12.253
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said.
atrāpy udāharantīmam itihāsaṃ purātanam। tulādhārasya vākyāni dharme jājalinā saha ॥12-253-1॥
Here too, an ancient story is told: the words of Tulādhāra on dharma, in conversation with Jājali.
vane vanacaraḥ kaścid jājaliḥ nāma vai dvijaḥ। sāgaroddeśam āgamya tapas tepe mahātapāḥ॥12-253-2॥
In the forest, there was a certain forest-dweller named Jājali, a Brāhmaṇa, who, after reaching the ocean's region, performed great austerities.
niyato niyatāhāraś cīrājinajaṭādharaḥ। malapaṅkadharo dhīmān bahūn varṣagaṇān muniḥ ॥12-253-3॥
The sage, self-controlled and regulated in food, who wore bark, animal skin, and matted hair, and bore dirt and mud, lived wisely for many years.
sa kadācin mahātejā jalavāso mahīpate। cacāra lokān viprarṣiḥ prekṣamāṇo manojavaḥ ॥12-253-4॥
Once, O king, that Brāhmaṇa sage of great brilliance, who dwelt in water and was swift as the mind, wandered through the worlds, observing them.
sa cintayāmāsa munir jalamadhye kadācana। viprekṣya sāgarāntāṃ vai mahīṃ savanakānanām ॥12-253-5॥
At some time, the sage, while in the midst of water, contemplated; having observed the earth, which ends at the ocean and is adorned with sacrificial forests.
na mayā sadṛśo'stīha loke sthāvarajaṅgame। apsu vaihāyasaṃ gacchenmayā yo'nyaḥ saheti vai ॥12-253-6॥
There is no one equal to me here in the world among all beings, stationary or moving; if anyone else could go in the waters or the sky as I do, then indeed he goes.
sa dṛśyamāno rakṣobhir jalamadhye'vadattataḥ। abruvaṃś ca piśācās taṃ naivaṃ tvaṃ vaktum arhasi ॥12-253-7॥
He, seen by the demons in the middle of the water, spoke from there. Then the piśācas said to him, "You should not speak in this way."
tulādhāro vaṇigdharmā vārāṇasyāṃ mahāyaśāḥ। so'py evaṃ nārhate vaktuṃ yathā tvaṃ dvijasattama ॥12-253-8॥
Tulādhāra, a renowned merchant of Vārāṇasī, is also not qualified to speak in the manner that you do, O best of the twice-born.
ityukto jājalirbhūtaiḥ pratyuvāca mahātapāḥ। paśyeyaṃ tamahaṃ prājñaṃ tulādhāraṃ yaśasvinam ॥12-253-9॥
Thus, when addressed by the beings, the great ascetic Jājali replied, "May I see that wise and illustrious Tulādhāra."
iti bruvāṇaṃ tam ṛṣiṃ rakṣāṃsy uddhṛtya sāgarāt। abruvan gaccha panthānam āsthāya imaṃ dvijottama ॥12-253-10॥
Thus, after addressing the sage and raising the demons from the ocean, they said: "Proceed along this path, O best of the twice-born."
ityukto jājalir bhūtair jagāma vimanās tadā। vārāṇasyāṃ tulādhāraṃ samāsādyābravīd vacaḥ ॥12-253-11॥
Thus, when addressed by the beings, Jājali, dispirited, went to Vārāṇasī. There, having approached Tulādhāra, he spoke these words.
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
kiṁ kṛtaṁ sukṛtaṁ karma tāta jājalinā purā। yena siddhiṁ parāṁ prāptas tanno vyākhyātum arhasi ॥12-253-12॥
O father, what virtuous deed did Jājali perform in the past by which he attained supreme accomplishment? Please explain that to us.
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said.
atīva tapasā yukto ghoreṇa sa babhūva ha। nady-upasparśana-rataḥ sāyaṃ prātar-mahātapāḥ ॥12-253-13॥
He became exceedingly engaged in severe austerities; he was devoted to bathing in the river both morning and evening, being a great ascetic.
agnīn paricaran samyak svādhyāya-paramo dvijaḥ। vānaprastha-vidhāna-jñaḥ jājalir jvalitaḥ śriyā॥12-253-14॥
Jājali, the twice-born Brāhmaṇa, who served the sacred fires properly and was devoted to self-study, and who knew the ordinances of the forest-dweller's life, shone with great splendor.
satye tapasi tiṣṭhans na ca dharmamavaikṣata। varṣāsvākāśaśāyī sa hemante jalasaṃśrayaḥ ॥12-253-15॥
He remained steadfast in truth and austerity, not concerning himself with other duties. During the rains, he lay under the open sky; in winter, he took refuge in water.
vatātapasaho grīṣme na ca dharmam avindata। duḥkhaśayyāś ca vividhā bhūmau ca parivartanam ॥12-253-16॥
Enduring the wind and heat of summer, he did not find righteousness; he experienced various painful beds and constant change on the ground.
tataḥ kadācit sa munir varṣāsu ākāśam āsthitaḥ। antarikṣāt jalam mūrdhnā pratyagṛhṇān muhur muhuḥ॥12-253-17॥
Then, at a certain time, that sage, during the rainy season, having taken to the open sky, repeatedly received water from the atmosphere upon his head.
atha tasya jaṭāḥ klinnā babhūvurgrathitāḥ prabho। araṇyagamanānnityaṃ malino malasaṃyutāḥ ॥12-253-18॥
Then, O lord, his matted locks became damp and entangled; due to always going to the forest, they were dirty and covered with dirt.
sa kadācin nirāhāro vāyubhakṣo mahātapāḥ। tasthau kāṣṭhavad avyagro na cacāla ca karhicit ॥12-253-19॥
He, at times, remained without food, subsisting only on air, a great ascetic; he stood like a piece of wood, unperturbed, never moving at any time.
tasya sma sthāṇubhūtasya nirviceṣṭasya bhārata। kuliṅgaśakunau rājan nīḍaṃ śirasi cakratuḥ ॥12-253-20॥
O Bhārata, while he stood motionless and unmoving, two kuliṅga birds, O king, built a nest on his head.
sa tau dayāvān viprarṣir upapraikṣata dampatī। kurvāṇaṃ nīḍakaṃ tatra jaṭāsu tṛṇatantubhiḥ ॥12-253-21॥
The compassionate sage watched as the couple made a nest there in the matted locks using grass fibers.
yadā sa na calatyeva sthāṇubhūto mahātapāḥ। tatastau pariviśvastau sukhaṃ tatroṣatustadā ॥12-253-22॥
When the great ascetic stood motionless like a pillar, then the two, feeling completely reassured, slept there comfortably.
atītāsvatha varṣāsu śaratkāla upasthite. prājāpatyena vidhinā viśvāsātkāmamohitau ॥12-253-23॥
Then, after the rainy seasons had passed and autumn had arrived, following the rule of Prajapati and out of trust, both were deluded by desire.
tatrāpātayatāṃ rājañśirasyaṇḍāni khecarau। tānyabudhyata tejasvī sa vipraḥ saṃśitavrataḥ ॥12-253-24॥
There, O king, the two celestial beings caused locks of hair from the head to fall. The brilliant sage of firm vow became aware of them.
buddhvā ca sa mahātejā na cacālaiva jājaliḥ। dharme dhṛtamanā nityaṃ nādharmaṃ sa tvarocayat ॥12-253-25॥
Having understood, the highly energetic Jājali did not waver; he always remained steadfast in dharma and never approved of unrighteousness.
ahany ahani cāgamya tatastau tasya mūrdhani। āśvāsitau vai vasataḥ samprahṛṣṭau tadā vibho ॥12-253-26॥
O lord, day by day, those two, having come, comforted him by placing their hands on his head; while staying there, they were very delighted.
aṇḍebhyas tv atha puṣṭebhyaḥ prajāyanta śakuntakāḥ। vyavardhanta ca tatraiva na cākampata jājaliḥ ॥12-253-27॥
Birds were born from the eggs, and as they grew right there, Jājali was not disturbed at all.
sa rakṣamāṇas tvaṇḍāni kuliṅgānāṃ yatavratāḥ| tathaiva tasthau dharmātmā nirviceṣṭaḥ samāhitaḥ ॥12-253-28॥
He, with self-controlled vows, stood there protecting the eggs of the birds, remaining righteous, motionless, and fully concentrated.
tatastu kālasamaye babhūvuste'tha pakṣiṇaḥ। bubudhe tāṃśca sa munirjātapakṣāñśakuntakān ॥12-253-29॥
Then, at the proper time, those birds became fledged; the sage noticed those young birds who had grown their wings.
tataḥ kadācittāṃstatra paśyanpakṣīnyatavrataḥ। babhūva paramaprītastadā matimatāṃ varaḥ ॥12-253-30॥
Then, at some point, seeing those birds there, the one of firm vow, who was the best among the wise, became supremely delighted.
tathā tān abhisaṃvṛddhān dṛṣṭvā ca āpnuvatām mudam। śakunau nirbhayau tatra ūṣatuś ca ātmajaiḥ saha ॥12-253-31॥
Thus, seeing their offspring fully grown and feeling joy, the two birds remained there fearlessly together with their children.
jātapakṣāṃś ca so'paśyad uḍḍīnān punarāgatān। sāyaṃ sāyaṃ dvijān vipro na cākampata jājaliḥ॥12-253-32॥
Jājali, the sage, saw the young birds who had grown wings, who had flown away and returned again; every evening, he saw the twice-born (birds), and he, Jājali, was not disturbed.
kadācit punar abhyetya punar gacchanti santatam। tyaktā mātṛ-pitṛbhyām te na cākampata jājaliḥ ॥12-253-33॥
Sometimes, after returning again and again, they kept leaving continuously. Though abandoned by his mother and father, Jājali was not shaken.
atha te divasaṃ cārīṃ gatvā sāyaṃ punarnṛpa। upāvartanta tatraiva nivāsārthaṃ śakuntakāḥ ॥12-253-34॥
Then, O king, after spending the day roaming, the birds returned there again in the evening to stay.
kadāciddivasānpañca samutpatya vihaṅgamāḥ। ṣaṣṭhe'ahani samājagmur na cākampata jājaliḥ॥12-253-35॥
Once, the birds flew away for five days; on the sixth day, they gathered together, but Jājali was not shaken.
krameṇa ca punaḥ sarve divasāni bahūny api। nopāvartanta śakunā jātaprāṇāḥ sma te yadā ॥12-253-36॥
As time passed, even after many days, all those birds, having regained life, did not return.
kadācin māsamātreṇa samutpatya vihaṅgamāḥ। naiva agacchan tataḥ rājan prātiṣṭhata sa jājaliḥ॥12-253-37॥
Once, within a month, after the birds had arisen, they did not leave from there; O king, Jājali departed.
tatasteṣu pralīneṣu jājalirjātavismayaḥ। siddho'smīti matiṃ cakre tatastaṃ māna āviśat ॥12-253-38॥
Then, when they had disappeared, Jājali, astonished, thought, 'I am accomplished.' At that moment, pride entered him.
sa tathā nirgatān dṛṣṭvā śakuntān niyata-vrataḥ | sambhāvita-ātmā sambhāvya bhṛśam prītaḥ tadā abhavat ॥12-253-39॥
Thus, when he saw the birds had departed, the steadfast and respected man, after considering, became greatly pleased at that moment.
sa nadyāṃ samupaspṛśya tarpayitvā hutāśanam। udayantam atha ādityam abhyagacchan mahātapāḥ ॥12-253-40॥
After performing the ritual ablutions in the river and offering oblations to the fire, he then approached the rising Sun, the great ascetic.
sambhāvya caṭakān mūrdhni jājalir japatāṃ varaḥ। āsphoṭayat tad ākāśe dharmaḥ prāpto mayeti vai ॥12-253-41॥
Jājali, the foremost among reciters, after considering the sparrows on his head, clapped his hands and declared in the sky, "Indeed, I have attained Dharma."
athāntarikṣe vāg āsīt tāṃ sa śuśrāva jājaliḥ। dharmeṇa na samas tvaṃ vai tulādhārasya jājale ॥12-253-42॥
Then, a voice was heard in the sky by Jājali: "By righteousness, you are not equal to Tulādhāra, O Jājali."
vārāṇasyāṃ mahāprājñastulādhāraḥ pratiṣṭhitaḥ। so'py evaṃ nārhate vaktuṃ yathā tvaṃ bhāṣase dvija ॥12-253-43॥
In Vārāṇasī, the greatly wise Tuladhara was established. Even he is not worthy to speak in the manner you do, O Brahmin.
so'marṣavaśamāpannastulādhāradidṛkṣayā। pṛthivīmacaradrājanyatrasāyaṅgṛho muniḥ ॥12-253-44॥
Driven by impatience and wishing to see the balance beam, he wandered the earth, O king, to the place where the sage stayed in the evening.
kālena mahatāgacchatsa tu vārāṇasīṃ purīm। vikrīṇantaṃ ca paṇyāni tulādhāraṃ dadarśa saḥ ॥12-253-45॥
After a long time, he went to the city of Vārāṇasī. There, he saw Tulādhāra selling goods.
so'pi dṛṣṭvaiva taṃ vipram āyāntaṃ bhāṇḍajīvanaḥ। samutthāya susaṃhṛṣṭaḥ svāgatenābhyapūjayat ॥12-253-46॥
The potter, upon seeing the brāhmaṇa approaching, rose up joyfully and welcomed him with honor.
tulādhāra uvāca॥
Tulādhāra said.
āyāne vāsi vidito mama brahman na saṃśayaḥ। bravīmi yat tu vacanaṃ tac chṛṇuṣva dvijottama ॥12-253-47॥
O Brāhmaṇa, on your arrival you have indeed become known to me, there is no doubt. Now, O best of twice-born, listen to the words I speak.
sāgarānūpam āśritya tapas taptaṃ tvayā mahat। na ca dharmasya sañjñāṃ tvaṃ purā vettha kathaṃcana ॥12-253-48॥
You performed great austerities by the seashore, but in the past you had no knowledge of dharma in any way.
tataḥ siddhasya tapasā tava vipra śakuntakāḥ। kṣipraṃ śirasyajāyanta te ca sambhāvitāstvayā ॥12-253-49॥
Then, O brāhmaṇa, as a result of your accomplished penance, birds quickly appeared on your head, and you honored them.
jātapakṣā yadā te ca gatāścārīmitastataḥ। manyamānastato dharmaṃ caṭakaprabhavaṃ dvija ॥ khe vācaṃ tvamathāśrauṣīrmāṃ prati dvijasattama ॥12-253-50॥
When your young ones had grown wings and departed, you, thinking thus, considered the duty that arose from the sparrow. Then, O best of the twice-born, you heard my words in the sky addressed to me.
amarṣavaśam-āpannas tataḥ prāpto bhavān iha। karavāṇi priyaṃ kiṃ te tad brūhi dvijasattama ॥12-253-51॥
You have come here, overcome by anger. O best of the twice-born, tell me what dear thing I should do for you.
