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.
रक्षां च विदधे तत्र भिषजश्चौषधानि च। ब्राह्मणान्मन्त्रसिद्धांश्च सर्वतो वै न्ययोजयत्
He arranged for protection there, brought physicians and medicines, and employed Brahmins skilled in mantras everywhere.
राजकार्याणि तत्रस्थः सर्वाण्येवाकरोच्च सः। मन्त्रिभिः सह धर्मज्ञः समन्तात्परिरक्षितः
Remaining there, he carried out all royal duties, accompanied by ministers, knowledgeable in righteousness, and guarded on all sides.
न चैनं कश्चिदारूढं लभते राजसत्तमम्। वातोऽपि निश्चरंस्तत्र प्रवेशे विनिवार्यते
No one could approach the excellent king, not even the wind moving at night was permitted entry.
प्राप्ते च दिवसे तस्मिन्सप्तमे द्विजसत्तमः। काश्यपोऽभ्यागमद्विद्वांस्तं राजानं चिकित्सितुम्
On the seventh day, the eminent sage Kashyapa arrived to treat the king.
श्रुतं हि तेन तदभूद्यथा तं राजसत्तमम्। तक्षकः पन्नगश्रेष्ठो नेष्यते यमसादनम्
He had heard that Takshaka, the foremost serpent, would not send the excellent king to the abode of Yama.
तं दष्टं पन्नगेन्द्रेण करिष्येऽहमपज्वरम्। तत्र मेऽर्थश्च धर्मश्च भवितेति विचिन्तयन्
Thinking, 'I will make him, bitten by the serpent king, free from fever; thus both my purpose and righteousness will be fulfilled.'
तं ददर्श स नागेन्द्रस्तक्षकः काश्यपं पथि। गच्छन्तमेकमनसं द्विजो भूत्वा वयोऽतिगः
Takshaka, the serpent king, saw Kashyapa on the path, going with single-minded intent, the sage appearing as an old man.
तमब्रवीत्पन्नगेन्द्रः काश्यपं मुनिपुंगवम्। क्व भवांस्त्वरितो याति किंच कार्यं चिकीर्षति
The serpent king addressed Kashyapa, the foremost sage: 'Where are you hastily going, and what task do you intend?'
नृपं कुरुकुलोत्पन्नं परिक्षितमरिंदमम्। तक्षकः पन्नगश्रेष्ठस्तेजसाऽध्य प्रधक्ष्यति
'Takshaka, the foremost serpent, will burn with his energy the king Parikshit, born in the Kuru lineage, destroyer of enemies.'
तं दष्टं पन्नगेन्द्रेण तेनाग्निसमतेजसम्। पाण्डवानां कुलकरं राजानममितौजसम्। गच्छामित्वरितं सौम्य सद्यः कर्तुमपज्वरम्
'I am going quickly, gentle one, to make the king, bitten by the serpent king whose energy equals fire, the illustrious Pandava, free from fever.'