Sixth Skandha · Chapter 14
Sourceजनमेजय उवाच मैत्रावरुणिरित्युक्तं नाम तस्य मुनेः कथम् । वसिष्ठस्य महाभाग ब्रह्मणस्तनुजस्य ह ॥ १ ॥ किमसौ कर्मतो नाम प्राप्तवान् गुणतस्तथा । ब्रूहि मे वदतांश्रेष्ठ कारणं तस्य नामजम् ॥ २ ॥ व्यास उवाच निबोध नृपतिश्रेष्ठ वसिष्ठो ब्रह्मणः सुतः । निमिशापात्तनुं त्यक्त्वा पुनर्जातो महाद्युतिः ॥ ३ ॥ मित्रावरुणयोर्यस्मात्तस्मात्तन्नाम विश्रुतम् । मैत्रावरुणिरित्यस्मिँल्लोके सर्वत्र पार्थिव ॥ ४ ॥ राजोवाच कस्माच्छप्तः स धर्मात्मा राज्ञा ब्रह्मात्मजो मुनिः । चित्रमेतन्मुनिं लग्नो राज्ञः शापोऽतिदारुणः ॥ ५ ॥ अनागसं मुनिं राजा किमसौ शप्तवान्मुने । कारणं वद धर्मज्ञ तस्य शापस्य मूलतः ॥ ६ ॥ व्यास उवाच कारणं तु मया प्रोक्तं तव पूर्वं विनिश्चितम् । संसारोऽयं त्रिभिर्व्याप्तो राजन्मायागुणैः किल ॥ ७ ॥ धर्मं करोतु भूपालश्चरन्तु तापसास्तपः । सर्वेषां तु गुणैर्विद्धं नोज्ज्वलं तद्भवेदिह ॥ ८ ॥ कामक्रोधाभिभूताश्च राजानो मुनयस्तथा । लोभाहङ्कारसंयुक्ताश्चरन्ति दुश्चरं तपः ॥ ९ ॥ यजन्ति क्षत्रिया राजन् रजोगुणसमावृताः । ब्राह्मणास्तु तथा राजन् न कोऽपि सत्त्वसंयुतः ॥ १० ॥ ऋषिणासौ निमिः शप्तस्तेन शप्तो मुनिः पुनः । दुःखाद्दुःखतरं प्राप्तावुभावपि विधेर्बलात् ॥ ११ ॥ द्रव्यशुद्धिः क्रियाशुद्धिर्मनसः शुद्धिरुज्ज्वला । दुर्लभा प्राणिनां भूप संसारे त्रिगुणात्मके ॥ १२ ॥ पराशक्तिप्रभावोऽयं नोल्लंघ्यः केनचित्क्वचित् । यस्यानुगृहमिच्छेत्सा मोचयत्येव तं क्षणात् ॥ १३ ॥ महान्तोऽपि न मुच्यन्ते हरिब्रह्महरादयः । पामरा अपि मुच्यन्ते यथा सत्यव्रतादयः ॥ १४ ॥ तस्यास्तु हृदयं कोऽपि न वेत्ति भुवनत्रये । तथापि भक्तवश्येयं भवत्येव सुनिश्चितम् ॥ १५ ॥ तस्मात्तद्भक्तिरास्थेया दोषनिर्भूलनाय च । रागदम्भादियुक्ता चेत्सा भक्तिर्नाशिनी भवेत् ॥ १६ ॥ इक्ष्याकुकुलसम्भूतो निमिर्नाम नराधिपः । रूपवान् गुणसम्पन्नो धर्मज्ञो लोकरञ्जकः ॥ १७ ॥ सत्यवादी दानपरो याजको ज्ञानवाच्छुचिः । द्वादशस्तनयो धीमान्प्रजापालनतत्परः ॥ १८ ॥ पुरं निवेशयामास गौतमाश्रमसन्निधौ । जयन्तपुरसंज्ञं तु ब्राह्मणानां हिताय सः ॥ १९ ॥ बुद्धिस्तस्य समुत्पन्ना यजेयमिति राजसी । यज्ञेन बहुकालेन दक्षिणासंयुतेन च ॥ २० ॥ इस्वाकुं पितरं पृष्ट्वा यज्ञकार्याय पार्थिवः । कारयामास सम्भारं यथोद्दिष्टं महात्मभिः ॥ २१ ॥ भृगुमङ्गिरसं चैव वामदेवं च गौतमम् । वसिष्ठं च पुलस्त्यं च ऋचीकं पुलहं क्रतुम् ॥ २२ ॥ मुनीनामन्त्रयामास सर्वज्ञान्वेदपारगान् । यज्ञविद्याप्रवीणांश्च तापसान्वेदवित्तमान् ॥ २३ ॥ राजा सम्भृतसम्भारः सम्पूज्य गुरुमात्मनः । वसिष्ठं प्राह धर्मज्ञो विनयेन समन्वितः ॥ २४ ॥ यजेयं मुनिशार्दूल याजयस्व कृपानिधे । गुरुस्त्वं सर्ववेत्तासि कार्यं मे कुरु साम्प्रतम् ॥ २५ ॥ यज्ञोपकरणं सर्वं समानीतं सुसंस्कृतम् । पञ्चवर्षसहस्रं तु दीक्षां कर्तुं मतिश्च मे ॥ २६ ॥ यस्मिन्यज्ञे समाराध्या देवी श्रीजगदम्बिका । तत्प्रीत्यर्थमहं यज्ञं करोमि विधिपूर्वकम् ॥ २७ ॥ तच्छ्रुत्वासौ निमेर्वाक्यं वसिष्ठः प्राह भूपतिम् । इन्द्रेणाहं वृतः पूर्वं यज्ञार्थं नृपसत्तम ॥ २८ ॥ पराशक्तिमखं कर्तुमुद्युक्तः पाकशासनः । स दीक्षां गमितो देवः पञ्चवर्षशतात्मिकाम् ॥ २९ ॥ तस्मात्त्वमन्तरं तावत्प्रतिपालय पार्थिव । इन्द्रयज्ञे समाप्तेऽत्र कृत्वा कार्यं दिवस्पतेः ॥ ३० ॥ आगमिष्याम्यहं राजंस्तावत्त्वं प्रतिपालय । राजोवाच मया निमन्त्रिताश्चान्ये मुनयो यज्ञकारणात् ॥ ३१ ॥ सम्भाराः सम्भृताः सर्वे पालयामि कथं गुरो । इक्ष्वाकूणां कुले ब्रह्मन्गुरुस्त्वं वेदवित्तमः ॥ ३२ ॥ कथं त्यक्त्वाद्य मे कार्यमुद्यतो गन्तुमाशु वै । न ते युक्तं द्विजश्रेष्ठ यदुत्सृज्य मखं मम ॥ ३३ ॥ गन्तासि धनलोभेन लोभाकुलितचेतनः । निवारितोऽपि राज्ञा स जगामेन्द्रमखं गुरुः ॥ ३४ ॥ राजापि विमना भूत्वा गौतमं प्रत्यपूजयत् । इयाज हिमवत्पार्श्वे सागरस्य समीपतः ॥ ३५ ॥ दक्षिणा बहुला दत्ता विप्रेभ्यो मखकर्मणि । निमिना पञ्चसाहस्री दीक्षा तत्र कृता नृप ॥ ३६ ॥ ऋत्विजः पूजिताः कामं धनैर्गोभिर्मुदा युताः । शक्रयज्ञसमाप्ते तु पञ्चवर्षशतात्मके ॥ ३७ ॥ आजगाम वसिष्ठस्तु राज्ञः सत्रदिदृक्षया । आगत्य संस्थितस्तत्र दर्शनार्थं नृपस्य च ॥ ३८ ॥ तदा राजा प्रसुप्तस्तु निद्रयापहृतो ्भृशम् । नासौ प्रबोधितो भृत्यैर्नागतस्तु मुनिं नृपः ॥ ३९ ॥ वसिष्ठस्य ततो मन्युः प्रादुर्भूतोऽवमानतः । अदर्शनान्निमेस्तत्र चुकोप मुनिसत्तमः ॥ ४० ॥ शापं च दत्तवांस्तस्मै राज्ञे मन्युवशं गतः । यस्मात्त्वं मां गुरुं त्यक्त्वा कृत्वान्यं गुरुमात्मनः ॥ ४१ ॥ दीक्षितोऽसि बलान्मन्द मामवज्ञाय पार्थिव । वारितोऽपि मया तस्माद्विदेहस्त्वं भविष्यसि ॥ ४२ ॥ पतत्विदं शरीरं ते विदेहो भव भूपते । व्यास उवाच इति तद्व्याहृतं श्रुत्वा राज्ञस्तु परिचारकाः ॥ ४३ ॥ सद्यः प्रबोधयामासुर्मुनिमाहुः प्रकोपितम् । कुपितं तं समागत्य राजा विगतकल्मषः ॥ ४४ ॥ उवाच वचनं श्लक्ष्णं हेतुगर्भं च युक्तिमत् । . मम दोषो न धर्मज्ञ गतस्त्वं तृष्णयाऽऽकुलः ॥ ४५ ॥ हित्वा मां यजमानं वै प्रार्थितोऽपि मया भृशम् । न लज्जसे द्विजश्रेष्ठ कृत्वा कर्म जुगुप्सितम् ॥ ४६ ॥ सन्तोषे ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठ जानन्धर्मस्य निश्चयम् । पुत्रोऽसि ब्रह्मणः साक्षाद्वेदवेदाङ्गवित्तमः ॥ ४७ ॥ न वेत्सि विप्रधर्मस्य गतिं सूक्ष्मां दुरत्ययाम् । आत्मदोषं मयि ज्ञात्वा मृषा मां शस्तुमिच्छसि ॥ ४८ ॥ त्याज्यस्तु सुजनैः क्रोधश्चण्डालादधिको यतः । वृथा क्रोधपरीतेन मयि शापः प्रपातितः ॥ ४९ ॥ तवापि च पतत्वद्य देहोऽयं क्रोधसंयुतः । एवं शप्तो मुनी राज्ञा राजा च मुनिना तथा ॥ ५० ॥ परस्परं प्राप्य शापं दुःखितौ तौ बभूवतुः । वसिष्ठस्त्वतिचिन्तार्तो ब्रह्माणं शरणं गतः ॥ ५१ ॥ निवेदयामास तथा शापं भूपकृतं महत् । वसिष्ट उवाच राज्ञा शप्तोऽस्मि देहोऽयं पतत्वद्य तवेति वै ॥ ५२ ॥ किं करोमि पितः प्राप्यं कष्टं कायप्रपातजम् । अन्यदेहसमुत्पत्तौ जनकं वद साम्प्रतम् ॥ ५३ ॥ तथा मे देहसंयोगः पूर्ववत्समपद्यताम् । यादृशं ज्ञानमेतस्मिन्देहे तत्रास्तु तत्पितः ॥ ५४ ॥ समर्थोऽसि महाराज प्रसादं कर्तुमर्हसि । वसिष्ठस्य वचः श्रुत्वा ब्रह्मा प्रोवाच तं सुतम् ॥ ५५ ॥ मित्रावरुणयोस्तेजस्त्वं प्रविश्य स्थिरो भव । तस्मादयोनिजः काले भविता त्वं न संशयः ॥ ५६ ॥ पुनर्देहं समासाद्य धर्मयुक्तो भविष्यसि । भूतात्मा वेदवित्कामं सर्वज्ञः सर्वपूजितः ॥ ५७ ॥ एवमुक्तस्तदा पित्रा प्रययौ वरुणालयम् । कृत्वा प्रदक्षिणं प्रीत्या प्रणम्य च पितामहम् ॥ ५८ ॥ विवेश स तयोर्देहे मित्रावरुणयोः किल । जीवांशेन वसिष्ठोऽथ त्यक्त्वा देहमनुत्तमम् ॥ ५९ ॥ कदाचित्तूर्वशी राजन्नागता वरुणालयम् । यदृच्छया वरारोहा सखीगणसमावृता ॥ ६० ॥ दृष्ट्वा तामप्सरां दिव्यां रूपयौवनसंयुताम् । जातौ कामातुरौ देवौ तदा तामूचतुर्नृप ॥ ६१ ॥ विवशौ चारुसर्वाङ्गीं देवकन्यां मनोरमाम् । आवां त्वमनवद्याङ्गि वरयस्व समाकुलौ ॥ ६२ ॥ विहरस्व यथाकामं स्थानेऽस्मिन्वरवर्णिनि । तथोक्ता सा ततो देवी ताभ्यां तत्र स्थितावशा ॥ ६३ ॥ कृत्वा भावं स्थिरं देवी मित्रावरुणयोर्गृहे । सा गृहीत्वा तयोर्भावं संस्थिता चारुदर्शना ॥ ६४ ॥ तयोस्तु पतितं वीर्यं कुम्भे दैवादनावृते । तस्माज्जातौ मुनी राजन्द्वावेवातिमनोहरौ ॥ ६५ ॥ अगस्तिः प्रथमस्तत्र वसिष्ठश्चापरस्तथा । मित्रावरुणयोर्वीर्यात्तापसावृषिसत्तमौ ॥ ६६ ॥ प्रथमस्तु वनं प्राप्तो बाल एव महातपाः । इक्ष्वाकुस्तु वसिष्ठं तं बालं वव्रे पुरोहितम् ॥ ६७ ॥ वंशस्यास्य सुखार्थं ते पालयामास पार्थिव । विशेषेण मुनिं ज्ञात्वा प्रीत्या युक्तो बभूव ह ॥ ६८ ॥ एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं वसिष्ठस्य च कारणम् । शापाद्देहान्तरप्राप्तिर्मित्रावरुणयोः कुले ॥ ६९ ॥
janamejaya uvāca maitrāvaruṇirityuktaṃ nāma tasya muneḥ katham | vasiṣṭhasya mahābhāga brahmaṇastanujasya ha || 1 || kimasau karmato nāma prāptavān guṇatastathā | brūhi me vadatāṃśreṣṭha kāraṇaṃ tasya nāmajam || 2 || vyāsa uvāca nibodha nṛpatiśreṣṭha vasiṣṭho brahmaṇaḥ sutaḥ | nimiśāpāttanuṃ tyaktvā punarjāto mahādyutiḥ || 3 || mitrāvaruṇayoryasmāttasmāttannāma viśrutam | maitrāvaruṇirityasmi~lloke sarvatra pārthiva || 4 || rājovāca kasmācchaptaḥ sa dharmātmā rājñā brahmātmajo muniḥ | citrametanmuniṃ lagno rājñaḥ śāpo'tidāruṇaḥ || 5 || anāgasaṃ muniṃ rājā kimasau śaptavānmune | kāraṇaṃ vada dharmajña tasya śāpasya mūlataḥ || 6 || vyāsa uvāca kāraṇaṃ tu mayā proktaṃ tava pūrvaṃ viniścitam | saṃsāro'yaṃ tribhirvyāpto rājanmāyāguṇaiḥ kila || 7 || dharmaṃ karotu bhūpālaścarantu tāpasāstapaḥ | sarveṣāṃ tu guṇairviddhaṃ nojjvalaṃ tadbhavediha || 8 || kāmakrodhābhibhūtāśca rājāno munayastathā | lobhāhaṅkārasaṃyuktāścaranti duścaraṃ tapaḥ || 9 || yajanti kṣatriyā rājan rajoguṇasamāvṛtāḥ | brāhmaṇāstu tathā rājan na ko'pi sattvasaṃyutaḥ || 10 || ṛṣiṇāsau nimiḥ śaptastena śapto muniḥ punaḥ | duḥkhādduḥkhataraṃ prāptāvubhāvapi vidherbalāt || 11 || dravyaśuddhiḥ kriyāśuddhirmanasaḥ śuddhirujjvalā | durlabhā prāṇināṃ bhūpa saṃsāre triguṇātmake || 12 || parāśaktiprabhāvo'yaṃ nollaṃghyaḥ kenacitkvacit | yasyānugṛhamicchetsā mocayatyeva taṃ kṣaṇāt || 13 || mahānto'pi na mucyante haribrahmaharādayaḥ | pāmarā api mucyante yathā satyavratādayaḥ || 14 || tasyāstu hṛdayaṃ ko'pi na vetti bhuvanatraye | tathāpi bhaktavaśyeyaṃ bhavatyeva suniścitam || 15 || tasmāttadbhaktirāstheyā doṣanirbhūlanāya ca | rāgadambhādiyuktā cetsā bhaktirnāśinī bhavet || 16 || ikṣyākukulasambhūto nimirnāma narādhipaḥ | rūpavān guṇasampanno dharmajño lokarañjakaḥ || 17 || satyavādī dānaparo yājako jñānavācchuciḥ | dvādaśastanayo dhīmānprajāpālanatatparaḥ || 18 || puraṃ niveśayāmāsa gautamāśramasannidhau | jayantapurasaṃjñaṃ tu brāhmaṇānāṃ hitāya saḥ || 19 || buddhistasya samutpannā yajeyamiti rājasī | yajñena bahukālena dakṣiṇāsaṃyutena ca || 20 || isvākuṃ pitaraṃ pṛṣṭvā yajñakāryāya pārthivaḥ | kārayāmāsa sambhāraṃ yathoddiṣṭaṃ mahātmabhiḥ || 21 || bhṛgumaṅgirasaṃ caiva vāmadevaṃ ca gautamam | vasiṣṭhaṃ ca pulastyaṃ ca ṛcīkaṃ pulahaṃ kratum || 22 || munīnāmantrayāmāsa sarvajñānvedapāragān | yajñavidyāpravīṇāṃśca tāpasānvedavittamān || 23 || rājā sambhṛtasambhāraḥ sampūjya gurumātmanaḥ | vasiṣṭhaṃ prāha dharmajño vinayena samanvitaḥ || 24 || yajeyaṃ muniśārdūla yājayasva kṛpānidhe | gurustvaṃ sarvavettāsi kāryaṃ me kuru sāmpratam || 25 || yajñopakaraṇaṃ sarvaṃ samānītaṃ susaṃskṛtam | pañcavarṣasahasraṃ tu dīkṣāṃ kartuṃ matiśca me || 26 || yasminyajñe samārādhyā devī śrījagadambikā | tatprītyarthamahaṃ yajñaṃ karomi vidhipūrvakam || 27 || tacchrutvāsau nimervākyaṃ vasiṣṭhaḥ prāha bhūpatim | indreṇāhaṃ vṛtaḥ pūrvaṃ yajñārthaṃ nṛpasattama || 28 || parāśaktimakhaṃ kartumudyuktaḥ pākaśāsanaḥ | sa dīkṣāṃ gamito devaḥ pañcavarṣaśatātmikām || 29 || tasmāttvamantaraṃ tāvatpratipālaya pārthiva | indrayajñe samāpte'tra kṛtvā kāryaṃ divaspateḥ || 30 || āgamiṣyāmyahaṃ rājaṃstāvattvaṃ pratipālaya | rājovāca mayā nimantritāścānye munayo yajñakāraṇāt || 31 || sambhārāḥ sambhṛtāḥ sarve pālayāmi kathaṃ guro | ikṣvākūṇāṃ kule brahmangurustvaṃ vedavittamaḥ || 32 || kathaṃ tyaktvādya me kāryamudyato gantumāśu vai | na te yuktaṃ dvijaśreṣṭha yadutsṛjya makhaṃ mama || 33 || gantāsi dhanalobhena lobhākulitacetanaḥ | nivārito'pi rājñā sa jagāmendramakhaṃ guruḥ || 34 || rājāpi vimanā bhūtvā gautamaṃ pratyapūjayat | iyāja himavatpārśve sāgarasya samīpataḥ || 35 || dakṣiṇā bahulā dattā viprebhyo makhakarmaṇi | niminā pañcasāhasrī dīkṣā tatra kṛtā nṛpa || 36 || ṛtvijaḥ pūjitāḥ kāmaṃ dhanairgobhirmudā yutāḥ | śakrayajñasamāpte tu pañcavarṣaśatātmake || 37 || ājagāma vasiṣṭhastu rājñaḥ satradidṛkṣayā | āgatya saṃsthitastatra darśanārthaṃ nṛpasya ca || 38 || tadā rājā prasuptastu nidrayāpahṛto bhṛśam | nāsau prabodhito bhṛtyairnāgatastu muniṃ nṛpaḥ || 39 || vasiṣṭhasya tato manyuḥ prādurbhūto'vamānataḥ | adarśanānnimestatra cukopa munisattamaḥ || 40 || śāpaṃ ca dattavāṃstasmai rājñe manyuvaśaṃ gataḥ | yasmāttvaṃ māṃ guruṃ tyaktvā kṛtvānyaṃ gurumātmanaḥ || 41 || dīkṣito'si balānmanda māmavajñāya pārthiva | vārito'pi mayā tasmādvidehastvaṃ bhaviṣyasi || 42 || patatvidaṃ śarīraṃ te videho bhava bhūpate | vyāsa uvāca iti tadvyāhṛtaṃ śrutvā rājñastu paricārakāḥ || 43 || sadyaḥ prabodhayāmāsurmunimāhuḥ prakopitam | kupitaṃ taṃ samāgatya rājā vigatakalmaṣaḥ || 44 || uvāca vacanaṃ ślakṣṇaṃ hetugarbhaṃ ca yuktimat | . mama doṣo na dharmajña gatastvaṃ tṛṣṇayā''kulaḥ || 45 || hitvā māṃ yajamānaṃ vai prārthito'pi mayā bhṛśam | na lajjase dvijaśreṣṭha kṛtvā karma jugupsitam || 46 || santoṣe brāhmaṇaśreṣṭha jānandharmasya niścayam | putro'si brahmaṇaḥ sākṣādvedavedāṅgavittamaḥ || 47 || na vetsi vipradharmasya gatiṃ sūkṣmāṃ duratyayām | ātmadoṣaṃ mayi jñātvā mṛṣā māṃ śastumicchasi || 48 || tyājyastu sujanaiḥ krodhaścaṇḍālādadhiko yataḥ | vṛthā krodhaparītena mayi śāpaḥ prapātitaḥ || 49 || tavāpi ca patatvadya deho'yaṃ krodhasaṃyutaḥ | evaṃ śapto munī rājñā rājā ca muninā tathā || 50 || parasparaṃ prāpya śāpaṃ duḥkhitau tau babhūvatuḥ | vasiṣṭhastvaticintārto brahmāṇaṃ śaraṇaṃ gataḥ || 51 || nivedayāmāsa tathā śāpaṃ bhūpakṛtaṃ mahat | vasiṣṭa uvāca rājñā śapto'smi deho'yaṃ patatvadya taveti vai || 52 || kiṃ karomi pitaḥ prāpyaṃ kaṣṭaṃ kāyaprapātajam | anyadehasamutpattau janakaṃ vada sāmpratam || 53 || tathā me dehasaṃyogaḥ pūrvavatsamapadyatām | yādṛśaṃ jñānametasmindehe tatrāstu tatpitaḥ || 54 || samartho'si mahārāja prasādaṃ kartumarhasi | vasiṣṭhasya vacaḥ śrutvā brahmā provāca taṃ sutam || 55 || mitrāvaruṇayostejastvaṃ praviśya sthiro bhava | tasmādayonijaḥ kāle bhavitā tvaṃ na saṃśayaḥ || 56 || punardehaṃ samāsādya dharmayukto bhaviṣyasi | bhūtātmā vedavitkāmaṃ sarvajñaḥ sarvapūjitaḥ || 57 || evamuktastadā pitrā prayayau varuṇālayam | kṛtvā pradakṣiṇaṃ prītyā praṇamya ca pitāmaham || 58 || viveśa sa tayordehe mitrāvaruṇayoḥ kila | jīvāṃśena vasiṣṭho'tha tyaktvā dehamanuttamam || 59 || kadācittūrvaśī rājannāgatā varuṇālayam | yadṛcchayā varārohā sakhīgaṇasamāvṛtā || 60 || dṛṣṭvā tāmapsarāṃ divyāṃ rūpayauvanasaṃyutām | jātau kāmāturau devau tadā tāmūcaturnṛpa || 61 || vivaśau cārusarvāṅgīṃ devakanyāṃ manoramām | āvāṃ tvamanavadyāṅgi varayasva samākulau || 62 || viharasva yathākāmaṃ sthāne'sminvaravarṇini | tathoktā sā tato devī tābhyāṃ tatra sthitāvaśā || 63 || kṛtvā bhāvaṃ sthiraṃ devī mitrāvaruṇayorgṛhe | sā gṛhītvā tayorbhāvaṃ saṃsthitā cārudarśanā || 64 || tayostu patitaṃ vīryaṃ kumbhe daivādanāvṛte | tasmājjātau munī rājandvāvevātimanoharau || 65 || agastiḥ prathamastatra vasiṣṭhaścāparastathā | mitrāvaruṇayorvīryāttāpasāvṛṣisattamau || 66 || prathamastu vanaṃ prāpto bāla eva mahātapāḥ | ikṣvākustu vasiṣṭhaṃ taṃ bālaṃ vavre purohitam || 67 || vaṃśasyāsya sukhārthaṃ te pālayāmāsa pārthiva | viśeṣeṇa muniṃ jñātvā prītyā yukto babhūva ha || 68 || etatte sarvamākhyātaṃ vasiṣṭhasya ca kāraṇam | śāpāddehāntaraprāptirmitrāvaruṇayoḥ kule || 69 ||
English translation
1-2. Janamejaya said “O Bhagavan! Maharsi Vas’istha was the mind-born son of Brahma; how is it then that you have named him as Maitra-Varuni. Is it that he got this name by some action or by some Gunas? Kindly tell me the origin of this name, O Best of speakers!”
3-4. Vyasa said O King! It is quite true that the illustrious Vas’istha was the noble son of Brahma but he had to quit that body due to the curse of the King Nimi and he had to take a second body from Mitra Varuna; hence he is named in this world as Maitra-Varuni.
5-6. The King said “O Bhagavan! How was it that the religious Vas’istha, the best of the Munis, the son of Brahma was cursed by the King? Oh! The Munis have to suffer the dreadful curse of Ksattriya kings! This seems very wonderful to me. O Knower of Dharma! Why did that king curse the innocent Muni? I am very curious to hear the cause of this; kindly tell me the cause of the curse.”
7-30. Vyasa said O King! I told you already in particular all the causes of these. This Samsara is pervaded by the three Gunas of Maya, Sattva, Raja and Tama. Whether the kings practise their Dharma or the ascetics practise their tapas, all their actions are interpenetrated with these Gunas; therefore they cannot shine so brightly. The Kings, Munis performed very severe penances and austerities under the influence of lust, anger, greed and Ahamkara. O King! All, whether they be the Ksattriyas or the Brahmanas, who perform their sacrifices overpowered with this Rajo Guna, really.
none of thenn performs these actions guided by Sattva Guna. The King Nimi was cursed by the Risi and the Risi was cursed again by the King Nimi; thus they met with greater calamities and painful sufferings, the fruits from the hands of the powerful Fate. O King! In this world of the three Gunas, it is very difficult for the beings to get the Dravya S’uddhi, Kriya S’uddhi, and the pure effulgent Chitta S’uddhi, O King! Know this as the influence wielded by the Highest S’akti, the Mother of this Universe. Nobody is able to overstep it; but he, whom She favours, can cross in a moment this world, bounded by the three Gunas. What more can be said than the fact that Hah, Hara, and Brahma and the other Gods cannot free themselves without Her grace. Moreover, the sinners like Satyavrata and others become free when Her Grace comes upon them. Nobody in these three worlds can know what reigns in Her mind; again, this is also a certain fact that She gets Herself bound by Her own will to Her devotees. Therefore it is extremely desirable that one should have recourse to Sattviki devotion for the complete removal of faults and sins. And as the devotion with attachment and vanity is always injurious to men, therefore it is highly beneficial to quit it; there is no doubt in this. O King! There was a king named Nimi, born of the family of Iksaku. He was beautiful, well qualified, virtuous, truthful, charitable, endearing to his people, a sacrificer, of pure conduct and manners, ready to govern his subjects, intelligent and endowed with knowledge. For the benefit of the Brahmanas, that high-souled king established a city named Jayantupur in close vicinity to the hermitage of Gautama. Thus some time passed when this Rajasik idea arose in his mind that “I will perform a sacrifice extending for a good many years when I will give exhorbitant Daksinas (remunerations to the priests and Brahmins).” Getting permission from his own father Iksaku, he began to collect all the ingredients necessary for the sacrifice, as advised by the high-souled persons. He invited the all-knowing Munis and ascetics, versed in the Vedas and in conducting sacrifices, e.g., Bhrigu, Angira, Vamadeva, Gautama, Vas’istha, Pulastya, Richika, Pulaha, Kratu and others, all well-versed in the Vedas. Then that religious King Nimi, collecting all the materials necessary for sacrifice worshipped his own Guru
Vas’istha and then spoke to him (the Guru) with great humility. O Best of Munis! I will perform a sacrifice; kindly perform this my sacrificial act; you are my Guru and therefore you know everything; so do this sacrifice for me. All the articles for this purpose are brought and cleansed. O Guru! Know that for five thousand years I mean to be engaged in this sacrifice, this is my Sankalpa (will). I will worship the Goddess Ambika in this sacrifice and for Her satisfaction I am arranging for it according to the prescribed rules. Hearing the King Nimi’s words, Vas’istha said “O best of Kings! Indra, the King of the Devas, has already selected me for his sacrificial ceremony. Now Indra is ready to do the sacrifice for the propitiation of the Highest S’akti and I have initiated him for five hundred years. Therefore, O King! You will have to wait till I complete the Indra’s Yajha. After fully completing all his works, I will come here.
Therefore, O King! Wait till then.”
31-42. The King said “O Best of Munis! I have already invited other Munis for this sacrifice and have collected all the materials; how, then, can I wait for you? O Brahmana! You are the foremost of those versed in the Vedas and you are the family Guru of the noble Iksaku. How is it, then, avoiding my work you are ready to go elsewhere O Best of Brahmins! Under the uncontrollable greed of wealth you have lost all senses and you are ready to go away without doing my work. This does not behove you.” O King! Though thus tempted by the King Nimi, the Risi Vas’istha went to the Indra’s sacrifice. The King, too, became absent-minded and selected for the sacrifice the Risi Gautama. He then commenced his sacrificial ceremony close to the ocean by the side of the Himalayan range and gave profusely the Daksinas. The King Nimi was engaged in this sacrificial act for five thousand years. In this the Rittviks (priests) were worshipped with sufficient wealth and cows; they were extremely glad. Then, when the five hundred years extending sacrifice of Indra was completed, the Risi Vas’istha came to see the King Nimi’s sacrifice and waited there to see the King. The king was
then asleep; so the servants did not awake him from his sleep; and the King did not come to the Risi. Feeling insult at this, the Maharsi Vas’istha became infuriated with rage. Not seeing the King, he became very angry; and, subject to this, he cursed the King, When I am your lifelong Guru, especially when I prohibited you and you have forsaken me and selected another Guru and by your sheer force you are initiated, then be devoid of your body. Let your body fall off today.
43-50. Vyasa said The King’s attendants, hearing thus the curse given by Vas’istha to the King, instantly awoke him from his sleep and informed him that the Risi Vas’istha not seeing you, became very angry. The King Nimi, quite sinless, went then to the angry Vas’istha and humbly spoke to him the following reasonable words, pregnant with meaning. O Knower of Dharma! I am your Yajamana; though I repeatedly requested you to perform my sacrifice, yet you quitted me out of the covetousness and went somewhere else. I cannot be charged with any fault. You are the foremost of Brahmins; and knowing that contentment is the substance of your Dharma, you did not feel ashamed to do this blameable act. You are the son of Brahma; and, being versed in the Vedas and Vedangas, you are yet unaware of the subtle and very difficult nature of the Brahminic religion. Now you want to cast your own fault on my shoulders and you are trying in vain to curse me. Anger is more to be blamed than Chandala! The wise men should overcome it by all means. When you, infuriated with rage, have been able to curse me for nothing, then I now curse you, “Let your this body, inflamed with anger, drop off.” O King! Thus the King cursed the Muni and the Muni cursed the King; and both of them were, therefore, very sorry.
51-52. Vas’istha then became troubled with cares and took shelter with Brahma and informing him about the great curse given by the King Nimi said:-- Father! The King has cursed me saying, “Let your
body fall off today. Now the great trouble due to the falling off of the body has arisen. What am to do now?
53-69. O Father! Kindly tell me from whom shall I take my birth and take such means as I can get a body like what I have now. Also by Your unbounded power, do so that I can retain the knowledge in that body as I have at present; You are fully competent to do this.” O King! Hearing thus the words of Vas’istha, Brahma spoke thus to his dear son Go and enter into the Tejas (essence) of Mitra Varuna and remain contented; then you will get, in due time, a body not born of any womb and you will be again religious, truthful, knower of the Vedas, all-knowing and worshipped by all; there is no doubt in this. When Brahma said this, the Maharsi Vas’istha bowed down to the Grand Sire, and circumambulating him, went to the abode of Varuna. Then he quitted his excellent body; and, with his subtle body, the part of his Jiva, entered into the body of Mitra Varuna. Then once on a time Urvas’i, exquisitely beautiful and lovely, surrounded by her comrades, went wilfully into the abode of Varuna. Mitra-Varuna, the two Devas became very passionate to see that Apsara (the celestial nymph) endowed with youth and beauty and being enchanted with the arrows of cupid, and, being senseless, addressed to the Deva Kanya Urvas’T, beautiful in all her parts, thus:-- “O Lovely One! Seeing you, we are very much troubled with the arrows of cupid; O Beautiful One! Select us and remain and enjoy here at your pleasure.” When they said thus, Urvas’T became attached to them; and, under their control, began to stay in the house of Mitra Varuna. When Urvas’T began to remain there, strongly attached to them, the semen of Mitra Varuna dropped in an uncovered jar. And the two beautiful sons of the Risis were born out of that; Agasti was the first child and Vas’istha the second. Thus, out of the semen of Mitra Varuna, the two ascetics were born. The first Agasti turned out a great ascetic in his childhood and resorted to forest; Iksaku the best of Kings, selected Vas’istha as his family priest. O King! Iksaku, the best of Kings, nursed him for the welfare of his own line; the more
so, because to know that he was the Muni Vas’istha; and thus he was very pleased with him. Janamejaya! Thus I have described to you about the getting of another body by Vas’istha, due to the curse of Nimi, and have also described his re-birth in Mitra-Varuna’s family.
Here ends the Fourteenth Chapter of the Sixth Book on the birth of Vas’istha from Mitra Varuna in S’ri Mad Devi Bhagavatam, the Maha Puranam of 18,000 verses by Maharsi Veda Vyasa.
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 33260, revision 86849 (2016-10-24T01:34:16Z). English is Swami Vijñanananda’s complete 1921–23 public-domain translation, controlled against the archival OCR and its chapter page at https://sacred-texts.com/hin/db/bk06ch14.htm. Historic spelling and transliteration are lightly normalized; no verse-by-verse alignment is asserted.