13.106
The greatness of fasting.
Yudhishthira said.
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)
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)
Bhīṣma said.
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)
Here too they relate an ancient history—the dialogue between Bhagiratha and the great-souled Brahma. (13-106-4)
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)
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)
O Bhagīratha, neither gods, gandharvas, nor humans come here without performing austerities; how indeed have you come here? (13-106-7)
Bhagīratha said.
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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).
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)
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)
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)
O grandsire, O Brāhman, he gave ten crores and seven crores of green, dark-eared, golden-garlanded horses. (13-106-18)
I gave seventeen thousand (elephants) with arrow-like tusks, great bodies, adorned with golden garlands, and possessing wives. (13-106-19)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
I gave mountains heaped with gold and jewels, and hundreds of thousands of villages abounding in wealth and grain. (13-106-29)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
O Brahmin, I have performed thirty agni-sacrifices, always performed them, along with eight Sarvamedha-sacrifices and seven Naramedha-sacrifices. (13-106-35)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
Bhishma said;
Having thus spoken, Brahmā indeed honored King Bhagīratha as worthy of honor, by an act performed according to the prescribed rules. (13-106-42)
