14.096
जनमेजय उवाच॥
Janamejaya said.
कोऽसौ नकुलरूपेण शिरसा काञ्चनेन वै। प्राह मानुषवद्वाचमेतत्पृष्टो वदस्व मे ॥१४-९६-१॥
Who is this who has the form of a mongoose with a golden head, who spoke words like a human after being questioned? Tell me.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
एतत्पूर्वं न पृष्टोऽहं न चास्माभिः प्रभाषितम्। श्रूयतां नकुलो योऽसौ यथा वागस्य मानुषी ॥१४-९६-२॥
Previously, I was not questioned, nor was it spoken by us. Let it be heard: Nakula, who is he, and in what manner is his speech human. (14-96-2)
श्राद्धं सङ्कल्पयामास जमदग्निः पुरा किल। होमधेनुस्तमागाच्च स्वयं चापि दुदोह ताम् ॥१४-९६-३॥
Once, Jamadagni resolved to perform a rite for the ancestors; then, the cow for sacrificial rites approached him, and she herself milked herself for him. (14-96-3)
तत्क्षीरं स्थापयामास नवे भाण्डे दृढे शुचौ। तच्च क्रोधः स्वरूपेण पिठरं पर्यवर्तयत् ॥१४-९६-४॥
He placed that milk in a new, firm, clean vessel. But that anger, by its own nature, overturned the pot. (14-96-4)
जिज्ञासुस्तमृषिश्रेष्ठं किं कुर्याद्विप्रिये कृते। इति सञ्चिन्त्य दुर्मेधा धर्षयामास तत्पयः ॥१४-९६-५॥
The inquisitive person thought, "What should the greatest sage do when something displeasing has occurred?" With this in mind, the wicked-minded one forcibly took that milk. (14-96-5)
तमाज्ञाय मुनिः क्रोधं नैवास्य चुकुपे ततः। स तु क्रोधस्तमाहेदं प्राञ्जलिर्मूर्तिमान्स्थितः ॥१४-९६-६॥
Having recognized him, the sage did not become angry at him then. But Anger, embodied and with folded hands, stood and addressed him thus. (14-96-6)
जितोऽस्मीति भृगुश्रेष्ठ भृगवो ह्यतिरोषणाः। लोके मिथ्याप्रवादोऽयं यत्त्वयास्मि पराजितः ॥१४-९६-७॥
O foremost Bhṛgu, the Bhṛgus—being extremely angry—take it as a false rumor in the world that I have been conquered by you. (14-96-7)
सोऽहं त्वयि स्थितो ह्यद्य क्षमावति महात्मनि। बिभेमि तपसः साधो प्रसादं कुरु मे विभो ॥१४-९६-८॥
Today, I am situated in you, the patient and great-souled one; O saint, I fear austerity. O mighty one, please grant me your grace. (14-96-8)
जनमेजय उवाच॥
Janamejaya said.
साक्षाद्दृष्टोऽसि मे क्रोध गच्छ त्वं विगतज्वरः। न ममापकृतं तेऽद्य न मन्युर्विद्यते मम ॥१४-९६-९॥
I have seen you directly, O Anger; depart, you whose agitation has ceased. There is no offence of mine towards you today; I do not harbor resentment. (14-96-9)
यानुद्दिश्य तु सङ्कल्पः पयसोऽस्य कृतो मया। पितरस्ते महाभागास्तेभ्यो बुध्यस्व गम्यताम् ॥१४-९६-१०॥
Know that the resolve regarding this water was made by me for your most fortunate ancestors; let it go to them. (14-96-10)
इत्युक्तो जातसन्त्रासः स तत्रान्तरधीयत। पितॄणामभिषङ्गात्तु नकुलत्वमुपागतः ॥१४-९६-११॥
Having been thus addressed and stricken with fear, he vanished there; however, by his contact with the ancestors, he attained the form of a mongoose. (14-96-11)
स तान्प्रसादयामास शापस्यान्तो भवेदिति। तैश्चाप्युक्तो यदा धर्मं क्षेप्स्यसे मोक्ष्यसे तदा ॥१४-९६-१२॥
He appeased them so that the curse might end. And he was told by them, "When you cast aside dharma, then you will be freed." (14-96-12)
तैश्चोक्तो यज्ञियान्देशान्धर्मारण्यानि चैव ह। जुगुप्सन्परिधावन्स यज्ञं तं समुपासदत् ॥१४-९६-१३॥
At their instruction, he avoided the sacrificial places and holy forests, but while shunning and circling, he eventually approached that very sacrifice. (14-96-13)
धर्मपुत्रमथाक्षिप्य सक्तुप्रस्थेन तेन सः। मुक्तः शापात्ततः क्रोधो धर्मो ह्यासीद्युधिष्ठिरः ॥१४-९६-१४॥
Then, when Dharmaputra (Yudhishthira) was struck with a prastha of saktu by him, he was released from the curse; thereafter, the anger of Dharma indeed became Yudhishthira. (14-96-14)
एवमेतत्तदा वृत्तं तस्य यज्ञे महात्मनः। पश्यतां चापि नस्तत्र नकुलोऽन्तर्हितस्तदा ॥१४-९६-१५॥
Thus, at the sacrifice of that great-souled one, this happened: while we were watching there, Nakula disappeared. (14-96-15)
