Lomaśa said.
But Bharadvāja, O son of Kunti, after finishing the daily recitation and taking a bundle of sacred sticks, entered his hermitage. (03-138-1)
Indeed, formerly all the fires used to rise up to him on seeing him. But now, when his son has been killed, the fires do not approach him. (03-138-2)
But having noticed an alteration in Agnihotra, the great ascetic then addressed that house guardian, a blind śūdra who was sitting there. (03-138-3)
Śūdra, why do the fires not welcome my sight? And you also are not as before; is everything well here in the hermitage? (03-138-4)
Surely my son, who is of little understanding, has not gone to Raibhya. Please tell me this quickly, for my mind is truly not at ease. (03-138-5)
Shudra said.
Certainly, this son of yours of dull mind has gone to Raibhya; thus, indeed, he lies slain by the stronger rakshasa. (03-138-6)
This one, being dragged by the demon with the spear in his hand towards the fire-chamber, was restrained by me at the door with my two arms. (03-138-7)
Then he, impure and desiring water, was certainly slain here, having been swiftly attacked by the rakṣasa holding a spear. (03-138-8)
Lomaśa said.
But Bharadvāja, having heard those unpleasing words of the śūdra, took his lifeless son and lamented, greatly afflicted with grief. (03-138-9)
"Surely, you performed austerity for the sake of the brāhmaṇas. Now, the Vedas appear even to the unlearned twice-born." (03-138-10)
Thus, though you are of auspicious conduct, blameless among brāhmaṇas and the great-souled, you have become harsh towards all beings. (03-138-11)
O dear, I restrained him from visiting the hermitage of Raibhya; yet he went to that wretch, one who is like Death or Yama. (03-138-12)
He, of great splendor, knowing, who nevertheless was seized by anger's sway, went - that one son of mine, of the old man, whose mind was extremely perverse. (03-138-13)
Having been overtaken by my son's grief because of Raibhya's act, O son, without you, I will abandon my most cherished life in this world. (03-138-14)
Just as I will abandon my body, sinful through grief for my son, in the same way may the elder son quickly harm the blameless Raibhya. (03-138-15)
Truly happy are those men who, by birth, have no son; having never experienced the grief of a son, they live at ease as they please. (03-138-16)
But those women, whose minds are greatly disturbed by grief caused by their sons, who in their distress curse their dear friends—who indeed could be more sinful than they? (03-138-17)
I have encountered enmity from others, betrayal by my own son, have been cursed, and faced treachery from a friend. Who else, indeed, would experience such a calamity? (03-138-18)
After lamenting in many ways, Bharadvāja cremated his son; then, when the fire was well-kindled, he himself entered the sacrificial fire. (03-138-19)
