वैशम्पायन उवाच ब्रह्मयोनेरवाकीर्णं जगाम यदुनन्दनः। यत्र दाल्भ्यो बको राजन्नाश्रमस्थो महातपाः॥ जुहाव धृतराष्ट्रस्य राष्टं वैचित्रवीर्यणः। तपसा घोररूपेण कर्षयन् देहमात्मनः॥
Vaishampayana said "That delighter of the Yadus then proceeded to the hermitage (of Vaka) resonant with the chaunting of the Vedas. There the great ascetic, O king, named Dalvya-vaka, poured the kingdom of Dhritarashtra, the son of Vichitravirya, as a libation (on the sacrificial fire). By practising hard penances he emaciated his own body. The greatly energetic and virtuous Rishi did it being worked up with great wrath.
क्रोधेन महताऽऽविष्टो धर्मात्मा वै प्रतापवान्। पुरा हि नैमिषीयाणां सत्रे द्वादशवार्षिके॥ वृत्ते विश्वाजितोऽन्ते वै पञ्चालानृषयोऽगमन्।
Formerly the Rishis, living in the Naimisha forest, had celebrated a sacrifice extending over twelve years. In the course of that sacrifice, after a particular one called Vishvajit had been completed, the Rishis started for the country of the Panchalas.
तत्रेश्वरमयाचन्त दक्षिणार्थं मनस्वनः॥ तानब्रवीद बको दाल्भयो विभजघ्व पशूनिति॥
Going there, they requested the king to give them twenty one strong and healthy calves to be given away as Dakshina in the sacrifice they had finished.
पशूनेतानहं त्यक्त्वा भिक्षिष्ये राजसत्तमम्। एवमुक्त्वा ततो राजऋषीन् सवान् प्रतापवान्॥
Dalvya-vaka, then said to those Rishis-"Do you divide those animals among ye! Giving away these (to ye), I shall beg a great king (for some more).'
जगाम धृतराष्ट्रस्य भवनं ब्राह्मणोत्तमः।
Saying it the greatly energetic Vaka, that best of Brahmanas, then went to the palace of Dhritarashtra.
स समीपगतो भूत्वा धृतराष्ट्र जनेश्वरम्॥ अयाचत पशून् दाल्भ्यः स चैनं रुषितोऽब्रवीत्। यदृच्छया मृता दृष्ट्वा गास्तदा नृपसत्तमः॥ एतान् पशून् नय क्षिप्रं ब्रह्मबन्धो यदीच्छसि।
Going before Dhritarashtra, Dalvya begged some animals of him. Finding that some of his kine had died without any cause, the king angrily said to him-"Wretch of a Brahmana, take, if you wish, these (dead) kine.'
ऋषिस्तथा वचः श्रुत्वा चिन्तयामास धर्मवित्॥ अहो बत नृशसं वै वाक्यमुक्तोऽस्मि संसदि। नरपतेः पुराः।
Hearing these words, the dutiful Rishi thught-Alas, he has spoken cruel words to me in the assembly.'
चिन्तयित्वा मुहूर्तेन रोषाविष्टो द्विजोत्तमः॥ मतिं चक्रे विनाशय धृतराष्ट्रस्य भूपतेः।
Having thought thus, thus, that best of Brahmanas, filled with rage, made up his mind for destroying king Dhritarashtra.
स तूत्कृत्य मृतानां वै मांसानि मुनिसत्तमः॥ जुहाव धृतराष्ट्रस्य राष्ट्र अवाकीर्णे सरस्वत्यास्तीर्थे प्रज्वाल्य पावकम्॥ बको दाल्भ्यो महाराज नियम परमं स्थितः। स तैरेव जुहावास्य राष्ट्रं मांसैर्महातपाः॥
Cutting the flesh from the dead animals, that best of Rishis, having lighted a sacrificial fire on the tirtha of the Sarasvati, poured those pieces as libations for the destruction of king Dhritarashtra's kingdom. The great ascetic Dalvya-vaka, O king poured Dhritarashtra's kingdom as a libation on the fire.
तस्मिंस्तु विधिवत् सत्रे सम्प्रवृत्ते सुदारुणे। अक्षीयत ततो राष्ट्रं धृतराष्ट्रस्य पार्थिव॥
Upon the commencement of that dreadful sacrifice with proper rites, the kingdom of Dhritarashtra, O king, began to dwindle.
ततः प्रक्षीयमाणं तद् राज्यं तस्य महीपतेः। छिद्यमानं यथानन्तं वनं परशुना विभो॥ बभूवापद्गतं तच व्यवकीर्णमचेतनम्। दृष्ट्वा तथावकीर्णं तु राष्ट्रं स मनुजाधिपः॥
Indeed, O lord, the kingdom of that monarch began to dwindle as a large forest gradually disappears when men cut it down with the axe. Overtaken by dangers, the kingdom began to lose its prosperity and vitality.
बभूव दुर्मना राजंश्चिन्तयामास च प्रभुः।
Seeing his kingdom thus afflicted the power king became very depressed and anxious.
मोक्षार्थमकरोद् यत्नं ब्राह्मणैः सहितः पुरा॥ न च श्रेयोऽध्यगच्छत्तु क्षीयते राष्ट्रमेव च।
Consulting with the Brahmanas, he began to make mighty endeavours for releasing his kingdom (from affliction). No good, however, came of his endeavours, for the kingdom continued to dwindle.
यदा स पार्थिवः खिन्नस्ते च विप्रास्तदानघ॥ यदा चापि न शक्नोति राष्ट्रं मोक्षयितुं नृप। अथ वै प्राश्निकांस्तत्र पप्रच्छ जनमेजय॥ ततो वै प्राश्निकाः प्राहुः पशोर्विप्रकृतस्त्वया।
The king became very much depressed. The Brahmanas also, O sinless one, became filled with grief. When at last the king failed to save his kingdom, he consulted the ministers, O Janamejaya, (about the remedy). The minister reminded him of the evil he had done regarding the dead kine.
मासैरभिजुहोतीदं तव राष्ट्र मुनिर्बकः॥ तेन ते हूयमानस्य राष्ट्रस्यास्य क्षयो महान्।
And they said-"The ascetic Vaka is pouring your kingdom as a libation on the fire with the help of the flesh (of those animals). Therefore is this dwindling away of your kingdom.
तस्यैतत् तपसः कर्म येन तेऽद्य लयो महान्॥ अपां कुर्छ सरस्वत्यास्तं प्रसादय पार्थिव।
This is the fruit of ascetic rites. Thence is this great calamity! Go, O king and propitiate that Rishi who is living on the bank of the Sarasvati.'
सरस्वतीं ततो गत्वा स राजा बकमब्रवीत्॥ निपत्य शिरसा भूमौ प्राञ्जलिर्भरतर्षभ।
Going to the bank of Sarasvati, the king fell at his feet, touched them with his head, joined his hands and said-"I propitiate you, O worshipful one, forgive me for my crime.
प्रसादये त्वां भगवन्नपराधं क्षमस्व मे॥ मम दीनस्य लुब्धस्य मौर्येण हतचेतसः।
I am an insensate fool, a wretch filled with avarice. You are my refuge and protector, you should extend to me your favour.'
त्वं गतिस्त्वं च मे नाथः प्रसादं कर्तुमर्हसि॥ तं तथा विलपन्तं तु शोकोपहतचेतसम्।
Seeing him thus laden with grief and indulging in lamentations like these, Vaka felt compassion for him and freed his kingdom.
दृष्ट्वा तस्य कृपा जज्ञे राष्ट्रं तस्य व्यमोचयत्॥ ऋषिः प्रसन्नस्तस्याभूत् संरम्भं च विहाय सः। मोक्षार्थं तस्य राज्यस्य जुहाव पुनराहुतिम्॥
The Rishi became pleased with him and cast off his anger. For freeing his kingdom, the sage again poured libations on the fire.
मोक्षयित्वा ततो राष्ट्र प्रतिगृह्य पशून् बहून्। हृष्टात्मा नैमिषारण्यं जगाम पुनरेव सः॥
Having freed the kingdom from calamities and taken many kine as a gift he became pleased at heart and once more proceeded to the Naimisha forest.
धृतराष्ट्रोऽपि धर्मात्मा स्वस्थचेता महामनाः। स्वमेव नगरं राजन् प्रतिपेदे महर्द्धिमत्॥
The liberal and righteous king Dhrutarashtra, with a cheerful heart, returned to his own prosperous capital.
तत्र तीर्थे महाराज बृहस्पतिरुदारधीः। असुराणामभावाय भवाय त दिवौकसाम्॥ मांसैरभिजुहावेष्टिमक्षीयन्त ततोऽसुराः। दैवतैरपि सम्भग्ना जितकाशिभिराहवे॥
In that tirtha, for the destruction of the Asuras and the prosperity of the celestials Brihaspati also poured libations on the sacrificial fire, with the aid of flesh. Upon this, the Asuras began to waste away and were killed by the celestials, filled with desire of victory, in battle.
तत्रापि विधिवद् दत्त्वा ब्राह्मणेभ्यो महायशाः। वाजिनः कुञ्जरांश्चैव रथांश्चाश्वतरीयुतान्॥ रत्नानि च महार्हाणि धनं धान्यं च पुष्कलम्। ययौ तीर्थं महाबाहुर्यायातं पृथिवीपते॥
Having with due rites given to the Brahmanas horses and elephants and vehicles with mules yoked to them and precious jewels and immense wealth and profuse corn, the illustrious and mighty-armed Rama then proceeded, O king, to the tirtha called Yayata.
तत्र यज्ञे ययातेश्च महाराज सरस्वती। सर्पिः पयश्च सुस्राव नाहुषस्य महात्मनः॥
There, O king, at the sacrifice of the highsouled Yayati, the son of Nahusha, the Sarasvati produced milk and clarified butter.
तत्रेष्ट्वा पुरुषव्याघ्रो ययातिः पृथिवीपतिः। अक्रामदूर्ध्वं मुदितो लेभे लोकांश्च पुष्कलान्॥
That foremost of men, king Yayati, having performed a sacrifice there, went to heaven and secured many blissful regions.
पुनस्तत्र च राज्ञस्तु ययातेर्यजतः प्रभोः। औदार्यं परमं कृत्वा भक्तिं चात्मनि शाश्वतीम्॥ ददौ कामान् ब्राह्मणेभ्यो यान् यान् यो मनसेच्छति।
Once again, O lord, king Yayati, performed a sacrifice there. Beholding his great magnanimity of soul and his fixed devotion to herself, the river Sarasvati gave to the Brahmanas present there everything they desired to have.
यो यत्र स्थित एवेह आहूतो यज्ञसंस्तरे॥ तस्य तस्य सरिच्छेष्टा गृहादिशयनादिकम्। षड्रसं भोजनं चैव दानं नानाविधं तथा॥
That foremost of rivers gave each of them that were invited to the sacrifice, here he was, houses and beds and food of the six different tastes and various other things.
ते मन्यमाना राज्ञस्तु सम्प्रदानमनुत्तमम्। राजानं तुष्टुवुः प्रीता दत्त्वा चैवाशिषः शुभाः॥
The Brahmanas regarded those valuable gifts as presented by the king. Gladly they lauded the king and conferred their sacred blessing upon him.
तत्र देवाः सगन्धर्वाः प्रीता यज्ञस्य सम्पदा। विस्मिता मानुषाश्चासन् दृष्ट्वा तां यज्ञसम्पदम्॥
The gods and the Gandharvas were all pleased with the numberless articles in that sacrifice. As regards men they were filled with wonder on seeing those articles.
ततस्तालकेतुर्महाधर्मकेतुर्महात्मा कृतात्मा महादाननित्यः। वसिष्ठापवाहं महाभीमवेगं धृतात्मा जितात्मा समभ्याजगाम॥
The illustrious and righteous Baladeva, of cleansed soul, having the palmyra on his banner and ever giving away the most valuable things, then proceeded to that tirtha of fierce current called Vashishthapavaha.