rule



 

Canto 4

Dâmodarâshthaka

 


Chapter 19: King Prithu's One Hundred Horse Sacrifices

(1) The sage Maitreya said: 'Thereafter he, the king, in the land of Manu known as Brahmâvarta, where the Sarasvatî flows to the east, then initiated the performance of a hundred horse sacrifices. (2) Faced with this most powerful excel in fruitive action King Indra, who himself had performed a hundred sacrifices, could not tolerate the great ceremonies of sacrifice of King Prithu. (3) It was there that directly the enjoyer of all sacrifice, the Supreme Lord Vishnu, the transcendental controller who is the proprietor, the teacher of all the world and everyone's soul, would show Himself. (4) Together with Brahmâ and S'iva and all the local rulers with their followers, He is praised by the inhabitants and singers of heaven and the wise. (5) The perfected souls and those rooted in learning, the descendants of Diti, the fruitive workers and the guardians of wealth attended there headed by Nanda and Sunanda, the most respectful associates of the Lord. (6) All the great devotees who always serve Him with diligence assembled there: the masters of yoga led by Sanaka [the Kumâras], Kapila, Nârada and Dattâtreya. (7) Dear son of Bharata, because of that meeting the land fulfilled, alike the cow that produces all the milk, all wishes by yielding as desired every matter needed by the sacrificer. (8) The rivers carried all the water needed, there was milk, curd and the food of other dairy products and the trees with their big bodies bore fruits and dripped with honey. (9) The people of all places along with their governors brought forward presentations of the four kinds of foodstuff [what is chewed, licked, sucked and drunk] and heaps of jewels from the hills and oceans. (10) Thus King Prithu, abiding by the Lord beyond the Senses, was the most opulent person, but the great Lord Indra, being envious, formed a hindrance. (11) Full of envy he unseen stole the sacrificial animal when the son of Vena was performing the last horse sacrifice meant to please the Lord of All Sacrifices. (12) Indra, impersonating as a liberated soul and thus most confusingly presenting irreligion as religion, was spotted by sage Atri and then hurried away into the sky. (13) The son of King Prithu, a great hero, was by sage Atri encouraged to kill him. He most angry shouted: 'Wait, just wait!' (14) But when he saw that he was wearing the dress that is considered religious, had knotted hair and a body smeared all over with ashes, he could not release an arrow at him. (15) My best one, the son of Prithu, having refrained from killing, was by sage Atri admonished to do it nevertheless since the great Indra had sunken as low as to impede the performance of a yajña. (16) Thus being ordered the son of Prithu, who was as angry as the king of the vultures was with Râvana, began to chase Indra who hastily moved away at a distance. (17) With him in pursuit, Indra vanished, abandoning both the horse and his false dress. The great hero then brought the animal of his father back to the sacrificial arena.

(18)  Oh master [Vidura], seeing the reality of his wonderful action the great sages honored him accordingly with the name Vijitâs'va ['he who won the horse']. (19) But not being seen under the cover of a dense darkness he had created, the mighty King Indra again took the horse away from the sacrificial block where it was chained in golden shackles. (20) When Atri pointed out that he hurried away in the open, the hero this time seeing him holding a staff with a skull at the top, [again] could not kill him. (21) By Atri admonished to go after him, he in anger had fixed an arrow, but the independent Indra, who gave up the horse and the apparel [for the second time], kept himself out of reach. (22) The hero then took the horse and went back to the sacrificial arena of his father. Ever since those with a poor fund of knowledge adopt that false show of the lord of heaven. (23) Those forms that Indra assumed with the desire to steal the horse are all sign and symbol of sinful activities. For this the word deficient is used [with khanda or deficient one speaks of pâkhanda or pâshanda, the false preacher or heretic]. (24-25) With Indra, who in his desire to stop the sacrifice stole away the horse from the son of Vena and thus adopted and abandoned the religious garb, the common man, foolishly enough, got attracted to this falsehood of faith in red robes, going naked etc., because it is generally done with great cunning and a good command of speech. (26) The incarnation of the Lord, King Prithu celebrated as the all-powerful one, understood this and, very angry with Indra, took an arrow and lifted his bow.

(27)
The priests who saw that Prithu thus prepared to kill the king of heaven, could not tolerate the mental leap of his terrifying display of power and objected: 'Oh great soul, as it is said in the scriptures, it is not proper to kill others in matters like these. (28) Indra, your enemy who in fact already lost his power as the destroyer of your interest, we will summon with mantras never used before and forthwith by force sacrifice him in the fire, oh King.'

(29) After thus having advised the leader of the ceremony, oh Vidura, the priests grim-faced with the sacrificial ladle in their hands stood prepared to perform the sacrifice, but when they were about to begin Lord Brahmâ asked them to stop: (30) 'Indra should not be killed by you, for he whose end you wish is also the offering himself, he is an integral part of the Supreme Lord. And so too the ones of God you wish to please by the sacrificing are all part of Indra! (31) And then, oh twice-born souls, beware of this great violation of dharma committed by Indra in his desire to impede these proceedings of the king. (32) Let it be so that from the side of the widely renown King Prithu there are the ninety-nine sacrifices he performed. There is no use [oh King] for more correctly performed sacrifices, for you know the path of liberation very well. (33) You surely should not act in anger against Lord Indra, it suffers no doubt that it will be to the good fortune of the both of you to stand together for the multiformity of the Lord celebrated in the scriptures. (34) Oh great King, please listen to what I tell you with the greatest esteem: do not - as you did - get into the mind of anger because of a twist of fate, because from the king who is of such a consideration, one will enter the darkest regions. (35) Let this sacrificing end, it was by what Indra has created that among the souls of God so many principles of religion were violated and bad habits rooted. (36) Just see how Indra, as the one who broke your sacrifice by stealing the horse, introduced this deception that is so alluring to the common man that he is carried away by it. (37) Your Majesty, you incarnated according to time and circumstance in this world in order to deliver us, because the system of religion by the misdeeds of King Vena had almost vanished. And now you are there as a part and parcel of the body of Vishnu, oh son of Vena. (38) Therefore, in consideration of the welfare of the world, oh protector of the people, respond to the determination of the progenitors of this earth [to respect you as an expansion of the Supreme One] and foil the illusion that was created by Indra in the form of the moralizing without servitude [the pseudo religion, the hypocrisy] that is the mother of the dangerous path of heresy.'

(39) Maitreya continued: 'Thus being advised by the teacher of all, Prithu, the king and master, acted according to what was told and concluded, moved by sympathy, to peace with Indra. (40) After having done so he took a customary bath and received for his glorious actions the blessings of the God-conscious whom he had pleased with the performance of his sacrifices. (41) All the men of learning, whose blessings are effective, were most contented with the great respect and rewards they received from the original king, oh royal soul. They offered their blessings [and said]: (42)  'Oh mighty-armed one, we, the forefathers, gods, sages and also the common people, have all assembled because you invited us and now we feel very honored by your gifts and expressions of respect.'

       

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Third revised edition, loaded October 24, 2017.
 

 

 

Previous Aadhar edition and Vedabase links:

Text 1

The sage Maitreya said: 'Thereafter he, the king, in the land of Manu known as Brahmâvarta, where the Sarasvatî flows to the east, then initiated the performance of a hundred horse sacrifices. 
The sage Maitreya said: 'Thereafter initiated he, the king, in the land of Manu known as Brahmâvarta, where the Sarasvatî flows to the east, then the performance of a hundred horse sacrifices. (Vedabase)

 

Text 2

Faced with this most powerful excel in fruitive action King Indra, who himself had performed a hundred sacrifices, could not tolerate the great ceremonies of sacrifice of King Prithu.

Faced with this most powerful excel in fruitive action could King Indra, who himself had performed a hundred sacrifices, not tolerate the great ceremonies of sacrifice of King Prithu. (Vedabase)

 

Text 3

It was there that directly the enjoyer of all sacrifice, the Supreme Lord Vishnu, the transcendental controller who is the proprietor, the teacher of all the world and everyone's soul, would show Himself.

It was where directly the enjoyer of all sacrifice the Supreme Lord Vishnu, the transcendental controller, would show himself, as He was the proprietor, the teacher of all the world and everyone's soul. (Vedabase)

  

Text 4

Together with Brahmâ and S'iva and all the local rulers with their followers, He is praised by the inhabitants and singers of heaven and the wise.

Being in the company of Brahmâ and S'iva and all the local rulers with their followers, He is praised by the indwellers and singers of heaven and the wise. (Vedabase)

 

Text 5

The perfected souls and those rooted in learning, the descendants of Diti, the fruitive workers and the guardians of wealth attended there headed by Nanda and Sunanda, the most respectful associates of the Lord.

The perfected and the ones rooted in learning, the descendants of Diti, the fruitive workers and the guardians of wealth attended there headed by Nanda and Sunanda, the most respectful associates of the Lord. (Vedabase)

 

Text 6

All the great devotees who always serve Him with diligence assembled there: the masters of yoga led by Sanaka [the Kumâras], Kapila, Nârada and Dattâtreya.

The masters of yoga lead by Sanaka: Kapila, Nârada and Dattâtreya and all the great devotees always eager to serve the Lord followed Him there. (Vedabase)

 

Text 7

Dear son of Bharata, because of that meeting the land fulfilled, alike the cow that produces all the milk, all wishes by yielding as desired every matter needed by the sacrificer.

Dear son of Bharata, it was therefrom that the land fulfilled all wishes, as the cow producing all the milk, yielding as desired every object wanted by the sacrificer. (Vedabase)

 

Text 8

The rivers carried all the water needed, there was milk, curd and the food of other dairy products and the trees with their big bodies bore fruits and dripped with honey.

The rivers gave all the water needed, there was milk, curd and the food of other dairy products and the trees with their big bodies bore fruits and dripped of honey. (Vedabase)

 

Text 9

The people of all places along with their governors brought forward presentations of the four kinds of foodstuff [what is chewed, licked, sucked and drunk] and heaps of jewels from the hills and oceans.

The people of all places along with their governors brought forward presentations of the four kinds of foodstuff [what is chewed, licked, sucked and drunk] and heaps of jewels from the hills and oceans. (Vedabase)

 

Text 10

Thus King Prithu, abiding by the Lord beyond the Senses, was the most opulent person, but the great Lord Indra, being envious, formed a hindrance.

Thus was King Prithu abiding by the Lord beyond the Senses then the topmost in opulence, but the great Lord Indra, being envious, formed a hindrance. (Vedabase)

 

Text 11

Full of envy he unseen stole the sacrificial animal when the son of Vena was performing the last horse sacrifice meant to please the Lord of All Sacrifices.

Being so envious he, unseen, stole the sacrificial animal when the son of Vena was performing the last horse sacrifice meant to please the Lord of all sacrifice. (Vedabase)

 

Text 12

Indra, impersonating as a liberated soul and thus most confusingly presenting irreligion as religion, was spotted by sage Atri and then hurried away into the sky.

Indra impersonating as a liberated one and thus confusing religion with irreligion, was, as he hurried away in the sky, seen by sage Atri. (Vedabase)

 

Text 13

The son of King Prithu, a great hero, was by sage Atri encouraged to kill him. He most angry shouted: 'Wait, just wait!'

The son of King Prithu, a great hero, encouraged by sage Atri to kill him, became very angry and shouted: 'Wait, wait!'. (Vedabase)

 

Text 14

But when he saw that he was wearing the dress that is considered religious, had knotted hair and a body smeared all over with ashes, he could not release an arrow at him.

But when he saw that he was wearing the dress that is considered religious, had knotted hair and a body smeared with ashes all over, he could not release an arrow at him. (Vedabase)

 

Text 15

My best one, the son of Prithu,  having refrained from killing, was by sage Atri admonished to do it nevertheless since the great Indra had sunken as low as to impede the performance of a yajña.

The son of Prithu having refrained from killing was by sage Atri again admonished to do so since, my best one, the great Indra had become the lowest of them all, impeding the performance of a yajña. (Vedabase)

  

Text 16

Thus being ordered the son of Prithu, who was as angry as the king of the vultures was with Râvana, began to chase Indra who hastily moved away at a distance.

Thus being ordered began the son of Prithu, being as angry as the king of the vultures was with Râvana, to chase Indra who hastily moved away at a distance. (Vedabase)

 

Text 17

With him in pursuit, Indra vanished, abandoning both the horse and his false dress. The great hero then brought the animal of his father back to the sacrificial arena.

Abandoning the horse as well as his false dress with him in pursuit, vanished Indra. Taking the animal of his father back to the sacrificial arena he, the great hero, returned. (Vedabase)

 

Text 18

Oh master [Vidura], seeing the reality of his wonderful action the great sages honored him accordingly with the name Vijitâs'va ['he who won the horse'].

Dear Vidura, seeing the reality of his wonderful action, offered the great sages him accordingly the name Vijitâs'va [he who won the horse]. (Vedabase)
 
Text 19

But not being seen under the cover of a dense darkness he had created, the mighty King Indra again took the horse away from the sacrificial block where it was chained in golden shackles.

Not seen, under the cover of dense darkness, took the mighty King Indra though again the horse away from the offer block where it was chained in golden shackles. (Vedabase)

 

Text 20

When Atri pointed out that he hurried away in the open, the hero this time seeing him holding a staff with a skull at the top, [again] could not kill him.

When Atri pointed out that he hurried away in the open, could the hero this time seeing him holding a staff with a skull at the top, not come to kill him either. (Vedabase)

 

Text 21

By Atri admonished to go after him, he in anger had fixed an arrow, but the independent Indra, who gave up the horse and the apparel [for the second time], kept himself out of reach.

Being driven after him by Atri, had he, angered, fixed an arrow, but the independent Indra who again gave up the horse and the apparel, kept himself out of reach. (Vedabase)

 

Text 22

The hero then took the horse and went back to the sacrificial arena of his father. Ever since those with a poor fund of knowledge adopt that false show of the lord of heaven.

The hero taking the horse then went back to the sacrificial arena of his father; ever since do those with a poor fund of knowledge adopt that false show of the Lord of Heaven.  (Vedabase)

  

Text 23

Those forms that Indra assumed with the desire to steal the horse are all sign and symbol of sinful activities. For this the word deficient is used [with khanda or deficient one speaks of pâkhanda or pâshanda, the false preacher or heretic].

Those forms that Indra assumed with the desire to steal the horse are all symbol and sign of sinful activities; for this is the word deficient used [with khanda or deficient one speaks of pâkhanda or pâshanda, the false preacher or heretic]. (Vedabase)

 

Text 24-25

With Indra, who in his desire to stop the sacrifice stole away the horse from the son of Vena and thus adopted and abandoned the religious garb, the common man, foolishly enough, got attracted to this falsehood of faith in red robes, going naked etc., because it is generally done with great cunning and a good command of speech.

With Indra thus stealing the horse away from the son of Vena with the desire to stop the sacrifice, became the common man this way attracted to the falsely dressing up that was adopted and abandoned by him to the system of religion. To this falsehood of faith in red robes, going naked etc., one is foolishly enough attracted as it is done generally with great cunning and a good command of speech. (Vedabase)

 

Text 26

The incarnation of the Lord, King Prithu celebrated as the all-powerful one, understood this and, very angry with Indra, took an arrow and lifted his bow.

The incarnation of the Lord, King Prithu celebrated as the one all-powerful, about this being very angry with Indra, took up an arrow and lifted his bow. (Vedabase)

 

Text 27

The priests who saw that Prithu thus prepared to kill the king of heaven, could not tolerate the mental leap of his terrifying display of power and objected: 'Oh great soul, as it is said in the scriptures, it is not proper to kill others in matters like these.

The priests who saw that Prithu thus prepared to kill the king of heaven, couldn't tolerate the display of his terrible drive and objected: 'O great soul, as it is said in the scriptures, it is not proper to kill others in matters like this.' (Vedabase)

 

Text 28

Indra, your enemy who in fact already lost his power as the destroyer of your interest, we will summon with mantras never used before and forthwith by force sacrifice him in the fire oh King.'

We shall call for Indra, who in fact already lost his power as the destroyer of your interest, with mantras never used before and will forthwith by force sacrifice your enemy in the fire, o King.' (Vedabase)

 

Text 29

After thus having advised the leader of the ceremony, oh Vidura, the priests grim-faced with the sacrificial ladle in their hands stood prepared to perform the sacrifice, but when they were about to begin Lord Brahmâ asked them to stop:

After thus informing the one in power, o Vidura, were the priests, very sour, ready with the sacrificial ladle at hand to perform the sacrifice, but having begun asked Lord Brahmâ them to stop: (Vedabase)

 

Text 30

'Indra should not be killed by you, for he whose end you wish is also the offering himself, he is an integral part of the Supreme Lord. And so too the ones of God you wish to please by the sacrificing are all part of Indra!

'All of you, you shouldn't put Indra to an end, because he whom you wish to kill, also being the offering himself, is an integral part of the Supreme Lord - and also are the ones of God you wish to please by the sacrificing, all part of Indra himself! (Vedabase)

  

Text 31

And then, oh twice-born souls, beware of this great violation of dharma committed by Indra in his desire to impede these proceedings of the king.

And then, beware of this great violation of dharma committed by Indra, o twice-born, in his desire to impede these proceedings of the king. (Vedabase)

 

Text 32

Let it be so that from the side of the widely renown King Prithu there are the ninety-nine sacrifices he performed. There is no use [oh King] for more correctly performed sacrifices, for you know the path of liberation very well.

King Prithu is known the world all over, let it therefore be so that for him who has performed ninety-nine sacrifices there is nothing more to be gained; and you yourself o King, as the knower of the path of liberation - weren't the sacrifices well performed? (Vedabase)

 

Text 33

You surely should not act in anger against Lord Indra, it suffers no doubt that it will be to the good fortune of the both of you to stand together for the multiformity of the Lord celebrated in the scriptures.

For sure you shouldn't act in anger against Lord Indra, it suffers no doubt that it will be to the good fortune of the both of you together standing for the manifold of the Lord celebrated in the scriptures. (Vedabase)

  

Text 34

Oh great King, please listen to what I tell you with the greatest esteem: do not - as you did - get into the mind of anger because of a twist of fate, because from the king who is of such a consideration, one will enter the darkest regions.

O great King please consider this what I tell you with the greatest respect: do not as you did, get into the mind of anger because of a twist of fate, as of him who contemplates such one will enter the darkest regions. (Vedabase)

 

Text 35

Let this sacrificing end, it was by what Indra has created that among the souls of God so many principles of religion were violated and bad habits rooted.

Let this sacrificing end, it was by the impersonating to the example of Indra that so many principles of religion were violated and bad habits rooted amongst the ones of God. (Vedabase)

 

Text 36

Just see how Indra, as the one who broke your sacrifice by stealing the horse, introduced this deception that is so alluring to the common man that he is carried away by it.

Just see how all these falsifications, introduced by Indra who breaking your sacrifice stole the horse, are so alluring to the common men that they get carried away by them. (Vedabase)

 

Text 37

Your Majesty, you incarnated according to time and circumstance in this world in order to deliver us, because the system of religion by the misdeeds of King Vena had almost vanished. And now you are there as a part and parcel of the body of Vishnu, oh son of Vena.

Your Majesty, just to deliver, you incarnated to time and circumstance in this world for the system of religion that by the misdeeds of king Vena almost had vanished - and now you are there as a part and parcel of the body of Vishnu, o son of Vena. (Vedabase)

 

Text 38

Therefore, in consideration of the welfare of the world, oh protector of the people, respond to the determination of the progenitors of this earth [to respect you as an expansion of the Supreme One] and foil the illusion that was created by Indra in the form of the moralizing without servitude [the pseudo religion, the hypocrisy] that is the mother of the dangerous path of heresy.'

Therefore, in consideration of the welfare of the world, o protector of the people, answer to the desire of the progenitors of this earth [that you'd be an expansion of the Supreme One] and foil the illusion as created by Indra in the form of the moralizing without servitude [the pseudoreligion, the hypocrisy] that is the mother of the dangerous path of heresy.' (Vedabase)

 

Text 39

Maitreya continued: 'Thus being advised by the teacher of all, Prithu, the king and master, acted according to what was told and concluded, moved by sympathy, to peace with Indra.

Maitreya continued: 'Thus being advised by the teacher of all did Prithu, the king and master, following as was told and to the best of his ability, conclude to peace with even Indra.  (Vedabase)

 

Text 40

After having done so he took a customary bath and received for his glorious actions the blessings of the God-conscious whom he had pleased with the performance of his sacrifices.

After having done so took he according the custom a bath and received he the blessings of the God-conscious for the fame of his virtue, as they were all very pleased by the performance of that offer. (Vedabase)

 

Text 41

All the men of learning, whose blessings are effective, were most contented with the great respect and rewards they received from the original king, oh royal soul. They offered their blessings [and said]:

All the ones of true learning were, when they had offered the original king their blessings, very happy with the great respect and rewards they received from him, o royal one. (Vedabase)

 

Text 42

'Oh mighty-armed one, we, the forefathers, gods, sages and also the common people, have all assembled because you invited us and now we feel very honored by your gifts and expressions of respect.'

'O mighty-armed one, of your inviting us we all assembled: the forefathers, the gods the sages and the common people, and you've honored all of us with gifts and expressions of respect.' (Vedabase)

 

 
 

 

 

Creative Commons License
The text and audio are offered under the conditions of the
Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.
The classical picture shows Krishna tending the horses. Source.
Production:
Filognostic Association of The Order of Time


  

 

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