13.106
अनशनमाहात्म्यम्
The greatness of fasting.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhishthira said.
दानं बहुविधाकारं शान्तिः सत्यमहिंसता। स्वदारतुष्टिश्चोक्ता ते फलं दानस्य चैव यत् ॥१३-१०६-१॥
Gift given in many forms, peace, truth, non-violence, and contentment with one's own wife—these are declared to be the fruit of charity and indeed that (which arises therefrom). (13-106-1)
पितामहस्य विदितं किमन्यत्र तपोबलात्। तपसो यत्परं तेऽद्य तन्मे व्याख्यातुमर्हसि ॥१३-१०६-२॥
Is there anything known of the Grandfather apart from the power of austerity? If there is anything higher than austerity that you know today, you ought to explain that to me. (13-106-2)
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhīṣma said.
तपः प्रचक्षते यावत्तावल्लोका युधिष्ठिर। मतं मम तु कौन्तेय तपो नानशनात्परम् ॥१३-१०६-३॥
O Yudhiṣṭhira, people declare austerity to be as long-lasting as the worlds themselves; but in my opinion, O son of Kunti, austerity is not superior to fasting. (13-106-3)
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम्। भगीरथस्य संवादं ब्रह्मणश्च महात्मनः ॥१३-१०६-४॥
Here too they relate an ancient history—the dialogue between Bhagiratha and the great-souled Brahma. (13-106-4)
अतीत्य सुरलोकं च गवां लोकं च भारत। ऋषिलोकं च सोऽगच्छद्भगीरथ इति श्रुतिः ॥१३-१०६-५॥
O Bhārata, it is heard that Bhagīratha, having passed beyond the world of the gods, the world of cows, and the world of sages, went onwards. (13-106-5)
तं दृष्ट्वा स वचः प्राह ब्रह्मा राजन्भगीरथम्। कथं भगीरथागास्त्वमिमं देशं दुरासदम् ॥१३-१०६-६॥
Seeing him, Brahmā spoke these words to Bhagīratha: "O king, how have you, Bhagīratha, come to this place which is difficult to approach?" (13-106-6)
न हि देवा न गन्धर्वा न मनुष्या भगीरथ। आयान्त्यतप्ततपसः कथं वै त्वमिहागतः ॥१३-१०६-७॥
O Bhagīratha, neither gods, gandharvas, nor humans come here without performing austerities; how indeed have you come here? (13-106-7)
भगीरथ उवाच॥
Bhagīratha said.
निःशङ्कमन्नमददं ब्राह्मणेभ्यः; शतं सहस्राणि सदैव दानम्। ब्राह्मं व्रतं नित्यमास्थाय विद्धि; न त्वेवाहं तस्य फलादिहागाम् ॥१३-१०६-८॥
I gave food without doubt to the Brāhmaṇas; hundreds of thousands in gifts at all times. Know that I always undertook the Brahmanical vow; but indeed, I have not come here as a result of its fruit. (13-106-8)
दशैकरात्रान्दश पञ्चरात्रा; नेकादशैकादशकान्क्रतूंश्च। ज्योतिष्टोमानां च शतं यदिष्टं; फलेन तेनापि च नागतोऽहम् ॥१३-१०६-९॥
I performed ten eka-rātra sacrifices, ten pañca-rātra sacrifices, sets of eleven sacrifices, and many sacrifices as well. Even with the result of a hundred jyotiṣṭoma sacrifices, whatever was offered, I have not attained (the desired result). (13-106-9)
यच्चावसं जाह्नवीतीरनित्यः; शतं समास्तप्यमानस्तपोऽहम्। अदां च तत्राश्वतरीसहस्रं; नारीपुरं न च तेनाहमागाम् ॥१३-१०६-१०॥
Though I dwelt constantly on the bank of the Jāhnavī (Gaṅgā), practiced penance for a hundred years, and gave a thousand she-mules there, I did not thereby attain the city of women. (13-106-10)
दशायुतानि चाश्वानामयुतानि च विंशतिम्। पुष्करेषु द्विजातिभ्यः प्रादां गाश्च सहस्रशः ॥१३-१०६-११॥
I gave ten myriads and also twenty times ten thousand horses, and thousands of cows to the twice-born at the sacred ponds. (13-106-11)
सुवर्णचन्द्रोडुपधारिणीनां; कन्योत्तमानामददं स्रग्विणीनाम्। षष्टिं सहस्राणि विभूषितानां; जाम्बूनदैराभरणैर्न तेन ॥१३-१०६-१२॥
I gave, among the best maidens who wore garlands and adorned themselves with golden, moon, and star-like ornaments, sixty thousand of them, decorated with gold ornaments, not by him. (13-106-12)
दशार्बुदान्यददं गोसवेज्या; स्वेकैकशो दश गा लोकनाथ। समानवत्साः पयसा समन्विताः; सुवर्णकांस्योपदुहा न तेन ॥१३-१०६-१३॥
I gave ten arbuda (ten billion) for the gosava sacrifice; O lord of the world, ten cows each, each having similar calves, filled with milk, and milked into golden and bronze vessels, were not given by him. (13-106-13)
अप्तोर्यामेषु नियतमेकैकस्मिन्दशाददम्। गृष्टीनां क्षीरदात्रीणां रोहिणीनां न तेन च ॥१३-१०६-१४॥
During the aptoryāma rituals, I partook ten times in each as prescribed; but not of the gṛṣṭī cows, nor of the milk-giving Rohiṇī cows, by that (act).
दोग्ध्रीणां वै गवां चैव प्रयुतानि दशैव ह। प्रादां दशगुणं ब्रह्मन्न च तेनाहमागतः ॥१३-१०६-१५॥
I have indeed given ten million milk-yielding cows, O Brahman, even ten times that number, and yet I have not thereby attained (my goal). (13-106-15)
वाजिनां बाह्लिजातानामयुतान्यददं दश। कर्काणां हेममालानां न च तेनाहमागतः ॥१३-१०६-१६॥
I gave ten ten-thousand horses born in Bāhlīka, and necklaces of golden garlands, but still, I have not attained (what I sought) by that. (13-106-16)
कोटीश्च काञ्चनस्याष्टौ प्रादां ब्रह्मन्दश त्वहम्। एकैकस्मिन्क्रतौ तेन फलेनाहं न चागतः ॥१३-१०६-१७॥
O Brahman, I gave crores and eight pieces of gold; ten to you. In each sacrifice, with that result, I have not come (here). (13-106-17)
वाजिनां श्यामकर्णानां हरितानां पितामह। प्रादां हेमस्रजां ब्रह्मन्कोटीर्दश च सप्त च ॥१३-१०६-१८॥
O grandsire, O Brāhman, he gave ten crores and seven crores of green, dark-eared, golden-garlanded horses. (13-106-18)
ईषादन्तान्महाकायान्काञ्चनस्रग्विभूषितान्। पत्नीमतः सहस्राणि प्रायच्छं दश सप्त च ॥१३-१०६-१९॥
I gave seventeen thousand (elephants) with arrow-like tusks, great bodies, adorned with golden garlands, and possessing wives. (13-106-19)
अलङ्कृतानां देवेश दिव्यैः कनकभूषणैः। रथानां काञ्चनाङ्गानां सहस्राण्यददं दश ॥ सप्त चान्यानि युक्तानि वाजिभिः समलङ्कृतैः ॥१३-१०६-२०॥
O Lord of the gods, I gave ten thousand chariots with golden parts, adorned with divine golden ornaments. And seven other chariots, yoked with horses and fully decorated, (I gave as well). (13-106-20)
दक्षिणावयवाः केचिद्वेदैर्ये सम्प्रकीर्तिताः। वाजपेयेषु दशसु प्रादां तेनापि नाप्यहम् ॥१३-१०६-२१॥
Some southern portions which have been mentioned by the Vedas—I gave in the ten Vājapeya sacrifices; yet even with that, I was not satisfied. (13-106-21)
शक्रतुल्यप्रभावानामिज्यया विक्रमेण च। सहस्रं निष्ककण्ठानामददं दक्षिणामहम् ॥१३-१०६-२२॥
I gave as sacrificial gifts a thousand men adorned with gold niṣkas around their necks, equal in power to Indra, by sacrifice and prowess. (13-106-22)
विजित्य नृपतीन्सर्वान्मखैरिष्ट्वा पितामह। अष्टभ्यो राजसूयेभ्यो न च तेनाहमागतः ॥१३-१०६-२३॥
Having conquered all the kings and performed sacrifices, grandfather did so. But from (those) eight Rājasūya sacrifices, I did not come even by him. (13-106-23)
स्रोतश्च यावद्गङ्गायाश्छन्नमासीज्जगत्पते। दक्षिणाभिः प्रवृत्ताभिर्मम नागां च तत्कृते ॥१३-१०६-२४॥
O lord of the world, as long as the stream of Gaṅgā was covered by those moving southwards, my Nāgā also was affected because of that. (13-106-24)
वाजिनां च सहस्रे द्वे सुवर्णशतभूषिते। वरं ग्रामशतं चाहमेकैकस्य त्रिधाददम् ॥ तपस्वी नियताहारः शममास्थाय वाग्यतः ॥१३-१०६-२५॥
I gave as gifts two thousand horses adorned with a hundred gold pieces, and also a hundred villages to each person, three times over. As an ascetic, with regulated diet, abiding in tranquility and restraint in speech. (13-106-25)
दीर्घकालं हिमवति गङ्गायाश्च दुरुत्सहाम्। मूर्ध्ना धारां महादेवः शिरसा यामधारयत् ॥ न तेनाप्यहमागच्छं फलेनेह पितामह ॥१३-१०६-२६॥
On Mount Himavat, for a long time, Mahādeva held up with his head the difficult-to-bear stream of Gaṅgā; yet even by that, O Grandfather, I did not attain the fruit here. (13-106-26)
शम्याक्षेपैरयजं यच्च देवा; न्सद्यस्कानामयुतैश्चापि यत्तत्। त्रयोदशद्वादशाहांश्च देव; सपौण्डरीकान्न च तेषां फलेन ॥१३-१०६-२७॥
O gods, whatever sacrifices I did not perform by throwing wooden poles, and even those sadyaska rites by tens of thousands, and the thirteen-day and twelve-day sacrifices, and those performed with white lotus flowers, none of these brought the desired fruit for them. (13-106-27)
अष्टौ सहस्राणि ककुद्मिनामहं; शुक्लर्षभाणामददं ब्राह्मणेभ्यः। एकैकं वै काञ्चनं शृङ्गमेभ्यः; पत्नीश्चैषामददं निष्ककण्ठीः ॥१३-१०६-२८॥
I gave eight thousand hump-backed, white bulls to the Brāhmaṇas, each single one having a golden horn; I also gave their wives, adorned with gold necklaces. (13-106-28)
हिरण्यरत्ननिचितानददं रत्नपर्वतान्। धनधान्यसमृद्धांश्च ग्रामाञ्शतसहस्रशः ॥१३-१०६-२९॥
I gave mountains heaped with gold and jewels, and hundreds of thousands of villages abounding in wealth and grain. (13-106-29)
शतं शतानां गृष्टीनामददं चाप्यतन्द्रितः। इष्ट्वानेकैर्महायज्ञैर्ब्राह्मणेभ्यो न तेन च ॥१३-१०६-३०॥
Even though I untiringly gave hundreds upon hundreds of cattle and, having performed many great sacrifices, bestowed them on the Brāhmaṇas, by that (alone) it was not (accomplished). (13-106-30)
एकादशाहैरयजं सदक्षिणै; र्द्विर्द्वादशाहैरश्वमेधैश्च देव। आर्कायणैः षोडशभिश्च ब्रह्मं; स्तेषां फलेनेह न चागतोऽस्मि ॥१३-१०६-३१॥
O divine one, I performed sacrifices of eleven days with suitable gifts; twice, twelve-day sacrifices, and also horse sacrifices. O Brahman, with ārkāyaṇa sacrifices and sixteen as well. Yet through the fruit of those, I have not come here. (13-106-31)
निष्कैककण्ठमददं योजनायतं; तद्विस्तीर्णं काञ्चनपादपानाम्। वनं चूतानां रत्नविभूषितानां; न चैव तेषामागतोऽहं फलेन ॥१३-१०६-३२॥
I have not obtained even a single golden-necklace, despite traversing a forest of golden trees, stretching a yojana in length and breadth; nor have I come upon any of their jewel-adorned mango fruits. (13-106-32)
तुरायणं हि व्रतमप्रधृष्य; मक्रोधनोऽकरवं त्रिंशतोऽब्दान्। शतं गवामष्ट शतानि चैव; दिने दिने ह्यददं ब्राह्मणेभ्यः ॥१३-१०६-३३॥
Indeed, the unassailable vow called Turayana, I practiced without anger for thirty years. Every day, I gave one hundred and eight hundred cows to Brāhmaṇas. (13-106-33)
पयस्विनीनामथ रोहिणीनां; तथैव चाप्यनडुहां लोकनाथ। प्रादां नित्यं ब्राह्मणेभ्यः सुरेश; नेहागतस्तेन फलेन चाहम् ॥१३-१०६-३४॥
O lord of the people, I have always given milk-giving cows, red cows, and even those not yet milked to the Brāhmaṇas, O lord of the gods; yet I have not attained any fruit from that here. (13-106-34)
त्रिंशदग्निमहं ब्रह्मन्नयजं यच्च नित्यदा। अष्टाभिः सर्वमेधैश्च नरमेधैश्च सप्तभिः ॥१३-१०६-३५॥
O Brahmin, I have performed thirty agni-sacrifices, always performed them, along with eight Sarvamedha-sacrifices and seven Naramedha-sacrifices. (13-106-35)
दशभिर्विश्वजिद्भिश्च शतैरष्टादशोत्तरैः। न चैव तेषां देवेश फलेनाहमिहागतः ॥१३-१०६-३६॥
O lord of the gods, I have come here not for the fruit (results) of those ten viśvajit sacrifices, nor for the hundreds (performed) that exceeded by eighteen. (13-106-36)
सरय्वां बाहुदायां च गङ्गायामथ नैमिषे। गवां शतानामयुतमददं न च तेन वै ॥१३-१०६-३७॥
In the Sarayū, Bāhudā, and Gaṅgā rivers, and then at Naimiṣa, I gave ten-thousand hundreds of cows, yet by that indeed I was not satisfied. (13-106-37)
इन्द्रेण गुह्यं निहितं वै गुहायां; यद्भार्गवस्तपसेहाभ्यविन्दत्। जाज्वल्यमानमुशनस्तेजसेह; तत्साधयामास महं वरेण्यम् ॥१३-१०६-३८॥
The secret that was placed by Indra in the cave—this Bhārgava discovered here by penance. Uśanas, blazing with splendor here, accomplished that great and most excellent (achievement). (13-106-38)
ततो मे ब्राह्मणास्तुष्टास्तस्मिन्कर्मणि साधिते। सहस्रमृषयश्चासन्ये वै तत्र समागताः ॥ उक्तस्तैरस्मि गच्छ त्वं ब्रह्मलोकमिति प्रभो ॥१३-१०६-३९॥
Then my brāhmaṇas, being pleased when that act was accomplished, and a thousand sages who had assembled there, addressed me: "Go to Brahmaloka," O lord. (13-106-39)
प्रीतेनोक्तः सहस्रेण ब्राह्मणानामहं प्रभो। इमं लोकमनुप्राप्तो मा भूत्तेऽत्र विचारणा ॥१३-१०६-४०॥
O Lord, I have attained this world, spoken of by a thousand brāhmaṇas out of affection. Let there be no deliberation about this here for you. (13-106-40)
कामं यथावद्विहितं विधात्रा; पृष्टेन वाच्यं तु मया यथावत्। तपो हि नान्यच्चानशनान्मतं मे; नमोऽस्तु ते देववर प्रसीद ॥१३-१०६-४१॥
Whatever has been rightly established by the creator, indeed; and what I should say when asked, I must say properly. For austerity is, in my view, nothing other than fasting. Salutations to you, O best of gods—be gracious. (13-106-41)
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhishma said;
इत्युक्तवन्तं तं ब्रह्मा राजानं स्म भगीरथम्। पूजयामास पूजार्हं विधिदृष्टेन कर्मणा ॥१३-१०६-४२॥
Having thus spoken, Brahmā indeed honored King Bhagīratha as worthy of honor, by an act performed according to the prescribed rules. (13-106-42)
