एष उज्जानको नाम पावकिर्यत्र शान्तवान्। अरुन्धतीसहायश्च वसिष्ठो भगवानृषिः
This is the place called Ujjānaka, where the fire-god became peaceful; and the venerable sage Vasiṣṭha, together with Arundhatī, was present.
ह्रदश्च कुशवानेष यत्र पद्मं कुशेशयम्। आश्रमश्चैव रुक्मिण्या यत्राशाम्यदकोपना
This is the lake of Kuśavān, where the lotus grows on a bed of kuśa grass; and here is the hermitage of Rukmiṇī, where the wrathful one found peace.
समाधीनां समासस्तु पाण्डवेय श्रुतस्त्वया। तं द्रक्ष्यसि महाराज भृगुतुन्दं महागिरिम्
O son of Pandu, you have heard the summary of the meditations; you will see that great mountain Bhṛgutunda, O king.
वितस्तां पश्य राजेन्द्र सर्वपापप्रमोचनीम्। महर्षिभिश्चाध्युषितां शीततोयां सुनिर्मलाम्
Behold the river Vitastā, O king of kings, which frees from all sins, whose waters are cold and pure, and which is inhabited by great sages.
जलां चोपजलां चैव यमुनामभितो नदीम्। उशीनरो वै यत्रेष्ट्वा वासवादत्यरिच्यत
See also, near the Yamunā, the river with both water and dry banks, where Ushīnara, having performed a sacrifice, surpassed even Indra.
तां देवसमितिं तस्य वासवश्च विशांपते। अभ्यागच्छन्नृपवरं ज्ञातुमग्निश्च भारत
To that assembly of the gods, O lord of the people, Indra and Agni came, wishing to know the noble king.
जिज्ञासमानौ वरदौ महात्मानमुशीनरम्। इन्द्रः श्येनः कपोतोऽग्निर्भूत्वा यज्ञेऽभिजग्मतुः
Desiring to test him, Indra and Agni, taking the forms of a hawk and a dove, approached the great-souled Ushīnara at the sacrifice.
उरुं राज्ञः समासाद्य कपोतः श्येनजाद्भयात्। शरणार्थी तदा राजन्निलिल्ये भयपीडितः
The dove, terrified by the hawk, sought refuge with the king, and, afflicted by fear, hid himself there, seeking protection.
धर्मात्मानं त्वाहुरेकं सर्वे राजन्महीक्षितः। स वै धर्मविरुद्धं त्वं कस्मात्कर्म चिकीर्षसि
All the kings, O ruler, call you alone righteous; why then do you wish to perform an act opposed to righteousness?
विहितं भक्षणं राजन्पीड्यमानस्य मे क्षुधा। माहिंसीर्धर्मलोभेन धर्ममुत्सृज्य मा नशः
O king, eating is ordained for one tormented by hunger; do not abandon righteousness for the sake of righteousness, nor perish.
संत्रस्तरूपस्त्राणार्थी त्वत्तो भीतो महाद्विज। मत्सकाशमनुप्रप्तः प्राणगृध्नुरयं द्विजः
This great bird, frightened and seeking protection from you, has come to me, desiring life, O twice-born one.
एवमभ्यागतस्येह कपोतस्याभयार्थिनः। अप्रदाने परो धर्मः किं त्वं श्येनेह पश्यसि
When a dove comes here seeking safety, if you do not grant it, what greater righteousness do you see in the hawk?
प्रस्पन्दमानः संभ्रान्तः कपोतः श्येन लक्ष्यते। मत्सकाशं जीवितार्थी तस्य त्यागो विगर्हितः
The dove, trembling and agitated, is marked by the hawk; he has come to me for the sake of his life, and abandoning him is censured.
[यो हि कश्चिद्द्विजान्हन्याद्गां वा लोकस्य मातरम्। शरणागतं च त्यजते तुल्यं तेषां हि पातकम्]
[Whoever kills a twice-born, or a cow, the mother of the world, or abandons one who has sought refuge—these are equal sins.]
आहारत्सर्वभूतानि संभवन्ति महीपते। आहारेण विवर्धन्ते तेन जीवन्ति जन्तवः
All beings, O king, arise from food; by food they grow, and by food creatures live.
शक्यते दुस्त्यजेऽप्यर्थे चिररात्राय जीवितुम्। न तु भोजनमुत्सृज्य शक्यं वर्तयितुं चिरम्
One may live for a long time even in distress, but without food, it is not possible to survive for long.
भक्ष्याद्विलोपितस्याद्य मम प्राणा विशांपते। विसृज्यकायमेष्यन्ति पन्थानमपुनर्भवम्
If I am deprived of my food today, O lord of the people, my life will depart, and I will go to the path of no return, abandoning my body.
प्रमृते मयि धर्मात्मन्पुत्रदारादि नङ्क्ष्यति। रक्षमाणः कपोतं त्वं बहून्प्राणान्न रक्षसि
If I perish, O righteous one, my children, wife, and others will be destroyed; by protecting the dove, you do not protect many lives.
बहून्यो बाधते धर्मो न स धर्मः कुवर्त्म तत्। अविरोधी तु यो धर्मः स धर्मः सत्यविक्रम
That righteousness which harms many is not righteousness; that is a wrong path. True righteousness, O steadfast one, is that which does not cause harm.
विरोधिषु महीपाल निश्चित्य गुरुलाघवम्। न बाधा विद्यते यत्र तं धर्मं समुपाचरेत्
O protector of the earth, having considered the greater and lesser among conflicting duties, one should follow that righteousness where there is no harm.
गुरुलाघवमाज्ञाय धर्माधर्मविनिश्चये। यतो भूयांस्ततो राजन्कुरु धर्मविनिश्चयम्
Knowing the relative weight of righteousness and unrighteousness, O King, wherever there is greater merit, there you should determine the course of dharma.
बहुकल्याणसंयुक्तं भाषसे विहगोत्तम। सुपर्णः पक्षिराट् किं त्वं धर्मं ज्ञात्वाऽभिभाषसे
You speak words filled with much goodness, O best among birds; are you, Suparna, king of birds, speaking thus having understood dharma?
तथाहि धर्मसंयुक्तं बहुचित्रं च भाषसे। न तेऽस्त्यविदितं किंचिदिति त्वां लक्षयाम्यहम्। शरणैषिपरित्यागं कथं साध्विति मन्यसे
Indeed, you speak of dharma with much variety; I perceive that nothing is unknown to you. How then do you consider the abandonment of one seeking refuge as virtuous?
आहारार्थं समारम्भस्तव चायं विहंगम। शक्यश्चाप्यन्यथा कर्तुमाहारोऽप्यधिकस्त्वया
This effort of yours, O bird, is for the sake of food; yet you are capable of obtaining food by other means, and even more abundantly.
गोवृषो वा वराहो वा मृगो वा महिषोपि वा। त्वदर्थमद्य क्रियतां यच्चान्यदिह काङ्क्षसि
Let a bull, a boar, a deer, or even a buffalo be prepared for you today, or whatever else you desire here.
न वराहं न चोक्षाणं न मृगान्विविधांस्तथा। भक्षयामि महाराज किं ममान्येन केचचित्
I do not eat boars, nor bulls, nor various kinds of deer, O great king; what concern have I with any other creature?
यस्तु मे दैवविहितो भक्षः क्षत्रियपुङ्गव। तमुत्सृज महीपाल कपोतमिममेव मे
That which is destined for me by fate, O foremost of warriors, grant me that, O ruler of the earth—this pigeon alone is my allotted food.
श्येनाः कपोतान्स्वादन्ति श्रुतिरेषा सनातनी। मा राजन्सारमज्ञात्वा कदलीस्कन्धमासज
Hawks eat pigeons—this is the eternal tradition; O King, do not, ignorant of the essence, cling to the stalk of the banana tree.
राष्ट्रं शिवीनामृद्धं वै शाधि पक्षिभिरर्चितः। कृत्स्नमेतन्मया दत्तं राजवद्विहगोत्तम
Rule the prosperous kingdom of the Shivis, honored by birds; all this has been given to you by me, O best among birds, as a king.
यं वा कामयसे कामं श्येन सर्वं ददानि ते। विनेमं पक्षिणं श्यन शरणार्थिनमागतम्
Whatever you desire, O hawk, I shall give it all to you, except for this bird who has come seeking refuge, O hawk.