Mahābhārata · Adhyāya 9.38
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9.38.1
ततो विनशनं राजन्नाजगाम हलायुधः ।
शूराऽऽभीरन्प्रति द्वेषाद्यत्र नष्टा सरस्वती।
तस्मात्तामृषयो नित्यं प्राहुर्विनशनेति च ॥ ९.३८.१ ॥
Then, O king, Halāyudha came to Vinaśana, where the Sarasvatī vanished out of hostility toward the Śūras and Ābhīras. Therefore the sages always call her Vinaśana.
9.38.2
तत्राप्युपस्पृश्य बलः सरस्वत्यां महाबलः ।
सुभूमिकं ततोऽगच्छत्सरस्वत्यास्तटे वरे ॥ ९.३८.२ ॥
There too, having sipped water and bathed in the Sarasvatī, the mighty Bala went to Subhūmika, on the excellent bank of the Sarasvatī.
9.38.3
तत्र चाप्सरसः शुभ्रा नित्यकालमतन्द्रिताः ।
क्रीडाभिर्विमलाभिश्च क्रीडन्ति विमलाननाः ॥ ९.३८.३ ॥
There the radiant apsarases, never weary, with spotless faces, play at their pure games.
9.38.4
तत्र देवाः सगन्धर्वा मासिमासि जनेश्वर ।
अभिगच्छन्ति तत्तीर्थं पुण्यं ब्राह्मणसेवितम् ॥ ९.३८.४ ॥
There, O lord of men, the gods together with the gandharvas go month after month to that sacred ford, frequented by brahmins.
9.38.5
तत्र नृत्यन्ति गन्धर्वास्तथैवाप्सरसां गणाः ।
समेत्य सहिता राजन्यथाप्राप्तं यथासुखम् ॥ ९.३८.५ ॥
There the gandharvas dance, and likewise the troops of apsarases; O king, gathered together, they rejoice as they find occasion and as pleasure allows.
9.38.6
तत्र मोदन्ति देवाश्च पितरश्च सवीरुधः ।
पुण्यैः पुष्पैः सदा दिव्यैः कीर्यमाणाः पुनः पुनः ॥ ९.३८.६ ॥
There the gods and the ancestors rejoice, together with the creepers, while sacred divine flowers are strewn upon them again and again.
9.38.7
आक्रीडभूमिः सा राजंस्तासामप्सरसां शुभा ।
सुभूमिकेति विख्याता सरस्वत्यास्तटे वरे ॥ ९.३८.७ ॥
O king, that was the lovely playground of those apsarases, renowned as Subhūmikā on the excellent bank of the Sarasvatī.
9.38.8
तत्र स्नात्वा च दत्त्वा च वसु विप्रेषु माधवः ।
श्रुत्वा गीतं च तद्दिव्यं वादित्राणां च निःस्वनम् ॥ ९.३८.८ ॥
There, having bathed and given wealth to the brahmins, Mādhava heard that divine song and the sound of instruments.
9.38.9
शय्याश्च विपुला दृष्ट्वा देवगन्धर्वरक्षसाम् ।
गन्धर्वाणां ततस्तीर्थमागच्छद्रोहिणीसुतः ॥ ९.३८.९ ॥
Having seen the vast couches of gods, gandharvas and rākṣasas, the son of Rohiṇī then came to the ford of the gandharvas.
9.38.10
विश्वावसुमुखास्तत्र गन्धर्वाप्सरसां गणाः ।
नृत्तवादित्रगीतं च कुर्न्वति सुमनोरमम् ॥ ९.३८.१० ॥
There bands of gandharvas and apsarases, led by Viśvāvasu, were performing dance, instruments and song, most delightful.
9.38.11
तत्र दत्त्वा हलधरो विप्रेभ्यो विविधं वसु ।
अजाविकं गोखरोष्ट्रं सुवर्णं रजतं तथा ॥ ९.३८.११ ॥
There Haladhara gave the brahmins various wealth: goats and sheep, cattle, asses and camels, and gold and silver as well.
9.38.12
भोजयित्वा द्विजान्कामैः सन्तर्प्य च महाधनैः ।
प्रययौ सहितो विप्रैः स्तूयमानश्च माधवः ॥ ९.३८.१२ ॥
Having fed the twice-born to their desire and satisfied them with great riches, Mādhava set out, accompanied by brahmins and praised by them.
9.38.13
तस्माद्गन्धर्वतीर्थाच्च महाबाहुररिन्दमः ।
गर्गस्रोतो महातीर्थमाजगामैककुण्डली ॥ ९.३८.१३ ॥
From the Gandharva ford the mighty-armed subduer of foes, the one with a single earring, came to the great ford called Gargasrota.
9.38.14
तत्र गर्गेण वृद्धेन तपसा भावितात्मना ।
कालज्ञानगतिश्चैव ज्योतिषां च व्यतिक्रमः ॥ ९.३८.१४ ॥
There the aged Garga, whose soul was purified by austerity, knew the knowledge of time and the shifting courses of the heavenly bodies.
9.38.15
उत्पाता दारुणाश्चैक शुभाश्च जनमेजय ।
सरस्वत्याः शुभे तीर्थे विदिता वै महात्मना ॥ ९.३८.१५ ॥
O Janamejaya, the terrible and the auspicious portents were known to that great-souled one at the auspicious ford of the Sarasvatī.
9.38.16
तस्य नाम्ना च तत्तीर्थं गर्गस्रोत इति स्मृतम् ॥ ९.३८.१६ ॥
By his name that ford is remembered as Gargasrota.
9.38.17
तत्र गर्गं महाभागमृषयः सुव्रता नृप ।
उपासाञ्चक्रिरे नित्यं कालज्ञानं प्रति प्रभो ॥ ९.३८.१७ ॥
There, O king, the sages of good vows constantly attended upon the greatly fortunate Garga for knowledge of time, O lord.
9.38.18
तत्र गत्वा महाराज बलः श्वेतानुलेपनः ।
विधिवद्वि धनं दत्त्वा मुनीनां भावितात्मनाम् ॥ ९.३८.१८ ॥
There, O great king, Bala, smeared with white unguent, having gone, duly gave wealth to the sages whose souls were purified.
9.38.19
उच्चावचांस्तथा भक्ष्यान्विप्रेभ्यो विप्रदाय सः ।
नीलवासास्तदाऽगच्छच्छङ्घतीर्थं महायशाः ॥ ९.३८.१९ ॥
Then the far-famed one, clad in blue garments, having given various foods to the brahmins, went to the Śaṅkha ford.
9.38.20
तत्रापश्यन्महाशङ्खं महामेरुमिवोच्छ्रितम् ।
श्वेतपर्वतसङ्काशमृषिसङ्घैर्निषेवितम्।
सरस्वत्यास्तटे जातं नगं तालध्वजो बली ॥ ९.३८.२० ॥
There the mighty one beheld that great Śaṅkha mountain, standing on the bank of the Sarasvatī, raised high like great Meru, resembling a white mountain, frequented by throngs of sages.
9.38.21
यक्षा विद्याधराश्चैव राक्षसाश्चामितौजसः ।
पिशाचाश्चामितबला यत्र सिद्धाः सहस्रशः ॥ ९.३८.२१ ॥
Where yakṣas and vidyādharas, the rākṣasas of immeasurable power, and the piśācas of immeasurable strength, and thousands of siddhas dwelt.
9.38.22
ते सर्वे ह्यशनं त्यक्त्वा फलं तस्य वनस्पतेः ।
व्रतैश्च नियमैश्चैव कालेकाले स्म भुञ्जते ॥ ९.३८.२२ ॥
All of them, having given up ordinary food, ate the fruit of that tree at the proper times, with vows and observances.
9.38.23
प्राप्तैश्च नियमैस्तैस्तैर्विचरन्तः पृथक्पृथक् ।
अदृश्यमाना मनुजैर्व्यचरन्पुरुषर्षभ ॥ ९.३८.२३ ॥
O bull among men, wandering separately each with the observances they had attained, they moved about unseen by men.
9.38.24
एवं ख्यातो नरव्याघ्र लोकेऽस्मिन्स वनस्पतिः ।
तत्र तीर्थं सरस्वत्याः पावनं लोकविश्रुतम् ॥ ९.३८.२४ ॥
Thus, O tiger among men, that tree is renowned in this world; there is the sacred ford of the Sarasvatī, famed throughout the world.
9.38.25
तस्मिंश्च यदुशार्दूलो दत्त्वा तीर्थे पयस्विनीः ।
ताम्रायसानि भाण्डानि वस्त्राणि विविधानि च ॥ ९.३८.२५ ॥
And there, the tiger of the Yadus gave milch cows at the sacred ford, as well as copper and iron vessels and various garments.
9.38.26
पूजयित्वा द्विजांश्चैव पूजितश्च तपोधनैः ।
पुण्यं नैसर्गिकं राजन्नाजगाम हलायुधः ॥ ९.३८.२६ ॥
Having honored the twice-born and having himself been honored by the wealth-of-austerity ascetics, O king, Balarāma, the plough-armed, came with natural merit.
9.38.27
तत्र गत्वा मुनीन्दृष्ट्वा नानावेषधरान्बलः ।
आप्लुत्य सलिले चापि पूजयामास वै द्विजान् ॥ ९.३८.२७ ॥
Going there and seeing the sages who bore many forms, Balarāma bathed in the water and honored the twice-born.
9.38.28
तथैव दत्त्वा विप्रेभ्यः परिभोगान्सुपुष्कलान् ।
ततः प्रायाद्बलो राजन्दक्षिणेन सरस्वतीम् ॥ ९.३८.२८ ॥
Likewise, having given abundant provisions to the brahmins, O king, Balarāma set out southward along the Sarasvatī.
9.38.29
गत्वा चैवं महाबाहुर्नातिदूरे महायशाः ।
धर्मात्मा नागधन्वानं तीर्थमागमदच्युतः ॥ ९.३८.२९ ॥
Going thus, the mighty-armed, very famous, righteous-souled Acyuta — not far off — came to the sacred ford called Nāgadhanvan.
9.38.30
यत्र पन्नगराजस्य वासुकेः सन्निवेशनम् ।
महाद्युतेर्महाराज बहुभिः पन्नगैर्वृतम् ॥ ९.३८.३० ॥
Where lay the dwelling of Vāsuki, king of serpents, of great radiance, surrounded by many serpents, O great king.
9.38.31
ऋषीणां हि सहस्राणि तत्र नित्यं चतुर्दश ।
यत्र देवाः समागम्य वासुकिं पन्नगोत्तमम्।
सर्वपन्नगराजानमभ्यषिञ्चन्यथाविधि ॥ ९.३८.३१ ॥
There, always, were fourteen thousand sages. There the gods gathered and anointed Vāsuki, best of serpents, as king of all the serpent-kings, according to rule.
9.38.32
पन्नगेभ्यो भयं तत्र विद्यते न स्म पौरव ॥ ९.३८.३२ ॥
O descendant of Pūru, there was no fear there from serpents.
9.38.33
तत्रापि विधिवद्दत्वा विप्रेभ्यो रत्नसञ्चयान् ।
प्रायात्प्राचीं दिशं राजंस्तत्र तीर्थान्यनेकशः ॥ ९.३८.३३ ॥
There too, having duly given heaps of jewels to the brahmins, O king, he set out toward the east, where there are many holy fords.
9.38.34
सहस्रशतसङ्ख्यानि प्रथितानि पदेपदे ।
आप्लुत्य तत्र तीर्थेषु यथोक्तं तत्र चर्षिभिः ॥ ९.३८.३४ ॥
There, at every step, are hundreds of thousands of famed holy fords; and there, bathing in those fords as the sages prescribed,
9.38.35
दत्त्वा वसु द्विजाग्र्येभ्यो निर्जगाम महाबलः ।
तत्रस्थानृषिसङ्घांस्तानभिवाद्य हलायुधः ॥ ९.३८.३५ ॥
Having given wealth to the foremost brahmins, the mighty plough-armed one (Balarāma) departed; and having saluted those assemblies of sages who were there,
9.38.36
ततो रामोऽगमत्तीर्थमृषिभिः सेक्तिं महत् ।
यत्र भूयो निववृते प्राङ्मुखा वै सरस्वती ॥ ९.३८.३६ ॥
Then Rāma (Balarāma) went to that great holy ford, much frequented by the sages, where the Sarasvatī, facing east, had turned back once again.
9.38.37
ऋषीणां नैमिषेयाणावमेक्षार्थं महात्मनाम् ।
निवृत्तां तां सरिच्छ्रेष्ठां तत्र दृष्ट्वा तु लाङ्गली।
बभूव विस्मितो राजन्बलः श्वेतानुलेपनः ॥ ९.३८.३७ ॥
Desiring to see the great-souled sages of Naimiṣa, the plough-bearer Balarāma, seeing that best of rivers turned back there, O king, was astonished, smeared with white unguent.
9.38.38
कस्मात्सरस्वती ब्रह्मन्निवृत्ता प्राङ्मुखीभवत् ।
व्याख्यातमेतदिच्छामि सर्वमध्वर्युसत्तम ॥ ९.३८.३८ ॥
O brahmin, why did Sarasvatī turn back and face the east? O best of adhvaryus, I wish to hear all of it explained.
9.38.39
कस्मिंश्चित्कारणे तत्र विस्मितो यदुनन्दनः ।
निवृत्ता हेतुना केन कथमेव सरिद्वरा ॥ ९.३८.३९ ॥
For some reason was the joy of the Yadus astonished there? By what cause, and how, did that best of rivers turn back?
9.38.40
पूर्वं कृतयुगे राजन्नैमिषेयास्तपस्विनः ।
वर्तमाने सुविपुले सत्रे द्वादशवार्षिके ॥ ९.३८.४० ॥
Formerly, O king, in the Kṛta age, the ascetics of Naimiṣa were engaged in a very vast sacrificial session lasting twelve years.
9.38.41
ऋषयो बहवो राजंस्तत्सत्रमभिपेदिरे ।
उषित्वा च महाभागास्तस्मिन्सत्रे यथाविधि ॥ ९.३८.४१ ॥
O king, many sages took up that sacrificial session, and having dwelt in it according to rule, those greatly fortunate ones...
9.38.42
निवृत्ते नैमिषे ये वै सत्रे द्वादशवार्षिके ।
आजग्मुर्ऋषयस्तत्र बहवस्तीर्थकारणात् ॥ ९.३८.४२ ॥
When that twelve-year session at Naimiṣa had ended, many sages came there for the sake of pilgrimage.
9.38.43
ऋषीणां बहुलत्वात्तु सरस्वत्या विशाम्पते ।
तीर्थानि नगरायन्ते कूले वै दक्षिणोत्तरे ॥ ९.३८.४३ ॥
O lord of the people, because of the great number of sages, the holy fords on the southern and northern banks of the Sarasvatī became like cities.
9.38.44
समन्तपञ्चकं यावत्तावत्ते द्विजसत्तमाः ।
तीर्थलोभान्नरव्याघ्र नद्यास्तीरं समाश्रिताः ॥ ९.३८.४४ ॥
O tiger among men, out of desire for the holy fords, those best of the twice-born resorted to the bank of the river as far as Samantapañcaka.
9.38.45
जुह्वतां तत्र तेषां तु मुनीनां भावितात्मनाम् ।
स्वाध्यायेनातिमहता बभूवुः पूरिता दिशः ॥ ९.३८.४५ ॥
As those purified sages offered oblations there, their very great recitation of the Veda filled all the directions.
9.38.46
अग्निहोत्रैस्ततस्तेषां हूयमानैर्महात्मनाम् ।
अशोभत सरिच्छ्रेष्ठा दीप्यमानैः समन्ततः ॥ ९.३८.४६ ॥
Then, blazing on every side with the Agnihotra oblations of those great souls, that best of rivers shone forth.
9.38.47
वालखिल्या महाराज अश्मकुट्टाश्च तापसाः ।
दन्तोलूखलिनश्चान्ये सम्प्रक्षालास्तथा परे ॥ ९.३८.४७ ॥
O great king, there were the Vālakhilyas, the ascetics who pound with stones, the tooth-mortar ones and others, and likewise the Samprakṣālas and the others.
9.38.48
वायुभक्षा जलाहाराः पर्णभक्षाश्च तापसाः ।
नानानियमयुक्ताश्च तथा स्थण्डिलशायिनः ॥ ९.३८.४८ ॥
There were ascetics who lived on air, on water, and on leaves, devoted to various observances, and likewise those who slept on the bare ground.
9.38.49
आसन्वै मुनयस्तवत्र सरस्वत्याः समीपतः ।
शोभयन्तः सरिच्छ्रेष्ठां गङ्गामिव दिवौकसः ॥ ९.३८.४९ ॥
There, near the Sarasvatī, sages dwelt, adorning the best of rivers as the gods adorn the Gaṅgā.
9.38.50
शतशश्च समापेतुर्ऋषयः सत्रयाजिनः ।
तेऽवकाशं न ददृशुः सरस्वत्या महाव्रताः।
तेऽवकाशं च ददृशुः कुरुक्षेत्रं महाव्रताः ॥ ९.३८.५० ॥
Hundreds of sages performing sattra sacrifices assembled; those men of great vows found no room by the Sarasvatī, and those men of great vows found room in Kurukṣetra.
9.38.51
ततो यज्ञोपवीतैः स्वैस्तत्र कृत्वा सरस्वतीम् ।
जुहुवुश्चाग्निहोत्रांश्च चक्रुश्च विविधाः क्रियाः ॥ ९.३८.५१ ॥
Then, making a Sarasvatī there with their own sacred threads, they offered oblations, kept the agnihotra fires, and performed various rites.
9.38.52
ततस्तमृपिसङ्घातं निराशं चिन्तयान्वितम् ।
दर्शयामास राजेन्द्र तेषामर्थे सरस्वती ॥ ९.३८.५२ ॥
Then, O lord of kings, the Sarasvatī showed herself for the sake of that multitude of sages, despairing and troubled in mind.
9.38.53
ततः कुञ्जान्बहून्कृत्वा सन्निवृत्ता सरस्वती ।
ऋषीणां पुण्यतपसां कारुण्याज्जनमेजय ॥ ९.३८.५३ ॥
Then the Sarasvatī, having made many thickets, turned back, O Janamejaya, out of compassion for the sages whose austerities were meritorious.
9.38.54
ततो निवृत्त्य राजेन्द्र तेषामर्थे सरस्वती ।
भूयः प्रतीच्यभिमुखी प्रसुस्राव सरिद्वरा ॥ ९.३८.५४ ॥
Then, O lord of kings, turning back for their sake, the Sarasvatī, best of rivers, flowed again facing westward.
9.38.55
अमोघा गमनं कृत्वा तेषां भूयो जगाम ह ।
अत्यद्भुतं महच्चक्रे तदा राजन्महानदी ॥ ९.३८.५५ ॥
Having made its course for their sake, the unfailing river went on again. O king, then the great river performed an exceedingly wondrous deed.
9.38.56
एवं स कुञ्जो राजन्वै नैमिषीय इति स्मृतः ।
कुरुश्रेष्ठ कुरुक्षेत्रे कुरुष्व महतीं क्रियाम् ॥ ९.३८.५६ ॥
Thus that pool, O king, is remembered as Naimiṣīya. O best of the Kurus, perform a great rite in Kurukṣetra.
9.38.57
तत्र कुञ्जान्बहून्दृष्ट्वा निवृत्तां च सरस्वतीम् ।
बभूव विस्मयस्तत्र रामस्याथ महात्मनः ॥ ९.३८.५७ ॥
Seeing the many pools there and the Sarasvatī turned back, great-souled Rāma was filled with amazement.
9.38.58
उपस्पृश्य तु तत्रापि विधिवद्यदुनन्दनः ।
दत्त्वा देयान्द्विजातिभ्यो भाण्डानि विविधानि च ॥ ९.३८.५८ ॥
There too, having sipped water according to rule, the joy of the Yadus gave to the twice-born gifts fit to be given and various vessels.
9.38.59
भक्ष्यं भोज्यं कच विविधं ब्राह्मणेभ्यः प्रदाय च ।
ततः प्रायाद्बलो राजन्पूज्यमानो द्विजातिभिः ॥ ९.३८.५९ ॥
Having given to the brahmins various foods to eat and to drink, O king, Bala (Balarāma), honoured by the twice-born, then set out.
9.38.60
सरस्वतीतीर्थवरं नानाद्विजगणायुतम् ।
बदरेङ्गुदश्यामाकाप्लुक्षाश्वत्थबिभीतकैः ॥ ९.३८.६० ॥
The excellent sacred ford of the Sarasvatī, abounding with many groups of twice-born, filled with jujube, desert-date, millet-grass, fig, sacred fig and bibhītaka trees.
9.38.61
कङ्कोलैश्च पलाश्चैश्च करीरैः पीलुभिस्तथा ।
सरस्वतीतीर्थरुहैस्तरुभिर्विविधैस्तथा ॥ ९.३८.६१ ॥
Adorned with kaṅkola, palāśa, karīra and pīlu trees, and with many kinds of trees growing at the Sarasvatī ford.
9.38.62
करुषकवरैश्चैव बिल्वैराम्रातकैस्तथा ।
अतिमुक्तकषण्डैश्च पारिजातैश्च शोभितम् ॥ ९.३८.६२ ॥
Adorned with excellent karuṣaka trees, bilva and āmrātaka trees, thickets of atimuktaka, and pārijāta trees.
9.38.63
कदलीवनभूयिष्ठं दृष्टिकान्तं मनोहरम् ।
वाय्वम्बुफलपर्णादैर्दन्तोलूखलिकैरपि ॥ ९.३८.६३ ॥
Abounding in banana groves, pleasing to the eye and charming, where lived ascetics who fed on air, water, fruit and leaves, and who used their teeth as mortars.
9.38.64
तथाऽश्मकुट्टैर्वातेयैर्मुनिभिर्बहुभिर्वृतम् ।
स्वाध्यायघोषसङ्घुष्टं मृगयूथशताकुलम् ॥ ९.३८.६४ ॥
Surrounded by many sages who pound their food with stones and who live on wind, resounding with the sound of Vedic recitation and crowded with hundreds of herds of deer.
9.38.65
अहिंस्रैर्धर्मपरमैर्नृभिरत्यर्थरोवितम् ।
सप्तसारस्वतं तीर्थमाजगाम हलायुधः।
यत्र मङ्कणकः सिद्धस्तपस्तेपे महामुनिः ॥ ९.३८.६५ ॥
To the Sapta-Sārasvata ford, greatly resounding with non-violent men devoted supremely to dharma, came Halāyudha (Balarāma), the plough-armed one, where the perfected great sage Maṅkaṇaka had performed austerities.