Critical Edition
भीष्म उवाच तूष्णीमासीदर्जुनस्तु पवनस्त्वब्रवीत्पुनः शृणु मे ब्राह्मणेष्वेव मुख्यं कर्म जनाधिप
M. N. Dutt: Bhishma said Hearing these words of the god of wind, Arjuna remained silent. At this, the god of wind once more addressed him saying, When the dwellers of Heaven, headed by Indra, found themselves within the mouth of the Asura Mada, at that time, Chyavana took away from them the Earth.
मदस्यास्यमनुप्राप्ता यदा सेन्द्रा दिवौकसः तदेयं च्यवनेनेह हृता तेषां वसुंधरा
AI Translation: When the gods with Indra came to the presence of this Madhu, then this earth was taken away by Chyavana from them.
उभौ लोकौ हृतौ मत्वा ते देवा दुःखिताभवन् शोकार्ताश्च महात्मानं ब्रह्माणं शरणं ययुः
M. N. Dutt: Deprived previously of Heaven and now of the Earth also, the gods became very dispirited. Indeed, those great ones, afflicted with grief, then threw themselves unreservedly upon the Grandfather's protection.
देवा ऊचुः मदास्यव्यतिषिक्तानामस्माकं लोकपूजित च्यवनेन हृता भूमिः कपैश्चापि दिवं प्रभो
M. N. Dutt: The Gods said O you who are adored by all creatures of the universe, the Earth has been taken away from us by Chyavana, while we have been deprived of Heaven by the Kapas, O powerful one.
ब्रह्मोवाच गच्छध्वं शरणं विप्रानाशु सेन्द्रा दिवौकसः प्रसाद्य तानुभौ लोकाववाप्स्यथ यथा पुरा
M. N. Dutt: Brahman said You dwellers of Heaven, do you, with Indra, repair speedily and scck the protection of the Brahmanas. By pleasing them you will succeed in regaining both the regions as before.
ते ययुः शरणं विप्रांस्त ऊचुः काञ्जयामहे इत्युक्तास्ते द्विजान्प्राहुर्जयतेह कपानिति भूगतान्हि विजेतारो वयमित्येव पार्थिव
M. N. Dutt: Thus instructed by the Grandfather, the deities went to the Brahmanas and begged for their protection. The Brahmanas replied, enquiring, Whom shall we subjugate? Thus asked, the celestials said to them, Do you subjugate the Kapas.
ततः कर्म समारब्धं ब्राह्मणैः कपनाशनम् तच्छ्रुत्वा प्रेषितो दूतो ब्राह्मणेभ्यो धनी कपैः
M. N. Dutt: The Brahmanas then said, Bringing them down on the Earth first, we shall quickly subjugate them. After this, the Brahmanas began a rite having for its object the destruction of the Kapas. As soon as this was heard of by the Kapas, they immediately sent a messenger of theirs, named Dhani, to those Brahmanas.
स च तान्ब्राह्मणानाह धनी कपवचो यथा भवद्भिः सदृशाः सर्वे कपाः किमिह वर्तते
M. N. Dutt: Dhani, coming to them as they sat on the Earth, thus communicated to them the message of the Kapas, The Kapas are like you all. Hence, what will be the results of these rites which it appears you are determined upon?
सर्वे वेदविदः प्राज्ञाः सर्वे च क्रतुयाजिनः सर्वे सत्यव्रताश्चैव सर्वे तुल्या महर्षिभिः
M. N. Dutt: Of all them are well conversant with the Vedas and gifted with wisdom. All of them care for sacrifices. All of them have Truth for their vow, and for these reasons all of them are considered as equal to great Rishis.
श्रीश्चैव रमते तेषु धारयन्ति श्रियं च ते वृथा दारान्न गच्छन्ति वृथामांसं न भुञ्जते
M. N. Dutt: The goddess of Prosperity sports among them, and they, in their turn, support her with respect. They They never know their wives uselessly, and they never eat the flesh of such animals as have not been killed in sacrifices.
दीप्तमग्निं जुह्वति च गुरूणां वचने स्थिताः सर्वे च नियतात्मानो बालानां संविभागिनः
M. N. Dutt: They pour libations in the sacrificial fire (every day) and obey the commands of their preceptors and elders. All of them are of souls under perfect restraint, and never take any food without dividing it duly among their children.
उपेत्य शकटैर्यान्ति न सेवन्ति रजस्वलाम् अभुक्तवत्सु नाश्नन्ति दिवा चैव न शेरते
AI Translation: They go by carts, do not serve a woman in her menses, Do not eat when others have not eaten, and do not sleep during the day.
Supplementary Passages:
13.142.12 After 12ab, D10 S (except T1) ins.: *652 सुगतिं चैव गच्छन्ति तथैव शुभकर्मिणः After 12c, D10 S ins.: *653 गर्भिणीवत्सकादिषु पूर्वाह्णेषु न दीव्यन्ति
एतैश्चान्यैश्च बहुभिर्गुणैर्युक्तान्कथं कपान् विजेष्यथ निवर्तध्वं निवृत्तानां शुभं हि वः
M. N. Dutt: When the Kapas have these and many other virtues and qualities, why, indeed, would you seek to subjugate them? You should abstain from the attempt. Indeed, by such abstention you would achieve what is for your good.
ब्राह्मणा ऊचुः कपान्वयं विजेष्यामो ये देवास्ते वयं स्मृताः तस्माद्वध्याः कपास्माकं धनिन्याहि यथागतम्
M. N. Dutt: The Brahmanas said Oh, we shail subjugate the Kapas. In this matter, we are quite of a piece with the celestials. Hence, the Kapas deserve to be killed by us. As regards Dhanin, he should return whence he came.
धनी गत्वा कपानाह न वो विप्राः प्रियंकराः गृहीत्वास्त्राण्यथो विप्रान्कपाः सर्वे समाद्रवन्
M. N. Dutt: After this, Dhanin, returning to the Kapas, said to them, The Brahmans are not disposed to do you any good. Hearing this, all the Kapas took up their weapons and went towards the Brahmanas.
समुदग्रध्वजान्दृष्ट्वा कपान्सर्वे द्विजातयः व्यसृजञ्ज्वलितानग्नीन्कपानां प्राणनाशनान्
M. N. Dutt: Seeing the Kapas advancing against them with the standard of their cars upraised, the Brahmanas immediately created certain fires for the destruction of the vital airs of the Kapas.
ब्रह्मसृष्टा हव्यभुजः कपान्भुक्त्वा सनातनाः नभसीव यथाभ्राणि व्यराजन्त नराधिप प्रशशंसुर्द्विजांश्चैव ब्रह्माणं च यशस्विनम्
M. N. Dutt: Having brought about the destruction of the Kapas, those eternal fires, created with the help of the Vedic Mantras, began to shine in the firmament like so many clouds.
Supplementary Passages:
13.142.17 After 17cd, V1 B Dn D1.2.4-9 ins.: *654 हत्वा वै दानवान्देवाः सर्वे संभूय संयुगे ते नाभ्यजानन्हि तदा ब्राह्मणैर्निहतान्कपान् अथागम्य महातेजा नारदोऽकथयद्विभो यथा हता महाभागैस्तेजसा ब्राह्मणैः कपाः नारदस्य वचः श्रुत्वा प्रीताः सर्वे दिवौकसः
तेषां तेजस्तथा वीर्यं देवानां ववृधे ततः अवाप्नुवंश्चामरत्वं त्रिषु लोकेषु पूजितम्
M. N. Dutt: The energy and prowess of the celestials then began to increase, and adored in all the worlds, they acquired also the boon of immortality.
इत्युक्तवचनं वायुमर्जुनः प्रत्यभाषत प्रतिपूज्य महाबाहो यत्तच्छृणु नराधिप
M. N. Dutt: After the god of wind had said these words, king Arjuna adored him duly and addressing him answered in these words. Hear, O mightyarmed king, what Arjuna said.
जीवाम्यहं ब्राह्मणार्थे सर्वथा सततं प्रभो ब्रह्मणे ब्राह्मणेभ्यश्च प्रणमामि च नित्यशः
M. N. Dutt: Arjuna said O powerful god, always and by all means do I live for the Brahmanas. Devoted to them, I adore them always.
दत्तात्रेयप्रसादाच्च मया प्राप्तमिदं यशः लोके च परमा कीर्तिर्धर्मश्च चरितो महान्
M. N. Dutt: Through the favour of Dattatreya I have acquired this might of mine. Through his favour I have been able to perform great feats in the world and acquire high inerit.
अहो ब्राह्मणकर्माणि यथा मारुत तत्त्वतः त्वया प्रोक्तानि कार्त्स्न्येन श्रुतानि प्रयतेन ह
M. N. Dutt: Oh, I have with attention, heard the achievements, O god of wind, of the Brahmanas with all their interesting details as described by you truly.
वायुरुवाच ब्राह्मणान्क्षत्रधर्मेण पालयस्वेन्द्रियाणि च भृगुभ्यस्ते भयं घोरं तत्तु कालाद्भविष्यति
M. N. Dutt: The god of wind said Do you protect and maintain the Brahmanas, by performing those Kshatriya duties which are yours by birth. Do you protect them even as you protect your own senses. There is danger to you from the family of Bhrigu. All that, however, will happen on a distant day.