Mahabharata · Book 14 · Ashvamedhika Parva
Mahabharata, Book 14, Section XXXआश्वमेधिकपर्व
Kisari Mohan Ganguli’s English prose (1883–96), beside the Sanskrit of adhyāya 14.30.
Sanskrit
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम्।
कार्तवीर्यस्य संवादं समुद्रस्य च भामिनि।।
कार्तवीर्यार्जुनो नाम राजा बाहुसहस्रवान्।
येन सागरपर्यन्ता धनुषा निर्जिता मही।।
स कदाचित्समुद्रान्ते विचरन्बलदर्पितः।
अवीकिरच्छरशतैः समुद्रमिति नः श्रुतम्।।
तं समुद्रो नमस्कृत्य कृताञ्जलिरुवाचह।
मा मुञ्च वीर नाराचान्ब्रूहि किं करवाणि ते।।
मदाश्रयाणि भूतानि त्वद्विसृष्टैर्महेषुभिः।
वध्यन्ते राजशार्दूल तेभ्यो देह्यभयं विभो।।
अर्जुन उवाच।
मत्समो यदि संग्रामे शरासनधरः क्वचित्।
विद्यते तं समाचक्ष्व यः समो मे महामृधे।।
समुद्र उवाच।
महर्षिर्जमदग्निस्ते यदि राजन्पुरा श्रुतः।
तस्य पुत्रस्तवातिथ्यं यथावत्कर्तुमर्हति।।
ततः स राजा प्रययौ क्रोधेन महता वृतः।
स तमाश्रममागम्य राममेवान्वपद्यत।।
स रामप्रतिकूलानि चकार सह बन्धुभिः।
आयासं जनयामास रामस्य च महात्मनः।।
ततस्तेजः प्रजज्वाल रामस्यामिततेजसः।
प्रदहन्रिपुसैन्यानि तदा कमललोचने।।
ततः परशुमादाय स तं बाहुसहस्रिणम्।
चिन्छेद सहसा रामो बहुशाखमिव द्रुमम्।।
तं हतं पतितं दृष्ट्वा समेताः सर्वबान्धवाः।
असीनादाय शक्तीर्श्च भार्गवं पर्यधावयन्।।
रामोऽपि धनुरादाय रथमारुह्य सत्वरः।
विसृजञ्शरवर्षाणि व्यधमत्पार्थिवं बलम्।।
ततस्तु क्षत्रियाः केचिज्जमदग्निं निहत्य च।
विविशुर्गिरिदुर्गाणि मृगाः सिंहार्दिता इव।।
तेषां स्वविहितं कर्म तद्भयान्नानुतिष्ठताम्।
प्रजा वृषलतां प्राप्ता ब्राह्मणानामदर्शनात्।।
एवं ते द्रविडाऽभीराः पुण्ड्राश्च शबरैः सह।
वृषलत्वं परिगता व्युत्थानात्क्षत्रधर्मतः।।
ततश्च हतवीरासु क्षत्रियासु पुनः पुनः।
द्विजैरुत्पादितं क्षत्रं जामदग्न्यो न्यकृन्तत।।
एकविंशतिमे याते रामं वागशरीरिणी।
दिव्या प्रोवाच मधुरा सर्वलोकपरिश्रुता।।
रामराम निवर्तस्व कं गुणं तात पश्यसि।
क्षत्रबन्धूनिमान्प्राणैर्विप्रयोज्य पुनः पुनः।।
तथैव तं महात्मानमृचीकप्रमुखास्तदा।
पितामहा महाभाग निवर्तस्वेत्यथाब्रुवन्।।
पितुर्वधममृष्यंस्तु रामः प्रोवाच तानृषीन्।
नार्हन्तीह भवन्तो मां निवारयितुमित्युत।।
पितर ऊचुः।
नार्हसे क्षत्रबन्धूंस्त्वं निहन्तुं जयतांवर।
नेह युक्तं त्वया हन्तुं ब्राह्मणेन सता नृपान्।।
।। इति श्रीमन्महाभारते आश्वमेधिकपर्वणि
अनुगीतापर्वणि त्रिंशोऽध्यायः।। 30 ।।
English Ganguli
"'"'The Pitris said, "In this connection is cited this old history. Having heard it, thou shouldst act according to it, O foremost of all regenerate persons. There was a royal sage of the name Alarka endued with the austerest of penances. He was conversant with all duties, truthful in speech, of high soul, and exceedingly firm in his vows. Having, with his bow, conquered the whole Earth extending to the seas, and thereby achieved an exceedingly difficult feat, he set his mind on that which is subtle. While sitting at the root of a tree, his thoughts, O thou of great intelligence, abandoning all those great feats, turned towards that which is subtle.
"'"'"Alarka said, 'My mind has become strong. Having conquered the mind, one's conquest becomes permanent. Though surrounded by foes, I shall (henceforth) shoot my arrows at other objects. Since in consequence of its unsteadiness, it sets all mortals to accomplish acts, I shall shoot very sharp-pointed shafts at the mind.'
"'"'"The mind said, 'These arrows, O Alarka, will never pierce me through. They will pierce only thy own vital parts. Thy vital parts being pierced, thou shalt die. Do thou look out for other arrows with which to destroy me.' Hearing these words and reflecting upon them, he said as follows.
"'"'"Alarka said, 'Smelling very many perfumes, the nose hankers after them only. Hence I shall shoot whetted arrows at the nose.'
"'"'"The nose said, 'These arrows will never cross through me, O Alarka. They will pierce only thy own vital parts, and thy vital parts being pierced, thou shalt die. Do thou look for other arrows with which to destroy me.' Hearing these words and reflecting upon them, he said as follows.
"'"'"Alarka said, 'This one (viz., the tongue), enjoying savoury tastes, hankers after them only. Hence I shall shoot whetted shafts at the tongue.'
"'"'"The tongue said, 'These arrows, O Alarka, will not cross through me. They will only pierce thy own vital parts and thy vital parts being pierced, thou shalt die. Do thou look for other arrows with which to destroy me.' Hearing these words and reflecting upon them, he said as follows.
"'"'"Alarka said, 'The skin, touching diverse objects of touch, hankers after them only. Hence, I shall tear off the skin with diverse arrows equipt with the feathers of the Kanka.'
"'"'"The skin said, 'These arrows will not, O Alarka, cross through me. They will pierce thy own vital parts only, and thy vital parts being pierced, thou shalt die. Do thou look for other arrows with which to destroy me.' Hearing these words and reflecting on them, he said as follows.
"'"'"Alarka said, 'Hearing diverse sounds, (the ear) hankers after them only. Hence, I shall shoot whetted shafts at the ear.'
"'"'"The ear said, 'These arrows will not, O Alarka, cross through me. They will pierce thy own vital parts only, and thy vital parts being pierced, thou shalt die. Do thou then look for other arrows with which to destroy me.' Hearing these words and reflecting upon them, he said as follows.
"'"'"Alarka said, 'Seeing many colours, the eye hankers after them only. Hence, I shall destroy the eye with sharp-pointed arrows.'
"'"'"The eye said. 'These arrows will not, O Alarka, cross through me at all. They will pierce thy own vital parts only, and thy vital parts being pierced, thou shalt die. Do thou then look for other arrows with which to destroy me!' Hearing these words and reflecting upon them, he said as follows.
"'"'"Alarka said, 'This (viz., the understanding) forms many determinations with the aid of ratiocination. Hence, I shall shoot whetted arrows at the understanding.'
"'"'"The understanding said, 'These arrows will not, O Alarka, cross through me at all. They will pierce thy vital parts only, and thy vital parts being pierced, thou shalt die. Do thou then look for other arrows with which to destroy me!'"
"'"The Brahmana continued, '"Then Alarka, employing himself, even there, on penances difficult to perform and exceedingly austere, failed to obtain, by the high power (of his penances) arrows for casting at these seven. Endued with puissance, he then, with mind well concentrated, began to reflect. Then O best of regenerate ones, Alarka, that foremost of intelligent men, having reflected for a long time, failed to obtain anything better than Yoga. Setting his mind on one object, he remained perfectly still, engaged in Yoga.[83] Endued with energy, he quickly slew all the senses with one arrow, having entered by Yoga into his soul and thereby attained to the highest success. Filled with wonder, that royal sage then sang this verse: 'Alas, it is a pity that we should have accomplished all acts that are external! Alas, that we should have, endued with the thirst for enjoyment, courted (the pleasures of) sovereignty before now! I have learnt this afterwards. There is no happiness that is higher than Yoga.'—Do thou know this, O Rama. Cease to slay the Kshatriyas. Do thou practise the austerest of penances. Thou wilt then attain to what is good.'"—Thus addressed by his grandsires, Jamadagni's son practised the austerest penances, and having practised them, that highly blessed one attained to that success which is difficult to reach.'"'"