वैशम्पायन उवाच यत्रेजिवानुडुपती राजसूयेन भारत। तस्मिरतीर्थे महानासीत् संग्रामस्तारकामयः॥
Vaishampayana said "There, in that Tirtha, O Bharata, where the Moon had formerly celebrated the Rajasuya sacrifice, a great battle was fought in which Taraka was the root.
तत्राप्युपस्पृश्य बले दत्त्वा दानानि चात्मवान्। सारस्वतस्य धर्मात्मा मुनेस्तीर्थं जगाम ह॥ तत्र द्वादशवार्षिक्यामनावृशष्टया द्विजोत्तमान्। वेदानध्यापयामास पुरा सारस्वतो मुनिः॥
Bathing in that Tirtha and distributing many presents, the virtuous Vala of pure soul went to the Tirtha of the Muni named Sarasvat. There, during a drought extending over twelve years, the sage Sarasvat, formerly taught the Vedas unto many best of Brahmanas.
जनमेजय उवाच कथं द्वादशवार्पिक्यामनावृष्ट्यां द्विजोत्तमान्। ऋषीनध्यापयामास पुरा सारस्वतो मुनिः॥
Janamejaya said "Why did the sage Sarasvat, O you of ascetic merit, teach the Vedas to the Rishis during a twelve years' drought?
वैशम्पायन उवाच आसीत् पूर्वं महाराज मुनिर्धीमान् महातपाः। दधीच इति विख्यातो ब्रह्मचारी जितेन्द्रियः॥
Vaishampayana said Formerly. O king, there was an intelligent sage of great ascetic viriuc. He was celebrated by the name of Dadhicha. Having governed his senses, he led the life of a Brahmacharin.
तस्यातितपसः शक्रो विभेति सततं विभो। न स लोभयितुं शक्यः फलैर्बहुविधैरपि।॥
On account of his excessive ascetic austerities, Shakra was possessed by fear. The sage could not be dissuaded (from the practices of his penances) by the offer of even various kinds of rewards.
प्रलोभनार्थं तस्याथ प्राहिणोत् पाकशासनः। दिव्यामप्सरसं पुण्यां दर्शनीयामलम्बुषाम्॥
At last, for tempting the sage, the chastiser of Paka, sent to him the highly beautiful and celestial Apsara by name Alambusha.
तस्य तर्पयतो देवान् सरस्वत्यां महात्मनः। समीपतो महाराज सोऽपातिष्ठत भाविनी॥
On the banks of the Sarasvat the great sage was engaged in the worship of the gods and ! there the celestial nymphs, O king, arrived.
तां दिव्यवपुषं दृष्ट्वा तस्य वितात्मनः। रेतः स्कन्नं सरस्वत्यां तत् सा जग्राह निम्नगा॥
Seeing that beautiful damsel the seminal fluid of thar ascetic came out. Having fallen into the Sarasvati, the latter preserved it with care.
कुक्षौ चाप्यदधद्धृष्टा तद् रेत: पुरुषर्षभ। सा दधार च तं गर्भ पुत्रहेतोर्महानदी॥
Indeed, O foremost of men, the River, sceing that sced, held it in her womb. In time the secd developed into a fetus and the great river kept it so that it might have life and grow into a child.
सुषुवे चापि समये पुत्रं सा सरितां वरा। जगाम पुत्रमादाय तमृर्षि प्रति च प्रभो॥
When the time came, the best of rivers delivered that child and then went, O lord, taking it with her, to that Rishi.
ऋषिसंसदि तं दृष्ट्वा सा नदी मुनिसत्तमम्। ततः प्रोवाच राजेन्द्र ददती पुत्रमस्य तम्॥ ब्रह्मर्षे तव पुत्रोऽयं त्वद्भक्त्या धारितो मया। दृष्ट्वा तेऽप्सरसं रेतो यत् स्कन्नं प्रागलम्बुपाम्॥ तत् कुक्षिणा वै ब्रह्मर्षे त्वद्भक्त्या धृतवत्यहम्। न विनाशमिदं गच्छेत् त्वत्तेज इति निश्चयात्॥
Seeing that best of Rishis in a conclave, Sarasvati, O king, while handing over the child, said these words:-"O Rishi, this is your son whom I held out of respect for you! That seed of yours, which fell at seeing the nymph Alambusha, had been held by me in my womb, O Rishi, through devotion for you and knowing well that your sced would never be destroyed.
प्रतिगृह्णीष्व पुत्रं स्वं मया दत्तमनिन्दितम्। इत्युक्तः प्रतिजग्राह प्रीति चावाप पुष्कलाम्॥
Given by me, accept this faultless child of your own!' Thus addressed by her, the Rishi accepted the child and was highly pleased.
स्वसुतं चाप्यजिघ्रत् तं मूर्ध्नि प्रेम्णा द्विजोत्तमः। परिष्वज्यं चिरं कालं तदा भरतसत्तम॥
That best of Brahmanas then out of affection smelt the head of his son and embraced him closely, O best of Bharata, for some time.
सरस्वत्यै वरं प्रादात् प्रीयमाणो महामुनिः। विश्वेदेवा सपितरो गन्धर्वाप्सरसां गणाः॥ तृप्तिं यास्यन्ति सुभगे तयॆमाणास्तवाम्भसा।
Pleased with the River, the great ascetic Dadhicha then gave a boon to her, saying "The Vishvedevas, the Rishis and all the clans of the Gandharvas and the Apsaras, will henceforth, blessed one, derive great happiness when oblations of your water are presented to them!'
इत्युक्त्वा स तु तुष्टाव वचोभिर्वै महानदीम्॥ प्रीतः परमहृष्टात्मा यथावच्छृणु पार्थिव।
Having said to that great river, the sage, pleased and filled with joy, then praised her in these words. Hear them duly, O king!
प्रन्नुतासि महाभागे सरसो ब्रह्मणः पुरा॥ जानान्ति त्वां सरिच्छेष्ठे मनुयः संशितव्रताः।
Thou hast sprung, O highly blessed one, from the lake of Brahman in days of old. All ascetics know thee, O best of rivers.
मम प्रियकरी चापि सततं प्रियदर्शने॥ तस्मात् सारस्वतः पुत्रो महांस्ते वरवर्णिनि।
Highly beautiful, you have done me great good! This your great child, O fair river, will be known by the name of Sarasvat.
तवैव नाम्ना प्रथितः पुत्रस्ते लोकभावनः॥ सारस्वत इति ख्यातो भविष्यति महातपाः।
This your son, capable of creating new worlds, will pass after thy name! That great ascetic will be known by the name of Sarasvat!
एष द्वादशवार्षिक्यामनावृष्ट्यां द्विजर्षभान्॥ सारस्वतो महाभागे वेदानध्यापयिष्यति।
During a drought extending over iwelve years, this Sarasvat, will teach the Vedas to many best of Brahmanas.
पुण्याभ्यश्च सरिद्रयस्त्वं सदा पुण्यतमा शुभे॥ भविष्यसि महाभागे मत्प्रसादात् सरस्वति।
O blessed Sarasvati, through my grace, thou shalt always become the best of all sacred rivers!'
एवं सा संस्तुताऽनेन वरं लब्ध्वा महानदी॥ पुत्रमादाय मुदिता जगाम भरतर्षभ।
Thus was the great River lauded by the sage after the latter had granted her boons. The River then, overjoyed went away, O best of Bharata's race! taking with her that child.
एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु विरोधे देवदानवैः॥ शक्रः प्रहरणान्वेषी लोकांस्त्रीन् विचचार ह।
Meanwhile, during a war between the gods and demons Shakra travelled through the three worlds in search of weapons.
न चोपलेभे भगवाञ्छकः प्रहरणं तदा॥ यद्वैतेषां भवेद् योग्यं वधाय विबुधद्विषाम्।
The king of the celestials, however, failed to find such weapons as were fit to kill the enemies of the celestials.
ततोऽब्रवीत् सुराज्शको न मे शक्या महासुराः॥ ऋतेऽस्थिभिर्दधीचस्य निहन्तुं त्रिदशद्विषः।
Shakra then said to the gods-"The great Asuras are incapable of being defeated by me. Save with the bones of Dadhicha, our foes cannot be killed.
तस्माद् गत्वा ऋषिश्रेष्ठो याच्यतां सुरसत्तमाः॥ दधीचास्थीनि देहीति तैर्वधिष्यामहे रिपून्।
O best of celestials, go, therefore, to that best of Rishis and beg of him, saying-"Grant us, O Dadhicha, your bones! With them we will kill our enemies.'
स च तैर्याचितोऽस्थीनि यत्नादृषिवरस्तदा॥ प्राणत्यागं कुरुश्रेष्ठ चकारैवाविचारयन्। स लोकानक्षयान् प्राप्तो देवप्रियकरस्तदा॥
Begged by them for his bones, that best of Rishis, O best of Kuru's race, unhesitatingly gave up his life. Having done what was agreeable to the celestials, the sage attained to the eternally blissful region.
तस्यास्थिभिरथो शक्रः समप्रहृष्टमनास्तदा। कारयामास दिव्यानि नानाप्रहरणानि च॥ गदावज्राणि चक्राणि गुरून् दण्डांश्च पुष्कलान्।
With his bones, Shakra gladly made many kinds of weapons, such as thunder-bolts, disci, heavy maces and many kinds of clubs and bludgeons.
स हि तीव्रण तपसा सम्भृतः परमर्षिणा॥ प्रजापतिसुतेनाथ भृगुणा लोकभावनः। अतिकायः स तेजस्वी लोकसारो विनिर्मितः.॥ जज्ञे शैलगुरुः प्रांशुर्महिम्ना प्रथितः प्रभुः। नित्यमुद्विजते चास्य तेजसः पाकशासनः॥
Equal to the Creator himself Dadhicha, had been begotten by the penances of great Rishi Bhrigu. Strongly built and highly energetic Dadhicha had been made the strongest of men in the world. The powerful and glorious Dadhicha, became tall like the king of mountains. The chastiser of Paka had always been in dread of his power.
तेन वज्रेण भगवान् मन्त्रयुक्तेन भारत। भृशं क्रोधविसृष्टेन ब्रह्मतेजोद्भवेन च॥ दैत्यदानववीराणां जघान नवतीनव।
With the thunder-bolt created by Brahma and inspired with mantras, O Bharata, Indra made a loud noise when he hurled it and killed ninety-nine Daityas.
अथ काले व्यतिक्रान्ते महत्यतिभयंकारे॥ अनावृष्टिरनुप्राप्ता राजन् द्वादशवार्षिकी।
After a dreadful long time a drought. O king, took place that extended over twelve years.
तस्यां द्वादशवार्षिक्यामनावृष्ट्यां महर्षयः॥ वृत्यर्थं प्राद्रवन् राजन् क्षुधार्ताः सर्वतोदिशम्।
During that drought extending over twelve years, the great Rishis fled away, O king, on all sides to maintain themselves.
दिग्भ्यस्तान् प्रद्रुतान् दृष्ट्वा मुनिः सारस्वतस्तदा॥ गमनाय मतिं चक्रे तं प्रोवाच सरस्वती। न गन्तव्यमितः पुत्र तवाहारमहं सदा॥ दास्यामि मत्स्यप्रवरानुष्यतागिह भारत।
Seeing them scattered on all sides, the sage Sarasvat also set his heart on flight. The river Sarasvati then said to him. You need not, O son, go away, for I will always supply you with food even here by giving you large fishes! Remain therefore, here!'
इत्युक्तस्तर्पयामास स पितॄन् देवतास्तथा॥ आहारमकरोन्नित्यं प्राणान् वेदांश्च धारयन्।
Thus addressed (by the river), the sage continued to live there and offer oblations of food to the Rishis and the celestials, He got also his daily food and thus continued to support both himself and the gods.
अथ तस्यामनावृष्ट्यामतीतायां महर्षयः॥ अन्योन्यं परिपप्रच्छुः पुनः स्वाध्यायकारणात्।
After the termination of that twelve years' drought the great Rishis requested one another to deliver discourses on the Vedas.
तेषां क्षुधापरीतानां नष्टा वेदाऽभिधावताम्॥ सर्वेषामेव राजेन्द्र न कश्चित् प्रतिभानवान्।
While wandering hungrily the Rishis had forgotten the Vedas. There was indeed, not even one amongst thein that could interpret the Vedas.
अथ कश्चिदृषिस्तेषां सारस्वतमुपेयिवान्॥ कुर्वाणं संशितात्मानं स्वाध्यायमृषिसत्तमम्।
It so happened that some one amongst them met Sarasvat, that foremost of Rishis, while the latter was reading the Vedas with concentrated attention.
स गत्वाऽऽचष्ट तेभ्यश्च सारस्वतमतिप्रभम्॥ स्वाध्यायममरप्रख्यं कुर्वाणं विजने वने।
Returning to the assemblage of Rishis, he spoke to them of Sarasvat, of his matchless effulgence and celestial appearance and of deep concentration in the Vedas in a secluded forest.
ततः सर्वे समाजग्मुस्तत्र राजन् महर्षयः॥ सारस्वतं मुनिश्रेष्ठमिदमूचुः समागताः। अस्मानध्यापयस्वेति तानुवाच ततो मुनिः॥ शिष्यत्वमुपगच्छध्वं विधिवद्धि ममेत्युत।
Then all the great Rishis came there unitedly and spoke to Sarasvat, that best of ascetics, these words.:-"Teach us, O sage!' The ascetic replied, saying-"Become my disciples duly!'
तत्राब्रुवन् मुनिगणा बालस्त्वमसि पुत्रक॥ स तानाह न मे धर्मो नश्येदिति पुनर्मुनीन्।
The host of ascetics answered-"O son, you are too young.' Thereupon he answered the ascetics-"I must act in such a way that my religious merit may not suffer decrease'.
यो ह्यधर्मेण वै ब्रूयाद् गृह्णीयाद् योऽप्यधर्मतः॥ हीयेतां तावुभौ क्षिप्तं स्यातां वा वैरिणावुभौ।
He that teaches improperly and he that learns improperly, are both doomed to destruction and mutual hatred.
न हायनैर्न पलितैर्न वित्तेन न बन्धुभिः॥ ऋषयश्चक्रिरे धर्म योऽनूचानः स नो महान्।
It is not age or decrepitude, of wealth or the number of kinsmen, by which the Rishis claim their mcrit. He only is great who is capable of reading and understanding the Vedas.'
एतच्छ्रुत्वा वचस्तस्य मुनयस्ते विधानतः॥ तस्माद् वेदाननुप्राप्य पुनधर्मं प्रचक्रिरे।
Hearing these words of his, those ascetics duly became his disciples and learning again from him the Vedas began to practise their rites.
षष्टिर्मुनिसहस्राणि शिष्यत्वं प्रतिपेदिरे॥ सारस्वतस्य विप्रर्वेदस्वाध्यायकारणात्।
Sixty thousand ascetics became disciples of the great Rishi Sarasvat for the sake of learning again the Vedas from him.
मुष्टिं मुष्टिं ततः सर्वे दर्भाणां ते छुपाहरन्। तस्यासनार्थं विप्र लस्यापि वशे स्थिताः॥
Obeying that beautiful Rishi though a boy, the ascetics each brought a handful of grass and offered it to him for his seat.
तत्रापि दत्त्वा वसु रौहिणेयो महाबल: केशवपूर्वजोऽथ। जगाम तीर्थं मुदितः क्रमेण ख्यातं महद् वृद्धकन्या स्म यत्र॥
The powerful son of Rohini and elder brother of Keshava, having distributed wealth in that Tirtha, then joyfully went to another where lived formerly an old virgin lady.”