Parva 2 Chapter 16: śaradvarṇanam - Description of Autumn Season

vaiśaṁpāyana said: (O janamejaya!) After hearing the words of the elderly gopa about the śakra (indra) festival, dāmodara (kṛṣṇa), even though he knew well about the splendour of śakra, said: vanaṁ vanacarā gopāḥ sadā godhanajīvinaḥ | gāvo'smaddaivataṁ viddhi girayashcha vanāni ca ||2-16-2 We, cow tenders, live in the forest. Our life is sustained by the wealth of cows. Therefore, cows, hills and the forests are our gods. karṣukāṇāṁ kṛṣirvṛttiḥ paṇyaṁ vipaṇijīvinām | gāvo'smākaṁ parā vṛttiretattraividyamucyate ||2-16-3 Farming is the livelihood of farmers, trading is the livelihood of merchants. Tending cows is our livelihood. These are said to be three types of livelihoods. vidyayā yo yathā yuktastasya sā daivataṁ param | saiva pūjyārchanīyā ca saiva tasyopakāriṇī | For each, the means of suitable livelihood, is god. One should worship that which is useful for him. yo'nyasya phalamaśnānaḥ karotyanyasya satkriyām ||2-16-4 dvāvanarthau sa labhate pretya cheha ca mānavaḥ | One who worships and respects some one with the benefit received from some one else will inherit misfortune in this world and in the other world. kṛṣyantā prathitā sīmā sīmāntaṁ śrūyate vanam |2-16-5 vanāntā girayaḥ sarve sā cāsmākaṁ gatirdhruvā | The field ends in a border. That border ends in the forest. The forest ends at the hill. Hence we depend on the hill. śrūyante girayaścāpi vane'sminkāmarūpiṇaḥ | pravishya tāstāstanavo ramante sveṣu sānuṣu ||2-16-6 It is heard that, the hills, taking forms as they like, enjoy in the forest. Manifesting various forms, they wander in their peaks. bhūtvā kesariṇaḥ simhā vyāghrāścha nakhinām varāḥ | vanāni svāni rakṣanti trāsayanto vanacchidaḥ ||2-16-7 Taking the form of lions and tigers with nails, the forests frighten the forest destroyers and protect themselves from them. yadā chaiṣāṁ vikurvanti te vanālayajīvinaḥ | ghnanti tāneva durvṛttānpauruṣādena karmaṇā ||2-16-8 When those who live depending on the forest engage in destructive acts, the forest will kill those wicked people with appropriate actions. mantrayajṣaparā viprāḥ sītāyajṣāścha karṣukāḥ | giriyajṅāstathā gopā ijyo'smābhirgirirvane ||2-16-9 Brahmins are engaged in chanting of mantras. Farmers are engaged in tilling. The gopa-s depend on the hill . Hence we should worship the hill and the forest. tanmahyaṁ rochate gopā giriyajṣaḥ pravartatām | karma kṛtvā sukhasthāne pādapeṣvatha vā girau ||2-16-10 According to my opinion, we should worship the hill. This should be performed in a comfortable place, under a tree or at the foot of a hill. tatra hatvā paśūnmedhyānvitatyāyatane śubhe | sarvaghoṣasya saṁdohaḥ kriyatāṁ kiṁ vicāryate ||2-16-11 There, at an auspicious location, performing animal sacrifice, let us milk all the cows. What are we thinking about (Let us not delay)? taṁ śaratkusumāpīḍāḥ parivārya pradakṣiṇam | gāvo girivaraṁ sarvāstato yāntu punarvrajam ||2-16-12 Let us decorate the cows with autumn flowers and circumambulate the hill. Thereafter let the cows return to the vraja. prāptā kileyaṁ hi gavāṁ svādutoyatṛṇā guṇaiḥ | śaratpramuditā ramyā gatameghajalāśayā ||2-16-13 The pleasant and beautiful autumn season has arrived. The water is tasty and grass is good for the cows. There are no clouds in the sky. priyakaiḥ puṣpitairgauraṁ śyāmaṁ bāṇasanaiḥ kvachit | kaṭhoratṛṇamābhāti nirmayūrarutaṁ vanam ||2-16-14 Due to the flowers in full bloom, the forest has a golden colour. Somewhere the forest appears dark due to thick bushes and small plants. The forest is full of tough grass There is no sound of peacocks. vijalā vimalā vyomni vibalākā vividyutaḥ | vivardhante jaladharā vidantā iva kuṣjarāḥ ||2-16-15 Devoid of water, dirt and lightning, the clear water bearing clouds wander in the sky, like elephants without tusks. paṭunā meghanādena navatoyānukarṣiṇā | parṇotkaraghanāḥ sarve prasādaṁ yānti pādapāḥ ||2-16-16 The trees appeared dense with leaves since they were showered with strong winds loaded with water bearing clouds. All these trees begin to lose their leaves. (There is plenty of light) and hence they look pleased. sitavarṇāmbudoṣṇīṣaṁ haṁsacāmaravījitam | pūrṇacandrāmalacchatraṁ sābhiṣekamivāmbaram |2-16-17 The sky looks like a king at his coronation - The white clouds look like his turban, the swans are like fans and the full moon is like an umbrella held over the head. haṁsaiḥ prahasitānīva samutkṛṣṭāni sārasaiḥ | sarvāṇi tanutāṁ yānti jalāni jaladakṣaye ||2-16-18 After the rains, the water in the reservoirs begin to decrease. It looks as though the swans are laughing at them and the cranes have abandoned them. cakravākastanataṭāḥ pulinaśroṇimaṇḍalāḥ | haṁsalakṣaṇahāsinyaḥ patiṁ yānti samudragāḥ ||2-16-19 The river which flow to meet her husband, the ocean, appears beautiful with swans sporting in water as her smile, banks as the hips and a pair of cakravaka birds as the breasts. kumudotphullamudakaṁ tārābhiścitramambaram | samamabhyutsmayantīva śarvarīṣvitaretaram ||2-16-20 In the night, lotus flowers bloom in water and the sky dazzles with many stars. Both appears to compete with each other, saying, "my beauty is superior to yours". mattakrauṣcāvaghuṣṭeṣu kamalāpakvapāṇḍuṣu | nirviṣṭaramaṇīyeṣu vaneṣu ramate manaḥ ||2-16-21 The mind finds great pleasure in the forest where, excited birds sing sweetly, paddy fields ready for reaping look like decorated brides, a pleasant atmosphere prevails like in the house of a married couple. puṣkariṇyastaḍāgāni vāpyaścha vikachotpalāḥ | kedārāḥ saritashcaiva sarāṁsi ca śriyājvalan ||2-16-22 The incomparable beauty of ponds and lakes with golden flowers and pools and rivers increase with nourishment. paṅkajāni ca tāmrāṇi tathānyāni sitānyapi | utpalāni ca nīlāni bhejire vārijāṁ shriyam ||2-16-23 The water-born red, white and blue lotuses increase the beauty of the water of the lakes. madaṁ jahuḥ sitāpāṅgā mandaṁ vavṛdhire'nilāḥ | abhavadvyabhramākāśamabhūccha nibhṛto'rṇavaḥ ||2-16-24 The excitement of the peacocks has ended. The wind is blowing slow. The sky is devoid of clouds. The sea appears to be full. ṛtuparyāyaśithilairvṛttanṛtyasamujjhitaiḥ | mayūrāṅgaruhairbhūmirbahunetreva lakṣyate ||2-16-25 The rainy season has ended and the peacocks have stopped dancing. Due to the scattered peacock feathers, the ground appears to be having many eyes. svapaṅkamalinaistīraiḥ kāśapuṣpalatākulaiḥ | haṁsasārasavinyāsairyamunā bhāti śobhanā ||2-16-26 The banks of yamunā which were dirty with slush, look beautiful with blooming kāśa flowers where the swans and cranes have made their nests. kalamāpākaramyeṣu kedāreṣu janeṣu ca | sasyādā jalajādāścha mattā viruruvuḥ khagāḥ ||2-16-27 The birds, eating the grains in the beautiful fields ready for reaping, and the birds eating fish in the lakes, are making various sounds. siṣichuryāni jaladā jalena jaladāgame | tāni sasyāni bālāni kaṭhinatvaṁ gatāni vai ||2-16-28 The young tender plants, dragged by the clouds in the rainy season, have grown up and become hard. tyaktvā meghamayaṁ vāsaḥ śaradguṇavidīpitaḥ | eṣa vai vimale vyomni hṛṣṭo vasati candramāḥ ||2-16-29 The moon has abandoned the clothes in the form of clouds. Adorned with the qualities of autumn, the moon happily stays in the clear sky. kṣīriṇyo dviguṇaṁ gāvaḥ pramattā dviguṇaṁ vṛṣāḥ | vanānāṁ dviguṇā lakṣmīḥ sasyairguṇavatī mahī ||2-16-30 In the autumn season, the cows give double the quantity of milk. The bulls are doubly excited. The forests are doubly wealthy. Because of abundant vegetation, the earth is enriched with many qualities. jyotīṁṣi ghanamuktāni padmavanti jalāni ca | manāṁsi ca manuṣyāṇāṁ prasādamupayānti vai ||2-16-31 The planets and stars released from the cover of clouds, water adorned with lotus flowers, and the minds of people have become pleased. asṛjatsavitā vyomni nirmukto jaladairbhṛśam | śaratprajvalitaṁ tejastīkṣṇaraśmirviśoṣayan ||2-16-32 In autumn, the sun, freed from the rain bearing clouds in the sky, producing rays with higher blaze and weakens the essence of earth. nīrājayitvā sainyāni prayānti vijigīṣavaḥ | anyonyarāṣṭrābhimukhāḥ pārthivāḥ pṛthivīkṣitaḥ ||2-16-33 The kings of earth provide their army with weapons and march towards other kingdoms looking for victory. bandhujīvābhitāmrāsu baddhapaṅkavatīṣu ca | manastiṣṭhati kānṭāsu citrāsu vanarājiṣu ||2-16-34 The mind goes to the beautiful forest lands dazzling with shoeflowers, enriched by mud and sediments. vaneṣu ca virājante pādapā vanaśobhinaḥ | śrasanāḥ saptaparṇāścha kovidārāścha puṣpitāḥ ||22-16-35 iṣusāhvā nikumbhāścha priyakāḥ svarṇakāstathā | sṛmarāḥ pechukāścaiva ketakyashcha samantataḥ ||2-16-36 The trees in full bloom, such as, śrasanā, saptaparṇā, kovidāra, iṣusāhvā, nikumbhā, priyakā, svarṇakā, and ketaki dazzle adding beauty to the forest. Many kinds of deer and owls roam in a happy mood. Translator's note: The botanical names of the trees mentioned in this śloka, according to the Monier Williams Dictionary are as follows: śrasanā - Terminalia Tomentosa saptaparṇā - Alstonia Scholaris kovidāra -Bauhinia Variegata iṣusāhvā - nikumbhā - Croton Polyandrum priyakā - Nauclea - Cadamba - Several plants - Terminalia Tomentosa svarṇakā - suvarṇaka - Cathartocarpus Fistula ketaki -Pandanus odoratissimus vrajeṣu ca viśeṣeṇa gargarodgārahāsiṣu | śaratprakāśayoṣeva goṣṭheṣvaṭati rūpiṇī ||2-16-37 In those vrajas, the autumn season roams like a beautiful young woman, where specially, milk, curd and butter are filled in pots creating sound which appears like the laughter of the season. nūnaṁ tridaśabhūyiṣṭhaṁ meghakālasukhoṣitam | patatriketanaṁ devaṁ bodhayanti divaukasaḥ ||2-16-38 It is sure that the gods are waking up the lord having garuḍa on his flag, from his comfortable rest in the rainy season. śaradyevaṁ susasyāyāṁ prāptāyāṁ prāvṛṣaḥ kṣaye | nīlacandrārkavarṇaiścha rachitaṁ bahubhirdvijaiḥ ||2-16-39 After the rainy season, the autumn season decorated with beautiful vegetation has arrived, along with many birds with multiple colours, such as blue like clouds, white like moon and sun. phalaiḥ pravālaiścha ghanamindracāpaghanopamam | bhavanākāraviṭapaṁ latāparamamaṇḍitam ||2-16-40 The trees are full of fruits, dense with tender leaves. They look beautiful, like clouds decorated with rainbow. The huge branches decorated with creepers look like houses. viśālamūlāvanataṁ pavanābhogamaṇḍitam | archayāmo giriṁ devaṁ gāścaiva ca viśeṣataḥ ||2-16-41 The roots of the trees have spread far and wide. The trees enjoy good air. We should specially worship the hill along with the cows. barhāpīḍaiścha daṁśitaiḥ | ghaṇṭābhiścha pralambābhiḥ puṣpaiḥ śāradikaistathā ||2-16-42 Let us decorate the horns of the cows with peacock feathers. Let us tie bells on their neck and decorate the cows with autumn flowers. śivāya gāvaḥ pūjyantāṁ giriyajṣaḥ pravartyatām | pūjyatāṁ tridaśaiḥ shakro girirasmābhirijyatām ||2-16-43 Let us worship the cows for our well being. Let us start the worship of the hill. Let the gods worship indra and let us worship the hill. kārayiṣyāmi goyajṣaṁ balādapi na saṁśayaḥ | yadyasti mayi vaḥ prītiryadi vā suhṛdo vayam ||2-16-44 gāvo hi pūjyāḥ satataṁ sarveṣāṁ nātra saṁśayaḥ | If you are pleased with me and if we seek the good of all, then I will carry out the cow festival forcefully. There is no doubt that the cows are to be worshipped always by all. yadi sāmnā bhavetprītirbhavatāṁ vaibhavāya ca | etanmama vacastathyaṁ kriyatāmavicāritam ||2-16-45 If you are happy with my explanation, then for your own progress, accept my words without any hesitation and proceed accordingly. iti śrīmahābhārate khileṣu harivaṁśe viṣṇuparvaṇi śaradvarṇane śoḍaśo'dhyāyaḥ Thus this is the sixteenth chapter of viṣṇuparva of harivaṁśa, khila of śrimahābhārata, description of Autumn season. nīlakaṇṭha commentary etasmin ṣoḍaśe'dhyāye yuktibhirmaghabhedanaṁ | upendreṇa mahendrasya śarado varṇanaṁ tathā || 1 || · 2-16-1 gopavṛ+ddhasya vacanaṁ śrutvā śakraparigrahe indramahotsavasvīkāre || · 2-16-3 paṇyaṁ vikreyaṁ dravyaṁ vipaṇijīvināṁ vaṇijāṁ traividyaṁ vārtārūpāyāḥ vidyāyā bhedatrayaṁ || · 2-16-4 vidyayā vārttayā · 2-16-6 tanavastanūḥ · 2-16-8 eṣāṁ vanānāṁ vikurvanti vikāraṁ janayanti | vanālayāḥ bhillādyāḥ vanajīvino gopatakṣādyāḥ|| · 2-16-10 karma svastivācanādikaṁ sukhastāne pādapādisannidhau same deshe || · 2-16-11 vitatya kuṇḍamaṇḍapādikaṁ vistārya kriyatāṁ | ekatreti śeṣaḥ || · 2-16-13 pramuditā pramuditajanatvāt || · 2-16-14 priyakaiḥ kadambhabhedaiḥ bāṇāsanaiḥ jhiṇṭipucchaiḥ nirmayūrarutaṁ varṣāpagamāt · 2-16-15 balākeva balākā ākasmikapātā'śaniḥ tadrahitā vibalākāḥ || · 2-16-17 sābhiṣekamiva paṭṭābhiṣiktanṛpatitulyam || · 2-16-20 abhyutsmayanti garvamāviṣkurvanti | bahutvamārṣam · 2-16-21 kalamāpakvapāṇḍuṣu dhānyamaṣjarīpākapiṅgeṣu nirviṣṭāḥ kṛtavivāhāstadvadramaṇīyeṣu krauṣchapuruṣayoḥ dhānyavarāṅganayoścha sāmyam || · 2-16-24 sitāpāṅgāḥ mayūrāḥ nibhṛtaḥ pūrṇaḥ · 2-16-25 ṛtuparyāyo varṣāpagamastena śithilaiḥ vṛttaṁ samāptaṁ yannṛtyaṁ tadā samujjhiyataiḥ || · 2-16-26 vinyāsaiḥ upaveśanasthalaiḥ || · 2-16-27 jalajādāḥ matyāśinaḥ || · 2-16-3 2 viśoṣayan rasāniti śeṣaḥ || · 2-16-34 bandhujīvaiḥ raktapuṣpaiḥ amitaḥ tāmrāsu lohitāsu || · 2-16-36 iṣusāhvāḥ bāṇāṣanāḥ nikumbāḥ dantiviṭapāḥ svarṇakāḥ svarṇavarnāḥ puṣpitā iti pūrvaṇānvayaḥ | sṛmarā mṛgaviśeṣāḥ teṣāṁ śaradi darśanāt | pechukāḥ ghūkāḥ iti kechit || · 2-16-42 sāvataṁsaiḥ samukuṭaiḥ barhāpīḍaiḥ mayūrapatrabhuṣābhistatraiva śṛṅgeṣu daṁśiterbaddhe || iti śrīharivaṁśe viṣṇuparvaṇi ṭīkāyāṁ ṣodaśo'dhyāyaḥ