13.118
कीटोपाख्यानम्
The story of the insect.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
अकामाश्च सकामाश्च हता येऽस्मिन्महाहवे। कां योनिं प्रतिपन्नास्ते तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह ॥१३-११८-१॥
O grandsire, tell me, which birth have those who had desires and those who had none, and who were slain in this great battle, attained? (13-118-1)
दुःखं प्राणपरित्यागः पुरुषाणां महामृधे। जानामि तत्त्वं धर्मज्ञ प्राणत्यागं सुदुष्करम् ॥१३-११८-२॥
The abandonment of life by men in great battle is painful. I know the truth, O knower of dharma, that giving up one's life is indeed very difficult. (13-118-2)
समृद्धे वासमृद्धे वा शुभे वा यदि वाशुभे। कारणं तत्र मे ब्रूहि सर्वज्ञो ह्यसि मे मतः ॥१३-११८-३॥
Tell me the cause there, whether it is in prosperity or non-prosperity, in auspiciousness or inauspiciousness; for you are considered by me to be all-knowing. (13-118-3)
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhīṣma said.
समृद्धे वासमृद्धे वा शुभे वा यदि वाशुभे। संसारेऽस्मिन्समाजाताः प्राणिनः पृथिवीपते ॥१३-११८-४॥
O king, living beings are born together in this world, whether in prosperity or non-prosperity, auspiciousness or inauspiciousness. (13-118-4)
निरता येन भावेन तत्र मे शृणु कारणम्। सम्यक्चायमनुप्रश्नस्त्वयोक्तश्च युधिष्ठिर ॥१३-११८-५॥
Yudhishthira, listen to the reason with which feeling there is engagement for me; this question has been rightly asked by you. (13-118-5)
अत्र ते वर्तयिष्यामि पुरावृत्तमिदं नृप। द्वैपायनस्य संवादं कीटस्य च युधिष्ठिर ॥१३-११८-६॥
O Yudhishthira, here I shall relate to you, O king, this ancient story—the conversation between Dvaipayana and the insect. (13-118-6)
ब्रह्मभूतश्चरन्विप्रः कृष्णद्वैपायनः पुरा। ददर्श कीटं धावन्तं शीघ्रं शकटवर्त्मनि ॥१३-११८-७॥
Once, the sage Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana, who had realized Brahman and was wandering, saw an insect swiftly running on the road of the cart. (13-118-7)
गतिज्ञः सर्वभूतानां रुतज्ञश्च शरीरिणाम्। सर्वज्ञः सर्वतो दृष्ट्वा कीटं वचनमब्रवीत् ॥१३-११८-८॥
The one who knows the movements of all beings and the sounds of embodied creatures, the omniscient, after seeing the insect everywhere, spoke these words. (13-118-8)
कीट सन्त्रस्तरूपोऽसि त्वरितश्चैव लक्ष्यसे। क्व धावसि तदाचक्ष्व कुतस्ते भयमागतम् ॥१३-११८-९॥
You, appearing as a frightened insect, are quick and have been noticed. Where are you running? Tell that; from where has fear come to you? (13-118-9)
कीट उवाच॥
The insect said;
शकटस्यास्य महतो घोषं श्रुत्वा भयं मम। आगतं वै महाबुद्धे स्वन एष हि दारुणः ॥ श्रूयते न स मां हन्यादिति तस्मादपाक्रमे ॥१३-११८-१०॥
Hearing the sound of this great cart, fear has come to me, O wise one. Truly, this sound is terrible. Since he is only heard and may not kill me, therefore I retreat. (13-118-10)
श्वसतां च शृणोम्येवं गोपुत्राणां प्रचोद्यताम्। वहतां सुमहाभारं संनिकर्षे स्वनं प्रभो ॥ नृणां च संवाहयतां श्रूयते विविधः स्वनः ॥१३-११८-११॥
O master, thus I hear the sounds of the breathing and urging on of the sons of cowherds, of those carrying great burdens nearby. Also, of men engaging in carrying, a variety of sounds is heard. (13-118-11)
सोढुमस्मद्विधेनैष न शक्यः कीटयोनिना। तस्मादपक्रमाम्येष भयादस्मात्सुदारुणात् ॥१३-११८-१२॥
It is not possible for one like me, born as an insect, to endure this. Therefore, I withdraw from this out of fear of this most terrible (thing). (13-118-12)
दुःखं हि मृत्युर्भूतानां जीवितं च सुदुर्लभम्। अतो भीतः पलायामि गच्छेयं नासुखं सुखात् ॥१३-११८-१३॥
Indeed, suffering is the death of beings, and life is very difficult to obtain. Therefore, being afraid, I flee; I might go, for there is no unhappiness arising from happiness. (13-118-13)
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhishma said.
इत्युक्तः स तु तं प्राह कुतः कीट सुखं तव। मरणं ते सुखं मन्ये तिर्यग्योनौ हि वर्तसे ॥१३-११८-१४॥
Thus addressed, he replied to him: "From where, O insect, do you have happiness? I think death is happiness for you, for you indeed dwell in an animal womb." (13-118-14)
शब्दं स्पर्शं रसं गन्धं भोगांश्चोच्चावचान्बहून्। नाभिजानासि कीट त्वं श्रेयो मरणमेव ते ॥१३-११८-१५॥
You do not perceive sound, touch, taste, smell, nor the many various enjoyments, insect; only death is better for you. (13-118-15)
कीट उवाच॥
The insect said.
सर्वत्र निरतो जीव इतीहापि सुखं मम। चेतयामि महाप्राज्ञ तस्मादिच्छामि जीवितुम् ॥१३-११८-१६॥
Because everywhere, the living being is always absorbed; thus, even here, I find happiness. O great wise one, therefore I desire to live. (13-118-16)
इहापि विषयः सर्वो यथादेहं प्रवर्तितः। मानुषास्तिर्यगाश्चैव पृथग्भोगा विशेषतः ॥१३-११८-१७॥
Here too, all sensory objects have been arranged according to the body. Humans and animals particularly have separate enjoyments. (13-118-17)
अहमासं मनुष्यो वै शूद्रो बहुधनः पुरा। अब्रह्मण्यो नृशंसश्च कदर्यो वृद्धिजीवनः ॥१३-११८-१८॥
I was once a human, a Śūdra, who possessed much wealth; formerly I was not devoted to Brahman, cruel, miserly, and lived by usury. (13-118-18)
वाक्तीक्ष्णो निकृतिप्रज्ञो मोष्टा विश्वस्य सर्वशः। मिथःकृतोऽपनिधनः परस्वहरणे रतः ॥१३-११८-१९॥
One who is sharp in speech, intelligent in deceit, a thief, in every way false in actions, an embezzler, and delights in taking others' wealth. (13-118-19)
भृत्यातिथिजनश्चापि गृहे पर्युषितो मया। मात्सर्यात्स्वादुकामेन नृशंसेन बुभूषता ॥१३-११८-२०॥
Any servant, guest, or person who stayed overnight in my house, whom I—out of envy, desire for taste, and cruelty—allowed to go hungry. (13-118-20)
देवार्थं पितृयज्ञार्थमन्नं श्रद्धाकृतं मया। न दत्तमर्थकामेन देयमन्नं पुनाति ह ॥१३-११८-२१॥
Food prepared with faith by me for offerings to the gods and to the ancestors; food given by one desiring wealth does not purify. (13-118-21)
गुप्तं शरणमाश्रित्य भयेषु शरणागताः। अकस्मान्नो भयात्त्यक्ता न च त्राताभयैषिणः ॥१३-११८-२२॥
Having sought a secret refuge in times of danger, we, the ones who came for protection, were unexpectedly abandoned in our fear, and no protector arose for those seeking safety. (13-118-22)
धनं धान्यं प्रियान्दारान्यानं वासस्तथाद्भुतम्। श्रियं दृष्ट्वा मनुष्याणामसूयामि निरर्थकम् ॥१३-११८-२३॥
Seeing wealth, grain, loved ones, wives, vehicles, dwellings, and other wondrous prosperities of people, I envy them without reason. (13-118-23)
ईर्ष्युः परसुखं दृष्ट्वा आतताय्यबुभूषकः। त्रिवर्गहन्ता चान्येषामात्मकामानुवर्तकः ॥१३-११८-२४॥
One who is envious upon seeing others' happiness, desires to injure like a criminal, destroys the three aims of life (dharma, wealth, pleasure), and pursues only his own desires, following those of others. (13-118-24)
नृशंसगुणभूयिष्ठं पुरा कर्म कृतं मया। स्मृत्वा तदनुतप्येऽहं त्यक्त्वा प्रियमिवात्मजम् ॥१३-११८-२५॥
Recalling the action of abundant cruelty that I once did, I now regret it as if having abandoned a dear son. (13-118-25)
शुभानामपि जानामि कृतानां कर्मणां फलम्। माता च पूजिता वृद्धा ब्राह्मणश्चार्चितो मया ॥१३-११८-२६॥
I also know the results of auspicious deeds performed. The mother was honored by me in her old age, and the Brahmin was also worshipped by me. (13-118-26)
सकृज्जातिगुणोपेतः सङ्गत्या गृहमागतः। अतिथिः पूजितो ब्रह्मंस्तेन मां नाजहात्स्मृतिः ॥१३-११८-२७॥
O Brahman, once a guest endowed with noble birth and qualities came to my house with company and was honored by me; from then, the memory of that did not abandon me. (13-118-27)
कर्मणा तेन चैवाहं सुखाशामिह लक्षये। तच्छ्रोतुमहमिच्छामि त्वत्तः श्रेयस्तपोधन ॥१३-११८-२८॥
By that action, I indeed perceive here a desire for happiness. I wish to hear from you about that which is superior, O possessor of ascetic wealth. (13-118-28)
