09.052
Library: Reason why the Kurukshetra field was ploughed by the noble Kuru.
ऋषय ऊचुः॥
The sages spoke:
प्रजापतेरुत्तरवेदिरुच्यते; सनातना राम समन्तपञ्चकम्। समीजिरे यत्र पुरा दिवौकसो; वरेण सत्रेण महावरप्रदाः ॥९-५२-१॥
The northern altar of Prajapati is known as the eternal Samantapanchaka, O Rama. It is the place where the gods once gathered, bestowing great boons through their sacrifices.
पुरा च राजर्षिवरेण धीमता; बहूनि वर्षाण्यमितेन तेजसा। प्रकृष्टमेतत्कुरुणा महात्मना; ततः कुरुक्षेत्रमितीह पप्रथे ॥९-५२-२॥
Long ago, the wise and illustrious royal sage Kuru, with his immeasurable splendor, made this place excellent for many years; hence, it became renowned here as Kurukshetra.
राम उवाच॥
Rama said:
किमर्थं कुरुणा कृष्टं क्षेत्रमेतन्महात्मना। एतदिच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुं कथ्यमानं तपोधनाः ॥९-५२-३॥
O ascetics, I wish to hear the reason why this field was ploughed by the noble Kuru.
ऋषय ऊचुः॥
The sages spoke:
पुरा किल कुरुं राम कृषन्तं सततोत्थितम्। अभ्येत्य शक्रस्त्रिदिवात्पर्यपृच्छत कारणम् ॥९-५२-४॥
Once upon a time, indeed, Kuru Rama was constantly engaged in ploughing. Indra, having descended from heaven, approached and inquired about the reason.
किमिदं वर्तते राजन्प्रयत्नेन परेण च। राजर्षे किमभिप्रेतं येनेयं कृष्यते क्षितिः ॥९-५२-५॥
"What is happening here, O King, with such effort by another? O royal sage, what is the intention behind this cultivation of the earth?"
कुरुरुवाच॥
Kuru said:
इह ये पुरुषाः क्षेत्रे मरिष्यन्ति शतक्रतो। ते गमिष्यन्ति सुकृताँल्लोकान्पापविवर्जितान् ॥९-५२-६॥
In this place, the men who fall in battle, O Indra, will ascend to the virtuous realms untouched by sin.
अवहस्य ततः शक्रो जगाम त्रिदिवं प्रभुः। राजर्षिरप्यनिर्विण्णः कर्षत्येव वसुन्धराम् ॥९-५२-७॥
With a smile, Indra then returned to heaven, the lord of the gods. Meanwhile, the royal sage, undeterred, continues to till the earth.
आगम्यागम्य चैवैनं भूयो भूयोऽवहस्य च। शतक्रतुरनिर्विण्णं पृष्ट्वा पृष्ट्वा जगाम ह ॥९-५२-८॥
Indra, repeatedly coming and mocking him, without losing heart, asked again and again and then departed.
यदा तु तपसोग्रेण चकर्ष वसुधां नृपः। ततः शक्रोऽब्रवीद्देवान्राजर्षेर्यच्चिकीर्षितम् ॥९-५२-९॥
When the king, through intense penance, pulled the earth, Indra then spoke to the gods about the intentions of the royal sage.
तच्छ्रुत्वा चाब्रुवन्देवाः सहस्राक्षमिदं वचः। वरेण च्छन्द्यतां शक्र राजर्षिर्यदि शक्यते ॥९-५२-१०॥
Upon hearing this, the gods addressed Indra, saying: "O Indra, if it is possible, let the royal sage be pleased by a boon."
यदि ह्यत्र प्रमीता वै स्वर्गं गच्छन्ति मानवाः। अस्माननिष्ट्वा क्रतुभिर्भागो नो न भविष्यति ॥९-५२-११॥
If indeed the deceased go to heaven without offering sacrifices to us, then our share will not exist.
आगम्य च ततः शक्रस्तदा राजर्षिमब्रवीत्। अलं खेदेन भवतः क्रियतां वचनं मम ॥९-५२-१२॥
Upon arriving, Indra then addressed the royal sage, saying, "Enough of your distress; please heed my words."
मानवा ये निराहारा देहं त्यक्ष्यन्त्यतन्द्रिताः। युधि वा निहताः सम्यगपि तिर्यग्गता नृप ॥९-५२-१३॥
O king, humans who either abandon their bodies without food and fatigue, or are slain in battle, even if they have gone astray, are considered noble.
ते स्वर्गभाजो राजेन्द्र भवन्त्विति महामते। तथास्त्विति ततो राजा कुरुः शक्रमुवाच ह ॥९-५२-१४॥
The king Kuru, addressing Indra, expressed his wish that they may become enjoyers of heaven, to which Indra agreed, acknowledging the king's great wisdom.
ततस्तमभ्यनुज्ञाप्य प्रहृष्टेनान्तरात्मना। जगाम त्रिदिवं भूयः क्षिप्रं बलनिषूदनः ॥९-५२-१५॥
Then, having joyfully permitted him, the destroyer of enemies quickly returned to heaven.
एवमेतद्यदुश्रेष्ठ कृष्टं राजर्षिणा पुरा। शक्रेण चाप्यनुज्ञातं पुण्यं प्राणान्विमुञ्चताम् ॥९-५२-१६॥
Thus, O best of the Yadus, this land was once ploughed by the royal sage and approved by Indra, making it sacred for those who are departing from life.
अपि चात्र स्वयं शक्रो जगौ गाथां सुराधिपः। कुरुक्षेत्रे निबद्धां वै तां शृणुष्व हलायुध ॥९-५२-१७॥
Indra, the lord of gods, himself sang a song here in Kurukshetra. Listen to it, O Halayudha.
पांसवोऽपि कुरुक्षेत्राद्वायुना समुदीरिताः। अपि दुष्कृतकर्माणं नयन्ति परमां गतिम् ॥९-५२-१८॥
Even the dust particles from Kurukshetra, carried by the wind, can lead a person who has committed evil deeds to the highest spiritual destination.
सुरर्षभा ब्राह्मणसत्तमाश्च; तथा नृगाद्या नरदेवमुख्याः। इष्ट्वा महार्हैः क्रतुभिर्नृसिंह; संन्यस्य देहान्सुगतिं प्रपन्नाः ॥९-५२-१९॥
The best of gods, the foremost of Brahmins, along with Nriga and other chief kings, worshipped Narasimha with grand sacrifices and offerings, and after renouncing their bodies, they attained an auspicious state.
तरन्तुकारन्तुकयोर्यदन्तरं; रामह्रदानां च मचक्रुकस्य। एतत्कुरुक्षेत्रसमन्तपञ्चकं; प्रजापतेरुत्तरवेदिरुच्यते ॥९-५२-२०॥
The space between the two doers crossing and the lakes of Rama and the wheel is known as the northern altar of Prajapati at the five regions surrounding Kurukshetra.
शिवं महत्पुण्यमिदं दिवौकसां; सुसंमतं स्वर्गगुणैः समन्वितम्। अतश्च सर्वेऽपि वसुन्धराधिपा; हता गमिष्यन्ति महात्मनां गतिम् ॥९-५२-२१॥
This is a highly revered and auspicious merit among the gods, endowed with heavenly qualities. Therefore, all the kings of the earth, even if they are slain, will attain the path of the great souls.
