13.003
विश्वामित्रोपाख्यानम्
The sub-narrative (story) of Viśvāmitra.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
ब्राह्मण्यं यदि दुष्प्रापं त्रिभिर्वर्णैर्नराधिप। कथं प्राप्तं महाराज क्षत्रियेण महात्मना ॥१३-३-१॥
O king, if the state of being a Brāhmaṇa is difficult to attain by the three castes, how was it attained by the great-souled Kṣatriya, O great king? (13-3-1)
विश्वामित्रेण धर्मात्मन्ब्राह्मणत्वं नरर्षभ। श्रोतुमिच्छामि तत्त्वेन तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह ॥१३-३-२॥
O grandsire, O righteous-souled one, O bull among men, I wish to hear truly about the brāhmaṇa-hood of Viśvāmitra; please tell me that. (13-3-2)
तेन ह्यमितवीर्येण वसिष्ठस्य महात्मनः। हतं पुत्रशतं सद्यस्तपसा प्रपितामह ॥१३-३-३॥
O great-grandfather, indeed, by that immeasurably powerful one, the hundred sons of the great-souled Vasiṣṭha were immediately killed by austerity. (13-3-3)
यातुधानाश्च बहवो राक्षसास्तिग्मतेजसः। मन्युनाविष्टदेहेन सृष्टाः कालान्तकोपमाः ॥१३-३-४॥
Many demons and rākṣasas of fierce brilliance, created with bodies possessed by anger, were like the destroyer at the end of time. (13-3-4)
महान्कुशिकवंशश्च ब्रह्मर्षिशतसङ्कुलः। स्थापितो नरलोकेऽस्मिन्विद्वान्ब्राह्मणसंस्तुतः ॥१३-३-५॥
The great Kuśika lineage, filled with hundreds of Brahmarṣis, was established in this world of men by a wise one, praised by Brāhmaṇas. (13-3-5)
ऋचीकस्यात्मजश्चैव शुनःशेपो महातपाः। विमोक्षितो महासत्रात्पशुतामभ्युपागतः ॥१३-३-६॥
Śunaḥśepa, the son of Ṛcīka and a great ascetic, who had been released from the state of being a sacrificial victim at the great sacrifice. (13-3-6)
हरिश्चन्द्रक्रतौ देवांस्तोषयित्वात्मतेजसा। पुत्रतामनुसम्प्राप्तो विश्वामित्रस्य धीमतः ॥१३-३-७॥
Having pleased the gods by his own splendor in the sacrifice of Hariścandra, he attained the status of son to the wise Viśvāmitra. (13-3-7)
नाभिवादयते ज्येष्ठं देवरातं नराधिप। पुत्राः पञ्चशताश्चापि शप्ताः श्वपचतां गताः ॥१३-३-८॥
O king, because he does not greet his elder Devarāta, his five hundred sons have also been cursed and have become dog-eaters. (13-3-8)
त्रिशङ्कुर्बन्धुसन्त्यक्त इक्ष्वाकुः प्रीतिपूर्वकम्। अवाक्षिरा दिवं नीतो दक्षिणामाश्रितो दिशम् ॥१३-३-९॥
Triśaṅku, a descendant of Ikṣvāku, abandoned by his relatives, was affectionately led with his head downwards to heaven, having resorted to the southern direction. (13-3-9)
विश्वामित्रस्य विपुला नदी राजर्षिसेविता। कौशिकीति शिवा पुण्या ब्रह्मर्षिगणसेविता ॥१३-३-१०॥
The broad river of Viśvāmitra, served by royal sages, is known as the holy and auspicious Kauśikī, attended by groups of Brahmarṣis. (13-3-10)
तपोविघ्नकरी चैव पञ्चचूडा सुसंमता। रम्भा नामाप्सराः शापाद्यस्य शैलत्वमागता ॥१३-३-११॥
Rambhā, the well-esteemed celestial nymph known as Pañcachūḍā, who was an obstacle to austerities, due to a curse, has become a mountain. (13-3-11)
तथैवास्य भयाद्बद्ध्वा वसिष्ठः सलिले पुरा। आत्मानं मज्जयामास विपाशः पुनरुत्थितः ॥१३-३-१२॥
Thus, out of fear of him, Vasiṣṭha once bound himself and immersed himself in the water; the river Vipāśā brought him up again. (13-3-12)
तदाप्रभृति पुण्या हि विपाशाभून्महानदी। विख्याता कर्मणा तेन वसिष्ठस्य महात्मनः ॥१३-३-१३॥
From that time, the Vipāśā became a holy and great river, renowned because of the deed of the great-souled Vasiṣṭha. (13-3-13)
वाग्भिश्च भगवान्येन देवसेनाग्रगः प्रभुः। स्तुतः प्रीतमनाश्चासीच्छापाच्चैनममोचयत् ॥१३-३-१४॥
The Lord, having been praised by words by the leader of the divine army, was pleased in mind and released him from the curse. (13-3-14)
ध्रुवस्यौत्तानपादस्य ब्रह्मर्षीणां तथैव च। मध्ये ज्वलति यो नित्यमुदीचीमाश्रितो दिशम् ॥१३-३-१५॥
Just as Dhruva, the son of Uttānapāda, and the Brahmarṣis, so too, in the midst, he who always shines, having resorted to the northern direction. (13-3-15)
तस्यैतानि च कर्माणि तथान्यानि च कौरव। क्षत्रियस्येत्यतो जातमिदं कौतूहलं मम ॥१३-३-१६॥
O Kaurava, these actions of his and other such actions of a kṣatriya—thus, therefore, this curiosity has arisen in me. (13-3-16)
किमेतदिति तत्त्वेन प्रब्रूहि भरतर्षभ। देहान्तरमनासाद्य कथं स ब्राह्मणोऽभवत् ॥१३-३-१७॥
O best of the Bharatas, explain in reality what this is. How did he become a Brāhmaṇa without attaining another body? (13-3-17)
एतत्तत्त्वेन मे राजन्सर्वमाख्यातुमर्हसि। मतङ्गस्य यथातत्त्वं तथैवैतद्ब्रवीहि मे ॥१३-३-१८॥
O king, you ought to tell me all this truthfully; just as is the reality regarding Mataṅga, so indeed tell me this. (13-3-18)
स्थाने मतङ्गो ब्राह्मण्यं नालभद्भरतर्षभ। चण्डालयोनौ जातो हि कथं ब्राह्मण्यमाप्नुयात् ॥१३-३-१९॥
O best of the Bharatas, Matanga did not attain Brahminhood in the proper way. Indeed, being born from a Caṇḍāla woman, how could he ever become a Brahmin? (13-3-19)
