12.142
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said:
atha vṛkṣasya śākhāyāṃ vihaṅgaḥ sasuhr̥jjanaḥ। dīrghakāloṣito rājaṃstatra citratanūruhaḥ ॥12-142-1॥
Then, O king, on the branch of the tree, there was a bird with friendly companions, who had lived there for a long time, and had a remarkable body of feathers.
tasya kālyaṃ gatā bhāryā carituṃ nābhyavartata। prāptāṃ ca rajanīṃ dṛṣṭvā sa pakṣī paryatapyata ॥12-142-2॥
In the morning, his wife went out to wander and did not return. When he saw that night had arrived, the bird was tormented.
vātavarṣaṃ mahaccāsīn na cāgacchati me priyā। kiṃ nu tatkāraṇaṃ yena sādyāpi na nivartate ॥12-142-3॥
There was a great storm of wind and rain, and my beloved has not come to me. What could be the reason that even today she has not returned?
api svasti bhavet tasyāḥ priyāyā mama kānane। tayā virahitaṃ hīdaṃ śūnyam adya gṛhaṃ mama ॥12-142-4॥
Indeed, may my beloved have well-being in the forest. Because she is absent, my house feels empty today.
yadi sā raktanetrāntā citrāṅgī madhurasvarā। adya nābhyeti me kāntā na kāryaṃ jīvitena me ॥12-142-5॥
If my beloved, who has red eye-corners, variegated limbs, and a sweet voice, does not come to me today, then my life has no purpose.
patidharmaratā sādhvī prāṇebhyo'pi garīyasī। sā hi śrāntaṃ kṣudhārtaṃ ca jānīte māṃ tapasvinī ॥12-142-6॥
A virtuous wife devoted to her husband's duties is more precious than life itself. Such an ascetic woman truly knows me, even when I am weary and hungry.
anuraktā hitā caiva snigdhā caiva pativratā। yasya vai tādṛśī bhāryā dhanyaḥ sa manujo bhuvi॥12-142-7॥
A man on earth whose wife is deeply attached, beneficial, affectionate, and devoted to her husband is truly blessed.
bhāryā hi paramo nāthaḥ puruṣasyeha paṭhyate। asahāyasya loke'smiñlokayātrāsahāyinī ॥12-142-8॥
It is said that the wife is indeed the supreme protector of a man here; for the helpless, in this world, she is the helper in the journey of life.
tathā rogābhibhūtasya nityaṃ kṛcchragatasya ca। nāsti bhāryāsamaṃ kiñcin narasyārtasya bheṣajam ॥12-142-9॥
Similarly, for a man who is always afflicted by disease or distress, there is no remedy equal to a wife.
nāsti bhāryāsamo bandhur nāsti bhāryāsamā gatiḥ। nāsti bhāryāsamo loke sahāyo dharmasādhanaḥ ॥12-142-10॥
There is no relative like the wife; there is no support like the wife. In this world, there is no helper for the pursuit of righteousness equal to the wife.
evaṃ vilapatastasya dvijasyārtasya tatra vai। gṛhītā śakunaghnena bhāryā śuśrāva bhāratīm ॥12-142-11॥
As the afflicted twice-born was lamenting in that place, the wife who had been seized by the bird-killer heard his words.
na sā strīty abhibhāṣā syād yasyā bhartā na tuṣyati। agnisākṣikam apy etad bhartā hi śaraṇaṃ striyaḥ ॥12-142-12॥
She should not be called a 'woman' whose husband is not pleased with her. Even if the marriage is witnessed by fire, the husband is indeed the refuge of a woman.
iti sañcintya duḥkhārtā bhartāraṃ duḥkhitaṃ tadā। kapotī lubdhakenātha yattā vacanamabravīt ॥12-142-13॥
Thus, having thought in this way, the sorrowful dove, seeing her husband distressed, then, being prepared, spoke these words to the hunter.
hanta vakṣyāmi te śreyaḥ śrutvā ca kuru tattathā। śaraṇāgatasantrātā bhava kānta viśeṣataḥ ॥12-142-14॥
Indeed, I will tell you what is best; after hearing, do exactly that. O beloved, especially become the protector of those who have sought refuge.
eṣa śākunikaḥ śete tava vāsaṃ samāśritaḥ। śītārtaś ca kṣudhārtaś ca pūjām asmai prayojaya ॥12-142-15॥
This bird-catcher, having taken refuge in your dwelling, lies here afflicted by cold and hunger; therefore, offer him hospitality.
yo hi kaścid dvijaṃ hanyād gāṃ vā lokasya mātaram | śaraṇāgataṃ ca yo hanyāt tulyaṃ teṣāṃ ca pātakam ||12-142-16||
Whoever kills a twice-born, a cow, the mother of the world, or one who has sought refuge—the sin of all these is considered equal.
yāsmākaṃ vihitā vṛttiḥ kāpotī jātidharmataḥ। sā nyāyyātmavatā nityaṃ tvadvidhenābhivartitum ॥12-142-17॥
The way of life ordained for us as female pigeons, according to the law of our species, is just and should always be followed by one like you, who possesses self-control.
yastu dharmaṃ yathāśakti gṛhastho hyanuvartate। sa pretya labhate lokānakṣayāniti śuśruma ॥12-142-18॥
But the householder who follows his duty according to his ability, he, after death, attains imperishable worlds — thus we have heard.
sa tvaṃ santānavān adya putravān api ca dvija। tat svadehe dayāṃ tyaktvā dharmārthau parigṛhya vai ॥ pūjām asmai prayuṅkṣva tvaṃ prīyetāsya mano yathā ॥12-142-19॥
Therefore, O twice-born, you, who today have progeny and sons, abandoning compassion for your own body and upholding dharma and artha, should perform worship for him so that his mind may be pleased as desired.
iti sā śakunī vākyaṃ kṣārakasthā tapasvinī। atiduḥkhānvitā procya bhartāraṃ samudaikṣata ॥12-142-20॥
Thus, the ascetic woman, like a bird standing on the salt-pan, deeply afflicted, spoke these words and looked at her husband.
sa patnyā vacanaṃ śrutvā dharmayuktisamanvitam। harṣeṇa mahatā yukto bāṣpavyākulalocanaḥ ॥12-142-21॥
Hearing his wife's words, full of righteous reasoning, he was filled with great joy, his eyes brimming with tears.
taṃ vai śākunikaṃ dṛṣṭvā vidhidṛṣṭena karmaṇā। pūjayāmāsa yatnena sa pakṣī pakṣijīvinam ॥12-142-22॥
The bird, having seen the fowler, honored him with effort according to the prescribed rules.
uvāca ca svāgataṃ te brūhi kiṃ karavāṇyaham। santāpaśca na kartavyaḥ svagṛhe vartate bhavān ॥12-142-23॥
He said, "Welcome to you! Tell me, what shall I do? You should not be distressed; you are in your own house."
tadbravītu bhavān kṣipraṃ kiṃ karomi kim icchasi। praṇayena bravīmi tvāṃ tvaṃ hi naḥ śaraṇāgataḥ ॥12-142-24॥
Please tell me quickly what I should do, what you desire. I say this to you with affection, for you have indeed sought our refuge.
śaraṇāgatasya kartavyam ātithyam iha yatnataḥ। pañcayajñapravṛttena gṛhasthena viśeṣataḥ॥12-142-25॥
Here, it is especially the duty of a householder engaged in the five daily sacrifices to diligently offer hospitality to those who seek refuge.
pañcayajñāṃstu yo mohānna karoti gṛhāśramī। tasya nāyaṃ na ca paro loko bhavati dharmataḥ ॥12-142-26॥
But if a householder, out of delusion, does not perform the five daily sacrifices, then according to dharma, neither this world nor the next belongs to him.
tadbrūhi tvaṃ suvisrabdho yat tvaṃ vācā vadiṣyasi। tat kariṣyāmi ahaṃ sarvaṃ mā tvaṃ śoke manaḥ kṛthāḥ॥12-142-27॥
Speak out confidently whatever you say; I will do all that. Do not let your mind be overcome by grief.
tasya tadvacanaṃ śrutvā śakuner lubdhako'bravīt। bādhate khalu mā śītaṃ himatrāṇaṃ vidhīyatām ॥12-142-28॥
Hearing those words of the bird, the hunter said: "This cold is truly troubling me; please arrange some protection from the snow."
evam-uktas-tataḥ pakṣī parṇāny-āstīrya bhūtale | yathā-śuṣkāṇi yatnena jvalanārthaṃ drutaṃ yayau ॥12-142-29॥
Thus addressed, the bird then spread dry leaves on the ground with effort and quickly went to fetch fire.
sa gatvāṅgārakarmāntaṃ gṛhītvāgnimathāgamat। tataḥ śuṣkeṣu parṇeṣu pāvakaṃ so'bhyadīdipat ॥12-142-30॥
He went to the place where charcoal was made, took the fire-stick, and returned. Then he kindled the fire among the dry leaves.
susandīptaṃ mahatkṛtvā tam āha śaraṇāgatam। pratāpaya suvisrabdhaṃ svagātrāṇy akutobhayaḥ ॥12-142-31॥
After making it blaze brightly and greatly, he said to the one who had sought refuge: "Burn your own limbs with full confidence, being fearless from all sides."
sa tathoktas tathety uktvā lubdho gātrāṇy atāpayat। agnipratyāgataprāṇas tataḥ prāha vihaṅgamam ॥12-142-32॥
Thus addressed, he replied 'so be it', and the greedy man tormented his own body. When his life was restored by the fire, he then spoke to the bird.
dattam-āhāram-icchāmi tvayā kṣud-bādhate hi mām। tad-vacaḥ sa pratiśrutya vākyam-āha vihaṅgamaḥ ॥12-142-33॥
"I desire the food given by you, for hunger indeed afflicts me." Having promised that word, the bird spoke these words.
na me'sti vibhavo yena nāśayāmi tava kṣudhām। utpannena hi jīvāmo vayaṃ nityaṃ vanaukasaḥ ॥12-142-34॥
I do not have the means by which I can satisfy your hunger. We forest-dwellers always live only on what we obtain.
sañcayo nāsti cāsmākaṃ munīnāmiva kānane। ityuktvā sa tadā tatra vivarṇavadano'bhavat ॥12-142-35॥
There is no accumulation for us, just as for the sages in the forest. Having said this, he then became pale-faced there.
kathaṁ nu khalu kartavyam iti cintāparaḥ sadā। babhūva bharataśreṣṭha garhayan vṛttim ātmanaḥ ॥12-142-36॥
O best of the Bharatas, he was always absorbed in thought, constantly pondering 'How indeed should it be done?', condemning his own conduct.
muhūrtāllabdhasaṃjñastu sa pakṣī pakṣighātakam। uvāca tarpayiṣye tvāṃ muhūrtaṃ pratipālaya ॥12-142-37॥
But after regaining consciousness for a moment, the bird said to the bird-killer: "I will satisfy you. Please wait for a moment."
ity uktvā śuṣkaparṇaiḥ sa samprajvālya hutāśanam। harṣeṇa mahatā yuktaḥ kapotaḥ punar abravīt ॥12-142-38॥
Having spoken thus, the pigeon, filled with great joy, kindled the sacrificial fire with dry leaves and spoke again.
devānāṃ ca munīnāṃ ca pitṝṇāṃ ca mahātmanām। śrutapūrvo mayā dharmo mahānatithipūjane ॥12-142-39॥
I have previously heard from the gods, sages, ancestors, and great souls that the highest duty is the honoring of guests.
kuruṣvānugrahaṃ me'dya satyametadbravīmi te। niścitā khalu me buddhiratithipratipūjane ॥12-142-40॥
Please show me favor today; I truly say this to you. My mind is firmly resolved to honor the guest.
tataḥ satyapratijño vai sa pakṣī prahasanniva। tamagniṃ triḥ parikramya praviveśa mahīpate ॥12-142-41॥
Then, O king, that bird, true to his promise and as if smiling, circumambulated the fire three times and entered it.
agnimadhyaṃ praviṣṭaṃ taṃ lubdho dṛṣṭvātha pakṣiṇam। cintayāmāsa manasā kimidaṃ nu kṛtaṃ mayā ॥12-142-42॥
Seeing the bird enter the midst of the fire, the greedy one thought to himself, 'What have I done?'
aho mama nṛśaṁsasya garhitasya svakarmaṇā। adharmaḥ sumahāṅghoro bhaviṣyati na saṁśayaḥ ॥12-142-43॥
Alas, because of my own cruel and condemned action, a very great and terrible unrighteousness will certainly arise—there is no doubt about it.
evaṃ bahuvidhaṃ bhūri vilalāpa sa lubdhakaḥ। garhayan svāni karmāṇi dvijaṃ dṛṣṭvā tathāgatam ॥12-142-44॥
Thus, the hunter lamented in many ways, blaming his own actions, upon seeing the Brahmin who had arrived in such a manner.
