जनमेजय उवाच उत्तङ्कः केन तपसा संयुक्तो वै महामनाः। यः शापं दातुकामोऽभूद् विष्णवे प्रभविष्णवे॥
Janamejaya said With what penances was the great Uttanka endued so that he entertained the wish to imprecate a curse on Vishnu himself, who is the source of all power?
वैशम्पायन उवाच उत्तको महता युक्तस्तपसा जनमेजय। गुरुभक्तः स तेजस्वी नान्यत् किंचिदपूजयत्॥
Vaishampayana said Janamejaya, Utanka was gifted with austere penances. He was devoted to his preceptor. Gifted with great energy, he abstained from adoring anybody else.
सर्वेषामृषिपुत्राणामेष आसीन्मनीरथः। औत्तङ्की गुरुवृत्तिं वै प्राप्नुयामेति भारत॥
All the children of the Rishis, O Bharata, entertained even this desire, viz., that their devotion to preceptors should be as great as that of Utanka.
गौतमस्य तु शिष्याणां बहूनां जनमेजय। उत्तङ्केऽभ्यधिका प्रीतिः स्नेहश्चैवाभवत् तदा॥
Gautama's gratification with and affection for Utanka, among his numberless disciples, were every great, O Janamejaya.
स तस्य दमशौचाभ्यां विक्रान्तेन च कर्मणा। सम्यक् चैवोपचारेण गौतमः प्रीतिमानभूत्॥
Indecd, Gautama was greatly pleased with the self-control and purity of conduct that marked out Utanka, and with his acts or prowess and the services he did to him.
अथ शिष्यसहस्राणि समनुज्ञातवानृषिः। उत्तङ्क परया प्रीत्या नाभ्यनुज्ञातुमैच्छता
One after another, thousands of disciples received the preceptors' permission to return home. On account, however, of his great affection for Utanka, Gautama could not permit him to leave his hermitage.
नं क्रमेण जरा तात प्रतिपेदे महामुनिम्॥ न चान्वबुध्यत तदा स मुनिर्गुरुवत्सलः।
Gradually, in course of time, O son, decrepitude overtook Utanka, that great ascetic. The ascetic, however, on account of his devotion to his prcccptor, was not conscious of it.
ततः कदाचिद् राजेन्द्र काष्ठान्यानयितुं ययौ॥ उत्तङ्कः काष्ठभारं च महान्तं समुपानयत्।
One day, he started, O king for fetching fuel for his preceptor. Soon after Utanka brought a heavy load of fuel.
स नद्भाराभिभूतात्मा काष्ठभारमरिंदम॥ निचिक्षेप क्षितौ राजन् परिश्रान्तो बुभुक्षितः।
Toil-worn and hungry and afflicted by the load he carried on his head, O chastiser of enemies, he threw the load down on the Earth, O king.
तस्य काष्ठे विलग्नाभूज्जटा रूप्यसमप्रभा।॥ ततः काष्ठैः सह तदा पपात धरणीतले।
One of his matted locks, white as silver, had become entangled with the load. Accordingly, when the load was thrown down, with in fell on the earth that matted lock of hair.
ततः स भारनिष्पिष्टः क्षुधाविष्टश्च भारत॥ दृष्ट्वा तां वयसोऽवस्थां रुरोदार्तस्वरस्तदा।
Oppressed as he had been by that load and overcome by hunger, O Bharata, Utanka, secing that sign of old age, began to bewail a loud from excess of sorrow.
ततो गुरुसुता तस्य पद्मपत्रनिभानना॥ जग्राहाश्रूणि सुश्रोणी करेण पृथुलोचना। पितुर्नियोगाद् धर्मज्ञा शिरसाऽवनता तदा॥ तस्या निपेततुर्दग्धौ करौ तैरश्रुबिन्दुभिः।
Knowing every duty, the daughter of his preceptor then who had cyes resembling lotus petals, and hips that were full and round, at the command her father, sought, with downcast face, to hold Utanka's tears in her hands. Her hands scemed to burn with those tear-drops that she held. Unable, accordingly, to hold them longer, she was compelled to throw them down on the earth.
न हि तानश्रुपातांस्तु शक्ता धारयितुं मही॥ गौतमस्त्वव्रवीद् विप्रमुत्तङ्क प्रीतमानसः। कस्मात् तात तवाद्येह शोकोत्तरमिदं मनः। स स्वैरं ब्रूहि विप्रर्षे श्रोतुमिच्छामि तत्त्वतः॥
The Earth herself was unable to hold those tear-drops of Utanka. With a pleased heart, Gautama then said to the twice-born Utanka, 'Why, O son, is your mind so afflicted with grief today? Tell me calmly and quietly, O learned Rishi, for I wish to hear it in full.
उत्तङ्क उवाच भवद्गतेन मनसा भवन्त्रियचिकीर्षया। भवद्भक्तिगतेनेह भवद्भावानुगेन च॥ जरेय नावबुद्धा मे नाभिज्ञातं सुखं च मे। शतवर्षोषितं मां हि न त्वमभ्यनुजानिथा:॥
Utanka said With mind entirely devoted to you, and wholly bent upon doing what is agreeable to you, with my heart's devotion turned to you, and with thoughts entirely living on you, (I have lived nere till) decrepitude has overtaken me without my knowing it at all. I have not, again, known any happiness. Though I have lived with you for a century yet you have not granted me perinission to depart.
भवता त्वभ्यनुज्ञाताः शिष्याः प्रत्यवरा मम। अपपन्ना द्विजश्रेष्ठ शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः॥
Many disciples of yours, who were my juniors, have, however, been permitted by you to return. Indeed, hundreds and thousands of foremost Brahmanas have, gifted with knowledge, bcen favoured with your permission.
गौतम उवाच त्वत्प्रीतियुक्तेन मया गुरुशुश्रूषया तव। व्यतिक्रामन्महाकालो नावबुद्धो द्विजर्षभ॥
Gautama said Through my love and affection for you, and on account of your dutiful services to me, a long time has passed without my knowing it, O foremost of Brahmanas.
किं त्वद्य यदि ते श्रद्धा गमनं प्रति भार्गव। अनुज्ञा प्रतिगृह्य त्वं स्वगृहान् गच्छ मा चिरम्॥
If, however, O you of Bhrigu's race, you desire to leave this place, do you go without delay, with my permission.
उत्तङ्क उवाच गुर्वर्थं कं प्रयच्छामि ब्रूहि त्वं द्विजसत्तम। तमुपाहृत्य गच्छेयमनुज्ञातस्त्वया विभो॥
Utanka said What shall I present to my preceptor? Tell me this, O best of twice-born persons. Having brought it, I shall go hence, O lord, with your permission.
गौतम उवाच दक्षिणा परितोषो वै गुरुणां सद्धिरुच्यते। तव ह्याचरतो ब्रह्मस्तुष्टोऽहं वै न संशयः॥
Gautama said The good say that the satisfaction of the preceptor is the final fee. Forsooth, O twiceborn one, I have been highly pleased with your conduct.
इत्थं च परितुष्टं मां विजानीहि भृगूद्वह। युवा षोडशवर्षो हि यद्यद्य भविता भवान्॥ ददानि पत्नी कन्यां च स्वां ते दुहितरं द्विजा एतामृतेऽङ्गना नान्या त्वत्तेऽर्हति सेवितुम्॥
Know, O perpetuator of Bhrigu's race, that I have been highly pleased with your conduct. Know, Operpetuator of Bhrigu's race, that I have been very much pleased with you for this. If you become a young man today of sixteen years, I shall confer on you, O twice-born years, I shall confer on you. O twice-born one, this my own daughter for becoming your wife. No other woman except this one is capable of waiting upon your energy.
ततस्तां प्रतिजग्राह युवा भूत्वा यशस्विनीम्। गुरुणा चाभ्यनुज्ञातो गुरुपत्नीमथाब्रवीत्॥ कं भवेत्य प्रयच्छामि गुर्वर्थे विनियुक्ष्व माम्। प्रियं हितं च काङ्क्षामि प्राणैरपि धनैरपि।॥
At these words of Gautama. Utanka once again became a youth and accepted that famous maiden for his wife. Receiving the permission of his preceptor, he then addressed his preceptor's wife, saying, What shall I give you as final fee for my preceptor? Do you command me. I wish to do, with riches, or even my life, what is agreeable and beneficial to you.
यद् दुर्लभं हि लोकेऽस्मिन् रत्नमत्यातं महत्। तदानयेयं तपसा न हि मेऽत्रास्ति संशयः॥
Whatever gem, exceedingly wonderful and of great value, exists in this world, I shall bring for you with the help of my penances. I have no doubt in this.
अहल्योवाच परितुष्टास्मि ते विप्र नित्यं भक्त्या तवानघ। पर्याप्तमेतद् भद्रं ते गच्छ तात यथेप्सितम्॥
I am highly pleased with you, O learned Brahmana, with your unceasing devotion, O sinless one. This is enough. Blessed be you, go wherever you like.
उत्तङ्कस्तु महाराज पुनरेवाब्रवीद् वचः। आज्ञापयस्व मां मातः कर्तव्यं च तव प्रियम्॥
Vaishampayana said, Utanka, however, O king, once more said these words, Do you command me, O mother. It is proper that I should do something that is agreeable to you.
सौदासपल्या विधृते दिव्ये मणिकुण्डले। ते समानय भद्रं ते गुर्वर्थः सुकृतो भवेत्॥
Ahalya said Blessed be you, bring for me those celestial ear-rings which are worn by the wife of Saudasa. That which is due to your preceptor will then be well-discharged.
स तथेति प्रतिश्रुत्य जगाम जनमेजय। गुरुपत्नीप्रियार्थं वै ते समानयितुं तदा॥
Replying her, 'So be it'. Utanka went away. O Janamejaya, determined upon bringing those ear-rings for doing what his preceptor's wife liked.
स जगाम ततः शीघ्रमुत्तङ्कणे ब्राह्मणर्षभः। सौदास पुरुषादं वै भिक्षितुं मणिकुण्डले॥
That foremost of Brahmanas, Utanka, proceeded forthwith to Saudasa who had become a cannibal, in order to solicit the earrings from him.
गौतमस्त्वब्रवीत् पत्नीमुत्तको नाद्य दृश्यते। इति पृष्टा तमाचष्ट कुण्डलार्थे गतं च सा॥
Gautama meanwhile said to his wife —'Utanka is not to be seen today. Thus addressed, she informed him how he had gone for fetching the jewelled ear-rings (of Saudasa's queen).
ततः प्रोवाच पत्नीं स न ते सम्यगिदं कृतम्। शप्तः स पार्थिवो नूनं ब्राह्मणं तं वधिष्यति॥
At this, Gautama said, 'You have not acted wisely. Cursed (by Vasishtha), that king will, indeed, kill Utanka.
अजानन्त्या नियुक्तः स भगवन् ब्राह्मणो मया। भवत्प्रसादान्न भयं किंचित् तस्य भविष्यति॥
Ahalya said Without knowing this, O holy one I have engaged Utanka in this task. He shall not, however, come by any danger through your grace.
इत्युक्तः प्राह तां पत्नीमेवमस्त्विति गौतमः। उत्तोऽपि वने शून्ये राजानं तं ददर्श ह॥
Thus addressed by her, Gautama said, 'Let it be so.' Meanwhile, Utanka met king Saudasa in a deserted forest.