ABHIMANYU-VADHA PARVA: Chapter 57

The story of king Paurava

नारद उवाच राजानं पौरवं वीरं मृतं सृञ्जय शुश्रुम। सहस्रं यः सहस्राणां श्वेतानश्वानवासृजत्॥
Narada said O Srinjaya, we also heard of the death of the heroic king Paurava, who gave away a thousand times thousand horses that were all white in colour.

तस्याश्वमेधे राजधैर्देशाद्देशात् समीयुषाम्। शिक्षाक्षरविधिज्ञानां नासीत् संख्या विपश्चिताम्॥
At the celebration of the horse-sacrifice by him, the number of Brahmanas learned in the Shiksha and Aksharas that then presented themselves from different countries, indeed countless.

वेदविद्याव्रतस्नाता वदान्याः प्रियदर्शनाः। सुभिक्षाच्छादनगृहाः सुशय्यासनभोजनाः॥
These Brahmanas, purified by the Vedas, by learning, by the observance of vows, all of benevolent dispositions and of amiable features, received from the monarch gifts of such things as garments, horses, precious beeds, carpets and conveyances.

नटनर्तकगन्धर्वैः पूर्णकैवर्धमानकैः। नित्योद्योगैश्च क्रीडद्भिस्तत्र स्म परिहर्षिताः॥
They were always entertained by actors, dancers, ministrels perfectly accomplished and well-acquainted with their respective arts and engaged in sports and always striving for pleasing the former.

यज्ञे यज्ञे यथाकालं दक्षिणा: सोऽत्यकालयत्। द्विपा दशसहस्राख्याः प्रमदाः काञ्चनप्रभाः॥
Al cach of his sacrifices, in due time, he used to give away as Dakshina, ten thousand elephants of golden cffulgence, with their lemporal juice trickling down.

सध्वजाः सपताकाश्च रथा हेममयास्तथा। यः सहस्रं सहस्राणि कन्या हेमविभूषिताः॥
And also golden chariots decked with standards and flags, He also used to give away as Dakshina a thousand times thousand damsels, all adorned with golden ornaments.

धूर्युजाश्वगजारूढाः सगृहक्षेत्रगोशताः। शतं शतसहस्राणि स्वर्णमालिमहात्मनाम्॥ गवां सहस्रानुचरान् दक्षिणामत्यकालयत्।
And chariots, elephants and horses for mounting and mansions and fields and luundreds of cows and thousands of high-souled cattle-tenders all decked with chains of gold.

हेमशृङ्ग्यो रौप्यखुराः सवत्सा: कांस्यदोहनाः॥ दासीदासखरोष्ट्राश्च प्रादादाजाविकं बहु।
That in that sacrifice king Paurava gave away as gifts kine with calves, having horns of gold, hoofs of silver and udders of brass, as ! also numerous male and female slaves, asses, camels and sheep.

रत्नानां विविधानां च विविधांश्चान्नपर्वतान्॥ तस्मिन् संवितते यज्ञे दक्षिणामत्यकालयत्।
He also gave away as presents, diverse kinds of gems and numerous piles of food and cdibles, even before the accomplishment of his sacrifices.

तत्रास्य गाथा गायन्ति ये पुराणविदो जनाः॥
People conversant with the history of the past ages sing this songs.

अङ्गस्य यजमानस्य स्वधर्माधिगताः शुभाः। गुणोत्तरास्तु क्रतवस्तस्यासन् सार्वकामिकाः॥
That monarch of the Angas, ever devoted to the performance of sacrifice, celebrated many auspicious sacrifices suited to his order, one after another, according to their respective efficacy; and these sacrifices yielded all his objects of desire.

स चेन्ममार सृञ्जय चतुर्भद्रतरस्त्वया। पुत्रा पुण्यतरुतुभ्यं मा पुत्रमनुतप्यथाः। अयज्वानमदाक्षिण्यमभि श्वैत्येत्युदाहरत्॥
O Srinjaya, when even such a king suffered destruction, who was superior to you in all his four cardinal virtues and so who was far superior to your son, you should not lament for your son saying, Oh Shvaitya and should not grieve for his having performed no sacrifices and made no sacrificial presents.