Mausala Parwa 7

Mahabharata 16.7

 

Mausala Parwa 7

 

   1 [वै]
      तं शयानं महात्मानं वीरम आनक दुन्दुभिम
      पुत्रशॊकाभिसंतप्तं ददर्श कुरुपुंगवः
  2 तस्याश्रु परिपूर्णाक्षॊ वयूढॊरस्कॊ महाभुजः
      आर्तस्यार्ततरः पार्थः पादौ जग्राह भारत
  3 समालिङ्ग्यार्जुनं वृद्धः स भुजाभ्यां महाभुजः
      रुदन पुत्रान समरन सार्वान विललाप सुविह्वलः
      भरातॄन पुत्रांश च पौत्रांश च दौहित्रांश च सखीन अपि
  4 [वासु]
      यैर जिता भूमिपालाश च दैत्याश च शतशॊ ऽरजुन
      तान दृष्ट्वा नेह पश्यामि जीवाम्य अर्जुन दुर्मरः
  5 यौ ताव अर्जुन शिष्यौ ते परियौ बहुमतौ सदा
      तयॊर अपनयात पार्थ वृष्णयॊ निधनं गताः
  6 यौ तौ वृष्णिप्रवीराणां दवाव एवातिरथौ मतौ
      परद्युम्नॊ युयुधानश च कथयन कत्थसे च यौ
  7 नित्यं तवं कुरुशार्दूल कृष्णश च मम पुत्रकः
      ताव उभौ वृष्णिनाशस्य मुखम आस्तां धनंजय
  8 न तु गर्हामि शैनेयं हार्दिक्यां चाहम अर्जुन
      अक्रूरं रौक्मिणेयं च शापॊ हय एवात्र कारणम
  9 केशिनं यस तु कंसं च विक्रम्य जगतः परभुः
      विदेहाव अकरॊत पार्थ चैद्यं च बल गर्वितम
  10 नैषादिम एकलव्यं च चक्रे कालिङ्गमागधान
     गान्धारान काशिराजं च मरु भूमौ च पार्थिवान
 11 पराच्यांश च दाक्षिणात्यंश च पार्वतीयांस तथा नृपान
     सॊ ऽभयुपेक्षितवान एतम अनयं मधुसूदनः
 12 ततः पुत्रांश च पौत्रांश च भरातॄन अथ सखीन अपि
     शयानान निहतान दृष्ट्वा ततॊ माम अब्रवीद इदम
 13 संप्राप्तॊ ऽदयायम अस्यन्तः कुलस्य पुरुषर्षभ
     आगमिष्यति बीभत्सुर इमां दवरवतीं पुरीम
 14 आख्येयं तस्य यद्वृत्तं वृष्णीनां वैशसं महत
     स तु शरुत्वा महातेजा यदूनाम अनयं परभॊ
     आगन्ता कषिप्रम एवेह न मे ऽतरास्ति विचारणा
 15 यॊ ऽहं तम अर्जुनं विद्धि यॊ ऽरजुनः सॊ ऽहम एव तु
     यद बरूयात तत तथा कार्यम इति बुध्यस्व माधव
 16 स सत्रीषु पराप्तकालं वः पाण्डवॊ बालकेषु च
     परतिपत्स्यति बीभत्सुर भवतश चौर्ध्व देहिकम
 17 इमां च नगरीं सद्यः परतियाते धनंजये
     पराकाराट्टाकलॊपेतां समुद्रः पलावयिष्यति
 18 अहं हि देशे कस्मिंश चित पुण्ये नियमम आस्थितः
     कालं कर्ता सद्य एव रामेण सह धीमता
 19 एवम उक्त्वा हृषीकेशॊ माम अचिन्त्यपराक्रमः
     हित्वा मां बालकैः सार्धं दिशं काम अप्य अगात परभुः
 20 सॊ ऽहं तौ च महात्मानौ चिन्तयन भरातरौ तव
     घॊरं जञातिवधं चैव न भुञ्जे शॊककर्शितः
 21 न च भॊक्ष्ये न जीविष्ये दिष्ट्या पराप्तॊ ऽसि पाण्डव
     यद उक्तं पार्थ कृष्णेन तत सर्वम अखिलं कुरु
 22 एतत ते पार्थ राज्यं च सत्रियॊ रत्नानि चैव ह
     इष्टान पराणान अहं हीमांस तयक्ष्यामि रिपुसूदन

  1 [vai]
      taṃ śayānaṃ mahātmānaṃ vīram ānaka dundubhim
      putraśokābhisaṃtaptaṃ dadarśa kurupuṃgavaḥ
  2 tasyāśru paripūrṇākṣo vyūḍhorasko mahābhujaḥ
      ārtasyārtataraḥ pārthaḥ pādau jagrāha bhārata
  3 samāliṅgyārjunaṃ vṛddhaḥ sa bhujābhyāṃ mahābhujaḥ
      rudan putrān smaran sārvān vilalāpa suvihvalaḥ
      bhrātṝn putrāṃś ca pautrāṃś ca dauhitrāṃś ca sakhīn api
  4 [vāsu]
      yair jitā bhūmipālāś ca daityāś ca śataśo 'rjuna
      tān dṛṣṭvā neha paśyāmi jīvāmy arjuna durmaraḥ
  5 yau tāv arjuna śiṣyau te priyau bahumatau sadā
      tayor apanayāt pārtha vṛṣṇayo nidhanaṃ gatāḥ
  6 yau tau vṛṣṇipravīrāṇāṃ dvāv evātirathau matau
      pradyumno yuyudhānaś ca kathayan katthase ca yau
  7 nityaṃ tvaṃ kuruśārdūla kṛṣṇaś ca mama putrakaḥ
      tāv ubhau vṛṣṇināśasya mukham āstāṃ dhanaṃjaya
  8 na tu garhāmi śaineyaṃ hārdikyāṃ cāham arjuna
      akrūraṃ raukmiṇeyaṃ ca śāpo hy evātra kāraṇam
  9 keśinaṃ yas tu kaṃsaṃ ca vikramya jagataḥ prabhuḥ
      videhāv akarot pārtha caidyaṃ ca bala garvitam
  10 naiṣādim ekalavyaṃ ca cakre kāliṅgamāgadhān
     gāndhārān kāśirājaṃ ca maru bhūmau ca pārthivān
 11 prācyāṃś ca dākṣiṇātyaṃś ca pārvatīyāṃs tathā nṛpān
     so 'bhyupekṣitavān etam anayaṃ madhusūdanaḥ
 12 tataḥ putrāṃś ca pautrāṃś ca bhrātṝn atha sakhīn api
     śayānān nihatān dṛṣṭvā tato mām abravīd idam
 13 saṃprāpto 'dyāyam asyantaḥ kulasya puruṣarṣabha
     āgamiṣyati bībhatsur imāṃ dvaravatīṃ purīm
 14 ākhyeyaṃ tasya yadvṛttaṃ vṛṣṇīnāṃ vaiśasaṃ mahat
     sa tu śrutvā mahātejā yadūnām anayaṃ prabho
     āgantā kṣipram eveha na me 'trāsti vicāraṇā
 15 yo 'haṃ tam arjunaṃ viddhi yo 'rjunaḥ so 'ham eva tu
     yad brūyāt tat tathā kāryam iti budhyasva mādhava
 16 sa strīṣu prāptakālaṃ vaḥ pāṇḍavo bālakeṣu ca
     pratipatsyati bībhatsur bhavataś caurdhva dehikam
 17 imāṃ ca nagarīṃ sadyaḥ pratiyāte dhanaṃjaye
     prākārāṭṭākalopetāṃ samudraḥ plāvayiṣyati
 18 ahaṃ hi deśe kasmiṃś cit puṇye niyamam āsthitaḥ
     kālaṃ kartā sadya eva rāmeṇa saha dhīmatā
 19 evam uktvā hṛṣīkeśo mām acintyaparākramaḥ
     hitvā māṃ bālakaiḥ sārdhaṃ diśaṃ kām apy agāt prabhuḥ
 20 so 'haṃ tau ca mahātmānau cintayan bhrātarau tava
     ghoraṃ jñātivadhaṃ caiva na bhuñje śokakarśitaḥ
 21 na ca bhokṣye na jīviṣye diṣṭyā prāpto 'si pāṇḍava
     yad uktaṃ pārtha kṛṣṇena tat sarvam akhilaṃ kuru
 22 etat te pārtha rājyaṃ ca striyo ratnāni caiva ha
     iṣṭān prāṇān ahaṃ hīmāṃs tyakṣyāmi ripusūdana

Vaishampayana said: "The Kuru prince beheld the heroic and high-souled Anakadundubhi lying on the ground and burning with grief on account of his sons. The broad-chested and mighty-armed son of Pritha, more afflicted than his uncle, with eyes bathed in tears, touched his uncle’s feet, O Bharata. The mighty-armed Anakadundubhi wished to smell the head of his sister’s son but failed to do it, O slayer of foes. The old man of mighty arms, deeply afflicted, embraced Partha with his arms and wept aloud, remembering his sons, brothers, grandsons, daughter’s sons, and friends.

"Vasudeva said, ‘Without beholding those heroes, O Arjuna, who had subjugated all the kings of the Earth and the Daityas a hundred times, I am still alive! Methinks, I have no death! Through the fault of those two heroes who were thy dear disciples and who were much regarded by thee, also, O Partha, the Vrishnis have been destroyed. Those two who were regarded as Atirathas amongst the foremost of the Vrishnis, and referring to whom in course of conversation thou wert wont to indulge in pride, and who, O chief of Kuru’s race, were ever dear to Krishna himself—alas, those two, O Dhananjaya, have been the chief causes of the destruction of the Vrishnis! I do not censure the son of Sini or the son of Hridika, O Arjuna. I do not censure Akrura or the son of Rukmini. No doubt, the curse (of the Rishis) is the sole cause. How is it that that lord of the universe, the slayer of Madhu, who had put forth his prowess for achieving the destruction of Kesin and Kansa, and Chaidya swelling with pride, and Ekalavya, the son of the ruler of the Nishadas, and the Kalingas and the Magadhas, and the Gandharas and the king of Kasi, and many rulers assembled together in the midst of the desert, many heroes belonging to the East and the South, and many kings of the mountainous regions—alas, how could he remain indifferent to such a calamity as the curse denounced by the Rishis? Thyself, Narada, and the Munis, knew him to be the eternal and sinless Govinda, the Deity of unfading glory. Alas, being puissant Vishnu himself, he witnessed, without interfering, the destruction of his kinsmen! My son must have himself allowed all this to happen. He was the Lord of the universe. He did not, however, wish to falsify the words of Gandhari and the Rishis, O scorcher of foes. In thy very sight, O hero, thy grandson, who had been slain by Ashvatthama, was revived through his energy. That friend, however, of yours did not wish to protect his kinsmen. Beholding his sons and grandsons and brothers and friends lying dead, he said unto me these words, O chief of Bharata’s race, "The destruction of this our race has at last come. Vibhatsu will come to this city, Dwaravati. Tell him what has occurred, this great carnage of the Vrishnis. I have no doubt that as soon as he will hear of the destruction of the Yadus, that hero of mighty energy will come here without any loss of time. Know, O father, that I am Arjuna and Arjuna is myself. That should be done by thee which he would say. The son of Pandu will do what is best for the women and the children. Even he will perform thy funeral rites. This city of Dwaravati, after Arjuna’s departure, will, with its walls and edifices, be swallowed up by the ocean without any delay. As regards myself, retiring to some sacred place, I shall bide my hour, with the intelligent Rama in my company, observing strict vows all the while." Having said these words unto me, Hrishikesa of inconceivable prowess, leaving me with the children, has gone away to some spot which I do not know. Thinking of those two high-souled brothers of thine, as also of the terrible carnage of my kinsmen, I have abstained from all food, and am emaciated with grief. I shall neither eat, nor live. By good luck thou meetest me, O son of Pandu. Do thou accomplish all, O Partha, that Krishna has said. This kingdom, with all these women, and all the wealth here, is thine now, O son of Pritha. As regards myself, O slayer of foes, I shall cast off my life-breaths dear though they be.‘"

Vaishampayana said: "The Kuru prince beheld the heroic and high-souled Anakadundubhi lying on the ground and burning with grief on account of his sons. The broad-chested and mighty-armed son of Pritha, more afflicted than his uncle, with eyes bathed in tears, touched his uncle’s feet, O Bharata. The mighty-armed Anakadundubhi wished to smell the head of his sister’s son but failed to do it, O slayer of foes. The old man of mighty arms, deeply afflicted, embraced Partha with his arms and wept aloud, remembering his sons, brothers, grandsons, daughter’s sons, and friends.

"Vasudeva said, ‘Without beholding those heroes, O Arjuna, who had subjugated all the kings of the Earth and the Daityas a hundred times, I am still alive! Methinks, I have no death! Through the fault of those two heroes who were thy dear disciples and who were much regarded by thee, also, O Partha, the Vrishnis have been destroyed. Those two who were regarded as Atirathas amongst the foremost of the Vrishnis, and referring to whom in course of conversation thou wert wont to indulge in pride, and who, O chief of Kuru’s race, were ever dear to Krishna himself—alas, those two, O Dhananjaya, have been the chief causes of the destruction of the Vrishnis! I do not censure the son of Sini or the son of Hridika, O Arjuna. I do not censure Akrura or the son of Rukmini. No doubt, the curse (of the Rishis) is the sole cause. How is it that that lord of the universe, the slayer of Madhu, who had put forth his prowess for achieving the destruction of Kesin and Kansa, and Chaidya swelling with pride, and Ekalavya, the son of the ruler of the Nishadas, and the Kalingas and the Magadhas, and the Gandharas and the king of Kasi, and many rulers assembled together in the midst of the desert, many heroes belonging to the East and the South, and many kings of the mountainous regions—alas, how could he remain indifferent to such a calamity as the curse denounced by the Rishis? Thyself, Narada, and the Munis, knew him to be the eternal and sinless Govinda, the Deity of unfading glory. Alas, being puissant Vishnu himself, he witnessed, without interfering, the destruction of his kinsmen! My son must have himself allowed all this to happen. He was the Lord of the universe. He did not, however, wish to falsify the words of Gandhari and the Rishis, O scorcher of foes. In thy very sight, O hero, thy grandson, who had been slain by Ashvatthama, was revived through his energy. That friend, however, of yours did not wish to protect his kinsmen. Beholding his sons and grandsons and brothers and friends lying dead, he said unto me these words, O chief of Bharata’s race, "The destruction of this our race has at last come. Vibhatsu will come to this city, Dwaravati. Tell him what has occurred, this great carnage of the Vrishnis. I have no doubt that as soon as he will hear of the destruction of the Yadus, that hero of mighty energy will come here without any loss of time. Know, O father, that I am Arjuna and Arjuna is myself. That should be done by thee which he would say. The son of Pandu will do what is best for the women and the children. Even he will perform thy funeral rites. This city of Dwaravati, after Arjuna’s departure, will, with its walls and edifices, be swallowed up by the ocean without any delay. As regards myself, retiring to some sacred place, I shall bide my hour, with the intelligent Rama in my company, observing strict vows all the while." Having said these words unto me, Hrishikesa of inconceivable prowess, leaving me with the children, has gone away to some spot which I do not know. Thinking of those two high-souled brothers of thine, as also of the terrible carnage of my kinsmen, I have abstained from all food, and am emaciated with grief. I shall neither eat, nor live. By good luck thou meetest me, O son of Pandu. Do thou accomplish all, O Partha, that Krishna has said. This kingdom, with all these women, and all the wealth here, is thine now, O son of Pritha. As regards myself, O slayer of foes, I shall cast off my life-breaths dear though they be.‘"