12.349
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhishma said.
स पन्नगपतिस्तत्र प्रययौ ब्राह्मणं प्रति। तमेव मनसा ध्यायन्कार्यवत्तां विचारयन् ॥१२-३४९-१॥
There, the lord of serpents went towards the brāhmaṇa, meditating only on him in his mind and considering the state of being purposeful. (12-349-1)
तमभिक्रम्य नागेन्द्रो मतिमान्स नरेश्वर। प्रोवाच मधुरं वाक्यं प्रकृत्या धर्मवत्सलः ॥१२-३४९-२॥
Having approached him, the wise king of serpents, who was by nature fond of dharma, spoke sweet words to the lord of men. (12-349-2)
भो भो क्षाम्याभिभाषे त्वां न रोषं कर्तुमर्हसि। इह त्वमभिसम्प्राप्तः कस्यार्थे किं प्रयोजनम् ॥१२-३४९-३॥
O, O, I address you for forgiveness; you ought not to be angry. For what purpose have you arrived here, and what is your intention? (12-349-3)
आभिमुख्यादभिक्रम्य स्नेहात्पृच्छामि ते द्विज। विविक्ते गोमतीतीरे किं वा त्वं पर्युपाससे ॥१२-३४९-४॥
Having approached you out of affection, O twice-born, I ask: In this solitary place on the bank of the Gomati, what is it that you are engaged in? (12-349-4)
ब्राह्मण उवाच॥
The brāhmaṇa said:
धर्मारण्यं हि मां विद्धि नागं द्रष्टुमिहागतम्। पद्मनाभं द्विजश्रेष्ठं तत्र मे कार्यमाहितम् ॥१२-३४९-५॥
Know that I am the Nāga who has come here to see the forest of dharma; O Padmanabha, best of the twice-born, my assigned task is there. (12-349-5)
तस्य चाहमसांनिध्यं श्रुतवानस्मि तं गतम्। स्वजनं तं प्रतीक्षामि पर्जन्यमिव कर्षकः ॥१२-३४९-६॥
And I have heard of his absence, that he has gone. I await my own kinsman, just as a farmer awaits the rain. (12-349-6)
तस्य चाक्लेशकरणं स्वस्तिकारसमाहितम्। वर्तयाम्ययुतं ब्रह्म योगयुक्तो निरामयः ॥१२-३४९-७॥
And of him, I, joined with yoga and free from affliction, maintain ten thousand Brahmans, all absorbed in auspiciousness and free from pain. (12-349-7)
नाग उवाच॥
The serpent said.
अहो कल्याणवृत्तस्त्वं साधु सज्जनवत्सलः। श्रवाढ्यस्त्वं महाभाग परं स्नेहेन पश्यसि ॥१२-३४९-८॥
Indeed, you are of auspicious conduct, good, affectionate to good people; you are rich in fame, greatly fortunate, and you see everything with supreme affection. (12-349-8)
अहं स नागो विप्रर्षे यथा मां विन्दते भवान्। आज्ञापय यथा स्वैरं किं करोमि प्रियं तव ॥१२-३४९-९॥
O best of Brāhmaṇas, I am that serpent whom you have found; command me so that I may freely do whatever is dear to you. (12-349-9)
भवन्तं स्वजनादस्मि सम्प्राप्तं श्रुतवानिह। अतस्त्वां स्वयमेवाहं द्रष्टुमभ्यागतो द्विज ॥१२-३४९-१०॥
Having heard from my own people that you have arrived here, O twice-born, I have therefore come myself to see you. (12-349-10)
सम्प्राप्तश्च भवानद्य कृतार्थः प्रतियास्यति। विस्रब्धो मां द्विजश्रेष्ठ विषये योक्तुमर्हसि ॥१२-३४९-११॥
You, having arrived today and accomplished your purpose, will return. O best of the twice-born, you should confidently tell me about the matter. (12-349-11)
वयं हि भवता सर्वे गुणक्रीता विशेषतः। यस्त्वमात्महितं त्यक्त्वा मामेवेहानुरुध्यसे ॥१२-३४९-१२॥
Indeed, all of us have been won over by your virtues, especially; for you, having set aside your own benefit, follow only me here. (12-349-12)
ब्राह्मण उवाच॥
The brāhmaṇa said.
आगतोऽहं महाभाग तव दर्शनलालसः। कञ्चिदर्थमनर्थज्ञः प्रष्टुकामो भुजङ्गम ॥१२-३४९-१३॥
O greatly fortunate one, I have come to see you, eager for your audience. Ignorant of misfortune, I wish to ask you about a certain matter, O serpent. (12-349-13)
अहमात्मानमात्मस्थो मार्गमाणोऽऽत्मनो हितम्। वासार्थिनं महाप्राज्ञ बलवन्तमुपास्मि ह ॥१२-३४९-१४॥
I, established in myself and seeking my own welfare, truly worship the greatly wise and powerful one who seeks a dwelling. (12-349-14)
प्रकाशितस्त्वं स्वगुणैर्यशोगर्भगभस्तिभिः। शशाङ्ककरसंस्पर्शैर्हृद्यैरात्मप्रकाशितैः ॥१२-३४९-१५॥
You are revealed by your own qualities, by rays filled with fame, by the delightful touch of moonbeams, and by your self-illumination. (12-349-15)
तस्य मे प्रश्नमुत्पन्नं छिन्धि त्वमनिलाशन। पश्चात्कार्यं वदिष्यामि श्रोतुमर्हति मे भवान् ॥१२-३४९-१६॥
O eater of wind, you should resolve the question that has arisen for me; afterwards, I will speak of the matter, and you are worthy to hear it from me. (12-349-16)
