त्रयीमार्गं समुत्सृज्य मायामोहेन तेसुराः। कारितास्तन्मया ह्यासंस्तथान्ये तत्प्रबोधिताः
Abandoning the path of the three Vedas, those gods, under the influence of illusion, were made to act by me; others were likewise awakened by that.
तैरप्यन्ये परे तैश्च तैरन्योन्यैस्तथापरे। नमोऽर्हते चेति सर्वे संगमे स्थिरवादिनः
By those, and by others, and by those others again, and yet others, all steadfast in their views, they said, 'Homage to the worthy one,' in the assembly.
अल्पैरहोभिः संत्यक्ता तैर्दैत्यैः प्रायशस्त्रयी। पुनश्च रक्तांबरधृन्मायामोहो जितेक्षणः
Within a few days, the demons abandoned the triple Veda; again, the one wearing red garments, whose gaze was victorious, deluded them with illusion.
सोन्यानप्यसुरान्गत्वा ऊचेन्यन्मधुराक्षरम्। स्वर्गार्थं यदि वो वाञ्छा निर्वाणार्थाय वा पुनः
He went to other gods and spoke sweet words to them: 'If you desire heaven or again wish for liberation—'
तदलं पशुघातादि दुष्टधर्मैर्निबोधत। विज्ञानमयमेतद्वै त्वशेषमधिगच्छत
Then enough of evil duties like animal slaughter; understand this: it is entirely composed of knowledge, attain the remainder.
बुध्यध्वं मे वचः सम्यग्बुधैरेवमिहोदितम्। जगदेतदनाधारं भ्रांतिज्ञानानुतत्परम्
Listen well to my words, as spoken here by the wise; this world is unsupported, its highest is not attained through deluded knowledge.
रागादिदुष्टमत्यर्थं भ्राम्यते भवसंकटे। नानाप्रकारं वचनं स तेषां मुक्तियोजितम्
Excessively corrupted by passion and other faults, one wanders in the distress of existence; various teachings were given to them for liberation.
तथा तथावदद्धर्मं तत्यजुस्ते यथायथा। केचिद्विनिंदां वेदानां देवानामपरे नृप
As he spoke such doctrines, they abandoned them accordingly; some reviled the Vedas, others the gods, O king.
यज्ञकर्मकलापस्य तथा चान्ये द्विजन्मनाम्। नैतद्युक्तिसहं वाक्यं हिंसा धर्माय जायते
Likewise, others criticized the rituals of sacrifice and the twice-born; this statement is not reasonable, for violence is said to be righteousness.
हवींष्यनलदग्धानि फलान्यर्हंति कोविदाः। निहतस्य पशोर्यज्ञे स्वर्गप्राप्तिर्यदीष्यते
Wise men say that offerings burned in fire are fruitful; if the killing of an animal in sacrifice is desired for attaining heaven—
स्वपिता यजमानेन किं वा तत्र न हन्यते। तृप्तये जायते पुंसो भुक्तमन्येन चेद्यदि
If the sacrificer’s own father is not killed there, what is the purpose? If someone else eats, it is for the satisfaction of the man.
दद्याच्छ्राद्धं प्रवसतो न वहेयुः प्रवासिनः। यज्ञैरनेकैर्देवत्वमवाप्येंद्रेण भुज्यते
If one gives a funeral offering for a traveler, the travelers do not carry it; through many sacrifices, one attains divinity and enjoys with Indra.
शम्यादि यदि चेत्काष्ठं तद्वरं पत्रभुक्पशुः। जना श्रद्धेयमित्येतदवगम्य तु तद्वचः
If wood such as Shami is eaten, then a leaf-eating animal is better; people should understand this teaching and have faith in it.
उपेक्ष्य श्रेयसे वाक्यं रोचतां यन्मयेरितम्। न ह्याप्तवादा नभसो निपतंति महासुराः
Disregard the words spoken by me if they do not please you for your welfare; for the great gods do not fall from the sky by the words of the trustworthy.
युक्तिमद्वचनं ग्राह्यं मयान्यैश्च भवद्विधैः। दानवा ऊचुः। तत्ववादे वयं सर्वे प्रपन्नास्तव भक्तितः
Words that are reasonable should be accepted by me and by others like you. The Dānavas said: We all have surrendered to you with devotion in the true doctrine.
कुरुष्वानुग्रहं चाद्य प्रसन्नोसि यदि प्रभो। संभारानाहरामोद्य दीक्षायोग्यांश्च सर्वशः
If you are pleased, O Lord, then today show us your favor. We will bring all the necessary items and those fit for initiation.
प्रसादात्तव येनाशु मोक्षो हस्तगतो भवेत्। ततस्तानब्रवीत्सर्वान्मायामोहोसुरांस्तदा
By your grace, may liberation quickly come into our hands. Then he spoke to all those Dānavas, deluded by illusion.
प्रपन्नः शासनं ह्येष मदीयो गुरुरग्र्यधीः। दीक्षां दास्यति युष्माकं निदेशान्मम सत्तमः
This one, devoted to my command, is my foremost guru, wise and excellent. By my instruction, he will grant you initiation.
एतान्दीक्षय भो ब्रह्मन्वचनान्मम पुत्रकान्। गते मोहे दानवास्ते भार्गवं वाक्यमब्रुवन्
O Brāhman, by my word, initiate these sons of mine. When their delusion was gone, those Dānavas spoke to Bhārgava.
देहि दीक्षां महाभाग सर्वसंसारमोचनीम्। तथेत्याहोशना दैत्यान्गच्छामो नर्मदामनु
Grant us initiation, O highly fortunate one, which releases from all worldly existence. 'So be it,' said Uśanas to the Daityas, 'let us go along the Narmadā.'
भोभोस्त्यजत वासांसि दीक्षां कारयितास्मि वः। एवं ते दानवा भीष्म भृगुरूपेण धीमता
O friends, remove your garments; I will perform your initiation. Thus, O Bhīṣma, those Dānavas were initiated by the wise one in the form of Bhṛgu.
आंगिरसेन ते तत्र कृता दिग्वाससोसुराः। बर्हिपिच्छध्वजं तेषां गुंजिका चारुमालिकां
There, by Āṅgirasa, they became clothed only by the directions. For them, a banner of peacock feathers and a beautiful garland of gunjā berries were given.
दत्वा चकार तेषां तु शिरसो लुंचनं ततः। केशस्योत्पाटनं चैव परमं धर्मसाधनम्
Having given these, he then plucked the hair from their heads, which is the supreme means of righteousness.
धनानामीश्वरो देवो धनदः केशलुंचनात्। सिद्धिं परमिकां प्राप्ताः सदा वेषस्य धारणात्
The god who is lord of wealth, the bestower of riches, attained the highest success by plucking the hair, and always by wearing that attire.
नित्यत्वं लभ्यते ह्येवं पुरा प्राहार्हतः स्वयम्। वालोत्पाटेन देवत्वं मानुषैर्लभ्यते त्विह
Thus, immortality is attained, as was said by the Arhata in ancient times. By plucking out the hair, divinity is gained by humans here.
किं न कुर्वीत तत्तस्मान्महापुण्यप्रदं यतः। मनोरथो हि देवानां लोके वै मानुषे कदा
Why would one not do this, since it bestows great merit? For the gods, when in the human world, this is their cherished desire.
अस्मिन्स्याद्भारते वर्षे जन्मनः श्रावके कुले। तपसा युञ्ज्महेस्मान्वै केशोत्पाटनपूर्वकम्
In this land of Bhārata, in the family of a disciple by birth, we should practice austerity, beginning with the plucking of hair.
तीर्थंकराश्चतुर्विंशत्तथा तैस्तु पुरस्कृताः। छायाकृतं फणींद्रेण ध्यानमार्गप्रदर्शकम्
The twenty-four Tīrthaṅkaras were thus honored by them, and by the serpent lord who made a shadow, showing the path of meditation.
स्तुवन्तं मंत्रवादेन स्वर्गो हस्तगतोर्हतं। मोक्षो वा भविता नूनं विचारः कोत्र कथ्यते
By praising with mantras, heaven is attained by the Arhata, or certainly liberation will occur; what doubt can there be in this matter?
कदा स्यामर्षयो भूत्वा सूर्याग्निसमतेजसः। जप्त्वा विरागिणश्चैवमनुपंचांगकं तथा
When will we become sages, equal in brilliance to the sun and fire, reciting with detachment and also the fivefold formula?