01.051
Library: King succumbs to Astika’s praise and stops the sacrifice.
जनमेजय उवाच॥
janamejaya uvāca॥
[जनमेजय (janamejaya) - Janamejaya; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]
(Janamejaya said:)
Janamejaya spoke:
बालो वाक्यं स्थविर इव प्रभाषते; नायं बालः स्थविरोऽयं मतो मे। इच्छाम्यहं वरमस्मै प्रदातुं; तन्मे विप्रा वितरध्वं समेताः ॥१-५१-१॥
bālo vākyaṃ sthavira iva prabhāṣate; nāyaṃ bālaḥ sthaviro'yaṃ mato me. icchāmyahaṃ varamasmai pradātuṃ; tanme viprā vitaradhvaṃ sametāḥ ॥1-51-1॥
[बालः (bālaḥ) - boy; वाक्यम् (vākyaṃ) - speech; स्थविरः (sthaviraḥ) - old man; इव (iva) - like; प्रभाषते (prabhāṣate) - speaks; न (na) - not; अयम् (ayam) - this; बालः (bālaḥ) - boy; स्थविरः (sthaviraḥ) - old man; अयम् (ayam) - this; मतः (mataḥ) - considered; मे (me) - by me; इच्छामि (icchāmi) - I wish; अहम् (aham) - I; वरम् (varam) - boon; अस्मै (asmai) - to him; प्रदातुम् (pradātum) - to give; तत् (tat) - that; मे (me) - my; विप्राः (viprāḥ) - brahmins; वितरध्वम् (vitaradhvam) - grant; समेताः (sametāḥ) - assembled;]
(The boy speaks like an old man; this is not a boy, this is an old man, I consider. I wish to give him a boon; therefore, O assembled brahmins, grant my wish.)
The boy speaks like an old man; I do not consider him a boy, but an old man. I wish to grant him a boon; therefore, O assembled brahmins, fulfill my wish.
सदस्या ऊचुः॥
sadasyā ūcuḥ॥
[सदस्या (sadasyā) - members; ऊचुः (ūcuḥ) - said;]
(Members said:)
The members said:
बालोऽपि विप्रो मान्य एवेह राज्ञां; यश्चाविद्वान्यश्च विद्वान्यथावत्। सर्वान्कामांस्त्वत्त एषोऽर्हतेऽद्य; यथा च नस्तक्षक एति शीघ्रम् ॥१-५१-२॥
bālo'pi vipro mānya eveha rājñāṃ; yaścāvidvān yaśca vidvānyathāvat. sarvānkāmāṃstvatt eṣo'rhate'dya; yathā ca nastakṣaka eti śīghram ॥1-51-2॥
[बालः (bālaḥ) - boy; अपि (api) - even; विप्रः (vipraḥ) - Brahmin; मान्यः (mānyaḥ) - respected; एव (eva) - indeed; इह (iha) - here; राज्ञां (rājñāṃ) - of kings; यः (yaḥ) - who; च (ca) - and; अविद्वान् (avidvān) - ignorant; यः (yaḥ) - who; च (ca) - and; विद्वान् (vidvān) - learned; यथावत् (yathāvat) - properly; सर्वान् (sarvān) - all; कामान् (kāmān) - desires; त्वत्तः (tvattaḥ) - from you; एषः (eṣaḥ) - he; अर्हते (arhate) - deserves; अद्य (adya) - today; यथा (yathā) - as; च (ca) - and; नः (naḥ) - our; तक्षकः (takṣakaḥ) - Takshaka; एति (eti) - comes; शीघ्रम् (śīghram) - quickly;]
(Even a boy Brahmin is respected here by kings; who is both ignorant and learned properly. He deserves all desires from you today; as our Takshaka comes quickly.)
Even a young Brahmin is respected here by the kings, whether he is ignorant or learned. Today, he deserves all his desires from you, just as our Takshaka comes swiftly.
सूत उवाच॥
sūta uvāca॥
[सूत (sūta) - Sūta; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]
(Sūta said:)
Sūta said:
व्याहर्तुकामे वरदे नृपे द्विजं; वरं वृणीष्वेति ततोऽभ्युवाच। होता वाक्यं नातिहृष्टान्तरात्मा; कर्मण्यस्मिंस्तक्षको नैति तावत् ॥१-५१-३॥
vyāhartukāme varade nṛpe dvijaṃ; varaṃ vṛṇīṣveti tato'bhyuvāca| hotā vākyaṃ nātihṛṣṭāntarātmā; karmaṇyasmiṃstakṣako naiti tāvat ॥1-51-3॥
[व्याहर्तुकामे (vyāhartukāme) - desiring to speak; वरदे (varade) - O boon-giver; नृपे (nṛpe) - king; द्विजं (dvijaṃ) - brahmin; वरं (varaṃ) - boon; वृणीष्व (vṛṇīṣva) - choose; इति (iti) - thus; ततः (tataḥ) - then; अभ्युवाच (abhyuvāca) - said; होता (hotā) - priest; वाक्यं (vākyaṃ) - words; न (na) - not; अतिहृष्ट (atihṛṣṭa) - very pleased; अन्तरात्मा (antarātmā) - inner self; कर्मणि (karmaṇi) - in the act; अस्मिन् (asmin) - this; तक्षकः (takṣakaḥ) - Takshaka; न (na) - not; एति (eti) - come; तावत् (tāvat) - yet;]
(Desiring to speak, O boon-giver king, the brahmin said, "Choose a boon." Then the priest, not very pleased in his inner self, said, "In this act, Takshaka does not come yet.")
The brahmin, eager to speak, addressed the king, "O giver of boons, choose your boon." Then the priest, with a not very pleased heart, remarked, "In this act, Takshaka has not yet arrived."
जनमेजय उवाच॥
janamejaya uvāca॥
[जनमेजय (janamejaya) - Janamejaya; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]
(Janamejaya said:)
Janamejaya spoke:
यथा चेदं कर्म समाप्यते मे; यथा च नस्तक्षक एति शीघ्रम्। तथा भवन्तः प्रयतन्तु सर्वे; परं शक्त्या स हि मे विद्विषाणः ॥१-५१-४॥
yathā cedaṃ karma samāpyate me; yathā ca nastakṣaka eti śīghram| tathā bhavantaḥ prayatantu sarve; paraṃ śaktyā sa hi me vidviṣāṇaḥ ॥1-51-4॥
[यथा (yathā) - as; च (ca) - and; इदं (idaṃ) - this; कर्म (karma) - action; समाप्यते (samāpyate) - is completed; मे (me) - my; यथा (yathā) - as; च (ca) - and; नः (naḥ) - our; तक्षक (takṣaka) - Takshaka; एति (eti) - comes; शीघ्रम् (śīghram) - quickly; तथा (tathā) - so; भवन्तः (bhavantaḥ) - you all; प्रयतन्तु (prayatantu) - endeavor; सर्वे (sarve) - all; परं (paraṃ) - with utmost; शक्त्या (śaktyā) - strength; स (sa) - he; हि (hi) - indeed; मे (me) - my; विद्विषाणः (vidviṣāṇaḥ) - enemy;]
(As this action is completed by me; and as our Takshaka comes quickly. So you all endeavor with utmost strength; for he is indeed my enemy.)
As I complete this task, and as Takshaka approaches swiftly, all of you must strive with all your might, for he is truly my adversary.
ऋत्विज ऊचुः॥
ṛtvija ūcuḥ॥
[ऋत्विज (ṛtvija) - priests; ऊचुः (ūcuḥ) - said;]
(The priests said:)
The priests spoke:
यथा शास्त्राणि नः प्राहुर्यथा शंसति पावकः। इन्द्रस्य भवने राजंस्तक्षको भयपीडितः ॥१-५१-५॥
yathā śāstrāṇi naḥ prāhuryathā śaṁsati pāvakaḥ। indrasya bhavane rājaṁstakṣako bhayapīḍitaḥ ॥1-51-5॥
[यथा (yathā) - as; शास्त्राणि (śāstrāṇi) - scriptures; नः (naḥ) - to us; प्राहुः (prāhuḥ) - have said; यथा (yathā) - as; शंसति (śaṁsati) - praises; पावकः (pāvakaḥ) - fire; इन्द्रस्य (indrasya) - of Indra; भवने (bhavane) - in the palace; राजन् (rājan) - O king; तक्षकः (takṣakaḥ) - Takshaka; भयपीडितः (bhayapīḍitaḥ) - fear-stricken;]
(As the scriptures have told us, as the fire praises, in the palace of Indra, O king, Takshaka is fear-stricken.)
As the scriptures have informed us and as the fire praises, O king, Takshaka is fear-stricken in the palace of Indra.
सूत उवाच॥
sūta uvāca॥
[सूत (sūta) - Sūta; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]
(Sūta said:)
Sūta said:
यथा सूतो लोहिताक्षो महात्मा; पौराणिको वेदितवान्पुरस्तात्। स राजानं प्राह पृष्टस्तदानीं; यथाहुर्विप्रास्तद्वदेतन्नृदेव ॥१-५१-६॥
yathā sūto lohitākṣo mahātmā; paurāṇiko veditavānpurastāt. sa rājānaṃ prāha pṛṣṭastadānīṃ; yathāhurviprāstadvadetannṛdeva ॥1-51-6॥
[यथा (yathā) - as; सूतः (sūtaḥ) - Sūta; लोहिताक्षः (lohitākṣaḥ) - Lohitaksha; महात्मा (mahātmā) - great soul; पौराणिकः (paurāṇikaḥ) - Puranic; वेदितवान् (veditavān) - knew; पुरस्तात् (purastāt) - before; सः (saḥ) - he; राजानम् (rājānam) - king; प्राह (prāha) - said; पृष्टः (pṛṣṭaḥ) - asked; तदानीम् (tadānīm) - then; यथा (yathā) - as; आहुः (āhuḥ) - said; विप्राः (viprāḥ) - sages; तत् (tat) - that; वदेत् (vadet) - speak; नृदेव (nṛdeva) - O king;]
(As Sūta Lohitaksha, the great soul, the Puranic, knew before, he said to the king when asked then, as the sages said, speak that, O king.)
As Sūta Lohitaksha, the revered sage, had known before, he conveyed to the king when asked, what the sages had said, 'Speak this, O king.'
पुराणमागम्य ततो ब्रवीम्यहं; दत्तं तस्मै वरमिन्द्रेण राजन्। वसेह त्वं मत्सकाशे सुगुप्तो; न पावकस्त्वां प्रदहिष्यतीति ॥१-५१-७॥
purāṇamāgamya tato bravīmyahaṃ; dattaṃ tasmai varamindreṇa rājan. vaseha tvaṃ matsakāśe sugupto; na pāvakastvāṃ pradahiṣyatīti ॥1-51-7॥
[पुराणम् (purāṇam) - ancient text; आगम्य (āgamya) - having approached; ततः (tataḥ) - then; ब्रवीमि (bravīmi) - I speak; अहम् (aham) - I; दत्तम् (dattam) - given; तस्मै (tasmai) - to him; वरम् (varam) - boon; इन्द्रेण (indreṇa) - by Indra; राजन् (rājan) - O king; वस (vasa) - dwell; इह (iha) - here; त्वम् (tvam) - you; मत्सकाशे (matsakāśe) - in my presence; सुगुप्तः (suguptaḥ) - well-protected; न (na) - not; पावकः (pāvakaḥ) - fire; त्वाम् (tvām) - you; प्रदहिष्यति (pradahiṣyati) - will burn; इति (iti) - thus;]
(Having approached the ancient text, then I speak: a boon was given to him by Indra, O king. Dwell here in my presence, well-protected; fire will not burn you, thus.)
Having referred to the ancient texts, I then declare: a boon was granted to him by Indra, O king. Stay here in my presence, well-guarded; the fire will not harm you, thus.
एतच्छ्रुत्वा दीक्षितस्तप्यमान; आस्ते होतारं चोदयन्कर्मकाले। होता च यत्तः स जुहाव मन्त्रै; रथो इन्द्रः स्वयमेवाजगाम ॥१-५१-८॥
etacchrutvā dīkṣitastapyamāna; āste hotāraṃ codayaṅkarmakāle| hotā ca yattaḥ sa juhāva mantrai; ratho indraḥ svayamevājagāma ॥1-51-8॥
[एतत् (etat) - this; श्रुत्वा (śrutvā) - having heard; दीक्षितः (dīkṣitaḥ) - the consecrated one; तप्यमान (tapyamāna) - suffering; आस्ते (āste) - sits; होतारं (hotāraṃ) - the priest; चोदयन् (codayan) - urging; कर्मकाले (karmakāle) - at the time of the ritual; होता (hotā) - the priest; च (ca) - and; यत्तः (yattaḥ) - prepared; स (sa) - he; जुहाव (juhāva) - offered; मन्त्रै (mantrai) - with mantras; रथः (rathaḥ) - chariot; इन्द्रः (indraḥ) - Indra; स्वयमेव (svayameva) - himself; अजगाम (ajagāma) - came;]
(Having heard this, the consecrated one, suffering, sits urging the priest at the time of the ritual. The priest, prepared, offered with mantras; the chariot, Indra himself came.)
Upon hearing this, the consecrated one, though suffering, sits urging the priest during the ritual. The priest, being prepared, offered with mantras, and then Indra himself came on the chariot.
विमानमारुह्य महानुभावः; सर्वैर्देवैः परिसंस्तूयमानः। बलाहकैश्चाप्यनुगम्यमानो; विद्याधरैरप्सरसां गणैश्च ॥१-५१-९॥
vimānamāruhya mahānubhāvaḥ; sarvairdevaiḥ parisaṃstūyamānaḥ| balāhakaścāpyanugamyamānaḥ; vidyādharairap sarasāṃ gaṇaiśca ॥1-51-9॥
[विमानम् (vimānam) - chariot; आरुह्य (āruhya) - ascending; महानुभावः (mahānubhāvaḥ) - great person; सर्वैः (sarvaiḥ) - by all; दैवैः (devaiḥ) - gods; परिसंस्तूयमानः (parisaṃstūyamānaḥ) - being praised; बलाहकैः (balāhakaiḥ) - by clouds; च (ca) - and; अपि (api) - also; अनुगम्यमानः (anugamyamānaḥ) - being followed; विद्याधरैः (vidyādharaḥ) - by celestial beings; अप्सरसां (apsarasām) - of the Apsaras; गणैः (gaṇaiḥ) - by groups; च (ca) - and;]
(Ascending the chariot, the great person was being praised by all the gods, and also being followed by clouds, celestial beings, and groups of Apsaras.)
The great person ascended the chariot, praised by all the gods, and followed by clouds, celestial beings, and groups of Apsaras.
तस्योत्तरीये निहितः स नागो; भयोद्विग्नः शर्म नैवाभ्यगच्छत्। ततो राजा मन्त्रविदोऽब्रवीत्पुनः; क्रुद्धो वाक्यं तक्षकस्यान्तमिच्छन् ॥१-५१-१०॥
tasyottarīye nihitaḥ sa nāgo; bhayodvignaḥ śarma naivābhyagacchat. tato rājā mantravido'bravītpunaḥ; kruddho vākyaṃ takṣakasyāntamicchan ॥1-51-10॥
[तस्य (tasya) - his; उत्तरीये (uttarīye) - upper garment; निहितः (nihitaḥ) - placed; स (sa) - that; नागः (nāgaḥ) - serpent; भय (bhaya) - fear; उद्विग्नः (udvignaḥ) - agitated; शर्म (śarma) - comfort; न (na) - not; एव (eva) - indeed; अभ्यगच्छत् (abhyagacchat) - approached; ततः (tataḥ) - then; राजा (rājā) - king; मन्त्रविदः (mantravidaḥ) - wise counselors; अब्रवीत् (abravīt) - said; पुनः (punaḥ) - again; क्रुद्धः (kruddhaḥ) - angry; वाक्यम् (vākyam) - words; तक्षकस्य (takṣakasya) - of Takshaka; अन्तम् (antam) - end; इच्छन् (icchan) - desiring;]
(In his upper garment was placed that serpent; agitated by fear, he indeed did not approach comfort. Then the king said again to the wise counselors, desiring the end of Takshaka, in anger.)
The serpent was placed in his upper garment; agitated by fear, he found no comfort. Then the king, desiring the end of Takshaka, angrily spoke again to his wise counselors.
इन्द्रस्य भवने विप्रा यदि नागः स तक्षकः। तमिन्द्रेणैव सहितं पातयध्वं विभावसौ ॥१-५१-११॥
indrasya bhavane viprā yadi nāgaḥ sa takṣakaḥ. tamindreṇaiva sahitaṃ pātayadhvaṃ vibhāvasau ॥1-51-11॥
[इन्द्रस्य (indrasya) - of Indra; भवने (bhavane) - in the abode; विप्रा (viprā) - O wise ones; यदि (yadi) - if; नागः (nāgaḥ) - serpent; सः (saḥ) - he; तक्षकः (takṣakaḥ) - Takshaka; तम् (tam) - him; इन्द्रेणैव (indreṇaiva) - by Indra himself; सहितं (sahitaṃ) - together; पातयध्वं (pātayadhvaṃ) - cause to fall; विभावसौ (vibhāvasau) - in the fire;]
(In the abode of Indra, O wise ones, if the serpent is Takshaka, cause him to fall together with Indra himself in the fire.)
O wise ones, if the serpent Takshaka is in Indra's abode, then cause him to fall into the fire along with Indra himself.
ऋत्विज ऊचुः॥
ṛtvija ūcuḥ॥
[ऋत्विज (ṛtvija) - priests; ऊचुः (ūcuḥ) - said;]
(The priests said:)
The priests spoke:
अयमायाति वै तूर्णं तक्षकस्ते वशं नृप। श्रूयतेऽस्य महान्नादो रुवतो भैरवं भयात् ॥१-५१-१२॥
ayam āyāti vai tūrṇaṃ takṣakas te vaśaṃ nṛpa। śrūyate'sya mahānnādo ruvato bhairavaṃ bhayāt ॥1-51-12॥
[अयम् (ayam) - this; आयाति (āyāti) - comes; वै (vai) - indeed; तूर्णम् (tūrṇam) - quickly; तक्षकः (takṣakaḥ) - Takshaka; ते (te) - your; वशम् (vaśam) - control; नृप (nṛpa) - O king; श्रूयते (śrūyate) - is heard; अस्य (asya) - his; महान् (mahān) - great; नादः (nādaḥ) - sound; रुवतः (ruvataḥ) - roaring; भैरवम् (bhairavam) - terrifying; भयात् (bhayāt) - from fear;]
(This Takshaka indeed comes quickly under your control, O king. His great sound is heard, roaring terrifyingly from fear.)
Takshaka is swiftly coming under your control, O king. His terrifying roar is heard, echoing with fear.
नूनं मुक्तो वज्रभृता स नागो; भ्रष्टश्चाङ्कान्मन्त्रविस्रस्तकायः। घूर्णन्नाकाशे नष्टसञ्ज्ञोऽभ्युपैति; तीव्रान्निःश्वासान्निःश्वसन्पन्नगेन्द्रः ॥१-५१-१३॥
nūnaṃ mukto vajrabhṛtā sa nāgo; bhraṣṭaścāṅkānmantravisrastakāyaḥ| ghūrṇannākāśe naṣṭasañjño'bhyupaiti; tīvrānniḥśvāsānniḥśvasanpannagendraḥ ॥1-51-13॥
[नूनं (nūnaṃ) - certainly; मुक्तः (muktaḥ) - released; वज्रभृता (vajrabhṛtā) - by the thunderbolt-bearer; सः (saḥ) - he; नागः (nāgaḥ) - serpent; भ्रष्टः (bhraṣṭaḥ) - fallen; च (ca) - and; अङ्कात् (aṅkāt) - from the lap; मन्त्रविस्रस्तकायः (mantravisrastakāyaḥ) - with body loosened by spells; घूर्णन् (ghūrṇan) - whirling; आकाशे (ākāśe) - in the sky; नष्टसञ्ज्ञः (naṣṭasañjñaḥ) - unconscious; अभ्युपैति (abhyupaiti) - approaches; तीव्रान् (tīvrān) - intense; निःश्वासान् (niḥśvāsān) - breaths; निःश्वसन् (niḥśvasan) - breathing; पन्नगेन्द्रः (pannagendraḥ) - king of serpents;]
(Certainly, released by the thunderbolt-bearer, that serpent, fallen from the lap with body loosened by spells, whirling in the sky, unconscious, approaches, breathing intense breaths, the king of serpents.)
Certainly, the serpent, released by the thunderbolt-bearer, falls from the lap with its body loosened by spells. Whirling in the sky and unconscious, it approaches, breathing intensely, as the king of serpents.
वर्तते तव राजेन्द्र कर्मैतद्विधिवत्प्रभो। अस्मै तु द्विजमुख्याय वरं त्वं दातुमर्हसि ॥१-५१-१४॥
vartate tava rājendra karmaitadvidhivatprabho। asmai tu dvijamukhyāya varaṃ tvaṃ dātumarhasi ॥1-51-14॥
[वर्तते (vartate) - exists; तव (tava) - your; राजेन्द्र (rājendra) - O king; कर्म (karma) - duty; एतद्विधिवत् (etadvidhivat) - this according to the rule; प्रभो (prabho) - O lord; अस्मै (asmai) - to him; तु (tu) - but; द्विजमुख्याय (dvijamukhyāya) - to the best of the twice-born; वरं (varaṃ) - boon; त्वं (tvaṃ) - you; दातुम् (dātum) - to give; अर्हसि (arhasi) - ought to;]
(Exists your duty, O king, this according to the rule, O lord. To him but to the best of the twice-born, boon you to give ought to.)
O King, your duty exists according to the rule, O lord. But you ought to give a boon to the best of the twice-born.
जनमेजय उवाच॥
janamejaya uvāca॥
[जनमेजय (janamejaya) - Janamejaya; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]
(Janamejaya said:)
Janamejaya spoke:
बालाभिरूपस्य तवाप्रमेय; वरं प्रयच्छामि यथानुरूपम्। वृणीष्व यत्तेऽभिमतं हृदि स्थितं; तत्ते प्रदास्याम्यपि चेददेयम् ॥१-५१-१५॥
bālābhirūpasya tavāprameya; varaṃ prayacchāmi yathānurūpam। vṛṇīṣva yatte'bhimataṃ hṛdi sthitaṃ; tatte pradāsyāmyapi cedadevam ॥1-51-15॥
[बालाभिरूपस्य (bālābhirūpasya) - of the beautiful one; तव (tava) - your; अप्रमेय (aprameya) - immeasurable; वरं (varaṃ) - boon; प्रयच्छामि (prayacchāmi) - I grant; यथानुरूपम् (yathānurūpam) - as appropriate; वृणीष्व (vṛṇīṣva) - choose; यत् (yat) - what; ते (te) - your; अभिमतं (abhimataṃ) - desired; हृदि (hṛdi) - in the heart; स्थितं (sthitaṃ) - situated; तत् (tat) - that; ते (te) - to you; प्रदास्यामि (pradāsyāmi) - I will give; अपि (api) - even; चेत् (ced) - if; अदेयम् (adevam) - not to be given;]
(Of the beautiful one, your immeasurable; I grant a boon as appropriate. Choose what is desired by you, situated in the heart; that I will give to you even if it is not to be given.)
O beautiful one, your qualities are immeasurable; I grant you a boon as you desire. Choose what you wish for, which resides in your heart; I shall give it to you, even if it is something that is not to be given.
सूत उवाच॥
sūta uvāca॥
[सूत (sūta) - Sūta; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]
(Sūta said:)
Sūta said:
पतिष्यमाणे नागेन्द्रे तक्षके जातवेदसि। इदमन्तरमित्येवं तदास्तीकोऽभ्यचोदयत् ॥१-५१-१६॥
patiṣyamāṇe nāgendre takṣake jātavedasi। idam antaram ityevaṃ tad āstīko'bhyacodayat ॥1-51-16॥
[पतिष्यमाणे (patiṣyamāṇe) - falling; नागेन्द्रे (nāgendre) - on the king of serpents; तक्षके (takṣake) - Takshaka; जातवेदसि (jātavedasi) - in the fire; इदम् (idam) - this; अन्तरम् (antaram) - gap; इति (iti) - thus; एवम् (evam) - in this way; तत् (tat) - that; आस्तीकेन (āstīkena) - by Astika; अभ्यचोदयत् (abhyacodayat) - was urged;]
(When Takshaka, the king of serpents, was about to fall into the fire, Astika thus urged, "This gap.")
As Takshaka, the serpent king, was about to be consumed by the fire, Astika intervened, pointing out the gap, and urged them to stop.
वरं ददासि चेन्मह्यं वृणोमि जनमेजय। सत्रं ते विरमत्वेतन्न पतेयुरिहोरगाः ॥१-५१-१७॥
varaṁ dadāsi cenmahyaṁ vṛṇomi janamejaya। satraṁ te viramatvetanna pateyurihoragāḥ ॥1-51-17॥
[वरम् (varam) - boon; ददासि (dadāsi) - you give; चेत् (cet) - if; मह्यम् (mahyaṁ) - to me; वृणोमि (vṛṇomi) - I choose; जनमेजय (janamejaya) - Janamejaya; सत्रम् (satram) - sacrifice; ते (te) - your; विरमत्व (viramatv) - let it stop; एतत् (etat) - this; न (na) - not; पतेयुः (pateyuḥ) - fall; इह (iha) - here; उरगाः (uragāḥ) - snakes;]
(If you give me a boon, O Janamejaya, I choose that your sacrifice be stopped, so that the snakes do not fall here.)
If you grant me a boon, O Janamejaya, I ask that your sacrifice be halted, so that the snakes may not fall here.
एवमुक्तस्ततो राजा ब्रह्मन्पारिक्षितस्तदा। नातिहृष्टमना वाक्यमास्तीकमिदमब्रवीत् ॥१-५१-१८॥
evamuktastato rājā brahmanpārikṣitastadā| nātihṛṣṭamanā vākyamāstīkamidamabravīt ॥1-51-18॥
[एवम् (evam) - thus; उक्तः (uktaḥ) - spoken; ततः (tataḥ) - then; राजा (rājā) - king; ब्रह्मन् (brahman) - O Brahman; पारिक्षितः (pārikṣitaḥ) - Parikshit; तदा (tadā) - at that time; न (na) - not; अतिहृष्टमना (atihṛṣṭamanā) - very pleased; वाक्यम् (vākyam) - words; आस्तीकम् (āstīkam) - to Astika; इदम् (idam) - this; अब्रवीत् (abravīt) - said;]
(Thus spoken, then the king, O Brahman, Parikshit, at that time, not very pleased, said these words to Astika.)
Thus addressed, King Parikshit, not very pleased, spoke these words to Astika, O Brahman, at that time.
सुवर्णं रजतं गाश्च यच्चान्यन्मन्यसे विभो। तत्ते दद्यां वरं विप्र न निवर्तेत्क्रतुर्मम ॥१-५१-१९॥
suvarṇaṃ rajataṃ gāśca yaccānyanmanyase vibhoḥ। tatte dadyāṃ varaṃ vipra na nivartetkraturmama ॥1-51-19॥
[सुवर्णम् (suvarṇam) - gold; रजतम् (rajatam) - silver; गाः (gāḥ) - cows; च (ca) - and; यत् (yat) - whatever; च (ca) - and; अन्यत् (anyat) - other; मन्यसे (manyase) - you think; विभोः (vibhoḥ) - O lord; तत् (tat) - that; ते (te) - to you; दद्याम् (dadyām) - I would give; वरम् (varam) - boon; विप्र (vipra) - O sage; न (na) - not; निवर्तेत् (nivartet) - will cease; क्रतुः (kratuḥ) - sacrifice; मम (mama) - my;]
(Gold, silver, cows, and whatever else you think, O lord, that I would give to you as a boon, O sage, my sacrifice will not cease.)
O sage, I am willing to give you gold, silver, cows, or anything else you desire as a boon, but my sacrifice will not be stopped.
आस्तीक उवाच॥
āstīka uvāca॥
[आस्तीक (āstīka) - Āstīka; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]
(Āstīka said:)
Āstīka spoke:
सुवर्णं रजतं गाश्च न त्वां राजन्वृणोम्यहम्। सत्रं ते विरमत्वेतत्स्वस्ति मातृकुलस्य नः ॥१-५१-२०॥
suvarṇaṃ rajataṃ gāśca na tvāṃ rājanvṛṇomyaham। satraṃ te viramatvetatsvasti mātṛkulasya naḥ ॥1-51-20॥
[सुवर्णम् (suvarṇam) - gold; रजतम् (rajatam) - silver; गाः (gāḥ) - cows; च (ca) - and; न (na) - not; त्वाम् (tvām) - you; राजन् (rājan) - O king; वृणोमि (vṛṇomi) - I choose; अहम् (aham) - I; सत्रम् (satram) - sacrifice; ते (te) - your; विरमतु (viramatu) - may cease; एतत् (etat) - this; स्वस्ति (svasti) - welfare; मातृकुलस्य (mātṛkulasya) - of the maternal family; नः (naḥ) - our;]
(I do not choose you, O king, for gold, silver, or cows. May this sacrifice of yours cease for the welfare of our maternal family.)
I do not desire you, O king, nor your gold, silver, or cows. Let this sacrifice of yours end for the well-being of our maternal family.
सूत उवाच॥
sūta uvāca॥
[सूत (sūta) - Sūta; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]
(Sūta said:)
Sūta said:
आस्तीकेनैवमुक्तस्तु राजा पारिक्षितस्तदा। पुनः पुनरुवाचेदमास्तीकं वदतां वरम् ॥१-५१-२१॥
āstīkenaivamuktastu rājā pārīkṣitastadā। punaḥ punaruvācedamāstīkaṃ vadatāṃ varam ॥1-51-21॥
[आस्तीकेन (āstīkena) - by Āstīka; एवम् (evam) - thus; उक्तः (uktaḥ) - spoken; तु (tu) - but; राजा (rājā) - king; पारिक्षितः (pārīkṣitaḥ) - Parīkṣita; तदा (tadā) - then; पुनः (punaḥ) - again; पुनः (punaḥ) - again; उवाच (uvāca) - said; इदम् (idam) - this; आस्तीकं (āstīkaṃ) - to Āstīka; वदतां (vadatāṃ) - of speakers; वरम् (varam) - best;]
(Thus spoken by Āstīka, King Parīkṣita then again and again said this to Āstīka, the best of speakers.)
King Parīkṣita, having been addressed by Āstīka in this manner, repeatedly requested Āstīka, the best among speakers.
अन्यं वरय भद्रं ते वरं द्विजवरोत्तम। अयाचत न चाप्यन्यं वरं स भृगुनन्दन ॥१-५१-२२॥
anyaṃ varaya bhadraṃ te varaṃ dvijavarottama। ayācata na cāpyanyaṃ varaṃ sa bhṛgunandana ॥1-51-22॥
[अन्यं (anyaṃ) - another; वरय (varaya) - choose; भद्रं (bhadraṃ) - auspicious; ते (te) - your; वरं (varaṃ) - boon; द्विजवरोत्तम (dvijavarottama) - best of the twice-born; अयाचत (ayācata) - asked; न (na) - not; च (ca) - and; अपि (api) - also; अन्यं (anyaṃ) - another; वरं (varaṃ) - boon; स (sa) - he; भृगुनन्दन (bhṛgunandana) - son of Bhrigu;]
(Choose another auspicious boon, best of the twice-born. He did not ask for another boon, son of Bhrigu.)
O best of the twice-born, choose another auspicious boon. The son of Bhrigu did not ask for another boon.
ततो वेदविदस्तत्र सदस्याः सर्व एव तम्। राजानमूचुः सहिता लभतां ब्राह्मणो वरम् ॥१-५१-२३॥
tato vedavidastatra sadasyāḥ sarva eva tam। rājānamūcuḥ sahitā labhatāṃ brāhmaṇo varam ॥1-51-23॥
[ततः (tataḥ) - then; वेदविदः (vedavidaḥ) - knowers of Vedas; तत्र (tatra) - there; सदस्याः (sadasyāḥ) - members; सर्वे (sarve) - all; एव (eva) - indeed; तम् (tam) - him; राजानम् (rājānam) - king; ऊचुः (ūcuḥ) - said; सहिताः (sahitāḥ) - together; लभताम् (labhatām) - may obtain; ब्राह्मणः (brāhmaṇaḥ) - Brahmin; वरम् (varam) - boon;]
(Then the knowers of Vedas, all the members there, indeed said to him, the king, together: "May the Brahmin obtain a boon.")
Then all the Vedic scholars present there unanimously told the king: "Let the Brahmin receive a boon."
