Mahabharata 12.151: eka pañcāśadadhika śatatamo'dhyāyaḥ

12.151.1

bhīṣma uvāca |
evamuktvā tu rājendra śalmaliṃ brahmavittamaḥ |
nāradaḥ pavane sarvaṃ śalmalervākyamabravīt || 1 ||

"Bhishma continued, 'Having said these words unto the Salmali. that foremost of all persons conversant with Brahma, viz., Narada, represented unto the god of the wind all that the Salmali had said about him.'

"Bhishma continued, 'Having said these words unto the Salmali. that foremost of all persons conversant with Brahma, viz., Narada, represented unto the god of the wind all that the Salmali had said about him.'

"Narada said, 'There is a certain Salmali on the breast of Himavat, adorned with branches and leaves. His roots extend deep into the earth and his branches spread wide around. That tree, O god of the wind disregards thee. He spoke many words fraught with abuse of thyself. It is not proper, O Wind, that I should repeat them in thy hearing. I know, O Wind, that thou art the foremost of all created things. I know too that thou art a very superior and very mighty being, and that in wrath thou resemblest the Destroyer himself.'

"Bhishma continued, 'Hearing these words of Narada, the god of wind, wending to that Salmali, addressed him in rage and said as follows.'

"The Wind-god said, 'O Salmali, thou hast spoken in derogation of me before Narada. Know that I am the god of the wind. I shall certainly show thee my power and might. I know thee well. Thou art no stranger to me. The puissant Grandsire, while engaged in creating the world, had for a time rested under thee. It is in consequence of this incident that I have hitherto shown thee grace. O worst of trees, it is for this that thou standest unharmed, and not in consequence of thy own might. Thou regardest me lightly as if I were a vulgar thing. I shall show myself unto thee in such a way that thou mayst not again disregard me.'

"Bhishma continued, 'Thus addressed, the Salmali laughed in derision and replied, saying, 'O god of the wind, thou art angry with me. Do not forbear showing the extent of thy might. Do thou vomit all thy wrath upon me. By giving way to thy wrath, what wilt thou do to me? Even if thy might had, been thy own (instead of being derived), I would not still have been afraid of thee. I am superior to thee in might. I should not be afraid of thee. They are really strong in understanding. They, on the other hand, are not to be regarded strong that are possessed of only physical strength.' Thus addressed, the Wind-god said, 'Tomorrow I shall test thy strength.' After this, night came. The Salmali, concluding mentally what the extent is of the Wind's might and beholding his own self to be inferior to the god, began to say to himself, 'All that I said to Narada is false. I am certainly inferior in might to the Wind. Verity, he is strong in his strength. The Wind, as Narada said, is always mighty. Without doubt, I am weaker than other trees. But in intelligence no tree is my equal. Therefore, relying upon my intelligence I shall look at this fear that arises from the Wind. If the other trees in the forest all rely upon the same kind of intelligence, then, verily, no injury can result to them from the god of the Wind when he becomes angry. All of them. however, are destitute of understanding, and, therefore, they do not know, as I know, why or how the Wind succeeds in shaking and tearing them up.'"

12.151.2

himavatpṛṣṭhajaḥ kaścicchalmaliḥ parivāravān |
bṛhanmūlo bṛhacchākhaḥ sa tvāṃ vāyo'vamanyate || 2 ||

"Narada said, 'There is a certain Salmali on the breast of Himavat, adorned with branches and leaves. His roots extend deep into the earth and his branches spread wide around. That tree, O god of the wind disregards thee. He spoke many words fraught with abuse of thyself. It is not proper, O Wind, that I should repeat them in thy hearing. I know, O Wind, that thou art the foremost of all created things. I know too that thou art a very superior and very mighty being, and that in wrath thou resemblest the Destroyer himself.'

12.151.3

bahūnyākṣepayuktāni tvāmāha vacanāni saḥ |
na yuktāni mayā vāyo tāni vaktuṃ tvayi prabho || 3 ||

12.151.4

jānāmi tvāmahaṃ vāyo sarvaprāṇabhṛtāṃ varam |
variṣṭhaṃ ca gariṣṭhaṃ ca krodhe vaivasvataṃ yathā || 4 ||

12.151.5

evaṃ tu vacanaṃ śrutvā nāradasya samīraṇaḥ |
śalmaliṃ tamupāgamya kruddho vacanamabravīt || 5 ||

"Bhishma continued, 'Hearing these words of Narada, the god of wind, wending to that Salmali, addressed him in rage and said as follows.'

12.151.6

śalmale nārade yattattvayoktaṃ madvigarhaṇam |
ahaṃ vāyuḥ prabhāvaṃ te darśayāmyātmano balam || 6 ||

"The Wind-god said, 'O Salmali, thou hast spoken in derogation of me before Narada. Know that I am the god of the wind. I shall certainly show thee my power and might. I know thee well. Thou art no stranger to me. The puissant Grandsire, while engaged in creating the world, had for a time rested under thee. It is in consequence of this incident that I have hitherto shown thee grace. O worst of trees, it is for this that thou standest unharmed, and not in consequence of thy own might. Thou regardest me lightly as if I were a vulgar thing. I shall show myself unto thee in such a way that thou mayst not again disregard me.'

12.151.7

nāhaṃ tvā nābhijānāmi viditaścāsi me druma |
pitāmahaḥ prajāsarge tvayi viśrāntavānprabhuḥ || 7 ||

12.151.8

tasya viśramaṇādeva prasādo yaḥ kṛtastava |
rakṣyase tena durbuddhe nātmavīryāddrumādhama || 8 ||

12.151.9

yanmā tvamavajānīṣe yathānyaṃ prākṛtaṃ tathā |
darśayāmyeṣa ātmānaṃ yathā māmavabhotsyase || 9 ||

12.151.10

evamuktastataḥ prāha śalmaliḥ prahasanniva |
pavana tvaṃ vane kruddho darśayātmānamātmanā || 10 ||

"Bhishma continued, 'Thus addressed, the Salmali laughed in derision and replied, saying, 'O god of the wind, thou art angry with me. Do not forbear showing the extent of thy might. Do thou vomit all thy wrath upon me. By giving way to thy wrath, what wilt thou do to me? Even if thy might had, been thy own (instead of being derived), I would not still have been afraid of thee. I am superior to thee in might. I should not be afraid of thee. They are really strong in understanding. They, on the other hand, are not to be regarded strong that are possessed of only physical strength.' Thus addressed, the Wind-god said, 'Tomorrow I shall test thy strength.' After this, night came. The Salmali, concluding mentally what the extent is of the Wind's might and beholding his own self to be inferior to the god, began to say to himself, 'All that I said to Narada is false. I am certainly inferior in might to the Wind. Verity, he is strong in his strength. The Wind, as Narada said, is always mighty. Without doubt, I am weaker than other trees. But in intelligence no tree is my equal. Therefore, relying upon my intelligence I shall look at this fear that arises from the Wind. If the other trees in the forest all rely upon the same kind of intelligence, then, verily, no injury can result to them from the god of the Wind when he becomes angry. All of them. however, are destitute of understanding, and, therefore, they do not know, as I know, why or how the Wind succeeds in shaking and tearing them up.'"

12.151.11

mayi vai tyajyatāṃ krodhaḥ kiṃ me kruddhaḥ kariṣyasi |
na te bibhemi pavana yadyapi tvaṃ svayaṃprabhuḥ || 11 ||

12.151.12

ityevamuktaḥ pavanaḥ śva ityevābravīdvacaḥ |
darśayiṣyāmi te tejastato rātrirupāgamat || 12 ||

12.151.13

atha niścitya manasā śalmalirvātakāritam |
paśyamānastadātmānamasamaṃ mātariśvanaḥ || 13 ||

12.151.14

nārade yanmayā proktaṃ pavanaṃ prati tanmṛṣā |
asamartho hyahaṃ vāyorbalena balavānhi saḥ || 14 ||

12.151.15

māruto balavānnityaṃ yathainaṃ nārado'bravīt |
ahaṃ hi durbalo'nyebhyo vṛkṣebhyo nātra saṃśayaḥ || 15 ||

12.151.16

kiṃ tu buddhyā samo nāsti mama kaścidvanaspatiḥ |
tadahaṃ buddhimāsthāya bhayaṃ mokṣye samīraṇāt || 16 ||

12.151.17

yadi tāṃ buddhimāsthāya careyuḥ parṇino vane |
ariṣṭāḥ syuḥ sadā kruddhātpavanānnātra saṃśayaḥ || 17 ||

12.151.18

te'tra bālā na jānanti yathā nainānsamīraṇaḥ |
samīrayeta saṃkruddho yathā jānāmyahaṃ tathā || 18 ||

12.151.19

tato niścitya manasā śalmaliḥ kṣubhitastadā |
śākhāḥ skandhānpraśākhāśca svayameva vyaśātayat || 19 ||

"Bhishma said, 'Having settled this in his mind, the Salmali. in sorrow, himself caused all his branches, principal and subsidiary, to be cut off. Casting off his branches and leaves and flowers, at morn the tree looked steadily at the Wind, as he came towards him. Filled with rage and breathing hard, the Wind advanced, felling large trees, towards that spot where the Salmali stood. Beholding him divested of top and branches and leaves and flowers, the Wind, filled with joy, smilingly addressed that lord of the forest which had before such a gigantic appearance, these words.'

"Bhishma said, 'Having settled this in his mind, the Salmali. in sorrow, himself caused all his branches, principal and subsidiary, to be cut off. Casting off his branches and leaves and flowers, at morn the tree looked steadily at the Wind, as he came towards him. Filled with rage and breathing hard, the Wind advanced, felling large trees, towards that spot where the Salmali stood. Beholding him divested of top and branches and leaves and flowers, the Wind, filled with joy, smilingly addressed that lord of the forest which had before such a gigantic appearance, these words.'

"The Wind said, 'Filled with rage, O Salmali, I would have done to thee precisely what thou hast done to thyself by lopping off all thy branches. Thou art now divested of thy proud top and flowers, and thou art now without thy shoots and leaves. In consequence of thy own evil counsels, thou hast been brought under my power.'

"Bhishma continued, 'Hearing these words of the Wind, the Salmali felt great shame. Remembering also the words that Narada had said, he began to repent greatly for his folly. Even in this way, O tiger among kings, a weak and foolish person, by provoking the enmity of a powerful one, is at last obliged to repent like the Salmali in fable. Even when possessed of equal might, people do not suddenly wage hostilities with those that have injured them. On the other hand, they display their might gradually, O king! A person of foolish understanding should never provoke the hostility of one that is possessed of intelligence. In such cases the intelligence of the intelligent man penetrates (the subject upon which it is employed) like fire penetrating a heap of dry grass. Intelligence is the most precious possession that a person call have. Similarly, O king, a man can have nothing here more valuable than might. One should, therefore, overlook the wrongs inflicted by a person possessed of superior strength, even as one should overlook (from compassion) the acts of a child, and idiot, or one that is blind or deaf. The wisdom of this saying is witnessed in thy case, O slayer of foes. The eleven Akshauhinis (of Duryodhana), O thou of great splendour, and the seven (collected by thyself), were not, in might equal to the single-handed Arjuna of high soul. All the troops (of Duryodhana), therefore, were routed and slain by that illustrious Pandava, that son of Paka's chastiser, as he coursed on the field of battle, relying on his own strength. I have. O Bharata, discoursed to thee of the duties of kings and the morality of duties in detail. What else. O king, dost thou wish to hear!'"

12.151.20

sa parityajya śākhāśca patrāṇi kusumāni ca |
prabhāte vāyumāyāntaṃ pratyaikṣata vanaspatiḥ || 20 ||

12.151.21

tataḥ kruddhaḥ śvasanvāyuḥ pātayanvai mahādrumān |
ājagāmātha taṃ deśaṃ sthito yatra sa śalmaliḥ || 21 ||

12.151.22

taṃ hīnaparṇaṃ patitāgraśākhaṃ viśīrṇapuṣpaṃ prasamīkṣya vāyuḥ |
uvāca vākyaṃ smayamāna enaṃ mudā yutaṃ śalmaliṃ rugṇaśākham || 22 ||

12.151.23

ahamapyevameva tvāṃ kurvāṇaḥ śalmale ruṣā |
ātmanā yatkṛtaṃ kṛtsnaṃ śākhānāmapakarṣaṇam || 23 ||

"The Wind said, 'Filled with rage, O Salmali, I would have done to thee precisely what thou hast done to thyself by lopping off all thy branches. Thou art now divested of thy proud top and flowers, and thou art now without thy shoots and leaves. In consequence of thy own evil counsels, thou hast been brought under my power.'

12.151.24

hīnapuṣpāgraśākhastvaṃ śīrṇāṅkurapalāśavān |
ātmadurmantriteneha madvīryavaśago'bhavaḥ || 24 ||

12.151.25

etacchrutvā vaco vāyoḥ śalmalirvrīḍitastadā |
atapyata vacaḥ smṛtvā nārado yattadābravīt || 25 ||

"Bhishma continued, 'Hearing these words of the Wind, the Salmali felt great shame. Remembering also the words that Narada had said, he began to repent greatly for his folly. Even in this way, O tiger among kings, a weak and foolish person, by provoking the enmity of a powerful one, is at last obliged to repent like the Salmali in fable. Even when possessed of equal might, people do not suddenly wage hostilities with those that have injured them. On the other hand, they display their might gradually, O king! A person of foolish understanding should never provoke the hostility of one that is possessed of intelligence. In such cases the intelligence of the intelligent man penetrates (the subject upon which it is employed) like fire penetrating a heap of dry grass. Intelligence is the most precious possession that a person call have. Similarly, O king, a man can have nothing here more valuable than might. One should, therefore, overlook the wrongs inflicted by a person possessed of superior strength, even as one should overlook (from compassion) the acts of a child, and idiot, or one that is blind or deaf. The wisdom of this saying is witnessed in thy case, O slayer of foes. The eleven Akshauhinis (of Duryodhana), O thou of great splendour, and the seven (collected by thyself), were not, in might equal to the single-handed Arjuna of high soul. All the troops (of Duryodhana), therefore, were routed and slain by that illustrious Pandava, that son of Paka's chastiser, as he coursed on the field of battle, relying on his own strength. I have. O Bharata, discoursed to thee of the duties of kings and the morality of duties in detail. What else. O king, dost thou wish to hear!'"

12.151.26

evaṃ yo rājaśārdūla durbalaḥ sanbalīyasā |
vairamāsajjate bālastapyate śalmaliryathā || 26 ||

12.151.27

tasmādvairaṃ na kurvīta durbalo balavattaraiḥ |
śoceddhi vairaṃ kurvāṇo yathā vai śalmalistathā || 27 ||

12.151.28

na hi vairaṃ mahātmāno vivṛṇvantyapakāriṣu |
śanaiḥ śanairmahārāja darśayanti sma te balam || 28 ||

12.151.29

vairaṃ na kurvīta naro durbuddhirbuddhijīvinā |
buddhirbuddhimato yāti tūleṣviva hutāśanaḥ || 29 ||

12.151.30

na hi buddhyā samaṃ kiṃcidvidyate puruṣe nṛpa |
tathā balena rājendra na samo'stīti cintayet || 30 ||

12.151.31

tasmātkṣameta bālāya jaḍāya badhirāya ca |
balādhikāya rājendra taddṛṣṭaṃ tvayi śatruhan || 31 ||

12.151.32

akṣauhiṇyo daśaikā ca sapta caiva mahādyute |
balena na samā rājannarjunasya mahātmanaḥ || 32 ||

12.151.33

hatāstāścaiva bhagnāśca pāṇḍavena yaśasvinā |
caratā balamāsthāya pākaśāsaninā mṛdhe || 33 ||

12.151.34

uktāste rājadharmāśca āpaddharmāśca bhārata |
vistareṇa mahārāja kiṃ bhūyaḥ prabravīmi te || 34 ||