युधिष्ठिर उवाच संशयो मे महाप्राज्ञ सुमहान् सागरोपमः। तं मे शृणु महाबाहो श्रुत्वा व्याख्यातुमर्हसि॥
Yudhishthira said O you of great wisdom, 'I have a doubt which is very great and which is as vast as the ocean itself. Listen to it, O mightyarmed one, and having learnt what it is, you should explain it to me.
कौतूहलं मे सुमहज्जामदग्न्यं प्रति प्रभो। रामं धर्मभृतां श्रेष्ठं तन्मे व्याख्यातुमर्हसि॥
I have a great curiosity about Jamadagni's son, O lord, viz., Rama, that foremost of all pious persons. you should satisfy that curiosity.
कथमेष समुत्पन्नो रामः सत्यपराक्रमः। कथं ब्रह्मर्षिवंशोऽयं क्षत्रधर्मा व्यजायत॥
How was Rama born who was gifted with prowess incapable of being baffled? He belonged by birth to a family of twice born Rishis. How did he become a follower of Kshatriya practices?
तदस्य सम्भवं राजन् निखिलेनानुकीर्तय। कौशिकाच्च कथं वंशात् क्षत्राद् वै ब्राह्मणो भवेत्॥४
Do you then, O king, recite to me in full the circumstances of Rama's birth. How also did a son of the race of Kushika, who was Kshatriya become a Brahmana?
अहो प्रभावः सुमहानासीद् वै सुमहात्मनः। रामस्य च नरव्याघ्र विश्वामित्रस्य चैव हि॥
Great, indeed, was the power of the highsouled Rama, O chief of men, as also of Vishvamitra.
कथं पुत्रानतिक्रम्य तेषां नप्तृष्वथाभवत्। एष दोषः सुतान् हित्वा तत्त्वं व्याख्यातुमर्हसि।॥
Why did the grandson of Richika instead of his son become a Kshatriya? Why also did the grandson of Kushika and not his son become a Brahmana? Why did such untoward incidents befall the grandsons of both, instead of their sons? You should explain the truth of these circumstances.
भीष्म उवाच अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीपमितिहासं पुरातनम्। च्यवनस्य च संवादं कुशिकस्य च भारत॥
Bhishma said Regarding it is cited an old history of the discourse between Chyavana and Kushika, O Bharata!
एतं दोषं पुरा दृष्ट्वा भार्गवश्च्यवनस्तदा। आगामिनं महाबुद्धिः स्ववंशे मुनिसत्तमः॥
Gifted with great intelligence, Chyavana of Bhrigu's race, that best of ascetics, saw (with his spiritual eye) the stain that would affect his own race.
निश्चित्य मनसा सर्वं गुणदोषबलाबलम्। दग्धुकामः कुलं सर्वं कुशिकानां तपोधनः॥
Reflecting upon the merits and faults of that incident, as also its strength and weakness, Chyavana having asceticism for his wealth, became desirous of consuming the race of the Kushikas.
च्यवनः समनुप्राप्य कुशिकं वाक्यमब्रवीत्। वस्तुमिच्छा समुत्पन्ना त्वया सह ममानघ॥
Going then to the presence of king Kushika, Chyavana said to him,—o sinless one, the desire has arisen in my heart of living with you for sometime.
कुशिक उवाच भगवन् सहधर्मोऽयं पण्डितैरिह धार्यते। प्रदानकाले कन्यानामुच्यते च सदा बुधैः॥
Kushika said O holy one, to live together is a deed which the learned ordain for girls wheir these are given away. The wise always speak of the practice in such connection only.
यत्तु तावदतिक्रान्तं धर्मद्वारं तपोधन। तत्कार्यं प्रकरिष्यामि तदनुज्ञातुमर्हसि॥
O Rishi having asceticism for your wealth, the residence which you seek with me is not sanctioned by the ordinance. Yet, however opposed to the dictates of duty and virtue, I shall do what you may be pleased to order.
भीष्म उवाच अथासनमुपादाय च्यवनस्य महामुनेः। कुशिको भार्यया सार्धमाजगाम यतो मुनिः॥
Bhishma said Ordering a seat to be placed for the great ascetic Chyavana, king Kushika, accompanied by his wife, stood before him.
प्रगृह्य राजा भृङ्गारं पाद्यमस्मै न्यवेदयत्। कारयामास सर्वाश्च क्रियास्तस्य महात्मनः॥
Bringing a little jar of water, the king offered him water for washing his feet. He then through his servants, caused all the rites to be duty performed in honour of his illustrious guest.
ततः स राजा च्यवनं मधुपर्क यथाविधि। ग्राहयामास चाव्यग्रो महात्मा नियतव्रतः॥
The illustrious Kushika, who was observant of restraints and vows, then cheerfully presented, in due forms, the ingredients consisting of honey and the other things, to the great Rishi and asked him to accept the same.
सत्कृत्य तं तथा विप्रमिदं पुनरथाब्रवीत्। भगवन् परवन्तौ स्वो ब्रूहि किं करवावहे॥
Having welcomed and honoured the learned Brahmana thus, the king once more addressed him and saidWe two await your orders! Command us what we are to do for you, O holy one.
यदि राज्यं यदि धनं यदि गाः संशितव्रत। यज्ञदानानि च तथा ब्रूहि सर्वं ददामि ते॥
If it is our kingdom or riches or kine, O you of rigid vows, or all articles that are given away in sacrifices, which you want, tell us the word and we shall bestow all upon you.
इदं गृहमिदं राज्यमिदं धर्मासनं च ते। राजा त्वमसि शाध्युर्वीमहं तु परवांस्त्वयि॥
This palace, this kingdom, this seat of justice, are at your disposal. You are the master of all these! Do you rule the Earth! As regards myself, I depend entirely upon you.
एवमुक्ते ततो वाक्ये च्यवनो भार्गवस्तदा। कुशिकं प्रत्युवाचेदं मुदा परमया युतः॥
Addressed in these words by the king, Chyavana of Bhrigu's race, filled with great joy, said to Kushika these words in reply.
च्यवन उवाच न राज्यं कामये राजन् न धनं न य योषितः। न च गा न च वै देशान् न यज्ञं श्रूयतामिदम्॥
Chyavana said I do not, O king covet your kingdom, nor your riches, nor the damsels you have nor your kine, nor your provinces, nor articles needed for sacrifice! Do you listen to me.
नियमं किंचिदारप्स्ये युवयोर्यदि रोचते। परिचर्योऽस्मि यत्ताभ्यां युवाभ्यामविशङ्कया॥
If it pleases you and your wife, I shall begin to observe a certain vow. I wish you and your me during that period unhesitatingly.
एवमुक्ते तदा तेन दम्पती तौ जहर्षतुः। प्रत्यब्रूतां च तमृषिमेवमस्त्विति भारत॥
consort to serve Thus addressed by the Rishi, the king and the queen became filled with delight, O Bharata, and answered him, saying-Be it so, O Rishi.
अथ तं कुशिको दृष्टः प्रावेशयदनुत्तमम्। गृहोद्देशं ततस्तस्य दर्शनीयमदर्शयत्॥
Pleased with the Rishi's words, the king led him to an apartment of the place. It was an excellent one, agreeable to see. The king showed him everything in that room.
राजोवाच इयं शय्या भगवतो यथाकाममिहोप्यताम्। प्रयतिष्यावहे प्रीतिमाहर्तुं ते तपोधन।॥
The king said This, O holy one, is your bed. Do you live here as you please! O you having asceticism for your wealth, myself and my queen shall try our best to give you every comfort and every pleasure.
अथ सूर्योऽतिचक्राम तेषां संवदतां तथा। अथर्षिश्चोदयामास पानमन्नं तथैव च॥
While they were thus conversing with each other, the sun was over the meridian. The Rishi ordered the king to bring him food and drink.
तमपृच्छत् ततो राजा कुशिकः प्रणतस्तदा। किमन्नजातमिष्टं ते किमुपस्थापयाम्यहम्॥
Bowing to the Rishi, King Kushika asked him, saying-What kind of food is liked by you? What food, indeed, shall be brought for you.
ततः स परया प्रीत्या प्रत्युवाच नराधिपम्। औपपत्तिकमाहारं प्रयच्छेस्वेति भारत॥
Filled with joy, the Rishi answered that king, O Bharata, saying-Let food that is proper be given to me.
तद्वचः पूजयित्वा तु तथेत्याह स पार्थिवः। यथोपपन्नमाहारं तस्मै प्रादाज्जनाधिप॥
Receiving these words with respect, the king said,-So be it!-and then offered to the Rishi food of the proper kind.
ततः स भुक्त्वा भगवान् दम्पती प्राह धर्मवित्। स्वप्तुमिच्छाम्यहं निद्रा बाधते मामिति प्रभो॥
Having finished his meals, the holy Chyavana, knowing every duty, addressed the king and the queen, saying I wish to sleep, O powerful one, sleep hinders me now.
ततः शय्यागृहं प्राप्य भगवानृषिसत्तमः। संविवेश नरेशस्तु सपत्नीकः स्थितोऽभवत्।॥
Proceeding thence to a room that had been got ready for him, that best of Rishis then laid himself down upon a bed. The king and the queen sat down.
न प्रबोध्योऽस्मि संसुप्त इत्युवाचाथ भार्गवः। संवाहितव्यौ मे पादौ जागृतव्यं च तेऽनिशम्॥
The Rishi told them-Do not, while I sleep, awake me! Do you keep yourself awake and continually press my feet as long as I sleep.
अविशङ्कस्तु कुशिकस्तेथेत्येवाह धर्मवित्। न प्रबोधयतां तौ च दम्पती रजनीक्षये॥ यथादेशं महर्षस्तु शुश्रूषापरमौ तदा। बभूवतुर्महाराज प्रयतावथ दम्पती॥
Kushika, conversant with every duty, unhesitatingly, saidSo be it! Indeed, the king and the queen kept themselves awake all night, duty engaged in tending and serving the Rishi in the manner directed the royal pair, O king, accomplished the Rishi's order with earnestness and attention.
ततः स भगवान् विप्रः समादिश्य नराधिपम्। सुष्वापैकेन पाइँन दिवसानेकविंशतिम्॥
Meanwhile the holy Brahmana, having thus commanded the king, slept soundly, without changing his posture or turning even once, for one and twenty days.
स तु राजा निराहारः सभार्य: कुरुनन्दन। पर्युपासत तं हृष्टश्च्यवनाराधने रतः॥
The king, O delighter of the Kurus, abstaining from food, along with his wife, sat joyfully the whole time, engaged in tending and serving the Rishi.
भार्गवस्तु समुत्तस्थौ स्वयमेव तपोधनः। अकिंचिदुक्त्वा तु गृहानिश्चक्राम महातपाः॥
On the expiration of one and twenty days, the son of Bhrigu rose of his own accord. The great ascetic then went out of the room, without speaking to thein at all.
तमन्वगच्छतां तौ च क्षुधितौ श्रमकर्शितौ। भार्यापती मुनिश्रेष्ठस्तावेतौ नावलोकयत्॥
Famished and toilworn, the king and the queen followed him, but that foremost of Rishis did not please to cast a single look upon any of them.
तयोस्तु प्रेक्षतोरेव भार्गवाणां कुलोद्वहः। अन्तर्हितोऽभूद् राजेन्द्र ततो राजापतत् क्षितौ॥
Proceeding a little way, the son of Bhrigu disappeared in the very sight of the royal pair. At this, the king struck with grief, drooped down on the Earth.
स मुहूर्तं समाश्वस्य सह देव्या महाद्युतिः। पुनरन्वेषणे यत्नमकरोत् परमं तदा॥
Comforted. he up soon, and accompanied by his queen, the king possessed of great splendour, began to search everywhere for the Rishi. rose