Nahusha Made King of Heaven

Verse 1 (5.11.1)

ऋषयोऽथाब्रुवन्सर्वे देवाश्च त्रिदिवेश्वराः । अयं वै नहुषः श्रीमान्देवराज्येऽभिषिच्यताम् ॥

ṛṣayo'thābruvansarve devāśca tridiveśvarāḥ | ayaṃ vai nahuṣaḥ śrīmāndevarājye'bhiṣicyatām

Then all the sages and the gods, lords of heaven, said: "Let this glorious Nahusha be consecrated as king of the gods."

Note on the text: Corrected नहुपः → नहुषः (misprint in Wikisource; प for ष; the CE reads nahuṣaḥ).

Verse 2 (5.11.2)

तेजस्वी च यशस्वी च धार्मिकश्चैव नित्यदा । ते गत्वा त्वब्रुवन्सर्वे राजा नो भव पार्थिव ॥

tejasvī ca yaśasvī ca dhārmikaścaiva nityadā | te gatvā tvabruvansarve rājā no bhava pārthiva

"He is full of splendour and renown, and ever devoted to dharma." They all went to him and said, "Be our king, O lord of the earth."

Note on the text: Line 1 is not in the critical edition's text (its apparatus has it as 5.11.1d*0092); line 2 is CE 5.11.1ef (त्वब्रुवन् for thābruvan).

Verse 3 (5.11.3)

स तानुवाच नहुषो देवानृषिगणांस्तथा । पितृभिः सहितान्राजन्परीप्सन्हितमात्मनः ॥

sa tānuvāca nahuṣo devānṛṣigaṇāṃstathā | pitṛbhiḥ sahitānrājanparīpsanhitamātmanaḥ

But Nahusha, O king, seeking his own good, answered the gods and the hosts of sages, who had come with the ancestors:

Note on the text: Corrected देवानृपिगणांस्तथा → देवानृषिगणांस्तथा (misprint in Wikisource; प for ष) and परिप्सन् → परीप्सन् (misprint; the desiderative of pari-āp has a long ī; the CE reads ṛṣigaṇāṃs and parīpsan).

Verse 4 (5.11.4)

दुर्बलोऽहं न मे शक्तिर्भवतां परिपालने । बलवाञ्ज्ञायतां कश्चिद्बलं शक्रे हि नित्यदा ॥

durbalo'haṃ na me śaktirbhavatāṃ paripālane | balavāñjñāyatāṃ kaścidbalaṃ śakre hi nityadā

I am weak; I have no power to protect you. Let someone strong be found, for strength has always lain in Shakra.

Note on the text: No speaker heading in Wikisource; Nahusha's reply, announced in verse 3, is assigned to him.

Verse 5 (5.11.5)

तमब्रुवन्पुनः सर्वे देवा ऋषिपुरोगमाः । अस्माकं तपसा युक्तः पाहि राज्यं त्रिविष्टपे ॥

tamabruvanpunaḥ sarve devā ṛṣipurogamāḥ | asmākaṃ tapasā yuktaḥ pāhi rājyaṃ triviṣṭape

Again all the gods, with the sages at their head, said to him: "Armed with our ascetic power, rule the kingdom of heaven.

Verse 6 (5.11.6)

परस्परभयं घोरमस्माकं हि न संशयः । अभिषिच्यस्व राजेन्द्र भव राजा त्रिविष्टपे ॥

parasparabhayaṃ ghoramasmākaṃ hi na saṃśayaḥ | abhiṣicyasva rājendra bhava rājā triviṣṭape

There is no doubt that a terrible fear of one another has come upon us. Be consecrated, O king of kings; be king in heaven.

Note on the text: No speaker heading in Wikisource; the gods' words (verses 6 to the first line of 9), begun in verse 5, are assigned to them.

Verse 7 (5.11.7)

देवदानवयक्षाणामृषीणां रक्षसां तथा । पितृगन्धर्वभूतानां चक्षुर्विषयवर्तिनाम् ॥

devadānavayakṣāṇāmṛṣīṇāṃ rakṣasāṃ tathā | pitṛgandharvabhūtānāṃ cakṣurviṣayavartinām

Of gods, Danavas and Yakshas, of sages and Rakshasas, of ancestors, Gandharvas and spirits — of every being that comes within your sight —

Verse 8 (5.11.8)

तेज आदास्यसे पश्यन्बलवांश्च भविष्यसि । धर्मं पुरस्कृत्य सदा सर्वलोकाधिपो भव ॥

teja ādāsyase paśyanbalavāṃśca bhaviṣyasi | dharmaṃ puraskṛtya sadā sarvalokādhipo bhava

you will take their energy just by looking at them, and you will become mighty. Always placing dharma first, be the sovereign of all the worlds.

Note on the text: Corrected सरवलोकाधिपो → सर्वलोकाधिपो (misprint in Wikisource; broken conjunct; the CE reads sarvalokādhipo). Line 1 is CE 5.11.6ef; line 2 is CE 5.11.7ab.

Verse 9 (5.11.9)

ब्रह्मर्षींश्चापि देवांश्च गोपायस्व त्रिविष्टपे ॥

brahmarṣīṃścāpi devāṃśca gopāyasva triviṣṭape

And protect the brahmin sages and the gods in heaven.

Note on the text: Wikisource prints a शल्य उवाच heading in the middle of verse 9, so the verse is split there; this first line closes the gods' speech. Corrected ब्रह्मर्षीश्चापि → ब्रह्मर्षींश्चापि (misprint in Wikisource; dropped anusvara; the CE reads brahmarṣīṃś cāpi). It is CE 5.11.7cd.

Verse 10 (5.11.10)

अभिषिक्तः स राजेन्द्र ततो राजा त्रिविष्टपे ॥

abhiṣiktaḥ sa rājendra tato rājā triviṣṭape

So he was consecrated, O king of kings, and became king in heaven.

Note on the text: Second line of Wikisource verse 9, after the शल्य उवाच heading printed mid-verse. Not in the critical edition's text; its apparatus has it as 5.11.7d*0094, line 1.

Verse 11 (5.11.11)

धर्मं पुरस्कृत्य तदा सर्वलोकाधिपोऽभवत् । सुदुर्लभं वरं लब्ध्वा प्राप्य राज्यं त्रिविष्टपे ॥

dharmaṃ puraskṛtya tadā sarvalokādhipo'bhavat | sudurlabhaṃ varaṃ labdhvā prāpya rājyaṃ triviṣṭape

Placing dharma first, he then became sovereign of all the worlds. But having won a boon so hard to obtain, and gained the kingdom of heaven,

Note on the text: Line 1 is not in the critical edition's text (its apparatus has it as 5.11.7d*0094, line 2); line 2 is CE 5.11.8ab.

Verse 12 (5.11.12)

धर्मात्मा सततं भूत्वा कामात्मा समपद्यत । देवोद्यानेषु सर्वेषु नन्दनोपवनेषु च ॥

dharmātmā satataṃ bhūtvā kāmātmā samapadyata | devodyāneṣu sarveṣu nandanopavaneṣu ca

he who had always been righteous at heart became a man ruled by desire. In all the gardens of the gods, in the groves of Nandana,

Verse 13 (5.11.13)

कैलासे हिमवत्पृष्ठे मन्दरे श्वेतपर्वते । सह्ये महेन्द्रे मलये समुद्रेषु सरित्सु च ॥

kailāse himavatpṛṣṭhe mandare śvetaparvate | sahye mahendre malaye samudreṣu saritsu ca

on Kailasa, on the heights of Himavat, on Mandara and the White Mountain, on Sahya, Mahendra and Malaya, by the seas and by the rivers,

Verse 14 (5.11.14)

अप्सरोभिः परिवृतो देवकन्यासमावृतः । नहुषो देवराजोऽथ क्रीडन्बहुविधं तदा ॥

apsarobhiḥ parivṛto devakanyāsamāvṛtaḥ | nahuṣo devarājo'tha krīḍanbahuvidhaṃ tadā

surrounded by Apsarases and attended by daughters of the gods, Nahusha, now king of the gods, took his pleasure in many ways,

Verse 15 (5.11.15)

शृण्वन्दिव्या बहुविधाः कथाः श्रुतिमनोहराः । वादित्राणि च सर्वाणि गीतं च मधुरस्वनम् ॥

śṛṇvandivyā bahuvidhāḥ kathāḥ śrutimanoharāḥ | vāditrāṇi ca sarvāṇi gītaṃ ca madhurasvanam

listening to many kinds of divine tales that charmed the ear, to every kind of instrument, and to sweet-voiced song.

Note on the text: Corrected श्रृण्वन् → शृण्वन् (misprint in Wikisource; श्रृ for शृ; the CE reads śṛṇvan).

Verse 16 (5.11.16)

विश्वावसुर्नारदश्च गन्धर्वाप्सरसां गणाः । ऋतवः षट्च देवेन्द्रं मूर्तिमन्त उपस्थिताः ॥

viśvāvasurnāradaśca gandharvāpsarasāṃ gaṇāḥ | ṛtavaḥ ṣaṭca devendraṃ mūrtimanta upasthitāḥ

Vishvavasu and Narada, the hosts of Gandharvas and Apsarases, and the six seasons in bodily form waited upon the lord of the gods.

Verse 17 (5.11.17)

मारुतः सुरभिर्वाति मनोज्ञः सत्वशीतलः । एवं विक्रीडतस्तस्य नहुषस्य दुरात्मनः ॥

mārutaḥ surabhirvāti manojñaḥ satvaśītalaḥ | evaṃ vikrīḍatastasya nahuṣasya durātmanaḥ

A fragrant breeze blew, pleasant and cool. While the wicked Nahusha was taking his pleasure in this way,

Note on the text: Line 1 is CE 5.11.12ef (सत्वशीतलः for sukhaśītalaḥ); line 2 is CE 5.11.13ab (विक्रीडतः … दुरात्मनः for hi krīḍataḥ … mahātmanaḥ).

Verse 18 (5.11.18)

संप्राप्ता दर्शनं देवी शक्रस्य महिषी प्रिया । स तां संदृश्य दुष्टात्मा प्राह सर्वान्सभासदः ॥

saṃprāptā darśanaṃ devī śakrasya mahiṣī priyā | sa tāṃ saṃdṛśya duṣṭātmā prāha sarvānsabhāsadaḥ

the queen, Shakra's beloved consort, came into his sight. Seeing her, the evil-minded one said to all who sat in his court:

Verse 19 (5.11.19)

इन्द्रस्य महिषी देवी कस्मान्मां नोपतिष्ठति । अहमिन्द्रोऽस्मि देवानां लोकानां च तथेश्वरः ॥

indrasya mahiṣī devī kasmānmāṃ nopatiṣṭhati | ahamindro'smi devānāṃ lokānāṃ ca tatheśvaraḥ

Why does Indra's queen, the goddess, not wait upon me? I am Indra of the gods, and lord of the worlds as well.

Note on the text: No speaker heading in Wikisource; Nahusha's words to his court, announced in verse 17, are assigned to him.

Verse 20 (5.11.20)

आगच्छतु शची मह्यं क्षिप्रमद्य निवेशनम् । तच्छ्रुत्वा दुर्मना देवी बृहस्पतिमुवाच ह ॥

āgacchatu śacī mahyaṃ kṣipramadya niveśanam | tacchrutvā durmanā devī bṛhaspatimuvāca ha

"Let Shachi come to my house quickly, this very day." Hearing this, the goddess, sick at heart, said to Brihaspati:

Verse 21 (5.11.21)

रक्ष मां नहुषाद्ब्रह्मंस्त्वामस्मि शरणं गता । सर्वलक्षणसंपन्नां ब्रह्मंस्त्वं मां प्रभाषसे ॥

rakṣa māṃ nahuṣādbrahmaṃstvāmasmi śaraṇaṃ gatā | sarvalakṣaṇasaṃpannāṃ brahmaṃstvaṃ māṃ prabhāṣase

Protect me from Nahusha, brahmin; I have come to you for refuge. You have told me, brahmin, that I am endowed with every auspicious mark,

Note on the text: No speaker heading in Wikisource; Indrani's plea to Brihaspati (verses 20–22 and the first line of 23), announced in verse 19, is assigned to her.

Verse 22 (5.11.22)

देवराजस्य दयितामत्यन्तं सुखभागिनीम् । अवैधव्येन युक्तां चाप्येकपत्नीं पतिव्रताम् ॥

devarājasya dayitāmatyantaṃ sukhabhāginīm | avaidhavyena yuktāṃ cāpyekapatnīṃ pativratām

the beloved of the king of the gods, a sharer in boundless happiness, never to be widowed, the wife of one husband and faithful to him.

Note on the text: Corrected पतिव्रदाम् → पतिव्रताम् (misprint in Wikisource; द for त; the CE reads pativratām).

Verse 23 (5.11.23)

उक्तवानसि मां पूर्वमृतां तां कुरु वै गिरम् । नोक्तपूर्वं च भगवन्मृषा ते किंचिदीश्वर ॥

uktavānasi māṃ pūrvamṛtāṃ tāṃ kuru vai giram | noktapūrvaṃ ca bhagavanmṛṣā te kiṃcidīśvara

You told me so before; make those words of yours come true. Never before, my lord and master, have you said anything false.

Verse 24 (5.11.24)

तस्मादेतद्भवेत्सत्यं त्वयोक्तं द्विजसत्तम । बृहस्पतिरथोवाच इन्द्राणीं भयमोहिताम् ॥

tasmādetadbhavetsatyaṃ tvayoktaṃ dvijasattama | bṛhaspatirathovāca indrāṇīṃ bhayamohitām

"So let what you have said come true, best of brahmins." Then Brihaspati said to Indrani, who was bewildered with fear:

Verse 25 (5.11.25)

यदुक्तासि मया देवि सत्यं तद्भविता ध्रुवम् । द्रक्ष्यसे देवराजं तमिन्द्रं शीघ्रमिहागतम् ॥

yaduktāsi mayā devi satyaṃ tadbhavitā dhruvam | drakṣyase devarājaṃ tamindraṃ śīghramihāgatam

What I told you, goddess, will surely come true. You will soon see Indra, the king of the gods, returned here.

Note on the text: No speaker heading in Wikisource; Brihaspati's reply (verses 24–25), announced in verse 23, is assigned to him.

Verse 26 (5.11.26)

न भेतव्यं च नहुषात्सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीमि ते । समानयिष्ये शक्रेण नचिराद्भवतीमहम् ॥

na bhetavyaṃ ca nahuṣātsatyametadbravīmi te | samānayiṣye śakreṇa nacirādbhavatīmaham

Do not be afraid of Nahusha; I tell you this truly. Before long I will bring you together with Shakra again.

Verse 27 (5.11.27)

अथ शुश्राव नहुष इन्द्राणीं शरणं गताम् । बृहस्पतेरङ्गिरसश्चुक्रोध स नृपस्तदा ॥

atha śuśrāva nahuṣa indrāṇīṃ śaraṇaṃ gatām | bṛhaspateraṅgirasaścukrodha sa nṛpastadā

Then Nahusha heard that Indrani had gone for refuge to Brihaspati, son of Angiras, and the king grew angry.

Note on the text: Corrected शरणीं → शरणं and अङ्गिरसश्रुक्रोध → अङ्गिरसश्चुक्रोध (misprints in Wikisource; the CE reads śaraṇaṃ gatām and aṅgirasaś cukrodha).