01.223
Pancharatra: Listening to younger Shangraka Drona’s prayer and remembering the boon given to Mandapala, Agni spares Shangrakas.
jaritāriruvāca॥
Jaritari said.
purataḥ kṛcchrakālasya dhīmāñ jāgarti pūruṣaḥ। sa kṛcchrakālaṃ samprāpya vyathāṃ naiva eti karhicit ॥1-223-1॥
A wise person remains vigilant before difficult times. When he encounters hardship, he never experiences distress. (1-223-1)
yastu kṛcchramasamprāptaṃ vicetā nāvabudhyate। sa kṛcchrakāle vyathito na prajānāti kiñcana ॥1-223-2॥
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)
sārisṛkva uvāca॥
Sārisṛkva said.
dhīras tvam asi medhāvī prāṇakṛcchram idaṃ ca naḥ। śūraḥ prājño bahūnāṃ hi bhavaty eko na saṃśayaḥ॥1-223-3॥
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)
stambamitra uvāca॥
Stambamitra said.
jyeṣṭhastrātā bhavati vai jyeṣṭho muñcati kṛcchrataḥ। jyeṣṭhaścenna prajānāti kanīyānkiṃ kariṣyati ॥1-223-4॥
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)
droṇa uvāca॥
Droṇa said.
hiraṇyaretāstvarito jvalannāyāti naḥ kṣayam। saptajihvo'nalaḥ kṣāmo lelihānopasarpati ॥1-223-5॥
The swift and blazing golden-semened one comes to our home. The seven-tongued, emaciated fire, licking, draws near. (1-223-5)
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
evam-ukto bhrātṛbhiḥ tu jaritāriḥ vibhāvasum। tuṣṭāva prāñjalir bhūtvā yathā tat śṛṇu pārthiva ॥1-223-6॥
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)
jaritāriruvāca॥
Jaritā's enemy said.
ātmāsi vāyoḥ pavanaḥ śarīramuta vīrudhām। yonirāpaśca te śukra yonistvamasi cāmbhasaḥ ॥1-223-7॥
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)
ūrdhvaṃ cādhaśca gacchanti visarpanti ca pārśvataḥ। arciṣaste mahāvīrya raśmayaḥ savituryathā ॥1-223-8॥
The rays, possessing great power, move upwards, downwards, and spread sideways, just like the rays of Savitṛ (the Sun). (1-223-8)
sārisṛkva uvāca॥
Sārisṛkva said.
mātā prapannā pitaraṃ na vidmaḥ; pakṣāś ca no na prajātābjaketo। na nastrātā vidyate'gne tvadanya; stasmāddhi naḥ parirakṣaikavīra ॥1-223-9॥
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)
yad agne te śivaṃ rūpaṃ ye ca te sapta hetayaḥ। tena naḥ parirakṣādya īḍitaḥ śaraṇa-iṣiṇaḥ ॥1-223-10॥
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)
tvam-evaikaḥ tapase jātavedo; nānyas taptā vidyate goṣu deva| ṛṣīn asmān bālakān pālayasva; pareṇāsmān praihi vai havyavāha ॥1-223-11॥
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)
stambamitra uvāca॥
Stambamitra said.
sarvamagne tvamevaikastvayi sarvamidaṃ jagat। tvaṃ dhārayasi bhūtāni bhuvanaṃ tvaṃ bibharṣi ca ॥1-223-12॥
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)
tvam agnir havyavāhas tvaṃ tvam eva paramaṃ haviḥ। manīṣiṇas tvāṃ yajante bahudhā ca ekadhā eva ca ॥1-223-13॥
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)
sṛṣṭvā lokāṃs trīn imān havyavāha; prāpte kāle pacasi punaḥ samiddhaḥ. sarvasya asya bhuvanasya prasūti; tvam eva agne bhavasi punaḥ pratiṣṭhā ॥1-223-14॥
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)
tvam annaṃ prāṇināṃ bhuktam antarbhūto jagatpate। nityaṃ pravṛddhaḥ pacasi tvayi sarvaṃ pratiṣṭhitam ॥1-223-15॥
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)
droṇa uvāca॥
Droṇa said.
sūryo bhūtvā raśmibhirjātavedo; bhūmerambho bhūmijātānrasāṃśca. viśvānādāya punarutsargakāle; sṛṣṭvā vṛṣṭyā bhāvayasīha śukra ॥1-223-16॥
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)
tvatta etāḥ punaḥ śukra vīrudho haritacchadāḥ। jāyante puṣkariṇyaś ca samudraś ca mahodadhiḥ ॥1-223-17॥
From you, these bright green-leaved plants are again born, as well as lotus-ponds, the ocean, and the great ocean. (1-223-17)
idaṃ vai sadma tigmāṃśo varuṇasya parāyaṇam। śivastrātā bhavāsmākaṃ māsmānadya vināśaya ॥1-223-18॥
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)
piṅgākṣa lohitagrīva kṛṣṇavartmanhutāśana। pareṇa praihi muñcāsmānsāgarasya gṛhāniva ॥1-223-19॥
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)
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
evamukto jātavedā droṇenākliṣṭakarmaṇā। droṇamāha pratītātmā mandapālapratijñayā ॥1-223-20॥
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)
ṛṣir droṇas tvam asi vai brahmaitad vyāhṛtaṃ tvayā। īpsitaṃ te kariṣyāmi na ca te vidyate bhayam ॥1-223-21॥
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)
mandapālena yūyaṃ hi mama pūrvaṃ niveditāḥ। varjayeḥ putrakān mahyaṃ dahann dāvam iti sma ha ॥1-223-22॥
Mandapala had previously informed you: "While burning the forest fire, please spare my sons for my sake"—thus he spoke. (1-223-22)
yacca tadvacanaṃ tasya tvayā yaccēha bhāṣitam। ubhayaṃ me garīyastadbrūhi kiṃ karavāṇi te ॥ bhṛśaṃ prīto'smi bhadraṃ te brahmanstotreṇa te vibho ॥1-223-23॥
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)
droṇa uvāca॥
Droṇa said.
ime mārjārakāḥ śukra nityam udvejayanti naḥ। etān kuruṣva daṃṣṭrāsu havyavāha sabāndhavān ॥1-223-24॥
O Śukra, these cats always trouble us. O Agni, place these cats along with their relatives into your jaws. (1-223-24)
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
tathā tatkṛtavānvahnirabhyanujñāya śārṅgakān। dadāha khāṇḍavaṃ caiva samiddho janamejaya ॥1-223-25॥
Thus, after receiving permission from the bearers of Śārṅga, Agni, now kindled, burned the Khāṇḍava forest, O Janamejaya. (1-223-25)
