Critical Edition
व्यास उवाच पुरा वै नैमिषारण्ये देवाः सत्रमुपासते तत्र वैवस्वतो राजञ्शामित्रमकरोत्तदा
M. N. Dutt: Vyasa said : In days of yore, the celestials performed a great sacrifice in the Naimisha forest. O king, the son of Vivasvata (Yama) became the slayer of animals.
ततो यमो दीक्षितस्तत्र राज;न्नामारयत्किंचिदपि प्रजाभ्यः ततः प्रजास्ता बहुला बभूवुः; कालातिपातान्मरणात्प्रहीणाः
M. N. Dutt: O king, thus employed in that sacrifice, Yama did not kill any human being. Thereupon the death being suspended among men, the number of human beings greatly increased.
Supplementary Passages:
1.189.2 For 2, V1 subst. a (fragm.) anuṣṭubh stanza: *1913 स तत्र दीक्षितस्तात यमो नामारयत्प्रजाः प्राणिनोऽथ न मृताश्च * * * * * * * *
ततस्तु शक्रो वरुणः कुबेरः; साध्या रुद्रा वसवश्चाश्विनौ च प्रणेतारं भुवनस्य प्रजापतिं; समाजग्मुस्तत्र देवास्तथान्ये
M. N. Dutt: Soma, Shakra, Varuna, Kubera, the Sadhyas, the Rudra, the Vasus, the twin Ashvinis, these and other celestials went to Prajapati, the creator of the world.
ततोऽब्रुवँल्लोकगुरुं समेता; भयं नस्तीव्रं मानुषाणां विवृद्ध्या तस्माद्भयादुद्विजन्तः सुखेप्सवः; प्रयाम सर्वे शरणं भवन्तम्
M. N. Dutt: Alarmed at the increase on human beings, they all thus addressed the master of creation. “We are afflicted with the fear (of the increase of human beings) and therefore wishing to be relieved, we ask your protection.
ब्रह्मोवाच किं वो भयं मानुषेभ्यो यूयं सर्वे यदामराः मा वो मर्त्यसकाशाद्वै भयं भवतु कर्हिचित्
M. N. Dutt: The Grandsire said : You have no fear from fear human beings; you are all immoral. You should not be frightened by the mortals.
देवा ऊचुः मर्त्या ह्यमर्त्याः संवृत्ता न विशेषोऽस्ति कश्चन अविशेषादुद्विजन्तो विशेषार्थमिहागताः
M. N. Dutt: The Celestials said: The mortals have all become the immortals. There is now no difference between them and us. Being vexed at this, we have come to you so that we may have some distinction (from men).
ब्रह्मोवाच वैवस्वतो व्यापृतः सत्रहेतो;स्तेन त्विमे न म्रियन्ते मनुष्याः तस्मिन्नेकाग्रे कृतसर्वकार्ये; तत एषां भवितैवान्तकालः
M. N. Dutt: The Deity said : The son of Vivasvata (Yama) is now engaged in the great sacrifice. It is this reason that human beings are not dying. When his sacrificial works will be finished, the death will be again among men.
वैवस्वतस्यापि तनुर्विभूता; वीर्येण युष्माकमुत प्रयुक्ता सैषामन्तो भविता ह्यन्तकाले; तनुर्हि वीर्यं भविता नरेषु
M. N. Dutt: When that time will come, the son of Vivasvata will be strengthened by your respective energies. He will then sweep away thousands of human beings who will have no energy left in them.
व्यास उवाच ततस्तु ते पूर्वजदेववाक्यं; श्रुत्वा देवा यत्र देवा यजन्ते समासीनास्ते समेता महाबला; भागीरथ्यां ददृशुः पुण्डरीकम्
M. N. Dutt: Vyasa said : Having heard these words of the first born deity, the greatly strong (celestials) went (to the place of sacrifice) and when they all assembled there, they saw a (golden) lotus in the Bhagirathi.
दृष्ट्वा च तद्विस्मितास्ते बभूवु;स्तेषामिन्द्रस्तत्र शूरो जगाम सोऽपश्यद्योषामथ पावकप्रभां; यत्र गङ्गा सततं संप्रसूता
M. N. Dutt: Seeing that (golden) lotus, they were very much surprised. The foremost of heroes among them, Indra, went (to find out where it grew). Going to the place where from the Ganges always issues forth, he saw a lady as effulgent as the fire.
सा तत्र योषा रुदती जलार्थिनी; गङ्गां देवीं व्यवगाह्यावतिष्ठत् तस्याश्रुबिन्दुः पतितो जले वै; तत्पद्ममासीदथ तत्र काञ्चनम्
M. N. Dutt: The lady who had come there to fetch water was bathing in the Ganges, but she was weeping all the while. The drops of tear that fell from her eyes were transformed into golden lotuses.
तदद्भुतं प्रेक्ष्य वज्री तदानी;मपृच्छत्तां योषितमन्तिकाद्वै का त्वं कथं रोदिषि कस्य हेतो;र्वाक्यं तथ्यं कामयेह ब्रवीहि
AI Translation: Seeing that wonder, the wielder of the thunderbolt then asked that woman: "Who are you? Why are you crying? For what reason? I wish to hear the truth, speak!"
स्त्र्युवाच त्वं वेत्स्यसे मामिह यास्मि शक्र; यदर्थं चाहं रोदिमि मन्दभाग्या आगच्छ राजन्पुरतोऽहं गमिष्ये; द्रष्टासि तद्रोदिमि यत्कृतेऽहम्
M. N. Dutt: The Lady said : O Shakra, unfortunate as I am, you may know who I am and why I am I weeping. O king, if you come with me as I lead the way, you can then see why I weep.
व्यास उवाच तां गच्छन्तीमन्वगच्छत्तदानीं; सोऽपश्यदारात्तरुणं दर्शनीयम् सिंहासनस्थं युवतीसहायं; क्रीडन्तमक्षैर्गिरिराजमूर्ध्नि
M. N. Dutt: Vyasa said : He (Indra) followed her and soon saw a handsome youth with a young lady. They were seated on a throne on the peaks of the king of mountains and they were playing with dice.
तमब्रवीद्देवराजो ममेदं; त्वं विद्धि विश्वं भुवनं वशे स्थितम् ईशोऽहमस्मीति समन्युरब्रवी;द्दृष्ट्वा तमक्षैः सुभृशं प्रमत्तम्
M. N. Dutt: The king of the celestials thus spoke to him, “O intelligent youth, know this universe to be under my sway." Seeing that the person take no notice of what he had said, he (Indra) again said, “I am the lord of the universe."
क्रुद्धं तु शक्रं प्रसमीक्ष्य देवो; जहास शक्रं च शनैरुदैक्षत संस्तम्भितोऽभूदथ देवराज;स्तेनेक्षितः स्थाणुरिवावतस्थे
M. N. Dutt: Seeing Indra angry, the youth who was none else than Mahadeva cast a glance at him and smiled. At that glance the king of the celestials was at once paralysed and stood on that spot like a statue.
यदा तु पर्याप्तमिहास्य क्रीडया; तदा देवीं रुदतीं तामुवाच आनीयतामेष यतोऽहमारा;न्मैनं दर्पः पुनरप्याविशेत
M. N. Dutt: When the game of dice came to an end, he (Shiva) spoke thus to the weeping woman, “Bring him (Indra) here. I shall so deal with him that pride may not again enter his heart."
ततः शक्रः स्पृष्टमात्रस्तया तु; स्रस्तैरङ्गैः पतितोऽभूद्धरण्याम् तमब्रवीद्भगवानुग्रतेजा; मैवं पुनः शक्र कृथाः कथंचित्
M. N. Dutt: As soon as Indra was touched by that woman, the chief of the celestials with limbs paralysed by that touch fell down on the ground. The illustrious deity of fierce energy (Shiva) then said to him, "O Indra, never act thus again.
विवर्तयैनं च महाद्रिराजं; बलं च वीर्यं च तवाप्रमेयम् विवृत्य चैवाविश मध्यमस्य; यत्रासते त्वद्विधाः सूर्यभासः
M. N. Dutt: Remove this huge stone, for your strength and energy are immeasurable. Enter the hole and wait with others who are all like you and the sun in splendour."
स तद्विवृत्य शिखरं महागिरे;स्तुल्यद्युतींश्चतुरोऽन्यान्ददर्श स तानभिप्रेक्ष्य बभूव दुःखितः; कच्चिन्नाहं भविता वै यथेमे
M. N. Dutt: He (Indra) removed that stone and saw a cave on the great mountain in which were four others resembling himself. Seeing them, he became very much grieved and exclaimed, "Shall I too meet with such fate?"
ततो देवो गिरिशो वज्रपाणिं; विवृत्य नेत्रे कुपितोऽभ्युवाच दरीमेतां प्रविश त्वं शतक्रतो; यन्मां बाल्यादवमंस्थाः पुरस्तात्
M. N. Dutt: Then looking at the wielder of thunder (Indra) with expanded eyes, the deity Girisha (Shiva), said in anger, "O Shatakratu, (Indra) enter this cave without delay, for out of folly you have insulted me before my very eyes."
उक्तस्त्वेवं विभुना देवराजः; प्रवेपमानो भृशमेवाभिषङ्गात् स्रस्तैरङ्गैरनिलेनेव नुन्न;मश्वत्थपत्रं गिरिराजमूर्ध्नि
M. N. Dutt: Thus addressed by the lord (Shiva), the chief of the celestials was deeply grieved in consequence of that imprecation; and with limbs weakened by fear he trembled like the wind shaken leaf of the tree on the breast of the king of mountains.
स प्राञ्जलिर्विनतेनाननेन; प्रवेपमानः सहसैवमुक्तः उवाच चेदं बहुरूपमुग्रं; द्रष्टा शेषस्य भगवंस्त्वं भवाद्य
M. N. Dutt: Thus unexpectedly cursed by the deity that rides the bull (Shiva), Indra trembled from head to foot; and with joined hands the thus head addressed the fearful god of many manifestations, "O Bhava, you are the on looker of the infinite universe."
तमब्रवीदुग्रधन्वा प्रहस्य; नैवंशीलाः शेषमिहाप्नुवन्ति एतेऽप्येवं भवितारः पुरस्ता;त्तस्मादेतां दरिमाविश्य शेध्वम्
M. N. Dutt: To him thus replied the deity of fiery energy with smiles, “Those that have your disposition never obtain my grace. These others (four in the cave) were like you at one lie there for some time.
शेषोऽप्येवं भविता वो न संशयो; योनिं सर्वे मानुषीमाविशध्वम् तत्र यूयं कर्म कृत्वाविषह्यं; बहूनन्यान्निधनं प्रापयित्वा
AI Translation: And so will be Śeṣa. There is no doubt. Enter a human womb. There, having performed an unbearable deed, having brought many others to death,
Supplementary Passages:
1.189.25 After 25, D4 (marg. sec. m.) S ins.: *1914 शस्त्रैर्दिव्यैर्मानुषान्योधयित्वा शूरान्सर्वानाहवे तान्विजित्य
आगन्तारः पुनरेवेन्द्रलोकं; स्वकर्मणा पूर्वजितं महार्हम् सर्वं मया भाषितमेतदेवं; कर्तव्यमन्यद्विविधार्थवच्च
AI Translation: Those who have come here will return to the world of Indra, which is their own due to their previous deeds. All this has been spoken by me. This is the way it is. One should do what is to be done, and what is of various kinds.
पूर्वेन्द्रा ऊचुः गमिष्यामो मानुषं देवलोका;द्दुराधरो विहितो यत्र मोक्षः देवास्त्वस्मानादधीरञ्जनन्यां; धर्मो वायुर्मघवानश्विनौ च
M. N. Dutt: The Old Indras said : We shall go from our celestial region to the region of men where salvation is difficult to gain. But let the celestials, Dharma, Vayu, Maghavata (present Indra) and the twin Ashvinis beget us on our would be mother. After fighting with men with both hunian and celestial weapons, we shall again come back to the region of Indra.
Supplementary Passages:
1.189.27 After 27, K4 Ñ V1 B D G1 ins.: *1915 अस्त्रैर्दिव्यैर्मानुषान्योधयित्वा आगन्तारः पुनरेवेन्द्रलोकम्
व्यास उवाच एतच्छ्रुत्वा वज्रपाणिर्वचस्तु; देवश्रेष्ठं पुनरेवेदमाह वीर्येणाहं पुरुषं कार्यहेतो;र्दद्यामेषां पञ्चमं मत्प्रसूतम्
M. N. Dutt: Vyasa said : Having heard this, the wielder of thunder (Indra) again addressed that foremost of gods (Shiva) saying, "Instead of going myself, I shall create from myself with a portion of my energy a person able to accomplish the task; and he will be the fifth among these (old Indras)."
Supplementary Passages:
1.189.28 After 28, N ins. (a śloka!): *1916 विश्वभुगृतधामा च शिबिरिन्द्रः प्रतापवान् शान्तिश्चतुर्थस्तेषां वै तेजस्वी पञ्चमः स्मृतः
तेषां कामं भगवानुग्रधन्वा; प्रादादिष्टं सन्निसर्गाद्यथोक्तम् तां चाप्येषां योषितं लोककान्तां; श्रियं भार्यां व्यदधान्मानुषेषु
M. N. Dutt: The illustrious deity of the formidable bow kindly granted to the five Indras the desire they cherished in their hearts and he appointed that exceedingly beautiful lady, who was none else than the celestial Lakshmi herself to be their common wife in the world of men.
तैरेव सार्धं तु ततः स देवो; जगाम नारायणमप्रमेयम् स चापि तद्व्यदधात्सर्वमेव; ततः सर्वे संबभूवुर्धरण्याम्
AI Translation: Then the Lord went with them to the immeasurable Nārāyaṇa. And he arranged all that. Then all were born on earth.
Supplementary Passages:
1.189.30 After 30ab, K4 Ñ2.3 V1 Dn D1.4 (marg. sec. m.) ins.: *1917 अनन्तमव्यक्तमजं पुराणं सनातनं विश्वमनन्तरूपम् S ins. after 30 (T1, after 29): *1918 नरं तु देवं विबुधप्रधानम् इन्द्रो जिष्णुं पञ्चमं कल्पयित्वा
स चापि केशौ हरिरुद्बबर्ह; शुक्लमेकमपरं चापि कृष्णम् तौ चापि केशौ विशतां यदूनां; कुले स्त्रियौ रोहिणीं देवकीं च तयोरेको बलदेवो बभूव; कृष्णो द्वितीयः केशवः संबभूव
AI Translation: And he plucked out his hair, one white and the other black. And those two hairs entered the wombs of the two women of the Yadus, Rohini and Devaki. Of them, one became Balarama, and the other, the second, became Keshava.
Supplementary Passages:
1.189.31 N ins. after 31c: *1919 योऽसौ श्वेतस्तस्य देवस्य केशः and after 31f: *1920 केशो योऽसौ वर्णतः कृष्ण उक्तः
ये ते पूर्वं शक्ररूपा निरुद्धा;स्तस्यां दर्यां पर्वतस्योत्तरस्य इहैव ते पाण्डवा वीर्यवन्तः; शक्रस्यांशः पाण्डवः सव्यसाची
M. N. Dutt: Those Indra-like ones who were kept confined in the cave of the mountain are none less then the five sons of Pandu, possessing great prowess. And the Pandava Savyasachi (Arjuna) is a portion of (the present) Indra.
एवमेते पाण्डवाः संबभूवु;र्ये ते राजन्पूर्वमिन्द्रा बभूवुः लक्ष्मीश्चैषां पूर्वमेवोपदिष्टा; भार्या यैषा द्रौपदी दिव्यरूपा
M. N. Dutt: O king, thus were born as the sons of Pandu those that were at one time Indras and the celestial Lakshmi herself who had appointed to be their wife is the exceedingly beautiful Draupadi.
कथं हि स्त्री कर्मणोऽन्ते महीतला;त्समुत्तिष्ठेदन्यतो दैवयोगात् यस्या रूपं सोमसूर्यप्रकाशं; गन्धश्चाग्र्यः क्रोशमात्रात्प्रवाति
M. N. Dutt: How could she whose effulgence is like that of the son of the moon, whose fragrance spreads over two miles around, take birth in any other but an extraordinary way? She rose from within the earth by virtue of your sacrifice.
इदं चान्यत्प्रीतिपूर्वं नरेन्द्र; ददामि ते वरमत्यद्भुतं च दिव्यं चक्षुः पश्य कुन्तीसुतांस्त्वं; पुण्यैर्दिव्यैः पूर्वदेहैरुपेतान्
M. N. Dutt: O king, I cheerfully grant to you this boon, I give you spiritual sight. Behold the sons of Kunti now possessing their sacred and celestial forms of old.
वैशंपायन उवाच ततो व्यासः परमोदारकर्मा; शुचिर्विप्रस्तपसा तस्य राज्ञः चक्षुर्दिव्यं प्रददौ तान्स सर्वा;न्राजापश्यत्पूर्वदेहैर्यथावत्
M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said : Thereupon, that holy Brahmana, Vyasa of greatly generous deeds, gave celestial sight to that king (Drupada) by his ascetic power. Then the king saw them (the Pandavas) all possessing their former forms.
ततो दिव्यान्हेमकिरीटमालिनः; शक्रप्रख्यान्पावकादित्यवर्णान् बद्धापीडांश्चारुरूपांश्च यूनो; व्यूढोरस्कांस्तालमात्रान्ददर्श
M. N. Dutt: He saw them with celestial garlands, each of them resembling like a Indra himself, with complexion as effulgent as the fire or the sun, each adorned with every ornament, each handsome and youthful, each with broad chest and stature with a height of five cubits.
दिव्यैर्वस्त्रैररजोभिः सुवर्णै;र्माल्यैश्चाग्र्यैः शोभमानानतीव साक्षात्त्र्यक्षान्वसवो वाथ दिव्या;नादित्यान्वा सर्वगुणोपपन्नान् तान्पूर्वेन्द्रानेवमीक्ष्याभिरूपा;न्प्रीतो राजा द्रुपदो विस्मितश्च
AI Translation: Adorned with divine garments, spotless, golden, and with the best of garlands, The Vasus, or the divine Adityas, or the Rudras, all endowed with every virtue,
Supplementary Passages:
1.189.38 After 38e, N ins.: *1921 शक्रात्मजं चेन्द्ररूपं निशम्य
दिव्यां मायां तामवाप्याप्रमेयां; तां चैवाग्र्यां श्रियमिव रूपिणीं च योग्यां तेषां रूपतेजोयशोभिः; पत्नीमृद्धां दृष्टवान्पार्थिवेन्द्रः
AI Translation: Having obtained that divine, immeasurable magic, and that supreme glory, as it were, embodied, The lord of the earth saw that wife, endowed with beauty, splendor, and fame, and prosperous
Supplementary Passages:
1.189.39 After 39ab, N ins.: *1922 दिव्यां साक्षात्सोमवह्निप्रकाशां
स तद्दृष्ट्वा महदाश्चर्यरूपं; जग्राह पादौ सत्यवत्याः सुतस्य नैतच्चित्रं परमर्षे त्वयीति; प्रसन्नचेताः स उवाच चैनम्
M. N. Dutt: Seeing that wonderful sight, he touched the feet of the son of Satyavati, (Vyasa) and said, “O great Rishi, there is nothing wonderful in you."
व्यास उवाच आसीत्तपोवने काचिदृषेः कन्या महात्मनः नाध्यगच्छत्पतिं सा तु कन्या रूपवती सती
M. N. Dutt: Vyasa said : There was in a certain wood a daughter of an illustrious Rishi, who though handsome and chaste, did not get a husband,
तोषयामास तपसा सा किलोग्रेण शंकरम् तामुवाचेश्वरः प्रीतो वृणु काममिति स्वयम्
M. N. Dutt: She gratified by her asceticism the deity Shankara (Shiva). The deity being pleased with her, himself thus spoke to her “Tell me what you want."
सैवमुक्ताब्रवीत्कन्या देवं वरदमीश्वरम् पतिं सर्वगुणोपेतमिच्छामीति पुनः पुनः
M. N. Dutt: Having been thus addressed, she repeatedly said to the boon-giving supreme lord, "I desire to have a husband endued with all accomplishments."
ददौ तस्यै स देवेशस्तं वरं प्रीतिमांस्तदा पञ्च ते पतयः श्रेष्ठा भविष्यन्तीति शंकरः
M. N. Dutt: That deity Shankara gave her the boon in joyful heart (saying), "O amiable girl, you shall have five husbands."
सा प्रसादयती देवमिदं भूयोऽभ्यभाषत एकं पतिं गुणोपेतं त्वत्तोऽर्हामीति वै तदा तां देवदेवः प्रीतात्मा पुनः प्राह शुभं वचः
M. N. Dutt: She who had been able to please the deity said again, “O Shankara, I desire to have from you only one husband endued with all accomplishments."
पञ्चकृत्वस्त्वया उक्तः पतिं देहीत्यहं पुनः तत्तथा भविता भद्रे तव तद्भद्रमस्तु ते देहमन्यं गतायास्ते यथोक्तं तद्भविष्यति
AI Translation: You have asked me five times to give you a husband. "Let it be so, O good one! May it be well with you." "When you have gone to another body, it will be as you have said."
द्रुपदैषा हि सा जज्ञे सुता ते देवरूपिणी पञ्चानां विहिता पत्नी कृष्णा पार्षत्यनिन्दिता
M. N. Dutt: This your daughter of celestial beauty is that maiden. The faultless Krishna of the Prishata race had been pre-ordained to be the wife of five (men).
स्वर्गश्रीः पाण्डवार्थाय समुत्पन्ना महामखे सेह तप्त्वा तपो घोरं दुहितृत्वं तवागता
M. N. Dutt: The celestial Lakshmi has risen in the great sacrifice to be the wife of the Pandavas. After serve penances she is born as your daughter.
सैषा देवी रुचिरा देवजुष्टा; पञ्चानामेका स्वकृतेन कर्मणा सृष्टा स्वयं देवपत्नी स्वयम्भुवा; श्रुत्वा राजन्द्रुपदेष्टं कुरुष्व
M. N. Dutt: O king, that handsome goddess, who is waited upon by all the celestials, becomes the wife of five husbands. She has been created by the self-created (Brahma) for this purpose. Hearing all this, do what you desire.