Hearing the words of Rāma the intelligent Lakshmana immediately sent for
the dog and informed Rāma, who, on beholding it, said—"Do thou
communicate thy desire unto me; be not afraid." Thereupon beholding the
king Rāma, the dog, having his head cut off, said "The king is the
protector of animals and their lord. The king is awake when the subjects
are asleep and he protects them. By administering the laws properly the
king protects piety. Without his shelter the subjects meet with
destruction. The king is the lord and father of the whole universe. He
is time, he is Yuga and he is the creation, mobile and immobile. He is
called _Dharma_ because he holdeth all. It is _Dharma_ (virtue) that
upholdeth all mankind. It is by Dharma that the three worlds are being
preserved. It is _Dharma_ or virtue that thwarts the enemies. It is
virtue that governs the subjects duly. It is for this that virtue is
called _Dhārana_ or the holder. The virtue of preservation is the
greatest and confers fruits in after life. There is nothing like virtue
hard to acquire in this world. Charity, kindness, honoring the pious and
innocent conduct constitute the chief virtues; for by those the
well-being of this life and the next is brought about. O Rāghava, O thou
of firms vows—thou art an example of examples. Thou art cognizant of the
conduct of the pious. Thou art like an ocean, the refuge of all virtues.
O foremost of kings, out of ignorance, I have spoken unto thee so many
things. With my head downwards, I beg for thy satisfaction. Be not
offended with me." Hearing those wise words of the dog, Rāma said—"What
shall I do for thee? Do thou mention it confidentially." Whereto the dog
replied, saying:—"It is by piety that a king governs his kingdom—it is
by virtue that a king protects his subjects, becomes a refuge unto all
and removes the fear of his men. Keeping an eye on this, O Rāma do thou
hear, what I say. In the house of a certain Brahman there lives a beggar
by the name of _Sarvarthasiddha_ (_i.e._, who has got all his desires
satisfied). And although I am innocent, he has for nothing hurt me."
Hearing those words Rāma sent his messenger who brought
_Sarvarthasiddha_, master of all subjects. Thereupon beholding Rāma in
the assembly that effulgent and leading twice-born one said:—"O
blameless Rāma, tell me what I shall do for thee." Whereto Rāma said—"O
twice-born one, thou hast hurt this dog. What offence did it commit by
thee that thou didst strike it severely with a rod. Anger is an enemy
which taketh away life. Anger is a sweet-speeched enemy in the garb of a
friend. It is the foremost of passions and like unto a sharp dagger. And
it is anger that stealeth away every thing. It pilfers all that is
acquired by asceticism, sacrifices and gifts. It is proper therefore by
every means to kill anger. Passions are running amock on all sides like
so many exceedingly wicked steeds. Being satiated with of all objects of
enjoyments it is better to govern them by patience. By mind, actions,
words and eyes a man should engage in the well being of people. He
should not injure any body and be not addicted to any thing. The harm,
that a mind not under control, can accomplish, is beyond the range of a
sharp dagger, trodden serpent and of an enemy always enraged. Even the
nature of one, who has learnt humility, cannot be trusted. He, who hides
his nature, himself reveals his true self." Rāma, of unwearied actions,
having said this, _Sarvarthasiddha_, the foremost of twice-born ones,
said:—"Knocking about the whole day for alms I was highly enraged and
struck this dog. It was sitting in the mid-way and I asked it again and
again to move away. Thereupon, moving away and standing with reluctance,
it stood fearfully on the road-side. O descendant of Raghu, I was at
that time stricken with hunger, and struck it for its vicious conduct. O
king of kings, I am guilty in this, and thou must punish me. O lord of
kings, do thou administer punishment unto me,—I shall then be released
from the fear of hell." Thereupon, Rāma asked all the ministers,
saying:—"What is to be done now? What punishment is to be inflicted on
him? We can protect subjects, if we can administer punishment
proportionate to crime." Thereat, Vrigu, Angiras, Kutsa, Vasishtha,
Kashya and other ascetics, the leading preachers, the ministers, the
citizens, and other sages conversant with Sastras, present there,
said:—"A Brāhmana should not be punished with death." The sages
conversant with laws having said this, the ascetics addressed Rāma,
saying:—"O Rāghava, a king is the governor of all—specially thyself.
Thou art the chastiser of the three worlds, the eternal Vishnu." They
all having said this, the dog began:—"Thou didst solemnly say ’What
shall I do for thee?’ Therefore, if thou art gratified with me, and if
thou dost wish to confer boons on me, do thou appoint this Brāhmana as
the head of family." Thereupon, having been thus honored and pleased and
ascending an elephant, he proceeded to occupy his new dignified station.
At this, the councillors of Rāma, surprised, said:—"O thou of great
effulgence, he has not been punished. Rather thou hast conferred on him
a boon." Hearing the words of ministers, Rāma said:—"You do not know the
real truth of the whole thing—the dog knows it well." Being accosted by
Rāma, the dog said:—"O Rāghava, I was the head of the family of
Kālanjava. After the worship of the deities and Brāhmana and the
feasting of the servants, male, and female, I used to take my food. I
used to parcel out things duly, and my mind was not in the least
attached to sin. I used to preserve with great care the articles
belonging to the tutelary deities, was humble, good-natured and engaged
in the well-being of all animals. Still I have fallen into this dreadful
and wretched condition. O Rāghava, this Brāhmana is angry by nature, and
impious, injures others, and is impatient, cruel, harsh in words and
ignorant, and therefore shall degrade his seven generations up and down.
He will by no means be able to discharge the duties of a head of a
family. He, whom thou wishest to take to hell with her son, beasts and
friends, should be engaged in the serving the Brāhmans and kine. For all
his good actions, he is slain who steals the wealth of a Brāhmana, a
deity, a woman, and a boy, and the riches given away by him. O Rāghava,
one who pilfers the riches of a Brāhmana or a deity falls into a hell
called Vichi. Even he who thinks in his mind of stealing it, goes once
and again into hell." Hearing the words of the dog, the eyes of the
effulgent Rāma were expanded with surprise. The dog went back from where
it had come. In its pristine birth the dog was high-minded—it is now
cursed for being born in a degraded state of existence. Thereupon,
repairing at last to Vārānasi the dog took the vow of fasting.