01.053
Library: Boon granted to Astika from snakes. Shaunaka asks Sauti to narrate Bharata as composed by Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa.
sūta uvāca॥
Sūta said:
idamatyadbhutaṃ cānyadāstīkasyānuśuśrumaḥ। tathā varaiśchandyamāne rājñā pārikṣitena ha ॥1-53-1॥
We have heard another very wonderful story of Āstīka. Thus, King Parīkṣit was indeed pleased by the boons.
indrahastāccyuto nāgaḥ kha eva yadatiṣṭhata. tataścintāparo rājā babhūva janamejayaḥ ॥1-53-2॥
The serpent fell from Indra's hand and remained suspended in the sky. Then King Janamejaya became anxious.
hūyamāne bhṛśaṃ dīpte vidhivatpāvake tadā| na sma sa prāpatadvahnau takṣako bhayapīḍitaḥ ॥1-53-3॥
During the intense and proper offering into the blazing fire, Takshaka, overwhelmed by fear, did not fall into it.
śaunaka uvāca॥
Śaunaka spoke:
kiṁ sūta teṣāṁ viprāṇāṁ mantragrāmo manīṣiṇām। na pratyabhāttadāgnau yanna papāta sa takṣakaḥ ॥1-53-4॥
O Sūta, why did the collection of mantras of the wise not manifest in the fire, preventing Takshaka from falling?
sūta uvāca॥
Sūta said:
tam indra-hastād visrastaṃ visañjñaṃ pannagottamam। āstīkas tiṣṭha tiṣṭheti vācas tisro'bhyudairayat ॥1-53-5॥
Āstīka, seeing the best of serpents fallen unconscious from Indra's hand, uttered three times the words 'Stay, stay' to halt the proceedings.
vitasthe so'ntarikṣe'tha hṛdayena vidūyatā। yathā tiṣṭheta vai kaścidgocakrasyāntarā naraḥ ॥1-53-6॥
He stood in the sky with a troubled heart, just as a man might stand within the circle of cows.
tato rājābravīdvākyaṃ sadasyaiścodito bhṛśam। kāmametadbhavatvevaṃ yathāstīkasya bhāṣitam ॥1-53-7॥
Then the king, strongly urged by the members, agreed to the words spoken by Āstīka, saying, "Indeed, let it be so."
samāpyatām idaṃ karma pannagāḥ santu anāmayāḥ। prīyatām ayam āstīkaḥ satyaṃ sūtavaco' stu tat ॥1-53-8॥
Let this act be completed, and may the serpents be unharmed. May Āstīka be pleased, and let the words of Sūta be true.
tato halahalāśabdaḥ prītijaḥ samavartata। āstīkasya vare datte tathaivopararāma ca ॥1-53-9॥
Then, a joyous tumultuous sound arose. With the boon granted to Āstīka, it similarly ceased.
sa yajñaḥ pāṇḍaveyasya rājñaḥ pārikṣitasya ha। prītimāṃścābhavad rājā bhārato janamejayaḥ ॥1-53-10॥
The sacrifice performed by King Parikshit, a descendant of Pandu, indeed pleased King Janamejaya, the Bharata.
ṛtvigbhyaḥ sadasyebhyo ye tatrāsansamāgatāḥ| tebhyaśca pradadau vittaṃ śataśo'tha sahasraśaḥ ॥1-53-11॥
He generously distributed wealth in hundreds and thousands to the priests and members who were gathered there.
lohitākṣāya sūtāya tathā sthapataye vibhuḥ। yenoktaṃ tatra satrāgre yajñasya vinivartanam ॥1-53-12॥
The lord addressed Lohitaksha, the charioteer, and the architect, declaring the cessation of the sacrifice at the beginning of the session.
nimittaṁ brāhmaṇa iti tasmai vittaṁ dadau bahu। tataścakārāvabhṛthaṁ vidhidṛṣṭena karmaṇā ॥1-53-13॥
He gave much wealth to the Brahmin as a token. Then, he performed the concluding bath according to the prescribed rites.
āstīkaṃ preṣayāmāsa gṛhāneva susatkṛtam। rājā prītamanāḥ prītaṃ kṛtakṛtyaṃ manīṣiṇam ॥1-53-14॥
The king, delighted and feeling accomplished, sent the honored Āstīka back to the houses, recognizing his wisdom and the fulfillment of his duties.
punarāgamanaṃ kāryamiti cainaṃ vaco'bravīt। bhaviṣyasi sadasyo me vājimedhe mahākratau ॥1-53-15॥
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.
tathety uktvā pradudrāva sa cāstīko mudā yutaḥ। kṛtvā svakāryam atulaṃ toṣayitvā ca pārthivam ॥1-53-16॥
Thus, having spoken, Āstīka joyfully departed, having accomplished his unparalleled task and having satisfied the king.
sa gatvā paramaprīto mātaraṃ mātulaṃ ca tam। abhigamyopasaṅgṛhya yathāvṛttaṃ nyavedayat ॥1-53-17॥
He went to his mother and uncle, very pleased, and after approaching and embracing them, he reported everything as it had happened.
etacchrutvā prīyamāṇāḥ sametā; ye tatrāsanpannagā vītamohāḥ| te''stīke vai prītimanto babhūvu; rūcuścainaṃ varamiṣṭaṃ vṛṇīṣva ॥1-53-18॥
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."
bhūyo bhūyaḥ sarvaśaste'bruvaṃstaṃ; kiṃ te priyaṃ karavāmo'dya vidvan. prītā vayaṃ mokṣitāścaiva sarve; kāmaṃ kiṃ te karavāmo'dya vatsa ॥1-53-19॥
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?
āstīka uvāca॥
Āstīka spoke:
sāyaṃ prātaḥ suprasannātmarūpā; loke viprā mānavāścetare'pi| dharmākhyānaṃ ye vadeyurmamedaṃ; teṣāṃ yuṣmadbhyo naiva kiñcidbhayaṃ syāt ॥1-53-20॥
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.
sūta uvāca॥
Sūta said:
taiś cāpy ukto bhāgineyaḥ prasannaiḥ; etat satyaṃ kāmam evaṃ carantaḥ. prītyā yuktā īpsitaṃ sarvaśas te; kartāraḥ sma pravanā bhāgineya ॥1-53-21॥
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.'
jaratkārorjaratkārvāṃ samutpanno mahāyaśāḥ। āstīkaḥ satyasandho māṃ pannagebhyo'bhirakṣatu ॥1-53-22॥
Astika, the illustrious son of Jaratkaru and Jaratkarva, known for his truthfulness, may he protect me from the serpents.
asitaṁ cārtimantaṁ ca sunīthaṁ cāpi yaḥ smaret। divā vā yadi vā rātrau nāsya sarpabhayaṁ bhavet ॥1-53-23॥
If one remembers Asita, Ārtimant, and Sunītha, whether during the day or at night, they will be free from the fear of snakes.
sūta uvāca॥
Sūta said:
mokṣayitvā sa bhujagānsarpasatrāddvijottamaḥ। jagāma kāle dharmātmā diṣṭāntaṃ putrapautravān ॥1-53-24॥
Having freed the serpents from the serpent sacrifice, the noble sage eventually passed away, a righteous soul, surrounded by his sons and grandsons.
ityākhyānaṃ mayāstīkaṃ yathāvatkīrtitaṃ tava| yatkīrtayitvā sarpebhyo na bhayaṃ vidyate kvacit ॥1-53-25॥
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.
śrutvā dharmiṣṭhamākhyānamāstīkaṃ puṇyavardhanam। āstīkasya kavervipra śrīmaccharitamāditaḥ ॥1-53-26॥
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.
śaunaka uvāca॥
Śaunaka spoke:
bhṛguvaṃśātprabhṛtyeva tvayā me kathitaṃ mahat। ākhyānamakhilaṃ tāta saute prīto'smi tena te ॥1-53-27॥
O Suta, dear father, you have narrated to me the entire great story starting from the Bhrigu lineage. I am pleased with your narration.
prakṣyāmi caiva bhūyastvāṃ yathāvatsūtanandana। yāṃ kathāṃ vyāsasampannāṃ tāṃ ca bhūyaḥ pracakṣva me ॥1-53-28॥
O son of Sūta, I will ask you once more to narrate the story as it was told by Vyāsa.
tasmin paramaduṣprāpe sarpasatre mahātmanām। karmāntareṣu vidhivatsad asyānāṃ mahākave ॥1-53-29॥
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.
yā babhūvuḥ kathāś citrā yeṣv artheṣu yathātatham। tvatta icchāmahe śrotuṃ saute tvaṃ vai vicakṣaṇaḥ ॥1-53-30॥
We wish to hear from you, O Sauti, the wonderful stories which truly contain meanings, as you are indeed wise.
sūta uvāca॥
Sūta said:
karmāntareṣvakathayandvijā vedāśrayāḥ kathāḥ। vyāsastvakathayannityamākhyānaṃ bhārataṃ mahat ॥1-53-31॥
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.
śaunaka uvāca॥
Śaunaka spoke:
mahābhāratamākhyānaṃ pāṇḍavānāṃ yaśaskaram। janamejayena yatpṛṣṭaḥ kṛṣṇadvaipāyanastadā ॥1-53-32॥
The Mahabharata story, which brings glory to the Pandavas, was narrated by Krishna Dvaipayana when asked by Janamejaya.
śrāvayāmāsa vidhivattadā karmāntareṣu saḥ। tāmahaṃ vidhivatpuṇyāṃ śrotumicchāmi vai kathām ॥1-53-33॥
He narrated the sacred story properly during the intervals of the rituals. I indeed wish to hear that sacred story properly.
manaḥsāgarasambhūtāṃ maharṣeḥ puṇyakarmaṇaḥ| kathayasva satāṃ śreṣṭha na hi tṛpyāmi sūtaja ॥1-53-34॥
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.
sūta uvāca॥
Sūta said:
hanta te kathayiṣyāmi mahādākhyānamuttamam। kṛṣṇadvaipāyanamataṃ mahābhāratamāditaḥ ॥1-53-35॥
Indeed, I shall narrate to you the great and excellent story of the Mahabharata, as conceived by Krishna Dvaipayana, from the very beginning.
tajjuṣasvottamamāte kathyamānaṃ mayā dvija। śaṃsituṃ tanmanoharṣo mamāpīha pravartate ॥1-53-36॥
O noble-minded one, accept what is being narrated by me, O twice-born. My mind also delights here in praising that.
