भीष्म उवाच ततः स लुब्धकः पश्यन् क्षुधयापि परिप्लुतः। कपोतमग्निपतितं वाक्यं पुनरुवाच ह॥ किमीदृशं नृशंसेन मया कृतमबुद्धिना। भविष्यति हि मे नित्यं पातकं कृतजीविनः॥
Beholding the pigeon fall into the fire, the fowler filled with compassion once more said,-Alas, cruel and senseless that I am, what have I done! I am, forsooth, a mean wretch! Great will be my sin which will last for ever.
स विनिन्दंस्तथाऽऽत्मानं पुनः पुनरुवाच ह। अविश्वास्यः सुदुर्बुद्धिः सदा निकृतिनिश्चयः॥
Thus censuring himself he began to say again and again,-I do not deserve any credit! My understanding is wicked! I am ever sinful!
शुभं कर्म परित्यज्य सोऽहं शकुनिलुब्धकः। नृशंसस्य ममाद्यायं प्रत्यादेशो न संशयः॥ दत्तः स्वमांसं दहता कपोतेन महात्मना।
Alas, renouncing all sorts of honourable occupation, I have become a fowler! A cruel wretch that I am, forsooth, this noble pigeon, by sacrificing his own life, has taught me a great lesson.
सोऽहं त्यक्ष्ये प्रियान् प्राणान् पुत्रान् दारांस्तथैव च।।५। उपदिष्टे हि मे धर्मः कपोतेन महात्मना।
Renouncing wives and sons, I shall certainly cast off my very life which is so dear! The great pigeon has taught me that duty.
अद्यप्रभृति देहं स्वं सर्वभोगैर्विवर्जितम्॥ यथा स्वल्पं सरो ग्रीष्मे शोषयिष्याम्यहं तथा।
From this day, denying every comfort to my body, I shall exhaust it like a shallow tank in summer.
क्षुत्पिपासातपसहः कृशो धमनिसंततः॥ उपवासैर्बहुविधैश्चरिष्ये पारलौकिकम्।
Capable of bearing hunger, thirst, and penances, and being emaciated with veins visible all over, I shall by various sorts of fasts, practise such vows as will take me to the other world.
अहो देहप्रदानेन दर्शितातिथिपूजना॥ तस्माद् धर्मं चरिष्यामि धर्मो हि परमा गतिः। दृष्टो धर्मो हि धर्मिष्ठे यादृशो विहगोत्तमे॥
Alas, by giving up his body the pigeon has shown how a guest should be adored! Taught by his example, I shall hereafter practise righteousness. Righteousness is the greatest refuge! Indeed, I shall practise the righteousness shown by the virtuous pigeon, that foremost of all winged creatures.
एवमुक्त्वा विनिश्चित्य रौद्रकर्मा स लुब्धकः। महाप्रस्थानमाश्रित्य प्रययौ संशितव्रतः॥
Having thus made up his mind and said these words, that fowler, once of dreadful deeds, started on a journey never to end, observing all the while the most rigid vows.
ततो यष्टिं शलाकां च क्षारकं पञ्जरं तथा। तां च बद्धा कपोती स प्रमुच्य विससर्ज ह॥
He threw away his strong staff, his sharp iron-stick, his nets and springes, and his iron cage, and liberated the she-pigeon that he had caught and imprisoned.'