03.128
jantūpākhyānam
Story of creatures
somaka uvāca॥
Somaka said.
brahmanyadyadyathā kāryaṃ tattat kuru tathā tathā। putrakāmatayā sarvaṃ kariṣyāmi vacas tava ॥03-128-1॥
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)
lomaśa uvāca॥
Lomasha said.
tataḥ sa yājayāmāsa somakaṃ tena jantunā। mātarastu balāt putram apākarṣuḥ kṛpānvitāḥ ॥03-128-2॥
Then he made Somaka perform the sacrifice with Jantu; but the mothers, filled with compassion, forcefully drew their son away. (03-128-2)
hā hatāḥ smeti vāśantyastīvrāśokasamanvitāḥ। taṃ mātaraḥ pratyakarṣan gṛhītvā dakṣiṇe kare ॥ savye pāṇau gṛhītvā tu yājako'pi sma karṣati ॥03-128-3॥
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)
kurarīṇām ivārtānām apākṛṣya tu taṃ sutam। viśasya ca enaṃ vidhinā vapām asya juhāva saḥ ॥03-128-4॥
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)
vapāyāṃ hūyamānāyāṃ gandhamāghrāya mātaraḥ। ārtā nipetuḥ sahasā pṛthivyāṃ kurunandana॥ sarvāś ca garbhān alabhaṃs tatastāḥ pārthivāṅganāḥ॥03-128-5॥
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)
tato daśasu māseṣu somakasya viśāṃ pate। jajñe putraśataṃ pūrṇaṃ tāsu sarvāsu bhārata॥03-128-6॥
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)
jantur jyeṣṭhaḥ samabhavad janitryām eva bhārata। sa tāsām iṣṭa eva āsīt na tathā anye nijāḥ sutāḥ ॥03-128-7॥
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)
tac ca lakṣaṇam asyāsīt sauvarṇaṃ pārśva uttare। tasmin putraśate ca agryaḥ sa babhūva guṇair yutaḥ॥03-128-8॥
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)
tataḥ sa lokam agamat somakasya guruḥ param। atha kāle vyatīte tu somakaḥ api agamat param ॥03-128-9॥
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)
atha taṃ narake ghore pacyamānaṃ dadarśa saḥ। tam apṛcchat kimartham tvaṃ narake pacyase dvija ॥03-128-10॥
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)
tam abravīd guruḥ saḥ atha pachyamānaḥ agninā bhṛśam। tvaṃ mayā yājitaḥ rājan tasya idam karmaṇaḥ phalam॥03-128-11॥
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)
etacchrutvā sa rājarṣirdharmarājānamabravīt। aham atra pravekṣyāmi mucyatāṃ mama yājakaḥ॥ matkṛte hi mahābhāgaḥ pacyate narakāgninā॥03-128-12॥
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)
dharma uvāca॥
Dharma said;
nānyaḥ kartuḥ phalaṃ rājann upabhuṅkte kadācana। imāni tava dṛśyante phalāni dadatāṃ vara॥03-128-13॥
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)
somaka uvāca॥
Somaka said.
puṇyānna kāmaye lokānṛte'haṃ brahmavādinam। icchāmy aham anenaiva saha vastuṃ surālaye ॥03-128-14॥
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)
narake vā dharmarāja karmaṇāsya samo hyaham। puṇyāpuṇyaphalaṃ deva samamastvāvayoridam ॥03-128-15॥
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)
dharma uvāca॥
Dharma said.
yady evam īpsitaṁ rājan bhuṅkṣvā asya sahitaḥ phalam। tulyakālaṁ saha anena paścāt prāpsyasi sadgatim॥03-128-16॥
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)
lomaśa uvāca॥
Lomaśa said.
sa cakāra tathā sarvaṃ rājā rājīvalocanaḥ। punaś ca lebhe lokān svān karmaṇā nirjitān śubhān॥ saha tenaiva vipreṇa guruṇā sa gurupriyaḥ॥03-128-17॥
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)
eṣa tasya āśramaḥ puṇyaḥ ya eṣaḥ agre virājate । kṣānta uṣya atra ṣaḍ-rātram prāpnoti su-gatim naraḥ ॥03-128-18॥
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)
etasminn api rājendra vatsyāmo vigatajvarāḥ। ṣaḍrātraṃ niyatātmānaḥ sajjībhava kurūdvaha ॥03-128-19॥
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)
