50c, 50e.

Verse 51 (12.267.51)

अमर्षवशमापन्नस्ततः प्राप्तो भवानिह । करवाणि प्रियं किं ते तद्ब्रूहि द्विजसत्तम ॥

amarṣavaśamāpannastataḥ prāpto bhavāniha | karavāṇi priyaṃ kiṃ te tadbrūhi dvijasattama

Overcome by indignation, you then came here. What can I do that would please you? Tell me, best of brahmins."