Chyavana's Tale of Mandhata and Lavana

Shloka 1 (uttara.67.1)

अथ रात्र्यां प्रवृत्तायां शत्रुघ्नो भृगुनन्दनम् । पप्रच्छ च्यवनं विप्रं लवणस्य यथा बलम् ।। 67.1 ।।

atha rātryāṃ pravṛttāyāṃ śatrughno bhṛgunandanam | papraccha cyavanaṃ vipraṃ lavaṇasya yathā balam || 67.1 ||

Then, when night had fallen, Shatrughna asked the brahmin Chyavana, descendant of Bhrigu, about the nature of Lavana's strength.

Shloka 2 (uttara.67.2)

शूलस्य च बलं ब्रह्मन्के च पूर्वं विनाशिताः । अनेन शूलमुख्येन द्वन्द्वयुद्धमुपागताः ।। 67.2 ।।

śūlasya ca balaṃ brahmanke ca pūrvaṃ vināśitāḥ | anena śūlamukhyena dvandvayuddhamupāgatāḥ || 67.2 ||

"O brahmin, what is the power of his trident, and who before this, coming to single combat, has been destroyed by this foremost weapon?"

Shloka 3 (uttara.67.3)

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा शत्रुघ्नस्य महात्मनः । प्रत्युवाच महातेजाश्च्यवनो रघुनन्दनम् ।। 67.3 ।।

tasya tadvacanaṃ śrutvā śatrughnasya mahātmanaḥ | pratyuvāca mahātejāścyavano raghunandanam || 67.3 ||

Hearing this word of the great-souled Shatrughna, the greatly splendorous Chyavana replied to the delight of the Raghus.

Shloka 4 (uttara.67.4)

असङ्ख्येयानि कर्माणि यान्यस्य रघुनन्दन । इक्ष्वाकुवंशप्रभवे यद्वृत्तं तच्छृणष्व मे ।। 67.4 ।।

asaṅkhyeyāni karmāṇi yānyasya raghunandana | ikṣvākuvaṃśaprabhave yadvṛttaṃ tacchṛṇaṣva me || 67.4 ||

"O delight of the Raghus, his deeds are countless. Hear from me now what befell a king born in the Ikshvaku line.

Shloka 5 (uttara.67.5)

अयोध्यायां पुरा राजा युवनाश्वसुतो बली । मान्धातेति स विख्यातस्त्रिषु लोकेषु वीर्यवान् ।। 67.5 ।।

ayodhyāyāṃ purā rājā yuvanāśvasuto balī | māndhāteti sa vikhyātastriṣu lokeṣu vīryavān || 67.5 ||

Long ago, in Ayodhya, there ruled a mighty king, son of Yuvanashva, renowned throughout the three worlds by the name Mandhata, and full of valour.

Shloka 6 (uttara.67.6)

स कृत्वा पृथिवीं कृत्स्नां शासने पृथिवीपतिः । सुरलोकमितो जेतुमुद्योगमकरोन्नृपः ।। 67.6 ।।

sa kṛtvā pṛthivīṃ kṛtsnāṃ śāsane pṛthivīpatiḥ | suralokamito jetumudyogamakaronnṛpaḥ || 67.6 ||

That lord of the earth, having brought the whole world under his rule, then set about attempting to conquer the world of the gods as well.

Shloka 7 (uttara.67.7)

इन्द्रस्य च भयं तीव्रं सुराणां च महात्मनाम् । मान्धातरि कृतोद्योगे देवलोकजिगीषया ।। 67.7 ।।

indrasya ca bhayaṃ tīvraṃ surāṇāṃ ca mahātmanām | māndhātari kṛtodyoge devalokajigīṣayā || 67.7 ||

As Mandhata pressed this effort, driven by the wish to conquer the realm of the gods, a terrible fear seized Indra and the other great gods.

Shloka 8 (uttara.67.8)

अर्धासनेन शक्रस्य राज्यार्धेन च पार्थिवः । वन्द्यमानः सुरगणैः प्रतिज्ञामध्यरोहत ।। 67.8 ।।

ardhāsanena śakrasya rājyārdhena ca pārthivaḥ | vandyamānaḥ suragaṇaiḥ pratijñāmadhyarohata || 67.8 ||

Though the hosts of gods honored him, offering half of Shakra's throne and half his kingdom, the king held firm to his own resolve.

Shloka 9 (uttara.67.9)

तस्य पापमभिप्रायं विदित्वा पाकशासनः । सान्त्वपूर्वमिदं वाक्यमुवाच युवनाश्वजम् ।। 67.9 ।।

tasya pāpamabhiprāyaṃ viditvā pākaśāsanaḥ | sāntvapūrvamidaṃ vākyamuvāca yuvanāśvajam || 67.9 ||

Knowing this unrighteous intent of his, Indra spoke these conciliatory words to the son of Yuvanashva.

Shloka 10 (uttara.67.10)

राजा त्वं मानुषे लोके न तावत्पुरुषर्षभ । अकृत्वा पृथिवीं वश्यां देवराज्यमिहेच्छसि ।। 67.10 ।।

rājā tvaṃ mānuṣe loke na tāvatpuruṣarṣabha | akṛtvā pṛthivīṃ vaśyāṃ devarājyamihecchasi || 67.10 ||

"O bull among men, you have not even yet made the whole of the human world subject to yourself, and here you wish for the very kingship of the gods!

Shloka 11 (uttara.67.11)

यदि वीर समग्रा ते मेदिनी निखिला वशे । देवराज्यं कुरुष्वेह सभृत्यबलवाहनः ।। 67.11 ।।

yadi vīra samagrā te medinī nikhilā vaśe | devarājyaṃ kuruṣveha sabhṛtyabalavāhanaḥ || 67.11 ||

O hero, if the whole earth entire should come under your sway, then come here with your servants, your forces, and your mounts, and rule the kingdom of the gods.

Shloka 12 (uttara.67.12)

इन्द्रमेवं ब्रुवाणं तं मान्धाता वाक्यमब्रवीत् । क्व मे शक्र प्रतिहतं शासनं पृथिवीतले ।। 67.12 ।।

indramevaṃ bruvāṇaṃ taṃ māndhātā vākyamabravīt | kva me śakra pratihataṃ śāsanaṃ pṛthivītale || 67.12 ||

To Indra speaking thus, Mandhata replied, "O Shakra, where on the face of the earth has my rule been thwarted?

Shloka 13 (uttara.67.13)

तमुवाच सहस्राक्षो लवणो नाम राक्षसः । मधुपुत्रो मधुवने न ते ऽऽज्ञां कुरुते ऽनघ ।। 67.13 ।।

tamuvāca sahasrākṣo lavaṇo nāma rākṣasaḥ | madhuputro madhuvane na te ''jñāṃ kurute 'nagha || 67.13 ||

The Thousand-Eyed One said to him, "O sinless one, there is a rakshasa named Lavana, son of Madhu, dwelling in Madhuvana, who does not obey your command."

Shloka 14 (uttara.67.14)

तच्छ्रुत्वा विप्रियं घोरं सहस्राक्षेण भाषितम् । व्रीडितो ऽवाङ्मुखो राजा व्याहर्तुं न शशाक ह ।। 67.14 ।।

tacchrutvā vipriyaṃ ghoraṃ sahasrākṣeṇa bhāṣitam | vrīḍito 'vāṅmukho rājā vyāhartuṃ na śaśāka ha || 67.14 ||

Hearing this harsh and unwelcome speech from the Thousand-Eyed One, the king, ashamed, hung his head and could not utter a word.

Shloka 15 (uttara.67.15)

आमन्त्र्य तु सहस्राक्षं ह्रिया किञ्चिदवाङ्मुखः । पुनरेवागमच्छ्रीमानिमं लोकं नरेश्वरः ।। 67.15 ।।

āmantrya tu sahasrākṣaṃ hriyā kiñcidavāṅmukhaḥ | punarevāgamacchrīmānimaṃ lokaṃ nareśvaraḥ || 67.15 ||

With his head somewhat bowed in shame, that glorious lord of men took leave of the Thousand-Eyed One, and returned once more to this world.

Shloka 16 (uttara.67.16)

स कृत्वा हृदये ऽमर्षं सभृत्यबलवाहनः । आजगाम मधोः पुत्रं वशे कर्तुमरिन्दमः ।। 67.16 ।।

sa kṛtvā hṛdaye 'marṣaṃ sabhṛtyabalavāhanaḥ | ājagāma madhoḥ putraṃ vaśe kartumarindamaḥ || 67.16 ||

Bearing indignation in his heart, that tamer of foes came, with his servants, army, and mounts, to subdue the son of Madhu.

Shloka 17 (uttara.67.17)

स काङ्क्षमाणो लवणं युद्धाय पुरुषर्षभः । दूतं सम्प्रेषयामास सकाशं लवणस्य हि ।। 67.17 ।।

sa kāṅkṣamāṇo lavaṇaṃ yuddhāya puruṣarṣabhaḥ | dūtaṃ sampreṣayāmāsa sakāśaṃ lavaṇasya hi || 67.17 ||

That bull among men, desiring battle with Lavana, sent a messenger into his presence.

Shloka 18 (uttara.67.18)

स गत्वा विप्रियाण्याह बहूनि मधुनः सुतम् । वदन्तमेवं तं दूतं भक्षयामास राक्षसः ।। 67.18 ।।

sa gatvā vipriyāṇyāha bahūni madhunaḥ sutam | vadantamevaṃ taṃ dūtaṃ bhakṣayāmāsa rākṣasaḥ || 67.18 ||

The messenger went and spoke many harsh words to the son of Madhu; and even as he spoke thus, the rakshasa devoured him.

Shloka 19 (uttara.67.19)

चिरायमाणे दूते तु राजा क्रोधसमन्वितः । अर्दयामास तद्रक्षः शरवृष्ट्या समन्ततः ।। 67.19 ।।

cirāyamāṇe dūte tu rājā krodhasamanvitaḥ | ardayāmāsa tadrakṣaḥ śaravṛṣṭyā samantataḥ || 67.19 ||

When the messenger delayed long in returning, the king, filled with anger, began to assail that demon on every side with a shower of arrows.

Shloka 20 (uttara.67.20)

ततः प्रहस्य तद्रक्षः शूलं जग्राह पाणिना । वधाय सानुबन्धस्य मुमोचायुधमुत्तमम् ।। 67.20 ।।

tataḥ prahasya tadrakṣaḥ śūlaṃ jagrāha pāṇinā | vadhāya sānubandhasya mumocāyudhamuttamam || 67.20 ||

Then that demon, laughing, seized his trident in hand, and hurled that supreme weapon to slay the king together with his followers.

Shloka 21 (uttara.67.21)

तच्छूलं दीप्यमानं तु सभृत्यबलवाहनम् । भस्मीकृत्वा नृपं भूयो लवणस्यागमत्करम् ।। 67.21 ।।

tacchūlaṃ dīpyamānaṃ tu sabhṛtyabalavāhanam | bhasmīkṛtvā nṛpaṃ bhūyo lavaṇasyāgamatkaram || 67.21 ||

That blazing trident, having reduced the king along with his servants, forces, and mounts to ashes, returned again to Lavana's hand.

Shloka 22 (uttara.67.22)

एवं स राजा सुमहान्हतः सबलवाहनः । शूलस्य तु बलं सौम्य अप्रमेयमनुत्तमम् ।। 67.22 ।।

evaṃ sa rājā sumahānhataḥ sabalavāhanaḥ | śūlasya tu balaṃ saumya aprameyamanuttamam || 67.22 ||

Thus that great king perished, together with his army and mounts. O gentle one, the power of that trident is immeasurable and unsurpassed.

Shloka 23 (uttara.67.23)

श्वः प्रभाते तु लवणं वधिष्यसि न संशयः । अगृहीतायुधं क्षिप्रं ध्रुवो हि विजयस्तव ।। 67.23 ।।

śvaḥ prabhāte tu lavaṇaṃ vadhiṣyasi na saṃśayaḥ | agṛhītāyudhaṃ kṣipraṃ dhruvo hi vijayastava || 67.23 ||

But tomorrow at dawn you shall surely slay Lavana, without doubt -- swiftly, while he is without his weapon; your victory is certain.

Shloka 24 (uttara.67.24)

लोकानां स्वस्ति चैव स्यात्कृते कर्मणि च त्वया । एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं लवणस्य दुरात्मनः ।। 67.24 ।।

lokānāṃ svasti caiva syātkṛte karmaṇi ca tvayā | etatte sarvamākhyātaṃ lavaṇasya durātmanaḥ || 67.24 ||

When this deed is done by you, it shall bring well-being to all the worlds. I have now told you everything concerning that evil-souled Lavana.

Shloka 25 (uttara.67.25)

शूलस्य च बलं घोरमप्रमेयं नरर्षभ । विनाशश्चैव मान्धातुर्यत्तेनाभूच्च पार्थिव ।। 67.25 ।।

śūlasya ca balaṃ ghoramaprameyaṃ nararṣabha | vināśaścaiva māndhāturyattenābhūcca pārthiva || 67.25 ||

O bull among men, the power of that trident is terrible and beyond measure, and it was by that very weapon, O king, that Mandhata met his destruction.

Shloka 26 (uttara.67.26)

त्वं श्वः प्रभाते लवणं महात्मन्वधिष्यसे नात्र तु संशयो मे । शूलं विना निर्गतमामिषार्थे ध्रुवो जयस्ते भविता नरेन्द्र ।। 67.26 ।।

tvaṃ śvaḥ prabhāte lavaṇaṃ mahātmanvadhiṣyase nātra tu saṃśayo me | śūlaṃ vinā nirgatamāmiṣārthe dhruvo jayaste bhavitā narendra || 67.26 ||

O great soul, tomorrow at dawn you shall slay Lavana -- of this I have no doubt; for he shall go out in search of food without his trident. O lord of men, your victory is assured.