Critical Edition
आस्तीक उवाच सोमस्य यज्ञो वरुणस्य यज्ञः; प्रजापतेर्यज्ञ आसीत्प्रयागे तथा यज्ञोऽयं तव भारताग्र्य; पारिक्षित स्वस्ति नोऽस्तु प्रियेभ्यः
M. N. Dutt: Astika said: O son of Parikshit, О best of the Bharata race, Soma, Varuna and Prajapati performed sacrifices at Prayaga in the days of yore, but your sacrifice, is in no way inferior to them. Blessing be upon those who are dear to us!
शक्रस्य यज्ञः शतसंख्य उक्त;स्तथापरस्तुल्यसंख्यः शतं वै तथा यज्ञोऽयं तव भारताग्र्य; पारिक्षित स्वस्ति नोऽस्तु प्रियेभ्यः
AI Translation: The sacrifice of Indra is said to be of a hundredfold number, and another of equal number, a hundred. And this sacrifice of yours, O best of the Bharatas, O Pariks
यमस्य यज्ञो हरिमेधसश्च; यथा यज्ञो रन्तिदेवस्य राज्ञः तथा यज्ञोऽयं तव भारताग्र्य; पारिक्षित स्वस्ति नोऽस्तु प्रियेभ्यः
M. N. Dutt: Astika said: O son of Parikshit, О best of the Bharata race, Soma, Varuna and Prajapati performed sacrifices at Prayaga in the days of yore, but your sacrifice, is in no way inferior to them. Blessing be upon those who are dear to us!
गयस्य यज्ञः शशबिन्दोश्च राज्ञो; यज्ञस्तथा वैश्रवणस्य राज्ञः तथा यज्ञोऽयं तव भारताग्र्य; पारिक्षित स्वस्ति नोऽस्तु प्रियेभ्यः
AI Translation: The sacrifice of Gayas, the sacrifice of King Shashbinda, and the sacrifice of King Vaishravana, And this sacrifice of yours, O foremost of the Bharatas, O Parikshit, may it be for our welfare and for our loved ones.
नृगस्य यज्ञस्त्वजमीढस्य चासी;द्यथा यज्ञो दाशरथेश्च राज्ञः तथा यज्ञोऽयं तव भारताग्र्य; पारिक्षित स्वस्ति नोऽस्तु प्रियेभ्यः
AI Translation: The sacrifice of Nriga and of Ajamiidha was like the sacrifice of the king of the Dasharatha family. So also is this sacrifice of yours, O foremost of the Bharatas. O Parikshit, may good fortune be to our loved ones.
यज्ञः श्रुतो नो दिवि देवसूनो;र्युधिष्ठिरस्याजमीढस्य राज्ञः तथा यज्ञोऽयं तव भारताग्र्य; पारिक्षित स्वस्ति नोऽस्तु प्रियेभ्यः
AI Translation: The sacrifice of Yudhishthira, the son of Ajami, the son of the gods, is heard in heaven. And this sacrifice of yours, O foremost of the Bharatas, O Parikshit, may it be for our welfare and for our beloved ones.
कृष्णस्य यज्ञः सत्यवत्याः सुतस्य; स्वयं च कर्म प्रचकार यत्र तथा यज्ञोऽयं तव भारताग्र्य; पारिक्षित स्वस्ति नोऽस्तु प्रियेभ्यः
AI Translation: The sacrifice of Krishna, the son of Satyavati, was performed by himself, and this sacrifice of yours, O foremost of the Bharatas, O Parikshit, may it be for our
इमे हि ते सूर्यहुताशवर्चसः; समासते वृत्रहणः क्रतुं यथा नैषां ज्ञानं विद्यते ज्ञातुमद्य; दत्तं येभ्यो न प्रणश्येत्कथंचित्
M. N. Dutt: These (learned men), that are sitting here, are as effulgent as the sun and they make your this sacrifice like the sacrifice of the slayer of Vitra (Indra). There is nothing for them to know and gifts made to them become inexhaustible.
ऋत्विक्समो नास्ति लोकेषु चैव; द्वैपायनेनेति विनिश्चितं मे एतस्य शिष्या हि क्षितिं चरन्ति; सर्वर्त्विजः कर्मसु स्वेषु दक्षाः
M. N. Dutt: There is not a Ritvija in all the worlds equal to your Ritvija Dvaipayana. His disciples, becoming Ritvijas, competent in their duties, travel over the earth.
विभावसुश्चित्रभानुर्महात्मा; हिरण्यरेता विश्वभुक्कृष्णवर्त्मा प्रदक्षिणावर्तशिखः प्रदीप्तो; हव्यं तवेदं हुतभुग्वष्टि देवः
M. N. Dutt: The noble bearer of libations, Vibhavasu and Chitrabhanu (Fire), having gold for his vital seed and black smokes on its way, carries these your libations of ghee to the celestial.
नेह त्वदन्यो विद्यते जीवलोके; समो नृपः पालयिता प्रजानाम् धृत्या च ते प्रीतमनाः सदाहं; त्वं वा राजा धर्मराजो यमो वा
M. N. Dutt: There is no other king in this world equal to you in protecting his subjects. I am well pleased with your courage. You are either Varuna, Yama or Dharmaraja.
शक्रः साक्षाद्वज्रपाणिर्यथेह; त्राता लोकेऽस्मिंस्त्वं तथेह प्रजानाम् मतस्त्वं नः पुरुषेन्द्रेह लोके; न च त्वदन्यो गृहपतिरस्ति यज्ञे
M. N. Dutt: You are protector of all creatures in this world, like Indra himself, thunderbolt in hand. There is no man in this world so great as you. There is no king who is your equal in sacrifices.
खट्वाङ्गनाभागदिलीपकल्पो; ययातिमान्धातृसमप्रभावः आदित्यतेजःप्रतिमानतेजा; भीष्मो यथा भ्राजसि सुव्रतस्त्वम्
M. N. Dutt: You are like Khatvanga, Nabhaga and Dilipa. You are like Yayati and Mandhata in prowess. You are equal to the sun in splendour. O royal sage of excellent vows, you are like Bhishma.
वाल्मीकिवत्ते निभृतं सुधैर्यं; वसिष्ठवत्ते नियतश्च कोपः प्रभुत्वमिन्द्रेण समं मतं मे; द्युतिश्च नारायणवद्विभाति
M. N. Dutt: You are like Valmiki of power concealed. Like Vasishtha you have controlled your anger. Your sovereignty is like that of Indra and your splendour is like that of Narayana.
यमो यथा धर्मविनिश्चयज्ञः; कृष्णो यथा सर्वगुणोपपन्नः श्रियां निवासोऽसि यथा वसूनां; निधानभूतोऽसि तथा क्रतूनाम्
M. N. Dutt: You are learned in the administration of justice like Yama and you are adorned with all qualifications like Krishna. You are the home of the wealth that belongs to the Vasus, you are the main-spring of all sacrifices.
दम्भोद्भवेनासि समो बलेन; रामो यथा शस्त्रविदस्त्रविच्च और्वत्रिताभ्यामसि तुल्यतेजा; दुष्प्रेक्षणीयोऽसि भगीरथो वा
M. N. Dutt: You are equal to Dambhodbhava in strength, you are learned both, in Shastras and arms like Parshurama. You are equal to Aurva and Trita in strength. You inspire terror with your looks like Bhagiratha.
Supplementary Passages:
1.50.16 After 16, Ñ3 ins.: *439 तुल्योऽसि तेनैव महात्मना वा गङ्गा देवी मानयामास यो वै
सूत उवाच एवं स्तुताः सर्व एव प्रसन्ना; राजा सदस्या ऋत्विजो हव्यवाहः तेषां दृष्ट्वा भावितानीङ्गितानि; प्रोवाच राजा जनमेजयोऽथ
M. N. Dutt: Sauti said: Having thus adored them, Astika gratified and pleased them all, the king, the Sadasyas, the Ritvijas and the sacrificial fire. And king Janamejaya, seeing the signs and indications manifested on all sides, addressed them thus.