तथा तपस्यतां मृत्युं गतानां कालपर्ययात्। पाषाणेन शिरोभग्नं भवते पुण्यकर्मणाम्
Thus, for those practicing austerity, when death comes in due course, having the head struck with a stone becomes the act of the virtuous.
अरण्ये निर्जने वासःकदा वै भविता हि नः। कर्णजप्यं श्रावकाश्च करिष्यंति समाहिताः
When will we dwell in the lonely forest? The disciples, concentrated, will perform recitation in the ear.
भोभो ऋषे न गंतव्यं मोक्षमार्गी यतो भवान्। लब्धानि यानि स्थानानि भूयोवृत्तिकराणि च
O sage, you should not proceed on the path of liberation, for you have already attained positions that bring repeated worldly results.
त्याज्यानि तेन चैतानि सत्यमेव वचो हि नः। अस्मदीयेन तपसा नियमैर्विविधैस्तथा
Therefore, these positions must indeed be renounced, as our words are true; by our own austerity and various disciplines as well.
व्रजध्वं चोत्तमं स्थानं मोक्षमार्गं च यं बुधाः। विंदंति भक्तिभावेन तपोयुक्तास्तपस्विनः
Go to that supreme state, to the path of liberation, which the wise attain through devotion and austerity, being endowed with penance.
अक्षेषु निग्रहो यत्र दयाभूतेषु सर्वदा। तत्तपोधर्ममित्युक्तं सर्वा चान्या विडंबना
Where there is restraint of the senses and constant compassion toward all beings—that is called the true dharma of austerity; all else is mere pretense.
ज्ञात्वैतद्भवता साध्यं गंतव्यं परमं पदम्। यां वै तीर्थंकरा याता यां गतिं योगिनो गताः
Knowing this, you should strive and reach the highest state, which the makers of holy fords have attained, and which the yogis have reached.
एवं वै देवताः पूर्वं विद्याधरमहोरगाः। मनोरथाभिलाषांस्ते चिंतयंतो दिवानिशम्
In this way, the gods of old, the Vidyadharas, and great serpents, constantly contemplated their cherished desires day and night.
यद्येषणा वै युष्माकं संसारविरतौ कृता। परित्यजध्वं दाराणि स्वर्गमार्गार्गलानि च
If your desire for worldly existence has indeed ceased, then abandon your spouses and the obstacles to the path of heaven.
यस्यां योनौ पिता यातस्तां योनिं सेवसे कथम्। आत्ममांसोपमं मांसं कथं खादंति जंतवः
How can you serve the womb in which your father was born? How can creatures eat flesh that is like their own flesh?
ततस्ते दानवा भीष्मा ऊचुः सर्वे गुरुं वचः। दीक्षस्व नो महाभाग भ्रूणकानग्रतः स्थितान्
Then all those mighty Dānavas spoke to their teacher: 'Initiate us, O blessed one, who stand here as embryos.'
तथा कृत्वा स तानाह समयेन पुरोहितः। प्रणामो नान्यदेवेषु कर्तव्यो वः कदाचन
Having done so, the priest addressed them according to the rule: 'You must never offer obeisance to any other gods at any time.'
एकस्थाने यदा भक्तं भोक्तव्यं करसंपुटे। तत्रस्थाने स्थितं तोयं केशकीटविवर्जितम्
When food is to be eaten, it should be taken in one place, with cupped hands; and the water there should be free from hair and insects.
तुल्यं प्रियाप्रियं कार्यं नान्यदृष्टिहतं क्वचित्। भोक्तव्यमेतेन विभो आचारेण तथा कुरु४०० 1.13.
One should act equally toward what is dear and not dear, never acting out of partiality; food should be taken in this manner, O lord, so practice accordingly.
भवध्वं सहिता यूयं ते तथा मोक्षभागिनः। एवमुक्त्वा स नियमान्कृत्वा तान्दनुपुंगवान्
Remain together, all of you, and thus you will partake of liberation; having spoken thus and establishing these rules, he instructed those foremost among men.
जगाम धिषणो राजन्देवलोकं दिवौकसाम्। आचचक्षे स तत्सर्वं दानवानां च कारितम्
Then Dhiṣaṇa, O king, went to the world of the gods; he reported all that had been done by the Dānavas.
ततस्ते त्वसुरा जग्मुर्नर्मदामभितो वसन्। दृष्ट्वा तान्दानवांस्तत्र प्रह्लादेन विना कृतान्
Then those Asuras went to the vicinity of the Narmadā, dwelling there; seeing those Dānavas there, except for Prahlāda.
देवराजस्ततो हृष्टो नमुचिं प्राह वै वचः। हिरण्याक्षं यज्ञहनं धर्मघ्नं वेदनिंदकम्
Then the king of the gods, delighted, spoke to Namuci these words: 'Hiraṇyākṣa, the destroyer of sacrifice, the slayer of dharma, the reviler of the Vedas—'
राक्षसं क्रूरकर्माणं प्रघसं विघसं तथा। मुचिं चैव तथा बाणं विरोचनमथापि वा
'The Rākṣasa of cruel deeds, the devourer, the glutton as well, Muci, and likewise Bāṇa, and also Virocana—'
महिषाक्षं बाष्कलं च प्रचंडं चंडकं तथा। रोचमानं तथात्युग्रं सुषेणं दानवोत्तमम्
'Mahiṣākṣa, Bāṣkala, Pracaṇḍa, Caṇḍaka, Rocamāna, the exceedingly fierce, and Suṣeṇa, the foremost of the Dānavas.'
एतान्दृष्ट्वा तथा चान्यान्दानवेंद्रानथाब्रवीत्। इन्द्र उवाच। दानवेंद्राः पुरा जाताः कृतं राज्यं त्रिविष्टपे
Seeing these and other lords of the Daityas, he then spoke: Indra said: O lords of the Daityas, you were born long ago and ruled the realm of the gods.
इदानीं कथमेवेदं व्रतं वेदविलोपकम्। भवद्भिः कर्तुमारब्धं नग्नमुंडिकमंडलु
How is it now that you have begun this vow, which destroys the Vedas—naked, shaven-headed, and carrying water pots?
मयूरध्वजधारित्वं कथं चैवेह तिष्ठथ। दानवा ऊचुः। त्यक्तः सर्वासुरभाव ऋषिधर्मे वयं स्थिताः
How is it that you stand here bearing peacock-feather banners? The Daityas said: We have abandoned all demonic nature and abide in the dharma of sages.
धर्मवृद्धिकरं कर्म चरामः सर्वजंतुषु। त्रैलोक्यराज्यमखिलं भुंक्ष्व शक्र व्रजस्व च
We perform deeds that increase righteousness among all beings. Enjoy the entire sovereignty of the three worlds, O Śakra, and depart.
तथेति चोक्त्वा मघवा पुनर्यातस्त्रिविष्टपम्। एवं ते मोहिताः सर्वे भीष्म देवपुरोधसा
Saying 'So be it,' Maghavan returned again to the realm of the gods. Thus, O Bhīṣma, all of them were deluded by the priest of the gods.
नर्मदा सरितं प्राप्य स्थिता दानवसत्तमाः। ज्ञात्वा शुक्रेण ते सर्वे वृत्तांतमनुबोधिताः
Having reached the river Narmadā, the foremost of the Daityas stood there. Informed of all that had happened by Śukra, they were made aware.
तदा त्रैलोक्यहरणे चक्रुः क्रूरां पुनर्मतिम्
Then, intent on seizing the three worlds, they again formed a cruel resolve.
भीष्म उवाच। कथं त्रिपुरुषाज्जातो ह्यर्जुनः परवीरहा। कथं कर्णस्तु कानीनः सूतजः परिकीर्त्यते
Bhīṣma said: How was Arjuna, the slayer of enemy heroes, born from Tripura? And why is Karṇa, though called a sūta's son, said to be born out of wedlock?
वरं तयोः कथं भूतं निसर्गादेव तद्वद। बृहत्कौतूहलं मह्यं तद्भवान्वक्तुमर्हति
How did the boon come to those two by nature? Tell me that, for I have great curiosity; you are worthy to speak of it.
पुलस्त्य उवाच। छिन्ने वक्त्रे पुरा ब्रह्मा क्रोधेन महता वृतः। ललाटे स्वेदमुत्पन्नं गृहीत्वा ताडयद्भुवि
Pulastya said: Once, when his mouth was cut, Brahmā was seized by great anger. Sweat arose on his forehead, which he took and struck upon the earth.