The Great Epic of the Bhārata dynasty 12.349: ekonapañcāśadadhikatriśatatamo'dhyāyaḥ

12.349.1

bhīṣma uvāca |
sa pannagapatistatra prayayau brāhmaṇaṃ prati |
tameva manasā dhyāyankāryavattāṃ vicārayan || 1 ||

"Bhishma said, 'Having said these words unto his dear spouse, the chief of the Nagas proceeded to that place where the Brahmana was sitting in expectation of an interview with him. As he proceeded, he thought of the Brahman and wandered as to what the business could be that had brought him to the Naga city. Arrived at his presence, O chief of men, that foremost of Nagas devoted by his nature to righteousness, addressed his guest in sweet words, saying, O Brahmana do not yield to wrath. I address thee in peace. Do not be angry. After whom hast thou come hither? What is thy object? Coming to thee, I ask thee in affection, O regenerate one whom dost thou adore in this retired spot on the banks of the Gomati!'

12.349.2

tamabhikramya nāgendro matimānsa nareśvara |
provāca madhuraṃ vākyaṃ prakṛtyā dharmavatsalaḥ || 2 ||

12.349.3

bho bho kṣāmyābhibhāṣe tvāṃ na roṣaṃ kartumarhasi |
iha tvamabhisaṃprāptaḥ kasyārthe kiṃ prayojanam || 3 ||

12.349.4

ābhimukhyādabhikramya snehātpṛcchāmi te dvija |
vivikte gomatītīre kiṃ vā tvaṃ paryupāsase || 4 ||

12.349.5

brāhmaṇa uvāca |
dharmāraṇyaṃ hi māṃ viddhi nāgaṃ draṣṭumihāgatam |
padmanābhaṃ dvijaśreṣṭhaṃ tatra me kāryamāhitam || 5 ||

"The Brahmana said, 'Know that my name is Dharmaranya, and that I have come hither for obtaining a sight of the Naga Padmanabha, O foremost of all regenerate persons. With him I have some business. I have heard that he is not at home and that, therefore, I am not now near his present quarters. Like a Chataka waiting in expectation of the clouds, I am waiting for him whom I regard as dear to me. For dispelling all evil from him and bringing about what is beneficial to him, I am engaged in reciting the Vedas till he comes and am in Yoga and passing my time happily.'

12.349.6

tasya cāhamasāṃnidhyaṃ śrutavānasmi taṃ gatam |
svajanaṃ taṃ pratīkṣāmi parjanyamiva karṣakaḥ || 6 ||

12.349.7

tasya cākleśakaraṇaṃ svastikārasamāhitam |
vartayāmyayutaṃ brahma yogayukto nirāmayaḥ || 7 ||

12.349.8

nāga uvāca |
aho kalyāṇavṛttastvaṃ sādhu sajjanavatsalaḥ |
śravāḍhyastvaṃ mahābhāga paraṃ snehena paśyasi || 8 ||

"The Naga said, 'Verily, thy conduct is exceedingly good. Pious thou art and devoted to the good of all righteous persons. O highly blessed Brahmana, every praise is due to thee. Thou beholdest the Naga with eyes of affection. I am that Naga, O learned Rishi, whom thou seekest. Do thou command me, as thou wishest, in respect of what is agreeable to thee and what I should do for thee. Having heard from my spouse that thou art here, I have approached this spot, O regenerate one, for beholding thee. When thou hast come hither, thou art certain to return hence with thy object fulfilled. It behoveth thee, O foremost of regenerate persons, to employ me to any task with all confidence. All of us have certainly been purchased by thee with thy merits, since thou, disregarding what is for thy own good, hast employed thy time in seeking the good of ourselves.'

12.349.9

ahaṃ sa nāgo viprarṣe yathā māṃ vindate bhavān |
ājñāpaya yathā svairaṃ kiṃ karomi priyaṃ tava || 9 ||

12.349.10

bhavantaṃ svajanādasmi saṃprāptaṃ śrutavāniha |
atastvāṃ svayamevāhaṃ draṣṭumabhyāgato dvija || 10 ||

12.349.11

saṃprāptaśca bhavānadya kṛtārthaḥ pratiyāsyati |
visrabdho māṃ dvijaśreṣṭha viṣaye yoktumarhasi || 11 ||

12.349.12

vayaṃ hi bhavatā sarve guṇakrītā viśeṣataḥ |
yastvamātmahitaṃ tyaktvā māmevehānurudhyase || 12 ||

12.349.13

brāhmaṇa uvāca |
āgato'haṃ mahābhāga tava darśanalālasaḥ |
kaṃcidarthamanarthajñaḥ praṣṭukāmo bhujaṃgama || 13 ||

"The Brahmana said, 'O highly blessed Naga, I have come hither, moved by the desire of obtaining a sight of thee. I have come here, ignorant as I am with all things, for asking thee about something, O Naga, relying on the Jiva-soul, I desire to attain to the Supreme Soul which is the end of the Jiva-soul. I am neither attached to, nor dissociated from, the world. Thou shinest with the effulgence of thy own merits covered by pure fame,--with an effulgence that is as agreeable as that of the moon. O thou that livest on air alone, do thou first answer a question that I wish to put to thee. Afterwards I shall inform thee of the object that has brought me hither!'"

12.349.14

ahamātmānamātmastho mārgamāṇo''tmano hitam |
vāsārthinaṃ mahāprājña balavantamupāsmi ha || 14 ||

12.349.15

prakāśitastvaṃ svaguṇairyaśogarbhagabhastibhiḥ |
śaśāṅkakarasaṃsparśairhṛdyairātmaprakāśitaiḥ || 15 ||

12.349.16

tasya me praśnamutpannaṃ chindhi tvamanilāśana |
paścātkāryaṃ vadiṣyāmi śrotumarhati me bhavān || 16 ||