युधिष्ठिर उवाच श्रुतं मे भरतश्रेष्ठ पुष्पधूपप्रदायिनाम्। फलं बलिविधाने च तद् भूयो वक्तुमर्हसि॥
Yudhishthira said I have, O chief of the Bharatas, heard what the merits which presenters of flowers and lincense and lights acquire. I have heard you speak also of the merits of a due observance of the ordinances in respect of the presentation of the Bali. You should, O grandfather, discourse to me once more on this subject.
धूपप्रदानस्य फलं प्रदीपस्य तथैव च। बलयश्च किमर्थं वै क्षिप्यन्ते गृहमेधिभिः॥
Indeed, tell me. O Sire once more of the merits of presenting incense and lights. Why Balis offered the ground by householders. are on
भीष्म उवाच अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम्। नहुषस्य च संवादमगस्त्यस्य भृगोस्तथा॥
Bhishma said Regarding it is recited the old discourse between Nahusha and Agastya and Bhrigu.
नहुषो हि महाराज राजर्षिः सुमहातपाः देवराज्यमनुप्राप्तः सुकृतेनेह कर्मणा॥
The royal sage Nahusha, O monarch, having penances for wealth, acquired the sovereignty of the celestial region by his own good deeds.
तत्रापि प्रयतो राजन् नहुषस्त्रिदिवे वसन्। मानुषीश्चैव दिव्याश्च कुर्वाणो विविधाः क्रियाः॥
With controlled senses, O king, he lived in the celestial region, engaged in doing diverse acts of both human an celestial nature.
मानुष्यस्तत्र सर्वा:स्म क्रियास्तस्य महात्मनः। प्रवृत्तस्त्रिदिवे राजन् दिव्याश्चैव सनातनाः॥
From that great kuig flowed various kinds of human acts and various kinds of celestial deeds, also, O king.
अग्निकार्याणि समिधः कुशाः सुमनसस्तथा। बलयश्चान्नलाजाभिषूपनं दीपकर्म च॥ सर्वं तस्य गृहे राज्ञः प्रावर्तत महात्मनः। जपयज्ञान्मनोयज्ञास्त्रिदिवेऽपि चकार सः॥
The various rites with respect to the sacrificial fire, the collection of sacred fuel and of Kusha grass, as also of flowers, and the presentation of Bali consisting of food adorned with fried paddy, and the offer of incense and of light, all there, O monarch, occurred daily in the house of that great king while he lived in the celestial region. Indeed, though living in the celestial region. he celebrated the sacrifice of recitation and the sacrifice of meditation.
देवानभ्यर्चयच्चापि विधिवत् स सुरेश्वरः। सर्वानेव यथान्यायं यथापूर्वमरिन्दम॥
And, O chastiser of foes, Nahusha, although he had become the king's of the deities, yet adored all the deities, as he used to do formerly, with due rites and ceremonies.
अथेन्द्रोऽहमिति ज्ञात्वां अहंकारं समाविशत्। सर्वाश्चैव क्रियास्तस्य पर्यहीयन्त भूपतेः॥
Sometime after, Nahusha realised his position as the king of the deities. This filled him with pride. From that time all his deeds were suspended.
स ऋषीन् वाहयामास वरदानमदान्वितः। परिहीणक्रियश्चैव दुर्बलत्वमुपेयिवान्॥
Filled with pride on account of the boon he had received from all the celestials, Nahusha caused the very Rishis to bear hiin on their shoulders. On account, however, of his abstention from all religious acts, his energy began to wane.
तस्य वाहयतः कालो मुनिमुख्यास्तपोधनान्। अहंकाराभिभूतस्य सुमहानभ्यवर्तत॥
The time was very long for which Nahusha, filled with arrogance, continued to employ the foremost of Rishis, having penances for wealth, as the bearers of his vehicles.
अथ पर्यायशः सर्वान् वाहनायोपचक्रमे। पर्यायश्चाप्यगस्त्यस्य समपद्यत भारत॥
He make the Rishis perform by turns this humiliating work. The day came when it was Agastya's turn to carry the vehicle, O Bharata.
अथागत्य महातेजा भृगुर्ब्रह्मविदां वरः। अगस्त्यमाश्रमस्थं वै समुपेत्येदमब्रवीत्॥ एवं वयमसत्कारं देवेन्द्रस्यास्य दुर्मतेः। नहुषस्य किमर्थं वै मर्षयाम महामुने॥
At that time, Bhrigu, that foremost of all persons conversant with Brahma went to Agastya while the latter was seated in his hermitage, and addressing him said, O great ascetic, why should we patiently suffer such indignities inflicted on us by this wicked Nahusha who has become the king of the deities.
अगस्त्य उवाच कथमेष मया शक्यः शप्तुं यस्य महामुने। वरदेन वरो दत्तो भवतो विदितश्च सः॥
Agastya said How can, succeed in cursing Nahusha, O great Rishi? You know how the Boongiving (Brahman) himself has given Nahusha the best of boons.
यो मे दृष्टिपथं गच्छेत् स मे वश्यो भवेदिति। इत्यनेन वरं देवो याचितो गच्छता दिवम्॥
Coming to the celestial region, the boon that Nahusha prayed for, was that, whoever would come within the range of his vision would, deprived of all energy, come within his control.
एवं न दग्धः स मया भवता च न संशयः। अन्येनाप्यषिमुख्येन न दग्धो न च पातितः॥
The selfborn Brahman granted him this boon, and it is therefore that neither yourself nor I have been able to consume him. Forsooth, it is for this reason that none one else amongst the foremost of Rishis has been able to consume or throw him down from his elevated position.
अमृतं चैव पानाय दत्तमस्मै पुरा विभो। महात्मना तदर्थं च नास्माभिर्विनिपात्यते॥
Formerly, O lord, nectar was given by Brahman to Nahusha for drinking. Therefore we can do nothing to him.
प्रायच्छत वरं देवः प्रजानां दुःखकारणम्। द्विजेष्वधर्मयुक्तानि स करोति नराधमः॥
The great god, it appears, gave that boon to Nahusha for plunging all creatures into grief. That wretched behaves most unrighteously towards the Brahmanas.
तत्र यत्प्राप्तकालं नस्तद् ब्रूहि वदतां वर। भवांश्चापि यथा ब्रूयात् तत्कर्तास्मि न संशयः॥
O foremost of all speakers, tell us what should be done under the circumstances. Forsooth, I shall do what you will advise. man
भृगु उवाच पितामहनियोगेन भवन्तं सोऽहमागतः। प्रतिकर्तुं बलवति नहुषे दैवेमोहिते॥
Bhrigu said It is at the command of the Grandfather that I have come to you with the view of counteracting the power of Nahusha who is gifted with great energy but who has been stupefied by fatc.
अद्य हि त्वां सुदुर्बुद्धी रथे योक्ष्यति देवराट्। अद्यैनमहमुद्वृत्तं करिष्येऽनिन्द्रमोजसा॥
That exceedingly wicked being who has become the king of the celestials, will today yoke you to his car. With the help of my power I shall today hurl him down from his position as Indra on account of his having transcended all restraints.
अद्येन्द्र स्थापयिष्यामि पश्यतस्ते शतक्रुतम्। संचाल्य पापकर्माणमैन्द्रात् स्थानात् सुदुर्मतिम्॥
I shall today, in your very sight, reestablish the true Indra in his position, him, viz., who has celebrated a hundred horse sacrifices, having hurled the wicked and sinful Nahusha from that seat.
अद्य चासौ कुदेवेन्द्रस्त्वां पदा धर्षयिष्यति। दैवोपहतचित्तत्वादात्मनाशाय मन्दधीः॥
That impious king of the celestials will today insult you by a kick, on account of his understanding being afflicted by fate and for bringing about his own downfall.
व्युत्क्रान्तधर्मं तमहं घर्षणामर्षितो भृशम्। अहिर्भवस्वेति रुषा शप्स्ये पापं द्विजदुहम्॥
Euraged at such an insult I shall today curse that sinful wretch, that enemy of the Brahmanas, who has transcended all restrains, saying, Be you metamorphosed into a snake.
तत एनं सुदुर्बुद्धिं धिक्शब्दाभिहतत्विषम्। धरण्यां पातयिष्यामि पश्यतस्ते महामुने॥
Before your eyes, O great ascetic, I shall today hurl down on the Earth the wicked Nahusha who shall be deprived of all power on account of the cries of Fie that will be uttered from all sides.
नहुषं पापकर्माणमैश्वर्यबलमोहितम्। यथा च रोचते तुभ्यं तथा कर्तास्म्यहं मुने॥
Indeed, I shall hurl down Nahusha today, that sinful man, who has, besides, been stupefied by lordship and power. I shall do this, if you like it, О ascetic.
एवमुक्तस्तु भृगुणा मैत्रावरुणिरव्ययः। अगस्त्यः परमप्रीतो बभूव विगतज्वरः॥
Thus addressed by Bhrigu, Mitravaruna's son Agastya of unfading power and glory, became highly pleased and freed from every anxiety.