12.167
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said.
tataś citāṃ bakapateḥ kārayāmāsa rākṣasaḥ। ratnaiḥ gandhaiś ca bahubhir vastraiś ca samalaṅkṛtām ॥12-167-1॥
Then the demon had a funeral pyre constructed for the lord of Baka, richly decorated with many jewels, perfumes, and garments.
tatra prajvālya nṛpate bakarājaṃ pratāpavān। pretakāryāṇi vidhivad rākṣasendraś cakāra ha ॥12-167-2॥
There, O king, the mighty lord of the rākṣasas performed the funeral rites for Baka according to the prescribed rules.
tasmin kāle 'tha surabhir devī dākṣāyaṇī śubhā। upariṣṭāt tataḥ tasya sā babhūva payasvinī॥12-167-3॥
At that time, then, the auspicious goddess Surabhi, daughter of Dakṣa, from above, became full of milk for him.
tasyā vaktrāccyutaḥ phenaḥ kṣīramiśrastadānagha। so'patadvai tatastasyāṃ citāyāṃ rājadharmaṇaḥ ॥12-167-4॥
O sinless one, then foam mixed with milk fell from her mouth and landed on the funeral pyre of Rājadharmaṇaḥ.
tataḥ sañjīvitastena bakarājastadānagha। utpatya ca sameyāya virūpākṣaṃ bakādhipaḥ ॥12-167-5॥
Then, O sinless one, the king of cranes, having been revived by him, rose up and approached Virupaksha.
tato'bhyayād devarājo virūpākṣapuraṃ tadā। prāha cedaṃ virūpākṣaṃ diṣṭyāyaṃ jīvatītyuta ॥12-167-6॥
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."
śrāvayāmāsa cendras taṃ virūpākṣaṃ purātanam। yathā śāpaḥ purā datto brahmaṇā rājadharmaṇaḥ ॥12-167-7॥
Indra informed that ancient Virūpākṣa, just as Brahmā had once pronounced a curse upon Rājadharma.
yadā bakapatī rājan brahmāṇaṃ nopasarpati। tato roṣād idaṃ prāha bakendrāya pitāmahaḥ ॥12-167-8॥
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.
yasmān mūḍho mama sadā na āgataḥ asau baka-adhamaḥ। tasmāt vadham sa duṣṭātmā na cirāt samavāpsyati॥12-167-9॥
Because that deluded Baka has never come to me, therefore that evil-minded one will soon meet his death.
tadāyaṃ tasya vacanānnihato gautamena vai। tenaivāmṛtasiktaśca punaḥ sañjīvito bakaḥ ॥12-167-10॥
Then, by Gautama's word, the crane was struck down, but by him, sprinkled with nectar, the crane was revived again.
rājadharmā tataḥ prāha praṇipatya puraṃdaram। yadi te'nugrahakṛtā mayi buddhiḥ puraṃdara ॥ sakhāyaṃ me sudayitaṃ gautamaṃ jīvayet yuta ॥12-167-11॥
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."
tasya vākyaṃ samājñāya vāsavaḥ puruṣarṣabha। sañjīvayitvā sakhye vai prādāttaṃ gautamaṃ tadā ॥12-167-12॥
Having understood his words, Indra, the best among men, revived Gautama and then gave him back in friendship.
sabhāṇḍopaskaraṃ rājaṃs tam āsādya bakādhipaḥ। sampariṣvajya suhṛdaṃ prītyā paramayā yutaḥ ॥12-167-13॥
O king, the lord of the herons, having approached him with all his vessels and implements, embraced his friend with the utmost affection.
atha taṃ pāpakarmāṇaṃ rājadhamrā bakādhipaḥ। visarjayitvā sadhanaṃ praviveśa svamālayam ॥12-167-14॥
Then the righteous king, lord of the herons, dismissed the evil-doer with his wealth and entered his own palace.
yathocitaṃ ca sa bako yayau brahmasadastadā। brahmā ca taṃ mahātmānam ātithyenābhyapūjayat ॥12-167-15॥
Then, as appropriate, the crane went to the assembly of Brahmā. Brahmā honored that great-souled one with hospitality.
gautamaś cāpi samprāpya punas taṃ śabarālayam। śūdrāyāṃ janayāmāsa putrān duṣkṛtakāriṇaḥ ॥12-167-16॥
Gautama, having once again reached that abode of the Śabara, begot sons in a Śūdra woman, who became doers of evil deeds.
śāpaś ca sumahāṁs tasya dattaḥ suragaṇais tadā। kukṣau punar bhvāṁ bhāryāyāṁ janayitvā cirāt sutān॥ nirayaṁ prāpsyati mahat kṛtaghno'yam iti prabho॥12-167-17॥
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.
etat prāha purā sarvaṃ nārado mama bhārata। saṃsmṛtya cāpi sumahadākhyānaṃ puruṣarṣabha ॥ mayāpi bhavate sarvaṃ yathāvadupavarṇitam ॥12-167-18॥
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.
kutaḥ kṛtaghnasya yaśaḥ kutaḥ sthānaṃ kutaḥ sukham। aśraddheyaḥ kṛtaghno hi kṛtaghne nāsti niṣkṛtiḥ ॥12-167-19॥
How can the ungrateful have fame, position, or happiness? The ungrateful person is truly untrustworthy; for such a one, there is no redemption.
mitradroho na kartavyaḥ puruṣeṇa viśeṣataḥ। mitradhruṅnirayaṃ ghoramanantaṃ pratipadyate ॥12-167-20॥
One must never betray a friend, especially; for one who betrays a friend attains a terrible and endless hell.
kṛtajñena sadā bhāvyaṃ mitrakāmena cānagha। mitrātprabhavate satyaṃ mitrātprabhavate balam ॥ satkārairuttamairmitraṃ pūjayeta vicakṣaṇaḥ ॥12-167-21॥
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.
parityājyo budhaiḥ pāpaḥ kṛtaghno nirapatrapaḥ। mitradrohī kulāṅgāraḥ pāpakarmā narādhamaḥ ॥12-167-22॥
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.
eṣa dharmabhṛtāṃ śreṣṭha proktaḥ pāpo mayā tava। mitradrohī kṛtaghno vai kiṃ bhūyaḥ śrotumicchasi॥12-167-23॥
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?
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
etat-śrutvā tadā vākyaṃ bhīṣmeṇoktaṃ mahātmanā। yudhiṣṭhiraḥ prītamanā babhūva janamejaya ॥12-167-24॥
O Janamejaya, when Yudhiṣṭhira heard these words spoken by the noble Bhīṣma, his heart was filled with joy.
