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Library:Dundubha is freed from Kagama’s curse and becomes old Shatapata
ḍuṇḍubha uvāca॥
Dundubha spoke.
sakhā babhūva me pūrvaṃ khagamo nāma vai dvijaḥ । bhṛśaṃ saṃśitavāktāt tapobalasamanvitaḥ ॥1-11-1॥
Once, I had a friend named Khagama, who was a brahmin, very firm in his words and endowed with the strength of penance.
sa mayā krīḍatā bālye kṛtvā tārṇamathoragam । agnihotre prasaktaḥ sanbhīṣitaḥ pramumoha vai ॥1-11-2॥
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.
labdhvā ca sa punaḥ sañjñāṃ māmuvāca tapodhanaḥ । nirdahanniva kopena satyavāksaṃśitavrataḥ ॥1-11-3॥
The sage, having regained his consciousness, spoke to me with a burning anger, being truthful and steadfast in his vows.
yathāvīryastvayā sarpaḥ kṛto'yaṃ madbibhīṣayā । tathāvīryo bhujaṅgastvaṃ mama kopādbhaviṣyasi ॥1-11-4॥
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.
tasyāhaṃ tapaso vīryaṃ jānamānastapodhana । bhṛśamudvignahṛdayastamavocaṃ vanaukasaṃ ॥1-11-5॥
Knowing the strength of his penance, I, with a greatly disturbed heart, addressed him, the sage dwelling in the forest.
prayataḥ sambhramāccaiva prāñjaliḥ praṇataḥ sthitaḥ । sakheti hasatedaṃ te narmārthaṃ vai kṛtaṃ mayā ॥1-11-6॥
Standing attentively with folded hands and respect, I bowed and said, 'O friend, this was done by me in jest, indeed.'
kṣantum arhasi me brahmañ śāpo'yaṃ vinivartyatām । so'tha mām abravīd dṛṣṭvā bhṛśam udvigna-cetasam ॥1-11-7॥
Please forgive me, O Brahman, and let this curse be undone. Then he saw me and said, noticing my deeply troubled mind.
muhuruṣṇaṃ viniḥśvasya susambhrāntastapodhanaḥ । nānṛtaṃ vai mayā proktaṃ bhavitedaṃ kathaṃcana ॥1-11-8॥
The sage, very agitated and repeatedly sighing warmly, declared that he had not spoken any falsehood in any way.
yattu vakṣyāmi te vākyaṃ śṛṇu tanme dhṛtavrata । śrutvā ca hṛdi te vākyamidamastu tapodhana ॥1-11-9॥
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.
utpatsyati rururnāma pramaterātmajaḥ śuciḥ । taṃ dṛṣṭvā śāpamokṣaste bhavitā nacirādiva ॥1-11-10॥
A pure son named Ruru will be born to Pramati. Upon seeing him, you will soon be released from the curse.
sa tvaṁ rururiti khyātaḥ pramaterātmajaḥ śuciḥ । svarūpaṁ pratilabhyāhamadya vakṣyāmi te hitam ॥1-11-11॥
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.
ahiṁsā paramo dharmaḥ sarvaprāṇabhṛtāṁ smṛtaḥ । tasmātprāṇabhṛtaḥ sarvānna hiṁsyādbrāhmaṇaḥ kvacit ॥1-11-12॥
Non-violence is regarded as the highest duty of all living beings. Therefore, a Brahmin should never harm any living creature.
brāhmaṇaḥ saumya eveha jāyateti parā śrutiḥ । vedavedāṅgavittāta sarvabhūtābhayapradaḥ ॥1-11-13॥
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.
ahiṁsā satyavacanaṁ kṣamā ceti viniścitam । brāhmaṇasya paro dharmo vedānāṁ dharaṇādapi ॥1-11-14॥
Non-violence, truthful speech, and forgiveness are considered the highest duties of a Brahmin, surpassing even the study of the Vedas.
kṣatriyasya tu yo dharmaḥ sa neheṣyati vai tava । daṇḍadhāraṇamugratvaṃ prajānāṃ paripālanam ॥1-11-15॥
The duty of a Kshatriya, which you will not seek, is indeed to bear the rod, to be fierce, and to protect the subjects.
tadidaṃ kṣatriyasyāsītkarma vai śṛṇu me ruro । janamejayasya dharmātman sarpāṇāṃ hiṃsanaṃ purā ॥1-11-16॥
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.
paritrāṇaṃ ca bhītānāṃ sarpāṇāṃ brāhmaṇādapi । tapovīryabalopetādvedavedāṅgapāragāt ॥ āstīkāddvijamukhyādvai sarpasatre dvijottama ॥1-11-17॥
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.
