09.040
Library: Story of Dalbhya and Baka and why animal sacrifice is inappropriate.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaishampayana said:
ब्रह्मयोनिभिराकीर्णं जगाम यदुनन्दनः। यत्र दाल्भ्यो बको राजन्पश्वर्थं सुमहातपाः ॥ जुहाव धृतराष्ट्रस्य राष्ट्रं वैचित्रवीर्यिणः ॥९-४०-१॥
The descendant of Yadu went to the place filled with sages born of Brahma, where Dalbhya and Baka, O king, the great ascetic, performed sacrifices for the welfare of cattle, in the kingdom of Dhritarashtra, son of Vicitravirya.
तपसा घोररूपेण कर्शयन्देहमात्मनः। क्रोधेन महताविष्टो धर्मात्मा वै प्रतापवान् ॥९-४०-२॥
The righteous soul, indeed glorious, was emaciating his own body through severe penance and was overcome by great anger.
पुरा हि नैमिषेयाणां सत्रे द्वादशवार्षिके। वृत्ते विश्वजितोऽन्ते वै पाञ्चालानृषयोऽगमन् ॥९-४०-३॥
Once, indeed, after the twelve-year sacrificial session of the residents of Naimiṣa was completed at the end of Viśvajit, the sages went to the land of the Pāñcālas.
तत्रेश्वरमयाचन्त दक्षिणार्थं मनीषिणः। बलान्वितान्वत्सतरान्निर्व्याधीनेकविंशतिम् ॥९-४०-४॥
There, the wise sages requested the lord for a gift of twenty-one strong and healthy calves.
तानब्रवीद्बको वृद्धो विभजध्वं पशूनिति। पशूनेतानहं त्यक्त्वा भिक्षिष्ये राजसत्तमम् ॥९-४०-५॥
The old crane instructed them to divide the animals, saying, "I will leave these animals and go to beg from the best of kings."
एवमुक्त्वा ततो राजन्नृषीन्सर्वान्प्रतापवान्। जगाम धृतराष्ट्रस्य भवनं ब्राह्मणोत्तमः ॥९-४०-६॥
After addressing all the sages, the illustrious Brahmin proceeded to the palace of King Dhritarashtra.
स समीपगतो भूत्वा धृतराष्ट्रं जनेश्वरम्। अयाचत पशून्दाल्भ्यः स चैनं रुषितोऽब्रवीत् ॥९-४०-७॥
He approached King Dhritarashtra and requested cattle from Dalbhya. Dalbhya, being angry, responded to him.
यदृच्छया मृता दृष्ट्वा गास्तदा नृपसत्तम। एतान्पशून्नय क्षिप्रं ब्रह्मबन्धो यदीच्छसि ॥९-४०-८॥
By chance, having seen the dead cows, then, O best of kings, if you wish, lead these animals quickly, O twice-born.
ऋषिस्त्वथ वचः श्रुत्वा चिन्तयामास धर्मवित्। अहो बत नृशंसं वै वाक्यमुक्तोऽस्मि संसदि ॥९-४०-९॥
The sage, who was a knower of dharma, upon hearing the words, thought deeply. He lamented, "Alas, indeed, I have been spoken to with cruel words in the assembly."
चिन्तयित्वा मुहूर्तं च रोषाविष्टो द्विजोत्तमः। मतिं चक्रे विनाशाय धृतराष्ट्रस्य भूपतेः ॥९-४०-१०॥
After contemplating for a moment and being overwhelmed with anger, the esteemed sage decided to bring about the downfall of King Dhritarashtra.
स उत्कृत्य मृतानां वै मांसानि द्विजसत्तमः। जुहाव धृतराष्ट्रस्य राष्ट्रं नरपतेः पुरा ॥९-४०-११॥
He, O best of the twice-born, once offered the flesh of the dead to the kingdom of King Dhritarashtra.
अवकीर्णे सरस्वत्यास्तीर्थे प्रज्वाल्य पावकम्। बको दाल्भ्यो महाराज नियमं परमास्थितः ॥ स तैरेव जुहावास्य राष्ट्रं मांसैर्महातपाः ॥९-४०-१२॥
At the pilgrimage site of Sarasvati, Baka Dalbhya, the great king, kindled a fire and, firmly observing his vow, offered his kingdom with flesh, demonstrating his great asceticism.
तस्मिंस्तु विधिवत्सत्रे सम्प्रवृत्ते सुदारुणे। अक्षीयत ततो राष्ट्रं धृतराष्ट्रस्य पार्थिव ॥९-४०-१३॥
In that ritual, which was conducted according to the prescribed rules and was extremely dreadful, the kingdom of Dhritarashtra was subsequently destroyed, O king.
छिद्यमानं यथानन्तं वनं परशुना विभो। बभूवापहतं तच्चाप्यवकीर्णमचेतनम् ॥९-४०-१४॥
O lord, as an endless forest is cut down with an axe, it was destroyed and scattered, lifeless.
दृष्ट्वा तदवकीर्णं तु राष्ट्रं स मनुजाधिपः। बभूव दुर्मना राजंश्चिन्तयामास च प्रभुः ॥९-४०-१५॥
Upon witnessing the scattered state of the kingdom, the ruler became troubled and began to ponder over the situation, O king.
मोक्षार्थमकरोद्यत्नं ब्राह्मणैः सहितः पुरा। अथासौ पार्थिवः खिन्नस्ते च विप्रास्तदा नृप ॥९-४०-१६॥
In the past, for the sake of liberation, the king made efforts along with the Brahmins. Then, the king became distressed, and so did the Brahmins, O king.
यदा चापि न शक्नोति राष्ट्रं मोचयितुं नृप। अथ वैप्राश्निकांस्तत्र पप्रच्छ जनमेजय ॥९-४०-१७॥
When the king finds himself unable to free the kingdom, Janamejaya then inquired of the assembly of questioners present there.
ततो वैप्राश्निकाः प्राहुः पशुविप्रकृतस्त्वया। मांसैरभिजुहोतीति तव राष्ट्रं मुनिर्बकः ॥९-४०-१८॥
Then the inquirers said, "The animal is harmed by you, and the sage Baka offers sacrifices with meat in your kingdom."
तेन ते हूयमानस्य राष्ट्रस्यास्य क्षयो महान्। तस्यैतत्तपसः कर्म येन ते ह्यनयो महान् ॥ अपां कुञ्जे सरस्वत्यास्तं प्रसादय पार्थिव ॥९-४०-१९॥
By that sacrifice, your kingdom faces great destruction. This act of penance is the cause of your great misfortune. In the grove of Sarasvati's waters, please him, O king.
सरस्वतीं ततो गत्वा स राजा बकमब्रवीत्। निपत्य शिरसा भूमौ प्राञ्जलिर्भरतर्षभ ॥९-४०-२०॥
The king, after reaching the river Sarasvati, addressed Baka. He prostrated himself on the ground, head down, with folded hands, O best of the Bharatas.
प्रसादये त्वा भगवन्नपराधं क्षमस्व मे। मम दीनस्य लुब्धस्य मौर्ख्येण हतचेतसः ॥ त्वं गतिस्त्वं च मे नाथः प्रसादं कर्तुमर्हसि ॥९-४०-२१॥
I seek your forgiveness, O Lord, for my offenses. I am wretched, greedy, and my mind is destroyed by foolishness. You are my refuge and my lord; please bestow your grace upon me.
तं तथा विलपन्तं तु शोकोपहतचेतसम्। दृष्ट्वा तस्य कृपा जज्ञे राष्ट्रं तच्च व्यमोचयत् ॥९-४०-२२॥
Seeing him lamenting in such a way, whose mind was troubled by grief, compassion arose in him and he liberated the kingdom.
ऋषिः प्रसन्नस्तस्याभूत्संरम्भं च विहाय सः। मोक्षार्थं तस्य राष्ट्रस्य जुहाव पुनराहुतिम् ॥९-४०-२३॥
The sage, being pleased, abandoned his anger and offered oblations again for the liberation of his kingdom.
मोक्षयित्वा ततो राष्ट्रं प्रतिगृह्य पशून्बहून्। हृष्टात्मा नैमिषारण्यं जगाम पुनरेव हि ॥९-४०-२४॥
"Having freed the kingdom and reclaimed many animals, the joyful soul returned once more to Naimisharanya."
धृतराष्ट्रोऽपि धर्मात्मा स्वस्थचेता महामनाः। स्वमेव नगरं राजा प्रतिपेदे महर्द्धिमत् ॥९-४०-२५॥
Dhritarashtra, known for his virtue and calm demeanor, returned to his prosperous city as its king.
तत्र तीर्थे महाराज बृहस्पतिरुदारधीः। असुराणामभावाय भावाय च दिवौकसाम् ॥९-४०-२६॥
At that holy place, O great king, Bṛhaspati, with his noble intellect, aimed to destroy the demons and ensure the prosperity of the celestial beings.
मांसैरपि जुहावेष्टिमक्षीयन्त ततोऽसुराः। दैवतैरपि सम्भग्ना जितकाशिभिराहवे ॥९-४०-२७॥
The demons, having offered sacrifices with flesh, were then diminished. The gods, along with the victorious ones, shattered them in battle.
तत्रापि विधिवद्दत्त्वा ब्राह्मणेभ्यो महायशाः। वाजिनः कुञ्जरांश्चैव रथांश्चाश्वतरीयुतान् ॥९-४०-२८॥
There, the great illustrious one also properly gave horses, elephants, and chariots equipped with mules to the Brahmins.
रत्नानि च महार्हाणि धनं धान्यं च पुष्कलम्। ययौ तीर्थं महाबाहुर्यायातं पृथिवीपते ॥९-४०-२९॥
The mighty-armed one, possessing very precious gems, wealth, and abundant grains, went to the pilgrimage site, O lord of the earth.
यत्र यज्ञे ययातेस्तु महाराज सरस्वती। सर्पिः पयश्च सुस्राव नाहुषस्य महात्मनः ॥९-४०-३०॥
In the sacrifice conducted by Yayati, O great king, the river Sarasvati flowed with ghee and milk for the great soul Nahusha.
तत्रेष्ट्वा पुरुषव्याघ्रो ययातिः पृथिवीपतिः। आक्रामदूर्ध्वं मुदितो लेभे लोकांश्च पुष्कलान् ॥९-४०-३१॥
There, after performing sacrifices, the noble Yayati, king of the earth, joyfully ascended to the heavens and attained abundant realms.
ययातेर्यजमानस्य यत्र राजन्सरस्वती। प्रसृता प्रददौ कामान्ब्राह्मणानां महात्मनाम् ॥९-४०-३२॥
O King, in the place where Sarasvati flowed for Yayati, the performer of sacrifices, she fulfilled the desires of the great Brahmins.
यत्र यत्र हि यो विप्रो यान्यान्कामानभीप्सति। तत्र तत्र सरिच्छ्रेष्ठा ससर्ज सुबहून्रसान् ॥९-४०-३३॥
Wherever the brahmin desires something, the best of rivers creates many essences there.
तत्र देवाः सगन्धर्वाः प्रीता यज्ञस्य सम्पदा। विस्मिता मानुषाश्चासन्दृष्ट्वा तां यज्ञसम्पदम् ॥९-४०-३४॥
There, the gods and Gandharvas were delighted by the wealth of the sacrifice, while the humans were amazed upon witnessing it.
ततस्तालकेतुर्महाधर्मसेतु; र्महात्मा कृतात्मा महादाननित्यः। वसिष्ठापवाहं महाभीमवेगं; धृतात्मा जितात्मा समभ्याजगाम ॥९-४०-३५॥
Then Tālaketu, a great soul and the embodiment of dharma, known for his generosity and self-realization, approached Vasiṣṭha's vehicle, which was of immense and fearsome speed, with a steadfast and controlled mind.
