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6
 
THE RAMAYANA
 
The twice-born sage, seeing the female

bird piteously crying and realising the un-

righteousness of the act through his com-

passionate nature, spoke the following

words :
 

 
मा निषाद प्रतिष्ठां त्वम् अगमश्शाश्वतीस्समाः ।

यत् क्रौञ्चमिथुनादेकम् अवधीः काममोहितम् ॥
 

"O hunter ! you shall have no good

name for endless years, since you have

killed one of the couple of Krauncha birds

whilst in the transport of love."
 

 
तस्यैवं ब्रुवतश्चिन्ता बभूव हृदि वीक्षतः ।

शोकार्तेनास्य शकुनेः किमिदं व्याहृतं मया ॥
 

As he thus spoke and looked, the

thought arose in his heart-what is it that

has been uttered by me in my sorrow for

this bird ?
 

 
चिन्तयन् स महाप्राज्ञश् चकार मतिमान् मतिम् ।
.

शिष्यं चैवाब्रवीद्वाक्यम् इदं स मुनिपुङ्गवः ॥
 

Thinking thus, the wise and intelligent

one came to a decision. And the foremost

of ascetics spoke these words to his pupil: