Kundadhara and the Brahmin Who Wanted Wealth

Verse 1 (12.277.1)

धर्ममर्थं च कामं च वेदाः शंसन्ति भारत । कस्य लाभो विशिष्टोऽत्र तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह ॥

dharmamarthaṃ ca kāmaṃ ca vedāḥ śaṃsanti bhārata | kasya lābho viśiṣṭo'tra tanme brūhi pitāmaha

The Vedas praise dharma, wealth and desire, O Bharata. Which of them is the best to obtain? Tell me that, grandfather.

Verse 2 (12.277.2)

अत्र ते वर्तयिष्यामि इतिहासं पुरातनम् । कुण्डधारेण यत्प्रीत्या भक्तायोपकृतं पुरा ॥

atra te vartayiṣyāmi itihāsaṃ purātanam | kuṇḍadhāreṇa yatprītyā bhaktāyopakṛtaṃ purā

On this I shall tell you an ancient tale: what Kundadhara, out of affection, once did for a devotee of his.

Verse 3 (12.277.3)

अधनो ब्राह्मणः कश्चित्कामाद्धनमवैक्षत । यज्ञार्थं सततोऽर्थार्थी तपोऽतप्यत दारुणम् ॥

adhano brāhmaṇaḥ kaścitkāmāddhanamavaikṣata | yajñārthaṃ satato'rthārthī tapo'tapyata dāruṇam

There was a certain poor Brahmin who, out of desire, set his mind on wealth; constantly seeking riches for the sake of sacrifice, he practised terrible austerity.

Verse 4 (12.277.4)

स निश्चयमथो कृत्वा पूजयामास देवताः । भक्त्या न चैवाध्यगच्छद्धनं संपूज्य देवताः ॥

sa niścayamatho kṛtvā pūjayāmāsa devatāḥ | bhaktyā na caivādhyagacchaddhanaṃ saṃpūjya devatāḥ

Having made up his mind, he worshipped the gods; but though he honoured the gods with devotion, he did not obtain wealth.

Verse 5 (12.277.5)

ततश्चिन्तामनुप्राप्तः कतमद्दैवतं तु तत् । यन्मे द्रुतं प्रसीदेत मानुषैरजडीकृतम् ॥

tataścintāmanuprāptaḥ katamaddaivataṃ tu tat | yanme drutaṃ prasīdeta mānuṣairajaḍīkṛtam

Then he fell into worry: "Which deity is it that would quickly be pleased with me, one whom men have not made sluggish?"

Verse 6 (12.277.6)

सोऽथ सौम्येन मनसा देवानुचरमन्तिके । प्रत्यपश्यज्जलधरं कुण्डधारमवस्थितम् ॥

so'tha saumyena manasā devānucaramantike | pratyapaśyajjaladharaṃ kuṇḍadhāramavasthitam

Then, with a gentle mind, he saw standing near him an attendant of the gods, the cloud-bearer Kundadhara.

Verse 7 (12.277.7)

दृष्ट्वैव तं महाबाहुं तस्य भक्तिरजायत । अयं मे धास्यति श्रेयो वपुरेतद्धि तादृशम् ॥

dṛṣṭvaiva taṃ mahābāhuṃ tasya bhaktirajāyata | ayaṃ me dhāsyati śreyo vapuretaddhi tādṛśam

Seeing him, mighty-armed as he was, devotion arose in him: "He will bestow good on me; his very form is such."

Verse 8 (12.277.8)

संनिकृष्टश्च देवस्य न चान्यैर्मानुषैर्वृतः । एष मे दास्यति धनं प्रभूतं शीघ्रमेव च ॥

saṃnikṛṣṭaśca devasya na cānyairmānuṣairvṛtaḥ | eṣa me dāsyati dhanaṃ prabhūtaṃ śīghrameva ca

"He stands close to the god and is not surrounded by other men. He will give me abundant wealth, and soon."

Verse 9 (12.277.9)

ततो धूपैश्च गन्धैश्च माल्यैरुच्चावचैरपि । बलिभिर्विविधाभिश्च पूजयामास तं द्विजः ॥

tato dhūpaiśca gandhaiśca mālyairuccāvacairapi | balibhirvividhābhiśca pūjayāmāsa taṃ dvijaḥ

Then the Brahmin worshipped him with incense, perfumes, garlands of many kinds, and various offerings.

Verse 10 (12.277.10)

ततस्त्वल्पेन कालेन तुष्टो जलधरस्तदा । तस्योपकारनियतामिमां वाचमुवाच ह ॥

tatastvalpena kālena tuṣṭo jaladharastadā | tasyopakāraniyatāmimāṃ vācamuvāca ha

After a short while the cloud-bearer was pleased, and, intent on repaying his service, spoke these words.

Verse 11 (12.277.11)

ब्रह्मघ्ने च सुरापे च चोरे भग्नव्रते तथा । निष्कृतिर्विहिता सद्भिः कृतघ्ने नास्ति निष्कृतिः ॥

brahmaghne ca surāpe ca core bhagnavrate tathā | niṣkṛtirvihitā sadbhiḥ kṛtaghne nāsti niṣkṛtiḥ

For one who kills a Brahmin, a drinker of liquor, a thief, one who has broken his vow, the good have laid down atonement; for the ungrateful there is no atonement.

Note on the text: No speaker heading is printed here: verse 10 says the cloud-bearer "spoke these words", and this verse is those words, so it is given to Kundadhara (the input carried over Bhishma).

Verse 12 (12.277.12)

आशायास्तनयोऽधर्मः क्रोधोऽसूयासुतः स्मृतः । लोभः पुत्रो निकृत्यास्तु कृतघ्नो नार्हति प्रजां ॥

āśāyāstanayo'dharmaḥ krodho'sūyāsutaḥ smṛtaḥ | lobhaḥ putro nikṛtyāstu kṛtaghno nārhati prajāṃ

Adharma is the son of Hope; Anger is called the son of Envy; Greed is the son of Deceit; the ungrateful man deserves no offspring.

Note on the text: No speaker heading is printed here: this verse continues the words Kundadhara speaks in verse 11, so it is given to Kundadhara (the input carried over Bhishma).

Verse 13 (12.277.13)

ततः स ब्राह्मणः स्वप्ने कुण्डधारस्य तेजसा । अपश्यत्सर्वभूतानि कुशेषु शयितस्तदा ॥

tataḥ sa brāhmaṇaḥ svapne kuṇḍadhārasya tejasā | apaśyatsarvabhūtāni kuśeṣu śayitastadā

Then, in a dream, by the power of Kundadhara, that Brahmin, lying on kusha grass, saw all beings.

Verse 14 (12.277.14)

शमेन तपसा चैव भक्त्या च निरुपस्कृतः । शुद्धात्मा ब्राह्मणो रात्रौ निदर्शनमपश्यत ॥

śamena tapasā caiva bhaktyā ca nirupaskṛtaḥ | śuddhātmā brāhmaṇo rātrau nidarśanamapaśyata

Pure in spirit and stripped of every comfort, through tranquillity, austerity and devotion, that Brahmin saw a vision in the night.

Verse 15 (12.277.15)

मणिभद्रं स तत्रस्थं देवतानां महाद्युतिम् । अपश्यत महात्मानं व्यादिशन्तं युधिष्ठिर ॥

maṇibhadraṃ sa tatrasthaṃ devatānāṃ mahādyutim | apaśyata mahātmānaṃ vyādiśantaṃ yudhiṣṭhira

He saw the great and radiant Manibhadra, seated there among the gods, giving out directions, O Yudhishthira.

Verse 16 (12.277.16)

तत्र देवाः प्रयच्छन्ति राज्यानि च धनानि च । शुभैः कर्मभिरारब्धाः प्रच्छिदन्त्यशुभेषु च ॥

tatra devāḥ prayacchanti rājyāni ca dhanāni ca | śubhaiḥ karmabhirārabdhāḥ pracchidantyaśubheṣu ca

There the gods grant kingdoms and riches to those who begin with good deeds, and when evil deeds appear they take them away again.

Verse 17 (12.277.17)

पश्यतामथ यक्षाणां कुण्डधारो महाद्युतिः । निष्पत्य पतितो भूमौ देवानां भरतर्षभ ॥

paśyatāmatha yakṣāṇāṃ kuṇḍadhāro mahādyutiḥ | niṣpatya patito bhūmau devānāṃ bharatarṣabha

As the yakshas looked on, the radiant Kundadhara rushed forth and fell to the ground before the gods, O best of the Bharatas.

Note on the text: Corrected यक्षाणं → यक्षाणां (misprint in Wikisource; anusvara for the genitive plural ending -ām; CE yakṣāṇām).

Verse 18 (12.277.18)

ततस्तु देववचनान्मणिभद्रो महामनाः । उवाच पतितं भूमौ कुण्डधार किमिच्छसि ॥

tatastu devavacanānmaṇibhadro mahāmanāḥ | uvāca patitaṃ bhūmau kuṇḍadhāra kimicchasi

Then, at the gods' command, the high-minded Manibhadra said to Kundadhara, fallen on the ground, "Kundadhara, what do you wish?"

Verse 19 (12.277.19)

यदि प्रसन्ना देवा मे भक्तोऽयं ब्राह्मणो मम । अस्यानुग्रहमिच्छामि कृतं किंचित्सुखोदयम् ॥

yadi prasannā devā me bhakto'yaṃ brāhmaṇo mama | asyānugrahamicchāmi kṛtaṃ kiṃcitsukhodayam

"If the gods are pleased with me: this Brahmin is my devotee. I wish to show him a favour, something done that brings some measure of happiness."

Verse 20 (12.277.20)

ततस्तं मणिभद्रस्तु पुनर्वचनमब्रवीत् । देवानामेव वचनात्कुण्डधारं महाद्युतिम् ॥

tatastaṃ maṇibhadrastu punarvacanamabravīt | devānāmeva vacanātkuṇḍadhāraṃ mahādyutim

Then Manibhadra spoke to him again, at the very word of the gods, to the radiant Kundadhara.

Note on the text: Corrected माहद्युतिम् → महाद्युतिम् (misprint in Wikisource; dropped/mis-vowelled akshara; CE mahādyutim). Speaker corrected: the verse is narration (Manibhadra "spoke again"), not Kundadhara's speech; the input carried over the कुण्डधार heading printed before verse 19.

Verse 21 (12.277.21)

उत्तिष्ठोत्तिष्ठ भद्रं ते कृतकृत्यः सुखी भव । धनार्थी यदि विप्रोऽयं धनमस्मै प्रदीयताम् ॥

uttiṣṭhottiṣṭha bhadraṃ te kṛtakṛtyaḥ sukhī bhava | dhanārthī yadi vipro'yaṃ dhanamasmai pradīyatām

"Rise, rise! May you prosper. Your task is done; be happy. If this Brahmin wants wealth, let wealth be given to him."

Note on the text: Speaker corrected: Manibhadra speaks here (the words follow the narration of verse 20 and answer Kundadhara); no heading is printed, and the input carried over Kundadhara. Not marked in the alignment. Line 1 = CE 12.263.21a (Wikisource कृतकृत्यः for CE kṛtakāryaḥ, kept as a variant); line 2 = the CE star passage 12.263.21b*0717_01 (dhanārthī yadi vipro 'yaṃ dhanam asmai pradīyatām), which is not in the CE's constituted text.

Verse 22 (12.277.22)

यावद्धनं प्रार्थयते ब्राह्मणोऽयं सखा तव । देवानां शासनात्तावदसङ्ख्येयं ददाम्यहम् ॥

yāvaddhanaṃ prārthayate brāhmaṇo'yaṃ sakhā tava | devānāṃ śāsanāttāvadasaṅkhyeyaṃ dadāmyaham

"However much wealth this Brahmin asks for, since he is your friend, I shall give him without limit, by the gods' command."

Note on the text: Corrected सथा तव → सखा तव (misprint in Wikisource; ख dropped/mis-read as थ; CE sakhā tava). Speaker corrected: Manibhadra speaks here (continuing verse 21); the input carried over Kundadhara. Not marked in the alignment. Line 1 = CE 12.263.21c; line 2 = CE 12.263.21e.

Verse 23 (12.277.23)

विचार्य कुण्डधारस्तु मानुष्यं चलमध्रुवम् । तपसो मतिमाधत्त ब्राह्मणस्य यशस्विनः ॥

vicārya kuṇḍadhārastu mānuṣyaṃ calamadhruvam | tapaso matimādhatta brāhmaṇasya yaśasvinaḥ

But Kundadhara, reflecting that human life is unsteady and uncertain, set the mind of that renowned Brahmin on austerity.

Note on the text: Speaker corrected: the verse is narration, not Kundadhara's speech; the input carried over the कुण्डधार heading.

Verse 24 (12.277.24)

नाहं धनानि याचामि ब्राह्मणाय धनप्रद । अन्यमेवाहमिच्छामि भक्तायानुग्रहं कृतम् ॥

nāhaṃ dhanāni yācāmi brāhmaṇāya dhanaprada | anyamevāhamicchāmi bhaktāyānugrahaṃ kṛtam

"I do not ask for wealth for the Brahmin, O giver of wealth. I wish a different favour done for my devotee."

Verse 25 (12.277.25)

पृथिवीं रत्नपूर्णां वा महद्वा रत्नसंचयम् । भक्ताय नाहमिच्छामि भवेदेष तु धार्मिकः ॥

pṛthivīṃ ratnapūrṇāṃ vā mahadvā ratnasaṃcayam | bhaktāya nāhamicchāmi bhavedeṣa tu dhārmikaḥ

"I do not wish for my devotee an earth full of jewels or a great heap of treasure; let him be righteous."

Note on the text: Corrected नाहमिच्छमि → नाहमिच्छामि (misprint in Wikisource; long ā dropped; the verb is इच्छामि, CE icchāmi).

Verse 26 (12.277.26)

धर्मेऽस्य रमतां बुद्धिर्धर्मं चैवोपजीवतु । धर्मप्रधानो भवतु ममैषोऽनुग्रहो मतः ॥

dharme'sya ramatāṃ buddhirdharmaṃ caivopajīvatu | dharmapradhāno bhavatu mamaiṣo'nugraho mataḥ

"Let his mind delight in dharma, and let him live by dharma. Let him hold dharma foremost: this is the favour I intend."

Verse 27 (12.277.27)

सदा धर्मफलं राज्यं सुखानि विविधानि च । फलान्येवायमश्नातु कायक्लेशविवर्जितः ॥

sadā dharmaphalaṃ rājyaṃ sukhāni vividhāni ca | phalānyevāyamaśnātu kāyakleśavivarjitaḥ

"Kingship is always the fruit of dharma, and so are pleasures of many kinds; let him enjoy just those fruits, free of bodily toil."

Verse 28 (12.277.28)

ततस्तदेव बहुशः कुण्डधारो महायशाः । अभ्यासमकरोद्धर्मे ततस्तुष्टास्तु देवताः ॥

tatastadeva bahuśaḥ kuṇḍadhāro mahāyaśāḥ | abhyāsamakaroddharme tatastuṣṭāstu devatāḥ

Then Kundadhara, of great fame, practised that very thing again and again in dharma, and the gods were pleased.

Verse 29 (12.277.29)

प्रीतास्ते देवताः सर्वा द्विजस्यास्य तथैव च । भविष्यत्येष धर्मात्मा धर्मे चाधास्यते मतिः ॥

prītāste devatāḥ sarvā dvijasyāsya tathaiva ca | bhaviṣyatyeṣa dharmātmā dharme cādhāsyate matiḥ

"All those gods are pleased, and so are they with this twice-born man as well. He will be a righteous soul, and his mind will rest in dharma."

Note on the text: Corrected चाधरस्यते → चाधास्यते (misprint in Wikisource; र extra; not a word; CE cādhāsyate (future of ā-dhā: "will be placed")).

Verse 30 (12.277.30)

ततः प्रीतो जलधरः कृतकार्यो युधिष्ठिर । ईप्सितं मनसो लब्ध्वा वरमन्यैः सुदुर्लभम् ॥

tataḥ prīto jaladharaḥ kṛtakāryo yudhiṣṭhira | īpsitaṃ manaso labdhvā varamanyaiḥ sudurlabham

Then the cloud-bearer, pleased, his task accomplished, O Yudhishthira, had won the wish of his heart, a boon hard for others to gain.

Verse 31 (12.277.31)

ततोऽपश्यत चीराणि सूक्ष्माणि द्विजसत्तमः । पार्श्वतोऽभ्याशतो न्यस्तान्यथ निर्वेदमागतः ॥

tato'paśyata cīrāṇi sūkṣmāṇi dvijasattamaḥ | pārśvato'bhyāśato nyastānyatha nirvedamāgataḥ

Then the best of the twice-born saw slender strips of cloth lying close beside him, and was seized with disenchantment.

Note on the text: Corrected सूक्ष्मणि → सूक्ष्माणि (misprint in Wikisource; long ā dropped; CE sūkṣmāṇi).

Verse 32 (12.277.32)

अयं न सुकृतं वेत्ति को न्वन्यो वेत्स्यते कृतम् । गच्छामि वनमेवाहं परं धर्मेण जीवितुम् ॥

ayaṃ na sukṛtaṃ vetti ko nvanyo vetsyate kṛtam | gacchāmi vanamevāhaṃ paraṃ dharmeṇa jīvitum

"This one does not recognise what has been well done; who else, then, will know what I have done? I shall go to the forest, to live by dharma instead."

Verse 33 (12.277.33)

निर्वेदाद्देवतानां च प्रसादात्स द्विजोत्तमः । वनं प्रविश्य सुमहत्तप आरब्धवांस्तदा ॥

nirvedāddevatānāṃ ca prasādātsa dvijottamaḥ | vanaṃ praviśya sumahattapa ārabdhavāṃstadā

Out of disenchantment, and by the grace of the gods, that best of Brahmins entered the forest and began very great austerity.

Verse 34 (12.277.34)

देवतातिथिशेषेण फलमूलाशनो द्विजः । धर्मे चास्य महाराज दृढा बुद्धिरजायत ॥

devatātithiśeṣeṇa phalamūlāśano dvijaḥ | dharme cāsya mahārāja dṛḍhā buddhirajāyata

Living on fruits and roots, on what was left over after the gods and guests, that Brahmin found, O great king, a firm resolve arise in him for dharma.

Verse 35 (12.277.35)

त्यक्त्वा मूलफलं सर्वं पर्णाहारोऽभवद्द्विजः । पर्णं त्यक्त्वा जलाहारः पुनरासीद्द्विजस्तदा ॥

tyaktvā mūlaphalaṃ sarvaṃ parṇāhāro'bhavaddvijaḥ | parṇaṃ tyaktvā jalāhāraḥ punarāsīddvijastadā

Giving up all roots and fruits, the Brahmin lived on leaves; giving up leaves, he lived then on water.

Verse 36 (12.277.36)

वायुभक्षस्ततः पश्चाद्बहून्वर्षगणानभूत् । न चास्य क्षीयते प्राणस्तदद्भुतमिवाभवत् ॥

vāyubhakṣastataḥ paścādbahūnvarṣagaṇānabhūt | na cāsya kṣīyate prāṇastadadbhutamivābhavat

After that he lived on air for many years; and his life did not wane, which seemed a marvel.

Verse 37 (12.277.37)

धर्मे च श्रद्दधानस्य तपस्युग्रे च वर्ततः । कालेन महता तस्य दिव्या दृष्टिरजायत ॥

dharme ca śraddadhānasya tapasyugre ca vartataḥ | kālena mahatā tasya divyā dṛṣṭirajāyata

Faithful in dharma and fixed in severe austerity, after a long time divine sight arose in him.

Verse 38 (12.277.38)

तस्य बुद्धिः प्रादुरासीद्यदि दद्यामहं धनम् । तुष्टः कस्यचिदेवेह मिथ्या वाङ्न भवेन्मम ॥

tasya buddhiḥ prādurāsīdyadi dadyāmahaṃ dhanam | tuṣṭaḥ kasyacideveha mithyā vāṅna bhavenmama

A thought came to him: "If, pleased with someone here, I were to give wealth, my word would not prove false."

Note on the text: Corrected वाङ्ग भवेन्मम → वाङ्न भवेन्मम (misprint in Wikisource; ग for न; the sense needs the negative, as in verse 40 न मिथ्या वाग्भवेन्मम and CE na mithyā vāg bhaven mama).

Verse 39 (12.277.39)

ततः प्रहृष्टवदनो भूय आरब्धवांस्तपः । भूयश्चाचिन्तयत्सिद्धो यत्परं सोऽभिमन्यते ॥

tataḥ prahṛṣṭavadano bhūya ārabdhavāṃstapaḥ | bhūyaścācintayatsiddho yatparaṃ so'bhimanyate

Then, with a joyful face, he took up austerity again; and again, as a perfected man, he considered what he regarded as higher still.

Verse 40 (12.277.40)

यदि दद्यामहं राज्यं तुष्टो वै यस्य कस्यचित् । स भवेदचिराद्राजा न मिथ्या वाग्भवेन्मम ॥

yadi dadyāmahaṃ rājyaṃ tuṣṭo vai yasya kasyacit | sa bhavedacirādrājā na mithyā vāgbhavenmama

"If, pleased with anyone at all, I were to give a kingdom, he would become a king before long; my word will not prove false."

Verse 41 (12.277.41)

तस्य साक्षात्कुण्डधारो दर्शयामास भारत । ब्राह्मणस्य तपोयोगात्सौहृदेनाभिचोदितः ॥

tasya sākṣātkuṇḍadhāro darśayāmāsa bhārata | brāhmaṇasya tapoyogātsauhṛdenābhicoditaḥ

To him, O Bharata, Kundadhara appeared in person, moved by friendship and by the Brahmin's austerity.

Verse 42 (12.277.42)

समागम्य स तेनाथ पूजां चक्रे यथाविधि । ब्राह्मणः कुण्डधारस्य विस्मितश्चाभवन्नृप ॥

samāgamya sa tenātha pūjāṃ cakre yathāvidhi | brāhmaṇaḥ kuṇḍadhārasya vismitaścābhavannṛpa

The Brahmin met him and worshipped him according to the rule, and was filled with wonder, O king.

Verse 43 (12.277.43)

ततोऽब्रवीत्कुण्डधारो दिव्यं ते चक्षुरुत्तमम् । पश्य राज्ञां गतिं विप्र लोकांश्चैव तु चक्षुषा ॥

tato'bravītkuṇḍadhāro divyaṃ te cakṣuruttamam | paśya rājñāṃ gatiṃ vipra lokāṃścaiva tu cakṣuṣā

Then Kundadhara said, "Your eye is divine and excellent; see with it the fate of kings, O Brahmin, and the worlds as well."

Verse 44 (12.277.44)

ततो राजसहस्राणि मग्नानि निरये तदा । दूरादपश्यद्विप्रः स दिव्ययुक्तेन चक्षुषा ॥

tato rājasahasrāṇi magnāni niraye tadā | dūrādapaśyadvipraḥ sa divyayuktena cakṣuṣā

Then from afar, with the divine eye, the Brahmin saw thousands of kings sunk in hell.

Verse 45 (12.277.45)

मां पूजयित्वा भावेन यदि त्वं दुःखमाप्नुयाः । कृतं मया भवेत्किं ते कश्च तेऽनुग्रहो भवेत् ॥

māṃ pūjayitvā bhāvena yadi tvaṃ duḥkhamāpnuyāḥ | kṛtaṃ mayā bhavetkiṃ te kaśca te'nugraho bhavet

"If, after worshipping me with devotion, you were to meet with sorrow, what would I have done for you, and what favour would it be to you?"

Verse 46 (12.277.46)

पश्यपश्य च भूयस्त्वं कामानिच्छेत्कथं नरः । स्वर्गद्वारं हि संरुद्धं मानुषेषु विशेषतः ॥

paśyapaśya ca bhūyastvaṃ kāmānicchetkathaṃ naraḥ | svargadvāraṃ hi saṃruddhaṃ mānuṣeṣu viśeṣataḥ

"Look, look again: how could a man desire pleasures? The door to heaven is shut tight, and especially against humans."

Verse 47 (12.277.47)

ततोऽपश्यत्स कामं च क्रोधं लोभं भयं मदम् । निद्रां तन्द्रीं तथाऽऽलस्यमावृत्त्य पुरुषान्स्थितान् ॥

tato'paśyatsa kāmaṃ ca krodhaṃ lobhaṃ bhayaṃ madam | nidrāṃ tandrīṃ tathā''lasyamāvṛttya puruṣānsthitān

Then he saw desire, anger, greed, fear, pride, sleep, drowsiness and sloth, standing there, having enveloped men.

Note on the text: Removed the stray quote mark and the doubled danda (।।') printed at the end of the verse.

Verse 48 (12.277.48)

एतैर्लोकाः सुसंरुद्धा देवानां मानुषाद्भयम् । तथैव देववचनाद्विघ्नं कुर्वन्ति सर्वशः ॥

etairlokāḥ susaṃruddhā devānāṃ mānuṣādbhayam | tathaiva devavacanādvighnaṃ kurvanti sarvaśaḥ

"By these the worlds are tightly shut. The gods fear men, and so, at the gods' word, these create obstacles everywhere."

Verse 49 (12.277.49)

न देवैरननुज्ञातः कश्चिद्भवति धार्मिकः । एष शक्तोऽस्मि तपसा दातुं राज्यं धनानि च ॥

na devairananujñātaḥ kaścidbhavati dhārmikaḥ | eṣa śakto'smi tapasā dātuṃ rājyaṃ dhanāni ca

"No one becomes righteous without the gods' permission. Here I stand, able through austerity to give kingdom and riches."

Note on the text: Added the missing avagraha: शक्तोस्मि → शक्तोऽस्मि (avagraha omitted before the verb).

Verse 50 (12.277.50)

ततः पपात शिरसा ब्राह्मणस्तोयधारिणे । उवाच चैनं धर्मात्मा महान्मेऽनुग्रहः कृतः ॥

tataḥ papāta śirasā brāhmaṇastoyadhāriṇe | uvāca cainaṃ dharmātmā mahānme'nugrahaḥ kṛtaḥ

Then the righteous Brahmin bowed his head to the cloud-bearer and said to him, "A great favour has been done me."

Verse 51 (12.277.51)

कामलोभानुबन्धेन पुरा ते यदसूयितम् । मया स्नेहमविज्ञाय तत्र मे क्षन्तुमर्हसि ॥

kāmalobhānubandhena purā te yadasūyitam | mayā snehamavijñāya tatra me kṣantumarhasi

"Out of desire and greed I once resented you, not knowing your affection. Please forgive me for that."

Note on the text: No speaker heading is printed here: verse 50 says the Brahmin "said to him" and this verse is his speech (asking Kundadhara's pardon), so it is given to the Brahmin (the input carried over Bhishma).

Verse 52 (12.277.52)

क्षान्तमेव मयेत्युक्त्वा कुण्डधारो द्विजर्षभम् । संपरिष्वज्य बाहुभ्यां तत्रैवान्तरधीयत ॥

kṣāntameva mayetyuktvā kuṇḍadhāro dvijarṣabham | saṃpariṣvajya bāhubhyāṃ tatraivāntaradhīyata

"It is forgiven," said Kundadhara, and embracing the best of Brahmins in his arms, he vanished on the spot.

Verse 53 (12.277.53)

ततः सर्वांस्तदा लोकान्ब्राह्मणोऽनुचचार ह । कुण्डधारप्रसादेन तपसा सिद्धिमागतः ॥

tataḥ sarvāṃstadā lokānbrāhmaṇo'nucacāra ha | kuṇḍadhāraprasādena tapasā siddhimāgataḥ

Then the Brahmin roamed through all the worlds, reaching perfection through austerity, by Kundadhara's grace.

Verse 54 (12.277.54)

विहायसा च गमनं तथा संकल्पितार्थता । धर्माच्छक्त्या तथा योगाद्या चैव परमा गतिः ॥

vihāyasā ca gamanaṃ tathā saṃkalpitārthatā | dharmācchaktyā tathā yogādyā caiva paramā gatiḥ

Travel through the sky, the fulfilment of whatever he resolved, power through dharma and through yoga, and the supreme goal as well.

Verse 55 (12.277.55)

देवता ब्राह्मणाः सन्तो यक्षा मानुषचारणाः । धार्मिकान्पूजयन्तीह न धनाढ्यान्न कामिनः ॥

devatā brāhmaṇāḥ santo yakṣā mānuṣacāraṇāḥ | dhārmikānpūjayantīha na dhanāḍhyānna kāminaḥ

The gods, Brahmins, good people, yakshas, humans and bards honour the righteous here, not the wealthy and not those given to desire.

Verse 56 (12.277.56)

सुप्रसन्ना हि ते देवा यत्ते धर्मे रता मतिः । धने सुखकला काचिद्धर्मे तु परमं सुखम् ॥

suprasannā hi te devā yatte dharme ratā matiḥ | dhane sukhakalā kāciddharme tu paramaṃ sukham

The gods are well pleased with you, since your mind delights in dharma. In wealth there is some small fraction of happiness; in dharma there is supreme happiness.