Mahabharata — Volume I (Dutt edition) — Chapter 42

MBh 1 42.1

शृङ्गयुवाच यद्येतत्साहसं तात यदि वा दुष्कृतं कृतम्। प्रियं वाऽप्यप्रियं वा ते वागुक्ता न मृषा भवेत्॥

śṛṅgayuvāca yadyetatsāhasaṃ tāta yadi vā duṣkṛtaṃ kṛtam| priyaṃ vā'pyapriyaṃ vā te vāguktā na mṛṣā bhavet||

Shringi said : O father, whether my act was rash oi improper, whether you like it or dislike it, the words spoken by me shall never be vain.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 1 42.2

नैवान्यथेदं भविता पितरेष ब्रवीमि ते। नाहं मृषा ब्रवीम्येवं स्वैरेष्वपि कुतः शपन्॥

naivānyathedaṃ bhavitā pitareṣa bravīmi te| nāhaṃ mṛṣā bravīmyevaṃ svaireṣvapi kutaḥ śapan||

O father, I tell you, this can never be otherwise. I have never spoken a lie even in jest.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 1 42.3

शमीक उवाच जानाम्युग्रप्रभावं त्वां तात सत्यगिरं तथा। नानृतं चोक्तपूर्वं ते नैतन्मिथ्या भविष्यति॥

śamīka uvāca jānāmyugraprabhāvaṃ tvāṃ tāta satyagiraṃ tathā| nānṛtaṃ coktapūrvaṃ te naitanmithyā bhaviṣyati||

Shamika said: My child, I know, you are greatly powerful and you are very truthful. You have never spoken a falsehood in your life and therefore your curse will never be false.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 1 42.4

पित्रा पुत्रो वयःस्थोऽपि सततं वाच्य एव तु। यथा स्याद्गुणसंयुक्तः प्राप्नुयाच्च महद्यशः॥

pitrā putro vayaḥstho'pi satataṃ vācya eva tu| yathā syādguṇasaṃyuktaḥ prāpnuyācca mahadyaśaḥ||

But the son, even he is grown up, should always be advised by his father, so that adorned with good qualities, he may earn great renown.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 1 42.5

किं पुनर्बाल एव त्वं तपसा भावितः सदा। वर्धते च प्रभवतां कोपोऽतीव महात्मनाम्॥

kiṃ punarbāla eva tvaṃ tapasā bhāvitaḥ sadā| vardhate ca prabhavatāṃ kopo'tīva mahātmanām||

You are mere child and therefore, how much more do you stand in need of counsel! You are always engaged in asceticism. Even the anger of illustrious and high-souled men increases with the increase of their powers.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 1 42.6

सोऽहं पश्यामि वक्तव्यं त्वयि धर्मभूतां वर। पुत्रत्वं बालता चैव तवावेक्ष्य च साहसम्॥

so'haṃ paśyāmi vaktavyaṃ tvayi dharmabhūtāṃ vara| putratvaṃ bālatā caiva tavāvekṣya ca sāhasam||

O best of pious men, considering that you are my son and a mere boy and seeing your rashness, I see I must give you advice.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 1 42.7

स त्वं शमपरो भूत्वा वन्यमाहारमाचरन्। चर क्रोधमिमं हत्वा नैवं धर्मं प्रहास्यसि॥

sa tvaṃ śamaparo bhūtvā vanyamāhāramācaran| cara krodhamimaṃ hatvā naivaṃ dharmaṃ prahāsyasi||

Live, O son, having your mind inclined to peace; live on fruits and roots of the forest. Destroy your anger; but do not destroy the fruits of your asceticism (by giving vent to anger).

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 1 42.8

क्रोधो हि धर्मं हरति यतीनां दुःखसंचितम्। ततो धर्मविहीनानां गतिरिष्टां न विद्यते॥

krodho hi dharmaṃ harati yatīnāṃ duḥkhasaṃcitam| tato dharmavihīnānāṃ gatiriṣṭāṃ na vidyate||

Anger diminishes the merits that ascetics acquire with great pains. There is no hope for those who are deprived of virtue.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 1 42.9

शम एव यतीनां हि क्षमिणां सिद्धिकारकः। क्षमावतामयं लोकः परश्चैव क्षमावताम्॥

śama eva yatīnāṃ hi kṣamiṇāṃ siddhikārakaḥ| kṣamāvatāmayaṃ lokaḥ paraścaiva kṣamāvatām||

Peacefulness produces success to the forgiving ascetics. Good come to the forgiving men, both in this world and in the next.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 1 42.10

तस्माच्चरेथाः सततं क्षमाशीलो जितेन्द्रियः। क्षमया प्राप्स्यसे लोकान्ब्रह्मणः समनन्तरान्॥

tasmāccarethāḥ satataṃ kṣamāśīlo jitendriyaḥ| kṣamayā prāpsyase lokānbrahmaṇaḥ samanantarān||

Therefore, you should always live, being forgiving in your temper and self-controlling of your passions. By forgiveness you will attain to worlds that are beyond the reach of even Brahma.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 1 42.11

मया तु शममास्थाय यच्छक्यं कर्तुमद्य वै। तत्करिष्याम्यहं तात प्रेषयिष्ये नृपाय वै॥

mayā tu śamamāsthāya yacchakyaṃ kartumadya vai| tatkariṣyāmyahaṃ tāta preṣayiṣye nṛpāya vai||

O my son, having adopted peacefulness, I shall do as much as lies in my power. I shall do this. I shall send word to the king, telling him,

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 1 42.12

मम पुत्रेण शप्तोऽसि बालेन कृशबुद्धिना। ममेमां धर्षणां त्वत्तः प्रेक्ष्य राजन्नमर्षिणा॥

mama putreṇa śapto'si bālena kṛśabuddhinā| mamemāṃ dharṣaṇāṃ tvattaḥ prekṣya rājannamarṣiṇā||

"O king, you have been cursed by my son, who is a mere child and whose intellect is not yet developed. Seeing your disrespect towards me, (he has done this) in anger."

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 1 42.13

सौतिरुवाच एवमादिश्य शिष्यं स प्रेषयामास सुव्रतः। परिक्षिते नृपतये दयापन्नो महातपाः॥

sautiruvāca evamādiśya śiṣyaṃ sa preṣayāmāsa suvrataḥ| parikṣite nṛpataye dayāpanno mahātapāḥ||

Sauti said : That great ascetic, observant of vows, moved by kindness, sent a disciple to Parikshit with proper instructions,

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 1 42.14

संदिश्य कुशलप्रश्नं कार्यवृत्तान्तमेव च। शिष्यं गौरमुखं नाम शीलवन्तं समाहितम्॥

saṃdiśya kuśalapraśnaṃ kāryavṛttāntameva ca| śiṣyaṃ gauramukhaṃ nāma śīlavantaṃ samāhitam||

He sent his disciple, named Gauramukha, a young man of good manners and of ascetic penances, instructing him to enquire first about the welfare of the king and then to communicate the real business.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 1 42.15

सोऽभिगम्य ततः शीघ्रं नरेन्द्रं कुरुवर्धनम्। विवेश भवनं राज्ञः पूर्वं द्वास्थैर्निवेदितः॥

so'bhigamya tataḥ śīghraṃ narendraṃ kuruvardhanam| viveśa bhavanaṃ rājñaḥ pūrvaṃ dvāsthairniveditaḥ||

Going (to Hastinapur) he soon came to the king, the head of the Kuru race. He entered the king's palace, having first sent the notice of his arrival through gate-keeper.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 1 42.16

पूजितस्तु नरेन्द्रेण द्विजो गौरमुखस्तदा। आचख्यौ च परिश्रान्तो राज्ञः सर्वमशेषतः॥ शमीकवचनं घोरं यथोक्तं मन्त्रिसन्निधौ।

pūjitastu narendreṇa dvijo gauramukhastadā| ācakhyau ca pariśrānto rājñaḥ sarvamaśeṣataḥ|| śamīkavacanaṃ ghoraṃ yathoktaṃ mantrisannidhau|

The Brahmana, Gaurmukha, was received in all honours. And then after resting for a while, he told the king in the presence of his ministers, the terrible words of Shamika, exactly as he was instructed.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 1 42.17

गौरमुख उवाच शमीको नाम राजेन्द्र वर्तते विषये तव॥ ऋषिः परमधर्मात्मा दान्तः शान्तो महातपाः। तस्य त्वया नरव्याघ्र सर्पः प्राणैर्वियोजितः॥ तक्षकः सप्तरात्रेण अवसक्तो धनुष्कोट्या स्कन्धे मौनान्वितस्य च। क्षान्तवांस्तव तत्कर्म पुत्रस्तस्य न चक्षमे॥

gauramukha uvāca śamīko nāma rājendra vartate viṣaye tava|| ṛṣiḥ paramadharmātmā dāntaḥ śānto mahātapāḥ| tasya tvayā naravyāghra sarpaḥ prāṇairviyojitaḥ|| takṣakaḥ saptarātreṇa avasakto dhanuṣkoṭyā skandhe maunānvitasya ca| kṣāntavāṃstava tatkarma putrastasya na cakṣame||

Gaurmukha said : O king of kings, there lives within your dominions, a Rishi, named Shamika. He is greatly virtuous, very peaceful, his passions under control and a great ascetic. O best of men, a dead snake was placed by you with the end of your bow on the shoulder of this Rishi who was then observing the vow of silence. He himself forgave the act, but his son did not.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 1 42.18

तेन शप्तोऽसि राजेन्द्र पितुरज्ञातमद्य वै। मृत्युस्तव भविष्यति॥

tena śapto'si rājendra piturajñātamadya vai| mṛtyustava bhaviṣyati||

O king of kings, you have been to-day cursed by him without the knowledge of his father. Takshaka will be your death after seven nights from this day.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 1 42.19

तत्र रक्षां कुरुष्वेति पुनः पुनस्थाऽब्रवीत्। तदन्यथा न शक्यं च कर्तुं केनचिदप्युत॥

tatra rakṣāṃ kuruṣveti punaḥ punasthā'bravīt| tadanyathā na śakyaṃ ca kartuṃ kenacidapyuta||

Shamika repeatedly asked his son to save you, but there is none to falsify his curse.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 1 42.20

न हि शक्नोति तं यन्तुं पुत्रं कोपसमन्वितम्। ततोऽहं प्रेषितस्तेन तव राजन्हितार्थिना॥

na hi śaknoti taṃ yantuṃ putraṃ kopasamanvitam| tato'haṃ preṣitastena tava rājanhitārthinā||

As he has been unable to pacify his angry son, therefore, O king, I have been sent by him to you for your good.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 1 42.21

सौतिरुवाच इति श्रुत्वा वचो घोरं स राजा कुरुनन्दनः। पर्यतप्यत तत्पापं कृत्वा राजा महातपाः॥

sautiruvāca iti śrutvā vaco ghoraṃ sa rājā kurunandanaḥ| paryatapyata tatpāpaṃ kṛtvā rājā mahātapāḥ||

Sauti said : Having heard these terrible words and recollecting his own sinful act, the king, the descendant of the Kuru race, a great ascetic himself, grew exceedingly sorry.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 1 42.22

तं च मौनव्रतं श्रुत्वा वने मुनिवरं तदा। भूय एवाभवद्राजा शोकसंतप्तमानसः॥

taṃ ca maunavrataṃ śrutvā vane munivaraṃ tadā| bhūya evābhavadrājā śokasaṃtaptamānasaḥ||

Having heard that the best of the Rishi (Shamika) had been observing the vow of silence, he was doubly afflicted with sorrow.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 1 42.23

अनुक्रोशात्मतां तस्य शमीकस्यावधार्य च। पर्यतप्यत भूयोऽपि कृत्वा तत्किल्बिषं मुनेः॥

anukrośātmatāṃ tasya śamīkasyāvadhārya ca| paryatapyata bhūyo'pi kṛtvā tatkilbiṣaṃ muneḥ||

Seeing also the great kindness shown to him by the Rishi and recollecting his own great act, the king became very penitent.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 1 42.24

न हि मृत्युं तथा राजा श्रुत्वा वै सोऽन्वतप्यत। अशोचदमरप्रख्यो यथा कृत्वेह कर्म तत्॥

na hi mṛtyuṃ tathā rājā śrutvā vai so'nvatapyata| aśocadamaraprakhyo yathā kṛtveha karma tat||

The king, who looked like a celestial, did not grieve so much for hearing that he would die, as for having done that (insulting) act to the Rishi.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 1 42.25

ततस्तं प्रेषयामास राजा गौरमुखं तदा। भूयः प्रसादं भगवान्करोत्विह ममेति वै॥

tatastaṃ preṣayāmāsa rājā gauramukhaṃ tadā| bhūyaḥ prasādaṃ bhagavānkarotviha mameti vai||

The king then sent away Gaurmukha, saying "Let the adored Rishi be gracious to me!”

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 1 42.26

तस्मिंश्च गतमात्रेऽथ राजा गौरमुखे तदा। मन्त्रिभिर्मन्त्रयामास सह संविग्नमानसः॥

tasmiṃśca gatamātre'tha rājā gauramukhe tadā| mantribhirmantrayāmāsa saha saṃvignamānasaḥ||

When Gaurmukha had gone away the king in great anxiety consulted with all his ministers without delay.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 1 42.27

संमन्त्र्य मन्त्रिभिश्चैव स तथा मन्त्रतत्त्ववित्। प्रासादं कारयामास एकं स्तम्भं सुरक्षितम्॥

saṃmantrya mantribhiścaiva sa tathā mantratattvavit| prāsādaṃ kārayāmāsa ekaṃ stambhaṃ surakṣitam||

Having consulted with his ministers, the king himself, wise in counsels, caused a palace to be erected on a pillar, guarded day and night by men.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 1 42.28

रक्षां च विदधे तत्र भिषजश्चौषधानि च। ब्राह्मणान्मन्त्रसिद्धांश्च सर्वतो वै न्ययोजयत्॥

rakṣāṃ ca vidadhe tatra bhiṣajaścauṣadhāni ca| brāhmaṇānmantrasiddhāṃśca sarvato vai nyayojayat||

For his protection, he placed all around the palace, physicians, medicines and Brahmanas skilled in Mantras.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 1 42.29

राजकार्याणिः तत्रस्थः सर्वाण्येवाकरोच्च सः। मन्त्रिभिः सह धर्मज्ञः समन्तात्परिरक्षितः॥

rājakāryāṇiḥ tatrasthaḥ sarvāṇyevākarocca saḥ| mantribhiḥ saha dharmajñaḥ samantātparirakṣitaḥ||

Thus being protected on all sides, the king discharged his royal duties, surrounded by his virtuous ministers.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 1 42.30

न चैनं कश्चिदारूढं लभते राजसत्तमम्। वातोऽपि निश्चरंस्तत्र प्रवेशे विनिवार्यते॥

na cainaṃ kaścidārūḍhaṃ labhate rājasattamam| vāto'pi niścaraṃstatra praveśe vinivāryate||

None could approach that best of kings there (in that palace.) Even air could not go there, being prevented from entering.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 1 42.31

प्राप्ते च दिवसे तस्मिन्सप्तमे द्विजसत्तमः। काश्यपोऽभ्यागमद्विद्वांस्तं राजानं चिकित्सितुम्॥

prāpte ca divase tasminsaptame dvijasattamaḥ| kāśyapo'bhyāgamadvidvāṃstaṃ rājānaṃ cikitsitum||

When the seventh day came, the best of Brahmanas, Kashyapa, was coming with the intention of treating the king, (if bitten by the snake).

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 1 42.32

श्रुतं हि तेन तदभूद्यथा तं राजसत्तमम्। तक्षकः पन्नगश्रेष्ठो नेष्यते यमसादनम्॥

śrutaṃ hi tena tadabhūdyathā taṃ rājasattamam| takṣakaḥ pannagaśreṣṭho neṣyate yamasādanam||

He had heard all that had happened; he had heard that the best of snakes, Takshaka would take the king to Yama's, abode.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 1 42.33

तं दष्टं पन्नगेन्द्रेण करिष्येऽहमपज्वरम्। तत्र मेऽर्थश्च धर्मश्च भवितेति विचिन्तयन्॥

taṃ daṣṭaṃ pannagendreṇa kariṣye'hamapajvaram| tatra me'rthaśca dharmaśca bhaviteti vicintayan||

He thought, “I will cure the king bitten by the best of the snakes. By this I may gain both wealth and virtue."

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 1 42.34

तं ददर्श स नागेन्द्रस्तक्षकः काश्यपं पथि। गच्छन्तमेकमनसं द्विजो भूत्वा वयोतिगः॥

taṃ dadarśa sa nāgendrastakṣakaḥ kāśyapaṃ pathi| gacchantamekamanasaṃ dvijo bhūtvā vayotigaḥ||

The king of the snakes, Takshaka, saw on the way, Kashyapa, going with the intention of curing the king. He appeared before him in the form of an old Brahmana.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 1 42.35

तमब्रवीत्पन्नगेन्द्रः काश्यपं मुनिपुंगवम्। क्व भवांस्त्वरितो याति किं च कार्यं चिकीर्षति॥

tamabravītpannagendraḥ kāśyapaṃ munipuṃgavam| kva bhavāṃstvarito yāti kiṃ ca kāryaṃ cikīrṣati||

Thereupon the king of the snakes spoke to the best of the Rishis, Kashyapa, saying, “Where are you going with such speed? What is the business upon which you are going

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 1 42.36

काश्यप उवाच नृपं कुरुकुलोत्पन्न परिक्षितमरिन्दमम्। तक्षकः पन्नगश्रेष्ठस्तेजसाऽद्य प्रधक्ष्यति॥

kāśyapa uvāca nṛpaṃ kurukulotpanna parikṣitamarindamam| takṣakaḥ pannagaśreṣṭhastejasā'dya pradhakṣyati||

Kashyapa said: The best of snakes, Takshaka, will to-day burn the chastiser of his enemies, king Parikshit of the Kuru race;

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 1 42.37

तं दष्टं पन्नगेन्द्रेण तेनाग्निसमतेजसम्। पाण्डवानां कुलकरं राजानममितौजसम्। गच्छामि त्वरितं सौम्य सद्यः कर्तुमपज्वरम्॥

taṃ daṣṭaṃ pannagendreṇa tenāgnisamatejasam| pāṇḍavānāṃ kulakaraṃ rājānamamitaujasam| gacchāmi tvaritaṃ saumya sadyaḥ kartumapajvaram||

O amiable man, I am going in haste without loss of time, to cure that king of immeasurable prowess, the sole representative of the Kuru race, when he will be bitten by the king of snakes, who is as powerful as Agni.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 1 42.38

तक्षक उवाच अहं स तक्षको ब्रह्मं स्तं धक्ष्यामि महीपतिम्। निवर्तस्व न शक्तस्त्वं मया दष्टं चिकित्सितुम्॥

takṣaka uvāca ahaṃ sa takṣako brahmaṃ staṃ dhakṣyāmi mahīpatim| nivartasva na śaktastvaṃ mayā daṣṭaṃ cikitsitum||

Takshaka said: O Brahmana, I am that very Takshaka, who will kill that king of the earth, Stop, you cannot cure one who is bitten by me.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 1 42.39

काश्यप उवाच अहं तं नृपतिं गत्वा त्वया दष्टमपज्वरम्। करिष्यामीति मे बुद्धिर्विद्याबलसमन्विता॥

kāśyapa uvāca ahaṃ taṃ nṛpatiṃ gatvā tvayā daṣṭamapajvaram| kariṣyāmīti me buddhirvidyābalasamanvitā||

Kashyapa said : I am possessed with the power of learning. Going there, I am sure I shall cure the king bitten by you.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)