Mahabharata — Volume I (Dutt edition) — Chapter 58

MBh 1 58.1

सौतिरुवाच इदमत्यद्भुतं चान्यदास्तीकस्यानुशुश्रुम। तथा वरैश्छन्द्यमाने राज्ञा पारिक्षितेन हि॥

sautiruvāca idamatyadbhutaṃ cānyadāstīkasyānuśuśruma| tathā varaiśchandyamāne rājñā pārikṣitena hi||

Sauti said : Now hsar, (I shall mention) another wonderful incident in connection with Astika. When the son of Parikshit, the king (Janamejaya) was about to grant the boon (to Astika).

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

MBh 1 58.2

इन्द्रहस्ताच्च्युतो नागः ख एव यदतिष्ठत। ततश्चिन्तापरो राजा बभूव जनमेजयः॥

indrahastāccyuto nāgaḥ kha eva yadatiṣṭhata| tataścintāparo rājā babhūva janamejayaḥ||

The snake, (Takshaka) though thrown off form Indra's hands, remained in the air without falling. Thereupon, king Janamejaya became thoughtful,

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

MBh 1 58.3

हूयमाने भृशं दीप्तं विधिवद्वसुरेतसि। न स्म स प्राप तद्वन्हौ तक्षको भयपीडितः॥

hūyamāne bhṛśaṃ dīptaṃ vidhivadvasuretasi| na sma sa prāpa tadvanhau takṣako bhayapīḍitaḥ||

For Takshaka, though benumbed with fear, did not at once fall into the fire, although libations were poured into the blazing sacrificial fire in his name and in the proper form.

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

MBh 1 58.4

शौनक उवाच किं सूत तेषां विप्राणां मन्त्रग्रामो मनीषिणाम्। न प्रत्यभात्तदाऽग्नौ यत्स पपात न तक्षकः॥

śaunaka uvāca kiṃ sūta teṣāṃ viprāṇāṃ mantragrāmo manīṣiṇām| na pratyabhāttadā'gnau yatsa papāta na takṣakaḥ||

Shaunaka said : O Suta, were not the Mantras of those wise Brahmanas propitious? Why did not Takshaka fall into the fire?"

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

MBh 1 58.5

सौतिरुवाच तमिन्द्रहस्ताद्वित्रस्तं विसंज्ञं पन्नगोत्तमम्। आस्तीकस्तिष्ठतिष्ठेतिवाचस्तिस्रोऽभ्युदैरयत्॥

sautiruvāca tamindrahastādvitrastaṃ visaṃjñaṃ pannagottamam| āstīkastiṣṭhatiṣṭhetivācastisro'bhyudairayat||

Sauti said : Astika had said thrice, "Stay, stay, stay," to the unconscious Takshaka, the best of snakes, when he was cast off from Indra's hands.

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

MBh 1 58.6

वितस्थे सोऽन्तरिक्षे च हृदयेन विदूयता। यथा तिष्ठति वै कश्चित्खं च गां चान्तरा नरः॥

vitasthe so'ntarikṣe ca hṛdayena vidūyatā| yathā tiṣṭhati vai kaścitkhaṃ ca gāṃ cāntarā naraḥ||

And afflicted with grief he remained in the sky like a person who hang between the heaven and the earth.

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

MBh 1 58.7

ततो राजाब्रवीद्वाक्यं सदस्यैश्चोदितो भृशम्। काममेतद्भवत्वेवं यथास्तीकस्य भाषितम्॥

tato rājābravīdvākyaṃ sadasyaiścodito bhṛśam| kāmametadbhavatvevaṃ yathāstīkasya bhāṣitam||

Being again and again urged by his Sadasyas, the king said, “Let it be done as asked by Astika.

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

MBh 1 58.8

समाप्यतामिदं कर्म पन्नगाः सन्त्वनामयाः। प्रीयतामयमास्तीकः सत्यं सूतवचोऽस्तु तत्॥

samāpyatāmidaṃ karma pannagāḥ santvanāmayāḥ| prīyatāmayamāstīkaḥ satyaṃ sūtavaco'stu tat||

Let the sacrifice be stopped, let the snakes be saved, let this Astika be gratified and let the words of the Suta be true."

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

MBh 1 58.9

ततो हलहलाशब्दः प्रीतिदः समजायत। आस्तीकस्य वरे दत्ते तथैवोपरराम च॥ स यज्ञः पाण्डवेयस्य राज्ञः पारिक्षितस्य ह। प्रीतिमांश्चाभवद्राजा भारतो जनमेजयः॥

tato halahalāśabdaḥ prītidaḥ samajāyata| āstīkasya vare datte tathaivopararāma ca|| sa yajñaḥ pāṇḍaveyasya rājñaḥ pārikṣitasya ha| prītimāṃścābhavadrājā bhārato janamejayaḥ||

When the boon was granted to Astika, loud acclamation of joy rose into the sky and the sacrifice of the son of Parikshit, the king of the Pandavas dynasty, came to an end. And king Janamejaya of the Bharata race was much pleased with himself.

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

MBh 1 58.10

ऋत्विग्भ्यः ससदस्येभ्यो ये तत्रासन्समागताः। तेभ्यश्च प्रददौ वित्तं शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः॥

ṛtvigbhyaḥ sasadasyebhyo ye tatrāsansamāgatāḥ| tebhyaśca pradadau vittaṃ śataśo'tha sahasraśaḥ||

The king bestowed money by hundreds and thousands on the Ritvijas and Sadasyas and on all that were present there (in that great sacrifice).

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

MBh 1 58.11

लोहिताक्षाय सूताय तथा स्थपतये विभुः। येनोक्तं तस्य तत्राग्रे सर्पसत्रनिवर्तने॥ निमित्तं ब्राह्मण इति तस्मै वित्तं ददौ बहु। दत्वा द्रव्यं यथान्यायं भोजनाच्छादनान्वितम्॥

lohitākṣāya sūtāya tathā sthapataye vibhuḥ| yenoktaṃ tasya tatrāgre sarpasatranivartane|| nimittaṃ brāhmaṇa iti tasmai vittaṃ dadau bahu| datvā dravyaṃ yathānyāyaṃ bhojanācchādanānvitam||

And he bestowed much wealth on Suta Lohitaksha, who was learned in the science of masonry and foundations and who had said at the very commencement of the Snake-sacrifice that a Brahmana would be the cause of its interruption. He gave him wealth and various things, food and wearing apparel.

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

MBh 1 58.12

प्रीतस्तस्मै नरपतिरप्रमेयपराक्रमः। ततश्चकारावभृथं विधिदृष्टेन कर्मणा॥

prītastasmai narapatiraprameyaparākramaḥ| tataścakārāvabhṛthaṃ vidhidṛṣṭena karmaṇā||

The king of immeasurable kindness was thus much pleased and he concluded the sacrifice according to the rites of the ordinance.

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

MBh 1 58.13

आस्तीकं प्रेषयामास गृहानेव सुसंस्कृतम्। राजा प्रीतमनाः प्रीतं कृतकृत्यं मनीषिणम्॥

āstīkaṃ preṣayāmāsa gṛhāneva susaṃskṛtam| rājā prītamanāḥ prītaṃ kṛtakṛtyaṃ manīṣiṇam||

He sent back home in much joy the wise Astika, whom he treated with every respect. He too was exceedingly pleased, because his object was attained.

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

MBh 1 58.14

पुनरागमनं कार्यमिति चैनं वचोऽब्रवीत्। भविष्यसि सदस्यो मे वाजिमेधे महाक्रतौ॥

punarāgamanaṃ kāryamiti cainaṃ vaco'bravīt| bhaviṣyasi sadasyo me vājimedhe mahākratau||

The king said to him, “You must come again to become a Sadasya in my great Horsesacrifice.”

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

MBh 1 58.15

तथेत्युक्त्वा प्रदुद्राव तदास्तीको मुदा युतः। कृत्वा स्वकार्यमतुलं तोषयित्वा च पार्थिवम्॥

tathetyuktvā pradudrāva tadāstīko mudā yutaḥ| kṛtvā svakāryamatulaṃ toṣayitvā ca pārthivam||

And Astika replied, Yes." He then returned home in great joy, having achieved his great object, by pleasing the king.

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

MBh 1 58.16

स गत्वा परमप्रीतो मातुलं मातरं च ताम्। अभिगम्योपसंगृह्य तथावृत्तं न्यवेदयत्॥

sa gatvā paramaprīto mātulaṃ mātaraṃ ca tām| abhigamyopasaṃgṛhya tathāvṛttaṃ nyavedayat||

Having returned in great joy to his uncle and mother, he touched their feet and told them all that had happened.

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

MBh 1 58.17

सौतिरुवाच एतच्छ्रुत्वा प्रीयमाणाः समेता तत्रासन्पन्नगा वीतमोहाः। रूचुश्चै वरमिष्टं वृणीष्व॥

sautiruvāca etacchrutvā prīyamāṇāḥ sametā tatrāsanpannagā vītamohāḥ| rūcuścai varamiṣṭaṃ vṛṇīṣva||

Having heard all he said, those snakes, that assembled there, were much delighted and their fear was dispelled. They were greatly pleased with Astika and insisted him to ask a boon.

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

MBh 1 58.18

भूयो भूयः सर्वशस्तेऽब्रुवंस्तं किं ते प्रियं करवामाद्य विद्वन्। प्रीता वयं मोक्षिताश्चैव सर्वे कामं किं ते करवामाद्य वत्स॥

bhūyo bhūyaḥ sarvaśaste'bruvaṃstaṃ kiṃ te priyaṃ karavāmādya vidvan| prītā vayaṃ mokṣitāścaiva sarve kāmaṃ kiṃ te karavāmādya vatsa||

They all again and again asked him, "O learned one, what good can we do to you? We are exceedingly pleased with you, for we have been all saved by you. O child, (tell us) what can we do for you?

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

MBh 1 58.19

आस्तीक उवाच सायंप्रातर्ये प्रसन्नात्मरूपा लोके विप्रा मानवा ये परेऽपि। धर्माख्यानं ये पठेयुर्ममेदं तेषां युष्मन्नैव किचिद्भयं स्यात्॥

āstīka uvāca sāyaṃprātarye prasannātmarūpā loke viprā mānavā ye pare'pi| dharmākhyānaṃ ye paṭheyurmamedaṃ teṣāṃ yuṣmannaiva kicidbhayaṃ syāt||

Astika said : Let those Brahmans and other men, who will cheerfully and with attention read morning and evening this sacred account of my this act have no fear from you.'

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

MBh 1 58.20

रेतत्सत्यं काममेवं वरं ते। प्रीत्या युक्ताः कामितं सर्वशस्ते कर्तारः स्म प्रवणा भागिनेय॥

retatsatyaṃ kāmamevaṃ varaṃ te| prītyā yuktāḥ kāmitaṃ sarvaśaste kartāraḥ sma pravaṇā bhāgineya||

They said in joy, "O nephew, as regards the boon asked by you, let it be exactly as you say. O nephew, we shall all cheerfully do what you ask us to do.

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

MBh 1 58.21

असितं चार्तिमन्तं च सुनीथं चापि यः स्मरेत्। दिवा वा यदि वा रात्रौ नास्य सर्पभयं भवेत्॥

asitaṃ cārtimantaṃ ca sunīthaṃ cāpi yaḥ smaret| divā vā yadi vā rātrau nāsya sarpabhayaṃ bhavet||

Those that will recall to their minds, Asita, Artiman and Sunitha, in the day or in the night, will have no fear from snakes.

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

MBh 1 58.22

यो जरत्कारुणा जातो जरत्कारौ महायशाः। आस्तीक. सर्पसत्रे वः पन्नगान्योऽभ्यरक्षत। तं स्मरन्तं महाभागा न मां हिंसितुमर्हथ॥

yo jaratkāruṇā jāto jaratkārau mahāyaśāḥ| āstīka. sarpasatre vaḥ pannagānyo'bhyarakṣata| taṃ smarantaṃ mahābhāgā na māṃ hiṃsitumarhatha||

He will have no fear from snakes, who will say, Astika, the son of Jaratkaru, born of Jaratkaru, Astika who saved the snakes from the Snakes-sacrifice. I recall him to my mind. Therefore, O illustrious snakes, you should not bite me.

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

MBh 1 58.23

सोपसर्प भद्रं ते गच्छ सर्पमहाविष। जनमेजयस्य यज्ञान्ते आस्तीकवचनं स्मर॥

sopasarpa bhadraṃ te gaccha sarpamahāviṣa| janamejayasya yajñānte āstīkavacanaṃ smara||

O blessed snake, go away, go away, O snake of virulent poison. Remember the words of Astika spoken after the Snake-sacrifice of Janamejaya."

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

MBh 1 58.24

आस्तीकस्य वचः श्रुत्वा यः सर्पो न निवर्तते। शतधा भिद्यते मूर्ध्नि शिंशवृक्ष फलं यथा॥

āstīkasya vacaḥ śrutvā yaḥ sarpo na nivartate| śatadhā bhidyate mūrdhni śiṃśavṛkṣa phalaṃ yathā||

Having heard the words of Astika mentioned, the snake, that will not cease to bite, will have his hood divided into one hundred-fold like the fruit of Shishama tree."

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

MBh 1 58.25

सौतिरुवाच स एवमुक्तस्तु तदा द्विजेन्द्रः समागतैस्तैर्भुजगेन्द्रमुख्यैः संप्राप्य प्रीतिं विपुलां महात्मा ततो मनो गमनायाथ दधे॥

sautiruvāca sa evamuktastu tadā dvijendraḥ samāgataistairbhujagendramukhyaiḥ saṃprāpya prītiṃ vipulāṃ mahātmā tato mano gamanāyātha dadhe||

Sauti said: Thus addressed by the chief snakes, that best of Brahmanas, (Astika), was very much pleased and the illustrious (boy) then thought of going away.

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

MBh 1 58.26

मोक्षयित्वा तु भुजगान्सर्पसत्राद्विजोत्तमः। जगाम काले धर्मात्मा दिष्टान्तं पुत्रपौत्रवान्॥

mokṣayitvā tu bhujagānsarpasatrādvijottamaḥ| jagāma kāle dharmātmā diṣṭāntaṃ putrapautravān||

That virtuous and the best of the twice born, having thus saved the snakes from the Snake-sacrifice, died at the proper time, leaving sons and grandsons behind him.

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

MBh 1 58.27

इत्याख्यानं मयास्तीकं यथावत्तव कीर्तितम्। यत्कीर्तयित्वा सर्पेभ्यो न भयं विद्यते क्वचित्॥

ityākhyānaṃ mayāstīkaṃ yathāvattava kīrtitam| yatkīrtayitvā sarpebhyo na bhayaṃ vidyate kvacit||

Thus have I narrated to you the history of Astika exactly as it happened, a history, which if narrated, dispels all fear of snakes.

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

MBh 1 58.28

सौतिरुवाच यथा कथितवान्ब्रह्मन्प्रमतिः पूर्वजस्तव। पुत्राय रुरवे प्रीतः पृच्छते भार्गवोत्तम।॥

sautiruvāca yathā kathitavānbrahmanpramatiḥ pūrvajastava| putrāya rurave prītaḥ pṛcchate bhārgavottama|||

O Brahmana, O best of the Bhrigu-race, as your ancestor Pramati had gladly narrated it to his enquiring son Ruru,

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

MBh 1 58.29

यद्वाक्यं श्रुतवांश्चाहं तथा च कथितं मया। आस्तीकस्य कवेर्विप्र श्रीमच्चरितमादितः॥

yadvākyaṃ śrutavāṃścāhaṃ tathā ca kathitaṃ mayā| āstīkasya kavervipra śrīmaccaritamāditaḥ||

And as I heard it (from my father), I have narrated this blessed history of the learned Astika from the beginning (to the end).

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

MBh 1 58.30

श्रुत्वा धर्मिष्ठमाख्यानमास्तीकं पुण्यवर्धनम्। यन्मां त्वं पृष्टवान्ब्रह्मछ्रुत्वा डुण्डुभभाषितम्। व्येतु ते सुमहद्ब्रह्मन्कौतूहलमरिंदम॥

śrutvā dharmiṣṭhamākhyānamāstīkaṃ puṇyavardhanam| yanmāṃ tvaṃ pṛṣṭavānbrahmachrutvā ḍuṇḍubhabhāṣitam| vyetu te sumahadbrahmankautūhalamariṃdama||

O Brahman, O chastiser of foes, (now you have) heard this sacred history of Astika, a history which increases virtue and which you asked me to narrate after hearing the story of the Dundubha, let now your great curiosity be satisfied.

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