Mausala Parwa 5

Mahabharata 16.5

 

Mausala Parwa 5

 

  1 [वै]
     ततॊ ययुर दारुकः केशवश च; बभ्रुश च रामस्य पदं पतन्तः
     अथापश्यन रामम अनन्तवीर्यं; वृक्षे सथितं चिन्तयानं विविक्ते
 2 ततः समासाद्य महानुभावः; कृष्णस तदा दारुकम अन्वशासत
     गत्वा कुरूञ शीघ्रम इमं महान्तं; पार्थाय शंसस्व वधं यदूनाम
 3 ततॊ ऽरजुनः कषिप्रम इहॊपयातु; शरुत्वा मृतान यादवान बरह्मशापात
     इत्य एवम उक्तः सा ययौ रथेन; कुरूंस तदा दारुकॊ नष्टचेताः
 4 ततॊ गते दारुके केशवॊ ऽथ; दृष्ट्वान्तिके बभ्रुम उवाच वाक्यम
     सत्रियॊ भवान रक्षतु यातु शीघ्रं; नैता हिंस्युर दस्यवॊ वित्तलॊभात
 5 सा परस्थितः केशवेनानुशिष्टॊ; मदातुरॊ जञातिवधार्दितश च
     तं वै यान्तं संनिधौ केशवस्य; तवरन्तम एकं सहसैव बभ्रुम
     बरह्मानुशप्तम अवधीन महद वै; कूटॊन्मुक्तं मुसलं लुब्धकस्य
 6 ततॊ दृष्ट्वा निहतं बभ्रुम आह; कृष्णॊ वाक्यं भरातरम अग्रजं तु
     इहैव तवं मां परतीक्षस्व राम; यावत सत्रियॊ जञातिवशाः करॊमि
 7 ततः पुरीं दवारवतीं परविश्य; जनार्दनः पितरं पराह वाक्यम
     सत्रियॊ भवान रक्षतु नः समग्रा; धनंजयस्यागमनं परतीक्षन
     रामॊ वनान्ते परतिपालयन माम; आस्ते ऽदयाहं तेन समागमिष्ये
 8 दृष्टं मयेदं निधनं यदूनां; राज्ञां च पूर्वं कुरुपुंगवानाम
     नाहं विना यदुभिर यादवानां; पुरीम इमां दरष्टुम इहाद्य शक्तः
 9 तपश चरिष्यामि निबॊध तन मे; रामेण सार्धं वनम अभ्युपेत्य
     इतीदम उक्त्वा शिरसास्य पादौ; संस्पृश्य कृष्णस तवरितॊ जगाम
 10 ततॊ महान निनदः परादुरासीत; सस्त्री कुमारस्य पुरस्य तस्य
    अथाब्रवीत केशवः संनिवर्त्य; शब्दां शरुत्वा यॊषितां करॊशतीनाम
 11 पुरीम इमाम एष्यति साव्य साची; स वॊ दुःखान मॊचयिता नराग्र्यः
    ततॊ गत्वा केशवस तं ददर्श; रामं वने सथितम एकं विविक्ते
 12 अथापश्यद यॊगयुक्तस्य तस्य; नागं मुखान निःसारन्तं महान्तम
    शवेतं ययौ स ततः परेक्ष्यमाणॊ; महार्णवॊ येन महानुभावः
 13 सहस्रशीर्षः पर्वताभॊगवर्ष्मा; रक्ताननः सवां तनुं तां विमुच्य
    सम्यक च तं सागरः परत्यगृह्णान; नागदिव्याः सरितश चैव पुण्याः
 14 कर्कॊटकॊ वसुकिस तक्षकश च; पृथुश्रवा वरुणः कुञ्जरश च
    मिश्री शङ्खः कुमुदः पुण्डरीकस; तथा नागॊ धृतराष्ट्रॊ महात्मा
 15 हरादः कराथः शितिकण्ठॊ ऽगरतेजास; तथा नागौ चक्रमन्दातिषाण्डौ
    नागश्रेष्ठॊ दुर्मुखश चाम्बरीषः; सवयं राजा वरुणश चापि राजन
    परत्युद्गम्य सवागतेनाभ्यनन्दंस; ते ऽपूजयंश चार्घ्य पाद्य करियाभिः
 16 ततॊ गते भरातरि वासुदेवॊ; जानन सर्वा गतयॊ दिव्यदृष्टिः
    वने शून्ये विचरंश चिन्तयानॊ; भूमौ ततः संविवेशाग्र्य तेजाः
 17 सर्वं हि तेन पराक तदा वित्तम आसीद; गान्धार्या यद वाक्यम उक्तः स पूर्वम
    दुर्वाससा पायसॊच्छिष्ट लिप्ते; यच चाप्य उक तच च सस्मार कृष्णः
 18 स चिन्तयानॊ ऽनधकवृष्णिनाशं; कुरु कषयं चैव महानुभावः
    मेने ततः संक्रमणस्य कालं; ततश चकारेन्द्रिय संनिरॊधम
 19 स संनिरुद्धेन्द्रिय वान मनास तु; शिश्ये महायॊगम उपेत्य कृष्णः
    जराथ तं देशम उपाजगाम; लुब्धस तदानीं मृगलिप्सुर उग्रः
 20 स केशवं यॊगयुक्तं शयानं; मृगाशङ्की लुब्धकः सायकेन
    जराविध्यत पादतले तवरावांस; तं चाभितस तज जिघृक्षुर जगाम
    अथापश्यत पुरुषं यॊगयुक्तं; पीताम्बरं लुब्धकॊ ऽनेकबाहुम
 21 मत्वात्मानम अपराधं स तस्य; जग्राह पादौ शिरसा चार्तरूपः
    आश्वासयत तं महात्मा तदानीं; गच्छन्न ऊर्ध्वं रॊदसी वयाप्य लक्ष्म्या
 22 दिवं पराप्तं वासवॊ ऽथाश्विनौ च; रुद्रादित्या वसवश चाथ विश्वे
    परत्युद्ययुर मुनयश चापि सिद्धा; गन्धर्वमुख्याश च सहाप्सरॊभिः
 23 ततॊ राजन भगवान उग्रतेजा; नारायणः परभवश चाव्ययश च
    यॊगाचार्यॊ रॊदसी वयाप्य लक्ष्म्या; सथानं पराप सवं महात्माप्रमेयम
 24 ततॊ देवैर ऋषिभिश चापि कृष्णः; समगतश चारणैश चैव राजन
    गन्धर्वाग्र्यैर अप्सरॊभिर वराभिः; सिद्धैः साध्यैश चानतैः पूज्यमानः
 25 ते वै देवाः परत्यनन्दन्त राजन; मुनिश्रेष्ठा वाग्भिर आनर्चुर ईशम
    गन्धर्वाश चाप्य उपतस्थुः सतुवन्तः; परीत्या चैनं पुरुहूतॊ ऽभयनन्दत

 1 [vai]
     tato yayur dārukaḥ keśavaś ca; babhruś ca rāmasya padaṃ patantaḥ
     athāpaśyan rāmam anantavīryaṃ; vṛkṣe sthitaṃ cintayānaṃ vivikte
 2 tataḥ samāsādya mahānubhāvaḥ; kṛṣṇas tadā dārukam anvaśāsat
     gatvā kurūñ śīghram imaṃ mahāntaṃ; pārthāya śaṃsasva vadhaṃ yadūnām
 3 tato 'rjunaḥ kṣipram ihopayātu; śrutvā mṛtān yādavān brahmaśāpāt
     ity evam uktaḥ sā yayau rathena; kurūṃs tadā dāruko naṣṭacetāḥ
 4 tato gate dāruke keśavo 'tha; dṛṣṭvāntike babhrum uvāca vākyam
     striyo bhavān rakṣatu yātu śīghraṃ; naitā hiṃsyur dasyavo vittalobhāt
 5 sā prasthitaḥ keśavenānuśiṣṭo; madāturo jñātivadhārditaś ca
     taṃ vai yāntaṃ saṃnidhau keśavasya; tvarantam ekaṃ sahasaiva babhrum
     brahmānuśaptam avadhīn mahad vai; kūṭonmuktaṃ musalaṃ lubdhakasya
 6 tato dṛṣṭvā nihataṃ babhrum āha; kṛṣṇo vākyaṃ bhrātaram agrajaṃ tu
     ihaiva tvaṃ māṃ pratīkṣasva rāma; yāvat striyo jñātivaśāḥ karomi
 7 tataḥ purīṃ dvāravatīṃ praviśya; janārdanaḥ pitaraṃ prāha vākyam
     striyo bhavān rakṣatu naḥ samagrā; dhanaṃjayasyāgamanaṃ pratīkṣan
     rāmo vanānte pratipālayan mām; āste 'dyāhaṃ tena samāgamiṣye
 8 dṛṣṭaṃ mayedaṃ nidhanaṃ yadūnāṃ; rājñāṃ ca pūrvaṃ kurupuṃgavānām
     nāhaṃ vinā yadubhir yādavānāṃ; purīm imāṃ draṣṭum ihādya śaktaḥ
 9 tapaś cariṣyāmi nibodha tan me; rāmeṇa sārdhaṃ vanam abhyupetya
     itīdam uktvā śirasāsya pādau; saṃspṛśya kṛṣṇas tvarito jagāma
 10 tato mahān ninadaḥ prādurāsīt; sastrī kumārasya purasya tasya
    athābravīt keśavaḥ saṃnivartya; śabdāṃ śrutvā yoṣitāṃ krośatīnām
 11 purīm imām eṣyati sāvya sācī; sa vo duḥkhān mocayitā narāgryaḥ
    tato gatvā keśavas taṃ dadarśa; rāmaṃ vane sthitam ekaṃ vivikte
 12 athāpaśyad yogayuktasya tasya; nāgaṃ mukhān niḥsārantaṃ mahāntam
    śvetaṃ yayau sa tataḥ prekṣyamāṇo; mahārṇavo yena mahānubhāvaḥ
 13 sahasraśīrṣaḥ parvatābhogavarṣmā; raktānanaḥ svāṃ tanuṃ tāṃ vimucya
    samyak ca taṃ sāgaraḥ pratyagṛhṇān; nāgadivyāḥ saritaś caiva puṇyāḥ
 14 karkoṭako vasukis takṣakaś ca; pṛthuśravā varuṇaḥ kuñjaraś ca
    miśrī śaṅkhaḥ kumudaḥ puṇḍarīkas; tathā nāgo dhṛtarāṣṭro mahātmā
 15 hrādaḥ krāthaḥ śitikaṇṭho 'gratejās; tathā nāgau cakramandātiṣāṇḍau
    nāgaśreṣṭho durmukhaś cāmbarīṣaḥ; svayaṃ rājā varuṇaś cāpi rājan
    pratyudgamya svāgatenābhyanandaṃs; te 'pūjayaṃś cārghya pādya kriyābhiḥ
 16 tato gate bhrātari vāsudevo; jānan sarvā gatayo divyadṛṣṭiḥ
    vane śūnye vicaraṃś cintayāno; bhūmau tataḥ saṃviveśāgrya tejāḥ
 17 sarvaṃ hi tena prāk tadā vittam āsīd; gāndhāryā yad vākyam uktaḥ sa pūrvam
    durvāsasā pāyasocchiṣṭa lipte; yac cāpy uka tac ca sasmāra kṛṣṇaḥ
 18 sa cintayāno 'ndhakavṛṣṇināśaṃ; kuru kṣayaṃ caiva mahānubhāvaḥ
    mene tataḥ saṃkramaṇasya kālaṃ; tataś cakārendriya saṃnirodham
 19 sa saṃniruddhendriya vān manās tu; śiśye mahāyogam upetya kṛṣṇaḥ
    jarātha taṃ deśam upājagāma; lubdhas tadānīṃ mṛgalipsur ugraḥ
 20 sa keśavaṃ yogayuktaṃ śayānaṃ; mṛgāśaṅkī lubdhakaḥ sāyakena
    jarāvidhyat pādatale tvarāvāṃs; taṃ cābhitas taj jighṛkṣur jagāma
    athāpaśyat puruṣaṃ yogayuktaṃ; pītāmbaraṃ lubdhako 'nekabāhum
 21 matvātmānam aparādhaṃ sa tasya; jagrāha pādau śirasā cārtarūpaḥ
    āśvāsayat taṃ mahātmā tadānīṃ; gacchann ūrdhvaṃ rodasī vyāpya lakṣmyā
 22 divaṃ prāptaṃ vāsavo 'thāśvinau ca; rudrādityā vasavaś cātha viśve
    pratyudyayur munayaś cāpi siddhā; gandharvamukhyāś ca sahāpsarobhiḥ
 23 tato rājan bhagavān ugratejā; nārāyaṇaḥ prabhavaś cāvyayaś ca
    yogācāryo rodasī vyāpya lakṣmyā; sthānaṃ prāpa svaṃ mahātmāprameyam
 24 tato devair ṛṣibhiś cāpi kṛṣṇaḥ; samagataś cāraṇaiś caiva rājan
    gandharvāgryair apsarobhir varābhiḥ; siddhaiḥ sādhyaiś cānataiḥ pūjyamānaḥ
 25 te vai devāḥ pratyanandanta rājan; muniśreṣṭhā vāgbhir ānarcur īśam
    gandharvāś cāpy upatasthuḥ stuvantaḥ; prītyā cainaṃ puruhūto 'bhyanandat

Vaishampayana said: "Then Daruka and Keshava and Vabhru left that spot, following in the wake of Rama (for discovering his retreat). They beheld that hero of infinite energy sitting thoughtfully, reclining his back against a tree, in a solitary spot of earth. Finding Rama of great soul, Krishna commanded Daruka, saying, ‘Going to the Kurus, inform Partha of this great slaughter of the Yadus. Let Arjuna come here quickly, hearing of the destruction of the Yadavas through the Brahmanas’ curse.’

"Thus addressed, Daruka, deprived of his senses by grief, proceeded on a car to the (capital of the) Kurus. After Daruka had gone away, Keshava, seeing Vabhru waiting on him, told him these words: ‘Do thou go quickly for protecting the ladies. Let not robbers do them any injury, tempted by the wealth (that is with them).’ Thus commanded by Keshava, Vabhru, still helpless with wine but cheerless at the slaughter of his kinsmen, departed. He had rested for a while by the side of Keshava, but as soon as he had proceeded to a distance, the iron-bolt, attaching itself to a mallet in the hands of a hunter, suddenly sprang of itself upon that solitary survivor of the Yadava race and slew him, who also had been included in the curse of the Brahmanas. Beholding Vabhru slain, Keshava of great energy addressed his elder brother and said, ‘Do thou, O Rama wait for me here till I place the ladies under the care of kinsmen.’

"Entering the city of Dwaravati, Janardana said these words unto his father, ‘Do thou protect all the ladies of our house, till Dhananjaya comes. At the skirts of the forest Rama is waiting for me. I shall meet him today. This great carnage of the Yadus has been beheld by me even as I beheld before the carnage of those Kshatriyas who were the foremost ones of Kuru’s race. It is impossible for me to see this city of the Yadavas without the Yadus beside me. Know that proceeding to the woods I shall practise penances with Rama in my company.’ Having said these words, Krishna touched the feet of his father with his head, and quickly left his presence. Then a loud wail of sorrow arose from the ladies and children of his house. Hearing that loud sound of wailing uttered by the weeping ladies, Keshava retraced his foot-steps and said unto them, ‘Arjuna will come here. That foremost of man will relieve you of your grief.’

"Proceeding then to the forest, Keshava beheld Rama sitting in a solitary spot thereof. He also saw that Rama had set himself to Yoga and that from out his mouth was issuing a mighty snake. The colour of that snake was white. Leaving the human body (in which he had dwelt so long), that high-souled naga of a 1,000 heads and having a form as large as that of a mountain, endued besides with red eyes, proceeded along that way which led to the ocean. Ocean himself, and many celestial snakes, and many sacred Rivers were there, for receiving him with honour. There were Karkotaka and Vasuki and Takshaka and Prithusravas and Varuna and Kunjara, and Misri and Sankha and Kumuda and Pundarika, and the high-souled Dhritarashtra, and Hrada and Kratha and Sitikantha of fierce energy, and Chakramanda and Atishanda, and that foremost of Nagas called Durmukha, and Amvarisha, and king Varuna himself, O monarch. Advancing forward and offering him the Arghya and water to wash his feet, and with diverse other rites, they all worshipped the mighty Naga and saluted him by making the usual enquiries.

"After his brother had thus departed from the (human) world, Vasudeva of celestial vision, who was fully acquainted with the end of all things, wandered for some time in that lonely forest thoughtfully. Endued with great energy he then sat down on the bare earth. He had thought before this of everything that had been fore-shadowed by the words uttered by Gandhari in former days. He also recollected the words that Durvasas had spoken at the time his body was smeared by that Rishi with the remnant of the Payasa he had eaten (while a guest at Krishna’s house). The high-souled one, thinking of the destruction of the Vrishnis and the Andhakas, as also of the previous slaughter of the Kurus, concluded that the hour (for his own departure from the world) had come. He then restrained his senses (in Yoga). Conversant with the truth of every topic, Vasudeva, though he was the Supreme Deity, wished to die, for dispelling all doubts and establishing a certainty of results (in the matter of human existence), simply for upholding the three worlds and for making the words of Atri’s son true. Having restrained all his senses, speech, and mind, Krishna laid himself down in high Yoga.

"A fierce hunter of the name of Jara then came there, desirous of deer. The hunter, mistaking Keshava, who was stretched on the earth in high Yoga, for a deer, pierced him at the heel with a shaft and quickly came to that spot for capturing his prey. Coming up, Jara beheld a man dressed in yellow robes, rapt in Yoga and endued with many arms. Regarding himself an offender, and filled with fear, he touched the feet of Keshava. The high-souled one comforted him and then ascended upwards, filling the entire welkin with splendour. When he reached Heaven, Vasava and the twin Ashvinis and Rudra and the Adityas and the Vasus and the Viswedevas, and Munis and Siddhas and many foremost ones among the Gandharvas, with the Apsaras, advanced to receive him. Then, O king, the illustrious Narayana of fierce energy, the Creator and Destroyer of all, that preceptor of Yoga, filling Heaven with his splendour, reached his own inconceivable region. Krishna then met the deities and (celestial) Rishis and Charanas, O king, and the foremost ones among the Gandharvas and many beautiful Apsaras and Siddhas and Saddhyas. All of them, bending in humility, worshipped him. The deities all saluted him, O monarch, and many foremost of Munis and Rishis worshipped him who was the Lord of all. The Gandharvas waited on him, hymning his praises, and Indra also joyfully praised him."