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Mahābhārata • Parva 1 (Ādiparva) • Adhyāya 51

Ādiparva Adhyāya 51

आदिपर्व • अध्यायः 51

Ādiparva Adhyāya 51 of the classical Mahābhārata with 24 verses.

Total: 24 Verses • Citations: MBh 1.51.1–24 • 250 Lexicon Terms
बालो वाक्यं स्थविर इव प्रभाषते; नायं बालः स्थविरोऽयं मतो मे । इच्छाम्यहं वरमस्मै प्रदातुं; तन्मे विप्रा वितरध्वं समेताः ॥
English Translation
Janamejaya said : Though this (Rishi) is but a boy, he speaks like a wise old man. He is not a boy; I think he is wise and old. I wish to bestow on him a boon. Therefore, O Brahmanas, give me necessary permission.
बालोऽपि विप्रो मान्य एवेह राज्ञां; यश्चाविद्वान्यश्च विद्वान्यथावत् । सर्वान्कामांस्त्वत्त एषोऽर्हतेऽद्य; यथा च नस्तक्षक एति शीघ्रम् ॥
English Translation
The Sadasyas said : A Brahmana, though he may be a boy, deserves the respect of kings, more so if he is learned. This boy deserves to have his all desires fulfilled, but not before Takshaka is here with all speed.
व्याहर्तुकामे वरदे नृपे द्विजं; वरं वृणीष्वेति ततोऽभ्युवाच । होता वाक्यं नातिहृष्टान्तरात्मा; कर्मण्यस्मिंस्तक्षको नैति तावत् ॥
English Translation
Sauti said : The king, being willing to grant a boon to the Brahmana boy, said, "Ask from me a boon.” The Hota, being rather displeased at this, said, "Takshaka has not as yet come to this sacrifice.
यथा चेदं कर्म समाप्यते मे; यथा च नस्तक्षक एति शीघ्रम् । तथा भवन्तः प्रयतन्तु सर्वे; परं शक्त्या स हि मे विद्विषाणः ॥
English Translation
Janamejaya said : Try your best to bring this my sacrifice to a successful completion; exert your might, so that Takshaka may come here without further delay. He is my enemy.
यथा शास्त्राणि नः प्राहुर्यथा शंसति पावकः । इन्द्रस्य भवने राजंस्तक्षको भयपीडितः ॥
English Translation
The Ritvijas said : O king, Takshaka is now living in fear in the abode of Indra. The Shastra declares this to us and the Fire also says it.
यथा सूतो लोहिताक्षो महात्मा; पौराणिको वेदितवान्पुरस्तात् । स राजानं प्राह पृष्टस्तदानीं; यथाहुर्विप्रास्तद्वदेतन्नृदेव ॥
English Translation
Sauti said: The illustrious Suta, Lohitakshya, wellversed in the Puranas, had also said this before. Asked by the king again on this occasion, he told him what he said before.
पुराणमागम्य ततो ब्रवीम्यहं; दत्तं तस्मै वरमिन्द्रेण राजन् । वसेह त्वं मत्सकाशे सुगुप्तो; न पावकस्त्वां प्रदहिष्यतीति ॥
English Translation
(He said), “O king, what the Brahmanas have said is true. Knowing as I do the Puranas, I say, O king, Indra has granted him a boon, saying, 'Live here in concealment and fire will not be able to burn you."
एतच्छ्रुत्वा दीक्षितस्तप्यमान; आस्ते होतारं चोदयन्कर्मकाले । होता च यत्तः स जुहाव मन्त्रै;रथो इन्द्रः स्वयमेवाजगाम ॥
English Translation
Having heard this, the king, installed in the sacrifice, became very sorry and urged the Hota to do his duty. He too, with Mantras, began to pour the ghee into the fire. Thereupon Indra himself came to the place.
विमानमारुह्य महानुभावः; सर्वैर्देवैः परिसंस्तूयमानः । बलाहकैश्चाप्यनुगम्यमानो; विद्याधरैरप्सरसां गणैश्च ॥
English Translation
The illustrious god came on his car, adored and worshipped by all the celestial standing around his chariot and entertained by masses of clouds, celestial singers and various classes of celestial dancing girls.
तस्योत्तरीये निहितः स नागो; भयोद्विग्नः शर्म नैवाभ्यगच्छत् । ततो राजा मन्त्रविदोऽब्रवीत्पुनः; क्रुद्धो वाक्यं तक्षकस्यान्तमिच्छन् ॥
English Translation
The snake (Takshaka), however, kept himself hidden within the garments of Indra. Thereupon the king, being desirous of the destruction of Takshaka, spoke to his Mantraknowing Brahmanas thus,
इन्द्रस्य भवने विप्रा यदि नागः स तक्षकः । तमिन्द्रेणैव सहितं पातयध्वं विभावसौ ॥
English Translation
Janamejaya said : O Brahmanas, if Takshaka be in the abode of Indra, throw him into the fire with Indra also.
अयमायाति वै तूर्णं तक्षकस्ते वशं नृप । श्रूयतेऽस्य महान्नादो रुवतो भैरवं भयात् ॥
English Translation
The Ritvijas said : O king, behold, Takshaka has come under your control. His terrible cries and loud roars are heard.
नूनं मुक्तो वज्रभृता स नागो; भ्रष्टश्चाङ्कान्मन्त्रविस्रस्तकायः । घूर्णन्नाकाशे नष्टसंज्ञोऽभ्युपैति; तीव्रान्निःश्वासान्निःश्वसन्पन्नगेन्द्रः ॥
English Translation
The snake has been forsaken by the wielder of thunder-bolt (Indra). his body has been disabled by our Mantras. (Behold), he is falling from the heavens, (behold) the king of snakes, deprived of his consciousness, comes rolling in the sky breathing loudly.
वर्तते तव राजेन्द्र कर्मैतद्विधिवत्प्रभो । अस्मै तु द्विजमुख्याय वरं त्वं दातुमर्हसि ॥
English Translation
The Ritvijas said : O king of kings, O Lord, your this act (sacrifice) is being properly performed. It is now proper for you to grant a boon to this best of Brahmanas (Astika).
बालाभिरूपस्य तवाप्रमेय; वरं प्रयच्छामि यथानुरूपम् । वृणीष्व यत्तेऽभिमतं हृदि स्थितं; तत्ते प्रदास्याम्यपि चेददेयम् ॥
English Translation
Janamejaya said : O immeasurable one, you are of such child-like and handsome features, that I desire to bestow upon you a worthy boon. Therefore, ask that which you desire in your heart to possess. I promise you, I will grant it if it be even ungrantable.
पतिष्यमाणे नागेन्द्रे तक्षके जातवेदसि । इदमन्तरमित्येवं तदास्तीकोऽभ्यचोदयत् ॥
English Translation
Sauti said : When the king of snakes, Takshaka, was at the point of falling into the sacrificial fire, within that very short moment, Astika spoke thus,
वरं ददासि चेन्मह्यं वृणोमि जनमेजय । सत्रं ते विरमत्वेतन्न पतेयुरिहोरगाः ॥
English Translation
Astika said: O Janamejaya, if you will at all to grant me a boon, let your this sacrifice be stopped and let no more snakes fall into the fire.
एवमुक्तस्ततो राजा ब्रह्मन्पारिक्षितस्तदा । नातिहृष्टमना वाक्यमास्तीकमिदमब्रवीत् ॥
English Translation
Sauti said : O Brahmana, the son of Parikshit, having been thus addressed, became exceedingly sorry and spoke to Astika thus,
सुवर्णं रजतं गाश्च यच्चान्यन्मन्यसे विभो । तत्ते दद्यां वरं विप्र न निवर्तेत्क्रतुर्मम ॥
English Translation
Janamejaya said : O illustrious man, I shall give you gold, silver, kine, or whatever else you desire to possess. But let not my this sacrifice be stopped.
सुवर्णं रजतं गाश्च न त्वां राजन्वृणोम्यहम् । सत्रं ते विरमत्वेतत्स्वस्ति मातृकुलस्य नः ॥
English Translation
Astika said: O king, I do not ask from you gold, silver or kine. Let your this sacrifice be stopped, so that my maternal relatives are saved.
आस्तीकेनैवमुक्तस्तु राजा पारिक्षितस्तदा । पुनः पुनरुवाचेदमास्तीकं वदतां वरम् ॥
English Translation
Sautisaid: Thus addressed by Astika, the son of Parikshit (Janamejaya,) again and again said to that best of speakers, Astika,
अन्यं वरय भद्रं ते वरं द्विजवरोत्तम । अयाचत न चाप्यन्यं वरं स भृगुनन्दन ॥
English Translation
"O best of the best Brahmanas, O blessed one, O illustrious man, ask some other boon." But, O descendant of the Bhrigu race, he did not ask any other boon.
ततो वेदविदस्तत्र सदस्याः सर्व एव तम् । राजानमूचुः सहिता लभतां ब्राह्मणो वरम् ॥
English Translation
Thereupon, all the Sadasyas, learned in the Vedas, told the king in one voice, in the Vedas, told the king in one voice, “Let the Brahmana receive the boon (asked by him.")
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