13.137
पवनार्जुनसंवादः
Dialogue between the Wind (Vāyu) and Arjuna.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhisthira said.
कां तु ब्राह्मणपूजायां व्युष्टिं दृष्ट्वा जनाधिप। कं वा कर्मोदयं मत्वा तानर्चसि महामते ॥१३-१३७-१॥
O lord of men, for what reason relating to the worship of brāhmaṇas, or considering what beginning of action, do you honor them, O wise one? (13-137-1)
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhīṣma said.
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम्। पवनस्य च संवादमर्जुनस्य च भारत ॥१३-१३७-२॥
Here, O Bhārata, they also relate this ancient story—the dialogue between Pāvana and Arjuna. (13-137-2)
सहस्रभुजभृच्छ्रीमान्कार्तवीर्योऽभवत्प्रभुः। अस्य लोकस्य सर्वस्य माहिष्मत्यां महाबलः ॥१३-१३७-३॥
The illustrious Kārtavīrya, who bore a thousand arms, became the mighty lord of all this world at Māhiṣmatī. (13-137-3)
स तु रत्नाकरवतीं सद्वीपां सागराम्बराम्। शशास सर्वां पृथिवीं हैहयः सत्यविक्रमः ॥१३-१३७-४॥
But Haihaya of true valour ruled over the entire earth, possessing oceans, with islands, and whose space is covered by seas. (13-137-4)
स्ववित्तं तेन दत्तं तु दत्तात्रेयाय कारणे। क्षत्रधर्मं पुरस्कृत्य विनयं श्रुतमेव च ॥१३-१३७-५॥
He gave his own wealth to Dattatreya on that occasion, prioritizing the duty of a kshatriya, and also humility and learning. (13-137-5)
आराधयामास च तं कृतवीर्यात्मजो मुनिम्। न्यमन्त्रयत संहृष्टः स द्विजश्च वरैस्त्रिभिः ॥१३-१३७-६॥
The son of Kṛtavīrya worshipped the sage, and the delighted Brāhmaṇa addressed him, granting three boons. (13-137-6)
स वरैश्छन्दितस्तेन नृपो वचनमब्रवीत्। सहस्रबाहुर्भूयां वै चमूमध्ये गृहेऽन्यथा ॥१३-१३७-७॥
Gratified with boons by him, the king said: "May I truly become one with a thousand arms in the middle of the army or otherwise at home." (13-137-7)
मम बाहुसहस्रं तु पश्यन्तां सैनिका रणे। विक्रमेण महीं कृत्स्नां जयेयं विपुलव्रत ॥ तां च धर्मेण सम्प्राप्य पालयेयमतन्द्रितः ॥१३-१३७-८॥
Let the soldiers in battle see my thousand arms; by valor I, of great resolve, may conquer the entire earth. And having obtained her by righteousness, may I guard her without weariness. (13-137-8)
चतुर्थं तु वरं याचे त्वामहं द्विजसत्तम। तं ममानुग्रहकृते दातुमर्हस्यनिन्दित ॥ अनुशासन्तु मां सन्तो मिथ्यावृत्तं तदाश्रयम् ॥१३-१३७-९॥
But as my fourth boon, O best of the twice-born, I request you, O blameless one, to grant me this for my favor: may the virtuous instruct me when I am engaged in false conduct connected with that. (13-137-9)
इत्युक्तः स द्विजः प्राह तथास्त्विति नराधिपम्। एवं समभवंस्तस्य वरास्ते दीप्ततेजसः ॥१३-१३७-१०॥
Thus addressed, the twice-born said "So let it be" to the king, and thus, those brilliant boons came to him. (13-137-10)
ततः स रथमास्थाय ज्वलनार्कसमद्युतिः। अब्रवीद्वीर्यसंमोहात्को न्वस्ति सदृशो मया ॥ वीर्यधैर्ययशःशौचैर्विक्रमेणौजसापि वा ॥१३-१३७-११॥
Then he ascended the chariot, glowing like fire and the sun, and, deluded by his own strength, said: "Who is there equal to me in strength, courage, fame, purity, valor, or even energy?" (13-137-11)
तद्वाक्यान्ते चान्तरिक्षे वागुवाचाशरीरिणी। न त्वं मूढ विजानीषे ब्राह्मणं क्षत्रियाद्वरम् ॥ सहितो ब्राह्मणेनेह क्षत्रियो रक्षति प्रजाः ॥१३-१३७-१२॥
At the end of that speech, a bodiless voice in the sky said: "You do not understand, O deluded one, that the Brāhmaṇa is superior to the Kṣatriya. Here, with the Brāhmaṇa, the Kṣatriya protects the people." (13-137-12)
अर्जुन उवाच॥
Arjuna said.
कुर्यां भूतानि तुष्टोऽहं क्रुद्धो नाशं तथा नये। कर्मणा मनसा वाचा न मत्तोऽस्ति वरो द्विजः ॥१३-१३७-१३॥
When I am pleased, I may do good to beings; when angered, I bring about their destruction as well. By action, by mind, and by speech, O twice-born, there is none superior to me. (13-137-13)
पूर्वो ब्रह्मोत्तरो वादो द्वितीयः क्षत्रियोत्तरः। त्वयोक्तौ यौ तु तौ हेतू विशेषस्त्वत्र दृश्यते ॥१३-१३७-१४॥
The earlier argument ended with Brahman, and the second with Kshatriya, have been spoken by you; however, a distinction between the reasons for those two is observed here. (13-137-14)
ब्राह्मणाः संश्रिताः क्षत्रं न क्षत्रं ब्राह्मणाश्रितम्। श्रितान्ब्रह्मोपधा विप्राः खादन्ति क्षत्रियान्भुवि ॥१३-१३७-१५॥
Brāhmaṇas who take refuge in the kṣatriya class, and not the kṣatriyas sheltered by Brāhmaṇas. Brāhmaṇas, by means of Brahma's counsel, destroy kṣatriyas on earth who seek their protection. (13-137-15)
क्षत्रियेष्वाश्रितो धर्मः प्रजानां परिपालनम्। क्षत्राद्वृत्तिर्ब्राह्मणानां तैः कथं ब्राह्मणो वरः ॥१३-१३७-१६॥
The duty established among kṣatriyas is the protection of the subjects. The livelihood of the brāhmaṇas comes from the kṣatriyas; by that, how is a brāhmaṇa superior? (13-137-16)
सर्वभूतप्रधानांस्तान्भैक्षवृत्तीनहं सदा। आत्मसम्भावितान्विप्रान्स्थापयाम्यात्मनो वशे ॥१३-१३७-१७॥
I always bring under my control those Brāhmaṇas who are the foremost among all beings, who maintain themselves by mendicant ways, and who are self-respecting. (13-137-17)
कथितं ह्यनया सत्यं गायत्र्या कन्यया दिवि। विजेष्याम्यवशान्सर्वान्ब्राह्मणांश्चर्मवाससः ॥१३-१३७-१८॥
Indeed, this truth has been spoken by her, by Gāyatrī, the maiden in heaven: I will conquer all the powerless Brāhmaṇas who are clad in hide. (13-137-18)
न च मां च्यावयेद्राष्ट्रात्त्रिषु लोकेषु कश्चन। देवो वा मानुषो वापि तस्माज्ज्येष्ठो द्विजादहम् ॥१३-१३७-१९॥
No one in the three worlds—god or man—could remove me from the kingdom; therefore, I am the eldest among the twice-born. (13-137-19)
अद्य ब्रह्मोत्तरं लोकं करिष्ये क्षत्रियोत्तरम्। न हि मे संयुगे कश्चित्सोढुमुत्सहते बलम् ॥१३-१३७-२०॥
Today, I will make the world regard the kṣatriya as greater than the brāhmaṇa. For indeed, in battle, no one is able to withstand my strength. (13-137-20)
अर्जुनस्य वचः श्रुत्वा वित्रस्ताभून्निशाचरी। अथैनमन्तरिक्षस्थस्ततो वायुरभाषत ॥१३-१३७-२१॥
Hearing the words of Arjuna, the night-wanderer became frightened; then, as he stood in the sky, Vāyu spoke to him. (13-137-21)
त्यजैनं कलुषं भावं ब्राह्मणेभ्यो नमस्कुरु। एतेषां कुर्वतः पापं राष्ट्रक्षोभो हि ते भवेत् ॥१३-१३७-२२॥
Abandon this impure feeling and offer obeisance to the Brāhmaṇas. If one commits a sin against them, a disturbance of the kingdom will surely arise for you. (13-137-22)
अथ वा त्वां महीपाल शमयिष्यन्ति वै द्विजाः। निरसिष्यन्ति वा राष्ट्राद्धतोत्साहं महाबलाः ॥१३-१३७-२३॥
Now, O king, either the Brahmins will pacify you, or the mighty ones will expel you from the kingdom after your spirit is broken. (13-137-23)
तं राजा कस्त्वमित्याह ततस्तं प्राह मारुतः। वायुर्वै देवदूतोऽस्मि हितं त्वां प्रब्रवीम्यहम् ॥१३-१३७-२४॥
The king said to him, "Who are you?" Then Marut replied to him: "I am Vāyu, the messenger of the gods; I declare what is beneficial to you." (13-137-24)
अर्जुन उवाच॥
Arjuna said.
अहो त्वयाद्य विप्रेषु भक्तिरागः प्रदर्शितः। यादृशं पृथिवी भूतं तादृशं ब्रूहि वै द्विजम् ॥१३-१३७-२५॥
Ah! Today you have shown such devotion to the Brāhmaṇas. Tell me, O twice-born, what kind of being on earth that is like this. (13-137-25)
वायोर्वा सदृशं किञ्चिद्ब्रूहि त्वं ब्राह्मणोत्तमम्। अपां वै सदृशं ब्रूहि सूर्यस्य नभसोऽपि वा ॥१३-१३७-२६॥
O foremost of Brahmins, tell (me) if there is anything similar to the wind, or tell if there is anything similar to water, or to the Sun, or to the sky. (13-137-26)
