Mahabharata (English)

by Kisari Mohan Ganguli | 2,566,952 words | ISBN-10: 8121505933

The English translation of the Mahabharata is a large text describing ancient India. It is authored by Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa and contains the records of ancient humans. Also, it documents the fate of the Kauravas and the Pandavas family. Another part of the large contents, deal with many philosophical dialogues such as the goals of life. Book...

Section VII

"Samvarta said, 'How hast you come to know me, and who has referred you to me, do you tell this to me truly, if you wishest me to do what is good to you. And if you speak truly, you shalt attain all the objects of your desire, and should you tell a lie, your head shall be riven in a hundred pieces.' Marutta said, 'I have been told by Narada, wandering on his way, that you are the son of our family-priest, and this (information) has inclined my mind (towards you), with exquisite satisfaction.'

Samvarta said, 'You have told this to me truly. He (Narada) knows me to be a performer of sacrifices. Now tell me where is Narada living at present.'

Marutta said, 'That prince of celestial saints (Narada) having given me this information about you, and commended me to your care, has entered into the fire.'

Vyasa said, 'Hearing these words from the king (Marutta) Samvarta was highly gratified, and he said (addressing Marutta). 'I too am quite able to do all that.' Then, O prince, that Brahmana, raving like a lunatic, and repeatedly scolding Marutta with rude words, again accosted him thus, 'I am afflicted with a cerebral disorder, and, I always act according to the random caprices of my own mind. Why art you bent upon having this sacrifice performed by a priest of such a singular disposition? My brother is able to officiate at sacrifices, and he has gone over to Vasava (Indra), and is engaged in performing his sacrifices, do you therefore have your sacrifice performed by him. My elder brother has forcibly taken away from me all my household goods and mystical gods, and sacrificing clients, and has now left to me only this physical body of mine, and, O son of Avikshit, as he is worthy of all respect from me, I cannot by any means officiate at your sacrifice, unless with his permission. You must therefore go to Vrihaspati first, and taking his permission you canst come back to me, if you have any desire to perform a sacrifice, and then only shall I officiate at your sacrifice.'

Marutta said, 'Do you listen to me, O Samvarta, I did go to Vrihaspati first, but desiring the patronage of Vasava, he did not wish to have me as his sacrificer. He said, 'Having secured the priesthood of the Immortals, I do not desire to act for mortals, and, I have been forbidden by Sakra (Indra) to officiate at Marutta’s sacrifice, as he told me that Marutta having become lord of the earth, was always filled with a desire to rival him.' And to this your brother assented by saying to the Slayer of Vala (Indra),—Be it so. Know you, O best of ascetics, that as he had succeeded in securing the protection of the Lord of the Celestials, I repaired to him with gratified heart, but he did not agree to act as my priest. And thus repulsed, I now desire to spend all I possess, to have this sacrifice performed by you, and to outstrip Vasava by the merit of your good offices. As I have been repulsed by Vrihaspati for no fault of mine, I have now no desire, O Brahmana, to go to him to seek his aid in this sacrifice."

Samvarta said, 'I can certainly, O king, accomplish all that you desirest, if only you agree to do all that I shall ask you to do, but I apprehend that Vrihaspati and Purandara (Indra) when they will learn that I am engaged in performing your sacrifice, will be filled with wrath, and do all they can to injure you. Therefore, do you assure me of your steadfastness, so as to ensure my coolness and constancy, as otherwise. if I am filled with wrath against you, I shall reduce (destroy) you and your kindred to ashes."

Marutta said, 'If ever I forsake you, may I never attain the blessed regions as long as the mountains shall exist, and the thousand-rayed sun continue to emit heat: if I forsake dice, may I never attain true wisdom, and remain for ever addicted to worldly (material) pursuits."

Samvarta said, "Listen, O son of Avikshit, excellent as it is the bent of your mind to perform this act, so too, O king, have I in my mind the ability to perform the sacrifice, I tell you, O king, that your good things will become imperishable, and that you shalt lord it over Sakra and the Celestials with Gandharvas. For myself, I have no desire to amass wealth or sacrificial presents, I shall only do what is disagreeable to both Indra and my brother, I shall certainly make you attain equality with Sakra, and I tell you truly that I shall do what is agreeable to you."

Conclusion:

This concludes Section VII of Book 14 (Ashvamedha Parva) of the Mahabharata, of which an English translation is presented on this page. This book is famous as one of the Itihasa, similair in content to the eighteen Puranas. Book 14 is one of the eighteen books comprising roughly 100,000 Sanskrit metrical verses.

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