Critical Edition
युधिष्ठिर उवाच पितामह महाप्राज्ञ सर्वशास्त्रविशारद अस्ति वृत्रवधादेव विवक्षा मम जायते
M. N. Dutt: Yudhishthira said O grandfather you are endued with great wisdom and thoroughly grounded in every branch of learning. From this very narrative of the destruction of Vritra the wish has arisen in my mind of asking you a question.
ज्वरेण मोहितो वृत्रः कथितस्ते जनाधिप निहतो वासवेनेह वज्रेणेति ममानघ
M. N. Dutt: You have said, O king, that Vritra was Stupefied by Fever, and that then, O sinless one, he was killed by Vasava with the thunderboli.
कथमेष महाप्राज्ञ ज्वरः प्रादुरभूत्कुतः ज्वरोत्पत्तिं निपुणतः श्रोतुमिच्छाम्यहं प्रभो
M. N. Dutt: How did this Fever, O you of great wisdom, originale, O lord, I wish to hear fully of the origin of Fever,
भीष्म उवाच शृणु राजञ्ज्वरस्येह संभवं लोकविश्रुतम् विस्तरं चास्य वक्ष्यामि यादृशं चैव भारत
M. N. Dutt: Listen, O king, to the origin, known all over the world, of Fever! I shall describe fully this topic, fully explaining how Fever first came into existence, O Bharata.
पुरा मेरोर्महाराज शृङ्गं त्रैलोक्यविश्रुतम् ज्योतिष्कं नाम सावित्रं सर्वरत्नविभूषितम् अप्रमेयमनाधृष्यं सर्वलोकेषु भारत
M. N. Dutt: In days of yore, O king, there was a summit, named Savitri, of the mountains of Meru. Adored of all the worlds, it was endued with great effulgence and adorned with every sort of jewels and gems.
Supplementary Passages:
12.274.5 After 5, T1 G3 ins.: *732 ख्यातमासीत्स्वतेजोभिरावार्यार्कप्रभं स्थितम्
तत्र देवो गिरितटे हेमधातुविभूषिते पर्यङ्क इव विभ्राजन्नुपविष्टो बभूव ह
AI Translation: There, the god, adorned with gold and minerals on the mountain slope, Sat down shining like a couch.
शैलराजसुता चास्य नित्यं पार्श्वे स्थिता बभौ तथा देवा महात्मानो वसवश्च महौजसः
AI Translation: And the daughter of the king of mountains stood by his side, always shining. And the great-souled gods and the Vasus of great prowess,
तथैव च महात्मानावश्विनौ भिषजां वरौ तथा वैश्रवणो राजा गुह्यकैरभिसंवृतः
AI Translation: Similarly, the two great-souled Ashvins, the best of physicians, And King Vaishravana surrounded by the Guhyakas,
यक्षाणामधिपः श्रीमान्कैलासनिलयः प्रभुः अङ्गिरःप्रमुखाश्चैव तथा देवर्षयोऽपरे
AI Translation: The glorious lord, the lord of the Yakshas, who resides on Kailasa, And the other celestial sages, headed by Angiras,
Supplementary Passages:
12.274.9 After 9ab, T G1.3 M7 ins.: *733 शङ्खपद्मनिधी चोभौ ऋद्ध्या परमया सह T G1.3 M7 cont.: K6.7 V1 B0.6-9 Da3.a4 Dn1. n4 Ds D2-9 G2 M1.5.6 ins. after 9ab: *734 उपासन्त महात्मानमुशना च महाकविः सनत्कुमारप्रमुखास्तथैव च महर्षयः
विश्वावसुश्च गन्धर्वस्तथा नारदपर्वतौ अप्सरोगणसंघाश्च समाजग्मुरनेकशः
AI Translation: Vishvavasu, the gandharva, and Narada and Parvata, and groups of apsaras, came in great numbers.
ववौ शिवः सुखो वायुर्नानागन्धवहः शुचिः सर्वर्तुकुसुमोपेताः पुष्पवन्तो महाद्रुमाः
M. N. Dutt: A pure and auspicious air carrying various sorts of perfumes, blew there. The trees that stood there were adorned with the flowers of all seasons.
तथा विद्याधराश्चैव सिद्धाश्चैव तपोधनाः महादेवं पशुपतिं पर्युपासन्त भारत
M. N. Dutt: A large number of Vidyadharas, Siddhas and ascetics, too, O Bharata, went there for waiting upon Mahadeva, that Lord of all creatures.
भूतानि च महाराज नानारूपधराण्यथ राक्षसाश्च महारौद्राः पिशाचाश्च महाबलाः
AI Translation: The beings, O great king, have various forms. The rakshasas are very fierce, and the pishachas are very powerful.
बहुरूपधरा हृष्टा नानाप्रहरणोद्यताः देवस्यानुचरास्तत्र तस्थिरे चानलोपमाः
AI Translation: Bearing many forms, joyful, wielding various weapons, The attendants of the god stood there, resembling fire.
नन्दी च भगवांस्तत्र देवस्यानुमते स्थितः प्रगृह्य ज्वलितं शूलं दीप्यमानं स्वतेजसा
M. N. Dutt: The illustrious Nandi stood there obeying the great god, shining with his own energy and armed with a lance that resembled a flame of fire.
गङ्गा च सरितां श्रेष्ठा सर्वतीर्थजलोद्भवा पर्युपासत तं देवं रूपिणी कुरुनन्दन
M. N. Dutt: Ganga, also, that foremost of all Rivers and originating from all sacred waters in the universe, waited there in her embodied form, O son of Kuru, upon that illustrious gods.
एवं स भगवांस्तत्र पूज्यमानः सुरर्षिभिः देवैश्च सुमहाभागैर्महादेवो व्यतिष्ठत
M. N. Dutt: Thus worshipped by the celestial Rishis and the gods, the illustrious Mahadeva of great energy lived on that summit of Meru.
कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य दक्षो नाम प्रजापतिः पूर्वोक्तेन विधानेन यक्ष्यमाणोऽन्वपद्यत
M. N. Dutt: After sometime had gone away, the Prajapati Daksha began to celebrate a sacrifice according to ancient rites.
ततस्तस्य मखं देवाः सर्वे शक्रपुरोगमाः गमनाय समागम्य बुद्धिमापेदिरे तदा
M. N. Dutt: All the gods in a body headed by Sakra, resolved to repair to that sacrifice of Daksha.
ते विमानैर्महात्मानो ज्वलितैर्ज्वलनप्रभाः देवस्यानुमतेऽगच्छन्गङ्गाद्वारमिति श्रुतिः
M. N. Dutt: We have heard that the great gods ordered by Mahadeva, mounted their celestial cars resembling the fire or the Sun in sheen, and proceeded to that spot whence the Ganges is said to issue.
प्रस्थिता देवता दृष्ट्वा शैलराजसुता तदा उवाच वचनं साध्वी देवं पशुपतिं पतिम्
AI Translation: Seeing the goddess about to leave, the daughter of the king of mountains, the virtuous one spoke these words to her husband, the lord of the animals.
भगवन्क्व नु यान्त्येते देवाः शक्रपुरोगमाः ब्रूहि तत्त्वेन तत्त्वज्ञ संशयो मे महानयम्
AI Translation: O Blessed One, where do these gods led by Indra go? Please tell me the truth, O knower of truth, for I have great doubt about this.
महेश्वर उवाच दक्षो नाम महाभागे प्रजानां पतिरुत्तमः हयमेधेन यजते तत्र यान्ति दिवौकसः
M. N. Dutt: Maheshvara said 0 highly blessed lady, the excellent Prajapati Daksha is worshipping the gods in a House Sacrifice! These Dwellers of heaven are going there.
उमा उवाच यज्ञमेतं महाभाग किमर्थं नाभिगच्छसि केन वा प्रतिषेधेन गमनं ते न विद्यते
M. N. Dutt: Uma said Why, O Mahadeva do you not go to that Sacrifice? What objection is there of your going to that place?
महेश्वर उवाच सुरैरेव महाभागे सर्वमेतदनुष्ठितम् यज्ञेषु सर्वेषु मम न भाग उपकल्पितः
M. N. Dutt: O highly blessed lady, the gods in days of yore made a compact by virtue of which no share was allotted to me of offerings in all Sacrifices.
पूर्वोपायोपपन्नेन मार्गेण वरवर्णिनि न मे सुराः प्रयच्छन्ति भागं यज्ञस्य धर्मतः
M. N. Dutt: According to that arrangement, O fair one, the gods do not give me, following the old custom, any share of the sacrificial offerings!
उमा उवाच भगवन्सर्वभूतेषु प्रभवाभ्यधिको गुणैः अजेयश्चाप्रधृष्यश्च तेजसा यशसा श्रिया
M. N. Dutt: Uma said-O illustrious one, among all gods, you are the foremost in prowess. In merit, in energy, in fame, and in prosperity you are second to none, and you are, indeed superior to all.
अनेन ते महाभाग प्रतिषेधेन भागतः अतीव दुःखमुत्पन्नं वेपथुश्च ममानघ
M. N. Dutt: On account, however, of this disability regarding a share I am filled with great grief, O sinless one, and a treinour fills me from head to foot.
भीष्म उवाच एवमुक्त्वा तु सा देवी देवं पशुपतिं पतिम् तूष्णींभूताभवद्राजन्दह्यमानेन चेतसा
M. N. Dutt: Bhishma said Having said these words to her consort, the Lord of all creatures, O monarch, the goddess Parvati remained silent, her heart burning the while in grief.
अथ देव्या मतं ज्ञात्वा हृद्गतं यच्चिकीर्षितम् स समाज्ञापयामास तिष्ठ त्वमिति नन्दिनम्
M. N. Dutt: Then, understanding what was in her heart and what her thoughts were (for wiping off that disgrace), Mahadeva addressed Nandi, saying,-Wait here.
ततो योगबलं कृत्वा सर्वयोगेश्वरेश्वरः तं यज्ञं सुमहातेजा भीमैरनुचरैस्तदा सहसा घातयामास देवदेवः पिनाकधृक्
AI Translation: Then, having performed the power of yoga, the lord of all lords of yoga, the god of gods, the wielder of the Pinaka, suddenly destroyed that sacrifice with his terrible attendants, the one of great splendor.
केचिन्नादानमुञ्चन्त केचिद्धासांश्च चक्रिरे रुधिरेणापरे राजंस्तत्राग्निं समवाकिरन्
AI Translation: Some let go of their weapons, some laughed, and others, O king, scattered fire with blood.
केचिद्यूपान्समुत्पाट्य बभ्रमुर्विकृताननाः आस्यैरन्ये चाग्रसन्त तथैव परिचारकान्
AI Translation: Some, with faces contorted, were running around, uprooting the sacrificial posts. Others were swallowing their attendants with their mouths.
ततः स यज्ञो नृपते वध्यमानः समन्ततः आस्थाय मृगरूपं वै खमेवाभ्यपतत्तदा
M. N. Dutt: Then thus afflicted on every side, that Sacrifice, assumed the form of a deer and tried to fly away through the firmanent.
तं तु यज्ञं तथारूपं गच्छन्तमुपलभ्य सः धनुरादाय बाणं च तदान्वसरत प्रभुः
M. N. Dutt: Learning that the Sacrifice was running away in that form, the powerful Mahadeva began to pursue him with bow and sorrow.
ततस्तस्य सुरेशस्य क्रोधादमिततेजसः ललाटात्प्रसृतो घोरः स्वेदबिन्दुर्बभूव ह
M. N. Dutt: On account of the ire which then filled the heart of that foremost of all gods, possessed of matchless energy, a dreadful drop of sweat appeared on his forehead.
तस्मिन्पतितमात्रे तु स्वेदबिन्दौ तथा भुवि प्रादुर्बभूव सुमहानग्निः कालानलोपमः
M. N. Dutt: When the drop of sweat fell down on the Earth, there immediately appeared a blazing fire resembling the conflagration that appears at the end of the cycle.
तत्र चाजायत तदा पुरुषः पुरुषर्षभ ह्रस्वोऽतिमात्ररक्ताक्षो हरिश्मश्रुर्विभीषणः
M. N. Dutt: From that fire came out a dreadful being, O king of very short stature, having blood-red cyes and a green beard.
ऊर्ध्वकेशोऽतिलोमाङ्गः श्येनोलूकस्तथैव च करालः कृष्णवर्णश्च रक्तवासास्तथैव च
M. N. Dutt: His body was covered all over with hair like a hawk's or an owl's and his hair stood erect. Of dreadful form, his complexion was dark and his dress blood-red. Like a fire burning a heap of dry grass or straw, that Being of high energy speedily consumed the embodied form of Sacrifice.
तं यज्ञं स महासत्त्वोऽदहत्कक्षमिवानलः देवाश्चाप्यद्रवन्सर्वे ततो भीता दिशो दश
AI Translation: That great being burned that sacrifice like a fire burns a forest. And all the gods, frightened, fled in the ten directions.
Supplementary Passages:
12.274.40 After 40ab, K6 V1 B0.6-9 Da3.a4 Dn1.n4 Ds D2.3.6.8 ins.: *735 व्यचरत्सर्वतो देवान्प्राद्रवत्स ऋषींस्तथा
तेन तस्मिन्विचरता पुरुषेण विशां पते पृथिवी व्यचलद्राजन्नतीव भरतर्षभ
AI Translation: O lord of men, O king, O bull of the Bharata lineage, when that man was wandering there, the earth trembled violently.
हाहाभूते प्रवृत्ते तु नादे लोकभयंकरे पितामहो महादेवं दर्शयन्प्रत्यभाषत
AI Translation: When the terrifying sound of "Ha! Ha!" arose, the grandfather, pointing to the great god, spoke:
Supplementary Passages:
12.274.42 For 42ab, K6.7 V1 B0.6-9 Da3.a4 Dn1.n4 Ds D2-9 G2 subst.: *736 हाहाभूतं जगत्सर्वमुपलक्ष्य तदा प्रभुः
भवतोऽपि सुराः सर्वे भागं दास्यन्ति वै प्रभो क्रियतां प्रतिसंहारः सर्वदेवेश्वर त्वया
M. N. Dutt: O powerful one, the deities will henceforth give you a share of the sacrificial offerings! O Lord of all the gods, let this anger of yours be withdrawn by you.
इमा हि देवताः सर्वा ऋषयश्च परंतप तव क्रोधान्महादेव न शान्तिमुपलेभिरे
M. N. Dutt: O scorcher of enemies, there, those gods, and the Rishis, on account of your anger, O Mahadeva, have become greatly agitated.
यश्चैष पुरुषो जातः स्वेदात्ते विबुधोत्तम ज्वरो नामैष धर्मज्ञ लोकेषु प्रचरिष्यति
M. N. Dutt: This Being, also, that has originated from your sweat, O foremost of gods, shall walk among creatures, O righteous-souled one, under the name of Fever.
एकीभूतस्य न ह्यस्य धारणे तेजसः प्रभो समर्था सकला पृथ्वी बहुधा सृज्यतामयम्
M. N. Dutt: O powerful one, if the energy of this Being remains intact, then the entire Earth herself will not be able to bear him. Let him, therefore, be divided into many parts.
इत्युक्तो ब्रह्मणा देवो भागे चापि प्रकल्पिते भगवन्तं तथेत्याह ब्रह्माणममितौजसम्
M. N. Dutt: When Brahman had said these words, and when his proper share was appointed of the sacrificial offerings, Mahadeva replied to the Grandfather of great energy, saying,-So be it.
परां च प्रीतिमगमदुत्स्मयंश्च पिनाकधृक् अवाप च तदा भागं यथोक्तं ब्रह्मणा भवः
M. N. Dutt: Indeed, the holder of Pinaka, viz., Bhava, smiled and became filled with joy. And he accepted the share that the Grandfather settled the offerings in sacrifices.
ज्वरं च सर्वधर्मज्ञो बहुधा व्यसृजत्तदा शान्त्यर्थं सर्वभूतानां शृणु तच्चापि पुत्रक
M. N. Dutt: Knowing the constituents of everything, Mahadeva then divided. Fever into many parts, for the peace of all creatures. Listen, O son, as how he did this.
शीर्षाभितापो नागानां पर्वतानां शिलाजतुः अपां तु नीलिकां विद्यान्निर्मोकं भुजगेषु च
AI Translation: The heat of the head is of the serpents, the stone of the mountains, And the blue color of the water is to be known as the excrement of the serpents.
खोरकः सौरभेयाणामूषरं पृथिवीतले पशूनामपि धर्मज्ञ दृष्टिप्रत्यवरोधनम्
AI Translation: The Kauravas are the horses, the Uśaras are the earth, the cattle are the Dharma-knowers, the obstruction to the sight.
रन्ध्रागतमथाश्वानां शिखोद्भेदश्च बर्हिणाम् नेत्ररोगः कोकिलानां ज्वरः प्रोक्तो महात्मना
AI Translation: The opening of the nostrils of horses, the splitting of the tuft of the peacock, The eye disease of the cuckoos, the fever has been described by the great one.
अब्जानां पित्तभेदश्च सर्वेषामिति नः श्रुतम् शुकानामपि सर्वेषां हिक्किका प्रोच्यते ज्वरः
M. N. Dutt: This is what we have heard. The liverdisease also of sheep, and the hiccup of parrots are also known as forms of Fever. To this must be added the toil that tigers suffer, for that also, O righteous king, is known as a forms of Fever.
शार्दूलेष्वथ धर्मज्ञ श्रमो ज्वर इहोच्यते मानुषेषु तु धर्मज्ञ ज्वरो नामैष विश्रुतः मरणे जन्मनि तथा मध्ये चाविशते नरम्
M. N. Dutt: Besides these, O Bharata, amongst men, Fever, enters all bodies at the time of birth, of death, and on other occasions.
एतन्माहेश्वरं तेजो ज्वरो नाम सुदारुणः नमस्यश्चैव मान्यश्च सर्वप्राणिभिरीश्वरः
M. N. Dutt: This Fever is known to be the dreadful power of Maheshvara. He has authority over all creatures and should, therefore, be respected and adored by all.
अनेन हि समाविष्टो वृत्रो धर्मभृतां वरः व्यजृम्भत ततः शक्रस्तस्मै वज्रमवासृजत्
M. N. Dutt: It was by him that Vritra, that foremost of virtuous persons, was possessed when he yawned. It was then that Shakra discharged his thunderbolt at him.
प्रविश्य वज्रो वृत्रं तु दारयामास भारत दारितश्च स वज्रेण महायोगी महासुरः जगाम परमं स्थानं विष्णोरमिततेजसः
M. N. Dutt: The thunderbolt, entering the body of Vritra, O Bharata, divided him in two parts. Divided in two by the thunderbolt, the great Asura endued with great Yoga powers, went to the region of Vishnu of great energy.
विष्णुभक्त्या हि तेनेदं जगद्व्याप्तमभूत्पुरा तस्माच्च निहतो युद्धे विष्णोः स्थानमवाप्तवान्
M. N. Dutt: It was on account of his devotion to Vishnu that he had succeeded in overwhelming the whole universe. And it was owing to his devotion to Vishnu that he ascended, when killed, to the region of Vishnu.
इत्येष वृत्रमाश्रित्य ज्वरस्य महतो मया विस्तरः कथितः पुत्र किमन्यत्प्रब्रवीमि ते
M. N. Dutt: Thus, O son, while describing the story of Vritra have I recited to you fully the narrative of Fever! What else shall I describe to you?
इमां ज्वरोत्पत्तिमदीनमानसः; पठेत्सदा यः सुसमाहितो नरः विमुक्तरोगः स सुखी मुदा युतो; लभेत कामान्स यथामनीषितान्
M. N. Dutt: That man who will read this account of the origin of Fever with rapt attention and cheerful heart shall become free from disease and shall always have happiness for his lot. Filled with joy he shall have all his wishes gratified.
Supplementary Passages:
12.274.60 After 60, M1.5-7 ins.: *737 कथेयं कथिता पुण्या धर्म्या धर्मभृतां वर किमन्यत्कथयामीह तद्भवान्वक्तुमर्हति