The Great Epic of the Bhārata dynasty 9.40

9.40.1

vaiśaṃpāyana uvāca |
brahmayonibhirākīrṇaṃ jagāma yadunandanaḥ |
yatra dālbhyo bako rājanpaśvarthaṃ sumahātapāḥ |
juhāva dhṛtarāṣṭrasya rāṣṭraṃ vaicitravīryiṇaḥ || 1 ||

Vaishampayana said, "The delighter of the Yadus then proceeded to the asylum (of Vaka) which resounded with the chanting of the Vedas. There the great ascetic, O king, named Dalvyavaka poured the kingdom of Dhritarashtra, the son of Vichitravirya, as a libation (on the sacrificial fire). By practising very austere penances he emaciated his own body. Endued with great energy, the virtuous Rishi, filled with great wrath, (did that act). In former times, the Rishis residing in the Naimisha forest had performed a sacrifice extending for twelve years. In course of that sacrifice, after a particular one called Viswajit had been completed, the Rishis set out for the country of the Pancalas. Arrived there, they solicited the king for giving them one and twenty strong and healthy calves to be given away as Dakshina (in the sacrifice they have completed). Dalvya Vaka, however, (calling those Rishis), said unto them, 'Do you divide those animals (of mine) among you! Giving away these (unto you), I shall solicit a great king (for some).' Having said so unto all those Rishis, Vaka of great energy, that best of Brahmanas, then proceeded to the abode of Dhritarashtra. Arrived at the presence of king Dhritarashtra, Dalvya begged some animals of him. That best of kings, however, seeing that some of his kine died without any cause, angrily said unto him.

9.40.2

tapasā ghorarūpeṇa karśayandehamātmanaḥ |
krodhena mahatāviṣṭo dharmātmā vai pratāpavān || 2 ||

9.40.3

purā hi naimiṣeyāṇāṃ satre dvādaśavārṣike |
vṛtte viśvajito'nte vai pāñcālānṛṣayo'gaman || 3 ||

9.40.4

tatreśvaramayācanta dakṣiṇārthaṃ manīṣiṇaḥ |
balānvitānvatsatarānnirvyādhīnekaviṃśatim || 4 ||

9.40.5

tānabravīdbako vṛddho vibhajadhvaṃ paśūniti |
paśūnetānahaṃ tyaktvā bhikṣiṣye rājasattamam || 5 ||

9.40.6

evamuktvā tato rājannṛṣīnsarvānpratāpavān |
jagāma dhṛtarāṣṭrasya bhavanaṃ brāhmaṇottamaḥ || 6 ||

9.40.7

sa samīpagato bhūtvā dhṛtarāṣṭraṃ janeśvaram |
ayācata paśūndālbhyaḥ sa cainaṃ ruṣito'bravīt || 7 ||

9.40.8

yadṛcchayā mṛtā dṛṣṭvā gāstadā nṛpasattama |
etānpaśūnnaya kṣipraṃ brahmabandho yadīcchasi || 8 ||

'Wretch of a Brahmana, take, if thou likest, these animals that (are dead)!' Hearing these words, the Rishi, conversant with duties, thought, 'Alas, cruel are the words that have been addressed to me in the assembly!' Having reflected in this strain, that best of Brahmanas, filled with wrath, set his heart upon the destruction of king Dhritarashtra. Cutting the flesh from off the dead animals, that best of sages, having ignited a (sacrificial) fire on the tirtha of the Sarasvati, poured those pieces as libations for the destruction of king Dhritarashtra's kingdom. Observant of rigid vows, the great Dalvya Vaka, O monarch, poured Dhritarashtra's kingdom as a libation on the fire, with the aid of those pieces of meat. Upon the commencement of that fierce sacrifice according to due rites, the kingdom of Dhritarashtra, O monarch, began to waste away. Indeed, O lord, the kingdom of that monarch began to waste away, even as a large forest begins to disappear when men proceed to cut it down with the axe. Overtaken by calamities, the kingdom began to lose its prosperity and life. Seeing his kingdom thus afflicted, the puissant monarch, O king, became very cheerless and thoughtful. Consulting with the Brahmanas, he began to make great endeavours for freeing his territories (from affliction). No good, however, came of his efforts, for the kingdom continued to waste away. The king became very cheerless. The Brahmanas also, O sinless one, became filled with grief.

9.40.9

ṛṣistvatha vacaḥ śrutvā cintayāmāsa dharmavit |
aho bata nṛśaṃsaṃ vai vākyamukto'smi saṃsadi || 9 ||

9.40.10

cintayitvā muhūrtaṃ ca roṣāviṣṭo dvijottamaḥ |
matiṃ cakre vināśāya dhṛtarāṣṭrasya bhūpateḥ || 10 ||

9.40.11

sa utkṛtya mṛtānāṃ vai māṃsāni dvijasattamaḥ |
juhāva dhṛtarāṣṭrasya rāṣṭraṃ narapateḥ purā || 11 ||

9.40.12

avakīrṇe sarasvatyāstīrthe prajvālya pāvakam |
bako dālbhyo mahārāja niyamaṃ paramāsthitaḥ |
sa taireva juhāvāsya rāṣṭraṃ māṃsairmahātapāḥ || 12 ||

9.40.13

tasmiṃstu vidhivatsatre saṃpravṛtte sudāruṇe |
akṣīyata tato rāṣṭraṃ dhṛtarāṣṭrasya pārthiva || 13 ||

9.40.14

chidyamānaṃ yathānantaṃ vanaṃ paraśunā vibho |
babhūvāpahataṃ taccāpyavakīrṇamacetanam || 14 ||

9.40.15

dṛṣṭvā tadavakīrṇaṃ tu rāṣṭraṃ sa manujādhipaḥ |
babhūva durmanā rājaṃścintayāmāsa ca prabhuḥ || 15 ||

9.40.16

mokṣārthamakarodyatnaṃ brāhmaṇaiḥ sahitaḥ purā |
athāsau pārthivaḥ khinnaste ca viprāstadā nṛpa || 16 ||

9.40.17

yadā cāpi na śaknoti rāṣṭraṃ mocayituṃ nṛpa |
atha vaiprāśnikāṃstatra papraccha janamejaya || 17 ||

When at last the king failed to save his kingdom, he asked his counsellors. O Janamejaya, (about the remedy). The counsellors reminded him of the evil he had done in connection with the dead kine. And they said, 'The sage Vaka is pouring thy kingdom as a libation on the fire with the aid of the flesh (of those animals). Thence is this great waste of thy kingdom! This is the consequence of ascetic rites. Thence is this great calamity! Go, O king, and gratify that Rishi by the side of a receptacle of water on the bank of the Sarasvati!' Repairing to the bank of the Sarasvati, the king falling at his feet and touching them with his head, joined his hands and said, O thou of Bharata's race, these words, 'I gratify thee, O adorable one, forgive my offence. I am a senseless fool, a wretch inspired with avarice. Thou art my refuge, thou art my protector, it behoveth thee to show me thy grace!' Beholding him thus overwhelmed with grief and indulging in lamentations like these, Vaka felt compassion for him and freed his kingdom. The Rishi became gratified with him, having dismissed his angry feelings. For freeing his kingdom, the sage again poured libations on the fire. Having freed the kingdom (from calamities) and taken many animals in grief, he became pleased at heart and once more proceeded to the Naimisha woods. The liberal-minded king Dhritarashtra also, of righteous soul, with a cheerful heart, returned to his own capital full of prosperity.

9.40.18

tato vaiprāśnikāḥ prāhuḥ paśuviprakṛtastvayā |
māṃsairabhijuhotīti tava rāṣṭraṃ munirbakaḥ || 18 ||

9.40.19

tena te hūyamānasya rāṣṭrasyāsya kṣayo mahān |
tasyaitattapasaḥ karma yena te hyanayo mahān |
apāṃ kuñje sarasvatyāstaṃ prasādaya pārthiva || 19 ||

9.40.20

sarasvatīṃ tato gatvā sa rājā bakamabravīt |
nipatya śirasā bhūmau prāñjalirbharatarṣabha || 20 ||

9.40.21

prasādaye tvā bhagavannaparādhaṃ kṣamasva me |
mama dīnasya lubdhasya maurkhyeṇa hatacetasaḥ |
tvaṃ gatistvaṃ ca me nāthaḥ prasādaṃ kartumarhasi || 21 ||

9.40.22

taṃ tathā vilapantaṃ tu śokopahatacetasam |
dṛṣṭvā tasya kṛpā jajñe rāṣṭraṃ tacca vyamocayat || 22 ||

9.40.23

ṛṣiḥ prasannastasyābhūtsaṃrambhaṃ ca vihāya saḥ |
mokṣārthaṃ tasya rāṣṭrasya juhāva punarāhutim || 23 ||

9.40.24

mokṣayitvā tato rāṣṭraṃ pratigṛhya paśūnbahūn |
hṛṣṭātmā naimiṣāraṇyaṃ jagāma punareva hi || 24 ||

9.40.25

dhṛtarāṣṭro'pi dharmātmā svasthacetā mahāmanāḥ |
svameva nagaraṃ rājā pratipede maharddhimat || 25 ||

9.40.26

tatra tīrthe mahārāja bṛhaspatirudāradhīḥ |
asurāṇāmabhāvāya bhāvāya ca divaukasām || 26 ||

"In that tirtha, Brihaspati also, of great intelligence, for the destruction of the Asuras and the prosperity of the denizens of heaven, poured libations on the sacrificial fire, with the aid of flesh. Upon this, the Asuras began to waste away and were destroyed by the gods, inspired by desire of victory in battle. Having with due rites given unto the Brahmanas steeds and elephants and vehicles with mules yoked unto them and jewels of great value and much wealth, and much corn, the illustrious and mighty-armed Rama then proceeded, O king, to the tirtha called Yayata. There, O monarch, at the sacrifice of the high-souled Yayati, the son of Nahusha, the Sarasvati produced milk and clarified butter. That tiger among men, king Yayati, having performed a sacrifice there, went cheerfully to heaven and obtained many regions of blessedness. Once again, O lord, king Yayati performed a sacrifice there. Beholding his great magnanimity of soul and his immutable devotion to herself, the river Sarasvati gave unto the Brahamanas (invited to that sacrifice) everything for which each of them cherished only a wish in his heart. That foremost of rivers gave unto each where he was, amongst those that were invited to the sacrifice, houses and beds and food of the six different kinds of taste, and diverse other kinds of things. The Brahmanas regarded those valuable gifts as made to them by the king. Cheerfully they praised the monarch and bestowed their auspicious blessings upon him. The gods and the Gandharvas were all pleased with the profusion of articles in that sacrifice. As regards human beings, they were filled with wonder at sight of that profusion. The illustrious Baladeva, of soul subdued and restrained and cleansed, having the palmyra on his banner, distinguished by great righteousness, and ever giving away the most valuable things, then proceeded to that tirtha of fierce current called Vasishthapavaha."

9.40.27

māṃsairapi juhāveṣṭimakṣīyanta tato'surāḥ |
daivatairapi saṃbhagnā jitakāśibhirāhave || 27 ||

9.40.28

tatrāpi vidhivaddattvā brāhmaṇebhyo mahāyaśāḥ |
vājinaḥ kuñjarāṃścaiva rathāṃścāśvatarīyutān || 28 ||

9.40.29

ratnāni ca mahārhāṇi dhanaṃ dhānyaṃ ca puṣkalam |
yayau tīrthaṃ mahābāhuryāyātaṃ pṛthivīpate || 29 ||

9.40.30

yatra yajñe yayātestu mahārāja sarasvatī |
sarpiḥ payaśca susrāva nāhuṣasya mahātmanaḥ || 30 ||

9.40.31

tatreṣṭvā puruṣavyāghro yayātiḥ pṛthivīpatiḥ |
ākrāmadūrdhvaṃ mudito lebhe lokāṃśca puṣkalān || 31 ||

9.40.32

yayāteryajamānasya yatra rājansarasvatī |
prasṛtā pradadau kāmānbrāhmaṇānāṃ mahātmanām || 32 ||

9.40.33

yatra yatra hi yo vipro yānyānkāmānabhīpsati |
tatra tatra saricchreṣṭhā sasarja subahūnrasān || 33 ||

9.40.34

tatra devāḥ sagandharvāḥ prītā yajñasya saṃpadā |
vismitā mānuṣāścāsandṛṣṭvā tāṃ yajñasaṃpadam || 34 ||

9.40.35

tatastālaketurmahādharmaseturmahātmā kṛtātmā mahādānanityaḥ |
vasiṣṭhāpavāhaṃ mahābhīmavegaṃ dhṛtātmā jitātmā samabhyājagāma || 35 ||