12.349
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhishma said.
sa pannagapatistatra prayayau brāhmaṇaṃ prati। tameva manasā dhyāyankāryavattāṃ vicārayan ॥12-349-1॥
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)
tam abhikramya nāgendro matimān sa nareśvara। provāca madhuraṃ vākyaṃ prakṛtyā dharmavatsalaḥ ॥12-349-2॥
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)
bho bho kṣāmyābhibhāṣe tvāṃ na roṣaṃ kartumarhasi। iha tvam abhisamprāptaḥ kasyārthe kiṃ prayojanam ॥12-349-3॥
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)
ābhimukhyād abhikramya snehāt pṛcchāmi te dvija। vivikte gomatī-tīre kiṃ vā tvaṃ paryupāsase ॥12-349-4॥
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)
brāhmaṇa uvāca॥
The brāhmaṇa said:
dharmāraṇyaṃ hi māṃ viddhi nāgaṃ draṣṭum ihāgatam। padmanābhaṃ dvijaśreṣṭhaṃ tatra me kāryam āhitam ॥12-349-5॥
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)
tasya cāham asāṁnidhyaṁ śrutavānasmi taṁ gatam। svajanaṁ taṁ pratīkṣāmi parjanyam iva karṣakaḥ ॥12-349-6॥
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)
tasya cākleśakaraṇaṃ svastikārasamāhitam। vartayāmyayutaṃ brahma yogayukto nirāmayaḥ ॥12-349-7॥
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)
nāga uvāca॥
The serpent said.
aho kalyāṇavṛttastvaṃ sādhu sajjanavatsalaḥ। śravāḍhyastvaṃ mahābhāga paraṃ snehena paśyasi ॥12-349-8॥
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)
ahaṃ sa nāgo viprarṣe yathā māṃ vindate bhavān। ājñāpaya yathā svairaṃ kiṃ karomi priyaṃ tava ॥12-349-9॥
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)
bhavantaṃ svajanādasmi samprāptaṃ śrutavāniha। atastvāṃ svayamevāhaṃ draṣṭumabhyāgato dvija ॥12-349-10॥
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)
samprāptaś ca bhavān adya kṛtārthaḥ pratiyāsyati। visrabdho māṃ dvijaśreṣṭha viṣaye yoktum arhasi ॥12-349-11॥
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)
vayaṃ hi bhavatā sarve guṇakrītā viśeṣataḥ। yastvamātmahitaṃ tyaktvā māmevehānurudhyase ॥12-349-12॥
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)
brāhmaṇa uvāca॥
The brāhmaṇa said.
āgato'haṃ mahābhāga tava darśanalālasaḥ। kañcidarthamanarthajñaḥ praṣṭukāmo bhujaṅgama ॥12-349-13॥
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)
aham ātmānam ātmastho mārgamāṇo''tmano hitam। vāsārthinaṃ mahāprājña balavantam upāsmi ha ॥12-349-14॥
I, established in myself and seeking my own welfare, truly worship the greatly wise and powerful one who seeks a dwelling. (12-349-14)
prakāśitastvaṃ svaguṇairyashogarbhagabhastibhiḥ। śaśāṅkakarasaṃsparśairhṛdyairātmaprakāśitaiḥ ॥12-349-15॥
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)
tasya me praśnam utpannaṃ chindhi tvam anilāśana। paścāt kāryaṃ vadiṣyāmi śrotum arhati me bhavān ॥12-349-16॥
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)
