भीष्म उवाच अत्रैवोदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम्। यद् वृत्तं तीर्थयात्रायां शपथं प्रति तच्छृणु॥
Bhishina said Regarding it is cited the old history of the oaths on the occasion of a sojourn to the sacred waters.
पुष्करार्थं कृतं स्तैन्यं पुरा भरतसत्तम। राजर्षिभिर्महाराज तथैव च द्विजर्षिभिः॥
O best of the Bharatas, the act of theft had been committed by Indra, and the oaths were taken by many royal and twiceborn Rishis.
ऋषयः समेताः पश्चिमे वै प्रभासे समागता मन्त्रममन्त्रयन्त। चराम सर्वां पृथिवीं पुण्यतीर्थो तन्नः कामं हन्त गच्छाम सर्वे॥
Once upon a time, the Rishis, having assembled together, proceeded to the western Prabhasa. They held a consultation there which resulted in a determination on their part to sojourn to all sacred waters on Earth.
स्तथा ह्यगस्त्यो नारदपर्वतौ च। भृगुर्वसिष्ठाः कश्यपो गौतमश्च विश्वामित्रो जमदग्निश्च राजन्॥
There were Shakra, Angirasa the highly learned Kavi, Agastya, Narada and Parvata; and Bhrigu and Vasishtha and Kashyapa and Gautama and Vishvamitra and Jamadagni, O king.
ऋषिस्तथा गालवोऽथाष्टकश्च भरद्वाजोऽरुन्धती बालखिल्याः। शिबिर्दिलीपो नहुषोऽम्बरीषो राजा ययातिधुंधुमारोऽथ पूरुः॥
There were also the Rishi Galava, and Ashtaka and Bharadvaja and Arundhati and the Valakhilyas, and Shibi and Dilipa and Nahusha and Ambarisha and the royal Yayati and Dhundhumara and Puru.
जग्मुः पुरस्कृत्य महानुभावं शतक्रतुं वृत्रहमं नरेन्द्राः। तीर्थानि सर्वाणि परिभ्रमन्तो माध्यां ययुः कौशिकी पुण्यतीर्थाम्॥
These foremost of men, headed the great performer of hundred sacrifices, the slayer of Vritra, sojourned to all the sacred waters one after another, and at last reached the highly sacred Kaushiki on the day of the full moon in the month of Magha.
सर्वेषु तीर्थेष्ववधूतपापा जग्मुस्ततो ब्रह्मसरः सुपुण्यम्। देवस्य तीर्थे जलमग्निकल्पा विगाह्य ते भुक्तबिसप्रसूनाः॥
Having purified themselves of all sins by ablutions performed in all the sacred waters, they at last proceeded to the very sacred Brahmasara. Bathing in that lake, those Rishis gifted with fiery energy began to gather and eat the stalks of the lotus.
नन्ये मृणालान्यखनंतस्त्र विप्राः। अथापश्यन् पुष्करं ते ह्रियन्तं ह्रदादरस्त्येन समुद्धृतं तत्॥
Amongst those Brahmanas, some had extracted the stalks of the louts and some the stalks of the Nymphoca stellata. Soon they found that the stalks extracted by Agastya had been taken away by somebody.
तानाह सर्वानृषिमुख्यानगस्त्यः केनादत्तं पुष्करं सुजातम्। युष्माशङ्के पुष्करं दीयतां मे न वै भवन्तो हर्तुमर्हन्ति पद्मम्॥
The foremost of Rishis, Agastya, addressing them all, said, Who has taken away good stalks which I had extracted and deposited here? I suspect some one amongst you must have taken them. Let him who has taken them away return them to me. You should not thus misappropriate my stalks.
मे शृणोमि कालो हिंसते धर्मवीर्य सोऽयं प्राप्तो वर्तते धर्मपीडा। पुराधर्मो वर्तते नेह यावत् तावद् गच्छामः सुरलोकं चिराय॥
It is heard that Time attacks the energy of virtue. That Time has come upon us. Hence, virtue is afflicted. It is proper that I should go to Heaven for good, before sin assails the world and establishes itself fully here.
पुरा वेदान् ब्राह्मणा ग्राममध्ये घुष्टस्वरा वृषलान्श्रावयन्ति। पुरा राजा व्यवहारेण धर्मान् पश्यत्यहं परलोकं व्रजामि॥
Before the time comes when Brahmanas, loudly uttering the Vedas, within the precincts of villages and inhabited places, cause the Shudras hear them, before the time comes when kings offered against the rules of virtue from motives of policy, I shall go to the celestial region for good.
पुरा वरान् प्रत्यवरान् गरीयसो यावन्नरा नावमंस्यन्ति सर्वे। तमोत्तरं यावदिदं न वर्तते तावद् व्रजामि परलोकं चिराय॥
Before men cease to regard the distinctions between the lower, the middle, and the higher classes, I shall go to the celestial region for good. Before Ignorance attacks the world and covers all things in darkness, I shall go to the celestial region for good.
पुरा प्रपश्यामि परेण मान् बलीयसा दुर्बलान् भुज्यमानान्। तस्माद् यास्यामि परलोकं चिराय न हुत्सहे द्रष्टुमिह जीवलोकम्॥
Before the time comes when the strong begin to oppress the weak and treat them as slaves, I shall go to the celestial region for ever. Indeed, I dare not remain on Earth for seeing these things.
तमाहुरार्ता ऋषयो महर्षि न ते वयं पुष्करं चोरयामः। मिथ्याभिषङ्गो भवता न कार्य: शपाम तीक्ष्णैः शपथैर्महर्षे ॥
The Rishis, much concerned at what he said, addressed that great ascetic and said-We have not stolen your stalks! You should not cherish these suspicions against us, O great Rishi, we shall take the most dreadful oaths.
ते निश्चितास्तत्र महर्षयस्तु सम्पश्यन्तो धर्ममेतं नरेन्द्राः। ततोऽशपन्त शपथान् पर्ययेण सहैव ते पार्थिव पुत्रपौत्रैः॥
Having said these words, conscious as they were of their own innocence, and desirous of upholding the cause of virtue, those Rishis and royal sages then began to swear, one after another, the following oaths.
भृगु उवाच प्रत्याक्रोशेदिहाक्रुष्टस्ताडितः प्रतिताडयेत्। खादेच्च पृष्ठमांसानि यस्ते हरति पुष्करम्॥
Bhrigu said Let him who has stolen your stalks censure when censured, assail when assail, and eat the flesh that is attached to the backbone of animals.
वसिष्ठ उवाच अस्वाध्यायपरो लोके श्वानं च परिकर्षतु। पुरे च भिक्षुर्भवतु यस्ते हरति पुष्करम्॥
Vasishtha said Let him who has stolen your stalks neglect his Vedic studies, leash hounds, and having taken himself to the mendicani order live in a city or town.
कश्यप उवाच सर्वत्र सर्वं पणतु न्यासे लोभं करोतु च। कूटसाक्षित्वमभ्येतु यस्ते हरति पुष्करम्॥
Kashyapa said Let him who has stolen your stalks sell all things in all places, misappropriate trusts, and give false evidence!
गौतम उवाच जीवत्वहंकृतो बुद्ध्या विषमेणासमेन सः। कर्षको मत्सरी चास्तु यस्ते हरति पुष्करम्॥
Gautama said Let him who has stolen your stalks live, all things, with an understanding that does not see all creatures with an equal eye, and always giving way to the influence of desire and anger. Let him be a cultivator of the soil, and let him be moved by malice.
अङ्गिरा उवाच अशुचिर्ब्रह्मकूटोऽस्तु श्वानं च परिकर्षतु। ब्रह्महाऽनिकृतिश्चास्तु यस्ते हरति पुष्करम्॥
Angirasa said Let him who has stolen your stalks be always impure! Let him be a censurable Brahmana. Let him leash hounds. Let him be guilty of Brahmanicide. Let him be averse to expiations after having committed sin.
धुन्धुमार उवाच अकृतज्ञस्तु मित्राणां शूद्रायां च प्रजायतु। एकः सम्पन्नमश्नातु यस्ते हरति पुष्करम्॥
Dhundhumara said Let him who has stolen your stalks be ungrateful to his friends! Let him take birth in a Shudra woman! Let him eat alone any good food.
पुरु उवाच चिकित्सायां प्रचरतु भार्यया चैव पुष्यतु। श्वशुरात्तस्य वृत्तिः स्याद् यस्ते हरति पुष्करम्॥
Puru said Let him who has stolen your stalks practise as a physician! Let him be supported by the earnings of his wife! Let him draw his maintenance from his fatherinlaw!
दिलीप उवाच उदपानप्लवे ग्रामे ब्राह्मणो वृषलीपतिः। तस्य लोकान् स व्रजतु यस्ते हरति पुष्करम्॥
Dilipa said Let him who has stolen your stalks attain to those regions of misery an infamy which are reserved for that Brahmana who lives in a village having but one well and who knows a Shudra woman.
शुक्र उवाच वृथामांसं समश्नातु दिवा गच्छतु मैथुनम्। प्रेष्यो भवतु राज्ञश्च यस्ते हरति पुष्करम्॥
Shukra said Let him who has stolen your stalks eat the flesh of animals not killed in sacrifices! Let him have sexual union at daytime! Let him be a servant of the king.
जमदग्निरुवाच अनध्यायेष्वधीयीत मित्रं श्राद्धे च भोजयेत्। श्राद्धे शूद्रस्य चाश्नीयाद् यस्ते हरति पुष्करम्॥
Jamadagni said Let him who has stolen your stalks study the Vedas of forbidden days or occasions. Let him feed friends at Shraddhas performed by him! Let him eat at the Shraddha of a Shudra.
शिबिरुवाच अनाहिताग्निर्पियतां यज्ञे विघ् करोतु च। तपस्विभिर्विरुध्येच्च यस्ते हरति पुष्करम्॥
Shibi said Let him who has stolen you stalks die without having established a fire (for daily worship)! Let him be guilty of obstructing the celebration of sacrifices by others! Let him fall out with those who practise penances!
ययातिरुवाच अनृतौ च व्रती चैव भार्यायां स प्रजायतु। निराकरोतु वेदांश्च यस्ते हरति पुष्करम्॥
Yayati said Let him who has stolen your stalks be guilty of having sexual union with his wife when she is not in her season and when he is himself in the observance of a vow and bears matted locks on his head! Let him also disregard the Vedas!
नहुष उवाच अतिथिर्गृहसंस्थोऽस्तु कामवृत्तस्तु दीक्षितः। विद्यां प्रयच्छतु भृतो यस्ते हरति पुष्करम्॥
Nahusha said Let him who has stolen your stalks live in domesticity after having betaken himself to the vow of mendicancy! Let him act in whatever way he pleases, after having performed the initiatory rites in view of a sacrifice or some solemn observance! Let him take pecuniary satisfaction for teaching his disciples.
अम्बरीष उवाच नृशंसत्यक्तधर्मोऽस्तु स्त्रीषु ज्ञातिषु गोषु च। निहन्तु ब्राह्मणं चापि यस्ते हरति पुष्करम्॥
Ambarisha said Let him who has stolen your stalks be cruel and sinful in his conduct towards women and kinsmen and kine! Let him be guilty also of Brahmanicide!
नारद उवाच गृहज्ञानी बहिःशास्त्रं पठतां विस्वरं पदम्। गरीयसोऽवजानातु यस्ते हरति पुष्करम्॥
Narada said Let him who has stolen your stalks be one who identifies the body with the soul! Let him study the scriptures with an unworthy preceptor. Let him chaunt the Vedas, violating at each step the rules of orthoepy! Let him disregard all his elders.
नाभाग उवाच अनृतं भाषतु सदा सद्भिश्चैव विरुध्यतु। शुल्केन तु ददत्कन्यां यस्ते हरति पुष्करम्॥
Nabhaga said Let him who has stolen your stalks always speak untruth and quarrel with those who are pious. Let him bestow his daughter in marriage after accepting a pecuniary satisfaction offered by his soninlaw.
कविरुवाच पद्भ्यां स गां ताडयतु सूर्ये च प्रतिमेहतु। शरणागतं संत्यजतु यस्ते हरति पुष्करम्॥
Kavi said Let him who has stolen your stalks be guilty of striking a cow with his foot. Let him pass urine, facing the sun! Let him renounce the person who seeks shelter at his hands.
विश्वामित्र उवाच करोतु भृतकोऽवर्षं राज्ञश्चास्तु पुरोहितः। ऋत्विगस्तु ह्ययाज्यस्य यस्ते हरति पुष्करम्॥
Vishvamitra said Let him who has stolen your stalks become a servant who acts deceitfully towards his master! Let him be the priest of a king! Let him officiate as the sacrificial priest of one who should not be assisted at his sacrifices!
पर्वत उवाच ग्रामे चाधिकृतः सोऽस्तु खरयानेन गच्छतु। शुनः कर्षतु वृत्त्यर्थे यस्ते हरति पुष्करम्॥
Parvata said Let him who has stolen your stalks be the head of a village. Let him make journeys on asses. Let him leash hounds for maintenance.
भरद्वाज उवाच सर्वपापसमादानं नृशंसे नानृते च यत्। तत् तस्यास्तु सदा पापं यस्ते हरति पुष्करम्॥
Bharadvaja said Let him who has stolen your stalks be guilty of all the transgressions of him who is cruel in conduct and untruthful in speech.
अष्टक उवाच स राजास्त्वकृतप्रज्ञः कामवृत्तश्च पापकृत्। अधर्मेणाभिषास्तूर्वी यस्ते हरति पुष्करम्॥
Ashtaka said Let him who has stolen your stalks be a king shorn of wisdom, capricious and sinful in his conduct, and disposed to rule the Earth impiously.
गालव उवाच पापिष्ठेभ्यो ह्यनर्हिः स नरोऽस्तु स्वपापकृत्। दत्त्वा दानं कीर्तयतु यस्ते हरति पुष्करम्॥
Galava said Let him who has stolen your stalks be more infamous than a sinful man. Let him be sinful in his deeds towards his kinsmen and relatives. Let him proclaim the gifts he makes to others.
अरुन्धती उवाच श्वश्र्वापवाद वदतु भर्तुर्भवतु दुर्मनाः। एका स्वादु समश्नातु या ते हरति पुष्करम्॥
Arundhati said Let her who has stolen your stalks speak ill of her motherinlaw. Let her dislike her husband. Let her eat alone any good food that comes to her house.
बालखिल्या ऊचुः एकपादेन वृत्त्यर्थं ग्रामद्वारे स तिष्ठतु। धर्मज्ञस्त्यक्तधर्मास्तु यस्ते हरति पुष्करम्॥
The Balakhilyas said Let him who has stolen your stalks stand on one foot at the entrance of a village. Let him, while knowing all duties, be guilty of every transgression.
शुनःसख उवाच अग्निहोत्रमनादृत्य स सुखं स्वपतु द्विजः। परिव्राट् कामवृत्तोऽस्तु यस्ते हरति पुष्करम्॥
Shunasakha said Let him who has stolen your stalks be a Brahmana who sleeps happily having neglected his daily Homa. Let him, after becoming a religious mendicant, act in any way he likes, without observing any control.
सुरभ्युवाच बालजेन निदानेन कांस्यं भवतु दोहनम्। दुह्यते परवत्सेन या ते हरति पुष्करम्॥
Surabhi said Let her who has stolen your stalks be milked, with he, (hind) legs bound with a rope of human hair, and with the help of a calf not her own, and, while milked, let her be held in vessel of white brass.
भीष्म उवाच र्नानाविधैर्बहुभिः कौरवेन्द्र। सहस्राक्षो देवराट् सम्प्रहृष्टः समीक्ष्य तं कोपनं विप्रमुख्यम्॥
Bhishma said After the Rishis and the royal sages had taken various oaths, O Kuru king, the thousand eye chief of the celestials, filled with joy, looked at the angry Rishi Agastya.
अथाब्रवीन्मघवा प्रत्ययं स्वं समाभाष्य तमृषि जातरोषम्। ब्रह्मर्षिर्देवर्षिनृपर्षिमध्ये यं तं निबोधेह ममाद्य राजन्॥
Addressing the Rishi who was very angry at the disappearance of his lotus stalks, Indra thus declared what was passing in his mind. Hear, O king, the words Indra spoke in the midst of those twiceborn and celestial Rishis and royal sages.
शक्र उवाच अध्वर्यवे दुहितरं ददातु छन्दोगे वा चरितब्रह्मचर्ये। अथर्वणं वेदमधीत्य विप्रः स्नायीत यः पुष्करमाददाति॥
Shakra said Let him who has stolen your stalks acquire the merit of him who bestows his daughter in marriage upon a Brahmana who has duly observed the vow of Brahmacharya or who has duly studied the Samans and the Yajushes. Let him also have the merit of one who takes the final bath after completing his study of the Atharva Veda.
सर्वान् वेदानधीयीत पुण्यशीलोऽस्तु धार्मिकः। ब्रह्मणः सदनं यातु यस्ते हरति पुष्करम्॥
Let him who has stolen your stalks acquire the mcrit of having studied all the Vedas. Let him be observant of all duties and rightcous in his conduct. Indeed, let him go to the region of Brahman.
अगस्त्य उवाच आशीर्वादस्त्वया प्रोक्तः शपथो बलसूदन। दीयतां पुष्करं मह्यमेष धर्मः सनातनः॥
Agastya said You have, O destroyer of Vala, uttered a benediction instead of a course. Give them to me, for that is eternal duty.
इन्द्र उवाच न मया भगवॅल्लोभाद्भुतं पुष्करमद्य वै धर्मांस्तु श्रोतुकामेन हतं न क्रोद्भुमर्हसि॥
Indra said O holy one, I did not remove your stalks, moved by cupidity. Indeed, I removed them from desire of hearing this assembly recite what the duties are that we should observe. You should not yield to anger.
धर्मश्रुतिसमुत्कर्षो धर्मसेतुरनामयः। आर्षो वै शाश्वतो नित्यमव्ययोऽयं मया श्रुतः॥
Duties are the foremost of Shrutis. Duties form the eternal path. I have listened to this discourse of the Rishis (on duties) that is eternal and immutable, and that is above all change.
तदिदं गृह्यतां विद्वन् पुष्करं द्विजसत्तम। अतिक्रमं मे भगवन् क्षन्तुमर्हस्यनिन्दित॥
Do you then, foremost of learned Brahmanas, take back these stalks of yours. O holy one, you should forgive my transgression, (you who are free from every fault.
भीष्म उवाच इत्युक्तः स महेन्द्रेण तपस्वी कोपनो भृशम्। जग्राह पुष्करं धीमान् प्रसन्नश्चाभवन्मुनिः॥
Bhishma said Thus addressed by the king of the celestials, the ascetics viz., Agastya, who had been very angry, took back his stalks. Gifted with intelligence, the Rishi became cheerful.
प्रययुस्ते ततो भूयस्तीर्थानि वनगोचराः। पुण्येषु तीर्थेषु तथा गात्राण्याप्लावयन्त ते॥
After this, those dwellers of the forest went to various other sacred waters. Indeed, going to those sacred waters they performed their ablutions everywhere.
आख्यानं य इदं युक्तः पठेत् पर्वणि पर्वणि। न मूर्ख जनयेत् पुत्रं न भवेच्च निराकृतिः॥
The man who reads this discourse with rapt attention on every Parva day, will not beget an ignorant and wicked son. He will never be shorn of fearing
न तमापत् स्पृशेत् काचिद् विज्वरो न जरावहः। विरजाः श्रेयसा युक्तः प्रेत्य स्वर्गमवाप्नुयात्॥
No calamity will ever befall him. He will, besides, be free from every sort of sorrow. He will never suffer from decrepitude and decay. Freed from stains and evil of every sort, and gifted with merit, he is sure to acquire Heaven,
यश्च शास्त्रमधीयीत ऋषिभिः परिपालितम्। स गच्छेद् ब्रह्मणो लोकमव्ययं च नरोत्तम॥
He who studies this Shastra observed by the Rishis, is sure, O king, to attain to the eternal region of Brahman that is full of happiness.