02.012
Core-Pancharatra: Yudhisthira finally asks Krishna for his opinion on Rajasuya.
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
ṛṣes tad vacanaṃ śrutvā niśaśvāsa yudhiṣṭhiraḥ। cintayan rājasūyāptiṃ na lebhe śarma bhārata ॥2-12-1॥
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)
rājarṣīṇāṃ hi taṃ śrutvā mahimānaṃ mahātmanām। yajvanāṃ karmabhiḥ puṇyair lokaprāptiṃ samīkṣya ca ॥2-12-2॥
Indeed, upon hearing of the greatness of the royal sages and observing how the sacrificers attained worlds through their meritorious deeds, (2-12-2)
hariścandraṃ ca rājarṣiṃ rocamānaṃ viśeṣataḥ। yajvānaṃ yajñam āhartuṃ rājasūyam iyeṣa saḥ ॥2-12-3॥
Hariścandra, the illustrious royal sage and sacrificer, especially shone forth, desiring to perform the Rājasūya sacrifice. (2-12-3)
yudhiṣṭhiras tataḥ sarvān arcayitvā sabhāsadaḥ। pratyarcitaś ca taiḥ sarvaiḥ yajñāyaiva mano dadhe ॥2-12-4॥
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)
sa rājasūyaṃ rājendra kurūṇāmṛṣabhaḥ kratum। āhartuṃ pravaṇaṃ cakre manaḥ sañcintya so'sakṛt ॥2-12-5॥
O king, the chief of the Kurus, having repeatedly considered in his mind, resolved to perform the Rājasūya sacrifice. (2-12-5)
bhūyaścādbhutavīryaujā dharmamevānupālayan। kiṃ hitaṃ sarvalokānāṃ bhavediti mano dadhe ॥2-12-6॥
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)
anugṛhṇanprajāḥ sarvāḥ sarvadharmavidāṃ varaḥ। aviśeṣeṇa sarveṣāṃ hitaṃ cakre yudhiṣṭhiraḥ ॥2-12-7॥
Yudhishthira, the foremost among all knowers of dharma, favored all his subjects equally and worked for the welfare of everyone. (2-12-7)
evaṃ gate tatas tasmin pitarīvāśvasañjanāḥ। na tasya vidyate dveṣṭā tato'syājātaśatrutā ॥2-12-8॥
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)
sa mantriṇaḥ samānāyya bhrātṝṁś ca vadatāṁ varaḥ। rājasūyaṁ prati tadā punaḥ punarapṛcchata ॥2-12-9॥
He, the best among speakers, gathered the ministers and his brothers and repeatedly asked them about the Rājasūya sacrifice. (2-12-9)
te pṛcchyamānāḥ sahitā vaco'rthyaṃ mantriṇas tadā। yudhiṣṭhiraṃ mahāprājñaṃ yiyakṣum idam abruvan ॥2-12-10॥
Then, the ministers, being asked, together addressed these meaningful words to Yudhishthira, the greatly wise, who desired to perform a sacrifice. (2-12-10)
yenābhiṣikto nṛpatir vāruṇaṃ guṇam ṛcchati। tena rājāpi saṃkṛtsnaṃ samrāḍ guṇam abhīpsati ॥2-12-11॥
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)
tasya samrāḍ-guṇārhasya bhavataḥ kurunandana। rājasūyasya samayaṃ manyante suhṛdas-tava ॥2-12-12॥
O Kurunandana, your friends consider that the time for the Rājasūya sacrifice, worthy of an emperor like you, has come. (2-12-12)
tasya yajñasya samayaḥ svādhīnaḥ kṣatrasampadā। sāmnā ṣaḍagnayo yasmiṁścīyante saṁśitavrataiḥ ॥2-12-13॥
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)
darvī-homān-upādāya sarvān yaḥ prāpnute kratūn | abhiṣekaṃ ca yajñānte sarva-jit tena ca ucyate ||2-12-14||
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)
samartho'si mahābāho sarve te vaśagā vayam। avicārya mahārāja rājasūye manaḥ kuru ॥2-12-15॥
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)
ityevaṃ suhṛdaḥ sarve pṛthak ca saha ca abruvan। sa dharmyaṃ pāṇḍavaḥ teṣām vacaḥ śrutvā viśāṃ pate ॥ dhṛṣṭam iṣṭam variṣṭham ca jagrāha manasā ari-hā ॥2-12-16॥
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)
śrutvā suhṛd-vacas-tac ca jānan ca api ātmanaḥ kṣamam। punaḥ punaḥ manaḥ dadhre rājasūyāya bhārata ॥2-12-17॥
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)
sa bhrātṛbhiḥ punar dhīmān ṛtvigbhiś ca mahātmabhiḥ। dhaumyadvaipāyanādyaiś ca mantrayāmāsa mantribhiḥ ॥2-12-18॥
He, being wise, again consulted with his brothers, the officiating priests, the great souls, Dhaumya, Vaipāyana and others, and the ministers. (2-12-18)
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
iyaṃ yā rājasūyasya samrāḍarhasya sukratoḥ। śraddadhānasya vadataḥ spṛhā me sā kathaṃ bhavet ॥2-12-19॥
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)
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
evam-uktās tu te tena rājñā rājīvalocana। idam ūcur vacaḥ kāle dharmātmānaṃ yudhiṣṭhiram ॥ arhās tvam asi dharmajña rājasūyaṃ mahākratum ॥2-12-20॥
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)
athaivamukte nṛpatāvṛtvigbhirṛṣibhistathā। mantriṇo bhrātaraścāsya tadvacaḥ pratyapūjayan ॥2-12-21॥
After these words were spoken by the king, the priests, and the sages, the ministers and his brothers honored his statement. (2-12-21)
sa tu rājā mahāprājñaḥ punarevātmānātmavān। bhūyo vimamṛśe pārtho lokānāṃ hitakāmyayā ॥2-12-22॥
But that greatly wise king, self-possessed, Arjuna, again reflected by himself, desiring the welfare of the worlds. (2-12-22)
sāmarthyayogaṃ samprekṣya deśakālau vyayāgamau। vimṛśya samyak ca dhiyā kurvan prājño na sīdati ॥2-12-23॥
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)
na hi yajñasamārambhaḥ kevalātmavipattaye। bhavatīti samājñāya yatnataḥ kāryamudvahan ॥2-12-24॥
The commencement of sacrifice is certainly not meant solely for self-destruction. Understanding this, one should diligently perform one's duty. (2-12-24)
sa niścayārthaṃ kāryasya kṛṣṇam eva janārdanam। sarvalokāt paraṃ matvā jagāma manasā harim ॥2-12-25॥
He, having considered Kṛṣṇa, Janārdana, as the supreme above all worlds for the purpose of deciding the task, mentally approached Hari. (2-12-25)
aprameyaṃ mahābāhuṃ kāmājjātamajaṃ nṛṣu। pāṇḍavastarkayāmāsa karmabhirdevasammitaiḥ ॥2-12-26॥
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)
nāsya kiñcid avijñātaṃ nāsya kiñcid akarmajam। na sa kiñcin na viṣahed iti kṛṣṇam amanyata ॥2-12-27॥
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)
sa tu tāṃ naiṣṭhikīṃ buddhiṃ kṛtvā pārtho yudhiṣṭhiraḥ। guruvadbhūtagurave prāhiṇoddūtamañjasā ॥2-12-28॥
But having made that firm resolve, Pārtha Yudhiṣṭhira sent a messenger directly to the teacher who had become like a guru. (2-12-28)
śīghragena rathenāśu sa dūtaḥ prāpya yādavān। dvārakāvāsinaṃ kṛṣṇaṃ dvāravatyāṃ samāsadat ॥2-12-29॥
The messenger, traveling quickly by a swift chariot, reached the Yādavas and approached Kṛṣṇa, the Dwārakā-dweller, in Dvāravatī. (2-12-29)
darśanākāṅkṣiṇaṃ pārthaṃ darśanākāṅkṣayācyutaḥ। indrasenena sahita indraprasthaṃ yayau tadā ॥2-12-30॥
At that time, Acyuta, longing to see Pārtha, went to Indraprastha together with Indrasena. (2-12-30)
vyatītya vividhān deśāṃs tvarāvān kṣipravāhanaḥ। indraprasthagataṃ pārtham abhyagacchaj janārdanaḥ ॥2-12-31॥
Janārdana (Kṛṣṇa), swift and with a fast vehicle, crossed various regions and went to meet Pārtha (Arjuna) who was at Indraprastha. (2-12-31)
sa gṛhe bhrātṛvadbhrātrā dharmarājena pūjitaḥ। bhīmena ca tato'paśyatsvasāraṃ prītimānpituḥ ॥2-12-32॥
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)
prītaḥ priyeṇa suhṛdā reme sa sahitastadā। arjunena yamābhyāṃ ca guruvatparyupasthitaḥ ॥2-12-33॥
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)
taṃ viśrāntaṃ śubhe deśe kṣaṇinaṃ kalyamacyutam। dharmarājaḥ samāgamya jñāpayatsvaṃ prayojanam ॥2-12-34॥
When Acyuta had rested for a moment in the auspicious place, Dharmaraja approached and informed him of his purpose. (2-12-34)
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
prārthito rājasūyo me na cāsau kevalepsayā। prāpyate yena tatte ha viditaṃ kṛṣṇa sarvaśaḥ ॥2-12-35॥
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)
yasmin sarvaṃ sambhavati yaś ca sarvatra pūjyate। yaś ca sarveśvaro rājā rājasūyaṃ sa vindati॥2-12-36॥
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)
taṃ rājasūyaṃ suhṛdaḥ kāryam āhuḥ sametya me. tatra me niśchitatamaṃ tava kṛṣṇa girā bhavet. ॥2-12-37॥
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)
keciddhi sauhṛdādeva doṣaṃ na paricakṣate। arthaphetostathaivānye priyameva vadantyuta ॥2-12-38॥
Some, out of friendship, do not see any fault; others, for the sake of gain, likewise speak only what is pleasant. (2-12-38)
priyam eva parīpsante kecid ātmani yad dhitam। evam-prāyāś ca dṛśyante janavādāḥ prayojane ॥2-12-39॥
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)
tvaṃ tu hetūnatītyaitānkāmakrodhau vyatītya ca। paramaṃ naḥ kṣamaṃ loke yathāvad vaktum arhasi ॥2-12-40॥
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)
