डुण्डुभ उवाच सखा बभूव मे पूर्वं खगमो नाम वै द्विजः। भृशं संशितवाक्तात तपोबलसमन्वितः॥
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.
स मया क्रीडता बाल्ये कृत्वा तार्ण भुजंगमम्। अग्निहोत्रे प्रसक्तस्तु भीषितः प्रमुमोह वै॥
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).
लब्वा स च पुनः संज्ञां मामुवाच तपोधनः। निर्दहन्निव कोपेन सत्यवाक्संशितव्रतः॥
Recovering his senses, that truthful and penance-performing Rishi exclaimed to me in anger.
यथावीर्यस्त्वया सर्पः कृतोऽयं मद्विभीषया। तथावीर्यो भुजंगस्त्वं मम शापाद्भविष्यसि॥
"As you made a powerful mock snake to frighten me, you will yourself turn into a venomless serpent by my curse."
तस्याहं तपसो वीर्यं जानन्नासं तपोधन। भृशमुद्विग्नहृदयस्तमवोचमहं तदा॥
O Rishi, I was well aware of the power of penances that he possessed. Therefore, with an agitated heart, I addressed him thus,
प्रणत: संभ्रमादेव प्राञ्जलिः पुरतः स्थितः। सखेति सहसेदं ते नर्मार्थं वै कृतं मया॥
Bending low and joining both hands, "As I am your friend, I have done this only as a joke to make you laugh.
क्षन्तुमर्हसि मे ब्रह्मन् शापोऽयं विनिवर्त्यताम्। सोऽथ मामब्रवीदृष्ट्वा भृशमुद्विग्मनचेतसम्॥ मुहुरुष्णं विनिःश्वस्य सुसंभ्रान्तस्तपोधनः। नानृतं वै मया प्रोक्तं भवितेदं कथंचन॥
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.
यत्तु वक्ष्यामि ते वाक्यं शृणु तन्मे तपोधन। श्रुत्या च हृदि ते वाक्यमिदमस्तु सदानघ॥
O ascetic, listen to what I say and hearing it, O pious man, always keep it to your heart.
उत्पत्स्यति रुरुर्नाम प्रमतेरात्मजः शुचिः। तं दृष्ट्वा शापमोक्षस्ते भविता न चिरादिव॥
When Ruru the holy, the son of Pramati will appear, you will be immediately relieved of the curse on seeing him.”
स त्वं रुरुरितिख्यातः प्रमतेरात्मजोऽपि च। स्वरूपं प्रतिपद्याहमद्य वक्ष्यामि ते हितम्॥
You are the very Ruru, the son of Pramati. Now regaining my natural form I shall speak something for your benefit.
स डौण्डुभं परित्यज्य रूपं विप्रर्षभस्तदा। स्वरूपभास्वरं भूयः प्रतिपेदे महायशाः॥
was Souti said : That illustrious man and the best of Brahmanas then left his snake-body and attained his own form with original brightness.
इदं चोवाच वचनं रुरुमप्रतिमौजसम्। अहिंसा परमो धर्मः सर्वप्राणभृतां वर॥
He then addressed Ruru of incomparable power, saying, “O best of beings, the highest morality is not to hurt others.
तस्मात्प्राणभृतः सर्वान्न हिंस्याब्राह्मणः क्वचित्। ब्राह्मणः सौम्य एवेह भवतीति परा श्रुतिः॥
Therefore, a Brahmana should never hurt any creature. The injunction of the Shruti is that a Brahmana should always be mild.
वेदवेदाङ्गविन्नाम सर्वभूताभयप्रदः। अहिंसा सत्यवचनं क्षमा चेति विनिश्चितम्॥
Learned in the Vedas and the Vedangas and an inspirer of confidence in all creatures, kind to all, truthful and forgiving.
ब्राह्मणस्य परो धर्मो वेदानां धारणापि च। क्षत्रियस्य हि यो धर्मः स हि नेष्येत वै तव॥
And a great retainer of the Vedas in memory, these are the natural duties of a Brahmana. The natural duties of Kshatriya are not those of yours.
दण्डधारणमुग्रत्वं प्रजानां परिपालनम्। तदिदं क्षत्रियस्यासीत्कर्म वै शृणु मे रुरो॥
To be stern, to hold a rod (for punishable), to rule the subjects, are the natural duties of the Kshatriya. Listen to ine, O Ruru.
जनमेजयस्य यज्ञेऽस्मिन् सर्पाणां हिंसनं पुरा। परित्राणां च भीतानां सर्पाणां ब्राह्मणादपि॥
In days of yore, the snakes were destroyed in the sacrifice of Janamejaya, but the terrified snakes were saved by a Brahmana.
तपोवीर्यबलोपेताद्वेवदेदाङ्गपारगात्। आस्तीकाद्विजमुख्याद्वै सर्पसत्रे द्विजोत्तम॥
It was by Astika learned in the Vedas and the Vedangas and mighty in spiritual power.