01.189
Pancharatra: Vyasa explains the background behind Pandavas and Draupadi.
व्यास उवाच॥
Vyāsa said.
पुरा वै नैमिषारण्ये देवाः सत्रमुपासते। तत्र वैवस्वतो राजञ्शामित्रमकरोत्तदा ॥१-१८९-१॥
Once, O king, in the Naimisha forest, the gods were performing a sacrificial session. There, Vaivasvata (Yama) then made a friendship.
ततो यमो दीक्षितस्तत्र राज; न्नामारयत्किञ्चिदपि प्रजाभ्यः। ततः प्रजास्ता बहुला बभूवुः; कालातिपातान्मरणात्प्रहीणाः ॥१-१८९-२॥
Then, O king, after Yama was initiated there, he did not cause any of the beings to die. As a result, those beings became numerous, being deprived of death due to the lapse of time.
ततस्तु शक्रो वरुणः कुबेरः; साध्या रुद्रा वसवश्चाश्विनौ च। प्रणेतारं भुवनस्य प्रजापतिं; समाजग्मुस्तत्र देवास्तथान्ये ॥१-१८९-३॥
Then Śakra (Indra), Varuṇa, Kubera, the Sādhyas, Rudras, Vasus, and the Aśvins, along with Prajāpati, the lord of the world, and other gods, all assembled there.
ततोऽब्रुवँल्लोकगुरुं समेता; भयं नस्तीव्रं मानुषाणां विवृद्ध्या। तस्माद्भयादुद्विजन्तः सुखेप्सवः; प्रयाम सर्वे शरणं भवन्तम् ॥१-१८९-४॥
Then, having gathered, they addressed the teacher of the world: "There is no great fear for humans due to growth. Therefore, being disturbed by fear and desiring happiness, let us all seek refuge in you."
ब्रह्मोवाच॥
Brahmā said.
किं वो भयं मानुषेभ्यो यूयं सर्वे यदामराः। मा वो मर्त्यसकाशाद्वै भयं भवतु कर्हिचित् ॥१-१८९-५॥
Why should you, who are all immortals, have any fear from men? May you never have any fear from mortals at any time.
देवा ऊचुः॥
The gods said.
मर्त्या ह्यमर्त्याः संवृत्ता न विशेषोऽस्ति कश्चन। अविशेषादुद्विजन्तो विशेषार्थमिहागताः ॥१-१८९-६॥
Mortals have indeed become like immortals; there is no real distinction. Disturbed by the lack of distinction, they have come here seeking differentiation.
ब्रह्मोवाच॥
Brahmā said.
वैवस्वतो व्यापृतः सत्रहेतो; स्तेन त्विमे न म्रियन्ते मनुष्याः। तस्मिन्नेकाग्रे कृतसर्वकार्ये; तत एषां भवितैवान्तकालः ॥१-१८९-७॥
Yama is occupied with a sacrificial duty; therefore, these thieves, these men, do not die. When that single-minded one has completed all his tasks, then surely the time of their end will come.
वैवस्वतस्यापि तनुर्विभूता; वीर्येण युष्माकमुत प्रयुक्ता। सैषामन्तो भविता ह्यन्तकाले; तनुर्हि वीर्यं भविता नरेषु ॥१-१८९-८॥
Even the manifested body of Vaivasvata (Yama), empowered by your strength, has been employed. At the destined end time, that body will reach its conclusion; indeed, the power will manifest among men.
व्यास उवाच॥
Vyāsa said.
ततस्तु ते पूर्वजदेववाक्यं; श्रुत्वा देवा यत्र देवा यजन्ते। समासीनास्ते समेता महाबला; भागीरथ्यां ददृशुः पुण्डरीकम् ॥१-१८९-९॥
Then, having heard the words of the ancient gods, those mighty gods, assembled and seated where the gods worship, saw a lotus in the Bhagirathi.
दृष्ट्वा च तद्विस्मितास्ते बभूवु; स्तेषामिन्द्रस्तत्र शूरो जगाम। सोऽपश्यद्योषामथ पावकप्रभां; यत्र गङ्गा सततं सम्प्रसूता ॥१-१८९-१०॥
Seeing that, they were amazed; among them, Indra, the valiant one, went there. He then saw a woman shining like fire, at the place where Gaṅgā is ever flowing.
सा तत्र योषा रुदती जलार्थिनी; गङ्गां देवीं व्यवगाह्यावतिष्ठत्। तस्याश्रुबिन्दुः पतितो जले वै; तत्पद्ममासीदथ तत्र काञ्चनम् ॥१-१८९-११॥
There, that woman, weeping and seeking water, entered the goddess Ganga and stood. Her tear-drop fell into the water, and then there appeared a golden lotus.
तदद्भुतं प्रेक्ष्य वज्री तदानी; मपृच्छत्तां योषितमन्तिकाद्वै। का त्वं कथं रोदिषि कस्य हेतो; र्वाक्यं तथ्यं कामयेह ब्रवीहि ॥१-१८९-१२॥
Seeing that wonder, Indra, the wielder of the thunderbolt, approached the woman and asked: "Who are you? Why are you weeping? For whom and for what reason? Tell me the truth here."
स्त्र्युवाच॥
The woman said.
त्वं वेत्स्यसे मामिह यास्मि शक्र; यदर्थं चाहं रोदिमि मन्दभाग्या। आगच्छ राजन्पुरतोऽहं गमिष्ये; द्रष्टासि तद्रोदिमि यत्कृतेऽहम् ॥१-१८९-१३॥
O Śakra, you will know me here, where I am going and for what reason I, unfortunate, am weeping. Come, O king, I will go ahead; you will see that for which I am weeping.
व्यास उवाच॥
Vyāsa said.
तां गच्छन्तीमन्वगच्छत्तदानीं; सोऽपश्यदारात्तरुणं दर्शनीयम्। सिंहासनस्थं युवतीसहायं; क्रीडन्तमक्षैर्गिरिराजमूर्ध्नि ॥१-१८९-१४॥
He followed her as she went; at that time, he saw from a distance a handsome young man, seated on a throne, surrounded by young women, playing dice on the summit of the king of mountains.
तमब्रवीद्देवराजो ममेदं; त्वं विद्धि विश्वं भुवनं वशे स्थितम्। ईशोऽहमस्मीति समन्युरब्रवी; द्दृष्ट्वा तमक्षैः सुभृशं प्रमत्तम् ॥१-१८९-१५॥
The king of the gods said to him, "This is mine; know that the whole world is under my control." The angry one, seeing him excessively intoxicated with dice, said, "I am the lord."
क्रुद्धं तु शक्रं प्रसमीक्ष्य देवो; जहास शक्रं च शनैरुदैक्षत। संस्तम्भितोऽभूदथ देवराज; स्तेनेक्षितः स्थाणुरिवावतस्थे ॥१-१८९-१६॥
But when the god saw the angry Śakra, he laughed and slowly looked at Śakra. Then the king of gods, being looked at like a thief, stood motionless like a pillar.
यदा तु पर्याप्तमिहास्य क्रीडया; तदा देवीं रुदतीं तामुवाच। आनीयतामेष यतोऽहमारा; न्मैनं दर्पः पुनरप्याविशेत ॥१-१८९-१७॥
When his play here was sufficient, she then said to the weeping goddess: "Let this one be brought from where I am afar, so that arrogance may not enter him again."
ततः शक्रः स्पृष्टमात्रस्तया तु; स्रस्तैरङ्गैः पतितोऽभूद्धरण्याम्। तमब्रवीद्भगवानुग्रतेजा; मैवं पुनः शक्र कृथाः कथञ्चित् ॥१-१८९-१८॥
Then Śakra (Indra), as soon as he was touched by her, his limbs loosened and he fell to the ground. The venerable one of fierce energy said to him: "Do not ever do so again in any way, O Śakra."
विवर्तयैनं च महाद्रिराजं; बलं च वीर्यं च तवाप्रमेयम्। विवृत्य चैवाविश मध्यमस्य; यत्रासते त्वद्विधाः सूर्यभासः ॥१-१८९-१९॥
Turn this great mountain king; your strength and heroic power are immeasurable. Open it and enter the middle one, where those like you, shining like the sun, are seated.
स तद्विवृत्य शिखरं महागिरे; स्तुल्यद्युतींश्चतुरोऽन्यान्ददर्श। स तानभिप्रेक्ष्य बभूव दुःखितः; कच्चिन्नाहं भविता वै यथेमे ॥१-१८९-२०॥
He uncovered the peak of the great mountain and saw four others of equal radiance. Observing them, he became distressed, thinking, "Perhaps I will not become like these."
ततो देवो गिरिशो वज्रपाणिं; विवृत्य नेत्रे कुपितोऽभ्युवाच। दरीमेतां प्रविश त्वं शतक्रतो; यन्मां बाल्यादवमंस्थाः पुरस्तात् ॥१-१८९-२१॥
Then the god Śiva, opening his eyes in anger, addressed Indra: "Enter this cave, O Śatakratu, since you have disrespected me from your childhood in the past."
उक्तस्त्वेवं विभुना देवराजः; प्रवेपमानो भृशमेवाभिषङ्गात्। स्रस्तैरङ्गैरनिलेनेव नुन्न; मश्वत्थपत्रं गिरिराजमूर्ध्नि ॥१-१८९-२२॥
Thus, when spoken to in this manner by the lord, the king of the gods trembled intensely from the contact, his limbs loosened, like a fig leaf shaken by the wind on the summit of the Himalaya.
स प्राञ्जलिर्विनतेनाननेन; प्रवेपमानः सहसैवमुक्तः। उवाच चेदं बहुरूपमुग्रं; द्रष्टा शेषस्य भगवंस्त्वं भवाद्य ॥१-१८९-२३॥
With joined palms and a bowed head, trembling, he suddenly spoke thus: "O Lord, today may you, the seer of all that remains, behold this terrible and manifold form."
तमब्रवीदुग्रधन्वा प्रहस्य; नैवंशीलाः शेषमिहाप्नुवन्ति। एतेऽप्येवं भवितारः पुरस्ता; त्तस्मादेतां दरिमाविश्य शेध्वम् ॥१-१८९-२४॥
The fierce-bowed one laughed and said to him, "Those of such nature do not attain the rest here. These too will become so in the future; therefore, enter this doorway and sleep."
शेषोऽप्येवं भविता वो न संशयो; योनिं सर्वे मानुषीमाविशध्वम्। तत्र यूयं कर्म कृत्वाविषह्यं; बहूनन्यान्निधनं प्रापयित्वा ॥१-१८९-२५॥
There is no doubt that the rest of you will also be thus; all of you will enter human wombs. There, after performing irresistible deeds, you will cause the destruction of many others.
आगन्तारः पुनरेवेन्द्रलोकं; स्वकर्मणा पूर्वजितं महार्हम्। सर्वं मया भाषितमेतदेवं; कर्तव्यमन्यद्विविधार्थवच्च ॥१-१८९-२६॥
Those who will come again to Indra's world, by their own actions, to the most worthy place previously conquered—all this I have spoken thus; other things to be done are of various purposes.
पूर्वेन्द्रा ऊचुः॥
The previous Indras spoke.
गमिष्यामो मानुषं देवलोका; द्दुराधरो विहितो यत्र मोक्षः। देवास्त्वस्मानादधीरञ्जनन्यां; धर्मो वायुर्मघवानश्विनौ च ॥१-१८९-२७॥
We will go to the world of humans, O gods of the divine realms, where difficult-to-attain liberation is established. O gods, may you place us in the womb; let righteousness, the wind, Indra, and the Ashvins (twin gods) be with us.
व्यास उवाच॥
Vyāsa said.
एतच्छ्रुत्वा वज्रपाणिर्वचस्तु; देवश्रेष्ठं पुनरेवेदमाह। वीर्येणाहं पुरुषं कार्यहेतो; र्दद्यामेषां पञ्चमं मत्प्रसूतम् ॥१-१८९-२८॥
Hearing this, Indra (Vajrapāṇi) spoke again to the best of the gods: "By my strength, for the purpose at hand, I will give a fifth man, born from me, among these."
तेषां कामं भगवानुग्रधन्वा; प्रादादिष्टं सन्निसर्गाद्यथोक्तम्। तां चाप्येषां योषितं लोककान्तां; श्रियं भार्यां व्यदधान्मानुषेषु ॥१-१८९-२९॥
The Lord with the fierce bow granted their desire as commanded, from the proper source as stated. He also bestowed upon them the woman beloved of the world, Śrī, as a wife among men.
तैरेव सार्धं तु ततः स देवो; जगाम नारायणमप्रमेयम्। स चापि तद्व्यदधात्सर्वमेव; ततः सर्वे सम्बभूवुर्धरण्याम् ॥१-१८९-३०॥
Then, together with them, that god went to the immeasurable Nārāyaṇa. He also arranged everything, and then all came into being on the earth.
स चापि केशौ हरिरुद्बबर्ह; शुक्लमेकमपरं चापि कृष्णम्। तौ चापि केशौ विशतां यदूनां; कुले स्त्रियौ रोहिणीं देवकीं च ॥ तयोरेको बलदेवो बभूव; कृष्णो द्वितीयः केशवः सम्बभूव ॥१-१८९-३१॥
He, the two with long hair, one fair and the other dark, were born to the eminent Yadu family through the two women, Rohini and Devaki. Of these two, one became Baladeva and the second, Keśava, was born as Kṛṣṇa.
ये ते पूर्वं शक्ररूपा निरुद्धा; स्तस्यां दर्यां पर्वतस्योत्तरस्य। इहैव ते पाण्डवा वीर्यवन्तः; शक्रस्यांशः पाण्डवः सव्यसाची ॥१-१८९-३२॥
Those who formerly assumed the form of Śakra were restrained in that valley to the north of the mountain. Here, those mighty Pāṇḍavas, especially Savyasācī, are portions of Śakra.
एवमेते पाण्डवाः सम्बभूवु; र्ये ते राजन्पूर्वमिन्द्रा बभूवुः। लक्ष्मीश्चैषां पूर्वमेवोपदिष्टा; भार्या यैषा द्रौपदी दिव्यरूपा ॥१-१८९-३३॥
Thus, O king, these Pāṇḍavas, who were formerly Indras, have now come together. Lakṣmī, who was formerly assigned to them, is their wife—this Draupadī of divine form.
कथं हि स्त्री कर्मणोऽन्ते महीतला; त्समुत्तिष्ठेदन्यतो दैवयोगात्। यस्या रूपं सोमसूर्यप्रकाशं; गन्धश्चाग्र्यः क्रोशमात्रात्प्रवाति ॥१-१८९-३४॥
How could a woman, at the end of the act, arise from the earth elsewhere by divine will? Her form shines with the brightness of the moon and sun, and her excellent fragrance spreads for a yojana's distance.
इदं चान्यत्प्रीतिपूर्वं नरेन्द्र; ददामि ते वरमत्यद्भुतं च। दिव्यं चक्षुः पश्य कुन्तीसुतांस्त्वं; पुण्यैर्दिव्यैः पूर्वदेहैरुपेतान् ॥१-१८९-३५॥
O king, with affection, I now grant you another most wonderful boon: divine sight. Behold the sons of Kunti, endowed with merits and divine former bodies.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
ततो व्यासः परमोदारकर्मा; शुचिर्विप्रस्तपसा तस्य राज्ञः। चक्षुर्दिव्यं प्रददौ तान्स सर्वा; न्राजापश्यत्पूर्वदेहैर्यथावत् ॥१-१८९-३६॥
Then Vyāsa, the supremely noble sage, having purified himself through austerity, granted the king divine sight; the king beheld all of them in their previous forms, just as they had been.
ततो दिव्यान्हेमकिरीटमालिनः; शक्रप्रख्यान्पावकादित्यवर्णान्। बद्धापीडांश्चारुरूपांश्च यूनो; व्यूढोरस्कांस्तालमात्रान्ददर्श ॥१-१८९-३७॥
Then he saw divine young men adorned with golden crowns, renowned like Indra, shining with the color of fire and the sun, wearing diadems, beautiful in form, youthful, broad-chested, and as tall as palm trees.
दिव्यैर्वस्त्रैररजोभिः सुवर्णै; र्माल्यैश्चाग्र्यैः शोभमानानतीव। साक्षात्त्र्यक्षान्वसवो वाथ दिव्या; नादित्यान्वा सर्वगुणोपपन्नान् ॥ तान्पूर्वेन्द्रानेवमीक्ष्याभिरूपा; न्प्रीतो राजा द्रुपदो विस्मितश्च ॥१-१८९-३८॥
Adorned with divine, spotless garments, gold, and excellent garlands, shining greatly, they appeared like the Rudras, Vasus, or the divine Ādityas, endowed with all virtues. Seeing these handsome ones, King Drupada was both pleased and amazed.
दिव्यां मायां तामवाप्याप्रमेयां; तां चैवाग्र्यां श्रियमिव रूपिणीं च। योग्यां तेषां रूपतेजोयशोभिः; पत्नीमृद्धां दृष्टवान्पार्थिवेन्द्रः ॥१-१८९-३९॥
The king of kings saw his prosperous wife, who was divine, immeasurable, and wondrous, like prosperity itself in form, and fit for them in beauty, splendor, and fame.
स तद्दृष्ट्वा महदाश्चर्यरूपं; जग्राह पादौ सत्यवत्याः सुतस्य। नैतच्चित्रं परमर्षे त्वयीति; प्रसन्नचेताः स उवाच चैनम् ॥१-१८९-४०॥
Having seen that marvelous and wondrous form, he grasped the feet of Satyavati's son. With a clear mind, he said to him, "O supreme sage, this is not surprising in you."
व्यास उवाच॥
Vyāsa said.
आसीत्तपोवने काचिदृषेः कन्या महात्मनः। नाध्यगच्छत्पतिं सा तु कन्या रूपवती सती ॥१-१८९-४१॥
In the forest of austerities, there was a certain beautiful and chaste daughter of a great sage. However, that maiden did not find a husband.
तोषयामास तपसा सा किलोग्रेण शङ्करम्। तामुवाचेश्वरः प्रीतो वृणु काममिति स्वयम् ॥१-१८९-४२॥
She pleased Śaṅkara (Śiva) with her severe austerities. The Lord, being pleased, personally said to her: "Ask for a boon."
सैवमुक्ताब्रवीत्कन्या देवं वरदमीश्वरम्। पतिं सर्वगुणोपेतमिच्छामीति पुनः पुनः ॥१-१८९-४३॥
Thus addressed, the maiden repeatedly said to the god, the bestower of boons, the lord: "I wish for a husband endowed with all virtues."
ददौ तस्यै स देवेशस्तं वरं प्रीतिमांस्तदा। पञ्च ते पतयः श्रेष्ठा भविष्यन्तीति शङ्करः ॥१-१८९-४४॥
Śaṅkara, the lord of the gods, graciously granted her the boon at that time, saying, "You will have five excellent husbands."
सा प्रसादयती देवमिदं भूयोऽभ्यभाषत। एकं पतिं गुणोपेतं त्वत्तोऽर्हामीति वै तदा ॥ तां देवदेवः प्रीतात्मा पुनः प्राह शुभं वचः ॥१-१८९-४५॥
She again propitiated the god and said, 'I deserve from you a husband endowed with virtues.' Then the god of gods, with a delighted mind, again spoke auspicious words to her.
पञ्चकृत्वस्त्वया उक्तः पतिं देहीत्यहं पुनः। तत्तथा भविता भद्रे तव तद्भद्रमस्तु ते ॥ देहमन्यं गतायास्ते यथोक्तं तद्भविष्यति ॥१-१८९-४६॥
You have asked me five times, 'Give me a husband,' and I say again: so it shall be, O auspicious one, may that be for your welfare. When you take another body, as said, that will come to pass.
द्रुपदैषा हि सा जज्ञे सुता ते देवरूपिणी। पञ्चानां विहिता पत्नी कृष्णा पार्षत्यनिन्दिता ॥१-१८९-४७॥
This Kṛṣṇā, the blameless daughter of Drupada, was born with a divine form as your daughter, and was ordained as the wife of the five (Pāṇḍavas).
स्वर्गश्रीः पाण्डवार्थाय समुत्पन्ना महामखे। सेह तप्त्वा तपो घोरं दुहितृत्वं तवागता ॥१-१८९-४८॥
The fortune of heaven arose in the great sacrifice for the sake of the Pāṇḍavas; here, having performed severe austerity, she has come to you as a daughter.
सैषा देवी रुचिरा देवजुष्टा; पञ्चानामेका स्वकृतेन कर्मणा। सृष्टा स्वयं देवपत्नी स्वयम्भुवा; श्रुत्वा राजन्द्रुपदेष्टं कुरुष्व ॥१-१८९-४९॥
This splendid goddess, favored by the gods, is the one among the five who was created by her own action. She herself, the wife of the gods, was created by the self-born. O king, having heard Drupada's instructions, act accordingly.
