Dattatreya and the Boons of Kartavirya Arjuna

Verse 1 (2.48.1)

विष्णोः पुनर्महाभागः प्रादुर्भावो महात्मनः । दत्तात्रेय इति ख्यात ऋषिरासीन्महायशाः ॥

viṣṇoḥ punarmahābhāgaḥ prādurbhāvo mahātmanaḥ | dattātreya iti khyāta ṛṣirāsīnmahāyaśāḥ

Again there was a most blessed manifestation of the great-souled Vishnu: a seer of great renown, known as Dattatreya.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I.21 (after 2.35.29), lines 375–376.

Verse 2 (2.48.2)

तेन नष्टेषु वेदेषु क्रियासु च मखेषु च । चातुर्वर्ण्ये च सङ्कीर्णे धर्मे शिथिलतां गते ॥

tena naṣṭeṣu vedeṣu kriyāsu ca makheṣu ca | cāturvarṇye ca saṅkīrṇe dharme śithilatāṃ gate

When the Vedas had been lost, along with the rites and the sacrifices, when the four classes had become confused and dharma had grown slack,

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I.21 (after 2.35.29), lines 377–378.

Verse 3 (2.48.3)

अभिवर्धति चाधर्मे सत्ये नष्टे स्थितेऽनृते । प्रजासु क्षीयमाणासु धर्मे चामूलतां गते ॥

abhivardhati cādharme satye naṣṭe sthite'nṛte | prajāsu kṣīyamāṇāsu dharme cāmūlatāṃ gate

when unrighteousness was growing, truth had perished and falsehood stood firm, when the people were dwindling and dharma had lost its roots,

Note on the text: Corrected अभवर्धति → अभिवर्धति (misprint in Wikisource; "was increasing"; the CE appendix reads abhivardhati). Corrected चामूलतां पते → चामूलतां गते (misprint in Wikisource; पते is not a word here; the parallel phrase in verse 2 and the CE appendix read gate). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I.21 (after 2.35.29), lines 379–380.

Verse 4 (2.48.4)

सयज्ञाः सक्रिया वेदाः प्रत्यानीता हि तेन वै । चातुर्वर्ण्यमसङ्कीर्णं कृतं तेन महात्मना ॥

sayajñāḥ sakriyā vedāḥ pratyānītā hi tena vai | cāturvarṇyamasaṅkīrṇaṃ kṛtaṃ tena mahātmanā

it was he who brought back the Vedas together with their sacrifices and rites, and the great-souled one made the four classes distinct once more.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I.21 (after 2.35.29), lines 381–382.

Verse 5 (2.48.5)

स एव वै यदा प्रादाद्धैहयाधिपतेर्वरम् । तं हैहयानामधिपस्त्वर्जुनोऽभिप्रसादयन् ॥

sa eva vai yadā prādāddhaihayādhipatervaram | taṃ haihayānāmadhipastvarjuno'bhiprasādayan

It was he who granted a boon to the lord of the Haihayas, when Arjuna, king of the Haihayas, sought to win his favour.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I.21 (after 2.35.29), lines 383–384.

Verse 6 (2.48.6)

वनं पर्यचरन्सम्यक्छुश्रूषुरनसूयकः । निर्ममो निरहङ्कारो दीर्घकालमतोषयत् ॥

vanaṃ paryacaransamyakchuśrūṣuranasūyakaḥ | nirmamo nirahaṅkāro dīrghakālamatoṣayat

Attending on him faithfully in the forest, obedient and free of envy, without possessiveness or pride, he pleased him over a long time.

Note on the text: Corrected रनुसूयकः → रनसूयकः (misprint in Wikisource; "free of envy"; anusūyaka is not a word, the CE appendix reads anasūyakaḥ). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I.21 (after 2.35.29), lines 385–386.

Verse 7 (2.48.7)

आराध्य दत्तात्रेयं हि अगृह्णात्स वरानिमान् । आप्तादाप्ततरान्विप्राद्विद्वान्विद्वन्निषेवितात् ॥

ārādhya dattātreyaṃ hi agṛhṇātsa varānimān | āptādāptatarānviprādvidvānvidvanniṣevitāt

Having won Dattatreya's favour, the wise king received these boons from that brahmin, the most trustworthy of the trustworthy, honoured by the learned.

Note on the text: Corrected अगृङ्णात् → अगृह्णात् (misprint in Wikisource; broken conjunct in the imperfect of grah; the CE appendix reads agṛhṇāt). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I.21 (after 2.35.29), lines 387–388.

Verse 8 (2.48.8)

ऋतेऽमरत्वं विप्रेण दत्तात्रेयेण धीमता । वरैश्चतुर्भिः प्रवृत इमान्वव्रे वरान्नृपः ॥

ṛte'maratvaṃ vipreṇa dattātreyeṇa dhīmatā | varaiścaturbhiḥ pravṛta imānvavre varānnṛpaḥ

Offered four boons by the wise brahmin Dattatreya, anything but immortality, the king chose these boons:

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I.21 (after 2.35.29), lines 389–390.

Verse 9 (2.48.9)

श्रीमान्मनस्वी बलवान्सत्यवागनसूयकः । सहस्रबाहुर्भूयासमेषु मे प्रथमो वरः ॥

śrīmānmanasvī balavānsatyavāganasūyakaḥ | sahasrabāhurbhūyāsameṣu me prathamo varaḥ

"May I be glorious, high-minded, strong, truthful in speech and free of envy, and have a thousand arms: this is my first boon.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I.21 (after 2.35.29), lines 391–392.

Verse 10 (2.48.10)

जरायुजाण्डजं सर्वं सर्वं चैव चराचरम् । शास्तुमिच्छामि धर्मेण द्वितीयस्त्वेष मे वरः ॥

jarāyujāṇḍajaṃ sarvaṃ sarvaṃ caiva carācaram | śāstumicchāmi dharmeṇa dvitīyastveṣa me varaḥ

I wish to rule by dharma all that is born from the womb and from the egg, everything moving and unmoving: this is my second boon.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I.21 (after 2.35.29), lines 393–394.

Verse 11 (2.48.11)

पितृन्देवानृषीन्विप्रान्यजेयं विपुलैर्मखैः । अमित्रांश्च शितैर्बाणैस्तृतीयो वर एष मे ॥

pitṛndevānṛṣīnviprānyajeyaṃ vipulairmakhaiḥ | amitrāṃśca śitairbāṇaistṛtīyo vara eṣa me

May I worship the ancestors, the gods, the seers and the brahmins with abundant sacrifices, and my enemies with sharp arrows: this is my third boon.

Note on the text: Corrected व्रर → वर (misprint in Wikisource; doubled र; "boon"). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I.21 (after 2.35.29), lines 395–397 (Wikisource has two lines where the appendix has three).

Verse 12 (2.48.12)

यस्य नासीन्न भविता न चास्ति सदृशः पुमान् । इह वा दिवि वा लोके स मे हन्ता भवेदिति ॥

yasya nāsīnna bhavitā na cāsti sadṛśaḥ pumān | iha vā divi vā loke sa me hantā bhavediti

He whose equal has never been, never will be and is not now, in this world or in heaven, may he be my slayer."

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I.21 (after 2.35.29), lines 398–399.

Verse 13 (2.48.13)

सोऽर्जुनः कृतवीर्यस्य वरः पुत्रोऽभवद्युधि । स सहस्रं सहस्राणां माहिष्मत्यामवर्धत ॥

so'rjunaḥ kṛtavīryasya varaḥ putro'bhavadyudhi | sa sahasraṃ sahasrāṇāṃ māhiṣmatyāmavardhata

That Arjuna, the excellent son of Kritavirya, became mighty in battle; at Mahishmati he prospered, lord of a thousand thousands.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I.21 (after 2.35.29), lines 400–401.

Verse 14 (2.48.14)

स भूमिमखिलां जित्वा द्वीपांश्चापि समुद्रिणः । नभसीवाज्वलत्सूर्यः पुण्यैः कर्मभिरर्जुनः ॥

sa bhūmimakhilāṃ jitvā dvīpāṃścāpi samudriṇaḥ | nabhasīvājvalatsūryaḥ puṇyaiḥ karmabhirarjunaḥ

Having conquered the whole earth and the islands in the ocean, Arjuna blazed by his meritorious deeds like the sun in the sky.

Note on the text: Corrected कर्मभिर्जुनः → कर्मभिरर्जुनः (misprint in Wikisource; dropped र of अर्जुनः; the CE appendix reads karmabhir arjunaḥ). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I.21 (after 2.35.29), lines 402–403.

Verse 15 (2.48.15)

इन्द्रद्वीपं कशेरुं च कामद्वीपं गभस्तिमत् । गन्धर्ववरुणद्वीपं सौहृष्टममितप्रभः ॥

indradvīpaṃ kaśeruṃ ca kāmadvīpaṃ gabhastimat | gandharvavaruṇadvīpaṃ sauhṛṣṭamamitaprabhaḥ

Indradvipa, Kasheru, Kamadvipa, Gabhastimat, the Gandharva and Varuna islands, and Sauhrishta: the hero of boundless splendour

Note on the text: Corrected गभस्तितम् → गभस्तिमत् (misprint in Wikisource; the island is Gabhastimat; the CE appendix reads gabhastimat). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I.21 (after 2.35.29), lines 404–405. Wikisource's कामद्वीपं and सौहृष्टम् (the appendix reads tāmradvīpaṃ and saumyārṣam) are kept as printed.

Verse 16 (2.48.16)

पूर्वैरजितपूर्वांश्च द्वीपानजयदर्जुनः । इदं तु कार्तवीर्यस्य बभूवासदृशं जनैः ॥

pūrvairajitapūrvāṃśca dvīpānajayadarjunaḥ | idaṃ tu kārtavīryasya babhūvāsadṛśaṃ janaiḥ

these islands, never conquered by those before him, Arjuna conquered. And this was Kartavirya's alone, unmatched among men:

Note on the text: Corrected द्वीपनजयदर्जुनः → द्वीपानजयदर्जुनः (misprint in Wikisource; accusative plural dvīpān; the CE appendix reads dvīpān ajayad). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I.21 (after 2.35.29), lines 406 and 421. The appendix gives the second line later (line 421), after the passage on his rule.

Verse 17 (2.48.17)

न पूर्वे नापरे तस्य गमिष्यन्ति गतिं नृपाः । यदर्णवे प्रयातस्य वस्त्रं न परिषिच्यते ॥

na pūrve nāpare tasya gamiṣyanti gatiṃ nṛpāḥ | yadarṇave prayātasya vastraṃ na pariṣicyate

no kings before him or after will reach the course he went; when he set out across the ocean, his garment was not even wet.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I.21 (after 2.35.29), lines 422–423.

Verse 18 (2.48.18)

सौवर्णं सर्वमप्यासीद्विमानवरमुत्तमम् । चतुर्धा व्यभजद्राष्ट्रं तद्विभज्यान्वपालयत् ॥

sauvarṇaṃ sarvamapyāsīdvimānavaramuttamam | caturdhā vyabhajadrāṣṭraṃ tadvibhajyānvapālayat

His finest of aerial chariots was made all of gold. He divided his kingdom into four, and having divided it, he governed it so:

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I.21 (after 2.35.29), lines 407–408.

Verse 19 (2.48.19)

एकांशेनाहरत्सेनामेकांशेनावसद्गृहान् । यस्तु तस्य तृतीयांशो राज्ञोऽभूज्जनसङ्ग्रहे ॥

ekāṃśenāharatsenāmekāṃśenāvasadgṛhān | yastu tasya tṛtīyāṃśo rājño'bhūjjanasaṅgrahe

with one share he maintained his army, with another he kept his household; and the third share of that king, set aside for the care of the people,

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I.21 (after 2.35.29), lines 409–410.

Verse 20 (2.48.20)

आप्तः परमकल्याणस्तेन यज्ञानकल्पयत् । ये दस्यवो ग्रामचरा अरण्ये च वसन्ति ये ॥

āptaḥ paramakalyāṇastena yajñānakalpayat | ye dasyavo grāmacarā araṇye ca vasanti ye

sound and wholly beneficial, with that he arranged sacrifices. The robbers who roamed the villages and those who lived in the forest,

Note on the text: Corrected अरम्ये → अरण्ये (misprint in Wikisource; "in the forest"; the CE appendix reads araṇye). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I.21 (after 2.35.29), lines 411–412.

Verse 21 (2.48.21)

चतुर्थेन तु सोऽंशेन तान्सर्वान्प्रत्यषेधयत् । द्वाराणि नापिधीयन्ते पुरेषु नगरेषु च ॥

caturthena tu so'ṃśena tānsarvānpratyaṣedhayat | dvārāṇi nāpidhīyante pureṣu nagareṣu ca

all of them he held in check with the fourth share. Doors were not shut in the towns and cities.

Note on the text: Corrected सोंऽशेन → सोऽंशेन (misprint in Wikisource; misplaced anusvara in so 'ṃśena). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I.21 (after 2.35.29), lines 413 and 417 (Wikisource lacks the appendix lines 414–416 on the tribute and 420).

Verse 22 (2.48.22)

स एव राष्ट्रपालोऽभूत्स्त्रीपालोऽभवदर्जुनः । स एवासीदजापालः स गोपालो विशाम्पते ॥

sa eva rāṣṭrapālo'bhūtstrīpālo'bhavadarjunaḥ | sa evāsīdajāpālaḥ sa gopālo viśāmpate

Arjuna alone was protector of the realm and protector of women; he alone was keeper of goats and keeper of cattle, O lord of the people.

Note on the text: Corrected स्रीपालो → स्त्रीपालो (misprint in Wikisource; broken conjunct; "protector of women", the CE appendix reads strīpālo). Corrected एवासीद्जापालः → एवासीदजापालः (misprint in Wikisource; the vowel of अजापालः was lost; the CE appendix reads evāsīd ajāpālaḥ). Corrected सः गोपालो → स गोपालो (misprint in Wikisource; visarga of सः is dropped before a consonant; the CE appendix reads sa gopālo). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I.21 (after 2.35.29), lines 418–419.

Verse 23 (2.48.23)

शतं वर्षसहस्राणामनुशिष्यार्जुनो महीम् । दत्तात्रेयप्रसादेन एवं राज्यं चकार सः ॥

śataṃ varṣasahasrāṇāmanuśiṣyārjuno mahīm | dattātreyaprasādena evaṃ rājyaṃ cakāra saḥ

For a hundred thousand years Arjuna governed the earth; by Dattatreya's grace he ruled his kingdom in this way.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I.21 (after 2.35.29), lines 424–425.

Verse 24 (2.48.24)

एवं बहूनि कर्माणि चक्रे लोकहिताय सः । दत्तात्रेय इति ख्यातः प्रादुर्भावो ह्ययं हरेः । कथितो भरतश्रेष्ठ शृणु भूयो महात्मनः ॥

evaṃ bahūni karmāṇi cakre lokahitāya saḥ | dattātreya iti khyātaḥ prādurbhāvo hyayaṃ hareḥ | kathito bharataśreṣṭha śṛṇu bhūyo mahātmanaḥ

Thus he did many deeds for the good of the world. This manifestation of Hari, known as Dattatreya, has been told, O best of the Bharatas; now hear more of the great-souled one.

Note on the text: Corrected भरतश्रेष्ट → भरतश्रेष्ठ (misprint in Wikisource; ठ for ट; "best of the Bharatas"). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the CE gives it only in Appendix I.21 (after 2.35.29), lines 426–428. Wikisource prints a double danda after the first line; read as a single three-line verse.