वल्मीकस्थस्तथाविप्रः पिप्पलो भाति तेजसा । सर्पा दशंति विप्रं तं सक्रोधा दशनैरपि
Thus, the sage dwelling in the anthill, Pippala, shone with his radiance; even when snakes bit him in anger with their fangs.
न भिंदंति च दंष्ट्राग्राच्चर्म भित्त्वा नृपोत्तम । एवं वर्षसहस्रैकं तप आचरतस्ततः
Yet their sharp teeth could not pierce his skin, O foremost of kings, even after breaking through the surface; so he continued his austerity for a thousand years.
गतं तु राजराजेंद्र मुनेस्तस्य महात्मनः । त्रिकालं साध्यमानस्य शीतवर्षातपान्वितः
O king of kings, the time passed for that great-souled sage, as he practiced his austerity three times daily, enduring cold, rain, and heat.
गतः कालो महाराज पिप्पलस्य महात्मनः । तद्वच्च वायुभक्षं तु कृतं तेन महात्मना
O great king, the time passed for the noble Pippala; likewise, he sustained himself only on air, performing austerity.
त्रीणि वर्षसहस्राणि गतानि तस्य तप्यतः । तस्य मूर्ध्नि ततो देवैः पुष्पवृष्टिः कृता पुरा
Three thousand years passed as he practiced austerity; then, the gods showered flowers upon his head in ancient times.
ब्रह्मज्ञोसि महाभाग धर्मज्ञोसि न संशयः । सर्वज्ञानमयोऽसि त्वं संजातः स्वेनकर्मणा
You are a knower of Brahman, O highly fortunate one; you are a knower of dharma, without doubt; you are filled with all knowledge, born from your own actions.
यं यं त्वं वांछसे कामं तं तं प्राप्स्यसि नान्यथा । सर्वकामप्रसिद्धस्त्वं स्वत एव भविष्यसि
Whatever desire you wish for, you shall obtain; you will become fulfilled in all desires by your own power.
समाकर्ण्य महद्वाक्यं पिप्पलोपि महामनाः । प्रणम्य देवताः सर्वा भक्त्या नमितकंधरः
Hearing these great words, Pippala, with a noble mind, bowed to all the gods, his neck bent in devotion.
हर्षेण महताविष्टो वचनं प्रत्युवाच सः । इदं विश्वं जगत्सर्वं ममवश्यं यथा भवेत्
Filled with great joy, he replied: 'May this entire world, all creation, come under my control.'
तथा कुरुध्वं देवेंद्रा विद्याधरो भवाम्यहम् । एवमुक्त्वा स मेधावी विरराम नृपोत्तम
'So let it be, O lords of the gods; let me become a Vidyadhara.' Having spoken thus, the wise one ceased, O foremost of kings.
एवमस्त्विति ते प्रोचुर्द्विजश्रेष्ठं सुरास्तदा । दत्वा वरं महाभाग जग्मुस्तस्मै महात्मने
‘So be it,’ said the gods to the best of twice-born, and granting the boon, departed from that great-souled one.
गतेषु तेषु देवेषु पिप्पलो द्विजसत्तमः । ब्रह्मण्यं साधयेन्नित्यं विश्ववश्यं प्रचिंतयेत्
When the gods had departed, Pippala, best of Brahmins, always practiced righteousness and contemplated dominion over the universe.
तदाप्रभृति राजेंद्र पिप्पलो द्विजसत्तमः । विद्याधरपदं लब्ध्वा कामगामी महीयते
From that time onward, O king, Pippala, best of Brahmins, having attained the status of Vidyadhara, moved as he wished and was honored.
एवं स पिप्पलो विप्रो विद्याधरपदं गतः । संजातो देवलोकेशः सर्वशास्त्रविशारदः
Thus, Pippala the sage attained the position of Vidyadhara, becoming lord among the gods and expert in all scriptures.
एकदा तु महातेजाः पिप्पलः पर्यचिंतयत् । विश्ववश्यं भवेत्सर्वं मम दत्तो वरोत्तमः
Once, the mighty Pippala reflected: 'Everything is to be under my control, for the supreme boon has been granted to me.'
तदर्थं प्रत्ययं कर्तुमुद्यतो द्विजपुंगवः । यं यं चिंतयते कर्तुं तं तं हि वशमानयेत्
For that purpose, the eminent Brahmin set out to establish certainty; whatever he thought to accomplish, he brought under his control.
एवं स प्रत्यये जाते मनसा पर्यकल्पयत् । द्वितीयो नास्ति वै लोके मत्समः पुरुषोत्तमः
Thus, when this conviction arose, he reflected in his mind: 'There is no one else in the world, O best of men, who is my equal.'
सूत उवाच- एवं हि कल्पमानस्य पिप्पलस्य महात्मनः । ज्ञात्वा मानसिकं भावं सारसस्तमुवाच ह
Sūta said: As Pippala, the great-souled one, was thus thinking, Sārasa, knowing his mental state, spoke to him.
सरस्तीरगतो राजन्सुस्वरं व्यंजनान्वितम् । स्वनं सौष्ठवसंयुक्तमुक्तवान्पिप्पलं प्रति
O King, standing on the bank of the lake, Sārasa addressed Pippala with a sweet, articulate, and well-modulated voice.
कस्मादुद्वहसे गर्वमेवं त्वं परमात्मकम् । सर्ववश्यात्मिकीं सिद्धिं नाहं मन्ये तवैव हि
Why do you bear such supreme pride, thinking yourself the highest? I do not consider that you alone possess the power to subdue all.
वश्यावश्यमिदं कर्म अर्वाचीनं प्रशस्यते । पराचीनं न जानासि पिप्पल त्वं हि मूढधीः
The ability to control is praised only in what is near at hand; you do not know what is distant, O Pippala, for your understanding is deluded.
वर्षाणां तु सहस्राणि यावत्त्रीणि त्वया तपः । समाचीर्णं ततो गर्वं कुरुषे किं मुधा द्विज
For three thousand years you have performed austerities; after that, why do you take pride in vain, O twice-born one?
कुंडलस्य सुतो धीरः सुकर्मानाम यः सुधीः । वश्यावश्यं जगत्सर्वं तस्यासीच्छृणु सांप्रतम्
Hear now of the son of Kuṇḍala, steadfast and wise in good deeds; for him, the whole world was under his control.
अर्वाचीनं पराचीनं स वै जानाति बुद्धिमान् । लोके नास्ति महाज्ञानी तत्समः शृणु पिप्पल
He, intelligent, knows both what is near and what is far; there is no great knower in the world equal to him—listen, O Pippala.
न कुंडलस्य पुत्रेण सदृशस्त्वं सुकर्मणा । न दत्तं तेन वै दानं न ज्ञानं परिचिंतितम्
You are not equal in good deeds to the son of Kuṇḍala; he has not given gifts, nor has he reflected on knowledge.
हुतयज्ञादिकं कर्म न कृतं तेन वै कदा । न गतस्तीर्थयात्रायां न च वह्नेरुपासनम्
He has never performed acts like sacrifices or fire-offerings; he has not gone on pilgrimages, nor worshipped the fire.
स कदा कृतवान्विप्र धर्मसेवार्थमुत्तमम् । स्वच्छंदचारी ज्ञानात्मा पितृमातृसुहृत्सदा
O brāhmaṇa, when did he ever perform the highest service to dharma? He acts as he wishes, is wise, and always devoted to his parents and friends.
वेदाध्ययनसंपन्नः सर्वशास्त्रार्थकोविदः । यादृशं तस्य वै ज्ञानं बालस्यापि सुकर्मणः
He is accomplished in Vedic study, and knows the meaning of all scriptures; such is the knowledge of that virtuous boy.
तादृशं नास्ति ते ज्ञानं वृथा त्वं गर्वमुद्वहेः । पिप्पल उवाच- को भवान्पक्षिरूपेण मामेवं परिकुत्सयेत्
You do not possess such knowledge; your pride is in vain.' Pippala said: 'Who are you, in the form of a bird, to reproach me thus?'
कस्मान्निंदसि मे ज्ञानं पराचीनं तु कीदृशम् । तन्मे विस्तरतो ब्रूहि त्वयि ज्ञानं कथं भवेत्
Why do you disparage my knowledge, and what is this distant knowledge? Tell me that in detail—how is knowledge found in you?