01.189
Pancharatra: Vyasa explains the background behind Pandavas and Draupadi.
vyāsa uvāca॥
Vyāsa said.
purā vai naimiṣāraṇye devāḥ satram upāsate। tatra vaivasvato rājañ śāmitram akarot tadā ॥1-189-1॥
Once, O king, in the Naimisha forest, the gods were performing a sacrificial session. There, Vaivasvata (Yama) then made a friendship.
tato yamo dīkṣitastatra rāja; nnāmārayatkiñcidapi prajābhyaḥ। tataḥ prajāstā bahulā babhūvuḥ; kālātitpātānmaraṇātprahīṇāḥ ॥1-189-2॥
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.
tatastu śakro varuṇaḥ kuberaḥ; sādhyā rudrā vasavaścāśvinau ca। praṇetāraṃ bhuvanasya prajāpatiṃ; samājagmusta-tra devāstathānye ॥1-189-3॥
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.
tato'bruvaṃllokaguruṃ sametā; bhayaṃ nastīvaraṃ mānuṣāṇāṃ vivṛddhyā. tasmādbhāyādudvijantaḥ sukhepsavaḥ; prayāma sarve śaraṇaṃ bhavantam ॥1-189-4॥
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."
brahmovāca॥
Brahmā said.
kiṃ vo bhayaṃ mānuṣebhyo yūyaṃ sarve yadāmarāḥ। mā vo martyasakāśād vai bhayaṃ bhavatu karhicit ॥1-189-5॥
Why should you, who are all immortals, have any fear from men? May you never have any fear from mortals at any time.
devā ūcuḥ॥
The gods said.
martyā hy amartyāḥ saṃvṛttā na viśeṣo'sti kaścana| aviśeṣād udvijanto viśeṣārtham ihāgatāḥ ॥1-189-6॥
Mortals have indeed become like immortals; there is no real distinction. Disturbed by the lack of distinction, they have come here seeking differentiation.
brahmovāca॥
Brahmā said.
vaivasvato vyāpṛtaḥ satraheto; stena tvime na mriyante manuṣyāḥ. tasminnekāgre kṛtasarvakārye; tata eṣāṃ bhavitaivāntakālaḥ ॥1-189-7॥
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.
vaivasvatasya api tanur vibhūtā; vīryeṇa yuṣmākam uta prayuktā. saiṣām anto bhavitā hi antakāle; tanuḥ hi vīryaṃ bhavitā nareṣu ॥1-189-8॥
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.
vyāsa uvāca॥
Vyāsa said.
tatastu te pūrvajadevavākyaṃ; śrutvā devā yatra devā yajante। samāsīnāste sametā mahābalā; bhāgīrathyāṃ dadṛśuḥ puṇḍarīkam ॥1-189-9॥
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.
dṛṣṭvā ca tadvismitās te babhūvu; steṣām indras tatra śūro jagāma. so'paśyad yoṣām atha pāvakaprabhāṃ; yatra gaṅgā satataṃ samprasūtā ॥1-189-10॥
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.
sā tatra yoṣā rudatī jalārthinī; gaṅgāṃ devīṃ vyavagāhyāvatiṣṭhat. tasyāśrubinduḥ patito jale vai; tatpadmam āsīd atha tatra kāñcanam ॥1-189-11॥
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.
tadadbhutaṃ prekṣya vajrī tadānīm apṛcchat tāṃ yoṣitam antikād vai | kā tvaṃ kathaṃ rodiṣi kasya hetoḥ vākyam tathyaṃ kāmayeha bravīhi ||1-189-12||
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."
stryuvāca॥
The woman said.
tvaṃ vetsyase mām iha yāsmi śakra; yadartham ca ahaṃ rodimi mandabhāgyā. āgaccha rājan purataḥ ahaṃ gamiṣye; draṣṭāsi tat rodimi yat kṛte aham ॥1-189-13॥
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.
vyāsa uvāca॥
Vyāsa said.
tāṃ gacchantīṃ anvagacchat tadānīṃ; so'paśyad ārāt taruṇaṃ darśanīyam. siṃhāsanasthaṃ yuvatī-sahāyaṃ; krīḍantam akṣair girirāja-mūrdhni ॥1-189-14॥
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.
tam abravīd devarājo mamedam; tvaṃ viddhi viśvaṃ bhuvanaṃ vaśe sthitam। īśo'ham asmīti samanyur abravī; dṛṣṭvā tam akṣaiḥ subhṛśaṃ pramattam ॥1-189-15॥
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."
kruddhaṃ tu śakraṃ prasamīkṣya devo; jahāsa śakraṃ ca śanairudaikṣata. saṃstambhito'bhūdatha devarāja; stene kṣitaḥ sthāṇurivāvatasthe ॥1-189-16॥
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.
yadā tu paryāptam ihāsya krīḍayā; tadā devīṃ rudatīṃ tām uvāca. ānīyatām eṣa yato'ham ārāt; na maiṇaṃ darpaḥ punar apy āviśet ॥1-189-17॥
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."
tataḥ śakraḥ spṛṣṭamātrastayā tu; srastair-aṅgaiḥ patito'bhūd dharaṇyām. tam abravīd bhagavān ugratejā; maivaṃ punaḥ śakra kṛthāḥ kathañcit ॥1-189-18॥
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."
vivartaya enaṃ ca mahādrirājaṃ; balaṃ ca vīryaṃ ca tavāprameyam। vivṛtya caivāviśa madhyamasya; yatrāsate tvadvidhāḥ sūryabhāsaḥ ॥1-189-19॥
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.
sa tadvivṛtya śikharaṃ mahāgire; stulyadyutīṃś caturo'nyān dadarśa. sa tān abhiprekṣya babhūva duḥkhitaḥ; kaccin nāhaṃ bhavitā vai yatheme ॥1-189-20॥
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."
tato devo giriśo vajrapāṇiṃ; vivṛtya netre kupito'bhyuvāca. darīmetāṃ praviśa tvaṃ śatakrato; yan māṃ bālyād avamaṃsthāḥ purastāt ॥1-189-21॥
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."
uktastvevaṃ vibhunā devarājaḥ; pravepamāno bhṛśamevābhiṣaṅgāt. srastairaṅgairanileneva nunna; maśvatthapatraṃ girirājamūrdhni ॥1-189-22॥
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.
sa prāñjalir vinatenānanena; pravepamānaḥ sahasaivam uktaḥ। uvāca cedaṃ bahurūpam ugraṃ; draṣṭā śeṣasya bhagavaṃs tvaṃ bhavādya ॥1-189-23॥
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."
tam abravīd ugradhanvā prahasya; na evaṃśīlāḥ śeṣam iha āpnuvanti। ete api evaṃ bhavitāraḥ purastāt; tasmāt etām darim āviśya śedhvam ॥1-189-24॥
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."
śeṣo'py evaṃ bhavitā vo na saṃśayo; yoniṃ sarve mānuṣīm āviśadhvam. tatra yūyaṃ karma kṛtvāviṣahyaṃ; bahūn anyān nidhanaṃ prāpayitvā ॥1-189-25॥
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.
āgantāraḥ punarevendralokaṃ; svakarmaṇā pūrvajitaṃ mahārham। sarvaṃ mayā bhāṣitametadevaṃ; kartavyamanyadvividhārthavacca ॥1-189-26॥
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.
pūrvendrā ūcuḥ॥
The previous Indras spoke.
gamiṣyāmo mānuṣaṃ devalokā; ddurādaro vihito yatra mokṣaḥ। devāstv asmān ādadhīrañ jananyāṃ; dharmo vāyur maghavān aśvinau ca ॥1-189-27॥
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.
vyāsa uvāca॥
Vyāsa said.
etacchrutvā vajrapāṇir vacastu; devaśreṣṭhaṃ punarevedam āha. vīryeṇāhaṃ puruṣaṃ kāryaheto; r dadyāmeṣāṃ pañcamaṃ matprasūtam ॥1-189-28॥
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."
teṣāṃ kāmaṃ bhagavān ugradhanvā; prādādiṣṭaṃ sannisargādyathoktam. tāṃ cāpyeṣāṃ yoṣitaṃ lokakāntāṃ; śriyaṃ bhāryāṃ vyadadhān mānuṣeṣu ॥1-189-29॥
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.
taireva sārdhaṃ tu tataḥ sa devo; jagāma nārāyaṇamaprameyam। sa cāpi tadvyadadhātsarvameva; tataḥ sarve sambabhūvurdharaṇyām ॥1-189-30॥
Then, together with them, that god went to the immeasurable Nārāyaṇa. He also arranged everything, and then all came into being on the earth.
sa cāpi keśau harirudbabarha; śuklamekamaparaṃ cāpi kṛṣṇam। tau cāpi keśau viśatāṃ yadūnāṃ; kule striyau rohiṇīṃ devakīṃ ca ॥ tayoreko baladevo babhūva; kṛṣṇo dvitīyaḥ keśavaḥ sambabhūva ॥1-189-31॥
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.
ye te pūrvaṃ śakrarūpā niruddhā; stasyāṃ daryāṃ parvatasyottarasya। ihaiva te pāṇḍavā vīryavantaḥ; śakrasya aṃśaḥ pāṇḍavaḥ savyasācī ॥1-189-32॥
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.
evamete pāṇḍavāḥ sambabhūvu; rye te rājanpūrvamindrā babhūvuḥ. lakṣmīścaiṣāṃ pūrvamevopadiṣṭā; bhāryā yaiṣā draupadī divyarūpā ॥1-189-33॥
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.
kathaṁ hi strī karmaṇo’nte mahītalā; tsamuttiṣṭhedanyato daivayogāt। yasyā rūpaṁ somasūryaprakāśaṁ; gandhaścāgryaḥ krośamātrātpravāti ॥1-189-34॥
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.
idaṃ cānyat prīti-pūrvaṃ narendra; dadāmi te varam atyadbhutaṃ ca. divyaṃ cakṣuḥ paśya kuntīsutāṃs tvaṃ; puṇyaiḥ divyaiḥ pūrvadehaiḥ upetān ॥1-189-35॥
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.
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
tato vyāsaḥ paramodārakarmā; śucirviprastapasā tasya rājñaḥ। cakṣurdivyaṃ pradadau tān saḥ sarvān; nṛājāpaśyatpūrvadehairyathāvat ॥1-189-36॥
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.
tato divyān hemakiriṭamālinaḥ; śakraprakhyān pāvakādityavarṇān। baddhāpīḍāṃś cāru rūpāṃś ca yūnō; vyūḍhoraskāṃs tālamātrān dadarśa॥1-189-37॥
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.
divyair vastrair arajobhiḥ suvarṇair mālyaiś cāgryaiḥ śobhamānān atīva। sākṣāt tryakṣān vasavo vātha divyān ādityān vā sarvaguṇopapannān॥ tān pūrvendrān evam īkṣyābhirūpān prīto rājā drupado vismitaś ca॥
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.
divyāṃ māyāṃ tām avāpyāprameyāṃ; tāṃ caivāgryāṃ śriyam iva rūpiṇīṃ ca. yogyāṃ teṣāṃ rūpa-tejo-yaśobhiḥ; patnīm ṛddhāṃ dṛṣṭavān pārthivendraḥ ॥1-189-39॥
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.
sa taddṛṣṭvā mahadāścaryarūpaṃ; jagrāha pādau satyavatyāḥ sutasya. naitaccitraṃ paramarṣe tvayīti; prasannacetāḥ sa uvāca cainam ॥1-189-40॥
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."
vyāsa uvāca॥
Vyāsa said.
āsīttapovane kācidṛṣeḥ kanyā mahātmanaḥ। nādhyagacchatpatiṃ sā tu kanyā rūpavatī satī ॥1-189-41॥
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.
toṣayāmāsa tapasā sā kilogreṇa śaṅkaram। tāmuvāceśvaraḥ prīto vṛṇu kāmamiti svayam ॥1-189-42॥
She pleased Śaṅkara (Śiva) with her severe austerities. The Lord, being pleased, personally said to her: "Ask for a boon."
saivamuktābravīt kanyā devaṃ varadam īśvaram। patiṃ sarvaguṇopetam icchāmīti punaḥ punaḥ ॥1-189-43॥
Thus addressed, the maiden repeatedly said to the god, the bestower of boons, the lord: "I wish for a husband endowed with all virtues."
dadau tasyai sa deveśas taṃ varaṃ prītimāṃs tadā। pañca te patayaḥ śreṣṭhā bhaviṣyantīti śaṅkaraḥ ॥1-189-44॥
Śaṅkara, the lord of the gods, graciously granted her the boon at that time, saying, "You will have five excellent husbands."
sā prasādayatī devam idaṃ bhūyo'bhyabhāṣata। ekaṃ patiṃ guṇopetaṃ tvatto'rhāmīti vai tadā ॥ tāṃ devadevaḥ prītātmā punaḥ prāha śubhaṃ vacaḥ ॥1-189-45॥
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.
pañcakṛtvastvayā uktaḥ patiṃ dehītyahaṃ punaḥ। tattathā bhavitā bhadre tava tadbhadramastu te ॥ dehamanyaṃ gatāyāste yathoktaṃ tadbhaviṣyati ॥1-189-46॥
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.
drupadaiṣā hi sā jajñe sutā te devarūpiṇī। pañcānāṃ vihitā patnī kṛṣṇā pārṣatyaninditā ॥1-189-47॥
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).
svargaśrīḥ pāṇḍavārthāya samutpannā mahāmakhe। seha taptvā tapo ghoraṃ duhitṛtvaṃ tavāgatā ॥1-189-48॥
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.
saiṣā devī rucirā devajuṣṭā; pañcānāmekā svakṛtena karmaṇā. sṛṣṭā svayaṃ devapatnī svayambhuvā; śrutvā rājandrupadeṣṭaṃ kuruṣva ॥1-189-49॥
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.
