Great Epic Sree Mahabharatam:
The Mahabharata
Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasatranslated by
Sreemaan Brahmasri Kisari Mohan Ganguli
Mausala Parva
Book 16
The Mahabharata
Mausala Parva
Book 16
Chapter 1
1 [vai]
ṣaṭ triṃśe tv atha saṃprāpte varṣe kauravanandana
dadarśa viparītāni nimittāni yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
2 vavur vātāḥ sanirghātā rūkṣāḥ śarkara varṣiṇaḥ
apasavyāni śakunā maṇḍalāni pracakrire
3 pratyagūhur mahānadyo diśo
nīhārasaṃvṛtāḥ
ulkāś cāṅgāra varṣiṇyaḥ prapetur gaganād bhuvi
4 ādityo rajasā rājan
samavacchanna maṇḍalaḥ
viraśmir udaye nityaṃ kabandhaiḥ samadṛśyata
5 pariveṣāś ca dṛśyante dāruṇāś candrasūryayoḥ
trivarṇāḥ śyāma rūkṣāntās tathā bhasmāruṇa prabhāḥ
6 ete cānye ca bahava utpātā
bhayasaṃsinaḥ
deśyante 'har aho rājan hṛdayodvega kārakāḥ
7 kasya cit tv atha kālasya
kururājo yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
śuśrāva vṛṣṇicakrasya mausale
kadanaṃ kṛtam
8 vimuktaṃ vāsudevaṃ ca śrutvā rāmaṃ ca pāṇḍavaḥ
samānīyābravīd bhrātṝn kiṃ kariṣyāma ity uta
9 parasparaṃ samāsādya brahmadaṇḍabalat kṛtān
vṛṣṇīn vinaṣṭāṃs te śrutvā vyathitāḥ pāṇḍavābhavan
10 nidhanaṃ vāsudevasya samudrasyeva śoṣaṇam
vīrā na śraddadhus tasya vināśaṃ śārṅgadhanvanaḥ
11 mausalaṃ te
pariśrutya duḥkhaśokasamanvitāḥ
viṣaṇṇā hatasaṃkalpāḥ pāṇḍavāḥ samupāviśan
1
Om! Having
bowed down unto Narayana, and to Nara,
the foremost of men, as also to the goddess Sarasvati, should the word
"Jaya" be uttered.Vaishampayana said: "When the thirty-sixth year (after the battle) was reached, the delighter of the Kurus, Yudhishthira, beheld many unusual portents. Winds, dry and strong, and showering gravels, blew from every side. Birds began to wheel, making circles from right to left. The great rivers ran in opposite directions. The horizon on every side seemed to be always covered with fog. Meteors, showering (blazing) coals, fell on the Earth from the sky. The Sun’s disc, O king, seemed to be always covered with dust. At its rise, the great luminary of day was shorn of splendour and seemed to be crossed by headless trunks (of human beings). Fierce circles of light were seen every day around both the Sun and the Moon. These circles showed three hues. Their edges seemed to be black and rough and ashy-red in colour. These and many other omens, foreshadowing fear and danger, were seen, O king, and filled the hearts of men with anxiety. A little while after, the Kuru king Yudhishthira heard of the wholesale carnage of the Vrishnis in consequence of the iron bolt. The son of Pandu, hearing that only Vasudeva and Rama had escaped with life, summoned his brothers and took counsel with them as to what they should do. Meeting with one another, they became greatly distressed upon hearing that the Vrishnis had met with destruction through the Brahmana’s rod of chastisement. The death of Vasudeva, like the drying up of the ocean, those heroes could not believe. In fact the destruction of the wielder of Saranga was incredible to them. Informed of the incident about the iron bolt, the Pandavas became filled with grief and sorrow. In fact, they sat down, utterly cheerless and penetrated with blank despair."
Janamejaya said: "Indeed, O holy one, how was it that the Andhakas along with Vrishnis, and those great car-warriors, the Bhojas, met with destruction in the very sight of Vasudeva?"
Vaishampayana continued: "When the thirty-sixth year was reached (after the great battle) a great calamity overtook the Vrishnis. Impelled by Time, they all met with destruction in consequence of the iron bolt."
Janamejaya said: "Cursed by whom did those heroes, the Vrishnis, the Andhakas, and the Bhojas, met with destruction? O foremost regenerate persons, do thou tell me this in detail.
Vaishampayana continued: "One day, the Vrishni heroes numbering Sarana amongst them, saw Vishvamitra and Kanwa and Narada arrived at Dwaraka. Afflicted by the rod of chastisement wielded by the deities, those heroes, causing Samva to be disguised like a woman, approached those ascetics and said, ‘This one is the wife of Vabhru of immeasurable energy who is desirous of having a son. Ye Rishis, do you know for certain what this one will bring forth?’
"Hear now, O king, what those ascetics, attempted to be thus deceived, said: ‘This heir of Vasudeva, by name Samva, will bring forth a fierce iron bolt for the destruction of the Vrishnis and the Andhakas. Ye wicked and cruel ones, intoxicated with pride, through that iron bolt ye will become the exterminators of your race with the exception of Rama and Janarddana. The blessed hero armed with the plough will enter the ocean, casting off his body, while a hunter of the name of Jara will pierce the high-souled Krishna while lying on the ground.’
"Endeavoured to be deceived by those wicked ones, those ascetics, with eyes red in wrath, looked at each other and uttered those words. Having said so they then proceeded to see Keshava. The slayer of Madhu, informed of what had taken place, summoned all the Vrishnis and told them of it. Possessed of great intelligence and fully acquainted with what the end of his race would be, he simply said that that which was destined would surely happen. Hrishikesa having said so, entered his mansion. The Lord of the universe did not wish to ordain otherwise. When the next day came, Samva actually brought forth an iron bolt through which all the individuals in the race of the Vrishnis and the Andhakas became consumed into ashes. Indeed, for the destruction of the Vrishnis and the Andhakas, Samva brought forth, through that curse, a fierce iron bolt that looked like a gigantic messenger of death. The fact was duly reported to the king. In great distress of mind, the king (Ugrasena) caused that iron bolt to be reduced into fine powder. Men were employed, O king, to cast that powder into the sea. At the command of Ahuka, of Janarddana, of Rama, and of the high-souled Vabhru, it was, again, proclaimed throughout the city that from that day, among all the Vrishnis and the Andhakas no one should manufacture wines and intoxicating spirits of any kind, and that whoever would secretly manufacture wines and spirits should be impaled alive with all his kinsmen. Through fear of the king, and knowing that it was the command of Rama also of unimpeachable deeds, all the citizens bound themselves by a rule and abstained from manufacturing wines and spirits."
Book
16
Chapter 2
1 [j]
kathaṃ vinaṣṭā bhagavann andhakā vṛṣṇibhiḥ saha
paśyato vāsudevasya bhojāś caiva mahārathāḥ
2 [vai]
ṣaṭ triṃśe 'tha tato varṣe vṛṣṇīnām anayo mahān
anyonyaṃ musalais te tu
nijaghnuḥ kālacoditāḥ
3 [j]
kenānuśaptās te vīrāḥ kṣayaṃ vṛṣṇyandhakā
yayuḥ
bhojāś ca dvijavaryatvaṃ vistareṇa vadasva me
4 [vai]
viśvāmitraṃ ca kaṇvaṃ ca nāradaṃ ca tapodhanam
sāraṇa pramukhā vīrā dadṛśur dvārakāgatān
5 te vai sāmbaṃ puraskṛtya bhūṣayitvā striyaṃ yathā
abruvann upasaṃgamya daivadaṇḍanipīḍitāḥ
6 iyaṃ strī putra kāmasya babhror amitatejasaḥ
ṛṣayaḥ sādhu jānīta kim iyaṃ janayiṣyati
7 ity uktās te tadā rājan
vipralambha pradharṣitāḥ
pratyabruvaṃs tān munayo yat tac
chṛṇu narādhipa
8 vṛṣṇyandhakavināśāya
musalaṃ ghoram āyasam
vāsudevasya dāyādāḥ sāmbo 'yaṃ janayiṣyati
9 yena yūyaṃ sudurvṛttā nṛśaṃsā
jātamanyavaḥ
ucchetāraḥ kulaṃ kṛtsnam ṛte rāma janārdanau
10 samudraṃ yāsyati śrīmāṃs tyaktvā dehaṃ halāyudhaḥ
jarā kṛṣṇaṃ mahātmānaṃ śayānaṃ bhuvi bhetsyati
11 ity abruvanta te rājan pralabdhās
tair durātmabhiḥ
munayaḥ krodharaktākṣāḥ samīkṣyātha parasparam
12 tathoktā munayas te tu tataḥ keśavam abhyayuḥ
13 athābravīt tadā vṛṣṇīñ śrutvaivaṃ madhusūdanaḥ
antajño matimāṃs tasya bhavitavyaṃ tatheti tān
14 evam uktvā hṛṣīkeśaḥ praviveśa punar gṛhān
kṛtāntam anyathā naicchat kartuṃ sa jagataḥ prabhuḥ
15 śvobhūte 'tha tataḥ sāmbo musālaṃ tad asūta vai
vṛṣṇyandhāka vināśāya kiṃkarapratimaṃ mahat
16 prasūtaṃ śāpajaṃ ghoraṃ tac ca rājñe nyavedayan
viṣaṇṇarūpas tad
rājā sūkṣmaṃ cūrṇam akārayat
17 prākṣipan sāgare
tac ca puruṣā rājaśāsanāt
aghoṣayaṃś ca nagare vacanād āhukasya ca
18 adya prabhṛti sarveṣu vṛṣṇyandhakagṛheṣv iha
surāsavo na kartavyaḥ sarvair
nagaravāsibhiḥ
19 yaś ca no 'viditaṃ kuryāt peyaṃ kaś cin naraḥ kva cit
jīvan sa śūlam ārohet svayaṃ kṛtvā sabāndhavaḥ
20 tato rājabhayāt sarve niyamaṃ cakrire tadā
narāḥ śāsanam ājñāya tasya rājño
mahātmanaḥ
2
Vaishampayana said: "While the Vrishnis
and the Andhakas were thus endeavouring (to avoid the impending calamity), the
embodied form of Time (death) every day wandered about their houses. He looked
like a man of terrible and fierce aspect. Of bald head, he was black and of
tawny complexion. Sometimes he was seen by the Vrishnis as he peered into their
houses. The mighty bowmen among the Vrishnis shot hundreds and thousands of
shafts at him, but none of these succeeded in piercing him, for he was none
else than the Destroyer of all creatures. Day by day strong winds blew, and
many were the evil omens that arose, awful and foreboding the destruction of
the Vrishnis and the Andhakas. The streets swarmed with rats and mice. Earthen
pots showed cracks or broke from no apparent cause. At night, the rats and mice
ate away the hair and nails of slumbering men. Sarikas chirped, sitting within
the houses of the Vrishnis. The noise made by those birds ceased not for even a
short while by day or by night. The Sarashas were heard to imitate the hooting
of the owl, and goats imitated the cries, O Bharata, of jackals. Many birds
appeared, impelled by Death, that were pale of complexion but that had legs red
of hue. Pigeons were seen to always disport in the houses of the Vrishnis.
Asses were born of kine, and elephants of mules. Cats were born of bitches, and
mouse of the mongoose. The Vrishnis, committing sinful acts, were not seen to
feel any shame. They showed disregard for Brahmanas and the Pitris and the
deities, They insulted and humiliated their preceptors and seniors. Only Rama
and Janardana acted differently. Wives deceived their husbands, and husbands
deceived their wives. Fires, when ignited, cast their flames towards the left.
Sometimes they threw out flames whose splendour was blue and red. The Sun, whether
when rising or setting over the city, seemed to be surrounded by headless
trunks of human form. In cook rooms, upon food that was clean and well-boiled,
were seen, when it was served out for eating, innumerable worms of diverse
kinds. When Brahmanas, receiving gifts, blessed the day or the hour (fixed for
this or that undertaking) or when high-souled men were engaged in silent
recitations, the heavy tread was heard of innumerable men running about, but no
one could be seen to whom the sound of such tread could be ascribed. The
constellations were repeatedly seen to be struck by the planets. None amongst
the Yadavas could, however, obtain a sight of the constellation of his birth.
When the Panchajanya was blown in their houses, asses of dissonant and awful
voice brayed aloud from every direction. "Beholding these signs that
indicated the perverse course of Time, and seeing that the day of the new moon
coincided with the thirteenth (and the fourteenth) lunation, Hrishikesa,
summoning the Yadavas, said unto them these words: ‘The fourteenth lunation has
been made the fifteenth by Rahu once more. Such a day had happened at the time
of the great battle of the Bharatas. It has once more appeared, it seems, for
our destruction.’ "The slayer of Keshi, Janardana, thinking upon the omens
that Time showed, understood that the thirty-sixth year had come, and that what
Gandhari, burning with grief on account of the death of her sons, and deprived
of all her kinsmen, had said was about to transpire. ‘The present is exactly
similar to that time when Yudhishthira noted at such awful omens when the two
armies had been arrayed in order of battle.’ Vasudeva, having said so,
endeavoured to bring about those occurrences which would make Gandhari’s words
true. That chastiser of foes commanded the Vrishnis to make a pilgrimage to
some sacred water. The messengers forthwith proclaimed at the command of
Keshava that the Vrishnis should make a journey to the sea-coast for bathing in
the sacred waters of the ocean."
Book
16
Chapter 3
1
[vai]
evaṃ prayatamānānāṃ vṛṣṇīnām andhakaiḥ saha
kālo gṛhāṇi sārveṇāṃ paricakrāma nityaśaḥ
2 karālo vikaṭo muṇḍaḥ puruṣaḥ kṛṣṇapiṅgalaḥ
gṛhāṇy avekṣya vṛṣṇīnāṃ nādṛśyata punaḥ kva cit
3 utpedire mahāvātā dāruṇāś cā dine dine
vṛṣṇyandhakavināśāya
bahavo romaharṣaṇāḥ
4 vivṛddhamūṣakā rathyā vibhinnamaṇikās tathā
cīcī kūcīti vāśyantyaḥ sārikā vṛṣṇiveśmasu
nopaśāmyati śabdaś ca sa divārātram eva hi
5 anukurvann ulūkānāṃ sārasā virutaṃ tathā
ajāḥ śivānāṃ ca rutam anvakurvata bhārata
6 pāṇḍurā
raktapādāś ca vihagāḥ kālacoditāḥ
vṛṣṇyandhakānāṃ geheṣu kapotā vyacaraṃs tadā
7 vyajāyanta kharā goṣu karabhāśvatarīṣu ca
śunīṣv api biḍālāś ca mūṣakā nakulīṣu ca
8 nāpatrapanta pāpāni kurvanto vṛṣṇayas tadā
prādviṣan brāhmaṇāṃś cāpi pitṝn devāṃs tathaiva ca
9 gurūṃś cāpy avamanyanta na tu rāma janārdanau
patnyaḥ patīn vyuccaranta
patnīś ca patayas tathā
10 vibhāvasuḥ prajvalito vāmaṃ viparivartate
nīlalohita māñjiṣṭhā visṛjann arciṣaḥ pṛthak
11 udayāsta mane nityaṃ puryāṃ tasyāṃ divākaraḥ
vyadṛśyatāsakṛt pumbhiḥ kabandhaiḥ parivāritaḥ
12 mahānaseṣu siddhe 'nne saṃskṛte 'tīva bhārata
āhāryamāṇe kṛmayo vyadṛśyanta narādhipa
13 puṇyāhe vācyamāne ca
japatsu ca mahātmasu
abhidhāvantaḥ śrūyante na cādṛśyata kaś cana
14 parasparaṃ ca nākṣatraṃ hanyamānaṃ punaḥ punaḥ
grahair apaśyan sārve te nātmānas tu kathaṃ cana
15 nadantaṃ pāñcajanyaṃ ca vṛṣṇyandhakaniveśane
samantat pratyavāśyanta rāsabhā dāruṇasvarāḥ
16 evaṃ paśyan hṛṣīkeśaḥ saṃprāptaṃ kālaparyayam
trayodaśyām amāvāsyāṃ tān dṛṣṭvā prābravīd idam
17 caturdaśī pañcadaśī kṛteyaṃ rāhuṇā punaḥ
tadā ca bharate yuddhe prāptā cādya kṣayāya naḥ
18 vimṛśann eva kālaṃ taṃ paricintya janārdanaḥ
mene prāptaṃ sa ṣaṭtriṃśaṃ varvaṃ vai keśi sūdanaḥ
19 putraśokābhisaṃtaptā gāndhārī hatabāndhavā
yad anuvyājahārārtā tad idaṃ samupāgatam
20 idaṃ ca tad
anuprāptam abravīd yad yudhiṣṭhiraḥ
purā vyūṭheṣv anīkeṣu dṛṣṭvotpātān sudāruṇān
21 ity uktvā vāsudevas tu cikīrṣan satyam eva tat
ājñāpayām āsa tadā tīrthayātram ariṃdama
22 aghoṣayanta puruṣās tatra keśava śāsanāt
tīrthayātrā samudre vaḥ kāryeti puruṣarṣabhāḥ
3
Vaishampayana said: "At that time the
Vrishni ladies dreamed every night that a woman of black complexion and white
teeth, entering their abodes, laughed aloud and ran through Dvaraka, snatching
from them the auspicious threads in their wrists. The men dreamt that terrible
vultures, entering their houses and fire-chambers, gorged themselves on their
bodies. Their ornaments and umbrellas and standards and armour were seen to be
taken away by terrible Rakshasas. In the very sight of the Vrishnis, the discus
of Krishna, given by Agni, made of iron and having its nave composed of hardest
adamant, ascended into the firmament. In the very sight of Daruka, the
excellent car of Vasudeva, of solar effulgence, and properly equipped, was
taken away by the horses yoked unto it. Those foremost of steeds, numbering
four, (Saivya, Sugriva, Meghapushpa and Valahaka), and endued with the speed of
thought, fled away, dragging the car after them along the surface of the ocean.
The two great standards of Krishna’s car and Valadeva’s car, that with the
device of Garuda and that bearing the device of the palmyra, which were
reverently worshipped by those two heroes, were taken away by Apsaras who, day
and night, called upon the Vrishnis and the Andhakas to set out on a pilgrimage
to some sacred water. When these omens were seen and heard, those foremost of
men, the mighty car-warriors of the Vrishnis and the Andhakas, became desirous
of setting out, with their whole families, on a pilgrimage to some sacred
water. They prepared diverse kinds of viands and edibles and diverse kinds of
wines and meat. The troops of the Vrishnis and the Andhakas, blazing with
beauty and endued with fierce energy, then set out from the city on cars and
steeds and elephants. The Yadavas, then, with their wives, proceeded to
Prabhasa and took up their residence there, each in the (temporary) habitation
that was assigned to him, and all having an abundance of provisions consisting
of edibles and drink."Hearing that they had taken up their abode on the sea-coast, Uddhava, the wisest of men, who was, besides, well-versed in Yoga, proceeded there and took his leave (for departing). Krishna, with joined hands, saluted Uddhava, and seeing him bent on departing (from the world) and knowing that the destructions of the Vrishnis was at hand, did not feel any disposition to prevent him. The mighty car-warriors among the Vrishnis and the Andhakas, whose hour had come, then saw Uddhava proceed on his great journey, filling the whole welkin with his splendour. The Vrishnis, mixing with wine the food that had been cooked for high-souled Brahmanas, gave it away unto monkeys and apes. Those heroes of fierce energy then began their high revels, of which drinking formed the chief feature, at Prabhasa. The entire field echoed with the blare of hundreds of trumpets and abounded with actors and dancers plying their vocations. In the very sight of Krishna, Rama began to drink, with Kritavarma, Yuyudhana and Gada; and Vabhru also did the same. Then Yuyudhana, inebriated with wine, derisively laughing at and insulting Kritavarma in the midst of that assembly, said, ‘What Kshatriya is there who, armed with weapons, will slay men locked in the embraces of sleep and, therefore, already dead? Hence, O son of Hridika, the Yadavas will never tolerate what thou hast done.’ When Yuyudhana had said these words, Pradyumna, that foremost of car-warriors, applauded them, expressing his disregard for the son of Hridika.
"Highly incensed at this, Kritavarma, emphasising his disregard for Satyaki, by pointing to him with his left hand, said these words: ‘Professing thyself to be a hero, how couldst thou so cruelly slay the armless Bhurishrava who, on the field of battle, ( gave up all hostile intentions and) sat in praya?’
"Hearing these words of his, Keshava, that slayer of hostile heroes, giving way to wrath, cast an angry glance at Kritavarma. Then Satyaki informed the slayer of Madhu as to how Kritavarma had behaved towards Satrajit for taking away from him the celebrated gem Syamantaka. Hearing the narrative, Satyabhama, giving way to wrath and tears, approached Keshava and sitting on his lap enhanced his anger (for Kritavarma). Then rising up in a rage, Satyaki said, ‘I swear to thee by Truth that I shall soon cause this one to follow in the wake of the five sons of Draupadi, and of Dhrishtadyumna and Shikhandi—they that were slain by this sinful wretch, while they were asleep, with the assistance of Drona’s son. O thou of slender waist, Kritavarma’s period of life and fame have come to their end.’
"Having said these words, Satyaki rushed at Kritavarma and severed his head with a sword in the very sight of Keshava. Yuyudhana, having achieved this feat, began to strike down others there present. Hrishikesa ran to prevent him from doing further mischief. At that time, however, O monarch, the Bhojas and Andhakas, impelled by the perverseness of the hour that had come upon them, all became as one man and surrounded the son of Sini. Janardana of mighty energy, knowing the character of the hour, stood unmoved without giving way to anger at the sight of those heroes rushing in wrath at Satyaki from every side. Urged by fate and inebriated with drink, they began to strike Yuyudhana with the pots from which they had been eating. When the son of Sini was being thus assaulted, Rukmini’s son became highly enraged. He rushed forward for rescuing Satyaki who was engaged with the Bhojas and the Andhakas. Endued with might of arms and wealth of energy, those two heroes exerted themselves with great courage. But as the odds were overwhelming, both of them were slain in the very sight of Krishna. The delighter of the Yadus, beholding his own son, and the son of Sini too, slain, took up, in wrath, a handful of the Eraka grass that grew there. That handful of grass became a terrible bolt of iron endued with the energy of the thunderbolt. With it Krishna slew all those that came before him. Then the Andhakas and the Bhojas, the Saineyas and the Vrishnis, urged by Time, struck one another in that fearful mêlée. Indeed, O king, whoever amongst them took up in wrath a few blades of the Eraka grass, these, in his hands, became soon converted into a thunderbolt, O puissant one. Every blade of grass there was seen to be converted into a terrible iron bolt. All this, know, O king, was due to the curse denounced by Brahmanas. He who hurled a blade of grass saw that it pierced through even such things as were utterly impenetrable. In fact, every blade was seen to become a terrible bolt having the force of thunder. Son killed sire, and sire killed son, O Bharata. Inebriated with wine, they rushed and fell upon one another. The Kukuras and the Andhakas met with destruction like insects rushing at a blazing fire. As they were thus being slaughtered, no one among them thought of escaping by fight. Knowing that the hour of destruction had come, the mighty-armed Keshava stood there, eyeing everything. Indeed, the slayer of Madhu stood, raising a bolt of iron formed of a blade of grass. Beholding that Samva was slain, as also Charudeshna and Pradyumna and Aniruddha, Madhava became filled with rage. Beholding Gada lying dead on the ground, his wrath became enhanced. The wielder of Sarnga and the discus and the mace then exterminated the Vrishnis and the Andhakas. Hear, O king, what that conquerer of hostile towns, Vabhru of mighty energy and Daruka then said to Krishna, ‘O holy one, a very large number of men has been slain by thee. Turn now to where Rama has gone. We wish to go there where he has proceeded.’"
Book
16
Chapter 4
1 [vai]
kālī strī pāṇḍurair dantaiḥ praviśya hasatī niśi
striyaḥ svapneṣu muṣṇantī dvārakāṃ paridhāvati
2 alaṃkārāś ca chattraṃ ca dhvajāś ca kavacāni ca
hriyamāṇāny adṛśyanta rakṣobhiḥ subhayānakaiḥ
3 tac cāggni dattaṃ kṛṣṇasya vajranābham ayo mayam
divam ācakrame cakraṃ vṛṣṇīnāṃ paśyatāṃ tadā
4 yuktaṃ rathaṃ divyam ādityavarṇaṃ; hayāharan paśyato dārukasya
te sāgarasyopariṣṭhād avartan;
manojavāś caturo vājimukhyāḥ
5 tālaḥ suparṇaś ca mahādhvajau tau; supūjitau rāma janārdanābhyām
uccair jahrur apsaraso divāniśaṃ; vācaś cocur gamyatāṃ tīrthayātrā
6 tato jigamiṣantas te vṛṣṇyandhakamahārathāḥ
sāntaḥpurās tadā
tīrthayātrām aicchan nararṣabhāḥ
7 tato bhojyaṃ ca bhakṣyāṃ ca peyaṃ cāndhakavṛṣṇayaḥ
bahu nānāvidhaṃ cakrur madyaṃ māṃsam anekaśaḥ
8 tataḥ sīdhuṣu saktāś ca niryāyur nagarād bahiḥ
yānair aśvair gajaiś caiva śrīmantas tigmatejasaḥ
9 tataḥ prabhāse nyavasan yathoddeśaṃ yathā gṛham
prabhūtabhakṣyapeyas te sadārā
yādavās tadā
10 niviṣṭāṃs tān niśamyātha sāṃdurānte sa yogavit
jagāmāmantrya tān vīrān uddhavo 'rthaviśāradaḥ
11 taṃ prasthitaṃ mahātmānam abhivādya kṛtāñjalim
jānan vināśaṃ vṛṣṇīnāṃ naicchad vārayituṃ hariḥ
12 tataḥ kālaparītās
te vṛṣṇyandhakamahārathāḥ
apaśyann uddhavaṃ yāntaṃ tejasāvṛtya rodasī
13 brāhmaṇārtheṣu yat siddham annaṃ teṣāṃ mahātmanām
tad vānarebhyaḥ pradaduḥ surā gandhasamanvitam
14 tatas tūryaśatākīrṇaṃ naṭanartaka saṃkulam
prāvartata mahāpānaṃ prabhāse
tigmatejasām
15 kṛṣṇasya saṃnidhau rāmaḥ sahitaḥ kṛtavarmaṇā
apibad yuyudhānaś ca gado babhrus tathaiva ca
16 tataḥ pariṣado madhye yuyudhāno madotkaṭaḥ
abravīt kṛtavarmāṇam avahasyāvamanya ca
17 kaḥ kṣatriyo manyamānaḥ suptān hanyān mṛtān iva
na tan mṛṣyanti hārdikya
yādavā yat tvayā kṛtam
18 ity ukte yuyudhānena pūjayām āsa tad
vacaḥ
pradyumno rathināṃ śreṣṭho hārdikyam avamanya ca
19 tataḥ paramasaṃkruddhaḥ kṛtavarmā tam abravīt
nirdiśann iva sāvajñaṃ tadā savyena
pāṇinā
20 bhūriśravāś chinnabāhur yuddhe
prāyagatas tvayā
vadhena sunṛśaṃsena kathaṃ vīreṇa pātitaḥ
21 iti tasyā vacaḥ śrutvā keśavaḥ paravīrahā
tiryak saroṣayā dṛṣṭyā vīkṣāṃ cakre sa manyumān
22 maṇiḥ syamantakaś caiva yaḥ sa satrājito 'bhavat
tāṃ kathāṃ smārayām āsa sātyakir madhusūdanam
23 tac chrutvā keśavasyāṅgam agamad rudatī tadā
satyabhāmā prakupitā kopayantī janārdanam
24 tata utthāya sakrodhaḥ sātyakir vākyam abravīt
pañcānāṃ draupadeyānāṃ dhṛṣṭadyumna śikhaṇḍinoḥ
25 eṣa gacchāmi padavīṃ satyena ca tathā śape
sauptike ye ca nihatāḥ suptānena
durātmanā
26 droṇaputra
sahāyena pāpena kṛtavarmaṇā
samāptam āyur asyādya yaśaś cāpi sumadhyame
27 itīdam uktvā khaḍgena keśavasya samīpataḥ
abhidrutya śiraḥ kruddhaś ciccheda kṛtavarmaṇaḥ
28 tathānyān api nighnantaṃ yuyudhānaṃ samantataḥ
abhyadhāvad dhṛṣīkeśo vinivārayiṣus tadā
29 ekībhūtās tataḥ sarve kālaparyāya coditāḥ
bhojāndhakā mahārāja śaineyaṃ paryavārayan
30 tān dṛṣṭvā patatas
tūrṇam abhikruddhāñ janārdanaḥ
na cukrodha mahātejā jānan kālasya paryayam
31 te tu pānamadāviṣṭāś coditāś caiva manyunā
yuyudhānam athābhyaghnann ucciṣṭair bhājanais tadā
32 hanyamāne tu śaineye kruddho rukmiṇinandanaḥ
tadantaram upādhāvan mokṣayiṣyañ śineḥ sutam
33 sa bhojaiḥ saha saṃyuktaḥ sātyakiś cāndhakaiḥ saha
bahutvān nihatau tatra ubhau kṛṣṇasya paśyataḥ
34 hataṃ dṛṣṭvā tu śaineyaṃ putraṃ ca yadunandanaḥ
erakāṇāṃ tadā muṣṭiṃ kopāj jagrāha keśavaḥ
35 tad abhūn musalaṃ ghoraṃ vajrakalpam ayo mayam
jaghāna tena kṛṣṇas tān ye 'sya
pramukhato 'bhavan
36 tato 'ndhakāś ca bhojāś ca śaineyā vṛṣṇayas tathā
jaghnur anyonyam ākrande musalaiḥ kālacoditāḥ
37 yas teṣām erakāṃ kaś cij jagrāha ruṣito nṛpa
vajrabhūteva sā rājann adṛśyata tadā vibho
38 tṛṇaṃ ca musalī bhūtam api tatra vyadṛśyata
brahmā daṇḍakṛtaṃ sarvam iti tad viddhi pārthiva
39 āvidhyāvidhya te rājan prakṣipanti sma yat tṛṇam
tad vajrabhūtaṃ musalaṃ vyadṛśyanta tadā dṛḍham
40 avadhīt pitaraṃ putraḥ pitā putraṃ ca bhārata
mattāḥ paripatanti sma pothayantaḥ parasparam
41 pataṃgā iva cāgnau
te nyapatan kukurāndhakāḥ
nāsīt palāyane buddhir vadhyamānasya kasya cit
42 taṃ tu paśyan mahābāhur
jānan kālasya paryayam
musalaṃ sāmavaṣṭabhya tasthau sa madhusūdanaḥ
43 sāmbaṃ ca nihataṃ dṛṣṭvā cārudeṣṇaṃ ca mādhavaḥ
pradyumnaṃ cāniruddhaṃ ca tataś cukrodha bhārata
44 gadaṃ vīkṣya śayānaṃ ca bhṛśaṃ
kopasamanvitaḥ
sa niḥśeṣaṃ tadā cakre śārṅgacakragadādharaḥ
45 taṃ nighnantaṃ mahātejā babhruḥ parapuraṃjayaḥ
dārukaś caiva dāśārham ūcatur yan nibodha tat
46 bhagavan saṃhṛtaṃ sarvaṃ tvayā bhūyiṣṭham acyuta
rāmasya padam anviccha tatra gacchāma yatra saḥ
4
Vaishampayana said: "Then Daruka and
Keshava and Vabhru left that spot, following in the wake of Rama (for discovering
his retreat). They beheld that hero of infinite energy sitting thoughtfully,
reclining his back against a tree, in a solitary spot of earth. Finding Rama of
great soul, Krishna commanded Daruka, saying, ‘Going to the Kurus, inform
Partha of this great slaughter of the Yadus. Let Arjuna come here quickly,
hearing of the destruction of the Yadavas through the Brahmanas’ curse.’"Thus addressed, Daruka, deprived of his senses by grief, proceeded on a car to the (capital of the) Kurus. After Daruka had gone away, Keshava, seeing Vabhru waiting on him, told him these words: ‘Do thou go quickly for protecting the ladies. Let not robbers do them any injury, tempted by the wealth (that is with them).’ Thus commanded by Keshava, Vabhru, still helpless with wine but cheerless at the slaughter of his kinsmen, departed. He had rested for a while by the side of Keshava, but as soon as he had proceeded to a distance, the iron-bolt, attaching itself to a mallet in the hands of a hunter, suddenly sprang of itself upon that solitary survivor of the Yadava race and slew him, who also had been included in the curse of the Brahmanas. Beholding Vabhru slain, Keshava of great energy addressed his elder brother and said, ‘Do thou, O Rama wait for me here till I place the ladies under the care of kinsmen.’
"Entering the city of Dwaravati, Janardana said these words unto his father, ‘Do thou protect all the ladies of our house, till Dhananjaya comes. At the skirts of the forest Rama is waiting for me. I shall meet him today. This great carnage of the Yadus has been beheld by me even as I beheld before the carnage of those Kshatriyas who were the foremost ones of Kuru’s race. It is impossible for me to see this city of the Yadavas without the Yadus beside me. Know that proceeding to the woods I shall practise penances with Rama in my company.’ Having said these words, Krishna touched the feet of his father with his head, and quickly left his presence. Then a loud wail of sorrow arose from the ladies and children of his house. Hearing that loud sound of wailing uttered by the weeping ladies, Keshava retraced his foot-steps and said unto them, ‘Arjuna will come here. That foremost of man will relieve you of your grief.’
"Proceeding then to the forest, Keshava beheld Rama sitting in a solitary spot thereof. He also saw that Rama had set himself to Yoga and that from out his mouth was issuing a mighty snake. The colour of that snake was white. Leaving the human body (in which he had dwelt so long), that high-souled naga of a 1,000 heads and having a form as large as that of a mountain, endued besides with red eyes, proceeded along that way which led to the ocean. Ocean himself, and many celestial snakes, and many sacred Rivers were there, for receiving him with honour. There were Karkotaka and Vasuki and Takshaka and Prithusravas and Varuna and Kunjara, and Misri and Sankha and Kumuda and Pundarika, and the high-souled Dhritarashtra, and Hrada and Kratha and Sitikantha of fierce energy, and Chakramanda and Atishanda, and that foremost of Nagas called Durmukha, and Amvarisha, and king Varuna himself, O monarch. Advancing forward and offering him the Arghya and water to wash his feet, and with diverse other rites, they all worshipped the mighty Naga and saluted him by making the usual enquiries.
"After his brother had thus departed from the (human) world, Vasudeva of celestial vision, who was fully acquainted with the end of all things, wandered for some time in that lonely forest thoughtfully. Endued with great energy he then sat down on the bare earth. He had thought before this of everything that had been fore-shadowed by the words uttered by Gandhari in former days. He also recollected the words that Durvasas had spoken at the time his body was smeared by that Rishi with the remnant of the Payasa he had eaten (while a guest at Krishna’s house). The high-souled one, thinking of the destruction of the Vrishnis and the Andhakas, as also of the previous slaughter of the Kurus, concluded that the hour (for his own departure from the world) had come. He then restrained his senses (in Yoga). Conversant with the truth of every topic, Vasudeva, though he was the Supreme Deity, wished to die, for dispelling all doubts and establishing a certainty of results (in the matter of human existence), simply for upholding the three worlds and for making the words of Atri’s son true. Having restrained all his senses, speech, and mind, Krishna laid himself down in high Yoga.
"A fierce hunter of the name of Jara then came there, desirous of deer. The hunter, mistaking Keshava, who was stretched on the earth in high Yoga, for a deer, pierced him at the heel with a shaft and quickly came to that spot for capturing his prey. Coming up, Jara beheld a man dressed in yellow robes, rapt in Yoga and endued with many arms. Regarding himself an offender, and filled with fear, he touched the feet of Keshava. The high-souled one comforted him and then ascended upwards, filling the entire welkin with splendour. When he reached Heaven, Vasava and the twin Ashvinis and Rudra and the Adityas and the Vasus and the Viswedevas, and Munis and Siddhas and many foremost ones among the Gandharvas, with the Apsaras, advanced to receive him. Then, O king, the illustrious Narayana of fierce energy, the Creator and Destroyer of all, that preceptor of Yoga, filling Heaven with his splendour, reached his own inconceivable region. Krishna then met the deities and (celestial) Rishis and Charanas, O king, and the foremost ones among the Gandharvas and many beautiful Apsaras and Siddhas and Saddhyas. All of them, bending in humility, worshipped him. The deities all saluted him, O monarch, and many foremost of Munis and Rishis worshipped him who was the Lord of all. The Gandharvas waited on him, hymning his praises, and Indra also joyfully praised him."
Book
16
Chapter 5
1 [vai]
tato yayur dārukaḥ keśavaś ca;
babhruś ca rāmasya padaṃ patantaḥ
athāpaśyan rāmam anantavīryaṃ; vṛkṣe sthitaṃ cintayānaṃ vivikte
2 tataḥ samāsādya mahānubhāvaḥ; kṛṣṇas tadā dārukam anvaśāsat
gatvā kurūñ śīghram imaṃ mahāntaṃ; pārthāya śaṃsasva vadhaṃ yadūnām
3 tato 'rjunaḥ kṣipram ihopayātu; śrutvā mṛtān yādavān brahmaśāpāt
ity evam uktaḥ sā yayau rathena;
kurūṃs tadā dāruko naṣṭacetāḥ
4 tato gate dāruke keśavo 'tha; dṛṣṭvāntike babhrum uvāca vākyam
striyo bhavān rakṣatu yātu
śīghraṃ; naitā hiṃsyur dasyavo
vittalobhāt
5 sā prasthitaḥ keśavenānuśiṣṭo; madāturo jñātivadhārditaś ca
taṃ vai yāntaṃ saṃnidhau keśavasya; tvarantam ekaṃ sahasaiva babhrum
brahmānuśaptam avadhīn mahad vai; kūṭonmuktaṃ musalaṃ lubdhakasya
6 tato dṛṣṭvā nihataṃ babhrum āha; kṛṣṇo vākyaṃ bhrātaram agrajaṃ tu
ihaiva tvaṃ māṃ pratīkṣasva rāma; yāvat striyo jñātivaśāḥ karomi
7 tataḥ purīṃ dvāravatīṃ praviśya; janārdanaḥ pitaraṃ prāha vākyam
striyo bhavān rakṣatu naḥ samagrā; dhanaṃjayasyāgamanaṃ pratīkṣan
rāmo vanānte pratipālayan mām; āste 'dyāhaṃ tena samāgamiṣye
8 dṛṣṭaṃ mayedaṃ nidhanaṃ yadūnāṃ; rājñāṃ ca pūrvaṃ kurupuṃgavānām
nāhaṃ vinā yadubhir
yādavānāṃ; purīm imāṃ draṣṭum ihādya śaktaḥ
9 tapaś cariṣyāmi nibodha tan me; rāmeṇa sārdhaṃ vanam abhyupetya
itīdam uktvā śirasāsya pādau; saṃspṛśya kṛṣṇas tvarito jagāma
10 tato mahān ninadaḥ prādurāsīt; sastrī kumārasya purasya tasya
athābravīt keśavaḥ saṃnivartya; śabdāṃ śrutvā yoṣitāṃ krośatīnām
11 purīm imām eṣyati sāvya sācī; sa vo duḥkhān mocayitā
narāgryaḥ
tato gatvā keśavas taṃ dadarśa;
rāmaṃ vane sthitam ekaṃ vivikte
12 athāpaśyad yogayuktasya tasya; nāgaṃ mukhān niḥsārantaṃ mahāntam
śvetaṃ yayau sa tataḥ prekṣyamāṇo; mahārṇavo yena mahānubhāvaḥ
13 sahasraśīrṣaḥ parvatābhogavarṣmā; raktānanaḥ svāṃ tanuṃ tāṃ vimucya
samyak ca taṃ sāgaraḥ pratyagṛhṇān; nāgadivyāḥ saritaś caiva puṇyāḥ
14 karkoṭako vasukis
takṣakaś ca; pṛthuśravā varuṇaḥ kuñjaraś ca
miśrī śaṅkhaḥ kumudaḥ puṇḍarīkas; tathā nāgo dhṛtarāṣṭro mahātmā
15 hrādaḥ krāthaḥ śitikaṇṭho 'gratejās; tathā nāgau cakramandātiṣāṇḍau
nāgaśreṣṭho durmukhaś
cāmbarīṣaḥ; svayaṃ rājā varuṇaś cāpi rājan
pratyudgamya svāgatenābhyanandaṃs; te 'pūjayaṃś cārghya pādya kriyābhiḥ
16 tato gate bhrātari vāsudevo; jānan
sarvā gatayo divyadṛṣṭiḥ
vane śūnye vicaraṃś cintayāno; bhūmau
tataḥ saṃviveśāgrya tejāḥ
17 sarvaṃ hi tena prāk
tadā vittam āsīd; gāndhāryā yad vākyam uktaḥ sa pūrvam
durvāsasā pāyasocchiṣṭa lipte; yac
cāpy uka tac ca sasmāra kṛṣṇaḥ
18 sa cintayāno 'ndhakavṛṣṇināśaṃ; kuru kṣayaṃ caiva mahānubhāvaḥ
mene tataḥ saṃkramaṇasya kālaṃ; tataś cakārendriya
saṃnirodham
19 sa saṃniruddhendriya
vān manās tu; śiśye mahāyogam upetya kṛṣṇaḥ
jarātha taṃ deśam upājagāma;
lubdhas tadānīṃ mṛgalipsur ugraḥ
20 sa keśavaṃ yogayuktaṃ śayānaṃ; mṛgāśaṅkī lubdhakaḥ sāyakena
jarāvidhyat pādatale tvarāvāṃs; taṃ cābhitas taj jighṛkṣur jagāma
athāpaśyat puruṣaṃ yogayuktaṃ; pītāmbaraṃ lubdhako 'nekabāhum
21 matvātmānam aparādhaṃ sa tasya; jagrāha pādau śirasā cārtarūpaḥ
āśvāsayat taṃ mahātmā tadānīṃ; gacchann ūrdhvaṃ rodasī vyāpya lakṣmyā
22 divaṃ prāptaṃ vāsavo 'thāśvinau ca; rudrādityā vasavaś cātha viśve
pratyudyayur munayaś cāpi siddhā; gandharvamukhyāś ca
sahāpsarobhiḥ
23 tato rājan bhagavān ugratejā; nārāyaṇaḥ prabhavaś cāvyayaś ca
yogācāryo rodasī vyāpya lakṣmyā; sthānaṃ prāpa svaṃ mahātmāprameyam
24 tato devair ṛṣibhiś cāpi kṛṣṇaḥ; samagataś cāraṇaiś caiva rājan
gandharvāgryair apsarobhir varābhiḥ; siddhaiḥ sādhyaiś cānataiḥ pūjyamānaḥ
25 te vai devāḥ pratyanandanta rājan; muniśreṣṭhā vāgbhir ānarcur
īśam
gandharvāś cāpy upatasthuḥ stuvantaḥ; prītyā cainaṃ puruhūto
'bhyanandat
5
Vaishampayana said: "Meanwhile Daruka,
going to the Kurus and seeing those mighty car-warriors, the son of Pritha,
informed them of how the Vrishnis had slain one another with iron bolts.
Hearing that the Vrishnis along with the Bhojas and Andhakas and Kukuras had
all been slain, the Pandavas, burning with grief, became highly agitated. Then
Arjuna, the dear friend of Keshava, bidding them farewell, set out for seeing
his maternal uncle. He said that destruction would soon overtake everything.
Proceeding to the city of the Vrishnis with Daruka in his company, O puissant king,
that hero beheld that the city of Dwaraka looked like a woman bereft of her
husband. Those ladies who had, before this, the very Lord of the universe for
their protector, were now lordless. Seeing that Partha had come for protecting
them, they all set up a loud wail. 16,000 ladies had been wedded to Vasudeva.
Indeed, as soon as they saw Arjuna arrive, they uttered a loud cry of sorrow.
As soon as the Kuru prince met those beauteous ones deprived of the protection
of Krishna and of their sons as well, he was unable to look at them, his vision
being obstructed by tears. The Dwaraka river had the Vrishnis and the Andhakas
for its water, steeds for its fishes, cars for its rafts, the sound of musical
instruments and the rattle of cars for its waves, houses and mansions and
public squares for its lakes. Gems and precious stones were its abundant moss.
The walls of adamant were the garlands of flowers that floated on it. The
streets and roads were the strong currents running in eddies along its surface.
The great open squares were the still large lakes in its course. Rama and
Krishna were its two mighty alligators. That agreeable river now seemed to
Arjuna to be the fierce Vaitarani bound up with Time’s net. Indeed, the son of
Vasava, endued with great intelligence, beheld the city to look even thus, reft
as it was of the Vrishni heroes. Shorn of beauty, and perfectly cheerless, it
presented the aspect of a lotus flower in the season of winter. Beholding the
sight that Dwaraka presented, and seeing the numerous wives of Krishna, Arjuna
wailed aloud with eyes bathed in tears and fell down on the earth. Then Satya,
the daughter of Satrajit, and Rukmini too, O king, fell down beside Dhananjaya
and uttered loud wails of grief. Raising him then they caused him to be seated
on a golden seat. The ladies sat around that high-souled one, giving expression
to their feelings. Praising Govinda and talking with the ladies, the son of
Pandu comforted them and then proceeded to see his maternal uncle."
Book
16
Chapter 6
1 [vai]
dāruko 'pi kurūn gatvā dṛṣṭvā pārthān mahārathān
ācaṣṭa mausāle vṛṣṇīn anyonyenopasaṃhṛtān
2 śrutvā vinaṣṭān vārṣṇeyān sabhojakukurāndhakān
pāṇḍavāḥ śokasaṃtaptā vitrastamanaso 'bhavan
3 tato 'rjunas tān āmantrya
keśavasya priyaḥ sakhā
prayayau mātulaṃ draṣṭuṃ nedam astīti cābravīt
4 sā vṛṣṇinilayaṃ gatvā dārukeṇa saha prabho
dadarśa dvārakāṃ vīro mṛtanāthām iva striyam
5 yāḥ sma tā
lokanāthena nāthavatyaḥ purābhavan
tās tv anāthās tadā nāthaṃ pārthaṃ dṛṣṭvā vicukruśuḥ
6 ṣoḍaśastrīsahasrāṇi vāsudeva parigrahaḥ
tāsām āsīn mahān nādo dṛṣṭvaivārjunam āgatam
7 tās tu dṛṣṭvaiva kauravyo bāṣpeṇa pihito 'rjunaḥ
hīnāḥ kṛṣṇena putraiś ca nāśakāt so 'bhivīkṣitum
8 tāṃ sa vṛṣṇyandhakajalāṃ hayamīnāṃ rathoḍupām
vāditrarathaghoṣaughāṃ veśma tīrthamahāgrahām
9 ratnaśaivala saṃghāṭāṃ vajraprākāramālinīm
rathyā sroto jalāvartāṃ catvarastimitahradām
10 rāma kṛṣṇa mahāgrāhāṃ dvārakā saritaṃ tadā
kālapāśagrahāṃ ghorāṃ nadīṃ vaitaraṇīm iva
11 tāṃ dadarśārjuno dhīmān
vihīnāṃ vṛṣṇipuṃgavaiḥ
gataśriyaṃ nirānandāṃ padminīṃ śiśire yathā
12 tāṃ dṛṣṭvā dvārakāṃ pārthas tāś ca kṛṣṇasya yoṣitaḥ
sasvanaṃ bāṣpam utsṛjya nipapāta mahītale
13 satrājitī tataḥ satyā rukmiṇī ca viśāṃ pate
abhipatya praruruduḥ parivārya dhanaṃjayam
14 tatas tāḥ kāñcane pīṭhe samutthāyopaveśya ca
abruvantyo mahātmānaṃ
parivāryopatasthire
15 tataḥ saṃstūya govindaṃ kathayitvā ca pāṇḍavaḥ
āśvāsya tāḥ striyaś cāpi mātulaṃ draṣṭum abhyagāt
6
Vaishampayana said: "The Kuru prince
beheld the heroic and high-souled Anakadundubhi lying on the ground and burning
with grief on account of his sons. The broad-chested and mighty-armed son of
Pritha, more afflicted than his uncle, with eyes bathed in tears, touched his
uncle’s feet, O Bharata. The mighty-armed Anakadundubhi wished to smell the
head of his sister’s son but failed to do it, O slayer of foes. The old man of
mighty arms, deeply afflicted, embraced Partha with his arms and wept aloud,
remembering his sons, brothers, grandsons, daughter’s sons, and friends."Vasudeva said, ‘Without beholding those heroes, O Arjuna, who had subjugated all the kings of the Earth and the Daityas a hundred times, I am still alive! Methinks, I have no death! Through the fault of those two heroes who were thy dear disciples and who were much regarded by thee, also, O Partha, the Vrishnis have been destroyed. Those two who were regarded as Atirathas amongst the foremost of the Vrishnis, and referring to whom in course of conversation thou wert wont to indulge in pride, and who, O chief of Kuru’s race, were ever dear to Krishna himself—alas, those two, O Dhananjaya, have been the chief causes of the destruction of the Vrishnis! I do not censure the son of Sini or the son of Hridika, O Arjuna. I do not censure Akrura or the son of Rukmini. No doubt, the curse (of the Rishis) is the sole cause. How is it that that lord of the universe, the slayer of Madhu, who had put forth his prowess for achieving the destruction of Kesin and Kansa, and Chaidya swelling with pride, and Ekalavya, the son of the ruler of the Nishadas, and the Kalingas and the Magadhas, and the Gandharas and the king of Kasi, and many rulers assembled together in the midst of the desert, many heroes belonging to the East and the South, and many kings of the mountainous regions—alas, how could he remain indifferent to such a calamity as the curse denounced by the Rishis? Thyself, Narada, and the Munis, knew him to be the eternal and sinless Govinda, the Deity of unfading glory. Alas, being puissant Vishnu himself, he witnessed, without interfering, the destruction of his kinsmen! My son must have himself allowed all this to happen. He was the Lord of the universe. He did not, however, wish to falsify the words of Gandhari and the Rishis, O scorcher of foes. In thy very sight, O hero, thy grandson, who had been slain by Ashvatthama, was revived through his energy. That friend, however, of yours did not wish to protect his kinsmen. Beholding his sons and grandsons and brothers and friends lying dead, he said unto me these words, O chief of Bharata’s race, "The destruction of this our race has at last come. Vibhatsu will come to this city, Dwaravati. Tell him what has occurred, this great carnage of the Vrishnis. I have no doubt that as soon as he will hear of the destruction of the Yadus, that hero of mighty energy will come here without any loss of time. Know, O father, that I am Arjuna and Arjuna is myself. That should be done by thee which he would say. The son of Pandu will do what is best for the women and the children. Even he will perform thy funeral rites. This city of Dwaravati, after Arjuna’s departure, will, with its walls and edifices, be swallowed up by the ocean without any delay. As regards myself, retiring to some sacred place, I shall bide my hour, with the intelligent Rama in my company, observing strict vows all the while." Having said these words unto me, Hrishikesa of inconceivable prowess, leaving me with the children, has gone away to some spot which I do not know. Thinking of those two high-souled brothers of thine, as also of the terrible carnage of my kinsmen, I have abstained from all food, and am emaciated with grief. I shall neither eat, nor live. By good luck thou meetest me, O son of Pandu. Do thou accomplish all, O Partha, that Krishna has said. This kingdom, with all these women, and all the wealth here, is thine now, O son of Pritha. As regards myself, O slayer of foes, I shall cast off my life-breaths dear though they be.‘"
Book
16
Chapter 7
1 [vai]
taṃ śayānaṃ mahātmānaṃ vīram ānaka dundubhim
putraśokābhisaṃtaptaṃ dadarśa kurupuṃgavaḥ
2 tasyāśru paripūrṇākṣo vyūḍhorasko mahābhujaḥ
ārtasyārtataraḥ pārthaḥ pādau jagrāha bhārata
3 samāliṅgyārjunaṃ vṛddhaḥ sa bhujābhyāṃ mahābhujaḥ
rudan putrān smaran sārvān vilalāpa suvihvalaḥ
bhrātṝn putrāṃś ca pautrāṃś ca dauhitrāṃś ca sakhīn api
4 [vāsu]
yair jitā bhūmipālāś ca daityāś ca śataśo 'rjuna
tān dṛṣṭvā neha paśyāmi
jīvāmy arjuna durmaraḥ
5 yau tāv arjuna śiṣyau te priyau bahumatau sadā
tayor apanayāt pārtha vṛṣṇayo nidhanaṃ gatāḥ
6 yau tau vṛṣṇipravīrāṇāṃ dvāv evātirathau matau
pradyumno yuyudhānaś ca kathayan katthase ca yau
7 nityaṃ tvaṃ kuruśārdūla kṛṣṇaś ca mama putrakaḥ
tāv ubhau vṛṣṇināśasya mukham
āstāṃ dhanaṃjaya
8 na tu garhāmi śaineyaṃ hārdikyāṃ cāham arjuna
akrūraṃ raukmiṇeyaṃ ca śāpo hy evātra kāraṇam
9 keśinaṃ yas tu kaṃsaṃ ca vikramya jagataḥ prabhuḥ
videhāv akarot pārtha caidyaṃ ca bala garvitam
10 naiṣādim ekalavyaṃ ca cakre kāliṅgamāgadhān
gāndhārān kāśirājaṃ ca maru bhūmau ca
pārthivān
11 prācyāṃś ca dākṣiṇātyaṃś ca pārvatīyāṃs tathā nṛpān
so 'bhyupekṣitavān etam anayaṃ madhusūdanaḥ
12 tataḥ putrāṃś ca pautrāṃś ca bhrātṝn atha sakhīn api
śayānān nihatān dṛṣṭvā tato mām
abravīd idam
13 saṃprāpto 'dyāyam
asyantaḥ kulasya puruṣarṣabha
āgamiṣyati bībhatsur imāṃ dvaravatīṃ purīm
14 ākhyeyaṃ tasya yadvṛttaṃ vṛṣṇīnāṃ vaiśasaṃ mahat
sa tu śrutvā mahātejā yadūnām anayaṃ prabho
āgantā kṣipram eveha na me
'trāsti vicāraṇā
15 yo 'haṃ tam arjunaṃ viddhi yo 'rjunaḥ so 'ham eva tu
yad brūyāt tat tathā kāryam iti budhyasva mādhava
16 sa strīṣu prāptakālaṃ vaḥ pāṇḍavo bālakeṣu ca
pratipatsyati bībhatsur bhavataś caurdhva dehikam
17 imāṃ ca nagarīṃ sadyaḥ pratiyāte dhanaṃjaye
prākārāṭṭākalopetāṃ samudraḥ plāvayiṣyati
18 ahaṃ hi deśe
kasmiṃś cit puṇye niyamam āsthitaḥ
kālaṃ kartā sadya eva rāmeṇa saha dhīmatā
19 evam uktvā hṛṣīkeśo mām acintyaparākramaḥ
hitvā māṃ bālakaiḥ sārdhaṃ diśaṃ kām apy agāt prabhuḥ
20 so 'haṃ tau ca
mahātmānau cintayan bhrātarau tava
ghoraṃ jñātivadhaṃ caiva na bhuñje śokakarśitaḥ
21 na ca bhokṣye na jīviṣye diṣṭyā prāpto 'si pāṇḍava
yad uktaṃ pārtha kṛṣṇena tat sarvam akhilaṃ kuru
22 etat te pārtha rājyaṃ ca striyo ratnāni caiva ha
iṣṭān prāṇān ahaṃ hīmāṃs tyakṣyāmi ripusūdana
7
Vaishampayana said: "That scorcher of
foes, Vibhatsu, thus addressed by his maternal uncle, replied, with great
cheerlessness of heart, unto Vasudeva who was equally cheerless, saying, ‘O
uncle, I am unable to look at this Earth when she is reft of that hero of
Vrishni’s race and those my other kinsmen. The king and Bhimasena and Sahadeva
and Nakula and Yajnaseni, numbering the sixth, are of the same mind with myself
in this matter. The time has come for the departure of the king also. Know
this, that the hour of our departure too is at hand. Thou art the foremost of
those that are well conversant with the course of time. I shall, however, O
chastiser of foes, first remove to Indraprastha the women of the Vrishni race
as also the children and the aged.’ Having said so unto his uncle, Arjuna next
addressed Daruka, saying, ‘I wish to see without any delay the chief officers
of the Vrishni heroes.’ Having uttered these words, the heroic Arjuna, grieving
for those great car-warriors (who had been slain), entered the great hall of
the Yadavas (where they used to hold their court), called Sudharma. When he had
taken his seat there, all the citizens, including the Brahmanas, and all the
ministers of state came and stood surrounding him. Then Partha, more grieved
than they, addressed those grieving and cheerless citizens and officers who
were more dead than alive, and said these words that were well suited to the
occasion: ‘I shall take away with me the remnants of the Vrishnis and the
Andhakas. The sea will soon engulf this city. Equip all your cars and place on
them all your wealth. This Vajra (the grandson of Krishna) will be your king at
Shakraprastha. On the seventh day from this, at sunrise, we shall set out. Make
your preparations without delay.’"Thus addressed by Pritha’s son of pure deeds, all of them hastened their preparations with eagerness for achieving their safety. Arjuna passed that night in the mansion of Keshava. He was suddenly overwhelmed with great grief and stupefaction. When morning dawned, Vasudeva of great energy and prowess attained, through the aid of Yoga, to the highest goal. A loud and heart-rending sound of wailing was heard in Vasudeva’s mansion, uttered by the weeping ladies. They were seen with dishevelled hair and divested of ornaments and floral wreaths. Beating their breasts with their hands, they indulged in heart-rending lamentations. Those foremost of women, Devaki and Bhadra and Rohini and Madira threw themselves on the bodies of their lord. Then Partha caused the body of his uncle to be carried out on a costly vehicle borne on the shoulders of men. It was followed by all the citizens of Dwaraka and the people of the provinces, all of whom, deeply afflicted by grief, had been well-affected towards the deceased hero. Before that vehicle were borne the umbrella which had been held over his head at the conclusion of the horse-sacrifice he had achieved while living, and also the blazing fires he had daily worshipped, with the priests that had used to attend to them. The body of the hero was followed by his wives decked in ornaments and surrounded by thousands of women and thousands of their daughters-in-law. The last rites were then performed at that spot which had been agreeable to him while he was alive. The four wives of that heroic son of Sura ascended the funeral pyre and were consumed with the body of their lord. All of them attained to those regions of felicity which were his. The son of Pandu burnt the body of his uncle together with those four wives of his, using diverse kinds of scents and perfumed wood. As the funeral pyre blazed up, a loud sound was heard of the burning wood and other combustible materials, along with the clear chant of Samans and the wailing of the citizens and others who witnessed the rite. After it was all over, the boys of the Vrishni and Andhaka races, headed by Vajra, as also the ladies, offered oblations of water to the high-souled hero.
"Phalguna, who was careful in observing every duty, having caused this duty to be performed, proceeded, O chief of Bharata’s race, next to the place where the Vrishnis were slaughtered. The Kuru prince, beholding them lying slaughtered all around, became exceedingly cheerless. He, however, did what was required to be done in view of that which had happened. The last rites were performed, according to the order of seniority, unto the bodies of those heroes slain by the iron bolts born, by virtue of the curse denounced by the Brahmanas, of the blades of Eraka grass. Searching out the bodies then of Rama and Vasudeva, Arjuna caused them to be burnt by persons skilled in that act. The son of Pandu, having next performed duly those sraddha rites that are done to the dead, quickly set out on the seventh day, mounting on his car. The widows of the Vrishni heroes, wailing aloud, followed the high-souled son of Pandu. Dhananjaya, on cars drawn by bullocks and mules and camels. All were in deep affliction. The servants of the Vrishnis, their horsemen, and their car-warriors too, followed the procession. The citizens and the inhabitants of the country, at the command of Pritha’s son, set out at the same time and proceeded, surrounding that cavalcade destitute of heroes and numbering only women and the aged and the children. The warriors who fought from the backs of elephants proceeded on elephants as huge as hills. The foot-soldiers also set out, together with the reserves. The children of the Andhaka and the Vrishni races, all followed Arjuna. The Brahmanas and Kshatriyas, and Vaisyas, and wealthy Sudras, set out, keeping before them the 16,000 women that had formed Vasudeva’s harem, and Vajra, the grandson of the intelligent Krishna. The widows of the other heroes of the Bhoja, the Vrishni, and the Andhaka races, lordless now, that set out with Arjuna, numbered many millions. That foremost of car-warriors, that conqueror of hostile towns, the son of Pritha, escorted this vast procession of Vrishnis, which still abounded with wealth, and which looked like a veritable ocean.
"After all the people had set out, the ocean, that home of sharks and alligators, flooded Dvaraka, which still teemed with wealth of every kind, with its waters. Whatever portion of the ground was passed over, ocean immediately flooded over with his waters. Beholding this wonderful sight, the inhabitants of Dvaraka walked faster and faster, saying, ‘Wonderful is the course of fate!’ Dhananjaya, after abandoning Dvaraka, proceeded by slow marches, causing the Vrishni women to rest in pleasant forests and mountains and by the sides of delightful streams. Arrived at the country of the five waters, the puissant Dhananjaya planted a rich encampment in the midst of a land that abounded with corn and kine and other animals. Beholding those lordless widows escorted by Pritha’s son alone O Bharata, the robbers felt a great temptation (for plunder). Then those sinful wretches, with hearts overwhelmed by cupidity, those Abhiras of ill omen, assembled together and held a consultation. They said, ‘Here there is only one bowman, Arjuna. The cavalcade consists of children and the old. He escorts them, transgressing us. The warriors (of the Vrishnis) are without energy.’ Then those robbers, numbering by thousands, and armed with clubs, rushed towards the procession of the Vrishnis, desirous of plunder. Urged by the perverse course of time they fell upon that vast concourse, frightening it with loud leonine shouts and desirous of slaughter. The son of Kunti, suddenly ceasing to advance along the path, turned, with his followers, towards the place where the robbers had attacked the procession. Smiling the while, that mighty-armed warrior addressed the assailants, saying, ‘You sinful wretches, forbear, if ye love your lives. Ye will rue this when I pierce your bodies with my shafts and take your lives.’ Though thus addressed by that hero, they disregarded his words, and though repeatedly dissuaded, they fell upon Arjuna. Then Arjuna endeavoured to string his large, indestructible, celestial bow with some effort. He succeeded with great difficulty in stringing it, when the battle had become furious. He then began to think of his celestial weapons but they would not come to his mind. Beholding that furious battle, the loss of the might of his arm, and the non-appearance of his celestial weapons, Arjuna became greatly ashamed. The Vrishni warriors including the foot-soldiers, the elephant-warriors, and the car-men, failed to rescue those Vrishni women that were being snatched away by the robbers. The concourse was very large. The robbers assailed it at different points. Arjuna tried his best to protect it, but could not succeed. In the very sightof all the warriors, many foremost of ladies were dragged away, while others went away with the robbers of their own accord. The puissant Arjuna, supported by the servants of the Vrishnis, struck the robbers with shafts sped from Gandiva. Soon, however. O king, his shafts were exhausted. In former days his shafts had been inexhaustible. Now, however, they proved otherwise. Finding his shafts exhausted, he became deeply afflicted with grief. The son of Indra then began to strike the robbers with the horns of his bow. Those Mlecchas, however, O Janamejaya, in the very sight of Partha, retreated, taking away with them many foremost ladies of the Vrishnis and Andhakas. The puissant Dhananjaya regarded it all as the work of destiny. Filled with sorrow he breathed heavy sighs at the thought of the non-appearance of his (celestial) weapons, the loss of the might of his arms, the refusal of his bow to obey him, and the exhaustion of his shafts. Regarding it all as the work of destiny, he became exceedingly cheerless. He then ceased, O king, to make further efforts, saying, he had not the power which he had before. The high-souled one, taking with him the remnant of the Vrishni women, and the wealth that was still with them, reached Kurukshetra. Thus bringing with him the remnant of the Vrishnis. he established them at different places. He established the son of Kritavarma at the city called Marttikavat, with the remnant of the women of the Bhoja king. Escorting the remainder, with children and old men and women, the son of Pandu established them, who were reft of heroes, in the city of Indraprastha. The dear son of Yuyudhana, with a company of old men and children and women, the righteous-souled Arjuna established on the banks of the Sarasvati. The rule of Indraprastha was given to Vajra. The widows of Akrura then desired to retire into the woods. Vajra asked them repeatedly to desist, but they did not listen to him. Rukmini, the princess of Gandhara, Saivya, Haimavati, and queen Jamvabati ascended the funeral pyre. Satyabhama and other dear wives of Krishna entered the woods, O king, resolved to set themselves to the practice of penances. They began to live on fruits and roots and pass their time in the contemplation of Hari. Going beyond the Himavat, they took up their abode in a place called Kalpa. Those men who had followed Arjuna from Dwaravati, were distributed into groups, and bestowed upon Vajra. Having done all these acts suited to the occasion, Arjuna, with eyes bathed in tears, then entered the retreat of Vyasa. There he beheld the Island-born Rishi seated at his ease."
Book
16
Chapter 8
1 [vai]
evam uktaḥ sa bībhatsur
mātulena paraṃtapaḥ
durmanā dīnamanasaṃ vasudevam
uvāca ha
2 nāhaṃ vṛṣṇipravīreṇa madhubhiś caiva
mātula
vihīnāṃ pṛthivīṃ draṣṭuṃ śaktaś ciram
iha prabho
3 rājā ca bhīmasenaś ca sahadevaś
ca pāṇḍavaḥ
nakulo yājñasenī ca ṣaḍ ekamanaso vayam
4 rājñaḥ saṃkramaṇe cāpi kālo 'yaṃ vartate dhruvam
tam imaṃ viddhi saṃprāptaṃ kālaṃ kālavidāṃ vara
5 sarvathā vṛṣṇidārāṃs tu bālavṛddhāṃs tathaiva ca
nayiṣye parigṛhyāham indraprastham ariṃdama
6 ity uktvā dārukam idaṃ vākyam āha dhanaṃjayaḥ
amātyān vṛṣṇivīrāṇāṃ draṣṭum icchāmi māciram
7 ity evam uktvā vacanaṃ sudharmāṃ yādavīṃ sabhām
praviveśārjunaḥ śūraḥ śocamāno mahārathān
8 tam āsanagataṃ tatra sarvāḥ prakṛtayas tathā
brāhmaṇā naigamāś caiva
parivāryopatasthire
9 tān dīnamanasaḥ sarvān nibhṛtān gatacetasaḥ
uvācedaṃ vacaḥ pārthaḥ svayaṃ dīnataras tadā
10 śakra prastham ahaṃ neṣye vṛṣṇyandhakajanaṃ svayam
idaṃ tu nagaraṃ sarvaṃ samudraḥ plāvayiṣyati
11 sajjīkuruta yānāni ratnāni vividhāni
ca
vajro 'yaṃ bhavatāṃ rājā śakra prasthe bhaviṣyati
12 saptame divase caiva ravau vimala
udgate
bahir vatsyāmahe sarve sajjībhavata māciram
13 ity uktās tena te paurāḥ pārthenākliṣṭa karmaṇā
sajjam āśu tataś cakruḥ
svasiddhyarthasamutsukāḥ
14 tāṃ rātrim avasat
pārthaḥ keśavasya niveśane
mahatā śokamohena sahasābhipariplutaḥ
15 śvobhūte 'tha tataḥ śaurir vasudevaḥ pratāpavān
yuktvātmānaṃ mahātejā jagāma
gatim uttamām
16 tataḥ śabdo mahān
āsīd vasudevasya veśmani
dāruṇaḥ krośatīnāṃ ca rudātīnāṃ ca yoṣitām
17 prakīrṇamūrdhajāḥ sarvā vimuktābharaṇa vrajaḥ
urāṃsi pāṇibhir ghnantyo vyalapan karuṇaṃ striyaḥ
18 taṃ devakī ca bhadrā ca
rohiṇī madirā tathā
anvaroḍhuṃ vyavasitā
bhartāraṃ yoṣitāṃ varāḥ
19 tataḥ śauriṃ nṛyuktena bahu mālyena bhārata
yānena mahatā pārtho bahir niṣkrāmayat tadā
20 tam anvayus tatra tatra duḥkhaśokasamāhitāḥ
dvārakāvāsinaḥ paurāḥ sarva eva nararṣabha
21 tasyāśvamedhikaṃ chatraṃ dīpyamānāś ca pāvakāḥ
purastāt tasya yānasya yājakāś ca tato yayuḥ
22 anujagmuś ca taṃ vīraṃ devyas tā vai svalaṃkṛtāḥ
strīsahasraiḥ parivṛtā vadhūbhiś ca sahasraśaḥ
23 yas tu deśaḥ priyas tasya jīvato 'bhūn mahātmanaḥ
tatrainam upasaṃkalya pitṛmedhaṃ pracakrire
24 taṃ citāgnigataṃ vīraṃ śūra putraṃ varāṅganāḥ
tato 'nvāruruhuḥ patnyaś catasraḥ patilokagāḥ
25 taṃ vai catasṛbhiḥ strībhir anvitaṃ pāṇḍunandanaḥ
adāhayac candānaiś ca gandhair uccāvacair api
26 tataḥ prādurabhūc
chabdaḥ samiddhasya vibhāvasoḥ
samagānāṃ ca nirghoṣo narāṇāṃ rudatām api
27 tato vajrapradhānās te vṛṣṇivīra kumārakāḥ
sarva evodakaṃ cakruḥ striyaś caiva mahātmanaḥ
28 alupta dharmas taṃ dharmaṃ kārayitvā saphalgunaḥ
jagāma vṛṣṇayo yatra vinaṣṭā bharatarṣabha
29 sa tān dṛṣṭvā nipatitān kadane bhṛśaduḥkhitaḥ
babbhūvātīva kauravyaḥ prāptakālaṃ cakāra ca
30 yathā pradhānataś caiva cakre sārvāḥ kriyās tadā
ye hatā brahmaśāpena musalair erakodbhavaiḥ
31 tataḥ śarīre
rāmasya vāsudevasya cobhayoḥ
anviṣya dāhayām āsa puruṣair āptakāribhiḥ
32 sa teṣāṃ vidhivat kṛtvā pretakāryāṇi pāṇḍavaḥ
saptame divase prāyād ratham āruhya satvaraḥ
aśvayuktai rathaiś cāpi gokharoṣṭra yutair api
33 striyas tā vṛṣṇivīrāṇāṃ rudatyaḥ śokakarśitāḥ
anujagmur mahātmānaṃ pāṇḍuputraṃ dhanaṃjayam
34 bhṛtyās tv andhakavṛṣṇīnāṃ sadino rathinaś ca ye
vīra hīnaṃ vṛddhabālaṃ paurajānapadās tathā
yayus te parivaryātha kalatraṃ pārtha śāsanāt
35 kuñjaraiś ca gajārohā yayuḥ śailanibhais tathā
sapāda rakṣaiḥ saṃyuktāḥ sottarāyudhikā yayuḥ
36 putrāś cāndhakavṛṣṇīnāṃ save pārtham anuvratāḥ
brāhmaṇāḥ kṣatriyā vaiśyāḥ śūdrāś caiva mahādhanāḥ
37 daśa ṣaṭ ca sahasrāṇi vāsudevāvarodhanam
puraskṛtya yayur vajraṃ pautraṃ kṛṣṇasya dhīmataḥ
38 bahūni ca sahasrāṇi prayutāny arbudāni ca
bhojavṛṣṇyandhakastrīṇāṃ hatanāthāni nir yayuḥ
39 tat sāgarasamaprakhyaṃ vṛṣṇicakraṃ maharddhimat
uvāha rathināṃ śreṣṭhaḥ pārthaḥ parapuraṃjayaḥ
40 niryāte tu jane tasmin sāgaro
makarālayaḥ
dvārakāṃ ratnasaṃpūrṇāṃ jalenāplāvayat tadā
41 tad adbhutam abhiprekṣya dvārakāvāsino janāḥ
tūrṇāt tūrṇataraṃ jagmur aho daivam iti bruvan
42 kānaneṣu ca ramyeṣu parvateṣu nadīṣu ca
nivasann ānayām āsa vṛṣṇidārān
dhanaṃjayaḥ
43 sa pañcanadam āsādya dhīmān atisamṛddhimat
deśe gopaśudhānyāḍhye nivāsam akarot
prabhuḥ
44 tato lobhaḥ samabhavad dasyūnāṃ nihateśvarāḥ
dṛṣṭvā striyo nīyamānāḥ pārthenaikena bhārata
45 tatas te pāpakarmāṇo lobhopahatacetasaḥ
ābhīrā mantrayām āsuḥ
sametyāśubhadarśanāḥ
46 ayam eko 'rjuno yoddhā vṛddhabālaṃ hateśvaram
nayaty asmān atikramya yodhāś ceme hataujasaḥ
47 tato yaṣṭipraharaṇā dasyavas te sahasraśaḥ
abhyadhāvanta vṛṣṇīnāṃ taṃ janaṃ loptra hāriṇaḥ
48 mahatā siṃhanādena drāvayantaḥ pṛthagjanam
abhipetur dhanārthaṃ te kālaparyāya
coditāḥ
49 tato nivṛttaḥ kaunteyaḥ sahasā sapadānugaḥ
uvāca tān mahābāhur arjunaḥ prahasann iva
50 nivartadhvam adharmajñā yadi stha na
mumūrṣavaḥ
nedānīṃ śaranirbhinnāḥ śocadhvaṃ nihatā mayā
51 tathoktās tena vīreṇa kadarthī kṛtyatad vacaḥ
abhipetur janaṃ mūḍhā vāryamāṇāḥ punaḥ punaḥ
52 tato 'rjuno dhanur divyaṃ gāṇḍīvam ajaraṃ mahat
āropayitum ārebhe yatnād iva kathaṃ cana
53 cakāra sajyaṃ kṛcchreṇa saṃbhrame tumule sati
cintayām āsa cāstrāṇi na ca sasmāra tāny
api
54 vaikṛtyaṃ tan mahad dṛṣṭvā bhujavīrye tathā yudhi
divyānāṃ ca mahāstrāṇāṃ vināśād vrīḍito 'bhavat
55 vṛṣṇiyodhāś ca te
sarve gajāśvarathayāyinaḥ
na śekur āvartayituṃ hriyamāṇaṃ ca taṃ janam
56 kalatrasya bahutvāt tu saṃpatatsu tatas tataḥ
prayatnam akarot pārtho janasya parirakṣaṇe
57 miṣatāṃ sarvayodhānāṃ tatas tāḥ pramadottamāḥ
samantato 'vakṛṣyanta kāmācc cānyāḥ pravavrajuḥ
58 tato gāṇḍīvanirmuktaiḥ śarair pārtho dhanaṃjayaḥ
jaghāna dasyūn sodvego vṛṣṇibhṛtyaiḥ saha prabhuḥ
59 kṣaṇena tasya te rājan kṣayaṃ jagmur ajihmagāḥ
akṣayā hi purā bhūtvā kṣīṇāḥ kṣatajabhojanāḥ
60 sa śarakṣayam āsādya duḥkhaśokasamāhataḥ
dhanuṣ koṭyā tadā dasyūn avadhit pākaśāsaniḥ
61 prekṣatas tv eva
pārthasya vṛṣṇyandhakavarastriyaḥ
jagmur ādāya te mlecchāḥ samantāj
janamejaya
62 dhanaṃjayas tu
daivaṃ tan manassācintayat prabhuḥ
duḥkhaśokasamāviṣṭo niḥśvāsaparamo 'bhavat
63 astrāṇāṃ ca praṇāśena bāhuvīryasya saṃkṣayāt
dhanuṣaś cāvidheyatvāc charāṇāṃ saṃkṣayeṇa ca
64 babhūva vimanāḥ pārtho daivam ity anucintayan
nyavartata tato rājan nedam astīti cābravīt
65 tataḥ sa śeṣam ādāya kalatrasya mahāmatiḥ
hṛtabhūyiṣṭha ratnasya kurukṣetram avātarat
66 evaṃ kalatram
ānīya vṛṣṇīnāṃ hṛtaśeṣitam
nyaveśayata kauravyas tatra tatra dhanaṃjayaḥ
67 hārdikya tanayaṃ pārtho nagaraṃ mārtikāvatam
bhojarājakalatraṃ ca hṛtaśeṣaṃ narottamaḥ
68 tato vṛddhāṃś ca bālāṃś ca striyaś cādāya pāṇḍavaḥ
vīrair vihīnān sarvāṃs tāñ śakra
prasthe nyaveśayat
69 yauyudhāniṃ sarasvatyāṃ putraṃ sātyakinaḥ priyam
nyaveśayata dharmātmā vṛddhā bāla
puraskṛtam
70 inra prasthe dadau rājyaṃ vajrāya paravīrahā
vajreṇākrura dārās tu vāryamāṇāḥ pravavrajuḥ
71 rukmiṇī tv atha
gāndhārī śaibyā haimavatīty api
devī jāmbavatī caiva viviśur jātavedasam
72 satyabhāmā tathaivānyā devyāḥ kṛṣṇasya saṃmatāḥ
vanaṃ praviviśū rājaṃs tāpasye kṛtaniścayāḥ
73 dvārakāvāsino ye tu puruṣāḥ pārtham anvayuḥ
yathārhaṃ saṃvibhajyainān vajre paryadadaj jayaḥ
74 sa tat kṛtvā prāptakālaṃ bāṣpeṇāpihito
'rjunaḥ
kṛṣṇadvaipāyanaṃ rājan dadarśāsīnam āśrame
8
Vaishampayana said: "As Arjuna entered
the asylum of the truthful Rishi, he beheld the son of Satyavati seated in a
secluded spot."Approaching that Rishi of high vows and endued with a knowledge of all duties, he said, ‘I am Arjuna,’ and then awaited his pleasure. Satyavati’s son, endued with high penances, answered, saying ‘Welcome!’ Of tranquil soul, the great Muni further said, ‘Take thy seat.’ Seeing that the son of Pritha was exceedingly cheerless and breathing heavy sighs repeatedly and filled with despair, Vyasa addressed him, saying, "Hast thou been sprinkled with water from anybody’s nails or hair, or the end of anybody’s cloth, or from the mouth of a jar? Hast thou had sexual congress with any woman before the cessation of her functional flow? Hast thou slain a Brahmana? Hast thou been vanquished in battle? Thou lookest like one shorn of prosperity. I do not know that thou hast been defeated by anyone. Why then, O chief of Bharata’s race, this exceedingly dejected aspect? It behoveth thee, O son of Pritha, to tell me all, if, indeed, there be no harm in telling it."
"Arjuna said, ‘He whose complexion was like that of a (newly-risen) cloud, he whose eyes were like a pair of large lotus petals, Krishna, has, with Rama, cast off his body and ascended to Heaven. At Prabhasa, through iron bolts generated by the curse denounced by Brahmanas, the destruction has taken place of the Vrishni heroes. Awful hath that carnage been, and not even a single hero has escaped. The heroes of the Bhoja, the Andhaka, and the Vrishni races, O Brahmana, who were all endued with high souls, great might, and leonine pride, have slaughtered one another in battle. Possessed of arms that looked like maces of iron, and capable of bearing the strokes of heavy clubs and darts, alas, they have all been slain with blades of Eraka grass. Behold the perverse course of Time. 500,000 mighty-armed warriors have thus been laid low. Encountering one another, they have met with destruction. Thinking repeatedly of this carnage of the Yadava warriors of immeasurable energy and of the illustrious Krishna, I fail to derive peace of mind. The death of the wielder of Sarnga is as incredible as the drying up of the ocean, the displacement of a mountain, the falling down of the vault of heaven, or the cooling property of fire. Deprived of the company of the Vrishni heroes, I desire not to live in this world. Another incident has happened that is more painful than this, O thou that art possessed of wealth of penances. Repeatedly thinking of it, my heart is breaking. In my very sight, O Brahmana, thousands of Vrishni ladies were carried away by the Abhiras of the country of the five waters, who assailed us. Taking up my bow I found myself unequal to even string it. The might that had existed in my arms seemed to have disappeared on that occasion. O great ascetic, my weapons of diverse kinds failed to make their appearance. Soon, again, my shafts became exhausted. That person of immeasurable soul, of four arms, wielding the conch, the discus, and the mace, clad in yellow robes, dark of complexion, and possessing eyes resembling lotus-petals, is no longer seen by me. Alas, reft of Govinda, what have I to live for, dragging my life in sorrow? He who used to stalk in advance of my car, that divine form endued with great splendour and unfading puissance, consuming as he proceeded all hostile warriors, can no longer be seen by me. No longer beholding him who by his energy first burnt all hostile troops whom I afterwards despatched with shafts sped from Gandiva, I am filled with grief and my head swims, O best of men. Penetrated with cheerlessness and despair, I fail to obtain peace of mind. I dare not live, reft of the heroic Janardana. As soon as I heard that Vishnu had left the Earth, my eyes became dim and all things disappeared from my vision. O best of men, it behoveth thee to tell me what is good for me now, for I am now a wanderer with an empty heart, despoiled of my kinsmen and of my possession.’
"Vyasa said, ‘The mighty car-warriors of the Vrishni and the Andhaka races have all been consumed by the Brahmana’s curse. O chief of Kuru’s race, it behoveth thee not to grieve for their destruction. That which has happened had been ordained. It was the destiny of those high-souled warriors. Krishna suffered it to take place although he was fully competent to baffle it. Govinda was able to alter the very course of the universe with all its mobile and immobile creatures. What need then be said of the curse of even high-souled Brahmanas? He who used to proceed in front of thy car, armed with discus and mace, through affection for thee, was the four-armed Vasudeva, that ancient rishi. That high-souled one of expansive eyes, Krishna, having lightened the burthen of the Earth and cast off his (human) body, has attained to his own high seat. By thee also, O foremost of men, with Bhima for thy helpmate and the twins, O mighty-armed hero, has the great work of the gods been accomplished. O foremost one of Kuru’s race, I regard thee and thy brothers as crowned with success, for ye have accomplished the great purpose of your lives. The time has come for your departure from the world. Even this, O puissant one, is what is beneficial for you now. Even thus, understanding and prowess and foresight, O Bharata, arise when days of prosperity have not outrun. These very acquisitions disappear when the hour of adversity comes. All this has Time for its root. Time is, indeed, the seed of the universe, O Dhananjaya. It is Time, again, that withdraws everything at its pleasure. One becomes mighty, and, again, losing that might, becomes weak. One becomes a master and rules others, and, again, losing that position, becomes a servant for obeying the behests of others. Thy weapons, having achieved success, have gone away to the place they came from. They will, again, come into thy hands when the Time for their coming approaches. The time has come, O Bharata, for you all to attain to the highest goal. Even this is what I regard to be highly beneficial for you all, O chief of Bharata’s race."
Vaishampayana continued: "Having heard these words of Vyasa of immeasurable energy, the son of Pritha, receiving his permission, returned to the city named after the elephant. Entering it, the hero approached Yudhishthira and informed him of all that had taken place with reference to the Vrishnis."
Book
16
Chapter 9
1 [vai]
praviśann arjuno rājann āśramaṃ satyavādinaḥ
dadarśāsīnam ekānte muniṃ satyavatī sutam
2 sa tam āsādya dharmajñam
upatasthe mahāvratam
arjuno 'smīti nāmāsmai nivedyābhyavadat tataḥ
3 svāgataṃ te 'stv iti prāha muniḥ satyavatīsutaḥ
āsyatām iti covāca prasannātmā mahāmuniḥ
4 tam apratīta manasaṃ niḥśvasantaṃ punaḥ punaḥ
nirviṇṇa manasaṃ dṛṣṭvā pārthaṃ vyāso 'bravīd idam
5 avīrajo 'bhighātas te brāhmaṇo vā hatas tvayā
yuddhe parājito vāsigataśrīr iva lakṣyase
6 na tvā pratyabhijānāmi kim idaṃ bharatarṣabha
śrotavyaṃ cen mayā pārtha kṣipram ākhyātum arhasi
7 [arj]
yaḥ sa medhavapuḥ śrīmān bṛhat paṅkaja locanaḥ
sa kṛṣṇaḥ saha rāmeṇa tyaktvā dehaṃ divaṃ gataḥ
8 mausale vṛṣṇivīrāṇāṃ vināśo brahmaśāpajaḥ
babhūva vīrānta karaḥ prabhāse romaharṣaṇaḥ
9 ye ye śūrā mahātmānaḥ siṃhadarpā mahābalāḥ
bhojavṛṣṇyandhakā brahmann
anyonyaṃ tair hataṃ yudhi
10 gadāparighaśaktīnāṃ sahāḥ parighabāhavaḥ
ta erakābhir nihatāḥ paśya kālasya
paryayam
11 hataṃ pañcaśataṃ teṣāṃ sahasraṃ bāhuśālinam
nidhanaṃ samanuprāptaṃ samāsādyetaretaram
12 punaḥ punar na mṛśyāmi vināśam amitaujasām
cintayāno yadūnāṃ ca kṛṣṇasya ca yaśasvinaḥ
13 śoṣaṇaṃ sāgarasyeva parvatasyeva cālanam
nabhasaḥ patanaṃ caiva śaityam agnes tathaiva ca
14 aśraddheyam ahaṃ manye vināśaṃ śārṅgadhanvanaḥ
na ceha sthātum icchāmi loke keṣṇa vinākṛtaḥ
15 itaḥ kaṣṭataraṃ cānyac chṛṇu tad vai tapodhana
mano me dīryate yena cintayānasya vai muhuḥ
16 paśyato vṛṣṇidārāś ca mama brahman sahasraśaḥ
ābhīrair anusṛtyājau hṛtāḥ pañcanadālayaiḥ
17 dhanur ādāya tatrāhaṃ nāśakaṃ tasya pūraṇe
yathā purā ca me vīryaṃ bhujayor na
tathābhavat
18 astrāṇi me pranaṣṭāni vividhāni mahāmune
śarāś ca kṣayam āpannāḥ kṣaṇenaiva samantataḥ
19 puruṣaś cāprameyātmā
śaṅkhacakragadādharaḥ
caturbhujaḥ pītavāsā śyāmaḥ padmāyatekṣaṇaḥ
20 yaḥ sa yātī purastān me
rathasya sumahādyutiḥ
pradahan ripusainyāni na paśyāmy aham adya tam
21 yena pūrvaṃ pradagdhāni śatrusainyāni tejasā
śarair gāṇḍīvanirmuktair ahaṃ paścād vyanāśayam
22 tam apaśyan viṣīdāmi ghūrṇāmīva ca sattama
parinirviṇṇa cetāś ca śāntiṃ nopalabhe 'pi ca
23 vinā janārdanaṃ vīraṃ nāhaṃ jīvitum utsahe
śrutvaiva hi gataṃ viṣṇuṃ mamāpi mumuhur diśaḥ
24 pranaṣṭajñātivīryasya
śūnyasya paridhāvataḥ
upadeṣṭuṃ mama śreyo
bhavān arhati sattama
25 [vyāsa]
brahmaśāpavinirdagdhā vṛṣṇyandhakamahārathāḥ
vinaṣṭāḥ kuruśārdūla
na tāñ śocitum arhasi
26 bhavitavyaṃ tathā tad dhi diṣṭam etan mahātmanām
upekṣitaṃ ca kṛṣṇena śaktenāpi vyapohitum
27 trailokyam api kṛṣṇo hi kṛtsnaṃ sthāvarajaṅgamam
prasahed anyathā kartuṃ kim u śāpaṃ manīṣiṇām
28 rathasya purato yāti yaḥ sacakragadādharaḥ
tava snehāt purāṇarṣir vāsudevaś caturbhujaḥ
29 kṛtvā bhārāvataraṇaṃ pṛthivyāḥ pṛthulocanaḥ
mokṣayitvā jagat sarvaṃ gataḥ svasthānam uttamam
30 tvayā tv iha mahat karma devānāṃ puruṣarṣabha
kṛtaṃ bhīma
sahāyena yamābhyāṃ ca mahābhuja
31 kṛtakṛtyāṃś ca vo manye saṃsiddhān kuru puṃggava
gamanaṃ prāptakālaṃ ca tad dhi śreyo mataṃ mama
32 balaṃ buddhiś ca
tejaś ca pratipattiś ca bhārata
bhavanti bhava kāleṣu vipadyante
viparyaye
33 kālamūlam idaṃ sarvaṃ jagad bījaṃ dhanaṃjaya
kāla eva samādatte punar eva yadṛcchayā
34 sa eva balavān bhūtvā punar bhavati
durbalaḥ
sa eveśaś ca bhūtveha parair ājñāpyate punaḥ
35 kṛtakṛtyāni cāstrāṇi gatāny adya yathāgatam
punar eṣyanti te hastaṃ yadā kālo bhaviṣyati
36 kālo gantuṃ gatiṃ mukhyāṃ bhavatām api
bhārata
etac chreyo hi vo manye paramaṃ bharatarṣabha
37 etad vacanam ājñāya vyāsasyāmita
tejasaḥ
anujñāto yayau pārtho nagaraṃ nāgasāhvayam
38 praviśya ca purīṃ vīraḥ samāsādya yudhiṣṭhiram
ācaṣṭa tad yathāvṛttaṃ vṛṣṇyandhakajanaṃ prati
The end of Mausala-parva
The end of Mausala-parva
(My humble salutations to the lotus feet of Sreeman
Brahmasri K M Ganguliji for the collection)
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