12.165
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said.
tataḥ sa vidito rājñaḥ praviśya gṛham uttamam। pūjito rākṣasendreṇa niṣasādāsanottame ॥12-165-1॥
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.
pṛṣṭaś ca gotracaraṇaṃ svādhyāyaṃ brahmacārikam। na tatra vyājahār anyad gotramātrād ṛte dvijaḥ ॥12-165-2॥
When questioned about his family lineage, conduct, study, and celibacy, the twice-born only stated his family lineage and nothing else.
brahmavarcasa-hīnasya svādhyāya-viratasya ca। gotra-mātra-vido rājā nivāsaṃ samapṛcchata ॥12-165-3॥
The king inquired about the residence of the one who lacked brahmic lustre, abstained from self-study, and knew only the lineage.
kva te nivāsaḥ kalyāṇa kiṅgotrā brāhmaṇī ca te। tattvaṃ brūhi na bhīḥ kāryā viśramasva yathāsukham ॥12-165-4॥
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.
gautama uvāca॥
Gautama said.
madhyadeśa-prasūto'ham vāso me śabarālaye। śūdrā punarbhūr-bhāryā me satyam etad bravīmi te॥12-165-5॥
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.
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said.
tato rājā vimamṛśe kathaṃ kāryam idaṃ bhavet। kathaṃ vā sukṛtaṃ me syād iti buddhyā anvacintayat ॥12-165-6॥
Then the king thought, "How should this action be accomplished? How might I perform a good deed?" Thus, he reflected with his intellect.
ayaṃ vai jananād vipraḥ suhṛttasya mahātmanaḥ। sampreṣitaś ca tenāyaṃ kāśyapena mamāntikam॥12-165-7॥
This brāhmaṇa, who from birth is the friend of that great-souled one, has been sent by him, by Kāśyapa, to me.
tasya priyaṃ kariṣyāmi sa hi māmāśritaḥ sadā। bhrātā me bāndhavaścāsau sakhā ca hṛdayaṅgamaḥ ॥12-165-8॥
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.
kārttikyām-adya bhoktāraḥ sahasraṃ me dvijottamāḥ। tatrāyam-api bhoktā vai deyam-asmai ca me dhanam ॥12-165-9॥
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.
tataḥ sahasraṃ viprāṇāṃ viduṣāṃ samalaṅkṛtam। snātānāmanusamprāptamahatakṣaumavāsasām ॥12-165-10॥
Then, a thousand learned and well-adorned Brāhmaṇas, who had bathed and received great linen garments, arrived.
tānāgatāndvijaśreṣṭhānv irūpākṣo viśāṃ pate| yathārhaṃ pratijagrāha vidhidṛṣṭena karmaṇā ॥12-165-11॥
O lord of the people, Virūpākṣa received those best of the twice-born who had arrived, performing the proper rites as prescribed by rule.
bṛsyasteṣāṃ tu saṃnyastā rākṣasendrasya śāsanāt। bhūmau varakuthāstīrṇāḥ preṣyairbharatasattama ॥12-165-12॥
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.
tāsu te pūjitā rājñā niṣaṇṇā dvijasattamāḥ। vyarājanta mahārāja nakṣatrapatayo yathā ॥12-165-13॥
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).
tato jāmbūnadāḥ pātrīr vajrāṅkā vimalāḥ śubhāḥ। varānnapūrṇā viprebhyaḥ prādān madhughṛtāplutāḥ ॥12-165-14॥
Then he gave to the Brāhmaṇas golden vessels adorned with diamonds, pure and auspicious, filled with excellent food soaked in honey and ghee.
tasya nityaṃ tathāṣāḍhyāṃ māghyāṃ ca bahavo dvijāḥ। īpsitaṃ bhojanavaraṃ labhante satkṛtaṃ sadā ॥12-165-15॥
For him, always, likewise on the Ṣāḍhī and Māghī days, many Brāhmaṇas always receive the desired excellent food, honored and respected.
viśeṣatastu kārttikyāṃ dvijebhyaḥ samprayacchati। śaradvyapāye ratnāni paurṇamāsyāmiti śrutiḥ ॥12-165-16॥
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॥
suvarṇaṃ rajataṃ caiva maṇīnatha ca mauktikam। vajrānmahādhanaṃścaiva vaiḍūryājinarāṅkavān ॥12-165-17॥
Gold, silver, gems, pearls, diamonds, great treasures, cat's-eye gems, and animal skins adorned with marks.
ratnarāśīn vinikṣipya dakṣiṇārthe sa bhārata। tataḥ prāha dvijaśreṣṭhān virūpākṣaḥ mahāyaśāḥ ॥12-165-18॥
O Bhārata, after placing heaps of jewels as gifts, the greatly renowned Virūpākṣa then addressed the foremost of the Brāhmaṇas.
gṛhṇīta ratnānyetāni yathotsāhaṃ yatheṣṭataḥ। yeṣu yeṣu ca bhāṇḍeṣu bhuktaṃ vo dvijasattamāḥ॥ tānyevādāya gacchadhvaṃ svaveśmānīti bhārata॥12-165-19॥
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.
ity-uktavacane tasmin rākṣasendre mahātmani। yatheṣṭaṃ tāni ratnāni jagṛhur brāhmaṇarṣabhāḥ ॥12-165-20॥
When those words were spoken by the great-souled king of the rākṣasas, the foremost of brāhmaṇas took those gems as they wished.
tato mahārhaiste sarve ratnairabhyarcitāḥ śubhaiḥ। brāhmaṇā mṛṣṭavasanāḥ suprītāḥ sma tadābhavan ॥12-165-21॥
Then all the Brāhmaṇas, adorned with the most precious and auspicious jewels and dressed in clean garments, became very pleased at that time.
tatastānrākṣasendraśca dvijānāha punarvacaḥ। nānādigāgatānrājanrākṣasānpratiṣidhya vai ॥12-165-22॥
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.
adhyaikadivasaṃ viprā na vo'stīha bhayaṃ kvacit। rākṣasebhyaḥ pramodadhvamiṣṭato yāta māciram ॥12-165-23॥
O Brāhmaṇas, today for one day you need not fear anything here from the Rākṣasas; rejoice as you wish and go without delay.
tataḥ pradudruvuḥ sarve viprasaṅghāḥ samantataḥ। gautamo'pi suvarṇasya bhāram ādāya satvaraḥ ॥12-165-24॥
Then all the groups of Brāhmaṇas fled in all directions. Gautama too quickly took the load of gold and left.
kṛcchrāt samudvahan vīra nyagrodhaṃ samupāgamat। nyaṣīdac ca pariśrāntaḥ klāntaś ca kṣudhitaś ca ha ॥12-165-25॥
Having endured great hardship, the hero approached the banyan tree and, truly exhausted, weary, and hungry, sat down.
tatastamabhyagādrājanrājadharmā khagottamaḥ। svāgatenābhyanandacca gautamaṃ mitravatsalaḥ ॥12-165-26॥
Then, O king, the best among birds who upholds royal duty approached him and, with a warm welcome, greeted Gautama affectionately as a friend.
tasya pakṣāgravikṣepaiḥ klamaṃ vyapanayat khagaḥ. pūjāṃ cāpy akarod dhīmān bhojanaṃ cāpy akalpayat ॥12-165-27॥
The bird relieved his fatigue by fanning him with the tips of its wings; the wise bird also honored him and prepared food.
sa bhuktavān suviśrānto gautamo'cintayattadā। hāṭakasya abhirūpasya bhāro'yaṃ sumahān mayā॥ gṛhīto lobhamohād vai dūraṃ ca gamanaṃ mama॥12-165-28॥
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."
na cāsti pathi bhoktavyaṃ prāṇasandhāraṇaṃ mama। kiṃ kṛtvā dhārayeyaṃ vai prāṇānity abhyacintayat ॥12-165-29॥
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?'
tataḥ sa pathi bhoktavyaṃ prekṣamāṇo na kiñcana। kṛtaghnaḥ puruṣavyāghra manasedam acintayat ॥12-165-30॥
Then the ungrateful one, observing nothing to eat on the path, thought this in his mind, O tiger among men.
ayaṃ bakapatiḥ pārśve māṃsaráśiḥ sthito mama। imaṃ hatvā gṛhītvā ca yāsyé'haṃ samabhidrutam ॥12-165-31॥
This lord of cranes is beside me, a heap of flesh placed here. After killing and taking this, I will go away swiftly.
