05.104

gālavacaritam

The story of Gālava.

janamējaya uvāca॥

Janamejaya said:

anarthē jātanirbandhaṁ parārthē lōbhamōhitam। anāryakēṣvabhirataṁ maraṇē kr̥taniścayam ॥5-104-1॥

One who becomes resolute in disaster, is deluded by greed for the sake of others, takes pleasure in unworthy deeds, and is determined upon death. (5-104-1)

jñātīnāṁ duḥkhakartāraṁ bandhūnāṁ śōkavardhanam। suhr̥dāṁ klēśadātāraṁ dviṣatāṁ harṣavardhanam ॥5-104-2॥

one who brings sorrow to his family, increases grief for his relatives, causes suffering to his friends, and increases the joy of his enemies (5-104-2)

kathaṁ nainaṁ vimārgasthaṁ vārayantīha bāndhavāḥ। sauhr̥dādvā suhr̥tsnigdhō bhagavānvā pitāmahaḥ ॥5-104-3॥

Why do not his relatives restrain him here, though he is on the wrong path? Either out of friendship, as affectionate friends, or as the revered grandsire? (5-104-3)

vaiśampāyana uvāca॥

Vaiśampāyana said:

uktaṁ bhagavatā vākyamuktaṁ bhīṣmēṇa yatkṣamam। uktaṁ bahuvidhaṁ caiva nāradēnāpi tacchr̥ṇu ॥5-104-4॥

The words spoken by the venerable one, and what was spoken appropriately by Bhishma, and also what was spoken in many ways by Narada—listen to that. (5-104-4)

nārada uvāca॥

Nārada said:

durlabhō vai suhr̥cchrōtā durlabhaśca hitaḥ suhr̥t। tiṣṭhatē hi suhr̥dyatra na bandhustatra tiṣṭhati ॥5-104-5॥

A friend who listens is indeed hard to find, and a well-wishing friend is also rare. Wherever a friend is present, a kinsman will not remain there. (5-104-5)

śrōtavyamapi paśyāmi suhr̥dāṁ kurunandana। na kartavyaśca nirbandhō nirbandhō hi sudāruṇaḥ ॥5-104-6॥

O descendant of Kuru, I do see that one should listen to friends; but there should be no insistence, for insistence is truly very harsh. (5-104-6)

atrāpyudāharantīmamitihāsaṁ purātanam। yathā nirbandhataḥ prāptō gālavēna parājayaḥ ॥5-104-7॥

Here too they recite this ancient story, how, because of insistence, Gālava incurred defeat. (5-104-7)

viśvāmitraṁ tapasyantaṁ dharmō jijñāsayā purā। abhyagacchatsvayaṁ bhūtvā vasiṣṭhō bhagavānr̥ṣiḥ ॥5-104-8॥

Long ago, Dharma, moved by curiosity, approached Viśvāmitra, who was performing austerities, becoming himself the revered sage Vasiṣṭha. (5-104-8)

saptarṣīṇāmanyatamaṁ vēṣamāsthāya bhārata। bubhukṣuḥ kṣudhitō rājannāśramaṁ kauśikasya ha ॥5-104-9॥

O Bhārata, assuming the appearance of one of the Seven Sages, being hungry and famished, O king, he indeed went to the hermitage of Kauśika. (5-104-9)

viśvāmitrō’tha sambhrāntaḥ śrapayāmāsa vai carum। paramānnasya yatnēna na ca sa pratyapālayat ॥5-104-10॥

Then Viśvāmitra, disturbed, cooked the sacrificial gruel—an excellent rice dish—with effort, and he did not wait. (5-104-10)

annaṁ tēna yadā bhuktamanyairdattaṁ tapasvibhiḥ। atha gr̥hyānnamatyuṣṇaṁ viśvāmitrō’bhyupāgamat ॥5-104-11॥

When the food offered by the ascetics had been eaten by him and others, then Viśvāmitra approached, taking the very hot food. (5-104-11)

bhuktaṁ mē tiṣṭha tāvattvamityuktvā bhagavānyayau। viśvāmitrastatō rājansthita ēva mahādyutiḥ ॥5-104-12॥

Having said, "I have eaten. You, remain here for a moment," the venerable one departed. Thereafter, Viśvāmitra, O King, of great radiance, remained there. (5-104-12)

bhaktaṁ pragr̥hya mūrdhnā tadbāhubhyāṁ pārśvatō’gamat। sthitaḥ sthāṇurivābhyāśē niścēṣṭō mārutāśanaḥ ॥5-104-13॥

Taking the food and carrying it at his side with his arms and on his head, the wind-eating ascetic stood nearby without moving, like a pillar. (5-104-13)

tasya śuśrūṣaṇē yatnamakarōdgālavō muniḥ। gauravādbahumānācca hārdēna priyakāmyayā ॥5-104-14॥

The sage Gālava made an effort to serve him, out of respect, esteem, heartfelt affection, and a desire to please. (5-104-14)

atha varṣaśatē pūrṇē dharmaḥ punarupāgamat। vāsiṣṭhaṁ vēṣamāsthāya kauśikaṁ bhōjanēpsayā ॥5-104-15॥

Then, after a hundred years had passed, Dharma came again, assuming the appearance of a Vasiṣṭha, to Kauśika, desiring food. (5-104-15)

sa dr̥ṣṭvā śirasā bhaktaṁ dhriyamāṇaṁ maharṣiṇā। tiṣṭhatā vāyubhakṣēṇa viśvāmitrēṇa dhīmatā ॥5-104-16॥

He saw that wise Viśvāmitra, who lived on air and was standing, with food being held in his hands by the great sage bowed in respect. (5-104-16)

pratigr̥hya tatō dharmastathaivōṣṇaṁ tathā navam। bhuktvā prītō’smi viprarṣē tamuktvā sa munirgataḥ ॥5-104-17॥

Having accepted from him in the same way the hot food and the fresh food, and having eaten, Dharma said, 'I am satisfied, O best of Brahmins,' and, saying this to him, that sage departed. (5-104-17)

kṣatrabhāvādapagatō brāhmaṇatvamupāgataḥ। dharmasya vacanātprītō viśvāmitrastadābhavat ॥5-104-18॥

Having abandoned his kṣatriya status and attained brahminhood, Viśvāmitra then, pleased by Dharma's instruction, became so. (5-104-18)

viśvāmitrastu śiṣyasya gālavasya tapasvinaḥ। śuśrūṣayā ca bhaktyā ca prītimānityuvāca tam । anujñātō mayā vatsa yathēṣṭaṁ gaccha gālava ॥5-104-19॥

But Viśvāmitra, pleased with his ascetic disciple Gālava for his attentive service and devotion, said to him, "My dear child, you have my permission—go wherever you wish, O Gālava." (5-104-19)

ityuktaḥ pratyuvācēdaṁ gālavō munisattamam। prītō madhurayā vācā viśvāmitraṁ mahādyutim ॥5-104-20॥

Thus addressed, Gālava, pleased, replied with sweet words to the greatly radiant Viśvāmitra, the most exalted sage. (5-104-20)

dakṣiṇāṁ kāṁ prayacchāmi bhavatē gurukarmaṇi। dakṣiṇābhirupētaṁ hi karma sidhyati mānavam ॥5-104-21॥

What sort of fee should I give you for your service as guru? For a human act succeeds only when accompanied by a proper fee. (5-104-21)

dakṣiṇānāṁ hi sr̥ṣṭānāmapavargēṇa bhujyatē। svargē kratuphalaṁ sadbhirdakṣiṇā śāntirucyatē । kimāharāmi gurvarthaṁ bravītu bhagavāniti ॥5-104-22॥

For it is with liberation that the gifts, once given, are enjoyed; in heaven, the fruit of sacrifice is, by the good, said to be the gift—peace. What shall I bring for the preceptor? Let the Revered One speak thus. (5-104-22)

jānamānastu bhagavāñjitaḥ śuśrūṣaṇēna ca। viśvāmitrastamasakr̥dgaccha gacchētyacōdayat ॥5-104-23॥

Knowing his intent, the venerable one, having been won over by his service, Viśvāmitra repeatedly urged him, "Go, go." (5-104-23)

asakr̥dgaccha gacchēti viśvāmitrēṇa bhāṣitaḥ। kiṁ dadānīti bahuśō gālavaḥ pratyabhāṣata ॥5-104-24॥

Though repeatedly told by Viśvāmitra, "Go, go," Gālava often replied, "What shall I give you?" (5-104-24)

nirbandhatastu bahuśō gālavasya tapasvinaḥ। kiñcidāgatasaṁrambhō viśvāmitrō’bravīdidam ॥5-104-25॥

But after Gālava the ascetic persisted many times, Viśvāmitra, becoming somewhat irritated, said this: (5-104-25)

ēkataḥśyāmakarṇānāṁ śatānyaṣṭau dadasva mē। hayānāṁ candraśubhrāṇāṁ gaccha gālava māciram ॥5-104-26॥

Give me eight hundred dark-eared horses of one kind, moon-white in color. Go, Gālava, do not delay. (5-104-26)