सूर्य–कर्णोपदेशः
Sūrya’s Counsel to Karṇa on Kīrti and the Kuṇḍala
स यत् काष्ठ तृणं वापि शिलां वा क्षेप्स्यते मयि । सर्व तद् धारयिष्यामि स ते सेतुर्भविष्यति,“वह अपने हाथसे उठाकर जो भी काठ, तिनका या पत्थर मेरे भीतर डाल देगा, वह सब मैं जलके ऊपर-धारण किये रहूँगा। वही तुम्हारे लिये पुल हो जायगा”
sa yat kāṣṭha-tṛṇaṃ vāpi śilāṃ vā kṣepsyate mayi | sarvaṃ tad dhārayiṣyāmi sa te setur bhaviṣyati ||
قال ماركاندييا: «أيًّا يكن ما يلقيه فيَّ—خشبًا أو عُشبةً أو حجرًا—فسأحمله كلَّه فوق المياه. وتلك الكتلة بعينها ستغدو لكم جسرًا.»
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Even the smallest offering or effort, when placed with trust in a sustaining power, can become the means of crossing a great obstacle; steadfast support and assurance transform scattered materials into a path.
Mārkaṇḍeya reports a promise: whatever wood, grass, or stones are thrown into the speaker’s body (as into the waters), he will hold them afloat so that they accumulate into a bridge for the intended crossing.