13.120
Bhīṣma said.
O king, he, having regained his kṣatriya-duty and remembering it, that strong one, having given up his insect state, performed very intense austerities. (13-120-1)
Seeing that great asceticism of the one skilled in dharma and artha, the eminent sage Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana then arrived. (13-120-2)
Vyāsa said.
O insect, the vow of the warrior is indeed the protection of beings; meditating on this warrior’s vow, then you will attain the state of a brahmin. (13-120-3)
Protect all beings in the proper way, with self-mastery and discernment of good and evil, bestowing desires through good means, and purifying what is evil with purifying means. (13-120-4)
Be self-controlled, become well-pleased and devoted to your own duty; abandoning your kṣatriya body, you will then attain brahminhood. (13-120-5)
Bhishma said.
Then, having again approached the forest, O Yudhiṣṭhira, and after hearing the words of the great sage and protecting his subjects righteously, (he did so). (13-120-6)
O best of kings, very soon, by the merit of protecting his subjects, the worm, having died, attained the state of a brahmin. (13-120-7)
Then Kṛṣṇadvaipāyana, the greatly wise and famous sage, having seen that brāhmaṇa, came there again at that time. (13-120-8)
Vyāsa said;
O best of Brāhmaṇas, illustrious one, do not be distressed in any way. Among auspicious and difficult births, those who commit evil are born into evil wombs. O knower of dharma, this occurs according to dharma and as prescribed by the scriptures. (13-120-9)
Therefore, O insect, do not at all be distressed by fear of death. You should fear only the loss of dharma; therefore, practice the highest dharma. (13-120-10)
The insect said.
O venerable one, I have attained a happiness greater than happiness itself, indeed for your sake; having obtained prosperity rooted in righteousness, my sin has been destroyed here today. (13-120-11)
Bhīṣma said.
By the word of the Lord, the insect attained the rare status of a Brahmin and made the earth distinguished by a hundred sacrificial posts of the kṣatriyas. Then, as the foremost knower of Brahman, he achieved residence in the same world as Brahman. (13-120-12)
O Pārtha, by the words of Vyāsa, the insect then obtained the supreme, eternal Brahman as the result of its own actions. (13-120-13)
Those foremost among kṣatriyas, having been slain by their very nature, have attained a meritorious path; therefore, do not grieve, O son. (13-120-14)
