03.038
Pancharatra: Arjuna travels to the north in a day and meets Indra.
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
kasyacit tv atha kālasya dharmarājo yudhiṣṭhiraḥ। saṁsmṛtya munisaṁdeśam idaṁ vacanam abravīt ॥3-38-1॥
At a certain time, Dharmarāja Yudhiṣṭhira, recalling the sage's message, spoke these words. (3-38-1)
vivikte viditaprajñamarjunaṃ bharatarṣabham। sāntvapūrvaṃ smitaṃ kṛtvā pāṇinā parisaṃspṛśan ॥3-38-2॥
In a secluded place, to Arjuna, the renowned wise one and foremost among the Bharatas, (he) gently smiled, touched him with his hand, and began to speak with soothing words. (3-38-2)
sa muhūrtam iva dhyātvā vanavāsam ariṃdamaḥ। dhanañjayaṃ dharmarājo rahasīdam uvāca ha ॥3-38-3॥
He, the subduer of enemies, Dharmarāja, after contemplating the forest exile for a moment, spoke these words in private to Dhanañjaya. (3-38-3)
bhīṣme droṇe kṛpe karṇe droṇaputre ca bhārata। dhanurvedaścatuṣpāda eteṣvadya pratiṣṭhitaḥ ॥3-38-4॥
O Bhārata, today the fourfold science of archery is established in Bhīṣma, Droṇa, Kṛpa, Karṇa, and the son of Droṇa. (3-38-4)
brāhmaṃ daivam āsuraṃ ca saprayogacikitsitam। sarvāstrāṇāṃ prayogaṃ ca te'bhijānanti kṛtsnaśaḥ ॥3-38-5॥
They know completely the Brahma, Daiva, and Asura (types of weapons), along with their application and treatment; they are thoroughly acquainted with the use of all weapons. (3-38-5)
te sarve dhṛtarāṣṭrasya putreṇa parisāntvitāḥ। saṃvibhaktāś ca tuṣṭāś ca guruvatteṣu vartate ॥3-38-6॥
All of them, having been completely conciliated, satisfied, and given gifts by Dhritarashtra's son, conduct themselves respectfully towards the elders. (3-38-6)
sarvayodheṣu caiva asya sadā vṛttir anuttamā। śaktiṃ na hāpayiṣyanti te kāle pratipūjitāḥ॥3-38-7॥
Among all warriors, his conduct is always unsurpassed; those who have been duly honored will not cause his power to be lost in time. (3-38-7)
adya ceyaṃ mahī kṛtsnā duryodhanavaśānugā। tvayi vyapāśrayo'smākaṃ tvayi bhāraḥ samāhitaḥ ॥ tatra kṛtyaṃ prapaśyāmi prāptakālam ariṃdama ॥3-38-8॥
Today, this entire earth is under Duryodhana's control; our support rests with you, and the responsibility is placed upon you. There, I see the duty that is timely, O subduer of enemies. (3-38-8)
kṛṣṇadvaipāyanāttāta gṛhītopaniṣanmayā। tayā prayuktayā samyagjagatsarvaṃ prakāśate ॥ tena tvaṃ brahmaṇā tāta saṃyuktaḥ susamāhitaḥ ॥3-38-9॥
O dear one, the Upaniṣad which I received from Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana, when properly applied, reveals the entire world. By that, you, O dear one, united with Brahman, are well composed. (3-38-9)
devatānāṃ yathākālaṃ prasādaṃ pratipālaya। tapasā yojayātmānamugreṇa bharatarṣabha ॥3-38-10॥
O best of the Bharatas, observe the favor of the deities at the proper time. Engage yourself with intense austerity. (3-38-10)
dhanuṣmānkavacī khaḍgī muniḥ sārasamanvitaḥ। na kasyacid dadan mārgaṃ gaccha tāta uttarāṃ diśam ॥ indre hy astrāṇi divyāni samastāni dhanañjaya ॥3-38-11॥
The sage, armed with bow, armor, and sword, and riding a chariot, did not yield the way to anyone. Go, dear one, to the northern direction. In Indra are all the divine weapons, O Dhananjaya. (3-38-11)
vṛtrādbhītais tadā devair balam indre samarpitam। tāny ekasthāni sarvāṇi tatas tvaṃ pratipatsyase ॥3-38-12॥
Then, when the gods were frightened by Vṛtra, they offered all their strength to Indra. All those strengths, being in one place, you will then obtain. (3-38-12)
śakram eva prapadyasva sa te'strāṇi pradāsyati। dīkṣito'dyaiva gaccha tvaṃ draṣṭuṃ devaṃ puraṃdaram ॥3-38-13॥
Go to Indra himself; he will give you the weapons. Having been consecrated, go today to see the god Purandara (Indra). (3-38-13)
evam uktvā dharmarājas tam adhyāpayata prabhuḥ। dīkṣitaṃ vidhinā tena yatavākkāyamānasam॥ anujajñe tato vīraṃ bhrātā bhrātaram agrajaḥ॥3-38-14॥
Having thus spoken, the king of dharma, the lord, caused him, who was initiated according to the procedure and restrained in speech, body, and mind, to study. Then the elder brother permitted the heroic brother. (3-38-14)
nideśāddharmarājasya draṣṭuṃ devaṃ puraṃdaram। dhanur-gāṇḍīvam-ādāya tathākṣayyau maheṣudhī ॥3-38-15॥
At the command of Dharmarāja, to see the god Purandara, he took up the Gāṇḍīva bow and the two inexhaustible great arrows. (3-38-15)
kavacī satalatrāṇo baddhagodhāṅgulitravān। hutvāgniṃ brāhmaṇānniṣkaiḥ svasti vācya mahābhujaḥ ॥3-38-16॥
The mighty-armed one, armored, with seven shields and wearing finger-guards of lizard skin, after offering fire and gifting gold coins to Brahmins, should be wished well. (3-38-16)
prātiṣṭhata mahābāhuḥ pragṛhītaśarāsanaḥ। vadhāya dhārtarāṣṭrāṇāṃ niḥśvasyordhvamudīkṣya ca ॥3-38-17॥
The mighty-armed hero, having taken up his bow and arrows, set out for the destruction of the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, sighing and looking upwards. (3-38-17)
taṃ dṛṣṭvā tatra kaunteyaṃ pragṛhītaśarāsanam। abruvanbrāhmaṇāḥ siddhā bhūtānyantarhitāni ca ॥ kṣipraṃ prāpnuhikaunteya manasā yadyadicchasi ॥3-38-18॥
Seeing him there, the son of Kunti holding his bow and arrow, the Brahmanas, Siddhas, and invisible beings said: "Quickly attain by mind, O son of Kunti, whatever you desire." (3-38-18)
taṃ siṃhamiva gacchantaṃ śālaskandhorumarjunam। manāṃsyādāya sarveṣāṃ kṛṣṇā vacanamabravīt ॥3-38-19॥
Seeing Arjuna, who was going like a lion, with shoulders and thighs like a śāla tree, Kṛṣṇā, having taken the minds of all, spoke these words. (3-38-19)
yat te kuntī mahābāho jātasya aicchad dhanañjaya। tat te 'stu sarvaṃ kaunteya yathā ca svayam icchasi ॥3-38-20॥
O Dhanañjaya, whatever your mother Kuntī desired for you at your birth, let all that be granted to you, O son of Kuntī, as you yourself desire. (3-38-20)
māsmākaṃ kṣatriyakule janma kaścidavāpnuyāt। brāhmaṇebhyo namo nityaṃ yeṣāṃ yuddhe na jīvikā ॥3-38-21॥
No one among us should be born in the family of warriors. Always offer obeisance to the Brāhmaṇas, whose livelihood is not in battle. (3-38-21)
nūnaṃ te bhrātaraḥ sarve tvatkathābhiḥ prajāgare। raṃsyante vīrakarmāṇi kīrtayantaḥ punaḥ punaḥ ॥3-38-22॥
Certainly, all your brothers, staying awake, delight again and again in praising your heroic deeds with stories about you. (3-38-22)
naiva naḥ pārtha bhogeṣu na dhane nota jīvite। tuṣṭirbuddhirbhavitri vā tvayi dīrghapravāsini ॥3-38-23॥
O Pārtha, for us there is truly no satisfaction or understanding in enjoyments, wealth, or even in life, when you, the long-absent one, are not present. (3-38-23)
tvayi naḥ pārtha sarveṣāṃ sukhaduḥkhe samāhite। jīvitaṃ maraṇaṃ caiva rājyamaiśvaryameva ca ॥ āpṛṣṭo me'si kaunteya svasti prāpnuhī pāṇḍava ॥3-38-24॥
O Pārtha, for all of us, with your mind absorbed equally in happiness and sorrow, life and death, as well as kingdom and sovereignty; having been asked by me, O Kaunteya, may you attain well-being, O Pāṇḍava. (3-38-24)
namo dhātre vidhātre ca svasti gaccha hy-anāmayam। svasti te-'stv-āntarikṣebhyaḥ pārthivebhyaś-ca bhārata ॥ divyebhyaś-caiva bhūtebhyo ye ca anye paripanthinaḥ ॥3-38-25॥
Salutations to the supporter and the creator. Go forth in well-being, indeed free from disease. May well-being be to you from the beings of the mid-space, from those of the earth, O Bhārata, and from the divine beings, from all beings, and from any other enemies. (3-38-25)
tataḥ pradakṣiṇaṃ kṛtvā bhrātṝn dhaumyaṃ ca pāṇḍavaḥ। prātiṣṭhata mahābāhuḥ pragṛhya ruciraṃ dhanuḥ ॥3-38-26॥
Then, after circumambulating his brothers and Dhaumya, the mighty-armed Pāṇḍava set out, taking up his beautiful bow. (3-38-26)
tasya mārgād apākrāman sarvabhūtāni gacchataḥ। yuktasya aindreṇa yogena parākrāntasya śuṣmiṇaḥ ॥3-38-27॥
As he, the powerful one united by Indra's yoga and having surpassed, was going, all beings departed from his path. (3-38-27)
so'gacchat parvataṃ puṇyam ekāhnai va mahāmanāḥ। manojavagatir bhūtvā yogayukto yathānilaḥ ॥3-38-28॥
He, the great-minded one, endowed with yoga and possessing the speed of the mind, went to the holy mountain in just one day, like the wind. (3-38-28)
himavantam atikramya gandhamādanam eva ca। atyakrāmats durgāṇi divārātram atandritaḥ ॥3-38-29॥
He crossed the Himalayas and Gandhamadana mountains, passing through difficult regions day and night without fatigue. (3-38-29)
indrakīlaṃ samāsādya tato'tiṣṭhaddhanañjayaḥ। antarikṣe hi śuśrāva tiṣṭheti sa vacastadā ॥3-38-30॥
After reaching Indrakīla, Dhanañjaya stood there. At that moment, he heard a voice in the sky saying "Stand." (3-38-30)
tato'paśyat-savyasācī vṛkṣamūle tapasvinam। brāhmyā śriyā dīpyamānaṃ piṅgalaṃ jaṭilaṃ kṛśam ॥3-38-31॥
Then Savyasācī (Arjuna) saw at the root of a tree an ascetic, radiant with Brahmanic splendor, tawny in color, with matted hair, and thin. (3-38-31)
so'bravīd arjunaṃ tatra sthitaṃ dṛṣṭvā mahātapāḥ। kas tvaṃ tāteha samprāpto dhanuṣmān kavacī śarī ॥ nibaddhāsitalatrāṇaḥ kṣatradharmam anuvrataḥ ॥3-38-32॥
The great ascetic, having seen Arjuna standing there, said: "Who are you, dear one, who has come here armed with bow and arrows, wearing armor and a black arm-guard, devoted to the warrior's duty?" (3-38-32)
neha śastreṇa kartavyaṃ śāntānām ayam ālayaḥ। vinīta-krodha-harṣāṇāṃ brāhmaṇānāṃ tapasvinām ॥3-38-33॥
Here, nothing should be done by weapons; this is the abode of the peaceful, of Brāhmaṇas who are ascetics with restrained anger and joy. (3-38-33)
nehāsti dhanuṣā kāryaṃ na saṅgrāmeṇa karhicit। nikṣipaitaddhanustāta prāpto'si paramāṃ gatim ॥3-38-34॥
There is nothing to be accomplished here by the bow, nor at any time by battle. Lay down this bow, dear one; you have attained the supreme state. (3-38-34)
ityanantaujasaṃ vīraṃ yathā cānyaṃ pṛthagjanam। tathā vācamathābhīkṣṇaṃ brāhmaṇo'rjunamabravīt ॥ na cainaṃ cālayāmāsa dhairyātsudṛḍhaniścayam ॥3-38-35॥
Thus, the brāhmaṇa repeatedly addressed Arjuna, the hero of infinite energy, just as he would address any other person; but due to his great fortitude and firm resolve, Arjuna was not shaken. (3-38-35)
tamuvāca tataḥ prītaḥ sa dvijaḥ prahasanniva। varaṃ vṛṇīṣva bhadraṃ te śakro'hamarisūdana ॥3-38-36॥
Then, pleased, the twice-born said to him as if smiling: "Choose a boon, O destroyer of enemies, for your good. I am Śakra." (3-38-36)
evam-uktaḥ pratyuvāca sahasrākṣaṃ dhanañjayaḥ। prāñjaliḥ praṇato bhūtvā śūraḥ kurukulodvahaḥ ॥3-38-37॥
Thus addressed, Dhananjaya, the hero and best of the Kuru race, bowed with joined palms and replied to the thousand-eyed one. (3-38-37)
īpsito hyeṣa me kāmo varaṃ cainaṃ prayaccha me। tvatto'dya bhagavannastraṃ kṛtsnamicchāmi veditum ॥3-38-38॥
Indeed, this is my cherished wish; grant me this boon. O Lord, today I wish to know the entire weapon from you. (3-38-38)
pratyuvāca mahendras taṃ prītātmā prahasann iva। iha prāptasya kiṃ kāryam astraīs tava dhanañjaya ॥ kāmān vṛṇīṣva lokāṃś ca prāpto'si paramāṃ gatim ॥3-38-39॥
Indra, his mind pleased and as if smiling, replied to him: "O Dhananjaya, now that you have arrived here, what use are your weapons? Choose whatever desires and worlds you wish; you have attained the highest state." (3-38-39)
evam-uktaḥ pratyuvāca sahasrākṣaṃ dhanañjayaḥ। na lokān na punaḥ kāmān na devatvaṃ kutaḥ sukham ॥3-38-40॥
Thus addressed, Dhananjaya replied to Indra: "I do not seek worlds, nor desires again, nor divinity; so from where would happiness arise?" (3-38-40)
na ca sarvāmaraiśvaryaṃ kāmaye tridaśādhipa। bhrātṝṃs tān vipine tyaktvā vairam apratiyātya ca ॥ akīrtiṃ sarvalokeṣu gaccheyaṃ śāśvatīḥ samāḥ ॥3-38-41॥
Nor do I desire all the prosperity of the immortals, O lord of the thirty gods. Having abandoned those brothers in the forest, and not returning enmity, I would incur disrepute in all worlds for eternal years. (3-38-41)
evam-uktaḥ pratyuvāca vṛtrahā pāṇḍu-nandanam। sāntvayan ślakṣṇayā vācā sarva-loka-namaskṛtaḥ ॥3-38-42॥
Thus addressed, the slayer of Vṛtra, honored by all worlds, replied to the son of Pāṇḍu, consoling him with gentle words. (3-38-42)
yadā drakṣyasi bhūteśaṃ tryakṣaṃ śūladharaṃ śivam। tadā dātāsmi te tāta divyānyastrāṇi sarvaśaḥ ॥3-38-43॥
When you see the lord of beings, the three-eyed, the trident-bearer, the auspicious Shiva, then, dear one, I will grant you all the divine weapons. (3-38-43)
kriyatāṃ darśane yatno devasya parameṣṭhinaḥ। darśanāttasya kaunteya saṃsiddhaḥ svargameṣyasi ॥3-38-44॥
Make an effort to see the god Parameṣṭhin; by seeing him, O son of Kuntī, you will attain perfection and go to heaven. (3-38-44)
ity uktvā phalgunaṃ śakro jagāmādarśanaṃ tataḥ। arjuno'py atha tatraiva tasthau yogasamanvitaḥ ॥3-38-45॥
Having thus spoken to Phalguna, Śakra (Indra) became invisible. Arjuna too then stood there, absorbed in yoga. (3-38-45)
