Mahabharata — Volume I (Dutt edition) — Chapter 229

MBh 1 229.1

जनमेजय उवाच किमर्थं शाईकानग्निर्न ददाह तथागते। तस्मिन् वने दह्यमाने ब्रह्मन्नेतत् प्रचक्ष्व मे॥

janamejaya uvāca kimarthaṃ śāīkānagnirna dadāha tathāgate| tasmin vane dahyamāne brahmannetat pracakṣva me||

Janamejaya said : O Brahmana, tell me why Agni did not consume the Sharangakas when that forest was being burnt?

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 1 229.2

अदाहे ह्यश्वसेनस्य दानवस्य मयस्य च। कारणं कीर्तितं ब्रह्मञ्छाकाणां न कीर्तितम्॥

adāhe hyaśvasenasya dānavasya mayasya ca| kāraṇaṃ kīrtitaṃ brahmañchākāṇāṃ na kīrtitam||

O Brahmana, you have narrated the cause of Ashvasena and Danava Maya having been not burnt, but you have not narrated the cause of the Sharangakas having been not burnt.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 1 229.3

तदेतदद्भुतं ब्रह्मञ्छाईकाणामनामयम्। कीर्तयस्वाग्निसम्मः कथं ते न विनाशिताः॥

tadetadadbhutaṃ brahmañchāīkāṇāmanāmayam| kīrtayasvāgnisammaḥ kathaṃ te na vināśitāḥ||

O Brahmana, the escape of the Sharanagakas seems to be wonderful. Tell us why they were not destroyed by Agni in the great conflagration.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 1 229.4

वैशम्पायन उवाच यदर्थं शाकानग्निर्न ददाह तथागते। तत् ते सर्वं प्रवक्ष्यामि यताभूतमरिंदम॥

vaiśampāyana uvāca yadarthaṃ śākānagnirna dadāha tathāgate| tat te sarvaṃ pravakṣyāmi yatābhūtamariṃdama||

Vaishampayana said: O chastiser of foes, I shall tell you all about the reason for which Agni did not consume the Sharangakas in that conflagration.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 1 229.5

धर्मज्ञानां मुख्यतमस्तपस्वी संशितब्रतः। आसीन्महर्षिः श्रुतवान् मन्दपाल इति श्रुतः॥

dharmajñānāṃ mukhyatamastapasvī saṃśitabrataḥ| āsīnmaharṣiḥ śrutavān mandapāla iti śrutaḥ||

O king, there was a great Rishi, the foremost of all virtuous men, known by the name of Mandapala. He was learned in all the Shastras and devoted to asceticism and rigid VOWS.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 1 229.6

स मार्गमाश्रितो राजन्नृषीणामूर्ध्वरेतसाम्। स्वाध्यायवान् धर्मरतस्तपस्वी विजितेन्द्रियः॥

sa mārgamāśrito rājannṛṣīṇāmūrdhvaretasām| svādhyāyavān dharmaratastapasvī vijitendriyaḥ||

O king, following the footsteps of those Rishis who had brought their passion under complete control, he devoted himself to study and virtue and he became a victor over all his senses.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 1 229.7

स गत्वा तपसः पारं देहमुत्सृज्य भारत। जगाम पितृलोकाय न लेभे तत्र तत्फलम्॥

sa gatvā tapasaḥ pāraṃ dehamutsṛjya bhārata| jagāma pitṛlokāya na lebhe tatra tatphalam||

O descendant of Bharata, having reached the opposite shore of asceticism (gaining success in asceticism), he gave up his human body and went to the region of the Pitris. But he did not get there the fruits (of his virtuous actions).

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 1 229.8

स लोकानफलान् दृष्ट्वा तपसा निर्जितानपि। पप्रच्छ धर्मराजस्य समीपस्थान् दिवौकसः॥

sa lokānaphalān dṛṣṭvā tapasā nirjitānapi| papraccha dharmarājasya samīpasthān divaukasaḥ||

He asked the dwellers of heaven (celestial) sitting round Dharmaraja (the king of the dead) what was the cause of his not getting the fruits of his severe asceticism.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 1 229.9

मन्दपाल उवाच किमर्थमावृता लोका ममैते तपसार्जिताः किं मया न कृतं तत्र यस्यैतत् कर्मणः फलम्॥

mandapāla uvāca kimarthamāvṛtā lokā mamaite tapasārjitāḥ kiṃ mayā na kṛtaṃ tatra yasyaitat karmaṇaḥ phalam||

Mandapala said : Why have these regions become unattainable by me? I thought they have been acquired by me by my asceticism. What have I not done, the fruits of which are these regions?

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 1 229.10

तत्राहं तत् करिष्यामि यदर्थमिदमावृतम्। फलमेतस्य तपसः कथयध्वं दिवौकसः॥

tatrāhaṃ tat kariṣyāmi yadarthamidamāvṛtam| phalametasya tapasaḥ kathayadhvaṃ divaukasaḥ||

O dwellers of heaven, tell me why these regions are shut against me. I will do that which will give me the fruit of my asceticism.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 1 229.11

देवा ऊचुः ऋणिनो मानवा ब्रह्मन् जायन्ते तेन तच्छृणु। क्रियाभिर्ब्रह्मचर्येण प्रजया च न संशयः॥ तदपाक्रियते सर्वं यज्ञेन तपसा श्रुतैः। तपस्वी यज्ञकृच्चासि न च ते विद्यते प्रजा॥

devā ūcuḥ ṛṇino mānavā brahman jāyante tena tacchṛṇu| kriyābhirbrahmacaryeṇa prajayā ca na saṃśayaḥ|| tadapākriyate sarvaṃ yajñena tapasā śrutaiḥ| tapasvī yajñakṛccāsi na ca te vidyate prajā||

The Celestial said: O Brahmana, hear of those acts and things for which men are bom debtors. There is no doubt that men are born debtors for Kriya, religious rites, for Brahmacharya, study according to the ordinance and for progeny. These debts are discharged by scarifies, asceticism and offspring. You are an ascetic, you have also performed scarifies, but you have no offspring.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 1 229.12

त इमे प्रसवस्यार्थे तव लोकाः समावृताः। प्रजायस्व ततो लोकानुपभोक्ष्यसि पुष्कलान्॥

ta ime prasavasyārthe tava lokāḥ samāvṛtāḥ| prajāyasva tato lokānupabhokṣyasi puṣkalān||

These regions are shut against you, because you have no offspring. Therefore, beget off spring you will then enjoy various regions of felicity.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 1 229.13

पुंनाम्नो नरकात् पुत्रस्त्रायते पितरं श्रुतिः। तस्मादपत्यसंताने यतस्व ब्रह्मसत्तम।॥

puṃnāmno narakāt putrastrāyate pitaraṃ śrutiḥ| tasmādapatyasaṃtāne yatasva brahmasattama|||

It is said in Smriti, that the son rescues the father from the hell, called Put, O best of Brahmanas, therefore, try to be get children.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 1 229.14

वैशम्पायन उवाच तच्छ्रुत्वा मन्दपालस्तु वचस्तेषां दिवौकसाम्। क्व नु शीघ्रमपत्यं स्याद् बहुलं चेत्यचिन्तयत्॥

vaiśampāyana uvāca tacchrutvā mandapālastu vacasteṣāṃ divaukasām| kva nu śīghramapatyaṃ syād bahulaṃ cetyacintayat||

Vaishampayana said : Having heard these words of the dwellers of heaven, Mandapala thought how he could obtain the largest number offspring within the shortest period of time.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 1 229.15

स चिन्तयन्नभ्यगच्छत् सुबहुप्रसवान् खगान्। शाह्निकां शाट्टिको भूत्वा जरितां समुपेयिवान्॥

sa cintayannabhyagacchat subahuprasavān khagān| śāhnikāṃ śāṭṭiko bhūtvā jaritāṃ samupeyivān||

After reflection, he came to the conclusion that the birds alone have the greatest power of fecundity. Becoming a Sharanagaka, he had connection, with a female Sharangaka, named Jarita.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 1 229.16

तस्यां पुत्रानजनयच्चतुरो ब्रह्मवादिनः। तानपास्य स तत्रैव जगाम लपितां प्रति॥ बालान् स तानण्डगतान् सह मात्रा मुनिर्वने।

tasyāṃ putrānajanayaccaturo brahmavādinaḥ| tānapāsya sa tatraiva jagāma lapitāṃ prati|| bālān sa tānaṇḍagatān saha mātrā munirvane|

He begot on her four sons who were all utterers of the Vedas. Leaving these sons with their mother in the forest while they were still within the eggs, he went to Lapita.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 1 229.17

तस्मिन् गते महाभागे लपितां प्रति भारत॥ अपत्यस्नेहसंयुक्ता जरिता बह्वचिन्तयत्।

tasmin gate mahābhāge lapitāṃ prati bhārata|| apatyasnehasaṃyuktā jaritā bahvacintayat|

O descendant of Bharata, when the illustrious Rishi went away to Lapita. Jarita, filled with affection for her offspring, became very thoughtful.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 1 229.18

तेन त्यक्तानसंत्याज्यानृषीनण्डगतान् वने॥ न जहौ पुत्रशोकार्ता जरिता खाण्डवे सुतान्। बभार चैतान् संजातान् स्ववृत्त्या स्नेहविपल्वा॥

tena tyaktānasaṃtyājyānṛṣīnaṇḍagatān vane|| na jahau putraśokārtā jaritā khāṇḍave sutān| babhāra caitān saṃjātān svavṛttyā snehavipalvā||

Though forsaken by their father in that forest.of Khandava, Jarita, out of her affection for her children, could not forsake her of offspring, those infant Rishis still living within the eggs. She brought up those children, her self following the pursuit proper to her own species.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 1 229.19

ततोऽग्नि खाण्डवं दग्धुमायान्तं दृष्टवानृषिः। मन्दपालश्चरंस्तस्मिन् वने लपितया सह॥

tato'gni khāṇḍavaṃ dagdhumāyāntaṃ dṛṣṭavānṛṣiḥ| mandapālaścaraṃstasmin vane lapitayā saha||

Sometime after, the Rishi Mandapala, while wandering in the forest with Lapita, saw Agni coming towards the Khandava to burn it.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 1 229.20

तं संकल्पं विदित्वाग्नेत्विा पुत्रांश्च बालकान्। सोऽभितुष्टाव विप्रर्षिाह्मणो जातवेदसम्॥ पुत्रान् प्रति वदन् भीतो लोकपालं महौजसम्।

taṃ saṃkalpaṃ viditvāgnetviā putrāṃśca bālakān| so'bhituṣṭāva viprarṣiāhmaṇo jātavedasam|| putrān prati vadan bhīto lokapālaṃ mahaujasam|

Knowing the intention of Agni and remembering also that his children were all young, moved by fear, he gratified Agni, the greatly effulgent regent of the universe. He did it, wishing to say a word for his unfledged offspring.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 1 229.21

मन्दपाल उवाच त्वमग्ने सर्वलोकानां मुखं त्वमसि हव्यवाट्॥

mandapāla uvāca tvamagne sarvalokānāṃ mukhaṃ tvamasi havyavāṭ||

Mandapala said : O Agni, you are the mouth of all the worlds, you are the carrier of sacrificial ghee.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 1 229.22

त्वमन्तः सर्वभूतानां गूढश्चरसि पावक। त्वामेकमाहुः कवयस यस्त्वामाहुस्त्रिविधं पुनः॥

tvamantaḥ sarvabhūtānāṃ gūḍhaścarasi pāvaka| tvāmekamāhuḥ kavayasa yastvāmāhustrividhaṃ punaḥ||

O purifier, you move invisible in the body of every creature. The learned have said that you are a unit and again you possess triple nature.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 1 229.23

त्वामष्टधा कल्पयित्वा यज्ञवाहमकल्पयन्। त्वया विश्वमिदं सृष्टं वदन्ति परमर्षयः॥

tvāmaṣṭadhā kalpayitvā yajñavāhamakalpayan| tvayā viśvamidaṃ sṛṣṭaṃ vadanti paramarṣayaḥ||

The wise perform their sacrifices before you and they consider you as having eight (murtis). The great Rishis say that this universe is erected by you.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 1 229.24

त्वदृते हि जगत् कृत्स्नं सद्यो नश्येद्भुताशन। तुभ्यं कृत्वा नमो विप्राः स्वकर्मविजितां गतिम्॥ गच्छन्ति सह पत्नीभिः सुतैरपि च शाश्वतीम्। त्वामग्ने जलदानाहुः खे विषक्तान् सविद्युतः॥

tvadṛte hi jagat kṛtsnaṃ sadyo naśyedbhutāśana| tubhyaṃ kṛtvā namo viprāḥ svakarmavijitāṃ gatim|| gacchanti saha patnībhiḥ sutairapi ca śāśvatīm| tvāmagne jaladānāhuḥ khe viṣaktān savidyutaḥ||

O eater of the sacrificial ghee, this whole universe will be destroyed in a single day if you were not present in it. Bowing down to you, the Brahmanas, accompanied by their wives and children, go to the eternal regions acquired by them by their own (good) deeds. O Agni, the learned say that you are the clouds charged with lightning. The flames put forth by you consume every creatures, (on earth).

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 1 229.25

दहन्ति सर्वभूतानि त्वत्तो निष्क्रम्य हेतयः। जातवेदस्त्वयैवेदं विश्वं सृष्टं महाद्युते॥

dahanti sarvabhūtāni tvatto niṣkramya hetayaḥ| jātavedastvayaivedaṃ viśvaṃ sṛṣṭaṃ mahādyute||

O effulgent deity, this universe is created by you. The Vedas are your words; all creatures, mobile and immobile, depend upon you.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 1 229.26

तवैव कर्म विहितं भूतं सर्वं चराचरम्। त्वयाऽऽपो विहिताः पूर्वं त्वयि सर्वमिदं जगत्॥

tavaiva karma vihitaṃ bhūtaṃ sarvaṃ carācaram| tvayā''po vihitāḥ pūrvaṃ tvayi sarvamidaṃ jagat||

Water primarily depends upon you. Whole universe also depends upon you. All offerings of sacrificial ghee and all libations of food offered to the Pitris have also been established in you.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 1 229.27

त्वयि हव्यं च कव्यं च यथावत् सम्प्रतिष्ठितम्। त्वमेव दहनो देव त्वं धाता त्वं बृहस्पतिः॥ त्वमश्विनौ यमौ मित्रः सोमस्त्वमसि चानिलः।

tvayi havyaṃ ca kavyaṃ ca yathāvat sampratiṣṭhitam| tvameva dahano deva tvaṃ dhātā tvaṃ bṛhaspatiḥ|| tvamaśvinau yamau mitraḥ somastvamasi cānilaḥ|

O deity, you are the consumer, you are the creator, you are Brihaspati himself. You are Surya, you are Soma and you are Vayu.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 1 229.28

वैशम्पायन उवाच एवं स्तुतस्तदा तेन मन्दपालेन पावकः॥ तुतोष तस्य नृपते मुनेरमिततेजसः। उवाच चैन प्रीतात्मा किमिष्टं करवाणि ते॥

vaiśampāyana uvāca evaṃ stutastadā tena mandapālena pāvakaḥ|| tutoṣa tasya nṛpate muneramitatejasaḥ| uvāca caina prītātmā kimiṣṭaṃ karavāṇi te||

Vaishampayana said : O king, thus praised by Mandapala, Agni was much pleased with the immeasurably effulgent Rishi. He thus spoke to him with a delightful heart,” what good can I do to you?”

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 1 229.29

तमब्रवीन्मन्दपाल: प्राञ्जलिहव्यवाहनम्। प्रदहन् खाण्डवं दावं मम पुत्रान् विसर्जय॥

tamabravīnmandapāla: prāñjalihavyavāhanam| pradahan khāṇḍavaṃ dāvaṃ mama putrān visarjaya||

Thereupon Mandapala with joined hands said to the carrier of sacrificial ghee fire, "When you will burn the Khandava, spare my sons."

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 1 229.30

तथेति तत् प्रतिश्रुत्य भगवान् हव्यवाहनः। खाण्डवे तेन कालेन प्रजज्वाल दिधक्षया॥

tatheti tat pratiśrutya bhagavān havyavāhanaḥ| khāṇḍave tena kālena prajajvāla didhakṣayā||

The illustrious carrier of the sacrificial ghee Agni promised it by saying "Be it so.” And then at that very movement he blazed up with the intention of burning the Khandava.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)