Simhasanadvatrimshika f7: Frame-story VII: The jealous king and the ungrateful prince, part 2

f7.p1

tadanantaram ekada rajakumara ākheṭārtham vanaṃ prati nirgataḥ. nirgamanasamaye 'paśakunam abhut. tad yathā.

f7.1

akālavṛṣṭis tv atha bhūmikampo,
nirghāta ulkāpatanaṃ tathai 'va,
ityādyaniṣṭāni tato babhūvur,
nivāraṇārthaṃ, suhṛdo vacaś ca. || 1 ||

An unseasonable rain, an earthquake, / a thunderstroke, and likewise the fall of a meteor— / these and other portents then occurred, / to dissuade him, as did the words of a friend. || 1

f7.p2

tasminn avasare mantriputreṇa buddhisāgareṇa bhaṇitam: bho jayapāla, adyā 'kheṭārthaṃ mā gaccha; mahad apaśakunaṃ dṛśyate. tato jayapālena bhaṇitam: bhavatv asyā 'paśakunasya pratītir adya nirīkṣaṇīyā. teno 'ktam: bho rājakumāra, buddhimatā puruṣeṇā 'niṣṭasyā 'paśakunasya pratyayo na draṣṭavyaḥ. uktaṃ ca:

f7.2

na viṣaṃ bhakṣayet prājño, na krīḍet pannagaiḥ saha;
na nindyād yogivṛndāni, brahmadveṣaṃ na kārayet. || 2 ||

A wise man should not swallow poison, nor play with serpents; / he should not revile assemblies of ascetics, nor harbor hostility toward brahmins. || 2

f7.p3

iti tena nivārito 'pi tadvacanam anādṛtya nirgato rājaputraḥ. punar nirgamanasamaye tena bhaṇitam: bho jayapāla, tava vināśakālaḥ samāgataḥ; anyathai 'vaṃ viparītabuddhir no 'tpadyate. tathā co 'ktam:

f7.3

na nirmitā kair, na ca dṛṣṭapūrvā,
na śrūyate hemamayī kuraṅgī;
tathā 'pi tṛṣṇā raghunandanasya;
vināśakāle viparītabuddhiḥ. || 3 ||

Never made by anyone, never seen before, / never heard of is a golden doe; / yet still Rāma desired it: / at the time of destruction, the intellect turns perverted. || 3

f7.p4

athavā, upārjitānāṃ karmaṇām upabhogaṃ vinā kathaṃ vināśaḥ syāt tathā co 'ktam:

f7.4

sadbhāvo nā 'sti veśyānāṃ, sthiratā nā 'sti saṃpadām,
viveko nā 'sti mūrkhāṇāṃ, vināśo nā 'sti karmaṇām. || 4 ||

There is no sincerity in courtesans, no stability in riches, / no discernment in fools, and no destruction of karma. || 4

f7.p5

tato rājakumāro vanaṃ gatvā bahūñ chvāpadān vyāpādya kṛṣṇasāraṃ dṛṣṭvā tadanugato mahad araṇyaṃ praviṣṭo yāvat paśyati, tāvat sarvo 'pi sainyavargaḥ svanagaramārge lagnaḥ. kṛṣṇasāro 'pi tatrai 'vā 'dṛśyo jātaḥ. svayam ekākī turagārūḍhaḥ puraḥ sarovaram adrākṣīt. tatrā 'śvād avatīrṇo vṛkṣaśākhāyām aśvaṃ nibadhya jalapānaṃ vidhāya yāvad vṛkṣachāyām upaviśati, tāvad atibhayaṃkaraḥ kaścid vyāghraḥ samāgataḥ. taṃ vyāghraṃ dṛṣṭvā 'śvaḥ palāyamāno nagaramārgam agamat. rājakumāro 'pi bhayād vepamānāṅgaḥ śākhām ālambya vṛkṣam ārūḍhaḥ. pūrvārūḍhaṃ bhallūkaṃ dṛṣṭvā punar atyantabhayaṃ prāptaḥ. tatas tena bhallūkena bhaṇitam: bho rājakumāra, mā bhaiṣīḥ; adya mama śaraṇāgatas tvam; atas tavā 'haṃ kimapy aniṣṭaṃ na kariṣyāmi. mayi viśvasya vyāghrād api na bhetavyam. rājakumāreṇa bhaṇitam: bho ṛkṣarāja, ahaṃ tava śaraṇāgato viśeṣato bhayabhītaḥ; ato mahat puṇyaṃ śaraṇāgatarakṣaṇena bhavati. uktaṃ ca:

f7.5

ekataḥ kratavaḥ sarve samagravaradakṣiṇāḥ,
ekato bhayabhītasya prāṇinaḥ prāṇarakṣaṇam. || 5 ||

"On the one side are all sacrificial rites with full and generous sacrificial fees; / on the other side is the saving of the life of a living being struck with fear." || 5

f7.p6

tathā bhallūkena samāśvāsito rājaputraḥ. vyāghro 'pi vṛkṣādhaḥ samāgataḥ. tataḥ sūryo 'py astaṃgataḥ. rātrāv atiśrānto rājaputro yāvan nidrāṃ yāti, tāvad bhallūkeno 'ktam: bho rājakumāra, tava nidrā samāyāti; tvaṃ vṛkṣādhaḥ patiṣyasi. tato 'grata ehi, mamā 'ṅke nidrāṃ kuru. evam ukto bhallūkasyā 'ṅke nidrāṃ gataḥ. tadā vyāghro vadati: bho bhallūka, ayaṃ grāmavāsī punar api mṛgayayā 'smān eva hantuṃ samāgataḥ; śatrubhūto 'yam aṅke kimarthaṃ niveśitaḥ? yato 'yaṃ mānuṣaḥ; uktaṃ ca:

f7.6

mānuṣeṣu kṛtaṃ nā 'sti tiryagyoniṣu yat kṛtam;
vyāghravānarasarpāṇāṃ bhāṣitaṃ na kṛtaṃ mayā. || 6 ||

"No gratitude exists among humans for what is done for them, as it does among beasts; / I did not heed the words of the tiger, the monkey, and the snake." || 6

f7.p7

tvayo 'pakṛto 'py apakāram eva kariṣyati. tasmād amum adhaḥ pātaya. aham enaṃ bhakṣayitvā sukhena gamiṣyāmi, tvam api nijāśramaṃ gaccha. tato bhallūkeno 'ktam: ayaṃ kīdṛśo vā bhavatu, paraṃ mama śaraṇāgataḥ; amuṃ na pātayāmi. śaraṇāgatamāraṇe mahat pātakaṃ. tathā co 'ktam:

f7.7

viśvāsaghātakāś cai 'va, śaraṇāgataghātakāḥ,
vasanti narake ghore yāvad ābhūtasaṃplavam. || 7 ||

"Betrayers of trust and killers of those who seek refuge / dwell in a terrible hell until the dissolution of the universe." || 7

f7.p8

tadanantaraṃ rājaputro vinidro jātaḥ. bhallūkeno 'ktam: bho rājakumāra, ahaṃ kṣaṇaṃ nidrāṃ kariṣyāmi, tvam apramattas tiṣṭha. teno 'ktam: tathā bhavatu. tato bhallūko rājaputrasamīpe nidrāṃ gataḥ. vyāghreṇo 'ktam: bho rājakumāra, tvam asya viśvāsaṃ mā kuru, yato 'yaṃ nakhāyudhaḥ. tathā co 'ktam:

f7.8

nadīnāṃ ca nakhināṃ ca śṛṅgiṇāṃ śastrapāṇinām
viśvāso nai 'va kartavyaḥ, strīṣu rājakuleṣu ca. || 8 ||

"Trust must never be placed in rivers, in clawed beasts, in horned animals, and in men with weapons in hand, / nor in women, nor in royal families." || 8

f7.p9

anyac ca: ayaṃ cañcalacitto drśyate; tasmād asya prasādo 'pi bhayaṃkaraḥ.

f7.9

kṣaṇe tuṣṭāḥ kṣaṇe ruṣṭā vituṣṭāś ca kṣaṇe-kṣaṇe,
avyavasthitacittānāṃ prasādo 'pi bhayaṃkaraḥ. || 9 ||

"Pleased in a moment, angered in a moment, displeased again at every instant— / even the favor of those whose minds are unstable is dangerous." || 9

f7.p10

tvāṃ matto rakṣayitvā svayam attum icchati. atas tvam eva bhallūkam adhaḥ pātaya; aham enaṃ bhakṣayitvā gamiṣyāmi; tvam api nijanagaraṃ gaccha. tac chrutvā rājaputro yāvad enam adhaḥ pātayati, tāvad bhallūko vṛkṣāt patann antaraśākhām anyām avalambitavān. rājaputro 'pi punas taṃ dṛṣṭvā bhayam āpa. tato bhallūko 'vadat: bhoḥ pāpiṣṭha, kimarthaṃ bibheṣi? yat purā 'rjitaṃ karma tat tvayā 'nubhoktavyam. atas tvaṃ sa se mi re 'ti vadan piśāco bhūtvā tatra paribhramaṅs tiṣṭha. tataḥ prabhātam āsīt; vyāghras tasmāt sthānān nirgataḥ. bhallūko 'pi rājakumāraṃ śaptvā nijasthanaṃ jagāma. rajakumaro 'pi sa se mi re 'ti vadan piśaco bhutvā vane paribhramati sma. tato rajaputrasya turamgamo rajaputreṇa śunyo nagaram agamat. rājaputrarahitam aśvaṃ dṛṣṭvā janā rajño 'gre kevalam āgatam aśvam ācakhyuḥ. tato rājā mantriṇam samāhuya bhaṇati. bho mantrin, yadā kumāro mṛgayārthaṃ vanaṃ prati nirgataḥ, tadā mahad apaśakunam āsīt kila; tathā 'pi tad ullaṅghya nirgataḥ. tasya pratyayo jāta eva. tenā 'rūḍho 'śvaḥ śūnyaḥ san vanād āgataḥ. atas tanmārgaṇārthaṃ vanaṃ prati gamiṣyāmaḥ. teno 'ktam: deva, tathā kartavyam. tato rājā mantribhiḥ parivāreṇa saha sa yena mārgeṇa gataḥ, tenai 'va mārgeṇa vanaṃ gataḥ. vanamadhye paribhramantaṃ sa se mi re 'ti vadantaṃ piśācībhūtaṃ putraṃ dṛṣṭvā mahāśokasāgare nimagnas tam ādāya svapuram agamat. tato maṇimantrauṣadhābhijñān ākārya taiś cikitsito 'pi na svastho babhūva. tasminn avasare rājñā mantriṇaṃ prati bhaṇitam: bho mantrin, asminn avasare śāradānandanas tiṣṭhati cet, tarhi kṣaṇamātreṇā 'muṃ cikitsati.

f7.p11

sa mayā vṛthā māritaḥ. anyac ca: puruṣeṇa yat kāryaṃ kriyate, tad vicāryai 'va kartavyam. anyathā param āpadāṃ padaṃ bhavati. uktaṃ ca:

f7.10

sahasā vidadhīta na kriyām; avivekaḥ param āpadāṃ padam;
vṛṇute hi vimṛśyakāriṇaṃ guṇalubdhāḥ svayam eva saṃpadaḥ. || 10 ||

"One should not perform an action rashly; lack of discernment is the highest abode of misfortunes. / For fortunes, eager for virtues, choose of their own accord one who acts with deliberation." || 10

f7.p12

tathā ca:

f7.11

aparīkṣya na kartavyaṃ, kartavyaṃ suparīkṣitam;
paścād bhavati saṃtāpo brāhmaṇīnakulaṃ yathā. || 11 ||

"One should not act without examination; action should be taken only after thorough examination. / Regret follows later, as in the case of the brahmin woman and the mongoose." || 11

f7.p13

kiṃ ca: tasminn avasare ko 'pi nivārayitā nā 'sīt. mantriṇo 'ktam: sa samayas tathai 'va sthitaḥ; bhavitavyatā yādṛśī, buddhir api tādṛśī jātā. uktaṃ ca:

f7.12

sā sā saṃpadyate buddhiḥ, sā matiḥ sā ca bhāvanā,
sahāyās tādṛśā jñeyā, yādṛśī bhavitavyatā. || 12 ||

Such and such intellect arises, such thought and such intention; / such companions are to be known [to appear], as is destiny. || 12

f7.13

na hi bhavati yan na bhāvyaṃ, bhavati ca bhāvyaṃ vinā 'pi yatnena;
karatalagatam api naśyati, yasya hi bhavitavyatā nā 'sti. || 13 ||

What is not destined does not happen, and what is destined happens even without effort; / even what has reached the palm of one's hand is lost for him for whom there is no destiny. || 13 ||'

f7.p14

rājño 'ktam: tat karmānusāreṇā 'bhūt. idānīm asya viṣaye mahān prayatnaḥ kartavyaḥ. mantriṇo 'ktam: katham? rājā 'bravīt: yaḥ ko 'pi rājaputrasya cikitsāṃ kariṣyati, tasyā 'rdhaṃ rājyaṃ dīyata iti grāme ghoṣo dāpayitavyaḥ. mantriṇā 'pi tathā kārayitvā svabhavanam āgatya śāradānandanasya purataḥ sarvo 'pi vṛttāntaḥ kathitaḥ. tat sarvaṃ śrutvā śāradānandanena bhaṇitam: bho mantrin, rājño 'gra evaṃ nirūpaya: mama kāpi kanyakā vartate, tasyā darśanam asya kāryam; sā kamapy upāyaṃ kariṣyati. tac chrutvā mantriṇā rājño 'gre tathai 'va kathitam. tato rājā sarvasabhāsahito mantrimandiram āgatyo 'paviṣṭaḥ. tadanantaraṃ rājaputro 'pi sa se mi re 'ti vadann upaviṣṭaḥ. tac chrutvā yavanikāntaḥsthitena śāradānandanena padyam abhāṇi: sadbhāvaṃ pratipannānāṃ vañcane kā vidagdhatā?

f7.14

aṅkam āruhya suptānāṃ hantuḥ kiṃ nāma pauruṣam? || 14 ||

What valour, indeed, is there in the killer of those who sleep having climbed into his lap? || 14 ||'

f7.p15

tat padyaṃ śrutvā rājaputreṇa caturṇām akṣarāṇāṃ madhya ekam akṣaraṃ parityaktam. punar dvitīyaṃ padyam apaṭhat:

f7.15

setuṃ gatvā samudrasya gaṅgāsāgarasaṃgame,
brahmahatyā pramucyeta, mitradrohī na mucyate. || 15 ||

Having gone to the ocean's bridge at the confluence of the Gaṅgā and the sea, / one may be freed from killing a brahmin, [but] a betrayer of a friend is not freed. || 15

f7.p16

tat padyaṃ śrutvā mi re 'ty uktavān, dve akṣare parityakte. tatas tṛtīyaṃ padyam apaṭhat:

f7.16

mitradrohī kṛtaghnaś ca yaś ca viśvāsaghātakaḥ,
trayas te narakaṃ yānti yāvac candradivākarau. || 16 ||

The betrayer of a friend, the ungrateful man, and whoever is a betrayer of trust— / these three go to hell as long as the moon and the sun endure. || 16

f7.p17

tata ekākṣaram apaṭhat. tadanantaraṃ caturthaṃ padyam apaṭhat:

f7.17

rājan bhos tava putrasya yadi kalyāṇam icchasi,
dehi dānaṃ dvijātibhyo; varṇānāṃ brāhmaṇo guruḥ. || 17 ||

O King, if you desire welfare for your son, / give gifts to the twice-born; the brahmin is the guru of the castes. || 17

f7.p18

evam uktavati śāradānandane rājaputraḥ svasthaḥ sāvadhānaś cā 'bhavat. tataḥ pituḥ purato bhallūkavṛttāntam akathayat. tac chrutvā rājñā śāradānandanaṃ prati bhaṇitam:

f7.18

grāme vasasi kalyāṇi aṭavyāṃ nai 'va gacchasi;
ṛkṣavyāghramanuṣyāṇāṃ kathaṃ jānāsi bhāṣitam? || 18 ||

You dwell in the village, auspicious one; you never go into the forest; / how do you know the speech of bears, tigers, and men? || 18

f7.p19

tadā yavanikāntare śāradānandanena bhaṇitam:

f7.19

devadvijaprasādena jihvāṃ vasati śāradā;
tenā 'ham avagacchāmi, bhānumatyā yathā 'ṅkakam. || 19 ||

By the grace of the gods and the twice-born, Śāradā dwells on my tongue; / by that I understand, just as [astrology] by Bhānumatī's horoscope. || 19

f7.p20

tad vacanaṃ śrutvā rājā sāścaryo bhūtvā yāvad yavanikām apakarṣati, tāvac chāradānandanaḥ pratyakṣeṇa dṛṣṭaḥ; rājaprabhṛtibhiḥ sarvair namaskrṭaḥ. tadā mantrinā pūrvavṛttāntaḥ kathitaḥ. tato rājā bahuśrutaṃ mantriṇam uvāca: bho mantrin, tava saṃsargeṇa mamā 'pakṛtir durgatiś ca gatā. ataḥ puruṣeṇa satāṃ saṃsargo vidheyaḥ; teno 'bhayam api prayojanaṃ bhavati. tathā hi: vārayati vartamānām āpadam āgāminīṃ ca satsevā, tṛṣṇāṃ ca harati pītaṃ gaṅgāyā durgatiṃ cā 'mbhaḥ. 20 anyac ca: mahataḥ kaṣṭāc ca mama putro rakṣitaḥ. rājñā satāṃ mahākulīnānāṃ bhavādṛśāṃ saṃgrahaḥ kartavyaḥ. uktaṃ ca: saṃgrahaṃ nākulīnasya sarpasye 'va karoti yaḥ, sa eva ślāghyate rājā samyaggārūḍiko yathā. 21 iti nānāprakāraiḥ stutikadambakair mantriṇaṃ stutvā vastrādinā saṃbhāvya rājā rājyam akarot.