The story of Dalvya-Valla. The history of the Tirtha Yayata (ch41)

MAHABHARATA

CHAPTER 41
(GADAYUDDHA PARVA)-Continued

The story of Dalvya-Valla. The history of the Tirtha Yayata

SYNOPSIS

Vaishampayana recounts a story highlighting the power of ascetic penances and divine intervention. The Yadava prince visits the hermitage of the ascetic Dalvya-Vaka, who once poured libations on the sacrificial fire to curse and diminish the kingdom of King Dhritarashtra. This act was fueled by the king's insult when he offered dead cattle to the sage, instead of live animals as requested, during a sacrificial ritual.

Dalvya-Vaka, angered by Dhritarashtra's disrespect, performed a sacrificial rite at the Sarasvati River, using the flesh of the dead animals as an offering to weaken the king's reign. As a result, Dhritarashtra's kingdom faced calamities, dwindling prosperity, and unrelenting misfortune. Realizing the cause of his kingdom's plight, the king, advised by his ministers, sought forgiveness from the sage.

Dhritarashtra went to the riverbank, humbled himself before Dalvya-Vaka, and sincerely repented for his actions. The sage, moved by the king’s remorse, forgave him and performed rituals to restore the kingdom’s vitality. Dhritarashtra returned to his capital with gratitude and resumed his reign with renewed prosperity.

The story transitions to other sacred tirthas associated with the Sarasvati River. It recounts King Yayati’s grand sacrifices, during which the river miraculously produced milk and clarified butter and provided immense wealth and gifts to the Brahmanas present. The gods and mortals alike were awed by the abundance and praised Yayati’s devotion and generosity.

Finally, the narrative shifts to Baladeva (Balarama), who continues his pilgrimage to various sacred sites, including Vashishthapavaha, showcasing the spiritual significance of these tirthas and their connection to divine legends. The tale underscores themes of repentance, the sanctity of sacrifices, and the divine grace of the Sarasvati River.

CHAPTER 41

वैशम्पायन उवाच
ब्रह्मयोनेरवाकीर्णं जगाम यदुनन्दनः ।
यत्र दाल्भ्यो बको राजन्नाश्रमस्थो महातपाः ॥ १ ॥
जुहाव धृतराष्ट्रस्य राष्टं वैचित्रवीर्यणः ।
तपसा घोररूपेण कर्षयन् देहमात्मनः ॥ २ ॥

vaiśampāyana uvāca
brahmayoneravākīrṇaṃ jagāma yadunandanaḥ |
yatra dālbhyo bako rājannāśramastho mahātapāḥ || 1 ||
juhāva dhṛtarāṣṭrasya rāṣṭaṃ vaicitravīryaṇaḥ |
tapasā ghorarūpeṇa karṣayan dehamātmanaḥ || 2 ||

Vaishampayana said

"That delighter of the Yadus then proceeded to the hermitage (of Vaka) resonant with the chanting of the Vedas. There the great ascetic, O king, named Dalvya-vaka, poured the kingdom of Dhritarashtra, the son of Vichitravirya, as a libation (on the sacrificial fire). By practising hard penances he emaciated his own body. The greatly energetic and virtuous Rishi did it being worked up with great wrath.

क्रोधेन महताऽऽविष्ट धर्मात्मा वै प्रतापवान् ।
पुरा हि नैमिषीयाणां सत्रे द्वादशवार्षिके ॥ ३ ॥
वृत्ते विश्वाजितोऽन्ते वै पञ्चालानृषयोऽगमन् ।

krodhena mahatā’’viṣṭa dharmātmā vai pratāpavān |
purā hi naimiṣīyāṇāṃ satre dvādaśavārṣike || 3 ||
vṛtte viśvājito’nte vai pañcālānṛṣayo’gaman |

Formerly the Rishis, living in the Naimisha forest, had celebrated a sacrifice extending over twelve years. In the course of that sacrifice, after a particular one called Vishvajit had been completed, the Rishis started for the country of the Panchalas.

तत्रेश्वरमयाचन्त दक्षिणार्थं मनस्विनः ॥ ४ ॥
तानब्रवीद बको दाल्भयो विभजघ्व पशूनिति ॥ ५ ॥

tatreśvaramayācanta dakṣiṇārthaṃ manasvinaḥ || 4 ||
tānabravīda bako dālbhayo vibhajaghva paśūniti || 5 ||

Going there, they requested the king to give them twenty-one strong and healthy calves to be given away as Dakshina in the sacrifice they had finished.

पशूनेतानहं त्यक्त्वा भक्षिष्ये राजसत्तमम् ।
एवमुक्त्वा ततो राजन्नृषीन् सर्वान् प्रतापवान् ॥ ६ ॥

paśūnetānahaṃ tyaktvā bhakṣiṣye rājasattamam |
evamuktvā tato rājannṛṣīn sarvān pratāpavān || 6 ||

Dalvya-vaka, then said to those Rishis "Do you divide those animals among ye! Giving away these (to ye), I shall beg a great king (for some more).'

जगाम धृतराष्ट्रस्य भवनं ब्राह्मणोत्तमः ।

jagāma dhṛtarāṣṭrasya bhavanaṃ brāhmaṇottamaḥ |

Saying it the greatly energetic Vaka, that best of Brahmanas, then went to the palace of Dhritarashtra.

स समीपगतो भूत्वा धृतराष्ट्रं जनेश्वरम् ॥ ७ ॥
अयाचत पशून् दाल्भ्यः स चैनं रुषितोऽब्रवीत् ।
यदृच्छया मृता दृष्ट्वा गास्तदा नृपसत्तमः ॥ ८ ॥
एतान् पशून् य क्षिप्रं ब्रह्मबन्धो यदीच्छसि ।

sa samīpagato bhūtvā dhṛtarāṣṭraṃ janeśvaram || 7 ||
ayācata paśūn dālbhyaḥ sa cainaṃ ruṣito’bravīt |
yadṛcchayā mṛtā dṛṣṭvā gāstadā nṛpasattamaḥ || 8 ||
etān paśūn ya kṣipraṃ brahmabandho yadīcchasi |

Going before Dhritarashtra, Dalvya begged some animals of him. Finding that some of his kine had died without any cause, the king angrily said to him - "Wretch of a Brahmana, take, if you wish, these (dead) kine.

ऋषिस्तथा वचः श्रुत्वा चिन्तयामास धर्मवित् ॥ ९ ॥
अहो बत नृशसं वै वाक्यमुक्तोऽस्मि संसदि ।

ṛṣistathā vacaḥ śrutvā cintayāmāsa dharmavit || 9 ||
aho bata nṛśasaṃ vai vākyamukto’smi saṃsadi |

Hearing these words, the dutiful Rishi thought - Alas, he has spoken cruel words to me in the assembly.'

चिन्तयित्वा मुहूर्तेन रोषाविष्टो द्विजोत्तमः ॥ १० ॥
मतिं चक्रे विनाशय धृतराष्ट्रस्य भूपतेः ।

cintayitvā muhūrtena roṣāviṣṭo dvijottamaḥ || 10 ||
matiṃ cakre vināśaya dhṛtarāṣṭrasya bhūpateḥ |

Having thought thus, the best of Brahmanas, filled with rage, made up his mind to destroy King Dhritarashtra.

स तूत्कृत्य मृतानां वै मांसानि मुनिसत्तमः ।। ११।।
जुहाव धृतराष्ट्रस्य राष्ट्रं नरपतेः पुराः ।
अवाकीर्णे सरस्वत्यास्तीर्थे प्रज्वाल्य पावकम् ॥ १२ ॥
बको दाल्भ्यो महाराज नियमं परमं स्थितः ।
स तैरेव जुहावास्य राष्ट्रं मांसैर्महातपाः ॥ १३ ॥

sa tūtkṛtya mṛtānāṃ vai māṃsāni munisattamaḥ || 11||
juhāva dhṛtarāṣṭrasya rāṣṭraṃ narapateḥ purāḥ |
avākīrṇe sarasvatyāstīrthe prajvālya pāvakam || 12 ||
bako dālbhyo mahārāja niyamaṃ paramaṃ sthitaḥ |
sa taireva juhāvāsya rāṣṭraṃ māṃsairmahātapāḥ || 13 ||

Cutting the flesh from the dead animals, that best of Rishis, having lighted a sacrificial fire on the tirtha of the Sarasvati, poured those pieces as libations for the destruction of King Dhritarashtra's kingdom. The great ascetic Dalvya-vaka, O king poured Dhritarashtra's kingdom as a libation on the fire.

तस्मिंस्तु विधिवत् सत्रे सम्प्रवृत्ते सुदारुणे ।
अक्षीयत ततो राष्ट्रं धृतराष्ट्रस्य पार्थिव ॥ १४ ॥

tasmiṃstu vidhivat satre sampravṛtte sudāruṇe |
akṣīyata tato rāṣṭraṃ dhṛtarāṣṭrasya pārthiva || 14 ||

Upon the commencement of that dreadful sacrifice with proper rites, the kingdom of Dhritarashtra, O king, began to dwindle.

ततः प्रक्षीयमाणं तद् राज्यं तस्य महीपतेः ।
छिद्यमानं यथानन्तं वनं परशुना विभो ॥ १५ ॥
बभूवापद्गतं तच व्यवकीर्णमचेतनम् ।
दृष्ट्वा तथावकीर्णं तु राष्ट्रं स मनुजाधिपः ॥ १६ ॥

tataḥ prakṣīyamāṇaṃ tad rājyaṃ tasya mahīpateḥ |
chidyamānaṃ yathānantaṃ vanaṃ paraśunā vibho || 15 ||
babhūvāpadgataṃ taca vyavakīrṇamacetanam |
dṛṣṭvā tathāvakīrṇaṃ tu rāṣṭraṃ sa manujādhipaḥ || 16 ||

Indeed, O lord, the kingdom of that monarch began to dwindle as a large forest gradually disappeared when men cut it down with the axe. Overtaken by dangers, the kingdom began to lose its prosperity and vitality.

बभूव दुर्मना राजंश्चिन्तयामास च प्रभुः ।

babhūva durmanā rājaṃścintayāmāsa ca prabhuḥ |

Seeing his kingdom thus afflicted the powerful king became very depressed and anxious.

मोक्षार्थमकरोद् यत्नं ब्राह्मणैः सहितः पुरा ॥ १७ ॥
न च श्रेयोऽध्यगच्छत्तु क्षीयते राष्ट्रमेव च ।

mokṣārthamakarod yatnaṃ brāhmaṇaiḥ sahitaḥ purā || 17 ||
na ca śreyo’dhyagacchattu kṣīyate rāṣṭrameva ca |

Consulting with the Brahmanas, he began to make mighty endeavors to release his kingdom (from affliction ). No good, however, came of his endeavors, for the kingdom continued to dwindle.

यदा स पार्थिवः खिन्नस्ते च विप्रास्तदानघ ॥ १८ ॥
यदा चापि न शक्नोति राष्ट्रं मोक्षयितुं नृप ।
अथ वै प्राश्निकांस्तत्र पप्रच्छ जनमेजय ॥ १९ ॥
ततो वै प्राश्निकाः प्राहुः पशोर्विप्रकृतस्त्वया ।

yadā sa pārthivaḥ khinnaste ca viprāstadānagha || 18 ||
yadā cāpi na śaknoti rāṣṭraṃ mokṣayituṃ nṛpa |
atha vai prāśnikāṃstatra papraccha janamejaya || 19 ||
tato vai prāśnikāḥ prāhuḥ paśorviprakṛtastvayā |

The king became very much depressed. The Brahmanas also, O sinless one, became filled with grief. When at last the king failed to save his kingdom, he consulted the ministers, O Janamejaya, (about the remedy). The minister reminded him of the evil he had done regarding the dead kine.

मासैरभिजुहोतीदं तव राष्ट्रं मुनिर्बकः ॥ २० ॥
तेन ते हूयमानस्य राष्ट्रस्यास्य क्षयो महान्।

māsairabhijuhotīdaṃ tava rāṣṭraṃ munirbakaḥ || 20 ||
tena te hūyamānasya rāṣṭrasyāsya kṣayo mahān|

And they said "The ascetic Vaka is pouring your kingdom as a libation on the fire with the help of the flesh (of those animals). Therefore is this dwindling away of your kingdom.

तस्यैतत् तपसः कर्म येन तेऽद्य लयो महान् ॥ २१॥
अपां कुञ्ज सरस्वत्यास्तं प्रसादय पार्थिव ।

tasyaitat tapasaḥ karma yena te’dya layo mahān || 21||
apāṃ kuñja sarasvatyāstaṃ prasādaya pārthiva |

This is the fruit of ascetic rites. Thence is this great calamity! Go, O king and propitiate that Rishi who is living on the bank of the Sarasvati.'

सरस्वतीं ततो गत्वा स राजा बकमब्रवीत् ॥ २२ ॥
निपत्य शिरसा भूमौ प्राञ्जलिर्भरतर्षभ ।

sarasvatīṃ tato gatvā sa rājā bakamabravīt || 22 ||
nipatya śirasā bhūmau prāñjalirbharatarṣabha |

Going to the bank of Sarasvati, the king fell at his feet, touched them with his head, joined his hands, and said - "I propitiate you, O worshipful one, forgive me for my crime.

 
प्रसादये त्वां भगवन्नपराधं क्षमस्व मे ॥ २३॥
मम दीनस्य लुब्धस्य मौर्येण हतचेतसः ।

prasādaye tvāṃ bhagavannaparādhaṃ kṣamasva me || 23||
mama dīnasya lubdhasya mauryeṇa hatacetasaḥ |

I am an insensate fool, a wretch filled with avarice. You are my refuge and protector, you should extend to me your favor.'

त्वं गतिस्त्वं च मे नाथः प्रसादं कर्तुमर्हसि ॥ २४॥
तं तथा विलपन्तं तु शोकोपहतचेतसम् ।

tvaṃ gatistvaṃ ca me nāthaḥ prasādaṃ kartumarhasi || 24||
taṃ tathā vilapantaṃ tu śokopahatacetasam |

Seeing him thus laden with grief and indulging in lamentations like these, Vaka felt compassion for him and freed his kingdom.

दृष्ट्वा तस्य कृपा जज्ञे राष्ट्रं तस्य व्यमोचयत् ॥ २५ ॥
ऋषिः प्रसन्नस्तस्याभूत् संरम्भं च विहाय सः ।
मोक्षार्थं तस्य राज्यस्य जुहाव पुनराहुतिम् ॥ २६ ॥

dṛṣṭvā tasya kṛpā jajñe rāṣṭraṃ tasya vyamocayat || 25 ||
ṛṣiḥ prasannastasyābhūt saṃrambhaṃ ca vihāya saḥ |
mokṣārthaṃ tasya rājyasya juhāva punarāhutim || 26 ||

The Rishi became pleased with him and cast off his anger. For freeing his kingdom, the sage again poured libations on the fire.

मोक्षयित्वा ततो राष्ट्रं प्रतिगृह्य पशून् बहून्।
हृष्टात्मा नैमिषारण्यं जगाम पुनरेव सः ॥ २७ ॥

mokṣayitvā tato rāṣṭraṃ pratigṛhya paśūn bahūn|
hṛṣṭātmā naimiṣāraṇyaṃ jagāma punareva saḥ || 27 ||

Having freed the kingdom from calamities and taken many kine as a gift he became pleased at heart and once more proceeded to the Naimisha forest.

धृतराष्ट्रोऽपि धर्मात्मा स्वस्थचेता महामनाः ।
स्वमेव नगरं राजन् प्रतिपेदे महर्द्धिमत् ॥ २८ ॥

dhṛtarāṣṭro’pi dharmātmā svasthacetā mahāmanāḥ |
svameva nagaraṃ rājan pratipede maharddhimat || 28 ||

The liberal and righteous king Dhritarashtra, with a cheerful heart, returned to

his own prosperous capital.

तत्र तीर्थे महाराज बृहस्पतिरुदारधीः ।
असुराणामभावाय भवाय त दिवौकसाम् ॥ २९ ॥
मांसैरभिजुहावेष्टिमक्षीयन्त ततोऽसुराः ।
दैवतैरपि सम्भग्ना जितकाशिभिराहवे॥ ३० ॥

tatra tīrthe mahārāja bṛhaspatirudāradhīḥ |
asurāṇāmabhāvāya bhavāya ta divaukasām || 29 ||
māṃsairabhijuhāveṣṭimakṣīyanta tato’surāḥ |
daivatairapi sambhagnā jitakāśibhirāhave|| 30 ||

In that tirtha, for the destruction of the Asuras and the prosperity of the celestials, Brihaspati also poured libations on the sacrificial fire, with the aid of flesh. Upon this, the Asuras began to waste away and were killed by the celestials, filled with the desire for victory, in battle.

तत्रापि विधिवद्दत्त्वा ब्राह्मणेभ्यो महायशाः ।
वाजिनः कुञ्जरांश्चैव रथांश्चाश्वतरीयुतान् ॥ ३१॥
रत्नानि च महार्हाणि धनं धान्यं च पुष्कलम् ।
तीर्थं महाबाहुर्यायातं पृथिवीपते ॥ ३२ ॥

tatrāpi vidhivaddattvā brāhmaṇebhyo mahāyaśāḥ |
vājinaḥ kuñjarāṃścaiva rathāṃścāśvatarīyutān || 31||
ratnāni ca mahārhāṇi dhanaṃ dhānyaṃ ca puṣkalam |
tīrthaṃ mahābāhuryāyātaṃ pṛthivīpate || 32 ||

Having with due rites given to the Brahmanas horses and elephants and vehicles with mules yoked to them and precious jewels and immense wealth and profuse corn, the illustrious and mighty-armed Rama then proceeded, O king, to the tirtha called Yayata.

 
तत्र यज्ञे ययातेश्च महाराज सरस्वती ।
सर्पिः पयश्च सुस्राव नाहुषस्य महात्मनः ।। ३३ ।।

tatra yajñe yayāteśca mahārāja sarasvatī |
sarpiḥ payaśca susrāva nāhuṣasya mahātmanaḥ || 33 ||

There, O king, at the sacrifice of the high-souled Yayati, the son of Nahusha, the Sarasvati produced milk and clarified butter.

 
तत्रेष्ट्वा पुरुषव्याघ्रो ययातिः पृथिवीपतिः ।
अक्रामदूर्ध्वं मुदितो लेभे लोकांश्च पुष्कलान् ॥ ३४॥

tatreṣṭvā puruṣavyāghro yayātiḥ pṛthivīpatiḥ |
akrāmadūrdhvaṃ mudito lebhe lokāṃśca puṣkalān || 34||

That foremost of men, King Yayati, having performed a sacrifice there, went to heaven and secured many blissful regions.

पुनस्तत्र च राज्ञस्तु ययातेर्यजतः प्रभोः ।
औदार्यं परमं कृत्वा भक्तिं चात्मनि शाश्वतीम् ॥ ३५ ॥
ददौ कामान् ब्राह्मणेभ्यो यान् यान् यो मनसेच्छति।

punastatra ca rājñastu yayāteryajataḥ prabhoḥ |
audāryaṃ paramaṃ kṛtvā bhaktiṃ cātmani śāśvatīm || 35 ||
dadau kāmān brāhmaṇebhyo yān yān yo manasecchati|

Once again, O lord, King Yayati, performed a sacrifice there. Beholding his great magnanimity of soul and his fixed devotion to herself, the river Sarasvati gave to the Brahmanas present there everything they desired to have.

यो यत्र स्थित एवेह आहूतो यज्ञसंस्तरे ॥ ३६ ॥
तस्य तस्य सरिच्छ्रेष्टा गृहादिशयनादिकम् ।
षड्रसं भोजनं चैव दानं नानाविधं तथा ॥ ३७ ॥

yo yatra sthita eveha āhūto yajñasaṃstare || 36 ||
tasya tasya saricchreṣṭā gṛhādiśayanādikam |
ṣaḍrasaṃ bhojanaṃ caiva dānaṃ nānāvidhaṃ tathā || 37 ||

That foremost of rivers gave each of them that were invited to the sacrifice, here he was, houses and beds and food of the six different tastes and various other things.

ते मन्यमाना राज्ञस्तु सम्प्रदानमनुत्तमम् ।
राजानं तुष्टुवुः प्रीता दत्त्वा चैवाशिषः शुभाः ॥ ३८ ॥

te manyamānā rājñastu sampradānamanuttamam |
rājānaṃ tuṣṭuvuḥ prītā dattvā caivāśiṣaḥ śubhāḥ || 38 ||

The Brahmanas regarded those valuable gifts as presented by the king. Gladly they lauded the king and conferred their sacred blessing upon him.

तत्र देवाः सगन्धर्वाः प्रीता यज्ञस्य सम्पदा ।
विस्मिता मानुषाश्चासन् दृष्ट्वा तां यज्ञसम्पदम् ॥ ३९॥

tatra devāḥ sagandharvāḥ prītā yajñasya sampadā |
vismitā mānuṣāścāsan dṛṣṭvā tāṃ yajñasampadam || 39||

The gods and the Gandharvas were all pleased with the number of articles in that sacrifice. As regards men, they were filled with wonder upon seeing those articles.

ततस्तालकेतुर्महाधर्मकेतु-
महात्मा कृतात्मा महादाननित्यः ।
वसिष्ठापवाहं महाभीमवेगं
धृतात्मा जितात्मा समभ्याजगाम ॥ ४० ॥

tatastālaketurmahādharmaketu-
mahātmā kṛtātmā mahādānanityaḥ |
vasiṣṭhāpavāhaṃ mahābhīmavegaṃ
dhṛtātmā jitātmā samabhyājagāma || 40 ||

The illustrious and righteous Baladeva, of a cleansed soul, having the palmyra on his banner and ever giving away the most valuable things, then proceeded to that tirtha of fierce current called Vashishthapavaha.