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Mahābhārata • Parva 14 (Aśvamedhikaparva) • Adhyāya 55

Aśvamedhikaparva Adhyāya 55

अश्वमेधिकपर्व • अध्यायः 55

Aśvamedhikaparva Adhyāya 55 of the classical Mahābhārata with 36 verses.

Total: 36 Verses • Citations: MBh 14.55.1–36 • 250 Lexicon Terms
उत्तङ्कः केन तपसा संयुक्तः सुमहातपाः । यः शापं दातुकामोऽभूद्विष्णवे प्रभविष्णवे ॥
English Translation
Janamejaya said With what penances was the great Uttanka endued so that he entertained the wish to imprecate a curse on Vishnu himself, who is the source of all power?
उत्तङ्को महता युक्तस्तपसा जनमेजय । गुरुभक्तः स तेजस्वी नान्यं कंचिदपूजयत् ॥
English Translation
Vaishampayana said Janamejaya, Utanka was gifted with austere penances. He was devoted to his preceptor. Gifted with great energy, he abstained from adoring anybody else.
सर्वेषामृषिपुत्राणामेष चासीन्मनोरथः । औत्तङ्कीं गुरुवृत्तिं वै प्राप्नुयामिति भारत ॥
English Translation
All the children of the Rishis, O Bharata, entertained even this desire, viz., that their devotion to preceptors should be as great as that of Utanka.
गौतमस्य तु शिष्याणां बहूनां जनमेजय । उत्तङ्केऽभ्यधिका प्रीतिः स्नेहश्चैवाभवत्तदा ॥
English Translation
Gautama's gratification with and affection for Utanka, among his numberless disciples, were every great, O Janamejaya.
स तस्य दमशौचाभ्यां विक्रान्तेन च कर्मणा । सम्यक्चैवोपचारेण गौतमः प्रीतिमानभूत् ॥
English Translation
Indecd, Gautama was greatly pleased with the self-control and purity of conduct that marked out Utanka, and with his acts or prowess and the services he did to him.
अथ शिष्यसहस्राणि समनुज्ञाय गौतमः । उत्तङ्कं परया प्रीत्या नाभ्यनुज्ञातुमैच्छत ॥
English Translation
One after another, thousands of disciples received the preceptors' permission to return home. On account, however, of his great affection for Utanka, Gautama could not permit him to leave his hermitage.
तं क्रमेण जरा तात प्रतिपेदे महामुनिम् । न चान्वबुध्यत तदा स मुनिर्गुरुवत्सलः ॥
English Translation
Gradually, in course of time, O son, decrepitude overtook Utanka, that great ascetic. The ascetic, however, on account of his devotion to his prcccptor, was not conscious of it.
ततः कदाचिद्राजेन्द्र काष्ठान्यानयितुं ययौ । उत्तङ्कः काष्ठभारं च महान्तं समुपानयत् ॥
English Translation
One day, he started, O king for fetching fuel for his preceptor. Soon after Utanka brought a heavy load of fuel.
स तु भाराभिभूतात्मा काष्ठभारमरिंदम । निष्पिपेष क्षितौ राजन्परिश्रान्तो बुभुक्षितः ॥
English Translation
Toil-worn and hungry and afflicted by the load he carried on his head, O chastiser of enemies, he threw the load down on the Earth, O king.
तस्य काष्ठे विलग्नाभूज्जटा रूप्यसमप्रभा । ततः काष्ठैः सह तदा पपात धरणीतले ॥
English Translation
One of his matted locks, white as silver, had become entangled with the load. Accordingly, when the load was thrown down, with in fell on the earth that matted lock of hair.
ततः स भारनिष्पिष्टः क्षुधाविष्टश्च भार्गवः । दृष्ट्वा तां वयसोऽवस्थां रुरोदार्तस्वरं तदा ॥
English Translation
Oppressed as he had been by that load and overcome by hunger, O Bharata, Utanka, secing that sign of old age, began to bewail a loud from excess of sorrow.
ततो गुरुसुता तस्य पद्मपत्रनिभेक्षणा । जग्राहाश्रूणि सुश्रोणी करेण पृथुलोचना । पितुर्नियोगाद्धर्मज्ञा शिरसावनता तदा ॥
English Translation
Knowing every duty, the daughter of his preceptor then who had cyes resembling lotus petals, and hips that were full and round, at the command her father, sought, with downcast face, to hold Utanka's tears in her hands. Her hands scemed to burn with those tear-drops that she held. Unable, accordingly, to hold them longer, she was compelled to throw them down on the earth.
तस्या निपेततुर्दग्धौ करौ तैरश्रुबिन्दुभिः । न हि तानश्रुपातान्वै शक्ता धारयितुं मही ॥
गौतमस्त्वब्रवीद्विप्रमुत्तङ्कं प्रीतमानसः । कस्मात्तात तवाद्येह शोकोत्तरमिदं मनः । स स्वैरं ब्रूहि विप्रर्षे श्रोतुमिच्छामि ते वचः ॥
English Translation
The Earth herself was unable to hold those tear-drops of Utanka. With a pleased heart, Gautama then said to the twice-born Utanka, 'Why, O son, is your mind so afflicted with grief today? Tell me calmly and quietly, O learned Rishi, for I wish to hear it in full.
भवद्गतेन मनसा भवत्प्रियचिकीर्षया । भवद्भक्तिगतेनेह भवद्भावानुगेन च ॥
जरेयं नावबुद्धा मे नाभिज्ञातं सुखं च मे । शतवर्षोषितं हि त्वं न मामभ्यनुजानथाः ॥
भवता ह्यभ्यनुज्ञाताः शिष्याः प्रत्यवरा मया । उपपन्ना द्विजश्रेष्ठ शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः ॥
English Translation
Many disciples of yours, who were my juniors, have, however, been permitted by you to return. Indeed, hundreds and thousands of foremost Brahmanas have, gifted with knowledge, bcen favoured with your permission.
त्वत्प्रीतियुक्तेन मया गुरुशुश्रूषया तव । व्यतिक्रामन्महान्कालो नावबुद्धो द्विजर्षभ ॥
English Translation
Gautama said Through my love and affection for you, and on account of your dutiful services to me, a long time has passed without my knowing it, O foremost of Brahmanas.
किं त्वद्य यदि ते श्रद्धा गमनं प्रति भार्गव । अनुज्ञां गृह्य मत्तस्त्वं गृहान्गच्छस्व मा चिरम् ॥
English Translation
If, however, O you of Bhrigu's race, you desire to leave this place, do you go without delay, with my permission.
गुर्वर्थं कं प्रयच्छामि ब्रूहि त्वं द्विजसत्तम । तमुपाकृत्य गच्छेयमनुज्ञातस्त्वया विभो ॥
English Translation
Utanka said What shall I present to my preceptor? Tell me this, O best of twice-born persons. Having brought it, I shall go hence, O lord, with your permission.
दक्षिणा परितोषो वै गुरूणां सद्भिरुच्यते । तव ह्याचरतो ब्रह्मंस्तुष्टोऽहं वै न संशयः ॥
English Translation
Gautama said The good say that the satisfaction of the preceptor is the final fee. Forsooth, O twiceborn one, I have been highly pleased with your conduct.
इत्थं च परितुष्टं मां विजानीहि भृगूद्वह । युवा षोडशवर्षो हि यदद्य भविता भवान् ॥
English Translation
Know, O perpetuator of Bhrigu's race, that I have been highly pleased with your conduct. Know, Operpetuator of Bhrigu's race, that I have been very much pleased with you for this. If you become a young man today of sixteen years, I shall confer on you, O twice-born years, I shall confer on you. O twice-born one, this my own daughter for becoming your wife. No other woman except this one is capable of waiting upon your energy.
ददामि पत्नीं कन्यां च स्वां ते दुहितरं द्विज । एतामृते हि नान्या वै त्वत्तेजोऽर्हति सेवितुम् ॥
English Translation
Know, O perpetuator of Bhrigu's race, that I have been highly pleased with your conduct. Know, Operpetuator of Bhrigu's race, that I have been very much pleased with you for this. If you become a young man today of sixteen years, I shall confer on you, O twice-born years, I shall confer on you. O twice-born one, this my own daughter for becoming your wife. No other woman except this one is capable of waiting upon your energy.
ततस्तां प्रतिजग्राह युवा भूत्वा यशस्विनीम् । गुरुणा चाभ्यनुज्ञातो गुरुपत्नीमथाब्रवीत् ॥
English Translation
At these words of Gautama. Utanka once again became a youth and accepted that famous maiden for his wife. Receiving the permission of his preceptor, he then addressed his preceptor's wife, saying, What shall I give you as final fee for my preceptor? Do you command me. I wish to do, with riches, or even my life, what is agreeable and beneficial to you.
किं भवत्यै प्रयच्छामि गुर्वर्थं विनियुङ्क्ष्व माम् । प्रियं हि तव काङ्क्षामि प्राणैरपि धनैरपि ॥
English Translation
At these words of Gautama. Utanka once again became a youth and accepted that famous maiden for his wife. Receiving the permission of his preceptor, he then addressed his preceptor's wife, saying, What shall I give you as final fee for my preceptor? Do you command me. I wish to do, with riches, or even my life, what is agreeable and beneficial to you.
यद्दुर्लभं हि लोकेऽस्मिन्रत्नमत्यद्भुतं भवेत् । तदानयेयं तपसा न हि मेऽत्रास्ति संशयः ॥
English Translation
Whatever gem, exceedingly wonderful and of great value, exists in this world, I shall bring for you with the help of my penances. I have no doubt in this.
परितुष्टास्मि ते पुत्र नित्यं भगवता सह । पर्याप्तये तद्भद्रं ते गच्छ तात यथेच्छकम् ॥
English Translation
I am highly pleased with you, O learned Brahmana, with your unceasing devotion, O sinless one. This is enough. Blessed be you, go wherever you like.
उत्तङ्कस्तु महाराज पुनरेवाब्रवीद्वचः । आज्ञापयस्व मां मातः कर्तव्यं हि प्रियं तव ॥
English Translation
Vaishampayana said, Utanka, however, O king, once more said these words, Do you command me, O mother. It is proper that I should do something that is agreeable to you.
सौदासपत्न्या विदिते दिव्ये वै मणिकुण्डले । ते समानय भद्रं ते गुर्वर्थः सुकृतो भवेत् ॥
English Translation
Ahalya said Blessed be you, bring for me those celestial ear-rings which are worn by the wife of Saudasa. That which is due to your preceptor will then be well-discharged.
स तथेति प्रतिश्रुत्य जगाम जनमेजय । गुरुपत्नीप्रियार्थं वै ते समानयितुं तदा ॥
English Translation
Replying her, 'So be it'. Utanka went away. O Janamejaya, determined upon bringing those ear-rings for doing what his preceptor's wife liked.
स जगाम ततः शीघ्रमुत्तङ्को ब्राह्मणर्षभः । सौदासं पुरुषादं वै भिक्षितुं मणिकुण्डले ॥
English Translation
That foremost of Brahmanas, Utanka, proceeded forthwith to Saudasa who had become a cannibal, in order to solicit the earrings from him.
गौतमस्त्वब्रवीत्पत्नीमुत्तङ्को नाद्य दृश्यते । इति पृष्टा तमाचष्ट कुण्डलार्थं गतं तु वै ॥
English Translation
Gautama meanwhile said to his wife —'Utanka is not to be seen today. Thus addressed, she informed him how he had gone for fetching the jewelled ear-rings (of Saudasa's queen).
ततः प्रोवाच पत्नीं स न ते सम्यगिदं कृतम् । शप्तः स पार्थिवो नूनं ब्राह्मणं तं वधिष्यति ॥
English Translation
At this, Gautama said, 'You have not acted wisely. Cursed (by Vasishtha), that king will, indeed, kill Utanka.
अजानन्त्या नियुक्तः स भगवन्ब्राह्मणोऽद्य मे । भवत्प्रसादान्न भयं किंचित्तस्य भविष्यति ॥
English Translation
Ahalya said Without knowing this, O holy one I have engaged Utanka in this task. He shall not, however, come by any danger through your grace.
इत्युक्तः प्राह तां पत्नीमेवमस्त्विति गौतमः । उत्तङ्कोऽपि वने शून्ये राजानं तं ददर्श ह ॥
English Translation
Thus addressed by her, Gautama said, 'Let it be so.' Meanwhile, Utanka met king Saudasa in a deserted forest.
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