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Mahābhārata • Parva 13 (Anuśāsanaparva) • Adhyāya 40

Anuśāsanaparva Adhyāya 40

अनुशासनपर्व • अध्यायः 40

Anuśāsanaparva Adhyāya 40 of the classical Mahābhārata with 60 verses.

Total: 60 Verses • Citations: MBh 13.40.1–60 • 250 Lexicon Terms • Page 1 of 2 (Verses 30 shown)
एवमेतन्महाबाहो नात्र मिथ्यास्ति किंचन । यथा ब्रवीषि कौरव्य नारीं प्रति जनाधिप ॥
English Translation
Bhishma said It is true what you say, O you of mighty arms. There is nothing untrue in all this that you say, O you of Kuru's race, on the subject of women, O monarch!
अत्र ते वर्तयिष्यामि इतिहासं पुरातनम् । यथा रक्षा कृता पूर्वं विपुलेन महात्मना ॥
English Translation
About it I shall recite to you the old history of how in days of yore the great Vipula had succeeded in restraining women within the limits laid down for them.
प्रमदाश्च यथा सृष्टा ब्रह्मणा भरतर्षभ । यदर्थं तच्च ते तात प्रवक्ष्ये वसुधाधिप ॥
English Translation
I shall also tell you, O king, how women were created by the Grandfather Brahman and the object for which they were created by him.
न हि स्त्रीभ्य परं पुत्र पापीयः किंचिदस्ति वै । अग्निर्हि प्रमदा दीप्तो मायाश्च मयजा विभो । क्षुरधारा विषं सर्पो मृत्युरित्येकतः स्त्रियः ॥
English Translation
There is no creature more sinful, O son, than woman. Woman is a burning fire. She is the illusion, o king, that the Daitya Maya created.
इमाः प्रजा महाबाहो धार्मिका इति नः श्रुतम् । स्वयं गच्छन्ति देवत्वं ततो देवानियाद्भयम् ॥
English Translation
She is the sharp edge of the razor. She is poison. She is a snake. She is fire. She is verily, all these in a body. We have heard that all human beings beings are characterised by righteousness, and that they, in course of natural progress and improvement, attain to the dignity of god. This circumstance alarmed the celestials.
अथाभ्यगच्छन्देवास्ते पितामहमरिंदम । निवेद्य मानसं चापि तूष्णीमासन्नवाङ्मुखाः ॥
English Translation
They, therefore, O chastiser of foes, assembled together and went to the Grandfather. Informing Him of what was in their minds, they stood silent before him with downcast eyes.
तेषामन्तर्गतं ज्ञात्वा देवानां स पितामहः । मानवानां प्रमोहार्थं कृत्या नार्योऽसृजत्प्रभुः ॥
English Translation
Having learnt what was in the hearts of the celestials, the powerful Grandfather created women with the help of an Atharvan rite.
पूर्वसर्गे तु कौन्तेय साध्व्यो नार्य इहाभवन् । असाध्व्यस्तु समुत्पन्ना कृत्या सर्गात्प्रजापतेः ॥
English Translation
In a former creation, O son of Kunti, women were all virtuous. Those however, that sprang from this creation by Brahman with the help of an illusion, became sinful. The Grandfather bestowed upon them the desire of enjoying all kinds of carnal pleasure.
ताभ्यः कामान्यथाकामं प्रादाद्धि स पितामहः । ताः कामलुब्धाः प्रमदाः प्रामथ्नन्त नरांस्तदा ॥
क्रोधं कामस्य देवेशः सहायं चासृजत्प्रभुः । असज्जन्त प्रजाः सर्वाः कामक्रोधवशं गताः ॥
न च स्त्रीणां क्रिया काचिदिति धर्मो व्यवस्थितः । निरिन्द्रिया अमन्त्राश्च स्त्रियोऽनृतमिति श्रुतिः ॥
शय्यासनमलंकारमन्नपानमनार्यताम् । दुर्वाग्भावं रतिं चैव ददौ स्त्रीभ्यः प्रजापतिः ॥
न तासां रक्षणं कर्तुं शक्यं पुंसा कथंचन । अपि विश्वकृता तात कुतस्तु पुरुषैरिह ॥
वाचा वा वधबन्धैर्वा क्लेशैर्वा विविधैस्तथा । न शक्या रक्षितुं नार्यस्ता हि नित्यमसंयताः ॥
English Translation
The Creator himself is incapable of keeping them within proper limits, what need then be said of men?
इदं तु पुरुषव्याघ्र पुरस्ताच्छ्रुतवानहम् । यथा रक्षा कृता पूर्वं विपुलेन गुरुस्त्रियः ॥
English Translation
This, O chief of men, I heard in former days viz., how Vipula had succeeded in protecting his preceptor's wife in ancient times.
ऋषिरासीन्महाभागो देवशर्मेति विश्रुतः । तस्य भार्या रुचिर्नाम रूपेणासदृशी भुवि ॥
English Translation
There was in days of yore a highly blessed Rishi of the name of Devasharman of great fame. He had a wife of name Ruchi, who was peerless on Earth in beauty.
तस्य रूपेण संमत्ता देवगन्धर्वदानवाः । विशेषतस्तु राजेन्द्र वृत्रहा पाकशासनः ॥
English Translation
Her loveliness intoxicated every one among the celestials and Gandharvas and Danavas. The chastiser of Paka, viz., Indra, the destroyer of Vritra, O king, was in particular enamoured of her and coveted her body.
नारीणां चरितज्ञश्च देवशर्मा महामुनिः । यथाशक्ति यथोत्साहं भार्यां तामभ्यरक्षत ॥
English Translation
The great ascetic Devasharman fully knew the disposition of women. He therefore, to the best of his power and energy, protected her.
पुरंदरं च जानीते परस्त्रीकामचारिणम् । तस्माद्यत्नेन भार्याया रक्षणं स चकार ह ॥
English Translation
The Rishi knew that Indra had not scruples in seeking the companionship of other people's wives. It was therefore, that he used to protect his wife, putting forth all his power.
स कदाचिदृषिस्तात यज्ञं कर्तुमनास्तदा । भार्यासंरक्षणं कार्यं कथं स्यादित्यचिन्तयत् ॥
English Translation
Once on a time. O son, the Rishi became desirous of celebrating a sacrifice. He began to think of how (during his own absence from home) his wife could be protected.
रक्षाविधानं मनसा स विचिन्त्य महातपाः । आहूय दयितं शिष्यं विपुलं प्राह भार्गवम् ॥
English Translation
Gifted with high ascetic merit, he at last hit upon the course he should adopt. Summoning his favourite disciple whose name was Vipula and who was of Bhrigu's family, he said as follows.
यज्ञकारो गमिष्यामि रुचिं चेमां सुरेश्वरः । पुत्र प्रार्थयते नित्यं तां रक्षस्व यथाबलम् ॥
English Translation
Devasharman said I shall leave home in order to celebrate a sacrifice. The king of the celestials always covets this Ruchi of mine. Do you, during my absence, protect her, displaying all your power.
अप्रमत्तेन ते भाव्यं सदा प्रति पुरंदरम् । स हि रूपाणि कुरुते विविधानि भृगूद्वह ॥
English Translation
You shall pass your time carefully in view of Purandara. O foremost one of Bhrigu's race, that Indra assumes various forms.
इत्युक्तो विपुलस्तेन तपस्वी नियतेन्द्रियः । सदैवोग्रतपा राजन्नग्न्यर्कसदृशद्युतिः ॥
English Translation
Bhishma said Thus addressed by his preceptor, the ascetic Vipula, with senses restrained, always engaged in severe penances, possessed of the splendour, O king, of fire or the sun, conversant with all the duties of virtue, and ever truthful in speech, answered him, saying So be it! Once more, however, as his preceptor was about to start, Vipula asked him in these words.
धर्मज्ञः सत्यवादी च तथेति प्रत्यभाषत । पुनश्चेदं महाराज पप्रच्छ प्रस्थितं गुरुम् ॥
English Translation
Bhishma said Thus addressed by his preceptor, the ascetic Vipula, with senses restrained, always engaged in severe penances, possessed of the splendour, O king, of fire or the sun, conversant with all the duties of virtue, and ever truthful in speech, answered him, saying So be it! Once more, however, as his preceptor was about to start, Vipula asked him in these words.
कानि रूपाणि शक्रस्य भवन्त्यागच्छतो मुने । वपुस्तेजश्च कीदृग्वै तन्मे व्याख्यातुमर्हसि ॥
English Translation
Vipula said Tell me, O Muni, what forms does Shakra assume when he comes. Of what kinds is his body and what is his energy? You should tell me all this.
ततः स भगवांस्तस्मै विपुलाय महात्मने । आचचक्षे यथातत्त्वं मायां शक्रस्य भारत ॥
English Translation
Bhishma said The illustrious Rishi then truly described to the great Vipula all the illusions of Shakra, O Bharata.
बहुमायः स विप्रर्षे बलहा पाकशासनः । तांस्तान्विकुरुते भावान्बहूनथ मुहुर्मुहुः ॥
English Translation
Devasharman said The powerful chastiser of Paka, . regenerate Rishi, is full of illusion. Every moment he assumes those forms that he chooses.
किरीटी वज्रभृद्धन्वी मुकुटी बद्धकुण्डलः । भवत्यथ मुहूर्तेन चण्डालसमदर्शनः ॥
English Translation
Sometimes he wears a diadem and holds the thunderbolt. Sometimes, armed with the thunder bolt and wearing a crown on his head, he adorns himself with earrings. In a moment he changes himself into the shape and aspect of Chandala.
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