Critical Edition
युधिष्ठिर उवाच यदा भक्तो भगवत आसीद्राजा महावसुः किमर्थं स परिभ्रष्टो विवेश विवरं भुवः
M. N. Dutt: Yudhishthira said When the great king Vasu was so wholly devoted to Narayana, why then did he drop down from heaven and why again had he to sink beneath the surface of Earth?
भीष्म उवाच अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् ऋषीणां चैव संवादं त्रिदशानां च भारत
M. N. Dutt: Regarding it is cited an old discourse, O Bharata, between the Rishis and the gods.
Supplementary Passages:
12.324.2 After 2, T G1-3.6 Kumbh. ed. ins.: *816 इयं वै कर्मभूमिर्हि स्वर्गो भोगाय कल्पितः तस्मादिन्द्रो महीं प्राप्य यजमानस्तु दीक्षितः सवनीयपशोः काल आगते तु बृहस्पतिः पिष्टमानीयतामत्र पश्वर्थ इति भाषत तच्छ्रुत्वा देवताः सर्वा इदमूचुर्द्विजोत्तमम् बृहस्पतिं मांसगृध्नाः पृथक्पृथगरिंदम
अजेन यष्टव्यमिति देवाः प्राहुर्द्विजोत्तमान् स च छागो ह्यजो ज्ञेयो नान्यः पशुरिति स्थितिः
M. N. Dutt: Once on a time, addressing many foremost of Brahmanas the gods said to them that sacrifices should be performed by offering up Ajas as victims. The word Aja means the goat and no other animal.
ऋषय ऊचुः बीजैर्यज्ञेषु यष्टव्यमिति वै वैदिकी श्रुतिः अजसंज्ञानि बीजानि छागं न घ्नन्तुमर्हथ
M. N. Dutt: The Rishis said The Veda declares that in sacrifices the offerings should consist of seeds. Seeds are called Ajas. You should not kill goats.
नैष धर्मः सतां देवा यत्र वध्येत वै पशुः इदं कृतयुगं श्रेष्ठं कथं वध्येत वै पशुः
M. N. Dutt: O gods, that cannot be the religion of good and pious people in which the destruction of animals is sanctioned. This, again, is the golden age. How can animals be killed in this epoch of righteousness?
Supplementary Passages:
12.324.5 After 5, T G2. 3.6 ins.: *817 युष्माकमजबुद्धिर्हि अजो बीजं तदुच्यते
भीष्म उवाच तेषां संवदतामेवमृषीणां विबुधैः सह मार्गागतो नृपश्रेष्ठस्तं देशं प्राप्तवान्वसुः अन्तरिक्षचरः श्रीमान्समग्रबलवाहनः
M. N. Dutt: Bhishma said While this conversation was going on between the Rishis and the gods, that foremost of kings, viz., Vasu, was seen to come that way. Gifted with great prosperity, the king was coming through the sky, accompanied by his troops and vehicles and animals.
तं दृष्ट्वा सहसायान्तं वसुं ते त्वन्तरिक्षगम् ऊचुर्द्विजातयो देवानेष छेत्स्यति संशयम्
M. N. Dutt: Seeing king Vasu coming there through the skies, the Brahmanas addressing the gods, said,-This one will dispell our doubts.
यज्वा दानपतिः श्रेष्ठः सर्वभूतहितप्रियः कथं स्विदन्यथा ब्रूयाद्वाक्यमेष महान्वसुः
M. N. Dutt: He celebrates sacrifices. He is liberal in making gifts. He always seeks the well being of all creatures. How, indeed, will the great Vasu speak otherwise.
एवं ते संविदं कृत्वा विबुधा ऋषयस्तथा अपृच्छन्सहसाभ्येत्य वसुं राजानमन्तिकात्
M. N. Dutt: Having thus spoken each other, the gods and the Rishis quickly approached king Vasu and asked him, saying,-0 king, with what should one celebrate sacrifices?
भो राजन्केन यष्टव्यमजेनाहोस्विदौषधैः एतन्नः संशयं छिन्धि प्रमाणं नो भवान्मतः
M. N. Dutt: Should one sacrifice with the goat or with herbs and plants? Do you remove this doubt of ours! We select you as our judge in this matter.
स तान्कृताञ्जलिर्भूत्वा परिपप्रच्छ वै वसुः कस्य वः को मतः पक्षो ब्रूत सत्यं समागताः
M. N. Dutt: Thus accosted by them, Vasu joined his hands in humility and said to them,-Tell me truly, ye foremost of Brahmanas, what opinion is held by you individually in this matter?
ऋषय ऊचुः धान्यैर्यष्टव्यमित्येष पक्षोऽस्माकं नराधिप देवानां तु पशुः पक्षो मतो राजन्वदस्व नः
M. N. Dutt: The Rishis said The opinion held by us, O king, is that sacrifices should be celebrated with grain! The gods, however, hold that sacrifices should be celebrated with animals. Do you judge between us and tell us which of these opinions is correct.
भीष्म उवाच देवानां तु मतं ज्ञात्वा वसुना पक्षसंश्रयात् छागेनाजेन यष्टव्यमेवमुक्तं वचस्तदा
M. N. Dutt: Bhishma said Learning the opinion of the gods, Vasu, moved by partiality for them, said that sacrifices should be celebrated with animals.
कुपितास्ते ततः सर्वे मुनयः सूर्यवर्चसः ऊचुर्वसुं विमानस्थं देवपक्षार्थवादिनम्
AI Translation: Then all those angry sages, shining like the sun, spoke to Vasu, who was in the celestial chariot, advocating the cause of the gods,
सुरपक्षो गृहीतस्ते यस्मात्तस्माद्दिवः पत अद्य प्रभृति ते राजन्नाकाशे विहता गतिः अस्मच्छापाभिघातेन महीं भित्त्वा प्रवेक्ष्यसि
AI Translation: Since you have taken the side of the gods, therefore fall from heaven. From now on, O king, your movement in the sky is obstructed. By the blow of our curse, you will enter the earth after breaking it.
Supplementary Passages:
12.324.15 After 15, T G1-3.6 Kumbh. ed. ins.: *818 विरुद्धं वेदसूत्राणामुक्तं यदि भवेन्नृप वयं विरुद्धवचना यदि तत्र पतामहे
ततस्तस्मिन्मुहूर्तेऽथ राजोपरिचरस्तदा अधो वै संबभूवाशु भूमेर्विवरगो नृपः स्मृतिस्त्वेनं न प्रजहौ तदा नारायणाज्ञया
M. N. Dutt: After the Rishis had said these words, king Uparichara immediately dropped down, O king, and went down a hole in the Earth. At the command, however,. of Narayana, Vasu's memory did not leave him.
देवास्तु सहिताः सर्वे वसोः शापविमोक्षणम् चिन्तयामासुरव्यग्राः सुकृतं हि नृपस्य तत्
AI Translation: All the gods together, without any distraction, thought about the release from Vasu's curse, for the king's good deed was indeed great.
अनेनास्मत्कृते राज्ञा शापः प्राप्तो महात्मना अस्य प्रतिप्रियं कार्यं सहितैर्नो दिवौकसः
AI Translation: For our sake, this king has received a curse from the noble one. We, along with the gods, should do something to please him.
इति बुद्ध्या व्यवस्याशु गत्वा निश्चयमीश्वराः ऊचुस्तं हृष्टमनसो राजोपरिचरं तदा
AI Translation: Having thus determined with this understanding, the lords went and attained certainty, and then spoke to the king's attendant with joyful minds.
ब्रह्मण्यदेवं त्वं भक्तः सुरासुरगुरुं हरिम् कामं स तव तुष्टात्मा कुर्याच्छापविमोक्षणम्
AI Translation: You are a devotee of the Lord of the universe, the preceptor of the gods and demons, Hari. He, being pleased with you, may grant you the removal of the curse.
मानना तु द्विजातीनां कर्तव्या वै महात्मनाम् अवश्यं तपसा तेषां फलितव्यं नृपोत्तम
M. N. Dutt: It is proper, however, that the great Brahmanas should be honoured. Verily, O best of kings, their penances should bear fruits.
Supplementary Passages:
12.324.21 After 21, T G1-3.6 Kumbh. ed. ins.: *819 विरुद्धं वेदशास्त्राणां न वक्तव्यं हितार्थिना
यतस्त्वं सहसा भ्रष्ट आकाशान्मेदिनीतलम् एकं त्वनुग्रहं तुभ्यं दद्मो वै नृपसत्तम
M. N. Dutt: Indeed, you have already fallen down from the sky on the Earth! We wish, however, O best of kings, to show you a favour. As long as you, O sinless one, will live in this hole, so long you will receive (due sustenance).
Supplementary Passages:
12.324.22 After 22ab, T G1-3.6 ins.: Kumbh. ed. cont. after 819*: *820 अस्मत्पक्षनिमित्तं ते व्यसनं प्राप्तमीदृशम्
यावत्त्वं शापदोषेण कालमासिष्यसेऽनघ भूमेर्विवरगो भूत्वा तावन्तं कालमाप्स्यसि यज्ञेषु सुहुतां विप्रैर्वसोर्धारां महात्मभिः
AI Translation: O sinless one, for as long as you will be suffering from the curse, you will have to remain in the cavity of the earth for that long. The stream of Soma, well
प्राप्स्यसेऽस्मदनुध्यानान्मा च त्वां ग्लानिरास्पृशेत् न क्षुत्पिपासे राजेन्द्र भूमेश्छिद्रे भविष्यतः
AI Translation: By our meditation you will obtain it, and may no sorrow touch you. O lord of kings, hunger and thirst will not be in the crevices of the earth.
वसोर्धारानुपीतत्वात्तेजसाप्यायितेन च स देवोऽस्मद्वरात्प्रीतो ब्रह्मलोकं हि नेष्यति
M. N. Dutt: While living, O king of kings, in the hole of the Earth, neither hunger nor thirst shall assail you for you will drink those streaks of clarified butter called Vasudhara. Your energy also shall continue unabated. By virtue of this our boon that we grant you, the God of gods, viz., Narayana, will be pleased with you, and He will take you hence to the region of Brahman.
Supplementary Passages:
12.324.25 After 25ab, K7 D4.9 ins.: *821 तं भक्तोऽसि महात्मानं देवदेवं सनातनम्
एवं दत्त्वा वरं राज्ञे सर्वे तत्र दिवौकसः गताः स्वभवनं देवा ऋषयश्च तपोधनाः
M. N. Dutt: Having granted these boons to the king, the dwellers of heaven, as also all those Rishis having penances for wealth, returned each to his respective place.
Supplementary Passages:
12.324.26 After 26ab, T G1-3.6 Kumbh. ed. ins.: *822 क्रतुं समाप्य पिष्टेन मुनीनां वचनात्तदा After 26ab T G1-3.6 Kumbh. ed. ins.: *823 गृहीत्वा दक्षिणां सर्वे गताः स्वानाश्रमान्पुनः वसुं विचिन्त्य शक्रश्च प्रविवेशामरावतीम् वसुर्विवरगस्तत्र व्यलीकस्य फलाद्गुरोः
चक्रे च सततं पूजां विष्वक्सेनाय भारत जप्यं जगौ च सततं नारायणमुखोद्गतम्
M. N. Dutt: Then Vasu, O Bharata, began to worship the Creator of the universe and to recite silently those sacred Mantras that had come out of Narayana's mouth in days of yore.
तत्रापि पञ्चभिर्यज्ञैः पञ्चकालानरिंदम अयजद्धरिं सुरपतिं भूमेर्विवरगोऽपि सन्
M. N. Dutt: Although living in a pit of the Earth, the king still adored Hari, the Lord of all the gods in the well-known five-sacrifices that are celebrating five times every day, O destroyer of enemies.
ततोऽस्य तुष्टो भगवान्भक्त्या नारायणो हरिः अनन्यभक्तस्य सतस्तत्परस्य जितात्मनः
M. N. Dutt: On account of these adorations of his, Narayana, otherwise called Hari, became highly gratified with him who thus showed himself to be entirely devoted to Him. Who entirely depended upon Him as his sole refuge, and who had completely mastered his senses.
वरदो भगवान्विष्णुः समीपस्थं द्विजोत्तमम् गरुत्मन्तं महावेगमाबभाषे स्मयन्निव
M. N. Dutt: The illustrious Vishnu, that giver of boons, then addressed the fleet Garuda, that foremost of birds, who waited upon Him as his servant, and said these desirable words.
द्विजोत्तम महाभाग गम्यतां वचनान्मम सम्राड्राजा वसुर्नाम धर्मात्मा मां समाश्रितः
M. N. Dutt: O foremost of birds, O you who are highly blessed, listen to what I say. There is a great king named Vasu who is of righteous soul and rigid vows! Through the anger of the Brahmanas, he has dropped into a pit of the Earth.
ब्राह्मणानां प्रकोपेन प्रविष्टो वसुधातलम् मानितास्ते तु विप्रेन्द्रास्त्वं तु गच्छ द्विजोत्तम
AI Translation: By the anger of the Brahmanas, he entered the earth. Those Brahmanas were honoured. But you, O best of Brahmanas, go.
भूमेर्विवरसंगुप्तं गरुडेह ममाज्ञया अधश्चरं नृपश्रेष्ठं खेचरं कुरु माचिरम्
M. N. Dutt: At my behest, O Garuda, go to that foremost of kings, viz., Uparichara, who is now living in a hole of the Earth and incapable of any longer passing through the sky, and bring him up forthwith into the sky.
गरुत्मानथ विक्षिप्य पक्षौ मारुतवेगवान् विवेश विवरं भूमेर्यत्रास्ते वाग्यतो वसुः
M. N. Dutt: Hearing these words of Vishnu, Garuda, spreading his wings and going with the speed of the wind, entered that pit in the Earth in which king Vasu was residing.
तत एनं समुत्क्षिप्य सहसा विनतासुतः उत्पपात नभस्तूर्णं तत्र चैनममुञ्चत
M. N. Dutt: All on a sudden taking the king up, the son of Vinata soared into the sky and there released the king from his beaks.
Supplementary Passages:
12.324.35 After 35b, G1 ins.: *824 गृहीत्वा तं वसुं भक्तं सहसा वसुधातलात्
तस्मिन्मुहूर्ते संजज्ञे राजोपरिचरः पुनः सशरीरो गतश्चैव ब्रह्मलोकं नृपोत्तमः
M. N. Dutt: At that moment, king Uparichara once more acquired his divine form and re-entered the region of Brahman.
एवं तेनापि कौन्तेय वाग्दोषाद्देवताज्ञया प्राप्ता गतिरयज्वार्हा द्विजशापान्महात्मना
M. N. Dutt: It was the way, O son of Kunti, that that great king first dropped down through the curse of the Brahmanas for a faulty speech, and once more got up to heaven at the behest of the great God (Vishnu).
केवलं पुरुषस्तेन सेवितो हरिरीश्वरः ततः शीघ्रं जहौ शापं ब्रह्मलोकमवाप च
M. N. Dutt: Only the powerful Lord Hari, that foremost of all Beings, was devoutly adored by him. It was for this devout worship that the king succeeded very soon in freeing himself from the curse imprecated upon him by the Brahmanas and in regaining the blessed regions of Brahman.
एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं ते भूता मानवा यथा नारदोऽपि यथा श्वेतं द्वीपं स गतवानृषिः तत्ते सर्वं प्रवक्ष्यामि शृणुष्वैकमना नृप
M. N. Dutt: Bhishma said I have thus told you everything regarding the origin of the spiritual sons of Brahman. Listen to me with rapt attention, for I shall now describe to you how the celestial Rishi Narada had proceeded in days of yore to White Island."