12.167
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhīṣma said.
ततश्चितां बकपतेः कारयामास राक्षसः। रत्नैर्गन्धैश्च बहुभिर्वस्त्रैश्च समलङ्कृताम् ॥१२-१६७-१॥
Then the demon had a funeral pyre constructed for the lord of Baka, richly decorated with many jewels, perfumes, and garments.
तत्र प्रज्वाल्य नृपते बकराजं प्रतापवान्। प्रेतकार्याणि विधिवद्राक्षसेन्द्रश्चकार ह ॥१२-१६७-२॥
There, O king, the mighty lord of the rākṣasas performed the funeral rites for Baka according to the prescribed rules.
तस्मिन्कालेऽथ सुरभिर्देवी दाक्षायणी शुभा। उपरिष्टात्ततस्तस्य सा बभूव पयस्विनी ॥१२-१६७-३॥
At that time, then, the auspicious goddess Surabhi, daughter of Dakṣa, from above, became full of milk for him.
तस्या वक्त्राच्च्युतः फेनः क्षीरमिश्रस्तदानघ। सोऽपतद्वै ततस्तस्यां चितायां राजधर्मणः ॥१२-१६७-४॥
O sinless one, then foam mixed with milk fell from her mouth and landed on the funeral pyre of Rājadharmaṇaḥ.
ततः सञ्जीवितस्तेन बकराजस्तदानघ। उत्पत्य च समेयाय विरूपाक्षं बकाधिपः ॥१२-१६७-५॥
Then, O sinless one, the king of cranes, having been revived by him, rose up and approached Virupaksha.
ततोऽभ्ययाद्देवराजो विरूपाक्षपुरं तदा। प्राह चेदं विरूपाक्षं दिष्ट्यायं जीवतीत्युत ॥१२-१६७-६॥
Then Indra, the king of the gods, went to the city of Virupaksha at that time and said to Virupaksha, "By good fortune, he is alive."
श्रावयामास चेन्द्रस्तं विरूपाक्षं पुरातनम्। यथा शापः पुरा दत्तो ब्रह्मणा राजधर्मणः ॥१२-१६७-७॥
Indra informed that ancient Virūpākṣa, just as Brahmā had once pronounced a curse upon Rājadharma.
यदा बकपती राजन्ब्रह्माणं नोपसर्पति। ततो रोषादिदं प्राह बकेन्द्राय पितामहः ॥१२-१६७-८॥
O king, when the lord of Baka did not approach Brahmā, then, out of anger, the grandsire (Brahmā) spoke these words to the lord of Baka.
यस्मान्मूढो मम सदो नागतोऽसौ बकाधमः। तस्माद्वधं स दुष्टात्मा नचिरात्समवाप्स्यति ॥१२-१६७-९॥
Because that deluded Baka has never come to me, therefore that evil-minded one will soon meet his death.
तदायं तस्य वचनान्निहतो गौतमेन वै। तेनैवामृतसिक्तश्च पुनः सञ्जीवितो बकः ॥१२-१६७-१०॥
Then, by Gautama's word, the crane was struck down, but by him, sprinkled with nectar, the crane was revived again.
राजधर्मा ततः प्राह प्रणिपत्य पुरंदरम्। यदि तेऽनुग्रहकृता मयि बुद्धिः पुरंदर ॥ सखायं मे सुदयितं गौतमं जीवयेत्युत ॥१२-१६७-११॥
Rājadharmā, after bowing to Indra, said: "If your intention towards me is out of favor, O Indra, then please bring my beloved friend Gautama back to life."
तस्य वाक्यं समाज्ञाय वासवः पुरुषर्षभ। सञ्जीवयित्वा सख्ये वै प्रादात्तं गौतमं तदा ॥१२-१६७-१२॥
Having understood his words, Indra, the best among men, revived Gautama and then gave him back in friendship.
सभाण्डोपस्करं राजंस्तमासाद्य बकाधिपः। सम्परिष्वज्य सुहृदं प्रीत्या परमया युतः ॥१२-१६७-१३॥
O king, the lord of the herons, having approached him with all his vessels and implements, embraced his friend with the utmost affection.
अथ तं पापकर्माणं राजधर्मा बकाधिपः। विसर्जयित्वा सधनं प्रविवेश स्वमालयम् ॥१२-१६७-१४॥
Then the righteous king, lord of the herons, dismissed the evil-doer with his wealth and entered his own palace.
यथोचितं च स बको ययौ ब्रह्मसदस्तदा। ब्रह्मा च तं महात्मानमातिथ्येनाभ्यपूजयत् ॥१२-१६७-१५॥
Then, as appropriate, the crane went to the assembly of Brahmā. Brahmā honored that great-souled one with hospitality.
गौतमश्चापि सम्प्राप्य पुनस्तं शबरालयम्। शूद्रायां जनयामास पुत्रान्दुष्कृतकारिणः ॥१२-१६७-१६॥
Gautama, having once again reached that abode of the Śabara, begot sons in a Śūdra woman, who became doers of evil deeds.
शापश्च सुमहांस्तस्य दत्तः सुरगणैस्तदा। कुक्षौ पुनर्भ्वां भार्यायां जनयित्वा चिरात्सुतान् ॥ निरयं प्राप्स्यति महत्कृतघ्नोऽयमिति प्रभो ॥१२-१६७-१७॥
A very great curse was pronounced upon him by the hosts of gods at that time. After a long time, having begotten sons again in the womb of the earth's wife, this ungrateful one will attain great hell, O Lord.
एतत्प्राह पुरा सर्वं नारदो मम भारत। संस्मृत्य चापि सुमहदाख्यानं पुरुषर्षभ ॥ मयापि भवते सर्वं यथावदुपवर्णितम् ॥१२-१६७-१८॥
O Bhārata, this entire account was formerly spoken to me by Nārada. O best of men, having recalled that very great narrative, I too have described everything to you just as it was.
कुतः कृतघ्नस्य यशः कुतः स्थानं कुतः सुखम्। अश्रद्धेयः कृतघ्नो हि कृतघ्ने नास्ति निष्कृतिः ॥१२-१६७-१९॥
How can the ungrateful have fame, position, or happiness? The ungrateful person is truly untrustworthy; for such a one, there is no redemption.
मित्रद्रोहो न कर्तव्यः पुरुषेण विशेषतः। मित्रध्रुङ्निरयं घोरमनन्तं प्रतिपद्यते ॥१२-१६७-२०॥
One must never betray a friend, especially; for one who betrays a friend attains a terrible and endless hell.
कृतज्ञेन सदा भाव्यं मित्रकामेन चानघ। मित्रात्प्रभवते सत्यं मित्रात्प्रभवते बलम् ॥ सत्कारैरुत्तमैर्मित्रं पूजयेत विचक्षणः ॥१२-१६७-२१॥
O sinless one, one who desires friendship should always be grateful. Truth and strength arise from friendship. The wise should honour a friend with the best of honours.
परित्याज्यो बुधैः पापः कृतघ्नो निरपत्रपः। मित्रद्रोही कुलाङ्गारः पापकर्मा नराधमः ॥१२-१६७-२२॥
The wise should abandon a person who is wicked, ungrateful, shameless, betrays friends, is a disgrace to the family, does evil deeds, and is the vilest among men.
एष धर्मभृतां श्रेष्ठ प्रोक्तः पापो मया तव। मित्रद्रोही कृतघ्नो वै किं भूयः श्रोतुमिच्छसि ॥१२-१६७-२३॥
This is the best among the upholders of dharma, the sinner, as declared by me to you. He is a betrayer of a friend, ungrateful indeed—what more do you wish to hear?
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
एतच्छ्रुत्वा तदा वाक्यं भीष्मेणोक्तं महात्मना। युधिष्ठिरः प्रीतमना बभूव जनमेजय ॥१२-१६७-२४॥
O Janamejaya, when Yudhiṣṭhira heard these words spoken by the noble Bhīṣma, his heart was filled with joy.
