13.119
व्यास उवाच॥
Vyāsa said;
शुभेन कर्मणा यद्वै तिर्यग्योनौ न मुह्यसे। ममैव कीट तत्कर्म येन त्वं न प्रमुह्यसे ॥१३-११९-१॥
By auspicious actions, by which indeed you are not deluded in the animal birth, my very own worm, perform that deed by which you will not be thoroughly deluded. (13-119-1)
अहं हि दर्शनादेव तारयामि तपोबलात्। तपोबलाद्धि बलवद्बलमन्यन्न विद्यते ॥१३-११९-२॥
Indeed, by sight alone, I make one cross over through the power of penance. Truly, no strength exists that is greater than the power of penance. (13-119-2)
जानामि पापैः स्वकृतैर्गतं त्वां कीट कीटताम्। अवाप्स्यसि परं धर्मं धर्मस्थो यदि मन्यसे ॥१३-११९-३॥
I know, by sins that you yourself have committed, you have gone to the state of a worm. If you consider yourself established in dharma, you will obtain the highest dharma. (13-119-3)
कर्म भूमिकृतं देवा भुञ्जते तिर्यगाश्च ये। धर्मादपि मनुष्येषु कामोऽर्थश्च यथा गुणैः ॥१३-११९-४॥
The gods and animals partake in the actions performed in the world, while among men, desire and wealth arise from righteousness, each according to their qualities. (13-119-4)
वाग्बुद्धिपाणिपादैश्चाप्युपेतस्य विपश्चितः। किं हीयते मनुष्यस्य मन्दस्यापि हि जीवतः ॥१३-११९-५॥
For a man who possesses speech, intellect, hands, and feet, and who is wise, what could possibly be lacking—even for one of dull mind, so long as he is alive? (13-119-5)
जीवन्हि कुरुते पूजां विप्राग्र्यः शशिसूर्ययोः। ब्रुवन्नपि कथां पुण्यां तत्र कीट त्वमेष्यसि ॥१३-११९-६॥
Even if, during life, the foremost among Brāhmaṇas performs worship of the moon and sun, and tells a meritorious story, there, as an insect, you will go. (13-119-6)
गुणभूतानि भूतानि तत्र त्वमुपभोक्ष्यसे। तत्र तेऽहं विनेष्यामि ब्रह्मत्वं यत्र चेच्छसि ॥१३-११९-७॥
You will enjoy the beings there, which have become qualities. There, I will remove your state of Brahman, wherever you desire. (13-119-7)
स तथेति प्रतिश्रुत्य कीटो वर्त्मन्यतिष्ठत। तमृषिं द्रष्टुमगमत्सर्वास्वन्यासु योनिषु ॥१३-११९-८॥
He, having promised "so be it," the insect remained on the path. In order to see that sage, it passed through all other births. (13-119-8)
श्वाविद्गोधावराहाणां तथैव मृगपक्षिणाम्। श्वपाकवैश्यशूद्राणां क्षत्रियाणां च योनिषु ॥१३-११९-९॥
Among the births of hunters with dogs, monitor lizards, boars, similarly deer and birds; and also among the wombs (births) of dog-eaters, Vaiśyas, Śūdras, and Kṣatriyas. (13-119-9)
स कीटेत्येवमाभाष्य ऋषिणा सत्यवादिना। प्रतिस्मृत्याथ जग्राह पादौ मूर्ध्ना कृताञ्जलिः ॥१३-११९-१०॥
After the truth-speaking sage addressed him as ‘O insect’, he, recalling (the words), then took (the sage’s) feet with his head, joining his palms. (13-119-10)
कीट उवाच॥
The insect said.
इदं तदतुलं स्थानमीप्सितं दशभिर्गुणैः। यदहं प्राप्य कीटत्वमागतो राजपुत्रताम् ॥१३-११९-११॥
This is that incomparable position, endowed with ten qualities, which I, after having experienced being an insect, have now attained as prince-hood. (13-119-11)
वहन्ति मामतिबलाः कुञ्जरा हेममालिनः। स्यन्दनेषु च काम्बोजा युक्ताः परमवाजिनः ॥१३-११९-१२॥
Very powerful elephants adorned with gold bear me, and in the chariots are yoked Kamboja horses, the finest steeds. (13-119-12)
उष्ट्राश्वतरयुक्तानि यानानि च वहन्ति माम्। सबान्धवः सहामात्यश्चाश्नामि पिशितौदनम् ॥१३-११९-१३॥
Vehicles yoked to camels and mules carry me, and, together with my relatives and ministers, I eat meat and rice. (13-119-13)
गृहेषु सुनिवासेषु सुखेषु शयनेषु च। परार्ध्येषु महाभाग स्वपामीह सुपूजितः ॥१३-११९-१४॥
O greatly fortunate one, I sleep here honored—in houses, fine dwellings, comforts, beds, and among superb things. (13-119-14)
सर्वेष्वपररात्रेषु सूतमागधबन्दिनः। स्तुवन्ति मां यथा देवं महेन्द्रं प्रियवादिनः ॥१३-११९-१५॥
During all late nights, bards, minstrels, and eulogists praise me as those who speak pleasant words praise the god Mahendra (Indra). (13-119-15)
प्रसादात्सत्यसन्धस्य भवतोऽमिततेजसः। यदहं कीटतां प्राप्य सम्प्राप्तो राजपुत्रताम् ॥१३-११९-१६॥
By your favour, O steadfast and immeasurably powerful one, I, who had become an insect, have now attained the status of a prince. (13-119-16)
नमस्तेऽस्तु महाप्राज्ञ किं करोमि प्रशाधि माम्। त्वत्तपोबलनिर्दिष्टमिदं ह्यधिगतं मया ॥१३-११९-१७॥
"Salutations to you, O greatly wise one; what should I do? Instruct me. This, which you assigned by your ascetic power, has indeed been achieved by me." (13-119-17)
व्यास उवाच॥
Vyāsa said;
अर्चितोऽहं त्वया राजन्वाग्भिरद्य यदृच्छया। अद्य ते कीटतां प्राप्य स्मृतिर्जाताजुगुप्सिता ॥१३-११९-१८॥
O king, I have been honored by you today with words, by chance. But now, having attained the state of an insect, your remembrance has arisen in me, filled with disgust. (13-119-18)
न तु नाशोऽस्ति पापस्य यत्त्वयोपचितं पुरा। शूद्रेणार्थप्रधानेन नृशंसेनाततायिना ॥१३-११९-१९॥
But there is no destruction of the sin that you previously accumulated—as a śūdra, as one who valued wealth, as a cruel and aggressive person. (13-119-19)
मम ते दर्शनं प्राप्तं तच्चैव सुकृतं पुरा। तिर्यग्योनौ स्म जातेन मम चाप्यर्चनात्तथा ॥१३-११९-२०॥
By you, my sight was attained; that was indeed a meritorious act performed in the past. Having been born in an animal womb, so too, by worshipping me, this resulted. (13-119-20)
इतस्त्वं राजपुत्रत्वाद्ब्राह्मण्यं समवाप्स्यसि। गोब्राह्मणकृते प्राणान्हुत्वात्मीयान्रणाजिरे ॥१३-११९-२१॥
From here, due to your being a prince, you will attain brāhmaṇa-hood. For the sake of cows and brāhmaṇas, having offered your own life on the battlefield. (13-119-21)
राजपुत्रसुखं प्राप्य ऋतूंश्चैवाप्तदक्षिणान्। अथ मोदिष्यसे स्वर्गे ब्रह्मभूतोऽव्ययः सुखी ॥१३-११९-२२॥
After experiencing princely happiness and enjoying the fruits of the seasons with duly acquired gifts, then you will rejoice in heaven, having become Brahman—imperishable and blissful. (13-119-22)
तिर्यग्योन्याः शूद्रतामभ्युपैति; शूद्रो वैश्यत्वं क्षत्रियत्वं च वैश्यः। वृत्तश्लाघी क्षत्रियो ब्राह्मणत्वं; स्वर्गं पुण्यं ब्राह्मणः साधुवृत्तः ॥१३-११९-२३॥
From an animal birth, one attains the condition of a Śūdra; a Śūdra may reach the status of a Vaiśya, and a Vaiśya that of a Kṣatriya. A Kṣatriya whose conduct is praiseworthy becomes a Brāhmaṇa; and a Brāhmaṇa of good conduct attains heaven and merit. (13-119-23)
