12.163
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhīṣma said.
तस्यां निशायां व्युष्टायां गते तस्मिन्द्विजोत्तमे। निष्क्रम्य गौतमोऽगच्छत्समुद्रं प्रति भारत ॥१२-१६३-१॥
O Bhārata, when that night had passed and the best among the twice-born had departed, Gautama went out towards the ocean.
सामुद्रकान्स वणिजस्ततोऽपश्यत्स्थितान्पथि। स तेन सार्थेन सह प्रययौ सागरं प्रति ॥१२-१६३-२॥
He saw the sea-faring merchants standing on the road. Then, together with that caravan, he set out towards the ocean.
स तु सार्थो महाराज कस्मिंश्चिद्गिरिगह्वरे। मत्तेन द्विरदेनाथ निहतः प्रायशोऽभवत् ॥१२-१६३-३॥
But, O great king, that caravan was mostly destroyed by a maddened elephant in a certain mountain cave.
स कथञ्चित्ततस्तस्मात्सार्थान्मुक्तो द्विजस्तदा। कांदिग्भूतो जीवितार्थी प्रदुद्रावोत्तरां दिशम् ॥१२-१६३-४॥
Somehow, the brāhmaṇa, having been released from the caravans, then, fearful and seeking to save his life, ran away towards the northern direction.
स सर्वतः परिभ्रष्टः सार्थाद्देशात्तथार्थतः। एकाकी व्यद्रवत्तत्र वने किम्पुरुषो यथा ॥१२-१६३-५॥
He, having been cast out from all sides—his caravan, his country, and his purpose—ran alone into the forest, like a Kimpurusha.
स पन्थानमथासाद्य समुद्राभिसरं तदा। आससाद वनं रम्यं महत्पुष्पितपादपम् ॥१२-१६३-६॥
He then, having reached the path leading to the ocean, came upon a beautiful great forest filled with flowering trees.
सर्वर्तुकैराम्रवनैः पुष्पितैरुपशोभितम्। नन्दनोद्देशसदृशं यक्षकिंनरसेवितम् ॥१२-१६३-७॥
Adorned with blossoming mango groves that flourish in all seasons, this place resembled the celestial Nandana garden and was frequented by Yakṣas and Kiṃnaras.
शालतालधवाश्वत्थत्वचागुरुवनैस्तथा। चन्दनस्य च मुख्यस्य पादपैरुपशोभितम् ॥ गिरिप्रस्थेषु रम्येषु शुभेषु सुसुगन्धिषु ॥१२-१६३-८॥
The mountain slopes, charming and auspicious, were adorned with groves of śāla, palmyra, dhava, aśvattha, aloeswood bark, and especially sandalwood trees, filling the air with fragrance.
समन्ततो द्विजश्रेष्ठा वल्गु कूजन्ति तत्र वै। मनुष्यवदनास्त्वन्ये भारुण्डा इति विश्रुताः ॥ भूलिङ्गशकुनाश्चान्ये समुद्रं सर्वतोऽभवन् ॥१२-१६३-९॥
All around, the best of birds sweetly sang there. Some others, known as Bharunda birds with human faces, were famous. Other Bhulingashakuna birds and others became the ocean from all sides.
स तान्यतिमनोज्ञानि विहङ्गाभिरुतानि वै। शृण्वन्सुरमणीयानि विप्रोऽगच्छत गौतमः ॥१२-१६३-१०॥
Gautama, the sage, hearing those exceedingly delightful and divinely charming songs sung by birds, proceeded onward.
ततोऽपश्यत्सुरम्ये स सुवर्णसिकताचिते। देशभागे समे चित्रे स्वर्गोद्देशसमप्रभे ॥१२-१६३-११॥
Then he saw a beautiful, level, and wonderful region, heaped with golden sand, shining with a splendour equal to that of heaven.
श्रियाऽजुष्टं महावृक्षं न्यग्रोधं परिमण्डलम्। शाखाभिरनुरूपाभिर्भूषितं छत्रसंनिभम् ॥१२-१६३-१२॥
A great banyan tree, circular in shape, endowed with prosperity, adorned with suitable branches, and resembling an umbrella.
तस्य मूलं सुसंसिक्तं वरचन्दनवारिणा। दिव्यपुष्पान्वितं श्रीमत्पितामहसदोपमम् ॥१२-१६३-१३॥
Its root was thoroughly moistened with the best sandal-water, adorned with divine flowers, resplendent and comparable to the glorious assembly of Brahmā.
तं दृष्ट्वा गौतमः प्रीतो मुनिकान्तमनुत्तमम्। मेध्यं सुरगृहप्रख्यं पुष्पितैः पादपैर्वृतम् ॥ तमागम्य मुदा युक्तस्तस्याधस्तादुपाविशत् ॥१२-१६३-१४॥
Gautama, upon seeing him, was pleased and beheld the unsurpassed delight of sages—a pure place, like the abode of the gods, surrounded by blossoming trees. Approaching him joyfully, he sat down below him.
तत्रासीनस्य कौरव्य गौतमस्य सुखः शिवः। पुष्पाणि समुपस्पृश्य प्रववावनिलः शुचिः ॥ ह्लादयन्सर्वगात्राणि गौतमस्य तदा नृप ॥१२-१६३-१५॥
There, O Kauravya, as Gautama sat, a pure and auspicious happiness arose. The pure wind, having touched the flowers, blew, delighting all the limbs of Gautama at that time, O king.
स तु विप्रः परिश्रान्तः स्पृष्टः पुण्येन वायुना। सुखमासाद्य सुष्वाप भास्करश्चास्तमभ्यगात् ॥१२-१६३-१६॥
But the brāhmaṇa, completely exhausted, touched by the auspicious wind, found comfort and slept well, and the sun set.
ततोऽस्तं भास्करे याते सन्ध्याकाल उपस्थिते। आजगाम स्वभवनं ब्रह्मलोकात्खगोत्तमः ॥१२-१६३-१७॥
Then, as the sun set and twilight approached, the best of birds returned from Brahmaloka to his own home.
नाडीजङ्घ इति ख्यातो दयितो ब्रह्मणः सखा। बकराजो महाप्राज्ञः कश्यपस्यात्मसम्भवः ॥१२-१६३-१८॥
Nāḍījaṅgha, thus well-known, was the beloved friend of Brahmā; Bakarāja, a very wise one, was born from Kaśyapa himself.
राजधर्मेति विख्यातो बभूवाप्रतिमो भुवि। देवकन्यासुतः श्रीमान्विद्वान्देवपतिप्रभः ॥१२-१६३-१९॥
He became well-known as 'rājadharma', unparalleled on earth; the son of Devakanyā, prosperous, wise, and possessing the splendor of the lord of gods.
मृष्टहाटकसञ्छन्नो भूषणैरर्कसंनिभैः। भूषितः सर्वगात्रेषु देवगर्भः श्रिया ज्वलन् ॥१२-१६३-२०॥
Covered with polished gold and adorned with ornaments shining like the sun, the divine-born one was resplendent with splendor on all his limbs.
तमागतं द्विजं दृष्ट्वा विस्मितो गौतमोऽभवत्। क्षुत्पिपासापरीतात्मा हिंसार्थी चाप्यवैक्षत ॥१२-१६३-२१॥
When Gautama saw the arriving brāhmaṇa, he was astonished; afflicted by hunger and thirst, and also intent on violence, he looked on.
राजधर्मोवाच॥
The kingly duty spoke.
स्वागतं भवते विप्र दिष्ट्या प्राप्तोऽसि मे गृहम्। अस्तं च सविता यातः सन्ध्येयं समुपस्थिता ॥१२-१६३-२२॥
Welcome, O brāhmaṇa! By good fortune you have come to my house. The Sun has set and twilight has now arrived.
मम त्वं निलयं प्राप्तः प्रियातिथिरनिन्दितः। पूजितो यास्यसि प्रातर्विधिदृष्टेन कर्मणा ॥१२-१६३-२३॥
You have come to my home as a dear and blameless guest; having been honored, you will depart in the morning according to the prescribed rite.
