13.096
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said;
atraiva udāharantī mama itihāsaṃ purātanam। yat vṛttaṃ tīrtha-yātrāyāṃ śapathaṃ prati tat śṛṇu ॥13-96-1॥
Right here, they cite this ancient story. Hear about the event that occurred during a pilgrimage concerning an oath. (13-96-1)
puṣkarārthaṁ kṛtaṁ stainyaṁ purā bharatasattama। rājarṣibhirmahārāja tathaiva ca dvijarṣibhiḥ ॥13-96-2॥
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)
ṛṣayaḥ sametāḥ paścime vai prabhāse; samāgatā mantram amantrayanta. carāma sarve pṛthivīṃ puṇyatīrthāṃ; tan naḥ kāryaṃ hanta gacchāma sarve ॥13-96-3॥
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)
śukro'ṅgirāścaiva kaviśca vidvāṁ; stathāgastyō nāradaparvatau ca. bhṛgurvasiṣṭhaḥ kaśyapō gautamaśca; viśvāmitrō jamadagniśca rājan ॥13-96-4॥
O king, Śukra, Aṅgirās, Kavi, the learned one, Agastya, Nārada and Parvata, Bhṛgu, Vasiṣṭha, Kaśyapa, Gautama, Viśvāmitra, and Jamadagni (were present). (13-96-4)
ṛṣiḥ tathā gālavaḥ atha aṣṭakaḥ ca; bharadvājaḥ arundhatī vālakhilyāḥ। śibiḥ dilīpaḥ nahuṣaḥ ambarīṣaḥ; rājā yayātiḥ dhundhumāraḥ atha pūruḥ॥13-96-5॥
The sage, Gālava as well, then Aṣṭaka, Bharadvāja, Arundhatī, the Vālakhilyas, Śibi, Dilīpa, Nahuṣa, Ambarīṣa, King Yayāti, Dhundhumāra, and then Pūru. (13-96-5)
jagmuḥ puraskṛtya mahānubhāvaṃ; śatakratuṃ vṛtrahaṇaṃ narendra। tīrthāni sarvāṇi parikramanto; māghyāṃ yayuḥ kauśikīṃ puṇyatīrthām ॥13-96-6॥
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)
sarveṣu tīrtheṣv atha dhūtapāpā; jagmus tato brahmasaraḥ supuṇyam। devasya tīrthe jalam agnikalpā; vigāhya te bhuktabisaprasūnāḥ॥13-96-7॥
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)
kecid bisāni akhanan tatra rājan; nanye mṛṇālāni akhanan tatra viprāḥ. atha apaśyan puṣkaram te hriyantam; hradāt agastyena samuddhṛtam vai ॥13-96-8॥
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)
tān āha sarvān ṛṣimukhyān agastyaḥ; kena adattaṃ puṣkaraṃ me sujātam। yuṣmān śaṅke dīyatāṃ puṣkaraṃ me; na vai bhavanto hartum arhanti padmam ॥13-96-9॥
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)
śṛṇomi kālo hiṃsate dharmavīryaṃ; seyaṃ prāptā vardhate dharmapīḍā. purādharmaḥ vardhate neha yāvat; tāvadgacchāmi paralokaṃ cirāya ॥13-96-10॥
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)
purā vedān brāhmaṇā grāma-madhye; ghuṣṭa-svarā vṛṣalān śrāvayanti. purā rājā vyavahārān adharmyān paśyati ahaṃ paralokaṃ vrajāmi ॥13-96-11॥
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)
puravarān pratyavarān garīyaso; yāvan narā nāvam amsyanti sarve. tam uttaraṃ yāvat idaṃ na vartate; tāvat vrajāmi paralokaṃ cirāya ॥13-96-12॥
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)
purā prapaśyāmi pareṇa martyān; balīyasā durbalān bhujyamānān। tasmād yāsyāmi paralokaṃ cirāya; na hy utsahe draṣṭum īdṛṅ nṛloke ॥13-96-13॥
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)
tam āhuḥ ārtā ṛṣayaḥ maharṣiṃ; na te vayaṃ puṣkaraṃ corayāmaḥ। mithyā-abhiṣaṅgaḥ bhavatā na kāryaḥ; śapāma tīkṣṇān śapathān maharṣe ॥13-96-14॥
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)
te niścitās tatra maharṣayas tu; saṁmanyanto dharmam evaṁ narendra. tato'śapañ śapathān paryayeṇa; sahaiva te pārthiva putrapautraiḥ ॥13-96-15॥
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)
bhṛgur uvāca॥
Bṛgu said;
pratyākrośedihākruṣṭastāḍitaḥ pratitāḍayet. khādecca pṛṣṭhamāṃsāni yaste harati puṣkaram ॥13-96-16॥
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)
vasiṣṭha uvāca॥
Vasiṣṭha said.
asvādhāyāyaparo loke śvānaṃ ca parikarṣatu। pure ca bhikṣur bhavatu yas te harati puṣkaram॥13-96-17॥
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)
kaśyapa uvāca॥
Kashyapa said.
sarvatra sarvaṃ paṇatu nyāse lobhaṃ karotu ca। kūṭasākṣitvam abhyetu yas te harati puṣkaram ॥13-96-18॥
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)
gautama uvāca॥
Gautama said.
jīvatva-haṅkṛto buddhyā vipaṇatvadhamena saḥ। karṣako matsarī cāstu yaste harati puṣkaram ॥13-96-19॥
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)
aṅgirā uvāca॥
Angiras said.
aśucirbrahmakūṭo'stu śvānaṃ ca parikarṣatu. brahmahānikṛtiścāstu yaste harati puṣkaram ॥13-96-20॥
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)
dhundhumāra uvāca॥
Dhundhumāra said.
akṛtajño'stu mitrāṇāṃ śūdrāyāṃ tu prajāyatu। ekaḥ sampannamaśnātu yaste harati puṣkaram ॥13-96-21॥
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)
pūruḥ uvāca॥
Pūru said.
cikitsāyāṃ pracaratu bhāryayā caiva puṣyatu। śvaśurāttasya vṛttiḥ syādyaste harati puṣkaram ॥13-96-22॥
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)
dilīpa uvāca॥
Dilip said.
udapānaplave grāme brāhmaṇo vṛṣalīpatiḥ। tasya lokān sa vrajatu yaste harati puṣkaram॥13-96-23॥
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)
śukra uvāca॥
Śukra said;
pṛṣṭhamāṁsaṁ samaśnātu divā gacchatu maithunam। preṣyo bhavatu rājñaś ca yaste harati puṣkaram ॥13-96-24॥
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)
jamadagniḥ uvāca॥
Jamadagni said.
anadhyāyeṣv adhīyīta mitraṁ śrāddhe ca bhojayet। śrāddhe śūdrasya cāśnīyād yaste harati puṣkaram ॥13-96-25॥
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)
śibiruvāca॥
Śibiru said.
anāhitāgnir mriyatāṃ yajñe vighnaṃ karotu ca. tapasvibhir virudhyeta yas te harati puṣkaram ॥13-96-26॥
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)
yayātir uvāca॥
King Yayāti said.
anṛtau jaṭī vratinyāṃ vai bhāryāyāṃ samprajāyatu। nirākarotu vedāṃś ca yas te harati puṣkaram ॥13-96-27॥
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)
nahuṣa uvāca॥
Nahuṣa said.
atithiṃ gṛhastho nudatu kāmavṛtto'stu dīkṣitaḥ। vidyāṃ prayacchatu bhṛto yaste harati puṣkaram ॥13-96-28॥
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)
ambarīṣa uvāca॥
Ambarīṣa said.
nṛśaṁsas tyakta-dharmo'stu strīṣu jñātiṣu goṣu ca। brāhmaṇaṁ cāpi jahatu yas te harati puṣkaram॥13-96-29॥
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)
nārada uvāca॥
Nārada said.
gūḍho'jñānī bahiḥ śāstraṃ paṭhatāṃ visvaraṃ padam। garīyaso'vajānātu yaste harati puṣkaram ॥13-96-30॥
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)
nābhāga uvāca॥
Nabhaga said.
anṛtaṃ bhāṣatu sadā sadbhiścaiva virudhyatu। śulkena kanyāṃ dadatu yaste harati puṣkaram ॥13-96-31॥
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)
kaviruvāca॥
The poet said;
padā sa gāṃ tāḍayatu sūryaṃ ca prati mehatu. śaraṇāgataṃ ca tyajatu yas te harati puṣkaram ॥13-96-32॥
Let him strike a cow with his foot, urinate towards the sun, and abandon a refugee—whoever takes away your lotus. (13-96-32)
viśvāmitra uvāca॥
Viśvāmitra said.
karotu bhṛtako'varṣāṃ rājñaś cāstu purohitaḥ। ṛtvig astu hy ayājyasya yas te harati puṣkaram ॥13-96-33॥
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)
parvata uvāca॥
Parvata said.
grāme cādhikṛtaḥ so'stu kharayānena gacchatu. śunaḥ karṣatu vṛttyarthe yaste harati puṣkaram ॥13-96-34॥
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)
bharadvāja uvāca॥
Bharadvāja said.
sarvapāpasamādānaṃ nṛśaṃse cānṛte ca yat। tattasyāstu sadā pāpaṃ yaste harati puṣkaram ॥13-96-35॥
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)
aṣṭaka uvāca॥
Aṣṭaka said.
sa rājas tv akṛtaprajñaḥ kāmavṛttiś ca pāpakṛt| adharmeṇānuśāstūr vīṃ yas te harati puṣkaram ||13-96-36||
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)
gālava uvāca॥
Gālava said.
pāpiṣṭhebhyaḥ tvanarghārhaḥ sa naro'stu svapāpakṛt। dattvā dānaṃ kīrtayatu yaste harati puṣkaram ॥13-96-37॥
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)
arundhaty uvāca॥
Arundhati said.
śvaśrv-āpavādaṃ vadatu bhartuḥ bhavatu durmanāḥ। ekā svādu samaśnātu yā te harati puṣkaram ॥13-96-38॥
"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)
vālakhiḷyā ūcuḥ॥
The Vālakhiḷya sages said.
ekapādena vṛttyarthaṃ grāmadvāre sa tiṣṭhatu। dharmajñas tyaktadharmo 'stu yas te harati puṣkaram ॥13-96-39॥
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)
paśusakha uvāca॥
The friend of the beast said.
agnihotram anādṛtya sukhaṃ svapatu sa dvijaḥ। parivrāṭ kāmavṛtto'stu yas te harati puṣkaram ॥13-96-40॥
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)
surabhy uvāca॥
Surabhi said.
bālvajena nidānena kāṁsyaṁ bhavatu dohanam। duhyeta paravatsena yā te harati puṣkaram॥13-96-41॥
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)
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said.
tatastu taiḥ śapathaiḥ śapyamānaiḥ nānāvidhair bahubhiḥ kauravendra। sahasrākṣaḥ devarāṭ samprahṛṣṭaḥ samīkṣya taṃ kopanaṃ vipramukhyam ॥13-96-42॥
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)
athābravīn maghavā pratyayaṃ svaṃ; samābhāṣya tam ṛṣiṃ jātarōṣam। brahmarṣi-devarṣi-nṛparṣi-madhye; yat tan nibodha iha mama adya rājan ॥13-96-43॥
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)
śakra uvāca॥
Indra said.
adhvaryave duhitaraṃ dadātu; chandōge vā carita-brahmacarye. ātharvaṇaṃ vedam adhītya vipraḥ; snāyīta yaḥ puṣkaram ādadāti ॥13-96-44॥
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)
sarvān vedān adhīyīta puṇyaśīlo'stu dhārmikaḥ। brahmaṇaḥ sadanaṃ yātu yaste harati puṣkaram ॥13-96-45॥
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)
agastya uvāca॥
Agastya said.
āśīrvādas tvayā proktaḥ śapatho balasūdana। dīyatāṃ puṣkaraṃ mahyam eṣa dharmaḥ sanātanaḥ॥13-96-46॥
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)
indra uvāca॥
Indra said.
na mayā bhagavan-lobhād dhṛtaṃ puṣkaram adya vai। dharmaṃ tu śrotu-kāmena hṛtaṃ na krodhum arhasi॥13-96-47॥
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)
dharmaḥ śrutisamutkarṣo dharmaseturanāmayaḥ। ārṣo vai śāśvato nityamavyayo'yaṃ mayā śrutaḥ॥13-96-48॥
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)
tad idaṃ gṛhyatāṃ vidvan puṣkaraṃ munisattama। atikramaṃ me bhagavan kṣantum arhasi anindita ॥13-96-49॥
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)
ityuktaḥ sa mahendreṇa tapasvī kopano bhṛśam। jagrāha puṣkaraṃ dhīmānprasannaścābhavanmuniḥ ॥13-96-50॥
Thus addressed by Mahendra, the ascetic who had been very angry took the lotus, and the wise sage became calm. (13-96-50)
prayayus te tato bhūyas tīrthāni vanagocarāḥ। puṇyatīrtheṣu ca tathā gātrāṇy āplāvayanti te ॥13-96-51॥
Thereafter, those dwelling in the forest again visited the sacred places. In the holy fords, they likewise bathed their limbs. (13-96-51)
ākhyānaṁ ya idaṁ yuktaḥ paṭhet parvaṇi parvaṇi। na mūrkhaṁ janayet putraṁ na bhavet ca nirākṛtiḥ॥13-96-52॥
Whoever recites this story with attention on each festival occasion, will not beget a foolish son, nor will he be deformed. (13-96-52)
na tam-āpat-spṛśet kācit na jvaro na rujaś ca ha। virajāḥ śreyasā yuktaḥ pretya svargam avāpnuyāt॥13-96-53॥
No calamity, fever, or disease may touch him; being free from impurity and endowed with auspiciousness, he attains heaven after death. (13-96-53)
yaś ca śāstram anudhyāyed ṛṣibhiḥ paripālitam। sa gacched brahmaṇo lokam avyayaṁ ca narottama ॥13-96-54॥
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)
