01.223
Pancharatra: Listening to younger Shangraka Drona’s prayer and remembering the boon given to Mandapala, Agni spares Shangrakas.
जरितारिरुवाच॥
Jaritari said.
पुरतः कृच्छ्रकालस्य धीमाञ्जागर्ति पूरुषः। स कृच्छ्रकालं सम्प्राप्य व्यथां नैवैति कर्हिचित् ॥१-२२३-१॥
A wise person remains vigilant before difficult times. When he encounters hardship, he never experiences distress. (1-223-1)
यस्तु कृच्छ्रमसम्प्राप्तं विचेता नावबुध्यते। स कृच्छ्रकाले व्यथितो न प्रजानाति किञ्चन ॥१-२२३-२॥
But if a discerning person does not recognize impending difficulty, then when adversity actually comes, he, being afflicted, is unable to understand anything. (1-223-2)
सारिसृक्व उवाच॥
Sārisṛkva said.
धीरस्त्वमसि मेधावी प्राणकृच्छ्रमिदं च नः। शूरः प्राज्ञो बहूनां हि भवत्येको न संशयः ॥१-२२३-३॥
You are steadfast and intelligent; this hardship is ours as well. Indeed, among many, only one becomes heroic and wise—there is no doubt about it. (1-223-3)
स्तम्बमित्र उवाच॥
Stambamitra said.
ज्येष्ठस्त्राता भवति वै ज्येष्ठो मुञ्चति कृच्छ्रतः। ज्येष्ठश्चेन्न प्रजानाति कनीयान्किं करिष्यति ॥१-२२३-४॥
The elder is indeed the protector; it is the elder who rescues from hardship. If the elder does not know, what can the younger possibly do? (1-223-4)
द्रोण उवाच॥
Droṇa said.
हिरण्यरेतास्त्वरितो ज्वलन्नायाति नः क्षयम्। सप्तजिह्वोऽनलः क्षामो लेलिहानोपसर्पति ॥१-२२३-५॥
The swift and blazing golden-semened one comes to our home. The seven-tongued, emaciated fire, licking, draws near. (1-223-5)
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
एवमुक्तो भ्रातृभिस्तु जरितारिर्विभावसुम्। तुष्टाव प्राञ्जलिर्भूत्वा यथा तच्छृणु पार्थिव ॥१-२२३-६॥
Thus, O king, when addressed by his brothers, Agni, the enemy of Jarita, praised them with joined palms. Listen as I tell you how it happened. (1-223-6)
जरितारिरुवाच॥
Jaritā's enemy said.
आत्मासि वायोः पवनः शरीरमुत वीरुधाम्। योनिरापश्च ते शुक्र योनिस्त्वमसि चाम्भसः ॥१-२२३-७॥
You are the self of the wind; air is the body of the wind; and you are also the source of the plants. The waters are your source, O seed; you are also the source of the waters. (1-223-7)
ऊर्ध्वं चाधश्च गच्छन्ति विसर्पन्ति च पार्श्वतः। अर्चिषस्ते महावीर्य रश्मयः सवितुर्यथा ॥१-२२३-८॥
The rays, possessing great power, move upwards, downwards, and spread sideways, just like the rays of Savitṛ (the Sun). (1-223-8)
सारिसृक्व उवाच॥
Sārisṛkva said.
माता प्रपन्ना पितरं न विद्मः; पक्षाश्च नो न प्रजाताब्जकेतो। न नस्त्राता विद्यतेऽग्ने त्वदन्य; स्तस्माद्धि नः परिरक्षैकवीर ॥१-२२३-९॥
We do not know a mother who will shelter us, nor a father; nor do we have wings, O lotus-bannered one, for we are not born with them. For us, there is no protector except you, O Agni; therefore, O sole hero, protect us completely. (1-223-9)
यदग्ने ते शिवं रूपं ये च ते सप्त हेतयः। तेन नः परिरक्षाद्य ईडितः शरणैषिणः ॥१-२२३-१०॥
O Agni, with your auspicious form and your seven flames, protect us today, you who are praised, for we are those seeking refuge. (1-223-10)
त्वमेवैकस्तपसे जातवेदो; नान्यस्तप्ता विद्यते गोषु देव। ऋषीनस्मान्बालकान्पालयस्व; परेणास्मान्प्रैहि वै हव्यवाह ॥१-२२३-११॥
You alone, O Jātaveda, are fit for austerity; no other is found purified among the cows, O god. Protect us sages and children; by other means, send us forth indeed, O carrier of oblations (Agni). (1-223-11)
स्तम्बमित्र उवाच॥
Stambamitra said.
सर्वमग्ने त्वमेवैकस्त्वयि सर्वमिदं जगत्। त्वं धारयसि भूतानि भुवनं त्वं बिभर्षि च ॥१-२२३-१२॥
O Agni, you alone are everything; in you exists this entire universe. You uphold all beings, and you also sustain the world. (1-223-12)
त्वमग्निर्हव्यवाहस्त्वं त्वमेव परमं हविः। मनीषिणस्त्वां यजन्ते बहुधा चैकधैव च ॥१-२२३-१३॥
You are Agni, the bearer of offerings; you alone are the supreme offering. The wise worship you in many ways and also in a single way. (1-223-13)
सृष्ट्वा लोकांस्त्रीनिमान्हव्यवाह; प्राप्ते काले पचसि पुनः समिद्धः। सर्वस्यास्य भुवनस्य प्रसूति; स्त्वमेवाग्ने भवसि पुनः प्रतिष्ठा ॥१-२२३-१४॥
O Agni, having created these three worlds, you, the carrier of oblations, when the time comes, are kindled again and cook (the offerings). You are the origin and again the foundation of all this world. (1-223-14)
त्वमन्नं प्राणिनां भुक्तमन्तर्भूतो जगत्पते। नित्यं प्रवृद्धः पचसि त्वयि सर्वं प्रतिष्ठितम् ॥१-२२३-१५॥
O Lord of the world, you are the food eaten by living beings, having entered within; you always digest (it) as it increases; in you, all is established. (1-223-15)
द्रोण उवाच॥
Droṇa said.
सूर्यो भूत्वा रश्मिभिर्जातवेदो; भूमेरम्भो भूमिजातान्रसांश्च। विश्वानादाय पुनरुत्सर्गकाले; सृष्ट्वा वृष्ट्या भावयसीह शुक्र ॥१-२२३-१६॥
O Śukra, having assumed the form of the sun as Jātaveda with rays, you draw up the water of the earth and the juices born from the earth. Taking all, at the time of release, you again create and nourish here by rain. (1-223-16)
त्वत्त एताः पुनः शुक्र वीरुधो हरितच्छदाः। जायन्ते पुष्करिण्यश्च समुद्रश्च महोदधिः ॥१-२२३-१७॥
From you, these bright green-leaved plants are again born, as well as lotus-ponds, the ocean, and the great ocean. (1-223-17)
इदं वै सद्म तिग्मांशो वरुणस्य परायणम्। शिवस्त्राता भवास्माकं मास्मानद्य विनाशय ॥१-२२३-१८॥
This is truly the abode, O radiant Sun, the refuge of Varuṇa. May Śiva be our protector; do not destroy us today. (1-223-18)
पिङ्गाक्ष लोहितग्रीव कृष्णवर्त्मन्हुताशन। परेण प्रैहि मुञ्चास्मान्सागरस्य गृहानिव ॥१-२२३-१९॥
O fire with tawny eyes, red neck, and dark path! Go by another way and release us from the dwellings of the ocean as if they were houses. (1-223-19)
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
एवमुक्तो जातवेदा द्रोणेनाक्लिष्टकर्मणा। द्रोणमाह प्रतीतात्मा मन्दपालप्रतिज्ञया ॥१-२२३-२०॥
Thus, when addressed by Droṇa, whose actions are tireless, Jātavedā (Agni), with a confident mind, spoke to Droṇa, in accordance with the vow of Mandapāla. (1-223-20)
ऋषिर्द्रोणस्त्वमसि वै ब्रह्मैतद्व्याहृतं त्वया। ईप्सितं ते करिष्यामि न च ते विद्यते भयम् ॥१-२२३-२१॥
You are indeed the seer Droṇa; this Brahman has been uttered by you. I shall do what you desire, and for you there is no fear. (1-223-21)
मन्दपालेन यूयं हि मम पूर्वं निवेदिताः। वर्जयेः पुत्रकान्मह्यं दहन्दावमिति स्म ह ॥१-२२३-२२॥
Mandapala had previously informed you: "While burning the forest fire, please spare my sons for my sake"—thus he spoke. (1-223-22)
यच्च तद्वचनं तस्य त्वया यच्चेह भाषितम्। उभयं मे गरीयस्तद्ब्रूहि किं करवाणि ते ॥ भृशं प्रीतोऽस्मि भद्रं ते ब्रह्मन्स्तोत्रेण ते विभो ॥१-२२३-२३॥
Both the words spoken by him and what you have spoken here are of great importance to me; tell me, what shall I do for you? I am greatly pleased; may well-being be yours, O Brahman, by your hymn, O Lord. (1-223-23)
द्रोण उवाच॥
Droṇa said.
इमे मार्जारकाः शुक्र नित्यमुद्वेजयन्ति नः। एतान्कुरुष्व दंष्ट्रासु हव्यवाह सबान्धवान् ॥१-२२३-२४॥
O Śukra, these cats always trouble us. O Agni, place these cats along with their relatives into your jaws. (1-223-24)
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
तथा तत्कृतवान्वह्निरभ्यनुज्ञाय शार्ङ्गकान्। ददाह खाण्डवं चैव समिद्धो जनमेजय ॥१-२२३-२५॥
Thus, after receiving permission from the bearers of Śārṅga, Agni, now kindled, burned the Khāṇḍava forest, O Janamejaya. (1-223-25)
