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Mahābhārata • Parva 1 (Ādiparva) • Adhyāya 71

Ādiparva Adhyāya 71

आदिपर्व • अध्यायः 71

Ādiparva Adhyāya 71 of the classical Mahābhārata with 59 verses.

Total: 59 Verses • Citations: MBh 1.71.1–59 • 250 Lexicon Terms • Page 1 of 2 (Verses 30 shown)
ययातिः पूर्वकोऽस्माकं दशमो यः प्रजापतेः । कथं स शुक्रतनयां लेभे परमदुर्लभाम् ॥
English Translation
Janamejaya said : How did our ancestor (Yayati) who was the tenth from Prajapati, obtain the unobtainable daughter of Shukra? O great ascetic, I desire to hear this in detail. Tell me also separately the account of those kings who were the founders of dynasties.
एतदिच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुं विस्तरेण द्विजोत्तम । आनुपूर्व्या च मे शंस पूरोर्वंशकरान्पृथक् ॥
English Translation
Janamejaya said : How did our ancestor (Yayati) who was the tenth from Prajapati, obtain the unobtainable daughter of Shukra? O great ascetic, I desire to hear this in detail. Tell me also separately the account of those kings who were the founders of dynasties.
ययातिरासीद्राजर्षिर्देवराजसमद्युतिः । तं शुक्रवृषपर्वाणौ वव्राते वै यथा पुरा ॥
English Translation
Vaishampayana said : O Janamejaya, the king Yayati was as effulgent as Indra himself. I shall tell you in reply to your question how Shukra and Vrishaparva bestowed (on the king) their daughters in due rites and I shall specially narrate how the union of the Nahusha, took place with Devayani.
तत्तेऽहं संप्रवक्ष्यामि पृच्छतो जनमेजय । देवयान्याश्च संयोगं ययातेर्नाहुषस्य च ॥
English Translation
Vaishampayana said : O Janamejaya, the king Yayati was as effulgent as Indra himself. I shall tell you in reply to your question how Shukra and Vrishaparva bestowed (on the king) their daughters in due rites and I shall specially narrate how the union of the Nahusha, took place with Devayani.
सुराणामसुराणां च समजायत वै मिथः । ऐश्वर्यं प्रति संघर्षस्त्रैलोक्ये सचराचरे ॥
English Translation
In the days of yore, great battles were often faught between the Devas and the Asuras for the sovereignty over the three worlds.
जिगीषया ततो देवा वव्रिरेऽऽङ्गिरसं मुनिम् । पौरोहित्येन याज्यार्थे काव्यं तूशनसं परे । ब्राह्मणौ तावुभौ नित्यमन्योन्यस्पर्धिनौ भृशम् ॥
English Translation
From the desire of securing victory, the celestials appointed the Rishi who was the son of Angirasa (Brihaspati) as their priest to conduct their sacrifices; and their opponents appointed Ushanas (Shukra) as their priest for the same purpose. There was much boastful rivalry between these two Brahmanas. All those Danavas that were killed in battle by the Devas were revived by that sage (Shukra) with the power of his knowledge; and they, thus being made alive, fought again with the celestial.
तत्र देवा निजघ्नुर्यान्दानवान्युधि संगतान् । तान्पुनर्जीवयामास काव्यो विद्याबलाश्रयात् । ततस्ते पुनरुत्थाय योधयां चक्रिरे सुरान् ॥
English Translation
From the desire of securing victory, the celestials appointed the Rishi who was the son of Angirasa (Brihaspati) as their priest to conduct their sacrifices; and their opponents appointed Ushanas (Shukra) as their priest for the same purpose. There was much boastful rivalry between these two Brahmanas. All those Danavas that were killed in battle by the Devas were revived by that sage (Shukra) with the power of his knowledge; and they, thus being made alive, fought again with the celestial.
असुरास्तु निजघ्नुर्यान्सुरान्समरमूर्धनि । न तान्संजीवयामास बृहस्पतिरुदारधीः ॥
English Translation
The Asuras also killed many Devas, but the greatly learned Brihaspati could not revive them.
न हि वेद स तां विद्यां यां काव्यो वेद वीर्यवान् । संजीवनीं ततो देवा विषादमगमन्परम् ॥
English Translation
He did not know the science of Sanjivini (giving life to the dead) which the greatly powerful Rishi (Shukra) knew very well. The celestial were, therefore, very sorry.
ते तु देवा भयोद्विग्नाः काव्यादुशनसस्तदा । ऊचुः कचमुपागम्य ज्येष्ठं पुत्रं बृहस्पतेः ॥
English Translation
Thereupon, the celestials, in great anxiety and in fear of the learned Ushanas, went to Kacha, the eldest son of Brihaspati; and they spoke to him thus.
भजमानान्भजस्वास्मान्कुरु नः साह्यमुत्तमम् । यासौ विद्या निवसति ब्राह्मणेऽमिततेजसि । शुक्रे तामाहर क्षिप्रं भागभाङ्नो भविष्यसि ॥
English Translation
"We ask for your protection, we worship you. Help us in a work which we consider as very important. The knowledge of that science which is known to that Brahmana of immeasurable prowess. Shukra, must be obtained by you as soon as possible. You will then be a sharer with us in all sacrificial offerings. You shall find that Brahmana (Shukra) in the court of (king) Vrishaparva.
वृषपर्वसमीपे स शक्यो द्रष्टुं त्वया द्विजः । रक्षते दानवांस्तत्र न स रक्षत्यदानवान् ॥
तमाराधयितुं शक्तो भवान्पूर्ववयाः कविम् । देवयानीं च दयितां सुतां तस्य महात्मनः ॥
त्वमाराधयितुं शक्तो नान्यः कश्चन विद्यते । शीलदाक्षिण्यमाधुर्यैराचारेण दमेन च । देवयान्यां हि तुष्टायां विद्यां तां प्राप्स्यसि ध्रुवम् ॥
English Translation
"You are sure to obtain that knowledge (of Sanjivini from the Rishi) by gratifying Devayani with your conduct, liberality, sweetness and general behaviour.”
तथेत्युक्त्वा ततः प्रायाद्बृहस्पतिसुतः कचः । तदाभिपूजितो देवैः समीपं वृषपर्वणः ॥
English Translation
Having been thus addressed and worshipped by the celestials, he said, “Be it so." He then went to the court of king Vrishaparva.
स गत्वा त्वरितो राजन्देवैः संप्रेषितः कचः । असुरेन्द्रपुरे शुक्रं दृष्ट्वा वाक्यमुवाच ह ॥
English Translation
O king, having been thus sent by the celestials, Kacha soon came to the city of the king of the Asuras; and seeing Shukra there, he thus addressed him.
ऋषेरङ्गिरसः पौत्रं पुत्रं साक्षाद्बृहस्पतेः । नाम्ना कच इति ख्यातं शिष्यं गृह्णातु मां भवान् ॥
English Translation
“Reverend Sir, accept me as your disciple. I am the grandson of Rishi Angirasa and the son of Brihaspati. I am known as Kacha by naine.
ब्रह्मचर्यं चरिष्यामि त्वय्यहं परमं गुरौ । अनुमन्यस्व मां ब्रह्मन्सहस्रं परिवत्सरान् ॥
English Translation
Accepting you as my great preceptor, I shall practise Brahmacharya for one thousand years. Therefore, command me.
कच सुस्वागतं तेऽस्तु प्रतिगृह्णामि ते वचः । अर्चयिष्येऽहमर्च्यं त्वामर्चितोऽस्तु बृहस्पतिः ॥
English Translation
Shukra said:: O Kacha, you are welcome, I accept your words. I shall treat you with regard, for by my doing it, Brihaspati will be regarded.
कचस्तु तं तथेत्युक्त्वा प्रतिजग्राह तद्व्रतम् । आदिष्टं कविपुत्रेण शुक्रेणोशनसा स्वयम् ॥
English Translation
Vaishampayana said : Commanded by the son of Kavi, Ushanas, also called Shukra, Kacha said, “Be it so." And he rook the vow he spoke of.
व्रतस्य व्रतकालं स यथोक्तं प्रत्यगृह्णत । आराधयन्नुपाध्यायं देवयानीं च भारत ॥
English Translation
O descendant of the Bharata race, (Kacha) took the vow he had spoken of at the proper time and began to worship his preceptor (Shukra) and Devayani. That youth (Kacha) daily gratified Devayani who was also in her youth with singing, dancing and playing on various kinds of instruinents.
नित्यमाराधयिष्यंस्तां युवा यौवनगोऽऽमुखे । गायन्नृत्यन्वादयंश्च देवयानीमतोषयत् ॥
English Translation
O descendant of the Bharata race, (Kacha) took the vow he had spoken of at the proper time and began to worship his preceptor (Shukra) and Devayani. That youth (Kacha) daily gratified Devayani who was also in her youth with singing, dancing and playing on various kinds of instruinents.
संशीलयन्देवयानीं कन्यां संप्राप्तयौवनाम् । पुष्पैः फलैः प्रेषणैश्च तोषयामास भारत ॥
English Translation
O descendant of the Bharata race, he gratified that maiden, Devayani, who was in her youth, with the presentations of flowers and fruits and serving her as an obedient servant.
देवयान्यपि तं विप्रं नियमव्रतचारिणम् । अनुगायमाना ललना रहः पर्यचरत्तदा ॥
English Translation
And Devayani also, when they were alone, gratified that vow-observing youth (Kacha) with her songs and sweetness of manners.
पञ्च वर्षशतान्येवं कचस्य चरतो व्रतम् । तत्रातीयुरथो बुद्ध्वा दानवास्तं ततः कचम् ॥
English Translation
When five hundreds years had thus passed away of his vow, the Danavas came to know his intention. One day the Danavas saw Kacha when he was tending (his preceptor's) kine. They then killed him out of the hatred they bore against Brihaspati and from the desire of saving the knowledge of Sanjivini.
गा रक्षन्तं वने दृष्ट्वा रहस्येकममर्षिताः । जघ्नुर्बृहस्पतेर्द्वेषाद्विद्यारक्षार्थमेव च । हत्वा शालावृकेभ्यश्च प्रायच्छंस्तिलशः कृतम् ॥
English Translation
When five hundreds years had thus passed away of his vow, the Danavas came to know his intention. One day the Danavas saw Kacha when he was tending (his preceptor's) kine. They then killed him out of the hatred they bore against Brihaspati and from the desire of saving the knowledge of Sanjivini.
ततो गावो निवृत्तास्ता अगोपाः स्वं निवेशनम् । ता दृष्ट्वा रहिता गास्तु कचेनाभ्यागता वनात् । उवाच वचनं काले देवयान्यथ भारत ॥
English Translation
O descendant of the Bharata race, when Devayani saw that the kine had returned
अहुतं चाग्निहोत्रं ते सूर्यश्चास्तं गतः प्रभो । अगोपाश्चागता गावः कचस्तात न दृश्यते ॥
English Translation
Devayani said: O sire, the Agnihotra (evening fire) is kindled, the sun has also set. The kine have come back without their cowherd. But Kacha is not to be seen.
व्यक्तं हतो मृतो वापि कचस्तात भविष्यति । तं विना न च जीवेयं कचं सत्यं ब्रवीमि ते ॥
English Translation
It is evident, Kacha is either dead or killed. I tell you truly, I shall not live without him.”
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