13.103
dīpādidānaphalam
The result of offering lamps and similar things.
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
kathaṁ sa vai vipannaś ca kathaṁ vai pātito bhuvi। kathaṁ cā-nindratāṁ prāptas tad bhavān vaktum arhati॥13-103-1॥
"How, indeed, did he fall and how was he thrown down to earth? And how did he attain to a state other than Indrahood? This, you ought to explain." (13-103-1)
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhishma said.
evaṁ tayoḥ saṁvadatoḥ kriyās tasya mahātmanaḥ। sarvā evābhyavartanta yā divyā yāś ca mānuṣāḥ॥ sarvāḥ tasya samutpannā devarājño mahātmanaḥ॥13-103-3॥
Thus, while those two were conversing, all of the acts—both divine and human—of the great-souled king of the gods indeed took place. All these arose for him, the great-souled one. (13-103-3)
devaloke nṛloke ca sadācārā budhaiḥ smṛtāḥ। te ced bhavanti rājendra ṛdhyante gṛhamedhinaḥ॥ dhūpapradānair dīpaiś ca namaskāraiḥ tathaiva ca॥13-103-4॥
In the worlds of both gods and men, good conduct is regarded by the wise. If these exist, O King, householders prosper by offerings of incense, lamps, and proper reverence. (13-103-4)
yathā siddhasya cānnasya dvijāyāgraṃ pradīyate। balayaś ca gṛhuddeśe ataḥ prīyanti devatāḥ॥13-103-5॥
Just as the best portion of prepared food is given to the twice-born, and offerings are made at the place of the house, in this way the deities are thereby pleased. (13-103-5)
yathā ca gṛhiṇas toṣo bhaved vai balikarmaṇā। tathā śataguṇā prītir devatānāṁ sma jāyate ॥13-103-6॥
Just as the satisfaction of the householder indeed arises by the act of offering, in the same way, a hundredfold delight of the deities arises. (13-103-6)
evaṃ dhūpapradānaṃ ca dīpadānaṃ ca sādhavaḥ। praśaṃsanti namaskārairyuktamātmaguṇāvaham ॥13-103-7॥
Thus, the virtuous praise the offering of incense and of lamps, when performed with salutations, as bringing about one’s own merit. (13-103-7)
snānenādbhiśca yatkarma kriyate vai vipaścitā। namaskāraprayuktena tena prīyanti devatāḥ ॥ gṛhyāśca devatāḥ sarvāḥ prīyante vidhinārcitāḥ ॥13-103-8॥
Through bathing and the ritual use of water, whatever action is performed by the wise with reverential salutation, by that the deities are pleased. All household deities, too, are gratified when they are honored according to proper method. (13-103-8)
ity etāṃ buddhim āsthāya nahuṣaḥ sa nareśvaraḥ। surendratvaṃ mahat prāpya kṛtavān etad adbhutam ॥13-103-9॥
Thus, having adopted this course of action, Nahuṣa, the lord of men, upon attaining the great position of the lord of the gods, performed this remarkable deed. (13-103-9)
kasyacit tv atha kālasya bhāgyakṣaya upasthite। sarvam etad avajñāya na cakāra etad īdṛśam॥13-103-10॥
But then, when the time of someone's misfortune arrived, disregarding all this, he did not do anything like this. (13-103-10)
tataḥ sa parihīṇo'bhūtsurendro balikarmataḥ। dhūpadīpodakavidhim na yathāvaccakāra ha ॥ tato'sya yajñaviṣayo rakṣobhiḥ paryabādhyata ॥13-103-11॥
Then, deprived in this way, the lord of the gods ceased to receive the offering rites. He did not properly perform the prescribed acts with incense, lamps, and water. Therefore, the object of his sacrifice was hindered by demons. (13-103-11)
athāgastyam ṛṣiśreṣṭhaṃ vāhanāyājuhāva ha । drutaṃ sarasvatī-kūlāt smayann iva mahā-balaḥ ॥13-103-12॥
Then the mighty one, smiling as if, quickly summoned sage Agastya, the best among sages, to his vehicle from the bank of the Sarasvatī. (13-103-12)
tato bhṛgurmahātejā maitrāvaruṇimabravīt। nimīlayasva nayane jaṭā yāvadviśāmi te ॥13-103-13॥
Then Bhṛgu, of great splendour, said to the son of Mitra and Varuṇa: "Close your eyes, O Jaṭā, until I enter you." (13-103-13)
sthāṇubhūtasya tasyātha jaṭāḥ prāviśadacyutaḥ। bhṛguḥ sa sumahātejāḥ pātanāya nṛpasya ha ॥13-103-14॥
Then, Acyuta entered the matted locks of him who had become motionless; Bhrigu, possessed of great brilliance, did so indeed for the destruction of the king. (13-103-14)
tataḥ sa devarāṭ prāptas tam ṛṣiṃ vāhanāya vai। tato'gastyaḥ surapatiṃ vākyam āha viśāṃ pate ॥13-103-15॥
Then, the king of the gods arrived to the sage in order to carry him. Then Agastya spoke to the lord of the gods, O lord of people. (13-103-15)
yojayasvendra māṁ kṣipraṁ kaṁ ca deśaṁ vahāmi te। yatra vakṣyasi tatra tvāṁ nayiṣyāmi surādhipa ॥13-103-16॥
Order me quickly, O Indra—which place I shall carry you to. Wherever you say, there I will take you, O lord of gods. (13-103-16)
ity ukto nahuṣas tena yojayām āsa taṃ munim। bhṛgus tasya jaṭāsaṃstho babhūva hṛṣito bhṛśam ॥13-103-17॥
Thus, when addressed in this way, Nahuṣa, at his command, began to yoke that sage. Bhṛgu, remaining in his matted hair, became very delighted. (13-103-17)
na cāpi darśanaṃ tasya cakāra sa bhṛgustadā। varadānaprabhāvajño nahuṣasya mahātmanaḥ ॥13-103-18॥
Nor did Bhrigu show himself then; knowing the power of the boons of the great-souled Nahuṣa. (13-103-18)
na cukopa sa cāgastyō yuktō'pi nahuṣēṇa vai। taṁ tu rājā pratōdēna cōdayāmāsa bhārata ॥13-103-19॥
But Agastya did not become angry, though he had been yoked by Nahuṣa. Yet the king urged him on with a goad, O Bhārata. (13-103-19)
na cukopa sa dharmātmā tataḥ pādena devarāṭ| agastyasya tadā kruddho vāmenābhyahanacchiraḥ ॥13-103-20॥
He, the righteous-souled, did not become angry; then the king of the gods, being angry, struck Agastya's head with his left foot. (13-103-20)
tasmiñ śirasya abhihate sa jaṭāntargato bhṛguḥ। śaśāpa balavat kruddho nahuṣam pāpacetasaṃ ॥13-103-21॥
After the head was struck, Bhṛgu, who was inside the matted locks, being intensely angry, cursed the evil-minded Nahuṣa. (13-103-21)
bhṛguruvāca॥
Bhrigu said;
yasmātpadāhanaḥ krodhācchirasīmaṃ mahāmunim। tasmādāśu mahīṃ gaccha sarpo bhūtvā sudurmate ॥13-103-22॥
Because you struck this great sage on the head with your foot out of anger, therefore, quickly go to earth as a snake, O wicked-minded one. (13-103-22)
ityuktaḥ sa tadā tena sarpo bhūtvā papāta ha। adṛṣṭenātha bhṛguṇā bhūtale bharatarṣabha ॥13-103-23॥
O bull among the Bharatas, thus addressed, he then, having become a serpent by him, indeed fell on the earth by the unseen Bhṛgu. (13-103-23)
bhṛguṁ hi yadi so'drākṣīn nahuṣaḥ pṛthivīpate। na sa śakto'bhaviṣyad vai pātane tasya tejasā ॥13-103-24॥
O lord of the earth, if Nahuṣa had truly seen Bhṛgu, he would not have been able to bring him down by his (Bhṛgu's) energy. (13-103-24)
sa tu tais taiḥ pradānaiś ca tapobhir niyamais tathā। patito'pi mahārāja bhūtale smṛtimān abhūt॥ prasādayām āsa bhṛguṃ śāpānto me bhaved iti॥13-103-25॥
But he, O great king, though fallen on the earth, by means of various gifts, austerities, and observances, regained his memory. He sought to propitiate Bhṛgu, thinking, "May the end of my curse come." (13-103-25)
tato'gastyaḥ kṛpāviṣṭaḥ prāsādayata taṃ bhṛgum। śāpāntārthaṃ mahārāja sa ca prādātkṛpānvitaḥ ॥13-103-26॥
Then Agastya, filled with compassion, appeased Bṛgu for the purpose of ending the curse, O great king; and he, being compassionate, granted it. (13-103-26)
bhṛguruvāca॥
Bhrigu said.
rājā yudhiṣṭhiro nāma bhaviṣyati kurūdvahaḥ। sa tvāṃ mokṣayitā śāpādity uktvā antaradhīyata॥13-103-27॥
A king named Yudhiṣṭhira, the glory of the Kurus, will exist; he will deliver you from the curse—having said this, he disappeared. (13-103-27)
agastyo'pi mahātejāḥ kṛtvā kāryaṃ śatakratoḥ। svam-āśrama-padaṃ prāyāt pūjyamānaḥ dvijātibhiḥ ॥13-103-28॥
Agastya, the illustrious sage, having fulfilled the task for Śatakratu (Indra), went to his own hermitage, honored by the twice-born (Brāhmaṇas). (13-103-28)
nahuṣo'pi tvayā rājaṃstasmācchāpātsamuddhṛtaḥ। jagāma brahma-sadanaṃ paśyataste janādhipa ॥13-103-29॥
O king, even Nahuṣa was liberated from that curse by you; he went to the abode of Brahman while you, O lord of people, were watching. (13-103-29)
tadā tu pātayitvā taṃ nahuṣaṃ bhūtale bhṛguḥ। jagāma brahmasadanaṃ brahmaṇe ca nyavedayat ॥13-103-30॥
Then Bhṛgu, after causing Nahuṣa to fall to the earth, went to the abode of Brahmā and informed Brahmā about it. (13-103-30)
tataḥ śakraṁ samānāyya devān āha pitāmahaḥ। varadānān mama surā na huṣo rājyam āptavān॥ sa cāgastyena kruddhena bhraṁśito bhūtalaṁ gataḥ॥13-103-31॥
Then, having Indra brought, the grandsire said to the gods: "By my boon, O gods, Nahusha has obtained the kingdom." But he, having been deprived by the angry Agastya, went down to the earth. (13-103-31)
na ca śakyaṃ vinā rājñā surā vartayituṃ kvacit। tasmādayaṃ punaḥ śakro devarājye'bhiṣicyatām ॥13-103-32॥
And it is not possible for the gods to be sustained anywhere without a king; therefore, let this Śakra be consecrated again in the sovereignty of the gods. (13-103-32)
evaṁ sambhāṣamāṇaṁ tu devāḥ pārtha pitāmaham। evam astv iti saṁhṛṣṭāḥ pratyūcus te pitāmaham॥13-103-33॥
While the grandsire was thus speaking, O Pārtha, the gods joyfully replied to him, saying, "Let it be so." (13-103-33)
so'bhiṣikto bhagavatā devarāj-yena vāsavaḥ। brahmaṇā rājaśārdūla yathā-pūrvaṃ vyarocata ॥13-103-34॥
O tiger among kings, Vāsava (Indra), having been anointed by the Venerable Brahmā with the sovereignty of the gods, shone as before. (13-103-34)
evam etat purā vṛttaṁ nahuṣasya vyatikramāt। sa ca tair eva saṁsiddho nahuṣaḥ karmabhiḥ punaḥ ॥13-103-35॥
Thus, this occurred in the past due to Nahuṣa's transgression. And Nahuṣa again achieved [his result] by those same actions. (13-103-35)
tasmāddīpāḥ pradātavyāḥ sāyaṃ vai gṛhamedhibhiḥ। divyaṃ cakṣuravāpnoti pretya dīpapradāyakaḥ॥ pūrṇacandrapratīkāśā dīpadāś ca bhavanty uta॥13-103-36॥
Therefore, lamps must be donated in the evening by householders. One who gives lamps attains divine sight after death. Those who give lamps also become radiant like the full moon. (13-103-36)
yāvad akṣi-nimeṣāṇi jvalate tāvatīḥ samāḥ। rūpa-vān dhana-vān ca api naro bhavati dīpa-daḥ॥13-103-37॥
For as many eye blinks as the lamp burns, for that many years, a man who gives a lamp becomes beautiful and wealthy. (13-103-37)
