The Glory of the Gita's Seventh Chapter: Shankukarna the Serpent

Verse 1 (padma.6.181.1)

श्रीभगवानुवाच। अथ ते वर्णयिष्यामि सप्तमाध्यायगौरवम् । यदाकर्ण्य सुधापूर पूर्तिर्भवति कर्णयोः

śrībhagavānuvāca atha te varṇayiṣyāmi saptamādhyāyagauravam yadākarṇya sudhāpūra pūrtirbhavati karṇayoḥ

The Blessed Lord said: Now I shall describe to you the glory of the seventh chapter, hearing which the ears become filled, as it were, with a flood of nectar.

Verse 2 (padma.6.181.2)

अस्ति पाटलिपुत्राख्यं दुर्गमुत्तुङ्गगोपुरम् । तत्राभूद्ब्राह्मणो नाम शंकुकर्णो दयार्णवः

asti pāṭaliputrākhyaṃ durgamuttuṅgagopuram tatrābhūdbrāhmaṇo nāma śaṃkukarṇo dayārṇavaḥ

There is a fortress called Pataliputra, with lofty gate-towers. There lived a brahmin named Shankukarna, an ocean of compassion.

Verse 3 (padma.6.181.3)

वैश्यवृत्तिं समासाद्य धनमर्जितवान्बहु । पितॄन्न तर्पयामास पूजयामास नो सुरान्

vaiśyavṛttiṃ samāsādya dhanamarjitavānbahu pitṝnna tarpayāmāsa pūjayāmāsa no surān

Having taken up the trade of a merchant, he acquired much wealth; but he never offered libations to his ancestors, nor did he ever worship the gods.

Verse 4 (padma.6.181.4)

पार्थिवान्भोजयांश्चक्रे धनार्जनपरायणः । तुरीयपाणिग्रहणं मंगलार्थं गृहांतरे

pārthivānbhojayāṃścakre dhanārjanaparāyaṇaḥ turīyapāṇigrahaṇaṃ maṃgalārthaṃ gṛhāṃtare

Wholly devoted to the acquisition of wealth, he would feed only kings. Once, for the auspicious fourth marriage-rite of a son within his home,

Verse 5 (padma.6.181.5)

तनुजैर्बंधुभिः सार्धं संप्रतस्थे कदाचन । रजन्यां धर्मकल्पायां निद्रालोस्तस्य दोस्तले

tanujairbaṃdhubhiḥ sārdhaṃ saṃpratasthe kadācana rajanyāṃ dharmakalpāyāṃ nidrālostasya dostale

he set out together with his sons and kinsmen. On that auspicious night, as he slept, upon the flesh of his own arm,

Verse 6 (padma.6.181.6)

दशति स्म समागत्य दंदशूकः कुतश्चन । स दष्टमात्रोऽसाध्यात्मा मणिमंत्रौषधादिभिः

daśati sma samāgatya daṃdaśūkaḥ kutaścana sa daṣṭamātro'sādhyātmā maṇimaṃtrauṣadhādibhiḥ

a venomous serpent, coming from somewhere, bit him. Bitten thus, he could not be saved, though gems, mantras, herbs, and the like were tried,

Verse 7 (padma.6.181.7)

क्षणैः कतिपयैरेव गतासुरभवत्ततः । पिचुमंददलैर्नालैरवगुंठितविग्रहम्

kṣaṇaiḥ katipayaireva gatāsurabhavattataḥ picumaṃdadalairnālairavaguṃṭhitavigraham

and within just a few moments he became lifeless. His body, then wrapped and covered with neem leaves and stalks,

Verse 8 (padma.6.181.8)

तमारोप्य तरुस्कंधे सूनवो गृहमाययुः । ततः कालेन बहुना ततो जातः सरीसृपः

tamāropya taruskaṃdhe sūnavo gṛhamāyayuḥ tataḥ kālena bahunā tato jātaḥ sarīsṛpaḥ

was lifted upon a bier of wood, and his sons returned home. Then, after a long time, he was reborn as a serpent,

Verse 9 (padma.6.181.9)

तद्वासनानिबद्धात्मा जन्मपूर्वमनुस्मरन् । वंचयित्वा सुतानेतान्पूरयामि गृहाद्बहिः

tadvāsanānibaddhātmā janmapūrvamanusmaran vaṃcayitvā sutānetānpūrayāmi gṛhādbahiḥ

his soul bound by his own attachment, remembering his former birth: 'Having deceived these sons of mine, let me fill my own store, outside the house --'

Verse 10 (padma.6.181.10)

आत्मनः कोटिसंख्याकं यत्रास्ते स्थापितं वसु । ततो नारायणबलिश्रद्धया परयान्विताः

ātmanaḥ koṭisaṃkhyākaṃ yatrāste sthāpitaṃ vasu tato nārāyaṇabaliśraddhayā parayānvitāḥ

'-- with my own wealth, numbering in the millions, hidden in a certain place.' Then, with the highest faith, offering the Narayana-bali,

Verse 11 (padma.6.181.11)

कृतवंतः परे तस्य सूनवो हि द्विजन्मनः । एकदा स्वप्नमागत्य पीडितः सर्पजन्मना

kṛtavaṃtaḥ pare tasya sūnavo hi dvijanmanaḥ ekadā svapnamāgatya pīḍitaḥ sarpajanmanā

those sons of that twice-born man performed these rites. Once, coming to them in a dream, tormented by his birth as a serpent,

Verse 12 (padma.6.181.12)

अभाषयन्मनोवृत्तं पुत्राणामग्रतः पिता । ततस्ते प्रातरुत्थाय परं विस्मयमोहिताः

abhāṣayanmanovṛttaṃ putrāṇāmagrataḥ pitā tataste prātarutthāya paraṃ vismayamohitāḥ

the father revealed his inner state before his sons. Then, rising at dawn, filled with the greatest bewilderment and astonishment,

Verse 13 (padma.6.181.13)

इतरेतरमाख्याय पर्यंतस्ते निरंकुशाः । एकस्तत्र पितृस्नेहादुद्धर्तुमपि वांछति

itaretaramākhyāya paryaṃtaste niraṃkuśāḥ ekastatra pitṛsnehāduddhartumapi vāṃchati

they related the matter to one another, and finally began to argue, unrestrained. One of them, out of love for his father, wished even to rescue him from that state;

Verse 14 (padma.6.181.14)

अन्यो द्रविणलोभेन निहंतुं सर्पमीहते । इतरस्तु पितृस्नेहरसमोहितमानसः

anyo draviṇalobhena nihaṃtuṃ sarpamīhate itarastu pitṛsneharasamohitamānasaḥ

another, out of greed for the wealth, sought to kill the serpent; while the third, his mind bewildered by the mere feeling of love for his father,

Verse 15 (padma.6.181.15)

किंवा अहिमयो न स्याच्छोचन्रोदिति केवलम् । मध्यमस्तु ततः पुत्रो वंचयित्वा सहोदरौ

kiṃvā ahimayo na syācchocanroditi kevalam madhyamastu tataḥ putro vaṃcayitvā sahodarau

wondered whether the serpent-form was even genuine, and simply grieved and wept. The middle son, then, deceiving his two brothers,

Verse 16 (padma.6.181.16)

केनापि छद्मनोत्थाय जगाम निजमालयम् । ततः शनैः समाहूय गृहिणीं गुणशालिनीम्

kenāpi chadmanotthāya jagāma nijamālayam tataḥ śanaiḥ samāhūya gṛhiṇīṃ guṇaśālinīm

rose up under some pretext and went to his own house. Then, quietly summoning his own virtuous wife,

Verse 17 (padma.6.181.17)

कुद्दालहस्तो निरगाद्यत्रास्ते पन्नगः पिता । तेनाविदितवित्तेन चिह्नैर्निश्चित्य तत्वतः

kuddālahasto niragādyatrāste pannagaḥ pitā tenāviditavittena cihnairniścitya tatvataḥ

spade in hand, he set out to where his father, now a serpent, dwelt; by the marks his father had told him of the hidden wealth, having ascertained the spot with certainty,

Verse 18 (padma.6.181.18)

स्थानमागत्य तं हंतुं वल्मीकं लोभबुद्धितः । भार्ययोत्सार्य ते मृत्स्ना स्वयं तेन च खन्यते

sthānamāgatya taṃ haṃtuṃ valmīkaṃ lobhabuddhitaḥ bhāryayotsārya te mṛtsnā svayaṃ tena ca khanyate

he came to that place, meaning, in his greed, to slay the serpent; and, with his wife clearing away the loose earth of the anthill, he himself dug into it.

Verse 19 (padma.6.181.19)

निखन्यमानादत्युग्रो वल्मीकादहिरुत्थितः । ततो गरलगंडूषैर्निर्गतैरतिदुःसहैः

nikhanyamānādatyugro valmīkādahirutthitaḥ tato garalagaṃḍūṣairnirgatairatiduḥsahaiḥ

As it was being dug, an exceedingly fierce serpent rose up from the anthill; and then, with poisonous hisses emerging, most unbearable,

Verse 20 (padma.6.181.20)

गिरः स कथयांचक्रे फणी फूत्कारमारुतैः

giraḥ sa kathayāṃcakre phaṇī phūtkāramārutaiḥ

the hooded serpent began to speak, its words mixed with the hissing breath of its very fangs.

Verse 21 (padma.6.181.21)

अहिरुवाच। कस्त्वं किमर्थमायातः कथं वा खन्यते बिलम् । केन वा प्रहितो मूढ तदाख्याहि ममाग्रतः

ahiruvāca kastvaṃ kimarthamāyātaḥ kathaṃ vā khanyate bilam kena vā prahito mūḍha tadākhyāhi mamāgrataḥ

The serpent said: Who are you, and for what purpose have you come? And why is this hole being dug? By whom, O fool, have you been sent? Tell me this before me.

Verse 22 (padma.6.181.22)

पुत्र उवाच। पुत्रस्तेऽहं शिवो नाम हेमग्रहणकौतुकी । आगतो रात्रलब्धस्य स्वप्नस्य तु सुविस्मितः

putra uvāca putraste'haṃ śivo nāma hemagrahaṇakautukī āgato rātralabdhasya svapnasya tu suvismitaḥ

The son said: I am your own son, named Shiva, eager to obtain the gold; I have come here, greatly astonished by the dream received in the night.

Verse 23 (padma.6.181.23)

शिव उवाच। इत्थमाकर्ण्य पुत्रस्य गिरं लोकविगर्हिताम् । वक्तुमारभत स्पष्टं हसन्नुच्चैः फणी तदा

śiva uvāca itthamākarṇya putrasya giraṃ lokavigarhitām vaktumārabhata spaṣṭaṃ hasannuccaiḥ phaṇī tadā

Shiva said: Hearing thus the son's speech, so reviled by the world, the hooded serpent then began to speak clearly, laughing aloud:

Verse 24 (padma.6.181.24)

सर्प उवाच। यदि पुत्रोऽसि मे तूर्णं मामुन्मोचय बंधनात् । निक्षेपार्थाय संजातं पन्नगं पूर्वजन्मनः

sarpa uvāca yadi putro'si me tūrṇaṃ māmunmocaya baṃdhanāt nikṣepārthāya saṃjātaṃ pannagaṃ pūrvajanmanaḥ

The serpent said: If you are indeed my son, then quickly release me from this bondage -- born as a serpent, from my former life, merely to guard my own buried treasure.

Verse 25 (padma.6.181.25)

पुत्र उवाच। पितः कथं ते मुक्तिः स्यादित्याचक्ष्व ममाग्रतः । परित्यक्त्वाखिलं लोकमागतोस्मि यथा निशि

putra uvāca pitaḥ kathaṃ te muktiḥ syādityācakṣva mamāgrataḥ parityaktvākhilaṃ lokamāgatosmi yathā niśi

The son said: O father, how shall your release come about? Tell me this before me. Having abandoned everything, this whole world, I have come here just as I came at night.

Verse 26 (padma.6.181.26)

पितोवाच। न तीर्थानि न दानानि न तपांसि न चाध्वराः । मामुन्मोचयितुं पुत्र प्रभवंति च सर्वथा

pitovāca na tīrthāni na dānāni na tapāṃsi na cādhvarāḥ māmunmocayituṃ putra prabhavaṃti ca sarvathā

The father said: Neither tirthas, nor gifts, nor austerities, nor sacrifices, my son, have any power at all to release me,

Verse 27 (padma.6.181.27)

गीतानां सप्तमाध्यायमंतरेण सुधामयम् । जंतोर्जरामृत्युदुःखनिराकरणकारणम्

gītānāṃ saptamādhyāyamaṃtareṇa sudhāmayam jaṃtorjarāmṛtyuduḥkhanirākaraṇakāraṇam

except the seventh chapter of the Gita, filled with nectar, the very cause that removes from a creature the sorrow of old age and death.

Verse 28 (padma.6.181.28)

सप्तमाध्यायिनं विप्रं मदीये श्राद्धवासरे । भोजय श्रद्धया पुत्र तेन मुक्तिर्न संशयः

saptamādhyāyinaṃ vipraṃ madīye śrāddhavāsare bhojaya śraddhayā putra tena muktirna saṃśayaḥ

On the day appointed for my shraddha rite, feed with faith, my son, a brahmin who recites the seventh chapter -- by this my liberation shall come, without doubt.

Verse 29 (padma.6.181.29)

अन्यानपि द्विजान्वत्स वेदविद्याविशारदान् । संभोजय यथाशक्ति परमश्रद्धयान्वितः

anyānapi dvijānvatsa vedavidyāviśāradān saṃbhojaya yathāśakti paramaśraddhayānvitaḥ

Feed also other twice-born, my child, those learned in the knowledge of the Veda, according to your ability, filled with the highest faith.

Verse 30 (padma.6.181.30)

इत्याकर्ण्य पितुर्वाक्यमुरगत्वमुपेयुषः । ते सर्वे सूनवो कुर्वन्यथादिष्टं ततोऽधिकम्

ityākarṇya piturvākyamuragatvamupeyuṣaḥ te sarve sūnavo kurvanyathādiṣṭaṃ tato'dhikam

Hearing these words of their father, who had attained the state of a serpent, all his sons did exactly as instructed, and even more.

Verse 31 (padma.6.181.31)

शंकुकर्णस्ततः श्रीमानुत्सृज्य तनुमौरगीम् । कृत्वा विभागं पुत्राणां दिव्यंदेहमुपाददे

śaṃkukarṇastataḥ śrīmānutsṛjya tanumauragīm kṛtvā vibhāgaṃ putrāṇāṃ divyaṃdehamupādade

Then Shankukarna, the glorious one, casting off his serpentine body, and having apportioned his wealth among his sons, assumed a divine body.

Verse 32 (padma.6.181.32)

विभज्य दत्तं पित्राय द्रव्यं तत्कोटिसंख्यया । तेन ते सूनवः सर्वे मुमुदुः साधुवृतयः

vibhajya dattaṃ pitrāya dravyaṃ tatkoṭisaṃkhyayā tena te sūnavaḥ sarve mumuduḥ sādhuvṛtayaḥ

That wealth, numbering in the millions, having been divided and given by their father, all his sons, now of virtuous conduct, rejoiced by means of it.

Verse 33 (padma.6.181.33)

वापीकूपसरोयज्ञदेवप्रासादहेतवे । अन्नशालां ततः कुर्वन्पुत्रास्ते धर्मबुद्धयः

vāpīkūpasaroyajñadevaprāsādahetave annaśālāṃ tataḥ kurvanputrāste dharmabuddhayaḥ

Then those sons, their minds now turned toward dharma, built step-wells, wells, tanks, sacrificial halls, temples for the gods, and food-halls,

Verse 34 (padma.6.181.34)

सप्तमाध्याय जपतो मुक्तिभाजोभवंस्ततः । षष्ठमिष्टतमं ज्ञात्वा निर्वाणार्पितदृष्टयः

saptamādhyāya japato muktibhājobhavaṃstataḥ ṣaṣṭhamiṣṭatamaṃ jñātvā nirvāṇārpitadṛṣṭayaḥ

and, reciting the seventh chapter, thereupon became partakers of liberation, knowing it to be dearest of all, their gaze set wholly upon the attainment of final liberation.