The Birth of Parashara and the Slaughter of the Bhrigus

Verse 1 (1.194.1)

आश्रमस्था ततः पुत्रमदृश्यन्ती व्यजायत । शक्तेः कुलकरं राजन् द्वितीयमिव शक्तिनम् ॥

āśramasthā tataḥ putramadṛśyantī vyajāyata | śakteḥ kulakaraṃ rājan dvitīyamiva śaktinam

Then Adrishyanti, living in the hermitage, gave birth to a son who would carry on Shakti's line, O king, like a second Shakti.

Note on the text: Wikisource heads this adhyaya गन्धर्व उवाच (its line marker misnumbered 1-195-1x); the input had no speaker for vv. 1–10.

Verse 2 (1.194.2)

जातकर्मादिकास्तस्य क्रियाः स मुनिसत्तमः । पौत्रस्य भरतश्रेष्ठ चकार भगवान्स्वयम् ॥

jātakarmādikāstasya kriyāḥ sa munisattamaḥ | pautrasya bharataśreṣṭha cakāra bhagavānsvayam

The blessed best of sages himself performed the birth rite and the other ceremonies for his grandson, O best of the Bharatas.

Verse 3 (1.194.3)

परासुः स यतस्तेन वसिष्ठः स्थापितो मुनिः । गर्भस्थेन ततो लोके पराशर इति स्मृतः ॥

parāsuḥ sa yatastena vasiṣṭhaḥ sthāpito muniḥ | garbhasthena tato loke parāśara iti smṛtaḥ

Because, while still in the womb, he had held back the sage Vasishtha when his life was departing, he became known in the world as Parashara.

Verse 4 (1.194.4)

अमन्यत स धर्मात्मा वसिष्ठं पितरं मुनिः । जन्मप्रभृति तस्मिंस्तु पितरीवान्ववर्तत ॥

amanyata sa dharmātmā vasiṣṭhaṃ pitaraṃ muniḥ | janmaprabhṛti tasmiṃstu pitarīvānvavartata

That righteous sage took Vasishtha to be his father, and from his birth he behaved toward him as toward a father.

Note on the text: Corresponds to CE 1.169.4 in a slightly different reading.

Verse 5 (1.194.5)

स तात इति विप्रर्षिं वसिष्ठं प्रत्यभाषत । मातुः समक्षं कौन्तेय अदृश्यन्त्याः परन्तप ॥

sa tāta iti viprarṣiṃ vasiṣṭhaṃ pratyabhāṣata | mātuḥ samakṣaṃ kaunteya adṛśyantyāḥ parantapa

He would call the brahmin seer Vasishtha "Father" in front of his mother Adrishyanti, O son of Kunti, scorcher of foes.

Verse 6 (1.194.6)

तातेति परिपूर्णार्थं तस्य तन्मधुरं वचः । अदृश्यन्त्यश्रुपूर्णाक्षी शृण्वती तमुवाच ह ॥

tāteti paripūrṇārthaṃ tasya tanmadhuraṃ vacaḥ | adṛśyantyaśrupūrṇākṣī śṛṇvatī tamuvāca ha

Hearing that sweet word "Father," spoken with all its meaning, Adrishyanti, her eyes brimming with tears, said to him:

Verse 7 (1.194.7)

मा तात ताततातेति ब्रूह्येनं पितरं पितुः । रक्षसा भक्षितस्तात तव तातो वनान्तरे ॥

mā tāta tātatāteti brūhyenaṃ pitaraṃ pituḥ | rakṣasā bhakṣitastāta tava tāto vanāntare

"Do not call him 'Father, Father, Father,' child; speak of him as your father's father. Your father, child, was devoured by a rakshasa deep in the forest.

Note on the text: Adrishyanti's words (vv. 7–8), unheaded in Wikisource, are given to her. Corresponds to CE 1.169.7, whose first line differs.

Verse 8 (1.194.8)

मन्यसे यं तु तातेति नैष तातस्तवानघ । आर्य एष पिता तस्य पितुस्तव यशस्विनः ॥

manyase yaṃ tu tāteti naiṣa tātastavānagha | ārya eṣa pitā tasya pitustava yaśasvinaḥ

The one you think of as your father is not your father, sinless one. This noble man is the father of your illustrious father."

Verse 9 (1.194.9)

स एवमुक्तो दुःखार्तः सत्यवागृषिसत्तमः । सर्वलोकविनाशाय मतिं चक्रे महामनाः ॥

sa evamukto duḥkhārtaḥ satyavāgṛṣisattamaḥ | sarvalokavināśāya matiṃ cakre mahāmanāḥ

Told this, the best of seers, truthful in speech and great of mind, was stricken with grief and resolved to destroy all the worlds.

Verse 10 (1.194.10)

तं तथा निश्चितात्मानं स महात्मा महातपाः । ऋषिर्ब्रह्मविदां श्रेष्ठो मैत्रावरुणिरन्त्यधीः । वसिष्ठो वारयामास हेतुना येन तच्छृणु ॥

taṃ tathā niścitātmānaṃ sa mahātmā mahātapāḥ | ṛṣirbrahmavidāṃ śreṣṭho maitrāvaruṇirantyadhīḥ | vasiṣṭho vārayāmāsa hetunā yena tacchṛṇu

When he had made up his mind in this way, the great-souled Vasishtha of great austerity, son of Mitra and Varuna, best of those who know Brahman, whose understanding rested on the final truth, restrained him with a reason. Hear what it was.

Note on the text: Wikisource vv. 10–25 pair their half-verses one line out of step with the critical edition (1.169.10–21), so that the Gandharva's narration and Vasishtha's story run across a verse boundary; re-divided here to follow the critical edition (14 verses for Wikisource's 16), with no words changed except as noted. This verse is Wikisource v. 10 plus the first line of v. 11. Corrected श्रष्ठो → श्रेष्ठो (misprint in Wikisource; dropped vowel sign). The second line is not in the critical edition's main text (CE apparatus 1.169.10*1787).

Verse 11 (1.194.11)

कृतवीर्य इति ख्यातो बभूव पृथिवीपतिः । याज्यो वेदविदां लोके भृगूणां पार्थिवर्षभः ॥

kṛtavīrya iti khyāto babhūva pṛthivīpatiḥ | yājyo vedavidāṃ loke bhṛgūṇāṃ pārthivarṣabhaḥ

There was a king of the earth known as Kritavirya, a bull among kings, for whom the Bhrigus, knowers of the Veda, performed sacrifices in the world.

Note on the text: Wikisource vv. 10–25 pair their half-verses one line out of step with the critical edition (1.169.10–21), so that the Gandharva's narration and Vasishtha's story run across a verse boundary; re-divided here to follow the critical edition (14 verses for Wikisource's 16), with no words changed except as noted. This verse is the second line of Wikisource v. 11 and the first line of v. 12; Wikisource's heading वसिष्ठ उवाच belongs before it.

Verse 12 (1.194.12)

स तानग्रभुजस्तात धान्येन च धनेन च । सोमान्ते तर्पयामास विपुलेन विशांपतिः ॥

sa tānagrabhujastāta dhānyena ca dhanena ca | somānte tarpayāmāsa vipulena viśāṃpatiḥ

At the close of the soma sacrifice, child, that lord of the people gratified those priests, who eat first, with abundant grain and wealth.

Note on the text: Wikisource vv. 10–25 pair their half-verses one line out of step with the critical edition (1.169.10–21), so that the Gandharva's narration and Vasishtha's story run across a verse boundary; re-divided here to follow the critical edition (14 verses for Wikisource's 16), with no words changed except as noted. This verse is the second line of Wikisource v. 12 and the first line of v. 13.

Verse 13 (1.194.13)

तस्मिन्नृपतिशार्दूले स्वर्यातेऽथ कथंचन । बभूव तत्कुलेयानां द्रव्यकार्यमुपस्थितम् ॥

tasminnṛpatiśārdūle svaryāte'tha kathaṃcana | babhūva tatkuleyānāṃ dravyakāryamupasthitam

When that tiger among kings had gone to heaven, it came about that those of his line found themselves in need of wealth.

Note on the text: Wikisource vv. 10–25 pair their half-verses one line out of step with the critical edition (1.169.10–21), so that the Gandharva's narration and Vasishtha's story run across a verse boundary; re-divided here to follow the critical edition (14 verses for Wikisource's 16), with no words changed except as noted. This verse is the second line of Wikisource v. 13 and the first line of v. 14.

Verse 14 (1.194.14)

भृगूणां तु धनं ज्ञात्वा राजानः सर्व एव ते । याचिष्णवोऽभिजग्मुस्तांस्ततो भार्गवसत्तमान् ॥

bhṛgūṇāṃ tu dhanaṃ jñātvā rājānaḥ sarva eva te | yāciṣṇavo'bhijagmustāṃstato bhārgavasattamān

Knowing of the Bhrigus' wealth, all those kings went to those best of the Bhargavas to beg for it.

Note on the text: Wikisource vv. 10–25 pair their half-verses one line out of step with the critical edition (1.169.10–21), so that the Gandharva's narration and Vasishtha's story run across a verse boundary; re-divided here to follow the critical edition (14 verses for Wikisource's 16), with no words changed except as noted. This verse is the second line of Wikisource v. 14 and the first line of v. 15.

Verse 15 (1.194.15)

भूमौ तु निददुः केचिद्भृगवो धनमक्षयम् । ददुः केचिद्द्विजातिभ्यो ज्ञात्वा क्षत्रियतो भयम् ॥

bhūmau tu nidaduḥ kecidbhṛgavo dhanamakṣayam | daduḥ keciddvijātibhyo jñātvā kṣatriyato bhayam

Some of the Bhrigus buried their inexhaustible wealth in the ground; some, sensing danger from the Kshatriyas, gave it away to brahmins.

Note on the text: Wikisource vv. 10–25 pair their half-verses one line out of step with the critical edition (1.169.10–21), so that the Gandharva's narration and Vasishtha's story run across a verse boundary; re-divided here to follow the critical edition (14 verses for Wikisource's 16), with no words changed except as noted. This verse is the second line of Wikisource v. 15 and the first line of v. 16.

Verse 16 (1.194.16)

भृगवस्तु ददुः केचित्तेषां वित्तं यथेप्सितम् । क्षत्रियाणां तदा तात कारणान्तरदर्शनात् ॥

bhṛgavastu daduḥ kecitteṣāṃ vittaṃ yathepsitam | kṣatriyāṇāṃ tadā tāta kāraṇāntaradarśanāt

And some Bhrigus, child, foreseeing another outcome, gave the Kshatriyas as much wealth as they wanted.

Note on the text: Wikisource vv. 10–25 pair their half-verses one line out of step with the critical edition (1.169.10–21), so that the Gandharva's narration and Vasishtha's story run across a verse boundary; re-divided here to follow the critical edition (14 verses for Wikisource's 16), with no words changed except as noted. This verse is the second line of Wikisource v. 16 and the first line of v. 17. Corrected भृहवस्तु → भृगवस्तु (misprint in Wikisource; ह for ग, CE bhṛgavas tu).

Verse 17 (1.194.17)

ततो महीतलं तात क्षत्रियेण यदृच्छया । खनताऽधिगतं वित्तं केनचिद्भृगुवेश्मनि । तद्वित्तं ददृशुः सर्वे समेताः क्षत्रियर्षभाः ॥

tato mahītalaṃ tāta kṣatriyeṇa yadṛcchayā | khanatā'dhigataṃ vittaṃ kenacidbhṛguveśmani | tadvittaṃ dadṛśuḥ sarve sametāḥ kṣatriyarṣabhāḥ

Then, child, a certain Kshatriya, digging the ground in a Bhrigu's house, happened upon wealth; and all the chief Kshatriyas gathered and saw that wealth.

Note on the text: Wikisource vv. 10–25 pair their half-verses one line out of step with the critical edition (1.169.10–21), so that the Gandharva's narration and Vasishtha's story run across a verse boundary; re-divided here to follow the critical edition (14 verses for Wikisource's 16), with no words changed except as noted. This verse is the second line of Wikisource v. 17 and the whole of v. 18. Corrected केनच्चिद्धृगुवेश्मनि → केनचिद्भृगुवेश्मनि (misprint in Wikisource; doubled च and ध for भ, CE kena cid bhṛguveśmani).

Verse 18 (1.194.18)

अवमन्य ततः क्रोधाद्भृगूंस्ताञ्छरणागतान् । निजघ्नुः परमेष्वासाः सर्वांस्तान्निशितैः शरैः । आगर्भादवकृन्तन्तश्चेरुः सर्वां वसुन्धराम् ॥

avamanya tataḥ krodhādbhṛgūṃstāñcharaṇāgatān | nijaghnuḥ parameṣvāsāḥ sarvāṃstānniśitaiḥ śaraiḥ | āgarbhādavakṛntantaśceruḥ sarvāṃ vasundharām

Then in their anger those great archers scorned the Bhrigus, though they had come to them for shelter, and killed them all with sharp arrows; and they roamed the whole earth cutting them down, even to the unborn in the womb.

Note on the text: Wikisource vv. 10–25 pair their half-verses one line out of step with the critical edition (1.169.10–21), so that the Gandharva's narration and Vasishtha's story run across a verse boundary; re-divided here to follow the critical edition (14 verses for Wikisource's 16), with no words changed except as noted. This verse is Wikisource v. 19 plus the first line of v. 20. Corrected ञ्छरणगतान् → ञ्छरणागतान् (misprint in Wikisource; dropped vowel sign, CE śaraṇāgatān).

Verse 19 (1.194.19)

तत उच्छिद्यमानेषु भृगुष्वेवं भयात्तदा । भृगुपत्न्यो गिरिं दुर्गं हिमवन्तं प्रपेदिरे ॥

tata ucchidyamāneṣu bhṛguṣvevaṃ bhayāttadā | bhṛgupatnyo giriṃ durgaṃ himavantaṃ prapedire

As the Bhrigus were being wiped out in this way, the wives of the Bhrigus fled in fear to the Himalaya, a mountain hard to reach.

Note on the text: Wikisource vv. 10–25 pair their half-verses one line out of step with the critical edition (1.169.10–21), so that the Gandharva's narration and Vasishtha's story run across a verse boundary; re-divided here to follow the critical edition (14 verses for Wikisource's 16), with no words changed except as noted. This verse is the second line of Wikisource v. 20 and the first line of v. 21.

Verse 20 (1.194.20)

तासामन्यतमा गर्भं भयाद्दध्रे महौजसम् । ऊरुणैकेन वामोरूर्भर्तुः कुलविवृद्धये ॥

tāsāmanyatamā garbhaṃ bhayāddadhre mahaujasam | ūruṇaikena vāmorūrbhartuḥ kulavivṛddhaye

One of them, a fair-thighed woman, out of fear carried her mighty child in one of her thighs, so that her husband's line might grow.

Note on the text: Wikisource vv. 10–25 pair their half-verses one line out of step with the critical edition (1.169.10–21), so that the Gandharva's narration and Vasishtha's story run across a verse boundary; re-divided here to follow the critical edition (14 verses for Wikisource's 16), with no words changed except as noted. This verse is the second line of Wikisource v. 21 and the first line of v. 22. Corrected वाभोरूर्भर्तुः → वामोरूर्भर्तुः (misprint in Wikisource; भ for म, "fair-thighed", CE vāmorūḥ).

Verse 21 (1.194.21)

तं गर्भमुपलभ्याशु ब्राह्मण्येका भयार्दिता । गत्वा वै कथयामास क्षत्रियाणामुपह्वरे ॥

taṃ garbhamupalabhyāśu brāhmaṇyekā bhayārditā | gatvā vai kathayāmāsa kṣatriyāṇāmupahvare

Learning of that unborn child, a brahmin woman, tormented by fear, quickly went and told the Kshatriyas in secret.

Note on the text: Wikisource vv. 10–25 pair their half-verses one line out of step with the critical edition (1.169.10–21), so that the Gandharva's narration and Vasishtha's story run across a verse boundary; re-divided here to follow the critical edition (14 verses for Wikisource's 16), with no words changed except as noted. This verse is the second line of Wikisource v. 22 and the first line of v. 23. Not in the critical edition's main text (found in the vulgate recension; CE apparatus 1.169.20*1788, lines 1–2).

Verse 22 (1.194.22)

ततस्ते क्षत्रिया जग्मुस्तं गर्भं हन्तुमुद्यताः । ददृशुर्ब्राह्मणीं तेऽथ दीप्यमानां स्वतेजसा ॥

tataste kṣatriyā jagmustaṃ garbhaṃ hantumudyatāḥ | dadṛśurbrāhmaṇīṃ te'tha dīpyamānāṃ svatejasā

Then those Kshatriyas went, intent on killing the child, and they saw the brahmin woman blazing with her own radiance.

Note on the text: Wikisource vv. 10–25 pair their half-verses one line out of step with the critical edition (1.169.10–21), so that the Gandharva's narration and Vasishtha's story run across a verse boundary; re-divided here to follow the critical edition (14 verses for Wikisource's 16), with no words changed except as noted. This verse is the second line of Wikisource v. 23 and the first line of v. 24. The first line is CE apparatus 1.169.20*1788 (line 3); the second is 1.169.20ef.

Verse 23 (1.194.23)

अथ गर्भः स भित्त्वोरुं ब्राह्मण्या निर्जगाम ह । मुष्णन्दृष्टीः क्षत्रियाणां मध्याह्न इव भास्करः । ततश्चक्षुर्विहीनास्ते गिरिदुर्गेषु बभ्रमुः ॥

atha garbhaḥ sa bhittvoruṃ brāhmaṇyā nirjagāma ha | muṣṇandṛṣṭīḥ kṣatriyāṇāṃ madhyāhna iva bhāskaraḥ | tataścakṣurvihīnāste giridurgeṣu babhramuḥ

Then the child split the brahmin woman's thigh and came forth, robbing the Kshatriyas of their sight like the midday sun; and, deprived of their eyes, they wandered among the mountain fastnesses.

Note on the text: Wikisource vv. 10–25 pair their half-verses one line out of step with the critical edition (1.169.10–21), so that the Gandharva's narration and Vasishtha's story run across a verse boundary; re-divided here to follow the critical edition (14 verses for Wikisource's 16), with no words changed except as noted. This verse is the second line of Wikisource v. 24 and the whole of v. 25.

Verse 24 (1.194.24)

ततस्ते मोघसङ्कल्पा भयार्ताः क्षत्रियाः पुनः । ब्राह्मणीं शरणं जग्मुर्दृष्ट्यर्थं तामनिन्दिताम् ॥

tataste moghasaṅkalpā bhayārtāḥ kṣatriyāḥ punaḥ | brāhmaṇīṃ śaraṇaṃ jagmurdṛṣṭyarthaṃ tāmaninditām

Then, their purpose foiled and stricken with fear, the Kshatriyas went again to that blameless brahmin woman for refuge, to win back their sight.

Note on the text: Corrected शरमं → शरणं (misprint in Wikisource; म for ण, CE śaraṇaṃ).

Verse 25 (1.194.25)

ऊचुश्चैनां महाभागां क्षत्रियास्ते विचेतसः । ज्योतिःप्रहीणा दुःखार्ताः शान्तार्चिष इवाग्नयः ॥

ūcuścaināṃ mahābhāgāṃ kṣatriyāste vicetasaḥ | jyotiḥprahīṇā duḥkhārtāḥ śāntārciṣa ivāgnayaḥ

Bewildered, bereft of light and in misery, like fires whose flames have died down, the Kshatriyas said to that noble lady:

Verse 26 (1.194.26)

भगवत्याः प्रसादेन गच्छेत्क्षत्रमनामयम् । उपारम्य च गच्छेम सहिताः पापकर्मणः ॥

bhagavatyāḥ prasādena gacchetkṣatramanāmayam | upāramya ca gacchema sahitāḥ pāpakarmaṇaḥ

"By your grace, lady, let the Kshatriya order be made whole again. We will cease from our wicked deeds and go away together.

Note on the text: The Kshatriyas' words (vv. 28–29), unheaded in Wikisource, are given to them.

Verse 27 (1.194.27)

सपुत्रा त्वं प्रसादं नः कर्तुमर्हसि शोभने । पुनर्दृष्टिप्रदानेन राज्ञः संत्रातुमर्हसि ॥

saputrā tvaṃ prasādaṃ naḥ kartumarhasi śobhane | punardṛṣṭipradānena rājñaḥ saṃtrātumarhasi

You and your son should show us your favour, gracious lady; you should save us kings by giving us back our sight."