13.096
Bhīṣma said;
Right here, they cite this ancient story. Hear about the event that occurred during a pilgrimage concerning an oath. (13-96-1)
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)
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)
O king, Śukra, Aṅgirās, Kavi, the learned one, Agastya, Nārada and Parvata, Bhṛgu, Vasiṣṭha, Kaśyapa, Gautama, Viśvāmitra, and Jamadagni (were present). (13-96-4)
The sage, Gālava as well, then Aṣṭaka, Bharadvāja, Arundhatī, the Vālakhilyas, Śibi, Dilīpa, Nahuṣa, Ambarīṣa, King Yayāti, Dhundhumāra, and then Pūru. (13-96-5)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
Bṛgu said;
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 said.
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)
Kashyapa said.
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 said.
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)
Angiras said.
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 said.
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)
Pūru said.
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)
Dilip said.
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 said;
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)
Jamadagni said.
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)
Śibiru said.
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)
King Yayāti said.
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 said.
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 said.
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 said.
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)
Nabhaga said.
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)
The poet said;
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 said.
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 said.
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 said.
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 said.
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 said.
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)
Arundhati said.
"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)
The Vālakhiḷya sages said.
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)
The friend of the beast said.
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)
Surabhi said.
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 said.
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)
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)
Indra said.
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)
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 said.
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 said.
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)
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)
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)
Thus addressed by Mahendra, the ascetic who had been very angry took the lotus, and the wise sage became calm. (13-96-50)
Thereafter, those dwelling in the forest again visited the sacred places. In the holy fords, they likewise bathed their limbs. (13-96-51)
Whoever recites this story with attention on each festival occasion, will not beget a foolish son, nor will he be deformed. (13-96-52)
No calamity, fever, or disease may touch him; being free from impurity and endowed with auspiciousness, he attains heaven after death. (13-96-53)
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)
