Surabhi and the Gift of Brahma

Verse 1 (13.117.1)

सुराणामसुराणां च भूतानां च पितामह । प्रभुः स्रष्टा च भगवान्मुनिभिः स्तूयते भुवि ॥

surāṇāmasurāṇāṃ ca bhūtānāṃ ca pitāmaha | prabhuḥ sraṣṭā ca bhagavānmunibhiḥ stūyate bhuvi

“Grandsire, the Lord who is master and creator of gods, of asuras and of all beings is praised by the sages on earth.

Note on the text: Removed the stray wiki marks and the speaker heading “युधिष्ठिर उवाच” that slipped into the text (speaker set instead). Appendix I No. 9 (13.80.045d@009_0001–0002).

Verse 2 (13.117.2)

तस्योपरि कथं ह्येष गोलोकः स्थानतां गतः । संशयो मे महानेष तन्मे व्याख्यातुमर्हसि ॥

tasyopari kathaṃ hyeṣa golokaḥ sthānatāṃ gataḥ | saṃśayo me mahāneṣa tanme vyākhyātumarhasi

“How then has this world of cows come to stand above even him? This is a great doubt of mine; you ought to explain it to me.”

Note on the text: Speaker (Yudhishthira) not given in the input; the question continues from verse 1. Appendix I No. 9 (13.80.045d@009_0003–0004).

Verse 3 (13.117.3)

मनोवाग्बुद्धयस्तावदेकस्थाः कुरुसत्तम । ततो मे शृणु कार्त्स्न्येन गोमहाभाग्यमुत्तमम् ॥

manovāgbuddhayastāvadekasthāḥ kurusattama | tato me śṛṇu kārtsnyena gomahābhāgyamuttamam

“Let mind, speech and understanding be gathered in one place, O best of the Kurus; then hear from me in full the supreme greatness of the cow.

Note on the text: Appendix I No. 9 (13.80.045d@009_0005–0006).

Verse 4 (13.117.4)

पुण्यं यशस्यमायुष्यं तथा स्वस्त्ययनं महत् । कीर्तिर्विहरता लोके गवां यो गोषु भक्तिमान् ॥

puṇyaṃ yaśasyamāyuṣyaṃ tathā svastyayanaṃ mahat | kīrtirviharatā loke gavāṃ yo goṣu bhaktimān

It brings merit, fame and long life, and is a great blessing; for him who is devoted to cows there is renown as he moves about the world.

Note on the text: Appendix I No. 9 (13.80.045d@009_0007–0008).

Verse 5 (13.117.5)

श्रूयते हि पुराणेषु महर्षीणां महात्मनाम् । संस्थाने सर्वलोकानां देवानां चापि सम्भवे ॥

śrūyate hi purāṇeṣu maharṣīṇāṃ mahātmanām | saṃsthāne sarvalokānāṃ devānāṃ cāpi sambhave

It is heard in the Puranas, from the great-souled great sages, about the founding of all the worlds and the birth of the gods:

Note on the text: Appendix I No. 9 (13.80.045d@009_0009–0010).

Verse 6 (13.117.6)

देवतार्थेऽमृतार्थे च यज्ञार्थे चैव भारत । सुरभिर्नाम विख्याता रोहिणी कामरूपिणी ॥

devatārthe'mṛtārthe ca yajñārthe caiva bhārata | surabhirnāma vikhyātā rohiṇī kāmarūpiṇī

for the sake of the gods, for the sake of nectar, and for the sake of sacrifice, O Bharata, there was the famed Surabhi, called Rohini, who took any form she wished.

Note on the text: Appendix I No. 9 (13.80.045d@009_0011–0012).

Verse 7 (13.117.7)

सङ्कल्प्य मनसा पूर्वं रोहिणी ह्यमृतात्मना । घोरं तपः समास्थाय निर्मिता विश्वकर्मणा ॥

saṅkalpya manasā pūrvaṃ rohiṇī hyamṛtātmanā | ghoraṃ tapaḥ samāsthāya nirmitā viśvakarmaṇā

Having first formed the thought in her mind, Rohini, nectar-souled, practised fearsome austerities, and was fashioned by Vishvakarman.

Note on the text: Corrected निर्मिती → निर्मिता (misprint in Wikisource; wrong ending; CE reads “nirmitā”). Corrected विस्वकर्मणा → विश्वकर्मणा (misprint in Wikisource; स for श; CE reads “viśvakarmaṇā”). Appendix I No. 9 (13.80.045d@009_0013–0014).

Verse 8 (13.117.8)

पुरुषं चासृजद्भूयस्तेजसा तपसा च ह । देदीप्यमानं वपुषा समिद्धमिव पावकम् ॥

puruṣaṃ cāsṛjadbhūyastejasā tapasā ca ha | dedīpyamānaṃ vapuṣā samiddhamiva pāvakam

Then again, by his radiance and his austerity, he brought forth a man, blazing in body like a kindled fire.

Note on the text: Corrected द्भूस्तेजसा → द्भूयस्तेजसा (misprint in Wikisource; dropped syllable; CE reads “bhūyas tejasā”). Appendix I No. 9 (13.80.045d@009_0015–0016).

Verse 9 (13.117.9)

सोऽपश्यदिष्टरूपां तां सुरभिं रोहिणीं तदा । दृष्ट्वैव चातिविमनाः सोऽभवत्काममोहितः ॥

so'paśyadiṣṭarūpāṃ tāṃ surabhiṃ rohiṇīṃ tadā | dṛṣṭvaiva cātivimanāḥ so'bhavatkāmamohitaḥ

He saw that lovely-formed Surabhi, Rohini, and the moment he saw her he was distraught and bewildered by desire.

Note on the text: CE reads “divyarūpām” (of divine form) for Wikisource “इष्टरूपाम्” (of pleasing form); recension variant, kept. Appendix I No. 9 (13.80.045d@009_0017–0018).

Verse 10 (13.117.10)

तं कामार्तमथो ज्ञात्वा स्वयंभूर्लोकभावनः । माऽऽर्तो भव तथा चैष भगवानभ्यभाषत ॥

taṃ kāmārtamatho jñātvā svayaṃbhūrlokabhāvanaḥ | mā''rto bhava tathā caiṣa bhagavānabhyabhāṣata

Knowing him tormented by desire, the Self-existent One, maker of the worlds, the Lord, then said to him, “Do not be afflicted.”

Note on the text: Appendix I No. 9 (13.80.045d@009_0019–0020).

Verse 11 (13.117.11)

ततः स भगवांस्तत्र मार्ताण्ड इति विश्रुतः । चकार नाम तं दृष्ट्वा तस्यार्तीभावमुत्तमम् ॥

tataḥ sa bhagavāṃstatra mārtāṇḍa iti viśrutaḥ | cakāra nāma taṃ dṛṣṭvā tasyārtībhāvamuttamam

Seeing that excellent state of affliction, the Lord thereupon gave him the name Martanda, by which he is known.

Note on the text: Appendix I No. 9 (13.80.045d@009_0021–0022).

Verse 12 (13.117.12)

सोऽददाद्भगवांस्तस्मै मार्ताण्डाय महात्मने । सुरूपां सुरभिं कन्यां तपस्तेजोमयीं शुभाम् ॥

so'dadādbhagavāṃstasmai mārtāṇḍāya mahātmane | surūpāṃ surabhiṃ kanyāṃ tapastejomayīṃ śubhām

The Lord gave to the great-souled Martanda the fair girl Surabhi, beautiful in form, made of austerity and radiance.

Note on the text: Appendix I No. 9 (13.80.045d@009_0023–0024).

Verse 13 (13.117.13)

यथा मयैष चोद्भूतस्त्वं चैवेषा च रोहिणी । मैथुनं गतवन्तौ च तथा चोत्पत्स्यति प्रजा ॥

yathā mayaiṣa codbhūtastvaṃ caiveṣā ca rohiṇī | maithunaṃ gatavantau ca tathā cotpatsyati prajā

“As he was brought forth by me, and you and this Rohini with him, and as you two have come together, so will offspring be born.

Note on the text: Corrected चैवषा → चैवेषा (misprint in Wikisource; dropped vowel sign; CE reads “caiveṣā”). The words are Brahma's (spoken to the Sun-born youth and to Rohini); no heading is printed, so the speaker is set from the sense. Appendix I No. 9 (13.80.045d@009_0025–0026).

Verse 14 (13.117.14)

प्रजा भविष्यते पुण्या पवित्रं परमं च वाम् । न चाप्यगम्यागमनाद्दोषं प्राप्स्यसि कर्हिचित् ॥

prajā bhaviṣyate puṇyā pavitraṃ paramaṃ ca vām | na cāpyagamyāgamanāddoṣaṃ prāpsyasi karhicit

“Your offspring will be holy, and supremely pure for you both; and you will never incur guilt for union with one not meant for you.

Note on the text: Appendix I No. 9 (13.80.045d@009_0027–0028).

Verse 15 (13.117.15)

त्वत्प्रजासम्भवं क्षीरं भविष्यति परं हविः । यज्ञेषु चाज्यभागानां त्वत्प्रजामूलजो विधिः ॥

tvatprajāsambhavaṃ kṣīraṃ bhaviṣyati paraṃ haviḥ | yajñeṣu cājyabhāgānāṃ tvatprajāmūlajo vidhiḥ

“The milk born of your offspring will be the supreme oblation, and in sacrifices the rule for the portions of ghee will rest on your offspring.

Note on the text: Appendix I No. 9 (13.80.045d@009_0029–0030).

Verse 16 (13.117.16)

प्रजाशुश्रूषवश्चैव ये भविष्यन्ति रोहिणि । तव तेनैव पुण्येन गोलोकं यान्तु मानवाः ॥

prajāśuśrūṣavaścaiva ye bhaviṣyanti rohiṇi | tava tenaiva puṇyena golokaṃ yāntu mānavāḥ

“Those who tend your offspring, Rohini, shall go by that merit of yours to the world of cows.

Note on the text: Corrected पुण्येनि → पुण्येन (misprint in Wikisource; stray vowel sign; CE reads “puṇyena”). Appendix I No. 9 (13.80.045d@009_0031–0032).

Verse 17 (13.117.17)

इदं पवित्रं परममृषभं नाम कर्हिचित् । यद्वै ज्ञात्वा द्विजा लोके मोक्ष्यन्ते योनिसङ्करात् ॥

idaṃ pavitraṃ paramamṛṣabhaṃ nāma karhicit | yadvai jñātvā dvijā loke mokṣyante yonisaṅkarāt

“This is the supreme purifier, the one called Rishabha, knowing which the twice-born in the world will be freed from the mixing of wombs.

Note on the text: Appendix I No. 9 (13.80.045d@009_0033–0034).

Verse 18 (13.117.18)

एतत्क्रियाः प्रवर्तन्ते मन्त्रब्राह्मणसंस्कृताः । देवतानां पितॄणां च हव्यकव्यपुरोगमाः ॥

etatkriyāḥ pravartante mantrabrāhmaṇasaṃskṛtāḥ | devatānāṃ pitṝṇāṃ ca havyakavyapurogamāḥ

“Rites are carried on through it, refined by mantras and brahmanas, with oblations to the gods and offerings to the ancestors in the lead.

Note on the text: Corrected वितॄणां → पितॄणां (misprint in Wikisource; व for प; CE reads “pitṝṇāṃ”). Appendix I No. 9 (13.80.045d@009_0035–0036).

Verse 19 (13.117.19)

तत एतेन पुण्येन प्रजास्तव तु रोहिणि । ऊर्ध्वं ममापि लोकस्य वत्स्यन्ते निरुपद्रवाः ॥

tata etena puṇyena prajāstava tu rohiṇi | ūrdhvaṃ mamāpi lokasya vatsyante nirupadravāḥ

“Then, by this merit, your offspring, Rohini, will dwell, free of trouble, in the realm above my own world.

Note on the text: Appendix I No. 9 (13.80.045d@009_0037–0038).

Verse 20 (13.117.20)

भद्रं तेभ्यश्च भद्रं ते ये प्रजासु भवन्ति वै । युगन्धराश्च ते पुत्राः सन्तु लोकस्य धारणे ॥

bhadraṃ tebhyaśca bhadraṃ te ye prajāsu bhavanti vai | yugandharāśca te putrāḥ santu lokasya dhāraṇe

“Good fortune to them, and good fortune to you, those who are born among your offspring. May those sons, the bearers of the yoke, uphold the world.

Note on the text: Appendix I No. 9 (13.80.045d@009_0039–0040).

Verse 21 (13.117.21)

यान्यान्कामयसे लोकांस्ताँल्लोकाननुयास्यसि । सर्वदेवगणश्चैव तव यास्यन्ति पुत्रताम् । तव स्तनसमुद्भूतं पिबन्तोऽमृतमुत्तमम् ॥

yānyānkāmayase lokāṃstām̐llokānanuyāsyasi | sarvadevagaṇaścaiva tava yāsyanti putratām | tava stanasamudbhūtaṃ pibanto'mṛtamuttamam

“Whatever worlds you desire, you will follow to those worlds, and all the hosts of the gods will come to be your sons, drinking the supreme nectar that wells from your breasts.”

Note on the text: Appendix I No. 9 (13.80.045d@009_0041–0043).

Verse 22 (13.117.22)

एवमेतान्वरान्सर्वानगृह्णात्सुरभिस्तदा । ब्रुवतः सर्वलोकेशान्निर्वृतिं चागमत्पराम् ॥

evametānvarānsarvānagṛhṇātsurabhistadā | bruvataḥ sarvalokeśānnirvṛtiṃ cāgamatparām

So Surabhi then accepted all these boons, and as he spoke, the Lord of all the worlds, she attained the highest contentment.

Note on the text: Appendix I No. 9 (13.80.045d@009_0044–0045).

Verse 23 (13.117.23)

सृष्ट्वा प्रजाश्च विपुला लोकसन्धारणाय वै । ब्रह्मणा समनुज्ञाता सुरभिर्लोकमाविशत् ॥

sṛṣṭvā prajāśca vipulā lokasandhāraṇāya vai | brahmaṇā samanujñātā surabhirlokamāviśat

Having created a great multitude of offspring for the support of the worlds, and with Brahma's leave, Surabhi entered her own world.

Note on the text: Appendix I No. 9 (13.80.045d@009_0046–0047).

Verse 24 (13.117.24)

एवं वरप्रदानेन स्वयंभोरेव भारत । उपरिष्टाद्गवां लोकः प्रोक्तस्ते सर्वमादितः ॥

evaṃ varapradānena svayaṃbhoreva bhārata | upariṣṭādgavāṃ lokaḥ proktaste sarvamāditaḥ

Thus by the boon of the Self-existent One himself, O Bharata, the world of cows lies above; I have told you all of it from the beginning.

Note on the text: Removed a stray quote mark and doubled danda that had slipped in after the last word. Appendix I No. 9 (13.80.045d@009_0048–0049).