यदि भौमो रविसुतो भास्करो राहुणा सह। केतुश्च मूर्ध्नि तिष्ठंति रौद्राः पीडाकरा ग्रहाः
If Mars, the son of the Sun, the Sun himself, or Rahu, along with Ketu, are positioned at the head, these fierce planets cause suffering.
अनेन कृतमात्रेण ससौभाग्या भवंति हि। य एवं कुरुते राजन्सदाभक्तिसमन्वितः
By performing this alone, one attains good fortune; whoever does this always with devotion, O king,
तस्य सानुग्रहाः सर्वे शांतिं यच्छंति नान्यथा। शनैश्चरं राहुकेतू लोहपात्रेषु विन्यसेत्
All the planets become gracious to him and grant peace, not otherwise; Saturn, Rahu, and Ketu should be placed in iron vessels.
लोहेन कारयेच्चैनान्ब्राह्मणेभ्यश्च दापयेत्। कृष्णं वस्त्रयुगं देयमेतेषां प्रीणनाय वै
They should be made of iron and given to Brahmins; a pair of black garments should be given to please them.
सौवर्णां गाश्च दातव्याः शांतिश्रीविजयेप्सुभिः। व्रतांते सर्व एते हि ग्रहास्सौवर्णका नृप
Golden cows should be given by those desiring peace, prosperity, and victory; at the end of the vow, all these planets should be given in gold, O king.
दातव्याः शांतिमिच्छद्भिर्व्रतांते द्विजभोजनम्। यथाशक्ति दक्षिणा च ग्रहाणां प्रीतये तथा
Those who desire peace should give food to Brahmins at the end of the vow, and as much as possible, a gift, for the satisfaction of the planets.
अल्पायासेन राजेंद्र सर्वान्कामानवाप्नुयात्। शंकराज्ज्ञानमन्विच्छेदारोग्यं भास्करात्तथा३२७ (ज्ञान)॥ हुताशनाद्धनमिच्छेद्गतिमिच्छेज्जनार्दनात् । (गति)॥ ब्राह्म्यं पितामहाच्चैव सर्वजन्तुप्रशांतिदम्
With little effort, O king, one may obtain all desires; from Śaṅkara, one should seek knowledge, from Bhāskara, health, from Agni, wealth, from Janārdana, liberation, and from Brahmā and Pitāmaha, peace for all beings.
भीष्म उवाच॥ यस्त्वया कथितो यज्ञो यज्वनां तु फलं महत्। तथायुषस्स्वल्पतया अन्यैः प्राप्तुं न शक्यते
Bhīṣma said: The sacrifice you have described yields great fruit for those who perform it; such a result cannot be attained by others with a short lifespan.
स्वल्यायासेन यत्पुण्यं संवत्सरमुपोषजम्। भवेत्तन्मे मुनिश्रेष्ठ कथयस्व महाफलम्
O best of sages, tell me what great merit is gained with little effort by fasting for a year.
पुलस्त्य उवाच॥ इदमर्थं महाराज श्वेतो राजा महायशाः। वसिष्ठं पृष्टवान्प्रश्नं क्षुधया पीडितो भृशम्
Pulastya said: O great king, the illustrious king Śveta, afflicted greatly by hunger, once asked this very question of Vasiṣṭha.
आसीदिलावृते वर्षे श्वेतो राजा महाबलः। स महीं सकलां जिग्ये सप्तद्वीपां सपत्तनाम्
In the land of Ilāvṛta, there was the mighty king Śveta; he conquered the entire earth with its seven continents and cities.
ब्रह्मपुत्रो वसिष्ठश्च आसीत्तस्य पुरोहितः। स कदाचिन्नृपश्रेष्ठो जित्वा परमधार्मिकः
Vasiṣṭha, the son of Brahmā, was his priest; once, this best of kings, having conquered, and being supremely righteous,
पुरोहितमुवाचेदं वसिष्ठं जपतां वरम्। श्वेत उवाच॥ भगवन्नश्वमेधानां सहस्रं कर्तुमुत्सहे
Śveta spoke to his priest, the best of those who recite, Vasiṣṭha: 'Revered one, I am able to perform a thousand Aśvamedha sacrifices.'
सुवर्णरूप्यरत्नानां दानं कर्तुं द्विजातिषु। पृथिव्यामन्नदानं तु दातुन्नेच्छामि वै गुरो
I am able to give gold, silver, and jewels in charity to the twice-born; but, O teacher, I do not wish to give food from the earth.
नान्नेन किंचिद्दत्तेन दत्ते होम्नि द्विजे प्रभो। न किंचिद्वस्त्विति ज्ञात्वा न दत्तं तत्कदाचन
Nothing given as food, nor anything offered in sacrifice to a Brāhmaṇa, O lord, is truly given if one knows that nothing is truly one's own.
रक्तवस्त्रमलंकारं ग्रामांश्च नगराणि च। अददाद्ब्राह्मणेभ्योऽसौ श्वेतो राजा महायशाः
That illustrious king Śveta gave red garments, ornaments, villages, and cities to the Brāhmaṇas.
नान्नं जलं तेन राज्ञा दत्तमासीत्कदाचन। ततोऽश्वमेधैर्बहुभिर्यज्वासौ नृपसत्तम
But that king never gave food or water; yet he performed many Aśvamedha sacrifices, O best of kings.
स्वर्गं गतः पुण्यजितं तपस्तप्त्वार्बुदत्रयम्। ब्राह्मीं सलोकतां प्राप्तः सर्वालंकारभूषितः
Having performed great austerities for three hundred million years, he attained heaven, the world of the virtuous, adorned with every ornament, and the realm of Brahmā.
नृत्यंत्यप्सरसस्तत्र गायंते सिद्धयोषितः। तुंबुरुर्नारदस्तत्र द्वावप्यनुगतौ सदा
There, the Apsarases dance, the Siddha women sing; Tumburu and Nārada are always present there.
अगायेतां महाप्राज्ञौ मुनयश्च तपोन्विताः। वेदोक्तमंत्रैः स्तुवन्ति अनेकक्रतुयाजिनम्
Those two great sages sang, and ascetic sages praised him with Vedic mantras as the performer of many sacrifices.
एवं विभवयुक्तस्य राज्ञस्तस्य महात्मनः। क्षुधाया पीड्यते देहं तृष्णया च विशेषतः
Yet, though that great-souled king possessed such wealth, his body was tormented by hunger, and especially by thirst.
स तया पीड्यमानस्तु क्षुधया राजसत्तमः॥ विमानेनाप्यसौ स्वर्गं त्यक्त्वागादृक्षपर्वतम्
Afflicted by that hunger, the best of kings left heaven in his celestial chariot and went to the Ṛkṣa mountains.
यत्रात्ममूर्तिस्तत्रागात्पुरा दग्धा महावने। तत्रास्थीनि स्वयं गृह्य लिहन्नास्ते स पार्थिवः
There, where his own form had once been burned in the great forest, the king gathered his own bones and sat licking them.
पुनर्विमानमारुह्य ययौ नाकं नराधिपः। अथ कालेन महता स राजा संशितव्रतः
Then, mounting his celestial chariot again, the king went to heaven; but after a long time, that king of firm vows—
स्वान्यस्थीनि लिहन्दृष्टो वसिष्ठेन पुरोधसा। उक्तश्च किन्नु राजेन्द्र स्वास्थिभक्षो नराधिप
Was seen by Vasiṣṭha, the priest, licking his own bones; and Vasiṣṭha said, 'O king of kings, why are you eating your own bones?'
एवमुक्तस्ततो राजा वसिष्ठेन महर्षिणा। उवाच वचनं चेदं श्वेतो राजाथ तं मुनिम्
Thus addressed by the great sage Vasiṣṭha, King Śveta spoke these words to the sage:
भगवंस्तृट्क्षुधार्तोहमन्नदानं पुरा मया। न दत्तं मुनिशार्दूल तेन मां क्षुत्प्रबाधते
'Revered one, I am tormented by hunger and thirst; in the past, I never gave food in charity, O tiger among sages, and so hunger afflicts me.'
एवमुक्तस्तदा राजा वसिष्ठो मुनिपुंगवः। उवाच तं नृपं भूयो वाक्यमेतन्महामुनिः
Thus addressed, the king, Vasiṣṭha, foremost among sages, again spoke these words to the king:
किं ते करोमि राजेंद्र क्षुधितस्य विशेषतः। वस्तु कस्यापि किंचिद्धि नाऽदत्तमुपतिष्ठति1.34.
'What can I do for you, O king of kings, especially as you are hungry? For nothing that has not been given by anyone comes to one's aid.'
रत्नहेमप्रदानेन भोगवान्जायते नरः। अन्नदानप्रदानेन सर्वकामैः प्रदीपितः
By giving jewels and gold, a man becomes prosperous; by giving food, he is fulfilled in all desires.