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.
स डौण्डुभं परित्यज्य रूपं विप्रर्षभस्तदा। स्वरूपं भास्वरं भूयः प्रतिपेदे महायशाः
Then, abandoning the form of Dundubha, that illustrious Brahmin sage regained his radiant true form.
इदं चोवाच वचनं रुरुमप्रतिमौजसम्। अहिंसा परमो धर्मः सर्वप्राणभृतां वर
He spoke this word to Ruru, whose strength was unmatched: Non-injury is the highest dharma, O best among all living beings.
तस्मात्प्राणभृतः सर्वान्न हिंस्याद्ब्राह्मणः क्वचित्। ब्राह्मणः सौम्य एवेह भवतीति परा श्रुतिः
Therefore, a Brahmin should never harm any living creature; the supreme teaching here is that a Brahmin is gentle.
वेदवेदाङ्गविन्नाम सर्वभूताभयप्रदः। अहिंसा सत्यवचनं क्षमा चेति विनिश्चितम्
One who knows the Vedas and their branches is called the giver of fearlessness to all beings; non-injury, truthfulness, and forgiveness are established as his qualities.
ब्राह्मणस्य परो धर्मो वेदानां धारणापि च। क्षत्रियस्य हि यो धर्मः स नेहेष्येत वै तव
The highest duty of a Brahmin is the preservation of the Vedas; but the duty of a Kshatriya is not the same as yours.
दण्डधारणमुग्रत्वं प्रजानां परिपालनम्। तदिदं क्षत्रियस्यासीत्कर्म वै शृणु मे रुरो
Bearing the rod of authority, displaying fierceness, and protecting the people—these are indeed the actions of a Kshatriya; listen to me, Ruru.
जनमेजयस्य यज्ञेऽस्मिन्सर्पाणां हिंसनं पुरा। परित्राणं च भीतानां सर्पाणां ब्राह्मणादपि
In the sacrifice of Janamejaya, there was once the destruction of snakes, and also the protection of frightened serpents by a Brahmin.
तपोवीर्यबलोपेताद्वेदवेदाङ्गपारगात्। आस्तीकाद्द्विजमुख्याद्वै सर्पसत्रे द्विजोत्तम
From Astika, foremost among twice-born, endowed with ascetic power, energy, and strength, and accomplished in the Vedas and their branches, O best of Brahmins, came deliverance at the snake-sacrifice.
कथं हिंसितवान्सर्पान्स राजा जनमेजयः। सर्पा वा हिंसितास्तत्र किमर्थं द्विजसत्तम
How did King Janamejaya harm the snakes? And why were the snakes harmed there, O best of Brahmins?
किमर्थं मोक्षिताश्चैव पन्नगास्तेन धीमता। आस्तीकेन द्विजश्रेष्ठ श्रोतुमिच्छाम्यशेषतः
For what reason were the serpents released by the wise Astika? O best of Brahmins, I wish to hear everything in detail.