09.052
Library: Reason why the Kurukshetra field was ploughed by the noble Kuru.
ऋषय ऊचुः॥
ṛṣaya ūcuḥ॥
[ऋषयः (ṛṣayaḥ) - sages; ऊचुः (ūcuḥ) - said;]
(The sages said:)
The sages spoke:
प्रजापतेरुत्तरवेदिरुच्यते; सनातना राम समन्तपञ्चकम्। समीजिरे यत्र पुरा दिवौकसो; वरेण सत्रेण महावरप्रदाः ॥९-५२-१॥
prajāpateruttaravedirucyate; sanātanā rāma samantapañcakam। samījire yatra purā divaukaso; vareṇa satreṇa mahāvarapradāḥ ॥9-52-1॥
[प्रजापतेः (prajāpateḥ) - of Prajapati; उत्तरवेदिः (uttaravediḥ) - northern altar; उच्यते (ucyate) - is called; सनातना (sanātanā) - eternal; राम (rāma) - Rama; समन्तपञ्चकम् (samantapañcakam) - Samantapanchaka; समीजिरे (samījire) - assembled; यत्र (yatra) - where; पुरा (purā) - formerly; दिवौकसः (divaukasaḥ) - gods; वरेण (vareṇa) - with a boon; सत्रेण (satreṇa) - with a sacrifice; महावरप्रदाः (mahāvarapradāḥ) - great boon givers;]
(The northern altar of Prajapati is called the eternal Samantapanchaka, O Rama, where the gods formerly assembled with a boon and a sacrifice, being great boon givers.)
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॥
purā ca rājarṣivareṇa dhīmatā; bahūni varṣāṇyamitena tejasā. prakṛṣṭametat kuruṇā mahātmanā; tataḥ kurukṣetramitīha paprathe ॥9-52-2॥
[पुरा (purā) - formerly; च (ca) - and; राजर्षिवरेण (rājarṣivareṇa) - by the best of royal sages; धीमता (dhīmatā) - wise; बहूनि (bahūni) - many; वर्षाणि (varṣāṇi) - years; अमितेन (amitena) - immeasurable; तेजसा (tejasā) - by the splendor; प्रकृष्टम् (prakṛṣṭam) - excellent; एतत् (etat) - this; कुरुणा (kuruṇā) - by Kuru; महात्मना (mahātmanā) - the great soul; ततः (tataḥ) - therefore; कुरुक्षेत्रम् (kurukṣetram) - Kurukshetra; इति (iti) - thus; इह (iha) - here; पप्रथे (paprathe) - became famous;]
(Formerly, by the wise best of royal sages, with immeasurable splendor, for many years, this excellent place was made by the great soul Kuru; therefore, it became famous here as Kurukshetra.)
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॥
rāma uvāca॥
[राम (rāma) - Rama; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]
(Rama said:)
Rama said:
किमर्थं कुरुणा कृष्टं क्षेत्रमेतन्महात्मना। एतदिच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुं कथ्यमानं तपोधनाः ॥९-५२-३॥
kimarthaṃ kuruṇā kṛṣṭaṃ kṣetrametanmahātmanā। etadicchāmyahaṃ śrotuṃ kathyamānaṃ tapodhanāḥ ॥9-52-3॥
[किमर्थम् (kimartham) - for what purpose; कुरुणा (kuruṇā) - by Kuru; कृष्टम् (kṛṣṭam) - ploughed; क्षेत्रम् (kṣetram) - field; एतत् (etat) - this; महात्मना (mahātmanā) - by the great soul; एतत् (etat) - this; इच्छामि (icchāmi) - I wish; अहम् (aham) - I; श्रोतुम् (śrotum) - to hear; कथ्यमानम् (kathyamānam) - being told; तपोधनाः (tapodhanāḥ) - O ascetics;]
(For what purpose was this field ploughed by the great soul Kuru? I wish to hear this being told, O ascetics.)
O ascetics, I wish to hear the reason why this field was ploughed by the noble Kuru.
ऋषय ऊचुः॥
ṛṣaya ūcuḥ॥
[ऋषयः (ṛṣayaḥ) - sages; ऊचुः (ūcuḥ) - said;]
(The sages said:)
The sages spoke:
पुरा किल कुरुं राम कृषन्तं सततोत्थितम्। अभ्येत्य शक्रस्त्रिदिवात्पर्यपृच्छत कारणम् ॥९-५२-४॥
purā kila kuruṃ rāma kṛṣantaṃ satatotthitam। abhyetya śakrastridivātparyapṛcchat kāraṇam ॥9-52-4॥
[पुरा (purā) - formerly; किल (kila) - indeed; कुरुं (kuruṃ) - Kuru; राम (rāma) - Rama; कृषन्तं (kṛṣantaṃ) - ploughing; सततोत्थितम् (satatotthitam) - constantly risen; अभ्येत्य (abhyetya) - having approached; शक्र (śakra) - Indra; त्रिदिवात् (tridivāt) - from heaven; पर्यपृच्छत (paryapṛcchat) - asked; कारणम् (kāraṇam) - the reason;]
(Formerly, indeed, Kuru Rama, constantly risen, was ploughing. Having approached, Indra from heaven asked the reason.)
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॥
kimidaṁ vartate rājanprayatnena pareṇa ca। rājarṣe kimabhipretaṁ yeneyaṁ kṛṣyate kṣitiḥ ॥9-52-5॥
[किम् (kim) - what; इदं (idaṁ) - this; वर्तते (vartate) - is happening; राजन् (rājan) - O king; प्रयत्नेन (prayatnena) - with effort; परेण (pareṇa) - by another; च (ca) - and; राजर्षे (rājarṣe) - O royal sage; किम् (kim) - what; अभिप्रेतं (abhipretaṁ) - intended; येन (yena) - by which; इयम् (iyam) - this; कृष्यते (kṛṣyate) - is being cultivated; क्षितिः (kṣitiḥ) - earth;]
(What is this happening, O king, with effort by another? O royal sage, what is intended by which this earth is being cultivated?)
"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॥
kururuvāca॥
[कुरुः (kuruḥ) - Kuru; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]
(Kuru said:)
Kuru said:
इह ये पुरुषाः क्षेत्रे मरिष्यन्ति शतक्रतो। ते गमिष्यन्ति सुकृताँल्लोकान्पापविवर्जितान् ॥९-५२-६॥
iha ye puruṣāḥ kṣetre mariṣyanti śatakrato। te gamiṣyanti sukṛtāṁllokānpāpavivarjitān ॥9-52-6॥
[इह (iha) - here; ये (ye) - who; पुरुषाः (puruṣāḥ) - men; क्षेत्रे (kṣetre) - in the field; मरिष्यन्ति (mariṣyanti) - will die; शतक्रतो (śatakrato) - O Indra; ते (te) - they; गमिष्यन्ति (gamiṣyanti) - will go; सुकृतान् (sukṛtān) - to the virtuous; लोकान् (lokān) - worlds; पापविवर्जितान् (pāpavivarjitān) - free from sin;]
(Here, the men who will die in the field, O Indra, they will go to the virtuous worlds free from sin.)
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॥
avahasya tataḥ śakro jagāma tridivaṃ prabhuḥ। rājarṣir apy anirviṇṇaḥ karṣaty eva vasundharām ॥9-52-7॥
[अवहस्य (avahasya) - smiling; ततः (tataḥ) - then; शक्रः (śakraḥ) - Indra; जगाम (jagāma) - went; त्रिदिवं (tridivam) - to heaven; प्रभुः (prabhuḥ) - lord; राजर्षिः (rājarṣiḥ) - royal sage; अपि (api) - also; अनिर्विण्णः (anirviṇṇaḥ) - undiscouraged; कर्षति (karṣati) - ploughs; एव (eva) - indeed; वसुन्धराम् (vasundharām) - the earth;]
(Smiling, then Indra went to heaven, the lord. The royal sage, also undiscouraged, indeed ploughs the earth.)
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॥
āgamyāgamya caivainaṃ bhūyo bhūyo'vahasya ca। śatakraturanirviṇṇaṃ pṛṣṭvā pṛṣṭvā jagāma ha ॥9-52-8॥
[आगम्यागम्य (āgamyāgamya) - coming again and again; च (ca) - and; एव (eva) - indeed; एनम् (enam) - him; भूयः (bhūyaḥ) - again; भूयः (bhūyaḥ) - again; अवहस्य (avahasya) - mocking; च (ca) - and; शतक्रतु (śatakratu) - Indra; अनिर्विण्णम् (anirviṇṇam) - not discouraged; पृष्ट्वा (pṛṣṭvā) - having asked; पृष्ट्वा (pṛṣṭvā) - having asked; जगाम (jagāma) - went; ह (ha) - indeed;]
(Coming again and again, and indeed mocking him again and again, Indra, not discouraged, having asked, went indeed.)
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॥
yadā tu tapasogreṇa cakarṣa vasudhāṃ nṛpaḥ। tataḥ śakro'bravīddevānrājarṣeryaccikīrṣitam ॥9-52-9॥
[यदा (yadā) - when; तु (tu) - but; तपसोग्रेण (tapasogreṇa) - with intense penance; चकर्ष (cakarṣa) - pulled; वसुधाम् (vasudhām) - the earth; नृपः (nṛpaḥ) - the king; ततः (tataḥ) - then; शक्रः (śakraḥ) - Indra; अब्रवीत् (abravīt) - said; देवान् (devān) - to the gods; राजर्षेः (rājarṣeḥ) - of the royal sage; यत् (yat) - what; चिकीर्षितम् (cikīrṣitam) - intended;]
(When, however, the king pulled the earth with intense penance, then Indra said to the gods what the royal sage intended.)
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॥
tacchrutvā cābruvandevāḥ sahasrākṣamidaṃ vacaḥ। vareṇa cchandyatāṃ śakra rājarṣiryadi śakyate ॥9-52-10॥
[तत् (tat) - that; श्रुत्वा (śrutvā) - having heard; च (ca) - and; अब्रुवन् (abruvan) - said; देवाः (devāḥ) - the gods; सहस्राक्षम् (sahasrākṣam) - to Indra; इदम् (idam) - this; वचः (vacaḥ) - speech; वरेण (vareṇa) - by a boon; च्छन्द्यताम् (cchandyatām) - be pleased; शक्र (śakra) - O Indra; राजर्षिः (rājarṣiḥ) - the royal sage; यदि (yadi) - if; शक्यते (śakyate) - possible;]
(Having heard that, the gods said this to Indra: "O Indra, if the royal sage can be pleased by a boon.")
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॥
yadi hyatra pramītā vai svargaṃ gacchanti mānavāḥ। asmānaniṣṭvā kratubhirbhāgo no na bhaviṣyati ॥9-52-11॥
[यदि (yadi) - if; हि (hi) - indeed; अत्र (atra) - here; प्रमीता (pramītā) - deceased; वै (vai) - certainly; स्वर्गम् (svargam) - heaven; गच्छन्ति (gacchanti) - go; मानवाः (mānavāḥ) - humans; अस्मान् (asmān) - us; अनिष्ट्वा (aniṣṭvā) - without offering; क्रतुभिः (kratubhiḥ) - sacrifices; भागः (bhāgaḥ) - share; नः (naḥ) - our; न (na) - not; भविष्यति (bhaviṣyati) - will be;]
(If indeed here the deceased certainly go to heaven, humans, without offering us sacrifices, our share will not be.)
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॥
āgamya ca tataḥ śakrastadā rājarṣimabravīt। alaṃ khedena bhavataḥ kriyatāṃ vacanaṃ mama ॥9-52-12॥
[आगम्य (āgamya) - having arrived; च (ca) - and; ततः (tataḥ) - then; शक्रः (śakraḥ) - Indra; तदा (tadā) - then; राजर्षिम् (rājarṣim) - the royal sage; अब्रवीत् (abravīt) - said; अलम् (alam) - enough; खेदेन (khedena) - with distress; भवतः (bhavataḥ) - your; क्रियताम् (kriyatām) - let it be done; वचनम् (vacanam) - word; मम (mama) - my;]
(Having arrived, then Indra said to the royal sage, "Enough of your distress; let my word be done.")
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॥
mānavā ye nirāhārā dehaṃ tyakṣyantyatandritāḥ। yudhi vā nihatāḥ samyagapi tiryaggatā nṛpa ॥9-52-13॥
[मानवा (mānavā) - humans; ये (ye) - who; निराहारा (nirāhārā) - without food; देहं (dehaṃ) - body; त्यक्ष्यन्ति (tyakṣyanti) - will abandon; अतन्द्रिताः (atandritāḥ) - without fatigue; युधि (yudhi) - in battle; वा (vā) - or; निहताः (nihatāḥ) - slain; सम्यक् (samyak) - properly; अपि (api) - also; तिर्यग्गता (tiryaggatā) - gone astray; नृप (nṛpa) - O king;]
(Humans who, without food, will abandon the body without fatigue, or are slain in battle, properly also gone astray, O king.)
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॥
te svargabhājo rājendra bhavantviti mahāmate। tathāstviti tato rājā kuruḥ śakramuvāca ha ॥9-52-14॥
[ते (te) - they; स्वर्गभाजः (svargabhājaḥ) - enjoyers of heaven; राजेन्द्र (rājendra) - O king of kings; भवन्तु (bhavantu) - may they become; इति (iti) - thus; महामते (mahāmate) - O great-minded one; तथास्तु (tathāstu) - so be it; इति (iti) - thus; ततः (tataḥ) - then; राजा (rājā) - the king; कुरुः (kuruḥ) - Kuru; शक्रम् (śakram) - Indra; उवाच (uvāca) - said; ह (ha) - indeed;]
(They, O king of kings, may become enjoyers of heaven, O great-minded one. So be it, thus then the king Kuru said to Indra, indeed.)
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॥
tatastamabhyanujñāpya prahṛṣṭenāntarātmanā। jagāma tridivaṃ bhūyaḥ kṣipraṃ balaniṣūdanaḥ ॥9-52-15॥
[ततः (tataḥ) - then; तम् (tam) - him; अभ्यनुज्ञाप्य (abhyanujñāpya) - having permitted; प्रहृष्टेन (prahṛṣṭena) - with joy; अन्तरात्मना (antarātmanā) - inwardly; जगाम (jagāma) - went; त्रिदिवं (tridivam) - to heaven; भूयः (bhūyaḥ) - again; क्षिप्रं (kṣipram) - quickly; बलनिषूदनः (balaniṣūdanaḥ) - destroyer of enemies;]
(Then, having permitted him with joy inwardly, the destroyer of enemies quickly went to heaven again.)
Then, having joyfully permitted him, the destroyer of enemies quickly returned to heaven.
एवमेतद्यदुश्रेष्ठ कृष्टं राजर्षिणा पुरा। शक्रेण चाप्यनुज्ञातं पुण्यं प्राणान्विमुञ्चताम् ॥९-५२-१६॥
evametadyaduśreṣṭha kṛṣṭaṃ rājarṣiṇā purā। śakreṇa cāpyanujñātaṃ puṇyaṃ prāṇānvimuñcatām ॥9-52-16॥
[एवम् (evam) - thus; एतत् (etat) - this; यदुश्रेष्ठ (yaduśreṣṭha) - O best of the Yadus; कृष्टम् (kṛṣṭam) - ploughed; राजर्षिणा (rājarṣiṇā) - by the royal sage; पुरा (purā) - formerly; शक्रेण (śakreṇa) - by Indra; च (ca) - and; अपि (api) - also; अनुज्ञातम् (anujñātam) - approved; पुण्यम् (puṇyam) - sacred; प्राणान् (prāṇān) - lives; विमुञ्चताम् (vimuñcatām) - of those who are leaving;]
(Thus, O best of the Yadus, this was ploughed by the royal sage formerly, and also approved by Indra, sacred for those who are leaving their lives.)
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॥
api cātra svayaṃ śakro jagau gāthāṃ surādhipaḥ। kurukṣetre nibaddhāṃ vai tāṃ śṛṇuṣva halāyudha ॥9-52-17॥
[अपि (api) - also; च (ca) - and; अत्र (atra) - here; स्वयम् (svayam) - himself; शक्रः (śakraḥ) - Indra; जगौ (jagau) - sang; गाथाम् (gāthām) - song; सुर-अधिपः (sura-adhipaḥ) - lord of gods; कुरुक्षेत्रे (kurukṣetre) - in Kurukshetra; निबद्धाम् (nibaddhām) - composed; वै (vai) - indeed; ताम् (tām) - that; शृणुष्व (śṛṇuṣva) - listen; हलायुध (halāyudha) - O Halayudha;]
(Also here, Indra himself, the lord of gods, sang the song composed in Kurukshetra. Indeed, listen to that, O Halayudha.)
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॥
pāṁsavo'pi kurukṣetrādvāyunā samudīritāḥ। api duṣkṛtakarmāṇaṁ nayanti paramāṁ gatim ॥9-52-18॥
[पांसवः (pāṁsavaḥ) - dust particles; अपि (api) - even; कुरुक्षेत्रात् (kurukṣetrāt) - from Kurukshetra; वायुना (vāyunā) - by the wind; समुदीरिताः (samudīritāḥ) - carried away; अपि (api) - even; दुष्कृतकर्माणम् (duṣkṛtakarmāṇam) - one who has done evil deeds; नयन्ति (nayanti) - lead; परमाम् (paramām) - supreme; गतिम् (gatim) - destination;]
(Even the dust particles carried away by the wind from Kurukshetra lead one who has done evil deeds to the supreme destination.)
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॥
suraṛṣabhā brāhmaṇasattamāśca; tathā nṛgādyā naradevamukhyāḥ। iṣṭvā mahārhaiḥ kratubhirnṛsiṃha; saṃnyasya dehānsugatiṃ prapannāḥ ॥9-52-19॥
[सुरर्षभाः (suraṛṣabhāḥ) - best of gods; ब्राह्मणसत्तमाः (brāhmaṇasattamāḥ) - best of Brahmins; च (ca) - and; तथा (tathā) - also; नृगाद्याः (nṛgādyāḥ) - Nriga and others; नरदेवमुख्याः (naradevamukhyāḥ) - chief among kings; इष्ट्वा (iṣṭvā) - having worshipped; महार्हैः (mahārhaiḥ) - with great offerings; क्रतुभिः (kratubhiḥ) - with sacrifices; नृसिंह (nṛsiṃha) - Narasimha; संन्यस्य (saṃnyasya) - having renounced; देहान् (dehān) - bodies; सुगतिम् (sugatīm) - auspicious state; प्रपन्नाः (prapannāḥ) - attained;]
(The best of gods, the best of Brahmins, and also Nriga and others, chief among kings, having worshipped Narasimha with great offerings and sacrifices, having renounced their bodies, attained an auspicious state.)
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॥
tarantukārantukayoryadantaraṁ; rāmahradānāṁ ca macakrukasya। etatkurukṣetrasamantapañcakaṁ; prajāpateruttaravedirucyate ॥9-52-20॥
[तरन्तु (tarantu) - crossing; कारन्तुकयोः (kārantukayoḥ) - of the two doers; यत् (yat) - which; अन्तरं (antaraṁ) - gap; राम (rāma) - Rama; ह्रदानां (hradānāṁ) - of the lakes; च (ca) - and; मचक्रुकस्य (macakrukasya) - of the wheel; एतत् (etat) - this; कुरुक्षेत्र (kurukṣetra) - Kurukshetra; समन्त (samanta) - surrounding; पञ्चकं (pañcakaṁ) - five; प्रजापतेः (prajāpateḥ) - of Prajapati; उत्तर (uttara) - northern; वेदिः (vediḥ) - altar; उच्यते (ucyate) - is called;]
(The gap between the two doers crossing; and of the lakes of Rama and of the wheel. This is called the northern altar of Prajapati at the five surrounding Kurukshetra.)
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॥
śivaṁ mahatpuṇyamidaṁ divaukasāṁ; susaṁmataṁ svargaguṇaiḥ samanvitam। ataśca sarve'pi vasundharādhipā; hatā gamiṣyanti mahātmanāṁ gatim ॥9-52-21॥
[शिवम् (śivam) - auspicious; महत् (mahat) - great; पुण्यम् (puṇyam) - merit; इदम् (idam) - this; दिवौकसाम् (divaukasām) - of the gods; सुसंमतम् (susaṁmatam) - well-esteemed; स्वर्गगुणैः (svargaguṇaiḥ) - with heavenly qualities; समन्वितम् (samanvitam) - endowed; अतः (ataḥ) - therefore; च (ca) - and; सर्वे (sarve) - all; अपि (api) - also; वसुन्धराधिपाः (vasundharādhipāḥ) - kings of the earth; हताः (hatāḥ) - slain; गमिष्यन्ति (gamiṣyanti) - will go; महात्मनाम् (mahātmanām) - of the great souls; गतिम् (gatim) - path;]
(This is an auspicious great merit of the gods, well-esteemed and endowed with heavenly qualities. Therefore, all the kings of the earth, even if slain, will go to the path of the great souls.)
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.
