श्रोतव्यमपि पश्यापि सुहृदां कुरुनन्दन। न कर्तव्यश्च निर्बन्धो निर्बन्धो हि सुदारुणः
Even if something is to be heard or seen, O joy of the Kurus, it should not be insisted upon; for insistence is indeed very harsh.
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् । यथा निर्बन्धतः प्राप्तो गालवेन पराजयः
Here too they recite this ancient tale, how defeat came to Galava because of insistence.
विश्वामित्रं तपस्यन्तं धर्मो जिज्ञासया पुरा । अभ्यगच्छत्स्वयं भूत्वा वसिष्ठो भगवानृषिः
Long ago, Dharma, wishing to test, approached the ascetic Vishvamitra, having assumed the form of the sage Vasishtha.
सप्तर्षीणामन्यतमं वेषमास्थाय भारत। बभुक्षुः क्षुधितो राजन्नाश्रमं कौशिकस्य तु
Assuming the appearance of one of the Seven Sages, O Bharata, hungry and desiring food, he went to the hermitage of Kaushika.
विश्वामित्रोऽथ संभ्रान्तः श्रपयामास वै चरुम् । परमान्नस्य यत्नेन न च तं प्रत्यपालयत्
Then Vishvamitra, agitated, began to prepare an offering with great effort from the best rice, but he could not serve it to him.
अन्नं तेन यदा भुक्तमन्यैर्दत्तं तपस्विभिः । अथ गृह्णान्नमत्युष्णं विश्वामित्रोऽप्युपागमत्
When that food had been eaten by others—ascetics to whom it had been given—then Vishvamitra, too, approached to take the remaining, which was still very hot.
भुक्तं मे तिष्ठ तावत्त्वमित्युक्त्वा भगवान्ययौ । विश्वामित्रस्ततो राजन्स्थित एव महाद्युतिः
The venerable one said, 'I have eaten; wait here for a moment,' and departed; and Vishvamitra, the great radiant one, remained standing there.
भक्तं प्रगृह्य मूर्ध्ना वै बाहुभ्यां संशितव्रतः । स्थितः स्थाणुरिवाभ्याशे निश्चेष्टो मारुताशनः
Having taken the food in his hands, resolute in his vow, he stood motionless like a pillar, sustained by air alone, holding it near his head.
तस्य शुश्रूषणे यत्नमकरोद्गालवो मुनिः । गौरवाद्बहुमानाच्च हार्देन प्रियकाम्यया
The sage Galava, out of respect, great esteem, and heartfelt affection, made every effort to serve him.
अथ वर्षशते पूर्णे धर्मः पुनरुपागमत्। वासिष्ठं वेषमास्थाय कौशिकं भोजनेप्सया
Then, when a hundred years had passed, Dharma came again, having assumed the form of Vasishtha, desiring food from Kaushika.
स दृष्ट्वा शिरसा भक्तं ध्रियमाणं महर्षिणा । तिष्ठता वायुभक्षेण विश्वामित्रेण धीमता
Seeing the food still held at his head by the great sage Vishvamitra, who stood there, sustained only by air,
प्रतिगृह्य ततो धर्मस्तथैवोष्णं तथा नवम् । भुक्त्वा प्रीतोस्मि विप्रर्षे तमुक्त्वा स मुनिर्गतः
Dharma then took that same hot, fresh food, ate it, and said to the sage, 'I am pleased,' and departed.
क्षत्रभावादपगतो ब्राह्मणत्वमुपागतः। धर्मस्य वचनात्प्रीतो विश्वामित्रस्तथाऽभवत्
Having abandoned his warrior status, he attained the state of a Brahmin; thus, by the word of Dharma, Vishvamitra became pleased.
विश्वामित्रस्तु शिष्यस्य गालवस्य तपस्विनः । शुश्रूषया च भक्त्या च प्रीतिमानित्युवाच ह
Vishvamitra, pleased by the devoted service of his ascetic disciple Galava, spoke to him with affection.
अनुज्ञातो मया वत्स यथेष्टं गच्छ गवालव। इत्युक्तः प्रत्युवाचेदं गालवो मुनिसत्तमम्
Having been permitted by me, child, go as you wish to Gavālava. Thus addressed, Gālava replied to the eminent sage.
प्रीतो मधुरया वाचा विश्वामित्रं महाद्युतिम् । दक्षिणाः काः प्रयच्छामि भवते गुरुकर्मणि
Pleased, with gentle words, he spoke to the radiant Viśvāmitra: 'What gift shall I offer you for my instruction as a disciple?'
दक्षिणाभिरुपेतं हि कर्म सिद्ध्यति मानद। दक्षिणानां हि दाता वै अपवर्गेण युज्यते
For an act accompanied by a gift is fulfilled, O bestower of honor; indeed, the giver of gifts attains liberation.
स्वर्गे क्रतुफलं तद्धि दक्षिणा शान्तिरुच्यते। किमाहरामि गुर्वर्थं ब्रवीतु भगवानिति
In heaven, the fruit of sacrifice is that gift, which is called the peace-offering; what shall I bring for my teacher? Let the venerable one declare it.
स जानानस्तु भगवान्खिन्नं शुश्रूषणेन वै। विश्वामित्रस्तमसकृद्गच्छ गच्छेत्यचोदयत्
Knowing this, the venerable Viśvāmitra, seeing him wearied by his service, repeatedly urged him, 'Go, go.'
असकृद्गच्छगच्छेति विश्वामित्रेण भाषितः । किं ददानीति बहुशो गालवः प्रत्यभाषत
Though Viśvāmitra said many times, 'Go, go,' Gālava repeatedly asked, 'What shall I give?'
निर्बन्धतस्तु बहुशो गालवस्य तपस्विनः। किंचिदागतसंरम्भो विश्वामित्रोऽब्रवीदिदम्
Because of the persistent insistence of the ascetic Gālava, Viśvāmitra, becoming somewhat agitated, spoke these words.
एकतःश्यामकर्णानां हयानां चन्द्रवर्चसाम्। अष्टौ शतानि मे देहि गच्छ गालव मा चिरम्
Give me eight hundred horses, dark-eared and radiant as the moon, all at once; go, Gālava, without delay.
एवमुक्तस्तदा तेन विश्वामित्रेण धीमता। नास्ते न शेते नाहारं कुरुते गालवस्तदा
Thus addressed by the wise Viśvāmitra, Gālava neither rested nor slept nor took food at that time.
त्वगस्थिभूतो हरिणाश्चिन्ताशोकपरायणः। शोचमानोऽतिमात्रं स दह्यमानश्च मन्युना । गालवो दुःखितो दुःखाद्विललाप सुयोधन
Reduced to skin and bone, absorbed in anxiety and sorrow, grieving excessively and burning with anger, Gālava, distressed, lamented bitterly, O mighty-armed one.
कुतः पुष्टानि मित्राणि कुतोऽर्थाः सञ्चयः कृतः । हयानां चन्द्रशुभ्राणां शतान्यष्टौ कुतो मम
Where are well-nourished friends for me, where is accumulated wealth? Where can I obtain eight hundred moon-white horses?
कुतो मे भोजने श्रद्धा सुखश्रद्धा कुतश्च मे। श्रद्धा मे जीवितस्यापि छिन्ना किं जीवितेन मे
Where is my faith in food, where is my contentment? Even my faith in life itself is cut off—what use is life to me?
अहं पारे समुद्रस्य पृथिव्या वा परं परात्। गत्वाऽऽत्मानं विमुञ्चामि किं फलं जीवितेन मे
Crossing to the far side of the ocean or to the ends of the earth, I will abandon my life—what is the use of living for me?
अदनस्याकृतार्थस्य त्यक्तस्य विविधैः फलैः । ऋणं धारयमाणस्य कुतः सुखमनीहया
For one who is unfed, unsuccessful, abandoned by all pleasures, and burdened with debt, how can there be happiness in this aimless life?
सुहृदां हि धनं भुक्त्वा कृत्वा प्रणयमीप्सितम् । प्रतिकर्तुमशक्तस्य जीवितान्मरणं वरम्
Having enjoyed the wealth of friends and received their affection, if one is unable to repay, death is better than life.
प्रतिश्रुत्य करिष्येति कर्तव्यं तदकुर्वतः । मिथ्यावचनदग्धस्य इष्टापूर्तं प्रणश्यति
Having promised, 'I will do this,' but failing to act, one who is burned by false speech loses all merit from sacrifices and good deeds.