भीष्म उवाच अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम्। तुलाधारस्य वाक्यानि धर्मे जाजलिना सह॥
Regarding it is cited the old conversation of Tuladhara with Jajali on the subject of virtue. There was once a Brahmana named Jajali who lived in a certain forest, like a forest-recluse.
वने वनचरः कश्चिज्जाजलि म वै द्विजः। सागरोद्देशमागम्य तपस्तेपे महातपाः॥
Practising austere penances, he proceeded at a certain time towards the sea-shore, and arrived there began to practise the most austere penances.
नियतो नियताहारथीराजिनजटाधरः। मलपङ्कधरो धीमान् बहून् वर्षगणान् मुनिः॥
Observing many vows and restraints his food restricted by fast, his body clad in rags and skins, bearing matted locks on his head, his entire body smeared with filth and clay, the intelligent Brahmana passed many years there, speechless.
स कदाचिन्महातेजा जलवासो महीपते। चचार लोकान् विप्रर्षिः प्रेक्षमाणो मनोजवः॥
Highly energetic that regenerate ascetic, O king, while living within the waters, travelled through all the worlds with the speed of the mind, desirous of seeing all things.
स चिन्तयामास मुनिर्जलवासे कदाचन। विप्रेक्ष्य सागरान्तां वै महीं सवनकाननाम्॥
Having seen the whole Earth bounded by the ocean and adorned with rivers and lakes and forests, the ascetic one day, while sitting under the water, began to think thus:न मया सदृशोऽस्तीह लोके स्थावरजङ्गमे।
अप्सु वैहायसं गच्छेन्मया योऽन्यः सहेति वै॥
In this world of mobile and immobile creatures there is none who can equal me! Who can travel with me among the stars and planets in the sky and live again within the waters!
अदृश्यमानो रक्षोभिर्जलमध्ये वदंस्तथा। अब्रुवंश्च पिशाचास्तं नैवं त्वं वक्तुमर्हसि॥
Unseen by the Rakshasas while he said this to himself, the Pishachas said to him,-You should not say so!
तुलाधारो वणिग्धर्मा वाराणस्यां महायशाः। सोऽप्येवं नार्हते वक्तुं यथा त्वं द्विजसत्तम॥
There is a man named Tuladhara highly illustrious and doing the business of buying and selling, Even he, O best of twice-born ones, is not worthy of saying such words as you say!
इत्युक्तो जाजलिर्भूतैः प्रत्युवाच महातपाः। पश्येयं तमहं प्राज्ञं तुलाधारं यशस्विनम्॥
Thus addressed by those beings, Jajali of austere penances replied to them, saying,-I shall see that famous Tuladhara who is endued with such wisdom!
इति ब्रुवाणं तमृषि रक्षास्युद्धृत्य सागरात्। अब्रुवन् गच्छ पन्थानमास्थायेमं द्विजोत्तम्॥
When the Rishi said this, those superhuman beings raised him from the sea, and said to him,-best of twice-born one, go along this road!
इत्युक्तो जाजलिर्भूतैर्जगाम विमनास्तदा। वाराणस्यां तुलाधारं समासाद्याब्रवीदिदम्॥
Thus addressed by those beings, Jajali went onwards with a depressed heart. Arrived at Baranasi he met Tuladhara whom he addressed thus.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच किं कृतं दुष्कर तात कर्म जाजलिना पुरा। येन सिद्धिं परा प्राप्तस्तन्मे व्याख्यातुमर्हसि॥
Yudhisthira said What, O sire, are those difficult feats which Jajali had performed before for which he had acquired such great success? You should describe them to me.
भीष्म उवाच अतीव तपसा युक्तो घोरेण स बभूव ह। तथोपस्पर्शनरतः सायं प्रातर्महातपाः॥
Bhishma said Jajali had practised penances of the severest austerities. He used to perform ablutions morning and cvening.
अग्नीन् परिचरन् सम्यक् स्वाध्यायपरमोद्विजः। वानप्रस्थविधानज्ञो जाजलिवलितः श्रिया॥
Carefully serving his fires, he was given to the study of the Vedas. Well conversant with the duties laid down for hermits, Jajali, seemed to shine with effulgence.
वने तपस्यतिष्ठत् स न च धर्ममवैक्षत। वर्षास्वाकाशशायी च हेमन्तं जलसंश्रयः॥
He continued to live in the forest, performing penances, But he never took himself for one who had acquired any merit by his acts. During the rains he slept under the open sky. In auturnn he sat in water.
वातातपसहो ग्रीष्मे न च धर्ममविन्दत। दुःखशय्याश्च विविधा भूमौ च परिवर्तते॥
In summer he exposed himself to the sun and the wind. Still he never took himself for one who had acquired any merit by such acts. He used to sleep on various sorts of painful beds and also on the naked earth.
ततः कदाचित् स मुनिर्वर्षास्वाकाशमास्थितः। अन्तरिक्षाज्जलं मूर्धा प्रत्यगृह्णान्मुहुर्मुहुः॥
On one occasion that ascetic, while standing under the sky during the rainy season, received on his head repeated showers froin the clouds.
अथ तस्य जटाः क्लिना बभूवुर्ग्रथिताः प्रभो। अरण्यगमनान्नित्यं मलिनोऽमलसंयुतः॥
He had to pass through the forests again and again. Partly with exposure to the rains and partly with the filth they caught, the locks of that pure Rishi became entangled and intertwined with one another.
स कदाचिनिराहारो वायुभक्षो महातपाः। तस्थौ काष्ठवदव्यग्रो न चचाल च कर्हिचित्॥
At one time abstaining entirely from food and living upon air alone, that great ascetic, stood in the forest like a wooden post Unmoved at heart, he stood there, without once moving an inch.
तस्य स्म स्थाणुभूतस्य निर्विचेष्टस्य भारत। कुलिङ्गशकुनौ राजन् नीडं शिरसि चक्रतुः॥
While he stood there unmoved like a wooden post, О Bharata, a pair of Kulinga birds, O king, built their nest on his head.
स तौ दयावान् ब्रह्मर्षिरुपप्रेक्षत दम्पती। कुर्वाणौ नीडकं तत्र जटासु तृणतन्तुभिः॥
Filled with pity, the great Rishis allowed those birds in building their nest among his matted locks with pieces of grass.
यदा न स चलत्येव स्थाणुभूतो महातपाः। ततस्तौ सुखविश्वस्तौ सुखं तत्रोषतुस्तदा॥
And as the ascetic stood there like a wooden post, the two birds lived on his head happily and confidingly.
अतीतास्वथ वर्षासु शरत्काल उपस्थिते। प्राजापत्येन विधिना विश्वासात् काममोहितौ॥ तत्रापातयतां राजन् शिरस्यण्डानि खेचरौ।
The rainy season passed away and autumn set in. Actuated by desire, the couple approached each other according to the law of the Creator, and with perfect confidence laid their eggs, O king, on the head of that Rishi.
तान्यबुध्यत तेजस्वी स विप्रः संशितव्रतः॥ बुद्ध्वा च स महातेजा न चचाल च जाजलि। धर्मे कृतमना नित्यं नाधर्मं स त्वरोचयत्॥
Of rigid vows and endued with energy, the ascetic knew it. Knowing even what the birds had done, Jajali did not move. Bent strongly upon acquiring merit, no act involving the slightest injury to others could meet with his approval.
अहन्यहनि चागत्य ततस्तौ तस्य मूर्धनि। आश्वासितौ निवसतः सम्प्रहृष्टौ तदा विभो॥
Going away and returning every day from, and to his head, the birds happily and trustfully lived there, O powerful king.
अण्डेभ्यस्त्वथ पुष्टेभ्यः प्राजायन्त शकुन्तकाः। व्यवर्धन्त च तत्रैव न चाकम्पत जाजलिः॥
When in the course of time the eggs became mature and young ones came out, they began to grow up in that nest, for Jajali moved not in the least.
स रक्षमाणस्त्वण्डानि कुलिङ्गानां धृतव्रतः। तथैव तस्थौ धर्मात्मा निर्विचेष्टः समाहितः॥
Firmly observing his vows, the righteous Rishi continued to hold and protect those eggs by standing on that very spot perfectly motionless and immersed in Yoga meditation.
ततस्तु कालसमये बभूवुस्तेऽथ पक्षिणः। बुबुधे तांस्तु स मुनिर्जातपक्षान् कुलिङ्गकान्॥
In course of time the young ones grew and became endued with wings. The Muni knew that the young Kulingas had grown up so.
ततः कदाचित् तांस्तत्र पश्यन् पक्षीन् यतव्रतः। बभूव परमप्रीतस्तदा मतिमतां वरः॥
That foremost of intelligent men, of austere VOWS, one day saw those young ones and became filled with pleasure.
तथा तानपि संवृद्धान् दृष्ट्वा चाप्नुवतां मुदम्। शकुनौ निर्भयौ तत्र उपतुश्चात्मजैः सह॥
Seeing their young ones endued with wings, the parent birds became very happy and continued to live in the Rishi's head with them in perfect confidence.
जातपक्षांश्च सोऽपश्यदुड्डीनान् पुनरागतान्। सायं सायं द्विजान् विप्रो न चाकम्पत जाजलिः॥
The learned Jajali saw that when the young birds had wings they flew to the air every evening and came back to his head without having gone far. He still stood motionless there.
कदाचित् पुनरभ्येत्य पुनर्गच्छन्ति संततम्। त्यक्ता मातापितृभ्यां ते न चाकम्पत जाजलिः॥
Sometime after he saw that, left by their parents, they went out alone and came back again alone, Jajali did not still move.
तथा वे दिवसं चापि गत्वा सायं पुनर्नृप। उपावर्तन्त तत्रैव निवासार्थं शकुन्तकाः॥
Sometime after, the young birds going away in the morning spent the whole day out of his sight but returned in the evening for living in the nest.
कदाचिद् दिवसान् पञ्च समुत्पत्य विहङ्गमाः। षष्ठेऽहनि समाजग्मुर्न चाकम्पत जाजलिः॥
Sometime after, leaving their nest for five days at a time, they returned on the sixth day. Jajali still did not move.
क्रमेण च पुनः सर्वे दिवसान् सुबहूनथ। नोपावर्तन्त शकुना जातप्राणाः स्म ते यदा॥
Subsequently, when they gained their full strength, they left him and did not return at all even after many days.
कदाचिन्मासमात्रेण समुत्पत्य विहङ्गमाः। नैवागच्छंस्ततो राजन् प्रातिष्ठत स जाजलिः॥
At last, at another time, leaving him, they did not come even after a month. Then, O king, Jajali left that place.
ततस्तेषु प्रलीनेषु जाजलिर्जातविस्मयः। सिद्धोऽस्मीति मतिं चक्रे ततस्तं मान आविशत्॥
When they had thus gone away for ever, Jajali wondered much and thought that he had gained ascetic success. Then pride entered his heart.
स तथा निर्गतान् दृष्ट्वा शकुन्तान् नियतव्रतः। सम्भावितात्मा सम्भाव्य भृशं प्रीतमनाऽभवत्॥
Ever observing vows, the great ascetic, seeing the birds thus leave him. After having been brought up on his head, thought highly of himself, and became filled with joy.
स नद्यां समुपस्पृश्य तर्पयित्वा हुताशनम्। उदयन्मथादित्यमुपातिष्ठन्महातपाः॥
He then bathed in a river and poured libations on the sacred fire, and worshipped the rising Sun.
सम्भाव्य चटकान् मूनि जाजलिर्जपतां वरः। आस्फोटयत् तथाऽऽकाशे धर्मः प्राप्तो मयेति वै॥
Having thus made those chataka birds, grow on his head, Jajali that foremost of ascetics, began to strike his armpits and cry loudly through the sky, I have acquired great merit.
अथान्तरिक्षे वागासीत् तां च शुश्राव जाजलिः। धर्मेण न समस्त्वं वै तुलाधारस्य जाजले॥
Then an unseen voice arose in the sky and Jajali heard these words:-You are not equal, O Jajali, to Tuladhara in righteousness.
वाराणस्यां महाप्राज्ञस्तुलाधारः प्रतिष्ठितः। सोऽप्येवं नार्हते वक्तुं यथा त्वं भाषसे द्विज॥
Highly wise, that Tuladhara lives at Baranasi. Even he is not competent to say what you say, O twice-born one!
सोऽमर्षवशमापन्नस्तुलाधारदिदृक्षया। पृथिवीमचरद् राजन् यत्र सायंगृहो मुनिः॥
Hearing these words, Jajali became possessed by anger and desirous of meeting with Tuladhara, O king, began to roam over the whole Earth, observing the vow of silence and passing the night where he met with evening.
सोऽपि दृष्ट्वैव तं विप्रमायान्तं भाण्डजीवनः। समुत्थाय सुसंहृष्टः स्वागतेनाभ्यपूजयत्॥
After a long time he reached the city of Baranasi, and saw Tuladhara engaged in selling miscellaneous articles.
कालेन महतागच्छत् स तु वाराणसी पुरीम्। विक्रीणन्तं च पण्यानि तुलाधारं ददर्श सः॥
As soon as the shop-keeper Tuladhara saw the Brahmana arrived at his place, he cheerfully stood up and adored the guest with proper salutations.
तुलाधार उवाच आयानेवासि विदितो मम ब्रह्मन् न संशयः। ब्रवीमि यत् तु वचनं तच्छृणुष्व द्विजोत्तम॥
Tuladhara said For tsooth, O Brahmana, I know that you have come to me. Listen, however, Oforemost of twice-born ones, to what I say!
सागरानूपमाश्रित्य तपस्तप्तं त्वया महत्। न च धर्मस्य संज्ञां त्वं पुरा वेत्थ कथंचन॥
Living on a low land near the sea-shore you had practised very hard penancces. But you had no consciousness of having acquired religious merit.
ततः सिद्धस्य तपसा तव विप्र शकुन्तकाः। क्षिप्रं शिरस्यजायन्त ते च सम्भावितास्त्वया॥
When you had at last acquired ascetic success, certain birds were born on your head. You took great care of the little creatures:
जातपक्षा यदा ते च गताचारीमितस्ततः। मन्यमानस्ततो धर्मं चटकप्रभवं द्विज॥
When at last those birds came winged and when they began to leave your head for going here and there in search of food, it was then that, for your having thus assisted at the birth of those Chatakas, you began to feel pride, O Brahmana, thinking you had acquired great merit.
खे वाचं त्वमथाश्रौषीर्मा प्रति द्विजसत्तम। अमर्षवशमापन्नस्ततः प्राप्तो भवानिह। करवाणि प्रियं किं ते तद् ब्रूहि द्विजसत्तम॥
Then, O foremost of twice-born ones, you heard in the sky a voice that spoke of me. The words you had heard filled you with anger and for that you have come here! Tell me, what wish of yours shall I fulfil, O best of Brahmanas.