भीष्म उवाच अथ तत्र महार्चिष्माननलो वातसारथिः। तस्याविदूरे रक्षार्थ खगेन्द्रेण कृतोऽभवत्॥
Bhishma said There, under that banian tree for the protection of his guest, the prince of birds had lighted and kept up a fire with high and burning flames.
स चापि पार्श्वे सुष्वाप विश्वस्तो बकराट् तदा। कृतघ्नस्तु स दुष्टात्मा तं जिघांसुरथाग्रतः॥
On one side of the fire, the bird slept confidently. The ungrateful and wicked wretch prepared to kill his sleeping host.
ततोऽलातेन दीप्तेन विश्वस्तं निजघान तम्। निहत्य च मुदा युक्तः सोऽनुबन्धनं दृष्टवान्॥
With the help of that blazing fire he killed the trustful bird, and having killed him, became filled with joy, never thinking there was sin in what he did.
स तं विपक्षरोमाणं कृत्वाग्नावपचत् तदा। तं गृहीत्वा सुवर्णं व ययौ द्रुततरं द्विजः॥
Clearing off the feathers and the down, he roasted the flesh on that fire. Then taking it up with the gold he had brought, the Brahmana fled quickly from that place.
(ततो दाक्षायणीपुत्रं नागतं तं तु भारत। विरूपाक्षश्चिन्तयन् वै हृदयेन विदूयता)। ततोऽन्यस्मिन् गते चाह्नि विरुपाक्षोऽब्रवीत् सुतम्। न प्रेक्षे राजधर्माणमद्य पुत्र खगोत्तमम्॥
The next day, the Rakshasa king, Virupaksha, said to his son, Alas, O son, I do not sce Rajdharman, that best of birds, to-day.
स पूर्वसंध्यां ब्रह्माणं वन्दितुं याति सर्वदा। मां वा दृष्ट्वा कदाचित् स न गच्छति गृहं खगः॥
Every morning he goes to the regions of Brahman for worshipping the Grandfather. While returning, he never goes home without seeing me.
उभे द्विरात्रिसंध्ये वै नाभ्यगात् स ममालयम्। तस्मान्न शुद्ध्यते भावो मम स ज्ञायतां सुहृत्॥
These two inornings and two nights have passed away, and he has not come to my house. My mind, therefore, is not in peace. You enquire after my friend.
स्वाध्यायेन वियुक्तो हि ब्रह्मवर्चसवर्जितः। तव्रतस्तत्र मे शंका हन्यात तं स द्विजाधमः॥
Gautama, who came here, is shorn of Vedic learning and Brahmanic effulgence. He has scen the abode of my friend, I greatly fear that wretch of Brahmanas has killed Rajdharman.
दुराचारस्तु दुर्बुद्धिरिङ्गित्तैर्लक्षितो मया। निष्कृतो दारुणाकारो दुष्टो दस्युरिवाधमः॥ गौतमः स गतस्तत्र तेनोद्विग्नं मनो मम।
Addicted to evil practices and of wicked understanding, I read him through by the signs he showed. Without mercy, of cruel and grim visage, and of wicked disposition, that vilest of men is like a robber. That Gautama has gone to the house of my friend. For this reason my heart is extremely anxious.
पुत्र शीघ्रमितो गत्वा राजधर्मनिवेशनम्॥ ज्ञायतां स विशुद्धात्मा यदि जीवति मा चिरम्।
O son, going hence with great speed to the house of Rajdharman, learn whether that puresouled bird is still alive! Do not delay.
स एवमुक्तस्त्वरितो रक्षोभिः सहितो ययौ॥ न्यग्रोधं तत्र चापश्यत् कङ्कालं राजधर्मणः।
Thus addressed by his father, the prince, accompanied by other Rakshasas, went away quickly. Going to the foot of that banian, he saw the remains of Rajdharman.
स रुदन्नगमत् पुत्रो राक्षसेन्द्रस्य धीमतः॥ त्वरमाणः परं शक्त्या गौतमग्रहणाय वै।
Weeping with sorrow the son of the intelligent king of the Rakshasas, ran quickly to the best of his power, for seizing Gautama.
ततोऽविदूरे जगृहुर्गौतमं राक्षसास्तदा।॥ राजधर्मशरीरं च पक्षास्थिचरणोज्झितम्।
The Rakshasas had not to go far when they caught the Brahmana and found the body of Rajdharman shorn of wings, bones, and feet.
तमादायाथ रक्षांसि द्रुतं मेरुव्रजं ययुः॥ राज्ञश्च दर्शयामासुः शरीरं राजधर्मणः। कृतघ्नं परुषं तं च गौतमं पापकारिणम्॥
Taking the captive with them, the Rakshasas returned quickly to Meruvraja, and showed the king the mutilated body of Rajdharman, and that ungrateful and sinful wretch, Gautama.
रुरोद राजा तं दृष्ट्वा सामात्यः सपुरोहितः। आर्तनादश्च सुमहानभूत् तस्य निवेशने॥
Seeing the remains of his friend, the king, with his counsellors and priest, began to weep aloud. Loud-lamentations were heard in his house.
सस्त्रीकुमारं च पुरं बभूवास्वस्थमानसम्। अथाब्रवीन्नृपः पुत्रं पापोऽयं वध्यतामिति॥ अस्य मांसैरिमे सर्वे विहरन्तु यथेष्टतः।
The entire city of the Rakshasa king,-men, women, and children,-was plunged in grief. The king then ordered his son, saying,-Let this sinful wretch be killed! Let these Rakshasas here eai merrily his flesh.
पापाचार: पापकर्मा पापात्मा पापसाधनः॥ हन्तव्योऽयं मम मतिर्भवद्भिरिति राक्षसाः। इत्युक्ता राक्षसेन्द्रेण राक्षसा घोरविक्रमा:।१९॥ नैच्छन्त तं भक्षयितुं पापकर्माणमित्युत।
Of sinful decds, of sinful habits, of sinful soul, and used to sin, this wretch, I think, should be killed by you!—Thus addressed by the Rakshasa king, many Rakshasas of dreadful prowess cxpressed their reluctance to eat the flesh of that sinner.
दस्यूनां दीयतामेष साध्वद्य पुरुषाधमः॥ इत्यूचुस्ते महाराज राक्षसेन्द्रं निशाचराः।
Indeed, those night-rangers addressing their king, said,-Let this vilest of men be handed over to the robbers.
शिरोभिः प्रणताः सर्वे व्याहरन् राक्षसाधिपम्॥ न दातुमर्हसि त्वं नो भक्षणायास्य किल्बिषम्।
Lowering their heads to their king, they told him so, adding, you should not give us this sinful wretch for our food.
एवमस्त्विति तानाह राक्षसेन्द्रो निशाचरान्॥ दस्यूनां दीयतामेष कृतघ्नोऽद्यैव राक्षसाः।
The king said to them,-Let it be so! Let this ungrateful person be forthwith delivered to the robbers.
इत्युक्ता राक्षसास्तेन शूलपट्टिशपाणयः॥ कृत्वा तं खण्डशः पापं दस्युभ्यः प्रददुस्तदा।
Thus ordered by him, the Rakshasas, armed with lances and battle-axes, hacked that sinful wretch into pieces and gave them away to the robbers.
दस्यवश्चापि नैच्छन्त तमत्तुं पापकारिणम्। क्रव्यादा अपि राजेन्द्र कृतघ्नं नोपभुञ्जते॥
It so came about that even the very robbers refused to eat the flesh of that vile man. Though cannibals, O king, they would not eat an ungrateful person.
ब्रह्मने च सुरापे च चौरे भग्नव्रते तथा। निष्कृतिर्विहिता राजन् कृतघ्ने नास्ति निष्कृतिः॥
There is expiation, o king, for one who slays a Brahmana, for one who drinks winc, for one who steals, for one that has not fulfilled a vow. But there is no expiation for an ungrateful person.
मित्रद्रोही नृशंसश्च कृतघ्नश्च नराधमः। क्रव्यादैः कृमिभिश्चैव न भुज्यन्ते हि तादृशाः॥
That cruel and mean man who does injury to a friend and turns ungrateful, is not eaten even by the very cannibals nor by the worms that feed on carrion.