12.126
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said.
tatasteṣāṃ samastānām ṛṣīṇām ṛṣi-sattamaḥ। ṛṣabho nāma vipra-ṛṣiḥ smayanniva tato'bravīt ॥12-126-1॥
Then, among all those sages, the foremost sage, Ṛṣabha by name, the Brāhmaṇa sage, as if smiling, then spoke.
purāhaṃ rājaśārdūla tīrthānyanucaran prabho। samāsāditavān divyaṃ naranārāyaṇāśramam ॥12-126-2॥
O tiger among kings, once, while I was wandering through holy places, O lord, I reached the divine hermitage of Nara and Nārāyaṇa.
yatra sā badarī ramyā hṛdo vaihāyasas tathā। yatra cāśvaśirā rājan vedān paṭhati śāśvatān ॥12-126-3॥
O king, where the beautiful Badarī and the celestial lake are, and where the sage Aśvaśirā recites the eternal Vedas.
tasmin sarasi kṛtvā ahaṃ vidhivat tarpaṇaṃ purā। pitṝṇāṃ devatānāṃ ca tato'āśramam iyāṃ tadā॥12-126-4॥
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.
remāte yatra tau nityaṃ naranārāyaṇāvṛṣī। adūrādāśramaṃ kañcidvāsārthamagamaṃ tataḥ ॥12-126-5॥
Where Nara and Nārāyaṇa sages always delighted, not far from there, I went to a certain hermitage for the purpose of staying.
tataś cīrājinadharaṃ kṛśam uccamatīva ca। adrākṣam ṛṣim āyāntaṃ tanuṃ nāma taponidhim ॥12-126-6॥
Then I saw a sage, tall and exceedingly emaciated, wearing bark and deer skin, approaching—a body named the treasure of austerity.
anyair narair mahābāho vapuṣāṣṭaguṇānvitam। kṛśatā cāpi rājarṣe na dṛṣṭā tādṛśī kvacit ॥12-126-7॥
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.
śarīram api rājeṃdra tasya kāniṣṭhikāsamam। grīvā bāhū tathā pādau keśāś cādbhutadarśanāḥ ॥12-126-8॥
O king, even his body was as small as a little finger; his neck, arms, feet, and hairs were all of marvelous appearance.
śiraḥ kāyānurūpaṃ ca karṇau netre tathaiva ca। tasya vākcaiva ceṣṭā ca sāmānye rājasattama ॥12-126-9॥
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.
dṛṣṭvāhaṃ taṃ kṛśaṃ vipraṃ bhītaḥ paramadurmanaḥ। pādau tasyābhivādyātha sthitaḥ prāñjaliragrataḥ ॥12-126-10॥
Seeing that emaciated brāhmaṇa, I, overcome with fear and deep distress, saluted his feet and then stood before him with joined palms.
nivedya nāma gotraṃ ca pitaraṃ ca nararṣabha। pradiṣṭe cāsane tena śanair aham upāviśam ॥12-126-11॥
O best of men, after I had informed (my) name, lineage, and father, and when he indicated the seat, I slowly sat down.
tataḥ sa kathayāmāsa kathā dharmārthasaṃhitāḥ। ṛṣimadhye mahārāja tatra dharmabhṛtāṃ varaḥ ॥12-126-12॥
Then he narrated stories relating to dharma and artha; among the sages, O great king, there was the best among the upholders of dharma.
tasmiṃstu kathayatyeva rājā rājīvalocanaḥ। upāyājjavanairaśvaiḥ sabalaḥ sāvarodhanaḥ ॥12-126-13॥
But as he was speaking, the lotus-eyed king, accompanied by his army and women, set out using swift horses.
smaran putram araṇye vai naṣṭam paramadurmanāḥ। bhūridyumna-pitā dhīmān raghu-śreṣṭhaḥ mahā-yaśāḥ॥12-126-14॥
Extremely distressed, the wise and illustrious Raghu, father of Bhūridyumna, kept remembering his son who was lost in the forest.
iha drakṣyāmi taṃ putraṃ drakṣyāmīheti pārthivaḥ। evamāśākṛto rājaṃścaranvanamidaṃ purā ॥12-126-15॥
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.'
durlabhaḥ sa mayā draṣṭuṃ nūnaṃ paramadhārmikaḥ। ekaḥ putro mahāraṇye naṣṭa ityasakṛttadā ॥12-126-16॥
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.
durlabhaḥ sa mayā draṣṭum āśā ca mahatī mama। tayā parīta-gātraḥ ahaṃ mumūrṣuḥ na atra saṃśayaḥ ॥12-126-17॥
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.
etat-śrutvā sa bhagavāṁs tanur munivarottamaḥ। avākśirā dhyānaparo muhūrtam iva tasthivān ॥12-126-18॥
Hearing this, the venerable sage of excellent form stood for a moment with his head bowed, deeply absorbed in meditation.
tam anudhyāntam ālakṣya rājā paramadurmanāḥ। uvāca vākyaṃ dīnātmā mandaṃ mandam ivāsakṛt ॥12-126-19॥
Seeing him lost in thought, the king, deeply troubled and dejected, spoke words slowly and repeatedly, as if with great difficulty.
durlabhaṃ kiṃ nu viprarṣe āśāyāścaiva kiṃ bhavet। bravītu bhagavānetadyadi guhyaṃ na tanmayi॥12-126-20॥
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.
maharṣir bhagavāṁs tena pūrvam āsīd vimāṇitaḥ। bāliśāṁ buddhim āsthāya mandabhāgyatayātmanaḥ ॥12-126-21॥
Previously, the venerable great sage was insulted by him, who, due to his own misfortune, had adopted a childish intellect.
arthayan-kalaśaṃ rājan-kāñcanaṃ valkalāni ca। nirviṇṇaḥ sa tu viprarṣir-nirāśaḥ samapadyata ॥12-126-22॥
Requesting a pot, gold, and bark garments, O king, the Brāhmaṇa sage became disheartened and hopeless.
evam-uktvā abhivādya atha tam ṛṣiṃ loka-pūjitam | śrāntaḥ nyaṣīdat dharmātmā yathā tvaṃ nara-sattama ॥12-126-23॥
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.
arghyaṃ tataḥ samānīya pādyaṃ caiva mahānṛṣiḥ। āraṇyakena vidhinā rājñe sarvaṃ nyavedayat ॥12-126-24॥
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.
tataste munayaḥ sarve parivārya nararṣabham। upāviśanpuraskṛtya saptarṣaya iva dhruvam ॥12-126-25॥
Then all the sages gathered around the best of men, seated him at the forefront, just as the seven sages assemble around Dhruva.
apṛcchaṃścaiva te tatra rājānamaparājitam। prayojanamidaṃ sarvamāśramasya praveśanam ॥12-126-26॥
They asked the unconquered king there, saying, "The entire purpose is to enter the hermitage."
rājovāca॥
The king said.
vīradyumna iti khyāto rājāhaṃ dikṣu viśrutaḥ। bhūridyumnaṃ sutaṃ naṣṭamanveṣṭuṃ vanamāgataḥ ॥12-126-27॥
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.
ekaputraḥ sa viprāgrya bāla eva ca so'naɡha। na dṛśyate vane cāsmiṃstamanveṣṭuṃ carāmyaham ॥12-126-28॥
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.
ṛṣabha uvāca॥
Ṛṣabha said.
evamukte tu vacane rājñā muniradhomukhaḥ। tūṣṇīmevābhavattatra na ca pratyuktavānnṛpam ॥12-126-29॥
When the king spoke thus, the sage lowered his face and remained silent there, not replying to the king.
sa hi tena purā vipro rājñā nātyarthamāṇitaḥ। āśākṛśaṃ ca rājendra tapo dīrghaṃ samāsthitaḥ ॥12-126-30॥
He, O king, that brāhmaṇa, not being excessively honoured by the king in former times, emaciated by hope, undertook long austerities.
pratigraham ahaṃ rājñāṃ na kariṣye kathaṃcana। anyeṣāṃ caiva varṇānām iti kṛtvā dhiyaṃ tadā ॥12-126-31॥
I resolved, "I will never accept gifts from kings; and having made up my mind thus regarding the other castes as well, then."
āśā hi puruṣaṃ bālaṃ lālāpayati tasthuṣī। tāmahaṃ vyapaneṣyāmi iti kṛtvā vyavasthitaḥ ॥12-126-32॥
Hope, like a mother fondling her child, entices a man who stands still. Having resolved, 'I will remove her,' I stood firm.
rājovāca॥
The king said.
āśāyāḥ kiṃ kṛśatvaṃ ca kiṃ ceha bhuvi durlabham। bravītu bhagavānetattvaṃ hi dharmārthadarśivān ॥12-126-33॥
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.
ṛṣabha uvāca॥
Ṛṣabha said.
tataḥ saṁsmṛtya tatsarvaṁ smārayiṣyannivābravīt। rājānaṁ bhagavān viprastataḥ kṛśatanuḥ tanuḥ ॥12-126-34॥
Then, the venerable sage, whose body was emaciated, recollecting all that, as if wishing to remind, spoke to the king.
kṛśatve na samaṃ rājannāśāyā vidyate nṛpa। tasyā vai durlabhatvāttu prārthitāḥ pārthivā mayā ॥12-126-35॥
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.
rājovāca॥
The king said.
kṛśākṛśe mayā brahman gṛhīte vacanāt tava। durlabhatvaṃ ca tasyaiva vedavākyam iva dvija ॥12-126-36॥
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.
saṃśayastu mahāprājña sañjāto hṛdaye mama। tanme sattama tattvena vaktumarhasi pṛcchataḥ ॥12-126-37॥
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.
tvattaḥ kṛśataraṃ kiṃ nu bravītu bhagavānidam। yadi guhyaṃ na te vipra loke'sminkiṃ nu durlabham ॥12-126-38॥
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?
kṛśatanuruvāca॥
The thin-bodied one said.
durlabho'pyatha vā nāsti yo'rthī dhṛtimivāpnuyāt। sudurlabhatarastātha yo'rthinaṃ nāvamanyate ॥12-126-39॥
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.
saṃśrutya nopakriyate paraṃ śaktyā yathārhataḥ। saktā yā sarvabhūteṣu sāśā kṛśatarī mayā ॥12-126-40॥
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.
ekaputraḥ pitā putre naṣṭe vā proṣite tathā। pravṛttiṃ yo na jānāti sāśā kṛśatarī mayā ॥12-126-41॥
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.
prasave caiva nārīṇāṃ vṛddhānāṃ putrakāritā। tathā narendra dhaninām āśā kṛśatarī mayā ॥12-126-42॥
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.
ṛṣabha uvāca॥
Ṛṣabha said:
etat-śrutvā tato rājan sa rājā sāvarodhnaḥ। saṃspṛśya pādau śirasā nipapāta dvijarṣabhe ॥12-126-43॥
O king, upon hearing this, that king, accompanied by his women, bowed down and touched the feet of the foremost brāhmaṇa with his head.
rājovāca॥
The king said.
prasādaye tvā bhagavanputreṇecchāmi saṅgatim। vṛṇīṣva ca varaṃ vipra yamicchasi yathāvidhi ॥12-126-44॥
I respectfully approach you, O revered one, with my son, seeking union. And, O Brāhmaṇa, choose whatever boon you wish, as is proper.
ṛṣabha uvāca॥
Ṛṣabha said.
abravīc ca hi taṃ vākyaṃ rājā rājīvalocanaḥ। satyam etad yathā vipra tvayoktaṃ nāsty ato mṛṣā ॥12-126-45॥
The lotus-eyed king spoke these words: "O Brāhmaṇa, what you have said is true; there is nothing false in it."
tataḥ prahasya bhagavāṃstanurdharmabhṛtāṃ varaḥ। putramasyānayatkṣipraṃ tapasā ca śrutena ca ॥12-126-46॥
Then, having smiled, the venerable form, the best among the upholders of dharma, quickly brought his son by means of austerity and Vedic knowledge.
taṃ samānāyya putraṃ tu tadopālabhya pārthivam। ātmānaṃ darśayāmāsa dharmaṃ dharmabhṛtāṃ varaḥ ॥12-126-47॥
Having brought his son and then reproaching the king, the best among the upholders of dharma revealed himself as the embodiment of righteousness.
sandarśayitvā cātmānaṃ divyamadbhutadarśanam। vipāpmā vigatakrodhaścacāra vanamantikāt ॥12-126-48॥
After revealing himself in a divine and wondrous form, free from sin and anger, he departed from the edge of the forest.
etaddṛṣṭaṃ mayā rājaṃstataśca vacanaṃ śrutam। āśām apanayasvāśu tataḥ kṛśatarīm imām ॥12-126-49॥
O king, I have seen this and then heard the words. Quickly abandon this frail hope of yours.
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said.
sa tatro'kto mahārāja ṛṣabheṇa mahātmanā। sumitro'panayatkṣipramāśāṃ kṛśatarīṃ tadā ॥12-126-50॥
There, O great king, Ṛṣabha, the great-souled one, addressed him. Then Sumitra quickly dispelled the faint hope.
evaṃ tvam api kaunteya śrutvā vāṇīm imāṃ mama। sthiro bhava yathā rājan himavān acalottamaḥ ॥12-126-51॥
Therefore, O son of Kunti, after hearing these words of mine, remain steadfast like the Himalaya, O king, the foremost of mountains.
tvaṃ hi draṣṭā ca śrotā ca kṛcchreṣv artha-kṛteṣv iha। śrutvā mama mahārāja na santaptum ihārhasi ॥12-126-52॥
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.
