14.092
जनमेजय उवाच॥
Janamejaya said.
पितामहस्य मे यज्ञे धर्मपुत्रस्य धीमतः। यदाश्चर्यमभूत्किञ्चित्तद्भवान्वक्तुमर्हति ॥१४-९२-१॥
Whatever wondrous thing happened in the sacrifice of the wise son of Dharma, O revered one, you are worthy to speak of that to me. (14-92-1)
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
श्रूयतां राजशार्दूल महदाश्चर्यमुत्तमम्। अश्वमेधे महायज्ञे निवृत्ते यदभूद्विभो ॥१४-९२-२॥
O noble king, listen to the great and excellent wonder that happened, O mighty one, when the great horse sacrifice was completed. (14-92-2)
तर्पितेषु द्विजाग्र्येषु ज्ञातिसम्बन्धिबन्धुषु। दीनान्धकृपणे चापि तदा भरतसत्तम ॥१४-९२-३॥
O best of the Bharatas, then (offerings) were made to the satisfied ones, the foremost of twice-born, among relatives, kinsmen, friends, and also to the destitute, the blind, and the miserable. (14-92-3)
घुष्यमाणे महादाने दिक्षु सर्वासु भारत। पतत्सु पुष्पवर्षेषु धर्मराजस्य मूर्धनि ॥१४-९२-४॥
O Bhārata, while the great charity was being announced in all directions and showers of flowers were falling upon the head of Dharmarāja. (14-92-4)
बिलान्निष्क्रम्य नकुलो रुक्मपार्श्वस्तदानघ। वज्राशनिसमं नादममुञ्चत विशां पते ॥१४-९२-५॥
O lord of men, then, the mongoose with golden sides emerged from the hole and uttered a sound equal to the thunderbolt and thunder, O sinless one. (14-92-5)
सकृदुत्सृज्य तं नादं त्रासयानो मृगद्विजान्। मानुषं वचनं प्राह धृष्टो बिलशयो महान् ॥१४-९२-६॥
Once, having uttered that sound and frightening the beasts and birds, the great and bold cave-dweller spoke human words. (14-92-6)
सक्तुप्रस्थेन वो नायं यज्ञस्तुल्यो नराधिपाः। उञ्छवृत्तेर्वदान्यस्य कुरुक्षेत्रनिवासिनः ॥१४-९२-७॥
O kings, for you, this sacrifice is not equal to a measure of parched grain offered by the generous one who lives by gleaning, the inhabitant of Kurukṣetra. (14-92-7)
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा नकुलस्य विशां पते। विस्मयं परमं जग्मुः सर्वे ते ब्राह्मणर्षभाः ॥१४-९२-८॥
O lord of men, having heard those words of Nakula, all those foremost among Brāhmaṇas were greatly astonished. (14-92-8)
ततः समेत्य नकुलं पर्यपृच्छन्त ते द्विजाः। कुतस्त्वं समनुप्राप्तो यज्ञं साधुसमागमम् ॥१४-९२-९॥
Then, having approached Nakula, those Brahmins asked him, "From where have you come to this sacrifice and the good assembly?" (14-92-9)
किं बलं परमं तुभ्यं किं श्रुतं किं परायणम्। कथं भवन्तं विद्याम यो नो यज्ञं विगर्हसे ॥१४-९२-१०॥
What is your supreme power? What knowledge do you possess? What is your highest refuge? How can we know you, who find fault with our sacrifice? (14-92-10)
अविलुप्यागमं कृत्स्नं विधिज्ञैर्याजकैः कृतम्। यथागमं यथान्यायं कर्तव्यं च यथाकृतम् ॥१४-९२-११॥
The entire ritual, without violating the scriptural authority, was performed by the learned priests. It should be done as prescribed by scripture, as per the proper method, and as it was previously performed. (14-92-11)
पूजार्हाः पूजिताश्चात्र विधिवच्छास्त्रचक्षुषा। मन्त्रपूतं हुतश्चाग्निर्दत्तं देयममत्सरम् ॥१४-९२-१२॥
Here, those worthy of worship, when worshipped according to proper procedure and with scriptural insight, and when offerings are purified by mantras and consigned to the fire, what is to be given should be given without malice. (14-92-12)
तुष्टा द्विजर्षभाश्चात्र दानैर्बहुविधैरपि। क्षत्रियाश्च सुयुद्धेन श्राद्धैरपि पितामहाः ॥१४-९२-१३॥
Here, the eminent Brāhmaṇas are satisfied by various gifts, and the ancestors of kṣatriyas by noble battles and funeral offerings. (14-92-13)
पालनेन विशस्तुष्टाः कामैस्तुष्टा वरस्त्रियः। अनुक्रोशैस्तथा शूद्रा दानशेषैः पृथग्जनाः ॥१४-९२-१४॥
The people are satisfied by protection, excellent women by the fulfillment of desires, śūdras by compassion, and other people by the remnants of gifts. (14-92-14)
ज्ञातिसम्बन्धिनस्तुष्टाः शौचेन च नृपस्य नः। देवा हविर्भिः पुण्यैश्च रक्षणैः शरणागताः ॥१४-९२-१५॥
The king's purity pleases our relatives and allies; the gods, having taken refuge, are satisfied by meritorious oblations and acts of protection. (14-92-15)
यदत्र तथ्यं तद्ब्रूहि सत्यसन्ध द्विजातिषु। यथाश्रुतं यथादृष्टं पृष्टो ब्राह्मणकाम्यया ॥१४-९२-१६॥
Speak here whatever is the truth, O truth-abiding one among the twice-born. As you have heard, as you have seen, (when) asked out of desire for the Brāhmaṇa. (14-92-16)
श्रद्धेयवाक्यः प्राज्ञस्त्वं दिव्यं रूपं बिभर्षि च। समागतश्च विप्रैस्त्वं तत्त्वतो वक्तुमर्हसि ॥१४-९२-१७॥
O wise one whose words are trustworthy, you possess a divine form; and as you have come together with the Brāhmaṇas, you are fit to speak the truth in reality. (14-92-17)
इति पृष्टो द्विजैस्तैः स प्रहस्य नकुलोऽब्रवीत्। नैषानृता मया वाणी प्रोक्ता दर्पेण वा द्विजाः ॥१४-९२-१८॥
Thus, when questioned by those twice-born, Nakula, smiling, said: "This speech was not uttered falsely by me, nor was it spoken out of pride, O twice-born." (14-92-18)
यन्मयोक्तमिदं किञ्चिद्युष्माभिश्चाप्युपश्रुतम्। सक्तुप्रस्थेन वो नायं यज्ञस्तुल्यो नराधिपाः ॥ उञ्छवृत्तेर्वदान्यस्य कुरुक्षेत्रनिवासिनः ॥१४-९२-१९॥
O lords of men, this act of offering you a measure of parched grain, which I have spoken of and which you also have heard, is not equal to the sacrifice performed by the generous person living by gleaning in Kurukṣetra. (14-92-19)
इत्यवश्यं मयैतद्वो वक्तव्यं द्विजपुङ्गवाः। शृणुताव्यग्रमनसः शंसतो मे द्विजर्षभाः ॥१४-९२-२०॥
Therefore this certainly must be told by me to you, O foremost of Brahmins. Listen attentively and without distraction to my narration, O greatest among the twice-born. (14-92-20)
अनुभूतं च दृष्टं च यन्मयाद्भुतमुत्तमम्। उञ्छवृत्तेर्यथावृत्तं कुरुक्षेत्रनिवासिनः ॥१४-९२-२१॥
I have told, just as it happened, the most wonderful and excellent things experienced and seen by me regarding the gleaner's mode of life of the inhabitant of Kurukṣetra. (14-92-21)
स्वर्गं येन द्विजः प्राप्तः सभार्यः ससुतस्नुषः। यथा चार्धं शरीरस्य ममेदं काञ्चनीकृतम् ॥१४-९२-२२॥
By whom the twice-born, along with his wife, son, and daughter-in-law, attained heaven, just as half of my body has become golden—this is so. (14-92-22)
