भीष्म उवाच। कथं कौशिकदायादाः प्राप्ता योगमनुत्तमम्। पंचभिर्जन्मसंबन्धैः कथं कर्मक्षयो भवेत्
Bhīṣma said: How did the descendants of Kauśika attain the supreme yoga? And how, through five births, is the exhaustion of karma accomplished?
पुलस्त्य उवाच। कौशिको नाम धर्मात्मा कुरुक्षेत्रे महानृषिः। नामतः कर्मतस्तस्य पुत्राणां तन्निबोध मे
Pulastya said: There was a great sage named Kauśika, righteous in heart, residing in Kurukṣetra. Listen from me about his sons, both by name and by their deeds.
स्वसृपः क्रोधनो हिंस्रः पिशुनः कविरेव च। वाग्दुष्टः पितृवर्ती च गर्गशिष्यास्तदाभवन्५० 1.10.
They were: Svasṛpa, Krodhana, Hiṃsra, Piśuna, and Kavi; also Vāgduṣṭa and Pitṛvartin—these became disciples of Garga.
पितर्युपरते तेषामभूद्दुर्भिक्षमुल्बणं। अनावृष्टिश्च महती सर्वलोकभयंकरी
When their father passed away, a severe famine befell them, and a great drought arose, terrifying all people.
गर्गादेशाद्वने दोग्ध्रीं रक्षंति च तपोधनाः। खादामः कपिलामेतां वयं क्षुत्पीडिता भृशं
On Garga's instruction, the ascetics guarded a milking cow in the forest, but, tormented greatly by hunger, they said, 'Let us eat this cow.'
इति चिंतयतां पापं लघुः प्राह तदानुजः। यद्यवश्यमियं वध्या श्राद्धरूपेण योज्यतां
As they contemplated this sinful act, the youngest brother spoke: 'If she must be killed, let it be done in the form of a śrāddha offering.'
श्राद्धे नियोज्यमानायां पापं नश्यति नो ध्रुवं। एवं कुर्वित्यनुज्ञातः पितृवर्ती तदानुजैः
'If she is offered in a śrāddha, our sin will surely be destroyed.' Thus permitted by his younger brothers, Pitṛvartin proceeded.
चक्रे समाहितः श्राद्धमुपयुज्याथ तां पुनः। द्वौ दैवे भ्रातरो कृत्वा पित्र्ये त्रींश्चापरान्क्रमात्
With focused mind, he performed the śrāddha, then partook of her; two brothers were assigned to the divine share, and three to the ancestral, in order.
तथैकमतिथिं कृत्वा श्राद्धदः स्वयमेव तु। चकार मंत्रवच्छ्राद्धं स्मरन्पितृपरायणः
Then, appointing one as the guest, the śrāddha-giver himself performed the śrāddha with mantras, remembering his ancestors with devotion.
तदा गत्वा विशंकास्ते गुरवे च न्यवेदयन्। व्याघ्रेण निहता धेनुर्वत्सोयं प्रतिगृह्यतां
Afterwards, they went without hesitation and reported to their teacher: 'The cow has been killed by a tiger; let this calf be accepted.'
एवं सा भक्षिता धेनुः सप्तभिस्तैस्तपोधनैः। वैदिकं बलमाश्रित्य क्रूरे कर्मणि निर्भयाः
Thus, the cow was consumed by those seven ascetics, who, relying on Vedic power, were fearless in that cruel act.
ततः काले प्रणष्टास्ते व्याधा दश पुरेभवन्। जातिस्मरत्वं प्राप्तास्ते पितृभावेन भाविताः
Then, in time, they perished and were born as hunters in ten cities; endowed with remembrance of past lives, they were devoted to their ancestors.
तत्र विज्ञाय वैराग्यं प्राणानुत्सृज्य धर्मतः। लोकैरवीक्ष्यमाणास्ते तीर्थांतेनशनेन तु
There, realizing detachment, they gave up their lives in righteousness; unseen by people, they fasted at holy places.
संजाता मृगरूपास्ते सप्त कालंजरे गिरौ। प्राप्तविज्ञानयोगास्ते तत्यजुस्तां निजां तनुम्
They were then born as deer on Mount Kālañjara; having attained knowledge and yoga, they abandoned that very body.
मम्रुः प्रपतनेनाथ जातवैराग्यमानसाः। मानसे चक्रव्राकास्ते संजाताः सप्तयोगिनः
Dying by falling, their minds filled with detachment, they were born as seven yogins in the city of Mānasa.
नामतः कर्मतः सर्वे सुमनाः कुसुमोवसुः। चित्तदर्शी सुदर्शी च ज्ञाता ज्ञानस्य पारगः
By name and by deed, they were: Sumanas, Kusumavasu, Cittadarśin, Sudarśin, Jñāta, Jñānasya, and Pāraga.
ज्येष्ठानुरक्ताः श्रेष्ठास्ते सप्तैते योगपावनाः। योगभ्रष्टास्त्रयस्तेषां बभूवुश्चलचेतसः
Devoted to their eldest and foremost among men, these seven became pure through yoga; three among them, with unsteady minds, fell from yoga.
दृष्ट्वा विभ्राजमानं तमणुहं स्त्रीभिरन्वितम्। क्रीडंतं विविधैर्भोगैर्महाबलपराक्रमम्
Seeing the radiant Anuha, surrounded by women, sporting in various enjoyments, possessing great strength and valor—
पञ्चालान्वयसंभूतं प्रभूतबलवाहनम्। राज्यकामोभवत्त्वेकस्तेषां मध्ये जलौकसाम्
Among the aquatic beings, there was one who was born in the lineage of the Panchalas, possessing great strength and many vehicles, and who desired sovereignty.
पितृवर्ती च यो विप्रः श्राद्धकृत्पितृवत्सलः। अपरौ मंत्रिणौ दृष्ट्वा प्रभूतबलवाहनौ
There was a Brahmin who followed his father's path, performed śrāddha rites, and was devoted to his ancestors; seeing two other ministers, both possessing great strength and many vehicles.
मंत्रित्वे चक्रतुश्चेच्छामस्मिन्मर्त्यौ द्विजोत्तमौ। विभ्राजपुत्रस्त्वेकोभूद्ब्रह्मदत्त इति स्मृतः
Desiring the position of minister, those two excellent Brahmins among mortals, sons of Vibhrāja, became ministers in this matter; one was known as Brahmadatta.
मंत्रिपुत्रौ तथा चैव पुंडरीकसुबालकौ। ब्रह्मदत्तोभिषिक्तस्तु कांपिल्ये नगरोत्तमे
The two ministers' sons were Puṇḍarīka and Subāla; Brahmadatta was consecrated as king in the excellent city of Kampilya.
पंचालराजो विक्रांतः श्राद्धकृत्पितृवत्सलः। योगवित्सर्वजंतूनां चित्तवेत्ताभवत्तदा
The valiant king of the Panchalas, devoted to his ancestors and performer of śrāddha, was at that time a knower of yoga, understanding the minds of all beings.
तस्य राज्ञोभवद्भार्या सुदेवस्यात्मजा तदा। सन्नतिर्नाम विख्याता कपिलायाभवत्पुरा
That king then had a wife, the daughter of Sudeva, renowned as Sannati, who formerly belonged to Kapila's lineage.
पितृकार्ये नियुक्तत्वादभवद्ब्रह्मवादिनी। तया चकार सहितः स राज्यं राजनंदनः
Because she was engaged in duties toward her ancestors, she became learned in the Vedas; with her, the king's son ruled the kingdom.
कदाचिद्गतउद्यानं तया सह स पार्थिवः। ददर्श कीटमिथुनमनंगकलहान्वितम्
Once, that king went to a garden together with her, and saw a pair of insects engaged in a quarrel of love.
पिपीलिकामधोवक्त्रां पुरतः कीटकामुकः। पंचबाणाभितप्तांगः सगद्गदमुवाच ह
The male insect, standing before the female with her mouth downward, her body scorched by the arrows of Kāma, spoke to her in a faltering voice.
न त्वया सदृशी लोके कामिनी विद्यते क्वचित्। मध्ये क्षीणातिजघना बृहद्वक्त्रातिगामिनी
Nowhere in the world is there a lover like you; slender in the middle, with a very broad mouth, you move with great grace.
सुवर्णवर्णसदृशी सद्वक्त्रा चारुहासिनी। आलक्ष्यते च वदनं गुडशर्करवत्सलं
Your color resembles gold, your face is beautiful and smiling; your mouth appears, O beloved, as sweet as jaggery and sugar.
भोक्ष्यसे मयि भुक्ते त्वं स्नासि स्नाते तथा मयि। प्रोषिते मयि दीना त्वं क्रुद्धे च भयचंचला
When I eat, you eat; when I bathe, you bathe as well; when I am away, you are sorrowful, and when I am angry, you are restless with fear.