Shalya Parva, Mahabharata/Book IX Chapter 42
Mahabharata/Book IX Chapter 42:English
Section 43 - Description of River Saraswati
Vaishampayana said, "Cursed by the intelligent Vishvamitra in anger, Sarasvati, in that auspicious and best of tirthas, flowed, bearing blood in her current. Then, O king, many Rakshasas came, O Bharata, and lived happily there, drinking the blood that flowed. Exceedingly gratified with that blood, cheerfully and without anxiety of any kind, they danced and laughed there like persons that have (by merit) attained to heaven. After some time had passed away, some Rishis, possessed of wealth of asceticism, came to the Sarasvati, O king, on a sojourn to her tirthas. Those foremost of Munis, having bathed in all the tirthas and obtained great happiness, became desirous of acquiring more merit. Those learned persons at last came, O king, to that tirtha where the Sarasvati ran a bloody current. Those highly blessed ones, arriving at that frightful tirtha, saw the water of the Sarasvati mixed with blood and that innumerable Rakshasas, O monarch, were drinking it. Beholding those Rakshasas, O king, those ascetics of rigid vows made great endeavours for rescuing the Sarasvati from that plight. Those blessed ones of high vows, arrived there, invoked that foremost of rivers and said these words unto her, 'Tell us the reason, O auspicious lady, why this lake in thee hath been afflicted with such distress Hearing it, we shall endeavour (to restore it to its proper condition).' Thus questioned, Sarasvati, trembling as she spoke, informed them of everything that had occurred. Seeing her afflicted with woe, those ascetics said, 'We have heard the reason. We have heard of thy curse, O sinless lady! All of us shall exert ourselves!' Having said these words unto that foremost of rivers, they then consulted with one another thus, 'All of us shall emancipate Sarasvati from her curse.' Then all those Brahmanas, O king, worshipping Mahadeva, that lord of the universe and protector of all creatures, with penance and vows and fasts and diverse kinds of abstinences and painful observances, emancipated that foremost of rivers, the divine Sarasvati. Beholding the water of Sarasvati purified by those Munis, the Rakshasas (that had taken up their abode there), afflicted with hunger, sought the protection of those Munis themselves. Afflicted with hunger, the Rakshasas, with joined hands, repeatedly said unto those ascetics filled with compassion, these words, 'All of us are hungry! We have swerved from eternal virtue! That we are sinful in behaviour is not of our free will! Through the absence of your, grace and through our own evil acts, as also through the sexual sins of our women, our demerits increase and we have become Brahma-Rakshasas! So amongst Vaisyas and Sudras, and Kshatriyas, those that hate and injure Brahmanas became Rakshasas. Ye best of Brahmanas, make arrangements then for our relief! Ye are competent to relieve all the worlds!' Hearing these words of theirs, those ascetics praised the great river. For the rescue of those Rakshasas, with rapt minds those ascetics said, 'The food over which one sneezed, that in which there are worms and insects, that which may be mixed with any leavings of dishes, that which is mixed with hair, that which is mixed with tears, that which is trodden upon shall form the portion of these Rakshasas! The learned man, knowing all this, shall carefully avoid these kinds of food. He that shall take such food shall be regarded as eating the food of Rakshasas!' Having purified the tirtha in this way, those ascetics thus solicited that river for the relief of those Rakshasas. Understanding the views of those great Rishis, that foremost of rivers caused her body, O bull among men, to assume a new shape called Aruna. Bathing in that new river (a branch of the Sarasvati) the Rakshasas cast off their bodies and went to heaven. Ascertaining all this, the chief of the celestials, (Indra of a hundred sacrifices), bathed in that foremost of tirthas and became cleansed of a grievous sin."
Janamejaya said, "For what reason was Indra tainted with the sin of Brahmanicide? How also did he become cleansed by bathing in that tirtha?"
Vaishampayana said, "Listen to that history, O ruler of men! Hear of those occurrences as they happened! Hear how Vasava, in days of yore, broke his treaty with Namuchi! The Asura Namuchi, from fear of Vasava, had entered a ray of the Sun. Indra then made friends with Namuchi and entered into a covenant with him, saying, 'O foremost of Asuras, I shall not slay thee, O friend, with anything that is wet or with anything that is dry! I shall not slay thee in the night or in the day! I swear this to thee by truth. Having made this covenant, the lord Indra one day beheld a fog. He then, O king, cut off Namuchi's head, using the foam of water (as his weapon). The severed head of Namuchi thereupon pursued Indra from behind, saying unto him from a near point these words, 'O slayer of a friend, O wretch!' Urged on incessantly by that head, Indra repaired to the Grandsire and informed him, in grief, of what had occurred. The Supreme Lord of the universe said unto him, 'Performing a sacrifice, bathe with due rites, O chief of the celestials, in Aruna, that tirtha which saveth from the fear of sin! The water of that river, O Shakra, hath been made sacred by the Munis! Formerly the presence of that river at its site was concealed. The divine Sarasvati repaired to the Aruna, and flooded it with her waters. This confluence of Sarasvati and Aruna is highly sacred! Thither, O chief of the celestials, perform a sacrifice! Give away gifts in profusion! Performing thy ablutions there, thou shall be freed from thy sin.' Thus addressed, Shakra, at these words of Brahma, O Janamejaya, performed in that abode of Sarasvati diverse sacrifices. Giving away many gifts and bathing in that tirtha, he of a hundred sacrifices, the piercer of Vala, duly performed certain sacrifices and then plunged in the Aruna. He became freed from the sin arising out of the slaughter of a Brahmana. The lord of heaven then returned to heaven with a joyful heart. The head of Namuchi also fell into that stream, O Bharata, and the Asura obtained many eternal regions, O best of kings, that granted every wish."
Vaishampayana continued, "The high-souled Baladeva having bathed in that tirtha and given away many kinds of gifts, obtained great merit. Of righteous deeds, he then proceeded to the great tirtha of Soma. There, in days of yore, Soma himself, O king of kings, had performed the Rajasuya sacrifice. The high-souled Atri, that foremost of Brahmanas, gifted with great intelligence became the Hotri in that grand sacrifice. Upon the conclusion of that sacrifice, a great battle took place between the gods (on the one side) and the Danavas, the Daityas, and the Rakshasas (on the other). That fierce battle is known after the name of (the Asura) Taraka. In that battle Skanda slew Taraka. There, on that occasion, Mahasena (Skanda), that destroyer of Daityas, obtained the command of the celestial forces. In that tirtha is a gigantic Aswattha tree. Under its shade, Kartikeya, otherwise called Kumara, always resides in person."
Mahabharata/Book IX Chapter 42:Sanskrit
1 [स]
सा शप्ता तेन करुथ्धेन विश्वामित्रेण धीमता
तस्मिंस तीर्दवरे शुभ्रे शॊणितं समुपावहत
2 अदाजग्मुस ततॊ राजन राक्षसास तत्र भारत
तत्र ते शॊणितं सर्वे पिबन्तः सुखम आसते
3 तृप्ताश च सुभृशं तेन सुखिता विगतज्वराः
नृत्यन्तश च हसन्तश च यदा सवर्गजितस तदा
4 कस्य चित तव अद कालस्य ऋषयः सतपॊ धनाः
तीर्दयात्रां समाजग्मुः सरस्वत्यां महीपते
5 तेषु सर्वेषु तीर्देषु आप्लुत्य मुनिपुंगवाः
पराप्य परीतिं परां चापि तपॊ लुब्धा विशारथाः
परययुर हि ततॊ राजन येन तीर्दं हि तत तदा
6 अदागम्य महाभागास तत तीर्दं थारुणं तथा
थृष्ट्वा तॊयं सरस्वत्याः शॊणितेन परिप्लुतम
पीयमानं च रक्षॊभिर बहुभिर नृपसत्तम
7 तान थृष्ट्व राक्षसान राजन मुनयः संशितव्रताः
पारित्राणे सरस्वत्याः परं यत्नं परचक्रिरे
8 ते तु सर्वे महाभागाः समागम्य महाव्रताः
आहूय सरितां शरेष्ठाम इथं वचनम अब्रुवन
9 कारणं बरूहि कल्याणि किमर्दं ते हरथॊ हय अयम
एवम आकुलतां यातः शरुत्वा पास्यामहे वयम
10 ततः सा सर्वम आच्चष्ट यदावृत्तं परवेपती
थुःखिताम अद तां थृष्ट्वा त ऊचुर वै तपॊधनाः
11 कारणं शरुतम अस्माभिः शापाश चैव शरुतॊ ऽनघ
करिष्यन्ति तु यत पराप्तं सर्व एव तपॊधनाः
12 एवम उक्त्वा सरिच्छ्रेष्ठाम ऊचुस ते ऽद परस्परम
विमॊचयामहे सर्वे शापाथ एतां सरस्वतीम
13 तेषां तु वचनाथ एव परकृतिस्दा सरस्वती
परसान्न सालिला जज्ञे यदापूर्वं तदैव हि
विमुक्ता च सरिच्छ्रेष्ठा विबभौ सा यदा पुरा
14 थृष्ट्वा तॊयं सरस्वत्या मुनिभिस तैस तदा कृतम
कृताञ्जलीस ततॊ राजन राक्षसाः कषुधयार्थिताः
ऊचुस तान वै मुनी सर्वान कृपा युक्तान पुनः पुनः
15 वयं हि कषुधिताश चैव धार्माथ धीनाश च शाश्वतात
न च नः कामकारॊ ऽयं यथ वयं पापकारिणः
16 युष्माकं चाप्रमाथेन थुष्कृतेन च कर्मणा
पक्षॊ ऽयं वर्धते ऽसमाकं यतः सम बरह्मराक्षसाः
17 एवं हि वैश्यशूथ्राणां कषत्रियाणां तदैव च
ये बराह्मणान परथ्विषान्ति ते भवन्तीह राक्षसाः
18 आचार्यम ऋत्विजं चैव गुरुं वृथ्धजनं तदा
पराणिनॊ ये ऽवमन्यन्ते ते भवन्तीह राक्षसाः
यॊषितां चैव पापानां यॊनिथॊषेण वर्धते
19 तत कुरुध्वम इहास्माकं कारुण्यं थविजसत्तमाः
शक्ता भवन्तः सर्वेषां लॊकानाम अपि तारणे
20 तेषां ते मुनयः शरुत्वा तुष्टुवुस तां महानथीम
मॊक्षार्दं रक्षसां तेषाम ऊचुः परयत मानसाः
21 कषुत कीटावपन्नं च यच चॊच्छिष्टाशितं भवेत
केशावपन्नम आधूतम आरुग्णम अपि यथ भवेत
शवभिः संस्पृष्टम अन्नं च भागॊ ऽसौ रक्षसाम इह
22 तस्माज जञात्वा सथा विथ्वान एतान्य अन्नानि वर्जयेत
राक्षसान्नम असौ भुङ्क्ते यॊ भुङ्क्ते हय अन्नम ईथृशम
23 शॊधयित्वा ततस तीर्दम ऋषयस ते तपॊधनाः
मॊक्षार्दं राक्षसानां च नथीं तां परत्यचॊथयन
24 महर्षीणां मतं जञात्वा ततः सा सरितां वरा
अरुणाम आनयाम आस सवां तनुं पुरुषर्षभ
25 तस्यां ते राक्षसाः सनात्वा तनूस तयक्त्वा थिवं गताः
अरुणायां महाराज बरह्महत्यापहा हि सा
26 एतम अर्दम अभिज्ञाय थेवराजः शतक्रतुः
तस्मिंस तीर्दवरे सनात्वा विमुक्तः पाप्मना किल
27 [ज]
किमर्दं भगवाञ शक्रॊ बरह्महत्याम अवाप्तवान
कदम अस्मिंश च तीर्दे वै आप्लुत्याकल्मशॊ ऽभवत
28 [वै]
शृणुष्वैतथ उपाख्यानं यदावृत्तं जनेश्वर
यदा बिभेथ समयं नमुचेर वासवः पुरा
29 नमुचिर वासवाथ भीतः सूर्यरश्मिं समाविशत
तेनेन्थ्रः सख्यम अकरॊत समयं चेथम अब्रवीत
30 नार्थ्रेण तवा न शुष्केण न रात्रौ नापि वाहनि
वधिष्याम्य असुरश्रेष्ठ सखे सत्येन ते शपे
31 एवं स कृत्वा समयं सृष्ट्वा नीहारम ईश्वरः
चिच्छेथास्य शिरॊ राजन्न अपां फेनेन वासवः
32 तच्छिरॊ नमुचेश छिन्नं पृष्ठतः शक्रम अन्वयात
हे मित्रहन पाप इति बरुवाणं शक्रम अन्तिकात
33 एवं स शिरसा तेन चॊथ्यमानः पुनः पुनः
पितामहाय संतप्त एवम अर्दं नयवेथयत
34 तम अब्रवील लॊकगुरुर अरुणायां यदाविधि
इष्टॊपस्पृश थेवेन्थ्र बरह्महत्यापहा हि सा
35 इत्य उक्तः सा सरस्वत्याः कुञ्जे वै जनमेजय
इष्ट्वा यदावथ बलभिर अरुणायाम उपास्स्पृशत
36 स मुक्तः पाप्मना तेन बरह्महत्या कृतेन ह
जगाम संहृष्टमनास तरिथिवं तरिथशेश्वरः
37 शिरस तच चापि नमुचेस तत्रैवाप्लुत्य भारत
लॊकान कामथुघान पराप्तम अक्षयान राजसत्तम
38 तत्राप्य उपस्पृश्य बलॊ महात्मा; थत्त्वा च थानानि पृदग्विधानि
अवाप्य धर्मं परमार्य कर्मा; जगाम सॊमस्य महत स तीर्दम
39 यत्राजयथ राजसूयेन सॊमः; साक्षात पुरा विधिवत पार्दिवेन्थ्र
अत्रिर धीमान विप्रमुख्यॊ बभूव; हॊता यस्मिन करतुमुख्ये महात्मा
40 यस्यान्ते ऽभूत सुमहान थानवानां; थैतेयानां राक्षसानां च थेवैः
स संग्रामस तारकाख्यः सुतीव्रॊ; यत्र सकन्थस तारकाख्यं जघान
41 सेनापत्यं लब्धवान थेवतानां; महासेनॊ यत्र थैत्यान्त कर्ता
साक्षाच चात्र नयवसत कार्त्तिकेयः; सथा कुमारॊ यत्र स पलक्षराजः
Mahabharata/Book IX Chapter 42:Roman
1 [s]
sā śaptā tena kruddhena viśvāmitreṇa dhīmatā
tasmiṃs tīrthavare śubhre śoṇitaṃ samupāvahat
2 athājagmus tato rājan rākṣasās tatra bhārata
tatra te śoṇitaṃ sarve pibantaḥ sukham āsate
3 tṛptāś ca subhṛśaṃ tena sukhitā vigatajvarāḥ
nṛtyantaś ca hasantaś ca yathā svargajitas tathā
4 kasya cit tv atha kālasya ṛṣayaḥ satapo dhanāḥ
tīrthayātrāṃ samājagmuḥ sarasvatyāṃ mahīpate
5 teṣu sarveṣu tīrtheṣu āplutya munipuṃgavāḥ
prāpya prītiṃ parāṃ cāpi tapo lubdhā viśāradāḥ
prayayur hi tato rājan yena tīrthaṃ hi tat tathā
6 athāgamya mahābhāgās tat tīrthaṃ dāruṇaṃ tadā
dṛṣṭvā toyaṃ sarasvatyāḥ śoṇitena pariplutam
pīyamānaṃ ca rakṣobhir bahubhir nṛpasattama
7 tān dṛṣṭva rākṣasān rājan munayaḥ saṃśitavratāḥ
pāritrāṇe sarasvatyāḥ paraṃ yatnaṃ pracakrire
8 te tu sarve mahābhāgāḥ samāgamya mahāvratāḥ
āhūya saritāṃ śreṣṭhām idaṃ vacanam abruvan
9 kāraṇaṃ brūhi kalyāṇi kimarthaṃ te hrado hy ayam
evam ākulatāṃ yātaḥ śrutvā pāsyāmahe vayam
10 tataḥ sā sarvam āccaṣṭa yathāvṛttaṃ pravepatī
duḥkhitām atha tāṃ dṛṣṭvā ta ūcur vai tapodhanāḥ
11 kāraṇaṃ śrutam asmābhiḥ śāpāś caiva śruto 'nagha
kariṣyanti tu yat prāptaṃ sarva eva tapodhanāḥ
12 evam uktvā saricchreṣṭhām ūcus te 'tha parasparam
vimocayāmahe sarve śāpād etāṃ sarasvatīm
13 teṣāṃ tu vacanād eva prakṛtisthā sarasvatī
prasānna sālilā jajñe yathāpūrvaṃ tathaiva hi
vimuktā ca saricchreṣṭhā vibabhau sā yathā purā
14 dṛṣṭvā toyaṃ sarasvatyā munibhis tais tathā kṛtam
kṛtāñjalīs tato rājan rākṣasāḥ kṣudhayārditāḥ
ūcus tān vai munī sarvān kṛpā yuktān punaḥ punaḥ
15 vayaṃ hi kṣudhitāś caiva dhārmād dhīnāś ca śāśvatāt
na ca naḥ kāmakāro 'yaṃ yad vayaṃ pāpakāriṇaḥ
16 yuṣmākaṃ cāpramādena duṣkṛtena ca karmaṇā
pakṣo 'yaṃ vardhate 'smākaṃ yataḥ sma brahmarākṣasāḥ
17 evaṃ hi vaiśyaśūdrāṇāṃ kṣatriyāṇāṃ tathaiva ca
ye brāhmaṇān pradviṣānti te bhavantīha rākṣasāḥ
18 ācāryam ṛtvijaṃ caiva guruṃ vṛddhajanaṃ tathā
prāṇino ye 'vamanyante te bhavantīha rākṣasāḥ
yoṣitāṃ caiva pāpānāṃ yonidoṣeṇa vardhate
19 tat kurudhvam ihāsmākaṃ kāruṇyaṃ dvijasattamāḥ
śaktā bhavantaḥ sarveṣāṃ lokānām api tāraṇe
20 teṣāṃ te munayaḥ śrutvā tuṣṭuvus tāṃ mahānadīm
mokṣārthaṃ rakṣasāṃ teṣām ūcuḥ prayata mānasāḥ
21 kṣuta kīṭāvapannaṃ ca yac cocchiṣṭāśitaṃ bhavet
keśāvapannam ādhūtam ārugṇam api yad bhavet
śvabhiḥ saṃspṛṣṭam annaṃ ca bhāgo 'sau rakṣasām iha
22 tasmāj jñātvā sadā vidvān etāny annāni varjayet
rākṣasānnam asau bhuṅkte yo bhuṅkte hy annam īdṛśam
23 śodhayitvā tatas tīrtham ṛṣayas te tapodhanāḥ
mokṣārthaṃ rākṣasānāṃ ca nadīṃ tāṃ pratyacodayan
24 maharṣīṇāṃ mataṃ jñātvā tataḥ sā saritāṃ varā
aruṇām ānayām āsa svāṃ tanuṃ puruṣarṣabha
25 tasyāṃ te rākṣasāḥ snātvā tanūs tyaktvā divaṃ gatāḥ
aruṇāyāṃ mahārāja brahmahatyāpahā hi sā
26 etam artham abhijñāya devarājaḥ śatakratuḥ
tasmiṃs tīrthavare snātvā vimuktaḥ pāpmanā kila
27 [j]
kimarthaṃ bhagavāñ śakro brahmahatyām avāptavān
katham asmiṃś ca tīrthe vai āplutyākalmaśo 'bhavat
28 [vai]
śṛṇuṣvaitad upākhyānaṃ yathāvṛttaṃ janeśvara
yathā bibheda samayaṃ namucer vāsavaḥ purā
29 namucir vāsavād bhītaḥ sūryaraśmiṃ samāviśat
tenendraḥ sakhyam akarot samayaṃ cedam abravīt
30 nārdreṇa tvā na śuṣkeṇa na rātrau nāpi vāhani
vadhiṣyāmy asuraśreṣṭha sakhe satyena te śape
31 evaṃ sa kṛtvā samayaṃ sṛṣṭvā nīhāram īśvaraḥ
cicchedāsya śiro rājann apāṃ phenena vāsavaḥ
32 tacchiro namuceś chinnaṃ pṛṣṭhataḥ śakram anvayāt
he mitrahan pāpa iti bruvāṇaṃ śakram antikāt
33 evaṃ sa śirasā tena codyamānaḥ punaḥ punaḥ
pitāmahāya saṃtapta evam arthaṃ nyavedayat
34 tam abravīl lokagurur aruṇāyāṃ yathāvidhi
iṣṭopaspṛśa devendra brahmahatyāpahā hi sā
35 ity uktaḥ sā sarasvatyāḥ kuñje vai janamejaya
iṣṭvā yathāvad balabhir aruṇāyām upāsspṛśat
36 sa muktaḥ pāpmanā tena brahmahatyā kṛtena ha
jagāma saṃhṛṣṭamanās tridivaṃ tridaśeśvaraḥ
37 śiras tac cāpi namuces tatraivāplutya bhārata
lokān kāmadughān prāptam akṣayān rājasattama
38 tatrāpy upaspṛśya balo mahātmā; dattvā ca dānāni pṛthagvidhāni
avāpya dharmaṃ paramārya karmā; jagāma somasya mahat sa tīrtham
39 yatrājayad rājasūyena somaḥ; sākṣāt purā vidhivat pārthivendra
atrir dhīmān vipramukhyo babhūva; hotā yasmin kratumukhye mahātmā
40 yasyānte 'bhūt sumahān dānavānāṃ; daiteyānāṃ rākṣasānāṃ ca devaiḥ
sa saṃgrāmas tārakākhyaḥ sutīvro; yatra skandas tārakākhyaṃ jaghāna
41 senāpatyaṃ labdhavān devatānāṃ; mahāseno yatra daityānta kartā
sākṣāc cātra nyavasat kārttikeyaḥ; sadā kumāro yatra sa plakṣarājaḥ