Sarga 61: The Story of Sunassepha
Sunassepha Vrittanta
King Ambarisha seeks a sacrificial victim after Indra steals his sacrificial animal; he approaches sage Richika's family, and the young middle son Sunassepha voluntarily offers himself for a hundred thousand cows.
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विश्वामित्रो महात्माथ प्रस्थितान् प्रेक्ष्य तानृषीन्। अब्रवीन्नरशार्दूलस्सर्वांस्तान्वनवासिन:||1.61.1||
Meaning
O Tiger among men, the magnanimous Viswamitra, seeing the departing forest-dwelling sages, spoke to them.
महान्विघ्न: प्रवृत्तोऽयं दक्षिणामास्थितो दिशम्। दिशमन्यां प्रपत्स्यामस्तत्र तप्स्यामहे तप:||1.61.2||
Meaning
A great calamity has befallen the southern quarter. Let us go to another region and perform austerities there.
पश्चिमायां विशालायां पुष्करेषु महात्मन:। सुखं तपश्चरिष्याम: परं तद्धि तपोवनम्||1.61.3||
Meaning
In the vast western region lies the sacred Pushkara. There in the forest fit for austerities, we shall practice penance peacefully.
एवमुक्त्वा महातेजा: पुष्करेषु महामुनि:। तप उग्रं दुराधर्षं तेपे मूलफलाशन:||1.61.4||
Meaning
Having spoken thus, the powerful sage Viswamitra reached Pushkara where, living on fruits and roots, he performed intense, unsurpassable austerities.
एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु अयोध्याधिपतिर्नृप:। अम्बरीष इति ख्यातो यष्टुं समुपचक्रमे||1.61.5||
Meaning
At this same time, Ambarisha, the well-known king of Ayodhya, commenced preparations for a grand sacrifice.
तस्य वै यजमानस्य पशुमिन्द्रो जहार ह। प्रणष्टे तु पशौ विप्रो राजानमिदमब्रवीत्||1.61.6||
Meaning
While performing the sacrifice, Indra stole the sacrificial animal. When it could not be found, the priest said to the king:
पशुरद्य हृतो राजन् प्रणष्टस्तव दुर्नयात् । अरक्षितारं राजानं घ्नन्ति दोषा नरेश्वर ||1.61.7||
Meaning
O King, the animal has been stolen due to your neglect of duty. The king who fails to protect his people perishes by his own faults.
प्रायश्चित्तं महद्ध्येतन्नरं वा पुरुषर्षभ । आनयस्व पशुं शीघ्रं यावत्कर्म प्रवर्तते||1.61.8||
Meaning
O Best of men, you must make great expiation. Bring either a beast or a man quickly so the sacrifice can be completed.
उपाध्यायवचश्श्रुत्वा स राजा पुरुषर्षभ। अन्वियेष महाबुद्धि: पशुं गोभिस्सहस्रश:||1.61.9||
Meaning
Hearing the priest's words, the highly intelligent king searched for a sacrificial animal, offering thousands of cows in exchange.
देशान् जनपदांस्तां स्तान्नगराणि वनानि च। आश्रमाणि च पुण्यानि मार्गमाणो महीपति: ||1.61.10|| स पुत्रसहितं तात सभार्यं रघुनन्दन । भृगुतुंदे समासीनमृचीकं सन्ददर्श ह||1.61.11||
Meaning
Searching through countries, villages, cities, forests, and sacred hermitages, he found sage Richika with his wife and sons on the Bhrigutunda mountain.