Critical Edition
युधिष्ठिर उवाच कथं स वै विपन्नश्च कथं वै पातितो भुवि कथं चानिन्द्रतां प्राप्तस्तद्भवान्वक्तुमर्हति
M. N. Dutt: Yudhishthira said How was Nahusha plunged into distress? How was he hurled down on the Earth? How, indeed, was he deprived of the sovereignty of the celestials? You should recite everything to me.
भीष्म उवाच एवं तयोः संवदतोः क्रियास्तस्य महात्मनः सर्वा एवाभ्यवर्तन्त या दिव्या याश्च मानुषाः
M. N. Dutt: Bhishma said Thus did those two Rishis, viz., Bhrigu and Agastya, talk with each other, I have already told you how Nahusha, when he first become the king of the celestials, acted in a proper way. Indeed, that great royal sage performed all human and celestial deeds.
तथैव दीपदानानि सर्वोपकरणानि च बलिकर्म च यच्चान्यदुत्सेकाश्च पृथग्विधाः सर्वास्तस्य समुत्पन्ना देवराज्ञो महात्मनः
M. N. Dutt: Nahusha who had become the king of the celestials, made gifts of light, and properly deserved all other rites of a similar nature, the due presentation of Balis, and all rites as are performed on especially sacred days. Pious acts are always done by wise men, in both the world of men and that of the celestials, Indeed, O foremost of kings, if such acts are observed, householders always succeed in acquiring prosperity and aggrandisement.
देवलोके नृलोके च सदाचारा बुधैः स्मृताः ते चेद्भवन्ति राजेन्द्र ऋध्यन्ते गृहमेधिनः धूपप्रदानैर्दीपैश्च नमस्कारैस्तथैव च
M. N. Dutt: Even such is the effect of the gift of lamps and of incense, as also of bows and prostrations, to the celestials.
यथा सिद्धस्य चान्नस्य द्विजायाग्रं प्रदीयते बलयश्च गृहोद्देशे अतः प्रीयन्ति देवताः
M. N. Dutt: When food is cooked, the first portion thereof should be offered to a Brahmana. The particular offerings called Bali should also be presented to the household gods. The deities become pleased with such gifts.
यथा च गृहिणस्तोषो भवेद्वै बलिकर्मणा तथा शतगुणा प्रीतिर्देवतानां स्म जायते
M. N. Dutt: It is also well known that the measure of gratification which the celestials derive from such offerings is a hundred times as great as that which the householder himself gets from making them.
एवं धूपप्रदानं च दीपदानं च साधवः प्रशंसन्ति नमस्कारैर्युक्तमात्मगुणावहम्
M. N. Dutt: Pious and wise persons make offering of incense and lights, accompanying them with bows and prostrations. Such acts always yield advancement and prosperity to those that do them.
स्नानेनाद्भिश्च यत्कर्म क्रियते वै विपश्चिता नमस्कारप्रयुक्तेन तेन प्रीयन्ति देवताः गृह्याश्च देवताः सर्वाः प्रीयन्ते विधिनार्चिताः
M. N. Dutt: Those rites which the learned perform in course of their ablutions, and with the help of waters, accompanied with bows to the gods, always contribute to the satisfaction of the celestials.
Supplementary Passages:
13.103.8 After 8abcd, N (D3 missing) ins.: *460 पितरश्च महाभागा ऋषयश्च तपोधनाः
इत्येतां बुद्धिमास्थाय नहुषः स नरेश्वरः सुरेन्द्रत्वं महत्प्राप्य कृतवानेतदद्भुतम्
M. N. Dutt: Filled with such ideas, Nahusha, that great king, when he obtained the sovereignty of the celestials, observed all these rites and duties fraught with great glory.
कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य भाग्यक्षय उपस्थिते सर्वमेतदवज्ञाय न चकारैतदीदृशम्
M. N. Dutt: Sometime after, the good fortune of Nahusha decreased, and as the outcome of it, he neglected all these observances and began to act in defiance of all control in the manner I have already described.
ततः स परिहीणोऽभूत्सुरेन्द्रो बलिकर्मतः धूपदीपोदकविधिं न यथावच्चकार ह ततोऽस्य यज्ञविषयो रक्षोभिः पर्यबाध्यत
M. N. Dutt: The king of the celestials, on account of his abstention from observing the ordinances about the offers of incense and light, began to decline in power.
अथागस्त्यमृषिश्रेष्ठं वाहनायाजुहाव ह द्रुतं सरस्वतीकूलात्स्मयन्निव महाबलः
AI Translation: Then he summoned the best of sages, Agastya, to be his mount, with a smile, the immensely powerful one, from the banks of the Sarasvati river.
ततो भृगुर्महातेजा मैत्रावरुणिमब्रवीत् निमीलयस्व नयने जटा यावद्विशामि ते
AI Translation: Then the very radiant Bhrigu said to Maitrāvaruṇa: "Close your eyes and let me enter your matted locks."
Supplementary Passages:
13.103.13 After 13, T G M4 ins.: *461 सुरेन्द्रपातनायेति स च नेत्रे न्यमीलयत्
स्थाणुभूतस्य तस्याथ जटाः प्राविशदच्युतः भृगुः स सुमहातेजाः पातनाय नृपस्य ह
AI Translation: Then the unfallen one entered the matted locks of that one who had become a pillar. That Bhrigu, of very great brilliance, for the purpose of bringing down the king.
ततः स देवराट्प्राप्तस्तमृषिं वाहनाय वै ततोऽगस्त्यः सुरपतिं वाक्यमाह विशां पते
AI Translation: Then the king of the gods came to that sage for a mount. Then Agastya spoke these words to the lord of the gods, O lord of the people:
योजयस्वेन्द्र मां क्षिप्रं कं च देशं वहामि ते यत्र वक्ष्यसि तत्र त्वां नयिष्यामि सुराधिप
AI Translation: O Indra, quickly yoke me. Where shall I take you? O lord of the gods, I shall take you wherever you command.
इत्युक्तो नहुषस्तेन योजयामास तं मुनिम् भृगुस्तस्य जटासंस्थो बभूव हृषितो भृशम्
AI Translation: Thus addressed by him, Nahusha yoked the sage. Bhrigu, stationed in his matted locks, became greatly delighted.
न चापि दर्शनं तस्य चकार स भृगुस्तदा वरदानप्रभावज्ञो नहुषस्य महात्मनः
AI Translation: And the sage Bhrigu did not show himself to him, knowing the power of the boon granted to the great-souled Nahusha.
न चुकोप स चागस्त्यो युक्तोऽपि नहुषेण वै तं तु राजा प्रतोदेन चोदयामास भारत
AI Translation: But Agastya was not angry, though yoked to Nahusha. But the king goaded him with the goad, O descendant of Bharata.
Supplementary Passages:
13.103.19 After 19, S and Madras ed. ins.: *462 श्रुतिस्मृती प्रमाणं वा नेति वादे स देवराट्
न चुकोप स धर्मात्मा ततः पादेन देवराट् अगस्त्यस्य तदा क्रुद्धो वामेनाभ्यहनच्छिरः
AI Translation: The righteous one did not get angry. Then the king of the gods struck Agastya on the head with his left foot, while he was angry.
तस्मिञ्शिरस्यभिहते स जटान्तर्गतो भृगुः शशाप बलवत्क्रुद्धो नहुषं पापचेतसम्
AI Translation: When his head was struck, Bhrigu, who was inside the matted locks, became very angry and cursed the evil-minded Nahusha:
भृगुरुवाच यस्मात्पदाहनः क्रोधाच्छिरसीमं महामुनिम् तस्मादाशु महीं गच्छ सर्पो भूत्वा सुदुर्मते
AI Translation: Bhṛgu said: Because you angrily struck this great sage on the head with your foot, Therefore, O very wicked one, quickly go to the earth, becoming a serpent.
इत्युक्तः स तदा तेन सर्पो भूत्वा पपात ह अदृष्टेनाथ भृगुणा भूतले भरतर्षभ
AI Translation: Thus addressed by him, he became a serpent and fell down. O bull among the Bharata lineage, Bhrigu fell on the ground, unseen.
भृगुं हि यदि सोऽद्राक्षीन्नहुषः पृथिवीपते न स शक्तोऽभविष्यद्वै पातने तस्य तेजसा
AI Translation: If Nahusha, the lord of the earth, had seen Bhrigu, he would not have been able to bring him down by his own power.
स तु तैस्तैः प्रदानैश्च तपोभिर्नियमैस्तथा पतितोऽपि महाराज भूतले स्मृतिमानभूत् प्रसादयामास भृगुं शापान्तो मे भवेदिति
AI Translation: But by those gifts, by those austerities, by those restraints, Even though fallen on the ground, O great king, he regained his memory. He propitiated Bhrigu, saying, "Let my curse end."
ततोऽगस्त्यः कृपाविष्टः प्रासादयत तं भृगुम् शापान्तार्थं महाराज स च प्रादात्कृपान्वितः
M. N. Dutt: Agastya also, filled with mercy joined Nahusha in pacifying Bhrigu for the termination of the curse. At last Bhrigu felt mercy for Nahusha and arranged for the working out of the curse.
भृगुरुवाच राजा युधिष्ठिरो नाम भविष्यति कुरूद्वहः स त्वां मोक्षयिता शापादित्युक्त्वान्तरधीयत
M. N. Dutt: Bhrigu said There will appear a king (on Earth) of the name of Yudhishthira, the foremost of his race. He will rescue you from this curse! Having said this, the Rishi disappeared from the presence of Nahusha.
अगस्त्योऽपि महातेजाः कृत्वा कार्यं शतक्रतोः स्वमाश्रमपदं प्रायात्पूज्यमानो द्विजातिभिः
M. N. Dutt: Agastya also, of great energy, having thus performed the business of the true Indra, that arbitrator of a hundred sacrifices, returned to his hermitage, adored of all members of the regenerate order.
नहुषोऽपि त्वया राजंस्तस्माच्छापात्समुद्धृतः जगाम ब्रह्मसदनं पश्यतस्ते जनाधिप
M. N. Dutt: You have, o king rescued Nahusha from Bhrigu's curse. Rescued by you, he ascended to the region of Brahman before your eyes.
तदा तु पातयित्वा तं नहुषं भूतले भृगुः जगाम ब्रह्मसदनं ब्रह्मणे च न्यवेदयत्
M. N. Dutt: As regards, Bhrigu, having hurled Nahusha on the Earth, he went to the region of Brahman and informed the Grandfather of it.
ततः शक्रं समानाय्य देवानाह पितामहः वरदानान्मम सुरा नहुषो राज्यमाप्तवान् स चागस्त्येन क्रुद्धेन भ्रंशितो भूतलं गतः
M. N. Dutt: The Grandfather having called Indra back, addressed the celestials, saying, You celestials, through the boon I had granted him, Nahusha had obtained the sovereignty of Heaven.
न च शक्यं विना राज्ञा सुरा वर्तयितुं क्वचित् तस्मादयं पुनः शक्रो देवराज्येऽभिषिच्यताम्
AI Translation: And without a king, it is impossible for the gods to function anywhere. Therefore, let him be consecrated again as the king of the gods.
एवं संभाषमाणं तु देवाः पार्थ पितामहम् एवमस्त्विति संहृष्टाः प्रत्यूचुस्ते पितामहम्
AI Translation: Thus, O son of Pritha, the gods spoke to the grandfather. "The gods, delighted, replied to the grandfather, ""So be it!"""
सोऽभिषिक्तो भगवता देवराज्येन वासवः ब्रह्मणा राजशार्दूल यथापूर्वं व्यरोचत
AI Translation: He was consecrated by the Blessed One to the kingship of the gods, O Vasava. O best of kings, he shone as before, by Brahma.
एवमेतत्पुरावृत्तं नहुषस्य व्यतिक्रमात् स च तैरेव संसिद्धो नहुषः कर्मभिः पुनः
AI Translation: Thus it happened in the past due to the transgression of Nahusha. And he, Nahusha, was again accomplished by those very deeds.
तस्माद्दीपाः प्रदातव्याः सायं वै गृहमेधिभिः दिव्यं चक्षुरवाप्नोति प्रेत्य दीपप्रदायकः पूर्णचन्द्रप्रतीकाशा दीपदाश्च भवन्त्युत
M. N. Dutt: The giver of lights is sure to win celestial vision after death. Givers of light become as resplendent as the full moon.
यावदक्षिनिमेषाणि ज्वलते तावतीः समाः रूपवान्धनवांश्चापि नरो भवति दीपदः
M. N. Dutt: The giver of lights becomes gifted with beauty of form and strength for years corresponding with the number of twinkles for which the lights given by him burn or blaze.
Supplementary Passages:
13.103.37 After 37, T1 G2.4 ins.: *463 य इदं शृणुयाद्वापि पठते यो द्विजोत्तमः ब्रह्मलोकमवाप्नोति स च नैवात्र संशयः