13.054
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhīṣma said.
ततः स राजा रात्र्यन्ते प्रतिबुद्धो महामनाः। कृतपूर्वाह्णिकः प्रायात्सभार्यस्तद्वनं प्रति ॥१३-५४-१॥
Thereafter, the king, having awakened at the end of the night and performed the morning rites, departed with his wife towards that forest. (13-54-1)
ततो ददर्श नृपतिः प्रासादं सर्वकाञ्चनम्। मणिस्तम्भसहस्राढ्यं गन्धर्वनगरोपमम् ॥ तत्र दिव्यानभिप्रायान्ददर्श कुशिकस्तदा ॥१३-५४-२॥
Then the king saw a palace entirely of gold, adorned with a thousand jewel pillars, resembling the city of the Gandharvas. There, at that time, Kushika saw divine intentions. (13-54-2)
पर्वतान्रम्यसानूंश्च नलिनीश्च सपङ्कजाः। चित्रशालाश्च विविधास्तोरणानि च भारत ॥ शाद्वलोपचितां भूमिं तथा काञ्चनकुट्टिमाम् ॥१३-५४-३॥
O Bhārata, (he saw) mountains with beautiful peaks, lotus-lakes full of lotuses, decorated halls, various gateways, ground thick with green grass, and even floors paved with gold. (13-54-3)
सहकारान्प्रफुल्लांश्च केतकोद्दालकान्धवान्। अशोकान्मुचुकुन्दांश्च फुल्लांश्चैवातिमुक्तकान् ॥१३-५४-४॥
Blooming mango trees, screw-pine and white-flowered plants, dhava, ashoka, muchukunda, and atimuktaka creepers. (13-54-4)
चम्पकांस्तिलकान्भव्यान्पनसान्वञ्जुलानपि। पुष्पितान्कर्णिकारांश्च तत्र तत्र ददर्श ह ॥१३-५४-५॥
He saw here and there campaka trees, tilaka trees, auspicious jackfruit and vañjula trees, and also flowering karṇikāra trees. (13-54-5)
श्यामां वारणपुष्पीं च तथाष्टापदिकां लताम्। तत्र तत्र परिकॢप्ता ददर्श स महीपतिः ॥१३-५४-६॥
The king saw, here and there, creepers that were dark, bore elephant-flowers, and also had many leaves, arranged in various places. (13-54-6)
वृक्षान्पद्मोत्पलधरान्सर्वर्तुकुसुमांस्तथा। विमानच्छन्दकांश्चापि प्रासादान्पद्मसंनिभान् ॥१३-५४-७॥
There were trees bearing lotuses and water-lilies and all-season flowers, as well as celestial canopies and lotus-like palaces. (13-54-7)
शीतलानि च तोयानि क्वचिदुष्णानि भारत। आसनानि विचित्राणि शयनप्रवराणि च ॥१३-५४-८॥
O Bhārata, there were cool waters, and in some places, warm waters; there were also various seats and excellent beds. (13-54-8)
पर्यङ्कान्सर्वसौवर्णान्परार्ध्यास्तरणास्तृतान्। भक्ष्यभोज्यमनन्तं च तत्र तत्रोपकल्पितम् ॥१३-५४-९॥
All-golden couches covered with very precious spreads, and endless varieties of eatables and foods were arranged here and there. (13-54-9)
वाणीवादाञ्छुकांश्चापि शारिकाभृङ्गराजकान्। कोकिलाञ्छतपत्रांश्च कोयष्टिमककुक्कुटान् ॥१३-५४-१०॥
He included those that utter speech, parrots, starlings, black birds like the king of bees, cuckoos, peacocks, and bambooroosters and cocks. (13-54-10)
मयूरान्कुक्कुटांश्चापि पुत्रकाञ्जीवजीवकान्। चकोरान्वानरान्हंसान्सारसांश्चक्रसाह्वयान् ॥१३-५४-११॥
Peacocks, cocks, chicks, jīvjīvaka birds, chakor birds, monkeys, swans, cranes, and birds called cakrasāhvaya. (13-54-11)
समन्ततः प्रणदितान्ददर्श सुमनोहरान्। क्वचिदप्सरसां सङ्घान्गन्धर्वाणां च पार्थिव ॥१३-५४-१२॥
O king, on all sides he saw very beautiful beings making sounds; in some places, groups of apsarases and gandharvas as well. (13-54-12)
कान्ताभिरपरांस्तत्र परिष्वक्तान्ददर्श ह। न ददर्श च तान्भूयो ददर्श च पुनर्नृपः ॥१३-५४-१३॥
There, the king saw others embraced by their beloved women; indeed, he did not see them, and then once more he saw them again. (13-54-13)
गीतध्वनिं सुमधुरं तथैवाध्ययनध्वनिम्। हंसान्सुमधुरांश्चापि तत्र शुश्राव पार्थिवः ॥१३-५४-१४॥
The king heard there the very sweet sound of songs, and likewise the sound of recitation, as well as the very sweet voices of swans. (13-54-14)
तं दृष्ट्वात्यद्भुतं राजा मनसाचिन्तयत्तदा। स्वप्नोऽयं चित्तविभ्रंश उताहो सत्यमेव तु ॥१३-५४-१५॥
Having seen him, who was extremely wonderful, the king then thought in his mind: Is this a dream, a confusion of the mind, or is it indeed the truth? (13-54-15)
अहो सह शरीरेण प्राप्तोऽस्मि परमां गतिम्। उत्तरान्वा कुरून्पुण्यानथ वाप्यमरावतीम् ॥१३-५४-१६॥
Ah, with my body I have reached the supreme state; either the holy northern Kurus or perhaps even Amarāvatī (the city of the gods). (13-54-16)
किं त्विदं महदाश्चर्यं सम्पश्यामीत्यचिन्तयत्। एवं सञ्चिन्तयन्नेव ददर्श मुनिपुङ्गवम् ॥१३-५४-१७॥
He thought, "What is this great wonder I am seeing?" While thus pondering, he saw the foremost sage. (13-54-17)
तस्मिन्विमाने सौवर्णे मणिस्तम्भसमाकुले। महार्हे शयने दिव्ये शयानं भृगुनन्दनम् ॥१३-५४-१८॥
He, the son of Bhṛgu, was reclining on a divine and most precious bed in that golden palace adorned with jeweled pillars. (13-54-18)
तमभ्ययात्प्रहर्षेण नरेन्द्रः सह भार्यया। अन्तर्हितस्ततो भूयश्च्यवनः शयनं च तत् ॥१३-५४-१९॥
The king, together with his wife, approached him with great joy; then Cyavana and that bed again disappeared. (13-54-19)
ततोऽन्यस्मिन्वनोद्देशे पुनरेव ददर्श तम्। कौश्यां बृस्यां समासीनं जपमानं महाव्रतम् ॥ एवं योगबलाद्विप्रो मोहयामास पार्थिवम् ॥१३-५४-२०॥
Then, in another part of the forest, he again saw him, seated on kusa-grass and deerskin, engaged in recitation, a holder of great vows. Thus, by the power of yoga, the Brāhmaṇa bewildered the king. (13-54-20)
क्षणेन तद्वनं चैव ते चैवाप्सरसां गणाः। गन्धर्वाः पादपाश्चैव सर्वमन्तरधीयत ॥१३-५४-२१॥
In a moment, that forest, the apsaras groups, gandharvas, the trees, and everything else disappeared. (13-54-21)
निःशब्दमभवच्चापि गङ्गाकूलं पुनर्नृप। कुशवल्मीकभूयिष्ठं बभूव च यथा पुरा ॥१३-५४-२२॥
O King, again the bank of the Ganga became silent, filled mostly with kuśa grass and ant-hills, just as before. (13-54-22)
ततः स राजा कुशिकः सभार्यस्तेन कर्मणा। विस्मयं परमं प्राप्तस्तद्दृष्ट्वा महदद्भुतम् ॥१३-५४-२३॥
Then King Kuśika, together with his wife, was greatly astonished, having witnessed that great marvel. (13-54-23)
ततः प्रोवाच कुशिको भार्यां हर्षसमन्वितः। पश्य भद्रे यथा भावाश्चित्रा दृष्टाः सुदुर्लभाः ॥१३-५४-२४॥
Then Kuśika, filled with joy, spoke to his wife: "See, O good lady, how varied emotions that are very rare have been witnessed." (13-54-24)
प्रसादाद्भृगुमुख्यस्य किमन्यत्र तपोबलात्। तपसा तदवाप्यं हि यन्न शक्यं मनोरथैः ॥१३-५४-२५॥
What can be attained from the favor of the chief of Bhṛgu, except through the strength of penance? For that which cannot be attained by mere desires is surely attained by penance. (13-54-25)
त्रैलोक्यराज्यादपि हि तप एव विशिष्यते। तपसा हि सुतप्तेन क्रीडत्येष तपोधनः ॥१३-५४-२६॥
Austerity alone is indeed superior even to the sovereignty of the three worlds. This one whose wealth is austerity delights through austerity well performed. (13-54-26)
अहो प्रभावो ब्रह्मर्षेश्च्यवनस्य महात्मनः। इच्छन्नेष तपोवीर्यादन्याँल्लोकान्सृजेदपि ॥१३-५४-२७॥
Indeed, such is the power of the great-souled Brahmarṣi Cyavana; if he wished, he could even create other worlds by the strength of his penance. (13-54-27)
ब्राह्मणा एव जायेरन्पुण्यवाग्बुद्धिकर्मणः। उत्सहेदिह कर्तुं हि कोऽन्यो वै च्यवनादृते ॥१३-५४-२८॥
Brāhmaṇas should truly be born endowed with virtuous speech, intellect, and deeds; indeed, who else here but Cyavana could possibly accomplish this? (13-54-28)
ब्राह्मण्यं दुर्लभं लोके राज्यं हि सुलभं नरैः। ब्राह्मण्यस्य प्रभावाद्धि रथे युक्तौ स्वधुर्यवत् ॥१३-५४-२९॥
Brāhmaṇahood is difficult to attain in this world, whereas kingship is easily attained by men. Indeed, by the power of Brāhmaṇahood, just as in a chariot two horses are yoked, so too (other attainments are drawn along) like the leading horse. (13-54-29)
इत्येवं चिन्तयानः स विदितश्च्यवनस्य वै। सम्प्रेक्ष्योवाच स नृपं क्षिप्रमागम्यतामिति ॥१३-५४-३०॥
Thus, as he was thinking in this manner, having learned of Cyavana, and having observed, he said to the king, “Let him come quickly.” (13-54-30)
इत्युक्तः सहभार्यस्तमभ्यगच्छन्महामुनिम्। शिरसा वन्दनीयं तमवन्दत स पार्थिवः ॥१३-५४-३१॥
Thus addressed, the king, along with his wife, approached the great sage and bowed to him with his head. (13-54-31)
तस्याशिषः प्रयुज्याथ स मुनिस्तं नराधिपम्। निषीदेत्यब्रवीद्धीमान्सान्त्वयन्पुरुषर्षभ ॥१३-५४-३२॥
Then, having bestowed his blessings, the wise sage consoled the best of men—the king—and said to him: 'Sit.' (13-54-32)
ततः प्रकृतिमापन्नो भार्गवो नृपते नृपम्। उवाच श्लक्ष्णया वाचा तर्पयन्निव भारत ॥१३-५४-३३॥
Then Bhārgava, having regained his composure, addressed the king with gentle words, as if to please him, O Bhārata. (13-54-33)
राजन्सम्यग्जितानीह पञ्च पञ्चसु यत्त्वया। मनःषष्ठानीन्द्रियाणि कृच्छ्रान्मुक्तोऽसि तेन वै ॥१३-५४-३४॥
O king, because you have rightly conquered the five senses and the mind as the sixth among the five, you are thereby indeed liberated from difficulties. (13-54-34)
सम्यगाराधितः पुत्र त्वयाहं वदतां वर। न हि ते वृजिनं किञ्चित्सुसूक्ष्ममपि विद्यते ॥१३-५४-३५॥
O son, you have properly honored me, best among speakers. Indeed, not even the slightest sin is found in you. (13-54-35)
अनुजानीहि मां राजन्गमिष्यामि यथागतम्। प्रीतोऽस्मि तव राजेन्द्र वरश्च प्रतिगृह्यताम् ॥१३-५४-३६॥
O king, permit me; I shall depart as I came. I am pleased with you, O chief of kings; also, let your boon be accepted. (13-54-36)
कुशिक उवाच॥
Kuśika said;
अग्निमध्यगतेनेदं भगवन्संनिधौ मया। वर्तितं भृगुशार्दूल यन्न दग्धोऽस्मि तद्बहु ॥१३-५४-३७॥
O Lord, this has been done by me in your presence, having entered the midst of fire, O best of Bhṛgus. That I am not burned is indeed a great thing. (13-54-37)
एष एव वरो मुख्यः प्राप्तो मे भृगुनन्दन। यत्प्रीतोऽसि समाचारात्कुलं पूतं ममानघ ॥१३-५४-३८॥
This indeed is the principal boon I have obtained, O descendant of Bhṛgu. That you are pleased with the news, my family is purified, O sinless one. (13-54-38)
एष मेऽनुग्रहो विप्र जीविते च प्रयोजनम्। एतद्राज्यफलं चैव तपश्चैतत्परं मम ॥१३-५४-३९॥
This is my favor, O brāhmaṇa, and the very purpose of my life. This is both the reward of kingship, and this austerity—this is supreme for me. (13-54-39)
यदि तु प्रीतिमान्विप्र मयि त्वं भृगुनन्दन। अस्ति मे संशयः कश्चित्तन्मे व्याख्यातुमर्हसि ॥१३-५४-४०॥
But if you, O affectionate Brāhmaṇa, have love for me, O descendant of Bhṛgu, I have some doubt; you ought to explain that to me. (13-54-40)
