13.051
cyavananahuṣasaṁvādaḥ
The dialogue of Cyavana and Nahuṣa.
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhishma said.
nahuṣas tu tataḥ śrutvā cyavanaṃ taṃ tathāgatam। tvaritaḥ prayayau tatra sahāmātyapurohitaḥ ॥13-51-1॥
But Nahuṣa, having heard that Cyavana had thus arrived, quickly went there together with his ministers and priests. (13-51-1)
śaucaṃ kṛtvā yathānyāyaṃ prāñjaliḥ prayato nṛpaḥ। ātmānam ācacakṣe ca cyavanāya mahātmane॥13-51-2॥
Having purified himself properly, with joined palms and self-control, the king declared his purpose to the great-souled Cyavana. (13-51-2)
arcayāmāsa taṃ cāpi tasya rājñaḥ purohitaḥ. satyavrataṃ mahābhāgaṃ devakalpaṃ viśāṃ pate ॥13-51-3॥
The king's priest also worshipped Satyavrata, who was supremely fortunate and godlike, O lord of men. (13-51-3)
nahuṣa uvāca॥
Nahuṣa said.
karavāṇi priyaṃ kiṃ te tan me vyākhyātum arhasi। sarvaṃ kartāsmi bhagavan yady api syāt suduṣkaram ॥13-51-4॥
I will do whatever is dear to you. Therefore, you should explain that to me. O Lord, I am ready to do everything, even if it may be very difficult. (13-51-4)
cyavana uvāca॥
Cyavana said.
śrameṇa mahatā yuktāḥ kaivartā matsyajīvinaḥ। mama mūlyaṃ prayacchaibhyo matsyānāṃ vikrayaiḥ saha ॥13-51-5॥
The fishermen, engaged through great effort in their livelihood of fish, give my payment to these along with the proceeds from selling the fish. (13-51-5)
nahuṣa uvāca॥
Nahuṣa said.
sahasraṁ dīyatāṁ mūlyaṁ niṣādebhyaḥ purohita। niṣkrayārthaṁ bhagavato yathāha bhṛgunandanaḥ ॥13-51-6॥
O purohita, let a thousand (coins) be given as the price to the Niṣādas for the purchase of the Lord, as declared by the descendant of Bhṛgu. (13-51-6)
cyavana uvāca॥
Cyavana said.
sahasraṃ nāham arhāmi kiṃ vā tvaṃ manyase nṛpa। sadṛśaṃ dīyatāṃ mūlyaṃ svabuddhyā niścayaṃ kuru ॥13-51-7॥
I do not deserve a thousand; or what do you think, O king? Let a befitting price be given—decide with your own judgment. (13-51-7)
nahuṣa uvāca॥
Nahusha said.
sahasrāṇāṃ śataṃ kṣipraṃ niṣādebhyaḥ pradīyatām. syādetattu bhavenmūlyaṃ kiṃ vānyan manyate bhavān ॥13-51-8॥
Let a hundred out of thousands quickly be given to the Niṣādas. Let this be the price, or whatever else Your Honour thinks. (13-51-8)
cyavana uvāca॥
Cyavana said.
nāhaṃ śatasahasreṇa nimeyaḥ pārthivarṣabha। dīyatāṃ sadṛśaṃ mūlyam amātyaiḥ saha cintaya ॥13-51-9॥
O best of kings! I cannot be valued even at a hundred thousand. Let an appropriate price be decided—consider it together with your ministers. (13-51-9)
nahuṣa uvāca॥
Nahuṣa said.
koṭiḥ pradīyatāṃ mūlyaṃ niṣādebhyaḥ purohita। yad etad api na upamyam ato bhūyaḥ pradīyatām ॥13-51-10॥
O priest, let a crore be given as price to the Niṣādas. Since even this is not sufficient, let more be given. (13-51-10)
cyavana uvāca॥
Cyavana said;
rājan nārhāmy ahaṃ koṭiṃ bhūyo vāpi mahādyute। sadṛśaṃ dīyatāṃ mūlyaṃ brāhmaṇaiḥ saha cintaya ॥13-51-11॥
O king, I do not deserve a crore, or even more, O greatly resplendent one. Let a suitable price be given; consider (this) along with the Brahmins. (13-51-11)
nahuṣa uvāca॥
Nahuṣa said.
ardharājyaṃ samagraṃ vā niṣādebhyah pradiīyatām। etanmūlyam ahaṃ manye kiṃ vā anyan manyase dvija ॥13-51-12॥
Let half the kingdom or even the entire kingdom be given to the Niṣādas. I consider this to be their price; or do you think something else, O Brāhmaṇa? (13-51-12)
cyavana uvāca॥
Cyavana said.
ardharājyaṃ samagraṃ vā nāhamarhāmi pārthiva. sadṛśaṃ dīyatāṃ mūlyamṛṣibhiḥ saha cintyatām ॥13-51-13॥
O king, I do not deserve either half or the entire kingdom. Let an appropriate price be determined and given, after consideration together with the sages. (13-51-13)
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhishma said.
maharṣer vacanaṃ śrutvā nahuṣo duḥkha-karśitaḥ। sa cintayām āsa tadā saha amātya-purohitaḥ॥13-51-14॥
After hearing the words of the great sage, Nahuṣa, troubled by suffering, began to deliberate together with his ministers and priests. (13-51-14)
tatra tvan-yo vanacaraḥ kaścin mūlaphalāśanaḥ। nahuṣasya samīpastho gavijāto'bhavan muniḥ॥13-51-15॥
But there, another forest-dweller who ate roots and fruits, a sage born among cows, became one who was near Nahuṣa. (13-51-15)
sa samābhāṣya rājānam abravīd dvijasattamaḥ। toṣayiṣyāmy ahaṃ vipraṃ yathā tuṣṭo bhaviṣyati॥13-51-16॥
Having addressed the king, the best of the twice-born said: I will gratify the brāhmaṇa so that he will be satisfied. (13-51-16)
nāhaṃ mithyā-vaco brūyāṃ svaireṣv api kuto'nyathā। bhavato yad ahaṃ brūyāṃ tat kāryam aviśaṅkayā ॥13-51-17॥
I would not speak false words even among my own, how much less with others. Whatever I say to you should be acted upon without doubt. (13-51-17)
nahuṣa uvāca॥
Nahuṣa said.
bravītu bhagavān mūlyaṁ maharṣeḥ sadṛśaṁ bhṛgoḥ। paritrāyasva mām asmād viṣayaṁ ca kulaṁ ca me॥13-51-18॥
O Lord, please state the value appropriate for the great sage Bhṛgu. Save me from this situation, and also safeguard my wealth and family. (13-51-18)
hanyād dhi bhagavān kruddhas trailokyam api kevalam। kiṁ punar māṁ tapo-hīnaṁ bāhu-vīrya-parāyaṇam॥13-51-19॥
If the Lord, being angry, can indeed destroy even the whole three worlds, then how much more easily could He destroy me, who am devoid of austerity and rely only on my own physical strength? (13-51-19)
agādhe’mbhasi magnasya sāmātyasya sahartvijaḥ। plavo bhava maharṣe tvaṃ kuru mūlya-viniścayam॥13-51-20॥
O great sage, for the one who is immersed in unfathomable water together with his ministers and priests, be a raft; you determine the value. (13-51-20)
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhishma said.
nahuṣasya vacaḥ śrutvā gavijātaḥ pratāpavān। uvāca harṣayan sarvān amātyān pārthivaṃ ca tam ॥13-51-21॥
Having heard the words of Nahuṣa, the powerful one born of a cow (R̥ṣyaśṛṅga) spoke, gladdening all the ministers and the king and him. (13-51-21)
anargheyā mahārāja dvijā varṇamahattamāḥ। gāvaś ca pṛthivīpāla gaurmūlyaṃ parikalpyatām॥13-51-22॥
O great king, the twice-born, the most eminent among castes, and cows are priceless; O protector of the earth, let the value of a cow be determined. (13-51-22)
nahuṣas tu tataḥ śrutvā maharṣer vacanaṁ nṛpa। harṣeṇa mahatā yuktaḥ sahāmātyapurohitaḥ ॥13-51-23॥
But Nahuṣa, O king, having heard the words of the great sage, was filled with great joy, together with his ministers and priests. (13-51-23)
abhigamya bhṛgoḥ putraṃ cyavanaṃ saṃśitavratam। idaṃ provāca nṛpate vācā santarpayanniva ॥13-51-24॥
O king, having approached Cyavana, the son of Bhṛgu, who was firm in his vow, he spoke these words as if to gratify him. (13-51-24)
uttiṣṭhottiṣṭha viprarṣe gavā krīto'si bhārgava. etanmūlyam ahaṃ manye tava dharmabhṛtāṃ vara ॥13-51-25॥
Arise, arise, O sage among Brāhmaṇas! O Bhārgava, you have been bought with a cow. I consider this price as yours, O best of those upholding dharma. (13-51-25)
Cyavana uvāca॥
Cyavana said;
uttiṣṭhāmy eṣa rājendra samyak krīto'smi te'nagha। gobhis tulyaṃ na paśyāmi dhanaṃ kiñcid ihācyuta॥13-51-26॥
I arise, O king; I have been rightly bought by you, O sinless one. I do not see here any wealth equal to cows, O Acyuta. (13-51-26)
kīrtanaṁ śravaṇaṁ dānaṁ darśanaṁ cāpi pārthiva। gavāṁ praśasyate vīra sarvapāpaharaṁ śivam ॥13-51-27॥
O king, O hero, praising, listening, giving, and seeing of cows is highly praised; it is auspicious and removes all sins. (13-51-27)
gāvo lakṣmyāḥ sadā mūlaṃ goṣu pāpmā na vidyate। annam-eva sadā gāvo devānāṃ paramaṃ haviḥ॥13-51-28॥
Cows are always the root of prosperity; in cows, sin does not exist. Food is always, indeed, the supreme offering to the gods from the cows. (13-51-28)
svāhākāra-vaṣaṭkārau goṣu nityaṃ pratiṣṭhitau। gāvo yajñapraṇetryo vai tathā yajñasya tā mukham॥13-51-29॥
The exclamations 'svāhā' and 'vaṣaṭ' are always established in cows. Cows are truly the conductors of sacrifice and thus they are the mouth of the sacrifice. (13-51-29)
amṛtaṁ hy akṣayaṁ divyaṁ kṣaranti ca vahanti ca। amṛtāyatanaṁ caitāḥ sarvalokanamaskṛtāḥ॥13-51-30॥
They indeed flow and carry imperishable, divine nectar. These are the abodes of nectar and are revered by all worlds. (13-51-30)
tejasā vapuṣā caiva gāvo vahnisamā bhuvi। gāvo hi sumahattejaḥ prāṇināṃ ca sukhapradāḥ॥13-51-31॥
On earth, by their brilliance and form, cows are equal to fire. Indeed, cows of very great splendor bring happiness to living beings. (13-51-31)
niviṣṭaṁ gokulaṁ yatra śvāsaṁ muñcati nirbhayam। virājayati taṁ deśaṁ pāpmānaṁ cāpakarṣati ॥13-51-32॥
Wherever Gokula is established and one breathes fearlessly, that land becomes radiant and all sin is removed. (13-51-32)
gāvaḥ svargasya sopānaṃ gāvaḥ svarge'pi pūjitāḥ। gāvaḥ kāmadughā devyo nānyatkiñcitparaṃ smṛtam ॥13-51-33॥
Cows are the stairway to heaven; cows are worshipped even in heaven. Cows are wish-fulfilling goddesses; nothing else is considered higher. (13-51-33)
ity etad goṣu me proktaṃ māhātmyaṃ pārthiva-ṛṣabha. guṇaika-deśa-vacanaṃ śakyaṃ pārāyaṇaṃ na tu ॥13-51-34॥
Thus, O bull among kings, I have spoken this greatness of cows. It is possible to mention only a small part of its merit; but a complete recitation is not (possible). (13-51-34)
niṣādā ūcuḥ॥
The Nishadas said;
darśanaṃ kathanaṃ caiva sahāsmābhiḥ kṛtaṃ mune. satāṃ saptapadaṃ mitraṃ prasādaṃ naḥ kuru prabho ॥13-51-35॥
O sage, seeing and speaking together with us has been done; O lord, grant us the favor of friendship of the good for (at least) seven steps. (13-51-35)
havīṁṣi sarvāṇi yathā hy upabhuṅkte hutāśanaḥ। evaṁ tvam api dharmātman puruṣāgniḥ pratāpavān ॥13-51-36॥
Just as fire consumes all offerings, so too, O righteous one with the fire-like energy of a man, you also (consume all things by your energy). (13-51-36)
prasādayāmahe vidvan bhavantaṃ praṇatā vayam। anugrahārtham asmākam iyaṃ gauḥ pratigṛhyatām॥13-51-37॥
We, who are bowed, entreat you, O learned one; for granting favor, may you accept this cow of ours. (13-51-37)
cyavana uvāca॥
Cyavana said.
kṛpaṇasya ca yac cakṣur muner āśīviṣasya ca। naraṁ samūlaṁ dahati kakṣam agnir iva jvalan ॥13-51-38॥
Just as a blazing fire burns grass from the roots, so the gaze of a miser, a sage, or a venomous serpent can consume a man completely. (13-51-38)
pratigṛhṇāmi vo dhenuṃ kaivartā muktakilbiṣāḥ। divaṃ gacchata vai kṣipraṃ matsyair jāloddhṛtaiḥ saha ॥13-51-39॥
I accept your cow, fishermen freed from sin. Go quickly to heaven, together with the fish caught in the net. (13-51-39)
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhishma said.
tatas tasya prasādāt te maharṣeḥ bhāvitātmanaḥ| niṣādās tena vākyena saha matsyaiḥ divaṃ yayuḥ ॥13-51-40॥
Then, by the grace of the great sage, the Niṣādas, by that utterance, together with the fishes, ascended to heaven. (13-51-40)
tataḥ sa rājā nahuṣo vismitaḥ prekṣya dhīvarān। ārohamāṇāṃstridivaṃ matsyāṃśca bharatarṣabha ॥13-51-41॥
Then King Nahuṣa, astonished, saw fishermen and fishes ascending to heaven, O best of Bharatas. (13-51-41)
tatastau gavijaścaiva cyavanaśca bhṛgūdvahaḥ। varābhyāmanurūpābhyāṁ chandayāmāsaturnṛpam ॥13-51-42॥
Then those two, Gavija and Cyavana, foremost among the Bhṛgus, respectfully requested the king with two appropriate boons. (13-51-42)
tato rājā mahāvīryo nahuṣaḥ pṛthivīpatiḥ। param ity abravīt prītaḥ tadā bharatasattama ॥13-51-43॥
Then, O best of the Bharatas, the king Nahuṣa, endowed with great strength and lord of the earth, being pleased, spoke these supreme words. (13-51-43)
tato jagrāha dharme sa sthitim indranibho nṛpaḥ। tatheti coditaḥ prītas tau ṛṣī pratyapūjayat ॥13-51-44॥
Then the king, resembling Indra, accepted his position in righteousness. Being thus addressed and pleased, he duly paid respect to those two sages. (13-51-44)
samāptadīkṣaś cyavanaḥ tato 'gacchat svam āśramam। gavijaś ca mahātejāḥ svam āśramapadaṃ yayau ॥13-51-45॥
Cyavana, whose consecration was completed, then went to his own hermitage; and the great sage Gavija, of great energy, went to his own hermitage abode. (13-51-45)
niṣādāś ca divaṃ jagmus te ca matsyā janādhipa | nahuṣo'pi varaṃ labdhvā praviveśa puraṃ svakam ॥13-51-46॥
O king, the Niṣādas and the Matsyas went to heaven; and Nahuṣa, having received the boon, entered his own city. (13-51-46)
etat te kathitaṁ tāta yan māṁ tvaṁ paripṛcchasi. darśane yādṛśaḥ snehaḥ saṁvāse ca yudhiṣṭhira ॥13-51-47॥
O Yudhiṣṭhira, I have told you what you asked me, O dear one, regarding the kind of affection present in seeing and in living together. (13-51-47)
mahābhāgyaṃ gavāṃ caiva tathā dharmaviniścayam। kiṃ bhūyaḥ kathyatāṃ vīra kiṃ te hṛdi vivakṣitam ॥13-51-48॥
The great fortune of cows and also the decision on dharma—what more should be said, O hero? What is it that you intend in your heart? (13-51-48)
