Dadhicha Gives His Bones for the Thunderbolt

Verse 1 (3.99.1)

भूय एवाहमिच्छामि महर्षेस्तस्य धीमतः । कर्मणां विस्तरं श्रोतुमगस्त्यस्य द्विजोत्तम ॥

bhūya evāhamicchāmi maharṣestasya dhīmataḥ | karmaṇāṃ vistaraṃ śrotumagastyasya dvijottama

Best of the twice-born, I wish to hear again, in full, the deeds of that wise great seer Agastya.

Note on the text: Corrected द्विजात्तम → द्विजोत्तम (misprint in Wikisource; ा for ो; the critical edition reads dvijottama).

Verse 2 (3.99.2)

शृणु राजन्कथां दिव्यामद्भुतामतिमानुषीम् । अगस्त्यस्य महाराज प्रभावममितौजसः ॥

śṛṇu rājankathāṃ divyāmadbhutāmatimānuṣīm | agastyasya mahārāja prabhāvamamitaujasaḥ

Hear, king, a divine and wondrous tale beyond the human, great king: the power of Agastya, whose might knows no measure.

Verse 3 (3.99.3)

आसन्कृतयुगे घोरा दानवा युद्धदुर्मदाः । कालकेया इतिख्याता गणाः परमदारुणाः ॥

āsankṛtayuge ghorā dānavā yuddhadurmadāḥ | kālakeyā itikhyātā gaṇāḥ paramadāruṇāḥ

In the Krita age there were fearsome Danavas, mad for battle, known as the Kalakeyas: hosts of the utmost cruelty.

Verse 4 (3.99.4)

ते तु वृत्रं समाश्रित्य नानाप्रहरणोद्यताः । समन्तात्पर्यधावन्त महेन्द्रप्रमुखान्सुरान् ॥

te tu vṛtraṃ samāśritya nānāpraharaṇodyatāḥ | samantātparyadhāvanta mahendrapramukhānsurān

Rallying round Vritra and raising weapons of every kind, they charged from all sides at the gods led by great Indra.

Verse 5 (3.99.5)

ततो वृत्रवधे यत्नमकुर्वंस्त्रिदशाः पुरा । पुरंदरं पुरस्कृत्य ब्रह्माणमुपतस्थिरे ॥

tato vṛtravadhe yatnamakurvaṃstridaśāḥ purā | puraṃdaraṃ puraskṛtya brahmāṇamupatasthire

Then, long ago, the thirty gods set about slaying Vritra; with Purandara at their head they went before Brahma.

Verse 6 (3.99.6)

कृताञ्जलींस्तु तान्सर्वान्परमेष्ठीत्युवाच ह । विदितं मे सुराः सर्वं यद्वः कार्यं चिकीर्षितम् ॥

kṛtāñjalīṃstu tānsarvānparameṣṭhītyuvāca ha | viditaṃ me surāḥ sarvaṃ yadvaḥ kāryaṃ cikīrṣitam

To all of them, standing with joined palms, the Supreme Lord said: "Gods, I know all that you mean to do.

Verse 7 (3.99.7)

तमुपायं प्रवक्ष्यामि यथा वृत्रं वधिष्यथ । दधीच इतिविख्यातो महानृषिरुदारधीः ॥

tamupāyaṃ pravakṣyāmi yathā vṛtraṃ vadhiṣyatha | dadhīca itivikhyāto mahānṛṣirudāradhīḥ

I will tell you the means by which you will slay Vritra. There is a great seer of noble mind, known as Dadhicha.

Note on the text: Given to Brahma: verses 7–11 are wholly his speech, begun in verse 6, with no printed heading.

Verse 8 (3.99.8)

तं गत्वा सहिताः सर्वेवरं वै संप्रयाचत । स वो दास्यति धर्मात्मा सुप्रीतेनान्तरात्मना ॥

taṃ gatvā sahitāḥ sarvevaraṃ vai saṃprayācata | sa vo dāsyati dharmātmā suprītenāntarātmanā

Go to him all together and ask him for a boon. That righteous one will grant it to you with a glad heart.

Verse 9 (3.99.9)

स वाच्यः सहितैः सर्वैर्भवद्भिर्जयकाङ्क्षिभिः । स्वान्यस्थीनि प्रयच्छेति त्रैलोक्यस्य हिताय वै ॥

sa vācyaḥ sahitaiḥ sarvairbhavadbhirjayakāṅkṣibhiḥ | svānyasthīni prayaccheti trailokyasya hitāya vai

All of you together, longing for victory, must say to him: "Give us your bones, for the good of the three worlds."

Note on the text: Corrected त्रैलोक्यस् → त्रैलोक्यस्य (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped akshara; the critical edition reads trailokyasya). The first two lines of CE 3.98.9; from here to verse 14 Wikisource divides the verses one half-verse out of step with the critical edition.

Verse 10 (3.99.10)

स शरीरं समुत्सृज्य स्वान्यस्थीनि प्रदास्यति । तस्यास्थिभिर्महाघोरं वज्रं संस्क्रियतां दृढम् ॥

sa śarīraṃ samutsṛjya svānyasthīni pradāsyati | tasyāsthibhirmahāghoraṃ vajraṃ saṃskriyatāṃ dṛḍham

He will give up his body and give you his bones. From his bones let a mighty, terrible thunderbolt be forged, hard and firm,

Note on the text: The last line of CE 3.98.9 and the first half of 3.98.10 (which reads saṃbhriyatāṃ for संस्क्रियतां, a variant).

Verse 11 (3.99.11)

महच्छत्रुहणं घोरं षडश्रं भीमनिःस्वनम् । तेन वज्रेण वै वृत्रं वधिष्यति शतक्रतुः ॥

mahacchatruhaṇaṃ ghoraṃ ṣaḍaśraṃ bhīmaniḥsvanam | tena vajreṇa vai vṛtraṃ vadhiṣyati śatakratuḥ

great, dreadful, slayer of foes, six-edged, with a terrifying roar. With that thunderbolt Shatakratu will slay Vritra.

Note on the text: Corrected ष़डश्चं → षडश्रं (misprint in Wikisource; a stray nukta and श्च for श्र; the critical edition reads ṣaḍaśraṃ, and the Wikisource commentary glosses षडश्रं षट्कोणम्). The second half of CE 3.98.10 (which reads tīkṣṇaṃ for घोरं) and the first half of 3.98.11.

Verse 12 (3.99.12)

एतद्वः सर्वमाख्यातं तस्माच्छीघ्रं विधीयताम् । एवमुक्तास्ततो देवा अनुज्ञाप्य पितामहम् ॥

etadvaḥ sarvamākhyātaṃ tasmācchīghraṃ vidhīyatām | evamuktāstato devā anujñāpya pitāmaham

I have told you all of this; so let it be done quickly." So addressed, the gods took leave of the Grandfather

Note on the text: The second half of CE 3.98.11 and the first half of 3.98.12.

Verse 13 (3.99.13)

नारायणं पुरस्कृत्य दधीचस्याश्रमं ययुः । सरस्वत्याः परे पारे नानाद्रुमलतावृतम् ॥

nārāyaṇaṃ puraskṛtya dadhīcasyāśramaṃ yayuḥ | sarasvatyāḥ pare pāre nānādrumalatāvṛtam

and, with Narayana at their head, went to Dadhicha's hermitage on the far bank of the Sarasvati. It was overgrown with many kinds of trees and creepers,

Note on the text: The second half of CE 3.98.12 and the first half of 3.98.13.

Verse 14 (3.99.14)

षट्पदोद्गीतनिनदैर्विघुष्टं सामगैरिव । पुंस्कोकिलरवोन्मिश्रं जीवंजीवकनादितम् ॥

ṣaṭpadodgītaninadairvighuṣṭaṃ sāmagairiva | puṃskokilaravonmiśraṃ jīvaṃjīvakanāditam

resounding with the hum of bees as if with Saman-singers, mingled with the calls of male cuckoos and ringing with the cries of jivanjivaka birds;

Note on the text: The last two lines of CE 3.98.13.

Verse 15 (3.99.15)

महिषैश्च वराहैश्च सृमरैश्चमरैरपि । तत्र तत्रानुचरितं शार्दूलभयवर्जितैः ॥

mahiṣaiśca varāhaiśca sṛmaraiścamarairapi | tatra tatrānucaritaṃ śārdūlabhayavarjitaiḥ

buffaloes, boars, srimara deer and yaks roamed it here and there, free from fear of the tiger;

Verse 16 (3.99.16)

करेणुभिर्वारणैश्च प्रभिन्नकरटामुखैः । सरोवगाढैः क्रीडद्भिः समन्तादनुनादितम् ॥

kareṇubhirvāraṇaiśca prabhinnakaraṭāmukhaiḥ | sarovagāḍhaiḥ krīḍadbhiḥ samantādanunāditam

it echoed all round with elephants and their mates, their temples split with rut, plunging into the lakes and playing there;

Verse 17 (3.99.17)

सिंहव्याघ्रैर्महानादान्नदद्भिरनुनादितम् । अपरैश्चापि संलीनैर्गुहाकन्दरशायिभिः ॥

siṃhavyāghrairmahānādānnadadbhiranunāditam | aparaiścāpi saṃlīnairguhākandaraśāyibhiḥ

it echoed with lions and tigers roaring their great roars, and with other beasts lying hidden in caves and hollows.

Verse 18 (3.99.18)

तेषु तेष्ववकाशेषु शोभितं सुमनोरमम् । त्रिविष्टपसमप्रख्यं दधीचाश्रममागमन् ॥

teṣu teṣvavakāśeṣu śobhitaṃ sumanoramam | triviṣṭapasamaprakhyaṃ dadhīcāśramamāgaman

Graced by all these places, most delightful, as splendid as heaven: such was the hermitage of Dadhicha to which they came.

Verse 19 (3.99.19)

तत्रापश्यन्दधीचं ते दिवाकरसमद्युतिम् । जाज्वल्यमानं वपुषा यथा साक्षात्पितामहम् ॥

tatrāpaśyandadhīcaṃ te divākarasamadyutim | jājvalyamānaṃ vapuṣā yathā sākṣātpitāmaham

There they saw Dadhicha, radiant as the sun, his body blazing as if he were the Grandfather himself.

Verse 20 (3.99.20)

तस्य पादौ सुरा राजन्नभिवाद्य प्रणम्य च । अयाचन्त वरं सर्वे यथोक्तं परमेष्ठिना ॥

tasya pādau surā rājannabhivādya praṇamya ca | ayācanta varaṃ sarve yathoktaṃ parameṣṭhinā

The gods, O king, saluted his feet and bowed to him, and all of them asked for the boon as the Supreme Lord had told them.

Verse 21 (3.99.21)

ततो दधीचः परमप्रतीतः । सुरोत्तमांस्तानिदमभ्युवाच । करोमि यद्वो हितमद्य देवाः । स्वं चापि देहंस्वयमुत्सृजामि ॥

tato dadhīcaḥ paramapratītaḥ | surottamāṃstānidamabhyuvāca | karomi yadvo hitamadya devāḥ | svaṃ cāpi dehaṃsvayamutsṛjāmi

Then Dadhicha, supremely glad, said this to those best of gods: "Gods, I will do today what is for your good; I will give up even my own body, of my own accord."

Note on the text: Matched to CE 3.98.20, which reads tv aham for Wikisource's स्वयम्; a recension variant.

Verse 22 (3.99.22)

स एवमुक्त्वा द्विपदांवरिष्ठः । प्राणान्वशी स्वान्सहसोत्ससर्ज । ततः सुरास्ते जगृहुः परासो- । रस्थीनि तस्याथ यथोपदेशम् ॥

sa evamuktvā dvipadāṃvariṣṭhaḥ | prāṇānvaśī svānsahasotsasarja | tataḥ surāste jagṛhuḥ parāso- | rasthīni tasyātha yathopadeśam

Having said this, that best of men, master of himself, at once gave up his life-breaths. Then the gods took the bones of the lifeless sage, as they had been instructed.

Verse 23 (3.99.23)

प्रहृष्टरूपाश्च जयाय देवा- । स्त्वष्टारमागम्य तमर्थमूचुः । त्वष्टा तु तेषां वचनं निशम्य । प्रहृष्टरूपः प्रयतः प्रयत्नात् ॥

prahṛṣṭarūpāśca jayāya devā- | stvaṣṭāramāgamya tamarthamūcuḥ | tvaṣṭā tu teṣāṃ vacanaṃ niśamya | prahṛṣṭarūpaḥ prayataḥ prayatnāt

Rejoicing and intent on victory, the gods went to Tvashtri and told him the matter. Tvashtri heard their words, and joyfully, with focused mind and great care,

Note on the text: Corrected आगम् → आगम्य (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped akshara; the critical edition reads āgamya).

Verse 24 (3.99.24)

चकार वज्रं भृशमुग्ररूपं । कृत्वा च शक्रं स उवाच हृष्टः । अनेन वज्रप्रवरेण देव । भस्मीकुरुष्वाद्य सुरारिमुग्रम् ॥

cakāra vajraṃ bhṛśamugrarūpaṃ | kṛtvā ca śakraṃ sa uvāca hṛṣṭaḥ | anena vajrapravareṇa deva | bhasmīkuruṣvādya surārimugram

he made the thunderbolt, terrible in form. Having made it, he said joyfully to Shakra: "With this best of thunderbolts, god, burn to ashes today the fierce enemy of the gods.

Verse 25 (3.99.25)

ततो हतारिः सगणः सुखं वै । प्रशाधिकृत्स्नं त्रिदिवं दिविष्ठः । त्वष्ट्रा तथोक्तस्तु पुरंदरस्त- । द्वज्रं प्रहृष्टः प्रयतो ह्यगृह्णात् ॥

tato hatāriḥ sagaṇaḥ sukhaṃ vai | praśādhikṛtsnaṃ tridivaṃ diviṣṭhaḥ | tvaṣṭrā tathoktastu puraṃdarasta- | dvajraṃ prahṛṣṭaḥ prayato hyagṛhṇāt

Then, with your enemy slain, rule all heaven happily with your hosts, dwelling in the sky." So addressed by Tvashtri, Purandara joyfully and reverently took the thunderbolt.

Note on the text: Corrected अगृह्नात् → अगृह्णात् (misprint in Wikisource; न for ण; the critical edition has the same verb, abhyagṛhṇāt).