Critical Edition
भीष्म उवाच इत्युक्तस्त्वर्जुनस्तूष्णीमभूद्वायुस्तमब्रवीत् शृणु मे हैहयश्रेष्ठ कर्मात्रेः सुमहात्मनः
M. N. Dutt: Bhishma said Thus addressed, Arjuna remained silent. The god of wind once more addressed him, saying, Hear me, O foremost one of the Haihayas, as I describe to you the achicvement of the great Atri.
घोरे तमस्ययुध्यन्त सहिता देवदानवाः अविध्यत शरैस्तत्र स्वर्भानुः सोमभास्करौ
M. N. Dutt: Once on a time as the gods and Danavas were fighting each other in the dark, Rahu pierced both the Sun and Moon with his arrows.
अथ ते तमसा ग्रस्ता निहन्यन्ते स्म दानवैः देवा नृपतिशार्दूल सहैव बलिभिस्तदा
M. N. Dutt: The gods, overwhelmed by darkness, began to fall before the powerful Danavas, O foremost of kings.
असुरैर्वध्यमानास्ते क्षीणप्राणा दिवौकसः अपश्यन्त तपस्यन्तमत्रिं विप्रं महावने
AI Translation: The gods, being killed by the demons, their life-breath exhausted, saw the brahmin Atri, engaged in austerities, in a great forest.
अथैनमब्रुवन्देवाः शान्तक्रोधं जितेन्द्रियम् असुरैरिषुभिर्विद्धौ चन्द्रादित्याविमावुभौ
AI Translation: Then the gods spoke to him, who had pacified his anger and conquered his senses: "The two, the moon and the sun, were pierced by the arrows of the demons,
वयं वध्यामहे चापि शत्रुभिस्तमसावृते नाधिगच्छाम शान्तिं च भयात्त्रायस्व नः प्रभो
M. N. Dutt: On account of this, darkness has overtaken us, and we are being struck down by the enemy. We do not see the end of our troubles. Do you, O lord of great power, rescue us from this great fear.
कथं रक्षामि भवतस्तेऽब्रुवंश्चन्द्रमा भव तिमिरघ्नश्च सविता दस्युहा चैव नो भव
M. N. Dutt: The Rishi said How, indeed, shall I protect you? They answered, saying, Do you become the Moon. Do you also become the Sun, and do you begini to kill these robbers.
एवमुक्तस्तदात्रिस्तु तमोनुदभवच्छशी अपश्यत्सौम्यभावं च सूर्यस्य प्रतिदर्शनम्
M. N. Dutt: Thus begged by them, Atri assumed the form of the darknessdestroying Moon. Indeed, on account of his agreeable disposition, he began to look as beautiful and delightful as the Moon himself.
दृष्ट्वा नातिप्रभं सोमं तथा सूर्यं च पार्थिव प्रकाशमकरोदत्रिस्तपसा स्वेन संयुगे
M. N. Dutt: Seeing that the real Moon and the real Sun had become darkened by the arrows of the enemy, Atri, assuming the forms of those luminaries, began to shine forth over the field of battle, helped by the power of his penances.
जगद्वितिमिरं चापि प्रदीप्तमकरोत्तदा व्यजयच्छत्रुसंघांश्च देवानां स्वेन तेजसा
AI Translation: He also made the world free from darkness and illuminated. He conquered the hosts of enemies with his own brilliance and the gods.
अत्रिणा दह्यमानांस्तान्दृष्ट्वा देवा महासुरान् पराक्रमैस्तेऽपि तदा व्यत्यघ्नन्नत्रिरक्षिताः
AI Translation: Seeing the great demons being burned by Atri, the gods and the demons, protected by Atri, struck them back with their prowess.
उद्भासितश्च सविता देवास्त्राता हतासुराः अत्रिणा त्वथ सोमत्वं कृतमुत्तमतेजसा
AI Translation: The sun was illuminated, the gods were victorious, the demons were slain. Then, by Atri, the state of Soma was attained by the one of supreme brilliance.
अद्वितीयेन मुनिना जपता चर्मवाससा फलभक्षेण राजर्षे पश्य कर्मात्रिणा कृतम्
AI Translation: By the sage who was non-dual, who wore a hide, who was a muttering devotee, O royal sage, who ate fruits, see what has been done by the ascetic.
तस्यापि विस्तरेणोक्तं कर्मात्रेः सुमहात्मनः ब्रवीम्यहं ब्रूहि वा त्वमत्रितः क्षत्रियं वरम्
M. N. Dutt: I have thus described to you, in full, the feat of the great Atri. Shail I go on? Or, will you say anything? Is there a Kshatriya who is superior to this twiceborn Rishi?
Supplementary Passages:
13.141.14 For 14, T1 subst.: *648 एवमत्रेर्महाराज कथितं कर्म चाद्भुतम्
इत्युक्तस्त्वर्जुनस्तूष्णीमभूद्वायुस्तमब्रवीत् शृणु राजन्महत्कर्म च्यवनस्य महात्मनः
M. N. Dutt: Thus addressed, Arjuna remained silent. The god of wind once more spoke to him. Hear, O king, the feat achieved by the great Chyavana.
अश्विनोः प्रतिसंश्रुत्य च्यवनः पाकशासनम् प्रोवाच सहितं देवैः सोमपावश्विनौ कुरु
M. N. Dutt: Having made his promise to the twin Ashvins, Chyavana addressed the chastiser of Paka, saying, Do you make the Ashvins drinkers of Soma with all the other celestials.
Supplementary Passages:
13.141.16 For 15c-16d, T1 subst.: *649 च्यवनस्य महाराज शृणु माहात्म्यमुत्तमम् इष्ट्वा यज्ञं महाभाग च्यवनः सुमहातपाः नासत्यौ बलिनौ राजंश्चक्रे वै सोमपीथिनौ
इन्द्र उवाच अस्माभिर्वर्जितावेतौ भवेतां सोमपौ कथम् देवैर्न संमितावेतौ तस्मान्मैवं वदस्व नः
M. N. Dutt: Indra said The Ashvins have been outcasted by us. How, then, can these be admitted into the sacrificial circle for drinking Soma with the others? They are not classed with the celestials. Do not, therefore, tell us so.
अश्विभ्यां सह नेच्छामः पातुं सोमं महाव्रत पिबन्त्वन्ये यथाकामं नाहं पातुमिहोत्सहे
AI Translation: We do not wish to drink the Soma with the Ashvins, O great vow. Let others drink as they please; I do not wish to drink here.
Supplementary Passages:
13.141.18 After 18ab V1 B Dn D1.2.4-9 ins.: *650 यदन्यद्वक्ष्यसे विप्र तत्करिष्याम ते वचः च्यवन उवाच पिबेतामश्विनौ सोमं भवद्भिः सहिताविमौ उभावेतावपि सुरौ सूर्यपुत्रौ सुरेश्वर क्रियतां मद्वचो देवा यथा वै समुदाहृतम् एतद्वः कुर्वतां श्रेयो भवेन्नैतदकुर्वताम् इन्द्र उवाच अश्विभ्यां सह सोमं वै न पास्यामि द्विजोत्तम
च्यवन उवाच न चेत्करिष्यसि वचो मयोक्तं बलसूदन मया प्रमथितः सद्यः सोमं पास्यसि वै मखे
M. N. Dutt: Chyavana said If, O destroyer of Vala, you will not obey my words, you shall, this very day, drink Soma with them in sacrifice, compelled by me.
ततः कर्म समारब्धं हिताय सहसाश्विनोः च्यवनेन ततो मन्त्रैरभिभूताः सुराभवन्
M. N. Dutt: The god of wind said Then Chyavana, taking the Ashvins with him, began a great religious rite for their bencfit. The gods all became stupefied by Chyavana with the help of his Mantras.
तत्तु कर्म समारब्धं दृष्ट्वेन्द्रः क्रोधमूर्छितः उद्यम्य विपुलं शैलं च्यवनं समुपाद्रवत् तथा वज्रेण भगवानमर्षाकुललोचनः
M. N. Dutt: Seeing that feat undertaken by Chyavana, Indra became enraged. Taking up a huge mountain he ran against that Rishi.
तमापतन्तं दृष्ट्वैव च्यवनस्तपसान्वितः अद्भिः सिक्त्वास्तम्भयत्तं सवज्रं सहपर्वतम्
AI Translation: Seeing him coming, Chyavana, endowed with austerities, sprinkled him with water and immobilized him, along with the thunderbolt and the mountain.
अथेन्द्रस्य महाघोरं सोऽसृजच्छत्रुमेव ह मदं मन्त्राहुतिमयं व्यादितास्यं महामुनिः
AI Translation: Then the great sage, with a gaping mouth, created the great and terrible enemy of Indra, who was made of the oblation of mantras.
तस्य दन्तसहस्रं तु बभूव शतयोजनम् द्वियोजनशतास्तस्य दंष्ट्राः परमदारुणाः हनुस्तस्याभवद्भूमावेकश्चास्यास्पृशद्दिवम्
M. N. Dutt: Of terrible appearance, his fangs were two hundred Yojanas in length. One of his cheeks rested on the Earth and the other touched the sky.
जिह्वामूले स्थितास्तस्य सर्वे देवाः सवासवाः तिमेरास्यमनुप्राप्ता यथा मत्स्या महार्णवे
M. N. Dutt: Indeed, all the gods with Vasava seemed to stand at the root of that great Asura's tongue, as fishes when they enter into the wide open mouth of a leviathan.
ते संमन्त्र्य ततो देवा मदस्यास्यगतास्तदा अब्रुवन्सहिताः शक्रं प्रणमास्मै द्विजातये अश्विभ्यां सह सोमं च पिबामो विगतज्वराः
M. N. Dutt: While standing within the mouth of Mada, the gods consulted speedily and then addressing Indra, said, Do you soon bend your head in respect to this twiceborn personage.
ततः स प्रणतः शक्रश्चकार च्यवनस्य तत् च्यवनः कृतवांस्तौ चाप्यश्विनौ सोमपीथिनौ
AI Translation: Then the bowed Shakra did that of Chyavana. Chyavana did that of the two Ashvins who drank Soma.
Supplementary Passages:
13.141.27 For 27ab, T1 subst.: *651 तथेति शक्रस्तस्याथ प्रणाममकरोन्नृप
ततः प्रत्याहरत्कर्म मदं च व्यभजन्मुनिः अक्षेषु मृगयायां च पाने स्त्रीषु च वीर्यवान्
AI Translation: Then the sage withdrew his activities and divided his pride. He was valorous in gambling, hunting, drinking, and women.
एतैर्दोषैर्नरो राजन्क्षयं याति न संशयः तस्मादेतान्नरो नित्यं दूरतः परिवर्जयेत्
AI Translation: O king, there is no doubt that a man perishes due to these faults. Therefore, a man should always avoid these from afar.
एतत्ते च्यवनस्यापि कर्म राजन्प्रकीर्तितम् ब्रवीम्यहं ब्रूहि वा त्वं च्यवनात्क्षत्रियं वरम्
M. N. Dutt: Hence, one should always renounce these faults to a great distance. Thus, O king, I have described to you thc fcat achieved by Chyavana. Shall I go on? Or, will you say anything in reply? Is there a Kshatriya who is higher than the Brahmana Chyavana?