Babhruvahana Comes; Vyasa Calls for the Sacrifice; the Rites Begin

Verse 1 (14.89.1)

एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु स राजा बभ्रुवाहनः । मातृभ्यां सहितो धीमान्कुरूनभ्याजगाम ह ॥

etasminneva kāle tu sa rājā babhruvāhanaḥ | mātṛbhyāṃ sahito dhīmānkurūnabhyājagāma ha

At that very time King Babhruvahana, the wise, came to the Kurus together with his two mothers.

Verse 2 (14.89.2)

तत्र वृद्धान्यथावत्स कुरूनन्यांश्च पार्थिवान् । अभिवाद्य महाबाहुस्तैश्चापि प्रतिनन्दितः । प्रविवेश पितामह्याः कुन्त्या भवनमुत्तमम् ॥

tatra vṛddhānyathāvatsa kurūnanyāṃśca pārthivān | abhivādya mahābāhustaiścāpi pratinanditaḥ | praviveśa pitāmahyāḥ kuntyā bhavanamuttamam

There the mighty-armed one duly saluted the elders of the Kurus and the other kings, and was greeted warmly by them in return; then he entered the splendid dwelling of Kunti, his grandmother.

Note on the text: Not matched automatically. Line a = star passage 14,089.025d*0170_01 (tatra vṛddhān yathā vatsa kurūn anyāṃś ca pārthivān); line b = star 14,089.026b*0171_01 (abhivādya mahābāhus taiś cāpi pratinanditaḥ); line c = CE 14.89.26c.

Verse 3 (14.89.3)

स प्रविश्य महाबाहुः पाण्डवानां निवेशनम् । पितामहीमभ्यवन्दत्साम्ना परमवल्गुना ॥

sa praviśya mahābāhuḥ pāṇḍavānāṃ niveśanam | pitāmahīmabhyavandatsāmnā paramavalgunā

The mighty-armed one entered the dwelling of the Pandavas and greeted his grandmother with the sweetest and gentlest words.

Note on the text: Recension variant (CE 90.1a 'sa praviśya yathānyāyaṃ pāṇḍavānāṃ niveśanam' plus star lines 1a*0172); kept.

Verse 4 (14.89.4)

तथा चित्राङ्गदा देवी कौरवस्यात्मजाऽपि च । पृथां कृष्णां च सहिते विनयेनोपजग्मतुः । सुभद्रां च यथान्यायं याश्चान्याः कुरुयोषितः ॥

tathā citrāṅgadā devī kauravasyātmajā'pi ca | pṛthāṃ kṛṣṇāṃ ca sahite vinayenopajagmatuḥ | subhadrāṃ ca yathānyāyaṃ yāścānyāḥ kuruyoṣitaḥ

So too the lady Chitrangada, and Kauravya's daughter (Ulupi), came together and approached Pritha and Krishna (Draupadi) with humility, and Subhadra as well, as was fitting, and the other women of the Kuru house.

Verse 5 (14.89.5)

ददौ कुन्ती ततस्ताभ्यां रत्नानि विविधानि च । द्रौपदी च सुभद्रा च याश्चाप्यन्या यदुस्त्रियः ॥

dadau kuntī tatastābhyāṃ ratnāni vividhāni ca | draupadī ca subhadrā ca yāścāpyanyā yadustriyaḥ

Then Kunti gave those two many kinds of jewels, and Draupadi and Subhadra and the other women of the Yadu house gave gifts too.

Verse 6 (14.89.6)

ऊषतुस्तत्र ते देव्यौ महार्हशयनासने । सुपूजिते स्वयं कुन्त्या पार्थस्य हितकाम्यया ॥

ūṣatustatra te devyau mahārhaśayanāsane | supūjite svayaṃ kuntyā pārthasya hitakāmyayā

The two ladies stayed there on costly beds and seats, well honoured by Kunti herself, from her wish to please Partha.

Note on the text: Corrected महार्ङशयनासने → महार्हशयनासने (misprint in Wikisource; ङ for ह; CE mahārhaśayanāsane).

Verse 7 (14.89.7)

स च राजा महातेजाः पूजितो बभ्रुवाहनः । धृतराष्ट्रं महीपालमुपतस्थे यथाविधि ॥

sa ca rājā mahātejāḥ pūjito babhruvāhanaḥ | dhṛtarāṣṭraṃ mahīpālamupatasthe yathāvidhi

And that king of great valour, Babhruvahana, honoured, waited upon King Dhritarashtra in due form.

Note on the text: Corrected धूतराष्ट्रं → धृतराष्ट्रं (misprint in Wikisource; ऋ written as ू; CE dhṛtarāṣṭra). Corrected यताविधि → यथाविधि (misprint in Wikisource; CE yathāvidhi).

Verse 8 (14.89.8)

युधिष्ठिरं च राजानं भीमादींश्चापि पाण्डवान् । उपागम्य महातेजा विनयेनाभ्यवादयत् ॥

yudhiṣṭhiraṃ ca rājānaṃ bhīmādīṃścāpi pāṇḍavān | upāgamya mahātejā vinayenābhyavādayat

Approaching King Yudhishthira and the other Pandavas, Bhima and the rest, the very radiant one greeted them humbly.

Note on the text: Corrected युधिष्टिरं → युधिष्ठिरं (misprint in Wikisource; ट for ठ; CE yudhiṣṭhiram). Corrected भीमदींश्चापि → भीमादींश्चापि (misprint in Wikisource; dropped ा; CE bhīmādīṃś cāpi).

Verse 9 (14.89.9)

स तैः प्रेम्या परिष्वक्तः पूजितश्च यथाविधि । धनं चास्मै ददुर्भूरि प्रीयमाणा महारथाः ॥

sa taiḥ premyā pariṣvaktaḥ pūjitaśca yathāvidhi | dhanaṃ cāsmai dadurbhūri prīyamāṇā mahārathāḥ

Embraced by them with affection and honoured as was fitting, he was given abundant wealth by the delighted great chariot-warriors.

Verse 10 (14.89.10)

तथैव च महीपालः कृष्णं चक्रगदाधरम् । प्रद्युम्न इव गोविन्दं विनयेनोपतस्थिवान् ॥

tathaiva ca mahīpālaḥ kṛṣṇaṃ cakragadādharam | pradyumna iva govindaṃ vinayenopatasthivān

In the same way the king waited upon Krishna, the bearer of discus and mace, with humility, as Pradyumna would wait upon Govinda.

Verse 11 (14.89.11)

तस्मै कृष्णो ददौ राज्ञे महार्हमतिपूजितम् । रथं हेमपरिष्कारं दिव्याश्वयुजमुत्तमम् ॥

tasmai kṛṣṇo dadau rājñe mahārhamatipūjitam | rathaṃ hemapariṣkāraṃ divyāśvayujamuttamam

To that king Krishna gave a most splendid and much honoured chariot, adorned with gold and yoked to excellent divine horses.

Verse 12 (14.89.12)

धर्मराजश्च भीमश्च फल्गुनश्च यमौ तथा । पृथक्पृथक् च ते चैनं मानार्थाभ्यामयोजयन् ॥

dharmarājaśca bhīmaśca phalgunaśca yamau tathā | pṛthakpṛthak ca te cainaṃ mānārthābhyāmayojayan

Dharmaraja, Bhima, Phalguna and the twins, each separately, endowed him with honour and wealth.

Note on the text: Not matched automatically. Line a = CE 14.90.10a exactly; line b is a recension variant of CE 14.90.10c ('pṛthak pṛthag atīvainaṃ mānārhaṃ samapūjayan'); kept.

Verse 13 (14.89.13)

ततस्तृतीये दिवसे सत्यवत्यात्मजो मुनिः । युधिष्ठिरं समभ्येत्य वाग्मी वचनमब्रवीत् ॥

tatastṛtīye divase satyavatyātmajo muniḥ | yudhiṣṭhiraṃ samabhyetya vāgmī vacanamabravīt

Then on the third day the sage, the son of Satyavati, came to Yudhishthira and, eloquent as he was, spoke these words.

Verse 14 (14.89.14)

अद्यप्रभृति कौन्तेय यज्ञस्य समयो हि ते । मुहूर्तो यज्ञियः प्राप्तश्चोदयन्तीह याजकाः ॥

adyaprabhṛti kaunteya yajñasya samayo hi te | muhūrto yajñiyaḥ prāptaścodayantīha yājakāḥ

From today, son of Kunti, it is time for your sacrifice. The hour fit for the rite has come, and the priests are urging you.

Verse 15 (14.89.15)

अहीनो नाम राजेन्द्र क्रतुस्तेऽयं विकल्पवान् । बहुत्वात्काञ्चनस्यास्य ख्यातो बहुसुवर्णकः ॥

ahīno nāma rājendra kratuste'yaṃ vikalpavān | bahutvātkāñcanasyāsya khyāto bahusuvarṇakaḥ

This rite of yours, O best of kings, is the one called Ahina, which admits of options; because of the great amount of gold in it, it is known as the Bahusuvarnaka, the "Much-Gold" sacrifice.

Verse 16 (14.89.16)

एवमत्र महाराज दक्षिणाभिर्गुणीकुरु । श्रीस्त्वां व्रजतु ते राजन्ब्राह्मणा ह्यत्र कारणम् ॥

evamatra mahārāja dakṣiṇābhirguṇīkuru | śrīstvāṃ vrajatu te rājanbrāhmaṇā hyatra kāraṇam

So, great king, multiply the rite with gifts of fees. May prosperity come to you, O king; the Brahmins are the means here.

Note on the text: Corrected गुणीकुर → गुणीकुरु (misprint in Wikisource; dropped ु; CE kuru). Recension variant: CE 14.90.14a reads 'dakṣiṇāṃ triguṇāṃ kuru' and 14.90.14c 'tritvaṃ vrajatu te rājan'; kept.

Verse 17 (14.89.17)

त्रीनश्वमेधानत्र त्वं सम्प्राप्य बहुदक्षिणान् । ज्ञातिवध्याकृतं पापं प्रहास्यति नराधिप ॥

trīnaśvamedhānatra tvaṃ samprāpya bahudakṣiṇān | jñātivadhyākṛtaṃ pāpaṃ prahāsyati narādhipa

Having obtained here three horse sacrifices with abundant fees, you will wash away, O lord of men, the sin that came from the killing of your kinsmen.

Verse 18 (14.89.18)

पवित्रं परमं चैतत्पावनानां च पावनम् । यदश्वमेधावभृथं प्राप्स्यसे कुरुनन्दन ॥

pavitraṃ paramaṃ caitatpāvanānāṃ ca pāvanam | yadaśvamedhāvabhṛthaṃ prāpsyase kurunandana

This is a supreme purifier, the purifier of purifiers: that you will attain the concluding bath of the horse sacrifice, O joy of the Kurus.

Verse 19 (14.89.19)

इत्युक्तः स तु तेजस्वी व्यासेनामितबुद्धिना । दीक्षां विवेश धर्मात्मा वाजिमेधाप्तये ततः ॥

ityuktaḥ sa tu tejasvī vyāsenāmitabuddhinā | dīkṣāṃ viveśa dharmātmā vājimedhāptaye tataḥ

Thus addressed by Vyasa of immeasurable wisdom, the radiant and righteous Yudhishthira then entered the consecration for gaining the horse sacrifice.

Note on the text: Not matched automatically. = CE 14.90.17a and 17c (variant: 'amitabuddhinā' for 'amitatejasā'); the CE's third line 17e begins the next verse.

Verse 20 (14.89.20)

ततो यज्ञं महाबाहुर्वाजिमेधं महाक्रतुम् । बह्वन्नदक्षिणं राजा सर्वकामगुणान्वितम् ॥

tato yajñaṃ mahābāhurvājimedhaṃ mahākratum | bahvannadakṣiṇaṃ rājā sarvakāmaguṇānvitam

Then the mighty-armed king performed the horse sacrifice, the great rite, with abundant food and fees and furnished with every desirable quality.

Note on the text: Not matched automatically. Line a is a recension variant of CE 14.90.17e ('narādhipaḥ prāyajata vājimedhaṃ mahākratum'); line b = star passage 14,090.017f*0173_01 (bahvannadakṣiṇaṃ rājā sarvakāmaguṇānvitam).

Verse 21 (14.89.21)

तत्र वेदविदो राजंश्चक्रुः कर्माणि याजकाः । परिक्रामन्ति शास्त्रज्ञा यथावद्द्विजसत्तमाः ॥

tatra vedavido rājaṃścakruḥ karmāṇi yājakāḥ | parikrāmanti śāstrajñā yathāvaddvijasattamāḥ

There, O king, the priests who knew the Vedas and the scriptures performed the rites, going about the ground as was right, the best of Brahmins.

Note on the text: Corrected यतावद्द्विजसत्तमाः → यथावद्द्विजसत्तमाः (misprint in Wikisource; त for थ in यथावत्).

Verse 22 (14.89.22)

न तेषां स्खलितं किञ्चिदासीदपहुतं तथा । क्रमयुक्तं च युक्तं च चक्रुस्तत्र द्विजर्षभाः ॥

na teṣāṃ skhalitaṃ kiñcidāsīdapahutaṃ tathā | kramayuktaṃ ca yuktaṃ ca cakrustatra dvijarṣabhāḥ

No slip occurred among them, nor any misplaced oblation; those foremost Brahmins performed everything in right order and as it should be.

Verse 23 (14.89.23)

कृत्वा प्रवर्ग्यं धर्मज्ञा यथावद्द्विजसत्तमाः । चक्रुस्ते विधिवद्राजंस्तथैवाभिषवं द्विजाः ॥

kṛtvā pravargyaṃ dharmajñā yathāvaddvijasattamāḥ | cakruste vidhivadrājaṃstathaivābhiṣavaṃ dvijāḥ

Those foremost Brahmins, knowers of dharma, having duly performed the Pravargya, likewise carried out the pressing of the soma according to rule, O king.

Note on the text: Corrected चक्रस्ते → चक्रुस्ते (misprint in Wikisource; dropped ु; CE cakrus te).

Verse 24 (14.89.24)

अभिषूय ततो राजन्सोमं सोमपसत्तमाः । सवनान्यानुपूर्व्येण चक्रुः शास्त्रानुसारिणः ॥

abhiṣūya tato rājansomaṃ somapasattamāḥ | savanānyānupūrvyeṇa cakruḥ śāstrānusāriṇaḥ

Having pressed the soma, O king, those best of soma-drinkers performed the pressings in order, following the scriptures.

Note on the text: Corrected सास्त्रानुसारिणः → शास्त्रानुसारिणः (misprint in Wikisource; स for श; CE śāstrānusāriṇaḥ).

Verse 25 (14.89.25)

न तत्र कृपणः कश्चिन्न दरिद्रो बभूव ह । क्षुधितो दुःखितो वाऽपि प्राकृतो वाऽपि मानवः ॥

na tatra kṛpaṇaḥ kaścinna daridro babhūva ha | kṣudhito duḥkhito vā'pi prākṛto vā'pi mānavaḥ

There was no one there who was miserly or poor, no one hungry or in distress, nor even any common person.

Verse 26 (14.89.26)

भोजनं भोजनार्थिभ्यो दापयामास शत्रुहा । भीमसेनो महातेजाः सततं राजशासनात् ॥

bhojanaṃ bhojanārthibhyo dāpayāmāsa śatruhā | bhīmaseno mahātejāḥ satataṃ rājaśāsanāt

Bhimasena of great energy, the slayer of foes, constantly had food given to all who wanted it, by the king's command.

Verse 27 (14.89.27)

संस्तरे कुशलाश्चापि सर्वकार्याणि याजकाः । दिवसेदिवसे चक्रुर्यथाशास्त्रानुदर्शात् ॥

saṃstare kuśalāścāpi sarvakāryāṇi yājakāḥ | divasedivase cakruryathāśāstrānudarśāt

And the priests, skilled in laying out the altar, performed all the rites day after day according to the guidance of the scriptures.

Note on the text: Recension variant in line b (CE 24c 'divase divase cakrur yathāśāstrārthacakṣuṣaḥ'); kept.

Verse 28 (14.89.28)

नाषडङ्गविदत्रासीत्सदस्यस्तस्य धीमतः । नाव्रतो नानुपाध्यायो न च वादाविचक्षणः ॥

nāṣaḍaṅgavidatrāsītsadasyastasya dhīmataḥ | nāvrato nānupādhyāyo na ca vādāvicakṣaṇaḥ

Among the wise king's assembly priests there was none who did not know the six Vedangas, none without vows, none without a teacher, and none unskilled in debate.

Verse 29 (14.89.29)

ततो यूपोच्छ्रये प्राप्ते षड् बैल्वान्भरतर्षभ । खादिरान्बिल्वसमितांस्तावतः सर्ववर्णिनः ॥

tato yūpocchraye prāpte ṣaḍ bailvānbharatarṣabha | khādirānbilvasamitāṃstāvataḥ sarvavarṇinaḥ

Then, when it was time to raise the sacrificial posts, O best of the Bharatas, they set up six of bilva wood, as many of khadira as there were of bilva, and as many again of the kind called sarvavarnin.

Verse 30 (14.89.30)

देवदारुमयौ द्वौ तु यूपौ कुरुपतेर्मखे । श्लेष्मातकमयं चैकं याजकाः समकल्पयन् ॥

devadārumayau dvau tu yūpau kurupatermakhe | śleṣmātakamayaṃ caikaṃ yājakāḥ samakalpayan

At the Kuru king's sacrifice the priests also prepared two posts of deodar wood and one of shleshmataka wood.

Verse 31 (14.89.31)

सर्वानेतान्यथाशास्त्रं याजकाः समकारयन् । शोभार्थं चापरान्यूपान्काञ्चनान्भरतर्षभ । स भीमः कारयामास धर्मराजस्य शासनात् ॥

sarvānetānyathāśāstraṃ yājakāḥ samakārayan | śobhārthaṃ cāparānyūpānkāñcanānbharatarṣabha | sa bhīmaḥ kārayāmāsa dharmarājasya śāsanāt

The priests had all of these made according to the scriptures. And for adornment, O bull among men, Bhima had other posts made of gold, at Dharmaraja's command.

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki marks (backtick and quote) around line a. Not matched automatically: line a = star passage 14,090.027d*0174_01 (sarvān etān yathāśāstraṃ yājakāḥ samayojayan; 'samakārayan' here); lines b-c = CE 14.90.28.

Verse 32 (14.89.32)

ते व्यराजन्त राजर्षे वासोभिरुपशोभिताः । महेन्द्रानुगता देवा यथा सप्तर्षिभिर्दिवि ॥

te vyarājanta rājarṣe vāsobhirupaśobhitāḥ | mahendrānugatā devā yathā saptarṣibhirdivi

Adorned with cloths, O royal sage, they shone like the gods who attend Mahendra in heaven, together with the seven sages.

Verse 33 (14.89.33)

इष्टकाः काञ्चनीश्चात्र चयनार्थं कृता विभो । शुशुभे चयनं तच्च दक्षस्येव प्रजापतेः ॥

iṣṭakāḥ kāñcanīścātra cayanārthaṃ kṛtā vibho | śuśubhe cayanaṃ tacca dakṣasyeva prajāpateḥ

Golden bricks were made here for building the altar, O lord, and that altar shone like the one of Daksha the Prajapati.

Note on the text: Corrected चयनार्तं → चयनार्थं (misprint in Wikisource; त for थ; CE cayanārthaṃ).

Verse 34 (14.89.34)

चतुश्चित्यश्च तस्यासीदष्टादशकरात्मकः । स रुक्मपक्षो निचितस्त्रिकोणो गरुडाकृतिः ॥

catuścityaśca tasyāsīdaṣṭādaśakarātmakaḥ | sa rukmapakṣo nicitastrikoṇo garuḍākṛtiḥ

Its altar had four layers and measured eighteen cubits; it was laid with golden wings, three-cornered, in the form of Garuda.

Note on the text: Recension variant in line b (CE 31c 'sa rukmapakṣo nicitas triguṇo garuḍākṛtiḥ'); kept.

Verse 35 (14.89.35)

ततो नियुक्ताः पशवो यथाशास्त्रं मनीषिभिः । तं तं देवं समुद्दिश्य पक्षिणः पशवश्च ये ॥

tato niyuktāḥ paśavo yathāśāstraṃ manīṣibhiḥ | taṃ taṃ devaṃ samuddiśya pakṣiṇaḥ paśavaśca ye

Then the wise priests assigned the animals as the scriptures direct, each to its own deity: birds and beasts alike.

Verse 36 (14.89.36)

ऋषभाः शास्त्रपठितास्तथा जलचराश्च ये । सर्वांस्तानभ्ययुञ्जंस्ते तत्राग्निचयकर्मणि ॥

ṛṣabhāḥ śāstrapaṭhitāstathā jalacarāśca ye | sarvāṃstānabhyayuñjaṃste tatrāgnicayakarmaṇi

The bulls prescribed in the scriptures, and the creatures of the water: all these they bound there in the rite of building the fire-altar.

Verse 37 (14.89.37)

यूपेषु नियता चासीत्पशूनां त्रिशती तथा । अश्वरत्नोत्तरा यज्ञे कौन्तेयस्य महात्मनः ॥

yūpeṣu niyatā cāsītpaśūnāṃ triśatī tathā | aśvaratnottarā yajñe kaunteyasya mahātmanaḥ

At the posts there were fixed three hundred animals, with the jewel of horses as the foremost, at the sacrifice of the great-souled son of Kunti.

Verse 38 (14.89.38)

स यज्ञः शुशुभे तस्य साक्षाद्देवर्षिसंकुलः । गन्धर्वगणसंकीर्णः शोभितोऽप्सरसां गणैः ॥

sa yajñaḥ śuśubhe tasya sākṣāddevarṣisaṃkulaḥ | gandharvagaṇasaṃkīrṇaḥ śobhito'psarasāṃ gaṇaiḥ

That sacrifice shone, crowded with divine sages in person, thronged with hosts of Gandharvas and adorned by companies of Apsarases.

Verse 39 (14.89.39)

स किंपुरुषसंकीर्णः किंनरैश्चोपशोभितः । सिद्धविप्रनिवासैश्च समन्तादभिसंवृतः ॥

sa kiṃpuruṣasaṃkīrṇaḥ kiṃnaraiścopaśobhitaḥ | siddhavipranivāsaiśca samantādabhisaṃvṛtaḥ

Crowded with Kimpurushas and adorned with Kinnaras, it was surrounded on every side by the dwellings of Siddhas and Brahmins.

Verse 40 (14.89.40)

तस्मिन्सदसि नित्यास्तु व्यासशिष्या द्विजर्षभाः । सर्वशास्त्रप्रणेतारः कुशला यज्ञकर्मसु ॥

tasminsadasi nityāstu vyāsaśiṣyā dvijarṣabhāḥ | sarvaśāstrapraṇetāraḥ kuśalā yajñakarmasu

In that assembly were always the foremost Brahmins, disciples of Vyasa, authors of all the treatises, skilled in sacrificial rites.

Verse 41 (14.89.41)

नारदश्च बभूवात्र तुंबुरुश्च महाद्युतिः । विश्वावसुश्चित्रसेनस्तथाऽन्ये गीतकोविदाः ॥

nāradaśca babhūvātra tuṃburuśca mahādyutiḥ | viśvāvasuścitrasenastathā'nye gītakovidāḥ

Narada was there, and Tumburu of great splendour, Vishvavasu, Chitrasena, and other experts in song.

Verse 42 (14.89.42)

गन्धर्वा गीतकुशला नृत्येषु च विशारदाः । रमयन्ति स्म तान्विप्रान्यज्ञकर्मान्तरेषु वै ॥

gandharvā gītakuśalā nṛtyeṣu ca viśāradāḥ | ramayanti sma tānviprānyajñakarmāntareṣu vai

The Gandharvas, skilled in song and expert in dance, entertained those Brahmins in the intervals of the sacrificial acts.