Death Accepts Her Task; Narada Consoles Akampana

Verse 1 (7.54.1)

विनीय दुःखमबला आत्मन्येव प्रजापतिम् । उवाच प्राञ्जलिर्भूत्वा लतेवावर्जिता पुनः ॥

vinīya duḥkhamabalā ātmanyeva prajāpatim | uvāca prāñjalirbhūtvā latevāvarjitā punaḥ

Holding her sorrow within herself, the frail woman folded her hands, bowed like a bending creeper, and spoke again to the Lord of Creatures.

Note on the text: Adhyaya note: the whole adhyaya is a passage that the critical edition prints only in Appendix I (No. 8, printed after 7.49.21; lines 132–265 of that passage fall here), so no verse has a ce_ref and each verse note gives the appendix lines. The input agrees with the raw page row for row except at the page's two mid-verse speaker headings: it joined the page's single line 5-54-36a with the line after the heading (5-54-36b) and made 37a/37b a separate verse, whereas by the page's verse-end marks (।।) rows 36a, 36b, 37a, 37b are one verse, split here at the heading (verses 36–37 of this file); the line 5-54-39a before the heading ब्रह्मोवाच is likewise split from the verse that follows it (verses 39–40). The page has lost the earlier lines of its rows 42f and 50f (see verses 43 and 51). The page's double hyphens (--) that mark a word split between lines are removed (verses 41, 45, 48, 49, 50). This verse: CE Appendix I No. 8 (printed after 7.49.21), lines 132–133 (7.49.21d@008_0132–0133). Corrected दुःकमबला → दुःखमबला (misprint in Wikisource; ख for क, the critical edition reads duḥkham abalā).

Verse 2 (7.54.2)

त्वया सृष्टा कथं नारी ईदृशी वदतां वर । क्रूरं कर्माहितं कुर्यां मूढेव परिजानती ॥

tvayā sṛṣṭā kathaṃ nārī īdṛśī vadatāṃ vara | krūraṃ karmāhitaṃ kuryāṃ mūḍheva parijānatī

O best of speakers, how could you create a woman such as I am? Knowing as I do what is right, how can I do a cruel and harmful deed, like one who is foolish?

Note on the text: CE Appendix I No. 8 (printed after 7.49.21), lines 134–135 (7.49.21d@008_0134–0135); line 2 ends परिजानती where the critical edition has kim u jānatī (recension variant, Wikisource's reading kept).

Verse 3 (7.54.3)

बिभेम्यहमधर्माद्धि प्रसीद भगवन्प्रभो । प्रियान्पुत्रान्वयस्यांश्च भ्रातॄन्मातॄः पितॄन्पतीन् ॥

bibhemyahamadharmāddhi prasīda bhagavanprabho | priyānputrānvayasyāṃśca bhrātṝnmātṝḥ pitṝnpatīn

I am afraid of unrighteousness, O blessed Lord; be gracious to me. Beloved sons, friends, brothers, mothers, fathers and husbands—

Note on the text: CE Appendix I No. 8 (printed after 7.49.21), lines 136–137 (7.49.21d@008_0136–0137). Corrected भातृन्मातॄः → भ्रातॄन्मातॄः (misprint in Wikisource; the र् of भ्रातॄन् dropped, the critical edition reads bhrātṝn mātṝḥ).

Verse 4 (7.54.4)

अपध्यास्यन्ति ये देव मृतांस्तेभ्यो बिभेम्यहम् । कृपणानां हि रुदतां ये पतन्त्यश्रुबिन्दवः ॥

apadhyāsyanti ye deva mṛtāṃstebhyo bibhemyaham | kṛpaṇānāṃ hi rudatāṃ ye patantyaśrubindavaḥ

when these are dead, those who will think ill of me over them, O God—of them I am afraid, and of the drops of tears that fall from the wretched as they weep.

Note on the text: CE Appendix I No. 8 (printed after 7.49.21), lines 138–139 (7.49.21d@008_0138–0139); line 1 differs from the critical edition (anudhyāsyanti ye deva mṛtāṃs teṣāṃ bibhemy aham), a recension variant; Wikisource's reading kept.

Verse 5 (7.54.5)

तेभ्योऽहं भगवन्भीता शरणं त्वाऽहमागता । यमस्य भवनं देव गच्छेयं न सुरोत्तम ॥

tebhyo'haṃ bhagavanbhītā śaraṇaṃ tvā'hamāgatā | yamasya bhavanaṃ deva gaccheyaṃ na surottama

Afraid of them, O Lord, I have come to you for refuge. O God, best of the gods, let me not go to the house of Yama.

Note on the text: CE Appendix I No. 8 (printed after 7.49.21), lines 140–141 (7.49.21d@008_0140–0141); line 1 differs from the critical edition (tebhyo hi balavad bhītā śaraṇaṃ tvāham āgatā), a recension variant; Wikisource's reading kept.

Verse 6 (7.54.6)

कायेन विनयोपेता मूर्ध्नोदग्रनखेन च । एतदिच्छाम्यहं कामं त्वत्तो लोकपितामह ॥

kāyena vinayopetā mūrdhnodagranakhena ca | etadicchāmyahaṃ kāmaṃ tvatto lokapitāmaha

Bowing my body in humility, with my head bent and my joined hands raised, I ask this wish of you, O Grandsire of the worlds.

Note on the text: CE Appendix I No. 8 (printed after 7.49.21), lines 142–143 (7.49.21d@008_0142–0143); line 1 differs from the critical edition (prasādaye tvā varada mūrdhnodagranakhena ca), a recension variant; Wikisource's reading kept (the page's commentary glosses उदग्रनखेन as अञ्जलिना, 'with joined palms').

Verse 7 (7.54.7)

इच्छेयं त्वत्प्रसादाद्धि तपस्तप्तुं प्रजेश्वर । प्रदिशेमं वरं देव त्वं मह्यं भगवन्प्रभो ॥

iccheyaṃ tvatprasādāddhi tapastaptuṃ prajeśvara | pradiśemaṃ varaṃ deva tvaṃ mahyaṃ bhagavanprabho

By your grace I wish to practise austerities, O lord of creatures. Grant me this boon, O God, O blessed Lord.

Note on the text: CE Appendix I No. 8 (printed after 7.49.21), lines 144–145 (7.49.21d@008_0144–0145).

Verse 8 (7.54.8)

त्वया ह्युक्ता गमिष्यामि धेनुकाश्रममुत्तमम् । तत्र तप्स्ये तपस्तीव्रं तवैवाराधने रता ॥

tvayā hyuktā gamiṣyāmi dhenukāśramamuttamam | tatra tapsye tapastīvraṃ tavaivārādhane ratā

With your leave I shall go to the excellent hermitage of Dhenuka. There, devoted to worshipping you alone, I shall perform fierce austerities.

Note on the text: CE Appendix I No. 8 (printed after 7.49.21), lines 146–147 (7.49.21d@008_0146–0147). Corrected तपस्तीत्रं → तपस्तीव्रं (misprint in Wikisource; व dropped to त, the critical edition reads tapas tīvraṃ).

Verse 9 (7.54.9)

न हि शक्ष्यामि देवेश प्राणान्प्राणभृतां प्रियान् । हर्तुं विलपमानानामधर्मादभिरक्ष माम् ॥

na hi śakṣyāmi deveśa prāṇānprāṇabhṛtāṃ priyān | hartuṃ vilapamānānāmadharmādabhirakṣa mām

For I cannot, O lord of gods, take away the lives dear to living beings while they cry out in grief. Protect me from unrighteousness.

Note on the text: CE Appendix I No. 8 (printed after 7.49.21), lines 148–149 (7.49.21d@008_0148–0149).

Verse 10 (7.54.10)

मृत्यो सङ्कल्पिताऽसि त्वं प्रजासंहारहेतुना । गच्छ संहर सर्वास्त्वं प्रजा मा ते विचारणा ॥

mṛtyo saṅkalpitā'si tvaṃ prajāsaṃhārahetunā | gaccha saṃhara sarvāstvaṃ prajā mā te vicāraṇā

Death, you were conceived for the purpose of destroying creatures. Go, take back all creatures; have no doubt about it.

Note on the text: CE Appendix I No. 8 (printed after 7.49.21), lines 150–151 (7.49.21d@008_0150–0151).

Verse 11 (7.54.11)

भविता त्वेतदेवं हि नैतज्जात्वन्यथा भवेत् । भव त्वनिन्दिता लोके कुरुष्व वचनं मम ॥

bhavitā tvetadevaṃ hi naitajjātvanyathā bhavet | bhava tvaninditā loke kuruṣva vacanaṃ mama

It will be so, and it can never be otherwise. Be blameless in the world, and do as I say.

Note on the text: CE Appendix I No. 8 (printed after 7.49.21), lines 152–153 (7.49.21d@008_0152–0153); line 2 reads भव त्वनिन्दिता where the critical edition has bhavatv aninditā (recension variant, Wikisource's reading kept).

Verse 12 (7.54.12)

एवमुक्ता भगवता प्राञ्जलिश्चाप्यवाङ्मुखी । संहारे नाकरोद्बुद्धिं प्रजानां हितकाम्यया ॥

evamuktā bhagavatā prāñjaliścāpyavāṅmukhī | saṃhāre nākarodbuddhiṃ prajānāṃ hitakāmyayā

Thus addressed by the Lord, she stood with joined palms and lowered face, and out of her wish for the welfare of creatures she did not set her mind on destruction.

Note on the text: CE Appendix I No. 8 (printed after 7.49.21), lines 154–155 (7.49.21d@008_0154–0155); line 1 differs from the critical edition (evam uktābhavadbhītā prāñjalir bhagavanmukhī), a recension variant; Wikisource's reading kept.

Verse 13 (7.54.13)

तूष्णीमासीत्तदा देवः प्रजानामीश्वरेश्वरः । प्रसादं चागमत्क्षिप्रमात्मनैव प्रजापतिः ॥

tūṣṇīmāsīttadā devaḥ prajānāmīśvareśvaraḥ | prasādaṃ cāgamatkṣipramātmanaiva prajāpatiḥ

Then the god, lord of the lords of creatures, fell silent; and the Prajapati quickly grew gracious of his own accord.

Note on the text: CE Appendix I No. 8 (printed after 7.49.21), lines 156–157 (7.49.21d@008_0156–0157); line 2 ends ātmanaiva prajāpatiḥ where the critical edition has ātmany eva pitāmahaḥ (recension variant).

Verse 14 (7.54.14)

स्मयमानश्च देवेशो लोकान्सर्वानवेक्ष्य च । लोकास्त्वासन्यथापूर्वं दृष्टास्तेनापमन्युना ॥

smayamānaśca deveśo lokānsarvānavekṣya ca | lokāstvāsanyathāpūrvaṃ dṛṣṭāstenāpamanyunā

Smiling, the lord of gods looked over all the worlds, and the worlds were as before, seen by him now that his anger was gone.

Note on the text: CE Appendix I No. 8 (printed after 7.49.21), lines 158–159 (7.49.21d@008_0158–0159); line 1 differs in its second half from the critical edition (lokeśo lokān sarvān avaikṣata), a recension variant.

Verse 15 (7.54.15)

निवृत्तरोषे तस्मिंस्तु भगवत्यपराजिते । सा कन्याऽपि जगामाऽथ समीपात्तस्य धीमतः ॥

nivṛttaroṣe tasmiṃstu bhagavatyaparājite | sā kanyā'pi jagāmā'tha samīpāttasya dhīmataḥ

When the invincible Lord's anger had subsided, the maiden too went away from the presence of that wise one.

Note on the text: CE Appendix I No. 8 (printed after 7.49.21), lines 160–161 (7.49.21d@008_0160–0161).

Verse 16 (7.54.16)

अपसृत्याप्रतिश्रुत्य प्रजासंहरणं तदा । त्वरमाणा च राजेन्द्र मृत्युर्धेनुकमभ्यगात् ॥

apasṛtyāpratiśrutya prajāsaṃharaṇaṃ tadā | tvaramāṇā ca rājendra mṛtyurdhenukamabhyagāt

Slipping away without promising to destroy creatures, Death hurried to Dhenuka, O king of kings.

Note on the text: CE Appendix I No. 8 (printed after 7.49.21), lines 162–163 (7.49.21d@008_0162–0163). Corrected अपमृत्याप्रतिश्रुत्य → अपसृत्याप्रतिश्रुत्य (misprint in Wikisource; म for स, the critical edition reads apasṛtyāpratiśrutya; the page's commentary glosses the second word as अनङ्गीकृत्य). Line 2 ends अभ्यगात् where the critical edition has abhyayāt.

Verse 17 (7.54.17)

सा तत्र परमं तीव्रं चचार व्रतमुत्तमम् । सा तदा ह्येकपादेन तस्थौ पद्मानि षोडश ॥

sā tatra paramaṃ tīvraṃ cacāra vratamuttamam | sā tadā hyekapādena tasthau padmāni ṣoḍaśa

There she undertook a supreme, fierce and excellent vow: she stood then on one foot for sixteen padmas,

Note on the text: CE Appendix I No. 8 (printed after 7.49.21), lines 164–165 (7.49.21d@008_0164–0165). Corrected तद → तदा (misprint in Wikisource; the long ā dropped, as the metre also needs); line 2 otherwise differs from the critical edition (samāhitaikapādena tasthau padmāni ṣoḍaśa), a recension variant.

Verse 18 (7.54.18)

पञ्च चाब्दानि कारुण्यात्प्रजानां तु हितैषिणी । इन्द्रियाणीन्द्रियार्थेभ्यः प्रियेभ्यः सन्निवर्त्य सा ॥

pañca cābdāni kāruṇyātprajānāṃ tu hitaiṣiṇī | indriyāṇīndriyārthebhyaḥ priyebhyaḥ sannivartya sā

and five years besides, out of compassion for creatures, wishing them well, drawing her senses back from their dear objects.

Note on the text: CE Appendix I No. 8 (printed after 7.49.21), lines 166–167 (7.49.21d@008_0166–0167); line 1 differs from the critical edition (pañca cānyāni kāruṇyāt prajānām abhayaiṣiṇī), a recension variant.

Verse 19 (7.54.19)

ततस्त्वेकेन पादेन पुनरन्यानि सप्त वै । तस्थौ पद्मानि षट् चैव सप्त चैकं च पार्थिव ॥

tatastvekena pādena punaranyāni sapta vai | tasthau padmāni ṣaṭ caiva sapta caikaṃ ca pārthiva

Then again, on one foot, she stood for seven more padmas—six padmas, and seven, and one besides—O king.

Note on the text: CE Appendix I No. 8 (printed after 7.49.21), lines 168–169 (7.49.21d@008_0168–0169). Corrected पार्थिवा → पार्थिव (misprint in Wikisource; a stray long ā, the vocative and the metre need पार्थिव, the critical edition reads pārthiva).

Verse 20 (7.54.20)

ततः पद्मायुतं तात मृगैः सह चचार सा । पुनर्गत्वा ततो नन्दां पुण्यां शीतामलोदकाम् ॥

tataḥ padmāyutaṃ tāta mṛgaiḥ saha cacāra sā | punargatvā tato nandāṃ puṇyāṃ śītāmalodakām

Then, dear one, she roamed with the deer for ten thousand padmas; and going on again to the holy Nanda, whose water is cool and clear,

Note on the text: CE Appendix I No. 8 (printed after 7.49.21), lines 170–171 (7.49.21d@008_0170–0171).

Verse 21 (7.54.21)

अप्सु वर्षसहस्राणि सप्त चैकं च साऽनयत् । धारयित्वा तु नियमं नन्दायां वीतकल्मषा ॥

apsu varṣasahasrāṇi sapta caikaṃ ca sā'nayat | dhārayitvā tu niyamaṃ nandāyāṃ vītakalmaṣā

she spent seven thousand years and one more in the water, keeping her vow at the Nanda, free from stain.

Note on the text: CE Appendix I No. 8 (printed after 7.49.21), lines 172–173 (7.49.21d@008_0172–0173).

Verse 22 (7.54.22)

सा पूर्वं कौशिकीं पुण्यां जगाम नियमैधिता । तत्र वायुजलाहारा चचार नियमं पुनः ॥

sā pūrvaṃ kauśikīṃ puṇyāṃ jagāma niyamaidhitā | tatra vāyujalāhārā cacāra niyamaṃ punaḥ

Earlier she had gone to the holy Kaushiki, growing in her observances; there, living on air and water, she again kept her vows.

Note on the text: CE Appendix I No. 8 (printed after 7.49.21), lines 174–175 (7.49.21d@008_0174–0175); each line differs in one word from the critical edition (niyame dhṛtā; niyutaṃ), recension variants.

Verse 23 (7.54.23)

सप्तगङ्गासु सा पुण्या कन्या वेतसकेषु च । तपोविशेषैर्बहुभिः कर्षयद्देहमात्मनः ॥

saptagaṅgāsu sā puṇyā kanyā vetasakeṣu ca | tapoviśeṣairbahubhiḥ karṣayaddehamātmanaḥ

At the Seven Gangas and among the cane thickets, that holy maiden wasted her body with many special austerities.

Note on the text: CE Appendix I No. 8 (printed after 7.49.21), lines 176–177 (7.49.21d@008_0176–0177); line 1 differs from the critical edition (pañcagaṅge ca sā puṇye), a recension variant.

Verse 24 (7.54.24)

ततो गत्वा तु सा गङ्गां महामेरुं च केवलम् । तस्थौ चाश्मेव निश्चेष्टा प्राणायामपरायणा ॥

tato gatvā tu sā gaṅgāṃ mahāmeruṃ ca kevalam | tasthau cāśmeva niśceṣṭā prāṇāyāmaparāyaṇā

Then she went to the Ganga and to great Meru alone, and stood motionless like a stone, intent on the control of breath.

Note on the text: CE Appendix I No. 8 (printed after 7.49.21), lines 178–179 (7.49.21d@008_0178–0179); line 1 differs from the critical edition (tato gatvā mahāgaṅgāṃ), a recension variant.

Verse 25 (7.54.25)

पुनर्हिमवतो मूर्ध्नि यत्र देवाः पुराऽयजन् । तत्राङ्गुष्ठेन सा तस्थौ निखर्वं परमा शुभा ॥

punarhimavato mūrdhni yatra devāḥ purā'yajan | tatrāṅguṣṭhena sā tasthau nikharvaṃ paramā śubhā

Again, on the summit of the Himalaya, where the gods once sacrificed, that supreme and gracious one stood on her big toe for a nikharva.

Note on the text: CE Appendix I No. 8 (printed after 7.49.21), lines 180–181 (7.49.21d@008_0180–0181). Corrected निखर्वंल → निखर्वं (stray ल in Wikisource; the critical edition reads nikharvaṃ paramā śubhā and the metre needs the shorter form).

Verse 26 (7.54.26)

पुष्करेष्वथ गोकर्णे नैमिषे मलये तथा । अकर्शयत्स्वकं देहं नियमैर्मानसप्रियैः ॥

puṣkareṣvatha gokarṇe naimiṣe malaye tathā | akarśayatsvakaṃ dehaṃ niyamairmānasapriyaiḥ

At Pushkara, Gokarna, Naimisha and Malaya too, she wasted her body with restraints dear to her heart.

Note on the text: CE Appendix I No. 8 (printed after 7.49.21), lines 182–183 (7.49.21d@008_0182–0183); line 2 ends मानसप्रियैः where the critical edition has manasaḥ priyaiḥ (recension variant).

Verse 27 (7.54.27)

अनन्यदेवता नित्यं दृढभक्ता पितामहे । तस्थौ पितामहं चैव तोषयामास धर्मतः ॥

ananyadevatā nityaṃ dṛḍhabhaktā pitāmahe | tasthau pitāmahaṃ caiva toṣayāmāsa dharmataḥ

Devoted to no other god, firm in her devotion to the Grandsire, she stood there and pleased the Grandsire by righteous means.

Note on the text: CE Appendix I No. 8 (printed after 7.49.21), lines 184–185 (7.49.21d@008_0184–0185).

Verse 28 (7.54.28)

ततस्तामब्रवीत्प्रीतो लोकानां प्रभवोऽव्ययः । सौम्येन मनसा राजन्प्रीतः प्रीतमनास्तदा ॥

tatastāmabravītprīto lokānāṃ prabhavo'vyayaḥ | saumyena manasā rājanprītaḥ prītamanāstadā

Then the imperishable source of the worlds, pleased, spoke to her, O king, with a gentle mind and a glad heart:

Note on the text: Line 1 is CE Appendix I No. 8 (printed after 7.49.21), line 186 (7.49.21d@008_0186); line 2 (सौम्येन मनसा राजन्प्रीतः प्रीतमनास्तदा) is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 29 (7.54.29)

मृत्यो किमिदमत्यन्तं तपांसि चरसीति ह । ततोऽब्रवीत्पुनर्मृत्युर्भगवन्तं पितामहम् ॥

mṛtyo kimidamatyantaṃ tapāṃsi carasīti ha | tato'bravītpunarmṛtyurbhagavantaṃ pitāmaham

'Death, why do you practise such extreme austerities?' Then Death answered the blessed Grandsire again:

Note on the text: CE Appendix I No. 8 (printed after 7.49.21), lines 187–188 (7.49.21d@008_0187–0188); line 1 reads atyantaṃ where the critical edition has atyartham. Line 1 is Brahma's question and line 2 is narration; the verse stays with the narrator.

Verse 30 (7.54.30)

नाऽहं हन्यां प्रजा देव स्वस्थाश्चाक्रोशतीस्तथा । एतदिच्छामि सर्वेश त्वत्तो वरमहं प्रभो ॥

nā'haṃ hanyāṃ prajā deva svasthāścākrośatīstathā | etadicchāmi sarveśa tvatto varamahaṃ prabho

O God, I will not kill creatures who are in health and cry out in protest. This is the boon I seek from you, O lord of all.

Note on the text: CE Appendix I No. 8 (printed after 7.49.21), lines 189–190 (7.49.21d@008_0189–0190). Speaker: the page prints no heading for this speech (the Narada heading before verse 12 is still in force), but the whole verse is Death's own speech to Brahma, so it is given to Mrityu.

Verse 31 (7.54.31)

अधर्मभयभीताऽस्मि ततोऽहं तप आस्थिता । भीतायास्तु महाभाग प्रयच्छाभयमव्यय ॥

adharmabhayabhītā'smi tato'haṃ tapa āsthitā | bhītāyāstu mahābhāga prayacchābhayamavyaya

I am afraid of unrighteousness, and therefore I have taken to austerity. O great one, O imperishable, grant fearlessness to me in my fear.

Note on the text: CE Appendix I No. 8 (printed after 7.49.21), lines 191–192 (7.49.21d@008_0191–0192). Speaker: the page prints no heading for this speech (the Narada heading before verse 12 is still in force), but the whole verse is Death's own speech, so it is given to Mrityu.

Verse 32 (7.54.32)

आर्ता चानागसी नारी याचामि भव मे गतिः । तामब्रवीत्ततो देवो भूतभव्यभविष्यवित् ॥

ārtā cānāgasī nārī yācāmi bhava me gatiḥ | tāmabravīttato devo bhūtabhavyabhaviṣyavit

'I am a woman, afflicted and without fault; I beg you: be my refuge.' Then the god who knows the past, the present and the future said to her:

Note on the text: CE Appendix I No. 8 (printed after 7.49.21), lines 193–194 (7.49.21d@008_0193–0194). Line 1 is Death's speech and line 2 is narration; the verse stays with the narrator.

Verse 33 (7.54.33)

अधर्मो नास्ति ते मृत्यो संहरन्त्या इमाः प्रजाः । मया चोक्तं मृषा भद्रे भविता न कथञ्चन ॥

adharmo nāsti te mṛtyo saṃharantyā imāḥ prajāḥ | mayā coktaṃ mṛṣā bhadre bhavitā na kathañcana

There is no unrighteousness for you, Death, in withdrawing these creatures. What I have said will not prove false in any way, good lady.

Note on the text: CE Appendix I No. 8 (printed after 7.49.21), lines 195–196 (7.49.21d@008_0195–0196). Speaker: the page prints no heading for this speech (the Narada heading before verse 12 is still in force), but the whole verse is Brahma's own speech, so it is given to Brahma.

Verse 34 (7.54.34)

तस्मात्संहर कल्याणि प्रजाः सर्वाश्चतुर्विधाः । धर्मः सनातनश्च त्वां सर्वथा पावयिष्यति ॥

tasmātsaṃhara kalyāṇi prajāḥ sarvāścaturvidhāḥ | dharmaḥ sanātanaśca tvāṃ sarvathā pāvayiṣyati

Therefore, auspicious one, withdraw all the four kinds of creatures; and eternal Dharma will purify you in every way.

Note on the text: CE Appendix I No. 8 (printed after 7.49.21), lines 197–198 (7.49.21d@008_0197–0198); line 2 differs from the critical edition (dharmaḥ sanātanaś ca tvā sarvathānupravekṣyati), a recension variant. Speaker: the page prints no heading for this speech (the Narada heading before verse 12 is still in force), but the whole verse is Brahma's speech, so it is given to Brahma.

Verse 35 (7.54.35)

लोकपालो यमश्चैव सहाया व्याधयश्च ते । अहं च विबुधाश्चैव पुनर्दास्याम ते वरम् ॥

lokapālo yamaścaiva sahāyā vyādhayaśca te | ahaṃ ca vibudhāścaiva punardāsyāma te varam

The Guardian of the World, Yama, and the diseases will be your helpers; and I and the gods will give you another boon,

Note on the text: CE Appendix I No. 8 (printed after 7.49.21), lines 199–200 (7.49.21d@008_0199–0200); line 1 ends व्याधयश्च ते where the critical edition has vyādhayas tathā. Speaker: the page prints no heading for this speech (the Narada heading before verse 12 is still in force), but the whole verse is Brahma's speech, so it is given to Brahma.

Verse 36 (7.54.36)

यथा त्वमेनसा मुक्ता विरजाः ख्यातिमेष्यसि ॥

yathā tvamenasā muktā virajāḥ khyātimeṣyasi

so that you may be freed from sin, become stainless, and win renown.

Note on the text: CE Appendix I No. 8 (printed after 7.49.21), line 201 (7.49.21d@008_0201). The page's verse (rows 5-54-36a, 36b, 37a, 37b: one verse by its end-marks) is split here at the heading नारद उवाच printed before its second line; the input had joined this line with the next one as its verse 36. This line still belongs to Brahma's speech (it finishes the sentence of verse 35), although the heading in force on the page is Narada's.

Verse 37 (7.54.37)

सैवमुक्ता महाराज कृताञ्जलिरिदं विभुम् । पुनरेवाब्रवीद्वाक्यं प्रसाद्य शिरसा तदा । यद्येवमेतत्कर्तव्यं धर्मतो नास्त्यतो भयम् ॥

saivamuktā mahārāja kṛtāñjaliridaṃ vibhum | punarevābravīdvākyaṃ prasādya śirasā tadā | yadyevametatkartavyaṃ dharmato nāstyato bhayam

Thus addressed, O great king, she folded her hands and bowed her head, and having propitiated the Lord, spoke these words to him again: 'If this must be done in this way, then there is no fear from it, since it accords with dharma.'

Note on the text: CE Appendix I No. 8 (printed after 7.49.21), lines 202–204 (7.49.21d@008_0202–0204). Rebuilt from the raw page: this is rows 5-54-36b, 37a and 37b, the part of the page's four-line verse after the heading नारद उवाच (the input had put the first of these lines with the previous line and made the other two its verse 37). Line 3 differs from the critical edition (yady evam etat kartavyaṃ mayā na syād vinā prabho), a recension variant.

Verse 38 (7.54.38)

तवाज्ञा मूर्ध्नि मे न्यस्ता यत्ते वक्ष्यामि तच्छृणु । लोभः क्रोधोऽभ्यसूयेर्ष्या द्रोहो मोहश्च देहिनां ॥

tavājñā mūrdhni me nyastā yatte vakṣyāmi tacchṛṇu | lobhaḥ krodho'bhyasūyerṣyā droho mohaśca dehināṃ

Your command is set on my head; hear what I shall say. Greed, anger, envy, jealousy, malice and delusion of embodied beings,

Note on the text: CE Appendix I No. 8 (printed after 7.49.21), lines 205–206 (7.49.21d@008_0205–0206). Speaker: the heading in force on the page is Narada's, but the whole verse is Death's own speech to Brahma, so it is given to Mrityu.

Verse 39 (7.54.39)

अह्रीश्चान्योन्यपरुषा देहं भिन्द्युः पृथग्विधाः ॥

ahrīścānyonyaparuṣā dehaṃ bhindyuḥ pṛthagvidhāḥ

and shamelessness and harsh words against one another, of many kinds—these will break their bodies.

Note on the text: CE Appendix I No. 8 (printed after 7.49.21), line 207 (7.49.21d@008_0207). This is row 5-54-39a of the page, a single line printed before the heading ब्रह्मोवाच; the page's verse-end mark falls after the two lines that follow the heading, so this line and the next verse are one page verse split at the heading (both keep the number 39). Corrected अहूश्चान्योन्यपरुषा → अह्रीश्चान्योन्यपरुषा (misprint in Wikisource; ह्री broken to हू, the critical edition reads ahrīś cānyonyaparuṣā) and पृथिग्वधाः → पृथग्विधाः (misprint in Wikisource; the vowel sign misplaced, the critical edition reads pṛthagvidhāḥ). Speaker: this line completes Death's speech (verse 38), so it is given to Mrityu, not to the Narada heading in force on the page.

Verse 40 (7.54.40)

तथा भविष्यते मृत्यो साधु संहर भोः प्रजाः । अधर्मस्ते न भविता नापध्यास्याम्यहं शुभे ॥

tathā bhaviṣyate mṛtyo sādhu saṃhara bhoḥ prajāḥ | adharmaste na bhavitā nāpadhyāsyāmyahaṃ śubhe

So it shall be, Death. Well then, withdraw the creatures. You will incur no unrighteousness, and I shall not hold it against you, gentle one.

Note on the text: CE Appendix I No. 8 (printed after 7.49.21), lines 208–209 (7.49.21d@008_0208–0209); line 1 reads भोः where the critical edition has vai. The page prints the heading ब्रह्मोवाच before this verse (the second part of the page's verse 39).

Verse 41 (7.54.41)

यान्यश्रुबिन्दूनि करे ममासंस् । ते व्याधयः प्राणिनामात्मजाताः । ते मारयिष्यन्ति नरान्गतासून् । नाधर्मस्ते भविता मा स्म भैषीः ॥

yānyaśrubindūni kare mamāsaṃs | te vyādhayaḥ prāṇināmātmajātāḥ | te mārayiṣyanti narāngatāsūn | nādharmaste bhavitā mā sma bhaiṣīḥ

The drops of tears that lay in my hand will be the diseases, born of the creatures themselves. They will put to death men whose breath is spent. You will incur no unrighteousness; do not be afraid.

Note on the text: CE Appendix I No. 8 (printed after 7.49.21), lines 210–213 (7.49.21d@008_0210–0213) (line 1 differs: kare samāsate, a recension variant). Removed the page's double hyphens (--) that split the words ममासंस्ते and गतासून्नाधर्मः across lines, and moved the sandhi consonants to the end of lines 1 and 3 (ममासंस् | ते, गतासून् | नाधर्मः). The four lines are the critical edition's four lines.

Verse 42 (7.54.42)

नाधर्मस्ते भविता प्राणिनां वै । त्वं वै धर्मस्त्वं हि धर्मस्य चेशा । धर्म्या भूत्वा धर्मनित्या धरित्री । तस्मात्प्राणान्सर्वथेमान्नियच्छ ॥

nādharmaste bhavitā prāṇināṃ vai | tvaṃ vai dharmastvaṃ hi dharmasya ceśā | dharmyā bhūtvā dharmanityā dharitrī | tasmātprāṇānsarvathemānniyaccha

No unrighteousness will be yours in the case of creatures. You are Dharma; you are the mistress of Dharma. Righteous, ever devoted to dharma, the supporter of the earth—therefore rein in these lives in every way.

Note on the text: CE Appendix I No. 8 (printed after 7.49.21), lines 214–217 (7.49.21d@008_0214–0217); line 1 differs from the critical edition (dharmo mṛtyo māraṇe prāṇināṃ te), a recension variant. The four lines are the critical edition's four lines.

Verse 43 (7.54.43)

सर्वेषां वै प्राणिनां कामरोषौ । सन्त्यज्य त्वं संहरस्वेह जीवान् । एवं धर्मस्ते भविष्यत्यनन्तो । मिथ्यावृत्तं मारयिष्यत्यधर्मः ॥

sarveṣāṃ vai prāṇināṃ kāmaroṣau | santyajya tvaṃ saṃharasveha jīvān | evaṃ dharmaste bhaviṣyatyananto | mithyāvṛttaṃ mārayiṣyatyadharmaḥ

Giving up desire and anger toward all creatures, withdraw living beings here. Thus your dharma will be unending; Adharma will destroy the one who lives falsely.

Note on the text: Restored from the critical edition: the page prints only the last line of this verse, as row 5-54-42f (the five blank rows above it show that its lines 42a–e were lost). Lines 1–3 (सर्वेषां वै प्राणिनां कामरोषौ / सन्त्यज्य त्वं संहरस्वेह जीवान् / एवं धर्मस्ते भविष्यत्यनन्तो) are restored from CE Appendix I No. 8, lines 218–220 (7.49.21d@008_0218–0220), the lines that stand between the previous verse and this one there; I could not recover any further lost lines. Line 4 is the page's row 42f, CE line 221 (mithyāvṛttān mārayiṣyaty adharmaḥ); Wikisource's मिथ्यावृत्तं kept as a recension variant. Speech of Brahma (no heading printed).

Verse 44 (7.54.44)

तेनात्मानं पावयस्वात्मना त्वं । पापेऽऽत्मानं मज्जयिष्यन्त्यसत्यात् । तस्मात्कामं रोषमप्यागतं त्वं । सन्त्यज्यान्तः संहरस्वेति जीवान् ॥

tenātmānaṃ pāvayasvātmanā tvaṃ | pāpe''tmānaṃ majjayiṣyantyasatyāt | tasmātkāmaṃ roṣamapyāgataṃ tvaṃ | santyajyāntaḥ saṃharasveti jīvān

By this, purify yourself by your own self. Those who lack truth will sink themselves in sin. Therefore, casting off desire and anger even when they come upon you, withdraw living beings from within.

Note on the text: CE Appendix I No. 8 (printed after 7.49.21), lines 222–225 (7.49.21d@008_0222–0225); line 2 (pāpe ''tmānaṃ majjayiṣyanty asattvāḥ) and line 4 (saṃtyajyātaḥ saṃharasveha jīvān) differ slightly from the critical edition, recension variants. Speech of Brahma (heading ब्रह्मोवाच before verse 40).

Verse 45 (7.54.45)

सा वै भीमा मृत्युसंज्ञोपदेशाच् । छापाद्भीता बाढमित्यब्रवीत्तम् । सा च प्राणं प्राणिनामन्तकाले । कामक्रोधौ त्यज्य हरत्यसक्ता ॥

sā vai bhīmā mṛtyusaṃjñopadeśāc | chāpādbhītā bāḍhamityabravīttam | sā ca prāṇaṃ prāṇināmantakāle | kāmakrodhau tyajya haratyasaktā

Afraid of the curse and of the instruction that named her Death, that dreadful one said to him, 'So be it.' And at the end of life she takes the breath of living beings, casting off desire and anger, unattached.

Note on the text: CE Appendix I No. 8 (printed after 7.49.21), lines 226–229 (7.49.21d@008_0226–0229) (line 1 reads sā vai bhīmā where the critical edition has sā vai bhītā; line 3 reads प्राणं for prāṇān; recension variants). Removed the page's double hyphen (--) that splits मृत्युसंज्ञोपदेशाच्छापाद् across lines 1 and 2 and moved the च् to the end of line 1 (मृत्युसंज्ञोपदेशाच् | छापाद्भीता). Narration of Narada (heading नारद उवाच before this verse).

Verse 46 (7.54.46)

मृत्युस्त्वेषां व्याधयस्तत्प्रसूता । व्याधी रोगो रुज्यते येन जन्तुः । सर्वेषां च प्राणिनां प्रायणान्ते । तस्माच्छोकं माकृथा निष्फलं त्वम् ॥

mṛtyustveṣāṃ vyādhayastatprasūtā | vyādhī rogo rujyate yena jantuḥ | sarveṣāṃ ca prāṇināṃ prāyaṇānte | tasmācchokaṃ mākṛthā niṣphalaṃ tvam

For these creatures, Death and the diseases born of her are the same. 'Disease' is that by which a creature is racked with pain; it comes at the end of life for all beings. Therefore do not grieve in vain.

Note on the text: Lines 1–3 are CE Appendix I No. 8 (printed after 7.49.21), lines 230–232 (7.49.21d@008_0230–0232) (line 3 reads सर्वेषां च for sarveṣāṃ vai); line 4 (तस्माच्छोकं माकृथा निष्फलं त्वम्) is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 47 (7.54.47)

सर्वे देवाः प्राणिभिः प्रायणान्ते । गत्वा वृत्ताः सन्निवृत्तास्तथैव । एवं सर्वे प्राणिनस्तत्र गत्वा । वृत्ता देवा मर्त्यवद्राजसिंह ॥

sarve devāḥ prāṇibhiḥ prāyaṇānte | gatvā vṛttāḥ sannivṛttāstathaiva | evaṃ sarve prāṇinastatra gatvā | vṛttā devā martyavadrājasiṃha

All the gods go along with living beings at the end of their lives and return in the same way. Thus all beings go there and live on, and the gods too, O lion among kings, fare as mortals do.

Note on the text: Only line 2 corresponds to the critical edition (CE Appendix I No. 8, line 233, 7.49.21d@008_0233: prāṇā gatvā saṃnivṛttās tathaiva, a variant); lines 1, 3 and 4 are not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension). The page's commentary reads देवाः here as the senses (इन्द्रियाणि).

Verse 48 (7.54.48)

वायुर्भीमो भीमनादो महौजा । भेत्ता देहान्प्राणिनां सर्वगोऽसौ । नो वा वृत्तिं कदाचित् । प्राप्नोत्युग्रोऽनन्ततेजोविशिष्टः ॥

vāyurbhīmo bhīmanādo mahaujā | bhettā dehānprāṇināṃ sarvago'sau | no vā vṛttiṃ kadācit | prāpnotyugro'nantatejoviśiṣṭaḥ

The Wind, terrible, of dreadful roar and great vigour, who breaks the bodies of creatures and goes everywhere, fierce and surpassing in boundless splendour, never comes to rest.

Note on the text: CE Appendix I No. 8 (printed after 7.49.21), lines 234–237 (7.49.21d@008_0234–0237) (line 3 reads नो वा वृत्तिं कदाचित् for naivāvṛttiṃ nānuvṛttiṃ kadā cit; line 4 ends -तेजो- for -tejā; recension variants). Removed the page's double hyphen (--) that splits कदाचित्प्राप्नोति across lines 3 and 4 and moved the त् to the end of line 3 (कदाचित् | प्राप्नोत्युग्रः…).

Verse 49 (7.54.49)

सर्वे देवा मर्त्यसंज्ञाविशिष्टास् । तस्मात्पुत्रं माशुचो राजसिंह । स्वर्गं प्राप्तो मोदते ते तनूजो । नित्यं रम्यान्वीरलोकानवाप्य ॥

sarve devā martyasaṃjñāviśiṣṭās | tasmātputraṃ māśuco rājasiṃha | svargaṃ prāpto modate te tanūjo | nityaṃ ramyānvīralokānavāpya

Even all the gods bear the name of mortals. Therefore do not grieve for your son, O lion among kings. Your son has gone to heaven and rejoices there, having reached forever the delightful worlds of heroes.

Note on the text: CE Appendix I No. 8 (printed after 7.49.21), lines 238–241 (7.49.21d@008_0238–0241) (line 3 reads ते तनूजो for tvattanūjo, a variant). Removed the page's double hyphen (--) that splits -विशिष्टास्तस्मात् across lines 1 and 2 and moved the स् to the end of line 1.

Verse 50 (7.54.50)

त्यक्त्वा दुःखं सङ्गतः पुण्यकृद्भिर् । एषा मृत्युर्देवदिष्टा प्रजानाम् । प्राप्ते काले संहरन्ती यथावत् । स्वयं कृता प्राणहरा प्रजानाम् ॥

tyaktvā duḥkhaṃ saṅgataḥ puṇyakṛdbhir | eṣā mṛtyurdevadiṣṭā prajānām | prāpte kāle saṃharantī yathāvat | svayaṃ kṛtā prāṇaharā prajānām

Having cast off sorrow, he has joined the doers of righteous deeds. This Death was ordained by the gods for creatures; when the time comes she withdraws them in due order, and she is of their own making, the taker of the breath of creatures.

Note on the text: CE Appendix I No. 8 (printed after 7.49.21), lines 242–245 (7.49.21d@008_0242–0245) (line 3 reads संहरन्ती for saṃharitrī, a variant). Removed the page's double hyphens (--) that split the words across lines 1–2 and 3–4 and moved the र् and त् to the end of lines 1 and 3 (पुण्यकृद्भिर् | एषा, यथावत् | स्वयं).

Verse 51 (7.54.51)

आत्मानं वै प्राणिनो घ्नन्ति सर्वे । नैनं मृत्युर्दण्डपाणिर्हिनस्ति । तस्मान्मृतान्नानुशोचन्ति धीराः । तत्त्वं ज्ञात्वा निश्चयं ब्रह्मसृष्टम् । पुत्रान्नष्टाच्छोकमाशु त्यजस्व ॥

ātmānaṃ vai prāṇino ghnanti sarve | nainaṃ mṛtyurdaṇḍapāṇirhinasti | tasmānmṛtānnānuśocanti dhīrāḥ | tattvaṃ jñātvā niścayaṃ brahmasṛṣṭam | putrānnaṣṭācchokamāśu tyajasva

All living beings slay themselves; Death with the rod in her hand does not strike them. Therefore the steadfast do not mourn the dead, knowing the truth, the settled order made by Brahma. Quickly give up your grief for your lost son.

Note on the text: Restored from the critical edition: the page prints only one line of this verse, as row 5-54-50f (the five blank rows above it show that its lines 50a–e were lost). Lines 1–4 (आत्मानं वै प्राणिनो घ्नन्ति सर्वे / नैनं मृत्युर्दण्डपाणिर्हिनस्ति / तस्मान्मृतान्नानुशोचन्ति धीराः / तत्त्वं ज्ञात्वा निश्चयं ब्रह्मसृष्टम्) are restored from CE Appendix I No. 8, lines 246–249 (7.49.21d@008_0246–0249), the lines that follow the previous verse there; the visarga of धीराः is written in full where the critical edition has the sandhi form dhīrās. Line 5 is the page's row 50f, which is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension). I could not tell how many of the verse's lost lines the critical edition's four correspond to, so the restored verse has five lines.

Verse 52 (7.54.52)

एतच्छ्रुत्वार्थवद्वाक्यं नारदेन प्रकाशितम् । उवाचाकम्पनो राजा सखायं नारदं तथा ॥

etacchrutvārthavadvākyaṃ nāradena prakāśitam | uvācākampano rājā sakhāyaṃ nāradaṃ tathā

Hearing these meaningful words proclaimed by Narada, King Akampana said to his friend Narada:

Note on the text: CE Appendix I No. 8 (printed after 7.49.21), lines 250–251 (7.49.21d@008_0250–0251); line 2 ends नारदं तथा where the critical edition has nāradaṃ tadā. Speaker: the page's heading द्वैपायन उवाच (before this verse) is kept: Vyasa is telling Yudhishthira how the tale ended.

Verse 53 (7.54.53)

व्यपेतशोकः प्रीतोऽस्मि भगवन्नृषिसत्तम । श्रुत्वेतिहासं त्वत्तस्तु कृतार्थोऽस्म्यभिवादये ॥

vyapetaśokaḥ prīto'smi bhagavannṛṣisattama | śrutvetihāsaṃ tvattastu kṛtārtho'smyabhivādaye

My grief is gone and I am glad, O blessed one, best of sages. Having heard the ancient tale from you, I have attained my purpose; I salute you.

Note on the text: CE Appendix I No. 8 (printed after 7.49.21), lines 252–253 (7.49.21d@008_0252–0253); line 2 reads त्वत्तस्तु for tvatto 'dya. The page prints no speaker heading here, but the whole verse is King Akampana's own speech to Narada, so it is given to Akampana.

Verse 54 (7.54.54)

तथोक्तो नारदस्तेन राज्ञा देवर्षिसत्तमः । जगाम नन्दनं शीघ्रमशोकवनमात्मनः ॥

tathokto nāradastena rājñā devarṣisattamaḥ | jagāma nandanaṃ śīghramaśokavanamātmanaḥ

Thus addressed by the king, Narada, best of divine sages, went quickly to Nandana, to his own Ashoka grove.

Note on the text: CE Appendix I No. 8 (printed after 7.49.21), lines 254–255 (7.49.21d@008_0254–0255); line 1 ends देवर्षिसत्तमः where the critical edition has ṛṣivarottamaḥ, and line 2 ends -मशोकवनमात्मनः where it has devarṣir amitātmavān (recension variants).

Verse 55 (7.54.55)

पुण्यं यशस्यं स्वर्ग्यं च धन्यमायुष्यमेव च । अस्येतिहासस्य सदा श्रवणं श्रावणं तथा ॥

puṇyaṃ yaśasyaṃ svargyaṃ ca dhanyamāyuṣyameva ca | asyetihāsasya sadā śravaṇaṃ śrāvaṇaṃ tathā

To hear this tale, and to have it told, is always meritorious, brings renown, leads to heaven, brings prosperity and long life.

Note on the text: CE Appendix I No. 8 (printed after 7.49.21), lines 256–257 (7.49.21d@008_0256–0257).

Verse 56 (7.54.56)

एतदर्थपदं श्रुत्वा तदा राजा युधिष्ठिर । क्षत्रधर्मं च विज्ञाय शूराणां च परां गतिम् । सम्प्राप्तोऽसौ महावीर्यः स्वर्गलोकं महारथः ॥

etadarthapadaṃ śrutvā tadā rājā yudhiṣṭhira | kṣatradharmaṃ ca vijñāya śūrāṇāṃ ca parāṃ gatim | samprāpto'sau mahāvīryaḥ svargalokaṃ mahārathaḥ

Now that you, King Yudhishthira, have heard this telling and understood the dharma of the kshatriya and the supreme goal of heroes: that mighty great chariot-warrior has reached the world of heaven.

Note on the text: CE Appendix I No. 8 (printed after 7.49.21), lines 258–260 (7.49.21d@008_0258–0260); line 1 reads तदा राजा युधिष्ठिर where the critical edition has vijñāya tvaṃ ca pāṇḍava (recension variant).

Verse 57 (7.54.57)

अभिमन्युः परान्हत्वा प्रमुखे सर्वधन्विनाम् । युध्यमानो महेष्वासो हतः सोऽभिमुखो रणे ॥

abhimanyuḥ parānhatvā pramukhe sarvadhanvinām | yudhyamāno maheṣvāso hataḥ so'bhimukho raṇe

Abhimanyu, having slain enemies in front of all the archers, fought on, the great bowman, and was slain facing the foe in battle,

Note on the text: CE Appendix I No. 8 (printed after 7.49.21), lines 261–262 (7.49.21d@008_0261–0262).

Verse 58 (7.54.58)

असिना गदया शक्त्या धनुषा च महारथः । विरजाः सोमसूनुः स पुनस्तत्र प्रलीयते ॥

asinā gadayā śaktyā dhanuṣā ca mahārathaḥ | virajāḥ somasūnuḥ sa punastatra pralīyate

that great warrior, with sword, mace, spear and bow—the stainless son of Soma—merges again there.

Note on the text: Line 1 is CE Appendix I No. 8 (printed after 7.49.21), line 263 (7.49.21d@008_0263); line 2 (विरजाः सोमसूनुः स पुनस्तत्र प्रलीयते) is not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension).

Verse 59 (7.54.59)

तस्मात्परां धृतिं कृत्वा भ्रातृभिः सह पाण्डव । अप्रमत्तः सुसन्नद्धः शीघ्रं योद्धुमुपाक्रम ॥

tasmātparāṃ dhṛtiṃ kṛtvā bhrātṛbhiḥ saha pāṇḍava | apramattaḥ susannaddhaḥ śīghraṃ yoddhumupākrama

Therefore, son of Pandu, gather the highest fortitude with your brothers, and go quickly, alert and well armed, to fight.

Note on the text: CE Appendix I No. 8 (printed after 7.49.21), lines 264–265 (7.49.21d@008_0264–0265); the critical edition's speaker label (Sanjaya) after line 265 begins the text of the next adhyaya.