03.013
Core-Pancharatra: Krishna and Arjuna are Nara and Narayana.
Vaiśampāyana said.
When the Bhojas heard of the exile, the Vṛṣṇis along with the Andhakas came together to the sorrow-stricken Pāṇḍavas in the great forest. (3-13-1)
The heirs of the Pāñcāla, Dhṛṣṭaketu, the king of the Cedis, the Kekayas, and the renowned brothers of great strength, all famous throughout the world, (3-13-2).
In the forest, they approached the sons of Pṛthā, filled with anger and indignation, blaming the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, and said, "What should we do?" (3-13-3)
Having honored Vāsudeva at the forefront, all those foremost among the kṣatriyas surrounded and sat near Dharmarāja Yudhiṣṭhira. (3-13-4)
Vāsudeva said.
The earth will drink the blood of Duryodhana, Karṇa, Śakuni the evil-minded, Duḥśāsana, and the fourth one. (3-13-5)
Then let us all anoint Yudhishthira, the king of dharma. To serve by deceit is to be slain; this is the eternal dharma. (3-13-6)
Vaiśampāyana said.
When Janārdana (Kṛṣṇa) became angry due to the attack on the sons of Pṛthā, Arjuna began to pacify him, as if he was about to burn all creatures. (3-13-7)
When Phalguna saw Keśava greatly angered in his previous forms, he began to recount the deeds of the great-souled Satyakīrti. (3-13-8)
Of the person who is immeasurable, true, of infinite radiance; of the lord of Prajāpati, of Viṣṇu, of the lord of the worlds, of the wise. (3-13-9)
Arjuna said.
O Kṛṣṇa, formerly, you wandered for ten thousand years together with the evening-dwelling sage on Mount Gandhamādana. (3-13-10)
O Kṛṣṇa, formerly, you dwelt in the Puṣkaras for ten thousand years and ten hundred years, subsisting on water. (3-13-11)
O Madhusūdana, in Viśālā, at Badarī, he stood with arms raised, on one foot, subsisting only on air, for a hundred years. (3-13-12)
Kṛṣṇa, who was thin, with his upper body withdrawn and veins visible, was present on the Sarasvatī river during the twelve-year sacrificial session. (3-13-13)
Kṛṣṇa, of great brilliance, having reached Prabhāsa, the holy place suitable for the virtuous, thus performed divine austerity for a thousand years, standing on one foot in strict discipline. (3-13-14)
O Keśava, you are the knower of the field of all beings, the origin and the end; O Kṛṣṇa, you are the abode of austerities, the sacrifice, and the eternal one. (3-13-15)
O Kṛṣṇa, after killing Naraka, the son of Bhūmi, and bringing the jeweled earrings, you released the sacred horse that was first produced. (3-13-16)
Having performed that deed, O chief among the worlds and conqueror of all worlds, you slew in battle all the assembled Daityas and Dānavas. (3-13-17)
Then, having given the lordship over all to Indra, you, O mighty-armed Keśava, have manifested among men. (3-13-18)
You, O scorcher of foes, having become Nārāyaṇa, were Hari; you are also Brahmā, Soma, Sūrya, Dharma, Dhātā, Yama, and Anala. (3-13-19)
You are the wind, Vaiśravaṇa, Rudra, time, sky, earth, directions, the unborn, the teacher of moving and unmoving beings, the creator—O Supreme Person. (3-13-20)
O Kṛṣṇa, in the Caitraratha forest, you were indeed worshipped by Turāyaṇa and others, O god, with sacrifices accompanied by abundant gifts, O one of great splendor. (3-13-21)
O Janārdana, in each sacrifice at that time, there were hundreds of hundreds of thousands of pieces of gold, each portion being completely filled. (3-13-22)
O Yādava-nandana, you are also known on earth as Viṣṇu, the younger brother of Indra, having become the son of Aditi. (3-13-23)
O Kṛṣṇa, having assumed the form of a child, you traversed heaven, sky, and earth in three strides by your brilliance, O scorcher of foes. (3-13-24)
Having reached heaven and space, and having taken his place in the abode of the sun, he shone brilliantly; O soul of beings, the sun shone with his own radiance. (3-13-25)
The nooses of Mura were destroyed, Nisunda and Naraka were slain. Safety was restored, and once again the way to the city of Prāgjyotiṣa was opened. (3-13-26)
In the city of Jārūthya, Āhuti, Krātha, Śiśupāla along with their people, as well as Bhīmasena, Śaibya, and Śatadhanvā, were defeated. (3-13-27)
Thus, with a chariot resounding like thunder and shining with the brilliance of the sun, you brought down the queen for enjoyment, having conquered Rukmin in battle. (3-13-28)
Indradyumna was killed; out of anger, Yavana and Kaśerumān were also killed; the lord of Saubha, Śālva, was killed by you, and the Saubha (aerial city) was brought down as well. (3-13-29)
In Irāvatī, likewise, Bhoja—who was equal to Kārtavīrya in battle—and Gopati and Tālaketu, both were slain by you. (3-13-30)
O Janardana, having made Dvaraka, the auspicious and enjoyment-filled city beloved of the sages, your own, you will cause the ocean to move. (3-13-31)
O Madhusūdana, in you, O descendant of Daśārha, there is no anger, nor envy, nor falsehood; there is not even cruelty, so how could there be dishonesty? (3-13-32)
O Acyuta, seated in the center of the mind and shining with your own brilliance, all the sages approached you and requested fearlessness. (3-13-33)
O scorcher of foes, at the end of the age, O slayer of Madhu, having withdrawn all beings and having absorbed the world into the Self, He remains in the Self. (3-13-34)
Neither those before nor those after will perform the deeds you have done, O divine one, you, even as a child, O greatly radiant one. (3-13-35)
O lotus-eyed one, having accomplished (your task), with the help of Baladeva, you also dwelt together with Brahmā in the palace of Virāja. (3-13-36)
Vaiśampāyana said.
Having thus spoken about that self, the son of Pāṇḍu, who is the self of Kṛṣṇa, remained silent; then Janārdana spoke to Pārtha. (3-13-37)
You are truly mine, and I am truly yours; those who belong to me are indeed yours; whoever hates you, hates me; whoever follows you, follows me. (3-13-38)
You are Nara, the unconquerable; I am indeed Hari, Nārāyaṇa. From world to world, we, the sages Nara and Nārāyaṇa, have arrived in this world. (3-13-39)
O Pārtha, you are not different from me, nor am I different from you, O Bhārata. It is not possible to know any difference between us two, O best of the Bharatas. (3-13-40)
In that assembly of heroes, among the enraged kings, she was then surrounded by heroes led by Dhṛṣṭadyumna and her brothers. (3-13-41)
Pāñcālī, Draupadī, approached the lotus-eyed Kṛṣṇa, who was seated with the Yādavas, and, seeking refuge, spoke to him as her protector. (3-13-42)
In ancient times, at the beginning of creation, Asita and Devala declared you to be the sole lord of creatures, the creator of all beings. (3-13-43)
You are Viṣṇu, the unconquerable, you are the sacrifice, O Madhusūdana. You are the sacrificer and the one to whom sacrifice is offered, as the descendant of Jamadagni has said. (3-13-44)
O best of men, sages have called you forbearance and truth; from truth, sacrifice has arisen, as Kaśyapa has said to you. (3-13-45)
O lord of lords, creator of the worlds, lord of the world, as Nārada said to you, even among the Sādhyas, gods, and Vasus. (3-13-46)
O all-pervading one, your head pervades the heavens, your feet the earth; your belly comprises these worlds. You are the eternal person. (3-13-47)
O best of sages, among those who are intensely purified by knowledge and austerity, whose selves have been cultivated by austerity, and who have attained self-realization, (this is said). (3-13-48)
O best of men, you are the refuge for royal sages, for those who perform meritorious deeds, for those who do not turn back in battle, and for those endowed with all dharmas. (3-13-49)
You are the master, the all-pervading one, the earth, the self, existence, and the eternal; the guardians of the worlds, the worlds, the stars, the ten directions, the sky, the moon, and the sun—all are established in you. (3-13-50)
Mortality for beings and immortality for the dwellers of heaven—O mighty-armed one, all the work of the worlds is established in you. (3-13-51)
Out of affection, O Madhusudana, I will tell you my sorrow; you are the lord of all beings, both divine and human. (3-13-52)
O lord, how could a woman like me—Kṛṣṇa, the wife of the Pārthas, your friend, and the sister of Dhṛṣṭadyumna—be dragged into the assembly? (3-13-53)
I, a woman devoted to her duty, trembling and sprinkled with blood, wearing a single garment, have been dragged and afflicted in the assembly of the Kurus. (3-13-54)
But in the midst of the kings, in the assembly, when they saw me covered with dust, the evil-minded sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra laughed. (3-13-55)
O Madhusudana, they desire to enjoy me as a servant while the sons of Pandu, the Panchalas, and the Vrishnis are still alive. (3-13-56)
O Kṛṣṇa, am I not the daughter-in-law of both Bhīṣma and Dhṛtarāṣṭra? By righteousness I became their daughter-in-law, yet I have been made a slave-woman by force. (3-13-57)
I censure the Pāṇḍavas themselves, the foremost and mighty in battle, who merely watch as their illustrious lawful wife is tormented. (3-13-58)
Shame on the strength of Bhīmasena, shame on Pārtha among the bowmen; O Janārdana, that both of them would tolerate me being insulted by petty men. (3-13-59)
This path of dharma is eternal, always practiced by the good; even husbands of little strength protect their wives by it. (3-13-60)
When the wife is protected, the offspring is protected. When the offspring is protected, the self is protected. (3-13-61)
The self is indeed born in her; from that, a wife also comes into being. The husband is to be protected by the wife; how could a husband be born from my womb? (3-13-62)
Indeed, these never abandon those who have sought refuge; the Pāṇḍavas did not follow me, even though I had sought their refuge. (3-13-63)
These five princes, born of the five, are of immeasurable energy; I too must be protected for the sake of these, O Janardana. (3-13-64)
Prativindhya was the son of Yudhiṣṭhira; Sutasoma was the son of Bhīma; Śrutakīrti was the son of Arjuna; and Śatānīka was the son of Nakula. (3-13-65)
From the youngest, whose deeds are renowned, all are truly valiant; O Krishna, just as Pradyumna is, so are all those great chariot-warriors. (3-13-66)
Indeed, these warriors are the best archers, unconquerable in battle by their enemies; so why do they tolerate the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, who are weaker? (3-13-67)
By unrighteous means, the kingdom was taken away; all were made servants; in the assembly, I was dragged, wearing a single garment and menstruating. (3-13-68)
O Madhusudana, Gandiva cannot even be strung by anyone other than Arjuna, Bhima, or you. (3-13-69)
Disgrace to Bhīmasena's strength and to Pārtha's Gāṇḍiva, when Duryodhana is still alive even for a moment, O Kṛṣṇa. (3-13-70)
O Madhusudana, who expelled these boys, who were formerly studying and engaged in vows, together with those who harmed their mother, from the kingdom? (3-13-71)
The wicked person put freshly gathered, sharp and terrifying Kālakūṭa poison into Bhīmasena's food. (3-13-72)
O Janardana, that food was digested without change. Because of the remaining portion of Bhima's food, O mighty-armed, O best of men. (3-13-73)
Kṛṣṇa, having bound the trusting and sleeping Vṛkodara in a measuring basket, threw him into the Gaṅgā and then returned again. (3-13-74)
When the son of Kunti awoke, he broke his bonds, and the mighty-armed, powerful Bhimasena rose up. (3-13-75)
Venomous black serpents bit him while he was sleeping, but the destroyer of enemies did not die, even though he was bitten on every limb. (3-13-76)
But when awakened, the son of Kunti struck down all the serpents and killed the charioteer, his beloved, with a severed hand. (3-13-77)
Again, he watched over the sleeping children in Varanavata, as they lay together with the noble lady; who indeed is capable of doing such a thing? (3-13-78)
At that place, the noble lady, weeping and afraid, said this to the Pāṇḍavas: Afflicted by a great calamity, she was surrounded by fire. (3-13-79)
Alas! I am ruined. From where indeed today can there be peace here from this fire? Without a protector, I shall perish together with my children and sons. (3-13-80)
There, Bhīma, the mighty-armed one with the speed and prowess of the wind, comforted the noble lady and his brothers; thus did Vṛkodara. (3-13-81)
Just as Garuda, the son of Vinatā and the best among birds, so too will I swoop down; you have nothing to fear here. (3-13-82)
With the noble's left arm and the king's right, having placed the two Yamas on the shoulders and Bībhatsu (Arjuna) on the back, (they carried him). (3-13-83)
Suddenly, rising up with speed, the powerful one took all the brothers and the noble lady, and the strong one caused them to be released from the fire. (3-13-84)
That night, all the illustrious ones set out together with their mother and approached the great forest near the Hiḍimba woods. (3-13-85)
These, tired and fast asleep, were there with their mother, all greatly distressed. While they slept, the rākṣasī (female demon) named Ḍiḍimbā approached them. (3-13-86)
The auspicious lady, delighted, placed Bhīma's feet in her own lap and then pressed them forcefully with her soft hands. (3-13-87)
The strong and truly valiant Bhima, whose self is immeasurable, understood her and asked: "O blameless one, what do you desire here?" (3-13-88)
But having heard what was spoken by those two, the lowest among rākṣasas, terrible in form and appearance, emitting great roars, came there. (3-13-89)
With whom are you speaking together? Bring him near me. O Hiḍimbā, we will eat him; you should not delay in doing this. (3-13-90)
She, noble and blameless, whose heart was filled with compassion, did not wish to tell him that, out of pity. (3-13-91)
At that time, the man-eating rākṣasa, making terrible sounds, rushed swiftly toward Bhīmasena. (3-13-92)
The enraged and powerful Rākṣasa rushed at him with great speed and seized Bhīmasena's hand with his own. (3-13-93)
He, whose touch was like Indra's thunderbolt, whose hand was as firm as a diamond, having joined his hand, suddenly hurled it at Bhimasena. (3-13-94)
Then, when his hand was seized by the rakshasa, Bhimasena, the mighty-armed Vrikodara, could not endure it and became angry there. (3-13-95)
There, a tumultuous battle took place between Bhīmasena and Hiḍimba; it was a terrible fight between two masters of all weapons, like the battle between Vṛtra and Indra. (3-13-96)
After killing Hiḍimba, Bhīma, along with his brothers, set out, placing Hiḍimbā in front, from whom Ghaṭotkaca was born. (3-13-97)
Then all the illustrious ones, along with their mother, ran away towards Ekacakra, accompanied by groups of Brahmins. (3-13-98)
At their departure, Vyāsa became their counselor and well-wisher; then the Pāṇḍavas, steadfast in their vows, went to Ekacakrā. (3-13-99)
There too, they brought near Baka, the mighty one by name, a man-eater and very fearful, who was considered equal to Hiḍimba. (3-13-100)
And having slain that fierce one, Bhima, the best among strikers, together with all his brothers, went to the city of Drupada. (3-13-101)
I too was obtained right there by Savyasācin (Arjuna) while he was residing, just as you, O Kṛṣṇa, won Rukmiṇī, the daughter of Bhīṣmaka. (3-13-102)
Thus, O Madhusūdana, I was conquered by Pārtha in a good battle; in the svayaṃvara, he performed a great deed that was not easy for others to accomplish. (3-13-103)
O Kṛṣṇa, thus, tormented by many afflictions and greatly distressed, we live deprived of dignity, led by Dhaumya. (3-13-104)
How do these, who are lion-striding and superior to others in strength, neglect me, who am afflicted and bereft? (3-13-105)
Such sufferings as these are endured by the weak; for a long time, they are inflamed for the sinful and those who perform petty deeds. (3-13-106)
I was born in a great family by divine ordinance, indeed; I am the beloved wife of the Pāṇḍavas and the daughter-in-law of the great-souled Pāṇḍu. (3-13-107)
O Kṛṣṇa, having reached Kacha's house, I am the chosen and virtuous bride, in the presence of the five who are like Indra, O Madhusūdana. (3-13-108)
Having spoken thus, Kṛṣṇā (Draupadī), the soft-spoken one, covered her face with her soft hand, radiant like a lotus bud, and began to weep. (3-13-109)
Panchali's full, well-formed, auspicious breasts, as they drooped, were showered with tear-drops born of her sorrow. (3-13-110)
Wiping her eyes and sighing repeatedly, with her throat choked with tears and in anger, she spoke these words. (3-13-111)
O Madhusūdana, I have neither husbands nor sons; nor brothers, nor father, nor even you, nor any relatives. (3-13-112)
You who disregard me, wronged by the low, as if without sorrow—my grief is not pacified, for Karṇa laughed at that time. (3-13-113)
Then Kṛṣṇa said to her in that assembly of heroes: "O passionate one, the women whose men you are angry with will surely weep in this way." (3-13-114)
Those who were covered by Arjuna's arrows, flooded by streams of blood, slain and having abandoned life, lay on the surface of the earth. (3-13-115)
Whatever is possible for the Pāṇḍavas, that I will do; do not grieve. I promise you truly: you will be the queen among queens. (3-13-116)
Let the sky fall, the Himalaya be shattered, the earth break into pieces, and the ocean dry up; O Kṛṣṇa, may my words not prove fruitless. (3-13-117)
Dhṛṣṭadyumna said.
I will slay Droṇa; Śikhaṇḍī, however, will slay the grandsire. Bhīmasena will kill Duryodhana, and Dhanañjaya (Arjuna) will be the slayer of Karṇa. (3-13-118)
O pure-smiling one, having taken refuge in Rāma and Kṛṣṇa, one is indeed invincible; even the slayers of Vṛtra in battle—what then of the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra? (3-13-119)
Vaiśampāyana said.
When this was said, the heroes turned towards Vāsudeva and approached him; among them, the mighty-armed Keśava spoke these words. (3-13-120)
