THE STORY OF THE OLD SWAN

SRIMAD MAHABHARATA > SABHA PARVA > SHISHUPAALA VADHA PARVA > CHAPTER 40 - THE STORY OF THE OLD SWAN

“Shishupaala said, ‘Old and infamous wretch of your race, you are not ashamed of frightening all these monarchs with these numerous false terrors! You are the foremost of the Kurus, and as you do live in the third state (celibacy or Brahmacharya) it is but fit for you that you should give such counsel that is so wide of Dharma. Like a boat tied to another boat or the blind following the blind, are the Kurus who have you for their guide. You have once more simply pained our hearts by reciting particularly the deeds of this one (Sri Krishna), such as the slaying of Pootana and others.

“Arrogant and ignorant as you are, and desirous of praising Keshava (Sri Krishna), why does not this tongue of yours split up into a hundred parts? How do you, as you are superior in knowledge, desire to praise that cow-boy (Gopa in Sanskrit) in respect of whom even men of little intelligence may address abusively? If (Sri) Krishna in His infancy slew a vulture, what is there remarkable in that, or in that other feat of His, O Bhishma – in His slaughter of Ashwa and Vrishabha, both of whom were unskilled in battle? If this one threw drown by a kick an inanimate piece of wood – a chariot, what is there, O Bhishma, wonderful in that? O Bhishma, what is there remarkable in this one’s having supported for a week the Govardhana mount which is like an anthill? ‘While sporting on the top of a mountain this one ate a large quantity of food,’ – hearing these words of yours many have wondered exceedingly. But, O you who is knowledgeable with the rules of Dharma, is not this still more wrongful that that great person – Kamsa, whose food this one ate, has been slain by Him (Sri Krishna)?

“You are infamous one of the Kuru race, you are ignorant of the rules of Dharma. Have you not ever heard, from wise men speaking to you, what I would now tell you? The virtuous and the wise always instruct the honest that weapons must never be made to descend upon women, cows, Brahmanas, upon those whose food has been taken, and also upon those whose shelter has been enjoyed. It seems, O Bhishma, that all these teachings has been thrown away by you. O infamous one of the Kuru race, desiring to praise Keshava, you describe Him before me as great and superior in knowledge and in age, as if I knew nothing. If at your word, O Bhishma, one that has slain women (meaning Pootana) and cow be worshipped, then what is to become of this great lesson? How can one who is such, deserve praise, O Bhishma?

“‘This one is the foremost of all wise men’, ‘This one is the lord of the universe’ – hearing these words of yours, Janaarddana (Sri Krishna) believes that these are all true. But surely, they are all false. The verses that a chanter sings, even if he sings them often, produce no impression on him. Every creature acts according to its character (Prakruti in Sanskrit), like the bird Bhoolinga (that picks the particles of flesh from between the lion's teeth, though preaching against rashness). Assuredly your character is very mean. There is not the least doubt about it. It also seems, that the Paandavaas who regard (Sri) Krishna as deserving of worship and who have you for their guide, are possessed of a sinful character. Possessing a knowledge of Dharma, you have fallen off from the path of the wise. Therefore, you are sinful.

“Who, O Bhishma, knowing himself to be Dharmic and superior in knowledge, will so act as you have done from motives of virtue? If you know the ways of Dharma, if thy mind is guided by wisdom, blessed be you. Why then, O Bhishma, was that virtuous girl Ambaa, who had set her heart upon another, carried off by you, so proud of wisdom and Dharma? Your brother Vichitraveerya conformably to the ways of the honest and the Dharmic, knowing that girl’s condition, did not marry her though brought by you. Boasting as you do of Dharma, in your very sight, upon the widow of your brother (Vichitraveerya) were sons fathered by another (Maharishi Vyasa) according to the ways of the honest. Where is your Dharma, O Bhishma?

“This your celibacy (Brahmacharya in Sanskrit), which you leadest either from ignorance or from impotence, is fruitless. O you who are conversant with Dharma, I do not see your well-being. You who explain Dharma in this way do not seem to have ever waited upon the elders. Worship, charity, study, yagnas distinguished by large gifts (Dakshina in Sanskrit)– these all equal not in merit even one-sixteenth part of that which is obtainable by the possession of a son. The merit, O Bhishma, that is acquired by numberless vows (Vrata in Sanskrit) and fasts assuredly becomes fruitless in the case of one that is childless. You are childless, old and the propagander of false Dharma. Like the swan in the story, you shall now die at the hands of your relatives. Other men possessed of knowledge have said this for a very long time. I will presently recite it fully in your hearing.

“There lived in ancient days an old swan on the sea-coast. Ever speaking of Dharma, but otherwise in his conduct, he used to instruct the feathery tribe (birds). You practise Dharma and forego sin – these were the words that other truthful birds, O Bhishma, constantly heard him utter and the other egg-born creatures travelling the sea. It has been heard by us, O Bhishma, that for the sake of Dharma bring him food. O Bhishma, all those other birds, keeping their eggs, with him, travelled and dived in the waters of the sea. The sinful old swan, attentive to his own pursuits, used to eat up the eggs of all those birds that foolishly trusted in him. After a while when the eggs were decreasing in number, a bird of great wisdom had his suspicions roused and he even witnessed (the activity) one day. Having witnessed the sinful act of the old swan, that bird in great sorrow spoke to all the other birds. Then, O you best of the Kurus (Bhishma), all those birds witnessing with their own eyes the act of the old swan, approached that wretch of false conduct and slew him.

“Your behaviour, O Bhishma, is like that of the old swan. These lords of earth might slay you in anger like those creatures of the feathery tribe (birds) slaying the old swan. Persons knowledgeable with Puraanaas recite a proverb, O Bhishma, as regards this occurrence, I shall, O Bharata (Bhishma), repeat it to you fully. It is this: ‘O you that support yourself on your wings, though your heart is affected (by the passions), you preach yet (of Dharma); but this your sinful act of eating up the eggs violates yours speech!’

अन्तरात्मनि विनिहिते ; रौषि पत्ररथ वितथम् |

अण्डभक्षणमशुचि ते ; कर्म वाचमतिशयते ||