09.038
Library: Balarama visits Uśanas, known as Kapālamocana; hermitage of Rushanga; then comes to Sindhudvipa where the royal sage Devapi attained Brahminhood.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana spoke:
उषित्वा तत्र रामस्तु सम्पूज्याश्रमवासिनः। तथा मङ्कणके प्रीतिं शुभां चक्रे हलायुधः ॥९-३८-१॥
Rama stayed there and honored the hermitage dwellers. Balarama, also known as Halayudha, showed auspicious affection to Mankanaka.
दत्त्वा दानं द्विजातिभ्यो रजनीं तामुपोष्य च। पूजितो मुनिसङ्घैश्च प्रातरुत्थाय लाङ्गली ॥९-३८-२॥
After giving charity to the Brahmins and fasting through the night, the ploughman was honored by groups of sages and rose in the morning.
अनुज्ञाप्य मुनीन्सर्वान्स्पृष्ट्वा तोयं च भारत। प्रययौ त्वरितो रामस्तीर्थहेतोर्महाबलः ॥९-३८-३॥
After seeking permission from all the sages and touching the water, mighty Rama quickly set out on a pilgrimage, O Bhārata.
तत औशनसं तीर्थमाजगाम हलायुधः। कपालमोचनं नाम यत्र मुक्तो महामुनिः ॥९-३८-४॥
Then Halāyudha reached the sacred place of Uśanas, known as Kapālamocana, where the great sage attained liberation.
महता शिरसा राजन्ग्रस्तजङ्घो महोदरः। राक्षसस्य महाराज रामक्षिप्तस्य वै पुरा ॥९-३८-५॥
O great king, Mahodara, the demon with seized thighs, was formerly thrown by Rama.
तत्र पूर्वं तपस्तप्तं काव्येन सुमहात्मना। यत्रास्य नीतिरखिला प्रादुर्भूता महात्मनः ॥ तत्रस्थश्चिन्तयामास दैत्यदानवविग्रहम् ॥९-३८-६॥
In that place, Kāvya, the great soul, had previously performed penance. It was there that his entire policy became manifest. While situated there, he contemplated the conflict between the demons and the Danavas.
तत्प्राप्य च बलो राजंस्तीर्थप्रवरमुत्तमम्। विधिवद्धि ददौ वित्तं ब्राह्मणानां महात्मनाम् ॥९-३८-७॥
Upon reaching the best of holy places, Bala, O king, generously distributed wealth to the great-souled Brahmins, following the prescribed rules.
जनमेजय उवाच॥
Janamejaya said:
कपालमोचनं ब्रह्मन्कथं यत्र महामुनिः। मुक्तः कथं चास्य शिरो लग्नं केन च हेतुना ॥९-३८-८॥
O Brahman, please tell me about Kapalamochana, the place where the great sage was liberated. How did his head become attached again, and who was responsible for it and why?
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaishampayana said:
पुरा वै दण्डकारण्ये राघवेण महात्मना। वसता राजशार्दूल राक्षसास्तत्र हिंसिताः ॥९-३८-९॥
Once upon a time, in the forest of Dandakaranya, the great Rāghava, while residing there, O tiger among kings, killed the demons.
जनस्थाने शिरश्छिन्नं राक्षसस्य दुरात्मनः। क्षुरेण शितधारेण तत्पपात महावने ॥९-३८-१०॥
In the place called Janasthana, the severed head of the wicked demon fell with a sharp-edged razor in the great forest.
महोदरस्य तल्लग्नं जङ्घायां वै यदृच्छया। वने विचरतो राजन्नस्थि भित्त्वास्फुरत्तदा ॥९-३८-११॥
O king, while wandering in the forest, a bone by chance got attached to Mahodara's thigh, pierced it, and then twitched.
स तेन लग्नेन तदा द्विजातिर्न शशाक ह। अभिगन्तुं महाप्राज्ञस्तीर्थान्यायतनानि च ॥९-३८-१२॥
With that attachment, the twice-born was unable to approach the wise sage, the holy places, and the temples.
स पूतिना विस्रवता वेदनार्तो महामुनिः। जगाम सर्वतीर्थानि पृथिव्यामिति नः श्रुतम् ॥९-३८-१३॥
The great sage, afflicted by the foul-smelling flow, traveled to all the sacred places on earth, as we have heard.
स गत्वा सरितः सर्वाः समुद्रांश्च महातपाः। कथयामास तत्सर्वमृषीणां भावितात्मनाम् ॥९-३८-१४॥
He, the great ascetic, traveled to all the rivers and oceans and narrated everything to the sages who were enlightened.
आप्लुतः सर्वतीर्थेषु न च मोक्षमवाप्तवान्। स तु शुश्राव विप्रेन्द्रो मुनीनां वचनं महत् ॥९-३८-१५॥
Having bathed in all the sacred places, he did not achieve liberation. However, the best among the Brahmins heard the profound teachings of the sages.
सरस्वत्यास्तीर्थवरं ख्यातमौशनसं तदा। सर्वपापप्रशमनं सिद्धक्षेत्रमनुत्तमम् ॥९-३८-१६॥
Then, the renowned pilgrimage site associated with Uśanas, known as Sarasvati, is the ultimate sacred field for absolving all sins.
स तु गत्वा ततस्तत्र तीर्थमौशनसं द्विजः। तत औशनसे तीर्थे तस्योपस्पृशतस्तदा ॥ तच्छिरश्चरणं मुक्त्वा पपातान्तर्जले तदा ॥९-३८-१७॥
The Brahmin went to the sacred place of Uśanas. While he was purifying himself there, his head and foot, having been released, fell into the water.
ततः स विरुजो राजन्पूतात्मा वीतकल्मषः। आजगामाश्रमं प्रीतः कृतकृत्यो महोदरः ॥९-३८-१८॥
Then, O king, the pure-souled and sinless one, having accomplished his purpose and pleased, came to the hermitage, free from disease, the great-bellied one.
सोऽथ गत्वाश्रमं पुण्यं विप्रमुक्तो महातपाः। कथयामास तत्सर्वमृषीणां भावितात्मनाम् ॥९-३८-१९॥
Then, having been freed from the curse, the great ascetic went to the sacred hermitage and narrated everything to the sages with purified souls.
ते श्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य ततस्तीर्थस्य मानद। कपालमोचनमिति नाम चक्रुः समागताः ॥९-३८-२०॥
Upon hearing his words, they gathered and named the holy site 'Kapalamochana', honoring the giver of respect.
तत्र दत्त्वा बहून्दायान्विप्रान्सम्पूज्य माधवः। जगाम वृष्णिप्रवरो रुषङ्गोराश्रमं तदा ॥९-३८-२१॥
There, Madhava, the best of the Vrishnis, after giving many gifts to the Brahmins and worshipping them, went to the hermitage of Rushanga.
यत्र तप्तं तपो घोरमार्ष्टिषेणेन भारत। ब्राह्मण्यं लब्धवांस्तत्र विश्वामित्रो महामुनिः ॥९-३८-२२॥
In the place where the sage practiced intense austerity, O Bharata, there Viśvāmitra, the great sage, achieved the status of a Brahmin.
ततो हलधरः श्रीमान्ब्राह्मणैः परिवारितः। जगाम यत्र राजेन्द्र रुषङ्गुस्तनुमत्यजत् ॥९-३८-२३॥
Then the illustrious Haladhara, surrounded by Brahmins, went to the place where, O king, the sage, in his anger, had left his body.
रुषङ्गुर्ब्राह्मणो वृद्धस्तपोनित्यश्च भारत। देहन्यासे कृतमना विचिन्त्य बहुधा बहु ॥९-३८-२४॥
A sage named Ruṣaṅgu, who was an elderly Brahmin and always engaged in penance, resolved his mind and considered many aspects deeply before abandoning his body, O descendant of Bharata.
ततः सर्वानुपादाय तनयान्वै महातपाः। रुषङ्गुरब्रवीत्तत्र नयध्वं मा पृथूदकम् ॥९-३८-२५॥
Then, the great ascetic Ruṣaṅgu, after gathering all his sons, instructed them not to go to Pṛthūdaka.
विज्ञायातीतवयसं रुषङ्गुं ते तपोधनाः। तं वै तीर्थमुपानिन्युः सरस्वत्यास्तपोधनम् ॥९-३८-२६॥
Recognizing the sage who was beyond age and angry, the ascetics brought him to the sacred place of Sarasvati.
स तैः पुत्रैस्तदा धीमानानीतो वै सरस्वतीम्। पुण्यां तीर्थशतोपेतां विप्रसङ्घैर्निषेविताम् ॥९-३८-२७॥
He, the wise one, was brought by his sons to the sacred river Sarasvati, which is endowed with numerous holy sites and frequented by groups of Brahmins.
स तत्र विधिना राजन्नाप्लुतः सुमहातपाः। ज्ञात्वा तीर्थगुणांश्चैव प्राहेदमृषिसत्तमः ॥ सुप्रीतः पुरुषव्याघ्र सर्वान्पुत्रानुपासतः ॥९-३८-२८॥
The greatly austere sage, having bathed there according to the prescribed method and having understood the qualities of the holy places, spoke thus, being very pleased, O tiger among men, while all the sons were attending.
सरस्वत्युत्तरे तीरे यस्त्यजेदात्मनस्तनुम्। पृथूदके जप्यपरो नैनं श्वोमरणं तपेत् ॥९-३८-२९॥
On the northern bank of the Sarasvati, if one abandons their body while engaged in recitation in the vast waters, they will not be tormented by death the next day.
तत्राप्लुत्य स धर्मात्मा उपस्पृश्य हलायुधः। दत्त्वा चैव बहून्दायान्विप्राणां विप्रवत्सलः ॥९-३८-३०॥
There, Halayudha (Balarama), the righteous soul, bathed and performed rituals. He gave many gifts to the Brahmins, showing his affection towards them.
ससर्ज यत्र भगवाँल्लोकाँल्लोकपितामहः। यत्रार्ष्टिषेणः कौरव्य ब्राह्मण्यं संशितव्रतः ॥ तपसा महता राजन्प्राप्तवानृषिसत्तमः ॥९-३८-३१॥
The Lord, the grandsire of the worlds, created the worlds in a place where the sage, known for his firm vows, attained Brahmanhood through great penance, O king, descendant of Kuru, and became the best of sages.
सिन्धुद्वीपश्च राजर्षिर्देवापिश्च महातपाः। ब्राह्मण्यं लब्धवान्यत्र विश्वामित्रो महामुनिः ॥ महातपस्वी भगवानुग्रतेजा महातपाः ॥९-३८-३२॥
Sindhudvipa and the royal sage Devapi, known for their great austerity, attained Brahminhood in the place where the great sage Vishvamitra was present. The divine being, fierce in brilliance and greatly austere, was there.
तत्राजगाम बलवान्बलभद्रः प्रतापवान्।
There arrived the strong and mighty Balabhadra.
