The Brahmin and His Faithful Ichneumon Flashcards
अस्त्युज्जयिन्यां माठरो नाम ब्राह्मणः । तस्य ब्राह्मणी बालापत्यस्य रक्षार्थं ब्राह्मणमवस्थाप्य स्नातुं गता । य् अथ ब्राह्मणस्य कृते राज्ञः श्राद्धं दातुमाह्वानमागतम् । तच्छ्रुत्वा ब्राह्मणः सहजदारिद्र्यादचिन्तयत् । यदि सत्वरं न गच्छामि तदान्यः कश्चिच्छ्राद्धं ग्रहीष्यति । उक्तं च ।
There is, in Ujjayinī, a Brahmin called Māṭhara. His wife, having left the Brahmin in charge for the purpose of protection of their little child, went to bathe. Now, an invitation came from the king for the Brahmin to perform a funeral oblation. Having heard that, the Brahmin, due to his natural poverty, thought, “If I do not go quickly. then someone else will receive the funeral meal.” And it is said:
आदानस्य प्रदानस्य कर्तव्यस्य च कर्मणः ।
क्षिप्रमक्रियमाणस्य कालः पिबति तद्रसम् ॥
For taking, giving and actions which ought to be done – when not being done immediately, time drinks their essence.
किं तु बालकस्यात्र रक्षको नास्ति ।तत्किं करोमि ।यातु । चिरकालपालितमिमं पुत्रनिर्विशेषं नकुलं बालकरक्षार्थमवस्थाप्य गच्छामि । तथा कृत्वा स तत्र गतः ।
However, there is no guard for the child here. What do I do? So be it! Having left this mongoose whom I have kept for a long time to watch over the child, I will go. Having done thus, he went there.
ततस्तेन नकुलेन बालकसमीपमागच्छता कृष्णसर्पो दृष्टो व्यापादितश्च । अथासौ नकुलो ब्रह्मणमायान्तमवलोक्य रक्तविलिप्तमुखपादः सत्वरमुपागम्य तस्य चरणयोर्लुलोठ । ततोऽसौ ब्राह्मणस्तं तथाविधं दृष्ट्वा मम पुत्रोऽनेन भक्षित इत्यवधार्य व्यापादितवान् । अनन्तरं यावदसावुपसृत्य पश्यति ब्राह्मणस्तावद्बालकः सुस्थः सर्पश्च व्यापादितस्तिष्ठति । ततस्तमुपकारकमेव नकुलं निरूप्य विभावितकृत्यः संतप्तचेताः स परं विषादमगमत् । अतोऽहं ब्रवीमि ।
After that, by that mongoose, who was coming in the vicinity of the child, a black snake was seen and killed. Then, that mongoose, with his face and paws smeared with blood, seeing the Brahmin coming, quickly approached and rolled at his feet. After that, the Brahmin, seeing him in such a state, concluded, “My son has been eaten by the mongoose,” and killed him. Afterwards, having approached, the Brahmin saw the child was perfectly healthy and the dead snake was lying there [on the ground.] Thereupon, realising that mongoose was verily a helper, he whose action was rashly provoked and whose mind was grief stricken was filled with the greatest depression. And hence I say:
य् अतोऽहं ब्रवीमि ।ओऽर्थतत्त्वमविज्ञाय क्रोधस्यैव वशं गतः ।
स तथा तप्यते मूढो ब्राह्मणो नकुलाद्यथा ॥
He who, not understanding the true cause of a situation, falls under the influence of anger, he is a fool who is tormented, like the Brahmin from the mongoose.
