03.184
मार्कण्डेय उवाच॥
Markaṇḍeya said.
अत्रैव च सरस्वत्या गीतं परपुरञ्जय। पृष्टया मुनिना वीर शृणु तार्क्ष्येण धीमता ॥०३-१८४-१॥
Here, O conqueror of enemy cities, hear the song sung by Sarasvatī, as recounted by the intelligent Tārkṣya, after being asked by the sage, O hero. (03-184-1)
तार्क्ष्य उवाच॥
Tārkṣya said.
किं नु श्रेयः पुरुषस्येह भद्रे; कथं कुर्वन्न च्यवते स्वधर्मात्। आचक्ष्व मे चारुसर्वाङ्गि सर्वं; त्वयानुशिष्टो न च्यवेयं स्वधर्मात् ॥०३-१८४-२॥
O auspicious one, what truly is the highest good for a person here? How does one act so as not to deviate from his own duty? Please tell me everything, O beautiful-limbed one; being instructed by you, may I not swerve from my own duty. (03-184-2)
कथं चाग्निं जुहुयां पूजये वा; कस्मिन्काले केन धर्मो न नश्येत्। एतत्सर्वं सुभगे प्रब्रवीहि; यथा लोकान्विरजाः सञ्चरेयम् ॥०३-१८४-३॥
How should I offer oblations to the fire, or worship it; at what time, by what means, so that righteousness does not perish? O fortunate one, please tell me all this, so that I may attain the pure worlds. (03-184-3)
मार्कण्डेय उवाच॥
Mārkaṇḍeya said.
एवं पृष्टा प्रीतियुक्तेन तेन; शुश्रूषुमीक्ष्योत्तमबुद्धियुक्तम्। तार्क्ष्यं विप्रं धर्मयुक्तं हितं च; सरस्वती वाक्यमिदं बभाषे ॥०३-१८४-४॥
Thus, when questioned with affection by him and observing Tārkṣya, the sage of excellent intellect, eager to listen, righteous and well-intentioned, Sarasvatī spoke these words. (03-184-4)
सरस्वत्युवाच॥
Sarasvatī said.
यो ब्रह्म जानाति यथाप्रदेशं; स्वाध्यायनित्यः शुचिरप्रमत्तः। स वै पुरो देवपुरस्य गन्ता; सहामरैः प्राप्नुयात्प्रीतियोगम् ॥०३-१८४-५॥
He who knows Brahman according to the proper method, is always devoted to study, pure and vigilant; that person indeed will be the forerunner to the city of the gods, and together with the immortals may attain the state of joy. (03-184-5)
तत्र स्म रम्या विपुला विशोकाः; सुपुष्पिताः पुष्करिण्यः सुपुण्याः। अकर्दमा मीनवत्यः सुतीर्था; हिरण्मयैरावृताः पुण्डरीकैः ॥०३-१८४-६॥
There indeed were beautiful, spacious, and sorrowless lakes, abundantly blossomed and highly auspicious. Free from mud, teeming with fish, having excellent fords, and covered with golden lotuses. (03-184-6)
तासां तीरेष्वासते पुण्यकर्मा; महीयमानः पृथगप्सरोभिः। सुपुण्यगन्धाभिरलङ्कृताभि; र्हिरण्यवर्णाभिरतीव हृष्टः ॥०३-१८४-७॥
On their banks sits a meritorious man, greatly honored by many apsarases, who are adorned with auspicious fragrances and golden hues, feeling very delighted. (03-184-7)
परं लोकं गोप्रदास्त्वाप्नुवन्ति; दत्त्वानड्वाहं सूर्यलोकं व्रजन्ति। वासो दत्त्वा चन्द्रमसः स लोकं; दत्त्वा हिरण्यममृतत्वमेति ॥०३-१८४-८॥
Those who give cows truly reach the highest worlds; by giving a draught animal, they go to the world of the Sun; by donating clothing, they gain the world of the Moon; and by giving gold, one attains immortality. (03-184-8)
धेनुं दत्त्वा सुव्रतां साधुदोहां; कल्याणवत्सामपलायिनीं च। यावन्ति रोमाणि भवन्ति तस्या; स्तावद्वर्षाण्यश्नुते स्वर्गलोकम् ॥०३-१८४-९॥
One who gives a cow of good vows, that gives proper milk, has an auspicious calf, and does not run away, attains the heavenly world for as many years as there are hairs on her body. (03-184-9)
अनड्वाहं सुव्रतं यो ददाति; हलस्य वोढारमनन्तवीर्यम्। धुरन्धरं बलवन्तं युवानं; प्राप्नोति लोकान्दश धेनुदस्य ॥०३-१८४-१०॥
Whoever gives a young, powerful bullock of good vows—one that draws the plough and has infinite strength and bears the yoke—attains the ten worlds attained by a giver of cows. (03-184-10)
यः सप्त वर्षाणि जुहोति तार्क्ष्य; हव्यं त्वग्नौ सुव्रतः साधुशीलः। सप्तावरान्सप्त पूर्वान्पुनाति; पितामहानात्मनः कर्मभिः स्वैः ॥०३-१८४-११॥
O Tārkṣya, one who, having good vows and a virtuous nature, offers oblations into the fire for seven years, purifies with his own actions his seven paternal ancestors and seven previous ancestors—his grandfathers. (03-184-11)
तार्क्ष्य उवाच॥
Tārkṣya said.
किमग्निहोत्रस्य व्रतं पुराण; माचक्ष्व मे पृच्छतश्चारुरूपे। त्वयानुशिष्टोऽहमिहाद्य विद्यां; यदग्निहोत्रस्य व्रतं पुराणम् ॥०३-१८४-१२॥
What is the ancient vow of Agnihotra? O beautiful one, tell me who am asking. Here today, instructed by you, I wish to know what is the ancient vow of Agnihotra. (03-184-12)
सरस्वत्युवाच॥
Sarasvatī said.
न चाशुचिर्नाप्यनिर्णिक्तपाणि; र्नाब्रह्मविज्जुहुयान्नाविपश्चित्। बुभुक्षवः शुचिकामा हि देवा; नाश्रद्दधानाद्धि हविर्जुषन्ति ॥०३-१८४-१३॥
Neither an impure person, nor one whose hands are unwashed, nor a person ignorant of the sacred formula, nor one unlearned in ritual should offer oblations. The gods, who desire food and purity, indeed do not accept oblations from one who lacks faith. (03-184-13)
नाश्रोत्रियं देवहव्ये नियुञ्ज्या; न्मोघं परा सिञ्चति तादृशो हि। अपूर्णमश्रोत्रियमाह तार्क्ष्य; न वै तादृग्जुहुयादग्निहोत्रम् ॥०३-१८४-१४॥
One should not appoint a non-śrotriya (unversed in Veda) to the offering for the gods; such a person pours the offering away in vain. Tārkṣya says that a non-śrotriya is incomplete; one should indeed not let such a person perform Agnihotra. (03-184-14)
कृशानुं ये जुह्वति श्रद्दधानाः; सत्यव्रता हुतशिष्टाशिनश्च। गवां लोकं प्राप्य ते पुण्यगन्धं; पश्यन्ति देवं परमं चापि सत्यम् ॥०३-१८४-१५॥
Those who offer oblations to the fire with faith, who are truthful in their vows and eat the remnants of sacrifices, after reaching the sinless, fragrant realm of the cows, see the Supreme God and also the Truth. (03-184-15)
तार्क्ष्य उवाच॥
Tārkṣya said.
क्षेत्रज्ञभूतां परलोकभावे; कर्मोदये बुद्धिमतिप्रविष्टाम्। प्रज्ञां च देवीं सुभगे विमृश्य; पृच्छामि त्वां का ह्यसि चारुरूपे ॥०३-१८४-१६॥
O beautiful one with charming form, who are you, who have become the knower of the field at the time of death, entered into intelligence at the rise of action, and are called wisdom, the goddess? O fortunate one, considering thus, I ask you—who indeed are you? (03-184-16)
सरस्वत्युवाच॥
Sarasvatī said.
अग्निहोत्रादहमभ्यागतास्मि; विप्रर्षभाणां संशयच्छेदनाय। त्वत्संयोगादहमेतदब्रुवं; भावे स्थिता तथ्यमर्थं यथावत् ॥०३-१८४-१७॥
I have come here from the agnihotra for resolving the doubts of the foremost brāhmaṇas. Because I am united with you, I have spoken this, remaining in the true state, the true meaning as it is. (03-184-17)
तार्क्ष्य उवाच॥
Tārkṣya said;
न हि त्वया सदृशी काचिदस्ति; विभ्राजसे ह्यतिमात्रं यथा श्रीः। रूपं च ते दिव्यमत्यन्तकान्तं; प्रज्ञां च देवीं सुभगे बिभर्षि ॥०३-१८४-१८॥
Indeed, there is no one like you; you shine exceedingly like Splendor herself. Your form is divinely and supremely beautiful; and, O fortunate one, you possess the wisdom of a goddess. (03-184-18)
सरस्वत्युवाच॥
Sarasvatī spoke.
श्रेष्ठानि यानि द्विपदां वरिष्ठ; यज्ञेषु विद्वन्नुपपादयन्ति। तैरेवाहं सम्प्रवृद्धा भवामि; आप्यायिता रूपवती च विप्र ॥०३-१८४-१९॥
O eminent one among bipeds, O learned brahmin, whatever the best offerings in sacrifices are made, it is by those alone that I become well grown, nourished, and beautiful. (03-184-19)
यच्चापि द्रव्यमुपयुज्यते ह; वानस्पत्यमायसं पार्थिवं वा। दिव्येन रूपेण च प्रज्ञया च; तेनैव सिद्धिरिति विद्धि विद्वन् ॥०३-१८४-२०॥
O wise one, know that whichever substance is utilized—be it vegetable, metallic, or earthly—or through divine form and wisdom; by that alone is achievement. (03-184-20)
तार्क्ष्य उवाच॥
Tārkṣya said;
इदं श्रेयः परमं मन्यमाना; व्यायच्छन्ते मुनयः सम्प्रतीताः। आचक्ष्व मे तं परमं विशोकं; मोक्षं परं यं प्रविशन्ति धीराः ॥०३-१८४-२१॥
The sages, regarding this as the highest and supreme good, strive for it with confidence. Tell me of that supreme, sorrowless liberation, the supreme state which the steadfast enter. (03-184-21)
सरस्वत्युवाच॥
Sarasvati said.
तं वै परं वेदविदः प्रपन्नाः; परं परेभ्यः प्रथितं पुराणम्। स्वाध्यायदानव्रतपुण्ययोगै; स्तपोधना वीतशोका विमुक्ताः ॥०३-१८४-२२॥
Indeed, the knowers of the Veda who have taken refuge in that supreme (being), that being renowned as the greatest among all, the ancient one distinct from others, by the virtues of self-study, charity, vows, and meritorious practices, those whose riches are austerity, who are free from sorrow, become liberated. (03-184-22)
तस्याथ मध्ये वेतसः पुण्यगन्धः; सहस्रशाखो विमलो विभाति। तस्य मूलात्सरितः प्रस्रवन्ति; मधूदकप्रस्रवणा रमण्यः ॥०३-१८४-२३॥
Then, in its midst, the fragrant thousand-branched pure bamboo shines. From its root, beautiful streams with honey-water outflows emerge. (03-184-23)
शाखां शाखां महानद्यः संयान्ति सिकतासमाः। धानापूपा मांसशाकाः सदा पायसकर्दमाः ॥०३-१८४-२४॥
In every branch, great rivers resembling sand converge; rice-cakes, meats, and vegetables are always a mass of milk-rice mud. (03-184-24)
यस्मिन्नग्निमुखा देवाः सेन्द्राः सह मरुद्गणैः। ईजिरे क्रतुभिः श्रेष्ठैस्तत्पदं परमं मुने ॥०३-१८४-२५॥
O sage, that supreme state, in which the gods, with Agni at the forefront, Indra, and the companies of Maruts, worshipped by excellent sacrifices.
