पूर्वदेशाधिपः कश्चित् पवमान इति श्रुतः क्षत्रधर्मरतः श्रीमान् देवब्राह्मणपालकः
There was a certain ruler of the eastern region, known as Pavamana, devoted to the duties of a warrior, prosperous, and protector of gods and Brahmins.
बलेन महता युक्तः सपुरोधा वनं ययौ रेमे स्त्रीभिर् मनोज्ञाभिर् नृत्यवादित्रजैः सुखैः
Endowed with great strength, accompanied by his priests, he entered the forest, delighting in the company of charming women, and enjoying music, dance, and pleasures.
स च एवं धनुष्पाणिर् मृगयाशीलिभिर् वृतः एवं भ्रमन् कदाचित् स श्रान्तो द्रुमम् उपागतः
Armed with a bow, surrounded by hunters fond of the chase, as he wandered thus, he once grew weary and approached a tree.
गौतमीतीरसंभूतं नानापक्षिगणैर् वृतम् आश्रमाणां गृहपतिं धर्मज्ञम् इव सेवितम्
That tree, born on the bank of the Gautami, was surrounded by many kinds of birds, and was served like a householder sage who knows righteousness.
तम् आश्रित्य नगश्रेष्ठं पवमानो नृपोत्तमः स विश्रान्तो जनवृत ईक्षां चक्रे नगोत्तमम्
Taking shelter under that chief of mountains, King Pavamana, surrounded by people, rested and gazed upon the excellent mountain.
तत्रापश्यद् द्विजं स्थूलं द्विमुखं शोभनाकृतिम् चिन्ताविष्टं तथा श्रान्तं तम् अपृच्छन् नृपोत्तमः
There he saw a large, two-faced bird of beautiful form, absorbed in thought and weary; the great king questioned him.
को भवान् द्विमुखः पक्षी चिन्तावान् इव लक्ष्यसे नैवात्र कश्चिद् दुःखार्तः कस्मात् त्वं दुःखम् आगतः
Who are you, two-faced bird? You appear to be deep in thought. No one here seems afflicted by sorrow; why then have you come to grief?
ततः प्रोवाच नृपतिं पवमानं शनैः शनैः समाश्वस्तमनाः पक्षी चिच्चिको निःश्वसन् मुहुः
Then, slowly and with a mind somewhat calmed, the bird Chiccika, sighing repeatedly, spoke to King Pavamana.
मत्तो भयं न चान्येषां मम वान्योपपादितम् नानापुष्पफलाकीर्णं मुनिभिः परिसेवितम्
I have no fear of anyone, nor has anyone caused me harm; this mountain, adorned with various flowers and fruits, is served by sages.
पश्येयं शून्यम् एवाद्रिं ततः शोचामि माम् अहम् न लभामि सुखं किंचिन् न तृप्यामि कदाचन निद्रां प्राप्नोमि न क्वापि न विश्रान्तिं न निर्वृतिम्
Yet I see the mountain as empty, and so I grieve for myself; I find no happiness at all, I am never satisfied, I never obtain sleep anywhere, nor rest, nor contentment.
द्विमुखस्य द्विजस्योक्तं श्रुत्वा राजातिविस्मितः
Hearing the words spoken by the two-mouthed brahmin, the king was greatly astonished.
को भवान् किं कृतं पापं कस्माच् छून्यश् च पर्वतः एकेनास्येन तृप्यन्ति प्राणिनो ऽत्र नगोत्तमे
Who are you? What sin have you committed? And why is this mountain desolate? Here, on this great mountain, living beings are satisfied with a single mouth—
किम् उतास्यद्वयेन त्वं न तृप्तिम् उपयास्यसि किं वा ते दुष्कृतं प्राप्तम् इह जन्मन्य् अथो पुरा
But will you not find satisfaction even with two mouths? What evil deed have you obtained in this birth, or perhaps in a previous one?
तत् सर्वं शंस मे सत्यं त्रास्ये त्वां महतो भयात्
Tell me all of this truthfully; I will protect you from great fear.
राजानं तं द्विजः प्राह निःश्वसन्न् अथ चिच्चिकः
Then, sighing, the brahmin named Ciccika spoke to the king.
वक्ष्ये ऽहं त्वां पूर्ववृत्तं पवमान शृणुष्व तत् अहं द्विजातिप्रवरो वेदवेदाङ्गपारगः
I will tell you my former story, O Pavamāna; listen to it. I am a foremost twice-born, accomplished in the Vedas and their branches.
कुलीनो विदितप्राज्ञः कार्यहन्ता कलिप्रियः वदे पुरस् तथा पृष्ठे अन्यद् अन्यच् च जन्तुषु
Born in a noble family, known for wisdom, a destroyer of duties, fond of quarrel, I speak one thing in front, another behind, and yet another among people.
परवृद्ध्या सदा दुःखी मायया विश्ववञ्चकः कृतघ्नः सत्यरहितः परनिन्दाविचक्षणः
Always distressed by others' prosperity, deceiving the world with illusion, ungrateful, devoid of truth, and skilled in slandering others.
मित्रस्वामिगुरुद्रोही दम्भाचारो ऽतिनिर्घृणः मनसा कर्मणा वाचा तापयामि जनान् बहून्
A betrayer of friends, masters, and teachers, practicing hypocrisy, extremely cruel, I torment many people by thought, deed, and word.
अयम् एव विनोदो मे सदा यत् परहिंसनम् युग्मभेदं गणोच्छेदं मर्यादाभेदनं सदा
My only delight has always been harming others, breaking pairs, destroying groups, and ever violating boundaries.
करोमि निर्विचारो ऽहं विद्वत्सेवापराङ्मुखः न मया सदृशः कश्चित् पातकी भवनत्रये
I act without discernment, turning away from serving the wise; in the three worlds, there is no sinner equal to me.
तेनाहं द्विमुखो जातस् तापनाद् दुःखभाग्य् अहम् तस्माद् दुःखेन संतप्तः शून्यो ऽयं पर्वतो मम
Therefore, I was born two-mouthed, afflicted by suffering and misfortune; thus, tormented by sorrow, this mountain is desolate because of me.
अन्यच् च शृणु भूपाल वाक्यं धर्मार्थसंहितम् ब्रह्महत्यासमं पापं तद् विना तद् अवाप्यते
Hear further, O king, words joined with righteousness and purpose: a sin equal to brahmin-murder is incurred even without committing that act.
क्षत्रियः संगरं गत्वा अथवान्यत्र संगरात् पलायन्तं न्यस्तशस्त्रं विश्वस्तं च पराङ्मुखम्
If a kṣatriya, having entered battle, or even outside of battle, kills one who flees, has laid down his weapons, is trusting, or has turned away—
अविज्ञातं चोपविष्टं बिभेमीति च वादिनम् तं यदि क्षत्रियो हन्यात् स तु स्याद् ब्रह्मघातकः
Or one who is unrecognized, seated, or says 'I am afraid'—if a kṣatriya kills such a one, he is considered a brahmin-slayer.
अधीतं विस्मरति यस् त्वं करोति तथोत्तमम् अनादरं च गुरुषु तम् आहुर् ब्रह्मघातकम्
He who forgets what he has studied, acts contrary to what is best, or shows disrespect to teachers—such a one is called a brahmin-slayer.
प्रत्यक्षे च प्रियं वक्ति परोक्षे परुषाणि च अन्यद् धृदि वचस्य् अन्यत् करोत्य् अन्यत् सदैव यः
He who speaks pleasantly in person but harshly in absence, who harbors one thing in his heart, says another, and always does something else—
गुरूणां शपथं कर्ता द्वेष्टा ब्राह्मणनिन्दकः मिथ्या विनीतः पापात्मा स तु स्याद् ब्रह्मघातकः
He who takes false oaths against teachers, hates, or slanders brahmins, who is falsely humble and wicked in soul—such a one is considered a brahmin-slayer.
देवं वेदम् अथाध्यात्मं धर्मब्राह्मणसंगतिम् एतान् निन्दति यो द्वेषात् स तु स्याद् ब्रह्मघातकः
Whoever, out of hatred, reviles the god, the Veda, the Self, or the company of righteous Brahmins—such a one is indeed a slayer of Brahman.
एवं भूतो ऽप्य् अहं राजन् दम्भार्थं लज्जया तथा सद्वृत्त इव वर्ते ऽहं तस्माद् राजन् द्विजो ऽभवम्
Even though I was thus, O King, for the sake of hypocrisy and out of shame, I conducted myself as if I were of good conduct; therefore, O King, I became a twice-born.