Critical Edition
युधिष्ठिर उवाच आनृशंसस्य धर्मस्य गुणान्भक्तजनस्य च श्रोतुमिच्छामि कार्त्स्न्येन तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह
M. N. Dutt: Yudhishthira said O you who know the truths of religion, I wish to hear of the merits of religion, I wish to hear of the merits of mercy, and of the marks of devout men! Do you, O sire, describe them to me.
भीष्म उवाच विषये काशिराजस्य ग्रामान्निष्क्रम्य लुब्धकः सविषं काण्डमादाय मृगयामास वै मृगम्
M. N. Dutt: In the dominion of the king of Kashi, a fowler, having poisoned arrows with him, went out of his village on hunting expedition in search of antelopes.
Supplementary Passages:
13.5.2 After the ref., V1 B Dn D2.3.5.10 ins.: *30 अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् वासवस्य च संवादं शुकस्य च महात्मनः
तत्र चामिषलुब्धेन लुब्धकेन महावने अविदूरे मृगं दृष्ट्वा बाणः प्रतिसमाहितः
M. N. Dutt: Desirous of getting meat, when in a big forest in pursuit of the chase, he saw a drove of antelopes near at hand, and shot his arrow at one of them.
तेन दुर्वारितास्त्रेण निमित्तचपलेषुणा महान्वनतरुर्विद्धो मृगं तत्र जिघांसता
M. N. Dutt: The arrow of that fowler of irresistible arms, shot for the destruction of the antelope, missing its aim, pierced a powerful foresttree.
स तीक्ष्णविषदिग्धेन शरेणातिबलात्कृतः उत्सृज्य फलपत्राणि पादपः शोषमागतः
M. N. Dutt: The tree, pierced with that arrow covered with dreadful poison, withered away, shedding its leaves and fruits.
तस्मिन्वृक्षे तथाभूते कोटरेषु चिरोषितः न जहाति शुको वासं तस्य भक्त्या वनस्पतेः
M. N. Dutt: The tree having thus withered, a parrot which had lived in a hollow of its trunk all his life, did not leave his nest out of affection for that lordly tree.
निष्प्रचारो निराहारो ग्लानः शिथिलवागपि कृतज्ञः सह वृक्षेण धर्मात्मा स व्यशुष्यत
M. N. Dutt: Motionless starving, silent and sorrowful, that grateful and virtuous parrot also withered away with the tree.
तमुदारं महासत्त्वमतिमानुषचेष्टितम् समदुःखसुखं ज्ञात्वा विस्मितः पाकशासनः
M. N. Dutt: The conqueror of Paka (Indra) was filled with wonder upon seeing that great and generous bird thus uninfluenced by misery or happiness and possessing extraordinary resolution.
ततश्चिन्तामुपगतः शक्रः कथमयं द्विजः तिर्यग्योनावसंभाव्यमानृशंस्यं समास्थितः
M. N. Dutt: Then Shakra thought, How could this bird come to possess such humane and generous feelings which cannot be seen in one of the lower animal creation?
अथ वा नात्र चित्रं हीत्यभवद्वासवस्य तु प्राणिनामिह सर्वेषां सर्वं सर्वत्र दृश्यते
M. N. Dutt: There is nothing wonderful in the matter, for all crcatures are seen to show kindly and generous feelings towards others.
ततो ब्राह्मणवेषेण मानुषं रूपमास्थितः अवतीर्य महीं शक्रस्तं पक्षिणमुवाच ह
M. N. Dutt: Assuming then the shape of a Brahmana, Shakra went on the Earth and addressing the bird, said:
शुक भोः पक्षिणां श्रेष्ठ दाक्षेयी सुप्रजास्त्वया पृच्छे त्वा शुष्कमेतं वै कस्मान्न त्यजसि द्रुमम्
M. N. Dutt: O Suka, O best of birds, the granddaughter of Daksha has become blessed (by having you as her offspring)! I ask you, why do you not leave this withered tree?
अथ पृष्टः शुकः प्राह मूर्ध्ना समभिवाद्य तम् स्वागतं देवराजाय विज्ञातस्तपसा मया
M. N. Dutt: Thus accosted, the Shuka bowed to him and thus replied: Welcome to you, O king of the gods, I have recognised you by the merit of my austere penances.
ततो दशशताक्षेण साधु साध्विति भाषितम् अहो विज्ञानमित्येवं तपसा पूजितस्ततः
M. N. Dutt: Well-done, well-done! said the thousandeyed god. Then the latter lauded him in his mind, saying 0, how wonderful is the knowledge which he possesses.
तमेवं शुभकर्माणं शुकं परमधार्मिकम् विजानन्नपि तां प्राप्तिं पप्रच्छ बलसूदनः
M. N. Dutt: Although the destroyer of Vala knew that parrot to be of a greatly virtuous character and meritorious in action, he still enquired of him about the reason of his love for the tree.
Supplementary Passages:
13.5.15 For 15cd, S subst.: *31 जानन्नपि च तत्प्राप्तिं पृच्छते पाकशासनः
निष्पत्रमफलं शुष्कमशरण्यं पतत्रिणाम् किमर्थं सेवसे वृक्षं यदा महदिदं वनम्
AI Translation: Why do you serve this tree, which is leafless, fruitless, dry, and without shelter for birds, when there is this great forest?
अन्येऽपि बहवो वृक्षाः पत्रसंछन्नकोटराः शुभाः पर्याप्तसंचारा विद्यन्तेऽस्मिन्महावने
AI Translation: There are many other trees with branches covered with leaves, and there are many good paths in this great forest.
गतायुषमसामर्थ्यं क्षीणसारं हतश्रियम् विमृश्य प्रज्ञया धीर जहीमं ह्यस्थिरं द्रुमम्
M. N. Dutt: patient one, displaying proper discrimination in your wisdom, do you leave this old tree that is dead and useless and shorn of all its leaves and no longer capable of any good.
तदुपश्रुत्य धर्मात्मा शुकः शक्रेण भाषितम् सुदीर्घमभिनिःश्वस्य दीनो वाक्यमुवाच ह
AI Translation: Hearing that spoken by Śakra, Śuka, the one with dharma in his soul, sighed deeply and sadly spoke these words:
अनतिक्रमणीयानि दैवतानि शचीपते यत्राभवस्तत्र भवस्तन्निबोध सुराधिप
AI Translation: O Lord of Shachi, the gods are not to be transgressed. Where there is existence, there is existence. Know this, O Lord of the Gods.
अस्मिन्नहं द्रुमे जातः साधुभिश्च गुणैर्युतः बालभावे च संगुप्तः शत्रुभिश्च न धर्षितः
M. N. Dutt: Here, within this tree, was I born and here in this tree have all the good traits of my character been developed, and here in this tree was I protected in my infancy from the attacks of my enemies.
किमनुक्रोशवैफल्यमुत्पादयसि मेऽनघ आनृशंस्येऽनुरक्तस्य भक्तस्यानुगतस्य च
M. N. Dutt: O sinless one, why are you, in your kindness, interfering with the principle of my conduct in life? I am merciful and devoutly intent on virtue, and firm in conduct.
Supplementary Passages:
13.5.22 T2.3 G M ins. after 22ab: T1 after 21: *32 अनुरक्तस्य भक्तस्य संस्पृशेन्न च पावकम्
अनुक्रोशो हि साधूनां सुमहद्धर्मलक्षणम् अनुक्रोशश्च साधूनां सदा प्रीतिं प्रयच्छति
M. N. Dutt: Kindliness of feeling is the highest test of virtue amongst the good, and this same merciful and humane feeling is the source of eternal happiness to the virtuous,
त्वमेव दैवतैः सर्वैः पृच्छ्यसे धर्मसंशयान् अतस्त्वं देव देवानामाधिपत्ये प्रतिष्ठितः
M. N. Dutt: All the gods ask you to remove their doubts in religion, and for this reason, O lord, you have been elected their king.
नार्हसि त्वं सहस्राक्ष त्याजयित्वेह भक्तितः समर्थमुपजीव्येमं त्यजेयं कथमद्य वै
AI Translation: O Thousand-eyed One, you should not abandon me here after having shown me affection. How can I abandon this one who is capable of supporting me?
Supplementary Passages:
13.5.25 After 25ab, S ins.: *33 तद्भक्तितस्त्याजयितुं न मामर्हसि सत्तम For 25cd, S subst.: *34 समस्थमुपजीवन्वै विषमस्थं कथं त्यजेत्
तस्य वाक्येन सौम्येन हर्षितः पाकशासनः शुकं प्रोवाच धर्मज्ञमानृशंस्येन तोषितः
AI Translation: Satisfied by the gentle words of the king, the lord of the kitchen spoke to the parrot, who was wise in the ways of dharma and had pleased him with his non-violence.
वरं वृणीष्वेति तदा स च वव्रे वरं शुकः आनृशंस्यपरो नित्यं तस्य वृक्षस्य संभवम्
M. N. Dutt: Do you ask a boon of me. At this, the merciful parrot craved this boon of him, saying Let this tree revive.
Supplementary Passages:
13.5.27 After 27ab, T1 ins.: *35 पुनर्जीवत्वयं वृक्षो यदि स्यान्मय्यनुग्रहः
विदित्वा च दृढां शक्रस्तां शुके शीलसंपदम् प्रीतः क्षिप्रमथो वृक्षममृतेनावसिक्तवान्
M. N. Dutt: Knowing the great attachment of the parrot to that tree and great high character, Indra, wellpleased, caused the tree to be quickly sprinkled over with nectar.
ततः फलानि पत्राणि शाखाश्चापि मनोरमाः शुकस्य दृढभक्तित्वाच्छ्रीमत्त्वं चाप स द्रुमः
AI Translation: Then the fruits, leaves, and branches became delightful. Because of the strong devotion of the parrot, the tree became prosperous.
शुकश्च कर्मणा तेन आनृशंस्यकृतेन ह आयुषोऽन्ते महाराज प्राप शक्रसलोकताम्
AI Translation: And Śuka, by that act of non-violence, at the end of his life, O great king, attained the world of Indra.
एवमेव मनुष्येन्द्र भक्तिमन्तं समाश्रितः सर्वार्थसिद्धिं लभते शुकं प्राप्य यथा द्रुमः
M. N. Dutt: Thus, o king, by communion and companionship with the pious, people acquire all the objects of their desire even as the tree did through its companionship with the parrot."