Pañcatantra · Chapter 1

iti kathā-mukham |
mitra-bhedaḥ
vardhamāna-vṛttāntaḥ
athātaḥ prārabhyate mitra-bhedo nāma prathamaṃ tantram | yasyāyam ādimaḥ ślokaḥ-
vardhamāno mahān snehaḥ siṃha-go-vṛṣayor vane |
piśunenātilubdhena jambukena vināśitaḥ

tad yathānuśrūyate | asti dakṣiṇātye janapade mahilāropyaṃ nāma nagaram | tatra dharmopārjita-bhūri-vibhavo vardhamānako nāma vaṇik-putro babhūva | tasya kadācid rātrau śayyārūḍhasya cintā samutpannā | tat prabhūte'pi vitte'rthopāyāś cintanīyāḥ kartavyāś ceti | yata uktaṃ ca-
nahi tad vidyate kiṃcid yad arthena na siddhyati |
yatnena matimāṃs tasmād artham ekaṃ prasādhayet

yasyāryas tasya mitrāṇi yasyārthās tasya bāndhavāḥ |
yasyārthāḥ sa pumāṃ loke yasyārthāḥ sa ca paṇḍitaḥ

na sā vidyā na tad dānaṃ na tac chilpaṃ na sā kalā |
na tat sthairyaṃ hi dhanināṃ yācakair yan na gīyate

iha loke hi dhanināṃ paro 'pi svajanāyate |
svajano 'pi daridrāṇāṃ sarvadā durjanāyate

arthebhyo 'pi hi vṛddhebhyaḥ saṃvṛttebhya itas tataḥ |
pravartante kriyāḥ sarvāḥ parvatebhya ivāpagāḥ

pūjyate yad apūjyo 'pi yad agamyo 'pi gamyate |
vandyate yad avandyo 'pi sa prabhāvo dhanasya ca

aśanād indriyāṇīva syuḥ kāryāṇy akhilāny api |
etasmāt kāraṇād vittaṃ sarva-sādhanam ucyate

arthārthī jīva-loko 'yaṃ śmaśānam api sevate |
tyaktvā janayitāraṃ svaṃ niḥsvaṃ yacchati dūrataḥ

gata-vayasām api puṃsāṃ yeṣām arthā bhavanti te taruṇāḥ |
arthe tu ye hīnā vṛddhās te yauvane'pi syuḥ

sa cārthaḥ puruṣāṇāṃ ṣaḍbhr upāyair bhavati bhikṣāyā nṛpa-sevayā kṛṣi-karmaṇā vidyopārjanena vyavahāreṇa vaṇik-karmaṇā vā | sarveṣām api teṣāṃ vāṇijyenātiraskṛto 'rtha-lābhaḥ syāt | uktaṃ ca yataḥ-
kṛtā bhikṣānekair vitarati nṛpo nocitam aho
kṛṣiḥ kliṣṭā vidyā guru-vinaya-vṛttyātiviṣamā |
kusīdād dāridryaṃ parakaragata-granthi-śamanān
na manye vāṇijyāt kim api paramaṃ vartanam iha

upāyānāṃ ca sarveṣām upāyaḥ paṇya-saṃgrahaḥ |
dhanārthaṃ śasyate he ekas tad-anyaḥ saṃśayātmakaḥ

tac ca vāṇijyaṃ sapta-vidham arthāgamāya syāt | tad yathā gāndhika-vyavahāraḥ, nikṣepa-praveśaḥ, goṣṭhika-karma, paricita-grāhakāgamaḥ, mithyā-kraya-kathanam, kūṭa-tulā-mānam, deśāntarād bhāṇḍānayanaṃ ceti | uktaṃ ca-
paṇyānāṃ gāndhikaṃ paṇyaṃ kim anyaiḥ kāñcanādibhiḥ |
yatraikena ca yat krītaṃ tac chatena pradīyate

nikṣepe patite harmye śreṣṭhī stauti sva-devatām |
nikṣepī mriyate tubhyaṃ pradāsyāmy upayācitam

goṣṭhika-karma-niyuktaḥ śreṣṭhī cintayati cetasā hṛṣṭaḥ |
vasudhā vasu-sampūrṇā mayādya labdhā kim anyena

paricitam āgacchantaṃ grāhakam utkaṇṭhyā vilokayāsau |
hṛṣyati tad-dhana-labdho yadvat putreṇa jātena

anyac ca-
pūrṇāpūrṇe māne paricita-jana-vañcanaṃ tathā nityam |
mithyā-krayasya kathanaṃ prakṛtir iyaṃ syāt kirātānām

dviguṇaṃ triguṇaṃ vittaṃ bhāṇḍa-kraya-vicakṣaṇāḥ |
prāpnuvanty udyamāl lokā dūra-deśāntaraṃ gatāḥ

ity evaṃ sampradhārya mathurā-gāmīni bhāṇḍāny ādāya śubhāyāṃ tithau guru-janānujñātaḥ surathādhirūḍhaḥ prasthitaḥ | tasya ca maṅgala-vṛṣabha saṃjīvaka-nandaka-nāmānau gṛhotpannau dhūrvoḍhārau sthitau | tayor ekaḥ saṃjīvakābhidhāno yamunā-kaccham avatīrṇaḥ sampaṅka-pūram āsādya kalita-caraṇo yuga-bhaṅgaṃ vidhāya viṣasāda |
atha taṃ tad-avastham ālokya vardhamānaḥ paraṃ viṣādam āgamat | tad arthaṃ ca snehārdra-hṛdayas tri-rātraṃ prayāṇa-bhaṅgam akarot | atha taṃ viṣaṇṇam ālokya sāṛthikair abhihitam- bhoḥ śreṣṭhin ! kim evaṃ vṛṣabhasya kṛte siṃha-vyāghra-samākule bahv-apāye'smin vane samasta-sārthas tvayā sandehe niyojitaḥ | uktaṃ ca-
na svalpasya kṛte bhūri nāśayen matimān naraḥ |
etad evātra pāṇḍityaṃ yat svalpād bhūri-rakṣaṇam

athāsau tad avadhārya saṃjīvakasya rakṣā-puruṣān nirūpyāśeṣa-sārthaṃ nītvā prasthitaḥ | atha rakṣā-puruṣā api bahv-apāyaṃ tad-vanaṃ viditvā saṃjīvakaṃ parityajya pṛṣṭhato gatvā'nyedyus taṃ sārthavāhaṃ mithyāhuḥ- svāmin, mṛto 'sau saṃjīvakaḥ | asmābhis tu sārthavāhasyābhīṣṭa iti matvā vahninā saṃskṛtaḥ iti |
tac chrutvā sārthavāhaḥ kṛtajñatayā snehārdra-hṛdayas tasyaurdhva-dehika-kriyā vṛṣotsargādikāḥ sarvāś cakāra | saṃjīvako 'py āyuḥ-śeṣatayā yamunā-salila-miśraiḥ śiśirataravātair āpyāyita-śarīraḥ kathaṃcid apy utthāya yamunā-taṭam upapede | tatra marakata-sadṛśāni bāla-tṛṇāgrāṇi bhakṣayan katipayair ahobhir hara-vṛṣabha iva pīnaḥ kakudmān balavāṃś ca saṃvṛttaḥ | pratyahaṃ valmīka-śikharāgrāṇi śṛṅgābhyāṃ vidārayan garjamāna āste | sādhu cedam ucyate-
arakṣitaṃ tiṣṭhati deva-rakṣitaṃ
surakṣitaṃ deva-hataṃ vinaśyati |
jīvaty anātho 'pi vane visarjitaḥ
kṛta-prayatno 'pi gṛhe vinaśyati

atha kadācit piṅgalako nāma siṃhaḥ sarva-mṛga-parivṛtaḥ pipāsākula udaka-pānārthaṃ yamunā-taṭam avatīrṇaḥ saṃjīvakasya gambhīratara-rāvaṃ dūrād evāśṛṇot | tac chrutvā'tīva vyākula-hṛdayaḥ sasādhvasam ākāraṃ pracchādya baṭa-tale catur-maṇḍalāvasthānenāvasthitaḥ | caturmaṇḍalāvasthānaṃ tv idaṃ- siṃhaḥ siṃhānuyāyinaḥ kākaravāḥ kivṛttā iti |
atha tasya karaṭaka-damanaka-nāmānau dvau śṛgālau mantri-putrau bhraṣṭādhikārau sadānuyāyināv āstām | tau ca parasparaṃ mantrayataḥ | tatra damanako 'bravīt- bhadra karaṭaka, ayaṃ tāvad asmat-svāmī piṅgalaka udaka-grahaṇārthaṃ yamunā-kaccham avatīrya sthitaḥ | sa kiṃ nimittaṃ pipāsākulo 'pi nivṛttya vyūha-racanāṃ vidhāya daurmanasyenābhibhūto 'tra baṭa-tale sthitaḥ |
karaṭaka āha- bhadra kim āvayor anena vyāpāreṇa uktaṃ ca yataḥ-
avyāpareṣu vyāpāraṃ yo naraḥ kartum icchati |
sa eva nidhanaṃ yāti kīlotpāṭīva vānaraḥ

kathā 1
kīlotpāṭi-vānara-kathā
kasmiṃścin nagarābhyāśe kenāpi vaṇik-putreṇa taru-khaṇḍa-madhye devatāyatanaṃ kartum ārabdham | tatra ca ye karmakarāḥ sthāpanādayaḥ | te madhyāhna-belāyām āhārārthaṃ nagara-madhye gacchanti | atha kadācit tatrānuṣaṅgikaṃ vānara-yūtham itaś cetaś ca paribhramad āgatam | tatraikasya kasyacic chilpino 'rdha-sphāṭito 'ñjana-vṛkṣa-dārumayaḥ stambhaḥ khadira-kīlakena madhya-nihitena tiṣṭhati | etasminn antare te vānarās taru-śikhara-prasāda-śṛṅga-dāru-paryanteṣu yathecchayā krīḍitum ārabdhāḥ | ekaś ca teṣāṃ pratyāsanna-mṛtyuś cāpalyāt tasminn ardha-sphoṭita-stambhe upaviśya pāṇibhyāṃ kīlakaṃ saṃgṛhya yāvad utpādayitum ārebhe tāvat tasya stambha-madhya-gata-vṛṣaṇasya sva-sthānāc calita-kīlakena yad vṛttaṃ tat prāg eva niveditam
| ato 'haṃ bravīmi- avyāpāreṣu iti | āvayor bhakṣita-śeṣa āhāro 'sty eva | tat kim anena vyāpāreṇa | damanaka āha tat kiṃ bhavān āhārārthī kevalam eva | tan na yuktam | uktaṃ ca-
suhṛdām upakāraṇād dviṣatām apy apakāraṇāt |
nṛpa-saṃśraya iṣyate budhair jaṭharaṃ ko na bibharti kevalam

kiṃ ca-
yasmiñ jīvanti jīvanti bahavaḥ so 'tra jīvatu |
vayāṃsi kiṃ na kurvanti cañcvā svodara-pūraṇam

tathā ca-
yaj jīvyate kṣaṇam api prathitaṃ manuṣyair
vijñāna-śaurya-vibhavārya-guṇaiḥ sametam |
tan nāma jīvitam iha pravadanti taj-jñāḥ
kāko 'pi jīvati cirāya baliṃ ca bhuṅkte

yo nātmanā na ca pareṇa ca bandhu-varge
dīne dayāṃ na kurute na ca martya-varge |
kiṃ tasya jīvita-phalaṃ hi manuṣya-loke
kāko 'pi jīvati cirāya baliṃ ca bhuṅkte

supūrā syāt kunadikā supūro mūṣikāñjaliḥ |
susaṃtuṣṭaḥ kāpuruṣaḥ svalpakenāpi tuṣyati

kiṃ ca-
kiṃ tena jātu jātena māṭur yauvana-hāriṇā |
ārohati na yaḥ svasya vaṃśasyāgre dhvajo yathā

parivartini saṃsāre mṛtaḥ ko vā na jāyate |
jātas tu gaṇyate so 'tra yaḥ sphurec ca śriyādhikaḥ

kiṃ ca-
jātasya nadī-tīre tasyāpi tṛṇasya janma-sāphalyam |
yat salila-majjanākula-jana-hastālambanaṃ bhavati

tathā ca-
stimitonnata-sañcārā jana-santāpa-hāriṇaḥ |
jāyante viralā loke jaladā iva sajjanāḥ

niratiśayaṃ garimāṇaṃ tena
jananyāḥ smaranti vidvāṃsaḥ |
yat kam api vahati garbhaṃ
mahatām api yo gurur bhavati

aprakaṭīkṛta-śaktiḥ śakto 'pi janas tiraskriyāṃ labhate |
nivasann antar-dāruṇi laṅghyo vahnir na tu jvalitaḥ

karaṭaka āha- āvāṃ tāvad apradhānau tat kim āvayor anena vyāpareṇa |
uktaṃ ca-
apṛṣṭo 'trāpradhāno yo brūte rājñaḥ puraḥ kudhīḥ |
na kevalam asaṃmānaṃ labhate ca viḍambanam

tathā ca-
vacas tatra prayoktavyaṃ yatroktaṃ labhate phalam |
sthāyī bhavati cātyantaṃ rāgaḥ śukla-paṭe yathā

damaka āha- mā maivaṃ vada |
apradhānaḥ pradhānaḥ syāt sevate yadi pārthivam |
pradhāno 'py apradhānaḥ syād yadi sevā-vivarjitaḥ

yata uktaṃ ca-
āsannam eva nṛpatir bhajate manuṣyaṃ
vidyā-vihīnam akulīnam asaṃskṛtaṃ vā |
prāyeṇa bhūmi-patayaḥ pramadā latāś ca
yat pārśvato bhavati tat pariveṣṭayanti

tathā ca-
kopa-prasāda-vastūni ye vicinvanti sevakāḥ |
ārohanti śanaiḥ paścād dhunvantam api pārthivam

vidyāvatāṃ mahecchānāṃ śilpa-vikrama-śālinām |
sevā-vṛtti-vidāṃ caiva nāśrayaḥ pārthivaṃ vinā

ye jāty-ādi-mahotsāhān narendrān nopayānti ca |
teṣām āmaraṇaṃ bhikṣā prāyaścittaṃ vinirmitam

ye ca prāhur durātmāno durārādhyā mahībhujaḥ |
pramādālasya-jāḍyāni khyāpitāni nijāni taiḥ

sarpān vyāghrān gajān siṃhān dṛṣṭvopāyair vaśīkṛtān |
rājeti kiyatī mātrā dhīmatām apramādinām

rājānam eva saṃśritya vidvān yāti parāṃ gatim |
vinā malayam anyatra candanaṃ na prarohati

dhavalāny ātapatrāṇi vājinaś ca manoramāḥ |
sadā mattāś ca mātaṅgāḥ prasanne sati bhūpatau

karaṭaka āha- atha bhavān kiṃ kartumanāḥ ?
so 'bravīt- adyāsmat-svāmī piṅgalako bhīto bhīta-parivāraś ca vartate | tadainaṃ gatvā bhaya-kāraṇaṃ vijñāya sandhi-vigraha-yāna-āsana-saṃśraya-dvaidhī-bhāvānām ekatamena saṃvidhāsye |
karaṭaka āha- kathaṃ vetti bhavān yad bhayāviṣṭo 'yaṃ svāmī ?
so 'bravīt- jñeyaṃ kim atra ? yata uktaṃ ca-
udīrito 'rthaḥ paśunāpi gṛhate
hayāś ca nāgāś ca vahanti coditāḥ |
anuktam apy ūhati paṇḍito janaḥ
pareṅgita-jñāna-phjalā hi buddhayaḥ

tathā ca manuḥ (8.26)-
ākārair iṅgitair gatyā ceṣṭayā bhāṣaṇena ca |
netra-vaktra-vikāraiś ca lakṣyate'ntargataṃ manaḥ

tad adyainaṃ bhayākulaṃ prāpya sva-buddhi-prabhāvena nirbhayaṃ kṛtvā vaśīkṛtya ca nijāṃ sācivya-padavīṃ samāsādayiṣyāmi |
karaṭaka āha- anabhijño bhavān sevā-dharmasya | tat katham enaṃ vaśīkariṣyasi ?
so 'bravīt- katham ahaṃ sevānabhijñaḥ ? mayā hi tātotsaṅge krīḍatābhyāgata-sādhūnāṃ nīti-śāstraṃ paṭhatā yac chrutaṃ sevā-dharmasya sāraṃ tad hṛdi sthāpitam | śrūyatāṃ tac cedam-
suvarṇa-puṣpitāṃ pṛthvīṃ vicinvanti narās trayaḥ |
śūraś ca kṛta-vidyaś ca yaś ca jānāti sevitum

sā sevā yā prabhu-hitā grāhyā vākya-viśeṣataḥ |
āśrayet pārthivaṃ vidvāṃs tad-dvāreṇaiva nānyathā

yo na vetti guṇān yasya na taṃ seveta paṇḍitaḥ |
na hi tasmāt phalaṃ kiñcit sukṛṣṭād ūṣarād iva

dravya-kṛti-hīno 'pi sevyaḥ sevya-guṇānvitaḥ |
bhavaty ājīvanaṃ tasmāt phalaṃ kālāntarād api

api sthāṇuvad āsīnaḥ śuṣyan parigataḥ kṣudhā |
na tv ajñānātma-sampannād vṛttim īhate paṇḍitaḥ

sevakaḥ svāminaṃ dveṣṭi kṛpaṇaṃ paruṣākṣaram |
ātmānaṃ kiṃ sa na dveṣṭi sevyāsevyaṃ na vetti yaḥ

yasyāśritya viśrāmaṃ kṣudhārtā yānti sevakāḥ |
so 'rkavan nṛpatis tyājyaḥ sadā puṣpa-phalo 'pi san

rāja-mātari devyāṃ ca kumāre mukhya-mantriṇi |
purohite pratīhāre sadā varteta rājavat

jīveti prabruvan proktaḥ kṛtyākṛtya-vicakṣaṇaḥ |
karoti nirvikalpaṃ yaḥ sa bhaved rāja-vallabhaḥ

prabhu-prasādajaṃ vittaṃ suprāptaṃ yo nivedayet |
vastrādyaṃ ca dadhāty aṅge sa bhaved rāja-vallabhaḥ

antaḥ-pura-caraiḥ sārdhaṃ yo na mantraṃ samācaret |
na kalatrair narendrasya sa bhaved rāja-vallabhaḥ

dyūtaṃ yo yama-dūtābhaṃ hālāṃ hālāhalopamam |
paśyed dārān vṛthākārān sa bhaved rāja-vallabhaḥ

yuddha-kāle'graṇīr yaḥ syāt sadā pṛṣṭhānugaḥ pure |
prabhor dvārāśrito harmye sa bhaved rāja-vallabhaḥ

sammato 'haṃ vibhor nityam iti matvā vyatikramet |
kṛcchreṣv api na maryādāṃ sa bhaved rāja-vallabhaḥ

dveṣi-dveṣa-paro nityam iṣṭānām iṣṭa-karma-kṛt |
yo naro nara-nāthasya sa bhaved rāja-vallabhaḥ

proktaḥ pratyuttaraṃ nāha viruddhaṃ prabhunā na yaḥ |
na samīpe hasaty uccaiḥ sa bhaved rāja-vallabhaḥ

up raṇaṃ śaraṇaṃ tadvan manyate bhaya-varjitaḥ |
pravāsaṃ sva-purāvāsaṃ sa bhaved rāja-vallabhaḥ

na kuryān naranāthasya yoṣidbhiḥ saha saṃgatim |
na nindāṃ na vivādaṃ ca sa bhaved rāja-vallabhaḥ

karaṭaka āha- atha bhavāṃs tatra gatvā kiṃ tāvat prathamaṃ vakṣyati tat tāvad ucyatām |
damanaka āha-
uttarād uttaraṃ vākyaṃ vadatāṃ samprajāyate |
suvṛṣṭi-guṇa-sampannād bījād bījam ivāparam

apāya-sandarśanajāṃ vipattim
upāya-sandarśanajāṃ ca siddhim |
medhāvino nīti-guṇa-prayuktāṃ
puraḥ sphurantīm iva varṇayanti

ekeṣāṃ vāci śukavad anyeṣāṃ hṛdi mūkavat |
hṛdi vāci tathānyeṣāṃ valgu valgantiu sūktayaḥ

na ca aham aprāpta-kālaṃ vakṣye | ākarṇitaṃ mayā nīti-sāraṃ pituḥ pūrvam utsaṅgaṃ hi niṣevatā |
aprāpta-kālaṃ vacanaṃ bṛhaspatir api bruvan |
labhate bahv-avajñānam apamānaṃ ca puṣkalam

karaṭaka āha-
durārādhyā hi rājānaḥ parvatā iva sarvadā |
vyālākīrṇāḥ suviṣamāḥ kaṭhinā duṣṭa-sevitāḥ

tathā ca-
bhoginaḥ kañcukāviṣṭāḥ kuṭilāḥ krūra-ceṣṭitāḥ |
suduṣṭā mantra-sādhyāś ca rājānaḥ pannagā iva

dvi-jihvāḥ krūra-karmāṇo 'niṣṭhāś chidrānusāriṇaḥ |
dūrato 'pi hi paśyanti rājāno bhujagā iva

svalpam apy apakurvanti ye'bhīṣṭā hi mahīpateḥ |
te vahnāv iva dahyante pataṅgāḥ pāpa-cetasaḥ

durārohaṃ padaṃ rājñāṃ sarva-loka-namaskṛtam |
svalpenāpy apakāreṇa brāhmaṇyam iva duṣyati

durārādhyāḥ śriyo rājñāṃ durāpā duṣparigrahāḥ |
tiṣṭhanty āpa ivādhāre ciram ātmani saṃsthitāḥ

damanaka āha- satyam etat param | kintu-
yasya yasya hi yo bhāvas tena tena samācaret |
anupraviśya medhāvī kṣipram ātma-vaśaṃ nayet

bhartuś cittānuvartitvaṃ suvṛttaṃ cānujīvinām |
rākṣasāś cāpi gṛhyante nityaṃ chandānuvartibhiḥ

saruṣi nṛpe stuti-vacanaṃ tad-abhimate prema tad-dviṣi dveṣaḥ |
tad-dānasya ca śaṃsā amantra-tantraṃ vaśīkaraṇam

karaṭaka āha- yady evam abhimataṃ tarhi śivās te panthānaḥ santu | yathābhilaṣitam anuṣṭhīyatām | so 'pi praṇamya piṅgalakābhimukhaṃ pratasthe |
athāgacchantaṃ damanakam ālokya piṅgalako dvāstham abravīt- apasāryatāṃ vetra-latā | ayam asmākaṃ cirantano mantriputro damanako 'vyāhata-praveśaḥ | tat praveśyatāṃ dvitīya-maṇḍala-bhāgī | iti |
sa āha- yathāvādīd bhavān iti |
athopasṛtya damanako nirdiṣṭa āsane piṅgalakaṃ praṇamya prāptānujña upaviṣṭaḥ | sa tu tasya naka-kuliśālaṅkṛtaṃ dakṣiṇa-pāṇim upari dattvā māna-puraḥ-saram uvāca- api śivaṃ bhavataḥ | kasmāc cirād dṛṣṭo 'si ?
damanaka āha- na kiṃcid deva-pādānām asmābhiḥ prayojanam | paraṃ bhavatāṃ prāpta-kālaṃ vaktavyam yata uttama-madhyamādhamaiḥ sarvair api rājñāṃ prayojanam | uktaṃ ca-
dantasya niṣkoṣaṇakena nityaṃ
karṇasya kaṇḍūyanakena vāpi |
tṛṇena kāryaṃ bhavatīśvarāṇāṃ
kim āṅga vāggha-stavatā nareṇa

tathā vayaṃ deva-pādānām anvayāgatā bhṛtyā āpatsv api pṛṣṭha-gāmino yadyapi svam adhikāraṃ na labhāmahe tathāpi deva-pādānām etad yuktaṃ na bhavati | uktaṃ ca-
sthāneṣv eva niyoktavyā bhṛtyā ābharaṇāni ca |
na hi cūḍāmaṇiḥ pāde prabhavāmīti badhyate

yataḥ-
anabhijño guṇānāṃ yo na bhṛtyair anugamyate |
dhanāḍhyo 'pi kulīno 'pi kramāYāto 'pi bhūpatiḥ

uktaṃ ca-
asamaiḥ samīyamānaḥ samaiś ca
parihīyamāṇa-sat-kāraḥ |
dhuri yo na yujyamānas tribhir
artha-patiṃ tyajati bhṛtyaḥ

yac cāvivekitayā rājñā bhṛtyānuttama-pada-yogyān hīnādhama-sthāne niyojayati, na te tatraiva sa bhūpater doṣo na teṣām | uktaṃ ca-
kanaka-bhūṣaṇa-saṅgrahaṇocito
yadi maṇis trapuṇi pratibadhyate |
na sa virauti na cāpi sa śobhate
bhavati yojayitur vacanīyatā

yac ca svāmy evaṃ vadati cirād dṛśyate | tad api śrūyatām-
savya-dakṣiṇayor yatra viśeṣo nāsti hastayoḥ |
kas tatra kṣaṇam apyāryo vidyamāna-gatir bhavet

kāce maṇir maṇau kāco yeṣāṃ buddhir vikalpate |
na teṣāṃ sannidhau bhṛtyo nāma-mātro 'pi tiṣṭhati

parīkṣakā yatra na santi deśe
nārghanti ratnāni samudrajāni |
ābhīra-deśe kila candrakāntaṃ
tribhir varāṭair vipaṇanti gopāḥ

lohitākhyasya ca maṇeḥ padmarāgasya cāntaram |
yatra nāsti kathaṃ tatra kriyate ratna-vikrayaḥ

nirviśeṣaṃ yadā svāmī samaṃ bhṛtyeṣu vartate |
tatrodyama-samarthānām utsāhaḥ parihīyate

na vinā pārthivo bhṛtyair na bhṛtyāḥ pārthivaṃ vinā |
teṣāṃ ca vyavahāro 'yaṃ paraspara-nibandhanaḥ

bhṛtyair vinā svayaṃ rājā lokānugraha-kāribhiḥ |
mayūkhair iva dīptāṃśus tejasvy api na śobhate

araiḥ sandhāryate nābhir nābhau cārāḥ pratiṣṭhitāḥ |
svāmi-sevakayor evaṃ vṛtti-cakraṃ pravartate

śirasā vidhṛtā nityaṃ snehena paripālitāḥ |
keśā api virajyante niḥsnehāḥ kiṃ na sevakāḥ

rājā tuṣṭo hi bhṛtyānām artha-mātraṃ prayacchati |
te tu saṃmāna-mātreṇa prāṇair apy upakurvate

evaṃ jñātvā narendreṇa bhṛtyāḥ kāryā vicakṣaṇāḥ |
kulīnāḥ śaurya-saṃyuktāḥ śaktā bhaktāḥ kramāgatāḥ

yaḥ kṛtvā sukṛtaṃ rājño duṣkaraṃ hitam uttamam |
lajjayā vakti no kiñcit tena rājā sahāyavān

yasmin kṛtyaṃ samāveśya nirviśaṅkena cetasā |
āsyate sevakaḥ sa syāt kalatram iva cāparam

yo 'nāhūtaḥ samabhyeti dvāri tiṣṭhati sarvadā |
pṛṣṭhaḥ satyaṃ mitaṃ brūte sa bhṛtyo 'rho mahībhujām

anādiṣṭo 'pi bhūpasya dṛṣṭvā hānikaraṃ ca yaḥ |
yatate tasya nāśāya sa bhṛtyo 'rho mahībhujām

tāḍito 'pi durukto 'pi daṇḍito 'pi mahībhujā |
yo na cintayate pāpaṃ sa bhṛtyo 'rho mahībhujām

na garvaṃ kurute māne nāpamāne ca tapyate |
svākāraṃ rakṣayed yas tu sa bhṛtyo 'rho mahībhujām

na kṣudhā pīḍyate yas tu nidrayā na kadācana |
na ca śītātapādyaiś ca sa bhṛtyo 'rho mahībhujām

śrutvā sāṃgrāmikīṃ vārtāṃ bhaviṣyāṃ svāminaṃ prati |
prasannāsyo bhaved yas tu sa bhṛtyo 'rho mahībhujām

sīmā vṛddhiṃ samāyāti śukla-pakṣa ivoḍurāṭ |
niyoga-saṃsthite yasmin sa bhṛtyo 'rho mahībhujām

sīmā saṃkocam āyāti vahnau carma ivāhitam |
sthite yasmin sa tu tyājyo bhṛtyo rājyaṃ samīhatā

tathā śṛgālo 'yam iti manyamānena mamopari svāminā yady avajñā kriyate tad apy ayuktam | uktaṃ ca yataḥ-
kauśeyaṃ kṛmijaṃ suvarṇam upalād durvāpi goromataḥ
paṅkāt tāmarasaṃ śaśāṅka udadher indīvaraṃ gomayāt |
kāṣṭhād agnir aheḥ phaṇād api maṇir go-pittato rocanā
prākāśyaṃ sva-guṇodayena guṇino gacchanti kiṃ janmanā

mūṣikā gṛha-jātāpi hantavyā svāpa-kāriṇī |
bhakṣya-pradānair jāro hitakṛt prāpyate janaiḥ

eraṇḍa-bhiṇḍārka-nalaiḥ prabhūtair api sañcitaiḥ |
dāru-kṛtyaṃ yathā nāsti tathaivājñaiḥ prayojanam

kiṃ bhaktenāsamarthena kiṃ śakternāpakāriṇā |
bhaktaṃ śaktaṃ ca māṃ rājan nāvajñātuṃ tvam arhasi

piṅgalaka āha- bhavatv evaṃ tāvat | asamarthaḥ samartho vā cirantanas tvam asmākaṃ mantri-putraḥ | tad viśrabdhaṃ brūhi yat kiñcid vaktukāmaḥ |
damanaka āha- deva jijñāpyaṃ kiñcid asti |
piṅgalaka āha- tan nivedayābhipretam |
so 'bravīt-
api svalpataraṃ kāryaṃ yad bhavet pṛthivī-pateḥ |
tan na vācyaṃ sabhā-madhye provācedaṃ bṛhaspatiḥ

tad aikāntike mad-vijñāpyam ākarṇayantu deva-pādāḥ | yataḥ-
ṣaṭ-karṇo bhidyate mantraś catuṣkarṇaḥ sthiro bhavet |
tasmāt sarva-prayatnena ṣaṭkarṇaṃ varjayet sudhīḥ

atha piṅgalakābhiprāyajñā vyāghra-dvīpi-vṛka-puraḥsarā sarve'pi tad-vacaḥ samākarṇya saṃsadi tat-kṣaṇād eva dūrībhūtāḥ | tataś ca damanaka āha- udaka-grahaṇārthaṃ pravṛttasya svāminaḥ kim iha nivṛttyāvasthānam |
piṅgalaka āha savilakṣa-smitam- na kiñcid api |
so 'bravīt- deva yady anākhyeyaṃ tat tiṣṭhatu | uktaṃ ca-
dariṣu kiñcit svajaneṣu kiñcid
gopyaṃ vayasyeṣu suteṣu kiñcit |
yuktaṃ na vā yuktam idaṃ vicintya
vaded vipaścin mahato 'nurodhāt ||Panc_1.[*100]
tac chrutvā piṅgalakaś cintayāmāsa- yogyo 'yaṃ dṛśyate | tat kathayāmy etasyāgre ātmano 'bhiprāyam | uktaṃ ca-
svāmini guṇāntarajñe guṇavati bhṛtye'nuvartini kalaye |
suhṛdi nirantara-citte nivedya duḥkhaṃ sukhī bhavati ||Panc_1.[*101]
bho damanaka śṛṇoṣi śabdaṃ dūrān mahāntam |
so 'bravīt- svāmin śṛṇomi | tat kim |
piṅgalaka āha- bhadra aham asmād vanād gantum icchāmi |
damanaka āha- kasmāt |
piṅgalaka āha - yato 'dyasmad-vane kim apy apūrvaṃ sattvaṃ praviṣṭaṃ yasyāyaṃ mahā-śabdaḥ śrūyate | tasya ca śabdānurūpeṇa parākrameṇa bhavitavyam iti |
damanaka āha- yac-chabda-mātrād api bhayam upagataḥ svāmī tad apy ayuktam | uktaṃ ca-
ambhasā bhidyate setus tathā mantro 'py arakṣitaḥ |
paiśunyād bhidyate sneho bhidyate vāgbhir āturaḥ

tan na yuktaṃ svāminaḥ pūrvopārjitaṃ vanaṃ tyaktum | yato bherī-veṇu-vīnā-mṛdaṅga-tāla-paṭaha-śaṅkha-kāhalādi-bhedena śabdā aneka-vidhā bhavanti | tan na kevalāc chabda-mātrād api bhetavyam | uktaṃ ca-
atyutkaṭe ca raudre ca śatrau prāpte na hīyate |
dhairyaṃ yasya mahīnātho na sa yāti parābhavam

darśita-bhaye'pi dhātari dhairya-dhvaṃso bhaven na dhīrāṇām |
śoṣita-sarasi nidāghe nitarām evoddhataḥ sindhuḥ

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

tathā ca-
śakti-vaikalya-namrasya niḥsāratvāl laghīyasaḥ |
jannimo mānahīnasya tṛṇasya ca samā gatiḥ

api ca-
anya-pratāpam āsādya yo dṛḍhatvaṃ na gacchati |
jatujābharaṇasyeva rūpeṇāpi hi tasya kim

tad evaṃ jñātvā svāminā dhairyāvaṣṭambhaḥ kāryaḥ | na śabda-mātrād bhetavyam | api ca-
pūrvam eva mayā jñātaṃ pūrṇam etad dhi medasā |
anupraviśya vijñātaṃ yāvac carma ca dāru ca

piṅgalaka āha- katham etat |
so 'bravīt-
kathā 2
śṛgāla-dundubhi-kathā
kaścid gomāyur nāma śṛgālaḥ kṣutkṣāma-kaṇṭhaḥ itas tataḥ paribhraman vane sainya-dvaya-saṃgrāma-bhūmim apaśyat | tasyāṃ ca dundubheḥ patitasya vāyu-vaśād vallī-śākhāgrair hanyamānasya śabdam aśṛṇot | atha kṣubhita-hṛdayaś cintayāmāsa aho vinaṣṭo 'smi | tad yāvan nāsya proccārita-śabdasya dṛṣṭi-gocare gacchāmi tāvad anyato vrajāmi | athavā naitad yujyate sahasaiva |
bhaye vā yadi vā harṣe samprāpte yo vimarśayet |
kṛtyaṃ na kurute vegān na sa santāpam āpnuyāt

tat tāvaj jānāmi kasyāyaṃ śabdaḥ | dhairyam ālambya vimarśayan yāvan mandaṃ mandaṃ gacchati tāvad dundubhim apaśyat | sa ca taṃ parijñāya samīpaṃ gatvā svayam eva kautukād atāḍayat | bhūyaś ca harṣād acintayat- aho cirād etad asmākaṃ mahodbhojanam āpatitam | tan nūnaṃ māṃsa-medo 'sṛgbhiḥ paripūritaṃ bhaviṣyati | tataḥ paruṣa-carmāvaguṇṭhitaṃ tat katham api vidāryaikadeśe chidraṃ kṛtvā saṃhṛṣṭa-manā madhye praviṣṭaḥ | paraṃ carma-vidāraṇato daṃṣṭrābhaṅgaḥ samajani | atha nirāśībhūtas tad-dāru-śeṣam avalokya ślokam enam apaṭhat pūrvam eva mayā jñātam iti | ato na śabda-mātrād bhetavyam |
piṅgalaka āha- bhoḥ paśyāyaṃ mama sarvo 'pi parigraho bhaya-vyākulita-manāḥ palāyitum icchati | tat katham ahaṃ dhairyād avaṣṭambhaṃ karomi |
so 'bravīt- svāmin naiṣām eṣa doṣaḥ | yataḥ svāmi-sadṛśā evaṃ bhavanti bhṛtyāḥ | uktaṃ ca-
aśvaḥ śastraṃ śāstraṃ vīṇā vāṇī naraś ca nārī ca |
puruṣa-viśeṣaṃ prāptā bhavanty ayogyāś ca yogyāś ca

tat-pauruṣāvaṣṭaṃ kṛtvā tvaṃ tāvad atraiva pratipālaya yāvad aham etac chabda-svarūpaṃ jñātvāgacchāmi | tataḥ paścād yathocitaṃ kāryam iti |
piṅgalaka āha- kiṃ tatra bhavān gantum utsahate |
sa āha- kiṃ svāmy-ādeśāt sad-bhṛtya kṛtyākṛtyam asti | uktaṃ ca-
svāmy-ādeśāt subhṛtyasya na bhoḥ sañjāyate kvacit |
praviśen mukham āheyaṃ dustaraṃ vā mahārṇavam

tathā ca-
svāmy-ādiṣṭas tu yo bhṛtyaḥ samaṃ viṣamam eva ca |
manyate na sa sandhāryo bhūbhujā bhūtim icchatā

piṅgalaka āha- bhadraṃ, yady evaṃ tad gaccha | śivās te panthānaḥ santu iti |
damanako 'pi tam praṇamya saṃjīvaka-śabdānuṣarī pratasthe |
atha damanake gate bhaya-vyākula-manāḥ piṅgalakaś cintayāmāsa- aho na śobhanaṃ kṛtaṃ mayā | yat tasya viśvāsaṃ gatvātmābhiprāyo niveditaḥ | kadācid damanako 'yam ubhaya-vetano bhūtvā mamopari duṣṭa-buddhiḥ syād bhraṣṭādhikāratvāt | uktaṃ ca-
ye bhavanti mahīpasya sammānita-vimānitāḥ |
yatante tasya nāśāya kulīnā api sarvadā

tat tāvad asya cikīrṣitaṃ vettum anyat sthānāntaraṃ gatvā pratipālayāmi | kadācid damanakas tam ādāya māṃ vyāpādayitum icchati | uktaṃ ca-
na badhyante hy aviśvastā balibhir durbalā api |
viśvastās tv eva badhyante balavanto 'pi durbalaiḥ

bṛhaspater api prājño na viśvāse vrajen naraḥ |
ya icched ātmano vṛddhim āyuṣyaṃ ca sukhāni ca

śapathaiḥ sandhitasyāpi na viśvāse vrajed ripoḥ |
rājya-lābhodyato vṛtraḥ śakreṇa śapathair hataḥ

na viśvāsaṃ vinā śatrur devānām api siddhyati |
viśvāsāt tridaśendreṇa diter garbho vidāritaḥ

evaṃ sampradhārya sthānāntaraṃ gatvā damanaka-mārgam avalokayann ekākī tasthau | damanako 'pi sañjīvaka-sakāśaṃ gatvā vṛṣabho 'yam iti parijñāya hṛṣṭa-manā vyacintayat- aho śobhanam āpatitam | anenaitasya sandhi-vigraha-dvāreṇa mama piṅgalako vaśyo bhaviṣyatīti | uktaṃ ca-
na kaulīnyān na sauhārdān nṛpo vākye pravartate |
mantriṇāṃ vāvad abhyeti vyasanaṃ śokam eva ca

sadaivāpadgato rājā bhogyo bhavati mantriṇām |
ataeva hi vāñchanti mantriṇaḥ sāpadaṃ nṛpam

yathā necchati nīrogaḥ kadācit sucikitsakam |
tathāpad rahito rājā sacivaṃ nābhivāñchati

evaṃ vicintayan piṅgalakābhimukhaḥ pratasthe | piṅgalako 'pi tam āyāntaṃ prekṣya svākāraṃ rakṣan yathā-pūrva-sthitaḥ damanako 'pi piṅgalaka-sakāśaṃ gatvā praṇamyopaviṣṭaḥ | piṅgalaka āha - kiṃ dṛṣṭaṃ bhavatā tat sattvam ?
damanaka āha- dṛṣṭaṃ svāmi-prasādāt |
piṅgalaka āha- api satyam |
damanaka āha- kiṃ svāmi-pādānām agre'satyaṃ vijñāpyate | uktaṃ ca-
api svalpam asatyaṃ yaḥ puro vadati bhūbhujām |
devānāṃ ca vinaśyate sa drutaṃ sumahān api

tathā ca-
sarva-deva-mayo rājā manunā samprakīrtitaḥ |
tasmāt taṃ devavat paśyen na vyalīkena karhicit

sarva-devamayasyāpi viśeṣo nṛpater ayam |
śubhāśubha-phalaṃ sadyo nṛpād devād bhavāntare

piṅgalaka āha- satyaṃ dṛṣṭaṃ bhaviṣyati bhavatā | na dīnipari mahāntaḥ kupyantīti na tvaṃ tena nipātitaḥ | yataḥ-
tṛṇāni nonmūlayati prabhañjano
mrḍūni nīcaiḥ praṇatāni sarvataḥ |
svabhāva evonnata-cetasām ayaṃ
mahān mahatsv eva karoti vikramam

api ca-
gaṇḍasthaleṣu mada-vāriṣu baddha-rāga-
matta-bhramad-bhramara-pāda-talāhato 'pi |
kopaṃ na gacchati nitānta-balo 'pi nāgas
tulye bale tu balavān parikopam eti

damanaka āha- astv evaṃ sa mahātmā | vayaṃ kṛpaṇāḥ | tathāpi svāmī yadi kathayati tato bhṛtyatve niyojayāmi |
piṅgalaka āha socchvāsam- kiṃ bhavān śaknoty evaṃ kartum |
damanaka āha- kim asādhyaṃ buddher asti | uktaṃ ca-
na tac chastrair na nāgendrair na hayair na padātibhiḥ |
kāryaṃ saṃsiddhim abhyeti yathā buddhyā prasādhitam

piṅgalaka āha- yady evaṃ tarhy amātya-pade'dhyāropitas tvam | adya-prabhṛti prasāda-nigrahādikaṃ tvayeva kāryam iti niścayaḥ |
atha damanakaḥ satvaraṃ gatvā sākṣepaṃ tam idam āha- ehy ehīto duṣṭa-vṛṣabha | svāmī piṅgalakas tvām ākārayati | kiṃ niḥśaṅko bhūtvā muhur muhur nadasi vṛthā iti |
tac chrutvā sañjīvako 'bravīt- bhadra ko 'yaṃ piṅgalakaḥ |
damanaka āha- kiṃ svāminaṃ piṅgalakam api na jānāsi ? tat-kṣaṇam pratipālaya | phalenaiva jñāsyasi | nanv ayaṃ sarva-mṛga-parivṛto baṭa-tale svāmī piṅgalaka-nāmā siṃhas tiṣṭhati |
tac chrutvā gatāyuṣam ivātmānam manyamānaḥ sañjīvakaḥ paraṃ viṣādam agamat | āha ca- bhadra bhavān sādhu-samācāro vacana-paṭuś ca dṛśyate | tad yadi mām avaśyaṃ tatra nayasi tad-abhaya-pradānena svāminaḥ sakāśāt prasādaḥ kārayitavyaḥ |
damanaka āha-bhoḥ satyam abhihitaṃ bhavatā | nītir eṣā yataḥ-
paryanto labhyate bhūmeḥ samudrasya girer api |
na kathañcin mahīpasya cittāntaḥ kenacit kvacit

tattvam atraiva tiṣṭha yāvad ahaṃ taṃ samaye dṛṣṭvā tataḥ paścāt tvām anayāmi iti | tathānuṣṭhite damanakaḥ piṅgalaka-sakāśaṃ gatvedam āha-svāmin na tat prākṛtaṃ sattvam | sa hi bhagavato maheśvarasya vāhana-bhūto vṛṣabha iti | mayā pṛṣṭa idam ūce | maheśvareṇa parituṣṭena kālindī-parisare śaṣpāgrāṇi bhakṣayituṃ samādiṣṭaḥ | kiṃ bahunā mama pradattaṃ bhagavatā krīḍārthaṃ vanam idam |
piṅgalaka āha sabhayam-satyaṃ jñātaṃ mayādhunā | na devatā-prasādaṃ vinā śaṣpa-bhojino vyālākīrṇa evaṃvidhe vane niḥśaṅkā nandato bhramanti | tatas tvayā kim abhihitam |
damanaka āha-svāmin etad abhihitaṃ mayā yad etad-vanaṃ caṇḍikā-vāhana-bhūtasya piṅgalakasya viṣayībhūtam | tad bhavān abhyāgataḥ priyo 'tithiḥ | tat tasya sakāśaṃ gatvā bhrātṛ-snehenaikatra bhakṣaṇa-pāna-viharaṇa-kriyābhir eka-sthānāśrayeṇa kālo neyaḥ iti | tatas tenāpi sarvam etat pratipannam | uktaṃ ca saharṣaṃ svāminaḥ sakāśād abhaya-dakṣiṇā dāpayitavyā iti | tad atra svāmī pramāṇam |
tac chrutvā piṅgalaka āha-sādhu sumate sādhu | mantri śrotriya sādhu | mama hṛdayena saha saṃmantrya bhavaedam abhihitam | tad dattā mayā tasyābhaya-dakṣiṇā | paraṃ so 'pi mad-arthe'bhaya-dakṣiṇāṃ yācayitvā drutataram ānīyatām iti | atha sādhu cedam ucyate-
antaḥ-sārair akuṭilair acchidraiḥ suparīkṣitaiḥ |
mantribhir dhāryate rājyaṃ sustambhair iva mandiram

tathā ca-
mantriṇāṃ bhinna-sandhāne bhiṣajāṃ sānnipātike |
karmaṇi vyajyate prajñā svasthe ko vā na paṇḍitaḥ

damanako 'pi taṃ praṇamya saṃjīvaka-sakāśa prasthitaḥ saharṣam acintayat- aho prasāda-saṃmukhī naḥ svāmī vacana-vaśagaś ca saṃvṛttaḥ | tan nāsti dhanyataro mama | uktaṃ ca-
amṛtaṃ śiśire vahnir amṛtaṃ priya-darśanam |
amṛtaṃ rāja-saṃmānam amṛtaṃ kṣīra-bhojanam

atha saṃjīvaka-sakāśam āsādya sa-praśrayam uvāca-bho mitra prārthito 'sau mayā bhavad-arthe svāmy-abhaya-pradānam | tad-viśrabdhaṃ gamyatām iti | paraṃ tvayā rāja-prasādam āsādya mayā saha samaya-dharmeṇa vartitavyam | na garvam āsādya sva-prabhutayā vicaraṇīyam | aham api tava saṅketena sarvā rājya-dhuram amātya-padavīm āśrityoddhariṣyāmi | evaṃ kṛte dvayor apy āvayo rāja-lakṣmī-bhāgyā bhaviṣyati | yataḥ-
ākheṭakasya dharmeṇa vibhavāḥ syur vaśe nṝṇām |
nṛ-prajāḥ prerayaty eko hanty anyo 'tra mṛgān iva

tathā ca-
yo na pūjayate garvād uttamādhama-madhyamān |
nṛpāsannān sa mānyo 'pi bhraśyate dantilo yathā

saṃjīvaka āha-katham etat ? so 'bravīt-
kathā 3
dantila-gorambha-kathā
asty atra dharātale vardhamānaṃ nāma nagaram | tatra dantilo nāma nānā-bhāṇḍa-patiḥ sakala-pura-nāyakaḥ prativasati sma | tena pura-kāryaṃ nṛpa-kāryaṃ ca kurvatā tuṣṭiṃ nītās tat-pura-vāsino lokā nṛpatiś ca | kiṃ bahunā, na ko 'pi tādṛk kenāpi caturo dṛṣṭo śruto vā | athavā satyam etad uktam-
narapati-hita-kartā dveṣyatāṃ yāti loke
janapada-hita-kartā tyajyate pārthivendraiḥ |
iti mahati virodhe vartamāne samāne
nṛpati-jana-padānāṃ durlabhaḥ kārya-kartā

athaivaṃ gacchati kāle danitlasya kadācid vivāhaḥ sampravṛttaḥ | tatra tena sarve pura-nivāsino rāja-saṃnidhi-lokāś ca sammāna-puraḥsaram āmantrya bhojitā vastrādibhiḥ sat-kṛtāś ca | tato vivāhānantaraṃ rājā sāntaḥpuraḥ sva-gṛham ānīyābhyarcitaḥ | atha tasya nṛpater gṛha-sammārjana-kartā gorambho nāma rāja-sevako gṛhāyāto 'pi tenānucita-sthāna upaviṣṭo 'vajñāyārdha-candraṃ dattvā niḥsāritaḥ | so 'pi tataḥ prabhṛti niśvasann apamānān na rātrāv apy adhiśete | kathaṃ mayā tasya bhāṇḍapate rāja-prasāda-hāniḥ kartavyā iti cintayann āste | athavā kim anena vṛthā śarīra-śoṣaṇena | na kiṃcin mayā tasyāpakartuṃ śakyam iti | athavā sādhv idam ucyate-
yo hy apakartum aśaktaḥ kupyati
kim asau naro 'tra nirlajjaḥ |
utpatito 'pi hi caṇakaḥ śaktaḥ
kiṃ bhrāṣṭrakaṃ bhaṅktum

atha kadācit pratyūṣe yoga-nidrāṃ gatasya rājñaḥ śayyānte mārjanaṃ kurvann idam āha-aho dantilasya mahad dṛptatvaṃ yad rāja-mahiṣīm āliṅgati |
tac chrutvā rājā sa-sambhramam utthāya tam uvāca-bho bho gorambha | satyam etat yat tvayā jalpitam | kiṃ dantilena samāliṅgitā iti |
gorambhaḥ prāha-deva ! rātri-jāgaraṇena dyūtāsaktasya me balān nidrā samāyātā | tan na vedmi kiṃ mayābhihitam | rājā serṣyaṃ sva-gatam-eṣa tāvad asmad-gṛhe'pratihata-gatis tathā dantilo 'pi | tat kadācid anena devī samāliṅgyamānā dṛṣṭā bhaviṣyati | tenedam abhihitam | uktaṃ ca-
yad vāñchati divā martyo vīkṣate vā karoti vā |
tat svapne'pi tad-abhyāsād brūte vātha karoti vā

tathā ca-
śubhaṃ vā yadi pāpaṃ yan nṝṇāṃ hṛdi saṃsthitam |
sugūḍham api taj jñeyaṃ svapna-vākyāt tathā madāt

athavā strīṇāṃ viṣaye ko 'tra sandehaḥ |
jalpanti sārdham anyena paśyanty anyaṃ sa-vibhramāḥ |
hṛd-gataṃ cintayanty anyaṃ priyaḥ ko nāma yoṣitām

anyac ca-
ekena smita-pāṭalādhara-ruco jalpanty analpākṣaraṃ vīkṣante'nyam itaḥ sphuṭat-kumudinī-phullollasal-locanāḥ |
dūrodāra-caritra-citra-vibhavaṃ dhyāyanti cānyaṃ dhiyā kenetthaṃ paramārthato 'rthavad iva premāsti vāma-bhruvām

tathā ca-
nāgnis tṛpyati kāṣṭhānāṃ nāpagānāṃ mahodadhiḥ |
nāntakaḥ sarva-bhūtānāṃ na puṃsāṃ vāma-locanā

raho nāsti kṣaṇo nāsti nāsti prārthayitā naraḥ |
tena nārada nārīṇāṃ satītvam upajāyate

yo mohān manyate mūḍho rakteyaṃ mama kāminī |
sa tasyā vaśago nityaṃ bhavet krīḍā-śakuntavat

tāsāṃ vākyāni kṛtyāni svalpāni sugurūṇy api |
karoti saḥ kṛtair loke laghutvaṃ yāti sarvataḥ

striyaṃ ca yaḥ prārthayate sannikarṣaṃ ca gacchati |
īṣac ca kurute sevāṃ tam evecchanti yoṣitaḥ

anarthitvān manuṣyāṇāṃ bhayāt parijanasya ca |
maryādāyām amaryādāḥ striyas tiṣṭhanti sarvadā

nāsāṃ kaścid agamyo 'sti nāsāṃ ca vayasi sthitiḥ |
virūpaṃ rūpavantaṃ vā pumān ity eva bhujyate

rakto hi jāyate bhogyo nārīṇāṃ śāṭikā yathā |
ghṛṣyante yo daśālambī nitambe viniveśitaḥ

alaktiko yathā rakto niṣpīḍya puruṣas tathā |
abalābhir balād raktaḥ pāda-mūle nipātyate

evaṃ sa rājā bahuvidhaṃ vilapya tat-prabhṛti dantilasya prasāda-parāṅmukhaḥ saṃjātaḥ | kiṃ bahunā rāja-dvāra-praveśo 'pi tasya nivāritaḥ | dantilo 'py akasmād eva prasāda-parāṅmukham avanipatim avalokya cintayāmāsa-aho sādhu cedam ucyate-
ko 'rthān prāpya na garvito viṣayiṇaḥ kasyāpado 'staṃ gatāḥ
strībhiḥ kasya na khaṇḍitaṃ bhuvi manaḥ ko nāmā rājñāṃ priyaḥ |
kaḥ kālasya na gocarāntara-gataḥ ko 'rthī gato gauravaṃ
ko vā durjana-vāgurāsu patitaḥ kṣemeṇa yātaḥ pumān

tathā ca-
kāke śaucaṃ dyūta-kāreṣu satyaṃ sarpe kṣāntiḥ strīṣu kāmopaśāntiḥ |
klībe dhairyaṃ madyape tattva-cintā rājā mitraṃ kena dṛṣṭaṃ śrutaṃ vā

aparaṃ mayāsya bhūpater athavānyasyāpi kasyacid rāja-sambandhinaḥ svapne'pi nāniṣṭaṃ kṛtam | tat kim etat-parāṅmukho māṃ prati bhūpatiḥ iti |
evaṃ taṃ dantilaṃ kadācid rāja-dvāre viṣkambhitaṃ vilokya saṃmārjana-kartā gorambho vihasya dvārapālān idam ūce-bho bho dvārapālāḥ ! rāja-prasādādhiṣṭhito 'yaṃ dantilaḥ svayaṃ nigrahānugraha-kartā ca | tad anena nivāritena yathāhaṃ tathā yūyam apy ardha-candra-bhājino bhaviṣyatha | tac chrutvā dantilaś cintayāmāsa-nūnam idam asya gorambhasya ceṣṭitam | athavā sādhv idam ucyate-
akulīno 'pi mūrkho 'pi bhūpālaṃ yo 'tra sevate |
api saṃmānahīno 'pi sa sarvatra prapūjyate

api kāpuruṣo bhīruḥ syāc cen nṛpati-sevakaḥ |
tathāpi na parābhūtiṃ janād āpnoti mānavaḥ

evaṃ sa bahu-vidhaṃ vilapya vilakṣa-manāḥ sodvego gata-prabhāvaḥ sva-gṛhaṃ niśāmukhe gorambham āhūya vastra-yugalena saṃmānyedam uvāca-bhadra ! mayā na tadā tvaṃ rāga-vaśān niḥsāritaḥ | yatas tvaṃ brāhmaṇānām agrato 'nucita-sthāne samupaviṣṭo dṛṣṭa ity apamānitaḥ | tat kṣamyatām |
so 'pi svarga-rājyopamaṃ tad-vastra-yugalam āsādya paraṃ paritoṣaṃ gatvā tam uvāca-bhoḥ śreṣṭhin ! kṣāntaṃ mayā te tat | tad asya saṃmānasya kṛte paśya me buddhi-prabhāvaṃ rāja-prasādaṃ ca | evam uktvā saparitoṣaṃ niṣkrāntaḥ | sādhu cedam ucyate-
stokenonnatim āyāti stokenāyāty adho-gatim |
aho sasadṛśo ceṣṭā tulāyaṣṭeḥ khalasya ca

tataś cānye-dyuḥ sa gorambho rāja-kule gatvā yoga-nidrāṃ gatasya bhūpateḥ saṃmārjana-kriyāṃ kurvann idam āha-aho aviveko 'smad-bhūpateḥ | yat purīṣotsargam ācaraṃś carbhaṭī-bhakṣaṇaṃ karoti |
tac chrutvā rājā sa-vismayaṃ tam uvāca-re re gorambha ! kim aprastutaṃ lapasi | gṛha-karmakaraṃ matvā tvāṃ na vyāpādayāmi | kiṃ tvayā kadācid aham evaṃvidhaṃ karma samācaran dṛṣṭaḥ ?
so 'bravīt-dyūtāsaktasya rātri-jāgaraṇena saṃmārjanaṃ kurvāṇasya mama balān nidrā samāyātā | tayādhiṣṭhitena mayā kiṃcij jalpitam | tan na vedmi | tat prasādaṃ karotu svāmī nidrā-paravaśasya iti |
evaṃ śrutvā rājā cintitavān-yan mayā janmāntare purīṣotsargaṃ kurvatā kadāpi cirbhaṭikā na bhakṣitā | tad yathāyaṃ vyatikaro 'sambhāvyo mamānena mūḍhena vyāhṛtaḥ | tathā dantilasyāpīti niścayaḥ | tan mayā na yuktaṃ kṛtaṃ yat sa varākaḥ saṃmānena viyojitaḥ | na tādṛk-puruṣāṇām evaṃvidhaṃ ceṣṭitaṃ sambhāvyate | tad-abhāvena rāja-kṛtyāni paura-kṛtyāni na sarvāṇi śithilatāṃ vrajanti |
evam anekadhā vimṛśya dantilaṃ samāhūya nijāṅga-vastrābharaṇādibhiḥ saṃyojya svādhikāre niyojayāmāsa | ato 'haṃ bravīmi yo na pūjayate garvāt iti |
saṃjīvaka āha-bhadra evam evaitat | yad bhavatābhihitaṃ tad eva mayā kartavyam iti | evam abhihite damanakas tam ādāya piṅgalaka-sakāśam agamat | āha ca-deva eṣa mayānītaḥ sa saṃjīvakaḥ | adhunā devaḥ pramāṇam | saṃjīvako 'pi taṃ sādaraṃ praṇamyāgrataḥ sa-vinayaṃ sthitaḥ | piṅgalako 'pi tasya pīnāyata-kakudmato nakha-kuliśālaṃkṛtaṃ dakṣiṇa-pāṇim upari dattvā māna-puraḥsaram uvāca-api śivaṃ bhavataḥ | kutas tvam asmin vane vijane samāyāto 'si ?
tenāpy ātmaka-vṛttāntaḥ kathitaḥ | yathā vardhamānena saha viyogaḥ saṃjātas tathā sarvaṃ niveditam | tac chrutvā piṅgalakaḥ sādarataraṃ tam uvāca-vayasya na bhetavyam | mad-bhuja-pañjara-parirakṣitena yathecchaṃ tvayādhunā vartitavyam | anyac ca nityaṃ mat-samīpa-vartinā bhāvyam | yataḥ kāraṇād bahv-apāyaṃ raudra-sattva-niṣevitaṃ vanaṃ gurūṇām api sattvānām asevyam | kutaḥ śaṣpa-bhojinām |
evam uktvā sakala-mṛga-parivṛto yamunā-kaccham avatīryodaka-grahaṇaṃ kṛtvā svecchayā tad eva vanaṃ praviṣṭaḥ | tataś ca karakaṭa-damanaka-nikṣipta-rājya-bhāraḥ saṃjīvikena saha subhāṣita-goṣṭhīm anubhavann āste | athavā sādhv idam ucyate-
yadṛcchayāpy upanataṃ sakṛt sajjana-saṅgatam |
bhavaty ajaram atyantaṃ nābhyāsa-kramam īkṣate

saṃjīvakenāpy aneka-śāstrāvagāhanād utpanna-buddhi-prāgalbhyena stokair evāhobhir mūḍha-matiḥ piṅgalako dhīmāṃs tathā kṛto yathāraṇya-dharmād viyojya grāmya-dharmeṣu niyojitaḥ | kiṃ bahunā pratyahaṃ piṅgalaka-saṃjīvakāv eva kevalaṃ rahasi mantrayataḥ | śeṣaḥ sarvo 'pi mṛga-jano dūrībhūtas tiṣṭhati | karaṭaka-damanakāv api praveśaṃ na labhete | anyac ca siṃha-parākramābhāvāt sarvo 'pi mṛga-janas tau ca śṛgālau kṣudhā-vyādhi-bādhitā ekāṃ diśam āśritya sthitāḥ |
uktaṃ ca-
phala-hīnaṃ nṛpaṃ bhṛtyāḥ kulīnam api connatam |
santy ajyāny atra gacchanti śuṣkaṃ vṛkṣam ivāṇḍajāḥ

tathā ca-
api saṃmāna-saṃyuktāḥ kulīnā bhakti-tat-parāḥ |
vṛtti-bhaṅgān mahīpālaṃ tyajanty eva hi sevakāḥ

anyac ca-
kālātikramaṇaṃ vṛtteryo na kurvīta bhūpatiḥ |
kadācit taṃ na muñcanti bhartsitā api sevakāḥ

tathā ca kevalaṃ sevakā itthambhūtā yāvat samastam apy etaj jagat parasparaṃ bhakṣaṇārthaṃ sāmādibhir upāyais tiṣṭhati | tad yathā-
deśānām upari kṣmābhṛd āturāṇāṃ cikitsakāḥ |
vaṇijo grāhakāṇāṃ ca mūrkhāṇām api paṇḍitāḥ

pramādināṃ tathā caurā bhikṣukā gṛha-medhinām |
gaṇikāḥ kāmināṃ caiva sarva-lokasya śilpinaḥ

sāmādi-sajjitaiḥ pāśaiḥ pratīkṣante divā-niśam |
upajīvanti śaktyā hi jalajā jaladān iva

athavā sādhv idam ucyate-
sarpāṇāṃ ca khalānāṃ ca para-dravyāpahāriṇām |
abhiprāyā na sidhyanti tenedaṃ vartate jagat

attuṃ vāñchati śāmbhavo gaṇapater ākhuṃ kṣudhārtaḥ phaṇī
taṃ ca krauñca-ripoḥ śikhī giri-sutā-siṃho 'pi nāgāśanam |
itthaṃ yatra parigrahasya ghaṭanā śambhor api syād gṛhe
tatrāpy asya kathaṃ na bhāvi jagato yasmāt svarūpaṃ hi tat

tataḥ svāmi-prasāda-rahitau kṣut-kṣāma-kaṇṭhau parasparaṃ karaṭaka-damanakau mantrayete | tatra damanako brūte-ārya karaṭaka | āvāṃ tāvad apradhānatāṃ gatau | eṣa piṅgalakaḥ saṃjīvakānuraktaḥ sva-vyāpāra-parāṅmukhaḥ saṃjātaḥ | sarvo 'pi parijano gataḥ | tat kiṃ kriyate |
karaṭaka āha-yadyapi tvadīya-vacanaṃ na karoti tathāpi svāmī sva-doṣa-nāśāya vācyaḥ | uktaṃ ca-
aśṛnvann api boddhavyo mantribhiḥ pṛthivī-patiḥ |
yathā sva-doṣa-nāśāya vidureṇāmbikāsutaḥ

tathā ca-
madonmattasya bhūpasya kuñjarasya ca gacchataḥ |
unmārgaṃ vācyatāṃ yānti mahāmātrāḥ samīpagāḥ

tat tvayaiṣa śaṣpa-bhojī svāminaḥ sakāśam ānītaḥ | tat svahastenāṅgārāḥ karṣitāḥ |
damanaka āha-satyam etat | mamāyaṃ doṣaḥ | na svāminaḥ | uktaṃ ca-
jambūko huḍu-yuddhena vayaṃ cāṣāḍha-bhūtinā |
dūtikā para-kāryeṇa trayo doṣāḥ svayaṃ kṛtāḥ

karaṭaka āha-katham etat ?
so 'bravīt-
kathā 4
devaśarma-parivrājaka-kathā
asti kasmiṃścid vivikta-pradeśe maṭhāyatanam | tatra deva-śarmā nāma parivrājakaḥ partivasati sma | tasyāneka-sādhu-jana-datta-sūkṣma-vastra-vikraya-vaśāt kālena mahatī vitta-mātrā sañjātā | tataḥ sa na kasyacid viśvasiti | naktaṃ dinaṃ kakṣāntarāt tāṃ mātrāṃ na muñcati | athavā sādhu cedam ucyate-
arthānām arjane duḥkham arjitānāṃ ca rakṣaṇe |
nāśe duḥkhaṃ vyaye duḥkhaṃ dhig arthāḥ kaṣṭa-saṃśrayāḥ

athāṣāḍha-bhūtir nāma para-vittāpahārī dhūrtas tām artha-mātrāṃ tasya kakṣāntara-gatāṃ lakṣayitvā vyacintayat-kathaṃ mayāsyeyam artha-mātrā hartavyā iti |
tad atra maṭhe tāvad dṛḍha-śilā-sañcaya-vaśād bhitti-bhedo na bhavati | uccaistaratvāc ca dvāre praveśo na syāt | tad enaṃ māyā-vacanair viśvāsyāhaṃ chātratāṃ vrajāmi yena sa viśvastaḥ kadācid viśvāsam eti | uktaṃ ca-
nispṛho nādhikārī syān nākāmī maṇḍana-priyaḥ |
nāvidagdhaḥ priyaṃ brūyāt sphuṭa-vaktā na vañcakaḥ

evaṃ niścitya tasyāntikam upagamya-oṃ namaḥ śivāya-iti proccārya sāṣṭāṅgaṃ praṇamya ca sa-praśrayam uvāca-bhagavan asāraḥ saṃsāro 'yam | giri-nadī-vegopamaṃ yauvanam | tṛṇāgni-samaṃ jīvitam | śarad-abhra-cchāyā-sadṛśā bhogāḥ svapna-sadṛśo mitra-putra-kalatra-bhṛtya-varga-sambandhaḥ | evaṃ mayā samyak parijñātam | tat kiṃ kurvato me saṃsāra-samudrottaraṇaṃ bhaviṣyati |
tac chrutvā deva-śarmā sādaram āha-vatsa ! dhanyo 'si yat prathame vayasy evaṃ viraktī-bhāvaḥ | uktaṃ ca-
pūrvaṃ vayasi yaḥ śāntaḥ sa śānta iti me matiḥ |
dhātuṣu kṣīyamāṇeṣu śamaḥ kasya na jāyate

ādau citte tataḥ kāye satāṃ saṃjāyate jarā |
asatāṃ ca punaḥ kāye naiva citte kadācana

yac ca māṃ saṃsāra-sāgarottaraṇopāyaṃ pṛcchasi | tac chrūyatām-
śūdro vā yadi vānyo 'pi caṇḍālo 'pi jaṭādharaḥ |
dīkṣitaḥ śiva-mantreṇa sa bhasmāṅgī śivo bhavet

ṣaḍ-akṣareṇa mantreṇa puṣpam ekam api svayam |
liṅgasya mūrdhni yo dadyān na sa bhūyo 'bhijāyate

tac chrutvāṣāḍha-bhūtis tat-pādau gṛhītvā sa-praśrayam idam āha-bhagavan, tarhi dīkṣayā me'nugrahaṃ kuru |
devaśarmā āha-vatsa anugrahaṃ te kariṣyāmi | parantu rātrau tvayā maṭha-madhye na praveṣṭavyam | yat-kāraṇaṃ niḥsaṅgatā yatīnāṃ praśasyate tava ca mamāpi ca | uktaṃ ca-
durmantrān nṛpatir vinaśyati yatiḥ saṅgāt suto lālasād
vipro 'nadhyayanāt kulaṃ kutanayāc chīlaṃ khalopāsanāt |
maitrī cāpraṇayāt samṛddhir anayāt snehaḥ pravāsāśrayāt
strī garvād anavekṣaṇād api kṛṣis tyāgāt pramādād dhanam

tat tvayā vrata-grahaṇānantaraṃ maṭha-dvāre tṛṇa-kuṭīrake śayitavyam iti |
sa āha-bhagavan ! bhavad-ādeśaḥ pramāṇam | paratra hi tena me prayojanam |
atha kṛta-śayana-samayaṃ devaśarma-nigrahaṃ kṛtvā śāstrokta-vidhinā śiṣyatām anayat | so 'pi hasta-pādāvamardanādi-paricaryayā taṃ paritoṣam anayat | punas tathāpi muniḥ kakṣāntarān mātrāṃ na muñcati | athaivaṃ gacchati kāle āṣāḍha-bhūtiś cintayāmāsa-aho, na kathañcid eṣa me viśvāsam āgacchati | tat kiṃ divāpi śastreṇa mārayāmi, kiṃ vā viṣaṃ prayacchāmi ? kiṃ vā paśu-dharmeṇa vyāpādayāmi ? iti |
evaṃ cintayatas tasya devaśarmaṇo 'pi śiṣya-putraḥ kaścid grāmād āmantraṇārthaṃ samāyātaḥ | prāha ca-bhagavan, pavitrāropaṇa-kṛte mama gṛham āgamyatām iti |
tac chrutvā devaśarmāṣāḍhabhūtinā saha prahṛṣṭa-manāḥ prasthitaḥ | athaivaṃ tasya gacchato 'gre kācin nadī samāyātā | tāṃ dṛṣṭvā mātrāṃ kakṣāntarād avatārya kanthā-madhye suguptāṃ nidhāya snātvā devārcanaṃ vidhāya tad-anantaram āṣāḍhabhūtim idam āha-bho āṣāḍhabhūte ! yāvad ahaṃ purīṣotsargaṃ kṛtvā samāgacchāmi, tāvad eṣā kanthā yogeśvarasya svāvadhānatayā rakṣaṇīyā | ity uktvā gataḥ |
āṣāḍhabhūtir api tasminn adarśanī-bhūte mātrām ādāya satvaraṃ prasthitaḥ | devaśarmāpi chātra-guṇānurañjita-manāḥ suviśvasto yāvad upaviṣṭas tiṣṭhati tāvat suvarṇa-roma-deha-yūtha-madhye huḍu-yuddham apaśyat | atha roṣa-vaśād dhuḍu-yugalasya dūram apasaraṇaṃ kṛtvā bhūyo 'pi samupetya lālaṭa-paṭṭābhyāṃ praharato bhūri rudhiraṃ patati | tac ca jambūko jihvā-laulyena raṅga-bhūmiṃ prāveśyāsvādayati | devaśarmāpi tad ālokya vyacintayat-aho manda-matir ayaṃ jambūkaḥ | yadi katham apy anayoḥ saṅghaṭṭe patiṣyati tan nūnaṃ mṛtyum avāpsyatīti vitarkayāmi |
kṣaṇāntare ca tathaiva raktāsvādana-laulyān madhye praviśaṃs tayoḥ śiraḥ-sampāte patiot mṛtaś ca śṛgālaḥ | devaśarmāpi taṃ śocamāno mātrām uddiśya śanaiḥ śanaiḥ prasthito yāvad āṣāḍhabhūtiṃ na paśyati tataś cautsukyena śaucaṃ vidhāya yāvat kanthām ālokayati tāvan mātrāṃ na paśyati | tataś ca-hā hā muṣito 'smi iti jalpan pṛthivī-tale mūrcchayā nipapāta | tataḥ kṣaṇāc cetanāṃ labdhvā bhūyo 'pi samutthāya phūtkartum ārabdhaḥ-bho āṣāḍhabhūte ! kva māṃ vañcayitvā gato 'si ? tad dehi me prativacanam |
evaṃ bahu vilapya tasya pada-paddhatim anveṣayan śanaiḥ śanaiḥ prasthitaḥ | athaiva gacchan sāyantana-samaye kañcid grāmam āsasāda | atha tasmād grāmāt kaścit kaulikaḥ sabhārhyo madya-pāna-kṛte samīpa-vartini nagare prasthitaḥ | devaśarmāpi tam ālokya provāca-bho bhadra vayaṃ sūryoḍhā atithayas tavāntikaṃ prāptāḥ | na kam apy atra grāme jānīmaḥ | tad gṛhyatām atithi-dharmaḥ | uktaṃ ca-
samprāpto yo 'tithiḥ sāyaṃ sūryoḍhe gṛha-medhinām |
pūjayā tasya devatvaṃ prayānti gṛha-medhinaḥ

tathā ca-
tṛṇāni bhūmir udakaṃ vāk-caturthī ca sūnṛtā |
satām etāni harmyeṣu nocchidyante kadācana

svāgatenāgnayas tṛptā āsanena śatakratuḥ |
pāda-śaucena pitaraḥ arghāc chambhus tathātitheḥ

kauliko 'pi tac chrutvā bhāryām āha-priye, gaccha tv atithim ādāya gṛhaṃ prati pāda-śauca-bhojana-śayanādibhiḥ satkṛtya tvaṃ tatraiva tiṣṭha | ahaṃ tava kṛte prabhūta-madyam āneṣyāmi | evam uktvā prasthitaḥ | sāpi bhāryā puṃścalī tam ādāya prahasita-vadanā devadattaṃ manasi dhyāyantī gṛhaṃ prati pratasthe | athavā sādhu cedam ucyate-
durdivase ghana-timire duḥsañcārāsu nagara-vīthīṣu |
patyur videśa-gamane parama-sukhaṃ jaghana-capalāyāḥ

tathā ca-
paryaṅkeṣv āstaraṇaṃ patim anukūlaṃ manoharaṃ śayanam |
tṛṇam iva laghu manyante kāminyaś caurya-rata-lubdhāḥ

tathā ca-
keliṃ pradahati lajjā śṛṅgāro 'sthīni cāṭavaḥ kaṭavaḥ |
vandha-trayāḥ paritoṣo na kiṃcid iṣṭaṃ bhavet patyau

kula-patanaṃ jana-garhāṃ bandhanam api jīvitavya-sandeham |
aṅgīkaroti kulaṭā satataṃ para-puruṣa-saṃsaktā

atha kaulika-bhāryā gṛhaṃ gatvā deva-śarmaṇe gatāstaraṇaṃ bhagnāṃ ca khaṭvāṃ samarpyedam āha-bho bhagavan ! yāvad ahaṃ sva-sakhīṃ grāmād abhyāgatāṃ sambhāvya drutam āgacchāmi tāvat tvayā mad-gṛhe'pramattena bhāvyam |
evam abhidhāya śṛṅgāra-vidhiṃ vidhāya yāvad-devadattam uddiśya vrajati tāvat tad-bhartā saṃmukho mada-vihvalāṅgo mukta-keśaḥ pade pade praskhalan gṛhīta-madya-bhāṇḍaḥ samabhyeti | taṃ ca dṛṣṭvā sā drutataraṃ vyāghuṭya sva-gṛhaṃ praviśya nukta-śṛṅgāra-veśā yathā-pūrvam abhavat | kauliko 'pi tāṃ palāyamānāṃ kṛtādbhuta-śṛṅgārāṃ vilokya prāg eva karṇa-paramparayā tasyāḥ śrutāvapavāda-kṣubhita-hṛdayaḥ svākāraṃ nigūhamānaḥ sadaivāste | tataś ca tathāvidhaṃ ceṣṭitam avalokya dṛṣṭa-pratyayaḥ krodha-vaśago gṛhaṃ praviśya tām uvāca-āḥ pāpe puṃścali ! kva prasthitāsi ?
sā provāca-ahaṃ tvat-sakāśād āgatā na kutracid api nirgatā | tat kathaṃ madya-pāna-vaśād aprastutaṃ vadasi ? athavā sādhv idam ucyate-
vaikalyaṃ dharaṇī-pātam ayathocita-jalpanam |
saṃnipātasya cihnāni madyaṃ sarvāṇi darśayet

kara-spando 'mbara-tyāgas tejo-hāniḥ sarāgatā |
vāruṇī-saṅgajāvasthā bhānunāpy anubhūyate

so 'pi tac chrutvā pratikūla-vacanaṃ veśa-viparyayaṃ cāvalokya tam āha-puṃścali ! cira-kālaṃ śruto mayā tavāpavādaḥ | tad adya svayaṃ sañjāta-pratyayas tava yathocitaṃ nigrahaṃ karomi | ity abhidhāya laguḍa-prahārais tāṃ jarjarita-dehāṃ vidhāya sthūṇayā saha dṛḍha-bandhanena baddhvā so 'pi mada-vihvalo vijñāya tāṃ gatvedam āha-sakhi ! sa devadattas tasmin sthāne tvāṃ pratīkṣate | tac chīghram āgamyatām iti |
sā cāha-paśya mamāvasthām | tat kathaṃ gacchāmi ? tad gatvā brūhi taṃ kāminaṃ yad asyāṃ rātrau na tvayā saha samāgamaḥ |
nāpitī prāha-sakhi, mā maivaṃ vada | nāyaṃ kulaṭā-dharmaḥ | uktaṃ ca-
viṣama-stha-svādu-phala-grahaṇa-vyavasāya-niścayo yeṣām |
uṣṭrāṇām iva teṣāṃ manye'haṃ śaṃsitaṃ janma

tathā ca-
sandigdhe para-loke janāpavāde ca jagati bahu-citre |
svādhīne para-ramaṇe dhanyās tāruṇya-phala-bhājaḥ

anyac ca-
yadi bhavati deva-yogāt pumān virūpo 'pi bandhako rahasi |
na tu kṛcchrād api bhadraṃ nija-kāntaṃ sā bhajaty eva

sābravīt-yady evaṃ tarhi kathaya kathaṃ dṛḍha-bandhana-baddhā satī tatra gacchāmi | sannihitaś cāyaṃ pāpātmā mat-patiḥ |
nāpity āha-sakhi, mada-vihvalo 'yaṃ sūrya-kara-spṛṣṭaḥ prabodhaṃ yāsyati | tad ahaṃ tvam unmocayāmi | mām ātma-sthāne baddhvā drutataraṃ deva-dattaṃ sambhāvyāgaccha |
sābravīt-evam astu iti |
tad anu sā nāpitī tāṃ sva-sakhīṃ bandhanād vimocya tasyāḥ sthāne yathā-pūrvam ātmānaṃ baddhvā tāṃ devadatta-sakāśe saṅketa-sthānaṃ preṣitavatī | tathānuṣṭhite kaulikaḥ kasmiṃścit kṣaṇe samutthāya kiṃcid gata-kopo vimadas tām āha-he paruṣa-vādini ! yad adya-prabhṛti gṛhān niṣkramaṇaṃ na karoṣi, na ca paruṣaṃ vadasi, tatas tvām unmocayāmi |
nāpity api svara-bheda-bhayād yāvan na kiṃcid ūce, tāvat so 'pi bhūyo bhūyas tāṃ tad evāha | atha sā yāvat pratyuttaraṃ kim api na dadau, tāvat sa prakupitas tīkṣṇa-śastram ādāya nāsikām acchinat | āha ca-re puṃścali ! tiṣṭhedānīm | tvāṃ bhūyas toṣayiṣyāmi | iti jalpan punar api nidrā-vaśam agāt |
devaśarmāpi vitta-nāśāt kṣutkṣāma-kaṇṭho naṣṭa-nidras tat sarvaṃ strī-caritram apaśyat | sāpi kaulika-bhāryā yathecchayā devadattena saha surata-sukham anubhūya kasmiṃścit kṣaṇe sva-gṛham āgataya tāṃ nāpitīm idam āha-ayi ! śivaṃ bhavatyāḥ | nāyaṃ pāpātmā mama gatāyā utthitaḥ |
nāpity āha-śivaṃ nāsikayā vinā śeṣasya śarīrasya | tad drutaṃ tāṃ mocaya bandhanād yāvan nāyaṃ māṃ paśyati, yena sva-gṛhaṃ gacchāmi |
tathānuṣṭhite bhūyo 'pi kaulika utthāya tām āha-puṃścali ! kim adyāpi na vadasi ? kiṃ bhūyo 'py ato duṣṭataraṃ nigrahaṃ karṇa-cchedena karomi ?
atha sā sa-kopaṃ sādhikṣepam idam āha-dhiṅ mahā-mūḍha ! ko māṃ mahā-satīṃ dharṣayituṃ vyaṅgayituṃ vā samarthaḥ ? tac chṛṇvantu sarve'pi loka-pālāḥ |
āditya-candra-hari-śaṃkara-vāsavādyāḥ
śaktā na jetum atiduḥkha-karāṇi yāni |
tānīndriyāṇi balavanti sudurjayāni
ye nirjayanti bhuvane balinas ta eke

tad yadi mama satītvam asti, manasāpi para-puruṣo nābhilaṣitaḥ, tato devā bhūyo 'pi me nāsikāṃ tādṛg-rūpākṣatāṃ kurvantu | athavā yadi mama citte para-puruṣasya bhrāntir api bhavati, māṃ bhasmasān nayantu | evam uktvā bhūyo 'pi tam āha-bho durātman ! paśya me satītva-prabhāveṇa tādṛśy eva nāsikā saṃvṛttā |
athāsāv ulmukam ādāya yāvat paśyati, tāvat tad-rūpāṃ nāsikāṃ ca bhūtale rakta-pravāhaṃ ca mahāntam apaśyat | atha sa vismita-manās tāṃ bandhanād vimucya śayyāyām āropya ca cāṭu-śataiḥ paryatoṣayat | devaśarmāpi taṃ sarva-vṛttāntam ālokya vismita-manā idam āha-
śambarasya ca yā māyā yā māyā namucer api |
baleḥ kumbhīnasaś caiva sarvās tā yoṣito viduḥ

hasantaṃ prahasanty etā rudantaṃ prarudanty api |
apriyaṃ priya-vākyaiś ca gṛhṇanti kāla-yogataḥ

uśanā veda yac chāstraṃ yac ca veda bṛhaspatiḥ |
strī-buddhyā na viśiṣyete tāḥ sma rakṣyāḥ kathaṃ naraiḥ

anṛtaṃ satyam ity āhuḥ satyaṃ cāpi tathānṛtam |
iti yās tāḥ kathaṃ vīra saṃrakṣyāḥ puruṣair iha

anyatrāpy uktam-
nātiprasaṅgaḥ pramadāsu kāryo
necched balaṃ strīṣu vivardhamānam |
atiprasaktaiḥ puruṣair yatas tāḥ
krīḍanti kākair iva lūna-pakṣaiḥ

sumukhena vadanti vagunā praharanty eva śitena cetasā |
madhu tiṣṭhati vāci yoṣitāṃ hṛdaye hālāhalaṃ mahad-viṣam

ata eva nipīyate'dharo hṛdayaṃ muṣṭibhir eva tāḍyate |
puruṣaiḥ sukha-leśa-vañcitair madhu-lubdhaiḥ kamalaṃ yathālibhiḥ

api ca-
āvartaḥ saṃśayānām avinaya-bhavanaṃ pattanaṃ sāhasānāṃ doṣāṇāṃ saṃnidhānaṃ kapaṭa-śata-mayaṃ kṣetram apratyayānām |
svarga-dvārasya vighnaṃ naraka-pura-mukhaṃ sarva-māyā-karaṇḍaṃ strī-yantraṃ kena sṛṣṭaṃ viṣam amṛta-mayaṃ prāṇi-lokasya pāśaḥ

kārkaśyaṃ stanayor dṛśos taralatālīkaṃ mukhe ślāghyate kauṭilyaṃ kaca-saṃcaye ca vacane māndyaṃ trike sthūlatā |
bhīrutvaṃ hṛdaye sadaiva kathitaṃ māyā-prayogaḥ priye yāsāṃ doṣa-gaṇo guṇo mṛga-dṛśāṃ tāḥ syur narāṇāṃ priyāḥ

etā hasanti ca rudanti ca kārya-hetor
viśvāsayanti ca paraṃ na ca viśvasanti |
tasmān nareṇa kula-śīla-samanvitena nāryaḥ śmaśāna-ghaṭikā iva varjanīyāḥ

tasmān nareṇa kulaśīlavatā sadaiva
nāryaḥ śmaśāna-vaṭikā iva varjanīyāḥ |
vyakīrṇa-kesara-karāla-mukhā mṛgendrā
nāgāś ca bhūri-mada-rāja-virājamānāḥ

kurvanti tāvat prathamaṃ priyāṇi
yāvan na jānanti naraṃ prasaktam |
jñātvā ca taṃ manmatha-pāśa-baddhaṃ
grastāmiṣaṃ mīnam ivoddharanti

samudra-vīcīva cala-svabhāvāḥ
sandhyābhra-rekheva muhūrta-rāgāḥ |
striyaḥ kṛtārthāḥ puruṣaṃ nirarthaṃ
niṣpīḍotālaktakavat tyajanti

anṛtaṃ sāhasaṃ māyā mūrkhatvam atilubdhatā |
aśaucaṃ nirdayatvaṃ ca strīṇāṃ doṣāḥ svabhāvajāḥ

sammohayantimadayanti viḍambayanti
nirbharstayanti ramayanti viṣādayanti |
etāḥ praviśya saralaṃ hṛdayaṃ narāṇāṃ
kiṃ vā na vāma-nayanā na samācaranti

antar-viṣa-mayā hy etā bahiś caiva manoramāḥ |
guñjā-phala-samākārā yoṣitaḥ kena nirmitāḥ

evaṃ cintayatas tasya parivrājakasya sā niśā mahatā kṛcchreṇāticakrāma | sā ca dūtikā chinna-nāsikā sva-gṛhaṃ gatvā cintayāmāsa-kim idānīṃ kartavyam ? katham etan mahac-chidraṃ sthagayitavyam ?
atha tasyā evaṃ vicintayantyā bhartā kārya-vaśād rāja-kule paryuṣitaḥ pratyūṣe ca sva-gṛham abhyupetya dvāra-deśa-stho vividha-paura-kṛtyotsukatayā tām āha-bhadre śīghram ānīyatāṃ kṣura-bhāṇḍaṃ yena kṣaura-karma-karaṇāya gacchāmi |
sāpi chinnanāsikā gṛha-madhya-sthitaiva kārya-karaṇāpekṣayā kṣura-bhāṇḍāt kṣuram ekaṃ samākṛṣya tasyābhimukhaṃ preṣayāmāsa | nāpito 'py utsukatayā tam ekaṃ kṣuram avalokya kopāviṣṭaḥ san tad-abhimukham eva taṃ kṣuraṃ prāhiṇot | etasminn antare sā duṣṭordhva-bāhū vidhāya phutakartu-manā gṛhān niścakrāma | aho paśyata pāpenānena mama sad-ācāra-vartinyāḥ nāsikā-cchedo vihitaḥ | tat-paritrāyatāṃ paritrāyatām |
atrāntare rāja-puruṣāḥ samabhyetya taṃ nāpitaṃ laguḍa-prahārair jarjarīkṛtya dṛḍha-bandhanair baddhvā tayā chinnanāsikayā saha dharmādhikaraṇa-sthānaṃ nītvā sabhyān ūcuḥ-śṛṇvantu bhavantaḥ sabhāsadaḥ | anena nāpitenāparādhaṃ vinā strī-ratnam etad vyaṅgitam | tad asya yad yujyate tat kriyatām |
ity abhihite sabhyā ūcuḥ-re nāpita ! kim-arthaṃ tvayā bhāryā vyaṅgitā | kim anayā para-puruṣo 'bhilaṣitaḥ | unta svit prāṇa-drohaḥ kṛtaḥ, kiṃ vā caurya-karmācaritam | tat kathyatām asyā aparādhaḥ ?
nāpito 'pi prahāra-pīḍita-tanur vaktuṃ na śaśāka | atha taṃ tūṣṇīṃbhūtaṃ dṛṣṭvā punar ūcuḥ-aho, satyam etad rāja-puruṣāṇāṃ vacaḥ | pāpātmāyam | aneneyaṃ nirdoṣā varākī dūṣitā | uktaṃ ca-
bhinna-svara-mukha-varṇaḥ śaṅkita-dṛṣṭiḥ samutpatita-tejāḥ |
bhavati hi pāpaṃ kṛtvā sva-karma-santrāsitaḥ puruṣaḥ

tathā ca-
āyāti skhalitaiḥ pādair mukha-vaivarṇya-saṃyutaḥ |
lalāṭa-sveda-bhāg bhūri-gadgadaṃ bhāṣate vacaḥ

adho-dṛṣṭir vadet kṛtvā pāpaṃ prāptaḥ sabhāṃ naraḥ |
tasmād yatnāt parijñeyāś cihnair etair vicakṣaṇaiḥ

anyac ca-
prasanna-vadano dṛṣṭaḥ spaṣṭa-vākyaḥ saroṣa-dṛk |
sabhāyāṃ vakti sāmarṣaṃ sāvaṣṭambho naraḥ śuciḥ

tad eṣa duṣṭa-caritra-lakṣaṇo dṛśyate | strī-dharsaṇād vadhya iti | tac chūlīyām āropyatām iti |
atha vadhya-sthāne nīyamānaṃ tam avalokya deva-śarmā tān dharmādhikṛtān gatvā provāca-bho bhoḥ, anyānyenaiṣa varāko vadhyate nāpitaḥ | sādhu-samācāra eṣaḥ | tac chrūyatāṃ me vākyam-jambūko huḍu-yuddhena iti |
atha te sabhyā ūcuḥ-bho bhagavan ! katham etat ?
tato devaśarmā teṣāṃ trayāṇām api vṛttāntaṃ vistareṇākathayat | tad ākarṇya suvismita-manasas te nāpitaṃ vimocya mithaḥ procuḥ-aho !
avadhyā brāhmaṇā gāvo striyo bālāś ca jñātayaḥ |
yeṣāṃ cānnāni bhuñjīta ye ca syuḥ śaraṇāgatāḥ

tad asyā nāsikā-cchedaḥ sva-karmaṇā hi saṃvṛttaḥ | tato rāja-nigrahas tu karṇa-cchedaḥ kāryaḥ | tathānuṣṭhite devaśarmāpi vitta-nāśa-samudbhūta-śoka-rahitaḥ punar api svakīyaṃ maṭhāyatanaṃ jagāma | ato 'haṃ bravīmi-jambūko huḍu-yuddhena (1.174) iti |
karaṭaka āha-evaṃ-vidhe vyatikare kiṃ kartavyam āvayoḥ ?
damanako 'bravīt-evaṃ-vidhe'pi samaye mama buddhi-sphuraṇaṃ bhaviṣyati, yena sañjīvakaṃ prabhor viśleṣayiṣyāmi | uktaṃ ca, yataḥ-
ekaṃ hanyān na vā hanyād iṣuḥ kṣipto dhanuṣmatā |
prājñena tu matiḥ kṣiptā hanyād garbha-gatān api

tad ahaṃ māyā-prapañcena guptam āśritya taṃ sphoṭayiṣyāmi |
karaṭaka āha-bhadra, yadi katham api tava māyā-praveśaṃ piṅgalako jñāsyati, sañjīvako vā tadā nūnaṃ vighāta eva |
so 'bravīt-tāta, maivaṃ vada | gūḍha-buddhibhir āpat-kāle vidhure'pi daive buddhiḥ prayoktavyā | nodyamas tyājyaḥ | kadācid ghuṇākṣara-nyāyena buddheḥ sāmrājyaṃ bhavati | uktaṃ ca-
tyājyaṃ na dhairyaṃ vidhure'pi daive
dhairyāt kadācit sthitm āpnuyāt saḥ |
yāte samudre'pi hi pota-bhaṅge
sāṃyātriko vāñchati karma eva

tathā ca-
udyoginaṃ satatam atra sameti lakṣmīr
daivaṃ hi daivam iti kāpuruṣā vadanti |
daivaṃ nihatya kuru pauruṣam ātma-śaktyā yatne kṛte yadi na sidhyati ko 'tra doṣaḥ

tad evaṃ jñātvā sugūḍha-buddhi-prabhāveṇa yathā tau dvāv api na jñāsyataḥ, tathā mitho viyojayiṣyāmi | uktaṃ ca-
suprayuktasya dambhasya brahmāpy antaṃ na gacchati |
kauliko viṣṇu-rūpeṇa rāja-kanyāṃ niṣevate

karaṭaka āha-katham etat ?
so 'bravīt-
kathā 5
kaulika-rathakāra-kathā
kasmiṃścid adhiṣṭhāne kaulika-rathakārau mitre prativasataḥ sma | tatra ca bālyāt-prabhṛti sahacāriṇau parasparam atīva sneha-parau sadaika-sthāna-vihāriṇau kālaṃ nayataḥ | atha kadācit tatrādhiṣṭhāne kasmiṃścid devāyatane yātrā-mahotsavaḥ saṃvṛttaḥ | tatra ca naṭa-nartaka-cāraṇa-saṅkule nānā-deśāgata-janāvṛte tau sahacarau bhramantau kāñcid rāja-kanyāṃ kareṇukārūḍhāṃ sarva-lakṣaṇa-sanāthāṃ kañcuki-varṣa-dhara-parivāritāṃ devatā-darśanārthaṃ samāyātāṃ dṛṣṭavantau | athāsau kaulikas tāṃ dṛṣṭvā viṣārdita iva duṣṭa-graha-gṛhīta iiva kāma-śarair hanyamānaḥ sahasā bhūtale nipapāta | atha taṃ tad-avastham avalokya rathakāras tad-duḥkha-duḥkhita āpta-puruṣais taṃ samutkṣipya sva-gṛham ānāyayat | tatra
ca vividhaiḥ śītopacāraiś cikitsakopadiṣṭair mantra-vādibhir upacaryamāṇaiś cirāt kathaṃcit sa-cetano babhūva |
tato rathakāreṇa pṛṣṭaḥ-bho mitra ! kim evaṃ tvam akasmād vicetanaḥ sañjātaḥ ? tat kathyatām ātma-svarūpam ?
sa āha-vayasya ! yady evaṃ tac chṛṇu me rahasyaṃ yena sarvām ātma-vedanāṃ te vadāmi | yadi tvaṃ māṃ suhṛdaṃ manyase tataḥ kāṣṭha-pradānena prasādaḥ kriyatām | kṣamyatāṃ yad vā kiñcit praṇay>atirekād ayuktaṃ tava mayānuṣṭhitam |
so 'pi tad ākarṇya bāṣpa-pihita-nayanaḥ sa-gadgadam uvāca-vayasya, yat kiñcid duḥkha-kāraṇaṃ tad vada yena pratīkāraḥ kriyate, yadi śakyate kartum | uktaṃ ca-
auṣadhārtha-sumantrāṇāṃ buddheś caiva mahātmanām |
asādhyaṃ nāsti loke'tra yad brahmāṇḍasya madhyagam

tad eṣāṃ caturṇāṃ yadi sādhyaṃ bhaviṣyati tadāhaṃ sādhayiṣyāmi |
kaulika āha-vayasya, eteṣām anyeṣām api sahasrāṇām upāyānām asādhyaṃ tan me duḥkham | tasmān mama maraṇe mā kāla-kṣepaṃ kuru |
rathakāra āha-bho mitra ! yadyapy asādhyaṃ tathāpi nivedaya yenāham api tad asādhyaṃ matvā tvayā samaṃ vahnau praviśāmi | na kṣaṇam api tvad-viyogaṃ sahiṣye | eṣa me niścayaḥ |
kaulika āha-vayasya, yāsau rāja-kanyā kareṇum ārūḍhā tatrotsave dṛṣṭā, tasyā darśanānantaraṃ makara-dhvajena mameyam avasthā vihitā | tan na śaknomi tad-vedanāṃ soḍhum | tathā coktam-
mattebha-kumbha-pariṇāhini kuṅkumārdre
tasyāḥ payodhara-yuge rati-kheda-khinnaḥ |
vakṣo nidhāya bhuja-pañjara-madhya-vartī
svapsye kadā kṣaṇam avāpya tadīya-saṅgam

tathā ca-
rāgī bimbādharo 'sau stana-kalaśa-yugaṃ yauvanārūḍha-garvaṃ
nīcā nābhiḥ prakṛtyā kuṭilakam alakaṃ svalpakaṃ cāpi madhyam |
kurvatv etāni nāma prasabham iha manaś cintitāny āśu khedaṃ
yan māṃ tasyāḥ kapolau dahata iti muhuḥ svacchakau tan na yuktam

rathakāro 'py evaṃ sa-kāmaṃ tad-vacanam ākarṇya sa-smitam idam āha-vayasya ! yady evaṃ tarhi diṣṭyā siddhaṃ naḥ prayojanam | tad adyaiva tayā saha samāgamaḥ kriyatām iti |
kaulika āha-vayasya, yatra kanyāntaḥpure vāyuṃ muktvā nānyasya praveśo 'sti tatra rakṣā-puruṣādhiṣṭhite kathaṃ mama tasyā saha samāgamaḥ ? tat kiṃ mām asatya-vacanena viḍambayasi ?
rathakāra āha-mitra, paśya me buddhi-balam |
evam abhidhāya tat-kṣaṇāt kīla-sañcāriṇaṃ vainateyaṃ bāhu-yugalaṃ vāyuja-vṛkṣa-dāruṇā śaṅkha-cakra-gadā-padmānvitaṃ sa-kirīṭa-kaustubham aghaṭayan | tatas tasmin kaulikaṃ samāropya viṣṇu-cihnitaṃ kṛtvā kīla-sañcaraṇa-vijñānaṃ ca darśayitvā provāca-vayasya, anena viṣṇu-rūpeṇa gatvā kanyāntaḥpure niśīthe tāṃ rājakanyām ekākinīṃ sapta-bhūmika-prāsāda-prānta-gatāṃ mugdha-svabhāvāṃ tvāṃ vāsudevaṃ manyamānāṃ svakīya-mithyā-vakroktibhī rañjayitvā vātsyāyanokta-vidhinā bhaja |
kauliko 'pi tad ākarṇya tathā-rūpas tatra gatvā tām āha-rāja-putri, suptā kiṃ vā jāgarṣi ? ahaṃ tava kṛte samudrāt sānurāgo lakṣmīṃ vihāyaivāgataḥ | tat kriyatāṃ mayā saha samāgamaḥ iti |
sāpi garuḍārūḍhaṃ caturbhujaṃ sāyudhaṃ kaustubhopetam avalokya sa-vismayā śayanād utthāya provāca-bhagavan ! ahaṃ mānuṣī kīṭikāśuciḥ | bhagavāṃs trailokya-pāvano vandanīyaś ca | tat katham etad yujyate |
kaulika āha-subhage, satyam abhihitaṃ bhavatyā | paraṃ kiṃ tu rādhā nāma me bhāryā gopa-kula-prasūtā prathama āsīt | sā tvam atrāvatīrṇā | tenāham atrāyātaḥ |
ity uktā sā prāha-bhagavan, yady evaṃ tan me tātaṃ prārthaya | so 'py avikalpaṃ māṃ tubhyaṃ prayacchati |
kaulika āha-subhage, nāhaṃ darśana-pathaṃ mānuṣāṇāṃ gacchāmi | kiṃ punar ālāpa-karaṇam | tvaṃ gāndharveṇa vivhāneātmānaṃ prayaccha | no cec chāpaṃ dattvā sānvayaṃ te pitaraṃ bhasmasāt kariṣyāmi iti | evam abhidhāya garuḍād avatīrya savye pāṇau gṛhītvā tāṃ sabhayāṃ salajjāṃ vepamānāṃ śayyāyām ānayat | tataś ca rātri-śeṣaṃ yāvad vātsyāyanokta-vidhinā niṣevya pratyūṣe sva-gṛham alakṣito jagāma |
evaṃ tasya tāṃ nityaṃ sevamānasya kālo yāti | atha kadācit kañcukinas tasyā adharoṣṭha-pravāla-khaṇḍanaṃ dṛṣṭvā mithaḥ procuḥ-aho ! paśyatāsyā rāja-kanyāyāḥ puruṣopabhuktāyā iva śarīrāvayavā vibhāvyante | tat katham ayaṃ surakṣite'py asmin gṛha evaṃvidho vyavahāraḥ | tad rājñe nivedayāmaḥ |
evaṃ niścitya sarve sametya rājānaṃ procuḥ-deva ! vayaṃ na vidmaḥ | paraṃ surakṣite'pi kanyāntaḥ-pure kaścit praviśati | tad devaḥ pramāṇam iti | tac chrutvā rājātīva vyākulita-citto vyacintayat-
putrīti jātā mahatīha cintā
kasmai pradeyeti mahān vitarkaḥ |
dattvā sukhaṃ prāpsyati vā na veti
kanyā-pitṛtvaṃ khalu nāma kaṣṭam

nadyaś ca nāryaś ca sadṛk-prabhāvās
tulyāni kūlāni kulāni tāsām |
toyaiś ca doṣaiś ca nipātayanti
nadyo hi kūlāni kulāni nāryaḥ

jananī-mano harati jātavatī
parivardhate saha śucā suhṛdām |
para-sātkṛtāpi kurute malinaṃ
durita-kramā duhitaro vipadaḥ

evaṃ bahu-vidhaṃ vicintya devīṃ rahaḥ-sthāṃ provāca-devi, jñāyatāṃ kim ete kañcukino vadanti ? tasya kṛtāntaḥ kupito yenaitad evaṃ kriyate |
devy api tad ākarṇya vyākulī-bhūtā satvaraṃ kanyāntaḥpure gatvā tāṃ khaṇḍitādharāṃ nakha-vilikhita-śarīrāvayavāṃ duhitaram apaśyat | āha ca-āḥ pāpe ! kula-kalaṅka-kāriṇi ! kim eva śīla-khaṇḍanaṃ kṛtam | ko 'yaṃ kṛtāntāvalokitas tvat-sakāśam abhyeti | tat kathyatāṃ mamāgre satyam |
iti kopāṭopa-visaṅkaṭaṃ vadatyāṃ mātari rāja-putrī bhaya-lajjānatānanaṃ provāca-amba, sākṣān nārāyaṇaḥ pratyahaṃ garuḍārūḍho niśi samāyāti | ced asatyaṃ mama vākyam, tat sva-cakṣuṣā vilokayatu niguḍhatarā niśīthe bhagavantaṃ ramā-kāntam |
tac chrutvā sāpi prahasita-vadanā pulakāṅkita-sarvāṅgī satvaraṃ rājānam ūce-deva, diṣṭyā vardhase | nityam eva niśīthe bhagavān nārāyaṇaḥ kanyakā-pārśve'bhyeti | tena gāndharva-vivāhena sā vivāhitā | tad adya tvayā mayā ca rātrau vātāyana-gatābhyāṃ niśīthe draṣṭavyaḥ | yato na sa mānuṣaiḥ sahālāpaṃ karoti |
tac chrutvā harṣitasya rājñas tad dinaṃ varṣa-śata-prāyam iva kathañcij jagāma | tatas tu rātrau nibhṛto bhūtvā rājñī-sahito rājā vātāyanas-stho gaganāsakta-dṛṣṭir yāvat tiṣṭhati, tāvat tasmin samaye garuḍārūḍhaṃ taṃ śaṅka-cakra-gadā-padma-hastaṃ yathokta-cihnāṅkitaṃ vyomno 'vatarantaṃ nārāyaṇam apaśyat | tataḥ sudhā-pūra-plāvitam ivātmānaṃ manyamānas tām uvāca-priye ! nāsty anyo dhanyataro loke mattas tvattaś ca | tat prasūtiṃ nārāyaṇo bhajate | tat-siddhāḥ sarve'smākaṃ manorathāḥ | adhunā jāmātṛ-prabhāveṇa sakalām api vasumatīṃ vaśyāṃ kariṣyāmi |
evaṃ niścitya sarvaiḥ sīmādhipaiḥ saha maryādā-vyatikramam akarot | te ca taṃ maryādā-vyatikrameṇa vartamānam ālokya sarve sametya tena saha vigrahaṃ cakruḥ |
atrāntare sa rājā devī-mukhena tāṃ duhitaram uvāca-putri, tvayi duhitari vartamānāyāṃ nārāyaṇe bhagavati jāmātari sthite tat kim evaṃ yujyate yat sarve pārthivā mayā saha vigrahaṃ kurvanti | tat sambodhyo 'dya tvayā nija-bhartā, yathā mama śatrūn vyāpādayati |
tatas tayā sa kauliko rātrau sa-vinayam abhihitaḥ-bhagavan, tvayi jāmātari sthite mama tāto yac chatrubhiḥ paribhūyate tan na yuktam | tat prasādaṃ kṛtvā sarvāṃs tān śatrūn vyāpādaya |
kaulika āha-subhage ! kiyan-mātrās tv ete tava pituḥ śatravaḥ | tad-viśvastā bhava | kṣaṇenāpi sudarśana-cakreṇa sarvāṃs tilaśaḥ khaṇḍayiṣyāmi |
atha gacchatā kālena sarva-deśaṃ śatrubhir udvāsya sa rājā prākāra-śeṣaḥ kṛtaḥ | tathāpi vāsudeva-rūpa-dharaṃ kaulikam ajānan rāja nityam eva viśeṣataḥ karpūrāguru-kastūrikādi-parimala-viśeṣān nānā-prakāra-vastra-puṣpa-bhakṣya-peyāṃś ca preṣayan duhitṛ-mukhena tam ūce-bhagavan, prabhāte nūnaṃ sthāna-bhaṅgo bhaviṣyati | yato yavasendhana-kṣayaḥ sañjātas tathā sarvo 'pi janaḥ prahārair jarjarita-dehaḥ saṃvṛtto yoddhum akṣamaḥ pracuro mṛtaś ca | tad evaṃ jñātvātra kāle yad ucitaṃ bhavati tad vidheyam iti |
tac chrutvā kauliko 'py acintayat-sthāna-bhaṅge jāte mamānayā saha viyogo bhaviṣyati æ tasmād garuḍam āruhya sāyudham ātmānam ākāśe darśayāmi | kadācin māṃ vāsudevaṃ manyamānās te sāśaṅkā rājño yoddhṛbhir hanyate | uktaṃ ca-
nirviṣeṇāpi sarpeṇa kartavyā mahatī phaṇā |
viṣaṃ bhavatu vā mābhūt phaṇāṭopo bhayaṅkaraḥ

atha yadi mama sthānārtham udyatasya mṛtyur bhaviṣyati tad api sundarataram | uktaṃ ca-
gavām arthe brāhmaṇārthe svāmy-arthe svīkṛte'thavā |
sthānārthe yas tyajet prāṇāṃs tasya lokāḥ sanātanāḥ

candre maṇḍala-saṃsthe vigṛhyate rāhuṇā dinādhīśaḥ |
śaraṇāgatena sārdhaṃ vipad api tejasvinā ślāghyā

evaṃ niścitya pratyūṣe danta-dhāvanaṃ kṛtvā tāṃ provāca-subhage ! samastaiḥ śatrubhir hatair annaṃ pānaṃ cāsvādayiṣyāmi | kiṃ bahunā, tvayāpi saha saṅgamaṃ tataḥ kariṣyāmi | paraṃ vācyas tvayātma-pitā yat prabhāte prabhūtena sainyena saha nagarān niṣkramya yoddhavyam | ahaṃ cākāśa-sthita eva sarvāṃs tān nistejasaḥ kariṣyāmi | paścāt sukhena bhavatā hantavyāḥ yadi punar ahaṃ tān svayam eva sūdayāmi tat teṣāṃ pāpātmanāṃ vaikuṇṭhīyā gatiḥ syāt | tasmāt te tathā kartavyā yathā palāyanto hanyamānāḥ svargaṃ na gacchanti |
sāpi tad ākarṇya pituḥ samīpaṃ gatvā sarvaṃ vṛttāntaṃ nyavedayat | rājāpi tasyā vākyaṃ śraddadhānaḥ pratyūṣe samutthāya samunnaddha-sainyo yuddhārthaṃ niścakrāma | kauliko 'pi maraṇe kṛta-niścayaś cāpa-pāṇir gagana-gatir garuḍārūḍho yuddhāya prasthitaḥ |
atrāntare bhagavatā nārāyaṇenātītānāgata-vartamāna-vedinā, smṛta-mātro vainateyaḥ samprāpto vihasya proktaḥ-bho garutman ! jānāsi tvaṃ yan mama rūpeṇa kauliko dāru-maya-garuḍe samārūḍho rāja-kanyāṃ kāmayate |
so 'bravīt-deva, sarvaṃ jñāyate tac ceṣṭitam | tat kiṃ kurmaḥ sāmpratam ?
śrī-bhagavān āha-adya kauliko maraṇe kṛta-niścayo vihita-niyamo yuddhārthe vinirgataḥ sa nūnaṃ pradhāna-kṣatriyair militvā vāsudevo garuḍaś ca nipātitaḥ | tataḥ paraṃ loko 'yam āvayoḥ pūjāṃ na kariṣyati | tatas tvaṃ drutataraṃ tatra dāru-maya-garuḍe saṅkramaṇaṃ kuru | aham api kaulika-śarīre praveśaṃ kariṣyāmi | yena sa śatrūn vyāpādayati | tataś ca śatru-vadhād āvayor māhātmya-vṛddhiḥ syāt |
atha garuḍe tatheti pratipanne śrī-bhagavan-nārāyaṇas tac-charīre saṅkramaṇam akarot | tato bhagavan-māhātmyena gagana-sthaḥ sa kaulikaḥ śaṅkha-cakra-gadā-cāpa-cihnitaḥ kṣaṇād eva līlayaiva samastān api pradhāna-kṣatriyān nistejasaś cakārar | tatas tena rājñā sva-sainya-parivṛtena saṅgrāme jitā nihatāś ca te sarve'pi śatravaḥ | jātaś ca loka-madhye pravādo, yathā-anena viṣṇu-jāmātṛ-prabhāveṇa sarve śatravo nihatā iti |
kauliko 'pi tān hatān dṛṣṭvā pramudita-manā gaganād avatīrṇaḥ san, yāvad rājāmātya-paura-lokās taṃ nagara-vāstavyaṃ kaulikaṃ paśyanti tataḥ pṛṣṭaḥ kim etad iti | tataḥ so 'pi mūlād ārabhya sarvaṃ prāg-vṛttāntaṃ nyavedayat | tataś ca kaulika-sāhasānurañjita-manasā śatru-vadhād avāpta-tejasā rājñā sā rāja-kanyā sakala-jana-pratyakṣaṃ vivāha-vidhinā tasmai samarpitā deśaś ca pradattaḥ | kauliko 'pi tayā sārdhaṃ pañca-prakāraṃ jīva-loka-sāraṃ viṣaya-sukham anubhavan kālaṃ nināya | atas tūcyate suprayuktasya dambhasya (218) iti |
tac chrutvā karaṭaka āha-bhadra, asty evam | paraṃ tathāpi mahan me bhayam | yato buddhimān sañjīvako raudraś ca siṃhaḥ | yadyapi te buddhi-prāgalbhyaṃ tathāpi tvaṃ piṅgalakāt taṃ viyojayitum asamartha eva |
damanaka āha-bhrātaḥ ! asamartho 'pi samartha eva | uktaṃ ca-
upāyena hi yac chakyaṃ na tac chakyaṃ parākramaiḥ |
kākī kanaka-sūtreṇa kṛṣṇa-sarpam aghātayat

karaṭaka āha-katham etat ?
so 'bravīt-
kathā 6
vāyasa-dampati-kathā
asti kasmiṃścit pradeśe mahān nyagrodha-pādapaḥ | tatra vāyasa-dampatī prativasataḥ sma | atha tayoḥ prasava-kāle vṛkṣa-vivarān niṣkramya kṛṣṇa-sarpaḥ sadaiva tad-apatyāni bhakṣayati | tatas tau nirvedād anya-vṛkṣa-mūla-nivāsinaṃ priya-suhṛdaṃ śṛgālaṃ gatvocatuḥ-bhadra ! kim evaṃvidhe sañjāta āvayoḥ kartavyaṃ bhavati | evaṃ tāvad duṣṭātmā kṛṣṇa-sarpo vṛkṣa-vivarān nirgatyāvayor bālakān bhakṣayati | tat kathyatāṃ tad-rakṣārthaṃ kaścid upāyaḥ |
yasya kṣetraṃ nadī-tīre bhāryā ca para-saṅgatā |
sa-sarpe ca gṛhe vāsaḥ kathaṃ syāt tasya nirvṛtiḥ

anyac ca-
sarpa-yukte gṛhe vāso mṛtyur eva na saṃśayaḥ |
yad grāmānte vaset sarpas tasya syāt prāṇa-saṃśayaḥ

asmākam api tatra-sthitānāṃ pratidinaṃ prāṇa-saṃśayaḥ |
sa āha-nātra viṣaye svalpo 'pi viṣādaḥ kāryaḥ | nūnaṃ sa lubdho nopāyam antareṇa vadhyaḥ syāt |
upāyena jayo yādṛg ripos tādṛṅ na hetibhiḥ |
upāya-jño 'lpa-kāyo 'pi na śūraiḥ paribhūyate

tathā ca-
bhakṣayitvā bahūn matsyān uttamādhama-madhyamān |
atilaulyād bakaḥ kaścin mṛtaḥ karkaṭaka-grahāt

tāv ūcatuḥ-katham etat ?
so 'bravīt-
kathā 7
baka-kulīraka-kathā
asti kasmiṃścid vana-pradeśe nānā-jala-cara-sanāthaṃ mahat saraḥ | tatra ca kṛtāśrayo baka eko vṛddha-bhāvam upāgato matsyān vyāpādayitum asamarthaḥ | tataś ca kṣutkṣāma-kaṇṭhaḥ saras-tīre upaviṣṭo muktā-phala-prakara-sadṛśair aśru-pravāhair dharā-talam abhiṣiñcan ruroda | ekaḥ kulīrako nānā-jala-cara-sametaḥ sametya tasya duḥkhena duḥkhitaḥ sādaram idam ūce-māma ! kim adya tvayā nāhāra-vṛttir anuṣṭhīyate ? kevalam aśru-pūrṇa-netrābhyāṃ sa-niḥśvāsena sthīyate |
sa āha-vatsa ! satyam upalakṣitaṃ bhavatā | mayā hi matsyādanaṃ prati parama-vairāgyatayā sāmprataṃ prāyopaveśanaṃ kṛtam | tenāhaṃ samīpāgatān api matsyān na bhakṣayāmi |
kulīrakas tac chrutvā prāha-māma, kiṃ tad vairāgya-kāraṇam ?
sa prāha-vatsa, aham asmin sarasi jāto vṛddhiṃ gataś ca | tan mayaitac chrutaṃ yad dvādaśa-varṣikyānāvṛṣṭiḥ sampadyate lagnā |
kulīraka āha-kasmāt tac chrutam ?
baka āha-daivajña-mukhād eṣa śanaiścaro hi rohiṇī-śakaṭaṃ bhittvā bhaumaṃ śakraṃ ca prayāsyati | uktaṃ ca varāha-mihireṇa-
yadi bhinte sūrya-suto rohiṇyāḥ śakaṭam iha loke |
dvādaśa varṣāṇi tadā nahi varṣati vāsavau bhūmau

tathā ca-
prājāpatye śakaṭe bhinne kṛtvaiva pātakaṃ vasudhā |
bhasmāsthi-śakalākīrṇā kāpālikam iva vrataṃ dhatte

tathā ca-
rohiṇī-śakaṭam arka-nandanaś ced
bhinnatti rudhiro 'thavā śaśī |
kiṃ vadāmi tad-aniṣṭa-sāgare
sarva-lokam upayāti saṅkṣayaḥ

rohiṇī-śakaṭa-madhya-saṃsthite
candram asya śaraṇī-kṛtā janāḥ |
kvāpi yānti śiśupācitāśanāḥ
sūrya-tapta-bhidurāmbu-pāyinaḥ

tad etat saraḥ svalpa-toyaṃ vartate | śīghraṃ śoṣaṃ yāsyati | asmin śuṣke yaiḥ sahāhaṃ vṛddhiṃ gataḥ, sadaiva krīḍitaś ca, te sarve toyābhāvān nāśaṃ yāsyanti | tat teṣāṃ viyogaṃ draṣṭum aham asamarthaḥ | tenaitat prāyopaveśanaṃ kṛtam | sāmprataṃ sarveṣāṃ svalpa-jalāśayānāṃ jalacarā guru-jalāśayeṣu sva-svajanair nīyante | kecic ca makara-godhā-śiśumāra-jalahasti-prabhṛtayaḥ svayam eva gacchanti | atra punaḥ sarasi ye jalacarās te niścintāḥ santi, tenāhaṃ viśeṣād rodimi yad bīja-śesa-mātram apy atra noddhariṣyati |
tataḥ sa tad ākarṇyānyeṣām api jalacarāṇāṃ tat tasya vacanaṃ nivedayāmāsa | atha te sarve bhaya-trasta-manaso matsya-kacchapa-prabhṛtayas tam abhyupetya papracchuḥ-māma ! asti kaścid upāyo yenāsmākaṃ rakṣā bhavati ?
baka āha-asty asya jalāśayasya nātidūre prabhūta-jala-sanāthaṃ saraḥ padminī-khaṇḍa-maṇḍitaṃ yac caturviṃśaty api varṣāṇām avṛṣṭyā na śoṣam eṣyati | tad yadi mama pṛṣṭhaṃ kaścid ārohati, tad ahaṃ taṃ tatra nayāmi |
atha te tatra viśvāsam āpannāḥ, tāta mātula bhrātaḥ iti bruvāṇāḥ ahaṃ pūrvam ahaṃ pūrvam iti samantāt paritasthuḥ | so 'pi duṣṭāśayaḥ krameṇa tān pṛṣṭha āropya jalāśayasya nātidūre śilāṃ samāsādya tasyām ākṣipya svecchayā bhakṣayitvā bhūyo 'pi jalāśayaṃ samāsādya jalacarṇāṇāṃ mithyā-vārtā-sandeśakair manāṃsi rañjayan nityam evāhāra-vṛttim akarot |
anyasmin dine ca kulīrakeṇoktaḥ-māma ! mayā saha te prathamaḥ sneha-sambhāṣaḥ sañjātaḥ | tat kiṃ māṃ parityajyānyān nayasi ? tasmād adya me prāṇa-trāṇaṃ kuru |
tad ākarṇya so 'pi duṣṭāśayaś cintitavān-nirviṇṇo 'haṃ matsya-māṃsādanena tad adyainaṃ kulīrakaṃ vyañjana-sthāne karomi | iti vicintya taṃ pṛṣṭe samāropya tāṃ vadhya-śilām uddiśya prasthitaḥ | kulīrako 'pi dūrād evāsthi-parvataṃ śilāśrayam avalokya mastyāsthīni parijñāya tam apṛcchat-māma, kiyad dūre sa jalāśayaḥ ? madīya-bhāreṇātiśrāntas tvam | tat kathaya |
so 'pi manda-dhīr jalacaro 'yam iti matvā sthale na prabhavatīti sa-smitam idam āha-kulīraka, kuto 'nyo jalāśayaḥ ? mama prāṇa-yātreyam | tasmāt smaryatām ātmano 'bhīṣṭa-devatā | tvām apy anyāṃ śilāyāṃ nikṣipya bhakṣayiṣyāmi | ity uktavati tasmin sva-vadana-daṃśa-dvayena mṛṇāla-nāla-dhavalāyāṃ mṛdu-grīvāyāṃ gṛhīto mṛtaś ca |
atha sa tāṃ baka-grīvāṃ samādāya śanaiḥ śanais taj jalāśayam āsasāda | tataḥ sarvair eva jalacaraiḥ pṛṣṭaḥ-bhoḥ kulīraka ! kiṃ nivṛttas tvam ? sa mātulo 'pi nāyātaḥ | tat kiṃ cirayati ? vayaṃ sarve sotksukāḥ kṛta-kṣaṇās tiṣṭhāmaḥ |
evaṃ tair abhihite kulīrako 'pi vihasyovāca-mūrkhāḥ ! sarve jalacarās tena mithyā-vādinā vañcayitvā nātidūre śilā-tale prakṣipya bhakṣitāḥ | tan mamāyuḥ-śeṣatayā tasya viśvāsa-ghātakasyābhiprāyaṃ jñātvā grīveyam ānītā | tad alaṃ sambhrameṇa | adhunā sarva-jala-carāṇāṃ kṣemaṃ bhaviṣyati |
ato 'haṃ bravīmi-bhakṣayitvā bahūn matsyān iti |
vāyasa āha-bhadra ! tat kathaya kathaṃ sa duṣṭa-sarpo vadham upaiṣyati |
śṛgāla āha-gacchatu bhavān kañcin nagaraṃ rājādhiṣṭhānam | tatra kasyāpi dhanino rājāmātyādeḥ pramādinaḥ kanaka-sūtraṃ hāraṃ vā gṛhītvā tat-koṭare prakṣipa, yena sarpas tad-grahaṇena vadhyate |
tat-kṣaṇāt kākaḥ kākī ca tad ākarṇyātmecchayotpatitau | tataś ca kākī kiñcit saraḥ prāpya yāvat paśyati, tāvat tan-madhye kasyacid rājño 'ntaḥpuraṃ jalāsannaṃ nyasta-kanaka-sūtraṃ mukta-muktāhāra-vastrābharaṇaṃ jala-krīḍāṃ kurute | atha sā vāyasī kanaka-sūtram ekam ādāya sva-gṛhābhimukhaṃ pratasthe | tataś ca kañcukino varṣa-varāś ca tan-nīyamānam upalakṣya gṛhīta-laguḍāḥ satvaram anuyayuḥ | kāky api sarpa-koṭare tat-kanaka-sūtraṃ prakṣipya sudūram avasthitā |
atha yāvad rāja-puruṣās taṃ vṛkṣam āruhya tat-koṭaram avalokayanti, tāvat kṛṣṇa-sarpaḥ prasārita-bhogas tiṣṭhati | tatas taṃ laguḍa-prahāreṇa hatvā kanaka-sūtram ādāya yathābhilaṣitaṃ sthānaṃ gatāḥ | vāyasa-dampatī api tataḥ paraṃ sukhena vasataḥ | ato 'haṃ bravīmi-upāyena hi yat kuryāt iti |
tan na kiṃcid iha buddhimatām asādhyam asti | uktaṃ ca-
yasya buddhir balaṃ tasya nirbuddhes tu kuto balam |
vane siṃho madonmattaḥ śaśakena nipātitaḥ

karaṭaka āha-katham etat ?
sa āha-
kathā 8
bhāsurakākhya-siṃha-kathā
kasmiṃścid vane bhāsurako nāma siṃhaḥ prativasati sma | athāsau vīryātirekān nityam evānekān mṛga-śaśakādīn vyāpādayan nopararāma | athānyedyus tad-vanajāḥ sarve sāraṅga-varāha-mahiṣa-śaśakādayo militvā tam abhyupetya procuḥ-svāmin ! kim anena sakala-mṛga-vadhena nityam eva, yatas tavaikenāpi mṛgeṇa tṛptir bhavati tat kriyatām asmābhiḥ saha samaya-dharmaḥ | adya-prabhṛti tavātropaviṣṭasya jāti-krameṇa pratidinam eko mṛgo bhakṣaṇārthaṃ sameṣyati | evaṃ kṛte tava tāvat prāṇa-yātrā kleśaṃ vināpi bhaviṣyati | asmākaṃ ca punaḥ sarvocchedanaṃ na syāt | tad eṣa rāja-dharmo 'nuṣṭhīyatām | uktaṃ ca-
śanaiḥ śanaiś ca yo rājyam upabhuṅkte yathā-balam |
rasāyanam iva prājñaḥ sa puṣṭiṃ paramāṃ vrajet

vidhinā mantra-yuktena rūkṣāpi mathitāpi ca |
prayacchati phalaṃ bhūmir araṇīva hutāśanam

prajānāṃ pālanaṃ śasyaṃ svarga-kośasya vardhanam |
pīḍanaṃ dharma-nāśāya pāpāyāyaśase sthitam

gopālena prajādhenor vitta-dugdhaṃ śanaiḥ śanaiḥ |
pālanāt poṣaṇād grāhyaṃ nyāyyāṃ vṛttiṃ samācaret

ajām iva prajāṃ mohād yo hanyāt pṛthivī-patim |
tasyaikā jāyate tṛptir na dvitīyā kathañcana

phalārthī nṛpatir lokān pālayed yatnam āsthitaḥ |
dāna-mānādi-toyena mālākāro 'ṅkurān iva

nṛpa-dīpo dhana-snehaṃ prajābhyaḥ saṃharann api |
āntara-sthair guṇaiḥ śubhrair lakṣyate naiva kenacit

yathā gaur duhyate kāle pālyate ca tathā prajāḥ |
sicyate cīyate caiva latā puṣpa-phala-pradā

yathā bījāṅkuraḥ sūkṣmaḥ prayatnenābhirakṣitaḥ |
phala-prado bhavet kāle tadval lokaḥ surakṣitaḥ

hiraṇya-dhānya-ratnāni yānāni vividhāni ca |
tathānyad api yat kiñcit prajābhyaḥ syān mahīpateḥ

lokānugraha-kartāraḥ pravardhante nareśvarāḥ |
lokānāṃ saṅkṣayāc caiva kṣayaṃ yānti na saṃśayaḥ

atha teṣāṃ tad-vacanam ākarṇya bhāsuraka āha-aho satyam abhihitaṃ bhavadbhiḥ | paraṃ yadi mamopaviṣṭasyātra nityam eva naikaḥ śvāpadaḥ samāgamiṣyati | tan nūnaṃ sarvān api bhakṣayiṣyāmi | atha te tathaiva pratijñāya nirvṛti-bhājas tatraiva vane nirbhayāḥ paryaṭanti | ekaś ca pratidinaṃ krameṇa yāti | vṛddho vā, vairāgya-yukto vā, śoka-grasto vā, putra-kalatra-nāśa-bhīto vā, teṣāṃ madhyāt tasya bhojanārthaṃ madhyāhna-samaya upatiṣṭhate |
atha kadācij jāti-kramāc chaśakasyāvasaraḥ samāyātaḥ | sa samasta-mṛgaiḥ prerito 'nicchann api mandaṃ mandaṃ gatvā tasya vadhopāyaṃ cintayan velātikramaṃ kṛtvāvyākulita-hṛdayo yāvad gacchati tāvan-mārge gacchatā kūpaḥ sandṛṣṭaḥ | yāvat kūpopari pāti tāvat kūpa-madhya ātmanaḥ pratibimbaṃ dadarśa | dṛṣṭvā ca tena hṛdaye cintitam-yad bhāvya upāyo 'sti | ahaṃ bhāsurakaṃ prakopya sva-buddhyāsmin kūpe pātayiṣyāmi |
athāsau dina-śeṣe bhāsuraka-samīpaṃ prāptaḥ | siṃho 'pi velātikrameṇa kṣutkṣāma-kaṇṭhaḥ kopāviṣṭaḥ sṛkkaṇī parilelihad vyacintayat-aho ! pratār-āhārāya niḥsattvaṃ vanaṃ mayā kartavyam | evaṃ cintayatas tasya śaśako mandaṃ mandaṃ gatvā praṇamya tasyāgre sthitaḥ | atha taṃ prajvalitātmā bhāsurako bhartsayann āha-re śaśakādhama ekas tāvat tvaṃ laghuḥ prāpto 'parato velātikrameṇa | tad asmād aparādhāt tvāṃ nipātya prātaḥ sakalāny api mṛga-kulāny ucchedayiṣyāmi |
atha śaśakaḥ sa-vinayaṃ provāca-svāmin ! nāparādho mama | na ca sattvānām | tac chyrūtāṃ kāraṇam |
siṃha āha-satvaraṃ nivedaya yāvan mama daṃṣṭrāntargato na bhavān bhaviṣyati iti |
śaśaka āha-svāmin, samasta-mṛgair adya jāti-krameṇa mama laghutarasya prastāvaṃ vijñāya tato 'haṃ pañca-śaśakaiḥ samaṃ preṣitaḥ | tataś cāham āgacchenn antarāle mahatā kenacid apareṇa siṃhena vivarān nirgatyābhihitaḥ-abhīṣṭa-devatāṃ smarata |
tato mayābhihitam-vayaṃ svāminon bhāsuraka-siṃhasya sakāśam āhārārthaṃ samaya-dharmeṇa gacchāmaḥ |
tatas tenābhihitam-yady evaṃ tarhi madīyam etad-vanam | mayā saha samaya-dharmeṇa samastair api śvāpadair vartitavyam | cora-rūpī sa bhāsurakaḥ | atha yadi so 'tra rājā | viśvāsa-sthāne caturaḥ śaśakān atra dhṛtvā tam āhūya drutataram āgaccha | yena yaḥ kaścid āvayor madhyāt parākrameṇa rājā bhaviṣyati sa sarvān etān bhakṣayiṣyati iti |
tato 'haṃ tenādiṣṭaḥ svāmi-sakāśam abhyāgataḥ | etad velā vyatikrama-kāraṇam | tad atra svāmī pramāṇam |
tac chrutvā bhāsuraka āha-bhadra, yady evaṃ tat satvaraṃ darśaya me taṃ caura-siṃhaḥ yenāhaṃ mṛga-kopaṃ tasyopari kṣiptvā svastho bhavāmi | uktaṃ ca-
bhūmir mitraṃ hiraṇyaṃ ca vigrahasya phala-trayam |
nāsty ekam api yady eṣāṃ na taṃ kuryāt kathañcana

yatra na syāt phalaṃ bhūri yatra casyāt parābhavaḥ |
na tatra matimān yuddhaṃ samutpādya samācaret

śaśāka āha-svāmin ! satyam idam | sva-bhūmi-hetoḥ paribhavāc ca yudhyante kṣatriyāḥ | paraṃ sa durgāśrayaḥ durgān niṣkramya vayaṃ tena viṣkambhitāḥ | tato durgastho duḥsadhyo bhavati ripuḥ | uktaṃ ca-
na gajānāṃ sahasreṇa na ca lakṣeṇa vājinām | yat kṛtyaṃ sidhyati rājñāṃ durgeṇaikena vigrahe

śatam eko 'pi saṃdhatte prākārastho dhanurdharaḥ | tasmād durgaṃ praśaṃsanti nītiśāstravicakṣaṇāḥ

purā guroḥ samādeśādd hiraṇyakaśipor bhayāt | śakreṇa vihitaṃ durgaṃ prabhāvād viśvakarmaṇaḥ

tenāpi ca varo datto yasya durgaṃ sa bhūpatiḥ | vijayī syāt tato bhūmau durgāṇi syuḥ sahasraśaḥ

daṃṣṭrāvirahito nāgo madahīno yathā gajaḥ | sarveṣāṃ jāyate vaśyo durgahīnas tathā nṛpaḥ

tac chrutvā bhāsuraka āha | bhadra durgastham api darśaya taṃ caura-siṃhaṃ yena vyāpādayāmi | uktaṃ ca-
jāta-mātraṃ na yaḥ śatruṃ rogaṃ ca praśamaṃ nayet | mahābalo 'pi tenaiva vṛddhiṃ prāpya sa hanyate

tathā ca-
uttiṣṭhamānas tu paro nopekṣyaḥ pathyam icchatā | samau hi śiṣṭair āmnātau vartsyantāv āmayaḥ sa ca

api ca-
upekṣitaḥ kṣīṇa-balo 'pi śatruḥ pramāda-doṣāt puruṣair madāndhaiḥ | sādhyo 'pi bhūtvā prathamaṃ tato 'sāv
asādhyatāṃ vyādhir iva prayāti

tathā ca-
ātmanaḥ śaktim udvīkṣya manotsāhaṃ ca yo vrajet | bahūn hanti sa eko 'pi kṣatriyān bhārgavo yathā

śaśaka āha-asty etat | tathāpi balavān sa mayā dṛṣṭaḥ | tan na yujyate svāminas tasya tasya sāmarthyam aviditvā gantum | uktaṃ ca-
aviditvātmanaḥ śaktiṃ parasya ca samutsukaḥ | gacchann abhimukho vahnau nāśaṃ yāti pataṅgavat

yo balāt pronnataṃ yāti nihantuṃ sabalo 'py arim | vimadaḥ sa nivarteta śīrṇa-danto gajo yathā

bhāsuraka āha-bhoḥ kiṃ tavānena vyāpāreṇa | darśaya me taṃ durgastham api |
atha śaśaka āha-yady evaṃ tarhy āgacchatu svāmī | evam uktvāgre vyavasthitaḥ |
tataś ca tenāgacchatā yaḥ kūpo dṛṣṭo 'bhūt tam eva kūpam āsādya bhāsurakam āha-svāmin kas te pratāpaṃ soḍhuṃ samarthaḥ ? tvāṃ dṛṣṭvā dūrato 'pi caura-siṃhaḥ praviṣṭaḥ svaṃ durgam | tad āgaccha yathā darśayāmīti | bhāsuraka āha-darśaya me durgam | tad anu darśitas tena kūpaḥ | tataḥ so 'pi mūrkhaḥ siṃhaḥ kūpa-madhya ātma-pratibimbaṃ jala-madhya-gataṃ dṛṣṭvā siṃha-nādaṃ mumoca | tataḥ pratiśabdena kūpa-madhyād dvi-guṇataro nādaḥ samutthitaḥ |
atha tena taṃ śatruṃ matvātmānaṃ tasyopari prakṣipya prāṇāḥ parityaktāḥ | śaśako 'pi hṛṣṭa-manāḥ sarva-mṛgān ānandya taiḥ saha praśasyamāno yathā-sukhaṃ tatra vane nivasati sma | ato 'haṃ bravīmi-yasya buddhir balaṃ tasya iti |
tad yadi bhavān kathayati tat tatraiva gatvā tayoḥ sva-buddhi-prabhāveṇa maitrī-bhedaṃ karomi |
karaṭaka āha-bhadra ! yady evaṃ tarhi gaccha | śivās te panthānaḥ santu | yathābhipretam anuṣṭhīyatām |
atha damanakaḥ sañjīvaka-viyuktaṃ piṅgalakam avalokya tatrāntare praṇamyāgre samupaviṣṭaḥ | piṅgalako 'pi tam āha-bhadra, kiṃ cirād dṛṣṭaḥ ?
damanaka āha-na kañcid deva-pādānām asmābhiḥ prayojanam | tenāhaṃ nāgacchāmi | tathāpi rāja-prayojana-vināśam avalokya sandahyamāna-hṛdayo vyākulatayā svayam evābhyāgato vaktum | uktaṃ ca-
priyaṃ vā yadi vā dveṣyaṃ śubhaṃ vā yadi vāśubham |
apṛṣṭo 'pi hitaṃ vakṣyed yasya necchet parābhavam

atha tasya sābhiprāyaṃ vacanam ākarṇya piṅgalaka āha-kiṃ vaktu-manā bhavān ? tat kathyatāṃ yat kathanīyam asti |
sa prāha-deva sañjīvako yuṣmat-pādānām upari droha-buddhir iti | viśvāsa-gatasya mama vijane idam āha-bho damanaka ! dṛṣṭā mayāsya piṅgalakasya sārāsāratā | tad aham enaṃ hatvā sakala-mṛgādhipatyaṃ tvat-sācivya-padavī-samanvitaṃ kariṣyāmi | piṅgalako 'pi tad-vajra-sāra-prahāra-sadṛśaṃ dāruṇaṃ vacaḥ samākarṇya moham upagato na kiñcid apy uktavān | damanako 'pi tasya tam ākāram ālokya cintitavān-ayaṃ tāvat sañjīvaka-nibaddha-rāgaḥ | tan nūnam anena mantriṇā rājā vināśam avāpsyati iti | uktaṃ ca-
ekaṃ bhūmi-patiḥ karoti sacivaṃ rājye pramāṇaṃ yadā taṃ mohāc chrayate madaḥ sa ca madād dāsyena nirvidyate |
nirviṇṇasya padaṃ karoti hṛdaye tasya svatantra-spṛhā- svātantrya-spṛhayā tataḥ sa nṛpateḥ prāṇān abhidruhyati

tat kim atra yuktam iti | piṅgalako 'pi cetanāṃ samāsādya katham api tam āha-sañjīvakas tāvat prāṇa-samo bhṛtyaḥ | sa kathaṃ mamopari droha-buddhiṃ karoti |
damanaka āha-deva, bhṛtyo 'bhṛtya ity anekāntikam etat | uktaṃ ca-
na so 'sti puruṣo rājñāṃ yo na kāmayate śriyam |
aśaktā eva sarvatra narendraṃ paryupāsate

piṅgalaka āha-bhadra, tathāpi mama tasyopari citta-vṛttir na vikṛtiṃ yāti | athavā sādhv idam ucyate-
aneka-doṣa-duṣṭasya kāyaḥ kasya na vallabhaḥ |
kurvann api vyalīkāni yaḥ priyaḥ priya eva saḥ

damanaka āha-ata evāyaṃ doṣaḥ | uktaṃ ca-
yasminn evādhikaṃ cakṣur āropayati pārthivaḥ |
akulīnaḥ kulīno vā sa śriyā bhājanaṃ naraḥ

aparaṃ kena gaṇa-viśeṣeṇa svāmī sañjīvakaṃ nirguṇakam api nikaṭe dhārayati | atha deva, yady evaṃ cintayasi mahā-kāyo 'yam | anena ripūn vyāpādayiṣyāmi | tad asmān na sidhyati, yato 'yaṃ śaṣpa-bhojī | deva-pādānāṃ punaḥ śatravo māṃsāśinaḥ | tad-ripu-sādhanam asya sāhāyyena na bhavati | tasmād enaṃ dūṣayitvā hanyatām iti |
piṅgalaka āha-
ukto bhavati yaḥ pūrvaṃ guṇavān iti saṃsadi |
tasya doṣo na vaktavyaḥ pratijñā-bhaṅga-bhīruṇā

anyac ca | mayāsya tava vacanenābhaya-pradānaṃ dattam | tat kathaṃ svayam eva vyāpādayāmi | sarvathā sañjīvako 'yaṃ suhṛd asmākam | na taṃ prati kaścin manyur iti | uktaṃ ca-
itaḥ sa daityaḥ prāpta-śrīr neta evārhati kṣayam |
viṣa-vṛkṣo 'pi saṃvardhya svayaṃ chettum asāmpratam

ādau na vā praṇayināṃ praṇayo vidheyo
datto 'thavā pratidinaṃ paripoṣaṇīyaḥ |
utkṣipya yat kṣipati tat prakaroti lajjāṃ
bhūmau sthitasya patanād bhayam eva nāsti

upakāriṣu yaḥ sādhuḥ sādhutve tasya ko guṇaḥ |
apakāriṣu yaḥ sādhuḥ sa sādhuḥ sadbhir ucyate

tad-droha-buddher api mayāsya na viruddham ācaraṇīyam |
damanaka āha-svāmin ! naiṣa rāja-dharmo yad droha-buddhir api kṣamyate | uktaṃ ca-
tulyārthaṃ tulya-sāmarthyaṃ marmajñaṃ vyavasāyinam |
ardha-rājya-haraṃ bhṛtyaṃ yo na hanyāt sa hanyate

aparaṃ tvayāsya sakhitvāt sarvo 'pi rāja-dharmaḥ parityaktaḥ rāja-dharmābhāvāt sarvo 'pi parijano viraktiṃ gataḥ | yaḥ sañjīvakaḥ śaṣpa-bhojī | bhavān māṃsādaḥ | tava prakṛtayaś ca yat tavāvadhyavyasāya-bāhyaṃ kutas tāsāṃ māṃsāśanam | yad-rahitās tvāṃ tyaktvā yāsyanti | tato 'pi tvaṃ vinaṣṭa eva | asya saṅgatyā punas te na kadācid ākheṭake matir bhaviṣyati | uktaṃ ca-
yādṛśaiḥ sevyate bhṛtyair yādṛśāṃś copasevate |
kadācin nātra sandehas tādṛg bhavati pūruṣaḥ

tathā ca-
santaptāyasi saṃsthitasya payaso nāmāpi na jñāyate
mukta-kāratayā tad eva nalinī-patra-sthitaṃ rājate |
svātau sāgara-śukti-kukṣi-patitaṃ taj jāyate mauktikaṃ
prāyeṇādhama-madhyamottama-guṇaḥ saṃvāsato jāyate

tathā ca-
asatāṃ saṅga-doṣeṇa satī yāti matir bhramam |
eka-rātri-pravāsena kāṣṭhaṃ muñje pralambitam

ata eva santo nīca-saṅgaṃ varjayanti | uktaṃ ca-
na hy avijñāta-śīlasya pradātavyaḥ pratiśrayaḥ |
mat-kuṇasya ca doṣeṇa hatā manda-visarpiṇī

piṅgalaka āha--katham etat ?
so 'bravīt-
kathā 9
manda-visarpiṇī-nāma-yūkā-kathā
asti kasyacin mahīpater manoramaṃ śayana-sthānam | tatra śvetatara-paṭa-yugala-madhya-saṃsthitā manda-visarpiṇī yūkā prativasati sma | sā ca tasya mahīpate raktam āsvādayantī sukhena kālaṃ nayamānā tiṣṭhati | anye-dyuś ca tatra śayane kvacid bhrāmyann agnimukho nāma matkuṇaḥ samāyātaḥ | atha taṃ dṛṣṭvā sā viṣaṇṇa-vadanā provāca | bho 'gnimukha kutas tvam atrānucita-sthāne samāyātaḥ | tad yāvan na kaścid vetti tāvac chīghraṃ gamyatām iti |
sa āha-bhagavati gṛhāgatasyāsādhor api naitad yujyate vaktum | uktaṃ ca-
ehy āgaccha samāviśāsanam idaṃ kasmāc cirād dṛśyase kā vārteti sudurbalo 'si kuśalaṃ prīto 'smi te darśanāt |
evaṃ ye samupāgatān praṇayinaḥ pratyālapanty ādarāt teṣāṃ yuktam aśaṅkitena manasā harmyāṇi gantuṃ sadā

aparaṃ mayāneka-mānuṣāṇām aneka-vidhāni rudhirāṇy āsvāditāny āhāra-doṣāt kaṭu-tikta-kaṣāyāmla-rasāsvādāni na ca kadācin madhura-raktaṃ samāsvāditam | tad yadi tvaṃ prasādaṃ karoṣi tad asya nṛpater vividha-vyañjanānna-pāna-coṣya-lehya-svādv-āhāra-vaśād asya śarīre yan miṣṭaṃ raktaṃ saṃjātaṃ tad-āsvādanena saukhyaṃ sampādayāmi jihvāyā iti | uktaṃ ca-
raṅkasya nṛpater vāpi jihvā-saukhyaṃ samaṃ smṛtam | tan-mātraṃ ca smṛtaṃ sāraṃ tad-arthaṃ yatate janaḥ

yady eva na bhavel loke karma jihvā-pratuṣṭidam | tan na bhṛtyo bhavet kaścit kasyacid vaśago 'tha vā

yad asatyaṃ vaden martyo yad vāsevyaṃ ca sevate | yad gacchati videśaṃ ca tat sarvam udarārthataḥ

tan mayā gṛhāgatena bubhukṣayā pīḍyamānenāpi tvat-sakāśād bhojanam arthanīyam | tan na tvayaikākinyāsya bhūpate rakta-bhojanaṃ kartuṃ yujyate |
tac chrutvā mandavisarpiṇy āha-bho matkuṇa ! asya nṛpater nidrā-vaśaṃ gatasya raktam āsvādayāmi |
punas tvam agnimukhaś capalaś ca-tad yadi mayā saha rakta-pānaṃ karoṣi tat tiṣṭha | abhīṣṭatara-raktam āsvādaya |
so 'bravīt-bhagavaty evaṃ kariṣyāmi | yāvat tvaṃ nāsvādayasi prathamaṃ nṛpa-raktaṃ tāvan mama deva-guru-kṛtaḥ śapathaḥ syād yadi tad āsvādayāmi |
evaṃ tayoḥ parasparaṃ vadatoḥ sa rājā tac-chayanam āsādya prasuptaḥ | athāsau matkuṇo jihvā-laulyotkṛṣṭautsukyāj jāgratam api taṃ mahī-patim adaśat | atha vā sādhv idam ucyate |
svabhāvo nopadeśena śakyate kartum anyathā | sutaptam api pānīyaṃ punar gacchati śītatām

yadi syāc chītalo vahniḥ śītāṃśur dahanātmakaḥ | na svabhāvo 'tra martyānāṃ śakyate kartum anyathā

athāsau mahīpatiḥ sūcy-agra-viddha iva tac-chayanaṃ tyaktvā tat-kṣaṇād evotthitaḥ | aho jñāyatām atra pracchādana-paṭe matkuṇo yūkā vā nūnaṃ tiṣṭhati yenāhaṃ daṣṭa iti | atha ye kañcukinas tatra sthitās te satvaraṃ pracchādana-paṭaṃ gṛhītvā sūkṣma-dṛṣṭyā vīkṣāṃ cakruḥ | atrāntare sa matkuṇaś cāpalyāt khaṭvāntaṃ praviṣṭaḥ sā mandavisarpiṇy api vastra-sandhy-antar-gatā tair dṛṣṭā vyāpāditā ca | ato 'haṃ bravīmi-na hy avijñāta-śīlasya iti |
evaṃ jñātvā tvayiṣa vadhyaḥ | no cet tvāṃ vyāpādayiṣyatīti | uktaṃ ca-
tyaktāś cābhyantarā yena bāhyāś cābhyantarīkṛtāḥ |
sa eva mṛtyum āpnoti yathā rājā kakud-drumaḥ

piṅgalaka āha--katham etat ?
so 'bravīt-
kathā 10
caṇḍarava-nāma-śṛgāla-kathā
asti kasmiṃścid vanoddeśe caṇḍaravo nāma śṛgālaḥ prativasati sma | sa kadācit kṣudhāviṣṭo jihvā-laulyān nagara-madhye praviṣṭaḥ | atha taṃ nagara-vāsinaḥ sārameyā avalokya sarvataḥ śabdāyamānāḥ paridhāvya tīkṣṇa-daṃṣṭṛāgrair bhakṣitum ārabdhāḥ | so 'pi tair bhakṣyamāṇaḥ prāṇa-bhayāt pratyāsanna-rajaka-gṛhaṃ praviṣṭaḥ | tatra nīlī-rasa-paripūrṇaṃ mahā-bhāṇḍam sajjīkṛtam āsīt | tatra sārameyair ākrānto bhāṇḍa-madhye patitaḥ | atha yāvan niṣkrāntas tāvan nīlī-varṇaḥ sañjātaḥ | tatrāpare sārameyās taṃ śṛgālam ajānanto yathābhīṣṭa-diśaṃ jagmuḥ | caṇḍaravo 'pi dūrataraṃ pradeśam āsādya kānanābhimukhaṃ pratasthe | na ca nīla-varṇena kadācin nija-raṅgas tyajyate | uktaṃ
ca-
vajra-lepasya mūrkhasya nārīṇāṃ karkaṭasya ca | eko grahas tu mīnānāṃ nīlīmadyapayor yathā

atha taṃ hara-gala-garala-tamāla-sama-prabham apūrvaṃ sattvam avalokya sarve siṃha-vyāghra-dvīpi-vṛka-prabhṛtayo 'raṇya-nivāsino bhaya-vyākulita-cittāḥ samantāt palāyana-kriyāṃ kurvanti | kathayanti ca-na jñāyate'sya kīdṛg viceṣṭitaṃ pauruṣaṃ ca | tad dūrataraṃ gacchāmaḥ | uktaṃ ca-
na yasya ceṣṭitaṃ vidyān na kulaṃ na parākramam |
na tasya viśvaset prājño yadīcchec chriyam ātmanaḥ

caṇḍaravo 'pi bhaya-vyākulitān vijñāyedam āha-bho bhoḥ śvāpadāḥ ! kiṃ yūyaṃ māṃ dṛṣṭvaiva saṃtrastā vrajatha | tan na bhetavyam | ahaṃ brahmaṇādya svayam eva sṛṣṭvābhihitaḥ-yac chvāpadānāṃ kaścid rājā nāsti, tat tvaṃ mayādya sarva-śvāpada-prabhutve'bhiṣiktaḥ kakud-drumābhidhaḥ | tato gatvā kṣiti-tale tān sarvān paripālayeti | tato 'ham atrāgataḥ | tan mama cchatra-cchāyāyāṃ sarvair api śvāpadair vartitavyam | ahaṃ kakuddrumo nāma rājā trailokye'pi sañjātaḥ |
tac chrutvā siṃha-vyāghra-puraḥ-sarāḥ śvāpadāḥ svāmin prabho samādiśeti vadantas taṃ parivavruḥ | atha tena siṃhasyāmātya-padavī pradattā | vyāghrasya śayyā-pālakatvam | dvīpinas tāmbūlādhikāraḥ | vṛkasya dvāra-pālakatvam | ye cātmīyāḥ śṛgālās taiḥ sahālāpa-mātram api na karoti | śṛgālāḥ sarve'py adharma-candraṃ dattvā niḥsāritāḥ | evaṃ tasya rājya-kriyayāṃ vartamānasya te siṃhādayo mṛgān vyāpādya tat-purataḥ prakṣipanti | so 'pi prabhu-dharmeṇa sarveṣāṃ tān pravibhajya prayacchati |
evaṃ gacchati kāle kadācit tena samāgatena dūra-deśe śabdāyamānasya śṛgāla-vṛndasya kolāhalo 'śrāvi | taṃ śabdaṃ śrutvā pulakita-tanur ānandāśru-pūrṇa-nayana utthāya tāra-svareṇa virotum ārabdhavān | atha te siṃhādayas taṃ tāra-svaram ākarṇya śṛgālo 'yam iti matvā lajjāyādho-mukhāḥ kṣaṇaṃ sthitvā procuḥ-bhoḥ ! vāhitā vayam anena kṣudra-śṛgālena | tad vadhyatām iti |
so 'pi tad ākarṇya palāyitum icchaṃs tatra sthāna eva siṃhādibhiḥ khaṇḍaśaḥ kṛto mṛtaś ca |
ato 'haṃ bravīmi-tyaktāś cābhyantarā yena iti |
tad ākarṇya piṅgalaka āha-bho damanaka ! kaḥ pratyayo 'tra viṣaye yat sa mamopari duṣṭa-buddhiḥ |
sa āha-yad adya mamāgre tena niścayaḥ kṛto yat prabhāte piṅgalakaṃ vadhiṣyāmi | tad atraiva pratyayaḥ | prabhāte'vasara-velāyām ārakta-mukha-nayanaḥ sphuritādharo diśo 'valokayann anucita-sthānopaviṣṭas tvāṃ krūra-dṛṣṭyā vilokayiṣyati | evaṃ jñātvā yad ucitaṃ tat kartavyam | iti kathayitvā sañjīvaka-sakāśaṃ gatas taṃ praṇamyopaviṣṭaḥ | sañjīvako 'pi sodvegākāraṃ manda-gatyā samāyāntaṃ tam udvīkṣya sādarataram uvāca-bho mitra ! svāgatam | cirād dṛṣṭo 'si | api śivaṃ bhavataḥ | tat kathaya yenādeyam api tubhyaṃ gṛhāgatāya prayacchāmi | uktaṃ ca-
te dhanyās te viveka-jñās te sabhyā iha bhūtale |
āgacchanti gṛhe yeṣāṃ kāryārthaṃ suhṛdo janāḥ

damanaka āha-bhoḥ ! kathaṃ śivaṃ sevaka-janasya |
sampattayaḥ parāyattāḥ sadā cittam anirvṛtam |
sva-jīvite'py aviśvāsas teṣāṃ ye rāja-sevakāḥ

tathā ca-
sevayā dhanam icchadbhiḥ sevakaiḥ paśya yat kṛtam |
svātantryaṃ yac charīrasya mūḍhais tad api hāritam

tāvaj janmāti-duḥkhāya tato durgatatā sadā |
tatrāpi sevayā vṛttir aho duḥkha-paramparā

jīvanto 'pi mṛtāḥ pañca śrūyante kila bhārate |
daridro vyādhito mūrkhaḥ pravāsī nitya-sevakaḥ

nāśnāti svacchayotsukyād vinidro na prabudhyate |
na niḥśaṅkaṃ vaco brūte sevako 'py atra jīvati

sevā śva-vṛttir ākhyātā yais tair mithyā prajalpitam |
svacchandaṃ carati svātra sevakaḥ para-śāsanāt

bhū-śayyā brahmacaryaṃ ca kṛśatvaṃ laghu-bhojanam |
sevakasya yater yadvad viśeṣaḥ pāpa-dharmajaḥ

śītātapādi-kaṣṭāni sahate yāni sevakaḥ |
dhanāya tāni cālpāni yadi dharmān na mucyate

mṛdunāpi suvṛttena suśliṣṭenāpi hāriṇā |
modakenāpi kiṃ tena niṣpattir yasya sevayā

sañjīvaka āha-atha bhavān kiṃ vaktu-manāḥ ?
so 'bravīt-mitra, sacivānāṃ mantra-bhedaṃ na yujyate | uktaṃ ca-
yo mantraṃ svāmino bhidyāt sācivye san-niyojitaḥ |
sa hatvā nṛpa-kāryaṃ tat svayaṃ ca narakaṃ vrajet

yena yasya kṛto bhedaḥ sacivena mahīpateḥ |
tenāśastra-vadhas tasya kṛta ity āha nāradaḥ

tathāpi mayā tava sneha-pāśa-baddhena mantra-bhedaḥ kṛtaḥ | yatas tvaṃ mama vacanenātra rāja-kule viśvastaḥ praviṣṭaś ca | uktaṃ ca-
viśrambhād yasya yo mṛtyum avāpnoti kathañcana |
tasya hatyā tad-utthā sā prāhedaṃ vacanaṃ manuḥ

tat tavopari piṅgalako 'yaṃ duṣṭa-buddhiḥ kathitaṃ cādyānena mat-purataś catuṣkarṇatayā-yat prabhāte sañjīvakaṃ hatvā samasta-mṛga-parivāraṃ cirāt tṛptiṃ neṣyāmi |
tataḥ sa mayoktaḥ-svāmin ! na yuktam idaṃ yan mitra-droheṇa jīvanaṃ kriyate | uktaṃ ca-
api brahma-vadhaṃ kṛtvā prāyaścittena śudhyati |
tad-arthena vicīrṇena na kathañcit suhṛd-druhaḥ

tatas tenāhaṃ samarṣeṇoktaḥ-bho duṣṭa-buddhe, sañjīvakas tāvac chaṣpa-bhojī, vayaṃ māṃsāśinaḥ | tad asmākaṃ svābhāvikaṃ vairam iti kathaṃ ripur upekṣyate ? tasmāt sāmādibhir upāyair hanyate | na ca hate tasmin doṣaḥ syāt | uktaṃ ca-
dattvāpi kanyakāṃ vairī nihantavyo vipaścitā |
anyopāyair aśakyo yo hate doṣo na vidyate

kṛtyākṛtyaṃ na manyeta kṣatriyo yudhi saṅgataḥ |
prasupto droṇa-putreṇa dhṛṣṭadyumnaḥ purā hataḥ

tad ahaṃ tasya niścayaṃ jñātvā tvat-sakāśam ihāgataḥ | sāmprataṃ me nāsti viśvāsa-ghātaka-doṣaḥ | mayā sugupta-mantras tava niveditaḥ | atha yat te pratibhāti tat kuruṣva iti | atha sañjīvakas tasya tadvajra-pāta-dāruṇaṃ vacanaṃ śrutvā moham upagataḥ | atha cetanāṃ labdhvā sa-vairāgyam idam āha-bho sādhv idam ucyate-
durjana-gamyā nāryaḥ prāyeṇāsnehavān bhavati rājā |
kṛpaṇānusāri ca dhanaṃ megho giri-durga-varṣī ca

ahaṃ hi saṃmato rājño ya evaṃ manyate kudhīḥ |
balīvardaḥ sa vijñeyo viṣāṇa-parivarjitaḥ

varaṃ vanaṃ varaṃ bhaikṣaṃ varaṃ bhāropajīvanam |
varaṃ vyādhir manuṣyāṇāṃ nādhikāreṇa sampadaḥ

tad yuktaṃ mayā kṛtaṃ tad anena saha maitrī vihitā | uktaṃ ca-
yayor eva samaṃ vittaṃ yayor eva samaṃ kulam |
tayor maitrī vivāhaś ca na tu puṣṭa-vipuṣṭayoḥ

tathā ca-
mṛgā mṛgaiḥ saṅgam anuvrajanti
gāvaś ca gobhis turagās turagaiḥ |
mūrkhāś ca mūrkhaiḥ sudhiyaḥ
sudhībhiḥ samāna-śīla-vyasanena sakhyam

tad yadi gatvā taṃ prasādayāmi, tathāpi na prasādaṃ yāsyati | uktaṃ ca-
nimittam uddiśya hi yaḥ prakupyati
dhruvaṃ sa tasyāpagame praśāmyati |
akāraṇa-dveṣa-paro hi yo bhavet
kathaṃ naras taṃ paritoṣayati

aho sādhu cedam ucyate-
bhaktānām upakāriṇāṃ para-hita-vyāpāra-yuktātmanāṃ
sevā-saṃvyavahāra-tattva-viduṣāṃ droha-cyutānām api |
vyāpattiḥ skhalitāntareṣu niyatā siddhir bhaved vā na vā
tasmād ambupater ivāvani-pateḥ sevā sadā śaṅkinī

tathā ca-
bhāva-snigdhair upakṛtam api dveṣyatāṃ yāti loke
sākṣād anyair apakṛtam api prītaye copayāti |
durgrāhyatvān nṛpati-manasāṃ naika-bhāvāśrayāṇāṃ
sevā-dharmaḥ parama-gahano yoginām apy agamyaḥ

tat parijñātaṃ mayā mat-prasādam asahamānaiḥ samīpavartibhir eṣa piṅgalakaḥ prakopitaḥ | tenāyaṃ mamādoṣasyāpy evaṃ vadati | uktaṃ ca-
prabhoḥ prasādam anyasya na sahantīha sevakāḥ |
sapatnya iva saṅkruddhāḥ sapatnyāḥ sukṛtair api

bhavati caivaṃ yad guṇavatsu samīpa-vartiṣu guṇa-hīnānāṃ na prasādo bhavati | uktaṃ ca-
guṇavattara-pātreṇa chādyante guṇināṃ guṇāḥ |
rātrau dīpa-śikhā-kāntir na bhānāv udite sati

damanaka āha-bho mitra ! yady evaṃ tan nāsti te bhayam | prakopito 'pi sa durjanais tava vacana-racanayā prasādaṃ yāsyati |
sa āha-bhoḥ ! na yuktam uktaṃ bhavatā | laghūnām api durjanānāṃ madhye vastuṃ na śakyate | upāyāntaraṃ vidhāya te nūnaṃ ghnanti | uktaṃ ca-
bahavaḥ paṇḍitāḥ kṣudrāḥ sarve māyopajīvinaḥ |
kuryuḥ kṛtyam akṛtyaṃ vā uṣṭre kākādayo yathā

damaka āha--katham etat ?
so 'bravīt-
kathā 11
madotkaṭa-siṃha-kathā
asti kasmiṃścid vanoddeśe madotkaṭo nāma siṃhaḥ prativasa ti sma | tasya cānucarā anye dvīpi-vāyasa-gomāyavaḥ santi | atha kadācit tair itas tato bhramadbhiḥ sārthād bhraṣṭaḥ krathanako nāmoṣtro dṛṣṭaḥ | atha siṃha āha-aho apūrvam idaṃ sattvam | taj jñāyatāṃ kim etad āraṇyakaṃ grāmyaṃ veti |
tac chrutvā vāyasa āha-bhoḥ svāmin ! grāmyo 'yam uṣṭra-nāmā jīva-viśeṣas tava bhojyaḥ | tad vyāpādyatām |
siṃha āha-nāhaṃ gṛham āgataṃ hanmi | uktaṃ ca-
gṛhaṃ śatrum api prāptaṃ viśvastam akutobhayam | yo hanyāt tasya pāpaṃ syāc chatabrāhmaṇaghātajam

tad abhaya-pradānaṃ dattvā mat-sakāśam ānīyatāṃ yenāsyāgama-kāraṇaṃ pṛcchāmi |
athāsau sarvair api viśvāsyābhaya-pradānaṃ dattvā madotkaṭa-sakāśam ānītaḥ praṇamyopaviṣṭaś ca | tatas tasya pṛcchatas tenātma-vṛttāntaḥ sārtha-bhraṃśa-samudbhavo niveditaḥ | tataḥ siṃhenoktam-bhoḥ krathanaka ! mā tvaṃ grāmaṃ gatvā bhūyo 'pi bhārodvahana-kaṣṭa-bhāgī bhūyāḥ | tad atraivāraṇye nirviśaṅko marakata-sadṛśāni śaṣpāgrāṇi bhakṣayan mayā saha sadaiva vasa | so 'pi tathety uktvā teṣāṃ madhye vicaran na kuto 'pi bhayam iti sukhenāste |
tathānyedyur madotkaṭasya mahā-gajenāraṇya-cāriṇā saha yuddham abhavat | tatas tasya danta-musala-prahārair vyathā sañjātā | vyathitaḥ katham api prāṇair na viyuktaḥ | atha śarīrāsāmarthyān na kutracit padam api calituṃ śaknoti | te sarve kākādayo 'py aprabhutvena kṣudhāviṣṭāḥ paraṃ duḥkhaṃ bhejuḥ |
atha tān siṃhaḥ prāha-bhoḥ ! anviṣyatāṃ kutracit kiṃcit sattvaṃ yenāham etām api daśāṃ prāptas tad dhatvā yuṣmad-bhojanaṃ sampādayāmi |
atha te catvāro 'pi bhramitum ārabdhā yāvan na kiṃcit sattvaṃ paśyanti tāvad vāyasa-śṛgālau parasparaṃ mantrayataḥ | śṛgāla āha-bho vāyasa ! kiṃ prabhūta-bhrāntena | ayam asmākaṃ prabhoḥ krathanako viśvastas tiṣṭhati | tad enaṃ hatvā prāṇa-yātrāṃ kurmaḥ |
vāyasa āha-yuktam uktaṃ bhavatā | paraṃ svāminā tasyābhaya-pradānaṃ dattam āste na vadhyo 'yam iti |
śṛgāla āha-bho vāyasa ! ahaṃ svāminaṃ vijñāpya tathā kariṣye yathā svāmī vadhaṃ kariṣyati | tat tiṣṭhantu bhavanto 'traiva, yāvad ahaṃ gṛhaṃ gatvā prabhor ājñāṃ gṛhītvā cāgacchāmi |
evam abhidhāya satvaraṃ siṃham uddiśya prasthitaḥ | atha siṃham āsādyedam āha-svāmin ! samastaṃ vanaṃ bhrāntvā vayam āgatāḥ | na kiṃcit sattvam āsāditam | tat kiṃ kurmo vayam | samprati vayaṃ bubhukṣayā padam ekam api pracalituṃ na śaknumaḥ | devo 'pi pathyāśī vartate | tad yadi devādeśo bhavati tat krathanaka-piśitenādya pathya-kriyā kriyate |
atha siṃhas tasya tad dāruṇaṃ vacanam ākarṇya sa-kopam idam āha-dhik pāpādhama ! yady evaṃ bhūyo 'pi vadasi | tatas tvāṃ tat-kṣaṇam eva vadhiṣyāmi | tato mayā tasyābhayaṃ pradattam | tat kathaṃ vyāpādayāmi | uktaṃ ca-
na go-pradānaṃ na mahī-pradānaṃ
na cānna-dānaṃ hi tathā pradhānam | yathā vadantīha budhāḥ pradhānaṃ
sarva-pradāneṣv abhaya-pradānam

tac chrutvā śṛgāla āha-svāmin yady abhayapradānaṃ dattvā vadhaḥ kriyate tad eṣa doṣo bhavati | punar yadi devapādānāṃ bhaktyā sātmano jīvitavyaṃ prayacchati tan na doṣaḥ |
tato yadi sa svayam evātmānaṃ vadhāya niyojayati tad vadhyo 'nyathāsmākaṃ madhyād ekatamo vadhya iti yato devapādāḥ pathyāśinaḥ kṣunnirodhād antyāṃ daśāṃ yāsyanti |
tat kim etaiḥ prāṇair asmākaṃ ye svāmyarthe na yāsyanti | aparaṃ paścād apy asmābhir vahni-praveśaḥ kāryo yadi svāmi-pādānāṃ kiṃcid aniṣṭaṃ bhaviṣyati | uktaṃ ca-
yasmin kule yaḥ puruṣaḥ pradhānaḥ
sa sarva-yatnaiḥ parirakṣaṇīyaḥ | tasmin vinaṣṭe sva-kulaṃ vinaṣṭaṃ
na nābhi-bhaṅge hy arakā vahanti

tad ākarṇya madotkaṭa āha-yady evaṃ tat kuruṣva yad rocate |
tac chrutvā sa satvaraṃ gatvā tān āha-bhoḥ ! svāmino mahaty avasthā vartate | tat kiṃ paryaṭitena ? tena vinā ko 'trāsmān rakṣayiṣyati ? tad gatvā tasya kṣud-rogāt para-lokaṃ prasthitasyātma-śarīra-dānaṃ kurmo yena svāmi-prasādasya anṛṇatāṃ gacchāmaḥ | uktaṃ ca-
āpadaṃ prāpnuyāt svāmī yasya bhṛtyasya paśyataḥ |
prāṇeṣu vidyamāneṣu sa bhṛtyo narakaṃ vrajet

tad-anantaraṃ te sarve bāṣpa-pūrita-dṛśo madotkaṭaṃ praṇamyopaviṣṭāḥ | tān dṛṣṭvā madotkaṭa āha-bhoḥ ! prāptaṃ dṛṣṭaṃ vā kiṃcit sattvam |
atha teṣāṃ madhyāt kākaḥ provāca-svāmin ! vayaṃ tāvat sarvatra paryaṭitāḥ paraṃ na kiṃcit sattvam āsāditaṃ dṛṣṭaṃ vā | tad adya māṃ bhakṣayitvā prāṇān dhārayatu svāmī, yena devasyāśvāsanaṃ bhavati mama punaḥ svarga-prāptir iti | uktaṃ ca-
svāmy-arthe yas tyajet prāṇān bhṛtyo bhakti-samanvitaḥ | sa paraṃ padam āpnoti jarā-maraṇa-varjitam

tac chrutvā śṛgāla āha-bhoḥ ! svalpa-kāyo bhavān | tava bhakṣaṇāt svāminas tāvat prāṇa-yātrā na bhavati | aparo doṣaś ca tāvat samutpadyate | uktaṃ ca-
kāka-māṃsaṃ tathocchiṣṭaṃ stokaṃ tad api durbalam |
bhakṣitenāpi kiṃ tena yena tṛptir na jāyate

tad darṣitā svāmi-bhaktir bhavatā gataṃ ca ānṛṇyaṃ bhartṛ-piṇḍasya prāptaś cobhaya-loke sādhu-vādaḥ | tad apasarāgrataḥ | ahaṃ svāminaṃ vijñāpayāmi | tathānuṣṭhite śṛgālaḥ sādaraṃ praṇamyopaviṣṭaḥ prāha-svāmin ! māṃ bhakṣayitvādya prāṇa-yātrāṃ vidhāya mamobhaya-loka-prāptiṃ kuru | uktaṃ ca-
svāmy-āyattāḥ sadā prāṇā bhṛtyānām arjitā dhanaiḥ | yatas tato na doṣo 'sti teṣāṃ grahaṇa-sambhavaḥ

atha tac chrutvā dvīpy āha-bhoḥ sādhūktaṃ bhavatā punar bhavān api svalpa-kāyaḥ sva-jātiś ca nakhāyudhatvād abhakṣya eva | uktaṃ ca-
nābhakṣyaṃ bhakṣayet prājñaḥ prāṇaiḥ kaṇṭha-gatair api | viśeṣāt tad api stokaṃ loka-dvaya-vināśakam

tad darśitaṃ tvayātmanaḥ kaulīnyam | atha vā sādhu cedam ucyate-
etad-arthaṃ kulīnānāṃ nṛpāḥ kurvanti saṅgraham | ādi-madhyāvasāneṣu na te gacchanti vikriyām

tad apasarāgrataḥ, yenāhaṃ svāminaṃ vijñāpayāmi | tathānuṣṭhite dvīpī praṇamya madotkaṭam āha-svāmin ! kriyatām adya mama prāṇaiḥ prāṇa-yātrā | dīyatām akṣayo vāsaḥ svarge | mama vistāryatāṃ kṣiti-tale prabhūtaṃ yaśaḥ | tan nātra vismayaḥ kāryaḥ | uktaṃ ca-
mṛtānāṃ svāminaḥ kārye bhṛtyānām anuvartinām | bhavet svarge akṣayo vāsaḥ kīrtiś ca dharaṇī-tale

tac chrutvā krathanakaś cintayāmāsa-etais tāvat sarvair api śobhā-vākyāny uktāni na caiko 'pi svāminā vināśitaḥ | tad aham api prāpta-kālaṃ vakṣyāmi citrakaṃ yena mad-vacanam ete trayo 'pi samarthayanti | iti niścitya provāca-bhoḥ satyam uktaṃ bhavatā paraṃ bhavān api nakhāyudhaḥ | tat kathaṃ bhavantaṃ svāmī bhakṣayati | uktaṃ ca-
manasāpi svajātyānāṃ yo 'niṣṭāni pracintayet | bhavanti tasya tāny eva iha loke paratra ca

tad apasarāgrataḥ, yenāhaṃ svāminaṃ vijñāpayāmi | tathānuṣṭhite krathanako 'gre sthitvā praṇamyovāca-svāmin ! ete'bhakṣyās tava tan mama prāṇaiḥ prāṇa-yātrā vidhīyatāṃ yena mamobhaya-loka-prāptir bhavati | uktaṃ ca-
na yajvāno 'pi gacchanti tāṃ gatiṃ naiva yoginaḥ | yāṃ yānti projjhita-prāṇāḥ svāmy-arthe sevakottamāḥ

evam abhihite tābhyāṃ śṛgāla-citrakābhyāṃ vidāritobhaya-kukṣiḥ krathanakaḥ prāṇān atyākṣīt | tataś ca taiḥ kṣudra-paṇḍitaiḥ sarvair bhakṣitaḥ |
ato 'haṃ bravīmi-bahavaḥ paṇḍitāḥ kṣudrāḥ iti |
tad bhadra, kṣudra-parivāro 'yaṃ te rājā mayā samyag jātaḥ | satām asevyaṃ ca | uktaṃ ca-
aśuddha-prakṛtau rājñi janatā nānurajyate |
yathā gṛdhra-samāsannaḥ kalahaṃsaḥ samācaret

tathā ca-
gṛdhrākāro 'pi sevyaḥ syād dhaṃsākāraiḥ sabhāsadaiḥ |
haṃsākāro 'pi santyājyo gṛdhrākāraiḥ sa tair nṛpaḥ

tan nūnaṃ mamopari kenacid durjanenāyaṃ prakopitaḥ, tenaivaṃ vadati | athavā bhavaty etat | uktaṃ ca-
mṛdunā salilena khanyamā
nānyavad dhṛṣyanti girer api sthalāni |
upajāpavidāṃ ca karṇa-jāpaiḥ
kim u cetāṃsi mṛdūni mānavānām

karṇa-viṣeṇa ca bhagnaḥ kiṃ kiṃ na karoti bāliśo lokaḥ |
kṣapaṇakatām api dhatte pibati surāṃ naraka-pālena

athavā sādhv idam ucyate-
pādāhato 'pi dṛḍha-daṇḍa-samāhato 'pi
yaṃ daṃṣṭrayā spṛśati taṃ kila hanti sarpaḥ |
ko 'py eṣa eva piśunogra-manuṣya-dharmaḥ
karṇe paraṃ spṛśati hanti paraṃ samūlam

tathā ca-
aho khala-bhujaṅgasya viparīto vadha-kramaḥ |
karṇe lagati cānyasya prāṇair anyo viyujyate

tad evaṃ gate'pi kiṃ kartavyam ity ahaṃ tvāṃ suhṛd-bhāvāt pṛcchāmi |
damanaka āha-tad-deśāntara-gamanaṃ yujyate | naivaṃ-vidhasya kusvāminaḥ sevāṃ vidhātum | uktaṃ ca-
guror apy avaliptasya kāryākāryam ajānataḥ |
utpatha-pratipannasya parityāgo vidhīyate

sañjīvaka āha-asmākam upari svāmini kupite gantuṃ na śakyate, na cānyatra gatānām api nirvṛtir bhavati | uktaṃ ca-
mahatāṃ yo 'parādhyena dūrastho 'smīti nāśvaset |
dīrghau buddhimato bāhū tābhyāṃ hiṃsati hiṃsakam

tad yuddhaṃ muktvā me nānyad asit śreyaskaram | uktaṃ ca-
na tān hi tīrthais tapasā ca lokān
svargaiṣiṇo dāna-śataiḥ suvṛttaiḥ |
kṣaṇena yān yānti raṇeṣu dhīrāḥ
prāṇān samujjhanti hi ye suśīlāḥ

mṛtaiḥ samprāpyate svargo jīvadbhiḥ kīrtir uttamā |
tad ubhāv api śūrāṇāṃ guṇāv etau sudurlabhau

lalāṭa-deśe rudhiraṃ sravat tu
śūrasya yasya praviśec ca vaktre |
tat somapānena samaṃ bhavec ca
saṅgrāma-yajñe vidhivat pradiṣṭam

tathā ca-
homārthair vidhivat pradāna-vidhinā sad-vipra-vṛndārcanair
yajñair bhūri-sudakṣiṇaiḥ suvihitaiḥ samprāpyate yat phalam |
sat-tīrthāśrama-vāsa-homa-niyamaiś cāndrāyaṇādyaiḥ kṛtaiḥ
pumbhis tat-phalam āhave vinihitaiḥ samprāpyate tat-kṣaṇāt

tad ākarṇya damanakaś cintayāmāsa-yuddhāya kṛta-niścayo 'yaṃ dṛśyate durātmā | tad yadi kadācit tīkṣṇa-śṛgālābhyāṃ svāminaṃ prahariṣyati tan mahān anarthaḥ sampatsyate | tad enaṃ bhūyo 'pi sva-buddhyā prabodhya tathā karomi, yathā deśāntara-gamanaṃ karoti | āha ca-bho mitra ! samyag abhihitaṃ bhavatā | paraṃ kaḥ svāmi-bhṛtyayoḥ saṅgrāmaḥ | uktaṃ ca-
balavantaṃ ripuṃ dṛṣṭvā kilātmānaṃ pragopayet |
balavadbhiś ca kartavyā śarac-candra-prakāśatā

anyac ca-
śatror vikramam ajñātvā vairam ārabhate hi yaḥ |
sa parābhavam āpnoti samudraṣ ṭiṭṭibhād yathā

sañjīvaka āha--katham etat ?
so 'bravīt-
kathā 12
ṭiṭṭibha-dampatī-kathā
kasmiṃścit samudraika-deśe ṭiṭṭibha-dampatī vasataḥ | tato gacchati kāla ṛtu-samayam āsādya ṭiṭṭibhī garbham ādhatta | āsanna-prasavā satī sā ṭiṭṭibham ūce-bhoḥ kānta ! mama prasava-samayo vartate | tad vicintyatāṃ kim api nirupadravaṃ sthānaṃ yena tatrāham aṇḍaka-mokṣaṇaṃ karomi |
ṭiṭṭibhaḥ prāha-bhadre ramyo 'yaṃ samudra-pradeśaḥ | tad atraiva prasavaḥ kāryaḥ |
sā prāha-atra pūrṇimā-dine samudra-velā carati | sā matta-gajendrān api samākarṣati | tad dūram anyatra kiṃcit sthānam anviṣyatām |
tac chrutvā vihasya ṭiṭṭibha āha-bhadre na yuktam uktaṃ bhavatyā | kā mātrā samudrasya yā mama dūṣayiṣyati prasūtim | kiṃ na śrutaṃ bhavatyā-
baddhvāmbara-cara-mārgaṃ vyapagata-dhūmaṃ sadā mahad bhayadam |
manda-matiḥ kaḥ praviśati hutāśanaṃ svecchayā manujaḥ

mattebha-kumbha-vidalana-kṛta-śramaṃ suptam antaka-pratimam |
yama-loka-darśanecchuḥ siṃhaḥ bodhayati ko nāma

ko gatvā yama-sadanaṃ svayam antakam ādiśaty ajāta-bhayaḥ |
prāṇān apahara matto yadi śaktiḥ kācid asti tava

prāleya-leśa-miśre maruti prābhātike ca vāti jaḍe |
guṇa-doṣa-jñaḥ puruṣo jalena kaḥ śītam apanayati

tasmād viśrabdhātraiva garbhaṃ muñca | uktaṃ ca-
yaḥ parābhava-santrastaḥ sva-sthānaṃ santyajen naraḥ |
tena cet putriṇī mātā tad vandhyā kena kathyate

tac chrutvā samudraś cintayām āsa-aho garvaḥ pakṣi-kīṭasyāsya | atha vā sādhv idam ucyate-
utkṣipya ṭiṭṭibhaḥ pādāv āste bha gabhayād divaḥ |
sva-citta-kalpito garvaḥ kasya nātrāpi vidyate

tan mayāsya pramāṇaṃ kutūhalād api draṣṭavyam | kiṃ mamaiṣo 'ṇḍāpahāre kṛte kariṣyati | iti cintayitvā sthitaḥ | atha prasavānantaraṃ prāṇayātrārthaṃ gatāyāṣ ṭiṭṭibhyāḥ samudro velāvyājenāṇḍāny apajahāra | athāyātā sā ṭiṭṭibhī prasavasthānaṃ śūnyam avalokya pralapantī ṭiṭṭibham ūce-bho mūrkha ! kathitam āsīn mayā te yat samudravelayā aṇḍānāṃ vināśo bhaviṣyati tad dūrataraṃ vrajāvaḥ paraṃ mūḍhatayāhaṃkāram āśritya mama vacanaṃ na karoṣi | athavā sādhv idam ucyate |
suhṛdāṃ hitakāmānāṃ na karotīha yo vacaḥ | sa kūrma iva durbuddhiḥ kāṣṭhād bhraṣṭo vinaśyati

ṭiṭṭibha āha-katham etat ?
sābravīt-
kathā 13
kambugrīvākhya-kūrma-kathā
asti kasmiṃścij jalāśaye kambu-grīvo nāma kacchapaḥ | tasya ca saṅkaṭa-vikaṭa-nāmnī mitre haṃsa-jātīye parama-sneha-koṭim āśrite nityam eva saras-tīram āsādya tena sahāneka-devarṣi-maharṣīṇāṃ kathāḥ kṛtvāsta-maya-velāyāṃ sva-nīḍā-saṃśrayaṃ kurutaḥ | atha gacchatā kālenāvṛṣṭi-vaśāt saraḥ śanaiḥ śanaiḥ śoṣam agamat | tatas tad-duḥkha-duḥkhitau tāv ūcatuḥ-bho mitra ! jambāla-śeṣam etat-saraḥ sañjātam | tat kathaṃ bhavān bhaviṣyatīti vyākulatvaṃ no hṛdi vartate |
tac chrutvā kambugrīva āha-bhoḥ, sāmprataṃ nāsty asmākaṃ jīvitavyaṃ jalābhāvāt | tathāpy upāyaś cintyatām iti | uktaṃ ca-
tyājyaṃ na dhairyaṃ vidhure'pi kāle
dhairyāt kadācid gatim āpnuyāt saḥ |
yathā samudre'pi ca pota-bhaṅge
sāṃyātriko vāñchati tartum eva

aparaṃ ca-
mitrārthe bāndhavārthe ca buddhimān yatate sadā |
jātāsv āpatsu yatnena jagādedaṃ vaco manuḥ

tad ānīyatāṃ kācid dṛḍha-rajjur laghu-kāṣṭhaṃ vā | anviṣyatāṃ ca prabhūta-jala-sanāthaṃ saraḥ, yena mayā madhya-pradeśe dantair gṛhīte sati yuvāṃ koṭi-bhāgayos tat-kāṣṭhaṃ mayā sahitaṃ saṅgṛhya tat-saro nayathaḥ |
tāv ūcatuḥ-bho mitra ! evaṃ kariṣyāvaḥ | paraṃ bhavatā mauna-vratena sthātavyam | no cet tava kāṣṭhāt pāto bhaviṣyati |
tathānuṣṭhite gacchatā kambugrīveṇādhobhāga-vyavasthitaṃ kiṃcit puram ālokitam | tatra ye paurās te tathā nīyamānaṃ vilokya savismayam idam ūcuḥ-aho cakrākāraṃ kim api pakṣibhyāṃ nīyate | paśyata paśyata |
atha teṣāṃ kolāhalam ākarṇya kambugrīva āha-bhoḥ ! kim eṣa kolāhalaḥ ? iti vaktu-manā ardhokte patitaḥ pauraiḥ khaṇḍaśaḥ kṛtaś ca | ato 'haṃ bravīmi-suhṛdāṃ hita-kāmānām iti | tathā ca-
anāgata-vidhātā ca pratyutpanna-matis tathā |
dvāv etau sukham edhete yad-bhaviṣyo vinaśyati

ṭiṭṭibha āha-katham etat ?
sābravīt-
kathā 14
anāgata-vidhātādi-matsya-traya-kathā
kasmiṃścij jalāśaye'nāgata-vidhātā pratyutpanna-matir yad-bhaviṣyaś ceti trayo matsyāḥ santi | atha kadācit taṃ jalāśayaṃ dṛṣṭvā gacchadbhir matsya-jīvibhir uktam-yad aho bahu-matsyo 'yaṃ hradaḥ | kadācid api nāsmābhir anveṣitaḥ | tad adya tāvad āhāra-vṛttiḥ sañjātā | sandhyā-samayaś ca saṃvṛttaḥ | tataḥ prabhāte'trāgantavyam iti niścayaḥ |
atas teṣāṃ tat-kuliśa-pātopamaṃ vacaḥ samākarṇyānāgata-vidhātā sarvān matsyān āhūyedam ūce-aho, śrutaṃ bhavadbhir yan matsya-jīvibhir abhihitam | tad rātrāv api gamyatāṃ kiñcin nikaṭaṃ saraḥ | uktaṃ ca-
aśaktair balinaḥ śatroḥ kartavyaṃ prapalāyanam |
saṃśritavyo 'thavā durgo nānyā teṣāṃ gatir bhavet

tan nūnaṃ prabhāta-samaye matsya-jīvino 'tra samāgamya matsya-saṅkṣayaṃ kariṣyanti | etan mama manasi vartate | tan na yuktaṃ sāmprataṃ kṣaṇam apy atrāvasthātum | uktaṃ ca-
vidyamānā gatir yeṣām anyatrāpi sukhāvahā |
te na paśyanti vidvāṃso deha-bhaṅgaṃ kula-kṣayam

tad ākarṇya pratyutpanna-matiḥ prāha-aho satyam abhihitaṃ bhavatā | mamāpy abhīṣṭam etat | tad anyatra gamyatām iti | uktaṃ ca-
para-deśa-bhayāt bhītā bahu-māyā napuṃsakāḥ |
sva-deśe nidhanaṃ yānti kākāḥ kāpuruṣā mṛgāḥ

yasyāsti sarvatra gatiḥ sa kasmāt
sva-deśa-rāgeṇa hi yāti nāśam |
tātasya kūpo 'yam iti bruvāṇāḥ
kṣāra-jalaṃ kāpuruṣāḥ pibanti

atha tat samākarṇya proccair vihasya yad-bhaviṣyaḥ provāca-aho, na bhavadbhyāṃ mantritaṃ samyag etad iti, yataḥ kiṃ vāṅ-mātreṇāpi teṣāṃ pitṛ-paitāmahikam etat saras tyaktuṃ yujyate | yady āyuḥ-kṣayo 'sti tad anyatra gatānām api mṛtyur bhaviṣyaty eva | uktaṃ ca-
arakṣitaṃ tiṣṭhati daiva-rakṣitaṃ
surakṣitaṃ daiva-hataṃ vinaśyati |
jīvaty anātho 'pi vane visarjitaḥ
kṛta-prayatno 'pi gṛhe na jīvati

tad ahaṃ na yāsyāmi bhavadbhyāṃ ca yat pratibhāti tat kartavyam |
atha tasya taṃ niścayaṃ jñātvānāgata-vidhātā pratyutpanna-matiś ca niṣkrānau saha parijanena | atha prabhāte tair matsya-jīvibhir jālais taj jalāśayam āloḍya yad-bhaviṣyeṇa saha tat-saro nirmatsyatāṃ nītam | ato 'haṃ bravīmi-anāgata-vidhātā ceti |
tac chrutvā ṭiṭṭibha āha-bhadre, kiṃ māṃ yadbhaviṣya-sadṛśaṃ sambhāvayasi | tat paśya me buddhi-prabhāvaṃ yāvad enaṃ duṣṭa-samudraṃ sva-cañcvā śoṣayāmi |
ṭiṭṭibhy āha-aho kas te samudreṇa saha vigrahaḥ | tan na yuktam asyopari kopaṃ kartum | uktaṃ ca-
puṃsām asamarthānām upadravāyātmano bhavet kopaḥ |
piṭharaṃ jvalad-atimātraṃ nija-pārśvān eva dahatitarām

tathā ca-
aviditvātmanaḥ śaktiṃ parasya na samutsukaḥ |
gacchann abhimukho vahnau nāśaṃ yāti pataṅgavat

ṭiṭṭibha āha-priye, mā maivaṃ vada | yeṣām utsāha-śaktir bhavati te svalpā api gurūn vikramante | uktaṃ ca-
viśeṣāt paripūrṇasya yāti śatror amarṣaṇaḥ |
ābhimukhyaṃ śaśāṅkasya yathādyāpi vidhuntudaḥ

tathā ca-
pramāṇād adhikasyāpi gaṇḍa-śyāma-mada-cyuteḥ | padaṃ mūrdhni samādhatte kesarī matta-dantinaḥ

tathā ca-
bālasyāpi raveḥ pādāḥ patanty upari bhūbhṛtām |
tejasā saha jātānāṃ vayaḥ kutropayujyate

hastau sthūlataraḥ sa cāṅkuśa-vaśaḥ kiṃ hasti-mātro 'ṅkuśo
dīpe prajvalite praṇaśyati tamaḥ kiṃ dīpa-mātraṃ tamaḥ |
vajreṇāpi hatāḥ patanti girayaḥ kiṃ vajra-mātro giris
tejo yasya virājate sa balavān sthūleṣu kaḥ pratyayaḥ

tad anayā cañcvāsya sakalaṃ toyaṃ śuṣka-sthalatāṃ nayāmi |
ṭiṭṭibhy āha-bhoḥ kānta ! yatra jāhnavī nava-nadī-śatāni gṛhītvā nityam eva praviśati, tathā sindhuś ca | tat kathaṃ tvam aṣṭādaśa-nadī-śataiḥ pūryamāṇaṃ taṃ vipruṣa-vāhinyā cañcvā śoṣayiṣyasi ? tat kim aśraddho yenoktena |
ṭiṭṭibha āha-priye !
anirvedaḥ śriyo mūlaṃ cañcur me loha-sannibhā |
aho-rātrāṇi dīrghāṇi samudraḥ kiṃ na śuṣyati

duradhigamaḥ para-bhāgo yāvat puruṣeṇa pauruṣaṃ na kṛtam |
jayati tulām adhirūḍho bhāsvān api jalada-paṭalāni

ṭiṭṭibhy āha-yadi tvayāvaśyaṃ samudreṇa saha vigrahānuṣṭhānaṃ kāryam | tad anyān api vihaṅgamān āhūya suhṛj-jana-sahita evaṃ samācara | uktaṃ ca-
bahūnām apy asārāṇāṃ samvāyo hi durjayaḥ |
tṛṇair āveṣṭyate rajjur yathā nāgo 'pi baddhyate

tathā ca-
caṭakākāṣṭha-kūṭena makṣikā-dardurais tathā |
mahājana-virodhena kuñjaraḥ pralayaṃ gataḥ

ṭiṭṭibha āha-katham etat ?
sā prāha-
kathā 15
kuñjara-caṭaka-dampatī-kathā
kasmiṃścid vanoddeśe caṭaka-dampatī tamāla-taru-kṛta-nilayau prativasataḥ sma | atha tayor gacchatā kālena santatir abhavat | anyasminn ahani pramatto vana-gajaḥ kaścit taṃ tamāla-vṛkṣaṃ gharmārtaś chāyārthī samāśritaḥ | tato madotkaṛṣāt tāṃ tasya śākhāṃ caṭakāśritāṃ puṣkarāgreṇākṛṣya babhañja | tasyā bhaṅgena caṭakāṇḍāni sarvāṇi viśīrṇāni | āyuḥ-śeṣatayā ca caṭakau katham api prāṇair na viyuktau |
atha caṭakā sāṇḍa-bhaṅgābhibhūtā pralāpān kurvāṇā na kiñcit sukham āsasāda | atrāntare tasyās tān pralāpān śrutvā kāṣṭha-kūṭo nāma pakṣī tasyāḥ parama-suhṛt-tad-duḥkha-duḥkhito 'bhyetya tām uvāca-bhagavati ! kiṃ vṛthā pralāpena | uktaṃ ca-
naṣṭaṃ mṛtam atikrāntaṃ nānuśocanti paṇḍitāḥ |
paṇḍitānāṃ ca mūrkhāṇāṃ viśeṣo 'yaṃ yataḥ smṛtaḥ

tathā ca-
aśocyānīha bhūtāni yo mūḍhas tāni śocati |
tad-duḥkhāl labhate duḥkhaṃ dvāv anarthau niṣevate

anyac ca-
śleṣmāśru bāndhavair muktaṃ preto bhuṅkte yato 'vaśaḥ |
tasmān na roditavyaṃ hi kriyāḥ kāryāś ca śaktitaḥ

caṭakā prāha-astv etat | paraṃ duṣṭa-gajena madān mama santāna-kṣayaḥ kṛtaḥ | tad yadi mama tvaṃ suhṛt-satyas tad asya gajāpasadasya ko 'pi vadhopāyaś cintyatām | yasyānuṣṭhānena me santati-nāśa-duḥkham apasarati | uktaṃ ca-
āpadi yenopakṛtaṃ yena ca hasitaṃ daśāsu viṣamāsu |
upakṛtya tayor ubhayoḥ punar api jātaṃ naraṃ manye

kāṣṭha-kūṭa āha-bhagavati, satyam abhihitaṃ bhavatyā | uktaṃ ca-
sa suhṛd-vyasane yaḥ syād anya-jāty-udbhavo 'pi san |
vṛddhau sarvo 'pi mitraṃ syāt sarveṣām eva dehinām

sa suhṛd-vyasane yaḥ syāt sa putro yas tu bhaktimān |
sa bhṛtyo yo vidheyajñaḥ sā bhāryā yatra nirvṛtiḥ

tat paśya me buddhi-prabhāvam | paraṃ mamāpi suhṛd-bhūtā vīṇāravā nāma makṣikāsti | tat tām āhūyāgacchāmi, yena sa durātmā duṣṭa-gajo badhyate |
athāsau caṭakayā saha makṣikām āsādya provāca-bhadre, mameṣṭeyaṃ caṭakā kenacid duṣṭa-gajena parābhūtāṇḍa-sphoṭanena | tat tasya vadhopāyam anutiṣṭhato me sāhāyyaṃ kartum arhasi |
makṣikāpy āha-bhadra ! kim ucyate'tra viṣaye | uktaṃ ca-
punaḥ pratyupakārāya mitrāṇāṃ kriyate priyam |
yat punar mitra-mitrasya kāryaṃ mitrair na kiṃ kṛtam

satyam etat | paraṃ mamāpi bheko meghanādo nāma mitraṃ tiṣṭhati | tam apy āhūya yathocitaṃ kurmaḥ | uktaṃ ca-
hitaiḥ sādhu-samācāraiḥ śāstrajñair mati-śālibhiḥ |
kathañcin na vikalpante vidvadbhiś cintitā nayāḥ

atha te trayo 'pi gatvā meghanādasyāgre samastaṃ vṛttāntaṃ nivedya tasthuḥ | atha sa provāca-kiyan mātro 'sau varāko gajo mahājanasya kupitasyāgre | tan madīyo mantraḥ kartavyaḥ | makṣike, tvaṃ gatvā madhyāhna-samaye tasya madoddhatasya gajasya karṇe vīṇā-rava-sadṛśaṃ śabdaṃ kuru | yena śravaṇa-sukha-lālaso nimīlita-nayano bhavati | tataś ca kāṣṭha-kūṭa-cañcvā sphoṭita-nayano 'ndhībhūtas tṛṣārto mama garta-taṭāśritasya saparikarasya śabdaṃ śrutvā jalāśayaṃ matvā samabhyeti | tato gartam āsādya patiṣyati pañcatvaṃ yāsyati ceti | evaṃ samavāyaḥ kartavyo yathā vaira-sādhanaṃ bhavati |
atha tathānuṣṭhite sa matta-gajo makṣikā-geya-sukhān nimīlita-netraḥ kāṣṭha-kūṭa-hṛta-cakṣur madhyāhna-samaye bhrāmyan maṇḍūka-śabdānusārī gacchan mahatīṃ gartam āsādya patito mṛtaś ca | ato 'haṃ bravīmi-caṭakā kāṣṭha-kūṭena iti |
ṭiṭṭibha āha-bhadre, evaṃ bhavatu | suhṛd-varga-samudāyena saha samudraṃ śoṣayiṣyāmi | iti niścitya baka-sārasa-mayūrādīn samāhūya provāca-bhoḥ parābhūto 'haṃ samudreṇāṇḍakāpahareṇa | tac cintyatām asya śoṣaṇopāyaḥ |
te sammantrya procuḥ-aśaktā vayaṃ samudra-śoṣaṇe | tat kiṃ vṛthā prayāsena | uktaṃ ca-
abalaḥ pronnataṃ śatruṃ yo yāti mada-mohitaḥ |
yuddhārthaṃ sa nivarteta śīrṇa-danto yathā gajaḥ

tad asmākaṃ svāmī vainateyo 'sti | tasmai sarvam etat-paribhava-sthānaṃ nivedyatām, yena svajāti-paribhava-kupito vairānṛṇyaṃ gacchati | athavātrāvalepaṃ kariṣyati tathāpi nāsti vo duḥkham | uktaṃ ca-
suhṛdi nirantara-racite guṇavati bhṛtye'nuvartini kalatre |
svāmini śakti-samete nivedya duḥkhaṃ sukhī bhavati

tad yāmo vinateya-sakāśaṃ yato 'sāv asmākaṃ svāmī |
tathānuṣṭhite sarve te pakṣiṇo viṣaṇṇa-vadanā bāṣpa-pūrita-dṛśo vainateya-sakāśam āsādya karuṇa-svareṇa phūtkartum ārabdhāḥ-aho ! abrahmaṇyam abrahmaṇyam ! adhunā sadācārasya ṭiṭṭibhasya bhavati nāthe sati samudreṇāṇḍāny apahṛtāni tat-pranaṣṭam adhunā pakṣi-kulam | anye'pi svecchayā samudreṇa vyāpādiṣyante | uktaṃ ca-
kva kasya karma saṃvīkṣya karoty anyo 'pi garhitam |
gatānugatiko loko na lokaḥ pāramārthikaḥ

cāṭu-taskara-durvṛttais tathā sāhasikādibhiḥ |
pīḍyamānāḥ prajā rakṣyāḥ kaṭūcchadmādibhis tathā

prajānāṃ dharma-ṣaḍ-bhāgo rājño bhavati rakṣituḥ |
adharmād api ṣaḍ-bhāgo jāyate yo na rakṣati

prajā-pīḍana-santāpāt samudbhūto hutāśanaḥ |
rājñaḥ śriyaṃ kulaṃ prāṇān nādagdhvā vinivartate

rājā bandhur abandhūnāṃ rājā cakṣur acakṣuṣām |
rājā pitā ca mātā ca sarveṣāṃ nyāya-vartinām

phalārthī pārthivo lokān pālayed yatnam āsthitaḥ |
dāna-mānādi-toyena mālākāro 'ṅkurān iva

yathā bījāṅkuraḥ sūkṣmaḥ pratnenābhirakṣitaḥ |
phala-prado bhavet kāle tadval lokaḥ surakṣitaḥ

hiraṇya-dhānya-ratnāni yānāni vividhāni ca |
tathānyad api yat kiñcit prajābhyaḥ syān nṛpasya tat

athaivaṃ garuḍaḥ samākarṇya tad-duḥkha-duḥkhitaḥ kopāviṣṭaś ca vyacintayat-aho ! satyam uktam etaiḥ pakṣibhiḥ | tad adya gatvā taṃ samudraṃ śoṣayāmaḥ |
evaṃ cintayatas tasya viṣṇu-dūtaḥ samāgatyāha-bho garutman ! bhagavatā nārāyaṇenāhaṃ tava pārśve preṣitaḥ | deva-kāryāya bhagavān amarāvatyāṃ yāsyatīti | tat satvaram āgamyatām |
tac chrutvā garuḍaḥ sābhimānaṃ prāha-bho dūta ! kiṃ mayā kubhṛtyena bhagavān kariṣyati | tad gatvā taṃ vada yad anyo bhṛtyo vāhanāysamat-sthāne kriyatām | madīyo namaskāro vācyo bhagavataḥ | uktaṃ ca-
yo na vetti guṇān yasya na taṃ seveta paṇḍitaḥ |
na hi tasmāt phalaṃ kiñcit sukṛṣṭād ūṣarād iva

dūta āha-bho vainateya ! kadācid api bhagavantaṃ prati tvayā naitad abhihitam īdṛk | tat kathaya, kiṃ te bhagavatāpamāna-sthānaṃ kṛtam ?
garuḍa āha-bhagavad-āśraya-bhūtena samudreṇāsmaṭ ṭiṭṭibhāṇḍāny apahṛtāni | tad yadi nigrahaṃ na karoti tad ahaṃ bhagavato na bhṛtya ity eṣa niścayas tvayā vācyaḥ | tad drutataraṃ gatvā bhavatā bhagavataḥ samīpe vaktavyam |
atha dūta-mukhena praṇaya-kupitaṃ vainateyaṃ vijñāya sammāna-puraḥsaraṃ tam ānayāmi | uktaṃ ca-
bhaktaṃ śaktaṃ kulīnaṃ ca na bhṛtyam avamānayet |
putraval lālayen nityaṃ ya icchec chriyam ātmanaḥ

anyac ca-
rājā tuṣṭo 'pi bhṛtyānām artha-mātraṃ prayacchati |
te tu sammānitās tasya prāṇair apy upakurvate

ity evaṃ sampradhārya rukma-pure vainateya-sakāśaṃ satvaram agamat | vainateyo 'pi gṛhāgataṃ bhagavantam avalokya trapādhomukhaḥ praṇamyovāca-bhagavan ! tvad-āśrayonmattena samudreṇa mama bhṛtyāsyāṇḍāny apahṛtya mamāpamāno vihitaḥ | paraṃ bhagaval-lajjayā mayā vilambitam | no ced enam ahaṃ sthalāntaram adyaiva nayāmi | yataḥ svāmi-bhayāc chravaṇo 'pi prahāro na dīyate | uktaṃ ca-
yena syāl laghutā vātha pīḍā citte prabhoḥ kvacit |
prāṇa-tyāge'pi tat karma na kuryāt kula-sevakaḥ

tac chrutvā bhagavān āha-bho vainateya ! satyam abhihitaṃ bhavatā | uktaṃ ca-
bhṛtyāparādhajo daṇḍaḥ svāmino jāyate yataḥ |
tena lajjāpi tasyotthā na bhṛtyasya tathā punaḥ

tad āgaccha yenāṇḍāni samudrād ādāya ṭiṭṭibhaṃ sambhāvayāvaḥ | amarāvatīṃ ca gacchāvaḥ |
tathānuṣṭhite samudro bhagavatā nirbharsyāgneyaṃ śaraṃ sandhyāyābhihitaḥ-bho durātman ! dīyantāṃ ṭiṭṭibhāṇḍāni | no cet sthalatāṃ tvāṃ nayāmi |
tataḥ samudreṇa sa-bhayena ṭiṭṭibhāṇḍāni tāni pradattāni | ṭiṭṭibhenāpi bhāryāyai samarpitāni | ato 'haṃ bravīmi-śatror balam avijñāya iti | tasmāt puruṣeṇodyamo na tyājyaḥ |
tad ākarṇya sañjīvakas tam eva bhūyo 'pi papraccha-bho mitra ! kathaṃ jñeyo mayāsau duṣṭa-buddhir iti | iyantaṃ kālaṃ yāvad uttarottara-snehena prasādena cāhaṃ dṛṣṭaḥ | na kadācit tad-vikṛtir dṛṣṭā | tat kathyatāṃ yenāham ātma-rakṣārthaṃ tad-vadhāyodyamaṃ karomi |
damanaka āha-bhadra, kim atra jñeyam ? eṣa te pratyayaḥ | yadi rakta-netras triśikhāṃ bhrūkuṭiṃ dadhānaḥ sṛkkaṇī parilelihan tvāṃ dṛṣṭvā bhavati, tad duṣṭa-buddhiḥ | anyathā suprasādaś ceti | tad ājñāpaya mām | svāśrayaṃ prati gacchāmi | tvayā ca yathāyaṃ mantra-bhedo na bhavati tathā kāryam | yadi niśāmukhaṃ prāpya gantuṃ śaknoṣi tad-deśa-tyāgaḥ kāryaḥ | yataḥ-
tyajed ekaṃ kulasyārthe grāmasyārthe kulaṃ tyajet |
grāmaṃ janapadasyārthe svātmārthe pṛthivīṃ tyajet

āpad-arthe dhanaṃ rakṣed dārān rakṣed dhanair api |
ātmānaṃ satataṃ rakṣed dārair api dhanair api

balavatābhibhūtasya videśa-gamanaṃ tad-anupraveśo vā nītiḥ | tad-deśa-tyāgaḥ kāryaḥ | athavātmā sāmādibhir upāyair ābharakṣaṇīyaḥ | uktaṃ ca-
api putra-kalatrair vā prāṇān rakṣeta paṇḍitaḥ |
vidyamānair yatas taiḥ syāt sarvaṃ bhūyo 'pi dehinām

tathā ca-
yena kenāpy upāyena śubhenāpy aśubhena vā |
uddhared dīnam ātmānaṃ samartho dharmam ācaret

yo māyāṃ kurute mūḍhaḥ prāṇa-tyāge dhanādiṣu |
tasya prāṇāḥ praṇaśyanti tair naṣṭair naṣṭam eva tat

evam abhidhāya damanakaḥ karaṭaka-sakāśam agamat | karaṭako 'pi tam āyāntaṃ dṛṣṭvā provāca-bhadra ! kiṃ kṛtaṃ tatrabhavatā ?
damanaka āha-mayā tāvan nīti-bīja-nirvāpaṇaṃ kṛtam | parato daiva-vihitāyattam | uktaṃ ca-
parāṅmukhe'pi daive'tra kṛtyaṃ kāryaṃ vipaścitā |
ātma-doṣa-vināśāya sva-citta-stambhanāya ca

tathā ca-
udyoginaṃ puruṣa-siṃham upaiti lakṣmīr
daivena deyam iti kāpuruṣā vadanti |
daivaṃ nihatya kuru pauruṣam ātma-śaktyā yatne kṛte yadi na sidhyati ko 'tra doṣaḥ

karaṭaka āha-tat kathaya kīdṛk tvayā nīti-bījaṃ nirvāpitam |
so 'bravīt-mayānyonyaṃ tābhyāṃ mithyā-prajalpena bhedas tathā vihito yathā bhūyo 'pi mantrayantāv eka-sthāna-sthitau na drakṣyasi |
karaṭaka āha-aho, na yuktaṃ bhavatā vihitaṃ yat parasparaṃ tau snehārdra-hṛdayau sukhāśrayau kopa-sāgare prakṣiptau | uktaṃ ca-
aviruddhaṃ sukha-sthaṃ yo duḥkha-mārge niyojayet |
janma-janmāntare duḥkhī sa naraḥ syād asaṃśayam

aparaṃ tvaṃ yad bheda-mātreṇāpi hṛṣṭas tad apy ayuktam, yataḥ sarvato 'pi jano virūpa-karaṇe samartho bhavati nopakartum | uktaṃ ca-
ghātayitum eva nīcaḥ para-kāryaṃ vetti na prasādayitum |
pātayitum asti śaktir vāyor vṛkṣaṃ na connamitum

damanaka āha-anabhijño bhavān nīti-śāstrasya, tenaitad bravīṣi | uktaṃ ca yataḥ-
jāta-mātraṃ na yaḥ śatruṃ vyādhiṃ ca praśamaṃ nayet |
mahā-balo 'pi tenaiva vṛddhiṃ prāpya sa hanyate

tac-chatru-bhūto 'yam asmākaṃ mantri-padāharaṇāt | uktaṃ ca-
pitṛ-paitāmahaṃ sthānaṃ yo yasyātra jigīṣate |
sa tasya sahajaḥ śatrur ucchedyo 'pi priye sthitaḥ

tan mayā sa udāsīnatayā samānīto 'bhaya-pradānena yāvat tāvad aham api tena sācivyāt pracyāvitaḥ | athavā sādhv idam ucyate-
dadyāt sādhur yadi nija-pade durjanāya praveśaṃ
tan-nāśāya prabhavati tato vāñchamānaḥ svayaṃ saḥ |
tasmād deyo vipula-matibhir nāvakāśo 'dhamānāṃ
jārāpi syād gṛha-patir iti śrūyate vākyato 'tra

tena mayā tasyopari vadhopāya eva viracyate | deśa-tyāgāya vā bhaviṣyati | tac ca tvāṃ muktvānyo na jñāsyati | tad uktam etat te svārthāyānuṣṭhitam | uktaṃ ca-
nistriṃśaṃ hṛdayaṃ kṛtvā vāṇīm ikṣu-rasopāmām |
vikalpo 'tra na kartavyo hanyāt tatrāpakāriṇam

aparaṃ mṛto 'py asmākaṃ bhojyo bhaviṣyati | tad ekaṃ tāvad vara-sādhanam | aparaṃ sācivyaṃ ca bhaviṣyati tṛptiś ceti | tad-guṇa-traye'sminn upasthite kasmān māṃ dūṣayasi tvaṃ jāḍya-bhāvāt | uktaṃ ca-
parasya pīḍanaṃ kurvan svārtha-siddhiṃ ca paṇḍitaḥ |
mūḍha-buddhir na bhakṣeta vane caturako yathā

karaṭaka āha-katham etat ?
sa āha-
kathā 16
vajra-daṃṣṭra-nāma-siṃha-kathā
asti kasmiṃścid vanoddeśe vajra-daṃṣṭro nāma siṃhaḥ | tasya caturaka-kravyamukha-nāmānau śṛgāla-vṛkau bhṛtya-bhūtau sadaivānugatau tatraiva vane prativasataḥ | athānya-dine siṃhena kadācid āsanna-prasavā prasava-vedanayā sva-yūthād bhraṣṭoṣṭry upaviṣṭā kasmiṃścid vana-gahane samāsāditā | atha tāṃ vyāpādya yāvad udaraṃ sphoṭayati, tāvaj jīvan laghu-dāseraka-śiśur niṣkrāntaḥ | siṃho 'pi dāserakyāḥ piśitena saparivāraḥ parāṃ tṛptim upāgataḥ | paraṃ snehād bāla-dāsekaṃ tyaktaṃ gṛham ānīyedam uvāca-bhadra, na te'sti mṛtyor bhayaṃ matto nānyasmād api | tataḥ svecchayātra vane bhrāmyatām iti | yatas te śaṅku-sadṛśau karṇau | tataḥ śaṅkukarṇo nāma bhaviṣyati |
evam anuṣṭhite catvāro 'pi na eka-sthāne vihāriṇaḥ parasparam aneka-prakāra-goṣṭhī-sukham anubhavantas tiṣṭhanti | śaṅkukarṇo 'pi yauvana-padavīm ārūḍhaḥ kṣaṇam api na taṃ siṃhaṃ muñcati |
atha kadācid vajra-daṃṣṭrasya kenacid vanyena matta-gajena saha yuddham abhavat | tena mada-vīryāt sa danta-prahārais tathā kṣata-śarīro vihito yathā pracalituṃ na śaknoti | tadā kṣut-kṣāma-kaṇṭhas tān provāca-bhoḥ ! anviṣyatāṃ kiñcit sattvaṃ yenāham evaṃ sthito 'pi taṃ vyāpādyātmano yuṣmākaṃ ca kṣut-praṇāśaṃ karomi |
tac chrutvā te trayo 'pi vane sandhyā-kālaṃ yāvad bhrāntāḥ, paraṃ na kiñcit sattvam āsāditam | atha caturakaś cintayāmāsa-yadi śaṅkukarṇo 'yaṃ vyāpādyeta tataḥ sarveṣāṃ katicid dināni tṛptir bhavati | paraṃ nainaṃ svāmī mitratvād āśraya-samāśritatvāc ca vināśayiṣyati | athavā buddhi-prabhāveṇa svāminaṃ pratibodhya tathā kariṣye yathā vyāpādayiṣyati | uktaṃ ca-
avadhyaṃ vāthavāgamyam akṛtyaṃ nāsti kiṃcana |
loke buddhimatām atra tasmāt tāṃ yojayāmy aham

evaṃ vicintya śaṅkukarṇam idam āha-bhoḥ śaṅkukarṇa ! svāmī tāvat pathyaṃ vinā kṣudhayā paripīḍyate | svāmya-bhāvād asmākam api dhruvaṃ vināśa eva | tato vākyaṃ kiñcit svāmy-arthe vadiṣyāmi | tac chrūyatām |
śaṅkukarṇa āha-bhoḥ śīghraṃ nivedyatāṃ, yena te vacanaṃ śīghraṃ nirvikalpaṃ karomi | aparaṃ svāminohite kṛte mayā sukṛta-śataṃ kṛtaṃ bhaviṣyati |
atha caturaka āha-bho bhadra ! ātma-śarīraṃ dviguṇa-lābhena svāmine prayaccha, yena te dviguṇaṃ śarīraṃ bhavati | svāminaḥ punaḥ prāṇa-yātrā bhavati |
tad ākarṇya śaṅkukarṇaḥ prāha-bhadra ! yady evaṃ tan madīya-prayojanam etad ucyatām | svāmy-arthaḥ kriyatām iti | param atra dharmaḥ pratibhūḥ iti |
te vicintya sarve siṃha-sakāśam ājagmuḥ | tataś caturaka āha-deva ! na kiñcit sattvaṃ prāptam | bhagavān ādityo 'py astaṃ gataḥ | tad yadi svāmī dviguṇaṃ śarīraṃ prayacchati | tataḥ śaṅkukarṇo 'yaṃ dviguṇa-vṛddhyā sva-śarīraṃ prayacchati dharma-pratibhuvā |
siṃha āha-bhoḥ, yady evaṃ tat sundarataram | vyavahārasyāsya dharmaḥ pratibhūḥ kriyatām iti |
atha siṃha-vacanānantaraṃ vṛka-śṛgālābhyāṃ vidāritobhaya-kukṣiḥ śaṅkukarṇaḥ pañcatvam upāgataḥ |
atha vajra-daṃṣṭraś caturakam āha-bhoś caturaka ! yāvad ahaṃ nadīṃ gatvā snānaṃ devatārcana-vidhiṃ kṛtvāgacchāmi, tāvat tvayātrāpamattena bhāvyam ity uktvā nadyāṃ gataḥ |
atha tasmin gate caturakaś cintayāmāsa-kathaṃ mamaikākino bhojyo 'yam uṣṭro bhaviṣyati iti vicintya kravyamukham āha-bhoḥ kravyamukha ! kṣudhālur bhavān | tad yāvad asau svāmī nāgacchati, tāvat tvam asyoṣṭrasya māṃsaṃ bhakṣaya | ahaṃ tvāṃ svāmino nirdoṣaṃ pratipādayiṣyāmi |
so 'pi tac chrutvā yāvat kiñcin māṃsam āsvādayati tāvac caturakeṇoktam-bhoḥ kravyamukha ! samāgacchati svāmī | tat tyaktvainaṃ dūre tiṣṭha, yenāsya bhakṣaṇaṃ na vikalpayati |
tathānuṣṭhite siṃhaḥ samāyāto yāvad uṣṭraṃ paśyati tāvad riktīkṛta-hṛdayo dāserakaḥ | tato bhṛkuṭiṃ kṛtvā paruṣataram āha-aho kenaiṣa uṣṭra ucchiṣṭatāṃ nīto, yena tam api vyāpādayāmi |
evam abhihite kravyamukhaś caturaka-mukham avalokayati | atha caturako vihasyovāca-bhoḥ ! mām anādṛtya piśitaṃ bhakṣayitvādhunā man-mukham avalokayasi | tad-āsvādayāsya durṇaya-taroḥ phalam iti |
tad ākarṇya kravyamukho jīva-nāśa-bhayād dūra-deśaṃ gataḥ | etasminn antare tena mārgeṇa dāseraka-sārtho bhārākrāntaḥ samāyātaḥ | tasyāgresaroṣṭrasya kaṇṭhe mahatī ghaṇṭā baddhā | tasyāḥ śabdaṃ durato 'py ākarṇya siṃho jambukam āha-bhadra, jñāyatāṃ kim eṣa raudraḥ śabdaḥ śrūyate'śruta-pūrvaḥ ?
tac chrutvā, caturakaḥ kiñcid vanāntaraṃ gatvā satvaram abhyupetya provāca-svāmin ! gamyatāṃ gamyatāṃ yadi śaknoṣi gantum |
so 'bravīt-bhadra, kim evaṃ māṃ vyākulayasi | tat kathaya kim etat ?
iti caturaka āha-svāmin, eṣa dharmarājas tavopari kupitaḥ | yad anenākāle dāserako 'yaṃ madīyo vyāpāditaḥ | tat sahasra-guṇam uṣṭram asya sakāśād grahīṣyāmi | iti niścitya bṛhan-mānam ādāyāgresarasyoṣṭrasya grīvāyāṃ ghaṇṭāṃ baddhvā badhya-dāseraka-saktān api pitṛ-pitāmahān ādāya vaira-niryātanārtham āyāta eva |
siṃho 'pi tac chrutvā sarvato dūrād evāvalokya mṛtam uṣṭraṃ parityajya prāṇa-bhayāt praṇaṣṭaḥ | caturako 'pi śanaiḥ śanais tasyoṣṭrasya māṃsaṃ bhakṣayāmāsa | ato 'haṃ bravīmi-parasaya pīḍanaṃ kurvan (399) iti |
atha damanake gate sañjīvakaś cintayāmāsa-aho kim etan mayā kṛtam ? yac chaṣpādo 'pi māṃsāśitas tasyānugaḥ saṃvṛttaḥ | athavā sādhv idam ucyate-
agamyāni pumān yāti yo 'sevyāṃś ca niṣevate |
sa mṛtyum upagṛhṇāti garbham aśvatarī yathā

tat kiṃ karomi ? kva gacchāmi ? kathaṃ me śāntir bhaviṣyati ? athavā tam eva piṅgalakaṃ gacchāmi | kadācin māṃ śaraṇāgataṃ rakṣati | prāṇair na viyojayati | yata uktaṃ ca-
dharmārthaṃ yatatām apīha vipado devād yadi syuḥ kvacit
tat tāsām upaśāntaye sumatibhiḥ kāryo viśeṣān nayaḥ |
loke khyātim upāgatātra sakale lokoktir eṣā yato
dagdhānāṃ kila vahninā hita-karaḥ seko 'pi tasyodbhavaḥ

tathā ca-
loke'thavā tanu-bhṛtāṃ nija-karma-pākaṃ
nityaṃ samāśritavatāṃ suhita-kriyāṇām |
bhāvārjitaṃ śubham athāpy aśubhaṃ nikāmaṃ
yad bhāvi tad bhavati nātra vicāra-hetuḥ

aparaṃ cānyatra gatasyāpi me kasyacid duṣṭa-sattvasya māṃsāśinaḥ sakāśān mṛtyur bhaviṣyati | tad varaṃ siṃhāt | uktaṃ ca-
mahadbhiḥ spardhamānasya vipad eva garīyasī |
danta-bhaṅge'pi nāgānāṃ ślāghyo giri-vidāraṇe

tathā ca-
mahato 'pi kṣayaṃ labdhvā ślāghyaṃ nīco 'pi gacchati |
dānārthī madhupo yadvad gaja-karṇa-samāhataḥ

evaṃ niścitya sa sthalita-gatiṃ mandaṃ gatvā siṃhāśrayaṃ paśyann apaṭhat-aho, sādhv idam ucyate-
antar-līna-bhujaṅgamaṃ gṛham ivāntaḥsthogra-siṃhaṃ vanaṃ
grāhākīrṇam ivābhirāma-kamala-cchāyā-sanāthaṃ saraḥ |
kālenārya-janāpavāda-piśunaiḥ kṣudrair anāryaiḥ śritaṃ
duḥkhena pravigāhyate sa-cakitaṃ rājñāṃ manaḥ sāmayam

evaṃ paṭhan damanakoktākāraṃ piṅgalakaṃ dṛṣṭvā pracakitaḥ saṃvṛta-śarīro dūrataraṃ praṇāma-kṛtiṃ vināpy upaviṣṭaḥ | piṅgalako 'pi tathāvidhaṃ taṃ vilokya damanaka-vākyaṃ śraddadhānaḥ kopāt tasyopari papāta |
atha sañjīvakaḥ khara-nakha-vikartita-pṛṣṭhaḥ śṛṅgābhyāṃ tad-udaram ullikhya katham api tasmād apetaḥ śṛṅgābhyāṃ hantum icchan yuddhāyāvasthitaḥ | atha dvāv api tau puṣpita-palāśa-pratimau paraspara-vadha-kāṅkṣiṇau dṛṣṭvā karaṭako damanakam āha-bho mūḍha-mate ! anayor virodhaṃ vitanvatā tvayā sādhu na kṛtam | na ca tvaṃ nīti-tattvaṃ vetsi | nītividbhir uktaṃ ca-
kāryāṇy uttama-daṇḍa-sāhasa-phalāny āyāsa-sādhyāni ye prītyā saṃśamayanti nīti-kuśalāḥ sāmnaiva te mantriṇaḥ |
niḥsārālpa-phalāni ye tv avidhinā vāñchanti daṇḍodyamais
teṣāṃ durnaya-ceṣṭitair narapater āropyate śrīs tulām

tad yadi svāmy-abhighāto bhaviṣyati tat kiṃ tavdīya-mantra-buddhyā kriyate | atha sañjīvako na badhyate tathāpy abhavyam | yataḥ prāṇa-sandehāt tasya ca vadhaḥ | tan mūḍha ! kathaṃ tvaṃ mantri-padam abhilaṣasi | sāma-siddhiṃ na vetsi | tad vṛthā manoratho 'yaṃ te daṇḍaruceḥ | uktaṃ ca-
sāmādi-daṇḍa-paryanto nayaḥ proktaḥ svayambhuvā |
teṣāṃ daṇḍas tu pāpīyāṃs taṃ paścād viniyojayet

tathā ca-
sāmnaiva yatra siddhir na tatra daṇḍo budhena viniyojyaḥ |
pittaṃ yadi śarkarayā śāmyati ko 'rthaḥ paṭolena

tathā ca-
ādau sāma prayoktavyaṃ puruṣeṇa vijānatā |
sāma-sādhyāni kāryāṇi vikriyāṃ yānti na kvacit

na candreṇa na cāuṣadhyā na sūryeṇa na vahninā |
sāmnaiva vilayaṃ yāti vidveṣa-prabhavaṃ tamaḥ

tathā yat tvaṃ mantritvam abhilaṣasi, tad apy ayuktam | yatas tvaṃ mantri-gatiṃ na vetsi | yataḥ pañca-vidho mantraḥ | sa ca karmaṇām ārambhopāyaḥ, puruṣa-dravya-sampat, deśa-kāla-vibhāgaḥ, vinipāta-pratīkāraḥ, kārya-siddhiś ceti | so 'yaṃ svāmy-amātyayor ekatamasya kiṃ vā dvayor api vinipātaḥ samutpadyate lagnaḥ | tad yadi kācic chaktir asti tad vicintyatāṃ vinipāta-pratīkāraḥ | bhinna-sandhāne hi mantriṇāṃ buddhi-parīkṣā | tan mūrkha ! tat kartum asamarthatvaṃ yato viparīta-buddhir asi | uktaṃ ca-
mantriṇāṃ bhinna-sandhāne bhiṣajāṃ sāṃnipātike |
karmaṇi vyajyate prajñā susthe ko vā na paṇḍitaḥ

anyac ca-
ghātayitum eva nīcaḥ para-kāryaṃ vetti na prasādhayitum |
pātayitum eva śaktir nākhoruddhartum anna-piṭakam

athavā na te doṣo 'yam | svāmino doṣaḥ | yas te vākyaṃ śraddadhāti | uktaṃ ca-
narādhipā nīca-janānuvartino
budhopadiṣṭena pathā na yānti ye |
viśanty ato durgama-mārga-nirgamaṃ
samasta-sambādham anartha-pañjaram

tad yadi tvam asya mantrī bhaviṣyasi tadānyo 'pi kaścin nāsya samīpe sādhu-janaḥ sameṣyati | uktaṃ ca-
guṇālayo 'py asan mantrī nṛpatir nādhigamyate |
prasanna-svādu-salilo duṣṭa-grāhyo yathā hradaḥ

tathā ca śiṣṭa-jana-rahitasya svāmino 'pi nāśo bhaviṣyati | uktaṃ ca-
citrāsvāda-kathair bhṛtyair anāyāsita-kārmukaiḥ |
ye ramante nṛpās teṣāṃ ramante ripavaḥ śriyā

tat kiṃ mūrkhopadeśena | kevalaṃ doṣo na guṇaḥ | uktaṃ ca-
nānāmyaṃ namate dāru nāśmani syāt kṣura-kriyā |
sūcī-mukhaṃ vijānīhi nāśiṣyāyopaśyate

damanaka āha--katham etat ?
so 'bravīt-
kathā 17
vānara-yūtha-kathā
asti kasmiṃścit parvataika-deśe vānara-yūtham | tac ca kadācid dhemanta-samaye'tikaṭhora-vāta-saṃsparśa-vepamāna-kalevaraṃ tuṣāra-varṣoddhata-pravarṣa-ghana-dhārā-nipāta-samāhataṃ na kathañcic chāntim agamat | atha kecid vānarā vahni-kaṇa-sadṛśāni guñjā-phalāny avacitya vahni-vāñchayā phūtkurvantaḥ samantāt tasthuḥ |
atha sucīmukho nāma pakṣī teṣāṃ taṃ vṛthāyāsamavalokya provāca-bhoḥ, sarve mūrkhā yūyam | naite vahni-kaṇāḥ guñjā-phalāni etāni | tat kiṃ vṛthā śrameṇa | naitasmāc chīta-rakṣā bhaviṣyati | tad anviṣyatāṃ kaścin nirvāto vana-pradeśo guhā giri-kandaraṃ vā | adyāpi sa-ṭopā medhā dṛśyante |
atha teṣām ekatamo vṛddha-vānaras tam uvāca-bho mūrkha ! kiṃ tāvad anena vyāpāreṇa | tad gamyatām | uktaṃ ca-
muhur vighnita-karmāṇaṃ dyūta-kāraṃ parājitam |
nālāpayed viveka-jño yadīcchet siddhim ātmanaḥ

tathā ca-
ākheṭakaṃ vṛthākleśaṃ mūrkhaṃ vyasanasaṃsthitam |
samālāpena yo yuṅkte sa gacchati parābhavam

so 'pi tam anādṛtya bhūyo 'pi vānarān anavaratam āha-bhoḥ ! kiṃ vṛthā kleśena ? atha yāvad asau na kathañcit pralapan viramati tāvad ekena vānareṇa vyartha-śramatvāt kupitena pakṣābhyāṃ gṛhītvā śilāyām āsphālita uparataś ca |
ato 'haṃ bravīmi-nānamyaṃ namate dāru ity ādi | tathā ca-
upadeśo hi mūrkhāṇāṃ prakopāya na śāntaye |
payaḥ-pānaṃ bhujaṅgānāṃ kevalaṃ viṣa-vardhanam

anyac ca-
upadeśo na dātavyo yādṛśe tādṛśe nare |
paśya vānaramūrkheṇa sugṛhī nirgṛhīkṛtā

damanaka āha-katham etat ?
so 'bravīt-
kathā 18
kasmiṃścid vane śamī-vṛkṣa-śākhālambita-vasathaṃ kṛtvāraṇya-caṭaka-dampatī prativasataḥ sma | atha kadācit tayoḥ sukha-saṃsthayor hemanta-megho mandaṃ mandaṃ varṣitum ārabdhaḥ | atrāntare kaścic chākhā-mṛgo vātāsāra-samāhataḥ proddhūṣita-śarīro dantavīṇāṃ vādayan vepamānas tasyāḥ śamyā mūlam āsādyopaviṣṭaḥ | atha taṃ tādṛṣam avalokya caṭakā prāha-bho bhadra !
hasta-pāda-samopeto dṛśyase puruṣākṛtiḥ | śītena bhidyase mūḍha kathaṃ na kuruṣe gṛham

etac chrutvā tāṃ vānaraḥ sakopam āha-adhame kasmān na tvaṃ mauna-vratā bhavasi ? aho dhārṣṭyam asyāḥ | adya mām upahasati-
sūcī-mukhi durācārā raṇḍā paṇḍita-vādinī |
nāśaṅkate prajalpantī tat kim enāṃ na hanmy aham

evaṃ pralapya tām āha-mugdhe ! kiṃ mama cintayā tava prayojanam ? uktaṃ ca-
vācyaṃ śraddhā-sametasya pṛcchateś ca viśeṣataḥ |
proktaṃ śraddhā-vihīnasya araṇya-ruditopamam

tat kiṃ bahunā tāvat | kulāya-sthitayā tayā punar apy abhihitaḥ | sa tāvat tāṃ śamīm āruhya tasyāḥ kulāyaṃ śatadhā khaṇḍaśo 'karot | ato 'haṃ bravīmi-upadeśo na dātavyaḥ iti |
tan mūrkha ! śikṣāpito 'pi na śikṣitas tvam | athavā na te doṣo 'sti, yataḥ sādhoḥ śikṣā guṇāya sampadyate, nāsādhoḥ | uktaṃ ca-
kiṃ karoty eva pāṇḍityam asthāne viniyojitam |
andhakāra-praticchanne ghaṭe dīpa ivāhitaḥ

tad-vyartha-pāṇḍityam āśritya mama vacanam aśṛṇvann ātmanaḥ śāntim api vetsi | tan nūnam apajātas tvam | uktaṃ ca-
jātaḥ putro 'nujātaś ca atijātas tathaiva ca |
apajātaś ca loke'smin mantavyāḥ śāstra-vedibhiḥ

mātṛ-tulya-guṇo jātas tv anujātaḥ pituḥ samaḥ |
atijāto 'dhikas tasmād apajāto 'dhamādhamaḥ

apy ātmano vināśaṃ gaṇayati na khalaḥ para-vyasana-hṛṣṭaḥ |
prāyo mastaka-nāśe samara-mukhe nṛtyati kabandhaḥ

aho, sādhv idam ucyate-
dharma-buddhiḥ kubuddhiś ca dvāv etau viditau mama |
putreṇa vyartha-pāṇḍityāt pitā dhūmena ghātitaḥ

damanaka āha--katham etat ?
so 'bravīt-
kathā 20
kṛṣṇa-sarpa-kathā
kasmiṃścid deśe dharmabuddhiḥ pāpabuddhiś ca dve mitre prativasataḥ | atha kadācit pāpabuddhinā cintitaṃ yad-ahaṃ tāvan mūrkho dāridryopetaś ca | tad enaṃ dharmabuddhim ādāya deśāntaraṃ gatvā asyāśrayeṇārthopārjanāṃ kṛtvainam api vañcayitvā sukhībhavāmi |
athānyasminn ahani pāpabuddhir dharmabuddhiṃ prāha-bho mitra ! vārdhaka-bhāve kiṃ tv ātma-viceṣṭitaṃ smarasi | deśāntaram adṛṣṭvā kāṃ śiṣṭa-janasya vārttāṃ kathayiṣyasi ? uktaṃ ca-
deśāntareṣu bahu-vidha-bhāṣā-veṣādi yena na jñātam |
bhramatā dharaṇī-pīṭhe tasya phalaṃ janmano vyartham

tathā ca-
vidyāṃ vittaṃ śilpaṃ tāvan nāpnoti mānavaḥ samyak |
yāvad vrajati na bhūmau deśād deśāntaraṃ hṛṣṭaḥ

atha tasya tad-vacanam ākarṇya prahṛṣṭa-manās tenaiva saha guru-janānujñātaḥ śubhe'hani deśāntaraṃ prasthitaḥ | tatra ca dharmabuddhi-prabhāveṇa bhramatā pāpabuddhinā prabhūtataraṃ vittam āsāditam | tataś ca tau dvāv api prabhūtopārjita-dravyau prahṛṣṭau sva-gṛhaṃ praty autsukyena prasthitau | uktaṃ ca-
prāpta-vidyārtha-śilpānāṃ deśāntara-nivāsinām |
krośa-mātro 'pi bhū-bhāgaḥ śata-yojanavad bhavet

atha sva-sthāna-samīpa-vartinā pāpabuddhinā dharmabuddhir abhihitaḥ-bhadra ! na sarvam etad dhanaṃ gṛhaṃ prati netuṃ yujyate | yataḥ kuṭumbino bāndhavāś ca prārthayiṣyante | tad atraiva vana-gahane kvāpi bhūmau nikṣipya kiñcin mātram ādāya gṛhaṃ praviśāvaḥ | bhūyo 'pi prayojane sañjāte tan-mātraṃ sametyāsmāt sthānān neṣyāvaḥ | uktaṃ ca-
na vittaṃ darśayet prājñaḥ kasyacit svalpam apy aho |
muner api yatas tasya darśanāc calate manaḥ

tathā ca-
yathāmiṣaṃ jale matsyair bhakṣyate śvāpadair bhuvi |
ākāśe pakṣibhiś caiva tathā sarvatra vittavān

tad ākarṇya dharmabuddhir āha-bhadra evaṃ kriyatām | tathānuṣṭhite dvāv api tau sva-gṛhaṃ gatvā sukhena saṃsthitavantau | athānyasminn ahani pāpabuddhir niśīthe'ṭavyāṃ gatvā tat sarvaṃ vittaṃ samādāya gartaṃ pūrayitvā sva-bhavanaṃ jagāma |
athānyedyur dharmabuddhiṃ sametya provāca-sakhe bahu-kuṭumbā vayaṃ vittābhāvāt sīdāmaḥ | tad gatvā tatra sthāne kiṃcin mātraṃ dhanam ānayāvaḥ |
so 'bravīt-bhadra, evaṃ kriyatām |
atha dvāv api gatvā tat sthānaṃ yāvat khanatas tāvad riktaṃ bhāṇḍaṃ dṛṣṭavantau | atrāntare pāpabuddhiḥ śiras tāḍayan provāca-bho dharmabuddhe ! tvayā hṛtam etad dhanaṃ, nānyena | yato bhūyo 'pi gartāpūraṇaṃ kṛtam | tat prayaccha me tasyārdham | anyathāhaṃ rāja-kule nivedayiṣyāmi |
sa āha-bho durātman ! mā maivaṃ vada | dharmabuddhiḥ khalv aham | naitac caura-karma karomi | uktaṃ ca-
mātṛvat para-dārāṇi para-dravyāṇi loṣṭavat |
ātmavat sarva-bhūtāni vīkṣante dharma-buddhayaḥ

evaṃ dvāv api vivadamānau dharmādhikāriṇaṃ gatau ? procatuś ca parasparaṃ dūṣayantau | atha dharmādhikaraṇādhiṣṭhita-puruṣair divyārthaṃ yāvan niyojitau tāvat pāpabuddhir āha-
aho na samyag-dṛṣṭo nyāyaḥ | uktaṃ ca-
vivāde anviṣyate patraṃ tad-abhāve'pi sākṣiṇaḥ |
sākṣy abhāvāt tato divyaṃ pravadanti manīṣiṇaḥ

tad atra viṣaye mama vṛkṣa-devatāḥ sākṣi-bhūtās tiṣṭhanti | tā apy āvayor ekataraṃ cauraṃ sādhuṃ vā kariṣyanti | atha taiḥ sarvair abhihitam-bho yuktam uktaṃ bhavatā | uktaṃ ca-
antyajo 'pi yadā sākṣī vivāde samprajāyate |
na tatra yujyate divyaṃ kiṃ punar vana-devatāḥ

tad asmākam apy atra viṣaye mahat kautūhalam vartate | pratyūṣa-samaye yuvābhyām apy asmābhiḥ saha tatra vanoddeśe gantavyam iti | etasminn antare pāpabuddhiḥ sva-gṛhaṃ gatvā sva-janakam uvāca-tāta, prabhūto 'yaṃ mayārtho dharmabuddheś coritaḥ | sa ca tava vacanena pariṇatiṃ gacchati | anyathāsmākaṃ prāṇaiḥ saha yāsyati |
sa āha-vatsa, drutaṃ vada yena procya tad dravyaṃ sthiratāṃ nayāmi |
pāpabuddhir āha-tāta, asti tat-pradeśe mahā-śamī | tasyāṃ mahat koṭaram asti | tatra tvaṃ sāṃpratam eva praviśa | tataḥ prabhāte yadāhaṃ satya-śrāvaṇaṃ karomi, tadā tvayā vācyaṃ yad dharmabuddhiś caura iti |
tathānuṣṭhite pratyūṣe snātvā pāpabuddhiḥ dharmabuddhi-puraḥ-saro dharmādhikaraṇakaiḥ saha tāṃ śamīm abhyetya tāra-svareṇa provāca |
ādityacandrāv anilo 'nalaś ca
dyaur bhūmir āpo hṛdayaṃ yamaś ca | ahaś ca rātriś ca ubhe ca sandhye
dharmo hi jānāti narasya vṛttam

bhagavati vana-devate ! āvayor madhye yaś caura tat kathayata |
atha pāpabuddhi-pitā śamī-koṭara-sthaḥ provāca-bho, dharmabuddhinā hṛtam etad dhanam |
tad ākarṇya sarve te rāja-puruṣā vismayotphulla-locanā yāvad dharmabuddher vitta-haraṇocitaṃ nigrahaṃ śāstra-dṛṣṭyāvalokayanti tāvad dharmabuddhinā tac chamī-koṭaraṃ vahni-bhojya-dravyaiḥ pariveṣṭya vahninā sandīpitam | atha jvalati tasmin śamī-koṭare'rdha-dagdha-śarīraḥ sphuṭitekṣaṇaḥ karuṇaṃ paridevayan pāpabuddhi-pitā niścakrāma | tataś ca taiḥ sarvaiḥ pṛṣṭaḥ-bho kim idam ?
ity ukte idaṃ sarvaṃ kukṛtyaṃ pāpabuddheḥ kāraṇāj jātam ity uktvā mṛtaḥ | tatas te rāja-puruṣāḥ pāpabuddhiṃ śamī-śākhāyāṃ pratilambya dharmabuddhiṃ praśaṃsyedam ūcuḥ-
aho sādhv idam ucyate-
upāyaṃ cintayet prājñas tathāpāyam api cintayet |
paśyato baka-mūrkhasya nakulair bhakṣitāḥ sutāḥ

dharma-buddhiḥ prāha-katham etat ?
te procuḥ-
kathā 21
jīrṇadhana-nāma-vaṇik-putra-kathā
asti kasmiṃścid vanoddeśe bahu-baka-sanātho vaṭa-pādapaḥ | tasya koṭare kṛṣṇa-sarpaḥ prativasati sma | sa ca baka-bālakān ajāta-pakṣān api sadaiva bhakṣayan kālaṃ nayati | athaiko bakas tena bhakṣitāny apatyāni dṛṣṭvā śiśu-vairāgyāt saras-tīram āsādya bāṣpa-pūraita-nayano 'dho-mukhas tiṣṭhati | taṃ ca tādṛk-ceṣṭitam avalokya kulīrakaḥ provāca-māma kim evaṃ rudyate bhavatādya ?
sa āha-bhadra kiṃ karomi ? mama manda-bhāgyasya bālakāḥ koṭara-nivāsinā sarpeṇa bhakṣitāḥ | tad-duḥkha-duḥkhito 'haṃ rodimi | tat kathaya me yady asti kaścid upāyas tad-vināśāya |
tad ākarṇya kulīrakaś cintayāmāsa-ayaṃ tāvad asmat-sahaja-vairī | tathopadeśaṃ prayacchāmi satyānṛtaṃ yathānye'pi bakāḥ sarve saṅkṣayam āyānti | uktaṃ ca-
navanīta-samāṃ vāṇīṃ kṛtvā cittaṃ tu nirdayam |
tathā prabodhyate śatruḥ sānvayo mriyate yathā

āha ca-māma, yady evaṃ tan matsya-māṃsa-khaṇḍāni nakulasya bila-dvārāt sarpa-koṭaraṃ yāvat prakṣipa yathā nakulas tan-mārgeṇa gatvā taṃ duṣṭa-sarpaṃ vināśayati |
atha tathānuṣṭhite matsya-māṃsānusāriṇā nakulena taṃ kṛṣṇa-sarpaṃ nihatya te'pi tad-vṛkṣāśrayāḥ sarve bakāś ca śanaiḥ śanair bhakṣitāḥ | ato vayaṃ brūmaḥ-upāyaṃ cintayed iti |
evaṃ mūḍha ! tvayāpy apāyaś cintito nopāyaḥ pāpa-buddhivat | tan na bhavasi tvaṃ sajjanaḥ | kevalaṃ pāpa-buddhir asi | jñāto mayā svāminaḥ prāṇa-sandehānayanāt | prakaṭīkṛtaṃ tvayā svayam evātmano duṣṭatvaṃ kauṭilyaṃ ca | athavā sādhv idam ucyate-
yatnād api kaḥ paśyec chikhinām āhāra-niḥsaraṇa-mārgam |
yadi jalada-dhvani-muditās ta eva mūḍhā na nṛtyeyuḥ

yadi tvaṃ svāminam enāṃ daśāṃ nayasi tad asmad-vidhasya kā gaṇanā ? tasmān mamāsannena bhavatā na bhāvyam | uktaṃ ca-
tulāṃ loha-sahasrasya yatra khādanti mūṣakāḥ |
rājaṃs tatra harec chyeno bālakaṃ nātra saṃśayaḥ

damanaka āha--katham etat ?
so 'bravīt-
kathā 22
jīrṇadhana-nāma-vaṇik-putra-kathā
asti kasmiṃścid adhiṣṭhāne jīrṇadhano nāma vaṇik-putraḥ | sa ca dravya-kṣayād deśāntara-gamana-manā vyacintayat-
yatra deśe atha vā sthāne bhogān bhuktvā svavīryataḥ |
tasmin vibhavahīno yo vaset sa puruṣādhamaḥ

tathā ca-
yenāhaṃkārayuktena ciraṃ vilasitaṃ purā |
dīnaṃ vadati tatraiva yaḥ pareṣāṃ sa ninditaḥ

tasya ca gṛhe sahasra-loha-bhāra-ghaṭitā pūrva-puruṣopārjitā tulāsīt | tāṃ ca kasyacid chreṣṭino gṛhe nikṣepa-bhūtāṃ kṛtvā deśāntaraṃ prasthitaḥ | tataḥ suciraṃ kālaṃ deśāntaraṃ yathecchayā bhrāntvā punaḥ sva-puram āgatya taṃ śreṣṭhinam uvāca-bhoḥ śreṣṭhin ! dīyatāṃ me sā nikṣepa-tulā |
sa āha-bho ! nāsti sā tvadīyā tulā | mūṣikair bhakṣitā |
jīrṇadhana āha-bhoḥ śreṣṭhin ! nāsti doṣas te yadi mūṣikair bhakṣiteti | īdṛg evāyaṃ saṃsāraḥ | na kiṃcid atra śāśvatam asti | param ahaṃ nadyāṃ snānārthaṃ gamiṣyāmi | tat tvam ātmīyaṃ śiśum enaṃ dhanadeva-nāmānaṃ mayā saha snānopakaraṇa-hastaṃ preṣayeti |
so 'pi caurya-bhayāt tasya śaṅkitaḥ sva-putram uvāca-vatsa, pitṛvyo 'yaṃ tava snānārthaṃ nadyāṃ yāsyati | tad gamyatām anena sārdhaṃ snānopakaraṇam ādāyeti | aho sādhv idam ucyate-
na bhaktyā kasyacit ko 'pi priyaṃ prakurute naraḥ |
muktvā bhayaṃ pralobhaṃ vā kārya-kāraṇam eva vā

tathā ca-
atyādaro bhaved yatra kārya-kāraṇa-varjitaḥ |
tatra śaṅkā prakartavyā pariṇāme'sukhāvahā

athāsau vaṇik-śiśuḥ snānopakaraṇam ādāya prahṛṣṭa-manās tenābhyāgatena saha prasthitaḥ | tathānuṣṭhite vaṇik snātvā taṃ śiśuṃ nadī-guhāyāṃ prakṣipya tad-dvāraṃ bṛhac-chilayācchādya satvaraṃ gṛham āgataḥ | pṛṣṭaś ca tena vaṇijā-bho 'bhyāgata tat kathyatāṃ kutra me śiśur yas tvayā saha nadīṃ gataḥ iti |
sa āha-nadī-taṭāt sa śyenena hṛta iti |
śreṣṭhy āha-mithyā-vādin ! kiṃ kvacic chyeno bālaṃ hartuṃ śaknoti ? tat samarpaya me sutam, anyathā rāja-kule nivedayiṣyāmīti |
sa āha-bhoḥ satyavādin ! yathā śyeno bālaṃ na nayati tathā mūṣikā api loha-bhāra-ghaṭitāṃ tulāṃ na bhakṣayanti | tad arpaya me tulāṃ yadi dārakeṇa prayojanam | evaṃ vivadamānau dvāv api rāja-kulaṃ gatau |
tatra śreṣṭhī tāra-svareṇa provāca-bho 'brahmaṇyam abrahmaṇyam | mama śiśur anena caureṇāpahṛtaḥ |
atha dharmādhikāriṇas tam ūcuḥ-bhoḥ samarpyatāṃ śreṣṭhi-sutaḥ |
sa āha-kiṃ karomi ? paśyato me nadī-taṭāc chyenenāpahṛtaḥ śiśuḥ |
tac chrutvā te procuḥ-bho na satyam abhihitaṃ bhavatā | kiṃ śyenaḥ śiśuṃ hartuṃ samartho bhavati ?
sa āha-bho bhoḥ śrūyatāṃ mad-vacaḥ |
tulāṃ loha-sahasrasya yatra khādanti mūṣikāḥ |
rājaṃs tatra harec chyeno bālakaṃ nātra saṃśayaḥ

te procuḥ-katham etat ?
tataḥ śreṣṭhī sabhyānām agre sarvaṃ vṛttāntaṃ nivedayāmāsa | tatas tair vihasya dvāv api tau parasparaṃ sambodhya tulā-śiśu-pradānena santoṣitau |
ato 'haṃ bravīmi-tulāṃ loha-sahasrasya iti |
tan mūrkha ! sañjīvaka-prasādam asahamānena tvayaitat kṛtam | aho sādhv idam ucyate-
prāyeṇātra kulānvitaṃ kukulajāḥ śrī-vallabhaṃ durbhagā
dātāraṃ kṛpaṇā ṛjūn anṛjavo vitte sthitaṃ nirdhanāḥ |
vairūpyopahṛtāś ca kānta-vapuṣaṃ dharmāśrayaṃ pāpino
nānā-śāstra-vicakṣaṇaṃ ca puruṣaṃ nindanti mūrkhāḥ sadā

tathā ca-
mūrkhāṇāṃ paṇḍitā dveṣyā nirdhanānāṃ mahādhanāḥ |
vratinaḥ pāpa-śīlānām asatīnāṃ kula-striyaḥ

tan mūrkha tvayā hitam apy ahitaṃ kṛtam | uktaṃ ca-
paṇḍito 'pi varaṃ śatrur na mūrkho hita-kārakaḥ |
vānareṇa hato rājā viprāś cīreṇa rakṣitāḥ

damanaka āha--katham etat ?
so 'bravīt-
kathā 23
kasyacid rājño nityaṃ vānaro 'tibhakti-paro 'ṅga-sevako 'ntaḥ-pure apy apratiṣiddha-prasaro 'tiviśvāsa-sthānam abhūt | ekadā rājño nidrāṃ gatasya vānare vyajanaṃ nītvā vāyuṃ vidadhati rājño vakṣaḥ-sthalopari makṣikopaviṣṭā | vyajanena muhur muhur niṣidhyamānāpi punaḥ punas tatra evopaviśati | tatas tena svabhāva-capalena mūrkheṇa vānareṇa kruddhena satā tīkṣṇaṃ khaḍgam ādāya tasyā upari prahāro vihitaḥ | tato makṣikoḍḍīya gatā, paraṃ tena śita-dhāreṇāsinā rājño vakṣo dvidhā jātaṃ rājā mṛtaś ca | tasmāc cirāyur icchatā nṛpeṇa mūrkho 'nucaro na rakṣaṇīyaḥ |
aparam ekasmin nagare ko 'pi vipro mahā-vidvān paraṃ pūrva-janma-yogena cauro vartate | tasmin pure'nya-deśād āgatāṃś caturo viprān bahūni vastūni vikrīṇato dṛṣṭvā cintitavān-aho kenopāyenaiṣāṃ dhanaṃ labhe | iti vicintya teṣāṃ puro 'nekāni śāstroktāni subhāṣitāni cātipriyāṇi madhurāṇi vacanāni jalpatā teṣāṃ manasi viśvāsam utpādya sevā kartum ārabdhā | athavā sādhv idam ucyate-
asatī bhavati salajjā kṣāraṃ nīraṃ ca śītalaṃ bhavati |
dambhī bhavati vivekī priyavaktā bhavati dhūrtajanaḥ

atha tasmin sevāṃ kurvati tair vipraiḥ sarva-vastūni vikrīya bahu-mūlyāni ratnāni krītāni | tatas tāni jaṅghā-madhye tat-samakṣaṃ prakṣipya sva-deśaṃ prati gantum udyamo vihitaḥ | tataḥ sa dhūrta-vipras tān viprān gantum udyatān prekṣya cintā-vyākulita-manāḥ saṃjātaḥ-
aho dhanam etan na kiṃcin mama caṭitam | athaibhiḥ saha yāmi | pathi kvāpi viṣaṃ dattvaitān nihatya sarva-ratnāni gṛhṇāmi | iti vicintya teṣām agre sa-karuṇaṃ vilapyedam āha-bho mitrāṇi ! yūyaṃ mām ekākinaṃ muktvā gantum udyatāḥ | tan me mano bhavadbhiḥ saha sneha-pāśena baddhaṃ bhavad-viraha-nāmnaivākulaṃ sañjātaṃ yathā dhṛtiṃ kvāpi na dhatte | yūyam anugrahaṃ vidhāya sahāya-bhūtaṃ mām api sahaiva nayata |
tad-vacaḥ śrutvā te karuṇārdra-cittās tena samam eva sva-deśaṃ prati prasthitāḥ | athādhvani teṣāṃ pañcānām api pallī-pura-madhye vrajatāṃ dhvāṅkṣāḥ kathayitum ārabdhāḥ-re re kirātāḥ ! dhāvata dhāvata | sa-pāda-lakṣa-dhanino yānti | etān nihatya dhanaṃ nayata |
tataḥ kirātair dhvāṅkṣa-vacanam ākarṇya satvaraṃ gatvā te viprā laguḍa-prahārair jarjarī-kṛtya vastrāṇi mocayitvā vilokitāḥ, paraṃ dhanaṃ kiṃcin na labdham | tadā taiḥ kirātair abhihitam-bhoḥ pānthāḥ ! purā kadāpi dhvāṅkṣa-vacanam anṛtaṃ nāsīt | tato bhavatāṃ saṃnidhau kvāpi dhanaṃ vidyate tad arpayata | anyathā sarveṣām api vadhaṃ vidhāya carma vidārya pratyaṅgaṃ prekṣya dhanaṃ neṣyāmaḥ |
tadā teṣām īdṛśaṃ vacanam ākarṇya caura-vipreṇa manasi cintitam-yadaiṣāṃ viprāṇāṃ vadhaṃ vidhāyāṅgaṃ vilokya ratnāni neṣyanti, tadāpi māṃ vadhiṣyanti tato 'haṃ pūrvam evātmānam aratnaṃ samarpyaitān muñcāmi | uktaṃ ca-
mṛtyor bibheṣi kiṃ bāla na sa bhītaṃ vimuñcati |
adya vābda-śatānte vā mṛtyur vai prāṇināṃ dhruvaḥ

tathā ca-
gavārthe brāhmaṇārthe ca prāṇa-tyāgaṃ karoti yaḥ |
sūryasya maṇḍalaṃ bhittvā sa yāti paramāṃ gatim

iti niścityābhihitaṃ-bhoḥ kirātāḥ ! yady evaṃ tato māṃ pūrvaṃ nihatya vilokayata | tatas tais tathānuṣṭhite taṃ dhana-rahitam avalokyāpare catvāro 'pi muktāḥ |
ato 'haṃ bravīmi-paṇḍito 'pi varaṃ śatruḥ iti |
athaivaṃ saṃvadatoḥ sañjīvakaḥ kṣaṇam ekaṃ pīṅgalakena saha yuddhaṃ kṛtvā tasya khara-nakhara-prahārābhihito gatāsur vasundharā-pīṭhe nipapāta | atha taṃ gatāsum avalokya piṅgalakas tad-guṇa-smaraṇārdra-hṛdayaḥ provāca-bhoḥ, ayuktaṃ mayā pāpena kṛtaṃ sañjīvakaṃ vyāpādayatā | yato viśvāsa-ghātād anyan nāsti pāpataraṃ karma | uktaṃ ca-
mitra-drohī kṛtaghnaś ca yaś ca viśvāsa-ghātakaḥ |
te narā narakaṃ yānti yāvac candra-divākarau

bhūmi-kṣaye rāja-vināśa eva
bhṛtyasya vā buddhimato vināśe |
no yuktam uktaṃ hy anayoḥ samatvaṃ
naṣṭāpi bhūmiḥ sulabhā na bhṛtyāḥ

tathā mayā sabhā-madhye sa sadaiva praśaṃsitaḥ | tat kiṃ kathayiṣyāmi teṣām agrataḥ | uktaṃ ca-
ukto bhavati yaḥ pūrvaṃ guṇavān iti saṃsadi |
na tasya doṣo vaktavyaḥ pratijñā-bhaṅga-bhīruṇā

evaṃ-vidhaṃ pralapantaṃ damanakaḥ sametya saharṣam idam āha-deva, kātaratamas tavaiṣa nyāyo yad droha-kāriṇaṃ śaṣpa-bhujaṃ hatvetthaṃ śocasi | tan naitad upapannaṃ bhūbhujām | uktaṃ ca-
pitā vā yadi vā bhrātā putro bhāryāthavā suhṛt |
prāṇa-drohaṃ yadā gacched dhantavyo nāsti pātakam

tathā ca-
rājā ghṛṇī brāhmaṇaḥ sarva-bhakṣī
strī cātrapā duṣṭamatiḥ sahāyaḥ |
preṣyaḥ pratīpo 'dhikṛtaḥ prasādī
tyājyā amī yaś ca kṛtaṃ na vetti

api ca-
satyānṛtā ca paruṣā priya-vādinī ca
hiṃsrā dayālur api cārtha-parā vadānyā |
bhūri-vyathā pracura-vitta-samāgamā ca
veśyāṅganeva nṛpa-nītir aneka-rūpā

api ca-
akṛtopadravaḥ kaścin mahān api na pūjyate |
pūjayanti narā nāgān na tārkṣyaṃ nāga-ghātinam

tathā ca-
aśocyān anvaśocas tvaṃ prajñā-vādāṃś ca bhāṣase |
gatāsūn agatāsūṃś ca nānuśocanti paṇḍitāḥ