09.042
Library: Significance of Aruna and how river Sarasvati was freed from Vishwamitra's curse. Storey of Namuchi and how Indra overcame the sin of killing a Brahmin.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said:
सा शप्ता तेन क्रुद्धेन विश्वामित्रेण धीमता। तस्मिंस्तीर्थवरे शुभ्रे शोणितं समुपावहत् ॥९-४२-१॥
She was cursed by the wise and angry Viśvāmitra, and in that pure sacred place, she brought forth blood.
अथाजग्मुस्ततो राजन्राक्षसास्तत्र भारत। तत्र ते शोणितं सर्वे पिबन्तः सुखमासते ॥९-४२-२॥
Then, O King, the demons arrived there, O descendant of Bharata. There, they all sat happily, drinking blood.
तृप्ताश्च सुभृशं तेन सुखिता विगतज्वराः। नृत्यन्तश्च हसन्तश्च यथा स्वर्गजितस्तथा ॥९-४२-३॥
They were satisfied and very happy because of him, free from distress, dancing and laughing, just like the conqueror of heaven.
कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य ऋषयः सतपोधनाः। तीर्थयात्रां समाजग्मुः सरस्वत्यां महीपते ॥९-४२-४॥
At a certain time, the sages, who were rich in penance, embarked on a pilgrimage to the Sarasvati, O King.
तेषु सर्वेषु तीर्थेषु आप्लुत्य मुनिपुङ्गवाः। प्राप्य प्रीतिं परां चापि तपोलुब्धा विशारदाः ॥ प्रययुर्हि ततो राजन्येन तीर्थं हि तत्तथा ॥९-४२-५॥
The great sages, having bathed in all those holy places and having attained supreme satisfaction, being desirous of penance and wise, then departed with the king to that holy place.
अथागम्य महाभागास्तत्तीर्थं दारुणं तदा। दृष्ट्वा तोयं सरस्वत्याः शोणितेन परिप्लुतम् ॥ पीयमानं च रक्षोभिर्बहुभिर्नृपसत्तम ॥९-४२-६॥
Then, the great souls arrived at that terrible holy place and saw the waters of the Sarasvati river, which were flooded with blood and being drunk by many demons, O best of kings.
तान्दृष्ट्वा राक्षसान्राजन्मुनयः संशितव्रताः। परित्राणे सरस्वत्याः परं यत्नं प्रचक्रिरे ॥९-४२-७॥
Upon seeing the demons, O king, the sages, who were steadfast in their vows, made a great effort to protect Sarasvati.
ते तु सर्वे महाभागाः समागम्य महाव्रताः। आहूय सरितां श्रेष्ठामिदं वचनमब्रुवन् ॥९-४२-८॥
The illustrious ones, having gathered and being committed to great vows, summoned the best of rivers and said this.
कारणं ब्रूहि कल्याणि किमर्थं ते ह्रदो ह्ययम्। एवमाकुलतां यातः श्रुत्वा पास्यामहे वयम् ॥९-४२-९॥
O auspicious one, please tell us the reason why your lake has become so distressed. Upon hearing, we shall drink from it.
ततः सा सर्वमाचष्ट यथावृत्तं प्रवेपती। दुःखितामथ तां दृष्ट्वा त ऊचुर्वै तपोधनाः ॥९-४२-१०॥
Then she, trembling, recounted everything as it happened. Seeing her sorrowful, the sages spoke to her.
कारणं श्रुतमस्माभिः शापश्चैव श्रुतोऽनघे। करिष्यन्ति तु यत्प्राप्तं सर्व एव तपोधनाः ॥९-४२-११॥
We have heard the reason and the curse, O sinless one. However, all the sages will act according to what has been decreed.
एवमुक्त्वा सरिच्छ्रेष्ठामूचुस्तेऽथ परस्परम्। विमोचयामहे सर्वे शापादेतां सरस्वतीम् ॥९-४२-१२॥
After speaking thus to the best of rivers, they conversed among themselves and decided to free Sarasvati from the curse.
तेषां तु वचनादेव प्रकृतिस्था सरस्वती। प्रसन्नसलिला जज्ञे यथा पूर्वं तथैव हि ॥ विमुक्ता च सरिच्छ्रेष्ठा विबभौ सा यथा पुरा ॥९-४२-१३॥
Upon hearing their words, Sarasvati returned to her original state with clear waters, appearing just as she did in the past. Liberated, the best of rivers shone as she once did.
दृष्ट्वा तोयं सरस्वत्या मुनिभिस्तैस्तथा कृतम्। कृताञ्जलीस्ततो राजन्राक्षसाः क्षुधयार्दिताः ॥ ऊचुस्तान्वै मुनीन्सर्वान्कृपायुक्तान्पुनः पुनः ॥९-४२-१४॥
Upon seeing the water of the Sarasvati, which was thus prepared by the sages, the demons, afflicted by hunger, approached the sages with folded hands and repeatedly pleaded with them, "O compassionate ones."
वयं हि क्षुधिताश्चैव धर्माद्धीनाश्च शाश्वतात्। न च नः कामकारोऽयं यद्वयं पापकारिणः ॥९-४२-१५॥
We are indeed hungry and deprived of eternal righteousness. It is not our free will that makes us sinners.
युष्माकं चाप्रसादेन दुष्कृतेन च कर्मणा। पक्षोऽयं वर्धतेऽस्माकं यतः स्म ब्रह्मराक्षसाः ॥९-४२-१६॥
Due to your displeasure and evil actions, our side is growing stronger because of the Brahma-Rakshasas.
एवं हि वैश्यशूद्राणां क्षत्रियाणां तथैव च। ये ब्राह्मणान्प्रद्विषन्ति ते भवन्तीह राक्षसाः ॥९-४२-१७॥
Thus, those among the Vaishyas, Shudras, and Kshatriyas who hate the Brahmins, indeed become demons here.
आचार्यमृत्विजं चैव गुरुं वृद्धजनं तथा। प्राणिनो येऽवमन्यन्ते ते भवन्तीह राक्षसाः ॥ योषितां चैव पापानां योनिदोषेण वर्धते ॥९-४२-१८॥
Those who disrespect teachers, priests, elders, and the elderly are considered demons here. Sinful women grow due to defects in their birth.
तत्कुरुध्वमिहास्माकं कारुण्यं द्विजसत्तमाः। शक्ता भवन्तः सर्वेषां लोकानामपि तारणे ॥९-४२-१९॥
"O best of the twice-born, please show compassion here for us, as you are capable of saving all the worlds."
तेषां ते मुनयः श्रुत्वा तुष्टुवुस्तां महानदीम्। मोक्षार्थं रक्षसां तेषामूचुः प्रयतमानसाः ॥
The sages, upon hearing, praised the great river for the liberation of the demons, speaking with focused minds.
क्षुतकीटावपन्नं च यच्चोच्छिष्टाशितं भवेत्। केशावपन्नमाधूतमारुग्णमपि यद्भवेत् ॥ श्वभिः संस्पृष्टमन्नं च भागोऽसौ रक्षसामिह ॥९-४२-२१॥
Food that is contaminated by insects, eaten as remnants, or touched by dogs, and food that is contaminated by hair, shaken, or unbroken, is considered the portion of demons here.
तस्माज्ज्ञात्वा सदा विद्वानेतान्यन्नानि वर्जयेत्। राक्षसान्नमसौ भुङ्क्ते यो भुङ्क्ते ह्यन्नमीदृशम् ॥९-४२-२२॥
Therefore, the wise should always avoid these foods, as consuming them is akin to eating demonic food.
शोधयित्वा ततस्तीर्थमृषयस्ते तपोधनाः। मोक्षार्थं राक्षसानां च नदीं तां प्रत्यचोदयन् ॥९-४२-२३॥
After purifying the sacred place, the sages, who were rich in penance, urged the river for the liberation of the demons.
महर्षीणां मतं ज्ञात्वा ततः सा सरितां वरा। अरुणामानयामास स्वां तनुं पुरुषर्षभ ॥९-४२-२४॥
Understanding the opinion of the great sages, the best of rivers, she brought her own form, O best of men, Aruna.
तस्यां ते राक्षसाः स्नात्वा तनूस्त्यक्त्वा दिवं गताः। अरुणायां महाराज ब्रह्महत्यापहा हि सा ॥९-४२-२५॥
In that sacred place, the demons, after bathing and leaving their mortal forms, ascended to heaven. In Aruṇā, O great king, that place is indeed known for removing the sin of killing a Brahmin.
एतमर्थमभिज्ञाय देवराजः शतक्रतुः। तस्मिंस्तीर्थवरे स्नात्वा विमुक्तः पाप्मना किल ॥९-४२-२६॥
Understanding this purpose, Indra, the king of gods, bathed in the sacred place and was freed from sin.
जनमेजय उवाच॥
Janamejaya said:
किमर्थं भगवाञ्शक्रो ब्रह्महत्यामवाप्तवान्। कथमस्मिंश्च तीर्थे वै आप्लुत्याकल्मषोऽभवत् ॥९-४२-२७॥
Why did the revered Indra incur the sin of killing a Brahma? How did he become free from sin by bathing in this sacred place?
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaishampayana said:
शृणुष्वैतदुपाख्यानं यथावृत्तं जनेश्वर। यथा बिभेद समयं नमुचेर्वासवः पुरा ॥९-४२-२८॥
"Listen to this story, O lord of people, as it happened in ancient times when Indra broke the agreement with Namuci."
नमुचिर्वासवाद्भीतः सूर्यरश्मिं समाविशत्। तेनेन्द्रः सख्यमकरोत्समयं चेदमब्रवीत् ॥९-४२-२९॥
Namuchi, fearing Indra, sought refuge in the sun's rays. Indra, in turn, formed a pact of friendship and declared this agreement.
नार्द्रेण त्वा न शुष्केण न रात्रौ नापि वाहनि। वधिष्याम्यसुरश्रेष्ठ सखे सत्येन ते शपे ॥९-४२-३०॥
"O best of demons, my friend, I swear to you by truth that I will not kill you with anything wet or dry, nor at night, nor on a vehicle."
एवं स कृत्वा समयं सृष्ट्वा नीहारमीश्वरः। चिच्छेदास्य शिरो राजन्नपां फेनेन वासवः ॥९-४२-३१॥
Thus, Indra, the lord, having created time and mist, cut off his head with the foam of the waters, O king.
तच्छिरो नमुचेश्छिन्नं पृष्ठतः शक्रमन्वयात्। हे मित्रहन्पाप इति ब्रुवाणं शक्रमन्तिकात् ॥९-४२-३२॥
The severed head of Namuci followed Indra from behind, accusing him by saying 'O destroyer of friends, sinful' near Indra.
एवं स शिरसा तेन चोद्यमानः पुनः पुनः। पितामहाय सन्तप्त एवमर्थं न्यवेदयत् ॥९-४२-३३॥
Thus, repeatedly urged by him, he bowed his head and conveyed the matter to the grandfather, feeling distressed.
तमब्रवील्लोकगुरुररुणायां यथाविधि। इष्ट्वोपस्पृश देवेन्द्र ब्रह्महत्यापहा हि सा ॥९-४२-३४॥
The teacher of the world instructed Indra to perform the ritual ablution at dawn, as prescribed, after worship, as it would cleanse him of the sin of killing a Brahmin.
इत्युक्तः स सरस्वत्याः कुञ्जे वै जनमेजय। इष्ट्वा यथावद्बलभिदरुणायामुपास्पृशत् ॥९-४२-३५॥
Janamejaya, having been addressed in this manner, performed the rituals properly in the grove of Sarasvati and touched the sacred waters in the Balabhid Aruna.
स मुक्तः पाप्मना तेन ब्रह्महत्याकृतेन ह। जगाम संहृष्टमनास्त्रिदिवं त्रिदशेश्वरः ॥९-४२-३६॥
Freed from the sin of killing a Brahmin, he, the lord of the thirty gods, joyfully ascended to heaven.
शिरस्तच्चापि नमुचेस्तत्रैवाप्लुत्य भारत। लोकान्कामदुघान्प्राप्तमक्षयान्राजसत्तम ॥९-४२-३७॥
The head of Namuci, after reaching that place, O Bharata, attained the eternal and wish-fulfilling worlds, O best of kings.
तत्राप्युपस्पृश्य बलो महात्मा; दत्त्वा च दानानि पृथग्विधानि। अवाप्य धर्मं परमार्यकर्मा; जगाम सोमस्य महत्स तीर्थम् ॥९-४२-३८॥
There, Bala, the great soul, after performing ablutions and giving various types of gifts, having attained supreme noble virtue, proceeded to the great pilgrimage site of Soma.
यत्रायजद्राजसूयेन सोमः; साक्षात्पुरा विधिवत्पार्थिवेन्द्र। अत्रिर्धीमान्विप्रमुख्यो बभूव; होता यस्मिन्क्रतुमुख्ये महात्मा ॥९-४२-३९॥
In the place where Soma directly performed the Rājasūya sacrifice properly as the king in ancient times, Atri, the wise and chief among sages, became the priest in the chief of sacrifices, the great soul.
यस्यान्तेऽभूत्सुमहान्दानवानां; दैतेयानां राक्षसानां च देवैः। स सङ्ग्रामस्तारकाख्यः सुतीव्रो; यत्र स्कन्दस्तारकाख्यं जघान ॥९-४२-४०॥
At the end of this great battle between the demons, Daityas, Rakshasas, and the gods, known as the fierce Taraka battle, Skanda killed Taraka.
सेनापत्यं लब्धवान्देवतानां; महासेनो यत्र दैत्यान्तकर्ता। साक्षाच्चात्र न्यवसत्कार्त्तिकेयः; सदा कुमारो यत्र स प्लक्षराजः ॥९-४२-४१॥
Mahasena, the commander-in-chief of the gods, known as Kartikeya, the destroyer of demons, resided here directly, where the fig tree king always stands.
