The Glory of the Gita's Fifteenth Chapter

Verse 1 (padma.6.189.1)

ईश्वर उवाच। प्रवक्ष्यामि विशालाक्षि तुहिनाचलकन्यके । गीता पंचदशाध्यायमाहात्म्यमवधारय

īśvara uvāca pravakṣyāmi viśālākṣi tuhinācalakanyake gītā paṁcadaśādhyāyamāhātmyamavadhāraya

Ishvara said: I shall now tell, O wide-eyed daughter of the snowy mountain, attend to the glory of the fifteenth chapter of the Gita.

Verse 2 (padma.6.189.2)

कृपालुर्नरसिंहोऽभून्नाम्ना गौडेषु भूपतिः । यस्यासिधारया संख्ये देवासंघा वधीकृताः

kṛpālurnarasiṁho'bhūnnāmnā gauḍeṣu bhūpatiḥ yasyāsidhārayā saṁkhye devāsaṁghā vadhīkṛtāḥ

There was a compassionate king named Narasimha among the Gaudas, by whose sword's edge in battle hosts of demons were slain.

Verse 3 (padma.6.189.3)

यदीय मत्तमातंग दानधाराजलैरिला । निदाघेपि च सेहेतां रविसंतापवेदनाम्

yadīya mattamātaṁga dānadhārājalairilā nidāghepi ca sehetāṁ ravisaṁtāpavedanām

By the streams of rut-fluid from his maddened elephants, the earth would bear the pain of the sun's heat even in summer.

Verse 4 (padma.6.189.4)

संक्रंदनपरित्रस्ता यदीय शरणं गताः । रेजिरे करिणो मत्ताश्चलंतः पर्वता इव

saṁkraṁdanaparitrastā yadīya śaraṇaṁ gatāḥ rejire kariṇo mattāścalaṁtaḥ parvatā iva

Frightened by the cries of battle, those who came to his refuge — his maddened elephants — shone like moving mountains.

Verse 5 (padma.6.189.5)

मत्तमातंगचीत्कारप्रतिस्वनमिवादरात् । यस्य गोपायतः शैला व्याहरंति कृपावतः

mattamātaṁgacītkārapratisvanamivādarāt yasya gopāyataḥ śailā vyāharaṁti kṛpāvataḥ

As that compassionate king protected his people, the very mountains, as if in reverence, seemed to echo back the trumpeting of his maddened elephants.

Verse 6 (padma.6.189.6)

यदीय धावत्तुरगक्षुरसंघातजर्जरम् । नाभूच्चित्रं कथंकारं गतखंडं धरातलम्

yadīya dhāvatturagakṣurasaṁghātajarjaram nābhūccitraṁ kathaṁkāraṁ gatakhaṁḍaṁ dharātalam

It was no wonder that the surface of the earth became broken and fissured by the mass of hooves of his galloping horses.

Verse 7 (padma.6.189.7)

यस्मिन्वृत्रहणो मित्रे समुद्धरति मेदिनीम् 3। पुनरुज्वलयांचक्रे महाभाष्यं फणीश्वरः

yasminvṛtrahaṇo mitre samuddharati medinīm 3 punarujvalayāṁcakre mahābhāṣyaṁ phaṇīśvaraḥ

When, as his friend, the slayer of Vritra upheld the earth, the lord of serpents, as it were, once again illumined the great commentary.

Verse 8 (padma.6.189.8)

तस्यासीत्सैनिको धीमाञ्छस्त्रशास्त्रकलानिधिः । नाम्ना सरभभेरुंडः प्रचंडभुजमंडलः

tasyāsītsainiko dhīmāñchastraśāstrakalānidhiḥ nāmnā sarabhabheruṁḍaḥ pracaṁḍabhujamaṁḍalaḥ

He had a wise soldier, a treasury of skill in weapons and scriptures, named Sarabhabherunda, of fierce and mighty arms.

Verse 9 (padma.6.189.9)

भांडारेण तुरंगैश्च भटैर्वीररसोद्भवैः । समान एव भूपालदुर्गैरत्यंतदुर्गमैः

bhāṁḍāreṇa turaṁgaiśca bhaṭairvīrarasodbhavaiḥ samāna eva bhūpāladurgairatyaṁtadurgamaiḥ

In treasury, in horses, and in warriors born of the heroic mood, he was fully the equal of the king — with forts utterly impregnable.

Verse 10 (padma.6.189.10)

स कदाचित्स्वयं राज्यं कर्तुं पापो दधे मनः । निहत्य वसुधापालं बलात्साकं कुमारकैः

sa kadācitsvayaṁ rājyaṁ kartuṁ pāpo dadhe manaḥ nihatya vasudhāpālaṁ balātsākaṁ kumārakaiḥ

Once that sinful man set his mind on ruling the kingdom himself, by forcibly killing the protector of the earth along with his young sons.

Verse 11 (padma.6.189.11)

कर्तुं व्यवस्य दिवसैः स्वल्पैरित्थं चिकीर्षया । विषूचिकामयादाशु परासुः समजायत

kartuṁ vyavasya divasaiḥ svalpairitthaṁ cikīrṣayā viṣūcikāmayādāśu parāsuḥ samajāyata

Having resolved to do this, with the intention of accomplishing it within a few days, he suddenly died of cholera.

Verse 12 (padma.6.189.12)

कालेनाल्पीयसा प्रेत्य पापात्मा तेन कर्मणा । तेजस्वी तुरगो जातः सिंधुदेशे कृशोदरिः

kālenālpīyasā pretya pāpātmā tena karmaṇā tejasvī turago jātaḥ siṁdhudeśe kṛśodariḥ

After only a short time, that sinful soul, on account of that deed, having died, was born as a spirited, slender-bellied horse in the land of Sindhu.

Verse 13 (padma.6.189.13)

मूलेन बहुना क्रीत्वा हयतत्वविदा ततः । बहुयत्नवता नीतः केनचिद्वैश्यसूनुना

mūlena bahunā krītvā hayatatvavidā tataḥ bahuyatnavatā nītaḥ kenacidvaiśyasūnunā

Bought for a great price by a certain merchant's son, skilled in the science of horses and taking great pains, it was brought elsewhere.

Verse 14 (padma.6.189.14)

राजापि पौत्रनप्त्त्राद्यैस्तस्यैव मरणात्परम् । कालेन वृद्धतां प्राप्तः स्वराज्यं चापि पालयन्

rājāpi pautranapttrādyaistasyaiva maraṇātparam kālena vṛddhatāṁ prāptaḥ svarājyaṁ cāpi pālayan

The king too — his line continuing through grandsons and great-grandsons after that soldier's death — in time reached old age, while still ruling his own kingdom.

Verse 15 (padma.6.189.15)

स वैश्यसूनुस्तं चाश्वं राज्ञे दातुं समागतः । राज्ञोद्वारिस्थितस्तत्र प्रतीक्षंस्तत्समागमम्

sa vaiśyasūnustaṁ cāśvaṁ rājñe dātuṁ samāgataḥ rājñodvāristhitastatra pratīkṣaṁstatsamāgamam

That merchant's son came to give the horse to the king, and stood at the king's gate there, awaiting an audience with him.

Verse 16 (padma.6.189.16)

ज्ञातपूर्वोऽपि वैश्योऽसौ प्रतीहारेण दर्शितः । किमर्थं ब्रूहि राज्ञेति पृष्टः स्पष्टमभाषत

jñātapūrvo'pi vaiśyo'sau pratīhāreṇa darśitaḥ kimarthaṁ brūhi rājñeti pṛṣṭaḥ spaṣṭamabhāṣata

Though the merchant was already known, he was announced by the doorkeeper; asked, 'Tell the king your purpose,' he spoke plainly—

Verse 17 (padma.6.189.17)

देव त्रिजगतीरत्नमिति मत्वा तुरंगमः । मया नियुतमूल्येन बहुना साधुलक्षणः

deva trijagatīratnamiti matvā turaṁgamaḥ mayā niyutamūlyena bahunā sādhulakṣaṇaḥ

'—O lord, considering this horse a jewel of the three worlds, bearing excellent marks, I have bought it for a great price—'

Verse 18 (padma.6.189.18)

ततोऽवलोक्य वक्त्राणि भूपालः पार्श्ववर्तिनाम् । समादिदेश वणिजमश्वोऽत्र नीयतामिति

tato'valokya vaktrāṇi bhūpālaḥ pārśvavartinām samādideśa vaṇijamaśvo'tra nīyatāmiti

Then, glancing at the faces of those nearby, the king commanded: 'Let the horse be brought here by the merchant.'

Verse 19 (padma.6.189.19)

शिरांसि धूनयन्नृणामश्वलक्षणवेदिनाम् । शूराणामपि चेतांसि मुहुरुत्साहयन्महान्

śirāṁsi dhūnayannṛṇāmaśvalakṣaṇavedinām śūrāṇāmapi cetāṁsi muhurutsāhayanmahān

That great horse, again and again stirring the hearts even of brave men, made the heads shake of those learned in the marks of horses—

Verse 20 (padma.6.189.20)

अखंडमेदिनीवेगबहुसंक्रमणार्जितम् । लालाफेनछलेनासौ वमन्शुभ्रतरं यशः

akhaṁḍamedinīvegabahusaṁkramaṇārjitam lālāphenachalenāsau vamanśubhrataraṁ yaśaḥ

—as if disgorging, under the guise of foaming saliva, the pure white fame earned by its many swift crossings of the whole earth.

Verse 21 (padma.6.189.21)

उच्चैःश्रवस्तुलां भेजे गुणसाम्येन तत्त्वतः । विवृण्वन्नति तेजस्वी ह्रियेव नतकंधरः

uccaiḥśravastulāṁ bheje guṇasāmyena tattvataḥ vivṛṇvannati tejasvī hriyeva natakaṁdharaḥ

In truth, by the equality of its qualities, it rivalled the divine horse Uchchaihshravas; yet, exceedingly spirited, its neck bent low as if in modesty.

Verse 22 (padma.6.189.22)

चामरैरिंदुधवलैर्वीज्यमानो निरंतरम् । दुग्धांभोनिधिलोलैस्तैः श्वासैरुच्चैःश्रवा इव

cāmarairiṁdudhavalairvījyamāno niraṁtaram dugdhāṁbhonidhilolaistaiḥ śvāsairuccaiḥśravā iva

Constantly fanned with moon-white chowries, with breaths like the rippling of the ocean of milk, it seemed just like Uchchaihshravas.

Verse 23 (padma.6.189.23)

नीलातपत्रयुगलं घनच्छायतुलश्रिया । बिभ्राणो वारिदालीढ हिमाद्रि शिखरश्रियम्

nīlātapatrayugalaṁ ghanacchāyatulaśriyā bibhrāṇo vāridālīḍha himādri śikharaśriyam

Bearing a pair of dark ears like a pair of blue parasols, with the beauty of dense shade, it bore the splendor of a snow-mountain peak licked by rain-clouds.

Verse 24 (padma.6.189.24)

मेदिनीमंडलस्पर्श संक्रांतमिव पावकम् । मुहुरुद्धरयन्धुन्वन्बंधुरं कंधरातटम्

medinīmaṁḍalasparśa saṁkrāṁtamiva pāvakam muhuruddharayandhunvanbaṁdhuraṁ kaṁdharātaṭam

As if fire had passed into it through touching the surface of the earth, it repeatedly reared up, shaking its lovely, arched neck.

Verse 25 (padma.6.189.25)

दारयन्वैरिणः सर्वान्व्याहरंश्च जयश्रियम् । हेषारवेण गुरुणा दिक्षुप्रख्यापयन्यशः

dārayanvairiṇaḥ sarvānvyāharaṁśca jayaśriyam heṣāraveṇa guruṇā dikṣuprakhyāpayanyaśaḥ

Rending all its foes, proclaiming the glory of victory, it announced its fame in every direction with its deep neighing.

Verse 26 (padma.6.189.26)

सत्त्वस्य राशिरत्युच्चैर्गतीनामिव शेवधिः । रूपस्य निलयं साक्षाल्लक्षणानां पयोनिधिः

sattvasya rāśiratyuccairgatīnāmiva śevadhiḥ rūpasya nilayaṁ sākṣāllakṣaṇānāṁ payonidhiḥ

A very mass of vitality, a treasury, as it were, of the loftiest gaits, the very abode of beauty, the veritable ocean of auspicious marks.

Verse 27 (padma.6.189.27)

आनीतो वणिजा वाजी राज्ञा च समदृश्यत । बहुधा वर्णितोऽमात्यैरश्वलक्षणवेदिभिः

ānīto vaṇijā vājī rājñā ca samadṛśyata bahudhā varṇito'mātyairaśvalakṣaṇavedibhiḥ

The horse, brought by the merchant, was seen by the king, and was praised at length by the ministers learned in the marks of horses.

Verse 28 (padma.6.189.28)

यथेच्छं वणिजोदीर्णं स्वर्णं दत्त्वा महीपतिः । जग्राह तुरगं वेगादसीमानंदनिर्भरः

yathecchaṁ vaṇijodīrṇaṁ svarṇaṁ dattvā mahīpatiḥ jagrāha turagaṁ vegādasīmānaṁdanirbharaḥ

Giving the merchant as much gold as he desired, the king, overflowing with boundless joy, swiftly took the horse.

Verse 29 (padma.6.189.29)

ततोऽश्वपालमाहूय यत्नतस्तं निरूप्य च । विसर्जितसभालोको गृहांतरमगान्नृपः

tato'śvapālamāhūya yatnatastaṁ nirūpya ca visarjitasabhāloko gṛhāṁtaramagānnṛpaḥ

Then, summoning the groom, and having carefully instructed him regarding the horse, the king dismissed the assembly and went into his inner chambers.

Verse 30 (padma.6.189.30)

अनेकधा समापृष्टो महीपालं रंणांगणे । शस्त्रव्रणकिणश्रेणीभूषणं सत्वसन्निभम्

anekadhā samāpṛṣṭo mahīpālaṁ raṁṇāṁgaṇe śastravraṇakiṇaśreṇībhūṣaṇaṁ satvasannibham

That horse, much inquired about regarding the battlefield, adorned as it were with rows of scars from weapon-wounds, resembling very vitality itself—

Verse 31 (padma.6.189.31)

एकदा मृगयां खेलन्कुतूहलरसात्मना । तमारुह्य महीपालो वनं प्रति विवेश ह

ekadā mṛgayāṁ khelankutūhalarasātmanā tamāruhya mahīpālo vanaṁ prati viveśa ha

—once, playing at the hunt out of curiosity, the king, mounting it, entered into the forest.

Verse 32 (padma.6.189.32)

विसृज्य सैनिकान्पृष्टे धावतः परितोऽखिलान् । आकृष्यमाणो हरिणैः पिपासाकुलितोऽभवत्

visṛjya sainikānpṛṣṭe dhāvataḥ parito'khilān ākṛṣyamāṇo hariṇaiḥ pipāsākulito'bhavat

Leaving behind all the soldiers running at his back on every side, drawn onward in pursuit of deer, he became overcome with thirst.

Verse 33 (padma.6.189.33)

तत उत्तीर्य तुरगाज्जलमन्वेषयन् नृपः । बध्वाश्वं तरुशाखायामारुरोह शिलां नृपः

tata uttīrya turagājjalamanveṣayan nṛpaḥ badhvāśvaṁ taruśākhāyāmāruroha śilāṁ nṛpaḥ

Then, dismounting from the horse, the king, searching for water, tied the horse to a tree-branch and climbed up onto a rock.

Verse 34 (padma.6.189.34)

गीतापंचदशाध्यायश्लोकार्द्धलिखितं ततः । पातितं मरुता तत्र यत्र खंडे विलोकयत्

gītāpaṁcadaśādhyāyaślokārddhalikhitaṁ tataḥ pātitaṁ marutā tatra yatra khaṁḍe vilokayat

There, a fragment of a page on which half a verse of the fifteenth chapter of the Gita was written, blown down by the wind, fell — and there he happened to look.

Verse 35 (padma.6.189.35)

पत्रं वाचयतो राज्ञः श्रुत्वा गीताक्षरावलीम् । ततो मुक्तिपदं लेभे तुरगस्त्वरयाऽपतत्

patraṁ vācayato rājñaḥ śrutvā gītākṣarāvalīm tato muktipadaṁ lebhe turagastvarayā'patat

As the king read the leaf, the horse, hearing that string of Gita syllables, at once attained the state of liberation and fell down swiftly.

Verse 36 (padma.6.189.36)

ततो ग्रंथिं समाच्छिद्य पल्याणवतार्य च । उत्थापमानस्तुरगो राज्ञा नोत्थितवान्मृतः

tato graṁthiṁ samācchidya palyāṇavatārya ca utthāpamānasturago rājñā notthitavānmṛtaḥ

Then, cutting the knot of the tether and removing the saddle, the king tried to raise the horse up — but, dead, it did not rise.

Verse 37 (padma.6.189.37)

ततः सरभभेरुंडो नृपमाभाष्य सुस्वरम् । दिव्यं विमानमारुह्य जगाम त्रिदशालयम्

tataḥ sarabhabheruṁḍo nṛpamābhāṣya susvaram divyaṁ vimānamāruhya jagāma tridaśālayam

Then Sarabhabherunda, addressing the king in a sweet voice, mounted a divine chariot and went to the abode of the gods.

Verse 38 (padma.6.189.38)

ततो गिरिं समारुह्य ददर्शाश्रममुत्तमम् । पुन्नागकदलीचूतनारिकेलसमन्वितम्

tato giriṁ samāruhya dadarśāśramamuttamam punnāgakadalīcūtanārikelasamanvitam

Then, climbing a mountain, the king beheld an excellent hermitage, surrounded by punnaga trees, plantains, mango trees, and coconut palms—

Verse 39 (padma.6.189.39)

द्राक्षेक्षुवाटिकापूगनागकेसरचंपकम् । खेलत्करभसारंगं नृत्यत्केकिकुलं नृपः

drākṣekṣuvāṭikāpūganāgakesaracaṁpakam khelatkarabhasāraṁgaṁ nṛtyatkekikulaṁ nṛpaḥ

—with orchards of grapes and sugarcane, betel-palms, nagakesara, and champak trees, where young camels and elephants played and flocks of peacocks danced—

Verse 40 (padma.6.189.40)

प्रणिपत्य द्विजन्मानमुटजाभ्यंतरस्थितम् । पप्रच्छ परया भक्त्या मुक्तसंसारवासनात्

praṇipatya dvijanmānamuṭajābhyaṁtarasthitam papraccha parayā bhaktyā muktasaṁsāravāsanāt

—bowing before the brahmin, free from all worldly desire, seated within the hut, the king asked with the utmost devotion—

Verse 41 (padma.6.189.41)

तुरगो निरगात्स्वर्गं हेतुना केन मे वद । इत्याकर्ण्य वचो राज्ञो द्विजन्मा वाचमूचिवान्

turago niragātsvargaṁ hetunā kena me vada ityākarṇya vaco rājño dvijanmā vācamūcivān

'—for what reason did my horse depart to heaven? Tell me.' Hearing the king's words, the brahmin spoke in reply—

Verse 42 (padma.6.189.42)

कालेन बहुना प्रेत्य तत्पापात्तुरगोऽभवत् । अथ पंचदशाध्यायश्लोकार्द्धं लिखितं क्वचित्

kālena bahunā pretya tatpāpātturago'bhavat atha paṁcadaśādhyāyaślokārddhaṁ likhitaṁ kvacit

'—after a long time, having died, he became a horse on account of that sin; then, somewhere, half a verse of the fifteenth chapter, once written—'

Verse 43 (padma.6.189.43)

ततो वाचयतः श्रुत्वा निरगात्तुरगो दिवम् । ततः समागतैस्तत्र परिवारजनैर्वृतः

tato vācayataḥ śrutvā niragātturago divam tataḥ samāgataistatra parivārajanairvṛtaḥ

'—having heard it as someone read it aloud, the horse departed to heaven.' Then, surrounded there by the members of his retinue who had gathered—

Verse 44 (padma.6.189.44)

प्रणिपत्य द्विजन्मानं हृष्टरोमा विनिर्गतः । पत्रं तदेव लिखितं गीतापंचदशाक्षरम्

praṇipatya dvijanmānaṁ hṛṣṭaromā vinirgataḥ patraṁ tadeva likhitaṁ gītāpaṁcadaśākṣaram

—bowing before the brahmin, his hair standing on end with joy, the king departed; and that very leaf, on which the fifteenth-chapter verse of the Gita was written—

Verse 45 (padma.6.189.45)

वाचयन्स महीपालो हर्षसंफुल्ललोचनः । अभिषिच्य निजं पुत्रं मंत्रविन्मंत्रिभिः समम्

vācayansa mahīpālo harṣasaṁphullalocanaḥ abhiṣicya nijaṁ putraṁ maṁtravinmaṁtribhiḥ samam

—reading it, the king, his eyes wide with joy, then, together with his mantra-knowing ministers, anointed his own son—

Verse 46 (padma.6.189.46)

सिंहासने सिंहबलं मुक्तिमाप विशुद्धधीः

siṁhāsane siṁhabalaṁ muktimāpa viśuddhadhīḥ

—setting that lion-strong son upon the lion-throne, he, of purified mind, attained liberation.