14.096
janamejaya uvāca॥
Janamejaya said.
ko'sau nakula-rūpeṇa śirasā kāñcanena vai। prāha mānuṣa-vad-vācam etat-pṛṣṭaḥ vadasva me॥14-96-1॥
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.
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
etat pūrvaṁ na pṛṣṭo'ham na cāsmābhiḥ prabhāṣitam। śrūyatāṁ nakulo yo'sau yathā vāgasya mānuṣī ॥14-96-2॥
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)
śrāddhaṃ saṅkalpayāmāsa jamadagniḥ purā kila। homadhenus tam āgāc ca svayaṃ cāpi dudoha tām ॥14-96-3॥
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)
tat-kṣīraṃ sthāpayāmāsa nave bhāṇḍe dṛḍhe śucau। tacca krodhaḥ svarūpeṇa piṭharaṃ paryavartayat ॥14-96-4॥
He placed that milk in a new, firm, clean vessel. But that anger, by its own nature, overturned the pot. (14-96-4)
jijñāsus tam ṛṣiśreṣṭhaṃ kiṃ kuryād vipriye kṛte. iti sañcintya durmedhā dharṣayāmāsa tat payaḥ ॥14-96-5॥
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)
tamājñāya muniḥ krodhaṃ naivāsya cukupe tataḥ। sa tu krodhas tamāhedaṃ prāñjalir mūrtimān sthitaḥ॥14-96-6॥
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)
jito'smīti bhṛguśreṣṭha bhṛgavo hyatiroṣaṇāḥ। loke mithyāpravādo'yaṃ yattvayāsmi parājitaḥ॥14-96-7॥
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)
so'ham tvayi sthito hyadya kṣamāvati mahātmani. bibhemi tapasaḥ sādho prasādaṃ kuru me vibho ॥14-96-8॥
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)
janamejaya uvāca॥
Janamejaya said.
sākṣāddṛṣṭo'si me krodha gaccha tvaṃ vigatajvaraḥ। na mamāpakṛtaṃ te'dya na manyurvidyate mama ॥14-96-9॥
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)
yānuddiśya tu saṅkalpaḥ payaso'sya kṛto mayā. pitaraste mahābhāgāstebhyo budhyasva gamyatām ॥14-96-10॥
Know that the resolve regarding this water was made by me for your most fortunate ancestors; let it go to them. (14-96-10)
ity-ukto jāta-santrāsaḥ sa tatra antaradhīyata. pitṝṇām-abhiṣaṅgāt tu nakulatvam-upāgataḥ ॥14-96-11॥
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)
sa tān prasādayāmāsa śāpasya-anto bhaved-iti. taiś ca api uktaḥ yadā dharmaṃ kṣepsyase mokṣyase tadā ॥14-96-12॥
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)
taiś cokto yajñiyān deśān dharmāraṇyāni caiva ha. jugupsan paridhāvann yajñaṃ taṃ samupāsadat ॥14-96-13॥
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)
dharmaputram athākṣipya saktuprasthena tena saḥ। muktaḥ śāpāt tataḥ krodho dharmo hy āsīd yudhiṣṭhiraḥ ॥14-96-14॥
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)
evametattadā vṛttaṃ tasya yajñe mahātmanaḥ। paśyatāṃ cāpi nastatra nakulo'ntarhitastadā ॥14-96-15॥
Thus, at the sacrifice of that great-souled one, this happened: while we were watching there, Nakula disappeared. (14-96-15)
