13.096
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhīṣma said;
अत्रैवोदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम्। यद्वृत्तं तीर्थयात्रायां शपथं प्रति तच्छृणु ॥१३-९६-१॥
Right here, they cite this ancient story. Hear about the event that occurred during a pilgrimage concerning an oath. (13-96-1)
पुष्करार्थं कृतं स्तैन्यं पुरा भरतसत्तम। राजर्षिभिर्महाराज तथैव च द्विजर्षिभिः ॥१३-९६-२॥
O best of the Bharatas, in ancient times theft was committed for the sake of Puṣkara by royal sages, O great king, and likewise by brāhmaṇa sages. (13-96-2)
ऋषयः समेताः पश्चिमे वै प्रभासे; समागता मन्त्रममन्त्रयन्त। चराम सर्वे पृथिवीं पुण्यतीर्थां; तन्नः कार्यं हन्त गच्छाम सर्वे ॥१३-९६-३॥
The sages assembled at Prabhāsa in the west; after gathering, they deliberated together. “Let us all wander to the holy places on earth; that is what we should do. Come, let us all go.” (13-96-3)
शुक्रोऽङ्गिराश्चैव कविश्च विद्वां; स्तथागस्त्यो नारदपर्वतौ च। भृगुर्वसिष्ठः कश्यपो गौतमश्च; विश्वामित्रो जमदग्निश्च राजन् ॥१३-९६-४॥
O king, Śukra, Aṅgirās, Kavi, the learned one, Agastya, Nārada and Parvata, Bhṛgu, Vasiṣṭha, Kaśyapa, Gautama, Viśvāmitra, and Jamadagni (were present). (13-96-4)
ऋषिस्तथा गालवोऽथाष्टकश्च; भरद्वाजोऽरुन्धती वालखिल्याः। शिबिर्दिलीपो नहुषोऽम्बरीषो; राजा ययातिर्धुन्धुमारोऽथ पूरुः ॥१३-९६-५॥
The sage, Gālava as well, then Aṣṭaka, Bharadvāja, Arundhatī, the Vālakhilyas, Śibi, Dilīpa, Nahuṣa, Ambarīṣa, King Yayāti, Dhundhumāra, and then Pūru. (13-96-5)
जग्मुः पुरस्कृत्य महानुभावं; शतक्रतुं वृत्रहणं नरेन्द्र। तीर्थानि सर्वाणि परिक्रमन्तो; माघ्यां ययुः कौशिकीं पुण्यतीर्थाम् ॥१३-९६-६॥
O king, having Śatakratu, the great-souled slayer of Vṛtra, at their head, they proceeded visiting all the sacred places, and in the month of Māgha they reached the holy ford of the Kauśikī river. (13-96-6)
सर्वेषु तीर्थेष्वथ धूतपापा; जग्मुस्ततो ब्रह्मसरः सुपुण्यम्। देवस्य तीर्थे जलमग्निकल्पा; विगाह्य ते भुक्तबिसप्रसूनाः ॥१३-९६-७॥
Having visited all the sacred places and thus purified of their sins, they then went to the very holy Brahmasaras. There, in that god's sacred place, they plunged into the water (bright as fire) and ate lotus-flowers. (13-96-7)
केचिद्बिसान्यखनंस्तत्र राज; न्नन्ये मृणालान्यखनंस्तत्र विप्राः। अथापश्यन्पुष्करं ते ह्रियन्तं; ह्रदादगस्त्येन समुद्धृतं वै ॥१३-९६-८॥
Some, O king, dug up lotus stalks there; others, the Brāhmaṇas, dug up lotus fibres in that place. Then they saw that lotus flower being brought up out of the lake by Agastya. (13-96-8)
तानाह सर्वानृषिमुख्यानगस्त्यः; केनादत्तं पुष्करं मे सुजातम्। युष्माञ्शङ्के दीयतां पुष्करं मे; न वै भवन्तो हर्तुमर्हन्ति पद्मम् ॥१३-९६-९॥
Agastya said to all the chief sages: 'By whom was this well-born blue lotus given to me? I suspect you all; let the blue lotus be given back to me. Indeed, you all are not worthy to take away the lotus.' (13-96-9)
शृणोमि कालो हिंसते धर्मवीर्यं; सेयं प्राप्ता वर्धते धर्मपीडा। पुराधर्मो वर्धते नेह याव; त्तावद्गच्छामि परलोकं चिराय ॥१३-९६-१०॥
I hear that Time destroys the strength of dharma; this distress to dharma has now arrived and is increasing. The old righteousness no longer grows here, so until it returns, I shall depart to the other world for a long time. (13-96-10)
पुरा वेदान्ब्राह्मणा ग्राममध्ये; घुष्टस्वरा वृषलाञ्श्रावयन्ति। पुरा राजा व्यवहारानधर्म्या; न्पश्यत्यहं परलोकं व्रजामि ॥१३-९६-११॥
In earlier times, the Brāhmaṇas, in the village center, used to make the outcastes hear the Vedas aloud; formerly, the king would witness unjust judgments. Now, I go to the next world. (13-96-11)
पुरावरान्प्रत्यवरान्गरीयसो; यावन्नरा नावमंस्यन्ति सर्वे। तमोत्तरं यावदिदं न वर्तते; तावद्व्रजामि परलोकं चिराय ॥१३-९६-१२॥
The greater cities surpass the lesser ones; until all the people have boarded the boat and this obstacle is not passed, I shall go to the other world for a long time. (13-96-12)
पुरा प्रपश्यामि परेण मर्त्या; न्बलीयसा दुर्बलान्भुज्यमानान्। तस्माद्यास्यामि परलोकं चिराय; न ह्युत्सहे द्रष्टुमीदृङ्नृलोके ॥१३-९६-१३॥
Formerly I have observed mortals being overpowered by the strong; the weak consumed by the powerful. Therefore, I shall go to the other world for a long time; for I am truly unable to witness such things in the world of men (13-96-13)
तमाहुरार्ता ऋषयो महर्षिं; न ते वयं पुष्करं चोरयामः। मिथ्याभिषङ्गो भवता न कार्यः; शपाम तीक्ष्णाञ्शपथान्महर्षे ॥१३-९६-१४॥
Distressed, the sages addressed the great sage thus: "We did not steal your Puṣkara. You should not make a false accusation; O great sage, we swear the most severe oaths." (13-96-14)
ते निश्चितास्तत्र महर्षयस्तु; संमन्यन्तो धर्ममेवं नरेन्द्र। ततोऽशपञ्शपथान्पर्ययेण; सहैव ते पार्थिव पुत्रपौत्रैः ॥१३-९६-१५॥
Having made their decision there, the great sages—upon agreeing thus regarding righteousness, O king—then, together with those kings and their sons and grandsons, pronounced oaths one after the other. (13-96-15)
भृगुरुवाच॥
Bṛgu said;
प्रत्याक्रोशेदिहाक्रुष्टस्ताडितः प्रतिताडयेत्। खादेच्च पृष्ठमांसानि यस्ते हरति पुष्करम् ॥१३-९६-१६॥
Here, one who is abused should shout back; if struck, one should strike back. Also, one should eat the back-flesh of anyone who takes away your hide. (13-96-16)
वसिष्ठ उवाच॥
Vasiṣṭha said.
अस्वाध्यायपरो लोके श्वानं च परिकर्षतु। पुरे च भिक्षुर्भवतु यस्ते हरति पुष्करम् ॥१३-९६-१७॥
Let the person in the world who is not devoted to study drag a dog; and in the town, let him become a beggar who takes away your lotus. (13-96-17)
कश्यप उवाच॥
Kashyapa said.
सर्वत्र सर्वं पणतु न्यासे लोभं करोतु च। कूटसाक्षित्वमभ्येतु यस्ते हरति पुष्करम् ॥१३-९६-१८॥
Let him who takes away your lotus, everywhere gamble everything, commit greed in matters of trust, and attain the state of a false witness. (13-96-18)
गौतम उवाच॥
Gautama said.
जीवत्वहङ्कृतो बुद्ध्या विपणत्वधमेन सः। कर्षको मत्सरी चास्तु यस्ते हरति पुष्करम् ॥१३-९६-१९॥
Let him who takes your lotus, being filled with the pride of life by intelligence, and the baseness of a shopkeeper, be a ploughman and an envious man. (13-96-19)
अङ्गिरा उवाच॥
Angiras said.
अशुचिर्ब्रह्मकूटोऽस्तु श्वानं च परिकर्षतु। ब्रह्महानिकृतिश्चास्तु यस्ते हरति पुष्करम् ॥१३-९६-२०॥
Let him who takes your lotus be impure, a deceiver regarding Brahman, a dog-dragger, and an imitator of a Brāhmaṇa-killer. (13-96-20)
धुन्धुमार उवाच॥
Dhundhumāra said.
अकृतज्ञोऽस्तु मित्राणां शूद्रायां तु प्रजायतु। एकः सम्पन्नमश्नातु यस्ते हरति पुष्करम् ॥१३-९६-२१॥
Let the ungrateful one be among friends; among Śūdra women let him be born. Let him who takes your lotus (property) eat alone, even if there is abundance. (13-96-21)
पूरुरुवाच॥
Pūru said.
चिकित्सायां प्रचरतु भार्यया चैव पुष्यतु। श्वशुरात्तस्य वृत्तिः स्याद्यस्ते हरति पुष्करम् ॥१३-९६-२२॥
Let him engage in medicine, and indeed thrive with his wife. His livelihood may be from his father-in-law; but whoever takes away your wealth, (beware of him). (13-96-22)
दिलीप उवाच॥
Dilip said.
उदपानप्लवे ग्रामे ब्राह्मणो वृषलीपतिः। तस्य लोकान्स व्रजतु यस्ते हरति पुष्करम् ॥१३-९६-२३॥
If, in a village where there is a flooded well, a brāhmaṇa is the husband of a low-caste woman, then let him lose his worlds—he who takes away your sacred pond. (13-96-23)
शुक्र उवाच॥
Śukra said;
पृष्ठमांसं समश्नातु दिवा गच्छतु मैथुनम्। प्रेष्यो भवतु राज्ञश्च यस्ते हरति पुष्करम् ॥१३-९६-२४॥
Let him eat the back (animal) meat, let him go to sexual union by day, let him become a servant of the king, and let him be he who takes your lotus. (13-96-24)
जमदग्निरुवाच॥
Jamadagni said.
अनध्यायेष्वधीयीत मित्रं श्राद्धे च भोजयेत्। श्राद्धे शूद्रस्य चाश्नीयाद्यस्ते हरति पुष्करम् ॥१३-९६-२५॥
One should study when study is prohibited, feed a friend at a śrāddha, and also eat at a śrāddha of a Śūdra; whoever does so takes away your merit. (13-96-25)
शिबिरुवाच॥
Śibiru said.
अनाहिताग्निर्म्रियतां यज्ञे विघ्नं करोतु च। तपस्विभिर्विरुध्येत यस्ते हरति पुष्करम् ॥१३-९६-२६॥
Let one who has not established the sacrificial fire perish, cause obstruction in the sacrifice, and be opposed by the ascetics—the one who takes away your Puṣkara. (13-96-26)
ययातिरुवाच॥
King Yayāti said.
अनृतौ जटी व्रतिन्यां वै भार्यायां सम्प्रजायतु। निराकरोतु वेदांश्च यस्ते हरति पुष्करम् ॥१३-९६-२७॥
If one takes away your Puṣkara, may a matted-haired ascetic be born in his wife, practicing a vow, in the way of untruth; may he reject the Vedas as well. (13-96-27)
नहुष उवाच॥
Nahuṣa said.
अतिथिं गृहस्थो नुदतु कामवृत्तोऽस्तु दीक्षितः। विद्यां प्रयच्छतु भृतो यस्ते हरति पुष्करम् ॥१३-९६-२८॥
Let the householder turn away the guest; let the initiated act as he pleases; let the servant give knowledge to one who takes your lotus. (13-96-28)
अम्बरीष उवाच॥
Ambarīṣa said.
नृशंसस्त्यक्तधर्मोऽस्तु स्त्रीषु ज्ञातिषु गोषु च। ब्राह्मणं चापि जहतु यस्ते हरति पुष्करम् ॥१३-९६-२९॥
Let the one who takes away your Pushkara (lotus pond)—be he a cruel person, a dharma-abandoner, let him be among women, relatives, cows, or even a brāhmaṇa—abandon him. (13-96-29)
नारद उवाच॥
Nārada said.
गूढोऽज्ञानी बहिः शास्त्रं पठतां विस्वरं पदम्। गरीयसोऽवजानातु यस्ते हरति पुष्करम् ॥१३-९६-३०॥
You should not disrespect the concealed ignorant person, the out-of-tune word among those reciting scripture, for whoever among the superior removes your sin. (13-96-30)
नाभाग उवाच॥
Nabhaga said.
अनृतं भाषतु सदा सद्भिश्चैव विरुध्यतु। शुल्केन कन्यां ददतु यस्ते हरति पुष्करम् ॥१३-९६-३१॥
Let him always speak untruth, let him oppose virtuous people, let him give a maiden for a price—who among them seizes the lotus. (13-96-31)
कविरुवाच॥
The poet said;
पदा स गां ताडयतु सूर्यं च प्रति मेहतु। शरणागतं च त्यजतु यस्ते हरति पुष्करम् ॥१३-९६-३२॥
Let him strike a cow with his foot, urinate towards the sun, and abandon a refugee—whoever takes away your lotus. (13-96-32)
विश्वामित्र उवाच॥
Viśvāmitra said.
करोतु भृतकोऽवर्षां राज्ञश्चास्तु पुरोहितः। ऋत्विगस्तु ह्ययाज्यस्य यस्ते हरति पुष्करम् ॥१३-९६-३३॥
Let a hired servant conduct a drought (sacrifice); let the king have a family priest; truly, let the officiating priest be the one who takes the fee from an unworthy sacrificer, that is, for you. (13-96-33)
पर्वत उवाच॥
Parvata said.
ग्रामे चाधिकृतः सोऽस्तु खरयानेन गच्छतु। शुनः कर्षतु वृत्त्यर्थे यस्ते हरति पुष्करम् ॥१३-९६-३४॥
Also in the village, let the appointed person remain; let him go by donkey-cart. Let the dog be yoked for work who takes away your lotus for his own livelihood. (13-96-34)
भरद्वाज उवाच॥
Bharadvāja said.
सर्वपापसमादानं नृशंसे चानृते च यत्। तत्तस्यास्तु सदा पापं यस्ते हरति पुष्करम् ॥१३-९६-३५॥
Let the sin resulting from acceptance of all sins, from cruelty and from untruth, always belong to him who removes your Puṣkara. (13-96-35)
अष्टक उवाच॥
Aṣṭaka said.
स राजास्त्वकृतप्रज्ञः कामवृत्तिश्च पापकृत्। अधर्मेणानुशास्तूर्वीं यस्ते हरति पुष्करम् ॥१३-९६-३६॥
But that king who is unwise, acts according to desire and does evil, who, ruling the earth unrighteously, deprives you of your fortune is (thus described). (13-96-36)
गालव उवाच॥
Gālava said.
पापिष्ठेभ्यस्त्वनर्घार्हः स नरोऽस्तु स्वपापकृत्। दत्त्वा दानं कीर्तयतु यस्ते हरति पुष्करम् ॥१३-९६-३७॥
Let even the man who has committed his own sins, after giving a gift, praise you who are worthy of the priceless, for you remove (the sins of) the most sinful. (13-96-37)
अरुन्धत्युवाच॥
Arundhati said.
श्वश्र्वापवादं वदतु भर्तुर्भवतु दुर्मनाः। एका स्वादु समश्नातु या ते हरति पुष्करम् ॥१३-९६-३८॥
"Let her utter the reproach of the mother-in-law, let her be distressed about her husband, let her eat sweet food alone—she who has taken away your lotus." (13-96-38)
वालखिल्या ऊचुः॥
The Vālakhiḷya sages said.
एकपादेन वृत्त्यर्थं ग्रामद्वारे स तिष्ठतु। धर्मज्ञस्त्यक्तधर्मोऽस्तु यस्ते हरति पुष्करम् ॥१३-९६-३९॥
Let him stand at the village gate on one foot for the sake of livelihood. The one who knows dharma but abandons it, who takes your lotus, let him be so. (13-96-39)
पशुसख उवाच॥
The friend of the beast said.
अग्निहोत्रमनादृत्य सुखं स्वपतु स द्विजः। परिव्राट्कामवृत्तोऽस्तु यस्ते हरति पुष्करम् ॥१३-९६-४०॥
Let that Brahmin, who without honoring Agnihotra sleeps comfortably, be a wandering ascetic intent on desire—such a one who takes away your sacred water vessel. (13-96-40)
सुरभ्युवाच॥
Surabhi said.
बाल्वजेन निदानेन कांस्यं भवतु दोहनम्। दुह्येत परवत्सेन या ते हरति पुष्करम् ॥१३-९६-४१॥
Let the milking of the bronze vessel be done with a calf-leather tether and a connecting piece; let it be milked by another's calf, which takes away your milk. (13-96-41)
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhīṣma said.
ततस्तु तैः शपथैः शप्यमानै; र्नानाविधैर्बहुभिः कौरवेन्द्र। सहस्राक्षो देवराट्सम्प्रहृष्टः; समीक्ष्य तं कोपनं विप्रमुख्यम् ॥१३-९६-४२॥
O lord of the Kurus, then, when those many and various oaths were being sworn, the thousand-eyed king of the gods, Indra, having noticed that foremost and angry brahmin, became greatly delighted. (13-96-42)
अथाब्रवीन्मघवा प्रत्ययं स्वं; समाभाष्य तमृषिं जातरोषम्। ब्रह्मर्षिदेवर्षिनृपर्षिमध्ये; यत्तन्निबोधेह ममाद्य राजन् ॥१३-९६-४३॥
Then Maghavan (Indra) spoke his own intention; after addressing that sage who had become angry, in the assembly of brahmarṣis, devarṣis, and rājarṣis. Now, O King, hear from me what it is (that I say). (13-96-43)
शक्र उवाच॥
Indra said.
अध्वर्यवे दुहितरं ददातु; च्छन्दोगे वा चरितब्रह्मचर्ये। आथर्वणं वेदमधीत्य विप्रः; स्नायीत यः पुष्करमाददाति ॥१३-९६-४४॥
Let him give his daughter to an Adhvaryu priest, or to a Chāndogya who has completed his vow of celibacy. A Brāhmaṇa who has studied the Atharva Veda and attains Puṣkara should perform the sacred graduation ceremony. (13-96-44)
सर्वान्वेदानधीयीत पुण्यशीलोऽस्तु धार्मिकः। ब्रह्मणः सदनं यातु यस्ते हरति पुष्करम् ॥१३-९६-४५॥
Let him study all the Vedas, be of virtuous character, and righteous; may he attain the abode of Brahman, he who takes away your lotus. (13-96-45)
अगस्त्य उवाच॥
Agastya said.
आशीर्वादस्त्वया प्रोक्तः शपथो बलसूदन। दीयतां पुष्करं मह्यमेष धर्मः सनातनः ॥१३-९६-४६॥
O destroyer of strength, you have spoken the blessing and the oath. Let Puṣkara be given to me; this is the eternal duty. (13-96-46)
इन्द्र उवाच॥
Indra said.
न मया भगवँल्लोभाद्धृतं पुष्करमद्य वै। धर्मं तु श्रोतुकामेन हृतं न क्रोद्धुमर्हसि ॥१३-९६-४७॥
O revered one, the lotus was not taken by me out of greed today. Rather, I took it out of desire to hear the law; you should not be angry. (13-96-47)
धर्मः श्रुतिसमुत्कर्षो धर्मसेतुरनामयः। आर्षो वै शाश्वतो नित्यमव्ययोऽयं मया श्रुतः ॥१३-९६-४८॥
Dharma is the exaltation of the revealed scriptures, a bridge of righteousness, free from evil, of the ṛṣis, indeed eternal, perpetual, and imperishable—this I have heard. (13-96-48)
तदिदं गृह्यतां विद्वन्पुष्करं मुनिसत्तम। अतिक्रमं मे भगवन्क्षन्तुमर्हस्यनिन्दित ॥१३-९६-४९॥
Therefore, O learned one, please accept this lotus, O best of sages. O revered and blameless one, you are worthy to forgive my transgression. (13-96-49)
इत्युक्तः स महेन्द्रेण तपस्वी कोपनो भृशम्। जग्राह पुष्करं धीमान्प्रसन्नश्चाभवन्मुनिः ॥१३-९६-५०॥
Thus addressed by Mahendra, the ascetic who had been very angry took the lotus, and the wise sage became calm. (13-96-50)
प्रययुस्ते ततो भूयस्तीर्थानि वनगोचराः। पुण्यतीर्थेषु च तथा गात्राण्याप्लावयन्ति ते ॥१३-९६-५१॥
Thereafter, those dwelling in the forest again visited the sacred places. In the holy fords, they likewise bathed their limbs. (13-96-51)
आख्यानं य इदं युक्तः पठेत्पर्वणि पर्वणि। न मूर्खं जनयेत्पुत्रं न भवेच्च निराकृतिः ॥१३-९६-५२॥
Whoever recites this story with attention on each festival occasion, will not beget a foolish son, nor will he be deformed. (13-96-52)
न तमापत्स्पृशेत्काचिन्न ज्वरो न रुजश्च ह। विरजाः श्रेयसा युक्तः प्रेत्य स्वर्गमवाप्नुयात् ॥१३-९६-५३॥
No calamity, fever, or disease may touch him; being free from impurity and endowed with auspiciousness, he attains heaven after death. (13-96-53)
यश्च शास्त्रमनुध्यायेदृषिभिः परिपालितम्। स गच्छेद्ब्रह्मणो लोकमव्ययं च नरोत्तम ॥१३-९६-५४॥
O best of men, one who follows and meditates upon the scripture protected by the sages attains the imperishable realm of Brahman. (13-96-54)
