Critical Edition
भीष्म उवाच अथ वृक्षस्य शाखायां विहंगः ससुहृज्जनः दीर्घकालोषितो राजंस्तत्र चित्रतनूरुहः
M. N. Dutt: In one of the branches of that tree, a pigeon having beautiful feather, o king, lived for many years with his family.
तस्य काल्यं गता भार्या चरितुं नाभ्यवर्तत प्राप्तां च रजनीं दृष्ट्वा स पक्षी पर्यतप्यत
M. N. Dutt: That morning his wife had gone out in quest of food but had not yet come back. Seeing the approach of night and his wife still not returning, the bird began be bewail, saying
वातवर्षं महच्चासीन्न चागच्छति मे प्रिया किं नु तत्कारणं येन साद्यापि न निवर्तते
M. N. Dutt: O, what a great storm and a terrible shower took place to-day! Alas, you have come not come back yet, O dear wife! Woe is on me, what must be the cause of her not returning yet.
अपि स्वस्ति भवेत्तस्याः प्रियाया मम कानने तया विरहितं हीदं शून्यमद्य गृहं मम
M. N. Dutt: In cverything right with that dear wife of mine in the forest? Separated from her, this my home appears to me void.
Supplementary Passages:
12.142.4 After 4, K3.5 V1 B Da Dn1.n3 D2-5.8 ins.: *364 पुत्रपौत्रवधूभृत्यैराकीर्णमपि सर्वतः भार्याहीनं गृहस्थस्य शून्यमेव गृहं भवेत् न गृहं गृहमित्याहुर्गृहिणी गृहमुच्यते गृहं तु गृहिणीहीनमरण्यसदृशं मतम्
यदि सा रक्तनेत्रान्ता चित्राङ्गी मधुरस्वरा अद्य नाभ्येति मे कान्ता न कार्यं जीवितेन मे
M. N. Dutt: If that dear wife of mine, having red eyes, variegated plumes, and sweet voice, does not return to-day, my life itself will have no value.
Supplementary Passages:
12.142.5 After 5, K3.5 V1 B Da Dn1.n3 D2-5.8 ins.: *365 न भुङ्क्ते मय्यभुक्ते या नास्नाते स्नाति सुव्रता नातिष्ठत्युपतिष्ठेत शेते च शयिते मयि हृष्टे भवति सा हृष्टा दुःखिते मयि दुःखिता प्रोषिते दीनवदना क्रुद्धे च प्रियवादिनी
पतिधर्मरता साध्वी प्राणेभ्योऽपि गरीयसी सा हि श्रान्तं क्षुधार्तं च जानीते मां तपस्विनी
AI Translation: That chaste lady, devoted to the duties of a wife, is dearer to me than my life. That ascetic lady knows me to be tired and hungry.
अनुरक्ता हिता चैव स्निग्धा चैव पतिव्रता यस्य वै तादृशी भार्या धन्यः स मनुजो भुवि
AI Translation: She is devoted, helpful, affectionate, and devoted to her husband. A man on earth is blessed who has such a wife.
Supplementary Passages:
12.142.7 After 7, K3.5 V1 B Da Dn1.n3 D2-5.8 ins.: *366 वृक्षमूलेऽपि दयिता यस्य तिष्ठति तद्गृहम् प्रासादोऽपि तया हीनः कान्तार इति निश्चितम् धर्मार्थकामकालेषु भार्या पुंसः सहायिनी विदेशगमने चास्य सैव विश्वासकारिका After the above, K3 D4 ins. 368* and 369* followed by the repetition of 6c-7d. After this repetition, K3 D4 ins.: *367 यस्य भार्या सदा रक्ता तथा छन्दानुवर्तिनी विभवेऽपि हि संतोषस्तस्य स्वर्ग इहैव हि सा भार्या या गृहे दक्षा सा भार्या या पतिव्रता सा भार्या या प्रियं ब्रूते सा भार्या या मनोरमा यस्य भार्या गुणज्ञा च भर्तारमनुगामिनी या चातीव हि संहृष्टा सा श्रीः साक्षान्न वै धनम्
भार्या हि परमो नाथः पुरुषस्येह पठ्यते असहायस्य लोकेऽस्मिँल्लोकयात्रासहायिनी
M. N. Dutt: It is said that the wife is the richest treasure of her husband. In this world the wife is the only companion of her husband in all the worldly affairs.
तथा रोगाभिभूतस्य नित्यं कृच्छ्रगतस्य च नास्ति भार्यासमं किंचिन्नरस्यार्तस्य भेषजम्
M. N. Dutt: One, who is suffered from disease and surrounded with many troubles, his wife is the best of panaceas and good medicine in sickness of that person.
नास्ति भार्यासमो बन्धुर्नास्ति भार्यासमा गतिः नास्ति भार्यासमो लोके सहायो धर्मसाधनः
M. N. Dutt: There is no friend like wife. There is no refuge better than the wife. There is no better associate in the world than the wife in acts undertaken for the acquisition of religious merit.
Supplementary Passages:
12.142.10 K5 V1 B Da Dn1.n3 D2.5.8 ins. after 10: K3 D4, after 366* (=Pañca. [Kosegarten] IV.54): *368 यस्य भार्या गृहे नास्ति साध्वी च प्रियवादिनी अरण्यं तेन गन्तव्यं यथारण्यं तथा गृहम् K3 D4 cont.: *369 अहो मम विना वह्निं दह्यते गात्रसंचयम् पतिव्रतधरा साध्वी प्राणेभ्योऽपि गरीयसी
एवं विलपतस्तस्य द्विजस्यार्तस्य तत्र वै गृहीता शकुनघ्नेन भार्या शुश्राव भारतीम्
AI Translation: While the distressed brāhmaṇa was lamenting thus, his wife, who had been seized by the bird-catcher, heard the words of the brāhmaṇa.
Supplementary Passages:
12.142.11 After 11, K4.5 V1 B Da Dn1.n3 D2.3.5.8 ins.: *370 कपोत्युवाच अहोऽतीव सुभाग्याहं यस्या मे दयितः पतिः असतो वा सतो वापि गुणानेवं प्रभाषते
न सा स्त्रीत्यभिभाषा स्याद्यस्या भर्ता न तुष्यति अग्निसाक्षिकमप्येतद्भर्ता हि शरणं स्त्रियः
AI Translation: If a husband is not satisfied, it is said that she is not a woman. The husband is the refuge of women, even if it is witnessed by fire.
Supplementary Passages:
12.142.12 After 12ab, K5 Da2 Dn3 D2.3.8 ins. (=Pañcatantra [Kosegarten] III.154cd): *371 तुष्टे भर्तरि नारीणां तुष्टाः स्युः सर्वदेवताः After 12, K5 V1 B Da Dn1 D2.3. 5.8 ins. (=Pañcatantra [Kosegarten] III.155): *372 दावाग्निनेव निर्दग्धा सपुष्पस्तबका लता भस्मीभवतु सा नारी यस्या भर्ता न तुष्यति
इति संचिन्त्य दुःखार्ता भर्तारं दुःखितं तदा कपोती लुब्धकेनाथ यत्ता वचनमब्रवीत्
M. N. Dutt: Having thought thus, the she-pigeon, stricken with woe, and encaged by the fowler, thus spoke to her woe-stricken husband.
हन्त वक्ष्यामि ते श्रेयः श्रुत्वा च कुरु तत्तथा शरणागतसंत्राता भव कान्त विशेषतः
M. N. Dutt: I shall say what is now good for you. Hearing me follow my advice, O dear husband, be you the rescuer of a suppliant.
एष शाकुनिकः शेते तव वासं समाश्रितः शीतार्तश्च क्षुधार्तश्च पूजामस्मै प्रयोजय
M. N. Dutt: This fowler lies here by your house stricken with cold and hunger. Treat him hospitably.
यो हि कश्चिद्द्विजं हन्याद्गां वा लोकस्य मातरम् शरणागतं च यो हन्यात्तुल्यं तेषां च पातकम्
M. N. Dutt: The sin that a person commits by killing a Brahmana or that mother of the world, viz., a cow, is equal to what one commits by allowing suppliant to die.
यास्माकं विहिता वृत्तिः कापोती जातिधर्मतः सा न्याय्यात्मवता नित्यं त्वद्विधेनाभिवर्तितुम्
M. N. Dutt: You are endued with the knowledge of self. You should, therefore, follow that course which has been ordained for us as pigeons on account of our birth.
यस्तु धर्मं यथाशक्ति गृहस्थो ह्यनुवर्तते स प्रेत्य लभते लोकानक्षयानिति शुश्रुम
M. N. Dutt: We have heard that the house-holder who practises virtue according to his abilities, acquires hereafter endless regions of bliss.
स त्वं संतानवानद्य पुत्रवानपि च द्विज तत्स्वदेहे दयां त्यक्त्वा धर्मार्थौ परिगृह्य वै पूजामस्मै प्रयुङ्क्ष्व त्वं प्रीयेतास्य मनो यथा
M. N. Dutt: You have sons. You have progeny. O bird, casting off all love for your own body, therefore, and for acquiring virtue and profit, adore this fowler so that he may be pleased.
Supplementary Passages:
12.142.19 After 19, K5 V1 B Da Dn1. n3 D2.3.5.8 ins.: *373 मत्कृते मा च संतापं कुर्वीथास्त्वं विहंगम शरीरयात्राकृत्यर्थमन्यान्दारानुपैष्यसि
इति सा शकुनी वाक्यं क्षारकस्था तपस्विनी अतिदुःखान्विता प्रोच्य भर्तारं समुदैक्षत
M. N. Dutt: The amiable she-pigeon, laden with sorrow, and casting her eyes upon her husband from the fowler's cage within which she had been put, said these words to him.
स पत्न्या वचनं श्रुत्वा धर्मयुक्तिसमन्वितम् हर्षेण महता युक्तो बाष्पव्याकुललोचनः
M. N. Dutt: Bhishma said Hearing these words of morality and reason spoken by his wife, the pigeon was filled with great delight and his eyes were bathed in tears of joy.
तं वै शाकुनिकं दृष्ट्वा विधिदृष्टेन कर्मणा पूजयामास यत्नेन स पक्षी पक्षिजीविनम्
M. N. Dutt: Seeing that fowler whose profession was to kill birds, the pigeon honoured him scrupulously according to scriptural rites.
उवाच च स्वागतं ते ब्रूहि किं करवाण्यहम् संतापश्च न कर्तव्यः स्वगृहे वर्तते भवान्
M. N. Dutt: Addressing him, he said,-You are welcome to-day. Tell me what I shall do for you. You should not repent. This is your home.
तद्ब्रवीतु भवान्क्षिप्रं किं करोमि किमिच्छसि प्रणयेन ब्रवीमि त्वां त्वं हि नः शरणागतः
M. N. Dutt: Tell me quickly what I am to do and what is your pleasure. I ask you this in good spirit, for you have sought protection of us.
Supplementary Passages:
12.142.24 After 24, K3.5 V1 B Da Dn1.n3 D2.3.8 ins. (=[var.] Hitopadesa I.44): *374 अरावप्युचितं कार्यमातिथ्यं गृहमागते छेत्तुमप्यागते छायां नोपसंहरते द्रुमः
शरणागतस्य कर्तव्यमातिथ्यमिह यत्नतः पञ्चयज्ञप्रवृत्तेन गृहस्थेन विशेषतः
M. N. Dutt: One should, with diligence do the duties of hospitality towards a person who seeks shelter. Indeed, one is particularly bound to do so if he leads the life of a house-holder that consists of the five sacrifices.
पञ्चयज्ञांस्तु यो मोहान्न करोति गृहाश्रमी तस्य नायं न च परो लोको भवति धर्मतः
M. N. Dutt: If one, while living like a house-holder, does, not from want of judgement, celebrate the five sacrifices, one loses, as laid down in the scriptures, both this and the next world.
तद्ब्रूहि त्वं सुविस्रब्धो यत्त्वं वाचा वदिष्यसि तत्करिष्याम्यहं सर्वं मा त्वं शोके मनः कृथाः
M. N. Dutt: Tell me then clearly and confidently what your wishes are. I will accomplish them all. Do not think of grieving.
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा शकुनेर्लुब्धकोऽब्रवीत् बाधते खलु मा शीतं हिमत्राणं विधीयताम्
M. N. Dutt: Hearing these words of the bird, the fowler replied to him, saying,-I am benumbed with cold. Just make arrangements for warming me.
एवमुक्तस्ततः पक्षी पर्णान्यास्तीर्य भूतले यथाशुष्काणि यत्नेन ज्वलनार्थं द्रुतं ययौ
M. N. Dutt: Thus addressed, the bird collected a number of dry leaves on the ground, and taking a leaf in his beaks quickly went away for fetching fire.
स गत्वाङ्गारकर्मान्तं गृहीत्वाग्निमथागमत् ततः शुष्केषु पर्णेषु पावकं सोऽभ्यदीदिपत्
AI Translation: Having gone to the charcoal-making place, he took fire and then came back. Then he lit a fire on dry leaves.
सुसंदीप्तं महत्कृत्वा तमाह शरणागतम् प्रतापय सुविस्रब्धं स्वगात्राण्यकुतोभयः
AI Translation: Having made it very bright, he said to the one who had taken refuge: "Heat your body fearlessly and without any fear."
स तथोक्तस्तथेत्युक्त्वा लुब्धो गात्राण्यतापयत् अग्निप्रत्यागतप्राणस्ततः प्राह विहंगमम्
AI Translation: The hunter, thus addressed, replied, "So be it!" and warmed his body. Then, having regained his breath, he said to the bird,
Supplementary Passages:
12.142.32 After 32, K5 Dn1.n3 D2.3.8 ins.: *375 हर्षेण महताविष्टो वाक्यं व्याकुललोचनः तथेमं शकुनिं दृष्ट्वा विधिदृष्टेन कर्मणा
दत्तमाहारमिच्छामि त्वया क्षुद्बाधते हि माम् तद्वचः स प्रतिश्रुत्य वाक्यमाह विहंगमः
AI Translation: I desire food given by you, for hunger afflicts me. Having heard those words, the bird spoke these words:
न मेऽस्ति विभवो येन नाशयामि तव क्षुधाम् उत्पन्नेन हि जीवामो वयं नित्यं वनौकसः
AI Translation: "I have no wealth by which I can satisfy your hunger. " "For we who live in the forest are always satisfied with what we find."
संचयो नास्ति चास्माकं मुनीनामिव कानने इत्युक्त्वा स तदा तत्र विवर्णवदनोऽभवत्
M. N. Dutt: Like the ascetics of the forest we never amass for the morrow!-Having said so, the bird's face grew pale.
कथं नु खलु कर्तव्यमिति चिन्तापरः सदा बभूव भरतश्रेष्ठ गर्हयन्वृत्तिमात्मनः
M. N. Dutt: He began to think aside as to what he should do and mentally blamed his own mode of living.
मुहूर्ताल्लब्धसंज्ञस्तु स पक्षी पक्षिघातकम् उवाच तर्पयिष्ये त्वां मुहूर्तं प्रतिपालय
M. N. Dutt: Soon, however, his mind became clear. Addressing the destroyer of birds, he said,-I shall please you!-Wait for a moment!
इत्युक्त्वा शुष्कपर्णैः स संप्रज्वाल्य हुताशनम् हर्षेण महता युक्तः कपोतः पुनरब्रवीत्
AI Translation: Having said this, the pigeon, having kindled the fire with dry leaves, was filled with great joy and spoke again:
देवानां च मुनीनां च पितॄणां च महात्मनाम् श्रुतपूर्वो मया धर्मो महानतिथिपूजने
AI Translation: I have heard before about the great worship of guests by the gods, sages, and the great-souled ancestors.
कुरुष्वानुग्रहं मेऽद्य सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीमि ते निश्चिता खलु मे बुद्धिरतिथिप्रतिपूजने
M. N. Dutt: O amiable one, be kind to me. To tell you the truth my heart is bent upon honouring you my guest.
ततः सत्यप्रतिज्ञो वै स पक्षी प्रहसन्निव तमग्निं त्रिः परिक्रम्य प्रविवेश महीपते
M. N. Dutt: Having thus made up his mind, the great bird, with a smiling face, thrice went round that fire and then entered its flames.
अग्निमध्यं प्रविष्टं तं लुब्धो दृष्ट्वाथ पक्षिणम् चिन्तयामास मनसा किमिदं नु कृतं मया
M. N. Dutt: Seeing the bird enter that fire, the fowler began to think! and asked himself,-What have I done.
अहो मम नृशंसस्य गर्हितस्य स्वकर्मणा अधर्मः सुमहान्घोरो भविष्यति न संशयः
M. N. Dutt: Alas, dreadful will be the sin, the outcome of my own acts. I am highly ruthless and blameable.
एवं बहुविधं भूरि विललाप स लुब्धकः गर्हयन्स्वानि कर्माणि द्विजं दृष्ट्वा तथागतम्
M. N. Dutt: Indeed, seeing the bird lay down his life, the fowler, considering his own acts, began to bewail thus piteously.