1-2. The sages who were rich in religious austerities (or who considered religious austerities as their wealth) spoke to Sūta again: “Where did the Sattra (sacrificial session) of those sages of miraculous deeds take place? How long did it last? How did it function? How did Väyu (the Wind-god happen to recount the Puräna to them?
3. Please narrate this in details as we are extremely, eager to hear this.” Thus urged, Sūta spoke (the following) auspicious words in reply.
Sūta said:
4. Listen where the wise sages performed the excellent Sattra, how long it continued and how it was accomplished.
5. They performed it where, of yore, the creator of the universe desirous of creating the universe, performed the holy Sattra for a thousand years.
6. In that Sattra, Tapa was the householder (performing the sacrifice); god Brahmă assumed the office of the priest designated as ‘Brahmā.’ Ila had the status of the consort of the performer of sacrifice). The intelligent Mrutyu (god of death) of great splendour performed the Shāmitra rite (of killing the sacrificial animal) in that sacrifice of those noble souls.
7. The sages performed the sacrifice for a thousand years in the place where the rim of the revolving Dharma-chakra (the wheel of righteousness) was shattered. Thanks to that event, that place, sanctified by the sages, became famous as Naimişha.
8. It is the place where the holy river Gomati, worshipped by Siddhas and Chăraņas, flows. There, Rohiņi gave birth to Budha by Soma.
9. Where Shakti, the eldest son of Vasishtha, was born; where Arundhati gave birth to a hundred sons of excellent brilliance.
10. Where king Kalmāshapāda was cursed by Shakti and where the enmity between Viśhvamitra and Vasishtha had cropped up.
11. Where sage Parāśhara was born of Adruśhyanti. Even as he was born, the mortification of Vasishtha1 was brought about.
1. Parashara, while in mother’s womb for twelve years, became such a great Vedic scholar (Mbh. Adi 176. 12-15).
12. There, at Naimisha, the expounders of the Vedas per formed the sacrificial session. Since they performed the sacrifice at Naimisha, they were called Naimisheyas.
13. It was while the valiant king Purūravas, was ruling over the earth that the sages performed the Sattra for twelve years.
14. We have heard that though Purūravas enjoyed the eighteen continents, surrounded by the oceans, he was never content due to his covetousness for hoarding precious stones.
15. Urged by Devahūti, Urvaśhī loved him. Accompanied by this celestial damsel, the king desired to perform a sacrifice.
16. It was during his reign that the Naimişheyas performed the Sattra. The highly refulgent foetus which Gangă conceived from the Fire-god, was deposited on the mountain and it was transformed into gold.
17. Then, for promoting the welfare of the world, god Viśhvakarma, of his own accord, made of gold, the sacrificial hall (lit. the enclosure for the sacrifice of those noble-souled sages.
18. Bruhaspati (the preceptor of gods was) there among the (sages) of incomparable brilliance. During the course of hunting, Purūravas, the son of Ilă, happened to visit that place.
19. On seeing that great wonderful sacrificial hall of gold, his faculty of judgement (wisdom) was overwhelmed by covetousness and he tried to seize it.
20. Thereupon, the Naimişheyas got extremely infuriated. Urged by fate, they killed him towards the close of the night with adamantised Kusha grass.1
1. The greed of Purūravas and his consequent death at the hands of sages is recorded in Mbh. Adi 75. 20-23. Vide Bd. P. I. 1.2. 20-23 and p. 24 note 1 on it.
21. Pounded by the adamant-like Kuśha grass, the king cast off his mortal body. The sages made his son, born of Urvašhī, the ruler of the Earth.
22. This king (Āyu) was the noble-souled father of Nahusha. He was virtuous and devoted to religion, and he behaved well with the sages. The health of that excellent person was very fine and he enjoyed a long life.
23. After mollifying the king (Ayu), the sages who were excellent among those who know Brahman, resumed their Sattra duly for increasing their religious merit.
24. That Sattra of those noble sages became as wonderful as that of the creators of the universe) which they undertook before, with a view to create the universe.
25. The Sattra was attended by Vaikhănasas, the friendly Välakhilyas, Marichikas and other sages who were as brilliant as the sun and fire.
26. It was attended by Pitris, Devas, Apsaras-s, Siddhas, Gandharvas, Nagas, and Chåraņas. It was equipped with the auspicious requisites in the same manner as the assembly hall of Indra by means of all these.
27. They worshipped the Devas through hymns, Sattrachants and Graha-incantations. They worshipped the Pitris with the rites befitting their status. They worshipped the Gandharvas and others according to their respective position in the prescribed way.
28. The Gandharvas sang Saman hymns; the Apsaras-s danced. They were desirous of propitiating (the invitees) in this rite.
29. The sages uttered auspicious words full of graceful expressions. Those who were versed in the philosophy of the mantras argued with one another.
30. Some disputants overcame their adversaries by fallacious arguments. The sages there were learned men, well-versed in the Samkhya and Nyaya school of philosophy.
31. Brahmarakshasas did not perpetrate any foul deeds; nor were there the Daityas who destroy the sacrifice, nor the Asuras who plunder it.
32. There was no need for expiation or imprecation. By the combination of (steady) activity, intellect and efficiency, the injunctions were carried out.
33. In this manner the intelligent sages performed the Sattra of twelve years’ duration. Bhrugu and other wise sages performed the Jyotişhtoma sacrifices separately. They paid ten thousand (coins) as fee to those returning priests.
34. After concluding the sacrifice, O Brāhmaṇas, they asked the great lord Väyu of noble soul what I have been asked by you. Urged to describe the various dynasties of Kings, the lord spoke to them. 1
1. Vāyu (the Wind-god) is the earlier interlocutor than the traditional Sūta. Cf. Bd. P. I. 1. 2. 36-48.
35. He (Väyu) was a disciple of Brahmä. He could see everything directly. He had perfect control over his senses. He was endowed with the eight supernatural powers like Animā and others.
36. He sustains all the worlds with their special characteristics of the non-human (and human) species. He perpetually flows through his seven courses (regions) as arranged.
37. The forty-nine Maruts arranged in seven groups of seven were stationed invariably in his jurisdiction. He is very powerful who could make the assemblage of three kinds of living beings. He could make embodied beings sustain through Tejas (fire).
38. He sustains bodies of living beings urging them with his five-fold activities and through the organs of sensation and activity.
39. It has been said by the learned that his source of origin was ether, attributes were sound and touch and that he was the origin of fire.
40. Lord Váyu is the extremely active presiding deity called Vätārani. He was expert in the science of language.
41. He was adept in ancient (Purāņa) tradition. By means of sweet words full of Purāņic contents he could delight the learned sages.