Critical Edition
वैशंपायन उवाच ब्रह्मयोनिभिराकीर्णं जगाम यदुनन्दनः यत्र दाल्भ्यो बको राजन्पश्वर्थं सुमहातपाः जुहाव धृतराष्ट्रस्य राष्ट्रं वैचित्रवीर्यिणः
M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said "That delighter of the Yadus then proceeded to the hermitage (of Vaka) resonant with the chaunting of the Vedas. There the great ascetic, O king, named Dalvya-vaka, poured the kingdom of Dhritarashtra, the son of Vichitravirya, as a libation (on the sacrificial fire). By practising hard penances he emaciated his own body. The greatly energetic and virtuous Rishi did it being worked up with great wrath.
Supplementary Passages:
9.40.1 After the second occurrence of 1c, D3.11 ins.: *247 धृतराष्ट्रेण सत्कृतः किंचित्प्रपां पदे मात्रं (sic)
तपसा घोररूपेण कर्शयन्देहमात्मनः क्रोधेन महताविष्टो धर्मात्मा वै प्रतापवान्
AI Translation: By means of terrible austerities, he was emaciating his body. Possessed by great anger, the righteous and powerful one,
पुरा हि नैमिषेयाणां सत्रे द्वादशवार्षिके वृत्ते विश्वजितोऽन्ते वै पाञ्चालानृषयोऽगमन्
M. N. Dutt: Formerly the Rishis, living in the Naimisha forest, had celebrated a sacrifice extending over twelve years. In the course of that sacrifice, after a particular one called Vishvajit had been completed, the Rishis started for the country of the Panchalas.
तत्रेश्वरमयाचन्त दक्षिणार्थं मनीषिणः बलान्वितान्वत्सतरान्निर्व्याधीनेकविंशतिम्
AI Translation: There the wise ones requested the lord for the purpose of the sacrificial fee, twenty-one strong, young bulls, free from disease.
Supplementary Passages:
9.40.4 After 4b, T G ins.: *248 तत्र ते लेभिरे राजन्पाञ्चालेभ्यो महर्षयः After 4, D2.3.11 ins.: *249 तेषां विप्रददौ राजा ब्राह्मणानां वृषांस्तदा
तानब्रवीद्बको वृद्धो विभजध्वं पशूनिति पशूनेतानहं त्यक्त्वा भिक्षिष्ये राजसत्तमम्
AI Translation: The old Bakas said to them, "Divide the cattle." "I shall give up these cattle and beg from the best of kings."
एवमुक्त्वा ततो राजन्नृषीन्सर्वान्प्रतापवान् जगाम धृतराष्ट्रस्य भवनं ब्राह्मणोत्तमः
AI Translation: Having spoken thus, O king, the powerful one then went to the house of Dhritarashtra, the best of Brahmanas.
स समीपगतो भूत्वा धृतराष्ट्रं जनेश्वरम् अयाचत पशून्दाल्भ्यः स चैनं रुषितोऽब्रवीत्
AI Translation: Having approached, he asked for cattle from Dhritarashtra, the lord of men. But he, being angry, said to him,
यदृच्छया मृता दृष्ट्वा गास्तदा नृपसत्तम एतान्पशून्नय क्षिप्रं ब्रह्मबन्धो यदीच्छसि
AI Translation: Seeing the cows that had died by chance, O best of kings, "If you wish, O Brahman-bound one, take these animals quickly."
ऋषिस्त्वथ वचः श्रुत्वा चिन्तयामास धर्मवित् अहो बत नृशंसं वै वाक्यमुक्तोऽस्मि संसदि
M. N. Dutt: Hearing these words, the dutiful Rishi thught-Alas, he has spoken cruel words to me in the assembly.'
चिन्तयित्वा मुहूर्तं च रोषाविष्टो द्विजोत्तमः मतिं चक्रे विनाशाय धृतराष्ट्रस्य भूपतेः
M. N. Dutt: Having thought thus, thus, that best of Brahmanas, filled with rage, made up his mind for destroying king Dhritarashtra.
स उत्कृत्य मृतानां वै मांसानि द्विजसत्तमः जुहाव धृतराष्ट्रस्य राष्ट्रं नरपतेः पुरा
AI Translation: The best of Brahmins, having cut out the flesh of the dead, offered it to Dhritarashtra, the king of the country.
अवकीर्णे सरस्वत्यास्तीर्थे प्रज्वाल्य पावकम् बको दाल्भ्यो महाराज नियमं परमास्थितः स तैरेव जुहावास्य राष्ट्रं मांसैर्महातपाः
M. N. Dutt: Cutting the flesh from the dead animals, that best of Rishis, having lighted a sacrificial fire on the tirtha of the Sarasvati, poured those pieces as libations for the destruction of king Dhritarashtra's kingdom. The great ascetic Dalvya-vaka, O king poured Dhritarashtra's kingdom as a libation on the fire.
तस्मिंस्तु विधिवत्सत्रे संप्रवृत्ते सुदारुणे अक्षीयत ततो राष्ट्रं धृतराष्ट्रस्य पार्थिव
M. N. Dutt: Upon the commencement of that dreadful sacrifice with proper rites, the kingdom of Dhritarashtra, O king, began to dwindle.
Supplementary Passages:
9.40.13 After 13, N ins.: *250 ततः प्रक्षीयमाणं तद्राष्ट्रं तस्य महीपतेः
छिद्यमानं यथानन्तं वनं परशुना विभो बभूवापहतं तच्चाप्यवकीर्णमचेतनम्
AI Translation: Just as a forest is cut down by an axe, O Lord, and becomes removed and scattered, unconscious.
दृष्ट्वा तदवकीर्णं तु राष्ट्रं स मनुजाधिपः बभूव दुर्मना राजंश्चिन्तयामास च प्रभुः
AI Translation: Seeing that his kingdom was scattered, the lord of men was distressed, O king, and reflected.
मोक्षार्थमकरोद्यत्नं ब्राह्मणैः सहितः पुरा अथासौ पार्थिवः खिन्नस्ते च विप्रास्तदा नृप
AI Translation: Formerly, he made an effort along with the Brahmanas for the sake of liberation. Then that king was tired, and those Brahmanas, O king,
Supplementary Passages:
9.40.16 After 16b, K4 (marg.) B D ins.: *251 न च श्रेयोऽध्यगच्छत्तु क्षीयते राष्ट्रमेव च
यदा चापि न शक्नोति राष्ट्रं मोचयितुं नृप अथ वैप्राश्निकांस्तत्र पप्रच्छ जनमेजय
AI Translation: And when he could not free the kingdom, O king, Then he asked the Vaishyas there, Janamejaya.
ततो वैप्राश्निकाः प्राहुः पशुविप्रकृतस्त्वया मांसैरभिजुहोतीति तव राष्ट्रं मुनिर्बकः
AI Translation: Then the questioners said: "You have made the animal impure. The sage Baka is offering oblations with meat. Your kingdom is his."
तेन ते हूयमानस्य राष्ट्रस्यास्य क्षयो महान् तस्यैतत्तपसः कर्म येन ते ह्यनयो महान् अपां कुञ्जे सरस्वत्यास्तं प्रसादय पार्थिव
M. N. Dutt: This is the fruit of ascetic rites. Thence is this great calamity! Go, O king and propitiate that Rishi who is living on the bank of the Sarasvati.'
Supplementary Passages:
9.40.19 T1-3 G M ins. after 19d: T4 after 19b: *252 यदीच्छसि महाबाहो शान्तिं राष्ट्रस्य भूमिप
सरस्वतीं ततो गत्वा स राजा बकमब्रवीत् निपत्य शिरसा भूमौ प्राञ्जलिर्भरतर्षभ
M. N. Dutt: Going to the bank of Sarasvati, the king fell at his feet, touched them with his head, joined his hands and said-"I propitiate you, O worshipful one, forgive me for my crime.
प्रसादये त्वा भगवन्नपराधं क्षमस्व मे मम दीनस्य लुब्धस्य मौर्ख्येण हतचेतसः त्वं गतिस्त्वं च मे नाथः प्रसादं कर्तुमर्हसि
M. N. Dutt: I am an insensate fool, a wretch filled with avarice. You are my refuge and protector, you should extend to me your favour.'
तं तथा विलपन्तं तु शोकोपहतचेतसम् दृष्ट्वा तस्य कृपा जज्ञे राष्ट्रं तच्च व्यमोचयत्
AI Translation: Seeing him lamenting thus, his mind overwhelmed by grief, he took pity on him and released the kingdom.
ऋषिः प्रसन्नस्तस्याभूत्संरम्भं च विहाय सः मोक्षार्थं तस्य राष्ट्रस्य जुहाव पुनराहुतिम्
M. N. Dutt: The Rishi became pleased with him and cast off his anger. For freeing his kingdom, the sage again poured libations on the fire.
मोक्षयित्वा ततो राष्ट्रं प्रतिगृह्य पशून्बहून् हृष्टात्मा नैमिषारण्यं जगाम पुनरेव हि
M. N. Dutt: Having freed the kingdom from calamities and taken many kine as a gift he became pleased at heart and once more proceeded to the Naimisha forest.
धृतराष्ट्रोऽपि धर्मात्मा स्वस्थचेता महामनाः स्वमेव नगरं राजा प्रतिपेदे महर्द्धिमत्
M. N. Dutt: The liberal and righteous king Dhrutarashtra, with a cheerful heart, returned to his own prosperous capital.
तत्र तीर्थे महाराज बृहस्पतिरुदारधीः असुराणामभावाय भावाय च दिवौकसाम्
AI Translation: O great king, in that tirtha, the wise Brihaspati for the destruction of the asuras and for the existence of the gods,
मांसैरपि जुहावेष्टिमक्षीयन्त ततोऽसुराः दैवतैरपि संभग्ना जितकाशिभिराहवे
AI Translation: Then the demons were destroyed by the oblations of flesh. Even the gods were defeated in battle by the invincible ones.
तत्रापि विधिवद्दत्त्वा ब्राह्मणेभ्यो महायशाः वाजिनः कुञ्जरांश्चैव रथांश्चाश्वतरीयुतान्
AI Translation: Having given to the Brahmins there also in accordance with the prescribed manner, the one of great fame horses, elephants, chariots along with mares,
रत्नानि च महार्हाणि धनं धान्यं च पुष्कलम् ययौ तीर्थं महाबाहुर्यायातं पृथिवीपते
AI Translation: And precious things of great value, and abundant wealth and grain, The mighty-armed one went to the holy place, O Lord of the Earth.
यत्र यज्ञे ययातेस्तु महाराज सरस्वती सर्पिः पयश्च सुस्राव नाहुषस्य महात्मनः
M. N. Dutt: There, O king, at the sacrifice of the highsouled Yayati, the son of Nahusha, the Sarasvati produced milk and clarified butter.
तत्रेष्ट्वा पुरुषव्याघ्रो ययातिः पृथिवीपतिः आक्रामदूर्ध्वं मुदितो लेभे लोकांश्च पुष्कलान्
M. N. Dutt: That foremost of men, king Yayati, having performed a sacrifice there, went to heaven and secured many blissful regions.
Supplementary Passages:
9.40.31 After 31, B D (except D3.11) ins.: *253 पुनस्तत्र च राज्ञस्तु ययातेर्यजतः प्रभोः औदार्यं परमं कृत्वा भक्तिं चात्मनि शाश्वतीम् ददौ कामान्ब्राह्मणेभ्यो यान्यान्यो मनसेच्छति यो यत्र स्थित एवेह आहूतो यज्ञसंस्तरे तस्य तस्य सरिच्छ्रेष्ठा गृहादिशयनादिकम् यत्र संभोजनं चैव दानं नानाविधं बहु ते मन्यमाना राज्ञस्तु संप्रदानमनुत्तमम् राजानं तुष्टुवुः प्रीता दत्त्वा चैवाशिषः शुभाः
ययातेर्यजमानस्य यत्र राजन्सरस्वती प्रसृता प्रददौ कामान्ब्राह्मणानां महात्मनाम्
AI Translation: O king, where the Sarasvati river, flowing forth, granted the desires of the great-souled Brahmanas, at the sacrifice of Yayati.
यत्र यत्र हि यो विप्रो यान्यान्कामानभीप्सति तत्र तत्र सरिच्छ्रेष्ठा ससर्ज सुबहून्रसान्
AI Translation: Wherever the brahmin desired, the best of rivers created many juices.
तत्र देवाः सगन्धर्वाः प्रीता यज्ञस्य संपदा विस्मिता मानुषाश्चासन्दृष्ट्वा तां यज्ञसंपदम्
M. N. Dutt: The gods and the Gandharvas were all pleased with the numberless articles in that sacrifice. As regards men they were filled with wonder on seeing those articles.
ततस्तालकेतुर्महाधर्मसेतु;र्महात्मा कृतात्मा महादाननित्यः वसिष्ठापवाहं महाभीमवेगं; धृतात्मा जितात्मा समभ्याजगाम
M. N. Dutt: The illustrious and righteous Baladeva, of cleansed soul, having the palmyra on his banner and ever giving away the most valuable things, then proceeded to that tirtha of fierce current called Vashishthapavaha.