Adi Parwa 7

Mahabharata 1.7

 

Adi Parwa 7

 

  1 [सूत]
     शप्तस तु भृगुणा वह्निः करुद्धॊ वाक्यम अथाब्रवीत
     किम इदं साहसं बरह्मन कृतवान असि सांप्रतम
 2 धर्मे परयतमानस्य सत्यं च वदतः समम
     पृष्टॊ यद अब्रुवं सत्यं वयभिचारॊ ऽतर कॊ मम
 3 पृष्टॊ हि साक्षी यः साक्ष्यं जानमानॊ ऽनयथा वदेत
     स पूर्वान आत्मनः सप्त कुले हन्यात तथा परान
 4 यश च कार्यार्थतत्त्वज्ञॊ जानमानॊ न भाषते
     सॊ ऽपि तेनैव पापेन लिप्यते नात्र संशयः
 5 शक्तॊ ऽहम अपि शप्तुं तवां मान्यास तु बराह्मणा मम
     जानतॊ ऽपि च ते वयक्तं कथयिष्ये निबॊध तत
 6 यॊगेन बहुधात्मानं कृत्वा तिष्ठामि मूर्तिषु
     अग्निहॊत्रेषु सत्रेषु करियास्व अथ मखेषु च
 7 वेदॊक्तेन विधानेन मयि यद धूयते हविः
     देवताः पितरश चैव तेन तृप्ता भवन्ति वै
 8 आपॊ देवगणाः सर्वे आपः पितृगणास तथा
     दर्शश च पौर्णमासश च देवानां पितृभिः सह
 9 देवताः पितरस तस्मात पितरश चापि देवताः
     एकीभूताश च पूज्यन्ते पृथक्त्वेन च पर्वसु
 10 देवताः पितरश चैव जुह्वते मयि यत सदा
    तरिदशानां पितॄणां च मुखम एवम अहं समृतः
 11 अमावास्यां च पितरः पौर्णमास्यां च देवताः
    मन मुखेनैव हूयन्ते भुञ्जते च हुतं हविः
    सर्वभक्षः कथं तेषां भविष्यामि मुखं तव अहम
 12 चिन्तयित्वा ततॊ वह्निश चक्रे संहारम आत्मनः
    दविजानाम अग्निहॊत्रेषु यज्ञसत्र करियासु च
 13 निरॊं कारवषट्काराः सवधा सवाहा विवर्जिताः
    विनाङ्गिना परजाः सर्वास तत आसन सुदुःखिताः
 14 अथर्षयः समुद्विग्ना देवान गत्वाब्रुवन वचः
    अग्निनाशात करिया भरंशाद भरान्ता लॊकास तरयॊ ऽनघाः
    विधध्वम अत्र यत कार्यं न सयात कालात्ययॊ यथा
 15 अथर्षयश च देवाश च बराह्मणम उपगम्य तु
    अग्नेर आवेदयञ शापं करिया संहारम एव च
 16 भृगुणा वै महाभाग शप्तॊ ऽगनिः कारणान्तरे
    कथं देव मुखॊ भूत्वा यज्ञभागाग्र भुक तथा
    हुतभुक सर्वलॊकेषु सर्वभक्षत्वम एष्यति
 17 शरुत्वा तु तद वचस तेषाम अग्निम आहूय लॊककृत
    उवाच वचनं शलक्ष्णं भूतभावनम अव्ययम
 18 लॊकानाम इह सर्वेषां तवं कर्ता चान्त एव च
    तवं धारयसि लॊकांस तरीन करियाणां च परवर्तकः
    स तथा कुरु लॊकेश नॊच्छिद्येरन करिया यथा
 19 कस्माद एवं विमूढस तवम ईश्वरः सन हुताशनः
    तवं पवित्रं यदा लॊके सर्वभूतगतश च ह
 20 न तवं सर्वशरीरेण सर्वभक्षत्वम एष्यसि
    उपादाने ऽरचिषॊ यास ते सर्वं धक्ष्यन्ति ताः शिखिन
 21 यथा सूर्यांशुभिः सपृष्टं सर्वं शुचि विभाव्यते
    तथा तवद अर्चिर निर्दग्धं सर्वं शुचि भविष्यति
 22 तद अग्ने तवं महत तेजः सवप्रभावाद विनिर्गतम
    सवतेजसैव तं शापं कुरु सत्यम ऋषेर विभॊ
    देवानां चात्मनॊ भागं गृहाण तवं मुखे हुतम
 23 एवम अस्त्व इति तं वह्निः परत्युवाच पितामहम
    जगाम शासनं कर्तुं देवस्य परमेष्ठिनः
 24 देवर्षयश च मुदितास ततॊ जग्मौर यथागतम
    ऋषयश च यथापूर्वं करियाः सर्वाः परचक्रिरे
 25 दिवि देवा मुमुदिरे भूतसंघाश च लौकिकाः
    अग्निश च परमां परीतिम अवाप हतकल्मषः
 26 एवम एष पुरावृत्त इतिहासॊ ऽगनिशापजः
    पुलॊमस्य विनाशश च चयवनस्य च संभवः

 

 1 [sūta]
     śaptas tu bhṛguṇā vahniḥ kruddho vākyam athābravīt
     kim idaṃ sāhasaṃ brahman kṛtavān asi sāṃpratam
 2 dharme prayatamānasya satyaṃ ca vadataḥ samam
     pṛṣṭo yad abruvaṃ satyaṃ vyabhicāro 'tra ko mama
 3 pṛṣṭo hi sākṣī yaḥ sākṣyaṃ jānamāno 'nyathā vadet
     sa pūrvān ātmanaḥ sapta kule hanyāt tathā parān
 4 yaś ca kāryārthatattvajño jānamāno na bhāṣate
     so 'pi tenaiva pāpena lipyate nātra saṃśayaḥ
 5 śakto 'ham api śaptuṃ tvāṃ mānyās tu brāhmaṇā mama
     jānato 'pi ca te vyaktaṃ kathayiṣye nibodha tat
 6 yogena bahudhātmānaṃ kṛtvā tiṣṭhāmi mūrtiṣu
     agnihotreṣu satreṣu kriyāsv atha makheṣu ca
 7 vedoktena vidhānena mayi yad dhūyate haviḥ
     devatāḥ pitaraś caiva tena tṛptā bhavanti vai
 8 āpo devagaṇāḥ sarve āpaḥ pitṛgaṇās tathā
     darśaś ca paurṇamāsaś ca devānāṃ pitṛbhiḥ saha
 9 devatāḥ pitaras tasmāt pitaraś cāpi devatāḥ
     ekībhūtāś ca pūjyante pṛthaktvena ca parvasu
 10 devatāḥ pitaraś caiva juhvate mayi yat sadā
    tridaśānāṃ pitṝṇāṃ ca mukham evam ahaṃ smṛtaḥ
 11 amāvāsyāṃ ca pitaraḥ paurṇamāsyāṃ ca devatāḥ
    man mukhenaiva hūyante bhuñjate ca hutaṃ haviḥ
    sarvabhakṣaḥ kathaṃ teṣāṃ bhaviṣyāmi mukhaṃ tv aham
 12 cintayitvā tato vahniś cakre saṃhāram ātmanaḥ
    dvijānām agnihotreṣu yajñasatra kriyāsu ca
 13 niroṃ kāravaṣaṭkārāḥ svadhā svāhā vivarjitāḥ
    vināṅginā prajāḥ sarvās tata āsan suduḥkhitāḥ
 14 atharṣayaḥ samudvignā devān gatvābruvan vacaḥ
    agnināśāt kriyā bhraṃśād bhrāntā lokās trayo 'naghāḥ
    vidhadhvam atra yat kāryaṃ na syāt kālātyayo yathā
 15 atharṣayaś ca devāś ca brāhmaṇam upagamya tu
    agner āvedayañ śāpaṃ kriyā saṃhāram eva ca
 16 bhṛguṇā vai mahābhāga śapto 'gniḥ kāraṇāntare
    kathaṃ deva mukho bhūtvā yajñabhāgāgra bhuk tathā
    hutabhuk sarvalokeṣu sarvabhakṣatvam eṣyati
 17 śrutvā tu tad vacas teṣām agnim āhūya lokakṛt
    uvāca vacanaṃ ślakṣṇaṃ bhūtabhāvanam avyayam
 18 lokānām iha sarveṣāṃ tvaṃ kartā cānta eva ca
    tvaṃ dhārayasi lokāṃs trīn kriyāṇāṃ ca pravartakaḥ
    sa tathā kuru lokeśa nocchidyeran kriyā yathā
 19 kasmād evaṃ vimūḍhas tvam īśvaraḥ san hutāśanaḥ
    tvaṃ pavitraṃ yadā loke sarvabhūtagataś ca ha
 20 na tvaṃ sarvaśarīreṇa sarvabhakṣatvam eṣyasi
    upādāne 'rciṣo yās te sarvaṃ dhakṣyanti tāḥ śikhin
 21 yathā sūryāṃśubhiḥ spṛṣṭaṃ sarvaṃ śuci vibhāvyate
    tathā tvad arcir nirdagdhaṃ sarvaṃ śuci bhaviṣyati
 22 tad agne tvaṃ mahat tejaḥ svaprabhāvād vinirgatam
    svatejasaiva taṃ śāpaṃ kuru satyam ṛṣer vibho
    devānāṃ cātmano bhāgaṃ gṛhāṇa tvaṃ mukhe hutam
 23 evam astv iti taṃ vahniḥ pratyuvāca pitāmaham
    jagāma śāsanaṃ kartuṃ devasya parameṣṭhinaḥ
 24 devarṣayaś ca muditās tato jagmaur yathāgatam
    ṛṣayaś ca yathāpūrvaṃ kriyāḥ sarvāḥ pracakrire
 25 divi devā mumudire bhūtasaṃghāś ca laukikāḥ
    agniś ca paramāṃ prītim avāpa hatakalmaṣaḥ
 26 evam eṣa purāvṛtta itihāso 'gniśāpajaḥ
    pulomasya vināśaś ca cyavanasya ca saṃbhavaḥ

 

Sauti said, 'the god of fire enraged at the curse of Bhrigu, thus addressed the Rishi, 'What meaneth this rashness, O Brahmana, that thou hast displayed towards me? What transgression can be imputed to me who was labouring to do justice and speak the truth impartially? Being asked I gave the true answer. A witness who when interrogated about a fact of which he hath knowledge, representeth otherwise than it is, ruineth his ancestors and descendants both to the seventh generation. He, too, who, being fully cognisant of all the particulars of an affair, doth not disclose what he knoweth, when asked, is undoubtedly stained with guilt. I can also curse thee, but Brahmanas are held by me in high respect. Although these are known to thee, O Brahmana, I will yet speak of them, so please attend! Having, by ascetic power, multiplied myself, I am present in various forms, in places of the daily homa, at sacrifices extending for years, in places where holy rites are performed (such as marriage, etc.), and at other sacrifices. With the butter that is poured upon my flame according to the injunctions prescribed in the Vedas, the Devas and the Pitris are appeased. The Devas are the waters; the Pitris are also the waters. The Devas have with the Pitris an equal right to the sacrifices called Darshas and Purnamasas. The Devas therefore are the Pitris and the Pitris, the Devas. They are identical beings, worshipped together and also separately at the changes of the moon. The Devas and the Pitris eat what is poured upon me. I am therefore called the mouth of the Devas and the Pitris. At the new moon the Pitris, and at the full moon the Devas, are fed through my mouth, eating of the clarified butter that is poured on me. Being, as I am, their mouth, how am I to be an eater of all things (clean and unclean)?

 

"Then Agni, alter reflecting for a while, withdrew himself from all places; from places of the daily homa of the Brahmanas, from all long-extending sacrifices, from places of holy rites, and from other ceremonies. Without their Oms and Vashats, and deprived of their Swadhas and Swahas (sacrificial mantras during offerings), the whole body of creatures became much distressed at the loss of their (sacrificial) fire. The Rishis in great anxiety went to the gods and addressed them thus, 'Ye immaculate beings! The three regions of the universe are confounded at the cessation of their sacrifices and ceremonies in consequence of the loss of fire! Ordain what is to be done in tins matter, so that there may be no loss of time.' Then the Rishis and the gods went together to the presence of Brahma. And they represented to him all about the curse on Agni and the consequent interruption of all ceremonies. And they said, 'O thou greatly fortunate! Once Agni hath been cursed by Bhrigu for some reason. Indeed, being the mouth of the gods and also the first who eateth of what is offered in sacrifices, the eater also of the sacrificial butter, how will Agni be reduced to the condition of one who eateth of all things promiscuously?' And the creator of the universe hearing these words of theirs summoned Agni to his presence. And Brahma addressed Agni, the creator of all and eternal as himself, in these gentle words, 'Thou art the creator of the worlds and thou art their destroyer! Thou preserves! the three worlds and thou art the promoter of all sacrifices and ceremonies! Therefore behave thyself so that ceremonies be not interrupted. And, O thou eater of the sacrificial butter, why dost thou act so foolishly, being, as thou art, the Lord of all? Thou alone art always pure in the universe and thou art its stay! Thou shall not, with all thy body, be reduced to the state of one who eateth of all things promiscuously. O thou of flames, the flame that is in thy viler parts shall alone eat of all things alike. The body of thine which eateth of flesh (being in the stomach of all carnivorous animals) shall also eat of all things promiscuously. And as every thing touched by the sun's rays becometh pure, so shall everything be pure that shall be burnt by thy flames. Thou art, O fire, the supreme energy born of thy own power. Then, O Lord, by that power of thine make the Rishi's curse come true. Continue to 'receive thy own portion and that of the gods, offered at thy mouth.'

 

'Sauti continued, 'Then Agni replied to the Grandfather, 'So be it.' And he then went away to obey the command of the supreme Lord. The gods and the Rishis also returned in delight to the place whence they had come. And the Rishis began to perform as before their ceremonies and sacrifices. And the gods in heaven and all creatures of the world rejoiced exceedingly. And Agni too rejoiced in that he was free from the prospect of sin.

 

"Thus, O possessor of the six attributes, had Agni been cursed in the days of yore by Bhrigu. And such is the ancient history connected with the destruction of the Rakshasa, Pauloma and the birth of Chyavana.'"