बलेश्च ब्रह्मणा दत्तो वरः प्रीतेन धीमतः महायोगित्वमायुश्च कल्पस्य परिमाणकम्
And to Bali, the wise, Brahma, pleased with him, granted the boon of supreme yogic power and a lifespan equal to a kalpa.
संग्रामे चाप्यजेयत्वं धर्मे चैवोत्तमा मतिः त्रैकाल्यदर्शनं चैव प्राधान्यं प्रसवे तथा
He was also granted invincibility in battle, the highest wisdom in righteousness, vision of the three times, and preeminence in progeny.
जयं चाप्रतिमं युद्धे धर्मे तत्त्वार्थदर्शनम् चतुरो नियतान्वर्णान् स वै स्थापयिता प्रभुः
He received unmatched victory in war, insight into the true meaning of dharma, and the authority to establish the four fixed social orders.
तेषां च पञ्च दायादा वङ्गाङ्गाः सुह्मकास्तथा पुण्ड्राः कलिङ्गाश्च तथा अङ्गस्य तु निबोधत
Their five heirs are the Vangas, Angas, Suhmas, Pundras, and Kalingas; now hear about Anga in particular.
कथं बलेः सुता जाताः पञ्च तस्य महात्मनः किंनाम्नी महिषी तस्य जनिता कतम ऋषिः
How were the five sons of that great-souled Bali born? What was the name of his queen, and which sage was their progenitor?
कथं चोत्पादितास्तेन तन्नः प्रब्रूहि पृच्छताम् माहात्म्यं च प्रभावं च निखिलेन वदस्व तत्
How were they produced by him? Tell us, as we ask you. Relate fully their greatness and power.
अथोशिज इति ख्यात आसीद्विद्वानृषिः पुरा पत्नी वै ममता नाम बभूवास्य महात्मनः
There was once a renowned sage named Ushija; his wife was called Mamata, a woman of great virtue.
उशिजस्य यवीयान्वै भ्रातृपत्नीमकामयत् बृहस्पतिर्महातेजा ममतामेत्य कामतः
The younger Ushija, desiring his brother’s wife, was approached by the mighty Brihaspati, who, moved by desire, came to Mamata.
उवाच ममता तं तु देवरं वरवर्णिनी अन्तर्वत्न्यस्मि ते भ्रातुर् ज्येष्ठस्य तु विरम्यताम्
Mamata, of excellent complexion, said to him, her brother-in-law: 'I am pregnant by your elder brother; restrain yourself.'
अयं तु मे महाभाग गर्भः कुप्येद्बृहस्पते औशिजो भ्रातृजन्यस्ते सोपाङ्गं वेदमुद्गिरन्
'O blessed one, this child in my womb, son of Ushija, recites the Veda with its limbs and may be angered, Brihaspati.'
अमोघरेतास्त्वं चापि न मां भजितुमर्हसि अस्मिन्न् एवं गते काले यथा वा मन्यसे प्रभो
'You, whose seed is never in vain, ought not to approach me. In this situation, act as you think proper, lord.'
एवमुक्तस्तथा सम्यग् बृहत्तेजा बृहस्पतिः कामात्मा स महात्मापि न मनः सो ऽभ्यवारयत्
Thus addressed, the radiant Brihaspati, though a great soul, driven by desire, did not restrain his mind.
संबभूवैव धर्मात्मा तया सार्धमकामया उत्सृजन्तं तु तद्रेतोवाचं गर्भो ऽभ्यभाषत
With her, though unwilling, that righteous one united; but as he released his seed, the child in the womb spoke.
भो तात वाचामधिप द्वयोर्नास्तीह संस्थितिः अमोघरेतास्त्वं चापि पूर्वं चाहमिहागतः
'O father, lord of speech, there is no place here for two; you whose seed is never in vain, and I, who have come first.'
सो ऽशपत्तं ततः क्रुद्ध एवमुक्तो बृहस्पतिः पुत्रं ज्येष्ठस्य वै भ्रातुर् गर्भस्थं भगवानृषिः
Then, angered by these words, Brihaspati, the revered sage, cursed the child in the womb of his elder brother’s wife.
यस्मात्त्वमीदृशे काले गर्भस्थो ऽपि निषेधसि मामेवमुक्तवांस्तस्मात् तमो दीर्घं प्रवेक्ष्यसि
'Because, though in the womb, you have opposed me at such a time and spoken thus, therefore you shall enter deep darkness for a long time.'
ततो दीर्घतमा नाम शापादृषिरजायत अतो ऽंशजो बृहत्कीर्तिर् बृहस्पतिरिवौजसा
Then a seer named Dīrghatamas was born as a result of a curse; from him was born Bṛhatkīrti, endowed with power like Bṛhaspati.
ऊर्ध्वरेतास्ततो ऽसौ वै वसते भ्रातुराश्रमे स धर्मान्सौरभेयांस्तु वृषभाच्छ्रुतवांस्ततः
He, practicing celibacy, dwelled in his brother’s hermitage, and there he learned the righteous duties and the Saurabheya teachings from the bull.
तस्य भ्राता पितृव्यो यश् चकार भरणं तदा तस्मिन्निवसतस्तस्य यदृच्छातस्तु वै वृषः
His paternal uncle, who was his brother, provided for him at that time; while he was living there, a bull happened to come by.
यज्ञार्थमाहृतान्दर्भांश् चचार सुरभीसुतः जग्राह तं दीर्घतमाः शृङ्गयोस्तु चतुष्पदम्
For the sake of sacrifice, the son of Surabhi gathered darbha grass; Dīrghatamas seized the bull by its horns and held the four-footed creature.
तेनासौ निगृहीतश्च न चचाल पदात्पदम् ततो ऽब्रवीद्वृषस्तं वै मुञ्च मां बलिनां वर
Thus restrained, the bull could not move even a single step; then the bull spoke to him, 'Release me, O best of the strong.'
न मयासादितस्तात बलवांस्त्वत्समः क्वचित् मम चान्यः समो वापि न हि मे बलसंख्यया मुञ्च तातेति च पुनः प्रीतस्ते ऽहं वरं वृणु
'O father, I have never encountered anyone as strong as you, nor is there anyone equal to me in strength; release me, father, and since I am pleased with you, choose a boon.'
एवमुक्तो ऽब्रवीदेनं जीवन्मे त्वं क्व यास्यसि एष त्वां न विमोक्ष्यामि परस्वादं चतुष्पदम्
Thus addressed, he replied, 'As long as I live, where will you go? I will not release you, nor the four-footed one that belongs to another.'
नास्माकं विद्यते तात पातकं स्तेयमेव च भक्ष्याभक्ष्यं तथा चैव पेयापेयं तथैव च
'O father, for us there is neither sin nor theft; likewise, there is no distinction between what may or may not be eaten or drunk.'
द्विपदां बहवो ह्य् एते धर्म एष गवां स्मृतः कार्याकार्ये न वागम्यागमनं च तथैव च
'Among bipeds, there are many such rules, but this is the law remembered for cows: in matters of what should or should not be done, there is no restriction on coming or going.'
गवां धर्मं तु वै श्रुत्वा संभ्रान्तस्तु विसृज्य तम् शक्त्यान्नपानदानात्तु गोपतिं संप्रसादयत्
Hearing the law of cows, he became anxious, released him, and then, by giving food and drink as he was able, he sought to please the lord of cows.
प्रसादिते गते तस्मिन् गोधर्मं भक्तितस्तु सः मनसैव समादध्यौ तन्निष्ठस्तत्परो हि सः
When he was pleased and had departed, he devoted himself with faith to the law of cows, fixing his mind on it, for he was steadfast and intent upon it.
ततो यवीयसः पत्नीं गौतमस्याभ्यपद्यत कृतावलेपां तां मत्वा सो ऽनड्वानिव न क्षमः
Then he approached the younger wife of Gautama, who was proud; considering her like a barren cow, he was unable to tolerate her.
गोधर्मं तु परं मत्वा स्नुषां तामभ्यपद्यत निर्भर्त्स्य चैनं रुद्ध्वा च बाहुभ्यां सम्प्रगृह्य च
Considering the law of cows to be supreme, he approached his daughter-in-law, rebuked her, restrained her, and seized her with his arms.
भाव्यमर्थं तु तं ज्ञात्वा माहात्म्यात्तमुवाच सा विपर्ययं तु त्वं लब्ध्वा अनड्वानिव वर्तसे
Understanding the destined event by her own greatness, she said to him, 'Having encountered this reversal, you behave like a barren bull.'