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Mahābhārata • Parva 12 (Śāntiparva) • Adhyāya 346

Śāntiparva Adhyāya 346

शान्तिपर्व • अध्यायः 346

Śāntiparva Adhyāya 346 of the classical Mahābhārata with 14 verses.

Total: 14 Verses • Citations: MBh 12.346.1–14 • 250 Lexicon Terms
अथ तेन नरश्रेष्ठ ब्राह्मणेन तपस्विना । निराहारेण वसता दुःखितास्ते भुजंगमाः ॥
English Translation
Bhishma said These Nagas of that city became greatly distressed when they saw that that Brahmana, devoted to the practice of penances, continued to live in the forest, entirely abstaining from food, in expectation of the arrival of the Naga king.
सर्वे संभूय सहितास्तस्य नागस्य बान्धवाः । भ्रातरस्तनया भार्या ययुस्तं ब्राह्मणं प्रति ॥
English Translation
All the kinsmen and relatives of the great Naga, including his brothers and children and wife, assembling together, went to the spot where the Brahmana was living.
तेऽपश्यन्पुलिने तं वै विविक्ते नियतव्रतम् । समासीनं निराहारं द्विजं जप्यपरायणम् ॥
English Translation
Arrived on the banks of the Gomati, they saw that twice-born one seated in a solitary place, abstaining from food of every sort, observant all the while of excellent vows, and engaged in silently reciting certain Mantras.
ते सर्वे समभिक्रम्य विप्रमभ्यर्च्य चासकृत् । ऊचुर्वाक्यमसंदिग्धमातिथेयस्य बान्धवाः ॥
English Translation
Approaching the Brahmana and offering him due adorations, the kinsmen and relatives of the great Naga said to him these candid words.
षष्ठो हि दिवसस्तेऽद्य प्राप्तस्येह तपोधन । न चाभिलषसे किंचिदाहारं धर्मवत्सल ॥
English Translation
O Brahmana having asceticism, for your riches, that is the sixth day of your arrival here, but you speak no word about your food, O twice-born one you are devoted to virtue.
अस्मानभिगतश्चासि वयं च त्वामुपस्थिताः । कार्यं चातिथ्यमस्माभिर्वयं सर्वे कुटुम्बिनः ॥
English Translation
You have come to us. We too are here in attendance upon you. It is absolutely necessary that we should do the duties of hospitality by you. We are all relations of the Naga king with whom you have business.
मूलं फलं वा पर्णं वा पयो वा द्विजसत्तम । आहारहेतोरन्नं वा भोक्तुमर्हसि ब्राह्मण ॥
English Translation
Roots or fruit, leaves, or water, or rice or meat, O best of Brahmanas, you should take for food.
त्यक्ताहारेण भवता वने निवसता सता । बालवृद्धमिदं सर्वं पीड्यते धर्मसंकटात् ॥
English Translation
For your living in this forest under such circumstances of total abstention from food, the whole community of Nagas young and old is being aggrieved, since this your fast implies negligence on our part to discharge the duties of hospitality.
न हि नो भ्रूणहा कश्चिद्राजापथ्योऽनृतोऽपि वा । पूर्वाशी वा कुले ह्यस्मिन्देवतातिथिबन्धुषु ॥
English Translation
We have none amongst us who has been guilty of Brahmanicide. None of us has been guilty of Brahmanicide. None of us has ever lost a son immediately after birth. No one has been born in our race who has eaten before serving the gods or guests or relatives arrived at his house.
उपदेशेन युष्माकमाहारोऽयं मया वृतः । द्विरूनं दशरात्रं वै नागस्यागमनं प्रति ॥
English Translation
The Brahmana said On account of these solicitations of you all, I may be considered to have broken my fast. Eight days remain when the king of the Nagas will return.
यद्यष्टरात्रे निर्याते नागमिष्यति पन्नगः । तदाहारं करिष्यामि तन्निमित्तमिदं व्रतम् ॥
English Translation
If, on the expire of the eighth night hence, the king of the Nagas do not come back, I shall then break this fast by eating. Indeed, this vow of abstaining from all food that I am observing is on account of my respect for the Naga king.
कर्तव्यो न च संतापो गम्यतां च यथागतम् । तन्निमित्तं व्रतं मह्यं नैतद्भेत्तुमिहार्हथ ॥
English Translation
You should not grieve for what I am doing. Do you all return to whence you came. This my vow is on his account. You should not do anything on account of which this my vow may be broken.
तेन ते समनुज्ञाता ब्राह्मणेन भुजंगमाः । स्वमेव भवनं जग्मुरकृतार्था नरर्षभ ॥
English Translation
The assembled Nagas, thus addressed by Brahmana, were sent away by him, whereupon, O forcmost of men, they returned to their respective quarters.
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