Manibhadra's Cruelty and the Humiliation of the Brahmin Pushpa

Verse 1 (skanda.6.156.1)

सूत उवाच। एवं सम्बोधिता तेन सा भार्या विजने गता ॥ कन्याप्रदानस्य रुचिः संजाता तदनन्तरम्

sūta uvāca evaṁ sambodhitā tena sā bhāryā vijane gatā kanyāpradānasya ruciḥ saṁjātā tadanantaram

Suta said: Thus persuaded by him, that wife returned from her solitude, and thereafter developed a willingness for the giving of the maiden in marriage.

Verse 2 (skanda.6.156.2)

ततः स पादौ प्रक्षाल्य मणिभद्रस्य सत्वरम्॥ उदकं साक्षतं हस्ते कन्यादानकृते ददौ

tataḥ sa pādau prakṣālya maṇibhadrasya satvaram udakaṁ sākṣataṁ haste kanyādānakṛte dadau

Then he quickly washed Manibhadra's feet, and poured water mixed with unbroken rice into his hand as a pledge for the giving of the maiden.

Verse 3 (skanda.6.156.3)

सोऽपि हस्तकृते तोये तं क्षत्रियमुवाच ह ॥ अद्यैव कुरु मे शीघ्रं विवाहं कन्यया सह

so'pi hastakṛte toye taṁ kṣatriyamuvāca ha adyaiva kuru me śīghraṁ vivāhaṁ kanyayā saha

As soon as the water was poured into his hand, he said to that kshatriya: "This very day, quickly perform my marriage with this maiden —

Verse 4 (skanda.6.156.4)

यस्मादिच्छामि संस्थातुं तेन ते गृहमागतः ॥

yasmādicchāmi saṁsthātuṁ tena te gṛhamāgataḥ

— since I wish to settle here, and it is for this that I have come to your house."

Verse 5 (skanda.6.156.5)

क्षत्रिय उवाच। नात्र नक्षत्रमर्हं तु न किंचिद्भगदैवतम्

kṣatriya uvāca nātra nakṣatramarhaṁ tu na kiṁcidbhagadaivatam

The kshatriya said: "There is no suitable lunar asterism at present, nor is the moon joined with any auspicious constellation.

Verse 6 (skanda.6.156.6)

विवाहस्य न वारस्तु प्रसुप्ते मधुसूदने ॥ अस्मिन्काले तु संप्राप्ते या कन्या परिणीयते

vivāhasya na vārastu prasupte madhusūdane asminkāle tu saṁprāpte yā kanyā pariṇīyate

This is not the time for marriage, while Madhusudana (Vishnu) lies asleep; if a maiden is given in marriage at such a time —

Verse 7 (skanda.6.156.7)

सा च संवत्सरान्मध्ये ध्रुवं वैधव्यमाप्नुयात्॥ एवं दैवज्ञमुख्यानां श्रुतं प्रवदतां मया

sā ca saṁvatsarānmadhye dhruvaṁ vaidhavyamāpnuyāt evaṁ daivajñamukhyānāṁ śrutaṁ pravadatāṁ mayā

— she is certain to become a widow within a year; this I have heard spoken by the foremost astrologers.

Verse 8 (skanda.6.156.8)

तस्माच्छुभे तु संप्राप्ते नक्षत्रे भगदैवते ॥ त्वं विवाहय मे कन्यां प्रोत्थिते मधुसूदने ॥ येन क्षेमंकरी ते स्यात्तथा पुत्रप्रपौत्रिणी

tasmācchubhe tu saṁprāpte nakṣatre bhagadaivate tvaṁ vivāhaya me kanyāṁ protthite madhusūdane yena kṣemaṁkarī te syāttathā putraprapautriṇī

Therefore, only when an auspicious asterism has come and Madhusudana has awakened, marry my daughter then, so that she may bring you well-being, and become blessed with sons and grandsons."

Verse 9 (skanda.6.156.9)

मणिभद्र उवाच। नक्षत्रं वह्निदैवत्यं प्रसुप्तो मधुसूदनः

maṇibhadra uvāca nakṣatraṁ vahnidaivatyaṁ prasupto madhusūdanaḥ

Manibhadra said: "The asterism has fire as its deity, and Madhusudana anyway lies asleep —

Verse 10 (skanda.6.156.10)

सांप्रतं वत्सरांतोऽयं विवाहे विहिते सति ॥ कामाग्निरुत्थितः काये सांप्रतं मां प्रबाधते

sāṁprataṁ vatsarāṁto'yaṁ vivāhe vihite sati kāmāgnirutthitaḥ kāye sāṁprataṁ māṁ prabādhate

— this is now the end of the year, so let the marriage be performed; for the fire of desire now blazing in my body is tormenting me sorely.

Verse 11 (skanda.6.156.11)

तस्मात्कुरु प्रसादं मे कन्याविवहितेन तु ॥ तव वित्तं प्रदास्यामि सुखी येन भविष्यसि

tasmātkuru prasādaṁ me kanyāvivahitena tu tava vittaṁ pradāsyāmi sukhī yena bhaviṣyasi

Therefore show me your favor and give the maiden in marriage at once; I shall give you so much wealth that you will become prosperous."

Verse 12 (skanda.6.156.12)

सूत उवाच। तस्माच्च वित्तलोभेन क्षत्रियो द्विजसत्तमाः ॥ विवाहं कारयामास तत्क्षणादेव स द्विजाः

sūta uvāca tasmācca vittalobhena kṣatriyo dvijasattamāḥ vivāhaṁ kārayāmāsa tatkṣaṇādeva sa dvijāḥ

Suta said: O foremost of brahmins, out of greed for wealth, that kshatriya had the marriage performed then and there.

Verse 13 (skanda.6.156.13)

ददौ कन्यां सुदुःखार्तामश्रुपूर्णेक्षणां स्थिताम् ॥ सन्निधौ वह्निविप्राणां तदा तेन विवाहिता

dadau kanyāṁ suduḥkhārtāmaśrupūrṇekṣaṇāṁ sthitām sannidhau vahniviprāṇāṁ tadā tena vivāhitā

He gave away that maiden, who stood grief-stricken with eyes full of tears, and she was married then in the presence of the sacred fire and the brahmins.

Verse 14 (skanda.6.156.14)

नीत्वा निजगृहं पश्चात्कामधर्मे नियोजिता ॥ अनिच्छंतीमपि सतीं तामतीव निरर्गलः

nītvā nijagṛhaṁ paścātkāmadharme niyojitā anicchaṁtīmapi satīṁ tāmatīva nirargalaḥ

Taking her to his own house, that shameless man, quite without restraint, forced that virtuous woman into carnal enjoyment, though she was utterly unwilling.

Verse 15 (skanda.6.156.15)

सोऽपि निष्कामतां प्राप्य निर्भर्त्स्य च मुहुर्मुहुः ॥ भाषिकाभिरनेकाभिस्तापयित्वा च भामिनीम्

so'pi niṣkāmatāṁ prāpya nirbhartsya ca muhurmuhuḥ bhāṣikābhiranekābhistāpayitvā ca bhāminīm

And he, once his lust was satisfied, having repeatedly scolded her and tormented that lovely woman with many harsh words —

Verse 16 (skanda.6.156.16)

शांतिं नीता ततस्तेन प्रत्यूषे समुपस्थिते ॥ भृत्यवर्गः समस्तोऽपि ततो निःसारितो गृहात्

śāṁtiṁ nītā tatastena pratyūṣe samupasthite bhṛtyavargaḥ samasto'pi tato niḥsārito gṛhāt

— thus had her subdued; then, as morning arrived, he dismissed the entire body of servants from the house.

Verse 17 (skanda.6.156.17)

इर्ष्याधर्मं समास्थाय परमं द्विजसत्तमाः ॥ एक एव कृतस्तेन द्वारपालो नपुंसकः

irṣyādharmaṁ samāsthāya paramaṁ dvijasattamāḥ eka eva kṛtastena dvārapālo napuṁsakaḥ

O foremost of brahmins, giving way to the utmost jealousy, he appointed only a single eunuch as the doorkeeper.

Verse 18 (skanda.6.156.18)

प्रोक्तं न च त्वया देयः प्रवेशोऽत्र गृहे मम ॥ भृत्यस्य भिक्षुकस्यैव वृद्धस्य व्रतिनस्तथा

proktaṁ na ca tvayā deyaḥ praveśo'tra gṛhe mama bhṛtyasya bhikṣukasyaiva vṛddhasya vratinastathā

He commanded him: "You must not permit entry into this house of mine to anyone — be he a servant, a beggar, an old man, or one under a vow."

Verse 19 (skanda.6.156.19)

एवं कृत्वा विधानं तु ततश्चक्रे जनैः समम् ॥ व्यवहारक्रियाः सर्वा द्रव्यलक्षैः सहस्रशः

evaṁ kṛtvā vidhānaṁ tu tataścakre janaiḥ samam vyavahārakriyāḥ sarvā dravyalakṣaiḥ sahasraśaḥ

Having thus made this arrangement, he then carried on all manner of business dealings with people, involving hundreds of thousands in wealth.

Verse 20 (skanda.6.156.20)

श्वशुरस्यापि नो दत्तं किंचित्तेन दुरात्मना ॥ भार्यायाः श्वेतवस्त्राणि मुक्त्वाऽन्यन्नैव किंचन

śvaśurasyāpi no dattaṁ kiṁcittena durātmanā bhāryāyāḥ śvetavastrāṇi muktvā'nyannaiva kiṁcana

That evil-souled man gave nothing at all to his father-in-law, and to his own wife he gave nothing whatsoever beyond plain white garments.

Verse 21 (skanda.6.156.21)

यामद्वयेऽपि संप्राप्ते दिनस्य गृहमागतः ॥ मितमन्नं तत स्तस्या भोजनार्थं प्रयच्छति

yāmadvaye'pi saṁprāpte dinasya gṛhamāgataḥ mitamannaṁ tata stasyā bhojanārthaṁ prayacchati

When two watches of the day had passed, he would come home and give her only a meagre measure of food to eat.

Verse 22 (skanda.6.156.22)

यावन्मात्रं च सा भुंक्त एकविप्रान्वितः स्वयम् ॥ भुक्त्वा चैव ततो याति व्यवहारकृते बहिः

yāvanmātraṁ ca sā bhuṁkta ekaviprānvitaḥ svayam bhuktvā caiva tato yāti vyavahārakṛte bahiḥ

He himself would sit with a single brahmin and eat only as much as she ate; then, having eaten, he would go out again on business.

Verse 23 (skanda.6.156.23)

आगच्छति पुनर्हर्म्यं संध्याकाल उपस्थिते ॥ साऽपि तिष्ठति हर्म्यस्था पत्नी तस्य दुरात्मनः

āgacchati punarharmyaṁ saṁdhyākāla upasthite sā'pi tiṣṭhati harmyasthā patnī tasya durātmanaḥ

When evening came he would return again to the mansion; and the wife of that evil-souled man remained confined there in the mansion.

Verse 24 (skanda.6.156.24)

वैराग्यं परमं प्राप्ता दुःखशोकसमन्विता । मत्सीव पतिता तोयादन्यस्मिंस्तु स्थलांतिके

vairāgyaṁ paramaṁ prāptā duḥkhaśokasamanvitā matsīva patitā toyādanyasmiṁstu sthalāṁtike

She had come to the deepest despair, filled with grief and sorrow — like a fish thrown from the water and lying stranded on some other shore.

Verse 25 (skanda.6.156.25)

चक्रवाकी विमुक्तेव संप्राप्ते दिवसक्षये ॥ हंसी हंसवियुक्तेव मृगीव मृगवर्जिता

cakravākī vimukteva saṁprāpte divasakṣaye haṁsī haṁsaviyukteva mṛgīva mṛgavarjitā

She was like a chakravaki bird abandoned as the day drew to its close, like a female swan parted from her mate, like a doe deprived of her stag.

Verse 26 (skanda.6.156.26)

सोऽपि नित्यं ददौ भोज्यं विप्रस्यैकस्य च द्विजाः ॥ प्रोच्य तं ब्राह्मणं पूर्वं सामपूर्वमिदं वचः

so'pi nityaṁ dadau bhojyaṁ viprasyaikasya ca dvijāḥ procya taṁ brāhmaṇaṁ pūrvaṁ sāmapūrvamidaṁ vacaḥ

O brahmins, he would daily give food to only a single brahmin; and to that brahmin he would first say, in a conciliatory tone, these words —

Verse 27 (skanda.6.156.27)

अधोवक्त्रेण भोक्तव्यं सदा विप्र गृहे मम । यदि पश्यसि मे भार्यां संप्राप्स्यसि विडंबनाम्

adhovaktreṇa bhoktavyaṁ sadā vipra gṛhe mama yadi paśyasi me bhāryāṁ saṁprāpsyasi viḍaṁbanām

"O brahmin, in my house you must always eat with your face lowered; if you look upon my wife, you will meet with humiliation."

Verse 28 (skanda.6.156.28)

एवं विडंबितास्तेन ह्यूर्ध्ववक्त्रावलोकिनः ॥ ये चान्ये भयसंत्रस्ता न यांति च तदालयम्

evaṁ viḍaṁbitāstena hyūrdhvavaktrāvalokinaḥ ye cānye bhayasaṁtrastā na yāṁti ca tadālayam

In this way, those who raised their faces and looked were humiliated by him, and other brahmins too, terrified by this fear, would no longer go to his house.

Verse 29 (skanda.6.156.29)

कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य पुष्पोनाम द्विजोत्तमः ॥ तीर्थयात्राप्रसंगेन संप्राप्तस्तत्पुरं प्रति

kasyacittvatha kālasya puṣponāma dvijottamaḥ tīrthayātrāprasaṁgena saṁprāptastatpuraṁ prati

Then, at a certain time, an excellent brahmin named Pushpa arrived in that city in the course of his pilgrimage.

Verse 30 (skanda.6.156.30)

पूर्वे वयसि संस्थश्च दर्शनीयतमाकृतिः ॥ क्षुत्क्षामः सुपरिश्रांतो मध्याह्ने समुपस्थिते

pūrve vayasi saṁsthaśca darśanīyatamākṛtiḥ kṣutkṣāmaḥ supariśrāṁto madhyāhne samupasthite

He was in the prime of his youth, of most handsome appearance, and, as midday came, he was weakened by hunger and utterly exhausted.

Verse 31 (skanda.6.156.31)

परिभ्रमति वै नृणां स गृहाणि समंततः ॥ मणिभद्रः समादिष्टस्तस्य केनापि भोज्यदः

paribhramati vai nṛṇāṁ sa gṛhāṇi samaṁtataḥ maṇibhadraḥ samādiṣṭastasya kenāpi bhojyadaḥ

He wandered about, going from house to house of the townsfolk; someone directed him to Manibhadra as one who would give him food.

Verse 32 (skanda.6.156.32)

ततस्तं प्रार्थयामास गत्वा भोज्यं च स द्विजाः ॥ तेनापि स द्विजः प्रोक्तस्तदासौ द्विजसत्तमाः

tatastaṁ prārthayāmāsa gatvā bhojyaṁ ca sa dvijāḥ tenāpi sa dvijaḥ proktastadāsau dvijasattamāḥ

Then, O brahmins, going there, that brahmin begged food of him; and, O foremost of brahmins, he in turn spoke to that brahmin —

Verse 33 (skanda.6.156.33)

अधोवक्त्रेण भोक्तव्यं त्वया वीक्ष्या न मे प्रिया ॥ नो चेद्विडंबनां विप्र संप्राप्स्यसि न संशयः

adhovaktreṇa bhoktavyaṁ tvayā vīkṣyā na me priyā no cedviḍaṁbanāṁ vipra saṁprāpsyasi na saṁśayaḥ

"You must eat with your face lowered — you must not look upon my beloved wife; otherwise, O brahmin, you shall surely meet with humiliation.

Verse 34 (skanda.6.156.34)

एवं ज्ञात्वा महाभाग यत्क्षेमं तत्समाचर

evaṁ jñātvā mahābhāga yatkṣemaṁ tatsamācara

Knowing this, O illustrious one, do whatever is for your own good."

Verse 35 (skanda.6.156.35)

पुष्प उवाच। क्षुत्क्षामस्य न मे कार्यं परदारविलोकनैः ॥ वेदाध्ययनयुक्तस्य तीर्थयात्रारतस्य च

puṣpa uvāca kṣutkṣāmasya na me kāryaṁ paradāravilokanaiḥ vedādhyayanayuktasya tīrthayātrāratasya ca

Pushpa said: "What business have I, weakened by hunger, devoted to the study of the Vedas and engaged in pilgrimage, with gazing upon another man's wife?"

Verse 36 (skanda.6.156.36)

मणिभद्र उवाच। तदागच्छ मया सार्धं सांप्रतं मम मंदिरम् ॥ विशेषात्तव दास्यामि भोजनं दक्षिणान्वितम्

maṇibhadra uvāca tadāgaccha mayā sārdhaṁ sāṁprataṁ mama maṁdiram viśeṣāttava dāsyāmi bhojanaṁ dakṣiṇānvitam

Manibhadra said: "Then come now with me to my house; I shall give you a meal, and with special generosity a gift besides."

Verse 37 (skanda.6.156.37)

एवं तौ संविदं कृत्वा ययतुर्ब्राह्मणोत्तमाः ॥ हट्टमार्गे गतौ तत्र यत्र षंढो व्यव स्थितः

evaṁ tau saṁvidaṁ kṛtvā yayaturbrāhmaṇottamāḥ haṭṭamārge gatau tatra yatra ṣaṁḍho vyava sthitaḥ

O best of brahmins, having thus come to an agreement, the two went on, and along the market road came to the place where the eunuch stood.

Verse 38 (skanda.6.156.38)

तत्पार्श्वे ब्राह्मणं धृत्वा प्रविष्टो गृहमध्यतः ॥ भार्यया श्रपयामास धान्यं मानमितं तदा

tatpārśve brāhmaṇaṁ dhṛtvā praviṣṭo gṛhamadhyataḥ bhāryayā śrapayāmāsa dhānyaṁ mānamitaṁ tadā

Leaving the brahmin near him, he himself entered inside the house, and had his wife cook a measured quantity of grain.

Verse 39 (skanda.6.156.39)

ततो देवार्चनं कृत्वा वैश्वदेवांत आगतम् ॥ पुष्पमाहूय तत्पादौ प्रक्षाल्य च निवेश्य च

tato devārcanaṁ kṛtvā vaiśvadevāṁta āgatam puṣpamāhūya tatpādau prakṣālya ca niveśya ca

Then, having performed the worship of the gods, and when the Vaishvadeva rite was finished, he called Pushpa, washed his feet, and seated him —

Verse 40 (skanda.6.156.40)

कृत्वार्चनविधिं तस्य दत्त्वान्नं च सुसंस्कृतम् ॥ उपविश्य ततः पश्चाद्भोजनार्थं ततो द्विजाः। पुष्पोऽपि वीक्षते तस्याः पादौ पंकजसंनिभौ

kṛtvārcanavidhiṁ tasya dattvānnaṁ ca susaṁskṛtam upaviśya tataḥ paścādbhojanārthaṁ tato dvijāḥ puṣpo'pi vīkṣate tasyāḥ pādau paṁkajasaṁnibhau

— having performed the rite of hospitality for him and given him well-prepared food, he too then sat down to eat. O brahmins, then Pushpa happened to see her lotus-like feet.

Verse 41 (skanda.6.156.41)

यथायथा स कौतुक्याद्वीक्षते यौवनाश्रितः॥ कौतुक्यात्तेन च ततस्तस्या वक्त्रं निरीक्षितम्

yathāyathā sa kautukyādvīkṣate yauvanāśritaḥ kautukyāttena ca tatastasyā vaktraṁ nirīkṣitam

As, moved by youthful curiosity, he kept glancing further, out of that same curiosity he then also caught sight of her face.

Verse 42 (skanda.6.156.42)

ततश्चाकारयामास मणिभद्रः प्रकोपतः॥ तं षण्ढमुक्तवाञ्जारं त्वमेनं च विडंबय

tataścākārayāmāsa maṇibhadraḥ prakopataḥ taṁ ṣaṇḍhamuktavāñjāraṁ tvamenaṁ ca viḍaṁbaya

Then Manibhadra, in great fury, summoned that eunuch and said to him: "This man is a lecher — humiliate him."

Verse 43 (skanda.6.156.43)

ततस्तेन द्विजश्रेष्ठाः स पुष्पो मूर्ध्नि ताडितः

tatastena dvijaśreṣṭhāḥ sa puṣpo mūrdhni tāḍitaḥ

O foremost of brahmins, then that Pushpa was struck upon the head by him.

Verse 44 (skanda.6.156.44)

अधो निपतितं भूमौ रुधिरेण परिप्लुतम् ॥ चरणाभ्यां समाकृष्य दूतो मार्गं समाश्रितः

adho nipatitaṁ bhūmau rudhireṇa pariplutam caraṇābhyāṁ samākṛṣya dūto mārgaṁ samāśritaḥ

He fell down upon the ground, drenched in blood; then that messenger (the eunuch) dragged him by both feet and hauled him out onto the road.

Verse 45 (skanda.6.156.45)

यावच्चतुष्पथं नीतो यत्र संचरते जनः ॥ हाहाकारो महानासीत्तस्मिन्पुरवरे तदा

yāvaccatuṣpathaṁ nīto yatra saṁcarate janaḥ hāhākāro mahānāsīttasminpuravare tadā

He was dragged all the way to the crossroads, where people passed by; then a great outcry of lamentation arose in that fine city.

Verse 46 (skanda.6.156.46)

सर्वेषामेव पौराणां तदवस्थं विलोक्य तम् ॥ ततोऽन्यैः शीततोयेन सोभिषिक्तो दयान्वितैः

sarveṣāmeva paurāṇāṁ tadavasthaṁ vilokya tam tato'nyaiḥ śītatoyena sobhiṣikto dayānvitaiḥ

Beholding him reduced to that state, all the townsfolk, moved by compassion, sprinkled him with cool water.

Verse 47 (skanda.6.156.47)

कृत्वा वायुप्रदानं च गमितश्चेतनां प्रति ॥ स प्राप्य चेतनां कृच्छ्रात्तत्तोयात्तानथाब्रवीत्

kṛtvā vāyupradānaṁ ca gamitaścetanāṁ prati sa prāpya cetanāṁ kṛcchrāttattoyāttānathābravīt

Fanning him, they brought him back to consciousness; regaining his senses with difficulty from that cold water, he then spoke to them.

Verse 48 (skanda.6.156.48)

न मया विहितं चौर्यं परदारा न सेविताः ॥ पश्यध्वं मणिभद्रेण यथाहं क्लेशितो जनाः

na mayā vihitaṁ cauryaṁ paradārā na sevitāḥ paśyadhvaṁ maṇibhadreṇa yathāhaṁ kleśito janāḥ

"I have committed no theft, nor have I approached another man's wife; behold, O people, how I have been tormented by Manibhadra.

Verse 49 (skanda.6.156.49)

तीर्थयात्रापरो विप्रो ब्रह्मचर्यपरायणः ॥ भोजनार्थं समामन्त्र्य नीतोऽवस्थामिमां ततः

tīrthayātrāparo vipro brahmacaryaparāyaṇaḥ bhojanārthaṁ samāmantrya nīto'vasthāmimāṁ tataḥ

A brahmin devoted to pilgrimage and given to celibacy — he invited me to a meal and thereby reduced me to this condition.

Verse 50 (skanda.6.156.50)

किं नास्ति वात्र भूपालो येनैतदसमंजसम् ॥ ब्राह्मणस्य विशेषेण निर्दोषस्य महाजनाः

kiṁ nāsti vātra bhūpālo yenaitadasamaṁjasam brāhmaṇasya viśeṣeṇa nirdoṣasya mahājanāḥ

O good people, is there then no king here at all, that such an outrage could occur — especially against an innocent brahmin?"

Verse 51 (skanda.6.156.51)

जना ऊचुः। बहवस्तेन पापेन विप्राः पूर्वं विडंबिताः ॥ राजप्रसादयुक्तेन चेर्ष्यां प्राप्य शरीरिणा

janā ūcuḥ bahavastena pāpena viprāḥ pūrvaṁ viḍaṁbitāḥ rājaprasādayuktena cerṣyāṁ prāpya śarīriṇā

The people said: That sinful man, who enjoys the king's favor, has, driven by jealousy, humiliated many brahmins in just this way before.

Verse 52 (skanda.6.156.52)

कोऽपि राजप्रसादान्न किंचिद्ब्रूतेऽस्य सम्मुखम् ॥ तस्मादुत्तिष्ठ गच्छामो दास्यामस्तेऽशनं वयम्

ko'pi rājaprasādānna kiṁcidbrūte'sya sammukham tasmāduttiṣṭha gacchāmo dāsyāmaste'śanaṁ vayam

Because of the king's favor, no one dares say anything to his face. Therefore rise, let us go; we shall give you food ourselves.