Cyavana Comes to King Kushika

Verse 1 (13.87.1)

संशयो मे महाप्राज्ञ सुमहान्सागरोपम । तं मे शृणु महाबाहो श्रुत्वा व्याख्यातुमर्हसि ॥

saṃśayo me mahāprājña sumahānsāgaropama | taṃ me śṛṇu mahābāho śrutvā vyākhyātumarhasi

O Grandsire of great wisdom, deep as the ocean, I have a very great doubt. Hear it, mighty-armed one, and when you have heard it, please explain it to me.

Note on the text: Wikisource's input ran 13-87-1 and 13-87-2 together as one four-line verse; split into the page's two couplets. The page prints no 'युधिष्ठिर उवाच' heading (row label 13-87-1x marks where it fell out); the speaker is Yudhishthira (critical edition 13,052.001 'yudhiṣṭhira uvāca'; the argument-lines above the table are headings, not verse text, and are dropped).

Verse 2 (13.87.2)

कौतूहलं मे सुमहज्जामदग्न्यं प्रति प्रभो । रामं धर्मभृतां श्रेष्ठं तन्मे व्याख्यातुमर्हसि ॥

kautūhalaṃ me sumahajjāmadagnyaṃ prati prabho | rāmaṃ dharmabhṛtāṃ śreṣṭhaṃ tanme vyākhyātumarhasi

My lord, I am deeply curious about Rama, the son of Jamadagni, the best of those who uphold dharma. Please explain that to me.

Note on the text: Second couplet split off from the merged first input row (see verse 1). No speaker heading is printed; Yudhishthira continues (CE 13,052.002a,c).

Verse 3 (13.87.3)

ब्राह्मे बले सुपूर्णानामेतेषां च्यवनादिनाम् । कथमेष समुत्पन्नो रामः सत्यपराक्रमः । कथं ब्रह्मर्षिवंशोऽयं क्षत्रधर्मा व्यजायत ॥

brāhme bale supūrṇānāmeteṣāṃ cyavanādinām | kathameṣa samutpanno rāmaḥ satyaparākramaḥ | kathaṃ brahmarṣivaṃśo'yaṃ kṣatradharmā vyajāyata

Among the Cyavanas and the others, who are so rich in the power of Brahmins, how did this Rama, whose prowess is truth itself, come to be born? How did a warrior's nature arise in this line of Brahmin sages?

Note on the text: Three-line verse as printed (13-87-3a,b,c). First line is a star passage of the critical edition (13,052.002d*0322_01, 'brāhme bale supūrṇānām eteṣāṃ cyavanādinām'), which Wikisource prints inside backtick and quote marks; the stray backtick/quote marks removed. Lines 2-3 = CE 13,052.003a,c. Speaker continues Yudhishthira (no heading printed).

Verse 4 (13.87.4)

तदस्य सम्भवं राजन्निखिलेनानुकीर्तय । कौशिकश्च कथं वंशात्क्षात्राद्वै ब्राह्मणोऽभवत् ॥

tadasya sambhavaṃ rājannikhilenānukīrtaya | kauśikaśca kathaṃ vaṃśātkṣātrādvai brāhmaṇo'bhavat

O king, tell me fully how he came to be born. And tell me how Kaushika, born in a warrior line, became a Brahmin.

Note on the text: No speaker heading printed; Yudhishthira's question continues until the 'भीष्म उवाच' heading (CE 13,052.004).

Verse 5 (13.87.5)

अहो प्रभावः सुमहानासीद्वै सुमहात्मनोः । रामस्य च नरव्याघ्र विश्वामित्रस्य चैव हि ॥

aho prabhāvaḥ sumahānāsīdvai sumahātmanoḥ | rāmasya ca naravyāghra viśvāmitrasya caiva hi

Great indeed was the power of those two great-souled men, O tiger among men: of Rama, and of Vishvamitra as well.

Note on the text: No speaker heading printed; Yudhishthira continues (CE 13,052.005).

Verse 6 (13.87.6)

कथं पुत्रानतिक्रम्य तेषां नप्तृष्वथाभवत् । एष दोषो महाप्राज्ञ तत्त्वं व्याख्यातुमर्हसि ॥

kathaṃ putrānatikramya teṣāṃ naptṛṣvathābhavat | eṣa doṣo mahāprājña tattvaṃ vyākhyātumarhasi

How is it that, passing over the sons, it appeared in their grandsons? This is the anomaly, O wise one; please explain the truth of it to me.

Note on the text: No speaker heading printed; Yudhishthira continues (CE 13,052.006).

Verse 7 (13.87.7)

अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् । च्यवनस्य च संवादं कुशिकस्य च भारत ॥

atrāpyudāharantīmamitihāsaṃ purātanam | cyavanasya ca saṃvādaṃ kuśikasya ca bhārata

On this point, O Bharata, they cite this ancient tale: the conversation between Cyavana and Kushika.

Verse 8 (13.87.8)

एतं दोषं पुरा दृष्ट्वा भार्गवश्च्यवनस्तदा । आगामिनं महाबुद्धिः स्ववंशे मुनिसत्तमः ॥

etaṃ doṣaṃ purā dṛṣṭvā bhārgavaścyavanastadā | āgāminaṃ mahābuddhiḥ svavaṃśe munisattamaḥ

Cyavana of the line of Bhrigu, great in understanding and foremost among sages, had long before foreseen this flaw that was to come in his own family,

Verse 9 (13.87.9)

निश्चित्य मनसा सर्वं गुणदोषबलाबलम् । दग्धुकामः कुलं सर्वं कुशिकानां तपोधनः ॥

niścitya manasā sarvaṃ guṇadoṣabalābalam | dagdhukāmaḥ kulaṃ sarvaṃ kuśikānāṃ tapodhanaḥ

and having weighed in his mind all of it, the merits and the faults, the strengths and the weaknesses, that ascetic wished to burn up the entire family of the Kushikas.

Verse 10 (13.87.10)

च्यवनस्तमनुप्राप्य कुशिकं वाक्यमब्रवीत् । वस्तुमिच्छा समुत्पन्ना त्वया सह ममानघ ॥

cyavanastamanuprāpya kuśikaṃ vākyamabravīt | vastumicchā samutpannā tvayā saha mamānagha

Cyavana approached Kushika and said to him: “Sinless one, a wish has arisen in me to live with you.”

Verse 11 (13.87.11)

भगवन्सहधर्मोऽयं पण्डितैरिह चर्यते । प्रदानकाले कन्यानामुच्यते च सदा बुधैः ॥

bhagavansahadharmo'yaṃ paṇḍitairiha caryate | pradānakāle kanyānāmucyate ca sadā budhaiḥ

“Venerable sir, this is the ‘duty practised together’ that the learned follow in this world, and the wise always speak of it at the time when daughters are given in marriage.

Verse 12 (13.87.12)

यत्तु तावदतिक्रान्तं धर्मद्वारं तपोधन । तत्कार्यं प्रकरिष्यामि तदनुज्ञातुमर्हसि ॥

yattu tāvadatikrāntaṃ dharmadvāraṃ tapodhana | tatkāryaṃ prakariṣyāmi tadanujñātumarhasi

But as for the door of dharma that has already been passed by, O ascetic, I shall do what is to be done about it; please grant me leave.”

Verse 13 (13.87.13)

अथासनमुपादाय च्यवनस्य महामुनेः । कुशिको भार्यया सार्धमाजगाम यतो मुनिः ॥

athāsanamupādāya cyavanasya mahāmuneḥ | kuśiko bhāryayā sārdhamājagāma yato muniḥ

Then Kushika took a seat for the great sage Cyavana and went with his wife to where the sage was.

Verse 14 (13.87.14)

प्रगृह्य राजा भृङ्गारं पाद्यमस्मै न्यवेदयत् । कारयामास सर्वाश्च क्रियास्तस्य महात्मनः ॥

pragṛhya rājā bhṛṅgāraṃ pādyamasmai nyavedayat | kārayāmāsa sarvāśca kriyāstasya mahātmanaḥ

The king took up a ewer, offered him water for his feet, and had all the rites performed for that great-souled man.

Verse 15 (13.87.15)

ततः स राजा च्यवनं मधुपर्कं यथाविधि । ग्राहयामास चाव्यग्रो महात्मा नियतव्रतः ॥

tataḥ sa rājā cyavanaṃ madhuparkaṃ yathāvidhi | grāhayāmāsa cāvyagro mahātmā niyatavrataḥ

Then that king, great-souled and firm in his vows, calmly had Cyavana receive the honey-offering according to rule.

Verse 16 (13.87.16)

सत्कृत्य तं तथा विप्रमिदं पुनरथाब्रवीत् । भगवन्परवन्तौ स्वो ब्रूहि किं करवावहे ॥

satkṛtya taṃ tathā vipramidaṃ punarathābravīt | bhagavanparavantau svo brūhi kiṃ karavāvahe

Having honoured that Brahmin in this way, he spoke again: “Venerable sir, we are at your command. Tell us, what are we to do?

Verse 17 (13.87.17)

यदि राज्यं यदि धनं यदि गाः संशितव्रत । यज्ञदानानि च तथा ब्रूहि सर्वं ददामि ते ॥

yadi rājyaṃ yadi dhanaṃ yadi gāḥ saṃśitavrata | yajñadānāni ca tathā brūhi sarvaṃ dadāmi te

“If it is a kingdom, if wealth, if cattle, O sage of strict vows, or sacrifices and gifts, tell me, and I shall give you all of it.

Verse 18 (13.87.18)

इदं गृहमिदं राज्यमिदं धर्मासनं च ते । राजा त्वमसि शाध्युर्वीं भृत्योऽहं परवान्स्त्रिया ॥

idaṃ gṛhamidaṃ rājyamidaṃ dharmāsanaṃ ca te | rājā tvamasi śādhyurvīṃ bhṛtyo'haṃ paravānstriyā

“This house, this kingdom, and this seat of judgment are yours. You are the king; rule the earth. I am your servant, dependent on you, together with my wife.”

Note on the text: Recension variant kept: Wikisource reads 'परवान्स्त्रिया' where the CE has 'paravāṃs tvayi' (dependent on you).

Verse 19 (13.87.19)

एवमुक्ते ततो वाक्ये च्यवनो भार्गवस्तदा । कुशिकं प्रत्युवाचेदं मुदा परमया युतः ॥

evamukte tato vākye cyavano bhārgavastadā | kuśikaṃ pratyuvācedaṃ mudā paramayā yutaḥ

When he had spoken so, Cyavana the Bhargava, filled with great joy, answered Kushika:

Verse 20 (13.87.20)

न राज्यं कामये राजन्न धनं न च योषितः । न च गा न च वै देशान्न यज्ञं श्रूयतामिदम् ॥

na rājyaṃ kāmaye rājanna dhanaṃ na ca yoṣitaḥ | na ca gā na ca vai deśānna yajñaṃ śrūyatāmidam

“I do not want a kingdom, O king, nor wealth, nor women, nor cattle, nor lands, nor sacrifices. Listen to this:

Verse 21 (13.87.21)

नियमं किञ्चिदारप्स्ये युवयोर्यदि रोचते । परिचर्योस्मि यत्ताभ्यां युवाभ्यामविशङ्कया ॥

niyamaṃ kiñcidārapsye yuvayoryadi rocate | paricaryosmi yattābhyāṃ yuvābhyāmaviśaṅkayā

I shall begin a certain observance, if it pleases you both: that you two serve me without any hesitation.”

Verse 22 (13.87.22)

एवमुक्ते तदा तेन दम्पती तौ जहर्षतुः । प्रत्यब्रूतां च तमृषिमेवमस्त्विति भारत ॥

evamukte tadā tena dampatī tau jaharṣatuḥ | pratyabrūtāṃ ca tamṛṣimevamastviti bhārata

At these words the husband and wife were delighted, and they answered the sage, “So be it,” O Bharata.

Verse 23 (13.87.23)

अथ तं कुशिको हृष्टः प्रावेशयदनुत्तमम् । गृहोद्देशं ततस्तस्य दर्शनीयमदर्शयत् ॥

atha taṃ kuśiko hṛṣṭaḥ prāveśayadanuttamam | gṛhoddeśaṃ tatastasya darśanīyamadarśayat

Then Kushika, glad at heart, led him in and showed him a handsome part of the house.

Verse 24 (13.87.24)

इयं शय्या भगवतो यथाकाममिहोष्यताम् । प्रयतिष्यावहे प्रीतिमाहर्तुं ते तपोधन ॥

iyaṃ śayyā bhagavato yathākāmamihoṣyatām | prayatiṣyāvahe prītimāhartuṃ te tapodhana

“This is your bed, venerable sir; stay here as you please. We shall strive to bring you contentment, O ascetic.”

Verse 25 (13.87.25)

अथ सूर्योऽतिचक्राम तेषां संवदतां तथा । अथर्षिश्चोदयामास पानमन्नं तथैव च ॥

atha sūryo'ticakrāma teṣāṃ saṃvadatāṃ tathā | atharṣiścodayāmāsa pānamannaṃ tathaiva ca

While they were speaking, the sun passed on; and then the sage called for drink and food.

Note on the text: Corrected सूर्योतिचक्राम → सूर्योऽतिचक्राम (misprint in Wikisource; avagraha dropped; CE reads 'sūryo ’ticakrāma').

Verse 26 (13.87.26)

तमपृच्छत्ततो राजा कुशिकः प्रणतस्तदा । किमन्नजातमिष्टं ते किमुपस्थापयाम्यहम् ॥

tamapṛcchattato rājā kuśikaḥ praṇatastadā | kimannajātamiṣṭaṃ te kimupasthāpayāmyaham

Then King Kushika bowed to him and asked, “What kind of food do you wish for? What shall I set before you?”

Verse 27 (13.87.27)

ततः स परया प्रीत्या प्रत्युवाच नराधिपम् । औपपत्तिकमाहारं प्रयच्छस्वेति भारत ॥

tataḥ sa parayā prītyā pratyuvāca narādhipam | aupapattikamāhāraṃ prayacchasveti bhārata

Then, with great pleasure, he replied to the king, “Give me whatever food is at hand, O Bharata.”

Verse 28 (13.87.28)

तद्वचः पूजयित्वा तु तथेत्याह स पार्थिवः । यथोपपन्नमाहारं तस्मै प्रादाज्जनाधिप ॥

tadvacaḥ pūjayitvā tu tathetyāha sa pārthivaḥ | yathopapannamāhāraṃ tasmai prādājjanādhipa

Honouring his words, the king said, “So be it,” and gave him the food that was ready, O lord of men.

Verse 29 (13.87.29)

ततः स भुक्त्वा भगवान्दम्पती प्राह धर्मवित् । स्वप्तुमिच्छाम्यहं निद्रा बाधते मामिति प्रभो ॥

tataḥ sa bhuktvā bhagavāndampatī prāha dharmavit | svaptumicchāmyahaṃ nidrā bādhate māmiti prabho

Then, having eaten, the venerable one, who knew dharma, said to the couple, “I wish to sleep; sleep is weighing on me, master.”

Note on the text: Corrected भगवन्दम्पती → भगवान्दम्पती (misprint in Wikisource; the nominative 'bhagavān' is needed, as the verse is narration; CE reads 'bhagavān').

Verse 30 (13.87.30)

ततः शय्यागृहं प्राप्य भगवानृषिसत्तमः । संविवेश नरेशस्तु सपत्नीकः स्थितोऽभवत् ॥

tataḥ śayyāgṛhaṃ prāpya bhagavānṛṣisattamaḥ | saṃviveśa nareśastu sapatnīkaḥ sthito'bhavat

Then the venerable best of sages went to the bedchamber and lay down, while the king and his wife remained standing.

Verse 31 (13.87.31)

न प्रबोध्योस्मि संसुप्त इत्युवाचाथ भार्गवः । संवाहितव्यौ मे पादौ जागर्तव्यं च वां निशि ॥

na prabodhyosmi saṃsupta ityuvācātha bhārgavaḥ | saṃvāhitavyau me pādau jāgartavyaṃ ca vāṃ niśi

The Bhargava said, “I am not to be woken once I am asleep. My feet are to be massaged, and you two must keep awake through the night.”

Note on the text: Matches CE 13,052.032 (aviśaṅkaś ca kuśikas tathety āha sa dharmavit / na prabodhayatāṃ taṃ ca tau tadā rajanīkṣaye); the automatic alignment missed it. Recension variant of wording kept.

Verse 32 (13.87.32)

अविशङ्कस्तु कुशिकस्तथेत्येवाह धर्मवित् । न प्राबोधयतां तौ च दंपती रजनीक्षये ॥

aviśaṅkastu kuśikastathetyevāha dharmavit | na prābodhayatāṃ tau ca daṃpatī rajanīkṣaye

Kushika, who knew dharma, without misgiving said, “So be it”; and as the night passed, the couple did not wake him.

Verse 33 (13.87.33)

यथादेशं महर्षेस्तु शुश्रूषापरमौ तदा । बभूवतुर्महाराज प्रयतावथ दम्पती ॥

yathādeśaṃ maharṣestu śuśrūṣāparamau tadā | babhūvaturmahārāja prayatāvatha dampatī

As the great sage had directed, O great king, the couple, self-restrained, gave themselves wholly to serving him.

Verse 34 (13.87.34)

ततः स भगवान्विप्रः समादिश्य नराधिपम् । सुष्वापैकेन पार्श्वेन दिवसानेकविंशतिम् ॥

tataḥ sa bhagavānvipraḥ samādiśya narādhipam | suṣvāpaikena pārśvena divasānekaviṃśatim

Then that venerable Brahmin, having given the king his orders, slept on one side for twenty-one days.

Note on the text: CE has after this verse a star passage (13,052.034d*0323_01, 'dvāviṃśena samutthāya niścakrāma tapodhanaḥ') that Wikisource lacks; not added.

Verse 35 (13.87.35)

स तु राजा निराहारः सभार्यः कुरुनन्दन । पर्युपासत तं हृष्टश्च्यवनाराधने रतः ॥

sa tu rājā nirāhāraḥ sabhāryaḥ kurunandana | paryupāsata taṃ hṛṣṭaścyavanārādhane rataḥ

And the king, without food, together with his wife, O joy of the Kurus, sat in attendance on him, glad and intent on pleasing Cyavana.

Verse 36 (13.87.36)

भार्गवस्तु समुत्तस्थौ स्वयमेव तपोधनः । अकिञ्चिदुक्त्वा तु गृहान्निश्चक्राम महातपाः ॥

bhārgavastu samuttasthau svayameva tapodhanaḥ | akiñciduktvā tu gṛhānniścakrāma mahātapāḥ

Then the Bhargava, that ascetic, rose of his own accord, and without a word the great ascetic went out of the house.

Verse 37 (13.87.37)

तमन्वगच्छतां तौ च क्षुधितौ श्रमकर्शितौ । भार्यापती मुनिश्रेष्ठस्तावेतौ नावलोकयत् ॥

tamanvagacchatāṃ tau ca kṣudhitau śramakarśitau | bhāryāpatī muniśreṣṭhastāvetau nāvalokayat

The pair, hungry and worn out with toil, followed him; but the foremost of sages did not so much as look at them.

Note on the text: Matches CE 13,052.037 (tam anvagacchatāṃ tau tu kṣudhitau śramakarśitau / bhāryāpatī muniśreṣṭho na ca tāv avalokayat); the automatic alignment missed it. The page's footnote records the variant 'मुनिश्रेष्ठो नच तावभ्यवारयत्'.

Verse 38 (13.87.38)

तयोस्तु प्रेक्षतोरेव भार्गवाणां कुलोद्वहः । अन्तर्हितोऽभूद्राजेन्द्र ततो राजाऽपतत्क्षितौ ॥

tayostu prekṣatoreva bhārgavāṇāṃ kulodvahaḥ | antarhito'bhūdrājendra tato rājā'patatkṣitau

As they watched, that upholder of the Bhargava family vanished, O king of kings, and then the king fell to the ground.

Note on the text: Corrected प्रेक्षतोऽरेव → प्रेक्षतोरेव (misprint in Wikisource; spurious avagraha; CE reads 'prekṣator eva') and अन्तर्हितोभूद् → अन्तर्हितोऽभूद् (avagraha dropped; CE reads 'antarhito ’bhūd').

Verse 39 (13.87.39)

ततो मुहूर्तादाश्वस्य सह देव्या महामुनेः । पुनरन्वेषणे यत्नमकरोत्स महीपतिः ॥

tato muhūrtādāśvasya saha devyā mahāmuneḥ | punaranveṣaṇe yatnamakarotsa mahīpatiḥ

Then, after a moment, the king recovered himself and, together with his queen, made an effort once more to search for the great sage.

Note on the text: Matches CE 13,052.039 (sa muhūrtaṃ samāśvasya saha devyā mahādyutiḥ / punar anveṣaṇe yatnam akarot paramaṃ tadā); recension variant of wording kept.