Mahābhārata · Adhyāya 12.288
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12.288.1
वृत्रस्य तु महाराज ज्वराविष्टस्य सर्वशः ।
अभवन्यानि लिङ्गानि शरीरे तानि मे शृणु ॥ १२.२८८.१ ॥
O great king, the signs that appeared throughout the body of Vṛtra, seized by fever, hear them from me.
12.288.2
ज्वलितास्योऽभवद्धोरो वैवर्ण्यं चागमत्परम् ।
गात्रकम्पश्च सुमहाञ्श्वासश्चाप्यभवन्महान् ॥ १२.२८८.२ ॥
His mouth became blazing and terrible, he turned extremely pale, his limbs trembled, and his breath became very great.
12.288.3
रोमहर्षश्च तीव्रोऽभून्निःश्वासश्च महान्नृप ।
शिवा चाशिवसंकाशा तस्य वक्रात्सुदारुणा ॥ १२.२८८.३ ॥
O king, his hair stood on end intensely, a great exhalation came, and from his mouth issued a jackal's cry, dreadful and like an inauspicious sound.
12.288.4
निष्पपात महाघोरा स्मृतिर्नष्टास्य भारत ।
उत्काश्च ज्वलितास्तस्य दीप्ताः पार्श्वे प्रपेदिरे ॥ १२.२८८.४ ॥
O Bhārata, his memory was lost, and very terrible signs appeared; blazing, shining meteors fell upon his sides.
12.288.5
गृध्राः कङ्का बलाकाश्च वाचोऽमुञ्चन्सुदारुणाः ।
वृत्रस्योपरि संहृष्टाश्चक्रवत्परिबभ्रमुः ॥ १२.२८८.५ ॥
Vultures, herons, and cranes uttered very dreadful cries; delighted, they circled above Vṛtra like a wheel.
12.288.6
ततस्तं रथमास्थाय देवाप्यायित आहवे ।
वज्रोद्यतकरः शक्रस्तं दैत्यं प्रत्यवैक्षत ॥ १२.२८८.६ ॥
Then Indra, strengthened by the gods, mounted that chariot, and with the thunderbolt raised in his hand, in battle he looked toward that demon.
12.288.7
अमानुषमथो नादं स मुमोच महासुरः ।
व्यजृम्भच्चैव राजेन्द्र तीव्रज्वरसमन्वितः ॥ १२.२८८.७ ॥
Then the great asura let out a superhuman roar, and, O lord of kings, seized by a raging fever, he yawned wide.
12.288.8
अथास्य जृम्भतः शक्रस्ततो वज्रमवासृजत् ।
स वज्रः सुमहातेजा कालान्तकयमोपमः ॥ १२.२८८.८ ॥
Then, while he was yawning, Śakra hurled his thunderbolt. That mighty, blazing vajra was like Time, the Ender, and Yama.
12.288.9
क्षिप्रमेव महाकायं वृत्रं दैत्यमपातयत् ।
ततो नादः समभवत्पुनरेव समन्ततः ॥ १२.२८८.९ ॥
At once he struck down Vṛtra, the giant Daitya, and then a roar rose again on every side.
12.288.10
वृत्रं विनिहितं दृष्ट्वा देवानां भरतर्षभ ।
वृत्रं तु हत्वा मघवा दानवारिर्महायशाः ॥ १२.२८८.१० ॥
O best of the Bharatas, when the gods saw Vṛtra laid low, Maghavan, the great-famed foe of the Dānavas, having slain Vṛtra...
12.288.11
वज्रेण विष्णुयुक्तेन दिवमेव समाविशत् ।
अथ वृत्रस्य कौरव्य शरीरादभिनिःसृता ॥ १२.२८८.११ ॥
With the thunderbolt joined to Viṣṇu he entered heaven itself. Then, O Kaurava, from the body of Vṛtra there emerged...
12.288.12
ब्रह्महत्या महाघोरा रौद्रा लोकभयावहा ।
करालदशना भीमा विकृता कृष्णपिङ्गला ॥ १२.२८८.१२ ॥
Brahmahatyā, the sin of killing a Brahmin, came forth, exceedingly dreadful, fierce, bringing terror to the worlds. Her teeth were fearful, she was terrifying, deformed, dark and tawny.
12.288.13
प्रकीर्णमूर्धजा चैव घोरनेत्रा च भारत ।
कपालमालिनी चैव कृत्येव भरतर्षभ ॥ १२.२८८.१३ ॥
O Bhārata, with disheveled hair and fierce eyes, wearing a garland of skulls, she was like a demoness, O bull of the Bharatas.
12.288.14
रुधिरार्द्रा च धर्मज्ञ चीरवल्कलवासिनी ।
साऽभिनिष्क्रम्य राजेन्द्र तादृग्रृपा भयावहा ॥ १२.२८८.१४ ॥
O knower of dharma, drenched in blood and clad in bark garments, she went forth, O lord of kings, in such a form, bringing fear.
12.288.15
वज्रिणं मृगयामास तदा भरतसत्तम ।
कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य वृत्रहा कुरुनन्दन ॥ १२.२८८.१५ ॥
Then, O best of the Bharatas, after some time, O joy of the Kurus, she sought out Indra, the thunderbolt-bearer, slayer of Vṛtra.
12.288.16
स्वर्गायाभिमुखः प्रायाल्लोकानां हितकाम्यया ।
सा विनिःसरमाणं तु दृष्ट्वा शक्रं महौजसम् ॥ १२.२८८.१६ ॥
Desiring the welfare of the worlds, he went facing toward heaven. And seeing Śakra, of great splendor, coming forth, she...
12.288.17
कण्ठे जग्राह देवेन्द्रं सुलग्ना चाभवत्तदा ।
स हि तस्मिन्समुत्पन्ने ब्रह्मवध्याकृते भये ॥ १२.२८८.१७ ॥
She seized the neck of Indra, lord of the gods, and then clung to him fast. When that fear, born of the killing of a brahmin, had arisen in him...
12.288.18
नलिन्या विसमध्यस्थ उवासाब्दगणान्बहून् ।
अनुसृत्य तु यत्नात्स तया वै ब्रह्महत्यया ॥ १२.२८८.१८ ॥
Seated amid the lotus-stalk, he dwelt for many groups of years; and having been pursued with effort by that brahmin-murder, he...
12.288.19
तदा गृहीतः कौरव्य निस्तेजाः समपद्यत ।
तस्या व्यपोहने शक्रः परं यत्नं चकार ह ॥ १२.२८८.१९ ॥
Then, O descendant of Kuru, seized by her, he became deprived of splendour. To drive her away, Indra made a great effort.
12.288.20
न चाशकत्तां देवेन्द्रो ब्रह्मवध्यां व्यपोहितुम् ।
गृहीत एव तु तया देवेन्द्रो भरतर्षभ ॥ १२.२८८.२० ॥
The lord of the gods could not drive away that brahmin-slaying woman; indeed, O bull of the Bharatas, the lord of the gods himself was seized by her.
12.288.21
पितामहमुपागम्य शिरसा प्रत्यपूजयत् ।
ज्ञात्वा गृहीतं शक्रं स द्विजप्रवरवध्यया ॥ १२.२८८.२१ ॥
Approaching the grandfather, he honoured him by bowing his head; knowing that Śakra had been seized through the slaying of the foremost of brahmins, he did so.
12.288.22
ब्रह्मा स चिन्तयामास तदा भरतसत्तम ।
तामुवाच महाबाहो ब्रह्मवध्यां पितामहः ॥ १२.२८८.२२ ॥
Then Brahmā reflected, O best of the Bharatas. O mighty-armed one, the grandfather spoke to that brahmin-slaying woman.
12.288.23
स्वरेण मधुरेणाथ सान्त्वयन्निव भारत ।
मुच्यतां त्रिदशेन्द्रोयं मत्प्रियं कुरु भामिनी ॥ १२.२८८.२३ ॥
Then, as if consoling her with a sweet voice, O Bhārata, he said: 'Let this lord of the thirty gods be released. O radiant woman, do what is dear to me.'
12.288.24
ब्रूहि किं ते करोम्यद्य कामं किं त्वमिहेच्छसि ॥ १२.२८८.२४ ॥
Speak: what shall I do for you today? What do you desire here?
12.288.25
ब्रह्महत्योवाच ।
त्रिलोकपूजिते देवे प्रीते त्रैलोक्यकर्तरि।
कृतमेव हि मन्यामि निवासं तु विधत्स्व मे ॥ १२.२८८.२५ ॥
Brahmahatyā said: O god worshipped in the three worlds, creator of the three worlds, when you are pleased I consider the matter already done; now arrange a dwelling for me.
12.288.26
त्वया कृतेयं मर्यादा लोकसंरक्षणार्थिना ।
स्थापना वै सुमहती त्वया देव प्रवर्तिता ॥ १२.२८८.२६ ॥
You established this boundary, desiring the protection of the worlds; O god, by you this very great establishment was set in motion.
12.288.27
प्रीते तु त्वयि धर्मज्ञ सर्वलोकेश्वर प्रभो ।
शक्रादपगमिष्यामि निवासं संविधत्स्व मे ॥ १२.२८८.२७ ॥
O knower of dharma, lord of all worlds, O lord, when you are pleased with me I shall depart from Śakra; arrange a dwelling for me.
12.288.28
तथेति तां प्राह तदा ब्रह्मवध्यां पितामहः ।
उपायतः स शक्रस्य ब्रह्मवध्यां व्यपोहितुम् ॥ १२.२८८.२८ ॥
Then the grandfather (Brahmā) said to her, "So be it," and by means of a stratagem he devised how to remove the guilt of Brahmin-slaying from Indra.
12.288.29
ततः स्वयंभुवा ध्यातस्तत्र वह्निर्महात्मना ।
ब्रह्माणमुपसंगम्य ततो वचनमब्रवीत् ॥ १२.२८८.२९ ॥
Then Agni, the great-souled one, being contemplated by the self-existent Brahmā, approached Brahmā there and spoke these words.
12.288.30
प्राप्तोऽस्मि भगवन्देव त्वत्सकाशमनिन्दित् ।
यत्कर्तव्यं मया देव तद्भवान्वक्तुमर्हति ॥ १२.२८८.३० ॥
O blessed lord, O god, O blameless one, I have come into your presence; what is to be done by me, O god, may you be pleased to tell.
12.288.31
ब्रह्मोवाच ।
बहुधा विभजिष्यामि ब्रह्मवध्यामिमामहम्।
शक्रस्याद्य विमोक्षार्थं चतुर्भागं प्रतीच्छ वै ॥ १२.२८८.३१ ॥
Brahmā said: In many ways I shall divide this brahmin-slaying guilt. Today, for Śakra's release, accept a quarter of it.
12.288.32
अग्निरुवाच ।
मम मोक्षस्य कोऽन्तो वै ब्रह्मन्ध्यायस्व वै प्रभो।
एतदिच्छामि विज्ञातुं तत्वतो लोकपूजित ॥ १२.२८८.३२ ॥
Agni said: O Brahmā, O lord, what is the end of my release? Meditate upon it. O you honored by the worlds, I wish to know this truly.
12.288.33
ब्रह्मोवाच ।
यस्त्वां ज्वलन्तमासाद्य स्वयं वै मानवः क्वचित्।
बीजौषधिरसैर्वह्ने न यक्ष्यति तमोवृतः ॥ १२.२८८.३३ ॥
Brahmā said: Whatever man, shrouded in darkness, comes himself to you blazing, O Agni, and does not sacrifice to you with seeds, herbs and juices.
12.288.34
तमेषा यास्यति क्षिप्रं तत्रैव च निवत्स्यति ।
ब्रह्मवध्या हव्यवाह व्येतु ते मानसो ज्वरः ॥ १२.२८८.३४ ॥
This guilt will quickly go to him and dwell right there. O carrier of oblations, may your mental fever depart.
12.288.35
इत्युक्तः प्रतिजग्राह तद्वचो हव्यकव्यभुक् ।
पितामहस्य भगवांस्तथा च तदभूत्प्रभो ॥ १२.२८८.३५ ॥
Thus addressed, Agni, consumer of oblations and of offerings to the fathers, accepted the grandfather's word; and, O lord, so it came to be.
12.288.36
ततो वृक्षौषधितृणं समाहूय पितामहः ।
इममर्थं महाराज वक्तुं समुपचक्रमे ॥ १२.२८८.३६ ॥
Then the grandfather, having summoned the trees, herbs and grasses, O great king, began to speak of this matter.
12.288.37
इयं पुत्रादनुप्राप्ता ब्रह्महत्या महाभया ।
पुरुहूतं चतुर्थांशमस्या यूयं प्रतीच्छत ॥ १२.२८८.३७ ॥
This brahmin-slaying, which has come upon us from the son, is very fearful. Accept a fourth part of it for Indra.
12.288.38
ततो वृक्षौषधितृणं तथैवोक्तं यथातथम् ।
व्यथितं वह्निवद्राजन्ब्रह्माणमिदमब्रवीत् ॥ १२.२८८.३८ ॥
Then the trees, herbs and grass, just as they had been told, distressed like fire, O king, spoke these words to Brahmā.
12.288.39
अस्माकं ब्रह्मवध्यायाः कोऽन्तो लोकपितामह ।
स्वभावनिहतानस्मान्न पुनर्हन्तुमर्हसि ॥ १२.२८८.३९ ॥
O grandfather of the worlds, what is the end of the brahmin-slaying sin for us? You should not strike us again, who have already been struck down by our own nature.
12.288.40
वयमग्निं तथा शीतं वर्षं च पवनेरितम् ।
सहामः सततं देव तथा च्छेदनभेदने ॥ १२.२८८.४० ॥
O god, we constantly endure fire, cold, and rain driven by the wind; likewise we endure being cut and pierced.
12.288.41
ब्रह्मवध्यामिमामद्य भवतः शासनाद्वयम् ।
ग्रहीष्यामस्त्रिलोकेश मोक्षं चिन्तयतां भवान्। ॥ १२.२८८.४१ ॥
O lord of the three worlds, by your command we shall take on this brahmin-slaying sin today; you consider our liberation.
12.288.42
ब्रह्मोवाच ।
पर्वकाले तु संप्राप्ते यो वै छेदनभेदनम्।
करिष्यति नरो मोहात्तमेषाऽनुगमिष्यति ॥ १२.२८८.४२ ॥
Brahmā said: When the parva-time has come, whoever in delusion does the cutting and piercing, this will follow that man.
12.288.43
ततो वृक्षौषधितृणमेवमुक्तं महात्मना ।
ब्रह्माणमभिसंपूज्य जगामाशु यथागतम् ॥ १२.२८८.४३ ॥
Then the great-souled one, having spoken thus about trees, herbs and grass, honoured Brahmā duly and quickly went back the way he had come.
12.288.44
आहूयाप्सरसो देवस्ततो लोकपितामहः ।
वाचा मधुरया प्राह सान्त्वयन्निव भारत ॥ १२.२८८.४४ ॥
Then the god, grandfather of the worlds, summoned the apsarases and spoke to them in sweet words, as if consoling them, O Bhārata.
12.288.45
इयमिन्द्रादनुप्राप्ता ब्रह्मवध्या वराङ्गनाः ।
चतुर्थमस्या भागांशं मयोक्ताः संप्रतीच्छत ॥ १२.२८८.४५ ॥
This brahmin-slaying has followed after Indra. O excellent women, accept a fourth part of it, as I have told you.
12.288.46
ग्रहणे कृतबुद्धीनां देवेश तव शासनात् ।
मोक्षं समयतोऽस्माकं चिन्तयस्व पितामह ॥ १२.२८८.४६ ॥
O lord of gods, we have resolved to take it up at your command. O grandfather, consider our release in accordance with the appointed term.
12.288.47
ब्रह्मोवाच ।
रजस्वलासु नारीषु यो वै मैथुनमाचरेत्।
तमेषा यास्यति क्षिप्रं व्येतु वो मानसो ज्वरः ॥ १२.२८८.४७ ॥
Brahmā said: She will swiftly go to whoever has intercourse with women in their menstrual state. May your mental fever be dispelled.
12.288.48
तथेति हृष्टमनस इत्युक्त्वाऽऽप्सरसां गणाः ।
स्वानि स्थानानि संप्राप्य रेमिरे भरतर्षभ ॥ १२.२८८.४८ ॥
Saying "so be it" with glad hearts, the troops of apsarases went to their own abodes and delighted there, O bull of the Bharatas.
12.288.49
ततस्त्रिलोककृद्देवः पुनरेव महातपाः ।
अथः संचिन्तयामास ध्यातास्ताश्चाप्यथागमन् ॥ १२.२८८.४९ ॥
Then the god who created the three worlds, of great austerity, reflected again; and those he had thought of also came.
12.288.50
तास्तु सर्वाः समागम्य ब्रह्माणममितौजसम् ।
इदमूचुर्वचो राजन्प्रणिपत्य पितामहम् ॥ १२.२८८.५० ॥
O king, all of them, having gathered together and bowed to Brahmā of immeasurable power, the grandfather, spoke these words.
12.288.51
इमाः स्म देव संप्राप्तास्त्वत्सकाशमरिंदम् ।
शासनात्तव लोकेश समाज्ञापय नः प्रभो ॥ १२.२८८.५१ ॥
O god, we have come into your presence, O subduer of foes. By your command, O lord of the worlds, O master, command us.
12.288.52
ब्रह्मोवाच ।
इयं वृत्रादनुप्राप्ता पुरुहूतं महाभया।
ब्रह्मवध्या चतुर्थांशमस्या यूयं प्रतीच्छत ॥ १२.२८८.५२ ॥
Brahmā said: This great terror, the killing of a brahmin, has come upon Puruhūta (Indra) because of Vṛtra. You shall accept a fourth part of it.
12.288.53
एवं भवतु लोकेश यथा वदसि नः प्रभो ।
मोक्षं समयतोऽस्माकं संचिन्तयितुमर्हसि ॥ १२.२८८.५३ ॥
So be it, O lord of the worlds, as you say to us, O master. You ought to consider our release from the covenant.
12.288.54
त्वं हि देवेश सर्वस्य जगतः परमा गतिः ।
कोऽन्यः प्रसाद्यो हि भवेद्यः कृच्छ्रान्नः समुद्धरेत् ॥ १२.२८८.५४ ॥
You, O lord of the gods, are the supreme refuge of all the world. Who else is there to be propitiated, who would lift us from this distress?
12.288.55
ब्रह्मोवाच ।
अल्पा इति मतिं कृत्वा यो नरो बुद्धिमोहितः।
श्लेष्ममूत्रपुरीषाणि युष्मासु प्रतिमोक्ष्यति ॥ १२.२८८.५५ ॥
Brahmā said: The man who, deluded in understanding, thinking you insignificant, will release phlegm, urine and excrement upon you.
12.288.56
तमियं यास्यति क्षिप्रं तत्रैव च निवत्स्यति ।
तथा वो भविता मोक्ष इति सत्यं ब्रवीमि वः ॥ १२.२८८.५६ ॥
This brahmahatyā will quickly go to him and dwell right there. Thus there will be your release; this I tell you truly.
12.288.57
ततो विमुच्य देवेन्द्रं ब्रह्मवध्या युधिष्ठिर ।
यथा निसृष्टं तं वासमगमद्देवशासनात् ॥ १२.२८८.५७ ॥
Then, O Yudhiṣṭhira, having released the lord of gods, the brahmahatyā went to that same dwelling where it had been discharged, by the command of the gods.
12.288.58
एवं शक्रेण संप्राप्ता ब्रह्मवध्या जनाधिप ।
पितामहमनुज्ञाप्य सोऽश्वमेधमकल्पयत् ॥ १२.२८८.५८ ॥
Thus, O lord of men, Śakra came to be afflicted by the brahmahatyā. Having obtained leave from the Grandsire, he arranged the horse sacrifice.
12.288.59
श्रूयते च महाराज संप्राप्ता वासवेन वै ।
ब्रह्मवध्या ततः शुद्धिं हयमेधेन लब्धवान् ॥ १२.२८८.५९ ॥
And, great king, it is heard that Vāsava indeed came to be afflicted by the brahmahatyā, and then he obtained purification through the horse sacrifice.
12.288.60
समवाप्य श्रियं देवो हत्वाऽरींश्च सहस्रशः ।
प्रहर्षमतुलं लेभे वासवः पृथिवीपते ॥ १२.२८८.६० ॥
Having regained his splendour and slain his enemies by the thousands, the god Vāsava, O lord of the earth, attained incomparable joy.
12.288.61
वृत्रस्य रुधिराच्चैव बुद्बुदाः पार्थ जज्ञिरे ।
द्विजातिभिरभक्ष्यास्ते दीक्षितैश्च तपोधनैः ॥ १२.२८८.६१ ॥
From the blood of Vṛtra, O Pārtha, bubbles arose; they are not to be eaten by the twice-born and by the consecrated ascetics.
12.288.62
सर्वावस्थं त्वमप्येषां द्विजातीनां प्रियं कुरु ।
इमे हि भूतले देवाः प्रथिताः कुरुनन्दन ॥ १२.२८८.६२ ॥
In every condition you too should do what is dear to these twice-born, for, delight of the Kurus, these are the gods renowned upon the earth.
12.288.63
एवं शक्रेण कौरव्य बुद्धिसौक्ष्म्यान्महासुरः ।
उपायपूर्वं निहतो वृत्रो ह्यमिततेजसा ॥ १२.२८८.६३ ॥
Thus, O descendant of Kuru, through the subtlety of his intellect, Śakra, of boundless splendor, slew the great asura Vṛtra by means of a stratagem.
12.288.64
एवं त्वमपि कौन्तेय पृथिव्यामपराजितः ।
भविष्यसि यथा देवः शतक्रतुरमित्रहा ॥ १२.२८८.६४ ॥
Thus you too, O son of Kuntī, shall be unconquered upon the earth, like the god Śatakratu, slayer of enemies.
12.288.65
ये तु शक्रकथां दिव्यामिमां पर्वसुपर्वसु ।
विप्रमध्ये वदिष्यन्ति न ते प्राप्स्यन्ति किल्विषं ॥ १२.२८८.६५ ॥
Those who, on every festival day, recite this divine tale of Śakra in the midst of brahmins shall not incur sin.
12.288.66
इत्येतद्वृत्रमाश्रित्य शक्रस्यात्यद्भुतं महत् ।
कथितं कर्म ते तात किं भूयः श्रोतुमिच्छसि ॥ १२.२८८.६६ ॥
Thus has the most wondrous and great deed of Śakra, concerning Vṛtra, been told to you. Dear son, what more do you wish to hear?