लोमश उवाच एषा मधुविला राजन् समङ्गा सम्प्रकाशते। एतत् कर्दमिलं नाम भरतस्याभिषेचनम्॥
Lomasha said: O king, here is visible the river Samanga which is also called Madhubela. Yonder is Kardamela, the bathing place of Bharata.
अलक्ष्म्या किल संयुक्तो वृत्रं हत्वा शचीपतिः। आप्लुतः सर्वपापेभ्यः समझायां व्यमुच्यत॥
When the lord of Sachi, (Indra) became devoid of his prosperity in consequence of killing Vritra, he was cleansed of his sins by bathing in the Samanga.
एतद् विनशनं कुक्षौ मैनाकस्य नरर्षभ। अदितिर्यत्र पुत्रार्थं तदन्नमपचत् पुरा॥
O foremost of men, here is the spot where the Mainaka has sunk into the interior of the earth. It is therefore called Vinasana. In order to obtain sons Aditi in the days of yore cooked his famous food.
एनं पर्वतराजानमारुह्य भरतर्षभाः। अयशस्यामसंशब्द्यामलक्ष्मी व्यपनोत्स्यथ॥
O foremost of men, ascend this lofty mountain and put an end to your inglorious misery which is not worthy of uttering.
एते कनखला राजन्तृषीणां दयिता नगाः। एषा प्रकाशते गङ्गा युधिष्ठिर महानदी।॥
O king, yonder is the Kanakhala mountain, the favourite resort of the Rishis, O Yudhishthira, yonder is the great river Ganga.
सनत्कुमारो भगवानत्र सिद्धिमगात् पुरा। आजमीढावगायैनां सर्वपापैः प्रमोक्ष्यसे॥
Here in the days of yore the holy sage Sanatkumara attained ascetic auccess. O descendant of Ajmira, if you bathe in it, you will be cleansed of all your sins.
अपां ह्रदं च पुण्याख्यं भृगुतुङ्गं च पर्वतम्। उष्णीगङ्गे च कौन्तेय सामात्यः समुपस्पृश॥
O son of Kunti, touch with your ministers this lake, called Punya and this Bhrigutunga (mountain) and also these two rivers called Tashniganga.
आश्रमः स्थूलशिरसो रमणीयः प्रकाशते। अत्र मानं च कौन्तेय क्रोधं चैव विवर्जय॥
O son of Kunti, yonder is the charming hermitage of Sulasherasha. Abandon your anger and sense of self-importance.
एष रैभ्याश्रमः श्रीमान् पाण्डवेय प्रकाशते। भारद्वाजो यत्र कविर्यवक्रीतो व्यनश्यत॥
O son of Pandu, yonder is the beautiful hermitage of Raivya where died the son of Bharadvaja, Yavakrit, learned in the Vedas.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच कथं युक्तोऽभवदृषिर्भरद्वाजः प्रतापवान्। किमर्थं च यवक्रीतः पुत्रोऽनश्यत वै मुनेः॥
Yudhishthira said: How did the mighty sage Yavakrit, the son of the ascetic Bharadvaja, acquire profound knowledge in the Vedas. How also did he die?
एतत् सर्वं यथावृत्तं श्रोतुमिच्छामि तत्त्वतः। कर्मभिर्देवकल्पानां कीर्त्यमानै शं रमे॥
I desire to learn all this as they happened. I take delight in hearing the accounts of the celestials-like men.
लोमश उवाच भरद्वाजश्च रैभ्यश्च सखायौ सम्बभूवतुः। तावूषतुरिहात्यन्तं प्रीयमाणावनन्तरम्॥
Lomasha said : Bharadvaja and Raivya were two friends. They both lived here always taking the greatest pleasure in each other's company.
रैभ्यस्य तु सुतावास्तामर्वावसुपरावसू। आसीद् यवक्रीः पुत्रस्तु भरद्वाजस्य भारत॥
Raivya had two sons, named Arvavasu and Pravashu. O descendant of Bharata, Bharadvaja had only one son named Yavakrit.
रैभ्यो विद्वान् सहापत्यस्तपस्वी चेतरोऽभवत्। तयोश्चाप्यतुला कीर्तिर्बाल्यात् प्रभृति भारत॥
O descendant of Bharata, Raivya and his sons became learned and the other (Bharadvaja) became an ascetic. From their childhood their friendship was matchless.
यवक्री: पितरं दृष्ट्वा तपस्विनमसत्कृतम्। दृष्ट्वा च सत्कृतं विप्रै रैभ्यं पुत्रैः सहानघ॥ पर्यतप्यत तेजस्वी मन्युनाभिपरिप्लुतः। तपस्तेपे ततो घोरं वेदज्ञानाय पाण्डव॥
O sinless one, seeing that his father who practised asceticism was slighted by the Brahmanas, while Raivya with his sons was greatly respected by them, the high-spirited Yavakrit was overwhelmed with sorrow and became pale. O son of Pandu, he underwent severe austerities in order to get the knowledge of the Vedas.
स समिद्धे महत्यग्नौ शरीरमुपतापयन्। जनयामास संतापमिन्द्रस्य सुमहातपाः॥
He exposed his body to a flaming fire. By thus practising great asceticism he filled Indra with great anxiety.
तत इन्द्रो यवक्रीतमुपगम्य युधिष्ठिर। अब्रवीत् कस्य हेतोस्त्वमास्थितस्तप उत्तमम्॥
O Yudhishthira, thereupon Indra went to him and thus spoke to him, 'Why have you been engaged in the severe austerities?
यवक्रीत उवाच द्विजानामनधीत वै वेदाः सुरगणार्चित। प्रतिभान्त्विति तप्येऽहमिदं परमकं तपः॥
Yavakrit said : O worshipped of the celestials, I am engaged in the severe asceticism, because I desire to possess such knowledge of the Vedas as has never been acquired by any Brahmana.
स्वाध्यायार्थ समारम्भो ममायं पाकशासन। तपसा ज्ञातुमिच्छामि सर्वज्ञानानि कौशिक॥
O chastiser of Paka, O Kaushika, my this attempt is for obtaining the knowledge of the Vedas. By the force of my asceticism, I desire to acquire all sorts of knowledge.
कालेन महता वेदाः : शक्या गुरुमुखाद् विभो। प्राप्तुं तस्मादयं यत्नः परमो मे समास्थितः॥
O lord, the knowledge of the Vedas that are to be learnt from teachers, requires long time to acquire. Therefore I am engaged in this great attempt.
इन्द्र उवाच अमार्ग एष विप्रर्षे येन त्वं यातुमिच्छसि। किं विघातेन ते विप्र गच्छाधीहि गुरोर्मुखात्॥
Indra said: O Brahmana Rishi, the way you have adopted is not the proper way. O Brahmana, why will you destroy yourself? Go and learn (the Vedas) from a preceptor.
लोमश उवाच एवमुक्त्वा गतः शक्रो यवक्रीरपि भारत। भूय एवाकरोद् यत्नं तपस्यमितविक्रमः॥
O descendant of Bharata, having said this, Sakra (Indra) departed and Yavakrit of immeasurable prowess again engaged himself in asceticism.
घोरेण तपसा राजस्तप्यमानो महत् तपः। संतापयामास भृशं देवेन्द्रमिति नः श्रुतम्॥
O king we have heard that by thus undergoing severe asceticism, he again greatly agitated the lord of the celestials.
तं तथा तप्यमानं तु तपस्तीव्र महामुनिम्। उपेत्य बलभिद् देवो वारयामास वै पुनः॥
The slayer of Bala, the deity (Indra) again came to that great Rishi who was engaged in that great austerity and forbade him to do it.
अशक्योऽर्थः समारब्धो नैतद् बुद्धिकृतं तव। प्रतिभास्यन्ति वै वेदास्तव चैव पितुश्च ते॥
Indra said: You are doing all this with the intention that the knowledge of the Vedas might be manifest in you and in your father, but your attempt can never be successful. Your this act is not welladvised.
यवक्रीत उवाच न चैतदेवं क्रियते देवराज ममेप्सितम्। महता नियमेनाहं तप्स्ये घोरतरं तपः॥
Yavakrit said : O king of the celestials, if you will not do what I desire, I shall, then, by observing stricter vows, practise still more severe austerities.
समिद्धेऽग्नावुपकृत्याङ्गमङ्गं होष्यामि वा मघवंस्तन्निबोध। यद्येतदेवं न करोषि कामं ममेप्सितं देवराजेह सर्वम्॥
O king of the celestials, know that if you do not fulfill all my desires, I shall then cut off my limbs and offer them as a sacrifice to a blazing fire.
लोमश उवाच निश्चयं तमभिज्ञाय मुनेस्तस्य महात्मनः। प्रतिवारणहेत्वर्थं बुद्ध्या संचिन्त्य बुद्धिमान्॥
Lomasha said: Having known the firın resolution of that high-souled Rishi, that intelligent deity (Indra) reflected (for a moment) and hit upon a means by which to dissuade him.
तत इन्द्रोऽकरोद् रूपं ब्राह्मणस्य तपस्विनः। अनेकशतवर्षस्य दुबर्लस्य सयक्ष्मणः॥
Thereupon Indra assumed the garb of an ascetic Brahmana, who was many hundred years of age and who was weak and consumptive.
यवक्रीतस्य यत् तीर्थमुचितं शौचकर्मणि। भागीरथ्यां तत्र सेतुं बालुकाभिश्चकार स:॥
He began to construct a dam of sands at thai spot of the Bhagirathi where Yavakrit used to go to perform his ablutions.
यदास्य वदतो वाक्यं न स चक्रे द्विजोत्तमः। बालुकाभिस्ततः शक्रो गङ्गां समभिपूरयन्॥
As that foremost of Brahmanas paid no heed to the words of Sakra (Indra), he therefore began to fill Ganga with sands.
वालुकामुष्टिमनिशं भागीरथ्यां व्यसर्जयत्। सेतुमभ्यारभच्छको यवक्रीतं निदर्शयन्॥
Without stopping for a moment, he threw handfuls of sands into the Bhagirathi and to construct the dam thus attracting the notice of the Rishi.
तं ददर्श यवक्रीतो यत्नवन्तं निबन्धने। प्रहसंश्चाब्रवीद् वाक्यमिदं स मुनिपुङ्गवः॥
When that foremost of Rishis, Yavakrit, saw him thus earnestly engaged in bridging (the Ganges), he broke out into a loud laughter and thus spoke.
किमिदं वर्तते ब्रह्मन् किं च ते ह चिकीर्षितम्। अतीव हि महान् यत्नः क्रियतेऽयं निरर्थकः॥
Yavakrit said: O Brahmana, what are you doing? What is your intention? Why are you in vain making this great attempt?
इन्द्र उवाच बन्धिष्ये सेतुना गङ्गां सुखः पन्था भविष्यति। क्लिश्यते हि जनस्तात तरमाणः पुनः पुनः॥
Indra said: O sire, I am trying to bridge the Ganga, so that a comfortable way may be made across it. People meet with great inconvenience in again and again crossing and recrossing it.
यवक्रीत उवाच नायं शक्यस्त्वया बड़े महानोघस्तपोधन। अशक्याद् विनिवर्तस्व शक्यमर्थं समारभ॥
Yavakrit said : O ascetic, you cannot bridge this mighty river. O Brahmana, desist from what is impracticable; attempt some thing practicable.
इन्द्र उवाच यथैव भवता चेदं तपो वेदाथमुद्यतम्। अशक्यं तद्वदस्माभिरयं भारः समाहितः॥
Indra said: I have undertaken this heavy task, as you have engaged yourself in these great austerities to obtain the knowledge of the Vedas, an attempt which can never be successful.
यवक्रीत उवाच यथा तव निरर्थोऽयमारम्भस्त्रिदशेश्वर। तथा यदि ममापीदं मन्यसे पाकशासन॥
Yavakrit said : O lord of the celestials, O chastiser of Paka, if you consider these my attempts as fruitless, as yours are,
क्रियतां यद् भवेच्छक्यं त्वया सुरगणेश्वर। वरांश्च मे प्रयच्छान्यान् यैरन्यान् भवितास्म्यति॥
O lord of the celestials, be pleased to do for me what is practicable. Favour me with boons by which I may excel all other men.
लोमश उवाच तस्मै प्रादाद् वरानिन्द्र उक्तवान् यान् महातपाः। प्रतिभास्यन्ति ते वेदाः पित्रा सह यथेप्सिताः॥
Lomasha said : Indra granted him boons as was asked by the great ascetic. He said, "as you desire it, the Vedas will be manifest in you as well as in your father.
यच्चान्यत् काक्षसे कामं यवक्रीर्गम्यतामिति। स लब्धकामः पितरं समेत्याथेदमब्रवीत्॥
Your all other desires also will be fulfilled." Having thus obtained all that he desired, he came to his father and said,
यवक्रीत उवाच प्रतिभास्यन्ति वै वेदा मम तातस्य चोभयोः। अति चान्यान् भविष्यावो वरा लब्धास्तदा मया॥
O father, the Vedas will be manifest in you as well as in me. In have obtained boons by which we shall excel all other men.
भरद्वाज उवाच दपस्ते भविता तात वसल्लब्ध्वा यथेप्सितान्। स दर्पपूर्णः कृपणः क्षिप्रमेव विनक्ष्यसि॥
Bharadvaja said : O son, as you have obtained all that you desired, you (as a matter of course) will (now) be proud. And when you will be filled with pride, destruction will soon overtake you.
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीमा गाथा देवैरुदाहृताः। मुनिरासीत् पुरा पुत्र बालधिर्नाम वीर्यवान्॥
O son, there is a story told by the celestials as an instance (of this). In the days of yore there was a greatly powerful Rishi, named Valadhi.
स पुत्रशोकादुद्विग्नस्तपस्तेपे सुदुष्करम्। भवेन्मम सुतोऽमर्त्य इति तं लब्धवांश्च सः॥
Being afflicted with grief for the death of his son, he performed great asceticism, to get a child who would be immortal. He obtained such a son.
तस्य प्रसादो वै देवैः कृतो न त्वमरैः समः। नामयो विद्यते मर्यो निमित्तायुर्भविष्यति॥
But the celestials, though very much favourably disposed towards him, did not still make his son immortal like the celestials. They said that on no condition a mortal can be made immortal.
बालधिरुवाच यथेमे पर्वताः शश्वत् तिष्ठन्ति सुरसत्तमाः। अक्षयास्तन्निमित्तं मे सुतस्यायुभविष्यति॥
Valadhi said: O foremost of the celestials, these mountains are existing for an ever-lasting time; indestructible as they are, they will be the instrumental of my son's immortality.
भरद्वाज उवाच तस्य पुत्रस्तदा जज्ञे मेधावी क्रोधनस्तदा। स तच्छ्रुत्वाकरोद् दर्पमृषींश्चैवावमन्यत॥
Bharadvaja said : Afterwards a son was born to that Rishi, named Medhavi, who was of very wrathful temper. Having heard all about his birth he grew haughty and began to insult the Rishis.
विकुर्वाणो मुनीनां च व्यचरत् स महीमिमाम्। आससाद महावीर्यं धनुषाक्षं मनीषिणम्॥
He roamed over the earth committing various mischiefs to the Rishis. He one day met with the intelligent and greatly powerful (Rishi) Dhanushakha.
तस्यापचने मेधावी तं शशाप स वीर्यवान्। भव भस्मेति चोक्तः स न भस्म समपद्यत॥
Medhavi maltreated him; therefore that greatly powerful Rishi cursed him saying, "Be reduced to ashes.” But he was not reduced to ashes.
धनुषाक्षस्तु तं दृष्ट्वा मेधाविनमनामयम्। निमित्तमस्य महिषैर्भेदयामास वीर्यवान्॥
Thereupon having seen this, Dhanushakha caused the mountain which was the instrumental cause of his life to be shattered by buffaloes.
स निमित्त विनष्टे तु ममार सहसा शिशुः। तं मृतं पुत्रमादाय विललाप ततः पिता।॥
When the instrumental cause of his life was destroyed, the child (Medhavi) suddenly died. Thereupon taking up his dead son the father began to lament.
लालप्यमानं तं दृष्ट्वा मुनयः परमार्तवत्। ऊचुर्वेदविदः सर्वे गाथां यां तां निबोध मे॥
Now hear from me the verse that was recited by the Rishis learned in the Vedas when they saw the Rishi thus mourning.
न दिष्टमर्थमत्येतुमीशो मर्त्यः कथंचन। महिषैर्भेदयामासधनुषाक्षो महीधरान्॥
"On no condition can a mortal overcome what has been ordained by Fate. Dhanushakha shattered even mountain by buffaloes.”
एवं लब्ध्वा वरान् बाला दर्पपूर्णास्तपस्विनः। क्षिप्रमेव विनश्यन्ति यथा न स्यात् तथा भवान्॥
Thus having obtained boons, young ascetics are (generally) filled with pride and perish in no time. Do not become one of them.
एष रेभ्यो महावीर्यः पुत्रौ चास्य तथाविधौ। तं यथा पुत्र नाभ्येषि तथा कुर्यास्त्वतन्द्रितः॥
O son, this Raibhya is greatly powerful, so are his two sons. Therefore, be careful never to approach him.
स हि क्रुद्धः समर्थस्त्वां पुत्र पीडयितुं रुषा। रैभ्यश्चापि तपस्वी च कोपनश्च महानृषिः॥
O son, this Raibhya is a great Rishi and an ascetic of wrathful temper. If wrathful he can do you harm in anger.
यवक्रीत उवाच एवं करिष्ये मा तापं तात कार्षीः कथंचन। यथा हि मे भवान् मान्यस्तथा रैथ्यः पिता मम॥५९।
Yavakrit said : O father, I shall do as you command me. Never be in anxiety for it. As you, my father, deserve to be respected by me, so is Raibhya.
लोमश उवाच उक्त्वा स पितरं श्लक्ष्णं यवक्रीरकुतोभयः। विप्रकुर्वनृषीनन्यानतुष्यत् परया मुदा॥
Lomasha said: Having thus replied to his father in sweet words, Yavakrit began fearlessly to take pleasure in wantonly injuring the Rishis.