Brihaspati Refuses to Give Up Shachi

Verse 1 (5.12.1)

क्रुद्धं तु नहुषं दृष्ट्वा देवा ऋषिपुरोगमाः । अब्रुवन्देवराजानं नहुषं घोरदर्शनम् ॥

kruddhaṃ tu nahuṣaṃ dṛṣṭvā devā ṛṣipurogamāḥ | abruvandevarājānaṃ nahuṣaṃ ghoradarśanam

Seeing Nahusha enraged, the gods, with the sages at their head, said to Nahusha, the king of the gods, terrible to behold:

Verse 2 (5.12.2)

देवराज जहि क्रोधं त्वयि क्रुद्धे जगद्विभो । त्रस्तं सासुरगन्धर्वं सकिंनरमहोरगम् ॥

devarāja jahi krodhaṃ tvayi kruddhe jagadvibho | trastaṃ sāsuragandharvaṃ sakiṃnaramahoragam

King of the gods, give up your anger. While you are angry, lord of the world, the whole universe trembles, with its Asuras and Gandharvas, its Kinnaras and great serpents.

Note on the text: No speaker heading in Wikisource; the gods' plea (verses 2–4), announced in verse 1, is assigned to them.

Verse 3 (5.12.3)

जहि क्रोधमिमं साधो न कुप्यन्ति भवद्विधाः । परस्य पत्नी सा देवी प्रसीदस्व सुरेश्वर ॥

jahi krodhamimaṃ sādho na kupyanti bhavadvidhāḥ | parasya patnī sā devī prasīdasva sureśvara

Give up this anger, good lord; those like you do not give way to wrath. That goddess is another's wife. Be gracious, lord of the gods.

Verse 4 (5.12.4)

निवर्तय मनः पापात्परदाराभिमर्शनात् । देवराजोऽसि भद्रं ते प्रजा धर्मेण पालय ॥

nivartaya manaḥ pāpātparadārābhimarśanāt | devarājo'si bhadraṃ te prajā dharmeṇa pālaya

Turn your mind back from the sin of laying hands on another man's wife. You are king of the gods; blessings on you. Protect your subjects with righteousness.

Verse 5 (5.12.5)

एवमुक्तो न जग्राह तद्वचः काममोहितः । अथ देवानुवाचेदमिन्द्रं प्रति सुराधिपः ॥

evamukto na jagrāha tadvacaḥ kāmamohitaḥ | atha devānuvācedamindraṃ prati surādhipaḥ

Though spoken to in this way, he, deluded by desire, would not accept their words. Then the lord of the gods said this to the gods about Indra:

Verse 6 (5.12.6)

अहल्या धर्षिता पूर्वमृषिपत्नी यशस्विनी । जीवतो भर्तुरिन्द्रेण स वः किं न निवारितः ॥

ahalyā dharṣitā pūrvamṛṣipatnī yaśasvinī | jīvato bharturindreṇa sa vaḥ kiṃ na nivāritaḥ

Long ago the illustrious Ahalya, a sage's wife, was violated by Indra while her husband was still alive. Why did you not stop him?

Note on the text: No speaker heading in Wikisource; Nahusha's reply (verses 6–8), announced in verse 5, is assigned to him.

Verse 7 (5.12.7)

बहूनि च नृशंसानि कृतानीन्द्रेण वै पुरा । वैधर्म्याण्युपधाश्चैव स वः किं न निवारितः ॥

bahūni ca nṛśaṃsāni kṛtānīndreṇa vai purā | vaidharmyāṇyupadhāścaiva sa vaḥ kiṃ na nivāritaḥ

And Indra did many cruel deeds in the past, unrighteous acts and treacheries. Why did you not stop him?

Verse 8 (5.12.8)

उपतिष्ठतु देवी मामेतदस्या हितं परम् । युष्माकं च सदा देवाः शिवमेवं भविष्यति ॥

upatiṣṭhatu devī māmetadasyā hitaṃ param | yuṣmākaṃ ca sadā devāḥ śivamevaṃ bhaviṣyati

Let the goddess wait upon me; that is what is best for her. And for you too, gods, all will always be well that way.

Verse 9 (5.12.9)

इन्द्राणीमानयिष्यामो यथेच्छसि दिवस्पते । जहि क्रोधमिमं वीर प्रीतो भव सुरेश्वर ॥

indrāṇīmānayiṣyāmo yathecchasi divaspate | jahi krodhamimaṃ vīra prīto bhava sureśvara

We will bring Indrani to you, as you wish, lord of heaven. Give up this anger, hero; be pleased, lord of the gods.

Verse 10 (5.12.10)

इत्युक्त्वा तं तदा देवा ऋषिभिः सह भारत । जग्मुर्बृहस्पतिं वक्तुमिन्द्राणीं चाशुभं वचः ॥

ityuktvā taṃ tadā devā ṛṣibhiḥ saha bhārata | jagmurbṛhaspatiṃ vaktumindrāṇīṃ cāśubhaṃ vacaḥ

Having said this to him, O Bharata, the gods went with the sages to speak to Brihaspati, and to Indrani, words of ill omen.

Note on the text: Corrected तग्मुर्बृहस्पतिं → जग्मुर्बृहस्पतिं (misprint in Wikisource; त for ज; the CE reads jagmur).

Verse 11 (5.12.11)

जानीमः शरणं प्राप्तामिन्द्राणीं तव वेश्मनि । दत्ताभयां च विप्रेन्द्र त्वया देवर्षिसत्तम ॥

jānīmaḥ śaraṇaṃ prāptāmindrāṇīṃ tava veśmani | dattābhayāṃ ca viprendra tvayā devarṣisattama

We know, lord of brahmins, best of divine sages, that Indrani has come to your house for refuge, and that you have granted her safety.

Note on the text: No speaker heading in Wikisource; the gods' words to Brihaspati (verses 11–13), announced in verse 10, are assigned to them.

Verse 12 (5.12.12)

ते त्वां देवाः सगन्धर्वा ऋषयश्च महाद्युते । प्रसादयन्ति चेन्द्राणी नहुषाय प्रदीयताम् ॥

te tvāṃ devāḥ sagandharvā ṛṣayaśca mahādyute | prasādayanti cendrāṇī nahuṣāya pradīyatām

The gods, with the Gandharvas and the sages, entreat you, radiant one: let Indrani be given to Nahusha.

Verse 13 (5.12.13)

इन्द्राद्विशिष्टो नहुषो देवराजो महाद्युतिः । वृणोत्विमं वरारोहा भर्तृत्वे वरवर्णिनी ॥

indrādviśiṣṭo nahuṣo devarājo mahādyutiḥ | vṛṇotvimaṃ varārohā bhartṛtve varavarṇinī

Nahusha, the radiant king of the gods, surpasses Indra. Let this fair-hipped, lovely lady choose him for her husband.

Verse 14 (5.12.14)

एवमुक्ते तु सा देवी बाष्पमुत्सृज्य सस्वनम् । उवाच रुदती दीना बृहस्पतिमिदं वचः ॥

evamukte tu sā devī bāṣpamutsṛjya sasvanam | uvāca rudatī dīnā bṛhaspatimidaṃ vacaḥ

When this was said, the goddess shed tears and, weeping aloud in her misery, spoke these words to Brihaspati:

Verse 15 (5.12.15)

नाहमिच्छामि नहुषं पतिं देवर्षिसत्तम । शरणागतास्मि ते ब्रह्मंस्त्रायस्व महतो भयात् ॥

nāhamicchāmi nahuṣaṃ patiṃ devarṣisattama | śaraṇāgatāsmi te brahmaṃstrāyasva mahato bhayāt

I do not want Nahusha for my husband, best of divine sages. I have come to you for refuge, brahmin; save me from this great danger.

Note on the text: Corrected ब्रहंस्त्रायस्व → ब्रह्मंस्त्रायस्व (misprint in Wikisource; dropped म; the CE reads brahmaṃs). No speaker heading in Wikisource; these words, announced in verse 14, are Indrani's and are assigned to her.

Verse 16 (5.12.16)

शरणागतं न त्यजेयमिन्द्राणि मम निश्चयः । धर्मज्ञां सत्यशीलां च न त्यजेयमनिन्दिते ॥

śaraṇāgataṃ na tyajeyamindrāṇi mama niścayaḥ | dharmajñāṃ satyaśīlāṃ ca na tyajeyamanindite

I will not abandon one who has come to me for refuge, Indrani; that is my resolve. You know dharma and are true by nature; I will not abandon you, blameless lady.

Verse 17 (5.12.17)

नाकार्यं कर्तुमिच्छामि ब्राह्मणः सन्विशेषतः । श्रुतधर्मा सत्यशीलो जानन्धर्मानुशासनम् ॥

nākāryaṃ kartumicchāmi brāhmaṇaḥ sanviśeṣataḥ | śrutadharmā satyaśīlo jānandharmānuśāsanam

I do not wish to do a wrong deed, least of all as a brahmin who has learned dharma, who is true by nature and knows the teaching of the law.

Verse 18 (5.12.18)

नाहमेतत्करिष्यामि गच्छध्वं वै सुरोत्तमाः । अस्मिंश्चार्थे पुरा गीतं ब्रह्मणा श्रूयतामिदम् ॥

nāhametatkariṣyāmi gacchadhvaṃ vai surottamāḥ | asmiṃścārthe purā gītaṃ brahmaṇā śrūyatāmidam

I will not do this. Go, best of the gods. And hear what Brahma sang long ago on this very matter:

Verse 19 (5.12.19)

न तस्य बीजं रोहति रोहकाले । न तस्य वर्षं वर्षति वर्षकाले । भीतं प्रपन्नं प्रददाति शत्रवे । न स त्रातारं लभते त्राणमिच्छन् ॥

na tasya bījaṃ rohati rohakāle | na tasya varṣaṃ varṣati varṣakāle | bhītaṃ prapannaṃ pradadāti śatrave | na sa trātāraṃ labhate trāṇamicchan

His seed does not sprout when the time for sprouting comes, his rain does not fall in the season of rain — the man who hands over to an enemy one who is frightened and has sought his protection; when he himself seeks protection, he finds no protector.

Verse 20 (5.12.20)

मोघमन्नं विन्दति चाप्यचेताः । स्वर्गाल्लोकाद्भ्रश्यति नष्टचेष्टः । भीतं प्रपन्नं प्रददाति यो वै । न तस्य हव्यं प्रतिगृह्णन्ति देवाः ॥

moghamannaṃ vindati cāpyacetāḥ | svargāllokādbhraśyati naṣṭaceṣṭaḥ | bhītaṃ prapannaṃ pradadāti yo vai | na tasya havyaṃ pratigṛhṇanti devāḥ

Senseless, he gets food that does him no good; his efforts come to nothing and he falls from the world of heaven. The gods do not accept the offerings of the man who hands over one who is frightened and has sought his protection.

Note on the text: Corrected स्वर्गाल्लोकाद्धश्यति → स्वर्गाल्लोकाद्भ्रश्यति (misprint in Wikisource; broken conjunct; the CE reads bhraśyati).

Verse 21 (5.12.21)

प्रमीयते चास्य प्रजा ह्यकाले । सदा विवासं पितरोऽस्य कुर्वते । भीतं प्रपन्नं प्रददाति शत्रवे । सेन्द्रा देवाः प्रहरन्त्यस्य वज्रम् ॥

pramīyate cāsya prajā hyakāle | sadā vivāsaṃ pitaro'sya kurvate | bhītaṃ prapannaṃ pradadāti śatrave | sendrā devāḥ praharantyasya vajram

His children die before their time; his ancestors always shun his dwelling. The gods with Indra hurl the thunderbolt at the man who hands over to an enemy one who is frightened and has sought his protection.

Verse 22 (5.12.22)

एतदेवं विजानन्वै न दास्यामि शचीमिमाम् । इन्द्राणीं विश्रुतां लोके शक्रस्य महिषीं प्रियाम् ॥

etadevaṃ vijānanvai na dāsyāmi śacīmimām | indrāṇīṃ viśrutāṃ loke śakrasya mahiṣīṃ priyām

Knowing this to be so, I will not give up this Shachi, Indrani, renowned in the world, the beloved queen of Shakra.

Note on the text: Corrected प्रियां → प्रियाम् at the end of the verse (misprint in Wikisource; anusvara for final म्; the CE reads priyām).

Verse 23 (5.12.23)

अस्या हितं भवेद्यच्च मम चापि हितं भवेत् । क्रियतां तत्सुरश्रेष्ठा नहि दास्याम्यहं शचीम् ॥

asyā hitaṃ bhavedyacca mama cāpi hitaṃ bhavet | kriyatāṃ tatsuraśreṣṭhā nahi dāsyāmyahaṃ śacīm

Whatever may be for her good, and for mine as well, do that, best of the gods; but I will not give up Shachi.

Verse 24 (5.12.24)

अथ देवाः सगन्धर्वा गुरुमाहुरिदं वचः । कथं सुनीतं नु भवेन्मन्त्रयस्व बृहस्पते ॥

atha devāḥ sagandharvā gurumāhuridaṃ vacaḥ | kathaṃ sunītaṃ nu bhavenmantrayasva bṛhaspate

Then the gods, with the Gandharvas, said these words to their preceptor: "How can this be well managed? Counsel us, Brihaspati."

Verse 25 (5.12.25)

नहुषं याचतां देवी किंचित्कालान्तरं शुभा । इन्द्राणीहितमेतद्धि तथाऽस्माकं भविष्यति ॥

nahuṣaṃ yācatāṃ devī kiṃcitkālāntaraṃ śubhā | indrāṇīhitametaddhi tathā'smākaṃ bhaviṣyati

Let the good goddess ask Nahusha for some time. That will be for Indrani's good, and for ours as well.

Note on the text: Corrected इन्द्राणि हितमेतद्धि → इन्द्राणीहितमेतद्धि (misprint in Wikisource; a short i and a stray space broke the compound "Indrani's good" — Brihaspati is speaking to the gods, not to Indrani; the CE reads indrāṇīhitam).

Verse 26 (5.12.26)

बहुविघ्नः सुराः कालः कालः कालं नयिष्यति । गर्वितो बलवांश्चापि नहुषो वरसंश्रयात् ॥

bahuvighnaḥ surāḥ kālaḥ kālaḥ kālaṃ nayiṣyati | garvito balavāṃścāpi nahuṣo varasaṃśrayāt

Time is full of obstacles, gods; time will carry time along. Nahusha is proud, and strong because of the boon he rests on.

Verse 27 (5.12.27)

ततस्तेन तथोक्ते तु प्रीता देवास्तथाब्रुवन् । ब्रह्मन्साध्विदमुक्तं ते हितं सर्वं दिवौकसाम् ॥

tatastena tathokte tu prītā devāstathābruvan | brahmansādhvidamuktaṃ te hitaṃ sarvaṃ divaukasām

When he had spoken so, the gods were pleased and said: "Brahmin, what you have said is good, and all for the good of the dwellers in heaven.

Verse 28 (5.12.28)

एवमेतद्द्विजश्रेष्ठ देवी चेयं प्रसाद्यताम् । ततः समस्ता इन्द्राणीं देवाश्चाग्निपुरोगमाः ॥

evametaddvijaśreṣṭha devī ceyaṃ prasādyatām | tataḥ samastā indrāṇīṃ devāścāgnipurogamāḥ

So be it, best of the twice-born; let the goddess be won over." Then all the gods, with Agni at their head, spoke to Indrani

Note on the text: Line 1 is CE 5.12.27ef; line 2 is CE 5.12.28ab.

Verse 29 (5.12.29)

ऊचुर्वचनमव्यग्रा लोकानां हितकाम्यया ॥

ūcurvacanamavyagrā lokānāṃ hitakāmyayā

calmly, wishing for the good of the worlds:

Note on the text: Wikisource prints a देवा ऊचुः heading after the first line of verse 29, so the verse is split there; this first line (CE 5.12.28cd) is narration.

Verse 30 (5.12.30)

त्वया जगदिदं सर्वं धृतं स्थावरजङ्गमम् । एकपत्न्यसि सत्या च गच्छस्व नहुषं प्रति ॥

tvayā jagadidaṃ sarvaṃ dhṛtaṃ sthāvarajaṅgamam | ekapatnyasi satyā ca gacchasva nahuṣaṃ prati

This whole world, moving and unmoving, is upheld by you. You are faithful to one husband and true; go to Nahusha.

Note on the text: Second and third lines of Wikisource verse 29, after the देवा ऊचुः heading printed mid-verse.

Verse 31 (5.12.31)

क्षिप्रं त्वामभिकामश्च विनशिष्यति पापकृत् । नहुषो देवि शक्रश्च सुरैश्वर्यमवाप्स्यति ॥

kṣipraṃ tvāmabhikāmaśca vinaśiṣyati pāpakṛt | nahuṣo devi śakraśca suraiśvaryamavāpsyati

Lusting after you, the evildoer will quickly perish, goddess, and Shakra will regain his sovereignty over the gods.

Verse 32 (5.12.32)

एवं विनिश्चयं कृत्वा इन्द्राणी कार्यसिद्धये । अभ्यगच्छत सव्रीडा नहुषं घोरदर्शनम् ॥

evaṃ viniścayaṃ kṛtvā indrāṇī kāryasiddhaye | abhyagacchata savrīḍā nahuṣaṃ ghoradarśanam

Having resolved on this, Indrani, to accomplish the task, went bashfully to Nahusha, terrible to behold.

Note on the text: The input carried the देवा heading of verse 29 on to the end of the adhyaya; verses 31–32 are narration and are given to Shalya.

Verse 33 (5.12.33)

दृष्ट्वा तां नहुषश्चापि वयोरूपसमन्विताम् । समहृष्यत दुष्टात्मा कामोपहतचेतनः ॥

dṛṣṭvā tāṃ nahuṣaścāpi vayorūpasamanvitām | samahṛṣyata duṣṭātmā kāmopahatacetanaḥ

And seeing her, endowed with youth and beauty, the wicked Nahusha rejoiced, his mind struck by lust.