उत्तंक उवाच किंचिद्ग्राह्यं त्वया स्वामिन्सन्तोषो जायते मम
Uttanka said: There is something to be received by you, master; my satisfaction arises.
नेच्छाम्यहं धनं त्वत्तः सुखं गच्छ गृहं प्रति
I do not desire wealth from you; go happily to your home.
इत्युक्तो गुरुणा सोऽपि मातरं चाभ्यभाषत
Thus addressed by his teacher, he too spoke to his mother.
मदयन्ती प्रिया तस्य धर्मपत्नी यशस्विनी
Madayanti, his beloved and virtuous wife, renowned for her virtue.
कुण्डलेऽथानय क्षिप्रं मदयंत्याश्च पुत्रक
Bring the earrings quickly, child, from Madayanti.
इत्युक्तो गुरुपत्न्या स प्रस्थितः सत्वरं तदा
Thus addressed by the guru's wife, he then set out swiftly.
दृष्ट्वा प्राह तदा विप्रं भक्षणार्थमुपस्थितम् 7.3.2.
Seeing the Brahmin who had come for food, she spoke at that moment.
देहि मे कुण्डले तात दत्त्वाऽहं गुरवे पुनः
Give me the earrings, dear; after receiving them, I will return them to the guru.
तां त्वमासाद्य यत्नेन जीवितव्यभयाद्द्विज
Approach her with effort, O Brahmin, for the sake of your life.
याच्यतां मम वाक्येन सा ते दास्यति कुण्डले
Ask her on my behalf; she will give you the earrings.
देहि मे कुण्डले देवि सौदासस्त्वां समादिशत्
Give me the earrings, lady; Saudasa has instructed you.
अभिज्ञानं त्वमानीय नृपस्य द्विज दर्शय
Bring the token of recognition and show it to the king, O Brahmin.
स गत्वा त्वरितं भूपमभिज्ञानमयाचत
He went quickly to the king and requested the token of recognition.
गत्वैवं ब्रूहि तां साध्वीं मम वाक्यं द्विजोत्तम
Go and speak thus to that virtuous lady, O best of Brahmins, conveying my words.
ततोऽसौ प्रददौ तस्मै गृह्ण मे कुण्डले द्विज
Then he gave him the earrings, saying, 'Take these earrings, O Brahmin.'
एते च वांछते नित्यं तक्षको द्विज कुण्डले कौतुकात्पुनरागत्य राजानं वाक्यमब्रवीत्॥7.3.2.
Takshaka always desires these earrings, O Brahmin; out of curiosity, he returned and spoke to the king.
अभिज्ञानान्मया भूप सम्प्राप्ते दीप्तकुण्डले
O king, when the radiant earrings arrived, I recognized them by their signs.
कौतुकाद्वद मे राजन्स्वकार्ये च यथास्थितम्
Out of curiosity, tell me, O king, and also about your own affairs as they stand.
असन्तुष्टा दुर्गतिदाः सद्यो मम यथा पुरा
Those who are dissatisfied and bring misfortune became so for me at once, just as before.
एतावान्मम शापोऽयं वसिष्ठस्य महात्मनः
This much is the curse upon me from the great-souled Vasiṣṭha.
तदा दोषविनिर्मुक्तो भविष्यसि न संशयः सात्त्विकं धाम चापन्नो गच्छ विप्र नमोऽस्तु ते
Then you will be freed from fault, without doubt; attaining the sattvic realm, go, O brahmin, my respects to you.
गच्छंश्चातिक्षुधाविष्टो ऽपश्यद्बिल्वफलानि सः
As he was going, greatly afflicted by hunger, he saw bilva fruits.
ततः कृष्णाजिने बद्ध्वा कुण्डले न्यस्य भूतले
Then, tying them in a black antelope skin and placing the earrings on the ground—
एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु तक्षकः पन्नगोत्तमः
At that very moment, Takṣaka, the foremost of serpents—
अथोत्तंकः फलाहारी अवतीर्य धरातले
Then Uttanka, gathering the fruits, descended to the earth.
स दृष्ट्वा सम्मुखं प्राप्तं समीपं पन्नगोत्तमः 7.3.2.
The foremost of serpents saw him as he approached directly and came near.
उत्तंकोऽपि बिलं प्राप्तः प्रविश्य तमसावृतम्
Uttanka also reached the hole and entered, enveloped in darkness.
तं तथा दुःखितं दृष्ट्वा सक्लेशं गुरुकार्यतः
Seeing him thus distressed, suffering greatly because of his teacher's task—
ततो विदारयामास स शीघ्रं धरणीतलम्
Then he quickly tore open the surface of the earth.
सोऽपश्यद्वाजिनं तत्र सर्वश्वेतं गुणान्वितम्
There he saw a horse, all white and endowed with virtues.