CHAPTER 51
(Gadayuddha Parva)-Continued
The story of Dadhicha
SYNOPSIS
The story is narrated by the sage Vaishampayana to King Janamejaya. It begins with a description of the sage Sarasvat, who played a pivotal role during a 12-year drought. Sarasvat’s origins are traced back to the river goddess Sarasvati. During a ritual on the river’s banks, the ascetic Dadhicha, famed for his intense penance and virtue, was momentarily distracted by the celestial nymph Alambusha. As a result, his seed fell into the waters of the Sarasvati. Out of respect for Dadhicha’s asceticism, the river preserved and nurtured the seed within her, eventually giving birth to a child named Sarasvat. She presented the boy to Dadhicha, who blessed the river and acknowledged the child as his own. Sarasvat, destined for greatness, grew up to become a wise sage capable of spreading sacred knowledge.
Dadhicha later demonstrates extraordinary selflessness. When the gods struggled to defeat the powerful demons (Asuras), they sought Dadhicha’s assistance. Indra, the king of the gods, revealed that only weapons forged from Dadhicha’s bones could vanquish their foes. Without hesitation, the sage sacrificed his life, offering his bones to the gods. These were used to create celestial weapons, including Indra’s thunderbolt, which led to the destruction of the demons. Dadhicha’s noble act ensured his eternal place among the revered.
During the drought, when many sages scattered in search of sustenance, Sarasvat remained by the river Sarasvati. She sustained him by providing food, allowing him to continue performing his rituals, and offering oblations. After the drought ended, the sages, having forgotten the Vedas during their years of hardship, sought Sarasvat’s guidance. Though young, Sarasvat demonstrated unparalleled mastery of the Vedas. Initially hesitant to accept him as a teacher because of his youth, the sages were convinced by Sarasvat’s wisdom. He reminded them that merit lies not in age or status but in one’s knowledge and actions.
Sixty thousand sages eventually became Sarasvat’s disciples, humbly offering grass as a seat for their teacher. Sarasvat, with his dedication and brilliance, helped revive sacred traditions and ensured the continuity of Vedic learning.
This tale highlights the divine origins and contributions of Sarasvat, the selflessness of Dadhicha, and the enduring bond between the river Sarasvati and the sages who sought her shelter. It reflects themes of sacrifice, perseverance, and the timeless pursuit of knowledge.
CHAPTER 51
वैशम्पायन उवाच
यत्रेजिवानुडुपती राजसूयेन भारत ।
तस्मिंस्तीर्थे महानासीत् संग्रामस्तारकामयः ॥ १ ॥
vaiśampāyana uvāca
yatrejivānuḍupatī rājasūyena bhārata |
tasmiṃstīrthe mahānāsīt saṃgrāmastārakāmayaḥ || 1 ||
Vaishampayana said"There, in that Tirtha, O Bharata, where the Moon had formerly celebrated the Rajasuya sacrifice, a great battle was fought in which Taraka was the root.
तत्राप्युपस्पृश्य बले दत्त्वा दानानि चात्मवान् ।
सारस्वतस्य धर्मात्मा मुनेस्तीर्थं जगाम ह ॥ २ ॥
तत्र द्वादशवार्षिक्यामनावृशष्टया द्विजोत्तमान्।
वेदानध्यापयामास पुरा सारस्वतो मुनिः ॥३॥
tatrāpyupaspṛśya bale dattvā dānāni cātmavān |
sārasvatasya dharmātmā munestīrthaṃ jagāma ha || 2 ||
tatra dvādaśavārṣikyāmanāvṛśaṣṭayā dvijottamān|
vedānadhyāpayāmāsa purā sārasvato muniḥ ||3||
Bathing in that Tirtha and distributing many presents, the virtuous Vala of pure soul went to the Tirtha of the Muni named Sarasvat. There, during a drought extending over twelve years, the sage Sarasvat, formerly taught the Vedas unto many best of Brahmanas.
जनमेजय उवाच
कथं द्वादशवार्षिक्यामनावृष्ट्यां द्विजोत्तमान्।
ऋषीनध्यापयामास पुरा सारस्वतो मुनिः || ४ ||
janamejaya uvāca
kathaṃ dvādaśavārṣikyāmanāvṛṣṭyāṃ dvijottamān|
ṛṣīnadhyāpayāmāsa purā sārasvato muniḥ || 4 ||
Janamejaya said
"Why did the sage Sarasvat, O you of ascetic merit, teach the Vedas to the Rishis during a twelve-year drought?
वैशम्पायन उवाच
आसीत् पूर्वं महाराज मुनिर्धीमान् महातपाः ।
दधीच इति विख्यातो ब्रह्मचारी जितेन्द्रियः ॥ ५ ॥
vaiśampāyana uvāca
āsīt pūrvaṃ mahārāja munirdhīmān mahātapāḥ |
dadhīca iti vikhyāto brahmacārī jitendriyaḥ || 5 ||
Vaishampayana saidFormerly, O king, there was an intelligent sage of great ascetic virtue. He was celebrated by the name of Dadhicha. Having governed his senses, he led the life of a Brahmachari.
तस्यातितपसः शक्रो विभेति सततं विभो ।
न स लोभयितुं शक्यः फलैर्वहुविधैरपि ॥ ६ ॥
tasyātitapasaḥ śakro vibheti satataṃ vibho |
na sa lobhayituṃ śakyaḥ phalairvahuvidhairapi || 6 ||
On account of his excessive ascetic austerities, Shakra was possessed by fear. The sage could not be dissuaded (from the practices of his penances) by the offer of even various kinds of rewards.
प्रलोभनार्थं तस्याथ प्राहिणोत् पाकशासनः ।
दिव्यामप्सरसं पुण्यां दर्शनीयामलम्बुषाम् ॥ ७ ॥
pralobhanārthaṃ tasyātha prāhiṇot pākaśāsanaḥ |
divyāmapsarasaṃ puṇyāṃ darśanīyāmalambuṣām || 7 ||
At last, to tempt the sage, the chastiser of Paka, sent to him the highly beautiful and celestial Apsara by the name of Alambusha.
तस्य तर्पयतो देवान् सरस्वत्यां महात्मनः ।
समीपतो महाराज सोऽपातिष्ठत भाविनी ॥ ८ ॥
tasya tarpayato devān sarasvatyāṃ mahātmanaḥ |
samīpato mahārāja so’pātiṣṭhata bhāvinī || 8 ||
On the banks of the Sarasvat the great sage was engaged in the worship of the gods and there the celestial nymphs, O king, arrived.
तां दिव्यवपुषं दृष्ट्वा तस्यर्षेर्भावितात्मनः ।
रेतः स्कन्नं सरस्वत्यां तत् सा जग्राह निम्नगा ॥। ९ ॥
tāṃ divyavapuṣaṃ dṛṣṭvā tasyarṣerbhāvitātmanaḥ |
retaḥ skannaṃ sarasvatyāṃ tat sā jagrāha nimnagā ||| 9 ||
Seeing that beautiful damsel the seminal fluid of that ascetic came out. Having fallen into the Sarasvati, the latter preserved it with care.
कुक्षौ चाप्यदधद्धृष्टा तद् रेतः पुरुषर्षभ ।
सा दधार च तं गर्भं पुत्रहेतोर्महानदी ।। १० ।।
kukṣau cāpyadadhaddhṛṣṭā tad retaḥ puruṣarṣabha |
sā dadhāra ca taṃ garbhaṃ putrahetormahānadī || 10 ||
Indeed, O foremost of men, the River, seeing that seed, held it in her womb. In time the seed developed into a fetus and the great river kept it so that it might have life and grow into a child.
सुषुवे चापि समये पुत्रं सा सरितां वरा ।
जगाम पुत्रमादाय तमृषिं प्रति च प्रभो ॥ ११ ॥
suṣuve cāpi samaye putraṃ sā saritāṃ varā |
jagāma putramādāya tamṛṣiṃ prati ca prabho || 11 ||
When the time came, the best of rivers delivered that child and then went, O lord, taking it with her, to that Rishi.
ऋषिसंसदि तं दृष्ट्वा सा नदी मुनिसत्तमम् ।
ततः प्रोवाच राजेन्द्र ददती पुत्रमस्य तम् ॥ १२ ॥
ब्रह्मर्षे तव पुत्रोऽयं त्वद्भक्त्या धारितो मया ।
दृष्ट्रा तेऽप्सरसं रेतो यत् स्कन्नं प्रागलम्बुपाम् ॥ १३ ॥
तत् कुक्षिणा वै ब्रह्मर्षे त्वद्भक्त्या धृतवत्यहम्।
न विनाशमिदं गच्छेत् त्वत्तेज इति निश्चयात् ॥ १४॥
ṛṣisaṃsadi taṃ dṛṣṭvā sā nadī munisattamam |
tataḥ provāca rājendra dadatī putramasya tam || 12 ||
brahmarṣe tava putro’yaṃ tvadbhaktyā dhārito mayā |
dṛṣṭrā te’psarasaṃ reto yat skannaṃ prāgalambupām || 13 ||
tat kukṣiṇā vai brahmarṣe tvadbhaktyā dhṛtavatyaham|
na vināśamidaṃ gacchet tvatteja iti niścayāt || 14 ||
Seeing that best of Rishis in a conclave, Sarasvati, O king, while handing over the child, said these words:-- "O Rishi, this is your son whom I held out of respect for you! That seed of yours, which fell at seeing the nymph Alambusha, had been held by me in my womb, O Rishi, through devotion for you and knowing well that your seed would never be destroyed.
प्रतिगृह्णीष्व पुत्रं स्वं मया दत्तमनिन्दितम्।
इत्युक्तः प्रतिजग्राह प्रीति चावाप पुष्कलाम् ॥ १५ ॥
pratigṛhṇīṣva putraṃ svaṃ mayā dattamaninditam|
ityuktaḥ pratijagrāha prīti cāvāpa puṣkalām || 15 ||
Given by me, accept this faultless child of your own!' Thus addressed by her, the Rishi accepted the child and was highly pleased.
स्वतं चाप्यजित् तं मूर्ध्नि प्रेम्णा द्विजोत्तमः ।
परिष्वज्यं चिरं कालं तदा भरतसत्तम ॥ १६ ॥
svataṃ cāpyajit taṃ mūrdhni premṇā dvijottamaḥ |
pariṣvajyaṃ ciraṃ kālaṃ tadā bharatasattama || 16 ||
That best of Brahmanas then out of affection smelt the head of his son and embraced him closely, O best of Bharata, for some time.
सरस्वत्यै वरं प्रादात् प्रीयमाणो महामुनिः ।
विश्वेदेवा सपितरो गन्धर्वाप्सरसां गणाः ॥ १७ ॥
तृप्तिं यास्यन्ति सुभगे तर्प्यमाणास्तवाम्भसा ।
sarasvatyai varaṃ prādāt prīyamāṇo mahāmuniḥ |
viśvedevā sapitaro gandharvāpsarasāṃ gaṇāḥ || 17 ||
tṛptiṃ yāsyanti subhage tarpyamāṇāstavāmbhasā |
Pleased with the River, the great ascetic Dadhicha then gave a boon to her, saying - "The Vishvedevas, the Rishis, and all the clans of the Gandharvas and the Apsaras, will henceforth, O blessed one, derive great happiness when oblations of your water are presented to them !'
इत्युक्त्वा स तु तुष्टाव वचोभिर्वै महानदीम् ॥ १८ ॥
प्रीतः परमहृष्टात्मा यथावच्छृणु पार्थिव ।
ityuktvā sa tu tuṣṭāva vacobhirvai mahānadīm || 18 ||
prītaḥ paramahṛṣṭātmā yathāvacchṛṇu pārthiva |
Having said to that great river, the sage, pleased and filled with joy, then praised her in these words. Hear them duly, O king!
प्रन्नुतासि महाभागे सरसो ब्रह्मणः पुरा ॥ १९ ॥
जानान्ति त्वां सरिच्छ्रेष्ठे मनुयः संशितव्रताः ।
prannutāsi mahābhāge saraso brahmaṇaḥ purā || 19 ||
jānānti tvāṃ saricchreṣṭhe manuyaḥ saṃśitavratāḥ |
Thou hast sprung, O highly blessed one, from the lake of Brahman in days of old. All ascetics know thee, O best of rivers.
मम प्रियकरी चापि सततं प्रियदर्शने ॥ २० ॥
तस्मात् सारस्वत: पुत्रो महांस्ते वरवर्णिनि ।
mama priyakarī cāpi satataṃ priyadarśane || 20 ||
tasmāt sārasvata: putro mahāṃste varavarṇini |
Highly beautiful, you have done me great good! This your great child, o fair river, will be known by the name of Sarasvat.
तवैव नाम्ना प्रथितः पुत्रस्ते लोकभावनः ॥ २१ ॥
सारस्वत इति ख्यातो भविष्यति महातपाः ।
tavaiva nāmnā prathitaḥ putraste lokabhāvanaḥ || 21 ||
sārasvata iti khyāto bhaviṣyati mahātapāḥ |
This your son, capable of creating new worlds, will pass after thy name! That great ascetic will be known by the name of Sarasvat!
एष द्वादशवार्षिक्यामनावृष्ट्यां द्विजर्षभान् ॥ २२ ॥
सारस्वतो महाभागे वेदानध्यापयिष्यति ।
eṣa dvādaśavārṣikyāmanāvṛṣṭyāṃ dvijarṣabhān || 22 ||
sārasvato mahābhāge vedānadhyāpayiṣyati |
During a drought extending over twelve years, this Sarasvat, will teach the Vedas to many best of Brahmanas.
पुण्याभ्यश्च सरिद्भयस्त्वं सदा पुण्यतमा शुभे ॥ २३ ॥
भविष्यसि महाभागे मत्प्रसादात् सरस्वति ।
puṇyābhyaśca saridbhayastvaṃ sadā puṇyatamā śubhe || 23 ||
bhaviṣyasi mahābhāge matprasādāt sarasvati |
O blessed Sarasvati, through my grace, thou shalt always become the best of all sacred rivers !'
एवं सा संस्तुताऽनेन वरं लब्ध्वा महानदी ॥ २४ ॥
पुत्रमादाय मुदिता जगाम भरतर्षभ ।
evaṃ sā saṃstutā’nena varaṃ labdhvā mahānadī || 24 ||
putramādāya muditā jagāma bharatarṣabha |
Thus was the great River lauded by the sage after the latter had granted her boons. The River then, overjoyed went away, O best of Bharata's race! taking with her that child.
एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु विरोधे देवदानवैः ॥ २५ ॥
शक्रः प्रहरणान्वेषी लोकांस्त्रीन् विचचार ह।
etasminneva kāle tu virodhe devadānavaiḥ || 25 ||
śakraḥ praharaṇānveṣī lokāṃstrīn vicacāra ha|
Meanwhile, during a war between the gods and demons, Shakra traveled through the three worlds in search of weapons.
न चोपलेभे भगवाञ्छक्रः प्रहरणं तदा ॥ २६॥
यद्वैतेषां भवेद् योग्यं वधाय विबुधद्विपाम् ।
na copalebhe bhagavāñchakraḥ praharaṇaṃ tadā || 26||
yadvaiteṣāṃ bhaved yogyaṃ vadhāya vibudhadvipām |
The king of the Celestials, however, failed to find such weapons as were fit to kill the enemies of the Celestials.
ततोऽब्रवीत् सुराञ्शको न मे शक्या महासुराः ॥। २७ ॥
ऋस्थिभिर्दधीचस्य निहन्तुं त्रिदशद्विषः ।
tato’bravīt surāñśako na me śakyā mahāsurāḥ ||| 27 ||
ṛsthibhirdadhīcasya nihantuṃ tridaśadviṣaḥ |
Shakra then said to the gods - "The great Asuras are incapable of being defeated by me. Save with the bones of Dadhicha, our foes cannot be killed.
तस्माद् गत्वा ऋषिश्रेष्ठो याच्यतां सुरसत्तमाः ॥ २८ ॥
दधीचास्थीनि देहीति तैर्वधिष्यामहे रिपून् ।
tasmād gatvā ṛṣiśreṣṭho yācyatāṃ surasattamāḥ || 28 ||
dadhīcāsthīni dehīti tairvadhiṣyāmahe ripūn |
O best of celestials, go, therefore, to that best of Rishis and beg of him, saying - "Grant us, O Dadhicha, your bones! With them, we will kill our enemies. '
स च तैर्याचितोऽस्थीनि यत्नादृषिवरस्तदा ।। २९ ॥
प्राणत्यागं कुरुश्रेष्ठ चकारैवाविचारयन् ।
स लोकानक्षयान् प्राप्तो देवप्रियकरस्तदा ॥ ३० ॥
sa ca tairyācito’sthīni yatnādṛṣivarastadā || 29 ||
prāṇatyāgaṃ kuruśreṣṭha cakāraivāvicārayan |
sa lokānakṣayān prāpto devapriyakarastadā || 30 ||
Begged by them for his bones, that best of Rishis, O best of Kuru's race, unhesitatingly gave up his life. Having done what was agreeable to the celestials, the sage attained the eternally blissful region.
तस्यास्थिभिरथो शक्रः समप्रहृष्टमनास्तदा ।
कारयामास दिव्यानि नानाप्रहरणानि च ॥ ३१ ॥
गदावज्राणि चक्राणि गुरून् दण्डांश्च पुष्कलान्।
tasyāsthibhiratho śakraḥ samaprahṛṣṭamanāstadā |
kārayāmāsa divyāni nānāpraharaṇāni ca || 31 ||
gadāvajrāṇi cakrāṇi gurūn daṇḍāṃśca puṣkalān|
With his bones, Shakra gladly made many kinds of weapons, such as thunderbolts, disco, heavy maces, and many kinds of clubs and bludgeons.
स हि तीव्रेण तपसा सम्भृतः परमर्षिणा ॥ ३२ ॥
प्रजापतिसुतेनाथ भृगुणा लोकभावनः ।
अतिकाय: स तेजस्वी लोकसारो विनिर्मितः ॥ ३३ ॥
जज्ञे शैलगुरुः प्रांशुर्महिम्ना प्रथितः प्रभुः ।
नित्यमुद्विजते चास्य तेजसः पाकशासनः ॥ ३४ ॥
sa hi tīvreṇa tapasā sambhṛtaḥ paramarṣiṇā || 32 ||
prajāpatisutenātha bhṛguṇā lokabhāvanaḥ |
atikāya: sa tejasvī lokasāro vinirmitaḥ || 33 ||
jajñe śailaguruḥ prāṃśurmahimnā prathitaḥ prabhuḥ |
nityamudvijate cāsya tejasaḥ pākaśāsanaḥ || 34 ||
Equal to the Creator himself Dadhicha, had been begotten by the penances of great Rishi Bhrigu. Strongly built and highly energetic Dadhicha had been made the strongest of men in the world. The powerful and glorious Dadhicha became tall like the king of mountains. The chastiser of Paka had always been in dread of his power.
तेन वज्रेण भगवान् मन्त्रयुक्तेन भारत ।
भृशं क्रोधविसृष्टेन ब्रह्मतेजोद्भवेन च ॥ ३५ ॥
दैत्यदानववीराणां जघान नवतीर्नव।
tena vajreṇa bhagavān mantrayuktena bhārata |
bhṛśaṃ krodhavisṛṣṭena brahmatejodbhavena ca || 35 ||
daityadānavavīrāṇāṃ jaghāna navatīrnava|
With the thunder-bolt created by Brahma and inspired with mantras, O Bharata, Indra made a loud noise when he hurled it and killed ninety-nine Daityas.
अथ काले व्यतिक्रान्ते महत्यतिभयंकारे ॥ ३६ ॥
अनावृष्टिरनुप्राप्ता राजन् द्वादशवार्षिकी।
atha kāle vyatikrānte mahatyatibhayaṃkāre || 36 ||
anāvṛṣṭiranuprāptā rājan dvādaśavārṣikī|
After a dreadful long time a drought. O king took place that extended over twelve years.
तस्यां द्वादशवार्षिक्यामनावृष्ट्यां महर्षयः ॥ ३७ ॥
वृत्यर्थं प्राद्रवन् राजन् क्षुधार्ता: सर्वतोदिशम् ।
tasyāṃ dvādaśavārṣikyāmanāvṛṣṭyāṃ maharṣayaḥ || 37 ||
vṛtyarthaṃ prādravan rājan kṣudhārtā: sarvatodiśam |
During that drought extending over twelve years, the great Rishis fled away, O king, on all sides to maintain themselves.
दिग्भ्यस्तान् प्रद्रुतान् दृष्ट्वा मुनिः सारस्वतस्तदा ।। ३८ ।।
गमनाय मतिं चक्रे तं प्रोवाच सरस्वती ।
न गन्तव्यमितः पुत्र तवाहारमहं सदा ॥ ३९ ॥
दास्यामि मत्स्यप्रवरानुष्यतामिह भारत ।
digbhyastān pradrutān dṛṣṭvā muniḥ sārasvatastadā || 38 ||
gamanāya matiṃ cakre taṃ provāca sarasvatī |
na gantavyamitaḥ putra tavāhāramahaṃ sadā || 39 ||
dāsyāmi matsyapravarānuṣyatāmiha bhārata |
Seeing them scattered on all sides, the sage Sarasvat also set his heart on flight. The river Sarasvati then said to him. You need not, O son, go away, for I will always supply you with food even here by giving you large fish! Remain, therefore, here!'
इत्युक्तस्तर्पयामास स पितॄन् देवतास्तथा ॥ ४० ॥
आहारमकरोन्नित्यं प्राणान् वेदांश्च धारयन् ।
ityuktastarpayāmāsa sa pitṝn devatāstathā || 40 ||
āhāramakaronnityaṃ prāṇān vedāṃśca dhārayan |
Thus addressed (by the river), the sage continued to live there and offer oblations of food to the Rishis and the celestials, He got also his daily food and thus continued to support both himself and the gods.
अथ तस्यामनावृष्ट्यामतीतायां महर्षयः ॥ ४१ ॥
अन्योन्यं परिपप्रच्छुः पुनः स्वाध्यायकारणात्।
atha tasyāmanāvṛṣṭyāmatītāyāṃ maharṣayaḥ || 41 ||
anyonyaṃ paripapracchuḥ punaḥ svādhyāyakāraṇāt|
After the termination of that twelve-year drought, the great Rishis requested one another to deliver discourses on the Vedas.
तेषां क्षुधापरीतानां नष्टा वेदाऽभिधावताम् ॥४२॥
सर्वेषामेव राजेन्द्र न कश्चित् प्रतिभानवान् ।
teṣāṃ kṣudhāparītānāṃ naṣṭā vedā’bhidhāvatām ||42||
sarveṣāmeva rājendra na kaścit pratibhānavān |
While wandering hungrily the Rishis had forgotten the Vedas. There was indeed, not even one amongst them that could interpret the Vedas.
अथ कश्चिदृषिस्तेषां सारस्वतमुपेयिवान्॥ ४३ ॥
कुर्वाणं संशितात्मानं स्वाध्यायमृषिसत्तमम् ।
atha kaścidṛṣisteṣāṃ sārasvatamupeyivān|| 43 ||
kurvāṇaṃ saṃśitātmānaṃ svādhyāyamṛṣisattamam |
It so happened that someone amongst them met Sarasvat, that foremost of Rishis, while the latter was reading the Vedas with concentrated attention.
स गत्वाऽऽचष्ट तेभ्यश्च सारस्वतमतिप्रभम् ॥४४॥
स्वाध्यायममरप्रख्यं कुर्वाणं विजने वने।
sa gatvā’’caṣṭa tebhyaśca sārasvatamatiprabham ||44||
svādhyāyamamaraprakhyaṃ kurvāṇaṃ vijane vane|
Returning to the assemblage of Rishis, he spoke to them of Sarasvat, of his matchless effulgence and celestial appearance and deep concentration in the Vedas in a secluded forest.
ततः सर्वे समाजग्मुस्तत्र राजन् महर्षयः ॥ ४५ ॥
सारस्वतं मुनिश्रेष्ठमिदमूचुः समागताः ।
अस्मानध्यापयस्वेति तानुवाच ततो मुनिः ॥४६॥
शिष्यत्वमुपगच्छध्वं विधिवद्धि ममेत्युत ।
tataḥ sarve samājagmustatra rājan maharṣayaḥ || 45 ||
sārasvataṃ muniśreṣṭhamidamūcuḥ samāgatāḥ |
asmānadhyāpayasveti tānuvāca tato muniḥ ||46||
śiṣyatvamupagacchadhvaṃ vidhivaddhi mametyuta |
Then all the great Rishis came there unitedly and spoke to Sarasvat, that best of ascetics, these words: "Teach us, O sage ! ' The ascetic replied, saying - "Become my disciples duly!'
तत्राब्रुवन् मुनिगणा बालस्त्वमसि पुत्रक ॥ ४७॥
सतानाह न मे धर्मो नश्येदिति पुनर्मुनीन् ।
tatrābruvan munigaṇā bālastvamasi putraka || 47||
satānāha na me dharmo naśyediti punarmunīn |
The host of ascetics answered - "O son, you are too young.' Thereupon he answered the ascetics - "I must act in such a way that my religious merit may not suffer decrease'.
धर्मेण वै ब्रूयाद् गृह्णीयाद् योऽप्यधर्मतः ॥ ४८ ॥
हीयेतां तावुभौ क्षिप्तं स्यातां वा वैरिणावुभौ ।
dharmeṇa vai brūyād gṛhṇīyād yo’pyadharmataḥ || 48 ||
hīyetāṃ tāvubhau kṣiptaṃ syātāṃ vā vairiṇāvubhau |
He that teaches improperly and he that learns improperly, are both doomed to destruction and mutual hatred.
न हायनैर्न पलितैर्न वित्तेन न बन्धुभिः ॥ ४९ ॥
ऋषयश्चक्रिरे धर्मं योऽनूचानः स नो महान् ।
na hāyanairna palitairna vittena na bandhubhiḥ || 49 ||
ṛṣayaścakrire dharmaṃ yo’nūcānaḥ sa no mahān |
It is not age or decrepitude, of wealth or the number of kinsmen, by which the Rishis claim their merit. He only is great who is capable of reading and understanding the Vedas.'
एतच्छ्रुत्वा वचस्तस्य मुनयस्ते विधानतः ॥ ५० ॥
तस्माद् वेदाननुप्राप्य पुनधर्मं प्रचक्रिरे।
etacchrutvā vacastasya munayaste vidhānataḥ || 50 ||
tasmād vedānanuprāpya punadharmaṃ pracakrire|
Hearing these words of his, those ascetics duly became his disciples, and learning again from him the Vedas began to practice their rites.
षष्टिर्मुनिसहस्राणि शिष्यत्वं प्रतिपेदिरे ॥ ५१ ॥
सारस्वतस्य विप्रर्षेर्वेदस्वाध्यायकारणात्।
ṣaṣṭirmunisahasrāṇi śiṣyatvaṃ pratipedire || 51 ||
sārasvatasya viprarṣervedasvādhyāyakāraṇāt|
Sixty thousand ascetics became disciples of the great Rishi Sarasvat for the sake of learning again the Vedas from him.
मुष्टिं मुष्टिं ततः सर्वे दर्भाणां ते पाहरन् ।
तस्यासनार्थं विप्रर्षेर्बालस्यापि वशे स्थिताः ॥ ५२ ॥
muṣṭiṃ muṣṭiṃ tataḥ sarve darbhāṇāṃ te pāharan |
tasyāsanārthaṃ viprarṣerbālasyāpi vaśe sthitāḥ || 52 ||
Obeying that beautiful Rishi although just a boy, the ascetics each brought a handful of grass and offered it to him for his seat.
तत्रापि दत्त्वा वसु रौहिणेयो
महावल : केशवपूर्वजोऽथ ।
जगाम तीर्थं मुदितः क्रमेण
ख्यातं महद् वृद्धकन्या स्म यत्र ॥ ५३ ॥
tatrāpi dattvā vasu rauhiṇeyo
mahāvala : keśavapūrvajo’tha |
jagāma tīrthaṃ muditaḥ krameṇa
khyātaṃ mahad vṛddhakanyā sma yatra || 53 ||
The powerful son of Rohini and elder brother of Keshava, having distributed wealth in that Tirtha, then joyfully went to another where lived formerly an old virgin lady."
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