13.054
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said.
tataḥ sa rājan rātry-ante pratibuddho mahāmanāḥ। kṛtapūrvāhṇikaḥ prāyāt-sabhāryas tad vanaṃ prati ॥13-54-1॥
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)
tato dadarśa nṛpatiḥ prāsādaṃ sarvakañcanam। maṇistambhasahasrāḍhyaṃ gandharvanagaropamam॥ tatra divyānabhiprāyāndadarśa kuśikastadā॥13-54-2॥
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)
parvatān ramyasanūṁś ca nalinīś ca sa-paṅkajāḥ। citraśālāś ca vividhāstoaraṇāni ca bhārata॥ śādvalopacitāṁ bhūmiṁ tathā kāñcanakuṭṭimām॥13-54-3॥
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)
sahakārān praphullāṁś ca ketakoddālakān dhavān | aśokān mucukundāṁś ca phullāṁś caiva atimuktakān ॥13-54-4॥
Blooming mango trees, screw-pine and white-flowered plants, dhava, ashoka, muchukunda, and atimuktaka creepers. (13-54-4)
campakāṃs tilakān bhavyān panasān vañjulān api। puṣpitān karṇikārāṃś ca tatra tatra dadarśa ha ॥13-54-5॥
He saw here and there campaka trees, tilaka trees, auspicious jackfruit and vañjula trees, and also flowering karṇikāra trees. (13-54-5)
śyāmāṃ vāraṇapuṣpīṃ ca tathāṣṭāpadikāṃ latām। tatra tatra parikḷiptā dadarśa sa mahīpatiḥ॥13-54-6॥
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)
vṛkṣān padmotpaladharān sarvartukusumān tathā। vimānacchandakāṃś cāpi prāsādān padmasaṃnibhān ॥13-54-7॥
There were trees bearing lotuses and water-lilies and all-season flowers, as well as celestial canopies and lotus-like palaces. (13-54-7)
śītalāni ca toyāni kvacid uṣṇāni bhārata। āsanāni vicitrāṇi śayanapravarāṇi ca ॥13-54-8॥
O Bhārata, there were cool waters, and in some places, warm waters; there were also various seats and excellent beds. (13-54-8)
paryaṅkān sarva-sauvarṇān parārdhyā-staraṇāṁs tṛtān| bhakṣya-bhojya-manantaṁ ca tatra tatra upakalpitam ॥13-54-9॥
All-golden couches covered with very precious spreads, and endless varieties of eatables and foods were arranged here and there. (13-54-9)
vāṇīvādāñ chukāṃś cāpi śārikābhṛṅgarājakān | kokilāñ chatapatrāṃś ca koyaṣṭimakakukkuṭān ॥13-54-10॥
He included those that utter speech, parrots, starlings, black birds like the king of bees, cuckoos, peacocks, and bambooroosters and cocks. (13-54-10)
mayūrān kukkuṭāṁś ca api putrakāñ jīvjīvakān। cakorān vānarān haṁsān sārasāṁś cakrasāhvayān ॥13-54-11॥
Peacocks, cocks, chicks, jīvjīvaka birds, chakor birds, monkeys, swans, cranes, and birds called cakrasāhvaya. (13-54-11)
samantataḥ praṇaditān dadarśa sumanoharān। kvacid apsarasāṃ saṅghān gandharvāṇāṃ ca pārthiva ॥13-54-12॥
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)
kāntābhir aparāṁs tatra pariṣvaktān dadarśa ha। na dadarśa ca tān bhūyo dadarśa ca punar nṛpaḥ ॥13-54-13॥
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)
gītadhvaniṁ sumadhuraṁ tathaivādhyayanadhvanim। haṁsān sumadhurāṁś cāpi tatra śuśrāva pārthivaḥ॥13-54-14॥
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)
taṃ dṛṣṭvātyadbhutaṃ rājā manasācintayattadā। svapno'yaṃ cittavibhraṃśa utāho satyameva tu॥13-54-15॥
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)
aho saha śarīreṇa prāpto'smi paramāṃ gatim। uttarānvā kurūn puṇyān atha vāpy amarāvatīm ॥13-54-16॥
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)
kiṁ tvidam mahadāścaryaṁ sampaśyāmītyacintayat। evaṁ sañcintayanneva dadarśa munipuṅgavam ॥13-54-17॥
He thought, "What is this great wonder I am seeing?" While thus pondering, he saw the foremost sage. (13-54-17)
tasmin vimāne sauvarṇe maṇi-stambha-samākule। mahārhe śayane divye śayānaṃ bhṛgu-nandanam॥13-54-18॥
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)
tam abhyayāt praharṣeṇa narendraḥ saha bhāryayā। antarhitaḥ tato bhūyaḥ cyavanaḥ śayanaṃ ca tat ॥13-54-19॥
The king, together with his wife, approached him with great joy; then Cyavana and that bed again disappeared. (13-54-19)
tato'nyasmin vanoddeśe punar eva dadarśa tam। kauśyāṃ bṛsyāṃ samāsīnaṃ japamānaṃ mahāvratam॥ evaṃ yogabalād vipro mohayāmāsa pārthivam॥13-54-20॥
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)
kṣaṇena tad vanaṃ caiva te caiva apsarasāṃ gaṇāḥ। gandharvāḥ pādapāś caiva sarvam antaradhīyata॥13-54-21॥
In a moment, that forest, the apsaras groups, gandharvas, the trees, and everything else disappeared. (13-54-21)
niḥśabdam abhavac cāpi gaṅgākūlaṃ punar nṛpa। kuśavalmīkabhūyiṣṭhaṃ babhūva ca yathā purā॥ 13-54-22॥
O King, again the bank of the Ganga became silent, filled mostly with kuśa grass and ant-hills, just as before. (13-54-22)
tataḥ sa rājā kuśikaḥ sabhāryas tena karmaṇā। vismayaṃ paramaṃ prāptas taddṛṣṭvā mahad adbhutam ॥13-54-23॥
Then King Kuśika, together with his wife, was greatly astonished, having witnessed that great marvel. (13-54-23)
tataḥ provāca kuśiko bhāryāṃ harṣasamanvitaḥ। paśya bhadre yathā bhāvaś citrā dṛṣṭāḥ sudurlabhāḥ ॥13-54-24॥
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)
prasādādbhṛgumukhyasya kimanyatra tapobalāt। tapasā tadavāpyaṃ hi yanna śakyaṃ manorathaiḥ ॥13-54-25॥
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)
trailokyarājyād api hi tapa eva viśiṣyate। tapasā hi sutaptena krīḍatyeṣa tapodhanaḥ ॥13-54-26॥
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)
aho prabhāvo brahmarṣeś cyavanasya mahātmanaḥ। icchan eṣa tapovīryād anyān lokān sṛjet api॥13-54-27॥
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)
brāhmaṇā eva jāyeran puṇya-vāk-buddhi-karmaṇaḥ। utsahed iha kartuṃ hi ko'anyo vai cyavanād ṛte॥13-54-28॥
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)
brāhmaṇyaṃ durlabhaṃ loke rājyaṃ hi sulabhaṃ naraiḥ। brāhmaṇyasya prabhāvāddhi rathe yuktau svadhuryavat ॥13-54-29॥
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)
ityevaṃ cintayānaḥ sa viditaś cyavanasya vai। samprekṣyovāca sa nṛpaṃ kṣipram āgamyatām iti ॥13-54-30॥
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)
ity-uktaḥ saha-bhāryaḥ tam abhyagacchan mahā-munim। śirasā vandanīyaṃ tam avandata sa pārthivaḥ ॥13-54-31॥
Thus addressed, the king, along with his wife, approached the great sage and bowed to him with his head. (13-54-31)
tasyāśiṣaḥ prayujyātha sa munis taṁ narādhipam। niṣīdety abravīd dhīmān sāntvayan puruṣarṣabha ॥13-54-32॥
Then, having bestowed his blessings, the wise sage consoled the best of men—the king—and said to him: 'Sit.' (13-54-32)
tataḥ prakṛtim-āpanno bhārgavo nṛpate nṛpam। uvāca ślakṣṇayā vācā tarpayann-iva bhārata ॥13-54-33॥
Then Bhārgava, having regained his composure, addressed the king with gentle words, as if to please him, O Bhārata. (13-54-33)
rājansam-yag-jitāniha pañca pañcasu yat-tvayā| manaḥ-ṣaṣṭhāni-indriyāṇi kṛcchrān-mukto’si tena vai ॥13-54-34॥
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)
samyag-ārādhitaḥ putra tvayāhaṃ vadatāṃ vara। na hi te vṛjinaṃ kiñcit susūkṣmam api vidyate॥13-54-35॥
O son, you have properly honored me, best among speakers. Indeed, not even the slightest sin is found in you. (13-54-35)
anujānīhi māṁ rājan gamiṣyāmi yathāgatam | prīto'smi tava rājendra varaś ca pratigṛhyatām ॥13-54-36॥
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)
kuśika uvāca॥
Kuśika said;
agnimadhyagatena idaṃ bhagavan saṃnidhau mayā। vartitaṃ bhṛguśārdūla yan na dagdho'smi tad bahu॥13-54-37॥
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)
eṣa eva varo mukhyaḥ prāpto me bhṛgunandana. yat prīto'si samācārāt kulaṃ pūtaṃ mama anagha ॥13-54-38॥
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)
eṣa me'nugraho vipra jīvite ca prayojanam। etad rājya-phalaṃ caiva tapaś caitat paraṃ mama ॥13-54-39॥
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)
yadi tu prītimān vipra mayi tvaṃ bhṛgunandana। asti me saṃśayaḥ kaścit tan me vyākhyātum arhasi ॥13-54-40॥
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)
