01.144
Core-Pancharatra:Vyasa's visit and advice to stay at Ekachakra.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said:
ते वनेन वनं वीरा घ्नन्तो मृगगणान्बहून् । अपक्रम्य ययू राजंस्त्वरमाणा महारथाः ॥१॥
Those heroic great chariot-warriors, slaying many groups of deer, proceeded from one forest to another with haste, O King.
मत्यांस्त्रिगर्तान्पाञ्चालान्कीचकानन्तरेण च । रमणीयान्वनोद्देशान्प्रेक्षमाणाः सरांसि च ॥२॥
Passing through the lands of the Matsyas, Trigartas, Pāñcālas, and Kīcakas, they beheld many beautiful forest regions and lakes.
जटाः कृत्वात्मनः सर्वे वल्कलाजिनवाससः । सह कुन्त्या महात्मानो बिभ्रतस्तापसं वपुः ॥३॥
All of them, with Kuntī, adopted matted locks, wore bark and deer-skin garments, and took on the appearance of ascetics.
क्वचिद्वहन्तो जननीं त्वरमाणा महारथाः । क्वचिच्छन्देन गच्छन्तस्ते जग्मुः प्रसभं पुनः ॥४॥
Sometimes those great warriors carried their mother in haste, sometimes walked at their own pace — thus they moved forward with determination.
ब्राह्मं वेदमधीयाना वेदाङ्गानि च सर्वशः । नीतिशास्त्रं च धर्मज्ञा ददृशुस्ते पितामहम् ॥५॥
They, studying the Vedas and all its auxiliaries as well as the science of ethics and being knowers of dharma, saw their grandsire.
तेऽभिवाद्य महात्मानं कृष्णद्वैपायनं तदा । तस्थुः प्राञ्जलयः सर्वे सह मात्रा परन्तपाः ॥६॥
Having bowed to the great soul Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana, all of them, scorcher of foes, stood with joined palms along with their mother.
व्यास उवाच॥
Vyāsa said:
मयेदं मनसा पूर्वं विदितं भरतर्षभाः । यथा स्थितैरधर्मेण धार्तराष्ट्रैर्विवासिताः ॥७॥
O best of Bharatas, I had previously known in my mind how, being set in unrighteousness, the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra would exile you.
तद्विदित्वास्मि सम्प्राप्तश्चिकीर्षुः परमं हितम् । न विषादोऽत्र कर्तव्यः सर्वमेतत्सुखाय वः ॥८॥
Knowing that, I have come now, desiring your supreme welfare. Do not grieve — all this shall be for your happiness.
समास्ते चैव मे सर्वे यूयं चैव न संशयः । दीनतो बालतश्चैव स्नेहं कुर्वन्ति बान्धवाः ॥९॥
All of you are equally dear to me, no doubt. Relatives show affection due to helplessness or youth.
तस्मादभ्यधिकः स्नेहो युष्मासु मम साम्प्रतम् । स्नेहपूर्वं चिकीर्षामि हितं वस्तन्निबोधत ॥१०॥
Therefore, my affection for you is now even greater. I desire to do what is good for you with affection — understand this well.
इदं नगरमभ्याशे रमणीयं निरामयम् । वसतेह प्रतिच्छन्ना ममागमनकाङ्क्षिणः ॥११॥
This city nearby is delightful and free from trouble. Here, in concealment, those who await my arrival reside.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said:
एवं स तान्समाश्वास्य व्यासः पार्थानरिंदमान् । एकचक्रामभिगतः कुन्तीमाश्वासयत्प्रभुः ॥१२॥
Thus having consoled the sons of Pṛthā, the subduers of foes, Vyāsa the master went to Ekacakrā and consoled Kuntī.
जीवपुत्रि सुतस्तेऽयं धर्मपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः । पृथिव्यां पार्थिवान्सर्वान्प्रशासिष्यति धर्मराट् ॥१३॥
Live, O mother of sons! This son of yours, Yudhiṣṭhira, born of Dharma, will rule over all kings on earth as a righteous king.
धर्मेण जित्वा पृथिवीमखिलां धर्मविद्वशी । भीमसेनार्जुनबलाद्भोक्ष्यत्ययमसंशयः ॥१४॥
This knower of dharma will righteously conquer the entire earth and, through the strength of Bhīma and Arjuna, will surely enjoy it.
पुत्रास्तव च माद्र्याश्च सर्व एव महारथाः । स्वराष्ट्रे विहरिष्यन्ति सुखं सुमनसस्तदा ॥१५॥
Your sons and those of Mādrī, all great warriors, will happily live in their own kingdom with content minds.
यक्ष्यन्ति च नरव्याघ्रा विजित्य पृथिवीमिमाम् । राजसूयाश्वमेधाद्यैः क्रतुभिर्भूरिदक्षिणैः ॥१६॥
Having conquered the earth, those tiger-like men will perform Rājasūya, Aśvamedha, and other grand sacrifices with abundant gifts.
अनुगृह्य सुहृद्वर्गं धनेन च सुखेन च । पितृपैतामहं राज्यमिह भोक्ष्यन्ति ते सुताः ॥१७॥
Having favored their friends with wealth and happiness, your sons will enjoy here the ancestral kingdom of their fathers and grandfathers.
एवमुक्त्वा निवेश्यैनान्ब्राह्मणस्य निवेशने । अब्रवीत्पार्थिवश्रेष्ठमृषिर्द्वैपायनस्तदा ॥१८॥
Having said thus and settled them in a brāhmaṇa’s house, the sage Dvaipāyana then spoke to the best of kings.
इह मां सम्प्रतीक्षध्वमागमिष्याम्यहं पुनः । देशकालौ विदित्वैव वेत्स्यध्वं परमां मुदम् ॥१९॥
Wait for me here; I shall return again. Knowing the proper place and time, you shall attain supreme joy.
स तैः प्राञ्जलिभिः सर्वैस्तथेत्युक्तो नराधिप । जगाम भगवान्व्यासो यथाकाममृषिः प्रभुः ॥२०॥
Then, having been addressed with folded hands by all with "so be it," the divine sage Vyāsa departed as he desired, O king.
