Critical Edition
जनमेजय उवाच किमर्थं शार्ङ्गकानग्निर्न ददाह तथागते तस्मिन्वने दह्यमाने ब्रह्मन्नेतद्वदाशु मे
M. N. Dutt: Janamejaya said : O Brahmana, tell me why Agni did not consume the Sharangakas when that forest was being burnt?
अदाहे ह्यश्वसेनस्य दानवस्य मयस्य च कारणं कीर्तितं ब्रह्मञ्शार्ङ्गकानां न कीर्तितम्
M. N. Dutt: O Brahmana, you have narrated the cause of Ashvasena and Danava Maya having been not burnt, but you have not narrated the cause of the Sharangakas having been not burnt.
तदेतदद्भुतं ब्रह्मञ्शार्ङ्गानामविनाशनम् कीर्तयस्वाग्निसंमर्दे कथं ते न विनाशिताः
M. N. Dutt: O Brahmana, the escape of the Sharanagakas seems to be wonderful. Tell us why they were not destroyed by Agni in the great conflagration.
वैशंपायन उवाच यदर्थं शार्ङ्गकानग्निर्न ददाह तथागते तत्ते सर्वं यथावृत्तं कथयिष्यामि भारत
M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said: O chastiser of foes, I shall tell you all about the reason for which Agni did not consume the Sharangakas in that conflagration.
Supplementary Passages:
1.220.4 After 4ab, K2 ins.: *2139 तस्मिन्वने दह्यमाने सर्वभूतभयंकरः
धर्मज्ञानां मुख्यतमस्तपस्वी संशितव्रतः आसीन्महर्षिः श्रुतवान्मन्दपाल इति श्रुतः
M. N. Dutt: O king, there was a great Rishi, the foremost of all virtuous men, known by the name of Mandapala. He was learned in all the Shastras and devoted to asceticism and rigid VOWS.
स मार्गमास्थितो राजन्नृषीणामूर्ध्वरेतसाम् स्वाध्यायवान्धर्मरतस्तपस्वी विजितेन्द्रियः
M. N. Dutt: O king, following the footsteps of those Rishis who had brought their passion under complete control, he devoted himself to study and virtue and he became a victor over all his senses.
स गत्वा तपसः पारं देहमुत्सृज्य भारत जगाम पितृलोकाय न लेभे तत्र तत्फलम्
M. N. Dutt: O descendant of Bharata, having reached the opposite shore of asceticism (gaining success in asceticism), he gave up his human body and went to the region of the Pitris. But he did not get there the fruits (of his virtuous actions).
स लोकानफलान्दृष्ट्वा तपसा निर्जितानपि पप्रच्छ धर्मराजस्य समीपस्थान्दिवौकसः
M. N. Dutt: He asked the dwellers of heaven (celestial) sitting round Dharmaraja (the king of the dead) what was the cause of his not getting the fruits of his severe asceticism.
किमर्थमावृता लोका ममैते तपसार्जिताः किं मया न कृतं तत्र यस्येदं कर्मणः फलम्
M. N. Dutt: Mandapala said : Why have these regions become unattainable by me? I thought they have been acquired by me by my asceticism. What have I not done, the fruits of which are these regions?
तत्राहं तत्करिष्यामि यदर्थमिदमावृतम् फलमेतस्य तपसः कथयध्वं दिवौकसः
M. N. Dutt: O dwellers of heaven, tell me why these regions are shut against me. I will do that which will give me the fruit of my asceticism.
Supplementary Passages:
1.220.10 After 10ab, T1 ins.: *2140 आप्नोमि सफलाँल्लोकांस्तत्कर्म ब्रूत माचिरम्
देवा ऊचुः ऋणिनो मानवा ब्रह्मञ्जायन्ते येन तच्छृणु क्रियाभिर्ब्रह्मचर्येण प्रजया च न संशयः
AI Translation: The gods said: O Brahman, listen to the reason why men are born in debt. There is no doubt that it is by means of rites, celibacy, and offspring.
तदपाक्रियते सर्वं यज्ञेन तपसा सुतैः तपस्वी यज्ञकृच्चासि न तु ते विद्यते प्रजा
AI Translation: All that is removed by sacrifice, austerities, and offspring. You are an ascetic and a performer of sacrifices, but you do not have offspring.
त इमे प्रसवस्यार्थे तव लोकाः समावृताः प्रजायस्व ततो लोकानुपभोक्तासि शाश्वतान्
M. N. Dutt: These regions are shut against you, because you have no offspring. Therefore, beget off spring you will then enjoy various regions of felicity.
पुन्नाम्नो नरकात्पुत्रस्त्रातीति पितरं मुने तस्मादपत्यसंताने यतस्व द्विजसत्तम
M. N. Dutt: It is said in Smriti, that the son rescues the father from the hell, called Put, O best of Brahmanas, therefore, try to be get children.
वैशंपायन उवाच तच्छ्रुत्वा मन्दपालस्तु तेषां वाक्यं दिवौकसाम् क्व नु शीघ्रमपत्यं स्याद्बहुलं चेत्यचिन्तयत्
M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said : Having heard these words of the dwellers of heaven, Mandapala thought how he could obtain the largest number offspring within the shortest period of time.
स चिन्तयन्नभ्यगच्छद्बहुलप्रसवान्खगान् शार्ङ्गिकां शार्ङ्गको भूत्वा जरितां समुपेयिवान्
M. N. Dutt: After reflection, he came to the conclusion that the birds alone have the greatest power of fecundity. Becoming a Sharanagaka, he had connection, with a female Sharangaka, named Jarita.
तस्यां पुत्रानजनयच्चतुरो ब्रह्मवादिनः तानपास्य स तत्रैव जगाम लपितां प्रति बालान्सुतानण्डगतान्मात्रा सह मुनिर्वने
M. N. Dutt: He begot on her four sons who were all utterers of the Vedas. Leaving these sons with their mother in the forest while they were still within the eggs, he went to Lapita.
तस्मिन्गते महाभागे लपितां प्रति भारत अपत्यस्नेहसंविग्ना जरिता बह्वचिन्तयत्
M. N. Dutt: O descendant of Bharata, when the illustrious Rishi went away to Lapita. Jarita, filled with affection for her offspring, became very thoughtful.
तेन त्यक्तानसंत्याज्यानृषीनण्डगतान्वने नाजहत्पुत्रकानार्ता जरिता खाण्डवे नृप बभार चैतान्संजातान्स्ववृत्त्या स्नेहविक्लवा
M. N. Dutt: Though forsaken by their father in that forest.of Khandava, Jarita, out of her affection for her children, could not forsake her of offspring, those infant Rishis still living within the eggs. She brought up those children, her self following the pursuit proper to her own species.
ततोऽग्निं खाण्डवं दग्धुमायान्तं दृष्टवानृषिः मन्दपालश्चरंस्तस्मिन्वने लपितया सह
M. N. Dutt: Sometime after, the Rishi Mandapala, while wandering in the forest with Lapita, saw Agni coming towards the Khandava to burn it.
तं संकल्पं विदित्वास्य ज्ञात्वा पुत्रांश्च बालकान् सोऽभितुष्टाव विप्रर्षिर्ब्राह्मणो जातवेदसम् पुत्रान्परिददद्भीतो लोकपालं महौजसम्
M. N. Dutt: Knowing the intention of Agni and remembering also that his children were all young, moved by fear, he gratified Agni, the greatly effulgent regent of the universe. He did it, wishing to say a word for his unfledged offspring.
Supplementary Passages:
1.220.21 T3 G2-5 subst. for 21cdef: G6 ins. after 21ab: *2141 महर्षिर्मन्दपालोऽसौ वधात्स्तोतुं प्रचक्रमे
मन्दपाल उवाच त्वमग्ने सर्वदेवानां मुखं त्वमसि हव्यवाट् त्वमन्तः सर्वभूतानां गूढश्चरसि पावक
AI Translation: Mandapala said: O Agni, you are the face of all the gods, you are the receptacle of oblations. O fire, you move hidden within all beings.
त्वामेकमाहुः कवयस्त्वामाहुस्त्रिविधं पुनः त्वामष्टधा कल्पयित्वा यज्ञवाहमकल्पयन्
AI Translation: The sages call you one, and again they call you threefold. Having divided you into eight, they created the sacrificial animal.
त्वया सृष्टमिदं विश्वं वदन्ति परमर्षयः त्वदृते हि जगत्कृत्स्नं सद्यो न स्याद्धुताशन
AI Translation: The great sages say that this universe has been created by you. Without you, the entire world would immediately cease to exist, O Fire.
तुभ्यं कृत्वा नमो विप्राः स्वकर्मविजितां गतिम् गच्छन्ति सह पत्नीभिः सुतैरपि च शाश्वतीम्
AI Translation: Having bowed to you, O Brāhmaṇas, they attain the state conquered by their own deeds, And go with their wives and sons to the eternal state.
त्वामग्ने जलदानाहुः खे विषक्तान्सविद्युतः दहन्ति सर्वभूतानि त्वत्तो निष्क्रम्य हायनाः
AI Translation: O Agni, they call you the cloud-giver, the lightning-struck in the sky, The destroyers of all beings, emerging from you, the destroyers.
जातवेदस्तवैवेयं विश्वसृष्टिर्महाद्युते तवैव कर्म विहितं भूतं सर्वं चराचरम्
AI Translation: O Jātavedas, this is the creation of the universe, O you of great splendor. All that exists, the moving and the unmoving, is your own creation.
त्वयापो विहिताः पूर्वं त्वयि सर्वमिदं जगत् त्वयि हव्यं च कव्यं च यथावत्संप्रतिष्ठितम्
AI Translation: You have created the waters, in you is this entire world, in you is the oblation and the offering properly established.
अग्ने त्वमेव ज्वलनस्त्वं धाता त्वं बृहस्पतिः त्वमश्विनौ यमौ मित्रः सोमस्त्वमसि चानिलः
M. N. Dutt: O deity, you are the consumer, you are the creator, you are Brihaspati himself. You are Surya, you are Soma and you are Vayu.
Supplementary Passages:
1.220.29 After 29, K0.3.4 D4 (marg. sec. m.).5 ins.: *2142 ब्रह्मा भवान्समुत्तस्थौ स्थितिहेतुर्जनार्दनः प्रलये चैव कालाग्नी रुद्ररूपी विभावसुः जरायुणावृतं गर्भं पासि देव जगत्पते त्वमात्मा जगतः स्तुत्यो देवदेव नमोऽस्तु ते T1, on the other hand, ins. after 29: *2143 मम पुत्रांश्च पौत्रांश्च पत्नीं रक्ष हुताशन गृहं क्षेत्रं पशून्रक्ष रक्ष मां सर्व सर्वदा
वैशंपायन उवाच एवं स्तुतस्ततस्तेन मन्दपालेन पावकः तुतोष तस्य नृपते मुनेरमिततेजसः उवाच चैनं प्रीतात्मा किमिष्टं करवाणि ते
M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said : O king, thus praised by Mandapala, Agni was much pleased with the immeasurably effulgent Rishi. He thus spoke to him with a delightful heart,” what good can I do to you?”
तमब्रवीन्मन्दपालः प्राञ्जलिर्हव्यवाहनम् प्रदहन्खाण्डवं दावं मम पुत्रान्विसर्जय
M. N. Dutt: Thereupon Mandapala with joined hands said to the carrier of sacrificial ghee fire, "When you will burn the Khandava, spare my sons."
Supplementary Passages:
1.220.31 After 31, T1 ins. (cf. 2143*): *2144 भार्यां रक्ष गृहं रक्ष पशुं मे रक्ष सर्वदा पतन्तु हेतयः सर्वे स्वन्यदस्मत्तवाभिभो सर्वत्र सर्वदास्माकं शिवो भव हुताशन
तथेति तत्प्रतिश्रुत्य भगवान्हव्यवाहनः खाण्डवे तेन कालेन प्रजज्वाल दिधक्षया
M. N. Dutt: The illustrious carrier of the sacrificial ghee Agni promised it by saying "Be it so.” And then at that very movement he blazed up with the intention of burning the Khandava.