09.041
Library: Sarasvati, Sage Vasishtha and Sage Vishwamitra
जनमेजय उवाच॥
Janamejaya said:
वसिष्ठस्यापवाहो वै भीमवेगः कथं नु सः। किमर्थं च सरिच्छ्रेष्ठा तमृषिं प्रत्यवाहयत् ॥९-४१-१॥
How did the removal of Vasiṣṭha, who was of terrible speed, occur? And why did the best of rivers bring that sage back?
केन चास्याभवद्वैरं कारणं किं च तत्प्रभो। शंस पृष्टो महाप्राज्ञ न हि तृप्यामि कथ्यताम् ॥९-४१-२॥
O wise one, please tell me by whom and why he became an enemy, and what was the reason, O lord. I am not satisfied with what has been told.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said:
विश्वामित्रस्य चैवर्षेर्वसिष्ठस्य च भारत। भृशं वैरमभूद्राजंस्तपःस्पर्धाकृतं महत् ॥९-४१-३॥
O Bhārata, there was intense enmity between Viśvāmitra and the sage Vasiṣṭha, O king, caused by their great competition in austerity.
आश्रमो वै वसिष्ठस्य स्थाणुतीर्थेऽभवन्महान्। पूर्वतः पश्चिमश्चासीद्विश्वामित्रस्य धीमतः ॥९-४१-४॥
There was a great hermitage of Vasiṣṭha at Sthāṇutīrtha. To the east and west was the wise Viśvāmitra's domain.
यत्र स्थाणुर्महाराज तप्तवान्सुमहत्तपः। यत्रास्य कर्म तद्घोरं प्रवदन्ति मनीषिणः ॥९-४१-५॥
O great king, it is the place where Sthanu performed great penance, and the wise speak of his terrible deed.
यत्रेष्ट्वा भगवान्स्थाणुः पूजयित्वा सरस्वतीम्। स्थापयामास तत्तीर्थं स्थाणुतीर्थमिति प्रभो ॥९-४१-६॥
In the place where the blessed lord Sthanu worshipped and honored Sarasvati, he established that sacred site as Sthanutirtha, O lord.
तत्र सर्वे सुराः स्कन्दमभ्यषिञ्चन्नराधिप। सेनापत्येन महता सुरारिविनिबर्हणम् ॥९-४१-७॥
There, all the gods anointed Skanda as the great commander to destroy the enemies of the gods, O king.
तस्मिन्सरस्वतीतीर्थे विश्वामित्रो महामुनिः। वसिष्ठं चालयामास तपसोग्रेण तच्छृणु ॥९-४१-८॥
In the holy place of Sarasvati, the great sage Vishvamitra disturbed Vasishtha with his intense penance; listen to this story.
विश्वामित्रवसिष्ठौ तावहन्यहनि भारत। स्पर्धां तपःकृतां तीव्रां चक्रतुस्तौ तपोधनौ ॥९-४१-९॥
Viśvāmitra and Vasiṣṭha, those two sages, engaged in intense competition of austerity day by day, O Bhārata.
तत्राप्यधिकसन्तापो विश्वामित्रो महामुनिः। दृष्ट्वा तेजो वसिष्ठस्य चिन्तामभिजगाम ह ॥ तस्य बुद्धिरियं ह्यासीद्धर्मनित्यस्य भारत ॥९-४१-१०॥
Upon witnessing the splendor of Vasiṣṭha, the great sage Viśvāmitra was filled with excessive sorrow. His thoughts were indeed focused on the ever-righteous, O Bhārata.
इयं सरस्वती तूर्णं मत्समीपं तपोधनम्। आनयिष्यति वेगेन वसिष्ठं जपतां वरम् ॥ इहागतं द्विजश्रेष्ठं हनिष्यामि न संशयः ॥९-४१-११॥
Saraswati will swiftly bring the sage Vasistha to me, the best among the chanters. Once he arrives here, I will certainly kill the best of the twice-born, without any doubt.
एवं निश्चित्य भगवान्विश्वामित्रो महामुनिः। सस्मार सरितां श्रेष्ठां क्रोधसंरक्तलोचनः ॥९-४१-१२॥
Having made up his mind, the revered sage Viśvāmitra, filled with anger, recalled the best of the rivers, his eyes turning red with rage.
सा ध्याता मुनिना तेन व्याकुलत्वं जगाम ह। जज्ञे चैनं महावीर्यं महाकोपं च भामिनी ॥९-४१-१३॥
The sage's meditation caused her to become agitated. The radiant lady was born with immense heroism and anger.
तत एनं वेपमाना विवर्णा प्राञ्जलिस्तदा। उपतस्थे मुनिवरं विश्वामित्रं सरस्वती ॥९-४१-१४॥
Then, trembling and pale, Sarasvatī, with folded hands, approached the great sage Viśvāmitra.
हतवीरा यथा नारी साभवद्दुःखिता भृशम्। ब्रूहि किं करवाणीति प्रोवाच मुनिसत्तमम् ॥९-४१-१५॥
The woman, having lost her heroes, was deeply saddened and asked the best of sages, "What should I do?"
तामुवाच मुनिः क्रुद्धो वसिष्ठं शीघ्रमानय। यावदेनं निहन्म्यद्य तच्छ्रुत्वा व्यथिता नदी ॥९-४१-१६॥
The angry sage instructed her to quickly bring Vasiṣṭha, threatening to kill him today. Hearing this, the river became distressed.
साञ्जलिं तु ततः कृत्वा पुण्डरीकनिभेक्षणा। विव्यथे सुविरूढेव लता वायुसमीरिता ॥९-४१-१७॥
With folded hands, she, whose eyes resembled lotuses, was agitated like a well-grown creeper stirred by the wind.
तथागतां तु तां दृष्ट्वा वेपमानां कृताञ्जलिम्। विश्वामित्रोऽब्रवीत्क्रुद्धो वसिष्ठं शीघ्रमानय ॥९-४१-१८॥
Upon seeing her arrive trembling with joined palms, Viśvāmitra, in anger, commanded to bring Vasiṣṭha quickly.
ततो भीता सरिच्छ्रेष्ठा चिन्तयामास भारत। उभयोः शापयोर्भीता कथमेतद्भविष्यति ॥९-४१-१९॥
Then, O Bharata, the best of rivers, being fearful of both curses, wondered how this situation would unfold.
साभिगम्य वसिष्ठं तु इममर्थमचोदयत्। यदुक्ता सरितां श्रेष्ठा विश्वामित्रेण धीमता ॥९-४१-२०॥
She approached Vasiṣṭha and conveyed the matter that was spoken by the wise Viśvāmitra, the best among rivers.
उभयोः शापयोर्भीता वेपमाना पुनः पुनः। चिन्तयित्वा महाशापमृषिवित्रासिता भृशम् ॥९-४१-२१॥
She, fearful of both curses and trembling repeatedly, thought deeply about the great curse and was greatly terrified by the sage.
तां कृशां च विवर्णां च दृष्ट्वा चिन्तासमन्विताम्। उवाच राजन्धर्मात्मा वसिष्ठो द्विपदां वरः ॥९-४१-२२॥
Upon seeing her thin and pale, and filled with anxiety, the righteous King Vasishtha, the best among bipeds, spoke.
त्राह्यात्मानं सरिच्छ्रेष्ठे वह मां शीघ्रगामिनी। विश्वामित्रः शपेद्धि त्वां मा कृथास्त्वं विचारणाम् ॥९-४१-२३॥
"Protect yourself, O best of rivers, and carry me swiftly. Viśvāmitra might curse you, so do not hesitate."
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा कृपाशीलस्य सा सरित्। चिन्तयामास कौरव्य किं कृतं सुकृतं भवेत् ॥९-४१-२४॥
Upon hearing his words, the compassionate river pondered, "O descendant of Kuru, what virtuous act could have been accomplished?"
तस्याश्चिन्ता समुत्पन्ना वसिष्ठो मय्यतीव हि। कृतवान्हि दयां नित्यं तस्य कार्यं हितं मया ॥९-४१-२५॥
Her worry arose because Vasiṣṭha had great compassion for me. Indeed, I always performed his beneficial work.
अथ कूले स्वके राजञ्जपन्तमृषिसत्तमम्। जुह्वानं कौशिकं प्रेक्ष्य सरस्वत्यभ्यचिन्तयत् ॥९-४१-२६॥
Then, on his own bank, O king, seeing the great sage Kaushika chanting and offering oblations, Saraswati contemplated.
इदमन्तरमित्येव ततः सा सरितां वरा। कूलापहारमकरोत्स्वेन वेगेन सा सरित् ॥९-४१-२७॥
At this interval, the best of rivers caused bank erosion with her own speed.
तेन कूलापहारेण मैत्रावरुणिरौह्यत। उह्यमानश्च तुष्टाव तदा राजन्सरस्वतीम् ॥९-४१-२८॥
By the removal of the riverbank, Maitrāvaruṇi was swept away. As he was being carried, he praised the goddess Sarasvati, O king.
पितामहस्य सरसः प्रवृत्तासि सरस्वति। व्याप्तं चेदं जगत्सर्वं तवैवाम्भोभिरुत्तमैः ॥९-४१-२९॥
O Sarasvati, you have emerged from the lake of the grandsire. Your excellent waters have indeed pervaded the entire world.
त्वमेवाकाशगा देवि मेघेषूत्सृजसे पयः। सर्वाश्चापस्त्वमेवेति त्वत्तो वयमधीमहे ॥९-४१-३०॥
O goddess, you are the one who releases water in the clouds, and all waters come from you. This is what we understand.
पुष्टिर्द्युतिस्तथा कीर्तिः सिद्धिर्वृद्धिरुमा तथा। त्वमेव वाणी स्वाहा त्वं त्वय्यायत्तमिदं जगत् ॥ त्वमेव सर्वभूतेषु वससीह चतुर्विधा ॥९-४१-३१॥
You embody nourishment, splendor, fame, success, growth, and Uma. You are indeed the speech and Svaha. The world depends on you. You dwell in all beings here in fourfold ways.
एवं सरस्वती राजन्स्तूयमाना महर्षिणा। वेगेनोवाह तं विप्रं विश्वामित्राश्रमं प्रति ॥ न्यवेदयत चाभीक्ष्णं विश्वामित्राय तं मुनिम् ॥९-४१-३२॥
Thus, O king, the river Sarasvati, praised by the great sage, swiftly carried the sage towards Viśvāmitra's hermitage and repeatedly presented him to Viśvāmitra.
तमानीतं सरस्वत्या दृष्ट्वा कोपसमन्वितः। अथान्वेषत्प्रहरणं वसिष्ठान्तकरं तदा ॥९-४१-३३॥
Upon seeing what was brought by Sarasvati, he was filled with anger and then sought the weapon that would destroy Vasistha.
तं तु क्रुद्धमभिप्रेक्ष्य ब्रह्महत्याभयान्नदी। अपोवाह वसिष्ठं तु प्राचीं दिशमतन्द्रिता ॥ उभयोः कुर्वती वाक्यं वञ्चयित्वा तु गाधिजम् ॥९-४१-३४॥
The river, fearing the sin of killing a Brahmin, carried the angry Vasiṣṭha eastward effortlessly, while deceiving the son of Gādhi by fulfilling the words of both.
ततोऽपवाहितं दृष्ट्वा वसिष्ठमृषिसत्तमम्। अब्रवीदथ सङ्क्रुद्धो विश्वामित्रो ह्यमर्षणः ॥९-४१-३५॥
Then, seeing the revered sage Vasiṣṭha removed, the intolerant Viśvāmitra spoke in anger.
यस्मान्मा त्वं सरिच्छ्रेष्ठे वञ्चयित्वा पुनर्गता। शोणितं वह कल्याणि रक्षोग्रामणिसंमतम् ॥९-४१-३६॥
"Because you, O best of rivers, have deceived and returned, carry the blood, O auspicious one, as approved by the chief of the demons."
ततः सरस्वती शप्ता विश्वामित्रेण धीमता। अवहच्छोणितोन्मिश्रं तोयं संवत्सरं तदा ॥९-४१-३७॥
Then, the wise Vishvamitra cursed Sarasvati, and she carried away the water mixed with blood for a year.
अथर्षयश्च देवाश्च गन्धर्वाप्सरसस्तथा। सरस्वतीं तथा दृष्ट्वा बभूवुर्भृशदुःखिताः ॥९-४१-३८॥
Then the sages, gods, celestial musicians, and nymphs saw Sarasvati and were deeply saddened.
एवं वसिष्ठापवाहो लोके ख्यातो जनाधिप। आगच्छच्च पुनर्मार्गं स्वमेव सरितां वरा ॥९-४१-३९॥
Thus, O ruler of people, the stream of Vasishtha, renowned in the world, returned to its original course, truly the best among rivers.
