89. Chapter 89

चूडालोवाच । अथेममपरं रम्यं वृत्तान्तं शृणु भूमिप । परं प्रबोधनं बुद्धेः साधो सदृशमात्मनः ॥ १ ॥

cūḍālovāca | athemamaparaṃ ramyaṃ vṛttāntaṃ śṛṇu bhūmipa | paraṃ prabodhanaṃ buddheḥ sādho sadṛśamātmanaḥ || 1 ||

Chudala said:—Hear O holy hermit! another very interesting story of mine, which well applies to your case; as the ruler of a land and to serve to awaken your understandings:

अस्ति विन्ध्यवने हस्ती महायूथपयूथपः । आगस्त्या शुद्धया बुद्ध्या विन्ध्येनेवोदितः स्वतः ॥ २ ॥

asti vindhyavane hastī mahāyūthapayūthapaḥ | āgastyā śuddhayā buddhyā vindhyenevoditaḥ svataḥ || 2 ||

There lived a large elephant in the Vindhya mountains, which was the head and leader of a great number of elephants; and had as clear an understanding in its big and elevated head, as the lofty summit of the mountain was humbled down at the bidding of Agastya—the sage.

वज्रार्चिर्विषमौ दीर्घौ तस्यास्तां दशनौ सितौ । कल्पानलशिखातुल्यौ सुमेरून्मूलनक्षमौ ॥ ३ ॥

vajrārcirviṣamau dīrghau tasyāstāṃ daśanau sitau | kalpānalaśikhātulyau sumerūnmūlanakṣamau || 3 ||

His two tusks were as strong as the thunderbolts of heaven, and as long and stunning as the far reaching flashes of lightning;they were as destructive as the flames of final desolation (kalpanta), and as piercing as to bore and uproot a mountain.

स बद्धो लोहजालेन हस्तिपेन किलाभितः । मुनीन्द्रेणेव विन्ध्याद्रिरुपेन्द्रेणेव वा बलिः ॥ ४ ॥

sa baddho lohajālena hastipena kilābhitaḥ | munīndreṇeva vindhyādrirupendreṇeva vā baliḥ || 4 ||

He came to be caught by an iron trap laid by elephant catchers in his way, and was fast held in it as the Vindhya by the Muni's charm;and as the giant Bali was bound in the chains of India.

निबद्धो यन्त्रणामाप शस्त्रकुम्भर्दितो गजः । तां जगाम व्यथां धीरो नवाग्नौ पुरमेति याम् ॥ ५ ॥

nibaddho yantraṇāmāpa śastrakumbhardito gajaḥ | tāṃ jagāma vyathāṃ dhīro navāgnau purameti yām || 5 ||

The captive and patient elephant was tormented by the iron goad in his proboscis, and suffered the excruciating pains of his torture; like the Tripura giant under the burning fire of Hara.

रिपौ हस्तिपके दूरादपश्यति स वारणः । अयःसमुद्गके यस्मिन्निनाय दिवसत्रयम् ॥ ६ ॥

ripau hastipake dūrādapaśyati sa vāraṇaḥ | ayaḥsamudgake yasminnināya divasatrayam || 6 ||

The elephant lay in this sad plight in the net for three days together, and was thus watched over by his hunter for a distance.

खेदान्निगडनिर्भेदे यत्नवान्स मतंगजः । चकार किकिणीक्वाणं मुखोद्धातैरथान्यदा ॥ ७ ॥

khedānnigaḍanirbhede yatnavānsa mataṃgajaḥ | cakāra kikiṇīkvāṇaṃ mukhoddhātairathānyadā || 7 ||

The great suffering of the elephant made him open his mouth widely, and utter a loud scream that growled about like the loud noise of roaring clouds.

दन्ताभ्यां यत्नतस्ताभ्यां मुहूर्तद्वितयेन सः । बभञ्ज शृङ्खलाजालं स्वर्गार्गलमिवासुरः ॥ ८ ॥

dantābhyāṃ yatnatastābhyāṃ muhūrtadvitayena saḥ | babhañja śṛṅkhalājālaṃ svargārgalamivāsuraḥ || 8 ||

Then he exerted the force of both his tusks, and succeeded thereby to break asunder the iron bar; as the Titan of old, broke open the bolts at the gate of heaven.

तं तस्य निगडच्छेदमपश्यद्दूरतो रिपुः । बलेः स्वर्गावदलनं हरिर्मेरुतलादिव ॥ ९ ॥

taṃ tasya nigaḍacchedamapaśyaddūrato ripuḥ | baleḥ svargāvadalanaṃ harirmerutalādiva || 9 ||

The hunter saw the breaking of his hard fetters by the infuriate beast from a distance, as Hara beheld the breaking of the demon Bali (Belos) from his subterranean cell beneath the mountain, in order to invade his heaven on high.

तस्य विच्छिन्नपाशस्य मूर्ध्नि तालतरो रिपुः । पपात क्रमतः स्वर्गं हरिर्मेरोर्बलेरिव ॥ १० ॥

tasya vicchinnapāśasya mūrdhni tālataro ripuḥ | papāta kramataḥ svargaṃ harirmerorbaleriva || 10 ||

The elephant catcher then mounted a tall tala (palm) tree, and leaped from its top in order to fall down on its head; but haplessly he fell down on the ground, as the demon was hurled down to hell by victorious Hara.

स पतन्पादपद्माभ्यामप्राप्य करिणः शिरः । पपातोर्व्यां फलं पक्वं वाताहतमिवाकुलः ॥ ११ ॥

sa patanpādapadmābhyāmaprāpya kariṇaḥ śiraḥ | papātorvyāṃ phalaṃ pakvaṃ vātāhatamivākulaḥ || 11 ||

The hunter missed the head of the huge animal, and fell headlong upon his legs on the ground; as a ripe fruit, is dropped down by the hurrying winds.

तं पुरः पतितं दृष्ट्वा महेभः करुणां ययौ । स्फुरत्स्फारगुणाः सन्तः सन्ति तिर्यग्गतावपि ॥ १२ ॥

taṃ puraḥ patitaṃ dṛṣṭvā mahebhaḥ karuṇāṃ yayau | sphuratsphāraguṇāḥ santaḥ santi tiryaggatāvapi || 12 ||

The great elephant took pity in seeing him falling, and lying prostrate before him; as the mind of the noble, is compassionate on others even in their own piteous state.

पतितं दलयामीति किं नाम मम पौरुषम् । वारणोऽपीति कलयन्न जघान स तं रिपुम् ॥ १३ ॥

patitaṃ dalayāmīti kiṃ nāma mama pauruṣam | vāraṇo'pīti kalayanna jaghāna sa taṃ ripum || 13 ||

The noble animal thought in his mind, that it was no valour on his part to trample over the self-fallen; and had thus the magnanimity of sparing the life of his own enemy.

केवलं निगडव्यूहं विदार्याभिजगाम ह । विततं सेतुमुत्सार्य विपुलौघ इवाम्भसः ॥ १४ ॥

kevalaṃ nigaḍavyūhaṃ vidāryābhijagāma ha | vitataṃ setumutsārya vipulaugha ivāmbhasaḥ || 14 ||

He broke only the chains in two pieces, and took his way before him; leaving away all obstacles and barriers, as the rushing waters bear down the strongest bridge.

दयामाश्रित्य मातङ्गो भङ्क्त्वा जालं जगाम ह । विदार्य मेघसंघातं नभसीव दिवाकरः ॥ १५ ॥

dayāmāśritya mātaṅgo bhaṅktvā jālaṃ jagāma ha | vidārya meghasaṃghātaṃ nabhasīva divākaraḥ || 15 ||

His strength broke the strong net, but his piety spared the life of the weak man; he went off as the sun sets, after dispelling the evening clouds.

गते गजे समुत्तस्थौ हस्तिपः स्वस्थदेहधीः । गजेनैव समं तस्य व्यथा दूरतरं गता ॥ १६ ॥

gate gaje samuttasthau hastipaḥ svasthadehadhīḥ | gajenaiva samaṃ tasya vyathā dūrataraṃ gatā || 16 ||

The hunter rose up from the ground after he saw the elephant had gone away; and he found himself to be as same and sound after his fall as he had been before it; and as the elephant was relieved from his pains, after his liberation from the chains.

प्रोच्चलत्तालशिखरात्स तथा पतितोऽपि सन् । न भेदमाप दुर्भेदा मन्ये देहा दुरात्मनाम् ॥ १७ ॥

proccalattālaśikharātsa tathā patito'pi san | na bhedamāpa durbhedā manye dehā durātmanām || 17 ||

Notwithstanding with great shock which the man had felt by his fall from the tall palm tree, he felt no hurt with any part of his body; whence I ween, the bodies of scoundrels are fortified against every harm.

वर्धते प्रावृषीवाभ्रं कुकार्येष्वसतां बलम् । आसीदधिकमुत्साही स च चंक्रमणे तदा ॥ १८ ॥

vardhate prāvṛṣīvābhraṃ kukāryeṣvasatāṃ balam | āsīdadhikamutsāhī sa ca caṃkramaṇe tadā || 18 ||

The wicked gain greater strength by execution of their repeated crimes, as the rainy clouds gather the more by their frequent showers. Thus the hunter went after his fresh excursion.

वारणारिरसिद्धाङ्गो गतेभो दुःखमाययौ । आगत्योपगतेऽन्तर्धिं निधान इव वर्धनः ॥ १९ ॥

vāraṇārirasiddhāṅgo gatebho duḥkhamāyayau | āgatyopagate'ntardhiṃ nidhāna iva vardhanaḥ || 19 ||

The elephant catcher felt very sorry, at the escape of the elephant and unsuccessfulness of his attempt; as one in dejected mind, is to lose a treasure that has fallen into his hand.

सोऽन्वियेष गजं यत्नाद्गुल्मकान्तरितं वने । पयोदपिण्डितं भोक्तुं राहुरिन्दुमिवाम्बरे ॥ २० ॥

so'nviyeṣa gajaṃ yatnādgulmakāntaritaṃ vane | payodapiṇḍitaṃ bhoktuṃ rāhurindumivāmbare || 20 ||

He sought about and beat the forest, to find out the hiding elephant amidst the thickets; as the ascending node of Rahu rises in the sky, to lay hold on the moon covered under the clouds.

चिरेणालभतेभेन्द्रं कस्मिंश्चित्कानने स्थितम् । विश्रान्तं तं तरुतले समरादिव निर्गतम् ॥ २१ ॥

cireṇālabhatebhendraṃ kasmiṃścitkānane sthitam | viśrāntaṃ taṃ tarutale samarādiva nirgatam || 21 ||

After a long search, he came in sight of the elephant halting under a tree; as when a warrior returns from the battlefield, and breathes the air under a shady arbour.

अथ यत्र स्थितो नागस्तत्र तद्बन्धनक्षमम् । परया राजसामग्र्या गजलम्पटभूमया ॥ २२ ॥

atha yatra sthito nāgastatra tadbandhanakṣamam | parayā rājasāmagryā gajalampaṭabhūmayā || 22 ||

The cunning huntsman collected a great many tools, capable to entrap the elephant at his resting place.

स खातवलयं चक्रे हस्तिपः काननेऽभितः । सर्वदिक्कं विधिर्भूमौ समुद्रवलयं यथा ॥ २३ ॥

sa khātavalayaṃ cakre hastipaḥ kānane'bhitaḥ | sarvadikkaṃ vidhirbhūmau samudravalayaṃ yathā || 23 ||

He dug a circular ditch round about that place in the forest, as the great creator of the world had stretched the ocean encircling this earth.

उपर्यस्थगयद्वाललतौघेन स तं शठः । शून्यतातन्तुजालेन शरत्काल इवाम्बरम् ॥ २४ ॥

uparyasthagayadvālalataughena sa taṃ śaṭhaḥ | śūnyatātantujālena śaratkāla ivāmbaram || 24 ||

He then covered the great pit, with green branches and soft leaves of trees; as the season of autumn covers the face of the empty sky with fleecy and flimsy clouds.

दिनैः कतिपयैरेव वारणो विहरन्वने । तस्मिन्निपतितः खाते शुष्काब्धाविव पर्वतः ॥ २५ ॥

dinaiḥ katipayaireva vāraṇo viharanvane | tasminnipatitaḥ khāte śuṣkābdhāviva parvataḥ || 25 ||

The elephant roaming at large in the forest, happened to fall down into the pit one day; as the fragment of a rock on the coast, falls headlong on the dried bed of the sea.

व्रजन्पर्याकृतौ कूपे पातालतलभीषणे । खातशुष्काब्ध्यधोभागे गजरत्नसमुद्गके ॥ २६ ॥

vrajanparyākṛtau kūpe pātālatalabhīṣaṇe | khātaśuṣkābdhyadhobhāge gajaratnasamudgake || 26 ||

The big elephant was thus caught in the circular pit, which was as deep as the dreadful depth of the sea; and lay confined in it, as some treasure is shut up in the hollow womb of a chest.

इति भूयो दृढं बद्धस्तेन हस्तिपकेन सः । तिष्ठत्यद्यापि दुःखेन भूसद्मनि यथा बलिः ॥ २७ ॥

iti bhūyo dṛḍhaṃ baddhastena hastipakena saḥ | tiṣṭhatyadyāpi duḥkhena bhūsadmani yathā baliḥ || 27 ||

Being thus confined at the bottom of that far extending pit, still passes his time in endless trouble and anxiety; like the demon Bali in his dark cave under the grounds.

अहनिष्यत्पुरैवासौ यद्यग्रे पतितं रिपुम् । तन्नालप्स्यत्ततो दुःख गजः खातनिबन्धनम् ॥ २८ ॥

ahaniṣyatpuraivāsau yadyagre patitaṃ ripum | tannālapsyattato duḥkha gajaḥ khātanibandhanam || 28 ||

This is the effect of the silly elephants, letting unhurt his cruel hunter who had fallen ere long before him; or else he would not be thus pent up in the pit, if he made an end of him in time.

मौर्ख्यादागामिन कालं वर्तमानक्रियाक्रमैः । अशोधयन्नरो दुःखं याति विन्ध्यगजो यथा ॥ २९ ॥

maurkhyādāgāmina kālaṃ vartamānakriyākramaiḥ | aśodhayannaro duḥkhaṃ yāti vindhyagajo yathā || 29 ||

Hence all foolish people that had not foresight to prevent their future mishaps, and provide against their coming mischances by their precautions at present, are surely to be exposed like the calamity as the vindhyan elephant.

मुक्तोऽस्मि शस्त्रनिगडादिति तुष्टो हि वारणः । दूरस्थोऽपि पुनर्बद्धो मौर्ख्यं क्व च न बाधते ॥ ३० ॥

mukto'smi śastranigaḍāditi tuṣṭo hi vāraṇaḥ | dūrastho'pi punarbaddho maurkhyaṃ kva ca na bādhate || 30 ||

The elephant was glad with the thought of his freedom from the hunter's chains, and thought no more of any future mishap; which was the sole cause of his being by another mischance, which lay at a long distance from him.

मौर्ख्यं हि बन्धनमवेहि परं महात्मन्बद्धो न बद्ध इति चेतसि तद्विमुक्त्यै । आत्मोदयं त्रिजगदात्ममयं समस्तं मौर्ख्ये स्थितस्य सहसा ननु सर्वभूमिः ॥ ३१ ॥

maurkhyaṃ hi bandhanamavehi paraṃ mahātmanbaddho na baddha iti cetasi tadvimuktyai | ātmodayaṃ trijagadātmamayaṃ samastaṃ maurkhye sthitasya sahasā nanu sarvabhūmiḥ || 31 ||

Know, O great soul! that there is no bondage of man except his own ignorance; and the jail prisoners are not under such thraldom, as the intellectual servitude of freemen under their errors and prejudice. The enlightenment of the soul and the knowledge of the cosmos as one universal soul, is the greatest freedom of man; while the ignorance of this truth, is the root of the slavery of mankind to the errors of this world.