महाभारतम् — १.११

॥ अथ १.११ ॥

डुण्डुभ उवाच ।

सखा बभूव मे पूर्वं खगमो नाम वै द्विजः ।
भृशं संशितवाक्तात तपोबलसमन्वितः ॥

M N Dutt The Dundubha said : In time gone by, I had a friend, a Brahmana, by name Khagama. He was truthful and possessed spiritual powers by penances.

१.११.२

स मया क्रीडता बाल्ये कृत्वा तार्णमथोरगम् ।
अग्निहोत्रे प्रसक्तः सन्भीषितः प्रमुमोह वै ॥

M N Dutt When he was engaged in Agnihotra, out of boyish frivolity, I made a snake of the blades of grass and tried to frighten him. He fainted away (when he saw this mock snake).

१.११.३

लब्ध्वा च स पुनः संज्ञां मामुवाच तपोधनः ।
निर्दहन्निव कोपेन सत्यवाक्संशितव्रतः ॥

M N Dutt Recovering his senses, that truthful and penance-performing Rishi exclaimed to me in anger.

१.११.४

यथावीर्यस्त्वया सर्पः कृतोऽयं मद्बिभीषया ।
तथावीर्यो भुजंगस्त्वं मम कोपाद्भविष्यसि ॥

M N Dutt "As you made a powerful mock snake to frighten me, you will yourself turn into a venomless serpent by my curse."

१.११.५

तस्याहं तपसो वीर्यं जानमानस्तपोधन ।
भृशमुद्विग्नहृदयस्तमवोचं वनौकसम् ॥

M N Dutt O Rishi, I was well aware of the power of penances that he possessed. Therefore, with an agitated heart, I addressed him thus,

१.११.६

प्रयतः संभ्रमाच्चैव प्राञ्जलिः प्रणतः स्थितः ।
सखेति हसतेदं ते नर्मार्थं वै कृतं मया ॥

M N Dutt Bending low and joining both hands, "As I am your friend, I have done this only as a joke to make you laugh.

१.११.७

क्षन्तुमर्हसि मे ब्रह्मञ्शापोऽयं विनिवर्त्यताम् ।
सोऽथ मामब्रवीद्दृष्ट्वा भृशमुद्विग्नचेतसम् ॥

M N Dutt You should, O Brahmana, pardon me and revoke your curse." Seeing me very much distressed, the ascetic moved and breathing hot and hard, he said, What I have said must happen.

१.११.८

मुहुरुष्णं विनिःश्वस्य सुसंभ्रान्तस्तपोधनः ।
नानृतं वै मया प्रोक्तं भवितेदं कथंचन ॥

M N Dutt You should, O Brahmana, pardon me and revoke your curse." Seeing me very much distressed, the ascetic moved and breathing hot and hard, he said, What I have said must happen.

१.११.९

यत्तु वक्ष्यामि ते वाक्यं शृणु तन्मे धृतव्रत ।
श्रुत्वा च हृदि ते वाक्यमिदमस्तु तपोधन ॥

M N Dutt O ascetic, listen to what I say and hearing it, O pious man, always keep it to your heart.

१.११.१०

उत्पत्स्यति रुरुर्नाम प्रमतेरात्मजः शुचिः ।
तं दृष्ट्वा शापमोक्षस्ते भविता नचिरादिव ॥

M N Dutt When Ruru the holy, the son of Pramati will appear, you will be immediately relieved of the curse on seeing him.”

१.११.११

स त्वं रुरुरिति ख्यातः प्रमतेरात्मजः शुचिः ।
स्वरूपं प्रतिलभ्याहमद्य वक्ष्यामि ते हितम् ॥

M N Dutt You are the very Ruru, the son of Pramati. Now regaining my natural form I shall speak something for your benefit.

१.११.१२

अहिंसा परमो धर्मः सर्वप्राणभृतां स्मृतः ।
तस्मात्प्राणभृतः सर्वान्न हिंस्याद्ब्राह्मणः क्वचित् ॥

M N Dutt Therefore, a Brahmana should never hurt any creature. The injunction of the Shruti is that a Brahmana should always be mild.