20. Chapter 20

भुशुण्ड उवाच । आसीत्किंचित्पुरा कल्पे जगद्यच्चिरमास्थितम् । संनिवेशेन चैतद्वदद्यापि च न दूरगम् ॥ १ ॥

bhuśuṇḍa uvāca | āsītkiṃcitpurā kalpe jagadyacciramāsthitam | saṃniveśena caitadvadadyāpi ca na dūragam || 1 ||

Bhusunda continued. This world has existed by the prior and bygone kalpa, in the very same state as it does at present, and there is no variation in the formation or location of any thing in any wise.

तदेतद्वृत्तमभ्यासाद्वर्तमानेन वर्णितम् । मया मुनीन्द्र बोधाय प्राग्जन्मसाम्यदर्शिना ॥ २ ॥

tadetadvṛttamabhyāsādvartamānena varṇitam | mayā munīndra bodhāya prāgjanmasāmyadarśinā || 2 ||

Therefore O great Sage! I am accustomed to look to the past and present with an equal eye, and will relate the events of my passed life and by gone ages for your information, as if they are existent with me even at present.

अद्य मे फलितं पुण्यैश्चिरकालोपसंभृतैः । निर्विघ्नमेव पश्यामि यद्भवन्तं मुने ततः ॥ ३ ॥

adya me phalitaṃ puṇyaiścirakālopasaṃbhṛtaiḥ | nirvighnameva paśyāmi yadbhavantaṃ mune tataḥ || 3 ||

I find to-day, O great Sage! the fruit of my pious acts of my passed life, that have rewarded me with your blessed presence in this my humble cell.

इदं नीडमिमां शाखामहं चायमयं द्रुमः । अद्य पावनतां प्राप्तान्येतानि तव दर्शनात् ॥ ४ ॥

idaṃ nīḍamimāṃ śākhāmahaṃ cāyamayaṃ drumaḥ | adya pāvanatāṃ prāptānyetāni tava darśanāt || 4 ||

This nest of mine, this branch of the tree, this kalpaar-bour and this myself, are all blessed by your propitious presence in this place.

इदमर्घ्यमिद पाद्यं गृहीत्वा विहगार्पितम् । नूनं पावनतां नीत्वा शेषेणादिश चाशु भोः ॥ ५ ॥

idamarghyamida pādyaṃ gṛhītvā vihagārpitam | nūnaṃ pāvanatāṃ nītvā śeṣeṇādiśa cāśu bhoḥ || 5 ||

Deign Sir, to accept of this seat and this honorarium, which are here offered to you by a suppliant bird; and having purified us by your kind acceptance of our poor offerings, please command what other service can we render unto you.

श्रीवसिष्ठ उवाच । इदमर्घ्यं च पाद्यं च भूयो दत्तवति स्वयम् । भुशुण्डविहगे तस्मिन्निदं रामाहमुक्तवान् ॥ ६ ॥

śrīvasiṣṭha uvāca | idamarghyaṃ ca pādyaṃ ca bhūyo dattavati svayam | bhuśuṇḍavihage tasminnidaṃ rāmāhamuktavān || 6 ||

Vasishtha said:—Rama! after Bhusunda had again presented the seat and honorarium to me, I proffered to him another request in the following words.

भ्रातरस्ते विहङ्गेश तादृक्सत्त्वा महाधियः । इह कस्मान्न दृश्यन्ते त्वमेवैको हि दृश्यसे ॥ ७ ॥

bhrātaraste vihaṅgeśa tādṛksattvā mahādhiyaḥ | iha kasmānna dṛśyante tvamevaiko hi dṛśyase || 7 ||

I said, tell me, O thou senior among birds, why dont I see here those brethren of yours, who must be equally senile and strong in their bodies and intellects, as thou showest thyself to be.

भुशुण्ड उवाच । तिष्ठतामिह नः कालो महानतिगतो मुने । युगानां पङ्क्तयः क्षीणा दिवसानामिवानघ ॥ ८ ॥

bhuśuṇḍa uvāca | tiṣṭhatāmiha naḥ kālo mahānatigato mune | yugānāṃ paṅktayaḥ kṣīṇā divasānāmivānagha || 8 ||

Bhusunda answered and said:—I am here destined to remain alone, O Muni! to witness the continuous course of time, and to count and recount the revolutions of ages, as they reckon the succession of days and nights.

एतावताथ कालेन सर्व एव ममानुजाः । तनूस्तृणमिव त्यक्त्वा शिवे परिणताः पदे ॥ ९ ॥

etāvatātha kālena sarva eva mamānujāḥ | tanūstṛṇamiva tyaktvā śive pariṇatāḥ pade || 9 ||

During this length of time, I had the misfortune to witness all my juniors and younger brothers, to their mortal frames as trifling straws, and find their rest in the blessed state.

दीर्घायुषो महान्तोऽपि सन्तोऽपि बलिनोऽपि च । सर्व एव निगीर्यन्ते कालेनाकलितात्मना ॥ १० ॥

dīrghāyuṣo mahānto'pi santo'pi balino'pi ca | sarva eva nigīryante kālenākalitātmanā || 10 ||

I saw, O great Sage! the very long lived, and the very great indignity, the very strong and very wise, to be all gorged in the unconscious bowels of bodiless death.

श्रीवसिष्ठ उवाच । स्कन्धव्यूढार्कशशिषु वहत्स्वविरतं जवात् । वातस्कन्धातिवातेषु कच्चित्तात न खिद्यसे ॥ ११ ॥

śrīvasiṣṭha uvāca | skandhavyūḍhārkaśaśiṣu vahatsvavirataṃ javāt | vātaskandhātivāteṣu kaccittāta na khidyase || 11 ||

Vasishtha said:—Say, O venerable father! how you remained unmolested by the deluvian tempest, which outstripped the winds in its velocity, and bore the great bodies of the sun and moon and stars as jewels hanging about its neck.

दग्धोदयास्तशैलेन्द्रवनव्यूहै रवेः करैः । चिरमत्यन्तमासन्नैः कच्चित्तात न खिद्यसे ॥ १२ ॥

dagdhodayāstaśailendravanavyūhai raveḥ karaiḥ | ciramatyantamāsannaiḥ kaccittāta na khidyase || 12 ||

Say, O primeval seer! how you escaped unscorched by the burning flame of solar rays, which melted down the uprising mountains, and consumed there the woods in one all devouring conflagration.

इन्दोरथ करैः शीतैः पाषाणीकृतवारिभिः । आसन्नकरकापातैः कच्चित्तात न खिद्यसे ॥ १३ ॥

indoratha karaiḥ śītaiḥ pāṣāṇīkṛtavāribhiḥ | āsannakarakāpātaiḥ kaccittāta na khidyase || 13 ||

Say, O senile sire, how you remained unfrozen under the cold moon beams, that froze the limpid waters to hard stone; and how you fled unhurt from the showers of hail, which were poured in profusion by the deluvian clouds.

अजस्रमिह विश्रान्तैः कल्पजीमूतमण्डलैः । परशुच्छेदनीहारैः कच्चित्तात न खिद्यसे ॥ १४ ॥

ajasramiha viśrāntaiḥ kalpajīmūtamaṇḍalaiḥ | paraśucchedanīhāraiḥ kaccittāta na khidyase || 14 ||

Say, O ancient bird! why you were not crushed under the snows, which fell from the deluvian clouds as thickly as huge trees, when they are felled by axes from the tops of high hills.

विषमैर्जागतैः क्षोभैरुच्चैस्तरपदस्थितः । कथं न क्षोभमायाति कल्पवृक्षोऽयमुन्नतः ॥ १५ ॥

viṣamairjāgataiḥ kṣobhairuccaistarapadasthitaḥ | kathaṃ na kṣobhamāyāti kalpavṛkṣo'yamunnataḥ || 15 ||

Say, why this kalpatree which rises higher than all other forests, was not broken down, when all other arbors on earth, were levelled to the ground by the universal tornado.

भुशुण्ड उवाच । निरालम्बास्पदा ब्रह्मन्सर्वलोकावहेलिता । तुच्छेयं सर्वभूतानां मध्ये विहगजीविका ॥ १६ ॥

bhuśuṇḍa uvāca | nirālambāspadā brahmansarvalokāvahelitā | tuccheyaṃ sarvabhūtānāṃ madhye vihagajīvikā || 16 ||

Bhusunda replied:—Our station, O Brahman! in the open and empty air, is quite supportless and without any solid or fixed support. It is either unnoticed or looked upon with disregard and contempt by all, and our living and livelihood is the most despicable among all living beings.

ईदृशेषु च भूतेषु निर्जनेषु वनेषु च । कल्पितास्थास्थितिर्धात्रा शून्ये वा व्योमवर्त्मनि ॥ १७ ॥

īdṛśeṣu ca bhūteṣu nirjaneṣu vaneṣu ca | kalpitāsthāsthitirdhātrā śūnye vā vyomavartmani || 17 ||

Thus has the Lord of beings appointed these aerial beings, to remain free from disease and death in these forests, or fly about in the empty air in their aerial course.

कथमस्यां प्रभो जातौ जातस्य चिरजीविनः । आशापाशनिबद्धस्य विहगस्य विशोकिता ॥ १८ ॥

kathamasyāṃ prabho jātau jātasya cirajīvinaḥ | āśāpāśanibaddhasya vihagasya viśokitā || 18 ||

How then, O venerable sir, can any sorrow or sickness betide us here, where we are born to be immortal, and rove freely in open air; and are free from those pains and sorrows, which betake those birds that are bound in snares of their desires, and are subject to their hopes and fears.

वयं तु भगवन्नित्यमात्मसंतोषमास्थिताः । न कदाचन नीरूपे मुह्यामो जातविभ्रमैः ॥ १९ ॥

vayaṃ tu bhagavannityamātmasaṃtoṣamāsthitāḥ | na kadācana nīrūpe muhyāmo jātavibhramaiḥ || 19 ||

We sir, have always placed our reliance on the peace and contentment of our souls, and never allow ourselves to fall into error, of taking the typo insubstantials for substantial.

स्वभावमात्रसंतुष्टाः कष्टैर्मुक्ता विचेष्टितैः । क्षिपामः केवलं कालमस्मिन्ब्रह्मन्निजालये ॥ २० ॥

svabhāvamātrasaṃtuṣṭāḥ kaṣṭairmuktā viceṣṭitaiḥ | kṣipāmaḥ kevalaṃ kālamasminbrahmannijālaye || 20 ||

We are quite content with what simple nature requires and affords, and are entirely free from those cares and endeavours which are attended with pain. We live only to pass our time in this our own and lonely lodging.

न जीवितान्न मरणात्कर्मदेहस्य रोधनम् । यथा स्थितेन तिष्ठामस्तथैवास्तंगतेहिताः ॥ २१ ॥

na jīvitānna maraṇātkarmadehasya rodhanam | yathā sthitena tiṣṭhāmastathaivāstaṃgatehitāḥ || 21 ||

We neither wish to live long to wallow in our bodily enjoyments nor desire death to avoid the retribution of our acts; but live as long as we have to live, and die when death comes upon us.

आलोकिता लोकदशा दृष्टा दृष्टान्तदृष्टयः । नूनं संत्यक्तमस्माकं मनसा चञ्चलं वपुः ॥ २२ ॥

ālokitā lokadaśā dṛṣṭā dṛṣṭāntadṛṣṭayaḥ | nūnaṃ saṃtyaktamasmākaṃ manasā cañcalaṃ vapuḥ || 22 ||

We have seen the changeful states of mankind, and witnessed many instances of the vicissitudes of human affairs, and have thereby banished all sorts of levity from our bodies and minds.

अनारतनिजालोके नित्यं चापरितापिनि । कल्पागस्योपरि सदा वेद्मि कालकलागतिम् ॥ २३ ॥

anāratanijāloke nityaṃ cāparitāpini | kalpāgasyopari sadā vedmi kālakalāgatim || 23 ||

By the constant light of our internal spirit, we are kept from the sight of all sorrow and grief; and from our seat on the height of the kalpa tree, we clearly see the course of the world and the changes of time.

रत्नगुच्छप्रकाशाख्ये ब्रह्मन्कल्पलतागृहे । प्राणापानप्रवाहेण वेद्मि कल्पमखण्डितम् ॥ २४ ॥

ratnagucchaprakāśākhye brahmankalpalatāgṛhe | prāṇāpānapravāheṇa vedmi kalpamakhaṇḍitam || 24 ||

Though we are wholly unacquainted with the changes of days and nights, on this high pinnacle of our heavenly mountain (where there is the eternal sunshine of Divine presence); yet we are not ignorant of the vicissitudes of the times and events, in the solar and sublunary worlds which roll incessantly below us.

अविज्ञातदिवारात्रौ ह्यस्मिन्नुच्चैः शिलोच्चये । जानामि निजया बुद्ध्या लोककालक्रमस्थितिम् ॥ २५ ॥

avijñātadivārātrau hyasminnuccaiḥ śiloccaye | jānāmi nijayā buddhyā lokakālakramasthitim || 25 ||

Though our habitation in the cell of this Kalpatree, is ever illumined by the light of gems which are inlaid in it; yet we can know the course of time by the respirations of our breath, which as a chronometer informs us with the regular course of time.

सारासारपरिच्छेदि बोधाद्विश्रान्तिमागतम् । निरस्तचापलं शान्तं सुस्थिरं मे मुने मनः ॥ २६ ॥

sārāsāraparicchedi bodhādviśrāntimāgatam | nirastacāpalaṃ śāntaṃ susthiraṃ me mune manaḥ || 26 ||

Knowing what is real from all that is unreal, I have desisted from my pursuit after unrealities, and settled in my knowledge of the true reality; and by forsaking its natural fickleness, my mind is practised to rest at all times in its perfect peace and tranquillity.

संसारव्यवहारोत्थैराशापाशैरसन्मयैः । उद्गारैरिव भूकाको न वैवश्यं व्रजाम्यहम् ॥ २७ ॥

saṃsāravyavahārotthairāśāpāśairasanmayaiḥ | udgārairiva bhūkāko na vaivaśyaṃ vrajāmyaham || 27 ||

We are not led to the snare of false worldly affairs, nor frightened like earthly crows in our hankering after food by the hissings of men.

परोपशमधर्मिण्या वयमालोकशीतया । पश्यन्तो जागतीं मायां धिया धैर्यमुपागताः ॥ २८ ॥

paropaśamadharmiṇyā vayamālokaśītayā | paśyanto jāgatīṃ māyāṃ dhiyā dhairyamupāgatāḥ || 28 ||

It is by the serene light of the supreme felicity of our souls, and by the virtue of the unalterable patience of our minds, that we look into the errors and delusions of the world, with out falling in them ourselves.

भीमास्वपि महाबुद्धे दशास्वचलबुद्धयः । विनिर्मलोपलाकाराः संप्राप्तासु यथाक्रमम् ॥ २९ ॥

bhīmāsvapi mahābuddhe daśāsvacalabuddhayaḥ | vinirmalopalākārāḥ saṃprāptāsu yathākramam || 29 ||

Know great sage, that our minds remain unruffled, even under the shock of those dangers and perils, which ruffle the tempers and understandings of ordinary people; just as the pure crystal remains unstained by the blackest hues that environ it all around.

इयमारम्भसुभगा तरला जागती स्थितिः । भूयो भूयः परामृष्टा न च किंच न बाधते ॥ ३० ॥

iyamārambhasubhagā taralā jāgatī sthitiḥ | bhūyo bhūyaḥ parāmṛṣṭā na ca kiṃca na bādhate || 30 ||

The course of the world, appears very smooth and pleasant in its first beginning; but upon mature consideration, it proves to be frail, fickle and false, as one goes on in it.

सर्वाण्येव प्रयान्त्येव समायान्ति च वा न वा । भगवन्भूतजालानि भयमस्माकमत्र किम् ॥ ३१ ॥

sarvāṇyeva prayāntyeva samāyānti ca vā na vā | bhagavanbhūtajālāni bhayamasmākamatra kim || 31 ||

Thus all living beings are seen to pass away, and whether to return here again or not, no body can tell; what then is it that we must fear.

भूतजालतरङ्गिण्या विशन्त्याः कालसागरे । वयं संसारसरितस्तटस्था अप्यनादृताः ॥ ३२ ॥

bhūtajālataraṅgiṇyā viśantyāḥ kālasāgare | vayaṃ saṃsārasaritastaṭasthā apyanādṛtāḥ || 32 ||

As the course of streams runs continually to the ocean, so the progress of life tends incessantly to the depth of eternity; but we that stand on the border of the great ocean of eternity, have escaped from being carried away by the current of time.

नोज्झामो न च गृह्णीमस्तिष्ठामो नेह च स्थिताः । मृदुपादा दृशा कूरा वयमस्मिन्द्रुमे स्थिताः ॥ ३३ ॥

nojjhāmo na ca gṛhṇīmastiṣṭhāmo neha ca sthitāḥ | mṛdupādā dṛśā kūrā vayamasmindrume sthitāḥ || 33 ||

We neither cling to our life nor fling it away, but bear it as well as we may, and remain as airy orchids, lightly touching and unattached to their supporting arbour.

वीतशोकभयायासैस्त्वादृशैः पुरुषोत्तमैः । तुष्टैरनुगृहीताः स्मः संस्थिता विगतामयाः ॥ ३४ ॥

vītaśokabhayāyāsaistvādṛśaiḥ puruṣottamaiḥ | tuṣṭairanugṛhītāḥ smaḥ saṃsthitā vigatāmayāḥ || 34 ||

It is more over by the good of the best sort of men, who are beyond the reach of fear, sorrow and pain like yourself; that we have been set free from all sorts of malady.

ततस्ततश्च पर्यस्तं लुठितं न च वृत्तिषु । नापरामृष्टतत्त्वार्थमस्माकं भगवन्मनः ॥ ३५ ॥

tatastataśca paryastaṃ luṭhitaṃ na ca vṛttiṣu | nāparāmṛṣṭatattvārthamasmākaṃ bhagavanmanaḥ || 35 ||

From the examples of such persons, our minds have become cold, and unconcerned about the affairs of busy life; and are employed only in scanning truth and the true nature of things.

निर्विकारे गतक्षोभे चात्मन्युपशमं गते । चित्तरङ्गाः प्रबुद्धाः स्मः पर्वणीव महाब्धयः ॥ ३६ ॥

nirvikāre gatakṣobhe cātmanyupaśamaṃ gate | cittaraṅgāḥ prabuddhāḥ smaḥ parvaṇīva mahābdhayaḥ || 36 ||

Our souls finding their rest in their unchangeable and unperturbed state, have the fullness of their light and delight, as the sea has its flux of floodtide at the rising of the full and new moon upon its bosom.

भवदागमनाद्ब्रह्मन्निदानीं मुदिताशयाः । मन्दरोद्धूतसर्वाङ्गः क्षीरोदो येन तन्यते ॥ ३७ ॥

bhavadāgamanādbrahmannidānīṃ muditāśayāḥ | mandaroddhūtasarvāṅgaḥ kṣīrodo yena tanyate || 37 ||

Sir, we were as highly pleased at your presence here at this time, as the milky ocean was overflown at its churning by the Mandara mountain.

नातः परतरं किंचिन्मन्ये कुशलमात्मनः । सन्तो यदनुगम्यन्ते संत्यक्तसकलैषणाः ॥ ३८ ॥

nātaḥ parataraṃ kiṃcinmanye kuśalamātmanaḥ | santo yadanugamyante saṃtyaktasakalaiṣaṇāḥ || 38 ||

Sir, We do not account any thing as more precious and more favourable unto us, than that the holy saints that have nothing to desire, should take pains to pay their kind visit to our humble cell.

आपातमात्ररम्येभ्यो भोगेभ्यः किमवाप्यते । सत्सङ्गचिन्तामणितः सर्वसारमवाप्यते ॥ ३९ ॥

āpātamātraramyebhyo bhogebhyaḥ kimavāpyate | satsaṅgacintāmaṇitaḥ sarvasāramavāpyate || 39 ||

What do we gain from our enjoyments, which are pleasant for the time being, and lose their zest the next moment; it is the company of the great and good only, that gives the best gifts like the philosopher's stone.

स्निग्धगम्भीरमसृणमधुरोदारधीरवाक् । त्रैलोक्यपद्मकोशेऽस्मिंस्त्वमेकः षट्पदायसे ॥ ४० ॥

snigdhagambhīramasṛṇamadhurodāradhīravāk | trailokyapadmakośe'smiṃstvamekaḥ ṣaṭpadāyase || 40 ||

You sir, who are cool and grave in your nature, and soft and sweet and slow in your speech, are like the beneficent bee, that sits and sips the juice from the flowers in the three worlds, and converts it to the sweet balm of honey.

अधिगतपरमात्मनोऽपि मन्ये भवदवलोकनशान्तदुष्कृतस्य । मम सफलमिहाद्य जन्म साधो सकलभयापहरो हि साधुसङ्गः ॥ ४१ ॥

adhigataparamātmano'pi manye bhavadavalokanaśāntaduṣkṛtasya | mama saphalamihādya janma sādho sakalabhayāpaharo hi sādhusaṅgaḥ || 41 ||

I ween, O spiritual Sage! all my sins to be removed at your blessed sight, and the tree of my life to be blest with its best fruit of spiritual bliss, which results from the society of the virtuous, and whose taste removes all diseases and dangers.