03.098
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
भूय एवाहमिच्छामि महर्षेस्तस्य धीमतः। कर्मणां विस्तरं श्रोतुमगस्त्यस्य द्विजोत्तम ॥०३-९८-१॥
O best of twice-born, I wish again indeed to hear in detail of the wise deeds of that great sage Agastya. (03-98-1)
लोमश उवाच॥
Lomaśa said.
शृणु राजन्कथां दिव्यामद्भुतामतिमानुषीम्। अगस्त्यस्य महाराज प्रभावममितात्मनः ॥०३-९८-२॥
O king, listen to the divine, wonderful, and superhuman story; O great king, it is about the power of Agastya, whose soul is immeasurable. (03-98-2)
आसन्कृतयुगे घोरा दानवा युद्धदुर्मदाः। कालेया इति विख्याता गणाः परमदारुणाः ॥०३-९८-३॥
In the Krita Yuga there were terrible danavas, fiercely intoxicated by battle. These extremely fierce groups were well-known as the Kāleyas. (03-98-3)
ते तु वृत्रं समाश्रित्य नानाप्रहरणोद्यताः। समन्तात्पर्यधावन्त महेन्द्रप्रमुखान्सुरान् ॥०३-९८-४॥
But they, taking refuge with Vṛtra and armed with various weapons, surrounded and attacked the gods led by Indra from all sides. (03-98-4)
ततो वृत्रवधे यत्नमकुर्वंस्त्रिदशाः पुरा। पुरंदरं पुरस्कृत्य ब्रह्माणमुपतस्थिरे ॥०३-९८-५॥
Then, in ancient times, the thirty gods made efforts for the slaying of Vṛtra. They approached Brahmā, having placed Indra at the forefront. (03-98-5)
कृताञ्जलींस्तु तान्सर्वान्परमेष्ठी उवाच ह। विदितं मे सुराः सर्वं यद्वः कार्यं चिकीर्षितम् ॥०३-९८-६॥
Brahmā, seeing all of them with joined palms, spoke: "O gods, I know all that you desire to accomplish." (03-98-6)
तमुपायं प्रवक्ष्यामि यथा वृत्रं वधिष्यथ। दधीच इति विख्यातो महानृषिरुदारधीः ॥०३-९८-७॥
I will tell you the means by which you will slay Vṛtra. The great sage known as Dadhīca, who is noble-minded. (03-98-7)
तं गत्वा सहिताः सर्वे वरं वै सम्प्रयाचत। स वो दास्यति धर्मात्मा सुप्रीतेनान्तरात्मना ॥०३-९८-८॥
Go to him together and ask for the boon. He, being righteous and deeply pleased in his heart, will grant it to you. (03-98-8)
स वाच्यः सहितैः सर्वैर्भवद्भिर्जयकाङ्क्षिभिः। स्वान्यस्थीनि प्रयच्छेति त्रैलोक्यस्य हिताय वै ॥ स शरीरं समुत्सृज्य स्वान्यस्थीनि प्रदास्यति ॥०३-९८-९॥
You all, united and desiring victory, should tell him: "Give your own bones"—thus, for the welfare of the three worlds. He will relinquish his body and give his own bones. (03-98-9)
तस्यास्थिभिर्महाघोरं वज्रं सम्भ्रियतां दृढम्। महच्छत्रुहणं तीक्ष्णं षडश्रं भीमनिस्वनम् ॥०३-९८-१०॥
Let a very terrible and firm thunderbolt be prepared from his bones—great, sharp, six-edged, of terrifying sound, and capable of destroying great enemies. (03-98-10)
तेन वज्रेण वै वृत्रं वधिष्यति शतक्रतुः। एतद्वः सर्वमाख्यातं तस्माच्छीघ्रं विधीयताम् ॥०३-९८-११॥
Śatakratu (Indra) will indeed slay Vṛtra with that thunderbolt. All this has been told to you; therefore, let it be done quickly. (03-98-11)
एवमुक्तास्ततो देवा अनुज्ञाप्य पितामहम्। नारायणं पुरस्कृत्य दधीचस्याश्रमं ययुः ॥०३-९८-१२॥
After being thus addressed, the gods, having received permission from the grandsire, with Nārāyaṇa at their head, went to the hermitage of Dadhīca. (03-98-12)
सरस्वत्याः परे पारे नानाद्रुमलतावृतम्। षट्पदोद्गीतनिनदैर्विघुष्टं सामगैरिव ॥ पुंस्कोकिलरवोन्मिश्रं जीवञ्जीवकनादितम् ॥०३-९८-१३॥
On the far shore of the Sarasvatī, covered with various trees and creepers, resounding with the chanting-like hums of bees as though by singers of the Sāma, mixed with the calls of the male cuckoo and enlivened by the sounds of jīvaka birds. (03-98-13)
महिषैश्च वराहैश्च सृमरैश्चमरैरपि। तत्र तत्रानुचरितं शार्दूलभयवर्जितैः ॥०३-९८-१४॥
Here and there, the area was traversed by buffaloes, boars, deer, and antelopes, all unafraid of tigers. (03-98-14)
करेणुभिर्वारणैश्च प्रभिन्नकरटामुखैः। सरोऽवगाढैः क्रीडद्भिः समन्तादनुनादितम् ॥०३-९८-१५॥
The lake, entered and played in on all sides by female elephants and elephants with burst trunk-mouths, resounded everywhere. (03-98-15)
सिंहव्याघ्रैर्महानादान्नदद्भिरनुनादितम्। अपरैश्चापि संलीनैर्गुहाकन्दरवासिभिः ॥०३-९८-१६॥
The place was echoed by the loud roars of lions and tigers, and also by other creatures hidden away, dwelling in caves and caverns. (03-98-16)
तेषु तेष्ववकाशेषु शोभितं सुमनोरमम्। त्रिविष्टपसमप्रख्यं दधीचाश्रममागमन् ॥०३-९८-१७॥
In those various delightful and splendid places, they arrived at Dadhīca's hermitage, which was as magnificent as heaven. (03-98-17)
तत्रापश्यन्दधीचं ते दिवाकरसमद्युतिम्। जाज्वल्यमानं वपुषा यथा लक्ष्म्या पितामहम् ॥०३-९८-१८॥
There they saw Dadhīca, shining with the radiance of the sun, brilliant in his body, like the grandsire Brahmā with his splendor. (03-98-18)
तस्य पादौ सुरा राजन्नभिवाद्य प्रणम्य च। अयाचन्त वरं सर्वे यथोक्तं परमेष्ठिना ॥०३-९८-१९॥
O king, the gods, having greeted and bowed to his feet, all requested the boon as spoken by Parameṣṭhin (Brahmā). (03-98-19)
ततो दधीचः परमप्रतीतः; सुरोत्तमांस्तानिदमभ्युवाच। करोमि यद्वो हितमद्य देवाः; स्वं चापि देहं त्वहमुत्सृजामि ॥०३-९८-२०॥
Then Dadhīca, full of supreme confidence, addressed those best among the gods: "I shall do what is beneficial for you today, O gods; I shall also give up my own body." (03-98-20)
स एवमुक्त्वा द्विपदां वरिष्ठः; प्राणान्वशी स्वान्सहसोत्ससर्ज। ततः सुरास्ते जगृहुः परासो; रस्थीनि तस्याथ यथोपदेशम् ॥०३-९८-२१॥
Having thus spoken, the foremost among bipeds, controlling his own life-breaths, suddenly gave them up. Then the gods collected his ashes and bones, as instructed. (03-98-21)
प्रहृष्टरूपाश्च जयाय देवा; स्त्वष्टारमागम्य तमर्थमूचुः। त्वष्टा तु तेषां वचनं निशम्य; प्रहृष्टरूपः प्रयतः प्रयत्नात् ॥०३-९८-२२॥
The gods, delighted and eager for victory, approached Tvaṣṭṛ and stated their purpose to him. Tvaṣṭṛ, in turn, gladly, listened to their words and with intent and effort responded. (03-98-22)
चकार वज्रं भृशमुग्ररूपं; कृत्वा च शक्रं स उवाच हृष्टः। अनेन वज्रप्रवरेण देव; भस्मीकुरुष्वाद्य सुरारिमुग्रम् ॥०३-९८-२३॥
He fashioned a thunderbolt of exceedingly terrible form; having done so, he joyfully addressed Indra: 'O god, with this excellent thunderbolt, destroy today the fierce enemy of the gods.' (03-98-23)
ततो हतारिः सगणः सुखं वै; प्रशाधि कृत्स्नं त्रिदिवं दिविष्ठः। त्वष्ट्रा तथोक्तः स पुरंदरस्तु; वज्रं प्रहृष्टः प्रयतोऽभ्यगृह्णात् ॥०३-९८-२४॥
Then, the slayer of foes (Indra), along with his attendants, happily ruled over the entire heaven, O dweller of heaven. Thus addressed by Tvaṣṭṛ, he, Purandara (Indra), joyfully and with readiness, accepted the thunderbolt. (03-98-24)
