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.
यथा मां वै साधुवादैः प्रसन्नाः प्रशंसेयुः शिबयः कर्मणा तु। यथा श्येन प्रियमेव कुर्यां प्रशाधि मां यद्वदेस्तत्करोमि
As the virtuous Shibis might praise me with kind words for my actions, so may I do what is pleasing to you, O hawk; instruct me, and I will do as you wish.
ऊरोर्दक्षिणादुत्कृत्य स्वपिशितं तावद्राजन्यावन्मांसं कपोतेन समम् ।। तथा तस्मात्साधु त्रातः कपोतः प्रशंसेयुश्च शिबय कृतं च प्रियं स्यान्ममेति
Cutting flesh from his own right thigh, as much as the pigeon's weight, the king placed it on the scale; thus, the pigeon was saved, the Shibis would praise him, and what was dear to me would be accomplished.
अथ स दक्षिणादूरोरुत्कृत्य स्वमांसपेशीं तुलयाधारयत् ।। गुरुतर एव कपोत आसीत्
Then, cutting flesh from his right thigh, he placed his own flesh on the scale; yet the pigeon was still heavier.
पुनरन्यमुच्चकर्त गुरुतर एव कपोतः ।। एवं सर्वं समधिकृत्य शरीरं तुलायामारोपयामास रतत्तथापि गुरुतर एव कपोत आसीत्
Again he cut off more, but still the pigeon was heavier; thus, having placed his entire body on the scale, even then the pigeon remained heavier.
अथ राजा स्वयमेव तुलामारुरोह ।। न च व्यलीकमासीद्राज्ञ एतद्वृत्तान्तं दृष्टाव त्रात इत्युक्त्वा प्रालीयत श्येनः अथ राजा अब्रवीत्
Then the king himself mounted the scale; and there was no fault in the king. Seeing this event, the hawk vanished, saying, 'You are saved.' Then the king spoke.
कपोतं विद्युः शिवयस्त्वां कपोत पृच्छामि ते शकुने को नु श्येनः। नानीश्वर ईदृशं जातु कुर्या- देतं प्रश्नं भगवन्मे विचक्ष्व
'The Shibis know you as a pigeon, but I ask you, bird, who truly are you as a hawk? No lord would ever do such a thing—O venerable one, explain this question to me.'
वैश्वानरोऽहं ज्वलनो धूमकेतु- रथैव श्येनो वज्रहस्तः शचीपतिः। साधु ज्ञातुं त्वामृषभं सौरथेय नौ जिज्ञासया त्वत्सकाशंप्रपन्नौ
'I am Vaiśvānara, the blazing fire, the smokey-bannered one, and also the hawk, the thunderbolt-wielder, the lord of Śacī; to know you, O bull among men, we came here out of curiosity.'
यामेतां पेशीं मम निष्क्रयाय प्रादाद्भवानसिनोत्कृत्य राजन्। एतद्वो लक्ष्म शिवं करोमि हिरण्यवर्णं रुचिरं पुण्यगन्धम्
'This flesh you gave as ransom for me, O king, cutting it off with a sword—may I make this a mark of blessing for you: golden in color, radiant, and fragrant.'
एतासां प्रजानां पालयिता यशस्वी सुरर्षीणामथ संमतो भृशम्। एतस्मात्पार्श्वात्पुरुषो जनिष्यति कपोतरोमेति च तस्य नाम
'You will be the illustrious protector of these peoples, greatly honored by the sages and gods; from your line a man will be born, called Kapotaroma, from this side.'
कपोतरोमाणं शिबिनौद्भिदं पुत्रं प्राप्स्यसि नृपवृषसंहननं यशोदीप्यमानं द्रष्टासि शूरमृषभं सौरथानाम्
'You will obtain Kapotaroma, son of Śibi, sprung from your line, strong as a bull among kings, shining with fame, and you will see him, O best of the Saurathas.'