Vayu Purana

कालेन महता विद्वान् स्वं वै स्थानमुपागतः। तेषां जनपदाः स्फीता वङ्गाङ्गसुह्लकास्तथा ।। ३७.

In due course, the wise one reached his own place; their lands flourished, including Vanga, Anga, and Suhila.

पुण्ड्राः कलिङ्गाश्च तथा तेषां वंशं निबेधत। तस्य ते तनयाः सर्वे क्षेत्रजा मुनिसम्भवाः। सम्भूता दीर्घतमसः सुदेण्णायां महौजसः ।। ३७.

Pundras and Kalingas likewise—now hear of their lineage: all his sons were born of the field, descended from sages, begotten in Sudenna by Dirghatamas, of great might.

ऋषय ऊचुः। कथं बलेः सुताः पञ्च जनिताः क्षेत्रजाः प्रभो। ऋषिणा दीर्घतमसा एतन्नो ब्रूहि पृच्छताम् ।। ३७.

The sages said: How were five sons of Bali born of the field, O Lord, by the sage Dirghatamas? Tell us, as we ask.

सूत उवाच।। अशिजो नाम विख्यात आसीद्धीमानृषिः पुरा। भार्या वै ममता नाम बभूवास्य महात्मनः ।। ३७.

The Suta said: There was once a renowned and wise sage named Ashija; his wife was called Mamata, a woman of great soul.

अशिजस्य कनीयांस्तु पुरोधा यो दिवौकसाम्। बृहस्पतिर्बृहत्तेजा ममतां सोऽभ्यपद्यत ।। ३७.

The youngest of Ashija, who was the priest of the gods, was Brihaspati of great brilliance; he approached Mamata.

उवाच ममता तन्तु बृहस्पतिमनिच्छती। अन्तर्वत्न्यस्मि ते भ्रातुर्ज्येष्ठस्याष्टमिता इति ।। ३७.

Mamata, unwilling, spoke to Brihaspati: I am pregnant with your elder brother’s child, eight months along.

अयं हि मे महागर्भो रोचतेऽति बृहस्पते। अशिजं ब्रह्म चाभ्यस्य षडङ्गं वेदमुद्गिरन् ।। ३७.

This great embryo pleases me greatly, O Brihaspati; Ashija, uttering the six-limbed Veda, is Brahma incarnate.

अमोघरेतास्त्वञ्चापि न मां भजितुमर्हसि। अस्मिन्नेव गते काले यथा वा मन्यसे प्रभो ।। ३७.

Your seed is unfailing, yet you should not unite with me; let it be as you wish, when the time comes.

एवमुक्तस्तया सम्यग् बृहत्तेजा बृहस्पतिः। कामात्मानं महात्मा च नात्मानं सोऽभ्यधारयत् ।। ३७.

Thus addressed by her, Brihaspati of great brilliance, driven by desire, did not restrain himself.

सम्बभूवैव धर्मात्मा तया सार्द्धं बृहस्पतिः। उत्सृजन्तं तदा रेतो गर्भस्थः सोऽभ्यभाषत ।। ३७.

Brihaspati, righteous in nature, united with her; as he released his seed, the child in the womb spoke.

नो स्नातको न्यसेद्ध्यस्मिन् द्वयोर्नेहास्ति सम्भवः। अमोघरेतास्त्वञ्चापि पूर्वञ्चाहमिहागतः ।। ३७.

A twice-born should not be placed here; there can be no union of two in this place. Your seed is unfailing, but I came here first.

शशाप तं तदा क्रुद्ध एवमुक्तो बृहस्पतिः। आशिजन्तं सुतं भ्रातुर्गर्भस्थं भगवानृषिः ।। ३७.

Thus addressed, Brihaspati, angered, cursed the child in the womb, who was his brother’s son, the sage.

यस्मात्त्वमीदृशे काले सर्वभूतेप्सिते सति। मामेवमुक्तवान् मोहात्तमो दीर्घं प्रवेक्ष्यसि ।। ३७.

Because you spoke to me thus at such a time, when all beings desire birth, out of delusion, you shall enter long darkness.

ततो दीर्घतमा नाम शापादृषिरजायत। अथाशिजो बृहत्कीर्त्तिर्बृहस्पतिरिवौजसा ।। ३७.

Then, due to the curse, the sage was born as Dirghatamas; Ashija, famed and mighty, was like Brihaspati in strength.

ऊर्द्ध्वरेतास्ततश्चापि न्यवसद्भ्रातुराश्रमे। गोधर्मं सौरभेयात्तु वृषभाच्छ्रुतवान् प्रभो ।। ३७.

He, with his seed held upward, dwelt in his brother’s hermitage; he learned the dharma of cattle from the bull, O Lord.

तस्य भ्राता पितृव्यस्तु चकार भवनं तदा। तस्मिन् हि तत्र वसति यदृच्छाभ्यागतो वृषः ।। ३७.

His paternal uncle, the brother, built a dwelling for him; while he lived there, a bull arrived by chance.

दर्शार्थमाहृतान् दर्भांश्चचार सुरभीवृतः। जग्राह तं दीर्घतमा विस्फुरन्तञ्च श्रृङ्गयोः ।। ३७.

To obtain darbha grass for ritual, he wandered, accompanied by Surabhi; Dirghatamas seized the bull, which was tossing its horns.

स तेन निगृहीतस्तु न चचाल पदात्पदम्। ततोऽब्रवीद्वृषस्तं वै मुञ्च मां बलिनां वर ।। ३७.

Though restrained by him, he did not move a single step; then the bull spoke to him: 'Release me, O foremost of the strong.'

न मयासादितस्तात बलवंस्त्वद्विधः क्वचित्। त्र्यम्बकं वहता देवं यतो जातोऽस्मि भूतले ।। ३७.

'Never before, O father, have I encountered anyone as powerful as you, who carries Lord Tryambaka, since the time I was born on earth.'

मुञ्च मां बलिनां श्रष्ठ प्रीतस्तेऽहं वरं वृणु। एवमुक्तोऽब्रवीदेनं जीवस्त्वं मे क्व यास्यसि ।। ३७.

'Release me, O best of the strong; I am pleased with you—choose a boon.' Thus addressed, he replied: 'You are my life—where could I go?'

तेन त्वाहं न मोक्ष्यामि परस्वाहं चतुष्पदम्। ततस्तं दीर्घतमसं स वृषः प्रत्युवाच ह ।। ३७.

'Therefore, I will not release you; I am another's property, a four-footed being.' Then that bull addressed Dīrghatamas, who was enveloped in darkness.

नास्माकं विद्यते तात पातकं स्तेयमेव वा। भक्ष्याभक्ष्यं न जानीमः पेयापेयञ्च सर्वशः ।। ३७.

'For us, O father, there is neither sin nor theft; we do not know what is to be eaten or not eaten, nor what is to be drunk or not drunk, in any way.'

कार्याकार्यं न वै विझो गम्यागम्यं तथैव च। न पाप्मानो वयं विप्र धर्मो ह्येषां गवां स्मृतः ।। ३७.

'We do not discern what is to be done or not done, nor what is to be approached or avoided; O Brahmin, we are not afflicted by sin—this is the law for cows.'

गवां नाम स वै श्रुत्वा संभ्रान्तस्त्वनुमुच्य तम्। भक्त्या चानुश्रविकया गोषु तं वै प्रसाद यत् ।। ३७.

Hearing the very name of cows, he became agitated and released him; with devotion and traditional reverence, he sought the favor of the cows.

प्रसादिते गते तस्मिन् गोधर्मं भक्तितस्तु तम्। मनसैव तदादत्ते तन्निष्ठस्तत्परायणः ।। ३७.

When he had gained their favor and departed, he took up the dharma of cows with devotion, embracing it in his mind, steadfast and wholly dedicated.

ततो यवीयसः पत्नीमौतथ्यस्याभ्यमन्यत। विचेष्टमानां रुदतीं दैवात् स मूढचेतनः ।। ३७.

Then, by fate, Dīrghatamas, his mind bewildered, desired the younger wife of Auttathya, who was restless and weeping.

अवलेपन्तु तं मत्वा शरद्वांस्तस्य नाक्षमत्। गोधर्मंवै बलं कृत्वा स्नुषां स सममन्यत ।। ३७.

Thinking him arrogant, Śaradvān could not tolerate it; relying on the law of cows as his strength, he considered his daughter-in-law as equal.

विपर्ययन्तु तं दृष्ट्वा शरद्वान् प्रत्यचिन्तयत्। भविष्यमर्थं ज्ञात्वा च महात्मा च न मृत्युताम् ।। ३७.

Seeing this reversal, Śaradvān reflected; knowing what was to come, the great-souled one did not wish for his death.

प्रोवाच दीर्घतमसं क्रोधात् संरक्त लोचनः। गम्यागम्यं न जीनीषे गोधर्मात् प्रार्थयत् स्नुषाम् ।। ३७.

With eyes reddened in anger, he spoke to Dīrghatamas: 'You do not discern what is proper or improper; yet, invoking the law of cows, you desire your daughter-in-law.'