Pañcatantra · Chapter 2

evaṃ tena sambodhitaḥ piṅgalakaḥ sañjīvaka-śokaṃ tyaktvā damanaka-sācivyena rājyam akarot |
iti śrī-viṣṇu-śarma-viracite pañcatantre
mitra-bhedo nāma
prathamaṃ tantram
||1||
atha mitra-samprāptiḥ
athedam ārabhyate mitra-samprāptir nāma dvitīyaṃ tantram | yasyāyam ādyaḥ ślokaḥ-
asādhanā api prājñā buddhimanot bahu-śrutāḥ |
sādhayanty āśu kāryāṇi kākākhu-mṛga-kūrmavat

tad yathānuśrūyate-
prastāvanā-kathā
laghupatanaka-citragrīva-vṛttāntaḥ
asti dākṣiṇātye janapade mahilāropyaṃ nāma nagaram | tasya nātidūrastho mahocchrāyavān nānā-vihaṅgopabhukta-phalaḥ kīṭair āvṛta-koṭaraś chāyāśvāsita-pathika-jana-samūho nyagrodha-pādapo mahān | athavā yuktam-
chāyā-supta-mṛgaḥ śakunta-nivahair viṣvag-vilupta-cchadaḥ
kīṭair āvṛta-koṭaraḥ kapi-kulaiḥ skandhe kṛta-praśrayaḥ |
viśrabdhaṃ madhupair nipīta-kusumaḥ ślāghyaḥ sa eva drumaḥ
sarvāṅgair bahu-sattva-saṅga-sukhado bhū-bhāra-bhūto 'paraḥ

tatra ca laghupatanako nāma vāyasaḥ prativasati sma | sa kadācit prāṇa-yātrārthaṃ puram uddiśya pracalito yāvat paśyati, tāvaj jāla-hasto 'tikṛṣṇa-tanuḥ sphuṭita-caraṇa ūrdhva-keśo yama-kiṅkarākāro naraḥ saṃmukho babhūva | atha taṃ dṛṣṭvā śaṅkita-manā vyacintayat-yad ayaṃ durātmādya mamāśraya-vaṭa-pādapa-sammukho 'bhyeti | tan na jñāyate kim adya vaṭa-vāsināṃ vihaṅgamānāṃ saṅkṣayo bhaviṣyati na vā |
evaṃ bahuvidhaṃ vicintya tat-kṣaṇān nivṛtya tam eva baṭa-pādapaṃ gatvā sarvān vihaṅgamān provāca-bhoḥ ! ayaṃ durātmā lubdhako jāla-taṇḍula-hastaḥ samabhyeti | tat sarvathā tasya na viśvasanīyam | eṣa jālaṃ prasārya taṇḍulān prakṣepsyati | te taṇḍulā bhavadbhiḥ sarvair api kālakūṭa-sadṛśā draṣṭavyāḥ |
evaṃ vadatas tasya sa lubdhakas tatra baṭa-tala āgatya jālaṃ prasārya sindu-vāra-sadṛśāṃs taṇḍulān prakṣipya nātidūraṃ gatvā nibhṛtaḥ sthitaḥ | atha ye pakṣiṇas tatra sthitās te laghu-patanaka-vākyārgalayā nivāritās tāṃs taṇḍulān hālāhālāṅkurān iva vīkṣamāṇā nibhṛtās tasthuḥ |
atrāntare citragrīvo nāma kapotarājaḥ sahasra-parivāraḥ prāṇa-yātrārtha-paribhramaṃs tāṃs taṇḍulān dūrato 'pi paśyan laghupatanakena nivāryamāṇo 'pi jihvā-laulyād bhakṣaṇārtham apatat | sa-parivāro nibaddhaś ca | athavā sādhv idam ucyate-
jihvā-laulya-prasaktānāṃ jala-madhya-nivāsinām |
acintito vadho 'jñānāṃ mīnānām iva jāyate

athavā daiva-pratipatikūlatayā bhavaty evam | na tasya doṣo 'sti | uktaṃ ca-
paulastyaḥ katham anya-dāra-haraṇe doṣaṃ na vijñātavān
rāmeṇāpi kathaṃ na hema-hariṇasyāsambhavo lakṣitaḥ |
akṣaiś cāpi yudhiṣṭhireṇa sahasā prāpto hy anarthaḥ kathaṃ
pratyāsanna-vipatti-mūḍha-manasāṃ prāyo matiḥ kṣīyate

tathā ca-
kṛtānta-pāśa-baddhānāṃ daivopahata-cetasām |
buddhayaḥ kubja-gāminyo bhavanti mahatām api

atrāntare lubdhakas tān baddhān vijñāya prahṛṣṭa-manāḥ prodyata-yaṣṭis tad-vadhārthaṃ pradhāvitaḥ | citragrīvo 'py ātmānaṃ sa-parivāraṃ baddhaṃ matvā lubdhakam āyāntaṃ dṛṣṭvā tān kapotān ūce-aho, na bhetavyam | uktaṃ ca-
vyasaneṣv eva sarveṣu yasya buddhir na hīyate |
sa teṣāṃ pāram abhyeti tat-prabhāvād asaṃśayam

sampattau ca vipattau ca mahatām eka-rūpatā |
udaye savitā rakto raktaś cāsta-maye tathā

tat sarve vayaṃ helayoḍḍīya sa-pāśa-jālā asyādarśanaṃ gatvā muktiṃ prāpnumaḥ | no ced bhaya-viklavāḥ santo helayā samutpātaṃ na kariṣyatha | tato mṛtyum avāpsyatha | uktaṃ ca-
tantavo 'py āyatā nityaṃ tantavo bahulāḥ samāḥ |
bahūn bahutvād āyāsān sahantīty upamā satām

tathānuṣṭhite lubdhako jālam ādāyākāśe gacchatāṃ teṣāṃ pṛṣṭhato bhūmistho 'pi paryadhāvat | tata ūrdhvānanḥ ślokam enam apaṭhat |
jālam ādāya gacchanti saṃhatāḥ pakṣiṇo 'py amī |
yāvac ca vivadiṣyante patiṣyanti na saṃśayaḥ

laghupatanako 'pi prāṇa-yātrā-kriyāṃ tyaktvā kim atra bhaviṣyantīti kutūhalāt tat-pṛṣṭhato 'nusarati | atha dṛṣṭer agocaratāṃ gatān vijñāya lubdhako nirāśaḥ ślokam apaṭhan nivṛttaś ca-
nahi bhavati yan na bhāvyaṃ bhavati ca bhāvyaṃ vināpi yatnena |
karatala-gatam api naśyati yasya hi bhavitavyatā nāsti

tathā ca-
parāṅmukhe vidhau cet syāt kathañcid draviṇodayaḥ |
tat so 'nyad api saṅgṛhya yāti śaṅkha-nidhir yathā

tad āstāṃ tāvad vihaṅgāmiṣa-lobho yāvat kuṭumba-vartanopāya-bhūtaṃ jālam api me naṣṭam | citragrīvo 'pi lubdhakam adarśanībhūtaṃ jñātvā tān uvāca-bhoḥ ! nivṛttaḥ sa durātmā lubdhakaḥ | tat sarvair api svasthair gamyatāṃ mahilāropyasya prāg-uttara-dig-bhāge | tatra mama suhṛd dhiraṇyako nāma mūṣakaḥ sarveṣāṃ pāśa-cchedaṃ kariṣyati | uktaṃ ca-
sarveṣām eva martyānāṃ vyasane samupasthite |
vāṅ-mātreṇāpi sāhāyyaṃ mitrād anyo na sandadhe

evaṃ te kapotāś citragrīveṇa sambodhitā mahilāropye nagare hiraṇyaka-bila-durgaṃ prāpuḥ | hiraṇyako 'pi sahasra-mukha-bila-durgaṃ praviṣṭaḥ sann akutobhayaḥ sukhenāsta | athavā sādhv idam ucyate-
daṃṣṭrā-virahitaḥ sarpo mada-hīno yathā gajaḥ |
sarveṣāṃ jāyate vaśyo durga-hīnas tathā nṛpaḥ

tathā ca-
na gajānāṃ sahasreṇa na ca lakṣeṇa vājinām |
tat karma sidhyate rājñāṃ dureṇaikena yad raṇe

śatam eko 'pi sandhatte prākārastho dhanurdharaḥ |
tasmād durgaṃ praśaṃsanti nīti-śāstra-vido janāḥ

atha citragrīvo bilam āsādya tāra-svareṇa provāca-bho bho mitra hiraṇyaka ! satvaram āgaccha | mahatī me vyasanāvasthā vartate |
tac chrutvā hiraṇyako 'pi bila-durgāntargataḥ san provāca-bhoḥ ! ko bhavān ? kim artham āyātaḥ ? kiṃ kāraṇam ? kīdṛk te vyasanāvasthānām ? tat kathyatām iti |
tac chrutvā citragrīva āha-bhoḥ ! citragrīvo nāma kapota-rājo 'haṃ te suhṛt | tat satvaram āgaccha | gurutaraṃ prayojanam asti |
tad ākarṇya pulakita-tanuḥ prahṛṣṭātmā sthira-manās tvaramāṇo niṣkrāntaḥ | athavā sādhv idam ucyate-
suhṛdaḥ sneha-sampannā locanānanda-dāyinaḥ |
gṛhe gṛhavatāṃ nityaṃ nāgacchanti mahātmanām

ādityasyodayaṃ tāta tāmbūlaṃ bhāratī kathā |
iṣṭā bhāryā sumitraṃ ca apūrvāṇi dine dine

suhṛdo bhavane yasya samāgacchanti nityaśaḥ |
citte ca tasya saukhyasya na kiñcit pratimaṃ sukham

atha citraṃ grīvaṃ saparivāraṃ pāśa-baddham ālokya hiraṇyakaḥ sa-viṣādam idam āha-bhoḥ, kim etat ?
sa āha-bhoḥ, jānann api kiṃ pṛcchasi ? uktaṃ ca yataḥ-
yasmāc ca yena ca yadā ca yathā ca yac ca
yāvac ca yatra ca śubhāśubham ātma-karma |
tasmāc ca tena ca tadā ca tathā ca tac ca
tāvac ca tatra ca kṛtānta-vaśād upaiti

tat prāptaṃ mayaitad bandhanaṃ jihvā-laulyāt | sāmprāptaṃ tvaṃ satvaraṃ pāśa-vimokṣaṃ kuru | tad ākarṇya hiraṇyakaḥ prāha-
ardhārdhād yojana-śatād āmiṣaṃ vīkṣate khagaḥ |
so 'pi pārśva-sthitaṃ daivād bandhanaṃ na ca paśyati

tathā ca-
ravi-niśākarayor graha-pīḍanaṃ
gaja-bhujaṅga-vihaṅgama-bandhanam |
matimatāṃ ca nirīkṣya daridratā
vidhir aho balavān iti me matiḥ

tathā ca-
vyomaikānta-vicāriṇo 'pi vihagāḥ samprāpnuvanty āpadaṃ
badhyante nipuṇair agādha-salilān mīnāḥ samudrād api |
durnītaṃ kim ihāsti kiṃ ca sukṛtaṃ kaḥ sthāna-lābhe guṇaḥ
kālaḥ sarva-janān prasārita-karo gṛhṇāti dūrād api

evam uktvā citragrīvasya pāśaṃ chettum udyataṃ sa tam āha-bhadra, mā maivaṃ kuru | prathamaṃ mama bhṛtyānāṃ pāśa-cchedaṃ kuru | tad anu mamāpi ca |
tac chrutvā kupito hiraṇyakaḥ prāha-bhoḥ ! na yuktam uktaṃ bhavatā | yataḥ svāmino 'nantaraṃ bhṛtyāḥ |
sa āha-bhadra, mā maivaṃ vada | mad-āśrayāḥ sarva ete varākāḥ | aparaṃ sva-kuṭumbaṃ parityajya samāgatāḥ | tat katham etāvan-mātram api saṃmānaṃ na karomi | uktaṃ ca-
yaḥ saṃmānaṃ sadā dhatte bhṛtyānāṃ kṣitipo 'dhikam |
vittābhāve'pi taṃ dṛṣṭvā te tyajanti na karhicit

tathā ca-
viśvāsaḥ sampadāṃ mūlaṃ tena yūthapatir gajaḥ |
siṃho mṛgādhipatye'pi na mṛgaiḥ parivāryate

aparaṃ mama kadācit pāśa-cchede kurvatas te danta-bhaṅgo bhavati | athavā durātmā lubdhakaḥ sambhyeti | tan nūnaṃ naraka-pāta eva | uktaṃ ca-
sadācāreṣu bhṛtyeṣu saṃsīdatsu ca yaḥ prabhuḥ |
sukhī syān narakaṃ yāti paratreha ca sīdati

tac chrutvā prahṛṣṭo hiraṇyakaḥ prāha-bhoḥ, vedmy ahaṃ rāja-dharmam | paraṃ mayā tava parīkṣā kṛtā | tat sarveṣāṃ pūrvaṃ pāśa-cchedaṃ kariṣyāmi | bhavān apy anena bahu-kapota-parivāreṇa bhaviṣyati | uktaṃ ca-
kāruṇyaṃ saṃvibhāgaś ca yathā bhṛtyeṣu lakṣyate |
cittenānena te śaṅkyā trailokyasyāpi nāthatā

evam uktvā sarveṣāṃ pāśa-cchedaṃ kṛtvā hiraṇyakaś citragrīvam āha-mitra, gamyatām adhunā svāśrayaṃ prati | bhūyo 'pi vyasane prāpte samāgantavyam iti |
tān sampreṣya punar api durgaṃ praviṣṭaḥ | citragrīvo 'pi saparivāraḥ svāśrayam agamat | athavā sādhv idam ucyate-
mitravān sādhayaty arthān duḥsādhyān api vai yataḥ |
tasmān mitrāṇi kurvīta samānāny eva cātmanaḥ

laghupatanako 'pi vāyasaḥ sarvaṃ taṃ citragrīva-bandhu-mokṣam avalokya vismitamanā vyacintayat-aho buddhir asya hiraṇyakasya śaktiś ca durga-sāmagrī ca | tad īdṛg eva vidhi-vihaṅgānāṃ bandhana-mokṣātmakaḥ | ahaṃ ca na kasyacid viśvasimi cala-prakṛtiś ca | tadāpy enaṃ mitraṃ karomi | uktaṃ ca-
api sampūrṇatā-yuktaiḥ kartavyāḥ suhṛdo budhaiḥ |
nadīśaḥ paripūrṇo 'pi candrodayam apekṣate

evaṃ sampradhārya pādapād avatīrya bila-dvāram āśritya citragrīvavac chabdena hiraṇyakaṃ samāhūtavān-ehy ehi bho hiraṇyaka, ehi |
tac chabdaṃ śrutvā hiraṇyako vyacintayat-kim anyo 'pi kaścit kapoto bandhana-śeṣas tiṣṭhati yena māṃ vyāharati | āha ca-bhoḥ ! ko bhavān ?
sa āha-ahaṃ laghupatanako nāma vāyasaḥ |
tac chrutvā viśeṣād antarlīno hiraṇyaka āha-bhoḥ ! drutaṃ gamyatām asmāt sthānāt |
vāyasa āha-ahaṃ tava pārśve guru-kāryeṇa samāgataḥ | tat kiṃ na kriyate mayā saha darśanam ?
hiraṇyaka āha-na me'sti tvayā saha saṅgamena prayojanam iti |
sa āha-bhoḥ ! citragrīvasya mayā tava sakāśāt pāśa-mokṣaṇaṃ dṛṣṭam | tena mama mahatī prītiḥ sañjātā | tat kadācin mamāpi bandhane jāte tava pārśvān muktair bhaviṣyati | tat kriyatāṃ mayā saha maitrī |
hiraṇyaka āha-aho tvaṃ bhoktā | ahaṃ te bhojya-bhūtaḥ | tat kā tvayā saha mama maitrī ? tad gamyatām | maitrī virodha-bhāvāt katham ? uktaṃ ca-
yayor eva samaṃ vittaṃ yayor eva samaṃ kulam |
tayor maitrī vivāhaś ca na tu puṣṭa-vipuṣṭayoḥ

tathā ca-
yo mitraṃ kurute mūḍha ātmano 'sadṛśaṃ kudhīḥ |
hīnaṃ vāpy adhikaṃ vāpi hāsyatāṃ yāty asau janaḥ

tad gamyatām iti |
vāyasa āha-bho hiraṇyaka ! eṣo 'haṃ tava durga-dvāra upaviṣṭaḥ | yadi tvaṃ maitrī na karoṣi tato 'haṃ prāṇa-mokṣaṇaṃ tavāgre kariṣyāmi | athavā prāyopaveśanaṃ me syāt iti |
hiraṇyaka āha-bhoḥ ! tvayā vairiṇā saha kathaṃ maitrīṃ karomi ? uktaṃ ca-
vairiṇā na hi sandadhyāt suśliṣṭenāpi sandhinā |
sutaptam api pānīyaṃ śamayaty eva pāvakam

vāyasa āha-bhoḥ ! tvayā saha darśanam api nāsti | kuto vairam ? tat kim anucitaṃ vadasi ?
hiraṇyaka āha-dvividhaṃ vairaṃ bhavati | sahajaṃ kṛtrimaṃ ca | tat sahaja-vairī tvam asmākam | uktaṃ ca-
kṛtrimaṃ nāśam abhyeti vairaṃ drāk kṛtrimair guṇaiḥ |
prāṇa-dānaṃ vinā vairaṃ sahajaṃ yāti na kṣayam

vāyasa āha-bhoḥ ! dvividhasya vairasya lakṣaṇaṃ śrotum icchāmi | tat kathyatām |
hiraṇyaka āha-bhoḥ ! kāraṇena nirvṛtaṃ kṛtrimam | tat-tad-arhopakāra-karaṇād gacchati | svābhāvikaṃ punaḥ katham api na gacchati | tad yathā nakula-sarpāṇāṃ, śaṣpabhuṅ-nakhāyudhānāṃ, jala-vahnyoḥ, deva-daityānāṃ, sārameya-mārjarāṇāṃ, īśvara-daridrāṇāṃ, sapatnīnāṃ, siṃha-gajānāṃ, lubdhaka-hariṇānāṃ, śrotriya-bhraṣṭa-kriyāṇāṃ, mūrka-paṇḍitānāṃ, pativratā-kulaṭānāṃ, sajjana-durjanānām | na kaścit kenāpi vyāpāditaḥ, tathāpi prāṇān santāpayanti |
vāyasa āha-bhoḥ ! akāraṇam etat | śrūyatāṃ me vacanam-
kāraṇān mitratām eti kāraṇād yāti śatrutām |
tasmān mitratvam evātra yojyaṃ vairaṃ na dhīmatā

tasmāt kuru mayā saha samāgamaṃ mitra-dharmārtham |
hiraṇyaka āha-bhoḥ, śrūyatāṃ nīti-sarvasvam-
sakṛd duṣṭam apīṣṭaṃ yaḥ punaḥ sandhātum icchati |
sa mṛtyum upagṛhṇāti garbham aśvatarī yathā

athavā guṇavān ahaṃ, na me kaścid vaira-yātanāṃ kariṣyati | etad api na sambhāvyam | uktaṃ ca-
siṃho vyākaraṇasya kartur aharat prāṇān piryān pāṇiner
mīmāṃsā-kṛtam unmamātha sahasā hastī muniṃ jaiminim |
chando-jñāna-nidhiṃ jaghāna makaro velā-taṭe piṅgalam
ajñānāvṛta-cetasām atiruṣā ko 'rthas tiraścāṃ guṇaiḥ

vāyasa āha-asty etat | yathāpi śrūyatām-
upakārāc ca lokānāṃ nimittān mṛga-pakṣiṇām |
bhayāl lobhāc ca mūrkhāṇāṃ maitrī syād darśanāt satām

mṛd-ghaṭa iva sukha-bhedyo duḥsandhānaś ca durjano bhavati |
sujanas tu kanaka-ghaṭa iva durbhedaḥ sukara-sandhiś ca

ikṣor agrāt kramaśaḥ parvaṇi parvaṇi yathā rasa-viśeṣaḥ |
tadvat sajjana-maitrī-viparītānāṃ tu viparītā

tathā ca-
ārambha-gurvī kṣayiṇī krameṇa laghvī purā vṛddhimatī ca paścāt |
dinasya pūrvārdha-parārdha-bhinnā chāyeva maitrī khala-sajjanānām

tat sādhur aham | aparaṃ tvāṃ śapathādibhir nirbhayaṃ kariṣyāmi |
sa āha-na me'sti te śapathaiḥ pratyayaḥ | uktaṃ ca-
śapathaiḥ sandhitasyāpi na viśvāsaṃ vrajed ripoḥ |
śrūyate śapathaṃ kṛtvā vṛtraḥ śakreṇa sūditaḥ

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

anyac ca-
bṛhaspater api prājñas tasmān naivātra viśvaset |
ya icched ātmano buddhim āyuṣyaṃ ca sukhāni ca

tathā ca-
susūkṣmeṇāpi randhreṇa praviśyābhyantaraṃ ripuḥ |
nāśayec ca śanaiḥ paścāt plavaṃ salila-pūravat

na viśvased aviśvaste viśvaste'pi na viśvaset |
viśvāsād bhayam utpannaṃ mūlāny api nikṛntati

na badhyate hy aviśvasto durbalo 'pi balotkaṭaiḥ |
viśvastāś cāśu badhyante balavanto 'pi durbalaiḥ

sukṛtyaṃ viṣṇu-guptasya mitrāptir bhārgavasya ca |
bṛhaspater aviśvāso nītir-sandhis tridhā sthitaḥ

tathā ca-
mahatāpy artha-sāreṇa yo viśvasiti śatruṣu |
bhāryāsu suviraktāsu tad-antaṃ tasya jīvitam

tac chrutvā laghupatanako 'pi niruttaraś cintayāmāsa-aho, buddhi-prāgalbhyam asya nīti-viṣaye | athavā sa evāsyopari maitrī-pakṣapātaḥ | sa āha-bho hiraṇyaka !
satāṃ sāptapadaṃ maitram ity āhur vibudhā janāḥ |
tasmāt tvaṃ mitratāṃ prāpto vacanaṃ mama tac chṛṇu

durgasthenāpi tvayā mayā saha nityam evālāpo guṇa-doṣa-subhāṣita-goṣṭhī-kathāḥ sarvadā kartavyāḥ, yady evaṃ na viśvasiṣi |
tac chrutvā hiraṇyako 'pi vyacintayat-vidagdha-vacano 'yaṃ dṛśyate laghupatanakaḥ satya-vākyaś ca tad yuktam anena maitrī-karaṇam | paraṃ kadācin mama durge caraṇa-pāto 'pi na kāryaḥ | uktaṃ ca-
bhīta-bhītaiḥ purā śatrur mandaṃ mandaṃ visarpati |
bhūmau prahelayā paścāj jāra-hasto 'ṅganāsv iva

tac chrutvā vāyasa āha-bhadra, evaṃ bhavatu | tataḥ-prabhṛti tau dvāv api subhāṣita-goṣṭhī-sukham anubhavantau tiṣṭhataḥ | parasparaṃ kṛtopakārau kālaṃ nayataḥ | laghupatanako 'pi māṃsa-śakalāni medhyāni baliśeṣāṇy anyāni vātsalyāhṛtāni pakvānna-viśeṣāṇi hiraṇyakārtham ānayati | hiraṇyako 'pi taṇḍulān anyāṃś ca bhakṣya-viśeṣāl laghupatanakārthaṃ rātrāv āhṛtya tat-kālāyātasyārpayati | athavā yujyate dvayor apy etat | uktaṃ ca-
dadāti pratigṛhṇāti guhyam ākhyāti pṛcchati |
bhuṅkte bhojāyate caiva ṣaḍ-vidhaṃ prīti-lakṣaṇam

nopakāraṃ vinā prītiḥ kathañcit kasyacid bhavet |
upayācita-dānena yato devā abhīṣṭadāḥ

tāvat prītir bhavel loke yāvad dānaṃ pradīyate |
vatsaḥ kṣīra-kṣayaṃ dṛṣṭvā parityajati mātaram

paśya dānasya māhātmyaṃ sadyaḥ pratyaya-kārakam |
yat-prabhāvād api dveṣo mitratāṃ yāti tat-kṣaṇāt

putrād api priyataraṃ khalu tena dānaṃ
manye paśor api viveka-vivarjitasya |
datte khale tu nikhilaṃ khalu yena dugdhaṃ
nityaṃ dadāti mahiṣī sasutāpi paśya

kiṃ bahunā-
prītiṃ nirantarāṃ kṛtvā durbhedyāṃ nakha-māṃsavat |
mūṣako vāyasaś caiva gatau kṛtrima-mitratām

evaṃ sa mūṣakas tad-upakāra-rañjitas tathā viśvasto yathā tasya pakṣa-madhye praviṣṭas tena saha sarvadaiva goṣṭhīṃ karoti | athānyasminn ahani vāyaso 'śru-pūrṇa-nayanaḥ samabhyetya sagadgadaṃ tam uvāca-bhadra hiraṇyaka, viraktiḥ sañjātā me sāmprataṃ deśasyāsyopari tad anyatra yāsyāmi |
hiraṇyaka āha-bhadra kiṃ virakteḥ kāraṇam |
sa āha-bhadra, śrūyatāṃ | atra deśe mahatyānāvṛṣṭyā durbhikṣaṃ sañjātam | durbhikṣatvāj jano bubhukṣā-pīḍitaḥ ko 'pi bali-mātram api na prayacchati | aparaṃ gṛhe gṛhe bubhukṣita-janair vihaṅgānāṃ bandhanāya pāśāḥ praguṇīkṛtāḥ santi | aham apy āyuḥ-śeṣatayā pāśena baddha uddharito 'smi | etad virakteḥ kāraṇam æ| tenāhaṃ videśaṃ calita iti bāṣpa-mokṣaṃ karomi |
hiraṇyaka āha-atha bhavān kva prasthitaḥ ?
sa āha-asti dakṣiṇā-pathe vana-gahana-madhye mahāsaraḥ | tatra tvatto 'dhikaḥ parama-suhṛt kūrmo mantharako nāma | sa ca me matsya-māṃsa-khaṇḍāni dāsyati | tad-bhakṣaṇāt tena saha subhāṣita-goṣṭhī-sukham anubhavan sukhena kālaṃ neṣyāmi | nāham atra vihaṅgānāṃ pāśa-bandhanena kṣayaṃ draṣṭum icchāmi | uktaṃ ca-
anāvṛṣṭi-hate deśe sasye ca pralayaṃ gate |
dhanyās tāta na paśyanti deśa-bhaṅgaṃ kula-kṣayam

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

vidvattvaṃ ca nṛpatvaṃ ca naiva tulyaṃ kadācana |
sva-deśe pūjyate rājā vidvān sarvatra pūjyate

hiraṇyaka āha-yady evaṃ tad aham api tvayā saha gamiṣyāmi | mamāpi mahad duḥkhaṃ vartate |
vāyasa āha-bhoḥ ! tava kiṃ duḥkham ? tat kathaya |
hiraṇyaka āha-bhoḥ ! bahu vaktavyam asty atra viṣaye | tatraiva gatvā sarvaṃ savistaraṃ kathayiṣyāmi |
vāyasa āha-ahaṃ tāvad ākāśa-gatiḥ | tat kathaṃ bhavato mayā saha gamanam ?
sa āha-yadi me prāṇān rakṣasi tadā sva-pṛṣṭham āropya māṃ tatra prāpayiṣyasi | nānyathā mama gatir asti |
tac chrutvā sānandaṃ vāyasa āha-yady evaṃ tad dhanyo 'haṃ yad bhavatāpi saha tatra kālaṃ nayāmi | ahaṃ sampātādikān aṣāv uḍḍīna-gati-viśeṣān vedmi | tat samāroha mama pṛṣṭhaṃ, yena sukhena tvāṃ tat-saraḥ prāpayāmi |
hiraṇyaka āha-uḍḍīnānāṃ nāmāni śrotum icchāmi |
sa āha-
sampātaṃ vipra-pātaṃ ca mahā-pātaṃ nipātanam |
vakraṃ tiryak tathā cordhvam aṣṭamaṃ laghu-saṃjñakam

tac chrutvā hiraṇyakas tat-kṣaṇād eva tad upari samārūḍhaḥ | so 'pi śanaiḥ śanais tam ādāya sampātoḍḍīna-prasthitaḥ krameṇa tat-saraḥ prāptaḥ | tato laghupatanakaṃ mūṣakādhiṣṭhitaṃ vilokya dūrato 'pi deśa-kāla-vida-sāmānya-kāko 'yam iti jñātvā satvaraṃ mantharako jale praviṣṭaḥ | laghupatanako 'pi tīrastha-taru-koṭare hiraṇyakaṃ muktvā śākhāgram āruhya tāra-svareṇa provāca-bho mantharaka ! āgacchāgaccha | tava mitram ahaṃ laghupatanako nāma vāyasaś cirāt sotkaṇṭhaḥ samāyātaḥ | tad āgatyāliṅgaya mām | uktaṃ ca-
kiṃ candanaiḥ sa-karpūrais tuhinaiḥ kiṃ ca śītalaiḥ |
sarve te mitra-gātrasya kalāṃ nārhanti ṣoḍaśīm

tathā ca-
kenāmṛtam idaṃ sṛṣṭaṃ mitram ity akṣara-dvayam |
āpadāṃ ca paritrāṇaṃ śoka-santāpa-bheṣajam

tac chrutvā nipuṇataraṃ parijñāya satvaraṃ salilān niṣkramya pulakita-tanur ānandāśru-pūrita-nayano mantharakaḥ provāca-ehy ehi mitra, āliṅgaya mām | cira-kālān mayā tvaṃ na samyak parijñātaḥ | tenāhaṃ salilāntaḥ-praviṣṭaḥ | uktaṃ ca-
yasya na jñāyate vīryaṃ na kulaṃ na viceṣṭitam |
na tena saṅgatiṃ kuryād ity uvāca bṛhaspatiḥ

evam ukte laghupatanako vṛkṣād avatīrya tam āliṅgitavān | athavā sādhv idam uktam-
amṛtasya pravāhaiḥ kiṃ kāya-kṣālana-sambhavaiḥ |
cirān mitra-pariṣvaṅgo yo 'sau mūlya-vivarjitaḥ

evaṃ dvāv api tau vihitāliṅgitau parasparaṃ pulakita-śarīrī vṛkṣād adhaḥ samupaviṣṭau procatur ātma-caritra-vṛttāntam | hiraṇyako 'pi mantharakasya praṇāmaṃ kṛtvā vāyasābhyāśe samupaviṣṭaḥ | atha taṃ samālokya mantharako laghupatanakam āha-bhoḥ hiraṇyako nāma mūṣako 'yam | mama suhṛd-dvitīyam iva jīvitam | tat kiṃ bahunā-
parjanyasya yathā dhārā yathā ca divi tārakāḥ |
sikatā-reṇavo yadvat saṅkhyayā parivarjitā

guṇāḥ saṅkhyā-parityaktās tadvad asya mahātmanaḥ |
paraṃ nirvedam āpannaḥ samprāpto 'yaṃ tavāntikam

mantharaka āha-kim asya vairāgya-kāraṇam ?
vāyasa āha-pṛṣṭo mayā, param anenābhihitaṃ, yad bahu vaktavyam iti | tat tatraiva gataḥ kathayiṣyāmi | mamāpi na niveditam | tad bhadra hiraṇyaka ! idānīṃ nivedyatām ubhayor apy āvayos tad ātmano vairāgya-kāraṇam |
so 'bravīt-
kathā 1
hiraṇyaka-tāmracūḍa-kathā
asti dakṣiṇātye janapade mahilāropyaṃ nāma nagaram | tasya nātidūre maṭhāyatanaṃ bhagavataḥ śrī-mahādevasya | tatra ca tāmracūḍo nāma parivrājakaḥ prativasati sma | sa ca nagare bhikṣāṭanaṃ kṛtvā prāṇa-yātrāṃ samācarati | bhikṣā-śeṣaṃ ca tatraiva bhikṣā-pātre nidhāya tad-bhikṣā-pātraṃ nāgadante'valambya paścād rātrau svapiti | pratyūṣe ca tad-annaṃ karmakarāṇāṃ dattvā samyak tatraiva devatāyatane saṃmārjanopalepana-maṇḍanādikaṃ samājñāpayati | anyasminn ahani mama bāndhavair niveditam-svāmin, maṭhāyatane siddham annaṃ mūṣaka-bhayāt tatraiva bhikṣā-pātre nihitaṃ nāgadante'valambitaṃ tiṣṭhati sadaiva | tad vayaṃ bhakṣayituṃ na śaknumaḥ | svāminaḥ punar āgamya kim api nāsti | tat kiṃ vṛthāṭanenānyatra | adya
tatra gatvā yathecchaṃ bhuñjāmahe tava prasādāt |
tad ākarṇyāhaṃ sakala-yūtha-parivṛtas tat-kṣaṇād eva tatra gataḥ | utpatya ca tasmin bhikṣā-pātre samārūḍhaḥ | tatra bhakṣya-viśeṣāṇi sevakebhyo dattvā paścāt svayam eva bhakṣayāmi | sarveṣāṃ tṛptau jātāyāṃ bhūyaḥ sva-gṛhaṃ gacchāmi | evaṃ nityam eva tad annaṃ bhakṣayāmi | parivrājako 'pi yathā-śakti rakṣati | paraṃ yadaiva nidrāntarito bhavati, tadāhaṃ tatrāruhyātma-kṛtyaṃ karomi | atha kadācit tena mama rakṣaṇārthaṃ mahān yatnaḥ kṛtaḥ | jarjara-vaṃśaḥ samānītaḥ | tena supto 'pi mama bhayād bhikṣā-pātraṃ tāḍayati | aham apy abhikṣite'py anne prahāra-bhayād apasarpāmi | evaṃ tena saha sakalāṃ rātriṃ vigraha-parasya kālo vrajati |
athānyasminn ahani tasya maṭhe bṛhatsphiṅ-nāmā parivrājakas tasya suhṛt tīrtha-yātrā-prasaṅgena pānthaḥ prāghuṇikaḥ samāyātaḥ | taṃ dṛṣṭvā pratyutthāna-vidhinā sambhāvya pratipatti-pūrvakam abhyāgata-kriyayā niyojitaḥ | tataś ca rātrāv ekatra kuśa-saṃstare dvāv api prasuptau dharma-kathāṃ kathayitum ārabdhau |
atha bṛhasphik-kathā-goṣṭhīṣu sa tāmracūḍo mūṣaka-trāsārthaṃ vyākṣipta-manā jarjara-vaṃśena bhikṣā-pātraṃ tāḍayaṃs tasya śūnyaṃ prativacanaṃ prayacchati | tan-mayo na kiñcid udāharati | athāsāv abhyāgataḥ paraṃ kopam upāgatas tam uvāca-bhos tāmracūḍa ! parijñātaḥ na tvaṃ samyak suhṛt | tena mayā saha sāhlādaṃ na jalpasi | tad-rātrāv api tvadīyaṃ maṭhaṃ tyaktvānyatra mañhe yāsyāmi | 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

gṛhī yatrāgataṃ dṛṣṭvā diśo vīkṣeta vāpy adhaḥ |
tatra ye sadane yānti te śṛṅga-rahitā vṛṣāḥ

sābhyutthāna-kriyā yatra nālāpā madhurākṣarāḥ |
guṇa-doṣa-kathā naiva tatra harmyaṃ na gamyate

tad eka-maṭha-prāptyāpi tvaṃ garvitaḥ | tyaktaḥ suhṛt-snehaḥ | naitad vetsi yat tvayā maṭhāśraya-vyājena narakopārjanaṃ kṛtam | uktaṃ ca-
narakāya matis te cet paurohityaṃ samācāra |
varṣaṃ yāvat kim anyena maṭha-cintāṃ dina-trayam

tan-mukhaṃ, śocitavyas tvaṃ garvaṃ gataḥ | tad ahaṃ tvadīyaṃ maṭhaṃ parityajya yāsyāmi |
atha tac chrutvā bhaya-trasta-manās tāmracūḍas tam uvāca-bho bhagavan ! maivaṃ vada | na tvat-samo 'nyo mama suhṛt kaścid asti | paraṃ tac chrūyatāṃ goṣṭhī-śaithilya-kāraṇam | eṣa durātmā mūṣakaḥ pronnata-sthāne dhṛtam api bhikṣā-pātram utplutyārohati, bhikṣā-śeṣaṃca tatrasthaṃ bhakṣayati | tad-abhāvād eva maṭhe mārjana-kriyāpi na bhavati | tan mūṣaka
muhur muhus tāḍayāmi | nānyat kāraṇam iti | aparam etat kutūhalaṃ paśyāsya durtātmano yan mārjāra-markaṭādayo 'pi tiraskṛtā asyotpatanena |
bṛhatsphig āha-atha jñāyate tasya bilaṃ kasmiṃścit pradeśe |
tāmracūḍa āha-bhagavan na vedmi samyak |
sa āha-nūnaṃ nidhānasyopari tasya bilam | nidhānoṣmaṇā prakūrdate | uktaṃ ca-
ūṣmāpi vittajo vṛddhiṃ tejo nayati dehinām |
kiṃ punas tasya sambhogas tyāga-dharma-samanvitaḥ

tathā ca-
nākasmāc chāṇḍilī mātar vikrīṇāti tilais tilān |
luñcitān itarair yena hetur atra bhaviṣyati

tāmracūḍa āha-katham etat ?
sa āha-
kathā 2
tilacūrṇa-vikraya-kathā
yadāhaṃ kasmiṃścit sthāne prāvṛṭ-kāle vrata-grahaṇa-nimittaṃ kañcid brāhmaṇaṃ vāsārthaṃ prārthitavān | tataś ca tad-vacanāt tenāpi śuśrūṣitaḥ sukhena devārcana-paras tiṣṭhāmi | athānyasminn ahani pratyūṣe prabuddho 'haṃ brāhmaṇa-brāhmaṇī-saṃvāde dattāvadhānaḥ śṛṇomi | tatra brāhmaṇa āha-brāhmaṇi, prabhāte dakṣiṇāyana-saṅkrāntir ananta-dāna-phaladā bhaviṣyati | tad ahaṃ pratigrahārthaṃ grāmāntaraṃ yāsyāmi | tvayā brāhmaṇasyaikasya bhagavataḥ sūryasyoddeśena kiñcid bhojanaṃ dātavyam iti |
atha tac chrutvā brāhmaṇī paruṣatara-vacanais taṃ bhartsayamānā prāha-kutas te dāridryopahatasya bhojana-prāptiḥ | tat kiṃ lajjasa evaṃ bruvāṇaḥ | api ca na mayā tava hasta-lagnayā kvacid api labdhaṃ sukham | na miṣṭhānnasyāsvādanam | na ca hasta-pāda-kaṇṭhādi-bhūṣaṇam |
tac chrutvā bhaya-trasto 'pi vipro mandaṃ mandaṃ prāha-brāhmaṇi ! naitad yujyate vaktum | uktaṃ ca-
grāsād api tad ardhaṃ ca kasmān no dīyate'rthiṣu |
icchānurūpo vibhavaḥ kadā kasya bhaviṣyati

īśvarā bhūri-dānena yal labhante phalaṃ kila |
daridras tac ca kākiṇyā prāpnuyād iti na śrutiḥ

dātā laghur api sevyo bhavati na kṛpaṇo mahān api samṛddhyā |
kūpo 'ntaḥ-svādu-jalaḥ prītyai lokasya na samudraḥ

tathā ca-
akṛta-tyāga-mahimnāṃ mithyā kiṃ rāja-rāja-śabdena |
goptāraṃ na nidhīnāṃ mahayanti maheśvaraṃ vibudhāḥ

api ca-
sadā dāna-parikṣīṇaḥ śasta eva karīśvaraḥ |
adānaḥ pīna-gātro 'pi nindya eva hi gardabhaḥ

suśīlo 'pi suvṛtto 'pi yāty adānād adho ghaṭaḥ |
punaḥ kubjāpi kāṇāpi dānād upari karkaṭī

yacchan jalam api jalado vallabhatām eti sakala-lokasya |
nityaṃ prasārita-karo mitro 'pi na vīkṣituṃ śakyaḥ

evaṃ jñātvā daridryābhibhūtair api svalpāt svalpataraṃ kāle pātre ca deyam | uktaṃ ca-
sat-pātraṃ mahatī śraddhā deśe kāle yathocite |
yad dīyate viveka-jñais tad anantāya kalpate

tathā ca-
atitṛṣṇā na kartavyā tṛṣṇāṃ naiva parityajet |
atitṛṣṇābhibhūtasya śikhā bhavati mastake

brāhmaṇy āha-katham etat ?
sa āha-
kathā 3
śavara-śūkara-kathā
asti kasmiṃścid vanoddeśe kaścit pulindaḥ | sa ca pāparddhiṃ kartuṃ vanaṃ prati prasthitaḥ | atha tena prasarpatā mahān añjana-parvata-śikharākāraḥ kroḍaḥ samāsāditaḥ | taṃ dṛṣṭvā karṇāntākṛṣṭa-niśita-sāyakena samāhataḥ | tenāpi kopāviṣṭena cetasā bālendu-dyutinā daṃṣṭrāgreṇa pāṭitodaraḥ pulindo gatāsur bhūtale'patat |
atha lubdhakaṃ vyāpādya śūkaro 'pi śara-prahāra-vedanayā pañcatvaṃ gataḥ | etasminn antare kaścid āsanna-mṛtyuḥ śṛgāla itas tato nirāhāratayā pīḍitaḥ paribhramaṃs taṃ pradeśam ājagāma | yāvad varāha-pulindau dvāv api paśyati tāvat prahṛṣṭo vyacintayat-bhoḥ ! sānukūlo me vidhiḥ | tenaitad apy acintitaṃ bhojanam upasthitam | athavā sādhv idam uktam-
akṛte'py udyame puṃsām anya-janma-kṛtaṃ phalam |
śubhāśubhaṃ samabhyeti vidhinā saṃniyojitam

tathā ca-
yasmin deśe ca kāle ca vayasā yādṛśena ca |
kṛtaṃ śubhāśubhaṃ karma tat tathā tena bhujyate

tad ahaṃ tathā bhakṣayāmi yathā bahūny ahāni me prāṇa-yātrā bhavati | tat tāvad enaṃ snāyu-pāśaṃ dhanuṣkoṭi-gataṃ bhakṣayāmi | uktaṃ ca-
śanaiḥ śanaiś ca bhoktavyaṃ svayaṃ vittam upārjitam |
rasāyanam iva prājñair helayā na kadācana

ity evaṃ manasā niścitya cāpa-ghaṭita-koṭiṃ mukha-madhye prakṣipya snāyuṃ bhakṣituṃ pravṛttaḥ | tataś ca truṭite pāśe tālu-deśaṃ vidārya cāpa-koṭirmastaka-madhyena niṣkrāntā | so 'pi tadvad enayā tat-kṣaṇāntan mṛtaḥ | ato 'haṃ bravīmi-atitṛṣṇā na kartavyā iti |
sa punar apy āha-brāhmaṇi, na śrutaṃ bhavatyā |
āyuḥ karma ca vittaṃ ca vidyā nidhanam eva ca |
pañcaitāni hi sṛjyante garbhasthasyaiva dehinaḥ

athaivaṃ sā tena prabodhitā brāhmaṇy āha-yady evaṃ tad asti me gṛhe stokas tila-rāśiḥ | tatas tilān luñcitvā tila-cūrṇena brāhmaṇaṃ bhojayiṣyāmi iti |
tatas tad-vacanaṃ śrutvā brāhmaṇo grāmaṃ gataḥ | sāpi tilānuṣṇodakena sammardya kuṭitvā sūryātape dattavatī | atrāntare tasyā grha-karma-vyagrāyās tilānāṃ madhye kaścit sārameyo mūtrotsargaṃ cakāra | taṃ dṛṣṭvā sā cintitavatī-aho naipuṇyaṃ paśya parāṅmukhībhūtasya vidheḥ | yad ete tilā abhojyāḥ kṛtāḥ | tad aham etān samādāya kasyacit gṛhaṃ gatvā luñcitair aluñcitān ānayāmi | sarvo 'pi jano 'nena vidhinā pradāsyati iti |
atha yasmin gṛhe'haṃ bhikṣārthaṃ praviṣṭas tatra gṛhe sāpi tilān ādāya praviṣṭā vikrayaṃ kartum | āha ca-gṛhṇātu kaścid aluñcitair luñcitāṃs tilān |
atha tad-gṛha-gṛhiṇī-gṛhaṃ praviṣṭā yāvad aluñcitair luñcitān gṛhṇāti tāvad asyāḥ putreṇa kāmandakī-śāstraṃ dṛṣṭvā vyāhṛtam-mātaḥ ! agrāhyāḥ khalv ime tilāḥ | nāsyā aluñcitair luñcitā grāhyāḥ | kāraṇaṃ kiñcid bhaviṣyati | tenaiṣāluñcitair luñcitān prayacchati |
tac chrutvā ayā parityaktās te tilāḥ | ato 'haṃ bravīmi-nākasmāc chāṇḍilī-mātaḥ iti |
etad uktvā sa bhūyo 'pi prāha-atha jñāyate tasya kramaṇa-mārgaḥ |
tāmracūḍa āha-bhagavan, jñāyate | yata ekākī na samāgacchati, kintv asaṅkhya-yūtha-parivṛtaḥ paśyato me paribhramann itas tataḥ sarva-janena sahāgacchati yāti ca |
abhyāgata āha-asti kiñcit khanitrakam |
sa āha-bāḍham asti | eṣā sarva-loha-mayī sva-hastikā |
abhyāgata āha-tarhi pratyūṣe tvayā mayā saha sthātavyam | yena dvāv api jana-caraṇa-malināyāṃ bhūmau tat-padānusāreṇa gacchāvaḥ | mayāpi tad-vacanam ākarṇya cintitam-aho vinaṣṭo 'smi, yato 'sya sābhiprāya-vacāṃsi śrūyante | nūnaṃ, yathā nidhānaṃ jñātaṃ tathā durgam apy asmākaṃ jñāsyati | etad abhiprāyād eva jñāyate | uktaṃ ca-
sakṛd api dṛṣṭvā puruṣaṃ vibudhā jānanti sāratāṃ tasya |
hasta-tulayāpi nipuṇāḥ pala-pramāṇā vijānanti

vāñchaiva sūcayati pūrvataraṃ bhaviṣyaṃ
puṃsāṃ yad anya-tanujaṃ tv aśubhaṃ śubhaṃ vā |
vijñāyate śiśur ajāta-kalāpa-cihnaḥ
pratyudgatair apasaran saralaḥ kalāpī

tato 'haṃ bhaya-trasta-manāḥ saparivāro durga-mārgaṃ parityajyānya-mārgeṇa gantuṃ pravṛttaḥ | saparijano yāvad agrato gacchāmi tāvat sammukho bṛhatkāyo mārjāraḥ samāyāti | sa ca mūṣaka-vṛndam avalokya tan-madhye sahasotpapāta | atha te mūṣakā māṃ kumārga-gāminam avalokya garhayanto hata-śeṣā rudhira-plāvita-vasundharās tam eva durgaṃ praviṣṭāḥ | athavā sādhv idam ucyate-
chittvā pāśam apāsya kūṭa-racanāṃ bhaṅktvā balād vāgurāṃ
paryantāgni-śikhā-kalāpa-jaṭilān nirgatya dūraṃ vanāt |
vyādhānāṃ śara-gocarād api javenotpatya dhāvan mṛgaḥ
kūpāntaḥ-patitaḥ karotu vidhure kiṃ vā vidhau pauruṣam

athāham eko 'nyatra gataḥ | śeṣā mūḍhatayā tatraiva durge praviṣṭāḥ | atrāntare sa duṣṭa-parivrājako rudhira-bindu-carcitāṃ bhūmim avalokya tenaiva durga-mārgeṇāgatyopasthitaḥ |
yad utsāhī sadā martyaḥ parābhavati yaj janān |
yad uddhataṃ vaded vākyaṃ tat sarvaṃ vittajaṃ balam

athāhaṃ tac chrutvā kopāviṣṭo bhikṣā-pātram uddiśya viśeṣād utkūrdito 'prāpta eva bhūmau nipatitaḥ | tac chrūtvāsau me śatrur vihasya tāmracūḍam uvāca-bhoḥ ! paśya paśya kautūhalam | āha ca-
arthena balavān sarvo 'py artha-yuktaḥ sa paṇḍitaḥ |
paśyainaṃ mūṣakaṃ vyarthaṃ sajāteḥ samatāṃ matam

tat svapihi tvaṃ gata-śaṅkaḥ | yad asyotpatana-kāraṇaṃ tad āvayor hasta-gataṃ jātam | athavā sādhv idam ucyate-
daṃṣṭrā-virahitaḥ sarpo mada-hīno yathā gajaḥ |
tathārthena vihīno 'tra puruṣo nāma-dhārakaḥ

tac chrutvāhaṃ manasā vicintitavān-yato 'ṅguli-mātram api kūrdana-śaktir nāsti, tad dhig artha-hīnasya puruṣasya jīvitam | uktaṃ ca-
arthena ca vihīnasya puruṣasyālpa-medhasaḥ |
vyucchidyante kriyāḥ sarvā grīṣme kusarito yathā

yathā kāka-yavāḥ proktā yathāraṇya-bhavās tilāḥ |
nāma-mātrā na siddhau hi dhana-hīnās tathā narāḥ

santo 'pi na hi rājante daridrasyetare guṇāḥ |
āditya iva bhūtānāṃ śrīr guṇānāṃ prakāśinī

na tathā bādhyate loke prakṛtyā nirdhano janaḥ |
yathā dravyāṇi samprāpya tair vihīno 'sukhe sthitaḥ

śuṣkasya kīṭa-khātasya vahni-dagdhasya sarvataḥ |
taror apy ūṣarasthasya varaṃ janma na cārthinaḥ

śaṅkanīyā hi sarvatra niṣpratāpā daridratā |
upakartum api hi prāptaṃ niḥsvaṃ santyajya gacchati

unnamyonnamya tatraiva daridrāṇāṃ manorathāḥ |
patanti hṛdaye vyarthā vidhavāstrīstanā iva

vyakte'pi vāsare nityaṃ daurgatya-tamasāvṛtaḥ |
agrato 'pi sthito yatnān na kenāpīha dṛśyate

evaṃ vilapyāhaṃ bhagnotsāhas tan-nidhānaṃ gaṇḍopadhānīkṛtaṃ dṛṣṭvā svaṃ durgaṃ prabhāte gataḥ | tataś ca mad-bhṛtyāḥ prabhāte gacchanto mitho jalpanti-aho, asamartho 'yam udara-pūraṇe'smākam | kevalam asya pṛṣṭha-lagnānāṃ viḍālādi-vipattayaḥ tat kim anenārādhitena ? uktaṃ ca-
yat-sakāśān na lābhāḥ syāt kevalāḥ syur vipattayaḥ |
sa svāmī dūratas tyājyo viśeṣād anujīvibhiḥ

evaṃ teṣāṃ vacāṃsi śrutvā sva-durgaṃ praviṣṭo 'ham | yāvan na kaścin mama saṃmukhe'bhyeti tāvan mayā cintitam-dhig iyaṃ daridratā | athavā sādhv idam ucyate-
mṛto daridraḥ puruṣo mṛtaṃ maithunam aprajam |
mṛtam aśrotriyaṃ śrāddhaṃ mṛto yajñas tv adakṣiṇam

vyathayanti paraṃ ceto manoratha-śatair janāḥ |
nānuṣṭhānair dhanair hīnāḥ kulajāḥ vidhavā iva

daurgatyaṃ dehināṃ duḥkham apamāna-karaṃ param |
yena svair api manyante jīvanto 'pi mṛtā iva

dainyasya pātratām eti parābhṛteḥ paraṃ padam |
vipadām āśrayaḥ śaśvad daurgatya-kaluṣī-kṛtaḥ

lajjante bāndhavās tena sambandhaṃ gopayanti ca |
mitrāṇy amitratāṃ yānti yasya na syuḥ kapardakāḥ

mūrtaṃ lāghavam evaitad apāyānām idaṃ gṛham |
paryāyo maraṇasyāyaṃ nirdhanatvaṃ śarīriṇām

ajā-dhūlir iva trastair mārjanī-reṇuvaj janaiḥ |
dīpa-khaṭvottha-cchāyeva tyajyate nirdhano janaḥ

śaucāvaśiṣṭayāpy asti kiñcit kāryaṃ kvacin mṛdā |
nirdhanena janenaiva na tu kiñcit prayojanam

adhano dātu-kāmo 'pi samprāpto dhanināṃ gṛham |
manyate yācako 'yaṃ dhig dāridryaṃ khalu dehinām

sva-vitta-haraṇaṃ dṛṣṭvā yo hi rakṣaty asūn naraḥ |
pitaro 'pi na gṛhṇanti tad-dattaṃ saliāñjalim

tathā ca-
gavārthe brāhmaṇārthe ca strī-vitta-haraṇe tathā |
prāṇāṃs tyajati yo yuddhe tasya lokāḥ sanātanāḥ

evaṃ niścitya rātrau tatra gatvā nidrāvaśam upāgatasya peṭāyāṃ mayā chidraṃ kṛtaṃ yāvat, tāvat prabuddho duṣṭa-tāpasaḥ | tataś ca jarjara-vaṃśa-prahāreṇa śirasi tāḍitaḥ kathañcid āyuḥ-śeṣatayā nirgato 'ham, na mṛtaś ca | uktaṃ ca-
prāptavyam arthaṃ labhate manuṣyo
devo 'pi taṃ laṅghayituṃ na śaktaḥ |
tasmān na śocāmi na vismayo me
yad asmadīyaṃ na hi tat pareṣām
kāka-kūrmau pṛcchataḥ-katham etat ?
hiraṇyaka āha-
kathā 4
sāgaradatta-kathā
asti kasmiṃścin nagare sāgaradatto nāma vaṇik | tat-sūnunā rūpaka-śatena vikrīyamāṇaṃ pustakaṃ gṛhītam | tasmiṃś ca likhitam asti-
prāptavyam arthaṃ labhate manuṣyo
devo 'pi taṃ laṅghayituṃ na śaktaḥ |
tasmān na śocāmi na vismayo me
yad asmadīyaṃ na hi tat pareṣām

tad dṛṣṭvā sāgaradattena tanujaḥ pṛṣṭaḥ-putra, kiyatā mūlyenaitat pustakaṃ gṛhītam ?
so 'bravīt-rūpaka-śatena |
tac chrutvā sāgaradatto 'bravīt-dhiṅ mūrkha ! tvaṃ likhitaika-ślokaṃ rūpaka-śatena yad gṛhṇāsi, etayā buddhyā kathaṃ dravyopārjanaṃ kariṣyasi | tad adya-prabhṛti tvayā me gṛhe na praveṣṭavyam |
evaṃ nirbhartsya gṛhān niḥsāritaḥ | sa ca tena nirvedena viprakṛṣṭaṃ deśāntaraṃ gatvā kim api nagaram āsādyāvasthitaḥ | atha katipaya-divasais tan-nagara-nivāsinā kenacid asau pṛṣṭaḥ-kuto bhavān āgataḥ ? kiṃ nāma-dheyo vā ? iti |
asāv abravīt-prāptavyam arthaṃ labhate manuṣya iti | athānyenāpi pṛṣṭenānena tathaivottaraṃ dattam | evaṃ ca tasya nagarasya madhye prāptavyamartha iti tasya prasiddha-nāma jātam |
atha rāja-kanyā candravatī nāmābhinava-rūpa-yauvana-sampannā sakhī-dvitīyaikasmin mahotsava-divase nagaraṃ nirīkṣamāṇāsti | tatraiva ca kaścid rāja-putro 'tīva-rūpa-sampanno manoramaś ca katham api tasyā dṛṣṭi-gocare gataḥ | tad-darśana-sama-kālam eva kusuma-bāṇāhatayā tayā nija-sakhy-abhihitā-sakhi ! yathā kilānena saha samāgamo bhavati tathādya tvayā yatitavyam |
evaṃ ca śrutvā sā sakhī tat-sakāśaṃ gatvā śīghram abravīt-yad ahaṃ candravatyā tavāntikaṃ preṣitā | bhaṇitaṃ ca tvāṃ prati tayā yan mama tvad-darśanān manobhavena paścimāvasthā kṛtā | tad yadi śīghram eva mad-antike na sameṣmasi tadā me maraṇaṃ śaraṇam |
iti śrutvā tenābhihitaṃ-yady avaśyaṃ mayā tatrāgantavyaṃ, tat kathaya kenopāyena praveṣṭavyam ?
atha sakhyābhihitam-rātrau saudhāvalambitayā dṛḍha-varatrayā tvayā tatrāroḍhavyam |
so 'bravīt-yady evaṃ niścayo bhavatyās tad aham evaṃ kariṣyāmi |
iti niścitya sakhī candravatī-sakāśaṃ gatā | athāgatāyāṃ rajanyāṃ sa rāja-putraḥ sva-cetasā vyacintayat-aho mahad akṛtyam etat | uktaṃ ca-
guroḥ sutāṃ mitra-bhāryāṃ svāmi-sevaka-gehinīm |
yo gacchati pumāṃl loke tam āhur brahma-ghātinam

aparaṃ ca-
ayaśaḥ prāpyate yena yena cādho-gatir bhavet |
svārthāc ca bhraśyate yena tat karma na samācaret

iti samyag vicārya tat-sakāśaṃ na jagāma | atha prāptavyamarthaḥ paryaṭan dhavala-gṛha-pārśve rātrāv avalambita-varatrāṃ dṛṣṭvā kautukāviṣṭa-hṛdayas tām ālambyādhirūḍhaḥ | tayā ca rāja-putryā sa evāyam ity āśvasta-cittayā snāna-khādana-pānācchādanādinā sammānya tena saha śayana-talam āśritayā tad-aṅga-saṃsparśa-sañjāta-harṣa-romāñcita-gātrayoktaṃ-yuṣmad-darśana-mātrānuraktayā mayātmā pradatto 'yam | tvad-varjam anyo bhartā manasy api me na bhaviṣyati iti | tat kasmān amyā saha na bravīṣi ?
so 'bravīt- prāptavyam arthaṃ labhate manuṣyaḥ |
ity ukte tayānyo 'yam iti matvā dhavala-gṛhād uttārya muktaḥ | sa tu khaṇḍa-pāśakaḥ prāptaḥ | tāvad asau khaṇḍa-deva-kule gatvā suptaḥ | atha tatra kayācit svairiṇyā datta-saṅketako yāvad daṇḍa-pāśakaḥ prāptaḥ, tāvad asau pūrva-suptas tena dṛṣṭo rahasya-saṃrakṣaṇārtham abhihitaś ca-ko bhavān ?
so 'bravīt-prāptavyam arthaṃ labhate manuṣyaḥ |
iti śrutvā daṇḍa-pāśakenābhihitam-yac chūnyaṃ deva-gṛham idam | tad atra madīya-sthāne gatvā svapihi |
tathā pratipadya sa matir viparyāsād anya-śayane suptaḥ | atha tasya rakṣakasya kanyā vinayavatī nāma rūpa-yauvana-sampannā kasyāpi puruṣasyānuraktā saṅketaṃ dattvā tatra śayane suptāsīt | atha sā tam āyātaṃ dṛṣṭvā sa evāyam asmad-vallabha iti rātrau ghanatarāndhakāra-vyāmohitotthāya bhojanācchādanādi-kriyāṃ kārayitvā gāndharva-vivāhenātmānaṃ vivāhayitvā tena samaṃ śayane sthitā vikasita-vadana-kamalā tam āha-kim adyāpi mayā saha viśrabdhaṃ bhavān na bravīti |
so 'bravīt-prāptavyam arthaṃ labhate manuṣyaḥ |
iti śrutvā tayā cintitam-yat kāryam asamīkṣitaṃ kriyate tasyedṛk-phala-vipāko bhavati iti | evaṃ vimṛśya sa-viṣādayā tayā niḥsārito 'sau | sa ca yāvad-vīthī-mārgeṇa gacchati tāvad anya-viṣaya-vāsī vara-kīrtir nāma varo mahatā vādya-śabdenāgacchati | prāptavyamartho 'pi taiḥ samaṃ gantum ārabdhaḥ |
atha yāvat pratyāsanne lagna-samaye rāja-mārgāsanna-śreṣṭhi-gṛha-dvāre racita-maṇḍapa-vedikāyāṃ kṛta-kautuka-maṅgala-veśā vaṇik-sutāsti, tāvan mada-matto hasty-ārohakaṃ hatvā praṇaśyaj-jana-kolāhalena lokam ākulayaṃs tam evoddeśaṃ prāptaḥ | taṃ ca dṛṣṭvā sarve varānuyāyino vareṇa saha praṇaśya diśo jagmuḥ |
athāsminn avasare bhaya-tarala-locanām ekākinīṃ kanyām avalokya-mā bhaiṣīḥ | ahaṃ paritrāteti sudhīraṃ sthirīkṛtya dakṣiṇa-pāṇau saṅgṛhya mahā-sāhasikatayā prāptavyamarthaḥ puruṣa-vākyair hastinaṃ nirbhartsitavān | tataḥ katham api daiva-yogād apāye hastini sa-suhṛd-bāndhavenātikrānta-lagna-samaye vara-kīrtir nāgatya tāvat tāṃ kanyām anya-hasta-gatāṃ dṛṣṭvābhihitam-bhoḥ śvaśura, viruddham idaṃ tvayānuṣṭhitaṃ yan mahyaṃ pradāya kanyānyasmai pradattā iti |
so 'bravīt-bhoḥ ! aham api hasti-bhaya-palāyitobhavadbhiḥ sahāyāto na jāne kim idaṃ vṛtam ity abhidhāya duhitaraṃ praṣṭum ārabdhaḥ-vatse, na tvayā sundaraṃ kṛtam | tat kathyatāṃ ko 'yaṃ vṛttāntaḥ |
so 'bravīt-yad aham anena prāṇa-saṃśayād rakṣitā, tad enaṃ muktvā mama jīvantyā nānyaḥ pāṇiṃ grahīṣyati iti |
anena vārtā-vyatikareṇa rajanī vyuṣṭā | atha prātas tatra sañjāte mahā-jana-samavāye vārtā-vyatikaraṃ śrutvā rāja-duhitā tam uddeśam āgatā | karṇa-paramparayā śrutvā daṇḍapāśaka-sutāpi tatraivāgatā | atha taṃ mahājana-amavāyaṃ śrutvā rājāpi tatra evājagāma |
prāptavyamarthaṃ prāha-bhoḥ viśrabdhaṃ kathaya | kīdṛśo 'sau vṛttāntaḥ ?
atha so 'bravīt-prāptavyamarthaṃ labhate manuṣyaḥ iti |
rāja-kanyā smṛtvā prāha-devo 'pi taṃ laṅghayituṃ na śakta iti |
tato daṇḍapāśaka-sutābravīt-tasmān na śocāmi na vismayo me iti |
tam akhilaloka-vṛttāntam ākarṇya vaṇik-sutābravīt-yad asmadīyaṃ na hi tat pareṣām iti |
tato 'bhaya-dānaṃ dattvā rājā pṛthak pṛthag vṛttāntān jñātvāvagata-tattvas tasmai prāptavyam arthāya sva-duhitaraṃ sa-bahu-mānaṃ grāma-sahasreṇa samaṃ sarvālaṅkāra-parivāra-yutāṃ dattvā tvaṃ me putro 'sīti nagara-viditaṃ taṃ yauvarājye'bhiṣiktavān | daṇḍa-pāsakenāpi sva-duhitā sva-śaktyā vastra-dānādinā sambhāvya prāptavyamarthāya pradattā |
atha prāptavyamarthenāpi svīya-pitṛ-mātarau samasta-kuṭumbāvṛtau tasmin nagare sammāna-puraḥsaraṃ samānītau | atha so 'pi sva-gotreṇa saha vividha-bhogānupabhuñjānaḥ sukhenāvasthitaḥ | ato 'haṃ bravīmi-prāptavyam arthaṃ labhate manuṣyaḥ iti |
tad etat sakalaṃ sukha-duḥkham anubhūya paraṃ viṣādam upāgato 'nena mitreṇa tvat-sakāśam ānītaḥ | tad etan me vairāgya-kāraṇam | mantharaka āha-bhadra, bhavati suhṛd ayam asandigdhaṃ yaḥ kṣut-kṣāmo 'pi śatru-bhūtaṃ tvāṃ bhakṣya-sthāne sthitam evaṃ pṛṣṭham āropyānayati na mārge'pi bhakṣayati | uktaṃ ca yataḥ-
vikāraṃ yāti no cittaṃ vitte yasya kadācana |
mitraṃ syāt sarva-kāle ca kārayen mitram uttamam

vidvadbhiḥ suhṛdām atra cihnair etair asaṃśayam |
parīkṣā-karaṇaṃ proktaṃ homāgner iva paṇḍitaiḥ

tathā ca-
āpat-kāle tu samprāpte yan mitraṃ mitram eva tat |
vṛddhi-kāle tu samprāpte durjano 'pi suhṛd bhavet

tan mamāpy adyāsya viṣaye viśvāsaḥ samutpanno yato nīti-viruddheyaṃ maitrī māṃsāśibhir vāyasaiḥ saha jalacarāṇām | athavā sādhv idam ucyate-
mitraṃ ko 'pi na kasyāpi nitāntaṃ na ca vaira-kṛt |
dṛśyate mitra-vidhvastāt kāryād vairī parīkṣitaḥ

tat svāgataṃ bhavataḥ | sva-gṛha-vadāsyatām atra saras-tīre | yac ca vitt-nāśo videśa-vāsaś ca te sañjātas tatra viṣaye santāpo na kartavyaḥ | uktaṃ ca-
abhrac-chāyā khala-prītiḥ samudrānte ca medinī |
alpenaiva vinaśyanti yauvanāni dhanāni ca

ata eva vivekino jitātmāno dhana-spṛhāṃ na kurvanti | uktaṃ ca-
susañcitair jīvanavat surakṣitair
nije'pi dehe na viyojitaiḥ kvacit |
puṃso yamāntaṃ vrajato 'pi niṣṭhurair
etair dhanaiḥ pañcapadī na dīyate

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

nirdoṣam api vittāḍhya doṣair yojayate nṛpaḥ |
nidhanaḥ prāpta-doṣo 'pi sarvatra nirupadravaḥ

arthānām arjanaṃ kāryaṃ vardhanaṃ rakṣaṇaṃ tathā |
bhakṣyamāṇo nirādāyaḥ sumerurapi hīyate

arthārthī yāni kaṣṭāni mūḍho 'yaṃ sahate janaḥ |
śatāṃśenāpi mokṣārthī tāni cen mokṣam āpnuyāt

ko dhīrasya manasvinaḥ sva-viṣayaḥ ko vā videśaḥ smṛto
yaṃ deśaṃ śrayate tam eva kurute bāhu-pratāpārjitam |
yad daṃṣṭrānakhalāṅgula-praharaṇaiḥ siṃho vanaṃ gāhate
tasmin eva hata-dvipendra-rudhirais tṛṣṇāṃ chinatty ātmanaḥ

artha-hīnaḥ pare deśe gato 'pi yaḥ prajñāvān bhavati sa kathañcid api na sīdati | uktaṃ ca-
ko 'tibhāraḥ samarthānāṃ kiṃ dūraṃ vyavasāyinām |
ko videśaḥ suvdyānāṃ kaḥ paraḥ priya-vādinām

tat prajñā-nidhir bhavān na prākṛta-puruṣa-tulyaḥ | athavā-
utsāha-sampannam adīrgha-sūtraṃ kriyā-vidhijñaṃ vyasaneṣv asaktam |
śūraṃ kṛtajñaṃ dṛḍha-sauhṛdaṃ ca- lakṣmīḥ svayaṃ vāñchati vāsa-hetoḥ

aparaṃ prāpto 'py arthaḥ karma-prāptyā naśyati | tad etāvanti dināni tvadīyam āsīt | muhūrtam apy anātmīyaṃ bhoktuṃ na labhyate | svayam āgatam api vidhināpahriyate |
arthasyopārjanaṃ kṛtvā naivābhāgyaḥ samaśnute |
araṇyaṃ mahadāsādya mūḍhaḥ somilako yathā

hiraṇyaka āha--katham etat ?
sa āha-
kathā 5
somilaka-kathā
asti kasmiṃścid adhiṣṭhāne somilako nāma kauliko vasati sma | so 'neka-vidha-paṭṭa-racanārañjitāni pārthivocitāni sadaiva vastrāṇy utpādayati | paraṃ tasya cāneka-vidha-paṭṭa-racana-nipuṇasyāpi na bhojanācchādanābhyadhikaṃ katham apy artha-mātraṃ sampadyate | athānye tatra sāmānya-kaulikāḥ sthūla-vastra-sampādana-vijñānino mahardhi-sampannāḥ | tān avalokya sa sva-bhāryām āha-priye ! paśyaitān sthūla-paṭṭa-kārakān dhana-kanaka-samṛddhān | tad adhāraṇakaṃ mamaitat sthānam | tad anyatropārjanāya gacchāmi |
sā prāha-bhoḥ priyatama ! mithyā pralapitam etad yad anyatra-gatānāṃ dhanaṃ bhavati, sva-sthāne na bhavati | uktaṃ ca-
utpatanti yad ākāśe nipatanti mahītale |
pakṣiṇāṃ tad api prāptyā nādattam upatiṣṭhati

tathā ca-
na hi bhavati yan na bhāvyaṃ
bhavati ca bhāvyaṃ vināpi yatnena |
kara-tala-gatam api naśyati
yasya tu bhavitavyatā nāsti

yathā dhenu-sahasreṣu vatso vindati mātaraṃ |
tathā pūrva-kṛtaṃ karma kartāram anugacchati

śete saha śayānena gacchantam anugacchati |
narāṇāṃ prāktanaṃ karma tiṣṭhati tu sahātmanā

yathā chāyā-tapau nityaṃ susambaddhau parasparaṃ |
evaṃ karma ca kartā ca saṃśliṣṭāv itaretaram

kaulika āha-priye ! na samyag abhihitaṃ bhavatyā | vyavasāyaṃ vinā na karma phalati | uktaṃ ca-
yathaikena na hastena tālikā saṃprapadyate |
tathodyama-parityaktaṃ na phalaṃ karmaṇaḥ smṛtam

paśya karma-vaśāt prāptaṃ bhojyakāle'pi bhojanam |
hastodyamaṃ vinā vaktre praviśen na kathañcana

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

tathā ca-
udyamena hi sidhyanti kāryāṇi na manorathaiḥ |
na hi suptasya siṃhasya viśanti vadane mṛgāḥ

udyamena vinā rājan na sidhyanti manorathāḥ |
kātarā iti jalpanti yad bhāvyaṃ tad bhaviṣyati

sva-śaktyā kurvataḥ karma na cet siddhiṃ prayacchati |
nopālabhyaḥ pumāṃs tatra daivāntarita-pauruṣaḥ

tan mayāvaśyaṃ deśāntaraṃ gantavyam |
iti niścitya vardhamāna-puraṃ gatvā tatra varṣa-trayaṃ sthitvā suvarṇa-śata-trayopārjanaṃ kṛtvā bhūyaḥ sva-gṛhaṃ prasthitaḥ | athārdha-pathe gacchatas tasya kadācid aṭavyāṃ paryaṭato bhagavān ravir astam upāgataḥ | tatra ca vyāla-bhayāt sthūlatara-vaṭa-skandha ārūhya prasupto yāvat tiṣṭhati tāvan niśīthe dvau puruṣau raudrākārau parasparaṃ jalpantāv aśṛṇot |
tatraika āha-bhoḥ kartaḥ tvaṃ kiṃ samyaṅ na vetsi yad asya somilakasya bhojanācchādanād ṛte'dhikā samṛddhir nāsti | tat kiṃ tvayāsya suvarṇa-śata-trayaṃ dattam |
sa āha-bhoḥ karman mayāvaśyaṃ dātavyaṃ vyavasāyināṃ tatra ca tasya pariṇatis tvad āyatteti | atha yāvad asau kaulikaḥ prabuddhaḥ suvarṇa-granthim avalokayati tāvad riktaṃ paśyati |
tataḥ sākṣepaṃ cintayāmāsa | aho kim etat ? mahatā kaṣṭenopārjitaṃ vittaṃ helayā kvāpi gatam | yad vyartha-śramo 'kiñcanaḥ kathaṃ sva-patnyā mitrāṇāṃ ca mukhaṃ darśayiṣyāmi | iti niścitya tad eva pattanaṃ gataḥ | tatra ca varṣa-mātreṇāpi suvarṇa-śata-pañcakam upārjya bhūyo 'pi sva-sthānaṃ prati prasthitaḥ | yāvad ardha-pathe bhūyo 'ṭavī-gatasya bhagavān bhānur astaṃjagāmātha suvarṇa-nāśa-bhayāt suśrānto 'pi na viśrāmyati kevalaṃ kṛta-gṛhotkaṇṭhaḥ satvaraṃ vrajati |
atrāntare dvau puruṣau tādṛṣau dṛṣṭi-deśe samāgacchantau jalpantau ca śṛṇoti | tatraikaḥ prāha-bhoḥ kartaḥ ! kiṃ tvayaitasya suvarṇa-śata-pañcakaṃ dattam ? tat kiṃ na vetsi yad bhojanācchādanābhyadhikam asya kiṃcin nāsti |
sa āha-bhoḥ karman ! mayāvaśyaṃ deyaṃ vyavasāyinām | tasya pariṇāmas tvad-āyattaḥ | tat kiṃ mām upālambhayasi ?
tac chrutvā somilako yāvad granthim avalokayati tāvat suvarṇaṃ nāsti | tataḥ paraṃ duḥkham āpanno vyacintayat-aho kiṃ mama dhana-rahitasya jīvitena ? tad atra vaṭa-vṛkṣa ātmānam udbadhya prāṇāṃs tyajāmi |
evaṃ niścitya darbha-mayīṃ rajjuṃ vidhāya sva-kaṇṭhe pāśaṃ niyojya śākhāyām ātmānaṃ nibadhya yāvat prakṣipati tāvad ekaḥ pumān ākāśa-stha evedam āha-bho bhoḥ somilaka ! maivaṃ sāhasaṃ kuru | ahaṃ te vittāpahārako na te bhojanācchādanābhyadhikaṃ varāṭikām api sahāmi | tad gaccha sva-gṛhaṃ prati | anyac ca bhavadīya-sāhasenāhaṃ tuṣṭaḥ | tathā me na syād vyarthaṃ darśanam | tat prārthyatām abhīṣṭo varaḥ kaścit |
somilaka āha-yady evaṃ tad dehi me prabhūtaṃ dhanam |
sa āha-bhoḥ ! kiṃ kariṣyasi bhoga-rahitena dhanena yatas tava bhojanācchādanābhyadhikā prāptir api nāsti ? uktaṃ ca-
kiṃ tayā kriyate lakṣmyā yā vadhūr iva kevalā |
yā na veśyeva sāmānyā pathikair upabhujyate

somilaka āha-yady api bhogo nāsti tathāpi bhavatu me dhanam | uktaṃ ca-
kṛpaṇo 'py akulīno 'pi sadā saṃśrita-mānuṣaiḥ |
sevyate sa naro loke yasya syād vitta-sañcayaḥ

tathā ca-
śithilau ca subaddhau ca patataḥ patato na vā |
nirīkṣitau mayā bhadre daśa varṣāṇi pañca ca

puruṣa āha-kim etat ?
so 'bravīt-
kathā 6
tīkṣṇa-viṣāṇa-śṛgāla-kathā
kasmiṃścid adhiṣṭhāne tīkṣṇaviṣāṇo nāma mahā-vṛṣabho vasati | sa ca madātirekāt parityakta-nija-yūṭhaḥ śṛṅgābhyāṃ nadī-taṭāni vidārayan svecchayā marakata-sadṛśāni śaṣpāṇi bhakṣayann araṇya-caro babhūva | atha tatraiva vane pralobhako nāma śṛgālaḥ prativasati sma | sa kadācit sva-bhāryayā saha nadī-tīre sukhopaviṣṭas tiṣṭhati | atrāntare sa tīkṣṇaviṣāṇo jalārthaṃ tad eva pulinam avatīrṇaḥ | tataś ca tasya lambamānau vṛṣaṇāv ālokya śṛgālyā śṛgālo 'bhihitaḥ-svāmin ! paśyāsya vṛṣabhasya māṃsa-piṇḍau lambamānau yathā sthitau | tataḥ kṣaṇena prahareṇa vā patiṣyataḥ | evaṃ jñātvā bhavatā pṛṣṭha-yāyinā bhāvyaṃ |
śṛgāla āha-priye ! na jñāyate kadācid etayoḥ patanaṃ bhaviṣyati vā na vā | tat kiṃ vṛthā śramāya māṃ niyojayasi ? atra-sthas tāvaj jalārtham āgatān mūṣakān bhakṣayiṣyāmi samaṃ tvayā | mārgo 'yaṃ yatas teṣām | atha yadā tvāṃ muktvāsya tīkṣṇaviṣāṇasya vṛṣabhasya pṛṣṭhe gamiṣyāmi tadāgatyānyaḥ kaścid etat sthānaṃ samāśrayiṣyati | naitad yujyate kartum | uktaṃ ca-
yo dhruvāṇi parityajyādhruvāṇi niṣevate |
dhruvāṇi tasya naśyanti adhruvaṃ naṣṭam eva ca

śṛgāly āha-bhoḥ kāpuruṣas tvaṃ yat kiṃcit prāptaṃ tenāpi santoṣaṃ karoṣi | uktaṃ ca-
supūrā syāt kunadikā supūro mūṣikāñjaliḥ |
susantuṣṭaḥ kāpuruṣaḥ svalpakenāpi tuṣyati

tasmāt puruṣeṇa sadaivotsāhavatā bhāvyam | uktaṃ ca-
yatrotsāha-samārambho yatrālasya-vinigrahaḥ |
naya-vikrama-saṃyogas tatra śrīr acalā dhruvaṃ

tad daivam iti sañcintya tyajen nodyogam ātmanaḥ |
anuyogaṃ vinā tailaṃ tilānāṃ nopajāyate

anyac ca-
yaḥ stokenāpi santoṣaṃ kurute mandadhīr janaḥ |
tasya bhāgya-vihīnasya dattā śrīr api mārjyate

yac ca tvaṃ vadasi | etau patiṣyato na veti | tad apy ayuktam | uktaṃ ca-
kṛta-niścayino vandyās tuṅgimā nopabhujyate |
cātakaḥ ko varāko 'yaṃ yasyendro vārivāhakaḥ

aparaṃ mūṣaka-māṃsasya nirviṇṇāham | etau ca māṃsa-piṇḍau patana-prāyau dṛśyete | tat sarvathā nānyathā kartavyam iti | athāsau tad ākarṇya mūṣaka-prāpti-sthānaṃ parityajya tīkṣṇaviṣāṇasya pṛṣṭham anvagacchat | atha vā sādhv idam ucyate-
tāvat syāt sarva-kṛtyeṣu puruṣo 'tra svayaṃ prabhuḥ |
strī-vākyāṅkuśa-vikṣuṇṇo yāvan no dhriyate balāt

akṛtyaṃ manyate kṛtyaṃ agamyaṃ manyate sugam |
abhakṣyaṃ manyate bhakṣyaṃ strī-vākya-prerito naraḥ

evaṃ sa tasya pṛṣṭhataḥ sa-bhāryaḥ paribhramaṃś cira-kālam anayat | na ca tayoḥ patanam abhūt | tataś ca nirvedāt pañcadaśe varṣe śṛgālaḥ svabhāryām āha-śithilau ca subaddhau ca (141) ityādi |
tayos tat-paścād api pāto na bhaviṣyati | tat tad eva sva-sthānaṃ gacchāvaḥ | ato 'haṃ bravīmi-śithilau ca subaddhau ca (141) iti |
puruṣa āha-yady evaṃ tad gaccha bhūyo 'pi vardhamāna-puram | tatra dvau vaṇik-putrau vasataḥ | eko gupta-dhanaḥ | dvitīya upabhukta-dhanaḥ | tatas tayoḥ svarūpaṃ buddhvaikasya varaḥ prārthanīyaḥ | yadi te dhanena prayojanam abhakṣitena tatas tvām api gupta-dhanaṃ karomi | athavā datta-bhogyena dhanena te prayojanaṃ tad upabhukta-dhanaṃ karomīti | evam uktvādarśanaṃ gataḥ |
somilako 'pi vismita-manā bhūyo 'pi vardhamāna-puraṃ gataḥ | atha sandhyā-samaye śrāntaḥ katham api tat-puraṃ prāpto guptadhana-gṛhaṃ pṛcchan kṛcchrāl labdhvāstamita-sūrye praviṣṭaḥ | athāsau bhāryā-putra-sametena guptadhanena nirbhartsyamāno haṭhād gṛhaṃ praviśyopaviṣṭaḥ | tataś ca bhojana-velāyāṃ tasyāpi bhakti-varjitaṃ kiṃcid aśanaṃ dattam | tataś ca bhuktvā tatraiva yāvat supto niśīthe paśyati tāvat tāv api dvau puruṣau parasparaṃ mantrayataḥ | tatraika āha-bhoḥ kartaḥ ! kiṃ tvayāsya guptadhanasyānyo 'dhiko vyayo nirmito yat somilakasyānena bhojanaṃ dattam | tad ayuktaṃ tvayā kṛtam |
sa āha-bhoḥ karman ! na mamātra doṣaḥ | mayā puruṣasya lābha-prāptir dātavyā | tat-pariṇatiḥ punas tvad-āyatteti | athāsau yāvad uttiṣṭhati tāvad guptadhano visūcikayā khidyamāno rujābhibhūtaḥ kṣaṇaṃ tiṣṭhati | tato dvitīye'hni tad-doṣeṇa kṛtopavāsaḥ sañjātaḥ |
somilako 'pi prabhāte tad-gṛhān niṣkramya upabhuktadhana-gṛhaṃ gataḥ | tenāpi cābhyutthādinā sat-kṛto vihita-bhojanācchādana-saṃmānas tasyaiva gṛhe bhavya-śayyām āruhya suṣvāpa | tataś ca niśīthe yāvat paśyati tāvat tāv eva dvau puruṣau mitho mantrayataḥ | atra tayor eka āha-bhoḥ kartaḥ ! anena somilakasyopakāraṃ kurvatā prabhūto vyayaḥ kṛtaḥ | tat kathaya katham asyoddhāraka-vidhir bhaviṣyati | anena sarvam etad vyavahāraka-gṛhāt samānītam |
sa āha-bhoḥ karman ! mama kṛtyam etat | pariṇatis tvad-āyatteti | atha prabhāta-samaye rāja-puruṣo rāja-prasādajaṃ vittam ādāya samāyāta upabhukta-dhanāya samarpayām āsa |
tad dṛṣṭvā somilakaś cintayāmāsa | sañcaya-rahito 'pi varam eṣa upabhuktadhano nāsau kadaryo guptadhanaḥ | uktaṃ ca-
agnihotra-phalā vedāḥ śīla-vṛtta-phalaṃ śrutam |
rati-putra-phalā dārā datta-bhukta-phalaṃ dhanam

tad vidhātā māṃ datta-bhukta-dhanaṃ karotu | na kāryaṃ me guptadhanena | tataḥ somilako dattabhuktadhanaḥ saṃjātaḥ | ato 'haṃ bravīmi-arthasyopārjanaṃ kṛtvā iti |
gṛha-madhya-nikhātena dhanena dhanino yadi |
bhavāmaḥ kiṃ na tenaiva dhanena dhanino vayaṃ

tad bhadra ! hiraṇyakaivaṃ jñātvā dhana-viṣaye santāpo na kāryaḥ | atha vidyamānam api dhanaṃ bhojya-bandhyatayā tad-avidyamānaṃ mantavyam | uktaṃ ca-
upārjitānām arthānāṃ tyāga eva hi rakṣaṇam |
taḍāgodara-saṃsthānāṃ parīvāha ivāmbhasām

tathā ca-
upārjitānām arthānāṃ tyāga eva hi rakṣaṇam |
taḍāgodara-saṃsthānāṃ parivāha ivāmbhasām

anyac ca-
dānaṃ bhogo nāśas tisro gatayo bhavanti vittasya | yo na dadāti na bhuṅkte tasya tṛtīyā gatir bhavati

evaṃ jñātvā vivekinā na sthity-arthaṃ vittopārjanaṃ kartavyaṃ yato duḥkhāya tat | uktaṃ ca-
dhanādikeṣu vidyante ye'tra mūrkhāḥ sukhāśayāḥ |
tapta-grīṣmeṇa sevante śaityārthaṃ te hutāśanam

sarpāḥ pibanti pavanaṃ na ca durbalās te
śuṣkais tṛṇair vana-gajā balino bhavanti |
kandaiḥ phalair muni-varā gamayanti kālaṃ
santoṣa eva puruṣasya paraṃ nidhānam

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

pīyūṣam iva saṃtoṣaṃ pibatāṃ nirvṛtiḥ parā |
duḥkhaṃ nirantaraṃ puṃsām asaṃtoṣavatāṃ punaḥ

nirodhāc cetaso 'kṣāṇi niruddhāny akhilāny api |
ācchādite ravau meghaiḥ sañchannāḥ syur gabhastayaḥ

vāñchā-vicchedanaṃ prāhuḥ svāsthyaṃ śāntā maha-rṣayaḥ |
vāñchā nivartate nārthaiḥ pipāsevāgni-sevanaiḥ

anindyam api nindanti stuvanty astutyam uccakaiḥ |
svāpateya-kṛte martyāḥ kiṃ kiṃ nāma na kurvate

dharmārthaṃ yasya vittehā tasyāpi na śubhāvahā |
prakṣālanādd hi paṅkasya dūrād asparśanaṃ varam

dānena tulyo nidhir asti nānyo
lobhāc ca nānyo 'sti paraḥ pṛthivyām |
vibhūṣaṇaṃ śīla-samaṃ na cānyat
santoṣa-tulyaṃ dhanam asti nānyat

dāridryasya parā mūrtir yan māna-draviṇālpatā |
jarad-gava-dhanaḥ śarvas tathāpi parameśvaraḥ

evaṃ jñātvā bhadra tvayā santoṣaḥ kārya iti | mantharakavacanam ākarṇya vāyasa āha-bhadra mantharako yad evaṃ vadati tat tvayā citte kartavyam | athavā sādhv idam ucyate-
sulabhāḥ puruṣā rājan satataṃ priya-vādinaḥ |
apriyasya ca pathyasya vaktā śrotā ca durlabhaḥ

apriyāṇy api pathyāni ye vadanti nṛṇām iha |
ta eva suhṛdaḥ proktā anye syur nāma-dhārakāḥ

athaivaṃ jalpatāṃ teṣāṃ citrāṅgo nāma hariṇo lubdhaka-trāsitas tasminn eva sarasi praviṣṭaḥ | athāyāntaṃ sa-sambhramam avalokya laghupatanako vṛkṣam ārūḍhaḥ | hiraṇyakaḥ śarastambaṃ praviṣṭaḥ | mantharakaḥ salilāśayam āsthitaḥ | atha laghupatanako mṛgaṃ samyak parijñāya mantharakam uvāca-ehy ehi sakhe mantharaka ! mṛgo 'yaṃ tṛṣārto 'tra samāyātaḥ sarasi praviṣṭaḥ | tasya śabdo 'yaṃ na mānuṣa-sambhava iti |
tac chrutvā mantharako deśa-kālocitam āha-bho laghupatanaka ! yathāyaṃ mṛgo dṛśyate prabhūtam ucchvāsam udvahann udbhrānta-dṛṣṭyā pṛṣṭhato 'valokayati tan na tṛṣārta eṣa nūnaṃ lubdhaka-trāsitaḥ | taj jñāyatām asya pṛṣṭhe lubdhakā āgacchanti na veti | uktaṃ ca-
bhaya-trasto naraḥ śvāsaṃ prabhūtaṃ kurute muhuḥ |
diśo 'valokayaty eva na svāsthyaṃ vrajati kvacit

tac chrutvā citrāṅga āha-bho mantharaka ! jñātaṃ tvayā samyaṅ me trāsa-kāraṇam | ahaṃ lubdhaka-śara-prahārād uddhāritaḥ kṛcchreṇātra samāyātaḥ | mama yūthaṃ tair lubdhakair vyāpāditaṃ bhaviṣyati | tac charaṇāgatasya me darśaya kiṃcid agamyaṃ sthānaṃ lubdhakānām |
tad ākarṇya mantharaka āha-bhoś citrāṅga ! śrūyatāṃ nīti-śāstram |
dvāv upāyāv iha proktau vimuktau śatru-darśane |
hastayoś cālanād eko dvitīyaḥ pāda-vega-jaḥ

tad gamyatāṃ śīghraṃ ghanaṃ vanaṃ yāvad adyāpi nāgacchanti te durātmāno lubdhakāḥ |
atrāntare laghupatanakaḥ satvaram abhyupetyovāca-bho mantharaka ! gatās te lubdhakāḥ sva-gṛhonmukhāḥ pracura-māṃsa-piṇḍa-dhāriṇaḥ | tac citrāṅga ! tvaṃ viśrabdho jalād bahir bhava |
tatas te catvāro 'pi mitra-bhāvam āśritās tasmin sarasi madhyāhna-samaye vṛkṣa-cchāyādhastāt subhāṣita-goṣṭhī-sukham anubhavantaḥ sukhena kālaṃ nayanti | athavā yuktam etad ucyate-
subhāṣita-rasāsvāda-baddha-romāñca-kañcukaṃ |
vināpi saṃgamaṃ strīṇāṃ kavīnāṃ sukham edhate

subhāṣita-maya-dravya-saṅgrahaṃ na karoti yaḥ |
sa tu prastāva-yajñeṣu kāṃ pradāsyati dakṣiṇām

tathā ca-
sakṛd uktaṃ na gṛhṇāti svayaṃ vā na karoti yaḥ |
yasya saṃpuṭikā nāsti kutas tasya subhāṣitam

athaikasminn ahani goṣṭhī-samaye mṛgo nāyātaḥ | atha te vyākulībhūtāḥ parasparaṃ jalpitum ārabdhāḥ | aho kim adya suhṛn na samāyātaḥ | kiṃ siṃhādibhiḥ kvacid vyāpādita uta lubdhakair atha vānale prapatito gartā-viṣame vā nava-tṛṇa-laulyād iti | athavā sādhv idam ucyate-
sva-gṛhodyāna-gate'pi snigdhaiḥ pāpaṃ viśaṅkyate mohāt |
kim u dṛṣṭa-bahv-apāya-pratibhaya-kāntāra-madhya-sthe

atha mantharako vāyasam āha-bho laghupatanakāhaṃ hiraṇyakaś ca tāvad dvāv apy aśaktau tasyānveṣaṇaṃ kartuṃ mandagatitvāt | tad gatvā tvam araṇyaṃ śodhaya yadi kutracit taṃ jīvantaṃ paśyasīti |
tad ākarṇya laghupatanako nātidūre yāvad gacchati tāvat palvala-tīre citrāṅgaḥ kūṭa-pāśa-niyantritas tiṣṭhati | taṃ dṛṣṭvā śoka-vyākulita-manās tam avocat | bhadra kim idam ? citrāṅgo 'pi vāyasam avalokya viśeṣeṇa duḥkhita-manā babhūva | athavā yuktam etat-
api mandatvam āpanno naṣṭo vāpīṣṭa-darśanāt |
prāyeṇa prāṇināṃ bhūyo duḥkhāvego 'dhiko bhavet

tataś ca vāṣpāvasāne citrāṅgo laghupatanakam āha-bho mitra saṃjāto 'yaṃ tāvan mama mṛtyuḥ | tad yuktaṃ sampannaṃ yad bhavatā saha me darśanaṃ sañjātam | uktaṃ ca-
prāṇātyaye samutpanne yadi syān mitra-darśanaṃ |
tad dvābhyāṃ sukha-daṃ paścāj jīvato 'pi mṛtasya ca

tat kṣantavyaṃ yan mayā praṇayāt subhāṣita-goṣṭhīṣv abhihitaṃ | tathā hiraṇyaka-mantharakau mama vākyād vācyau |
ajñānāj jñānato vāpi duruktaṃ yad udāhṛtam |
mayā tat kṣamyatām adya dvābhyām api prasādataḥ

tac chrutvā laghupatanaka āha-bhadra na bhetavyam asmad-vidhair mitrair vidyamānaiḥ | yāvad ahaṃ drutataraṃ hiraṇyakaṃ gṛhītvāgacchāmi | aparaṃ ye sat-puruṣā bhavanti te vyasane na vyākulatvam upayānti | uktaṃ ca-
sampadi yasya na harṣo vipadi viṣādo raṇe na bhīrutvaṃ | taṃ bhuvana-traya-tilakaṃ janayati jananī sutaṃ viralaṃ

evam uktvā laghupatanakaś citrāṅgam āśvāsya yatra hiraṇyaka-mantharakau tiṣṭhatas tatra gatvā sarvaṃ citrāṅga-pāśa-patanaṃ kathitavān | hiraṇyakaṃ ca citrāṅga-pāśa-mokṣaṇaṃ prati kṛta-niścayaṃ pṛṣṭham āropya bhūyo 'pi satvaraṃ citrāṅga-samīpe gataḥ | so 'pi mūṣakam avalokya kiṃcij jīvitāśayā saṃśliṣṭa āha-
āpan-nāśāya vibudhaiḥ kartavyāḥ suhṛdo 'malāḥ |
na taraty āpadaṃ kaścid yo 'tra mitra-vivarjitaḥ

hiraṇyaka āha-bhadra tvaṃ tāvan nīti-śāstra-jño dakṣa iti | tat katham atra kūṭa-pāśe patitaḥ ?
sa āha-bho na kālo 'yaṃ vivādasya | tan na yāvat sa pāpātmā lubdhakaḥ samabhyeti tāvad drutataraṃ kartayemaṃ mat-pāda-pāśaṃ |
tad ākarṇya vihasyāha hiraṇyakaḥ-kiṃ mayy api samāyāte lubdhakād bibheṣi tataḥ śāstraṃ prati mahatī me viraktiḥ sampannā yad bhavad-vidhā api nīti-śāstra-vida etām avasthāṃ prāpnuvanti | tena tvāṃ pṛcchāmi |
sa āha-bhadra karmaṇā buddhir api hanyate | uktaṃ ca-
kṛtānta-pāśa-baddhānāṃ daivopahata-cetasāṃ |
buddhayaḥ kubja-gāminyo bhavanti mahatām api

vidhātrā racitā yā sā lalāṭe'kṣara-mālikā |
na tāṃ mārjayituṃ śaktāḥ sva-śaktyāpy atipaṇḍitāḥ

evaṃ tayoḥ pravadatoḥ suhṛd-vyasana-santapta-hṛdayo mantharakaḥ śanaiḥ śanais taṃ pradeśam ājagāma | taṃ dṛṣṭvā laghupatanako hiraṇyakam āha-aho na śobhanam āpatitam |
hiraṇyaka āha-kiṃ sa lubdhakaḥ samāyāti ?
sa āha-āstāṃ tāval lubdhaka-vārtā | eṣa mantharakaḥ samāgacchati | tad anītir anuṣṭhitānena yato vayam apy asya kāraṇān nūnaṃ vyāpādanaṃ yāsyāmo yadi sa pāpātmā lubdhakaḥ samāgamiṣyati | tad ahaṃ tāvat kham utpatiṣyāmi | tvaṃ punar bilaṃ praviṣyātmānaṃ rakṣayiṣyasi | citrāṅgo 'pi vegena dig-antaraṃ yāsyati | eṣa punar jalacaraḥ sthale kathaṃ bhaviṣyatīti vyākulo 'smi | atrāntare prāpto 'yaṃ mantharakaḥ |
hiraṇyaka āha-bhadra, na yuktam anuṣṭhitaṃ bhavatā yad atra samāyātaḥ | tad bhūyo 'pi drutataraṃ gamyatāṃ yāvad asau lubdhako na samāyāti |
mantharaka āha-bhadra, kiṃ karomi ? na śaknomi tatra-stho mitra-vyasanāgni-dāghaṃ soḍhum | tenāham atrāgataḥ | athavā sādhv idam ucyate-
dayita-jana-viprayogo vitta-viyogaś ca sahyāḥ syuḥ |
yadi sumahauṣadha-kalpo vayasya-jana-saṃgamo na syāt

varaṃ prāṇa-parityāgo na viyogo bhavādṛśaiḥ |
prāṇā janmāntare bhūyo na bhavanti bhavad-vidhāḥ

evaṃ tasya pravadata ākarṇa-pūrita-śarāsano lubdhako 'py upāgataḥ | taṃ dṛṣṭvā mūṣakeṇa tasya snāyu-pāśas tat-kṣaṇāt khaṇḍitaḥ | atrāntare citrāṅgaḥ satvaraṃ pṛṣṭham avalokayan pradhāvitaḥ | laghupatanako vṛkṣam ārūḍhaḥ | hiraṇyakaś ca samīpa-varti bilaṃ praviṣṭaḥ | athāsau lubdhako mṛga-gamanād viṣaṇṇa-vadano vyartha-śramas taṃ mantharakaṃ mandaṃ mandaṃ sthala-madhye gacchantaṃ dṛṣṭavān | acintayac ca-yady api kuraṅgo dhātrāpahṛtas tathāpy ayaṃ kūrma āhārārthaṃ sampāditaḥ | tad adyāsyāmiṣeṇa me kuṭumbasyāhāra-nirvṛttir bhaviṣyati |
evaṃ vicintya taṃ darbhaiḥ sañchādya dhanuṣu samāropya skandhe kṛtvā gṛhaṃ prati prasthitaḥ | atrāntare taṃ nīyamānam avalokya hiraṇyako duḥkhākulaḥ paryadevayat-kaṣṭaṃ bhoḥ kaṣṭam āpatitam |
ekasya duḥkhasya na yāvad antaṃ
gacchāmy ahaṃ pāram ivārṇavasya |
tāvad dvitīyaṃ samupasthitaṃ me chidreṣv anarthā bahulī-bhavanti

tāvad askhalitaṃ yāvat sukhaṃ yāti same pathi |
skhalite ca samutpanne viṣame ca pade pade

yan namraṃ saralaṃ cāpi yac cāpatsu na sīdati |
dhanur mitraṃ kalatraṃ ca durlabhaṃ śuddha-vaṃśajam

na mātari na dāreṣu na sodarye na cātmaje |
viśrambhas tādṛśaḥ puṃsāṃ yādṛṅ mitre nirantare

yadi tāvat kṛtāntena me dhana-nāśo vihitas tan-mārga-śrāntasya me viśrāma-bhūtaṃ mitraṃ kasmād apahṛtaṃ | aparam api mitraṃ paraṃ mantharaka-samaṃ na syāt | uktaṃ ca-
asampattau paro lābho guhyasya kathanaṃ tathā |
āpad-vimokṣaṇaṃ caiva mitrasyaitat phala-trayam

tad asya paścān nānyaḥ suhṛn me | tat kiṃ mamopary anavarataṃ vyasana-śarair varṣati hanta vidhiḥ | yata ādau tāvad vitta-nāśas tataḥ parivāra-bhraṃśas tato deśa-tyāgas tato mitra-viyoga iti | athavā svarūpam etat sarveṣām eva jantūnāṃ jīvita-dharmasya | uktaṃ ca-
kāyaḥ saṃnihitāpāyaḥ sampadaḥ padam āpadām |
samāgamāḥ sāpagamāḥ sarvam utpādi bhaṅguram

tathā ca-
kṣate prahārā nipatanty abhīkṣṇaṃ
dhana-kṣaye vardhati jāṭharāgniḥ |
āpatsu vairāṇi samudbhavanti
cchidreṣv anarthā bahulī-bhavanti

aho sādhūktaṃ kenāpi |
prāpte bhaye paritrāṇaṃ prīti-viśrambha-bhājanaṃ |
kena ratnam idaṃ sṛṣṭaṃ mitram ity akṣara-dvayaṃ

atrāntare ākranda-parau citrāṅga-laghupatanakau tatraiva samāyātau | atha hiraṇyaka āha-aho kiṃ vṛthā-pralapitena | tad yāvad eṣa mantharako dṛṣṭi-gocarān na nīyate tāvad asya mokṣopāyaś cintyatām iti | uktaṃ ca-
vyasanaṃ prāpya yo mohāt kevalaṃ paridevayet |
krandanaṃ vardhayaty eva tasyāntaṃ nādhigacchati

kevalaṃ vyasanasyoktaṃ bheṣajaṃ naya-paṇḍitaiḥ |
tasyoccheda-samārambho viṣāda-parivarjanaṃ

anyac ca-
atīta-lābhasya surakṣaṇārthaṃ
bhaviṣya-lābhasya ca saṅgamārtham |
āpat-prapannasya ca mokṣaṇārthaṃ
yan mantryate'sau paramo hi mantraḥ

tac chrutvā vāyasa āha-bho yady evaṃ tat kriyatāṃ mad-vacaḥ | eṣa citrāṅgo 'sya mārge gatvā kiṃcit palvalam āsādya tasya tīre niścetano bhūtvā patatu | aham apy asya śirasi samāruhya mandaiś cañcu-prahāraiḥ śira ullekhiṣyāmi yenāsau lubdhako 'muṃ mṛtaṃ matvā mama cañcu-prahāra-pratyayena mantharakaṃ bhūmau kṣiptvā mṛgārthe dhāvati | atrāntare tvayā darbha-maya-bandhana-veṣṭanāni khaṇḍanīyāni yenāsau mantharako drutataraṃ palvalaṃ praviśati |
citrāṅgaḥ prāha-bho bhadro 'yaṃ dṛṣṭo mantras tvayā | nūnaṃ mantharako mukto mantavyaḥ | uktaṃ ca-
siddhiṃ vā yadi vāsiddhiṃ cittotsāho nivedayet |
prathamaṃ sarva-jantūnāṃ prājño vetti na cetaraḥ

tat tad evaṃ kriyatām | tathānuṣṭhite sa lubdhakas tathaiva mārgāsanna-palvala-tīrasthaṃ citrāṅgaṃ vāyasa-sanātham adrākṣīt | taṃ dṛṣṭvā harṣita-manā vyacintayat | nūnaṃ pāśa-vedanayā varāko 'yaṃ mṛgo gatvāyuḥ-śeṣa-jīvitaḥ pāśaṃ troṭayitvā katham apy etad vanāntaraṃ praviṣṭo yāvan mṛtaḥ | tad vaśyo 'yaṃ me kacchapaḥ suyantritatvāt | tad enam api tāvad gṛhṇāmīty avardhāya kacchapaṃ bhū-tale prakṣipya mṛgam upādravat |
atrāntare hiraṇyakena vajropama-daṃṣṭrā-prahāreṇa tad darbha-veṣṭanaṃ tat-kṣaṇāt khaṇḍaśaḥ kṛtaṃ | mantharako 'pi tṛṇa-madhyān niṣkramya palvalaṃ praviṣṭaḥ | citrāṅgo 'py aprāptasyāpi tasyotthāya vāyasena saha drutaṃ pranaṣṭaḥ | atrāntare vilakṣo viṣāda-paro nivṛtto lubdhako yāvat paśyati tāvat kacchapo 'pi gataḥ | tataś ca tatropaviśyemaṃ ślokam apaṭhat-
prāpto bandhanam apy ayaṃ guru-mṛgas tāvat tvayā me hṛtaḥ
samprāptaḥ kamaṭhaḥ sa cāpi niyataṃ naṣṭas tavādeśataḥ |
kṣut-kṣāmo 'tra vane bhramāmi śiśukais tyaktaḥ samaṃ bhāryayā
yac cānyan na kṛtaṃ kṛtānta kurute tac cāpi sahyaṃ mayā

evaṃ bahu-vidhaṃ vilapya sva-gṛhaṃ gataḥ | atha tasmin dūrī-bhūte sarve'pi te kāka-kūrma-mṛgākhavaḥ paramānanda-bhājo militvā parasparam āliṅgya punar jātān ivātmano manyamānas tad eva saraḥ prāpya mahā-sukhena subhāṣita-goṣṭhī-vinodaṃ kurvantaḥ kālaṃ nayanti sma | evaṃ jñātvā vivekinā mitra-saṅgrahaḥ kāryaḥ | tathā mitreṇa sahāvyājena vartitavyam | uktaṃ ca-
yo mitrāṇi karoty atra na kauṭilyena vartate |
taiḥ samaṃ na parābhūtiṃ samprāpnoti kathañcana