01.071
janamejaya uvāca॥
Janamejaya said.
yayātiḥ pūrvako'smākaṃ daśamo yaḥ prajāpateḥ। kathaṃ sa śukratanayāṃ lebhe paramadurlabhām ॥01-71-1॥
How did Yayāti, our forefather, who was tenth in descent from Prajāpati, obtain Śukra's daughter, who was exceedingly difficult to obtain? (01-71-1)
etadicchāmyahaṃ śrotuṃ vistareṇa dvijottama। ānupūrvyā ca me śaṃsa pūrorvaṃśakarānpṛthak ॥01-71-2॥
I wish to hear this in detail, O best of the twice-born. Tell me separately and in proper order about the continuers of Pūru's lineage. (01-71-2)
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
yayātirāsīdrājarṣirdevarājasamadyutiḥ। taṃ śukravṛṣaparvāṇau vavrāte vai yathā purā ॥01-71-3॥
Yayāti was a royal sage whose splendor equaled that of Indra, the king of the gods. Śukra and Vṛṣaparvan indeed chose him, as they had formerly. (01-71-3)
tatte'haṃ sampravakṣyāmi pṛcchato janamejaya। devayānyāśca saṃyogaṃ yayāternāhuṣasya ca ॥01-71-4॥
I shall fully recount that to you, who ask, O Janamejaya: the union of Devayānī and Yayāti, the descendant of Nahuṣa. (01-71-4)
surāṇāmasurāṇāṃ ca samajāyata vai mithaḥ। aiśvaryaṃ prati saṅgharṣastrailokye sacarācare ॥01-71-5॥
A mutual conflict arose between the gods and the asuras over sovereignty in the three worlds, together with all that moves and does not move. (01-71-5)
jigīṣayā tato devā vavrire’’ṅgirasaṃ munim। paurohityena yājyārthe kāvyaṃ tūśanasaṃ pare ॥ brāhmaṇau tāvubhau nityamanyonyaspardhinau bhṛśam ॥01-71-6॥
Then, desiring victory, the gods chose the sage Āṅgirasa as their priest for the sacrificial office; the others, however, chose Kāvya Uśanas. Those two Brāhmaṇas were both always intensely in rivalry with one another. (01-71-6)
tatra devā nijaghnuryāndānavānyudhi saṅgatān। tānpunarjīvayāmāsa kāvyo vidyābalāśrayāt ॥ tataste punarutthāya yodhayāṃ cakrire surān ॥01-71-7॥
There, in battle, the gods struck down the assembled Dānavas. Kāvya revived them again through reliance on the power of knowledge. Then, rising once more, they waged battle against the gods. (01-71-7)
asurāstu nijaghnuryānsurānsamaramūrdhani। na tānsañjīvayāmāsa bṛhaspatirudāradhīḥ ॥01-71-8॥
But the noble-minded Bṛhaspati did not revive those gods whom the demons slew at the forefront of battle. (01-71-8)
na hi veda sa tāṃ vidyāṃ yāṃ kāvyo veda vīryavān। sañjīvanīṃ tato devā viṣādamagamanparam ॥01-71-9॥
For he did not know the knowledge known to the mighty Kāvya, namely the life-restoring Sañjīvanī. Therefore the gods fell into deep despair. (01-71-9)
te tu devā bhayodvignāḥ kāvyāduśanasastadā। ūcuḥ kacamupāgamya jyeṣṭhaṁ putraṁ bṛhaspateḥ ॥01-71-10॥
Then the gods, alarmed by fear of Kāvya Uśanas, approached Kaca, the eldest son of Bṛhaspati, and said. (01-71-10)
bhajamānānbhajasvāsmānkuru naḥ sāhyamuttamam। yāsau vidyā nivasati brāhmaṇe'mitatejasi ॥ śukre tāmāhara kṣipraṃ bhāgabhāṅno bhaviṣyasi ॥01-71-11॥
Favor us, who are devoted to you, and give us the best help. Bring quickly that knowledge which dwells in Śukra, the Brāhmaṇa of immeasurable splendor; you will become a partaker in our share. (01-71-11)
vṛṣaparvasamīpe sa śakyo draṣṭuṁ tvayā dvijaḥ। rakṣate dānavāṁstatra na sa rakṣatyadānavān ॥01-71-12॥
That Brāhmaṇa can be seen by you near Vṛṣaparvan. There he protects the Dānavas; he does not protect those who are not Dānavas. (01-71-12)
tamārādhayituṃ śakto bhavānpūrvavayāḥ kavim। devayānīṃ ca dayitāṃ sutāṃ tasya mahātmanaḥ ॥01-71-13॥
Being young, you are able to propitiate that sage, and also Devayānī, the beloved daughter of that great-souled one. (01-71-13)
tvamārādhayituṃ śakto nānyaḥ kaścana vidyate। śīladākṣiṇyamādhuryairācāreṇa damena ca ॥01-71-14॥
You are able to propitiate; no one else is found who can do so, through good character, graciousness, sweetness, conduct, and self-restraint. (01-71-14)
devayānyāṃ hi tuṣṭāyāṃ vidyāṃ tāṃ prāpsyasi dhruvam ॥01-71-14॥
When Devayānī is pleased, you will certainly obtain that knowledge. (01-71-14)
tathetyuktvā tataḥ prāyādbṛhaspatisutaḥ kacaḥ। tadābhipūjito devaiḥ samīpaṃ vṛṣaparvaṇaḥ ॥01-71-15॥
Having said this, Kaca, the son of Bṛhaspati, set out. Honored by the gods, he went to the presence of Vṛṣaparvan. (01-71-15)
sa gatvā tvarito rājandevaiḥ sampreṣitaḥ kacaḥ। asurendrapure śukraṃ dṛṣṭvā vākyamuvāca ha ॥01-71-16॥
Kaca, sent by the gods, went quickly, O king, and in the city of the lord of the Asuras, having seen Śukra, spoke these words. (01-71-16)
ṛṣeraṅgirasaḥ pautraṁ putraṁ sākṣādbṛhaspateḥ। nāmnā kaca iti khyātaṁ śiṣyaṁ gṛhṇātu māṁ bhavān ॥01-71-17॥
May your honour accept me as a pupil: I am known by the name Kaca, the grandson of the sage Aṅgiras and the direct son of Bṛhaspati. (01-71-17)
brahmacaryaṃ cariṣyāmi tvayyahaṃ paramaṃ gurau। anumanyasva māṃ brahmansahasraṃ parivatsarān ॥01-71-18॥
I shall practice brahmacarya under you, the supreme guru. Permit me, O Brahman, for a thousand years. (01-71-18)
śukra uvāca॥
Śukra said.
kaca susvāgataṃ te'stu pratigṛhṇāmi te vacaḥ। arcayiṣye'hamarcyaṃ tvāmarcito'stu bṛhaspatiḥ ॥01-71-19॥
O Kaca, you are most welcome. I accept your words. I shall honor you, who are worthy of honor; may Bṛhaspati be honored. (01-71-19)
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
kacastu taṃ tathetyuktvā pratijagrāha tadvratam। ādiṣṭaṃ kaviputreṇa śukreṇośanasā svayam ॥०१-७१-२०॥
But Kaca said to him, "So be it," and undertook that vow, as instructed by Śukra Uśanas himself, the son of Kavi. (01-71-20)
vratasya vratakālaṃ sa yathoktaṃ pratyagṛhṇata। ārādhayannupādhyāyaṃ devayānīṃ ca bhārata ॥01-71-21॥
He accepted the prescribed period of the vow as stated, while honoring his preceptor and Devayānī, O Bhārata. (01-71-21)
nityamārādhayiṣyaṃstāṃ yuvā yauvanago’’mukhe। gāyannṛtyanvādayaṃśca devayānīmatoṣayat ॥01-71-22॥
Always seeking to win her favor, the young man, newly come into youth, delighted Devayānī by singing, dancing, and playing. (01-71-22)
saṃśīlayandevayānīṃ kanyāṃ samprāptayauvanām। puṣpaiḥ phalaiḥ preṣaṇaiśca toṣayāmāsa bhārata ॥01-71-23॥
He cultivated companionship with Devayānī, a maiden who had come of age, and pleased her with flowers, fruits, and errands, O Bhārata. (01-71-23)
devayānyapi taṁ vipraṁ niyamavratacāriṇam। anugāyamānā lalanā rahaḥ paryacarattadā ॥01-71-24॥
Devayānī too, singing along, secretly attended upon that Brāhmaṇa, who was practicing restraints and vows, at that time. (01-71-24)
pañca varṣaśatānyevaṁ kacasya carato vratam। tatrātīyuratho buddhvā dānavāstaṁ tataḥ kacam ॥01-71-25॥
As Kaca was thus practicing the vow, five hundred years passed. Then the Dānavas, having learned of him, then approached Kaca. (01-71-25)
gā rakṣantaṃ vane dṛṣṭvā rahasyekamamarṣitāḥ। jaghnurbṛhaspaterdveṣādvidyārakṣārthameva ca ॥ hatvā śālāvṛkebhyaśca prāyacchaṃstilaśaḥ kṛtam ॥01-71-26॥
Seeing him alone in a secluded place in the forest, protecting the cows, they became enraged and killed him out of hatred for Bṛhaspati and also for the very purpose of safeguarding the knowledge. After killing him, they cut him into tiny pieces and gave him to the jackals. (01-71-26)
tato gāvo nivṛttāstā agopāḥ svaṃ niveśanam। tā dṛṣṭvā rahitā gāstu kacenābhyāgatā vanāt ॥ uvāca vacanaṃ kāle devayānyatha bhārata ॥01-71-27॥
Then those cows returned without a cowherd to their own dwelling. Seeing that the cows had come back from the forest without Kacha, Devayānī then spoke these words at the proper time, O Bhārata. (01-71-27)
ahutaṃ cāgnihotraṃ te sūryaścāstaṃ gataḥ prabho। agopāścāgatā gāvaḥ kacastāta na dṛśyate ॥01-71-28॥
O lord, your Agnihotra remains unoffered, and the sun has set. The cows have returned without their herdsmen, O father, but Kaca is not seen. (01-71-28)
vyaktaṃ hato mṛto vāpi kacastāta bhaviṣyati। taṃ vinā na ca jīveyaṃ kacaṃ satyaṃ bravīmi te ॥01-71-29॥
Surely Kaca, dear father, has been slain or is dead. Without him I would not live; I tell you the truth about Kaca. (01-71-29)
śukra uvāca॥
Śukra said.
ayamehīti śabdena mṛtaṁ sañjīvayāmyaham। vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
By uttering the words "this one, come," I revive the dead. Vaiśampāyana said.
tataḥ sañjīvanīṁ vidyāṁ prayujya kacamāhvayat। āhūtaḥ prādurabhavatkaco'riṣṭo'tha vidyayā ॥ hato'hamiti cācakhyau pṛṣṭo brāhmaṇakanyayā ॥01-71-31॥
Then, after employing the knowledge that restores life, he called Kaca. When summoned, Kaca appeared unharmed by that knowledge. Questioned by the Brahmin maiden, he also said, "I have been killed." (01-71-31)
sa punardevayānyoktaḥ puṣpāhāro yadṛcchayā। vanaṃ yayau tato vipro dadṛśurdānavāśca tam ॥01-71-32॥
Puṣpāhāra, the Brahmin, having again been addressed by Devayānī, went to the forest by chance. Then the Dānavas saw him. (01-71-32)
tato dvitīyaṃ hatvā taṃ dagdhvā kṛtvā ca cūrṇaśaḥ। prāyacchanbrāhmaṇāyaiva surāyāmasurāstadā ॥01-71-33॥
Then the Asuras killed him a second time, burned him, reduced him to powder, and gave him to the Brāhmaṇa himself mixed in liquor. (01-71-33)
devayānyatha bhūyo'pi vākyaṁ pitaramabravīt। puṣpāhāraḥ preṣaṇakṛtkacastāta na dṛśyate ॥01-71-34॥
Then Devayānī once again spoke to her father: "Dear father, Kaca, who gathers flowers and carries out errands, is not to be seen." (01-71-34)
śukra uvāca॥
Śukra said.
bṛhaspateḥ sutaḥ putri kacaḥ pretagatiṃ gataḥ। vidyayā jīvito'pyevaṃ hanyate karavāṇi kim ॥01-71-35॥
O daughter, Kaca, the son of Bṛhaspati, has gone to the state of the dead. Even when brought back to life by the knowledge, he is killed in this way. What shall I do? (01-71-35)
maivaṃ śuco mā ruda devayāni; na tvādṛśī martyam anupraśocet। surāśca viśve ca jagacca sarva; mupasthitāṃ vaikṛtimānamanti ॥01-71-36॥
Do not grieve like this, and do not weep, Devayānī. One such as you should not mourn for a mortal. The gods, all beings, and the whole world bow before the change that has come. (01-71-36)
devayānyuvāca॥
Devayānī said.
yasyāṅgirā vṛddhatamaḥ pitāmaho; bṛhaspatiścāpi pitā tapodhanaḥ। ṛṣeḥ putraṃ tamatho vāpi pautraṃ; kathaṃ na śoceyamahaṃ na rudyām ॥01-71-37॥
How could I not mourn and weep for him, the son of the seer, or even his grandson, whose most venerable grandfather was Aṅgiras and whose father was Bṛhaspati, rich in austerity? (01-71-37)
sa brahmacārī ca tapodhanaśca; sadotthitaḥ karmasu caiva dakṣaḥ। kacasya mārgaṃ pratipatsye na bhokṣye; priyo hi me tāta kaco'bhirūpaḥ ॥01-71-38॥
He is a celibate student and an ascetic whose wealth is austerity; he is always diligent and skilled in his duties. I shall follow Kaca's path and I shall not eat, O father, for handsome Kaca is dear to me. (01-71-38)
śukra uvāca॥
Śukra said.
asaṃśayaṃ māmasurā dviṣanti; ye me śiṣyaṃ nāgasaṃ sūdayanti। abrahmaṇaṃ kartumicchanti raudrā; ste māṃ yathā prastutaṃ dānavairhi ॥ apyasya pāpasya bhavedihāntaḥ; kaṃ brahmahatyā na dahedapīndram ॥01-71-39॥
Surely the Asuras hate me, who slay my innocent disciple. Those fierce ones desire to make him a non-Brahmin; as indeed set forth by the Dānavas, they act against me. May there be an end here even to this sin; whom would the sin of killing a Brahmin not burn, even Indra? (01-71-39)
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
sañcodito devayānyā maharṣiḥ punarāhvayat। saṃrambheṇaiva kāvyo hi bṛhaspatisutaṃ kacam ॥01-71-40॥
Urged by Devayānī, the great seer Kāvya again summoned Kaca, the son of Bṛhaspati, in agitation. (01-71-40)
gurorbhīto vidyayā copahūtaḥ; śanairvācaṃ jaṭhare vyājahāra। tamabravītkena pathopanīto; mamodare tiṣṭhasi brūhi vipra ॥01-71-41॥
Afraid of his teacher and called forth by the knowledge, he slowly spoke from within the belly. He said to him, by what path were you brought here, and why do you remain in my belly? Tell me, O Brahmin. (01-71-41)
kaca uvāca॥
Kaca said.
bhavatprasādānna jahāti māṃ smṛtiḥ; smare ca sarvaṃ yacca yathā ca vṛttam। na tvevaṃ syāttapaso vyayo me; tataḥ kleśaṃ ghoramimaṃ sahāmi ॥01-71-42॥
By your grace, memory does not leave me, and I remember everything, what happened and how. But in this way my austerity would not be lost; therefore I endure this terrible affliction. (01-71-42)
asuraiḥ surāyāṃ bhavato'smi datto; hatvā dagdhvā cūrṇayitvā ca kāvya। brāhmīṃ māyāmāsurī caiva māyā; tvayi sthite kathamevātivartet ॥01-71-43॥
The Asuras killed me, burned me, ground me to powder, and put me into your liquor, O Kāvya. While you are present, how indeed could Asuric māyā surpass Brahmic māyā? (01-71-43)
śukra uvāca॥
Śukra said.
kiṃ te priyaṃ karavāṇyadya vatse; vadhena me jīvitaṃ syātkacasya। nānyatra kukṣermama bhedena; dṛśyetkaco madgato devayāni ॥01-71-44॥
What dear thing can I do for you now, my child? Kaca could live only through my death. O Devayānī, Kaca, who has entered me, could be seen only by splitting open my belly. (01-71-44)
devayānyuvāca॥
Devayānī said.
dvau māṁ śokāvagnikalpau dahetāṁ; kacasya nāśastava caivopaghātaḥ। kacasya nāśe mama nāsti śarma; tavopaghāte jīvituṁ nāsmi śaktā ॥01-71-45॥
Two griefs as fierce as fire would burn me: the loss of Kaca and, indeed, harm to you. If Kaca is destroyed, I have no happiness; if you are harmed, I am not able to live. (01-71-45)
śukra uvāca॥
Śukra said.
saṁsiddharūpo'si bṛhaspateḥ suta; yattvāṁ bhaktaṁ bhajate devayānī। vidyāmimāṁ prāpnuhi jīvanīṁ tvaṁ; na cedindraḥ kacarūpī tvamadya ॥01-71-46॥
You have attained your aim, O son of Bṛhaspati, since Devayānī loves you as one devoted. Obtain this life-giving knowledge; otherwise, today you are Indra in the form of Kaca. (01-71-46)
na nivartetpunarjīvankaścidanyo mamodarāt। brāhmaṇaṃ varjayitvaikaṃ tasmādvidyāmavāpnuhi ॥01-71-47॥
No other person would return alive again from my belly, except one Brāhmaṇa; therefore obtain the knowledge. (01-71-47)
putro bhūtvā bhāvaya bhāvito mā; masmāddehādupaniṣkramya tāta। samīkṣethā dharmavatīmavekṣāṃ; guroḥ sakāśātprāpya vidyāṃ savidyaḥ ॥01-71-48॥
Having become a son, care for me, who have cared for you. O dear one, after departing from this body, you should show righteous regard; having obtained learning from the teacher, be endowed with knowledge. (01-71-48)
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
guroḥ sakāśātsamavāpya vidyāṃ; bhittvā kukṣiṃ nirvicakrāma vipraḥ। kaco'bhirūpo dakṣiṇaṃ brāhmaṇasya; śuklātyaye paurṇamāsyāmivenduḥ ॥01-71-49॥
Having received the sacred knowledge from his preceptor, the handsome Brahmin Kaca split open the right side of the Brāhmaṇa’s abdomen and came out, like the moon on the full-moon day at the end of the bright fortnight. (01-71-49)
dṛṣṭvā ca taṃ patitaṃ brahmarāśi; mutthāpayāmāsa mṛtaṃ kaco'pi। vidyāṃ siddhāṃ tāmavāpyābhivādya; tataḥ kacastaṃ gurumityuvāca ॥01-71-50॥
Seeing that fallen, dead repository of sacred knowledge, Kacha revived him. After obtaining that perfected knowledge and bowing, Kacha then said this to that guru. (01-71-50)
ṛtasya dātāramanuttamasya; nidhiṁ nidhīnāṁ caturanvayānām। ye nādriyante gurumarcanīyaṁ; pāpām̐llokāṁste vrajantyapratiṣṭhān ॥01-71-51॥
Those who do not revere the worshipful guru, the giver of unsurpassed truth and the treasure among the treasures of the four lineages, go to sinful worlds that have no foundation. (01-71-51)
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
surāpānādvañcanāṃ prāpayitvā; sañjñānāśaṃ caiva tathātighoram। dṛṣṭvā kacaṃ cāpi tathābhirūpaṃ; pītaṃ tadā surayā mohitena ॥01-71-52॥
Having brought about deception through the drinking of liquor, and also a very terrible loss of consciousness, he then saw the handsome Kaca, who had been drunk with the liquor by the deluded one. (01-71-52)
samanyurutthāya mahānubhāva; stadōśanā viprahitaṃ cikīrṣuḥ। kāvyaḥ svayaṃ vākyamidaṃ jagāda; surāpānaṃ prati vai jātaśaṅkaḥ ॥01-71-53॥
Then the great-souled Uśanas Kāvya rose in anger and, wishing to act for the welfare of the brāhmaṇas, himself spoke these words, having indeed become suspicious about the drinking of liquor. (01-71-53)
yo brāhmaṇo'dya prabhṛtīha kaści; nmohātsurāṃ pāsyati mandabuddhiḥ। apetadharmo brahmahā caiva sa syā; dasmim̐lloke garhitaḥ syātpare ca ॥०१-७१-५४॥
Any Brāhmaṇa who, from today onward, hereafter drinks liquor out of delusion, being dull-witted, would be devoid of dharma and indeed like a slayer of a Brāhmaṇa. He would be censured in this world and in the next. (01-71-54)
mayā cemāṁ vipradharmoktīsīmāṁ; maryādāṁ vai sthāpitāṁ sarvaloke। santo viprāḥ śuśruvāṁso gurūṇāṁ; devā lokāścopaśr̥ṇvantu sarve ॥01-71-55॥
May the virtuous brāhmaṇas learned from their gurus, the gods, and all the worlds hear this rule: the boundary of the teaching on brāhmaṇa-dharma, which has indeed been established by me throughout the world. (01-71-55)
itīdamuktvā sa mahānubhāva; staponidhīnāṃ nidhiraprameyaḥ। tāndānavāndaivavimūḍhabuddhī; nidaṃ samāhūya vaco'bhyuvāca ॥01-71-56॥
After saying this, that great and dignified one, the immeasurable treasure among the treasures of austerity, summoned those Dānavas whose minds had been bewildered by fate and spoke these words. (01-71-56)
ācakṣe vo dānavā bāliśāḥ stha; siddhaḥ kaco vatsyati matsakāśe। sañjīvanīṃ prāpya vidyāṃ mahārthāṃ; tulyaprabhāvo brahmaṇā brahmabhūtaḥ ॥०१-७१-५७॥
I tell you, O Dānavas: you are foolish. Kaca has succeeded, and after obtaining the greatly significant science of restoring life, he will remain in my presence, equal in power to Brahmā and having become Brahman-like. (01-71-57)
guroruṣya sakāśe tu daśa varṣaśatāni saḥ। anujñātaḥ kaco gantumiyeṣa tridaśālayam ॥01-71-58॥
After dwelling in his teacher's presence for a thousand years, Kaca, with permission, wished to go to the abode of the gods. (01-71-58)
