01.167
Library: Story of Vashishtha's grandson.
गन्धर्व उवाच॥
The gandharva said.
ततो दृष्ट्वाश्रमपदं रहितं तैः सुतैर्मुनिः। निर्जगाम सुदुःखार्तः पुनरेवाश्रमात्ततः ॥१-१६७-१॥
Seeing the hermitage deserted by his sons, the sage, overwhelmed with grief, once again left the hermitage.
सोऽपश्यत्सरितं पूर्णां प्रावृट्काले नवाम्भसा। वृक्षान्बहुविधान्पार्थ वहन्तीं तीरजान्बहून् ॥१-१६७-२॥
He saw, O Pārtha, the river filled with fresh water in the rainy season, carrying many kinds of trees, many of which had grown on the bank.
अथ चिन्तां समापेदे पुनः पौरवनन्दन। अम्भस्यस्या निमज्जेयमिति दुःखसमन्वितः ॥१-१६७-३॥
Then the descendant of Paurava again became lost in thought, filled with sorrow, thinking, 'I might sink in this water.'
ततः पाशैस्तदात्मानं गाढं बद्ध्वा महामुनिः। तस्या जले महानद्या निममज्ज सुदुःखितः ॥१-१६७-४॥
Then the great sage, having tightly bound himself with those bonds, very sorrowful, sank into the water of her great river.
अथ छित्त्वा नदी पाशांस्तस्यारिबलमर्दन। समस्थं तमृषिं कृत्वा विपाशं समवासृजत् ॥१-१६७-५॥
Then, having cut the river fetters, the destroyer of enemy's strength completely placed the sage and released him at the Vipāśā river.
उत्ततार ततः पाशैर्विमुक्तः स महानृषिः। विपाशेति च नामास्या नद्याश्चक्रे महानृषिः ॥१-१६७-६॥
Freed from the bonds, the great sage rose up and named this river 'Vipāśā'.
शोके बुद्धिं ततश्चक्रे न चैकत्र व्यतिष्ठत। सोऽगच्छत्पर्वतांश्चैव सरितश्च सरांसि च ॥१-१६७-७॥
Overcome by grief, he resolved in his mind, but could not stay in one place; so he wandered among the mountains, rivers, and lakes.
ततः स पुनरेवर्षिर्नदीं हैमवतीं तदा। चण्डग्राहवतीं दृष्ट्वा तस्याः स्रोतस्यवापतत् ॥१-१६७-८॥
Then, the sage once again, seeing the Haimavati river filled with fierce crocodiles, fell into its current.
सा तमग्निसमं विप्रमनुचिन्त्य सरिद्वरा। शतधा विद्रुता यस्माच्छतद्रुरिति विश्रुता ॥१-१६७-९॥
The best of rivers, having considered the sage who was equal to fire, split herself into a hundred streams; therefore, she is known as 'Śatadru'.
ततः स्थलगतं दृष्ट्वा तत्राप्यात्मानमात्मना। मर्तुं न शक्यमित्युक्त्वा पुनरेवाश्रमं ययौ ॥१-१६७-१०॥
Then, seeing that he had gone to land, and perceiving himself there as well, he said, "It is not possible to die," and again he went back to the hermitage.
वध्वादृश्यन्त्यानुगत आश्रमाभिमुखो व्रजन्। अथ शुश्राव सङ्गत्या वेदाध्ययननिःस्वनम् ॥ पृष्ठतः परिपूर्णार्थैः षड्भिरङ्गैरलङ्कृतम् ॥१-१६७-११॥
As he proceeded towards the hermitage, following the unseen bride, he then heard from behind, in company, the sound of Vedic recitation, perfectly adorned with the six limbs and full of meaning.
अनुव्रजति को न्वेष मामित्येव च सोऽब्रवीत्। अहं त्वदृश्यती नाम्ना तं स्नुषा प्रत्यभाषत ॥ शक्तेर्भार्या महाभाग तपोयुक्ता तपस्विनी ॥१-१६७-१२॥
He asked, "Who is this following me?" Thus he spoke. I, named Tvadṛśyatī, his daughter-in-law, addressed him. She is the wife of Śakti, most fortunate, endowed with austerity, an ascetic woman.
वसिष्ठ उवाच॥
Vasiṣṭha said.
पुत्रि कस्यैष साङ्गस्य वेदस्याध्ययनस्वनः। पुरा साङ्गस्य वेदस्य शक्तेरिव मया श्रुतः ॥१-१६७-१३॥
O daughter, whose is this sound of study of the sāṅga Veda? In earlier times, I heard the sound of study of the sāṅga Veda like the sound of power.
अदृश्यन्त्युवाच॥
He said to those who were not seen.
अयं कुक्षौ समुत्पन्नः शक्तेर्गर्भः सुतस्य ते। समा द्वादश तस्येह वेदानभ्यसतो मुने ॥१-१६७-१४॥
O sage, this embryo of Śakti, your son, arose in the womb and here studied the Vedas for twelve years.
गन्धर्व उवाच॥
The gandharva said.
एवमुक्तस्ततो हृष्टो वसिष्ठः श्रेष्ठभागृषिः। अस्ति सन्तानमित्युक्त्वा मृत्योः पार्थ न्यवर्तत ॥१-१६७-१५॥
Thus addressed, the delighted sage Vasiṣṭha, having declared "There is progeny," caused Death to turn back, O Pārtha.
ततः प्रतिनिवृत्तः स तया वध्वा सहानघ। कल्माषपादमासीनं ददर्श विजने वने ॥१-१६७-१६॥
Then, O sinless one, he returned with the bride and saw Kalmashapada sitting alone in the forest.
स तु दृष्ट्वैव तं राजा क्रुद्ध उत्थाय भारत। आविष्टो रक्षसोग्रेण इयेषात्तुं ततः स्म तम् ॥१-१६७-१७॥
But as soon as he saw him, the king, enraged, rose up, O Bhārata, possessed by the fierce demon, and then indeed sought to kill him.
अदृश्यन्ती तु तं दृष्ट्वा क्रूरकर्माणमग्रतः। भयसंविग्नया वाचा वसिष्ठमिदमब्रवीत् ॥१-१६७-१८॥
But, remaining unseen, upon seeing him performing cruel deeds ahead, she, with a voice trembling with fear, spoke these words to Vasiṣṭha.
असौ मृत्युरिवोग्रेण दण्डेन भगवन्नितः। प्रगृहीतेन काष्ठेन राक्षसोऽभ्येति भीषणः ॥१-१६७-१९॥
O venerable one, that terrible demon, like death with a fierce staff, approaches here, having seized a stick.
तं निवारयितुं शक्तो नान्योऽस्ति भुवि कश्चन। त्वदृतेऽद्य महाभाग सर्ववेदविदां वर ॥१-१६७-२०॥
O greatly fortunate one, best among all knowers of the Vedas, today, except for you, there is no one else on earth who is able to restrain him.
त्राहि मां भगवन्पापादस्माद्दारुणदर्शनात्। रक्षो अत्तुमिह ह्यावां नूनमेतच्चिकीर्षति ॥१-१६७-२१॥
O Lord, protect me from sin and from this terrible sight. The demon surely wishes to devour both of us here.
