12.149

भीष्म उवाच॥

bhīṣma uvāca॥

[भीष्म (bhīṣma) - Bhīṣma; (name of the speaker); उवाच (uvāca) - said; spoke;]

(Bhīṣma said;)

Bhīṣma said:

शृणु पार्थ यथावृत्तमितिहासं पुरातनम्। गृध्रजम्बुकसंवादं यो वृत्तो वैदिशे पुरा ॥१२-१४९-१॥

śṛṇu pārtha yathāvṛttam itihāsaṃ purātanam। gṛdhra-jambuka-saṃvādaṃ yo vṛtto vaidiśe purā ॥12-149-1॥

[शृणु (śṛṇu) - hear; listen; पार्थ (pārtha) - O Pārtha; O son of Pṛthā; यथा-वृत्तम् (yathā-vṛttam) - as it happened; as occurred; इतिहासम् (itihāsam) - history; narrative; पुरातनम् (purātanam) - ancient; old; गृध्र-जम्बुक-संवादम् (gṛdhra-jambuka-saṃvādam) - the conversation between the vulture and the jackal; यः (yaḥ) - which; who; वृत्तः (vṛttaḥ) - happened; occurred; वैदिशे (vaidiśe) - in the land of Vidiśā; पुरा (purā) - formerly; in ancient times;]

(Hear, O Pārtha, the ancient history as it happened, the conversation between the vulture and the jackal, which occurred formerly in the land of Vidiśā.)

O Pārtha, listen to the ancient story as it truly happened: the dialogue between the vulture and the jackal that once took place in Vidiśā.

दुःखिताः केचिदादाय बालमप्राप्तयौवनम्। कुलसर्वस्वभूतं वै रुदन्तः शोकविह्वलाः ॥१२-१४९-२॥

duḥkhitāḥ kecid ādāya bālam aprāptayauvanam। kulasarvasvabhūtaṃ vai rudantaḥ śokavihvalāḥ ॥12-149-2॥

[दुःखिताः (duḥkhitāḥ) - afflicted; केचित् (kecit) - some; आदाय (ādāya) - having taken; बालम् (bālam) - child; अप्राप्तयौवनम् (aprāptayauvanam) - not having attained youth; कुलसर्वस्वभूतम् (kulasarvasvabhūtam) - become the all of the family; वै (vai) - indeed; रुदन्तः (rudantaḥ) - weeping; शोकविह्वलाः (śokavihvalāḥ) - overwhelmed by grief;]

(Afflicted some, having taken the child not having attained youth, who had become the all of the family indeed, weeping, overwhelmed by grief.)

Some, afflicted and overwhelmed by grief, took up the child who had not yet reached youth, who had become everything to the family, and wept.

बालं मृतं गृहीत्वाथ श्मशानाभिमुखाः स्थिताः। अङ्केनाङ्कं च सङ्क्रम्य रुरुदुर्भूतले तदा ॥१२-१४९-३॥

bālaṃ mṛtaṃ gṛhītvātha śmaśānābhimukhāḥ sthitāḥ। aṅkenāṅkaṃ ca saṅkramya rurudurbhūtale tadā ॥12-149-3॥

[बालम् (bālam) - child; मृतम् (mṛtam) - dead; गृहीत्वा (gṛhītvā) - having taken; अथ (atha) - then; श्मशानाभिमुखाः (śmaśānābhimukhāḥ) - facing the cremation ground; स्थिताः (sthitāḥ) - stood; अङ्केन (aṅkena) - with (their) lap; अङ्कम् (aṅkam) - lap; च (ca) - and; सङ्क्रम्य (saṅkramya) - having transferred; रुरुदुः (ruruduḥ) - cried; भूमितले (bhūmitale) - on the ground; तदा (tadā) - then;]

(Having taken the dead child, then, facing the cremation ground, they stood. Having transferred the child from lap to lap, they cried on the ground then.)

They took the dead child and, facing the cremation ground, stood there. Then, passing the child from lap to lap, they wept on the ground.

तेषां रुदितशब्देन गृध्रोऽभ्येत्य वचोऽब्रवीत्। एकात्मकमिमं लोके त्यक्त्वा गच्छत माचिरम् ॥१२-१४९-४॥

teṣāṃ ruditashabdena gṛdhro'bhyetya vaco'bravīt. ekātmakamimaṃ loke tyaktvā gacchata māciram ॥12-149-4॥

[तेषाम् (teṣām) - of them; रुदितशब्देन (ruditashabdena) - by the sound of weeping; गृध्रः (gṛdhraḥ) - the vulture; अभ्येत्य (abhyetya) - having approached; वचः (vacaḥ) - words; अब्रवीत् (abravīt) - spoke; एकात्मकम् (ekātmakam) - having one essence; इमम् (imam) - this; लोके (loke) - in the world; त्यक्त्वा (tyaktvā) - having abandoned; गच्छत (gacchata) - go; मा (mā) - do not; अचिरम् (aciram) - delay;]

(Of them, by the sound of weeping, the vulture having approached spoke words: Having abandoned this one essence in the world, go, do not delay.)

Hearing their weeping, the vulture approached and said: "Having given up this one who is of a single essence in this world, go without delay."

इह पुंसां सहस्राणि स्त्रीसहस्राणि चैव हि। समानीतानि कालेन किं ते वै जात्वबान्धवाः ॥१२-१४९-५॥

iha puṁsāṁ sahasrāṇi strīsahasrāṇi caiva hi। samānītāni kālena kiṁ te vai jātvabāndhavāḥ ॥12-149-5॥

[इह (iha) - here; पुंसां (puṁsāṁ) - of men; सहस्राणि (sahasrāṇi) - thousands; स्त्रीसहस्राणि (strīsahasrāṇi) - thousands of women; च (ca) - and; एव (eva) - indeed; हि (hi) - certainly; समानीतानि (samānītāni) - brought together; कालेन (kālena) - by time; किं (kiṁ) - what; ते (te) - they; वै (vai) - indeed; जातु (jātu) - ever; अबान्धवाः (abāndhavāḥ) - not relatives;]

(Here, thousands of men, thousands of women indeed, are certainly brought together by time; what, are they ever not relatives?)

Here, thousands of men and thousands of women are brought together by time; are they ever truly not related?

सम्पश्यत जगत्सर्वं सुखदुःखैरधिष्ठितम्। संयोगो विप्रयोगश्च पर्यायेणोपलभ्यते ॥१२-१४९-६॥

sampaśyata jagatsarvaṃ sukhaduḥkhairadhiṣṭhitam। saṃyogo viprayogaśca paryāyeṇopalabhyate ॥12-149-6॥

[सम्पश्यत (sampaśyata) - observe; जगत् (jagat) - world; सर्वं (sarvaṃ) - all; सुखदुःखैः (sukhaduḥkhaiḥ) - by pleasures and pains; अधिष्ठितम् (adhiṣṭhitam) - established; संयोगः (saṃyogaḥ) - union; विप्रयोगः (viprayogaḥ) - separation; च (ca) - and; पर्यायेण (paryāyeṇa) - in turn; उपलभ्यते (upalabhyate) - is experienced;]

(Observe all the world established by pleasures and pains. Union and separation are experienced in turn.)

Behold, the entire world is established in pleasure and pain. Union and separation are experienced alternately.

गृहीत्वा ये च गच्छन्ति येऽनुयान्ति च तान्मृतान्। तेऽप्यायुषः प्रमाणेन स्वेन गच्छन्ति जन्तवः ॥१२-१४९-७॥

gṛhītvā ye ca gacchanti ye'nu-yānti ca tān mṛtān। te'pi āyuṣaḥ pramāṇena svena gacchanti jantavaḥ॥12-149-7॥

[गृहीत्वा (gṛhītvā) - having taken; (from √grah, to seize, with absolutive suffix -tvā); ये (ye) - who; (plural, masculine, nominative); च (ca) - and; गच्छन्ति (gacchanti) - go; (from √gam, to go, present tense, plural); ये (ye) - who; (plural, masculine, nominative); अनुयान्ति (anu-yānti) - follow; (from anu-√yā, to follow, present tense, plural); च (ca) - and; तान् (tān) - those; (accusative plural, masculine); मृतान् (mṛtān) - dead; (accusative plural, masculine, from √mṛ, to die, past participle); ते (te) - they; (plural, masculine, nominative); अपि (api) - also; आयुषः (āyuṣaḥ) - of lifespan; (genitive singular, neuter, from āyuṣ, life); प्रमाणेन (pramāṇena) - by the measure; (instrumental singular, neuter, from pramāṇa, measure); स्वेन (svena) - by their own; (instrumental singular, neuter, from sva, own); गच्छन्ति (gacchanti) - go; (from √gam, to go, present tense, plural); जन्तवः (jantavaḥ) - creatures; (plural, masculine, nominative, from jantu, living being);]

(Having taken (them), those who go and those who follow those dead ones, they also, by the measure of their own lifespan, go, the creatures.)

Those who carry away the dead and those who follow them, all these creatures also depart according to the measure of their own lifespan.

अलं स्थित्वा श्मशानेऽस्मिन्गृध्रगोमायुसङ्कुले। कङ्कालबहुले घोरे सर्वप्राणिभयङ्करे ॥१२-१४९-८॥

alaṃ sthitvā śmaśāne'smin gṛdhra-gomāyu-saṅkule. kaṅkāla-bahule ghore sarva-prāṇi-bhayaṅkare ॥12-149-8॥

[अलम् (alam) - enough; स्थित्वा (sthitvā) - having stayed; श्मशाने (śmaśāne) - in the cremation ground; अस्मिन् (asmin) - in this; गृध्र (gṛdhra) - vulture; गोमायु (gomāyu) - jackal; सङ्कुले (saṅkule) - filled with; कङ्काल (kaṅkāla) - bones; बहुले (bahule) - abundant; घोरे (ghore) - terrible; सर्व (sarva) - all; प्राणि (prāṇi) - living beings; भयङ्करे (bhayaṅkare) - fearful;]

(Enough having stayed in this cremation ground filled with vultures and jackals, abundant with bones, terrible, fearful to all living beings.)

Enough of staying in this cremation ground, crowded with vultures and jackals, full of bones, dreadful and terrifying to all living beings.

न पुनर्जीवितः कश्चित्कालधर्ममुपागतः। प्रियो वा यदि वा द्वेष्यः प्राणिनां गतिरीदृशी ॥१२-१४९-९॥

na punarjīvitaḥ kaścit kāladharmam upāgataḥ। priyo vā yadi vā dveṣyaḥ prāṇināṃ gatir īdṛśī ॥12-149-9॥

[न (na) - not; पुनर्जीवितः (punarjīvitaḥ) - revived; again alive; कश्चित् (kaścit) - anyone; कालधर्मम् (kāladharmam) - the law of time; death; उपागतः (upāgataḥ) - has come; has reached; प्रियः (priyaḥ) - dear; beloved; वा (vā) - or; यदि (yadi) - if; वा (vā) - or; द्वेष्यः (dveṣyaḥ) - hateful; disliked; प्राणिनाम् (prāṇinām) - of living beings; गतिः (gatiḥ) - the course; the path; fate; ईदृशी (īdṛśī) - such as this; like this;]

(Not anyone who has reached the law of time (death) is revived; whether dear or if hateful, such is the course of living beings.)

No one who has met the law of time (death) is revived; whether dear or hateful, this is the fate of all living beings.

सर्वेण खलु मर्तव्यं मर्त्यलोके प्रसूयता। कृतान्तविहिते मार्गे को मृतं जीवयिष्यति ॥१२-१४९-१०॥

sarveṇa khalu martavyaṃ martyaloke prasūyatā। kṛtāntavihite mārge ko mṛtaṃ jīvayiṣyati ॥12-149-10॥

[सर्वेण (sarveṇa) - by all; by everyone; खलु (khalu) - indeed; certainly; मर्तव्यं (martavyam) - to be died; must be died; मर्त्यलोके (martyaloke) - in the mortal world; प्रसूयता (prasūyatā) - having been born; कृतान्तविहिते (kṛtāntavihite) - ordained by Kṛtānta (Death); मार्गे (mārge) - on the path; कः (kaḥ) - who; मृतं (mṛtam) - the dead; जीवयिष्यति (jīvayiṣyati) - will make live; will revive;]

(By all indeed must be died in the mortal world having been born. On the path ordained by Kṛtānta (Death), who will make the dead live?)

Everyone who is born in the mortal world must die. On the path ordained by Death, who can bring the dead back to life?

कर्मान्तविहिते लोके चास्तं गच्छति भास्करे। गम्यतां स्वमधिष्ठानं सुतस्नेहं विसृज्य वै ॥१२-१४९-११॥

karmāntavihite loke cāstaṃ gacchati bhāskare। gamyatāṃ svamadhiṣṭhānaṃ sutasnehaṃ visṛjya vai ॥12-149-11॥

[कर्मान्त-विहिते (karmānta-vihite) - in the world ordained by the end of action; लोके (loke) - in the world; च (ca) - and; अस्तं (astaṃ) - to setting; गच्छति (gacchati) - goes; भास्करे (bhāskare) - when the sun; गम्यताम् (gamyatām) - let it be gone; स्वम् (svam) - one's own; अधिष्ठानम् (adhiṣṭhānam) - abode; सुत-स्नेहम् (suta-sneham) - affection for son; विसृज्य (visṛjya) - having abandoned; वै (vai) - indeed;]

(In the world ordained by the end of action, when the sun goes to setting, let one go to one's own abode, having indeed abandoned affection for son.)

In this world, when the day ends and the sun sets, one should return to one's own place, truly letting go of attachment to one's son.

ततो गृध्रवचः श्रुत्वा विक्रोशन्तस्तदा नृप। बान्धवास्तेऽभ्यगच्छन्त पुत्रमुत्सृज्य भूतले ॥१२-१४९-१२॥

tato gṛdhravacaḥ śrutvā vikrośantas tadā nṛpa| bāndhavās te'bhiyagacchanta putram utsṛjya bhūtale ॥12-149-12॥

[ततः (tataḥ) - then; गृध्र-वचः (gṛdhra-vacaḥ) - vulture-speech; श्रुत्वा (śrutvā) - having heard; विक्रोशन्तः (vikrośantaḥ) - crying out; तदा (tadā) - then; नृप (nṛpa) - O king; बान्धवाः (bāndhavāḥ) - relatives; ते (te) - they; अभ्यगच्छन्त (abhyagacchanta) - approached; पुत्रम् (putram) - son; उत्सृज्य (utsṛjya) - having abandoned; भूतले (bhūtale) - on the ground;]

(Then, having heard the vulture's speech, crying out then, O king, the relatives, having abandoned the son on the ground, they approached.)

Then, O king, when the relatives heard the vulture's words, they cried out and, abandoning the son on the ground, approached.

विनिश्चित्याथ च ततः सन्त्यजन्तः स्वमात्मजम्। निराशा जीविते तस्य मार्गमारुह्य धिष्ठिताः ॥१२-१४९-१३॥

viniścityātha ca tataḥ santyajantaḥ svamātmajam। nirāśā jīvite tasya mārgamāruhya dhiṣṭhitāḥ ॥12-149-13॥

[विनिश्चित्य (viniścitya) - having decided; अथ (atha) - then; च (ca) - and; ततः (tataḥ) - thereafter; सन्त्यजन्तः (santyajantaḥ) - abandoning; स्वम् (svam) - their own; आत्मजम् (ātmajam) - son; निराशाः (nirāśāḥ) - hopeless; जीविते (jīvite) - in life; तस्य (tasya) - his; मार्गम् (mārgam) - path; आरुह्य (āruhya) - having ascended; धिष्ठिताः (dhiṣṭhitāḥ) - having stood;]

(Having decided, then and thereafter, abandoning their own son, hopeless in his life, having ascended his path, they stood.)

Having made up their minds, then, abandoning their own son and hopeless about his life, they ascended his path and stood there.

ध्वाङ्क्षाभ्रसमवर्णस्तु बिलान्निःसृत्य जम्बुकः। गच्छमानान्स्म तानाह निर्घृणाः खलु मानवाः ॥१२-१४९-१४॥

dhvāṅkṣābhrasamavarṇastu bilānniḥsṛtya jambukaḥ। gacchamānān sma tānāha nirghṛṇāḥ khalu mānavāḥ ॥12-149-14॥

[ध्वाङ्क्ष (dhvāṅkṣa) - crow; अभ्र (abhra) - cloud; समवर्णः (samavarṇaḥ) - of similar color; तु (tu) - but; बिलात् (bilāt) - from the hole; निःसृत्य (niḥsṛtya) - having come out; जम्बुकः (jambukaḥ) - jackal; गच्छमानान् (gacchamānān) - those going; स्म (sma) - indeed; तान् (tān) - them; आह (āha) - said; निर्घृणाः (nirghṛṇāḥ) - pitiless; खलु (khalu) - indeed; मानवाः (mānavāḥ) - men;]

(But the jackal, of the same color as a crow and a cloud, having come out from the hole, indeed said to those going, "Pitiless indeed are men.")

But the jackal, whose color was like that of a crow and a cloud, came out of the hole and, seeing them going, said, "Men are truly pitiless."

आदित्योऽयं स्थितो मूढाः स्नेहं कुरुत मा भयम्। बहुरूपो मुहूर्तश्च जीवेतापि कदाचन ॥१२-१४९-१५॥

ādityo'yaṃ sthito mūḍhāḥ snehaṃ kuruta mā bhayam। bahurūpo muhūrtaśca jīvetāpi kadācana ॥12-149-15॥

[आदित्यः (ādityaḥ) - the sun; अयम् (ayam) - this; स्थितः (sthitaḥ) - situated; मूढाः (mūḍhāḥ) - deluded ones; स्नेहम् (sneham) - affection; कुरुत (kuruta) - do; मा (mā) - do not; भयम् (bhayam) - fear; बहुरूपः (bahurūpaḥ) - of many forms; मुहूर्तः (muhūrtaḥ) - moment; च (ca) - and; जीवेत् (jīvet) - may live; अपि (api) - even; कदाचन (kadācana) - at any time;]

(The sun, this one, is situated; deluded ones form affection, do not fear. Of many forms is the moment, and one may live even at any time.)

This is the sun present here; the deluded form attachments, do not fear. The moment is of many forms, and one may live at any time.

यूयं भूमौ विनिक्षिप्य पुत्रस्नेहविनाकृताः। श्मशाने पुत्रमुत्सृज्य कस्माद्गच्छथ निर्घृणाः ॥१२-१४९-१६॥

yūyaṃ bhūmau vinikṣipya putrasnehavinākṛtāḥ| śmaśāne putram utsṛjya kasmād gacchatha nirghṛṇāḥ ॥12-149-16॥

[यूयम् (yūyam) - you (plural); भूमौ (bhūmau) - on the ground; विनिक्षिप्य (vinikṣipya) - having placed apart; पुत्रस्नेहविना (putrasnehavinā) - without affection for the son; कृताः (kṛtāḥ) - having become; श्मशाने (śmaśāne) - in the cremation ground; पुत्रम् (putram) - son; उत्सृज्य (utsṛjya) - having abandoned; कस्मात् (kasmāt) - why; गच्छथ (gacchatha) - do you go; निर्घृणाः (nirghṛṇāḥ) - pitiless ones;]

(You, having placed (him) on the ground, having become without affection for the son, in the cremation ground, having abandoned the son, why do you go, pitiless ones?)

You have placed your son on the ground and, devoid of affection, have left him in the cremation ground. Why do you go away so pitilessly?

न वोऽस्त्यस्मिन्सुते स्नेहो बाले मधुरभाषिणि। यस्य भाषितमात्रेण प्रसादमुपगच्छथ ॥१२-१४९-१७॥

na vo'styasmin sute sneho bāle madhurabhāṣiṇi। yasya bhāṣitamātreṇa prasādamupagacchatha ॥12-149-17॥

[न (na) - not; वः (vaḥ) - your; अस्ति (asti) - is; अस्मिन् (asmin) - in this; सुते (sute) - child; स्नेहः (snehaḥ) - affection; बाले (bāle) - O girl; मधुरभाषिणि (madhurabhāṣiṇi) - sweet-speaking; यस्मिन् (yasmin) - in whom; भाषितमात्रेण (bhāṣitamātreṇa) - by mere speech; प्रसादम् (prasādam) - favor; grace; उपगच्छथ (upagacchatha) - you attain; you obtain;]

(O sweet-speaking girl, you have no affection for this child; by whose mere speech you attain favor.)

O sweet-speaking girl, you do not have affection for this child; you show favor simply by someone's words.

न पश्यथ सुतस्नेहं यादृशः पशुपक्षिणाम्। न येषां धारयित्वा तान्कश्चिदस्ति फलागमः ॥१२-१४९-१८॥

na paśyatha sutasnehaṃ yādṛśaḥ paśupakṣiṇām। na yeṣāṃ dhārayitvā tānkaścidasti phalāgamaḥ ॥12-149-18॥

[न (na) - not; पश्यथ (paśyatha) - you (all) see; सुतस्नेहं (sutasnehaṃ) - affection for offspring; यादृशः (yādṛśaḥ) - such as; पशुपक्षिणाम् (paśupakṣiṇām) - of animals and birds; न (na) - not; येषां (yeṣāṃ) - of whom; धारयित्वा (dhārayitvā) - having maintained; तान् (tān) - them; कश्चित् (kaścit) - anyone; अस्ति (asti) - there is; फलागमः (phalāgamaḥ) - fruit/result accrual;]

(You do not see affection for offspring such as is (found) among animals and birds; of whom, having maintained them, there is not any fruit accrual.)

You do not see the kind of affection for children that animals and birds have; for them, after raising their young, there is no expectation of reward.

चतुष्पात्पक्षिकीटानां प्राणिनां स्नेहसङ्गिनाम्। परलोकगतिस्थानां मुनियज्ञक्रिया इव ॥१२-१४९-१९॥

catuṣpātpakṣikīṭānāṃ prāṇināṃ snehasaṅginām। paralokagatisthānāṃ muniyajñakriyā iva ॥12-149-19॥

[चतुष्पात् (catuṣpāt) - four-footed; पक्षि (pakṣi) - bird; कीटानाम् (kīṭānām) - of insects; प्राणिनाम् (prāṇinām) - of living beings; स्नेह (sneha) - affection; सङ्गिनाम् (saṅginām) - of those who are attached; परलोक (paraloka) - other world; गति (gati) - going; स्थानाम् (sthānām) - of the places; मुनि (muni) - sage; यज्ञ (yajña) - sacrifice; क्रिया (kriyā) - act; इव (iva) - like;]

(Four-footed, bird, of insects, of living beings, of affection, of those who are attached, of the other world, of the going, of the places, sage, sacrifice, act, like.)

Just as the sacrificial acts of sages are for those who have gone to the other world, so too are the acts for four-footed animals, birds, insects, living beings, and those bound by affection.

तेषां पुत्राभिरामाणामिह लोके परत्र च। न गुणो दृश्यते कश्चित्प्रजाः सन्धारयन्ति च ॥१२-१४९-२०॥

teṣāṃ putrābhirāmāṇāmiha loke paratra ca। na guṇo dṛśyate kaścitprajāḥ sandhārayanti ca ॥12-149-20॥

[तेषां (teṣām) - of them; पुत्र-अभिरामाणाम् (putra-abhirāmāṇām) - delighting in sons; इह (iha) - here; लोके (loke) - in the world; परत्र (paratra) - in the next (world); च (ca) - and; न (na) - not; गुणः (guṇaḥ) - virtue; दृश्यते (dṛśyate) - is seen; कश्चित् (kaścit) - any; प्रजाः (prajāḥ) - offspring; सन्धारयन्ति (sandhārayanti) - support; च (ca) - and;]

(Of them delighting in sons, here in this world and in the next, not any virtue is seen; offspring support (them) and (that is all).)

For those who delight in sons, neither in this world nor the next is any virtue seen; it is only the offspring who support them.

अपश्यतां प्रियान्पुत्रान्नैषां शोकोऽनुतिष्ठति। न च पुष्णन्ति संवृद्धास्ते मातापितरौ क्वचित् ॥१२-१४९-२१॥

apaśyatāṃ priyān putrān naiṣāṃ śoko'nutiṣṭhati। na ca puṣṇanti saṃvṛddhās te mātāpitarau kvacit ॥12-149-21॥

[अपश्यताम् (apaśyatām) - of those not seeing; प्रियान् (priyān) - dear; पुत्रान् (putrān) - sons; न (na) - not; एषाम् (eṣām) - of these; शोकः (śokaḥ) - grief; अनुतिष्ठति (anutiṣṭhati) - remains; न (na) - not; च (ca) - and; पुष्णन्ति (puṣṇanti) - nourish; संवृद्धाः (saṃvṛddhāḥ) - grown up; ते (te) - they; मातापितरौ (mātāpitarau) - mother and father; क्वचित् (kvacit) - at any time;]

(Of those not seeing dear sons, grief does not remain for these. And the grown up do not nourish the mother and father at any time.)

Those who do not see their dear sons, grief does not remain for them. And those who have grown up do not ever nourish their mother and father.

मानुषाणां कुतः स्नेहो येषां शोको भविष्यति। इमं कुलकरं पुत्रं कथं त्यक्त्वा गमिष्यथ ॥१२-१४९-२२॥

mānuṣāṇāṃ kutaḥ sneho yeṣāṃ śoko bhaviṣyati। imaṃ kulakaraṃ putraṃ kathaṃ tyaktvā gamiṣyatha ॥12-149-22॥

[मानुषाणां (mānuṣāṇām) - of men; कुतः (kutaḥ) - from where; स्नेहः (snehaḥ) - affection; येषाम् (yeṣām) - of whom; शोकः (śokaḥ) - grief; भविष्यति (bhaviṣyati) - will be; इमम् (imam) - this; कुलकरम् (kulakaram) - upholder of the family; पुत्रम् (putram) - son; कथम् (katham) - how; त्यक्त्वा (tyaktvā) - having abandoned; गमिष्यथ (gamiṣyatha) - will you go;]

(Of men, from where affection (comes) for whom grief will be? This upholder of the family, son, how having abandoned, will you go?)

How can men have affection for those for whom there will be grief? How will you go, having abandoned this son, the upholder of the family?

चिरं मुञ्चत बाष्पं च चिरं स्नेहेन पश्यत। एवंविधानि हीष्टानि दुस्त्यजानि विशेषतः ॥१२-१४९-२३॥

ciraṃ muñcata bāṣpaṃ ca ciraṃ snehena paśyata। evaṃvidhāni hīṣṭāni dustyajāni viśeṣataḥ ॥12-149-23॥

[चिरं (ciraṃ) - for a long time; मुञ्चत (muñcata) - release; बाष्पं (bāṣpam) - tears; च (ca) - and; चिरं (ciraṃ) - for a long time; स्नेहेन (snehena) - with affection; पश्यत (paśyata) - look; एवंविधानि (evaṃvidhāni) - such as these; हि (hi) - indeed; इष्टानि (iṣṭāni) - dear ones; दुस्त्यजानि (dustyajāni) - hard to abandon; विशेषतः (viśeṣataḥ) - especially;]

(For a long time release tears and for a long time look with affection; such dear ones indeed are especially hard to abandon.)

We shed tears for a long time and gaze with affection for a long time; such dear ones are indeed especially hard to part with.

क्षीणस्याथाभियुक्तस्य श्मशानाभिमुखस्य च। बान्धवा यत्र तिष्ठन्ति तत्रान्यो नावतिष्ठते ॥१२-१४९-२४॥

kṣīṇasyāthābhiyuktasya śmaśānābhimukhasya ca। bāndhavā yatra tiṣṭhanti tatrānyo nāvatiṣṭhate॥12-149-24॥

[क्षीणस्य (kṣīṇasya) - of one who is exhausted; अथ (atha) - and then; अभियुक्तस्य (abhiyuktasya) - of one who is accused; श्मशानाभिमुखस्य (śmaśānābhimukhasya) - of one who is facing the cremation ground; च (ca) - and; बान्धवाः (bāndhavāḥ) - relatives; यत्र (yatra) - where; तिष्ठन्ति (tiṣṭhanti) - stand; तत्र (tatra) - there; अन्यः (anyaḥ) - another; न (na) - not; अवतिṣ्ठते (avatiṣṭhate) - remains; ॥१२-१४९-२४॥ (॥12-149-24॥) - ;]

(Of one who is exhausted, and then of one who is accused, and of one who is facing the cremation ground, where relatives stand, there another does not remain.)

When a person is exhausted, accused, or facing the cremation ground, where relatives stand, no one else remains there.

सर्वस्य दयिताः प्राणाः सर्वः स्नेहं च विन्दति। तिर्यग्योनिष्वपि सतां स्नेहं पश्यत यादृशम् ॥१२-१४९-२५॥

sarvasya dayitāḥ prāṇāḥ sarvaḥ snehaṃ ca vindati। tiryagyoniṣvapi satāṃ snehaṃ paśyata yādṛśam ॥12-149-25॥

[सर्वस्य (sarvasya) - of all; दयिताः (dayitāḥ) - dear; प्राणाः (prāṇāḥ) - lives; सर्वः (sarvaḥ) - everyone; स्नेहं (sneham) - affection; च (ca) - and; विन्दति (vindati) - finds; तिर्यग्योनिषु (tiryagyoniṣu) - among lower births; अपि (api) - even; सतां (satām) - of the good; स्नेहं (sneham) - affection; पश्यत (paśyata) - see; यादृशम् (yādṛśam) - such as;]

(Of all, dear are the lives; everyone finds affection. Even among lower births, see the affection of the good, such as this.)

Everyone holds their own life dear and finds affection. Even among animals, observe the kind of affection that exists among the virtuous.

त्यक्त्वा कथं गच्छेथेमं पद्मलोलायताक्षकम्। यथा नवोद्वाहकृतं स्नानमाल्यविभूषितम् ॥१२-१४९-२६॥

tyaktvā kathaṁ gacchethemaṁ padmalolāyatākṣakam। yathā navodvāhakṛtaṁ snānamālyavibhūṣitam ॥12-149-26॥

[त्यक्त्वा (tyaktvā) - having abandoned; कथं (kathaṁ) - how; गच्छेत् (gacchet) - could go; इमं (imaṁ) - this; पद्म-लोल-आयत-अक्षकम् (padma-lola-āyata-akṣakam) - with lotus-quivering wide eyes; यथा (yathā) - as; नव-उद्वाह-कृतं (nava-udvāha-kṛtaṁ) - newly-wedded made; स्नान-माल्य-विभूषितम् (snāna-mālya-vibhūṣitam) - adorned with bath and garlands;]

(Having abandoned, how could (I) go (from) this one with lotus-quivering wide eyes, as (she is) newly-wedded, made, adorned with bath and garlands?)

How could I leave this one with lotus-quivering wide eyes, who is newly-wedded and adorned with bath and garlands?

भीष्म उवाच॥

bhīṣma uvāca॥

[भीष्म (bhīṣma) - Bhīṣma; (name of the speaker); उवाच (uvāca) - said; (he spoke);]

(Bhīṣma said;)

Bhīṣma said.

जम्बुकस्य वचः श्रुत्वा कृपणं परिदेवतः। न्यवर्तन्त तदा सर्वे शवार्थं ते स्म मानुषाः ॥१२-१४९-२७॥

jambukasya vacaḥ śrutvā kṛpaṇaṃ paridevataḥ। nyavartanta tadā sarve śvārthaṃ te sma mānuṣāḥ ॥12-149-27॥

[जम्बुकस्य (jambukasya) - of the jackal; वचः (vacaḥ) - words; श्रुत्वा (śrutvā) - having heard; कृपणं (kṛpaṇam) - pitifully; परिदेवतः (paridevataḥ) - lamenting; न्यवर्तन्त (nyavartanta) - turned back; तदा (tadā) - then; सर्वे (sarve) - all; शवार्थं (śvārtham) - for the dog's sake; ते (te) - they; स्म (sma) - indeed; मानुषाः (mānuṣāḥ) - the men;]

(Having heard the words of the jackal, pitifully lamenting, then all the men indeed turned back for the dog's sake.)

When they heard the jackal's words, all the men, lamenting pitifully, turned back for the sake of the dog.

गृध्र उवाच॥

gṛdhra uvāca॥

[गृध्र (gṛdhra) - vulture; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]

(vulture said;)

The vulture said.

अहो धिक्सुनृशंसेन जम्बुकेनाल्पमेधसा। क्षुद्रेणोक्ता हीनसत्त्वा मानुषाः किं निवर्तथ ॥१२-१४९-२८॥

aho dhik sunṛśaṃsena jambukenālpamedhasā। kṣudreṇoktā hīnasattvā mānuṣāḥ kiṃ nivartatha ॥12-149-28॥

[अहो (aho) - indeed; धिक् (dhik) - shame; सुनृशंसेन (sunṛśaṃsena) - by the cruel one; जम्बुकेन (jambukena) - by the jackal; अल्पमेधसा (alpamedhasā) - of little intelligence; क्षुद्रेण (kṣudreṇa) - by the petty one; उक्ता (uktā) - spoken; हीनसत्त्वाः (hīnasattvāḥ) - of low nature; मानुषाः (mānuṣāḥ) - humans; किं (kiṃ) - why; निवर्तथ (nivartatha) - do you turn back;]

(Indeed, shame! By the cruel one, by the jackal of little intelligence, by the petty one, spoken, of low nature, humans, why do you turn back?)

Alas, shame! Why do you humans of low nature turn back because of the words spoken by the cruel, petty, and foolish jackal?

पञ्चभूतपरित्यक्तं शून्यं काष्ठत्वमागतम्। कस्माच्छोचथ निश्चेष्टमात्मानं किं न शोचथ ॥१२-१४९-२९॥

pañcabhūtaparityaktaṃ śūnyaṃ kāṣṭhatvamāgatam। kasmācchochatha niśceṣṭamātmānaṃ kiṃ na śochatha ॥12-149-29॥

[पञ्चभूत (pañca-bhūta) - five elements; परित्यक्तं (parityaktaṃ) - abandoned; शून्यं (śūnyaṃ) - empty; काष्ठत्वम् (kāṣṭhatvam) - state of wood; आगतं (āgatam) - attained; कस्मात् (kasmāt) - why; शोचथ (śochatha) - do you grieve; निश्चेष्टम् (niśceṣṭam) - motionless; आत्मानं (ātmānam) - the self; किं (kiṃ) - why; न (na) - not; शोचथ (śochatha) - do you grieve;]

(The five elements having been abandoned, empty, having attained the state of wood; why do you grieve for the motionless self, why do you not grieve?)

When the five elements have departed and the body is empty, like a piece of wood, why do you grieve for the unmoving self? Why do you not grieve?

तपः कुरुत वै तीव्रं मुच्यध्वं येन किल्बिषात्। तपसा लभ्यते सर्वं विलापः किं करिष्यति ॥१२-१४९-३०॥

tapaḥ kuruta vai tīvraṃ mucyadhvaṃ yena kilbiṣāt। tapasā labhyate sarvaṃ vilāpaḥ kiṃ kariṣyati ॥12-149-30॥

[तपः (tapaḥ) - austerity; कुरुत (kuruta) - perform; वै (vai) - indeed; तीव्रं (tīvram) - intense; मुच्यध्वं (mucyadhvaṃ) - be freed; येन (yena) - by which; किल्बिषात् (kilbiṣāt) - from sin; तपसा (tapasā) - by austerity; लभ्यते (labhyate) - is obtained; सर्वं (sarvam) - all; विलापः (vilāpaḥ) - lamentation; किं (kiṃ) - what; करिष्यति (kariṣyati) - will accomplish;]

(Perform indeed intense austerity; by which you will be freed from sin. By austerity all is obtained; what will lamentation accomplish?)

Perform intense austerity, for by that you will be freed from sin. Everything is attained through austerity; what will lamenting achieve?

अनिष्टानि च भाग्यानि जानीत सह मूर्तिभिः। येन गच्छति लोकोऽयं दत्त्वा शोकमनन्तकम् ॥१२-१४९-३१॥

aniṣṭāni ca bhāgyāni jānīta saha mūrtibhiḥ। yena gacchati loko'yaṃ dattvā śokamanantakam ॥12-149-31॥

[अनिष्टानि (aniṣṭāni) - undesirable things; च (ca) - and; भाग्यानि (bhāgyāni) - fortunes; जानीत (jānīta) - should know; सह (saha) - together with; मूर्तिभिः (mūrtibhiḥ) - with forms; येन (yena) - by which; गच्छति (gacchati) - goes; लोकः (lokaḥ) - the world; अयम् (ayam) - this; दत्त्वा (dattvā) - having given; शोकम् (śokam) - sorrow; अनन्तकम् (anantakam) - endless;]

(Undesirable things and fortunes should be known together with their forms; by which this world goes, having given endless sorrow.)

One should recognize both misfortunes and fortunes along with their manifestations; for it is through these that this world proceeds, bestowing endless sorrow.

धनं गाश्च सुवर्णं च मणिरत्नमथापि च। अपत्यं च तपोमूलं तपोयोगाच्च लभ्यते ॥१२-१४९-३२॥

dhanaṃ gāś ca suvarṇaṃ ca maṇiratnam athāpi ca| apatyaṃ ca tapomūlaṃ tapoyogāc ca labhyate ॥12-149-32॥

[धनं (dhanaṃ) - wealth; गाः (gāḥ) - cows; च (ca) - and; सुवर्णं (suvarṇaṃ) - gold; च (ca) - and; मणिरत्नम् (maṇiratnam) - jewel-gem; अथापि (athāpi) - and also; च (ca) - and; अपत्यं (apatyaṃ) - offspring; च (ca) - and; तपोमूलं (tapomūlaṃ) - rooted in austerity; तपोयोगात् (tapoyogāt) - from the practice of austerity; च (ca) - and; लभ्यते (labhyate) - is obtained;]

(Wealth, cows, gold, jewel-gem, and also offspring, and that which is rooted in austerity, are obtained from the practice of austerity.)

Wealth, cows, gold, jewels, and even offspring—all these, as well as that which is rooted in austerity, are attained through the practice of austerity.

यथाकृता च भूतेषु प्राप्यते सुखदुःखता। गृहीत्वा जायते जन्तुर्दुःखानि च सुखानि च ॥१२-१४९-३३॥

yathākṛtā ca bhūteṣu prāpyate sukhaduḥkhatā। gṛhītvā jāyate jantur duḥkhāni ca sukhāni ca ॥12-149-33॥

[यथा (yathā) - as; in the manner; according to; in which manner; कृता (kṛtā) - done; performed; made; च (ca) - and; भूतेषु (bhūteṣu) - among beings; in living beings; प्राप्यते (prāpyate) - is obtained; is experienced; सुखदुःखता (sukhaduḥkhatā) - state of pleasure and pain; condition of happiness and sorrow; गृहीत्वा (gṛhītvā) - having taken; having acquired; जायते (jāyate) - is born; arises; जन्तुः (jantuḥ) - creature; living being; दुःखानि (duḥkhāni) - pains; sorrows; च (ca) - and; सुखानि (sukhāni) - pleasures; happiness; च (ca) - and;]

(As done and among beings, the state of pleasure and pain is obtained; having taken (that), the creature is born, and (experiences) pains and pleasures.)

According to one's actions, among beings, the state of happiness and sorrow is experienced; having acquired (these), a creature is born and undergoes both pains and pleasures.

न कर्मणा पितुः पुत्रः पिता वा पुत्रकर्मणा। मार्गेणान्येन गच्छन्ति त्यक्त्वा सुकृतदुष्कृते ॥१२-१४९-३४॥

na karmaṇā pituḥ putraḥ pitā vā putrakarmaṇā। mārgeṇānyena gacchanti tyaktvā sukṛtaduṣkṛte ॥12-149-34॥

[न (na) - not; कर्मणा (karmaṇā) - by action; पितुः (pituḥ) - of the father; पुत्रः (putraḥ) - the son; पिता (pitā) - the father; वा (vā) - or; पुत्रकर्मणा (putrakarmaṇā) - by the action of the son; मार्गेण (mārgeṇa) - by the path; अन्येन (anyena) - by another; गच्छन्ति (gacchanti) - they go; त्यक्त्वा (tyaktvā) - having abandoned; सुकृतदुष्कृते (sukṛtaduṣkṛte) - good and bad deeds;]

(Not by the action of the father does the son (go), nor the father by the action of the son. By another path they go, having abandoned good and bad deeds.)

A son does not attain (results) by the actions of his father, nor does a father by the actions of his son. Each proceeds on a different path, leaving behind both good and bad deeds.

धर्मं चरत यत्नेन तथाधर्मान्निवर्तत। वर्तध्वं च यथाकालं दैवतेषु द्विजेषु च ॥१२-१४९-३५॥

dharmaṃ carata yatnena tathādharmān nivartata। vartadhvaṃ ca yathākālaṃ daivateṣu dvijeṣu ca ॥12-149-35॥

[धर्मं (dharmaṃ) - righteousness; चरत (carata) - practice; यत्नेन (yatnena) - with effort; तथा (tathā) - likewise; अधर्मात् (adharmāt) - from unrighteousness; निवर्तत (nivartata) - turn away; वर्तध्वं (vartadhvaṃ) - conduct yourselves; च (ca) - and; यथाकालं (yathākālaṃ) - according to time; दैवतेषु (daivateṣu) - towards the deities; द्विजेषु (dvijeṣu) - towards the twice-born; च (ca) - and;]

(Practice righteousness with effort; likewise, turn away from unrighteousness. Conduct yourselves according to time towards the deities and the twice-born.)

Diligently practice righteousness and avoid unrighteousness. Behave appropriately at the proper time towards the deities and the twice-born (Brāhmaṇas).

शोकं त्यजत दैन्यं च सुतस्नेहान्निवर्तत। त्यज्यतामयमाकाशे ततः शीघ्रं निवर्तत ॥१२-१४९-३६॥

śokaṃ tyajata dainyaṃ ca sutasnehān nivartata। tyajyatām ayam ākāśe tataḥ śīghraṃ nivartata ॥12-149-36॥

[शोकं (śokam) - sorrow; त्यजत (tyajata) - abandon; दैन्यं (dainyaṃ) - misery; च (ca) - and; सुतस्नेहान् (sutasnehān) - affection for son; निवर्तत (nivartata) - turn away; त्यज्यताम् (tyajyatām) - let it be abandoned; अयम् (ayam) - this; आकाशे (ākāśe) - in the sky; ततः (tataḥ) - then; शीघ्रं (śīghraṃ) - quickly; निवर्तत (nivartata) - return;]

(Abandon sorrow and misery, turn away from affection for your son. Let this (body) be abandoned in the sky, then quickly return.)

Give up sorrow and misery, and turn away from attachment to your son. Let this body be left in the sky, and then quickly return.

यत्करोति शुभं कर्म तथाधर्मं सुदारुणम्। तत्कर्तैव समश्नाति बान्धवानां किमत्र हि ॥१२-१४९-३७॥

yat karoti śubhaṃ karma tathā adharmaṃ sudāruṇam। tat kartā eva samaśnāti bāndhavānāṃ kim atra hi ॥12-149-37॥

[यत् (yat) - whatever; करोति (karoti) - does; शुभं (śubham) - auspicious; कर्म (karma) - action; तथा (tathā) - also; अधर्मं (adharmaṃ) - unrighteous; सुदारुणम् (sudāruṇam) - very cruel; तत् (tat) - that; कर्तैव (kartā eva) - the doer alone; समश्नाति (samaśnāti) - experiences; बान्धवानां (bāndhavānāṃ) - of relatives; किम् (kim) - what; अत्र (atra) - here; हि (hi) - indeed;]

(Whatever auspicious action or also very cruel unrighteous action one does, that the doer alone experiences; what (concern is) here for the relatives indeed?)

Whatever good or bad deeds a person performs, only the doer experiences their results; what concern is there here for the relatives?

इह त्यक्त्वा न तिष्ठन्ति बान्धवा बान्धवं प्रियम्। स्नेहमुत्सृज्य गच्छन्ति बाष्पपूर्णाविलेक्षणाः ॥१२-१४९-३८॥

iha tyaktvā na tiṣṭhanti bāndhavā bāndhavaṃ priyam। sneham utsṛjya gacchanti bāṣpapūrṇāvilekṣaṇāḥ ॥12-149-38॥

[इह (iha) - here; त्यक्त्वा (tyaktvā) - having abandoned; न (na) - not; तिष्ठन्ति (tiṣṭhanti) - remain; बान्धवाः (bāndhavāḥ) - relatives; बान्धवम् (bāndhavam) - relative; प्रियम् (priyam) - dear; स्नेहम् (sneham) - affection; उत्सृज्य (utsṛjya) - having abandoned; गच्छन्ति (gacchanti) - go; बाष्पपूर्ण (bāṣpapūrṇa) - filled with tears; अविलेक्षणाः (avilekṣaṇāḥ) - with clouded eyes;]

(Here, having abandoned (him), the relatives do not remain; abandoning the dear relative and affection, they go, their eyes filled with tears and clouded.)

Here, the relatives do not stay after abandoning; leaving behind the dear one and their affection, they depart, their eyes clouded and full of tears.

प्राज्ञो वा यदि वा मूर्खः सधनो निर्धनोऽपि वा। सर्वः कालवशं याति शुभाशुभसमन्वितः ॥१२-१४९-३९॥

prājño vā yadi vā mūrkhaḥ sadhano nirdhano'pi vā। sarvaḥ kālavaśaṃ yāti śubhāśubhasamanvitaḥ ॥12-149-39॥

[प्राज्ञः (prājñaḥ) - wise person; वा (vā) - or; यदि (yadi) - if; वा (vā) - or; मूर्खः (mūrkhaḥ) - foolish person; सधनः (sadhanaḥ) - wealthy; निर्धनः (nirdhanaḥ) - poor; अपि (api) - even; वा (vā) - or; सर्वः (sarvaḥ) - everyone; कालवशम् (kālavaśam) - under the control of time; याति (yāti) - goes; शुभ (śubha) - auspicious; अशुभ (aśubha) - inauspicious; समन्वितः (samanvitaḥ) - endowed with;]

(Wise person or if or foolish person, wealthy, poor even or, everyone under the control of time goes, auspicious inauspicious endowed with.)

Whether one is wise or foolish, wealthy or poor, everyone, endowed with both auspicious and inauspicious qualities, goes according to the power of time.

किं करिष्यथ शोचित्वा मृतं किमनुशोचथ। सर्वस्य हि प्रभुः कालो धर्मतः समदर्शनः ॥१२-१४९-४०॥

kiṁ kariṣyatha śocitvā mṛtaṁ kim anuśocatha। sarvasya hi prabhuḥ kālo dharmataḥ samadarśanaḥ ॥12-149-40॥

[किं (kiṁ) - what; करिष्यथ (kariṣyatha) - will you do; शोचित्वा (śocitvā) - having grieved; मृतं (mṛtam) - the dead; किं (kim) - what; अनुशोचथ (anuśocatha) - do you grieve; सर्वस्य (sarvasya) - of all; हि (hi) - indeed; प्रभुः (prabhuḥ) - the lord; कालः (kālaḥ) - Time; धर्मतः (dharmataḥ) - by righteousness; समदर्शनः (samadarśanaḥ) - equal in vision;]

(What will you do having grieved for the dead? What do you grieve for? Indeed, Time is the lord of all, by righteousness, equal in vision.)

What is the use of grieving for the dead? Why do you lament? Time, who is the lord of all, is impartial and acts according to righteousness.

यौवनस्थांश्च बालांश्च वृद्धान्गर्भगतानपि। सर्वानाविशते मृत्युरेवम्भूतमिदं जगत् ॥१२-१४९-४१॥

yauvanasthāṁś ca bālāṁś ca vṛddhān garbhagatān api। sarvān āviśate mṛtyur evaṁbhūtam idaṁ jagat ॥12-149-41॥

[यौवनस्थान् (yauvanasthān) - those situated in youth; च (ca) - and; बालान् (bālān) - children; च (ca) - and; वृद्धान् (vṛddhān) - the aged; गर्भगतान् (garbhagatān) - those in the womb; अपि (api) - even; सर्वान् (sarvān) - all; आविशते (āviśate) - enters; मृत्युः (mṛtyuḥ) - death; एवम् (evam) - thus; भूतम् (bhūtam) - having become; इदं (idaṁ) - this; जगत् (jagat) - world;]

(Death enters all—those situated in youth, and children, and the aged, and even those in the womb; thus has this world become.)

Death comes to all: the young, the children, the old, and even those still in the womb; such is the nature of this world.

जम्बुक उवाच॥

jambuka uvāca॥

[जम्बुक (jambuka) - jackal; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]

(The jackal said.)

The jackal said.

अहो मन्दीकृतः स्नेहो गृध्रेणेहाल्पमेधसा। पुत्रस्नेहाभिभूतानां युष्माकं शोचतां भृशम् ॥१२-१४९-४२॥

aho mandīkṛtaḥ sneho gṛdhreṇehālpamedhasā। putrasnehābhibhūtānāṃ yuṣmākaṃ śocatāṃ bhṛśam ॥12-149-42॥

[अहो (aho) - indeed; मन्दीकृतः (mandīkṛtaḥ) - made dull; स्नेहः (snehaḥ) - affection; गृध्रेण (gṛdhreṇa) - by the vulture; इह (iha) - here; अल्पमेधसा (alpamedhasā) - by one of little intelligence; पुत्रस्नेहाभिभूतानाम् (putrasnehābhibhūtānām) - of those overpowered by affection for their son; युष्माकम् (yuṣmākam) - your; शोचताम् (śocatām) - of those grieving; भृशम् (bhṛśam) - greatly;]

(Indeed, affection has been made dull here by the vulture of little intelligence, for those of you who are greatly grieving, overpowered by affection for your son.)

Indeed, your affection has been dulled here by the vulture of little intelligence, as you grieve intensely, overpowered by love for your son.

समैः सम्यक्प्रयुक्तैश्च वचनैः प्रश्रयोत्तरैः। यद्गच्छथ जलस्थायं स्नेहमुत्सृज्य दुस्त्यजम् ॥१२-१४९-४३॥

samaiḥ samyak-prayuktaiś ca vacanaiḥ praśraya-uttaraiḥ। yad gacchatha jala-sthāyaṃ sneham utsṛjya dustyajam ॥12-149-43॥

[समैः (samaiḥ) - with equal; सम्यक् (samyak) - properly; प्रयुक्तैः (prayuktaiḥ) - applied; च (ca) - and; वचनैः (vacanaiḥ) - words; प्रश्रय (praśraya) - humility; उत्तरैः (uttaraiḥ) - with replies; यत् (yat) - that; गच्छथ (gacchatha) - you go; जलस्थायम् (jala-sthāyam) - to one who dwells in water; स्नेहम् (sneham) - affection; उत्सृज्य (utsṛjya) - having abandoned; दुस्त्यजम् (dustyajam) - difficult to give up;]

(With equal, properly applied, and words, and with replies of humility, that you go to one who dwells in water, having abandoned affection difficult to give up.)

With words that are equal, properly applied, and humble in reply, you go to the one who dwells in water, having abandoned the affection that is difficult to give up.

अहो पुत्रवियोगेन मृतशून्योपसेवनात्। क्रोशतां वै भृशं दुःखं विवत्सानां गवामिव ॥१२-१४९-४४॥

aho putraviyogena mṛtaśūnyopasevanāt। krośatāṃ vai bhṛśaṃ duḥkhaṃ vivatsānāṃ gavāmiva ॥12-149-44॥

[अहो (aho) - alas; पुत्रवियोगेन (putraviyogena) - by the separation from a son; मृतशून्योपसेवनात् (mṛtaśūnyopasevanāt) - by dwelling in the emptiness left by the dead; क्रोशतां (krośatām) - of those who are crying; वै (vai) - indeed; भृशं (bhṛśam) - intensely; दुःखं (duḥkham) - pain; विवत्सानां (vivatsānām) - of those deprived of their calves; गवामिव (gavāmiva) - like cows;]

(Alas; by the separation from a son; by dwelling in the emptiness left by the dead; of those who are crying; indeed; intensely; pain; of those deprived of their calves; like cows;)

Alas, the pain caused by the separation from a son and by dwelling in the emptiness left by the dead is, for those who are crying, indeed intense, like the pain of cows deprived of their calves.

अद्य शोकं विजानामि मानुषाणां महीतले। स्नेहं हि करुणं दृष्ट्वा ममाप्यश्रूण्यथागमन् ॥१२-१४९-४५॥

adya śokaṃ vijānāmi mānuṣāṇāṃ mahītale। snehaṃ hi karuṇaṃ dṛṣṭvā mamāpy aśrūṇy athāgaman ॥12-149-45॥

[अद्य (adya) - today; शोकं (śokaṃ) - sorrow; विजानामि (vijānāmi) - I know; मानुषाणां (mānuṣāṇāṃ) - of men; महीतले (mahītale) - on the earth; स्नेहं (snehaṃ) - affection; हि (hi) - indeed; करुणं (karuṇam) - compassion; दृष्ट्वा (dṛṣṭvā) - having seen; मम (mama) - my; अपि (api) - also; अश्रूणि (aśrūṇi) - tears; अथ (atha) - then; आगमन् (āgaman) - came;]

(Today I know sorrow of men on the earth. Having seen indeed affection and compassion, my tears also then came.)

Today I understand the sorrow of men on earth. Seeing such affection and compassion, even my own tears began to flow.

यत्नो हि सततं कार्यः कृतो दैवेन सिध्यति। दैवं पुरुषकारश्च कृतान्तेनोपपद्यते ॥१२-१४९-४६॥

yatno hi satataṃ kāryaḥ kṛto daivena sidhyati। daivaṃ puruṣakāraś ca kṛtāntenopapadyate ॥12-149-46॥

[यत्नः (yatnaḥ) - effort; हि (hi) - indeed; सततम् (satatam) - always; कार्यः (kāryaḥ) - action; कृतः (kṛtaḥ) - done; दैवेन (daivena) - by fate; सिध्यति (sidhyati) - succeeds; दैवम् (daivam) - fate; पुरुषकारः (puruṣakāraḥ) - human effort; च (ca) - and; कृतान्तेन (kṛtāntena) - by death (destiny); उपपद्यते (upapadyate) - is accomplished;]

(Effort indeed always action done by fate succeeds. Fate human effort and by death (destiny) is accomplished.)

One must always make effort; when an action is performed, it succeeds by fate. Both fate and human effort are fulfilled by destiny.

अनिर्वेदः सदा कार्यो निर्वेदाद्धि कुतः सुखम्। प्रयत्नात्प्राप्यते ह्यर्थः कस्माद्गच्छथ निर्दयाः ॥१२-१४९-४७॥

anirvedaḥ sadā kāryo nirvedāddhi kutaḥ sukham| prayatnātprāpyate hyarthaḥ kasmādgacchatha nirdayāḥ ॥12-149-47॥

[अनिर्वेदः (anirvedaḥ) - absence of despondency; सदा (sadā) - always; कार्यः (kāryaḥ) - to be practiced; निर्वेदात् (nirvedāt) - from despondency; हि (hi) - indeed; कुतः (kutaḥ) - whence; सुखम् (sukham) - happiness; प्रयत्नात् (prayatnāt) - from effort; प्राप्यते (prāpyate) - is obtained; हि (hi) - indeed; अर्थः (arthaḥ) - object; कस्मात् (kasmāt) - why; गच्छथ (gacchatha) - do you go; निर्दयाः (nirdayāḥ) - cruel ones;]

(Absence of despondency is always to be practiced; indeed, from despondency, whence happiness? From effort, indeed, the object is obtained; why do you go, cruel ones?)

One should always maintain absence of despondency; for how can happiness arise from despair? It is through effort that the goal is attained; why then do you act so cruelly?

आत्ममांसोपवृत्तं च शरीरार्धमयीं तनुम्। पितॄणां वंशकर्तारं वने त्यक्त्वा क्व यास्यथ ॥१२-१४९-४८॥

ātmamāṃsopavṛttaṃ ca śarīrārdhamayīṃ tanum। pitṝṇāṃ vaṃśakartāraṃ vane tyaktvā kva yāsyatha ॥12-149-48॥

[आत्म (ātma) - self; मांस (māṃsa) - flesh; उपवृत्तं (upavṛttam) - nourished by; (grown from;) च (ca) - and; शरीर (śarīra) - body; अर्ध (ardha) - half; मयीं (mayīṃ) - consisting of; तनुम् (tanum) - body; पितॄणां (pitṝṇāṃ) - of the ancestors; वंश (vaṃśa) - lineage; कर्तारं (kartāram) - creator; वने (vane) - in the forest; त्यक्त्वा (tyaktvā) - having abandoned; क्व (kva) - where; यास्यथ (yāsyatha) - will you go;]

(And (this) body, nourished by (your) own flesh and consisting of half (your) body, the creator of the lineage of the ancestors—having abandoned (him) in the forest, where will you go?)

And this body, nourished by your own flesh and made up of half your being, the creator of your ancestors' lineage—having abandoned him in the forest, where will you go?

अथ वास्तं गते सूर्ये सन्ध्याकाल उपस्थिते। ततो नेष्यथ वा पुत्रमिहस्था वा भविष्यथ ॥१२-१४९-४९॥

atha vāstaṃ gate sūrye sandhyākāla upasthite। tato neṣyatha vā putram ihasthā vā bhaviṣyatha ॥12-149-49॥

[अथ (atha) - then; वास्तं (vāstaṃ) - evening; गते (gate) - having gone; सूर्ये (sūrye) - sun; सन्ध्याकाल (sandhyākāla) - twilight time; उपस्थिते (upasthite) - having arrived; ततः (tataḥ) - then; नेष्यथ (neṣyatha) - you will take; वा (vā) - or; पुत्रम् (putram) - son; इहस्था (ihasthā) - those present here; वा (vā) - or; भविष्यथ (bhaviṣyatha) - you will be;]

(Then, when evening has come and the sun has set, when twilight time has arrived, then you will either take the son or those present here will be (remain).)

Then, when the sun has set and evening has come, at twilight, you will either take the son or those present here will remain.

गृध्र उवाच॥

gṛdhra uvāca॥

[गृध्र (gṛdhra) - vulture; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]

(The vulture said;)

The vulture said.

अद्य वर्षसहस्रं मे साग्रं जातस्य मानुषाः। न च पश्यामि जीवन्तं मृतं स्त्रीपुंनपुंसकम् ॥१२-१४९-५०॥

adya varṣasahasraṃ me sāgraṃ jātasya mānuṣāḥ। na ca paśyāmi jīvantaṃ mṛtaṃ strīpuṃnapuṃsakam ॥12-149-50॥

[अद्य (adya) - today; वर्षसहस्रं (varṣasahasraṃ) - a thousand years; मे (me) - for me; साग्रं (sāgraṃ) - with a little more; जातस्य (jātasya) - having been born; मानुषाः (mānuṣāḥ) - O humans; न (na) - not; च (ca) - and; पश्यामि (paśyāmi) - I see; जीवन्तं (jīvantaṃ) - living; मृतं (mṛtaṃ) - dead; स्त्रीपुंनपुंसकम् (strīpuṃnapuṃsakam) - female, male, and neuter;]

(Today, for me, a thousand years with a little more having been born, O humans, I do not see living or dead, female, male, or neuter.)

O humans, today, though I have lived for a thousand years and more, I do not see anyone living or dead, whether female, male, or neuter.

मृता गर्भेषु जायन्ते म्रियन्ते जातमात्रकाः। विक्रमन्तो म्रियन्ते च यौवनस्थास्तथापरे ॥१२-१४९-५१॥

mṛtā garbheṣu jāyante mriyante jātamātrakāḥ। vikramanto mriyante ca yauvanasthāstathāpare ॥12-149-51॥

[मृता (mṛtā) - dead ones; गर्भेषु (garbheṣu) - in wombs; जायन्ते (jāyante) - are born; म्रियन्ते (mriyante) - die; जातमात्रकाः (jātamātrakāḥ) - just born ones; विक्रमन्तः (vikramantaḥ) - those who walk; म्रियन्ते (mriyante) - die; च (ca) - and; यौवनस्थाः (yauvanasthāḥ) - those in youth; तथा (tathā) - likewise; अपरे (apare) - others;]

(Dead ones are born in wombs, just born ones die, those who walk die, and those in youth likewise others.)

Some die in the womb, some die just after birth, some die while walking, and others die even in their youth.

अनित्यानीह भाग्यानि चतुष्पात्पक्षिणामपि। जङ्गमाजङ्गमानां चाप्यायुरग्रेऽवतिष्ठते ॥१२-१४९-५२॥

anityānīha bhāgyāni catuṣpātpakṣiṇāmapi। jaṅgamājaṅgamānāṃ cāpyāyuragre'vatiṣṭhate ॥12-149-52॥

[अनित्यानि (anityāni) - impermanent; इह (iha) - here; भाग्यानि (bhāgyāni) - fortunes; चतुष्पात् (catuṣpāt) - of quadrupeds; पक्षिणाम् (pakṣiṇām) - of birds; अपि (api) - even; जङ्गम (jaṅgama) - of moving beings; अजङ्गमानाम् (ajaṅgamānām) - of non-moving beings; च (ca) - and; अपि (api) - also; आयुः (āyuḥ) - lifespan; अग्रे (agre) - ahead; अवतिष्ठते (avatiṣṭhate) - stands; १२-१४९-५२ (12-149-52) - (verse number);]

(Impermanent here are fortunes, even of quadrupeds and birds; of moving and non-moving beings also, lifespan stands ahead.)

Here, fortunes are impermanent, even for quadrupeds and birds; for both moving and non-moving beings, lifespan alone stands foremost.

इष्टदारवियुक्ताश्च पुत्रशोकान्वितास्तथा। दह्यमानाः स्म शोकेन गृहं गच्छन्ति नित्यदा ॥१२-१४९-५३॥

iṣṭadāraviyuktāś ca putraśokānvitās tathā। dahyamānāḥ sma śokena gṛhaṃ gacchanti nityadā॥12-149-53॥

[इष्ट (iṣṭa) - beloved; desired; दार (dāra) - wives; spouses; वियुक्ताः (viyuktāḥ) - separated; deprived; च (ca) - and; पुत्र (putra) - son; शोक (śoka) - grief; sorrow; अन्विताः (anvitāḥ) - endowed; filled; तथा (tathā) - likewise; दह्यमानाः (dahyamānāḥ) - burning; being consumed; स्म (sma) - indeed; शोकेन (śokena) - by grief; गृहम् (gṛham) - house; home; गच्छन्ति (gacchanti) - go; proceed; नित्यदा (nityadā) - always; constantly;]

(Beloved wives separated and likewise filled with grief for sons, burning indeed by grief, always go to the house.)

The beloved wives, separated and likewise overwhelmed by grief for their sons, constantly go home, always burning with sorrow.

अनिष्टानां सहस्राणि तथेष्टानां शतानि च। उत्सृज्येह प्रयाता वै बान्धवा भृशदुःखिताः ॥१२-१४९-५४॥

aniṣṭānāṃ sahasrāṇi tatheṣṭānāṃ śatāni ca। utsṛjyeha prayātā vai bāndhavā bhṛśaduḥkhitāḥ ॥12-149-54॥

[अनिष्टानाम् (aniṣṭānām) - of undesired (things); सहस्राणि (sahasrāṇi) - thousands; तथ (tath) - and likewise; इष्टानाम् (iṣṭānām) - of desired (things); शतानि (śatāni) - hundreds; च (ca) - and; उत्सृज्य (utsṛjya) - having abandoned; इह (iha) - here; प्रयाताः (prayātāḥ) - departed; वै (vai) - indeed; बान्धवाः (bāndhavāḥ) - relatives; भृशदुःखिताः (bhṛśaduḥkhitāḥ) - greatly afflicted with grief;]

(Thousands of undesired (things) and likewise hundreds of desired (things), having abandoned here, indeed, the relatives departed, greatly afflicted with grief.)

Thousands of undesired things and hundreds of desired things are left behind here; the relatives, greatly afflicted with grief, have indeed departed.

त्यज्यतामेष निस्तेजाः शून्यः काष्ठत्वमागतः। अन्यदेहविषक्तो हि शावं काष्ठमुपासते ॥१२-१४९-५५॥

tyajyatāmeṣa nistejāḥ śūnyaḥ kāṣṭhatvamāgataḥ। anyadehaviṣakto hi śāvaṃ kāṣṭhamupāsate ॥12-149-55॥

[त्यज्यताम् (tyajyatām) - let it be abandoned; एषः (eṣaḥ) - this; निस्तेजाः (nistejāḥ) - devoid of brilliance; शून्यः (śūnyaḥ) - empty; काष्ठत्वम् (kāṣṭhatvam) - state of wood; आगतः (āgataḥ) - has attained; अन्यदेह (anyadeha) - to another body; विषक्तः (viṣaktaḥ) - attached; हि (hi) - indeed; शावम् (śāvam) - corpse; काष्ठम् (kāṣṭham) - wood; उपासते (upāsate) - worship;]

(Let this (body) be abandoned; devoid of brilliance, empty, it has attained the state of wood. Indeed, those attached to another body worship a corpse as wood.)

Let this body be abandoned; it is devoid of brilliance, empty, and has become like wood. Indeed, those who are attached to another body worship a corpse as if it were wood.

भ्रान्तजीवस्य वै बाष्पं कस्माद्धित्वा न गच्छथ। निरर्थको ह्ययं स्नेहो निरर्थश्च परिग्रहः ॥१२-१४९-५६॥

bhrāntajīvasya vai bāṣpaṃ kasmāddhitvā na gacchatha। nirarthako hyayaṃ sneho nirarthaśca parigrahaḥ ॥12-149-56॥

[भ्रान्तजीवस्य (bhrāntajīvasya) - of the deluded being; वै (vai) - indeed; बाष्पं (bāṣpam) - tears; कस्मात् (kasmāt) - why; धित्वा (dhitvā) - having abandoned; न (na) - not; गच्छथ (gacchatha) - do you go; निरर्थकः (nirarthakaḥ) - useless; हि (hi) - indeed; अयम् (ayam) - this; स्नेहः (snehaḥ) - affection; निरर्थश्च (nirarthaśca) - and useless; परिग्रहः (parigrahaḥ) - possession;]

(Of the deluded being indeed tears why having abandoned not do you go. Useless indeed this affection and useless possession.)

Why do you not go, leaving behind the tears of the deluded being? Indeed, this affection is useless, and so is possession.

न चक्षुर्भ्यां न कर्णाभ्यां संशृणोति समीक्षते। तस्मादेनं समुत्सृज्य स्वगृहान्गच्छताशु वै ॥१२-१४९-५७॥

na cakṣurbhyāṃ na karṇābhyāṃ saṃśṛṇoti samīkṣate. tasmādenaṃ samutsṛjya svagṛhān gacchatāśu vai ॥12-149-57॥

[न (na) - not; चक्षुर्भ्यां (cakṣurbhyām) - by the two eyes; न (na) - not; कर्णाभ्यां (karṇābhyām) - by the two ears; संशृणोति (saṃśṛṇoti) - hears; समीक्षते (samīkṣate) - sees; तस्मात् (tasmāt) - therefore; एनम् (enam) - him; समुत्सृज्य (samutsṛjya) - having abandoned; स्वगृहान् (svagṛhān) - to your own homes; गच्छत (gacchata) - go; आशु (āśu) - quickly; वै (vai) - indeed;]

(Not by the two eyes, not by the two ears, (he) hears, (he) sees. Therefore, having abandoned him, go quickly to your own homes indeed.)

He neither hears nor sees with his eyes or ears. Therefore, leave him and quickly return to your own homes.

मोक्षधर्माश्रितैर्वाक्यैर्हेतुमद्भिरनिष्ठुरैः। मयोक्ता गच्छत क्षिप्रं स्वं स्वमेव निवेशनम् ॥१२-१४९-५८॥

mokṣadharmāśritair vākyair hetumadbhir aniṣṭhuraiḥ। mayoktā gacchata kṣipraṃ svaṃ svam eva niveśanam ॥12-149-58॥

[मोक्षधर्माश्रितैः (mokṣadharmāśritaiḥ) - by those who are established in the dharma of liberation; वाक्यैः (vākyaiḥ) - by statements; हेतुमद्भिः (hetumadbhir) - with reasoning; अनिष्ठुरैः (aniṣṭhuraiḥ) - not harsh; मया (mayā) - by me; उक्ता (uktā) - spoken; गच्छत (gacchata) - go; क्षिप्रं (kṣipraṃ) - quickly; स्वं (svaṃ) - own; स्वम् (svam) - own; एव (eva) - indeed; निवेशनम् (niveśanam) - residence;]

(By statements established in the dharma of liberation, with reasoning, not harsh, spoken by me, go quickly to your own residence indeed.)

Go quickly to your own residence, as instructed by me with words grounded in the dharma of liberation, reasoned and gentle.

प्रज्ञाविज्ञानयुक्तेन बुद्धिसञ्ज्ञाप्रदायिना। वचनं श्राविता रूक्षं मानुषाः संनिवर्तत ॥१२-१४९-५९॥

prajñā-vijñāna-yuktena buddhi-saṃjñā-pradāyinā। vacanaṃ śrāvitā rūkṣaṃ mānuṣāḥ saṃnivartata ॥12-149-59॥

[प्रज्ञा (prajñā) - wisdom; विज्ञान (vijñāna) - knowledge; युक्तेन (yuktena) - endowed with; बुद्धि (buddhi) - intellect; सञ्ज्ञा (saṃjñā) - consciousness; प्रदायिना (pradāyinā) - by the giver; वचनं (vacanam) - speech; श्राविता (śrāvitā) - made to be heard; रूक्षं (rūkṣam) - harsh; मानुषाः (mānuṣāḥ) - humans; संनिवर्तत (saṃnivartata) - turned back;]

(By one endowed with wisdom and knowledge, the giver of intellect and consciousness, harsh speech was made to be heard; humans turned back.)

Because harsh words were spoken by one endowed with wisdom and knowledge, who gave intellect and consciousness, the people turned back.

जम्बुक उवाच॥

jambuka uvāca॥

[जम्बुक (jambuka) - jackal; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]

(The jackal said.)

The jackal said.

इमं कनकवर्णाभं भूषणैः समलङ्कृतम्। गृध्रवाक्यात्कथं पुत्रं त्यजध्वं पितृपिण्डदम् ॥१२-१४९-६०॥

imaṃ kanakavarṇābhaṃ bhūṣaṇaiḥ samalaṅkṛtam। gṛdhravākyātkathaṃ putraṃ tyajadhvaṃ pitṛpiṇḍadam ॥12-149-60॥

[इमं (imaṃ) - this (accusative singular masculine); कनकवर्णाभं (kanakavarṇābham) - having the color of gold; भूषणैः (bhūṣaṇaiḥ) - with ornaments; समलङ्कृतम् (samalaṅkṛtam) - well-adorned; गृध्रवाक्यात् (gṛdhravākyāt) - from the words of the vulture; कथं (kathaṃ) - how; पुत्रं (putraṃ) - son (accusative singular masculine); त्यजध्वं (tyajadhvaṃ) - you all abandon; पितृपिण्डदम् (pitṛpiṇḍadam) - giver of offerings to ancestors;]

(This one, having the color of gold, well-adorned with ornaments, from the words of the vulture, how (can you) abandon the son, the giver of offerings to ancestors?)

How can you abandon this son, golden-hued and adorned with ornaments, the giver of offerings to ancestors, just because of the words of the vulture?

न स्नेहस्य विरोधोऽस्ति विलापरुदितस्य वै। मृतस्यास्य परित्यागात्तापो वै भविता ध्रुवम् ॥१२-१४९-६१॥

na sneḥasya virodho'sti vilāpa-ruditasya vai| mṛtasyāsya parityāgāttāpo vai bhavitā dhruvam ॥12-149-61॥

[न (na) - not; स्नेहस्य (sneḥasya) - of affection; विरोधः (virodhaḥ) - opposition; अस्ति (asti) - is; विलापरुदितस्य (vilāpa-ruditasya) - of lamentation and weeping; वै (vai) - indeed; मृतस्य (mṛtasya) - of the dead; अस्य (asya) - of him; परित्यागात् (parityāgāt) - from abandonment; तापः (tāpaḥ) - suffering; वै (vai) - indeed; भविता (bhavitā) - will be; ध्रुवम् (dhruvam) - certainly;]

(Not of affection opposition is; of lamentation and weeping indeed; of the dead of him from abandonment suffering indeed will be certainly.)

There is no opposition to affection; indeed, lamentation and weeping arise. Certainly, suffering will result from abandoning the dead.

श्रूयते शम्बुके शूद्रे हते ब्राह्मणदारकः। जीवितो धर्ममासाद्य रामात्सत्यपराक्रमात् ॥१२-१४९-६२॥

śrūyate śambuke śūdre hate brāhmaṇadārakaḥ। jīvito dharmamāsādya rāmātsatyaparākramāt ॥12-149-62॥

[श्रूयते (śrūyate) - is heard; शम्बुके (śambuke) - when Śambuka; शूद्रे (śūdre) - the Śūdra; हते (hate) - was slain; ब्राह्मणदारकः (brāhmaṇadārakaḥ) - the Brāhmaṇa boy; जीवितः (jīvitaḥ) - was revived; धर्मम् (dharmam) - righteousness; आसाद्य (āsādya) - having attained; रामात् (rāmāt) - from Rāma; सत्यपराक्रमात् (satyaparākramāt) - from true valor;]

(It is heard: when Śambuka, the Śūdra, was slain, the Brāhmaṇa boy was revived, having attained righteousness from Rāma, from true valor.)

It is said that when Śambuka, the Śūdra, was killed, the Brāhmaṇa boy was brought back to life, having obtained righteousness through Rāma's true valor.

तथा श्वेतस्य राजर्षेर्बालो दिष्टान्तमागतः। श्वोऽभूते धर्मनित्येन मृतः सञ्जीवितः पुनः ॥१२-१४९-६३॥

tathā śvetasya rājarṣer bālo diṣṭāntam āgataḥ। śvo'bhūte dharmanityena mṛtaḥ sañjīvitaḥ punaḥ ॥12-149-63॥

[तथा (tathā) - thus; श्वेतस्य (śvetasya) - of Śveta; राजर्षेः (rājarṣeḥ) - of the royal sage; बालः (bālaḥ) - the boy; दिष्टान्तम् (diṣṭāntam) - death (ordained by fate); आगतः (āgataḥ) - has come; श्वः (śvaḥ) - on the next day; अभूते (abhūte) - when it happened; धर्मनित्येन (dharmanityena) - by one devoted to dharma; मृतः (mṛtaḥ) - dead; सञ्जीवितः (sañjīvitaḥ) - revived; पुनः (punaḥ) - again;]

(Thus, for Śveta, the royal sage, the boy's death (ordained by fate) came. On the next day, when it happened, by one devoted to dharma, the dead (boy) was revived again.)

Thus, the son of Śveta, the royal sage, met his destined death. The next day, through the devotion to dharma, he was brought back to life again.

तथा कश्चिद्भवेत्सिद्धो मुनिर्वा देवतापि वा। कृपणानामनुक्रोशं कुर्याद्वो रुदतामिह ॥१२-१४९-६४॥

tathā kaścid bhavet siddho munir vā devatā api vā। kṛpaṇānām anukrośaṃ kuryād vo rudatām iha ॥12-149-64॥

[तथा (tathā) - thus; कश्चित् (kaścit) - someone; भवेत् (bhavet) - may be; सिद्धः (siddhaḥ) - perfected being; मुनिः (muniḥ) - sage; वा (vā) - or; देवता (devatā) - divine being; अपि (api) - even; वा (vā) - or; कृपणानाम् (kṛpaṇānām) - of the miserable; अनुक्रोशम् (anukrośam) - compassion; कुर्यात् (kuryāt) - should do; वः (vo) - for you; रुदताम् (rudatām) - of those who are weeping; इह (iha) - here;]

(Thus, someone may be a perfected being, or a sage, or even a divine being; he should show compassion for you, the miserable ones, who are weeping here.)

Thus, whether it is a perfected being, a sage, or even a divine being, he should show compassion for you who are weeping here in misery.

भीष्म उवाच॥

bhīṣma uvāca॥

[भीष्म (bhīṣma) - Bhīṣma; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]

(Bhīṣma said;)

Bhīṣma said.

इत्युक्ताः संन्यवर्तन्त शोकार्ताः पुत्रवत्सलाः। अङ्के शिरः समाधाय रुरुदुर्बहुविस्तरम् ॥१२-१४९-६५॥

ityuktāḥ saṃnyavartanta śokārtāḥ putravatsalāḥ। aṅke śiraḥ samādhāya rurudurbahu-vistaram ॥12-149-65॥

[इति (iti) - thus; उक्ताः (uktāḥ) - having been spoken; संन्यवर्तन्त (saṃnyavartanta) - they withdrew; शोक (śoka) - grief; आर्ताः (ārtāḥ) - afflicted; पुत्र (putra) - son; वत्सलाः (vatsalāḥ) - loving; अङ्के (aṅke) - on the lap; शिरः (śiraḥ) - head; समाधाय (samādhāya) - having placed; रुरुदुः (ruruduḥ) - they wept; बहु (bahu) - much; विस्तरम् (vistaram) - extensively;]

(Thus having been spoken, they withdrew, afflicted with grief, loving their son. Having placed the head on the lap, they wept extensively.)

When these words were spoken, the grief-stricken, son-loving ones withdrew. Placing the head on the lap, they wept profusely.

गृध्र उवाच॥

gṛdhra uvāca॥

[गृध्र (gṛdhra) - vulture; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]

(vulture said;)

The vulture said.

अश्रुपातपरिक्लिन्नः पाणिस्पर्शनपीडितः। धर्मराजप्रयोगाच्च दीर्घां निद्रां प्रवेशितः ॥१२-१४९-६६॥

aśrupātapariklinnah pāṇisparśanapīḍitaḥ। dharmarājaprayogāc ca dīrghāṃ nidrāṃ praveśitaḥ॥12-149-66॥

[अश्रुपात (aśru-pāta) - teardrop-fall; परिक्लिन्नः (pariklinnah) - soaked; पाणि (pāṇi) - hand; स्पर्शन (sparśana) - touch; पीडितः (pīḍitaḥ) - afflicted; धर्मराज (dharma-rāja) - Dharma-king; प्रयोगात् (prayogāt) - by the act; च (ca) - and; दीर्घां (dīrghām) - long; निद्रां (nidrām) - sleep; प्रवेशितः (praveśitaḥ) - entered;]

(Soaked by the fall of tears, afflicted by the touch of the hand, and by the act of Dharma-king, he entered into long sleep.)

He, soaked with falling tears and afflicted by the touch of the hand, was put into a deep sleep by the act of King Dharma.

तपसापि हि संयुक्तो न काले नोपहन्यते। सर्वस्नेहावसानं तदिदं तत्प्रेतपत्तनम् ॥१२-१४९-६७॥

tapasāpi hi saṁyukto na kāle nopahanyate। sarvasnehāvasānaṁ tadidaṁ tatpretapattanam ॥12-149-67॥

[तपसा (tapasā) - by austerity; अपि (api) - even; हि (hi) - indeed; संयुक्तः (saṁyuktaḥ) - joined; न (na) - not; काले (kāle) - in time; न (na) - not; उपहन्यते (upahanyate) - is destroyed; सर्वस्नेहावसानम् (sarvasnehāvasānam) - end of all affection; तत् (tat) - that; इदम् (idam) - this; तत् (tat) - that; प्रेतपत्तनम् (pretapattanam) - the city of the dead;]

(Even joined with austerity, indeed, not in time is it destroyed. The end of all affection is this, that is the city of the dead.)

Even with austerity, indeed, it is not destroyed in time. This is the end of all affection—this is the city of the dead.

बालवृद्धसहस्राणि सदा सन्त्यज्य बान्धवाः। दिनानि चैव रात्रीश्च दुःखं तिष्ठन्ति भूतले ॥१२-१४९-६८॥

bāla-vṛddha-sahasrāṇi sadā santyajya bāndhavāḥ। dināni caiva rātrīś ca duḥkhaṃ tiṣṭhanti bhūtale॥12-149-68॥

[बाल (bāla) - child; वृद्ध (vṛddha) - old person; सहस्राणि (sahasrāṇi) - thousands; सदा (sadā) - always; सन्त्यज्य (santyajya) - having abandoned; बान्धवाः (bāndhavāḥ) - relatives; दिनानि (dināni) - days; च (ca) - and; एव (eva) - indeed; रात्र्यः (rātrīḥ) - nights; च (ca) - and; दुःखम् (duḥkham) - sorrow; तिष्ठन्ति (tiṣṭhanti) - remain; भूतले (bhūtale) - on the earth;]

(Children, old persons, thousands, always, having abandoned, relatives, days and indeed nights and sorrow remain on the earth.)

Thousands of children and old people, having always been abandoned by relatives, spend their days and nights in sorrow on the earth.

अलं निर्बन्धमागम्य शोकस्य परिवारणम्। अप्रत्ययं कुतो ह्यस्य पुनरद्येह जीवितम् ॥१२-१४९-६९॥

alaṃ nirbandham āgamya śokasya parivāraṇam। apratyayaṃ kuto hy asya punar adya iha jīvitam ॥12-149-69॥

[अलं (alaṃ) - enough; निर्बन्धम् (nirbandham) - insistence; आगम्य (āgamya) - having come; शोकस्य (śokasya) - of sorrow; परिवारणम् (parivāraṇam) - surrounding; अप्रत्ययम् (apratyayam) - hopeless; कुतः (kutaḥ) - from where; हि (hi) - indeed; अस्य (asya) - of him; पुनः (punar) - again; अद्य (adya) - today; इह (iha) - here; जीवितम् (jīvitam) - life;]

(Enough insistence having come, the surrounding of sorrow. Hopeless, from where indeed for him again today here is life.)

Enough of insistence; sorrow has surrounded. There is no hope—how indeed can he have life again here today?

नैष जम्बुकवाक्येन पुनः प्राप्स्यति जीवितम्। मृतस्योत्सृष्टदेहस्य पुनर्देहो न विद्यते ॥१२-१४९-७०॥

naiṣa jambukavākyena punaḥ prāpsyati jīvitam। mṛtasyotsṛṣṭadehasya punardeho na vidyate ॥12-149-70॥

[नैष (naiṣa) - this one; not जम्बुकवाक्येन (jambukavākyena) - by the words of the jackal; पुनः (punaḥ) - again; प्राप्स्यति (prāpsyati) - will obtain; जीवितम् (jīvitam) - life; मृतस्य (mṛtasya) - of the dead; उत्सृष्टदेहस्य (utsṛṣṭadehasya) - whose body has been abandoned; पुनः (punaḥ) - again; देहः (dehaḥ) - body; न (na) - not; विद्यते (vidyate) - exists;]

(This one will not obtain life again by the words of the jackal. For the dead, whose body has been abandoned, the body does not exist again.)

He will not regain life by the jackal's words. Once the body has been abandoned by the dead, it cannot be restored again.

न वै मूर्तिप्रदानेन न जम्बुकशतैरपि। शक्यो जीवयितुं ह्येष बालो वर्षशतैरपि ॥१२-१४९-७१॥

na vai mūrtipradānena na jambukaśatairapi। śakyo jīvayituṃ hyeṣa bālo varṣaśatairapi ॥12-149-71॥

[न (na) - not; वै (vai) - indeed; मूर्तिप्रदानेन (mūrtipradānena) - by the giving of form; न (na) - not; जम्बुकशतैः (jambukaśataiḥ) - by hundreds of jackals; अपि (api) - even; शक्यः (śakyaḥ) - possible; जीवयितुम् (jīvayitum) - to be revived; हि (hi) - indeed; एषः (eṣaḥ) - this; बालः (bālaḥ) - boy; वर्षशतैः (varṣaśataiḥ) - by hundreds of years; अपि (api) - even;]

(Not indeed by the giving of form, not even by hundreds of jackals, is it possible to revive this boy, even by hundreds of years.)

This boy cannot be revived by giving form, nor even by hundreds of jackals, nor even in hundreds of years.

अपि रुद्रः कुमारो वा ब्रह्मा वा विष्णुरेव वा। वरमस्मै प्रयच्छेयुस्ततो जीवेदयं शिशुः ॥१२-१४९-७२॥

api rudraḥ kumāro vā brahmā vā viṣṇureva vā। varamasmai prayaccheyustato jīveda yaṃ śiśuḥ ॥12-149-72॥

[अपि (api) - indeed; रुद्रः (rudraḥ) - Rudra; कुमारः (kumāraḥ) - Kumāra; वा (vā) - or; ब्रह्मा (brahmā) - Brahmā; वा (vā) - or; विष्णुः (viṣṇuḥ) - Viṣṇu; एव (eva) - indeed; वा (vā) - or; वरम् (varam) - boon; अस्मै (asmai) - to him; प्रयच्छेयुः (prayaccheyuḥ) - may grant; ततः (tataḥ) - then; जीवेत् (jīvet) - may live; अयम् (ayam) - this; शिशुः (śiśuḥ) - child;]

(Indeed, whether Rudra, Kumāra, Brahmā, or even Viṣṇu, may grant a boon to him; then this child may live.)

If Rudra, Kumāra, Brahmā, or even Viṣṇu were to grant a boon to him, then this child would live.

न च बाष्पविमोक्षेण न चाश्वासकृतेन वै। न दीर्घरुदितेनेह पुनर्जीवो भविष्यति ॥१२-१४९-७३॥

na ca bāṣpavimokṣeṇa na cāśvāsakṛtena vai। na dīrgharuditeneha punarjīvo bhaviṣyati ॥12-149-73॥

[न (na) - not; च (ca) - and; बाष्पविमोक्षेण (bāṣpavimokṣeṇa) - by the shedding of tears; न (na) - not; च (ca) - and; आश्वासकृतेन (āśvāsakṛtena) - by consolation; वै (vai) - indeed; न (na) - not; दीर्घरुदितेन (dīrgharuditena) - by prolonged weeping; इह (iha) - here; पुनः (punar) - again; जीवः (jīvaḥ) - the living being; भविष्यति (bhaviṣyati) - will become;]

(Neither by the shedding of tears, nor indeed by consolation, nor by prolonged weeping here, will the living being become alive again.)

Neither tears, nor words of comfort, nor prolonged lamentation will bring the dead back to life here.

अहं च क्रोष्टुकश्चैव यूयं चैवास्य बान्धवाः। धर्माधर्मौ गृहीत्वेह सर्वे वर्तामहेऽध्वनि ॥१२-१४९-७४॥

ahaṃ ca kroṣṭukaś caiva yūyaṃ caivāsya bāndhavāḥ। dharmādharmau gṛhītv iha sarve vartāmahe'dhvani ॥12-149-74॥

[अहं (ahaṃ) - I; च (ca) - and; क्रोष्टुकः (kroṣṭukaḥ) - Kroṣṭuka; च (ca) - and; एव (eva) - indeed; यूयम् (yūyam) - you (plural); च (ca) - and; एव (eva) - indeed; अस्य (asya) - his; बान्धवाः (bāndhavāḥ) - relatives; धर्माधर्मौ (dharmādharmau) - dharma and adharma; गृहीत्वा (gṛhītvā) - having taken; इह (iha) - here; सर्वे (sarve) - all; वर्तामहे (vartāmahe) - we proceed; अध्वनि (adhvani) - on the path;]

(I and Kroṣṭuka and indeed you and indeed his relatives, having taken dharma and adharma here, all we proceed on the path.)

I, Kroṣṭuka, you, and all his relatives, having taken both dharma and adharma, we all proceed together on this path.

अप्रियं परुषं चापि परद्रोहं परस्त्रियम्। अधर्ममनृतं चैव दूरात्प्राज्ञो निवर्तयेत् ॥१२-१४९-७५॥

apriyaṃ paruṣaṃ cāpi paradrohaṃ parastriyam | adharmamanṛtaṃ caiva dūrāt prājño nivartayet ||12-149-75||

[अप्रियं (apriyaṃ) - not-pleasing; परुषं (paruṣaṃ) - harsh; च (ca) - and; अपि (api) - also; परद्रोहं (paradrohaṃ) - injury to others; परस्त्रियम् (parastriyam) - another's wife; अधर्मम् (adharmam) - unrighteousness; अनृतं (anṛtam) - falsehood; च (ca) - and; एव (eva) - indeed; दूरात् (dūrāt) - from afar; प्राज्ञः (prājñaḥ) - the wise person; निवर्तयेत् (nivartayet) - should turn away;]

(Not-pleasing, harsh, and also injury to others, another's wife, unrighteousness, and falsehood indeed—the wise person should turn away from afar.)

A wise person should keep far away from things that are unpleasant, harsh, injurious to others, another's wife, unrighteousness, and falsehood.

सत्यं धर्मं शुभं न्याय्यं प्राणिनां महतीं दयाम्। अजिह्मत्वमशाठ्यं च यत्नतः परिमार्गत ॥१२-१४९-७६॥

satyaṃ dharmaṃ śubhaṃ nyāyyaṃ prāṇināṃ mahatīṃ dayām। ajihmatvamaśāṭhyaṃ ca yatnataḥ parimārgata ॥12-149-76॥

[सत्यं (satyaṃ) - truth; धर्मं (dharmaṃ) - righteousness; शुभं (śubhaṃ) - auspiciousness; न्याय्यं (nyāyyaṃ) - justice; प्राणिनां (prāṇināṃ) - of living beings; महतीं (mahatīṃ) - great; दयाम् (dayām) - compassion; अजिह्मत्वम् (ajihmatvam) - straightforwardness; अशाठ्यं (aśāṭhyaṃ) - absence of deceit; च (ca) - and; यत्नतः (yatnataḥ) - with effort; परिमार्गत (parimārgata) - seek;]

(Truth, righteousness, auspiciousness, justice, great compassion for living beings, straightforwardness, absence of deceit, and (all these) seek with effort.)

Seek with effort truth, righteousness, auspiciousness, justice, great compassion for living beings, straightforwardness, and absence of deceit.

मातरं पितरं चैव बान्धवान्सुहृदस्तथा। जीवतो ये न पश्यन्ति तेषां धर्मविपर्ययः ॥१२-१४९-७७॥

mātaraṃ pitaraṃ caiva bāndhavān suhṛdas tathā। jīvato ye na paśyanti teṣāṃ dharmaviparyayaḥ ॥12-149-77॥

[मातरम् (mātaram) - mother (accusative singular); पितरम् (pitaram) - father (accusative singular); च (ca) - and; एव (eva) - indeed; बान्धवान् (bāndhavān) - relatives (accusative plural); सुहृदः (suhṛdaḥ) - friends (accusative plural); तथा (tathā) - likewise; जीवतः (jīvataḥ) - living (genitive singular); ये (ye) - who; न (na) - not; पश्यन्ति (paśyanti) - see; तेषाम् (teṣām) - of those; धर्मविपर्ययः (dharmaviparyayaḥ) - reversal of dharma;]

(Mother, father, and indeed relatives, likewise friends—those who do not see them while living, for them there is a reversal of dharma.)

Those who do not care for their mother, father, relatives, and friends while they are alive are acting contrary to dharma.

यो न पश्यति चक्षुर्भ्यां नेङ्गते च कथञ्चन। तस्य निष्ठावसानान्ते रुदन्तः किं करिष्यथ ॥१२-१४९-७८॥

yo na paśyati cakṣurbhyāṃ neṅgate ca kathañcana। tasya niṣṭhāvasānānte rudantaḥ kiṃ kariṣyatha ॥12-149-78॥

[यो (yaḥ) - who; न (na) - not; पश्यति (paśyati) - sees; चक्षुर्भ्यां (cakṣurbhyām) - with (his) two eyes; न (na) - not; इङ्गते (iṅgate) - moves; च (ca) - and; कथञ्चन (kathaṃcana) - in any way; तस्य (tasya) - of him; निष्ठा (niṣṭhā) - end; अवसान (avasāna) - termination; अन्ते (ante) - at the end; रुदन्तः (rudantaḥ) - weeping; किं (kiṃ) - what; करिष्यथ (kariṣyatha) - will you do;]

(Who does not see with (his) eyes, does not move in any way; at the end of his final termination, weeping, what will you do?)

If someone does not see with his eyes and does not move in any way, what will you accomplish by weeping at the end of his life?

भीष्म उवाच॥

bhīṣma uvāca॥

[भीष्म (bhīṣma) - Bhīṣma; (name of a person); उवाच (uvāca) - said; (from the root 'vac' - to speak);]

(Bhīṣma said;)

Bhīṣma said.

इत्युक्तास्तं सुतं त्यक्त्वा भूमौ शोकपरिप्लुताः। दह्यमानाः सुतस्नेहात्प्रययुर्बान्धवा गृहान् ॥१२-१४९-७९॥

ityuktās taṃ sutaṃ tyaktvā bhūmau śokapariplutāḥ। dahyamānāḥ sutasnehāt prayayur bāndhavā gṛhān ॥12-149-79॥

[इति (iti) - thus; उक्ताः (uktāḥ) - having spoken; तं (tam) - him; सुतं (sutaṃ) - son; त्यक्त्वा (tyaktvā) - having abandoned; भूमौ (bhūmau) - on the ground; शोकपरिप्लुताः (śokapariplutāḥ) - overwhelmed by grief; दह्यमानाः (dahyamānāḥ) - burning (inwardly); सुतस्नेहात् (sutasnehāt) - from affection for the son; प्रययुः (prayayur) - departed; बान्धवाः (bāndhavāḥ) - relatives; गृहान् (gṛhān) - to (their) homes;]

(Thus having spoken, having abandoned him, the son, on the ground, overwhelmed by grief, burning (inwardly) from affection for the son, the relatives departed to (their) homes.)

Having thus spoken, the relatives, overwhelmed with grief and burning with affection for the son, left him lying on the ground and returned to their homes.

जम्बुक उवाच॥

jambuka uvāca॥

[जम्बुक (jambuka) - jackal; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]

(The jackal said;)

The jackal said.

दारुणो मर्त्यलोकोऽयं सर्वप्राणिविनाशनः। इष्टबन्धुवियोगश्च तथैवाल्पं च जीवितम् ॥१२-१४९-८०॥

dāruṇo martyalokoyam sarvapraṇivināśanaḥ। iṣṭabandhuviyogaśca tathaivālpaṃ ca jīvitam ॥12-149-80॥

[दारुणः (dāruṇaḥ) - harsh; मर्त्यलोकः (martyalokaḥ) - mortal world; अयम् (ayam) - this; सर्वप्राणिविनाशनः (sarvapraṇivināśanaḥ) - destroyer of all beings; इष्टबन्धुवियोगः (iṣṭabandhuviyogaḥ) - separation from dear relatives; च (ca) - and; तथैव (tathaiva) - likewise; अल्पम् (alpam) - short; च (ca) - and; जीवितम् (jīvitam) - life;]

(Harsh is this mortal world, destroyer of all beings. Separation from dear relatives and likewise life is short.)

This mortal world is harsh, destroying all beings. There is separation from dear ones, and life itself is short.

बह्वलीकमसत्यं च प्रतिवादाप्रियंवदम्। इमं प्रेक्ष्य पुनर्भावं दुःखशोकाभिवर्धनम् ॥१२-१४९-८१॥

bahvalīkamasatyaṃ ca prativādāpriyaṃvadam। imaṃ prekṣya punarbhāvaṃ duḥkhaśokābhivardhanam ॥12-149-81॥

[बहु (bahu) - much; अलीकम् (alīkam) - falsehood; असत्यं (asatyaṃ) - untruth; च (ca) - and; प्रतिवाद (prativāda) - reply; अप्रियं (apriyaṃ) - unpleasant; वदम् (vadam) - speaking; इमं (imaṃ) - this; प्रेक्ष्य (prekṣya) - having seen; पुनः (punaḥ) - again; भावं (bhāvaṃ) - state; दुःख (duḥkha) - sorrow; शोक (śoka) - grief; अभिवर्धनम् (abhivardhanam) - increase;]

(Much falsehood and untruth, and speaking unpleasant replies; seeing this state again, an increase of sorrow and grief.)

Speaking much falsehood and untruth, and uttering unpleasant replies; seeing this state again brings about an increase of sorrow and grief.

न मे मानुषलोकोऽयं मुहूर्तमपि रोचते। अहो धिग्गृध्रवाक्येन संनिवर्तथ मानुषाः ॥१२-१४९-८२॥

na me mānuṣalokoyam muhūrtamapi rocate। aho dhig gṛdhravākyena saṃnivartatha mānuṣāḥ ॥12-149-82॥

[न (na) - not; मे (me) - to me; मानुषलोकः (mānuṣalokaḥ) - the world of humans; अयम् (ayam) - this; मुहूर्तम् (muhūrtam) - for a moment; अपि (api) - even; रोचते (rocate) - is pleasing; अहो (aho) - alas; धिक् (dhik) - fie; गृध्रवाक्येन (gṛdhravākyena) - by the words of the vulture; संनिवर्तथ (saṃnivartatha) - you (all) turn back; मानुषाः (mānuṣāḥ) - humans;]

(Not to me the world of humans this even for a moment is pleasing. Alas, fie! By the words of the vulture you (all) turn back, humans.)

This world of humans is not pleasing to me, not even for a moment. Alas! Fie! O humans, you turn back just because of the words of the vulture.

प्रदीप्ताः पुत्रशोकेन यथैवाबुद्धयस्तथा। कथं गच्छथ सस्नेहाः सुतस्नेहं विसृज्य च ॥ श्रुत्वा गृध्रस्य वचनं पापस्येहाकृतात्मनः ॥१२-१४९-८३॥

pradīptāḥ putraśokena yathaivābuddhayas tathā। kathaṃ gacchatha sasnehāḥ sutasnehaṃ visṛjya ca ॥ śrutvā gṛdhrasya vacanaṃ pāpasyehākṛtātmanaḥ ॥12-149-83॥

[प्रदीप्ताः (pradīptāḥ) - inflamed; पुत्रशोकेन (putraśokena) - by grief for the son; यथा (yathā) - just as; एव (eva) - indeed; अबुद्धयः (abuddhayaḥ) - unwise; तथा (tathā) - so; कथं (kathaṃ) - how; गच्छथ (gacchatha) - do you go; सस्नेहाः (sasnehāḥ) - with affection; सुतस्नेहं (sutasnehaṃ) - affection for the son; विसृज्य (visṛjya) - abandoning; च (ca) - and; श्रुत्वा (śrutvā) - having heard; गृध्रस्य (gṛdhrasya) - of the vulture; वचनं (vacanam) - words; पापस्य (pāpasya) - of the wicked; इह (iha) - here; अकृतात्मनः (akṛtātmanaḥ) - of the undisciplined self;]

(Inflamed by grief for the son, just as indeed the unwise, so (are you). How do you go with affection, abandoning affection for the son and (all)? Having heard the words of the vulture, of the wicked one here, of the undisciplined self.)

Just as the unwise are inflamed by grief for their son, so are you. How can you go on with affection, having abandoned your love for your son? Having heard the words of the vulture, who is wicked and undisciplined here.

सुखस्यानन्तरं दुःखं दुःखस्यानन्तरं सुखम्। सुखदुःखान्विते लोके नेहास्त्येकमनन्तकम् ॥१२-१४९-८४॥

sukhasyānantaraṃ duḥkhaṃ duḥkhasyānantaraṃ sukham। sukhaduḥkhānvite loke nehāstyekamanantakam ॥12-149-84॥

[सुखस्य (sukhasya) - of happiness; अनन्तरं (anantaram) - after; following; दुःखं (duḥkham) - sorrow; suffering; दुःखस्य (duḥkhasya) - of sorrow; अनन्तरं (anantaram) - after; following; सुखम् (sukham) - happiness; सुखदुःखान्विते (sukhaduḥkhānvite) - endowed with happiness and sorrow; लोके (loke) - in the world; न (na) - not; इह (iha) - here; अस्ति (asti) - there is; एकम् (ekam) - one; अनन्तकम् (anantakam) - endless; eternal;]

(After happiness, sorrow (comes); after sorrow, happiness (comes). In the world endowed with happiness and sorrow, here there is not one (thing) endless.)

Happiness is always followed by sorrow, and sorrow by happiness. In this world of alternating happiness and sorrow, nothing here is endless or eternal.

इमं क्षितितले न्यस्य बालं रूपसमन्वितम्। कुलशोकाकरं मूढाः पुत्रं त्यक्त्वा क्व यास्यथ ॥१२-१४९-८५॥

imaṃ kṣititale nyasya bālaṃ rūpasamanvitam। kulaśokākaraṃ mūḍhāḥ putraṃ tyaktvā kva yāsyatha ॥12-149-85॥

[इमं (imaṃ) - this (accusative singular masculine); क्षितितले (kṣititale) - on the surface of the earth; न्यस्य (nyasya) - having placed; बालं (bālam) - child; रूपसमन्वितम् (rūpasamanvitam) - endowed with beauty; कुलशोकाकरं (kulaśokākaram) - causing grief to the family; मूढाः (mūḍhāḥ) - deluded ones; पुत्रं (putram) - son; त्यक्त्वा (tyaktvā) - having abandoned; क्व (kva) - where; यास्यथ (yāsyatha) - will you go;]

(Having placed this child endowed with beauty on the surface of the earth, having abandoned the son who causes grief to the family, where will you deluded ones go?)

Having left this beautiful child, the cause of your family's sorrow, on the ground, where will you go, you deluded ones?

रूपयौवनसम्पन्नं द्योतमानमिव श्रिया। जीवन्तमेनं पश्यामि मनसा नात्र संशयः ॥१२-१४९-८६॥

rūpayauvanasampannaṃ dyotamānamiva śriyā। jīvantamenaṃ paśyāmi manasā nātra saṃśayaḥ ॥12-149-86॥

[रूप (rūpa) - form; यौवन (yauvana) - youth; सम्पन्नं (sampannaṃ) - endowed with; द्योतमानम् (dyotamānam) - shining; इव (iva) - like; श्रिया (śriyā) - with splendor; जीवन्तम् (jīvantam) - living; एनम् (enam) - this (one); पश्यामि (paśyāmi) - I see; मनसा (manasā) - with (my) mind; न (na) - not; अत्र (atra) - here; संशयः (saṃśayaḥ) - doubt;]

(Endowed with form and youth, shining like with splendor, I see this living (one) with (my) mind; here there is no doubt.)

I see this living person, endowed with beauty and youth, shining with splendor, with my mind; there is no doubt about it here.

विनाशश्चाप्यनर्होऽस्य सुखं प्राप्स्यथ मानुषाः। पुत्रशोकाग्निदग्धानां मृतमप्यद्य वः क्षमम् ॥१२-१४९-८७॥

vināśaś cāpy anarho'sya sukhaṃ prāpsyatha mānuṣāḥ। putraśokāgnidagdhānāṃ mṛtam apy adya vaḥ kṣamam॥12-149-87॥

[विनाशः (vināśaḥ) - destruction; च (ca) - and; अपि (api) - also; अनर्हः (anarhaḥ) - unworthy; अस्य (asya) - of this; सुखम् (sukham) - happiness; प्राप्स्यथ (prāpsyatha) - you will obtain; मानुषाः (mānuṣāḥ) - O humans; पुत्रशोक (putraśoka) - grief for son; अग्नि (agni) - fire; दग्धानाम् (dagdhānām) - of those burned; मृतम् (mṛtam) - dead; अपि (api) - even; अद्य (adya) - today; वः (vaḥ) - for you; क्षमम् (kṣamam) - endurable;]

(Destruction and also unworthy of this happiness you will obtain, O humans. Of those burned by the fire of grief for sons, even the dead today is endurable for you.)

Destruction and also unworthiness of this happiness will be yours, O humans. For those burned by the fire of grief for sons, even death today is endurable for you.

दुःखसम्भावनां कृत्वा धारयित्वा स्वयं सुखम्। त्यक्त्वा गमिष्यथ क्वाद्य समुत्सृज्याल्पबुद्धिवत् ॥१२-१४९-८८॥

duḥkhasambhāvanāṃ kṛtvā dhārayitvā svayaṃ sukham। tyaktvā gamiṣyatha kvādya samutsṛjyālpabuddhivat ॥12-149-88॥

[दुःख (duḥkha) - suffering; सम्भावनां (sambhāvanām) - possibility; of occurrence; कृत्वा (kṛtvā) - having done; धारयित्वा (dhārayitvā) - having borne; स्वयम् (svayam) - oneself; सुखम् (sukham) - happiness; त्यक्त्वा (tyaktvā) - having abandoned; गमिष्यथ (gamiṣyatha) - you will go; कु (ku) - where; अद्य (adya) - today; समुत्सृज्य (samutsṛjya) - having completely abandoned; अल्पबुद्धिवत् (alpabuddhivat) - like one of little intelligence;]

(Having considered the possibility of suffering, having borne happiness oneself, having abandoned (it), where will you go today, having completely abandoned (it) like one of little intelligence?)

Having thought of the possibility of suffering and having experienced happiness yourself, if you abandon it, where will you go today, having completely cast it off like a person of little understanding?

भीष्म उवाच॥

bhīṣma uvāca॥

[भीष्म (bhīṣma) - Bhīṣma; (name of the speaker); उवाच (uvāca) - said; (he spoke);]

(Bhīṣma said;)

Bhīṣma said.

तथा धर्मविरोधेन प्रियमिथ्याभिध्यायिना। श्मशानवासिना नित्यं रात्रिं मृगयता तदा ॥१२-१४९-८९॥

tathā dharmavirodhena priyamithyābhidhyāyinā। śmaśānavāsinā nityaṃ rātriṃ mṛgayatā tadā ॥12-149-89॥

[तथा (tathā) - thus; धर्मविरोधेन (dharmavirodhena) - by opposition to dharma; प्रियमिथ्याभिध्यायिना (priyamithyābhidhyāyinā) - by one who covets untruthfully; श्मशानवासिना (śmaśānavāsinā) - by one dwelling in the cremation ground; नित्यं (nityaṃ) - always; रात्रिं (rātriṃ) - night; मृगयता (mṛgayatā) - by one who hunts; तदा (tadā) - then;]

(Thus, by opposition to dharma, by one who covets untruthfully, by one dwelling in the cremation ground, always, at night, by one who hunts, then.)

Thus, at that time, by one who always hunts at night, who dwells in the cremation ground, and covets untruthfully in opposition to dharma.

ततो मध्यस्थतां नीता वचनैरमृतोपमैः। जम्बुकेन स्वकार्यार्थं बान्धवास्तस्य धिष्ठिताः ॥१२-१४९-९०॥

tato madhyasthatāṃ nītā vacanair amṛtopamaiḥ। jambukena svakāryārthaṃ bāndhavās tasya dhiṣṭhitāḥ ॥12-149-90॥

[ततः (tataḥ) - then; मध्यस्थताम् (madhyasthatām) - neutrality; नीता (nītā) - led; वचनैः (vacanaiḥ) - by words; अमृतोपमैः (amṛtopamaiḥ) - like nectar; जम्बुकेन (jambukena) - by the jackal; स्वकार्यार्थम् (svakāryārtham) - for his own purpose; बान्धवाः (bāndhavāḥ) - relatives; तस्य (tasya) - his; धिष्ठिताः (dhiṣṭhitāḥ) - were established;]

(Then, to neutrality were led by words like nectar, by the jackal, for his own purpose, his relatives were established.)

Then, the jackal, using words as sweet as nectar, led his relatives to a state of neutrality for his own purpose.

गृध्र उवाच॥

gṛdhra uvāca॥

[गृध्र (gṛdhra) - vulture; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]

(The vulture said.)

The vulture spoke.

अयं प्रेतसमाकीर्णो यक्षराक्षससेवितः। दारुणः काननोद्देशः कौशिकैरभिनादितः ॥१२-१४९-९१॥

ayaṃ pretasamākīrṇo yakṣarākṣasasevitaḥ। dāruṇaḥ kānanoddeśaḥ kauśikairabhināditaḥ ॥12-149-91॥

[अयम् (ayam) - this; प्रेत (preta) - departed spirit; समाकीर्णः (samākīrṇaḥ) - filled; यक्ष (yakṣa) - yakṣa; राक्षस (rākṣasa) - rākṣasa; सेवितः (sevitaḥ) - frequented; दारुणः (dāruṇaḥ) - terrible; कानन (kānana) - forest; उद्देशः (uddeśaḥ) - region; कौशिकैः (kauśikaiḥ) - by Kauśikas; अभिनादितः (abhināditaḥ) - resounded;]

(This region of the forest, filled with departed spirits, frequented by yakṣas and rākṣasas, terrible, resounded by Kauśikas.)

This is a terrible region of the forest, filled with ghosts and frequented by yakṣas and rākṣasas, echoing with the cries of the Kauśikas.

भीमः सुघोरश्च तथा नीलमेघसमप्रभः। अस्मिञ्शवं परित्यज्य प्रेतकार्याण्युपासत ॥१२-१४९-९२॥

bhīmaḥ sughoraś ca tathā nīlameghasamaprabhaḥ। asmiñ śavaṃ parityajya pretakāryāṇy upāsata ॥12-149-92॥

[भीमः (bhīmaḥ) - terrible; सुघोरः (sughoraḥ) - very fierce; च (ca) - and; तथा (tathā) - also; नीलमेघसमप्रभः (nīlameghasamaprabhaḥ) - having the radiance like a dark cloud; अस्मिन् (asmin) - in this; शवम् (śavam) - corpse; परित्यज्य (parityajya) - having abandoned; प्रेतकार्याणि (pretakāryāṇi) - funeral rites; उपासत (upāsata) - performed;]

(Bhīma, very fierce and also having the radiance like a dark cloud, having abandoned the corpse here, performed the funeral rites.)

Bhīma, who was very fierce and had a radiance like a dark cloud, left the corpse here and performed the funeral rites.

भानुर्यावन्न यात्यस्तं यावच्च विमला दिशः। तावदेनं परित्यज्य प्रेतकार्याण्युपासत ॥१२-१४९-९३॥

bhānuryāvanna yātyastaṃ yāvacca vimalā diśaḥ। tāvadenaṃ parityajya pretakāryāṇyupāsata ॥12-149-93॥

[भानुः (bhānuḥ) - the sun; यावत् (yāvat) - as long as; न (na) - not; याति (yāti) - goes; अस्तं (astaṃ) - to setting; यावत् (yāvat) - as long as; च (ca) - and; विमला (vimalā) - clear; दिशः (diśaḥ) - directions; तावत् (tāvat) - so long; एनम् (enam) - him; परित्यज्य (parityajya) - having abandoned; प्रेतकार्याणि (pretakāryāṇi) - funeral rites; उपासत (upāsata) - perform;]

(The sun, as long as it does not go to setting and as long as the directions are clear, so long, having abandoned him, perform the funeral rites.)

As long as the sun has not set and the directions remain clear, abandon him and perform the funeral rites.

नदन्ति परुषं श्येनाः शिवाः क्रोशन्ति दारुणाः। मृगेन्द्राः प्रतिनन्दन्ति रविरस्तं च गच्छति ॥१२-१४९-९४॥

nadanti paruṣaṃ śyenāḥ śivāḥ krośanti dāruṇāḥ। mṛgendrāḥ pratinandanti ravir astaṃ ca gacchati॥12-149-94॥

[नदन्ति (nadanti) - roar; (they) make noise; परुषं (paruṣam) - harshly; fiercely; श्येनाः (śyenāḥ) - hawks; शिवाः (śivāḥ) - auspicious ones; gentle beings; क्रोशन्ति (krośanti) - cry out; (they) scream; दारुणाः (dāruṇāḥ) - cruel; fierce ones; मृगेन्द्राः (mṛgendrāḥ) - lions; kings of beasts; प्रतिनन्दन्ति (pratinandanti) - respond; (they) reply; रवि: (raviḥ) - the sun; अस्तं (astaṃ) - setting; to the setting (place); च (ca) - and; गच्छति (gacchati) - goes; (he) proceeds;]

(Hawks roar harshly; auspicious ones cry out fiercely; lions respond; and the sun goes to its setting.)

Hawks make harsh cries, gentle beings cry out in distress, lions respond, and the sun sets.

चिताधूमेन नीलेन संरज्यन्ते च पादपाः। श्मशाने च निराहाराः प्रतिनन्दन्ति देहिनः ॥१२-१४९-९५॥

citādhūmena nīlena saṁrajyante ca pādapāḥ। śmaśāne ca nirāhārāḥ pratinandanti dehinaḥ ॥12-149-95॥

[चिताधूमेन (citādhūmena) - by the smoke of the funeral pyre; नीलेन (nīlena) - by the blue (smoke); संरज्यन्ते (saṁrajyante) - are covered; च (ca) - and; पादपाः (pādapāḥ) - trees; श्मशाने (śmaśāne) - in the cremation ground; च (ca) - and; निराहाराः (nirāhārāḥ) - those without food; प्रतिनन्दन्ति (pratinandanti) - welcome; देहिनः (dehinaḥ) - the embodied (beings);]

(By the smoke of the funeral pyre, by the blue (smoke), the trees are covered; and in the cremation ground, those without food welcome the embodied beings.)

The trees are covered by the blue smoke of the funeral pyre; and in the cremation ground, the hungry spirits welcome the living.

सर्वे विक्रान्तवीर्याश्च अस्मिन्देशे सुदारुणाः। युष्मान्प्रधर्षयिष्यन्ति विकृता मांसभोजनाः ॥१२-१४९-९६॥

sarve vikrāntavīryāś ca asmin deśe sudāruṇāḥ। yuṣmān pradharṣayiṣyanti vikṛtā māṃsabhokjanāḥ॥12-149-96॥

[सर्वे (sarve) - all; विक्रान्तवीर्याः (vikrāntavīryāḥ) - of powerful strength; च (ca) - and; अस्मिन् (asmin) - in this; देशे (deśe) - land; सुदारुणाः (sudāruṇāḥ) - very fierce; युष्मान् (yuṣmān) - you (plural); प्रधर्षयिष्यन्ति (pradharṣayiṣyanti) - will oppress; विकृता (vikṛtāḥ) - deformed; मांसभोजनाः (māṃsabhokjanāḥ) - meat-eaters;]

(All of powerful strength and very fierce in this land, deformed meat-eaters will oppress you.)

All those of powerful strength and very fierce nature in this land, the deformed meat-eaters, will oppress you.

दूराच्चायं वनोद्देशो भयमत्र भविष्यति। त्यज्यतां काष्ठभूतोऽयं मृष्यतां जाम्बुकं वचः ॥१२-१४९-९७॥

dūrāc cāyaṃ vanoddeśo bhayam atra bhaviṣyati। tyajyatāṃ kāṣṭhabhūto'yaṃ mṛśyatāṃ jāmbukaṃ vacaḥ ॥12-149-97॥

[दूरात् (dūrāt) - from a distance; च (ca) - and; अयम् (ayam) - this; वन-उद्देशः (vana-uddeśaḥ) - forest-region; भयम् (bhayam) - danger; अत्र (atra) - here; भविष्यति (bhaviṣyati) - will be; त्यज्यताम् (tyajyatām) - let it be abandoned; काष्ठ-भूतः (kāṣṭha-bhūtaḥ) - turned into wood; अयम् (ayam) - this; मृष्यताम् (mṛśyatām) - let it be examined; जाम्बुकम् (jāmbukam) - jackal; वचः (vacaḥ) - speech;]

(From a distance and this forest-region danger here will be. Let it be abandoned, turned into wood this, let it be examined, jackal speech.)

There will be danger in this forest region from a distance. Let this (object) that has become like wood be abandoned, let the jackal's words be examined.

यदि जम्बुकवाक्यानि निष्फलान्यनृतानि च। श्रोष्यथ भ्रष्टविज्ञानास्ततः सर्वे विनङ्क्ष्यथ ॥१२-१४९-९८॥

yadi jambukavākyāni niṣphalānyanṛtāni ca। śroṣyatha bhraṣṭavijñānāstataḥ sarve vinaṅkṣyatha ॥12-149-98॥

[यदि (yadi) - if; जम्बुकवाक्यानि (jambukavākyāni) - jackal's words; निष्फलानि (niṣphalāni) - fruitless; अनृतानि (anṛtāni) - untrue; च (ca) - and; श्रोष्यथ (śroṣyatha) - you will hear; भ्रष्टविज्ञानाः (bhraṣṭavijñānāḥ) - deprived of discernment; ततः (tataḥ) - then; सर्वे (sarve) - all; विनङ्क्ष्यथ (vinaṅkṣyatha) - you will perish;]

(If you hear the jackal's words, which are fruitless and untrue, then, deprived of discernment, all of you will perish.)

If you listen to the jackal's words, which are fruitless and false, then, having lost discernment, all of you will perish.

जम्बुक उवाच॥

jambuka uvāca॥

[जम्बुक (jambuka) - jackal; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]

(jackal said)

The jackal said.

स्थीयतां नेह भेतव्यं यावत्तपति भास्करः। तावदस्मिन्सुतस्नेहादनिर्वेदेन वर्तत ॥१२-१४९-९९॥

sthīyatāṃ neha bhetavyaṃ yāvattapati bhāskaraḥ। tāvadasmin sutasnehādanirvedena vartata ॥12-149-99॥

[स्थीयताम् (sthīyatām) - let (one) remain; (sthā, imperative, 3rd person singular; न (na) - not; इह (iha) - here; भेतव्यम् (bhetavyam) - should be feared; (from bhī, gerundive; यावत् (yāvat) - as long as; तपति (tapati) - shines; (from tap, 3rd person singular present; भास्करः (bhāskaraḥ) - the sun; तावत् (tāvat) - so long; अस्मिन् (asmin) - in this; सुतस्नेहात् (sutasnehāt) - from affection for the son; अनिर्वेदेन (anirvedena) - with perseverance; (anirveda, absence of despair; वर्तत (vartata) - conduct yourself; (vart, imperative, 2nd person plural;]

(Let (one) remain here, not be afraid, as long as the sun shines. So long, in this (situation), from affection for the son, with perseverance, conduct yourself.)

Remain here without fear as long as the sun shines. In this situation, out of affection for your son, persevere and carry on.

स्वैरं रुदत विस्रब्धाः स्वैरं स्नेहेन पश्यत। स्थीयतां यावदादित्यः किं वः क्रव्यादभाषितैः ॥१२-१४९-१००॥

svairaṃ rudata visrabdhāḥ svairaṃ snehena paśyata। sthīyatāṃ yāvadādityaḥ kiṃ vaḥ kravyādabhāṣitaiḥ ॥12-149-100॥

[स्वैरम् (svairam) - freely; रुदत (rudata) - weep; विस्रब्धाः (visrabdhāḥ) - fearlessly; स्वैरम् (svairam) - freely; स्नेहेन (snehena) - with affection; पश्यत (paśyata) - look; स्थीयताम् (sthīyatām) - let (it) be endured; यावत् (yāvat) - as long as; आदित्यः (ādityaḥ) - the Sun; किम् (kim) - what; वः (vaḥ) - to you; क्रव्यादभाषितैः (kravyādabhāṣitaiḥ) - by the words of the flesh-eater;]

(Freely weep, fearlessly; freely, with affection, look. Let it be endured as long as the Sun (shines); what (concern is there) to you by the words of the flesh-eater?)

Weep freely and without fear; look with affection as you wish. Endure as long as the Sun endures; what do the words of the flesh-eater matter to you?

यदि गृध्रस्य वाक्यानि तीव्राणि रभसानि च। गृह्णीत मोहितात्मानः सुतो वो न भविष्यति ॥१२-१४९-१०१॥

yadi gṛdhrasya vākyāni tīvraṇi rabhasāni ca। gṛhṇīta mohitātmānaḥ suto vo na bhaviṣyati ॥12-149-101॥

[यदि (yadi) - if; गृध्रस्य (gṛdhrasya) - of the vulture; वाक्यानि (vākyāni) - words; तीव्राणि (tīvraṇi) - sharp; रभसानि (rabhasāni) - impetuous; च (ca) - and; गृह्णीत (gṛhṇīta) - should accept; मोहितात्मानः (mohitātmānaḥ) - deluded in mind; सुतः (sutaḥ) - son; वः (vaḥ) - your; न (na) - not; भविष्यति (bhaviṣyati) - will be; ॥१२-१४९-१०१॥ (॥12-149-101॥) -;]

(If your son, deluded in mind, should accept the sharp and impetuous words of the vulture, he will not be.)

If your son, in his delusion, accepts the harsh and forceful words of the vulture, he will not survive.

भीष्म उवाच॥

bhīṣma uvāca॥

[भीष्म (bhīṣma) - Bhīṣma; (name of a person); उवाच (uvāca) - said; (from the root 'vac' - to speak);]

(Bhīṣma said;)

Bhīṣma said.

गृध्रोऽनस्तमिते त्वाह गतेऽस्तमिति जम्बुकः। मृतस्य तं परिजनमूचतुस्तौ क्षुधान्वितौ ॥१२-१४९-१०२॥

gṛdhro'nastamite tvāha gate'stamiti jambukaḥ। mṛtasya taṃ parijanamūcatustau kṣudhānvitaū ॥12-149-102॥

[गृध्रः (gṛdhraḥ) - vulture; अनस्तमिते (anastamite) - when not set (sun not set); त्वा (tvā) - to you; आह (āha) - said; गते (gate) - when gone; अस्तम् (astam) - to setting (sunset); इति (iti) - thus; जम्बुकः (jambukaḥ) - jackal; मृतस्य (mṛtasya) - of the dead; तम् (tam) - him; परिजनम् (parijanam) - attendant; ऊचतु (ūcatu) - the two said; तौ (tau) - those two; क्षुधा (kṣudhā) - with hunger; अन्वितौ (anvitau) - endowed;]

(The vulture said to you, 'when the sun has not set,' and the jackal (said), 'when it has set.' Those two, being hungry, said this to the attendant of the dead one.)

The vulture said to you, 'when the sun has not set,' and the jackal said, 'when it has set.' Hungry, the two addressed the attendant of the dead.

स्वकार्यदक्षिणौ राजन्गृध्रो जम्बुक एव च। क्षुत्पिपासापरिश्रान्तौ शास्त्रमालम्ब्य जल्पतः ॥१२-१४९-१०३॥

svakāryadakṣiṇau rājan gṛdhro jambuka eva ca। kṣutpipāsāpariśrāntau śāstramālambya jalpataḥ ॥12-149-103॥

[स्वकार्यदक्षिणौ (svakāryadakṣiṇau) - engaged in their own work; skilled; (dual); राजन् (rājan) - O king; गृध्रः (gṛdhraḥ) - vulture; जम्बुकः (jambukaḥ) - jackal; एव (eva) - indeed; च (ca) - and; क्षुत्पिपासापरिश्रान्तौ (kṣutpipāsāpariśrāntau) - exhausted by hunger and thirst; (dual); शास्त्रम् (śāstram) - treatise; scripture; आलम्ब्य (ālambya) - having resorted to; जल्पतः (jalpataḥ) - talking; (dual);]

(Engaged in their own work, O king, the vulture and the jackal, indeed, both, exhausted by hunger and thirst, having resorted to the treatise, are talking.)

O king, the vulture and the jackal, both skilled in their own affairs, exhausted by hunger and thirst, are conversing, having resorted to the treatise.

तयोर्विज्ञानविदुषोर्द्वयोर्जम्बुकपत्रिणोः। वाक्यैरमृतकल्पैर्हि प्रातिष्ठन्त व्रजन्ति च ॥१२-१४९-१०४॥

tayor vijñānaviduṣor dvayor jambukapatriṇoḥ। vākyair amṛtakalpaiḥ hi prātiṣṭhanta vrajanti ca ॥12-149-104॥

[तयोः (tayor) - of those two; विज्ञानविदुषोः (vijñānaviduṣoḥ) - of the two who are wise in knowledge; द्वयोः (dvayoḥ) - of the two; जम्बुकपत्रिणोः (jambukapatriṇoḥ) - of the two with jackal-leaves; वाक्यैः (vākyaiḥ) - by sentences; अमृतकल्पैः (amṛtakalpaiḥ) - like nectar; हि (hi) - indeed; प्रातिष्ठन्त (prātiṣṭhanta) - set forth; व्रजन्ति (vrajanti) - go; च (ca) - and;]

(Of those two, of the two who are wise in knowledge, of the two with jackal-leaves, indeed, by sentences like nectar, they set forth and go.)

Of those two who are wise in knowledge and possess jackal-leaves, they indeed set forth and go by sentences that are like nectar.

शोकदैन्यसमाविष्टा रुदन्तस्तस्थिरे तदा। स्वकार्यकुशलाभ्यां ते सम्भ्राम्यन्ते ह नैपुणात् ॥१२-१४९-१०५॥

śokadainyasamāviṣṭā rudantastasthire tadā। svakāryakuśalābhyāṃ te sambhrāmyante ha naipuṇāt॥12-149-105॥

[शोक (śoka) - sorrow; दैन्य (dainya) - misery; समाविष्टा (samāviṣṭā) - overcome; रुदन्तः (rudantaḥ) - weeping; तस्थिरे (tasthire) - stood; तदा (tadā) - then; स्व (sva) - their own; कार्य (kārya) - duty; कुशलाभ्यां (kuśalābhyām) - by the two skilled (ones); ते (te) - they; सम्भ्राम्यन्ते (sambhrāmyante) - were confused; ह (ha) - indeed; नैपुणात् (naipuṇāt) - due to skill;]

(Overcome by sorrow and misery, weeping, they stood then. By the two skilled in their own duty, they indeed were confused due to skill.)

Overcome by sorrow and misery, they stood weeping. Because of the skill of the two who were adept in their own duties, they were indeed bewildered.

तथा तयोर्विवदतोर्विज्ञानविदुषोर्द्वयोः। बान्धवानां स्थितानां च उपातिष्ठत शङ्करः ॥१२-१४९-१०६॥

tathā tayor vivadator vijñānaviduṣor dvayoḥ। bāndhavānāṃ sthitānāṃ ca upātiṣṭhata śaṅkaraḥ ॥12-149-106॥

[तथा (tathā) - thus; तयोः (tayor) - of those two; विवदतोः (vivadatoḥ) - while disputing; विज्ञानविदुषोः (vijñānaviduṣoḥ) - of the two wise in knowledge; द्वयोः (dvayoḥ) - of the two; बान्धवानाम् (bāndhavānām) - of the relatives; स्थितानाम् (sthitānām) - standing; च (ca) - and; उपातिष्ठत (upātiṣṭhata) - approached; शङ्करः (śaṅkaraḥ) - Śaṅkara;]

(Thus, of those two disputing, of the two wise in knowledge, of the two, of the relatives standing and, Śaṅkara approached.)

Thus, while those two wise men were disputing, and their relatives were standing by, Śaṅkara approached them.

ततस्तानाह मनुजान्वरदोऽस्मीति शूलभृत्। ते प्रत्यूचुरिदं वाक्यं दुःखिताः प्रणताः स्थिताः ॥१२-१४९-१०७॥

tatastānāha manujān varado'smīti śūlabhṛt। te pratyūcur idaṃ vākyaṃ duḥkhitāḥ praṇatāḥ sthitāḥ ॥12-149-107॥

[ततः (tataḥ) - then; तान् (tān) - them; आह (āha) - said; मनुजान् (manujān) - humans; वरदः (varadaḥ) - bestower of boons; अस्मि (asmi) - I am; इति (iti) - thus; शूलभृत् (śūlabhṛt) - the wielder of the trident; ते (te) - they; प्रत्यूचुः (pratyūcuḥ) - replied; इदं (idaṃ) - this; वाक्यम् (vākyam) - speech; दुःखिताः (duḥkhitāḥ) - distressed; प्रणताः (praṇatāḥ) - bowed; स्थिताः (sthitāḥ) - standing;]

(Then the wielder of the trident, the bestower of boons, said to those humans, "I am the giver of boons." They, distressed, bowed, standing, replied this speech.)

Then Śiva, the wielder of the trident and bestower of boons, said to the humans, "I am the giver of boons." The distressed and bowed people, standing before him, replied with these words.

एकपुत्रविहीनानां सर्वेषां जीवितार्थिनाम्। पुत्रस्य नो जीवदानाज्जीवितं दातुमर्हसि ॥१२-१४९-१०८॥

ekaputravihīnānāṃ sarveṣāṃ jīvitārthinām। putrasya no jīvadānājjīvitaṃ dātumarhasi ॥12-149-108॥

[एकपुत्रविहीनानाम् (ekaputravihīnānām) - of those deprived of an only son; सर्वेषाम् (sarveṣām) - of all; जीवितार्थिनाम् (jīvitārthinām) - of those desiring life; पुत्रस्य (putrasya) - of the son; नः (naḥ) - our; जीवदानात् (jīvadānāt) - from the gift of life; जीवितम् (jīvitam) - life; दातुम् (dātum) - to give; अर्हसि (arhasi) - you ought; ॥१२-१४९-१०८॥ (॥12-149-108॥) - ॥12-149-108॥;]

(Of those deprived of an only son, of all, of those desiring life, of the son, our, from the gift of life, life, to give, you ought.)

You ought to grant life to our son, for the sake of all those deprived of an only son and desiring life.

एवमुक्तः स भगवान्वारिपूर्णेन पाणिना। जीवं तस्मै कुमाराय प्रादाद्वर्षशताय वै ॥१२-१४९-१०९॥

evam-uktaḥ sa bhagavān vāri-pūrṇena pāṇinā। jīvaṃ tasmai kumārāya prādād varṣa-śatāya vai ॥12-149-109॥

[एवम् (evam) - thus; उक्तः (uktaḥ) - having been spoken; स (sa) - he; भगवान् (bhagavān) - the venerable one; वारि (vāri) - water; पूर्णेन (pūrṇena) - filled; पाणिना (pāṇinā) - with (his) hand; जीवम् (jīvam) - life; तस्मै (tasmai) - to him; कुमाराय (kumārāya) - to the boy; प्रादात् (prādāt) - gave; वर्ष (varṣa) - year; शताय (śatāya) - for a hundred; वै (vai) - indeed;]

(Thus having been spoken, he, the venerable one, with his hand filled with water, gave life to that boy for a hundred years indeed.)

Thus addressed, the venerable one took water in his hand and granted life to the boy for a hundred years.

तथा गोमायुगृध्राभ्यामददत्क्षुद्विनाशनम्। वरं पिनाकी भगवान्सर्वभूतहिते रतः ॥१२-१४९-११०॥

tathā gomāyugṛdhrābhyāmadadatkṣudvināśanam। varaṃ pinākī bhagavānsarvabhūtahite rataḥ ॥12-149-110॥

[तथा (tathā) - thus; गोमायु (gomāyu) - jackal; गृध्राभ्याम् (gṛdhrābhyām) - to the two vultures; अददत् (adadat) - gave; क्षुद् (kṣud) - hunger; विनाशनम् (vināśanam) - destroyer; वरम् (varam) - boon; पिनाकी (pinākī) - Pinākī (Śiva, the wielder of the bow Pināka); भगवान् (bhagavān) - the Lord; सर्वभूतहिते (sarvabhūtahite) - for the welfare of all beings; रतः (rataḥ) - engaged;]

(Thus, to the jackal and the two vultures, (he) gave the destroyer of hunger. The Lord Pinākī, engaged in the welfare of all beings, (gave) a boon.)

Thus, the Lord Pinākī (Śiva), ever engaged in the welfare of all beings, granted a boon to the jackal and the two vultures, giving them that which destroys hunger.

ततः प्रणम्य तं देवं श्रेयोहर्षसमन्विताः। कृतकृत्याः सुखं हृष्टाः प्रातिष्ठन्त तदा विभो ॥१२-१४९-१११॥

tataḥ praṇamya taṃ devaṃ śreyoharṣasamanvitāḥ। kṛtakṛtyāḥ sukhaṃ hṛṣṭāḥ prātiṣṭhanta tadā vibho ॥12-149-111॥

[ततः (tataḥ) - then; प्रणम्य (praṇamya) - having bowed; तं (taṃ) - to him; देवम् (devam) - the divine one; श्रेयः (śreyaḥ) - excellence; हर्ष (harṣa) - joy; समन्विताः (samanvitāḥ) - endowed with; कृतकृत्याः (kṛtakṛtyāḥ) - having accomplished their purpose; सुखम् (sukham) - happily; हृष्टाः (hṛṣṭāḥ) - gladdened; प्रातिष्ठन्त (prātiṣṭhanta) - departed; तदा (tadā) - then; विभो (vibho) - O lord;]

(Then, having bowed to him, the divine one, endowed with excellence and joy, having accomplished their purpose, happily, gladdened, they departed then, O lord.)

Then, having paid obeisance to the divine one, filled with joy and excellence, having accomplished their purpose, they happily and joyfully departed at that time, O lord.

अनिर्वेदेन दीर्घेण निश्चयेन ध्रुवेण च। देवदेवप्रसादाच्च क्षिप्रं फलमवाप्यते ॥१२-१४९-११२॥

anirvedena dīrghena niścayena dhruveṇa ca। devadevaprasādācca kṣipraṃ phalam avāpyate ॥12-149-112॥

[अनिर्वेदेन (anirvedena) - by non-despair; दीर्घेण (dīrghena) - by perseverance; निश्चयेन (niścayena) - by determination; ध्रुवेण (dhruveṇa) - by steadfastness; च (ca) - and; देवदेवप्रसादात् (devadevaprasādāt) - by the grace of the Lord of lords; च (ca) - and; क्षिप्रं (kṣipram) - quickly; फलम् (phalam) - the result; अवाप्यते (avāpyate) - is obtained;]

(By non-despair, by perseverance, by determination, by steadfastness, and by the grace of the Lord of lords, the result is quickly obtained.)

With non-despair, perseverance, determination, steadfastness, and by the grace of the Lord of lords, the result is quickly attained.

पश्य देवस्य संयोगं बान्धवानां च निश्चयम्। कृपणानां हि रुदतां कृतमश्रुप्रमार्जनम् ॥१२-१४९-११३॥

paśya devasya saṃyogaṃ bāndhavānāṃ ca niścayam। kṛpaṇānāṃ hi rudatāṃ kṛtam aśru-pramārjanam ॥12-149-113॥

[पश्य (paśya) - see; देवस्य (devasya) - of the divine; संयोगं (saṃyogam) - union; बान्धवानां (bāndhavānām) - of relatives; च (ca) - and; निश्चयम् (niścayam) - certainty; कृपणानां (kṛpaṇānām) - of the miserable; हि (hi) - indeed; रुदतां (rudatām) - of those who are weeping; कृतम् (kṛtam) - done; अश्रुप्रमार्जनम् (aśru-pramārjanam) - wiping of tears;]

(See the union of the divine and the certainty of relatives; indeed, for the miserable who are weeping, the wiping of tears has been done.)

Behold the divine arrangement and the certainty among relatives; for the miserable who are weeping, indeed, the wiping of tears has been accomplished.

पश्य चाल्पेन कालेन निश्चयान्वेषणेन च। प्रसादं शङ्करात्प्राप्य दुःखिताः सुखमाप्नुवन् ॥१२-१४९-११४॥

paśya cālpena kālena niścayānveṣaṇena ca। prasādaṃ śaṅkarāt prāpya duḥkhitāḥ sukham āpnuvan ॥12-149-114॥

[पश्य (paśya) - see; च (ca) - and; अल्पेन (alpena) - by little; कालेन (kālena) - by time; निश्चय-अन्वेषणेन (niścaya-anveṣaṇena) - by certainty-searching; च (ca) - and; प्रसादं (prasādam) - grace; शङ्करात् (śaṅkarāt) - from Śaṅkara; प्राप्य (prāpya) - having obtained; दुःखिताः (duḥkhitāḥ) - the afflicted; सुखम् (sukham) - happiness; आप्नुवन् (āpnuvan) - attain;]

(See, in a short time and by searching with certainty, and having obtained grace from Śaṅkara, the afflicted attain happiness.)

See, in a short time and by searching with certainty, those who are afflicted, having obtained the grace of Śaṅkara, attain happiness.

ते विस्मिताः प्रहृष्टाश्च पुत्रसञ्जीवनात्पुनः। बभूवुर्भरतश्रेष्ठ प्रसादाच्छङ्करस्य वै ॥१२-१४९-११५॥

te vismitāḥ prahṛṣṭāś ca putrasañjīvanāt punaḥ। babhūvur bharataśreṣṭha prasādāc chaṅkarasya vai ॥12-149-115॥

[ते (te) - they; विस्मिताः (vismitāḥ) - astonished; प्रहृष्टाः (prahṛṣṭāḥ) - delighted; च (ca) - and; पुत्रसञ्जीवनात् (putrasañjīvanāt) - from the revival of the son; पुनः (punaḥ) - again; बभूवुः (babhūvuḥ) - became; भरतश्रेष्ठ (bharataśreṣṭha) - O best of the Bharatas; प्रसादात् (prasādāt) - by the grace; शङ्करस्य (śaṅkarasya) - of Śaṅkara; वै (vai) - indeed;]

(They, astonished and delighted, again (due to) the revival of the son, became (so), O best of the Bharatas, by the grace of Śaṅkara indeed.)

O best of the Bharatas, by the grace of Śaṅkara, they became astonished and delighted again at the revival of their son.

ततस्ते त्वरिता राजञ्श्रुत्वा शोकमघोद्भवम्। विविशुः पुत्रमादाय नगरं हृष्टमानसाः ॥ एषा बुद्धिः समस्तानां चातुर्वर्ण्ये निदर्शिता ॥१२-१४९-११६॥

tataste tvaritā rājañśrutvā śokamaghodbhavam। viviśuḥ putramādāya nagaraṃ hṛṣṭamānasāḥ ॥ eṣā buddhiḥ samastānāṃ cāturvarṇye nidarśitā ॥12-149-116॥

[ततः (tataḥ) - then; ते (te) - they; त्वरिता (tvaritāḥ) - swift; राजन् (rājan) - O king; श्रुत्वा (śrutvā) - having heard; शोकमघोद्भवम् (śokam-aghodbhavam) - sorrow arisen from sin; विविशुः (viviśuḥ) - entered; पुत्रम् (putram) - son; आदाय (ādāya) - having taken; नगरम् (nagaram) - city; हृष्टमानसाः (hṛṣṭamānasāḥ) - with delighted minds; एषा (eṣā) - this; बुद्धिः (buddhiḥ) - intellect; समस्तानाम् (samastānām) - of all; चातुर्वर्ण्ये (cāturvarṇye) - in the fourfold order; निदर्शिता (nidarśitā) - has been shown;]

(Then they, swift, O king, having heard the sorrow arisen from sin, entered the city having taken their son, with delighted minds. This intellect of all has been shown in the fourfold order.)

Then, O king, they quickly, having heard of the sorrow born of sin, entered the city with their son, their minds delighted. This wisdom has been demonstrated for all in the fourfold order.

धर्मार्थमोक्षसंयुक्तमितिहासमिमं शुभम्। श्रुत्वा मनुष्यः सततमिह प्रेत्य च मोदते ॥१२-१४९-११७॥

dharmārthamokṣasaṃyuktamitihāsamimaṃ śubham। śrutvā manuṣyaḥ satatamiha pretya ca modate ॥12-149-117॥

[धर्म (dharma) - righteousness; अर्थ (artha) - wealth; मोक्ष (mokṣa) - liberation; संयुक्तम् (saṃyuktam) - joined with; इतिहासम् (itihāsam) - history; इमम् (imam) - this; शुभम् (śubham) - auspicious; श्रुत्वा (śrutvā) - having heard; मनुष्यः (manuṣyaḥ) - a person; सततम् (satatam) - always; इह (iha) - here; प्रेत्य (pretya) - after death; च (ca) - and; मोदते (modate) - rejoices;]

(This auspicious history joined with righteousness, wealth, and liberation—having heard this, a person always rejoices here and after death.)

Upon hearing this auspicious history, which is associated with righteousness, wealth, and liberation, a person is always delighted both in this world and after death.