ततो गन्धर्वराजश्च देवदूतश्च सत्तमौ। धर्मराजमुपेत्येदं वचनं प्रत्यभाषताम्
Then the king of the Gandharvas and the divine messenger, both noble beings, approached the Lord of Dharma and spoke these words.
धर्मराजायुषोऽर्धेन रुरोर्भार्या प्रमद्वरा। समुत्तिष्ठतु कल्याणी मृतैवं यदि मन्यसे
O Lord of Dharma, with half of Ruru's lifespan, let his wife Pramadvara, the auspicious one, rise—if you so decide.
प्रमद्वरा रुरोर्भार्या देवदूत यदीच्छसि। उत्तिष्ठत्वायुषोऽर्धेन रुरोरेव समन्विता
O divine messenger, if you wish, let Pramadvara, Ruru's wife, rise up, endowed with half of Ruru's lifespan.
एवमुक्ते ततः कन्या सोदतिष्ठत्प्रमद्वरा। रुरोस्तस्यायुषोऽर्धेन सुप्तेव वरवर्णिनी
When this was spoken, the maiden Pramadvara arose, her complexion radiant, as if waking from sleep, with half of Ruru's lifespan.
एतद्दृष्टं भविष्ये हि रुरोरुत्तमतेजसः। आयुषोऽतिप्रवृद्धस्य भार्यार्थेऽर्धमलुप्यत
This was seen in the future: for the sake of his wife, half the lifespan of Ruru, of great splendor, who had a long life, was diminished.
तत इष्टेऽहनि तयोः पितरौ चक्रतुर्मुदा। विवाहं तौ च रेमाते परस्परहितैषिणौ
Then, on an auspicious day, their two fathers joyfully arranged the marriage, and the two, seeking each other's welfare, delighted in each other.
स लब्ध्वा दुर्लभां भार्यां पद्मकिञ्जल्कसुप्रभाम्। व्रतं चक्रे विनाशाय जिह्मगानां धृतव्रतः
Having obtained his rare wife, radiant as the filament of a lotus, he took a vow to destroy the crooked beings, steadfast in his resolve.
स दृष्ट्वा जिह्मगान्सर्वांस्तीव्रकोपसमन्वितः। अभिहन्ति यथासत्त्वं गृह्य प्रहरणं सदा
Seeing all the crooked beings, filled with intense anger, he would always strike them as he was able, seizing his weapon.
स कदाचिद्वनं विप्रो रुरुरभ्यागमन्महत्। शयानं तत्र चापश्यड्डुण्डुभं वयसान्वितम्
Once, the Brahmin Ruru entered a great forest; there he saw a Dundubha lying down, aged.
तत उद्यम्य दम्डं स कालदण्डोपमं तदा। जिघांसुः कुपितो विप्रस्तमुवाचाथ डुण्डुभः
Then, raising his staff, like the rod of Time, the angry sage, intent on killing, spoke to Dundubha.
नापराध्यामि ते किंचिदहमद्य तपोधन। संरम्भाच्च किमर्थं मामभिहंसि रुषान्वितः
O possessor of austerities, I have done you no wrong today; then why, filled with anger, do you wish to strike me?
मम प्राणसमा भार्या दष्टासीद्भुजगेन ह। तत्र मे समयो घोर आत्मनोरग वै कृतः
My wife, as dear to me as my own life, was bitten by a serpent; because of that, I made a terrible vow against the serpent.
भुजंगं वै सदा हन्यां यं यं पश्येयमित्युत। ततोऽहं त्वां जिघांसामि जीवितेनाद्य मोक्ष्यसे
I vowed to slay every serpent I see; therefore, I seek to kill you now—you shall lose your life today.
अन्ये ते भुजगा ब्रह्मन्ये दश्तीह मानवान्। डुण्डुभानहिगन्धेन न त्वं हिंसितुमर्हसि
Other serpents have bitten humans here, O Dundubha, but you, who bear the scent of a Dundubha, do not deserve to be harmed.
एकानर्थान्पृथग्धर्मानेकदुःखान्पृथक्सुखान्। डुण्डुभान्धर्मविद्भूत्वा न त्वं हिंसितुमर्हसि
There are various harms, different duties, many sorrows, and separate joys; O Dundubha, being one who knows righteousness, you do not deserve to be harmed.
इति श्रुत्वा वचस्तस्य डुण्डुभस्य रुरुस्तदा। नावधीद्भयसंविग्नमृषिं मत्त्वाऽथ डुण्डुभम्
Hearing these words of Dundubha, Ruru then, recognizing Dundubha as a sage, did not kill him, though he was fearful.
उवाच चैनं भगवान्रुरुः संशमयन्निव। केन त्वं भुजग ब्रूहि कोऽसीमां विक्रियां गतः
The venerable Ruru spoke to him, as if to calm him: Tell me, serpent, by what cause have you come to this state, and who are you?
अहं पुरा रुरो नाम्ना ऋषिरासं सहस्रपात्। सोऽहं शापेन विप्रस्य भुजगत्वमुपागतः
I was once the sage named Ruru, with a thousand feet; by the curse of a Brahmin, I have come to take the form of a serpent.
किमर्थं शप्तवान्कुद्धो द्विजस्त्वां भुजगोत्तम। कियन्तं चैव कालं ते वपुरेतद्भविष्यसि
For what reason did the angry Brahmin curse you, O best of serpents? And for how long will you remain in this form?
सखा बभूव मे पूर्वं खगमो नाम वै द्विजः। भृशं संशितवाक्तात तपोबलसमन्वितः
In former times, a Brahmin named Khagama was my friend; he was strict in speech, devoted to austerity, and endowed with spiritual power.
स मया क्रीडता बाल्ये कृत्वा तार्णं भुजंगमम्। अग्निहोत्रे प्रसक्तस्तु भीषितः प्रमुमोह वै
While playing in childhood, I made a serpent out of grass; he, engaged in the fire ritual, was frightened and fainted.
लब्ध्वा स च पुनः संज्ञां मामुवाच तपोधनः। नर्दहन्निव कोपेन सत्यवाक्संशितव्रतः
Regaining consciousness, that ascetic, strict in vows and truthful in speech, spoke to me, burning with anger.
यथावीर्यस्त्वया सर्पः कृतोऽयं मद्बिभीषया। तथावीर्यो भुजंगस्त्वं मम शापाद्भविष्यसि
Just as you made this serpent to frighten me, so by my curse you shall become a serpent, equal in strength.
तस्याहं तपसो वीर्यं जानन्नासं तपोधन। भृशमुद्विग्नहृदयस्तमवोचमहं तदा
Knowing the power of his austerity, I was greatly disturbed in heart, and I spoke to him at that time.
प्रणतः संभ्रमाच्चैव प्राञ्जलिः पुरतः स्थितः। सखेति हसतेदं ते नर्मार्थं वै कृतं मया
Out of agitation, I stood before him with joined palms, and said, 'Friend, this was done as a jest for amusement.'
क्षन्तुमर्हसि मे ब्रह्मञ्शापोऽयं विनिवर्त्यताम्। सोऽथ मामब्रवीद्दृष्ट्वा भृशमुद्विग्नचेतसम्
You ought to forgive me, O Brahmin; let this curse be withdrawn. Then, seeing me greatly troubled, he spoke.
मुहुरुष्णं विनिःश्वस्य सुसंभ्रान्तस्तपोधनः। नानृतं वै मया प्रोक्तं भवितेदं कथंचन
Breathing hotly again and again, the ascetic, deeply agitated, said: I have not spoken falsely; this shall certainly come to pass.
यत्तु वक्ष्यामि ते वाक्यं शृणु तन्मे तपोधन। श्रुत्वा च हृदि ते वाक्यमिदमस्तु सदाऽनघ
But listen to what I shall say to you, O ascetic; having heard, let this word always remain in your heart, O sinless one.
उत्पत्स्यति रुरुर्नाम प्रमतेरात्मजः शुचिः। तं दृष्ट्वा शापमोक्षस्ते भविता नचिरादिव। `एवमुक्तस्तु तेनाहमुरगत्वमवाप्तवान्
A pure son named Ruru will be born to Pramati; upon seeing him, your curse will be released, and not long after. Thus spoken by him, I attained the form of a serpent.
स त्वं रुरुरिति ख्यातः प्रमतेरात्मजोऽपि च। स्वरूपं प्रतिपद्याहमद्य वक्ष्यामि ते हितम्
You are known as Ruru, the son of Pramati; today, having regained my true form, I shall speak to you for your benefit.