12.149
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said:
śṛṇu pārtha yathāvṛttam itihāsaṃ purātanam। gṛdhra-jambuka-saṃvādaṃ yo vṛtto vaidiśe purā ॥12-149-1॥
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.
duḥkhitāḥ kecid ādāya bālam aprāptayauvanam। kulasarvasvabhūtaṃ vai rudantaḥ śokavihvalāḥ ॥12-149-2॥
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.
bālaṃ mṛtaṃ gṛhītvātha śmaśānābhimukhāḥ sthitāḥ। aṅkenāṅkaṃ ca saṅkramya rurudurbhūtale tadā ॥12-149-3॥
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.
teṣāṃ ruditashabdena gṛdhro'bhyetya vaco'bravīt. ekātmakamimaṃ loke tyaktvā gacchata māciram ॥12-149-4॥
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."
iha puṁsāṁ sahasrāṇi strīsahasrāṇi caiva hi। samānītāni kālena kiṁ te vai jātvabāndhavāḥ ॥12-149-5॥
Here, thousands of men and thousands of women are brought together by time; are they ever truly not related?
sampaśyata jagatsarvaṃ sukhaduḥkhairadhiṣṭhitam। saṃyogo viprayogaśca paryāyeṇopalabhyate ॥12-149-6॥
Behold, the entire world is established in pleasure and pain. Union and separation are experienced alternately.
gṛhītvā ye ca gacchanti ye'nu-yānti ca tān mṛtān। te'pi āyuṣaḥ pramāṇena svena gacchanti jantavaḥ॥12-149-7॥
Those who carry away the dead and those who follow them, all these creatures also depart according to the measure of their own lifespan.
alaṃ sthitvā śmaśāne'smin gṛdhra-gomāyu-saṅkule. kaṅkāla-bahule ghore sarva-prāṇi-bhayaṅkare ॥12-149-8॥
Enough of staying in this cremation ground, crowded with vultures and jackals, full of bones, dreadful and terrifying to all living beings.
na punarjīvitaḥ kaścit kāladharmam upāgataḥ। priyo vā yadi vā dveṣyaḥ prāṇināṃ gatir īdṛśī ॥12-149-9॥
No one who has met the law of time (death) is revived; whether dear or hateful, this is the fate of all living beings.
sarveṇa khalu martavyaṃ martyaloke prasūyatā। kṛtāntavihite mārge ko mṛtaṃ jīvayiṣyati ॥12-149-10॥
Everyone who is born in the mortal world must die. On the path ordained by Death, who can bring the dead back to life?
karmāntavihite loke cāstaṃ gacchati bhāskare। gamyatāṃ svamadhiṣṭhānaṃ sutasnehaṃ visṛjya vai ॥12-149-11॥
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.
tato gṛdhravacaḥ śrutvā vikrośantas tadā nṛpa| bāndhavās te'bhiyagacchanta putram utsṛjya bhūtale ॥12-149-12॥
Then, O king, when the relatives heard the vulture's words, they cried out and, abandoning the son on the ground, approached.
viniścityātha ca tataḥ santyajantaḥ svamātmajam। nirāśā jīvite tasya mārgamāruhya dhiṣṭhitāḥ ॥12-149-13॥
Having made up their minds, then, abandoning their own son and hopeless about his life, they ascended his path and stood there.
dhvāṅkṣābhrasamavarṇastu bilānniḥsṛtya jambukaḥ। gacchamānān sma tānāha nirghṛṇāḥ khalu mānavāḥ ॥12-149-14॥
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."
ādityo'yaṃ sthito mūḍhāḥ snehaṃ kuruta mā bhayam। bahurūpo muhūrtaśca jīvetāpi kadācana ॥12-149-15॥
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.
yūyaṃ bhūmau vinikṣipya putrasnehavinākṛtāḥ| śmaśāne putram utsṛjya kasmād gacchatha nirghṛṇāḥ ॥12-149-16॥
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?
na vo'styasmin sute sneho bāle madhurabhāṣiṇi। yasya bhāṣitamātreṇa prasādamupagacchatha ॥12-149-17॥
O sweet-speaking girl, you do not have affection for this child; you show favor simply by someone's words.
na paśyatha sutasnehaṃ yādṛśaḥ paśupakṣiṇām। na yeṣāṃ dhārayitvā tānkaścidasti phalāgamaḥ ॥12-149-18॥
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.
catuṣpātpakṣikīṭānāṃ prāṇināṃ snehasaṅginām। paralokagatisthānāṃ muniyajñakriyā iva ॥12-149-19॥
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.
teṣāṃ putrābhirāmāṇāmiha loke paratra ca। na guṇo dṛśyate kaścitprajāḥ sandhārayanti ca ॥12-149-20॥
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.
apaśyatāṃ priyān putrān naiṣāṃ śoko'nutiṣṭhati। na ca puṣṇanti saṃvṛddhās te mātāpitarau kvacit ॥12-149-21॥
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.
mānuṣāṇāṃ kutaḥ sneho yeṣāṃ śoko bhaviṣyati। imaṃ kulakaraṃ putraṃ kathaṃ tyaktvā gamiṣyatha ॥12-149-22॥
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?
ciraṃ muñcata bāṣpaṃ ca ciraṃ snehena paśyata। evaṃvidhāni hīṣṭāni dustyajāni viśeṣataḥ ॥12-149-23॥
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.
kṣīṇasyāthābhiyuktasya śmaśānābhimukhasya ca। bāndhavā yatra tiṣṭhanti tatrānyo nāvatiṣṭhate॥12-149-24॥
When a person is exhausted, accused, or facing the cremation ground, where relatives stand, no one else remains there.
sarvasya dayitāḥ prāṇāḥ sarvaḥ snehaṃ ca vindati। tiryagyoniṣvapi satāṃ snehaṃ paśyata yādṛśam ॥12-149-25॥
Everyone holds their own life dear and finds affection. Even among animals, observe the kind of affection that exists among the virtuous.
tyaktvā kathaṁ gacchethemaṁ padmalolāyatākṣakam। yathā navodvāhakṛtaṁ snānamālyavibhūṣitam ॥12-149-26॥
How could I leave this one with lotus-quivering wide eyes, who is newly-wedded and adorned with bath and garlands?
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said.
jambukasya vacaḥ śrutvā kṛpaṇaṃ paridevataḥ। nyavartanta tadā sarve śvārthaṃ te sma mānuṣāḥ ॥12-149-27॥
When they heard the jackal's words, all the men, lamenting pitifully, turned back for the sake of the dog.
gṛdhra uvāca॥
The vulture said.
aho dhik sunṛśaṃsena jambukenālpamedhasā। kṣudreṇoktā hīnasattvā mānuṣāḥ kiṃ nivartatha ॥12-149-28॥
Alas, shame! Why do you humans of low nature turn back because of the words spoken by the cruel, petty, and foolish jackal?
pañcabhūtaparityaktaṃ śūnyaṃ kāṣṭhatvamāgatam। kasmācchochatha niśceṣṭamātmānaṃ kiṃ na śochatha ॥12-149-29॥
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?
tapaḥ kuruta vai tīvraṃ mucyadhvaṃ yena kilbiṣāt। tapasā labhyate sarvaṃ vilāpaḥ kiṃ kariṣyati ॥12-149-30॥
Perform intense austerity, for by that you will be freed from sin. Everything is attained through austerity; what will lamenting achieve?
aniṣṭāni ca bhāgyāni jānīta saha mūrtibhiḥ। yena gacchati loko'yaṃ dattvā śokamanantakam ॥12-149-31॥
One should recognize both misfortunes and fortunes along with their manifestations; for it is through these that this world proceeds, bestowing endless sorrow.
dhanaṃ gāś ca suvarṇaṃ ca maṇiratnam athāpi ca| apatyaṃ ca tapomūlaṃ tapoyogāc ca labhyate ॥12-149-32॥
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.
yathākṛtā ca bhūteṣu prāpyate sukhaduḥkhatā। gṛhītvā jāyate jantur duḥkhāni ca sukhāni ca ॥12-149-33॥
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.
na karmaṇā pituḥ putraḥ pitā vā putrakarmaṇā। mārgeṇānyena gacchanti tyaktvā sukṛtaduṣkṛte ॥12-149-34॥
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.
dharmaṃ carata yatnena tathādharmān nivartata। vartadhvaṃ ca yathākālaṃ daivateṣu dvijeṣu ca ॥12-149-35॥
Diligently practice righteousness and avoid unrighteousness. Behave appropriately at the proper time towards the deities and the twice-born (Brāhmaṇas).
śokaṃ tyajata dainyaṃ ca sutasnehān nivartata। tyajyatām ayam ākāśe tataḥ śīghraṃ nivartata ॥12-149-36॥
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.
yat karoti śubhaṃ karma tathā adharmaṃ sudāruṇam। tat kartā eva samaśnāti bāndhavānāṃ kim atra hi ॥12-149-37॥
Whatever good or bad deeds a person performs, only the doer experiences their results; what concern is there here for the relatives?
iha tyaktvā na tiṣṭhanti bāndhavā bāndhavaṃ priyam। sneham utsṛjya gacchanti bāṣpapūrṇāvilekṣaṇāḥ ॥12-149-38॥
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.
prājño vā yadi vā mūrkhaḥ sadhano nirdhano'pi vā। sarvaḥ kālavaśaṃ yāti śubhāśubhasamanvitaḥ ॥12-149-39॥
Whether one is wise or foolish, wealthy or poor, everyone, endowed with both auspicious and inauspicious qualities, goes according to the power of time.
kiṁ kariṣyatha śocitvā mṛtaṁ kim anuśocatha। sarvasya hi prabhuḥ kālo dharmataḥ samadarśanaḥ ॥12-149-40॥
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.
yauvanasthāṁś ca bālāṁś ca vṛddhān garbhagatān api। sarvān āviśate mṛtyur evaṁbhūtam idaṁ jagat ॥12-149-41॥
Death comes to all: the young, the children, the old, and even those still in the womb; such is the nature of this world.
jambuka uvāca॥
The jackal said.
aho mandīkṛtaḥ sneho gṛdhreṇehālpamedhasā। putrasnehābhibhūtānāṃ yuṣmākaṃ śocatāṃ bhṛśam ॥12-149-42॥
Indeed, your affection has been dulled here by the vulture of little intelligence, as you grieve intensely, overpowered by love for your son.
samaiḥ samyak-prayuktaiś ca vacanaiḥ praśraya-uttaraiḥ। yad gacchatha jala-sthāyaṃ sneham utsṛjya dustyajam ॥12-149-43॥
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.
aho putraviyogena mṛtaśūnyopasevanāt। krośatāṃ vai bhṛśaṃ duḥkhaṃ vivatsānāṃ gavāmiva ॥12-149-44॥
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.
adya śokaṃ vijānāmi mānuṣāṇāṃ mahītale। snehaṃ hi karuṇaṃ dṛṣṭvā mamāpy aśrūṇy athāgaman ॥12-149-45॥
Today I understand the sorrow of men on earth. Seeing such affection and compassion, even my own tears began to flow.
yatno hi satataṃ kāryaḥ kṛto daivena sidhyati। daivaṃ puruṣakāraś ca kṛtāntenopapadyate ॥12-149-46॥
One must always make effort; when an action is performed, it succeeds by fate. Both fate and human effort are fulfilled by destiny.
anirvedaḥ sadā kāryo nirvedāddhi kutaḥ sukham| prayatnātprāpyate hyarthaḥ kasmādgacchatha nirdayāḥ ॥12-149-47॥
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?
ātmamāṃsopavṛttaṃ ca śarīrārdhamayīṃ tanum। pitṝṇāṃ vaṃśakartāraṃ vane tyaktvā kva yāsyatha ॥12-149-48॥
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?
atha vāstaṃ gate sūrye sandhyākāla upasthite। tato neṣyatha vā putram ihasthā vā bhaviṣyatha ॥12-149-49॥
Then, when the sun has set and evening has come, at twilight, you will either take the son or those present here will remain.
gṛdhra uvāca॥
The vulture said.
adya varṣasahasraṃ me sāgraṃ jātasya mānuṣāḥ। na ca paśyāmi jīvantaṃ mṛtaṃ strīpuṃnapuṃsakam ॥12-149-50॥
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.
mṛtā garbheṣu jāyante mriyante jātamātrakāḥ। vikramanto mriyante ca yauvanasthāstathāpare ॥12-149-51॥
Some die in the womb, some die just after birth, some die while walking, and others die even in their youth.
anityānīha bhāgyāni catuṣpātpakṣiṇāmapi। jaṅgamājaṅgamānāṃ cāpyāyuragre'vatiṣṭhate ॥12-149-52॥
Here, fortunes are impermanent, even for quadrupeds and birds; for both moving and non-moving beings, lifespan alone stands foremost.
iṣṭadāraviyuktāś ca putraśokānvitās tathā। dahyamānāḥ sma śokena gṛhaṃ gacchanti nityadā॥12-149-53॥
The beloved wives, separated and likewise overwhelmed by grief for their sons, constantly go home, always burning with sorrow.
aniṣṭānāṃ sahasrāṇi tatheṣṭānāṃ śatāni ca। utsṛjyeha prayātā vai bāndhavā bhṛśaduḥkhitāḥ ॥12-149-54॥
Thousands of undesired things and hundreds of desired things are left behind here; the relatives, greatly afflicted with grief, have indeed departed.
tyajyatāmeṣa nistejāḥ śūnyaḥ kāṣṭhatvamāgataḥ। anyadehaviṣakto hi śāvaṃ kāṣṭhamupāsate ॥12-149-55॥
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.
bhrāntajīvasya vai bāṣpaṃ kasmāddhitvā na gacchatha। nirarthako hyayaṃ sneho nirarthaśca parigrahaḥ ॥12-149-56॥
Why do you not go, leaving behind the tears of the deluded being? Indeed, this affection is useless, and so is possession.
na cakṣurbhyāṃ na karṇābhyāṃ saṃśṛṇoti samīkṣate. tasmādenaṃ samutsṛjya svagṛhān gacchatāśu vai ॥12-149-57॥
He neither hears nor sees with his eyes or ears. Therefore, leave him and quickly return to your own homes.
mokṣadharmāśritair vākyair hetumadbhir aniṣṭhuraiḥ। mayoktā gacchata kṣipraṃ svaṃ svam eva niveśanam ॥12-149-58॥
Go quickly to your own residence, as instructed by me with words grounded in the dharma of liberation, reasoned and gentle.
prajñā-vijñāna-yuktena buddhi-saṃjñā-pradāyinā। vacanaṃ śrāvitā rūkṣaṃ mānuṣāḥ saṃnivartata ॥12-149-59॥
Because harsh words were spoken by one endowed with wisdom and knowledge, who gave intellect and consciousness, the people turned back.
jambuka uvāca॥
The jackal said.
imaṃ kanakavarṇābhaṃ bhūṣaṇaiḥ samalaṅkṛtam। gṛdhravākyātkathaṃ putraṃ tyajadhvaṃ pitṛpiṇḍadam ॥12-149-60॥
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?
na sneḥasya virodho'sti vilāpa-ruditasya vai| mṛtasyāsya parityāgāttāpo vai bhavitā dhruvam ॥12-149-61॥
There is no opposition to affection; indeed, lamentation and weeping arise. Certainly, suffering will result from abandoning the dead.
śrūyate śambuke śūdre hate brāhmaṇadārakaḥ। jīvito dharmamāsādya rāmātsatyaparākramāt ॥12-149-62॥
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.
tathā śvetasya rājarṣer bālo diṣṭāntam āgataḥ। śvo'bhūte dharmanityena mṛtaḥ sañjīvitaḥ punaḥ ॥12-149-63॥
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.
tathā kaścid bhavet siddho munir vā devatā api vā। kṛpaṇānām anukrośaṃ kuryād vo rudatām iha ॥12-149-64॥
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.
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said.
ityuktāḥ saṃnyavartanta śokārtāḥ putravatsalāḥ। aṅke śiraḥ samādhāya rurudurbahu-vistaram ॥12-149-65॥
When these words were spoken, the grief-stricken, son-loving ones withdrew. Placing the head on the lap, they wept profusely.
gṛdhra uvāca॥
The vulture said.
aśrupātapariklinnah pāṇisparśanapīḍitaḥ। dharmarājaprayogāc ca dīrghāṃ nidrāṃ praveśitaḥ॥12-149-66॥
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.
tapasāpi hi saṁyukto na kāle nopahanyate। sarvasnehāvasānaṁ tadidaṁ tatpretapattanam ॥12-149-67॥
Even with austerity, indeed, it is not destroyed in time. This is the end of all affection—this is the city of the dead.
bāla-vṛddha-sahasrāṇi sadā santyajya bāndhavāḥ। dināni caiva rātrīś ca duḥkhaṃ tiṣṭhanti bhūtale॥12-149-68॥
Thousands of children and old people, having always been abandoned by relatives, spend their days and nights in sorrow on the earth.
alaṃ nirbandham āgamya śokasya parivāraṇam। apratyayaṃ kuto hy asya punar adya iha jīvitam ॥12-149-69॥
Enough of insistence; sorrow has surrounded. There is no hope—how indeed can he have life again here today?
naiṣa jambukavākyena punaḥ prāpsyati jīvitam। mṛtasyotsṛṣṭadehasya punardeho na vidyate ॥12-149-70॥
He will not regain life by the jackal's words. Once the body has been abandoned by the dead, it cannot be restored again.
na vai mūrtipradānena na jambukaśatairapi। śakyo jīvayituṃ hyeṣa bālo varṣaśatairapi ॥12-149-71॥
This boy cannot be revived by giving form, nor even by hundreds of jackals, nor even in hundreds of years.
api rudraḥ kumāro vā brahmā vā viṣṇureva vā। varamasmai prayaccheyustato jīveda yaṃ śiśuḥ ॥12-149-72॥
If Rudra, Kumāra, Brahmā, or even Viṣṇu were to grant a boon to him, then this child would live.
na ca bāṣpavimokṣeṇa na cāśvāsakṛtena vai। na dīrgharuditeneha punarjīvo bhaviṣyati ॥12-149-73॥
Neither tears, nor words of comfort, nor prolonged lamentation will bring the dead back to life here.
ahaṃ ca kroṣṭukaś caiva yūyaṃ caivāsya bāndhavāḥ। dharmādharmau gṛhītv iha sarve vartāmahe'dhvani ॥12-149-74॥
I, Kroṣṭuka, you, and all his relatives, having taken both dharma and adharma, we all proceed together on this path.
apriyaṃ paruṣaṃ cāpi paradrohaṃ parastriyam | adharmamanṛtaṃ caiva dūrāt prājño nivartayet ||12-149-75||
A wise person should keep far away from things that are unpleasant, harsh, injurious to others, another's wife, unrighteousness, and falsehood.
satyaṃ dharmaṃ śubhaṃ nyāyyaṃ prāṇināṃ mahatīṃ dayām। ajihmatvamaśāṭhyaṃ ca yatnataḥ parimārgata ॥12-149-76॥
Seek with effort truth, righteousness, auspiciousness, justice, great compassion for living beings, straightforwardness, and absence of deceit.
mātaraṃ pitaraṃ caiva bāndhavān suhṛdas tathā। jīvato ye na paśyanti teṣāṃ dharmaviparyayaḥ ॥12-149-77॥
Those who do not care for their mother, father, relatives, and friends while they are alive are acting contrary to dharma.
yo na paśyati cakṣurbhyāṃ neṅgate ca kathañcana। tasya niṣṭhāvasānānte rudantaḥ kiṃ kariṣyatha ॥12-149-78॥
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?
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said.
ityuktās taṃ sutaṃ tyaktvā bhūmau śokapariplutāḥ। dahyamānāḥ sutasnehāt prayayur bāndhavā gṛhān ॥12-149-79॥
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.
jambuka uvāca॥
The jackal said.
dāruṇo martyalokoyam sarvapraṇivināśanaḥ। iṣṭabandhuviyogaśca tathaivālpaṃ ca jīvitam ॥12-149-80॥
This mortal world is harsh, destroying all beings. There is separation from dear ones, and life itself is short.
bahvalīkamasatyaṃ ca prativādāpriyaṃvadam। imaṃ prekṣya punarbhāvaṃ duḥkhaśokābhivardhanam ॥12-149-81॥
Speaking much falsehood and untruth, and uttering unpleasant replies; seeing this state again brings about an increase of sorrow and grief.
na me mānuṣalokoyam muhūrtamapi rocate। aho dhig gṛdhravākyena saṃnivartatha mānuṣāḥ ॥12-149-82॥
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.
pradīptāḥ putraśokena yathaivābuddhayas tathā। kathaṃ gacchatha sasnehāḥ sutasnehaṃ visṛjya ca ॥ śrutvā gṛdhrasya vacanaṃ pāpasyehākṛtātmanaḥ ॥12-149-83॥
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.
sukhasyānantaraṃ duḥkhaṃ duḥkhasyānantaraṃ sukham। sukhaduḥkhānvite loke nehāstyekamanantakam ॥12-149-84॥
Happiness is always followed by sorrow, and sorrow by happiness. In this world of alternating happiness and sorrow, nothing here is endless or eternal.
imaṃ kṣititale nyasya bālaṃ rūpasamanvitam। kulaśokākaraṃ mūḍhāḥ putraṃ tyaktvā kva yāsyatha ॥12-149-85॥
Having left this beautiful child, the cause of your family's sorrow, on the ground, where will you go, you deluded ones?
rūpayauvanasampannaṃ dyotamānamiva śriyā। jīvantamenaṃ paśyāmi manasā nātra saṃśayaḥ ॥12-149-86॥
I see this living person, endowed with beauty and youth, shining with splendor, with my mind; there is no doubt about it here.
vināśaś cāpy anarho'sya sukhaṃ prāpsyatha mānuṣāḥ। putraśokāgnidagdhānāṃ mṛtam apy adya vaḥ kṣamam॥12-149-87॥
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.
duḥkhasambhāvanāṃ kṛtvā dhārayitvā svayaṃ sukham। tyaktvā gamiṣyatha kvādya samutsṛjyālpabuddhivat ॥12-149-88॥
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?
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said.
tathā dharmavirodhena priyamithyābhidhyāyinā। śmaśānavāsinā nityaṃ rātriṃ mṛgayatā tadā ॥12-149-89॥
Thus, at that time, by one who always hunts at night, who dwells in the cremation ground, and covets untruthfully in opposition to dharma.
tato madhyasthatāṃ nītā vacanair amṛtopamaiḥ। jambukena svakāryārthaṃ bāndhavās tasya dhiṣṭhitāḥ ॥12-149-90॥
Then, the jackal, using words as sweet as nectar, led his relatives to a state of neutrality for his own purpose.
gṛdhra uvāca॥
The vulture spoke.
ayaṃ pretasamākīrṇo yakṣarākṣasasevitaḥ। dāruṇaḥ kānanoddeśaḥ kauśikairabhināditaḥ ॥12-149-91॥
This is a terrible region of the forest, filled with ghosts and frequented by yakṣas and rākṣasas, echoing with the cries of the Kauśikas.
bhīmaḥ sughoraś ca tathā nīlameghasamaprabhaḥ। asmiñ śavaṃ parityajya pretakāryāṇy upāsata ॥12-149-92॥
Bhīma, who was very fierce and had a radiance like a dark cloud, left the corpse here and performed the funeral rites.
bhānuryāvanna yātyastaṃ yāvacca vimalā diśaḥ। tāvadenaṃ parityajya pretakāryāṇyupāsata ॥12-149-93॥
As long as the sun has not set and the directions remain clear, abandon him and perform the funeral rites.
nadanti paruṣaṃ śyenāḥ śivāḥ krośanti dāruṇāḥ। mṛgendrāḥ pratinandanti ravir astaṃ ca gacchati॥12-149-94॥
Hawks make harsh cries, gentle beings cry out in distress, lions respond, and the sun sets.
citādhūmena nīlena saṁrajyante ca pādapāḥ। śmaśāne ca nirāhārāḥ pratinandanti dehinaḥ ॥12-149-95॥
The trees are covered by the blue smoke of the funeral pyre; and in the cremation ground, the hungry spirits welcome the living.
sarve vikrāntavīryāś ca asmin deśe sudāruṇāḥ। yuṣmān pradharṣayiṣyanti vikṛtā māṃsabhokjanāḥ॥12-149-96॥
All those of powerful strength and very fierce nature in this land, the deformed meat-eaters, will oppress you.
dūrāc cāyaṃ vanoddeśo bhayam atra bhaviṣyati। tyajyatāṃ kāṣṭhabhūto'yaṃ mṛśyatāṃ jāmbukaṃ vacaḥ ॥12-149-97॥
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.
yadi jambukavākyāni niṣphalānyanṛtāni ca। śroṣyatha bhraṣṭavijñānāstataḥ sarve vinaṅkṣyatha ॥12-149-98॥
If you listen to the jackal's words, which are fruitless and false, then, having lost discernment, all of you will perish.
jambuka uvāca॥
The jackal said.
sthīyatāṃ neha bhetavyaṃ yāvattapati bhāskaraḥ। tāvadasmin sutasnehādanirvedena vartata ॥12-149-99॥
Remain here without fear as long as the sun shines. In this situation, out of affection for your son, persevere and carry on.
svairaṃ rudata visrabdhāḥ svairaṃ snehena paśyata। sthīyatāṃ yāvadādityaḥ kiṃ vaḥ kravyādabhāṣitaiḥ ॥12-149-100॥
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?
yadi gṛdhrasya vākyāni tīvraṇi rabhasāni ca। gṛhṇīta mohitātmānaḥ suto vo na bhaviṣyati ॥12-149-101॥
If your son, in his delusion, accepts the harsh and forceful words of the vulture, he will not survive.
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said.
gṛdhro'nastamite tvāha gate'stamiti jambukaḥ। mṛtasya taṃ parijanamūcatustau kṣudhānvitaū ॥12-149-102॥
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.
svakāryadakṣiṇau rājan gṛdhro jambuka eva ca। kṣutpipāsāpariśrāntau śāstramālambya jalpataḥ ॥12-149-103॥
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.
tayor vijñānaviduṣor dvayor jambukapatriṇoḥ। vākyair amṛtakalpaiḥ hi prātiṣṭhanta vrajanti ca ॥12-149-104॥
Of those two who are wise in knowledge and possess jackal-leaves, they indeed set forth and go by sentences that are like nectar.
śokadainyasamāviṣṭā rudantastasthire tadā। svakāryakuśalābhyāṃ te sambhrāmyante ha naipuṇāt॥12-149-105॥
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.
tathā tayor vivadator vijñānaviduṣor dvayoḥ। bāndhavānāṃ sthitānāṃ ca upātiṣṭhata śaṅkaraḥ ॥12-149-106॥
Thus, while those two wise men were disputing, and their relatives were standing by, Śaṅkara approached them.
tatastānāha manujān varado'smīti śūlabhṛt। te pratyūcur idaṃ vākyaṃ duḥkhitāḥ praṇatāḥ sthitāḥ ॥12-149-107॥
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.
ekaputravihīnānāṃ sarveṣāṃ jīvitārthinām। putrasya no jīvadānājjīvitaṃ dātumarhasi ॥12-149-108॥
You ought to grant life to our son, for the sake of all those deprived of an only son and desiring life.
evam-uktaḥ sa bhagavān vāri-pūrṇena pāṇinā। jīvaṃ tasmai kumārāya prādād varṣa-śatāya vai ॥12-149-109॥
Thus addressed, the venerable one took water in his hand and granted life to the boy for a hundred years.
tathā gomāyugṛdhrābhyāmadadatkṣudvināśanam। varaṃ pinākī bhagavānsarvabhūtahite rataḥ ॥12-149-110॥
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.
tataḥ praṇamya taṃ devaṃ śreyoharṣasamanvitāḥ। kṛtakṛtyāḥ sukhaṃ hṛṣṭāḥ prātiṣṭhanta tadā vibho ॥12-149-111॥
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.
anirvedena dīrghena niścayena dhruveṇa ca। devadevaprasādācca kṣipraṃ phalam avāpyate ॥12-149-112॥
With non-despair, perseverance, determination, steadfastness, and by the grace of the Lord of lords, the result is quickly attained.
paśya devasya saṃyogaṃ bāndhavānāṃ ca niścayam। kṛpaṇānāṃ hi rudatāṃ kṛtam aśru-pramārjanam ॥12-149-113॥
Behold the divine arrangement and the certainty among relatives; for the miserable who are weeping, indeed, the wiping of tears has been accomplished.
paśya cālpena kālena niścayānveṣaṇena ca। prasādaṃ śaṅkarāt prāpya duḥkhitāḥ sukham āpnuvan ॥12-149-114॥
See, in a short time and by searching with certainty, those who are afflicted, having obtained the grace of Śaṅkara, attain happiness.
te vismitāḥ prahṛṣṭāś ca putrasañjīvanāt punaḥ। babhūvur bharataśreṣṭha prasādāc chaṅkarasya vai ॥12-149-115॥
O best of the Bharatas, by the grace of Śaṅkara, they became astonished and delighted again at the revival of their son.
tataste tvaritā rājañśrutvā śokamaghodbhavam। viviśuḥ putramādāya nagaraṃ hṛṣṭamānasāḥ ॥ eṣā buddhiḥ samastānāṃ cāturvarṇye nidarśitā ॥12-149-116॥
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.
dharmārthamokṣasaṃyuktamitihāsamimaṃ śubham। śrutvā manuṣyaḥ satatamiha pretya ca modate ॥12-149-117॥
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.
