भूतग्रामाश्च विविधाः सन्तृप्ता यज्ञसम्पदा। गयस्य सदृशो यज्ञो नास्त्यन्य इति तेऽब्रुवन्
The various hosts of beings were satisfied by the wealth of the sacrifice; they said, 'There is no other sacrifice like Gayā's.'
षट्त्रिंशद्योजनायामा त्रिंशद्योजनमायता। पश्चात्पुरश्चतुर्विंशद्वेदी ह्यासीद्धिरण्मयी
Thirty-six yojanas in length, thirty yojanas in breadth; behind and before, twenty-four yojanas—the altar was made of gold.
गयस्य यजमानस्य मुक्तावज्रमणिस्तृता। प्रादात्स ब्राह्मणेभ्योऽथ वासांस्याभरणानि च
Gaya, the sacrificer, gave pearls, diamonds, and precious stones, along with garments and ornaments, to the Brahmins.
यथोक्ता दक्षिणाश्चान्या विप्रेभ्यो भूरिदक्षिणः। यत्र भोजनशिष्टस्य पर्वताः पञ्चविंशतिः
He, generous in gifts, gave other prescribed rewards to the Brahmins, where twenty-five mountains of leftover food were found.
कुल्याश्च क्षीरवाहिन्यो रसानां चापभवंस्तदा। वस्त्राभरणगन्धानां शारयश्च पृथग्विधाः
There were streams flowing with milk, and reservoirs of various juices; stores of garments, ornaments, and fragrances, each of different kinds.
यस्य प्रभावाच्च गयस्त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतः। वटश्चाक्षय्यकरणः पुण्यं ब्रह्मसरश्च तत्
By his power, Gaya became renowned in the three worlds; the banyan tree that grants inexhaustibility and the sacred Brahma lake are also due to him.
स चेन्ममार स़ञ्जय चतुर्भद्रतरस्त्वया। पुत्रात्पुण्यतरस्तुभ्यं मा पुत्रमनुतप्यथाः। अयज्वानमदक्षिण्यमभि श्वैत्येत्युदाहरत्
If he died, O Sanjaya, he would be four times more blessed than you; more virtuous than a son to you, so do not grieve for your son. They speak of one who does not sacrifice or give as 'white,' meaning unworthy.
व्यक्तं वस्वोकसारेयमित्युचुस्तत्र विस्मिताः। साङ्कृते रन्तिदेवस्य यां रात्रिमतिथिर्वसेत्
They said in amazement, 'This is surely the abode of the Vasus.' On the night when a guest stayed with Rantideva, all was complete.
आलभ्यन्त तदा गावः सहस्राण्येकविंशतिः। तत्र स्म सूदाः क्रोशन्ति सुमृष्टमणिकुण्डलाः
At that time, twenty-one thousand cows were brought forth; there, the cooks called out, adorned with well-polished jeweled earrings.
सूपं भूयिष्ठमश्नीध्वं नाद्य मांसं यथा पुरा। रन्तिदेवस्य यत्किञ्चित्सौवर्णमभवत्तदा
Eat the abundant soup, not meat today as before; whatever gold belonged to Rantideva was then given.
तत्सर्वं वितते यज्ञे ब्राह्मणेभ्यो ह्यमन्यत। प्रत्यक्षं तस्य हव्यानि प्रतिगृह्णन्ति देवताः
All of it was distributed in the sacrifice and considered as given to the Brahmins; the gods themselves accepted his offerings directly.
कव्यानि पितरः काले सर्वकामान्द्विजोत्तमाः। स चेन्ममार सृञ्जय चतुर्भद्रतरस्त्वया
The ancestors received the oblations at the proper time; the best of twice-born obtained all desired things. If he died, O Sṛñjaya, he would be four times more blessed than you.
पुत्रात्पुण्डतरस्तुभ्यं मा पुत्रमनुतप्यथाः। अयज्वानमदक्षिण्यमभि श्वैत्येत्युदाहरत्
More virtuous than a son to you, so do not grieve for your son. They speak of one who does not sacrifice or give as 'white,' meaning unworthy.
अलभन्ती परित्राणं वैन्यमेवाभ्यपद्यत। कृताञ्जलिपुटा राजन्पूज्यं लोकैस्त्रिभिस्तदा
Unable to find protection, she approached Vainya; with folded hands, O king, she was honored by the people of all three worlds.
उवाच चैनं नाधर्म्यं स्त्रीवधं कर्तुमर्हसि। कथं धारयिता चासि प्रजा राजन्मया विना
She said to him, 'You should not commit the unrighteous act of killing a woman. How will you sustain the people, O king, without me?'
एकस्यार्थाय यो हन्यादात्मनो वा परस्य वा। एकं प्राणान्बहून्वापि प्राणिनां नास्ति पातकं
If one kills for the sake of a single purpose, whether for oneself or another, whether one or many living beings, there is no sin.
यस्मिंस्तु निहते भद्रे बहवः सुखमेधते। तस्मिन्हते त्वधं नास्ति पातकं नोपभुज्यते
When, O blessed one, the death of one brings happiness to many, then in that killing there is no sin, nor is any blame incurred.
सोऽहं पालनिमित्तं त्वां बधिष्यामि वसुंधरे। यदि चेद्वचनादद्य न करिष्यसि मे प्रियम्
Therefore, for the sake of protection, I will slay you, O Earth, if today you do not do what pleases me according to my command.
त्वां निहत्य तु बाणेन मच्छासनपराङ्मुखीम्। आत्मानं प्रथयित्वाऽहं प्रजा धारयिता स्वयं
Having killed you with an arrow, turning you away from my rule, I will proclaim myself and sustain the people alone.
सुखं वचनमास्थाय मम धर्मभृतां वरे। स़ञ्जीवय प्रजा नित्यं शक्ता ह्यसि वसुन्धरे
Embracing my words, O best among those who uphold dharma, bring life to the people always; you are indeed capable, O Earth.
दुहितृत्वं च मे गच्छ एवमेतन्महाशरम्। नियच्छेयं त्वदर्थाय उद्यतं घोरदर्शनम्
Assume the role of my daughter, and in this way, O great arrow, I shall restrain for your sake this terrible and fearsome weapon that has been raised.
सर्वमेतन्महाराज विधास्यासि परन्तप। वत्सं त्वं पश्य राजन्वै क्षरेयं येन वत्सला
O great king, scorcher of foes, you will accomplish all this; see, O king, the calf by whom the cow is milked.
समां तु कुरु सर्वज्ञ मां तु धर्मभृतां वर। यथा विष्यन्दमानं वै क्षीरं सर्वत्र भावये
Make me equal, O knower of all, O best among upholders of righteousness; just as milk flows everywhere, so may I be made to pervade.
तत उत्सारयामास शिलाजालानि सर्वशः। पृथुर्वैन्यस्तदा राजा तेन शैला विवर्धिताः
Then King Prithu, son of Vena, cleared away all the rocky barriers; thus, by him, the mountains were increased.
न हि पूर्वनिसर्गे वै विषमे वसुधातले। प्रविभागः पुराणां वा ग्रामाणां वा महीपते
For, in the former creation, O king, there was no division of ancient lands or villages upon the uneven surface of the earth.
न सस्यानि न गोरक्ष्यं न कृषिर्न वणिक्पथः। वैन्यात्प्रभृति राजेन्दर सर्वस्यैतस्य सम्भवः
There were no crops, no cattle to tend, no agriculture, nor trade routes; from the time of Vainya, O king, all these came into being.
यत्रयत्र च साम्यं तु भूमावासीत्किलानघ। तत्रतत्र प्रजास्तात निवासमभिरोचयन्। कृच्छ्रेण च महाराज इत्येवमनुशुश्रुम
Wherever there was level ground on the earth, O sinless one, there the people, O dear one, chose to dwell; but with great difficulty, O king, so we have heard.
तथेत्युक्त्वा पुनर्वैन्यो गृहीत्वाऽऽजगवं धनुः। शरांश्चाप्रतिमान्घोरांश्चिन्तयित्वाऽब्रवीन्महीम्
Having said 'so be it,' Vainya again took up his resounding bow and, after contemplating terrible and unmatched arrows, addressed the earth.
एह्येहि वसुधे क्षिप्रं क्षरैभ्यः काङ्क्षितं पयः। मच्छसनातिगां वै त्वां प्रमथिष्याम्यहं शरैः
Come, come quickly, O Earth, yield the desired milk from your streams; if you do not obey my command, I will shatter you with arrows.
तथोक्ता साऽत्मनः श्रेयश्चिन्तयित्वाऽब्रवीत्पृथुम्
Thus addressed, she, considering her own welfare, spoke to Prithu.