12.126
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhīṣma said.
ततस्तेषां समस्तानामृषीणामृषिसत्तमः। ऋषभो नाम विप्रर्षिः स्मयन्निव ततोऽब्रवीत् ॥१२-१२६-१॥
Then, among all those sages, the foremost sage, Ṛṣabha by name, the Brāhmaṇa sage, as if smiling, then spoke.
पुराहं राजशार्दूल तीर्थान्यनुचरन्प्रभो। समासादितवान्दिव्यं नरनारायणाश्रमम् ॥१२-१२६-२॥
O tiger among kings, once, while I was wandering through holy places, O lord, I reached the divine hermitage of Nara and Nārāyaṇa.
यत्र सा बदरी रम्या ह्रदो वैहायसस्तथा। यत्र चाश्वशिरा राजन्वेदान्पठति शाश्वतान् ॥१२-१२६-३॥
O king, where the beautiful Badarī and the celestial lake are, and where the sage Aśvaśirā recites the eternal Vedas.
तस्मिन्सरसि कृत्वाहं विधिवत्तर्पणं पुरा। पितॄणां देवतानां च ततोऽऽश्रममियां तदा ॥१२-१२६-४॥
Formerly, in that lake, I performed the water-offering according to the rules for the ancestors and deities; then, at that time, I went to the hermitage.
रेमाते यत्र तौ नित्यं नरनारायणावृषी। अदूरादाश्रमं कञ्चिद्वासार्थमगमं ततः ॥१२-१२६-५॥
Where Nara and Nārāyaṇa sages always delighted, not far from there, I went to a certain hermitage for the purpose of staying.
ततश्चीराजिनधरं कृशमुच्चमतीव च। अद्राक्षमृषिमायान्तं तनुं नाम तपोनिधिम् ॥१२-१२६-६॥
Then I saw a sage, tall and exceedingly emaciated, wearing bark and deer skin, approaching—a body named the treasure of austerity.
अन्यैर्नरैर्महाबाहो वपुषाष्टगुणान्वितम्। कृशता चापि राजर्षे न दृष्टा तादृशी क्वचित् ॥१२-१२६-७॥
O mighty-armed one, no other men have ever seen a form endowed with eight qualities and such leanness as this, O royal sage, anywhere.
शरीरमपि राजेन्द्र तस्य कानिष्ठिकासमम्। ग्रीवा बाहू तथा पादौ केशाश्चाद्भुतदर्शनाः ॥१२-१२६-८॥
O king, even his body was as small as a little finger; his neck, arms, feet, and hairs were all of marvelous appearance.
शिरः कायानुरूपं च कर्णौ नेत्रे तथैव च। तस्य वाक्चैव चेष्टा च सामान्ये राजसत्तम ॥१२-१२६-९॥
O best of kings, the head, ears, and eyes should be proportional to the body; likewise, his speech and actions should also be generally appropriate.
दृष्ट्वाहं तं कृशं विप्रं भीतः परमदुर्मनाः। पादौ तस्याभिवाद्याथ स्थितः प्राञ्जलिरग्रतः ॥१२-१२६-१०॥
Seeing that emaciated brāhmaṇa, I, overcome with fear and deep distress, saluted his feet and then stood before him with joined palms.
निवेद्य नाम गोत्रं च पितरं च नरर्षभ। प्रदिष्टे चासने तेन शनैरहमुपाविशम् ॥१२-१२६-११॥
O best of men, after I had informed (my) name, lineage, and father, and when he indicated the seat, I slowly sat down.
ततः स कथयामास कथा धर्मार्थसंहिताः। ऋषिमध्ये महाराज तत्र धर्मभृतां वरः ॥१२-१२६-१२॥
Then he narrated stories relating to dharma and artha; among the sages, O great king, there was the best among the upholders of dharma.
तस्मिंस्तु कथयत्येव राजा राजीवलोचनः। उपायाज्जवनैरश्वैः सबलः सावरोधनः ॥१२-१२६-१३॥
But as he was speaking, the lotus-eyed king, accompanied by his army and women, set out using swift horses.
स्मरन्पुत्रमरण्ये वै नष्टं परमदुर्मनाः। भूरिद्युम्नपिता धीमान्रघुश्रेष्ठो महायशाः ॥१२-१२६-१४॥
Extremely distressed, the wise and illustrious Raghu, father of Bhūridyumna, kept remembering his son who was lost in the forest.
इह द्रक्ष्यामि तं पुत्रं द्रक्ष्यामीहेति पार्थिवः। एवमाशाकृतो राजंश्चरन्वनमिदं पुरा ॥१२-१२६-१५॥
The king, filled with hope, used to wander this forest in former times, thinking, 'Here I shall see that son; I shall see him here.'
दुर्लभः स मया द्रष्टुं नूनं परमधार्मिकः। एकः पुत्रो महारण्ये नष्ट इत्यसकृत्तदा ॥१२-१२६-१६॥
That supremely righteous one, my only son, who is difficult to find, is lost in the great forest—I have said this again and again at that time.
दुर्लभः स मया द्रष्टुमाशा च महती मम। तया परीतगात्रोऽहं मुमूर्षुर्नात्र संशयः ॥१२-१२६-१७॥
He is very difficult for me to see, and my hope is great; because of that, with my body afflicted, I am desiring to die—there is no doubt about it.
एतच्छ्रुत्वा स भगवांस्तनुर्मुनिवरोत्तमः। अवाक्षिरा ध्यानपरो मुहूर्तमिव तस्थिवान् ॥१२-१२६-१८॥
Hearing this, the venerable sage of excellent form stood for a moment with his head bowed, deeply absorbed in meditation.
तमनुध्यान्तमालक्ष्य राजा परमदुर्मनाः। उवाच वाक्यं दीनात्मा मन्दं मन्दमिवासकृत् ॥१२-१२६-१९॥
Seeing him lost in thought, the king, deeply troubled and dejected, spoke words slowly and repeatedly, as if with great difficulty.
दुर्लभं किं नु विप्रर्षे आशायाश्चैव किं भवेत्। ब्रवीतु भगवानेतद्यदि गुह्यं न तन्मयि ॥१२-१२६-२०॥
O best of Brāhmaṇas, what is truly difficult to obtain? And what may be the nature of hope? Let the venerable one tell me this, if it is not a secret.
महर्षिर्भगवांस्तेन पूर्वमासीद्विमानितः। बालिशां बुद्धिमास्थाय मन्दभाग्यतयात्मनः ॥१२-१२६-२१॥
Previously, the venerable great sage was insulted by him, who, due to his own misfortune, had adopted a childish intellect.
अर्थयन्कलशं राजन्काञ्चनं वल्कलानि च। निर्विण्णः स तु विप्रर्षिर्निराशः समपद्यत ॥१२-१२६-२२॥
Requesting a pot, gold, and bark garments, O king, the Brāhmaṇa sage became disheartened and hopeless.
एवमुक्त्वाभिवाद्याथ तमृषिं लोकपूजितम्। श्रान्तो न्यषीदद्धर्मात्मा यथा त्वं नरसत्तम ॥१२-१२६-२३॥
Having thus spoken and saluted the sage honored by the world, the righteous-souled, tired, sat down just as you do, O best of men.
अर्घ्यं ततः समानीय पाद्यं चैव महानृषिः। आरण्यकेन विधिना राज्ञे सर्वं न्यवेदयत् ॥१२-१२६-२४॥
Thereafter, the great sage, having brought together the offering of water and water for washing the feet, offered everything to the king according to the procedure prescribed for forest-dwellers.
ततस्ते मुनयः सर्वे परिवार्य नरर्षभम्। उपाविशन्पुरस्कृत्य सप्तर्षय इव ध्रुवम् ॥१२-१२६-२५॥
Then all the sages gathered around the best of men, seated him at the forefront, just as the seven sages assemble around Dhruva.
अपृच्छंश्चैव ते तत्र राजानमपराजितम्। प्रयोजनमिदं सर्वमाश्रमस्य प्रवेशनम् ॥१२-१२६-२६॥
They asked the unconquered king there, saying, "The entire purpose is to enter the hermitage."
राजोवाच॥
The king said.
वीरद्युम्न इति ख्यातो राजाहं दिक्षु विश्रुतः। भूरिद्युम्नं सुतं नष्टमन्वेष्टुं वनमागतः ॥१२-१२६-२७॥
I am the king well-known as Vīradyumna, renowned in all directions. I have come to the forest to search for my lost son Bhūridyumna.
एकपुत्रः स विप्राग्र्य बाल एव च सोऽनघ। न दृश्यते वने चास्मिंस्तमन्वेष्टुं चराम्यहम् ॥१२-१२६-२८॥
He has only one son, who is the foremost among Brāhmaṇas, still a child and sinless. He is not seen in this forest; I am wandering here to search for him.
ऋषभ उवाच॥
Ṛṣabha said.
एवमुक्ते तु वचने राज्ञा मुनिरधोमुखः। तूष्णीमेवाभवत्तत्र न च प्रत्युक्तवान्नृपम् ॥१२-१२६-२९॥
When the king spoke thus, the sage lowered his face and remained silent there, not replying to the king.
स हि तेन पुरा विप्रो राज्ञा नात्यर्थमानितः। आशाकृशं च राजेन्द्र तपो दीर्घं समास्थितः ॥१२-१२६-३०॥
He, O king, that brāhmaṇa, not being excessively honoured by the king in former times, emaciated by hope, undertook long austerities.
प्रतिग्रहमहं राज्ञां न करिष्ये कथञ्चन। अन्येषां चैव वर्णानामिति कृत्वा धियं तदा ॥१२-१२६-३१॥
I resolved, "I will never accept gifts from kings; and having made up my mind thus regarding the other castes as well, then."
आशा हि पुरुषं बालं लालापयति तस्थुषी। तामहं व्यपनेष्यामि इति कृत्वा व्यवस्थितः ॥१२-१२६-३२॥
Hope, like a mother fondling her child, entices a man who stands still. Having resolved, 'I will remove her,' I stood firm.
राजोवाच॥
The king said.
आशायाः किं कृशत्वं च किं चेह भुवि दुर्लभम्। ब्रवीतु भगवानेतत्त्वं हि धर्मार्थदर्शिवान् ॥१२-१२६-३३॥
What is the thinness of hope, and what is difficult to obtain here on earth? Let the venerable one, who truly understands dharma and artha, declare this truth.
ऋषभ उवाच॥
Ṛṣabha said.
ततः संस्मृत्य तत्सर्वं स्मारयिष्यन्निवाब्रवीत्। राजानं भगवान्विप्रस्ततः कृशतनुस्तनुः ॥१२-१२६-३४॥
Then, the venerable sage, whose body was emaciated, recollecting all that, as if wishing to remind, spoke to the king.
कृशत्वे न समं राजन्नाशाया विद्यते नृप। तस्या वै दुर्लभत्वात्तु प्रार्थिताः पार्थिवा मया ॥१२-१२६-३५॥
O king, in the state of being thin, there is nothing equal to hope, O ruler; because of its rarity, I have sought after kings.
राजोवाच॥
The king said.
कृशाकृशे मया ब्रह्मन्गृहीते वचनात्तव। दुर्लभत्वं च तस्यैव वेदवाक्यमिव द्विज ॥१२-१२६-३६॥
O Brahman, I have accepted both the thin and not-thin (forms) by your word; their difficulty of attainment is just like a Vedic statement, O twice-born.
संशयस्तु महाप्राज्ञ सञ्जातो हृदये मम। तन्मे सत्तम तत्त्वेन वक्तुमर्हसि पृच्छतः ॥१२-१२६-३७॥
O greatly wise one, a doubt has arisen in my heart; therefore, O best one, please explain the truth to me as I am asking.
त्वत्तः कृशतरं किं नु ब्रवीतु भगवानिदम्। यदि गुह्यं न ते विप्र लोकेऽस्मिन्किं नु दुर्लभम् ॥१२-१२६-३८॥
What could the revered one say that is more insignificant than what you know? O brāhmaṇa, if there is no secret for you in this world, then what indeed is unattainable?
कृशतनुरुवाच॥
The thin-bodied one said.
दुर्लभोऽप्यथ वा नास्ति योऽर्थी धृतिमिवाप्नुयात्। सुदुर्लभतरस्तात योऽर्थिनं नावमन्यते ॥१२-१२६-३९॥
It is rare, or perhaps impossible, to find a supplicant who attains steadfastness; dearest, rarer still is the one who does not look down upon a supplicant.
संश्रुत्य नोपक्रियते परं शक्त्या यथार्हतः। सक्ता या सर्वभूतेषु साशा कृशतरी मया ॥१२-१२६-४०॥
Having heard, one does not assist another with power as is proper; the one who is attached to all beings, her desire has become thinner by me.
एकपुत्रः पिता पुत्रे नष्टे वा प्रोषिते तथा। प्रवृत्तिं यो न जानाति साशा कृशतरी मया ॥१२-१२६-४१॥
A father who has only one son, when his son is lost or has gone away, and he does not receive any news of him, his hope, as I have seen, becomes ever more frail.
प्रसवे चैव नारीणां वृद्धानां पुत्रकारिता। तथा नरेन्द्र धनिनामाशा कृशतरी मया ॥१२-१२६-४२॥
At childbirth, women and the aged have a desire for sons; likewise, O king, among the wealthy, desire is very slight, as I have observed.
ऋषभ उवाच॥
Ṛṣabha said:
एतच्छ्रुत्वा ततो राजन्स राजा सावरोधनः। संस्पृश्य पादौ शिरसा निपपात द्विजर्षभे ॥१२-१२६-४३॥
O king, upon hearing this, that king, accompanied by his women, bowed down and touched the feet of the foremost brāhmaṇa with his head.
राजोवाच॥
The king said.
प्रसादये त्वा भगवन्पुत्रेणेच्छामि सङ्गतिम्। वृणीष्व च वरं विप्र यमिच्छसि यथाविधि ॥१२-१२६-४४॥
I respectfully approach you, O revered one, with my son, seeking union. And, O Brāhmaṇa, choose whatever boon you wish, as is proper.
ऋषभ उवाच॥
Ṛṣabha said.
अब्रवीच्च हि तं वाक्यं राजा राजीवलोचनः। सत्यमेतद्यथा विप्र त्वयोक्तं नास्त्यतो मृषा ॥१२-१२६-४५॥
The lotus-eyed king spoke these words: "O Brāhmaṇa, what you have said is true; there is nothing false in it."
ततः प्रहस्य भगवांस्तनुर्धर्मभृतां वरः। पुत्रमस्यानयत्क्षिप्रं तपसा च श्रुतेन च ॥१२-१२६-४६॥
Then, having smiled, the venerable form, the best among the upholders of dharma, quickly brought his son by means of austerity and Vedic knowledge.
तं समानाय्य पुत्रं तु तदोपालभ्य पार्थिवम्। आत्मानं दर्शयामास धर्मं धर्मभृतां वरः ॥१२-१२६-४७॥
Having brought his son and then reproaching the king, the best among the upholders of dharma revealed himself as the embodiment of righteousness.
संदर्शयित्वा चात्मानं दिव्यमद्भुतदर्शनम्। विपाप्मा विगतक्रोधश्चचार वनमन्तिकात् ॥१२-१२६-४८॥
After revealing himself in a divine and wondrous form, free from sin and anger, he departed from the edge of the forest.
एतद्दृष्टं मया राजंस्ततश्च वचनं श्रुतम्। आशामपनयस्वाशु ततः कृशतरीमिमाम् ॥१२-१२६-४९॥
O king, I have seen this and then heard the words. Quickly abandon this frail hope of yours.
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhīṣma said.
स तत्रोक्तो महाराज ऋषभेण महात्मना। सुमित्रोऽपनयत्क्षिप्रमाशां कृशतरीं तदा ॥१२-१२६-५०॥
There, O great king, Ṛṣabha, the great-souled one, addressed him. Then Sumitra quickly dispelled the faint hope.
एवं त्वमपि कौन्तेय श्रुत्वा वाणीमिमां मम। स्थिरो भव यथा राजन्हिमवानचलोत्तमः ॥१२-१२६-५१॥
Therefore, O son of Kunti, after hearing these words of mine, remain steadfast like the Himalaya, O king, the foremost of mountains.
त्वं हि द्रष्टा च श्रोता च कृच्छ्रेष्वर्थकृतेष्विह। श्रुत्वा मम महाराज न सन्तप्तुमिहार्हसि ॥१२-१२६-५२॥
You are truly both the observer and the listener in these difficult situations and for the sake of purpose here; having heard my words, O great king, you should not be distressed here.
