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Mahābhārata • Parva 9 (Śalyaparva) • Adhyāya 40

Śalyaparva Adhyāya 40

शल्यपर्व • अध्यायः 40

Śalyaparva Adhyāya 40 of the classical Mahābhārata with 36 verses.

Total: 36 Verses • Citations: MBh 9.40.1–36 • 250 Lexicon Terms
ब्रह्मयोनिभिराकीर्णं जगाम यदुनन्दनः । यत्र दाल्भ्यो बको राजन्पश्वर्थं सुमहातपाः । जुहाव धृतराष्ट्रस्य राष्ट्रं वैचित्रवीर्यिणः ॥
English Translation
Vaishampayana said "That delighter of the Yadus then proceeded to the hermitage (of Vaka) resonant with the chaunting of the Vedas. There the great ascetic, O king, named Dalvya-vaka, poured the kingdom of Dhritarashtra, the son of Vichitravirya, as a libation (on the sacrificial fire). By practising hard penances he emaciated his own body. The greatly energetic and virtuous Rishi did it being worked up with great wrath.
तपसा घोररूपेण कर्शयन्देहमात्मनः । क्रोधेन महताविष्टो धर्मात्मा वै प्रतापवान् ॥
पुरा हि नैमिषेयाणां सत्रे द्वादशवार्षिके । वृत्ते विश्वजितोऽन्ते वै पाञ्चालानृषयोऽगमन् ॥
English Translation
Formerly the Rishis, living in the Naimisha forest, had celebrated a sacrifice extending over twelve years. In the course of that sacrifice, after a particular one called Vishvajit had been completed, the Rishis started for the country of the Panchalas.
तत्रेश्वरमयाचन्त दक्षिणार्थं मनीषिणः । बलान्वितान्वत्सतरान्निर्व्याधीनेकविंशतिम् ॥
तानब्रवीद्बको वृद्धो विभजध्वं पशूनिति । पशूनेतानहं त्यक्त्वा भिक्षिष्ये राजसत्तमम् ॥
एवमुक्त्वा ततो राजन्नृषीन्सर्वान्प्रतापवान् । जगाम धृतराष्ट्रस्य भवनं ब्राह्मणोत्तमः ॥
English Translation
Saying it the greatly energetic Vaka, that best of Brahmanas, then went to the palace of Dhritarashtra.
स समीपगतो भूत्वा धृतराष्ट्रं जनेश्वरम् । अयाचत पशून्दाल्भ्यः स चैनं रुषितोऽब्रवीत् ॥
English Translation
Going before Dhritarashtra, Dalvya begged some animals of him. Finding that some of his kine had died without any cause, the king angrily said to him-"Wretch of a Brahmana, take, if you wish, these (dead) kine.'
यदृच्छया मृता दृष्ट्वा गास्तदा नृपसत्तम । एतान्पशून्नय क्षिप्रं ब्रह्मबन्धो यदीच्छसि ॥
English Translation
Going before Dhritarashtra, Dalvya begged some animals of him. Finding that some of his kine had died without any cause, the king angrily said to him-"Wretch of a Brahmana, take, if you wish, these (dead) kine.'
ऋषिस्त्वथ वचः श्रुत्वा चिन्तयामास धर्मवित् । अहो बत नृशंसं वै वाक्यमुक्तोऽस्मि संसदि ॥
English Translation
Hearing these words, the dutiful Rishi thught-Alas, he has spoken cruel words to me in the assembly.'
चिन्तयित्वा मुहूर्तं च रोषाविष्टो द्विजोत्तमः । मतिं चक्रे विनाशाय धृतराष्ट्रस्य भूपतेः ॥
English Translation
Having thought thus, thus, that best of Brahmanas, filled with rage, made up his mind for destroying king Dhritarashtra.
स उत्कृत्य मृतानां वै मांसानि द्विजसत्तमः । जुहाव धृतराष्ट्रस्य राष्ट्रं नरपतेः पुरा ॥
अवकीर्णे सरस्वत्यास्तीर्थे प्रज्वाल्य पावकम् । बको दाल्भ्यो महाराज नियमं परमास्थितः । स तैरेव जुहावास्य राष्ट्रं मांसैर्महातपाः ॥
English Translation
Cutting the flesh from the dead animals, that best of Rishis, having lighted a sacrificial fire on the tirtha of the Sarasvati, poured those pieces as libations for the destruction of king Dhritarashtra's kingdom. The great ascetic Dalvya-vaka, O king poured Dhritarashtra's kingdom as a libation on the fire.
तस्मिंस्तु विधिवत्सत्रे संप्रवृत्ते सुदारुणे । अक्षीयत ततो राष्ट्रं धृतराष्ट्रस्य पार्थिव ॥
English Translation
Upon the commencement of that dreadful sacrifice with proper rites, the kingdom of Dhritarashtra, O king, began to dwindle.
छिद्यमानं यथानन्तं वनं परशुना विभो । बभूवापहतं तच्चाप्यवकीर्णमचेतनम् ॥
दृष्ट्वा तदवकीर्णं तु राष्ट्रं स मनुजाधिपः । बभूव दुर्मना राजंश्चिन्तयामास च प्रभुः ॥
English Translation
Seeing his kingdom thus afflicted the power king became very depressed and anxious.
मोक्षार्थमकरोद्यत्नं ब्राह्मणैः सहितः पुरा । अथासौ पार्थिवः खिन्नस्ते च विप्रास्तदा नृप ॥
यदा चापि न शक्नोति राष्ट्रं मोचयितुं नृप । अथ वैप्राश्निकांस्तत्र पप्रच्छ जनमेजय ॥
English Translation
The king became very much depressed. The Brahmanas also, O sinless one, became filled with grief. When at last the king failed to save his kingdom, he consulted the ministers, O Janamejaya, (about the remedy). The minister reminded him of the evil he had done regarding the dead kine.
ततो वैप्राश्निकाः प्राहुः पशुविप्रकृतस्त्वया । मांसैरभिजुहोतीति तव राष्ट्रं मुनिर्बकः ॥
तेन ते हूयमानस्य राष्ट्रस्यास्य क्षयो महान् । तस्यैतत्तपसः कर्म येन ते ह्यनयो महान् । अपां कुञ्जे सरस्वत्यास्तं प्रसादय पार्थिव ॥
English Translation
This is the fruit of ascetic rites. Thence is this great calamity! Go, O king and propitiate that Rishi who is living on the bank of the Sarasvati.'
सरस्वतीं ततो गत्वा स राजा बकमब्रवीत् । निपत्य शिरसा भूमौ प्राञ्जलिर्भरतर्षभ ॥
English Translation
Going to the bank of Sarasvati, the king fell at his feet, touched them with his head, joined his hands and said-"I propitiate you, O worshipful one, forgive me for my crime.
प्रसादये त्वा भगवन्नपराधं क्षमस्व मे । मम दीनस्य लुब्धस्य मौर्ख्येण हतचेतसः । त्वं गतिस्त्वं च मे नाथः प्रसादं कर्तुमर्हसि ॥
English Translation
I am an insensate fool, a wretch filled with avarice. You are my refuge and protector, you should extend to me your favour.'
तं तथा विलपन्तं तु शोकोपहतचेतसम् । दृष्ट्वा तस्य कृपा जज्ञे राष्ट्रं तच्च व्यमोचयत् ॥
ऋषिः प्रसन्नस्तस्याभूत्संरम्भं च विहाय सः । मोक्षार्थं तस्य राष्ट्रस्य जुहाव पुनराहुतिम् ॥
English Translation
The Rishi became pleased with him and cast off his anger. For freeing his kingdom, the sage again poured libations on the fire.
मोक्षयित्वा ततो राष्ट्रं प्रतिगृह्य पशून्बहून् । हृष्टात्मा नैमिषारण्यं जगाम पुनरेव हि ॥
English Translation
Having freed the kingdom from calamities and taken many kine as a gift he became pleased at heart and once more proceeded to the Naimisha forest.
धृतराष्ट्रोऽपि धर्मात्मा स्वस्थचेता महामनाः । स्वमेव नगरं राजा प्रतिपेदे महर्द्धिमत् ॥
English Translation
The liberal and righteous king Dhrutarashtra, with a cheerful heart, returned to his own prosperous capital.
तत्र तीर्थे महाराज बृहस्पतिरुदारधीः । असुराणामभावाय भावाय च दिवौकसाम् ॥
English Translation
In that tirtha, for the destruction of the Asuras and the prosperity of the celestials Brihaspati also poured libations on the sacrificial fire, with the aid of flesh. Upon this, the Asuras began to waste away and were killed by the celestials, filled with desire of victory, in battle.
मांसैरपि जुहावेष्टिमक्षीयन्त ततोऽसुराः । दैवतैरपि संभग्ना जितकाशिभिराहवे ॥
English Translation
In that tirtha, for the destruction of the Asuras and the prosperity of the celestials Brihaspati also poured libations on the sacrificial fire, with the aid of flesh. Upon this, the Asuras began to waste away and were killed by the celestials, filled with desire of victory, in battle.
तत्रापि विधिवद्दत्त्वा ब्राह्मणेभ्यो महायशाः । वाजिनः कुञ्जरांश्चैव रथांश्चाश्वतरीयुतान् ॥
English Translation
Having with due rites given to the Brahmanas horses and elephants and vehicles with mules yoked to them and precious jewels and immense wealth and profuse corn, the illustrious and mighty-armed Rama then proceeded, O king, to the tirtha called Yayata.
रत्नानि च महार्हाणि धनं धान्यं च पुष्कलम् । ययौ तीर्थं महाबाहुर्यायातं पृथिवीपते ॥
English Translation
Having with due rites given to the Brahmanas horses and elephants and vehicles with mules yoked to them and precious jewels and immense wealth and profuse corn, the illustrious and mighty-armed Rama then proceeded, O king, to the tirtha called Yayata.
यत्र यज्ञे ययातेस्तु महाराज सरस्वती । सर्पिः पयश्च सुस्राव नाहुषस्य महात्मनः ॥
English Translation
There, O king, at the sacrifice of the highsouled Yayati, the son of Nahusha, the Sarasvati produced milk and clarified butter.
तत्रेष्ट्वा पुरुषव्याघ्रो ययातिः पृथिवीपतिः । आक्रामदूर्ध्वं मुदितो लेभे लोकांश्च पुष्कलान् ॥
English Translation
That foremost of men, king Yayati, having performed a sacrifice there, went to heaven and secured many blissful regions.
ययातेर्यजमानस्य यत्र राजन्सरस्वती । प्रसृता प्रददौ कामान्ब्राह्मणानां महात्मनाम् ॥
यत्र यत्र हि यो विप्रो यान्यान्कामानभीप्सति । तत्र तत्र सरिच्छ्रेष्ठा ससर्ज सुबहून्रसान् ॥
तत्र देवाः सगन्धर्वाः प्रीता यज्ञस्य संपदा । विस्मिता मानुषाश्चासन्दृष्ट्वा तां यज्ञसंपदम् ॥
English Translation
The gods and the Gandharvas were all pleased with the numberless articles in that sacrifice. As regards men they were filled with wonder on seeing those articles.
ततस्तालकेतुर्महाधर्मसेतु;र्महात्मा कृतात्मा महादाननित्यः । वसिष्ठापवाहं महाभीमवेगं; धृतात्मा जितात्मा समभ्याजगाम ॥
English Translation
The illustrious and righteous Baladeva, of cleansed soul, having the palmyra on his banner and ever giving away the most valuable things, then proceeded to that tirtha of fierce current called Vashishthapavaha.
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