01.011
Library:Dundubha is freed from Kagama’s curse and becomes old Shatapata
डुण्डुभ उवाच॥
Dundubha spoke.
सखा बभूव मे पूर्वं खगमो नाम वै द्विजः । भृशं संशितवाक्तात तपोबलसमन्वितः ॥१-११-१॥
Once, I had a friend named Khagama, who was a brahmin, very firm in his words and endowed with the strength of penance.
स मया क्रीडता बाल्ये कृत्वा तार्णमथोरगम् । अग्निहोत्रे प्रसक्तः सन्भीषितः प्रमुमोह वै ॥१-११-२॥
In his childhood, while playing, he made a grass mat and then a serpent. Engaged in the fire sacrifice, he became frightened and indeed fainted.
लब्ध्वा च स पुनः सञ्ज्ञां मामुवाच तपोधनः । निर्दहन्निव कोपेन सत्यवाक्संशितव्रतः ॥१-११-३॥
The sage, having regained his consciousness, spoke to me with a burning anger, being truthful and steadfast in his vows.
यथावीर्यस्त्वया सर्पः कृतोऽयं मद्बिभीषया । तथावीर्यो भुजङ्गस्त्वं मम कोपाद्भविष्यसि ॥१-११-४॥
Just as you have made this serpent powerful out of fear of me, so too, O serpent, you shall become powerful due to my wrath.
तस्याहं तपसो वीर्यं जानमानस्तपोधन । भृशमुद्विग्नहृदयस्तमवोचं वनौकसम् ॥१-११-५॥
Knowing the strength of his penance, I, with a greatly disturbed heart, addressed him, the sage dwelling in the forest.
प्रयतः सम्भ्रमाच्चैव प्राञ्जलिः प्रणतः स्थितः । सखेति हसतेदं ते नर्मार्थं वै कृतं मया ॥१-११-६॥
Standing attentively with folded hands and respect, I bowed and said, 'O friend, this was done by me in jest, indeed.'
क्षन्तुमर्हसि मे ब्रह्मञ्शापोऽयं विनिवर्त्यताम् । सोऽथ मामब्रवीद्दृष्ट्वा भृशमुद्विग्नचेतसम् ॥१-११-७॥
Please forgive me, O Brahman, and let this curse be undone. Then he saw me and said, noticing my deeply troubled mind.
मुहुरुष्णं विनिःश्वस्य सुसम्भ्रान्तस्तपोधनः । नानृतं वै मया प्रोक्तं भवितेदं कथञ्चन ॥१-११-८॥
The sage, very agitated and repeatedly sighing warmly, declared that he had not spoken any falsehood in any way.
यत्तु वक्ष्यामि ते वाक्यं शृणु तन्मे धृतव्रत । श्रुत्वा च हृदि ते वाक्यमिदमस्तु तपोधन ॥१-११-९॥
Listen carefully to what I am about to tell you, O steadfast one. Let these words remain in your heart, O ascetic sage, after you have heard them.
उत्पत्स्यति रुरुर्नाम प्रमतेरात्मजः शुचिः । तं दृष्ट्वा शापमोक्षस्ते भविता नचिरादिव ॥१-११-१०॥
A pure son named Ruru will be born to Pramati. Upon seeing him, you will soon be released from the curse.
स त्वं रुरुरिति ख्यातः प्रमतेरात्मजः शुचिः । स्वरूपं प्रतिलभ्याहमद्य वक्ष्यामि ते हितम् ॥१-११-११॥
You, who are known as Ruru, the pure son of Pramati, having regained your true form, I will tell you today what is beneficial for you.
अहिंसा परमो धर्मः सर्वप्राणभृतां स्मृतः । तस्मात्प्राणभृतः सर्वान्न हिंस्याद्ब्राह्मणः क्वचित् ॥१-११-१२॥
Non-violence is regarded as the highest duty of all living beings. Therefore, a Brahmin should never harm any living creature.
ब्राह्मणः सौम्य एवेह जायतेति परा श्रुतिः । वेदवेदाङ्गवित्तात सर्वभूताभयप्रदः ॥१-११-१३॥
The gentle Brahmin is born here, as declared by the supreme revelation. He is the one who, through his knowledge of the Vedas and Vedangas, provides fearlessness to all beings.
अहिंसा सत्यवचनं क्षमा चेति विनिश्चितम् । ब्राह्मणस्य परो धर्मो वेदानां धरणादपि ॥१-११-१४॥
Non-violence, truthful speech, and forgiveness are considered the highest duties of a Brahmin, surpassing even the study of the Vedas.
क्षत्रियस्य तु यो धर्मः स नेहेष्यति वै तव । दण्डधारणमुग्रत्वं प्रजानां परिपालनम् ॥१-११-१५॥
The duty of a Kshatriya, which you will not seek, is indeed to bear the rod, to be fierce, and to protect the subjects.
तदिदं क्षत्रियस्यासीत्कर्म वै शृणु मे रुरो । जनमेजयस्य धर्मात्मन्सर्पाणां हिंसनं पुरा ॥१-११-१६॥
This was the act of the kshatriya; listen, O Ruru, to my account of Janamejaya, the virtuous one, and the ancient killing of the serpents.
परित्राणं च भीतानां सर्पाणां ब्राह्मणादपि । तपोवीर्यबलोपेताद्वेदवेदाङ्गपारगात् ॥ आस्तीकाद्द्विजमुख्याद्वै सर्पसत्रे द्विजोत्तम ॥१-११-१७॥
O best of the twice-born, in the serpent sacrifice, protection was given to the frightened serpents even from the Brahmin, who was endowed with the power of penance and strength and was well-versed in the Vedas and Vedangas, by Astika, the foremost of the twice-born.
