12.031
Library: Sage Narada narrates the story of King Sṛñjaya and his son, providing the context for the teachings given by Krishna.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said:
ततो राजा पाण्डुसुतो नारदं प्रत्यभाषत। भगवञ्श्रोतुमिच्छामि सुवर्णष्ठीविसम्भवम् ॥१२-३१-१॥
Then King Yudhiṣṭhira, the son of Pāṇḍu, addressed Nārada: "O revered one, I wish to hear about the origin of the golden anthill."
एवमुक्तः स च मुनिर्धर्मराजेन नारदः। आचचक्षे यथा वृत्तं सुवर्णष्ठीविनं प्रति ॥१२-३१-२॥
Thus addressed by Dharmarāja, the sage Nārada explained what had happened regarding the golden spittoon.
एवमेतन्महाराज यथायं केशवोऽब्रवीत्। कार्यस्यास्य तु यच्छेषं तत्ते वक्ष्यामि पृच्छतः ॥१२-३१-३॥
O great king, it is just as Keśava has spoken. But as you are asking, I shall tell you what remains to be done in this task.
अहं च पर्वतश्चैव स्वस्रीयो मे महामुनिः। वस्तुकामावभिगतौ सृञ्जयं जयतां वरम् ॥१२-३१-४॥
I and Parvata, my maternal cousin and the great sage, both desiring something, approached Sṛñjaya, the best among the victorious.
तत्र सम्पूजितौ तेन विधिदृष्टेन कर्मणा। सर्वकामैः सुविहितौ निवसावोऽस्य वेश्मनि ॥१२-३१-५॥
There, having been duly honored by him according to prescribed rites and with all desires fulfilled, let us reside in his house.
व्यतिक्रान्तासु वर्षासु समये गमनस्य च। पर्वतो मामुवाचेदं काले वचनमर्थवत् ॥१२-३१-६॥
When the years had passed and it was time to depart, the mountain spoke these meaningful words to me.
आवामस्य नरेन्द्रस्य गृहे परमपूजितौ। उषितौ समये ब्रह्मंश्चिन्त्यतामत्र साम्प्रतम् ॥१२-३१-७॥
We two have been greatly honored and have stayed in this king's house; O Brahman, let us now consider what should be done here at this time.
ततोऽहमब्रुवं राजन्पर्वतं शुभदर्शनम्। सर्वमेतत्त्वयि विभो भागिनेयोपपद्यते ॥१२-३१-८॥
Then I said, O king, "This auspicious-looking mountain and everything here is fitting for you, O mighty one, O son of a sister."
वरेण छन्द्यतां राजा लभतां यद्यदिच्छति। आवयोस्तपसा सिद्धिं प्राप्नोतु यदि मन्यसे ॥१२-३१-९॥
Let the king be gratified by a boon and obtain whatever he wishes. If you think fit, let him attain success by our austerity.
तत आहूय राजानं सृञ्जयं शुभदर्शनम्। पर्वतोऽनुमतं वाक्यमुवाच मुनिपुङ्गवः ॥१२-३१-१०॥
Then Parvata, the eminent sage, called King Sṛñjaya, who was of auspicious appearance, and spoke to Anumata.
प्रीतौ स्वो नृप सत्कारैस्तव ह्यार्जवसम्भृतैः। आवाभ्यामभ्यनुज्ञातो वरं नृवर चिन्तय ॥१२-३१-११॥
O best of kings, in affection, with honors of your own, indeed accompanied by sincerity, you have been permitted by both of us; consider a boon.
देवानामविहिंसायां यद्भवेन्मानुषक्षमम्। तद्गृहाण महाराज पूजार्हो नौ मतो भवान् ॥१२-३१-१२॥
O great king, whatever among the non-injurious offerings to the gods is suitable for a human, please accept that; you are considered by us as worthy of worship.
सृञ्जय उवाच॥
Sṛñjaya said:
प्रीतौ भवन्तौ यदि मे कृतमेतावता मम। एष एव परो लाभो निर्वृत्तो मे महाफलः ॥१२-३१-१३॥
If you both are affectionate to me, then by this alone my purpose is fulfilled; this indeed is the greatest gain and the highest fruit for me.
नारद उवाच॥
Nārada said:
तमेवंवादिनं भूयः पर्वतः प्रत्यभाषत। वृणीष्व राजन्सङ्कल्पो यस्ते हृदि चिरं स्थितः ॥१२-३१-१४॥
The mountain again spoke to him who had spoken thus: "O king, choose the wish that has long remained in your heart."
सृञ्जय उवाच॥
Sṛñjaya said:
अभीप्सामि सुतं वीरं वीर्यवन्तं दृढव्रतम्। आयुष्मन्तं महाभागं देवराजसमद्युतिम् ॥१२-३१-१५॥
I wish for a son who is heroic, strong, resolute in his vows, long-lived, greatly fortunate, and radiant like Indra, the king of the gods.
पर्वत उवाच॥
The mountain said:
भविष्यत्येष ते कामो न त्वायुष्मान्भविष्यति। देवराजाभिभूत्यर्थं सङ्कल्पो ह्येष ते हृदि ॥१२-३१-१६॥
Your desire will be fulfilled, but you will not live long. Indeed, this resolve to conquer Indra is in your heart.
सुवर्णष्ठीवनाच्चैव स्वर्णष्ठीवी भविष्यति। रक्ष्यश्च देवराजात्स देवराजसमद्युतिः ॥१२-३१-१७॥
From the spitting of gold, golden spittle will be produced. He, protected by the king of gods, will possess a brilliance equal to that of the king of gods.
नारद उवाच॥
Nārada said:
तच्छ्रुत्वा सृञ्जयो वाक्यं पर्वतस्य महात्मनः। प्रसादयामास तदा नैतदेवं भवेदिति ॥१२-३१-१८॥
Having heard this, Sṛñjaya, hearing the words of the great-souled Parvata, then sought to appease him, saying, "It should not be so."
आयुष्मान्मे भवेत्पुत्रो भवतस्तपसा मुने। न च तं पर्वतः किञ्चिदुवाचेन्द्रव्यपेक्षया ॥१२-३१-१९॥
O sage, may I have a long-lived son by your austerity; but the mountain, out of respect for Indra, did not say anything to him.
तमहं नृपतिं दीनमब्रुवं पुनरेव तु। स्मर्तव्योऽहं महाराज दर्शयिष्यामि ते स्मृतः ॥१२-३१-२०॥
I spoke again to the distressed king, saying, "O great king, I must be remembered; I will show myself to you when remembered."
अहं ते दयितं पुत्रं प्रेतराजवशं गतम्। पुनर्दास्यामि तद्रूपं मा शुचः पृथिवीपते ॥१२-३१-२१॥
O king of the earth, do not grieve. I will restore your beloved son, who has gone under the control of the king of the dead, to his former form again.
एवमुक्त्वा तु नृपतिं प्रयातौ स्वो यथेप्सितम्। सृञ्जयश्च यथाकामं प्रविवेश स्वमन्दिरम् ॥१२-३१-२२॥
After thus addressing the king, they departed as they wished to their respective places. Sṛñjaya also entered his own palace as he desired.
सृञ्जयस्याथ राजर्षेः कस्मिंश्चित्कालपर्यये। जज्ञे पुत्रो महावीर्यस्तेजसा प्रज्वलन्निव ॥१२-३१-२३॥
Then, at a certain time in the course of events, a son of great strength, shining with brilliance as if ablaze, was born to Sṛñjaya, the royal sage.
ववृधे स यथाकालं सरसीव महोत्पलम्। बभूव काञ्चनष्ठीवी यथार्थं नाम तस्य तत् ॥१२-३१-२४॥
He grew in due course like a great lotus in a lake. He became known as the 'golden lizard'; that was truly his name.
तदद्भुततमं लोके पप्रथे कुरुसत्तम। बुबुधे तच्च देवेन्द्रो वरदानं महात्मनोः ॥१२-३१-२५॥
O best of Kurus, that most wonderful event became famous in the world. Indra, the lord of the gods, also understood the boon granted to the great souls.
ततस्त्वभिभवाद्भीतो बृहस्पतिमते स्थितः। कुमारस्यान्तरप्रेक्षी बभूव बलवृत्रहा ॥१२-३१-२६॥
Then, being afraid of being overpowered, Indra, following Bṛhaspati's counsel, stood watching the prince intently, becoming inwardly observant.
चोदयामास वज्रं स दिव्यास्त्रं मूर्तिसंस्थितम्। व्याघ्रो भूत्वा जहीमं त्वं राजपुत्रमिति प्रभो ॥१२-३१-२७॥
He incited the Vajra, the divine weapon established in form. Then, having assumed the form of a tiger, you should slay this prince, O lord.
विवृद्धः किल वीर्येण मामेषोऽभिभविष्यति। सृञ्जयस्य सुतो वज्र यथैनं पर्वतो ददौ ॥१२-३१-२८॥
He has grown strong indeed and will overpower me. Vajra, the son of Sṛñjaya, was given to him just as the mountain bestowed him.
एवमुक्तस्तु शक्रेण वज्रः परपुरञ्जयः। कुमारस्यान्तरप्रेक्षी नित्यमेवान्वपद्यत ॥१२-३१-२९॥
Thus, when Śakra spoke, Vajra, the conqueror of enemy cities, who always observed the prince within, indeed followed.
सृञ्जयोऽपि सुतं प्राप्य देवराजसमद्युतिम्। हृष्टः सान्तःपुरो राजा वननित्योऽभवत्तदा ॥१२-३१-३०॥
Sṛñjaya, too, after obtaining a son as radiant as the king of the gods, joyfully, along with his household, became devoted to life in the forest at that time.
ततो भागीरथीतीरे कदाचिद्वननिर्झरे। धात्रीद्वितीयो बालः स क्रीडार्थं पर्यधावत ॥१२-३१-३१॥
Once, on the bank of the Bhagirathi, by a forest stream, the boy, accompanied by his nurse, ran about in play.
पञ्चवर्षकदेशीयो बालो नागेन्द्रविक्रमः। सहसोत्पतितं व्याघ्रमाससाद महाबलः ॥१२-३१-३२॥
The five-year-old boy, endowed with the courage of the king of serpents and great strength, suddenly confronted the leaping tiger.
तेन चैव विनिष्पिष्टो वेपमानो नृपात्मजः। व्यसुः पपात मेदिन्यां ततो धात्री विचुक्रुशे ॥१२-३१-३३॥
Crushed by him and trembling, the prince fell lifeless to the ground; then the nurse wailed.
हत्वा तु राजपुत्रं स तत्रैवान्तरधीयत। शार्दूलो देवराजस्य माययान्तर्हितस्तदा ॥१२-३१-३४॥
After killing the prince, he disappeared on the spot. The tiger, through the illusion of the king of the gods, vanished at that moment.
धात्र्यास्तु निनदं श्रुत्वा रुदत्याः परमार्तवत्। अभ्यधावत तं देशं स्वयमेव महीपतिः ॥१२-३१-३५॥
But when the king himself heard the nurse's loud cry, as she wept in utter distress, he immediately ran to that place.
स ददर्श गतासुं तं शयानं पीतशोणितम्। कुमारं विगतानन्दं निशाकरमिव च्युतम् ॥१२-३१-३६॥
He saw the prince lying lifeless, his blood drained, joy gone, like the fallen moon.
स तमुत्सङ्गमारोप्य परिपीडितवक्षसम्। पुत्रं रुधिरसंसिक्तं पर्यदेवयदातुरः ॥१२-३१-३७॥
He placed his son, who was sprinkled with blood, on his lap, his chest greatly afflicted, and, distressed, he lamented.
ततस्ता मातरस्तस्य रुदन्त्यः शोककर्शिताः। अभ्यधावन्त तं देशं यत्र राजा स सृञ्जयः ॥१२-३१-३८॥
Then those mothers of his, weeping and worn by grief, rushed to the place where King Sṛñjaya was.
ततः स राजा सस्मार मामन्तर्गतमानसः। तच्चाहं चिन्तितं ज्ञात्वा गतवांस्तस्य दर्शनम् ॥१२-३१-३९॥
Then the king, reflecting inwardly, remembered me. Knowing his thought, I went to meet him.
स मयैतानि वाक्यानि श्रावितः शोकलालसः। यानि ते यदुवीरेण कथितानि महीपते ॥१२-३१-४०॥
He, overwhelmed with grief, was made to hear these words by me—words that were spoken to you by the hero of the Yadus, O king.
सञ्जीवितश्चापि मया वासवानुमते तदा। भवितव्यं तथा तच्च न तच्छक्यमतोऽन्यथा ॥१२-३१-४१॥
He was revived by me at that time with Indra's consent; what must happen must happen thus, and it cannot be otherwise.
अत ऊर्ध्वं कुमारः स स्वर्णष्ठीवी महायशाः। चित्तं प्रसादयामास पितुर्मातुश्च वीर्यवान् ॥१२-३१-४२॥
After that, the powerful prince, the golden spittoon-bearer of great fame, pleased the minds of his father and mother.
कारयामास राज्यं स पितरि स्वर्गते विभुः। वर्षाणामेकशतवत्सहस्रं भीमविक्रमः ॥१२-३१-४३॥
When his father passed away, he, the mighty one of terrible prowess, ruled the kingdom for one hundred thousand years.
तत इष्ट्वा महायज्ञैर्बहुभिर्भूरिदक्षिणैः। तर्पयामास देवांश्च पितॄंश्चैव महाद्युतिः ॥१२-३१-४४॥
Then the greatly resplendent one, having performed great sacrifices with many abundant gifts, satisfied both the gods and the ancestors.
उत्पाद्य च बहून्पुत्रान्कुलसन्तानकारिणः। कालेन महता राजन्कालधर्ममुपेयिवान् ॥१२-३१-४५॥
O king, after producing many sons who continued the family line, in due course of great time, he met his destined end (death).
स त्वं राजेन्द्र सञ्जातं शोकमेतन्निवर्तय। यथा त्वां केशवः प्राह व्यासश्च सुमहातपाः ॥१२-३१-४६॥
O king, dispel this sorrow that has arisen, as Keśava and the greatly austere Vyāsa have instructed you.
पितृपैतामहं राज्यमास्थाय दुरमुद्वह। इष्ट्वा पुण्यैर्महायज्ञैरिष्टाँल्लोकानवाप्स्यसि ॥१२-३१-४७॥
O bearer of heavy burdens, after assuming the ancestral kingdom and performing great meritorious sacrifices, you will attain the desired worlds.
