Mahabharata — Volume I (Dutt edition) — Chapter 40

MBh 1 40.1

शौनक उवाच जरत्कारुरिति ख्यातो यस्त्वया सूतनन्दन। इच्छामि तदहं श्रोतुं ऋषेस्तस्य महात्मनः॥ किं कारणं जरत्कारो मैतत्प्रथितं भुवि। जरत्कारुनिरुक्तिं त्वं यथावद्वक्तुमर्हसि॥

śaunaka uvāca jaratkāruriti khyāto yastvayā sūtanandana| icchāmi tadahaṃ śrotuṃ ṛṣestasya mahātmanaḥ|| kiṃ kāraṇaṃ jaratkāro maitatprathitaṃ bhuvi| jaratkāruniruktiṃ tvaṃ yathāvadvaktumarhasi||

Shaunaka said : O son of Suta, I desire to know why the illustrious Rishi whom you call Jaratkaru came to be so called. You should tell us the Etymology of the name of Jaratkaru.

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

MBh 1 40.2

सौतिरुवाच जरेति क्षयमाहुर्वै दारुणं कारुसंज्ञितम्। शरीरं कारु तस्यासीत्तत्स धीमाञ्च्छनैः शनैः॥ क्षपयामास तीव्रण तपसेत्यत उच्यते। जरत्कारुरिति ब्रह्मन्वासुकेर्भगिनी तथा॥

sautiruvāca jareti kṣayamāhurvai dāruṇaṃ kārusaṃjñitam| śarīraṃ kāru tasyāsīttatsa dhīmāñcchanaiḥ śanaiḥ|| kṣapayāmāsa tīvraṇa tapasetyata ucyate| jaratkāruriti brahmanvāsukerbhaginī tathā||

Sauti said: Jara, means “waste" Karu means “huge." The body of this Rishi was huge, but he reduced it by severe penances. O Brahmana, because he thus reduced his body, he was called Jaratkaru. The sister of Vasuki was called Jaratkaru for the same reason.

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

MBh 1 40.3

एवमुक्तस्तु धर्मात्मा शौनकः प्राहसत्तदा। उग्रश्रवसमामन्त्र्य उपपन्नमिति ब्रुवन्॥

evamuktastu dharmātmā śaunakaḥ prāhasattadā| ugraśravasamāmantrya upapannamiti bruvan||

When the pious Shaunaka heard this, he smiled and addressing Ugrashrava (Sauti) said, “It is true."

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

MBh 1 40.4

शौनक उवाच उक्तं नाम यथापूर्वं सर्वं तच्छ्रुतवानहम्। यथा तु जातो ह्यास्तीक एतदिच्छामि वेदितुम्। तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य सूतः प्रोवाच शास्त्रतः॥

śaunaka uvāca uktaṃ nāma yathāpūrvaṃ sarvaṃ tacchrutavānaham| yathā tu jāto hyāstīka etadicchāmi veditum| tacchrutvā vacanaṃ tasya sūtaḥ provāca śāstrataḥ||

Shaunaka said : I have heard all that you have narrated. Now I wish to hear how Astika was born.

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

MBh 1 40.5

सौतिरुवाच संदिश्य पन्नगान्सर्वान्वासुकिः सुसमाहितः। स्वसारमुद्यम्य तदा जरत्कारुमृषि प्रति॥

sautiruvāca saṃdiśya pannagānsarvānvāsukiḥ susamāhitaḥ| svasāramudyamya tadā jaratkārumṛṣi prati||

Sauti said : Vasuki, wishing to bestow his sister on Rishi Jaratkaru, gave the snakes (all necessary) orders.

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

MBh 1 40.6

अथ कालस्य महत: स मुनिः संशितव्रतः। तपस्यभिरतो धीमान्स दारानाभ्यकांक्षत॥

atha kālasya mahata: sa muniḥ saṃśitavrataḥ| tapasyabhirato dhīmānsa dārānābhyakāṃkṣata||

Many years rolled away, but the Rishi of rigid vows, deeply engaged in ascetic devotions, did not seek for a wife.

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

MBh 1 40.7

स तूर्ध्वरेतास्तपसि प्रसक्तः स्वाध्यायवान्वीतभयः कृतात्मा। चचार सर्वां पृथिवीं महात्मा न चापि दारान्मनसाध्यकांक्षत॥

sa tūrdhvaretāstapasi prasaktaḥ svādhyāyavānvītabhayaḥ kṛtātmā| cacāra sarvāṃ pṛthivīṃ mahātmā na cāpi dārānmanasādhyakāṃkṣata||

That high-souled Rishi, his sexual passion completely under control, engaged in deep study and devoted to rigid asceticism, fearlessly roamed over the world, having no desire for a wife.

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

MBh 1 40.8

ततो परस्मिन्संप्राप्ते काले कस्मिंश्चिदेव तु। परिक्षिन्नाम राजासीद्ब्रह्मन्कौरववंशजः॥

tato parasminsaṃprāpte kāle kasmiṃścideva tu| parikṣinnāma rājāsīdbrahmankauravavaṃśajaḥ||

O Brahmana, once upon a time there was a king, named Parikshit, born in the race of the Kurus.

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

MBh 1 40.9

यथा पाण्डुर्महाबाहुर्धनुर्धरवरो युधि। वभूब मृगयाशील: पुराऽस्य प्रपितामहः॥

yathā pāṇḍurmahābāhurdhanurdharavaro yudhi| vabhūba mṛgayāśīla: purā'sya prapitāmahaḥ||

He was like his great grandfather, Pandu, mighty in arms, the best of all bow-men in battle and was very fond of hunting.

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

MBh 1 40.10

मृगान्विध्यन्वराहांश्च तरशून्महिषांस्तथा। अन्यांश्च विविधान्वन्यांश्चचार पृथिवीपतिः॥

mṛgānvidhyanvarāhāṃśca taraśūnmahiṣāṃstathā| anyāṃśca vividhānvanyāṃścacāra pṛthivīpatiḥ||

That king of the world roamed about, hunting deer, wild boars, hyena and buffaloes and various other wild animals.

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

MBh 1 40.11

स कदाचिन्मृगं विध्वा बाणेनानतपर्वणा। पृष्ठतो धनुरादाय ससार गहने वने॥

sa kadācinmṛgaṃ vidhvā bāṇenānataparvaṇā| pṛṣṭhato dhanurādāya sasāra gahane vane||

One day, having pierced a deer with an arrow, he slang his bow on his back and following it, he entered into a deep forest.

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

MBh 1 40.12

यथैव भगवान्रुद्रो विध्वा यज्ञमृगं दिवि। अन्वगच्छद्धनुष्पाणि: पर्यन्वेष्टुमितस्ततः॥

yathaiva bhagavānrudro vidhvā yajñamṛgaṃ divi| anvagacchaddhanuṣpāṇi: paryanveṣṭumitastataḥ||

He searched for it in the forest here and there, as Rudra did in heaven for the sacrificial deer which was pierced with his arrow.

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

MBh 1 40.13

न हि तेन मृगो विद्धो जीवन्गच्छति वै वने। पूर्वरूपं तु तत्तूर्णं सोऽगात्स्वर्गगति प्रति॥

na hi tena mṛgo viddho jīvangacchati vai vane| pūrvarūpaṃ tu tattūrṇaṃ so'gātsvargagati prati||

Never had a deer, pierced by Parikshit, escaped in the forest with life. This deer, however, wounded as the others, fled away with speed. It shows the proximity of the king's going to heaven (death).

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

MBh 1 40.14

परिक्षितो नरेन्द्रस्य विद्धो यन्नष्टवान्मृगः। दूरं चापहृतस्तेन मृगेण स महीपतिः॥

parikṣito narendrasya viddho yannaṣṭavānmṛgaḥ| dūraṃ cāpahṛtastena mṛgeṇa sa mahīpatiḥ||

The deer, that the king of men, Parikshit wounded, was soon lost out of his sight and the king went in pursuit it far into the forest.

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

MBh 1 40.15

परिश्रान्तः पिपासात आससाद मुनि वने। गवां प्रचारेष्वासीनं वत्सानां मुखनिःसृतम्॥ भूयिष्ठमुपयुञ्जानं फेनमापिबतां पयः। तमभिद्रुत्य वेगेन स राजा संशितव्रतम्॥ अपृच्छद्धनुरुद्यम्य तं मुनि क्षुच्छ्रमान्वितः। भो भो ब्रह्मन्नहं राजा परीक्षिदभिमन्युजः॥

pariśrāntaḥ pipāsāta āsasāda muni vane| gavāṃ pracāreṣvāsīnaṃ vatsānāṃ mukhaniḥsṛtam|| bhūyiṣṭhamupayuñjānaṃ phenamāpibatāṃ payaḥ| tamabhidrutya vegena sa rājā saṃśitavratam|| apṛcchaddhanurudyamya taṃ muni kṣucchramānvitaḥ| bho bho brahmannahaṃ rājā parīkṣidabhimanyujaḥ||

Fatigued and thirsty he came upon a Rishi, in the forest, seated in a cow-shed, drinking the froth oozing out of the mouths of the calves sucking the milk of their mothers. Coming to him with all haste, the king asked that Rishi of great austerity, O Brahmana, I am king Parikshit, the son of Abhimanyu.

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

MBh 1 40.16

मया विद्धो मृगो नष्टः कच्चित्तं दृष्टवानसि। स मुनिस्तं तु नोवाच किंचिन्मौनव्रते स्थितः॥

mayā viddho mṛgo naṣṭaḥ kaccittaṃ dṛṣṭavānasi| sa munistaṃ tu novāca kiṃcinmaunavrate sthitaḥ||

Have you seen where the deer pierced by me has gone? But the Rishi, observing the vow of silence, did not reply to him.

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

MBh 1 40.17

तस्य स्कन्धे मृतं सर्प क्रुद्धो राजा समासजत्। समुत्क्षिप्य धनुष्कोट्या स चैनं समुपेक्षत॥

tasya skandhe mṛtaṃ sarpa kruddho rājā samāsajat| samutkṣipya dhanuṣkoṭyā sa cainaṃ samupekṣata||

The king being angry took up a dead snake with the end of his bow and placed it round the neck of the Rishi, but the Rishi did not prevent him from doing it.

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

MBh 1 40.18

न स किंचिदुवाचैनं शुभं वा यदि वाऽशुभम्। स राजा क्रोधमुत्सृज्य व्यथितस्तं तथागतम्। दृष्ट्वा जगाम नगरमृषिस्त्वासीत्तथैव सः॥ नहि तं राजशार्दूलं क्षमाशीलो महामुनिः। स्वधर्मनिरतं भूपं समाक्षिप्तोऽप्यधर्षयत्॥

na sa kiṃciduvācainaṃ śubhaṃ vā yadi vā'śubham| sa rājā krodhamutsṛjya vyathitastaṃ tathāgatam| dṛṣṭvā jagāma nagaramṛṣistvāsīttathaiva saḥ|| nahi taṃ rājaśārdūlaṃ kṣamāśīlo mahāmuniḥ| svadharmanirataṃ bhūpaṃ samākṣipto'pyadharṣayat||

He did not even say a word, either good or bad. Seeing him in that state, the king cast off his anger and became very sorry. He went away to his capital and the Rishi remained as he was. The forgiving great Rishi knowing him, that best of kings,

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

MBh 1 40.19

न हि तं राजशार्दूलस्तथा धर्मपरायणम्। जानाति भरतश्रेष्ठस्तत एनमधर्षयत्॥ तरुणस्तस्य पुत्रोऽभूत्तिग्मतेजा महातपाः।

na hi taṃ rājaśārdūlastathā dharmaparāyaṇam| jānāti bharataśreṣṭhastata enamadharṣayat|| taruṇastasya putro'bhūttigmatejā mahātapāḥ|

To be true to the duties of his order, did not curse him. That best of kings, the best of the Bharata race, also did not know that the Rishi was a virtuous man. It is for this that he thus insulted him. This Rishi had a young, greatly powerful and exceedingly ascetic son,

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

MBh 1 40.20

शृंगी नाम महाक्रोधो दुष्प्रसादो महाव्रतः। स देवं परमासीनं सर्वभूतहिते रतम्॥ ब्रह्माणमुपतस्थे वै काले काले सुसंयतः। स तेन समनुज्ञातो ब्रह्मणा गृहमेयिवान्॥

śṛṃgī nāma mahākrodho duṣprasādo mahāvrataḥ| sa devaṃ paramāsīnaṃ sarvabhūtahite ratam|| brahmāṇamupatasthe vai kāle kāle susaṃyataḥ| sa tena samanujñāto brahmaṇā gṛhameyivān||

Who was named Shringi. He was full of wrath, severe in his vows and difficult to be appeased. He sometimes worshipped with great attention his (preceptor) Brahma, seated on his seat and ever engaged in doing good to all creatures. Commanded by him, he was coming home one day.

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

MBh 1 40.21

सख्योक्तः क्रीडमानेन स तत्र हसता किल। संरंभात्कोपनोऽतीव विषकल्पो मुनेः सुतः॥ उद्दिश्य पितरं तस्य यच्छ्रुत्वा रोषमाहरत्। ऋषिपुत्रेण धर्मार्थे कृशेन द्विजसत्तम॥

sakhyoktaḥ krīḍamānena sa tatra hasatā kila| saṃraṃbhātkopano'tīva viṣakalpo muneḥ sutaḥ|| uddiśya pitaraṃ tasya yacchrutvā roṣamāharat| ṛṣiputreṇa dharmārthe kṛśena dvijasattama||

When his friend (Krisha) in a playful mood, laughingly spoke to him about his father, the Rishi's son, ever wrathful and like poison itself, hearing what had happened to his father, blazed up in a rage.

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

MBh 1 40.22

कृश उवाच तेजस्विनस्तव पिता तथैव च तपस्विनः। शवं स्कन्धेन वहति मा शृङ्गिगवितो भव॥

kṛśa uvāca tejasvinastava pitā tathaiva ca tapasvinaḥ| śavaṃ skandhena vahati mā śṛṅgigavito bhava||

Krisha said: O Shringi, do not be proud. Ascetic as you are and possessed of great powers, (go and see) your father who is carrying a dead body (on his shoulder),

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

MBh 1 40.23

व्याहरत्स्वृषिपुत्रेषु मा स्म किंचिद्वचो वद। अस्मद्विधेषु सिद्धेषु ब्रह्मवित्सु तपस्विषु॥

vyāharatsvṛṣiputreṣu mā sma kiṃcidvaco vada| asmadvidheṣu siddheṣu brahmavitsu tapasviṣu||

Don't speak with the sons of the Rishis like ourselves, who are deep in asceticism, who have knowledge of truth and who have attained Success.

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

MBh 1 40.24

क्व ते पुरुषमानित्वं क्व ते वाचस्तथाविधाः। दर्पजाः पितरं द्रष्ट्वा यस्त्वं शवधरं तथा॥

kva te puruṣamānitvaṃ kva te vācastathāvidhāḥ| darpajāḥ pitaraṃ draṣṭvā yastvaṃ śavadharaṃ tathā||

Where is your that manliness and where are your those proud words, when you see your father carrying a dead snake?

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

MBh 1 40.25

पित्रा च तव तत्कर्म नानुरूपमिवात्मनः। कृतं मुनिजनश्रेष्ठ येनाहं भृशदुःखितः॥

pitrā ca tava tatkarma nānurūpamivātmanaḥ| kṛtaṃ munijanaśreṣṭha yenāhaṃ bhṛśaduḥkhitaḥ||

O best of Rishis, your father did nothing to meet with this treatment. I am pained as if it has been done to me.

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