12.117
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhīṣma said.
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम्। निदर्शनकरं लोके सज्जनाचरितं सदा ॥१२-११७-१॥
Here too, they narrate this ancient story, which is always cited in the world as an example of the conduct of good people.
अस्यैवार्थस्य सदृशं यच्छ्रुतं मे तपोवने। जामदग्न्यस्य रामस्य यदुक्तमृषिसत्तमैः ॥१२-११७-२॥
What I heard in the forest of austerities, similar to this very meaning, was what the best of sages spoke to Rāma, the son of Jamadagni.
वने महति कस्मिंश्चिदमनुष्यनिषेविते। ऋषिर्मूलफलाहारो नियतो नियतेन्द्रियः ॥१२-११७-३॥
In a vast forest, in a certain place uninhabited by humans, there lived a sage who sustained himself on roots and fruits, disciplined and with his senses under control.
दीक्षादमपरः शान्तः स्वाध्यायपरमः शुचिः। उपवासविशुद्धात्मा सततं सत्पथे स्थितः ॥१२-११७-४॥
He who holds initiation and self-restraint as supreme, is peaceful, values self-study above all, is pure, whose self is purified by fasting, and who is always steadfast on the path of righteousness.
तस्य संदृश्य सद्भावमुपविष्टस्य धीमतः। सर्वसत्त्वाः समीपस्था भवन्ति वनचारिणः ॥१२-११७-५॥
When they see the good nature of the wise man sitting there, all the nearby creatures of the forest gather around him.
सिंहव्याघ्राः सशरभा मत्ताश्चैव महागजाः। द्वीपिनः खड्गभल्लूका ये चान्ये भीमदर्शनाः ॥१२-११७-६॥
Lions, tigers, sharabhas, intoxicated great elephants, panthers, rhinoceroses, bears, and other fearsome-looking creatures.
ते सुखप्रश्नदाः सर्वे भवन्ति क्षतजाशनाः। तस्यर्षेः शिष्यवच्चैव न्यग्भूताः प्रियकारिणः ॥१२-११७-७॥
They all, who give pleasing answers, become eaters of blood. They are like disciples of that sage, submissive and doers of what is dear to him.
दत्त्वा च ते सुखप्रश्नं सर्वे यान्ति यथागतम्। ग्राम्यस्त्वेकः पशुस्तत्र नाजहाच्छ्वा महामुनिम् ॥१२-११७-८॥
After greeting you pleasantly, all departed as they had come. However, one domestic animal—the dog—did not leave the great sage.
भक्तोऽनुरक्तः सततमुपवासकृशोऽबलः। फलमूलोत्कराहारः शान्तः शिष्टाकृतिर्यथा ॥१२-११७-९॥
He is devoted, attached, always emaciated by fasting, weak, living on heaps of fruits and roots, peaceful, and of noble conduct, as described.
तस्यर्षेरुपविष्टस्य पादमूले महामुनेः। मनुष्यवद्गतो भावः स्नेहबद्धोऽभवद्भृशम् ॥१२-११७-१०॥
As he sat at the feet of the great sage, his feelings became intensely bound by affection, like those of a human.
ततोऽभ्ययान्महावीर्यो द्वीपी क्षतजभोजनः। श्वार्थमत्यन्तसंदुष्टः क्रूरः काल इवान्तकः ॥१२-११७-११॥
Then, the mighty tiger, blood-eating and utterly corrupted by selfishness, cruel like Death the destroyer, approached.
लेलिह्यमानस्तृषितः पुच्छास्फोटनतत्परः। व्यादितास्यः क्षुधाभग्नः प्रार्थयानस्तदामिषम् ॥१२-११७-१२॥
Being licked and thirsty, intent on shaking its tail, with its mouth wide open, weakened by hunger, it was begging for that meat.
तं दृष्ट्वा क्रूरमायान्तं जीवितार्थी नराधिप। प्रोवाच श्वा मुनिं तत्र यत्तच्छृणु महामते ॥१२-११७-१३॥
O great-minded one, hear what the dog said there to the sage, when the king, seeking his life, saw the cruel one approaching.
श्वशत्रुर्भगवन्नत्र द्वीपी मां हन्तुमिच्छति। त्वत्प्रसादाद्भयं न स्यात्तस्मान्मम महामुने ॥१२-११७-१४॥
O revered one, here the tiger wants to kill me. If you show your grace, I will have no fear, O great sage.
मुनिरुवाच॥
The sage said.
न भयं द्वीपिनः कार्यं मृत्युतस्ते कथञ्चन। एष श्वरूपरहितो द्वीपी भवसि पुत्रक ॥१२-११७-१५॥
You need not fear death from the tiger in any way. This tiger, lacking its own form, is what you become, O son.
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhīṣma said.
ततः श्वा द्वीपितां नीतो जाम्बूनदनिभाकृतिः। चित्राङ्गो विस्फुरन्हृष्टो वने वसति निर्भयः ॥१२-११७-१६॥
Then Citrāṅga, the dog with the appearance of Jāmbūnada gold, having been led to the island, lives joyfully and fearlessly in the forest, quivering with delight.
ततोऽभ्ययान्महारौद्रो व्यादितास्यः क्षुधान्वितः। द्वीपिनं लेलिहद्वक्त्रो व्याघ्रो रुधिरलालसः ॥१२-११७-१७॥
Then the very fierce, hungry tiger with its mouth wide open and licking its lips, longing for blood, approached the leopard.
व्याघ्रं दृष्ट्वा क्षुधाभग्नं दंष्ट्रिणं वनगोचरम्। द्वीपी जीवितरक्षार्थमृषिं शरणमेयिवान् ॥१२-११७-१८॥
Seeing the tiger, fierce with hunger and fangs, roaming the forest, the leopard sought refuge with the sage to save his life.
ततः संवासजं स्नेहमृषिणा कुर्वता सदा। स द्वीपी व्याघ्रतां नीतो रिपुभिर्बलवत्तरः ॥ ततो दृष्ट्वा स शार्दूलो नाभ्यहंस्तं विशां पते ॥१२-११७-१९॥
Then, as the sage always showed affection arising from their association, that tiger, made stronger, was led to the state of a tiger by his enemies. Then, seeing him, the tiger did not attack him, O lord of men.
स तु श्वा व्याघ्रतां प्राप्य बलवान्पिशिताशनः। न मूलफलभोगेषु स्पृहामप्यकरोत्तदा ॥१२-११७-२०॥
But he, the dog, having become a strong, flesh-eating tiger, then did not even have any desire for the enjoyment of roots and fruits.
यथा मृगपतिर्नित्यं प्रकाङ्क्षति वनौकसः। तथैव स महाराज व्याघ्रः समभवत्तदा ॥१२-११७-२१॥
Just as the king of beasts always longs for the forest-dwellers, so at that time, O great king, he became a tiger.
व्याघ्रस्तूटजमूलस्थस्तृप्तः सुप्तो हतैर्मृगैः। नागश्चागात्तमुद्देशं मत्तो मेघ इवोत्थितः ॥१२-११७-२२॥
The tiger, having eaten its fill, lay asleep at the base of the Tūṭaja tree among the slain deer; then an intoxicated elephant, like a rising cloud, came to that spot.
प्रभिन्नकरटः प्रांशुः पद्मी विततमस्तकः। सुविषाणो महाकायो मेघगम्भीरनिस्वनः ॥१२-११७-२३॥
He was broken-tusked, tall, lotus-bearing, broad-headed, with fine tusks, a massive body, and a voice deep as thunder.
तं दृष्ट्वा कुञ्जरं मत्तमायान्तं मदगर्वितम्। व्याघ्रो हस्तिभयात्त्रस्तस्तमृषिं शरणं ययौ ॥१२-११७-२४॥
When the tiger saw the intoxicated, proud elephant approaching, frightened by the elephant, he went to the sage for refuge.
ततोऽनयत्कुञ्जरतां तं व्याघ्रमृषिसत्तमः। महामेघोपमं दृष्ट्वा तं स भीतोऽभवद्गजः ॥१२-११७-२५॥
Then the best of sages led the tiger to become an elephant; seeing him like a great cloud, the elephant became afraid.
ततः कमलषण्डानि शल्लकीगहनानि च। व्यचरत्स मुदा युक्तः पद्मरेणुविभूषितः ॥१२-११७-२६॥
Then he, adorned with lotus-dust and filled with joy, wandered through the lotus thickets and the dense śallakī groves.
कदाचिद्रममाणस्य हस्तिनः सुमुखं तदा। ऋषेस्तस्योटजस्थस्य कालोऽगच्छन्निशानिशम् ॥१२-११७-२७॥
Once, as the elephant Sumukha was enjoying himself, time passed night after night for the sage who was living in his hut.
अथाजगाम तं देशं केसरी केसरारुणः। गिरिकन्दरजो भीमः सिंहो नागकुलान्तकः ॥१२-११७-२८॥
Then Kesarī, the tawny-maned lion born in a mountain cave, formidable and the destroyer of the serpent race, came to that place.
तं दृष्ट्वा सिंहमायान्तं नागः सिंहभयाकुलः। ऋषिं शरणमापेदे वेपमानो भयातुरः ॥१२-११७-२९॥
Seeing the lion coming near, the serpent, terrified and trembling with fear, sought refuge with the sage.
ततः स सिंहतां नीतो नागेन्द्रो मुनिना तदा। वन्यं नागणयत्सिंहं तुल्यजातिसमन्वयात् ॥१२-११७-३०॥
Then, at that time, the sage transformed the king of serpents into a lion. The wild lion was not distinguished because of the similarity in species and association.
दृष्ट्वा च सोऽनशत्सिंहो वन्यो भीसन्नवाग्बलः। स चाश्रमेऽवसत्सिंहस्तस्मिन्नेव वने सुखी ॥१२-११७-३१॥
Having seen this, the wild lion, frightened and speechless, did not eat. That lion also dwelt happily in that very forest hermitage.
न त्वन्ये क्षुद्रपशवस्तपोवननिवासिनः। व्यदृश्यन्त भयत्रस्ता जीविताकाङ्क्षिणः सदा ॥१२-११७-३२॥
But the other small animals living in the forest of austerities were always seen, stricken by fear and longing for life.
कदाचित्कालयोगेन सर्वप्राणिविहिंसकः। बलवान्क्षतजाहारो नानासत्त्वभयङ्करः ॥१२-११७-३३॥
At a certain time, due to the influence of time, he became a powerful destroyer of all living beings, a blood-eater, and a terror to many creatures.
अष्टपादूर्ध्वचरणः शरभो वनगोचरः। तं सिंहं हन्तुमागच्छन्मुनेस्तस्य निवेशनम् ॥१२-११७-३४॥
The eight-footed, upward-footed śarabha, a forest-dwelling beast, came to the sage's dwelling to kill the lion.
तं मुनिः शरभं चक्रे बलोत्कटमरिंदम। ततः स शरभो वन्यो मुनेः शरभमग्रतः ॥ दृष्ट्वा बलिनमत्युग्रं द्रुतं सम्प्राद्रवद्भयात् ॥१२-११७-३५॥
The sage transformed him into a Śarabha, a mighty destroyer of enemies. Then that wild Śarabha stood before the sage's Śarabha. Seeing the extremely powerful and fierce being, he quickly fled in fear.
स एवं शरभस्थाने न्यस्तो वै मुनिना तदा। मुनेः पार्श्वगतो नित्यं शारभ्यं सुखमाप्तवान् ॥१२-११७-३६॥
Thus, he was placed by the sage in the position of Śarabha; always remaining at the sage's side, he attained the happiness belonging to Śarabha.
ततः शरभसन्त्रस्ताः सर्वे मृगगणा वनात्। दिशः सम्प्राद्रवन्राजन्भयाज्जीवितकाङ्क्षिणः ॥१२-११७-३७॥
Then, O king, all the groups of deer, terrified by the śarabha, fled from the forest in all directions, seeking to save their lives out of fear.
शरभोऽप्यतिसंदुष्टो नित्यं प्राणिवधे रतः। फलमूलाशनं शान्तं नैच्छत्स पिशिताशनः ॥१२-११७-३८॥
The deer, too, being extremely enraged, was always intent on killing living beings; he, as a flesh-eater, did not wish for calmness or to eat fruits and roots.
ततो रुधिरतर्षेण बलिना शरभोऽन्वितः। इयेष तं मुनिं हन्तुमकृतज्ञः श्वयोनिजः ॥१२-११७-३९॥
Then, driven by blood-thirst and accompanied by the powerful Śarabha, the ungrateful one born of a canine womb sought to kill the sage.
ततस्तेन तपःशक्त्या विदितो ज्ञानचक्षुषा। विज्ञाय च महाप्राज्ञो मुनिः श्वानं तमुक्तवान् ॥१२-११७-४०॥
Then, by the power of his austerity and with the eye of knowledge, the great wise sage understood and spoke to the dog.
श्वा त्वं द्वीपित्वमापन्नो द्वीपी व्याघ्रत्वमागतः। व्याघ्रो नागो मदपटुर्नागः सिंहत्वमाप्तवान् ॥१२-११७-४१॥
You, the dog, attained the nature of a leopard; the leopard attained the nature of a tiger. The tiger became an intoxicated and strong elephant; the elephant attained the nature of a lion.
सिंहोऽतिबलसंयुक्तो भूयः शरभतां गतः। मया स्नेहपरीतेन न विमृष्टः कुलान्वयः ॥१२-११७-४२॥
The lion, though greatly powerful, again turned into a śarabha. Because I was overwhelmed by affection, I did not examine the family lineage.
यस्मादेवमपापं मां पाप हिंसितुमिच्छसि। तस्मात्स्वयोनिमापन्नः श्वैव त्वं हि भविष्यसि ॥१२-११७-४३॥
Because you wish to harm me, who am sinless, therefore, having attained your own species, you will indeed become a dog.
ततो मुनिजनद्वेषाद्दुष्टात्मा श्वाकृतोऽबुधः। ऋषिणा शरभः शप्तः स्वं रूपं पुनराप्तवान् ॥१२-११७-४४॥
Then, due to his hatred of the sages, the wicked and ignorant Śarabha, who had been turned into a dog and cursed by the sage, regained his original form.
