तस्माद्वयं गुरूनेतान्वञ्चकान्ब्राह्मणाधमान् । हन्तुं समुद्यताः सर्वे न क्रोधव्यं महात्मभिः
Therefore, we all have set out to kill these deceitful, lowly Brahmins, our elders; let the great-souled not be angry.
व्यास उवाच इत्युक्त्वा हेतुमद्वाक्यं तानाश्वास्य मुनीनथ । विचेरुश्च विचिन्वाना भृगुदाराननेकशः
Vyāsa said: Having spoken these words of reason, and comforting the sages, they searched everywhere for the wives of Bhṛgu.
भयार्ता भृगुपत्न्यस्तु हिमवन्तं धराधरम् । प्रपेदिरे रुदन्त्यश्च वेपमानाः कृशा भृशम्
The wives of Bhṛgu, terrified, emaciated, weeping and trembling, fled to the Himālaya mountain.
एवं ते हैहयैर्विप्राः पीडिता धनकामुकैः । निहताश्च यथाकामं संरब्धैः पापकर्मभिः
Thus, the Brahmins were oppressed by the Haihayas, greedy for wealth, and were slain at will by those enraged, evil-doers.
लोभ एव मनुष्याणां देहसंस्थो महारिपुः । सर्वदुःखाकरः प्रोक्तो दुःखदः प्राणनाशकः
Greed, residing in the body, is indeed the great enemy of men; it is said to be the source of all suffering, the bringer of pain, and the destroyer of life.
सर्वपापस्य मूलं हि सर्वदा तृष्णयान्वितः । विरोधकृत्त्रिवर्णानां सर्वार्तेः कारणं तथा
Indeed, the root of all sin is always joined with craving; it causes conflict among the three classes and is the cause of all distress.
लोभात्त्यजन्ति धर्मं वै कुलधर्मं तथैव हि । मातरं भ्रातरं हन्ति पितरं बान्धवं तथा
Because of greed, people abandon righteousness and family duty; they even kill mother, brother, father, and relatives.
गुरुं मित्रं तथा भार्यां पुत्रं च भगिनीं तथा । लोभाविष्टो न किं कुर्यादकृत्यं पापमोहितः
One possessed by greed may kill teacher, friend, wife, son, and sister; what wrong or sinful act would he not commit, deluded by greed?
क्रोधात्कामादहङ्काराल्लोभ एव महारिपुः । प्राणांस्त्यजति लोभेन किं पुनः स्यादनावृतम्
Among anger, desire, and pride, greed alone is the greatest enemy; for the sake of greed, one even gives up life—what then can remain uncovered by it?
पूर्वजास्ते महाराज धर्मज्ञाः सत्पथे स्थिताः । पाण्डवाः कौरवाश्चैव लोभेन निधनं गताः
O great king, your ancestors, the Pandavas and Kauravas, though knowledgeable in righteousness and established on the noble path, met their end because of greed.
यत्र भीष्मश्च द्रोणश्च कृपः कर्णश्च बाह्लिकः । भीमसेनो धर्भपुत्रस्तथैवार्जुनकेशवौ
Where Bhishma, Drona, Kripa, Karna, and Bahlika were present, as well as Bhimasena, the son of Dhṛta, and likewise Arjuna and Keshava—
तथापि युद्धमत्युग्रं कृतं तैश्च परस्परम् । कुटुम्बकदनं भूरि कृतं लोभातुरैरिह
Even so, a most terrible battle was fought among them; driven by greed, those afflicted brought about the destruction of many families here.
हतो द्रोणो हतो भीष्मस्तथैव पाण्डवात्मजाः । भ्रातरः पितरः पुत्राः सर्वे वै निहता रणे
Drona was slain, Bhishma was slain, and so too the sons of the Pandavas; brothers, fathers, and sons—all were killed in battle.
तस्माल्लोभाभिभूतस्तु किं न कुर्यान्नरः किल । हैहयैर्निहताः सर्वे भृगवः पापबुद्धिभिः
Therefore, when overpowered by greed, what is there that a man would not do? All the Bhrigus were slain by the Haihayas, whose minds were evil.
हैहयानामुत्पत्तिप्रसङ्गे रमाविष्णुसंवादवर्णनम् जनमेजय उवाच कथं ताश्च स्त्रियः सर्वा भृगूणां दुःखसागरात् । मुक्ता वंशः पुनस्तेषां ब्राह्मणानां स्थिरोऽभवत्
Janamejaya said: How were all those women of the Bhrigus freed from the ocean of sorrow, and how did their lineage of Brahmins become stable again?
हैहयैः किं कृतं कार्यं हत्वा तान्ब्राह्मणानपि । क्षत्रियैर्लोभसंयुक्तैः पापाचारैर्वदस्व तत्
What did the Haihayas do after killing those Brahmins? Tell me, what actions were taken by those Kshatriyas, filled with greed and wicked conduct.
न तृप्तिरस्ति मे ब्रह्मन् पिबतस्ते कथामृतम् । पावनं सुखदं नॄणां परलोके फलप्रदम्
O Brahmin, I am never satisfied, drinking the nectar of your stories, which purify, bring happiness to people, and bestow rewards in the next world.
व्यास उवाच शृणु राजन्प्रवक्ष्यामि कथां पापप्रणाशिनीम् । यथा स्त्रियस्तु ता मुक्ता दुःखात्तस्माद्दुरत्ययात्
Vyasa said: Listen, O king, I will tell you a story that destroys sin—how those women were freed from that unbearable sorrow.
भृगुपत्न्यो यदा राजन् हिमवन्तं गिरिं गताः । भयत्रस्ता विभग्नाशा हैहयैः पीडिता भृशम्
When the wives of the Bhrigus, terrified and hopeless, were greatly afflicted by the Haihayas, they went to Mount Himavat, O king.
गौरीं तत्र तु संस्थाप्य मृण्मयीं सरितस्तटे । उपोषणपराश्चक्रुर्निश्चयं मरणं प्रति
There, on the riverbank, they installed an earthen image of Gauri, and, intent on fasting, resolved upon death.
स्वप्ने गत्वा तदा देवी प्राह ताः प्रमदोत्तमाः । युष्मासु मध्ये कस्याश्चिद्भविता चोरुजः पुमान्
Then, in a dream, the Goddess spoke to those noble women: 'Among you, one will bear a son with great energy.'
मदंशशक्तिसम्भिन्नः स वः कार्यं विधास्यति । इत्यादिश्य पराम्बा सा पश्चादन्तर्हिताभवत्
'Endowed with a portion of my power, he will accomplish your purpose.' Having thus instructed them, the supreme Mother then disappeared.
जागृतास्तु ततः सर्वा मुदमापुर्वराङ्गनाः । काचित्तासां भयोद्विग्ना कामिनी चतुरा भृशम्
When they awoke, all those noble women were filled with joy; but one among them, deeply anxious with fear and desire, remained.
दधार चोरुणैकेन गर्भं सा कुलवृद्धये । पलायनपरा दृष्टा क्षत्रियैर्ब्राह्मणी यदा
For the sake of preserving her lineage, she bore a child by a powerful man; when the Kshatriyas saw the Brahmin woman fleeing, they pursued her.
विह्वला तेजसा युक्ता तदा ते दुद्रुवुर्भृशम् । गृह्यतां वध्यतां नारी सगर्भा याति सत्वरा
Overwhelmed by radiance, she fled swiftly; the Kshatriyas cried out, 'Seize her! Kill her! The pregnant woman is escaping quickly!'
इति ब्रुवन्तः सम्प्राप्ताः कामिनीं खड्गपाणयः । सा भयार्ता तु तान्दृष्ट्वा रुरोद समुपागतान्
Thus shouting, sword in hand, they approached the desirous woman; seeing them come near, she, stricken with fear, began to weep.
गर्भस्य रक्षणार्थं सा चुक्रोशातिभयातुरा । रुदतीं मातरं श्रुत्वा दीनां प्राणविवर्जिताम्
She cried out, greatly distressed, to protect the unborn child; hearing her mother weeping, helpless and deprived of life.
निराधारां क्रन्दमानां क्षत्रियैर्भृशतापिताम् । गृहीतामिव सिंहेन सगर्भां हरिणीं यथा
Without support, wailing, tormented severely by the Kshatriyas, she was seized as if by a lion, like a pregnant deer.
साश्रुनेत्रां वेपमानां सङ्क्रुध्य बालकस्तदा । भित्त्वोरुं निर्जगामाशु गर्भः सूर्य इवापरः
With tearful eyes, trembling, the child grew angry; then, bursting through her thigh, the embryo swiftly emerged, like another sun.
मुष्णन्दृष्टीः क्षत्रियाणां तेजसा बालकः शुभः । दर्शनाद्बालकस्याशु सर्वे जाता विलोचनाः
The auspicious child, with his radiance, blinded the Kshatriyas; at the sight of the boy, all instantly became blind.