13.050
च्यवनोपाख्यानम्
The story of Cyavana.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
दर्शने कीदृशः स्नेहः संवासे च पितामह। महाभाग्यं गवां चैव तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह ॥१३-५०-१॥
O grandsire, what kind of affection arises upon seeing and living together? Also, tell me, O grandsire, about the great fortune of cows. (13-50-1)
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhishma said.
हन्त ते कथयिष्यामि पुरावृत्तं महाद्युते। नहुषस्य च संवादं महर्षेश्च्यवनस्य च ॥१३-५०-२॥
Indeed, I will tell you the ancient story, O greatly radiant one—the conversation between Nahuṣa and the great sage Cyavana. (13-50-2)
पुरा महर्षिश्च्यवनो भार्गवो भरतर्षभ। उदवासकृतारम्भो बभूव सुमहाव्रतः ॥१३-५०-३॥
Long ago, O best of the Bharatas, the great sage Cyavana, a descendant of Bhṛgu, undertook a great vow and began his residence. (13-50-3)
निहत्य मानं क्रोधं च प्रहर्षं शोकमेव च। वर्षाणि द्वादश मुनिर्जलवासे धृतव्रतः ॥१३-५०-४॥
The sage, steadfast in his vow, having overcome pride, anger, excessive joy, and sorrow, lived in water for twelve years. (13-50-4)
आदधत्सर्वभूतेषु विस्रम्भं परमं शुभम्। जलेचरेषु सत्त्वेषु शीतरश्मिरिव प्रभुः ॥१३-५०-५॥
The lord, like the cool-rayed moon, instills supreme and auspicious confidence in all beings, especially among aquatic and living creatures. (13-50-5)
स्थाणुभूतः शुचिर्भूत्वा दैवतेभ्यः प्रणम्य च। गङ्गायमुनयोर्मध्ये जलं सम्प्रविवेश ह ॥१३-५०-६॥
Having stood motionless and purified himself, and after bowing to the deities, he entered the water between the Gaṅgā and Yamunā rivers. (13-50-6)
गङ्गायमुनयोर्वेगं सुभीमं भीमनिःस्वनम्। प्रतिजग्राह शिरसा वातवेगसमं जवे ॥१३-५०-७॥
He received upon his head the very terrible speed and roaring sound of the Gaṅgā and Yamunā, which was as swift as the wind. (13-50-7)
गङ्गा च यमुना चैव सरितश्चानुगास्तयोः। प्रदक्षिणमृषिं चक्रुर्न चैनं पर्यपीडयन् ॥१३-५०-८॥
Ganga, Yamuna, and indeed the rivers and their followers circumambulated the sage and did not crowd or oppress him. (13-50-8)
अन्तर्जले स सुष्वाप काष्ठभूतो महामुनिः। ततश्चोर्ध्वस्थितो धीमानभवद्भरतर्षभ ॥१३-५०-९॥
The great sage, having become like a piece of wood, slept in the water. Then, O best of the Bharatas, the wise one rose up and stood upright. (13-50-9)
जलौकसां स सत्त्वानां बभूव प्रियदर्शनः। उपाजिघ्रन्त च तदा मत्स्यास्तं हृष्टमानसाः ॥ तत्र तस्यासतः कालः समतीतोऽभवन्महान् ॥१३-५०-१०॥
He became pleasing to look at among the water-dwellers and other beings; then, the fishes, delighted, approached and sniffed him. There, as he stayed, a long time passed. (13-50-10)
ततः कदाचित्समये कस्मिंश्चिन्मत्स्यजीविनः। तं देशं समुपाजग्मुर्जालहस्ता महाद्युते ॥१३-५०-११॥
Then, once at a certain time, some fishermen, holding nets and of great splendor, came together to that region. (13-50-11)
निषादा बहवस्तत्र मत्स्योद्धरणनिश्चिताः। व्यायता बलिनः शूराः सलिलेष्वनिवर्तिनः ॥ अभ्याययुश्च तं देशं निश्चिता जालकर्मणि ॥१३-५०-१२॥
Many Nishadas, determined to lift fish, well-built, strong, and brave, who do not turn back in the waters, approached that region, resolved in the work of netting. (13-50-12)
जालं च योजयामासुर्विशेषेण जनाधिप। मत्स्योदकं समासाद्य तदा भरतसत्तम ॥१३-५०-१३॥
O best of the Bharatas, O ruler of people, they especially cast the net, having reached the water where the fish were, at that time. (13-50-13)
ततस्ते बहुभिर्योगैः कैवर्ता मत्स्यकाङ्क्षिणः। गङ्गायमुनयोर्वारि जालैरभ्यकिरंस्ततः ॥१३-५०-१४॥
Then the fishermen, eager for fish, used many methods and covered the waters of the Gaṅgā and Yamunā with their nets. (13-50-14)
जालं सुविततं तेषां नवसूत्रकृतं तथा। विस्तारायामसम्पन्नं यत्तत्र सलिले क्षमम् ॥१३-५०-१५॥
Their net, well-spread and made with new threads, likewise endowed with width and length, which was suitable there in the water. (13-50-15)
ततस्ते सुमहच्चैव बलवच्च सुवर्तितम्। प्रकीर्य सर्वतः सर्वे जालं चकृषिरे तदा ॥१३-५०-१६॥
Then, all of them spread out the very great, strong, and well-arranged net on all sides and drew it in. (13-50-16)
अभीतरूपाः संहृष्टास्तेऽन्योन्यवशवर्तिनः। बबन्धुस्तत्र मत्स्यांश्च तथान्याञ्जलचारिणः ॥१३-५०-१७॥
Those with fearful forms, delighted and acting under each other's control, there bound the fishes and other aquatic creatures. (13-50-17)
तथा मत्स्यैः परिवृतं च्यवनं भृगुनन्दनम्। आकर्षन्त महाराज जालेनाथ यदृच्छया ॥१३-५०-१८॥
Thus, O great king, the descendant of Bhṛgu, Cyavana, who was surrounded by fishes, was being dragged by chance with a net. (13-50-18)
नदीशैवलदिग्धाङ्गं हरिश्मश्रुजटाधरम्। लग्नैः शङ्खगणैर्गात्रैः कोष्ठैश्चित्रैरिवावृतम् ॥१३-५०-१९॥
His body was smeared with river algae, bearing a green-moss beard and matted hair, with groups of conch shells clinging to his limbs, as if covered with variegated cavities. (13-50-19)
तं जालेनोद्धृतं दृष्ट्वा ते तदा वेदपारगम्। सर्वे प्राञ्जलयो दाशाः शिरोभिः प्रापतन्भुवि ॥१३-५०-२०॥
Seeing him, the master of the Vedas, lifted up in the net, all the servants, with joined palms, fell to the ground with their heads. (13-50-20)
परिखेदपरित्रासाज्जालस्याकर्षणेन च। मत्स्या बभूवुर्व्यापन्नाः स्थलसङ्कर्षणेन च ॥१३-५०-२१॥
Due to distress and fear, as the net was drawn and dragged to the land, the fishes were destroyed. (13-50-21)
स मुनिस्तत्तदा दृष्ट्वा मत्स्यानां कदनं कृतम्। बभूव कृपयाविष्टो निःश्वसंश्च पुनः पुनः ॥१३-५०-२२॥
The sage, having then seen the slaughter of the fishes, became overcome with compassion, sighing again and again. (13-50-22)
निषादा ऊचुः॥
The Nishadas said.
अज्ञानाद्यत्कृतं पापं प्रसादं तत्र नः कुरु। करवाम प्रियं किं ते तन्नो ब्रूहि महामुने ॥१३-५०-२३॥
O great sage, whatever sin has been committed by us out of ignorance, please bestow your grace there. Tell us what is dear to you, so that we may do that. (13-50-23)
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhīṣma said.
इत्युक्तो मत्स्यमध्यस्थश्च्यवनो वाक्यमब्रवीत्। यो मेऽद्य परमः कामस्तं शृणुध्वं समाहिताः ॥१३-५०-२४॥
Thus addressed, Cyavana, who was in the midst of the fish, spoke these words: "Hear attentively my supreme desire of today." (13-50-24)
प्राणोत्सर्गं विक्रयं वा मत्स्यैर्यास्याम्यहं सह। संवासान्नोत्सहे त्यक्तुं सलिलाध्युषितानिमान् ॥१३-५०-२५॥
I am unable to abandon these who dwell in water, with whom I have lived together; I will go with the fishes, whether it be to death or to be sold. (13-50-25)
इत्युक्तास्ते निषादास्तु सुभृशं भयकम्पिताः। सर्वे विषण्णवदना नहुषाय न्यवेदयन् ॥१३-५०-२६॥
When these words were spoken, the Nishadas, greatly trembling with fear and all with dejected faces, reported everything to Nahusha. (13-50-26)
