12.165
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhīṣma said.
ततः स विदितो राज्ञः प्रविश्य गृहमुत्तमम्। पूजितो राक्षसेन्द्रेण निषसादासनोत्तमे ॥१२-१६५-१॥
Then, recognized by the king, he entered the excellent house, was honored by the king of the rākṣasas, and sat down on the best seat.
पृष्टश्च गोत्रचरणं स्वाध्यायं ब्रह्मचारिकम्। न तत्र व्याजहारान्यद्गोत्रमात्रादृते द्विजः ॥१२-१६५-२॥
When questioned about his family lineage, conduct, study, and celibacy, the twice-born only stated his family lineage and nothing else.
ब्रह्मवर्चसहीनस्य स्वाध्यायविरतस्य च। गोत्रमात्रविदो राजा निवासं समपृच्छत ॥१२-१६५-३॥
The king inquired about the residence of the one who lacked brahmic lustre, abstained from self-study, and knew only the lineage.
क्व ते निवासः कल्याण किङ्गोत्रा ब्राह्मणी च ते। तत्त्वं ब्रूहि न भीः कार्या विश्रमस्व यथासुखम् ॥१२-१६५-४॥
Where is your home, O auspicious one? What is the lineage of your brāhmaṇa wife? Tell the truth; do not be afraid. Rest here as you wish.
गौतम उवाच॥
Gautama said.
मध्यदेशप्रसूतोऽहं वासो मे शबरालये। शूद्रा पुनर्भूर्भार्या मे सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीमि ते ॥१२-१६५-५॥
I was born in the central region; my home is among the Śabaras. My wife is a Śūdra and a remarried woman. I am telling you the truth.
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhīṣma said.
ततो राजा विममृशे कथं कार्यमिदं भवेत्। कथं वा सुकृतं मे स्यादिति बुद्ध्यान्वचिन्तयत् ॥१२-१६५-६॥
Then the king thought, "How should this action be accomplished? How might I perform a good deed?" Thus, he reflected with his intellect.
अयं वै जननाद्विप्रः सुहृत्तस्य महात्मनः। सम्प्रेषितश्च तेनायं काश्यपेन ममान्तिकम् ॥१२-१६५-७॥
This brāhmaṇa, who from birth is the friend of that great-souled one, has been sent by him, by Kāśyapa, to me.
तस्य प्रियं करिष्यामि स हि मामाश्रितः सदा। भ्राता मे बान्धवश्चासौ सखा च हृदयङ्गमः ॥१२-१६५-८॥
I shall do what pleases him, for he has always sought my protection. He is my brother, my kinsman, my friend, and dear to my heart.
कार्त्तिक्यामद्य भोक्तारः सहस्रं मे द्विजोत्तमाः। तत्रायमपि भोक्ता वै देयमस्मै च मे धनम् ॥१२-१६५-९॥
Today, in the month of Kārttikā, a thousand Brāhmaṇas are to be fed by me. There, this person also is to be fed; my wealth should be given to him as well.
ततः सहस्रं विप्राणां विदुषां समलङ्कृतम्। स्नातानामनुसम्प्राप्तमहतक्षौमवाससाम् ॥१२-१६५-१०॥
Then, a thousand learned and well-adorned Brāhmaṇas, who had bathed and received great linen garments, arrived.
तानागतान्द्विजश्रेष्ठान्विरूपाक्षो विशां पते। यथार्हं प्रतिजग्राह विधिदृष्टेन कर्मणा ॥१२-१६५-११॥
O lord of the people, Virūpākṣa received those best of the twice-born who had arrived, performing the proper rites as prescribed by rule.
बृस्यस्तेषां तु संन्यस्ता राक्षसेन्द्रस्य शासनात्। भूमौ वरकुथास्तीर्णाः प्रेष्यैर्भरतसत्तम ॥१२-१६५-१२॥
O best of the Bharatas, the bows of those were laid down by the order of the king of the rākṣasas, and excellent maces were spread on the ground by the attendants.
तासु ते पूजिता राज्ञा निषण्णा द्विजसत्तमाः। व्यराजन्त महाराज नक्षत्रपतयो यथा ॥१२-१६५-१३॥
O great king, among them, those best of the twice-born who were honored by the king and seated, shone like the lords of the stars (planets).
ततो जाम्बूनदाः पात्रीर्वज्राङ्का विमलाः शुभाः। वरान्नपूर्णा विप्रेभ्यः प्रादान्मधुघृताप्लुताः ॥१२-१६५-१४॥
Then he gave to the Brāhmaṇas golden vessels adorned with diamonds, pure and auspicious, filled with excellent food soaked in honey and ghee.
तस्य नित्यं तथाषाढ्यां माघ्यां च बहवो द्विजाः। ईप्सितं भोजनवरं लभन्ते सत्कृतं सदा ॥१२-१६५-१५॥
For him, always, likewise on the Ṣāḍhī and Māghī days, many Brāhmaṇas always receive the desired excellent food, honored and respected.
विशेषतस्तु कार्त्तिक्यां द्विजेभ्यः सम्प्रयच्छति। शरद्व्यपाये रत्नानि पौर्णमास्यामिति श्रुतिः ॥१२-१६५-१६॥
But especially, one should give gems to Brāhmaṇas on the Kārttikī full moon at the end of autumn; thus is stated in the scripture. ॥12-165-16॥
सुवर्णं रजतं चैव मणीनथ च मौक्तिकम्। वज्रान्महाधनांश्चैव वैडूर्याजिनराङ्कवान् ॥१२-१६५-१७॥
Gold, silver, gems, pearls, diamonds, great treasures, cat's-eye gems, and animal skins adorned with marks.
रत्नराशीन्विनिक्षिप्य दक्षिणार्थे स भारत। ततः प्राह द्विजश्रेष्ठान्विरूपाक्षो महायशाः ॥१२-१६५-१८॥
O Bhārata, after placing heaps of jewels as gifts, the greatly renowned Virūpākṣa then addressed the foremost of the Brāhmaṇas.
गृह्णीत रत्नान्येतानि यथोत्साहं यथेष्टतः। येषु येषु च भाण्डेषु भुक्तं वो द्विजसत्तमाः ॥ तान्येवादाय गच्छध्वं स्ववेश्मानीति भारत ॥१२-१६५-१९॥
O Bhārata, let the best of the twice-born take these gems as they wish and with whatever zeal they have. From whichever vessels you have eaten, take only those and return to your own homes.
इत्युक्तवचने तस्मिन्राक्षसेन्द्रे महात्मनि। यथेष्टं तानि रत्नानि जगृहुर्ब्राह्मणर्षभाः ॥१२-१६५-२०॥
When those words were spoken by the great-souled king of the rākṣasas, the foremost of brāhmaṇas took those gems as they wished.
ततो महार्हैस्ते सर्वे रत्नैरभ्यर्चिताः शुभैः। ब्राह्मणा मृष्टवसनाः सुप्रीताः स्म तदाभवन् ॥१२-१६५-२१॥
Then all the Brāhmaṇas, adorned with the most precious and auspicious jewels and dressed in clean garments, became very pleased at that time.
ततस्तान्राक्षसेन्द्रश्च द्विजानाह पुनर्वचः। नानादिगागतान्राजन्राक्षसान्प्रतिषिध्य वै ॥१२-१६५-२२॥
Then the king of the rākṣasas, having restrained the rākṣasas who had come from various directions, again addressed these words to the twice-born, O king.
अध्यैकदिवसं विप्रा न वोऽस्तीह भयं क्वचित्। राक्षसेभ्यः प्रमोदध्वमिष्टतो यात माचिरम् ॥१२-१६५-२३॥
O Brāhmaṇas, today for one day you need not fear anything here from the Rākṣasas; rejoice as you wish and go without delay.
ततः प्रदुद्रुवुः सर्वे विप्रसङ्घाः समन्ततः। गौतमोऽपि सुवर्णस्य भारमादाय सत्वरः ॥१२-१६५-२४॥
Then all the groups of Brāhmaṇas fled in all directions. Gautama too quickly took the load of gold and left.
कृच्छ्रात्समुद्वहन्वीर न्यग्रोधं समुपागमत्। न्यषीदच्च परिश्रान्तः क्लान्तश्च क्षुधितश्च ह ॥१२-१६५-२५॥
Having endured great hardship, the hero approached the banyan tree and, truly exhausted, weary, and hungry, sat down.
ततस्तमभ्यगाद्राजन्राजधर्मा खगोत्तमः। स्वागतेनाभ्यनन्दच्च गौतमं मित्रवत्सलः ॥१२-१६५-२६॥
Then, O king, the best among birds who upholds royal duty approached him and, with a warm welcome, greeted Gautama affectionately as a friend.
तस्य पक्षाग्रविक्षेपैः क्लमं व्यपनयत्खगः। पूजां चाप्यकरोद्धीमान्भोजनं चाप्यकल्पयत् ॥१२-१६५-२७॥
The bird relieved his fatigue by fanning him with the tips of its wings; the wise bird also honored him and prepared food.
स भुक्तवान्सुविश्रान्तो गौतमोऽचिन्तयत्तदा। हाटकस्याभिरूपस्य भारोऽयं सुमहान्मया ॥ गृहीतो लोभमोहाद्वै दूरं च गमनं मम ॥१२-१६५-२८॥
After eating and resting well, Gautama thought: "I have taken this very heavy and beautiful gold out of greed and delusion; and my journey is still far."
न चास्ति पथि भोक्तव्यं प्राणसन्धारणं मम। किं कृत्वा धारयेयं वै प्राणानित्यभ्यचिन्तयत् ॥१२-१६५-२९॥
There is nothing on the path for me to eat to sustain my life. He pondered, 'What should I do to sustain my vital breaths?'
ततः स पथि भोक्तव्यं प्रेक्षमाणो न किञ्चन। कृतघ्नः पुरुषव्याघ्र मनसेदमचिन्तयत् ॥१२-१६५-३०॥
Then the ungrateful one, observing nothing to eat on the path, thought this in his mind, O tiger among men.
अयं बकपतिः पार्श्वे मांसराशिः स्थितो मम। इमं हत्वा गृहीत्वा च यास्येऽहं समभिद्रुतम् ॥१२-१६५-३१॥
This lord of cranes is beside me, a heap of flesh placed here. After killing and taking this, I will go away swiftly.
