03.239
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
prāyopaviṣṭaṃ rājānaṃ duryodhanam amarṣaṇam। uvāca sāntvayan rājañ śakuniḥ saubalas tadā ॥03-239-1॥
Śakuni, son of Subala, then spoke soothing words to King Duryodhana, who was intolerant and about to undertake a fast unto death. (03-239-1)
samyaguktaṃ hi karṇena tacchrutaṃ kaurava tvayā। mayāhṛtāṃ śriyaṃ sphītāṃ mohātsamapahāya kim॥ tvamabuddhyā nṛpavara prāṇānutsraṣṭumicchasi॥03-239-2॥
What Karṇa said is indeed appropriate, and you have heard it, O Kaurava. Why do you, deluded, completely abandon the abundant prosperity I have won for you? Out of ignorance, O best of kings, do you wish to give up your life? (03-239-2)
adya cāpyavagacchāmi na vṛddhāḥ sevitāstvayā। yaḥ samutpatitaṃ harṣaṃ dainyaṃ vā na niyacchati॥ sa naśyati śriyaṃ prāpya pātram āmam ivāmbhasi॥03-239-3॥
Today I also perceive that you have not attended to elders. He who does not restrain the joy or distress that arises perishes, even after obtaining wealth, like an unburnt pot in water. (03-239-3)
atibhīrumatiklībaṃ dīrghasūtraṃ pramādinam। vyasanādviṣayākrāntaṃ na bhajanti nṛpaṃ śriyaḥ॥03-239-4॥
Prosperity does not abide with a king who is very fearful-minded, impotent, procrastinating, heedless, afflicted by misfortune, and overcome by sense-objects. (03-239-4)
satkṛtasya hi te śoko viparīte kathaṃ bhavet। mā kṛtaṃ śobhanaṃ pārthaiḥ śokamālambya nāśaya ॥03-239-5॥
Indeed, grief is for one who is honored—how could it arise in the contrary case? Do not let the noble deeds of the Pārthas be destroyed by clinging to grief. (03-239-5)
yatra harṣas tvayā kāryaḥ satkartavyāś ca pāṇḍavāḥ। tatra śocasi rājendra viparītam idaṃ tava ॥03-239-6॥
In the very situation where you should show delight and honor the Pāṇḍavas, O king, you grieve instead; this is contrary to what is expected of you. (03-239-6)
prasīda mā tyajātmānaṃ tuṣṭaś ca sukṛtaṃ smara। prayaccha rājyaṃ pārthānāṃ yaśo dharmam avāpnuhi॥03-239-7॥
Be gracious, do not lose heart; remain content and remember your good deeds; bestow the kingdom upon the sons of Pṛthā; attain both fame and righteousness. (03-239-7)
kriyāmetāṃ samājñāya kṛtaghno na bhaviṣyasi। saubhrātraṃ pāṇḍavaiḥ kṛtvā samavasthāpya caiva tān ॥ pitryaṃ rājyaṃ prayacchaiṣāṃ tataḥ sukham avāpnuhi ॥03-239-8॥
Understanding this course of action, you will not become ungrateful. Establish brotherly relations with the Pāṇḍavas, restore them to an equal position, and give them their ancestral kingdom; then you will attain happiness. (03-239-8)
śakunes tu vacaḥ śrutvā duḥśāsanam avekṣya ca। pādayoḥ patitaṃ vīraṃ viklavaṃ bhrātṛ-sauhṛdāt ॥03-239-9॥
But when he heard Śakuni's words and saw Duḥśāsana, the hero, out of brotherly affection, fell at his feet in distress. (03-239-9)
bāhubhyāṃ sādhujātābhyāṃ duḥśāsanam ariṃ-damam। utthāpya sampariṣvajya prītyā ājighrata mūrdhani ॥03-239-10॥
With his well-formed arms, he lifted Duḥśāsana—the subduer of enemies—embraced him with affection, and smelled his head. (03-239-10)
karṇasaubalayoścāpi saṁsmṛtya vacanānyasau। nirvedaṁ paramaṁ gatvā rājā duryodhanastadā ॥ vrīḍayābhiparītātmā nairāśyamagamatt param ॥03-239-11॥
"Then King Duryodhana, recalling also the words of Karṇa and Saubala, his mind overwhelmed with shame, fell into the utmost despair." (03-239-11)
suhṛdāṃ caiva tacchrutvā saman yuridam abravīt। na dharmadhanasaukh yena naiśvaryeṇa na cājñayā ॥ naiva bhogaiś ca me kāryaṃ mā vihanyata gacchata ॥03-239-12॥
Having heard that even from the friends, he, being angry, said this: "Neither for righteousness, wealth, happiness, nor for sovereignty, nor by command, nor for enjoyments, do I have any work. Do not obstruct—go." (03-239-12)
niściteyaṁ mama matiḥ sthitā prāyopaveśane। gacchadhvaṁ nagaraṁ sarve pūjyāś ca guravo mama ॥03-239-13॥
This, my determination, is settled on fasting unto death. All of you, along with my revered elders and teachers, go to the city. (03-239-13)
ta evam-uktāḥ pratyūcū rājānam-arimardanam। yā gatis-tava rājendra sāsmākam-api bhārata॥ kathaṁ vā sampravekṣyāmas-tvad-vihīnāḥ puraṁ vayam॥03-239-14॥
Thus addressed, they replied to the king, the subduer of enemies: "Whatever your course, O king, is also ours, O Bhārata. How, moreover, shall we, without you, enter the city?" (03-239-14)
sa suhṛdbhir amātyaiś ca bhrātṛbhiḥ svajanena ca। bahuprakāram apy ukto niścayān na vyacālyata॥03-239-15॥
He was not shaken from his resolve, even though he was addressed in many ways by friends, ministers, brothers, and his own people. (03-239-15)
darbha-prastaram āstīrya niścayād dhṛtarāṣṭra-jaḥ। saṃspṛśyāpaḥ śucir bhūtvā bhū-talam sam-upāśritaḥ ॥03-239-16॥
Having spread darbha grass and a stone seat with determination, the son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra touched water, purified himself, and properly took his place on the ground. (03-239-16)
kuśacīrāmbaradharaḥ paraṁ niyamam āsthitaḥ। vāgyato rājaśārdūlaḥ sa svargagatikāṅkṣayā॥ manasopacitiṁ kṛtvā nirasya ca bahiṣkriyāḥ॥03-239-17॥
O best of kings, he who wears a garment of kuśa-grass and bark, having undertaken supreme restraint and restrained his speech, with a desire for the path to heaven, having concentrated his mind and renounced external actions. (03-239-17)
atha taṃ niścayaṃ tasya budhvā daiteya-dānavāḥ। pātāla-vāsino raudrāḥ pūrvaṃ devair vinirjitāḥ॥03-239-18॥
Then, having understood his decision, the Daityas and Dānavas—fierce inhabitants of the netherworld, who were formerly conquered by the gods—(acted thus). (03-239-18)
te svapakṣakṣayaṃ taṃ tu jñātvā duryodhanasya vai. āhvānāya tadā cakruḥ karma vaitānasambhavam ॥03-239-19॥
They, having known of Duryodhana's destruction of their own side, then indeed performed an act arising from the Vaitāna (Vedic) ritual for summoning. (03-239-19)
bṛhaspatyuśanoktaiś ca mantrair mantraviśāradāḥ। atharvavedaproktaiś ca yāś copaniṣadi kriyāḥ॥ mantrajapyasamāyuktās tās tadā samavartayan॥03-239-20॥
The experts in mantras performed the rites described by Bṛhaspati and Uśanas, as well as those set forth in the Atharvaveda and in the Upanishad, even those not accompanied by mantra-recitation, at that time. (03-239-20)
juhvaty-agnau haviḥ kṣīraṃ mantravat-susamāhitāḥ. brāhmaṇā vedavedaṅgapāragāḥ sudṛḍhavratāḥ ॥03-239-21॥
The Brāhmaṇas, well-settled in mind, steadfast in their vows and accomplished in the Veda and Vedāṅgas, offer oblations of milk into the fire with proper mantras. (03-239-21)
karmasiddhau tadā tatra jṛmbhamāṇā mahādbhutā. kṛtyā samutthitā rājan kiṃ karomīti cābravīt ॥03-239-22॥
O king, when the act was completed, there arose an expanding and most wonderful magical being, who said, "What shall I do?" (03-239-22)
āhur daityāś ca tāṃ tatra suprītenāntarātmanā। prāyopaviṣṭaṃ rājānaṃ dhārtarāṣṭram ihānaya॥03-239-23॥
The daityas also, with a very pleased heart, said there: "Bring here King Dhritarashtra who has undertaken a fast unto death." (03-239-23)
tatheti ca pratiśrutya sā kṛtyā prayayau tadā. nimeṣād agamac cāpi yatra rājā suyodhanaḥ ॥03-239-24॥
Then, having thus promised, Kṛtyā departed. In the blink of an eye, she reached where King Suyodhana was. (03-239-24)
samādāya ca rājānaṃ praviiveśa rasātalam| dānavānāṃ muhūrtācc tam ānītaṃ nyavedayat॥03-239-25॥
After taking the king, he entered the netherworld, and after a moment, announced to the Dānavas that he had brought him. (03-239-25)
tamānītaṃ nṛpaṃ dṛṣṭvā rātrau saṃhatya dānavāḥ। prahṛṣṭamanasaḥ sarve kiñcidutphullalocanāḥ॥ sābhimānam idaṃ vākyaṃ duryodhanam athābruvan॥03-239-26॥
Having brought that king there and seeing him at night, the Dānavas, all with delighted minds and slightly widened eyes, gathered together. Then, with pride, they spoke these words to Duryodhana. (03-239-26)
