13.144
durvāsomāhātmyam
Greatness of Durvasa;
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhishthira said.
brūhi brāhmaṇapūjāyāṃ vyuṣṭiṃ tvaṃ madhusūdana। vettā tvam asya cārthasya veda tvāṃ hi pitāmahaḥ॥13-144-1॥
O Madhusūdana, tell (me) about the completion in the worship of a brāhmaṇa. You are the knower of this and its meaning, as even the grandfather Brahmā knows you. (13-144-1)
vāsudeva uvāca॥
Vasudeva said.
śṛṇuṣvāvahitō rājan dvijānāṃ bharatarṣabha। yathātattvēna vadatō guṇān mē kurusattama ॥13-144-2॥
O king, O bull among the Bharatas, O best of the Kurus, listen attentively as I truly speak to you the qualities of the twice-born. (13-144-2)
pradyumnaḥ paripapraccha brāhmaṇaiḥ parikopitaḥ। kiṃ phalaṃ brāhmaṇeṣv asti pūjāyāṃ madhusūdana ॥ īśvarasya satas tasya iha ca eva paratra ca ॥13-144-3॥
Pradyumna, provoked by the Brāhmaṇas, thoroughly questioned: "O Madhusūdana, what is the benefit for Brāhmaṇas in worship—both here in this world and in the next—of the Supreme Lord?" (13-144-3)
sadā dvijātīn sampūjya kiṃ phalaṃ tatra mānada। etad brūhi pitaḥ sarvaṃ sumahān saṃśayo'tra me ॥13-144-4॥
O honour-giver, after always worshipping the twice-born, what is the fruit there? O father, please tell me all this; I have a very great doubt here. (13-144-4)
ity-ukta-vacanas tena pradyumnena tadā tv aham। pratyabruvaṁ mahārāja yat tac chṛṇu samāhitaḥ॥13-144-5॥
When Pradyumna had thus spoken, O great king, I replied to you; now, hear attentively what I said. (13-144-5)
vyuṣṭiṃ brāhmaṇapūjāyāṃ raukmiṇeya nibodha me। ete hi somarājāna īśvarāḥ sukhaduḥkhayoḥ ॥13-144-6॥
O Raukmiṇeya, learn from me the section concerning worship of the Brāhmaṇa. These Soma-kings are truly the lords of happiness and sorrow. (13-144-6)
asmiṁlloke raukmiṇeya tathāmuṣmiṁśca putraka। brāhmaṇapramukhaṁ saukhyaṁ na me'trāsti vicāraṇā ॥13-144-7॥
O son of Rukmiṇī, whether in this world or the next, I have no happiness where brāhmaṇas are paramount—this is certain. (13-144-7)
brāhmaṇapramukhaṃ vīryam āyuḥ kīrtir yaśo balam। lokā lokeśvarāś caiva sarve brāhmaṇapūrvakāḥ ॥13-144-8॥
Energy, life, fame, glory, strength, the worlds, and the lords of the worlds—all these, headed by the Brāhmaṇa, exist with the Brāhmaṇa at the forefront. (13-144-8)
tat-kathaṁ nādriyeyaṁ vai īśvaro'smīti putraka। mā te manyur mahābāho bhavatv atra dvijān prati ॥13-144-9॥
Therefore, O child, how could I not honor them, (even if I think) 'I am the Lord'? O mighty-armed one, do not harbor anger here towards the twice-born. (13-144-9)
brāhmaṇo hi mahadbhūtamasmiñlloke paratra ca. bhasma kuryur jagad idaṃ kruddhāḥ pratyakṣadarśinaḥ ॥13-144-10॥
The Brāhmaṇa, verily, is a great being in this world and the next; when angered, those who see things directly could turn this entire world into ashes. (13-144-10)
anyān api sṛjeyuś ca lokāṁl lokeśvarāṁs tathā। kathaṁ teṣu na varteya samyag-jñānāt sutejasaḥ ॥13-144-11॥
Others too may create worlds and lords of worlds likewise; how could I not exist among them, possessing perfect knowledge and great splendour? (13-144-11)
avasan mad-gṛhe tāta brāhmaṇo haripiṅgalaḥ। cīravasā bilvadaṇḍī dīrghaśmaśrunakhādimān॥ dīrghebhyaś ca manuṣyebhyaḥ pramāṇād adhiko bhuvi॥13-144-12॥
Dear one, a tawny-brown brāhmaṇa, living in my house, wearing bark garments, carrying a bilva staff, and with a long beard and nails, who on earth exceeded tall men and all men in stature. (13-144-12)
sa sma sañcarate lokān ye divyā ye ca mānuṣāḥ। imā gāthā gāyamānaś catvareṣu sabhāsu ca ॥13-144-13॥
He indeed moves among the worlds, among both gods and humans, singing these verses at crossroads and in assemblies. (13-144-13)
durvāsasaṃ vāsayet ko brāhmaṇaṃ satkṛtaṃ gṛhe। paribhāṣāṃ ca me śrutvā ko nu dadyāt pratiśrayam॥ yo māṃ kaścid vāsayet na sa māṃ kopayed iha॥ 13-144-14॥
Who would let Durvasa, an honored Brāhmaṇa, stay in their house? And after hearing my insults, who indeed would give me shelter? Whoever lets me stay, must not provoke me here. (13-144-14)
taṃ sma nādriyate kaścit tato'haṃ tam avāsayam। sa sma bhuṅkte sahasrāṇāṃ bahūnām annam ekadā। ekadā sm ālpakaṃ bhuṅkte na vaiti ca punar gṛhān ॥13-144-16॥
No one truly esteems him; therefore, I gave him shelter. He at times eats the food of thousands, at times only a little, and does not return again to the houses. (13-144-16)
akasmāc ca prahasati tathā akasmāt praroditi। na ca asya vayasā tulyaḥ pṛthivyām abhavat tadā ॥13-144-17॥
He suddenly laughs and likewise suddenly weeps. At that time, there was no one on earth equal to him in age. (13-144-17)
so'smadāvasathaṃ gatvā śayyāś cāstaraṇāni ca | kanyāś cālaṅkṛtā dagdhvā tato vyapagataḥ svayam ॥13-144-18॥
He went to our residence, burned the beds, coverings, and adorned maidens, and then departed on his own. (13-144-18)
atha mām abravīd bhūyaḥ sa muniḥ saṁśita-vrataḥ। kṛṣṇa pāyasam icchāmi bhoktum ity eva satvaraḥ ॥13-144-19॥
Then, that sage of firm vow said to me again, hurriedly: "Kṛṣṇa, I want to eat milk-rice." (13-144-19)
sadaiva tu mayā tasya cittajñena gṛhe janaḥ। sarvāṇyevānnapānāni bhakṣyāścoccaavacāstathā॥ bhavantu satkṛtānīti pūrvameva pracoditaḥ॥13-144-20॥
But always, by me, the person in his house who knows the mind has already been instructed before that all foods and drinks, and all kinds of edibles, both high and low, should be made honored thus. (13-144-20)
tato 'haṃ jvalamānaṃ vai pāyasaṃ pratyavedayam। tad bhuktvaiva tu sa kṣipraṃ tato vacanam abravīt॥ kṣipram aṅgāni limpāsva pāyaseneti sa sma ha॥13-144-21॥
Then I offered the hot rice pudding. After he had eaten it, he quickly said these words: "Quickly anoint your limbs with the rice pudding." (13-144-21)
avimṛśyaiva ca tataḥ kṛtavānasmi tattathā। tenocchiṣṭena gātrāṇi śiraścaivābhyamṛkṣayam ॥13-144-22॥
Without thinking, I did just that; then with those leftovers, I rubbed my limbs and my head as well. (13-144-22)
sa dadarśa tadābhyāśe mātaraṃ te śubhānanām। tām api smayamānaḥ sa pāyasenābhyalepayat ॥13-144-23॥
He saw your mother with an auspicious face nearby at that time, and smiling, he also anointed her with payasa (rice pudding). (13-144-23)
muniḥ pāyasadigdhāṅgīṃ rathe tūrṇamayojayat। tam āruhya rathaṃ caiva niryayau sa gṛhān mama ॥13-144-24॥
The sage swiftly yoked her, whose body was smeared with rice-pudding, to the chariot. Mounting the chariot, he left my house. (13-144-24)
agnivarṇo jvalandhīmān sa dvijo rathadhuryavat। pratodenātudad bālāṃ rukmiṇīṃ mama paśyataḥ॥13-144-25॥
The Brāhmaṇa, blazing and of fiery color, like a charioteer, struck the young Rukmini with a goad before my eyes. (13-144-25)
na ca me stokam-api-āsīt duḥkham īrṣyā-kṛtam tadā। tataḥ sa rājamārgeṇa mahatā niryayau bahiḥ ॥13-144-26॥
Nor did I have even a little pain caused by jealousy at that time. Then he departed outside by the great royal road. (13-144-26)
taddṛṣṭvā mahadāścaryaṃ dāśārhā jātamanyavaḥ. tatrājalpanmithaḥ kecitsamābhāṣya parasparam ॥13-144-27॥
Having seen that great wonder, the Daśārhas, whose anger had arisen, there did not speak to one another; some conversed with each other. (13-144-27)
brāhmaṇā eva jāyerann anyo varṇaḥ kathañcana। ko hy enaṃ ratham āsthāya jīvet anyaḥ pumān iha ॥13-144-28॥
Brāhmaṇas alone should be born, and in no way another class. For who else could possibly live here, having ascended this chariot? (13-144-28)
āśīviṣaviṣaṃ tīkṣṇaṃ tatastīkṣṇataraṃ viṣam। brahmāśīviṣadagdhasya nāsti kaściccikitsakaḥ ॥13-144-29॥
Snake poison is intense; but even more intense is another poison. For one who is burned by the poison of the Brahman-snake, there is absolutely no healer. (13-144-29)
tasmin vrajati durdharṣe prāskhalad rukmiṇī pathi। tāṁ nāmarṣayata śrīmāṁs tataḥ tūrṇam acodayat ॥13-144-30॥
As Durdharṣa proceeded on the path, Rukmiṇī stumbled. The illustrious Kṛṣṇa could not tolerate this and promptly urged the chariot onward. (13-144-30)
tataḥ paramasaṅkruddho rathāt praskandya sa dvijaḥ। padātir utpathenaiva prādhāvad dakṣiṇāmukhaḥ ॥13-144-31॥
Then, extremely enraged, the brāhmaṇa leapt down from his chariot and, on foot, ran along the side of the road, facing south. (13-144-31)
tam utpathena dhāvantam anvadhāvaṃ dvijottamam। tathaiva pāyasādigdhaḥ prasīda bhagavan iti ॥13-144-32॥
I chased him as he ran along a wrong path, O best of the twice-born. In the same way, being smeared with rice-milk, I said, "Be gracious, O venerable one." (13-144-32)
tato vilokya tejasvī brāhmaṇo mām uvāca ha। jitaḥ krodhas tvayā kṛṣṇa prakṛtyaiva mahābhuja ॥13-144-33॥
Then, having seen, the radiant brāhmaṇa said to me: "O Kṛṣṇa, you have already conquered anger by nature, O mighty-armed one." (13-144-33)
na te'parādham iha vai dṛṣṭavān asmi suvrata। prīto'smi tava govinda vṛṇu kāmān yathepsitān॥ prasannasya ca me tāta paśya vyuṣṭir yathāvidhā॥ 13-144-34॥
O well-vowed one, I have not seen any fault of yours here; I am pleased with you, O Govinda. Choose whichever wishes you desire. And now, O dear one, see my favor granted as is proper. (13-144-34)
yāvadeva manuṣyāṇām anne bhāvo bhaviṣyati। yathaivānne tathā teṣāṃ tvayi bhāvo bhaviṣyati ॥13-144-35॥
To whatever extent people have regard for food, just so will they have regard for you, as is their regard for food. (13-144-35)
yāvatca puṇyā lokeṣu tvayi kīrtir bhaviṣyati। triṣu lokeṣu tāvatca vaiśiṣṭyaṃ pratipatsyase॥ supriyaḥ sarvalokasya bhaviṣyasi janārdana॥13-144-36॥
As long as your auspicious fame endures in the worlds, for that long you will possess distinction throughout the three worlds. You will be most dear to all beings, O Janardana. (13-144-36)
yat te bhinnaṃ ca dagdhaṃ ca yac ca kiñcid vināśitam। sarvaṃ tathaiva draṣṭāsi viśiṣṭaṃ vā janārdana ॥13-144-37॥
O Janārdana, whatever is broken and burnt and whatever has been destroyed, all this you will see just so, or as something special. (13-144-37)
yāvad etat praliptaṁ te gātreṣu madhusūdana। ato mṛtyubhayam nāsti yāvad icchā tava ācyuta ॥13-144-38॥
O Madhusudana, as long as this is smeared on your body, there is no fear of death, so long as it is your wish, O Acyuta. (13-144-38)
na tu pādatale lipte kasmātte putrakādya vai. naitanme priyamityeva sa māṃ prīto'bravīttadā ॥ ityukto'haṃ śarīraṃ svamapaśyaṃ śrīsammāyutam ॥13-144-39॥
But, O son, when your sole was smeared at first, indeed, he said to me, "This is not pleasing to me." Thus addressed, I beheld my own body endowed with splendour. (13-144-39)
rukmiṇīṃ cābravītpnītaḥ sarvastrīṇāṃ varaṃ yaśaḥ। kīrtiṃ cānuttamāṃ loke samavāpsyasi śobhane॥13-144-40॥
Having been pleased, (he) spoke to Rukmini: "O beautiful one, among all women you shall obtain the highest fame and unsurpassed glory in the world." (13-144-40)
na tvāṃ jarā vā rogo vā vaivarṇyaṃ cāpi bhāmini. spraakṣyanti puṇyagandhā ca kṛṣṇam ārādhayiṣyasi ॥13-144-41॥
O beautiful lady, neither old age nor disease nor discoloration will affect you; auspicious scents will touch you, and you will worship Kṛṣṇa. (13-144-41)
ṣoḍaśānāṃ sahasrāṇāṃ vadhūnāṃ keśavasya ha। variṣṭhā sahalokyā ca keśavasya bhaviṣyasi॥13-144-42॥
Of the sixteen thousand brides of Keśava, indeed you shall be the foremost and reside in the same world with Keśava. (13-144-42)
tava mātaram ity uktvā tato māṃ punar abravīt। prasthitaḥ sumahāteja durvāsā vahnivaj-jvalan॥13-144-43॥
Having said "your mother," then again he spoke to me; the greatly brilliant Durvāsa, blazing like fire, departed. (13-144-43)
eṣaiva te buddhirastu brāhmaṇānprati keśava। ityuktvā sa tadā putra tatraivāntaradhīyata ॥13-144-44॥
Let this alone be your understanding towards the brāhmaṇas, O Keśava. Having spoken thus, he then, O son, disappeared right there. (13-144-44)
tasminn antarhite cāham upāṃśuvratam ādiśam | yat kiñcid brāhmaṇo brūyāt sarvaṃ kuryām iti prabho ॥13-144-45॥
When he had vanished, I took on the upāṃśu vow; O Lord, whatever the Brāhmaṇa might say, I resolved to do all of it. (13-144-45)
etadvratam ahaṃ kṛtvā mātrā te saha putraka. tataḥ paramahṛṣṭātmā prāviśaṃ gṛhameva ca ॥13-144-46॥
O son, after performing this vow together with your mother, I then, with a most delighted heart, entered the house.
praviṣṭamātraś ca gṛhe sarvaṃ paśyāmi tan navam। yad bhinnaṃ yac ca vai dagdhaṃ tena vipreṇa putraka ॥13-144-47॥
As soon as I entered the house, I saw that everything was new; whatever was broken and whatever was burnt, it was done by that Brāhmaṇa, O son. (13-144-47)
tato'haṃ vismayaṃ prāptaḥ sarvaṃ dṛṣṭvā navaṃ dṛḍham। apūjayaṃ ca manasā raukmiṇeya dvijaṃ tadā ॥13-144-48॥
Then, O son of Rukmiṇī, having seen everything new and steadfast, I became filled with wonder and did not honor the brāhmaṇa mentally at that time. (13-144-48)
ityahaṁ raukmiṇeyasya pṛcchato bharatarṣabha। māhātmyaṁ dvijamukhyasya sarvamākhyātavāṁstadā ॥13-144-49॥
Thus, O best of the Bharatas, I narrated all the greatness of the foremost among twice-born to Rukmini’s son when he inquired. (13-144-49)
tathā tvam api kaunteya brāhmaṇān satataṃ prabho। pūjayasva mahābhāgān vāgbhir dānaiś ca nityadā ॥13-144-50॥
Therefore, O son of Kunti, you also, O lord, should always honor the greatly fortunate Brāhmaṇas with words and with gifts at all times. (13-144-50)
evaṁ vyuṣṭim ahaṁ prāpto brāhmaṇānāṁ prasādajām। yac ca mām āha bhīṣmo 'yaṁ tat satyaṁ bharatarṣabha ॥13-144-51॥
Thus, I have reached the dawn through the favour of the Brāhmaṇas. And what Bhīṣma here has told me, O best of the Bharatas, is true. (13-144-51)
