Critical Edition
वैशंपायन उवाच सा शप्ता तेन क्रुद्धेन विश्वामित्रेण धीमता तस्मिंस्तीर्थवरे शुभ्रे शोणितं समुपावहत्
M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said "Cursed by the intelligent Vishvamitra in anger, Sarasvati, in that sacred and best of tirthas, flowed in bloody current.
अथाजग्मुस्ततो राजन्राक्षसास्तत्र भारत तत्र ते शोणितं सर्वे पिबन्तः सुखमासते
M. N. Dutt: Then, O king, many Rakshasas come and lived happily there, drinking the blood that flowed.
तृप्ताश्च सुभृशं तेन सुखिता विगतज्वराः नृत्यन्तश्च हसन्तश्च यथा स्वर्गजितस्तथा
M. N. Dutt: Highly pleased with that blood, cheerfully and without anxiety of any kind, they danced and laughed there like persons that have (by virtue) attained to heaven.
कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य ऋषयः सतपोधनाः तीर्थयात्रां समाजग्मुः सरस्वत्यां महीपते
M. N. Dutt: After some time had passed away, some Rishis, having asceticism for their wealth, came to the Sarasvati, O king, on pilgrimage.
तेषु सर्वेषु तीर्थेषु आप्लुत्य मुनिपुंगवाः प्राप्य प्रीतिं परां चापि तपोलुब्धा विशारदाः प्रययुर्हि ततो राजन्येन तीर्थं हि तत्तथा
M. N. Dutt: Those foremost of ascetics, having bathed in all the tirthas and obtained great delight, became desirous of acquiring more merit. Those learned sages at last came. O king, to that tirtha where the Sarasvati flowed in a bloody current. Those highly blessed Rishis, arriving at that frightful tirtha.
अथागम्य महाभागास्तत्तीर्थं दारुणं तदा दृष्ट्वा तोयं सरस्वत्याः शोणितेन परिप्लुतम् पीयमानं च रक्षोभिर्बहुभिर्नृपसत्तम
M. N. Dutt: Beheld the water of the Sarasvati mixed with blood and numberless Rakshasas, O king, drinking it.
तान्दृष्ट्वा राक्षसान्राजन्मुनयः संशितव्रताः परित्राणे सरस्वत्याः परं यत्नं प्रचक्रिरे
M. N. Dutt: Seeing those Rakshasas, O king, those ascetics of rigid vows tried much for rescuing the Sarasvati from that condition.
ते तु सर्वे महाभागाः समागम्य महाव्रताः आहूय सरितां श्रेष्ठामिदं वचनमब्रुवन्
AI Translation: All those greatly fortunate ones, having assembled, of great vows, Having summoned the best of rivers, spoke these words:
कारणं ब्रूहि कल्याणि किमर्थं ते ह्रदो ह्ययम् एवमाकुलतां यातः श्रुत्वा पास्यामहे वयम्
AI Translation: Tell me the reason, O fortunate one, why this lake of yours is so agitated. Hearing this, we will drink.
ततः सा सर्वमाचष्ट यथावृत्तं प्रवेपती दुःखितामथ तां दृष्ट्वा त ऊचुर्वै तपोधनाः
M. N. Dutt: Thus accosted, Sarasvati, trembling as she spoke, informed them of everything that had taken place. Seeing her thus woe-begone, those ascetics told her-
कारणं श्रुतमस्माभिः शापश्चैव श्रुतोऽनघे करिष्यन्ति तु यत्प्राप्तं सर्व एव तपोधनाः
M. N. Dutt: "We have heard of your curse, O sinless lady! All of us shall try."
एवमुक्त्वा सरिच्छ्रेष्ठामूचुस्तेऽथ परस्परम् विमोचयामहे सर्वे शापादेतां सरस्वतीम्
M. N. Dutt: Having said so to that foremost of rivers, they then consulted with one another-"All of us shall release Sarasvati from her curse."
Supplementary Passages:
9.42.12 After 12, B D ins.: *256 ते सर्वे ब्राह्मणा राजंस्तपोभिर्नियमैस्तथा उपवासैश्च विविधैर्यमैः कष्टव्रतैस्तथा आराध्य पशुभर्तारं महादेवं जगत्पतिम् मोक्षयामासुस्तां देवीं सरिच्छ्रेष्ठां सरस्वतीम्
तेषां तु वचनादेव प्रकृतिस्था सरस्वती प्रसन्नसलिला जज्ञे यथा पूर्वं तथैव हि विमुक्ता च सरिच्छ्रेष्ठा विबभौ सा यथा पुरा
AI Translation: By their words alone, Sarasvati, who was in her natural state, was born with clear water, just as she was before. And the best of rivers, being released, shone as she did before.
Supplementary Passages:
9.42.13 After 13d, T G ins.: *257 एवमुक्त्वा च मुनयो दुःखाच्चैनां व्यमोचयन्
दृष्ट्वा तोयं सरस्वत्या मुनिभिस्तैस्तथा कृतम् कृताञ्जलीस्ततो राजन्राक्षसाः क्षुधयार्दिताः ऊचुस्तान्वै मुनीन्सर्वान्कृपायुक्तान्पुनः पुनः
AI Translation: Seeing the water of the Sarasvati thus made by those sages, Then, O king, the demons, afflicted by hunger, with folded hands, again and again spoke to those sages, who
Supplementary Passages:
9.42.14 After 14b, N ins.: *258 तानेव शरणं जग्मू राक्षसाः क्षुधितास्तथा
वयं हि क्षुधिताश्चैव धर्माद्धीनाश्च शाश्वतात् न च नः कामकारोऽयं यद्वयं पापकारिणः
AI Translation: We are hungry and deprived of the eternal Dharma. This is not our own doing that we are evil-doers.
युष्माकं चाप्रसादेन दुष्कृतेन च कर्मणा पक्षोऽयं वर्धतेऽस्माकं यतः स्म ब्रह्मराक्षसाः
AI Translation: And by your displeasure and by our evil deeds, This party of ours is growing, from which we are Brahma-rākṣasas.
एवं हि वैश्यशूद्राणां क्षत्रियाणां तथैव च ये ब्राह्मणान्प्रद्विषन्ति ते भवन्तीह राक्षसाः
AI Translation: Thus it is for Vaishyas, Shudras, and Kshatriyas as well. Those who hate Brahmins become demons in this world.
आचार्यमृत्विजं चैव गुरुं वृद्धजनं तथा प्राणिनो येऽवमन्यन्ते ते भवन्तीह राक्षसाः योषितां चैव पापानां योनिदोषेण वर्धते
AI Translation: Those who despise the teacher, the officiating priest, the guru, and the elderly become demons in this world. And the evil of women increases due to the fault of the womb.
Supplementary Passages:
9.42.18 After 18, S ins.: *259 पक्षोऽस्माकमृषिश्रेष्ठा यदत्रानन्तरं क्षमम्
तत्कुरुध्वमिहास्माकं कारुण्यं द्विजसत्तमाः शक्ता भवन्तः सर्वेषां लोकानामपि तारणे
M. N. Dutt: O best of Brahmanas, arrange then for our relief. You are capable of saving all the worlds!'
तेषां ते मुनयः श्रुत्वा तुष्टुवुस्तां महानदीम् मोक्षार्थं रक्षसां तेषामूचुः प्रयतमानसाः
AI Translation: Hearing their words, those sages praised that great river. With minds intent on liberation, they spoke to those demons.
क्षुतकीटावपन्नं च यच्चोच्छिष्टाशितं भवेत् केशावपन्नमाधूतमारुग्णमपि यद्भवेत् श्वभिः संस्पृष्टमन्नं च भागोऽसौ रक्षसामिह
AI Translation: That which has been sneezed upon, or fallen on by an insect, or eaten by one who has not cleansed himself after eating, or that which has fallen on the hair, or been shaken
Supplementary Passages:
9.42.21 After 21d, D2.3.11 ins.: *260 अवधूतमविज्ञातमतिशीतं च यद्भवेत् पतितान्नं सूतिकान्नं पुंश्चल्यान्नं च यद्भवेत्
तस्माज्ज्ञात्वा सदा विद्वानेतान्यन्नानि वर्जयेत् राक्षसान्नमसौ भुङ्क्ते यो भुङ्क्ते ह्यन्नमीदृशम्
M. N. Dutt: Knowing all this, the learned man shall carefully avoid these kinds of food. He that shall take such food shall be considered as partaking of the food of Rakshasas.'
शोधयित्वा ततस्तीर्थमृषयस्ते तपोधनाः मोक्षार्थं राक्षसानां च नदीं तां प्रत्यचोदयन्
M. N. Dutt: Having thus purified the tirtha, those ascetics thus prayed to that river for the relief of those Rakshasas.
महर्षीणां मतं ज्ञात्वा ततः सा सरितां वरा अरुणामानयामास स्वां तनुं पुरुषर्षभ
M. N. Dutt: Understanding the wishes of those great Rishis, that best of rivers caused her body, O foremost of men, to assume a new forn called Arjuna.
तस्यां ते राक्षसाः स्नात्वा तनूस्त्यक्त्वा दिवं गताः अरुणायां महाराज ब्रह्महत्यापहा हि सा
M. N. Dutt: Bathing in that new river the Rakshasas renounced their bodies and went to heaven.
एतमर्थमभिज्ञाय देवराजः शतक्रतुः तस्मिंस्तीर्थवरे स्नात्वा विमुक्तः पाप्मना किल
M. N. Dutt: Ascertaining all this, the king of the celestials, viz., Indra, of a hundred sacrifices, bathed in that best of tirthas and was freed of a grievous sin."
जनमेजय उवाच किमर्थं भगवाञ्शक्रो ब्रह्महत्यामवाप्तवान् कथमस्मिंश्च तीर्थे वै आप्लुत्याकल्मषोऽभवत्
M. N. Dutt: Janamejaya said "Why was Indra affected with the sin of Brahmanicide! How also did he become freed by bathing in that tirtha?''
वैशंपायन उवाच शृणुष्वैतदुपाख्यानं यथावृत्तं जनेश्वर यथा बिभेद समयं नमुचेर्वासवः पुरा
M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said "Listen to that history, O king, listen to those events as they took place. Hear how Indra formerly broke his treaty with Namuchi.
नमुचिर्वासवाद्भीतः सूर्यरश्मिं समाविशत् तेनेन्द्रः सख्यमकरोत्समयं चेदमब्रवीत्
AI Translation: Nāmuchi, frightened of Vāsava, entered the sun's rays. Through that, Indra made friendship and spoke this pledge:
नार्द्रेण त्वा न शुष्केण न रात्रौ नापि वाहनि वधिष्याम्यसुरश्रेष्ठ सखे सत्येन ते शपे
AI Translation: Not with the wet, not with the dry, not at night, nor by day. I shall slay you, best of demons, friend, I swear by your truth.
एवं स कृत्वा समयं सृष्ट्वा नीहारमीश्वरः चिच्छेदास्य शिरो राजन्नपां फेनेन वासवः
M. N. Dutt: Having made this understanding, the lord Indra one day behold a fog. He then, O king, sundered Namuchi's head, using the foam of water as his weapon.
तच्छिरो नमुचेश्छिन्नं पृष्ठतः शक्रमन्वयात् हे मित्रहन्पाप इति ब्रुवाणं शक्रमन्तिकात्
M. N. Dutt: The severed head of Namuchi thereupon pursued Indra from behind, saying repeatedly from a near place-"O killer of a friend, O wretch!'
एवं स शिरसा तेन चोद्यमानः पुनः पुनः पितामहाय संतप्त एवमर्थं न्यवेदयत्
M. N. Dutt: Thus addressed repeatedly by that head; Indra went to grandfather and informed him, sorrowfully of what had taken place.
तमब्रवील्लोकगुरुररुणायां यथाविधि इष्ट्वोपस्पृश देवेन्द्र ब्रह्महत्यापहा हि सा
M. N. Dutt: The supreme lord of the universe said to him-"Performing a sacrifice, bathe duly, O king of gods, in Aruna, the tirtha which saves all from the fear of sin!
Supplementary Passages:
9.42.34 After 34, B D ins.: *261 एषा पुण्यजला शक्र कृता मुनिभिरेव तु निगूढमस्या गमनमिहासीत्पूर्वमेव तु ततोऽभ्येत्यारुणां देवीं प्लावयामास वारिणा सरस्वत्यारुणायाश्च पुण्योऽयं संगमो महान् इह त्वं यज देवेन्द्र दद दानान्यनेकशः अत्राप्लुत्य सुघोरात्त्वं पातकाद्विप्रमोक्ष्यसे
इत्युक्तः स सरस्वत्याः कुञ्जे वै जनमेजय इष्ट्वा यथावद्बलभिदरुणायामुपास्पृशत्
AI Translation: Thus addressed by Sarasvati, Janamejaya, in the grove of Sarasvati, having worshipped as prescribed, touched the waters of the Yamuna.
स मुक्तः पाप्मना तेन ब्रह्महत्याकृतेन ह जगाम संहृष्टमनास्त्रिदिवं त्रिदशेश्वरः
AI Translation: Freed from that sin of killing a Brahmin, with a delighted mind, he went to heaven, the lord of the gods.
Supplementary Passages:
9.42.36 For 35c-36b, B5 subst.: *262 ब्रह्मणो वचनाच्छक्रोऽयजद्यज्ञैरनेकशः दत्त्वा दानान्यनेकानि स्नात्वा तीर्थे शतक्रतुः विपाप्मा विरजाः श्रीमान्ब्रह्मवध्यां विधूय सः
शिरस्तच्चापि नमुचेस्तत्रैवाप्लुत्य भारत लोकान्कामदुघान्प्राप्तमक्षयान्राजसत्तम
M. N. Dutt: The head of Namuchi also dropped into that stream O Bharata and Asura gained many blessed regions, O best of kings, that granted ever wish.”
तत्राप्युपस्पृश्य बलो महात्मा; दत्त्वा च दानानि पृथग्विधानि अवाप्य धर्मं परमार्यकर्मा; जगाम सोमस्य महत्स तीर्थम्
M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said "The great Baladeva, having bathed in that tirtha and given away many kinds of gifts, acquired great virtue. Of righteous deeds, he then proceeded to the great tirtha of Soma.
यत्रायजद्राजसूयेन सोमः; साक्षात्पुरा विधिवत्पार्थिवेन्द्र अत्रिर्धीमान्विप्रमुख्यो बभूव; होता यस्मिन्क्रतुमुख्ये महात्मा
AI Translation: Where Soma performed the Rajasuya sacrifice, the king of kings, in accordance with the rules, in ancient times. In that great sacrifice, the wise Atri, the foremost of Brahmins, was the Hotri.
यस्यान्तेऽभूत्सुमहान्दानवानां; दैतेयानां राक्षसानां च देवैः स संग्रामस्तारकाख्यः सुतीव्रो; यत्र स्कन्दस्तारकाख्यं जघान
AI Translation: At the end of which there was a great battle between the demons, the Daityas and the Rakshasas and the gods, That battle called Tārāka was very fierce, in which Skanda killed the one called Tārāka.
सेनापत्यं लब्धवान्देवतानां; महासेनो यत्र दैत्यान्तकर्ता साक्षाच्चात्र न्यवसत्कार्त्तिकेयः; सदा कुमारो यत्र स प्लक्षराजः
M. N. Dutt: There, on the occasion, Mahasena, that destroyer of Daityas, became the generalissimo of the celestial forces. In that tirtha is a huge Ashvattha tree. Under its shade, Kartikeya, otherwise called Kumara, always lives in person."