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Mahābhārata • Parva 14 (Aśvamedhikaparva) • Adhyāya 57

Aśvamedhikaparva Adhyāya 57

अश्वमेधिकपर्व • अध्यायः 57

Aśvamedhikaparva Adhyāya 57 of the classical Mahābhārata with 57 verses.

Total: 57 Verses • Citations: MBh 14.57.1–57 • 250 Lexicon Terms • Page 1 of 2 (Verses 30 shown)
स मित्रसहमासाद्य त्वभिज्ञानमयाचत । तस्मै ददावभिज्ञानं स चेक्ष्वाकुवरस्तदा ॥
English Translation
Vaishampayana said Returning to king Saudasa who was always well-disposed towards all his friends, Utanka solicited him for some sign. That foremost one of Ikshaku's race then gave him a sign.
न चैवैषा गतिः क्षेम्या न चान्या विद्यते गतिः । एतन्मे मतमाज्ञाय प्रयच्छ मणिकुण्डले ॥
English Translation
Saudasa said This my present condition is intolerable. I do not see any refuge. Knowing this to be my wish, do you give away the jewelled ear-rings.
इत्युक्तस्तामुत्तङ्कस्तु भर्तुर्वाक्यमथाब्रवीत् । श्रुत्वा च सा ततः प्रादात्तस्मै ते मणिकुण्डले ॥
English Translation
Thus addressed by the king, Utanka returned to the queen and reported to her the world of her husband. Hearing those words, the queen gave to Utanka her jewelled ear-rings.
अवाप्य कुण्डले ते तु राजानं पुनरब्रवीत् । किमेतद्गुह्यवचनं श्रोतुमिच्छामि पार्थिव ॥
English Translation
Having got the ear-rings, Utanka returned to the king and said to him, 'I wish to hear, O king, what the meaning is of those mysterious words which you said as a sign to your queen.
प्रजा निसर्गाद्विप्रान्वै क्षत्रियाः पूजयन्ति ह । विप्रेभ्यश्चापि बहवो दोषाः प्रादुर्भवन्ति नः ॥
English Translation
Saudasa said Kshatriyas are seen to honour the Brahmanas from the very beginning of the creation. Towards the Brahmanas, however, many offences originate (on the part of the Kshatriyas).
सोऽहं द्विजेभ्यः प्रणतो विप्राद्दोषमवाप्तवान् । गतिमन्यां न पश्यामि मदयन्तीसहायवान् । स्वर्गद्वारस्य गमने स्थाने चेह द्विजोत्तम ॥
English Translation
As for myself, I am always bent in humility before them. I am overtaken by a calamity through a Brahmana. Possessed of Madayanti, I do not see any other refuge.
न हि राज्ञा विशेषेण विरुद्धेन द्विजातिभिः । शक्यं नृलोके संस्थातुं प्रेत्य वा सुखमेधितुम् ॥
English Translation
It is impossible for a king that is hostile to Brahmanas to continue living in this world or in acquiring happiness in the next.
तदिष्टे ते मयैवैते दत्ते स्वे मणिकुण्डले । यः कृतस्तेऽद्य समयः सफलं तं कुरुष्व मे ॥
English Translation
Hence have I given you these my jewelled ear-rings which were coveted by you. Do you now keep the agreement which you have made with me today.
राजंस्तथेह कर्तास्मि पुनरेष्यामि ते वशम् । प्रश्नं तु कंचित्प्रष्टुं त्वां व्यवसिष्ये परंतप ॥
English Translation
Utanka said O king, I shall certainly carry out my promise. I shall truly return and place myself under your power. There is, however, a question, O scorcher of enemies which I wish to ask you.
ब्रूहि विप्र यथाकामं प्रतिवक्तास्मि ते वचः । छेत्तास्मि संशयं तेऽद्य न मेऽत्रास्ति विचारणा ॥
English Translation
Saudasa said Say, O learned Brahmana, what is in your mind. I shall certainly reply to your words. I shall remove whatever doubt may being your mind. I have no hesitation in this.
प्राहुर्वाक्संगतं मित्रं धर्मनैपुण्यदर्शिनः । मित्रेषु यश्च विषमः स्तेन इत्येव तं विदुः ॥
English Translation
Utanka said Those who are skilled in the rules of duty, say that Brahmanas are of controlled speech. One who acts wrongly towards friends is considered as vile as a thief.
स भवान्मित्रतामद्य संप्राप्तो मम पार्थिव । स मे बुद्धिं प्रयच्छस्व समां बुद्धिमतां वर ॥
English Translation
You, again, O king, have become my friend today. Do you then, O foremost of men, give me such advice as is approved by the wise.
अवाप्तार्थोऽहमद्येह भवांश्च पुरुषादकः । भवत्सकाशमागन्तुं क्षमं मम न वेति वा ॥
English Translation
As for myself, I have now obtained the fruition of my wishes. You, again, are a cannibal. Is it proper for me to return to you or not.
क्षमं चेदिह वक्तव्यं मया द्विजवरोत्तम । मत्समीपं द्विजश्रेष्ठ नागन्तव्यं कथंचन ॥
English Translation
Saudasa said If it is proper (for me), O foremost of superior Brahmanas, to say what you ask, I should then, O best of twice-born ones, tell you that you should never return to me.
एवं तव प्रपश्यामि श्रेयो भृगुकुलोद्वह । आगच्छतो हि ते विप्र भवेन्मृत्युरसंशयम् ॥
English Translation
O perpetuator of Bhrigu's race, by acting thus, you will secure your well-being. If you return, O learned Brahmana, you will surely meet with death.
इत्युक्तः स तदा राज्ञा क्षमं बुद्धिमता हितम् । समनुज्ञाप्य राजानमहल्यां प्रति जग्मिवान् ॥
English Translation
Thus addressed by the intelligent king about what was beneficial for him, Utanka took leave of the king and set out for the presence of Ahalya.
गृहीत्वा कुण्डले दिव्ये गुरुपत्न्याः प्रियंकरः । जवेन महता प्रायाद्गौतमस्याश्रमं प्रति ॥
English Translation
Desirous of doing what was agreeable to the wife of his preceptor, he took the ear-rings with him and started with great speed for reaching the hermitage of Gautama.
यथा तयो रक्षणं च मदयन्त्याभिभाषितम् । तथा ते कुण्डले बद्ध्वा तथा कृष्णाजिनेऽनयत् ॥
English Translation
Protecting them even in the manner directed by Madayanti, that is, binding them within the folds of his black, deer-skin, he proceeded on his way.
स कस्मिंश्चित्क्षुधाविष्टः फलभारसमन्वितम् । बिल्वं ददर्श कस्मिंश्चिदारुरोह क्षुधान्वितः ॥
English Translation
After he had proceeded for some distance, he became stricken with hunger. He there saw a Bilva tree covered down with the weight of (ripe) fruits. He climbed that tree.
शाखास्वासज्य तस्यैव कृष्णाजिनमरिंदम । यस्मिंस्ते कुण्डले बद्धे तदा द्विजवरेण वै ॥
English Translation
Causing his deer-skin, O chastiser of enemies, to hang on a branch, that foremost of twice-born ones, then began to pluck some fruits.
विशीर्णबन्धने तस्मिन्गते कृष्णाजिने महीम् । अपश्यद्भुजगः कश्चित्ते तत्र मणिकुण्डले ॥
English Translation
Suddenly that deer-skin, with the ear-rings in it, dropped down. When the know being unfastened, the deer-skin fell down on the ground, a snake who was there saw those jewelled ear-rings.
ऐरावतकुलोत्पन्नः शीघ्रो भूत्वा तदा स वै । विदश्यास्येन वल्मीकं विवेशाथ स कुण्डले ॥
ह्रियमाणे तु दृष्ट्वा स कुण्डले भुजगेन ह । पपात वृक्षात्सोद्वेगो दुःखात्परमकोपनः ॥
स दण्डकाष्ठमादाय वल्मीकमखनत्तदा । क्रोधामर्षाभितप्ताङ्गस्ततो वै द्विजपुंगवः ॥
तस्य वेगमसह्यं तमसहन्ती वसुंधरा । दण्डकाष्ठाभिनुन्नाङ्गी चचाल भृशमातुरा ॥
English Translation
The goddess Earth, unable to bear the force of Utanka's walking staff and with body torn therewith, became greatly anxious.
ततः खनत एवाथ विप्रर्षेर्धरणीतलम् । नागलोकस्य पन्थानं कर्तुकामस्य निश्चयात् ॥
English Translation
To that twice-born Rishi then, who continued to dig the Earth from desire of making a path to the nether regions inhabited by the Nagas, the king of the celestial, armed with the thunder, came there, on his car drawn by green horses. Gifted with great energy, he saw that foremost of Brahmanas, as he sat there engaged in his task.
रथेन हरियुक्तेन तं देशमुपजग्मिवान् । वज्रपाणिर्महातेजा ददर्श च द्विजोत्तमम् ॥
English Translation
To that twice-born Rishi then, who continued to dig the Earth from desire of making a path to the nether regions inhabited by the Nagas, the king of the celestial, armed with the thunder, came there, on his car drawn by green horses. Gifted with great energy, he saw that foremost of Brahmanas, as he sat there engaged in his task.
स तु तं ब्राह्मणो भूत्वा तस्य दुःखेन दुःखितः । उत्तङ्कमब्रवीत्तात नैतच्छक्यं त्वयेति वै ॥
English Translation
Vaishampayana continued : LoO king like a Brahmana stricken with the sorrow of Utanka, the king of the celestials addressed him, saying, 'This (purpose of thine) is impracticable of being accomplished.
इतो हि नागलोको वै योजनानि सहस्रशः । न दण्डकाष्ठसाध्यं च मन्ये कार्यमिदं तव ॥
English Translation
The regions of the Nagas are thousands of Yojanas removed from this place. I think that your purpose is impossible of being achieved with your walking staff.
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