01.038
Library: Gauramukha informs the King of Shringi’s curse. He expresses his repentance and his ministers make preparation to save him.
शृङ्ग्युवाच॥
Śṛṅgi spoke:
यद्येतत्साहसं तात यदि वा दुष्कृतं कृतम्। प्रियं वाप्यप्रियं वा ते वागुक्ता न मृषा मया ॥१-३८-१॥
Dear, if this rash act or wrong deed has been done, whether it is pleasant or unpleasant to you, I have not spoken falsely.
नैवान्यथेदं भविता पितरेष ब्रवीमि ते। नाहं मृषा प्रब्रवीमि स्वैरेष्वपि कुतः शपन् ॥१-३८-२॥
I assure you, O ancestors, that this will not be otherwise. I do not speak falsehood, even in private, how could I while swearing?
शमीक उवाच॥
Śamīka spoke:
जानाम्युग्रप्रभावं त्वां पुत्र सत्यगिरं तथा। नानृतं ह्युक्तपूर्वं ते नैतन्मिथ्या भविष्यति ॥१-३८-३॥
I am aware of your formidable power and your commitment to truth, my son. What you have spoken before has never been false, and this will not be false either.
पित्रा पुत्रो वयःस्थोऽपि सततं वाच्य एव तु। यथा स्याद्गुणसंयुक्तः प्राप्नुयाच्च महद्यशः ॥१-३८-४॥
A father should always advise his son, even if he is grown-up, so that he may develop virtues and achieve great fame.
किं पुनर्बाल एव त्वं तपसा भावितः प्रभो। वर्धते च प्रभवतां कोपोऽतीव महात्मनाम् ॥१-३८-५॥
O lord, even as a child, you were cultivated by penance. The anger of the powerful great souls grows exceedingly.
सोऽहं पश्यामि वक्तव्यं त्वयि धर्मभृतां वर। पुत्रत्वं बालतां चैव तवावेक्ष्य च साहसम् ॥१-३८-६॥
I see that you, the best among the upholders of dharma, are to be spoken to, considering your sonship, childhood, and boldness.
स त्वं शमयुतो भूत्वा वन्यमाहारमाहरन्। चर क्रोधमिमं त्यक्त्वा नैवं धर्मं प्रहास्यसि ॥१-३८-७॥
You, endowed with calmness, should gather wild food and move on, abandoning this anger, so that you do not forsake your duty.
क्रोधो हि धर्मं हरति यतीनां दुःखसञ्चितम्। ततो धर्मविहीनानां गतिरिष्टा न विद्यते ॥१-३८-८॥
Anger destroys the virtue that ascetics accumulate through suffering. Therefore, those who lack virtue do not have a desired path.
शम एव यतीनां हि क्षमिणां सिद्धिकारकः। क्षमावतामयं लोकः परश्चैव क्षमावताम् ॥१-३८-९॥
Calmness is truly the cause of success for ascetics and the forgiving. This world and the next belong to those who are patient.
तस्माच्चरेथाः सततं क्षमाशीलो जितेन्द्रियः। क्षमया प्राप्स्यसे लोकान्ब्रह्मणः समनन्तरान् ॥१-३८-१०॥
Therefore, always conduct yourself with forgiveness and self-control. Through forgiveness, you will reach the realms close to Brahma.
मया तु शममास्थाय यच्छक्यं कर्तुमद्य वै। तत्करिष्येऽद्य ताताहं प्रेषयिष्ये नृपाय वै ॥१-३८-११॥
I will indeed do today what is possible by resorting to peace, O father, and I will send it to the king.
मम पुत्रेण शप्तोऽसि बालेनाकृतबुद्धिना। ममेमां धर्षणां त्वत्तः प्रेक्ष्य राजन्नमर्षिणा ॥१-३८-१२॥
You have been cursed by my son, a boy of undeveloped intellect. O king, having witnessed this insult from you, the intolerant one could not bear it.
सूत उवाच॥
Sūta said:
एवमादिश्य शिष्यं स प्रेषयामास सुव्रतः। परिक्षिते नृपतये दयापन्नो महातपाः ॥१-३८-१३॥
After instructing his disciple in this manner, the virtuous sage, filled with compassion, sent him to King Parikshit, the great ascetic.
संदिश्य कुशलप्रश्नं कार्यवृत्तान्तमेव च। शिष्यं गौरमुखं नाम शीलवन्तं समाहितम् ॥१-३८-१४॥
After instructing the disciple named Gaurmukha, who was virtuous and attentive, about the welfare inquiry and business matters, the tasks were set in motion.
सोऽभिगम्य ततः शीघ्रं नरेन्द्रं कुरुवर्धनम्। विवेश भवनं राज्ञः पूर्वं द्वाःस्थैर्निवेदितः ॥१-३८-१५॥
He quickly approached King Kuruvardhana and entered the palace after being announced by the gatekeepers.
पूजितश्च नरेन्द्रेण द्विजो गौरमुखस्ततः। आचख्यौ परिविश्रान्तो राज्ञे सर्वमशेषतः ॥ शमीकवचनं घोरं यथोक्तं मन्त्रिसंनिधौ ॥१-३८-१६॥
After being worshipped by the king, the Brahmin Gauramukha, having rested, narrated everything completely to the king, including the terrible words of Śamīka, as they were said, in the presence of the ministers.
शमीको नाम राजेन्द्र विषये वर्तते तव। ऋषिः परमधर्मात्मा दान्तः शान्तो महातपाः ॥१-३८-१७॥
In your kingdom, O King, there exists a sage named Śamīka, who is of supreme virtue, self-controlled, peaceful, and a great ascetic.
तस्य त्वया नरव्याघ्र सर्पः प्राणैर्वियोजितः। अवसक्तो धनुष्कोट्या स्कन्धे भरतसत्तम ॥ क्षान्तवांस्तव तत्कर्म पुत्रस्तस्य न चक्षमे ॥१-३८-१८॥
O best of the Bharatas, the snake was deprived of life by you, O tiger among men, as it hung by the bow's end on the shoulder. Your son forgave that act, but his son could not tolerate it.
तेन शप्तोऽसि राजेन्द्र पितुरज्ञातमद्य वै। तक्षकः सप्तरात्रेण मृत्युस्ते वै भविष्यति ॥१-३८-१९॥
You have been cursed by him, O King, without your father's knowledge, today indeed. Takshaka will bring about your death in seven days.
तत्र रक्षां कुरुष्वेति पुनः पुनरथाब्रवीत्। तदन्यथा न शक्यं च कर्तुं केनचिदप्युत ॥१-३८-२०॥
There, he repeatedly said, 'Provide protection there.' Otherwise, it is not possible for anyone to do it.
न हि शक्नोति संयन्तुं पुत्रं कोपसमन्वितम्। ततोऽहं प्रेषितस्तेन तव राजन्हितार्थिना ॥१-३८-२१॥
He cannot control his son who is filled with anger, so I have been sent by him for your welfare, O king.
इति श्रुत्वा वचो घोरं स राजा कुरुनन्दनः। पर्यतप्यत तत्पापं कृत्वा राजा महातपाः ॥१-३८-२२॥
Upon hearing those terrible words, the king, a descendant of Kuru, deeply regretted the sin he had committed, showing great penitence.
तं च मौनव्रतधरं श्रुत्वा मुनिवरं तदा। भूय एवाभवद्राजा शोकसन्तप्तमानसः ॥१-३८-२३॥
Upon hearing the great sage who held a vow of silence, the king once again became deeply saddened.
अनुक्रोशात्मतां तस्य शमीकस्यावधार्य तु। पर्यतप्यत भूयोऽपि कृत्वा तत्किल्बिषं मुनेः ॥१-३८-२४॥
Realizing the compassionate nature of Śamīka, he felt remorse once more for the sin he had committed against the sage.
न हि मृत्युं तथा राजा श्रुत्वा वै सोऽन्वतप्यत। अशोचदमरप्रख्यो यथा कृत्वेह कर्म तत् ॥१-३८-२५॥
The king, upon hearing about death, indeed felt regret. However, he did not grieve, appearing like an immortal, as if he had accomplished that deed here.
ततस्तं प्रेषयामास राजा गौरमुखं तदा। भूयः प्रसादं भगवान्करोत्विति ममेति वै ॥१-३८-२६॥
Then the king sent Gauramukha, saying, "May the Lord bestow his grace again, indeed this is mine."
तस्मिंश्च गतमात्रे वै राजा गौरमुखे तदा। मन्त्रिभिर्मन्त्रयामास सह संविग्नमानसः ॥१-३८-२७॥
At that time, when Gauramukha had just arrived, the king, feeling anxious, consulted with his ministers.
निश्चित्य मन्त्रिभिश्चैव सहितो मन्त्रतत्त्ववित्। प्रासादं कारयामास एकस्तम्भं सुरक्षितम् ॥१-३८-२८॥
After consulting with his ministers and being well-versed in the essence of counsel, he ordered the construction of a well-protected palace supported by a single pillar.
रक्षां च विदधे तत्र भिषजश्चौषधानि च। ब्राह्मणान्सिद्धमन्त्रांश्च सर्वतो वै न्यवेशयत् ॥१-३८-२९॥
He ensured protection by arranging for physicians and medicines, and stationed Brahmins skilled in mantras all around.
राजकार्याणि तत्रस्थः सर्वाण्येवाकरोच्च सः। मन्त्रिभिः सह धर्मज्ञः समन्तात्परिरक्षितः ॥१-३८-३०॥
He, being well-versed in dharma, performed all the royal duties there, well-protected by the ministers all around.
प्राप्ते तु दिवसे तस्मिन्सप्तमे द्विजसत्तम। काश्यपोऽभ्यागमद्विद्वांस्तं राजानं चिकित्सितुम् ॥१-३८-३१॥
On the seventh day, O esteemed sage, the wise Kashyapa arrived to attend to the king.
श्रुतं हि तेन तदभूदद्य तं राजसत्तमम्। तक्षकः पन्नगश्रेष्ठो नेष्यते यमसादनम् ॥१-३८-३२॥
It was reported to him that today Takshaka, the foremost of serpents, will take the noble king to the realm of Yama.
तं दष्टं पन्नगेन्द्रेण करिष्येऽहमपज्वरम्। तत्र मेऽर्थश्च धर्मश्च भवितेति विचिन्तयन् ॥१-३८-३३॥
Thinking thus, I will cure the one bitten by the king of serpents of fever. Therein lies my purpose and duty.
तं ददर्श स नागेन्द्रस्तक्षकः काश्यपं पथि। गच्छन्तमेकमनसं द्विजो भूत्वा वयोतिगः ॥१-३८-३४॥
Takshaka, the king of serpents, noticed the aged Brahmin Kashyapa on his path, who was proceeding with a focused mind.
तमब्रवीत्पन्नगेन्द्रः काश्यपं मुनिपुङ्गवम्। क्व भवांस्त्वरितो याति किं च कार्यं चिकीर्षति ॥१-३८-३५॥
The king of serpents asked Kashyapa, the eminent sage, where he was hastening to and what task he intended to undertake.
काश्यप उवाच॥
Kashyapa spoke.
नृपं कुरुकुलोत्पन्नं परिक्षितमरिंदमम्। तक्षकः पन्नगश्रेष्ठस्तेजसाद्य प्रधक्ष्यति ॥१-३८-३६॥
Today, Takshaka, the foremost of serpents, will burn King Parikshit, who was born in the Kuru dynasty and is known as the subduer of enemies, with his fiery power.
तं दष्टं पन्नगेन्द्रेण तेनाग्निसमतेजसा। पाण्डवानां कुलकरं राजानममितौजसम् ॥१-३८-३७॥
He, who was bitten by the king of serpents with fire-like brilliance, was the benefactor of the Pandavas' family and a king of immeasurable energy.
गच्छामि सौम्य त्वरितं सद्यः कर्तुमपज्वरम् ॥१-३८-३७॥
I am going quickly, gentle one, to immediately provide relief from the fever.
तक्षक उवाच॥
Takshaka spoke.
अहं स तक्षको ब्रह्मंस्तं धक्ष्यामि महीपतिम्। निवर्तस्व न शक्तस्त्वं मया दष्टं चिकित्सितुम् ॥१-३८-३८॥
I am Takshaka, O Brahman, and I will burn the king. Turn back, for you are not capable of healing someone bitten by me.
काश्यप उवाच॥
Kashyapa spoke.
अहं तं नृपतिं नाग त्वया दष्टमपज्वरम्। करिष्य इति मे बुद्धिर्विद्याबलमुपाश्रितः ॥१-३८-३९॥
I intend to cure the king bitten by you, serpent, from fever, relying on the power of knowledge.
