01.053
Library: Boon granted to Astika from snakes. Shaunaka asks Sauti to narrate Bharata as composed by Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa.
सूत उवाच॥
sūta uvāca॥
[सूत (sūta) - Sūta; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]
(Sūta said:)
Sūta said:
इदमत्यद्भुतं चान्यदास्तीकस्यानुशुश्रुमः। तथा वरैश्छन्द्यमाने राज्ञा पारिक्षितेन ह ॥१-५३-१॥
idamatyadbhutaṃ cānyadāstīkasyānuśuśrumaḥ। tathā varaiśchandyamāne rājñā pārikṣitena ha ॥1-53-1॥
[इदम् (idam) - this; अत्यद्भुतम् (atyadbhutam) - very wonderful; च (ca) - and; अन्यत् (anyat) - another; आस्तीकस्य (āstīkasya) - of Āstīka; अनुशुश्रुमः (anuśuśrumaḥ) - we have heard; तथा (tathā) - thus; वरैः (varaiḥ) - by boons; छन्द्यमाने (chandyamāne) - being pleased; राज्ञा (rājñā) - by the king; पारिक्षितेन (pārikṣitena) - by Parīkṣit; ह (ha) - indeed;]
(This is very wonderful and another thing we have heard of Āstīka. Thus, being pleased by boons, by the king Parīkṣit indeed.)
We have heard another very wonderful story of Āstīka. Thus, King Parīkṣit was indeed pleased by the boons.
इन्द्रहस्ताच्च्युतो नागः ख एव यदतिष्ठत। ततश्चिन्तापरो राजा बभूव जनमेजयः ॥१-५३-२॥
indrahastāccyuto nāgaḥ kha eva yadatiṣṭhata. tataścintāparo rājā babhūva janamejayaḥ ॥1-53-2॥
[इन्द्रहस्तात् (indrahastāt) - from Indra's hand; च्युतः (cyutaḥ) - fallen; नागः (nāgaḥ) - serpent; ख (kha) - sky; एव (eva) - indeed; यत् (yat) - which; अतिष्ठत (atiṣṭhata) - stood; ततः (tataḥ) - then; चिन्तापरः (cintāparaḥ) - full of anxiety; राजा (rājā) - king; बभूव (babhūva) - became; जनमेजयः (janamejayaḥ) - Janamejaya;]
(The serpent, fallen from Indra's hand, stood indeed in the sky. Then King Janamejaya became full of anxiety.)
The serpent fell from Indra's hand and remained suspended in the sky. Then King Janamejaya became anxious.
हूयमाने भृशं दीप्ते विधिवत्पावके तदा। न स्म स प्रापतद्वह्नौ तक्षको भयपीडितः ॥१-५३-३॥
hūyamāne bhṛśaṃ dīpte vidhivatpāvake tadā| na sma sa prāpatadvahnau takṣako bhayapīḍitaḥ ॥1-53-3॥
[हूयमाने (hūyamāne) - being offered; भृशं (bhṛśam) - intensely; दीप्ते (dīpte) - blazing; विधिवत् (vidhivat) - properly; पावके (pāvake) - in the fire; तदा (tadā) - then; न (na) - not; स्म (sma) - indeed; स (sa) - he; प्रापतत् (prāpatat) - fell; वह्नौ (vahnau) - into the fire; तक्षकः (takṣakaḥ) - Takshaka; भयपीडितः (bhayapīḍitaḥ) - afflicted by fear;]
(When the fire was being offered intensely and blazing properly, then Takshaka, afflicted by fear, did not indeed fall into the fire.)
During the intense and proper offering into the blazing fire, Takshaka, overwhelmed by fear, did not fall into it.
शौनक उवाच॥
śaunaka uvāca॥
[शौनक (śaunaka) - Śaunaka; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]
(Śaunaka said:)
Śaunaka spoke:
किं सूत तेषां विप्राणां मन्त्रग्रामो मनीषिणाम्। न प्रत्यभात्तदाग्नौ यन्न पपात स तक्षकः ॥१-५३-४॥
kiṁ sūta teṣāṁ viprāṇāṁ mantragrāmo manīṣiṇām। na pratyabhāttadāgnau yanna papāta sa takṣakaḥ ॥1-53-4॥
[किं (kiṁ) - what; सूत (sūta) - Sūta; तेषां (teṣāṁ) - their; विप्राणां (viprāṇāṁ) - of the wise; मन्त्रग्रामः (mantragrāmaḥ) - collection of mantras; मनीषिणाम् (manīṣiṇām) - of the intelligent; न (na) - not; प्रत्यभात् (pratyabhāt) - appeared; तदा (tadā) - then; अग्नौ (agnau) - in the fire; यत् (yat) - which; न (na) - not; पपात (papāta) - fell; सः (saḥ) - that; तक्षकः (takṣakaḥ) - Takshaka;]
(What, O Sūta, did not the collection of mantras of the wise and intelligent appear then in the fire, that Takshaka did not fall?)
O Sūta, why did the collection of mantras of the wise not manifest in the fire, preventing Takshaka from falling?
सूत उवाच॥
sūta uvāca॥
[सूत (sūta) - Sūta; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]
(Sūta said:)
Sūta said:
तमिन्द्रहस्ताद्विस्रस्तं विसञ्ज्ञं पन्नगोत्तमम्। आस्तीकस्तिष्ठ तिष्ठेति वाचस्तिस्रोऽभ्युदैरयत् ॥१-५३-५॥
tam indra-hastād visrastaṃ visañjñaṃ pannagottamam। āstīkas tiṣṭha tiṣṭheti vācas tisro'bhyudairayat ॥1-53-5॥
[तम् (tam) - that; इन्द्र (indra) - Indra; हस्तात् (hastāt) - from the hand; विस्रस्तम् (visrastam) - fallen; विसञ्ज्ञम् (visañjñam) - unconscious; पन्नगोत्तमम् (pannagottamam) - best of serpents; आस्तीकः (āstīkaḥ) - Āstīka; तिष्ठ (tiṣṭha) - stay; तिष्ठ (tiṣṭha) - stay; इति (iti) - thus; वाचः (vācaḥ) - words; तिस्रः (tisraḥ) - three; अभ्युदैरयत् (abhyudairayat) - uttered;]
(That best of serpents, fallen unconscious from Indra's hand, Āstīka uttered the three words, 'Stay, stay'.)
Āstīka, seeing the best of serpents fallen unconscious from Indra's hand, uttered three times the words 'Stay, stay' to halt the proceedings.
वितस्थे सोऽन्तरिक्षेऽथ हृदयेन विदूयता। यथा तिष्ठेत वै कश्चिद्गोचक्रस्यान्तरा नरः ॥१-५३-६॥
vitasthe so'ntarikṣe'tha hṛdayena vidūyatā। yathā tiṣṭheta vai kaścidgocakrasyāntarā naraḥ ॥1-53-6॥
[वितस्थे (vitasthe) - stood; सः (saḥ) - he; अन्तरिक्षे (antarikṣe) - in the sky; अथ (atha) - then; हृदयेन (hṛdayena) - with heart; विदूयता (vidūyatā) - agitated; यथा (yathā) - as; तिष्ठेत (tiṣṭheta) - would stand; वै (vai) - indeed; कश्चित् (kaścit) - someone; गोचक्रस्य (gocakrasya) - of the cow circle; अन्तरा (antarā) - between; नरः (naraḥ) - man;]
(He stood in the sky, then with an agitated heart, as indeed someone would stand between the cow circle.)
He stood in the sky with a troubled heart, just as a man might stand within the circle of cows.
ततो राजाब्रवीद्वाक्यं सदस्यैश्चोदितो भृशम्। काममेतद्भवत्वेवं यथास्तीकस्य भाषितम् ॥१-५३-७॥
tato rājābravīdvākyaṃ sadasyaiścodito bhṛśam। kāmametadbhavatvevaṃ yathāstīkasya bhāṣitam ॥1-53-7॥
[ततः (tataḥ) - then; राजा (rājā) - the king; अब्रवीत् (abravīt) - said; वाक्यम् (vākyaṃ) - words; सदस्यैः (sadasyaiḥ) - by the members; चोदितः (coditaḥ) - urged; भृशम् (bhṛśam) - greatly; कामम् (kāmam) - indeed; एतत् (etat) - this; भवतु (bhavatu) - let it be; एवं (evaṃ) - thus; यथा (yathā) - as; आस्तीकस्य (āstīkasya) - of Āstīka; भाषितम् (bhāṣitam) - spoken;]
(Then the king, greatly urged by the members, said these words: "Indeed, let it be thus as spoken by Āstīka.")
Then the king, strongly urged by the members, agreed to the words spoken by Āstīka, saying, "Indeed, let it be so."
समाप्यतामिदं कर्म पन्नगाः सन्त्वनामयाः। प्रीयतामयमास्तीकः सत्यं सूतवचोऽस्तु तत् ॥१-५३-८॥
samāpyatām idaṃ karma pannagāḥ santu anāmayāḥ। prīyatām ayam āstīkaḥ satyaṃ sūtavaco' stu tat ॥1-53-8॥
[समाप्यताम् (samāpyatām) - let it be completed; इदं (idaṃ) - this; कर्म (karma) - act; पन्नगाः (pannagāḥ) - serpents; सन्तु (santu) - may they be; अनामयाः (anāmayāḥ) - free from harm; प्रीयताम् (prīyatām) - may he be pleased; अयम् (ayam) - this; आस्तीकः (āstīkaḥ) - Āstīka; सत्यं (satyaṃ) - truth; सूतवचः (sūtavacaḥ) - Sūta's words; अस्तु (astu) - let it be; तत् (tat) - that;]
(Let this act be completed; may the serpents be free from harm; may this Āstīka be pleased; let Sūta's words be true.)
Let this act be completed, and may the serpents be unharmed. May Āstīka be pleased, and let the words of Sūta be true.
ततो हलहलाशब्दः प्रीतिजः समवर्तत। आस्तीकस्य वरे दत्ते तथैवोपरराम च ॥१-५३-९॥
tato halahalāśabdaḥ prītijaḥ samavartata। āstīkasya vare datte tathaivopararāma ca ॥1-53-9॥
[ततः (tataḥ) - then; हलहलाशब्दः (halahalāśabdaḥ) - tumultuous sound; प्रीतिजः (prītijaḥ) - born of joy; समवर्तत (samavartata) - arose; आस्तीकस्य (āstīkasya) - of Āstīka; वरे (vare) - boon; दत्ते (datte) - given; तथैव (tathaiva) - in the same way; उपरराम (upararāma) - ceased; च (ca) - and;]
(Then a tumultuous sound born of joy arose. With the boon given to Āstīka, it ceased in the same way.)
Then, a joyous tumultuous sound arose. With the boon granted to Āstīka, it similarly ceased.
स यज्ञः पाण्डवेयस्य राज्ञः पारिक्षितस्य ह। प्रीतिमांश्चाभवद्राजा भारतो जनमेजयः ॥१-५३-१०॥
sa yajñaḥ pāṇḍaveyasya rājñaḥ pārikṣitasya ha। prītimāṃścābhavad rājā bhārato janamejayaḥ ॥1-53-10॥
[स (sa) - that; यज्ञः (yajñaḥ) - sacrifice; पाण्डवेयस्य (pāṇḍaveyasya) - of the descendant of Pandu; राज्ञः (rājñaḥ) - of the king; पारिक्षितस्य (pārikṣitasya) - of Parikshit; ह (ha) - indeed; प्रीतिमान् (prītimān) - pleased; च (ca) - and; अभवत् (abhavat) - became; राजा (rājā) - king; भारतः (bhārataḥ) - Bharata; जनमेजयः (janamejayaḥ) - Janamejaya;]
(That sacrifice of the descendant of Pandu, of King Parikshit, indeed pleased and became King Bharata Janamejaya.)
The sacrifice performed by King Parikshit, a descendant of Pandu, indeed pleased King Janamejaya, the Bharata.
ऋत्विग्भ्यः ससदस्येभ्यो ये तत्रासन्समागताः। तेभ्यश्च प्रददौ वित्तं शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः ॥१-५३-११॥
ṛtvigbhyaḥ sadasyebhyo ye tatrāsansamāgatāḥ| tebhyaśca pradadau vittaṃ śataśo'tha sahasraśaḥ ॥1-53-11॥
[ऋत्विग्भ्यः (ṛtvigbhyaḥ) - to the priests; ससदस्येभ्यः (sadasyebhyaḥ) - to the members; ये (ye) - who; तत्र (tatra) - there; आसन (āsan) - were; समागताः (samāgatāḥ) - assembled; तेभ्यः (tebhyaḥ) - to them; च (ca) - and; प्रददौ (pradadau) - gave; वित्तं (vittaṃ) - wealth; शतशः (śataśaḥ) - by hundreds; अथ (atha) - then; सहस्रशः (sahasraśaḥ) - by thousands;]
(To the priests and the members who were assembled there, he gave wealth by hundreds and then by thousands.)
He generously distributed wealth in hundreds and thousands to the priests and members who were gathered there.
लोहिताक्षाय सूताय तथा स्थपतये विभुः। येनोक्तं तत्र सत्राग्रे यज्ञस्य विनिवर्तनम् ॥१-५३-१२॥
lohitākṣāya sūtāya tathā sthapataye vibhuḥ। yenoktaṃ tatra satrāgre yajñasya vinivartanam ॥1-53-12॥
[लोहिताक्षाय (lohitākṣāya) - to Lohitaksha; सूताय (sūtāya) - to the charioteer; तथा (tathā) - and; स्थपतये (sthapataye) - to the architect; विभुः (vibhuḥ) - the lord; येन (yena) - by whom; उक्तं (uktaṃ) - it was said; तत्र (tatra) - there; सत्राग्रे (satrāgre) - at the beginning of the session; यज्ञस्य (yajñasya) - of the sacrifice; विनिवर्तनम् (vinivartanam) - cessation;]
(To Lohitaksha, to the charioteer, and to the architect, the lord by whom it was said there at the beginning of the session, the cessation of the sacrifice.)
The lord addressed Lohitaksha, the charioteer, and the architect, declaring the cessation of the sacrifice at the beginning of the session.
निमित्तं ब्राह्मण इति तस्मै वित्तं ददौ बहु। ततश्चकारावभृथं विधिदृष्टेन कर्मणा ॥१-५३-१३॥
nimittaṁ brāhmaṇa iti tasmai vittaṁ dadau bahu। tataścakārāvabhṛthaṁ vidhidṛṣṭena karmaṇā ॥1-53-13॥
[निमित्तं (nimittaṁ) - cause; ब्राह्मण (brāhmaṇa) - Brahmin; इति (iti) - thus; तस्मै (tasmai) - to him; वित्तं (vittaṁ) - wealth; ददौ (dadau) - gave; बहु (bahu) - much; ततः (tataḥ) - then; चकार (cakāra) - performed; अवभृथं (avabhṛthaṁ) - concluding bath; विधिदृष्टेन (vidhidṛṣṭena) - as prescribed; कर्मणा (karmaṇā) - with rites;]
(As a cause, he gave much wealth to the Brahmin. Then he performed the concluding bath with rites as prescribed.)
He gave much wealth to the Brahmin as a token. Then, he performed the concluding bath according to the prescribed rites.
आस्तीकं प्रेषयामास गृहानेव सुसत्कृतम्। राजा प्रीतमनाः प्रीतं कृतकृत्यं मनीषिणम् ॥१-५३-१४॥
āstīkaṃ preṣayāmāsa gṛhāneva susatkṛtam। rājā prītamanāḥ prītaṃ kṛtakṛtyaṃ manīṣiṇam ॥1-53-14॥
[आस्तीकम् (āstīkam) - to Āstīka; प्रेषयामास (preṣayāmāsa) - sent; गृहाणि (gṛhāṇi) - to the houses; एव (eva) - indeed; सुसत्कृतम् (susatkṛtam) - well-honored; राजा (rājā) - the king; प्रीतमनाः (prītamanāḥ) - with a pleased mind; प्रीतम् (prītam) - pleased; कृतकृत्यम् (kṛtakṛtyam) - having accomplished his purpose; मनीषिणम् (manīṣiṇam) - the wise one;]
(The king, with a pleased mind, sent Āstīka, who was well-honored, indeed to the houses, pleased and having accomplished his purpose, the wise one.)
The king, delighted and feeling accomplished, sent the honored Āstīka back to the houses, recognizing his wisdom and the fulfillment of his duties.
पुनरागमनं कार्यमिति चैनं वचोऽब्रवीत्। भविष्यसि सदस्यो मे वाजिमेधे महाक्रतौ ॥१-५३-१५॥
punarāgamanaṃ kāryamiti cainaṃ vaco'bravīt। bhaviṣyasi sadasyo me vājimedhe mahākratau ॥1-53-15॥
[पुनरागमनम् (punarāgamanaṃ) - return; कार्य (kārya) - duty; इति (iti) - thus; च (ca) - and; एनम् (enam) - this; वचः (vacaḥ) - speech; अब्रवीत् (abravīt) - said; भविष्यसि (bhaviṣyasi) - you will be; सदस्यः (sadasyaḥ) - member; मे (me) - my; वाजिमेधे (vājimedhe) - in the horse sacrifice; महाक्रतौ (mahākratau) - great ritual;]
(He said this speech: "Return is your duty. You will be my member in the horse sacrifice, the great ritual.")
He instructed him to return, stating that it was his duty, and assured him that he would be a member in his great horse sacrifice ritual.
तथेत्युक्त्वा प्रदुद्राव स चास्तीको मुदा युतः। कृत्वा स्वकार्यमतुलं तोषयित्वा च पार्थिवम् ॥१-५३-१६॥
tathety uktvā pradudrāva sa cāstīko mudā yutaḥ। kṛtvā svakāryam atulaṃ toṣayitvā ca pārthivam ॥1-53-16॥
[तथेत्युक्त्वा (tathety uktvā) - thus having said; प्रदुद्राव (pradudrāva) - ran away; सः (saḥ) - he; च (ca) - and; आस्तीको (āstīkaḥ) - Āstīka; मुदा (mudā) - with joy; युतः (yutaḥ) - filled; कृत्वा (kṛtvā) - having done; स्वकार्यम् (svakāryam) - his task; अतुलम् (atulam) - incomparable; तोषयित्वा (toṣayitvā) - having pleased; च (ca) - and; पार्थिवम् (pārthivam) - the king;]
(Thus having said, he, Āstīka, ran away filled with joy, having done his incomparable task and having pleased the king.)
Thus, having spoken, Āstīka joyfully departed, having accomplished his unparalleled task and having satisfied the king.
स गत्वा परमप्रीतो मातरं मातुलं च तम्। अभिगम्योपसङ्गृह्य यथावृत्तं न्यवेदयत् ॥१-५३-१७॥
sa gatvā paramaprīto mātaraṃ mātulaṃ ca tam। abhigamyopasaṅgṛhya yathāvṛttaṃ nyavedayat ॥1-53-17॥
[स (sa) - he; गत्वा (gatvā) - having gone; परमप्रीतः (paramaprītaḥ) - very pleased; मातरं (mātaram) - mother; मातुलं (mātulam) - uncle; च (ca) - and; तम् (tam) - him; अभिगम्य (abhigamya) - having approached; उपसङ्गृह्य (upasaṅgṛhya) - having embraced; यथावृत्तं (yathāvṛttam) - as it happened; न्यवेदयत् (nyavedayat) - reported;]
(He, having gone, very pleased, to his mother and uncle, having approached and embraced them, reported as it happened.)
He went to his mother and uncle, very pleased, and after approaching and embracing them, he reported everything as it had happened.
एतच्छ्रुत्वा प्रीयमाणाः समेता; ये तत्रासन्पन्नगा वीतमोहाः। तेऽऽस्तीके वै प्रीतिमन्तो बभूवु; रूचुश्चैनं वरमिष्टं वृणीष्व ॥१-५३-१८॥
etacchrutvā prīyamāṇāḥ sametā; ye tatrāsanpannagā vītamohāḥ| te''stīke vai prītimanto babhūvu; rūcuścainaṃ varamiṣṭaṃ vṛṇīṣva ॥1-53-18॥
[एतत् (etat) - this; श्रुत्वा (śrutvā) - having heard; प्रीयमाणाः (prīyamāṇāḥ) - pleased; समेता (sametā) - assembled; ये (ye) - who; तत्र (tatra) - there; आसन (āsan) - were; पन्नगाः (pannagāḥ) - serpents; वीतमोहाः (vītamohāḥ) - free from delusion; ते (te) - they; अस्तीक (astīka) - Astika; वै (vai) - indeed; प्रीतिमन्तः (prītimantaḥ) - pleased; बभूवुः (babhūvuḥ) - became; रूचुः (rūcuḥ) - said; च (ca) - and; एनम् (enam) - to him; वरम् (varam) - boon; इष्टम् (iṣṭam) - desired; वृणीष्व (vṛṇīṣva) - choose;]
(Having heard this, the pleased ones assembled; the serpents who were there, free from delusion, indeed became pleased with Astika; and said to him, "Choose the desired boon.")
Upon hearing this, the delighted serpents gathered; those who were present there, free from delusion, became pleased with Astika and said to him, "Choose the boon you desire."
भूयो भूयः सर्वशस्तेऽब्रुवंस्तं; किं ते प्रियं करवामोऽद्य विद्वन्। प्रीता वयं मोक्षिताश्चैव सर्वे; कामं किं ते करवामोऽद्य वत्स ॥१-५३-१९॥
bhūyo bhūyaḥ sarvaśaste'bruvaṃstaṃ; kiṃ te priyaṃ karavāmo'dya vidvan. prītā vayaṃ mokṣitāścaiva sarve; kāmaṃ kiṃ te karavāmo'dya vatsa ॥1-53-19॥
[भूयः (bhūyaḥ) - again; भूयः (bhūyaḥ) - again; सर्वशः (sarvaśaḥ) - all; ते (te) - to you; अब्रुवन् (abruvan) - said; तं (taṃ) - to him; किं (kiṃ) - what; ते (te) - to you; प्रियं (priyaṃ) - dear; करवाम (karavāma) - shall do; अद्य (adya) - today; विद्वन् (vidvan) - wise one; प्रीताः (prītāḥ) - pleased; वयम् (vayam) - we; मोक्षिताः (mokṣitāḥ) - liberated; च (ca) - and; एव (eva) - indeed; सर्वे (sarve) - all; कामं (kāmaṃ) - desire; किं (kiṃ) - what; ते (te) - to you; करवाम (karavāma) - shall do; अद्य (adya) - today; वत्स (vatsa) - dear child;]
(Again and again, all said to him: "What dear thing shall we do for you today, wise one?" We are pleased and indeed all liberated; what desire shall we fulfill for you today, dear child?)
Repeatedly, everyone said to him: "What can we do for you today, wise one?" We are pleased and all liberated; what desire of yours shall we fulfill today, dear child?
आस्तीक उवाच॥
āstīka uvāca॥
[आस्तीक (āstīka) - Āstīka; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]
(Āstīka said:)
Āstīka spoke:
सायं प्रातः सुप्रसन्नात्मरूपा; लोके विप्रा मानवाश्चेतरेऽपि। धर्माख्यानं ये वदेयुर्ममेदं; तेषां युष्मद्भ्यो नैव किञ्चिद्भयं स्यात् ॥१-५३-२०॥
sāyaṃ prātaḥ suprasannātmarūpā; loke viprā mānavāścetare'pi| dharmākhyānaṃ ye vadeyurmamedaṃ; teṣāṃ yuṣmadbhyo naiva kiñcidbhayaṃ syāt ॥1-53-20॥
[सायं (sāyaṃ) - evening; प्रातः (prātaḥ) - morning; सुप्रसन्नात्मरूपा (suprasannātmarūpā) - of clear and pleasant nature; लोके (loke) - in the world; विप्राः (viprāḥ) - wise men; मानवाः (mānavāḥ) - humans; च (ca) - and; इतरे (itare) - others; अपि (api) - also; धर्माख्यानम् (dharmākhyānam) - tale of righteousness; ये (ye) - who; वदेयुः (vadeyuḥ) - speak; मम (mama) - my; इदं (idaṃ) - this; तेषाम् (teṣām) - their; युष्मद्भ्यः (yuṣmadbhyaḥ) - from you; न (na) - not; एव (eva) - indeed; किञ्चित् (kiñcit) - any; भयम् (bhayam) - fear; स्यात् (syāt) - shall be;]
(Evening and morning, those of clear and pleasant nature; in the world, wise men, humans, and others also; who speak this tale of righteousness of mine; for them, from you, indeed, there shall be no fear.)
In the evening and morning, those who are of a clear and pleasant nature, whether wise men, humans, or others in the world, who speak this tale of righteousness of mine, shall have no fear from you.
सूत उवाच॥
sūta uvāca॥
[सूत (sūta) - Sūta; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]
(Sūta said:)
Sūta said:
तैश्चाप्युक्तो भागिनेयः प्रसन्नै; रेतत्सत्यं काममेवं चरन्तः। प्रीत्या युक्ता ईप्सितं सर्वशस्ते; कर्तारः स्म प्रवणा भागिनेय ॥१-५३-२१॥
taiś cāpy ukto bhāgineyaḥ prasannaiḥ; etat satyaṃ kāmam evaṃ carantaḥ. prītyā yuktā īpsitaṃ sarvaśas te; kartāraḥ sma pravanā bhāgineya ॥1-53-21॥
[तैः (taiḥ) - by them; च (ca) - and; अपि (api) - also; उक्तः (uktaḥ) - spoken; भागिनेयः (bhāgineyaḥ) - O nephew; प्रसन्नैः (prasannaiḥ) - pleased; एतत् (etat) - this; सत्यं (satyaṃ) - truth; कामम् (kāmam) - indeed; एवम् (evam) - thus; चरन्तः (carantaḥ) - acting; प्रीत्या (prītyā) - with affection; युक्ताः (yuktāḥ) - engaged; ईप्सितं (īpsitaṃ) - desired; सर्वशः (sarvaśaḥ) - in every way; ते (te) - they; कर्तारः (kartāraḥ) - doers; स्म (sma) - indeed; प्रवणाः (pravanāḥ) - inclined; भागिनेय (bhāgineya) - O nephew;]
(By them also spoken, O nephew, pleased; this truth indeed thus acting. With affection engaged, desired in every way; they are doers indeed inclined, O nephew.)
The pleased ones also spoke to the nephew: 'Indeed, this is the truth, acting thus. Engaged with affection, they are inclined to fulfill every desire, O nephew.'
जरत्कारोर्जरत्कार्वां समुत्पन्नो महायशाः। आस्तीकः सत्यसन्धो मां पन्नगेभ्योऽभिरक्षतु ॥१-५३-२२॥
jaratkārorjaratkārvāṃ samutpanno mahāyaśāḥ। āstīkaḥ satyasandho māṃ pannagebhyo'bhirakṣatu ॥1-53-22॥
[जरत्कारोः (jaratkāroḥ) - of Jaratkaru; जरत्कार्वाम् (jaratkārvām) - Jaratkarva; समुत्पन्नः (samutpannaḥ) - born; महायशाः (mahāyaśāḥ) - greatly renowned; आस्तीकः (āstīkaḥ) - Astika; सत्यसन्धः (satyasandhaḥ) - truthful; माम् (mām) - me; पन्नगेभ्यः (pannagebhyaḥ) - from the serpents; अभिरक्षतु (abhirakṣatu) - may protect;]
(Astika, the greatly renowned son of Jaratkaru and Jaratkarva, truthful, may protect me from the serpents.)
Astika, the illustrious son of Jaratkaru and Jaratkarva, known for his truthfulness, may he protect me from the serpents.
असितं चार्तिमन्तं च सुनीथं चापि यः स्मरेत्। दिवा वा यदि वा रात्रौ नास्य सर्पभयं भवेत् ॥१-५३-२३॥
asitaṁ cārtimantaṁ ca sunīthaṁ cāpi yaḥ smaret। divā vā yadi vā rātrau nāsya sarpabhayaṁ bhavet ॥1-53-23॥
[असितम् (asitam) - Asita; च (ca) - and; आर्तिमन्तम् (ārtimantam) - Ārtimant; च (ca) - and; सुनीथम् (sunītham) - Sunītha; च (ca) - and; अपि (api) - also; यः (yaḥ) - who; स्मरेत् (smaret) - remembers; दिवा (divā) - by day; वा (vā) - or; यदि (yadi) - if; वा (vā) - or; रात्रौ (rātrau) - by night; न (na) - not; अस्य (asya) - his; सर्पभयम् (sarpabhayam) - fear of snakes; भवेत् (bhavet) - will be;]
(Whoever remembers Asita, Ārtimant, and Sunītha, either by day or by night, will not have fear of snakes.)
If one remembers Asita, Ārtimant, and Sunītha, whether during the day or at night, they will be free from the fear of snakes.
सूत उवाच॥
sūta uvāca॥
[सूत (sūta) - Sūta; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]
(Sūta said:)
Sūta said:
मोक्षयित्वा स भुजगान्सर्पसत्राद्द्विजोत्तमः। जगाम काले धर्मात्मा दिष्टान्तं पुत्रपौत्रवान् ॥१-५३-२४॥
mokṣayitvā sa bhujagānsarpasatrāddvijottamaḥ। jagāma kāle dharmātmā diṣṭāntaṃ putrapautravān ॥1-53-24॥
[मोक्षयित्वा (mokṣayitvā) - having released; स (sa) - he; भुजगान् (bhujagān) - serpents; सर्पसत्रात् (sarpasatrāt) - from the serpent sacrifice; द्विजोत्तमः (dvijottamaḥ) - the best of the twice-born; जगाम (jagāma) - went; काले (kāle) - in time; धर्मात्मा (dharmātmā) - righteous soul; दिष्टान्तं (diṣṭāntam) - end; पुत्रपौत्रवान् (putrapautravān) - having sons and grandsons;]
(Having released the serpents from the serpent sacrifice, the best of the twice-born, he went in time, the righteous soul, to the end, having sons and grandsons.)
Having freed the serpents from the serpent sacrifice, the noble sage eventually passed away, a righteous soul, surrounded by his sons and grandsons.
इत्याख्यानं मयास्तीकं यथावत्कीर्तितं तव। यत्कीर्तयित्वा सर्पेभ्यो न भयं विद्यते क्वचित् ॥१-५३-२५॥
ityākhyānaṃ mayāstīkaṃ yathāvatkīrtitaṃ tava| yatkīrtayitvā sarpebhyo na bhayaṃ vidyate kvacit ॥1-53-25॥
[इति (iti) - thus; आख्यानम् (ākhyānam) - story; मया (mayā) - by me; अस्तीकम् (astīkam) - Astika; यथावत् (yathāvat) - as it was; कीर्तितम् (kīrtitam) - narrated; तव (tava) - to you; यत् (yat) - which; कीर्तयित्वा (kīrtayitvā) - having recited; सर्पेभ्यः (sarpebhyaḥ) - from snakes; न (na) - not; भयम् (bhayam) - fear; विद्यते (vidyate) - exists; क्वचित् (kvacit) - anywhere;]
(Thus, the story of Astika has been narrated to you by me as it was. By reciting this, there is no fear from snakes anywhere.)
Thus, I have narrated to you the story of Astika as it was. By reciting this, one is protected from the fear of snakes anywhere.
श्रुत्वा धर्मिष्ठमाख्यानमास्तीकं पुण्यवर्धनम्। आस्तीकस्य कवेर्विप्र श्रीमच्चरितमादितः ॥१-५३-२६॥
śrutvā dharmiṣṭhamākhyānamāstīkaṃ puṇyavardhanam। āstīkasya kavervipra śrīmaccharitamāditaḥ ॥1-53-26॥
[श्रुत्वा (śrutvā) - having heard; धर्मिष्ठम् (dharmiṣṭham) - righteous; आख्यानम् (ākhyānam) - story; आस्तीकम् (āstīkam) - of Āstīka; पुण्यवर्धनम् (puṇyavardhanam) - increasing merit; आस्तीकस्य (āstīkasya) - of Āstīka; कवेः (kaveḥ) - of the sage; विप्र (vipra) - O learned one; श्रीमच्छरितम् (śrīmaccharitam) - glorious story; आदितः (āditaḥ) - from the beginning;]
(Having heard the righteous story of Āstīka, which increases merit, O learned one, the glorious story of the sage Āstīka from the beginning.)
Upon hearing the virtuous tale of Āstīka, which enhances one's merit, O wise one, the illustrious narrative of the sage Āstīka is recounted from the start.
शौनक उवाच॥
śaunaka uvāca॥
[शौनक (śaunaka) - Śaunaka; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]
(Śaunaka said:)
Śaunaka spoke:
भृगुवंशात्प्रभृत्येव त्वया मे कथितं महत्। आख्यानमखिलं तात सौते प्रीतोऽस्मि तेन ते ॥१-५३-२७॥
bhṛguvaṃśātprabhṛtyeva tvayā me kathitaṃ mahat। ākhyānamakhilaṃ tāta saute prīto'smi tena te ॥1-53-27॥
[भृगुवंशात् (bhṛguvaṃśāt) - from the Bhrigu lineage; प्रभृत्येव (prabhṛtyeva) - starting from; त्वया (tvayā) - by you; मे (me) - to me; कथितं (kathitaṃ) - told; महत् (mahat) - great; आख्यानम् (ākhyānam) - narrative; अखिलं (akhilaṃ) - entire; तात (tāta) - dear father; सौते (saute) - O Suta; प्रीतः (prītaḥ) - pleased; अस्मि (asmi) - am; तेन (tena) - by that; ते (te) - your;]
(Starting from the Bhrigu lineage, the great narrative was told to me by you, dear father. O Suta, I am pleased by that of yours.)
O Suta, dear father, you have narrated to me the entire great story starting from the Bhrigu lineage. I am pleased with your narration.
प्रक्ष्यामि चैव भूयस्त्वां यथावत्सूतनन्दन। यां कथां व्याससम्पन्नां तां च भूयः प्रचक्ष्व मे ॥१-५३-२८॥
prakṣyāmi caiva bhūyastvāṃ yathāvatsūtanandana। yāṃ kathāṃ vyāsasampannāṃ tāṃ ca bhūyaḥ pracakṣva me ॥1-53-28॥
[प्रक्ष्यामि (prakṣyāmi) - I will ask; च (ca) - and; एव (eva) - certainly; भूयः (bhūyaḥ) - again; त्वाम् (tvām) - you; यथावत् (yathāvat) - as it is; सूतनन्दन (sūtanandana) - O son of Sūta; याम् (yām) - which; कथाम् (kathām) - story; व्याससम्पन्नाम् (vyāsasampannām) - endowed by Vyāsa; ताम् (tām) - that; च (ca) - and; भूयः (bhūyaḥ) - again; प्रचक्ष्व (pracakṣva) - tell; मे (me) - to me;]
(I will ask you again as it is, O son of Sūta, tell me again that story which is endowed by Vyāsa.)
O son of Sūta, I will ask you once more to narrate the story as it was told by Vyāsa.
तस्मिन्परमदुष्प्रापे सर्पसत्रे महात्मनाम्। कर्मान्तरेषु विधिवत्सदस्यानां महाकवे ॥१-५३-२९॥
tasmin paramaduṣprāpe sarpasatre mahātmanām। karmāntareṣu vidhivatsad asyānāṃ mahākave ॥1-53-29॥
[तस्मिन् (tasmin) - in that; परमदुष्प्रापे (paramaduṣprāpe) - extremely difficult to attain; सर्पसत्रे (sarpasatre) - serpent sacrifice; महात्मनाम् (mahātmanām) - of the great souls; कर्मान्तरेषु (karmāntareṣu) - in the intervals of the rituals; विधिवत् (vidhivat) - according to the rules; सदस्यानाम् (sad asyānāṃ) - of the members; महाकवे (mahākave) - O great poet;]
(In that extremely difficult to attain serpent sacrifice of the great souls, in the intervals of the rituals according to the rules, O great poet, of the members.)
In that serpent sacrifice, which was extremely difficult to attain and was conducted by the great souls, during the intervals of the rituals, O great poet, the members followed the rules.
या बभूवुः कथाश्चित्रा येष्वर्थेषु यथातथम्। त्वत्त इच्छामहे श्रोतुं सौते त्वं वै विचक्षणः ॥१-५३-३०॥
yā babhūvuḥ kathāś citrā yeṣv artheṣu yathātatham। tvatta icchāmahe śrotuṃ saute tvaṃ vai vicakṣaṇaḥ ॥1-53-30॥
[या (yā) - which; बभूवुः (babhūvuḥ) - were; कथाः (kathāḥ) - stories; चित्राः (citrāḥ) - wonderful; येषु (yeṣu) - in which; अर्थेषु (artheṣu) - meanings; यथातथम् (yathātatham) - truly; त्वत्तः (tvattaḥ) - from you; इच्छामहे (icchāmahe) - we wish; श्रोतुम् (śrotum) - to hear; सौते (saute) - O Sauti; त्वम् (tvam) - you; वै (vai) - indeed; विचक्षणः (vicakṣaṇaḥ) - wise;]
(Which wonderful stories were there, in which meanings truly; from you we wish to hear, O Sauti, you indeed wise.)
We wish to hear from you, O Sauti, the wonderful stories which truly contain meanings, as you are indeed wise.
सूत उवाच॥
sūta uvāca॥
[सूत (sūta) - Sūta; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]
(Sūta said:)
Sūta said:
कर्मान्तरेष्वकथयन्द्विजा वेदाश्रयाः कथाः। व्यासस्त्वकथयन्नित्यमाख्यानं भारतं महत् ॥१-५३-३१॥
karmāntareṣvakathayandvijā vedāśrayāḥ kathāḥ। vyāsastvakathayannityamākhyānaṃ bhārataṃ mahat ॥1-53-31॥
[कर्मान्तरेषु (karmāntareṣu) - in the intervals of rituals; अकथयन् (akathayan) - not narrating; द्विजाः (dvijāḥ) - the twice-born; वेदाश्रयाः (vedāśrayāḥ) - based on the Vedas; कथाः (kathāḥ) - stories; व्यासः (vyāsaḥ) - Vyasa; तु (tu) - but; अकथयन् (akathayan) - was narrating; नित्यम् (nityam) - always; आख्यानम् (ākhyānam) - the narrative; भारतं (bhāratam) - of the Bharata; महत् (mahat) - great;]
(In the intervals of rituals, the twice-born did not narrate stories based on the Vedas. But Vyasa was always narrating the great narrative of the Bharata.)
During the intervals of rituals, the learned Brahmins refrained from telling stories based on the Vedas. However, Vyasa continuously narrated the grand tale of the Mahabharata.
शौनक उवाच॥
śaunaka uvāca॥
[शौनक (śaunaka) - Śaunaka; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]
(Śaunaka said:)
Śaunaka spoke:
महाभारतमाख्यानं पाण्डवानां यशस्करम्। जनमेजयेन यत्पृष्टः कृष्णद्वैपायनस्तदा ॥१-५३-३२॥
mahābhāratamākhyānaṃ pāṇḍavānāṃ yaśaskaram। janamejayena yatpṛṣṭaḥ kṛṣṇadvaipāyanastadā ॥1-53-32॥
[महाभारतम् (mahābhāratam) - Mahabharata; आख्यानम् (ākhyānam) - narrative; पाण्डवानाम् (pāṇḍavānām) - of the Pandavas; यशस्करम् (yaśaskaram) - glorious; जनमेजयेन (janamejayena) - by Janamejaya; यत् (yat) - which; पृष्टः (pṛṣṭaḥ) - asked; कृष्णद्वैपायनः (kṛṣṇadvaipāyanaḥ) - Krishna Dvaipayana; तदा (tadā) - then;]
(The Mahabharata narrative, glorious for the Pandavas, which was asked by Janamejaya to Krishna Dvaipayana then.)
The Mahabharata story, which brings glory to the Pandavas, was narrated by Krishna Dvaipayana when asked by Janamejaya.
श्रावयामास विधिवत्तदा कर्मान्तरेषु सः। तामहं विधिवत्पुण्यां श्रोतुमिच्छामि वै कथाम् ॥१-५३-३३॥
śrāvayāmāsa vidhivattadā karmāntareṣu saḥ। tāmahaṃ vidhivatpuṇyāṃ śrotumicchāmi vai kathām ॥1-53-33॥
[श्रावयामास (śrāvayāmāsa) - caused to hear; विधिवत् (vidhivat) - properly; तदा (tadā) - then; कर्मान्तरेषु (karmāntareṣu) - in the intervals of the rituals; सः (saḥ) - he; ताम् (tām) - that; अहम् (aham) - I; विधिवत् (vidhivat) - properly; पुण्यां (puṇyām) - sacred; श्रोतुम् (śrotum) - to hear; इच्छामि (icchāmi) - wish; वै (vai) - indeed; कथाम् (kathām) - story;]
(He caused to hear properly then in the intervals of the rituals. I wish to hear that sacred story properly indeed.)
He narrated the sacred story properly during the intervals of the rituals. I indeed wish to hear that sacred story properly.
मनःसागरसम्भूतां महर्षेः पुण्यकर्मणः। कथयस्व सतां श्रेष्ठ न हि तृप्यामि सूतज ॥१-५३-३४॥
manaḥsāgarasambhūtāṃ maharṣeḥ puṇyakarmaṇaḥ| kathayasva satāṃ śreṣṭha na hi tṛpyāmi sūtaja ॥1-53-34॥
[मनः (manaḥ) - mind; सागर (sāgara) - ocean; सम्भूतां (sambhūtāṃ) - arisen; महर्षेः (maharṣeḥ) - of the great sage; पुण्यकर्मणः (puṇyakarmaṇaḥ) - of virtuous deeds; कथयस्व (kathayasva) - tell; सतां (satāṃ) - of the virtuous; श्रेष्ठ (śreṣṭha) - best; न (na) - not; हि (hi) - indeed; तृप्यामि (tṛpyāmi) - I am satisfied; सूतज (sūtaja) - O son of Sūta;]
(Arisen from the ocean of mind, of the great sage of virtuous deeds, tell, O best of the virtuous, for I am not satisfied, O son of Sūta.)
O son of Sūta, please narrate the stories arising from the ocean of the mind of the great sage of virtuous deeds, as I am not yet satisfied, O best among the virtuous.
सूत उवाच॥
sūta uvāca॥
[सूत (sūta) - Sūta; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]
(Sūta said:)
Sūta said:
हन्त ते कथयिष्यामि महदाख्यानमुत्तमम्। कृष्णद्वैपायनमतं महाभारतमादितः ॥१-५३-३५॥
hanta te kathayiṣyāmi mahādākhyānamuttamam। kṛṣṇadvaipāyanamataṃ mahābhāratamāditaḥ ॥1-53-35॥
[हन्त (hanta) - indeed; ते (te) - to you; कथयिष्यामि (kathayiṣyāmi) - I will tell; महदाख्यानम् (mahādākhyānam) - great story; उत्तमम् (uttamam) - excellent; कृष्णद्वैपायनमतम् (kṛṣṇadvaipāyanamatam) - by Krishna Dvaipayana; महाभारतम् (mahābhāratam) - Mahabharata; आदितः (āditaḥ) - from the beginning;]
(Indeed, to you I will tell the great and excellent story, the Mahabharata, as understood by Krishna Dvaipayana, from the beginning.)
Indeed, I shall narrate to you the great and excellent story of the Mahabharata, as conceived by Krishna Dvaipayana, from the very beginning.
तज्जुषस्वोत्तममते कथ्यमानं मया द्विज। शंसितुं तन्मनोहर्षो ममापीह प्रवर्तते ॥१-५३-३६॥
tajjuṣasvottamamāte kathyamānaṃ mayā dvija। śaṃsituṃ tanmanoharṣo mamāpīha pravartate ॥1-53-36॥
[तत् (tat) - that; जुषस्व (juṣasva) - accept; उत्तममते (uttamamāte) - O best-minded; कथ्यमानं (kathyamānaṃ) - being told; मया (mayā) - by me; द्विज (dvija) - O twice-born; शंसितुं (śaṃsituṃ) - to praise; तत् (tat) - that; मनोहर्षः (manoharṣaḥ) - joy of mind; मम (mama) - my; अपि (api) - also; इह (iha) - here; प्रवर्तते (pravartate) - arises;]
(Accept that, O best-minded, being told by me, O twice-born. To praise that, the joy of mind, my also here arises.)
O noble-minded one, accept what is being narrated by me, O twice-born. My mind also delights here in praising that.
