Hitopadesha · Chapter 1

tad eteṣām asmat-putrāṇāṃ nīti-śāstropadeśāya bhavantaḥ pramāṇam ity uktvā tasya viṣṇu-śarmaṇo kare bahumāna-puraḥsaraṃ putrān samarpitavān //
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i.
mitra-lābhaḥ
atha prāsāda-pṛṣṭhe sukhopaviṣṭānāṃ rājaputrāṇāṃ purastāt prastāva-krameṇa paṇḍito 'bravīt-bho rāja-putrāḥ śṛṇuta-
kāvya-śāstra-vinodena kālo gacchati dhīmatām |
vyasanena tu mūrkhāṇāṃ nidrayā kalahena vā

tad bhavatāṃ vinodāya kāka-kūrmādīnāṃ vicitrāṃ kathāṃ kathayiṣyāmi | rāja-putrair uktam-ārya ! kathyatāṃ | viṣṇu-śarmovāca-śṛṇuta yūyam | samprati mitra-lābhaḥ prastūyate | yasyāyam ādyaḥ ślokaḥ-
asādhanā vitta-hīnā buddhimantaḥ suhṛn-matāḥ |
sādhayanty āśu kāryāṇi kāka-kūrma-mṛgākhuvat

rājaputrā ūcuḥ-katham etat ?
so 'bravīt-asti godāvarī-tīre viśālaḥ śālmalī-taruḥ | tatra nānā-dig-deśād āgatya rātrau pakṣiṇo nivasanti | atha kadācid avasannāyāṃ rātrau astācala-cūḍāvalambini bhagavati kumudinī-nāyake candramasi | laghupatana-nāmā vāyasaḥ prabuddhaḥ kṛtāntam iva dvitīyam aṭantaṃ pāśa-hastaṃ vyāgham apaśyat | tam ālokyācintayat-adya prātar evāniṣṭa-darśanaṃ jātam | na jāne kim anabhimataṃ darśayiṣyati | ity uktvā tad anusaraṇa-krameṇa vyākulaś calati | yataḥ-
śoka-sthāna-sahasrāṇi bhaya-sthāna-śatāni ca |
divase divase mūḍham āviśanti na paṇḍitam

anyac ca-viṣayiṇām idam avaśyaṃ kartavyam |
utthāyotthāya boddhavyaṃ kim adya sukṛtaṃ kṛtam |
āyuṣaḥ khaṇḍam ādāya ravir astaṃ gamiṣyati

atha tena vyādhena taṇḍula-kaṇān vikīrya jālaṃ vistīrṇam | sa ca tatra pracchanno bhūtvā sthitaḥ | asminn eva kāle citragrīva-nāmā kapota-rājaḥ sa-parivāro viyati visarpaṃs taṇḍula-kaṇān avalokayāmāsa | tataḥ kapota-rājas taṇḍula-kaṇa-lubdhān kapotān prāha-kuto 'tra nirjane vane taṇḍula-kaṇānāṃ sambhavaḥ | tan nirūpyatāṃ tāvat | bhadram idaṃ na paśyāmi prāyeṇānena taṇḍula-kaṇa-lobhenāsmābhir api tathā bhavitavyam |
kaṅkaṇasya tu lobhena magnaḥ paṅke sudustare |
vṛddha-vyāghreṇa samprāptaḥ pathikaḥ sammṛtaḥ

kapotā ūcuḥ-katham etat ?
kathā 1
so 'bravīt-aham ekadā dakṣiṇāraṇye carann apaśyam eko vṛddho vyāghraḥ snātaḥ kuśa-hastaḥ saras-tīre brūte-bho bho panthāḥ ! idaṃ suvarṇa-kaṅkaṇaṃ gṛhyatām | tato lobhākṛṣṭena kenacit pānthena ālocitam-bhāgyena etat sambhavati | kintu asmin ātma-sandehe pravṛttir na vidheyā | yataḥ-
aniṣṭād iṣṭa-lābhe'pi na gatir jāyate śubhā |
yatrāste viṣa-saṃsargo 'mṛtaṃ tad api mṛtyave

kintu sarvatrārthārjana-pravṛttau sandeha eva | tathā coktam-
na saṃśayam anāruhya naro bhadrāṇi paśyati |
saṃśayaṃ punar āruhya yadi jīvati paśyati

tan nirūpayāmi tāvat | prakāśaṃ brūte | kutra tava kaṅkaṇam ? vyāghro hastaṃ prasārya darśayati | pāntho 'vadat-kathaṃ mārātmake tvayi viśvāsaḥ ?
vyāghra uvāca-śṛṇu re pāntha ! prāg eva yauvana-daśāyām aham atīva durvṛtta āsam | aneka-go-mānuṣāṇāṃ vadhād me putrā mṛtā dārāś ca | vaṃśa-hīnaś cāham | tataḥ kenacid dhārmikeṇāham upadiṣṭaḥ | dāna-dharmādikaṃ caratu bhavān iti | tad-upadeśādi-dānīm ahaṃ snāna-śīlo dātā vṛddho galita-nakha-dantaḥ na kathaṃ viśvāsa-bhūmiḥ ? uktaṃ ca-
ijyā'dhyayana-dānāni tapaḥ satyaṃ dhṛtiḥ kṣamā |
alobha iti mārgo 'yaṃ dharmasyāṣṭa-vidhaḥ smṛtaḥ

tatra pūrvaś caturvargo dambhārtham api sevyate |
uttaras tu caturvargo mahātmany eva tiṣṭhati

mama caitāvān lobha-virahaḥ | yena sva-hasta-stham api suvarṇa-kaṅkaṇaṃ yasmai kasmaicid dātum icchāmi tathāpi vyāghro mānuṣaṃ khādatīti lokāpavādo durnivāraḥ | yataḥ-
gatānugatiko lokaḥ kuṭṭanīm upadeśinīm |
pramāṇayati no dharme yathā goghnam api dvijam

mayā ca dharma-śāstrāṇi adhītāni | śṛṇu-
maru-sthalyāṃ yathā vṛṣṭiḥ kṣudhārte bhojanaṃ tathā |
daridre dīyate dānaṃ saphalaṃ pāṇḍu-nandana

prāṇā yathātmano 'bhīṣṭā bhūtānām api te tathā |
ātmaupamyena bhūtānāṃ dayāṃ kurvanti sādhavaḥ

aparaṃ ca-
pratyākhyāne ca dāne ca sukha-duḥkhe priyāpriye |
ātmaupamyena puruṣaḥ pramāṇam adhigacchati

anyac ca-
mātṛvat para-dāreṣu para-dravyeṣu loṣṭravat |
ātmavat sarva-bhūteṣu yaḥ paśyati sa paṇḍitaḥ

tvaṃ ca atīva-durgataḥ | tena tat tubhyaṃ dātuṃ sa-yatno 'ham | tathā coktam-
daridrān bhara kaunteya mā prayaccheśvare dhanam |
vyādhitasyauṣadhaṃ pathyaṃ nīrujasya kim auṣadhaiḥ

anyat ca-
dātavyam iti yad dānaṃ dīyate'nupakāriṇi |
deśe kāle ca pātre ca tad dānaṃ sāttvikaṃ viduḥ

tad atra sarasi snātvā suvarṇa-kaṅkaṇam idaṃ gṛhāṇa | tato yāvad asau tad-vacaḥ-pratīto lobhāt saraḥ snātuṃ praviṣṭaḥ, tāvan mahā-paṅke nimagnaḥ palāyitum akṣamaḥ | taṃ paṅke patitaṃ dṛṣṭvā vyāghro 'vadat-ahaha mahā-paṅke patito 'si | atas tvām aham utthāpayāmi | ity uktvā śanaiḥ śanair upagamya tena vyāghreṇa dhṛtaḥ sa pāntho 'cintayat-
na dharma-śāstraṃ paṭhatīti kāraṇaṃ
na cāpi vedādhyayanaṃ durātmanaḥ |
svabhāva evātra tathātiricyate
yathā prakṛtyā madhuraṃ gavāṃ payaḥ

kiṃ ca-
avaśendriya-cittānāṃ hasti-snānam iva kriyā |
durbhagābharaṇa-prāyo jñānaṃ bhāraḥ kriyāṃ vinā

tan mayā bhadraṃ na kṛtam | yad atra mārātmake viśvāsaḥ kṛtaḥ | tathā coktam-
nadīnāṃ śastra-pāṇīnāṃ nakhināṃ śṛṅgiṇāṃ tathā |
viśvāso naiva kartavyaḥ strīṣu rāja-kuleṣu ca

aparaṃ ca-
sarvasya hi parīkṣyante svabhāvā netare guṇāḥ |
atītya hi guṇān sarvān svabhāvo mūrdhni vartate

anyac ca-
sa hi gagana-vihārī kalmaṣa-dhvaṃsa-kārī
daśa-śata-kara-dhārī jyotiṣāṃ madhya-cārī |
vidhur api vidhi-yogād grasyate rāhuṇāsau
likhitam api lalāṭe projjhitaṃ kaḥ samarthaḥ

iti cintayann evāsau vyāghreṇa dhṛtvā vyāpāditaḥ khāditaś ca | ato 'haṃ bravīmi-kaṅkaṇasya tu lobhenety ādi | ata eva sarvathāvicāritaṃ karma na kartavyam iti | yataḥ-
sujīrṇam annaṃ suvicakṣaṇaḥ sutaḥ
suśāsitā strī nṛpatiḥ susevitaḥ |
sucintya coktaṃ suvicārya yat kṛtaṃ
sudīrgha-kāle'pi na yāti vikriyām

etad vacanaṃ śrutvā kaścit kapotaḥ sa-darpam āha-āḥ ! kim evam ucyate ?
vṛddhasya vacanaṃ grāhyam āpat-kāle hy upasthite |
sarvatraivaṃ vicāre ca bhojane'pi pravartatām

yataḥ-
śaṅkābhiḥ sarvam ākrāntam annaṃ pānaṃ ca bhūtale |
pravṛttiḥ kutra kartavyā jīvitavyaṃ kathaṃ na vā ?

yathā coktam-
īrṣyī ghṛṇī tv asantuṣṭaḥ krodhano nitya-śaṅkitaḥ |
para-bhāgyopajīvī ca ṣaḍ ete nitya-duḥkhitāḥ

etac chrutvā taṇḍul-kaṇa-lobhena nabho-maṇḍalād avatīryas arve kapotās tatropaviṣṭāḥ | yataḥ-
sumahānty api śāstrāṇi dhārayanto bahu-śrutāḥ |
chettāḥ saṃayānāṃ ca kliśyante lobha-mohitāḥ

anyac ca-
lobhāt krodhaḥ prabhavati lobhāt kāmaḥ prajāyate |
lobhān mohaś ca nāśaś ca lobhaḥ pāpasya kāraṇam

anyac ca-
asaṃbhavaṃ hema-mṛgasya janma
tathāpi rāmo lulubhe mṛgāya |
prāyaḥ samāpanna-vipatti-kāle
dhiyo 'pi puṃsāṃ malinā bhavanti

anantaraṃ te sarve jāla-nibaddhā babhūvuḥ, tato yasya vacanāt tatrāvalambitās taṃ sarve tiraskurvanti sma | yataḥ,
na gaṇasyāgrato gacchet siddhe kārye samaṃ phalam |
yadi kārya-vipattiḥ syān mukharas tatra hanyate

tasya tiraskāraṃ śrutvā citragrīva uvāca-nāyam asya doṣaḥ, yataḥ
āpadām āpatantīnāṃ hito 'py āyāti hetutām |
mātṛ-jaṅghā hi vatsasya stambhī-bhavati bandhane

anyac ca-
sa bandhur yo vipannānām āpad-uddharaṇa-kṣamaḥ |
na tu bhīta-paritrāṇa-vastūpālambha-paṇḍitaḥ

vipat-kāle vismaya eva kāpuruṣa-lakṣaṇam | tad atra dhairyam avalambya pratīkāraś cintyatām, yataḥ-
vipadi dhairyam athābhyudaye kṣamā
sadasi vākya-paṭutā yudhi vikramaḥ |
yaśasi cābhirucir vyasanaṃ śrutau
prakṛti-siddham idaṃ hi mahātmanām

sampadi yasya na harṣo vipadi viṣādo raṇe ca bhīrutvam |
taṃ bhuvana-traya-tilakaṃ janayati jananī sutaṃ viralam

anyac ca-
ṣaḍ-doṣāḥ puruṣeṇeha hātavyā bhūtim icchatā |
nidrā tandrā bhayaṃ krodha ālasyaṃ dīrgha-sūtratā

idānīm api evaṃ kriyatām-sarvair ekacittībhūya jālam ādāya uḍḍīyatām | yataḥ-
alpānām api vastūnāṃ saṃhatiḥ kārya-sādhikā |
tṛṇair guṇatvam āpannair badhyante matta-dantinaḥ

saṃhatiḥ śreyasī puṃsāṃ svakulair alpakair api |
tuṣeṇāpi parityaktā na prarohanti taṇḍulāḥ

iti vicitya pakṣiṇaḥ sarve jālam ādāya utpatitāḥ | anantaraṃ ca vyādhaḥ sudūrāj jālāpahārakāṃs tān avalokya paścād dhāvito 'cintayat-
saṃhatās tu haranty ete mama jālaṃ vihaṅgamāḥ |
yadā tu nipatiṣyanti vaśam eṣyanti me tadā

tatas teṣu cakṣur viṣayam atikrānteṣu pakṣiṣu sa vyādho nivṛttaḥ | atha lubdhakaṃ nivṛttaṃ dṛṣṭvā kapotā ūcuḥ-svāmin ! kim idānīṃ kartum ucitam ?
citragrīva uvāca-
mātā mitraṃ pitā ceti svabhāvāt tritayaṃ hitam | kārya-kāraṇataś cānye bhavanti hita-buddhayaḥ

tan me mitraṃ hiraṇyako nāma mūṣika-rājo gaṇḍakī-tīre citra-vane nivasati | so 'smākaṃ pāśāṃś chetsyati ity ālocya sarve hiraṇyaka-vivara-samīpaṃ gatāḥ | hiraṇyakaś ca sarvadā apāya-śaṅkayā śata-dvāraṃ vivaraṃ kṛtvā nivasati | tato hiraṇyakaḥ kapotāvapāta-bhayāc cakitaḥ tūṣṇīṃ sthitaḥ | citragrīva uvāca-sakhe hiraṇyaka ! katham asmān na sambhāṣase ?
tato hiraṇyakas tad-vacanaṃ pratyabhijñāya sa-sambhramaṃ bahir niḥsṛtya abravīt-āḥ ! puṇyavān asmi priya-suhṛn me citragrīvaḥ samāyātaḥ |
yasya mitreṇa sambhāṣo yasya mitreṇa saṃsthitiḥ |
yasya mitreṇa saṃlāpas tato nāstīha puṇyavān

atha pāśa-baddhāṃś caitān dṛṣṭvā sa-vismayaḥ kṣaṇaṃ sthitvā uvāca-sakhe ! kim etat ?
citragrīva uvāca-sakhe ! asmākaṃ prāktana-janma-karmaṇaḥ phalam etat |
yasmāc ca yena ca yathā ca yadā ca yac ca
yāvac ca yatra ca śubhāśubham ātma-karma |
tasmāc ca tena ca tathā ca tadā ca tac ca
tāvac ca tatra ca vidhātṛ-vaśād upaiti

rāga-śoka-parītāpa-bandhana-vyasanāni ca | ātmāparādha-vṛkṣāṇāṃ phalāny etāni dehinām

etac chrutvā hiraṇyakaś citragrīvasya bandhanaṃ chettuṃ satvaram upasarpati | tatra citragrīva uvāca-mitra ! mā maivaṃ kuru | prathamam asmad-āśritānām eteṣāṃ tāvat pāśāṃś chindhi | mama pāśaṃ paścāc chetsyasi |
hiraṇyako 'py āha-aham alpa-śaktiḥ | dantāś ca me komalāḥ | tad eteṣāṃ pāśāṃś chettuṃ kathaṃ samartho bhavāmi ? tat yāvan me dantā na truṭyanti, tāvat tava pāśaṃ chinadmi | tad-anantaram apy eteṣāṃ bandhanaṃ yāvat śakyaṃ chetsyāmi |
citragrīva uvāca-astv evam | tathāpi yathā-śakti bandhanam eteṣāṃ khaṇḍaya |
hiraṇyakenoktam-ātma-parityāgena yadāśritānāṃ parirakṣaṇaṃ tan na nīti-vedināṃ sammatam | yataḥ-
āpad-arthe dhanaṃ rakṣed dārān rakṣed dhanair api |
ātmānaṃ satataṃ rakṣed dārair api dhanair api

anyac ca--
dharmārtha-kāma-mokṣāṇāṃ prāṇāḥ saṃsthita-hetavaḥ |
tān nighnatā kiṃ na hataṃ rakṣatā kiṃ na rakṣitam

citragrīva uvāca-sakhe ! nītis tāvad īdṛśy eva, kintv aham asmad-āśritānāṃ duḥkhaṃ soḍhuṃ sarvathāsamarthas tenedaṃ bravīmi | yataḥ-
dhanāni jīvitaṃ caiva parārthe prājña utsṛjet |
sannimitte varaṃ tyāgo vināśe niyate sati

ayam aparaś cāsādhāraṇo hetuḥ |
jāti-dravya-balānāṃ ca sāmyam eṣāṃ mayā saha |
mat-prabhutva-phalaṃ brūhi kadā kiṃ tad bhaviṣyati

anyac ca-
vinā vartanam evaite na tyajanti mamāntikam |
tan me prāṇa-vyayenāpi jīvayaitān mamāśritān

kiṃ ca-
māṃsa-mūtra-purīṣāsthi-pūrite'tra kalevare |
vinaśvare vihāyāsthāṃ yaśaḥ pālaya mitra me

aparaṃ ca paśya-
yadi nityam anityena nirmalaṃ mala-vāhinā |
yaśaḥ kāyena labhyeta tan na labdhaṃ bhaven nu kim

yataḥ-
śarīrasya guṇānāṃ ca dūram atyantam antaram |
śarīraṃ kṣaṇa-vidhvaṃsi kalpānta-sthāyino guṇāḥ

ity ākarṇya hiraṇyakaḥ prahṛṣṭa-manāḥ pulakitaḥ san abravīt-sādhu mitra ! sādhu | anenāśrita-vātsalyena trailokyasyāpi prabhutvaṃ tvayi yujyate | evam uktvā tena sarveṣāṃ kapotānāṃ bandhanāni chinnāni | tato hiraṇyakaḥ sarvān sādaraṃ sampūjya āha-sakhe citragrīva ! sarvathātra jāla-bandhana-vidhau sati doṣam āśaṅkya ātmani avajñā na kartavyā | yataḥ-
yo 'dhikād yojana-śatān paśyatīhāmiṣaṃ khagaḥ |
sa eva prāpta-kālas tu pāśa-bandhaṃ na paśyati

aparaṃ ca-
śaśi-divākarayor graha-pīḍanaṃ
gaja-bhujaṅgamayor api bandhanam |
matimatāṃ ca vilokya daridratāṃ
vidhir aho balavān iti me matiḥ

anyac ca-
vyomaikānta-vihāriṇo 'pi vihagāḥ samprāpnuvanty āpadaṃ
badhyante nipuṇair agādha-salilān matsyāḥ samudrād api |
durnītaṃ kim ihāsti kiṃ sucaritaṃ kaḥ sthāna-lābhe guṇaḥ
kālo hi vyasana-prasārita-karo gṛhṇāti dūrād api

iti prabodhya ātithyaṃ kṛtvā āliṅgya ca tena sampreṣitaś citragrīvo 'pi saparivāro yatheṣṭa-deśān yayau, hiraṇyako 'pi sva-vivaraṃ praviṣṭaḥ |
yāni kāni ca mitrāṇi kartavyāni śatāni ca |
paśya mūṣika-mitreṇa kapotā mukta-bandhanāḥ

atha laghu-patanaka-nāmā kākaḥ sarva-vṛttānta-darśī sāścaryam idam āha-aho hiraṇyaka ! ślāghyo 'si, ato 'ham api tvayā saha maitrīṃ kartum icchāmi | atas tvaṃ māṃ maitryeṇānugrahītum arhasi | etac chrutvā hiraṇyako 'pi vivarābhyantarād āha-kas tvam ?
sa brūte-laghupatanaka-nāmā vāyaso 'ham | hiraṇyako vihasyāha-kā tvayā saha maitrī ? yataḥ-
yad yena yujyate loke budhas tat tena yojayet |
aham annaṃ bhavān bhoktā kathaṃ prītir bhaviṣyati

aparaṃ ca-
bhakṣya-bhakṣayoḥ prītir vipatteḥ kāraṇaṃ matam |
śṛgālāt pāśabaddho 'sau mṛgaḥ kākena rakṣitaḥ

vāyaso 'bravīt--katham etat ?
hiraṇyakaḥ kathayati-
kathā 2
asti magadha-deśe campakavatī nāma araṇyānī | tasyāṃ cirāt mahatā snehena mṛga-kākau nivasataḥ | sa ca mṛgaḥ svecchayā bhrāmyan hṛṣṭa-puṣṭāṅgaḥ kenacit śṛgālenāvalokitaḥ | taṃ dṛṣṭvā śṛgālo 'cintayat-āḥ ! katham etan-māṃsaṃ sulalitaṃ bhakṣayāmi ? bhavatu, viśvāsaṃ tāvad utpādayāmi ity ālocya upasṛtyābravīt-mitra ! kuśalaṃ te ?
mṛgeṇoktam-kas tvam ?
sa brūte-kṣudra-buddhi-nāmā jambuko 'ham | atrāraṇye bandhu-hīno mṛtavat ekākī nivasāmi | idānīṃ tvāṃ mitram āsādya punaḥ sa-bandhur jīva-lokaṃ praviṣṭo 'smi | adhunā tavānucareṇa mayā sarvathā bhavitavyam iti |
mṛgeṇoktam-evam astu |
tataḥ paścād astaṃ gate savitari bhagavati marīci-mālini tau mṛgasya vāsa-bhūmiṃ gatau | tatra campaka-vṛkṣa-śākhāyāṃ subuddhi-nāmā kāko mṛgasya cira-mitraṃ nivasati | tau dṛṣṭvā kāko 'vadat-sakhe citrāṅga ! ko 'yaṃ dvitīyaḥ ?
mṛgo brūte-mitra ! akasmād āgantunā saha maitrī na yuktā | tan na bhadram ācaritam | tathā coktam-
ajñāta-kula-śīlasya vāso deyo na kasyacit |
mārjārasya hi doṣeṇa hato gṛdhro jarad-gavaḥ

tau āhatuḥ--katham etat ?
kākaḥ kathayati-
kathā 3
asti bhāgīrathī-tīre gṛdhrakūṭa-nāmni parvate mahān parkaṭī-vṛkṣaḥ tasya koṭare daiva-durvipākāt galita-nakha-nayano jaradgava-nāmā gṛdhraḥ prativasati | atha kṛpayā taj-jīvanāya tad-vṛkṣa-vāsinaḥ pakṣiṇaḥ svāhārāt kiṃcit kiṃcid uddhṛtya tasmai dadati, tenāsau jīvati, teṣāṃ śāvaka-rakṣāṃ ca karoti | atha kadācit dīrghakarṇa-nāmā mārjāraḥ pakṣi-śāvakān bhakṣayituṃ tatrāgataḥ | tatas tam āyāntaṃ dṛṣṭvā pakṣi-śāvakair bhayārtaiḥ kolāhalaḥ kṛtaḥ | tac chrutvā jaradgavena uktam-ko 'yam āyāti ? dīrghakarṇo gṛdhram avalokya sa-bhayam āha-hā hato 'smi yato 'yaṃ māṃ vyāpādayiṣyati | athavā-
tāvad bhayasya bhetavyaṃ yāvad bhayam anāgatam |
āgataṃ tu bhayaṃ vīkṣya naraḥ kuryād yathocitam

adhunātisannidhāne palāyitum akṣamaḥ | tad yathā bhavitavyaṃ tathā bhavatu, tāvat viśvāsam utpādyāsya samīpam upagacchāmīty ālocya tam upasṛtyābravīt-ārya ! tvām abhivande |
gṛdhro 'vadat-kas tvam ?
so 'vadat-mārjāro 'ham |
gṛdhro brūte-dūram apasara no cet hantavyo 'si mayā |
mārjāro 'vadat-śrūyatāṃ tāvat mad-vacanam | tato yady ahaṃ vadhyas tadā hantavyaḥ | yataḥ -
jāti-mātreṇa kiṃ kaścid vadhyate pūjyate kvacit |
vyavahāraṃ parijñāya vadhyaḥ pūjyo 'thavā bhavet

gṛdhro brūte-brūhi kim artham āgato 'si ?
so 'vadat-aham atra gaṅgā-tīre nitya-snāyī nirāmiṣāśī brahmacārī cāndrāyaṇa-vratam ācaraṃs tiṣṭhāmi | yuṣmān dharma-jñāna-ratāḥ prema-viśvāsa-bhūmayaḥ iti pakṣiṇaḥ sarve sarvadā mamāgre prastuvanti, ato bhavadbhyo vidyāvayo-vṛddhebhyo dharmaṃ śrotum ihāgataḥ | bhavantaś caitādṛśā dharmajñāḥ, yan mām atithiṃ hantum udyatāḥ ? gṛhastha-dharmaś ca eṣaḥ -
arāv apy ucitaṃ kāryam ātithyaṃ gṛham āgate |
chettum apy āgate chāyāṃ nopasaṃharate drumaḥ

kiṃ ca-yadi annaṃ nāsti, tadā suprītenāpi vacasā tāvad atithiḥ pūjya eva |
tṛṇāni bhūmir udakaṃ vāk caturthī ca sūnṛtā |
etāny api satāṃ gehe nocchidyante kadācana

anyac ca-
bālo vā yadi vā vṛddho yuvā vā gṛham āgataḥ |
tasya pūjā vidhātavyā sarvasyābhyāgato guruḥ

aparaṃ ca-
nirguṇeṣv api sattveṣu dayāṃ kurvanti sādhavaḥ |
na hi saṃharate jyotsnāṃ candraś cāṇḍāla-veśmanaḥ

anyac ca-
atithir yasya bhagnāśo gṛhāt pratinivartate |
sa dattvā duṣkṛtaṃ tasmai puṇyam ādāya gacchati

anyac ca-
uttamasyāpi varṇasya nīco 'pi gṛham āgataḥ |
pūjanīyo yathā-yogyaṃ sarva-deva-mayo 'tithiḥ

gṛdhro 'vadat-mārjāro hi māṃsa-ruciḥ | pakṣi-śāvakāś cātra nivasanti | tenāham eva bravīmi | tac chrutvā mārjāro bhūmiṃ spṛṣṭvā karṇau spṛśati, brūte ca-mayā dharma-śāstraṃ śrutvā vīta-rāgenedaṃ duṣkaraṃ vrataṃ cāndrāyaṇam adhyavasitam | yataḥ parasparaṃ vivadamānānām api dharma-śāstrāṇām ahiṃsā paramo dharmaḥ ity atraikamatyam | yataḥ-
sarva-hiṃsā-nivṛttā ye narāḥ sarva-sahāś ca ye |
sarvasyāśraya-bhūtāś ca te narāḥ svarga-gāminaḥ

anyac ca-
eka eva suhṛd dharmo nidhane'py anuyāti yaḥ |
śarīreṇa samaṃ nāśaṃ sarvam anyad hi gacchati

kiṃ ca-
yo 'tti yasya yadā māṃsam ubhayoḥ paśyatāntaram |
ekasya kṣaṇikā prītir anyaḥ prāṇair vimucyate

api ca-
martavyam iti yad duḥkhaṃ puruṣasyopajāyate |
śakyas tenānumānena paro 'pi parirakṣitum

śṛṇu punaḥ-
svacchanda-vana-jātena śākenāpi prapūryate |
asya dagdhodarasyārthe kaḥ kuryāt pātakaṃ mahat

evaṃ viśvāsya sa mārjāras taru-koṭare sthitaḥ | tato dineṣu gacchatsu asau pakṣi-śāvakān ākramya sva-koṭaram ānīya pratyahaṃ khādati | atha yeṣām apatyāni khāditāni | taiḥ śokārtair vilapadbhir itas tato jijñāsā samārabdhā | tat parijñāya mārjāraḥ koṭarān niḥsṛtya bahiḥ palāyitaḥ | paścāt pakṣibhir itas tato nirūpayadbhis tatra taru-koṭare śāvakāḥ khāditā iti sarvaiḥ pakṣibhir niścitya ca gṛdhro vyāpāditaḥ | ato 'haṃ bravīmi-ajñāta-kula-śīlasya ity ādi |
--o)0(o--
ity ākarṇya sa jambukaḥ sa-kopam āha-mṛgasya prathama-darśana-dine bhavān api ajñāta-kula-śīla eva āsīt | tat kathaṃ bhavatā saha etasya snehānuvṛttir uttarottaraṃ vardhate ? athavā-
yatra vidvaj-jano nāsti ślāghyas tatrālpadhīr api |
nirasta-pādape deśe eraṇḍo 'pi drumāyate

anyac ca-
ayaṃ nijaḥ paro veti gaṇanā laghu-cetasām |
udāra-caritānāṃ tu vasudhaiva kuṭumbakam

yathā cāyaṃ mṛgo mama bandhus tathā bhavān api | mṛgo 'bravīt kamanena uttarottareṇa ? sarvair ekatra viśrambhālāpaiḥ sukham anubhavadbhiḥ sthīyatām | yataḥ-
na kaścit kasyacin mitraṃ na kaścit kasyacid ripuḥ |
vyavahāreṇa mitrāṇi jāyante ripavas tathā

kākena uktam-evam astu | atha prātaḥ sarve yathābhimata-deśaṃ gatāḥ | ekadā nibhṛtaṃ śṛgālo brūte-sakhe mṛga ! etasminn eva vanaika-deśe sasya-pūrṇaṃ kṣetram asti | tad ahaṃ tvāṃ tatra nītvā darśayāmi | tathā kṛte sati mṛgaḥ pratyahaṃ tatra gatvā sasyaṃ khādati | tato dina-katipayena kṣetra-patinā tad dṛṣṭvā pāśās tatra yojitāḥ | anantaraṃ punar āgato mṛgaḥ tatra caran pāśair baddho 'cintayat-ko mām itaḥ kāla-pāśād iva vyādha-pāśāt trātuṃ mitrād anyaḥ samarthaḥ ?
atrāntare jambukas tatrāgatya upasthito 'cintayat-phalitas tāvad asmākaṃ kapaṭa-prabandhaḥ | manoratha-siddhir api bāhulyān me bhaviṣyati | yataḥ etasya uktṛtyamānasya māṃsāsṛg-liptāni asthīni mayā avaśyaṃ prāptavyāni | tāni ca bāhulyena mama bhojanāni bhaviṣyanti | sa ca mṛgas taṃ dṛṣṭvā ullāsito brūte-sakhe ! chindhi tāvan mama bandhanam | satvaraṃ trāyasva mām | yataḥ-
āpatsu mitraṃ jānīyād raṇe śūraṃ ṛṇe śucim |
bhāryāṃ kṣīṇeṣu vitteṣu vyasaneṣu ca bāndhavān

aparaṃ ca-
utsave vyasane prāpte durbhikṣe śatru-saṅkaṭe |
rāja-dvāre śmaśāne ca yas tiṣṭhati sa bāndhavaḥ

jambukaḥ pāśaṃ muhur muhur vilokyācintayat-dṛḍhas tāvad ayaṃ bandhaḥ | brūte ca-sakhe ! snāyu-nirmitāḥ pāśāḥ, tad adya bhaṭṭāraka-vāre katham etān dantaiḥ spṛśāmi ? mitra ! yadi citte na anyathā manyase, tadā prabhāte yat tvayā vaktavyaṃ tat kartavyam iti | anantaraṃ sa kākaḥ pradoṣakā mṛgamanāgatam avalokya itas tato 'nviṣyan tathāvidhaṃ taṃ dṛṣṭvā uvāca-sakhe ! kim etat ? mṛgeṇoktam-avadhīrita-suhṛd-vākyasya phalam etat tathā coktam-
suhṛdāṃ hita-kāmānāṃ yaḥ śṛṇoti na bhāṣitam |
vipat sannihitā tasya sa naraḥ śatrunandanaḥ

kāko brūte-sa vañcakaḥ kvāste ?
mṛgeṇoktaṃ-man-māṃsārthī tiṣṭhaty atraiva |
kāko brūte-mitra ! uktam eva mayā pūrvam |
aparādho na me'stīti naitad viśvāsa-kāraṇam |
vidyate hi nṛśaṃsebhyo bhayaṃ guṇavatām api

dīpa-nirvāṇa-gandhaṃ ca suhṛd-vākyam arundhatīm |
na jighranti na śṛṇvanti na pśyanti gatāyuṣaḥ

parokṣe kārya-hantāraṃ pratyakṣe priya-vādinam |
varjayet tādṛśaṃ mitraṃ viṣa-kumbhaṃ payomukham

tataḥ kāko dīrghaṃ niḥśvasya uvāca-are vañcaka ! kiṃ tvayā pāpa-karmaṇā kṛtam | yataḥ-
saṃlāpitānāṃ madhurair vacobhir
mithyopacāraiś ca vaśīkṛtānām |
āśāvatāṃ śraddadhatāṃ ca loke
kim arthināṃ vañcayitavyam asti

anyac ca-
upakāriṇi viśrabdhe śuddha-matau yaḥ samācarati pāpam |
taṃ janam asatya-sandhaṃ bhagavati vasudhe kathaṃ vahasi

durjanena samaṃ sakhyaṃ vairaṃ cāpi na kārayet |
uṣṇo dahati cāṅgāraḥ śītaḥ kṛṣṇāyate karam

athavā sthitir iyaṃ durjanānām-
prāk pādayoḥ patati khādati pṛṣṭha-māṃsaṃ
karṇe phalaṃ kim api rauti śanair vicitram |
chidraṃ nirūpya sahasā praviśaty aśaṅkaḥ
sarvaṃ khalasya caritaṃ maśakaḥ karoti

tathā ca-
durjanaḥ priya-vādī ca naitad viśvāsa-kāraṇam |
madhu tiṣṭhati jihvāgre hṛdi hālāhalaṃ viṣam

atha prabhāte sa kṣetra-patir laguḍa-hastas taṃ pradeśam āgacchan kākenāvalokitaḥ | tam avalokya kākenoktam-sakhe mṛga ! tvam ātmānaṃ mṛtavat sandarśya vātenodaraṃ pūrayitvā pādān stabdhīkṛtya tiṣṭha | ahaṃ tava cakṣuṣī cañcvā kim api vilikhāmi, yadāhaṃ śabdaṃ karomi, tadā tvam utthāya satvaraṃ palāyiṣyase |
mṛgas tathaiva kāka-vacanena sthitaḥ | tataḥ kṣetra-patinā harṣotphulla-locanena tathāvidho mṛga ālokitaḥ | athāsau-āḥ ! svayaṃ mṛto 'si ? ity uktvā mṛgaṃ bandhanāt mocayitvā pāśān saṃvarītuṃ satvaro babhūva | tataḥ kiyad dūre antarite kṣetra-patau sa mṛgaḥ kākasya śabdaṃ śrutvā satvaram utthāya palāyitaḥ | tam uddiśya tena kṣetra-patinā prakopāt kṣiptena laguḍena śṛgālo vyāpāditaḥ | tathā coktam-
tribhir varṣais tribhir māsais tribhiḥ pakṣais tribhir dinaiḥ |
atyutkaṭaiḥ pāpa-puṇyair ihaiva phalam aśnute

ato 'haṃ bravīmi-bhakṣya-bhakṣyakayoḥ prītir ity ādi |
iti mṛga-vāyasa-śṛgāla-kathā
kākaḥ punar āha-
bhakṣitenāpi bhavatā nāhāro mama puṣkalaḥ |
tvayi jīvati jīvāmi citragrīva ivānagha

anyac ca-
tiraścām api viśvāso dṛṣṭaḥ puṇyaika-karmaṇām |
satāṃ hi sādhu-śīlatvāt svabhāvo na nivartate

kiṃ ca-
sādhoḥ prakopitasyāpi mano nāyāti vikriyām |
na hi tāpayituṃ śakyaṃ sāgarāmbhas tṛṇolkayā

hiraṇyako brūte-capalas tvam | capalena saha snehaḥ sarvathā na kartavyaḥ | tathā coktam-
mārjāro mahiṣo meṣaḥ kākaḥ kāpuruṣas tathā |
viśvāsāt prabhavanty ete viśvāsas tatra no hitaḥ

kiṃ cānyat-śatru-pakṣo bhavān asmākam | śatruṇā sandhir na vidheyam | uktaṃ caitat-
śatruṇā na hi sandadhyāt saṃśliṣṭenāpi sandhinā |
sutaptam api pānīyaṃ śamayaty eva pāvakam

durjanaḥ parihartavyo vidyayālaṅkṛto 'pi san |
maṇinā bhūṣitaḥ sarpaḥ kim asau na bhayaṅkaraḥ

yad aśakyaṃ na tac chaktyaṃ yac chaktyaṃ śakyam eva tat |
nodake śakaṭaṃ yāti na ca naur gacchati sthale

aparaṃ ca-
mahatāpy artha-sāreṇa yo viśvasiti śatruṣu |
bhāryāsu ca viraktāsu tad-antaṃ tasya jīvanam

laghu-patanako brūte-śrutaṃ mayā sarvaṃ, tathāpi mamaitāvan eva saṅkalpaḥ | yat tvayā saha sauhṛdyam avaśyaṃ karaṇīyam iti | anyathā anāhāreṇātmānaṃ tava dvāri vyāpādayiṣyāmīti | tathā hi-
mṛd-ghaṭavat sukha-bhedyo duḥsandhānaś ca durjano bhavati |
sujanas tu kanaka-ghaṭavad durbhedyaś cāśu sandheyaḥ

kiṃ ca-
dravatvāt sarva-lohānāṃ nimittād mṛga-pakṣiṇām |
bhayāl lobhāc ca mūrkhāṇāṃ saṅgataḥ darśanāt satām

kiṃ ca-
nārikela-samākārā dṛśyante hi suhṛjjanāḥ |
anye badarikākārā bahir eva manoharāḥ

anyac ca-
sneha-cchede'pi sādhūnāṃ guṇā nāyānti vikriyām |
bhaṅge'pi hi mṛṇālānām anubadhnanti tantavaḥ

anyac ca-
śucitvam tyāgitā śauryaṃ sāmānyaṃ sukha-duḥkhayoḥ |
dākṣiṇyaṃ cānuraktiś ca satyatā ca suhṛd-guṇāḥ

etair guṇair upeto bhavad=anyo mayā kaḥ suhṛt prāptavyaḥ ? ity ādi tad-vacanam ākarṇya hiraṇyako bahiḥ niḥsṛtyāha-āpyāyito 'haṃ bhavatām etena vacanāmṛtena | tathā coktam-
gharmārtaṃ na tathā suśītala-jalaiḥ snānaṃ na muktāvalī
na śrīkhaṇḍa-vilepanam sukhayati pratyaṅgam apy arpitam |
prītyai sajjana-bhāṣitaṃ prabhavati prāyo yathā cetasaḥ
sad-yuktyā ca pariṣkṛtaṃ sukṛtinām ākṛṣṭi-mantropamam

anyac ca-
rahasya-bhedo yācñā ca naiṣṭhuryaṃ cala-cittayā |
krodho niḥsatyatā dyūtam etan mitrasya dūṣaṇam

anena vacana-krameṇa tat ekam api dūṣaṇaṃ tvayi na lakṣyate | yataḥ-
paṭutvaṃ satyavāditvaṃ kathā-yogena buddhyate |
astabdhatvam acāpalyaṃ pratyakṣenāvagamyate

aparaṃ ca-
anyathaiva hi sauhārdaṃ bhavet svacchāntarātmanaḥ |
pravartate'nyathā vāṇī śāṭhyopahata-cetasaḥ

manasy anyad vacasy anyat karmaṇy anyad durātmanām |
manasy ekaṃ vacasy ekaṃ karmaṇy ekaṃ mahātmanām

tad bhavatu bhavataḥ abhimatam eva ity uktvā hiraṇyako maitryaṃ vidhāya bhojana-viśeṣair vāyasaṃ santoṣya vivaraṃ praviṣṭaḥ | vāyaso 'pi sva-sthānaṃ gataḥ tataḥ-prabhṛti tayoḥ anyo 'nyāhāra-pradānena kuśala-praśnaiḥ viśrambhālāpaiś ca kiyat-kālo 'tivartane | ekadā laghu-patanako hiraṇyakam āha-sakhe ! vāyasasya kaṣṭataralabhyāhāram idaṃ sthānam | tad etat parityajya sthānāntaraṃ gantum icchāmi |
hiraṇyako brūte-
sthāna-bhraṣṭā na śobhante dantāḥ keśā nakhā narāḥ |
iti vijñāya matimān sva-sthānaṃ na parityajet

kāko brūte-mitra ! kāpuruṣasya vacanam etat | yataḥ-
sthānam utsṛjya gacchanti siṃhāḥ sat-puruṣā gajāḥ |
tatraiva nidhanaṃ yānti kākāḥ kāpuruṣā mṛgāḥ

anyac ca-
ko vīrasya manasvinaḥ sva-viṣayaḥ ko vā videśaḥ smṛtaḥ
yaṃ deśaṃ śrayate tam eva kurute bāhu-pratāpārjitam |
yad daṃṣṭrānakha-lāṅgula-praharaṇaḥ siṃho vanaṃ gāhate
tasminn eva hata-dvipendra-rudhirais tṛṣṇāṃ chinnatty ātmanaḥ

hiraṇyako brūte-mitra kva gantavyam ? tathā coktam-
calaty ekena pādena tiṣṭhaty ekena buddhimān |
nāsamīkṣya paraṃ sthānaṃ pūrvam āyatanaṃ tyajet

vāyaso brūte-mitra ! asti sunirūpitaṃ sthānam |
hiraṇyako 'vadat-kiṃ tat ?
vāyasaḥ kathayati-asti daṇḍakāraṇye karpūragaurābhidhānaṃ saraḥ | tatra cira-kālopārjitaḥ priya-suhṛn me mantharābhidhānaḥ kūrmaḥ sahaja-dhārmikaḥ prativasati | paśya mitra !
paropadeśe pāṇḍityaṃ sarveṣāṃ sukaraṃ nṛṇām |
dharme svīyam anuṣṭhānaṃ kasyacit tu mahātmanaḥ

sa ca bhojana-viśeṣair māṃ saṃvardhayiṣyati | hiraṇyako 'py āha-tat kim atrāvasthāya mayā kartavyam ? yataḥ-
yasmin deśe na sammāno na vṛttir na ca bāndhavaḥ |
na ca vidyāgamaḥ kaścit taṃ deśaṃ parivarjayet

aparaṃ ca---
dhanikaḥ śrotriyo rājā nadī vaidyas tu pañcamaḥ |
pañca yatra na vidyante tatra vāsaṃ na kārayet

aparaṃ ca---
loka-yātrā bhayaṃ lajjā dākṣiṇyaṃ tyāga-śīlatā |
pañca yatra na vidyante na kuryāt tatra saṃsthitim

anyac ca-
tatra mitra ! na vastavyaṃ yatra nāsti catuṣṭayam |
ṛṇa-dātā ca vaidyaś ca śrotriyaḥ sajalā nadī

ato mām api tatra naya |
vāyaso 'vadat-evam astu |
atha vāyasas tena mitreṇa saha vicitrālāpa-sukhena tasya sarasaḥ samīpaṃ yayau | tato mantharo dūrād eva laghu-patanakam avalokya utthāya yathocitam ātithyaṃ vidhāya mūṣikasyāpy atithi-satkāraṃ cakāra | yataḥ-
bālo vā yadi vā vṛddho yuvā vā gṛham āgataḥ |
tasya pūjā vidhātavyā sarvatrābhyāgato guruḥ

tathā-
gurur agnir dvijātīnāṃ varṇānāṃ brāhmaṇo guruḥ |
patir eko guruḥ strīṇāṃ sarvatrābhyāgato guruḥ

aparaṃ ca-
uttamasyāpi varṇasya nīco 'pi gṛham āgataḥ |
pūjanīyo yathā-yogyaṃ sarva-deva-mayo 'tithiḥ

vāyaso 'vadat-sakhe ! manthara ! sa-viśeṣa-pūjām asami vidhehi, yato 'yaṃ puṇya-karmaṇāṃ dhurīṇaḥ kāruṇya-ratnākaro hiraṇyaka-nāmā mūṣika-rājaḥ | etasya guṇa-stutiṃ jihvā-sahasra-dvayenāpi yadi sarpa-rājaḥ kadācit kartuṃ samarthaḥ syāt ity uktvā citragrīvopākhyānaṃ varṇitavān | tato mantharaḥ sādaraṃ hiraṇyakaṃ sampūjyāha-bhadra ! ātmano nirjana-vanāgamana-kāraṇam ākhyātum arhasi ?
hiraṇyako 'vadat-kathayāmi, śrūyatām |
kathā 4
asti campakābhidhānāyāṃ nagaryāṃ parivrājakāvasathaḥ | tatra cūḍākarṇo nāma parivrājakaḥ prativasati | sa ca bhojanāvaśiṣṭa-bhikṣānna-sahitaṃ bhikṣāpātraṃ nāgadantake'vasthāpya svapiti | ahaṃ ca tad annam utplutya utplutya pratyahaṃ bhakṣayāmi | anantaraṃ tasya priya-suhṛd vīṇākarṇo nāma parivrājakaḥ samāyātaḥ, tena saha nānā-kathā-prasaṅgāvasthito mama trāsārthaṃ jarjara-vaṃśa-khaṇḍena cūḍākarṇo bhūmim atāḍayat | taṃ tathāvidhaṃ dṛṣṭvā vīṇākarṇa uvāca-sakhe ! kim iti mama kathā-virakto 'nyāsakto bhavān ? yataḥ-
mukhaṃ prasannaṃ vimalā ca dṛṣṭiḥ
kathānurāgo madhurā ca vāṇī |
sneho 'dhikaḥ sambhrama-darśanaṃ ca
sadānuraktasya janasya lakṣma

adṛṣṭi-dānaṃ kṛta-pūrva-nāśanam
ānanaṃ duścaritānukīrtanam |
kathā-prasaṅgena ca nāma-vismṛtir
virakta-bhāvasya janasya lakṣaṇam

cūḍākarṇenoktam-bhadra ! nāhaṃ viraktaḥ, kintu paśya ayaṃ mūṣiko mamāpakārī sadā pātrasthaṃ bhikṣānnam utplutya bhakṣayati | vīṇākarṇo nāgadantam avalokyāha-katham ayaṃ mūṣikaḥ svalpa-balo 'py etāvad dūram utpatati ? tad atra kenāpi kāraṇena bhavitavyam |
kṣaṇaṃ vicintya parivrājakenoktam-kāraṇaṃ cātra dhana-bāhulyam eva pratibhāti | yataḥ-
dhanavān balavān loke sarvaḥ sarvatra sarvadā |
prabhutvaṃ dhana-mūlaṃ hi rājñām apy upajāyate

tataḥ khanitram ādāya tena parivrājakena vivaraṃ khanitvā cira-sañcitaṃ mama dhanaṃ gṛhītam | tataḥ prabhṛti pratyahaṃ nija-śakti-hīnaḥ sattvotsāha-rahitaḥ svāhāram apy utpādayitum akṣamaḥ sann āsaṃ mandaṃ mandam upasarpan cūḍākarṇenāvalokitaḥ | tatas tenoktam-
dhanena balavān loko dhanād bhavati paṇḍitaḥ |
paśyainaṃ mūṣikaṃ pāpaṃ svajāti-samatāṃ gatam

kiṃ ca-
arthena tu vihīnasya puruṣasyālpa-medhasaḥ |
kriyā sarvā vinaśyanti grīṣme kusarito yathā

aparaṃ ca-
yasyārthās tasya mitrāṇi yasyārthās tasya bāndhavāḥ |
yasyārthāḥ sa pumān loke yasyārthāḥ sa hi paṇḍitaḥ

aparaṃ ca-
aputrasya gṛhaṃ śūnyaṃ san-mitra-rahitasya ca |
mūrkhasya ca diśaḥ śūnyāḥ sarva-śūnyā daridratā

aparaṃ ca-
dāridryān maraṇād vāpi dāridryam avaraṃ smṛtam |
alpa-kleśena maraṇaṃ dāridryam atiduḥsaham

anyac ca-
tānīndriyāṇy avikalāni tad eva nāma
sā buddhir apratihatā vacanaṃ tad eva |
arthoṣmaṇā virahitaḥ puruṣaḥ sa eva
anyaḥ kṣaṇena bhavatīti vicitram etat

etat sarvam ākarṇya mayālocitaṃ-mamānnāvasthānam ayuktam idānīm | tathā coktam-
atyanta-vimukhe daive vyarthe yatne ca pauruṣe |
manasvino daridrasya vanād anyat kutaḥ sukham

anyac ca-
manasvī miryate kāmaṃ kārpaṇyaṃ na tu gacchati |
api nirvāṇam āyāti nānalo yāti śītatām

kiṃ ca-
kusuma-stavakasyeva dve vṛttī tu manasvinaḥ |
sarveṣāṃ mūrdhni vā tiṣṭhed viśīryeta vane'thavā

yac cānyasmai etad vṛttānta-kathanaṃ tad apy anucitam | yataḥ-
artha-nāśaṃ manas-tāpaṃ gṛhe duścaritāni ca |
vañcanaṃ cāpamānaṃ ca matimān na prakāśayet

yac cātraiva yācñayā jīvanaṃ tad apy atīva-garhitam | yataḥ-
varaṃ vibhava-hīnena prāṇaiḥ santarpito 'nalaḥ |
nopacāra-paribhraṣṭaḥ kṛpaṇaḥ prārthyate janaḥ

anyac ca-
dāridryād dhriyam eti hrī-parigataḥ sattvāt paribhraśyate
niḥsattvaṃ paribhūyate paribhavān nirvedam āpadyate |
nirviṇṇaḥ śucam eti śoka-phihito buddhyā parityajyate
nirbuddhiḥ kṣayam ety aho nidhanatā sarvāpadām āspadam

kiṃ ca-
varaṃ maunaṃ kāryaṃ na ca vacanam uktaṃ yad anṛtaṃ
varaṃ klaibyaṃ puṃsāṃ na ca para-kalatrābhigamanam |
varaṃ prāṇa-tyāgo na ca piśuna-vākyeṣv abhirucir
varaṃ bhikṣāśitvaṃ na ca para-dhanāsvādana-sukham

varaṃ śūnyā śālā na ca khalu varo duṣṭa-vṛṣabho
varaṃ veśyā patnī na punar avinītā kula-vadhūḥ |
varaṃ vāso 'raṇye na punar avivekādhipa-pure
varaṃ prāṇa-tyāgo na punar adhamānām upagamaḥ

api ca-
seveva mānam akhilaṃ jyotsneva tamo jareva lāvaṇyam |
hari-hara-katheva duritaṃ guṇa-śatam apy arthitā harati

tat kim ahaṃ para-piṇḍena ātmānaṃ poṣayāmi ? kaṣṭaṃ bhoḥ ! tad api dvitīyaṃ mṛtyu-dvāram | anyac ca-
rogī cira-pravāsī parānna-bhojī parāvasatha-śāyī |
yaj jīvati tan maraṇaṃ yan maraṇaṃ so 'sya viśrāmaḥ

ity ālocyāpi lobhāt punar api tadīyam annaṃ grahītuṃ graham akaravam | tathā coktam-
lobhena buddhiś calati lobho janayate tṛṣām |
tṛṣārto duḥkham āpnoti paratreha ca mānavaḥ

tato 'haṃ mandaṃ mandam upasarpaṃs tena vīṇākarṇena jarjara-vaṃśa-khaṇḍena tāḍitaś cācintayam-lubdho hy asantuṣṭo niyatam ātma-drohī bhavati | tathā ca-
dhana-lubdho hy asantuṣṭo 'niyatātmājitendriyaḥ |
sarvā evāpadas tasya yasya tuṣṭaṃ na mānasam

sarvāḥ sampattasyas tasya santuṣṭaṃ yasya mānasam |
upānad-gūḍha-pādasya nanu carmāvṛteva bhūḥ

aparaṃ ca-
santoṣāmṛta-tṛptānāṃ yat sukhaṃ śānta-cetasām |
kutas tad-dhana-lubdhānām itaś cetaś ca dhāvatām

kiṃ ca-
tenādhītaṃ śrutaṃ tena tena sarvam anuṣṭhitam |
yenāśāḥ pṛṣṭhataḥ kṛtvā nairāśyam avalambitam

api ca-
aseviteśvara-dvāram adṛṣṭa-viraha-vyatham |
anukta-klība-vacanaṃ dhanyaṃ kasyāpi jīvanam

na yojana-śataṃ dūraṃ vāhyamānasya tṛṣṇayā |
santuṣṭasya kara-prāpte'py arthe bhavati nādaraḥ

tad atra avasthocita-kārya-paricchedaḥ śreyān |
ko dharmo bhūta-dayā kiṃ saukhyaṃ nityam aroginā jagati |
kaḥ snehaḥ sad-bhāvaḥ kiṃ pāṇḍityaṃ paricchedaḥ

tathā ca-
paricchedo hi pāṇḍityaṃ yadāpannā vipattayaḥ |
apariccheda-kartṝṇāṃ vipadaḥ syuḥ pade pade

tathā hi-
tyajed ekaṃ kulasyārthe grāmasyārthe kulaṃ tyajet |
grāmaṃ janapadasyārthe ātmārthe pṛthivīṃ tyajet

aparaṃ ca-
pānīyaṃ vā nirāyāsaṃ svādvannaṃ vā bhayottaram |
vicāryaṃ khalu paśyāmi tat sukhaṃ yatra nirvṛtiḥ

ity ālocyāhaṃ nirjana-vanam āgataḥ | yataḥ-
varaṃ vanaṃ vyāghra-gajendra-sevitaṃ
drumālayaḥ patra-phalāmbu-bhakṣitam |
tṛṇāni śayyā vasanaṃ ca valkalaṃ
na bandhu-madhye dhana-hīna-jīvanam

ataḥ-
saṃsāra-viṣaya-vṛkṣasya dve eva rasavat phale |
kāvyāmṛta-rasāsvādaḥ saṅgamaḥ sajjanaiḥ saha

aparaṃ ca-
sat-saṅgaḥ keśave bhaktir gaṅgāmbhasi nimajjanam |
asāre khalu saṃsāre trīṇi sārāṇi bhāvayet

manthara uvāca-
arthāḥ pāda-rajopamā giri-nadī-vegopamaṃ yauvanam
āyuṣyaṃ jala-bindu-lola-capalaṃ phenopamaṃ jīvanam |
dharmaṃ yo na karoti niścala-matiḥ svargārgalodghāṭanaṃ
paścāt-tāpa-hato jarā-pariṇataḥ śokāgninā dahyate

yuṣmābhir atisañcayaḥ kṛtaḥ | tasyāyaṃ doṣaḥ | śṛṇu-
upārjitānāṃ vittānāṃ tyāga eva hi rakṣaṇam |
taḍāgodara-saṃsthānāṃ parīvāhaivāmbhasām

anyac ca-
yad adho 'dhaḥ kṣitau vittaṃ nicakhāna mitampacaḥ |
tad-adho nilayaṃ gantuṃ cakre panthānam agrataḥ

yataḥ-
nija-saukhyaṃ nirundhāno yo dhanārjanam icchati |
parārtha-bhāra-vāhīva sa kleśasyaiva bhājanam

tathā coktaṃ-
dānopabhoga-hīnena dhanena dhanino yadi |
bhavāmaḥ kiṃ na tenaiva dhanena dhanino vayam

yataḥ-
dhanena kiṃ yo na dadāti nāśnute
balena kiṃ yaś ca ripūn na yādhatte |
śrutena kiṃ yo na ca dharmam ācaret
kim ātmanā yo na jitendriyo bhavet

anyac ca-
asambhogena sāmānyaṃ kṛpaṇasya dhanaṃ paraiḥ |
asyedam iti sambandho hānau duḥkhena gamyate

api ca-
na devāya na viprāya na bandhubhyo na cātmane |
kṛpaṇasya dhanaṃ yāti vahni-taskara-pārthivaiḥ

tathā coktam-
dānaṃ priya-vāk-sahitaṃ
jñānam agarvaṃ kṣamānvitaṃ sauryam |
tyāgaṃ sahitaṃ ca vittaṃ
durlabham etac catur bhadram

uktaṃ ca-
kartavyaḥ sañcayo nityaṃ na tu kāryo 'tisañcayaḥ |
atisañcaya-śīlo 'yaṃ dhanuṣā jambuko hataḥ

tāv āhatuḥ-katham etat ?
mantharaḥ kathayati-
kathā 5
āsīt kalyāṇa-kaṭaka-vāstavyo bhairavo nāma vyādhaḥ | sa caikadā māṃsa-lubdho dhanur ādāya mṛgam anviṣyan vindhyāṭavī-madhyaṃ gataḥ | tatra tena mṛga eko vyāpāditaḥ | tato mṛgam ādāya gacchatā tena ghorākṛtiḥ śūkaro dṛṣṭaḥ | tatas tena mṛgaṃ bhūmau nidhāya śūkaraḥ śareṇa hataḥ | śūkareṇāpy āgatya pralaya-ghana-ghora-garjanaṃ kurvāṇena sa vyādho muṣka-deśe hataḥ chinna-druma iva papāta | tathā coktam-
jalam agnir viṣaṃ śastaṃ kṣud vyādhiḥ patanaṃ gireḥ |
nimittaṃ kiñcid āsādya dehī prāṇair vimucyate

atha tayoḥ pādāsphālanena ekaḥ sarpo 'pi mṛtaḥ | atrāntare dīrgharāvo nāma jambukaḥ paribhramanāhārārthā tān mṛtān mṛga-vyādha-sarpa-śūkarān apaśyat | ālokyācintayac ca-aho bhāgyam ! adya mahad bhojyaṃ me samupasthitam |
athavā-
acintitāni duḥkhāni yathaivāyānti dehinām |
sukhāny api tathā manye daivam atrātiricyate

māsam ekaṃ naro yāti dvau māsau mṛga-śūkarau |
ahir ekaṃ dinaṃ yāti adya bhakṣyo dhanurguṇaḥ

tataḥ prathama-bubhukṣāyām idaṃ niḥsvādu kodaṇḍa-lagnaṃ snāyu-bandhanaṃ khādāmi, ity uktvā tathākarot | tataś chinne snāyu-bandhane drutam utpatitena dhanuṣā hṛdi nirbhinnaḥ sa dīrgharāvaḥ pañcatvaṃ gataḥ | ato 'haṃ bravīmi kartavyaḥ sañcayo nityam ity ādi | tathā ca-
yad dadāti yad aśnāti tad eva dhanino dhanam |
anye mṛtasya krīḍanti dārair api dhanair api

kiṃ ca-
yad dadāsi viśiṣṭebhyo yac cāśnāsi dine dine |
tat te vittam ahaṃ manye śeṣaṃ kasyāpi rakṣasi

yātu, kim idānīm atikrāntopavarṇanena | yataḥ-
nāprāyam abhivāñchanti naṣṭaṃ necchanti śocitum |
āpatsv api na muhyanti narāḥ paṇḍita-buddhayaḥ

tat sakhe ! sarvadā tvayā sotsāhena bhavitavyam, yataḥ-
śāstrāṇy adhītyāpi bhavanti mūrkhā
yas tu kriyāvān puruṣaḥ sa vidvān |
sucintitaṃ cauṣadham āturāṇāṃ
na nāma-mātreṇa karoty arogam

anyac ca-
na svalpam apy adhyavasāya-bhīroḥ
karoti vijñāna-vidhir guṇaṃ hi |
andhasya kiṃ hasta-tala-sthito 'pi
prakāśayaty artham iha pradīpaḥ

tad atra sakhe daśātiśeṣEṇa śāntiḥ karaṇīyā | etad apy atikaṣṭaṃ tvayā na mantavyam |
sukham āpatitaṃ sevyaṃ duḥkham āpatitaṃ tathā |
cakravat parivartante duḥkhāni ca sukhāni ca

aparaṃ ca-
nipānam iva maṇḍūkāḥ saraḥ pūrṇam ivāṇḍajāḥ |
sodyogaṃ naram āyānti vivaśāḥ sarva-sampadaḥ

api ca-
utsāha-saṃpannam adīrgha-sūtraṃ kriyā-vidhijñaṃ vyasaneṣv asaktam |
śūraṃ kṛtajñaṃ dṛḍha-sauhṛdaṃ ca- lakṣmīḥ svayaṃ vāñchati vāsa-hetoḥ

viśeṣataś ca-
vināpy arthair dhīraḥ spṛśati bahumānonnati-padaṃ
samāyukto 'py arthaiḥ paribhava-padaṃ yāti kṛpaṇaḥ |
svabhāvād udbhūtāṃ guṇa-samudayāvāpti-viṣayāṃ
dyutiṃ saiṃhīṃ śvā kiṃ dhṛta-kanaka-mālo 'pi labhate

kiṃ ca-
dhanavān iti hi madas te kiṃ gata-vibhavo viṣādam upayāsi |
kara-nihata-kanduka-samāḥ pātotpātā manuṣyāṇām

anyac ca-
vṛtty-arthaṃ nāticeṣṭate sā hi dhātraiva nirmitā |
garbhād utpatite jantau mātuḥ prasravataḥ stanau

api ca sakhe śṛṇu-
yena śuklī-kṛtā haṃsāḥ śukāś ca haritīkṛtāḥ |
mayūrāś citritā yena sa te vṛttiṃ vidhāsyati

aparaṃ ca satāṃ rahasyaṃ śṛṇu, mitra !
janayanty arjane duḥkhaṃ tāpayanti vipattiṣu |
mohayanti ca sampattau katham arthāḥ sukhāvahāḥ

aparaṃ ca-
dharmārdhaṃ yasya vittehā varaṃ tasya nirīhatā |
prakṣālanād dhi paṅkasya dūrād asparśanaṃ varam

yataḥ-
yathāāmiṣam ākāśe pakṣibhiḥ śvāpadair bhuvi |
bhakṣyate salile matsyais tathā sarvatra vittavān

anyac ca-
rājataḥ salilād agneś corataḥ svajanād api |
bhayam arthavatāṃ nityaṃ mṛtyoḥ prāṇa-bhṛtām iva

tathā hi-
janmani kleśa-bahule kiṃ nu duḥkham ataḥ param |
icchā-sampad yato nāsti yac cecchā na nivartate

anyac ca bhrātaḥ śṛṇu-
dhanaṃ tāvad asulabhaṃ labdhaṃ kṛcchreṇa pālyate |
labdha-nāśo yathā mṛtyus tasmād etan na cintayet

sā tṛṣṇā cet parityaktā ko daridraḥ ka īśvaraḥ |
tasyāś cet prasaro datto dāsyaṃ ca śirasi sthitam

aparaṃ ca-
yad yad eva hi vāñcheta tato vāñchā pravartate |
prāpta evārthataḥ so 'rtho yato vāñchā nivartate

kiṃ bahunā, viśrambhālāpair mayaiva sahātra kālo nīyatām | yataḥ-
āmraṇāntāḥ praṇayāḥ kopāś ca kṣaṇa-bhaṅgurāḥ |
parityāgāś ca niḥsaṅgā na bhavanti mahātmanām

iti śrutvā laghupatanako brūte-dhanyo 'si manthara ! sarvathā āśrayaṇīyo 'si | yataḥ-
santa eva satāṃ nityam āpad-uddharaṇa-kṣamāḥ |
gajānāṃ paṅka-magnānāṃ gajā eva dhurandharāḥ

aparaṃ ca-
ślāghyaḥ sa eko bhuvi mānavānāṃ
sa uttamaḥ sat-puruṣaḥ sa dhanyaḥ |
yasyārthino vā śaraṇāgatā vā
nāśāvibhaṅgā vimukhāḥ prayānti

tad evaṃ te svecchāhāra-vihāraṃ kurvāṇāḥ santuṣṭāḥ sukhaṃ nivasanti sma | atha kadācit citrāṅga-nāmā mṛgaḥ kenāpi trāsitas tatrāgatya militaḥ | tat-paścād āyāntaṃ bhaya-hetuṃ sambhāvya mantharo jalaṃ praviṣṭaḥ | mūṣikaś ca vivaraṃ gataḥ, kāko 'pi uḍḍīya vṛkṣāgram ārūḍhaḥ | tato laghupatanakena sudūraṃ nirūpya bhaya-hetur na ko 'py avalambitaḥ | paścāt tad-vacanād āgatya punaḥ sarve militvā tatraivopaviṣṭāḥ | manthareṇoktaṃ-bhadra mṛga ! kuśalaṃ te ? svecchayā udakādyāhāro 'nubhūyatām | atrāvasthānena vanam idaṃ sanāthīkriyatām |
citrāṅgo brūte-lubdhaka-trāsito 'haṃ bhavatāṃ śaraṇam āgataḥ | tataś ca, bhavadbhiḥ saha mitratvam icchāmi | bhavantaś ca anukampayantu maitryeṇa | yataḥ-
lobhād vātha bhayād vāpi yas tyajec charaṇāgatam |
brahma-hatyā-samaṃ tasya pāpam āhur manīṣiṇaḥ

hiraṇyako 'py avadat-mitratvaṃ tāvad asmābhiḥ saha, ayatnena niṣpannaṃ bhavataḥ | yataḥ-
aurasaṃ kṛta-sambandhaṃ tathā vaṃśa-kramāgatam |
rakṣakaṃ vyasanebhyaś ca mitraṃ jñeyaṃ catur-vidham

tad atra bhavatā sva-gṛha-nirviśeṣeṇa sthīyatām | tac chrutvā mṛgaḥ sānando bhūtvā kṛta-svecchāhāraḥ pānīyaṃ pītvā jalāsanna-vaṭa-taru-cchāyāyām upaviṣṭaḥ |
atha mantharo brūte-sakhe mṛga ! kena trāsito 'si ? asmin nirjane vane kadācit kiṃ vyādhāḥ sañcaranti ?
mṛgeṇoktam-asti kaliṅga-viṣaye rukmāṅgado nāma nṛpatiḥ | sa ca digvijaya-vyāpāra-krameṇa āgatya candrabhāgā-nadī-tīre samāveśita-kaṭako vartate, prātaś ca tenātrāgatya karpūra-saraḥ samīpe bhavitavyam iti vyādhānāṃ mukhāt kiṃvadantī śrūyate | tad atrāpi prātar-avasthānaṃ bhaya-hetukam ity ālocya yathā kāryaṃ tathā ārabhyatām |
tac chrutvā kūrmaḥ sa-bhayam āha-mitra ! jalāśayāntaraṃ gacchāmi |
kāka-mṛgāv api uktavantau-mitra ! evam astu !
hiraṇyako vimṛśyābravīt-punar jalāśaye prāpte mantharasya kuśalam | sthale gacchato 'sya kā vidhā ?
ambhāṃsi jala-jantūnāṃ durgaṃ durga-nivāsinām |
sva-bhūmiḥ śvāpadādīnāṃ rājñāṃ sainyaṃ paraṃ balam

upāyena hi yac chakyaṃ na tac chakyaṃ parākramaiḥ |
kākī kanaka-sūtreṇa kṛṣṇa-sarpam aghātayat

tad yathā-
kathā 6
asti brahmāraṇye karpā̆ūratilako nāma hastī | tam avalokya sarve śṛgālāś cintayanti sma | yady ayaṃ kenāpy upāyena miryate, tadāsmākam etena dehena māsa-catuṣṭayasya svecchā-bhojanaṃ bhavet | tatas tan-madhyād ekena vṛddha-śṛgālena pratijñā kṛtā | mayā buddhi-prabhāvād asya maraṇaṃ sādhayitavyam | anantaraṃ sa vañcakaḥ karpūratilaka-samīpaṃ gatvā sāṣṭāṅga-pātaṃ praṇamyovāca-deva ! dṛṣṭi-prasādaṃ kuru |
hastī brūte-kas tvam ? kutaḥ samāyātaḥ ?
so 'vadat-jambuko 'haṃ sarvair vana-vāsibhiḥ paśubhir militvā bhavat-sakāśaṃ prasthāpitaḥ | yad vinā rājñā sthātuṃ na yuktam | tad atrāṭavī-rājye'bhiṣektuṃ bhavān sarva-svāmi-guṇopeto nirūpitaḥ | yataḥ-
kulācāra-janācārair atiśuddhaḥ pratāpavān |
dhārmiko nīti-kuśalaḥ sa svāmī yujyate bhuvi

aparaṃ ca paśya-
rājānaṃ prathamaṃ vindet tato bhāryāṃ tato dhanam |
rājany asati loke'smin kuto bhāryā kuto dhanam

anyac ca-
parjanya iva bhūtānām ādhāraḥ pṛthivī-patiḥ |
vikale'pi hi parjanye jīvyate na tu bhūpatau

kiṃ ca-
niyata-viṣaya-vartī prāyaśo daṇḍa-yogāj
jagati para-vaśe'smin durlabhaḥ sādhu-vṛtteḥ |
kṛśam api vikalaṃ vā vyādhitaṃ vādhanaṃ vā
patim api kula-nārī daṇḍa-bhītyābhyupaiti

tad yathā lagna-velā na calati tathā kṛtvā satvaram āgamyatāṃ devena | ity uktvā utthāya calitaḥ | tato 'sau rājya-lābhākṛṣṭaḥ karpūratilakaḥ śṛgāla-darśita-vartmanā dhāvan mahā-paṅke nimagnaḥ | hastinoktam-sakhe śṛgāla ! kim adhunā vidheyam ? mahā-paṅke patito 'haṃ mriye | parāvṛtya paśya !
śṛgālena vihasyoktam-deva ! mama pucchāgre hastaṃ dattvā uttiṣṭha | yasmāt mad-vidhasya vacasi tvayā viśvāsaḥ kṛtaḥ, tasya phalam etat | tad anubhūyatām aśaraṇaṃ duḥkham | tathā coktam-
yadāsat-saṅga-rahito bhaviṣyasi bhaviṣyasi |
yadāsajjana-goṣṭhīṣu patiṣyasi patiṣyasi

tato mahā-paṅke nimagno hastī śṛgālair bhakṣitaḥ | ato 'haṃ bravīmi-upāyena hi yac chakyam ity ādi |
--o)0(o--
tatas tad-dhita-vacanam avadhīrya mahatā bhayena vimugdha iva mantharass taj-jalāśayam utsṛjya pracalitaḥ | te'pi hiraṇyakādayaḥ snehād aniṣṭaṃ śaṅkamānās tam anujagmuḥ | tataḥ sthale gacchan kenāpi vyādhena vane paryaṭatā sa mantharaḥ prāptaḥ | sa ca taṃ gṛhītvā utthāya dhanuṣi baddhvā dhanyo 'smīty abhidhāya bhramaṇa-kleśāt kṣut-pipāsākulaḥ sva-gṛhābhimukhaṃ prayātaḥ | atha te mṛga-vāyasa-mūṣikāḥ paraṃ viṣādam upagatāḥ tam anugacchanti sma | tato hiraṇyako vilapati-
ekasya duḥkhasya na yāvad antaṃ gacchāmy ahaṃ pāram ivārṇavasya |
tāvad dvitīyaṃ samupasthitaṃ me chidreṣv anarthā bahulī-bhavanti

svabhāvajaṃ tu yan mitraṃ bhāgyenaivābhijāyate |
tad-akṛtrima-sauhārdam āpatsv api na muñcati

api ca-
na mātari na dāreṣu na sodarye na cātmaje |
viśvāsas tādṛśaḥ puṃsāṃ yādṛṅ mitre svabhāvaje

iti muhuḥ vicintya prāha-aho me durdaivam | yataḥ-
sva-karma-santāna-viceṣṭitāni
kālāntarāvarti-śubhāśubhāni |
ihaiva dṛṣṭāni mayaiva tāni
janmāntarāṇīva daśāntarāṇi

athavā ittham evaitat |
kāyaḥ saṃnihitāpāyaḥ sampadaḥ padam āpadām |
samāgamāḥ sāpagamāḥ sarvam utpādi bhaṅguram

punar vimṛśyāha-
śokārāti-bhaya-trāṇaṃ prīti-viśrambha-bhājanam |
kena ratnam idaṃ sṛṣṭaṃ mitram ity akṣara-dvayam

kiṃ ca-
mitraṃ prīti-rasāyanaṃ nayanayor ānandanaṃ cetasaḥ
pātraṃ yat sukha-duḥkhayoḥ samam idaṃ puṇyātmanā labhyate |
ye cānye suhṛdaḥ samṛddhi-samaye dravyābhilāṣākulās
te sarvatra milanti tattva-nikaṣa-grāvā tu teṣāṃ vipat

iti bahu vilapya hiraṇyakaś citrāṅga-laghupatanakāv āha-yāvad ayaṃ vyādho vanān na niḥsarati, tāvan mantharaṃ mocayituṃ yatnaḥ kriyatām |
tāv ūcatuḥ-satvaraṃ yathā-kāryam upadiśa |
hiraṇyako brūte-citrāṅgo jala-samīpaṃ gatvā mṛtam ivātmānaṃ niśceṣṭaṃ darśayatu | kākaś ca tasyopari sthitvā cañcvā kim api vilikhatu | nūnam anena lubdhakena mṛga-māṃsārthinā tatra kacchapaṃ parityajya sarvaraṃ gantavyam | tato 'haṃ mantharasya bandhanaṃ chetsyāmi | sannihite lubdhake bhavadbhyāṃ palāyitavyam |
tataś citrāṅga-laghupatanakābhyāṃ śīghraṃ gatvā tathānuṣṭhite sati sa vyādhaḥ pariśrāntaḥ pānīyaṃ pītvā taror adhastād upaviṣṭaḥ san tathāvidhaṃ mṛgam apaśyat | tataḥ kacchapaṃ jala-samīpe nidhāya kartarikām ādāya prahṛṣṭa-manā mṛgāntikaṃ calitaḥ | atrāntare hiraṇyakena āgatya mantharasya bandhanaṃ chinnam | chinna-bandhanaḥ kūrmaḥ satvaraṃ jalāśayaṃ praviṣṭaḥ | sa ca mṛga āsannaṃ taṃ vyādhaṃ vilokyotthāya drutaṃ palāyitaḥ | pratyāvṛttya lubdhako yāvat taru-talam āyāti tāvat kūrmam apaśyann acintayat-ucitam evaitat mamāsamīkṣya-kāriṇaḥ | yataḥ-
yo dhruvāṇi parityajya adhruvāṇi niṣevate |
dhruvāṇi tasya naśyanti adhruvaṃ naṣṭam eva hi

tato 'sau sva-karma-vaśān nirāśaḥ kaṭakaṃ praviṣṭaḥ | mantharādayaś ca sarve muktāpadaḥ sva-sthānaṃ gatvā yathā-sukham āsthitāḥ |
atha rāja-putraiḥ sānandam uktam-sarve śrutavantaḥ sukhino vayam | siddhaṃ naḥ samīhitam |
viṣṇu-śarmovāca-etad bhavatām abhilaṣitam api sampannam | aparam apīdam astu-
mitraṃ yāntu ca sajjanā janapadair lakṣmīḥ samālabhyatāṃ
bhūpālāḥ paripālayantu vasudhāṃ śaśvat sva-dharme sthitāḥ |
āstāṃ mānasa-tuṣṭaye sukṛtināṃ nītir navoḍheva vaḥ
kalyāṇaṃ kurutāṃ janasya bhagavāṃś candrārdha-cūḍāmaṇiḥ