MAUABIIARATA.

t>f the gods became fearful.

No body was
lnclined to be the king of the gods.
Thus mds the tmth chapte1' the assasinati,m <q Vrit1'a in the Udyoga PartJa,

CHAPTERXI.
(SAINYODYAGA PARVA)-Conti"nued.

Bha.lya said:1. Then did all the gods and Yakshas

with the Kinnaras say: Annoint this handsome Nahusha in the kingship of the gods.
2. He is powerfnl, enjoys fame and is
ever virtuous. Going to him they said: 0
ruler of the earth be our king.
3. Thus, 0 king, did Nahusha, who
wished their welfare, address the gods and
the Rishis who were accompanied by our
llncestors.
4. I am weak ; it is not in my power to
protect you. The powerful should make
kings, (and) power ever graced Shakra.
5. All the ~ods and the foremost among
the Rishis said to him: Endued with the
'Virtue of devotion, protect our kingdom in
l1eaven.
6. All of us doubtless have grave fears ;
be annointed our king, 0 foremost among
tnonarchs, be the king of heaven.
7.-8. You will absorb the power ,of the
gods, the Danavas, the Yakshas. Rishis the
Rakshasas, the Pitris, the Gandharvas,
and all other beings within the range of
)'Our sight as soon as you see them. Settmg virtue always above all other considera
lions be the lord of all worlds.
9. Protect also the Brahmarshis and the
gods in heaven. And that chief among the
kings being annointed the kin~ in heaven,
e.nd placing virtue above everything else became the protector of the worlds.
10. Being granted a rare boon and obtaining the kingdom in heaven, he gave
himself up to gratifyir.g every wish of his,
though before this he bad ever been ,a.virtuous being.
11. In all the gardens of the gods, and
in the pleasure gardens, on the Kailasa and
on the brow of the Himavat, on the l\landara
and on the white mountains,
1 a. On the Salya, on the Mahendra,
and on the Malaya in the seas and in the
lakes surrounded by fairies and nymphs,
13. Nahusha, the king of the gods, spent
his time in many sorts of sports and hearing many sorts of stories relating to the
1ods, which were sweel to listen to.

t4.-15. (He spent hh, time aiso} with

all sorts of musical instruments and sweet
sounding songs. And Vishwavasu and
Narada and Gandharvas and celestial
nymhs and the six seasons personified, attended on him. Breezes, fo1grant, cooling,
and charming too blew on him.
16. 'I'he goddess, the dearly bdO\-ed
Queen of Shakra, caught the gaze of the
liigh-minded Nahusha 1 given thus lo sport~
ing.
17. Seeini her the evil minded one"thus
addressed lus courtiers; why does not the
goddess, the queen of Indra, attend on me,
18. As the lord of the gods and the
worlds, I am lndra. Let Sachi come to my
palace this day at once,
19. Hearing this speech of the en
minded one the goodhess said to,Vrihaspati:
-Protect me from Nahusha O Brahm.uta. l
throw myself entirely unc!er your protection.
20. 0 Brahmana, do you speak of me
as having all the auspicious tnarks on my
person, as the consort of the king of the
gods, and so exceedingly prosperous.
21. Before this have you spoken of me
as being (ever) without widowhood, an only
wife, and strictly chaste I let this speech of
thine be made true.
22. 0 god, 0 lord, what you have said
has never before proved false, therefore, 0
you foremost among the twice-born, let thia
said by you be true.
23. Then did Vrihaspati address tM
panic-stricken queen of lndra. What has
been said by me, 0 goddess, will most
certainly prove true,
24. You will soon see the king of the
~s, lndra, come here. Nahusha need not
be feared by you, I speak this truly.
25.-20. I shall without delay brinf
lndra nearyou. Nahusha heard that the
queen of lndra had placed herself under the
protection of Vrihaspati the son of Angira.sa
and the king became very angry.

Thus mds tht eltfltnth chaf>te1' tit fHi

of the qNem of I11dra in the Udyogti ParN.

CHAPTER Xll.

(SAINYODYAGA PARVA)-C'1nh,,,uJ.

Shaly& said :1. The gods and the for~most among the
Rlshls seeing Nahusha enraged said to ths
(now) terrible looking king uf the pa.

UDVOG,\ PARVA.

0 king of the goJs, put aside this

At your anger the world, with its
Asuras, and Gandharvas, and Kinmuas,
and the great serpents, is stricken with
panic.
3. 0 virtuous one, put aside this anger.
Beings like you never get angry. Thl\t
goddess is the wife of another. 0 lord of
the gods, be propitious.
4. Turn back your mind from the wish
of ravishing the wife of another. You are
the king of t'1e gods, we wish you well, protect your subjects by virtuous means.
5, Being thus addressed, he, struck
with passion, listened not to those words.
The protector of the gods then said to the
gods regarding lndra.
6. Ahalya, the wife of a Ri!ihi (herself)
of $.ood reputation, was ravished by lndra
while her husband was alive. Why was he
not then prevented by you.
7. In bygone days, many were the
deeds of cruelty done by lndra, as also
vicious deeds and deceitful ones. Why was
he not prevented by you.
8. Let the goddess attend on me; this
will be of great benefit to her and it will also
prove to be your means of safety.
2.

angf'r.

'1'he ,oa. 1114 :9 We shall bring here the wife of lndra

as you wish, 0 lord of the heaven ; 0 hero,
put aside this anger and be propitious, 0
lord of the gods.

8hal7& 1114 :-

thrown myself under your pi'ott"Ction, 0

Brah'mana,. 5ave me from this great
calamity,

Vrihaspa.ti said :16. It is settled that the queen of ln<lra,

who has thrown herself under . my protection, will not be turned out by me. I shalt
not tum out, 0 you who know what virtue
is, the truthful and blameless.
17. I do not wish to do a wrong thing.
especially as I am a Brahmana, who have
heard what virtue is, and know the rules of
virtue and am truthful.
18. l shall not do this; go, you best
among the gods ; listen to what has before
been sung by Brahma, with resard to this
matter, iR days of old.
19, He that makes-over a man, stricken
with fear who has sought refuge with him,
to the enemy, does not get protection him
self when he desirt"S it. His seed can
not be sown at seed time nor does he
get rain at the time for rains.
20. The gods do not favour the under
takings of him who makes over a man
stricken with fear, who has sought refuge
with him, to his enemy. The offering
made by such a weak-he:uted person is
refused by the gods and he loses the king
dom of heaven, as if shorft of all power.
21. The gods with Jndra will level his
thunderbolt on him who makes over a man
stricken with fear, who has sou~ht refuge
with him, to his enemy. And his children
will die untimely deaths and his fathers ev~
engage themselves in quarrels.

10, Saying this, the gods accompanied

22. Knowing it to be so, I shall not give
by the Rishis, 0 on of l:Sharata, went to
tell this unwelcome news to Vrihaspati and up this Sachi, the queen of lndra, known in
this world as the beloved queen of Shakra.
the wife of lndra.
11. And they said; we are aware that
23. What will be of benefit to her will
the queen of lndra has placed herself under also be of benefit to me. Do that then, 0
your protection at your abode, 0 chief Chief among the gods. l shall not give up
among the Brahmanas, and that she has Sachi.
been accOJded (your) protection, 0 chief
among the Devarshis.
Shalya said:12. They, the gods with the Gandharvas
24. Then the god,; with the Gandharvas
and Rishis, pray you, 0 you of great lustre, said to their preceptor ; 0 Vrihaspati,
to make over the Queen of lndra to deliberate on what will be good policy.
Nahusha.
13. The king of the gods Nahusha of Vriha.spati said:,rreat lustre is superior to lndra. Let this
lady with slt"nder waist and bright complex25. Let this auspicious goddus uk
ion, choose him as her husband.
time of Nllhusha ; this will be of benefit to
14. The goddess being thus spoken to, herself and the same to us.
became depressed, and sobbed aloud with
26. 0 God, Time is full of impediments.
tears in her eyes:and then crying said these Time will lead time (i.e. we are in the dark
-.ords to Vrihaspati.
as to w~at will happen hereafter). Nahusha
15. 0 you best amoni,r the Devarshis, I is haughty and powerful alike by virtue of
have no inclination for Nahusha; l have the boon granted him.

HAHABll-'RATA.

16

shalya said :-

27. Being thus addressed by Vrihaspati

the gods became well pleased and said ; 0
Brahmana, it is well said by _you ; this
will be of benefit to all the denizens of
heaven.
28. O chief among the twice born, this
is so. Let us pro~itiate this goddess.
Then all the gods headed by lndra addressed these quiet words to the queen of lndra,
through a desire to do good to the worlds.

The goil aaid :-;

29. This entire world, with all its moveables and immoveables, is held dy you, you
are an only wife and truthful ; go to
Natiuaha.
:\o That doer of vicious deeds Nahusha,
desirous of thee, o goddess, will soon be
destroyed and Shakra will regain the lord
ship o the gods.
31. Making herself sure on this point,
the queen of lndra went with bashful looks
to Nahusha (now) fearful to look at, for the
accomplishment of the object.
33. And Nahusha seeing her, possessed
of youth and beauty, became pleased ; the
cpnsciousness of that vicious soul was
&tricllen with passion.
Titus ""'' .t"- t,,,,,elfth cbapt11r, th, d,j,at
(Jf /,,dra, ;n th, Sainyodyoga of the Udyoga
!'arva.

CHAPT~R. XIII.

(SAINYODYOGA PARVA)-Coutinued.

lui,t,1af4:,.. Thea did Nahusha, the king of the

gpds, seeing her, address her thus: "I am
the I udra of the three worlds, 0 you of
sweet smiles,
2. O you with slender waist, 0 you with
bril(ht complexion, choose me as your
husband." 'fbe chaste goddess being thus
s~ken to by Nahusha
3. Literally trembled with fear as the
plantain tree does durin~ a storm ~nd
bowinir her head to Brahma and clasping
her bands togother
4- Said to the (now) terrific looking
king of the gods. "I want time to get information on certain points, Q ,lord of the
gods .
5. I do not know where Shakra now ill,
...,. where b e baa gone to. If af~r trying to
p infomtation .on the11e points, l do .not
1et them, 0 Lord

6. Then ,hall I auend on )'OU ; I speak

incercly." Being thus addressed bJ' the
queen of lndra, Nahusha became highly
p!easec,1.

-1'ahmha said:7. 0 you with beautiful thighs. let it be

as you tell 111e here ; but remember your
plighted word.

Shalya l&id :-

s. Then did the beautiful one, thus dismissed by Nahusha, came out, andl_the renowned one went to the abode of V rihaspati.
9. Having heard her words, the gods
with Agni at their bead, began to deliberate
eamestll on the means of attaining to
Shakra s good, 0 best among kings.
10. Having met the god amoag the
gods, the Lord Vishnu, tne anxious ones,
who wore adepts at speeches, thus addn:ssed him.
11. Shakra, the lord of the gods, is overpowered by the crime of slaying a Brahmana. You, 0 Lord, 0 Lord of the gods,
are our refuge, 0 you bora before the
universe.
12-13. You assumed the form of Vishnu
for protecting all the beings. Vritra being
slain through (the aid of) your strength.
Vasava, the chief among all the gods, is
overpowered by the sin of slaying a Braltmana. Indicate to us the means of his
salvation. Vi!lhnu, having beard this speech
of the gods said :
14. "Let Shakra offer sacrifice to me, I
I shall purify the one with the th11nderblot.
Having duly worshipped me, by the bely
sacrifice of a horse, shall the chastiser al
the Paka,
15. R~ain the position of the king of
the gods without any feac-. And the evilminded Nahusha will meet with destruction,
as .the effect of his own deeds.
16. For some time, 0 gods, must you be
patient and watchful." Hearing these words
of Vishnu which were true, auspicious, and
like nectar
17. All the go:is, with the preceptors and
the Rishis, went to the spot where Shatra
lay s_tricken with fear.
18. There did they perform the sacrifice
of a horse on a large scale, cap:ible o(
absolving one from lhe sin of having flain
a Brahmana, for the absolution of cbe large
minded Malaendra.
19. Then, 0 Yudhisthira, was tbe crime
of slaying that Brahmana divided among
the trees, the rivers and tha mountains, and
the world and lhe women.

UDVOGA PAIIVA.'
~o. (Tills sin) being thus divided among
all beings and having left the lord of the
gods; Vasava was cured of his d~rder and
getting rid of hii, sins, came to himself
21
From that place the slayer of Vala
saw Nahusha, who was not afraid of him,
and who absorbed the power of all beings
and who could not be approached through
the boon granted hint.
22. Then the god, the husba_nd of S_ac~i
again melted himself into t!1e air 11)1~ mv1sible by all bei!'gs he remained wamng for
a fitting opportunity.
23. Shakr.a having ren_dered hii:nself i_n
visible, Sachi, being stricken with gnef
and the goddess, exceedini,?ly sad thus lamented for him : Alas Shakra,
24. If ever a gift has been made by .me
or an oflerin~ (made by me) or my superiors
satisfied by me and if there is any truth
in me, let me be with one husband
only.
25. I bow to this holy, godly g<?d1ess
Night who is now on the noctbern sohsttce ;
let my wish be satisfied.
26. Then did she making her body and
soul pure, offer due worship to the goddess
Night and for the sake of h~~ tr';)th and
chastity she had recourse to d1vmauon.
27. Show me the se_ot where sU\ys be
the king of the gods. Show. me truth by
mean~ of truth. Thus did she ask of
Upascuti.
Thus e,cd1 the thirteenth chapter, the
Kift1 of upasruti in the Sail,yodyoga of the
lldyoga l'ar11a.

CHAPTER XIV,
(SA1NY0DY0GA PARVA)-Co11ti11ued.

Shalya. said :1. Then did the beautiful Upasruti ap

pear hefore the chaste one. And seeing the
goddess possessed of )'Outh and beauty ap~efoce her,
.;.'I. .The Qu~ of lndra became wel1
pleased and"' having propitiated her, thus
spoke-0 you of a beautiful ace, I want to
know you : Tell me who you are.

Upa.sruti said:3, I am, 0 goddess, Upasruti, who have

come to you. 0 you of noble mind, I have
appeared in your sight through your trulh
fu!Qess,
4. Vou ae chaste, you observe all the
rules of life, ai1a you po,eess . the power of

self control. J shall show.you the god Sha

kra the slayer of Vritra.
5. I wish you well, follow me soon, yon'
shall see the best among !he gods. Then
did the goddess the queen of lndra, follow
her who went in advance.
6. Hav~s gone through many forests.of
the gods, a~aQy mountains, and having
crossed the HtrnlVat, the northeri1 siJe was
reached by them.
7. And having crossed the sea which ex
tended over many yoyanas they came to a
large island which was covered by many
trees and creepers.
8. They there saw a lake, suitable for
the gods frequented by many birds and
which extended over a hundred yoyanas in
length and a similar space in breadth,
9. And saw there, 0 son of Bharata,
thousands of beautiful lotuses of five colours,
full blown, and around which the bees hum
med.
ro. Having penetrated into a particular
lotus, and entered into its stalk, along with
her (Sachi) they there saw the performer
of a hundred sacrifices who had entered
the stalk.
J 1. Seeing her lord staying there in a
diminutive form, the goddes!l too assumed
a diminuitive form and so did Upasruti.
12. And the queen ~f lndra propitiated
lndra by reciting the deeds done by hirri in
olden days and the god Purandara, being
thus propitiated, said to Sachi.
13. With what object have you come
here and by what means came you to know
that l fwas here. Then did she narrate
the attempt of Nasusha,
14. Having obtained the lordsh~ of the
three worlds and so being vain or lus stren
. gth and being haughty t_he evil minded one
asked me t<> attend on him, 0 perfornaer of
a hundred sacriices.
15. And the evil minded one has granted
me time (to do his bidding). If you do not
save me, O lord, he will bring me under his
sway.
16. For this reason have I come to you
so soon O Sliakra, 0 you with long arms
slay Nahusha of wicked purposes.
17. O you slayer of Daityas and Dana
vas hide no longer your ownself, 0 lord,
ass~me your own strength and rule the king
dom of the gods.
Thru ends the fourteenth chapter, the
pra~er of tl,e queen of lndra in the
Samyodyoga of l/1e Udyoga. Parvu.

J8

IIAHABnARAtA.

CH APTER

XV.

CSAINYODYOGA PARV A)-Continuer/.

Shalya said:1. The god, beintI" thus spolteff to, thus

addressed Sachi tn reply: This is not
&be time for (showing) strength.,Nahusha is
t.ttonger.
_ '
2. He has grown up to his present posi
lion by the rirtue of the offerings made him
by the Rishis. In this instance, I shall
prescribe a politic corse, and it is proper
that it should be followed by you.
3. It should be done by you with secrecy
and on no account should you give it out.
0 you of ,lender waist, go to Nahusha and
speak thus to him.
4. "0 lord of the universe, come near me
riding a conveyance suitable for the gods
And borne by Rishis. By thus showing your11elf attached to me, shall I be pteased with
you" speak thus to him.
5. Being thus spoken to br, the king or
the gods his queen of latus-hke eyes, re
plied "Be it so" and went to Nahusf?a.
6. Nahusha surprised at seeing her,
spoke these words : Welcome to you, 0
you of beautiful hit>9, what shall I do, 0 you
of lovely smiles r
7. Accept me devoted to you ; 0 blessed
one, what do you wish, 0 maiden or independent spirit 'l O blessed one, whatever
can be done for you, I shall do, 0 you of
slender waist,
8. You need not be sl1y ; 0 you of
slender waist, have confidence in me, I
swear by troth, 0 goddess, I shall do your
l>idding.

14- You should not be (merel.> J eqaaho

the Asuras or the gods. By your own 91rrngth do you absorb- that of all bei~ tlR
moment you set your eyes on them. No one
can stand face to face with you, 0 )'OIi
powerful being,

Shalya sa.id :15. Nahusha, being thus 9POken &a,

became weU pleased and the lling of the gods
said these words to that blameless one.

Nahuaha said :16. 0 you of bright complexion, the conveyance spoken of by you ha9-never before
been in existerrce.
r7. I have taken a strong fancy to it
0 goddes. I am at your disposal, 0 IC>ffly
faced one, The one who makes the Rishis
his bearers cannot be of little strength.
r 8. l am a devotee, strong, and lord of
what has been, what is to be, and what is.
At my being angry the world will be annahilated ; every thing depends on me.
r9. The gods, the Danavas, and the
Gandharvas, the Kinnaras, the serpents and
the Rallshasas, not all of these, not all the
world even can stand ~ainst me when I am
angry.
20. Whoever I see by my eyes, his
strength do I absorb; therefore O goddess,
shall I do your bidding-there is no doubt
about it,
2r. Seven Ri~his shall bear me-Brahmarslris all ; see, 0 you of bright eomplexion,
my powers and influence,

Shalya said_:-

12. l wish that you, 0 lord of the gods,

should have a conveyance, the like of which
was 11ever seen befoc6--which was never
owned by Vishnu, nor by Rudra, nor by
the Asw-as and the Rakshasas.

22. H,wing thus said to that goddes and

having dismissed that lovely faced one. he
yoked, to his car, Rishis who U9ed to observe all the rules of their class,
2'J, The habits of his life being unworthy
!>f a Brahmana, h~ving <=<?"1e to the possess
10n of power, vam of his stren~th, wilfuJ,
and of a vicious nature, he made the R~is
carry Mm.
24. Being dismissed by Nahusha, she
said to V rihaspati. But little remains t<l
fulfil in i&s entirety the boon granted by
Nahusha.
25. Be quick in hunting out lndra and w
me, who am devoted to you, a favour" and
the god Vrihaspati said to her-"be it so."
26. The evil minded Nahusha need not
be feared by Jou. He will not exist tilt
eternity; indee he is already gone.

13. 0 Lord, to see yourself being borne

by the Ri~his having goo.I attributes, united
to.;-ether in a pal:inkin, is my wish, O king.

27. He is regardless of virtue so to say,

having employed the great Rishis 11s tus
bearers, 0 l.vely lady i and 1 shall perform

ftt l'llff!l of fnclra 1114 :9 0 lord of the world, I only want timethe favour that has already been accorded
to me. After that you shall become my
husband, 0 lord of the gods.
10. The subject that is in my mind is this ,
listen, 0 lord of the gods ; I shall speak it
to you, 0 king, fulfill my desire.
1 r. The boon, that I demand of you, has
connection with your loYe, lndra had for
his conveyance, hones, elephants, and a car.

UDVOGA PARVA,

sacrifices For the destruaion of this .evil

minded one.
28. I shall approach Shall:ra. You need
net have :my fears, I wish yo11 well. Then
h;lVing li~hted up a fire he offered the best
offerings in the prescribed form.
29. Vrihaspati of great strength, in erde.r
to get the king of the gods, having made
<Jfferings to Agni (the God of fire) said to
him : 0 king search oat Shakra.
30. From that' place, the god(of fire)
the consumer of offerings having himself
assumed the wonderful form of a female
vanished from sight,
31 Having searched in all countries and
provill('es, mountains and forest, the earth
and the sky, with the speed of the mind, he
in a moment came back to Vrihaspati.

The gocl of Srt 1al4 :32. 0 Vrihaspati, nowhere, in this world

do I see the king of the gods.
33. The waters (alone) remain(to be
searched). I have never been able to
enter the waters. 1 have no ingress there
0 Brahmana, what else shall I do for you,
34. The preceptor of the gods said to
him ; 0 you of great lustre, enter the
waters.

The gocl of Srt 1&14 :1 cannot enter the water ; there

I am destroyed. I throw myself under
your protection. 0 you of great lustre,
I wish you well.
35. From the waters rose fire, from the
Brahmana, the Kshatriya, and from
stone, the iron. Its strength penetrates
everywhere ; only in its birth-place is it
powerless.

Thus ends the fifteenth chapter Agni',

,peech to Vrilias/ati in _the UdyogaParva,

CHAPTER XVI.
(SAINYODVOGA PARVA)-Continued.

VrDwpat.l sa!4 ,0 Agni, you are within all beings and

concealed there you act like a witness.
2. The poets sang of you as the one, and
then again as the three. 0 you consumer of
offerings, bereft of you this world is at once
annahilated.
3. The Brahmanas, having bowed down
to you, go away along with their wives and
sons, to the eternal region, which has been
won by the merit of their own deeds.
1.

19

4. You are, 0 god of fi,.e, the- receiver

of offering, and you are yourself the best
offering. They worship you in a sacrilicial
ceremony by the best offerings.
5. 0 you receiver of offerings, having
created the three worlds in due time yolf
~ain in due time consume them irr an enkmdled fCX"m ; you are, 0 god of fire, the
pl"Olfenitor of the entire world and yo11
agam annahilate it,
6. Wise peoplti called you, 0 Agni, the
giv~ of wat~ and lightning and Rames
commg out from you support all beings.
7. Water depends on you, everything
and this entire world ; 0 you purifiying element, there is not the least thing unknOWII
to you in these three worlds.
8. Everything accepts that which comes
from it, enter the waters withdut any fear.
I shall make you strong by reciting
eternal hymns relating to Brahma.
9. Thus propitiated, the bearer of offerings, the god, the best among poets, said to
Vrihaspati, these good words indicating
satisfaction. " I shall show you Shakra. I
speak this truly.
.

Shalya said :.:._

10. Agni (the god of fire) thus having
entered the waters including the seas, and
the small lakes, came to the lake where
::,hakra lay in disguise. .
11. And there searching among the
lotuses, 0 you foremost in the race of
Bharata, he saw at last the king of gods,
in one of the stalks.

12. And then coming back quickly he

gave that information to Vrihaspat,, namely
that the lord having assumed a diminutive
form was lying within a lotus,

13. Vrihaspapti, then having gone (there)

alon~ with the Devarshis and Gandharvas,
propitiated the slayer of Vala by reciting his
deeds of olden days.
14, 0 shakra, the great Asura, Namuchi of great power has been slain by you ;
so are Samvara and Vala, both of great
prowess.

15. 0 you performer of a hundred sacrifices, gain in strength, and slay all
enemies ; rise up Shakra, and see the
Devarshis come lo you.
16. 0 Great lndra, leaving slain the
Danavas, you have saved the worlds. 0
Lord, having got the foam of the waters
and with the assistance of the strength of
Vishnu, you have killed Vritra before this ;
0 you king of the gods, 0 you lord of the
universe,

20

MAHABHARATA,

17. You are the Saviour of all beings

,and worthy of being propitiated by them.
There is no being is this world equal to you.
All the beings are 5Upported by you, 0
Shakra, and you created the greatness o.f the
gods.
18. O great lndu1, rule over all three
worlds, and grow in strength. Being thus
propitiated he, by slow degrees, increased (in
strength)
19- H:lYing gained his own form he
became endowed with strength and t~e god
thus addressed his preceptor who was standing before him.
20. What is there still remaining to be
done, The great Asura, the son of Twastri, has been killed and so has been Vritra of
large stature who destroyed the tllree

worlds,

Vrihaspati said ::u. The human being Nahusha, through

the inAuence of the Dev:1rshis, having
Jained the kingdom of gods, is very much

inflicting us.

lndra said :22. How did Nahusha obtain the kingdom of the gods, )vh.ich is. ha~d to gain ;
with wh:it strenf'th of devotion 1s he endued,
what is his power, 0 Vrihaspati.

Vrihaspati said:-

28. Tltey having come there !p()ke rfrwt

to the great lndra: , it is lucky that the -.on
of Twastri has been killed and Vritra; it as
lucky that we see you, 0 Shakra, safe and
sound and without any wound, with all yoc
enemies slai!l,"
29. And he, the great lndra, wi:h a glad
heart having greeted the assembled rulen ol
the world each with suitable words, said to
them, with a view to outwit Nahusha,
30. "Nabusha, the king of the god5 is of
a terrible form ; therefore assistance to me
must be rendered by you." They too said:
"Nahusha is terrible-looking and we fe.ar, <)
lord, his poisonous gai:e.
31. If you overthrow the king Nah11sha,
then O Shakra, it is only fitting that 11-e too
shall be entitled tq our share (of the glory)."
lndra said: "you, 0 lord of waten, and
K_uvera, and Yama be crowned king a.long
with me.
3:z. Coming together, shall we this day,
with the aid of the gods, win victory over
our enemy, Nahusha, of terrific gaae. Then
the god of fire said to Shakra : " give me a
share, I shall render you assistance," alNI
lndra said to him ; 11 0 God of fire : you lao
shall get a share ; in large sacrificial ceremonies, there will be but one share for lndra
and Agni."

Shalya said :-

33-34. Thus thinking, the god, the

23. Yourself having left the celebrated great Indra, the ch~stiser of the }!aka, the
position of lndra, the gods became anxious giver of boo11s, with due deliberntion, gave to
and wished for a Shakra ; and at that time Kuvera the lordship of all the Yakshas and
the gods, the Pitris, the Rishis and the chief treasures and to the son of Vivaswata th,at
among the Gandharvas all united together. over the Pitris and to Varuna that over the
24. And going, 0 Sakra, to Nahusha waters.
~hey $llid ; l3e you our king, the protector of
Tl,us ends th6 siztuntli Cl,apt".
the world-Nahusha said to them: I am not Varuna and others' nl'lfls to lndra. in tltt
capable (of belng your king) ; infuse in me, Sainjodyoga of the lldyoya Pa,....a.
stregth wit~ the virtue of devotion.
25. The gods being thus spoken to,
infused strength into Nahusha (now) of great
&trength and he became the king; having
CHAPTER XVII.
got the kingdom of the three worlds, he has
made the great Rishis his bearers and the
wicked-mifl~~ one . is now roaming about (SAINYODYOGA PARVA)-Corrti-11ril..
the worlds.
26. Never do you look at Nahusha who Shalya said:1. Whili: the wise king of the gods was
absorb!I all ener~y and who~e gaze is !JS
very subtle as poison. The gods too, being fixing on means of killing Nahusha, along
very much afraid of Nahusha, do not look at with the ruler of the worlds and the gods,
him and roam about in concealment.
2-3. The aseelic, who bad the six attributes of a godly being, Agastya. a ~
Shalya said :there, and having duly greeted the Iring cl
27. While V rihaspati, that best among the goods, said :-It is fortunate that you an
the race of Angira, was yet speaking, gairim:g in strength, having already kil~
Kuvera, the ruler of the world and Vama, the great Asura who had assumed a 1Hli
the !IOn of Viv.aswata, and the aged god versal form ; it is fortunate, 0 Purandara
Soma and Varima ume there.
that Nahusha is this dAy ousted from the

UDVOGA PARVA,
kinadom of heaven ; it is fortunate, 0 sla1er
ef Vala, that I see .)OU with all your enemies,
killed.

Indra said:4. Welcome to you, 0 great Rishi; I

am pleased at seei.n~ you ; be so good as to
accept from me water for washin~ your feet
and your face and also the things suitable
for your worship and a cow.

Shalya said:5. That best among the Rishis being

duly worshipped and seated on a seat, the
chief of the gods, well pleased, asked that
best amoag the Btabmasias.
6. 0 you best among the twice born,
having the six attributes, narrate how Nahusha of vicious purpose came to be ousted
from heaven. I want to hear that.

1(

hraven, go you to the earth where there is

little virtue.
17. For ten thousand years, assuming
the form of a large snake, shall you ream
about, and at the completion of that period
shall you again get into heaven.
18. The wicked-souled one was thus
turned out of the kingdom of the gods, O
)'OU subduer of foes. It is lucky, O Shakra,
that we are now on the ascendaRt and that
thorn, of the Brahmanas, has been killed.
19. 0 you lord of Sachi, go you to heaven
and rule over the world, after conquering
your ~nses a~~ subduing your enemies
and bemg propitiated by the great Rishis.

Shalya said :-

20-21. Then the gods were highly pleas,

ed, along with the great Rishis and the Pitris
and the Yakshas, and the Rakshashas and
the Gandharvas and the celestial nymphs
Apatya ,ata :-7 Listen, 0 Shakra, to this story as to and all the fairies ; and all the tanks ancJ
how the vicioussouled N ahusha, of bad lhe lakes and the mountain:; and the river.t
habits, vain of his strength, has bee!l ousted rejoiced.
22. They all coming there said : it is
from heaven.
8-g. The Devarshis of great attributes fortunate, 0 slayer of enemies, that yotJ are
and the Brahmarshis of spotless fame 6n the ascendant ; it is fortunate ihai the
wearied with bearing Nahusha, the doer vicious Nahusha has been killed by the wise
of vicious deeds, asked him (Nahusha), 0 Agastya; it is fortunate that that being ot
best of victors, if the hymns prescribed to vicious habits has been turned into a snak;

be chanted by Brahma, at the time of in the ear~h.

7:1ws ends t!,e se11enteentl1 chapter, Ag-as~
~prinkling the cows, were authentic.
tya s news to lndra in tlie Udyog4
10, And also if he believed in their authenticity. The idiot Nahusha, out of Parva.
vanity, told them that it was not authentic.

The Rishis said :11. You are going along the path of vice ;
you do not act virtuously. " That they
are authentic" has before been said by our
great Rishis.

Agastya said:12. Then, 0 Vasava, he began quarrelling with the Rishis and then the one,
ruled by vice, touched my head with his
feet.
13. By that act did the king lose his
strength and became shorn of prosperity
and then as he was agitated and oppressed
with fear and had lost the power of speech, I
said.
14-16. Since, 0 king, you call into
question, the hymns authorized by our
a!'lcestors and chanted by Brahmarshis, and
since you have touched me with your feet
and since. 0 fool, you have your conveyance
carried by Rishis equal to Brahma, and
unappcoachablc, whom you have made your
bearers, therefore be shorn of your power.
0 Vice, be destroyed, and turned out of

C H A PT E R X V 11 I.
(SAINYODYOGA PARVA)-Conhu11ed.

Shalya said:1. Then Shakra being glorifieq by th~

Gandharvas and the celestial nymphs,
ascended on the Airavata, the chief amongelephants, which bore auspicio11s marks.
2, The god of fire, of very great strength
a11d ,the great Rishi Vrihaspati, _ Yama,
Varuna, and Kuvera, the god of wealth, _
3. Surrounded by all these gods an,4
by the Gandharvas and the celestial nymphs
Shakra, the slayer of V ritra, and ihe lord
of the three worlds, went round.
4. Being united with his queen the great
lndra, the king of the g:ods, the performer
of a, hundred sacrifices, highly ple35'!d ruled
over the gods.
5. Then the god saw there Angir~
propitiating the king of the gods by
chanting hyf!lns from the Atharva Veda.