03.109
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
ततः प्रयातः कौन्तेयः क्रमेण भरतर्षभ। नन्दामपरनन्दां च नद्यौ पापभयापहे ॥०३-१०९-१॥
Then Kunti’s son proceeded in order, O best of the Bharatas, to the two rivers Nandā and Aparanandā, which remove sin and fear. (03-109-1)
स पर्वतं समासाद्य हेमकूटमनामयम्। अचिन्त्यानद्भुतान्भावान्ददर्श सुबहून्नृपः ॥०३-१०९-२॥
The king, having reached the Hemakūṭa mountain, which is free from affliction, saw very many inconceivable and wonderful forms. (03-109-2)
वाचो यत्राभवन्मेघा उपलाश्च सहस्रशः। नाशक्नुवंस्तमारोढुं विषण्णमनसो जनाः ॥०३-१०९-३॥
Where words became as clouds and stones by the thousands, the despondent-minded people were not able to ascend that. (03-109-3)
वायुर्नित्यं ववौ यत्र नित्यं देवश्च वर्षति। सायं प्रातश्च भगवान्दृश्यते हव्यवाहनः ॥०३-१०९-४॥
Where the wind constantly blows and the god (Indra) continually sends rain, and in the evening and morning the revered Agni is visible. (03-109-4)
एवं बहुविधान्भावानद्भुतान्वीक्ष्य पाण्डवः। लोमशं पुनरेव स्म पर्यपृच्छत्तदद्भुतम् ॥०३-१०९-५॥
Having thus seen many kinds of wondrous phenomena, the Pāṇḍava again asked Lomaśa about that wonder. (03-109-5)
लोमश उवाच॥
Lomaśa said.
यथाश्रुतमिदं पूर्वमस्माभिररिकर्शन। तदेकाग्रमना राजन्निबोध गदतो मम ॥०३-१०९-६॥
O king, as this was formerly heard by us, O tormentor of foes, listen with a concentrated mind to my narration. (03-109-6)
अस्मिन्नृषभकूटेऽभूदृषभो नाम तापसः। अनेकशतवर्षायुस्तपस्वी कोपनो भृशम् ॥०३-१०९-७॥
On this Nṛṣabhakūṭa (mountain), there lived an ascetic named Ṛṣabha, who lived for many hundreds of years, was devoted to austerities, and was extremely irascible. (03-109-7)
स वै सम्भाष्यमाणोऽन्यैः कोपाद्गिरिमुवाच ह। य इह व्याहरेत्कश्चिदुपलानुत्सृजेस्तदा ॥०३-१०९-८॥
He, being addressed by others, angrily spoke to the mountain: "Whoever here speaks, let someone throw stones at him then." (03-109-8)
वातं चाहूय मा शब्दमित्युवाच स तापसः। व्याहरंश्चैव पुरुषो मेघेन विनिवार्यते ॥०३-१०९-९॥
The ascetic called upon the wind and said, 'Do not make any sound.' Meanwhile, as the man speaks, he is held back by the cloud. (03-109-9)
एवमेतानि कर्माणि राजंस्तेन महर्षिणा। कृतानि कानिचित्कोपात्प्रतिषिद्धानि कानिचित् ॥०३-१०९-१०॥
Thus, O king, these actions were performed by that great sage—some were done out of anger, and some were forbidden. (03-109-10)
नन्दामभिगतान्देवान्पुरा राजन्निति श्रुतिः। अन्वपद्यन्त सहसा पुरुषा देवदर्शिनः ॥०३-१०९-११॥
O king, there was a report in former times that men who had beheld the gods and delighted in approaching them suddenly followed (them). (03-109-11)
ते दर्शनमनिच्छन्तो देवाः शक्रपुरोगमाः। दुर्गं चक्रुरिमं देशं गिरिप्रत्यूहरूपकम् ॥०३-१०९-१२॥
The gods, with Indra at their head, not wishing to be seen, made this place inaccessible, shaping it as a mountain barrier. (03-109-12)
तदा प्रभृति कौन्तेय नरा गिरिमिमं सदा। नाशक्नुवनभिद्रष्टुं कुत एवाधिरोहितुम् ॥०३-१०९-१३॥
From that time onward, O son of Kunti, men have never been able to look closely at this mountain; how then could they possibly climb it? (03-109-13)
नातप्ततपसा शक्यो द्रष्टुमेष महागिरिः। आरोढुं वापि कौन्तेय तस्मान्नियतवाग्भव ॥०३-१०९-१४॥
O son of Kunti, this great mountain cannot be seen or ascended by one whose austerities are unperformed; therefore, keep your speech under control. (03-109-14)
इह देवाः सदा सर्वे यज्ञानाजह्रुरुत्तमान्। तेषामेतानि लिङ्गानि दृश्यन्तेऽद्यापि भारत ॥०३-१०९-१५॥
Here, O Bhārata, the gods always obtained all the excellent sacrifices. The signs of them are seen even today. (03-109-15)
कुशाकारेव दूर्वेयं संस्तीर्णेव च भूरियम्। यूपप्रकारा बहवो वृक्षाश्चेमे विशां पते ॥०३-१०९-१६॥
O lord of men, this earth is like a mat of kuśa grass, like it has been spread with dūrvā; these many trees are like posts for altars. (03-109-16)
देवाश्च ऋषयश्चैव वसन्त्यद्यापि भारत। तेषां सायं तथा प्रातर्दृश्यते हव्यवाहनः ॥०३-१०९-१७॥
O Bhārata, even today gods and sages dwell (here); for them the carrier of offerings, Agni, is seen both in the evening and in the morning. (03-109-17)
इहाप्लुतानां कौन्तेय सद्यः पाप्मा विहन्यते। कुरुश्रेष्ठाभिषेकं वै तस्मात्कुरु सहानुजः ॥०३-१०९-१८॥
O son of Kunti, those who bathe here have their sins instantly destroyed. Therefore, indeed, perform the bath of the best of Kurus here together with your brother. (03-109-18)
ततो नन्दाप्लुताङ्गस्त्वं कौशिकीमभियास्यसि। विश्वामित्रेण यत्रोग्रं तपस्तप्तमनुत्तमम् ॥०३-१०९-१९॥
Then, with your body filled with bliss, you will proceed to Kauśikī, where Viśvāmitra performed his terrible and unsurpassed austerity. (03-109-19)
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
ततस्तत्र समाप्लुत्य गात्राणि सगणो नृपः। जगाम कौशिकीं पुण्यां रम्यां शिवजलां नदीम् ॥०३-१०९-२०॥
Then, having thoroughly bathed his limbs there with his retinue, the king went to the holy, beautiful, and auspicious Kauśikī river. (03-109-20)
