09.046
Library: Significance of the holy place called Aujasa and the story of Agni, Varuna and Kubera. Then he proceeds to the holy place called Badarapachana.
जनमेजय उवाच॥
Janamejaya said:
अत्यद्भुतमिदं ब्रह्मञ्श्रुतवानस्मि तत्त्वतः। अभिषेकं कुमारस्य विस्तरेण यथाविधि ॥९-४६-१॥
"O Brahman, I have heard in detail about this very wonderful consecration of the prince, performed truly according to the rules."
यच्छ्रुत्वा पूतमात्मानं विजानामि तपोधन। प्रहृष्टानि च रोमाणि प्रसन्नं च मनो मम ॥९-४६-२॥
"O sage, upon hearing this, I realize my soul is purified; my body is thrilled and my mind is at peace."
अभिषेकं कुमारस्य दैत्यानां च वधं तथा। श्रुत्वा मे परमा प्रीतिर्भूयः कौतूहलं हि मे ॥९-४६-३॥
Having heard about the consecration of the prince and the slaughter of the demons, my joy was great, and my curiosity was indeed piqued again.
अपां पतिः कथं ह्यस्मिन्नभिषिक्तः सुरासुरैः। तन्मे ब्रूहि महाप्राज्ञ कुशलो ह्यसि सत्तम ॥९-४६-४॥
"O great wise one, please tell me how the lord of waters was consecrated by the gods and demons in this context, as you are indeed skilled and the best among men."
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaishampayana said:
शृणु राजन्निदं चित्रं पूर्वकल्पे यथातथम्। आदौ कृतयुगे तस्मिन्वर्तमाने यथाविधि ॥ वरुणं देवताः सर्वाः समेत्येदमथाब्रुवन् ॥९-४६-५॥
"Listen, O king, to this wonderful tale from the previous age, exactly as it happened. In the beginning of the Krita Yuga, when everything was as it should be, all the gods gathered and spoke to Varuna."
यथास्मान्सुरराट्शक्रो भयेभ्यः पाति सर्वदा। तथा त्वमपि सर्वासां सरितां वै पतिर्भव ॥९-४६-६॥
"Just as Indra, the king of gods, always protects us from fears, you too should become the lord of all rivers."
वासश्च ते सदा देव सागरे मकरालये। समुद्रोऽयं तव वशे भविष्यति नदीपतिः ॥९-४६-७॥
"O god, your eternal abode is in the ocean, the dwelling place of crocodiles. The ocean, lord of rivers, will be under your command."
सोमेन सार्धं च तव हानिवृद्धी भविष्यतः। एवमस्त्विति तान्देवान्वरुणो वाक्यमब्रवीत् ॥९-४६-८॥
Varuna addressed the gods, saying, "With Soma, your fortunes will fluctuate. So be it."
समागम्य ततः सर्वे वरुणं सागरालयम्। अपां पतिं प्रचक्रुर्हि विधिदृष्टेन कर्मणा ॥९-४६-९॥
Then, having gathered, they all appointed Varuna, the lord of the ocean, according to the prescribed rites.
अभिषिच्य ततो देवा वरुणं यादसां पतिम्। जग्मुः स्वान्येव स्थानानि पूजयित्वा जलेश्वरम् ॥९-४६-१०॥
After anointing Varuna as the lord of the aquatic beings, the gods returned to their respective abodes, paying homage to the lord of waters.
अभिषिक्तस्ततो देवैर्वरुणोऽपि महायशाः। सरितः सागरांश्चैव नदांश्चैव सरांसि च ॥ पालयामास विधिना यथा देवाञ्शतक्रतुः ॥९-४६-११॥
Then the greatly renowned Varuna, anointed by the gods, took charge of the rivers, oceans, streams, and lakes, governing them according to the divine law, just as Indra governs the gods.
ततस्तत्राप्युपस्पृश्य दत्त्वा च विविधं वसु। अग्नितीर्थं महाप्राज्ञः स जगाम प्रलम्बहा ॥९-४६-१२॥
Then, the great wise one, known as the destroyer of Pralamba, performed the ritual of touching the sacred waters there and offered various kinds of wealth to the sacred fire before proceeding on his journey.
नष्टो न दृश्यते यत्र शमीगर्भे हुताशनः ॥९-४६-१२॥
The fire, which is lost, is not seen where it is inside the Shami tree.
लोकालोकविनाशे च प्रादुर्भूते तदानघ। उपतस्थुर्महात्मानं सर्वलोकपितामहम् ॥९-४६-१३॥
At the time of the destruction of the known and unknown worlds, when it manifested, the great souls approached the grandfather of all worlds, O sinless one.
अग्निः प्रनष्टो भगवान्कारणं च न विद्महे। सर्वलोकक्षयो मा भूत्सम्पादयतु नोऽनलम् ॥९-४६-१४॥
The fire has been lost, O Lord, and we do not know the reason. Let there not be destruction of all worlds; may our fire be restored.
जनमेजय उवाच॥
Janamejaya said:
किमर्थं भगवानग्निः प्रनष्टो लोकभावनः। विज्ञातश्च कथं देवैस्तन्ममाचक्ष्व तत्त्वतः ॥९-४६-१५॥
"For what reason did Lord Agni, the protector of the world, disappear? And how was he known by the gods? Please tell me that truly."
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaishampayana said:
भृगोः शापाद्भृशं भीतो जातवेदाः प्रतापवान्। शमीगर्भमथासाद्य ननाश भगवांस्ततः ॥९-४६-१६॥
Because of Bhrigu's curse, the mighty Agni, in great fear, entered the Sami tree and then vanished from there.
प्रनष्टे तु तदा वह्नौ देवाः सर्वे सवासवाः। अन्वेषन्त तदा नष्टं ज्वलनं भृशदुःखिताः ॥९-४६-१७॥
When the fire was destroyed, all the gods, including Indra, were greatly distressed and searched for the lost fire.
ततोऽग्नितीर्थमासाद्य शमीगर्भस्थमेव हि। ददृशुर्ज्वलनं तत्र वसमानं यथाविधि ॥९-४६-१८॥
Then, upon reaching Agnitirtha, they saw the fire residing properly within the Sami tree.
देवाः सर्वे नरव्याघ्र बृहस्पतिपुरोगमाः। ज्वलनं तं समासाद्य प्रीताभूवन्सवासवाः ॥ पुनर्यथागतं जग्मुः सर्वभक्षश्च सोऽभवत् ॥९-४६-१९॥
All the gods, led by Bṛhaspati, approached the fire and were pleased with Indra. Then, they returned as they had come, and he became all-devouring.
भृगोः शापान्महीपाल यदुक्तं ब्रह्मवादिना। तत्राप्याप्लुत्य मतिमान्ब्रह्मयोनिं जगाम ह ॥९-४६-२०॥
O King, as per the curse of Bhrigu pronounced by the sage, the wise one, after bathing there, indeed went to the source of Brahma.
ससर्ज भगवान्यत्र सर्वलोकपितामहः। तत्राप्लुत्य ततो ब्रह्मा सह देवैः प्रभुः पुरा ॥ ससर्ज चान्नानि तथा देवतानां यथाविधि ॥९-४६-२१॥
In ancient times, the Lord, the great-grandfather of all worlds, created the universe. Then, Brahma, after immersing there, along with the gods, created food for the gods according to the rules.
तत्र स्नात्वा च दत्त्वा च वसूनि विविधानि च। कौबेरं प्रययौ तीर्थं तत्र तप्त्वा महत्तपः ॥ धनाधिपत्यं सम्प्राप्तो राजन्नैलबिलः प्रभुः ॥९-४६-२२॥
Ailabila, after bathing and offering various gifts, proceeded to Kubera's sacred place. There, through intense penance, he achieved mastery over wealth, O king.
तत्रस्थमेव तं राजन्धनानि निधयस्तथा। उपतस्थुर्नरश्रेष्ठ तत्तीर्थं लाङ्गली ततः ॥ गत्वा स्नात्वा च विधिवद्ब्राह्मणेभ्यो धनं ददौ ॥९-४६-२३॥
O king, having deposited the treasures there, the ploughman stood near the holy place. Then, having gone and bathed according to the rules, he gave wealth to the Brahmins.
ददृशे तत्र तत्स्थानं कौबेरे काननोत्तमे। पुरा यत्र तपस्तप्तं विपुलं सुमहात्मना ॥९-४६-२४॥
The place was seen there in Kubera's excellent forest, where in ancient times, great penance was performed by the noble soul.
यत्र राज्ञा कुबेरेण वरा लब्धाश्च पुष्कलाः। धनाधिपत्यं सख्यं च रुद्रेणामिततेजसा ॥९-४६-२५॥
In that place, King Kubera received abundant boons, gaining lordship over wealth and forming a friendship with the immensely powerful Rudra.
सुरत्वं लोकपालत्वं पुत्रं च नलकूबरम्। यत्र लेभे महाबाहो धनाधिपतिरञ्जसा ॥९-४६-२६॥
O mighty-armed one, the lord of wealth easily obtained divinity, guardianship of the world, and a son named Nalakubara there.
अभिषिक्तश्च तत्रैव समागम्य मरुद्गणैः। वाहनं चास्य तद्दत्तं हंसयुक्तं मनोरमम् ॥ विमानं पुष्पकं दिव्यं नैरृतैश्वर्यमेव च ॥९-४६-२७॥
Anointed there itself, he assembled with the Marut hosts. His vehicle, the pleasing Pushpaka aerial car equipped with swans, was given to him, along with the divine sovereignty of the Rakshasas.
तत्राप्लुत्य बलो राजन्दत्त्वा दायांश्च पुष्कलान्। जगाम त्वरितो रामस्तीर्थं श्वेतानुलेपनः ॥९-४६-२८॥
There, after bathing and giving abundant gifts, Balarama, anointed with white, quickly went to the pilgrimage site, O king.
निषेवितं सर्वसत्त्वैर्नाम्ना बदरपाचनम्। नानर्तुकवनोपेतं सदापुष्पफलं शुभम् ॥९-४६-२९॥
The place, known as Badarapachana, is enjoyed by all beings. It is endowed with forests that bloom and bear fruit in all seasons, making it an auspicious place.
