13.005
शुक्रवासवसंवादः
The dialogue between Śukra and Indra.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
आनृशंसस्य धर्मस्य गुणान्भक्तजनस्य च। श्रोतुमिच्छामि कार्त्स्न्येन तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह ॥१३-५-१॥
O grandsire, I desire to hear in entirety the qualities of non-cruelty, of dharma, and of the devoted person; please tell me that. (13-5-1)
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhīṣma said.
विषये काशिराजस्य ग्रामान्निष्क्रम्य लुब्धकः। सविषं काण्डमादाय मृगयामास वै मृगम् ॥१३-५-२॥
In the territory of the king of Kāśi, a hunter left the village, took a poisoned stick, and indeed went to hunt an animal. (13-5-2)
तत्र चामिषलुब्धेन लुब्धकेन महावने। अविदूरे मृगं दृष्ट्वा बाणः प्रतिसमाहितः ॥१३-५-३॥
There, in the great forest, a hunter greedy for flesh, having seen a deer not far away, aimed his arrow. (13-5-3)
तेन दुर्वारितास्त्रेण निमित्तचपलेषुणा। महान्वनतरुर्विद्धो मृगं तत्र जिघांसता ॥१३-५-४॥
By that irresistible weapon, by the unsteady arrow aimed, the great forest tree was pierced as the one desiring to kill the deer there. (13-5-4)
स तीक्ष्णविषदिग्धेन शरेणातिबलात्कृतः। उत्सृज्य फलपत्राणि पादपः शोषमागतः ॥१३-५-५॥
Struck by a sharp, poison-smeared arrow with great force, the tree, having shed its fruits and leaves, has withered away. (13-5-5)
तस्मिन्वृक्षे तथाभूते कोटरेषु चिरोषितः। न जहाति शुको वासं तस्य भक्त्या वनस्पतेः ॥१३-५-६॥
Having long dwelt in the hollows of that tree, the parrot does not abandon its home there, out of devotion to the tree. (13-5-6)
निष्प्रचारो निराहारो ग्लानः शिथिलवागपि। कृतज्ञः सह वृक्षेण धर्मात्मा स व्यशुष्यत ॥१३-५-७॥
He, grateful and righteous-souled, remained without movement, without food, weak, and with feeble speech, and dried up together with the tree. (13-5-7)
तमुदारं महासत्त्वमतिमानुषचेष्टितम्। समदुःखसुखं ज्ञात्वा विस्मितः पाकशासनः ॥१३-५-८॥
Indra, having recognized him as a noble, great being whose actions were superhuman and who was equal in pain and pleasure, was astonished. (13-5-8)
ततश्चिन्तामुपगतः शक्रः कथमयं द्विजः। तिर्यग्योनावसम्भाव्यमानृशंस्यं समास्थितः ॥१३-५-९॥
Then Śakra (Indra) became thoughtful: "How has this Brāhmaṇa, who is established in compassion, come to be born in the animal womb, which is inconceivable?" (13-5-9)
अथ वा नात्र चित्रं हीत्यभवद्वासवस्य तु। प्राणिनामिह सर्वेषां सर्वं सर्वत्र दृश्यते ॥१३-५-१०॥
Now, or, there is nothing wonderful here—thus it was for Vāsava; but for all living beings here, everything is seen everywhere. (13-5-10)
ततो ब्राह्मणवेषेण मानुषं रूपमास्थितः। अवतीर्य महीं शक्रस्तं पक्षिणमुवाच ह ॥१३-५-११॥
Then Indra, having taken on the appearance of a brāhmaṇa in human form, descended to the earth and spoke to that bird. (13-5-11)
शुक भोः पक्षिणां श्रेष्ठ दाक्षेयी सुप्रजास्त्वया। पृच्छे त्वा शुष्कमेतं वै कस्मान्न त्यजसि द्रुमम् ॥१३-५-१२॥
O parrot, best among birds, O daughter of Dakṣa, you who have good offspring, I ask you: why do you not leave this dry tree? (13-5-12)
अथ पृष्टः शुकः प्राह मूर्ध्ना समभिवाद्य तम्। स्वागतं देवराजाय विज्ञातस्तपसा मया ॥१३-५-१३॥
Then, when asked, Śuka, after respectfully bowing his head to him, said: "Welcome, O king of the gods; I have come to know you through my austerities." (13-5-13)
ततो दशशताक्षेण साधु साध्विति भाषितम्। अहो विज्ञानमित्येवं तपसा पूजितस्ततः ॥१३-५-१४॥
Then, Indra (the thousand-eyed) said, "Well done, well done." Thus, exclaiming "Oh, knowledge!" he was honored by austerity thereafter. (13-5-14)
तमेवं शुभकर्माणं शुकं परमधार्मिकम्। विजानन्नपि तां प्राप्तिं पप्रच्छ बलसूदनः ॥१३-५-१५॥
Bala-sūdana, knowing even that attainment, asked Śuka, who was supremely righteous and engaged in auspicious deeds, thus. (13-5-15)
निष्पत्रमफलं शुष्कमशरण्यं पतत्रिणाम्। किमर्थं सेवसे वृक्षं यदा महदिदं वनम् ॥१३-५-१६॥
Why do you serve a tree that is leafless, fruitless, dry, and offers no shelter to birds, when this great forest is here? (13-5-16)
अन्येऽपि बहवो वृक्षाः पत्रसञ्छन्नकोटराः। शुभाः पर्याप्तसञ्चारा विद्यन्तेऽस्मिन्महावने ॥१३-५-१७॥
There are also many other trees with leaf-covered hollows, auspicious and with sufficient space for movement, in this great forest. (13-5-17)
गतायुषमसामर्थ्यं क्षीणसारं हतश्रियम्। विमृश्य प्रज्ञया धीर जहीमं ह्यस्थिरं द्रुमम् ॥१३-५-१८॥
O wise one, having considered with wisdom, abandon this tree whose life is gone, whose strength and essence are diminished, and whose splendor is destroyed, for it is indeed unstable. (13-5-18)
तदुपश्रुत्य धर्मात्मा शुकः शक्रेण भाषितम्। सुदीर्घमभिनिःश्वस्य दीनो वाक्यमुवाच ह ॥१३-५-१९॥
Having heard what was spoken by Śakra, the righteous Śuka, deeply sighing for a long time and distressed, indeed spoke these words. (13-5-19)
अनतिक्रमणीयानि दैवतानि शचीपते। यत्राभवस्तत्र भवस्तन्निबोध सुराधिप ॥१३-५-२०॥
The divine laws are not to be transgressed, O lord of Śacī. Know that wherever you were, there you are, O lord of the gods. (13-5-20)
अस्मिन्नहं द्रुमे जातः साधुभिश्च गुणैर्युतः। बालभावे च सङ्गुप्तः शत्रुभिश्च न धर्षितः ॥१३-५-२१॥
I was born on this tree, endowed with virtues by the virtuous; in my childhood I was protected and not oppressed by enemies. (13-5-21)
किमनुक्रोशवैफल्यमुत्पादयसि मेऽनघ। आनृशंस्येऽनुरक्तस्य भक्तस्यानुगतस्य च ॥१३-५-२२॥
O sinless one, why do you cause me to feel that compassion is fruitless? Compassion is for the devoted, the faithful, and the follower. (13-5-22)
अनुक्रोशो हि साधूनां सुमहद्धर्मलक्षणम्। अनुक्रोशश्च साधूनां सदा प्रीतिं प्रयच्छति ॥१३-५-२३॥
Compassion is indeed the very great mark of dharma among the virtuous; and compassion always bestows delight upon the virtuous. (13-5-23)
त्वमेव दैवतैः सर्वैः पृच्छ्यसे धर्मसंशयान्। अतस्त्वं देव देवानामाधिपत्ये प्रतिष्ठितः ॥१३-५-२४॥
You alone are asked by all the deities about doubts concerning dharma; therefore, O god, you are established in the lordship over the gods. (13-5-24)
नार्हसि त्वं सहस्राक्ष त्याजयित्वेह भक्तितः। समर्थमुपजीव्येमं त्यजेयं कथमद्य वै ॥१३-५-२५॥
O thousand-eyed, you are not worthy to make me abandon this here out of devotion; how could I abandon today one who is capable and whom I have depended upon? (13-5-25)
तस्य वाक्येन सौम्येन हर्षितः पाकशासनः। शुकं प्रोवाच धर्मज्ञमानृशंस्येन तोषितः ॥१३-५-२६॥
Gladdened by his gentle words, Indra, pleased by compassion, spoke to Śuka, the knower of dharma. (13-5-26)
वरं वृणीष्वेति तदा स च वव्रे वरं शुकः। आनृशंस्यपरो नित्यं तस्य वृक्षस्य सम्भवम् ॥१३-५-२७॥
Then, when told "Choose a boon," the parrot chose the boon of always having the existence of that tree, being ever devoted to compassion. (13-5-27)
विदित्वा च दृढां शक्रस्तां शुके शीलसम्पदम्। प्रीतः क्षिप्रमथो वृक्षममृतेनावसिक्तवान् ॥१३-५-२८॥
Having realized the steadfast virtue of that parrot, Indra, pleased, quickly sprinkled the tree with nectar. (13-5-28)
ततः फलानि पत्राणि शाखाश्चापि मनोरमाः। शुकस्य दृढभक्तित्वाच्छ्रीमत्त्वं चाप स द्रुमः ॥१३-५-२९॥
Then, that tree had fruits, leaves, and also beautiful branches; because of the parrot's firm devotion, the tree also attained prosperity. (13-5-29)
शुकश्च कर्मणा तेन आनृशंस्यकृतेन ह। आयुषोऽन्ते महाराज प्राप शक्रसलोकताम् ॥१३-५-३०॥
O great king, Śuka, by that compassionate act, indeed, at the end of his life, attained the world of Indra. (13-5-30)
एवमेव मनुष्येन्द्र भक्तिमन्तं समाश्रितः। सर्वार्थसिद्धिं लभते शुकं प्राप्य यथा द्रुमः ॥१३-५-३१॥
In the same way, O king of men, one who takes refuge in a devoted person attains all success, just as a tree does when it gains a parrot. (13-5-31)
