03.049
Core-Pancharatra: Bhima and Yudhisthira conversation.
Janamejaya said.
When Pārtha (Arjuna), the great-souled, had gone to the world of Indra for the sake of weapons, what did Yudhishthira and the other Pāṇḍavas do? (3-49-1)
Vaiśampāyana said.
When the great-souled Pārtha had gone to Indra's world for weapons, the best of men stayed together with Kṛṣṇā in Kāmyaka. (3-49-2)
Then, at some point, the best of the Bharatas, afflicted by sorrow, sat down with Kṛṣṇā in a secluded grassy place. Grieving for Dhanañjaya, their throats choked with tears, they were greatly distressed. (3-49-3)
Indeed, because of that separation, sorrow completely overwhelmed all of them; and due to the separation from Dhananjaya and the loss of the kingdom, they were afflicted. (3-49-4)
Then the mighty-armed Bhima spoke to Yudhishthira: "O great king, by your command, that bull among men, Arjuna, has gone—the one in whom the lives of the sons of Pandu are established." (3-49-5)
If he perishes, the Pāñcālas along with their sons, we, Sātyaki, and Vāsudeva would also surely perish. (3-49-6)
Who is that powerful person who, going forth without considering many afflictions, becomes fearful by your command? Indeed, what could be more painful than that? (3-49-7)
Taking refuge in the arms of that great-souled one, we all consider that we have conquered the enemies in battle and obtained the earth. (3-49-8)
By whose power, I was not led by the bowman in the midst of the assembly; all the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra together with Saubala were brought to this world. (3-49-9)
We, though strong-armed, endure the anger that has arisen within ourselves, because we are protected by Vāsudeva, whose root is you. (3-49-10)
Indeed, together with Kṛṣṇa, after slaying Karṇa and the other enemies, may we rule the entire earth, won by our own strength. (3-49-11)
O king, by the fault of your gambling, all of us have been overwhelmed. Though not lacking in manliness, we, the most powerful, have been overcome by the strong. (3-49-12)
O great king, you should consider the duty of a kṣatriya. For a kṣatriya, living in the forest is not considered duty. The wise know that ruling the kingdom is the highest duty of a kṣatriya. (3-49-13)
He, who knows the kṣatriya duty and is born as a king, will not abandon the righteous path. O king, after twelve years, we shall slay the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra. (3-49-14)
O great king, after bringing back Pārtha from the forest and bringing Janārdana, with the troops arrayed and with great speed in the great battle, I will send the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra to the next world, O lord of men. (3-49-15)
I will slay all the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra along with the sons of Subala, Duryodhana, Karṇa, and anyone else who may fight against me. (3-49-16)
When I have pacified things, you will return from the forest again. If this is done, there will be no fault for you, O lord of the people. (3-49-17)
O dear one, by various sacrifices, having shaken off the sin that was done, O subduer of enemies, O great king, let us go to the supreme heaven. (3-49-18)
Thus, O king, this may be the case if the king is not foolish. Among us, a procrastinator may be you, who are devoted to dharma. (3-49-19)
It is decided that one skilled in deceit should be slain by deceit. For, it is not considered sinful to slay a non-deceitful person by deceit. (3-49-20)
In this way, O Bhārata, it is observed among the righteous by the wise that here, O great king, a single day and night is indeed considered equivalent to a year. (3-49-21)
In the same way, it is always said in the Vedas, O mighty one, that the year, O great king, is completed only with difficulty. (3-49-22)
If the Vedas are your authority, O Acyuta, then let it be established that the period is thirteen years after that day. (3-49-23)
O king, time, in order to slay Duryodhana along with his associates, formerly made the entire earth united, O subduer of enemies. (3-49-24)
Thus, as Bhīma was speaking, King Yudhiṣṭhira, the king of dharma, consoled him and, after smelling (kissing) the head of the Pāṇḍava, spoke these words. (3-49-25)
O mighty-armed one, without doubt, you will slay Suyodhana after thirteen years, together with the wielder of the Gandiva bow. (3-49-26)
O Pārtha, what you say to me, "the time has come," O lord, I am not able to speak falsehood; for this does not exist in me. (3-49-27)
O son of Kunti, even without deceit, you are the slayer of Suyodhana, who is resolute in evil, difficult to overcome, along with his followers. (3-49-28)
As Yudhiṣṭhira, the king of dharma, was thus speaking to Bhīma, the greatly fortunate sage Bṛhadaśva arrived. (3-49-29)
Having observed him, the righteous king honoured the dharma-practising guest who had arrived, with madhuparka, according to the śāstra. (3-49-30)
Seeing him reassured and seated, Yudhishthira, the mighty-armed, approached and, observing his misery, spoke at length. (3-49-31)
O revered one, my wealth and kingdom have been taken from me in the dice-game, after I was summoned by deceitful, cunning gamblers who are experts in dice. (3-49-32)
Indeed, by the deceit of those intent on evil, my wife, who is more precious to me than life itself, was led into the assembly, though I was ignorant of dice. (3-49-33)
There is, as far as I know, a king of lesser fortune on earth; perhaps you have seen or heard of such a one. But I think there is no man more sorrowful than myself. (3-49-34)
Bṛhadaśva said.
O Pāṇḍava, what you say, O great king, that there is no man anywhere less fortunate than me, is so. (3-49-35)
Here I shall tell you, O sinless one, if you are willing to listen, about a king who was more afflicted by sorrow than you, O lord of the earth. (3-49-36)
Vaiśampāyana said.
Then the king said to him, "Let the revered one speak." O king, I wish to hear about this state that has been attained. (3-49-37)
Bṛhadaśva said.
O king, listen attentively along with your brothers, O Acyuta. There was no king on earth more afflicted than you, O lord of the earth. (3-49-38)
Among the Niṣadhas, there was a king named Vīrasena. His son, known as Nala, was one who understood dharma and artha. (3-49-39)
We have heard that the king, though not deserving of suffering, was defeated by Puṣkara through deceit and dwelt together with his wife in the forest. (3-49-40)
O king, while dwelling in the forest, he never had a horse, nor a chariot, nor a brother, nor any relatives with him at any time. (3-49-41)
You are indeed surrounded by heroes—your brothers, who are equal to gods, like Brahmā, and by the foremost of the twice-born; therefore, you should not grieve. (3-49-42)
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
O best of speakers, I wish that you would relate to me in detail the deeds of the very great-souled Nala. (3-49-43)
