srimahabharat - (book 7) Drona Parva - chapters 55 to 68

The Sacred  Scripture of

 great Epic Sree Mahabharatam:

The Mahabharata

                                      Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa
                                                        translated by
                                  Sreemaan Brahmasri  Kisari Mohan Ganguli

 

 Drona Parva

Book 7
Chapter 55

 

 

 1 [s]
      etac chrutvā vacas tasya keśavasya mahātmanaḥ
      subhadrā putraśokārtā vilalāpa suduḥkhitā
  2 hā putra mama mandāyāḥ kathaṃ saṃyugam etya ha
      nidhanaṃ prāptavāṃs tāta pitṛtulyaparākramaḥ
  3 katham indīvaraśyāmaṃ sudaṃṣṭraṃ cārulocanam
      mukhaṃ te dṛśyate vatsa guṇṭhitaṃ raṇareṇunā
  4 nūnaṃ śūraṃ nipatitaṃ tvāṃ paśyanty anivartinam
      suśiro grīva bāhvaṃsaṃ vyūḍhoraskaṃ nirūdaram
  5 cārūpacita sarvāṅgaṃ svakṣaṃ śastrakṣatācitam
      bhūtāni tvā nirīkṣante nūnaṃ candram ivoditam
  6 śayanīyaṃ purā yasya spardhyāstaraṇa saṃvṛtam
      bhūmāv adya kathaṃ śeṣe vipra viddhaḥ sukhocitaḥ
  7 yo 'nvāsyata purā vīro varastrībhir mahābhujaḥ
      katham anvāsyate so 'dya śivābhiḥ patito mṛdhe
  8 yo 'stūyata purā hṛṣṭaiḥ sūtamāgadhabandibhiḥ
      so 'dya kravyād gaṇair ghorair vinadadbhir upāsyate
  9 pāṇḍaveṣu ca nātheṣu vṛṣṇivīreṣu cābhibho
      pāñcāleṣu ca vīreṣu hataḥ kenāsy anāthavat
  10 atṛpta darśanā putradarśanasya tavānagha
     mandabhāgyā gamiṣyāmi vyaktam adya yamakṣayam
 11 viśālākṣaṃ sukeśāntaṃ cāru vākyaṃ sugandhi ca
     tava putra kadā bhūyo mukhaṃ drakṣyāmi nirvraṇam
 12 dhig balaṃ bhīmasenasya dhik pārthasya dhanuṣmatām
     dhig vīryaṃ vṛṣṇivīrāṇāṃ pāñcālānāṃ ca dhig balam
 13 dhik kekayāṃs tathā cedīn matsyāṃś caivātha sṛñjayān
     ye tvā raṇe gataṃ vīraṃ na jānanti nipātitam
 14 adya paśyāmi pṛthivīṃ śūnyām iva hatatviṣam
     abhimanyum apaśyantī śokavyākula locanā
 15 svasrīyaṃ vāsudevasya putraṃ gāṇḍīvadhanvanaḥ
     kathaṃ tvā virathaṃ vīraṃ drakṣyāmy anyair nipātitam
 16 hā vīra dṛṣṭo naṣṭaś ca dhanaṃ svapna ivāsi me
     aho hy anityaṃ mānuṣyaṃ jalabudbuda cañcalam
 17 imāṃ te taruṇīṃ bhāryāṃ tvad ādhibhir abhiplutām
     kathaṃ saṃdhārayiṣyāmi vivatsām iva dhenukām
 18 aho hy akāle prasthānaṃ kṛtavān asi putraka
     vihāya phalakāle māṃ sugṛddhāṃ tava darśane
 19 nūnaṃ gatiḥ kṛtāntasya prājñair api sudurvidā
     yatra tvaṃ keśave nāthe saṃgrāme 'nāthavad dhataḥ
 20 yajvanāṃ dānaśīlānāṃ brāhmaṇānāṃ kṛtātmanām
     caritabrahma caryāṇāṃ puṇyatīrthāvagāhinām
 21 kṛtajñānāṃ vadānyānāṃ guruśuśrūṣiṇām api
     sahasradakṣiṇānāṃ ca yā gatis tām avāpnuhi
 22 yā gatir yudhyamānānāṃ śūrāṇām anivartinām
     hatvārīn nihatānāṃ ca saṃgrāme tāṃ gatiṃ vraja
 23 gosahasrapradātṝṇāṃ kratudānāṃ ca yā gatiḥ
     naiveśikaṃ cābhimataṃ dadatāṃ yā gatiḥ śubhā
 24 brahmacaryeṇa yāṃ yānti munayaḥ saṃśitavratā
     ekapatnyaś ca yāṃ yānti tāṃ gatiṃ vraja putraka
 25 rājñāṃ sucaritair yā ca gatir bhavati śāśvatī
     caturāśramiṇāṃ puṇyaiḥ pāvitānāṃ surakṣitaiḥ
 26 dīnānukampināṃ yā ca satataṃ saṃvibhāginām
     paiśunyāc ca nivṛttānāṃ tāṃ gatiṃ vraja putraka
 27 vratināṃ dharmaśīlānāṃ guruśuśrūṣiṇām api
     amoghātithināṃ yā ca tāṃ gatiṃ vraja putraka
 28 ṛtukāle svakāṃ patnīṃ gacchatāṃ yā manasvinām
     na cānyadārasevīnāṃ tāṃ gatiṃ vraja putraka
 29 sāmnā ye sarvabhūtāni gacchanti gatamatsarāḥ
     nāruṃtudānāṃ kṣamiṇāṃ yā gatis tām avāpnuhi
 30 madhu māṃsanivṛttānāṃ madād dambhāt tathānṛtāt
     paropatāpa tyaktānāṃ tāṃ gatiṃ vraja putraka
 31 hrīmantaḥ sarvaśāstrajñā jñānatṛptā jitendriyāḥ
     yāṃ gatiṃ sādhavo yānti tāṃ gatiṃ vraja putraka
 32 evaṃ vilapatīṃ dīnāṃ subhadrāṃ śokakarśitām
     abhyapadyata pāñcālī vairātī sahitā tadā
 33 tāḥ prakāmaṃ ruditvā ca vipalya ca suduḥkhitāḥ
     unmattavat tadā rājan visaṃjñā nyapatan kṣitau
 34 sopacāras tu kṛṣṇas tāṃ duḥkhitāṃ bhṛśaduḥkhitaḥ
     siktvāmbhasā samāśvāsya tat tad uktvā hitaṃ vacaḥ
 35 visaṃjñakalpāṃ rudatīm apaviddhāṃ pravepatīm
     bhaginīṃ puṇḍarīkākṣa idaṃ vacanam abravīt
 36 subhadre mā śucaḥ putraṃ pāñcālyāśvāsayottarām
     gato 'bhimanyuḥ prathitāṃ gatiṃ kṣatriya puṃgavaḥ
 37 ye cānye 'pi kule santi puruṣā no varānane
     sarve te vai gatiṃ yāntu abhimanyor yaśasvinaḥ
 38 kuryāma tad vayaṃ karma kriyāsuḥ suhṛdaś ca naḥ
     kṛtavān yādṛg adyaikas tava putro mahārathaḥ
 39 evam āśvāsya bhaginīṃ draupadīm api cottarām
     pārthasyaiva mahābāhuḥ pārśvam āgād ariṃdamaḥ
 40 tato 'bhyanujñāya nṛpān kṛṣṇo bandhūṃs tathābhibhūḥ
     viveśāntaḥpuraṃ rājaṃs te 'nye jagmur yathālayam

 

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 56

 

 

 

 1 [s]
      tato 'rjunasya bhavanaṃ praviśyāpratimaṃ vibhuḥ
      spṛṣṭvāmbhaḥ puṇḍarīkākṣaḥ sthaṇḍile śubhalakṣaṇe
      saṃtastāra śubhāṃ śayyāṃ darbhair vaiḍūrya saṃnibhaiḥ
  2 tato mālyena vidhival lājair gandhaiḥ sumaṅgalaiḥ
      alaṃcakāra tāṃ śayyāṃ parivāryāyudhottamaiḥ
  3 tataḥ spṛṣṭodakaṃ pārthaṃ vinītāḥ paricārakāḥ
      darśayāṃ naityakaṃ cakrur naiśaṃ traiyambakaṃ balim
  4 tataḥ prītamanāḥ pārtho gandhair mālyaiś ca mādhavam
      alaṃkṛtyopahāraṃ ta naiśam asmai nyavedayat
  5 smayamānas tu govindaḥ phalgunaṃ pratyabhāṣata
      supyatāṃ pārtha bhadraṃ te kalyāṇāya vrajāmy aham
  6 sthāpayitvā tato dvāḥsthān goptṝṃś cāttāyudhān narān
      dārukānugataḥ śrīmān viveśa śibiraṃ svakam
      śiśye ca śayane śubhre bahu kṛtyaṃ vicintayan
  7 na pāṇḍavānāṃ śibire kaś cit suṣvāpa tāṃ niśām
      prajāgaraḥ sarvajanam āviveśa viśāṃ pate
  8 putraśokābhibhūtena pratijñāto mahātmanā
      sahasā sindhurājasya vadho gāṇḍīvadhanvanā
  9 tat kathaṃ nu mahābāhur vāsaviḥ paravīrahā
      pratijñāṃ saphalāṃ kuryād iti te samacintayan
  10 kaṣṭaṃ hīdaṃ vyavasitaṃ pāṇḍavena mahāmanā
     putraśokābhitaptena pratijñā mahatī kṛtā
 11 bhrātaraś cāpi vikrāntā bahulāni balāni ca
     dhṛtarāṣṭrasya putreṇa sarvaṃ tasmai niveditam
 12 sa hatvā saindhavaṃ saṃkhye punar etu dhanaṃjayaḥ
     jitvā ripugaṇāṃś caiva pārayatv arjuno vratam
 13 ahatvā sindhurājaṃ hi dhūmaketuṃ pravekṣyati
     na hy etad anṛtaṃ kartum arhaḥ pārtho dhanaṃjayaḥ
 14 dharmaputraḥ kathaṃ rājā bhaviṣyati mṛte 'rjune
     tasmin hi vijayaḥ kṛtsnaḥ pāṇḍavena samāhitaḥ
 15 yadi naḥ sukṛtaṃ kiṃ cid yadi dattaṃ hutaṃ yadi
     phalena tasya sarvasya savyasācī jayatv arīn
 16 evaṃ kathayatāṃ teṣāṃ jayam āśaṃsatāṃ prabho
     kṛcchreṇa mahatā rājan rajanī vyatyavartata
 17 tasyāṃ rajanyāṃ madhye tu pratibuddho janārdanaḥ
     smṛtvā pratijñāṃ pārthasya dārukaṃ pratyabhāṣata
 18 arjunena pratijñātam ārtena hatabandhunā
     jayadrathaṃ haniṣyāmi śvobhūta iti dāruka
 19 tat tu druyodhanaḥ śrutvā mantribhir mantrayiṣyati
     yathā jayadrathaṃ pārtho na hanyād iti saṃyuge
 20 akṣauhiṇyo hi tāḥ sarvā rakṣiṣyanti jayadratham
     droṇaś ca saha putreṇa sarvāstravidhipāragaḥ
 21 eko vīraḥ sahasrākṣo daityadānava marditā
     so 'pi taṃ notsahetājau hantuṃ droṇena rakṣitam
 22 so 'haṃ śvas tat kariṣyāmi yathā kuntīsuto 'rjunaḥ
     aprāpte 'staṃ dinakare haniṣyati jayadratham
 23 na hi dārā na mitrāṇi jñātayo na ca bāndhavāḥ
     kaś cin nānyaḥ priyataraḥ kuntīputrān mamārjunāt
 24 anarjunam imaṃ lokaṃ muhūrtam api dāruka
     udīkṣituṃ na śakto 'haṃ bhavitā na ca tat tathā
 25 ahaṃ dhvajinyaḥ śatrūṇāṃ sahayāḥ sa rathadvipāḥ
     arjunārthe haniṣyāmi sa karṇāḥ sa suyodhanāḥ
 26 śvo nirīkṣantu me vīryaṃ trayo lokā mahāhave
     dhanaṃjayārthaṃ samare parākrāntasya dāruka
 27 śvo narendra sahasrāṇi rājaputra śatānica
     sāśvadvipa rathāny ājau vidraviṣyanti dāruka
 28 śvas tāṃ cakrapramathitāṃ drakṣyase nṛpa vāhinīm
     mayā kruddena samare pāṇḍavārthe nipātitām
 29 śvaḥ sa devāḥ sa gandharvāḥ piśācoragarākṣasāḥ
     jñāsyanti lokāḥ sarve māṃ suhṛdaṃ savyasācinaḥ
 30 yas taṃ dveṣṭi sa māṃ dveṣṭi yas tam anu sa mām anu
     iti saṃkalpyatāṃ buddhyā śarīrārdhaṃ mamārjunaḥ
 31 yathā tvam aprabhātāyām asyāṃ niśi rathottamam
     kalpayitvā yathāśāstram ādāya vratasaṃyataḥ
 32 gadāṃ kaumodakīṃ divyāṃ śaktiṃ cakraṃ dhanuḥ śarān
     āropya vai rathe sūta sarvopakaraṇāni ca
 33 sthānaṃ hi kalpayitvā ca rathopasthe dhvajasya me
     vainateyasya vīrasya samare rathaśobhinaḥ
 34 chatraṃ jāmbūnadair jālair arkajvalana saṃnibhaiḥ
     viśvakarma kṛtair divyair aśvān api ca bhūṣitān
 35 balāhakaṃ meghapuṣpaṃ sainyaṃ sugrīvam eva ca
     yuktvā vājivarān yattaḥ kavacī tiṣṭha dāruka
 36 pāñcajanyasya nirghoṣam ārṣabheṇaiva pūritam
     śrutvā tu bhairavaṃ nāradm upayāyā javena mām
 37 ekāhnāham amarṣaṃ ca sarvaduḥkhāni caiva ha
     bhrātuḥ pitṛṣvaseyasya vyapaneṣyāmi dāruka
 38 sarvopāyair yatiṣyāmi yathā bībhatsur āhave
     paśyatāṃ dhārtarāṣṭrāṇāṃ haniṣyati jayadratham
 39 yasya yasya ca bībhatsur vadhe yatnaṃ kariṣyati
     āśaṃse sārathe tatra bhavitāsya dhruvo jayaḥ
 40 [dāruka]
     jaya eva dhruvas tasya kuta eva parājayaḥ
     yasya tvaṃ puruṣavyāghra sārathyam upajagmivān
 41 evaṃ caitat kariṣyāmi yathā mām anuśāsasi
     suprabhātām imāṃ rātriṃ jayāya vijayasya hi

 

SECTION LVI

"Narada said, 'King Suhotra also, O Srinjaya, we hear, fell a prey to death. He was the foremost of heroes, and invincible in battle. The very gods used to come for seeing him. Acquiring his kingdom virtuously, he sought the advice of his Ritwijas and domestic priests and Brahmanas for his own good, and enquiring of them, used to obey their behests. Well-acquainted with the duty of protecting his subjects, possessed of virtue and liberality, performing sacrifices and subjugating foes, king Suhotra wished for the increase of his wealth. He adored the gods by following the ordinances of the scriptures, and defeated his foes by means of his arrows. He gratified all creatures by means of his own excellent accomplishments. He ruled the earth, freeing her from Mlecchas and the forest-thieves. 1 The deity of the clouds showered gold unto him from year's end to year's end. In those olden days, therefore, the rivers (in his kingdom) ran (liquid) gold, and were open to everybody for use. 2 The deity of the clouds showered on his kingdom large number of alligators and crabs and fishes of diverse species and various objects of desire, countless in number, that were all made of gold. The artificial lakes in that king's dominions each measured full two miles. Beholding thousands of dwarfs and humpbacks and alligators and Makaras, and tortoises all made of gold, king Suhotra wondered much. That unlimited wealth of gold, the royal sage Suhotra performing a sacrifice at Kurujangala, gave away unto the Brahmanas, before the completion of the sacrifice. Having performed a thousand Horse-sacrifices, a hundred Rajasuyas, many sacred Kshatriya-sacrifices 3 in all of which he made abundant presents to the Brahmanas and having performed daily rites, almost countless in number, undergone from specified desires, the king ultimately obtained a very desirable end. When, O Srinjaya, such a king died, who was superior to thee as regards the four cardinal virtues and who, superior to thee, was
p. 119
therefore, much superior to thy son, thou shouldst not grieve saying, 'Oh Swaitya, Oh, Swaitya,' for thy son performed no sacrifice and made no sacrificial present.'"

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 57

 

 

 

1 [s]
      kuntīputras tu taṃ mantraṃ smarann eva dhanaṃjayaḥ
      pratijñām ātmano rakṣan mumohācintya vikramaḥ
  2 taṃ tu śokena saṃtaptaṃ svapne kapivaradhvajam
      āsasāda mahātejā dhyāyantaṃ garuḍa dhvajaḥ
  3 pratyutthānaṃ tu kṛṣṇasya sarvāvasthaṃ dhanaṃjayaḥ
      nālopayata dharmātmā bhaktyā premṇā ca sarvadā
  4 pratyutthāya ca govindaṃ sa tasmāy āsanaṃ dadau
      na cāsane svayaṃ buddhiṃ bībhatsur vyadadhāt tadā
  5 tataḥ kṛṣṇo mahātejā jānan pārthasya niścayam
      kuntīputram idaṃ vākyam āsīnaḥ sthitam abravīt
  6 mā viṣāde manaḥ pārtha kṛthāḥ kālo hi durjayaḥ
      kālaḥ sarvāṇi bhūtāni niyacchati pare vidhau
  7 kimarthaṃ ca viṣādas te tad brūhi vadatāṃ vara
      na śocitavyaṃ viduṣā śokaḥ kāryavināśanaḥ
  8 śocan nandayate śatrūn karśayaty api bāndhavān
      kśīyate ca naras tasmān na tvaṃ śocitum arhasi
  9 ity ukto vāsudevena bībhatsur aparājitaḥ
      ābabhāṣe tadā vidvān idaṃ vacanam arthavat
  10 mayā pratijñā mahatī jayadrathavadhe kṛtā
     śvo 'smi hantā durātmānaṃ putraghnam iti keśava
 11 matpratijñāvighātārthaṃ dhārtarāṣṭraiḥ kilācyuta
     pṛṣṭhataḥ saindhavaḥ kāryaḥ sarvair gupto mahārathaiḥ
 12 daśa caikā ca tāḥ kṛṣṇa akṣauhiṇyaḥ sudurjayāḥ
     pratijñāyāṃ ca hīnāyāṃ kathaṃ jīveta madvidhaḥ
 13 duḥkhopāyasya me vīra vikāṅkṣā parivartate
     drutaṃ ca yāti savitā tata etad bravīmy aham
 14 śokasthānaṃ tu tac chrutvā pārthasya dvija ketanaḥ
     saṃspṛśyāmbhas tataḥ kṛṣṇaḥ prāṅmukhaḥ samavasthitaḥ
 15 idaṃ vākyaṃ mahātejā babhāṣe puṣkarekṣaṇaḥ
     hitārthaṃ pāṇḍuputrasya saindhavasya vadhe vṛtaḥ
 16 pārtha pāśupataṃ nāma paramāstraṃ sanātanam
     yena sarvān mṛdhe daityāñ jaghne devo maheśvaraḥ
 17 yadi tad viditaṃ te 'dya śvo hantāsi jayadratham
     atha jñātuṃ prapadyasva manasā vṛṣabhadhvajam
 18 taṃ devaṃ manasā dhyāyañ joṣam āssva dhanaṃjaya
     tatas tasya prasādāt tvaṃ bhaktaḥ prāpsyasi tan mahat
 19 tataḥ kṛṣṇa vacaḥ śrutvā saṃspṛśyāmbho dhanaṃjayaḥ
     bhūmāv āsīna ekāgro jagāma manasā bhavam
 20 tataḥ praṇihite brāhme muhūrte śubhalakṣaṇe
     ātmānam arjuno 'paśyad gagane saha keśavam
 21 jyotirbhiś ca samākīrṇaṃ siddhacāraṇasevitam
     vāyuvegagatiḥ pārthaḥ khaṃ bheje saha keśavaḥ
 22 keśavena gṛhītaḥ sa dakṣiṇe vibhunā bhuje
     prekṣamāṇo bahūn bhāvāñ jagāmādbhuta darśanān
 23 udīcyāṃ diśi dharmātmā so 'paśyac chveta parvatam
     kuberasya vihāre ca nalinīṃ padmabhūṣitām
 24 saricchreṣṭhāṃ ca tāṃ gaṅgāṃ vīkṣamāṇo bahūdakām
     sadā puṣpaphalair vṛkṣair upetāṃ sphaṭikopalām
 25 siṃhavyāghra samākīrṇāṃ nānāmṛgagaṇākulām
     puṇyāśramavatīṃ ramyāṃ nānāmṛgagaṇākulām
 26 mandarasya pradeśāṃś ca kiṃnarodgīta nāditān
     hemarūpyamayaiḥ śṛṅgair nānauṣadhi vidīpitān
     tathā mandāravṛkṣaiś ca puṣpitair upaśobhitān
 27 snigdhāñ janacayākāraṃ saṃprāptaḥ kālaparvatam
     puṇyaṃ himavataḥ pādaṃ maṇimantaṃ ca parvatam
     brahma tuṅgaṃ nadīś cānyās tathā janapadān api
 28 suśṛṅgaṃ śataśṛṅgaṃ ca śaryāti vanam eva ca
     puṇyam aśvaśiraḥ sthānaṃ sthānam ārtharvaṇasya ca
 29 vṛṣadaṃśaṃ ca śailendraṃ mahāmandaram eva ca
     apsarobhiḥ samākīrṇaṃ kiṃnaraiś copaśobhitam
 30 tāṃś ca śailān vrajan pārthaḥ prekṣate saha keśavaḥ
     śubhaiḥ prasravaṇair juṣṭān hemadhātuvibhūṣitān
 31 candraraśmiprakāśāṅgīṃ pṛthivīṃ puramālinīm
     samudrāṃś cādbhutākārān apaśyad bahulākarān
 32 viyad dyāṃ pṛthivīṃ caiva paśyan viṣṇupade vrajan
     vismitaḥ saha kṛṣṇena kṣipto bāṇa ivātyagāt
 33 grahanakṣatrasomānāṃ sūryāgnyoś ca samatviṣam
     apaśyata tadā pārtho jvalantam iva parvatam
 34 samāsādya tu taṃ śailaṃ śailāgre samavasthitam
     taponityaṃ mahātmānam apaśyad vṛṣabhadhvajam
 35 sahasram iva sūryāṇāṃ dīpyamānaṃ svatejasā
     śūlinaṃ jaṭilaṃ gauraṃ valkalājinavāsasam
 36 nayānāmnāṃ sahasraiś ca vicitrāṅgaṃ mahaujasam
     pārtavyā sahitaṃ devaṃ bhūtasaṃghaiś ca bhāsvaraiḥ
 37 gītavāditrasaṃhrādais tālalāsya samanvitam
     valgitāsphoṭitotkruṣṭaiḥ puṇyagandhaiś ca sevitam
 38 stūyamānaṃ stavair divyair munibhir brahmavādibhiḥ
     goptāraṃ sarvabhūtānām iṣvāsa dharam acyutam
 39 vāsudevas tu taṃ dṛṣṭvā jagāma śirasā kṣitim
     pārthena sahadharmātmā gṛṇan brahma sanātanam
 40 lokādiṃ viśvakarmāṇam ajam īśānam avyayam
     manasaḥ paramāṃ yoniṃ khaṃ vāyuṃ jyotiṣāṃ nidhim
 41 sraṣṭāraṃ vāridhārāṇāṃ bhuvaś ca prakṛtiṃ parām
     devadānava yakṣāṇāṃ mānavānāṃ ca sādhanam
 42 yogināṃ paramaṃ brahma vyaktaṃ brahmavidāṃ nidhim
     carācarasya sraṣṭāraṃ pratihartāram eva ca
 43 kālakopaṃ mahātmānaṃ śakra sūryaguṇodayam
     avandata tadā kṛṣṇo vāṅmanobuddhikarmabhiḥ
 44 yaṃ prapaśyanti vidvāṃsaḥ sūkṣmādhyātma padaiṣiṇaḥ
     tam ajaṃ kāraṇātmānaṃ jagmatuḥ śaraṇaṃ bhavam
 45 arjunaś cāpi taṃ devaṃ bhūyo bhūyo 'bhyavandata
     jñātvaikaṃ bhūtabhavyādiṃ sarvabhūtabhavodbhavam
 46 tatas tāv āgatau śarvaḥ provāca prahasann iva
     svāgataṃ vāṃ naraśreṣṭhāv uttiṣṭhetāṃ gataklamau
     kiṃ ca vām īpsitaṃ vīrau manasaḥ kṣipram ucyatām
 47 yena kāryeṇa saṃprāptau yuvāṃ tat sādhayāmi vām
     vriyatām ātmanaḥ śreyas tat sarvaṃ pradadāni vām
 48 tatas tad vacanaṃ śrutvā pratyutthāya kṛtāñjalī
     vāsudevārjunau śarvaṃ tuṣṭuvāte mahāmatī
 49 namo bhavāya śarvāya rudrāya varadāya ca
     paśūnāṃ pataye nityam ugrāya ca kapardine
 50 mahādevāya bhīmāya tryambakāya ca śambhave
     īśānāya bhagaghnāya namo 'stv andhakaghātine
 51 kumāra gurave nityaṃ nīlagrīvāya vedhase
     vilohitaya dhūmrāya vyādhāyānaparājite
 52 nityaṃ nīlaśikhaṇḍāya śūline divyacakṣuṣe
     hantre goptre trinetrāya vyādhāya vasuretase
 53 acintyāyāmbikā bhartre sarvadeva stutāya ca
     vṛṣadhvajāya piṅgāya jaṭine brahmacāriṇe
 54 tapyamānāya salile brahmaṇyāyājitāya ca
     viśvātmane viśvasṛje viśvam āvṛtya tiṣṭhate
 55 namo namas te sevyāya bhūtānāṃ prabhave sadā
     brahma vaktrāya śarvāya śaṃkarāya śivāya ca
 56 namo 'stu vācaspataye prajānāṃ pataye namaḥ
     namo viśvasya pataye mahataṃ pataye namaḥ
 57 namaḥ sahasraśirase sahasrabhuja manyave
     sahasranetra pādāya namo 'saṃkhyeyakarmaṇe
 58 namo hiraṇyavarṇāya hiraṇyakavacāya ca
     bhaktānukampine nityaṃ sidhyatāṃ nau varaḥ prabho
 59 evaṃ stutvā mahādevaṃ vāsudevaḥ sahārjunaḥ
     prasādayām āsa bhavaṃ tadā hy astropalabdhaye
 60 tato 'rjunaḥ prītamanā vavande vṛṣabhadhvajam
     dadarśotphulla nayanaḥ samastaṃ tejasāṃ vidhim
 61 taṃ copahāraṃ svakṛtaṃ naiśaṃ naityakam ātmanaḥ
     dadarśa tryambakābhyāśe vāsudeva niveditam
 62 tato 'bhipūjya manasā śarvaṃ kṛṣṇaṃ ca pāṇḍavaḥ
     icchāmy ahaṃ divyam astram ity abhāṣata śaṃkaram
 63 tataḥ pārthasya vijñāya varārthe vacanaṃ prabhuḥ
     vāsudevārjunau devaḥ smayamāno 'bhyabhāṣata
 64 saro 'mṛtamayaṃ divyam abhyāśe śatrusūdanau
     tatra me tad dhanur divyaṃ śaraś ca nihitaḥ purā
 65 yena devārayaḥ sarve mayā yudhi nipātitāḥ
     tata ānīyatāṃ kṛṣṇau sa śaraṃ dhanur uttamam
 66 tathety uktvā tu tau vīrau taṃ śarvaṃ pārṣadaiḥ saha
     prasthitau tat saro divyaṃ divyāścarya śatair vṛtam
 67 nirdiṣṭaṃ yad vṛṣāṅkena puṇyaṃ sarvārthasādhakam
     taj jagmatur asaṃbhrāntau naranārāyaṇāv ṛṣī
 68 tatas tu tat saro gatvā sūryamaṇḍala saṃnibham
     nāgam antarjale ghoraṃ dadṛśāte 'rjunācyutau
 69 dvitīyaṃ cāparaṃ nāgaṃ sahasraśirasaṃ varam
     vamantaṃ vipulāṃ jvālāṃ dadṛśāte 'gnivarcasam
 70 tataḥ kṛṣṇaś ca pārthaś ca saṃspṛśyāpaḥ kṛtāñjalī
     tau nāgāv upatasthāte namasyantau vṛṣadhvajam
 71 gṛṇantau vedaviduṣau tad brahma śatarudriyam
     aprameyaṃ praṇamantau gatvā sarvātmanā bhavam
 72 tatas tau rudra māhātmyād dhitvā rūpaṃ mahoragau
     dhanur bāṇaś ca śatrughnaṃ tad dvaṃdvaṃ samapadyata
 73 tato jagṛhatuḥ prītau dhanur bāṇaṃ ca suprabham
     ājahratur mahātmānau dadatuś ca mahātmane
 74 tataḥ pārśvād vṛṣāṅkasya brahma cārī nyavartata
     piṅgākṣas tapasaḥ kṣetraṃ balavān nīlalohitaḥ
 75 sa tad gṛhya dhanuḥśreṣṭhaṃ tasthau sthānaṃ samāhitaḥ
     vyakarṣac cāpi vidhivat sa śaraṃ dhanur uttamam
 76 tasya maurvīṃ ca muṣṭiṃ ca sthānaṃ cālakṣya pāṇḍavaḥ
     śrutvā mantraṃ bhava proktaṃ jagrāhācintya vikramaḥ
 77 sarasy eva ca taṃ bāṇaṃ mumocātibalaḥ prabhuḥ
     cakāra ca punar vīras tasmin sarasi tad dhanuḥ
 78 tataḥ prītaṃ bhavaṃ jñātvā smṛtimān arjunas tadā
     varam āraṇyakaṃ dattaṃ darśanaṃ śaṃkarasya ca
     manasā cintayām āsa tan me saṃpadyatām iti
 79 tasya tan matam ājñāya prītaḥ prādād varaṃ bhavaḥ
     tac ca pāśupataṃ ghoraṃ pratijñāyāś ca pāraṇam
 80 saṃhṛṣṭaromā durdharṣaḥ kṛtaṃ kāryam amanyata
     vavandatuś ca saṃhṛṣṭo śirobhyāṃ tau maheśvaram
 81 anujñātau kṣaṇe tasmin bhavenārjuna keśavau
     prāptau svaśibiraṃ vīrau mudā paramayā yutau
     indrā viṣṇū yathā prītau jambhasya vadhakāṅkṣiṇau

SECTION LVII

"Narada said, 'The heroic king Paurava also, O Srinjaya, we hear, fell a prey to death. That king gave away a thousand times thousand horses that were all white in hue. At the Horse-sacrifice performed by that royal sage, countless number of learned Brahmanas versed in the principles of Siksha 1 and Akshara come from diverse realms. These Brahmanas, purified by the Vedas, by knowledge, and by vows, and liberal and of agreeable countenances, having obtained from the king costly gifts, such as, robes and houses and excellent beds and carpets and vehicles and draft-cattle, were always delighted by actors and dancers and singers, thoroughly competent and well-versed (in their respective art), engaged in spot and ever-striving for their diversion. At each of his Sacrifices in due time he gave away as sacrificial presents ten thousand elephants of golden splendour, with the temporal juice trickling down their bodies, and cars made of gold with standards and banners. He also gave away, as sacrificial presents, a thousand times thousand maidens decked with ornaments of gold, and cars and steeds and elephants for mounting, and houses and fields, and hundreds of kine, by hundreds of thousand, and thousands of cowherds decked with gold. They that are acquainted with the history of the past, sing this song, viz., that in that sacrifice, king Paurava gave away kine with calves, having golden horns and silver hoofs and brass milkpots, and female slaves and male slaves and asses and camels, and sheep, countless in number, and diverse kinds of gems and diverse hill-like mounds of food. That sacrificing king of the Angas successively performed, in the order of their merit, and according to what was competent for his own class, many auspicious sacrifices capable of yielding every object of desire. When such a king, O Srinjaya, died who was superior to thee as regards the four cardinal virtues and who, superior to thee was, therefore, much more superior to thy son, thou shouldst not, saying 'Oh, Swaitya, Oh, Swaitya,' grieve for thy son who performed no sacrifice and made no sacrificial present.'"

 

Book 7
Chapter 58

 

 

 1 [s]
      tayoḥ saṃvadator eva kṛṣṇa dārukayos tadā
      sātyagād rajanī rājann atha rājānvabudhyata
  2 paṭhanti pāṇisvanikā māgadhā madhuparkikāḥ
      vailātikāś ca sūtāś ca tuṣṭuvuḥ puruṣarṣabham
  3 nartakāś cāpy anṛtyanta jagur gītāni gāyakāḥ
      kuruvaṃśasvatārthāni madhuraṃ raktakaṇṭhinaḥ
  4 mṛdaṅgā jharjharā bheryaḥ paṇavānakagomukhāḥ
      āḍambarāś ca śaṅkhāś ca dundubhyaś ca mahāsvanāḥ
  5 evam etāni sarvāṇi tathānyāny api bhārata
      vādayanti sma saṃhṛṣṭāḥ kuśalāḥ sādhu śikṣitāḥ
  6 sa meghasamanirghoṣo mahāñ śabdo 'spṛśad divam
      pārthiva pravaraṃ suptaṃ yudhiṣṭhiram abodhayat
  7 pratibuddhaḥ sukhaṃ supto mahārhe śayanottame
      utthāyāvaśyakāyārthaṃ yayau snānagṛhaṃ tataḥ
  8 tataḥ śuklāmbarāḥ snātās taruṇāṣṭottaraṃ śatam
      snāpakāḥ kāñcanair kumbhaiḥ pūrṇaiḥ samupatasthire
  9 bhadrāsane sūpaviṣṭaḥ paridhāyāmbaraṃ laghu
      sasnau candanasaṃyuktaiḥ pānīyair abhimantritaiḥ
  10 utsāditaḥ kaṣāyeṇa balavadbhiḥ suśikṣitaiḥ
     āplutaḥ sādhivāsena balena ca sugandhinā
 11 hariṇā candanenāṅgam anulipya mahābhujaḥ
     sragvī cākliṣṭavasanaḥ prāṅmukhaḥ prāñjaliḥ sthitaḥ
 12 jajāpa japyaṃ kaunteyaḥ satāṃ mārgam anuṣṭhitaḥ
     tato 'gniśaraṇaṃ dīptaṃ praviveśa vinītavat
 13 samiddhaṃ sa pavitrābhir agnim āhutibhis tathā
     mantrapūtābhir arcitvā niścakrāma gṛhāt tataḥ
 14 dvitīyāṃ puruṣavyāghraḥ kakṣyāṃ niṣkramya pārthivaḥ
     tatra vedavido viprān apaśyad brāhmaṇarṣabhān
 15 dāntān veda vratasnātān snātān avabhṛtheṣu ca
     sahasrānucarān saurān aṣṭau daśaśatāni ca
 16 akṣataiḥ sumanobhiś ca vācayitvā mahābhujaḥ
     tān dvijān madhu sarpirbhyāṃ phalaiḥ śreṣṭhaiḥ sumaṅgalaiḥ
 17 prādāt kāñcanam ekaikaṃ niṣkaṃ viprāya pāṇḍavaḥ
     alaṃkṛtaṃ cāśvaśataṃ vāsāṃsīṣṭāś ca dakṣiṇāḥ
 18 tathā gāḥ kapilā dogdhrīḥ sarṣabhāḥ pāṇḍunandanaḥ
     hemaśṛṅgī rūpyakharā dattvā cakre pradakṣiṇam
 19 svastikān vardhamānāṃś ca nandyāvartāṃś ca kāñcanā
     mālyaṃ ca jalakumbhāṃś ca jvalitaṃ ca hutāśanam
 20 pūrṇāny akṣata pātrāṇi rucakān rocanāṃs tathā
     svalaṃkṛtāḥ śubhāḥ kanyā dadhi sarpirmadhūdakam
 21 paṅgalyān pakṣiṇaś caiva yac cānyad api pūjitam
     dṛṣṭvā spṛṣṭvā ca kaunteyo bāhyaṃ kakṣyām agāt tataḥ
 22 tatas tasya mahābāhos tiṣṭhataḥ paricārakāḥ
     sauvarṇaṃ sarvatobhadraṃ muktā vaiḍūrya maṇḍitam
 23 parārdhyāstaraṇāstīrṇaṃ sottarac chadam ṛddhimat
     viśvakarma kṛtaṃ divyam upajahrur varāsanam
 24 tatra tasyopaviṣṭasya bhūṣaṇāni mahātmanaḥ
     upajahrur mahārhāṇi preṣyāḥ śubhrāṇi sarvaśaḥ
 25 yuktābharaṇa veṣasya kaunteyasya mahātmanaḥ
     rūpam āsīn mahārāja dviṣatāṃ śokavardhanam
 26 pāṇḍaraiś candraraśmyābhair hemadaṇḍaiś ca cāmaraiḥ
     dodhūyamānaḥ śuśubhe vidyudbhir iva toyadaḥ
 27 saṃstūyamānaḥ sūtaiś ca vandyamānaś ca bandibhiḥ
     upagīyamāno gandharvair āste sma kurunandanaḥ
 28 tato muhūrtād āsīt tu bandhināṃ nisvano mahān
     nemighoṣaś ca rathināṃ khuraghoṣaś ca vājinām
 29 hrādena gajaghaṇṭānāṃ śaṅkhānāṃ ninadena ca
     narāṇāṃ padaśabdaiś ca kampatīva sma medinī
 30 tataḥ śuddhāntam āsādya jānubhyāṃ bhūtale sthitaḥ
     śirasā vandanīyaṃ tam abhivandya jagatpatim
 31 kuṇḍalī baddhanistriṃśaḥ saṃnaddha kavaco yuvā
     abhipraṇamya śirasā dvāḥstho dharmātmajāya vai
     nyavedayad dhṛṣīkeśam upayātaṃ mahātmane
 32 so 'bravīt puruṣavyāghraḥ svāgatenaiva mādhavam
     arghyaṃ caivāsanaṃ cāsmai dīyatāṃ paramārcitam
 33 tataḥ praveśya vārṣṇeyam upaveśya varāsane
     satkṛtya satkṛtas tena paryapṛcchad yudhiṣṭhiraḥ

 

 

SECTION LVIII

"Narada said, Usinara's son, Sivi also, O Srinjaya, we hear, fell a prey to death. That king had, as it were, put a leathern girdle around the earth, making the earth with her mountains and islands and seas and forests resound with the clatter of his car. The vanquisher of foes, viz., king Sivi. always slew the foremost of foes. He performed many sacrifices with presents in profusion unto the Brahmanas. That monarch of great prowess and great intelligence had acquired enormous wealth. In battle: he won the applause of all Kshatriyas. 1 Having brought the whole earth under subjection, he performed many Horse-sacrifices, without any obstruction, which were productive of great merit giving away (as sacrificial present) a thousand crores of golden nishkas, and many elephants and steeds and other kinds of animals, much grain, and many deer and sheep. And king Sivi gave away the sacred earth consisting of diverse kinds of soil unto the Brahmanas. Indeed, Usinara's son, Sivi, gave away as many kine as the number of rain-drops showered on the earth, or the number of stars in the firmament, or the number of sand-grains or, the bed of Ganga, or the number of rocks that constitute the mountain called Meru, or the number of gems or of (aquatic) animals in the ocean. The Creator himself hath not met with and will not meet within the past, the present, or the future, another king capable of bearing the burdens that king Sivi bore. Many were the sacrifices, with every kind of rites, that king Sivi performed. In those sacrifices, the stakes, the carpets, the houses, the walls, and the arches, were all made of gold. Food and drink, agreeable to the taste and perfectly clean were kept in profusion. And the Brahmanas that repaired to them could be counted by myriads and myriads. Abounding with viands of every description, nothing but agreeable words such as give away and take were heard there. Milk and curds were collected in large lakes. In his sacrificial compound, there were rivers of drink and white hills of food. 'Bathe, and drink and eat as ye like,' these were the only words heard there. Gratified with his righteous deeds, Rudra granted Sivi a boon, saying, As thou givest away, let thy wealth, thy devotion,--thy fame, thy religious acts, the love that all creatures bear thee, and the heaven (thou attain), be all inexhaustible.' Having obtained all these desirable boons, even Sivi, when the time came, left this world for heaven. When, O Srinjaya, he died who was superior to thee, was much superior to thy son, thou shouldst not, saying, 'Oh, Swaitya, Oh, Swaitya', grieve for thy son who performed no sacrifice and made no sacrificial present.'"

 

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 59

 

 

 

 1 [y]
      mukhena rajanī vyuṣṭā kac cit te madhusūdana
      kac cij jñānāni sarvāṇi prasannāni tavācyuta
  2 [s]
      vāsudevo 'pi tad yuktaṃ paryapṛcchad yudhiṣṭhiram
      tataḥ kṣattā prakṛtayo nyavedayad upasthitāḥ
  3 anujñātaś ca rājñā sa prāveśayata taṃ janam
      virāṭaṃ bhīmasenaṃ ca dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ ca sātyakim
  4 śikhaṇḍinaṃ yamau caiva cekitānaṃ ca kekayān
      yuyutsuṃ caiva kauravyaṃ pāñcālyaṃ cottamaujasam
  5 ete cānye ca bahavaḥ kṣatriyāḥ ṣatriyarṣabham
      upatasthur mahātmānaṃ viviśuś cāsaneṣu te
  6 ekasminn āsane vīrāv upaviṣṭau mahābalau
      kṛṣṇaś ca yuyudhānaś ca mahātmānau mahādyutī
  7 tato yudhiṣṭhiras teṣāṃ śṛṇvatāṃ madhusūdanam
      abravīt puṇḍarīkākṣam ābhāṣya madhuraṃ vacaḥ
  8 ekaṃ tvāṃ vayam āśritya sahasrākṣam ivāmarāḥ
      prārthayāmo jayaṃ yuddhe śāśvatāni sukhāni ca
  9 tvaṃ hi rājyavināśaṃ ca dviṣadbhiś ca nirākriyām
      kleśāṃś ca vividhān kṛṣṇa sarvāṃs tān api vettha naḥ
  10 tvayi sarveśa sarveṣām asmākaṃ bhakta vatsala
     sukham āyattam atyarthaṃ yātrā ca madhusūdana
 11 sa tathā kuru vārṣṇeya yathā tvayi mano mama
     arjunasya yathāsatyā pratijñā syāc cikīrṣitā
 12 sa bhavāṃs tārayatv asmād duḥkhāmarṣa mahārṇavāt
     pāraṃ titīrṣatām adya phalvo no bhava mādhava
 13 na hi tat kurute saṃkhye kārtavīrya samas tv api
     rathī yat kurute kṛṣṇasārathir yatnam āsthitaḥ
 14 [vāsu]
     sāmareṣv api lokeṣu sarveṣu ca tathāvidhaḥ
     śarāsanadharaḥ kaś cid yathā pārtho dhanaṃjayaḥ
 15 vīryavān astrasaṃpannaḥ parākrānon mahābalaḥ
     yuddhaśauṇḍaḥ sadāmarṣī tejasā paramo nṛṇām
 16 sa yuvā vṛṣabhaskandho dīrghabāhur mahābalaḥ
     siṃharṣabha gatiḥ śrīmān dviṣatas te haniṣyati
 17 ahaṃ ca tat kariṣyāmi yathā kuntīsuto 'rjunaḥ
     dhārtarāṣṭrasya sainyāni dhakṣyaty agnir ivotthitaḥ
 18 adya taṃ pāpakarmāṇaṃ kṣudraṃ saubhadra ghātinam
     apunardarśanaṃ mārgam iṣubhiḥ kṣepsyate 'rjunaḥ
 19 tasyādya gṛdhrāḥ śyenāś ca vaḍa gomāyavas tathā
     bhakṣayiṣyanti māṃsāni ye cānye puruṣādakāḥ
 20 yady asya devā goptāraḥ sendrāḥ sarve tathāpy asau
     rājadhānīṃ yamasyādya hataḥ prāpsyati saṃkule
 21 nihatya saindhavaṃ jiṣṇur adya tvām upayāsyati
     viśoko vijvaro rājan bhava bhūtipuraskṛtaḥ

 

SECTION LIX

"Narada said, 'Rama, the son of Dasaratha, O Srinjaya, we hear, fell a prey to death. His subjects were as much delighted with him, as a sire is delighted with the children of his loins. Endued with immeasurable energy, countless virtues were there in him. Of unfading glory, Rama, the elder brother of Lakshmana, at the command of his father, lived for fourteen years in the woods, with his wife. That bull among men slew in Janasthana fourteen thousand Rakshasas for the protection of the ascetics. While dwelling there, the Rakshasa called Ravana, beguiling both him and his companion (Lakshmana) abducted his wife, the princess of Videha. Like the Three-eyed (Mahadeva), in days of old, slaying (the Asura) Andhaka, Rama in wrath slew in battle that offender of Pulastya's race who had never before been vanquished by any foe. Indeed, the mighty-armed Rama slew in battle that descendant of Pulastya's race with all his kinsmen and followers, that Rakshasa who was incapable of being slain by the gods and the Asuras together, that wretch who was a thorn unto the gods and the Brahmanas. In consequence of his affectionate treatment of his subjects, the celestials worshipped Rama. Filling the entire earth with his achievements, he was much applauded even by the celestial Rishis. Compassionate unto all creatures, that king, having acquired diverse realms and protected his subjects virtuously, performed a great sacrifice without obstruction. And the lord, Rama, also performed a hundred Horse-sacrifices and the great sacrifice called Jaruthya. And with libations of clarified butter he contributed to Indra's delight. 1 And by these acts of his, Rama conquered hunger and thirst, and all the diseases to which living creatures are subject. Possessed of every accomplishment, he always blazed forth with his own energy. Indeed, Rama, the son of Dasaratha, greatly outshone all creatures. When Rama ruled his kingdom, the Rishis, the gods, and men, all lived together on the earth. The lives of living creatures were never otherwise. The life-breaths also, called Prana, Apana, Samana, and the others, when Rama ruled his kingdom, all performed their functions. All luminous bodies shone brighter, and calamities never occurred. All his subjects were long-lived. None died in youth. The dwellers of heaven highly gratified, used to get, according to (the ordinances of) the four Vedas, libations of clarified butter and other offerings of food made by men. His realms were free from flies and gnats; and of beasts of prey and poisonous reptiles, there were none. And none was of unrighteous tendencies, none was covetous, and none was ignorant. The subjects, of all the (four) orders, were engaged in righteous and desirable acts, When the Rakshasas, about this time obstructed the offerings to the Pitris and the worship of the gods in Janasthana, Lord Rama, slaying them, caused those offerings and that worship to be once more given to the Pitris
p. 122
and the gods. Men were each blessed with a thousand children, and the period of their lives was a thousand years. Seniors had never to perform Sraddhas of their juniors. 1 Youthful in shape, of a dark-blue hue, of red eyes, possessed of the tread of an infuriated elephant, with arms reaching down to the knees, and beautiful and massive, of leonine shoulders, of great strength, and beloved by all creatures, Rama ruled his kingdom for eleven thousand years. His subjects always uttered his name. While Rama ruled his kingdom, the world became extremely beautiful. Taking at last his four kinds of subjects 2 with him Rama went to heaven, having established his own line consisting of eight houses on the earth. When even he died, O Srinjaya, who was superior to thee in respect of the four cardinal virtues and superior to thy son, thou shouldst not lament, saying 'Oh, Swaitya, Oh, Swaitya,' for thy son who performed no sacrifice and made no sacrificial present.'"

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 60

 

 

 

  1 [s]
      tathā saṃbhāṣatāṃ teṣāṃ prādurāsīd dhanaṃjayaḥ
      dudṛkṣur bharataśreṣṭhaṃ rājānaṃ sasuhṛd gaṇam
  2 taṃ praviṣṭaṃ śubhāṃ kakṣyām abhivādyāgrataḥ sthitam
      samutthāyārjunaṃ premṇā sasvaje pāṇḍavarṣabhaḥ
  3 mūrdhni cainam upāghrāya pariṣvajya ca bāhunā
      āśiṣaḥ paramāḥ procya smayamāno 'bhyabhāṣata
  4 vyaktam arjuna saṃgrāme dhruvas te vijayo mahān
      yādṛg rūpā hi te chāyā prasannaś ca janārdanaḥ
  5 tam abravīt tato jiṣṇur mahad āścaryam uttamam
      dṛṣṭavān asmi bhadraṃ te keśavasya prasādajam
  6 tatas tat kathayām āsa yathādṛṣṭaṃ dhanaṃjayaḥ
      āśvāsanārthaṃ suhṛdāṃ tryambakenasamāgamam
  7 tataḥ śirobhir avaniṃ spṛṣṭvā sarve ca vismitāḥ
      namaskṛtya vṛṣāṅkāya sādhu sādhv ity athābruvan
  8 anujñātās tataḥ sarve suhṛdo dharmasūnunā
      tvaramāṇāḥ susaṃnaddhā hṛṣṭā yuddhāna niryayuḥ
  9 abhivādya tu rājānaṃ yuyudhānācyutārjunāḥ
      hṛṣṭā viniryayus te vai yudhiṣṭhira niveśanāt
  10 rathenaikena durdharṣau yuyudhāna janārdanau
     jagmatuḥ sahitau vīrāv arjunasya niveśanam
 11 tatra gatvā hṛṣīkeśaḥ kalpayām āsa sūtavat
     rathaṃ rathavarasyājau vānararṣabha lakṣaṇam
 12 sa meghasamanirghoṣas taptakāñcanasaprabhaḥ
     babhau rathavaraḥ kḷptaḥ śiśur divasakṛd yathā
 13 tataḥ puruṣaśārdūlaḥ sajjaḥ sajjaṃ puraḥsaraḥ
     kṛtāhnikāya pārthāya nyavedayata taṃ ratham
 14 taṃ tu loke varaḥ puṃsāṃ kirīṭī hemavarmabhṛt
     bāṇavāṇāsanī vāhaṃ pradakṣiṇam avartata
 15 tato vidyā vayovṛddhaiḥ kriyāvadbhir jitendriyaiḥ
     stūyamāno jayāśībhir āruroha mahāratham
 16 jaitraiḥ sāṃgrāmikair mantraiḥ pūrvam eva rathottamam
     abhimantritam arciṣmān udayaṃ bhāskaro yathā
 17 sa rathe rathināṃ śreṣṭhaḥ kāñcane kāñcanāvṛtaḥ
     vibabhau vimalo 'rciṣmān merāv iva divākaraḥ
 18 anvārurohatuḥ pārthaṃ yuyudhāna janārdanau
     śaryāter yajñam āyāntaṃ yathendraṃ devam aśvinau
 19 atha jagrāha govindo raśmīn raśmivatāṃ varaḥ
     mātalir vāsavasyeva vṛtraṃ hantuṃ prayāsyataḥ
 20 sa tābhyāṃ sahitaḥ pārtho rathapravaram āsthitaḥ
     sahitau bubha śukrābhyāṃ tamo nighnan yathā śaśī
 21 saindhavasya vadhaprepsuḥ prayātaḥ śatrupūgahā
     sahāmbupatimitrābhyāṃ yathendras tārakāmaye
 22 tato vāditranirghoṣair maṅgalyaiś ca stavaiḥ śubhaiḥ
     prayāntam arjunaṃ sūtā māgadhāś caiva tuṣṭuvuḥ
 23 sa jayāśīḥ sa puṇyāhaḥ sūtamāgadha nisvanaḥ
     yukto vāditraghoṣeṇa teṣāṃ ratikaro 'bhavat
 24 tam anuprayato vāyuḥ puṇyagandhavahaḥ śuciḥ
     vavau saṃharṣayan pārthaṃ dviṣataś cāpi śoṣayan
 25 prādurāsan nimittāni vijayāya bahūni ca
     pāṇḍavānāṃ tvadīyānāṃ viparītāni māriṣa
 26 dṛṣṭvārjuno nimittāni vijayāya pradakṣiṇam
     yuyudhānaṃ maheṣvāsam idaṃ vacanam abravīt
 27 yuyudhānādya yuddhe me dṛśyate vijayo dhruvaḥ
     yathā hīmāni liṅgāni dṛśyante śinipuṃgava
 28 so 'haṃ tatra gamiṣyāmi yatra saindhavako nṛpaḥ
     yiyāsur yama lokāya mama vīryaṃ pratīkṣate
 29 yathā paramakaṃ kṛtyaṃ saindhavasya vadhe mama
     tathaiva sumahat kṛtyaṃ dharmarājasya rakṣaṇe
 30 sa tvam adya mahābāho rājānaṃ paripālaya
     yathaiva hi mayā guptas tvayā gupto bhavet tathā
 31 tvayi cāhaṃ parāśvasya pradyumne vā mahārathe
     śaknuyāṃ saindhavaṃ hantum anapekṣo nararṣabha
 32 mayy apekṣā na kartavyā kathaṃ cid api sātvata
     rājany eva parā guptiḥ kāryā sarvātmanā tvayā
 33 na hi yatra mahābāhur vāsudevo vyavasthitaḥ
     kiṃ cid vyāpadyate tatra yatrāham api ca dhruvam
 34 evam uktas tu pārthena sātyakiḥ paravīrahā
     tathety uktvāgamat tatra yatra rājā yudhiṣṭhiraḥ

 

SECTION LX

"Narada said, 'Even king Bhagiratha, O Srinjaya, we hear, was dead. He caused the shores of Ganga, called after his name Bhagirath to be covered with flights of steps made of gold. 3 Surpassing all kings and all princes, he gave unto the Brahmanas a thousand times thousand damsels decked with ornaments of gold. All those damsels were upon cars. And unto every car were yoked four steeds, and behind each car were a hundred kine. And behind each cow were (many) goats and sheep. King Bhagiratha gave enormous presents at his sacrifices. For that reason a large concourse of men assembled there. Afflicted there with Ganga was much pained. 'Protect Me,' she said and sat down on his lap. And because Ganga thus sat upon his lap in days of old, therefore, she, like the celestial dancer Urvasi came to be regarded as his daughter and was named after his name. And having become the king's daughter, she became his son (by becoming like a son, the means of salvation unto his deceased
p. 123
ancestors). 1 Sweet-speeched Gandharvas of celestial splendour, gratified, sang all this in the hearing of the Rishis, the gods, and human beings. 2 Thus, O Srinjaya, did that goddess, viz., the ocean-going Ganga, select lord Bhagiratha, descendant of Ikshvaku, the performer of sacrifices with profuse gifts (to the Brahmanas), as her father. His sacrifices were always graced with (the presence of) the very gods with Indra at their head. And the gods used to take their respective shares, by removing all impediments, to facilitate those sacrifices in every way. Possessed of great ascetic merit, Bhagiratha gave unto the Brahmanas whatever benefit they desired without obliging them to stir from the place wherever they might entertain those desires. There was nothing which he could withhold from the Brahmanas. Every one received from him everything he coveted. At last, the king ascended to the region of Brahman, through the grace of the Brahmanas. For that object on which the Rishis that subsisted on the rays of the sun used to wait upon the sun and the presiding deity of the sun, for that very object they used to wait upon the lord Bhagiratha, that ornament of the three worlds. When he died, O Srinjaya, who was superior to thee, as regards the four cardinal virtues, and who, superior to thee, was much superior to thy son, thou shouldst not grieve, saying 'Oh, Swaitya, Oh, Swaitya,' for the latter who performed no sacrifice and made no sacrificial present.'"

 

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 61

 

 

 

 1 [dhṛ]
      śvobhūte kim akārṣus te duḥkhaśokasamanvitāḥ
      abhimanyau hate tatra ke vāyudhyanta māmakāḥ
  2 jānantas tasya karmāṇi kuravaḥ savyasācinaḥ
      kathaṃ tat kilbiṣaṃ kṛtvā nirbhayā brūhi māmakāḥ
  3 putraśokābhisaṃtaptaṃ kruddhaṃ mṛtyum ivāntakam
      āyāntaṃ puruṣavyāghraṃ kathaṃ dadṛśur āhave
  4 kapirājadhvajaṃ saṃkhye vidhunvānaṃ mahad dhanuḥ
      dṛṣṭvā putra paridyūnaṃ kim akurvanta māmakāḥ
  5 kiṃ nu saṃjaya saṃgrāme vṛttaṃ duryodhanaṃ prati
      paridevo mahān atra śruto me nābhinandanam
  6 babhūvur ye manogrāhyāḥ śabdāḥ śrutisukhāvahāḥ
      na śrūyante 'dya te sarve saindhavasya niveśane
  7 stuvatāṃ nādya śrūyante putrāṇāṃ śibire mama
      sūtamāgadha saṃghānāṃ nartakānāṃ ca sarvaśaḥ
  8 śabdena nāditābhīkṣṇam abhavad yatra me śrutiḥ
      dīnānām adya taṃ śabdaṃ na śṛṇomi samīritam
  9 niveśane satyadhṛteḥ somadattasya saṃjaya
      āsīno 'haṃ purā tāta śabdam aśrauṣam uttamam
  10 tad adya hīnapuṇyo 'ham ārtasvaranināditam
     niveśanaṃ hatotsāhaṃ putrāṇāṃ mama lakṣaye
 11 viviṃśater durmukhasya citrasenavikarṇayoḥ
     anyeṣāṃ ca sutānāṃ me na tathā śrūyate dhvaniḥ
 12 brāhmaṇāḥ kṣatriyā vaiśyā yaṃ śiṣyāḥ paryupāsate
     droṇaputraṃ maheṣvāsaṃ putrāṇāṃ me parāyaṇam
 13 vitaṇḍālāpa saṃlāpair hutayācita vanditaiḥ
     gītaiśca vividhair iṣṭai ramaye yo divāniśam
 14 upāsyamāno bahubhiḥ kurupāṇḍavasātvataiḥ
     sūta tasya gṛhe śabdho nādya drauṇer yathā purā
 15 droṇaputraṃ maheṣvāsaṃ gāyanā nartakāś ca ye
     atyartham upatiṣṭhanti teṣāṃ na śrūyate dhvaniḥ
 16 vindānuvindayoḥ sāyaṃ śibire yo mahādhvaniḥ
     śrūyate so 'dya na tathā kekayānāṃ ca veśmasu
 17 nityapramuditānāṃ ca tālagīta svano mahān
     nṛtyatāṃ śrūyate tāta gaṇānāṃ so 'dya na dhvaniḥ
 18 sapta tantūn vitanvānā yam upāsanti yājakāḥ
     saumadattiṃ śrutanidhiṃ teṣāṃ na śrūyate dhvaniḥ
 19 jyāghoṣo brahmaghoṣaś ca toramāsi rathadhvaniḥ
     droṇasyāsīd avirato gṛhe tan na śṛṇomy aham
 20 nānādeśasamutthānāṃ gītānāṃ yo 'bhavat svanaḥ
     vāditranāditānāṃ ca so 'dya na śrūyate mahān
 21 yadā prabhṛty upaplavyāc chāntim icchañ janārdanaḥ
     āgataḥ sarvabhūtānām anukampārtham acyutaḥ
 22 tato 'ham abruvaṃ sūta mandaṃ duryodhanaṃ tadā
     vāsudevena tīrthena putra saṃśāmya pāṇḍavaiḥ
 23 kālaprāprtam ahaṃ manye mā tvaṃ duryodhanātigāḥ
     śame ced yācamānaṃ tvaṃ pratyākhyāsyasi keśavam
     hitārtham abhijalpantaṃ na tathāsty aparājayaḥ
 24 pratyācaṣṭa sa dāśārham ṛṣabhaṃ sarvadhanvinām
     anuneyāni jalpantam anayān nānvapadyata
 25 tato duḥśāsanasyaiva karṇasya ca mataṃ dvayoḥ
     anvavartata hitvā māṃ kṛṣṭaḥ kālena durmatiḥ
 26 na hy ahaṃ dyūtam icchāmi viduro na praśaṃsati
     saindhavo necchate dyūtaṃ bhīṣmo na dyūtam icchati
 27 śalyo bhūriśravāś caiva purumitro jayas tathā
     aśvatthāmā kṛpo droṇo dyūtaṃ necchanti saṃjaya
 28 eteṣāṃ matam ājñāya yadi varteta putrakaḥ
     sa jñātimitraḥ sa suhṛc ciraṃ jīved anāmayaḥ
 29 ślakṣṇā madhurasaṃbhāṣā jñātimadhye priyaṃvadāḥ
     kulīnāḥ samatāḥ prājñāḥ sukhaṃ prāpsyanti pāṇḍavāḥ
 30 dharmāpekṣo naro nityaṃ sarvatra labhate sukham
     pretya bhāve ca kalyāṇaṃ prasādaṃ pratipadyate
 31 arhanty ardhaṃ pṛthivyās te bhoktuṃ sāmarthya sādhanāḥ
     teṣām api samudrāntā pitṛpaitāmahī mahī
 32 niyujyamānāḥ sthāsyanti pāṇḍavā dharmavartmani
     santi no jñātayas tāta yeṣāṃ śroṣyanti pāṇḍavāḥ
 33 śalyasya somadattasya bhīṣmasya ca mahātmanaḥ
     droṇasyātha vikarṇasya bāhlikasya kṛpasya ca
 34 anyeṣāṃ caiva vṛddhānāṃ bharatānāṃ mahātmanām
     tvadarthaṃ bruvatāṃ tātaḥ kariṣyanti vaco hitam
 35 kaṃ vā tvaṃ manyase teṣāṃ yas tvā brūyād ato 'nyathā
     kṛṣṇo na dharmaṃ saṃjahyāt sarve te ca tvad anvayāḥ
 36 mayāpi coktās te vīrā vacanaṃ dharmasaṃhitam
     nānyathā prakariṣyanti dharmātmāno hi pāṇḍavāḥ
 37 ity ahaṃ vilapan sūta bahuśaḥ putram uktavān
     na ca me śrutavān mūḍho manye kālasya paryayam
 38 vṛkodarārjunau yatra vṛṣṇivīraś ca sātyakiḥ
     uttamaujāś ca pāñcālyo yudhāmanyuś ca durjayaḥ
 39 dhṛṣṭadyumnaś ca durdharṣaḥ śikhaṇḍī cāparājitaḥ
     aśmakāḥ kekayāś caiva kṣatradharmā ca saumakiḥ
 40 caidyaś ca cekitānaś ca putraḥ pāśyasya cābhibhuḥ
     draupadeyā virāṭaś ca drupadaś ca mahārathaḥ
     yamau ca puruṣavyāghrau mantrī ca madhusūdanaḥ
 41 ka etāñ jātu yudhyeta loke 'smin vai jijīviṣuḥ
     divyam astraṃ vikurvāṇān saṃhareyur ariṃdamāḥ
 42 anyo duryodhanāt karṇāc chakuneś cāpi saubalāt
     duḥśāsanacaturthānāṃ nānyaṃ paśyāmi pañcamam
 43 yeṣām abhīśu hastaḥ syād viṣvakseno rathe sthitaḥ
     saṃnaddhaś cārjuno yodhā teṣāṃ nāsti parājayaḥ
 44 teṣāṃ mama vilāpānāṃ na hi duryodhanaḥ smaret
     hatau hi puruṣavyāghrau bhīṣmadroṇau tvam āttha me
 45 teṣāṃ vidura vākyānām uktānāṃ dīrghadarśinām
     dṛṣṭvemāṃ phalanirvṛttiṃ manye śocanti putrakāḥ
 46 himātyaye yathā kakṣaṃ śuṣkaṃ vāterito mahān
     agnir dahet tathā senāṃ māmikāṃ sadhanaṃjayaḥ
 47 ācakṣva tad dhi naḥ sarvaṃ kuśalo hy asi saṃjaya
     yad upāyāt tu sāyāhne kṛtvā pārthasya kilbiṣam
     abhimanyau hate tāta katham āsīn mano hi vaḥ
 48 na jātu tasya karmāṇi yudhi gāṇḍīvadhanvanaḥ
     apakṛtvā mahat tāta soḍhuṃ śakṣyanti māmakāḥ
 49 kiṃ nu duryodhanaḥ kṛtyaṃ karṇaḥ kṛtyaṃ kim abravīt
     duḥśāsanaḥ saubalaś ca teṣām evaṃgate api
     sarveṣāṃ samavetānāṃ putrāṇāṃ mama saṃjaya
 50 yadvṛttaṃ tāta saṃgrāme mandasyāpanayair bhṛśam
     lobhānugata durbuddheḥ krodhena vikṛtātmanaḥ
 51 rājyakāmasya mūḍhasya rāgopahata cetasaḥ
     durnītaṃ vā sunītaṃ vā tan mamācakṣva saṃjaya

 

SECTION LXI

"Narada said, 'Dilipa, the son of Havila, too, O Srinjaya, we hear, fell a prey to death. Brahmanas, vested in knowledge of Truth, devoted to the performance of sacrifices, blessed with children and children's children and numbering myriads upon myriads, were present at his hundreds of sacrifices. King Dilipa, having performed various sacrifices, gave away this earth, filled with treasures, unto the Brahmanas. At the sacrifices of Dilipa, the roads were all made of gold. The very gods, with Indra at their head used to come to him regarding him as Dharma himself. The upper and lower rings of his sacrificial stake were made of gold. Eating
p. 124
his Raga-khandavas, many persons, at his sacrifices, were seen to lie down on the roads. While battling over the waters, the two wheels of Dilipa's car never sank in that liquid. This seemed exceedingly wonderful, and never occured to other kings, Even those that saw king Dilipa, that firm bowman, always truthful in speech and giving away profuse gifts at his sacrifices, succeeded in ascending to heaven. In the abode of Dilipa, called also Khattanga, these five sounds were always to be heard, viz., the sound of Vedic recitations, the twang of bows, and Drink, Enjoy, and Eat! When he died, O Srinjaya, who was superior to thee in respect of the four cardinal virtues and who superior to thee, was much superior to thy son, thou shouldst not, saying, 'Oh, Swaitya, Oh, Swaitya,' grieve for thy son who performed no sacrifice and made no sacrificial gifts.'" 1

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 62

 

 

 

1 [s]
      hanta te saṃpravakṣyāmi sarvaṃ pratyakṣadarśivān
      śuśrūṣasva sthiro bhūtvā tava hy apanayo mahān
  2 gatodake setubandho yādṛk tādṛg ayaṃ tava
      vilāpo niṣphalo rājan mā śuco bharatarṣabha
  3 anatikramaṇīyo 'yaṃ kṛtāntasyādbhuto vidhiḥ
      mā śuco bharataśreṣṭha diṣṭam etat purātanam
  4 yadi hi tvaṃ purā dyūtāt kunti putraṃ yudhiṣṭhiram
      nivartayethāḥ putrāṃś ca na tvāṃ vyasanam āvrajet
  5 yuddhakāle punaḥ prāpte tadaiva bhavatā yadi
      nivartitāḥ syuḥ saṃrabdhā na tvāṃ vyasanam āvrajet
  6 duryodhanaṃ cāvidheyyaṃ badhnīteti purā yadi
      kurūn acodayiṣyas tvaṃ na tvāṃ vyasanam āvrajet
  7 tat te buddhivyabhīcāram upalapsyanti pāṇḍavāḥ
      pāñcālā vṛṣṇayaḥ sarve ye cānye 'pi mahājanāḥ
  8 sa kṛtvā pitṛkarma tvaṃ putraṃ saṃsthāpya satpathe
      vartethā yadi dharmeṇa na tvāṃ vyasanam āvrajet
  9 tvaṃ tu prājñatamo loke hitvā dharmaṃ sanātanam
      duryodhanasya karṇasya śakuneś cānvagā matam
  10 tat te vilapitaṃ sarvaṃ mayā rājan niśāmitam
     arthe niviśamānasya viṣamiśraṃ yathā madhu
 11 na tathā manyate kṛṣṇo rājānaṃ pāṇḍavaṃ purā
     na bhīṣmaṃ naiva ca droṇaṃ yathā tvām manyate nṛpa
 12 vyājānata yadā tu tvāṃ rājadharmād adhaś cyutam
     tadā prabhṛti kṛṣṇas tvāṃ na tathā bahu manyate
 13 paruṣāṇy ucyamānāṃś ca yathā pārthān upekṣase
     tasyānubandhaḥ prāptas tvāṃ putrāṇāṃ rājyakāmukam
 14 pitṛpaitāmahaṃ rājyam apavṛttaṃ tadānagha
     atha pārthair jitāṃ kṛtsnāṃ pṛthivīṃ pratyapadyathāḥ
 15 pāṇḍunāvarjitaṃ rājyaṃ kauravāṇāṃ yaśas tathā
     tataś cābhyadhikaṃ bhūyaḥ pāṇḍavair dharmacāribhiḥ
 16 teṣāṃ tat tādṛśaṃ karma tvām āsādya suniṣphalam
     yat pitryād bhraṃśitā rājyāt tvayehāmiṣa gṛddhinā
 17 yat punar yuddhakāle tvaṃ putrān garhayase nṛpa
     bahudhā vyāharan doṣān na tad adyopapadyate
 18 na hi rakṣanti rājāno yudhyanto jīvitaṃ raṇe
     camūṃ vigāhya pārthānāṃ yudhyante kṣatriyarṣabhāḥ
 19 yāṃ tu kṛṣṇārjunau senāṃ yāṃ sātyakivṛkodarau
     rakṣeran ko nu tāṃ yudhyec camūm anyatra kauravaiḥ
 20 yeṣāṃ yodhā guḍākeśo yeṣāṃ mantrī janārdanaḥ
     yeṣāṃ ca sātyakir goptā yeṣāṃ goptā vṛkodaraḥ
 21 ko hi tān viṣahed yoddhuṃ martyadharmā dhanurdharaḥ
     anyatra kauraveyebhyo ye vā teṣāṃ padānugāḥ
 22 yāvat tu śakyate kartum anuraktair janādhipaiḥ
     kṣatradharmarataiḥ śūrais tāvat kurvanti kauravāḥ
 23 yathā tu puruṣavyāghrair yuddhaṃ paramasaṅkaṭam
     kurūṇāṃ pāṇḍavaiḥ sārdhaṃ tat sarvaṃ śṛṇu tattvataḥ

SECTION LXII

"Narada said, 'Mandhatri' the son of Yuvanaswa, O Srinjaya, we hear, fell a prey to death. That king vanquished the gods, the Asuras and men. Those celestials, viz., the twin Aswins, brought him out of his father's womb by a surgical operations. Once on a time, king Yuvanaswa while chasing the deer in the forest, became very thirsty and his steeds also became exceedingly fatigued. Beholding a wreath of smoke, the king (directed by it) went to a sacrifice and drank the sacred sacrificial butter that lay scattered there. (The king, thereupon, conceived). Beholding that Yuvanaswa was quick with child, those best of physicians, viz., the twin Aswins among the celestials, extracted the child from the king's womb. Seeing that child of celestial splendour lying on the lap on his father, the gods said unto one another, 'What shall support this child?' Then Vasava said, 'Let the child suck my fingers,' Thereupon from the fingers of Indra issued milk sweet as nectar. And since Indra from compassion, said, 'He will draw his sustenance from me,' and showed him that kindness, therefore, the gods named that child Mandhatri. 2 Then jets of milk and clarified butter dropped into the mouth of Yuvanaswa's son from the hand of the high-souled Indra. The boy continued to suck the hand of Indra and by that means to grow. In twelve days he became twelve cubits in stature and endued with great prowess. And he conquered the whole of this earth in the course of a single day. Of virtuous soul, possessed of great intelligence, heroic, devoted to truth and a master of his passions, Mandhatri vanquished, by his bow Janamejaya and Sudhanwan and Jaya and Suna 3 and Vrihadratha and Nriga. And the lands
p. 125
lying between the hill where the sun rises and the hill where he sets, are known to this day as the dominion of Mandhatri. Having performed a hundred Horse-sacrifices and a hundred Rajasuya sacrifices also, he gave away, O monarch, unto the Brahmanas, some Rohita fish made of gold, that were ten Yojanas in length and one Yojana in breadth. Mountains of savoury food and comestibles of diverse kinds, after the Brahmanas had been entertained, were eaten by others, (who came at his sacrifices) and contributed to their gratification. Vast quantities of food and eatables and drink, and mountains of rice, looked beautiful as they stood. Many rivers, having lakes of clarified butter, with diverse kinds of soup for their mire, curds for their froth and liquid honey for their water, looking beautiful, and wafting honey and milk, encircled mountains of solid viands. Gods and Asuras and Men and Yakshas and Gandharvas and Snakes and Birds, and many Brahmanas, accomplished in the Vedas and their branches, and many Rishis came to his sacrifices. Amongst those present there, none was illiterate. King Mandhatri, having bestowed the earth bounded by the seas and full of wealth upon the Brahmanas, at last disappeared like the sun. Filling all the points of the compass with his fame, he repaired to the regions of the righteous. When he died, O Srinjaya, who excelled thee in the four cardinal virtues and who, superior to thee, was much superior to thy son, thou shouldst not grieve, saying, 'Oh, Swaitya, Oh, Swaitya' for the latter who performed no sacrifice and made no sacrificial gift.'"

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 63

 

 

 

1 [s]
      tasyāṃ niśāyāṃ vyuṣṭāyāṃ droṇaḥ śastrabhṛtāṃ varaḥ
      svāny anīkāni sarvāṇi prākrāmad vyūhituṃ tatha
  2 śūrāṇāṃ garjatāṃ rājan saṃkruddhānām amarṣiṇām
      śrūyante sma giriś citrāḥ parasparavadhaiṣiṇām
  3 visphārya ca dhanūṃṣy ājau jyāḥ karaiḥ parimṛjya ca
      viniḥśvasantaḥ prākrośan kvedānīṃ sadhanaṃjayaḥ
  4 vikośān sutsarūn anye kṛtadhārān samāhitān
      pītān ākāśasaṃkāśān asīn ke cic ca cikṣipuḥ
  5 carantas tv asi mārgāṃś ca dhanur mārgāṃś ca śikṣayā
      saṃgrāmamanasaḥ śūrā dṛśyante sma sahasraśaḥ
  6 sa ghaṇṭāś candanādigdhāḥ svarṇavarja vibhūṣitāḥ
      samutkṣipya gadāś cānye paryapṛcchanta pāṇḍavam
  7 anye balamadonmattāḥ parighair bāhuśālinaḥ
      cakruḥ sabādham ākāśam ucchritendra dhvajopamaiḥ
  8 nānāpraharaṇaiś cānye vicitrasrag alaṃkṛtāḥ
      saṃgrāmamanasaḥ śūrās tatra tatra vyavasthitāḥ
  9 kvārjunaḥ kva ca govindaḥ kva ca mānī vṛkodaray
      kva ca te suhṛdas teṣām āhvayanto raṇe tadā
  10 tataḥ śaṅkham upādhmāya tvarayan vājinaḥ svayam
     itas tatas tān racayan droṇaś ca rativegitaḥ
 11 teṣv anīkeṣu sarveṣu sthiteṣv āhavanandiṣu
     bhāradvājo mahārāja jayadratham athābravīt
 12 tvaṃ caiva saumadattiś ca karṇaś caiva mahārathaḥ
     aśvatthāmā ca śalyaś ca vṛṣasenaḥ kṛpas tathā
 13 śataṃ cāśvasahasrāṇāṃ rathānām ayutāni ṣaṭ
     dviradānāṃ prabhinnānāṃ sahasrāṇi caturdaśa
 14 padātīnāṃ sahasrāṇi daṃśitāny ekaviṃśatiḥ
     gavyūtiṣu trimātreṣu mām anāsādya tiṣṭhata
 15 tatrasthaṃ tvāṃ na saṃsoḍhuṃ śaktā devāḥ sa vāsavāḥ
     kiṃ punaḥ pāṇḍavāḥ sarve samāśvasihi saindhava
 16 evam uktaḥ samāśvastaḥ sindhurājo jayadrathaḥ
     saṃprāyāt saha gāndhārair vṛtas taiś ca mahārathaiḥ
     varmibhiḥ sādibhir yattaiḥ prāsapāṇibhir āsthitaiḥ
 17 cāmarāpīḍinaḥ sarve jāmbūnadavibhūṣitāḥ
     jayadrathasya rājendra hayāḥ sādhu pravāhinaḥ
     te caiva sapta sāhasrā dvisāhasrāś ca saindhavāḥ
 18 mattānām adhirūḍhānāṃ hastyārohair viśāradaiḥ
     nāgānāṃ bhīmarūpāṇāṃ varmiṇāṃ raudrakarmiṇām
 19 adhyardhena sahasreṇa putro durmarṣaṇas tava
     agrataḥ sarvasainyānāṃ yotsyamāno vyavasthitaḥ
 20 tato duḥśāsanaś caiva vikarṇaś ca tavātmajau
     sindhurājārtha siddhyartham agrānīke vyavasthitau
 21 dīrgho dvādaśa gavyūtiḥ pañcārdhe pañca vistṛtaḥ
     vyūhaḥ sacakraśakaṭo bhāradvājena nirmitaḥ
 22 nānā nṛpatibhir vīrais tatra tatra vyavasthitaiḥ
     rathāśvagajapattyoghair droṇena vihitaḥ svayam
 23 paścārde tasya padmas tu garbhavyūhaḥ sudurbhidaḥ
     sūcī padmasya madhyastho gūḍho vyūhaḥ punaḥ kṛtaḥ
 24 evam etaṃ mahāvyūhaṃ vyūhya droṇo vyavasthitaḥ
     sūcīmukhe maheṣvāsaḥ kṛtavarmā vyavasthitaḥ
 25 anantaraṃ ca kāmbojo jalasaṃdhaś ca māriṣa
     duryodhanaḥ sahāmātyas tadanantaram eva ca
 26 tataḥ śatasahasrāṇi yodhānām anivartinām
     vyavasthitāni sarvāṇi śakaṭe sūci rakṣiṇaḥ
 27 teṣāṃ ca pṛṣṭhato rājabalena mahatā vṛtaḥ
     jayadrathas tato rājan sūci pāśe vyavasthitaḥ
 28 śakaṭasya tu rājendr abhāradvājo mukhe sthitaḥ
     anu tasyābhavad bhojo jugopainaṃ tataḥ svayam
 29 śvetavarmāmbaroṣṇīṣo vyūḍhorasko mahābhujaḥ
     dhanur visphārayan droṇas tasthau kruddha ivāntakaḥ
 30 patākinaṃ śoṇa hayaṃ vedī kṛṣṇājinadhvajam
     droṇasya ratham ālokya prahṛṣṭāḥ kuravo 'bhavan
 31 siddhacāraṇasaṃghānāṃ vismayaḥ sumahān abhūt
     droṇena vihitaṃ dṛṣṭvā vyūhaṃ kṣubdhārṇavopama
 32 sa śailasāgara vanāṃ nānājanapadākulām
     grased vyūhaḥ kṣitiṃ sarvām iti bhūtāni menire
 33 bahu rathamanujāśvapattināgaṃ; pratibhaya nisvanam adbhutābha rūpam
     ahitahṛdayabhedanaṃ mahad vai; śakaṭam avekṣya kṛtaṃ nananda rājā

 

SECTION LXIII

"Narada said, 'Yayati, the son of Nahusha, O Srinjaya, we hear, fell a prey to death. Having performed a hundred Rajasuyas, a hundred Horse-sacrifices, a thousand Pundarikas, a hundred Vajapeyas, a thousand Atiratras, innumerable Chaturmasyas, diverse Agnishtomas, and many other kinds of sacrifices, in all of which he made profuse gifts unto the Brahmanas, he gave away unto the Brahmanas, having counted it first, the whole of the wealth that existed on the earth in the possession of Mlecchas and other Brahmana-hating people. When the gods and the Asuras were arrayed for battle, king Yayati aided the gods. Having divided the earth into four parts, he gave it away unto four persons. Having performed various sacrifices and virtuously begotten excellent offspring upon (his wives) Devayani, the daughter of Usanas and Sarmishtha, king Yayati, who was like unto a celestial, roved through the celestial woods at his own pleasure, like a second Vasava. Acquainted with all the Vedas, when, however, he found that he was not satiated with the indulgence of his passions, he then, with his wives, retired into the forest, saying this:
p. 126
[paragraph continues] 'Whatever of paddy and wheat and gold and animals and women there are on earth, even the whole of these is not sufficient for one man. Thinking of this, one should cultivate contentment.' Thus abandoning all his desires, and attaining to contentment, the lord Yayati, installing (his son) on his throne, retired into the forest. When he died, O Srinjaya, who was superior to thee in respect of the four cardinal virtues and who, superior to thee, was much superior to thy son, thou shouldst not, saying, 'Oh, Swaitya, Oh, Swaitya', grieve for the latter who performed no sacrifice and made no sacrificial present.'"

 

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 64

 

 

 

 

1 [s]
      tato vyūḍheṣv anīkeṣu samutkruṣṭeṣu māriṣa
      tāḍyamānāsu bherīṣu mṛdaṅgeṣu nadatsu ca
  2 anīkānāṃ ca saṃhrāde vāditrāṇāṃ ca nisvane
      pradhmāpiteṣu śaṅkheṣu saṃnāde lomaharṣaṇe
  3 abhihārayatsu śanakair bharateṣu yuyutsuṣu
      raudre muhūrte saṃprāpte savyasācī vyadṛśyata
  4 vaḍānāṃ vāyasānāṃ ca purastāt savyasācinaḥ
      bahulāni sahasrāṇi prākrīḍaṃs tatra bhārata
  5 bṛgāś ca ghorasaṃnādāḥ śivāś cāśiva darśanāḥ
      dakṣiṇena prayātānām asmākaṃ prāṇadaṃs tathā
  6 sa nirghātā jvalantyaś ca petur ulkāḥ samantataḥ
      cacāla ca mahīkṛtsnā bhaye ghore samutthite
  7 viṣvag vātāḥ sa nirghātā rūkṣāḥ śarkara varṣiṇaḥ
      vavyur āyāti kauneye saṃgrāme samupasthite
  8 nākulis tu śatānīko dhṛṣṭadyumnaś ca pārṣataḥ
      pāṇḍavānām anīkāni prājñau tau vyūhatus tadā
  9 tato rathasahasreṇa dviradānāṃ śatena ca
      tribhir aśvasahasraiś ca padātīnāṃ śataiḥ śaraiḥ
  10 adhyardhamātre dhanuṣāṃ sahasre tanayas tava
     agrataḥ sarvasainyānāṃ sthitvā durmarṣaṇo 'bravīt
 11 adya gāṇḍīvadhanvānaṃ tapantaṃ yuddhadurmadam
     aham āvārayiṣyāmi veleva makarālayam
 12 adya paśyantu saṃgrāme dhanaṃjayam amarṣaṇam
     viṣaktaṃ mayi durdharṣam aśmakūṭam ivāśmani
 13 evaṃ bruvan mahārāja mahātmā sa mahāmatiḥ
     maheṣvāsair vṛto rājan maheṣvāso vyavasthitaḥ
 14 tato 'ntaka iva kruddhaḥ sa varja iva vāsavaḥ
     daṇḍapāṇir ivāsahyo mṛtyuḥ kālena coditaḥ
 15 śūlapāṇir ivākṣobhyo varuṇaḥ pāśavān iva
     yugāntāgnir ivārciṣmān pradhakṣyan vai punaḥ prajāḥ
 16 krodhāmarṣabaloddhūto nivātakavacāntakaḥ
     jayo jetā sthitaḥ satye pārayiṣyan mahāvratam
 17 āmuktakavacaḥ khaḍgī jāmbūnadakirīṭabhṛt
     śubhra varmāmbara dharaḥ svaṅgadī cārukuṇḍalī
 18 rathapravaram āsthāya naro nārāyaṇānugaḥ
     vidhunvan gāṇḍivaṃ saṃkhye babhau sūrya ivoditaḥ
 19 so 'grānīkasya mahata iṣupāte dhanaṃjayaḥ
     vyavasthāpya rathaṃ sajjaṃ śaṅkhaṃ dadhmau pratāpavān
 20 atha kṛṣṇo 'py asaṃbhrāntaḥ pārthena saha māriṣa
     prādhmāpayat pāñcajanyaṃ śaṅkhapravaram ojasā
 21 tayoḥ śaṅkhapraṇādena tava sainye viśāṃ pate
     āsan saṃhṛṣṭaromāṇaḥ kampitā gatacetasaḥ
 22 yathā trasanti bhūtāni sarvāṇy aśaninisvanāt
     tathā śaṅkhapraṇādena vitresus tava sainikāḥ
 23 prasusruvuḥ śakṛn mūtraṃ vāhanāni ca sarvaśaḥ
     evaṃ sa vāhanaṃ sarvam āvignam abhavad balam
 24 vyaṣīdanta narā rājañ śaṅkhaśabdena māriṣa
     visaṃjñāś cābhavan ke cit ke cid rājan vitatrasuḥ
 25 tataḥ kapirmahā nādaṃ saha bhūtair dhvajālayaiḥ
     akarod vyāditāsyaś ca bhīṣayaṃs tava sainikān
 26 tatha śaṅkhāś ca bheryaś ca mṛdaṅgāś cānakaiḥ saha
     punar evābhyahanyanta tava sainyapraharṣaṇāḥ
 27 nānā vāditrasaṃhrādaiḥ kṣveḍitāsphoṭitākulaiḥ
     siṃhanādaiḥ sa vāditraiḥ samāhūtair mahārathaiḥ
 28 tasmin sutumule śabde bhīrūṇāṃ bhayavardhane
     atīva hṛṣṭo dāśārham abravīt pākaśāsaniḥ
 29 codayāśvān hṛṣīkeśa yatra durmarṣaṇaḥ sthitaḥ
     etad bhittvā gajānīkaṃ pravekṣyāmy arivāhinīm
 30 evam ukto mahābāhuḥ keśavaḥ savyasācinā
     acodayad dhayāṃs tatra yatra durmarṣaṇaḥ sthitaḥ
 31 sa saṃprahāras tumulaḥ saṃpravṛttaḥ sudāruṇaḥ
     ekasya ca bahūnāṃ ca rathanāganarakṣayaḥ
 32 tataḥ sāyakavarṣeṇa parjanya iva vṛṣṭimān
     parān avākirat pārthaḥ parvatān iva nīradaḥ
 33 te cāpi rathinaḥ sarve tvaritāḥ kṛtahastavat
     avākiran bāṇajālais tataḥ kṛṣṇa dhanaṃjayau
 34 tataḥ kruddho mahābāhur vāryamāṇaḥ parair yudhi
     śirāṃsi rathināṃ pārthaḥ kāyebhyo 'pāharac charaiḥ
 35 udbhrāntanayanair vaktraiḥ saṃdaṣṭauṣṭha puṭaiḥ śubhaiḥ
     sakuṇḍalaśiras trāṇair vasudhāsamakīryata
 36 puṇḍarīkavanānīva vidhvastāni samantataḥ
     vinikīrṇāni yodhānāṃ vadanāni cakāśire
 37 tapanīyavicitrāṇi siktāni rudhireṇa ca
     adṛśyanta yathā rājan meghasaṃghāḥ sa vidyutaḥ
 38 śirasāṃ patatāṃ rājañ śabdo 'bhūt pṛthivītale
     kālena paripakvānāṃ tālānāṃ patatām iva
 39 tataḥ kabandhaḥ kaś cit tu dhanur ālambya tiṣṭhati
     kaś cit khaḍgaṃ viniṣkṛṣya bhujenodyamya tiṣṭhati
 40 nānānanta śirāṃsy urvyāṃ patitāni nararṣabhāḥ
     amṛṣyamāṇāḥ kaunteyaṃ saṃgrāme jaya gṛddhinaḥ
 41 hayānām uttamāṅgaiś ca hastihastaiś ca medinī
     bāhubhiś ca śirobhiś ca vīrāṇāṃ samakīryata
 42 ayaṃ pārthaḥ kutaḥ pārtha eṣa pārtha iti prabho
     tava sainyeṣu yodhānāṃ pārtha bhūtam ivābhavat
 43 anyonyam api cājaghnur ātmānam api cāpare
     pārtha bhūtam amanyanta jagat kālena mohitāḥ
 44 niṣṭanantaḥ sa rudhirā visaṃjñā gāḍhavedanāḥ
     śayānā bahavo vīrāḥ kīrtayantaḥ suhṛjjanam
 45 sa bhiṇḍipālāḥ sa prāsāḥ sa śaktyṛṣṭi paraśvadhāḥ
     sa niryūhāḥ sanistriṃśāḥ sa śarāsanatomarāḥ
 46 sa bāṇavarmābharaṇāḥ sagadāḥ sāṅgadā raṇe
     mahābhujaga saṃkāśā bāhavaḥ parighopamāḥ
 47 udveṣṭanti viceṣṭanti saṃveṣṭanti ca sarvaśaḥ
     vegaṃ kurvanti saṃrabdhā nikṛttāḥ parameṣubhiḥ
 48 yo yaḥ sma samare pārthaṃ pratisaṃrabhate naraḥ
     tasya tasyāṅkato bāṇaḥ śarīram upasarpati
 49 nṛtyato rathamārgeṣu dhanur vyāyacchatas tathā
     na kaś cit tatra pārthasya dadarśāntaram aṇv api
 50 yat tasya ghaṭamānasya kṣipraṃ vikṣipataḥ śarān
     lāghavāt pāṇḍuputrasya vyasmayanta pare janāḥ
 51 hastinaṃ hastiyantāram aśvam āśvikam eva ca
     abhinat phalguno bāṇai rathinaṃ ca sa sārathim
 52 āvartamānam āvṛttaṃ yudhyamānaṃ ca pāṇḍavaḥ
     pramukhe tiṣṭhamānaṃ ca na kaṃ cin na nihanti saḥ
 53 yathodayan vai gagane sūryo hanti mahat tamaḥ
     tathārjuno gajānīkam avadhīt kaṅkapatribhiḥ
 54 hastibhiḥ patitair bhinnais tava sainyam adṛśyata
     antakāle yathā bhūmir vinikīrṇair mahīdharaiḥ
 55 yathā madhyaṃ dine sūryo duṣprekṣyaḥ prāṇibhiḥ sadā
     tathā dhanaṃjayaḥ kruddho duṣprekṣyo yudhi śatrubhiḥ
 56 tat tathā tava putrasya sainyaṃ yudhi paraṃtapa
     prabhagnaṃ drutam āvignam atīva śarapīḍitam
 57 māruteneva mahatā meghānīkaṃ vidhūyatā
     prakālyamānaṃ tat sainyaṃ nāśakat prativīkṣitum
 58 pratodaiś cāpakoṭībhir huṃkāraiḥ sādhuv āhitaiḥ
     kaśā pārṣṇyabhighātaiś ca vāgbhir ugrābhir eva ca
 59 codayanto hayāṃs tūrṇaṃ palāyante sma tāvakāḥ
     sādino rathinaś caiva pattayaś cārjunārditāḥ
 60 pārṣṇyaṅguṇṭhāṅkuśair nāgāṃś codayantas tathāpare
     śaraiḥ saṃmohitāś cānye tam evābhimukhā yayau
     tava yodhā hatotsāhā vibhrānta manasas tadā

 

SECTION LXIV

"Narada said, 'Nabhaga's son, Amvarisha, O Srinjaya, we hear, fell a prey to death. Alone he battled a thousand times with a thousand kings. Desirous of victory, those foes, accomplished in weapons, rushed against him in battle from all sides, uttering fierce exclamations. Aided by his strength and activity and the skill he had acquired by practice, he cut off, by the force of his weapons, the umbrellas, the weapons, the standards, the cars, and the lances of those enemies, and dispelled his anxieties. 1 Desirous of saving their lives, those men, doffing their coats of mail, implored him (for mercy). They sought his protection, saying, 'We yield ourselves to thee.' Reducing them to subjection and conquering the whole earth, he performed a hundred sacrifices of the best kind, according to the rites ordained in the scriptures, O sinless one! Food possessed of every agreeable quality was eaten (at those sacrifices) by large classes of people. At those sacrifices, the Brahmanas were respectfully worshipped and greatly gratified. And the regenerate classes ate sweet-meats, and Purikas and Puras, and Apupas and Sashkalis of good taste and large size, and Karambhas and Prithumridwikas, and diverse kinds of dainties, and various kinds of soup, and Maireyaka, and Ragakhandavas, and diverse kinds of confectionary, well-prepared, soft, and of excellent fragrance, and clarified butter, and honey, and milk, and water, and sweet curds, and many kinds of fruits and roots agreeable to the taste. 2 And they that were habituated to wine drank in due time diverse kinds of intoxicating drinks for the sake of the pleasure that those produced, and sang and played upon their musical instruments. Avid others, by thousands, intoxicated with what they drank, danced and merrily sang hymns to the praise of Amvarisha; while others, unable to keep themselves erect, fell down on the earth. In those sacrifices, king Amvarisha gave, as sacrificial presents, the kingdoms of hundreds
p. 127
and thousands of kings unto the ten million priests (employed by him) Having performed diverse sacrifices the king gave unto the Brahmanas, as sacrificial presents, numbers of princes and kings whose coronal locks had undergone the sacred bath, all cased in golden coats of mail, all having white umbrellas spread over their heads, all seated on golden cars, all attired in excellent robes and having large trains of followers, and all bearing their sceptres, and in possession of their treasuries. The great Rishis, seeing what he did, were highly gratified, and said, 'None amongst men in past times did, none in future will be able to do, what king Amvarisha of profuse liberality, is doing now. When he, O Srinjaya, died who was superior to thee in respect of the four cardinal virtues and who superior to thee, was, much more superior to thy son, thou shouldst not, therefore, saying, 'Oh, Swaitya, Oh, Swaitya', grieve for the latter who performed no sacrifice and made no sacrificial present.'"

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 65

 

 

 1 [dhṛ]
      tasmin prabhagne sainyāgre vadhyamāne kirīṭinā
      ke nu tatra raṇe vīrāḥ pratyudīyur dhanaṃjayam
  2 āho svic chakaṭa vyūhaṃ praviṣṭā moghaniścayāḥ
      droṇam āśritya tiṣṭhantaḥ prākāram akutobhayāḥ
  3 [s]
      tathārjunena saṃbhagne tasmiṃs tava bale tadā
      hatavīre hatotsāhe palāyanakṛtakṣaṇe
  4 pākaśāsaninābhīkṣṇaṃ vadhyamāne śarottamaiḥ
      na tatra kaś cit saṃgrāme śaśākārjunam īkṣitum
  5 tatas tava suto rājan dṛṣṭvā sainyaṃ tathāgatam
      duḥśāsano bhṛśaṃ kruddho yuddhāyārjunam abhyayāt
  6 sa kāñcanavicitreṇa kavacena samāvṛtaḥ
      jāmbūnadaśiras trāṇaḥ śūras tīvraparākramaḥ
  7 nāgānīkena mahatā grasann iva mahīm imām
      duḥśāsano mahārāja savyasācinam āvṛṇot
  8 hrādena gajaghaṇṭānāṃ śaṅkhānāṃ ninadena ca
      jyā kṣepa ninadaiś caiva virāveṇa ca dantinām
  9 bhūr diśaś cāntarikṣaṃ ca śabdenāsīt samāvṛtam
      sa muhūrtaṃ pratibhayo dāruṇaḥ samapadyata
  10 tān dṛṣṭvā patatas tūrṇam aṅkuśair abhicoditān
     vyālamba hastān saṃrabdhān sapakṣān iva parvatān
 11 siṃhanādena mahatā narasiṃho dhanaṃjayaḥ
     gajānīkam amitrāṇām abhito vyadhamac charaiḥ
 12 mahormiṇam ivoddhūtaṃ śvasanena mahārṇavam
     kirīṭī tad gajānīkaṃ prāviśan makaro yathā
 13 kāṣṭhātīta ivādityaḥ pratapan yugasaṃkṣaye
     dadṛśe dikṣu sarvāsu pārthaḥ parapuraṃjayaḥ
 14 khuraśabdena cāśvānāṃ nemighoṣeṇa tena ca
     tena cotkruṣṭa śabdena jyā ninādena tena ca
     devadattasya ghoṣeṇa gāṇḍīvaninadena ca
 15 mandavegatarā nāgā babhūvus te vicetasaḥ
     śarair āśīviṣasparśair nibhinnāḥ savyasācinā
 16 te gajā viśikhais tīkṣṇair yudhi gāṇḍīvacoditaiḥ
     anekaśatasāhasraiḥ sarvāṅgeṣu samarpitāḥ
 17 ārāvaṃ paramaṃ kṛtvā vadhyamānāḥ kirīṭinā
     nipetur aniśaṃ bhūmau chinnapakṣā ivādrayaḥ
 18 apare dantaveṣṭeṣu kambheṣu ca kaṭeṣu ca
     śaraiḥ samarpitā nāgāḥ krauñcavad vyanadan muhuḥ
 19 gajaskandhagatānā ca puruṣāṇāṃ kirīṭinā
     ācchidyantottamāṅgāni bhallaiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ
 20 sakuṇḍalānāṃ patatāṃ śirasāṃ dharaṇītale
     padmānām iva saṃghātaiḥ pārthaś cakre nivedanam
 21 yantrabaddhā vikavacā vraṇārtā rudhirokṣitāḥ
     bhramatsu yudhi nāgeṣu manuṣyā vilalambire
 22 ke cid ekena bāṇena sumuktena patatriṇā
     dvau trayaś ca vinirbhinnā nipetur dharaṇītale
 23 maurvīṃ dhanur dhvajaṃ caiva yugānīṣās tathaiva ca
     rathināṃ kuṭṭayām āsa bhallaiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ
 24 na saṃdadhan na cāpy asyan na vimuñcan na coddharan
     maṇḍalenaiva dhanuṣā nṛtyan pārthaḥ sma dṛśyate
 25 atividdhāś ca nārācair vamanto rudhiraṃ mukhaiḥ
     muhūrtān nipatanty anye vāraṇā vasudhātale
 26 uthitāny agaṇeyāni kabandhāni samantataḥ
     adṛśyanta mahārāja tasmin paramasaṃkule
 27 sa cāpāḥ sāṅgulitrāṇāḥ sa khaḍgāḥ sāṅgadā raṇe
     adṛśyanta bhujāś chinnā hemābharaṇa bhūṣitāḥ
 28 sūpaskarair adhiṣṭhānair īṣā daṇḍakabandhuraiḥ
     cakrair vimathitair akṣai bhagnaiś ca bahudhā yugaiḥ
 29 varma cāpaśaraiś caiva vyavakīrṇair tatas tataḥ
     sragbhir ābharaṇair vastraiḥ patitaiś ca mahādhvajaiḥ
 30 nihatair vāraṇair aśvaiḥ kṣatriyaiś ca nipātitaiḥ
     adṛśyata mahī tatra dāruṇapratidarśanāḥ
 31 evaṃ duḥśāsana balaṃ vadhyamānaṃ kirīṭinā
     saṃprādravan mahārāja vyathitaṃ vai sanāyakam
 32 tato duḥśāsanas trastaḥ sahānīkaḥ śarārditaḥ
     droṇaṃ trātāram ākāṅkṣañ śakaṭavyūham abhyagāt

 

 

SECTION LXV

"Narada said, 'King Sasavindu, O Srinjaya, we hear, fell a prey to death. Of great beauty and of prowess incapable of being baffled, he performed diverse sacrifices. That high-souled monarch had one hundred thousand wives. From each of those wives were born a thousand sons. All those princes were endued with great prowess. They performed millions of sacrifices. Accomplished in the Vedas, those kings performed many foremost of sacrifices. All of them were cased (on occasions of battle) in golden coats of mail. And all of them were excellent bowmen. All these princes born of Sasavindu performed Horse-sacrifices. Their father, O best of monarchs, in the Horse-sacrifices he had performed, gave away, (as sacrificial presents), all those sons unto the Brahmanas. Behind each of those princes were hundreds upon hundreds of cars and elephants and fair maidens decked in ornaments of gold. With each maiden were a hundred elephants; with each elephant, a hundred cars; with each car a hundred steeds, adorned with garlands of gold. With each of those steeds were a thousand kine; and with each cow were fifty goats. The highly blessed Sasavindu gave away unto the Brahmanas, in the great Horse-sacrifice of his such unlimited wealth. The king caused as many sacrificial stakes of gold to be made for that great Horse-sacrifice of his as is the number, double of sacrificial stakes of wood in other sacrifices of the kind. There were mountains of food and drink of the height of about two miles each. Upon the completion of' his Horse-sacrifice, thirteen such mountains of food and drink remained (untouched). His kingdom abounded in people that were contented and well-fed. And it was free from all inroads of evil and the people were perfectly happy. Having ruled for many long
p. 128
years, Sasavindu, at last, ascended to heaven. When he died, O Srinjaya, who was superior to thee in respect of the four cardinal virtues and who superior to thee was, therefore, much more superior to thy son, thou shouldst not, saying, 'Oh, Swaitya, Oh Swaitya', grieve for the latter who performed no sacrifice and made no sacrificial present.'"

 

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 66

 

 

1 [s]
      duḥśāsana balaṃ hatvā savyasācī dhanaṃjayaḥ
      sindhurājaṃ parīpsan vai droṇānīkam upādravat
  2 sa tu droṇaṃ samāsādya vyūhasya pramukhe sthitam
      kṛtāñjalir idaṃ vākyaṃ kṛṣṇasyānumate 'bravīt
  3 śivena dhyāhi māṃ brahma svasti caiva vadasva me
      bhavatprasādād icchāmi praveṣṭuṃ durbhidāṃ camūm
  4 bhavān pitṛsamo mahyaṃ dharmarāja samo 'pi ca
      tathā kṛṣṇa samaś caiva satyam etad bravīmi te
  5 aśvatthāmā yathā tāta rakṣaṇīyas tavānagha
      tathāham api te rakṣyaḥ sadaiva dvijasattama
  6 tava prasādād icchāmi sindhurājānam āhave
      nihantuṃ dvipadāṃ śreṣṭha pratijñāṃ rakṣa me vibho
  7 evam uktas tadācāryaḥ pratyuvāca smayann iva
      mām ajitvā na bībhatso śakyo jetuṃ jayadrathaḥ
  8 etāvad uktvā taṃ droṇaḥ śaravrātair avākirat
      sa rathāśvadhvajaṃ tīkṣṇaiḥ prahasan vai sa sārathim
  9 tato 'rjunaḥ śaravrātān droṇasyāvārya sāyakaiḥ
      droṇam abhyardayad bāṇaghorarūpair mahattaraiḥ
  10 vivyādha ca raṇe droṇam anumānya viśāṃ pate
     kṣatradharmaṃ samāsthāya navabhiḥ sāyakaiḥ punaḥ
 11 tasyeṣūn iṣubhiś chittvā droṇo vivyādha tāv ubhau
     viṣāgnijvalanaprakhyair iṣubhiḥ kṛṣṇa pāṇḍavau
 12 iyeṣa pāṇḍavas tasya bāṇaiś chettuṃ śarāsanam
     tasya cintayatas tv evaṃ phalgunasya mahātmanaḥ
     droṇaḥ śarair asaṃbhrānto jyāṃ cicchedāśu vīryavān
 13 vivyādha ca hayān asya dhvajaṃ sārathim eva ca
     arjunaṃ ca śarair vīraṃ smayamāno 'bhyavākirat
 14 etasminn antare pārthaḥ sajjaṃ kṛtvā mahad dhanuḥ
     viśeṣayiṣyann ācāryaṃ sarvāstraviduṣāṃ varam
     mumoca ṣaṭśatān bāṇān gṛhītvaikam iva drutam
 15 punaḥ saptaśatān anyān sahasraṃ cānivartinām
     cikṣepāyutaśaś cānyāṃs te 'ghnan droṇasya tāṃ camūm
 16 taiḥ samyag astair balinā kṛtinā citrayodhinā
     manuṣyavāji mātaṅgā viddhāḥ petur gatāsavaḥ
 17 vidrutāś ca raṇe petuḥ saṃchinnāyudha jīvitāḥ
     rathino rathamukhyebhyaḥ sahayāḥ śarapīḍitāḥ
 18 cūrṇitākṣipta dagdhānāṃ vajrānilahutāśanaiḥ
     tulyarūpā gajāḥ petur giryagrāmbuda veśmanām
 19 petur aśvasahasrāṇi prahatāny arjuneṣubhiḥ
     haṃsā himavataḥ pṛṣṭhe vāri viprahatā iva
 20 rathāśvadvipapattyoghāḥ salilaughā ivādbhutāḥ
     yugāntādityaraśmyābhaḥ pāṇḍavāsta śarair hatāḥ
 21 taṃ pāṇḍavāditya śarāṃśu jālaṃ; kurupravīrān yudhi niṣṭapantam
     sa droṇa meghaḥ śaravarṣa vegaiḥ; prācchādayan megha ivārka raśmīn
 22 athātyartha viṣṛṣṭtena dviṣatām asu bhojinā
     ājaghne vakṣasi droṇo nārācena dhanaṃjayam
 23 sa vahvalita sarvāṅgaḥ kṣitikampe yathācalaḥ
     dhairyam ālambya bībhatsur droṇaṃ vivyādha patribhiḥ
 24 droṇas tu pañcabhir bāṇair vāsudevam atāḍayat
     arjunaṃ ca trisaptatyā dhvajaṃ cāsya tribhiḥ śaraiḥ
 25 viśeṣayiṣyañ śiṣyaṃ ca dromo rājan parākramī
     adṛśyam arjunaṃ cakre nimeṣāc charavṛṣṭibhiḥ
 26 prasaktān aptato 'drākṣma bhāradvājasya sāyakān
     maṇḍalīkṛtam evāsya dhanuś cādṛśyatādbhutam
 27 te 'bhyayuḥ samare rājan vāsudevadhanaṃjayau
     droṇa sṛṣṭāḥ subahavaḥ kaṅkapatra paricchadāḥ
 28 tad dṛṣṭvā tādṛśaṃ yuddhaṃ droṇa pāṇḍavayos tadā
     vāsudevo mahābuddhiḥ kāryavattām acintayat
 29 tato 'bravīd vāsudevo dhanaṃjayam idaṃ vacaḥ
     pārtha pārtha mahābāho na naḥ kālātyayo bhavet
 30 droṇam utsṛjya gacchāmaḥ kṛtyam etan mahattaram
     pārthaś cāpy abravīt kṛṣṇaṃ yatheṣṭam iti keśava
 31 tataḥ pradakṣiṇaṃ kṛtvā droṇaṃ prāyān mahābhujaḥ
     parivṛttaś ca bībhatsur agacchad visṛjañ śarān
 32 tato 'bravīt smayan droṇaḥ kvedaṃ pāṇḍava gamyate
     nanu nāma raṇe śatrum ajitvā na nivartase
 33 [arj]
     gurur bhavān an me śatruḥ śiṣyaḥ putrasamo 'smi te
     na cāsmi sa pumāṁl loke yas tvāṃ yudhi parājayet
 34 [s]
     evaṃ bruvāṇo bībhatsur jayadrathavadhotsukaḥ
     tvarāyukto mahābāhus tat sainyaṃ samupādravat
 35 taṃ cakrarakṣau pāñcālyau yudhāmanyūttamaujasau
     anvayātāṃ mahātmānau viśantaṃ tāvakaṃ balam
 36 tato jayo mahārāja kṛtavarmā ca sāttvataḥ
     kāmbojaś ca śrutāyuś ca dhanaṃjayam avārayan
 37 teṣāṃ daśasahasrāṇi rathānām anuyāyinām
     abhīṣāhāḥ śūrasenāḥ śibayo 'tha vasātayaḥ
 38 mācellakā lalitthāś ca kekayā madrakās tathā
     nārāyaṇāś ca gopālāḥ kāmbojānāṃ ca ye gaṇāḥ
 39 karṇena vijitāḥ pūrvaṃ saṃgrāme śūra saṃmatāḥ
     bhāradvājaṃ puraskṛtya tyaktātmāno 'rjunaṃ prati
 40 putraśokābhisaṃtaptaṃ kruddhaṃ mṛtyum ivāntakam
     tyajantaṃ tumule prāṇān saṃnaddhaṃ citrayodhinam
 41 gāhamānam anīkāni mātaṅgam iva yūthapam
     maheṣvāsaṃ parākrāntaṃ naravyāghram avārayan
 42 tataḥ pravavṛte yuddhaṃ tumulaṃ lomaharṣaṇam
     anyonyaṃ vai prārthayatāṃ yodhānām arjunasya ca
 43 jayadratha vadhaprepsum āyāntaṃ puruṣarṣabham
     nyavārayanta sahitāḥ kriyā vyādhim ivotthitam

 

SECTION LXVI

"Narada said, 'Gaya, the son of Amartarayas, O Srinjaya, we hear, fell a prey to death, That king, for a hundred years, ate nothing but what remained of the libations of clarified butter poured into the sacrificial fire. Agni (gratified with his proof of great devotion) offered to give him a boon. Gaya solicited the boon (desired), saying, 'I desire to have a thorough knowledge of the Vedas through ascetic penances, through practice of Brahmacharya, and of vows and rules, and through the grace of my superiors. 1 I desire also inexhaustible wealth, through practice of the duties of my own order and without injury to others. I wish also that I may always be able to make gifts unto the Brahmanas, with devotion. Let me also procreate sons upon wives belonging to my own order and not upon others. Let me be able to give away food with devotion. Let my heart always delight in righteousness. O (Agni) thou supreme cleanser, let no impediment overtake me while I am engaged in acts for the attainment of religious merit.' Saying 'Be it so,' Agni disappeared then and there. And Gaya also, acquiring all he had asked for, subjugated his foes in fair fight. King Gaya then performed, for a full hundred years, diverse kinds of sacrifices with profuse presents unto the Brahmanas and the vows called Chaturmasyas and others. Every year, for a century, the king gave (unto the Brahmanas) one hundred and sixty thousand kine, ten thousand steeds, and one crore gold (nishkas) upon rising (on the completion of his sacrifices). Under every constellation also he gave away the presents ordained for each of these occasions. 2 Indeed, the king performed various sacrifices like another Soma or another Angiras. In his great Horse-sacrifice, king Gaya, making a golden earth, gave her away unto the Brahmanas. In that sacrifice, the stakes of king Gaya were exceedingly costly, being of gold, decked with gems delightful to all creatures. Capable of killing every wish, Gaya gave those stakes unto well-pleased Brahmanas and other people. The diverse classes of creatures dwelling in the ocean, the woods, the islands, the rivers male and female, the waters, the towns, the provinces, and even in heaven, were all gratified with wealth and food distributed at Gaya's sacrifices. And they all said, 'No
p. 129
other sacrifice can come up to this one of Gaya. The sacrificial altar of Gaya was thirty Yojanas in length, six and twenty Yojanas in width, and twenty Yojanas in height. And it was made entirely of gold, and overspread with pearls and diamonds and gems. And he gave away this altar unto the Brahmanas, as also robes and ornaments. And the munificent monarch also gave unto the Brahmanas other presents of the kind laid down (in the scriptures). Upon the completion of that sacrifice five and twenty hills of food remained untouched, and many lakes and several beautifully flowing rivulets of juicy drinks, and many heaps, besides, of robes and ornaments. And in consequence of the merit of that great sacrifice, Gaya came to be well-known in the three worlds. And due to that sacrifice are the eternal Banian and the sacred Brahmasara. When he died, O Srinjaya, who was superior to thee in respect of four cardinal virtues and who superior to thee, was, therefore, much superior to thy son, thou shouldst not, saying, 'Oh, Swaitya, Oh, Swaitya,' grieve for the latter who performed no sacrifice and made no sacrificial present.'"

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 67

 

 

 1 [s]
      saṃniruddhas tu taiḥ pārtho mahābalaparākramaḥ
      drutaṃ samanuyātaś ca droṇena rathināṃ varaḥ
  2 kirann iṣugaṇāṃs tikṣṇān svaraśmīn iva bhāskaraḥ
      tāpayām āsa tat sainyaṃ dehaṃ vyādhigaṇo yathā
  3 aśvo viddho dhvajaś chinnaḥ sārohaḥ patito gajaḥ
      chatrāṇi cāpaviddhāni rathāś cakrair vinākṛtāḥ
  4 vidrutāni ca sainyāni śarārtāni samantataḥ
      ity āsīt tumulaṃ yuddhaṃ na prājñāyata kiṃ cana
  5 teṣām āyacchatāṃ saṃkhye parasparam ajihmagaiḥ
      arjuno dhvajinīṃ rājann abhīkṣṇaṃ samakampayat
  6 satyāṃ cikīrṣamāṇas tu pratijñāṃ satyasaṃgaraḥ
      abhyadravad rathaśreṣṭhaṃ śoṇāśvaṃ śvetavāhanaḥ
  7 taṃ droṇaḥ pañcaviṃśatyā marmabhidbhir ajihmagaiḥ
      antevāsinam ācāryo maheṣvāsaṃ samardayat
  8 taṃ tūrṇam iva bībhatsuḥ sarvaśastrabhṛtāṃ varaḥ
      abhyadhāvad iṣūn asyann iṣuvegavighātakān
  9 tasyāśu kṣipato bhallān bhallaiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ
      pratyavidhyad ameyātmā brahmāstraṃ samudīrayan
  10 tad adbhutam apaśyāma droṇasyācāryakaṃ yudhi
     yatamāno yuvā nainaṃ pratyavidhyad yad arjunaḥ
 11 kṣarann iva mahāmegho vāridhārāḥ sahasraśaḥ
     droṇa meghaḥ pārtha śailaṃ vavarṣa śaravṛṣṭibhiḥ
 12 arjunaḥ śaravarṣaṃ tad brahmāstreṇaiva māriṣa
     pratijagrāha tejasvī bāṇair bāṇān viśātayan
 13 droṇas tu pañcaviṃśatyā śvetavāhanam ārdayat
     vāsudevaṃ ca saptatyā bāhvor urasi cāśugaiḥ
 14 pārthas tu prahasan dhīmān ācāryaṃ sa śaraughiṇam
     visṛjantaṃ śitān bāṇān avārayata taṃ yudhi
 15 atha tau vadhyamānau tu droṇena rathasattamau
     āvarjayetāṃ durdharṣaṃ yugāntāgnim ivotthitam
 16 varjayan niśitān bāṇān droṇa cāpaviniḥsṛtān
     kirīṭamālī kaunteyo bhojānīkaṃ nyapātayat
 17 so 'ntarā kṛtavarmāṇaṃ kāmbojaṃ ca sudakṣiṇam
     abhyayād varjayan droṇaṃ mainākam iva parvatam
 18 tato bhojo naravyāghraṃ duḥsahaḥ kurusattama
     avidhyat tūrṇam avyagro daśabhiḥ kaṅkapatribhiḥ
 19 tam arjunaḥ śitenājau rājan vivyādha patriṇā
     punaś cānyais tribhir bāṇair mohayann iva sātvatam
 20 bhojas tu prahasan pārthaṃ vāsudevaṃ ca mādhavam
     ekaikaṃ pañcaviṃśatyā sāyakānāṃ samārpayat
 21 tasyārjuno dhanuś chittvā vivyādhainaṃ trisaptabhiḥ
     śarair agniśikhākāraiḥ kruddhāśīviṣa saṃnibhaiḥ
 22 athānyad dhanur ādāya kṛtavarmā mahārathaḥ
     pañcabhiḥ sāyakais tūrṇaṃ vivyādhorasi bhārata
 23 punaś ca niśitair bāṇaiḥ pārthaṃ vivyādha pañcabhiḥ
     taṃ pārtho navabhir bāṇair ājaghāna stanāntare
 24 viṣaktaṃ dṛśyakauneyaṃ kṛtavarma rathaṃ prati
     cintayām āsa vārṣṇeyo na naḥ kālātyayo bhavet
 25 tataḥ kṛṣṇo 'bravīt pārthaṃ kṛtavarmaṇi mā dayām
     kuru sāmbandhikaṃ kṛtvā pramathyainaṃ viśātaya
 26 tataḥ sa kṛtavarmāṇaṃ mohayitvārjunaḥ śaraiḥ
     abhyagāj javanair aśvaiḥ kāmbojānām anīkinīm
 27 amarṣitas tu hārdikhyaḥ praviṣṭe śvetavāhane
     vidhunvan sa śaraṃ cāpaṃ pāñcālyābhyāṃ samāgataḥ
 28 cakrarakṣau tu pāñcālyāv arjunasya padānugau
     paryavārayad āyāntau kṛtavarmā ratheṣubhiḥ
 29 tāv avidhyat tato bhojaḥ sarvapāraśavaiḥ śaraiḥ
     tribhir eva yudhāmanyuṃ caturbhiś cottamaujasam
 30 tāv apy enaṃ vivyadhatur daśabhir daśabhiḥ śaraiḥ
     saṃcicchidatur apy asya dhvajaṃ kārmukam eva ca
 31 athānyad dhanur ādāya hārdikyaḥ krodhamūrchitaḥ
     kṛtvā vidhanuṣau vīrau śaravarṣair avākirat
 32 tāv anye dhanuṣī sajye kṛtvā bhojaṃ vijaghnatuḥ
     tenāntareṇa bībhatsur viveśāmitra vāhinīm
 33 na lebhāte tu tau dvāraṃ vāritau kṛtavarmaṇā
     dhārtarāṣṭreṣv anīkeṣu yatamānau nararṣabhau
 34 anīkāny ardayan yuddhe tvaritaḥ śvetavāhanaḥ
     nāvadhīt kṛtavarmāṇaṃ prāptam apy arisūdanaḥ
 35 taṃ dṛṣṭvā tu tathāyāntaṃ śūro rājā śrutāyudhaḥ
     abhyadravat susaṃkruddho vidhunvāno mahad dhanuḥ
 36 sa pārthaṃ tribhir ānarchat saptatyā ca janārdanam
     kṣurapreṇa sutīkṣṇena pārtha ketum atāḍayat
 37 tam arjuno navatyā tu śarāṇāṃ nataparvaṇām
     ājaghāna bhṛśaṃ kruddhas tottrair iva mahādvipam
 38 sa tan na mamṛṣe rājan pāṇḍaveyasya vikramam
     athainaṃ sapta saptatyā nārācānāṃ samārpayat
 39 tasyārjuno dhanuś chittvā śarāvāpaṃ nikṛtya ca
     ājaghān urasi kruddhaḥ saptabhir nataparvabhiḥ
 40 athānyad dhanur ādāya sa rājā krodhamūrhitaḥ
     vāsaviṃ navabhir bāṇair bāhvor urasi cārpayat
 41 tato 'rjunaḥ smayann eva śrutāyudham ariṃdamaḥ
     śarair anekasāhasraiḥ pīḍayām āsa bhārata
 42 aśvāṃś cāsyāvadhīt tūrṇaṃ sārathiṃ ca mahārathaḥ
     vivyādha cainaṃ saptatyā nārācānāṃ mahābalaḥ
 43 hatāśvaṃ ratham utsṛjya sa tu rājā śrutāyudhaḥ
     abhyadravad raṇe pārthaṃ gadām udyamya vīryavān
 44 varuṇasyātmajo vīraḥ sa tu rājā śrutāyudhaḥ
     parṇāśā jananī yasya śītatoyā mahānadī
 45 tasya mātābravīd vākyaṃ varuṇaṃ putrakāraṇāt
     avadhyo 'yaṃ bhavelloke śatrūṇāṃ tanayo mama
 46 varuṇas tv abravīt prīto dadāmy asmai varaṃ hitam
     divyam astraṃ sutas te 'yaṃ yanāvadhyo bhaviṣyati
 47 nāsti cāpy amaratvaṃ vai manuṣyasya kathaṃ cana
     sarveṇāvaśya martavyaṃ jātena saritāṃ vare
 48 durdharṣas tv eṣa śatrūṇāṃ raṇeṣu bhavitā sadā
     astrasyāsya prabhāvād vai vyetu te mānaso jvaraḥ
 49 ity uktvā varuṇaḥ prādād gadāṃ mantrapuraskṛtām
     yām āsādya durādharṣaḥ sarvaloke śrutāyudhaḥ
 50 uvāca cainaṃ bhagavān punar eva jaleśvaraḥ
     ayudhyati na bhoktavyā sa tvayy eva pated iti
 51 sa tayā vīra ghātinyā janārdanam atāḍayat
     pratijagrāha tāṃ kṛṣṇaḥ pīnenāṃsena vīryavān
 52 nākampayata śauriṃ sā vindhyaṃ girim ivānilaḥ
     pratyabhyayāt taṃ viproḍhā kṛtyeva duradhiṣṭhitā
 53 jaghāna cāsthitaṃ vīraṃ śrutāyudham amarṣaṇam
     hatvā śrutāyudhaṃ vīraṃ jagatīm anvapadyata
 54 hāhākāro mahāṃs tatra sainyānāṃ samajāyata
     svenāstreṇa hataṃ dṛṣṭvā śrutāyudham ariṃdamam
 55 ayudhyamānāya hi sā keśavāya narādhipa
     kṣiptā śrutāyudhenātha tasmāt tam avadhīd gadā
 56 yathoktaṃ varuṇenājau tathā sa nidhanaṃ gataḥ
     vyasuś cāpy apatad bhūmau prekṣatāṃ sarvadhanvinām
 57 patamānas tu sa babhau parṇāśāyāḥ priyaḥ sutaḥ
     saṃbhagna iva vātena bahuśākho vanaspatiḥ
 58 tataḥ sarvāṇi sainyāni senāmukhyāś ca sarvaśaḥ
     prādravanta hataṃ dṛṣṭvā śrutāyudham ariṃdamam
 59 tatha kāmbojarājasya putraḥ śūraḥ sudakṣiṇaḥ
     abhyayāj javanair aśvaiḥ phalgunaṃ śatrusūdanam
 60 tasya pārthaḥ śarān sapta preṣayām āsa bhārata
     te taṃ śūraṃ vinirbhidya prāviśan dharaṇītalam
 61 so 'tividdhaḥ śarais tīkṣṇair gāṇḍīvapreṣitair mṛdhe
     arjunaṃ prativivyādha daśabhir kaṅkapatribhiḥ
 62 vāsudevaṃ tribhir viddhvā punaḥ pārthaṃ ca pañcabhiḥ
     tasya pārtho dhanuś chittvā ketuṃ ciccheda māriṣa
 63 bhallābhyāṃ bhṛśatīkṣṇābhyāṃ taṃ ca vivyādha pāṇḍavaḥ
     sa tu pārthaṃ tribhir viddhvā siṃhanādam athānadat
 64 sarvapāraśavīṃ caiva śaktiṃ śūraḥ sudakṣiṇaḥ
     sa ghaṇṭāṃ prāhiṇod ghorāṃ kruddho gāṇḍīvadhanvane
 65 sā jvalantī maholkeva tam āsādya mahāratham
     sa visphuliṅgā nirbhidya nipapāta mahītale
 66 taṃ caturdaśabhiḥ pārtho nārācaiḥ kaṅkapatribhiḥ
     sāśvadhvajadhanuḥ sūtaṃ vivyādhācintya vikramaḥ
     rathaṃ cānyaiḥ subahubhiś cakre viśakalaṃ śaraiḥ
 67 sudakṣiṇaṃ tu kāmbojaṃ moghasaṃkalpavikramam
     bibheda hṛdi bāṇena pṛthu dhāreṇa pāṇḍavaḥ
 68 sa bhinnamarmā srastāṅgaḥ prabhraṣṭa mukuṭāṅgadaḥ
     papātābhimukhaḥ śūro yantramukta iva dhvajaḥ
 69 gireḥ śikha rajaḥ śrīmān suśākhaḥ supratiṣṭhitaḥ
     nirbhagna iva vātena karṇikāro himātyaye
 70 śete sma nihato bhūmau kāmbojāstaraṇocitaḥ
     sudarśanīyas tāmrākṣaḥ karṇinā sa sudakṣiṇaḥ
     putraḥ kāmbojarājasya pārthena vinipātitaḥ
 71 tataḥ sarvāṇi sainyāni vyadravanta sutasya te
     hataṃ śrutāyudhaṃ dṛṣṭvā kāmbojaṃ ca sudakṣiṇam

 

SECTION LXVII

"Narada said, 'Rantideva, the son of Srinjaya, we hear, fell a prey to death. That high-souled king had two hundred thousand cooks to distribute excellent food, raw and cooked, like unto Amrita, unto the Brahmanas, by day and by night, who might come to his house as guests. 1 The king gave away unto the Brahmanas his wealth acquired by righteous means. Having studied the Vedas, he subjugated his foes in fair fight. Of rigid vows and always engaged in due performance of sacrifices, countless animals, desirous of going to heaven, used to come to him of their own accord. 2 So large was the number of animals sacrificed in the Agnihotra of that king that the secretions flowing from his kitchen from the heaps of skins deposited there caused a veritable river which from this circumstance, came to be called the Charmanwati. 3 He, incessantly gave away nishkas of bright gold unto the Brahmanas, 'I give thee nishkas.' 'I give thee nishkas,' these were the words incessantly uttered by him. 'I give thee,' 'I give thee' saying these words he gave away thousands of nishkas. And once again, with soft words to the Brahmanas, he gave away nishkas. Having given away, in course of a single day, one crore of such coins, he thought that he had given away very little. And, therefore, he would give away more. Who else is there that would be able to give what
p. 130
he gave? The king gave away wealth, thinking, If I do not give wealth in the hands of Brahmanas, great and eternal grief, without doubt, will be mine.' For a hundred years, every fortnight, he gave unto thousands of Brahmanas a golden bull into each, followed by a century of kine and eight hundred pieces of nishkas. All the articles that were needed for his Agnihotra, and all that were needed for his other sacrifices, he gave away unto the Rishis, including Karukas 1 and water-pots and plates and beds and carpets and vehicles, and mansions and houses, and diverse kinds of trees, and various kinds of viands. Whatever utensils and articles Rantideva possessed were of gold. They that are acquainted with the history of ancient times seeing the superhuman affluence of Rantideva, sing this song, viz., 'We have not seen such accumulated treasures even in the abode of Kuvera; what need be said, therefore, of human beings?' And people wonderingly said, Without doubt, the kingdom of Rantideva is made of gold. 2 On such nights, when guests were assembled in the abode of Rantideva, one and twenty thousand kine were sacrificed (for feeding them). And yet the royal cook adorned with begemmed ear-rings, had to cry out, saying, 'Eat as much soup as you like, for, of meat, there is not as much today as in other days. Whatever gold was left belonging to Rantideva, he gave even that remnant away unto the Brahmanas during the progress of one of his sacrifices. In his very sight the gods used to take the libations of clarified butter poured into the fire for them, and the Pitris the food that was offered to them, in Sraddhas. And all superior Brahmanas used to obtain from him (the means of gratifying) all their desires. When he died, O Srinjaya, who was superior to thee in respect of the four cardinal virtues and who, superior to thee was, therefore, much superior to thy son, thou shouldst not, saying, 'Oh, Swaitya, Oh, Swaitya,' grieve for the latter who performed no sacrifice and made no sacrificial present.'"

 

 

Book 7
Chapter 68

 

 

 

1 [s]
      hate sudakṣiṇe rājan vīre caiva śrutāyudhe
      javenābhyadravan pārthaṃ kupitāḥ sainikās tava
  2 abhīṣāhā śūrasenāḥ śibayo 'tha vasātayaḥ
      abhyavarṣaṃs tato rājañ śaravarṣair dhanaṃjayam
  3 teṣāṃ ṣaṣṭiśatānāryān prāmathnat pāṇḍavaiḥ śaraiḥ
      te sma bhītāḥ palāyanta vyāghrāt kṣudramṛgā iva
  4 te nivṛtya punaḥ pārthaṃ sarataḥ paryavārayan
      raṇe sapatnān nighnantaṃ jigīṣaṃtan parān yudhi
  5 teṣām āpatatāṃ tūrṇaṃ gāṇḍīvapreṣitaiḥ śaraiḥ
      śirāṃsi pātayām āsa bāhūṃś caiva dhanaṃjayaḥ
  6 śirobhiḥ patitais tatra bhūmir āsīn nirantarā
      abhrac chāyeva caivāsīd dhvāṅkṣa gṛdhravaḍair yudhi
  7 teṣu tūtsādyamāneṣu krodhāmarṣasamanvitau
      śrutāyuś cācyutāyuś ca dhanaṃjayam ayudhyatām
  8 balinau sparthinau vīrau kulajau bāhuśālinau
      tāv enaṃ śaravarṣāṇi savyadakṣiṇam asyatām
  9 tvarāyuktau mahārāja prārthayānau mahad yaśaḥ
      arjunasya vadhaprepsū putrārthe tava dhanvinau
  10 tāv arjunaṃ sahasreṇa patriṇāṃ nataparvaṇām
     pūrayām āsatuḥ kruddhau taḍāgaṃ jaladau yathā
 11 śrutāyuś ca tataḥ kruddhas tomareṇa dhanaṃjayam
     ājaghāna rathaśreṣṭhaḥ pītena niśitena ca
 12 so 'tividdho balavatā śatruṇā śatrukarśanaḥ
     ājagāma paraṃ mohaṃ mohayan keśavaṃ raṇe
 13 etasminn eva kāle tu so 'cyutāyur mahārathaḥ
     śūlena bhṛśatīkṣṇena tāḍayām āsa pāṇḍavam
 14 kṣate kṣāraṃ sa hi dadau pāṇḍavasya mahātmanaḥ
     pārtho 'pi bhṛśasaṃviddho dhvajayaṣṭiṃ samāśritaḥ
 15 tataḥ sarvasya sainyasya tāvakasya viśāṃ pate
     siṃhanādo mahān āsīd dhataṃ matvā dhanaṃjayam
 16 kṛṣṇaś ca bhṛśasaṃtapto dṛṣṭvā pārthaṃ vicetasam
     āśvāsayat suhṛdyābhir vāgbhis tatra dhanaṃjayam
 17 tatas tau rathināṃ śreṣṭhau labdhalakṣau dhanaṃjayam
     vāsudevaṃ ca vārṣṇeyaṃ śaravarṣaiḥ samantataḥ
 18 sacakrakūbara rathaṃ sāśvadhvajapatākinam
     adṛśyaṃ cakratur yuddhe tad adbhutam ivābhavat
 19 pratyāśvastas tu bībhatsuḥ śanakair iva bhārata
     pretarājapuraṃ prāpya punaḥ pratyāgato yathā
 20 saṃchannaṃ śarajālena rathaṃ dṛṣṭvā sa keśavam
     śatrū cābhimukhau dṛṣṭvā dīpyamānāv ivānalau
 21 prāduścakre tataḥ pārthaḥ śākram astraṃ mahārathaḥ
     tasmād āsan sahasrāṇi śarāṇāṃ nataparvaṇām
 22 te jaghnus tau maheṣvāsau tābhyāṃ sṛṣṭāṃś ca sāyakān
     vicerur ākāśagatāḥ pārtha bāṇavidāritāḥ
 23 pratihatya śarāṃs tūrṇaṃ śaravegena pāṇḍavaḥ
     pratasthe tatra tatraiva yodhayan vai mahārathān
 24 tau ca phalguna bāṇaughair vibāhu śirasau kṛtau
     vasudhām anvapadyetāṃ vātanunnāv iva drumau
 25 śrutāyuṣaś ca nidhanaṃ vadhaś caivācyutāyuṣaḥ
     lokavismāpanam abhūt samudrasyeva śoṣaṇam
 26 tayoḥ padānugān hatvā punaḥ pañcaśatān rathān
     abhyagād bhāratīṃ senāṃ nighnan pārtho varān varān
 27 śrutāyuṣaṃ ca nihataṃ prekṣya caivācyutāyuṣam
     ayutāyuś ca saṃkruddho dīrghāyuś caiva bhārata
 28 putrau tayor naraśreṣṭhau kaunteyaṃ pratijagmatuḥ
     kirantau vividhān bāṇān pitṛvyasanakarśitau
 29 tāv arjuno muhūrtena śaraiḥ saṃnataparvabhiḥ
     preṣayat paramakruddho yamasya sadanaṃ prati
 30 loḍayantam anīkāni dvipaṃ padmasaro yathā
     nāśaknuvan vārayituṃ pārthaṃ kṣatriya puṃgavāḥ
 31 agnās tu gajavāreṇa pāṇḍavaṃ paryavārayan
     kruddhāḥ sahasraśo rājañ śikhitā hastisādinaḥ
 32 duryodhana samādiṣṭāḥ kuñjaraiḥ parvatopamaiḥ
     prācyāś ca dākṣiṇātyāś ca kaliṅga pramukhā nṛpāḥ
 33 teṣām āpatatāṃ śīghraṃ gāṇḍīvapreṣitaiḥ śaraiḥ
     nicakarta śirāṃsy ugrau bāhūn api subhūṣaṇān
 34 taiḥ śirobhir mahī kīrṇā bāhubhiś ca sahāṅgadaiḥ
     babhau kanakapāṣāṇā bhujagair iva saṃvṛtā
 35 bāhavo viśikhaiś chinnāḥ śirāṃsy unmathitāni ca
     cyavamānāny adṛśyanta drumebhya iva pakṣiṇaḥ
 36 śaraiḥ sahasraśo viddhā dvipāḥ prasruta śoṇitāḥ
     vyadṛśyantādrayaḥ kāle gairikāmbusravā iva
 37 nihatāḥ śerate smānye bībhatsor niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ
     gajapṛṣṭha gatā mlecchā nānā vikṛtadarśanāḥ
 38 nānāveṣadharā rājan nānāśastraughasaṃvṛtāḥ
     rudhireṇānuliptāṅgā bhānti citraiḥ śarair hatāḥ
 39 śoṇitaṃ nirvamanti sma dvipāḥ pārtha śarāhatāḥ
     sahasraśaś chinnagātrāḥ sārohāḥ sapadānugāḥ
 40 cukruśuś ca nipetuś ca babhramuś cāpare diśaḥ
     bhṛśaṃ trasāś ca bahudhā svānena mamṛdur gajāḥ
     sāntarāyudhikā mattā dvipās tīkṣṇaviṣopamāḥ
 41 vidanty asuramāyāṃ ye sughorā ghoracakṣuṣaḥ
     yavanāḥ pāradāś caiva śakāś ca sunikaiḥ saha
 42 yo yoniprabhavā mlecchāḥ kālakalpāḥ prahāriṇaḥ
     dārvābhisārā daradāḥ puṇḍrāś ca saha bāhlikaiḥ
 43 na te sma śakyāḥ saṃkhyātuṃ vrātāḥ śatasahasraśaḥ
     vṛṣṭis tathāvidhā hy āsīc chalabhānām ivāyatiḥ
 44 abhrac chāyām iva śaraiḥ sainye kṛtvā dhanaṃjayaḥ
     muṇḍārdha muṇḍajaṭilān aśucīñ jaṭilānanān
     mlecchān aśātayat sarvān sametān astramāyayā
 45 śaraiś ca śataśo viddhās te saṃghāḥ saṃghacāriṇaḥ
     prādravanta raṇe bhītā girigahvaravāsinaḥ
 46 gajāśvasādi mlecchānāṃ patitānāṃ śataiḥ śaraiḥ
     vaḍāḥ kaṅkā vṛkā bhūmāv apivan rudhiraṃ mudā
 47 pattyaśvarathanāgaiś ca pracchannakṛtasaṃkramām
     śaravarṣa plavāṃ ghorāṃ keśaśaivalaśāḍvalām
     prāvartayan nadīm ugrāṃ śoṇitaughataraṅgiṇīm
 48 śiras trāṇakṣudramatsyāṃ yugānte kālasaṃbhṛtām
     akarod gajasaṃbādhāṃ nadīm uttaraśoṇitām
     dehebhyo rājaputrāṇāṃ nāgāśvarathasādinām
 49 yathā sthalaṃ ca nimnaṃ ca na syād varṣati vāsave
     tathāsīt pṛthivī sarvā śoṇitena pariplutā
 50 ṣaṭ sahasrān varān vīrān punar daśaśatān varān
     prāhiṇon mṛtyulokāya kṣatriyān kṣatriyarṣabhaḥ
 51 śaraiḥ sahasraśo viddhā vidhivat kalpitā dvipāḥ
     śerate bhūmim āsādya śailā vajrahatā iva
 52 sa vājirathamātaṅgān nighnan vyacarad arjunaḥ
     prabhinna iva mātaṅgo mṛdnan naḍa vanam yathā
 53 bhūri drumalatā gulmaṃ śuṣkendhanatṛṇolapam
     nirdahed analo 'raṇyaṃ yathā vāyusamīritaḥ
 54 sainyāraṇyaṃ tava tathā kṛṣṇānila samīritaḥ
     śarārcir adahat kruddhaḥ pāṇḍavāgnir dhanaṃjayaḥ
 55 śūnyān kurvan rathopasthān mānavaiḥ saṃstaran mahīm
     prānṛtyad iva saṃbādhe cāpahasto dhanaṃjayaḥ
 56 vajrakalpaiḥ śarair bhūmiṃ kurvann uttaraśoṇitām
     prāviśad bhāratīṃ senāṃ saṃkruddho vai dhanaṃjayaḥ
     taṃ śrutāyus tathāmbaṣṭho vrajamānaṃ nyavārayat
 57 tasyārjunaḥ śarais tīkṣṇaiḥ kaṅkapatra paricchadaiḥ
     nyapātayad dhayāñ śīghraṃ yatamānasya māriṣa
     dhanuś cāsyāparaiś chittvā śaraiḥ pārtho vicakrame
 58 ambaṣṭhas tu gadāṃ gṛhya krodhaparyākulekṣaṇaḥ
     āsasāda raṇe pārthaṃ keśavaṃ ca mahāratham
 59 tataḥ sa prahasan vīro gadām udyamya bhārata
     ratham āvārya gadayā keśavaṃ samatāḍayat
 60 gadayā tāḍitaṃ dṛṣṭvā keśavaṃ paravīrahā
     arjuno bhṛśasaṃkruddhaḥ so 'mbaṣṭhaṃ prati bhārata
 61 tataḥ śarair hemapuṅkhaiḥ sagadaṃ rathināṃ varam
     chādayām āsa samare meghaḥ sūryam ivoditam
 62 tato 'paraiḥ śaraiś cāpi gadāṃ tasya mahātmanaḥ
     acūrṇayat tadā pārthas tad adbhutam ivābhavat
 63 atha tāṃ patitāṃ dṛṣṭvā gṛhyānyāṃ mahatīṃ gadām
     arjunaṃ vāsudevaṃ ca punaḥ punar atāḍayat
 64 tasyārjunaḥ kṣuraprābhyāṃ sagadāv udyatau bhujau
     cicchedendra dhvajākārau śiraś cānyena patriṇā
 65 sa papāta hato rājan vasudhām anunādayan
     indradhvaja ivotsṛṣṭo yantranirmukta bandhanaḥ
 66 rathānīkāvagāḍhaś ca vāraṇāśvaśatair vṛtaḥ
     so 'dṛśyata tadā pārtho ghanaiḥ sūrya ivāvṛtaḥ

 

 

SECTION LXVIII

"Narada said, 'Dushmanta's son, Bharata, O Srinjaya, we hear, fell a prey to death. While only a child (living) in the forest, he achieved feats incapable of being achieved by others. Endued with great strength, he speedily deprived the very lions, white as snow and armed with teeth and claws, of all their prowess, and dragged them and bound them (at his pleasure). He used to check tigers also, that were fiercer and more ruthless (than lions), and bring them to subjection. Seizing other beasts of
p. 131
prey possessed of great might, and even huge elephants, dyed with red arsenic and spotted with other liquid minerals by their teeth and tusks, he used to bring them to subjection, causing their mouths to become dry, or obliging them to fly away. Possessed of great might, he used also to drag the mightiest of buffaloes. And in consequence of his strength, he checked proud lions by hundreds, and powerful Srimaras and horned rhinoceroses and other animals. Binding them by their necks and crushing them to an inch of their lives, he used to let them go. For those feats of his the regenerate ascetics (with whom he lived) came to call him Sarvadamana (the controller of all). His mother, at last, forbade him from torturing animals in that way. Endued with great prowess he performed a hundred Horse-sacrifices on the banks of the Yamuna, three hundred such sacrifices on the banks of Saraswati, and four hundred on the banks of the Ganga. Having performed these sacrifices, he once more performed a thousand Horse-sacrifices and a hundred Rajasuyas, great sacrifices, in which his gifts also to the Brahmanas were very profuse. Other sacrifices, again, such as the Agnishtoma, the Atiratra, the Uktha and the Viswajit, he performed together with thousands and thousands of Vajapeyas, and completed without any impediment. The son of Sakuntala, having performed all these, gratified the Brahmanas with presents of wealth. Possessed of great fame, Bharata then gave ten thousand billions of coins, made of the most pure gold, unto Kanwa (who had brought up his mother Sakuntala as his own daughter). The gods with Indra at their head, accompanied by the Brahmanas, coming to his sacrifice, set up his sacrificial stake made entirely of gold, and measuring in width a hundred Vyamas. 1 And imperial Bharata, of noble soul, that victor over all foes, that monarch never conquered by any enemy, gave away unto the Brahmanas beautiful horses and elephants and cars, decked with gold, and beautiful gems of all kinds, and camels and goats and sheep, and slaves--male and female--and wealth, and grains and milch cows with calves, and villages and fields, and diverse kinds of robes, numbering by millions and millions. When he died, O Srinjaya, who was superior to thee in respect of the four cardinal virtues and who superior to thee, was, therefore, much superior to thy son, thou shouldst not, saying, 'Oh, Swaitya, Oh, Swaitya,' grieve for the latter who performed no sacrifice and made no sacrificial present.'



(My humble salutations to the lotus feet of Sreeman Brahmasri K M Ganguliji for the collection)