Critical Edition
भीष्म उवाच एवमेतन्महाबाहो नात्र मिथ्यास्ति किंचन यथा ब्रवीषि कौरव्य नारीं प्रति जनाधिप
M. N. Dutt: Bhishma said It is true what you say, O you of mighty arms. There is nothing untrue in all this that you say, O you of Kuru's race, on the subject of women, O monarch!
अत्र ते वर्तयिष्यामि इतिहासं पुरातनम् यथा रक्षा कृता पूर्वं विपुलेन महात्मना
M. N. Dutt: About it I shall recite to you the old history of how in days of yore the great Vipula had succeeded in restraining women within the limits laid down for them.
प्रमदाश्च यथा सृष्टा ब्रह्मणा भरतर्षभ यदर्थं तच्च ते तात प्रवक्ष्ये वसुधाधिप
M. N. Dutt: I shall also tell you, O king, how women were created by the Grandfather Brahman and the object for which they were created by him.
न हि स्त्रीभ्य परं पुत्र पापीयः किंचिदस्ति वै अग्निर्हि प्रमदा दीप्तो मायाश्च मयजा विभो क्षुरधारा विषं सर्पो मृत्युरित्येकतः स्त्रियः
M. N. Dutt: There is no creature more sinful, O son, than woman. Woman is a burning fire. She is the illusion, o king, that the Daitya Maya created.
इमाः प्रजा महाबाहो धार्मिका इति नः श्रुतम् स्वयं गच्छन्ति देवत्वं ततो देवानियाद्भयम्
M. N. Dutt: She is the sharp edge of the razor. She is poison. She is a snake. She is fire. She is verily, all these in a body. We have heard that all human beings beings are characterised by righteousness, and that they, in course of natural progress and improvement, attain to the dignity of god. This circumstance alarmed the celestials.
अथाभ्यगच्छन्देवास्ते पितामहमरिंदम निवेद्य मानसं चापि तूष्णीमासन्नवाङ्मुखाः
M. N. Dutt: They, therefore, O chastiser of foes, assembled together and went to the Grandfather. Informing Him of what was in their minds, they stood silent before him with downcast eyes.
तेषामन्तर्गतं ज्ञात्वा देवानां स पितामहः मानवानां प्रमोहार्थं कृत्या नार्योऽसृजत्प्रभुः
M. N. Dutt: Having learnt what was in the hearts of the celestials, the powerful Grandfather created women with the help of an Atharvan rite.
पूर्वसर्गे तु कौन्तेय साध्व्यो नार्य इहाभवन् असाध्व्यस्तु समुत्पन्ना कृत्या सर्गात्प्रजापतेः
M. N. Dutt: In a former creation, O son of Kunti, women were all virtuous. Those however, that sprang from this creation by Brahman with the help of an illusion, became sinful. The Grandfather bestowed upon them the desire of enjoying all kinds of carnal pleasure.
ताभ्यः कामान्यथाकामं प्रादाद्धि स पितामहः ताः कामलुब्धाः प्रमदाः प्रामथ्नन्त नरांस्तदा
AI Translation: The grandfather gave them desires as they wished. Those lustful women then oppressed men.
क्रोधं कामस्य देवेशः सहायं चासृजत्प्रभुः असज्जन्त प्रजाः सर्वाः कामक्रोधवशं गताः
AI Translation: The Lord of the gods, the creator, created Kama and Krodha as his assistants. All beings fell under the control of Kama and Krodha.
Supplementary Passages:
13.40.10 After 10, D10 T2.3 G ins.: *292 द्विजानां च गुरूणां च महागुरुनृपादिनाम् क्षणस्त्रीसङ्गकामोत्था यातनाहो निरन्तरा अरक्तमनसां नित्यं ब्रह्मचर्यमलात्मनाम् तपोदमार्चनाध्यानयुक्तानां शुद्धिरुत्तमा
न च स्त्रीणां क्रिया काचिदिति धर्मो व्यवस्थितः निरिन्द्रिया अमन्त्राश्च स्त्रियोऽनृतमिति श्रुतिः
AI Translation: And it is established that women have no duties. The Veda says that women are without organs, without mantras, and false.
शय्यासनमलंकारमन्नपानमनार्यताम् दुर्वाग्भावं रतिं चैव ददौ स्त्रीभ्यः प्रजापतिः
AI Translation: The Creator gave women a bed, a seat, ornaments, food, drink, and unrighteousness, and also bad speech and sexual pleasure.
न तासां रक्षणं कर्तुं शक्यं पुंसा कथंचन अपि विश्वकृता तात कुतस्तु पुरुषैरिह
AI Translation: It is not possible for a man to protect them in any way. O son, even by the creator of the universe, how much less by men here.
वाचा वा वधबन्धैर्वा क्लेशैर्वा विविधैस्तथा न शक्या रक्षितुं नार्यस्ता हि नित्यमसंयताः
M. N. Dutt: The Creator himself is incapable of keeping them within proper limits, what need then be said of men?
इदं तु पुरुषव्याघ्र पुरस्ताच्छ्रुतवानहम् यथा रक्षा कृता पूर्वं विपुलेन गुरुस्त्रियः
M. N. Dutt: This, O chief of men, I heard in former days viz., how Vipula had succeeded in protecting his preceptor's wife in ancient times.
Supplementary Passages:
13.40.15 After 15, D5 ins.: *293 तन्निबोध महाराज कथयामि समासतः
ऋषिरासीन्महाभागो देवशर्मेति विश्रुतः तस्य भार्या रुचिर्नाम रूपेणासदृशी भुवि
M. N. Dutt: There was in days of yore a highly blessed Rishi of the name of Devasharman of great fame. He had a wife of name Ruchi, who was peerless on Earth in beauty.
तस्य रूपेण संमत्ता देवगन्धर्वदानवाः विशेषतस्तु राजेन्द्र वृत्रहा पाकशासनः
M. N. Dutt: Her loveliness intoxicated every one among the celestials and Gandharvas and Danavas. The chastiser of Paka, viz., Indra, the destroyer of Vritra, O king, was in particular enamoured of her and coveted her body.
नारीणां चरितज्ञश्च देवशर्मा महामुनिः यथाशक्ति यथोत्साहं भार्यां तामभ्यरक्षत
M. N. Dutt: The great ascetic Devasharman fully knew the disposition of women. He therefore, to the best of his power and energy, protected her.
पुरंदरं च जानीते परस्त्रीकामचारिणम् तस्माद्यत्नेन भार्याया रक्षणं स चकार ह
M. N. Dutt: The Rishi knew that Indra had not scruples in seeking the companionship of other people's wives. It was therefore, that he used to protect his wife, putting forth all his power.
स कदाचिदृषिस्तात यज्ञं कर्तुमनास्तदा भार्यासंरक्षणं कार्यं कथं स्यादित्यचिन्तयत्
M. N. Dutt: Once on a time. O son, the Rishi became desirous of celebrating a sacrifice. He began to think of how (during his own absence from home) his wife could be protected.
रक्षाविधानं मनसा स विचिन्त्य महातपाः आहूय दयितं शिष्यं विपुलं प्राह भार्गवम्
M. N. Dutt: Gifted with high ascetic merit, he at last hit upon the course he should adopt. Summoning his favourite disciple whose name was Vipula and who was of Bhrigu's family, he said as follows.
यज्ञकारो गमिष्यामि रुचिं चेमां सुरेश्वरः पुत्र प्रार्थयते नित्यं तां रक्षस्व यथाबलम्
M. N. Dutt: Devasharman said I shall leave home in order to celebrate a sacrifice. The king of the celestials always covets this Ruchi of mine. Do you, during my absence, protect her, displaying all your power.
अप्रमत्तेन ते भाव्यं सदा प्रति पुरंदरम् स हि रूपाणि कुरुते विविधानि भृगूद्वह
M. N. Dutt: You shall pass your time carefully in view of Purandara. O foremost one of Bhrigu's race, that Indra assumes various forms.
इत्युक्तो विपुलस्तेन तपस्वी नियतेन्द्रियः सदैवोग्रतपा राजन्नग्न्यर्कसदृशद्युतिः
AI Translation: Thus addressed by him, the ascetic Vipula, with controlled senses, was always of fierce austerities, O king, with a radiance like fire and the sun.
धर्मज्ञः सत्यवादी च तथेति प्रत्यभाषत पुनश्चेदं महाराज पप्रच्छ प्रस्थितं गुरुम्
AI Translation: The one who knew dharma and spoke the truth replied, "So be it." And again, O great king, he asked the guru who was about to leave,
कानि रूपाणि शक्रस्य भवन्त्यागच्छतो मुने वपुस्तेजश्च कीदृग्वै तन्मे व्याख्यातुमर्हसि
M. N. Dutt: Vipula said Tell me, O Muni, what forms does Shakra assume when he comes. Of what kinds is his body and what is his energy? You should tell me all this.
ततः स भगवांस्तस्मै विपुलाय महात्मने आचचक्षे यथातत्त्वं मायां शक्रस्य भारत
M. N. Dutt: Bhishma said The illustrious Rishi then truly described to the great Vipula all the illusions of Shakra, O Bharata.
बहुमायः स विप्रर्षे बलहा पाकशासनः तांस्तान्विकुरुते भावान्बहूनथ मुहुर्मुहुः
M. N. Dutt: Devasharman said The powerful chastiser of Paka, . regenerate Rishi, is full of illusion. Every moment he assumes those forms that he chooses.
किरीटी वज्रभृद्धन्वी मुकुटी बद्धकुण्डलः भवत्यथ मुहूर्तेन चण्डालसमदर्शनः
M. N. Dutt: Sometimes he wears a diadem and holds the thunderbolt. Sometimes, armed with the thunder bolt and wearing a crown on his head, he adorns himself with earrings. In a moment he changes himself into the shape and aspect of Chandala.
शिखी जटी चीरवासाः पुनर्भवति पुत्रक बृहच्छरीरश्च पुनः पीवरोऽथ पुनः कृशः
M. N. Dutt: Sometimes he appears with coronal locks on his head; soon again, O son, he shows himself with matted locks, his person being clad in rags. Sometimes he assumes a goodly and huge frame. The next moment he changes himself into one of emaciated limbs and clad in rags. as
गौरं श्यामं च कृष्णं च वर्णं विकुरुते पुनः विरूपो रूपवांश्चैव युवा वृद्धस्तथैव च
M. N. Dutt: Sometimes he becomes fair, sometimes darkish, sometimes dark of complexion. Sometimes he becomes ugly and sometimes beautiful. Sometimes he appears as young and sometimes as old.
प्राज्ञो जडश्च मूकश्च ह्रस्वो दीर्घस्तथैव च ब्राह्मणः क्षत्रियश्चैव वैश्यः शूद्रस्तथैव च प्रतिलोमानुलोमश्च भवत्यथ शतक्रतुः
M. N. Dutt: Sometimes he appears as a Brahmana, sometimes as a Kshatriya, sometimes as a Vaishya, and sometimes as a Shudra. Indeed, he of a hundred sacrifices appears at times as a person born of impure caste, that is, as the son of a superior father by an inferior mother or of an inferior father by a superior mother.
शुकवायसरूपी च हंसकोकिलरूपवान् सिंहव्याघ्रगजानां च रूपं धारयते पुनः
M. N. Dutt: Sometimes he appears a parrot, sometimes as a crow, sometimes as a swan and sometimes as a koel. He assumes the forms also of a lion, a tiger or an elephant.
दैवं दैत्यमथो राज्ञां वपुर्धारयतेऽपि च सुकृशो वायुभग्नाङ्गः शकुनिर्विकृतस्तथा
M. N. Dutt: Sometimes he appears as a god, sometimes as a Daitya and sometimes he assumes the guise of a king. Sometimes he appears as fat and plump, sometimes as one whose limbs have been broken by the disordered wind in the system, sometimes as a bird, and sometimes as one of an exceedingly ugly form.
चतुष्पाद्बहुरूपश्च पुनर्भवति बालिशः मक्षिकामशकादीनां वपुर्धारयतेऽपि च
M. N. Dutt: Sometimes he appears as a quadruped. Capable of assuming any form, he sometimes appears as an idiot shorn of all intelligence. He assumes also the forms of flies and gnats.
न शक्यमस्य ग्रहणं कर्तुं विपुल केनचित् अपि विश्वकृता तात येन सृष्टमिदं जगत्
M. N. Dutt: O Vipula, no one can make him out on account of these numberless disguises that he is capable of assuming. The very Creator of the universe is not equal to that feat.
पुनरन्तर्हितः शक्रो दृश्यते ज्ञानचक्षुषा वायुभूतश्च स पुनर्देवराजो भवत्युत
M. N. Dutt: He makes himself invisible when he likes. He is incapable of being seen except with the eye of knowledge. The king of the celestials sometimes changes himself into the wind.
एवं रूपाणि सततं कुरुते पाकशासनः तस्माद्विपुल यत्नेन रक्षेमां तनुमध्यमाम्
M. N. Dutt: The chastiser of Paka always assumes these disguises. Do you therefore, O Vipula protect this slender-waisted wife of mine with great care. intent upon
Supplementary Passages:
13.40.38 D4.6.7.9 subst. for 38cd: D5.8 ins. after 39: *294 सा त्वया सततं रक्ष्या इत्युक्त्वा प्रययौ मुनिः
यथा रुचिं नावलिहेद्देवेन्द्रो भृगुसत्तम क्रतावुपहितं न्यस्तं हविः श्वेव दुरात्मवान्
M. N. Dutt: O foremost one of Bhrigu's race, do you take every care for seeing that the king of the celestials may not defile this wife of mine like a wretched dog licking the Havi kept in view of a sacrifice.
एवमाख्याय स मुनिर्यज्ञकारोऽगमत्तदा देवशर्मा महाभागस्ततो भरतसत्तम
M. N. Dutt: Having said these words, the highly blessed ascetic viz., Devasharman, celebrating a sacrifice, started from his abode, O chief of the Bharatas.
विपुलस्तु वचः श्रुत्वा गुरोश्चिन्तापरोऽभवत् रक्षां च परमां चक्रे देवराजान्महाबलात्
M. N. Dutt: Hearing these words of his preceptor, Vipula began to think, I shall certainly protect this lady in every respect from the powerful king of the celestials.
किं नु शक्यं मया कर्तुं गुरुदाराभिरक्षणे मायावी हि सुरेन्द्रोऽसौ दुर्धर्षश्चापि वीर्यवान्
M. N. Dutt: But what should be the means? What can I do for protecting the wife of my preceptor? The king of the celestials is endued with large powers of illusion. Gifted with great energy, he is difficult of being resisted.
नापिधायाश्रमं शक्यो रक्षितुं पाकशासनः उटजं वा तथा ह्यस्य नानाविधसरूपता
M. N. Dutt: Indra cannot be kept out by enclosing this retreat of ours or fencing this yard, since he is capable of assuming numberless forms.
वायुरूपेण वा शक्रो गुरुपत्नीं प्रधर्षयेत् तस्मादिमां संप्रविश्य रुचिं स्थास्येऽहमद्य वै
M. N. Dutt: Assuming the form of the wind, the king of the celestials may assault the wife of my preceptor. The best course, therefore, for me, would be to enter the body of this lady and remain there.
अथ वा पौरुषेणेयमशक्या रक्षितुं मया बहुरूपो हि भगवाञ्छ्रूयते हरिवाहनः
M. N. Dutt: By displaying my prowess I shall not be able to protect the lady, for the powerful chastiser of Paka, it has been heard by me, is capable of assuming any form he likes.
सोऽहं योगबलादेनां रक्षिष्ये पाकशासनात् गात्राणि गात्रैरस्याहं संप्रवेक्ष्येऽभिरक्षितुम्
M. N. Dutt: I shall, therefore, protect this one from Indra by my Yogapower. For satisfying my object I shall with my body enter the body of this lady.
यद्युच्छिष्टामिमां पत्नीं रुचिं पश्येत मे गुरुः शप्स्यत्यसंशयं कोपाद्दिव्यज्ञानो महातपाः
M. N. Dutt: If my preceptor on return, sees his wife defiled, he will, forsooth, curse me through anger, for endued with great ascetic merit, he is gifted with spiritual vision.
न चेयं रक्षितुं शक्या यथान्या प्रमदा नृभिः मायावी हि सुरेन्द्रोऽसावहो प्राप्तोऽस्मि संशयम्
M. N. Dutt: This lady is incapable of being protected in the way in which other women are protected by men, since the king of the celestials is gifted with large powers of illusion. Alas, the situation is very critical.
अवश्यकरणीयं हि गुरोरिह हि शासनम् यदि त्वेतदहं कुर्यामाश्चर्यं स्यात्कृतं मया
M. N. Dutt: The command of my preceptor should certainly be obeyed by me. If, therefore, I protect her by my Yogapower, the feat will be considered by all as a wonderful one.
योगेनानुप्रविश्येह गुरुपत्न्याः कलेवरम् निर्मुक्तस्य रजोरूपान्नापराधो भवेन्मम
AI Translation: Having entered into the body of the Guru's wife through yoga, there would be no offense on my part, free from the form of passion.
Supplementary Passages:
13.40.50 After 50, D4-9 ins.: *295 मन एव मनुष्याणां कारणं बन्धमोक्षयोः अन्यथालिङ्ग्यते कान्ता दुहितालिङ्ग्यतेऽन्यथा गर्भसंस्थो यथा पुत्रो जायमानो न लिप्यते एवं ज्ञानी न लौक्यैश्च कर्मभिर्नैव दुष्यते
यथा हि शून्यां पथिकः सभामध्यावसेत्पथि तथाद्यावासयिष्यामि गुरुपत्न्याः कलेवरम्
AI Translation: Just as a traveler would stay in an empty hall on the road, so today I will stay in the body of the guru's wife.
असक्तः पद्मपत्रस्थो जलबिन्दुर्यथा चलः एवमेव शरीरेऽस्या निवत्स्यामि समाहितः
AI Translation: As a drop of water on a lotus leaf is unattached and unmoving, In the same way, I shall dwell in this body, fully concentrated.
इत्येवं धर्ममालोक्य वेदवेदांश्च सर्वशः तपश्च विपुलं दृष्ट्वा गुरोरात्मन एव च
AI Translation: Having thus seen the Dharma and all the Vedas, and having seen the great austerities of the guru and of himself,
इति निश्चित्य मनसा रक्षां प्रति स भार्गवः आतिष्ठत्परमं यत्नं यथा तच्छृणु पार्थिव
AI Translation: Having thus resolved in his mind regarding the protection, that Bhārgava undertook the utmost effort. Listen, O king, as to how.
गुरुपत्नीमुपासीनो विपुलः स महातपाः उपासीनामनिन्द्याङ्गीं कथाभिः समलोभयत्
M. N. Dutt: Gifted with great penances, Vipula sat himself down by the side of his preceptor's wife as she of faultless features was sitting in her cottage. Vipula then began to discourse to her for bringing her over to the cause of virtue and truth.
Supplementary Passages:
13.40.55 After 55, D4-7.9 ins.: *296 विपुलोऽथ रुचिं तस्मिन्योगात्तां प्रविवेश ह रक्षितुं गुरुपत्नीं स बहुरूपाच्छतक्रतोः
नेत्राभ्यां नेत्रयोरस्या रश्मीन्संयोज्य रश्मिभिः विवेश विपुलः कायमाकाशं पवनो यथा
M. N. Dutt: Directing his eyes then to hers and uniting the rays of light that came out from her organs of vision with those that issued from his, Vipula entered the lady's body even as the element of wind enters that of ether or space.
लक्षणं लक्षणेनैव वदनं वदनेन च अविचेष्टन्नतिष्ठद्वै छायेवान्तर्गतो मुनिः
M. N. Dutt: Penetrating her eyes with his eyes and her face with his face, Vipula lived, without moving within her invisibly, like her shadow.
ततो विष्टभ्य विपुलो गुरुपत्न्याः कलेवरम् उवास रक्षणे युक्तो न च सा तमबुध्यत
M. N. Dutt: Restraining every part of the lady's body, Vipula continued to live within her, intent on protecting her from Indra. The lady herself knew nothing of this.
यं कालं नागतो राजन्गुरुस्तस्य महात्मनः क्रतुं समाप्य स्वगृहं तं कालं सोऽभ्यरक्षत
M. N. Dutt: It was in this way, o king, that Vipula continued to protect the lady till the time of his great preceptor's return after accomplishing the sacrifice which he had gone out to perform.