Critical Edition
वैशंपायन उवाच यथागतं गते शक्रे भ्रातृभिः सह संगतः कृष्णया चैव बीभत्सुर्धर्मपुत्रमपूजयत्
M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said : Sakra having left for his own abode. Vivatsu together with (his) brothers and Krishna paid homage to the son of Dharma.
अभिवादयमानं तु मूर्ध्न्युपाघ्राय पाण्डवम् हर्षगद्गदया वाचा प्रहृष्टोऽर्जुनमब्रवीत्
M. N. Dutt: Having smelt the head of the Pandava Arjuna who was bowing down to him, (the son of Dharma), highly glad, addressed (him) in words, broken on account of joy, thus
कथमर्जुन कालोऽयं स्वर्गे व्यतिगतस्तव कथं चास्त्राण्यवाप्तानि देवराजश्च तोषितः
M. N. Dutt: "O Arjuna, how have you spent this period in heaven? And how have you obtained the weapons and pleased the king of the gods?
सम्यग्वा ते गृहीतानि कच्चिदस्त्राणि भारत कच्चित्सुराधिपः प्रीतो रुद्रश्चास्त्राण्यदात्तव
M. N. Dutt: O Pandava, have you thoroughly secured the weapons? Have the king of the gods and Rudra cheerfully given you the weapons?
यथा दृष्टश्च ते शक्रो भगवान्वा पिनाकधृक् यथा चास्त्राण्यवाप्तानि यथा चाराधितश्च ते
M. N. Dutt: How did you see the divine Sakra and the wielder of the Pinaka (Shiva) and how did you obtain the weapons and how did you worship (them),
यथोक्तवांस्त्वां भगवाञ्शतक्रतुररिंदम कृतप्रियस्त्वयास्मीति तच्च ते किं प्रियं कृतम् एतदिच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुं विस्तरेण महाद्युते
M. N. Dutt: And what good service you rendered to that tormentor of foes the worshipful performer of hundred sacrifices that he said "I have been pleased with you,”
यथा तुष्टो महादेवो देवराजश्च तेऽनघ यच्चापि वज्रपाणेस्ते प्रियं कृतमरिंदम एतदाख्याहि मे सर्वमखिलेन धनंजय
M. N. Dutt: What good (service) you rendered to the wielder of the thunderbolt-the tormentor of foes, O Dhananjaya, relate to me (all) this fully"
अर्जुन उवाच शृणु हन्त महाराज विधिना येन दृष्टवान् शतक्रतुमहं देवं भगवन्तं च शंकरम्
M. N. Dutt: Arjuna rcplied Listen, O great king, in what manner I beheld the divine performer of hundred sacrifices and worshipful Shankara.
विद्यामधीत्य तां राजंस्त्वयोक्तामरिमर्दन भवता च समादिष्टस्तपसे प्रस्थितो वनम्
M. N. Dutt: O destroyer of foes, having studied that (branch of) learning as directed by you, I repaired to the forest at your command for practicing asceticism.
भृगुतुङ्गमथो गत्वा काम्यकादास्थितस्तपः एकरात्रोषितः कंचिदपश्यं ब्राह्मणं पथि
M. N. Dutt: Having repaired from Kamyaktua Brigutunga and having spent there one night in practicing asceticism I met a Brahmana on the way.
स मामपृच्छत्कौन्तेय क्वासि गन्ता ब्रवीहि मे तस्मा अवितथं सर्वमब्रुवं कुरुनन्दन
M. N. Dutt: He asked me 'O son of Kunti, tell me where you will go' O son of Kuru, thereupon, I related to him everything faithfully.
स तथ्यं मम तच्छ्रुत्वा ब्राह्मणो राजसत्तम अपूजयत मां राजन्प्रीतिमांश्चाभवन्मयि
M. N. Dutt: O best of kings, hearing me narrate faithfully (everything) that Brahmana became well disposed towards me and, O king, greeted me.
ततो मामब्रवीत्प्रीतस्तप आतिष्ठ भारत तपस्वी नचिरेण त्वं द्रक्ष्यसे विबुधाधिपम्
M. N. Dutt: And being pleased, he said to me "practice asceticism. By asceticism you will soon behold the lord of the gods.'
ततोऽहं वचनात्तस्य गिरिमारुह्य शैशिरम् तपोऽतप्यं महाराज मासं मूलफलाशनः
M. N. Dutt: Then, following his instructions I ascended the mountain Saisira (Himalayas) and began to practice asceticism, living on fruits and roots in the (first) month.
द्वितीयश्चापि मे मासो जलं भक्षयतो गतः निराहारस्तृतीयेऽथ मासे पाण्डवनन्दन
M. N. Dutt: (And), O son of Pandu, I spent the second month living on water only and in the third I ate nothing at all.
ऊर्ध्वबाहुश्चतुर्थं तु मासमस्मि स्थितस्तदा न च मे हीयते प्राणस्तदद्भुतमिवाभवत्
M. N. Dutt: In the fourth month I remained with upraised arms; and it is a wonder that my strength did not diminish.
चतुर्थे समभिक्रान्ते प्रथमे दिवसे गते वराहसंस्थितं भूतं मत्समीपमुपागमत्
M. N. Dutt: And when the first day of the fifth month had passed away, there appeared before me a being having the appearance of a boar,
निघ्नन्प्रोथेन पृथिवीं विलिखंश्चरणैरपि संमार्जञ्जठरेणोर्वीं विवर्तंश्च मुहुर्मुहुः
M. N. Dutt: Ploughing the earth with his mouth, striking (it) with his feet, rubbing the ground with his belly and roving constantly to and fro in a frightful manner.
अनु तस्यापरं भूतं महत्कैरातसंस्थितम् धनुर्बाणासिमत्प्राप्तं स्त्रीगणानुगतं तदा
M. N. Dutt: He was followed by another great being, in the shape of a hunter, armed with bow, arrows and sword and accompanied by females.
ततोऽहं धनुरादाय तथाक्षय्यौ महेषुधी अताडयं शरेणाथ तद्भूतं लोमहर्षणम्
M. N. Dutt: Then, taking up my bow and two inexhaustible quivers, I pierced that creature, causing the hair stand on the end, with an arrow.
युगपत्तत्किरातश्च विकृष्य बलवद्धनुः अभ्याजघ्ने दृढतरं कम्पयन्निव मे मनः
M. N. Dutt: The hunter too, drawing his strong bow simultaneously (with me), wounded him more efficiently, as if making my mind tremble.
स तु मामब्रवीद्राजन्मम पूर्वपरिग्रहः मृगयाधर्ममुत्सृज्य किमर्थं ताडितस्त्वया
M. N. Dutt: And he said to me, O King, "why have you, disregarding the rules of hunting aimed at the animal first struck by me?
एष ते निशितैर्बाणैर्दर्पं हन्मि स्थिरो भव स वर्ष्मवान्महाकायस्ततो मामभ्यधावत
M. N. Dutt: Stay (awhile), I will destroy your pride with these sharpened arrows." Then that hugebodied being taking up his bow rushed against me.
ततो गिरिमिवात्यर्थमावृणोन्मां महाशरैः तं चाहं शरवर्षेण महता समवाकिरम्
M. N. Dutt: He then cnveloped me entirely with mighty arrows (just) as a mountain (is covered with a mighty shower). I too, surrounded him with a mighty shower of shafts.
ततः शरैर्दीप्तमुखैः पत्रितैरनुमन्त्रितैः प्रत्यविध्यमहं तं तु वज्रैरिव शिलोच्चयम्
M. N. Dutt: Then I pierced him with steady arrows of blazing points and inspired with mantras (just) as a mountain is pierced by a thunderbolt.
तस्य तच्छतधा रूपमभवच्च सहस्रधा तानि चास्य शरीराणि शरैरहमताडयम्
M. N. Dutt: Thereupon his body became multiplied a hundred and a thousand times. (But) I pierced all his bodies with arrows.
पुनस्तानि शरीराणि एकीभूतानि भारत अदृश्यन्त महाराज तान्यहं व्यधमं पुनः
M. N. Dutt: Again, O Bharata, O great king, seeing that all his bodies became merged into one, 1 struck at it a second time.
अणुर्बृहच्छिरा भूत्वा बृहच्चाणुशिराः पुनः एकीभूतस्तदा राजन्सोऽभ्यवर्तत मां युधि
M. N. Dutt: He now assumed a diminutive body with large head and then a large body with a small head. And again assuming his former shape, he came before me to fight.
यदाभिभवितुं बाणैर्नैव शक्नोमि तं रणे ततोऽहमस्त्रमातिष्ठं वायव्यं भरतर्षभ
M. N. Dutt: When, O most exalted of the Bharatas, I could not crush him with arrows in the combat, I aimed (at him) the mighty weapon presided over by the wind god.
न चैनमशकं हन्तुं तदद्भुतमिवाभवत् तस्मिन्प्रतिहते चास्त्रे विस्मयो मे महानभूत्
M. N. Dutt: (But) it was a wonder (to me) that I could not hurt him (even with that). And when that weapon produced no effect I was lost in great wonder.
भूयश्चैव महाराज सविशेषमहं ततः अस्त्रपूगेन महता रणे भूतमवाकिरम्
M. N. Dutt: Again O king, with a vigorous effort I covered him, in that encounter, with numerous mighty weapons.
स्थूणाकर्णमयोजालं शरवर्षं शरोल्बणम् शैलास्त्रमश्मवर्षं च समास्थायाहमभ्ययाम् जग्रास प्रहसंस्तानि सर्वाण्यस्त्राणि मेऽनघ
AI Translation: I attacked with a shower of arrows, with a shower of arrows, with a shower of arrows, with a shower of arrows, with a shower of arrows, with a shower of arrows, with a shower of arrows, with a shower of arrows, with a shower of arrows, with a shower of
तेषु सर्वेषु शान्तेषु ब्रह्मास्त्रमहमादिशम् ततः प्रज्वलितैर्बाणैः सर्वतः सोपचीयत उपचीयमानश्च मया महास्त्रेण व्यवर्धत
M. N. Dutt: He was then completely covered with flaming arrows (issuing from that weapon) and when thus covered with that mighty weapon his body began to expand.
ततः संतापितो लोको मत्प्रसूतेन तेजसा क्षणेन हि दिशः खं च सर्वतोऽभिविदीपितम्
M. N. Dutt: Then on account of the energy of that weapon discharged by me, all the world became oppressed and all the points and the firmament became suddenly illuminated.
तदप्यस्त्रं महातेजाः क्षणेनैव व्यशातयत् ब्रह्मास्त्रे तु हते राजन्भयं मां महदाविशत्
M. N. Dutt: (But) that highly-energetic being instantly baffled even that weapon. And, O king, that weapon presided over by Brahma being destroyed, I was seized with a terrible fear.
Supplementary Passages:
3.163.35 After 35a, D1.2 ins.: *838 ततोऽहमपतं महीम् ततः प्रहस्य तद्भूतं
ततोऽहं धनुरादाय तथाक्षय्यौ महेषुधी सहसाभ्यहनं भूतं तान्यप्यस्त्राण्यभक्षयत्
M. N. Dutt: Thereupon instantly taking up my bow and the inexhaustible quivers, I aimed at him, (but) that being devoured those weapons also.
हतेष्वस्त्रेषु सर्वेषु भक्षितेष्वायुधेषु च मम तस्य च भूतस्य बाहुयुद्धमवर्तत
M. N. Dutt: All the weapons being (thus) baffled and devoured, that being and myself became engaged in a wrestling.
व्यायामं मुष्टिभिः कृत्वा तलैरपि समाहतौ अपातयच्च तद्भूतं निश्चेष्टो ह्यगमं महीम्
M. N. Dutt: At first we dealt blows and then gave slaps; but unable to crush him, I (at last) fell down on the ground deprived of sensation.
ततः प्रहस्य तद्भूतं तत्रैवान्तरधीयत सह स्त्रीभिर्महाराज पश्यतो मेऽद्भुतोपमम्
M. N. Dutt: Then, O great king, that being, giving forth a laugh, vanished with the women even at that very spot. And this struck me with wonder.
Supplementary Passages:
3.163.39 After 39ab, T2 G3.4 ins.: *839 ततश्चिन्तां समगमं पूजयिष्याम्यहं पुनः इति पुष्पाणि संगृह्य सैकतं शंकरं प्रभुम् पूजयिष्यंस्तमद्राक्षं किरातं पुष्पधारिणम् ततश्चान्यानि पुष्पाणि पूजयिष्यन्पुनः पुनः तानि सर्वाणि दृष्ट्वाहं किरातस्य च मूर्धनि इति कृत्वा महादेवं प्रणतोऽस्मि पुनः पुनः
एवं कृत्वा स भगवांस्ततोऽन्यद्रूपमात्मनः दिव्यमेव महाराज वसानोऽद्भुतमम्बरम्
M. N. Dutt: That divine being, having done this great king, appeared in another divine form, wearing a wonderful garment.
हित्वा किरातरूपं च भगवांस्त्रिदशेश्वरः स्वरूपं दिव्यमास्थाय तस्थौ तत्र महेश्वरः
M. N. Dutt: (Then) that divine lord of the gods, Maheshvara, giving up the from of hunter, ance.
अदृश्यत ततः साक्षाद्भगवान्गोवृषध्वजः उमासहायो हरिदृग्बहुरूपः पिनाकधृक्
M. N. Dutt: (Then) that very divine being, the wielder of the Pinaka, capable of assuming many shapes, having the bull for his emblem and bearing serpents, appeared before me with Uma.
स मामभ्येत्य समरे तथैवाभिमुखं स्थितम् शूलपाणिरथोवाच तुष्टोऽस्मीति परंतप
M. N. Dutt: He with the trident in his hand, coming up to me and seeing me ready for fight, O tormentor of foes, said "I am pleased (with you)."
ततस्तद्धनुरादाय तूणौ चाक्षय्यसायकौ प्रादान्ममैव भगवान्वरयस्वेति चाब्रवीत्
M. N. Dutt: Then, holding (my) bow and the two arrowcase furnished with inexhaustible shafts, that divine one returned them to me saying "crave some boon.
तुष्टोऽस्मि तव कौन्तेय ब्रूहि किं करवाणि ते यत्ते मनोगतं वीर तद्ब्रूहि वितराम्यहम् अमरत्वमपाहाय ब्रूहि यत्ते मनोगतम्
M. N. Dutt: O son of Kunti, I am pleased (with you). Say what I shall do for you. Tell me, O hero, what is your wish. I will fulfill it.
ततः प्राञ्जलिरेवाहमस्त्रेषु गतमानसः प्रणम्य शिरसा शर्वं ततो वचनमाददे
AI Translation: Then, with folded hands, my mind gone to the weapons, I bowed my head to Shiva and then spoke these words:
भगवान्मे प्रसन्नश्चेदीप्सितोऽयं वरो मम अस्त्राणीच्छाम्यहं ज्ञातुं यानि देवेषु कानिचित् ददानीत्येव भगवानब्रवीत्त्र्यम्बकश्च माम्
M. N. Dutt: I am to have a knowledge of all the weapons presided over by the gods.” Then the god, Traymbaka, said to me" I will give (them).
रौद्रमस्त्रं मदीयं त्वामुपस्थास्यति पाण्डव प्रददौ च मम प्रीतः सोऽस्त्रं पाशुपतं प्रभुः
M. N. Dutt: O Pandava, my own weapon, Rudra, shall ever be present to you.” (And) being satisfied (with me) he granted that mighty weapon, Pashupatha.
उवाच च महादेवो दत्त्वा मेऽस्त्रं सनातनम् न प्रयोज्यं भवेदेतन्मानुषेषु कथंचन
M. N. Dutt: Having bestowed upon me that eternal weapon, Mahadeva said “this (weapon) shall by no means be discharged against men.
Supplementary Passages:
3.163.49 After 49, K3 B Dc Dn D4-6 ins.: *840 जगद्विनिर्दहेदेवमल्पतेजसि पातितम्
पीड्यमानेन बलवत्प्रयोज्यं ते धनंजय अस्त्राणां प्रतिघाते च सर्वथैव प्रयोजयेः
AI Translation: When you are being oppressed, you should use force against them, O Dhananjaya. And in the case of the weapons, you should use them in every way.
तदप्रतिहतं दिव्यं सर्वास्त्रप्रतिषेधनम् मूर्तिमन्मे स्थितं पार्श्वे प्रसन्ने गोवृषध्वजे
AI Translation: That which is unobstructed, divine, and counteracts all weapons, That which is embodied and present at my side, when the one with the bull on his banner is pleased,
उत्सादनममित्राणां परसेनानिकर्तनम् दुरासदं दुष्प्रहसं सुरदानवराक्षसैः
AI Translation: The destruction of enemies, the destruction of the enemy army, Inaccessible, difficult to strike by gods, demons, and rākṣasas,
अनुज्ञातस्त्वहं तेन तत्रैव समुपाविशम् प्रेक्षतश्चैव मे देवस्तत्रैवान्तरधीयत
AI Translation: Having been permitted by him, I sat down right there. And while I was watching, the Lord disappeared right there.