12.166
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhīṣma said.
अथ तत्र महार्चिष्माननलो वातसारथिः। तस्याविदूरे रक्षार्थं खगेन्द्रेण कृतोऽभवत् ॥१२-१६६-१॥
Then, at that place, the greatly radiant fire with the wind as its charioteer was present. Not far from him, for protection, the lord of birds (Garuda) created (something or some arrangement).
स चापि पार्श्वे सुष्वाप विश्वस्तो बकराट्तदा। कृतघ्नस्तु स दुष्टात्मा तं जिघांसुरजागरत् ॥१२-१६६-२॥
He, trusting the crane king, slept well at his side. But the ungrateful and wicked-minded one stayed awake, intent on killing him.
ततोऽलातेन दीप्तेन विश्वस्तं निजघान तम्। निहत्य च मुदा युक्तः सोऽनुबन्धं न दृष्टवान् ॥१२-१६६-३॥
Then, with a blazing firebrand, he struck his confident foe. After slaying him, rejoicing, he did not pursue further.
स तं विपक्षरोमाणं कृत्वाग्नावपचत्तदा। तं गृहीत्वा सुवर्णं च ययौ द्रुततरं द्विजः ॥१२-१६६-४॥
He made the feathers of the opposing side and then cooked them in fire. Taking that and the gold, the Brahmin departed more swiftly.
ततोऽन्यस्मिन्गते चाह्नि विरूपाक्षोऽब्रवीत्सुतम्। न प्रेक्षे राजधर्माणमद्य पुत्र खगोत्तमम् ॥१२-१६६-५॥
Then, when another day had passed, Virūpākṣa said to his son: "Today, O son, O best of birds, I do not see the kingly duties."
स पूर्वसन्ध्यां ब्रह्माणं वन्दितुं याति सर्वदा। मां चादृष्ट्वा कदाचित्स न गच्छति गृहान्खगः ॥१२-१६६-६॥
He always goes to salute the Brahman at dawn. That bird never goes home without seeing me.
उभे द्विरात्रं सन्ध्ये वै नाभ्यगात्स ममालयम्। तस्मान्न शुध्यते भावो मम स ज्ञायतां सुहृत् ॥१२-१६६-७॥
O friend, know that my mind is not at peace, for both twilights and two nights have not come to my abode.
स्वाध्यायेन वियुक्तो हि ब्रह्मवर्चसवर्जितः। तं गतस्तत्र मे शङ्का हन्यात्तं स द्विजाधमः ॥१२-१६६-८॥
If one who is deprived of self-study and devoid of spiritual brilliance goes there, I fear that the lowest of the twice-born may harm him.
दुराचारस्तु दुर्बुद्धिरिङ्गितैर्लक्षितो मया। निष्क्रियो दारुणाकारः कृष्णो दस्युरिवाधमः ॥१२-१६६-९॥
Kṛṣṇa, wicked in conduct and of evil intellect, was identified by me through his gestures; he is inactive, of terrible appearance, and is like a bandit, the lowest of men.
गौतमः स गतस्तत्र तेनोद्विग्नं मनो मम। पुत्र शीघ्रमितो गत्वा राजधर्मनिवेशनम् ॥ ज्ञायतां स विशुद्धात्मा यदि जीवति माचिरम् ॥१२-१६६-१०॥
My mind is disturbed because Gautama has gone there. Son, quickly go from here to the royal court and find out at once whether that pure-souled one is still alive.
स एवमुक्तस्त्वरितो रक्षोभिः सहितो ययौ। न्यग्रोधं तत्र चापश्यत्कङ्कालं राजधर्मणः ॥१२-१६६-११॥
Thus addressed, he quickly went with the rākṣasas. There, at the banyan tree, he saw the skeleton of King Rājadharmaṇa.
स रुदन्नगमत्पुत्रो राक्षसेन्द्रस्य धीमतः। त्वरमाणः परं शक्त्या गौतमग्रहणाय वै ॥१२-१६६-१२॥
Weeping, the son of the wise king of the rākṣasas hastened with all his might to seize Gautama.
ततोऽविदूरे जगृहुर्गौतमं राक्षसास्तदा। राजधर्मशरीरं च पक्षास्थिचरणोज्झितम् ॥१२-१६६-१३॥
Then, not far away, the Rākṣasas seized Gautama and the body of Rājadharma, which had been stripped of its wings, bones, and feet.
तमादायाथ रक्षांसि द्रुतं मेरुव्रजं ययुः। राज्ञश्च दर्शयामासुः शरीरं राजधर्मणः ॥ कृतघ्नं पुरुषं तं च गौतमं पापचेतसम् ॥१२-१६६-१४॥
Then, having seized him, the demons swiftly went to Meruvraja and showed the body of Rajadharmaṇa to the king. They also pointed out the ungrateful man, Gautama, who was evil-minded.
रुरोद राजा तं दृष्ट्वा सामात्यः सपुरोहितः। आर्तनादश्च सुमहानभूत्तस्य निवेशने ॥१२-१६६-१५॥
When the king saw him, he wept, accompanied by his ministers and priests; and a very great cry of distress arose in his residence.
सस्त्रीकुमारं च पुरं बभूवास्वस्थमानसम्। अथाब्रवीन्नृपः पुत्रं पापोऽयं वध्यतामिति ॥१२-१६६-१६॥
The city, filled with women and children, became disturbed in mind. Then the king said to his son, "Let this wicked one be killed."
अस्य मांसैरिमे सर्वे विहरन्तु यथेष्टतः। पापाचारः पापकर्मा पापात्मा पापनिश्चयः ॥ हन्तव्योऽयं मम मतिर्भवद्भिरिति राक्षसाः ॥१२-१६६-१७॥
Let all these enjoy his flesh as they wish. He who is of evil conduct, evil deeds, evil soul, and evil resolve is to be killed—this is my opinion, O Rākṣasas.
इत्युक्ता राक्षसेन्द्रेण राक्षसा घोरविक्रमाः। नैच्छन्त तं भक्षयितुं पापकर्मायमित्युत ॥१२-१६६-१८॥
When thus addressed by the king of the rākṣasas, the rākṣasas of terrible prowess did not wish to eat him, saying, "This one is of evil deeds, indeed."
दस्यूनां दीयतामेष साध्वद्य पुरुषाधमः। इत्यूचुस्तं महाराज राक्षसेन्द्रं निशाचराः ॥१२-१६६-१९॥
The night-wanderers said to the king of the rākṣasas, "O great king, let this lowest of men be given to the robbers today, O good one."
शिरोभिश्च गता भूमिमूचू रक्षोगणाधिपम्। न दातुमर्हसि त्वं नो भक्षणायास्य किल्बिषम् ॥१२-१६६-२०॥
They bowed their heads to the ground and said to the lord of the demon hosts: "You should not give us the sin of eating him."
एवमस्त्विति तानाह राक्षसेन्द्रो निशाचरान्। दस्यूनां दीयतामेष कृतघ्नोऽद्यैव राक्षसाः ॥१२-१६६-२१॥
The king of the rākṣasas said to the night-wanderers, "So be it." He ordered, "O rākṣasas, let this ungrateful one be handed over to the robbers today."
इत्युक्ते तस्य ते दासाः शूलमुद्गरपाणयः। छित्त्वा तं खण्डशः पापं दस्युभ्यः प्रददुस्तदा ॥१२-१६६-२२॥
When this was said, his servants, armed with spears and maces, cut the wicked one into pieces and then gave him to the robbers.
दस्यवश्चापि नैच्छन्त तमत्तुं पापकारिणम्। क्रव्यादा अपि राजेन्द्र कृतघ्नं नोपभुञ्जते ॥१२-१६६-२३॥
Even robbers did not wish to eat that evil-doer. O king, even flesh-eaters do not consume the ungrateful person.
ब्रह्मघ्ने च सुरापे च चोरे भग्नव्रते तथा। निष्कृतिर्विहिता राजन्कृतघ्ने नास्ति निष्कृतिः ॥१२-१६६-२४॥
O king, expiation is prescribed for the slayer of a Brāhmaṇa, the drinker of intoxicating liquor, the thief, and the breaker of a vow; but for the ungrateful one, there is no expiation.
मित्रद्रोही नृशंसश्च कृतघ्नश्च नराधमः। क्रव्यादैः कृमिभिश्चान्यैर्न भुज्यन्ते हि तादृशाः ॥१२-१६६-२५॥
Those who betray friends, are cruel, ungrateful, and the lowest among men—such people are not consumed even by flesh-eating beings, worms, or others.
