03.043
Pancharatra: Matali takes Arjuna towards Amaravati, the capital of Indra.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
गतेषु लोकपालेषु पार्थः शत्रुनिबर्हणः। चिन्तयामास राजेन्द्र देवराजरथागमम् ॥३-४३-१॥
When the guardians of the worlds had left, Pārtha, the destroyer of enemies, pondered, O king, about the arrival of the chariot of the king of the gods (Indra). (3-43-1)
ततश्चिन्तयमानस्य गुडाकेशस्य धीमतः। रथो मातलिसंयुक्त आजगाम महाप्रभः ॥३-४३-२॥
Then, as the wise Guḍākeśa was reflecting, the magnificent chariot, with Mātali as its charioteer, arrived. (3-43-2)
नभो वितिमिरं कुर्वञ्जलदान्पाटयन्निव। दिशः सम्पूरयन्नादैर्महामेघरवोपमैः ॥३-४३-३॥
He made the sky free from darkness, as if tearing apart the clouds, and filled all directions with sounds like the roar of great clouds. (3-43-3)
असयः शक्तयो भीमा गदाश्चोग्रप्रदर्शनाः। दिव्यप्रभावाः प्रासाश्च विद्युतश्च महाप्रभाः ॥३-४३-४॥
There were swords, spears, terrible maces of fierce appearance, weapons of divine power, javelins, and lightnings, all of great radiance. (3-43-4)
तथैवाशनयस्तत्र चक्रयुक्ता हुडागुडाः। वायुस्फोटाः सनिर्घाता बर्हिमेघनिभस्वनाः ॥३-४३-५॥
Likewise, there were thunderbolts equipped with wheels, rumbling; blasts of wind with thunderclaps, sounding like mighty clouds. (3-43-5)
तत्र नागा महाकाया ज्वलितास्याः सुदारुणाः। सिताभ्रकूटप्रतिमाः संहताश्च यथोपलाः ॥३-४३-६॥
There, serpents of great size with blazing mouths, very fierce, clustered together like peaks of white clouds and like stones. (3-43-6)
दश वाजिसहस्राणि हरीणां वातरंहसाम्। वहन्ति यं नेत्रमुषं दिव्यं मायामयं रथम् ॥३-४३-७॥
Ten thousand horses of wind-speed steeds draw that eye-removing, divine, magical chariot. (3-43-7)
तत्रापश्यन्महानीलं वैजयन्तं महाप्रभम्। ध्वजमिन्दीवरश्यामं वंशं कनकभूषणम् ॥३-४३-८॥
There he saw the great dark-blue Vaijayanta, a very radiant banner, with a pole dark as a blue lotus and adorned with gold. (3-43-8)
तस्मिन्रथे स्थितं सूतं तप्तहेमविभूषितम्। दृष्ट्वा पार्थो महाबाहुर्देवमेवान्वतर्कयत् ॥३-४३-९॥
Seeing the charioteer standing in that chariot, adorned with refined gold, Pārtha, the mighty-armed, inferred that he was indeed a god. (3-43-9)
तथा तर्कयतस्तस्य फल्गुनस्याथ मातलिः। संनतः प्रश्रितो भूत्वा वाक्यमर्जुनमब्रवीत् ॥३-४३-१०॥
Thus, while Phalguna was reasoning, then Mātali, having become bowed and respectful, spoke words to Arjuna. (3-43-10)
भो भो शक्रात्मज श्रीमाञ्शक्रस्त्वां द्रष्टुमिच्छति। आरोहतु भवाञ्शीघ्रं रथमिन्द्रस्य संमतम् ॥३-४३-११॥
O son of Śakra, Śakra, who is prosperous, wishes to see you. Please quickly ascend Indra's approved chariot. (3-43-11)
आह माममरश्रेष्ठः पिता तव शतक्रतुः। कुन्तीसुतमिह प्राप्तं पश्यन्तु त्रिदशालयाः ॥३-४३-१२॥
The best among immortals, your father Indra, said to me: "Let the residents of the gods' abode see Kunti's son who has arrived here." (3-43-12)
एष शक्रः परिवृतो देवैरृषिगणैस्तथा। गन्धर्वैरप्सरोभिश्च त्वां दिदृक्षुः प्रतीक्षते ॥३-४३-१३॥
This Śakra (Indra), surrounded by the gods, sages, Gandharvas, and Apsarases, is waiting here, wishing to see you. (3-43-13)
अस्माल्लोकाद्देवलोकं पाकशासनशासनात्। आरोह त्वं मया सार्धं लब्धास्त्रः पुनरेष्यसि ॥३-४३-१४॥
From this world, ascend to the divine world from the rule of Indra; together with me, having obtained weapons, you will return again. (3-43-14)
अर्जुन उवाच॥
Arjuna said.
मातले गच्छ शीघ्रं त्वमारोहस्व रथोत्तमम्। राजसूयाश्वमेधानां शतैरपि सुदुर्लभम् ॥३-४३-१५॥
O Mātali, go quickly and ascend the best chariot, which is very difficult to obtain even by performing hundreds of Rājasūya and Aśvamedha sacrifices. (3-43-15)
पार्थिवैः सुमहाभागैर्यज्वभिर्भूरिदक्षिणैः। दैवतैर्वा समारोढुं दानवैर्वा रथोत्तमम् ॥३-४३-१६॥
The best chariot could not be ascended even by kings of great fortune, by sacrificers who give many gifts, by gods, or by demons. (3-43-16)
नातप्ततपसा शक्य एष दिव्यो महारथः। द्रष्टुं वाप्यथ वा स्प्रष्टुमारोढुं कुत एव तु ॥३-४३-१७॥
This divine great chariot cannot be seen, touched, or mounted by anyone whose austerity is not intense; how much less by others. (3-43-17)
त्वयि प्रतिष्ठिते साधो रथस्थे स्थिरवाजिनि। पश्चादहमथारोक्ष्ये सुकृती सत्पथं यथा ॥३-४३-१८॥
O noble one, when you are firmly established on the steady-horsed chariot, then afterwards I, the virtuous one, will mount and proceed on the right path as is proper. (3-43-18)
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा मातलिः शक्रसारथिः। आरुरोह रथं शीघ्रं हयान्येमे च रश्मिभिः ॥३-४३-१९॥
Hearing those words, Mātali, the charioteer of Śakra, quickly ascended the chariot, yoked the horses, and fastened them with reins. (3-43-19)
ततोऽर्जुनो हृष्टमना गङ्गायामाप्लुतः शुचिः। जजाप जप्यं कौन्तेयो विधिवत्कुरुनन्दनः ॥३-४३-२०॥
Then Arjuna, his mind delighted, having bathed and purified himself in the Ganga, recited the mantra as prescribed, O son of Kunti, delight of the Kurus. (3-43-20)
ततः पितॄन्यथान्यायं तर्पयित्वा यथाविधि। मन्दरं शैलराजं तमाप्रष्टुमुपचक्रमे ॥३-४३-२१॥
Then, having duly satisfied the ancestors as prescribed, he began to take leave of Mandara, the king of mountains. (3-43-21)
साधूनां धर्मशीलानां मुनीनां पुण्यकर्मणाम्। त्वं सदा संश्रयः शैल स्वर्गमार्गाभिकाङ्क्षिणाम् ॥३-४३-२२॥
O mountain, you are always the refuge for the virtuous, the righteous, the sages, and those who perform meritorious deeds, for all who desire the path to heaven. (3-43-22)
त्वत्प्रसादात्सदा शैल ब्राह्मणाः क्षत्रिया विशः। स्वर्गं प्राप्ताश्चरन्ति स्म देवैः सह गतव्यथाः ॥३-४३-२३॥
By your grace, O mountain, Brāhmaṇas, Kṣatriyas, and Vaiśyas have always attained heaven and move about there with the gods, free from suffering. (3-43-23)
अद्रिराज महाशैल मुनिसंश्रय तीर्थवन्। गच्छाम्यामन्त्रयामि त्वां सुखमस्म्युषितस्त्वयि ॥३-४३-२४॥
O king of mountains, great rock, refuge of sages, and abode of holy places, I now depart, taking leave of you, having dwelt happily with you. (3-43-24)
तव सानूनि कुञ्जाश्च नद्यः प्रस्रवणानि च। तीर्थानि च सुपुण्यानि मया दृष्टान्यनेकशः ॥३-४३-२५॥
I have seen your mountain-tops, thickets, rivers, springs, and very holy fords many times. (3-43-25)
एवमुक्त्वार्जुनः शैलमामन्त्र्य परवीरहा। आरुरोह रथं दिव्यं द्योतयन्निव भास्करः ॥३-४३-२६॥
Having thus spoken, Arjuna, the destroyer of enemy heroes, addressed the mountain and ascended his divine chariot, shining like the sun. (3-43-26)
स तेनादित्यरूपेण दिव्येनाद्भुतकर्मणा। ऊर्ध्वमाचक्रमे धीमान्प्रहृष्टः कुरुनन्दनः ॥३-४३-२७॥
He, assuming that sun-like, divine and wondrous form, joyfully and wisely stepped upwards, O delight of the Kurus. (3-43-27)
सोऽदर्शनपथं यात्वा मर्त्यानां भूमिचारिणाम्। ददर्शाद्भुतरूपाणि विमानानि सहस्रशः ॥३-४३-२८॥
He traversed the invisible path of mortals who walk the earth and saw thousands of aerial vehicles of marvelous forms. (3-43-28)
न तत्र सूर्यः सोमो वा द्योतते न च पावकः। स्वयैव प्रभया तत्र द्योतन्ते पुण्यलब्धया ॥३-४३-२९॥
There, neither the sun nor the moon nor fire shines; by its own radiance, attained through merit, it shines there. (3-43-29)
तारारूपाणि यानीह दृश्यन्ते द्युतिमन्ति वै। दीपवद्विप्रकृष्टत्वादणूनि सुमहान्त्यपि ॥३-४३-३०॥
The star-like forms that are seen here, though luminous like lamps, appear minute due to their remoteness, even though they are actually very large. (3-43-30)
तानि तत्र प्रभास्वन्ति रूपवन्ति च पाण्डवः। ददर्श स्वेषु धिष्ण्येषु दीप्तिमन्ति स्वयार्चिषा ॥३-४३-३१॥
There, the son of Pāṇḍu saw those shining and beautiful seats, radiant with their own brilliance, in his own places. (3-43-31)
तत्र राजर्षयः सिद्धा वीराश्च निहता युधि। तपसा च जितस्वर्गाः सम्पेतुः शतसङ्घशः ॥३-४३-३२॥
There, royal sages, perfected beings, heroes, and those slain in battle, as well as those who have conquered heaven through austerity, have gathered there in hundreds of groups. (3-43-32)
गन्धर्वाणां सहस्राणि सूर्यज्वलनतेजसाम्। गुह्यकानामृषीणां च तथैवाप्सरसां गणाः ॥३-४३-३३॥
There were thousands of Gandharvas whose brilliance was like that of the sun and fire; similarly, there were groups of Guhyakas, sages, and Apsarases. (3-43-33)
लोकानात्मप्रभान्पश्यन्फल्गुनो विस्मयान्वितः। पप्रच्छ मातलिं प्रीत्या स चाप्येनमुवाच ह ॥३-४३-३४॥
Beholding the self-luminous worlds, Arjuna, filled with wonder, affectionately asked Mātali; and he too replied to him. (3-43-34)
एते सुकृतिनः पार्थ स्वेषु धिष्ण्येष्ववस्थिताः। यान्दृष्टवानसि विभो तारारूपाणि भूतले ॥३-४३-३५॥
O Pārtha, these virtuous ones are established in their own seats; the star-like forms you have seen on the earth, O mighty one, are them. (3-43-35)
ततोऽपश्यत्स्थितं द्वारि सितं वैजयिनं गजम्। ऐरावतं चतुर्दन्तं कैलासमिव शृङ्गिणम् ॥३-४३-३६॥
Then he saw, standing at the gate, the white, victorious elephant Airavata, four-tusked and resembling Mount Kailāsa with its peak. (3-43-36)
स सिद्धमार्गमाक्रम्य कुरुपाण्डवसत्तमः। व्यरोचत यथा पूर्वं मान्धाता पार्थिवोत्तमः ॥३-४३-३७॥
Having ascended the perfected path, the best among the Kurus and Pāṇḍavas shone just as Māndhātā, the foremost of kings, did in former times. (3-43-37)
अतिचक्राम लोकान्स राज्ञां राजीवलोचनः। ततो ददर्श शक्रस्य पुरीं ताममरावतीम् ॥३-४३-३८॥
The lotus-eyed one crossed beyond the worlds of kings. Then he saw Śakra's city, Amarāvatī. (3-43-38)
