01.172
Library: Parashara stops the sacrifice to kill demons, asked by Pulastya.
gandharva uvāca॥
The gandharva said.
evam-uktaḥ sa viprarṣir vasiṣṭhena mahātmanā। nyayacchad ātmanaḥ kopaṃ sarvaloka-parābhavāt ॥1-172-1॥
Thus, when addressed by the great-souled Vasiṣṭha, the Brāhmaṇa-sage restrained his anger that arose from the defeat of all worlds.
īje ca sa mahātejāḥ sarvavedavidāṃ varaḥ। ṛṣī rākṣasasatreṇa śākteyo'tha parāśaraḥ ॥1-172-2॥
Parāśara, the son of Śakti, the illustrious sage and foremost among all knowers of the Vedas, performed a sacrifice against the rākṣasas.
tato vṛddhāṃś ca bālāṃś ca rākṣasān sa mahāmuniḥ। dadāha vitate yajñe śakter vadham anusmaran ॥1-172-3॥
Then the great sage, recalling the killing of Śakti, burned both the old and young rākṣasas in the extended sacrifice.
na hi taṃ vārayāmāsa vasiṣṭho rakṣasāṃ vadhāt। dvitīyāmasya mā bhāṅkṣaṃ pratijñāmiti niścayāt॥1-172-4॥
Vasiṣṭha did not stop him from killing the Rākṣasas, firmly resolved that the second vow should not be broken.
trayāṇāṃ pāvakānāṃ sa satre tasmin mahāmuniḥ। āsīt purastād dīptānāṃ caturtha iva pāvakaḥ॥1-172-5॥
In that sacrifice, the great sage was present before the three blazing fires, like a fourth fire himself.
tena yajñena śubhreṇa hūyamānena yuktitaḥ। tadvidīpitamākāśaṃ sūryeṇeva ghanātyaye ॥1-172-6॥
By that pure sacrifice, which was being offered properly, the sky was illuminated, just as it is by the sun when the clouds have cleared.
taṃ vasiṣṭhādayaḥ sarve munayas tatra menire। tejasā divi dīpyantaṃ dvitīyam iva bhāskaram ॥1-172-7॥
All the sages there, including Vasiṣṭha, considered him to be shining in the sky with brilliance, like a second sun.
tataḥ paramaduṣprāpamanyair ṛṣir udāradhīḥ। samāpipayiṣuḥ satraṃ tam atriḥ samupāgamat ॥1-172-8॥
Then, the noble-minded sage Atri, wishing to complete that sacrifice which was nearly impossible for others, came there.
tathā pulastyaḥ pulahaḥ kratuścaiva mahākratum। upājagmuramitraghna rakṣasāṃ jīvitepsayā ॥1-172-9॥
Thus, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu, and the great Kratu approached the destroyer of enemies of the Rākṣasas, seeking to preserve their lives.
pulastyas tu vadhāt teṣāṃ rakṣasāṃ bharatarṣabha। uvācedaṃ vacaḥ pārtha parāśaram ariṃ-damam ॥1-172-10॥
But Pulastya, O best of the Bharatas, after the destruction of those Rākṣasas, spoke these words to Parāśara, O son of Pṛthā, destroyer of enemies.
kaccittātāpavighnaṃ te kaccinnandasi putraka। ajānatāmadoṣāṇāṃ sarveṣāṃ rakṣasāṃ vadhāt ॥1-172-11॥
Dear son, I hope nothing is obstructing your happiness; I hope you are not rejoicing, dear child, at the killing of all the innocent and ignorant Rākṣasas.
prajochchedam imaṃ mahyaṃ sarvaṃ somapasattama। adharmaiṣṭhaṃ variṣṭhaḥ san kuruṣe tvaṃ parāśara ॥ rājā kalmāṣapādaś ca divam āroḍhum icchati ॥1-172-12॥
O Parāśara, you, being the most excellent and best of Soma-drinkers, are committing this most unrighteous act of total destruction of my progeny. King Kalmāṣapāda also desires to ascend to heaven.
ye ca śakty-avarāḥ putrā vasiṣṭhasya mahāmuneḥ। te ca sarve mudā yuktā modante sahitāḥ suraiḥ॥ sarvam etad vasiṣṭhasya viditaṃ vai mahāmune॥ 1-172-13॥
O great sage, those who are the descendants of Śakti, the sons of Vasiṣṭha, all of them rejoice together with the gods in happiness. All this is indeed known to Vasiṣṭha, O great sage.
rakṣasāṃ ca samuccheda eṣa tāta tapasvinām। nimittabhūtas tvaṃ cātra kratau vāsiṣṭhanandana ॥ sa satraṃ muñca bhadraṃ te samāptam idam astu te ॥1-172-14॥
O son of Vasiṣṭha, this destruction of the rākṣasas and of the ascetics has you as its cause here in the sacrifice, O dear one. Now release the sacrifice; may good be to you; let this be completed for you.
evam-uktaḥ pulastyena vasiṣṭhena ca dhīmatā। tadā samāpayāmāsa satraṃ śāktiḥ parāśaraḥ ॥1-172-15॥
Thus, when Pulastya and the wise Vasiṣṭha had spoken, Śākti and Parāśara then completed the sacrificial session.
sarvarākṣasastrāya sambhṛtaṃ pāvakaṃ muniḥ। uttare himavatpārśve utsasarja mahāvane ॥1-172-16॥
The sage gathered fire for the destruction of all rākṣasas and released it in the great forest on the northern side of the Himalayas.
sa tatrādyāpi rakṣāṃsi vṛkṣānaśmāna eva ca। bhakṣayan dṛśyate vahniḥ sadā parvaṇi parvaṇi ॥1-172-17॥
Even today, there, fire is always seen devouring demons, trees, and stones, especially on every festival.
