Agastya Digests Vatapi; the Birth of Dridhasyu

Verse 1 (3.97.1)

इल्वलस्तान्विदित्वा तु महर्षिसहितान्नृपान् । उपस्थितान्सहामात्यो विषयान्ते ह्यपूजयत् ॥

ilvalastānviditvā tu maharṣisahitānnṛpān | upasthitānsahāmātyo viṣayānte hyapūjayat

Learning that the kings had come with the great seer, Ilvala went with his ministers to the border of his realm and honoured them.

Verse 2 (3.97.2)

तेषां ततोऽसुरश्रेष्ठस्त्वातिथ्यमकरोत्तदा । सुसंस्कृतेन कौरव्य भ्रात्रा वातापिना तदा ॥

teṣāṃ tato'suraśreṣṭhastvātithyamakarottadā | susaṃskṛtena kauravya bhrātrā vātāpinā tadā

Then that chief of the asuras offered them hospitality, O Kauravya, with his brother Vatapi, well cooked.

Verse 3 (3.97.3)

ततो राजर्षयः सर्वे विषण्णा गतचेतसः । वातापिं संस्कृतं दृष्ट्वा मेषभूतं महासुरम् ॥

tato rājarṣayaḥ sarve viṣaṇṇā gatacetasaḥ | vātāpiṃ saṃskṛtaṃ dṛṣṭvā meṣabhūtaṃ mahāsuram

At that all the royal seers were dismayed and lost heart, seeing the great asura Vatapi, turned into a ram, cooked as food.

Verse 4 (3.97.4)

अथाब्रवीदगस्त्यस्तान्राजर्षीनृषिसत्तमः । विषादो वो न कर्तव्यो ह्यहं भोक्ष्ये महासुरम् ॥

athābravīdagastyastānrājarṣīnṛṣisattamaḥ | viṣādo vo na kartavyo hyahaṃ bhokṣye mahāsuram

Then Agastya, best of seers, said to the royal seers: "Do not despair. I shall eat the great asura."

Verse 5 (3.97.5)

धुर्यासनमथासाद्य निषसाद महानृषिः । तं पर्यवेषद्दैत्येन्द्र इल्वलः प्रहसन्निव ॥

dhuryāsanamathāsādya niṣasāda mahānṛṣiḥ | taṃ paryaveṣaddaityendra ilvalaḥ prahasanniva

Then the great seer took the chief seat and sat down, and Ilvala, lord of the Daityas, served him, smiling as it were.

Verse 6 (3.97.6)

अगस्त्य एव कृत्स्नं तु वातापिं बुभुजे ततः । बह्वन्नाशापि ते मेऽस्तीत्यवदद्भक्षयन्स्वयम् ॥

agastya eva kṛtsnaṃ tu vātāpiṃ bubhuje tataḥ | bahvannāśāpi te me'stītyavadadbhakṣayansvayam

Agastya alone then ate the whole of Vatapi, and as he ate he said, "I have an appetite for much food, even yours."

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki marks (` and ') around the second line. The first line is 3.97.6a; the second is not in the critical edition's text (vulgate recension; its apparatus records it as 3.97.6b*0488).

Verse 7 (3.97.7)

भुक्तवत्यसुरोऽह्वानमकरोत्तस्य चेल्वलः । वातापे प्रतिबुध्यस्व दर्शयन्बलतेजसी । तपसा दुर्जयो यावदेष त्वां नातिवर्तते ॥

bhuktavatyasuro'hvānamakarottasya celvalaḥ | vātāpe pratibudhyasva darśayanbalatejasī | tapasā durjayo yāvadeṣa tvāṃ nātivartate

When he had eaten, the asura Ilvala called out to his brother: "Vatapi, wake up and show your strength and fire, before this sage, unconquerable through his austerity, overcomes you!"

Note on the text: Removed a stray wiki mark (`) that opens a passage running to the next three verses. The first line is the critical edition's 3.97.6c; the other two lines are not in its text (vulgate recension; its apparatus records them as 3.97.6b*0489, lines 1–2).

Verse 8 (3.97.8)

ततस्तस्योदरं भेत्तुं वातापिर्वेगमाहरत् । तमबुध्यत तेजस्वी कुम्भयोनिर्महातपाः ॥

tatastasyodaraṃ bhettuṃ vātāpirvegamāharat | tamabudhyata tejasvī kumbhayonirmahātapāḥ

Then Vatapi gathered his force to burst open the seer's belly, but the radiant pot-born sage, great in austerity, perceived it.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); recorded in its apparatus as 3.97.6b*0489, lines 3–4.

Verse 9 (3.97.9)

स वीर्यात्तपसोग्रस्तु ननर्द भगवानृषिः । एष जीर्णोसि वातापे मया लोकस्य शान्तये ॥

sa vīryāttapasograstu nanarda bhagavānṛṣiḥ | eṣa jīrṇosi vātāpe mayā lokasya śāntaye

The holy seer, fierce in the strength of his austerity, roared: "You are digested, Vatapi, by me, for the peace of the world!"

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); recorded in its apparatus as 3.97.6b*0489, lines 5–6.

Verse 10 (3.97.10)

इत्युक्त्वा स्वकराग्रेण उदरं समताडयत् । त्रिरेवं प्रतिसंरब्धस्तेजसा प्रज्वलन्निव ॥

ityuktvā svakarāgreṇa udaraṃ samatāḍayat | trirevaṃ pratisaṃrabdhastejasā prajvalanniva

So saying, he struck his belly three times with the tips of his fingers, enraged, as though blazing with his fiery power.

Note on the text: Removed a stray wiki mark (') closing the passage. Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); recorded in its apparatus as 3.97.6b*0489, lines 7–8.

Verse 11 (3.97.11)

ततो वायुः प्रादुरभूदधस्तस्य महात्मनः । शब्देन महता तात गर्जन्निव यथा घनः ॥

tato vāyuḥ prādurabhūdadhastasya mahātmanaḥ | śabdena mahatā tāta garjanniva yathā ghanaḥ

Then wind broke out from below the great-souled sage, with a mighty noise, my son, like a thundering cloud.

Note on the text: The first line answers to 3.97.7a (the critical edition reads agastyasya, "of Agastya", where Wikisource has अधस्तस्य, "below him"); the second line is not in its text (vulgate recension; apparatus 3.97.7b*0490, line 1).

Verse 12 (3.97.12)

वातापे निष्क्रमस्वेति पुनः पुनरुवाच ह । तं प्रहस्याब्रवीद्राजन्नगस्त्यो मुनिसत्तमः । कुतो निष्क्रमितुं शक्तो मया जीर्णस्तु सोसुरः ॥

vātāpe niṣkramasveti punaḥ punaruvāca ha | taṃ prahasyābravīdrājannagastyo munisattamaḥ | kuto niṣkramituṃ śakto mayā jīrṇastu sosuraḥ

"Vatapi, come out!" Ilvala cried again and again. Laughing at him, O king, Agastya, best of sages, said: "How can he come out? That asura has been digested by me."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); recorded in its apparatus as 3.97.7b*0490, lines 2–4.

Verse 13 (3.97.13)

इल्वलस्तु विषण्णोऽभूद्दृष्ट्वा जीर्णं महासुरम् । प्राञ्जलिश्च सहामात्यैरिदं वचनमब्रवीत् । किमर्थमुपयाताः स्थ ब्रूत किं करवाणि वः ॥

ilvalastu viṣaṇṇo'bhūddṛṣṭvā jīrṇaṃ mahāsuram | prāñjaliśca sahāmātyairidaṃ vacanamabravīt | kimarthamupayātāḥ stha brūta kiṃ karavāṇi vaḥ

Ilvala was downcast when he saw the great asura digested. Joining his palms, with his ministers, he spoke these words: "For what purpose have you come? Tell me, what may I do for you?"

Note on the text: The first line is the critical edition's 3.97.7c; the other two are 3.97.8.

Verse 14 (3.97.14)

प्रत्युवाच ततोऽगस्त्यः प्रहसन्निल्वलं तदा । ईशोस्यसुर विद्मस्त्वां वयं सर्वे धनेश्वरम् ॥

pratyuvāca tato'gastyaḥ prahasannilvalaṃ tadā | īśosyasura vidmastvāṃ vayaṃ sarve dhaneśvaram

Then Agastya, laughing, answered Ilvala: "You are a lord, asura; we all know you to be a master of wealth.

Verse 15 (3.97.15)

एते च नातिधनिनो धनाशा महती मम । यथाशक्त्यविहिंस्यान्यान्संविभागं प्रयच्छ नः ॥

ete ca nātidhanino dhanāśā mahatī mama | yathāśaktyavihiṃsyānyānsaṃvibhāgaṃ prayaccha naḥ

These kings are not very rich, and my need of wealth is great. Give us a share, as far as you can without harming others."

Note on the text: Speaker changed from लोमश to अगस्त्य: the whole verse continues Agastya's reply begun in the previous verse.

Verse 16 (3.97.16)

ततोऽवमत्य तमृषिमिल्वलो वाक्यमब्रवीत् । दित्सितं यदि वेत्सि त्वंततो दास्यामि ते वसु ॥

tato'vamatya tamṛṣimilvalo vākyamabravīt | ditsitaṃ yadi vetsi tvaṃtato dāsyāmi te vasu

Then, scorning the seer, Ilvala said: "If you know what I mean to give, then I shall give you the wealth."

Verse 17 (3.97.17)

गवां दशसहस्राणि राज्ञामेकैकशोऽसुर । तावदेव सुवर्णस्य दित्सितं ते महासुर ॥

gavāṃ daśasahasrāṇi rājñāmekaikaśo'sura | tāvadeva suvarṇasya ditsitaṃ te mahāsura

"Ten thousand cows to each of the kings, O asura, and as much gold: that is what you mean to give, great asura.

Verse 18 (3.97.18)

मह्यं ततो वै द्विगुणं रथश्चैव हिरण्मयः । मनोजवौ वाजिनौ च दित्सितं ते महासुर ॥

mahyaṃ tato vai dviguṇaṃ rathaścaiva hiraṇmayaḥ | manojavau vājinau ca ditsitaṃ te mahāsura

And to me twice as much, and a chariot of gold, and two horses swift as thought: that is what you mean to give, great asura."

Verse 19 (3.97.19)

इल्वलस्तु मुनिं प्राह सर्वमस्ति यथाऽऽत्थ माम् । सर्वमेतत्प्रदास्यामि हिरण्यं गाश्च यद्धनम् । रथं तु यदवोचो मां नैतं विद्म हिरण्मयम् ॥

ilvalastu muniṃ prāha sarvamasti yathā''ttha mām | sarvametatpradāsyāmi hiraṇyaṃ gāśca yaddhanam | rathaṃ tu yadavoco māṃ naitaṃ vidma hiraṇmayam

Ilvala said to the sage: "All is as you tell me. I shall give all of it, gold and cows and wealth. But the chariot you spoke of, that we do not know to be golden."

Note on the text: Dropped the speaker heading (`लोमश उवाच) that had slipped into the Sanskrit as a first line; speaker settled as लोमश (the input had carried अगस्त्य over). Corrected उल्वलस्तु → इल्वलस्तु (misprint in Wikisource; the name is Ilvala, as in the critical edition's apparatus). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); its apparatus records these lines as 3.97.13d*0491 and *0492.

Verse 20 (3.97.20)

न मे वागनृता काचिदुक्तपूर्वा महाऽसुर । विज्ञायतां रथः साधु व्यक्तमस्ति हिरण्मयः ॥

na me vāganṛtā kāciduktapūrvā mahā'sura | vijñāyatāṃ rathaḥ sādhu vyaktamasti hiraṇmayaḥ

"Never before have I spoken a false word, great asura. Let the chariot be examined well; it is plainly golden."

Note on the text: Speaker heading misprinted आगस्त्य on Wikisource; settled as अगस्त्य. The first line is not in the critical edition's text (vulgate recension; apparatus 3.97.13d*0491, line 3); the second answers to 3.97.13e (jijñāsyatāṃ rathaḥ sadyo vyaktam eṣa hiraṇmayaḥ).

Verse 21 (3.97.21)

विज्ञायमानः स रथः कौन्तेयासीद्धिरण्मयः । ततः प्रव्यथितो दैत्यो ददावभ्यधिकं वसु ॥

vijñāyamānaḥ sa rathaḥ kaunteyāsīddhiraṇmayaḥ | tataḥ pravyathito daityo dadāvabhyadhikaṃ vasu

When it was examined, son of Kunti, the chariot proved to be of gold. Then the Daitya, deeply shaken, gave wealth beyond what was asked.

Note on the text: Removed a stray wiki mark (') closing the bracketed passage.

Verse 22 (3.97.22)

विवाजी च सुवाजी च तस्मिन्युक्तौ रथे हयौ । ऊहतुः स वसूनाशु तावगस्त्याश्रमं प्रति । सर्वान्राज्ञः सहागस्त्यान्निमेषादिव भारत ॥

vivājī ca suvājī ca tasminyuktau rathe hayau | ūhatuḥ sa vasūnāśu tāvagastyāśramaṃ prati | sarvānrājñaḥ sahāgastyānnimeṣādiva bhārata

Vivaji and Suvaji, the two horses yoked to that chariot, swiftly bore that wealth to Agastya's hermitage, and all the kings with Agastya too, as if in the blink of an eye, O Bharata.

Verse 23 (3.97.23)

इल्वलस्त्वनुगम्यैनमगस्त्यं हन्तुमैच्छत । भस्म चक्रे महातेजा हुङ्कारेण महाऽसुरम् ॥

ilvalastvanugamyainamagastyaṃ hantumaicchata | bhasma cakre mahātejā huṅkāreṇa mahā'suram

Ilvala followed Agastya, wishing to kill him; but the sage of great splendour burned the great asura to ashes with the sound "hum".

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki marks (` and '). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); recorded in its apparatus as 3.97.15f*0493.

Verse 24 (3.97.24)

अगस्त्येनाभ्यनुज्ञाता जग्मू राजर्षयस्तदा । कृतवांश्च मुनिः सर्वं लोपामुद्राचिकीर्षितम् ॥

agastyenābhyanujñātā jagmū rājarṣayastadā | kṛtavāṃśca muniḥ sarvaṃ lopāmudrācikīrṣitam

Given leave by Agastya, the royal seers then departed, and the sage did all that Lopamudra had wished for.

Note on the text: Corrected कृतवांश् → कृतवांश्च (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped akshara; the critical edition reads kṛtavāṃś ca).

Verse 25 (3.97.25)

कृतवानसि तत्सर्वं भगवन्मम काङ्क्षितम् । उत्पादय सकृन्मह्यमपत्यं वीर्यवत्तरम् ॥

kṛtavānasi tatsarvaṃ bhagavanmama kāṅkṣitam | utpādaya sakṛnmahyamapatyaṃ vīryavattaram

"Holy one, you have done all that I longed for. Now beget on me a child, once, of surpassing strength."

Verse 26 (3.97.26)

तुष्टोऽहमस्मि कल्याणि तव वृत्तेन शोभने । विचारणामपत्ये तु तव वक्ष्यामि तां शृणु ॥

tuṣṭo'hamasmi kalyāṇi tava vṛttena śobhane | vicāraṇāmapatye tu tava vakṣyāmi tāṃ śṛṇu

"I am pleased with your conduct, lovely and gracious one. Listen: I shall put before you a choice concerning the child.

Verse 27 (3.97.27)

सहस्रं तेऽस्तु पुत्राणां शतं वा तत्समं तव । दश वा शततुल्याः स्युरेको वाऽपि सहस्रजित् ॥

sahasraṃ te'stu putrāṇāṃ śataṃ vā tatsamaṃ tava | daśa vā śatatulyāḥ syureko vā'pi sahasrajit

Shall you have a thousand sons, or a hundred equal to them, or ten each equal to a hundred, or a single son who can overcome a thousand?"

Note on the text: Corrected पुत्राणआं → पुत्राणां (misprint in Wikisource; a stray vowel sign).

Verse 28 (3.97.28)

सहस्रसंमितः पुत्र एकोप्यस्तु तपोधन । एको हि बहुभिः श्रेयान्विद्वान्साधुरसाधुभिः ॥

sahasrasaṃmitaḥ putra ekopyastu tapodhana | eko hi bahubhiḥ śreyānvidvānsādhurasādhubhiḥ

"Let me have a single son equal to a thousand, O ascetic; for one learned and good son is better than many who are bad."

Verse 29 (3.97.29)

स तथेति प्रतिज्ञाय तया समगमन्मुनिः । समये समशीलिन्या श्रद्धावान्श्रद्दधानया ॥

sa tatheti pratijñāya tayā samagamanmuniḥ | samaye samaśīlinyā śraddhāvānśraddadhānayā

Agreeing, the sage, full of faith, came together with her, his faithful wife and his equal in character, at the proper time.

Note on the text: Speaker changed from लोपामुद्रा to लोमश: Wikisource prints no heading after Lopamudra's reply (3.97.28), but from here the narration is Lomasha's again (the critical edition prints लोमश उवाच at 3.97.21).

Verse 30 (3.97.30)

तत आधाय गर्भं तमगमद्वनमेव सः । तस्मिन्वनगते गर्भो ववृधे सप्त शारदान् ॥

tata ādhāya garbhaṃ tamagamadvanameva saḥ | tasminvanagate garbho vavṛdhe sapta śāradān

Having placed the embryo in her, he went away to the forest, and while he was in the forest the child in the womb grew for seven years.

Note on the text: Speaker changed from लोपामुद्रा to लोमश (see verse 29).

Verse 31 (3.97.31)

सप्तमेऽब्दे गते चापि प्राच्यवत्स महाकविः । ज्वलन्निव प्रभावेन दृढस्युर्नाम भारत ॥

saptame'bde gate cāpi prācyavatsa mahākaviḥ | jvalanniva prabhāvena dṛḍhasyurnāma bhārata

When the seventh year had passed, the great poet came forth, blazing as it were with his splendour, Dridhasyu by name, O Bharata,

Note on the text: Speaker changed from लोपामुद्रा to लोमश (see verse 29). The critical edition groups the following lines differently: this verse is 3.97.23a–c.

Verse 32 (3.97.32)

साङ्गोपनिषदान्वेदाञ्जपन्नेव महातपाः । तस्य पुत्रोऽभवदृषेः स तेजस्वी महानृषिः ॥

sāṅgopaniṣadānvedāñjapanneva mahātapāḥ | tasya putro'bhavadṛṣeḥ sa tejasvī mahānṛṣiḥ

reciting the Vedas with their limbs and the Upanishads, that great ascetic. He was born the son of the seer, radiant, himself a great seer.

Note on the text: Speaker changed from लोपामुद्रा to लोमश (see verse 29). These lines are the critical edition's 3.97.23e and 3.97.24a (it reads mahāyaśāḥ for महातपाः).

Verse 33 (3.97.33)

स बाल एवतेजस्वी पितुस्तस्य निवेशने । इध्मानां भारमाजह्रे इध्मवाहस्ततोऽभवत् ॥

sa bāla evatejasvī pitustasya niveśane | idhmānāṃ bhāramājahre idhmavāhastato'bhavat

While still a child, that radiant boy carried loads of firewood to his father's dwelling, and so he came to be called Idhmavaha, "bearer of firewood".

Note on the text: Speaker changed from लोपामुद्रा to लोमश (see verse 29). These lines are the critical edition's 3.97.24c–e.

Verse 34 (3.97.34)

तथायुक्तं तु तं दृष्ट्वा मुमुदे स मुनिस्तदा । एवं स जनयामास भारतापत्यमुत्तमम् । लेभिरे पितरश्चास्य लोकान्राजन्यथेप्सितान् ॥

tathāyuktaṃ tu taṃ dṛṣṭvā mumude sa munistadā | evaṃ sa janayāmāsa bhāratāpatyamuttamam | lebhire pitaraścāsya lokānrājanyathepsitān

Seeing him so devoted, the sage rejoiced. Thus he begot an excellent child, O Bharata, and his ancestors won the worlds they longed for, O king.

Note on the text: Speaker changed from लोपामुद्रा to लोमश (see verse 29). The middle line is not in the critical edition's text (vulgate recension; apparatus 3.97.25b*0495).

Verse 35 (3.97.35)

अगस्त्यस्याश्रमश्चायमत ऊर्ध्वं विशांपते । ख्यातो भुवि महाराज तेजसा तस्य धीमतः ॥

agastyasyāśramaścāyamata ūrdhvaṃ viśāṃpate | khyāto bhuvi mahārāja tejasā tasya dhīmataḥ

From that time on, lord of the people, this hermitage of Agastya has been famed on earth, great king, through the splendour of that wise sage.

Note on the text: Speaker changed from लोपामुद्रा to लोमश (see verse 29): Lomasha now speaks to Yudhishthira of the place itself. The first line is a variant of 3.97.26a (the critical edition reads agastyasyāśramaḥ khyātaḥ sarvartukusumānvitaḥ); the second is in its apparatus as 3.97.26b*0496.

Verse 36 (3.97.36)

प्राह्लादिरेवं वातापिर्ब्रह्मघ्नो दुष्टचेतनः । एवं विनाशितो राजन्नगस्त्येन महात्मना । तस्यायमाश्रमो राजन्रमणीयैर्गुणैर्युतः ॥

prāhlādirevaṃ vātāpirbrahmaghno duṣṭacetanaḥ | evaṃ vināśito rājannagastyena mahātmanā | tasyāyamāśramo rājanramaṇīyairguṇairyutaḥ

Thus, O king, was Vatapi of Prahlada's line, the brahmin-slayer of wicked mind, destroyed by the great-souled Agastya. This is his hermitage, O king, graced with delightful qualities.

Note on the text: Speaker changed from लोपामुद्रा to लोमश (see verse 29). The first two lines answer to 3.97.26c, expanded as in the apparatus (*0497); the third is 3.97.27a.

Verse 37 (3.97.37)

एषा भागीरथी पुण्या देवगन्धर्वसेविता । वातेरिता पताकेव विराजति नभस्तले ॥

eṣā bhāgīrathī puṇyā devagandharvasevitā | vāteritā patākeva virājati nabhastale

Here is the holy Bhagirathi, frequented by gods and gandharvas, shining in the sky like a banner stirred by the wind.

Note on the text: Speaker changed from लोपामुद्रा to लोमश (see verse 29). The first half-line answers to 3.97.27c (eṣā bhāgīrathī puṇyā); the rest is in the critical edition's Appendix I, No. 14, line 1.

Verse 38 (3.97.38)

प्रतार्यमाणा कूटेषु यथा निम्नेषु नित्यशः । शिलातलेषु संत्रस्ता पन्नगेन्द्रवधूरिव ॥

pratāryamāṇā kūṭeṣu yathā nimneṣu nityaśaḥ | śilātaleṣu saṃtrastā pannagendravadhūriva

Driven over the crags and ever down into the hollows, she seems, across the slabs of rock, like the startled wife of a serpent king.

Note on the text: Speaker changed from लोपामुद्रा to लोमश (see verse 29). Not in the critical edition's text (vulgate recension); it appears in its Appendix I, No. 14, lines 2–3.

Verse 39 (3.97.39)

दक्षिणां वै दिशं सर्वां प्लावयन्ती च मातृवत् । पूर्वं शंभोर्जटाभ्रष्टा समुद्रमहिषी प्रिया । अस्यां नद्यां सुपुण्यायां यथेष्टमवगाह्यताम् ॥

dakṣiṇāṃ vai diśaṃ sarvāṃ plāvayantī ca mātṛvat | pūrvaṃ śaṃbhorjaṭābhraṣṭā samudramahiṣī priyā | asyāṃ nadyāṃ supuṇyāyāṃ yatheṣṭamavagāhyatām

Flooding the whole southern quarter like a mother, she who of old fell from Shambhu's matted locks is the beloved queen of the ocean. Bathe as you wish in this most holy river.

Note on the text: Corrected मुपुण्यायां → सुपुण्यायां (misprint in Wikisource; the critical edition reads supuṇyāyāṃ). Speaker changed from लोपामुद्रा to लोमश (see verse 29). Not in the critical edition's text (vulgate recension); it appears in its Appendix I, No. 14, lines 4–6.