Kunjala's Confession: The Foolish Dharmasharma

Verse 1 (padma.2.122.1)

विष्णुरुवाच । कुंजलो धर्मपक्षी स इत्युक्त्वा तान्सुतान्प्रति । विरराम महाप्राज्ञः किंचिन्नोवाच तान्प्रति

viṣṇuruvāca kuṁjalo dharmapakṣī sa ityuktvā tānsutānprati virarāma mahāprājñaḥ kiṁcinnovāca tānprati

Vishnu said: Kunjala, that righteous bird, having spoken thus to his sons, that greatly wise one fell silent, and said nothing more to them.

Verse 2 (padma.2.122.2)

वटाधःस्थो द्विजश्रेष्ठस्तमुवाच महाशुकम् । को भवान्धर्मवक्ता हि पक्षिरूपेण वर्तते

vaṭādhaḥstho dvijaśreṣṭhastamuvāca mahāśukam ko bhavāndharmavaktā hi pakṣirūpeṇa vartate

Seated beneath the banyan tree, that foremost of the twice-born said to that great parrot: 'Who are you, that speak as an authority on dharma, and yet exist in the very form of a bird?'

Verse 3 (padma.2.122.3)

किं वा देवोऽथ गंधर्वः किं वा विद्याधरो भवान् । कस्य शापादिमां प्राप्तो योनिं कीरस्य पातकीम्

kiṁ vā devo'tha gaṁdharvaḥ kiṁ vā vidyādharo bhavān kasya śāpādimāṁ prāpto yoniṁ kīrasya pātakīm

'Are you a god, then, or a gandharva, or are you a vidyadhara? By whose curse have you obtained this sinful birth of a parrot?'

Verse 4 (padma.2.122.4)

कस्मात्ते ईदृशं ज्ञानं वर्ततेऽतीद्रियं शुक । सुपुण्यस्य तु कस्यापि कस्य वै तपसः फलम्

kasmātte īdṛśaṁ jñānaṁ vartate'tīdriyaṁ śuka supuṇyasya tu kasyāpi kasya vai tapasaḥ phalam

'From where, parrot, comes such transcendent knowledge in you? Whose great merit is this, or the fruit of whose austerity?'

Verse 5 (padma.2.122.5)

किं वा च्छन्नेन रूपेण अनेनापि महामते । कस्त्वं सिद्धोऽसि देवो वा तन्मे कथय कारणम्

kiṁ vā cchannena rūpeṇa anenāpi mahāmate kastvaṁ siddho'si devo vā tanme kathaya kāraṇam

'Or, great-minded one, is this too but a disguised form? Are you a siddha, or a god — tell me the reason for this.'

Verse 6 (padma.2.122.6)

कुंजल उवाच । भोः सिद्ध त्वामहं जाने कुलं ते गोत्रमुत्तमम् । विद्यां तपःप्रभावं च यस्माद्भ्रमसि मेदिनीम्

kuṁjala uvāca bhoḥ siddha tvāmahaṁ jāne kulaṁ te gotramuttamam vidyāṁ tapaḥprabhāvaṁ ca yasmādbhramasi medinīm

Kunjala said: 'O siddha, I know you — your lineage, your excellent gotra, your learning and the power of your austerity, and why you wander this earth.'

Verse 7 (padma.2.122.7)

सर्वं विप्र प्रवक्ष्यामि स्वागतं तव सुव्रत । उपविश्यासने पुण्ये छायामाश्रयशीतलाम्

sarvaṁ vipra pravakṣyāmi svāgataṁ tava suvrata upaviśyāsane puṇye chāyāmāśrayaśītalām

'Brahmin, I shall tell you everything — welcome to you, virtuous one. Be seated upon this holy seat, in this cool, shaded shelter.'

Verse 8 (padma.2.122.8)

अव्यक्तप्रभवो ब्रह्मा तस्माज्जज्ञे प्रजापतिः । ब्राह्मणस्तु गुणैर्युक्तो भृगुर्ब्रह्मसमो द्विजः

avyaktaprabhavo brahmā tasmājjajñe prajāpatiḥ brāhmaṇastu guṇairyukto bhṛgurbrahmasamo dvijaḥ

'From the Unmanifest arose Brahma; from him was born Prajapati. A brahmin endowed with every virtue, a twice-born equal to Brahma, named Bhrigu —

Verse 9 (padma.2.122.9)

भार्गवो नाम तस्यासीत्सर्वधर्मार्थतत्ववित् । तस्यान्वये भवान्विप्र च्यवनः ख्यातिमान्भुवि

bhārgavo nāma tasyāsītsarvadharmārthatatvavit tasyānvaye bhavānvipra cyavanaḥ khyātimānbhuvi

'— he became renowned by the name Bhargava, knower of the truth of every dharma and artha. In his very lineage, brahmin, you, the renowned Chyavana, are known upon this earth.'

Verse 10 (padma.2.122.10)

नाहं देवो न गंधर्वो नाहं विद्याधरः पुनः । योहं विप्र प्रवक्ष्यामि तन्मे निगदतः शृणु

nāhaṁ devo na gaṁdharvo nāhaṁ vidyādharaḥ punaḥ yohaṁ vipra pravakṣyāmi tanme nigadataḥ śṛṇu

'I am neither a god, nor a gandharva, nor am I a vidyadhara. Brahmin, who I truly am, I shall now relate — listen as I tell it.'

Verse 11 (padma.2.122.11)

कश्यपस्य कुले जातः कश्चिद्ब्राह्मणसत्तमः । वेदवेदांगतत्त्वज्ञः सर्वकर्मप्रकाशकः

kaśyapasya kule jātaḥ kaścidbrāhmaṇasattamaḥ vedavedāṁgatattvajñaḥ sarvakarmaprakāśakaḥ

'In the lineage of Kashyapa was born a certain excellent brahmin, a knower of the truth of the Vedas and their auxiliary limbs, an illuminator of every rite —

Verse 12 (padma.2.122.12)

विद्याधरेति विख्यातः कुलशीलगुणैर्युतः । राजमानः श्रिया विप्र आचारैस्तपसा तदा

vidyādhareti vikhyātaḥ kulaśīlaguṇairyutaḥ rājamānaḥ śriyā vipra ācāraistapasā tadā

'— renowned by the name Vidyadhara, endowed with the virtues of family and character, brahmin, resplendent with prosperity, and then also with due observance and austerity.'

Verse 13 (padma.2.122.13)

संबभूवुः सुतास्तस्य विद्याधरस्य ते त्रयः । वसुशर्मा नामशर्मा धर्मशर्मा च ते त्रयः

saṁbabhūvuḥ sutāstasya vidyādharasya te trayaḥ vasuśarmā nāmaśarmā dharmaśarmā ca te trayaḥ

'To that Vidyadhara were born three sons — one named Vasusharma, one named Namasharma, and one named Dharmasharma, these three.'

Verse 14 (padma.2.122.14)

तेषामहं धर्मशर्मा कनिष्ठो गुणवर्जितः । वसुशर्मा मम भ्राता वेदशास्त्रार्थकोविदः

teṣāmahaṁ dharmaśarmā kaniṣṭho guṇavarjitaḥ vasuśarmā mama bhrātā vedaśāstrārthakovidaḥ

'Among them I was Dharmasharma, the youngest, devoid of any virtue. Vasusharma, my brother, was skilled in the meaning of the Vedas and shastras,

Verse 15 (padma.2.122.15)

आचारेण सुसंपन्नो विद्यादिसुगुणैः पुनः । नामशर्मा महाप्राज्ञस्तद्वच्चासीद्गुणाधिकः

ācāreṇa susaṁpanno vidyādisuguṇaiḥ punaḥ nāmaśarmā mahāprājñastadvaccāsīdguṇādhikaḥ

— well accomplished in observance, endowed too with learning and other good qualities. Namasharma too was likewise greatly wise, and abundant in virtue.'

Verse 16 (padma.2.122.16)

अहमेको महामूर्खः संजातः शृणु सत्तम । विद्यानामुत्तमं विप्र भावमर्थं शुभं कदा

ahameko mahāmūrkhaḥ saṁjātaḥ śṛṇu sattama vidyānāmuttamaṁ vipra bhāvamarthaṁ śubhaṁ kadā

'I alone was born an utter fool, listen, worthy one. The highest sense and auspicious meaning of learning, brahmin, never at all —

Verse 17 (padma.2.122.17)

न शृणोमि न वै यामि गुरुगेहमनुत्तमम् । ततस्तु जनको मे तु मामेवं परिचिंतयेत्

na śṛṇomi na vai yāmi gurugehamanuttamam tatastu janako me tu māmevaṁ pariciṁtayet

'— did I hear it, nor did I ever go to that most excellent house of my guru. Then my father began to think this of me —

Verse 18 (padma.2.122.18)

धर्मशर्मेति पुत्रस्य नामास्य तु निरर्थकम् । संजातः क्षितिमध्ये तु न विद्वान्मे गुणाकरः

dharmaśarmeti putrasya nāmāsya tu nirarthakam saṁjātaḥ kṣitimadhye tu na vidvānme guṇākaraḥ

'This son's name, Dharmasharma, has proven meaningless. Though born amid this earth, he has neither learning, nor is he a treasury of virtue.'

Verse 19 (padma.2.122.19)

इति संचिंत्य धर्मात्मा मामुवाच सुदुःखितः । व्रज पुत्र गुरोर्गेहं विद्यार्थं परिसाधय

iti saṁciṁtya dharmātmā māmuvāca suduḥkhitaḥ vraja putra gurorgehaṁ vidyārthaṁ parisādhaya

'Thinking thus, that righteous man, greatly sorrowful, said to me: 'Go, my son, to your guru's house, and accomplish your learning there.''

Verse 20 (padma.2.122.20)

एवमाकर्ण्य तत्तस्य पितुर्वाक्यं मयाशुभम् । नाहं तात गमिष्यामि गुरोर्गेहं सुदुःखदम्

evamākarṇya tattasya piturvākyaṁ mayāśubham nāhaṁ tāta gamiṣyāmi gurorgehaṁ suduḥkhadam

'Hearing that ill-omened word of my father's, I said: 'Father, I shall not go to that most sorrowful house of the guru —

Verse 21 (padma.2.122.21)

यत्र वै ताडनं नित्यं भ्रूभंगादि च क्रोशनम् । अन्नं न दृश्यते तत्र कर्मणा शृणुसत्तम

yatra vai tāḍanaṁ nityaṁ bhrūbhaṁgādi ca krośanam annaṁ na dṛśyate tatra karmaṇā śṛṇusattama

'— where there is constant beating, frowning, scolding; where, on account of one's tasks, food itself is not to be seen, worthy one,

Verse 22 (padma.2.122.22)

दिवारात्रौ न निद्रास्ति नास्ति सुखस्य साधनम् । तस्माद्दुःखमयं तात न यास्ये गुरुमंदिरम्

divārātrau na nidrāsti nāsti sukhasya sādhanam tasmādduḥkhamayaṁ tāta na yāsye gurumaṁdiram

'— where there is no sleep by day or by night, no means of any comfort at all. Therefore, father, I shall not go to that house of misery, that dwelling of the guru.''

Verse 23 (padma.2.122.23)

विद्याकार्यं करिष्ये न क्रीडार्थमहमुत्सुकः । भोक्ष्ये स्वप्स्ये प्रसादात्ते करिष्ये क्रीडनं पितः

vidyākāryaṁ kariṣye na krīḍārthamahamutsukaḥ bhokṣye svapsye prasādātte kariṣye krīḍanaṁ pitaḥ

''I shall do the work of learning — I am not eager for it merely for play. By your grace, father, I shall eat, I shall sleep, and I shall play too —

Verse 24 (padma.2.122.24)

डिंभैः सार्द्धं सुखेनापि दिवारात्रमतंद्रितः । मामुवाच स धर्मात्मा मूढं ज्ञात्वा सुदुःखितः

ḍiṁbhaiḥ sārddhaṁ sukhenāpi divārātramataṁdritaḥ māmuvāca sa dharmātmā mūḍhaṁ jñātvā suduḥkhitaḥ

'— happily together with the other children, day and night, without ever tiring.'' That righteous man, knowing me to be a fool, said to me, greatly sorrowful —

Verse 25 (padma.2.122.25)

विद्याधर उवाच । मा पुत्र साहसं कार्षीर्विद्यार्थमुद्यमं कुरु । विद्यया प्राप्यते सौख्यं यशः कीर्तिस्तथातुला

vidyādhara uvāca mā putra sāhasaṁ kārṣīrvidyārthamudyamaṁ kuru vidyayā prāpyate saukhyaṁ yaśaḥ kīrtistathātulā

Vidyadhara said: 'My son, do not act so rashly — make an effort for the sake of learning. Through learning alone are happiness, fame, and incomparable renown obtained,'

Verse 26 (padma.2.122.26)

ज्ञानं स्वर्गश्च मोक्षश्च तस्माद्विद्यां प्रसाधय । पूर्वं सुदुःखमूला तु पश्चाद्विद्या सुखप्रदा

jñānaṁ svargaśca mokṣaśca tasmādvidyāṁ prasādhaya pūrvaṁ suduḥkhamūlā tu paścādvidyā sukhapradā

'— knowledge, heaven, and liberation too. Therefore accomplish learning. At first, learning's root is full of hardship, but afterward it becomes the very giver of happiness.'

Verse 27 (padma.2.122.27)

तस्मात्साधय पुत्र त्वं विद्यां गुरुगृहं व्रज । पितुर्वाक्यमकुर्वाणो अहमेवं दिनदिने

tasmātsādhaya putra tvaṁ vidyāṁ gurugṛhaṁ vraja piturvākyamakurvāṇo ahamevaṁ dinadine

'Therefore, my son, accomplish it — go to your guru's house.' Not heeding my father's word, I went on thus, day after day —

Verse 28 (padma.2.122.28)

यत्रयत्र स्थितो नित्यमर्थहानिं करोम्यहम् । उपहासः कृतो लोकैर्ममविप्र प्रकुत्सनम्

yatrayatra sthito nityamarthahāniṁ karomyaham upahāsaḥ kṛto lokairmamavipra prakutsanam

'— wherever I found myself, I brought only loss upon myself. The people mocked me, brahmin, and scorned me too.

Verse 29 (padma.2.122.29)

मम लज्जा समुत्पन्ना जीवनाशकरी तदा । विद्यार्थमुद्यतो विप्र कं गुरुं प्रार्थयाम्यहम्

mama lajjā samutpannā jīvanāśakarī tadā vidyārthamudyato vipra kaṁ guruṁ prārthayāmyaham

'Shame arose in me then, one that threatened to destroy my very life. 'Now, for the sake of learning, brahmin, whom shall I entreat to be my guru?''

Verse 30 (padma.2.122.30)

इति चिंतापरो जातो दुःखशोकसमाकुलः । कथं विद्यामहं जाने कथं विंदाम्यहं गुणान्

iti ciṁtāparo jāto duḥkhaśokasamākulaḥ kathaṁ vidyāmahaṁ jāne kathaṁ viṁdāmyahaṁ guṇān

'Thus I fell into anxious thought, overwhelmed by sorrow and grief — 'How shall I ever come to know learning? How shall I attain its virtues?''

Verse 31 (padma.2.122.31)

कथं मे जायते स्वर्गः कथं मोक्षं व्रजाम्यहम् । इत्येवं चिंतयन्विप्र वार्द्धक्यमगमं पुनः

kathaṁ me jāyate svargaḥ kathaṁ mokṣaṁ vrajāmyaham ityevaṁ ciṁtayanvipra vārddhakyamagamaṁ punaḥ

''How shall heaven come to me? How shall I attain liberation?'' Thinking thus, brahmin, old age crept upon me once again.

Verse 32 (padma.2.122.32)

देवतायतने दुःखी उपविष्टस्त्वहं कदा । मद्भाग्यैः प्रेरितः कश्चित्सिद्ध एकः समागतः

devatāyatane duḥkhī upaviṣṭastvahaṁ kadā madbhāgyaiḥ preritaḥ kaścitsiddha ekaḥ samāgataḥ

Once, sitting sorrowfully in some temple of the gods, driven on by my own fortune, a certain siddha came there —

Verse 33 (padma.2.122.33)

निराश्रयो जिताहारः सदानंदस्तु निःस्पृहः । एकांतमास्थितो विप्र योगयुक्तो जितेंद्रियः

nirāśrayo jitāhāraḥ sadānaṁdastu niḥspṛhaḥ ekāṁtamāsthito vipra yogayukto jiteṁdriyaḥ

— without any fixed dwelling, his hunger conquered, ever joyful, wholly free of craving; established in solitude, brahmin, joined to yoga, his senses mastered,

Verse 34 (padma.2.122.34)

परब्रह्मणि संलीनो ज्ञानध्यानसमाधिमान् । तमहं संश्रितो विप्र ज्ञानरूपं महामतिम्

parabrahmaṇi saṁlīno jñānadhyānasamādhimān tamahaṁ saṁśrito vipra jñānarūpaṁ mahāmatim

absorbed wholly in the supreme Brahman, given to knowledge, meditation and deep contemplation. To him, brahmin, I turned for refuge — that siddha, of knowing form, of great understanding.

Verse 35 (padma.2.122.35)

अहं शुद्धेन भावेन भक्त्या नमितकंधरः । नमस्कृत्य महात्मानं पुरतस्तस्य संस्थितः

ahaṁ śuddhena bhāvena bhaktyā namitakaṁdharaḥ namaskṛtya mahātmānaṁ puratastasya saṁsthitaḥ

With a pure heart, my neck bowed in devotion, I bowed to that great soul, and stood before him.

Verse 36 (padma.2.122.36)

दीनरूपो ह्यहं जातो मंदभाग्यस्तथा पुनः । तेनाहं पृच्छितो विप्र कस्माद्भवान्प्रशोचति

dīnarūpo hyahaṁ jāto maṁdabhāgyastathā punaḥ tenāhaṁ pṛcchito vipra kasmādbhavānpraśocati

I had become wretched and ill-fortuned once again. Then he asked me, brahmin: 'Why do you grieve so?'

Verse 37 (padma.2.122.37)

केनाभिप्रायभावेन दुःखमेव भुनक्ति वै । तेनेत्युक्तोस्मि विप्रेंद्र ज्ञानिना योगिना तदा

kenābhiprāyabhāvena duḥkhameva bhunakti vai tenetyuktosmi vipreṁdra jñāninā yoginā tadā

'With what intent do you suffer such sorrow?' Thus, O foremost brahmin, was I asked by that knowing yogi.

Verse 38 (padma.2.122.38)

सुमूढेन मया तस्य पूर्ववृत्तांतमेव हि । तमेवं श्रावितं सर्वं सर्वज्ञत्वं कथं व्रजेत्

sumūḍhena mayā tasya pūrvavṛttāṁtameva hi tamevaṁ śrāvitaṁ sarvaṁ sarvajñatvaṁ kathaṁ vrajet

Foolish as I was, I told him my whole past account — I related it all to him. 'How, then, shall omniscience ever come to me —

Verse 39 (padma.2.122.39)

एतदर्थं महादुःखी भवान्मम गतिः सदा । स चोवाच महात्मा मे सर्वं ज्ञानस्य कारणम्

etadarthaṁ mahāduḥkhī bhavānmama gatiḥ sadā sa covāca mahātmā me sarvaṁ jñānasya kāraṇam

'— it is for this very reason that I am so deeply sorrowful; you alone are ever my refuge.' Having said this, that great soul told me the entire cause and origin of true knowledge.