13.083
suvarṇotpattiḥ
origin of gold
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
uktaṃ pitāmahena idaṃ gavāṃ dānam anuttamam। viśeṣeṇa narendrāṇām iti dharmam avekṣatām ॥13-83-1॥
The grandsire declared this unsurpassed gift of cows—especially for kings—as a duty; let them observe this dharma. (13-83-1)
rājyaṃ hi satataṃ duḥkham āśramāś ca sudurvidāḥ। parivāreṇa vai duḥkhaṃ durdharaṃ cākṛtātmabhiḥ॥ bhūyiṣṭhaṃ ca narendrāṇāṃ vidyate na śubhā gatiḥ॥13-83-2॥
Rulership is indeed always suffering; the life-stages are also very difficult to discern. Family brings suffering that is hard to endure for those lacking self-control. For most kings, there does not exist an auspicious path. (13-83-2)
pūyante te 'tra niyataṃ prayacchanto vasundharām। pūrvaṃ ca kathitā dharmās tvayā me kurunandana ॥13-83-3॥
Here, those who give the earth are certainly purified. Formerly, the dharmas have been spoken to me by you, O delight of the Kurus. (13-83-3)
evam eva gavām uktaṃ pradānaṃ te nṛgeṇa ha। ṛṣiṇā nāciketena pūrvam eva nidarśitam ॥13-83-4॥
In just this way, the giving of cows was spoken of—by you, by Nṛga indeed. Previously, the sage Naciketas had also demonstrated this. (13-83-4)
vedopaniṣade caiva sarvakarmasu dakṣiṇā। sarvakratuṣu coddiṣṭaṃ bhūmirgāvo'tha kāñcanam ॥13-83-5॥
Indeed, as declared in the Vedas and Upaniṣads and in all rites, the prescribed offering in all sacrifices is land, cows, or gold. (13-83-5)
tatra śrutis tu paramā suvarṇaṃ dakṣiṇeti vai। etad icchāmy ahaṃ śrotuṃ pitāmaha yathā-tatham ॥13-83-6॥
But there, the supreme scripture indeed says gold is called 'dakṣiṇā'. I wish to hear this from you, O grandsire, just as it is. (13-83-6)
kiṃ suvarṇaṃ kathaṃ jātaṃ kasminkāle kimātmakam। kiṃ dānaṃ kiṃ phalaṃ caiva kasmācca paramucyate ॥13-83-7॥
What is gold, how was it born, at what time, of what nature is it? What is the gift, what is its fruit, and from what is the highest said to arise? (13-83-7)
kasmāddānaṁ suvarṇasya pūjayanti manīṣiṇaḥ। kasmācca dakṣiṇārthaṁ tadyajñakarmasu śasyate ॥13-83-8॥
Why do the wise honor the giving of gold, and why is it praised as an offering in sacrificial rites? (13-83-8)
kasmāc ca pāvanaṃ śreṣṭhaṃ bhūmer gobhyaś ca kāñcanam। paramaṃ dakṣiṇārthe ca tad bravīhi pitāmaha ॥13-83-9॥
Grandfather, tell me what is the most purifying and the best—superior to earth and cows—as gold is, and what is the supreme for the purpose of donation. (13-83-9)
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said.
śṛṇu rājann avahito bahu-kāraṇa-vistaram । jātarūpa-samutpattim anubhūtaṃ ca yan mayā ॥13-83-10॥
O king, listen attentively to the detailed description of the many causes and to the account of the origin of gold as I have experienced it. (13-83-10)
pitā mama mahātejāḥ śantanuḥ nidhanaṃ gataḥ। tasya ditsur ahaṃ śrāddhaṃ gaṅgādvāram upāgamam॥13-83-11॥
My father, the greatly radiant Śantanu, has passed away. To perform his funeral rites, I went to Gangadvara. (13-83-11)
tatrāgamya pituḥ putra śrāddhakarma samārabham। mātā me jāhnavī caiva sāhāyyamakarottadā ॥13-83-12॥
Having come there, O son, I began the śrāddha rite for my father; my mother Jāhnavī (the Ganges), indeed, assisted me at that time. (13-83-12)
tato'gratas tapaḥ-siddhān upaveśya bahūn ṛṣīn। toya-pradānāt prabhṛti kāryāṇi aham atha ārabham ॥13-83-13॥
Then, having seated in front of me the many perfected ascetics and sages, I began the prescribed duties starting with the offering of water. (13-83-13)
tatsamāpya yathoddiṣṭaṃ pūrvakarma samāhitaḥ। dātuṃ nirvapaṇaṃ samyagyathāvadahamārabham ॥13-83-14॥
Having completed the previous ritual exactly as instructed and with concentration, I began to properly offer the oblation as was appropriate. (13-83-14)
tatastaṃ darbhavinyāsaṃ bhittvā surucirāṅgadaḥ. pralambābharaṇo bāhurudatiṣṭhadviśāṃ pate ॥13-83-15॥
Then, O lord of the people, after piercing that arrangement of darbha grass, an arm adorned with beautiful armlets and pendant ornaments arose. (13-83-15)
tam utthitam ahaṁ dṛṣṭvā paraṁ vismayam āgamam। pratigr̥hītā sākṣān me piteti bharatarṣabha॥13-83-16॥
O best of the Bharatas, seeing him risen, I experienced great wonder; as I received him directly as my father.
tato me punarevāsītsañjñā sañcintya śāstrataḥ। nāyaṃ vedeṣu vihito vidhirhasta iti prabho ॥ piṇḍo deyo nareṇeha tato matirabhūnmama ॥13-83-17॥
Then again, a thought occurred to me, having pondered according to the śāstra: 'This rule about using the hand is not enjoined in the Vedas,' O lord. Therefore, the piṇḍa should be given here by a man; thus this idea came to me. (13-83-17)
sākṣānneha manuṣyasya pitaro'ntarhitāḥ kvacit। gṛhṇanti vihitaṃ tvevaṃ piṇḍo deyaḥ kuśeṣviti ॥13-83-18॥
Here, the ancestors of a human, though invisible, sometimes directly take the food; but the rice-ball offering should be given on kuśa grass in this way. (13-83-18)
tato'haṁ tadanādṛtya pitur-hastanidarśanam। śāstrapramāṇāt sūkṣmaṁ tu vidhiṁ pārthiva saṁsmaran ॥13-83-19॥
Then I, disregarding that sign from my father's hand, recalled, O king, the subtle procedure prescribed by scripture. (13-83-19)
tato darbheṣu tatsarvamadadaṃ bharatarṣabha। śāstramārgānusāreṇa tadviddhi manujarṣabha ॥13-83-20॥
O best of the Bharatas, I placed all that upon the kuśa grass; know this, O best of men, was done according to the path prescribed by the śāstra. (13-83-20)
tataḥ so'ntarhito bāhuḥ pitur mama narādhipa। tato māṁ darśayāmāsuḥ svapnānte pitaras tadā ॥13-83-21॥
Then Bahu, the son of my father, disappeared, O king. Then, at the end of the dream, the forefathers appeared to me. (13-83-21)
prīyamāṇās tu mām ūcuḥ prītāḥ sma bharatarṣabha। vijñānena tavānena yan na muhyasi dharmataḥ ॥13-83-22॥
But, being pleased, they spoke to me joyfully, O foremost of the Bharatas: 'By this knowledge of yours, you are not deluded from righteousness.' (13-83-22)
tvayā hi kurvatā śāstraṃ pramāṇam iha pārthiva। ātmā dharmaḥ śrutaṃ vedāḥ pitaraś ca maharṣibhiḥ॥13-83-23॥
O king, here, the scripture is the authority for you in action; self, righteousness, tradition, the Vedas, and the ancestors are established by the great sages. (13-83-23)
sākṣātpitāmaho brahmā guravo'tha prajāpatiḥ। pramāṇamupanītā vai sthitiśca na vicālitā ॥13-83-24॥
Brahmā himself, the grandfather and lord of creatures, and the teachers—having brought forth the authority, indeed, the established order was not shaken. (13-83-24)
tad idaṃ samyag ārabdhaṃ tvayā adya bharatarṣabha। kiṃ tu bhūmer gavāṃ ca arthe suvarṇaṃ dīyatām iti ॥13-83-25॥
This has been properly undertaken by you today, O foremost of the Bharatas. However, for the sake of land and cows, gold should be given (thus). (13-83-25)
evaṃ vayaṃ ca dharmaś ca sarve cāsmat-pitāmahāḥ। pāvitā vai bhaviṣyanti pāvanaṃ paramaṃ hi tat ॥13-83-26॥
Thus, we, righteousness, and all our grandfathers will indeed become purified, for that (is) the supreme purification. (13-83-26)
daśa pūrvān daśa parāṃs tathā santārayanti te। suvarṇaṃ ye prayacchanti evaṃ me pitaro 'bruvan ॥13-83-27॥
Whoever gives gold thus causes ten of his ancestors before and ten after to cross over; thus my ancestors said to me. (13-83-27)
tato'haṃ vismito rājan pratibuddho viśāṃ pate। suvarṇadāne'karavaṃ matiṃ bharatasattama ॥13-83-28॥
Then, O king, best of the Bharatas, being amazed and awakened, I resolved to give gold. (13-83-28)
itihāsam imaṃ cāpi śṛṇu rājan purātanam। jāmadagnyaṃ prati vibho dhanyam āyuṣyam eva ca ॥13-83-29॥
O King, also hear this ancient history, concerning Jāmadagnya, O Lord; it is blessed and indeed life-giving. (13-83-29)
jāmadagnyena rāmeṇa tīvra-roṣānvitena vai। triḥ-saptakṛtvaḥ pṛthivī kṛtā niḥ-kṣatriyā purā ॥13-83-30॥
Formerly, the son of Jamadagni, Rāma, endowed with intense anger, made the earth bereft of kṣatriyas twenty-one times. (13-83-30)
tato jitvā mahīṃ kṛtsnāṃ rāmo rājīvalocanaḥ। ājahāra kratuṃ vīro brahmakṣatreṇa pūjitam॥13-83-31॥
Then Rāma, the lotus-eyed hero, having conquered the whole earth, performed a sacrifice that was honored by Brāhmaṇas and Kṣatriyas. (13-83-31)
vājimedhaṃ mahārāja sarvakāmasamanvitam। pāvanaṃ sarvabhūtānāṃ tejodyutivivardhanam ॥13-83-32॥
O great king, the horse-sacrifice, endowed with all desires, purifying for all beings, and that which increases brilliance and splendor. (13-83-32)
vipāpmāpi sa tejasvī tena kratuphalena vai। naivātmano'tha laghutāṃ jāmadagnyo'bhyagacchata ॥13-83-33॥
Even though he was free from sin, that powerful Rāma, the son of Jamadagni, did not, as a result of that sacrifice, incur any diminution to himself. (13-83-33)
sa tu kratuvareṇa iṣṭvā mahātmā dakṣiṇāvatā। papracchāgamasampannān ṛṣīn devāṁś ca bhārgavaḥ ॥13-83-34॥
But he, the great-souled descendant of Bhṛgu, having performed the excellent sacrifice with gifts, asked the sages endowed with scriptural knowledge and the gods. (13-83-34)
pāvanaṁ yat paraṁ nṝṇām ugre karmaṇi vartatām। tad ucyatāṁ mahābhāgā iti jātaghṛṇo 'bravīt॥13-83-35॥
He who had developed compassion said: "O greatly fortunate ones, let that be told which is supreme and purifying for men and may take place in a terrible action." (13-83-35)
vasiṣṭha uvāca॥
Vasiṣṭha said.
devatās te prayacchanti suvarṇaṃ ye dadaty uta. agnir hi devatāḥ sarvāḥ suvarṇaṃ ca tad-ātmakam ॥13-83-36॥
The gods bestow gold upon those who offer it; indeed, Agni is all the gods, and gold partakes of his very essence. (13-83-36)
tasmātsuvarṇaṃ dadatā dattāḥ sarvāśca devatāḥ. bhavanti puruṣavyāghra na hyataḥ paramaṃ viduḥ ॥13-83-37॥
Therefore, by giving gold, all the deities are gratified. O tiger among men, they indeed know nothing higher than this. (13-83-37)
bhūya eva ca māhātmyaṃ suvarṇasya nibodha me. gadato mama viprarṣe sarvaśastrabhṛtāṃ vara ॥13-83-38॥
O best of all weapon-bearers, O sage among Brahmins, understand from me again the greatness of gold, as I declare it to you. (13-83-38)
mayā śrutam idaṁ pūrvaṁ purāṇe bhṛgunandana। prajāpateḥ kathayato manoḥ svāyambhuvasya vai ॥13-83-39॥
O son of Bhṛgu, I have heard this before in the Purāṇa, when Prajāpati was narrating the story of Svāyambhuva Manu. (13-83-39)
śūlapāṇer bhagavato rudrasya ca mahātmanaḥ। girau himavati śreṣṭhe tadā bhṛgukulodvaha ॥13-83-40॥
Then, O best of Bhṛgu's lineage, on the excellent mountain Himavat, of the trident-handed Lord Rudra, the great-souled one. (13-83-40)
devyā vivāhe nirvṛtte rudrāṇyā bhṛgunandana। samāgame bhagavato devyā saha mahātmanaḥ ॥ tataḥ sarve samudvignā bhagavantam upāgaman ॥13-83-41॥
When the marriage of the Goddess Rudrāṇī was completed, O descendant of Bṛgu, at the union of the Divine with the great-souled Goddess, then all, being disturbed, approached the Divine. (13-83-41)
te mahādevam āsīnam devīṃ ca varadām umām। prasādya śirasā sarve rudram ūcur bhṛgūdvaha ॥13-83-42॥
Having bowed with their heads and propitiated Mahādeva, who was seated along with the boon-bestowing goddess Umā, all addressed Rudra thus, O best of the Bhṛgus. (13-83-42)
ayaṃ samāgamo deva devyā saha tavānagha। tapasvinastapasvinyā tejasvinyātitejasaḥ ॥ amoghatejāstvaṃ deva devī ceyamumā tathā ॥13-83-43॥
This meeting, O god, of you and the goddess, is the union of the ascetic and the ascetic lady, the radiant one of surpassing brilliance. You, O god, are of unfailing splendor; this goddess is Umā as well. (13-83-43)
apatyaṃ yuvayor deva balavad bhavitā prabho। tan nūnaṃ triṣu lokeṣu na kiñcid cheṣayiṣyati॥13-83-44॥
O god, a powerful offspring will be born to you two, O lord. That one surely will leave nothing remaining in the three worlds. (13-83-44)
tadebhyaḥ praṇatebhyaḥ tvaṃ devebhyaḥ pṛthulocana। varaṃ prayaccha lokeśa trailokyahitakāmyayā॥ apatyārthaṃ nigṛhṇīṣva tejo jvalitamuttamam॥13-83-45॥
Therefore, O wide-eyed lord of the world, grant a boon to these gods and to those who have bowed, out of desire for the welfare of the three worlds. For the sake of an offspring, restrain your blazing, supreme energy. (13-83-45)
iti teṣāṃ kathayatāṃ bhagavān govṛṣadhvajaḥ। evam astv iti devāṃs tān viprarṣe pratyabhāṣata॥13-83-46॥
Thus, while they were speaking, the venerable lord Śiva, whose banner bears a bull, addressed those gods, O sage among brāhmaṇas, saying, "So be it." (13-83-46)
ity uktvā co rdhvam anayattad reto vṛṣavāhanaḥ। ūrdhvaretāḥ samabhavat tataḥ prabhṛti cāpi saḥ॥13-83-47॥
Thus, having spoken, the Bull-vehicled Shiva took that seed upwards, and from then on he became one whose seed is upward (ūrdhvaretāḥ). (13-83-47)
rudrāṇī tu tataḥ kruddhā prajocchede tathā kṛte। devān athābravīt tatra strī-bhāvāt paruṣaṃ vacaḥ ॥13-83-48॥
But Pārvatī, then angered by the destruction of offspring thus carried out, spoke harsh words to the gods there, due to her feminine nature. (13-83-48)
yasmād apatyakāmo vai bhartā me vinivartitaḥ। tasmāt sarve surā yūyam anapatyā bhaviṣyatha ॥13-83-49॥
Because my husband, who desired offspring, has indeed been turned away, therefore all of you gods shall become childless. (13-83-49)
prajocchedo mama kṛto yasmādyuṣmābhiradya vai। tasmātprajā vaḥ khagamāḥ sarveṣāṁ na bhaviṣyati॥13-83-50॥
Because you have today destroyed my progeny, therefore, none of you who are bird-born shall have offspring. (13-83-50)
pāvakas tu na tatrāsīc chāpakāle bhṛgūdvaha। devā devyās tathā śāpād anapatyās tadābhavan॥13-83-51॥
But Agni was not present at the time of the curse, O descendant of Bhṛgu. The gods, too, because of the goddess's curse, then became childless. (13-83-51)
rudras tu tejo'pratimaṁ dhārayāmāsa tat tadā। praskannaṁ tu tatas tasmāt kiñcit tatrāpatad bhuvi ॥13-83-52॥
But Rudra bore that unparalleled energy at that time. Yet, some of it spilled out from him and fell there on the earth. (13-83-52)
tat papāta tadā ca agnau vavṛdhe ca adbhuta-upamam। tejas tejasi sampṛktam eka-yonitvam āgatam ॥13-83-53॥
That fell then into the fire and increased wondrously; the splendor, having merged with splendor, came to possess a single origin. (13-83-53)
etasmínneva kāle tu devāḥ śakra-purogamāḥ। asuraḥ tārakaḥ nāma tena santāpitā bhṛśam ॥13-83-54॥
At this very time, the gods, with Indra at the forefront, were greatly tormented by the asura named Tāraka. (13-83-54)
ādityā vasavo rudrā maruto’thāśvināv api. sādhyāś ca sarve santrastā daiteyasya parākramāt ॥13-83-55॥
The Ādityas, Vasus, Rudras, Maruts, the Aśvins as well as all the Sādhyas were terrified by the valor of the Daitya. (13-83-55)
sthānāni devatānāṃ hi vimānāni purāṇi ca। ṛṣīṇām āśramāś caiva babhūvus surair hṛtāḥ॥13-83-56॥
Indeed, the places of the deities, the ancient aerial cars, and also the hermitages of the sages, were taken away by the asuras. (13-83-56)
te dīnamanasaḥ sarve devāś ca ṛṣayaś ca ha। prajagmuḥ śaraṇaṃ devaṃ brahmāṇam ajaraṃ prabhum ॥13-83-57॥
All the gods and sages, with dejected minds, indeed went to Brahmā, the ageless lord, seeking refuge. (13-83-57)
