महाभारतम् — ९.३७

जनमेजय उवाच ।

सप्तसारस्वतं कस्मात्कश्च मङ्कणको मुनिः ।
कथं सिद्धश्च भगवान्कश्चास्य नियमोऽभवत् ॥

M N Dutt Janamejaya said "Why was that tirtha called Sapta-Sarasvat? Who was the ascetic Mankanaka? How was that worshipful one successful? What were his vows and observances?

९.३७.२

कस्य वंशे समुत्पन्नः किं चाधीतं द्विजोत्तम ।
एतदिच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुं विधिवद्द्विजसत्तम ॥

M N Dutt In whose family was he born? What books did that great Rishi study? I desire to hear all this, O foremost of Rishis.

वैशंपायन उवाच ।

९.३७.३

राजन्सप्त सरस्वत्यो याभिर्व्याप्तमिदं जगत् ।
आहूता बलवद्भिर्हि तत्र तत्र सरस्वती ॥

M N Dutt Vaishampayana said "O king, the seven Sarasvati cover this Universe. Wherever the Sarasvati was called the energetic Rishis, there she did go.

९.३७.४

सुप्रभा काञ्चनाक्षी च विशाला मानसह्रदा ।
सरस्वती ओघवती सुवेणुर्विमलोदका ॥

M N Dutt These are the seven forms of the Sarasvati, viz., Suprabha, Kanchanakshi, Vishala, Manorama, Oghavati, Surenu and Vimalodaka.

९.३७.५

पितामहस्य महतो वर्तमाने महीतले ।
वितते यज्ञवाटे वै समेतेषु द्विजातिषु ॥

M N Dutt Brahma had at one time celebrated a great sacrifice. While that sacrifice was being celebrated on the site selected, many Rishis, crowned with ascetic success, came there.

९.३७.६

पुण्याहघोषैर्विमलैर्वेदानां निनदैस्तथा ।
देवेषु चैव व्यग्रेषु तस्मिन्यज्ञविधौ तदा ॥

M N Dutt The spot was filled with the sound of the recitation and the chaunting of the Vedas. Seeing those sacrificial rites, even the very gods lost their temper.

९.३७.७

तत्र चैव महाराज दीक्षिते प्रपितामहे ।
यजतस्तत्र सत्रेण सर्वकामसमृद्धिना ॥

९.३७.८

मनसा चिन्तिता ह्यर्था धर्मार्थकुशलैस्तदा ।
उपतिष्ठन्ति राजेन्द्र द्विजातींस्तत्र तत्र ह ॥

M N Dutt There, O king, while the grandfather was initiated in the sacrifice and was performing the grand ceremony capable of granting prosperity and wished-for objects many great Rishis, conversant with virtue and profit, were present. As soon as they thought of necessary articles, they, O king, immediately came before the Rishis.

९.३७.९

जगुश्च तत्र गन्धर्वा ननृतुश्चाप्सरोगणाः ।
वादित्राणि च दिव्यानि वादयामासुरञ्जसा ॥

M N Dutt The Gandharvas sang and the Apsaras danced. And they played upon many celestial instruments.

९.३७.१०

तस्य यज्ञस्य संपत्त्या तुतुषुर्देवता अपि ।
विस्मयं परमं जग्मुः किमु मानुषयोनयः ॥

M N Dutt The provisions collected in that sacrifice satisfied the very celestials. What shall I say then of men? The very celestials were filled with wonder.

९.३७.११

वर्तमाने तथा यज्ञे पुष्करस्थे पितामहे ।
अब्रुवन्नृषयो राजन्नायं यज्ञो महाफलः ।
न दृश्यते सरिच्छ्रेष्ठा यस्मादिह सरस्वती ॥

M N Dutt During the progress of that sacrifice at Pushkara and in the presence of Brahma, the Rishis, O king, said-"This sacrifice is not successful, sine that foremost of rivers, viz., Sarasvati, is not to be seen here.” Hearing these words. the divine Brahman meditated on Sarasvati.

९.३७.१२

तच्छ्रुत्वा भगवान्प्रीतः सस्माराथ सरस्वतीम् ।
पितामहेन यजता आहूता पुष्करेषु वै ।
सुप्रभा नाम राजेन्द्र नाम्ना तत्र सरस्वती ॥

M N Dutt Summoned at Pushkara by the grandfather engaged in the celebration of a sacrifice, Sarasvati, O king came there under the name of Suprava.

९.३७.१३

तां दृष्ट्वा मुनयस्तुष्टा वेगयुक्तां सरस्वतीम् ।
पितामहं मानयन्तीं क्रतुं ते बहु मेनिरे ॥

M N Dutt Seeing Sarasvati pay that regard to the grandfather, the ascetics regarded that sacrifice with great esteem.

९.३७.१४

एवमेषा सरिच्छ्रेष्ठा पुष्करेषु सरस्वती ।
पितामहार्थं संभूता तुष्ट्यर्थं च मनीषिणाम् ॥

M N Dutt Thus that foremost of rivers, viz., Sarasvati, made her appearance at Pushkara for pleasing the grandfather and the ascetics.

९.३७.१५

नैमिषे मुनयो राजन्समागम्य समासते ।
तत्र चित्राः कथा ह्यासन्वेदं प्रति जनेश्वर ॥

M N Dutt On another occasion, O king many Munis assembled at Naimisha. They had many discussions amongst them, O king, on the Vedas.

९.३७.१६

तत्र ते मुनयो ह्यासन्नानास्वाध्यायवेदिनः ।
ते समागम्य मुनयः सस्मरुर्वै सरस्वतीम् ॥

M N Dutt There those ascetics, conversant with various scriptures, thought of the Sarasvati.

९.३७.१७

सा तु ध्याता महाराज ऋषिभिः सत्रयाजिभिः ।
समागतानां राजेन्द्र सहायार्थं महात्मनाम् ।
आजगाम महाभागा तत्र पुण्या सरस्वती ॥

M N Dutt Thus thought of, O king, by those Rishis performing a sacrifice, the highly blessed and sacred Sarasvati, for helping those great Munis, made her appearance at Naimisha and was accordingly called Kanchanakshi.

९.३७.१८

नैमिषे काञ्चनाक्षी तु मुनीनां सत्रयाजिनाम् ।
आगता सरितां श्रेष्ठा तत्र भारत पूजिता ॥

९.३७.१९

गयस्य यजमानस्य गयेष्वेव महाक्रतुम् ।
आहूता सरितां श्रेष्ठा गययज्ञे सरस्वती ॥

M N Dutt Worshipped of all, that best of rivers, thus came there, O Bharata. While king Gaya was engaged in the celebration of a great sacrifice at Gaya the foremost of rivers, Sarasvati, summoned at Gaya's sacrifice, came there. The Rishis of rigid vows, that were present there, named her Vishala at Gaya.

९.३७.२०

विशालां तु गयेष्वाहुरृषयः संशितव्रताः ।
सरित्सा हिमवत्पार्श्वात्प्रसूता शीघ्रगामिनी ॥

९.३७.२१

औद्दालकेस्तथा यज्ञे यजतस्तत्र भारत ।
समेते सर्वतः स्फीते मुनीनां मण्डले तदा ॥

९.३७.२२

उत्तरे कोसलाभागे पुण्ये राजन्महात्मनः ।
औद्दालकेन यजता पूर्वं ध्याता सरस्वती ॥

९.३७.२३

आजगाम सरिच्छ्रेष्ठा तं देशमृषिकारणात् ।
पूज्यमाना मुनिगणैर्वल्कलाजिनसंवृतैः ।
मनोह्रदेति विख्याता सा हि तैर्मनसा हृता ॥

९.३७.२४

सुवेणुरृषभद्वीपे पुण्ये राजर्षिसेविते ।
कुरोश्च यजमानस्य कुरुक्षेत्रे महात्मनः ।
आजगाम महाभागा सरिच्छ्रेष्ठा सरस्वती ॥

M N Dutt While, again the great Kuru was engaged in a sacrifice at Kurukshetra, that foremost of rivers, the highly sacred Sarasvati, came there.

९.३७.२५

ओघवत्यपि राजेन्द्र वसिष्ठेन महात्मना ।
समाहूता कुरुक्षेत्रे दिव्यतोया सरस्वती ॥

M N Dutt Summoned, O king, by the great Vashishtha who assisted Kuru in his sacrifice, the Sarasvati, of celestial water, came to Kurukshetra and passed by the name of Oghavati.

९.३७.२६

दक्षेण यजता चापि गङ्गाद्वारे सरस्वती ।
विमलोदा भगवती ब्रह्मणा यजता पुनः ।
समाहूता ययौ तत्र पुण्ये हैमवते गिरौ ॥

M N Dutt Once again, while Brahınan was engaged in a sacrifice on the sacred forest of the Himavat mountains, the worshipful Sarasvati, summoned by him, came there.

९.३७.२७

एकीभूतास्ततस्तास्तु तस्मिंस्तीर्थे समागताः ।
सप्तसारस्वतं तीर्थं ततस्तत्प्रथितं भुवि ॥

M N Dutt All these seven streams then came and joined together in that tirtha where Baladeva came. And because the seven joined together at that spot, therefore is that tirtha known on earth by the name of Sapta-Sarasvati.

९.३७.२८

इति सप्त सरस्वत्यो नामतः परिकीर्तिताः ।
सप्तसारस्वतं चैव तीर्थं पुण्यं तथा स्मृतम् ॥

M N Dutt Thus have I described to you the seven Sarasvatis, according to their names. I have also given you an account of the sacred tirtha called Satpa-Sarasvat.

९.३७.२९

शृणु मङ्कणकस्यापि कौमारब्रह्मचारिणः ।
आपगामवगाढस्य राजन्प्रक्रीडितं महत् ॥

९.३७.३०

दृष्ट्वा यदृच्छया तत्र स्त्रियमम्भसि भारत ।
स्नायन्तीं रुचिरापाङ्गीं दिग्वाससमनिन्दिताम् ।
सरस्वत्यां महाराज चस्कन्दे वीर्यमम्भसि ॥

M N Dutt Listen now to a great deed of Mankanaka, who had from his youth led the life of a Brahmacharin. While perforining his abolutions in the river, he saw one day, O Bharata, a damsel of beautiful features and fair brows, bathing in the river with her body uncovered. At this sight, O monarch, the seminal fluid of the Rishi dropped to the Sarasvati.

९.३७.३१

तद्रेतः स तु जग्राह कलशे वै महातपाः ।
सप्तधा प्रविभागं तु कलशस्थं जगाम ह ।
तत्रर्षयः सप्त जाता जज्ञिरे मरुतां गणाः ॥

M N Dutt The great ascetic took it up and kept it within his earthen pot. Deposited within that pot, the fluid was divided into seven parts.

९.३७.३२

वायुवेगो वायुबलो वायुहा वायुमण्डलः ।
वायुज्वालो वायुरेता वायुचक्रश्च वीर्यवान् ।
एवमेते समुत्पन्ना मरुतां जनयिष्णवः ॥

M N Dutt From those seven portions were born seven Rishis, from whom originated the forty nine Maruts. The Rishis named Vayuvega, Vayuhan, Vayumandala, Vayujata, Vayuretas, Vayuchakra. Thus were born those progenitors of the various Maruts.

९.३७.३३

इदमन्यच्च राजेन्द्र शृण्वाश्चर्यतरं भुवि ।
महर्षेश्चरितं यादृक्त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतम् ॥

M N Dutt Hear now of a more wonderful account O king, of a highly marvellous conduct of that great Rishi which is well known in the three worlds.

९.३७.३४

पुरा मङ्कणकः सिद्धः कुशाग्रेणेति नः श्रुतम् ।
क्षतः किल करे राजंस्तस्य शाकरसोऽस्रवत् ।
स वि शाकरसं दृष्ट्वा हर्षाविष्टः प्रनृत्तवान् ॥

M N Dutt Formerly, after Mankanaka had become Successful, O king, his hand became pierced seven were with a Kusha blade. Thereupon a vegetable juice came out of the wound and not blood.

९.३७.३५

ततस्तस्मिन्प्रनृत्ते वै स्थावरं जङ्गमं च यत् ।
प्रनृत्तमुभयं वीर तेजसा तस्य मोहितम् ॥

९.३७.३६

ब्रह्मादिभिः सुरै राजन्नृषिभिश्च तपोधनैः ।
विज्ञप्तो वै महादेव ऋषेरर्थे नराधिप ।
नायं नृत्येद्यथा देव तथा त्वं कर्तुमर्हसि ॥

M N Dutt Then the celestials with Brahma at their head and the Rishis, having asceticism for their wealth, O king, all approached Mahadeva and informed him of the doings of the Rishi (Mankanaka). And they said to him-Thou shouldst, O god, do that which may prevent the Rishi from dancing."

९.३७.३७

ततो देवो मुनिं दृष्ट्वा हर्षाविष्टमतीव ह ।
सुराणां हितकामार्थं महादेवोऽभ्यभाषत ॥

M N Dutt Then Mahadeva, seeing the Rishi filled with great joy and desirous of doing good to the celestials addressed him, saying.

९.३७.३८

भो भो ब्राह्मण धर्मज्ञ किमर्थं नरिनर्त्सि वै ।
हर्षस्थानं किमर्थं वै तवेदं मुनिसत्तम ।
तपस्विनो धर्मपथे स्थितस्य द्विजसत्तम ॥

M N Dutt Why, O Brahmana, do you dance in this way, you who know your duties well? What must be the cause of your joy, O sage, that being an ascetic, ( best of Brahmanas and walking in the path of virtue you should behave in this way?

ऋषिरुवाच ।

९.३७.३९

किं न पश्यसि मे ब्रह्मन्कराच्छाकरसं स्रुतम् ।
यं दृष्ट्वा वै प्रनृत्तोऽहं हर्षेण महता विभो ॥

M N Dutt The Rishi said Do you not see that a vegetable juice is flowing from this my wound? Seeing this, O lord, I am dancing in great glee.

९.३७.४०

तं प्रहस्याब्रवीद्देवो मुनिं रागेण मोहितम् ।
अहं न विस्मयं विप्र गच्छामीति प्रपश्य माम् ॥

M N Dutt Laughing at the Rishi who was overpowered by passion, the god said-"I do not, O Brahmana, at all wonder at this. Behold me!"

९.३७.४१

एवमुक्त्वा मुनिश्रेष्ठं महादेवेन धीमता ।
अङ्गुल्यग्रेण राजेन्द्र स्वाङ्गुष्ठस्ताडितोऽभवत् ॥

M N Dutt Having said this to that best of Rishis, the highly intelligent Mahadeva struck his thumb with the end of one of his fingers.

९.३७.४२

ततो भस्म क्षताद्राजन्निर्गतं हिमसंनिभम् ।
तद्दृष्ट्वा व्रीडितो राजन्स मुनिः पादयोर्गतः ॥

M N Dutt Thereupon, O king, ashes, white as snow, came out of that wound. Beholding this, the Rishi became ashamed, O monarch and fell at the feet of the God.

ऋषिरुवाच ।

९.३७.४३

नान्यं देवादहं मन्ये रुद्रात्परतरं महत् ।
सुरासुरस्य जगतो गतिस्त्वमसि शूलधृक् ॥

M N Dutt He understood the deity to be none else than Mahadeva. Filled with wonder he said-"I do not think that thou art any one save Rudra, the great and Supreme being.

९.३७.४४

त्वया सृष्टमिदं विश्वं वदन्तीह मनीषिणः ।
त्वामेव सर्वं विशति पुनरेव युगक्षये ॥

M N Dutt O wielder of the trident, thou art the refuge of this universe consisting of gods and demons. The wise say that this universe has been created by you.

९.३७.४५

देवैरपि न शक्यस्त्वं परिज्ञातुं कुतो मया ।
त्वयि सर्वे स्म दृश्यन्ते सुरा ब्रह्मादयोऽनघ ॥

M N Dutt At the universal dissolution, everything once more enters thee. Thou art incapable of being known by the celestials, how then canst thou be known by me?

९.३७.४६

सर्वस्त्वमसि देवानां कर्ता कारयिता च ह ।
त्वत्प्रसादात्सुराः सर्वे मोदन्तीहाकुतोभयाः ॥

M N Dutt All creatures of the universe are seen in thee. The gods with Brahma at their head worship thee who dust give boons, O sinless one.

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