02.012
Core-Pancharatra: Yudhisthira finally asks Krishna for his opinion on Rajasuya.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
ऋषेस्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा निशश्वास युधिष्ठिरः। चिन्तयन्राजसूयाप्तिं न लेभे शर्म भारत ॥२-१२-१॥
O Bhārata, having heard the sage's words, Yudhishthira sighed and, thinking about the attainment of the Rājasūya sacrifice, found no peace. (2-12-1)
राजर्षीणां हि तं श्रुत्वा महिमानं महात्मनाम्। यज्वनां कर्मभिः पुण्यैर्लोकप्राप्तिं समीक्ष्य च ॥२-१२-२॥
Indeed, upon hearing of the greatness of the royal sages and observing how the sacrificers attained worlds through their meritorious deeds, (2-12-2)
हरिश्चन्द्रं च राजर्षिं रोचमानं विशेषतः। यज्वानं यज्ञमाहर्तुं राजसूयमियेष सः ॥२-१२-३॥
Hariścandra, the illustrious royal sage and sacrificer, especially shone forth, desiring to perform the Rājasūya sacrifice. (2-12-3)
युधिष्ठिरस्ततः सर्वानर्चयित्वा सभासदः। प्रत्यर्चितश्च तैः सर्वैर्यज्ञायैव मनो दधे ॥२-१२-४॥
Then Yudhishthira, after honoring all the assembly members and being honored by them in return, devoted his mind solely to the sacrifice. (2-12-4)
स राजसूयं राजेन्द्र कुरूणामृषभः क्रतुम्। आहर्तुं प्रवणं चक्रे मनः सञ्चिन्त्य सोऽसकृत् ॥२-१२-५॥
O king, the chief of the Kurus, having repeatedly considered in his mind, resolved to perform the Rājasūya sacrifice. (2-12-5)
भूयश्चाद्भुतवीर्यौजा धर्ममेवानुपालयन्। किं हितं सर्वलोकानां भवेदिति मनो दधे ॥२-१२-६॥
Again, endowed with wondrous strength and energy, and devoted solely to dharma, he set his mind to the thought: "What would be beneficial for all beings?" (2-12-6)
अनुगृह्णन्प्रजाः सर्वाः सर्वधर्मविदां वरः। अविशेषेण सर्वेषां हितं चक्रे युधिष्ठिरः ॥२-१२-७॥
Yudhishthira, the foremost among all knowers of dharma, favored all his subjects equally and worked for the welfare of everyone. (2-12-7)
एवं गते ततस्तस्मिन्पितरीवाश्वसञ्जनाः। न तस्य विद्यते द्वेष्टा ततोऽस्याजातशत्रुता ॥२-१२-८॥
Thus, when that happened, then, just as in a father, those around him became comforting. He has no one who hates him; therefore, he is one whose enemies are unborn. (2-12-8)
स मन्त्रिणः समानाय्य भ्रातॄंश्च वदतां वरः। राजसूयं प्रति तदा पुनः पुनरपृच्छत ॥२-१२-९॥
He, the best among speakers, gathered the ministers and his brothers and repeatedly asked them about the Rājasūya sacrifice. (2-12-9)
ते पृच्छ्यमानाः सहिता वचोऽर्थ्यं मन्त्रिणस्तदा। युधिष्ठिरं महाप्राज्ञं यियक्षुमिदमब्रुवन् ॥२-१२-१०॥
Then, the ministers, being asked, together addressed these meaningful words to Yudhishthira, the greatly wise, who desired to perform a sacrifice. (2-12-10)
येनाभिषिक्तो नृपतिर्वारुणं गुणमृच्छति। तेन राजापि सन्कृत्स्नं सम्राड्गुणमभीप्सति ॥२-१२-११॥
The king who is anointed by him attains the quality of Varuṇa; by that same person, even an emperor desires to possess all those qualities. (2-12-11)
तस्य सम्राड्गुणार्हस्य भवतः कुरुनन्दन। राजसूयस्य समयं मन्यन्ते सुहृदस्तव ॥२-१२-१२॥
O Kurunandana, your friends consider that the time for the Rājasūya sacrifice, worthy of an emperor like you, has come. (2-12-12)
तस्य यज्ञस्य समयः स्वाधीनः क्षत्रसम्पदा। साम्ना षडग्नयो यस्मिंश्चीयन्ते संशितव्रतैः ॥२-१२-१३॥
The time of his sacrifice is under his own control through the wealth of the kṣatriya; by the chanting of the Sāman, the six fires in which are increased by those who have firm vows. (2-12-13)
दर्वीहोमानुपादाय सर्वान्यः प्राप्नुते क्रतून्। अभिषेकं च यज्ञान्ते सर्वजित्तेन चोच्यते ॥२-१२-१४॥
Whoever, having taken the ladle for oblations, obtains all the sacrifices and the anointing at the end of the sacrifice, is called 'the conqueror of all'. (2-12-14)
समर्थोऽसि महाबाहो सर्वे ते वशगा वयम्। अविचार्य महाराज राजसूये मनः कुरु ॥२-१२-१५॥
You are capable, O mighty-armed one; we are all under your command. O great king, decide your mind about the Rājasūya sacrifice without hesitation. (2-12-15)
इत्येवं सुहृदः सर्वे पृथक्च सह चाब्रुवन्। स धर्म्यं पाण्डवस्तेषां वचः श्रुत्वा विशां पते ॥ धृष्टमिष्टं वरिष्ठं च जग्राह मनसारिहा ॥२-१२-१६॥
Thus, all the friends, both individually and together, spoke in this manner. The Pāṇḍava, having heard their righteous words, O lord of men, accepted with his mind what was bold, desirable, and excellent, O destroyer of enemies. (2-12-16)
श्रुत्वा सुहृद्वचस्तच्च जानंश्चाप्यात्मनः क्षमम्। पुनः पुनर्मनो दध्रे राजसूयाय भारत ॥२-१२-१७॥
O Bhārata, having listened to his friend's words and knowing his own ability, he repeatedly set his mind on the Rājasūya sacrifice. (2-12-17)
स भ्रातृभिः पुनर्धीमानृत्विग्भिश्च महात्मभिः। धौम्यद्वैपायनाद्यैश्च मन्त्रयामास मन्त्रिभिः ॥२-१२-१८॥
He, being wise, again consulted with his brothers, the officiating priests, the great souls, Dhaumya, Vaipāyana and others, and the ministers. (2-12-18)
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
इयं या राजसूयस्य सम्राडर्हस्य सुक्रतोः। श्रद्दधानस्य वदतः स्पृहा मे सा कथं भवेत् ॥२-१२-१९॥
How could I have that desire which belongs to the rājasūya, the worthy emperor, the well-doer, the faithful, and the one who speaks? (2-12-19)
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
एवमुक्तास्तु ते तेन राज्ञा राजीवलोचन। इदमूचुर्वचः काले धर्मात्मानं युधिष्ठिरम् ॥ अर्हस्त्वमसि धर्मज्ञ राजसूयं महाक्रतुम् ॥२-१२-२०॥
O lotus-eyed one, thus addressed by the king, they spoke these words at the proper time to the righteous Yudhishthira: "You are indeed worthy, O knower of dharma, to perform the great Rājasūya sacrifice." (2-12-20)
अथैवमुक्ते नृपतावृत्विग्भिरृषिभिस्तथा। मन्त्रिणो भ्रातरश्चास्य तद्वचः प्रत्यपूजयन् ॥२-१२-२१॥
After these words were spoken by the king, the priests, and the sages, the ministers and his brothers honored his statement. (2-12-21)
स तु राजा महाप्राज्ञः पुनरेवात्मनात्मवान्। भूयो विममृशे पार्थो लोकानां हितकाम्यया ॥२-१२-२२॥
But that greatly wise king, self-possessed, Arjuna, again reflected by himself, desiring the welfare of the worlds. (2-12-22)
सामर्थ्ययोगं सम्प्रेक्ष्य देशकालौ व्ययागमौ। विमृश्य सम्यक्च धिया कुर्वन्प्राज्ञो न सीदति ॥२-१२-२३॥
A wise person, having properly considered capability, place and time, expenditure and income, and having deliberated with intellect, does not fall into distress. (2-12-23)
न हि यज्ञसमारम्भः केवलात्मविपत्तये। भवतीति समाज्ञाय यत्नतः कार्यमुद्वहन् ॥२-१२-२४॥
The commencement of sacrifice is certainly not meant solely for self-destruction. Understanding this, one should diligently perform one's duty. (2-12-24)
स निश्चयार्थं कार्यस्य कृष्णमेव जनार्दनम्। सर्वलोकात्परं मत्वा जगाम मनसा हरिम् ॥२-१२-२५॥
He, having considered Kṛṣṇa, Janārdana, as the supreme above all worlds for the purpose of deciding the task, mentally approached Hari. (2-12-25)
अप्रमेयं महाबाहुं कामाज्जातमजं नृषु। पाण्डवस्तर्कयामास कर्मभिर्देवसंमितैः ॥२-१२-२६॥
The Pāṇḍava considered him, who is immeasurable, mighty-armed, born from desire yet unborn among men, as one whose actions are equal to the gods. (2-12-26)
नास्य किञ्चिदविज्ञातं नास्य किञ्चिदकर्मजम्। न स किञ्चिन्न विषहेदिति कृष्णममन्यत ॥२-१२-२७॥
There was nothing unknown to him, nor anything not produced by action. He thought that there was nothing Kṛṣṇa could not endure. (2-12-27)
स तु तां नैष्ठिकीं बुद्धिं कृत्वा पार्थो युधिष्ठिरः। गुरुवद्भूतगुरवे प्राहिणोद्दूतमञ्जसा ॥२-१२-२८॥
But having made that firm resolve, Pārtha Yudhiṣṭhira sent a messenger directly to the teacher who had become like a guru. (2-12-28)
शीघ्रगेन रथेनाशु स दूतः प्राप्य यादवान्। द्वारकावासिनं कृष्णं द्वारवत्यां समासदत् ॥२-१२-२९॥
The messenger, traveling quickly by a swift chariot, reached the Yādavas and approached Kṛṣṇa, the Dwārakā-dweller, in Dvāravatī. (2-12-29)
दर्शनाकाङ्क्षिणं पार्थं दर्शनाकाङ्क्षयाच्युतः। इन्द्रसेनेन सहित इन्द्रप्रस्थं ययौ तदा ॥२-१२-३०॥
At that time, Acyuta, longing to see Pārtha, went to Indraprastha together with Indrasena. (2-12-30)
व्यतीत्य विविधान्देशांस्त्वरावान्क्षिप्रवाहनः। इन्द्रप्रस्थगतं पार्थमभ्यगच्छज्जनार्दनः ॥२-१२-३१॥
Janārdana (Kṛṣṇa), swift and with a fast vehicle, crossed various regions and went to meet Pārtha (Arjuna) who was at Indraprastha. (2-12-31)
स गृहे भ्रातृवद्भ्रात्रा धर्मराजेन पूजितः। भीमेन च ततोऽपश्यत्स्वसारं प्रीतिमान्पितुः ॥२-१२-३२॥
He was honored in the house by Dharmarāja like a brother, and then the affectionate son of his father saw his sister, along with Bhīma. (2-12-32)
प्रीतः प्रियेण सुहृदा रेमे स सहितस्तदा। अर्जुनेन यमाभ्यां च गुरुवत्पर्युपस्थितः ॥२-१२-३३॥
He, pleased by his beloved friend, delighted in their company at that time, attended by Arjuna and the two Yamas, as if he were a teacher. (2-12-33)
तं विश्रान्तं शुभे देशे क्षणिनं कल्यमच्युतम्। धर्मराजः समागम्य ज्ञापयत्स्वं प्रयोजनम् ॥२-१२-३४॥
When Acyuta had rested for a moment in the auspicious place, Dharmaraja approached and informed him of his purpose. (2-12-34)
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
प्रार्थितो राजसूयो मे न चासौ केवलेप्सया। प्राप्यते येन तत्ते ह विदितं कृष्ण सर्वशः ॥२-१२-३५॥
I requested the Rājasūya sacrifice, not out of mere desire. O Kṛṣṇa, you know in every way by what means it is attained. (2-12-35)
यस्मिन्सर्वं सम्भवति यश्च सर्वत्र पूज्यते। यश्च सर्वेश्वरो राजा राजसूयं स विन्दति ॥२-१२-३६॥
He in whom everything arises, who is worshipped everywhere, and who, as the lord of all and king, attains the Rājasūya consecration. (2-12-36)
तं राजसूयं सुहृदः कार्यमाहुः समेत्य मे। तत्र मे निश्चिततमं तव कृष्ण गिरा भवेत् ॥२-१२-३७॥
My friends, having assembled, say that the Rājasūya sacrifice should be performed by him. In this matter, O Kṛṣṇa, let your words be the most decisive for me. (2-12-37)
केचिद्धि सौहृदादेव दोषं न परिचक्षते। अर्थहेतोस्तथैवान्ये प्रियमेव वदन्त्युत ॥२-१२-३८॥
Some, out of friendship, do not see any fault; others, for the sake of gain, likewise speak only what is pleasant. (2-12-38)
प्रियमेव परीप्सन्ते केचिदात्मनि यद्धितम्। एवम्प्रायाश्च दृश्यन्ते जनवादाः प्रयोजने ॥२-१२-३९॥
Some people seek only what is dear and beneficial to themselves; thus, public opinions are generally observed to be based on self-interest. (2-12-39)
त्वं तु हेतूनतीत्यैतान्कामक्रोधौ व्यतीत्य च। परमं नः क्षमं लोके यथावद्वक्तुमर्हसि ॥२-१२-४०॥
But you, having transcended these causes and having overcome desire and anger, are truly worthy to tell us in this world what is supremely proper, as it is. (2-12-40)
