Mahābhārata · Adhyāya 13.11
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13.11.1
आनृशंस्यस्य धर्मज्ञ गुणान्भक्तजनस्य च ।
श्रोतुमिच्छामि धर्मज्ञ तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह ॥ १३.११.१ ॥
O knower of dharma, I wish to hear of the qualities of non-cruelty and of devoted people. O knower of dharma, grandsire, tell me that.
13.11.2
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् ।
वासवस्य च संवादं शुकस्य च महात्मनः ॥ १३.११.२ ॥
Here too, people recount this ancient story: the dialogue of Vāsava (Indra) and the great-souled Śuka.
13.11.3
विषये काशिराजस्य ग्रामान्निष्क्रम्य लुब्धकः ।
सविषं काण्डमादाय मृगयामास वै मृगम् ॥ १३.११.३ ॥
In the realm of the king of Kāśi, a hunter went out from the village, took up a poisoned arrow, and set out to hunt a deer.
13.11.4
तत्र चामिषलुब्धेन लुब्धकेन महावने ।
अविदूरे मृगान्दृष्ट्वा बाणः प्रतिसमाहितः ॥ १३.११.४ ॥
And there, in the great forest, the hunter greedy for flesh, seeing deer not far off, readied his arrow.
13.11.5
तेन दुर्वारितास्त्रेण निमित्तचपलेषुणा ।
महान्वनतरुस्तत्र विद्धो मृगजिघांसया ॥ १३.११.५ ॥
Struck by that irresistible weapon and an arrow swift to its mark, out of desire to slay the deer, a great forest tree there was pierced.
13.11.6
स तीक्ष्णविषदिग्धेन शरेणातिबलात्क्षतः ।
उत्सृज्य फलपत्राणि पादपः शोषमागतः ॥ १३.११.६ ॥
That tree, wounded by the very powerful arrow smeared with sharp poison, shed its fruits and leaves and came to withering.
13.11.7
तस्मिन्वृक्षे तथाभूते कोटरेषु चिरोषितः ।
न जहाति शुको वासं तस्य भक्त्या वनस्पतेः ॥ १३.११.७ ॥
Though that tree has come to such a state, the parrot who has long dwelt in its hollows does not leave its abode, out of devotion to that forest tree.
13.11.8
निष्प्रचारो निराहारो ग्लानः शिथिलवागपि ।
कृतज्ञः सह वृक्षेण धर्मात्मा सोप्यशुष्यत ॥ १३.११.८ ॥
Unable to move, without food, weakened, with faltering voice, that grateful and righteous-minded parrot too withered away together with the tree.
13.11.9
तमुदारं महासत्वमतिमानुषचेष्टितम् ।
समदुःखसुखं दृष्ट्वा विस्मितः पाकशासनः ॥ १३.११.९ ॥
Seeing him, noble, of great spirit, whose conduct is beyond that of men, and equal in pain and pleasure, Indra, the punisher of Paka, was astonished.
13.11.10
ततश्चिन्तामुपगतः शक्रः कथमयं द्विजः ।
तिर्यग्योनावसम्भाव्यमानृशंस्यमवस्थितः ॥ १३.११.१० ॥
Then Indra fell into thought: how is this twice-born one, in an animal birth, abiding in a kindness that was scarcely to be expected?
13.11.11
अथवा नात्र चित्रं हीत्यभवद्वासवस्य तु ।
प्राणिनामपि सर्वेषां सर्वं सर्वत्र दृश्यते ॥ १३.११.११ ॥
Or rather, there is no wonder in this, thought Vāsava. In all living beings, everything is seen everywhere.
13.11.12
ततो ब्राह्मणवेषेणि मानुषं रूपमास्थितः ।
अवतीर्य महीं शक्रस्तं पक्षिणमुवाच ह ॥ १३.११.१२ ॥
Then Indra, assuming a human form in the guise of a brahmin, descended to the earth and spoke to that bird.
13.11.13
शुक भो पक्षिणांश्रेष्ठ दाक्षेयी सुप्रजास्त्वया ।
पृच्छे त्वां शुकमेनं त्वं कस्मान्न त्यजसि द्रुमम् ॥ १३.११.१३ ॥
O Śuka, best of birds, you who were born of Dākṣāyaṇī and have fine offspring, I ask you: why do you not abandon this tree?
13.11.14
अथ पृष्टः शुकः प्राह मूर्ध्ना समभिवाद्य तम् ।
स्वागतं देवराज त्वं विज्ञातस्तपसा मया ॥ १३.११.१४ ॥
Then, when asked, the parrot bowed his head in reverence and said: Welcome, king of the gods; I have recognized you by my austerity.
13.11.15
ततो दशशताक्षेण साधुसाध्विति भाषितम् ।
अहो विज्ञानमित्येवं मनसा पूजितस्ततः ॥ १३.११.१५ ॥
Then the thousand-eyed one said, "Well done, well done!" and, in his mind, honored him: "Ah, what knowledge!"
13.11.16
तमेवं शुभकर्माणं शुकं परमधार्मिकम् ।
जानन्नपि च तत्पापं पप्रच्छ बलसूदनः ॥ १३.११.१६ ॥
Though he knew that Śuka to be a doer of good deeds and most righteous, the slayer of Bala asked him about that fault.
13.11.17
निष्पत्रमफलं शुष्कमशरण्यं पतत्त्रिणाम् ।
किमर्थं सेवसे वृक्षं यदा महदिदं वनम् ॥ १३.११.१७ ॥
This tree is leafless, fruitless, dry, and offers no shelter to birds. With such a great forest here, why do you attend upon this tree?
13.11.18
अन्येऽपि बहवो वृक्षाः पत्रसंछन्नकोटराः ।
शुभाः पर्याप्तसञ्चारा विद्यन्तेऽस्मिन्महावने ॥ १३.११.१८ ॥
In this great forest there are also many other trees, fine, with hollows covered by leaves and ample room to move about.
13.11.19
गतायुषमसामर्थ्यं क्षीणसारं हतश्रियम् ।
विमृश्य प्रज्ञया धीर जहीमं ह्यस्थिरं द्रुमम् ॥ १३.११.१९ ॥
Whose life is spent, who has no strength, whose essence is wasted, whose splendour is gone — O steady one, consider this with wisdom and abandon this unstable tree.
13.11.20
तदुपश्रुत्य धर्मात्मा शुकः शक्रेण भाषितम् ।
सुदीर्घमतिनिःश्वस्य दीनो वाक्यमुवाच ह ॥ १३.११.२० ॥
Having heard those words spoken by Indra, the righteous-souled parrot sighed deeply for a long time and, sorrowful, spoke these words.
13.11.21
अनतिक्रमणीयानि दैवतानि शचीपते ।
यत्राभवंस्तत्र भवांस्तन्निबोध सुराधिप ॥ १३.११.२१ ॥
O lord of Śacī, the gods cannot be transgressed. Understand that where they were, there you too are, O lord of the gods.
13.11.22
अस्मिन्नहं द्रुमे जातः साधुभिश्च गुणैर्युते ।
चालभावेन सङ्गुप्तः शत्रुभिश्च न धर्षितः ॥ १३.११.२२ ॥
I was born on this tree, endowed with good qualities and frequented by the virtuous; protected by my mobile nature, I was not assailed even by enemies.
13.11.23
किमनुक्रोश्यं वैफल्यमुत्पादयसि मेऽनघ ।
अनुरक्तस्य भक्तस्य संस्पृशे न च पावकम्।
आनृशंस्याभियुक्तस्य भक्तस्यानन्यगस्य च ॥ १३.११.२३ ॥
O sinless one, why should there be pity for me, why do you make my fruitlessness? I do not touch even fire to a devoted, faithful one who is endowed with kindness and goes to no other refuge.
13.11.24
अनुक्रोशो हि साधूनां महद्धर्मस्य लक्षणम् ।
अनुक्रोशश्च साधूनां सदा प्रीतिं प्रयच्छति ॥ १३.११.२४ ॥
Compassion of the good is indeed the mark of great dharma; the compassion of the good always bestows affection.
13.11.25
त्वमेव दैवतैः सर्वैः पृच्छ्यसे धर्मसंशयात् ।
अतस्त्वं देवदेवानामाधिपत्ये प्रतिष्ठितः ॥ १३.११.२५ ॥
It is you alone whom all the gods ask about doubts concerning dharma; therefore you are established in the lordship over the lords of the gods.
13.11.26
नार्हसे मां सहस्राक्ष द्रुमं त्याजयितुं चिरात् ।
समस्थमुपजीवन्वै विषमस्थं कथं त्यजेत् ॥ १३.११.२६ ॥
O thousand-eyed one, you should not make me, a tree, abandon him after so long; how could one who lives depending on one standing on level ground abandon one standing on uneven ground?
13.11.27
तस्य वाक्येन सौम्येन हर्षितः पाकशासनः ।
शुकं प्रोवाच धर्मज्ञमानृशंस्येन तोषितः ॥ १३.११.२७ ॥
Delighted by his gentle words, Indra, the punisher of Paka, pleased by his compassion, spoke to Śuka, the knower of dharma.
13.11.28
वरं वृणीष्वेति तदा स च वव्रे वरं शुकः ।
आनृशंस्यपरो नित्यं तस्य वृक्षस्य सम्भवम् ॥ १३.११.२८ ॥
When told, "Choose a boon," Śuka, ever intent on compassion, chose a boon concerning that tree's welfare and origin.
13.11.29
विदित्वा च दृढां भक्तिं तां शुके शीलसम्पदम् ।
प्रीतः क्षिप्रमथो वृक्षममृतेनावसिक्तवान् ॥ १३.११.२९ ॥
Knowing Śuka's firm devotion and wealth of good conduct, pleased, Indra swiftly sprinkled that tree with nectar.
13.11.30
ततः फलानि पत्राणि शाखाश्चापि मनोहराः ।
शुकस्य दृढभक्तित्वाच्छ्रीमत्तां प्राप स द्रुमः ॥ १३.११.३० ॥
Then, because of Śuka's firm devotion, that tree obtained delightful fruits, leaves and branches, and attained splendour.
13.11.31
शुकश्च कर्मणा तेन आनृशंस्यकृतेन वै ।
आयुषोन्ते महाराज प्राप शक्रसलोकताम् ॥ १३.११.३१ ॥
By that deed, done out of compassion, Śuka, O great king, at the end of his life attained the state of Indra's world.
13.11.32
एवमेव मनुष्येन्द्र भक्तिमन्तं समाश्रितः ।
सर्वार्थसिद्धिं लभते शुकं प्राप्य यथा द्रुमः ॥ १३.११.३२ ॥
In just the same way, O lord of men, one who resorts to a devoted person obtains the accomplishment of all aims, like the tree that attained Śuka.