Mahābhārata · Adhyāya 9.42
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9.42.1
ब्रह्मयोनिभिराकीर्णं जगाम यद्वुनन्दनः ।
यत्र दाल्भ्यो बको राजन्पश्वर्थ सुमहातपाः।
जुहाव धृतराष्ट्रस्य राष्ट्रं कोपसमन्वितः ॥ ९.४२.१ ॥
Kṛṣṇa, the delight of the Vṛṣṇis, went to that place crowded with brahmins of Vedic lineage, O king, where Baka, son of Dālbhya, of great austerity, filled with anger, invoked the kingdom of Dhṛtarāṣṭra for the sake of cattle.
9.42.2
तपसा घोररूपेण कर्शयन्देहमात्मनः ।
क्रोधेन महताऽऽविष्टो धर्मात्मा वै प्रतापवान् ॥ ९.४२.२ ॥
Wasting his own body with austerity of a terrible form, seized by great anger, he—righteous in nature and indeed mighty—(stood there).
9.42.3
पुरा हि नैमिशीयानां सत्रे द्वादशवार्षिके ।
वृत्ते विश्वजितोऽन्ते वै पाञ्चालानृषयोऽगमन् ॥ ९.४२.३ ॥
Formerly, at the end of the Viśvajit rite of the twelve-year sacrificial session of the Naimiṣa sages, the sages indeed went to the Pāñcālas.
9.42.4
तत्रेश्वरमयाचन्त दक्षिणार्थं मनस्विनः ।
तत्र ते लेभिरे राजन्पाञ्चालेभ्यो महर्षयः।
बलान्वितान्वत्सतरान्निर्व्याधीन्सप्तविंशतिम् ॥ ९.४२.४ ॥
There those high-minded sages asked the lord of the land for a sacrificial fee; there, O king, the great sages received from the Pāñcālas twenty-seven strong, disease-free young bulls.
9.42.5
तानब्रवीद्बलो दाल्भ्यो विभजध्वं पशूनिति ।
पशूनेतानहं त्यक्त्वा भिक्षिष्ये राजसत्तमम् ॥ ९.४२.५ ॥
Bala, son of Dālbhya, said to them: "Divide these cattle. Leaving these cattle behind, I will beg from the best of kings."
9.42.6
एवमुक्त्वा वको राजन्नृषीन्सर्वांन्प्रतापवान् ।
जगाम धृतराष्ट्रस्य भवनं ब्राह्मणोत्तमः ॥ ९.४२.६ ॥
Having spoken thus, O king, the mighty Baka, foremost of brahmins, left all the sages and went to the abode of Dhṛtarāṣṭra.
9.42.7
अयाचत पशून्दाल्भ्यः स चैनं रुषितोऽब्रवीत् ॥ ९.४२.७ ॥
Dālbhya asked for the cattle, and in anger he said to him:
9.42.8
यदृच्छया मृता दृष्ट्वा गास्तदा नृपसत्तमः ।
एतान्पशून्नय क्षिप्रं ब्रह्मबन्धो यदीच्छसि ॥ ९.४२.८ ॥
The best of kings, seeing the cows that had chanced to die, said: "Base brahmin, if you wish, take these cattle away quickly."
9.42.9
ऋषिस्त्वथ बकः क्रुद्धश्चिन्तयामास धर्मवित् ।
अहो वत नृशंसं वै वाक्यमुक्तोऽस्मि संसदि ॥ ९.४२.९ ॥
Then the sage Baka, knower of dharma, angered, reflected: "Ah! What a cruel word has been spoken to me in the assembly!"
9.42.10
चिन्तयित्वा मुहूर्तेन रोषाविष्टो द्विजोत्तमः ।
मतिं चक्रे विनाशाय धृतराष्ट्रस्य भूपतेः ॥ ९.४२.१० ॥
Having reflected for a moment, that best of brahmins, seized by rage, resolved upon the destruction of King Dhṛtarāṣṭra.
9.42.11
स तूत्कृत्य मृतानां वै मांसानि मुनिसत्तमः ।
जुहाव धृतराष्ट्रस्य राष्ट्रं नरपतेः पुरा ॥ ९.४२.११ ॥
That best of sages, having cut the flesh of the dead animals, offered it into the fire for the realm of King Dhṛtarāṣṭra.
9.42.12
अवाकर्णे सरस्वत्यास्तीर्थे प्रज्वाल्य पावकम् ।
… दाल्भ्यो महाराज नियमं परमं स्थितः ॥ ९.४२.१२ ॥
Having kindled the fire at the sacred ford of the Sarasvatī at Avākarṇa, … Dālbhya, O great king, remained fixed in the supreme vow.
9.42.13
स तैरेव जुहावाग्नौ राष्ट्रं मांसैर्महातपः ॥ ९.४२.१३ ॥
With those very men, the great ascetic offered the kingdom into the fire as an oblation of flesh.
9.42.14
तस्मिंस्तु विधिवत्सत्रे सम्प्रवृत्ते सुदारुणे ।
अक्षीयत ततो राष्ट्रं धृतराष्ट्रस्य पार्थिव ॥ ९.४२.१४ ॥
When that rite was begun according to rule, most dreadful, the kingdom of Dhṛtarāṣṭra began to waste away, O king.
9.42.15
छि…मानं … परशुना विभो ।
… व्यवकीर्थमचेतनम् ॥ ९.४२.१५ ॥
…mānam … with an axe, O mighty one. … scattered about, lifeless.
9.42.16
दृष्ट्वा तथाऽवकीर्णं तु राष्ट्रं च मनुजाधिपः ।
बभूव दुर्मना राजा चिन्तयामास च प्रभुः ॥ ९.४२.१६ ॥
Seeing the kingdom thus scattered, the lord of men became troubled in mind, and the king began to reflect.
9.42.17
…रद्यत्रं ब्राह्मणैः सहितः पुरा ।
…गच्छत्तु क्षीयते राष्ट्रमेव च ॥ ९.४२.१७ ॥
…radyatram with the brahmins, formerly … while going on, the kingdom is wasting away.
9.42.18
यदा स पार्थिवः खिन्नस्ते च विप्रास्तदाऽनघ ॥ ९.४२.१८ ॥
When that king was distressed, and those brahmins too, then, O faultless one.
9.42.19
यदा चापि न शक्नोति राष्ट्रं मोक्षयितुं नृपः ।
अथ विप्रादिकांस्तत्र पप्रच्छ जनमेजय ॥ ९.४२.१९ ॥
When the king was not able to free the kingdom, then he asked the brahmins and others there, O Janamejaya.
9.42.20
ततो विप्रादिकाः प्राहुः पशुविप्रकृतस्त्वया ।
मांसैरभिजुहोतीदं तव राष्ट्रं मुनिर्बकः ॥ ९.४२.२० ॥
Then the brahmins and others said: You have wronged cattle and brahmins; the sage Baka is offering this kingdom of yours into the fire with flesh.
9.42.21
तेन ते हूयमानस्य राष्ट्रस्यास्य क्षयो महान् ।
तस्यैतत्तपसः कर्म येन तेऽद्य लयो महान् ॥ ९.४२.२१ ॥
Because this kingdom of yours is being offered into the fire by him, there is great ruin; this is the act of his penance, by which today your great dissolution has come.
9.42.22
यदीच्छसि महाबाहो शान्तिं राष्ट्रस्य भूमिप ।
अपां कुञ्जे सरस्वत्यास्तं प्रसादय पार्थिव ॥ ९.४२.२२ ॥
If you desire peace for the kingdom, O mighty-armed lord of the earth, propitiate him in the watery thicket of the Sarasvatī, O king.
9.42.23
सरस्वतीं ततो गत्वा स राजा बकमब्रवीत् ।
निपत्य शिरसा भूमौ प्राञ्जलिर्भरतर्षभ ॥ ९.४२.२३ ॥
Then, having gone to the Sarasvatī, that king spoke to Baka, falling to the ground with his head, his palms joined, O bull of the Bharatas.
9.42.24
प्रसादये त्वां भगवन्नपराधं क्षमस्व मे ।
मम दीनस्य लुब्धस्य मौर्ख्येण हतचेतसः।
त्वं गतिस्त्वं च मे नाथः प्रसादं कर्तुमर्हसि ॥ ९.४२.२४ ॥
O blessed one, I propitiate you; forgive my offence. I am wretched and greedy, my mind destroyed by folly. You are my refuge, you are my lord; you should show favour.
9.42.25
तं तथा विलपन्तं तु शोकोपहतचेतसम् ।
दृष्ट्वा तस्य कृपा जज्ञे राष्ट्रं तस्य व्यमोचयत् ॥ ९.४२.२५ ॥
Seeing him lamenting thus, his mind struck down by grief, compassion arose in him, and he released his kingdom.
9.42.26
ऋषिः प्रसन्नस्तस्याभूत्संरम्भं च विहाय सः ।
मोक्षार्थं तस्य राज्यस्य जुहाव पुनराहुतिम् ॥ ९.४२.२६ ॥
The sage became pleased with him; abandoning his anger, he offered another oblation into the fire for the release of his kingdom.
9.42.27
मोक्षयित्वा ततो र्ष्ट्रं प्रतिगृह्य पशून्बहून् ।
हृष्टात्मा नैमिशारण्यं जगाम पुनरेव सः ॥ ९.४२.२७ ॥
Then, having released the kingdom and taken back many cattle, gladdened in heart, he went again to the Naimiṣa forest.
9.42.28
धृतराष्ट्रोऽपि धर्मात्मा स्वस्थचेता महामनाः ।
स्वमेव नगरं राजन्प्रतिपेदे महर्द्धिमत् ॥ ९.४२.२८ ॥
And Dhṛtarāṣṭra too, righteous-souled, calm-minded and great-hearted, O king, returned to his own city, abounding in great prosperity.
9.42.29
तत्र तीर्थे महाराज बृहस्पतिरुदारधीः ।
असुराणामभावाय भवाय च दिवौकसाम् ॥ ९.४२.२९ ॥
There, at that holy ford, O great king, Bṛhaspati of noble mind (performed rites) for the destruction of the asuras and for the welfare of the dwellers of heaven.
9.42.30
मांसैरभिजुहावेष्टिमक्षीयन्त ततोऽसुराः ।
दैवतैरपि सम्भग्ना जितकाशिभिराहवे ॥ ९.४२.३० ॥
He offered the sacrifice with flesh; then the asuras were diminished, and were broken in battle even by the gods, who had been victorious.
9.42.31
तत्रापि विधिवद्दत्त्वा ब्राह्मणेभ्यो महायशाः ।
वाजिनः कुञ्जरांश्चैव रथांश्चश्वतरीयुतान् ॥ ९.४२.३१ ॥
There too, the far-famed king, rightly, gave to the brahmins horses, elephants, and chariots yoked with mule-teams.
9.42.32
रत्नानि च महार्हाणि धनं धान्यं च पुष्कलम् ।
ययौ तीर्थं महाबाहुर्यायातं पृथिवीपते ॥ ९.४२.३२ ॥
Having given jewels, precious wealth, and abundant grain, the mighty-armed one went to the sacred ford of Yayāti, O lord of the earth.
9.42.33
तत्र यज्ञे ययातेश्च महाराज सरस्वती ।
सर्पिः पयश्च सुस्राव नाहुषस्य महात्मनः ॥ ९.४२.३३ ॥
There, at Yayāti's sacrifice, O great king, the Sarasvatī poured forth clarified butter and milk for the great-souled son of Nahuṣa.
9.42.34
तत्रेष्ट्वा पुरुषव्याघ्रो ययातिः पृथिवीपतिः ।
आक्रामदूर्ध्वं पुदितो लेभे लोकांश्च पुष्कलान् ॥ ९.४२.३४ ॥
There, having sacrificed, Yayāti, tiger among men and lord of the earth, rose upward in joy and obtained abundant worlds.
9.42.35
पुनस्तत्र च राज्ञस्तु ययातेर्यजतः प्रभोः ।
औदार्यं परमं कृत्वा भक्तिं चात्मनि शाश्वतीम्।
ददौ कामान्ब्राह्मणेभ्यो वान्यान्यो मनसेच्छति ॥ ९.४२.३५ ॥
Again there, the king Yayāti, while sacrificing, showed supreme generosity and steadfast devotion within himself, and gave desired gifts to the brahmins and to whoever else wished for them in his mind.
9.42.36
यो यत्र स्थित एवेह आहूतो यज्ञसंस्तरे ।
तस्यतस्य सरिच्छ्रेष्ठा गृहादि शयनादिकम्।
षड्रसं भोजनं चैव दानं नानाविधं तथा ॥ ९.४२.३६ ॥
Whoever stood there at the sacrificial enclosure and was invited received, like the best of rivers Sarasvatī, houses and the like, beds and the like, a six-flavoured meal, and gifts of many kinds.
9.42.37
ते मन्यमाना राज्ञस्तु सम्प्रदानमनुत्तमम् ।
राजानं तुष्टुवुः प्रीता दत्त्वा चैवाशिषः शुभाः ॥ ९.४२.३७ ॥
Understanding that the king's gift was supreme, they, pleased, praised the king, bestowing auspicious blessings.
9.42.38
तत्र देवाः सगन्धर्वाः प्रीता यज्ञस्य सम्पदा ।
विस्मिता मानुषाश्चासन्दृष्ट्वा तां यज्ञसम्पदम् ॥ ९.४२.३८ ॥
There the gods and Gandharvas were pleased by the splendour of the sacrifice, and humans were amazed on seeing that splendour of the sacrifice.
9.42.39
ततस्तालकेतुर्महाधर्मकेतु… ।
र्महात्मा कृतात्मा महादाननित्यः।
वसिष्ठापवाहं महाभीमवेगं ।
धृतात्मा जितात्मा समभ्याजगाम ॥ ९.४२.३९ ॥
Then Tālaketu, the great banner of dharma … the great-souled, self-controlled one, constantly giving great gifts, came to Vasiṣṭha's river of mighty, dreadful current; he was steadfast in mind and self-conquered.