भीष्म उवाच ततः स राजा रात्र्यन्ते प्रतिबुद्धो महामनाः। कृतपूर्वाह्निकः प्रायात् सभार्यस्तद् वनं प्रति॥
Bhishma said When that night passed away, the great king Kushika awoke and performed his morning rites. Accompanied by his wife he then went towards that forest which the Rishi had selected for his residence.
ततो ददर्श नृपतिः प्रासादं सर्वकाञ्चनम्। मणिस्तम्भसहस्राढ्यं गन्धर्वनगरोपमम्॥
Arrived there, the king saw a palatial inansion made entirely of gold. Having a thousand columns each of which was made of gems and precious stones, it looked like a mansion belonging to the Gandharvas.
तत्र दिव्यानभिप्रायान् ददर्श कुशिकस्तदा। पर्वतान् रूप्यसानूंश्च नलिनीश्च सपङ्कजाः॥ चित्रशालाश्च विविधास्तोरणानि च भारत। शाद्वलोपचितां भूमिं तथा काञ्चनकुट्टिमाम्॥
Kushika saw in every part of that building signs of celestial design. And he saw hills with charming valleys, and lakes with lotuses on their bosom; and mansions full of rich and curious articles, and gateways and arches, O Bharata, and the king beheld many open glades and open spots carpeted with grass, and resembling fields of gold.
सहकारान् प्रफुल्लांश्च केतकोद्दालकान् वरान्। अशोकान् सहकुन्दांश्च फुल्लांश्चैवातिमुक्तकान्॥
And he saw many Sahakaras adorned with blossoms, and Ketakas and Uddalakas, and Dhavas, and Ashokas and blossoming Kundas, and Atimuktas.
चम्पकांस्तिलकान् भव्यान् पनसान् वञ्जुलानपि। पुष्पितान् कर्णिकारांश्च तत्र तत्र ददर्श ह॥
And he saw there many Champakas and Tilakas and Bhavyas and Panasas and Vyanjulas and Karnikaras adorned with flowers.
श्यामान् वारणपुष्पांश्च तथाष्टपदिका लताः। तत्र तत्र परिक्लृप्ता ददर्श स महीपतिः॥
And the king saw many Shyamas and Varanapushpas and the creepers called Astapadika, all clipt properly and beautifully.
रम्यान् पद्मोत्पलधरान् सर्वर्तुकुसुमांस्तथा। विमानप्रतिमांश्चापि प्रासादान् शैलसंनिभान्॥
And the king saw trees on which lotuses of various species bloomed in all their beauty, and some of which bore flowers of every season. And he saw also many mansions that looked like celestial cars or like beautiful mountains.
शीतलानि च तोयानि क्वचिदुष्णानि भारत। आसनानि विचित्राणि शयनप्रवराणि च॥ पर्यङ्कान् रत्नसौवर्णान् परास्तिरणावृतान्। भक्ष्यं भोज्यमनन्तं च तत्र तत्रोपकल्पितम्॥
And at some places, O Bharata, there were tanks and lakes full of cool water and at others were those that were full of warm or hot water. And there were various kinds of excellent seats and costly beds and bedsteads made of gold and gems and overlaid with beautiful cloths and carpets. There were profuse viands and edibles, all well dressed and ready for use.
वाणीवादाञ्छुकांश्चैव सारिकान् भृङ्कराजकान्। कोकिलाञ्छतपत्रांश्च सकोयष्टिककुक्कुभान्॥ मयूरान् कुक्कुटांश्चापि दात्यूहान् जीवजीवकान्। चकोरान् वानरान् हंसान् सारसांश्चक्रसाह्वयान्॥
And there were talking parrots, she-parrots, Bhringarajas, Kokilas, Shatapatras with Koyashtikas and Kukkubhas, and peacocks and cocks and Datyuhas and Jivajivakas and Chakoras and monkeys and swans and Sarasas and Chakravakas.
समन्ततः प्रमुदितान् ददर्श सुमनोहरान्। क्वचिदप्सरसा संघान् गन्धर्वाणां च पार्थिव॥
Here and there he saw bevies of rejoicing Apsaras and conclaves of happy Gandharva, O monarch.
कान्ताभिरपरांस्तत्र परिष्वक्तान् ददर्श ह। न ददर्श च तान् भूयो ददर्श च पुनर्नृपः॥
And he saw other Gandharvas at other places rejoicing with their dear wives. The king sometimes saw these sights and sometimes could not see them.
गीतध्वनि सुमधुरं तथैवाध्यापनध्वनिम्। हंसान सुमधुरांश्चापि तत्र शुश्राव पार्थिवः॥
The king heard also sweet notes of Vocal music and the sweet voices of preceptors engaged in lecturing their disciples on the Vedas and the Scriptures. And the king also heard the harinonious notes of the geese sporting in the lakes.
तं दृष्ट्वात्यद्भुतं राजा मनसाचिन्तयत् तदा। स्वप्नोऽयं चित्तविभ्रंश उताहो सत्यमेव तु॥
Seeing such highly wonderful spectacles, the king began to reflect inwardly, saying-ls this a dream? Or, is all this due to an alienation of my mind? Or is it all real.
अहो सह शरीरेण प्राप्तोऽस्मि परमां गतिम्। उत्तरान् वा कुरून पुण्यानथवाप्यमरावतीम्॥
O, I have, without renouncing my body, attained to the beatitude of Heaven. This land is cither the sacred country of the UttaraKurus, or the abode, called Amaravati, of the king of the celestials.
किंचेदं महदाश्चर्यं सम्पश्यामीत्यचिन्तयत्। एवं संचिन्तयन्नेव ददर्श मुनिपुङ्गवम्॥
0, what are these wonderful spectacles that I see! Reflecting thus, the king at last saw that foremost of Rishis.
तस्मिन् विमाने सौवर्णे मणिस्तम्भसमाकुले। महार्हे शयने दिव्ये शयानं भृगुनन्दनम्॥
In that golden palace having columns made of jewels and gems, the son of Bhrigu lay stretched on a costly and excellent bed.
तमभ्ययात् प्रहर्षेण नरेन्द्रः सह भार्यया। अन्तर्हितस्ततो भूयश्च्यवनः शयनं च तत्॥
With his wife by his side, the king approached, with an exulting heart, the Rishi as he lay on that bed. Chyavana, however, speedily disappeared at this, with the bed itself upon which he lay.
ततोऽन्यस्मिन् वनोद्देशे पुनरेव ददर्श तम्। कौश्यां वृस्यां समासीनं जपमानं महाव्रतम्॥
The king then saw the Rishi at another part of that forest, seated on a mat made of Kusha grass, and mentally engaged in the recital of some high Mantras.
एवं योगबलाद् विप्रो मोहयामास पार्थिवम्। क्षणेन तद् वनं चैव ते चैवाप्सरसां गणाः॥ गन्धर्वाः पादपाश्चैव सर्वमन्तरधीयत।
Through his Yoga-power, thus did that Brahmana stupefy the king. In a moment that charming forest, those bevies of Apsaras, those bands of Gandharvas, those beautiful trees, all disappeared.
निःशब्दमभवच्चापि गङ्गाकूलं पुनर्नृप॥ कुशवल्मीकभूयिष्ठं बभूव च यथा पुरा।
The bank of Ganga became as silent as usual, and appeared as before covers with Kusha grass and anthills.
ततः स राजा कुशिकः सभार्यस्तेन कर्मणा॥ विस्मयं परमं प्राप्तस्तद् दृष्ट्वा महदद्भुतम्।
Having seen that highly wonderful spectacle and its quick disappearance also, king Kushika, with his wife, became filled with wonder.
ततः प्रोवाच कुशिको भार्यां हर्षसमन्वितः॥ पश्य भद्रे यथा भावाश्चित्रा दृष्टाः सुदुर्लभाः।
With a delighted heart, the king addressed his wife saying, see, O amiable one, the various agreeable scenes and sights, occurring nowhere else, which we two have just seen.
प्रसादाद् भृगुमुख्यस्य किमन्यत्र तपोबलात्॥ तपसा तदवाप्यं हि यत् तु शक्यं मनोरथैः।
All this is due to the favour of Bhrigu's son and the power of his penances. By penances one attains all which cherishes in his imagination.
त्रैलोक्यराज्यादपि हि तप एव विशिष्यते॥ तपसा हि सुतप्तेन शक्यो मोक्षस्तपोबलात्। अहो प्रभावो ब्रह्मर्षेश्च्यवनस्य महात्मनः॥ इच्छयैष तपोवीर्यादन्याँल्लोकान् सृजेदपि।
Penances are superior to even the kingdom of the three worlds. With penances wellperformed, Liberation itself may be acquired. Mark the power of the great and celestial Rishi Chyavana derived from his penances! He can. at his pleasure, create even other'worlds.
ब्राह्मणा एव जायेरन् पुण्यवाग्बुद्धिकर्मणः॥ उत्सहेदिह कृत्वैव कोऽन्यो वै च्यवनादृते।
Only Brahmanas are born in this world for uttering and understanding sacred deeds. Who else save Chyavana could do all this?
ब्राह्मण्यं दुर्लभं लोके राज्यं हि सुलभं नरैः॥ ब्राह्मण्यस्य प्रभावाद्धि रथे युक्तौ स्वधुर्यवत्।
Sovereignty may be acquired easily. But the dignity of a Brahmana is not attainable. It was through the power of a Brahmana that we were harnessed to a car like wellbroken animals.
इत्येवं चिन्तयानः स विदितश्च्यवनस्य वै॥ सम्प्रेक्ष्योवाच नृपति क्षिप्रमागम्यतामिति।
These thoughts that passed through the king's mind, became known to Chyavana. Ascertaining the king's thoughts, the Rishi addressed him and saidCome here quickly.
इत्युक्तः सहभार्यस्तु सोऽभ्यगच्छन्महामुनिम्॥ शिरसा वन्दनीयं तमवन्दत च पार्थिवः।
Thus addressed, the king and the queen approached the great ascetic, and bending their heads they adored him who were worthy of adoration.
तस्याशिषः प्रयुज्याथ स मुनिस्तं नराधिपम्॥ निषीदेत्यब्रवीद् धीमान् सान्त्वयन् पुरुषर्षभः।
Uttering a benediction upon the king, the Rishi, gifted with great intelligence, O king, comforted the king and saidSit down on that seat.
ततः प्रकृतिमापन्नो भार्गवो नृपते नृपम्॥ उवाच श्लक्ष्णया वाचा तर्पयन्निव भारत। राजन् सम्यग् जितानीह पञ्च पञ्च स्वयं त्वया।।३५ मनःषष्ठानीन्द्रियाणि कृच्छ्रान्मुक्तोऽसि तेन वै।
After this, O monarch, the son of Bhrigu, without guile or insincerity of any sort, pleased the king with many soft words, and then saido king, you have completely subjugated the five organs of action and the five organs of knowledge with the mind as their sixth. For this you have come out unhurt from the fiery ordeal I had prepared for you.
सम्यगाराधितः पुत्र त्वया प्रवदतां वर॥ न हि ते वृजिनं किंचित् सुसूक्ष्ममपि विद्यते।
I have been properly honoured and adored, O son, by you, O foremost of all persons gifted with speech. You have no sin, not even a minute one, in you.
अनुजानीहि मां राजन् गमिष्यामि यथागतम्॥ प्रीतोऽस्मि तव राजेन्द्र वस्श्च प्रतिगृह्यताम्।
Give me leave, o king, for I shall now proceed to the place I came from. I have been highly pleased with you, O king. Pray accept the boon I am ready to give!
कुशिक उवाच अग्निमध्ये गतेनेव भगवन् संनिधौ मया।॥ वर्तितं भृगुशार्दूल यन्न दग्धोऽस्मि तद् बहु।
Kushika said Before you, O holy one, I have stood like one staying in the midst of a fire. That I have not yet, O chief of Bhrigu's race, been reduced to ashes is sufficient.
एष एव वरो मुख्यः प्राप्तो मे भृगुनन्दन॥ यत् प्रीतोऽसि मया ब्रह्मन् कुलं त्रातं च मेऽनघ।
Even this is the highest boon that I have got, O delighter of Bhrigu! That you have been pleased by me, O Brahmana, and that I have succeed in rescuing my race from destruction, O sinless one, are in my case the best boons.
एष मेऽनुग्रहो विप्र जीविते च प्रयोजनम्॥ एतद् राज्यफलं चैव तपसश्च फलं मम।
This I consider, O learned Brahmana, as a distinct mark of your favour. The object of my life has been accomplished. Even this is what I consider the very object of my sovereignty. This is the highest fruit of my penances.
यदि त्वं प्रीतिमान् विप्र मयि वै भृगुनन्दन॥ अस्ति मे संशयः कश्चित् तन्मे व्याख्यातुमर्हसि॥
If, O learned Brahmana, you have been pleased with me, O delighter of Bhrigu, then do you remove some doubts which are in my mind.