09.040
Library: Story of Dalbhya and Baka and why animal sacrifice is inappropriate.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
[वैशम्पायन (vaiśampāyana) - Vaishampayana; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]
(Vaishampayana said:)
Vaishampayana said:
ब्रह्मयोनिभिराकीर्णं जगाम यदुनन्दनः। यत्र दाल्भ्यो बको राजन्पश्वर्थं सुमहातपाः ॥ जुहाव धृतराष्ट्रस्य राष्ट्रं वैचित्रवीर्यिणः ॥९-४०-१॥
brahmayonibhirākīrṇaṃ jagāma yadunandanaḥ। yatra dālbhyō bakō rājanpaśvarthaṃ sumahātapāḥ ॥ juhāva dhṛtarāṣṭrasya rāṣṭraṃ vaicitravīriṇaḥ ॥9-40-1॥
[ब्रह्मयोनिभिः (brahmayonibhiḥ) - by those born of Brahma; आकीर्णं (ākīrṇaṃ) - filled; जगाम (jagāma) - went; यदुनन्दनः (yadunandanaḥ) - descendant of Yadu; यत्र (yatra) - where; दाल्भ्यः (dālbhyḥ) - Dalbhya; बकः (bakaḥ) - Baka; राजन् (rājan) - O king; पश्वर्थं (paśvarthaṃ) - for the sake of cattle; सुमहातपाः (sumahātapāḥ) - great ascetic; जुहाव (juhāva) - sacrificed; धृतराष्ट्रस्य (dhṛtarāṣṭrasya) - of Dhritarashtra; राष्ट्रं (rāṣṭraṃ) - kingdom; वैचित्रवीर्यिणः (vaicitravīriṇaḥ) - of Vicitravirya;]
(The descendant of Yadu went to the place filled by those born of Brahma, where Dalbhya, Baka, O king, the great ascetic, sacrificed for the sake of cattle, the kingdom of Dhritarashtra, of Vicitravirya.)
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॥
tapasā ghorarūpeṇa karśayandehamātmanaḥ। krodhena mahatāviṣṭo dharmātmā vai pratāpavān ॥9-40-2॥
[तपसा (tapasā) - by penance; घोररूपेण (ghorarūpeṇa) - in a terrible form; कर्शयन् (karśayan) - emaciating; देहम् (deham) - body; आत्मनः (ātmanaḥ) - of himself; क्रोधेन (krodhena) - with anger; महताविष्टः (mahatāviṣṭaḥ) - overcome by great; धर्मात्मा (dharmātmā) - righteous soul; वै (vai) - indeed; प्रतापवान् (pratāpavān) - glorious;]
(By penance, in a terrible form, emaciating his own body, overcome by great anger, the righteous soul indeed was glorious.)
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॥
purā hi naimiṣeyāṇāṃ satre dvādaśavārṣike। vṛtte viśvajito'nte vai pāñcālānṛṣayo'gaman ॥9-40-3॥
[पुरा (purā) - formerly; हि (hi) - indeed; नैमिषेयाणाम् (naimiṣeyāṇām) - of the residents of Naimiṣa; सत्रे (satre) - in the sacrificial session; द्वादशवार्षिके (dvādaśavārṣike) - lasting twelve years; वृत्ते (vṛtte) - having been completed; विश्वजितः (viśvajitaḥ) - Viśvajit; अन्ते (ante) - at the end; वै (vai) - indeed; पाञ्चालान् (pāñcālān) - to the region of the Pāñcālas; ऋषयः (ṛṣayaḥ) - the sages; अगमन् (agaman) - went;]
(Formerly, indeed, at the sacrificial session of the residents of Naimiṣa, lasting twelve years, having been completed at the end of Viśvajit, indeed, the sages went to the region of the Pāñcālas.)
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॥
tatreśvaramayācanta dakṣiṇārthaṃ manīṣiṇaḥ। balānvitānvatsatarānnirvyādhīnekaviṃśatim ॥9-40-4॥
[तत्र (tatra) - there; ईश्वरम् (īśvaram) - the lord; अयाचन्त (ayācanta) - requested; दक्षिणार्थम् (dakṣiṇārtham) - for a gift; मनीषिणः (manīṣiṇaḥ) - the wise ones; बलान्वितान् (balānvitān) - endowed with strength; वत्सतरान् (vatsatarān) - calves; निर्व्याधीन् (nirvyādhīn) - free from disease; एकविंशतिम् (ekaviṃśatim) - twenty-one;]
(There, the wise ones requested the lord for a gift of twenty-one calves endowed with strength and free from disease.)
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॥
tān abravīd bako vṛddho vibhajad-dhvaṃ paśūn iti। paśūn etān ahaṃ tyaktvā bhikṣiṣye rājasattamam ॥9-40-5॥
[तान् (tān) - them; अब्रवीत् (abravīt) - said; बकः (bakaḥ) - crane; वृद्धः (vṛddhaḥ) - old; विभजध्वम् (vibhajad-dhvam) - divide; पशून् (paśūn) - animals; इति (iti) - thus; पशून् (paśūn) - animals; एतान् (etān) - these; अहम् (aham) - I; त्यक्त्वा (tyaktvā) - having abandoned; भिक्षिष्ये (bhikṣiṣye) - will beg; राजसत्तमम् (rājasattamam) - best of kings;]
(The old crane said to them, "Divide the animals." Having abandoned these animals, I will beg from the best of kings.)
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॥
evamuktvā tato rājannṛṣīnsarvānpratāpavān। jagāma dhṛtarāṣṭrasya bhavanaṃ brāhmaṇottamaḥ ॥9-40-6॥
[एवम् (evam) - thus; उक्त्वा (uktvā) - having spoken; ततः (tataḥ) - then; राजन् (rājan) - O king; ऋषीन् (ṛṣīn) - sages; सर्वान् (sarvān) - all; प्रतापवान् (pratāpavān) - the glorious one; जगाम (jagāma) - went; धृतराष्ट्रस्य (dhṛtarāṣṭrasya) - of Dhritarashtra; भवनम् (bhavanam) - house; ब्राह्मणोत्तमः (brāhmaṇottamaḥ) - the best of Brahmins;]
(Thus, having spoken then, O king, the glorious one went to the house of Dhritarashtra, the best of Brahmins.)
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॥
sa samīpagato bhūtvā dhṛtarāṣṭraṃ janeśvaram। ayācata paśūndālbhyaḥ sa cainaṃ ruṣito'bravīt ॥9-40-7॥
[स (sa) - he; समीपगतः (samīpagataḥ) - approached; भूत्वा (bhūtvā) - having become; धृतराष्ट्रम् (dhṛtarāṣṭram) - Dhritarashtra; जनेश्वरम् (janeśvaram) - king; अयाचत (ayācata) - requested; पशून् (paśūn) - cattle; दाल्भ्यः (dālbhyaḥ) - Dalbhya; सः (saḥ) - he; च (ca) - and; एनम् (enam) - him; रुषितः (ruṣitaḥ) - angry; अब्रवीत् (abravīt) - said;]
(He, having approached King Dhritarashtra, requested cattle from Dalbhya, and he, being angry, said to him.)
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॥
yadṛcchayā mṛtā dṛṣṭvā gāstadā nṛpasattama। etānpaśūnnaya kṣipraṃ brahmabandho yadīcchasi ॥9-40-8॥
[यदृच्छया (yadṛcchayā) - by chance; मृता (mṛtā) - dead; दृष्ट्वा (dṛṣṭvā) - having seen; गाः (gāḥ) - cows; तदा (tadā) - then; नृपसत्तम (nṛpasattama) - O best of kings; एतान् (etān) - these; पशून् (paśūn) - animals; नय (naya) - lead; क्षिप्रं (kṣipraṃ) - quickly; ब्रह्मबन्धो (brahmabandho) - O twice-born; यदि (yadi) - if; इच्छसि (icchasi) - you wish;]
(By chance, having seen the dead cows, then, O best of kings, lead these animals quickly, O twice-born, if you wish.)
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॥
ṛṣistvatha vacaḥ śrutvā cintayāmāsa dharmavit। aho bata nṛśaṁsaṁ vai vākyamukto'smi saṁsadi ॥9-40-9॥
[ऋषिः (ṛṣiḥ) - sage; त्वा (tvā) - then; वचः (vacaḥ) - words; श्रुत्वा (śrutvā) - having heard; चिन्तयामास (cintayāmāsa) - pondered; धर्मवित् (dharmavit) - knower of dharma; अहो (aho) - alas; बत (bata) - indeed; नृशंसं (nṛśaṁsaṁ) - cruel; वै (vai) - truly; वाक्यम् (vākyam) - speech; उक्तः (uktaḥ) - spoken; अस्मि (asmi) - I am; संसदि (saṁsadi) - in the assembly;]
(The sage, having heard the words, pondered. Alas, indeed, I am truly spoken cruel words in the assembly.)
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॥
cintayitvā muhūrtaṃ ca roṣāviṣṭo dvijottamaḥ। matiṃ cakre vināśāya dhṛtarāṣṭrasya bhūpateḥ ॥9-40-10॥
[चिन्तयित्वा (cintayitvā) - having thought; मुहूर्तम् (muhūrtam) - for a moment; च (ca) - and; रोषाविष्टः (roṣāviṣṭaḥ) - filled with anger; द्विजोत्तमः (dvijottamaḥ) - the best of the twice-born; मतिम् (matim) - intention; चक्रे (cakre) - made; विनाशाय (vināśāya) - for the destruction; धृतराष्ट्रस्य (dhṛtarāṣṭrasya) - of Dhritarashtra; भूपतेः (bhūpateḥ) - the king;]
(Having thought for a moment and filled with anger, the best of the twice-born made an intention for the destruction of Dhritarashtra, the king.)
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॥
sa utkṛtya mṛtānāṃ vai māṃsāni dvijasattamaḥ। juhāva dhṛtarāṣṭrasya rāṣṭraṃ narapateḥ purā ॥9-40-11॥
[स (sa) - he; उत्कृत्य (utkṛtya) - having cut; मृतानां (mṛtānāṃ) - of the dead; वै (vai) - indeed; मांसानि (māṃsāni) - flesh; द्विजसत्तमः (dvijasattamaḥ) - O best of the twice-born; जुहाव (juhāva) - offered; धृतराष्ट्रस्य (dhṛtarāṣṭrasya) - of Dhritarashtra; राष्ट्रं (rāṣṭraṃ) - the kingdom; नरपतेः (narapateḥ) - of the king; पुरा (purā) - formerly;]
(He, having cut the flesh of the dead, indeed, O best of the twice-born, offered it to the kingdom of Dhritarashtra, the king, formerly.)
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॥
avakīrṇe sarasvatyās tīrthe prajvālya pāvakam। bako dālbhyō mahārāja niyamaṁ paramāsthitaḥ ॥ sa taireva juhāvāsya rāṣṭraṁ māṁsairmahātapāḥ ॥9-40-12॥
[अवकीर्णे (avakīrṇe) - scattered; सरस्वत्याः (sarasvatyāḥ) - of Sarasvati; तीर्थे (tīrthe) - at the pilgrimage site; प्रज्वाल्य (prajvālya) - having kindled; पावकम् (pāvakam) - fire; बकः (bakaḥ) - Baka; दाल्भ्यः (dālbhyaḥ) - Dalbhya; महाराज (mahārāja) - great king; नियमम् (niyamam) - vow; परमास्थितः (paramāsthitaḥ) - firmly observing; सः (saḥ) - he; तैः (taiḥ) - with those; एव (eva) - only; जुहाव (juhāva) - offered; अस्य (asya) - his; राष्ट्रम् (rāṣṭram) - kingdom; मांसैः (māṁsaiḥ) - with flesh; महातपाः (mahātapāḥ) - great ascetic;]
(Scattered at the pilgrimage site of Sarasvati, having kindled the fire, Baka Dalbhya, the great king, firmly observing the vow, offered his kingdom with flesh, being a great ascetic.)
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॥
tasmiṁstu vidhivatsatre sampravṛtte sudāruṇe। akṣīyata tato rāṣṭraṁ dhṛtarāṣṭrasya pārthiva ॥9-40-13॥
[तस्मिन् (tasmin) - in that; तु (tu) - but; विधिवत् (vidhivat) - according to the rules; सत्रे (satre) - sacrifice; सम्प्रवृत्ते (sampravṛtte) - commenced; सुदारुणे (sudāruṇe) - very terrible; अक्षीयत (akṣīyata) - was destroyed; ततः (tataḥ) - then; राष्ट्रं (rāṣṭraṁ) - kingdom; धृतराष्ट्रस्य (dhṛtarāṣṭrasya) - of Dhritarashtra; पार्थिव (pārthiva) - O king;]
(In that sacrifice, which was commenced according to the rules and was very terrible, the kingdom of Dhritarashtra was then destroyed, O king.)
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॥
chidyamānaṃ yathānantaṃ vanaṃ paraśunā vibho। babhūvāpahataṃ taccāpyavakīrṇamacetanam ॥9-40-14॥
[छिद्यमानं (chidyamānaṃ) - being cut; यथा (yathā) - as; अनन्तं (anantaṃ) - endless; वनं (vanaṃ) - forest; परशुना (paraśunā) - with an axe; विभो (vibho) - O lord; बभूव (babhūva) - became; अपहतं (apahataṃ) - destroyed; तत् (tat) - that; च (ca) - and; अपि (api) - also; अवकीर्णम् (avakīrṇam) - scattered; अचेतनम् (acetanam) - lifeless;]
(Being cut like an endless forest with an axe, O lord, it became destroyed and scattered, lifeless.)
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॥
dṛṣṭvā tadavakīrṇaṃ tu rāṣṭraṃ sa manujādhipaḥ। babhūva durmanā rājaṃścintayāmāsa ca prabhuḥ ॥9-40-15॥
[दृष्ट्वा (dṛṣṭvā) - having seen; तदवकीर्णम् (tadavakīrṇam) - that scattered; तु (tu) - but; राष्ट्रम् (rāṣṭram) - kingdom; सः (saḥ) - he; मनुजाधिपः (manujādhipaḥ) - the lord of men; बभूव (babhūva) - became; दुर्मनाः (durmanāḥ) - distressed; राजन् (rājan) - O king; चिन्तयामास (cintayāmāsa) - began to think; च (ca) - and; प्रभुः (prabhuḥ) - the lord;]
(Having seen that the kingdom was scattered, he, the lord of men, became distressed, O king, and the lord began to think.)
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॥
mokṣārthamakarodyatnaṃ brāhmaṇaiḥ sahitaḥ purā। athāsau pārthivaḥ khinnaste ca viprāstadā nṛpa ॥9-40-16॥
[मोक्षार्थम् (mokṣārtham) - for liberation; अकरोत् (akarot) - he made; यत्नम् (yatnam) - effort; ब्राह्मणैः (brāhmaṇaiḥ) - with Brahmins; सहितः (sahitaḥ) - together; पुरा (purā) - formerly; अथ (atha) - then; असौ (asau) - that; पार्थिवः (pārthivaḥ) - king; खिन्नः (khinnaḥ) - distressed; ते (te) - they; च (ca) - and; विप्राः (viprāḥ) - Brahmins; तदा (tadā) - then; नृप (nṛpa) - king;]
(For liberation, he made an effort together with Brahmins formerly. Then that king was distressed, and those Brahmins, then, O king.)
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॥
yadā cāpi na śaknoti rāṣṭraṃ mocayituṃ nṛpaḥ। atha vaiprāśnikāṃstatra papraccha janamejayaḥ ॥9-40-17॥
[यदा (yadā) - when; च (ca) - and; अपि (api) - also; न (na) - not; शक्नोति (śaknoti) - is able; राष्ट्रम् (rāṣṭram) - kingdom; मोचयितुम् (mocayitum) - to liberate; नृपः (nṛpaḥ) - king; अथ (atha) - then; वैप्राश्निकान् (vaiprāśnikān) - the assembly of questioners; तत्र (tatra) - there; पप्रच्छ (papraccha) - asked; जनमेजयः (janamejayaḥ) - Janamejaya;]
(When the king is not able to liberate the kingdom, then Janamejaya asked the assembly of questioners there.)
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॥
tato vaiprāśnikāḥ prāhuḥ paśuviprakṛtastvayā। māṁsairabhijuhotīti tava rāṣṭraṁ munirbhakaḥ ॥9-40-18॥
[ततः (tataḥ) - then; वैप्राश्निकाः (vaiprāśnikāḥ) - the inquirers; प्राहुः (prāhuḥ) - said; पशु (paśu) - animal; विप्रकृतः (viprakṛtaḥ) - harmed; त्वया (tvayā) - by you; मांसैः (māṁsaiḥ) - with meat; अभिजुहोति (abhijuhoti) - offers; इति (iti) - thus; तव (tava) - your; राष्ट्रं (rāṣṭraṁ) - kingdom; मुनिः (muniḥ) - sage; बकः (bakaḥ) - Baka;]
(Then the inquirers said, "The animal is harmed by you. The sage Baka offers with meat in your kingdom.")
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॥
tena te hūyamānasya rāṣṭrasyāsya kṣayo mahān। tasyaitattapasaḥ karma yena te hyanayo mahān ॥ apāṃ kuñje sarasvatyāstaṃ prasādaya pārthiva ॥9-40-19॥
[तेन (tena) - by that; ते (te) - your; हूयमानस्य (hūyamānasya) - being sacrificed; राष्ट्रस्य (rāṣṭrasya) - of the kingdom; अस्य (asya) - this; क्षयः (kṣayaḥ) - destruction; महान् (mahān) - great; तस्य (tasya) - of that; एतत् (etat) - this; तपसः (tapasaḥ) - of penance; कर्म (karma) - act; येन (yena) - by which; ते (te) - your; हि (hi) - indeed; अनयः (anayaḥ) - misfortune; महान् (mahān) - great; अपाम् (apām) - of waters; कुञ्जे (kuñje) - in the grove; सरस्वत्याः (sarasvatyāḥ) - of Sarasvati; तम् (tam) - him; प्रसादय (prasādaya) - please; पार्थिव (pārthiva) - O king;]
(By that, your great destruction of this kingdom being sacrificed. By this act of penance, indeed, your great misfortune. In the grove of waters of Sarasvati, please him, O king.)
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॥
sarasvatīṃ tato gatvā sa rājā bakamabravīt। nipatya śirasā bhūmau prāñjalirbhartarṣabha ॥9-40-20॥
[सरस्वतीम् (sarasvatīm) - to the river Sarasvati; ततः (tataḥ) - then; गत्वा (gatvā) - having gone; सः (saḥ) - he; राजा (rājā) - the king; बकम् (bakam) - to Baka; अब्रवीत् (abravīt) - said; निपत्य (nipatya) - having fallen; शिरसा (śirasā) - with his head; भूमौ (bhūmau) - on the ground; प्राञ्जलिः (prāñjaliḥ) - with folded hands; भरतर्षभ (bharatarṣabha) - O best of the Bharatas;]
(Then, having gone to the river Sarasvati, the king said to Baka. Having fallen on the ground with his head, with folded hands, O best of the Bharatas.)
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॥
prasādaye tvā bhagavannaparādhaṃ kṣamasva me। mama dīnasya lubdhasya maurkhyēṇa hatacētasaḥ ॥ tvaṃ gatistvaṃ ca mē nāthaḥ prasādaṃ kartumarhasi ॥9-40-21॥
[प्रसादये (prasādaye) - I propitiate; त्वा (tvā) - you; भगवन् (bhagavan) - O Lord; अपराधं (aparādhaṃ) - offense; क्षमस्व (kṣamasva) - forgive; मे (me) - my; मम (mama) - my; दीनस्य (dīnasya) - of the wretched; लुब्धस्य (lubdhasya) - of the greedy; मौर्ख्येण (maurkhyēṇa) - by foolishness; हतचेतसः (hatacētasaḥ) - of the one with a destroyed mind; त्वं (tvaṃ) - you; गतिः (gatiḥ) - refuge; त्वं (tvaṃ) - you; च (ca) - and; मे (me) - my; नाथः (nāthaḥ) - lord; प्रसादं (prasādaṃ) - grace; कर्तुम् (kartum) - to do; अर्हसि (arhasi) - you should;]
(I propitiate you, O Lord, forgive my offense. Of the wretched, greedy, by foolishness, of the one with a destroyed mind. You are the refuge, you are my lord, you should bestow grace.)
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॥
taṁ tathā vilapantaṁ tu śokopahatacetasam। dṛṣṭvā tasya kṛpā jajñe rāṣṭraṁ tacca vyamocayat ॥9-40-22॥
[तं (taṁ) - him; तथा (tathā) - thus; विलपन्तं (vilapantaṁ) - lamenting; तु (tu) - but; शोक-उपहत-चेतसम् (śoka-upahata-cetasam) - whose mind was afflicted by grief; दृष्ट्वा (dṛṣṭvā) - having seen; तस्य (tasya) - his; कृपा (kṛpā) - compassion; जज्ञे (jajñe) - arose; राष्ट्रं (rāṣṭram) - the kingdom; तत् (tat) - that; च (ca) - and; व्यमोचयत् (vyamocayat) - he liberated;]
(Seeing him thus lamenting, whose mind was afflicted by grief, his compassion arose and he liberated the kingdom.)
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॥
ṛṣiḥ prasannastasyābhūtsaṁrambhaṁ ca vihāya saḥ। mokṣārthaṁ tasya rāṣṭrasya juhāva punarāhutim ॥9-40-23॥
[ऋषिः (ṛṣiḥ) - sage; प्रसन्नः (prasannaḥ) - pleased; तस्य (tasya) - his; अभूत् (abhūt) - became; संरम्भं (saṁrambhaṁ) - anger; च (ca) - and; विहाय (vihāya) - abandoning; सः (saḥ) - he; मोक्षार्थं (mokṣārtham) - for liberation; तस्य (tasya) - his; राष्ट्रस्य (rāṣṭrasya) - of the kingdom; जुहाव (juhāva) - offered; पुनः (punaḥ) - again; आहुतिम् (āhutim) - oblations;]
(The sage, pleased, became free of anger and, for the liberation of his kingdom, offered oblations again.)
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॥
mokṣayitvā tato rāṣṭraṃ pratigṛhya paśūnbahūn। hṛṣṭātmā naimiṣāraṇyaṃ jagāma punareva hi ॥9-40-24॥
[मोक्षयित्वा (mokṣayitvā) - having liberated; ततः (tataḥ) - then; राष्ट्रं (rāṣṭram) - kingdom; प्रतिगृह्य (pratigṛhya) - having taken back; पशून् (paśūn) - animals; बहून् (bahūn) - many; हृष्टात्मा (hṛṣṭātmā) - joyful in spirit; नैमिषारण्यं (naimiṣāraṇyam) - Naimisharanya; जगाम (jagāma) - went; पुनः (punaḥ) - again; एव (eva) - indeed; हि (hi) - certainly;]
(Having liberated the kingdom, and having taken back many animals, the joyful in spirit went again to Naimisharanya indeed.)
"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॥
dhṛtarāṣṭro'pi dharmātmā svasthacetā mahāmanāḥ। svameva nagaraṃ rājā pratipede maharddhimat ॥9-40-25॥
[धृतराष्ट्रः (dhṛtarāṣṭraḥ) - Dhritarashtra; अपि (api) - also; धर्मात्मा (dharmātmā) - virtuous soul; स्वस्थचेता (svasthacetā) - calm-minded; महामनाः (mahāmanāḥ) - great-minded; स्वम् (svam) - own; एव (eva) - indeed; नगरम् (nagarām) - city; राजा (rājā) - king; प्रतिपेदे (pratipede) - entered; महर्द्धिमत् (maharddhimat) - prosperous;]
(Dhritarashtra, the virtuous soul, calm-minded and great-minded, indeed entered his own prosperous city as king.)
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॥
tatra tīrthe mahārāja bṛhaspatirudāradhīḥ। asurāṇāmabhāvāya bhāvāya ca divaukasām ॥9-40-26॥
[तत्र (tatra) - there; तीर्थे (tīrthe) - at the holy place; महाराज (mahārāja) - O great king; बृहस्पतिः (bṛhaspatiḥ) - Bṛhaspati; उदारधीः (udāradhīḥ) - of noble intellect; असुराणाम् (asurāṇām) - of the demons; अभावाय (abhāvāya) - for the destruction; भावाय (bhāvāya) - for the prosperity; च (ca) - and; दिवौकसाम् (divaukasām) - of the celestial beings;]
(There at the holy place, O great king, Bṛhaspati of noble intellect, for the destruction of the demons and for the prosperity of the celestial beings.)
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॥
māṁsairapi juhāveṣṭimakṣīyanta tato'surāḥ। daivatairapi sambhagnā jitakāśibhirāhave ॥9-40-27॥
[मांसैः (māṁsaiḥ) - with flesh; अपि (api) - also; जुहाव (juhāva) - offered; इष्टिम् (iṣṭim) - sacrifice; अक्षीयन्त (akṣīyanta) - were diminished; ततः (tataḥ) - then; असुराः (asurāḥ) - demons; दैवतैः (daivataiḥ) - by the gods; अपि (api) - also; सम्भग्नाः (sambhagnāḥ) - were shattered; जितकाशिभिः (jitakāśibhiḥ) - by the victorious ones; आहवे (āhave) - in battle;]
(With flesh also, the sacrifice was offered, then the demons were diminished. By the gods also, they were shattered by the victorious ones in battle.)
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॥
tatrāpi vidhivaddattvā brāhmaṇebhyo mahāyaśāḥ। vājinaḥ kuñjarāṃścaiva rathāṃścāśvatarīyutān ॥9-40-28॥
[तत्र (tatra) - there; अपि (api) - also; विधिवत् (vidhivat) - properly; दत्त्वा (dattvā) - having given; ब्राह्मणेभ्यः (brāhmaṇebhyaḥ) - to the Brahmins; महायशाः (mahāyaśāḥ) - the great illustrious one; वाजिनः (vājinaḥ) - horses; कुञ्जरान् (kuñjarān) - elephants; च (ca) - and; एव (eva) - indeed; रथान् (rathān) - chariots; च (ca) - and; अश्वतरीयुतान् (aśvatarīyutān) - equipped with mules;]
(There also, having properly given to the Brahmins, the great illustrious one (gave) horses, elephants, and chariots equipped with mules.)
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॥
ratnāni ca mahārhāṇi dhanaṃ dhānyaṃ ca puṣkalam। yayau tīrthaṃ mahābāhuryāyātaṃ pṛthivīpate ॥9-40-29॥
[रत्नानि (ratnāni) - gems; च (ca) - and; महार्हाणि (mahārhāṇi) - very precious; धनं (dhanaṃ) - wealth; धान्यं (dhānyam) - grains; च (ca) - and; पुष्कलम् (puṣkalam) - abundant; ययौ (yayau) - went; तीर्थं (tīrtham) - to the pilgrimage site; महाबाहुः (mahābāhuḥ) - the mighty-armed one; यायातं (yāyātam) - departed; पृथिवीपते (pṛthivīpate) - O lord of the earth;]
(Gems and very precious wealth, grains and abundant, went to the pilgrimage site, the mighty-armed one departed, O lord of the earth.)
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॥
yatra yajñe yayātestu mahārāja sarasvatī। sarpiḥ payaśca susrāva nāhuṣasya mahātmanaḥ ॥9-40-30॥
[यत्र (yatra) - where; यज्ञे (yajñe) - in the sacrifice; ययातेः (yayāteḥ) - of Yayati; तु (tu) - indeed; महाराज (mahārāja) - O great king; सरस्वती (sarasvatī) - Sarasvati; सर्पिः (sarpiḥ) - ghee; पयः (payaḥ) - milk; च (ca) - and; सुस्राव (susrāva) - flowed; नाहुषस्य (nāhuṣasya) - of Nahusha; महात्मनः (mahātmanaḥ) - of the great soul;]
(Where, in the sacrifice of Yayati, indeed, O great king, Sarasvati, ghee and milk flowed for Nahusha, the great soul.)
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॥
tatreṣṭvā puruṣavyāghro yayātiḥ pṛthivīpatiḥ। ākrāmadūrdhvaṃ mudito lebhe lokāṃśca puṣkalān ॥9-40-31॥
[तत्र (tatra) - there; इष्ट्वा (iṣṭvā) - having sacrificed; पुरुषव्याघ्रः (puruṣavyāghraḥ) - tiger among men; ययातिः (yayātiḥ) - Yayati; पृथिवीपतिः (pṛthivīpatiḥ) - lord of the earth; आक्रामत् (ākrāmat) - ascended; ऊर्ध्वम् (ūrdhvam) - upwards; मुदितः (muditah) - joyfully; लेभे (lebhe) - obtained; लोकान् (lokān) - worlds; च (ca) - and; पुष्कलान् (puṣkalān) - abundant;]
(There, having sacrificed, the tiger among men, Yayati, the lord of the earth, ascended upwards joyfully and obtained abundant worlds.)
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॥
yayāteryajamānasya yatra rājansarasvatī। prasṛtā pradadau kāmānbrāhmaṇānāṃ mahātmanām ॥9-40-32॥
[ययातेः (yayāteḥ) - of Yayati; यजमानस्य (yajamānasya) - of the performer of sacrifice; यत्र (yatra) - where; राजन् (rājan) - O king; सरस्वती (sarasvatī) - Sarasvati; प्रसृता (prasṛtā) - flowed; प्रददौ (pradadau) - granted; कामान् (kāmān) - desires; ब्राह्मणानाम् (brāhmaṇānām) - of the Brahmins; महात्मनाम् (mahātmanām) - of the great souls;]
(Where Sarasvati flowed for Yayati, the performer of sacrifice, O king, granting desires to the Brahmins of great souls.)
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॥
yatra yatra hi yo vipro yānyānkāmānabhīpsati। tatra tatra saricchreṣṭhā sasarja subahūnrasān ॥9-40-33॥
[यत्र (yatra) - where; यत्र (yatra) - where; हि (hi) - indeed; यः (yaḥ) - who; विप्रः (vipraḥ) - brahmin; यान्यान् (yānyān) - whatever; कामान् (kāmān) - desires; अभीप्सति (abhīpsati) - wishes; तत्र (tatra) - there; तत्र (tatra) - there; सरिच्छ्रेष्ठा (saricchreṣṭhā) - best of rivers; ससर्ज (sasarja) - created; सुबहून् (subahūn) - many; रसान् (rasān) - essences;]
(Wherever indeed the brahmin wishes for whatever desires, there the best of rivers created many essences.)
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॥
tatra devāḥ sagandharvāḥ prītā yajñasya sampadā। vismitā mānuṣāścāsandṛṣṭvā tāṃ yajñasampadam ॥9-40-34॥
[तत्र (tatra) - there; देवाः (devāḥ) - gods; सगन्धर्वाः (sagandharvāḥ) - with Gandharvas; प्रीताः (prītāḥ) - pleased; यज्ञस्य (yajñasya) - of the sacrifice; सम्पदा (sampadā) - by the wealth; विस्मिताः (vismitāḥ) - astonished; मानुषाः (mānuṣāḥ) - humans; च (ca) - and; आसन् (āsan) - were; दृष्ट्वा (dṛṣṭvā) - seeing; ताम् (tām) - that; यज्ञसम्पदम् (yajñasampadam) - sacrificial wealth;]
(There, the gods along with the Gandharvas were pleased by the wealth of the sacrifice. The humans were astonished, seeing that sacrificial wealth.)
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॥
tatastālaketurmahādharmaśetu; rmahātmā kṛtātmā mahādānanityaḥ। vasiṣṭhāpavāhaṃ mahābhīmavegaṃ; dhṛtātmā jitātmā samabhyājagāma ॥9-40-35॥
[ततः (tataḥ) - then; तालकेतुः (tālaketuḥ) - Tālaketu; महाधर्मसेतुः (mahādharmaśetuḥ) - great bridge of dharma; महात्मा (mahātmā) - great soul; कृतात्मा (kṛtātmā) - self-realized; महादाननित्यः (mahādānanityaḥ) - always generous; वसिष्ठापवाहम् (vasiṣṭhāpavāham) - Vasiṣṭha's vehicle; महाभीमवेगम् (mahābhīmavegam) - of great and terrible speed; धृतात्मा (dhṛtātmā) - steadfast; जितात्मा (jitātmā) - self-controlled; समभ्याजगाम (samabhyājagāma) - approached;]
(Then Tālaketu, the great bridge of dharma, the great soul, self-realized, always generous, approached Vasiṣṭha's vehicle of great and terrible speed, steadfast and self-controlled.)
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.
