Critical Edition
भीष्म उवाच तस्यां निशायां व्युष्टायां गते तस्मिन्द्विजोत्तमे निष्क्रम्य गौतमोऽगच्छत्समुद्रं प्रति भारत
M. N. Dutt: Bhishma said After the expiration of that night, and that best of Brahmanas had left the house, Gautama issuing from his house, began to proceed towards the sea, O Bharata.
सामुद्रकान्स वणिजस्ततोऽपश्यत्स्थितान्पथि स तेन सार्थेन सह प्रययौ सागरं प्रति
M. N. Dutt: On the way he saw some sea-faring merchants. With that caravan of merchants he proceeded towards the sea.
स तु सार्थो महाराज कस्मिंश्चिद्गिरिगह्वरे मत्तेन द्विरदेनाथ निहतः प्रायशोऽभवत्
M. N. Dutt: It so took place, however, O king, that large caravan was attacked, while passing through a mountain valley, by an infuriate elephant. Almost all the persons were killed.
स कथंचित्ततस्तस्मात्सार्थान्मुक्तो द्विजस्तदा कांदिग्भूतो जीवितार्थी प्रदुद्रावोत्तरां दिशम्
M. N. Dutt: Somehow escaping from the great danger, the Brahmana fled towards the north for saving his life, not knowing where he went.
स सर्वतः परिभ्रष्टः सार्थाद्देशात्तथार्थतः एकाकी व्यद्रवत्तत्र वने किंपुरुषो यथा
M. N. Dutt: Separated from the caravan and gone to a great distance, he began to travel alone in a forest, like a Kimpurusha.
स पन्थानमथासाद्य समुद्राभिसरं तदा आससाद वनं रम्यं महत्पुष्पितपादपम्
M. N. Dutt: At last coming upon a road leading towards the ocean, he travelled on till the reached a charming and heavenly forest filled with blossoming trees.
सर्वर्तुकैराम्रवनैः पुष्पितैरुपशोभितम् नन्दनोद्देशसदृशं यक्षकिंनरसेवितम्
M. N. Dutt: It was adorned with mango trees which carried flowers and fruits throughout the year. It appeared like the garden of Nandana (in heaven) and was inhabited by Yakshas and Kinnaras.
शालतालधवाश्वत्थत्वचागुरुवनैस्तथा चन्दनस्य च मुख्यस्य पादपैरुपशोभितम् गिरिप्रस्थेषु रम्येषु शुभेषु सुसुगन्धिषु
AI Translation: Adorned with the barks of śāla, tāla, dhava, and aśvattha trees, and with sandalwood trees, And with the main sandalwood trees, On the beautiful, auspicious, and fragrant mountain slopes,
समन्ततो द्विजश्रेष्ठा वल्गु कूजन्ति तत्र वै मनुष्यवदनास्त्वन्ये भारुण्डा इति विश्रुताः भूलिङ्गशकुनाश्चान्ये समुद्रं सर्वतोऽभवन्
AI Translation: O best of Brahmins, all around there, the birds are sweetly cooing. Others, with human faces, are well-known as Bhāruṇḍas. Other birds, with bodies like the earth, are all over the ocean.
स तान्यतिमनोज्ञानि विहंगाभिरुतानि वै शृण्वन्सुरमणीयानि विप्रोऽगच्छत गौतमः
M. N. Dutt: Gautama went through that forest, listening, as he went, to those delightful and charming notes of nature's songsters.
ततोऽपश्यत्सुरम्ये स सुवर्णसिकताचिते देशभागे समे चित्रे स्वर्गोद्देशसमप्रभे
M. N. Dutt: On his way he saw a very charming and level spot of land covered with golden sands and resembling heaven itself, O king, in its beauty.
श्रिया जुष्टं महावृक्षं न्यग्रोधं परिमण्डलम् शाखाभिरनुरूपाभिर्भूषितं छत्रसंनिभम्
M. N. Dutt: On that plot was huge and beautiful banian with a spherical top. Having numberless branches which wore like the parent tree in beauty and size, that banian looked like an umbrella set over the plain, to
तस्य मूलं सुसंसिक्तं वरचन्दनवारिणा दिव्यपुष्पान्वितं श्रीमत्पितामहसदोपमम्
M. N. Dutt: The spot underneath that beautiful tree was drenched with water perfumed with the most fragrant sandal. Highly beautiful and abounding with sweet flowers all around, the spot appeared like the court of the Grandfather himself.
तं दृष्ट्वा गौतमः प्रीतो मुनिकान्तमनुत्तमम् मेध्यं सुरगृहप्रख्यं पुष्पितैः पादपैर्वृतम् तमागम्य मुदा युक्तस्तस्याधस्तादुपाविशत्
M. N. Dutt: Seeing that charming and peerless spot, filled with blossoming trees, sacred, and looking like the house of a very god, Gautama was highly pleased.
तत्रासीनस्य कौरव्य गौतमस्य सुखः शिवः पुष्पाणि समुपस्पृश्य प्रववावनिलः शुचिः ह्लादयन्सर्वगात्राणि गौतमस्य तदा नृप
M. N. Dutt: Arrived there, he sat himself down with a delighted mind. While sitting there, O son of Kunti, a swect, charming, and auspicious breeze, carrying the perfume of many kinds of flowers, began to blow softly, cooling the limbs of Gautama and filling him with divine pleasure, O king.
स तु विप्रः परिश्रान्तः स्पृष्टः पुण्येन वायुना सुखमासाद्य सुष्वाप भास्करश्चास्तमभ्यगात्
M. N. Dutt: Fanned by that sweet-scented breeze, the Brahmana became refreshed, and for the pleasure he felt ho soon fell asleep. Meanwhile the sun set behind the setting hills.
ततोऽस्तं भास्करे याते संध्याकाल उपस्थिते आजगाम स्वभवनं ब्रह्मलोकात्खगोत्तमः
M. N. Dutt: When the shining luminary entered his chambers in the west and the evening twilight came, a bird that was the best of his species, returned there, which was his home, from the regions of Brahinan.
नाडीजङ्घ इति ख्यातो दयितो ब्रह्मणः सखा बकराजो महाप्राज्ञः कश्यपस्यात्मसंभवः
M. N. Dutt: His name was Nadijangha and he was a great friend of the Creator. He was a prince of Cranes; endued with great wisdom, and a son of (the sage) Kashyapa.
राजधर्मेति विख्यातो बभूवाप्रतिमो भुवि देवकन्यासुतः श्रीमान्विद्वान्देवपतिप्रभः
M. N. Dutt: He was also known widely on Earth by the name of Rajdharman. Indeed, he excelled every one on Earth in fame and wisdom. The child of a celestial maiden, endued with great beauty and learning, he shone like a celestial.
मृष्टहाटकसंछन्नो भूषणैरर्कसंनिभैः भूषितः सर्वगात्रेषु देवगर्भः श्रिया ज्वलन्
M. N. Dutt: Decorated with the many ornaments that he wore and that were as brilliant as the sun himself, that child of a celestial girl shone in great beauty.
तमागतं द्विजं दृष्ट्वा विस्मितो गौतमोऽभवत् क्षुत्पिपासापरीतात्मा हिंसार्थी चाप्यवैक्षत
M. N. Dutt: Seeing that bird arrived there, Gautama was stricken with wonder. Worn out with hunger and thirst, the Brahmana began to look at the bird from desire of killing him.
राजधर्मोवाच स्वागतं भवते विप्र दिष्ट्या प्राप्तोऽसि मे गृहम् अस्तं च सविता यातः संध्येयं समुपस्थिता
M. N. Dutt: Rajdharman said Welcome, O Brahmana! By good luck have I got you to-day in my house! The sun is set. The evening twilight has came.
मम त्वं निलयं प्राप्तः प्रियातिथिरनिन्दितः पूजितो यास्यसि प्रातर्विधिदृष्टेन कर्मणा
M. N. Dutt: Having come to my house you are to-day my dear and excellent guest! Having received my adorations according to the rites laid down in the scriptures, you may go where you like tomorrow morning.