तस्मिन्वने सरित्तीरे निषीदंतं शिलातले । मित्रवंतं ददर्शाथ सानंदस्तिमितेक्षणम्
In that forest, on the riverbank, seated on a stone, he saw Mitravan, joyful, with a gaze full of contentment.
अपि स्वाभाविकं वैरं हित्वान्योन्यं विरोधिभिः । सत्वैरावृतमुद्याने मंदस्यंदनभास्वति
Even natural enmity was set aside by opposing creatures; in the garden, surrounded by gentle animals, with the sun shining mildly.
शांतेषु मृगयूथेषु दशानंदमनोज्ञया । कृपानुविद्धया भूमिं निषिंचंतमिवामृतम्
Among peaceful herds of deer, with a delightful and blissful state, compassion seemed to pour onto the earth like nectar.
उपेत्य विनयेनामुमुन्मनाः प्रीतमानसः । किंचिदानम्रशिरसा तेनापि स तु सत्कृतः
Approaching with humility, his mind uplifted and joyful, he bowed his head slightly, and was honored by him as well.
उपतस्थे ततो विद्वान्मित्रवंतमनन्यधीः । समाप्तध्यानकालं स पर्यपृच्छत्समाहितः
Then the learned man, single-minded, approached Mitravan, and when his meditation was complete, he questioned him attentively.
देवशर्मोवाच। आत्मानं वेत्तुमिच्छामि तदमुष्मिन्मनोरथे । लब्धसिद्धिमुपायं मामुपदेष्टुं त्वमर्हसि
Devaśarman said: I wish to know the self; in this desire of mine, you should instruct me in the means to attain success.
श्रीभगवानुवाच। परामृश्य क्षणं सोऽपि मित्रवानिदमब्रवीत् । मित्रवानुवाच। विद्वन्विद्धि पुरावृत्तमुच्यमानमिदं मया
The Blessed Lord said: After reflecting for a moment, Mitravan spoke this. Mitravan said: Wise one, know that I will tell you what happened long ago.
अस्ति गोदावरीतीरे प्रतिष्ठानाभिधं पुरम् । तत्र दुर्दमनामासीदन्वये च मनीषिणाम्
On the bank of the Godāvarī, there is a city called Pratiṣṭhāna; there, among the wise, was one named Durdama.
तत्रास्ति विक्रमो नाम सेव्यमानो महीपतिः । दानानि प्रत्यहं गृह्णन्वर्त्तते उदरंभरः
There is a king named Vikrama there, who, being served, lives only to fill his belly, accepting gifts every day.
कालेन कालपाशेन बद्धानीतो यमालयम् । निरयेषु समग्रेषु यातना अनुभूय च
Bound by the noose of time, he is led to the abode of Yama, and, having experienced all the torments in hell,
कस्मिंश्चित्स कुले जातो दुर्वृत्तानां द्विजन्मनाम् । भवांतरानुवर्तिन्या विद्यया स पुरस्कृतः
Born in some family of ill-behaved twice-born, he was honored by knowledge that followed him from a previous birth.
उपयेमे दुराधर्षां कन्यकामधमे कुले । कालेन सा वयो हित्वा शैशवं यौवनं ययौ
He married a difficult-to-approach maiden from a lowly family; in time, she left childhood behind and reached youth.
पीनस्तनी च सुश्रोणी मदविह्वललोचना । पतिं न सेहे दुर्वृत्तं चकमे स्वपतीन्परान्
Full-breasted, beautiful-hipped, her eyes intoxicated with passion, she could not endure her wicked husband and desired other men.
वृत्तिमाहर्तुकामस्मिन्निर्गता सा पुराद्बहिः । संगता कामुकेनासौ चिरं चांडालजन्मना
Desiring to obtain her livelihood, she left the house, and for a long time lived with a lover born in a low caste.
दधे गर्भमसौ तस्मात्सा च कन्योपपद्यते । सैव भार्यापि तस्यासीत्पूर्वपापप्रसंगतः
She conceived from him, and a daughter was born; that very daughter became his wife, due to the influence of previous sin.
सैव वृद्धा ततः काले डाकिनी समजायत । कुसंगात्कुमतिर्जाता दुष्टनारीप्रसंगतः
In time, she grew old and became a ḍākinī; from bad company, a wicked mind arose, from association with an evil woman.
चखाद व्याधितं व्याधमसृगास्वादलालसा । भ्रमंती विपिने घोरे जनैर्दृष्ट्वा बहिष्कृता
Craving the taste of blood, she devoured the sick and the hunters, wandering in the dreadful forest, cast out by people who saw her.
परेतलोकमासाद्य व्याधौ व्याघ्रोऽभ्यवर्त्तत । नरकान्दारुणान्भुक्त्वा जीवहिंसा प्रभावतः
Reaching the world of the dead, she was reborn as a tiger among hunters; because of the effect of violence toward living beings, she endured terrible hells.
सापि कालेन दुष्टात्मा मृत्युवेगमुपागता । निरयानेत्य दुर्द्धर्षानजाजायत मद्गृहे
In time, that wicked soul, seized by the force of death, came from hell and was born in my house, hard to subdue.
तामन्या अप्यहं विद्वन्पालयन्काननांतरे । अपश्यन्द्वीपिनं घोरं जिघांसंतमिवाखिलम्
O wise one, while I was caring for her in the forest, I saw a fierce leopard, as if intent on killing everything.
समालोक्य तमायांतं भयेन प्रपलायितम् । अजायूथं परित्यज्य मया मरणभीरुणा
Seeing him approaching, I, terrified of death, abandoned the flock of goats and fled.
उपदुद्राव स द्वीपी पूर्ववैरमनुस्मरन् । अजा तु तत्समीपेऽगात्सत्वरं सरिदंतिके
That leopard, recalling an old enmity, pursued; but the goat quickly went near the river.
तत्र सा भयमुत्सृज्य हित्वा वैरमनर्गला । अवतस्थे स च द्वीपी तूष्णीमासीदमत्सरः
There, she cast off fear and abandoned enmity without restraint; she stood firm, and the leopard sat silently, free from jealousy.
तं तथाविधमालोक्य सा वक्तुमुपचक्रमे । द्वीपिन्नभीप्सितं भुंक्ष्व मांसमुद्धृत्य सादरः
Seeing him in that state, she began to speak: 'O leopard, eat as you wish, respectfully taking the flesh.'
नेयं भवति ते बुद्धिः कथं वैरमतिं त्यजः । इत्याकर्ण्य तदा वाक्यं प्राह द्वीपी विमत्सरः
'This is not your nature, so why do you not abandon your hostile intent?' Hearing these words, the leopard replied, free from envy:
स्थानेऽस्मिन्मे गतो द्वेषः क्षुत्पिपासा च निर्ययौ । न प्रार्थयामि तेन त्वां समीपे समुपस्थिताम्
'In this place, my hatred has departed, and hunger and thirst have gone away; therefore, though you are near, I do not desire you.'
सैवमुक्ता पुनः प्राह जाताहं निर्भया कथम् । किमत्र कारणं वेत्सि यदि मे वक्तुमर्हसि
Thus freed, she spoke again: 'How have I become fearless? Do you know the reason for this? If so, please tell me.'
एवमुक्तः पुनर्द्वीपी तामाहाजां न वेद्म्यहम् । पुरोगतमिमं प्रष्टुं महांतमिति निर्गतौ
So addressed, the island-dweller replied to her: 'I do not know, mother. Let us ask the one ahead, the great one,' and they went forth.
ताभ्यामुभाभ्यामागत्य पृष्टोऽहं बहुविस्मयः । अहं च सहितस्ताभ्यामपृच्छं वानरेश्वरम्
When both of them approached, I was questioned, greatly astonished; together with them, I asked the lord of monkeys.
मया पृष्टः स विप्रेदमब्रवीत्सादरं कपिः । शृणु वक्ष्याम्यजापाल वृत्तमत्र पुरातनम्
Questioned by me, the learned monkey respectfully spoke: 'Listen, goat-herd, I will tell you the ancient story here.'