05.121

नारद उवाच॥

Nārada said:

सद्भिरारोपितः स्वर्गं पार्थिवैर्भूरिदक्षिणैः। अभ्यनुज्ञाय दौहित्रान्ययातिर्दिवमास्थितः ॥५-१२१-१॥

Lifted to heaven by the virtuous kings who bestowed great gifts, Yayati, having given leave to his daughter's sons, ascended to heaven. (5-121-1)

अभिवृष्टश्च वर्षेण नानापुष्पसुगन्धिना। परिष्वक्तश्च पुण्येन वायुना पुण्यगन्धिना ॥५-१२१-२॥

Showered with rain fragrant with various flowers, and embraced by an auspicious wind carrying a sacred scent. (5-121-2)

अचलं स्थानमारुह्य दौहित्रफलनिर्जितम्। कर्मभिः स्वैरुपचितो जज्वाल परया श्रिया ॥५-१२१-३॥

Having ascended to the immovable place, which was surpassed by the fruit of his daughter's son, and surrounded by the merit of his own actions, he shone with supreme splendor. (5-121-3)

उपगीतोपनृत्तश्च गन्धर्वाप्सरसां गणैः। प्रीत्या प्रतिगृहीतश्च स्वर्गे दुन्दुभिनिस्वनैः ॥५-१२१-४॥

He was serenaded and danced before by hosts of Gandharvas and apsarases; he was joyfully welcomed in heaven with the sounds of drums. (5-121-4)

अभिष्टुतश्च विविधैर्देवराजर्षिचारणैः। अर्चितश्चोत्तमार्घेण दैवतैरभिनन्दितः ॥५-१२१-५॥

He was praised by various devas, royal sages, and celestial bards, honored with the highest offering by the gods, and welcomed. (5-121-5)

प्राप्तः स्वर्गफलं चैव तमुवाच पितामहः। निर्वृतं शान्तमनसं वचोभिस्तर्पयन्निव ॥५-१२१-६॥

Having attained the fruit of heaven, the grandsire spoke to him—content, his mind at peace, gratified as if with words— (5-121-6)

चतुष्पादस्त्वया धर्मश्चितो लोक्येन कर्मणा। अक्षयस्तव लोकोऽयं कीर्तिश्चैवाक्षया दिवि । पुनस्तवाद्य राजर्षे सुकृतेनेह कर्मणा ॥५-१२१-७॥

The fourfold righteousness has been established by you through visible deeds; this world of yours is imperishable, and your fame too is imperishable in heaven. Now again, O royal sage, by your virtue and actions here... (5-121-7)

आवृतं तमसा चेतः सर्वेषां स्वर्गवासिनाम्। येन त्वां नाभिजानन्ति ततोऽज्ञात्वासि पातितः ॥५-१२१-८॥

The minds of all the dwellers of heaven have been covered in darkness, so that they do not recognize you; therefore, not knowing you, you have been cast down. (5-121-8)

प्रीत्यैव चासि दौहित्रैस्तारितस्त्वमिहागतः। स्थानं च प्रतिपन्नोऽसि कर्मणा स्वेन निर्जितम् । अचलं शाश्वतं पुण्यमुत्तमं ध्रुवमव्ययम् ॥५-१२१-९॥

It is solely out of affection that you have been rescued by your grandsons and have come here; and you have attained a place won by your own actions, unshakable, eternal, blessed, supreme, firm, and imperishable. (5-121-9)

ययातिरुवाच॥

Yayāti said:

भगवन्संशयो मेऽस्ति कश्चित्तं छेत्तुमर्हसि। न ह्यन्यमहमर्हामि प्रष्टुं लोकपितामह ॥५-१२१-१०॥

O lord, I have a certain doubt; you are able to resolve it. Indeed, I am not worthy to ask anyone else, O grandsire of the world. (5-121-10)

बहुवर्षसहस्रान्तं प्रजापालनवर्धितम्। अनेकक्रतुदानौघैरर्जितं मे महत्फलम् ॥५-१२१-११॥

The great merit earned by me over thousands of years, increased by protecting the people and by floods of many sacrifices and gifts, (5-121-11)

कथं तदल्पकालेन क्षीणं येनास्मि पातितः। भगवन्वेत्थ लोकांश्च शाश्वतान्मम निर्जितान् ॥५-१२१-१२॥

How was all that lost in such a short time, by which I have been overthrown? O Lord, you know—the eternal worlds I had conquered. (5-121-12)

पितामह उवाच॥

Bhīṣma said:

बहुवर्षसहस्रान्तं प्रजापालनवर्धितम्। अनेकक्रतुदानौघैर्यत्त्वयोपार्जितं फलम् ॥५-१२१-१३॥

the reward which you obtained— increased by protecting your subjects for many thousands of years, and by a multitude of sacrifices and gifts— (5-121-13)

तदनेनैव दोषेण क्षीणं येनासि पातितः। अभिमानेन राजेन्द्र धिक्कृतः स्वर्गवासिभिः ॥५-१२१-१४॥

It was by this very fault—pride, O king—by which what you had was ruined, and you have been cast down, scorned by the dwellers in heaven. (5-121-14)

नायं मानेन राजर्षे न बलेन न हिंसया। न शाठ्येन न मायाभिर्लोको भवति शाश्वतः ॥५-१२१-१५॥

O royal sage, the world does not become enduring through pride, nor by force, nor by violence, nor by deceit or trickery. (5-121-15)

नावमान्यास्त्वया राजन्नवरोत्कृष्टमध्यमाः। न हि मानप्रदग्धानां कश्चिदस्ति समः क्वचित् ॥५-१२१-१६॥

O King, you should not disrespect those who are inferior, superior, or in between, for truly, there is no one anywhere equal to a person who has been burned by insult. (5-121-16)

पतनारोहणमिदं कथयिष्यन्ति ये नराः। विषमाण्यपि ते प्राप्तास्तरिष्यन्ति न संशयः ॥५-१२१-१७॥

Those men who recount this ordeal by descent and ascent—should they encounter difficulties, they will surely overcome them; there is no doubt. (5-121-17)

नारद उवाच॥

Nārada said:

एष दोषोऽभिमानेन पुरा प्राप्तो ययातिना। निर्बन्धतश्चातिमात्रं गालवेन महीपते ॥५-१२१-१८॥

This fault, O king, was formerly incurred by Yayāti through pride, and by Gālava due to excessive insistence. (5-121-18)

श्रोतव्यं हितकामानां सुहृदां भूतिमिच्छताम्। न कर्तव्यो हि निर्बन्धो निर्बन्धो हि क्षयोदयः ॥५-१२१-१९॥

Advice should be listened to by those who wish for the welfare and prosperity of their friends. One should not be stubborn, for such obstinacy results in both loss and gain. (5-121-19)

तस्मात्त्वमपि गान्धारे मानं क्रोधं च वर्जय। सन्धत्स्व पाण्डवैर्वीर संरम्भं त्यज पार्थिव ॥५-१२१-२०॥

Therefore, O Gāndhārī, you too should set aside pride and anger; make peace with the Pāṇḍavas, hero, and give up rage, O king. (5-121-20)

ददाति यत्पार्थिव यत्करोति; यद्वा तपस्तप्यति यज्जुहोति। न तस्य नाशोऽस्ति न चापकर्षो; नान्यस्तदश्नाति स एव कर्ता ॥५-१२१-२१॥

Whatever a king gives, does, undertakes as austerity, or offers in sacrifice—of that there is no loss nor is it ever diminished; no other enjoys it—he alone is the doer. (5-121-21)

इदं महाख्यानमनुत्तमं मतं; बहुश्रुतानां गतरोषरागिणाम्। समीक्ष्य लोके बहुधा प्रधाविता; त्रिवर्गदृष्टिः पृथिवीमुपाश्नुते ॥५-१२१-२२॥

This unsurpassed great narrative, understood by those who have heard much and are free from anger and passion—having been examined in many ways and spread throughout the world, and seen with regard to the three aims of life—attains the earth. (5-121-22)