02.033
Pancharatra: Instructed by Bhishma, Krishna is offered the highest honour.
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
tato'bhiṣecanīye'ahni brāhmaṇā rājabhiḥ saha। antarvedīṃ praviviśuḥ satkārārthaṃ maharṣayaḥ ॥2-33-1॥
Then, on the day appointed for the anointing, the Brāhmaṇas, together with the kings, entered the inner sacrificial ground to honor the great sages. (2-33-1)
nārada-pramukhās tasyām antarvedyāṃ mahātmanaḥ। samāsīnāḥ śuśubhire saha rājarṣibhis tadā ॥2-33-2॥
At that time, Nārada and the others, together with the royal sages, were seated on the inner platform of the great-souled one, shining brilliantly. (2-33-2)
sametā brahmabhavane devā devarṣayo yathā। karmāntaramupāsanto jajalpuramitaaujasaḥ ॥2-33-3॥
The gods and divine sages, endowed with immeasurable energy, assembled in the abode of Brahmā and, while engaged in another ritual, began to converse. (2-33-3)
idamevaṃ na cāpy evam evam etan na cānyathā। ity ūcur bahavas tatra vitaṇḍānāḥ parasparam ॥2-33-4॥
Many disputants there said to each other: "This is so, not so, also so, thus, this is not so, and not otherwise." (2-33-4)
kṛśānarthāṃs tathā kecid akṛśāṃs tatra kurvate। akṛśāṃś ca kṛśāṃś cakrur hetubhiḥ śāstra-niścitaiḥ ॥2-33-5॥
Some make lean ones as the object, likewise some make not-lean ones there; both lean and not-lean ones are made so by causes determined by śāstra. (2-33-5)
tatra medhāvinaḥ kecid artham anyaiḥ prapūritam। vicikṣipur yathā śyenā nabhogatam ivāmiṣam ॥2-33-6॥
There, some wise men disputed the meaning that had been filled in by others, just as hawks dispute over meat that has flown up into the sky. (2-33-6)
keciddharmārthasaṃyuktāḥ kathāstatra mahāvratāḥ। remire kathayantaśca sarvavedavidāṃ varāḥ ॥2-33-7॥
There, some of the great vow-holders delighted in stories connected with dharma and artha, and the best among all the knowers of the Vedas narrated them. (2-33-7)
sā vedir vedasampannair devadvijamaharṣibhiḥ। ābabhāse samākīrṇā nakṣatrair dyaur ivāmalā ॥2-33-8॥
That altar, filled with gods, Brahmins, and great sages endowed with Vedic knowledge, shone like the spotless sky filled with stars. (2-33-8)
na tasyāṃ saṃnidhau śūdraḥ kaścid āsīn na cāvrataḥ। antarvedyāṃ tadā rājan yudhiṣṭhira-niveśane ॥2-33-9॥
O king, at that time, in the residence of Yudhiṣṭhira, within the sacred enclosure, there was not a single Śūdra or anyone lacking in discipline. (2-33-9)
tāṃ tu lakṣmīvato lakṣmīṃ tadā yajñavidhānajām। tutoṣa nāradaḥ paśyan dharmarājasya dhīmataḥ ॥2-33-10॥
But Nārada, seeing Lakṣmī, the Lakṣmī of the prosperous one, then born of the arrangement of sacrifice, was pleased with the wise Dharmarāja. (2-33-10)
atha cintāṃ samāpede sa munir manujādhipa। nāradas taṃ tadā paśyan sarvakṣatrasamāgamam ॥2-33-11॥
Then the sage, the king of men, became absorbed in thought. At that time, Nārada, seeing him and the gathering of all the kṣatriyas, (spoke). (2-33-11)
sasmāra ca purāvṛttāṃ kathāṃ tāṃ bharatarṣabha। aṃśāvataraṇe yāsau brahmaṇo bhavane'bhavat ॥2-33-12॥
O best of the Bharatas, he remembered that ancient story which had happened in the abode of Brahmā at the time of the partial descent. (2-33-12)
devānāṃ saṅgamaṃ taṃ tu vijñāya kurunandana। nāradaḥ puṇḍarīkākṣaṃ sasmāra manasā harim ॥2-33-13॥
O Kurunandana, having understood that assembly of the gods, Nārada remembered Hari, the lotus-eyed one, with his mind. (2-33-13)
sākṣāts vibudhāri-ghnaḥ kṣatre nārāyaṇo vibhuḥ। pratijñāṃ pālayan dhīmān jātaḥ parapurañjayaḥ ॥2-33-14॥
He, who is directly Nārāyaṇa, the all-pervading destroyer of the enemies of the gods, was born in the warrior class as a wise one, upholding his vow and conquering enemy cities. (2-33-14)
saṃdideśa purā yo'sau vibudhān bhūtakṛt svayam। anyonyam abhinighnantaḥ punar lokān avāpsyatha ॥2-33-15॥
He who once instructed, that very creator of beings himself, the wise ones, as you strike each other, you will again attain the worlds. (2-33-15)
iti nārāyaṇaḥ śambhur bhagavāñ jagataḥ prabhuḥ। ādiśya vibudhān sarvān ajāyata yadu-kṣaye ॥2-33-16॥
Thus, Nārāyaṇa, Śambhu, the Lord and master of the world, after instructing all the gods, was born at the time of the destruction of the Yadus. (2-33-16)
kṣitāv-andhaka-vṛṣṇīnām vaṃśe vaṃśabhṛtāṃ varaḥ। parayā śuśubhe lakṣmyā nakṣatrāṇām iva oḍurāṭ॥2-33-17॥
On earth, in the line of the Andhakas and Vṛṣṇis, the best among the upholders of the lineage shone with supreme splendor, just as the moon shines among the stars. (2-33-17)
yasya bāhubalaṃ sendrāḥ surāḥ sarva upāsate। so'yaṃ mānuṣavannāma harirāste'rimardanaḥ ॥2-33-18॥
He whose arm strength is worshipped by all the gods along with Indra—this Hari, called by that name, dwells here like a human, the destroyer of enemies. (2-33-18)
aho bata mahadbhūtaṃ svayambhūryadidaṃ svayam। ādāsyati punaḥ kṣatramevaṃ balasamanvitam ॥2-33-19॥
Indeed, what a great wonder! The self-born Brahmā himself will once again restore the kṣatriya race, endowed with strength. (2-33-19)
ityetāṃ nāradaścintāṃ cintayāmāsa dharmavit। hariṃ nārāyaṇaṃ jñātvā yajñairīḍyaṃ tamīśvaram ॥2-33-20॥
Thus, Nārada, the knower of dharma, pondered this thought. Realizing Hari, Nārāyaṇa, the Lord who is worthy of praise through sacrifices. (2-33-20)
tasmin dharmavidāṃ śreṣṭho dharmarājasya dhīmataḥ। mahādhvare mahābuddhis tasthau sa bahumānataḥ ॥2-33-21॥
There, the foremost among the knowers of dharma, the wise Dharmarāja, stood at the great sacrifice with great respect. (2-33-21)
tato bhīṣmo'bravīdrājan dharmarājaṃ yudhiṣṭhiram। kriyatāmarhaṇaṃ rājñāṃ yathārhamiti bhārata ॥2-33-22॥
Then Bhīṣma said to King Yudhiṣṭhira, the Dharmarāja: "Let the honoring of the kings be performed as is appropriate," O Bhārata. (2-33-22)
ācāryam ṛtvijaṃ caiva saṃyuktaṃ ca yudhiṣṭhira। snātakaṃ ca priyaṃ cāhuḥ ṣaḍarghyārhān nṛpaṃ tathā॥2-33-23॥
They say that the teacher, the priest, one who has completed studies, a dear one, the king, and one who is associated (with these), O Yudhishthira, are the six persons worthy of receiving arghya. (2-33-23)
etānarhānabhigatānāhuḥ saṃvatsaroṣitān। ta ime kālapūgasya mahato'smānupāgatāḥ ॥2-33-24॥
They said, "These worthy ones who have arrived have dwelt for a year. These, from the great group of time, have now come to us." (2-33-24)
eṣāmekāikaśo rājannarghyamānīyatāmiti. atha caiṣāṃ variṣṭhāya samarthāyopanīyatām ॥2-33-25॥
O king, let the arghya offering be brought for each of these, one by one. Then, let it be presented to the most eminent and capable among them. (2-33-25)
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhishthira said.
kasmai bhavān manyate'rgham ekasmai kurunandana। upanīyamānaṃ yuktaṃ ca tan me brūhi pitāmaha ॥2-33-26॥
O grandsire, to whom do you think the offering should be given, O joy of the Kurus? Please tell me what is proper regarding the offering being brought.
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
tato bhīṣmaḥ śāntanavo buddhyā niścitya bhārata। vārṣṇeyaṃ manyate kṛṣṇamarhaṇīyatamaṃ bhuvi ॥2-33-27॥
Then Bhishma, son of Shantanu, after careful consideration, O Bharata, regarded Krishna, the descendant of Vrishni, as the most worthy of worship on earth. (2-33-27)
eṣa hy eṣāṃ sametānāṃ tejobalaparākramaiḥ। madhye tapann ivābhāti jyotiṣām iva bhāskaraḥ ॥2-33-28॥
He, indeed, among all these assembled warriors, by his splendor, strength, and valor, shines in the midst like the sun among the luminaries. (2-33-28)
asūryam iva sūryeṇa nivātam iva vāyunā। bhāsitaṃ hlāditaṃ caiva kṛṣṇenedaṃ sado hi naḥ ॥2-33-29॥
Just as a place without sunlight is illuminated by the sun and a place without wind is refreshed by the wind, so too has this assembly truly been brightened and gladdened by Kṛṣṇa for us. (2-33-29)
tasmai bhīṣmābhyanujñātaḥ sahadevaḥ pratāpavān। upajahre'tha vidhivad-vārṣṇeyāyārghyamuttamam ॥2-33-30॥
Then, with Bhīṣma's permission, the mighty Sahadeva duly offered the highest mark of respect to Kṛṣṇa, the descendant of Vṛṣṇi. (2-33-30)
pratijagrāha tatkṛṣṇaḥ śāstradṛṣṭena karmaṇā| śiśupālastu tāṃ pūjāṃ vāsudeve na cakṣame ॥2-33-31॥
Kṛṣṇa accepted it according to the prescribed rites of the śāstra, but Śiśupāla could not tolerate that honor being given to Vāsudeva. (2-33-31)
sa upālabhya bhīṣmaṃ ca dharmarājaṃ ca saṃsadi| apākṣipad vāsudevaṃ cedirājo mahābalaḥ ||2-33-32||
He, the mighty king of Chedi, after reproaching Bhishma and Dharmaraja in the assembly, also censured Vasudeva. (2-33-32)
