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.
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said:
sā śaptā tena kruddhena viśvāmitreṇa dhīmatā। tasmiṃstīrthavare śubhre śoṇitaṃ samupāvahat ॥9-42-1॥
She was cursed by the wise and angry Viśvāmitra, and in that pure sacred place, she brought forth blood.
athājagmustato rājanrākṣasāstatra bhārata। tatra te śoṇitaṃ sarve pibantaḥ sukhamāsate ॥9-42-2॥
Then, O King, the demons arrived there, O descendant of Bharata. There, they all sat happily, drinking blood.
tṛptāśca subhṛśaṃ tena sukhitā vigatajvarāḥ। nṛtyantaśca hasantaśca yathā svargajitastathā ॥9-42-3॥
They were satisfied and very happy because of him, free from distress, dancing and laughing, just like the conqueror of heaven.
kasyacit tvatha kālasya ṛṣayaḥ satapodhanāḥ। tīrthayātrāṃ samājagmuḥ sarasvatyāṃ mahīpate ॥9-42-4॥
At a certain time, the sages, who were rich in penance, embarked on a pilgrimage to the Sarasvati, O King.
teṣu sarveṣu tīrtheṣu āplutya munipuṅgavāḥ। prāpya prītiṃ parāṃ cāpi tapolubdhā viśāradāḥ ॥ prayayurhi tato rājanyena tīrthaṃ hi tattathā ॥9-42-5॥
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.
athāgamya mahābhāgāstattīrthaṃ dāruṇaṃ tadā। dṛṣṭvā toyaṃ sarasvatyāḥ śoṇitena pariplutam ॥ pīyamānaṃ ca rakṣobhirbahubhirnṛpasattama ॥9-42-6॥
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.
tāndṛṣṭvā rākṣasānrājanmunayaḥ saṃśitavratāḥ। paritrāṇe sarasvatyāḥ paraṃ yatnaṃ pracakrire ॥9-42-7॥
Upon seeing the demons, O king, the sages, who were steadfast in their vows, made a great effort to protect Sarasvati.
te tu sarve mahābhāgāḥ samāgamya mahāvratāḥ। āhūya saritāṃ śreṣṭhāmidaṃ vacanamabruvan ॥9-42-8॥
The illustrious ones, having gathered and being committed to great vows, summoned the best of rivers and said this.
kāraṇaṁ brūhi kalyāṇi kimarthaṁ te hrado hyayam। evamākulatāṁ yātaḥ śrutvā pāsyāmahe vayam ॥9-42-9॥
O auspicious one, please tell us the reason why your lake has become so distressed. Upon hearing, we shall drink from it.
tataḥ sā sarvam ācaṣṭa yathāvṛttaṃ pravepatī। duḥkhitām atha tāṃ dṛṣṭvā ta ūcur vai tapodhanāḥ ॥9-42-10॥
Then she, trembling, recounted everything as it happened. Seeing her sorrowful, the sages spoke to her.
kāraṇaṃ śrutamasmābhiḥ śāpaścaiva śruto'naghe। kariṣyanti tu yatprāptaṃ sarva eva tapodhanāḥ ॥9-42-11॥
We have heard the reason and the curse, O sinless one. However, all the sages will act according to what has been decreed.
evamuktvā saricchreṣṭhāmūcuste'tha parasparam। vimocayāmahe sarve śāpādetāṃ sarasvatīm ॥9-42-12॥
After speaking thus to the best of rivers, they conversed among themselves and decided to free Sarasvati from the curse.
teṣāṃ tu vacanādeva prakṛtisthā sarasvatī। prasannasalilā jajñe yathā pūrvaṃ tathaiva hi ॥ vimuktā ca saricchreṣṭhā vibabhau sā yathā purā ॥9-42-13॥
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.
dṛṣṭvā toyaṃ sarasvatyā munibhistaiḥ tathā kṛtam। kṛtāñjalīs tato rājan rākṣasāḥ kṣudhaya arditāḥ ॥ ūcus tān vai munīn sarvān kṛpāyuktān punaḥ punaḥ ॥9-42-14॥
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."
vayaṁ hi kṣudhitāścaiva dharmāddhīnāśca śāśvatāt। na ca naḥ kāmakāro'yaṁ yadvayaṁ pāpakāriṇaḥ ॥9-42-15॥
We are indeed hungry and deprived of eternal righteousness. It is not our free will that makes us sinners.
yuṣmākaṃ cāprasādena duṣkṛtena ca karmaṇā। pakṣo'yaṃ vardhate'smākaṃ yataḥ sma brahmarākṣasāḥ ॥9-42-16॥
Due to your displeasure and evil actions, our side is growing stronger because of the Brahma-Rakshasas.
evaṃ hi vaiśyaśūdrāṇāṃ kṣatriyāṇāṃ tathaiva ca। ye brāhmaṇānpradviṣanti te bhavantīha rākṣasāḥ ॥9-42-17॥
Thus, those among the Vaishyas, Shudras, and Kshatriyas who hate the Brahmins, indeed become demons here.
ācāryamṛtvijaṃ caiva guruṃ vṛddhajanaṃ tathā। prāṇino ye'vamanyante te bhavantīha rākṣasāḥ ॥ yoṣitāṃ caiva pāpānāṃ yonidoṣeṇa vardhate ॥9-42-18॥
Those who disrespect teachers, priests, elders, and the elderly are considered demons here. Sinful women grow due to defects in their birth.
tatkurudhvamihāsmākaṃ kāruṇyaṃ dvijasattamāḥ। śaktā bhavantaḥ sarveṣāṃ lokānāmapi tāraṇe ॥9-42-19॥
"O best of the twice-born, please show compassion here for us, as you are capable of saving all the worlds."
teṣāṃ te munayaḥ śrutvā tuṣṭuvustāṃ mahānadīm। mokṣārthaṃ rakṣasāṃ teṣāmūcuḥ prayatamānasāḥ ॥
The sages, upon hearing, praised the great river for the liberation of the demons, speaking with focused minds.
kṣutakīṭāvapannaṃ ca yaccocchiṣṭāśitaṃ bhavet। keśāvapannamādhūtamārugṇamapi yadbhavet ॥ śvabhiḥ saṃspṛṣṭamannaṃ ca bhāgo'sau rakṣasāmiha ॥9-42-21॥
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.
tasmājjñātvā sadā vidvānetānyannāni varjayet। rākṣasānnamasau bhuṅkte yo bhuṅkte hyannamīdṛśam ॥9-42-22॥
Therefore, the wise should always avoid these foods, as consuming them is akin to eating demonic food.
śodhayitvā tatastīrthamṛṣayaste tapodhanāḥ। mokṣārthaṃ rākṣasānāṃ ca nadīṃ tāṃ pratyacodayan ॥9-42-23॥
After purifying the sacred place, the sages, who were rich in penance, urged the river for the liberation of the demons.
maharṣīṇāṃ mataṃ jñātvā tataḥ sā saritāṃ varā। aruṇāmānayāmāsa svāṃ tanuṃ puruṣarṣabha ॥9-42-24॥
Understanding the opinion of the great sages, the best of rivers, she brought her own form, O best of men, Aruna.
tasyāṃ te rākṣasāḥ snātvā tanūstyaktvā divaṃ gatāḥ। aruṇāyāṃ mahārāja brahmahatyāpahā hi sā ॥9-42-25॥
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.
etamarthamabhijñāya devarājaḥ śatakratuḥ। tasmiṃstīrthavare snātvā vimuktaḥ pāpmanā kila ॥9-42-26॥
Understanding this purpose, Indra, the king of gods, bathed in the sacred place and was freed from sin.
janamejaya uvāca॥
Janamejaya said:
kimarthaṁ bhagavāñśakro brahmahatyāmavāptavān। kathamasmiṁśca tīrthe vai āplutyākalmaṣo'bhavat ॥9-42-27॥
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?
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaishampayana said:
śṛṇuṣvaitadupākhyānaṃ yathāvṛttaṃ janeśvaraḥ। yathā bibheda samayaṃ namucervāsavaḥ purā ॥9-42-28॥
"Listen to this story, O lord of people, as it happened in ancient times when Indra broke the agreement with Namuci."
namucirvāsavādbhītaḥ sūryaraśmiṃ samāviśat। tenendraḥ sakhyamakarotsamayaṃ cedamabravīt ॥9-42-29॥
Namuchi, fearing Indra, sought refuge in the sun's rays. Indra, in turn, formed a pact of friendship and declared this agreement.
nārdreṇa tvā na śuṣkeṇa na rātrau nāpi vāhani। vadhiṣyāmyasureṣṭha sakhe satyena te śape ॥9-42-30॥
"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."
evaṃ sa kṛtvā samayaṃ sṛṣṭvā nīhāramīśvaraḥ। cicchedāsya śiro rājannapāṃ phenena vāsavaḥ ॥9-42-31॥
Thus, Indra, the lord, having created time and mist, cut off his head with the foam of the waters, O king.
tacchiro namuceśchinnaṃ pṛṣṭhataḥ śakramanvayāt। he mitrahanpāpa iti bruvāṇaṃ śakramantikāt ॥9-42-32॥
The severed head of Namuci followed Indra from behind, accusing him by saying 'O destroyer of friends, sinful' near Indra.
evaṃ sa śirasā tena codyamānaḥ punaḥ punaḥ। pitāmahāya santapta evamarthaṃ nyavedayat ॥9-42-33॥
Thus, repeatedly urged by him, he bowed his head and conveyed the matter to the grandfather, feeling distressed.
tamabravīllokagururaruṇāyāṃ yathāvidhi। iṣṭvopaspṛśa devendra brahmahatyāpahā hi sā ॥9-42-34॥
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.
ityuktaḥ sa sarasvatyāḥ kuñje vai janamejaya। iṣṭvā yathāvadbalabhidaruṇāyāmupāspṛśat ॥9-42-35॥
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.
sa muktaḥ pāpmanā tena brahmahatyākṛtena ha। jagāma saṃhṛṣṭamanāstridivaṃ tridaśeśvaraḥ ॥9-42-36॥
Freed from the sin of killing a Brahmin, he, the lord of the thirty gods, joyfully ascended to heaven.
śirastaccāpi namucestatraivāplutya bhārata। lokānkāmadughānprāptamakṣayānrājasattama ॥9-42-37॥
The head of Namuci, after reaching that place, O Bharata, attained the eternal and wish-fulfilling worlds, O best of kings.
tatrāpyupaspṛśya balo mahātmā; dattvā ca dānāni pṛthagvidhāni| avāpya dharmaṃ paramāryakarmā; jagāma somasya mahats tīrtham ॥9-42-38॥
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.
yatrāyajad rājasūyena somaḥ; sākṣāt purā vidhivat pārthivendra। atrir dhīmān vipramukhyo babhūva; hotā yasmin kratumukhye mahātmā ॥9-42-39॥
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.
yasyānte'bhūtsumahāndānavānāṃ; daiteyānāṃ rākṣasānāṃ ca devaiḥ। sa saṅgrāmastārakākhyaḥ sutīvraḥ; yatra skandastārakākhyaṃ jaghāna ॥9-42-40॥
At the end of this great battle between the demons, Daityas, Rakshasas, and the gods, known as the fierce Taraka battle, Skanda killed Taraka.
senāpatyaṃ labdhavāndevatānāṃ; mahāseno yatra daityāntakartā. sākṣāccātra nyavasatkārttikeyaḥ; sadā kumāro yatra sa plakṣarājaḥ ॥9-42-41॥
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.
