________________
147
(27) दृष्ट्वाऽमुं कविना पृष्टश्चाणाक्यः स्वपुरः स्थितः ।
भट्ट किं कारणं दर्भसूचीं खनसि मे वद ।। When Kavi saw Cāņākya in front of him, he asked, 'Oh brahmin, why are you digging out this darbha grass ?' (28) कवेर्वचनमाकर्ण्य चाणाक्यो निजगावमुम् ।
दर्भसूच्याऽनया विद्धो व्रजन् पादे सुतीक्ष्णया ।। After having heard the words of Kavi, Cāņākya answered, “The sharp point of this darbha grass pierced my foot.' (29) पश्य पादमिमं भिन्नमनया रुधिरारुणम् ।
शेषतोन्मूलयाम्येतां दर्भसूची नरोत्तम ।। 'Oh gentleman, see my bleeding foot. I am going to dig this sharp grass upto its root.' (30) अवाचि कविना भूयश्चाणाक्य: खिन्नविग्रहः ।
खातं बहु त्वया विप्र पर्याप्तं खननेन ते ।। When Kavi saw Cāņākya completely fatigued with exertion, he said again, 'Oh brahmin, you have dug it sufficiently. So now stop it.' (31) कविवाक्यं समाकर्ण्य चाणाक्यो निजगावमुम् ।
तदाग्रहसमुद्भूतविस्मयव्याप्तमानसः ।। Cāņakya was surprised at Kavi's insistence and said his mind was averwhelmed by wonder and he exclaimed (32) मूलं नोन्मूलते यस्य तत्किं खातं भवेद् भुवि ।
स किं हतो नरैरज्ञैश्छिद्यते यस्य नो शिरः ।। "What is the use of the digging unless the thing is completely uprooted ? Foolish are those persons who intend cpmplete destruction of a man and still do not cut his head off.' (33) यावन्मूलं न चाप्नोति दर्भसूच्याः कृताग्रसः ।
भूयो भूयः प्रबन्धेन तेन यावत् खनाम्यहम् ।। ‘Unless I reach theroot of this wretched grass, I will dig again and