Critical Edition
जनमेजय उवाच धर्मागतेन त्यागेन भगवन्सर्वमस्ति चेत् एतन्मे सर्वमाचक्ष्व कुशलो ह्यसि भाषितुम्
M. N. Dutt: Janamejaya said If, O illustrious one, celestial region is the fruit of riches acquired by fair means, do you fully describe it to me. You are wellconversant with the subject and, it is, therefore, proper for you to explain it.
ततोञ्छवृत्तेर्यद्वृत्तं सक्तुदाने फलं महत् कथितं मे महद्ब्रह्मंस्तथ्यमेतदसंशयम्
M. N. Dutt: O twice-born one, you have said to me what the high fruit was that accrued to that Brahmana, who lived according to the Unchcha mode, through his gift of powdered barley. Forsooth, all you have said is true.
कथं हि सर्वयज्ञेषु निश्चयः परमो भवेत् एतदर्हसि मे वक्तुं निखिलेन द्विजर्षभ
M. N. Dutt: In what way, however, was the attainment held certain of the highest end in all sacrifices? O foremost of twice-born persons, you should fully expound all this to me.
वैशंपायन उवाच अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् अगस्त्यस्य महायज्ञे पुरावृत्तमरिंदम
M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said Regarding it is cited this old narrative, O chastiser of enemies, of what took place formerly in the great sacrifice of Agastya.
पुरागस्त्यो महातेजा दीक्षां द्वादशवार्षिकीम् प्रविवेश महाराज सर्वभूतहिते रतः
M. N. Dutt: Formerly, O king, Agastya of great energy, devoted to the well-being of all creatures, entered into a Diksha extending for twelve years.
तत्राग्निकल्पा होतार आसन्सत्रे महात्मनः मूलाहारा निराहाराः साश्मकुट्टा मरीचिपाः
M. N. Dutt: In that sacrifice of the great Rishi many Hotris were engaged who resembled blazing fires in the splendour of their bodies. Among them were men who lived upon roots or fruits, or who used two pieces of stone only for husking their corn, or who were supported by only the rays (of the moon).
परिघृष्टिका वैघसिकाः संप्रक्षालास्तथैव च यतयो भिक्षवश्चात्र बभूवुः पर्यवस्थिताः
M. N. Dutt: Among them were also men who never took any food unless it was placed before them by others desirous of feeding them, and those who never ate anything without having first served the celestials, the departed Manes, and guests, and those who never washed the food which they took. There were also Yatis and Vikshus among them, O king.
सर्वे प्रत्यक्षधर्माणो जितक्रोधा जितेन्द्रियाः दमे स्थिताश्च ते सर्वे दम्भमोहविवर्जिताः
M. N. Dutt: All of them were men who had obtained a sight of the deity of virtue in his embodied form. They had subjugated anger and acquired a complete mastery over all their senses. Living in the observance of self-control, they were freed from pride and the desire of injuring others.
वृत्ते शुद्धे स्थिता नित्यमिन्द्रियैश्चाप्यवाहिताः उपासते स्म तं यज्ञं भुञ्जानास्ते महर्षयः
M. N. Dutt: They were always observant of a pure conduct and were never obstructed by their senses. Those great, Rishis attended that sacrifice and performed its various rites.
यथाशक्त्या भगवता तदन्नं समुपार्जितम् तस्मिन्सत्रे तु यत्किंचिदयोग्यं तत्र नाभवत् तथा ह्यनेकैर्मुनिभिर्महान्तः क्रतवः कृताः
AI Translation: The Blessed One had obtained that food according to his ability. In that sacrifice, whatever was unsuitable was not there. Thus, many great sacrifices were performed by many sages.
एवंविधेस्त्वगस्त्यस्य वर्तमाने महाध्वरे न ववर्ष सहस्राक्षस्तदा भरतसत्तम
AI Translation: Thus, when Agastya was performing a great sacrifice, the thousand-eyed one did not rain, O best of the Bharata lineage.
ततः कर्मान्तरे राजन्नगस्त्यस्य महात्मनः कथेयमभिनिर्वृत्ता मुनीनां भावितात्मनाम्
AI Translation: Then, O king, in another work of the great-souled Agastya, This story came to be composed by the sages of purified souls.
अगस्त्यो यजमानोऽसौ ददात्यन्नं विमत्सरः न च वर्षति पर्जन्यः कथमन्नं भविष्यति
AI Translation: Agastya, the sacrificer, is giving food without miserliness. But the rain god is not raining. How will there be food?
सत्रं चेदं महद्विप्रा मुनेर्द्वादशवार्षिकम् न वर्षिष्यति देवश्च वर्षाण्येतानि द्वादश
AI Translation: This great sacrifice of the sage will last twelve years, O Brahmins. And the god will not rain for these twelve years.
एतद्भवन्तः संचिन्त्य महर्षेरस्य धीमतः अगस्त्यस्यातितपसः कर्तुमर्हन्त्यनुग्रहम्
AI Translation: Having considered this, you should grant your favor to this wise and greatly ascetic maharshi, Agastya.
इत्येवमुक्ते वचने ततोऽगस्त्यः प्रतापवान् प्रोवाचेदं वचो वाग्मी प्रसाद्य शिरसा मुनीन्
AI Translation: When this was said, then the powerful Agastya, the eloquent one, having pleased the sages with his head, spoke these words:
यदि द्वादशवर्षाणि न वर्षिष्यति वासवः चिन्तायज्ञं करिष्यामि विधिरेष सनातनः
AI Translation: If Vāsava (Indra) does not rain for twelve years, I shall perform the contemplation sacrifice, for this is the eternal rule.
यदि द्वादशवर्षाणि न वर्षिष्यति वासवः व्यायामेनाहरिष्यामि यज्ञानन्यानतिव्रतान्
AI Translation: If Vāsava does not rain for twelve years, I will perform the other sacrifices with great effort and without any vows.
Supplementary Passages:
14.95.18 K3 M4 om. 18ab (cf. v.l. 17). K1.2 om. 18ab. K4 B1.3-5 D (except D1; Dn1 missing) T G1.2 ins. after 18b: K1 after 17: *192 स्पर्शयज्ञं करिष्यामि विधिरेष सनातनः यदि द्वादशवर्षाणि न वर्षिष्यति वासवः For 18cd, Bom. ed. subst.: *193 ध्येयात्मना हरिष्यामि यज्ञानेतान्यतव्रतः
बीजयज्ञो मयायं वै बहुवर्षसमाचितः बीजैः कृतैः करिष्ये च नात्र विघ्नो भविष्यति
AI Translation: This sacrifice of seeds has been accumulated by me for many years. Having performed with seeds, I shall perform. There will be no obstacle here.
नेदं शक्यं वृथा कर्तुं मम सत्रं कथंचन वर्षिष्यतीह वा देवो न वा देवो भविष्यति
AI Translation: This sacrifice of mine cannot be performed in vain in any way. The god will rain here or the god will not be.
अथ वाभ्यर्थनामिन्द्रः कुर्यान्न त्विह कामतः स्वयमिन्द्रो भविष्यामि जीवयिष्यामि च प्रजाः
AI Translation: Or Indra may make a request, but not here out of desire. I myself will become Indra and will revive the creatures.
यो यदाहारजातश्च स तथैव भविष्यति विशेषं चैव कर्तास्मि पुनः पुनरतीव हि
AI Translation: And he who is born from such food will be like that. And I will make a difference again and again.
अद्येह स्वर्णमभ्येतु यच्चान्यद्वसु दुर्लभम् त्रिषु लोकेषु यच्चास्ति तदिहागच्छतां स्वयम्
AI Translation: May gold come here today, and whatever other wealth is difficult to obtain, And whatever exists in the three worlds, may it come here by itself.
दिव्याश्चाप्सरसां संघाः सगन्धर्वाः सकिंनराः विश्वावसुश्च ये चान्ये तेऽप्युपासन्तु वः सदा
AI Translation: The divine hosts of apsarases, gandharvas, and kinnaras, And Vishvavasu and others, may they always attend to you.
उत्तरेभ्यः कुरुभ्यश्च यत्किंचिद्वसु विद्यते सर्वं तदिह यज्ञे मे स्वयमेवोपतिष्ठतु स्वर्गं स्वर्गसदश्चैव धर्मश्च स्वयमेव तु
AI Translation: Whatever wealth there is in the northern Kuru region, may it all come to this sacrifice of mine, of its own accord. May heaven, the abode of heaven, and Dharma itself,
इत्युक्ते सर्वमेवैतदभवत्तस्य धीमतः ततस्ते मुनयो दृष्ट्वा मुनेस्तस्य तपोबलम् विस्मिता वचनं प्राहुरिदं सर्वे महार्थवत्
M. N. Dutt: The Rishis who were there saw the power of penances with rejoicing hearts. Filled with wonder they then said these words of grave significance.
Supplementary Passages:
14.95.26 After 26b, K1 B1.3-5 Dc1 D2-6 ins.: *194 तस्य दीप्ताग्निमहसस्त्वगस्त्यस्यातितेजसः
प्रीताः स्म तव वाक्येन न त्विच्छामस्तपोव्ययम् स्वैरेव यज्ञैस्तुष्टाः स्मो न्यायेनेच्छामहे वयम्
M. N. Dutt: The Rishis said We have been highly pleased with words you have uttered. We do not, however, wish penances should diminution. Those sacrifices are approved by us which are performed by fair means. Indeed, we wish duly those sacrifices which rest on lawful means.
यज्ञान्दीक्षास्तथा होमान्यच्चान्यन्मृगयामहे तन्नोऽस्तु स्वकृतैर्यज्ञैर्नान्यतो मृगयामहे
AI Translation: We seek sacrifices, initiations, oblations, and whatever else we desire. Let that be ours through our own sacrifices; we do not seek it from elsewhere.
न्यायेनोपार्जिताहाराः स्वकर्मनिरता वयम् वेदांश्च ब्रह्मचर्येण न्यायतः प्रार्थयामहे
AI Translation: We who are engaged in our own duties, who have acquired food by lawful means, We seek the Vedas by means of celibacy and lawful means.
न्यायेनोत्तरकालं च गृहेभ्यो निःसृता वयम् धर्मदृष्टैर्विधिद्वारैस्तपस्तप्स्यामहे वयम्
AI Translation: And, in accordance with the rules, we will leave our homes and Practice austerities by the means prescribed by the Dharma.
भवतः सम्यगेषा हि बुद्धिर्हिंसाविवर्जिता एतामहिंसां यज्ञेषु ब्रूयास्त्वं सततं प्रभो
AI Translation: For you have the right understanding, free from violence. O Lord, always speak about this non-violence in sacrifices.
प्रीतास्ततो भविष्यामो वयं द्विजवरोत्तम विसर्जिताः समाप्तौ च सत्रादस्माद्व्रजामहे
M. N. Dutt: You should always, O powerful one, commend such abstention from injury in all sacrifices. We shall then be highly pleased, O foremost of twice-born ones. After the completion of your sacrifice, when dismissed by you, we shall then, leaving this place, go away.
वैशंपायन उवाच तथा कथयतामेव देवराजः पुरंदरः ववर्ष सुमहातेजा दृष्ट्वा तस्य तपोबलम्
M. N. Dutt: As they were saving these words, Purandara, the king of the deities, gifted with great energy, seeing the power of Agastya's penances, poured rain.
असमाप्तौ च यज्ञस्य तस्यामितपराक्रमः निकामवर्षी देवेन्द्रो बभूव जनमेजय
M. N. Dutt: Indeed, O Janamejaya, till the completion of the sacrifice of the Rishi of great prowess, the deity of rain poured rain which met the wishes of men both about quantity and time.
प्रसादयामास च तमगस्त्यं त्रिदशेश्वरः स्वयमभ्येत्य राजर्षे पुरस्कृत्य बृहस्पतिम्
M. N. Dutt: Placing Brihaspati be one him, the king of the deities came there, O royal sage, and pleased the Rishi Agastya.
ततो यज्ञसमाप्तौ तान्विससर्ज महामुनीन् अगस्त्यः परमप्रीतः पूजयित्वा यथाविधि
M. N. Dutt: On the termination of that sacrifice, Agastya, filled with joy, adored all those great Rishis duly and then sent them all away.
Supplementary Passages:
14.95.36 After 36b, T G1 ins.: *195 विपिने तत्र नकुलो नकुलोऽन्तर्हितस्तदा