Shalya Parva, Mahabharata/Book IX Chapter 37
Shalya Parva, Mahabharata/Book IX Chapter 37:English
Janamejaya said, "Why was that tirtha called Sapta-Saraswat (सप्त सारस्वत) (IX.37.1) ? Who was the ascetic Mankanaka (मङ्कणक) (IX.37.1)? How did that adorable one become crowned with success? What were his vows and observances? In whose race was he born? What books did that best of regenerate ones study? I desire to hear all this, O foremost of regenerate ones!"
Vaishampayana said, "O king, the seven Sarasvatis cover this universe! Whithersoever the Sarasvati was summoned by persons of great energy, thither she made her appearance. These are the seven forms of the Sarasvati: Suprava (सुप्रभा) (IX.37.4), Kanchanakshi (काञ्चनाक्षी) (IX.37.4), Vishala (विशाला) (IX.37.4), Manasahrada (मानसह्रदा) (IX.37.4), Oghavati (ओघवती) (IX.37.4), Suvenu (सुवेणु) (IX.37.4), and Vimalodaka (विमलॊदक) (IX.37.4).
The Supreme Grandsire had at one time performed a great sacrifice. While that sacrifice was in course of performance on the ground selected, many regenerate ones crowned with ascetic success came there. The spot resounded with the recitation of sacred hymns and the chanting of the Vedas. In the matter of those sacrificial rites, the very gods lost their coolness (so grand were the preparations). There, O monarch, while the Grandsire was installed in the sacrifice and was performing the grand ceremony capable of bestowing prosperity and every wish, many notable ones conversant with righteousness and profit were present. As soon as they thought of the articles of which they stood in need, these, O monarch, immediately appeared before the regenerate ones (among the guests) that came there.
The Gandharvas sang and the diverse tribes of Apsaras danced. And they played upon many celestial instruments all the time. The wealth of provisions procured in that sacrifice satisfied the very gods. What shall I say then of human beings? The very celestials became filled with wonder! During the continuance of that sacrifice at Pushkara and in the presence of the Grandsire, the Rishis, O king, said, 'This sacrifice cannot be said to possess high attributes, since that foremost of rivers, Sarasvati, is not to be seen here!' Hearing these words, the divine Brahman cheerfully thought of Sarasvati. Summoned at Pushkara by the Grandsire engaged in the performance of a sacrifice, Sarasvati, O king, appeared there, under the name of Suprava (सुप्रभा) (IX.37.12). Beholding Sarasvati quickly pay that regard to the Grandsire, the Munis esteemed that sacrifice highly. Even thus that foremost of rivers, the Sarasvati, made her appearance at Pushkara for the sake of the Grandsire and for gratifying the Munis. (At another time), O king, many Munis, mustering together at Naimisha, took up their residence there. Delightful disquisition occurred among them, O king, about the Vedas. There where those Munis, conversant with diverse scriptures, took up their abode, there they thought of the Sarasvati. Thus thought of, O monarch, by those Rishis performing a sacrifice, the highly blessed and sacred Sarasvati, for rendering assistance, O king, to those high-souled Munis assembled together, made her appearance at Naimisha and came to be called Kanchanakshi (काञ्चनाक्षी) (IX.37.12). That foremost of rivers, worshipped by all, thus came there, O Bharata! While (king) Gaya was engaged in the performance of a great sacrifice at Gaya, the foremost of rivers, Sarasvati, summoned at Gaya's sacrifice (made her appearance there). The Rishis of rigid vows that were there, named this form of hers at Gaya as Vishala (विशाला) (IX.37.20). That river of swift current flows from the sides of the Himavat. Auddalaka had also, O Bharata, performed a sacrifice. A large concourse of Munis had been gathered there. It was on that sacred region, the northern part of Kosala, O king, that the sacrifice of high-souled Auddalaka was performed. Before Auddalaka began his sacrifice, he had thought of the Sarasvati. That foremost of rivers came to that region for the sake of those Rishis. Worshipped by all those Munis clad in barks and deer-skins she became known by the name of Manorama (मनॊ हरदेति), as those Rishis mentally called her. While, again, the high-souled Kuru was engaged in a sacrifice at Kurukshetra, that foremost of rivers, the highly blessed Sarasvati, made her appearance there. Summoned, O monarch, by the high-souled Vasishtha (who assisted Kuru in his sacrifice), the Sarasvati, full of celestial water appeared at Kurukshetra under the name of Oghavati (ओघवती) (IX.37.25). Daksha at one time performed a sacrifice at the source of Ganga. The Sarasvati appeared there under the name of the fast-flowing Suvenu (सुवेणु) (IX.37.25). Once again, while Brahman was engaged in a sacrifice on the sacred forest of the Himavat mountains, the adorable Sarasvati, summoned (by him), appeared there.
All these seven forms then came and joined together in that tirtha where Baladeva came. And because the seven mingled together at that spot, therefore is that tirtha known on Earth by the name of Sapta Sarasvati (सप्त सरस्वती) (IX.37.27-28). Thus have I told thee of the seven Sarasvatis, according to their names.
I have also told thee of the sacred tirtha called Sapta Saraswat. Listen now to a great feat of Mankanaka (मङ्कणक) (IX.37.29), who had from his youth led the life of a brahmacari. While employed in performing his ablutions in the river, he beheld (one day), O Bharata, a woman of faultless limbs and fair brows, bathing in the river at will, her person uncovered. At this sight, O monarch, the vital seed of the Rishi fell unto the Sarasvati. The great ascetic took it up and placed it within his earthen pot. Kept within that vessel, the fluid became divided into seven parts. From those seven portions were born seven Rishis from whom sprang the (nine and forty) Maruts. The seven Rishis were named Vayuvega, Vayuhan, Vayumandala, Vayujata, Vayuretas, and Vayuchakra of great energy. Thus were born these progenitors of the diverse Maruts. Hear now a more wonderful thing, O king, a fact exceedingly marvellous on Earth, about the conduct of the great Rishi, which is well known in the three worlds. In days of yore, after Mankanaka had become crowned with success, O king, his hand, on one occasion, became pierced with a Kusa blade. Thereupon, a vegetable juice came out of the wound (and not red blood). Seeing that vegetable juice, the Rishi became filled with joy and danced about on the spot. Seeing him dance, all mobile and immobile creatures, O hero, stupefied by his energy, began to dance. Then the gods with Brahman at their head, and the Rishis possessed of wealth of asceticism, O king, all went to Mahadeva and informed him of the act of the Rishi (Mankanaka). And they said unto him, 'It behoveth thee, O god, to do that which may prevent the Rishi from dancing!' Then Mahadeva, seeing the Rishi filled with great joy, and moved by the desire of doing good unto the gods, addressed him, saying, 'Why, O Brahmana, dost thou dance in this way, acquainted as thou art with thy duties? What grave cause is there for such joy of thine, O sage, that, an ascetic as thou art, O best of Brahmanas, and walking as thou dost along the path of virtue, thou shouldst act in this way?'
"The Rishi said, 'Why, seest thou not, O Brahmana, that a vegetable juice is flowing from this wound of mine? Seeing this, O lord, I am dancing in great joy!' Laughing at the Rishi who was stupefied by passion, the god said, 'I do not, O Brahmana, at all wonder at this! Behold me!' Having said this unto that foremost of Rishis, Mahadeva of great intelligence struck his thumb with the end of one of his fingers. Thereupon, O king, ashes, white as snow, came out of that wound. Seeing this, the Rishi became ashamed, O monarch, and fell at the feet of the god. He understood the god to be none else than Mahadeva. Filled with wonder, he said, 'I do not think that thou art any one else than Rudra, that great and Supreme being! O wielder of the trident, thou art the refuge of this universe consisting of gods and Asuras! The wise say that this universe hath been created by thee! At the universal destruction, everything once more enters thee! Thou art incapable of being known by the gods, how then canst thou be known by me? All forms of being that are in the universe are seen in thee! The gods with Brahman at their head worship thy boon giving self, O sinless one! Thou art everything! Thou art the creator of the gods and it was thou who hadst caused them to be created! Through thy grace, the gods pass their time in joy and perfect fearlessness!' Having praised Mahadeva in this manner, the Rishi bowed to him, 'Let not this absence of gravity, ridiculous in the extreme, that I displayed, O god, destroy my ascetic merit! I pray to thee for this!' The god, with a cheerful heart, once more said unto him 'Let thy asceticism increase a thousandfold, O Brahmana, through my grace! I shall also always dwell with thee in this asylum! For the man that will worship me in the tirtha Sapta-Saraswat there will be nothing unattainable here or hereafter. Without doubt, such a one shall go to the region called Saraswat (in heaven) after death!' Even this is the history of Mankanaka of abundant energy. He was a son begotten by the god of wind upon (the lady) Sukanya."
Shalya Parva, Mahabharata/Book IX Chapter 37:Sanskrit
1 [ज]
सप्त सारस्वतं कस्मात कश च मङ्कणकॊ मुनिः
कथं सिद्धश च भगवान कश चास्य नियमॊ ऽभवत
2 कस्य वंशे समुत्पन्नः किं चाधीतं दविजॊत्तम
एतद इच्छाम्य अहं शरॊतुं विधिवद दविजसत्तम
3 [वै]
राजन सप्त सरस्वत्यॊ याभिर वयाप्तम इदं जगत
आहूत बलवद्भिर हि तत्र तत्र सरस्वती
4 सुप्रभा काञ्चनाक्षी च विशाला मानसह्रदा
सरस्वती ओघवती सुवेणुर विमलॊदकाः
5 पितामहस्य महतॊ वर्तमाने महीतले
वितते यज्ञवाटे वै समेतेषु दविजातिषु
6 पुण्याहघॊषैर विमलैर वेदानां निनदैस तथा
देवेषु चैव वयग्रेषु तस्मिन यज्ञविधौ तदा
7 तत्र चैव महाराज दीक्षिते परपितामहे
यजतस तत्र सत्त्रेण सर्वकामसमृद्धिना
8 मनसा चिन्तिता हय अर्था धर्मार्थकुशलैस तदा
उपतिष्ठन्ति राजेन्द्र दविजातींस तत्र तत्र ह
9 जगुश च तत्र गन्धर्वा ननृतुश चाप्सरॊगणाः
वादित्राणि च दिव्यानि वादयाम आसुर अञ्जसा
10 तस्य यज्ञस्य संपत्त्या तुतुषुर देवता अपि
विस्मयं परमं जग्मुः किम उ मानुषयॊनयः
11 वर्तमाने तथा यज्ञे पुष्करस्थे पितामहे
अब्रुवन्न ऋषयॊ राजन नायं यज्ञॊ महाफलः
न दृश्यते सरिच्छ्रेष्ठा यस्माद इह सरस्वती
12 तच छरुत्वा भगवान परीतः सस्माराथ सरस्वतीम
पितामहेन यजता आहूता पुष्करेषु वै
सुप्रभा नाम राजेन्द्र नाम्ना तत्र सरस्वती
13 तां दृष्ट्वा मुनयस तुष्टा वेगयुक्तां सरस्वतीम
पितामहं मानयन्तीं करतुं ते बहु मेनिरे
14 एवम एषा सरिच्छ्रेष्ठा पुष्करेषु सरस्वती
पितामहार्थं संभूता तुष्ट्यर्थं च मनीषिणाम
15 नैमिषे मुनयॊ राजन समागम्य समासते
तत्र चित्राः कथा हय आसन वेदं परति जनेश्वर
16 तत्र ते मुनयॊ हय आसन नानास्वाध्यायवेदिनः
ते समागम्य मुनयः सस्मरुर वै सरस्वतीम
17 सा तु धयाता महाराज ऋषिभिः सत्र याजिभिः
समागतानां राजेन्द्र सहायार्थं महात्मनाम
आजगाम महाभागा तत्र पुण्या सरस्वती
18 नैमिषे काञ्चनाक्षी तु मुनीनां सत्र याजिनाम
आगता सरितां शरेष्ठा तत्र भारत पूजिता
19 गयस्य यजमानस्य गयेष्व एवं महाक्रतुम
आहूता सरितां शरेष्ठा गय यज्ञे सरस्वती
20 विशालां तु गयेष्व आहुर ऋषयः संशितव्रताः
सरित सा हिमवत्पार्श्वात परसूता शीघ्रगामिनी
21 औद्दालकेस तथा यज्ञे यजतस तत्र भारत
समेते सर्वतः सफीते मुनीनां मण्डले तदा
22 उत्तरे कॊसला भागे पुण्ये राजन महात्मनः
औद्दालकेन यजता पूर्वं धयाता सरस्वती
23 आजगाम सरिच्छ्रेष्ठा तं देशम ऋषिकारणात
पूज्यमाना मुनिगणैर वल्कलाजिनसंवृतैः
मनॊ हरदेति विक्याता सा हि तैर मनसा हृता
24 सुवेणुर ऋषभद्वीपे पुण्ये राजर्षिसेविते
कुरॊश च यजमानस्य कुरुक्षेत्रे महात्मनः
आजगाम महाभागा सरिच्छ्रेष्ठा सरस्वती
25 ओघवत्य अपि राजेन्द्र वसिष्ठेन महात्मना
समाहूता कुरुक्षेत्रे दिव्यतॊया सरस्वती
26 दक्षेण यजता चापि गङ्गा दवारे सरस्वती
विमलॊदा भगवती बरह्मणा यजता पुनः
समाहूता ययौ तत्र पुण्ये हैमवते गिरौ
27 एकीभूतास ततस तास तु तस्मिंस तीर्थे समागताः
सप्त सारस्वतं तीर्थं ततस तत परथितं भुवि
28 इति सप्त सरस्वत्यॊ नामतः परिकीर्तिताः
सप्त सारस्वतं चैव तीर्थं पुण्यं तथा समृतम
29 शृणु मङ्कणकस्यापि कौमार बरह्मचारिणः
आपगाम अवगाढस्य राजन परक्रीडितं महत
30 दृष्ट्वा यदृच्छया तत्र सत्रियम अम्भसि भारत
सनायन्तीं रुचिरापाङ्गीं दिग्वाससम अनिन्दिताम
सरस्वत्यां महाराज चस्कन्दे वीर्यम अम्भसि
31 तद रेतः स तु जग्राह कलशे वै महातपाः
सप्तधा परविभागं तु कलशस्थं जगाम ह
तत्रर्षयः सप्तजाता जज्ञिरे मरुतां गणाः
32 वायुवेगॊ वायुबलॊ वायुहा वायुमण्डलः
वायुज्वालॊ वायुरेता वायुचक्रश च वीर्यवान
एतम एते समुत्पन्ना मरुतां जनयिष्णवः
33 इदम अन्यच च राजेन्द्र शृण्व आश्चर्यतरं भुवि
महर्षृश चरितं यादृक तरिषु लॊकेषु विश्रुतम
34 पुरा मङ्कणकः सिद्धः कुशाग्रेणेति नः शरुतम
कषतः किल करे राजंस तस्य शाकरसॊ ऽसरवत
स वि शाकरसं दृष्ट्वा हर्षाविष्टः परनृत्तवान
35 ततस तस्मिन परनृत्ते वै सथावरं जङ्गमं च यत
परनृत्तम उभयं वीर तेजसा तस्य मॊहितम
36 बरह्मादिभिः सुरै राजन्न ऋषिभिश च तपॊधनैः
विज्ञप्तॊ वै महादेव ऋषेर अर्थे नराधिप
नायं नृत्येद यथा देव तथा तवं कर्तुम अर्हसि
37 ततॊ देवॊ मुनिं दृष्ट्वा हर्षाविष्टम अतीव ह
सुराणां हितकामार्थं महादेवॊ ऽभयभाषत
38 भॊ भॊ बराह्मण धर्मज्ञ किमर्थं नरिनर्त्सि वै
हर्षस्थानं किमर्थं वै तवेदं मुनिसत्तम
तपस्विनॊ धर्मपथे सथितस्य दविजसत्तम
39 [रसि]
किं न पश्यसि मे बरह्मन कराच छाक रसं शरुतम
यं दृष्ट्व वै परनृत्तॊ ऽहं हर्षेण महता विभॊ
40 तं परहस्याब्रवीद देवॊ मुनिं रागेण मॊहितम
अहं न विस्मयं विप्र गच्छामीति परपश्य माम
41 एवम उक्त्वा मुनिश्रेष्ठं महादेवेन धीमता
अङ्गुल्यग्रेण राजेन्द्र सवाङ्गुष्ठस ताडितॊ ऽभवत
42 ततॊ भस्म कषताद राजन निर्गतं हिमसंनिभम
तद दृष्ट्वा वरीडितॊ राजन स मुनिः पादयॊर गतः
43 [रसि]
नान्यं देवाद अहं मन्ये रुद्रात परतरं महत
सुरासुरस्य जगतॊ गतिस तवम असि शूलधृक
44 तवया सृष्टम इदं विश्वं वदन्तीह मनीषिणः
तवाम एव सर्वं विशति पुनर एव युगक्षये
45 देवैर अपि न शक्यस तवं परिज्ञातुं कुतॊ मया
तवयि सर्वे सम दृश्यन्ते सुरा बरह्मादयॊ ऽनघ
46 सर्वस तवम असि देवानां कर्ता कारयिता च ह
तवत्प्रसादात सुराः सर्वे मॊदन्तीहाकुतॊ भयाः
47 एवं सतुत्वा महादेवं स ऋषिः परणतॊ ऽबरवीत
भगवंस तवत्प्रसादाद वै तपॊ मे न कषरेद इति
48 ततॊ देवः परीतमनास तम ऋषिं पुनर अब्रवीत
तपस ते वर्धतां विप्र मत्प्रसादात सहस्रधा
आश्रमे चेह वत्स्यामि तवया सार्धम अहं सदा
49 सप्त सारस्वतॊ चास्मिन यॊ माम अर्चिष्यते नरः
न तस्य दुर्लभं किं चिद भवितेह परत्र च
सारस्वतं च लॊकं ते गमिष्यन्ति न संशयः
50 एतन मङ्कणकस्यापि चरितं भूरि तेजसः
स हि पुत्रः सजन्यायाम उत्पन्नॊ मातरिश्वना