King Sveta's Account of His Hunger

Shloka 1 (uttara.78.1)

श्रुत्वा तु भाषितं वाक्यं मम राम शुभाक्षरम् । प्राञ्जलिः प्रत्युवाचेदं स स्वर्गी रघुनन्दन ।। ७.७८.१ ।।

śrutvā tu bhāṣitaṃ vākyaṃ mama rāma śubhākṣaram | prāñjaliḥ pratyuvācedaṃ sa svargī raghunandana || 7.78.1 ||

Having heard my auspicious words, Rama, that heavenly being, with joined palms, replied thus, O Raghunandana:

Shloka 2 (uttara.78.2)

शृणु ब्रह्मन्पुरा वृत्तं ममैतत्सुखदुःखयोः । अनतिक्रमणीयं हि यथा पृच्छसि मां द्विज ।। ७.७८.२ ।।

śṛṇu brahmanpurā vṛttaṃ mamaitatsukhaduḥkhayoḥ | anatikramaṇīyaṃ hi yathā pṛcchasi māṃ dvija || 7.78.2 ||

"Listen, brahmin, to what happened to me long ago, of both joy and sorrow — since, as you ask, twice-born one, it cannot rightly be withheld."

Shloka 3 (uttara.78.3)

पुरा वैदर्भको राजा पिता मम महायशाः । सुदेव इति विख्यातस्त्रिषु लोकेषु वीर्यवान् ।। ७.७८.३ ।।

purā vaidarbhako rājā pitā mama mahāyaśāḥ | sudeva iti vikhyātastriṣu lokeṣu vīryavān || 7.78.3 ||

"Long ago there was a king of Vidarbha, my father, of great renown, known through the three worlds by the name Sudeva, and mighty."

Shloka 4 (uttara.78.4)

तस्य पुत्रद्वयं ब्रह्मन्द्वाभ्यां स्त्रीभ्यामजायत । अहं श्वेत इति ख्यातो यवीयान्सुरथो ऽभवत् ।। ७.७८.४ ।।

tasya putradvayaṃ brahmandvābhyāṃ strībhyāmajāyata | ahaṃ śveta iti khyāto yavīyānsuratho 'bhavat || 7.78.4 ||

"To him, brahmin, two sons were born of two wives; I am known as Sveta, and the younger became Suratha."

Shloka 5 (uttara.78.5)

ततः पितरि स्वर्याते पौरा मामभ्यषेचयन् । तत्राहं कृतवान्राज्यं धर्म्यं च सुसमाहितः ।। ७.७८.५ ।।

tataḥ pitari svaryāte paurā māmabhyaṣecayan | tatrāhaṃ kṛtavānrājyaṃ dharmyaṃ ca susamāhitaḥ || 7.78.5 ||

"Then, when my father passed to heaven, the citizens consecrated me king; there, well-composed, I ruled the kingdom righteously."

Shloka 6 (uttara.78.6)

एवं वर्षसहस्राणि समतीतानि सुव्रत । राज्यं कारयतो ब्रह्मन्प्रजा धर्मेण रक्षतः ।। ७.७८.६ ।।

evaṃ varṣasahasrāṇi samatītāni suvrata | rājyaṃ kārayato brahmanprajā dharmeṇa rakṣataḥ || 7.78.6 ||

"Thus, O virtuous one, O brahmin, a thousand years passed as I governed the kingdom and protected the people according to dharma."

Shloka 7 (uttara.78.7)

सो ऽहं निमित्ते कस्मिंश्चिद्विज्ञातायुर्द्विजोत्तम । कालधर्मं हृदि न्यस्य ततो वनमुपागमम् ।। ७.७८.७ ।।

so 'haṃ nimitte kasmiṃścidvijñātāyurdvijottama | kāladharmaṃ hṛdi nyasya tato vanamupāgamam || 7.78.7 ||

"Then, best of the twice-born, having through some sign learned that my span was ending, and setting the thought of death in my heart, I went thence into the forest."

Shloka 8 (uttara.78.8)

सो ऽहं वनमिदं दुर्गं मृगपक्षिविवर्जितम् । तपश्चर्तुं प्रविष्टो ऽस्मि समीपे सरसः शुभे ।। ७.७८.८ ।।

so 'haṃ vanamidaṃ durgaṃ mṛgapakṣivivarjitam | tapaścartuṃ praviṣṭo 'smi samīpe sarasaḥ śubhe || 7.78.8 ||

"I entered this impenetrable forest, empty of deer and birds, to practice austerity near this auspicious lake."

Shloka 9 (uttara.78.9)

भ्रातरं सुरथं राज्ये ह्यभिषिच्य महीपतिम् । इदं सरः समासाद्य तपस्तप्तं मया चिरम् ।। ७.७८.९ ।।

bhrātaraṃ surathaṃ rājye hyabhiṣicya mahīpatim | idaṃ saraḥ samāsādya tapastaptaṃ mayā ciram || 7.78.9 ||

"Having consecrated my brother Suratha as king of the land, I came to this lake and practiced austerity here for a long time."

Shloka 10 (uttara.78.10)

सो ऽहं वर्षसहस्राणि तपस्त्रीणि महावने । तप्त्वा सुदुष्करं प्राप्तो ब्रह्मलोकमनुत्तमम् ।। ७.७८.१० ।।

so 'haṃ varṣasahasrāṇi tapastrīṇi mahāvane | taptvā suduṣkaraṃ prāpto brahmalokamanuttamam || 7.78.10 ||

"Having practiced most difficult austerity for three thousand years in this great forest, I attained the supreme world of Brahma."

Shloka 11 (uttara.78.11)

तस्य मे स्वर्गभूतस्य क्षुत्पिपासे द्विजोत्तम । बाधेते परमोदार ततो ऽहं व्यथितेन्द्रियः । गत्वा त्रिभुवनश्रेष्ठं पितामहमुवाच ह ।। ७.७८.११ ।।

tasya me svargabhūtasya kṣutpipāse dvijottama | bādhete paramodāra tato 'haṃ vyathitendriyaḥ | gatvā tribhuvanaśreṣṭhaṃ pitāmahamuvāca ha || 7.78.11 ||

"But then, best of the twice-born, most noble one, though I had become a dweller of heaven, hunger and thirst afflicted me; and I, my senses in distress, went to the grandsire, foremost of the three worlds, and said:"

Shloka 12 (uttara.78.12)

भगवन्ब्रह्मलोको ऽयं क्षुत्पिपासाविवर्जितः । कस्यायं कर्मणः पाकः क्षुत्पिपासानुगो ह्यहम् ।। ७.७८.१२ ।।

bhagavanbrahmaloko 'yaṃ kṣutpipāsāvivarjitaḥ | kasyāyaṃ karmaṇaḥ pākaḥ kṣutpipāsānugo hyaham || 7.78.12 ||

"'Holy one, this world of Brahma is free from hunger and thirst — whose deed's fruit is this, that I am beset by hunger and thirst?'"

Shloka 13 (uttara.78.13)

आहारः कश्च मे देव तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह ।। ७.७८.१३ ।।

āhāraḥ kaśca me deva tanme brūhi pitāmaha || 7.78.13 ||

"'And what, O god, is to be my food? Tell me this, grandsire.'"

Shloka 14 (uttara.78.14)

पितामहस्तु मामाह तवाहारः सुदेवज । स्वादूनि स्वानि मांसानि तानि भक्षय नित्यशः ।। ७.७८.१४ ।।

pitāmahastu māmāha tavāhāraḥ sudevaja | svādūni svāni māṃsāni tāni bhakṣaya nityaśaḥ || 7.78.14 ||

"The grandsire then said to me: 'Your food, son of Sudeva, is your own sweet flesh; eat that continually.'"

Shloka 15 (uttara.78.15)

स्वशरीरं त्वया पुष्टं कुर्वता तप उत्तमम् । अनुप्तं रोहते श्वेत न कदाचिन्महामते ।। ७.७८.१५ ।।

svaśarīraṃ tvayā puṣṭaṃ kurvatā tapa uttamam | anuptaṃ rohate śveta na kadācinmahāmate || 7.78.15 ||

"'Your own body, nourished by you while performing supreme austerity, will always grow back again unsown, Sveta, great-minded one, without fail.'"

Shloka 16 (uttara.78.16)

तृप्तिर्न ते ऽस्ति सूक्ष्मा ऽपि वने सत्वनिषेविते । पुरा तु भिक्षमाणाय भिक्षा वै यतये नृप । न हि दत्ता त्वयेन्द्राभ यस्मादतिथये ऽपि वै ।। ७.७८.१६ ।।

tṛptirna te 'sti sūkṣmā 'pi vane satvaniṣevite | purā tu bhikṣamāṇāya bhikṣā vai yataye nṛpa | na hi dattā tvayendrābha yasmādatithaye 'pi vai || 7.78.16 ||

"'You shall have not the least satisfaction in this creature-filled forest, for once, O king, when a mendicant sage begged of you, you gave no alms — since, O you who were like Indra, you gave nothing even to a guest.'"

Shloka 17 (uttara.78.17)

दत्तं न ते ऽस्ति सूक्ष्मो ऽपि तप एव निषेवसे । तेन स्वर्गगतो वत्स बाध्यसे क्षुत्पिपासया ।। ७.७८.१७ ।।

dattaṃ na te 'sti sūkṣmo 'pi tapa eva niṣevase | tena svargagato vatsa bādhyase kṣutpipāsayā || 7.78.17 ||

"'Not the least gift was ever given by you; you only practiced austerity. That is why, child, though gone to heaven, you are afflicted by hunger and thirst.'"

Shloka 18 (uttara.78.18)

स त्वं सुपुष्टमाहारैः स्वशरीरमनुत्तमम् । भक्षयित्वामृतरसं तेन तृप्तिर्भविष्यति ।। ७.७८.१८ ।।

sa tvaṃ supuṣṭamāhāraiḥ svaśarīramanuttamam | bhakṣayitvāmṛtarasaṃ tena tṛptirbhaviṣyati || 7.78.18 ||

"'So you, eating your own well-nourished, supreme body as though its taste were nectar, shall by that be satisfied.'"

Shloka 19 (uttara.78.19)

यदा तु तद्वनं श्वेत अगस्त्यः सुमहानृषिः । आगमिष्यति दुर्धर्षस्तदा कृच्छ्राद्विमोक्ष्यते ।। ७.७८.१९ ।।

yadā tu tadvanaṃ śveta agastyaḥ sumahānṛṣiḥ | āgamiṣyati durdharṣastadā kṛcchrādvimokṣyate || 7.78.19 ||

"'But when, Sveta, that great and unassailable sage Agastya comes into this forest, then you shall be released from this affliction.'"

Shloka 20 (uttara.78.20)

स हि तारयितुं सौम्य शक्तः सुरगणानपि । किं पुनस्त्वां महाबाहो क्षुत्पिपासावशं गतम् ।। ७.७८.२० ।।

sa hi tārayituṃ saumya śaktaḥ suragaṇānapi | kiṃ punastvāṃ mahābāho kṣutpipāsāvaśaṃ gatam || 7.78.20 ||

"'For he, gentle one, is able to deliver even the hosts of gods — how much more you, mighty-armed one, in the grip of hunger and thirst.'"

Shloka 21 (uttara.78.21)

सो ऽहं भगवतः श्रुत्वा देवदेवस्य निश्चयम् । आहारं गर्हितं स्वशरीरं द्विजोत्तम ।। ७.७८.२१ ।।

so 'haṃ bhagavataḥ śrutvā devadevasya niścayam | āhāraṃ garhitaṃ svaśarīraṃ dvijottama || 7.78.21 ||

"Hearing this resolve of the holy god of gods, best of the twice-born, I took to eating my own body as this reprehensible food."

Shloka 22 (uttara.78.22)

बहून्वर्षगणान्ब्रह्मन्भुज्यमानमिदं मया । क्षयं नाभ्येति ब्रह्मर्षे तृप्तिश्चापि ममोत्तमा ।। ७.७८.२२ ।।

bahūnvarṣagaṇānbrahmanbhujyamānamidaṃ mayā | kṣayaṃ nābhyeti brahmarṣe tṛptiścāpi mamottamā || 7.78.22 ||

"For many years now, brahmin, brahmin-sage, though eaten thus by me, it does not diminish, nor does my satisfaction ever become complete."

Shloka 23 (uttara.78.23)

तस्य मे कृच्छ्रभूतस्य कृच्छ्रादस्माद्विमोचय । अन्येषां न गतिर्ह्यत्र कुम्भयोनिमृते द्विजम् ।। ७.७८.२३ ।।

tasya me kṛcchrabhūtasya kṛcchrādasmādvimocaya | anyeṣāṃ na gatirhyatra kumbhayonimṛte dvijam || 7.78.23 ||

"Free me, fallen into this hardship, from this affliction; there is no other refuge here save you, the twice-born Kumbha-born one."

Shloka 24 (uttara.78.24)

इदमाभरणं सौम्य तारणार्थं द्विजोत्तम । प्रतिगृह्णीष्व भद्रं ते प्रसादं कर्तुमर्हसि ।। ७.७८.२४ ।।

idamābharaṇaṃ saumya tāraṇārthaṃ dvijottama | pratigṛhṇīṣva bhadraṃ te prasādaṃ kartumarhasi || 7.78.24 ||

"Accept this ornament, gentle one, best of the twice-born, for the sake of my deliverance; may good befall you — show me this grace."

Shloka 25 (uttara.78.25)

इदं तावत्सुवर्णं च धनं वस्त्राणि च द्विज । भक्ष्यं भोज्यं च ब्रह्मर्षे ददात्याभरणानि च ।। ७.७८.२५ ।।

idaṃ tāvatsuvarṇaṃ ca dhanaṃ vastrāṇi ca dvija | bhakṣyaṃ bhojyaṃ ca brahmarṣe dadātyābharaṇāni ca || 7.78.25 ||

"Here besides is gold, wealth, garments, twice-born one; food to eat and to enjoy, brahmin-sage — and ornaments too, all these I give."

Shloka 26 (uttara.78.26)

सर्वान्कामान्प्रयच्छामि भोगांश्च मुनिपुङ्गव । तारणे भगवन्मह्यं प्रसादं कर्तुमर्हसि ।। ७.७८.२६ ।।

sarvānkāmānprayacchāmi bhogāṃśca munipuṅgava | tāraṇe bhagavanmahyaṃ prasādaṃ kartumarhasi || 7.78.26 ||

"I offer you every desired thing and every enjoyment, bull among sages; be gracious, holy one, and grant me deliverance."

Shloka 27 (uttara.78.27)

तस्याहं स्वर्गिणो वाक्यं श्रुत्वा दुःखसमन्वितम् । तारणायोपजग्राह तदाभरणमुत्तमम् ।। ७.७८.२७ ।।

tasyāhaṃ svargiṇo vākyaṃ śrutvā duḥkhasamanvitam | tāraṇāyopajagrāha tadābharaṇamuttamam || 7.78.27 ||

Hearing that heavenly being's sorrowful speech, I accepted that supreme ornament for the sake of his deliverance.

Shloka 28 (uttara.78.28)

मया प्रतिगृहीते तु तस्मिन्नाभरणे शुभे । मानुषः पूर्वको देहो राजर्षेर्विननाश ह ।। ७.७८.२८ ।।

mayā pratigṛhīte tu tasminnābharaṇe śubhe | mānuṣaḥ pūrvako deho rājarṣervinanāśa ha || 7.78.28 ||

As soon as I accepted that auspicious ornament, the royal sage's former human body vanished.

Shloka 29 (uttara.78.29)

प्रनष्टे तु शरीरे ऽसौ राजर्षिः परया मुदा । तृप्तः प्रमुदितो राजा जगाम त्रिदिवं सुखम् ।। ७.७८.२९ ।।

pranaṣṭe tu śarīre 'sau rājarṣiḥ parayā mudā | tṛptaḥ pramudito rājā jagāma tridivaṃ sukham || 7.78.29 ||

With that body dissolved, the royal sage, filled with supreme joy, satisfied and rejoicing, went happily to the heavenly world.

Shloka 30 (uttara.78.30)

तेनेदं शक्रतुल्येन दिव्यमाभरणं मम । तस्मिन्निमित्ते काकुत्स्थ दत्तमद्भुतदर्शनम् ।। ७.७८.३० ।।

tenedaṃ śakratulyena divyamābharaṇaṃ mama | tasminnimitte kākutstha dattamadbhutadarśanam || 7.78.30 ||

By him, equal to Indra, this divine, wondrous-looking ornament of mine was given, Kakutstha, on that occasion.