Indra's Sacrifice and the Sages' Dispute over Offerings

Verse 1 (14.93.1)

यज्ञे सक्ता नृपतयस्तपःसक्ता महर्षयः । शान्तिव्यवस्थिता विप्राः शमो दम इति प्रभो ॥

yajñe saktā nṛpatayastapaḥsaktā maharṣayaḥ | śāntivyavasthitā viprāḥ śamo dama iti prabho

"O lord, kings are devoted to sacrifice and the great sages to austerity; Brahmins are set upon peace, saying, 'Tranquillity, self-control.'"

Note on the text: Corrected तपःसका → तपःसक्ता (misprint in Wikisource; dropped conjunct; CE tapaḥsaktā). Corrected शमे दम → शमो दम (misprint in Wikisource; the list is of nominatives; CE śamo dama). Wikisource adhyaya 93 corresponds to critical edition adhyaya 14.94.

Verse 2 (14.93.2)

तस्माद्यज्ञफलैस्तुल्यं न किञ्चिदिह दृश्यते । इति मे वर्तते बुद्धिस्तथा चैतदसंशयम् ॥

tasmādyajñaphalaistulyaṃ na kiñcidiha dṛśyate | iti me vartate buddhistathā caitadasaṃśayam

"So nothing seen in this world equals the fruits of sacrifice. This is my conviction, and it is beyond doubt."

Verse 3 (14.93.3)

यज्ञैरिष्ट्वा तु बहवो राजानो द्विजसत्तमाः । इह कीर्तिं परां प्राप्य प्रेत्य स्वर्गमितो गताः ॥

yajñairiṣṭvā tu bahavo rājāno dvijasattamāḥ | iha kīrtiṃ parāṃ prāpya pretya svargamito gatāḥ

"For many kings, O best of the twice-born, having performed sacrifices, won supreme fame in this world and from here went to heaven."

Note on the text: Corrected कीर्ति परां → कीर्तिं परां (misprint in Wikisource; dropped anusvara; accusative).

Verse 4 (14.93.4)

देवराजः सहस्राक्षः क्रतुभिर्भूरिदक्षिणैः । देवराज्यं महातेजाः प्राप्तवानखिलं विभुः ॥

devarājaḥ sahasrākṣaḥ kratubhirbhūridakṣiṇaiḥ | devarājyaṃ mahātejāḥ prāptavānakhilaṃ vibhuḥ

"Indra, king of the gods, the thousand-eyed, mighty and powerful, won the whole sovereignty of the gods through sacrifices with lavish gifts."

Note on the text: Corrected महातेजाःक → महातेजाः (misprint in Wikisource; stray क).

Verse 5 (14.93.5)

अतो युधिष्ठिरो राजा भीमार्जुनपुरःसरः । सदृशो देवराजेन समृद्ध्या विक्रमेण च ॥

ato yudhiṣṭhiro rājā bhīmārjunapuraḥsaraḥ | sadṛśo devarājena samṛddhyā vikrameṇa ca

"And so King Yudhishthira, with Bhima and Arjuna before him, is the equal of the king of the gods in prosperity and in valour."

Verse 6 (14.93.6)

अथ कस्मात्स नकुलो गर्हयामास तं क्रतुम् । अश्वमेधं महायज्ञं राज्ञस्तस्य महात्मनः ॥

atha kasmātsa nakulo garhayāmāsa taṃ kratum | aśvamedhaṃ mahāyajñaṃ rājñastasya mahātmanaḥ

"Then why did that mongoose find fault with that sacrifice, the great horse sacrifice of that great-souled king?"

Verse 7 (14.93.7)

यज्ञस्य विधिमग्र्यं वै फलं चापि नराधिप । गदतः शृणु मे राजन्यथावदिह भारत ॥

yajñasya vidhimagryaṃ vai phalaṃ cāpi narādhipa | gadataḥ śṛṇu me rājanyathāvadiha bhārata

Hear from me, O king, the best procedure of sacrifice and its fruit, as I explain it exactly, O Bharata.

Verse 8 (14.93.8)

पुरा शक्रस्य यजतः सर्व ऊचुर्महर्षयः । ऋत्विक्षु कर्मव्यग्रेषु वितते यज्ञकर्मणि ॥

purā śakrasya yajataḥ sarva ūcurmaharṣayaḥ | ṛtvikṣu karmavyagreṣu vitate yajñakarmaṇi

Long ago, when Indra was performing a sacrifice and the priests were busy at their tasks and the rite was well under way, all the great sages spoke up.

Verse 9 (14.93.9)

हूयमाने तथा वह्नौ होत्रे गुणसमन्विते । देवेष्वाहूयमानेषु स्थितेषु परमर्षिषु ॥

hūyamāne tathā vahnau hotre guṇasamanvite | deveṣvāhūyamāneṣu sthiteṣu paramarṣiṣu

The fire was being fed with offerings in a rite rich in every excellence, the gods were being invoked, and the supreme seers stood by,

Note on the text: Corrected होत्रा → होत्रे (misprint in Wikisource; locative absolute needed; CE hotre). Corrected देवष्वाहूयमानेषु → देवेष्वाहूयमानेषु (misprint in Wikisource; wrong letter; locative plural देवेषु).

Verse 10 (14.93.10)

सुप्रतीतैस्तथा विप्रैः स्वागमैः सुस्वरैर्नृप । अश्रान्तैश्चापि लघुभिरध्वर्युवृषभैस्तथा ॥

supratītaistathā vipraiḥ svāgamaiḥ susvarairnṛpa | aśrāntaiścāpi laghubhiradhvaryuvṛṣabhaistathā

the priests were delighted, their recitations well learned and sweetly sounded, and the adhvaryu bulls among them were tireless and nimble.

Verse 11 (14.93.11)

आलम्भसमये तस्मिन्गृहीतेषु पशुष्वथ । महर्षयो महाराज बभूवुः कृपयाऽन्विताः ॥

ālambhasamaye tasmingṛhīteṣu paśuṣvatha | maharṣayo mahārāja babhūvuḥ kṛpayā'nvitāḥ

At the time of the slaughter, when the animals had been seized, the great sages, O great king, were moved with compassion.

Verse 12 (14.93.12)

ततो दीनान्पशून्दृष्ट्वा ऋषयस्ते तपोधनाः । ऊचुः शक्रं समागम्य नायं यज्ञविधिः शुभः ॥

tato dīnānpaśūndṛṣṭvā ṛṣayaste tapodhanāḥ | ūcuḥ śakraṃ samāgamya nāyaṃ yajñavidhiḥ śubhaḥ

Seeing the poor animals, those seers rich in austerity went up to Indra and said, "This is not a good rite of sacrifice."

Verse 13 (14.93.13)

अपरिज्ञानमेतत्ते महान्तं धर्ममिच्छतः । सन्ति यज्ञे बहुगुणा विधिदृष्टाः पुरंदर ॥

aparijñānametatte mahāntaṃ dharmamicchataḥ | santi yajñe bahuguṇā vidhidṛṣṭāḥ puraṃdara

"This shows ignorance in you, who seek great dharma. A sacrifice has many merits that are seen in the prescribed rite, Purandara."

Note on the text: Speaker: the input carried over "वैशम्पायन" from the earlier heading; the seers are addressing Indra (verse 12 introduces their words); the page prints no heading.

Verse 14 (14.93.14)

धर्मोपघातकस्त्वेष समारंभस्तव प्रभो । नायं धर्मकृतो यज्ञो न हिंसा धर्म उच्यते ॥

dharmopaghātakastveṣa samāraṃbhastava prabho | nāyaṃ dharmakṛto yajño na hiṃsā dharma ucyate

"This undertaking of yours, lord, destroys dharma. This is not a sacrifice done in dharma, and violence is not called dharma."

Note on the text: Speaker: the input carried over "वैशम्पायन" from the earlier heading; the seers are addressing Indra (verse 12 introduces their words); the page prints no heading.

Verse 15 (14.93.15)

आगमेनैव ते यज्ञं कुर्वन्तु यदि चेच्छसि । विधिदृष्टेन यज्ञेन धर्मस्ते सुमहान्भवेत् ॥

āgamenaiva te yajñaṃ kurvantu yadi cecchasi | vidhidṛṣṭena yajñena dharmaste sumahānbhavet

"If you wish, let them perform your sacrifice strictly according to the scripture. With a sacrifice performed as the rule prescribes, you will gain great dharma."

Note on the text: Speaker: the input carried over "वैशम्पायन" from the earlier heading; the seers are addressing Indra (verse 12 introduces their words); the page prints no heading.

Verse 16 (14.93.16)

यज बीजैः सहस्राक्ष त्रिवर्षपरमोषितैः । एष धर्मो महाञ्शक्र चिन्त्यमानोऽधिगम्यते ॥

yaja bījaiḥ sahasrākṣa trivarṣaparamoṣitaiḥ | eṣa dharmo mahāñśakra cintyamāno'dhigamyate

"Sacrifice with grain that has been kept for three years, O Thousand-eyed. This is the great dharma, Shakra, reached by reflection."

Note on the text: Corrected यज्ञं बीजैः → यज बीजैः (misprint in Wikisource; imperative needed, no verb otherwise; CE yaja bījaiḥ). Corrected त्रिवर्षपरमोषितेः → त्रिवर्षपरमोषितैः (misprint in Wikisource; instrumental plural to agree with बीजैः; the page's own gloss after the colophon also reads त्रिवर्षपरमोषितैः). Corrected चिन्तयानोसि गम्यते → चिन्त्यमानोऽधिगम्यते (misprint in Wikisource; unintelligible; CE cintyamāno 'dhigamyate). The page's own gloss after the colophon reads त्रिवर्षपरमोषितैः पुराणैः (not added). Speaker: the input carried over "वैशम्पायन" from the earlier heading; the seers are addressing Indra (verse 12 introduces their words); the page prints no heading.

Verse 17 (14.93.17)

शतक्रतुस्तु तद्वाक्यमृषिभिस्तत्त्वदर्शिभिः । उक्तं न प्रतिजग्राह मानमोहवशं गतः ॥

śatakratustu tadvākyamṛṣibhistattvadarśibhiḥ | uktaṃ na pratijagrāha mānamohavaśaṃ gataḥ

But Shatakratu, in the grip of pride and delusion, did not accept those words spoken to him by the seers who saw the truth.

Verse 18 (14.93.18)

तेषां विवादः सुमहाञ्शक्रयज्ञे तपस्विनाम् । जङ्गमैः स्थावरैर्वाऽपि यष्टव्यमिति भारत ॥

teṣāṃ vivādaḥ sumahāñśakrayajñe tapasvinām | jaṅgamaiḥ sthāvarairvā'pi yaṣṭavyamiti bhārata

A great dispute arose among those ascetics at Shakra's sacrifice, O Bharata, over whether one should sacrifice with moving or with unmoving things.

Verse 19 (14.93.19)

ते तु खिन्ना विवादेन ऋषयस्तत्त्वदर्शिनः । अभिसंधाय शक्रेण पप्रच्छुर्नृपतिं वसुम् ॥

te tu khinnā vivādena ṛṣayastattvadarśinaḥ | abhisaṃdhāya śakreṇa papracchurnṛpatiṃ vasum

Wearied by the dispute, those seers who saw the truth came to an understanding with Shakra and asked King Vasu.

Verse 20 (14.93.20)

धर्मसंशयमापन्नान्सत्यं ब्रूहि महामते । महाभाग कथं यज्ञेष्वागमो नृपसत्तम । यष्टव्यं पशुभिर्मेध्यैरथो बीजैरजैरिति ॥

dharmasaṃśayamāpannānsatyaṃ brūhi mahāmate | mahābhāga kathaṃ yajñeṣvāgamo nṛpasattama | yaṣṭavyaṃ paśubhirmedhyairatho bījairajairiti

"Wise one, tell us the truth, for we are in doubt about dharma. Fortunate king, best of kings, what is the rule for sacrifices? Should one sacrifice with pure animals, or with seeds, or with goats?"

Note on the text: Not auto-matched: first line = CE star passage 14,094.019d*0189_01 (after 019c, hence ce_ref 14.94.19); second and third lines = CE 14,094.020a and 020c. Speaker: the input carried over "वैशम्पायन" from the earlier heading; the seers are addressing King Vasu (verse 19 introduces their words); the page prints no heading.

Verse 21 (14.93.21)

तच्छ्रुत्वा तु वसुस्तेषामविचार्य बलाबलम् । यथोपनीतैर्यष्टव्यमिति प्रोवाच पार्थिवः ॥

tacchrutvā tu vasusteṣāmavicārya balābalam | yathopanītairyaṣṭavyamiti provāca pārthivaḥ

Hearing them, King Vasu, without weighing the strength or weakness of either side, said, "One should sacrifice with whatever has been brought."

Verse 22 (14.93.22)

एवमुक्त्वा स नृपतिः प्रविवेश रसातलम् । उक्त्वेह वितथं राजंश्चेदीनामीश्वरः प्रभुः ॥

evamuktvā sa nṛpatiḥ praviveśa rasātalam | uktveha vitathaṃ rājaṃścedīnāmīśvaraḥ prabhuḥ

Having said this, the king entered the nether world, for having spoken falsely here, O king: he, the lord and master of the Chedis.

Verse 23 (14.93.23)

तस्मान्न वाच्यं ह्येकेन बहुज्ञेनापि संशये । प्रजापतिमपाहाय स्वयंभुवमृते प्रभुम् ॥

tasmānna vācyaṃ hyekena bahujñenāpi saṃśaye | prajāpatimapāhāya svayaṃbhuvamṛte prabhum

Therefore one person alone should not decide in a doubtful matter, however learned, except the Lord Prajapati, the Self-born.

Note on the text: Corrected तस्मान्नि → तस्मान्न (misprint in Wikisource; stray vowel sign; CE tasmān na). Not auto-matched: = CE star passage 14,094.022d*0190_01 and 0190_02 (after 022c, hence ce_ref 14.94.22); अपाहाय is the critical edition's own reading.

Verse 24 (14.93.24)

तेन दत्तानि दानानि पापेनाशुद्धबुद्धिना । तानि सर्वाण्यनादृत्य नश्यन्ति विपुलान्यपि ॥

tena dattāni dānāni pāpenāśuddhabuddhinā | tāni sarvāṇyanādṛtya naśyanti vipulānyapi

The gifts that sinful man of impure mind gave were all disregarded and perish, however vast.

Note on the text: Wikisource places verses 24–25 (= CE 14,094.026 and 027) before verses 26–28 (= CE 14,094.023–025); the order is kept as printed.

Verse 25 (14.93.25)

तस्याधर्मप्रवृत्तस्य हिंसकस्य दुरात्मनः । दानेन कीर्तिर्भवति न प्रेत्येह च दुर्मतेः ॥

tasyādharmapravṛttasya hiṃsakasya durātmanaḥ | dānena kīrtirbhavati na pretyeha ca durmateḥ

For one set on unrighteousness, violent, evil-souled and ill-minded, a gift brings no fame, neither here nor hereafter.

Verse 26 (14.93.26)

अन्यायोपगतं द्रव्यमभीक्ष्णं यो ह्यपण्डितः । धर्माभिकाङ्क्षी त्यजति न स धर्मफलं लभेत् ॥

anyāyopagataṃ dravyamabhīkṣṇaṃ yo hyapaṇḍitaḥ | dharmābhikāṅkṣī tyajati na sa dharmaphalaṃ labhet

A fool who, seeking dharma, repeatedly gives away wealth that came by unlawful means does not obtain the fruit of dharma.

Verse 27 (14.93.27)

धर्मवैतंसिको यस्तु पापात्मा पुरुषाधमः । ददाति दानं विप्रेभ्यो लोकविश्वासकारणम् ॥

dharmavaitaṃsiko yastu pāpātmā puruṣādhamaḥ | dadāti dānaṃ viprebhyo lokaviśvāsakāraṇam

A cheat of dharma, a sinful wretch among men, who gives gifts to Brahmins only to win the world's trust,

Verse 28 (14.93.28)

पापेन कर्मणा विप्रो धनं प्राप्य निरङ्कुशः । रागमोहान्वितः सोन्ते कलुषां गतिमश्नुते ॥

pāpena karmaṇā vipro dhanaṃ prāpya niraṅkuśaḥ | rāgamohānvitaḥ sonte kaluṣāṃ gatimaśnute

or a Brahmin who gains wealth by sinful deeds, unrestrained and full of passion and delusion, attains a foul destination in the end.

Verse 29 (14.93.29)

अपि संचयबुद्धिर्हि लोभमोहवशं गतः । उद्वेजयति भूतानि हिंसया पापचेतनः ॥

api saṃcayabuddhirhi lobhamohavaśaṃ gataḥ | udvejayati bhūtāni hiṃsayā pāpacetanaḥ

Moreover, one whose mind is set on hoarding, fallen under the sway of greed and delusion, torments living beings with violence, his mind given to evil.

Note on the text: Restored the second line from the critical edition (14,094.028c): Wikisource's यज्ञं करोति भूतानि पापेनाशुद्धबुद्धिना is unintelligible and repeats the second line of verse 24 (पापेनाशुद्धबुद्धिना). First line = CE 14,094.028a.

Verse 30 (14.93.30)

एवं लब्ध्वा धनं मोहाद्यो हि दद्याद्यजेत वा । न तस्य स फलं प्रेत्य भुंक्ते पापधनागमात् ॥

evaṃ labdhvā dhanaṃ mohādyo hi dadyādyajeta vā | na tasya sa phalaṃ pretya bhuṃkte pāpadhanāgamāt

Whoever, having gained wealth in this way, gives it away or performs a sacrifice with it out of delusion, does not enjoy its fruit after death, because the wealth came by sin.

Note on the text: Not auto-matched: = CE star passage 14,094.029d*0191_01 and 0191_02 (after 029c, hence ce_ref 14.94.29). The critical edition's first line is incomplete (two blanks), which Wikisource fills with एवं लब्ध्वा धनं मोहाद्यो हि दद्याद्यजेत वा (compare CE 029a, evaṃ labdhvā dhanaṃ lobhād yajate yo dadāti ca); CE 029a and 029c themselves are not in this text.

Verse 31 (14.93.31)

उञ्छं मूलं फलं शाकमुदपात्रं तपोधनाः । दानं विभवतो दत्त्वा नराः स्वर्यान्ति धार्मिकाः ॥

uñchaṃ mūlaṃ phalaṃ śākamudapātraṃ tapodhanāḥ | dānaṃ vibhavato dattvā narāḥ svaryānti dhārmikāḥ

Gleanings, roots, fruit, greens, a vessel of water: having given such gifts according to their means, righteous people go to heaven, O ascetics.

Verse 32 (14.93.32)

एष धर्मो महायोगो दानं भूतदया तथा । ब्रह्मचर्यं तथा सत्यमनुक्रोशो धृतिः क्षमा ॥

eṣa dharmo mahāyogo dānaṃ bhūtadayā tathā | brahmacaryaṃ tathā satyamanukrośo dhṛtiḥ kṣamā

This is the great dharma, the great discipline: giving, compassion for beings, chastity, truth, kindness, steadfastness, and forbearance.

Note on the text: Not auto-matched: = CE 14,094.031a and 031c (Wikisource reads एष धर्मो महायोगो for CE एष धर्मो महांस्त्यागो; recension variant, kept).

Verse 33 (14.93.33)

सनातनस्य धर्मस्य फलमेतत्सनातनम् । श्रूयन्ते हि पुरावृत्ता विश्वामित्रादयो नृपाः ॥

sanātanasya dharmasya phalametatsanātanam | śrūyante hi purāvṛttā viśvāmitrādayo nṛpāḥ

This is the everlasting fruit of the eternal dharma. We hear that in ancient times there were kings such as Vishvamitra and others.

Note on the text: Not auto-matched: first line = CE 14,094.031e (Wikisource reads फलमेतत्सनातनम् for CE मूलमेतत्सनातनम्; recension variant, kept); second line = CE 14,094.032a.

Verse 34 (14.93.34)

विश्वामित्रोसितश्चैवं जनकश्च महीपतिः । कक्षसेनार्ष्टिसेनौ च सिन्धुद्वीपश्च पार्थिवः ॥

viśvāmitrositaścaivaṃ janakaśca mahīpatiḥ | kakṣasenārṣṭisenau ca sindhudvīpaśca pārthivaḥ

Vishvamitra, Asita, King Janaka, Kakshasena, Arshtisena, and King Sindhudvipa:

Note on the text: Corrected जनसश्च → जनकश्च (misprint in Wikisource; Janaka is the king meant; CE janakaś ca). Not auto-matched: = CE 14,094.032c and 032e (Wikisource reads आर्ष्टिसेनौ for CE आर्ष्टिषेणौ; kept).

Verse 35 (14.93.35)

एते चान्ये च बहवः सिद्धिं परमिकां गताः । नृपाः सत्यैश्च दानैश्च न्यायलब्धैस्तपोधनाः ॥

ete cānye ca bahavaḥ siddhiṃ paramikāṃ gatāḥ | nṛpāḥ satyaiśca dānaiśca nyāyalabdhaistapodhanāḥ

these and many others, kings rich in austerity, reached the highest perfection through truthfulness and gifts lawfully gained.

Verse 36 (14.93.36)

ब्राह्मणाः क्षत्रिया वैश्याः शूद्रा ये चाश्रितास्तपः । दानधर्माग्निना शुद्धास्ते स्वर्गं यान्ति भारत ॥

brāhmaṇāḥ kṣatriyā vaiśyāḥ śūdrā ye cāśritāstapaḥ | dānadharmāgninā śuddhāste svargaṃ yānti bhārata

Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras who have taken to austerity, purified by the fire of giving and dharma, go to heaven, O Bharata.

Note on the text: After the colophon the page prints three commentary glosses on verses 13, 16 and 20 (variant readings marked झ.पाठः); they are not added.