12.353
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhishma said.
स चामन्त्र्योरगश्रेष्ठं ब्राह्मणः कृतनिश्चयः। दीक्षाकाङ्क्षी तदा राजंश्च्यवनं भार्गवं श्रितः ॥१२-३५३-१॥
He, having addressed the best of serpents, the brāhmaṇa, having firmly resolved and desiring initiation, then, O king, approached Cyavana, the descendant of Bhṛgu. (12-353-1)
स तेन कृतसंस्कारो धर्ममेवोपतस्थिवान्। तथैव च कथामेतां राजन्कथितवांस्तदा ॥१२-३५३-२॥
Having performed the rites, he approached dharma. In the same way, O king, he told this story at that time. (12-353-2)
भार्गवेणापि राजेन्द्र जनकस्य निवेशने। कथैषा कथिता पुण्या नारदाय महात्मने ॥१२-३५३-३॥
O king, this auspicious story was also told by Bhārgava to the great-souled Nārada in the residence of Janaka. (12-353-3)
नारदेनापि राजेन्द्र देवेन्द्रस्य निवेशने। कथिता भरतश्रेष्ठ पृष्टेनाक्लिष्टकर्मणा ॥१२-३५३-४॥
O best of the Bharatas, these were also told by Nārada in Indra's abode, O king, when asked by one whose actions are unwearied. (12-353-4)
देवराजेन च पुरा कथैषा कथिता शुभा। समस्तेभ्यः प्रशस्तेभ्यो वसुभ्यो वसुधाधिप ॥१२-३५३-५॥
O lord of the earth, this auspicious story was once told by the king of the gods to all the excellent Vasus. (12-353-5)
यदा च मम रामेण युद्धमासीत्सुदारुणम्। वसुभिश्च तदा राजन्कथेयं कथिता मम ॥१२-३५३-६॥
O king, when there was a very terrible battle between me and Rāma, then this story was told by me to the Vasus. (12-353-6)
पृच्छमानाय तत्त्वेन मया तुभ्यं विशां पते। कथेयं कथिता पुण्या धर्म्या धर्मभृतां वर ॥१२-३५३-७॥
O best of the upholders of dharma, O lord of the people, I have truly told you, who are asking, this meritorious and righteous account. (12-353-7)
तदेष परमो धर्मो यन्मां पृच्छसि भारत। असन्नधीरनाकाङ्क्षी धर्मार्थकरणे नृप ॥१२-३५३-८॥
O Bhārata, that which you ask me is the supreme duty: to be unwavering and free from desire in the performance of duty and purpose, O king. (12-353-8)
स च किल कृतनिश्चयो द्विजाग्र्यो; भुजगपतिप्रतिदेशितार्थकृत्यः। यमनियमसमाहितो वनान्तं; परिगणितोञ्छशिलाशनः प्रविष्टः ॥१२-३५३-९॥
He, having firmly resolved, the foremost of the twice-born, having performed the task as instructed by the lord of serpents, composed in restraint and observance, entered the depths of the forest, subsisting on gleanings and stones. (12-353-9)
