Kathasaritsagara 4.2: Dvitīyas taraṅgaḥ

4.2.1

atha vāsavadattāyā vatseśahṛdayotsavaḥ /
saṃbabhūvācirād garbhaḥ kāmāṃśāvatarojjvalaḥ //

Then, in a short time, Vásavadattá became pregnant with a child, glorious inasmuch as it was an incarnation of the god of Love, and it was a feast to the eyes of the king of Vatsa. She shone with a face, the eyes of which rolled, and which was of palish hue, as if with the moon come to visit her out of affection for the god of Love conceived in her. When she was sitting down, the two images of her form, reflected in the sides of the jewelled couch, seemed like Rati and Príti come there out of regard for their husband. Her ladies-in-waiting attended upon her like the Sciences that grant desires, come in bodily form to shew their respect for the future king of the Vidyádharas conceived in her. At that time she had breasts with points dark like a folded bud, resembling pitchers intended for the inaugural sprinkling of her unborn son. When she lay down on a comfortable couch in the middle of the palace, which gleamed with pavement composed of translucent, flashing,.lustrous jewels, she appeared as if she were being propitiated by the waters, that had come there trembling, through fear of being conquered by her future son, with heaps of jewels on every side. Her image reflected from the gems in the middle of the chariot, appeared like the Fortune of the Vidyáharas coming in the heaven to offer her adoration. And she felt a longing for stories of great magicians provided with incantations' by means of spells, introduced appropriately in conversation. Vidyádhara ladies, beginning melodious songs, waited upon her when in her dream she rose high up in the sky, and when she woke up, she desired to enjoy in reality the amusement of sporting in the air, which would give the pleasure of looking down upon the earth. And Yaugandharáyana gratified that longing of the queen's by employing spells, machines, juggling, and such like contrivances. So she roamed through the air by means of those various contrivances, which furnished a wonderful spectacle to the upturned eyes of the citizens' wives. But once on a time, when she was in her palace, there arose in her heart a desire to hear the glorious tales of the Vidyádharas; then Yaugandharáyana, being entreated by that queen, told her this tale while all were listening.

4.2.2

sā babhau lolanetreṇa mukhenāpāṇḍukāntinā /
śaśāṅkeneva garbhasthakāmapremopagāminā //

4.2.3

āsīnāyāḥ patisnehād ratiprītī ivāgate /
rejatuḥ pratime tasyā maṇiparyaṅkapārśvayoḥ //

4.2.4

bhāvividyādharādhīśagarbhasevārtham iṣṭadāḥ /
mūrtā vidyā ivāyātāḥ sakhyas tāṃ paryupāsata //

4.2.5

vinīlapallavaśyāmamukhau sātha payodharau /
sūnor garbhābhiṣekāya babhāra kalaśāv iva //

4.2.6

svacchasphuritasacchāyamaṇikuṭṭimaśobhinaḥ /
sukhaśayyāgatā madhye mandirasya rarāja sā //

4.2.7

bhāvitattanayākrāntiśaṅkākampitavāribhiḥ /
upetya sevyamāneva samantād ratnarāśibhiḥ //

4.2.8

tasyā vimānamadhyastharatnotthā pratimā babhau /
vidyādharaśrīr nabhasā praṇāmārtham ivāgatā //

4.2.9

mantrasādhanasaṃnaddhasādhakendrakathāsu ca /
babhūva sā dohadinī prasaṅgopanatāsu ca //

4.2.10

sarasārabdhasaṃgītā vidyādharavarāṅganāḥ /
svapne tām ambarotsaṅgam ārūḍhām upatasthire //

4.2.11

prabuddhā sevituṃ sākṣāt tad evābhilalāṣa sā /
nabhaḥkrīḍāvilasitaṃ lakṣyabhūtalakautukam //

4.2.12

taṃ ca dohadam etasyā devyā yaugandharāyaṇaḥ /
yantramantrendrajālādiprayogaiḥ samapūrayat //

4.2.13

vijahāra ca sā tais taiḥ prayogair gaganasthitā /
pauranārījanotpakṣmalocanāścaryadāyibhiḥ //

4.2.14

ekadā vāsakasthāyās tasyāś ca samajāyata /
hṛdi vidyādharodārakathāśravaṇakautukam //

4.2.15

tatas tayārthito devyā tatra yaugandharāyaṇaḥ /
tasyāḥ sarveṣu śṛṇvatsu nijagāda kathām imām //

4.2.16

asty ambikājanayitā nagendro himavān iti /
na kevalaṃ girīṇāṃ yo gurur gaurīpater api //

Story of Jimútaváhana.:— There is a great mountain named Himavat, the father of the mother of the world, who is not only the chief of hills, but the spiritual preceptor of Śiva, and on that great mountain, the home of the Vidyádharas, dwelt the lord of the Vidyádharas, the king Jímútaketu. And in his house there was a wishing-tree. which had come down to him from his ancestors, called by a name which expressed its nature, The Giver of Desires. And one day the king Jímútaketu approached that wishing-tree in his garden, which was of divine nature, and supplicated it; "We always obtain from you all you desire, therefore give me, O god, who am now childless, a virtuous son." Then the wishing-tree said, "King, there shall be born to thee a son who shall remember his past birth, who shall be a hero in giving, and kind to all creatures." When he heard that, the king was delighted, and bowed before that tree, and then he went and delighted his queen with the news: accordingly in a short time a son was born to him, and his father called the son Jímútaváhana. Then that Jímútaváhana, who was of great goodness, grew up step by step with the growth of his innate compassion for all creatures. And in course of time, when he was made Crown-Prince, he being full of compassion for the world said in secret to his father, who was pleased by his attentions " I know, father, that in this world all things perish in an instant, but the pure glory of the great alone endures till the end of a Kalpa.f If it is acquired by benefiting others, what other wealth can be, like it, valued by high-minded men more than life. And as for prosperity, if it be not used to benefit others, it is like lightning which for a moment pains the eye, and flickering disappears somewhere or other. So, if this wishing-tree, which we possess, and which grants all desires, is employed for the benefit of others, we shall have reaped from it all the fruit it can give. So let me take such steps as that by its riches the whole multitude of men in need may be rescued from poverty." This petition Jímútaváhana made to his father, and having obtained his permission, he went and said to that wishing-tree, "O god, thou always givest us the desired fruit, therefore fulfil to-day this one wish of ours. O my friend, relieve this whole world from its poverty, success to thee, thou art bestowed on the world that desires wealth!" The wishing-tree being addressed in this style by that self-denying one, showered much gold on the earth, and all the people rejoiced; what other compassionate incarnation of a Bodhisattva except the glorious Jímútaváhana would be able to dispose even of a wishing- tree in favour of the needy? For this reason every region of the earth became devoted to Jímútaváhana, and his stainless fame was spread on high.

4.2.17

vidyādharanivāse ca tasmin vidyādharādhipaḥ /
uvāsa rājā jīmūtaketur nāma mahācale //

4.2.18

tasyābhūt kalpavṛkṣaś ca gṛhe pitṛkramāgataḥ /
nāmnānvarthena vikhyāto yo manorathadāyakaḥ //

4.2.19

kadācic ca sa jīmūtaketū rājābhyupetya tam /
udyāne devatātmānaṃ kalpadrumam ayācata //

4.2.20

sarvadā prāpyate 'smābhis tvattaḥ sarvam abhīpsitam /
tad aputrāya me dehi deva putraṃ guṇānvitam //

4.2.21

tataḥ kalpadrumo 'vādīd rājann utpatsyate tava /
jātismaro dānavīraḥ sarvabhūtahitaḥ sutaḥ //

4.2.22

tac chrutvā sa prahṛṣṭaḥ san kalpavṛkṣaṃ praṇamya tam /
gatvā nivedya tad rājā nijāṃ devīm anandayat //

4.2.23

atha tasyācirād eva rājñaḥ sūnur ajāyata /
jīmūtavāhanaṃ taṃ ca nāmnā sa vidadhe pitā //

4.2.24

tataḥ sahajayā sākaṃ sarvabhūtānukampayā /
jagāma sa mahāsattvo vṛddhiṃ jīmūtavāhanaḥ //

4.2.25

kramāc ca yauvarājyasthaḥ paricaryāprasāditam /
lokānukampī pitaraṃ vijane sa vyajijñapat //

4.2.26

jānāmi tāta yad bhāvā bhave 'smin kṣaṇabhaṅgurāḥ /
sthiraṃ tu mahatām ekam ākalpam amalaṃ yaśaḥ //

4.2.27

paropakṛtisaṃbhūtaṃ tad eva yadi hanta tat /
kim anyat syād udārāṇāṃ dhanaṃ prāṇādhikapriyam //

4.2.28

saṃpac ca vidyud iva sā lokalocanakhedakṛt /
lolā kvāpi layaṃ yāti yā parānupakāriṇī //

4.2.29

tad eṣa kalpaviṭapī kāmado yo 'sti naḥ sa cet /
parārthaṃ viniyujyeta tadāptaṃ tat phalaṃ bhavet //

4.2.30

tat tathāhaṃ karomīha yathaitasya samṛddhibhiḥ /
adaridrā bhavaty eṣa sarvārthijanasaṃhatiḥ //

4.2.31

iti vijñāpya pitaraṃ tadanujñām avāpya saḥ /
jīmūtavāhano gatvā taṃ kalpadrumam abravīt //

4.2.32

deva tvaṃ śaśvad asmākam abhīṣṭaṃ phaladāyakaḥ /
tad ekam idam adya tvaṃ mama pūraya vāñchitam //

4.2.33

adaridrāṃ kuruṣvaitāṃ pṛthivīm akhilāṃ sakhe /
svasty astu te pradatto 'si lokāya draviṇārthine //

4.2.34

ity uktas tena dhīreṇa kalpavṛkṣo vavarṣa saḥ /
kanakaṃ bhūtale bhūri nananduś cākhilāḥ prajāḥ //

4.2.35

dayālur bodhisattvāṃśaḥ ko 'nyo jīmūtavāhanāt /
śaknuyād arthisāt kartum api kalpadrumaṃ kṛtī //

4.2.36

iti jātānurāgāsu tato dikṣu vidikṣv api /
jīmūtavāhanasyoccaiḥ paprathe viśadaṃ yaśaḥ //

4.2.37

tataḥ putraprathābaddhamūlaṃ rājyaṃ samatsarāḥ /
dṛṣṭvā jīmūtaketos tadgotrajā vikṛtiṃ yayuḥ //

Then the relations of Jímútaketu, seeing that his throne was firmly established by the glory of his son, were envious, and became hostile to him. And they thought it would be easy to conquer that place, which possessed the excellent wishing-tree that was employed for bestowing gifts, on account of its not being strong: then they assembled and determined on war, and thereupon the self-denying Jímútaváhana said to his father, "As this body of ours is like a bubble in the water, for the sake of what do we desire prosperity, which flickers like a candle exposed to the wind? And what wise man desires to attain prosperity by the slaughter of others? Accordingly, my father, I ought not to fight with my relations. But I must leave my kingdom and go to some forest or other; let these miserable wretches be, let us not slay the members of our own family." When Jímútaváhana had said this, his father Jímutaketu formed a resolution and said to him; " I too must go, my son, for what desire for rule can I, who am old, have, when you, though young, out of compassion abandon your realm as if it were so much grass?" In these words his father expressed his acquiescence in the project of Jímútaváhana, who then, with his father and his father's wife, went to the Malaya mountain. There he remained in a hermitage, the dwelling of the Siddhas, where the brooks were hidden by the sandal-wood trees, and devoted himself to taking care of his father. There he struck up a friendship with the self-denying son of Viśvávasu, the chief prince of the Siddhas, whose name was Mitrávasu. And once on a time the all-knowing Jímútaváhana beheld in a lonely place Mitrávasu's maiden sister, who had been his beloved in a former birth. And the mutual gaze of those two young people was like the catching in a frail net of the deer of the mind.

4.2.38

dānopayuktasatkalpavṛkṣayuktāspadaṃ ca tat /
menire niṣprabhāvatvāj jetuṃ sukaram eva te //

4.2.38.p1

% - - v - v - - v % A pathyā, pādas compounded?
% - v - - v -| v| - % B correct
% - v -| - v - - -| % C pathyā
% - -| v v v| - v| - % D correct
[-yuktāspadaṃ em. for -muktāspadaṃ]

4.2.39

tataḥ saṃbhūya yuddhāya kṛtabuddhiṣu teṣu ca /
pitaraṃ tam uvācaivaṃ dhīro jīmūtavāhanaḥ //

4.2.40

yathā śarīram evedaṃ jalabudbudasaṃnibham /
pravātadīpacapalās tathā kasya kṛte śriyaḥ //

4.2.41

tā apy anyopamardena manasvī ko 'bhivāñchati /
tasmāt tata mayā naiva yoddhavyaṃ gotrajaiḥ saha //

4.2.42

rājyaṃ tyaktvā tu gantavyam itaḥ kvāpi vanaṃ mayā /
āsatāṃ kṛpaṇā ete mā bhūt svakulasaṃkṣayaḥ //

4.2.43

ity uktavantaṃ jīmūtavāhanaṃ sa pitā tataḥ /
jīmūtaketur apy evaṃ jagāda kṛtaniścayaḥ //

4.2.44

mayāpi putra gantavyaṃ kā hi vṛddhasya me spṛhā /
rājye tṛṇa iva tyakte yūnāpi kṛpayā tvayā //

4.2.45

evam uktavatā sākaṃ sabhāryeṇa tatheti saḥ /
pitrā jagāma jīmūtavāhano malayācalam //

4.2.46

tatrādhivāse siddhānāṃ candanacchannanirjhare /
sa tasthāv āśramapade paricaryāparaḥ pituḥ //

4.2.47

atha siddhādhirājasya vaśī viśvāvasoḥ sutaḥ /
mittraṃ mittrāvasur nāma tasyātra samapadyata //

4.2.48

tatsvasāraṃ ca so 'paśyad ekānte jātu kanyakām /
janmāntarapriyatamāṃ jñānī jīmūtavāhanaḥ //

4.2.49

tatkālaṃ ca tayos tulyaṃ yūnor anyonyadarśanam /
abhūn manomṛgāmandavāgurābandhasaṃnibham //

4.2.50

tato 'kasmāt samabhetya trijagatpūjyam ekadā /
jīmūtavāhanaṃ prītaḥ sa mittrāvasur abhyadhāt //

Then one day Mitrávasu came up suddenly to Jímútaváhana, who deserved the respect of the three worlds, with a pleased expression, and said to him, " I have a younger sister, the maiden called Malayavatí; I give her to you, do not refuse to gratify my wish." When Jímútaváhana heard that, he said to him, "O prince, she was my wife in a former birth, and in that life you became my friend, and were like a second heart to me. I am one who remembers the former state of existence, I recollect all that happened in my previous birth." When he said this, Mitrávasu said to him, " then tell me this story of your former birth, for I feel curiosity about it." When he heard this from Mitrávasu, the benevolent Jímútaváhana told him the tale of his former birth as follows: Story of Jímútaváhana's adventures in a former birth.:—Thus it is; formerly I was a sky-roaming Vidyádhara, and once on a time I was passing over a peak of the Himálaya. And then Śiva, who was below, sporting with Gaurí, being angry at my passing above him, cursed me, saying, " Descend into a mortal womb, and after obtaining a Vidyadharí for your wife, and appointing your son in your place, you shall remember your former birth, and again be born as a Vidyádhara." Having pronounced when this curse should end, Śiva ceased and disappeared; and soon after I was born upon earth in a family of merchants. And I grew up as the son of a rich merchant in a city named Vallabhí, and my name was Vasudatta.

4.2.51

kanyā malayavatyākhyā svasā me 'sti kanīyasī /
tām ahaṃ te prayacchāmi mamecchāṃ mānyathā kṛthāḥ //

4.2.52

tac chrutvaiva sa jīmūtavāhano 'pi jagāda tam /
yuvarāja mamābhūt sā bhāryā pūrve 'pi janmani //

4.2.53

tvaṃ ca tatraiva me jāto dvitīyaṃ hṛdayaṃ suhṛt /
jātismaro 'smy ahaṃ sarvaṃ pūrvajanma smarāmi tat //

4.2.54

ity uktavantaṃ tatkālaṃ mittrāvasur uvāca tam /
janmāntarakathāṃ tāvac chaṃsaitāṃ kautukaṃ hi me //

4.2.55

etan mittrāvasoḥ śrutvā tasmai jīmūtavāhanaḥ /
sukṛtī kathayām āsa pūrvajanmakathām imām //

4.2.56

asti pūrvam ahaṃ vyomacārī vidyādharo 'bhavam /
himavacchṛṅgamārgeṇa gato 'bhūvaṃ kadācana //

4.2.57

tataś cādhaḥ sthitas tatra krīḍan gauryā samaṃ haraḥ /
śaśāpollaṅghanakruddho martyayonau pateti mām //

4.2.58

prāpya vidyādharīṃ bhāryāṃ niyojya svapade sutam /
punar vaidyādharīṃ yoniṃ smṛtajātiḥ prapatsyase //

4.2.59

evaṃ niśamya śāpāntam uktvā śarve tirohite /
acireṇaiva jāto 'haṃ bhūtale vaṇijāṃ kule //

4.2.60

nagaryāṃ valabhīnāmnyāṃ mahādhanavaṇiksutaḥ /
vasudattābhidhānaḥ san vṛddhiṃ ca gatavān aham //

4.2.61

kālena yauvanasthaś ca pitrā kṛtaparicchadaḥ /
dvīpāntaraṃ gato 'bhūvaṃ vaṇijyāyai tadājñayā //

And in course of time, when I became a young man, I had a retinue given me by my father, and went by his orders to another land to traffic. As I -was going along, robbers fell upon me in a forest, and after taking all my property, led me in chains to a temple of Durgá in their village, terrible with a long waving banner of red silk like the tongue of Death eager to devour the lives of animals. There they brought me into the presence of their chief named Pulindaka, who was engaged in worshipping the goddess, in order that I might serve as a victim. He, though he was a Śavara, the moment he saw me, felt his heart melt with pity for me; an apparently causeless affectionate movement of the heart is a sign of friendship in a former birth. Then that Śavara king, having saved me from slaughter, was about to complete the rite by the sacrifice of himself, when a heavenly voice said to him— " Do not act thus, I am pleased with thee, crave a boon of me,"— thereupon he was delighted, and said— " O goddess, thou art pleased; what other blessing can I need, nevertheless I ask so much— may I have friendship with this merchant's son in another birth also." The voice said— " So be it," and then ceased, and then that Śavara gave me much wealth, and sent me back to my own home. And then, as I had returned from foreign travel and from the jaws of death, my father when he heard the whole occurrence, made a great feast in my honour.

4.2.62

āgacchantaṃ tato 'ṭavyāṃ taskarā vinipatya mām /
hṛtasvam anayan baddhvā svapallīṃ caṇḍikāgṛham //

4.2.63

viloladīrghayā ghoraṃ raktāṃśukapatākayā /
jighatsataḥ paśuprāṇān kṛtāntasyeva jihvayā //

4.2.64

tatrāham upahārārtham upanīto nijasya taiḥ /
prabhoḥ pulindakākhyasya devīṃ pūjayato 'ntikam //

4.2.65

sa dṛṣṭvaivārdrahṛdayaḥ śabaro 'py abhavan mayi /
vakti janmāntaraprītiṃ manaḥ snihyad akāraṇam //

4.2.66

tato māṃ mocayitvaiva vadhāt sa śabarādhipaḥ /
aicchad ātmopahāreṇa kartuṃ pūjāsamāpanam //

4.2.67

maivaṃ kṛthāḥ prasannāsmi tava yācasva māṃ varam /
ity ukto divyayā vācā prahṛṣṭaś ca jagāda saḥ //

4.2.68

tvaṃ prasannā varaḥ ko 'nyas tathāpy etāvad arthaye /
janmāntare 'pi me sakhyam anena vaṇijāstv iti //

4.2.69

evam astv iti śāntāyāṃ vāci māṃ śabaro 'tha saḥ /
pradattasaviśeṣārthaṃ prajighāya nijaṃ gṛham //

4.2.70

mṛtyor mukhāt pravāsāc ca tataḥ pratyāgate mayi /
akaroj jñātavṛttāntaḥ pitā mama mahotsavam //

4.2.71

kālena tatra cāpaśyam ahaṃ sārthāvaluṇṭhanāt /
vaṣṭabhyānāyitaṃ rājñā tam eva śabarādhipam //

And in course of time I saw there that very same Śavara chief, whom the king had ordered to be brought before him as a prisoner for plundering a caravan. I told my father of it immediately, and making a petition to the king, 1 saved him from capital punishment by the payment of a hundred thousand gold-pieces. And having in this way repaid the benefit, which he conferred upon me by saving my life, I brought him to my house, and entertained him honourably for a long time with all loving attention. And then, after this hospitable entertainment, I dismissed him, and he went to his own village fixing upon me a heart tender with affection. Then, while he thought about a present for me that might be worthy of my return for his previous kindness, he came to the conclusion that the pearls and musk and treasures of that kind, which were at his disposal, were not valuable enough. Thereupon he took his bow and went off to the Himalaya to shoot elephants, in order to obtain a surpassingly splendid necklace for me. And while he was roaming about there, he reached a great lake with a temple upon its shore, being welcomed by its lotuses, which were as devoted to their friend as he was to me. And suspecting that the wild elephants would come there to drink water, he remained in concealment with his bow, in order to kill them. In the meanwhile he saw a young lady of wonderful beauty come riding upon a lion to worship Śiva, whose temple stood on the shore of the lake;

4.2.72

tatkṣaṇaṃ pitur āvedya vijñapya ca mahīpatim /
mocitaḥ svarṇalakṣeṇa sa mayā vadhanigrahāt //

4.2.73

prāṇadānopakārasya kṛtvaivaṃ pratyupakriyām /
ānīya ca gṛhaṃ prītyā pūrṇaṃ saṃmānitaś ciram //

4.2.74

satkṛtya preṣitaś cātha hṛdayaṃ premapeśalam /
nidhāya mayi pallīṃ svāṃ prāyāt sa śabarādhipaḥ //

4.2.75

tatra pratyupakārārthaṃ cintayan prābhṛtaṃ mama /
svalpaṃ sa mene svādhīnaṃ muktākastūrikādy api //

4.2.76

tataḥ sātiśayaṃ prāptuṃ muktāsāraṃ sa matkṛte /
dhanurdvitīyaḥ prayayau gajān hantuṃ himācalam //

4.2.77

bhramaṃś ca tatra tīrasthadevāgāraṃ mahat saraḥ /
prāpa tulyaiḥ kṛtaprītis tadabjair mittrarāgibhiḥ //

4.2.78

tatrāśaṅkyāmbupānārtham āgamaṃ vanyahastinām /
channaḥ sa tasthāv ekānte sacāpas tajjighāṃsayā //

4.2.79

tāvat tatra sarastīragataṃ pūjayituṃ haram /
āgatām adbhutākārāṃ kumārīṃ siṃhavāhanām //

4.2.80

sa dadarśa tuṣārādrirājaputrīm ivāparām /
paricaryāparāṃ śaṃbhoḥ kanyakābhāvavartinīm //

looking like a second daughter of the king of the snowy mountains, devoted to the service of Siva while in her girl-hood. And the Śavara, when he saw her, being overpowered with wonder, reflected—— " Who can this be? If she is a mortal woman, why does she ride upon a lion? On the other hand, if she is divine, how can she be seen by such as me? So she must certainly be the incarnate development of the merits of my eyes in a former birth. If I could only marry my friend to her, then I should have bestowed upon him a new and wonderful recompense. So I had better first approach her to question her." Thus reflecting, my friend the Śavara advanced to meet her. In the meanwhile she dismounted from the lion, that lay down in the shade, and advancing began to pick the lotuses of the lake. And seeing the Śavara, who was a stranger, coming towards her and bowing, out of a hospitable feeling she gratified him with a welcome. And she said to him " Who are you, and why have you come to this inaccessible land?" Thereupon the Śavara answered her, " I am a prince of the Śavaras, who regard the feet of Bhavání as my only refuge, and I am come to this wood to get pearls from the heads of elephants. But when I beheld you just now, O goddess, I called to mind my own friend that saved my life, the son of a merchant prince, the auspicious Vasudutta. For he, O fair one, is, like you, matchless for beauty and youth, a very fount of nectar to the eyes of this world.

4.2.81

dṛṣṭvā ca vismayākrāntaḥ śabaraḥ sa vyacintayat /
keyaṃ syād yadi martyastrī tat kathaṃ siṃhavāhanā //

4.2.82

atha divyā kathaṃ dṛśyā mādṛśais tad iyaṃ dhruvam /
cakṣuṣoḥ pūrvapuṇyānāṃ mūrtā pariṇatir mama //

4.2.83

anayā yadi mittraṃ taṃ yojayeyam ahaṃ tataḥ /
kāpy anyaiva mayā tasya kṛtā syāt pratyupakriyā //

4.2.84

tad etām upasarpāmi tāvaj jijñāsituṃ varam /
ity ālocya sa mittraṃ me śabaras tām upāyayau //

4.2.85

tāvac ca sāvatīryaiva siṃhāc chāyāniṣādinaḥ /
kanyāgatya saraḥ padmāny avacetuṃ pracakrame //

4.2.86

taṃ ca dṛṣṭvāntikaprāptaṃ śabaraṃ sā kṛtānatim /
apūrvam atithiprītyā svāgatenānvarañjayat //

4.2.87

kas tvaṃ kiṃ cāgato 'sy etāṃ bhūmim atyantadurgamām /
iti pṛṣṭavatīṃ tāṃ ca śabaraḥ pratyuvāca saḥ //

4.2.88

ahaṃ bhavānīpādaikaśaraṇaḥ śabarādhipaḥ /
āgato 'smi ca mātaṅgamuktāhetor idaṃ vanam //

4.2.89

tvāṃ ca dṛṣṭvādhunātmīyo devi prāṇapradaḥ suhṛt /
sārthavāhasutaḥ śrīmān vasudatto mayā smṛtaḥ //

4.2.90

sa hi tvam iva rūpeṇa yauvanena ca sundari /
advitīyo 'sya viśvasya nayanāmṛtanirjharaḥ //

4.2.91

sā dhanyā kanyakā loke yasyās teneha gṛhyate /
maittrīdānadayādhairyanidhinā kaṅkaṇī karaḥ //

Happy is that maiden in the world, whose braceleted hand is taken in this life by that treasure-house of friendship, generosity, compassion, and patience. And if this beautiful form of yours is not linked to such a man, then I cannot help grieving that Káma bears the bow in vain." By these words of the king of the hunters the mind of the maiden was suddenly carried away, as if by the syllables of the god of Love's bewildering spell. And prompted by love, she said to that Śavara, "Where is that friend of yours? Bring him here and shew him to me." When he heard that, he said— ' I will do so," and that moment the Śavara took leave of her and sot out on his journey in high spirits, considering his object attained. And after he had reached his village, he took with him pearls and musk, a weight sufficient for hundreds of heavily-laden porters, and came to our house. There he was honoured by all the inmates, and entering it, he offered to my father that present, which was worth much gold. And after that day and that night had been spent in feasting, he related to me in private the story of his interview with the maiden from the very commencement. And he said to me, who was all excitement, " Come, let us go there," and so the Śavara carried me off at night just as he pleased. And in the morning my father found that I had gone off somewhere with the Śavara prince, but feeling perfect confidence in his affection, he remained master of his feelings.

4.2.92

tat tvadākṛtir eṣā cet tādṛśena na yujyate /
vyarthaṃ vahati tat kāmaḥ kodaṇḍam iti me vyathā //

4.2.93

iti vyādhendravacanaiḥ sadyo 'pahṛtamānasā /
sābhūt kumārī kaṃdarpamohamantrākṣarair iva //

4.2.94

uvāca taṃ ca śabaraṃ preryamāṇā manobhuvā /
kva sa te suhṛd ānīya tāvan me darśyatām iti //

4.2.95

tac chrutvā ca tathety uktā tām āmantrya tadaiva saḥ /
kṛtārthamānī muditaḥ pratasthe śabaras tataḥ //

4.2.96

prāpya svapallīm ādāya muktāmṛgamadādikam /
bhūri bhāraśatair hāryam asmadgṛham athāyayau //

4.2.97

sarvaiḥ puraskṛtas tatra praviśya prābhṛtaṃ ca tat /
matpitre sa bahusvarṇalakṣamūlyaṃ nyavedayat //

4.2.98

utsavena ca yāte 'smin dine rātrau sa me rahaḥ /
kanyādarśanavṛttāntaṃ tam āmūlād avarṇayat //

4.2.99

ehi tatraiva gacchāva ity uktvā ca samutsukam /
mām ādāya niśi svairaṃ sa prāyāc chabarādhipaḥ //

4.2.100

prātaś ca māṃ gataṃ kvāpi buddhvā saśabarādhipam /
tatprītipratyayāt tasthau dhṛtim ālambya matpitā //

4.2.101

ahaṃ ca prāpito 'bhūvaṃ kramāt tena tarasvinā /
śabareṇa tuṣārādriṃ kṛtādhvaparikarmaṇā //

But I was conducted in course of time by that Śavara, who travelled fast, to the Himalaya, and he tended me carefully throughout the journey.

4.2.102

tac ca prāpya saraḥ sāyaṃ snātvā svāduphalāśanau /
ahaṃ ca sa ca tām ekāṃ vane tatroṣitau niśām //

And one evening we reached that lake, and bathed, and we remained that one night in the wood eating sweet fruits. That mountain wood, in which the creepers strewed the ground with flowers, and which was charming with the hum of bees, full of balmy gales, and with beautiful gleaming herbs for lamps, was like the chamber of Rati to repose in during the night for us two, who drank the water of the lake. Then, the next day that maiden came there, and at every step my mind, full of strange longings, flew to meet her, and her arrival was heralded by this my right eye, throbbing as if through eagerness to behold her.And that maid with lovely eyebrows was beheld by me, on the back of a knotty-maned lion, like a digit of the moon resting in the lap of an autumn cloud; and I cannot describe how my heart felt at that time while I gazed on her, being full of tumultuous emotions of astonishment, longing, and fear; then that maiden dismounted from the lion, and gathered flowers, and after bathing in the lake, worshipped Śiva who dwelt in the temple on its banks. And when the worship was ended, that Śavara, my friend, advanced towards her and announcing him self, bowed, and said to her who received him courteously; "Goddess, 1 have brought that friend of mine as a suitable bridegroom for you: if you think proper, I will shew him to you this moment." When she heard that, she said, " Shew him," and that Śavara came and took me near her and shewed me to her. She looked at me askance with an eye that shed love, and being overcome by Cupid's taking possession of her soul, said to that chieftain of the Śavaras; " This friend of yours is not a man, surely he is some god come here to deceive me to-day: how could a mortal have such a handsome shape?" When I heard that> I said myself to remove all doubt from her mind: " Fair one, I am in very truth a mortal, what is the use of employing fraud against one so honest as yourself, lady? For I am the son of a merchant named Mahádhanu that dwells in Vallabhí, and I was gained by my father by the blessing of Śiva. For ho, when performing austerities to please the god of the moony crest, in order that he might obtain a son, was thus commanded by the god in a dream being pleased with him; 'Rise up, there shall spring from thee a great-hearted son, and this is a great secret, what is the use of setting it forth at length?' After hearing this, he woke up, and in course of time I was born to him as a son, and I am known by the name of Vasudatta. And long ago, when I went to a foreign land, I obtained this Śavara chieftain for a chosen friend, who shewed himself a true helper in misfortune. This is a brief statement of the truth about me." When I had said this I ceased; and that maiden, with her face cast down from modesty, said— " It is so; to-day, I know, Śiva being propitiated deigned to tell me in a dream, after I had worshipped him,— ' To-morrow morning thou shalt obtain a husband:'— so you are my husband, and this friend of yours is ray brother." When she had delighted me by this nectar-like speech, she ceased; and after I had deliberated with her, I determined to go to my own house with my friend, in order that the marriage might be solemnized in due form. Then that fair one summoned by a sign of her own that lion, on which she rode, and said to me, " Mount it, my husband," then I, by the advice of my friend, mounted the lion, and taking that beloved one in my arms, I set out thence for my home, having obtained all my objects, riding on the lion with my beloved, guided by that friend. And living on the flesh of the deer that he killed with his arrows, we all reached in course of time the city of Vallabhi. Then the people, seeing me coining along with my beloved, riding on a lion, being astonished, ran and told that fact quickly to my father. He too came to meet me in his joy, and when lie saw me dismount from the lion and fall at his feet, he welcomed me with astonishment.

4.2.103

latābhiḥ kīrṇakusumaṃ bhṛṅgīsaṃgītasundaram /
śubhagandhavahaṃ hāri jvalitauṣadhidīpikam //

4.2.104

rates tad vāsaveśmeva viśrāntyai girikānanam /
āvayor abhavan naktaṃ pibatos tatsarojalam //

4.2.105

tato 'nyedyuḥ pratipadaṃ tattadutkalikābhṛtā /
pratyudgateva manasā mama tanmārgadhāvinā //

4.2.106

cakṣuṣā dakṣiṇenāpi sūcitāgamanāmunā /
didṛkṣayeva sphuratā sā kanyātrāgatābhavat //

4.2.107

saṭālasiṃhapṛṣṭhasthā subhrūr dṛṣṭā mayā ca sā /
śaradambhodharotsaṅgasaṅginīvendavī kalā //

4.2.108

vilasadvismayautsukyasādhvasaṃ paśyataś ca tām /
mamāvartata tatkālaṃ na jāne hṛdayaṃ katham //

4.2.109

athāvatīrya siṃhāt sā puṣpāṇy uccitya kanyakā /
snātvā sarasi tattīragataṃ haram apūjayat //

4.2.110

pūjāvasāne copetya sa sakhā śabaro mama /
praṇamyātmānam āvedya tām avocat kṛtādarām //

4.2.111

ānītaḥ sa mayā devi suhṛd yogyo varas tava /
manyase yadi tat tubhyaṃ darśayāmy adhunaiva tam //

4.2.112

tac chrutvā darśayety ukte tayā sa śabaras tataḥ /
āgatya nikaṭaṃ nītvā māṃ tasyāḥ samadarśayat //

4.2.113

sāpi māṃ tiryag ālokya cakṣuṣā praṇayasrutā /
madanāveśavaśagā śabareśaṃ tam abhyadhāt //

4.2.114

sakhā te mānuṣo nāyaṃ kāmaṃ ko 'py ayam āgataḥ /
madvañcanāya devo 'dya martyasyaiṣākṛtiḥ kutaḥ //

4.2.115

tad ākarṇyoktavān asmi tāṃ pratyāyayituṃ svayam /
satyaṃ sundari martyo 'haṃ kiṃ vyājenārjave jane //

4.2.116

ahaṃ hi sārthavāhasya valabhīvāsinaḥ sutaḥ /
mahādhanābhidhānasya maheśvaravarārjitaḥ //

4.2.117

tapasyan sa hi putrārtham uddiśya śaśiśekharam /
samādiśyata tenaivaṃ svapne devena tuṣyatā //

4.2.118

uttiṣṭhotpatsyate ko'pi mahātmā tanayas tava /
rahasyaṃ paramaṃ caitad alam uktvātra vistaram //

4.2.119

etac chrutvā prabuddhasya tasya kālena cātmajaḥ /
aham eṣa samutpanno vasudatta iti śrutaḥ //

4.2.120

ayaṃ ca śabarādhīśaḥ svayaṃvarasuhṛn mayā /
deśāntaragatena prākprāptaḥ kṛcchraikabāndhavaḥ //

4.2.121

eṣa me tattvasaṃkṣepa ity uktvā virate mayi /
ābhāṣatātha kanyā sa lajjayāvanatānanā //

4.2.122

asty etan māṃ ca jāne 'dya svapne 'rcitavatīṃ haraḥ /
prātaḥ prāpsyasi bhartāram iti tuṣṭaḥ kilādiśat //

4.2.123

tasmāt tvam eva me bhartā bhrātāyaṃ ca bhavatsuhṛt /
iti vāksudhayā sā mām ānandya viratābhavat //

4.2.124

saṃmantryātha tayā sākaṃ vivāhāya yathāvidhi /
akārṣaṃ niścayaṃ gantuṃ samittro 'haṃ nijaṃ gṛham //

4.2.125

tataḥ sā siṃham āhūya vāhanaṃ taṃ svasaṃjñayā /
atrārohāryaputreti mām abhāṣata sundarī //

4.2.126

athāhaṃ tena suhṛdānuyātaḥ śabareṇa tam /
siṃham āruhya dayitām utsaṅge tāṃ gṛhītavān //

4.2.127

tataḥ prasthitavān asmi kṛtakṛtyo nijaṃ gṛham /
kāntayā saha siṃhastho mitre tasmin puraḥsare //

4.2.128

tadīyaśaranirbhinnahariṇāmiṣavṛttayaḥ /
krameṇa te vayaṃ sarve saṃprāptā valabhīṃ purīm //

4.2.129

tatra mām āgataṃ dṛṣṭvā siṃhārūḍhaṃ savallabham /
sāścaryas tad drutaṃ gatvā mama pitre 'bravīj janaḥ //

4.2.130

so 'pi pratyudgato harṣād avatīrṇaṃ mṛgendrataḥ /
pādāvanamraṃ dṛṣṭvā mām abhyanandat savismayaḥ //

4.2.131

ananyasadṛśīṃ tāṃ ca kṛtapādābhivandanām /
paśyan mamocitāṃ bhāryāṃ na māti sma mudā kvacit //

4.2.132

praveśya mandiraṃ cāsmān vṛttāntaṃ paripṛcchya ca /
praśaṃsañ śabarādhīśasauhārdaṃ cotsavaṃ vyadhāt //

And when he saw that incomparable beauty adore his feet, and perceived that she was a fit wife for me, he could not contain himself for joy. So he entered the house, and after asking us about the circumstances, he made a great feast, praising the friendship of the Śavara chieftain. And the next day, by the appointment of the astrologers, I married that excellent maiden, and all my friends and relations assembled to witness our wedding. And that lion, on which my wife had ridden, having witnessed the marriage, suddenly before the eyes of all, assumed the form of a man. Then all the by-standers were bewildered thinking— " What can this mean?" But he, assuming heavenly garments and ornaments, thus addressed me: " I am a Vidyádhara named Chitrángada, and this maiden is my daughter Manovatí by name,dearer to me than life. I used to wander continually through the forest with her in my arms, and one day I reached the Ganges, on the banks of which are many ascetic groves. And as 1 was going along in the middle of the river, for fear of disturbing the ascetics, my garland by accident fell into its waters Then the hermit Nárada, who was under the water, suddenly rose up, and angry because the garland had fallen upon his back, cursed me in the following words: ' On account of this insolence, depart, wicked one, thou shalt become a lion, and repairing to the Himalaya, shalt carry this daughter upon thy back.

4.2.133

tato mauhūrtikādeśād anyedyur varakanyakā /
sā mayā pariṇītābhūn militākhilabandhunā //

4.2.134

tad ālokya ca so 'kasmān madvadhūvāhanas tadā /
siṃhaḥ sarveṣu paśyatsu saṃpannaḥ puruṣākṛtiḥ //

4.2.135

kim etad iti vibhrānte jane tatra sthite 'khile /
sa divyavastrābharaṇo naman mām evam abravīt //

4.2.136

ahaṃ citrāṅgado nāma vidyādhara iyaṃ ca me /
sutā manovatī nāma kanyā prāṇādhikapriyā //

4.2.137

etām aṅke sadā kṛtvā vipinena bhramann aham /
prāptavān ekadā gaṅgāṃ bhūritīratapovanām //

4.2.138

tapasvilaṅghanatrāsāt tasyā madhyena gacchataḥ /
apatan mama daivāc ca puṣpamālā tadambhasi //

4.2.139

tato 'kasmāt samutthāya nārado 'ntarjalasthitaḥ /
pṛṣṭhe tayā patitayā kruddho mām aśapan muniḥ //

4.2.140

auddhatyenāmunā pāpa gaccha siṃho bhaviṣyasi /
himācale gataś caitāṃ sutāṃ pṛṣṭhena vakṣyasi //

4.2.141

yadā ca mānuṣeṇaiṣā sutā te pariṇeṣyate /
tadā taddarśanād eva śāpād asmād vimokṣase //

And when thy daughter shall be taken in marriage by a mortal, then after witnessing the ceremony, thou shalt be freed from this curse.' After being cursed in these words by the hermit, I became a lion, and dwelt on the Himalaya carrying about this daughter of mine, who is devoted to the worship of Śiva. And you know well the sequel of the story, how by the exertions of the Śavara chieftain this highly auspicious event has been brought about. So I shall now depart; good luck to you all! I have now reached the termination of that curse." Having said this, that Vidyádhara immediately flew up into the sky. Then my father, overwhelmed with astonishment at the marvel, delighted at the eligible connection, and finding that his friends and relations were overjoyed, made a great feast. And there was not a single person who did not say with astonishment, reflecting again and again on that noble behaviour of the Śavara chieftain— " Who can imagine the actions of sincere friends, who are not even satisfied when they have bestowed on their sworn brothers the gift of life?" The king of the land too, hearing of that occurrence, was exceedingly pleased with the affection which the Śavara prince had shown me, -ind finding he was pleased, my father gave him a present of jewels, and so induced him immediately to bestow on the Śavara a vast forest territory.

4.2.142

ity ahaṃ muninā śaptaḥ siṃhībhūya himācale /
atiṣṭhaṃ tanayām etāṃ harapūjāparāṃ vahan //

4.2.143

anantaraṃ yathā yatnāc chabarādhipater idam /
saṃpannaṃ sarvakalyāṇaṃ tathā viditam eva te //

4.2.144

tat sādhayāmi bhadraṃ vas tīrṇaḥ śāpo mayaiṣa saḥ /
ity uktvā so 'bhyudapatat sadyo vidyādharo nabhaḥ //

4.2.145

tatas tadvismayākrānto nandatsvajanabāndhavaḥ /
ślāghyasaṃbandhahṛṣṭo me pitākārṣīn mahotsavam //

4.2.146

ko hi nirvyājamittrāṇāṃ caritaṃ cintayiṣyati /
suhṛtsu naiva tṛpyanti prāṇair apy upakṛtya ye //

4.2.147

iti cātra na ko nāma sacamatkāram abhyadhāt /
dhyāyan dhyāyann udāraṃ tac chabarādhipaceṣṭitam //

4.2.148

rājāpi tat tathā buddhvā tatratyas tasya sanmateḥ /
atuṣyad asmatsnehena śabarādhipateḥ param //

4.2.149

tuṣṭaś ca tasmai matpitrā dāpitaḥ sahasaiva ca /
aśeṣam aṭavīrājyaṃ ratnopāyanadāyinā //

4.2.150

tatas tayā manovatyā patnyā mittreṇa tena ca /
kṛtārthaḥ śabarendreṇa tatrātiṣṭham ahaṃ sukhī //

Then I remained there in happiness, considering myself to have attained all that heart could wish, in having Manovatí for a wife, and the Śavara prince for a friend. And that Śavara chieftain generally lived in my house finding that he took less pleasure in dwelling in his own country than he formerly did. And the time of us two friends, of him and me, was spent in continually conferring benefits upon one another without our ever being satisfied. And not long after I had a son born to me by Manovatí, who seemed like the heart-joy of the whole family in external visible form; and being called Hiranyadatta he gradually grew up, and after having instructed, he was married. Then my father having witnessed that, considering that the object of his life had been accomplished, being old, went to the Ganges with his wife to leave the body. Then I was afflicted by my father's death, but having been at last persuaded by my relations to control my feelings, I consented to uphold the burden of the family. And at that time on the one hand the sight of the beautiful face of Manovatí, and on the other the society of the Śavara prince delighted me. Accordingly those days of mine passed, joyous from the goodness of son, charming from the excellence of my wife, happy from the society of my friend.

4.2.151

sa ca ślathīkṛtātmīyadeśavāsarasas tataḥ /
bhūyasāsmadgṛheṣv eva nyavasac chabarādhipaḥ //

4.2.152

parasparopakāreṣu sarvakālam atṛptayoḥ /
sa dvayor agamat kālo mama tasya ca mittrayoḥ //

4.2.153

acirāc ca manovatyāṃ tasyām ajani me sutaḥ /
bahiṣkṛtaḥ kulasyeva kṛtsnasya hṛdayotsavaḥ //

4.2.154

hiraṇyadattanāmā ca sa śanair vṛddhim āyayau /
kṛtavidyo yathāvac ca pariṇīto 'bhavat tataḥ //

4.2.155

tad dṛṣṭvā jīvitaphalaṃ pūrṇaṃ matvā ca matpitā /
vṛddho bhāgīrathīṃ prāyāt sadāro deham ujjhitum //

4.2.156

tato 'haṃ pitṛśokārtaḥ kathaṃcid bāndhavair dhṛtim /
grāhito gṛhabhāraṃ svam udvoḍhuṃ pratipannavān //

4.2.157

tadā manovatīmugdhamukhadarśanam ekataḥ /
anyataḥ śabarendreṇa saṃgamo māṃ vyanodayat //

4.2.158

tataḥ satputrasānandāḥ sukalatramanoramāḥ /
suhṛtsamāgamasukhā gatās te divasā mama //

4.2.159

kālenātha pravṛddhaṃ mām agrahīc cibuke jarā /
kiṃ gṛhe 'dyāpi putreti prītyeva bruvatī hitam //

Then, in course of time, I became well-stricken in years, and old age seized me by the chin, as it were out of love giving me this wholesome reproach— " Why are you remaining in the house so long as this, my son?" Then disgust with the world was suddenly produced in my breast, and longing for the forest I appointed my son in my stead. And with my wife I went to the mountain of Kálinjara, together with the king of the Śavaras, who abandoned his kingdom out of love to me. And when I arrived there, I at once remembered that I had been a Vidyádhara in a former state of existence, and that the curse I had received from Śiva had come to an end. And I immediately told my wife Manovatí of that, and my friend the king of the Śavaras, as I was desirous of leaving this mortal body. I said " May I have this wife and this friend in a future birth, and may I remember this birth," and then I meditated on Śiva in my heart, and flung myself from that hill side, and so suddenly quitted the body together with that wife and friend. And so I have been now born, as you see, in this Vidyádhara family, under the name of Jímútaváhana, with a power of recollecting my former existence. And you, that prince of the Śavaras, have been also born again by the favour of Śiva, as Mitrávasu the son of Viśvávasu the king of the Siddhas. And, my friend, that Vidyádhara lady, my wife Manovatí, has been again born as your sister Malayavatí by name.

4.2.160

tenāhaṃ sahasotpannavairāgyas tanayaṃ nijam /
kuṭumbabhārodvahane vanaṃ vāñchann ayojayam //

4.2.161

sadāraś ca gato 'bhūvaṃ giriṃ kālañjaraṃ tataḥ /
matsnehatyaktarājyena samaṃ śabarabhūbhṛtā //

4.2.162

tatra prāptena cātmīyā jātir vaidyādharī mayā /
śāpaś ca prāptaparyantaḥ sa śārvaḥ sahasā smṛtaḥ //

4.2.163

tac ca patnyai manovatyai tadaivākhyātavān aham /
sakhye ca śabarendrāya mumukṣur mānuṣīṃ tanum //

4.2.164

bhāryāmittre ime eva bhūyāstāṃ smarato mama /
anyajanmany apīty uktvā hṛdi kṛtvā ca śaṃkaram //

4.2.165

mayā giritaṭāt tasmān nipatya prasabhaṃ tataḥ /
tābhyāṃ svapatnīmittrābhyāṃ saha muktaṃ śarīrakam //

4.2.166

so 'haṃ tataḥ samutpanno nāmnā jīmūtavāhanaḥ /
vidyādharakule 'muṣminn eṣa jātismaro 'dhunā //

4.2.167

sa cāpi śabarendras tvaṃ jāto mittrāvasuḥ punaḥ /
tryakṣaprasādāt siddhānāṃ rājño viśvāvasoḥ sutaḥ //

4.2.168

sāpi vidyādharī mittra mama bhāryā manovatī /
tava svasā samutpannā nāmnā valayavaty asau //

4.2.169

evaṃ me pūrvapatny eṣā bhaginī te bhavān api /
pūrvamittram ato yuktā pariṇetum asau mama //

So your sister is my former wife, and you were my friend in a former state of existence, therefore it is quite proper that I should marry her. But first go and tell this to my parents, for if the matter is referred to them, your desire will be successfully accomplished.

4.2.170

kiṃ tu pūrvam ito gatvā mama pitror nivedaya /
tayoḥ pramāṇīkṛtayoḥ śiddhyaty etat tavepsitam //

4.2.171

itthaṃ niśamya jīmūtavāhanāt prītamānasaḥ /
gatvā mittrāvasuḥ sarvaṃ tatpitṛbhyāṃ śaśaṃsa tat //

When Mitrávasu heard this from Jímútaváhana, he was pleased, and he went and told all that to the parents of Jímútaváhana. And when they received his proposal gladly, he was pleased, and went and told that same matter to his own parents. And they were delighted at the accomplishment of their desire, and so the prince quickly prepared for the marriage of his sister. Then Jímútaváhana, honoured by the king^ of the Siddhas, received according to usage the hand of Malayavatí. And there was a great festival, in which the heavenly minstrels bustled about, the dense crowd of the Siddhas assembled, and which was enlivened by bounding Vidyádharas. Then Jímútaváhana was married, and remained on that Malaya mountain 'with his wife in very great prosperity. And once on a time he went with his brother-in-law Mitrávasu to behold the woods on the shore of the sea. And there he saw a young man come in an agitated state, sending away his mother, who kept exclaiming ' Alas! my son! "And another man, who seemed to be a soldier, following him, conducted him to a broad and high slab of rock and left him there. Jímútaváhana said to him: " Who are you What are you about to do, and why does your mother weep for you?" Then the man told him his story.

4.2.172

abhinanditavākyaś ca tābhyāṃ hṛṣṭas tadaiva saḥ /
upagamya tam evārthaṃ svapitṛbhyāṃ nyavedayat //

4.2.173

tayor īpsitasaṃpattituṣṭayoḥ satvaraṃ ca saḥ /
yuvarājo vivāhāya saṃbhāram akarot svasuḥ //

4.2.174

tato jagrāha vidhivat tasyā jīmūtavāhanaḥ /
pāṇiṃ malayavatyāḥ sa siddharājapuraskṛtaḥ //

4.2.175

babhūva cotsavas tatra cañcaddyucaracāraṇaḥ /
saṃmilatsiddhasaṃghāto valgadvidyādharoddhuraḥ //

4.2.176

kṛtodvāhas tatas tasthau tasmiñ jīmūtavāhanaḥ /
malayādrau mahārheṇa vibhavena vadhūsakhaḥ //

4.2.177

ekadā ca śvaśuryeṇa sa mittrāvasunā saha /
velāvanāni jaladher avalokayituṃ yayau //

4.2.178

tatrāpaśyac ca puruṣaṃ yuvānaṃ vignam āgatam /
nivartayantaṃ jananīṃ hā putreti virāviṇīm //

4.2.179

apareṇa parityaktaṃ bhaṭenevānuyāyinā /
puruṣeṇa pṛthūttuṅgaṃ prāpayyaikaṃ śilātalam //

4.2.180

kas tvaṃ kim īhase kiṃ ca mātā tvāṃ śocatīti tam /
sa papraccha tataḥ so 'pi tasmai vṛttāntam abravīt //

4.2.181

purā kaśyapabhārye dve kadrūś ca vinatā tathā /
mithaḥ kathāprasaṅgena vivādaṃ kila cakratuḥ //

" Long ago Kadrú and Vinatá, the two wives of Kaśyapa,.had a dispute in the course of a conversation which they were carrying on. The former said that the Sun's horses were black, the latter that they were white, and they made an agreement that the one that was wrong should become a slave to the other. Then Kadrú, bent on winning, actually induced her sons, the snakes, to defile the horses of the Sun by spitting venom over them; and shewing them to Vinatá in that condition, she conquered her by a trick and made her her slave: terrible is the spite of women against each other! When Garuda the son of Vinatá heard of that, he came and tried to induce Kadrú by fair means to release Vinatá from her slavery; then the snakes, the sons of Kadrú, reflecting, said this to him; " O Garuda, the gods have began to churn the sea of milk, bring the nectar thence and give it to us as a substitute, and then take your mother away with you, for you are the chief of heroes.' When Garuda heard that, he went to the sea of milk, and displayed his great might in order to obtain the nectar. Then the god Vishnu pleased with his might deigned to say to him, ' I am pleased with thee, choose some boon.' Then Garuda, angry because his mother was made a slave, asked as a boon from Vishnu— ' May the snakes become my food.' Vishnu consented, and when Garuda had obtained the nectar by his own valour, he was thus addressed by Indra who had heard the whole story: 'King of birds, you must take steps to prevent the foolish snakes from consuming the nectar, and to enable me to take it away from them again.' When Garuda heard that, he agreed to do it, and elated by the boon of Vishnu, he went to the snakes with the vessel containing the nectar.

4.2.182

ādyā śyāmān raver aśvān avādīd aparā sitān /
anyonyadāsabhāvaṃ ca paṇam atra babandhatuḥ //

4.2.183

tato jayārthinī kadrūḥ svairaṃ nāgair nijātmajaiḥ /
viṣaphūtkāramalinān arkasyāśvān akārayat //

4.2.184

tādṛśāṃś copadarśyaitān vinatāṃ chadmanā jitām /
dāsīcakāra kaṣṭā hi strīṇām anyāsahiṣṇutā //

4.2.185

tad buddhvāgatya vinatātanayo garuḍas tadā /
sāntvena mātur dāsatvamuktiṃ kadrūm ayācata //

4.2.186

tataḥ kadrūsutā nāgā vicintyaivaṃ tam abruvat /
bho vainateya kṣīrābdhiḥ prārabdho mathituṃ suraiḥ //

4.2.187

tataḥ sudhāṃ samāhṛtya prativastu prayaccha naḥ /
mātaraṃ svīkuruṣvātha bhavān hi balināṃ varaḥ //

4.2.188

etan nāgavacaḥ śrutvā gatvā ca kṣīravāridhim /
sudhārthaṃ darśayām āsa garuḍo guru pauruṣam //

4.2.189

tataḥ parākramaprīto devas tatra svayaṃ hariḥ /
tuṣṭo 'smi te varaṃ kaṃcid vṛṇīṣvety ādideśa tam //

4.2.190

nāgā bhavantu me bhakṣyā iti so 'pi hares tataḥ /
vainateyo varaṃ vavre mātur dāsyena kopitaḥ //

4.2.191

tatheti hariṇādiṣṭo nijavīryārjitāmṛtaḥ /
sa caivam atha śakreṇa gadito jñātavastunā //

4.2.192

tathā pakṣīndra kāryaṃ te yathā mūḍhair na bhujyate /
nāgaiḥ sudhā yathā caināṃ tebhyaḥ pratyāharāmy aham //

4.2.193

etac chrutvā tathety uktvā sa vaiṣṇavavaroddhuraḥ /
sudhākalaśam ādāya tārkṣyo nāgān upāyayau //

4.2.194

varaprabhāvabhītāṃś ca mugdhān ārāj jagāda tān /
idam ānītam amṛtaṃ muktvāmbāṃ mama gṛhyatām //

And he said from a distance to those foolish snakes, who were terrified on account of the boon granted to him, " Here is the nectar brought by me, release my mother and take it; if you are afraid, I will put it for you on a bed of Darbha grass. When I have procured my mother's release, I will go; take the nectar thence." The snakes consented, and then he put the vessel of nectar on a pure bed of Kuśa grass,f and they let his mother go. So Garuda departed, having thus released his mother from slavery; but while the snakes were unsuspectingly taking the nectar, Indra suddenly swooped down, and bewildering them by his power, carried off the vessel of nectar from the bed of Kuśa grass. Then the snakes in despair lieked that bed of Darbha grass, thinking there might be a drop of spilt nectar on it; the effect was that their tongues were split, and they became double-tongued for nothing. What but ridicule can ever be the portion of the over-greedy? Then the snakes did not obtain the nectar of immortality, and their enemy Garuda, on the strength of Vishnu's boon, began to swoop down and" devour them. And this he did again and again. And while he was thus attacking them, the snakes in Pátála were dead with fear, the females miscarried, and the whole serpent race was well-nigh destroyed. And Vásuki the king of the snakes, seeing him there every day, considered that the serpent world was ruined at one blow: then, after reflecting, he preferred a petition to that Garuda of irresistible might, and made this agreement with him " I will send you every day one snake to eat, O king of birds, on the hill that rises out of the sand of the sea. But you must not act so foolishly as to enter Pátála, for by the destruction of the serpent world your own object will be baffled." When Vásuki said this to him, Garuda consented, and began to eat every day in this place one snake sent by him: and in this way innumerable serpents have met their death here. But I am a snake called Śankachúda, and it is my turn to-day: for that reason I have to-day, by the command of the king of the snakes, in order to furnish a meal to Garuda, come to this rock of execution, and to be lamented by my mother."

4.2.195

bhayaṃ cet sthāpayāmy etad ahaṃ vo darbhasaṃstare /
unmocyāmbāṃ ca gacchāmi svīkurudhvam itaḥ sudhām //

4.2.196

tathety ukte ca tair nāgaiḥ sa pavitre kuśāstare /
sudhākalaśam ādhatta te cāsya jananīṃ jahuḥ //

4.2.197

dāsyamuktāṃ ca kṛtvaivaṃ mātaraṃ garuḍe gate /
yāvad ādadate nāgā niḥśaṅkās tat kilāmṛtam //

4.2.198

tāvan nipatya sahasā tān vimohya svaśaktitaḥ /
taṃ sudhākalaśaṃ śakro jahāra kuśasaṃstarāt //

4.2.199

viṣaṇṇās te 'tha nāgās taṃ lilihur darbhasaṃstaram /
kadācid amṛtaścyotalepo 'py asmin bhaved iti //