वैशम्पायन उवाच सा शप्ता तेन क्रुद्धेन विश्वामित्रेण धीमता। तस्मिंस्तीर्थवरे शुभ्रे शोणितं समुपावहत्॥
Vaishampayana said "Cursed by the intelligent Vishvamitra in anger, Sarasvati, in that sacred and best of tirthas, flowed in bloody current.
अथाजग्मुस्ततो राजन् राक्षसास्तत्र भारत। तत्र ते शोणितं सर्वे पिबन्तः सुखमासते॥
Then, O king, many Rakshasas come and lived happily there, drinking the blood that flowed.
तृप्ताश्च सुभृशं तेन सुखिता विगतज्वराः। नृत्यन्तश्च हसन्तश्च यथा स्वर्गजितस्तथा॥
Highly pleased with that blood, cheerfully and without anxiety of any kind, they danced and laughed there like persons that have (by virtue) attained to heaven.
कस्यचित् त्वथ कालस्य ऋषयः सुतपोधनाः। तीर्थयात्रां समाजग्मुः सरस्वत्यां महीपते॥
After some time had passed away, some Rishis, having asceticism for their wealth, came to the Sarasvati, O king, on pilgrimage.
तेषु सर्वेषु तीर्थेषु स्वाप्लुत्य मुनिपुङ्गवाः। प्राप्य प्रीतिं परां चापि तपोलुब्धा विशारदाः॥ प्रययुर्हि ततो राजन् तेन तीर्थमसृग्वहम्। अथागम्य महाभागास्ततं तीर्थं दारुणं तदा।॥
Those foremost of ascetics, having bathed in all the tirthas and obtained great delight, became desirous of acquiring more merit. Those learned sages at last came. O king, to that tirtha where the Sarasvati flowed in a bloody current. Those highly blessed Rishis, arriving at that frightful tirtha.
दृष्ट्वा तोयं सरस्वत्याः शोणितेन परिप्लुतम्। पीतमानं च रक्षोभिर्बहुभिर्नृपसत्तम॥
Beheld the water of the Sarasvati mixed with blood and numberless Rakshasas, O king, drinking it.
तान् दृष्ट्वा राक्षसान् राजन् मुनयः संशितव्रताः। परित्राणे सरस्वत्याः परं यत्नं प्रचक्रिरे॥
Seeing those Rakshasas, O king, those ascetics of rigid vows tried much for rescuing the Sarasvati from that condition.
ते तु सर्वे महाभागाः समागम्य महाव्रताः। आहूय सरितां श्रेष्ठामिदं वचनमब्रुवन्॥ कारणं ब्रूहि कल्याणि किमर्थं ते हृदो ह्ययम्। एवमाकुलतां यातः श्रुत्वा ध्यास्यामहे वयम्॥
Arriving there, those Rishis invoked that foremost of rivers and said to her-"Tell us the reason, O auspicious lady, why this lake in you has been distressed with such a plight. Hearing it, we shall use our efforts to restore its pristine condition.
ततः सा सर्वमाचष्ट यथावृत्तं प्रवेपती। दुःखितामथ तां दृष्ट्वा ऊचुस्ते वै तपोधनाः॥
Thus accosted, Sarasvati, trembling as she spoke, informed them of everything that had taken place. Seeing her thus woe-begone, those ascetics told her-
कारणं श्रुतमस्माभिः शापश्चैव श्रुतोऽनघे। करिष्यन्ति तु यत् प्राप्तं सर्वं एव तपोधनाः॥
"We have heard of your curse, O sinless lady! All of us shall try."
एवंमुक्त्वा सरिच्छ्रेष्टामूचुस्तेऽथ परस्परम्। विमोचयामहे सर्वे शापादेतां सरस्वतीम्॥
Having said so to that foremost of rivers, they then consulted with one another-"All of us shall release Sarasvati from her curse."
ते सर्वे ब्राह्मणा राजस्तपोभिर्नियमैस्तथा। उपवासैश्च विविधैर्यमैः कष्टव्रतैस्तथा॥ आराध्य पशुभर्तारं महादेवं जगत्पतिम्। तां देवीं मोक्षयामासुः सरिच्छ्रेष्ठां सरस्वतीम्॥ तेषां तु सा प्रभावेण प्रकृतिस्था सरस्वती। प्रसन्नसलिला जज्ञे यथापूर्वं तथैव हि॥ निर्मुक्ता च सरिच्छ्रेष्ठा विबभौ सा यथा पुरा।
O king, adoring Mahadeva, that Lord of the universe and protector of all creatures, with penances, vows, fasts, abstinences and painful observances, all those Brahmanas emancipated that foremost of rivers, viz., the divine Sarasvati.
दृष्ट्वा तोयं सरस्वत्या मुनिभिस्तैस्तथा कृतम्॥ तानेव शरणं जम्मू राक्षसाः क्षुधितास्तथा।
Beholding the water of Sarasvati purified by those ascetics, the Rakshasas (that lived there), stricken with hunger, sought the protection of those ascetics themselves.
कृत्वाञ्जलिं ततो राजन् राक्षसाः क्षुधयाऽर्दिताः॥ ऊचुस्तान् वै मुनीन् सर्वान् कृपायुक्तान् पुनः पुनः। वयं च क्षुधिताश्चैव धर्माद्धीनाश्च शाश्वतात्॥ न च नः कामकारोऽयं यद् वयं पापकारिणः।
Stricken with hunger, the Rakshasas, with clasped hands, repeatedly said to those ascetics filled with compassion viz.-"All of us are hungry? We have deviated from the path of virtue! That we are sinful is not of our own free will!'
युष्माकं चाप्रसादेन दुष्कृतेन च कर्मणा॥ यत् पापं वर्धतेऽस्माकं ततः स्मो ब्रह्मराक्षसाः। योषितां चैव पापेन योनिदोषकृतेन च॥ एवं हि वैश्यशूद्राणां क्षत्रियाणां तथैव च। ये ब्राह्मणान् प्रद्विषन्ति ते भवन्तीह राक्षसाः॥ आचार्यमृत्विजं चैव गुरुं वृद्धजनं तथा। प्राणिनो येऽवमन्यन्ते ते भवन्तीह राक्षसाः॥
Through the want of your grace and our own evil deeds, as also for the sexual sins of our women, our sins multiply and we have become Brahma-Rakshasas! So amongst Vaishyas and Shudras and Kshatriyas, those that hate and injure Brahmanas became Rakshasas.'
तत् कुरुध्वमिहास्माकं तारणं द्विजसत्तमाः। शक्ता भवन्तः सर्वेषां लोकानामपि तारणे॥
O best of Brahmanas, arrange then for our relief. You are capable of saving all the worlds!'
तेषां वचनं श्रुत्वा तुष्टुवुस्तां महानदीम्। मोक्षार्थं रक्षसां तेषामूचुः प्रयतमानसाः॥ क्षुतं कीटावपन्नं च यचोच्छिष्टाचितं भवेत्। सुकेशमवधूतं च रुदितोपहतं च यत्॥
Hearing these words of theirs, those ascetics lauded the great river. For the rescue of those Rakshasas, with contracted minds those ascetics said-"The food over which one will sneeze, that in which there are worms and insects, that which may be mixed with refuges of food, that which is mixed with hair, that which is trampled. That which is mixed with tears shall make up the food of these Rakshasas!'
एभिः संसृष्टमन्नं च भागोऽसौ रक्षसामिह। तस्माज्ज्ञात्वा सदा विद्वानेतान् यत्नाद् विवर्जयेत्॥ राक्षसान्नमसौ भुङ्क्ते यो भुङ्क्ते ह्यन्नमीदृशम्।
Knowing all this, the learned man shall carefully avoid these kinds of food. He that shall take such food shall be considered as partaking of the food of Rakshasas.'
तु शोधयित्वा ततस्तीर्थमृषयस्ते तपोधनाः॥ मोक्षार्थं राक्षसानां च नदीं तां प्रत्यचोदयन्।
Having thus purified the tirtha, those ascetics thus prayed to that river for the relief of those Rakshasas.
महर्षीणां मतं ज्ञात्वा ततः सा सरितां वरा॥ अरुणामानयामास स्वां तनूं पुरुषर्षभ।
Understanding the wishes of those great Rishis, that best of rivers caused her body, O foremost of men, to assume a new forn called Arjuna.
तस्यां ते राक्षसाः स्नात्वा तनूस्त्यक्त्वा दिवं गताः।। अरुणायां महाराज ब्रह्मवध्यापहा हि सा।
Bathing in that new river the Rakshasas renounced their bodies and went to heaven.
एतमर्थमभिज्ञाय देवराजः शतक्रतुः,॥ तस्मिंस्तीर्थे वीरे स्नात्वा विमुक्तः पाप्मना किल।
Ascertaining all this, the king of the celestials, viz., Indra, of a hundred sacrifices, bathed in that best of tirthas and was freed of a grievous sin."
जनमेजय उवाच किमर्थं भगवान् शक्रो ब्रह्मवध्यामवाप्तवान्॥ कथमस्मिंश्च तीर्थे वै आप्लुत्याकल्मषोऽभवत्।
Janamejaya said "Why was Indra affected with the sin of Brahmanicide! How also did he become freed by bathing in that tirtha?''
वैश्मपायन उवाच शृणुष्वैतदुपाख्यानं यथावृत्तं जनेश्वर॥ यथा बिभेद समयं नमुचेर्वासवः पुरा।
Vaishampayana said "Listen to that history, O king, listen to those events as they took place. Hear how Indra formerly broke his treaty with Namuchi.
नमुचिर्वासवाद् भीत: सूर्यरश्मि समाविशत्॥ तेनेन्द्रः सख्यमकरोत् समयं चेदमब्रवीत्। न चाद्रेण न शुष्केण न रात्रौ नापि चाहनि॥ वधिष्याप्यसुरश्रेष्ठ सखे सत्येन ते शपे।
The Asura Namuchi, from fear of Vasava, had entered into a ray of the Sun. Indra then made friends with Namuchi and made a contract with him, saying-"O king, of Asuras, I shall not kill you, O friend, with anything that is wet or dry. I shall not kill you in the night or in the day! Forsooth I swear this to you.'
एवं स कृत्वा समयं दृष्ट्वा नीहारमीश्वरः॥ चिच्छेदास्य शिरो राजन्नपां फेनेन वासवः।
Having made this understanding, the lord Indra one day behold a fog. He then, O king, sundered Namuchi's head, using the foam of water as his weapon.
तच्छिरो नमुचेश्छिन्नं पृष्ठतः शक्रमन्वियात्॥ भो भो मित्रघ्न पापेति ब्रुवाणां शक्रमन्तिकात्।
The severed head of Namuchi thereupon pursued Indra from behind, saying repeatedly from a near place-"O killer of a friend, O wretch!'
एवं स शिरसा तेन चोद्यमानः पुनः पुनः॥ पितामहाय संतप्त एतमर्थं न्यवेदयत्।
Thus addressed repeatedly by that head; Indra went to grandfather and informed him, sorrowfully of what had taken place.
तमब्रवील्लोकगुरुररुणायां यथाविधि॥ इष्ट्वोपस्पृश देवेन्द्र तीर्थे पापभयापहे।
The supreme lord of the universe said to him-"Performing a sacrifice, bathe duly, O king of gods, in Aruna, the tirtha which saves all from the fear of sin!
एषा पुण्यजला शक्र कृता मुनिभिरेव तु॥ निगूढमस्यागमनमिहासीत् पूर्वमेव तु।
The water of that river, O Shakra, has been sanctified by the ascetics! Formerly the river lay there concealed.
ततोऽभ्येत्यारुणां देवीं प्लावयामास वारिणा॥ सरस्वत्यारुणायाश्च पुण्योऽयं संगमो महान्।
The divine Sarasvati, repaired to the Aruna and overflowed it with her waters. This confluence of Sarasvati and Aruna is highly sacred!
इह त्वं यज देवेन्द्र दद दानान्यनेकशः॥ अत्राप्लुत्य सुघोरात् त्वं पातकाद् विप्रमोक्ष्यसे।
There, O king of gods, perform a sacrifice. Distribute enough of presents. Performing thy ablutions there, you shall be freed off of your sin.'
इत्युक्तः स सरस्वत्याः कुञ्जे वै जनमेजय॥ इष्ट्वा यथावद् बलभिदरुणायामुपस्पृशत्। स मुक्तः पाप्मना तेन ब्रह्मवध्याकृतेन च॥ जगाम संहृष्टमनास्त्रिदिवं त्रिदशेश्वरः।
Thus Addressed, Indra, at these words of Brahman, O Janamejaya, performed in that abode of Sarasvati various sacrifices. Distributing many presents and bathing in that tirtha, he of a hundred sacrifices, the destroyer of Vala, duly performed certain sacrifices and then bathed in the Aruna. He became freed from the sin caused by Brahmanicide. The king of the celestial region, then returned to heaven with a joyful heart.
शिरस्तचापि नमुचेस्तत्रैवाप्लुत्य भारत। लोकान् कामदुघान् प्राप्तमक्षयान् राजसत्तम॥
The head of Namuchi also dropped into that stream O Bharata and Asura gained many blessed regions, O best of kings, that granted ever wish.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच तत्राप्युपस्पृश्य बलो महात्मा दत्त्वा च दानानि पृथग्विधानि। अवाप्य धर्मं परमार्थकर्मा जगाम सोमस्य महत् सुतीर्थम्॥
Vaishampayana said "The great Baladeva, having bathed in that tirtha and given away many kinds of gifts, acquired great virtue. Of righteous deeds, he then proceeded to the great tirtha of Soma.
यत्रायजद् राजसूयेन सोमः साक्षात् पुरा विधिवत् पार्थिवेन्द्रः। अत्रिीमान् विप्रमुख्यो बभूव होता यस्मिन् ऋतुमुख्ये महात्मा॥ यस्यान्तेऽभूत् सुमहद् दानवानां दैतेयानां राक्षसानां च देवैः। यस्मिन् युद्धं तारकाख्यं सुतीव्र यत्र स्कन्दस्तारकाख्यं जघान॥
There, formerly Soma himself, O emperor, had celebrated the Rajasuya sacrifice. The great Atri, that foremost of Brahmanas, endued with great intelligence, became the sacrificial priest in that grand sacrifice. Upon the termination of that sacrifice, a great battle took place between the gods and the Danavas, the Daityas and the Rakshasas. That fierce battle known after the name of the Asura Taraka. In that battle Skanda killed Taraka.
सैनापत्यं लब्धवान् देवतानां महासेनो यत्र दैत्यान्तकर्ता। साक्षाचैव न्यवसत् कार्तिकेयः सदा कुमारो यत्र स प्लक्षराजः॥
There, on the occasion, Mahasena, that destroyer of Daityas, became the generalissimo of the celestial forces. In that tirtha is a huge Ashvattha tree. Under its shade, Kartikeya, otherwise called Kumara, always lives in person."