12.348
nāga uvāca॥
The serpent said.
atha brāhmaṇarūpeṇa kaṃ taṃ samanupaśyasi। mānuṣaṃ kevalaṃ vipraṃ devaṃ vātha śucismite ॥12-348-1॥
Now, in the form of a brāhmaṇa, whom do you perceive him to be, O pure-smiling one? Do you see him as merely a human, a brāhmaṇa, or a god? (12-348-1)
ko hi māṃ mānuṣaḥ śakto draṣṭukāmo yaśasvini. saṃdarśanarucirvākyamājñāpūrvaṃ vadiṣyati ॥12-348-2॥
O illustrious one, which human who desires to see me and is capable, will speak words expressing the wish to see me before being permitted? (12-348-2)
surāsuragaṇānāṃ ca devarṣīṇāṃ ca bhāmini। nanu nāgā mahāvīryāḥ sauraseyāstarasvinaḥ ॥12-348-3॥
O radiant one, among the groups of gods, demons, and divine sages, indeed, the serpents of great strength and the energetic Saurasenas stand out. (12-348-3)
vandanīyāś ca varadā vayam apy anuyāyinaḥ। manuṣyāṇāṃ viśeṣeṇa dhanādhyakṣā iti śrutiḥ ॥12-348-4॥
We, who are worthy of reverence and bestowers of boons, are also followers; especially among men, the superintendents of wealth, thus says the scripture. (12-348-4)
nāgabhāryovāca॥
The serpent's wife said.
ārjavena abhijānāmi na asau devaḥ anila-aśana। ekaṃ tu asya vijānāmi bhaktimān ati-roṣaṇaḥ ॥12-348-5॥
By straightforwardness I recognize that he is not a god who eats wind. But I know one thing about him: he is devoted and very angry. (12-348-5)
sa hi kāryāntarākāṅkṣī jal-epsuḥ stokakaḥ yathā। varṣaṃ varṣapriyaḥ pakṣī darśanaṃ tava kāṅkṣati ॥12-348-6॥
He, longing for another task and thirsting for water, is like the heron who, being fond of rain, eagerly awaits the sight of your rain. (12-348-6)
na hi tvā daivataṃ kiñcidvivignaṃ pratipālayet। tulye hyabhijane jāto na kaścit paryupāsate ॥12-348-7॥
Indeed, no divine being, even if disturbed, would wait for you. For among those born in equal noble birth, no one serves another. (12-348-7)
tadroṣaṃ sahajaṃ tyaktvā tvam enaṃ draṣṭum arhasi। āśāchedena tasyādya nātmānaṃ dagdhum arhasi ॥12-348-8॥
Having abandoned that innate anger, you are worthy to see him. By cutting off hope for him today, you should not burn yourself. (12-348-8)
āśayā tv abhipannānām akṛtvā aśru-pramārjanam। rājā vā rājaputro vā bhrūṇa-hatyā eva yujyate ॥12-348-9॥
If, out of hope, the king or the prince does not wipe away the tears of those who are afflicted, it is indeed considered equivalent to the killing of an embryo. (12-348-9)
maunāj-jñāna-phalāvāptir-dānena ca yaśo mahat। vāgmitvaṃ satyavākyena paratra ca mahīyate ॥12-348-10॥
From silence comes the attainment of the fruit of knowledge; by giving, great fame is obtained; eloquence is gained by speaking the truth; and in the next world, one is honored. (12-348-10)
bhūmipradānena gatiṃ labhatyāśramasaṃmitām। naṣṭasyārthasya samprāptiṃ kṛtvā phalam upāśnute ॥12-348-11॥
By giving land, one attains a state comparable to a hermitage; having recovered lost wealth, one enjoys the fruit. (12-348-11)
abhipretāmasaṅkliṣṭāṃ kṛtvākāmavatīṃ kriyām। na yāti nirayaṃ kaściditi dharmavido viduḥ ॥12-348-12॥
The knowers of dharma have declared that if one performs the intended, untainted action without desire, no one goes to hell. (12-348-12)
nāga uvāca॥
The serpent said.
abhimānena māno me jātidoṣeṇa vai mahān। roṣaḥ saṅkalpajaḥ sādhvi dagdho vācāgninā tvayā ॥12-348-13॥
O virtuous lady, by pride my honor and by the fault of birth, indeed great anger born of resolve has been burnt by the fire of your words. (12-348-13)
na ca roṣād ahaṃ sādhvi paśyeyam adhikaṃ tamaḥ। yasya vaktavyatāṃ yānti viśeṣeṇa bhujaṅgamāḥ ॥12-348-14॥
Nor, O virtuous lady, would I, out of anger, see a greater darkness; those to whom even serpents especially go to be addressed. (12-348-14)
doṣasya hi vaśaṃ gatvā daśagrīvaḥ pratāpavān। tathā śakrapratispardhī hato rāmeṇa saṃyuge ॥12-348-15॥
Because he fell under the sway of fault, the mighty ten-necked Rāvaṇa, rival of Indra, was slain by Rāma in battle. (12-348-15)
antaḥpuragataṃ vatsaṃ śrutvā rāmeṇa nirhṛtam। dharṣaṇādroṣasaṃvignāḥ kārtavīryasutā hatāḥ ॥12-348-16॥
When they heard that Rāma had taken away the calf that had entered the inner apartments, the sons of Kārtavīrya, agitated by the outrage and anger, were slain. (12-348-16)
jāmadagnyena rāmeṇa sahasranayanopamaḥ। saṃyuge nihato roṣātkārtavīryo mahābalaḥ ॥12-348-17॥
Kārtavīrya, of great strength and equal to Indra, was slain in battle by Rāma, the son of Jamadagni, out of anger. (12-348-17)
tadeṣa tapasāṃ śatruḥ śreyasaś ca nipātanaḥ। nigṛhīto mayā roṣaḥ śrutvaiva vacanaṃ tava ॥12-348-18॥
This, being the enemy of austerities and the downfall of excellence, I have restrained my anger upon hearing your words. (12-348-18)
ātmānaṃ ca viśeṣeṇa praśaṃsāmyanapāyini। yasya me tvaṃ viśālākṣi bhāryā sarvaguṇānvitā ॥12-348-19॥
O unfailing one, I especially praise myself, for you, O large-eyed one, are my wife endowed with all virtues. (12-348-19)
eṣa tatraiva gacchāmi yatra tiṣṭhaty asau dvijaḥ। sarvathā coktvān vākyaṃ nākṛtārthaḥ prayāsyati ॥12-348-20॥
I will go right there where that twice-born stands; in every way, one who has spoken a statement and whose purpose is not accomplished will not go. (12-348-20)
