Critical Edition
इन्द्र उवाच कच्चित्सुखं स्वपिषि त्वं बृहस्पते; कच्चिन्मनोज्ञाः परिचारकास्ते कच्चिद्देवानां सुखकामोऽसि विप्र; कच्चिद्देवास्त्वां परिपालयन्ति
M. N. Dutt: Do you, O Brihaspati, sleep in peace, and do you like your servants, do you seek the welfare of the celestials, and do the celestials, O Brahmana, protect you.
बृहस्पतिरुवाच सुखं शयेऽहं शयने महेन्द्र; तथा मनोज्ञाः परिचारका मे तथा देवानां सुखकामोऽस्मि शक्र; देवाश्च मां सुभृशं पालयन्ति
M. N. Dutt: Brihaspati said I do sleep in peace, in my bed, O Lord of the celestials, and my servants are to iny liking, and I always seek the well being of the celestials, and they cherish me well.
इन्द्र उवाच कुतो दुःखं मानसं देहजं वा; पाण्डुर्विवर्णश्च कुतस्त्वमद्य आचक्ष्व मे तद्द्विज यावदेता;न्निहन्मि सर्वांस्तव दुःखकर्तॄन्
M. N. Dutt: Indra said Whence then is this pain, mental or physical, and why are you pale and changed in appearance at present, tell me, O Brahmana, who those people are, who have caused you pain, so that I may slay them all.
बृहस्पतिरुवाच मरुत्तमाहुर्मघवन्यक्ष्यमाणं; महायज्ञेनोत्तमदक्षिणेन तं संवर्तो याजयितेति मे श्रुतं; तदिच्छामि न स तं याजयेत
M. N. Dutt: O Indra, I have heard that Marutta will celebrate a great sacrifice at which rich presents will be given by him (to Brahmanas) and that at his sacrifice Samvarta will act as the officiating priest, and, therefore, do I wish that he may not officiate as priest at that sacrifice.
इन्द्र उवाच सर्वान्कामाननुजातोऽसि विप्र; यस्त्वं देवानां मन्त्रयसे पुरोधाः उभौ च ते जन्ममृत्यू व्यतीतौ; किं संवर्तस्तव कर्ताद्य विप्र
M. N. Dutt: Indra said-You, O Brahmana, has attained all the objects of your desire when you have become the excellent priest of the celestials, versed in all the sacred hymns, and have got over the influence of death and decrepitude, what can Samvarta do to you now?
बृहस्पतिरुवाच देवैः सह त्वमसुरान्संप्रणुद्य; जिघांससेऽद्याप्युत सानुबन्धान् यं यं समृद्धं पश्यसि तत्र तत्र; दुःखं सपत्नेषु समृद्धभावः
AI Translation: Brihaspati said: You are still intent on destroying the demons along with the gods, along with their followers. Wherever you see prosperity, there is sorrow for the enemies in that prosperity.
अतोऽस्मि देवेन्द्र विवर्णरूपः; सपत्नो मे वर्धते तन्निशम्य सर्वोपायैर्मघवन्संनियच्छ; संवर्तं वा पार्थिवं वा मरुत्तम्
AI Translation: Therefore, O Indra of the gods, I am of a pale complexion; hearing that my enemy is prospering, O Maghavan, restrain him by all means; whether it be Samvarta, or Parthiva, or Marutta,
इन्द्र उवाच एहि गच्छ प्रहितो जातवेदो; बृहस्पतिं परिदातुं मरुत्ते अयं वै त्वा याजयिता बृहस्पति;स्तथामरं चैव करिष्यतीति
M. N. Dutt: Do you, O Jataveda, following my direction, go to king Maruttato present Brihaspati to him and say to him that this Brihaspati will officiate at his sacrifice and make him immortal.
अग्निरुवाच अयं गच्छामि तव शक्राद्य दूतो; बृहस्पतिं परिदातुं मरुत्ते वाचं सत्यां पुरुहूतस्य कर्तुं; बृहस्पतेश्चापचितिं चिकीर्षुः
M. N. Dutt: Agni said I shall presently, O worshipful one, go there, as your messenger, to present Brihaspati to king Marutta; and to make Indra's words true, and to show respect to Brihaspati, Agni departed.
व्यास उवाच ततः प्रायाद्धूमकेतुर्महात्मा; वनस्पतीन्वीरुधश्चावमृद्नन् कामाद्धिमान्ते परिवर्तमानः; काष्ठातिगो मातरिश्वेव नर्दन्
M. N. Dutt: Vyasa said Then the great Fire-God went on his errand, laying waste all the forests and trees, like the powerful wind, roaring and revolving at random at the end of the winter season.
मरुत्त उवाच आश्चर्यमद्य पश्यामि रूपिणं वह्निमागतम् आसनं सलिलं पाद्यं गां चोपानय वै मुने
M. N. Dutt: Marutta said See! I find the Fire-God come in his own embodiment, this day, therefore, do you, O Muni, offer him a seat and water, and a cow and water for washing the feet.
अग्निरुवाच आसनं सलिलं पाद्यं प्रतिनन्दामि तेऽनघ इन्द्रेण तु समादिष्टं विद्धि मां दूतमागतम्
M. N. Dutt: Agni said I accept your offerings of water, seat, and water for washing the feet, O sinless one, do you know me as the messenger of Indra, come to you as ordered by him.
मरुत्त उवाच कच्चिच्छ्रीमान्देवराजः सुखी च; कच्चिच्चास्मान्प्रीयते धूमकेतो कच्चिद्देवाश्चास्य वशे यथाव;त्तद्ब्रूहि त्वं मम कार्त्स्न्येन देव
M. N. Dutt: Marutta said O Fire-God, is the glorious King of the Celestials happy, and is he pleased with us, and are the other celestials loyal to him? Do you enlighten me duly on all these matters.
अग्निरुवाच शक्रो भृशं सुसुखी पार्थिवेन्द्र; प्रीतिं चेच्छत्यजरां वै त्वया सः देवाश्च सर्वे वशगास्तस्य राज;न्संदेशं त्वं शृणु मे देवराज्ञः
M. N. Dutt: Agni said O king, Shakra is perfectly happy, he is pleased with you, and wishes to make you free from decrepitude, and all the other gods are loyal to him, do you, O king, listen to the message of the King of the Celestials.
यदर्थं मां प्राहिणोत्त्वत्सकाशं; बृहस्पतिं परिदातुं मरुत्ते अयं गुरुर्याजयिता नृप त्वां; मर्त्यं सन्तममरं त्वां करोतु
M. N. Dutt: And the object for which he has sent me to you is to present Brihaspati to Marutta; O prince, let this priest perform your sacrifice, and make you who are only a mortal, attain immortality.
मरुत्त उवाच संवर्तोऽयं याजयिता द्विजो मे; बृहस्पतेरञ्जलिरेष तस्य नासौ देवं याजयित्वा महेन्द्रं; मर्त्यं सन्तं याजयन्नद्य शोभेत्
M. N. Dutt: Marutta said This twice-born Brahmana Samvarta will perform your sacrifice, and I pray to Brihaspati, that he having acted as priest to Mahendra it does not appear well for him now to act as priest to mortal men.
अग्निरुवाच ये वै लोका देवलोके महान्तः; संप्राप्स्यसे तान्देवराजप्रसादात् त्वां चेदसौ याजयेद्वै बृहस्पति;र्नूनं स्वर्गं त्वं जयेः कीर्तियुक्तः
M. N. Dutt: If this Brihaspati officiate as your priest, then you will by the blessings of the King of the Celestials attain the highest place in the celestial mansion and acquiring fame you will, forsooth, conquer the heavenly region.
तथा लोका मानुषा ये च दिव्याः; प्रजापतेश्चापि ये वै महान्तः ते ते जिता देवराज्यं च कृत्स्नं; बृहस्पतिश्चेद्याजयेत्त्वां नरेन्द्र
M. N. Dutt: And, O king, if Brihaspati act as your priest you will be able to conquer all the regions inhabited by men, and the heavenly regions and all the highest regions created by Prajapati and even the entire kingdom of the celestials.
संवर्त उवाच मास्मानेवं त्वं पुनरागाः कथंचि;द्बृहस्पतिं परिदातुं मरुत्ते मा त्वां धक्ष्ये चक्षुषा दारुणेन; संक्रुद्धोऽहं पावक तन्निबोध
M. N. Dutt: You must never come again thus to present Brihaspati to Marutta; for know, O Pavaka, (Agni), if you do, I losing my temper, will burn you with my fierce evil eyes.
व्यास उवाच ततो देवानगमद्धूमकेतु;र्दाहाद्भीतो व्यथितोऽश्वत्थपर्णवत् तं वै दृष्ट्वा प्राह शक्रो महात्मा; बृहस्पतेः संनिधौ हव्यवाहम्
M. N. Dutt: Vyasa said Then fearing destruction by fire, and trembling like the leaves of the Ashvatha tree (Ficus religiosa), Agni returned to the gods, and the great Shakra seeing that carrier of oblations (Agni) in the company of Brihaspati said as follows:
यत्त्वं गतः प्रहितो जातवेदो; बृहस्पतिं परिदातुं मरुत्ते तत्किं प्राह स नृपो यक्ष्यमाणः; कच्चिद्वचः प्रतिगृह्णाति तच्च
M. N. Dutt: Indra said You, O Jatavada (Agni), went to present Brihaspati to Marutta according to my direction, now what did that sacrificing king say to you, and did he accept my command?
अग्निरुवाच न ते वाचं रोचयते मरुत्तो; बृहस्पतेरञ्जलिं प्राहिणोत्सः संवर्तो मां याजयितेत्यभीक्ष्णं; पुनः पुनः स मया प्रोच्यमानः
M. N. Dutt: Agni said, Your message was not acceptable by Maruita and when urged by me, he clasping the hands of Brihaspati, said again and again, that Samvarta would act as his priest.
उवाचेदं मानुषा ये च दिव्याः; प्रजापतेर्ये च लोका महान्तः तांश्चेल्लभेयं संविदं तेन कृत्वा; तथापि नेच्छेयमिति प्रतीतः
M. N. Dutt: And he also observed that he did not wish to attain the worldly and the heavenly regions, and all the highest regions of Prajapati, and that if he were so minded, he would accept the terms of Indra.
इन्द्र उवाच पुनर्भवान्पार्थिवं तं समेत्य; वाक्यं मदीयं प्रापय स्वार्थयुक्तम् पुनर्यद्युक्तो न करिष्यते वच;स्ततो वज्रं संप्रहर्तास्मि तस्मै
M. N. Dutt: Do you return to that king and meeting him, tell him these words of mine, full of meaning and if he obey them not, I shall strike him with my thunderbolt.
अग्निरुवाच गन्धर्वराड्यात्वयं तत्र दूतो; बिभेम्यहं वासव तत्र गन्तुम् संरब्धो मामब्रवीत्तीक्ष्णरोषः; संवर्तो वाक्यं चरितब्रह्मचर्यः
AI Translation: Agni said: "O Gandharvaraja, this is your messenger there. I am afraid to go there, O Vasava." "The angry one spoke to me in sharp anger, ""Sanvarta, who has practiced celibacy, said this: ""
यद्यागच्छेः पुनरेवं कथंचि;द्बृहस्पतिं परिदातुं मरुत्ते दहेयं त्वां चक्षुषा दारुणेन; संक्रुद्ध इत्येतदवैहि शक्र
AI Translation: If you come back here again, somehow, to give Brihaspati to Marutta, I will burn you with my fierce eyes. Know this, O Shakra, that I am angry.
इन्द्र उवाच त्वमेवान्यान्दहसे जातवेदो; न हि त्वदन्यो विद्यते भस्मकर्ता त्वत्संस्पर्शात्सर्वलोको बिभे;त्यश्रद्धेयं वदसे हव्यवाह
M. N. Dutt: Shakra said Jataveda, it is you who burns all other things and there is none else who can reduce you to ashes; all the world is afraid to come in contact with you, O carrier of oblation, these words of yours are worthy of no credence.
अग्निरुवाच दिवं देवेन्द्र पृथिवीं चैव सर्वां; संवेष्टयेस्त्वं स्वबलेनैव शक्र एवंविधस्येह सतस्तवासौ; कथं वृत्रस्त्रिदिवं प्राग्जहार
M. N. Dutt: You, O Shakra, have encompassed the dominion of the heaven and the earth and the sky by the strength of your own arms, but even thus how could Vritra (of old) wrest from you the sovereignty of the celestial regions?
इन्द्र उवाच न चण्डिका जङ्गमा नो करेणु;र्न वारिसोमं प्रपिबामि वह्ने न दुर्बले वै विसृजामि वज्रं; को मेऽसुखाय प्रहरेन्मनुष्यः
M. N. Dutt: Indra said I can reduce my enemies to submission and can even reduce the size of a mountain to an atom, if I will it. But, O Vahni, as I do not accept the libation of Soma drink if offered by an enemy, and as I do not strike the weak with my thunderbolt (Vritra got the better of me for a time) But who among mortals can live in peace by creating enmity with me.
प्रव्राजयेयं कालकेयान्पृथिव्या;मपाकर्षं दानवानन्तरिक्षात् दिवः प्रह्रादमवसानमानयं; को मेऽसुखाय प्रहरेत मर्त्यः
M. N. Dutt: I have banished the Kalakeyas to the earth, and removed the Danavas from the celestial region, and have terminated the existence of Prahlada in heaven, can there be any man who can leave in peace by exciting my enmity.
अग्निरुवाच यत्र शर्यातिं च्यवनो याजयिष्य;न्सहाश्विभ्यां सोममगृह्णदेकः तं त्वं क्रुद्धः प्रत्यषेधीः पुरस्ता;च्छर्यातियज्ञं स्मर तं महेन्द्र
M. N. Dutt: Agni said Do you, O Mahendra, remember that formerly when the sage Chyavana officiated at the sacrifice of Sharyati with the twin gods Ashvins, and himself appropriated the Soma offering alone, you were filled with anger, and when bent upon preventing preventing Sharyati's sacrifice, you did violently strike Chyavana with your thunderbolt, that Brahmana, O Purandara, yielding to anger, was able by the power of his devotions to seize and hold fast your hand with your thunderbolt in it.
वज्रं गृहीत्वा च पुरंदर त्वं; संप्राहार्षीश्च्यवनस्यातिघोरम् स ते विप्रः सह वज्रेण बाहु;मपागृह्णात्तपसा जातमन्युः
AI Translation: Having taken the thunderbolt, O Purandara, you spoke the very terrible (words) to Chyavana. That Brāhmaṇa, with the thunderbolt in his hand, took you, with
ततो रोषात्सर्वतो घोररूपं; सपत्नं ते जनयामास भूयः मदं नामासुरं विश्वरूपं; यं त्वं दृष्ट्वा चक्षुषी संन्यमीलः
AI Translation: Then, out of anger, he generated a terrible-looking enemy for you, a demon named Mad, of universal form, on seeing whom you closed your eyes.
हनुरेका जगतीस्था तथैका; दिवं गता महतो दानवस्य सहस्रं दन्तानां शतयोजनानां; सुतीक्ष्णानां घोररूपं बभूव
AI Translation: One of his jaws was on the earth, and the other in the sky. The thousand teeth of that great demon were a hundred yojanas long, and were very sharp and terrible.
वृत्ताः स्थूला रजतस्तम्भवर्णा; दंष्ट्राश्चतस्रो द्वे शते योजनानाम् स त्वां दन्तान्विदशन्नभ्यधाव;ज्जिघांसया शूलमुद्यम्य घोरम्
AI Translation: They were circular, thick, and the color of silver or gold, with four fangs, each two hundred yojanas long. He rushed at you, brandishing a terrible spear, with the intention of killing you.
अपश्यस्त्वं तं तदा घोररूपं; सर्वे त्वन्ये ददृशुर्दर्शनीयम् यस्माद्भीतः प्राञ्जलिस्त्वं महर्षि;मागच्छेथाः शरणं दानवघ्न
AI Translation: But you did not see him then, in his terrible form; all the others saw him as handsome. Because of him you were frightened, and with folded hands you went to him for refuge, O great sage, slayer of demons.
क्षत्रादेवं ब्रह्मबलं गरीयो; न ब्रह्मतः किंचिदन्यद्गरीयः सोऽहं जानन्ब्रह्मतेजो यथाव;न्न संवर्तं गन्तुमिच्छामि शक्र
M. N. Dutt: The power of Brahmana,s O Shakra, is greater than that of the Kshatriyas, none are more powerful than Brahmanas and knowing duly, as I do, the power of Brahmanas I do not, O Shakra, wish to quarrel with Samvarta.