03.128
जन्तूपाख्यानम्
Story of creatures
सोमक उवाच॥
Somaka said.
ब्रह्मन्यद्यद्यथा कार्यं तत्तत्कुरु तथा तथा। पुत्रकामतया सर्वं करिष्यामि वचस्तव ॥०३-१२८-१॥
O Brahman, whatever is to be done in whatever manner, do that just so. Desiring a son, I will perform everything according to your instruction. (03-128-1)
लोमश उवाच॥
Lomasha said.
ततः स याजयामास सोमकं तेन जन्तुना। मातरस्तु बलात्पुत्रमपाकर्षुः कृपान्विताः ॥०३-१२८-२॥
Then he made Somaka perform the sacrifice with Jantu; but the mothers, filled with compassion, forcefully drew their son away. (03-128-2)
हा हताः स्मेति वाशन्त्यस्तीव्रशोकसमन्विताः। तं मातरः प्रत्यकर्षन्गृहीत्वा दक्षिणे करे ॥ सव्ये पाणौ गृहीत्वा तु याजकोऽपि स्म कर्षति ॥०३-१२८-३॥
Alas! 'Slain, indeed!' or so they cried out, filled with excessive grief. His mothers pulled him, having seized his right hand. But seizing his left hand, the priest also indeed was pulling. (03-128-3)
कुररीणामिवार्तानामपाकृष्य तु तं सुतम्। विशस्य चैनं विधिना वपामस्य जुहाव सः ॥०३-१२८-४॥
But, just as the distressed female curlews, he drew away that son, and having killed him, offered his flesh into the fire according to the prescribed method. (03-128-4)
वपायां हूयमानायां गन्धमाघ्राय मातरः। आर्ता निपेतुः सहसा पृथिव्यां कुरुनन्दन ॥ सर्वाश्च गर्भानलभंस्ततस्ताः पार्थिवाङ्गनाः ॥०३-१२८-५॥
When the fat was being offered and the mothers smelled the odor, they, being distressed, suddenly collapsed upon the earth, O joy of the Kurus. And then all those royal ladies were unable to bear children. (03-128-5)
ततो दशसु मासेषु सोमकस्य विशां पते। जज्ञे पुत्रशतं पूर्णं तासु सर्वासु भारत ॥०३-१२८-६॥
After that, O Bhārata, in ten months, O lord of kings Somaka, a full hundred sons were born to all of them. (03-128-6)
जन्तुर्ज्येष्ठः समभवज्जनित्र्यामेव भारत। स तासामिष्ट एवासीन्न तथान्ये निजाः सुताः ॥०३-१२८-७॥
O Bhārata, Jantu, being the eldest, was born of their mother and was especially beloved by them; the other sons, their own, were not regarded so. (03-128-7)
तच्च लक्षणमस्यासीत्सौवर्णं पार्श्व उत्तरे। तस्मिन्पुत्रशते चाग्र्यः स बभूव गुणैर्युतः ॥०३-१२८-८॥
That distinguishing feature of his was a golden mark on the northern side. Among the hundred sons, he became the foremost, endowed with virtues. (03-128-8)
ततः स लोकमगमत्सोमकस्य गुरुः परम्। अथ काले व्यतीते तु सोमकोऽप्यगमत्परम् ॥०३-१२८-९॥
Then, the guru of Somaka went to the highest world; after some time had passed, Somaka too went to the supreme state. (03-128-9)
अथ तं नरके घोरे पच्यमानं ददर्श सः। तमपृच्छत्किमर्थं त्वं नरके पच्यसे द्विज ॥०३-१२८-१०॥
Then he saw him being cooked in the terrible hell. He asked him, 'Why are you being cooked in hell, O twice-born?' (03-128-10)
तमब्रवीद्गुरुः सोऽथ पच्यमानोऽग्निना भृशम्। त्वं मया याजितो राजंस्तस्येदं कर्मणः फलम् ॥०३-१२८-११॥
The teacher then said to him, as he was being severely burned by fire: 'O king, since you were made to perform the sacrifice by me, this is the result of that act.' (03-128-11)
एतच्छ्रुत्वा स राजर्षिर्धर्मराजानमब्रवीत्। अहमत्र प्रवेक्ष्यामि मुच्यतां मम याजकः ॥ मत्कृते हि महाभागः पच्यते नरकाग्निना ॥०३-१२८-१२॥
Hearing this, the royal sage addressed Yama: "I will enter here; let my priest be freed. For my sake, the highly fortunate one is suffering in the fire of hell." (03-128-12)
धर्म उवाच॥
Dharma said;
नान्यः कर्तुः फलं राजन्नुपभुङ्क्ते कदाचन। इमानि तव दृश्यन्ते फलानि ददतां वर ॥०३-१२८-१३॥
O king, no one other than the doer ever enjoys the fruit; these fruits of giving are seen as yours, O best one. (03-128-13)
सोमक उवाच॥
Somaka said.
पुण्यान्न कामये लोकानृतेऽहं ब्रह्मवादिनम्। इच्छाम्यहमनेनैव सह वस्तुं सुरालये ॥०३-१२८-१४॥
I do not wish for the heavenly worlds earned by virtue without the Brahmavādin; I only want to live together with him in the gods’ abode. (03-128-14)
नरके वा धर्मराज कर्मणास्य समो ह्यहम्। पुण्यापुण्यफलं देव सममस्त्वावयोरिदम् ॥०३-१२८-१५॥
Whether in hell or, O King of Dharma, by this act I am indeed your equal. May the result of merit and demerit, O god, be the same for both of us. (03-128-15)
धर्म उवाच॥
Dharma said.
यद्येवमीप्सितं राजन्भुङ्क्ष्वास्य सहितः फलम्। तुल्यकालं सहानेन पश्चात्प्राप्स्यसि सद्गतिम् ॥०३-१२८-१६॥
If this is your wish, O king, enjoy this fruit together with him; at the same time, afterwards, you will attain the good state. (03-128-16)
लोमश उवाच॥
Lomaśa said.
स चकार तथा सर्वं राजा राजीवलोचनः। पुनश्च लेभे लोकान्स्वान्कर्मणा निर्जिताञ्शुभान् ॥ सह तेनैव विप्रेण गुरुणा स गुरुप्रियः ॥०३-१२८-१७॥
That lotus-eyed king did all just so. Again, by his actions, he obtained his own auspicious, conquered worlds. He, dear to his guru, was with that very Brahmin and preceptor. (03-128-17)
एष तस्याश्रमः पुण्यो य एषोऽग्रे विराजते। क्षान्त उष्यात्र षड्रात्रं प्राप्नोति सुगतिं नरः ॥०३-१२८-१८॥
This is his holy hermitage which shines ahead; a man who has been forgiven, staying here for six nights, attains a good path. (03-128-18)
एतस्मिन्नपि राजेन्द्र वत्स्यामो विगतज्वराः। षड्रात्रं नियतात्मानः सज्जीभव कुरूद्वह ॥०३-१२८-१९॥
Here also, O King, we shall stay free from affliction; remain self-controlled for six nights, and be prepared, O best of the Kurus. (03-128-19)
