14.057
Vaiśampāyana said.
He, having approached together with Mitrasaha, requested your token of recognition. To him, the best of the Ikṣvākus then gave the token of recognition. (14-57-1)
Saudāsa said.
This way is not safe, and there is no other way. Understanding this as my opinion, hand over the jeweled earrings. (14-57-2)
Vaiśampāyana said.
Thus addressed, Uttaṅka then spoke to her the master's command. And having heard, she then gave him those gem earrings. (14-57-3)
Having taken your earrings, he then again spoke to the king: "What is this secret message? I wish to hear it, O king." (14-57-4)
Saudāsa said.
People, by their very nature, the kṣatriyas indeed honor the brāhmaṇas. But from the brāhmaṇas also, many faults arise for us. (14-57-5)
Having bowed to the twice-born, I received a fault from the Brāhmaṇa. I do not see any other path—with Madayantī's help—either for proceeding to the gate of heaven or here, O best of the twice-born. (14-57-6)
Certainly, a king who is especially opposed by the twice-born cannot maintain himself in this world, nor attain happiness after death. (14-57-7)
Therefore, these jeweled earrings of yours, which you desired, have indeed been given by me. Now make the agreement you made today successful for me. (14-57-8)
Uttaṅka said.
O king, thus here I am the doer; I shall come again under your authority. But I have resolved to ask you a certain question, O subduer of foes. (14-57-9)
Saudāsa said.
Speak as you wish, O brahmin; I shall answer your words. Today I will dispel your doubt—there is no deliberation for me in this matter. (14-57-10)
Uttaṅka said.
Those skilled in dharma say that a true friend is one united in speech. Among friends, whoever is unequal, they indeed consider him to be a thief. (14-57-11)
O king, you have today attained my friendship. Best of the wise, please grant me an intellect equal to (that of) the wise. (14-57-12)
Today, I have attained my aim here, and you, the devourer of men—whether I am able to come to your presence or not, I do not know. (14-57-13)
Saudāsa said.
If I am to say what is proper here, O best of Brāhmaṇas, you should not come near me in any way, O eminent Brāhmaṇa. (14-57-14)
Thus, O best of the Bhṛgu lineage, I foresee your welfare; but truly, O brāhmaṇa, if you go there, without doubt death will result for you. (14-57-15)
Vaiśampāyana said.
Thus addressed by the wise king with appropriate and beneficial words, having obtained the king's permission, he then went towards Ahalya. (14-57-16)
Having taken the guru's wife's divine earrings, the bringer of joy went swiftly towards Gautama's hermitage. (14-57-17)
Just as Madayantī spoke about protecting the two, so he tied those earrings in a black antelope hide and took them. (14-57-18)
He, being afflicted by hunger, saw a bilva tree laden with the weight of fruit in a certain place; and in that place, hungry, he climbed it. (14-57-19)
O subduer of enemies, the excellent Brahmin then placed his black antelope skin—on the branches where your earrings were tied. (14-57-20)
As the fastening loosened and the black antelope skin fell to the earth, a certain serpent saw your bejeweled earrings there. (14-57-21)
He, born from the lineage of Airāvata, having become swift at that time, indeed, tore with his mouth the ant-hill, and then he entered into the cavity. (14-57-22)
But when he saw the earrings being carried off by the serpent, he, overcome with anxiety and extreme anger from grief, fell from the tree. (14-57-23)
Then, the foremost of the twice-born, his body burning with anger and indignation, took a stick of wood and dug into the anthill. (14-57-24)
The earth, unable to endure his unbearable force, her body struck by cudgel and wood, trembled greatly, being afflicted. (14-57-25)
Then, while digging the surface of the earth, the Brāhmaṇa sage, determined to create a path to the realm of the Nāgas, proceeded thus. (14-57-26)
Vajrapāṇi (Indra), possessed of great brilliance, approached that place in a chariot drawn by horses and saw the best among the brahmins. (14-57-27)
But he, having assumed the form of a brāhmaṇa and being distressed by his sorrow, said to Uttaṅka: "Dear, this is not possible for you." (14-57-28)
Indeed, from here the world of the Nāgas is truly many thousands of leagues away. I think this task of yours cannot be accomplished with a wooden staff. (14-57-29)
Uttanka said.
O Brahmin, if it is not possible for me to obtain the ear-rings in the world of the nāgas, I shall give up my life right before your eyes, O best of the twice-born. (14-57-30)
When he could not decide to destroy it otherwise, Indra (the vajra-handed) then applied the staff with the vajra-weapon. (14-57-31)
Then, O Janamejaya, the earth, being split by those thunderbolt attacks, made a path to the realm of the nāgas. (14-57-32)
He then entered the Nāga-world by that path, and saw the Nāga-world extending for thousands of leagues. (14-57-33)
O highly fortunate one, it is equipped with divine ramparts adorned with jewels and pearls and also made of gold. (14-57-34)
He saw ponds with crystal stairs, rivers of pure water, and many trees crowded with various groups of birds. (14-57-35)
He, the best of the Bhṛgus, saw the doorway of that world; its breadth was five yojanas and its length one hundred yojanas. (14-57-36)
But Uttaṅka, having beheld the Nāga world, became distressed then; and, O dear, he again became hopeless about the taking of the earrings. (14-57-37)
There the horse, his tail black and white, his mouth and eyes coppery, O Kauravya, as if blazing with splendor, said to him. (14-57-38)
This drinking of the celestial Dhama is for me; then, O Brāhmaṇa, you will obtain (them). Here, your earrings have indeed been brought by Airāvata's son. (14-57-39)
O son, do not feel any disgust in this matter; indeed, this was done by you in Gautama's hermitage at that time. (14-57-40)
Uttanka said;
How might I know you regarding the preceptor's hermitage? That which I have formerly experienced, I indeed wish to hear.
The Horse said.
Know me, the blazing Jātavedas, as the guru's own guru. By you, O child, I am always especially revered for the sake of the teacher. (14-57-42)
O Brāhmaṇa, descendant of Bhṛgu, you have been constantly honored by the pure one; therefore, I will accomplish what is best for you. So, do this—do not delay. (14-57-43)
Thus addressed, Uttanka did accordingly by Citrabhānu. Ghṛtārciḥ, feeling joy, also blazed forth with a desire to burn. (14-57-44)
Then, O Bhārata, as he was being blown upon, a thick smoke appeared from his hair-pores, striking fear into the world of serpents. (14-57-45)
O Bhārata, O great king, because of that suddenly increasing smoke, nothing whatsoever became visible in the world of the nāgas. (14-57-46)
O Janamejaya, the entire dwelling of Airāvata, and that of Vasuki and the foremost of the nāgas, became filled with cries of terror. (14-57-47)
O Bhārata, the houses obstructed by smoke did not shine; just as forests and mountains do not appear when covered by mist. (14-57-48)
They, whose eyes were reddened like smoke and scorched by the power of fire, came to ascertain the true nature of Bhārgava of overwhelming brilliance. (14-57-49)
All, with disturbed minds, having heard the decision of the sharp-radiant great sage, performed the worship according to the prescribed rule. (14-57-50)
All the Nāgas, with joined palms and led by elders and children, bowed their heads in prostration and said: "Be gracious, O Lord." (14-57-51)
But the serpents, having propitiated your Brāhmaṇa and having presented water for washing the feet and offering of respect, gave him highly honored divine earrings. (14-57-52)
Then, being honored by the nāgas there, the illustrious Uttanka, after circumambulating the fire, went to the teacher's dwelling. (14-57-53)
He quickly went, O king, to the house of Gautama and then gave the divine earrings to the Guru’s wife, O sinless one. (14-57-54)
Thus, by that great-souled one, Janamejaya, after circumambulating the three worlds and bringing back the divine jeweled earrings, then (he possessed) those earrings. (14-57-55)
O best of the Bhāratas, he, the sage Uttaṅka, being thus powerful and endowed with supreme austerity, is the very one about whom you are asking me. (14-57-56)
