Hitopadesha · Chapter 2

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ii.
suhṛd-bhedaḥ
atha rāja-putrā ūcuḥ-ārya ! mitralābhaḥ śrutas tāvad asmābhiḥ | idānīṃ suhṛd-bhedaṃ śrotum icchāmaḥ |
viṣṇuśarmovāca-suhṛd-bhedaṃ tāvac chṛṇuta, yasyāyam ādyaḥ ślokaḥ-
vardhamāno mahān sneho mṛgendra-vṛṣayor vane |
piśunenātilubdhena jambukena vināśitaḥ

rāja-putrair uktam-katham etat ?
viṣṇuśarmā kathayati-asti dakṣiṇā-pathe suvarṇavatī nāma nagarī | tatra vardhamāno nāma vaṇig nivasati | tasya pracure'pi vitte' parān bandhūn atisamṛddhān samīkṣya punar artha-vṛddhiḥ karaṇīyeti matir babhūva | yataḥ,
adho 'dhaḥ paśyataḥ kasya mahimā nopacīyate |
upary upari paśyantaḥ sarva eva daridrati

aparaṃ ca-
brahmahāpi naraḥ pūjyo yasyāsti vipulaṃ dhanam |
śaśinas tulya-vaṃśo 'pi nirdhanaḥ paribhūyate

anyac ca-
avyavasāyinam alasaṃ daiva-paraṃ sahasāc ca parihīṇam |
pramadeva hi vṛddha-patiṃ necchaty avagūhituṃ lakṣmīḥ

kiṃ ca-
ālasyaṃ strī-sevā sa-rogatā janma-bhūmi-vātsalyam |
santoṣo bhīrutvaṃ ṣaḍ vyāghātā mahattvasya

yataḥ-
sampadā susthiraṃ-manyo bhavati svalpayāpi yaḥ |
kṛtakṛtyo vidhir manye na vardhayati tasya tām

aparaṃ ca-
nirutsāhaṃ nirānandaṃ nirvīryam ari-nandanam |
mā sma sīmantinī kācij janayet putram īdṛśam

tathā coktam-
alabdhaṃ caiva lipseta labdhaṃ rakṣet prayatnataḥ |
rakṣitaṃ vardhayec caiva vṛddhaṃ pātreṣu nikṣipet

yato 'labdham icchato 'rtha-yogād arthasya prāptir eva | labdhasyāpy arakṣitasya nidher api svayaṃ vināśaḥ | api ca, avardhamānaś cārthaḥ kāle svalpa-vyayo 'py añjanavat kṣayam eti | naupabhujyamānaś ca niṣprayojana eva saḥ | tathā coktam-
dhanena kiṃ yo na dadāti nāśnute
balena kiṃ yaś ca ripūn na bādhate |
śrutena kiṃ yo na ca dharmam ācaret
kim ātmanā yo na jitendriyo bhavet

yataḥ,
jala-bindu-nipātena kramaśaḥ pūryate ghaṭaḥ |
sa hetuḥ sarva-vidyānāṃ dharmasya ca dhanasya ca

dānopabhoga-rahitā divasā yasya yānti vai |
sa karma-kāra-bhastreva śvasann api na jīvati

iti saṃcintya nandaka-sajīvaka-nāmānau vṛṣabhau dhuri niyojya śakaṭaṃ nānāvidha-dravya-pūrṇaṃ kṛtvā vāṇijyena gataḥ kaśmīraṃ prati | anyac ca-
añjanasya kṣayaṃ dṛṣṭvā valmīkasya ca sañcayam |
avandhyaṃ divasaṃ kuryād dānādhyayana-karmabhiḥ

yataḥ-
ko 'tibhāraḥ samarthānāṃ kiṃ dūraṃ vyavasāyinām |
ko videśaḥ savidyānāṃ kaḥ paraḥ priya-vādinām

atha gacchatas tasya sudurga-nāmni mahāraṇye sañjīvako bhagna-jānur nipatitaḥ | tam ālokya vardhamāno 'cintayat-
karotu nāma nīti-jño vyavasāyam itas tataḥ |
phalaṃ punas tad eva syād yad vidher manasi sthitam

kintu-
vismayaḥ sarvathā heyaḥ pratyūhaḥ sarva-karmaṇām |
tasmād vismayam utsṛjya sādhye siddhir vidhīyatām

iti saṃcintya saṃjīvakaṃ tatra parityajya vardhamānaḥ punaḥ svayaṃ dharmapuraṃ nāma nagaraṃ gatvā mahākāyam anyaṃ vṛṣabham ekaṃ samānīya dhuri niyojya calitaḥ | tataḥ saṃjīvako 'pi kathaṃ katham api khura-traye bharaṃ kṛtvotthitaḥ | yataḥ-
nimagnasya payo-rāśau parvatāt patitasya ca |
takṣakeṇāpi daṣṭasya āyur marmāṇi rakṣati

nākāle miryate jantur viddhaḥ śara-śatair api |
kuśāgreṇaiva saṃspṛṣṭaḥ prāpta-kālo na jīvati

arakṣitaṃ tiṣṭhati daiva-rakṣitaṃ
surakṣitaṃ daiva-hataṃ vinaśyati |
jīvaty anātho 'pi vane visarjitaḥ
kṛta-prayatno 'pi gṛhe na jīvati

tato dineṣu gacchatsu saṃjīvakaḥ svecchāhāra-vihāraṃ kṛtvāraṇyaṃ bhrāmyan hṛṣṭa-puṣṭāṅgo balavan nanāda | tasmin vane piṅgalaka-nāmā siṃhaḥ sva-bhujopārjita-rājya-sukham anubhavan nivasati | tathā coktam-
nābhiṣeko na saṃskāraḥ siṃhasya kriyate mṛgaiḥ |
vikramārjita-rājyasya svayam eva mṛgendratā

sa caikadā pipāsākulitaḥ pānīyaṃ pātuṃ yamunā-kaccham agacchat | tena ca tatra siṃhenānanubhūta-pūrvakam akāla-ghana-garjitam iva saṃjīvaka-narditam aśrāvi | tac chrutvā pānīyam apītvā sa-cakitaḥ parivṛtya sva-sthānam āgatya kim idam ity ālocayaṃs tūṣṇīṃ sthitaḥ | sa ca tathāvidhaḥ karaṭa-kadamanakābhyām asya mantri-putrābhyāṃ dṛṣṭaḥ | taṃ tathāvidhaṃ dṛṣṭvā damanakaḥ karaṭakam āha-sakhe karaṭaka ! kim ity ayam udakārthī svāmī pānīyam apītvā sacakito mandaṃ mandam avatiṣṭhate |
karaṭako brūte-mitra damanaka ! asman-matenāsya sevaiva na kriyate | yadi tathā bhavati tarhi kim anena svāmi-ceṣṭānirūpeṇāsmākam | yato 'nena rājñā vināparādhena ciram avadhīritābhyām āvābhyāṃ mahad-duḥkham anubhūtam |
sevayā dhanam icchadbhiḥ sevakaiḥ paśya yat kṛtam |
svātantryaṃ yac charīrasya mūḍhais tad api hāritam

aparaṃ ca-
śīta-vātātapa-kleśān sahante yān parāśritāḥ |
tad-aṃśenāpi medhāvī tapas taptvā mukhī bhavet

anyac ca-
etāvaj janmasāphalyaṃ dehinām iha dehiṣu |
prāṇair arthair dhiyā vācā śreya evācaret sadā

aparaṃ ca-
ehi gaccha patottiṣṭha vada maunaṃ samācara |
iti vitrasta-sāraṅga-netrayā ko na vañcitaḥ

kiṃ ca-
abudhair artha-lābhāya paṇya-strībhir iva svayam |
ātmā saṃskṛtya saṃskṛtya paropakaraṇī-kṛtaḥ

kiṃ ca-
yā prakṛtyaiva capalā nipataty aśucāv api |
svāmino bahu manyante dṛṣṭiṃ tām api sevakāḥ

aparaṃ ca-
maunān mūrkhaḥ pravacana-paṭur bātulo jalpako vā
kṣāntyā bhīrur yadi na sahate prāyaśo nābhijātaḥ |
dhṛṣṭaḥ pārśve vasati niyataṃ dūrataś cāpragalbhaḥ
sevā-dharmaḥ parama-gahano yoginām apy agamyaḥ

viśeṣataś ca-
praṇamaty unnati-hetor jīvita-hetor vimuñcati prāṇān |
duḥkhīyati sukha-hetoḥ ko mūḍhaḥ sevakād anyaḥ

damanako brūte-mitra sarvathā manasāpi naitat kartavyam, yataḥ-
kathaṃ nāma na sevyante yatnataḥ parameśvarāḥ |
acireṇaiva ye tuṣṭāḥ pūrayanti manorathān

anyac ca-
kutaḥ sevā-vihīnānāṃ cāmaroddhūta-sampadaḥ |
uddaṇḍa-dhavala-cchatraṃ vāji-vāraṇa-vāhinī

karaṭako brūte-tathāpi kim anenāsmākaṃ vyāpāreṇa | yato 'vyāpāreṣu vyāpāraḥ sarvathā pariharaṇīyaḥ | paśya-
avyāpareṣu vyāpāraṃ yo naraḥ kartum icchati |
sa eva nidhanaṃ yāti kīlotpaṭīva vānaraḥ

damanakaḥ pṛcchati--katham etat ?
karakaṭaḥ kathayati-
kathā 1
asti magadha-deśe dharmāraṇya-saṃnihita-vasudhāyāṃ śubhadatta-nāmnā kāyasthena vihāraḥ kartum ārabdhaḥ | tatra karapatradārya-māṇaika-stambhasya kiyad dūrasphāṭitasya kāṣṭha-khaṇḍa-dvaya-madhye kīlakaḥ sūtra-dhāreṇa nihitaḥ | tatra balavān vānara-yūthaḥ krīḍann āgataḥ | eko vānaraḥ kāla-prerita iva taṃ kīlakaṃ hastābhyāṃ dhṛtvopaviṣṭam | anantaraṃ sa ca sahaja-capalatayā mahatā prayatnena taṃ kīlakam ākṛṣṭavān | ākṛṣṭe ca kīlake cūrṇitāṇḍa-dvayaḥ pañcatvaṃ gataḥ | ato 'haṃ bravīmi-avyāpareṣu vyāpāram ity ādi |
damanako brūte-tathāpi svāmi-ceṣṭā-nirūpaṇaṃ sevakenāvaśyaṃ karaṇīyam |
karaṭako brūte-sarvasminn adhikāre ya eva niyuktaḥ pradhāna-mantrī sa karotu | yato 'nujīvinā parādhikāra-carcā sarvathā na kartavyā | paśya-
parādhikāra-carcā yaḥ kuryāt svāmi-hitecchayā |
sa viṣīdati cītkārād gardabhas tāḍito yathā

damanakaḥ pṛcchati--katham etat ?
karaṭako brūte-
kathā 2
asti vārāṇasyāṃ karpūra-paṭako nāma rajakaḥ | sa rātrau gāḍha-nidrāyāṃ prasuptaḥ | tad-anantaraṃ tad-gṛha-dravyāṇi hartuṃ cauraḥ praviṣṭaḥ | tasya prāṅgaṇe gardabho baddhas tiṣṭhati | kukkuraś copaviṣṭo 'sti | atha gardabhaḥ śvānam āha-sakhe ! bhavatas tāvad ayaṃ vyāpāraḥ | tat kim iti tvam uccaiḥ śabdaṃ kṛtvā svāminaṃ na jāgarayasi |
kukkuro brūte-bhadra ! mama niyogasya carcā tvayā na kartavyā | tvam eva kiṃ na jānāsi yathā tasyāharniśaṃ gṛha-rakṣāṃ karomi | yato 'yaṃ cirān nirvṛto mamopayogaṃ na jānāti | tenādhunāpi mamāhāra-dāne mandādaraḥ | yato vinā vidhura-darśanaṃ svāmina upajīviṣu mandādarā bhavanti |
gardabho brūte-śṛṇu re barbara !
yācate kārya-kāle yaḥ sa kiṃ-bhṛtyaḥ sa kiṃ-suhṛt |
kukkuro brūte-
bhṛtyān sambhāṣayed yas tu kārya-kāle sa kiṃ-prabhuḥ

yataḥ-
āśritānāṃ bhṛtau svāmi-sevāyāṃ dharma-sevane |
putrasyotpādane caiva na santi pratihastakāḥ

tato gardabhaḥ sa-kopam āha-are duṣṭa-mate ! pāpīyāṃs tvaṃ yad vipattau svāmi-kārye upekṣāṃ karoṣi | bhavatu tāvat | yathā svāmī jāgariṣyati, tan mayā kartavyam | yataḥ-
pṛṣṭhataḥ sevayed arkaṃ jaṭhareṇa hutāśanam |
svāminaṃ sarva-bhāvena paralokam amāyayā

ity uktvātīva cītkāra-śabdaṃ kṛtavān | tataḥ sa rajakas tena cītkāreṇa prabuddho nidrā-bhaṅga-kopād utthāya gardabhaṃ laguḍena tādayāmāsa | tenāsau pañcatvam agamat | ato 'haṃ bravīmi-parādhikāra-carcām ity ādi | paśya, paśūnām anveṣaṇam evāsman-niyogaḥ | sva-niyoga-carcā kriyatām | kintv adya tayā carcayā na prayojanam | yata āvayor bhakṣita-śeṣāhāraḥ pracuro 'sti |
damanakaḥ saroṣam āha-katham āhārārthī bhavān kevalaṃ rājānaṃ sevate ? etad ayuktam uktaṃ tvayā | yataḥ-
suhṛdām upakāra-kāraṇād
dviṣatām apy apakāra-kāraṇāt |
nṛpa-saṃśraya iṣyate budhair
jaṭharaṃ ko na bibharti kevalam

jīvite yasya jīvanti viprā mitrāṇi bāndhavāḥ |
saphalaṃ jīvitaṃ tasya ātmārthe ko na jīvati

api ca-
yasmin jīvati jīvanti bahavaḥ sa tu jīvatu |
kāko 'pi kiṃ na kurute cañcvā svodara-pūraṇam

paśya-
pañcabhir yāti dāsatvaṃ purāṇaiḥ ko 'pi mānavaḥ |
ko 'pi lakṣaiḥ kṛtī ko 'pi lakṣair api na labhyate

anyac ca-
manuṣya-jātau tulyāyāṃ bhṛtyatvam ati-garhitam |
prathamo yo na tan nāpi sa kiṃ jīvatsu gaṇyate

tathā coktaṃ-
vāji-vāraṇa-lohānāṃ kāṣṭha-pāṣāṇa-vāsasām |
nārī-puruṣa-toyānām antaraṃ hada-hantaram

tathā hi svalpam apy atiricyate-
svalpa-snāyu-vasāvaśeṣa-malinaṃ nirmāṃsam apy asthikaṃ
śvā labdhvā paritoṣam eti na bhavet tasya kṣudhaḥ śāntaye |
siṃho jambukam aṅkam āgatam api tyaktvā nihanti dvipaṃ
sarvaḥ kṛcchra-gato 'pi vāñchati janaḥ sattvānurūpaṃ phalam

aparaṃ ca, sevya-sevakayor antaraṃ paśya-
lāṅgūla-cālanam adhaś caraṇāvapātaṃ
bhūmau nipatya vadanodara-darśanaṃ ca |
śvā piṇḍadasya kurute gaja-puṅgavas tu
dhīraṃ vilokayati cāṭu-śataiś ca bhuṅkte

kiṃ ca-
yaj jīvyate kṣaṇam api prathitaṃ manuṣyair
vijñāna-vikrama-yaśobhir abhajyamānam |
tan nāma jīvitam iha pravadanti taj-jñāḥ
kāko 'pi jīvati cirāya baliṃ ca bhuṅkte

aparaṃ ca-
yo nātmaje na ca gurau na ca bhṛtya-varge
dīne dayāṃ na kurute na ca bandhu-varge |
kiṃ tasya jīvita-phalena manuṣya-loke
kāko 'pi jīvati cirāya baliṃ ca bhuṅkte

aparam api-
ahita-hita-vicāra-śūnya-buddheḥ
śruti-samayair bahubhir bahiṣkṛtasya |
udara-bharaṇa-mātra-kevalecchoḥ
puruṣa-paśoś ca paśoś ca ko viśeṣaḥ

karaṭako brūte-āvāṃ tāvad apradhānau | tadāpy āvayoḥ kim anayā vicāraṇayā |
damanako brūte-kiyatā kālenāmātyāḥ pradhānatām apradhānatāṃ vā labhante, yataḥ-
na kasyacit kaścid iha svabhāvād
bhavaty udāro 'bhimataḥ khalo vā |
loke gurutvaṃ viparītatāṃ vā
sva-ceṣṭitāny eva naraṃ nayanti

kiṃ ca-
āropyate śilā śaile yatnena mahatā yathā |
nipātyate kṣaṇenādhas tathātmā guṇa-doṣayoḥ

yāty adho 'dhaḥ vrajaty uccair naraḥ svair eva karmabhiḥ |
kūpasya khanitā yadvat prākārasyeva kārakaḥ

tad bhadram | svayatnāyatto hy ātmā sarvasya |
karaṭako brūte-atha bhavān kiṃ bravīti ?
sa āha-ayaṃ tāvat svāmī piṅgalakaḥ kuto 'pi kāraṇāt sa-cakitaḥ parivṛtyopaviṣṭaḥ |
karaṭako brūte-
udīrito 'rthaḥ paśunāpi gṛhyate hayāś ca nāgāś ca vahanti coditāḥ |
anuktam apy ūhati paṇḍito janaḥ pareṅgita-jñāna-phalā hi buddhayaḥ

ākāra-riṅgatair gatyā ceṣṭayā bhāṣaṇena ca |
netra-vaktra-vikāreṇa lakṣyate'ntargataṃ manaḥ

atra bhaya-prastāve prajñā-balenāham enaṃ svāminam ātmīyaṃ kariṣyāmi | yataḥ-
prastāva-sadṛśaṃ vākyaṃ sad-bhāva-sadṛśaṃ priyam |
ātma-śakti-samaṃ kopaṃ yo jānāti sa paṇḍitaḥ

karaṭako brūte-sakhe tvaṃ sevānabhijñaḥ | paśya-
anāhūto viśed yas tu apṛṣṭo bahu bhāṣate |
ātmānaṃ manyate prītaṃ bhū-pālasya sa durmatiḥ

damanako brūte-bhadra ! katham ahaṃ sevānabhijñaḥ ? paśya-
kim apy asti svabhāvena sundaraṃ vāpy asundaram |
yad eva rocate yasmai bhavet tat tasya sundaram

yataḥ-
yasya yasya hi yo bhāvas tena tena hi taṃ naram |
anupraviśya medhāvī kṣipram ātma-vaśaṃ nayet

anyac ca-
ko 'trety aham iti brūyāt samyag ādeśayeti ca |
ājñām avitathāṃ kuryād yathā-śakti mahīpateḥ

aparaṃ ca-
alpecchur dhṛtimān prājñaś chāyevānugataḥ sadā |
ādiṣṭo na vikalpeta sa rāja-vasatiṃ vaset

karaṭako brūte-kadācit tvām anavasara-praveśād avagamyate svāmī |
sa cāha-astv evam | tathāpy anujīvinā svāmi-sāṃnidhyam avaśyaṃ karaṇīyam |
yataḥ-
doṣa-bhīter anārambhas tat kāpuruṣa-lakṣaṇam |
kair ajīrṇa-bhayād bhrātar bhojanaṃ parihīyate

paśya-
āsannam eva nṛpatir bhajate manuṣyaṃ vidyā-vihīnam akulīnam asaṃstutaṃ vā |
prāyeṇa bhūmi-patayaḥ pramadā-latāś ca yaḥ pārśvato vasati taṃ pariveṣṭayanti

karaṭako brūte-atha tatra gatvā kiṃ vakṣyati bhavān |
sa āha-śṛṇu ! kim anurakto virakto vā mayi svāmīti jñāsyāmi |
karaṭako brūte-kiṃ taj jñāna-lakṣaṇam |
damanako brūte-śṛṇu-
dūrād avekṣaṇaṃ hāsaḥ sampraśneṣv ādaro bhṛśam |
parokṣe'pi guṇa-ślāghā smaraṇaṃ priya-vastuṣu

asevake cānuraktir dānaṃ sa-priya-bhāṣaṇam |
anuraktasya cihnāni doṣe'pi guṇa-saṅgrahaḥ

anyac ca--
kāla-yāpanam āśānāṃ vardhanaṃ phala-khaṇḍanam |
virakteśvara-cihnāni jānīyān matimān naraḥ

etaj jñātvā yathā cāyaṃ mamāyatto bhaviṣyati | tathā vadiṣyāmi |
apāyasaṃ darśanajāṃ vipattim
upāya-sandarśana-jāṃ ca siddhim |
medhāvino nīti-vidhi-prayuktāṃ
puraḥ sphurantīm iva darśayanti

karaṭako brūte-tathāpy aprāpte prastāve na vaktum arhasi, yataḥ-
aprāpta-kālaṃ vacanaṃ bṛhaspatir api bruvan |
labhate buddhy-avajñānam avamānaṃ ca bhārata

damanako brūte-mitra ! mā bhaiṣīḥ ! nāham aprāptāvasaraṃ vacanaṃ vadiṣyāmi | yataḥ-
āpady unmārga-gamane kārya-kālātyayeṣu ca |
apṛṣṭo 'pi hitānveṣī brūyāt kalyāṇa-bhāṣitam

yadi ca prāptāvasareṇāpi mayā mantro na vaktavyas tadā mantritvam eva mamānupapannam | yataḥ-
kalpayati yena vṛttiṃ yena ca loke praśasyate |
sa guṇas tena guṇinā rakṣyaḥ saṃvardhanīyaś ca

tad bhadra ! anujānīhi mām | gacchāmi |
karaṭako brūte-śubham astu | śivās te panthānaḥ | yathābhilaṣitam anuṣṭhīyatām iti |
tato damanako vismita iva piṅgalaka-samīpaṃ gataḥ | atha dūrād eva sādaraṃ rājñā praveśitaḥ sāṣṭāṅga-praṇipātaṃ praṇipatyopaviṣṭaḥ | rājāha-cirād dṛṣṭo 'si |
damanako brūte-yadyapi mayā sevakena śrīmad-devapādānāṃ na kiṃcit prayojanam asti, tathāpi prāpta-kālam anujīvinā sāṃnidhyam avaśyaṃ kartavyam ity āgato 'smi | kiṃ ca-
dantasya nirgharṣaṇakena rājan
karṇasya kaṇḍūyanakena vāpi |
tṛṇena kāryaṃ bhavatīśvarāṇāṃ
kim aṅga-vāk-pāṇi-matā nareṇa

yadyapi cireṇāvadhīritasya deva-pādair me buddhi-nāśaḥ śakyate, tad api na śaṅkanīyam | yataḥ-
kadarthitasyāpi ca dhairya-vṛtter
buddher vināśo nahi śaṅkanīyaḥ |
adhaḥ-kṛtasyāpi tanūnapāto
nādhaḥ śikhā yāti kadācid eva

deva ! tat sarvathā viśeṣajñena svāminā bhavitavyam | yataḥ-
maṇir luṭhati pādeṣu kācaḥ śirasi dhāryate |
yathaivāste tathaivāstāṃ kācaḥ kāco maṇir maṇiḥ

anyac ca-
nirviśeṣo yadā rājā samaṃ sarveṣu vartate |
tadodyama-samarthānām utsāhaḥ parihīyate

kiṃ ca-
trividhāḥ puruṣā rājann uttamādhama-madhyamāḥ |
niyojayet tathaivaitāṃs trividheṣv eva karmasu

yataḥ-
sthāna eva nijyojyante bhṛtyāś cābharaṇāni ca |
nahi cūḍāmaṇiḥ pāde nūpuraṃ śirasā kṛtam

api ca-
kanaka-bhūṣaṇa-saṅgrahaṇocito yadi maṇis trapuṇi praṇidhīyate |
na sa virauti na cāpi na śobhate bhavati yojayitur vacanīyatā

anyac ca-
mukuṭe ropitā kācaś caraṇābharaṇe maṇiḥ |
nahi doṣo maṇer asti kintu sādhor avijñatā

paśya-
buddhimān anurakto 'yam ayaṃ śūra ito bhayam |
iti bhṛtya-vicārajño bhṛtyair āpūryate nṛpaḥ

tathā hi-
aśvaḥ śastraṃ śāstraṃ vīṇā vāṇī naraś ca nārī ca |
puruṣa-viśeṣaṃ prāptā bhavanty ayogyāś ca yogyāś ca

anyac ca-
kiṃ bhaktenāsamarthena kiṃ śaktenāpakāriṇā |
bhaktaṃ śaktaṃ ca māṃ rājan nāvajñātuṃ tvam arhasi

yataḥ-
avajñānād rājño bhavati mati-hīnaḥ parijanas
tatas tat-prāmāṇyād bhavati na samīpe budha-janaḥ |
budhais tyakte rājye na hi bhavati nītir guṇavatī
vipannāyāṃ nītau sakalam avaśaṃ sīdati jagat

aparaṃ ca-
janaṃ janapadā nityam arcayanti nṛpārcitam |
nṛpeṇāvamato yas tu sa sarvair avamanyate

kiṃ ca-
bālād api gṛhītavyaṃ yuktam uktaṃ manīṣibhiḥ |
raver aviṣaye kiṃ na pradīpasya prakāśanam

piṅgalako 'vadat-bhadra damanaka ! kim etat ? tvam asmadīya-pradhānāmātya-putra iyantaṃ kālaṃ yāvat kuto 'pi khala-vākyān nāgato 'si | idānīṃ yathābhimataṃ brūhi |
damanako brūte-deva ! pṛcchāmi kiṃcit | ucyatām | udakārthī svāmī pānīyam apītvā kim iti vismita iva tiṣṭhati |
piṅgalako 'vadat-bhadram uktaṃ tvayā | kintv etad rahasyaṃ vaktuṃ kācid viśvāsa-bhūmir nāsti | tathāpi nibhṛtaṃ kṛtvā kathayāmi | śṛṇu, samprati vanam idam apūrva-sattvādhiṣṭhitam ato 'smākaṃ tyājyam | anena hetunā vismito 'smi | tathā ca śruto mayāpi mahān apūrva-śabdaḥ | śabdānurūpeṇāsya prāṇino mahatā balena bhavitavyam |
damanako brūte-deva ! asti tāvad ayaṃ mahān bhaya-hetuḥ | sa śabdo 'syābhir apy ākarṇitaḥ | kintu sa kiṃ mantrī yaḥ prathamaṃ bhūmi-tyāgaṃ paścād yuddhaṃ copaviśati asmin kārya-sandehe bhṛtyānām upayoga eva jñātavyaḥ | yataḥ-
bandhu-strī-bhṛtya-vargasya buddheḥ sattvasya cātmanaḥ |
āpan-nikaṣa-pāṣāṇe naro jānāti sāratām

siṃho brūte-bhadra ! mahatī śaṅkā māṃ bādhate |
damanakaḥ punar āha svagatam-anyathā rājya-sukhaṃ parityajya sthānāntaraṃ gantuṃ kathaṃ māṃ sambhāṣase ? prakāśaṃ brūte-deva ! yāvad ahaṃ jīvāmi tāvad bhayaṃ na kartavyam | kintu karaṭakādayo 'py āśvāsyantāṃ yasmād āpat-pratīkāra-kāle durlabhah puruṣa-samavāyaḥ |
tatas tau damanaka-karaṭakau rājñā sarvasvenāpi pūjitau bhaya-pratīkāraṃ pratijñāya calitau | karaṭako gacchan damanakam āha-sakhe ! kiṃ śaktya-pratīkāro bhaya-hetur aśakya-pratīkāro veti na jñātvā bhayopaśamaṃ pratijñāya katham ayaṃ mahā-prasādo gṛhītaḥ ? yato 'nupakurvāṇo na kasyāpy upāyanaṃ gṛhṇīyād viśeṣato rājñaḥ | paśya-
yasya prasāde padmāste vijayaś ca parākrame |
mṛtyuś ca vasati krodhe sarva-tejomayo hi saḥ

tathā hi-
bālo 'pi nāvamantavyo manuṣya iti bhūmipaḥ |
mahatī devatā hy eṣā nara-rūpeṇa tiṣṭhati

damanako vihasyāha-mitra ! tūṣṇīm āsyatām | jñātaṃ mayā bhaya-kāraṇam | balīvarda-narditaṃ tat | vṛṣabhāś cāsmākam api bhakṣyāḥ | kiṃ punaḥ siṃhasya |
karaṭako brūte-yady evaṃ tadā kim punaḥ svāmi-trāsas tatraiva kim iti nāpanītaḥ |
damanako brūte-yadi svāmi-trāsas tatraiva mucyate tadā katham ayaṃ mahā-prasāda-lābhaḥ syāt | aparaṃ ca-
nirapekṣo na kartavyo bhṛtyai svāmī kadācana |
nirapekṣaṃ prabhuṃ kṛtvā bhṛtyaḥ syād dadhi-karṇavat

karaṭakaḥ pṛcchati--katham etat ?
damanakaḥ kathayati-
kathā 3
asty uttara-pathe'rbudaśikhara-nāmni parvate durdānto nāma mahā-vikramaḥ siṃhaḥ | tasya parvata-kandaram adhiśayānasya kesarāgraṃ kaścin mūṣikaḥ pratyahaṃ chinatti | tataḥ kesarāgraṃ lūnaṃ dṛṣṭvā kupito vivarāntargataṃ mūṣikam alabhamāno 'cintayat-
kṣudra-śatrur bhaved yas tu vikramān naiva labhyate |
tam āhantuṃ puraskāryaḥ sadṛśas tasya sainikaḥ

ity ālocya tena grāmaṃ gatvā viśvāsaṃ kṛtvā dadhikarṇa-nāmā biḍālo yatnevānīya māṃsāhāraṃ dattvā sva-kandare sthāpitaḥ | anantaraṃ tad-bhayān mūṣiko 'pi vilān na niḥsarati | tenāsau siṃho 'kṣata-keśaraḥ sukhaṃ svapiti | mūṣika-śabdaṃ yadā yadā śṛṇoti, tadā tadā māṃsāhāra-dānena taṃ biḍālaṃ saṃvardhayati |
ājñā-bhaṅgo narendrāṇāṃ brāhmaṇānām anādaraḥ |
pṛthak śayyā ca nārīṇām aśastra-vihito vadhaḥ

tato deśa-vyavahārānabhijñaḥ saṃjīvakaḥ sabhayam upasṛtya sāṣṭāṅga-pātaṃ karaṭakaṃ praṇatavān | tathā coktam-
matir eva balād garīyasī yad-abhāve kariṇām iyaṃ daśā |
iti ghoṣayatīva ḍiṇḍimaḥ kariṇo hastipakāhataḥ kvaṇan

atha saṃjīvakaḥ sāśaṅkam āha-senāpate ! kiṃ mayā kartavyam | tad abhidhīyatām |
karaṭako brūte-vṛṣabha ! atra kānane tiṣṭhasi | asmad-deva-pādāravindaṃ praṇaya |
saṃjīvako brūte-tad-abhaya-vācaṃ me yaccha | gacchāmi |
karaṭako brūte-śṛṇu re balīvarda ! alam anayā śaṅkayā | yataḥ-
prativācam adatta keśavaḥ śapamānāya na cedi-bhūbhuje |
anuhuṅkurute ghana-dhvaniṃ na hi gomāyu-rutāni kesarī

anyac ca-
tṛṇāni nonmūlayati prabhañjano
mṛdūni nīcaiḥ praṇalāni sarvataḥ |
samucchritān eva tarūn prabādhate
mahān mahaty eva karoti vikramam

tatas tau saṃjīvakaṃ kiyad dūre saṃsthāpya piṅgalaka-samīpaṃ gatau | tato rājā sādaram avalokitau praṇamyopaviṣṭau | rājāha-tvayā sa dṛṣṭaḥ ?
damanako brūte-deva ! dṛṣṭaḥ | kintu yad devena jñātaṃ tat tathā | mahān evāsau devaṃ draṣṭum icchati | kintu mahābalo 'sau tataḥ sajjībhūyopaviśya dṛśyatām | śabda-mātrād eva na bhetavyam | tathā coktam-
śabda-mātrān na bhetavyam ajñātvā śabda-kāraṇam |
śabda-hetuṃ parijñāya kuṭṭanī gauravaṃ gatā

rājāha-katham etat ?
damanakaḥ kathayati---
kathā 4
asti śrī-parvata-madhye brahmapurākhyaṃ nagaram | tac-chikhara-pradeśe ghaṇṭākarṇo nāma rākṣasaḥ prativasatīti jana-pravādaḥ śrūyate | ekadā ghaṇṭām ādāya palāyamānaḥ kaścic cauro vyāghreṇa vyāpāditaḥ | tat-pāṇi-patitā ghaṇṭā vānaraiḥ prāptā | vānarās tāṃ ghaṇṭām anukṣaṇaṃ vādayanti | tato nagara-janaiḥ sa manuṣyaḥ khādito dṛṣṭaḥ pratikṣaṇaṃ ghaṇṭā-ravaś ca śrūyate | anantaraṃ ghaṇṭākarṇaḥ kupito manuṣyān khādati ghaṇṭāṃ ca vādayatīty uktvā sarve janā nagarāt palāyitāḥ | tataḥ karālayā nāma kuṭṭanyā vimṛśyānavaro 'yaṃ ghaṇṭā-nādaḥ | tat kiṃ markaṭā ghaṇṭāṃ vādayantīti svayaṃ vijñāya rājā vijñāpitaḥ-deva ! yadi kiyad dhanopakṣayaḥ kriyate, tadāham
enaṃ ghaṇṭākarṇaṃ sādhayāmi |
tato rājā tasyai dhanaṃ dattam | kuṭṭanyā maṇḍalaṃ kṛtvā tatra gaṇeśādi-pūjā-gauravaṃ darśayitvā svayaṃ vānara-priya-phalāny ādāya vanaṃ praviśya phalāny ākīrṇāni | tato ghaṇṭāṃ parityajya vānarāḥ phalāsaktā babhūvuḥ | kuṭṭanī ca ghaṇṭāṃ gṛhītvā nagaram āgatā sarva-jana-pūjyābhavat | ato 'haṃ bravīmi-śabda-mātrān na bhetavyam ity ādi | tataḥ saṃjīvakam ānīya darśanaṃ kāritavantau | paścāt tatraiva parama-prītyā nivasati |
--o)0(o--
atha kadācit tasya siṃhasya bhrātā stabdha-karṇa-nāmā siṃhaḥ samāgataḥ | tasyātithyaṃ kṛtvā siṃham upaveśya piṅgalakas tad-āhārāya paśuṃ hantuṃ calitaḥ | atrāntare saṃjīvako vadati-deva ! adya hata-mṛgāṇāṃ māṃsāni kva ?
rājāha-damanaka-karaṭakau jānītaḥ |
saṃjīvako brūte-jñāyatāṃ kim asti nāsti vā ?
siṃho vimṛśyāha-nāsty eva tat |
saṃjīvako brūte-katham etāvan māṃsaṃ tābhyāṃ khāditam ?
rājāha-khāditaṃ vyayitam avadhīritaṃ ca | pratyaham eṣa kramaḥ |
saṃjīvako brūte-kathaṃ śrīmad-deva-pādānāṃ agocareṇaiva kriyate ?
rājāha-madīyāgocareṇaiva kriyate |
atha saṃjīvako brūte-naitad ucitam | tathā coktam-
nānivedya prakurvīta bhartuḥ kiṃcid api svayam |
kāryam āpat-pratīkārād anyatra jagatī-pate

anyac ca-
kamaṇḍalūpamo 'mātyas tanu-tyāgī bahu-grahaḥ |
nṛpate kiṅkṣaṇo mūrkho daridraḥ kiṃvarāṭakaḥ

sa hy amātyaḥ sadā śreyān kākinīṃ yaḥ pravardhayet |
koṣaḥ koṣavataḥ prāṇāḥ prāṇāḥ prāṇā na bhūpateḥ

kiṃ cārthair na kulācāraiḥ sevatām eti pūruṣaḥ |
dhana-hīnaḥ sva-patnyāpi tyajyate kiṃ punaḥ paraiḥ

etac ca rājñaḥ pradhānaṃ dūṣaṇam-
ativyayo 'napekṣā ca tathārjanam adharmataḥ |
moṣaṇaṃ dūra-saṃsthānāṃ koṣa-vyasanam ucyate

yataḥ-
kṣipram āyatam anālocya vyayamānaḥ sva-vāñchayā |
parikṣīyata evāsau dhanī vaiśravaṇopamaḥ

stabdhakarṇo brūte-śṛṇu bhrātaḥ cirāśritād etau damanaka-karaṭakau sandhi-vigraha-kāryādhikāriṇau ca kadācid arthādhikāre na niyoktavyau | aparaṃ ca niyoga-prastāve yan mayā śrutaṃ tat kathyate |
brāhmaṇaḥ kṣatriyo bandhur nādhikāre praśasyate |
brāhmaṇaḥ siddham apy arthaṃ kṛcchreṇāpi na yacchati

niyuktaḥ kṣatriyo dravye khaḍgaṃ darśayate dhruvam |
sarvasvaṃ grasate bandhur ākramya jñāti-bhāvataḥ

aparādhe'pi niḥśaṅko niyogī cira-sevakaḥ |
sa svāminam avajñāya carec ca niravagrahaḥ

upakartādhikāra-sthaḥ svāparādhaṃ na manyate |
upakāraṃ dhvajī-kṛtya sarvam eva vilumpati

upaṃśu-krīḍito 'mātyaḥ svayaṃ rājāyate yataḥ |
avajñā kriyate tena sadā paricayād dhruvam

antar-duṣṭaḥ kṣamā-yuktaḥ sarvānartha-karaḥ kila |
śakuniḥ śakaṭāraś ca dṛṣṭāntāv atra bhūpate

sadāmatyo na sādhyaḥ syāt samṛddhaḥ sarva eva hi |
siddhānām ayam ādeśaḥ ṛddhiś citta-vikāriṇī

prāptārtha-grahaṇaṃ dravya-parīvarto 'nurodhanam |
upekṣā buddhi-hīnatvaṃ bhogo 'mātyasya dūṣaṇam

niyogy artha-grahopāyo rājñā nitya-parīkṣaṇam |
pratipatti-pradānaṃ ca tathā karma-viparyayaḥ

nipīḍitā vamanty uccair antaḥ-sāraṃ mahīpateḥ |
duṣṭa-vraṇā iva prāyo bhavanti hi niyoginaḥ

muhur niyoginī bādhyā vasudhārā mahīpate |
sakṛt kiṃ pīḍitaṃ snāna-vastraṃ muñced dhṛtaṃ payaḥ

etat sarvaṃ yathāvasaraṃ jñātvā vyavahartavyam |
siṃho brūte-asti tāvad evam | kintv etau sarvathā na mama vacana-kāriṇau |
stabdhakarṇo brūte-etat sarvam anucitaṃ sarvathā | yataḥ-
ājñā-bhaṅga-karān rājā na kṣameta sutān api |
viśeṣaḥ ko nu rājñaś ca rājñaś citra-gatasya ca

stabdhasya naśyati yaśo viṣam asya maitrī
naṣṭendriyasya kulam artha-parasya dharmaḥ |
vidyā-phalaṃ vyasaninaḥ kṛpaṇasya saukhyaṃ
rājyaṃ pramatta-sacivasya narādhipasya

aparaṃ ca-
taskarebhyo niyuktebhyaḥ śatrubhyo nṛpa-vallabhāt |
nṛpatir nija-lobhāc ca prajā rakṣet piteva hi

bhrātaḥ ! sarvathāsmad-vacanaṃ kriyatām | vyavahāro 'py asmābhiḥ kṛta eva | ayaṃ saṃjīvakaḥ sasya-bhakṣako 'rthādhikāre niyujyatām |
etad-vacanāt tathānuṣṭhite sati tad ārabhya piṅgalaka-saṃjīvakayoḥ sarva-bandhu-parityāgena mahatā snehena kālo 'tivartate | tato 'nujīvinām apyāhāra-dāne śaithilya-darśanād damanaka-karaṭakāv anyonyaṃ cintayataḥ | tad āha damanakaḥ karaṭakam-mitra ! kiṃ kartavyam ? ātma-kṛto 'yaṃ doṣaḥ | svayaṃ kṛte'pi doṣe paridevanam apy anucitam | tathā coktam-
svarṇa-rekhām ahaṃ spṛṣṭvā baddhvātmānaṃ ca dūtikā |
āditsuś ca maṇiṃ sādhuḥ sva-doṣād duḥkhitā ime

karaṭako brūte--katham etat ?
damanakaḥ kathayati-
kathā 5
asti kāñcanapura-nāmni nagare vīravikramo rājā | tasya dharmādhikāriṇā kaścin nāpito vadhya-bhūmiṃ nīyamānaḥ kandarpaketu-nāmnā parivrājakena sādhu-dvitīyakena nāyaṃ hantavyaḥ ity uktvā vastrāñcalena dhṛtaḥ | rāja-puruṣā ūcuḥ-kim iti nāyaṃ vadhyaḥ |
sa āha-śrūyatām | svarṇa-rekhām ahaṃ spṛṣṭvā ity ādi paṭhati |
ta āhuḥ--katham etat ?
parivrājakaḥ kathayati-ahaṃ siṃhala-dvīpasya bhūpater jīmūtaketaḥ putraḥ dandarpaketur nāma | madhye caturdaśyām āvirbhūta-kalpataru-tale ratnāvalī-kiraṇa-kabūtara-paryaṅka-sthitā sarvālaṅkāra-bhūṣitā lakṣmīr iva vīnāṃ vādayantī kanyā kācid dṛśyate iti | tato 'haṃ pota-vṇijam ādāya potam āruhya tatra gataḥ | anantaraṃ tatra gatvā paryaṅke'dhamagrā tathaiva sāvalokitā | tatas tal-lāvaṇya-guṇākṛṣṭena mayāpi tat-paścāj jhampo dattaḥ | tad-anantaraṃ kanakapattanaṃ prāpya suvarṇa-prāsāde tathaiva paryaṅke sthitā vidyādharībhir upāsyamānā mayālokitā | tathāpy ahaṃ dūrād eva dṛṣṭvā sakhīṃ prasthāpya sādaraṃ sambhāṣitaḥ | tat-sakhyā ca mayā pṛṣṭayā samākhyātam-eṣā kandarpakeli-nāmno vidyādhara-cakravartinaḥ
putrī ratnamañjarī nāma pratijñāpitā vidyate | yaḥ kanakavartanaṃ sva-cakṣuṣāgatya paśyati, sa eva pitur agocaro 'pi māṃ pariṇeṣyatīti manasaḥ saṅkalpaḥ | tad enāṃ gāndharva-vivāhena pariṇayatu bhavān |
atha tatra vṛtte gandharva-vivāhe tathā saha ramamāṇas tatrāhaṃ tiṣṭhāmi | tata ekadā rahasi tayoktam-svāmin ! svecchayā sarvam idam upabhoktavyam | eṣā citra-gatā svarṇa-rekhā nāma vidyādharī na kadācit spraṣṭavyā | paścād upajāta-kautukena mayā svarṇarekhā sva-hastena spṛṣṭā | tathā citratayāpy ahaṃ caraṇa-padmena tāḍita āgatya sva-rāṣṭre patitaḥ |
atha duḥkhito 'haṃ parivrajitaḥ pṛthivīṃ paribhrāmyann imāṃ ngarīm anuprāptaḥ | atra cātikānte divase gopa-gṛhe suptaḥ sann apaśyam | pradoṣa-samaye paśūnāṃ pālanaṃ kṛtvā sva-geham āgato gopaḥ sva-vadhūṃ dūtyā saha kim api mantrayantīm apaśyat | tatas tāṃ gopīṃ tāḍayitvā stambhe baddhvā suptaḥ | tato 'rdha-rātre etasya nāpitasya vadhūr dūtī punas tāṃ gopīm upetyāvadat-tava virahānala-dagdho 'sau smara-śara-jarjarito mumūrṣur iva vartate | tathā coktam-
rajanī-cara-nāthena khaṇḍite timire niśi |
yūnāṃ manāṃsi vivyādha dṛṣṭvā dṛṣṭvā manobhavaḥ

tasya tādṛśīm avasthām avalokya parikliṣṭa-manās tvām anuvartitum āgatā | tad aham atrātmānaṃ baddhvā tiṣṭhāmi | tvaṃ tatra gatvā taṃ santoṣya satvaram āgamiṣyasi | tathānuṣṭhite sati sa gopaḥ prabuddho 'vadat-idānīṃ tvāṃ pāpiṣṭhāṃ jārāntikaṃ nayāmi | tato yadāsau na kiṃcid api brūte tadā kruddho gopaḥ-darpān mama vacasi pratyuttaram api na dadāsi ity uktvā kopena tena kartarikāmādāyāsyā nāsikā chinnā | tathā kṛtvā punaḥ supto gopo nidrām upagataḥ | athāgatya gopī dūtīm apṛcchat-kā vārtā ?
dūtyoktam-paśya mām | mukham eva vārtāṃ kathayati |
anantaraṃ sā gopī tathā kṛtvātmānaṃ baddhvā sthitā | iyaṃ ca dūtī tāṃ chinna-nāsikāṃ gṛhītvā sva-gṛhaṃ praviśya sthitā | tataḥ prātar evānena nāpitena sva-vadhūḥ kṣura-bhāṇḍaṃ yācitā satī kṣuram ekaṃ prādāt | tato 'samagra-bhāṇḍe prāpte samupajāta-kopo 'yaṃ nāpitas taṃ kṣuraṃ dūrād eva gṛhe kṣiptavān | atha kṛtārtarāyeyaṃ me nāsikānena chinnety uktvā dharmādhikāri-samīpam etam ānītavatī | sā ca gopī tena gopena punaḥ pṛṣṭovāca-are pāpa ! ko māṃ mahāsatī virūpayituṃ samarthaḥ | mama vyavahāram akalmaṣam aṣṭau lokapālā eva jānanti, yataḥ-
āditya-candrāvanilānalaś ca
dyaur bhūmir āpo hṛdayaṃ yamaś ca |
ahaś ca rātriś ca ubhe ca sandhye
dharmaś ca jānāti narasya vṛttam

atathyāny api tathyāni darśayanti hi peśalāḥ |
same nimnonnatānīva citra-karma-vido janāḥ

utpanneṣu ca kāryeṣu matir yasya na hīyate |
sa nistarati durgāṇi gopī jāra-dvayaṃ yathā

karaṭakaḥ pṛcchati-katham etat ?
kathā 6
damanakaḥ kathayati-asti dvāravatyāṃ puryāṃ kasyacid gopasya vadhūr bandhakī | sā grāmasya daṇḍa-nāyakena tat-putreṇa ca samaṃ ramate | tathā coktam-
nāgnis tṛpyati kāṣṭhānāṃ nāpagānāṃ mahodadhiḥ |
nāntakaḥ sarva-bhūtānāṃ na puṃsāṃ vāma-locanā

na dānena na mānena nārjavena na sevayā |
na śastreṇa na śāstreṇa sarvathā viṣamāḥ striyaḥ

yataḥ-
guṇāśrayaṃ kīrti-yutaṃ ca kāntaṃ
patiṃ ratijñaṃ sadhanaṃ yuvānam |
vihāya śīghraṃ vanitā vrajanti
narāntaraṃ śīla-guṇādi-hīnam

aparaṃ ca-
na tādṛśīṃ prītim upaiti nārī
vicitra-śayyā śayitāpi kāmam |
yathā hi dūrvādi-vikīrṇa-bhūmau
prayāti saukhyaṃ para-kānti-saṅgāt

atha kadācit sā daṇḍa-nāyaka-putreṇa saha ramamāṇā tiṣṭhati | atha daṇḍa-nāyako 'pi rantuṃ tatrāgataḥ | tam āyāntaṃ dṛṣṭvā tat-putraṃ kusūle nikṣipya daṇḍanāyakena saha tathaiva krīḍati | anantaraṃ tasya bhartā gopo goṣṭhāt samāgataḥ | tam avalokya gopyoktam-daṇḍanāyaka ! tvaṃ laguḍaṃ gṛhītvā kopaṃ darśayan satvaraṃ gaccha | tathā tenānuṣṭhite gopena gṛham āgatya pṛṣṭhā-kena kāryeṇa daṇḍanāyakaḥ samāgatyātra sthitaḥ ?
sā brūte-anyaṃ kenāpi kāryeṇa putrasyopari kruddhaḥ | sa ca māryamāṇo 'py atrāgatya praviṣṭo mayā kusūle nikṣipya rakṣitaḥ | tat-pitrā cānviṣyātra na dṛṣṭaḥ | ata evāyaṃ daṇḍanāyakaḥ kruddha eva gacchati |
tataḥ sā tat-putraṃ kuṣulād bahiṣkṛtya darśitavatī | tathā coktam-
āhāro dviguṇaḥ strīṇāṃ buddhis tāsāṃ catur-guṇā |
ṣaḍ-guṇo vyavasāyaś ca kāmāś cāṣṭaguṇaḥ smṛtaḥ

ato 'haṃ bravīmi-utapanneṣv api kāryeṣu ity ādi |
karaṭako brūte-astv evam | kintv anayor mahānanyognya-nisargopajāta-sneha kathaṃ bhedayituṃ śakyaḥ ?
damanako brūte-upāyaḥ kriyatām | tathā coktam-
upāyena jayo yādṛg ripos tādṛṅ na hetibhiḥ |
upāya-jño 'lpa-kāyo 'pi na śūraiḥ paribhūyate

karaṭakaḥ pṛcchati-katham etat ?
damanakaḥ kathayati--
kathā 7
kasmiṃścit tarau vāyasa-dampatī nivasataḥ | tayoś cāpṛtyāni tat-koṭarāvasthitena kṛṣṇa-sarpeṇa khāditāni | tataḥ punar garbhavatī vāyasī vāyasm āha-nātha ! tyajyatām ayaṃ vṛkṣaḥ | atrāvasthita-kṛṣṇa-sarpeṇāvayoḥ santatiḥ satataṃ bhakṣyate | yataḥ-
duṣṭā bhāryā śaṭhaṃ mitraṃ bhṛtyaś cottara-dāyakaḥ |
sa-sarpe ca gṛhe vāso mṛtyur eva na saṃśayaḥ

vāyaso brūte-priye ! na bhetavyam | vāraṃ vāraṃ mavaitasya soḍhaḥ | idānīṃ punar na kṣantavyaḥ |
vāyasy āha-katham etena balavatā sārdhe bhavān vigrahītuṃ samarthaḥ |
vāyaso brūte-alam anayā śaṅkayā | yataḥ-
buddhir yasya balaṃ tasya nirbuddhes tu kuto balam |
paśya siṃho madonmattaḥ śaśakena nipātitaḥ

vāyasī vihasyāha--katham etat ?
vāyasaḥ kathayati-
kathā 8
asti mandara-nāmni parvate durdānto nāma siṃhaḥ | sa ca sarvadā paśūnāṃ vadhaṃ kurvann āste | tataḥ sarvaiḥ paśubhir militvā sa siṃho vijñaptaḥ-mṛgendra ! kim artham ekadā bahu-paśu-ghātaḥ kriyate | yadi prasādo bhavati tadā vayam eva bhavad-āhārāya pratyaham ekaikaṃ paśum upaḍhaukayāmaḥ |
tataḥ siṃhenoktam-yady etad abhimataṃ bhavatāṃ tarhi bhavatu tat |
tataḥ-prabhṛty ekaikaṃ paśum upakalpitaṃ bhakṣayann āste | atha kadācid vṛddha-śaśakasya vāraḥ samāyātaḥ | so 'cintayat-
trāsa-hetor vinītis tu kriyate jīvitāśayā |
pañcatvaṃ ced gamiṣyāmi kiṃ siṃhānunayena me

tan mandaṃ mandaṃ gacchāmi | tataḥ siṃho 'pi kṣudhā-pīḍitaḥ kopāt tam uvāca-kutas tvaṃ vilambya samāgato 'si |
śaśako 'bravīt-deva ! nāham aparādhī | āgacchan pathi siṃhāntareṇa balād dhṛtaḥ | tasyāgre punar āgamanāya śapathaṃ kṛtvā svāminaṃ nivedayitum atrāgato 'sim |
siṃhaḥ sakopam āha-satvaraṃ gatvā durātmānaṃ darśaya | kva sa durātmā tiṣṭhati |
tataḥ śaśakas taṃ gṛhītvā gabhīra-kūpaṃ darśayituṃ gataḥ | tatrāgatya svayam eva paśyatu svāmīty uktvā tasmin kūpa-jale tasya siṃhasyaiva pratibimbaṃ darśitavān | tato 'sau krodhādhmāto darpāt tasyopary ātmānaṃ nikṣipya pañcatvaṃ gataḥ | ato 'haṃ bravīmi buddhir yasya ity ādi |
vāyasy āha-śrutaṃ mayā sarvam | samprati yathā kartavyaṃ brūhi |
vāyaso 'vadat-atrāsanne sarasi rāja-putraḥ pratyaham āgatya snāti | snāna-samaye mad-aṅgād avatāritaṃ tīrtha-śilā-nihitaṃ kanaka-sūtraṃ cañcvā vidhṛtyānīyāsmin koṭare dhārayiṣyasi |
atha kadācit snātuṃ jalaṃ praviṣṭe rāja-putre vāyasyā tad-anuṣṭhitam | atha kanaka-sūtrānusaraṇa-pravṛttai rāja-puruṣais tatra taru-koṭare kṛṣṇa-sarpo dṛṣṭo vyāpāditaś ca | ato 'haṃ bravīmi-upāyena hi yac chakyam itena hi yac chakyam ity ādi |
karaṭako brūte-yady evaṃ tarhi gaccha | śivās te santu panthānaḥ |
tato damanakaḥ piṅgalaka-samīpaṃ gatvā praṇamyovāca-deva ! ātyantikaṃ kim api mahā-bhaya-kāri kāryaṃ manyamānaḥ samāgato 'smi | yataḥ-
āpady unmārga-gamane kārya-kālātyayeṣu ca |
kalyāṇa-vacanaṃ brūyād apṛṣṭo 'pi hito naraḥ

anyac ca-
bhogasya bhājanaṃ rājā na rājā kārya-bhājanam |
rāja-kārya-paridhvaṃsī mantrī doṣeṇa lipyate

tathā hi paśya | amātyānām eṣa kramaḥ |
varaṃ prāṇa-parityāgaḥ śirasā vāpi kartanam |
na tu svāmi-padāvāpti-pātakecchor upekṣaṇam

piṅgalakaḥ sādaram āha-atha bhavān kiṃ vaktum icchati |
damanako brūte-deva ! saṃjīvakas tavopaya-sadṛśa-vyavahārīva lakṣyate | tathā cāsmat sannidhāne śrīmad-deva-pādānāṃ śakti-traya-nindāṃ kṛtvā rājyam evābhilaṣati |
etac chrutvā, piṅgalakaḥ sabhayaṃ sāścaryaṃ matvā tūṣṇīṃ sthitaḥ | damanakaḥ punar āha-deva ! sarvāmātya-parityāgaṃ kṛtvaika evāyaṃ yat tvāṃ sarvādhikārī kṛtaḥ | sa eva doṣaḥ | yataḥ-
atyucchrite mantriṇi pārthive ca
viṣṭabhya pādāv upatiṣṭhate śrīḥ |
sā strī-svabhāvād asahā bharasya
tayor dvayor ekataraṃ jahāti

aparaṃ ca-
ekaṃ bhūmi-patiḥ karoti sacivaṃ rājye pramāṇaṃ yadā taṃ mohāt śrayate madaḥ sa ca madālasyena nirvidyate |
nirviṇṇasya padaṃ karoti hṛdaye tasya svatantra-spṛhā- svātantrya-spṛhayā tataḥ sa nṛpateḥ prāṇān abhidruhyati

anyac ca-
viṣa-dagdhasya bhaktasya dantasya calitasya ca |
amātyasya ca duṣṭasya mūlād uddharaṇaṃ sukham

kiṃ ca-
yaḥ kuryāt sacivāyattāṃ śriyaṃ tad-vyasane sati |
so 'ndhavaj jagatī-pālaḥ sīdet sañcārakair vinā

sarva-kāryeṣu svecchātaḥ pravartate | tad atra pramāṇaṃ svāmī | etaṃ ca jānāti |
na so 'sti puruṣo loke yo na kāmayate śriyam |
parasya yuvatiṃ ramyāṃ sādaraṃ nekṣate'tra kaḥ

siṃho vimṛśyāha-bhadra ! yadyapy evaṃ tathāpi saṃjīvakena saha mama mahān snehaḥ | paśya-
kurvann api vyalīkāni yaḥ priyaḥ priya eva saḥ |
aśeṣa-doṣa-duṣṭo 'pi kāyaḥ kasya na vallabhaḥ

anyac ca-
apriyāṇy api kurvāṇo yaḥ priyaḥ priya eva saḥ |
dagdha-mandira-sāre'pi kasya vahnāv anādaraḥ

damanakaḥ punare evāha-deva ! sa evātidoṣaḥ, yataḥ-
yasminn evādhikaṃ cakṣur ārohayati pārthivaḥ |
sute'mātye'py udāsīne sa lakṣmyāśrīyate janaḥ

śṛṇu deva !
apriyasyāpi pathyasya pariṇāmaḥ sukhāvahaḥ |
vaktā śrotā ca yatrāsti ramante tatra sampadaḥ

tvayā ca mūla-bhṛtyānapāsyāyam āgantukaḥ puraskṛtaḥ | etac cānucitaṃ kṛtam | yataḥ-
mūla-bhṛtyān parityajya nāgantūn pratimānayet |
nātaḥ parataro doṣo rājya-bheda-karo yataḥ

siṃho brūte-kim āścaryam | mayā yad abhaya-vācaṃ dattvānītaḥ saṃvardhitaś ca tat kathaṃ mahyaṃ druhyati |
damanako brūte-deva !
durjano nārjavaṃ yāti sevyamāno 'pi nityaśaḥ |
sveda-nābhyañjanopāyaiḥ śvapuccham iva nāmitam

aparaṃ ca-
svedito marditaś caiva rañjubhiḥ pariveṣṭitaḥ |
mukto dvādaśabhir varṣaiḥ śva-pucchaḥ prakṛtiṃ gataḥ

anyac ca-
vardhanaṃ vā sammānaṃ khalānāṃ prītaye kutaḥ |
phalanty amṛta-seke'pi na pathyāni viṣa-drumāḥ

ato 'haṃ bravīmi-
apṛṣṭas tasya na brūyād yaś ca necchet parābhavam |
eṣa eva satāṃ dharmo viparīto 'satāṃ mataḥ

tathā coktam-
snigdho 'kuśalān nivārayati yas tat karma yan nirmalaṃ
sā strī yātu-vidhāyinī sa matimān yaḥ sadbhir abhyarcyate |
sā śrīr yā na madaṃ karoti sa sukhī yas tṛṣṇayā mucyate
tan mitraṃ yat kṛtrimaṃ sa puruṣo yaḥ khidyate nendriyaiḥ

yadi sañjīvaka-vyasanādito 'vijñāpito 'pi svāmī na nivartate, tad īdṛśe bhṛtye na doṣaḥ | tathā ca-
nṛpaḥ kāmāsakto gaṇayati na kārye na ca hitaṃ
yatheṣṭaṃ svacchandaḥ pravicarati matto gaja iva |
tato māna-dhmātaḥ sa patati yadā śoka-gahane
tadā bhṛtye doṣān kṣipati na nijaṃ vetty avinayam

piṅgalakaḥ svagatam-
na parasyāparādhena pareṣāṃ daṇḍam ācaret |
ātmanāvagataṃ kṛtvā badhnīyāt pūjayec ca vā

tathā coktam-
guṇa-doṣāv aniścitya vidhinaṃ graha-nigrahe |
sva-nāśāya yathā nyasto darpāt sarpa-mukhe karaḥ

prakāśaṃ brūte-tadā saṃjīvakaḥ kiṃ pratyādiśyatām |
damanakaḥ sa-sambhramam āha-deva ! mā maivam | etāvatā mantra-bhedo jāyate | tathā hy uktam-
mantra-bījam idaṃ guptaṃ rakṣaṇīyaṃ yathā tathā |
manāg api na bhidyeta tad bhinnaṃ na prarohati

kiṃ ca-
ādeyasya pradeyasya kartavyasya ca karmaṇaḥ |
kṣipram akriyamāṇasya kālaḥ pibati tad-rasam

tad avaśyaṃ samārabdhaṃ mahatā prayatnena sampādanīyam | kiṃ ca-
mantro yodhaḥ ivādhīraḥ sarvāṅgaiḥ saṃvṛtair api |
ciraṃ na sahate sthātuṃ parebhyo bheda-śaṅkayā

yady asau dṛṣṭa-doṣo 'pi doṣān nivatyaṃ sandhātavyas tad atīvānucitam | yataḥ-
sakṛd duṣṭaṃ tu yo mitraṃ punaḥ sandhātum icchati |
sa mṛtyur eva gṛhṇāti garbham aśvatarī yathā

aṅgāṅgi-bhāvam ajñātvā kathaṃ sāmarthya-nirṇayaḥ |
paśya ṭiṭṭibha-mātreṇa samudro vyākulīkṛtaḥ

siṃhaḥ pṛcchati--katham etat ?
damanakaḥ kathayati-
kathā 9
dakṣiṇa-samudra-tīre ṭiṭṭibha-dampatī nivasataḥ | tatra cāsanna-prasadā ṭiṭṭibhī bhartāram āha-nātha ! prasava-yogya-sthānaṃ nibhṛtam anusandhīyatām |
ṭiṭṭibho 'vadat-bhārye, nanv idam eva sthānaṃ prasūti-yogyam |
sā brūte-samudra-velayā vyāpyate sthānam etam |
ṭiṭṭibho 'vadat-kim ahaṃ tvayā nirbalaḥ samudreṇa nigrahītavyaḥ |
ṭiṭṭibhī vihasyāha-svāmin ! tvayā samudreṇa ca mahad antaram | athavā-
parābhavaṃ paricchettuṃ yogyāyogyaṃ ca vetti yaḥ |
astīha yasya vijñānaṃ kṛcchreṇāpi na sīdati

api ca-
anucita-kāryārambhaḥ svajana-virodho balīyasā spardhā |
pramadā-jana-viśvāso mṛtyor dvārāṇi catvāri

tataḥ kṛcchreṇa svāmi-vacanātmā tatraiva prasūtā | etat sarvaṃ śrutvā samudreṇāpi yac chakti-jñānārthaṃ tad-aṇḍāny avahṛtāni | tataṣ ṭiṭṭibhī śokārtā bhartāram āha-nātha ! kaṣṭam āpatitam | tāny aṇḍāni me naṣṭāni |
ṭiṭṭibho 'vadat-priye ! mā bhaiṣīḥ ity uktvā pakṣiṇāṃ melakaṃ kṛtvā pakṣi-svāmino garuḍasya samīpaṃ gataḥ | tatra gatvā sakala-vṛttāntaṃ ṭiṭṭibhena bhagavato garuḍasya purato niveditam-deva, samudreṇāhaṃ sva-gṛhāvasthito vināparādhanenaiva nigṛhītaḥ |
tatas tad-vacanam ākarṇya garutmanā prabhur bhagavān nārāyaṇaḥ sṛṣṭi-sthiti-pralaya-hetur vijñaptaḥ | sa samudram aṇḍa-dānāyādideśa | tato bhagavad-ājñāṃ maulau nidhāya samudreṇa tāny aṇḍāni ṭiṭṭibhāya samarpitāni | ato 'haṃ bravīmi-aṅgāṅgi-bhāvam ajñātvā ity ādi |
rājāha-katham asau jñātavyo droha-buddhir iti |
damanako brūte-yadāsau sa-darpaḥ śṛṅgāgra-praharaṇābhimukhaś cakitam ivāgacchati tadā jñāsyati svāmī | evam uktvā saṃjīvaka-samīpaṃ gataḥ | tatra gataś ca mandaṃ mandam upasarpan vismitam ivātmānam adarśayat | saṃjīvakena sādaram uktam-bhadra ! kuśalaṃ te |
damanako brūte-anujīvināṃ kutaḥ kuśalam | yataḥ-
sampattayaḥ parādhīnāḥ sadā cittam anirvṛttam |
sva-jīivite'py aviśvāsas teṣāṃ ye rāja-sevakāḥ

anyac ca-
ko 'rthān prāpya na garvito viṣayiṇaḥ kasyāpado 'staṃ gatāḥ
strībhiḥ kasya na khaṇḍitaṃ bhuvi manaḥ ko vāsti rājñāṃ priyā |
kaḥ kālasya bhujāntaraṃ na ca gataḥ ko 'rthī gato gauravaṃ
ko vā durjana-vāgurāsu patitaḥ kṣemeṇa yātaḥ pumān

saṃjīvakenoktam-sakhe ! brūhi kim etat ?
damanaka āha-kiṃ bravīmi manda-bhāgyaḥ | paśya-
majjann api payorāśau labdhvā sarpāvalambanam |
na muñcati na cādatte tathā mugdho 'smi samprati

yataḥ-
ekatra rāja-viśvāso naśyaty anyatra bāndhavaḥ |
kiṃ karomi kva gacchāmi patit o duḥkha-sāgare

ity uktvā dīrghaḥ niḥśvasyopaviṣṭaḥ | saṃjīvako brūte-mitra ! tathāpi sa-vistaraṃ manogatam ucyatām |
damanakaḥ sunibhṛtam āha-yadyapi rāja-viśvāso na kathanīyas tathāpi bhavān asmadīya-pratyayād āgataḥ | mayā paralokārthināvaśyaṃ tava hitam ākhyeyam | śṛṇu, ayaṃ svāmī tavopari vikṛta-buddhī rahasy uktavān -saṃjīvakam eva hatvā sva-parivāraṃ tarpayāmi |
etac chrutvā saṃjīvakaḥ paraṃ viṣādam agamat | damanakaḥ punar āha-alaṃ viṣādena | prāpta-kālakāyam anuṣṭhīyatām | saṃjīvakaḥ kṣaṇaṃ vimṛśyāha sva-gatam-suṣṭhu khalv idam ucyate | kiṃ vā durjana-ceṣṭitaṃ na vety etad vyavahārān nirṇetuṃ na śakyate | yataḥ-
durjana-gamyā nāryaḥ prāyeṇāpātra-bhṛd bhavati rājā |
kṛpaṇānusāri ca dhanaṃ devo giri-jaladhi-varṣī ca

kaścid āśraya-saundaryād dhatte śobhām asajjanaḥ |
pramadālocana-nyastaṃ malīmasam ivāñjanam

ārādhyamāno nṛpatiḥ prayatnān na toṣam āyāti kim atra citram |
ayaṃ tv apūrva-pratimā-viśeṣo yaḥ sevyamāno riputām upaiti

tad ayam aśakyarthaḥ prameyaḥ, yataḥ-
nimittam uddiśya hi yaḥ prakupyati
dhruvaṃ sa tasyāpagame prasīdati |
akāraṇa-dveṣi manas tu yasya vai
kathaṃ janas taṃ paritoṣayiṣyati

kiṃ mayāpakṛtaṃ rājñaḥ | athavā nirnimittāpakāriṇaś ca bhavanti rājānaḥ |
damanako brūte-evam etat | śṛṇu-
vijñaiḥ snigdhair upakṛtam api dveṣyatām eti kaiścit
sākṣād anyair apakṛtam api prītim evopayāti |
citraṃ citraṃ kim atha caritaṃ naikabhāvāśrayāṇāṃ
sevā-dharmaḥ parama-gahano yoginām apy agamyaḥ

anyac ca-
kṛta-śatam asatsu naṣṭaṃ subhāṣita-śataṃ ca naṣṭam abudheṣu |
vacana-śatam avacana-kare buddhi-śatam acetane naṣṭam

kiṃ ca-
candana-taruṣu bhujaṅgā jaleṣu kamalāni tatra ca grāhāḥ |
guṇa-ghātinaś ca bhoge khalā na ca sukhāny avighnāni

mūlaṃ bhujaṅgaiḥ kusumāni bhṛṅgaiḥ
śākhāḥ plavaṅgaiḥ śikharāṇi bhallaiḥ |
nāsty eva tac-candana-pādapasya
yan nāśritaṃ duṣṭataraiś ca hiṃsraiḥ

ayaṃ tāvat svāmī vāci madhuro viṣa-hṛdayo jñātaḥ | yataḥ-
dūrād ucchrita-pāṇir ādra-nayanaḥ protsāritārdhāsano
gāḍhāliṅgana-tat-paraḥ priya-kathā-praśneṣu dattādaraḥ |
antarbhūta-viṣo bahir madhumayaś cātīva māyā-paṭuḥ
ko nāmāyam apūrva-nāṭaka-vidhir yaḥ śikṣito durjanaiḥ

tathā hi-
poto dustara-vāri-rāśitaraṇe dīpo 'ndhakārāgame
nirvāte vyajanaṃ madāndha-kariṇāṃ darpopaśāntyai sṛṇiḥ |
itthaṃ tad bhuvi nāsti yasya vidhinā nopāya-cintā kṛtā
manye durjana-citta-vṛtti-haraṇe dhātāpi bhagnodyamaḥ

saṃjīvakaḥ punar niḥśvasya-kaṣṭaṃ bhoḥ ! katham ahaṃ sasya-bhakṣakaḥ siṃhena nipātayitavyaḥ ? yataḥ-
yayor eva samaṃ vittaṃ yayor eva samaṃ balam |
tayor vivādo mantavyo nottamādhamayoḥ kvacit

ayuddhe hi yadā paśyen na kāñcid hitam ātmanaḥ |
yudhyamānas tadā prājño mriyate ripuṇā saha

aparaṃ ca-
bhūmy-eka-deśasya guṇānvitasya
bhṛtyasya vā buddhimataḥ praṇāśaḥ |
bhṛtya-praṇāśo maraṇaṃ nṛpāṇāṃ
naṣṭāpi bhūmiḥ sulabhā na bhṛtyāḥ

damanako brūte-svāmin ! ko 'yaṃ nūtano nyāyo yad arātiṃ hatvā santāpaḥ kriyate ? tathā coktam-
pitā vā yadi vā bhrātā putrī vā yadi vā suhṛt |
prāṇa-ccheda-karā rājñā hantavyā bhūtim icchatā

api ca-
dharmārtha-kāma-tattvajño naikānta-karuṇo bhavet |
nahi hastastham apy annaṃ kṣamāvān bhakṣituṃ kṣamaḥ

kiṃ ca-
kṣamā śatrau ca mitre ca yatīnām eva bhūṣaṇam |
aparādhiṣu sattveṣu nṛpāṇāṃ saiva dūṣaṇam

aparaṃ ca-
rājya-lobhād ahaṅkārād icchataḥ svāminaḥ padam |
prāyaścittaṃ tu tasyaikaṃ jīvotsargo na cāparam

anyac ca-
rājā ghṛṇī brāhmaṇaḥ sarva-bhakṣī
strī cāvajñā duṣprakṛtiḥ sahāyaḥ |
preṣyaḥ pratīpo 'dhikṛtaḥ pramādī
tyājyā ime yaś ca kṛtaṃ na vetti

viśeṣataś ca-
satyānṛtā ca paruṣā priya-vādinī ca
hiṃsrā dayālur api cārtha-parā vadānyā |
nitya-vyayā pracura-ratna-dhanāgamā ca
vārāṅganeva nṛpa-nītir aneka-rūpā

iti damanakena santoṣitaḥ piṅgalakaḥ svāṃ prakṛtim āpannaḥ siṃhāsane samupaviṣṭaḥ | damanakaḥ prahṛṣṭa-manāḥ vijayatāṃ mahārājaḥ śubham astu sarva-jagatām ity uktvā yathā-sukham avasthitaḥ |
viṣṇu-śarmovāca-suhṛd-bhedaḥ śrutas tāvad bhavadbhiḥ |
rāja-putrā ūcuḥ-bhavat-prasādāc chrutaḥ | sukhino bhūtā vayam |
viṣṇuśarmābravīt-aparam apīdam astu-
suhṛd-bhedas tāvad bhavatu bhavatāṃ śatru-nilaye
khalaḥ kālākṛṣṭaḥ pralayam upasarpatv ahar-ahaḥ |
jano nityaṃ bhūyāt sakala-sukha-sampatti-vasatiḥ
kathārambhe rambhye satatam iha bālo 'pi ramatām