यद्येतत्साहसं तात यदि वा दुष्कृतं कृतम्। प्रियं वाप्यप्रियं वा ते वागुक्ता न मृषा भवेत्
Whether this was a rash deed, or a wrongful act, or whether your words were pleasing or unpleasing, let them not be false.
नैवान्यथेदं भविता पितरेष ब्रवीमि ते। नाहं मृषा ब्रवीम्येवं स्वैरेष्वपि कुतः शपन्
This will not happen otherwise, I tell you for your father; I do not speak falsely, not even among my own, so how could I utter a curse?
जानाम्युग्रप्रभावं त्वां तात सत्यगिरं तथा। नानृतं चोक्तपूर्वं ते नैतन्मिथ्या भविष्यति
I know your formidable power, O son, and your truthfulness in speech; you have never spoken untruth before, and this will not be false.
पित्रा पुत्रो वयस्थोऽपि सततं वाच्य एव तु। यथा स्याद्गुणसंयुक्तः प्राप्नुयाच्च महद्यशः
A son, even when grown, must always be addressed by his father, so that he may be endowed with virtues and attain great fame.
किं पुनर्बाल एव त्वं तपसा भावितः सदा। वर्धते चेत्प्रभवतां कोपोऽतीव महात्मनाम्
How much more so when you are still a child, always devoted to austerity; for in the powerful, anger grows exceedingly.
उत्सीदेयुरिमे लोकाः क्षणा चास्य प्रतिक्रिया।' सोऽहं पश्यामि वक्तव्यं त्वयि धर्मभृतां वर। पुत्रत्वं बालतां चैव तवावेक्ष्य च साहसम्
These worlds would perish, and there would be no remedy for a moment; therefore, I consider what should be said to you, O best of the righteous, considering your sonship, childhood, and this rashness of yours.
स त्वं शमपरो भूत्वा वन्यमाहारमाचरन्। चर क्रोधमिमं हित्वा नैवं धर्मं प्रहास्यसि
Therefore, be devoted to tranquility, subsist on forest fare, and act after abandoning this anger; thus you will not abandon righteousness.
क्रोधो हि धर्मं हरति यतीनां दुःखसंचितम्। ततो धर्मविहीनानां गतिरिष्टा न विद्यते
For anger destroys the righteousness painstakingly gathered by ascetics; and for those devoid of righteousness, the desired goal is not attained.
शम एव यतीनां हि क्षमिणां सिद्धिकारकः। क्षमावतामयं लोकः परश्चैव क्षमावताम्
Indeed, tranquility alone brings success to ascetics and the forgiving; this world belongs to the forgiving, and so does the next.
तस्माच्चरेथाः सततं क्षमाशीलो जितेन्द्रियः। क्षमया प्राप्स्यसे लोकान्ब्रह्मणः समनन्तरान्
Therefore, always practice forgiveness, self-controlled in nature; by forgiveness, you will attain the worlds adjacent to that of Brahma.
मया तु शममास्थाय यच्छक्यं कर्तुमद्य वै। तत्करिष्याम्यहं तात प्रेपयिष्ये नृपाय वै
But I, having taken refuge in tranquility, will do today whatever is possible; I will send word to the king, O son.
मम पुत्रेण शप्तोऽसि बालेनाकृतबुद्धिना। ममेमां धर्षणां त्वत्तः प्रेक्ष्य राजन्नमर्षिणा
You have been cursed by my son, a child of immature understanding; seeing this insult from you, O king, I could not bear it.
एवमादिश्य शिष्यं स प्रेषयामास सुव्रतः। परिक्षिते नृपतये दयापन्नो महातपाः
Thus instructing his disciple, the virtuous one, moved by compassion for King Parikshit, sent him forth.
संदिश्य कुशलप्रश्नं कार्यवृत्तान्तमेव च। शिष्यं गौरमुखं नाम शीलवन्तं समाहितम्
Having given directions to inquire about well-being and to report the matter at hand, he sent his disciple named Gauramukha, who was virtuous and composed.
सोऽभिगम्य ततः शीघ्रं नरेन्द्रं कुरुवर्धनम्। विवेश भवनं राज्ञः पूर्वं द्वास्थैर्निवेदितः
He, quickly approaching the king, the enhancer of the Kuru line, entered the royal palace after being announced by the doorkeepers.
पूजितस्तु नरेन्द्रेण द्विजो गौरमुखस्तदा। आचख्यौ च परिश्रान्तो राज्ञः सर्वमशेषतः
Then, honored by the king, the twice-born Gauramukha, though weary, reported everything to the king in full.
शमीकवचनं घोरं यथोक्तं मन्त्रिसन्निधौ। शमीको नाम राजेन्द्र वर्तते विषये तव
He recounted, in the presence of the ministers, the dreadful words of Shamika as spoken: 'O king, there is a sage named Shamika in your realm.'
ऋषिः परमधर्मात्मा दान्तः शान्तो महातपाः। तस्य त्वया नरव्याघ्र सर्पः प्राणैर्वियोजितः
He is a sage of supreme righteousness, self-restrained, peaceful, and of great austerity; O tiger among men, by you a serpent was deprived of life while he was silent and absorbed in meditation.
अवसक्तो धनुष्कोट्या स्कन्धे मौनान्वितस्य च। क्षान्तवांस्तव तत्कर्म पुत्रस्तस्य न चक्षमे
The snake, stuck by the tip of your bow, hung on his shoulder as he maintained silence; though Shamika forgave your deed, his son could not bear it.
तेन शप्तोऽसि राजेन्द्र पितुरज्ञातमद्य वै। तक्षकः सप्तरात्रेण मृत्युस्तव भविष्यति
Therefore, O king, you have been cursed by him today, unknown to his father: 'Takshaka will be your death in seven nights.'
तत्र रक्षां कुरुष्वेति पुनः पुनरथाब्रवीत्। तदन्यथा न शक्यं च कर्तुं केनचिदप्युत
He repeatedly said, 'Take precautions there,' for otherwise, it cannot be averted by anyone.
न हि शक्नोति संयन्तुं पुत्रं कोपसमन्वितम्। ततोऽहं प्रेषितस्तेन तव राजन्हितार्थिना
For he cannot restrain his son, filled with anger; therefore I was sent by him, who desires your welfare, O king.
इति श्रुत्वा वचो घोरं स राजा कुरुनन्दनः। पर्यतप्यत तत्पापं कृत्वा राजा महातपाः
Hearing these dreadful words, the king, descendant of the Kurus, was tormented, having committed that sin, though a man of great austerity.
तं च मौनव्रतं श्रुत्वा वने मुनिवरं तदा। भूय एवाभवद्राजा शोकसंतप्तमानसः
And upon hearing of the sage's vow of silence in the forest, the king's mind became even more afflicted with sorrow.
अनुक्रोशात्मतां तस्य शमीकस्यावधार्य च। पर्यतप्यत भूयोपि कृत्वा तत्किल्बिषं मुनेः
Perceiving Shamika's compassionate nature, he was further tormented for having committed that offense against the sage.
न हि मृत्युं तथा राजा श्रुत्वा वै सोऽन्वतप्यत। अशोचदमरप्रख्यो यथा कृत्वेह कर्म तत्
For the king did not grieve so much upon hearing of his death, as he did for having performed that deed, though he was like an immortal.
ततस्तं प्रेषयामास राजा गौरमुखं तदा। भूयः प्रसादं भगवान्करोत्विह ममेति वै
Then the king sent Gauramukha again, saying, 'May the venerable one grant me his favor here.'
श्रुत्वा तु वचनं राज्ञो मुनिर्गौरमुखस्तदा। समनुज्ञाप्य वेगेन प्रजगामाश्रमं गुरोः
Hearing the king's words, the sage Gauramukha, having received permission, swiftly returned to his teacher's hermitage.
तस्मिंश्च गतमात्रेऽथ राजा गौरमुखे तदा। मन्त्रिभिर्मन्त्रयामास सह संविग्नमानसः
As soon as Gauramukha had departed, the king, his mind troubled, began to consult with his ministers.
संमन्त्र्य मन्त्रिभिश्चैव स तथा मन्त्रतत्त्ववित्। प्रासादं कारयामास एकस्तम्भं सुरक्षितम्
Having deliberated with his ministers, he, who understood the essence of counsel, ordered the construction of a well-guarded palace with a single pillar.