13.118
kīṭopākhyānam
The story of the insect.
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
akāmāś ca sakāmāś ca hatā ye'smin mahāhave. kāṃ yoniṃ pratipannās te tan me brūhi pitāmaha ॥13-118-1॥
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)
duḥkhaṃ prāṇa-parityāgaḥ puruṣāṇāṃ mahā-mṛdhe। jānāmi tattvaṃ dharma-jña prāṇa-tyāgaṃ su-duṣkaram॥13-118-2॥
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)
samṛddhe vā asamṛddhe vā śubhe vā yadi vā aśubhe। kāraṇaṃ tatra me brūhi sarvajñaḥ hi asi me mataḥ ॥13-118-3॥
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)
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said.
samṛddhe vā samṛddhe vā śubhe vā yadi vā aśubhe। saṁsāre'smin samājātāḥ prāṇinaḥ pṛthivīpate ॥13-118-4॥
O king, living beings are born together in this world, whether in prosperity or non-prosperity, auspiciousness or inauspiciousness. (13-118-4)
niratā yena bhāvena tatra me śṛṇu kāraṇam। samyak cāyam anu-praśnaḥ tvayā uktaś ca yudhiṣṭhira ॥13-118-5॥
Yudhishthira, listen to the reason with which feeling there is engagement for me; this question has been rightly asked by you. (13-118-5)
atra te vartayiṣyāmi purāvṛttam idaṃ nṛpa. dvaipāyanasya saṃvādaṃ kīṭasya ca yudhiṣṭhira ॥13-118-6॥
O Yudhishthira, here I shall relate to you, O king, this ancient story—the conversation between Dvaipayana and the insect. (13-118-6)
brahmabhūtaś caran vipraḥ kṛṣṇadvaipāyanaḥ purā। dadarśa kīṭaṃ dhāvantaṃ śīghraṃ śakaṭavartmani ॥13-118-7॥
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)
gatijñaḥ sarvabhūtānāṃ rutajñaś ca śarīriṇām. sarvajñaḥ sarvato dṛṣṭvā kīṭaṃ vacanam abravīt ॥13-118-8॥
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)
kīṭa santrastarūpo'si tvaritaścaiva lakṣyase। kva dhāvasi tadācakṣva kutaste bhayamāgatam ॥13-118-9॥
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)
kīṭa uvāca॥
The insect said;
śakaṭasyāsya mahato ghoṣaṃ śrutvā bhayaṃ mama. āgataṃ vai mahābuddhe svana eṣa hi dāruṇaḥ ॥ śrūyate na sa māṃ hanyāditi tasmādapākrame ॥13-118-10॥
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)
śvasatāṃ ca śṛṇomy evaṃ goputrāṇāṃ pracodyatām। vahatāṃ sumahābhāraṃ saṃnikarṣe svanaṃ prabho ॥ nṛṇāṃ ca saṃvāhayatāṃ śrūyate vividhaḥ svanaḥ ॥ 13-118-11॥
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)
soḍhum asmad-vidhena eṣa na śakyaḥ kīṭa-yoninā। tasmād apakramāmi eṣa bhayāt asmāt su-dāruṇāt॥13-118-12॥
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)
duḥkhaṃ hi mṛtyurbhūtānāṃ jīvitaṃ ca sudurlabham। ato bhītaḥ palāyāmi gaccheyaṃ nāsukhaṃ sukhāt ॥13-118-13॥
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)
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhishma said.
ity uktaḥ sa tu taṃ prāha kutaḥ kīṭa sukhaṃ tava। maraṇaṃ te sukhaṃ manye tiryag-yonau hi vartase॥13-118-14॥
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)
śabdaṃ sparśaṃ rasaṃ gandhaṃ bhogāṃś coccāvacān bahūn। nābhijānāsi kīṭa tvaṃ śreyo maraṇam eva te ॥13-118-15॥
You do not perceive sound, touch, taste, smell, nor the many various enjoyments, insect; only death is better for you. (13-118-15)
kīṭa uvāca॥
The insect said.
sarvatra nirato jīva itīhāpi sukhaṃ mama। cetayāmi mahāprājña tasmād icchāmi jīvitum ॥13-118-16॥
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)
ihāpi viṣayaḥ sarvo yathādehaṃ pravartitaḥ। mānuṣās tiryagāś caiva pṛthagbhogā viśeṣataḥ ॥13-118-17॥
Here too, all sensory objects have been arranged according to the body. Humans and animals particularly have separate enjoyments. (13-118-17)
aham āsaṁ manuṣyo vai śūdro bahudhanaḥ purā। abrahmaṇyo nṛśaṁsaś ca kadaryo vṛddhijīvanaḥ ॥13-118-18॥
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)
vāktīkṣṇo nikṛtiprajño moṣṭā viśvasya sarvaśaḥ। mithaḥkṛto'panidhanaḥ parasvaharaṇe rataḥ ॥13-118-19॥
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)
bhṛtyātithi-janaś cāpi gṛhe paryuṣito mayā। mātsaryāt svādu-kāmena nṛśaṁsena bubhūṣatā ॥13-118-20॥
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)
devārthaṁ pitṛyajñārtham annaṁ śraddhākṛtaṁ mayā। na dattam arthakāmena deyam annaṁ punāti ha ॥13-118-21॥
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)
guptaṃ śaraṇam āśritya bhayeṣu śaraṇāgatāḥ। akasmān no bhayāt tyaktā na ca trātābhayeṣiṇaḥ॥13-118-22॥
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)
dhanaṃ dhānyaṃ priyāndārānyānaṃ vāsastathādbhutam। śriyaṃ dṛṣṭvā manuṣyāṇāmasūyāmi nirarthakam ॥13-118-23॥
Seeing wealth, grain, loved ones, wives, vehicles, dwellings, and other wondrous prosperities of people, I envy them without reason. (13-118-23)
īrṣyuḥ parasukhaṁ dṛṣṭvā ātatāyyabubhūṣakaḥ. trivargahantā ca anyeṣām ātmakāmānuvartakaḥ ॥13-118-24॥
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)
nṛśaṁsa-guṇa-bhūyiṣṭhaṁ purā karma kṛtaṁ mayā। smṛtvā tad anutapye 'haṁ tyaktvā priyam iva ātmajam ॥13-118-25॥
Recalling the action of abundant cruelty that I once did, I now regret it as if having abandoned a dear son. (13-118-25)
śubhānām api jānāmi kṛtānāṃ karmaṇāṃ phalam। mātā ca pūjitā vṛddhā brāhmaṇaś cārcito mayā ॥13-118-26॥
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)
sakṛj-jāti-guṇopetaḥ saṅgatyā gṛham-āgataḥ। atithiḥ pūjito brahmaṃs-tena māṃ nājahāt-smṛtiḥ ॥13-118-27॥
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)
karmaṇā tena caivāhaṃ sukhāśāmiha lakṣaye। tacchrotumahamicchāmi tvattaḥ śreyastapodhana ॥13-118-28॥
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)
