Mahābhārata · Adhyāya 1.56
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1.56.1
बालोऽप्ययं स्थविर इवावभाषते ।
नायं बालः स्थविरोऽयं मतो मे।
इच्छाम्यहं वरमस्मै प्रदातुं ।
तन्मे विप्राः संविदध्वं यथावत् ॥ १.५६.१ ॥
Though a child, he speaks like an old man; in my view he is no child but an elder. I wish to grant him a boon; O brahmins, arrange this for me properly.
1.56.2
यथा च नस्तक्षक एति शीघ्रम् ॥ १.५६.२ ॥
And so that Takṣaka comes to us quickly.
1.56.3
व्याहर्तुकामे वरदे नृपे द्विजं ।
वरं वृणीष्वेति ततोऽब्युवाच।
होता वाक्यं नातिहृष्टान्तरात्मा ।
कर्मण्यस्मिंस्तक्षको नैति तावत् ॥ १.५६.३ ॥
When the king, the giver of boons, was about to speak, he said to the brahmin, "Choose a boon." Then the hotṛ priest, his inner self not greatly gladdened, spoke: "In this rite Takṣaka has not yet come."
1.56.4
यथा चेदं कर्म समाप्यते मे ।
यथा च वै तक्षक एति शीघ्रम्।
तथा भवन्तः प्रयतन्तु सर्वे ।
परं शक्त्या स हि मे विद्विषाणः ॥ १.५६.४ ॥
So that this rite of mine is completed, and so that Takṣaka comes quickly, may all of you strive with your full might; for he is my enemy.
1.56.5
यथा शस्त्राणि नः प्राहुर्यथा शंसति पावकः ।
इन्द्रस्य भवने राजंस्तक्षको भयपीडितः ॥ १.५६.५ ॥
As the weapons tell us, and as the fire declares, O king, Takṣaka is afflicted with fear in the abode of Indra.
1.56.6
यथा सूतो लोहिताक्षो महात्मा ।
पौराणिको वेदितवान्पुरस्तात्।
स राजानं प्राह पृष्टस्तदानीं ।
यथाहुर्विप्रास्तद्वदेतन्नृदेव ॥ १.५६.६ ॥
Just as the great-souled Sūta with red eyes, learned in the Purāṇas, knew long ago, and as he declared when the king asked him, as the brahmins say, so tell it, O lord of men.
1.56.7
पुराणमागम्य ततो ब्रवीम्यहं ।
दत्तं तस्मै वरमिन्द्रेण राजन्।
वसेह त्वं मत्सकाशे सुगुप्तो ।
न पावकस्त्वां प्रदहिष्यतीति ॥ १.५६.७ ॥
Following the Purāṇa, I now tell it. O king, Indra granted him a boon: "Dwell here in my presence, well protected; fire shall not burn you."
1.56.9
तदा जगामाहिदत्ताभयः प्रभुः ॥ १.५६.९ ॥
Then that mighty one, who had been granted fearlessness among the serpents, departed.
1.56.10
भविष्यतीत्येव विचिन्तयानः ॥ १.५६.१० ॥
Thinking, "So it will be," he went away.
1.56.11
तस्योत्तरीये निहितः स नागो ।
भयोद्विग्नः शर्म नैवाभ्यगच्छत्।
ततो राजा मन्त्रविदोऽब्रवीत्पुनः ।
क्रुद्धो वाक्यं तक्षकस्यान्तमिच्छन् ॥ १.५६.११ ॥
That serpent, hidden in his upper garment and agitated with fear, found no shelter. Then the king, enraged and desiring the end of Takṣaka, spoke again to the knowers of mantras.
1.56.12
इन्द्रस्य भवने विप्रा यदि नागः स तक्षकः ।
तमिन्द्रेणैव सहितं पातयध्यं विभावसौ ॥ १.५६.१२ ॥
O brahmins, if that serpent Takṣaka is in Indra's abode, cause him to fall into the fire together with Indra himself.
1.56.13
जनमेजयेन राज्ञा तु नोदितस्तक्षकं प्रति ।
होता जुहाव तत्रस्थं तक्षकं पन्नगं तथा ॥ १.५६.१३ ॥
Urged on by King Janamejaya, the priest made offerings against Takṣaka, and likewise offered into the fire the serpent Takṣaka who was present there.
1.56.14
हूयमाने तथा चैव तक्षकः सपुरन्दरः ।
आकाशे ददृशे तत्र क्षणेन व्यथितस्तदा ॥ १.५६.१४ ॥
While the oblation was being offered, Takṣaka appeared in the sky together with Purandara (Indra), and in a moment he was distressed.
1.56.15
पुरन्दरस्तु तं यज्ञं दृष्ट्वोरुभयमाविशत् ।
हित्वा तु तक्षकं त्रस्तः स्वमेव भवनं ययौ ॥ १.५६.१५ ॥
But Indra, seeing that sacrifice, was seized with great fear; terrified, he abandoned Takṣaka and went back to his own abode.
1.56.16
इन्द्रे गते तु राजेन्द्र तक्षको भयमोहितः ।
मन्त्रशक्त्या पावकार्चिस्समीपमवशो गतः।
तं दृष्ट्वा ऋत्विजस्तत्र वचनं चेदमब्रुवन् ॥ १.५६.१६ ॥
O best of kings, when Indra had gone, Takṣaka, bewildered by fear, was compelled by the power of the mantras and came near the flame of the fire. Seeing him, the priests there spoke these words.
1.56.17
अयमायाति तूर्णं स तक्षकस्ते वशं नृप ।
श्रूयतेऽस्य महान्नादो नदतो भैरवं रवम् ॥ १.५६.१७ ॥
Here this Takṣaka comes swiftly; O king, he is now in your power. The great sound of his terrible roaring is heard.
1.56.18
नूनं मुक्तो वज्रभृता स नागो ।
भ्रष्टो नाकान्मन्त्रवित्रस्तकायः।
घूर्णन्नाकाशे नष्टसंज्ञोऽभ्युपैति ।
तीव्रान्निश्वासान्निश्वसन्पन्नगेन्द्रः ॥ १.५६.१८ ॥
Surely the wielder of the thunderbolt has released that serpent. With his body trembling from the mantras, fallen from heaven, whirling in the sky and having lost consciousness, the lord of serpents approaches, breathing out fierce sighs.
1.56.19
वर्तते तव राजेन्द्र कर्मैतद्विधिवत्प्रभो ।
अस्मै तु द्विजमुख्याय वरं त्वं दातुमर्हसि ॥ १.५६.१९ ॥
O lord of kings, O lord, this rite of yours is proceeding according to rule. Therefore you ought to grant a boon to this chief of the twice-born.
1.56.20
बालाभिरूपस्य तवाप्रमेय ।
वरं प्रयच्छामि यथानुरूपम्।
वृणीष्व यत्तेऽभिमतं हृदि स्थितं ।
तत्ते प्रदास्याम्यपि चेददेयम् ॥ १.५६.२० ॥
O immeasurable one, I grant you a boon fitting your youthful form. Choose whatever is desired and lies in your heart; even if it is not to be given, I will give it to you.
1.56.21
पतिष्यमाणे नागेन्द्रे तक्षके जातवेदसि ।
इदमन्तरमित्येवं तदास्तीकोऽभ्यचोदयत् ॥ १.५६.२१ ॥
When the lord of serpents Takṣaka was about to fall into the sacrificial fire, Āstīka thought, 'This is the opportunity,' and urged him on.
1.56.22
वरं ददासि चेन्मह्यं वृणोमि जनमेजय ।
सत्रं ते विरमत्वेतन्न पतेयुरिहोरगाः ॥ १.५६.२२ ॥
O Janamejaya, if you grant me a boon, I choose this: let this sacrifice of yours cease, and let no serpents fall here.
1.56.23
एवमुक्तस्तदा तेन ब्रह्मन्पारिक्षितस्तु सः ।
नातिहृष्टमनाश्चेदमास्तीकं वाक्यमब्रवीत् ॥ १.५६.२३ ॥
Thus addressed by him, O brahmin, Janamejaya, son of Parīkṣit, not greatly gladdened in heart, spoke these words to Āstīka.
1.56.24
सुवर्णं रजतं गाश्च यच्चान्यन्मन्यसे विभो ।
तत्ते दद्यां वरं विप्र न निवर्तेत्क्रतुर्मम ॥ १.५६.२४ ॥
O mighty one, gold, silver, cows, and whatever else you think of—I will give that to you as a boon, O brahmin; only let my sacrifice not be turned back.
1.56.25
सुवर्णं रजतं गाश्च न त्वां राजन्वृणोम्यहम् ।
सत्रं ते विरमत्वेतत्स्वस्ति मातृकुलस्य नः ॥ १.५६.२५ ॥
O king, I do not choose gold, silver, or cows from you. Let this sacrifice of yours cease; may there be blessings for our mother's family.
1.56.26
आस्तीकेनैवमुक्तस्तु राजा पारिक्षितस्तदा ।
पुनःपुनरुवाचेदमास्तीकं वदतां वरः ॥ १.५६.२६ ॥
Though Āstīka had spoken thus, the king, son of Parīkṣit, then said again and again to Āstīka, best of speakers, this:
1.56.27
अन्यं वरय भद्रं ते वरं द्विज्वरोत्तम ।
अयाचत न चाप्यन्यं वरं स भृगुनन्दन ॥ १.५६.२७ ॥
Choose another boon, may good fortune be yours, best of twice-born ones. But he, descendant of Bhṛgu, asked for no other boon.
1.56.28
ततो वेदविदस्तात सदस्याः सर्व एव तम् ।
राजानमूचुः सहिता लभतां ब्राह्मणो वरम् ॥ १.५६.२८ ॥
Then, dear one, all the assembly members who knew the Vedas together said to the king: "Let the brahmin receive his boon."