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.'
श्रुत्वा स राजा राजर्षिरिन्द्रद्युम्नस्य तत्तदा। मार्कण्डेयान्महाभागात्स्वर्गस्य प्रतिपादनम्
Having heard from the blessed Mārkaṇḍeya the account of Indradyumna and his attainment of heaven, the royal sage listened.
युधिष्ठिरो महाराज पुनः पप्रच्छ तं मुनिम्। कीदृशीषु ह्यवस्थासु दत्त्वा दानं महामुने। इन्द्रलोकं त्वनुभवेत्पुरुषस्तद्ब्रवीहि मे
King Yudhiṣṭhira again questioned the sage: 'O great sage, in what conditions, after giving gifts, does a man attain Indra's world? Tell me this.'
गार्हस्थ्येऽप्यथवा बाल्ये यौवने स्थाविरेऽपि वा। यथा फलं समश्नाति तथा त्वं कथयस्व मे
Whether in household life, childhood, youth, or old age, just as one eats fruit equally, so you must tell me likewise.
वृथा जन्मानि चत्वारि वृथा दानानि षोडश। वृथा जन्म ह्यपुत्रस् ये च धर्मबहिष्कृताः
Four births are in vain, sixteen gifts are in vain; birth without a son is indeed in vain, as are those excluded from righteousness.
परपाकं च येऽश्नन्ति आत्मार्थं च पचेत्तु यः। पर्यश्नन्ति वृथा यत्र तदसत्यं प्रकीर्त्यते
Those who eat food cooked by others, or who cook for their own sake, and where others eat in vain, that is declared untrue.
आरूढपतिते दत्तमन्यायोपहृतं च यत्। व्यर्थं तु पतिते दानं ब्राह्मणे तस्करे तथा
What is given to one fallen from a mount, or what is wrongfully taken, is wasted; so too is a gift to a fallen Brahmin or a thief.
गुरौ चानृतिके पापे कृतघ्ने ग्रामयाजके। वेदविक्रयिणे दत्तं तथा वृषलयाजके
A gift given to a false teacher, a sinner, an ingrate, a village priest, a seller of the Vedas, or one who sacrifices for outcastes is wasted.
ब्रह्मबन्धुषु यद्दत्तं यद्दत्तं वृषलीपतौ। स्त्रीजितेषु च यद्दत्तं व्यालग्राहे तथैव च
What is given to those who are Brahmin only in name, to outcastes, to those conquered by women, or to those seized by serpents, is likewise wasted.
परिचारकेषु यद्दत्तं वृथा दानानि षोडश। तमोवृतस्तु यो दद्याद्भयात्क्रोधात्तथैव च
What is given to servants is among the sixteen wasted gifts; and one who gives, shrouded in darkness, out of fear or anger, likewise wastes it.
भुङ्क्ते च दानं तत्सर्वं गर्भस्थस्तु नरः सदा। ददद्दानं द्विजातिभ्यो वृद्धभावेन मानवः
A man always enjoys all gifts even while in the womb; a person should give gifts to the twice-born with reverence for elders.