03.114
Vaiśampāyana said.
Then, O Janamejaya, the Pāṇḍava, having departed from the Kauśikī, went to all the abodes one after another. (03-114-1)
He, O king, reached the ocean at the confluence of the Gaṅgā and performed ablutions in the midst of the five rivers among the hundreds of streams. (03-114-2)
Then the lord of the earth, accompanied by his brothers, traveled along the ocean shore towards the Kaliṅgas, O Bhārata. (03-114-3)
Lomaśa said.
Here are the Kalingas, O son of Kunti, where the river Vaitarani flows, and where even Dharma, having sought refuge with the gods, once performed a sacrifice. (03-114-4)
This northern bank, indeed, always frequented by the twice-born, is completely utilized by sages, suitable for sacrifice, and adorned by mountains. (03-114-5)
By the same divine path, those who reached heaven — here indeed, other sages also formerly worshipped with sacrifices. (03-114-6)
Here, Rudra himself, O king of kings, took the animal during the sacrifice. Rudra declared, "O lord of men, this is my share of the offering." (03-114-7)
When the animal was taken away, the gods then said to him, O best of the Bharatas, "Do not seek to harm the property of others; do not destroy all righteous acts." (03-114-8)
Then they praised Rudra with auspicious words; having satisfied him with a sacrificial offering, they honored him at that time. (03-114-9)
Then, having left the sacrificial animal, he went by the path to the gods. Here, Yudhishthira, understand this as the continuation of Rudra. (03-114-10)
The gods, out of fear of Rudra, determined to give him the best and permanent share, a portion not previously allotted, from among all shares. (03-114-11)
Whoever, singing this verse here, touches water, for him the path of the gods and indeed vision become manifest. (03-114-12)
Vaiśampāyana said.
Then all the Pāṇḍavas, together with Draupadī, descended to the Vaitaraṇī river. The greatly fortunate ones there performed offerings to satisfy their ancestors. (03-114-13)
Yudhishthira said.
O Lomaśa, having just touched the water in this river, O venerable sage, I am freed from the human realm; look!
O virtuous one, by your grace I see all worlds. This sound of those reciting among the Vaikhānasas is that of great souls. (03-114-15)
Lomaśa said.
O Yudhiṣṭhira, three hundred thousand yojanas away, wherever you hear this sound, remain silent, O lord of the people. (03-114-16)
O king, this beautiful forest of Svayambhu appears here, where the glorious Viśvakarmā performed a sacrifice, O son of Kuntī. (03-114-17)
In that sacrifice, indeed, the earth was given by Svayambhū to the great-souled Kaśyapa, along with mountains and forest regions, as the sacrificial gift. (03-114-18)
O son of Kunti, as soon as the gift was given, the earth sank down at that moment; and being angry, she spoke these words to the lord of the world, the master. (03-114-19)
O Lord, you should not give me to any mortal; for this gift of yours would be in vain—she (I) will go to the netherworld. (03-114-20)
O lord of men, seeing her despondent, the revered sage Kaśyapa endeavored to pacify her, and then, O lord of men, pacified the earth. (03-114-21)
Then, O Pāṇḍava, the clear earth, by his austerity, once again emerged from the water in the form of an altar and stood shining. (03-114-22)
This, O king, shines forth, marked by the structure of the altar. Ascending here, O great king, you shall truly become mighty. (03-114-23)
I will also perform a well-being rite for you, so that you may ascend her today. For, having been touched by a mortal, then, O ocean, the goat enters the altar, O Ajamīḍha. (03-114-24)
O Pāṇḍava, saying 'Agni, Mitra, the source, waters, and the goddesses; O Viṣṇu, you are the seed, the navel of immortality,'—thus, with truthful speech, you ascend this altar with force. (03-114-25)
Vaiśampāyana said.
Then the great-souled Yudhiṣṭhira, having performed the auspicious rites, set out on the road leading to the ocean; having fulfilled all the sage’s commands, he reached the Mahendra mountain and spent the night there. (03-114-26)
