Sent in hermit's guise to spy
How Kuru's monarch ruled his men,
A forester, his task performed,
He bowed and spoke, nor pained his bosom
Of the foe man's rule to tell,
Nor seek those men with accents false
To please our ear who wish us well.
On vengeful thoughts intent, the monarch
Bade the spy his tale unfold;
And sweet in language, rich in import,
Clear in sense, the words he told.
"Great monarchs see but through their spies.
And spies should ne'er deceive their lord;
Forgive my speech if plain or pleasing.
Seldom true is honied word!
False friend! who teaches not his king.
False king! who hears not what they tell;
Where king and friends in truth agree.
Fortune's favours love to dwell!
We foresters are simple men,
And hard a king's designs to trace;
And if thy foeman's plans I ken,
'Tis by thy kindness, by thy grace!
"Seated on his throne he trembles
At thee, — dwelling in the wood!
The realm he won by trick of dice
He rules by righteous laws and good.
Deep in wiles, he would surpass thee
In his fame for righteousness;
Better far to war with true men
Than to consort with the base!
His passions veiled, by Manu's laws
He seeks the virtuous path to tread;
By night and day his task dividing,
Seeks a righteous fame to spread.
He treats his menials as his friends,
And as his kinsmen friends withal;
Veiling his wrath he seeks to prove
How conquering love rules over all!
With love impartial, equal care,
He cultivates all virtues well;
And by his worth all varied virtues
In harmonious concert dwell!
His kindness never lacks in gifts.
His gifts with courteous manners flow,
And his courtesy and his favours
Only men of virtue know.
Not for wealth and not in anger.
Ever seeking righteous cause,
On his foe or on his children
Visits sins with equal laws.
Placing trusty guards around him,
Ever wears a fearless mien;
And wealth bestowed at sacrifices
Speaks his gratitude to men.
And by careful thought devised,
His plans, with steady toil pursued,
Open out a prosperous future,
And conjointly lead to good!
"Cars and horses of great chieftains
Throng his palace court around;
Tuskers sent by mighty monarchs
With their perfume1 moist the ground.
And Kuru's lands are rich in harvests
Ripening without tiller's toil;
Ask no rain, since Kuru's monarch
Showers his blessings on the soil.
His bounteous and his peaceful rule
To plenty and to wealth give birth;
Attracted by his godlike worth
Spontaneous yields her wealth the earth.
Mighty chiefs, by wealth attracted,
Warriors famed in many a strife,
Against their monarch never muster,
Serve his cause even with their life.
His task performed, by trusty spies
He learns the plans of other kings;
His secret plan is only known,
Like Heaven's designs, by fruits it brings!
His bow is never strung nor raised,
Nor doth a frown his face o'erspread;
His kindly rule the chieftains cherish
Like a garland on their head!
Strong in his rule, he now hath placed
Duhsasan2 young in kingly power;
With offerings due, in holy rites,
By Indra told, he worships Fire!
His foes are quelled, his future glorious,
And his realm extends to sea;
But strife with great men ends in sorrow, —
And Duryodhan quakes at thee!
If thy name is spoke in converse,
Quakes at Arjun's might of arm,
Bends in grief his anguished forehead,
Like a snake by Mantra's charm!
Prepared he is to do thee battle;
Take then, lord, precautions meet;
We gather words by others spoken, —
Such, I lay them at thy feet."
This said, the woodman went away,
By Yudhishthir honoured well;
And the king in Bhîma's presence
To Drupadî told the tale.3
She heard the tale of foemen's glory,
Thought of wrongs which they had done,
And to rouse her husband's anger
Drupad's daughter thus began.
"Counsel to a saintly monarch
Is rebuke from woman weak;
But ignoring woman's duty,
Pardon if my feelings speak!
Of thy race the godlike monarchs
Held their rule o'er all this land;
But as tuskers hurl their garlands,
Thou hast hurled it from thy hand!
Weak are they who with the wily
Deal not with responding wile;
For like shafts on mail-less warriors,
Artful foemen on them steal!
Glory, in thy race begotten,
Won by valour, dear as wife,
Who but thee such glory forfeits.
Girt by warriors tried in strife?
"Godlike man! now sadly treading
Paths despised by proud and free,
Doth not raging wrath consume thee
Even as flames the sapless tree?
Men spontaneous yield to heroes
Who in might subdue all ills,
For an all-forgiving creature
Love nor friend nor foeman feels!
Sandal decked great Bhîma's person!
Dusty, now, he roams the hills!
Scarce I know, soul of virtue!
If my lord compassion feels!
Arjun, conquering northern nations,
To the poor all treasures gave!
God-like Arjun, clad in wild barks,
Doth he thy compassion move?
Does my lord in patience witness
Yonder twins,4 so great, so good? —
Dwelling uncouth in this forest
Even like tuskers of tlie wood!
Scarce I guess thy feelings, monarch,
Strange and various are our hearts,
But the thought of thy great sorrow
Cruel grief to me imparts.
Erst you slept on couches sumptuous.
Waked to hear the song of praise;
Now on thorny earth reclining,
Hear the sound the jackals raise!
Erst on rice by Brahmans tasted,
Lived my lord of handsome frame;
Now he lives on forest produce.
Thin and pale even like his fame!
On his feet, on jewels resting.
Wreaths of kings their pollen dropped
Now they stray in forest jungle.
By the deer or Brahmans cropped.5
And thy foes thy fall have compassed!
Thoughts like this my bosom rend;
Sufferings of unconquered heroes
Brighter glory on them lend!
"Then spurn this sloth, assume thy prowess,
Dire destruction quick devise;
Hermits saintly, not proud monarchs,
Ever-during patience prize!
If great kings, whose wealth is glory,
Such great insult meekly bore,
Fame and chivalry be banished.
Honour's voice be heard no more!
If forgiveness thou wilt cherish,
Quelling pride and noble ire,
Leave this bow of royal glory,
Plait thy locks and worship fire!
Plighted faith with faithless foemen
Should not fetter thee for shame!
Artful monarchs bent on conquests
Fasten on their foes the blame.
"Fettered by oath, and pale through glory lost,
Of power bereft, on seas of troubles tossed,
Arise, king! thy mighty foemen quell.
As wakes the sun, night's darkness to dispel!"
Bhāravi (6th century) India
Translated by Romesh Chunder Dutt
From "The Hunter and the Hero"
by Romesh Chunder Dutt; Kegan Paul, Trench, Trübner, 1894
- Elephants are supposed at certain seasons to exude a perfumed juice from their temples.
- Duryodhana's younger brother.
- Bhima was the second brother, and Draupadî the wife of Yudhishthira.
- Nakula and Sahadeva, the youngest of the Pandava brothers; Yudhishthira, Bhima, and Arjuna being the elders.
- Brahmans require the forest grass for their sacrifices.
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