तेषां पात्रविशेषांश् च वक्तुम् अर्हसि सुव्रत वत्सक्षीरविशेषांश् च दोग्धारं चानुपूर्वशः
You should tell of the particular vessels used by them, O virtuous one, the various kinds of calf’s milk, and the milkers in order.
यस्माच् च कारणात् पाणिर् वेणस्य मथितः पुरा क्रुद्धैर् महर्षिभिस् तात कारणं तच् च कीर्तय
And for what reason the hand of Vena was churned in the past by the angry great sages—O dear one, recount that cause as well.
शृणुध्वं कीर्तयिष्यामि पृथोर् वैण्यस्य विस्तरम् एकाग्राः प्रयताश् चैव पुण्यार्थं वै द्विजर्षभाः
Listen as I shall narrate in detail the account of Pṛthu, son of Vena; be attentive and diligent, O best of twice-born, for the sake of merit.
नाशुचेः क्षुद्रमनसो नाशिष्यस्याव्रतस्य च कीर्तयेयम् इदं विप्राः कृतघ्नायाहिताय च
O brāhmaṇas, I would not recount this to one who is impure, of small mind, not a disciple, undisciplined, ungrateful, or hostile.
स्वर्ग्यं यशस्यम् आयुष्यं धन्यं वेदैश् च संमितम् रहस्यम् ऋषिभिः प्रोक्तं शृणुध्वं वै यथातथम्
This is heavenly, brings fame, long life, prosperity, and is approved by the Vedas; it is a secret taught by the sages—listen to it as it truly is.
यश् चेमं कीर्तयेन् नित्यं पृथोर् वैण्यस्य विस्तरम् ब्राह्मणेभ्यो नमस्कृत्य न स शोचेत् कृताकृतम्
Whoever always recites this account of Pṛthu, son of Vena, after bowing to the brāhmaṇas, does not grieve for what is done or undone.
आसीद् धर्मस्य संगोप्ता पूर्वम् अत्रिसमः प्रभुः अत्रिवंशे समुत्पन्नस् त्व् अङ्गो नाम प्रजापतिः
There was, in former times, a protector of righteousness, a lord equal to Atri, born in the lineage of Atri, named Aṅga, a Prajāpati.
तस्य पुत्रो ऽभवद् वेणो नात्यर्थं धर्मकोविदः जातो मृत्युसुतायां वै सुनीथायां प्रजापतिः
His son was Vena, not greatly versed in righteousness, born to him by Sunīthā, the daughter of Death, O Prajāpati.
स मातामहदोषेण तेन कालात्मजात्मजः स्वधर्मं पृष्ठतः कृत्वा कामलोभेष्व् अवर्तत
Because of his maternal grandfather’s fault, that son of the daughter of Time, turning his back on his own duty, engaged in desire and greed.
मर्यादां भेदयाम् आस धर्मोपेतां स पार्थिवः वेदधर्मान् अतिक्रम्य सो ऽधर्मनिरतो ऽभवत्
That king broke the righteous boundary, transgressing the laws of the Veda, and became devoted to unrighteousness.
निःस्वाध्यायवषट्काराः प्रजास् तस्मिन् प्रजापतौ प्रवृत्तं न पपुः सोमं हुतं यज्ञेषु देवताः
When that lord of creatures ruled, the people no longer uttered the svadhyaya or the vashat call; the gods did not drink soma, nor was the oblation offered in sacrifices.
न यष्टव्यं न होतव्यम् इति तस्य प्रजापतेः आसीत् प्रतिज्ञा क्रूरेयं विनाशे प्रत्युपस्थिते
In that lord of creatures arose a cruel resolve: 'Let there be no sacrifices, let there be no offerings,' as destruction approached.
अहम् इज्यश् च यष्टा च यज्ञश् चेति भृगूद्वह मयि यज्ञो विधातव्यो मयि होतव्यम् इत्य् अपि
O best of Bhrigus, I am the worship, the worshipper, and the sacrifice itself; the sacrifice must be performed for me, and the offerings must be made to me.
तम् अतिक्रान्तमर्यादम् आददानम् असांप्रतम् ऊचुर् महर्षयः सर्वे मरीचिप्रमुखास् तदा
Then all the great sages, led by Marichi, addressed him, who had overstepped all bounds and acted inappropriately.
वयं दीक्षां प्रवेक्ष्यामः संवत्सरगणान् बहून् अधर्मं कुरु मा वेण एष धर्मः सनातनः
We shall undertake the vow for many years; do not commit unrighteousness, O Vena, for this is the eternal law.
निधने ऽत्रेः प्रसूतस् त्वं प्रजापतिर् असंशयम् प्रजाश् च पालयिष्ये ऽहम् इतीह समयः कृतः
You are born at the death of Atri, and are indeed the lord of creatures; I will protect the people—such was the agreement made here.
तांस् तथा ब्रुवतः सर्वान् महर्षीन् अब्रवीत् तदा वेणः प्रहस्य दुर्बुद्धिर् इमम् अर्थम् अनर्थवित्
As all those great sages spoke thus, Vena, lacking understanding, laughed and replied to them with these harmful words.
स्रष्टा धर्मस्य कश् चान्यः श्रोतव्यं कस्य वा मया श्रुतवीर्यतपःसत्यैर् मया वा कः समो भुवि
Who else is the creator of righteousness? Whose words should I hear? Who on earth is equal to me in learning, heroism, austerity, and truth?
प्रभवं सर्वभूतानां धर्माणां च विशेषतः संमूढा न विदुर् नूनं भवन्तो मां विचेतसः
You are surely deluded and lack discernment, for you do not know my true nature as the origin of all beings and especially of righteousness.
इच्छन् दहेयं पृथिवीं प्लावयेयं जलैस् तथा द्यां वै भुवं च रुन्धेयं नात्र कार्या विचारणा
If I wished, I could burn the earth, flood it with waters, or block the heavens and the earth—there is no need for deliberation here.
यदा न शक्यते मोहाद् अवलेपाच् च पार्थिवः अपनेतुं तदा वेणस् ततः क्रुद्धा महर्षयः
When, due to delusion and pride, the king could not be removed, then the great sages, angered, acted against Vena.
तं निगृह्य महात्मानो विस्फुरन्तं महाबलम् ततो ऽस्य सव्यम् ऊरुं ते ममन्थुर् जातमन्यवः
The great-souled sages, their wrath aroused, restrained the mighty, struggling Vena and then vigorously churned his left thigh.
तस्मिन् निमथ्यमाने वै राज्ञ ऊरौ तु जज्ञिवान् ह्रस्वो ऽतिमात्रः पुरुषः कृष्णश् चेति बभूव ह
As the king's thigh was being churned, there arose a man, exceedingly short and dark in complexion.
स भीतः प्राञ्जलिर् भूत्वा तस्थिवान् द्विजसत्तमाः तम् अत्रिर् विह्वलं दृष्ट्वा निषीदेत्य् अब्रवीत् तदा
Frightened, he stood with folded hands before the best of twice-born; seeing him distressed, Atri then said, 'Sit down.'
निषादवंशकर्तासौ बभूव वदतां वराः धीवरान् असृजच् चापि वेणकल्मषसंभवान्
He became the progenitor of the Nishada lineage, O best of speakers, and also created the fishermen, born from Vena's impurity.
ये चान्ये विन्ध्यनिलयास् तथा पर्वतसंश्रयाः अधर्मरुचयो विप्रास् ते तु वै वेणकल्मषाः
And those others who dwell in the Vindhya and on mountains, who delight in unrighteousness, O brahmins, are also tainted by Vena's sin.
ततः पुनर् महात्मानः पाणिं वेणस्य दक्षिणम् अरणीम् इव संरब्धा ममन्थुर् जातमन्यवः
Then again, the great-souled sages, their wrath aroused, churned Vena's right hand like a fire-stick.
पृथुस् तस्मात् समुत्पन्नः कराज् ज्वलनसंनिभः दीप्यमानः स्ववपुषा साक्षाद् अग्निर् इव ज्वलन्
From that hand arose Prithu, blazing like fire, shining with his own radiance, as if he were Agni himself manifest.
अथ सो ऽजगवं नाम धनुर् गृह्य महारवम् शरांश् च दिव्यान् रक्षार्थं कवचं च महाप्रभम्
Then he took up the great-sounding bow named Ajagava, along with divine arrows for protection, and a radiant armor.
तस्मिञ् जाते ऽथ भूतानि संप्रहृष्टानि सर्वशः समापेतुर् महाभागा वेणस् तु त्रिदिवं ययौ
When he was born, all beings everywhere became delighted, and the illustrious Vena went to heaven.