The Brahmin Sets Out for the Serpent's House

Verse 1 (12.366.1)

अतिभारोद्यतस्यैव भारावतरणं महत् । पराश्वासकरं वाक्यमिदं मे भवतः श्रुतम् ॥

atibhārodyatasyaiva bhārāvataraṇaṃ mahat | parāśvāsakaraṃ vākyamidaṃ me bhavataḥ śrutam

For one lifted under a very heavy load, the setting down of the burden is a great relief; so too are these words I have heard from you, which bring me deep reassurance.

Note on the text: Wikisource भारावतरणम् for the CE bhārāpanayanam; recension variant, kept.

Verse 2 (12.366.2)

अध्वक्लान्तस्य शयनं स्थानक्लान्तस्य चासनम् । तृषितस्येव पानीयं क्षुधार्तस्येव भोजनम् ॥

adhvaklāntasya śayanaṃ sthānaklāntasya cāsanam | tṛṣitasyeva pānīyaṃ kṣudhārtasyeva bhojanam

It is like a bed for one worn out by the road, a seat for one tired of standing, water for the thirsty, and food for the hungry,

Note on the text: Corrected अध्यक्लान्तस्य → अध्वक्लान्तस्य (misprint in Wikisource; क्य for क्व; the CE reads adhvaklāntasya). Lines 1-2 sentence continues into the next verse.

Verse 3 (12.366.3)

ईप्सितस्येव संप्राप्तिरर्थस्य समयेऽतिथे । एषितस्यात्मनः काले वृद्धस्यैव सुता यथा ॥

īpsitasyeva saṃprāptirarthasya samaye'tithe | eṣitasyātmanaḥ kāle vṛddhasyaiva sutā yathā

like the attainment, in due season, of a longed-for object, O guest, like a daughter born in due time to an aged man who had long sought a child,

Note on the text: Corrected एपितस्यात्मनः → एषितस्यात्मनः (misprint in Wikisource; प for ष; the CE reads eṣitasyātmanaḥ). Corrected बृद्धस्यैव → वृद्धस्यैव (misprint in Wikisource; ब for व). Wikisource अर्थस्य and सुता (daughter) for the CE annasya and suto (son); the translation follows the printed सुता; recension variants, kept.

Verse 4 (12.366.4)

मनसा चिन्तितस्येव प्रीतिस्निग्धस्य दर्शनम् । प्रह्लादयति मां वाक्यं भवता यदुदीरितम् ॥

manasā cintitasyeva prītisnigdhasya darśanam | prahlādayati māṃ vākyaṃ bhavatā yadudīritam

like the sight of a dear, affectionate friend long thought of in the mind: such are the words you have spoken, and they delight me.

Verse 5 (12.366.5)

मनश्चक्षुरिवाकाशे पश्यामि विमृशामि च । प्रज्ञानवचनाद्योयमुपदेशो हि मे कृतः ॥

manaścakṣurivākāśe paśyāmi vimṛśāmi ca | prajñānavacanādyoyamupadeśo hi me kṛtaḥ

I see and ponder it as if with the eye of the mind in the sky: this instruction you have given me, born of true understanding.

Note on the text: Lines = CE 12.344.5ab (dattacakṣur ivākāśe paśyāmi vimṛśāmi ca / prajñānavacanād yo 'yam upadeśo hi me kṛtaḥ); the automatic alignment left CE 344.5-6 unmatched. Wikisource मनश्चक्षुः for the CE dattacakṣuḥ; recension variant, kept.

Verse 6 (12.366.6)

वाढमेवं करिष्यामि यथा मे भाषते भवान् । इमां हि रजनीं साधो निवसस्व मया सह ॥

vāḍhamevaṃ kariṣyāmi yathā me bhāṣate bhavān | imāṃ hi rajanīṃ sādho nivasasva mayā saha

I shall certainly do as you tell me. But, good sir, stay this night here with me.

Note on the text: Line 1 = CE 12.344.5c (bāḍham evaṃ kariṣyāmi yathā māṃ bhāṣate bhavān), with यथा मे for yathā māṃ; line 2 = CE 12.344.6a (ihemāṃ rajanīṃ sādho nivasasva mayā saha), with इमां हि for ihemāṃ. Recension variants, kept.

Verse 7 (12.366.7)

प्रभाते यास्यति भवान्पर्याश्वस्तः सुखोषितः । असौ हि भगवान्सूर्यो मन्दरश्मिरवाङ्मुखः ॥

prabhāte yāsyati bhavānparyāśvastaḥ sukhoṣitaḥ | asau hi bhagavānsūryo mandaraśmiravāṅmukhaḥ

In the morning you may go, refreshed and having rested in comfort. For now the blessed sun has dim rays and faces downward.

Note on the text: Corrected चवान् → भवान् (misprint in Wikisource; चवान् is not a word; the CE reads bhavān). Corrected सुखोपितः → सुखोषितः (misprint in Wikisource; प for ष; the CE reads sukhoṣitaḥ). Corrected मन्दरश्मिरवाङ्भुखः → मन्दरश्मिरवाङ्मुखः (misprint in Wikisource; भ for म; the CE reads avāṅmukhaḥ). Lines = CE 12.344.6bc (prabhāte yāsyati bhavān paryāśvastaḥ sukhoṣitaḥ / asau hi bhagavān sūryo mandaraśmir avāṅmukhaḥ).

Verse 8 (12.366.8)

ततस्तेन कृतातिथ्यः सोऽतिथिः शत्रुसूदन । उवास किल तां रात्रिं सह तेन द्विजेन वै ॥

tatastena kṛtātithyaḥ so'tithiḥ śatrusūdana | uvāsa kila tāṃ rātriṃ saha tena dvijena vai

Then, honoured by the Brahmin with hospitality, the guest, O slayer of foes, spent that night with him.

Note on the text: Corrected सोऽनिथिः → सोऽतिथिः (misprint in Wikisource; न for त; the CE reads so 'tithiḥ). Speaker: Bhishma, as headed on the page from this verse.

Verse 9 (12.366.9)

तत्वं च धर्मसंयुक्तं तयोः कथयतोस्तदा । व्यतीता सा निशा कृत्स्ना सुखेन दिवसोपमा ॥

tatvaṃ ca dharmasaṃyuktaṃ tayoḥ kathayatostadā | vyatītā sā niśā kṛtsnā sukhena divasopamā

As the two talked about the truth, bound up with dharma, the whole night passed pleasantly, like a day.

Note on the text: Wikisource तत्वं च for the CE tat tac ca; recension variant, kept.

Verse 10 (12.366.10)

ततः प्रभातसमये सोऽतिथिस्तेन पूजितः । ब्राह्मणेन यथाशक्त्या स्वकार्यमभिकाङ्क्षता ॥

tataḥ prabhātasamaye so'tithistena pūjitaḥ | brāhmaṇena yathāśaktyā svakāryamabhikāṅkṣatā

Then, at daybreak, the guest was honoured as far as he could be by the Brahmin, who was eager for his own purpose.

Verse 11 (12.366.11)

ततः स विप्रः कृतकर्मनिश्चयः । कृताभ्यनुज्ञः स्वजनेन धर्मकृत् । यथोपदिष्टं भुजगेन्द्रसंश्रयं । जगाम काले सुकृतैकनिश्चयः ॥

tataḥ sa vipraḥ kṛtakarmaniścayaḥ | kṛtābhyanujñaḥ svajanena dharmakṛt | yathopadiṣṭaṃ bhujagendrasaṃśrayaṃ | jagāma kāle sukṛtaikaniścayaḥ

Then that Brahmin, firm in his resolve and faithful to his duty, took leave of his family and, at the proper time, went to the house of the lord of serpents as he had been directed, his mind fixed on good deeds alone.

Note on the text: Four-line verse, as on the page. Line 1 कृतकर्मनिश्चयः and line 2 धर्मकृत् for the CE kṛtadharmaniścayaḥ and dharmavit; recension variants, kept.