Critical Edition
भीष्म उवाच वृत्रस्य तु महाराज ज्वराविष्टस्य सर्वशः अभवन्यानि लिङ्गानि शरीरे तानि मे शृणु
M. N. Dutt: Bhishma said-Hear me, O king, I describe the symptoms that appeared on the body of Vritra when he was possessed by that fever.
ज्वलितास्योऽभवद्घोरो वैवर्ण्यं चागमत्परम् गात्रकम्पश्च सुमहाञ्श्वासश्चाप्यभवन्महान् रोमहर्षश्च तीव्रोऽभून्निःश्वासश्च महान्नृप
M. N. Dutt: The heroic Asura's mouth began to send out flames of fire. He became greatly pale. His body began to tremble all over. His breath became hard.
शिवा चाशिवसंकाशा तस्य वक्त्रात्सुदारुणा निष्पपात महाघोरा स्मृतिः सा तस्य भारत उल्काश्च ज्वलितास्तस्य दीप्ताः पार्श्वे प्रपेदिरे
M. N. Dutt: His hairs stood erect. His breath was very hard. His memory, O Bharata, went out of his mouth in the shape of a dreadful, and inauspicious jackal. Burning and blazing meteors dropped on his right and left.
गृध्रकङ्कवडाश्चैव वाचोऽमुञ्चन्सुदारुणाः वृत्रस्योपरि संहृष्टाश्चक्रवत्परिबभ्रमुः
M. N. Dutt: Vultures, Kankas, and cranes yelled fierce cries, as they moved over Vritra's head.
ततस्तं रथमास्थाय देवाप्यायितमाहवे वज्रोद्यतकरः शक्रस्तं दैत्यं प्रत्यवैक्षत
M. N. Dutt: Then, in that battle, Indra, worshipped of the gods, and armed with the thunderbolt, looked hard at the demon as the latter sat on his car.
अमानुषमथो नादं स मुमोच महासुरः व्यजृम्भत च राजेन्द्र तीव्रज्वरसमन्वितः अथास्य जृम्भतः शक्रस्ततो वज्रमवासृजत्
M. N. Dutt: Possessed by that dreadful fever, the powerful Asura, O king, yawned and uttered inhuman cries.
स वज्रः सुमहातेजाः कालाग्निसदृशोपमः क्षिप्रमेव महाकायं वृत्रं दैत्यमपातयत्
M. N. Dutt: While the Asura was yawning, Indra discharged his thunderbolt at him. Endued with great enrgy and resembling the fire that destroys the creation at the end of the cycle, that thunderbolt overthrew in a moment Vritra of gigantic form.
ततो नादः समभवत्पुनरेव समन्ततः वृत्रं विनिहतं दृष्ट्वा देवानां भरतर्षभ
M. N. Dutt: The gods on all sides cried aloud when they saw Vritra killed, O foremost of Bharata's race.
वृत्रं तु हत्वा भगवान्दानवारिर्महायशाः वज्रेण विष्णुयुक्तेन दिवमेव समाविशत्
M. N. Dutt: Having killed Vritra, Mghavat, that enemy of the Danavas, of great entered heaven with that thunderbolt pervaded by Vishnu,
अथ वृत्रस्य कौरव्य शरीरादभिनिःसृता ब्रह्महत्या महाघोरा रौद्रा लोकभयावहा
M. N. Dutt: Just then, O you of Kuru's family, the sin of Brahmanicide, fierce and dreadful and striking all the worlds with fear, came out of the person of the killed Vritra.
करालदशना भीमा विकृता कृष्णपिङ्गला प्रकीर्णमूर्धजा चैव घोरनेत्रा च भारत
AI Translation: With terrible teeth, terrible, distorted, dark and tawny, With dishevelled hair, and with terrible eyes, O descendant of Bharata.
कपालमालिनी चैव कृशा च भरतर्षभ रुधिरार्द्रा च धर्मज्ञ चीरवस्त्रनिवासिनी
AI Translation: O best of the Bharata lineage, she wears a garland of skulls, is emaciated, and is clad in a garment of bark cloth, O knower of Dharma, her body is wet with
साभिनिष्क्रम्य राजेन्द्र तादृग्रूपा भयावहा वज्रिणं मृगयामास तदा भरतसत्तम
AI Translation: Having gone out, O lord of kings, in that form, terrifying, she sought the wielder of the vajra, O best of the Bharatas.
कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य वृत्रहा कुरुनन्दन स्वर्गायाभिमुखः प्रायाल्लोकानां हितकाम्यया
M. N. Dutt: A little while after, O you of Kuru's race, the killer of Vritra, for the behoof of the three worlds, was proceeding towards heaven.
बिसान्निःसरमाणं तु दृष्ट्वा शक्रं महौजसम् कण्ठे जग्राह देवेन्द्रं सुलग्ना चाभवत्तदा
M. N. Dutt: Seeing Indra of great energy thus proceeding on his mission, she caught the king of the gods and from that moment stuck to him.
स हि तस्मिन्समुत्पन्ने ब्रह्महत्याकृते भये नलिन्यां बिसमध्यस्थो बभूवाब्दगणान्बहून्
M. N. Dutt: When the sin of Brahmanicide thus stuck to his body and filled him with terror, Indra entered the fibres of a lotus-stalk and lived there for many years.
अनुसृत्य तु यत्नात्स तया वै ब्रह्महत्यया तदा गृहीतः कौरव्य निश्चेष्टः समपद्यत
M. N. Dutt: But the sin of Brahmanicide followed him closely. Indeed, O son of Kuru, seized by her, Indra became shorn of all his energies.
तस्या व्यपोहने शक्रः परं यत्नं चकार ह न चाशकत्तां देवेन्द्रो ब्रह्महत्यां व्यपोहितुम्
M. N. Dutt: He tried much for driving her from him, but all those attempts proved useless,
गृहीत एव तु तया देवेन्द्रो भरतर्षभ पितामहमुपागम्य शिरसा प्रत्यपूजयत्
M. N. Dutt: Seized by her, O foremost of Bharata's race, the king of the gods at last presented himself before the Grandfather and adored him by bending low his head.
ज्ञात्वा गृहीतं शक्रं तु द्विजप्रवरहत्यया ब्रह्मा संचिन्तयामास तदा भरतसत्तम
M. N. Dutt: Knowing that Indra was possessed by the sin of Brahmanicide, Brahman began to think, 0 best of the Bharatas, (of the measures for freeing him).
तामुवाच महाबाहो ब्रह्महत्यां पितामहः स्वरेण मधुरेणाथ सान्त्वयन्निव भारत
AI Translation: The grandfather spoke to her in a sweet voice, as if consoling her, O descendant of Bharata.
मुच्यतां त्रिदशेन्द्रोऽयं मत्प्रियं कुरु भामिनि ब्रूहि किं ते करोम्यद्य कामं कं त्वमिहेच्छसि
AI Translation: Release this lord of the gods, O beautiful one, do what pleases me. Tell me, what shall I do for you today? What desire do you have here?
ब्रह्महत्योवाच त्रिलोकपूजिते देवे प्रीते त्रैलोक्यकर्तरि कृतमेवेह मन्येऽहं निवासं तु विधत्स्व मे
M. N. Dutt: Brahmanicide said When the Creator of the three worlds, when the illustrious god worshipped of the universe, has been pleased with me, I consider my wishes as already fulfilled. Let my residence be now fixed.
त्वया कृतेयं मर्यादा लोकसंरक्षणार्थिना स्थापना वै सुमहती त्वया देव प्रवर्तिता
M. N. Dutt: Desirous of preserving the worlds, this rule has been laid down by you. It was you, O lord, who had introduced this important rule.
प्रीते तु त्वयि धर्मज्ञ सर्वलोकेश्वरे प्रभो शक्रादपगमिष्यामि निवासं तु विधत्स्व मे
M. N. Dutt: As you have been pleased with me, O righteous Lord, O powerful Master of all the worlds, I shall surely leave Shakra! But grant me an abode to live in.
भीष्म उवाच तथेति तां प्राह तदा ब्रह्महत्यां पितामहः उपायतः स शक्रस्य ब्रह्महत्यां व्यपोहत
M. N. Dutt: Bhishma said. The Grandfather replied to Brahmanicide, saying,-So be it! Indeed, the Grandfather found out means for removing Brahmanicide from the body of Indra.
ततः स्वयंभुवा ध्यातस्तत्र वह्निर्महात्मना ब्रह्माणमुपसंगम्य ततो वचनमब्रवीत्
AI Translation: Then the Self-existent One, the great soul, meditated on the fire there. Approaching Brahma, he spoke these words:
प्राप्तोऽस्मि भगवन्देव त्वत्सकाशमरिंदम यत्कर्तव्यं मया देव तद्भवान्वक्तुमर्हति
AI Translation: O Lord, O God, I have come to you, O destroyer of enemies. O Lord, it is proper for you to tell me what I should do.
ब्रह्मोवाच बहुधा विभजिष्यामि ब्रह्महत्यामिमामहम् शक्रस्याद्य विमोक्षार्थं चतुर्भागं प्रतीच्छ मे
M. N. Dutt: Bhishma said I shall divide this sin of Brahmanicide into several parts. For freeing Shakra from her, do you take a fourth portion of that sin.
अग्निरुवाच मम मोक्षस्य कोऽन्तो वै ब्रह्मन्ध्यायस्व वै प्रभो एतदिच्छामि विज्ञातुं तत्त्वतो लोकपूजित
M. N. Dutt: How shall I be saved from her, O Brahman? O powerful Lord, do you appoint the way. I wish to know the means fully, O worshipped of all the worlds.
ब्रह्मोवाच यस्त्वां ज्वलन्तमासाद्य स्वयं वै मानवः क्वचित् बीजौषधिरसैर्वह्ने न यक्ष्यति तमोवृतः
AI Translation: Brahma said: If a man, having approached you who are blazing, will not worship you, covered in darkness, with seeds, herbs, and juices,
तमेषा यास्यति क्षिप्रं तत्रैव च निवत्स्यति ब्रह्महत्या हव्यवाह व्येतु ते मानसो ज्वरः
AI Translation: She will go to him and will live there. O bearer of oblations, let the mental fever of yours due to the killing of a brahmin go away.
भीष्म उवाच इत्युक्तः प्रतिजग्राह तद्वचो हव्यकव्यभुक् पितामहस्य भगवांस्तथा च तदभूत्प्रभो
M. N. Dutt: Bhishma said Thus addressed by the Grandfather, the eater of oblations and sacrificial offerings accepted his order. A fourth of that sin then entered his body, O king.
ततो वृक्षौषधितृणं समाहूय पितामहः इममर्थं महाराज वक्तुं समुपचक्रमे
M. N. Dutt: The Grandfather then summoned the tree, the herbs, and all sorts of grass to him, and begged them to take upon themselves a fourth of that sin.
Supplementary Passages:
12.273.34 After 34, T G1.3 Kumbh. ed. ins. (=12.273.49): *731 इयं वृत्रादनुप्राप्ता ब्रह्महत्या महाभया पुरुहूतं चतुर्थांशमस्या यूयं प्रतीच्छत
ततो वृक्षौषधितृणं तथैवोक्तं यथातथम् व्यथितं वह्निवद्राजन्ब्रह्माणमिदमब्रवीत्
AI Translation: Then the trees, herbs, and grass, as they had been told, afflicted, like fire, O king, said this to Brahma:
अस्माकं ब्रह्महत्यातो कोऽन्तो लोकपितामह स्वभावनिहतानस्मान्न पुनर्हन्तुमर्हसि
AI Translation: O grandfather of the worlds, what is the end of our sin of killing a brahmin? You should not kill us again, who have been killed by our own nature.
वयमग्निं तथा शीतं वर्षं च पवनेरितम् सहामः सततं देव तथा छेदनभेदनम्
M. N. Dutt: O god, we have always to bear heat and cold and the showers driven by the winds, besides the cutting and tearing.
ब्रह्महत्यामिमामद्य भवतः शासनाद्वयम् ग्रहीष्यामस्त्रिलोकेश मोक्षं चिन्तयतां भवान्
M. N. Dutt: We are willing, O lord of the three worlds, to take at your order this sin of Brahmancide. May you point out the means of our rescue.
ब्रह्मोवाच पर्वकाले तु संप्राप्ते यो वै छेदनभेदनम् करिष्यति नरो मोहात्तमेषानुगमिष्यति
M. N. Dutt: This sin that you shall take, shall assail the man who through stupefaction of judgement will cut or tear any of you on a full-moon day.
भीष्म उवाच ततो वृक्षौषधितृणमेवमुक्तं महात्मना ब्रह्माणमभिसंपूज्य जगामाशु यथागतम्
M. N. Dutt: Thus addressed by the great Brahman, the trees, herbs and grasses worshipped the Creator and then went away without waiting there.
आहूयाप्सरसो देवस्ततो लोकपितामहः वाचा मधुरया प्राह सान्त्वयन्निव भारत
AI Translation: Having summoned the apsarases, the god, the grandfather of the worlds, spoke in a sweet voice, as if consoling, O descendant of Bharata.
इयमिन्द्रादनुप्राप्ता ब्रह्महत्या वराङ्गनाः चतुर्थमस्या भागं हि मयोक्ताः संप्रतीच्छत
AI Translation: This Brahmahatya, O fair ladies, has come down from Indra. Take the fourth part of her, which I have just told you.
अप्सरस ऊचुः ग्रहणे कृतबुद्धीनां देवेश तव शासनात् मोक्षं समयतोऽस्माकं चिन्तयस्व पितामह
M. N. Dutt: The Apsaras said O Lord of all the gods, at your command We are fully willing to take a portion of this sin. But, O Grandfather our compact is that you do think of the means by which we ourselves may be rescued from this.
ब्रह्मोवाच रजस्वलासु नारीषु यो वै मैथुनमाचरेत् तमेषा यास्यति क्षिप्रं व्येतु वो मानसो ज्वरः
M. N. Dutt: Brahman said Let the fever of your hearts be removed. The portion of this sin that you will take upon yourselves shall leave you and immediately possess that men who will seek cohabitation with women in their menses.
भीष्म उवाच तथेति हृष्टमनस उक्त्वाथाप्सरसां गणाः स्वानि स्थानानि संप्राप्य रेमिरे भरतर्षभ
M. N. Dutt: Bhishma said Thus addressed by the Grandfather, O foremost of Bharata's race, the various clans of the Apsaras, with delighted hearts repaired to their respective places and began to sport in joy.
ततस्त्रिलोककृद्देवः पुनरेव महातपाः अपः संचिन्तयामास ध्यातास्ताश्चाप्यथागमन्
M. N. Dutt: The illustrious Creator of the three worlds, gifted with great ascetic merit, then thought of the Waters which immediately came to him.
तास्तु सर्वाः समागम्य ब्रह्माणममितौजसम् इदमूचुर्वचो राजन्प्रणिपत्य पितामहम्
AI Translation: All of them, having assembled, spoke these words to the infinitely energetic Brahma, O king, having bowed to the grandfather.
इमाः स्म देव संप्राप्तास्त्वत्सकाशमरिंदम शासनात्तव देवेश समाज्ञापय नो विभो
AI Translation: We have come to you, O Lord, O destroyer of enemies, By your command, O Lord of the gods, O Lord, please instruct us.
ब्रह्मोवाच इयं वृत्रादनुप्राप्ता पुरुहूतं महाभया ब्रह्महत्या चतुर्थांशमस्या यूयं प्रतीच्छत
M. N. Dutt: Brahman said-This dreadful sin has possessed Indra on account of his having killed Vritra. Take you a fourth part of Brahmanicide.
आप ऊचुः एवं भवतु लोकेश यथा वदसि नः प्रभो मोक्षं समयतोऽस्माकं संचिन्तयितुमर्हसि
M. N. Dutt: The Waters said Let it be as you order, O master of all the worlds. You should, however, O powerful Lord of ours, concert the means by which we may be rescued from this.
त्वं हि देवेश सर्वस्य जगतः परमो गुरुः कोऽन्यः प्रसादो हि भवेद्यः कृच्छ्रान्नः समुद्धरेत्
M. N. Dutt: You are the Lord of all the gods, and the supreme refuge of the universe. Who else is there whom we may worship so that he may save us from distress.
ब्रह्मोवाच अल्पा इति मतिं कृत्वा यो नरो बुद्धिमोहितः श्लेष्ममूत्रपुरीषाणि युष्मासु प्रतिमोक्ष्यति
AI Translation: Brahma said: A person who, being deluded by intelligence, thinks that they are few, will release feces, urine, and mucus on you.
तमेषा यास्यति क्षिप्रं तत्रैव च निवत्स्यति तथा वो भविता मोक्ष इति सत्यं ब्रवीमि वः
AI Translation: She will go to him and will live there. Thus will you have liberation. I am telling you the truth.
भीष्म उवाच ततो विमुच्य देवेन्द्रं ब्रह्महत्या युधिष्ठिर यथानिसृष्टं तं देशमगच्छद्देवशासनात्
M. N. Dutt: Bhishma said Then, leaving the king of the deities, the sin of Brahmanicide, O Yudhishthira, proceeded to the abodes that were settled for her at the Grandfather's behest.
एवं शक्रेण संप्राप्ता ब्रह्महत्या जनाधिप पितामहमनुज्ञाप्य सोऽश्वमेधमकल्पयत्
M. N. Dutt: It was thus, O king, that Indra had become attacked by that dreadful sin. With the Grandfather's permission Indra then resolved to celebrate a Horse-sacrifice.
श्रूयते हि महाराज संप्राप्ता वासवेन वै ब्रह्महत्या ततः शुद्धिं हयमेधेन लब्धवान्
M. N. Dutt: O king! It is listen to that Indra have got relieved from the sin of Brahmanicide by celebrating a Horse-sacrifice.
समवाप्य श्रियं देवो हत्वारींश्च सहस्रशः प्रहर्षमतुलं लेभे वासवः पृथिवीपते
M. N. Dutt: Regaining his prosperity and killing thousands of enemies, that Vasava acquired great joy, O lord of Earth.
वृत्रस्य रुधिराच्चैव खुखुण्डाः पार्थ जज्ञिरे द्विजातिभिरभक्ष्यास्ते दीक्षितैश्च तपोधनैः
M. N. Dutt: From the blood of Vritra, O son of Pritha, were born high-crested cocks. Therefore, those fowls are unclean (as food) for the twice-born ones, and those ascetics that have undergone the rite of initiation.
सर्वावस्थं त्वमप्येषां द्विजातीनां प्रियं कुरु इमे हि भूतले देवाः प्रथिताः कुरुनन्दन
M. N. Dutt: Under all circumstances, O king, do you encompass what is agreeable to the twice-born, for these, O king, are known as gods on Earth.
एवं शक्रेण कौरव्य बुद्धिसौक्ष्म्यान्महासुरः उपायपूर्वं निहतो वृत्रोऽथामिततेजसा
M. N. Dutt: It was thus, O Kuru chief, that the powerful Asura Vritra was killed by Shakra of great energy by the help of subtle intelligence and through the application of means. son
एवं त्वमपि कौरव्य पृथिव्यामपराजितः भविष्यसि यथा देवः शतक्रतुरमित्रहा
M. N. Dutt: You will, also, O of Kunti, unvanquished on Earth, become another Indra and the killer of all your enemies.
ये तु शक्रकथां दिव्यामिमां पर्वसु पर्वसु विप्रमध्ये पठिष्यन्ति न ते प्राप्स्यन्ति किल्बिषम्
M. N. Dutt: Those men who, on every Parva day, will recite this sacred narrative of Vritra in the midst of Brahmanas shall never be sullied by any sin.
इत्येतद्वृत्रमाश्रित्य शक्रस्यात्यद्भुतं महत् कथितं कर्म ते तात किं भूयः श्रोतुमिच्छसि
M. N. Dutt: I have now recited to you one of the greatest and most wonderful feats of Indra about Vritra, What else do you wish to hear."