Critical Edition
भीष्म उवाच श्रूयतां पार्थ तत्त्वेन विश्वामित्रो यथा पुरा ब्राह्मणत्वं गतस्तात ब्रह्मर्षित्वं तथैव च
M. N. Dutt: Bhishma said Listen truly in full, O son of Pritha, how, in days of yore, Vishvamitra acquired the status of a Brahmana, as also of a Brahmana Rishi!
भरतस्यान्वये चैवाजमीढो नाम पार्थिवः बभूव भरतश्रेष्ठ यज्वा धर्मभृतां वरः
M. N. Dutt: There was O foremost of Bharata's descendants, in the family of Bharata, a king named Ajamida, who celebrated many sacrifices and was the best of all virtuous men.
तस्य पुत्रो महानासीज्जह्नुर्नाम नरेश्वरः दुहितृत्वमनुप्राप्ता गङ्गा यस्य महात्मनः
M. N. Dutt: His son was the great king named Jahnu. Ganga was the daughter of this great prince.
तस्यात्मजस्तुल्यगुणः सिन्धुद्वीपो महायशाः सिन्धुद्वीपाच्च राजर्षिर्बलाकाश्वो महाबलः
M. N. Dutt: The far-fained and equally virtuous Sindhudvipa was the son of this prince. From Sindhudvipa sprang the great royal sage Valakashva.
वल्लभस्तस्य तनयः साक्षाद्धर्म इवापरः कुशिकस्तस्य तनयः सहस्राक्षसमद्युतिः
M. N. Dutt: His son was named Vallabha who was like a second Dharina incarnate. His son was Kushika who was illustrious like the thousandeyed Indra.
कुशिकस्यात्मजः श्रीमान्गाधिर्नाम जनेश्वरः अपुत्रः स महाबाहुर्वनवासमुदावसत्
M. N. Dutt: Kushika's son was the illustrious king Gadhi who, being childless and wishing to have a son born to him, went to the forest.
कन्या जज्ञे सुता तस्य वने निवसतः सतः नाम्ना सत्यवती नाम रूपेणाप्रतिमा भुवि
M. N. Dutt: While living there, a daughter was born to him. She was called Satyavati, and she was peerless in beauty on Earth.
तां वव्रे भार्गवः श्रीमांश्च्यवनस्यात्मजः प्रभुः ऋचीक इति विख्यातो विपुले तपसि स्थितः
M. N. Dutt: The illustrious son of Chyavana, known by the name of Richika, of the family of Bhrigu, gifted with austere penance's, sought the hand of this lady.
स तां न प्रददौ तस्मै ऋचीकाय महात्मने दरिद्र इति मत्वा वै गाधिः शत्रुनिबर्हणः
M. N. Dutt: Thinking him to be poor, Gadhi, the destroyer of his enemies, did not bestow her in marriage upon the great Richika.
प्रत्याख्याय पुनर्यान्तमब्रवीद्राजसत्तमः शुल्कं प्रदीयतां मह्यं ततो वेत्स्यसि मे सुताम्
M. N. Dutt: But when the latter, thus dismissed, was going away, the excellent king, addressing him, said If you can give me a marriage dower you will have my daughter as your wife!
ऋचीक उवाच किं प्रयच्छामि राजेन्द्र तुभ्यं शुल्कमहं नृप दुहितुर्ब्रूह्यसंसक्तो मात्राभूत्ते विचारणा
AI Translation: Ṛcīka said: O king, what should I give you as the bride-price, O king? Tell me without hesitation, O king, what you want as the price of your daughter.
गाधिरुवाच चन्द्ररश्मिप्रकाशानां हयानां वातरंहसाम् एकतः श्यामकर्णानां सहस्रं देहि भार्गव
AI Translation: Gadhi said: Give me a thousand horses that are as radiant as the rays of the moon, as swift as the wind, and with one black ear each, O Bhargava.
भीष्म उवाच ततः स भृगुशार्दूलश्च्यवनस्यात्मजः प्रभुः अब्रवीद्वरुणं देवमादित्यं पतिमम्भसाम्
AI Translation: Bhishma said: Then the lord, the tiger among Bhrigus, the son of Chyavana, Spoke to Varuna, the god, the lord of the waters, the sun.
एकतः श्यामकर्णानां हयानां चन्द्रवर्चसाम् सहस्रं वातवेगानां भिक्षे त्वां देवसत्तम
AI Translation: From one side, I beg you, O best of gods, for a thousand horses with black ears and moon-like luster, swift as the wind.
तथेति वरुणो देव आदित्यो भृगुसत्तमम् उवाच यत्र ते छन्दस्तत्रोत्थास्यन्ति वाजिनः
AI Translation: Varuna, the god, said to the best of Bhrigus, "So be it." "He said, ""Where your desire is, there the horses will rise."""
ध्यातमात्रे ऋचीकेन हयानां चन्द्रवर्चसाम् गङ्गाजलात्समुत्तस्थौ सहस्रं विपुलौजसाम्
AI Translation: As soon as Richika meditated, a thousand horses of the lustre of the moon arose from the waters of the Ganges, of great prowess.
अदूरे कन्यकुब्जस्य गङ्गायास्तीरमुत्तमम् अश्वतीर्थं तदद्यापि मानवाः परिचक्षते
M. N. Dutt: Not far from Kanyakuvja, the sacred bank of Ganga is still famous among men as Ashvatirtha on account of the appearance of those horses.
तत्तदा गाधये तात सहस्रं वाजिनां शुभम् ऋचीकः प्रददौ प्रीतः शुल्कार्थं जपतां वरः
M. N. Dutt: Then Richika, that best of ascetics, pleased in mind, gave those thousand excellent horses to Gadhi as the marriage gift.
ततः स विस्मितो राजा गाधिः शापभयेन च ददौ तां समलंकृत्य कन्यां भृगुसुताय वै
M. N. Dutt: King Gadhi, stricken with wonder and fearing to be cursed, gave his daughter, adorned with jewels, to that son of Bhrigu.
जग्राह पाणिं विधिना तस्य ब्रह्मर्षिसत्तमः सा च तं पतिमासाद्य परं हर्षमवाप ह
M. N. Dutt: That foremost of twiceborn Rishis accepted her hand in marriage according to due rites. The princes too was wellpleased at seeing herself the wife of that Brahmana.
स तुतोष च विप्रर्षिस्तस्या वृत्तेन भारत छन्दयामास चैवैनां वरेण वरवर्णिनीम्
M. N. Dutt: That foremost of twiceborn Rishis, O Bharata, was well pleased with her conduct and expressed a desire to grant her a boon.
Supplementary Passages:
13.4.21 After 21; M ins.: *25 सा च वव्रे वरं तस्मात्पुत्रं ब्रह्मर्षिसत्तमम्
मात्रे तत्सर्वमाचख्यौ सा कन्या राजसत्तमम् अथ तामब्रवीन्माता सुतां किंचिदवाङ्मुखीम्
AI Translation: He told all this to his mother, who was the best of kings. Then his mother said to her daughter, who was slightly bowed down,
ममापि पुत्रि भर्ता ते प्रसादं कर्तुमर्हति अपत्यस्य प्रदानेन समर्थः स महातपाः
AI Translation: "My daughter, your husband should also be gracious to me. " That great ascetic is capable of giving a child.
ततः सा त्वरितं गत्वा तत्सर्वं प्रत्यवेदयत् मातुश्चिकीर्षितं राजन्नृचीकस्तामथाब्रवीत्
M. N. Dutt: Then, O king, returning speedily to her husband Richika, the princess described to him all that had been wished for by her mother.
गुणवन्तमपत्यं वै त्वं च सा जनयिष्यथः जनन्यास्तव कल्याणि मा भूद्वै प्रणयोऽन्यथा
AI Translation: You and he will beget a son endowed with good qualities. O beautiful one, let there be no other affection for your mother.
तव चैव गुणश्लाघी पुत्र उत्पत्स्यते शुभे अस्मद्वंशकरः श्रीमांस्तव भ्राता च वंशकृत्
M. N. Dutt: Of you too shall be born a powerful and glorious son who, gifted with virtue, shall perpetuate my race. Truly do I say this to you.
ऋतुस्नाता च साश्वत्थं त्वं च वृक्षमुदुम्बरम् परिष्वजेथाः कल्याणि तत इष्टमवाप्स्यथः
M. N. Dutt: When you two shall bathe in your season, she shall embrace a pepul tree, and you, O excellent lady, shall embrace a fig tree, and by so doing you shall have the fruition of your desires.
चरुद्वयमिदं चैव मन्त्रपूतं शुचिस्मिते त्वं च सा चोपयुञ्जीथां ततः पुत्राववाप्स्यथः
M. N. Dutt: O sweetlysmiling lady, both she and you shall have to partake of these two sacrificial offerings (charu) consecrated with hymns, and then you shall get sons.
ततः सत्यवती हृष्टा मातरं प्रत्यभाषत यदृचीकेन कथितं तच्चाचख्यौ चरुद्वयम्
M. N. Dutt: Thereat, Satyavati, pleased at heart, told her mother all that had been said by Richika as also of the two balls of charu.
Supplementary Passages:
13.4.29 After 29, T1 ins.: *26 अथ माता सुता चापि व्यत्यासेन चरुद्वयम् भुक्तवत्यौ महाराज ततो गर्भमुपेष्यतः दृष्ट्वा कदाचित्स्वां भार्यामृचीकस्त्वब्रवीद्वचः
तामुवाच ततो माता सुतां सत्यवतीं तदा पुत्रि मूर्ध्ना प्रपन्नायाः कुरुष्व वचनं मम
M. N. Dutt: Then the mother, addressing her daughter Satyavati, said: O daughter, as I deserve greater respect from you than your husband, do you obey my words.
भर्त्रा य एष दत्तस्ते चरुर्मन्त्रपुरस्कृतः एतं प्रयच्छ मह्यं त्वं मदीयं त्वं गृहाण च
M. N. Dutt: Do you give me the charu, duly consecrated with hymns, which your husband has given you, and yourself take, the one that has been intended for me.
व्यत्यासं वृक्षयोश्चापि करवाव शुचिस्मिते यदि प्रमाणं वचनं मम मातुरनिन्दिते
M. N. Dutt: O sweetlysmiling one of pure character, if you have any reverence for my word, let us change the trees respectively intended for us.
Supplementary Passages:
13.4.32 For 32ab, S (T1 om.) subst.: *27 वृक्षयोरपि व्यत्यासं कुर्याव वरवर्णिनि N ins. after 32: M4 cont. after 27*: *28 स्वमपत्यं विशिष्टं हि सर्व इच्छत्यनाविलम्
व्यक्तं भगवता चात्र कृतमेवं भविष्यति ततो मे त्वच्चरौ भावः पादपे च सुमध्यमे कथं विशिष्टो भ्राता ते भवेदित्येव चिन्तय
M. N. Dutt: Therefore, O beautiful girl, my heart is bent upon your charu and tree, and you too should also try to secure an excellent brother for yourself.
तथा च कृतवत्यौ ते माता सत्यवती च सा अथ गर्भावनुप्राप्ते उभे ते वै युधिष्ठिर
M. N. Dutt: The mother and the daughter Satyavati having acted thus, they both, O Yudhishthira, became big with child.
दृष्ट्वा गर्भमनुप्राप्तां भार्यां स च महानृषिः उवाच तां सत्यवतीं दुर्मना भृगुसत्तमः
M. N. Dutt: Finding his wife quick with child, that great Rishi, the descendant of Bhrigu, became pleased at heart, and addressing her, said:
व्यत्यासेनोपयुक्तस्ते चरुर्व्यक्तं भविष्यति व्यत्यासः पादपे चापि सुव्यक्तं ते कृतः शुभे
M. N. Dutt: O excellent lady, you have not done well in exchanging the charu as will soon be seen. It is also clear that you have changed the trees.
मया हि विश्वं यद्ब्रह्म त्वच्चरौ संनिवेशितम् क्षत्रवीर्यं च सकलं चरौ तस्या निवेशितम्
M. N. Dutt: I had put the entire accuinulated energy of Brahma in your charu and Kshatriya energy in the charu of your mother.
त्रिलोकविख्यातगुणं त्वं विप्रं जनयिष्यसि सा च क्षत्रं विशिष्टं वै तत एतत्कृतं मया
M. N. Dutt: I had so settled that you would give birth to a Brahmana whose virtues would be famous throughout the three worlds, and that she would give birth to an excellent Kshatriya.
व्यत्यासस्तु कृतो यस्मात्त्वया मात्रा तथैव च तस्मात्सा ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठं माता ते जनयिष्यति
AI Translation: But because you have made an exchange with your mother, therefore your mother will give birth to a brahmin superior.
क्षत्रियं तूग्रकर्माणं त्वं भद्रे जनयिष्यसि न हि ते तत्कृतं साधु मातृस्नेहेन भामिनि
AI Translation: You will give birth to a Kshatriya of fierce deeds. It is not good that you have done this, O beautiful one, out of maternal affection.
सा श्रुत्वा शोकसंतप्ता पपात वरवर्णिनी भूमौ सत्यवती राजंश्छिन्नेव रुचिरा लता
M. N. Dutt: Hearing this, O king, the excellent lady Satyavati, filled with sorrow, dropped upon the ground like a beautiful creeper cut in two parts.
प्रतिलभ्य च सा संज्ञां शिरसा प्रणिपत्य च उवाच भार्या भर्तारं गाधेयी ब्राह्मणर्षभम्
AI Translation: And when she had regained consciousness, she bowed her head and said to her husband, the bull of the Brahmanas, the son of Gadhi.
प्रसादयन्त्यां भार्यायां मयि ब्रह्मविदां वर प्रसादं कुरु विप्रर्षे न मे स्यात्क्षत्रियः सुतः
AI Translation: O best of those who know Brahman, when my wife was trying to please me, O brahmin sage, be gracious to me, so that I may not have a son who is a kshatriya.
कामं ममोग्रकर्मा वै पौत्रो भवितुमर्हति न तु मे स्यात्सुतो ब्रह्मन्नेष मे दीयतां वरः
M. N. Dutt: Let my grandson be such a one as will be farnous for his dreadful feats if it be your desire, but not my son, O Brahmana! Do you grant me this favour.
एवमस्त्विति होवाच स्वां भार्यां सुमहातपाः ततः सा जनयामास जमदग्निं सुतं शुभम्
M. N. Dutt: Be it so, said that Rishi of austere penances to his wife and then, O king, she gave birth to a blessed son named Jamadagni.
विश्वामित्रं चाजनयद्गाधेर्भार्या यशस्विनी ऋषेः प्रभावाद्राजेन्द्र ब्रह्मर्षिं ब्रह्मवादिनम्
M. N. Dutt: The famous wife of Gadhi too gave birth to the twiceborn Rishi Vishvamitra versed in the knowledge of Brahma, by favour of that Rishi.
ततो ब्राह्मणतां यातो विश्वामित्रो महातपाः क्षत्रियः सोऽप्यथ तथा ब्रह्मवंशस्य कारकः
M. N. Dutt: The highly pious Vishvamitra, though a Kshatriya, gained the dignity of a Brahmana and became the founder of a race of Brahmanas.
तस्य पुत्रा महात्मानो ब्रह्मवंशविवर्धनाः तपस्विनो ब्रह्मविदो गोत्रकर्तार एव च
M. N. Dutt: His sons became great progenitors of many race of Brahmanas who were given to austere penances, learned in the Vedas, and founders of many clans.
मधुच्छन्दश्च भगवान्देवरातश्च वीर्यवान् अक्षीणश्च शकुन्तश्च बभ्रुः कालपथस्तथा
AI Translation: The Blessed One Madhuccanda, the powerful Devavata, Akshina, Sakunta, Babhru, and Kalapatha.
याज्ञवल्क्यश्च विख्यातस्तथा स्थूणो महाव्रतः उलूको यमदूतश्च तथर्षिः सैन्धवायनः
AI Translation: Yajnavalkya, the famous one, and Sthuna, the great ascetic, Uluka, the messenger of Yama, and the sage Saindhavayana,
कर्णजङ्घश्च भगवान्गालवश्च महानृषिः ऋषिर्वज्रस्तथाख्यातः शालङ्कायन एव च
AI Translation: The Blessed One Karna-jangha, and the great sage Galava, The sage known as Vajra, and Shalankayana.
लालाट्यो नारदश्चैव तथा कूर्चमुखः स्मृतः वादुलिर्मुसलश्चैव रक्षोग्रीवस्तथैव च
AI Translation: Lalāṭya, Nārada, and also remembered as Kūrchamukha, Vāduli, Musala, and also Rakṣogrīva,
अङ्घ्रिको नैकभृच्चैव शिलायूपः सितः शुचिः चक्रको मारुतन्तव्यो वातघ्नोऽथाश्वलायनः
AI Translation: One who has a foot, one who supports many, one who has a stone for a sacrificial post, one who is white and pure, One who is a wheel, one who is to be worshipped by the wind, one who destroys the wind, and Ashvalayana.
श्यामायनोऽथ गार्ग्यश्च जाबालिः सुश्रुतस्तथा कारीषिरथ संश्रुत्यः परपौरवतन्तवः
AI Translation: Śyāma, Gārgya, Jābāli, Suśruta, Kāriṣi, Saṃśruta, Parapaurava, and Tantra.
महानृषिश्च कपिलस्तथर्षिस्तारकायनः तथैव चोपगहनस्तथर्षिश्चार्जुनायनः
AI Translation: The great sage Kapila, the sage Tārākayana, and likewise Upaghaṇa, and the sage Arjuna
मार्गमित्रिर्हिरण्याक्षो जङ्घारिर्बभ्रुवाहनः सूतिर्विभूतिः सूतश्च सुरङ्गश्च तथैव हि
AI Translation: Mārgamitra, Hiraṇyākṣa, Jaṅghāri, Babhruvāhana, Sūti, Vibhūti, Sūta, and also Suranga.
आराद्धिर्नामयश्चैव चाम्पेयोज्जयनौ तथा नवतन्तुर्बकनखः शयोनरतिरेव च
AI Translation: Ārādhī, Nāmayā, and Champa, Ujjayani, Navatantu, Bakanakha, and Śayona, Rati,
शयोरुहश्चारुमत्स्यः शिरीषी चाथ गार्दभिः उज्जयोनिरदापेक्षी नारदी च महानृषिः विश्वामित्रात्मजाः सर्वे मुनयो ब्रह्मवादिनः
AI Translation: Śayoruha, Charumatsya, Śirīṣī, and Garḍabhi, Ujjayoni, Adāpeksī, and the great sage Nārada, All the sages who are sons of Viśvāmitra, who speak about Brahman,
Supplementary Passages:
13.4.58 D5 ins. after 58cd: D4.6. 7.9 after 57: *29 एते चान्ये च बहवो महात्मानो जितेन्द्रियाः
तन्नैष क्षत्रियो राजन्विश्वामित्रो महातपाः ऋचीकेनाहितं ब्रह्म परमेतद्युधिष्ठिर
AI Translation: This is not the Kshatriya Vishvamitra, the great ascetic. This supreme Brahman has been imparted by Richika to Yudhishthira.
एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं तत्त्वेन भरतर्षभ विश्वामित्रस्य वै जन्म सोमसूर्याग्नितेजसः
AI Translation: O bull among the Bharatas, I have thus told you the truth about the birth of Vishvamitra, who was of the brilliance of the moon, sun and fire.
यत्र यत्र च संदेहो भूयस्ते राजसत्तम तत्र तत्र च मां ब्रूहि च्छेत्तास्मि तव संशयान्
M. N. Dutt: 0 best of kings, if you have any doubt about any other subject, please let me know it, so that I may remove it.