ANUGITA PARVA: Chapter 57

The story of Utanka and Saudasa

वैशम्पायन उवाच स नं दृष्ट्वा तथाभूतं राजानं घोरदर्शनम्। दीर्घश्मश्रुधरं नृणां शोणितेन समुक्षितम्॥
Vaishampayana said Seeing the king, who had become so, of frightful appearance, wearing a long beard smeared with the blood of human beings, the Brahmana Utanka, O king, did not become moved.

चकार न व्यथां विप्रो राजा त्वेनमथाब्रवीत्। प्रत्युत्थाय महातेजा भयकर्ता यमोपमः॥ दिष्ट्या त्वमसि कल्याण षष्ठे काले ममान्तिकम्। भक्ष्यं मृगयमाणस्य सम्प्राप्तो द्विजसत्तम॥
That highly energetic monarch, inspiring terror in every breast and loO king like a second Yama, rising up addressed Utanka, saying, ‘By good luck, O best of Brahmanas, you have come to me at the sixth hour of the day when I am in search of food.

राजन् गुर्वर्थिनं विद्धि चरन्तं मामिहागतम्। न च गुर्वर्थमुद्युक्तं हिंस्यमाहुर्मनीषिणः॥
Utanka said O king, know that I have come here in course of my wanderings for the sake of my preceptor, The wise have said that while one is engaged for the sake of one's preceptor, one should not be injured.

षष्ठे काले ममाहारो विहितो द्विजसत्तम। न शक्यस्त्वं समुत्स्रष्टुं क्षुधितेन मयाद्य वै॥
The king said O best of Brahmanas, food has been ordained for me at the sixth hour of the day. I am hungry. I cannot, therefore, allow you escape today.

एवमस्तु महाराज समयः क्रियतां त मे। गुर्वर्थमभिनिवर्त्य पुनरेष्यामि ने वशम्॥
Utanka said Let it be so, O king! Let this agreement be made with me! After I have ceased to wander for my preceptor I shall once more come and put myself within your power.

संश्रुतश्च मया योऽर्थो गुरवे राजसत्तम। त्वदधीनः स राजेन्द्र तं त्वां भिक्षे नरेश्वर॥
I have heard, O best of kings, that the object I seek for my preceptor is under your control, O king, therefore, O king I beg you for it.

ददासि विप्रमुख्येभ्यस्त्वं हि रत्नानि नित्यदा। दाता च त्वं नरव्याघ्र पात्रभूतः क्षिताविह। पात्रं प्रतिग्रहे चापि विद्धि मां नृपसत्तम॥
You every day give many foremost of gems to superior Brahmanas. You are a giver, O king, from whom gifts may be accepted. know that I too am a worthy object of charity present before you, O best of kings.

उपाहृत्य गुरारर्थं त्वदायत्तमरिंदम। समयेनेह राजेन्द्र पुनरेष्यामि ते वशम्॥ सत्यं ते प्रतिजानामि नात्र मिथ्या कथंचन। अनृतं नोक्तपूर्वं मे स्वैरेष्वपि कुतोऽन्यथा।॥
Having accepted from you in gift that object for my preceptor, which is under your control, I shall, O king, on account of my agreement, once more come back to you and put myself under your power. I assure you truly of this. There is no falsehood in this. Never before have I spoken any falsehood, no not even in jest! What shall I say then of other occasions?

सौदास उवाच यदि मत्तस्तवायत्तो गुर्वथैः कृत एव सः। यदि चास्मि प्रतिग्राह्यः साम्प्रतं तद् वदस्व मे॥१११!
If the object you seck for your preceptor is capable of being placed in your hands by me. If। I be considered as one from whom a gift may be accepted, do you then say what that object is!

उत्तङ्क उवाच प्रतिग्राह्यो मतो मे त्वं सदैव पुरुषर्षभ। सोऽहं त्वामनुसम्प्राप्तो भिक्षितुं मणिकुण्डले॥
Utanka said O foremost of men, O Saudasa, in my estimation you are a worthy person from whom gifts may be accepted. I have, therefore, come to you for begging of you the jewelled earrings (worn by your queen).

पत्न्यास्ते मम विप्रर्षे उचिते मणिकुण्डले। वरयार्थं त्वमन्यं वै तं ते दास्यामि सुव्रत॥
Saudasa said Those jewelled ear-rings, O learned and twice-born Rishi, belong to my wife. They should be asked from her. Do you therefore, solicit some other things froin me. I shall give it to you, O you of excellent vows!

अलं ते व्यपदेशेन प्रमाणा यदि ते वयम्। प्रयच्छ कुण्डले मह्यं सत्यवाग् भव पार्थिव॥
Utanka said If we be considered as any authority, do you cease then to urge this pretext. Do you give those jewelled ear-rings to me. Be truthful in speech, O king.

इत्युक्तस्त्वब्रवीद् राजा तमुत्तकं पुनर्वचः। गच्छ मद्वचनाद् देवीं ब्रूहि देहीति सत्तम॥ सैवमुक्ता त्वया नूनं मद्वाक्येन शुचिव्रता। प्रदास्यति द्विजश्रेष्ठ कुण्डले ते न संशयः॥
Vaishampayana said, Thus addressed, the king once addressed Utanka and said to him, Do you, at my word, go to my venerable queen, O best of men, and ask her saying, Give!' She of pure Vows, thus begged by you will certainly, at my command, give you, O foremost of twice-born persons, those jewelled ear-rings of hers without doubt. more

उत्तङ्क उवाच क्व पत्नी भवतः शक्या मया द्रष्टुं नरेश्वर। स्वयं वापि भवान् पत्नी किमर्थं नोपसर्पति॥
Utanka said Where, O king, shall I be able to meet your queen? Why do you not yourself go to her?

सौदास उवाच तां द्रक्ष्यति भवानद्य कस्मिंश्चिद् वननिर्झरे। षष्ठे काले न हि मया सा शक्या द्रष्टुमद्य वै॥
Saudasa said You will find hier today near a forest fountain. I cannot see her today as the sixth hour of the day has come.

वैशम्पायन उवाच उत्तङ्कस्तु तथोक्तः स जगाम भरतर्षभ। मदयन्तीं च दृष्ट्वा स ज्ञापयत् स्वप्रयोजनम्॥
Vaishampayana said, Thus addressed, Utanka, O chief of Bharata's race, then left that place. Seeing Madayanti, he informed her of his object.

सौदासवचनं श्रुत्वा ततः सा पृथुलोचना। प्रत्युवाच महाबुद्धिमुत्तकं जनमेजय॥
Hearing the order of Saudasa, that lady of large eyes replied to the highly intelligent Utanka, O Janamejaya, in these words.

एवमेतद् वद ब्रह्मन् नानृतं वदसेऽनघ। अभिज्ञानं तु किंचित् त्वं समानयितुपर्हसि॥
It is even so, Otwice-born one. You should, however, O sinless one, assure me that you do not say what is untrue! You should bring me some signet from my husband.

इमे हि दिव्ये मणिकुण्डले मे देवाश्च यक्षाश्च महर्षयश्च। तैस्तैरुपायैरमहर्तुकामा श्छिद्रेषु नित्यं परितर्कयन्ति॥
These celestial ear-rings of mine, made of rich gems, are such that the celestials and Yakshas and great Rishis always watch for opportunities for taking them away.

निक्षिप्तमेतद् भुवि पन्नगास्तु रत्नं समासाद्य परामशेयुः। यक्षास्तेथोच्छिष्टधृतं सुराश्च निद्रावशाद् वा परिधर्षयेयुः॥
If placed at any time on the Earth, this costly article would then be stolen by the Nagas. If worn by one who is impure on account of eating, it would then be taken away by the Yakshas. If the wearer falls asleep, the celestials would then take them away.

छिद्रेष्वेतेष्विमे नित्यं ह्वियेते द्विजसत्तम। देवराक्षसनागानामप्रमत्तेन धार्यते॥
O best of Brahmanas, these ear-rings are capable of being taken away when such opportunities come, by celestials and Rakshasas and Nagas, if worn by a careless person.

स्यन्देते हि दिवा रुक्मं रात्रौ च द्विजसत्तम। नक्तं नक्षत्रताराणां प्रभामाक्षिप्य वर्ततः॥
O best of twice-born ones, these ear-rings, day and night, always produce gold. At night, they shine brightly, attracting the rays of stars and constellations.

एते ह्यमुच्य भगवन् क्षुत्पिपासाभयं कुतः। विषाग्निश्वापदेभ्यश्च भयं जातु न विद्यते॥
O holy one, if worn by any one, he would be freed from hunger and thirst and fear of every sort. The wearer of these ear-rings is freed also from the fear of poison and fire and every kind of danger.

ह्रस्वेन चैते आमुक्ते भवतो ह्रस्वके तदा। अनुरूपेण चामुक्ते जायेते तत्प्रमाणके॥
If wom by one of short stature, these become short. If worn by one of tall stature, these grow in size.

एवंविधे ममैते वै कुण्डले परमार्चित। त्रिषु लोकेषु विज्ञाते तदभिज्ञानमानय॥
Even of such virtucs are these ear-rings of mine. they lauded and honoured everywhere. Indeed, they are known over the three worlds. Do you, therefore, bring inc some sign. are