12.150
Bhīṣma said.
Here too, O best of the Bharatas, an ancient story is told: the dialogue between Śalmali and the Wind.
Upon reaching the Himalaya, there stood a great tree, grown over many years, with branches, trunks, and leaves.
O mighty-armed one, there, intoxicated elephants afflicted by righteousness and worn out by fatigue rest, as do other species of deer.
A tree, though having only the circumference of a reed, with dense shade, resounded by parrots and mynas, is fruitful and also bears flowers.
Caravan-leaders, merchants, ascetics, and forest-dwellers, those who travel the path, reside in the delightful shade of the excellent tree.
Nārada, O best of the Bharatas, having seen all those great branches and trunks on every side, approached and spoke to him.
Indeed, you are truly beautiful and charming. O excellent śalmali tree, we are always delighted by you.
O dear one, always birds, deer, and elephants below dwell joyfully in your abode, and they are most delightful.
I do not see your branch, great branch, or large trunk broken in any way by the wind.
Is it that your son of the wind, dear one, is affectionate or a friend? Surely, it is by him that you are always protected in this forest.
Indeed, the swift wind, moving from its place, shakes even the tall and short trees and the peaks of mountains.
The pure wind, which carries scents, truly dries up the netherworld, the sky, lakes, rivers, and even the oceans in the same way.
There is no doubt that, as a friend, the wind will protect you; therefore, you are full of branches, leaves, and flowers.
O tree, this place also appears beautiful to you, for these birds, dear one, are joyfully delighting in you.
A sweet sound is heard from all of them, both individually and together; at the time when the flowers are fragrant, their cries are very delightful.
Thus, these joyful serpents, shining among their own groups, scorched by the heat, come to you and find comfort on the silk-cotton tree.
Just as you are adorned by other species of deer and others, so too you shine with the inhabitants of the caravan, O tree, like Mount Meru.
I truly consider your abode, which is revered by Brāhmaṇas, perfected ascetics, and monks, to be equal to heaven.
Whether through kinship or friendship, even with deceit, there is no doubt here; Bhima, the wind who moves everywhere, always protects.
You have come to the supreme humility of Vāyu on the śalmali tree. The wind-god always protects the one who says, 'I am yours.'
I do not see any tree or mountain or anything else on earth so firm that it is not broken by the force of the wind; this is my opinion.
You are always protected by various causes on the silk-cotton tree; certainly, you remain there with your family by the wind, without any doubt.
The silk-cotton tree said.
O Brāhmaṇa, Vāyu is not my friend, nor my relative, nor my well-wisher. Likewise, Parameṣṭhī is not, nor anyone by whom Mānila protects.
O Nārada, even the terrible strength of Vāyu, with all his vital energies, does not attain even to the eighteenth sixteenth part of my splendor and strength.
As the supreme wind approached, I forcefully restrained it, breaking trees, mountains, and anything else in its path.
He, the breaker, has been broken many times by me, O divine sage; therefore, I do not fear even the angry wind.
Nārada said.
On the śalmali tree, your appearance is contrary; there is no doubt about this. Truly, by the power of the wind, there is no being anywhere that is equal in strength.
Indra, Yama, Vaiśravaṇa, Varuṇa, and the lord of waters are not even equal to you; how much more so, O lord of trees?
Whatever living being moves here, whether on the silk-cotton tree or on the earth, everywhere the revered Wind, the lord, is the cause of movement and life.
This functions properly for a living being who is properly extended; but for one who is not properly extended, it acts repeatedly in a distorted manner among people.
You do not worship Vāyu, who is such, the best among the supporters of all beings, the one worthy of worship—him. Why else would this be, except due to lack of understanding?
You are insubstantial and, O dull-witted one, you only talk excessively. Shrouded by anger and similar faults, you speak falsely, O Śalmala.
My anger has arisen because of your words; thus I speak. O Vāyu, I myself declare that much of what you have said is improper.
With sandalwood, spandan, śāla, sarala, devadāru trees, vetasa canes, and bindings, as well as others who are stronger.
O evil-minded one, Vāyu was not hurled in this way by those of controlled self. For they alone truly know both Vāyu's strength and their own.
Therefore, the best among trees indeed bow to the wind; but you, due to delusion, do not know the infinite strength of the wind.
