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.
बभ्रमुर्गिरिदुर्गेषु जन्मान्धा इव क्षत्रियाः । चिन्तितं मनसा सर्वैः किमेतदिति साम्प्रतम्
The Kshatriyas wandered in mountain fortresses, as if born blind; all wondered in their minds, 'What is this happening now?'
सर्वे चक्षुर्विहीना यज्जाता स्म बालदर्शनात् । ब्राह्मण्यास्तु प्रभावोऽयं सतीव्रतबलं महत्
All became deprived of sight from seeing the boy; this is the power of the Brahmin woman, the great strength of her chastity.
क्षणाद्वामोघसङ्कल्पाः किं करिष्यन्तिदुःखिताः । इति सञ्चिन्त्य मनसा नेत्रहीना निराश्रयाः
In a moment, their intentions proved fruitless; what will the suffering ones do? Thinking thus in their minds, blind and without refuge.
ब्राह्मणीं शरणं जग्मुर्हैहया गतचेतसः । प्रणेमुस्तां भयत्रस्तां कृताञ्जलिपुटाश्च ते
The Haihayas, their minds lost, went for refuge to the Brahmin woman; terrified by fear, they bowed to her with hands joined.
ऊचुश्चैनां भयोद्विग्नां दृष्ट्यर्थं क्षत्रियर्षभाः । प्रसीद सुभगे मातः सेवकास्ते वयं किल
The Kshatriya chiefs, anxious from fear, spoke to her for the sake of sight: 'Be gracious, O blessed mother, we are your servants indeed.'
कृतापराधा रम्भोरु क्षत्रियाः पापबुद्धयः । दर्शनात्तव तन्वङ्गि जाताः सर्वे विलोचनाः
O Rambhoru, the Kshatriyas, with sinful minds, have committed offense; because of seeing you, O slender-waisted, all have become blind.
मुखं ते नैव पश्यामो जन्मान्धा इव भामिनि । अद्भुतं ते तपो वीर्यं किं कुर्मः पापकारिणः
O beautiful one, we cannot see your face, as if born blind; your ascetic power is wondrous—what can we, the wrongdoers, do?
शरणं ते प्रपन्नाः स्मो देहि चक्षूंषि मानदे । अन्धत्वं मरणादुग्रं कृपां कर्तुं त्वमर्हसि
We have sought refuge in you; grant us sight, O honored one. This harsh blindness is worse than death; you ought to show mercy.
पुनर्दृष्टिप्रदानेन सेवकान्क्षत्रियान्कुरु । उपरम्य च गच्छेम सहिताः पापकर्मणः
By restoring sight, make us Kshatriyas your servants; let us cease our evil deeds and depart together.
अतः परं न कर्तव्यमीदृशं कर्म कर्हिचित् । भार्गवाणां तु सर्वेषां सेवकाः स्मो वयं किल
Henceforth, such actions must never be done; we are all servants of the Bhargavas, indeed.