Mahābhārata · Adhyāya 1.174
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1.174.1
कुतोमूलमिदं दुःखं ज्ञातुमिच्छामि तत्त्वतः ।
विदित्वाप्यपकर्षेयं शक्यं चेदपकर्षितुम् ॥ १.१७४.१ ॥
I wish to know truly where the root of this sorrow lies; having known it, I will remove it, if it can be removed.
1.174.2
उपपन्नं सतामेतद्यद्ब्रवीपि तपोधने ।
न तु दुःखमिदं शक्यं मानुषेण व्यपोहितुम् ॥ १.१७४.२ ॥
What you say is fitting for the good, O woman rich in austerity; yet this sorrow cannot be dispelled by a human being.
1.174.3
तथापि तत्त्वमाख्यास्ये दुःखस्यैतस्य संभवम् ।
शक्यं वा यदि वाऽशक्यं शृणु भद्रे यथातथम् ॥ १.१७४.३ ॥
Nevertheless I will tell you the truth of the origin of this sorrow; whether it is possible or impossible, listen, O gracious lady, just as it is.
1.174.4
समीपे नगरस्यास्य वको वसति राक्षसः ।
इतो गव्यूतिमात्रे।ञस्ति यमुनागह्वरे गुहा ॥ १.१७४.४ ॥
Near this city dwells a rākṣasa named Baka; at a distance of one gavyūti from here there is a cave in the ravine of the Yamunā.
1.174.5
तस्यां घोरः स वसति जिघांसुः पुरुषादकः ।
बकाभिधानो दुष्टात्मा राक्षसानां कुलाधमः ॥ १.१७४.५ ॥
In it dwells that terrible man-eater, bent on slaughter, named Baka, wicked of mind, the lowest of the rākṣasa clan.
1.174.6
ईशो जनपदस्यास्य पुरस्य च महाबलः ।
पुष्टो मानुषमांसेन दुर्बुद्धिः पुरुषादकः ॥ १.१७४.६ ॥
He is the lord of this realm and of this city, the very mighty one, nourished on human flesh, evil-minded, a man-eater.
1.174.7
प्रबलः कामरूपी च राक्षसस्तु महाबलः ।
तेनोपसृष्टा नगरी वर्षमद्य त्रयोदशम् ॥ १.१७४.७ ॥
That rākṣasa is mighty, able to take any form at will, and of great strength. Afflicted by him, this city has now endured the thirteenth year.
1.174.8
तत्कृते परचक्राच्च भूतेभ्यश्च न नो भयम् ।
पुरुषादेन रौद्रेण भक्ष्यमाणा दुरात्मना ॥ १.१७४.८ ॥
Because of him we have no fear of enemy armies or of spirits; yet we are being devoured by that fierce, wicked man-eater.
1.174.9
अनाथा नगरी नाथं त्रातारं नाधिगच्छति ।
गुहायां च वसंस्तत्र बाधते सततं जनम् ॥ १.१७४.९ ॥
The masterless city finds no lord to protect it; dwelling there in a cave, he constantly harasses the people.
1.174.10
स्त्रियो बालांश्च वृद्धांश्च यूनश्चापि दुरात्मवान् ।
अत्र मन्त्रैश्च होमैश्च भोजनैश्च स राक्षसः ॥ १.१७४.१० ॥
That wicked one harasses women, children, the old, and the young as well. Here, by mantras, oblations and offerings of food, that rākṣasa is appeased.
1.174.11
ईडितो द्विजमुख्यैश्च पूजितश्च दुरात्मवान् ।
यदा च सकलानेवं प्रसूदयति राक्षसः ॥ १.१७४.११ ॥
Though praised and worshipped by the foremost brahmins, when that wicked rākṣasa thus slays and devours them all—
1.174.12
अथैनं ब्राह्मणाः सर्वे समये समयोजयन् ।
मा स्म कामाद्वधी रक्षो दास्यामस्ते सदा वयं ॥ १.१७४.१२ ॥
Then all the brahmins bound him by an agreement: 'O rākṣasa, do not slay out of desire; we shall always give you (food).'
1.174.13
पर्यायेण यथाकाममिह मांसोदनं प्रभो ।
अन्नं मांससमायुक्तं तिलचूर्णसमन्वितम् ॥ १.१७४.१३ ॥
O lord, here in turn, as desired, there will be rice with meat; food combined with meat, mixed with sesame powder.
1.174.14
सर्पिषा च समायुक्तं व्यञ्जनैश्च समन्वितम् ।
सूपांस्त्रीन्सतिलान्पिण्डाँल्लाजापूपसुरासवान् ॥ १.१७४.१४ ॥
Combined with ghee and accompanied by side dishes; three kinds of broth, balls with sesame, parched grain, cakes, wine and liquor.
1.174.15
शृताशृतान्पानकुम्भान्स्थूलमांसं शृताशृतम् ।
वनमाहिषवाराहभाल्लूकं च शृताशृतम् ॥ १.१७४.१५ ॥
Cooked and uncooked; pots of drink; coarse meat, cooked and uncooked; the flesh of forest buffalo, boar and bear, cooked and uncooked.
1.174.16
सर्पिःकुम्भांश्च विविधान्दधिकुम्भांस्तथा बहून् ।
सद्यःसिद्धसमायुक्तं तिलचूर्णैः समाकुलम् ॥ १.१७४.१६ ॥
Various pots of ghee and many pots of curds as well; combined with freshly prepared dishes, filled with sesame powder.
1.174.17
कुलाच्च पुरुषं चैकं बलीवर्दौ च कालकौ ।
प्राप्स्यसि त्वमसंक्रुद्धो रक्षोभागं प्रकल्पितम् ॥ १.१७४.१७ ॥
From a family you will also obtain one man and two black bulls; do not be angered — this is your rakshasa share, assigned to you.
1.174.18
तिष्ठेह समयेऽस्माकमित्ययाचन्त तं द्विजाः ।
बाढमित्येव तद्रक्षस्तद्वचः प्रत्यगृह्णत ॥ १.१७४.१८ ॥
Stay here according to our agreement — thus the brahmins asked him; then that rakshasa, saying "very well," accepted their words.
1.174.19
परचक्राटवीकेभ्यो रक्षणं स करोति च ।
तस्मिन्भागे सुनिर्दिष्टे स्थितः स समये बली ॥ १.१७४.१९ ॥
He protects from enemy armies and forest-dwellers; the mighty one, established in that appointed portion at the proper time.
1.174.20
एकैकं चैव पुरुषं संप्रयच्छन्ति वेतनम् ।
स वारो बहुभिर्वर्षैर्भवत्यसुकरो नरैः ॥ १.१७४.२० ॥
They exact a tax from each man one by one; that turn becomes unbearable for men even over many years.
1.174.21
तद्विमोक्षाय ये केचिद्यतन्ते पुरुषाः क्वचित् ।
सपुत्रदारांस्तान्हत्वा तद्रक्षो भक्षयत्युत ॥ १.१७४.२१ ॥
Those men who somewhere strive for release from it, that rākṣasa slays together with their sons and wives and devours.
1.174.22
वेत्रकीयगृहे राजा नायं नयमिहास्थितः ।
उपायं तं न कुरुते यत्नादपि स मन्दधीः।
अनामयं जनस्यास्य येन स्यादद्य शाश्वतम् ॥ १.१७४.२२ ॥
This king, dwelling in the cane-house, does not stand firm in policy here; that dull-witted one, even with effort, does not devise the means by which this people might have lasting welfare today.
1.174.23
एतदर्हा वचं नूनं वसामो दुर्बलस्य ये ।
विषये नित्यवास्तव्याः कुराजानमुपाश्रिताः ॥ १.१७४.२३ ॥
We who dwell under the weak one are indeed deserving of such words; we who are permanent residents of this land, having resorted to a bad king.
1.174.24
ब्राह्मणाः कस्य वक्तव्याः कस्य वाच्छन्दचारिणः ।
गुणैरेते हि वत्स्यन्ति कामगाः पक्षिणो यथा ॥ १.१७४.२४ ॥
To whom are brahmins to be spoken of, or whose wills do they follow? By their virtues they will dwell here, like birds that fly at will.
1.174.25
राजानं प्रथमं विन्देत्ततो भार्यां ततो धनम् ।
राजन्यसति लोकेऽस्मिन्कुतो भार्या कुतो धनम्।
वयस्य संचयेनास्य ज्ञातीन्पुत्रांश्च तारयेत् ॥ १.१७४.२५ ॥
One should first obtain a king, then a wife, then wealth. When there is no king in this world, where is a wife, and where is wealth? Friend, by the accumulation of this, one should rescue one's kinsmen and sons as well.
1.174.26
विपीरतं मया चेदं त्रयं सर्वमुपार्जितम् ।
तदिमामापदं प्राप्य भृशं तप्यामहे वयम् ॥ १.१७४.२६ ॥
These three things I acquired — all of them — have been ruined, and having fallen into this calamity, we suffer greatly.
1.174.27
सोऽयमस्माननुप्राप्तो वारः कुलविनाशनः ।
भोजनं पुरुषश्चैकः प्रदेयं वेतनं मया ॥ १.१७४.२७ ॥
That turn, destroyer of the family, has now come upon us: for food, I must give one man as wages.
1.174.28
न च मे विद्यते वित्तं संक्रेतुं पुरुषं क्वचित् ।
सुहृज्जनं प्रदातुं च न शक्ष्यामि कदाचन ॥ १.१७४.२८ ॥
I have no wealth with which to buy a man anywhere, and I shall never be able to give up a friend.
1.174.29
गतिं चान्यां न पश्यामि तस्मान्मोक्षाय रक्षसः ।
सोऽहं दुःखार्णवे मग्नो महत्यसुकरे भृशम् ॥ १.१७४.२९ ॥
I see no other course for deliverance from the rakshasa; therefore I am plunged deeply into this great and hard-to-cross ocean of sorrow.
1.174.30
सहैवैतैर्गमिष्यामि बान्धवैरद्य राक्षसम् ।
ततो नः सहितान्क्षुद्रः सर्वानेवोपभोक्ष्यति ॥ १.१७४.३० ॥
Today I shall go to that rakshasa together with these very kinsmen; otherwise the wretch will devour us all, gathered together.
1.174.31
दुःखमूलमिदं भद्रे मयोक्तं प्रश्नतोऽनघे ॥ १.१७४.३१ ॥
O gentle lady, O sinless one, in answer to your question I have told you this root of sorrow.