इति जानन्न् अपि च तच् चकार तु विधेर् वशात् गर्तं प्रविश्य पानार्थम् आगतान् निशितैः शरैः
Though he knew this, he acted thus under the sway of fate: entering a pit to drink, he shot those who had come with sharp arrows.
मृगान् हन्ति महाबाहुः शृणु कालविपर्ययम् गर्तं प्रविष्टे नृपतौ तस्मिन्न् एव नगोत्तमे
The mighty-armed king slew animals; hear now of the reversal of fate: while the king was in the pit, in that very excellent city—
वृद्धो वैश्रवणो नाम न शृणोति न पश्यति तस्य भार्या तथाभूता ताव् अब्रूतां तदा सुतम्
There was an old man named Vaiśravaṇa, who could neither hear nor see; his wife was likewise afflicted, and then they spoke to their son.
आवां तृषार्तौ रात्रिश् च कृष्णा चापि प्रवर्तते वृद्धानां जीवितं कृत्स्नं बालस् त्वम् असि पुत्रक
We two are tormented by thirst, and night has fallen; the life of the aged is wholly dependent—yet you are but a child, dear son.
अन्धानां बधिराणां च वृद्धानां धिक् च जीवितम् जराजर्जरदेहानां धिग् धिक् पुत्रक जीवितम्
Shame on the life of the blind, the deaf, and the aged; shame, shame, my son, on the life of those whose bodies are worn by old age.
तावत् पुंभिर् जीवितव्यं यावल् लक्ष्मीर् दृढं वपुः यावद् आज्ञाप्रतिहता तीर्थादाव् अन्यथा मृतिः
A man should live only as long as he possesses wealth, a strong body, and unimpeded authority; otherwise, death is preferable, especially at holy places.
इत्य् एतद् वचनं श्रुत्वा वृद्धयोर् गुरुवत्सलः पुत्रः प्रोवाच तद् दुःखं गिरा मधुरया हरन्
Hearing these words from the elders, the son, devoted to his teachers, spoke, removing their sorrow with gentle speech.
मयि जीवति किं नाम युवयोर् दुःखम् ईदृशम् न हरत्य् आत्मजः पित्रोर् यश् चरित्रैर् मनोरुजम्
While I live, how can such sorrow afflict you both? A son who does not dispel his parents’ mental distress through his conduct is unworthy.
तेन किं तनुजेनेह कुलोद्वेगविधायिना
What use is such a son here, who only brings distress to the family?
इत्य् उक्त्वा पितरौ नत्वा ताव् आश्वास्य महामनाः तरुस्कन्धे समारोप्य वृद्धौ च पितरौ तदा
Having spoken thus, bowing to his parents and comforting them, the noble-minded son then placed his aged parents upon the trunk of a tree.
हस्ते गृहीत्वा कलशं जगाम ऋषिपुत्रकः स ऋषिर् न तु राजानं जानाति नृपतिर् द्विजम्
Taking the water pot in his hand, the sage’s son departed; the sage knows not the king, nor does the king recognize the twice-born.
उभौ सरभसौ तत्र द्विजो वारि समाविशत् सत्वरं कलशे न्युब्जे वारि गृह्णन्तम् आशुगैः
Both hurried there; the Brahmin entered the water swiftly, and quickly filled the pot with water.
द्विजं राजा द्विपं मत्वा विव्याध निशितैः शरैः वनद्विपो ऽपि भूपानाम् अवध्यस् तद् विदन्न् अपि
The king, mistaking the Brahmin for an elephant, struck him with sharp arrows; even a forest elephant, knowing the kings are inviolable, would not attack.
विव्याध तं नृपः कुर्यान् न किं किं विधिवञ्चितः स विद्धो मर्मदेशे तु दुःखितो वाक्यम् अब्रवीत्
The king struck him; what would one not do when deceived by fate? Wounded in a vital spot, he spoke in pain.
केनेदं दुःखदं कर्म कृतं सद्ब्राह्मणस्य मे मैत्रो ब्राह्मण इत्य् उक्तो नापराधो ऽस्ति कश्चन
Who has committed this painful deed against me, a virtuous Brahmin? I am Maitra, a Brahmin, as I have said; there is no fault in me whatsoever.
तद् एतद् वचनं श्रुत्वा मुनेर् आर्तस्य भूपतिः निश्चेष्टश् च निरुत्साहो शनैस् तं देशम् अभ्यगात्
Hearing these words of the suffering sage, the king became motionless and dispirited, and slowly approached that place.
तं तु दृष्ट्वा द्विजवरं ज्वलन्तम् इव तेजसा असाव् अप्य् अभवत् तत्र सशल्य इव मूर्च्छितः
Seeing the illustrious Brahmin shining with radiance, the king too became faint there, as if pierced by a dart.
आत्मानम् आत्मना कृत्वा स्थिरं राजाब्रवीद् इदम्
Composing himself, the king spoke these words.
को भवान् द्विजशार्दूल किमर्थम् इह चागतः वद पापकृते मह्यं वद मे निष्कृतिं पराम्
Who are you, O foremost of Brahmins? For what purpose have you come here? Tell me, for I have committed a sin; tell me the supreme atonement.
ब्रह्महा वर्णिभिः किंतु श्वपचैर् अपि जातुचित् न स्प्रष्टव्यो महाबुद्धे द्रष्टव्यो न कदाचन
A slayer of a Brahmin, even if eloquent, should never be touched, O wise one, not even by outcastes; he should never be seen at any time.
तद् राजवचनं श्रुत्वा मुनिपुत्रो ऽब्रवीद् वचः
Hearing the king’s words, the sage’s son spoke.
उत्क्रमिष्यन्ति मे प्राणा अतो वक्ष्यामि किंचन स्वच्छन्दवृत्तिताज्ञाने विद्धि पाकं च कर्मणाम्
My life will depart, so I will say something; know the ripening of actions comes from freedom of conduct and ignorance.
आत्मार्थं तु न शोचामि वृद्धौ तु पितरौ मम तयोः शुश्रूषकः कः स्याद् अन्धयोर् एकपुत्रयोः
I do not grieve for myself, but for my aged parents—who will care for them, both blind, with only one son?
विना मया महारण्ये कथं तौ जीवयिष्यतः ममाभाग्यम् अहो कीदृक् पितृशुश्रूषणे क्षतिः
Without me, how will they survive in the great forest? Alas, how unfortunate I am—my duty to serve my parents is broken.
जाता मे ऽद्य विना प्राणैर् हा विधे किं कृतं त्वया तथापि गच्छ तत्र त्वं गृहीतकलशस् त्वरन्
Today I am as good as dead—O Fate, what have you done? Still, go there quickly, carrying the water-pot.
ताभ्यां देह्य् उदपानं त्वं यथा तौ न मरिष्यतः
Give them water, so that they do not die.
इत्य् एवं ब्रुवतस् तस्य गताः प्राणा महावने विसृज्य सशरं चापम् आदाय कलशं नृपः
As he spoke thus, his life departed in the great forest; leaving behind his bow and arrows, the prince took up the water-pot.
तत्रागात् स तु वेगेन यत्र वृद्धौ महावने वृद्धौ चापि तदा रात्रौ ताव् अन्योन्यं समूचतुः
He hurried to where his aged parents were in the great forest; and that night, the two elders spoke to each other.
उद्विग्नः कुपितो वा स्याद् अथवा भक्षितः कथम् न प्राप्तश् चावयोर् यष्टिः किं कुर्मः का गतिर् भवेत्
Is he anxious, or angry, or perhaps eaten by a beast? Why has our son not returned to us? What shall we do, what hope remains?
न कोपि तादृशः पुत्रो विद्यते सचराचरे यः पित्रोर् अन्यथा वाक्यं न करोत्य् अपि निन्दितः
There is no such son anywhere, moving or unmoving, who would disobey his parents' words—even if reproached.