श्ववद्धि लोलुपो यस्तु परान्नं भोक्तुमिच्छति। धिगस्तु तस्य तद्भुक्तं कृपणस् दुरात्मनः
Indeed, he who greedily desires to eat another's food is like a dog; shame on what is eaten by such a wretched, base soul.
यो दत्त्वाऽतिथिभृत्येभ्यः पितृभ्यश्च द्विजोत्तमः। शिष्टान्यन्नानि यो भुङ्क्ते किं वै सुखतरं ततः
He who, after giving food to guests, servants, ancestors, and the best of twice-born, eats what remains—what happiness could be greater than that?
अतो मृष्टतरं नान्यत्पूतं किंचितच्छतक्रतो। दत्त्वा यस्त्वतिथिभ्योऽन्नं भुङ्क्ते तेनैव नित्यशः
There is nothing purer or more excellent, O Shatakratu, than this: he who gives food to guests and then eats that himself, always.
तावतां गोसहस्राणां फलं प्राप्नोति दायकः। यदेनो यौवनकृतंतत्सर्वं नश्यते ध्रुवम्
The giver attains the fruit equal to thousands of cows; whatever sin was committed in youth, all that is surely destroyed.
रसदक्षिणस् भुक्तस् द्विजस्य तु करे गतम्। यद्वारि वारिणा सिञ्चेत्तद्ध्येनस्तरते क्षणात्
The food given to a Brahmin, or even water poured into his hand, removes sin instantly, just as water washes away stains.
एताश्चान्याश्च वै बह्वीः कथयित्वा कथाः शुभाः। बकेन सह देवेन्द्र आपृच्छ्य त्रिदिवं गतः
Having told these and many other auspicious stories, Indra took leave of Baka and went to heaven.
इदमन्यच्छ्रूतां ययातिर्नाहुषो राजा राज्यस्थः पौरजनावृत आसांचक्रे ।। गुर्वर्थी ब्राह्मण उपेत्याब्रवीत् भो राजन्गुर्वर्थं भिक्षेयं समयादिति राजोवाच
Hear also this: King Yayati, son of Nahusha, while ruling and surrounded by his people, performed as follows. A Brahmin, desiring something for his teacher, approached and said, 'O King, I wish to beg for my teacher’s sake; grant me what I ask according to agreement.' The king replied:
ब्रवीतु भगवान्समयमिति
Let the revered one state the agreement.
विद्वेषणं परमं जीवलोके कुर्यान्नरः पार्थिव याच्यमानः। तं त्वां पृच्छामि कथं तु राज- न्दद्याद्वान्दयितं च मेऽद्य
Enmity is the highest evil among living beings; a king, when asked, should not cause it. Therefore, I ask you, O King, how should one give, and how should I receive today what is desired?
नचानुकीर्तये दद्य दत्त्वा अयाच्यमर्थं न च संशृणोमि। प्राप्यमर्थं च संश्रुत्य तं चापि दत्त्वा सुसुखी भवामि
I do not boast after giving, nor do I give what is not asked for, nor do I listen to such requests. When I promise something attainable, and after giving it, I become truly content.
ददामि ते रोहिणीनां सहस्रं प्रियो हि मे ब्राह्मणो याचमानः। न मे मनः कुप्यति याचमाने दत्तं न शोचामि कदाचिदर्थम्
I give you a thousand Rohini cows, for a Brahmin who asks is dear to me. My mind does not become angry when asked, nor do I ever regret what I have given.
इत्युक्त्वा ब्राह्मणा राजा गोसहस्रं ददौ। प्राप्तवांश्च गवां सहस्रं ब्राह्मण इति
Having spoken thus, the king gave a thousand cows to the Brahmin. The Brahmin received the thousand cows.
देवानां कथा संजाता महीतलं गत्वा महीपतिं शिबिमौशीनरं साध्वेनं शिबिं जिज्ञास्याम इति ।। एवं भो इत्युक्त्वा अग्नीन्द्रावुपतिष्ठेताम्
A tale of the gods arose: Having come down to earth, they said, 'Let us test King Shibi, the righteous ruler of the Ushinara clan.' So saying, Agni and Indra approached him.
अग्निः कपोतरूपेण तमभ्यधावदामिषार्थमिन्द्रः श्येनरूपेण
Agni, taking the form of a dove, rushed toward him for flesh, and Indra took the form of a hawk.
अथ कपोतो राज्ञो दिव्यासनासीनस्योत्सङ्गं न्यपतत्
Then the dove fell onto the king’s lap as he sat upon his divine throne.
अथ पुरोहितो राजानमब्रवीत् ।। प्राणरक्षार्थं श्येनाद्भीतो भवन्तं प्राणार्थी प्रपद्यते
Then the royal priest spoke to the king: 'For the sake of preserving life, the dove, fearing the hawk, approaches you seeking protection.'
वसु ददातु अन्तवान्पार्थिवोऽस्य निष्कृतिं कुर्यात् घोरं कपोतस्य निपातमाहुः
Let the king give wealth; let him make restitution for the dove’s end. They say the dove’s fall is dreadful.
अथ कपोतो राजानमब्रवीत् ।। प्राणरक्षणार्थं श्येनाद्भीतो भवन्तं प्राणार्थी प्रपद्ये अङ्गैरङ्गानि प्राप्यार्थी मुनिर्भूत्वा प्राणांस्त्वां प्रपद्ये
Then the dove spoke to the king: 'For the sake of preserving life, fearing the hawk, I approach you seeking protection. With my limbs, seeking safety, I become a sage; I surrender my life to you.'
स्वाध्यायेन कर्शितं ब्रह्मचारिणं मां विद्धि ।। तपसा दमेन युक्तमाचार्यस्याप्रतिकूलभाषिणम् ।। एवंयुक्तमपापं मां विद्धि
Know me as a student, emaciated by study, endowed with austerity and self-restraint, never speaking against my teacher. Know me thus, innocent and pure.
गदामि वेदानविचिनोमि छन्दः सर्वेवेदा अक्षरशो मे अधीताः। न साधु दानं श्रोत्रियस्य प्रदानं मा प्रादाः श्येनाय न कपोतोऽस्मि
I recite, I search out the Vedas and their meters; all the Vedas I have learned syllable by syllable. It is not right to give a gift to a learned Brahmin; do not give me to the hawk, for I am not merely a dove.
अथ श्येनो राजानमब्रवीत्
Then the hawk spoke to the king:
पर्यायेण वसतिर्वा भवेषु सर्गे जातः पूर्वमस्मात्कपोतात्। त्वमाददानोऽथ कपोतमेनं मा त्वं राजन्विघ्नकर्ता भवेथाः
In turn, dwelling occurs among beings; I was born before this dove. If you take this dove from me, O King, do not become an obstacle.
केनेदृशी जातु परा हि दृष्टा वागुच्यमाना शकनेन संस्कृता। यां वै कपोतो वदते यां च श्येन उभौ विदित्वा कथमस्तु साधु
What kind of speech has ever been heard, composed in refined language, as spoken by the dove and the hawk? Knowing both, how can it be deemed righteous?
नास्य वर्षं वर्षति वर्षकाले नास्य बीजं रोहति काल उप्तम्। भीतं प्रपन्नं यो हि ददाति शत्रवे न त्राणं लभेत्राणमिच्छन्स काले
In his season, rain does not fall for him; in due time, his seed does not sprout. Whoever gives a frightened suppliant to his enemy does not obtain protection when he seeks it.
जाता ह्रस्वा प्रजा प्रमीयते सदा न वासं पितरोऽस्य कुर्वते। भीतं प्रपन्नं यो हि ददाति शत्रवे नास्य देवाः प्रतिगृह्णन्ति हव्यम्
A person whose offspring are born weak and whose line diminishes, whose ancestors never dwell with him—he who gives one who is fearful and has sought refuge to his enemy, the gods do not accept his offerings.
मोघमन्नं विन्दति चाप्रचेताः स्वर्गाल्लोकाद्धश्यति शीघ्रमेव। भीतं प्रपन्नं यो हि ददाति शत्रवे सेन्द्रा देवाः प्रहरन्त्यस्य वज्रम्
A senseless man obtains food in vain and quickly falls from heaven and the worlds; for he who gives one who is fearful and has sought refuge to his enemy, the gods together with Indra strike him with the thunderbolt.
उक्षाणं पक्त्वा सह ओदनेन अस्मात्कपोतात्प्रति ते नयन्तु। यस्मिन्देशे रमसेऽतीव श्येन तत्रमांसं शिवयस्ते वहन्तु
Let them take for you, instead of this pigeon, a bull cooked with rice; wherever, O hawk, you especially delight, may they bring you meat there that brings you well-being.
नोक्षाणो राजन्प्रार्थयेयं न चान्य दस्मान्मांसमधिकं वा कपोतात्। देवैर्दत्तः सोऽद्य ममैष भक्ष- स्तन्मे ददस्व शकुनानामभावात्
O king, I would not ask for a bull or anything else, nor for more meat than from this pigeon; this one has been given to me by the gods today for my food—give him to me, since there are no other birds.
उक्षाणं वेहतमनूनं नयन्तु ते पश्यन्तु पुरुषा ममैव। भयाहितस् दायं ममान्तिकात्त्वां प्रत्याम्नायं तु त्वं ह्येनं मा हिंसीः
Let them bring a bull, not less in weight, and let people see it is truly mine; but since you have come to me out of fear, I return you—do not harm him.
त्यजे प्राणाननैव दद्यां कपोतं सौम्यो ह्ययं किं न जानासि श्येन। यथा क्लेशं मा कुरुष्वेह सौम्य नाहं कपोतमर्पयिष्ये कथंचित्
I would sooner give up my own life than give up the pigeon; O hawk, do you not understand this? Please, do not cause me distress here, gentle one—I will not surrender the pigeon under any circumstances.