The Sacred
Scripture of great Epic Sree
Mahabharatam:
The Mahabharata
Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasatranslated by
Sreemaan Brahmasri Kisari Mohan Ganguli
Book 1 (Adiparva)
Chapter 51
1 [j]
bālo vākyaṃ sthavira iva prabhāṣate; nāyaṃ bālaḥ sthaviro 'yaṃ mato me
icchāmy ahaṃ varam asmai pradātuṃ; tan me viprā vitaradhvaṃ sametāḥ
2 [sadasyāh]
bālo 'pi vipro mānya eveha rājñāṃ; yaś cāvidvān yaś ca vidvān yathāvat
sarvān kāmāṃs tvatta eṣo 'rhate 'dya; yathā ca nas takṣaka eti śīghram
3 [s]
vyāhartukāme varade nṛpe dvijaṃ; varaṃ vṛṇīṣveti tato 'bhyuvāca
hotā vākyaṃ nātihṛṣṭāntar ātmā; karmaṇy asmiṃs takṣako naiti tāvat
4 [j]
yathā cedaṃ karma samāpyate me; yathā ca nas takṣaka eti śīghram
tathā bhavantaḥ prayatantu sarve; paraṃ śaktyā sa hi me vidviṣāṇaḥ
5 [rtvijah]
yathāśāstrāṇi naḥ prāhur yathā śaṃsati pāvakaḥ
indrasya bhavane rājaṃs takṣako bhayapīḍitaḥ
6 [s]
yathā sūto lohitākṣo mahātmā; paurāṇiko veditavān purastāt
sa rājānaṃ prāha pṛṣṭas tadānīṃ; yathāhur viprās tadvad etan nṛdeva
7 purāṇam āgamya tato bravīmy ahaṃ; dattaṃ tasmai varam indreṇa rājan
vaseha tvaṃ matsakāśe sugupto; na pāvakas tvāṃ pradahiṣyatīti
8 etac chrutvā dīkṣitas tapyamāna; āste hotāraṃ codayan karmakāle
hotā ca yattaḥ sa juhāva mantrair; atho indraḥ svayam evājagāma
9 vimānam āruhya mahānubhāvaḥ; sarvair devaiḥ parisaṃstūyamānaḥ
balāhakaiś cāpy anugamyamāno; vidyādharair apsarasāṃ gaṇaiś ca
10 tasyottarīye nihitaḥ sa nāgo; bhayodvignaḥ śarma naivābhyagacchat
tato rājā mantravido 'bravīt punaḥ; kruddho vākyaṃ takṣakasyāntam icchan
11 indrasya bhavane viprā yadi nāgaḥ sa takṣakaḥ
tam indreṇaiva sahitaṃ pātayadhvaṃ vibhāvasau
12 [rtvijah]
ayam āyāti vai tūrṇaṃ takṣakas te vaśaṃ nṛpa
śrūyate 'sya mahān nādo ruvato bhairavaṃ bhayāt
13 nūnaṃ mukto vajrabhṛtā sa nāgo; bhraṣṭaś cāṅkān mantravisrasta kāyaḥ
ghūrṇann ākāśe naṣṭasaṃjño 'bhyupaiti; tīvrān niḥśvāsān niḥśvasan pannagendraḥ
14 vartate tava rājendra karmaitad vidhivat prabho
asmai tu dvijamukhyāya varaṃ tvaṃ dātum arhasi
15 [j]
bālābhirūpasya tavāprameya; varaṃ prayacchāmi yathānurūpam
vṛṇīṣva yat te 'bhimataṃ hṛdi sthitaṃ; tat te pradāsyāmy api ced adeyam
16 [s]
patiṣyamāṇe nāgendre takṣake jātavedasi
idam antaram ity evaṃ tadāstīko 'bhyacodayat
17 varaṃ dadāsi cen mahyaṃ vṛṇomi janamejaya
satraṃ te viramatv etan na pateyur ihoragāḥ
18 evam uktas tato rājā brahman pārikṣitas tadā
nātihṛṣṭamanā vākyam āstīkam idam abravīt
19 suvarṇaṃ rajataṃ gāś ca yac cānyan manyase vibho
tat te dadyāṃ varaṃ vipra na nivartet kratur mama
20 [ā]
suvarṇaṃ rajataṃ gāś ca na tvāṃ rājan vṛṇomy aham
satraṃ te viramatv etat svasti mātṛkulasya naḥ
21 [s]
āstīkenaivam uktas tu rājā pārikṣitas tadā
punaḥ punar uvācedam āstīkaṃ vadatāṃ varam
22 anyaṃ varaya bhadraṃ te varaṃ dvija varottama
ayācata na cāpy anyaṃ varaṃ sa bhṛgunandana
23 tato vedavidas tatra sadasyāḥ sarva eva tam
rājānam ūcuḥ sahitā labhatāṃ brāhmaṇo varam
SECTION LI
(Astika
Parva continued)
'Sauti said, 'King Janamejaya having said so,
his ministers expressed their approbation. And the monarch then expressed his
determination to perform a snake-sacrifice. And that lord of the Earth--that
tiger of the Bharata race--the son of Parikshit, then called his priest and Ritwiks.
And accomplished in speech, he spake unto them these words relating to the
accomplishment of his great task. 'I must avenge myself on the wretch Takshaka
who killed my father. Tell me what I must do. Do you know any act by which I
may cast into the blazing fire the snake Takshaka with his relatives? I desire
to burn that wretch even as he burnt, of yore, by the fire of his poison, my
father.''The chief priest answered, 'There is, O king, a great sacrifice for thee devised by the gods themselves. It is known as the snake-sacrifice, and is read of in the Puranas. O king, thou alone canst accomplish it, and no one else. Men versed in the Puranas have told us, there is such a sacrifice.'
"Sauti continued, 'Thus addressed, the king, O excellent one, thought Takshaka to be already burnt and thrown into the blazing mouth of Agni, the eater of the sacrificial butter. The king then said unto those Brahmanas versed in mantras, 'I shall make preparations for that sacrifice. Tell me the things that are necessary.' And the king's Ritwiks, O excellent Brahmana, versed in the Vedas and acquainted with the rites of that sacrifice measured, according to the scriptures, the land for the sacrificial platform. And the platform was decked with valuable articles and with Brahmanas. And it was full of precious things and paddy. And the Ritwika sat upon it at ease. And after the sacrificial platform had been thus constructed according to rule and as desired, they installed the king at the
p. 107
snake-sacrifice for the attainment of its object. And before the commencement of the snake-Sacrifice that was to come, there occurred this very important incident foreboding obstruction to the sacrifice. For when the sacrificial platform was being constructed, a professional builder of great intelligence and well-versed in the knowledge of laying foundations, a Suta by caste, well-acquainted with the Puranas, said, 'The soil upon which and the time at which the measurement for the sacrificial platform has been made, indicate that this sacrifice will not be completed, a Brahmana becoming the reason thereof.' Hearing this, the king, before his installation, gave orders to his gate-keepers not to admit anybody without his knowledge."
Book
1
Chapter 52
1 [ṣ]
ye sarpāḥ sarpasatre 'smin patitā havyavāhane
teṣāṃ nāmāni sarveṣāṃ śrotum icchāmi sūtaja
2 [s]
sahasrāṇi bahūny asmin prayutāny arbudāni ca
na śakyaṃ parisaṃkhyātuṃ bahutvād vedavittama
3 yathā smṛtitu nāmāni pannagānāṃ nibodha me
ucyamānāni mukhyānāṃ hutānāṃ jātavedasi
4 vāsukeḥ kulajāṃs tāvat pradhānyena nibodha me
nīlaraktān sitān ghorān mahākāyān viṣolbaṇān
5 koṭiko mānasaḥ pūrṇaḥ sahaḥ paulo halīsakaḥ
picchilaḥ koṇapaś cakraḥ koṇa vegaḥ prakālanaḥ
6 hiraṇyavāhaḥ śaraṇaḥ kakṣakaḥ kāladantakaḥ
ete vāsukijā nāgāḥ praviṣṭā havyavāhanam
7 takṣakasya kule jātān pravakṣyāmi nibodha tān
pucchaṇḍako maṇḍalakaḥ piṇḍa bhettā rabheṇakaḥ
8 ucchikhaḥ suraso draṅgo balaheḍo virohaṇaḥ
śilī śala karo mūkaḥ sukumāraḥ pravepanaḥ
9 mudgaraḥ śaśaromā ca sumanā vegavāhanaḥ
ete takṣakajā nāgāḥ praviṣṭā havyavāhanam
10 pārāvataḥ pāriyātraḥ pāṇḍaro hariṇaḥ kṛśaḥ
vihaṃgaḥ śarabho modaḥ pramodaḥ saṃhatāṅgadaḥ
11 airāvata kulād ete praiviṣṭā havyavāhanam
kauravya kulajān nāgāñ śṛṇu me dvijasattama
12 aiṇḍilaḥ kuṇḍalo muṇḍo veṇi skandhaḥ kumārakaḥ
bāhukaḥ śṛṅgavegaś ca dhūrtakaḥ pātapātarau
13 dhṛtarāṣṭra kule jātāñ śṛṇu nāgān yathātatham
kīrtyamānān mayā brahman vātavegān viṣolbaṇān
14 śaṅkukarṇaḥ piṅgalakaḥ kuṭhāra mukhamecakau
pūrṇāṅgadaḥ pūrṇamukhaḥ prahasaḥ śakunir hariḥ
15 āmāhaṭhaḥ komaṭhakaḥ śvasano mānavo vaṭaḥ
bhairavo muṇḍavedāṅgaḥ piśaṅgaś codra pāragaḥ
16 ṛṣabho vegavān nāma piṇḍāraka mahāhanū
raktāṅgaḥ sarvasāraṅgaḥ samṛddhaḥ pāṭa rākṣasau
17 varāhako vāraṇakaḥ sumitraś citravedakaḥ
parāśaras taruṇako maṇiskandhas tathāruṇiḥ
18 iti nāgā mayā brahman kīrtitāḥ kīrtivardhanāḥ
pradhānyena bahutvāt tu na sarve parikīrtitāḥ
19 eteṣāṃ putrapautrās tu prasavasya ca saṃtatiḥ
na śakyāḥ parisaṃkhyātuṃ ye dīptaṃ pāvakaṃ gatāḥ
20 sapta śīrṣā dviśīrṣāś ca pañcaśīrṣās tathāpare
kālānalaviṣā ghorā hutāḥ śatasahasraśaḥ
21 mahākāyā mahāvīryāḥ śailaśṛṅgasamucchrayāḥ
yojanāyāma vistārā dviyojanasamāyatāḥ
22 kāmarūpāḥ kāmagamā dīptānalaviṣolbaṇāḥ
dagdhās tatra mahāsatre brahmadaṇḍanipīḍitāḥ
SECTION LII
(Astika
Parva continued)
"Sauti said, 'The snake-sacrifice then
commenced according to due form. And the sacrificial priests, competent in
their respective duties according to the ordinance, clad in black garments and
their eyes red from contact with smoke, poured clarified butter into the
blazing fire, uttering the appropriate mantras. And causing the hearts
of all the snakes to tremble with fear, they poured clarified butter into the
mouth of Agni uttering the names of the snakes. And the snakes thereupon began
to fall into the blazing fire, benumbed and piteously calling upon one another.
And swollen and breathing hard, and twining each other with their heads and
tails, they came in large numbers and fell into the fire. The white, the black,
the blue, the old and the young--all fell alike into the fire, uttering various
cries. Those measuring a krosa, and those measuring a yojana, and
those of the measure of a gokarna, fell continuously with great violence
into that first of all fires. And hundreds and thousands and tens of thousands
of snakes, deprived of all control over their limbs, perished on that occasion.
And amongst those that perished, there were some that were like horses, other
like trunks of elephants, and others of huge bodies and strength like maddened
elephants Of various colours and virulent poison, terrible and looking like
maces furnished with iron-spikes, of great strength, ever inclined to bite, the
snakes, afflicted with their mother's curse, fell into the fire.'"
Book
1
Chapter 53
1 [s]
idam atyadbhutaṃ cānyad āstīkasyānuśuśrumaḥ
tathā varaiś chandyamāne rājñā pārikṣitena ha
2 indrahastāc cyuto nāgaḥ kha eva yad atiṣṭhata
tataś cintāparo rājā babhūva janamejayaḥ
3 hūyamāne bhṛśaṃ dīpte vidhivat pāvake tadā
na sma sa prāpatad vahnau takṣako bhayapīḍitaḥ
4 [ṣau]
kiṃ sūta teṣāṃ viprāṇāṃ mantragrāmo manīṣiṇām
na pratyabhāt tadāgnau yan na papāta sa takṣakaḥ
5 [s]
tam indrahastād visrastaṃ visaṃjñaṃ pannagottamam
āstīkas tiṣṭha tiṣṭheti vācas tisro 'bhyudairayat
6 vitasthe so 'ntarikṣe 'tha hṛdayena vidūyatā
yathā tiṣṭheta vai kaś cid gocakrasyāntarā naraḥ
7 tato rājābravīd vākyaṃ sadasyaiś codito bhṛśam
kāmam etad bhavatv evaṃ yathāstīkasya bhāṣitam
8 samāpyatām idaṃ karma pannagāḥ santv anāmayāḥ
prīyatām ayam āstīkaḥ satyaṃ sūtavaco 'stu tat
9 tato halahalāśabdaḥ prītijaḥ samavartata
āstīkasya vare datte tathaivopararāma ca
10 sa yajñaḥ pāṇḍaveyasya rājñaḥ pārikṣitasya ha
prītimāṃś cābhavad rājā bhārato janamejayaḥ
11 ṛtvigbhyaḥ sasadasyebhyo ye tatrāsan samāgatāḥ
tebhyaś ca pradadau vittaṃ śataśo 'tha sahasraśaḥ
12 lohitākṣāya sūtāya tathā sthapataye vibhuḥ
yenoktaṃ tatra satrāgre yajñasya vinivartanam
13 nimittaṃ brāhmaṇa iti tasmai vittaṃ dadau bahu
tataś cakārāvabhṛthaṃ vidhidṛṣṭtena karmaṇā
14 āstīkaṃ preṣayām āsa gṛhān eva susatkṛtam
rājā prītamanāḥ prītaṃ kṛtakṛtyaṃ manīṣiṇam
15 punarāgamanaṃ kāryam iti cainaṃ vaco 'bravīt
bhaviṣyasi sadasyo me vājimedhe mahākratau
16 tathety uktvā pradudrāva sa cāstīko mudā yutaḥ
kṛtvā svakāryam atulaṃ toṣayitvā ca pārthivam
17 sa gatvā paramaprīto mātaraṃ mātulaṃ ca tam
abhigamyopasaṃgṛhya yathāvṛttaṃ nyavedayat
18 etac chrutvā prīyamāṇāḥ sametā; ye tatrāsan pannagā vītamohāḥ
ta āstīke vai prītimanto babhūvur; ūcuś cainaṃ varam iṣṭaṃ vṛṇīṣva
19 bhūyo bhūyaḥ sarvaśas te 'bruvaṃs taṃ; kiṃ te priyaṃ karavāmo 'dya vidvan
prītā vayaṃ mokṣitāś caiva sarve; kāmaṃ kiṃ te karavāmo 'dya vatsa
20 [ā]
sāyaṃprātaḥ suprasannātma rūpā; loke viprā mānavāś cetare 'pi
dharmākhyānaṃ ye vadeyur mamedaṃ; teṣāṃ yuṣmadbhyo naiva kiṃ cid bhayaṃ syāt
21 [s]
taiś cāpy ukto bhāgineyaḥ prasannair; etat satyaṃ kāmam evaṃ carantaḥ
prītyā yuktā īpsitaṃ sarvaśas te; kartāraḥ sma pravaṇā bhāgineya
22 jaratkāror jaratkārvāṃ samutpanno mahāyaśāḥ
āstīkaḥ satyasaṃdho māṃ pannagebhyo 'bhirakṣatu
23 asitaṃ cārtimantaṃ ca sunīthaṃ cāpi yaḥ smaret
divā vā yadi vā rātrau nāsya sarpabhayaṃ bhavet
24 [s]
mokṣayitvā sa bhujagān sarpasatrād dvijottamaḥ
jagāma kāle dharmātmā diṣṭāntaṃ putrapautravān
25 ity ākhyānaṃ mayāstīkaṃ yathāvat kīrtitaṃ tava
yat kīrtayitvā sarpebhyo na bhayaṃ vidyate kva cit
26 śrutvā dharmiṣṭham ākhyānam ātīkaṃ puṇyavardhanam
āstīkasya kaver vipra śrīmac caritam āditaḥ
27 [ṣ]
bhṛguvaṃśāt prabhṛty eva tvayā me kathitaṃ mahat
ākhyānam akhilaṃ tāta saute prīto 'smi tena te
28 prakṣyāmi caiva bhūyas tvāṃ yathāvat sūtanandana
yāṃ kathāṃ vyāsa saṃpannāṃ tāṃ ca bhūyaḥ pracakṣva me
29 tasmin paramaduṣprāpe sarpasatre mahātmanām
karmāntareṣu vidhivat sadasyānāṃ mahākave
30 yā babhūvuḥ kathāś citrā yeṣv artheṣu yathātatham
tvatta icchāmahe śrotuṃ saute tvaṃ vai vicakṣaṇaḥ
31 [s]
karmāntareṣv akathayan dvijā vedāśrayāḥ kathāḥ
vyāsas tv akathayan nityam ākhyānaṃ bhārataṃ mahat
32 [ṣ]
mahābhāratam ākhyānaṃ pāṇḍavānāṃ yaśaḥ karam
janamejayena yat pṛṣṭaḥ kṛṣṇadvaipāyanas tadā
33 śrāvayām āsa vidhivat tadā karmāntareṣu saḥ
tām ahaṃ vidhivat puṇyāṃ śrotum icchāmi vai kathām
34 manaḥ sāgarasaṃbhūtāṃ maharṣeḥ puṇyakarmaṇaḥ
kathayasva satāṃ śreṣṭha na hi tṛpyāmi sūtaja
35 [s]
hanta te kathayiṣyāmi mahad ākhyānam uttamam
kṛṣṇadvaipāyana mataṃ mahābhāratam āditaḥ
36 taj juṣasvottama mate kathyamānaṃ mayā dvija
śaṃsituṃ tan mano harṣo mamāpīha pravartate
SECTION LIII
(Astika
Parva continued)
"Saunaka asked, 'What great Rishis
became the Ritwiks at the snake-sacrifice of the wise king Janamejaya of
the Pandava line? Who also becamep. 108
the Sadasyas in that terrible snake-sacrifice, so frightful to the snakes, and begetting such sorrow in them? It behoveth thee to describe all these in detail, so that, O son of Suta, we may know who were acquainted with the rituals of the snake-sacrifice.'
"Sauti replied, 'I will recite the names of those wise ones who became the monarch's Ritwiks and Sadasyas. The Brahmana Chandabhargava became the Hotri in that sacrifice. He was of great reputation, and was born in the race of Chyavana and was the foremost of those acquainted with the Vedas. The learned old Brahmana, Kautsa, became the Udgatri, the chanter of the Vedic hymns. Jaimini became the Brahmana, and Sarngarva and Pingala the Adhvaryus, Vyasa with his son and disciples, and Uddalaka, Pramataka, Swetaketu, Pingala, Asita, Devala, Narada, Parvata, Atreya, Kundajathara, the Brahmana Kalaghata, Vatsya, old Srutasravas ever engaged in japa and the study of the Vedas. Kohala Devasarman, Maudgalya, Samasaurava, and many other Brahmanas who had got through the Vedas became the Sadasyas at that sacrifice of the son of Parikshit.
"When the Ritwiks in that snake-sacrifice began to pour clarified butter into the fire, terrible snakes, striking fear into every creature, began to fall into it. And the fat and the marrow of the snakes thus falling into the fire began to flow in rivers. And the atmosphere was filled with an insufferable stench owing to the incessant burning of the snakes. And incessant also were the cries of the snakes fallen into the fire and those in the air about to fall into it.
'Meanwhile, Takshaka, that prince of snakes, as soon as he heard that king Janamejaya was engaged in the sacrifice, went to the palace of Purandara (Indra). And that best of snakes, having represented all that had taken place, sought in terror the protection of Indra after having acknowledged his fault. And Indra, gratified, told him, 'O prince of snakes, O Takshaka, here thou hast no fear from that snake-sacrifice. The Grandsire was pacified by me for thy sake. Therefore, thou hast no fear. Let this fear of thy heart be allayed.'
Sauti continued, 'Thus encouraged by him, that best of snakes began to dwell in Indra's abode in joy and happiness. But Vasuki, seeing that the snakes were incessantly falling into the fire and that his family was reduced to only a few, became exceedingly sorry. And the king of the snakes was afflicted with great grief, and his heart was about to break. And summoning his sister, he spake unto her, saying, 'O amiable one, my limbs are burning and I no longer see the points of the heavens. I am about to fall down from loss of consciousness. My mind is turning, my sight is falling and my heart is breaking. Benumbed, I may fall today into that blazing fire! This sacrifice of the son of Parikshit is for the extermination of our race. It is evident I also shall have to go to the abode of the king of the dead. The time is come, O my sister, on account of which thou wert bestowed by me on Jaratkaru to protect us with our relatives. O best of
p. 109
the women of the snake race, Astika will put an end to the sacrifice that is going on. The Grandsire told me this of old. Therefore, O child, solicit thy dear son who is fully conversant with the Vedas and regarded even by the old, for the protection of myself and also of those dependent on me."'
Book
1
Chapter 54
1 [s]
śrutvā tu sarpasatrāya dīkṣitaṃ janamejayam
abhyāgacchad ṛṣir vidvān kṛṣṇadvaipāyanas tadā
2 janayām āsa yaṃ kālī śakteḥ putrāt parāśarāt
kanyaiva yamunā dvīpe pāṇḍavānāṃ pitāmaham
3 jātamātraś ca yaḥ sadya iṣṭyā deham avīvṛdhat
vedāṃś cādhijage sāṅgān setihāsān mahāyaśāḥ
4 yaṃ nātitapasā kaś cin na vedādhyayanena ca
na vratair nopavāsaiś ca na prasūtyā na manyunā
5 vivyāsaikaṃ caturdhā yo vedaṃ veda vidāṃ varaḥ
parāvarajño brahmarṣiḥ kaviḥ satyavrataḥ śuciḥ
6 yaḥ pāṇḍuṃ dhṛtarāṣṭraṃ ca viduraṃ cāpy ajījanat
śaṃtanoḥ saṃtatiṃ tanvan puṇyakīrtir mahāyaśāḥ
7 janamejayasya rājarṣeḥ sa tad yajñasadas tadā
viveśa śiṣyaiḥ sahito vedavedāṅgapāragaiḥ
8 tatra rājānam āsīnaṃ dadarśa janamejayam
vṛtaṃ sadasyair bahubhir devair iva puraṃdaram
9 tathā mūdhvāvasiktaiś ca nānājanapadeśvaraiḥ
ṛtvigbhir devakalpaiś ca kuśalair yajñasaṃstare
10 janamejayas tu rājarṣir dṛṣṭvā tam ṛṣim āgatam
sagaṇo 'byudyayau tūrṇaṃ prītyā bharatasattamaḥ
11 kāñcanaṃ viṣṭaraṃ tasmai sadasyānumate prabhuḥ
āsanaṃ kalpayām āsa yathā śakro bṛhaspateḥ
12 tatropaviṣṭaṃ varadaṃ devarṣigaṇapūjitam
pūjayām āsa rājendraḥ śāstradṛṣṭena karmaṇā
13 pādyam ācamanīyaṃ ca arghyaṃ gāṃ ca vidhānataḥ
pitāmahāya kṛṣṇāya tad arhāya nyavedayat
14 pratigṛhya ca tāṃ pūjāṃ pāṇḍavāj janamejayāt
gāṃ caiva samanujñāya vyāsaḥ prīto 'bhavat tadā
15 tathā saṃpūjayitvā taṃ yatnena prapitāmaham
upopaviśya prītātmā paryapṛcchad anāmayam
16 bhagavān api taṃ dṛṣṭvā kuśalaṃ prativedya ca
sadasyaiḥ pūjitaḥ sarvaiḥ sadasyān abhyapūjayat
17 tatas taṃ satkṛtaṃ sarvaiḥ sadasyair janamejayaḥ
idaṃ paścād dvijaśreṣṭhaṃ paryapṛcchat kṛtāñjaliḥ
18 kurūṇāṃ pāṇḍavānāṃ ca bhavān pratyakṣadarśivān
teṣāṃ caritam icchāmi kathyamānaṃ tvayā dvija
19 kathaṃ samabhavad bhedas teṣām akliṣṭakarmaṇām
tac ca yuddhaṃ kathaṃ vṛttaṃ bhūtānta karaṇaṃ mahat
20 pitāmahānāṃ sarveṣāṃ daivenāviṣṭa cetasām
kārtsnyenaitat samācakṣva bhagavan kuśalo hy asi
21 tasya tad vacanaṃ śrutvā kṛṣṇadvaipāyanas tadā
śaśāsa śiṣyam āsīnaṃ vaiśampāyanam antike
22 kurūṇāṃ pāṇḍavānāṃ ca yathā bhedo 'bhavat purā
tad asmai sarvam ācakṣva yan mattaḥ śrutavān asi
23 guror vacanam ājñāya sa tu viprarṣabhas tadā
ācacakṣe tataḥ sarvam itihāsaṃ purātanam
24 tasmai rājñe sadasyebhyaḥ kṣatriyebhyaś ca sarvaśaḥ
bhedaṃ rājyavināśaṃ ca kurupāṇḍavayos tadā
SECTION LIV
(Astika
Parva continued)
"Sauti said, 'Then the snake-dame
Jaratkaru, calling her own son, told him the following words according to the
directions of Vasuki, the king of the snakes. 'O son, the time is come for the
accomplishment of that object for which I was bestowed on thy father by my
brother. Therefore, do thou that which should be done.'"Astika asked, 'Why wert thou, O mother, bestowed on my father by my uncle? Tell me all truly so that on hearing it, I may do what is proper.'
"Then Jaratkaru, the sister of the king of the snakes, herself unmoved by the general distress, and even desirous of the welfare of her relatives, said unto him, 'O son, it is said that the mother of all the snakes is Kadru. Know thou why she cursed in anger her sons.' Addressing the snakes she said, 'As ye have refused to falsely represent Uchchaihsravas, the prince of horses, for bringing about Vinata's bondage according to the wager, therefore, shall he whose charioteer is Vayu burn you all in Janamejaya's sacrifice. And perishing in that sacrifice, ye shall go to the region of the unredeemed spirits.' The Grandsire of all the worlds spake unto her while uttering this curse, 'Be it so,' and thus approved of her speech. Vasuki, having heard that curse and then the words of the Grandsire, sought the protection of the gods, O child, on the occasion when the amrita was being churned for. And the gods, their object fulfilled, for they had obtained the excellent amrita, with Vasuki ahead, approached the Grandsire. And all the gods, with king Vasuki, sought to incline Him who was born of the lotus to be propitious, so that the curse might be made abortive.'
"And the gods said, 'O Lord, Vasuki, the king of the snakes, is sorry on account of his relatives. How may his mother's curse prove abortive?'
"Brahman thereupon replied, saying, 'Jaratkaru will take unto himself a wife of the name of Jaratkaru; the Brahmana born of her will relieve the snakes.'
"Vasuki, the best of snakes, hearing those words, bestowed me, O thou of godlike looks, on thy high-souled father some time before the commencement of the sacrifice. And from that marriage thou art born of me. That time has come. It behoveth thee to protect us from this danger. It behoveth thee to protect my brother and myself from the fire, so that the object, viz., our relief, for which I was bestowed on thy wise father, may not be unfulfilled. What dost thou think, O son?'
p. 110
"Sauti continued, 'Thus addressed, Astika said unto his mother, 'Yes, I will.' And he then addressed the afflicted Vasuki, and as if infusing life into him, said, 'O Vasuki, thou best of snakes, thou great being, truly do I say, I shall relieve thee from that curse. Be easy, O snake! There is no fear any longer. I shall strive earnestly so that good may come! Nobody hath ever said that my speech, even in jest, hath proved false. Hence on serious occasions like this, I need not say anything more, O uncle, going thither today I shall gratify, with words mixed with blessings, the monarch Janamejaya installed at the sacrifice, so that, O excellent one, the sacrifice may stop. O highminded one, O king of the snakes, believe all that I say. Believe me, my resolve can never be unfulfilled.'
"And Vasuki then said, 'O Astika, my head swims and my heart breaks. I cannot discern the points of the earth, as I am afflicted with a mother's curse.'
"And Astika said, 'Thou best of snakes, it behoveth thee not to grieve any longer. I shall dispel this fear of thine from the blazing fire. This terrible punishment, capable of burning like the fire at the end of the Yuga, I shall extinguish. Nurse not thy fear any longer.'
"Sauti continued, 'Then that best of Brahmanas, Astika, quelling the terrible fear of the Vasuki's heart, and taking it, as it were, on himself, wended, for the relief of the king of the snakes, with speed to Janamejaya's sacrifice blessed with every merit. And Astika having gone thither, beheld the excellent sacrificial compound with numerous Sadasyas on it whose splendour was like unto that of the Sun or Agni. But that best of Brahmanas was refused admittance by the door-keepers. And the mighty ascetic gratified them, being desirous of entering the sacrificial compound. And that best of Brahmanas, that foremost of all virtuous men, having entered the excellent sacrificial compound, began to adore the king of infinite achievements, Ritwiks, the Sadasyas, and also the sacred fire.'"
Book
1
Chapter 55
1 [vai]
gurave prāṅ namaskṛtya mano buddhisamādhibhiḥ
saṃpūjya ca dvijān sarvāṃs tathānyān viduṣo janān
2 maharṣeḥ sarvalokeṣu viśrutasyāsya dhīmataḥ
pravakṣyāmi mataṃ kṛtsnaṃ vyāsasyāmita tejasaḥ
3 śrotuṃ pātraṃ ca rājaṃs tvaṃ prāpyemāṃ bhāratīṃ kathām
guror vaktuṃ parispando mudā protsāhatīva mām
4 śṛṇu rājan yathā bhedaḥ kurupāṇḍavayor abhūt
rājyārthe dyūtasaṃbhūto vanavāsas tathaiva ca
5 yathā ca yuddham abhavat pṛthivī kṣayakārakam
tat te 'haṃ saṃpravakṣyāmi pṛcchate bharatarṣabha
6 mṛte pitari te vīrā vanād etya svamandiram
nacirād iva vidvāṃso vede dhanuṣi cābhavan
7 tāṃs tathārūpavīryaujaḥ saṃpannān paurasaṃmatān
nāmṛṣyan kuravo dṛṣṭvā pāṇḍavāñ śrīyaśo bhṛtaḥ
8 tato duryodhanaḥ krūraḥ karṇaś ca sahasaubalaḥ
teṣāṃ nigrahanirvāsān vividhāṃs te samācaran
9 dadāv atha viṣaṃ pāpo bhīmāya dhṛtarāṣṭrajaḥ
jarayām āsa tad vīraḥ sahānnena vṛkodaraḥ
10 pramāṇa koṭyāṃ saṃsuptaṃ punar baddhvā vṛkodaram
toyeṣu bhīmaṃ gaṅgāyāḥ prakṣipya puram āvrajat
11 yadā prabuddhaḥ kaunteyas tadā saṃchidya bandhanam
udatiṣṭhan mahārāja bhīmaseno gatavyathaḥ
12 āśīviṣaiḥ kṛṣṇasarpaiḥ suptaṃ cainam adaṃśayat
sarveṣv evāṅgadeśeṣu na mamāra ca śatruhā
13 teṣāṃ tu viprakāreṣu teṣu teṣu mahāmatiḥ
mokṣaṇe pratighāte ca viduro 'vahito 'bhavat
14 svargastho jīvalokasya yathā śakraḥ sukhāvahaḥ
pāṇḍavānāṃ tathā nityaṃ viduro 'pi sukhāvahaḥ
15 yadā tu vividhopāyaiḥ saṃvṛtair vivṛtair api
nāśaknod vinihantuṃ tān daivabhāvy artharakṣitān
16 tataḥ saṃmantrya sacivair vṛṣaduḥśāsanādibhiḥ
dhṛtarāṣṭram anujñāpya jātuṣaṃ gṛham ādiśat
17 tatra tān vāsayām āsa pāṇḍavān amitaujasaḥ
adāhayac ca visrabdhān pāvakena punas tadā
18 vidurasyaiva vacanāt khanitrī vihitā tataḥ
mokṣayām āsa yogena te muktāḥ prādravan bhayāt
19 tato mahāvane ghore hiḍimbaṃ nāma rākṣasam
bhīmaseno 'vadhīt kruddho bhuvi bhīmaparākramaḥ
20 atha saṃdhāya te vīrā ekacakrāṃ vrajaṃs tadā
brahmarūpadharā bhūtvā mātrā saha paraṃtapāḥ
21 tatra te brāhmaṇārthāya bakaṃ hatvā mahābalam
brāhmaṇaiḥ sahitā jagmuḥ pāñcālānāṃ puraṃ tataḥ
22 te tatra draupadīṃ labdhvā parisaṃvatsaroṣitāḥ
viditā hāstinapuraṃ pratyājagmur ariṃdamāḥ
23 ta uktā dhṛtarāṣṭreṇa rājñā śāṃtanavena ca
bhrātṛbhir vigrahas tāta kathaṃ vo na bhaved iti
asmābhiḥ khāṇḍava prasthe yuṣmadvāso 'nucintitaḥ
24 tasmāj janapadopetaṃ suvibhaktamahāpatham
vāsāya khāṇḍava prasthaṃ vrajadhvaṃ gatamanyavaḥ
25 tayos te vacanāj jagmuḥ saha sarvaiḥ suhṛjjanaiḥ
nagaraṃ khāṇḍava prasthaṃ ratnāny ādāya sarvaśaḥ
26 tatra te nyavasan rājan saṃvatsaragaṇān bahūn
vaśe śastrapratāpena kurvanto 'nyān mahīkṣitaḥ
27 evaṃ dharmapradhānās te satyavrataparāyaṇāḥ
apramattotthitāḥ kṣāntāḥ pratapanto 'hitāṃs tadā
28 ajayad bhīmasenas tu diśaṃ prācīṃ mahābalaḥ
udīcīm arjuno vīraḥ pratīcīṃ nakulas tathā
29 dakṣiṇāṃ sahadevas tu vijigye paravīrahā
evaṃ cakrur imāṃ sarve vaśe kṛtsnāṃ vasuṃdharām
30 pañcabhiḥ sūryasaṃkāśaiḥ sūryeṇa ca virājatā
ṣaṭ sūryevābabhau pṛthvī pāṇḍavaiḥ satyavikramaiḥ
31 tato nimitte kasmiṃś cid dharmarājo yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
vanaṃ prasthāpayām āsa bhrātaraṃ vai dhanaṃjayam
32 sa vai saṃvatsaraṃ pūrṇaṃ māsaṃ caikaṃ vane 'vasat
tato 'gacchad dhṛṣīkeśaṃ dvāravatyāṃ kadā cana
33 labdhavāṃs tatra bībhatsur bhāryāṃ rājīvalocanām
anujāṃ vāsudevasya subhadrāṃ bhadra bhāṣiṇīm
34 sā śacīva mahendreṇa śrīḥ kṛṣṇeneva saṃgatā
subhadrā yuyuje prītā pāṇḍavenārjunena ha
35 atarpayac ca kaunteyaḥ khāṇḍave havyavāhanam
bībhatsur vāsudevena sahito nṛpasattama
36 nātibhāro hi pārthasya keśavenābhavat saha
vyavasāyasahāyasya viṣṇoḥ śatruvadheṣv iva
37 pārthāyāgnir dadau cāpi gāṇḍīvaṃ dhanur uttamam
iṣudhī cākṣayair bāṇai rathaṃ ca kapilakṣaṇam
38 mokṣayām āsa bībhatsur mayaṃ tatra mahāsuram
sa cakāra sabhāṃ divyāṃ sarvaratnasamācitām
39 tasyāṃ duryodhano mando lobhaṃ cakre sudurmatiḥ
tato 'kṣair vañcayitvā ca saubalena yudhiṣṭhiram
40 vanaṃ prasthāpayām āsa sapta varṣāṇi pañca ca
ajñātam ekaṃ rāṣṭre ca tathā varṣaṃ trayo daśam
41 tataś caturdaśe varṣe yācamānāḥ svakaṃ vasu
nālabhanta mahārāja tato yuddham avartata
42 tatas te sarvam utsādya hatvā duryodhanaṃ nṛpam
rājyaṃ vidruta bhūyiṣṭhaṃ pratyapadyanta pāṇḍavāḥ
43 evam etat purāvṛttaṃ teṣām akliṣṭakarmaṇām
bhedo rājyavināśaś ca jayaś ca jayatāṃ vara
SECTION LV
(Astika
Parva continued)
"Astika said, 'Soma and Varuna and
Prajapati performed sacrifices of old in Prayaga. But thy sacrifice, O foremost
one of Bharata's race, O son of Parikshit, is not inferior to any of those. Let
those dear unto us be blessed! Sakra performed a hundred sacrifices. But this
sacrifice of thine, O foremost one of Bharata's race, O son of Parikshit, is
fully equal to ten thousand sacrifices of Sakra. Let those dear unto us be
blessed! Like the sacrifice of Yama, of Harimedha, or of king Rantideva, is the
sacrifice of thine, O foremost one of Bharata's race, O son of Parikshit. Let
those dear unto us be blessed! Like the sacrifice of Maya, of king Sasavindu,
or of king Vaisravana, is this sacrifice of thine, O foremost one of Bharata's
race, Op. 111
son of Satyavati, in which he himself was the chief priest, is this sacrifice of Nriga, of Ajamida, of the son of Dasaratha, is this sacrifice of thine, O foremost one of Bharata's race, O son of Parikshit. Let those dear unto us be blessed! Like the sacrifice of king Yudhishthira, the son of a god and belonging to Ajamida race, heard of (even) in the heavens, is this sacrifice of thine. O foremost one of Bharata's race, O son of Parikshit, let those dear unto us be blessed! Like the sacrifice of Krishna (Dwaipayana), the son of Satyavati, in which he himself was the chief priest, is this sacrifice of thine, O foremost one of Bharata's race, O son of Parikshit Let those dear unto us be blessed! These (Ritwiks and Sadasyas) that are here engaged in making thy sacrifice, like unto that of the slayer of Vritra, are of splendour equal to that of the sun. There now remains nothing for them to know, and gifts made to them become inexhaustible (in merit). It is my conviction that there is no Ritwik in all the worlds who is equal to thy Ritwik, Dwaipayana. His disciples, becoming Ritwiks, competent for their duties, travel over the earth. The high-souled bearer of libation (viz., Agni), called also Vibhavasu and Chitrabhanu, having gold for his vital seed and having his path, marked by black smoke, blazing up with flames inclined to the right, beareth these thy libations of clarified butter to the gods. In this world of men there is no other monarch equal to thee in the protection of subjects. I am ever well-pleased with thy abstinence. Indeed, thou art either Varuna, or Yama, the god of Justice. Like Sakra himself, thunderbolt in hand, thou art, in this world, the protector of all creatures. In this earth there is no man so great as thou and no monarch who is thy equal in sacrifice. Thou art like Khatwanga, Nabhaga, and Dilipa. In prowess thou art like Yayati and Mandhatri. In splendour equal to the sun, and of excellent vows, thou art O monarch, like Bhishma! Like Valmiki thou art of energy concealed. Like Vasishtha thou hast controlled thy wrath. Like Indra is thy lordship. Thy splendour also shines like that of Narayana. Like Yama art thou conversant with the dispensation of justice. Thou art like Krishna adorned with every virtue. Thou art the home of the good fortune that belongs to the Vasus. Thou art also the refuge of the sacrifices. In strength thou art equal to Damvodbhava. Like Rama (the son of Jamadagni) thou art conversant with the scriptures and arms. In energy thou art equal to Aurva and Trita. Thou inspirest terror by thy looks like Bhagiratha.'
"Sauti said, 'Astika, having thus adored them, gratified them all, viz., the king, the Sadasyas, the Ritwiks and the sacrificial fire. And king Janamejaya beholding the signs and indications manifested all around, addressed them as follows.'"
Book
1
Chapter 56
1 [j]
kathitaṃ vai samāsena tvayā sarvaṃ dvijottama
mahābhāratam ākhyānaṃ kurūṇāṃ caritaṃ mahat
2 kathāṃ tv anagha citrārthām imāṃ kathayati tvayi
vistara śravaṇe jātaṃ kautūhalam atīva me
3 sa bhavān vistareṇemāṃ punar ākhyātum arhati
na hi tṛpyāmi pūrveṣāṃ śṛṇvānaś caritaṃ mahat
4 na tat kāraṇam alpaṃ hi dharmajñā yatra pāṇḍavāḥ
avadhyān sarvaśo jaghnuḥ praśasyante ca mānavaiḥ
5 kimarthaṃ te naravyāghrāḥ śaktāḥ santo hy anāgasaḥ
prayujyamānān saṃkleśān kṣāntavanto durātmanām
6 kathaṃ nāgāyuta prāṇo bāhuśālī vṛkodaraḥ
parikliśyann api krodhaṃ dhṛtavān vai dvijottama
7 kathaṃ sā draupadī kṛṣṇā kliśyamānā durātmabhiḥ
śaktā satī dhārtarāṣṭrān nādahad ghoracakṣuṣā
8 kathaṃ vyatikraman dyūte pārthau mādrī sutau tathā
anuvrajan naravyāghraṃ vañcyamānaṃ durātmabhiḥ
9 kathaṃ dharmabhṛtāṃ śreṣṭhaḥ suto dharmasya dharmavit
anarhaḥ paramaṃ kleśaṃ soḍhavān sa yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
10 kathaṃ ca bahulāḥ senāḥ pāṇḍavaḥ kṛṣṇasārathiḥ
asyann eko 'nayat sarvāḥ pitṛlokaṃ dhanaṃjayaḥ
11 etad ācakṣva me sarvaṃ yathāvṛttaṃ tapodhana
yad yac ca kṛtavantas te tatra tatra mahārathāḥ
12 [v]
maharṣeḥ sarvalokeṣu pūjitasya mahātmanaḥ
pravakṣyāmi mataṃ kṛtsnaṃ vyāsasyāmita tejasaḥ
13 idaṃ śatasahasraṃ hi ślokānāṃ puṇyakarmaṇām
satyavaty ātmajeneha vyākhyātam amitaujasā
14 ya idaṃ śrāvayed vidvān yaś cedaṃ śṛṇuyān naraḥ
te brahmaṇaḥ sthānam etya prāpnuyur devatulyatām
15 idaṃ hi vedaiḥ samitaṃ pavitram api cottamam
śrāvyāṇām uttamaṃ cedaṃ purāṇam ṛṣisaṃstutam
16 asminn arthaś ca dharmaś ca nikhilenopadiśyate
itihāse mahāpuṇye buddhiś ca parinaiṣṭhikī
17 akṣudrān dānaśīlāṃś ca satyaśīlān anāstikān
kārṣṇaṃ vedam idaṃ vidvāñ śrāvayitvārtham aśnute
18 bhrūṇa hatyā kṛtaṃ cāpi pāpaṃ jahyād asaṃśayam
itihāsam imaṃ śrutvā puruṣo 'pi sudāruṇaḥ
19 jayo nāmetihāso 'yaṃ śrotavyo vijigīṣuṇā
mahīṃ vijayate sarvāṃ śatrūṃś cāpi parājayet
20 idaṃ puṃsavanaṃ śreṣṭham idaṃ svasty ayanaṃ mahat
mahiṣī yuvarājābhyāṃ śrotavyaṃ bahuśas tathā
21 arthaśāstram idaṃ puṇyaṃ dharmaśāstram idaṃ param
mokṣaśāstram idaṃ proktaṃ vyāsenāmita buddhinā
22 saṃpratyācakṣate caiva ākhyāsyanti tathāpare
putrāḥ śuśrūṣavaḥ santi preṣyāś ca priyakāriṇaḥ
23 śarīreṇa kṛtaṃ pāpaṃ vācā ca manasaiva ca
sarvaṃ tat tyajati kṣipram idaṃ śṛṇvan naraḥ sadā
24 bhāratānāṃ mahaj janma śṛṇvatām anasūyatām
nāsti vyādhibhayaṃ teṣāṃ paralokabhayaṃ kutaḥ
25 dhanyaṃ yaśasyam āyuṣyaṃ svargyaṃ puṇyaṃ tathaiva ca
kṛṣṇadvaipāyanenedaṃ kṛtaṃ puṇyacikīrṣuṇā
26 kīrtiṃ prathayatā loke pāṇḍavānāṃ mahātmanām
anyeṣāṃ kṣatriyāṇāṃ ca bhūri draviṇa tejasām
27 yathā samudro bhagavān yathā ca himavān giriḥ
khyātāv ubhau ratnanidhī tathā bhāratam ucyate
28 ya idaṃ śrāvayed vidvān brāhmaṇān iha parvasu
dhūtapāpmā jitasvargo brahmabhūyaṃ sa gacchati
29 yaś cedaṃ śrāvayec chrāddhe brāhmaṇān pādam antataḥ
akṣayyaṃ tasya tac chrāddham upatiṣṭhet pitṝn api
30 ahnā yad enaś cājñānāt prakaroti naraś caran
tan mahābhāratākhyānaṃ śrutvaiva pravilīyate
31 bhāratānāṃ mahaj janma mahābhāratam ucyate
niruktam asya yo veda sarvapāpair pramucyate
32 tribhir varṣaiḥ sadotthāyī kṛṣṇadvaipāyano muniḥ
mahābhāratam ākhyānaṃ kṛtavān idam uttamam
33 dharme cārthe ca kāme ca mokṣe ca bharatarṣabha
yad ihāsti tad anyatra yan nehāsti na tat kva cit
SECTION LVI
(Astika
Parva continued)
Janamejaya said, 'Though this one is but a
boy, he speaks yet like a wise old man. He is not a boy but one wise and old. I
think, I desire to bestow on him a boon. Therefore, ye Brahmanas, give me the
necessary permission.'"The Sadasyas said, 'A Brahmana, though a boy, deserves the respect of kings. The learned ones do more so. This boy deserves every desire of his being fulfilled by thee, but not before Takshaka comes with speed.'
"Sauti continued, 'The king, being inclined to grant the Brahmana a boon, said 'Ask thou a boon.' The Hotri, however, being rather displeased, said, 'Takshaka hath not come as yet into this sacrifice.'
"Janamejaya replied, 'Exert ye to the best of your might, so that this sacrifice of mine may attain completion, and Takshaka also may soon come here. He is my enemy.'
"The Ritwiks replied, 'As the scriptures declare unto us, and as the fire also saith, O monarch, (it seems that) Takshaka is now staying in the abode of Indra, afflicted with fear.'
"Sauti continued, 'The illustrious Suta named Lohitaksha also, conversant with the Puranas, had said so before.
"Asked by the king on the present occasion he again told the monarch, 'Sire, it is even so as the Brahmanas have said--Knowing the Puranas, I say, O monarch, that Indra hath granted him this boon, saying, 'Dwell with me in concealment, and Agni shall not burn thee.'
'Sauti continued, 'Hearing this, the king installed in the sacrifice became very sorry and urged the Hotri to do his duty. And as the Hotri, with mantras, began to pour clarified butter into the fire Indra himself appeared on the scene. And the illustrious one came in his car, adorned by all the gods standing around, followed by masses of clouds, celestial singers, and the several bevies of celestial dancing girls. And Takshaka anxious with fear, hid himself in the upper garment of Indra and was not visible. Then the king in his anger again said unto his mantra-knowing Brahmanas these words, bent upon the destruction of Takshaka, 'If the snake Takshaka be in the abode of Indra, cast him into the fire with Indra himself.'
'Sauti continued, 'Urged thus by the king Janamejaya about Takshaka, the Hotri poured libations, naming that snake then staying there. And even as the libations were poured, Takshaka, with Purandara himself, anxious and afflicted, became visible in a moment in the skies. Then Purandara, seeing that sacrifice, became much alarmed, and quickly casting Takshaka off, went back to his own abode. After Indra had gone away, Takshaka, the prince of snakes, insensible with fear, was by virtue of the mantras, brought near enough the flames of the sacrificial fire.'
"The Ritwiks then said, 'O king of kings, the sacrifice of thine is being
p. 113
performed duly. It behoveth thee, O Lord, to grant a boon now to this first of Brahmanas.'
"Janamejaya then said, 'Thou immeasurable one of such handsome and child-like features, I desire to grant thee a worthy boon. Therefore, ask thou that which thou desirest in thy heart. I promise thee, that I will grant it even if it be ungrantable.'
'The Ritwiks said, 'O monarch, behold, Takshaka is soon coming under thy control! His terrible cries, and loud roar is being heard. Assuredly, the snake hath been forsaken by the wielder of thunder. His body being disabled by your mantras, he is falling from heaven. Even now, rolling in the skies, and deprived of consciousness, the prince of snakes cometh, breathing loudly.'
'Sauti continued, 'While Takshaka, the prince of snakes was about to fall into the sacrificial fire, during those few moments Astika spoke as follows, 'O Janamejaya, if thou wouldst grant me a boon, let this sacrifice of thine come to an end and let no more snakes fall into the fire.'
'O Brahmana, the son of Parikshit, being thus addressed by Astika, became exceedingly sorry and replied unto Astika thus, 'O illustrious one, gold, silver, kine, whatever other possessions thou desirest I shall give unto thee. But let not my sacrifice come to an end.'
"Astika thereupon replied, 'Gold, silver or kine, I do not ask of thee, O monarch! But let thy sacrifice be ended so that my maternal relations be relieved.'
"Sauti continued, 'The son of Parikshit, being thus addressed by Astika, repeatedly said this unto that foremost of speakers, 'Best of the Brahmanas, ask some other boon. O, blessed be thou!' But, O thou of Bhrigu's race, he did not beg any other boon. Then all the Sadasyas conversant with the Vedas told the king in one voice, 'Let the Brahmana receive his boon!'"
Book
1
Chapter 57
1 [v]
rājoparicaro nāma dharmanityo mahīpatiḥ
babhūva mṛgayāṃ gantuṃ sa kadā cid dhṛtavrataḥ
2 sa cediviṣayaṃ ramyaṃ vasuḥ pauravanandanaḥ
indropadeśāj jagrāha grahaṇīyaṃ mahīpatiḥ
3 tam āśrame nyastaśastraṃ nivasantaṃ tapo ratim
devaḥ sākṣāt svayaṃ vajrī samupāyān mahīpatim
4 indratvam arho rājāyaṃ tapasety anucintya vai
taṃ sāntvena nṛpaṃ sākṣāt tapasaḥ saṃnyavartayat
5 [īndra]
na saṃkīryeta dharmo 'yaṃ pṛthivyāṃ pṛthivīpate
taṃ pāhi dharmo hi dhṛtaḥ kṛtsnaṃ dhārayate jagat
6 lokyaṃ dharmaṃ pālaya tvaṃ nityayuktaḥ samāhitaḥ
dharmayuktas tato lokān puṇyān āpsyasi śāśvatān
7 diviṣṭhasya bhuviṣṭhas tvaṃ sakhā bhūtvā mama priyaḥ
ūdhaḥ pṛthivyā yo deśas tam āvasa narādhipa
8 paśavyaś caiva puṇyaś ca susthiro dhanadhānyavān
svārakṣyaś caiva saumyaś ca bhogyair bhūmiguṇair vṛtaḥ
9 aty anyān eṣa deśo hi dhanaratnādibhir yutaḥ
vasu pūrṇā ca vasudhā vasa cediṣu cedipa
10 dharmaśīlā janapadāḥ susaṃtoṣāś ca sādhavaḥ
na ca mithyā pralāpo 'tra svaireṣv api kuto 'nyathā
11 na ca pitrā vibhajyante narā guruhite ratāḥ
yuñjate dhuri no gāś ca kṛśāḥ saṃdhukṣayanti ca
12 sarve varṇāḥ svadharmasthāḥ sadā cediṣu mānada
na te 'sty aviditaṃ kiṃ cit triṣu lokeṣu yad bhavet
13 devopabhogyaṃ divyaṃ ca ākāśe sphāṭikaṃ mahat
ākāśagaṃ tvāṃ maddattaṃ vimānam upapatsyate
14 tvam ekaḥ sarvamartyeṣu vimānavaram āsthitaḥ
cariṣyasy uparistho vai devo vigrahavān iva
15 dadāmi te vaijayantīṃ mālām amlāna paṅkajām
dhārayiṣyati saṃgrāme yā tvāṃ śastrair avikṣatam
16 lakṣaṇaṃ caitad eveha bhavitā te narādhipa
indra māleti vikhyātaṃ dhanyam apratimaṃ mahat
17 [v]
yaṣṭiṃ ca vaiṇavīṃ tasmai dadau vṛtraniṣūdanaḥ
iṣṭapradānam uddiśya śiṣṭānāṃ paripālinīm
18 tasyāḥ śakrasya pūjārthaṃ bhūmau bhūmipatis tadā
praveśaṃ kārayām āsa gate saṃvatsare tadā
19 tataḥ prabhṛti cādyāpi yaṣṭyāḥ kṣitipa sattamaiḥ
praveśaḥ kriyate rājan yathā tena pravartitaḥ
20 apare dyus tathā cāsyāḥ kriyate ucchrayo nṛpaiḥ
alaṃkṛtāyāḥ piṭakair gandhair mālyaiś ca bhūṣaṇaiḥ
mālyadāma parikṣiptā vidhivat kriyate 'pi ca
21 bhagavān pūjyate cātra hāsyarūpeṇa śaṃkaraḥ
svayam eva gṛhītena vasoḥ prītyā mahātmanaḥ
22 etāṃ pūjāṃ mahendras tu dṛṣṭvā devakṛtāṃ śubhām
vasunā rājamukhyena prītimān abravīd vibhuḥ
23 ye pūjayiṣyanti narā rājānaś ca mahaṃ mama
kārayiṣyanti ca mudā yathā cedipatir nṛpaḥ
24 teṣāṃ śrīr vijayaś caiva sarāṣṭrāṇāṃ bhaviṣyati
tathā sphīto janapado muditaś ca bhaviṣyati
25 evaṃ mahātmanā tena mahendreṇa narādhipa
vasuḥ prītyā maghavatā mahārājo 'bhisatkṛtaḥ
26 utsavaṃ kārayiṣyanti sadā śakrasya ye narāḥ
bhūmidānādibhir dānair yathā pūtā bhavanti vai
varadānamahāyajñais tathā śakrotsavena te
27 saṃpūjito maghavatā vasuś cedipatis tadā
pālayām āsa dharmeṇa cedisthaḥ pṛthivīm imām
indra prītyā bhūmipatiś cakārendra mahaṃ vasuḥ
28 putrāś cāsya mahāvīryāḥ pañcāsann amitaujasaḥ
nānā rājyeṣu ca sutān sa samrāḍ abhyaṣecayat
29 mahāratho magadha rāḍ viśruto yo bṛhadrathaḥ
pratyagrahaḥ kuśāmbaś ca yam āhur maṇivāhanam
mac chillaś ca yaduś caiva rājanyaś cāparājitaḥ
30 ete tasya sutā rājan rājarṣer bhūri tejasaḥ
nyaveśayan nāmabhiḥ svais te deśāṃś ca purāṇi ca
vāsavāḥ pañca rājānaḥ pṛthag vaṃśāś ca śāśvatāḥ
31 vasantam indra prāsāde ākāśe sphāṭike ca tam
upatasthur mahātmānaṃ gandharvāpsaraso nṛpam
rājoparicarety evaṃ nāma tasyātha viśrutam
32 puropavāhinīṃ tasya nadīṃ śuktimatīṃ giriḥ
arautsīc cetanā yuktaḥ kāmāt kolāhalaḥ kila
33 giriṃ kolāhalaṃ taṃ tu padā vasur atāḍayat
niścakrāma nadī tena prahāra vivareṇa sā
34 tasyāṃ nadyām ajanayan mithunaṃ parvataḥ svayam
tasmād vimokṣaṇāt prītā nadī rājñe nyavedayat
35 yaḥ pumān abhavat tatra taṃ sa rājarṣisattamaḥ
vasur vasu pradaś cakre senāpatim ariṃdamam
cakāra patnīṃ kanyāṃ tu dayitāṃ girikāṃ nṛpaḥ
36 vasoḥ patnī tu girikā kāmāt kāle nyavedayat
ṛtukālam anuprāptaṃ snātā puṃsavane śuciḥ
37 tad ahaḥ pitaraś cainam ūcur jahi mṛgān iti
taṃ rājasattamaṃ prītās tadā matimatāṃ varam
38 sa pitṝṇāṃ niyogaṃ tam avyatikramya pārthivaḥ
cacāra mṛgayāṃ kāmī girikām eva saṃsmaran
atīva rūpasaṃpannāṃ sākṣāc chriyam ivāparām
39 tasya retaḥ pracaskanda carato rucire vane
skanna mātraṃ ca tad reto vṛkṣapatreṇa bhūmipaḥ
40 pratijagrāha mithyā me na skaṃded reta ity uta
ṛtuś ca tasyā patnyā me na moghaḥ syād iti prabhuḥ
41 saṃcintyaivaṃ tadā rājā vicārya ca punaḥ punaḥ
amoghatvaṃ ca vijñāya retaso rājasattamaḥ
42 śukraprasthāpane kālaṃ mahiṣyāḥ prasamīkṣya saḥ
abhimantryātha tac chukram ārāt tiṣṭhantam āśugam
sūkṣmadharmārthatattvajño jñātvā śyenaṃ tato 'bravīt
43 matpriyārtham idaṃ saumya śukraṃ mama gṛhaṃ naya
girikāyāḥ prayacchāśu tasyā hy ārtavam adya vai
44 gṛhītvā tat tadā śyenas tūrṇam utpatya vegavān
javaṃ paramam āsthāya pradudrāva vihaṃgamaḥ
45 tam apaśyad athāyāntaṃ śyenaṃ śyenas tathāparaḥ
abhyadravac ca taṃ sadyo dṛṣṭvaivāmiṣa śaṅkayā
46 tuṇḍayuddham athākāśe tāv ubhau saṃpracakratuḥ
yudhyator apatad retas tac cāpi yamunāmbhasi
47 tatrādriketi vikhyātā brahmaśāpād varāpsarāḥ
mīnabhāvam anuprāptā babhūva yamunā carī
48 śyenapādaparibhraṣṭaṃ tad vīryam atha vāsavam
jagrāha tarasopetya sādrikā matsyarūpiṇī
49 kadā cid atha matsīṃ tāṃ babandhur matsyajīvinaḥ
māse ca daśame prāpte tadā bharatasattama
ujjahnur udarāt tasyāḥ strīpumāṃsaṃ ca mānuṣam
50 āścaryabhūtaṃ matvā tad rājñas te pratyavedayan
kāye matsyā imau rājan saṃbhūtau mānuṣāv iti
51 tayoḥ pumāṃsaṃ jagrāha rājoparicaras tadā
sa matsyo nāma rājāsīd dhārmikaḥ satyasaṃgaraḥ
52 sāpsarā muktaśāpā ca kṣaṇena samapadyata
puroktā yā bhagavatā tiryagyonigatā śubhe
mānuṣau janayitvā tvaṃ śāpamokṣam avāpsyasi
53 tataḥ sā janayitvā tau viśastā matsyaghātinā
saṃtyajya matsyarūpaṃ sā divyaṃ rūpam avāpya ca
siddharṣicāraṇapathaṃ jagāmātha varāpsarāḥ
54 yā kanyā duhitā tasyā matsyā matsyasagandhinī
rājñā dattātha dāśāya iyaṃ tava bhavatv iti
rūpasattvasamāyuktā sarvaiḥ samuditā guṇaiḥ
55 sā tu satyavatī nāma matsyaghāty abhisaṃśrayāt
āsīn matsyasagandhaiva kaṃ cit kālaṃ śucismitā
56 śuśrūṣārthaṃ pitur nāvaṃ tāṃ tu vāhayatīṃ jale
tīrthayātrāṃ parikrāmann apaśyad vai parāśaraḥ
57 atīva rūpasaṃpannāṃ siddhānām api kāṅkṣitām
dṛṣṭvaiva ca sa tān dhīmāṃś cakame cārudarśanām
vidvāṃs tāṃ vāsavīṃ kanyāṃ kāryavān munipuṃgavaḥ
58 sābravīt paśya bhagavan pārāvāre ṛṣīn sthitān
āvayor dṛśyator ebhiḥ kathaṃ nu syāṃ samāgamaḥ
59 evaṃ tayokto bhagavān nīhāram asṛjat prabhuḥ
yena deśaḥ sa sarvas tu tamo bhūta ivābhavat
60 dṛṣṭvā sṛṣṭaṃ tu nīhāraṃ tatas taṃ paramarṣiṇā
vismitā cābravīt kanyā vrīḍitā ca manasvinī
61 viddhi māṃ bhagavan kanyāṃ sadā pitṛvaśānugām
tvat saṃyogāc ca duṣyeta kanyā bhāvo mamānagha
62 kanyātve dūṣite cāpi kathaṃ śakṣye dvijottama
gantuṃ gṛhaṃ gṛhe cāhaṃ dhīman na sthātum utsahe
etat saṃcintya bhagavan vidhatsva yad anantaram
63 evam uktavatīṃ tāṃ tu prītimān ṛṣisattamaḥ
uvāca matpriyaṃ kṛtvā kanyaiva tvaṃ bhaviṣyasi
64 vṛṇīṣva ca varaṃ bhīru yaṃ tvam icchasi bhāmini
vṛthā hina prasādo me bhūtapūrvaḥ śucismite
65 evam uktā varaṃ vavre gātrasaugandhyam uttamam
sa cāsyai bhagavān prādān manasaḥ kāṅkṣitaṃ prabhuḥ
66 tato labdhavarā prītā strībhāvaguṇabhūṣitā
jagāma saha saṃsargam ṛṣiṇādbhuta karmaṇā
67 tena gandhavatīty eva nāmāsyāḥ prathitaṃ bhuvi
tato yojanagandheti tasyā nāma pariśrutam
68 parāśaro 'pi bhagavāñ jagāma svaṃ niveśanam
iti satyavatī hṛṣṭā labdhvā varam anuttamam
69 parāśareṇa saṃyuktā sadyo garbhaṃ suṣāva sā
jajñe ca yamunā dvīpe pārāśaryaḥ savīryavān
70 sa mātaram upasthāya tapasy eva mano dadhe
smṛto 'haṃ darśayiṣyāmi kṛtyeṣv iti ca so 'bravīt
71 evaṃ dvaipāyano jajñe satyavatyāṃ parāśarāt
dvīpe nyastaḥ sa yad bālas tasmād dvaipāyano 'bhavat
72 pādāpasāriṇaṃ dharmaṃ vidvān sa tu yuge yuge
āyuḥ śaktiṃ ca martyānāṃ yugānugam avekṣya ca
73 brahmaṇo brāhmaṇānāṃ ca tathānugraha kāmyayā
vivyāsa vedān yasmāc ca tasmād vyāsa iti smṛtaḥ
74 vedān adhyāpayām āsa mahābhārata pañcamān
sumantuṃ jaiminiṃ pailaṃ śukaṃ caiva svam ātmajam
75 prabhur variṣṭho varado vaiśampāyanam eva ca
saṃhitās taiḥ pṛthaktvena bhāratasya prakāśitāḥ
76 tathā bhīṣmaḥ śāṃtanavo gaṅgāyām amitadyutiḥ
vasu vīryāt samabhavan mahāvīryo mahāyaśāḥ
77 śūle protaḥ purāṇarṣir acoraś coraśaṅkayā
aṇī māṇḍavya iti vai vikhyātaḥ sumahāyaśāḥ
78 sa dharmam āhūya purā maharṣir idam uktavān
iṣīkayā mayā bālyād ekā viddhā śakuntikā
79 tat kilbiṣaṃ smare dharmanānyat pāpam ahaṃ smare
tan me sahasrasamitaṃ kasmān nehājayat tapaḥ
80 garīyān brāhmaṇavadhaḥ sarvabhūtavadhād yataḥ
tasmāt tvaṃ kilbiṣād asmāc chūdra yonau janiṣyasi
81 tena śāpena dharmo 'pi śūdrayonāv ajāyata
vidvān vidura rūpeṇa dhārmī tanur akilbiṣī
82 saṃjayo munikalpas tu jajñe sūto gavalgaṇāt
sūryāc ca kunti kanyāyāṃ jajñe karṇo mahārathaḥ
sahajaṃ kavacaṃ vibhrat kuṇḍaloddyotitānanaḥ
83 anugrahārthaṃ lokānāṃ viṣṇur lokanamaskṛtaḥ
vasudevāt tu devakyāṃ prādurbhūto mahāyaśāḥ
84 anādi nidhano devaḥ sa kartā jagataḥ prabhuḥ
avyaktam akṣaraṃ brahma pradhānaṃ nirguṇātmakam
85 ātmānam avyayaṃ caiva prakṛtiṃ prabhavaṃ param
puruṣaṃ viśvakarmāṇaṃ sattvayogaṃ dhruvākṣaram
86 anantam acalaṃ devaṃ haṃsaṃ nārāyaṇaṃ prabhum
dhātāram ajaraṃ nityaṃ tam āhuḥ param avyayam
87 puruṣaḥ sa vibhuḥ kartā sarvabhūtapitāmahaḥ
dharmasaṃvardhanārthāya prajajñe 'ndhakavṛṣṇiṣu
88 astrajñau tu mahāvīryau sarvaśastraviśāradau
sātyakiḥ kṛtavarmā ca nārāyaṇam anuvratau
satyakād dhṛdikāc caiva jajñāte 'straviśāradau
89 bharadvājasya ca skannaṃ droṇyāṃ śukram avardhata
maharṣer ugratapasas tasmād droṇo vyajāyata
90 gautamān mithunaṃ jajñe śarastambāc charadvataḥ
aśvatthāmnaś ca jananī kṛpaś caiva mahābalaḥ
aśvatthāmā tato jajñe droṇād astrabhṛtāṃ varaḥ
91 tathaiva dhṛṣṭadyumno 'pi sākṣād agnisamadyutiḥ
vaitāne karmaṇi tate pāvakāt samajāyata
vīro droṇa vināśāya dhanuṣā saha vīryavān
92 tathaiva vedyāṃ kṛṣṇāpi jajñe tejasvinī śubhā
vibhrājamānā vapuṣā bibhratī rūpam uttamam
93 prahrāda śiṣyo nagnajit subalaś cābhavat tataḥ
tasya prajā dharmahantrī jajñe deva prakopanāt
94 gāndhārarājaputro 'bhūc chakuniḥ saubalas tathā
duryodhanasya mātā ca jajñāte 'rthavidāv ubhau
95 kṛṣṇadvaipāyanāj jajñe dhṛtarāṣṭro janeśvaraḥ
kṣetre vicitravīryasya pāṇḍuś caiva mahābalaḥ
96 pāṇḍos tu jajñire pañca putrā devasamāḥ pṛthak
dvayoḥ striyor guṇajyeṣṭhas teṣām āsīd yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
97 dharmād yudhiṣṭhiro jajñe mārutāt tu vṛkodaraḥ
indrād dhanaṃjayaḥ śrīmān sarvaśastrabhṛtāṃ varaḥ
98 jajñāte rūpasaṃpannāv aśvibhyāṃ tu yamāv ubhau
nakulaḥ sahadevaś ca guruśuśrūṣaṇe ratau
99 tathā putraśataṃ jajñe dhṛtarāṣṭrasya dhīmataḥ
duryodhanaprabhṛtayo yuyutsuḥ karaṇas tathā
100 abhimanyuḥ subhadrāyām arjunād abhyajāyata
svastīyo vāsudevasya pautraḥ pāṇḍor mahātmanaḥ
101 pāṇḍavebhyo 'pi pañcabhyaḥ kṛṣṇāyāṃ pañca jajñire
kumārā rūpasaṃpannāḥ sarvaśastraviśāradāḥ
102 prativindhyo yudhiṣṭhirāt suta somo vṛkodarāt
arjunāc chruta kīrtis tu śatānīkas tu nākuliḥ
103 tathaiva sahadevāc ca śrutasenaḥ pratāpavān
hiḍimbāyāṃ ca bhīmena vane jajñe ghaṭotkacaḥ
104 śikhaṇḍī drupadāj jajñe kanyā putratvam āgatā
yāṃ yakṣaḥ puruṣaṃ cakre sthūṇaḥ priyacikīrṣayā
105 kurūṇāṃ vigrahe tasmin samāgacchan bahūny atha
rājñāṃ śatasahasrāṇi yotsyamānāni saṃyuge
106 teṣām aparimeyāni nāmadheyāni sarvaśaḥ
na śakyaṃ parisaṃkhyātuṃ varṣāṇām ayutair api
ete tu kīrtitā mukhyā yair ākhyānam idaṃ tatam
SECTION LVII
(Astika
Parva continued)
"Saunaka said, 'O son of a Suta,
I desire to hear the names of all those snakes that fell into the fire of this
snake-sacrifice!'"Sauti replied, 'Many thousands and tens of thousands and billions of snakes fell into the fire. O most excellent Brahmana, so great is the number that I am unable to count them all. So far, however, as I remember, hear the names I mention of the principal snakes cast into the fire. Hear first the names of the principal ones of Vasuki's race alone, of colour blue, red and white of terrible form and huge body and deadly poison. Helpless and miserable and afflicted with their mother's curse, they fell into the sacrificial fire like libations of butter.
"Kotisa, Manasa, Purna, Cala, Pala Halmaka, Pichchala, Kaunapa, Cakra,
p. 114
[paragraph continues] Kalavega, Prakalana, Hiranyavahu, Carana, Kakshaka, Kaladantaka--these snakes born of Vasuki, fell into the fire. And, O Brahmana, numerous other snakes well-born, and of terrible form and great strength, were burnt in the blazing fire. I shall now mention those born in the race of Takshaka. Hear thou their names. Puchchandaka, Mandalaka, Pindasektri, Ravenaka; Uchochikha, Carava, Bhangas, Vilwatejas, Virohana; Sili, Salakara, Muka, Sukumara, Pravepana, Mudgara and Sisuroman, Suroman and Mahahanu. These snakes born of Takshaka fell into the fire. And Paravata, Parijata, Pandara, Harina, Krisa, Vihanga, Sarabha, Meda, Pramoda, Sauhatapana--these born in the race of Airavata fell into the fire. Now hear, O best of Brahmanas, the names of the snakes I mention born in the race of Kauravya: Eraka, Kundala Veni, Veniskandha, Kumaraka, Vahuka, Sringavera, Dhurtaka, Pratara and Astaka. There born in the race of Kauravya fell into the fire. Now hear the names I mention, in order, of those snakes endued with the speed of the wind and with virulent poison, born in the race of Dhritarashtra: Sankukarna, Pitharaka, Kuthara, Sukhana, and Shechaka; Purnangada, Purnamukha, Prahasa, Sakuni, Dari, Amahatha, Kumathaka, Sushena, Vyaya, Bhairava, Mundavedanga, Pisanga, Udraparaka, Rishabha, Vegavat, Pindaraka; Raktanga, Sarvasaranga, Samriddha, Patha and Vasaka; Varahaka, Viranaka, Suchitra, Chitravegika, Parasara, Tarunaka, Maniskandha and Aruni.
"O Brahmana, thus I have recited the names of the principal snakes known widely for their achievements--I have not been able to name all, the number being countless. The sons of these snakes, the sons of those sons, that were burnt having fallen into the fire, I am unable to mention. They are so many! Some of three heads, some of seven, others of ten, of poison like unto the fire at the end of the yuga and terrible in form,--they were burnt by thousands!
"Many others, of huge bodies, of great speed, tall as mountain summits, of the length of a yama, of a yojana, and of two yojanas, capable of assuming at will any form and of mastering at will any degree of strength, of poison like unto blazing fire, afflicted by the curse of a mother, were burnt in that great 'sacrifice.'"
Book
1
Chapter 58
1 [j]
ya ete kīrtitā brahman ye cānye nānukīrtitāḥ
samyak tāñ śrotum icchāmi rājñaś cānyān suvarcasaḥ
2 yadartham iha saṃbhūtā devakalpā mahārathāḥ
bhuvi tan me mahābhāga samyag ākhyātum arhasi
3 [v]
rahasyaṃ khalv idaṃ rājan devānām iti naḥ śrutam
tat tu te kathayiṣyāmi namaskṛtvā svayaṃ bhuve
4 triḥ saptakṛtvaḥ pṛthivīṃ kṛtvā niḥkṣatriyāṃ purā
jāmadagnyas tapas tepe mahendre parvatottame
5 tadā niḥkṣatriye loke bhārgaveṇa kṛte sati
brāhmaṇān kṣatriyā rājan garbhārthinyo 'bhicakramuḥ
6 tābhiḥ saha samāpetur brāhmaṇāḥ saṃśitavratāḥ
ṛtāv ṛtau naravyāghra na kāmān nānṛtau tathā
7 tebhyas tu lebhire garbhān kṣatriyās tāḥ sahasraśaḥ
tataḥ suṣuvire rājan kṣatriyān vīryasaṃmatān
kumārāṃś ca kumārīś ca punaḥ kṣatrābhivṛddhaye
8 evaṃ tad brāhmaṇaiḥ kṣatraṃ kṣatriyāsu tapasvibhiḥ
jātam ṛdhyata dharmeṇa sudīrgheṇāyuṣānvitam
catvāro 'pi tadā varṇā babhūvur brāhmaṇottarāḥ
9 abhyagacchann ṛtau nārīṃ na kāmān nānṛtau tathā
tathaivānyāni bhūtāni tiryagyonigatāny api
ṛtau dārāṃś ca gacchanti tadā sma bharatarṣabha
10 tato 'vardhanta dharmeṇa sahasraśatajīvinaḥ
tāḥ prajāḥ pṛthivīpāla dharmavrataparāyaṇāḥ
ādhibhir vyādhibhiś caiva vimuktāḥ sarvaśo narāḥ
11 athemāṃ sāgarāpāṅgāṃ gāṃ gajendra gatākhilām
adhyatiṣṭhat punaḥ kṣatraṃ saśailavanakānanām
12 praśāsati punaḥ kṣatre dharmeṇemāṃ vasuṃdharām
brāhmaṇādyās tadā varṇā lebhire mudam uttamām
13 kāmakrodhodbhavān doṣān nirasya ca narādhipāḥ
daṇḍaṃ daṇḍyeṣu dharmeṇa praṇayanto 'nvapālayan
14 tathā dharmapare kṣatre sahasrākṣaḥ śatakratuḥ
svādu deśe ca kāle ca vavarṣāpyāyayan prajāḥ
15 na bāla eva mriyate tadā kaś cin narādhipa
na ca striyaṃ prajānāti kaś cid aprāptayauvanaḥ
16 evam āyuṣmatībhis tu prajābhir bharatarṣabha
iyaṃ sāgaraparyantā samāpūryata medinī
17 ījire ca mahāyajñaiḥ kṣatriyā bahu dakṣiṇaiḥ
sāṅgopaniṣadān vedān viprāś cādhīyate tadā
18 na ca vikrīṇate brahma brāhmaṇāḥ sma tadā nṛpa
na ca śūdra samābhyāśe vedān uccārayanty uta
19 kārayantaḥ kṛṣiṃ gobhis tathā vaiśyāḥ kṣitāv iha
na gām ayuñjanta dhuri kṛśāṅgāś cāpy ajīvayan
20 phenapāṃś ca tathā vatsān na duhanti sma mānavāḥ
na kūṭamānair vaṇijaḥ paṇyaṃ vikrīṇate tadā
21 karmāṇi ca naravyāghra dharmopetāni mānavāḥ
dharmam evānupaśyantaś cakrur dharmaparāyaṇāḥ
22 svakarmaniratāś cāsan sarve varṇā narādhipa
evaṃ tadā naravyāghra dharmo na hrasate kva cit
23 kāle gāvaḥ prasūyante nāryaś ca bharatarṣabha
phalanty ṛtuṣu vṛṣkāś ca puṣpāṇi ca phalāni ca
24 evaṃ kṛtayuge samyag vartamāne tadā nṛpa
āpūryate mahīkṛtsnā prāṇibhir bahubhir bhṛśam
25 tataḥ samudite loke mānuṣe bharatarṣabha
asurā jajñire kṣetre rājñāṃ manujapuṃgava
26 ādityair hi tadā daityā bahuśo nirjitā yudhi
aiśvaryād bhraṃśitāś cāpi saṃbabhūvuḥ kṣitāv iha
27 iha devatvam icchanto mānuṣeṣu manasvinaḥ
jajñire bhuvi bhūteṣu teṣu teṣv asurā vibho
28 goṣv aśveṣu ca rājendra kharoṣṭramahiṣeṣu ca
kravyādeṣu ca bhūteṣu gajeṣu ca mṛgeṣu ca
29 jātair iha mahīpāla jāyamānaiś ca tair mahī
na śaśākātmanātmānam iyaṃ dhārayituṃ dharā
30 atha jātā mahīpālāḥ ke cid balasamanvitāḥ
diteḥ putrā danoś caiva tasmāl lokād iha cyutāḥ
31 vīryavanto 'valiptās te nānārūpadharā mahīm
imāṃ sāgaraparyantāṃ parīyur arimardanāḥ
32 brāhmaṇān kṣatriyān vaiśyāñ śūdrāṃś caivāpy apīḍayan
anyāni caiva bhūtāni pīḍayām āsur ojasā
33 trāsayanto vinighnantas tāṃs tān bhūtagaṇāṃś ca te
viceruḥ sarvato rājan mahīṃ śatasahasraśaḥ
34 āśramasthān maharṣīṃś ca dharṣayantas tatas tataḥ
abrahmaṇyā vīryamadā mattā madabalena ca
35 evaṃ vīryabalotsiktair bhūr iyaṃ tair mahāsuraiḥ
pīḍyamānā mahīpāla brahmāṇam upacakrame
36 na hīmāṃ pavano rājan na nāgā na nagā mahīm
tadā dhārayituṃ śekur ākrāntāṃ dānavair balāt
37 tato mahī mahīpāla bhārārtā bhayapīḍitā
jagāma śaraṇaṃ devaṃ sarvabhūtapitāmaham
38 sā saṃvṛtaṃ mahābhāgair devadvija maharṣibhiḥ
dadarśa devaṃ brahmāṇaṃ lokakartāram avyayam
39 gandharvair apsarobhiś ca bandi karmasu niṣṭhitaiḥ
vandyamānaṃ mudopetair vavande cainam etya sā
40 atha vijñāpayām āsa bhūmis taṃ śaraṇārthinī
saṃnidhau lokapālānāṃ sarveṣām eva bhārata
41 tat pradhānātmanas tasya bhūmeḥ kṛtyaṃ svayaṃ bhuvaḥ
pūrvam evābhavad rājan viditaṃ parameṣṭhinaḥ
42 sraṣṭā hi jagataḥ kasmān na saṃbudhyeta bhārata
surāsurāṇāṃ lokānām aśeṣeṇa manogatam
43 tam uvāca mahārāja bhūmiṃ bhūmipatir vibhuḥ
prabhavaḥ sarvabhūtānām īśaḥ śambhuḥ prajāpatiḥ
44 yadartham asi saṃprāptā matsakāśaṃ vasuṃdhare
tadarthaṃ saṃniyokṣyāmi sarvān eva divaukasaḥ
45 ity uktvā sa mahīṃ devo brahmā rājan visṛjya ca
ādideśa tadā sarvān vibudhān bhūtakṛt svayam
46 asyā bhūmer nirasituṃ bhāraṃ bhāgaiḥ pṛthak pṛthak
asyām eva prasūyadhvaṃ virodhāyeti cābravīt
47 tathaiva ca samānīya gandharvāpsarasāṃ gaṇān
uvāca bhagavān sarvān idaṃ vacanam uttamam
svair aṃśaiḥ saṃprasūyadhvaṃ yatheṣṭaṃ mānuṣeṣv iti
48 atha śakrādayaḥ sarve śrutvā suraguror vacaḥ
tathyam arthyaṃ ca pathyaṃ ca tasya te jagṛhus tadā
49 atha te sarvaśo 'ṃśaiḥ svair gantuṃ bhūmiṃ kṛtakṣaṇāḥ
nārāyaṇam amitraghnaṃ vaikuṇṭham upacakramuḥ
50 yaḥ sacakragadāpāṇiḥ pītavāsāsita prabhaḥ
padmanābhaḥ surārighnaḥ pṛthucārvañcitekṣaṇaḥ
51 taṃ bhuvaḥ śodhanāyendra uvāca puruṣottamam
aṃśenāvatarasveti tathety āha ca taṃ hariḥ
SECTION LVIII
(Astika
Parva, continued)
"Sauti said, 'Listen now to another very
wonderful incident in connection with Astika. When king Janamejaya was about to
gratify Astika by granting the boon, the snake (Takshaka), thrown off Indra's
hands, remained in mid air without
actually falling. King Janamejaya thereupon became curious, for Takshaka,
afflicted with fear, did not at once fall into the fire although libations were
poured in proper form into the blazingp. 115
sacrificial Agni in his name.'
"Saunaka said, 'Was it, O Suta, that the mantras of those wise Brahmanas were not potent; since Takshaka did not fall into the fire?'
"Sauti replied, 'Unto the unconscious Takshaka, that best of snakes, after he had been cast off Indra's hands, Astika had thrice said, 'Stay,' 'Stay,' 'Stay.' And he succeeded in staying in the skies, with afflicted heart, like a person somehow staying between the welkin and the earth.
"The king then, on being repeatedly urged by his Sadasyas, said, 'Let it be done as Astika hath said. Let the sacrifice be ended, let the snakes be safe, let this Astika also be gratified, O Suta, thy words also be true.' When the boon was granted to Astika, plaudits expressive of joy rang through the air. Thus the sacrifice of the son of Parikshit--that king of the Pandava race--came to an end. The king Janamejaya of the Bharata race was himself pleased, and on the Ritwiks with the Sadasyas, and on all who had come there, the king, bestowed money by hundreds and thousands. And unto Suta Lohitaksha--conversant with the rules of building and foundations--who had at the commencement said that a Brahmana would be the cause of the interruption of the snake-sacrifice, the king gave much wealth. The king, of uncommon kindness, also gave him various things, with food and wearing apparel, according to his desire, and became very much pleased. Then he concluded his sacrifice according to the prescribed rites, and after treating him with every respect, the king in joy sent home the wise Astika exceedingly gratified, for he had attained his object. And the king said unto him, 'Thou must come again to become a Sadasya in my great Horse-sacrifice.' And Astika said, 'yes' and then returned home in great joy, having achieved his great end after gratifying the monarch. And returning in joy to his uncle and mother and touching their feet, he recounted to them everything as it had happened.'
"Sauti continued, 'Hearing all he had said, the snakes that had come thither became very much delighted, and their fears were allayed. They were much pleased with Astika and asked him to solicit a boon, saying, 'O learned one, what good shall we do unto thee? We have been very much gratified, having been all saved by thee. What shall we accomplish for thee, O child!'
"Astika said, 'Let those Brahmanas, and other men, who shall, in the morning or in the evening, cheerfully and with attention, read the sacred account of this my act, have no fear from any of you.' And the snakes in joy thereupon said, 'O nephew, in the nature of thy boon, let it be exactly as thou sayest. That which thou askest we all shall cheerfully do, O nephew! And those also that call to mind Astika, Artiman and Sunitha, in the day or in the night, shall have no fear of snakes. He again shall have no fear of snakes who will say, 'I call to mind the famous Astika born of Jaratkaru, that Astika who saved the snakes from the snake-sacrifice. Therefore, ye snakes of great good fortune, it behoveth you not to bite me.
p. 116
[paragraph continues] But go ye away, blessed be ye, or go away thou snake of virulent poison, and remember the words of Astika after the snake sacrifice of Janamejaya. That snake who does not cease from biting after hearing such mention of Astika, shall have his hood divided a hundredfold like the fruit of Sinsa tree.'
"Sauti continued, 'That first of Brahmanas, thus addressed by the foremost of the chief snakes assembled together, was very much gratified. And the high-souled one then set his heart upon going away.
"And that best of Brahmanas, having saved the snakes from the snake-sacrifice, ascended to heaven when his time came, leaving sons and grandsons behind him.
'Thus have I recited to thee this history of Astika exactly as it happened. Indeed, the recitation of this history dispelleth all fear of snakes'
'Sauti continued, 'O Brahmanas, O foremost one of Bhrigu's race, as thy ancestor Pramati had cheerfully narrated unto his inquiring son Ruru, and as I had heard it, thus have I recited this blessed history, from the beginning, of the learned Astika. And, O Brahmana, O oppressor of all enemies, having heard this holy history of Astika that increaseth virtue, and which thou hadst asked me about after hearing the story of the Dundubha, let thy ardent curiosity be satisfied.'"
Book
1
Chapter 59
1 [v]
atha nārāyaṇenendraś cakāra saha saṃvidam
avatartuṃ mahīṃ svargād aṃśataḥ sahitaḥ suraiḥ
2 ādiśya ca svayaṃ śakraḥ sarvān eva divaukasaḥ
nirjagāma punas tasmāt kṣayān nārāyaṇasya ha
3 te 'marārivināśāya sarvalokahitāya ca
avateruḥ krameṇemāṃ mahīṃ svargād divaukasaḥ
4 tato brahmarṣivaṃśeṣu pārthivarṣikuleṣu ca
jajñire rājaśārdūla yathākāmaṃ divaukasaḥ
5 dānavān rākṣasāṃś caiva gandharvān pannagāṃs tathā
puruṣādāni cānyāni jaghnuḥ sattvāny anekaśaḥ
6 dānavā rākṣasāś caiva gandharvāḥ pannagās tathā
na tān balasthān bālye 'pi jaghnur bharatasattama
7 [j]
devadānava saṃghānāṃ gandharvāpsarasāṃ tathā
mānavānāṃ ca sarveṣāṃ tathā vai yakṣarakṣasām
8 śrotum icchāmi tattvena saṃbhavaṃ kṛtsnam āditaḥ
prāṇināṃ caiva sarveṣāṃ sarvaśaḥ sarvavid dhyasi
9 [v]
hanta te kathayiṣyāmi namaskṛtvā svayaṃ bhuve
surādīnām ahaṃ samyag lokānāṃ prabhavāpyayam
10 brahmaṇo mānasāḥ putrā viditāḥ ṣaṇ maharṣayaḥ
marīcir atryaṅgirasau pulastyaḥ pulahaḥ kratuḥ
11 marīceḥ kaśyapaḥ putraḥ kaśyapāt tu imāḥ prajāḥ
prajajñire mahābhāgā dakṣa kanyās trayodaśa
12 aditir ditir danuḥ kālā anāyuḥ siṃhikā muniḥ
krodhā prāvā ariṣṭā ca vinatā kapilā tathā
13 kadrūś ca manujavyāghradakṣa kanyaiva bhārata
etāsāṃ vīryasaṃpannaṃ putrapautram anantakam
14 adityāṃ dvādaśādityāḥ saṃbhūtā bhuvaneśvarāḥ
ye rājan nāmatas tāṃs te kīrtayiṣyāmi bhārata
15 dhātā mitro 'ryamā śakro varuṇaś cāṃśa eva ca
bhago vivasvān pūṣā ca savitā daśamas tathā
16 ekādaśas tathā tvaṣṭā viṣṇur dvādaśa ucyate
jaghanyajaḥ sa sarveṣām ādityānāṃ guṇādhikaḥ
17 eka eva diteḥ putro hiraṇyakaśipuḥ smṛtaḥ
nāmnā khyātās tu tasyeme putrāḥ pañca mahātmanaḥ
18 prahrādaḥ pūrvajas teṣāṃ saṃhrādas tadanantaram
anuhrādas tṛtīyo 'bhūt tasmāc ca śibibāṣkalau
19 prahrādasya trayaḥ putrāḥ khyātāḥ sarvatra bhārata
virocanaś ca kumbhaś ca nikumbhaś ceti viśrutāḥ
20 virocanasya putro 'bhūd balir ekaḥ pratāpavān
baleś ca prathitaḥ putro bāṇo nāma mahāsuraḥ
21 catvāriṃśad danoḥ putrāḥ khyātāḥ sarvatra bhārata
teṣāṃ pathamajo rājā vipracittir mahāyaśāḥ
22 śambaro namuciś caiva pulomā ceti viśrutaḥ
asi lomā ca keśī ca durjayaś caiva dānavaḥ
23 ayaḥ śirā aśvaśirā ayaḥ śaṅkuś ca vīryavān
tathā gaganamūrdhā ca vegavān ketumāṃś ca yaḥ
24 svarbhānur aśvo 'śvapatir vṛṣaparvājakas tathā
aśvagrīvaś ca sūkṣmaś ca tuhuṇḍaś ca mahāsuraḥ
25 isṛpā ekacakraś ca virūpākṣo harāharau
nicandraś ca nikumbhaś ca kupathaḥ kāpathas tathā
26 śarabhaḥ śalabhaś caiva sūryā candramasau tathā
iti khyātā danor vaṃśe dānavāḥ parikīrtitāḥ
anyau tu khalu devānāṃ sūryacandramasau smṛtau
27 ime ca vaṃśe prathitāḥ sattvavanto mahābalāḥ
danu putrā mahārāja daśa dānava puṅgavāḥ
28 ekākṣo mṛtapā vīraḥ pralambanarakāv api
vātāpiḥ śatrutapanaḥ śaṭhaś caiva mahāsuraḥ
29 gaviṣṭhaś ca danāyuś ca dīrghajihvaś ca dānavaḥ
asaṃkhyeyāḥ smṛtās teṣāṃ putrāḥ pautrāś ca bhārata
30 siṃhikā suṣuve putraṃ rāhuṃ candrārkamardanam
sucandraṃ candra hantāraṃ tathā candra vimardanam
31 krūra svabhāvaṃ krūrāyāḥ putrapautram anantakam
gaṇaḥ krodhavaśo nāma krūrakarmāri mardanaḥ
32 anāyuṣaḥ punaḥ putrāś catvāro 'sura puṅgavāḥ
vikṣaro balavīrau ca vṛtraś caiva mahāsuraḥ
33 kālāyāḥ prathitāḥ putrāḥ kālakalpāḥ prahāriṇaḥ
bhuvi khyātā mahāvīryā dānaveṣu paraṃtapāḥ
34 vināśanaś ca krodhaś ca hantā krodhasya cāparaḥ
krodhaśatrus tathaivānyaḥ kāleyā iti viśrutāḥ
35 asurāṇām upādhyāyaḥ śukras tv ṛṣisuto 'bhavat
khyātāś cośanasaḥ putrāś catvāro 'sura yājakāḥ
36 tvaṣṭāvaras tathātriś ca dvāv anyau mantrakarmiṇau
tejasā sūryasaṃkāśā brahmalokaprabhāvanāḥ
37 ity eṣa vaṃśaprabhavaḥ kathitas te tarasvinām
asurāṇāṃ surāṇāṃ ca purāṇe saṃśruto mayā
38 eteṣāṃ yad apatyaṃ tu na śakyaṃ tad aśeṣataḥ
prasaṃkhyātuṃ mahīpāla guṇabhūtam anantakam
39 tārkṣyaś cāriṣṭanemiś ca tathaiva garuḍāruṇau
āruṇir vāruṇiś caiva vainateyā iti smṛtāḥ
40 śeṣo 'nanto vāsukiś ca takṣakaś ca bhujaṃgamaḥ
kūrmaś ca kulikaś caiva kādraveyā mahābalāḥ
41 bhīmasenogra senau ca suparṇo varuṇas tathā
gopatir dhṛtarāṣṭraś ca sūryavarcāś ca saptamaḥ
42 patravān arkaparṇaś ca prayutaś caiva viśrutaḥ
bhīmaś citrarathaś caiva vikhyātaḥ sarvavid vaśī
43 tathā śāliśirā rājan pradyumnaś ca caturdaśaḥ
kaliḥ pañcadaśaś caiva nāradaś caiva ṣoḍaśaḥ
ity ete devagandharvā mauneyāḥ parikīrtitāḥ
44 atas tu bhūtāny anyāni kīrtayiṣyāmi bhārata
anavadyām anuvaśām anūnām aruṇāṃ priyām
anūpāṃ subhagāṃ bhāsīm iti prāvā vyajāyata
45 siddhaḥ pūrṇaś ca barhī ca pūrṇāśaś ca mahāyaśāḥ
brahma cārī ratiguṇaḥ suparṇaś caiva saptamaḥ
46 viśvāvasuś ca bhānuś ca sucandro daśamas tathā
ity ete devagandharvāḥ prāveyāḥ parikīrtitāḥ
47 imaṃ tv apsarasāṃ vaṃśaṃ viditaṃ puṇyalakṣaṇam
prāvāsūta mahābhāgā devī devarṣitaḥ purā
48 alambusā miśrakeṣī vidyut parṇā tulānaghā
aruṇā rakṣitā caiva rambhā tadvan manoramāḥ
49 asitā ca subāhuś ca suvratā subhujā tathā
supriyā cātibāhuś ca vikhyātau ca hahāhuhū
tumburuś ceti catvāraḥ smṛtā gandharvasattamāḥ
50 amṛtaṃ brāhmaṇā gāvo gandharvāpsarasas tathā
apatyaṃ kapilāyās tu purāṇe parikīrtitam
51 iti te sarvabhūtānāṃ saṃbhavaḥ kathito mayā
yathāvat parisaṃkhyāto gandharvāpsarasāṃ tathā
52 bhujagānāṃ suparṇānāṃ rudrāṇāṃ marutāṃ tathā
gavāṃ ca brāhmaṇānāṃ ca śrīmatāṃ puṇyakarmaṇām
53 āyuṣyaś caiva puṇyaś ca dhanyaḥ śrutisukhāvahaḥ
śrotavyaś caiva satataṃ śrāvyaś caivānasūyatā
54 imaṃ tu vaṃśaṃ niyamena yaḥ paṭhen; mahātmanāṃ brāhmaṇadeva saṃnidhau
apatyalābhaṃ labhate sa puṣkalaṃ; śriyaṃ yaśaḥ pretya ca śobhanāṃ gatim
SECTION LIX
(Adivansavatarana
Parva)
"Saunaka said, 'O son, thou hast
narrated to me this extensive and great history commencing from the progeny of
Bhrigu. O son of Suta, I have been much gratified with thee. I ask thee
again, to recite to me, O son of a Suta, the history composed by Vyasa.
The varied and wonderful narrations that were recited amongst those illustrious
Sadasyas assembled at the sacrifice, in the intervals of their duties of
that long-extending ceremony, and the objects also of those narrations, I
desire to hear from thee, O son of a Suta! Recite therefore, all those
to me fully.''Sauti said, 'The Brahmanas, in the intervals of the duties, spoke of many things founded upon the Vedas. But Vyasa recited the wonderful and great history called the Bharata.'
"Saunaka said, 'That sacred history called the Mahabharata, spreading the fame of the Pandavas, which Krishna-Dwaipayana, asked by Janamejaya, caused to be duly recited after the completion of the sacrifice. I desire to hear duly. That history hath been born of the ocean-like mind of the great Rishi of soul purified by yoga. Thou foremost of good men, recite it unto me, for, O son of a Suta, my thirst hath not been appeased by all thou hast said.'
'Sauti said, 'I shall recite to thee from the beginning of that great and
p. 117
excellent history called the Mahabharata composed by Vyasa. O Brahmana, listen to it in full, as I recite it. I myself feel a great pleasure in reciting it.'"
Book
1
Chapter 60
1 [v]
brahmaṇo mānasāḥ putrā viditāḥ ṣaṇ maharṣayaḥ
ekādaśa sutāḥ sthāṇoḥ khyātāḥ paramamānasāḥ
2 mṛgavyādhaś ca śarvaś ca nirṛtiś ca mahāyaśāḥ
ajaika pād ahir budhnyaḥ pinākī ca paraṃtapaḥ
3 dahano 'theśvaraś caiva kapālī ca mahādyutiḥ
sthāṇur bhavaś ca bhagavān rudā ekādaśa smṛtāḥ
4 marīcir aṅgirā atriḥ pulastyaḥ pujahaḥ kratuḥ
ṣaḍ ete brahmaṇaḥ putrā vīryavanto maharṣayaḥ
5 trayas tv aṅgirasaḥ putrā loke sarvatra viśrutāḥ
bṛhaspatir utathyaś ca saṃvartaś ca dhṛtavratāḥ
6 atres tu bahavaḥ putrāḥ śrūyante manujādhipa
sarve vedavidaḥ siddhāḥ śāntātmāno maharṣayaḥ
7 rakṣasās tu pulastyasya vānarāḥ kiṃnarās tathā
pulahasya mṛgāḥ siṃhā vyāghrāḥ kiṃpuruṣās tathā
8 kratoḥ kratusamāḥ putrāḥ pataṃgasahacāriṇaḥ
viśrutās triṣu lokeṣu satyavrataparāyaṇāḥ
9 dakṣas tv ajāyatāṅguṣṭhād dakṣiṇād bhagavān ṛṣiḥ
brahmaṇaḥ pṛthivīpāla putraḥ putravatāṃ varaḥ
10 vāmād ajāyatāṅguṣṭhād bhāryā tasya mahātmanaḥ
tasyāṃ pañcāśataṃ kanyāḥ sa evājanayan muniḥ
11 tāḥ sarvās tv anavadyāṅgyaḥ kanyāḥ kamalalocanāḥ
putrikāḥ sthāpayām āsa naṣṭaputraḥ prajāpatiḥ
12 dadau sa daśa dharmāya sapta viṃśatim indave
divyena vidhinā rājan kaśyapāya trayodaśa
13 nāmato dharmapatnyas tāḥ kīrtyamānā nibodha me
kīrtir lakṣmīr dhṛtir medhā puṣṭiḥ śraddhā kriyā tathā
14 buddhir lajjā matiś caiva patnyo dharmasya tā daśa
dvārāṇy etāni dharmasya vihitāni svayaṃ bhuvā
15 sapta viṃśatisomasya patnyo loke pariśrutāḥ
kālasya nayane yuktāḥ somapatnyaḥ śubhavratāḥ
sarvā nakṣatrayoginyo lokayātrā vidhau sthitāḥ
16 pitāmaho munir devas tasya putraḥ prajāpatiḥ
tasyāṣṭau vasavaḥ putrās teṣāṃ vakṣyāmi vistaram
17 dharo dhruvaś ca somaś ca ahaś caivānilo 'nalaḥ
pratyūṣaś ca prabhāsaś ca vasavo 'ṣṭāv iti smṛtāḥ
18 dhūmrāyāś ca dharaḥ putro brahma vidyo dhruvas tathā
candramās tu manasvinyāḥ śvasāyāḥ śvasanas tathā
19 ratāyāś cāpy ahaḥ putraḥ śāṇḍilyāś ca hutāśanaḥ
pratyūṣaś ca prabhāsaś ca prabhātāyāḥ sutau smṛtau
20 dharasya putro draviṇo hutahavyavahas tathā
dhruvasya putro bhagavān kālo lokaprakālanaḥ
21 somasya tu suto varcā varcasvī yena jāyate
manoharāyāḥ śiśiraḥ prāṇo 'tha ramaṇas tathā
22 ahnaḥ sutaḥ smṛto jyotiḥ śramaḥ śāntas tathā muniḥ
agneḥ putraḥ kumāras tu śrīmāñ śaravaṇālayaḥ
23 tasya śākho viśākhaś ca naigameśaś ca pṛṣṭhajaḥ
kṛttikābhyupapatteś ca kārttikeya iti smṛtaḥ
24 anilasya śivā bhāryā tasyāḥ putraḥ purojavaḥ
avijñāta gatiś caiva dvau putrāv anilasya tu
25 pratyūṣasya viduḥ putram ṛṣiṃ nāmnātha devalam
dvau putrau devalasyāpi kṣamāvantau manīṣiṇau
26 bṛhaspates tu bhaginī varastrī brahmacāriṇī
yogasiddhā jagat sarvam asaktaṃ vicaraty uta
prabhāsasya tu bhāryā sā vasūnām aṣṭamasya ha
27 viśvakarmā mahābhāgo jajñe śilpaprajā patiḥ
kartā śilpasahasrāṇāṃ tridaśānāṃ ca vardhakiḥ
28 bhūṣaṇānāṃ ca sarveṣāṃ kartā śilpavatāṃ varaḥ
yo divyāni vimānāni devatānāṃ cakāra ha
29 manuṣyāś copajīvanti yasya śilpaṃ mahātmanaḥ
pūjayanti ca yaṃ nityaṃ viśvakarmāṇam avyayam
30 stanaṃ tu dakṣiṇaṃ bhittvā brahmaṇo naravigrahaḥ
niḥsṛto bhagavān dharmaḥ sarvalokasukhāvahaḥ
31 trayas tasya varāḥ putrāḥ sarvabhūtamanoharāḥ
śamaḥ kāmaś ca harṣaś ca tejasā lokadhāriṇaḥ
32 kāmasya tu ratir bhāryā śamasya prāptir aṅganā
nandī tu bhāryā harṣasya yatra lokāḥ pratiṣṭhitāḥ
33 marīceḥ kaśyapaḥ putraḥ kaśyapasya surāsurāḥ
jajñire nṛpaśārdūla lokānāṃ prabhavas tu saḥ
34 tvāṣṭrī tu savitur bhāryā vaḍavā rūpadhāriṇī
asūyata mahābhāgā sāntarikṣe 'śvināv ubhau
35 dvādaśaivāditeḥ putrāḥ śakra mukhyā narādhipa
teṣām avarajo viṣṇur yatra lokāḥ pratiṣṭhitāḥ
36 trayas triṃśata ity ete devās teṣām ahaṃ tava
anvayaṃ saṃpravakṣyāmi pakṣaiś ca kulato gaṇān
37 rudrāṇām aparaḥ pakṣaḥ sādhyānāṃ marutāṃ tathā
vasūnāṃ bhārgavaṃ vidyād viśve devāṃs tathaiva ca
38 vainateyas tu garuḍo balavān aruṇas tathā
bṛhaspatiś ca bhagavān ādityeṣv eva gaṇyate
39 aśvibhyāṃ guhyakān viddhi sarvauṣadhyas tathā paśūn
eṣa devagaṇo rājan kīrtitas te 'nupūrvaśaḥ
yaṃ kīrtayitvā manujaḥ sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate
40 brahmaṇo hṛdayaṃ bhittvā niḥsṛto bhagavān bhṛguḥ
bhṛgoḥ putraḥ kavir vidvāñ śukraḥ kavi suto grahaḥ
41 trailokyaprāṇayātrārthe varṣāvarṣe bhayābhaye
svayaṃ bhuvā niyuktaḥ san bhuvanaṃ paridhāvati
42 yogācāryo mahābuddhir daityānām abhavad guruḥ
surāṇāṃ cāpi medhāvī brahma cārī yatavrataḥ
43 tasmin niyukte vibhunā yogakṣemāya bhārgave
anyam utpādayām āsa putraṃ bhṛgur aninditam
44 cyavanaṃ dīptatapasaṃ dharmātmānaṃ manīṣiṇam
yaḥ saroṣāc cyuto garbhān mātur mokṣāya bhārata
45 āruṇī tu manoḥ kanyā tasya patnī manīṣiṇaḥ
aurvas tasyāṃ samabhavad ūruṃ bhittvā mahāyaśāḥ
mahātapā mahātejā bāla eva guṇair yutaḥ
46 ṛcīkas tasya putras tu jamadagnis tato 'bhavat
jamadagnes tu catvāra āsan putrā mahātmanaḥ
47 rāmas teṣāṃ jaghanyo 'bhūd ajaghanyair guṇair yutaḥ
sarvaśastrāstrakuśalaḥ kṣatriyāntakaro vaśī
48 aurvasyāsīt putraśataṃ jamadagnipurogamam
teṣāṃ putrasahasrāṇi babhūvur bhṛguvistaraḥ
49 dvau putrau brahmaṇas tv anyau yayos tiṣṭhati lakṣaṇam
loke dhātā vidhātā ca yau sthitau manunā saha
50 tayor eva svasā devī lakṣmīḥ padmagṛhā śubhā
tasyās tu mānasāḥ putrās turagā vyoma cāriṇaḥ
51 varuṇasya bhāryā jyeṣṭhā tu śukrād devī vyajāyata
tasyāḥ putraṃ balaṃ viddhi surāṃ ca suranandinīm
52 prajānām annakāmānām anyonyaparibhakṣaṇāt
adharmas tatra saṃjātaḥ sarvabhūtavināśanaḥ
53 tasyāpi nirṛtir bhāryā nairṛtā yena rākṣasāḥ
ghorās tasyās trayaḥ putrāḥ pāpakarma ratāḥ sadā
bhayo mahābhayaś caiva mṛtyur bhūtāntakas tathā
54 kākīṃ śyenīṃ ca bhāsīṃ ca dhṛtarāṣṭrīṃ tathā śukīm
tāmrā tu suṣuve devī pañcaitā lokaviśrutāḥ
55 ulūkān suṣuve kākī śyenī śyenān vyajāyata
bhāsī bhāsān ajanayad gṛdhrāṃś caiva janādhipa
56 dhṛtarāṣṭrī tu haṃsāṃś ca kalahaṃsāṃś ca sarvaśaḥ
cakravākāṃś ca bhadraṃ te prajajñe sā tu bhāminī
57 śukī vijajñe dharmajña śukān eva manasvinī
kalyāṇa guṇasaṃpannā sarvalakṣaṇapūjitā
58 nava krodhavaśā nārīḥ prajajñe 'py ātmasaṃbhavāḥ
mṛgīṃ ca mṛgamandāṃ ca hariṃ bhadra manām api
59 mātaṅgīm atha śārdūlīṃ śvetāṃ surabhim eva ca
sarvalakṣaṇasaṃpannāṃ surasāṃ ca yaśasvinīm
60 apatyaṃ tu mṛgāḥ sarve mṛgyā naravarātmaja
ṛkṣāś ca mṛgamandāyāḥ sṛmarāś camarā api
61 tatas tv airāvataṃ nāgaṃ jajñe bhadra manā sutam
airāvataḥ sutas tasyā deva nāgo mahāgajaḥ
62 haryāś ca harayo 'patyaṃ vānarāś ca tarasvinaḥ
golāṅgūlāṃś ca bhadraṃ te haryāḥ putrān pracakṣate
63 prajajñe tv atha śārdūlī siṃhān vyāghrāṃś ca bhārata
dvīpinaś ca mahābhāga sarvān eva na saṃśayaḥ
64 mātaṅgyās tv atha mātaṅgā apatyāni narādhipa
diśāgajaṃ tu śvetākhyaṃ śvetājanayad āśugam
65 tathā duhitarau rājan surabhir vai vyajāyata
rohiṇīṃ caiva bhadraṃ te gandharvīṃ ca yaśasvinīm
rohiṇyāṃ jajñire gāvo gandharvyāṃ vājinaḥ sutāḥ
66 surasājanayan nāgān rājan kadrūś ca pannagān
sapta piṇḍa phalān vṛkṣān analāpi vyajāyata
analāyāḥ śukī putrī kadrvās tu surasā sutā
67 aruṇasya bhāryā śyenī tu vīryavantau mahābalau
saṃpātiṃ janayām āsa tathaiva ca jaṭāyuṣam
dvau putrau vinatāyās tu vikhyātau garuḍāruṇau
68 ity eṣa sarvabhūtānāṃ mahatāṃ manujādhipa
prabhavaḥ kīrtitaḥ samyaṅ mayā matimatāṃ vara
69 yaṃ śrutvā puruṣaḥ samyak pūto bhavati pāpmanaḥ
sarvajñatāṃ ca labhate gatim agryāṃ ca vindati
SECTION LX
(Adivansavatarana
Parva continued)
'Sauti said, 'Hearing that Janamejaya was
installed in the snake-sacrifice, the learned Rishi Krishna-Dwaipayana went
thither on the occasion. And he, the grand-father of the Pandavas, was born in
an island of the Yamuna, of the virgin Kali by Sakti's son, Parasara. And the
illustrious one developed by his will alone his body as soon as he was born,
and mastered the Vedas with their branches, and all the histories. And
he readily obtained that which no one could obtain by asceticism, by the study
of the Vedas, by vows, by fasts, by progeny, and by sacrifice. And the
first of Veda-knowing ones, he divided the Vedas into four parts.
And the Brahmana Rishi had knowledge of the supreme Brahma, knew
the past by intuition, was holy, and cherished truth. Of sacred deeds and great
fame, he begot Pandu and Dhritarashtra and Vidura in order to continue the line
of Santanu."And the high-souled Rishi, with his disciples all conversant with the Vedas and their branches, entered the sacrificial pavilion of the royal sage, Janamejaya. And he saw that the king Janamejaya was seated in the sacrificial region like the god Indra, surrounded by numerous Sadasyas, by kings of various countries whose coronal locks had undergone the sacred bath, and by competent Ritwiks like unto Brahman himself. And that foremost one of Bharata's race, the royal sage Janamejaya, beholding the Rishi come, advanced quickly with his followers and relatives in great joy. And the king with the approval of his Sadasyas, gave the Rishi a golden seat as Indra did to Vrihaspati. And when the Rishi, capable of granting boons and adored by the celestial Rishis themselves, had been seated, the king of kings worshipped him according to the rites of the scriptures. And the king then offered him--his grandfather Krishna--who fully deserved them, water to wash his feet and mouth, and the Arghya, and kine. And accepting those offerings from the Pandava Janamejaya and ordering the kine also not to be slain, Vyasa became much gratified. And the king, after those adorations bowed to his great-grandfather, and sitting in joy asked him about his welfare. And the illustrious Rishi also, casting his eyes upon him and asking him about his welfare, worshipped the Sadasyas, having been before worshipped by them all. And after all this, Janamejaya with all his Sadasyas, questioned that first of Brahmanas, with joined palms as follows:
'O Brahmana, thou hast seen with thy own eyes the acts of the Kurus and the Pandavas. I am desirous of hearing thee recite their history. What was the cause of the disunion amongst them that was fruitful of such
p. 118
extraordinary deeds? Why also did that great battle, which caused the death of countless creatures occur between all my grandfathers--their clear sense over-clouded by fate? O excellent Brahmana, tell me all this in full as everything had happened.'
"Hearing those words of Janamejaya, Krishna-Dwaipayana directed his disciple Vaisampayana seated by his side, saying, 'The discord that happened between the Kurus and the Pandavas of old, narrate all to the king even as thou hast heard from me.'
"Then that blessed Brahmana, at the command of his preceptor recited the whole of that history unto the king, the Sadasyas, and all the chieftains there assembled. And he told them all about the hostility and the utter extinction of the Kurus and the Pandavas.'"
( My humble salutations to the lotus feet of Sreeman Brahmasri K M Ganguli ji
for the collection )
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