09.052
Library: Reason why the Kurukshetra field was ploughed by the noble Kuru.
ṛṣaya ūcuḥ॥
The sages spoke:
prajāpateruttaravedirucyate; sanātanā rāma samantapañcakam। samījire yatra purā divaukaso; vareṇa satreṇa mahāvarapradāḥ ॥9-52-1॥
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.
purā ca rājarṣivareṇa dhīmatā; bahūni varṣāṇyamitena tejasā. prakṛṣṭametat kuruṇā mahātmanā; tataḥ kurukṣetramitīha paprathe ॥9-52-2॥
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.
rāma uvāca॥
Rama said:
kimarthaṃ kuruṇā kṛṣṭaṃ kṣetrametanmahātmanā। etadicchāmyahaṃ śrotuṃ kathyamānaṃ tapodhanāḥ ॥9-52-3॥
O ascetics, I wish to hear the reason why this field was ploughed by the noble Kuru.
ṛṣaya ūcuḥ॥
The sages spoke:
purā kila kuruṃ rāma kṛṣantaṃ satatotthitam। abhyetya śakrastridivātparyapṛcchat kāraṇam ॥9-52-4॥
Once upon a time, indeed, Kuru Rama was constantly engaged in ploughing. Indra, having descended from heaven, approached and inquired about the reason.
kimidaṁ vartate rājanprayatnena pareṇa ca। rājarṣe kimabhipretaṁ yeneyaṁ kṛṣyate kṣitiḥ ॥9-52-5॥
"What is happening here, O King, with such effort by another? O royal sage, what is the intention behind this cultivation of the earth?"
kururuvāca॥
Kuru said:
iha ye puruṣāḥ kṣetre mariṣyanti śatakrato। te gamiṣyanti sukṛtāṁllokānpāpavivarjitān ॥9-52-6॥
In this place, the men who fall in battle, O Indra, will ascend to the virtuous realms untouched by sin.
avahasya tataḥ śakro jagāma tridivaṃ prabhuḥ। rājarṣir apy anirviṇṇaḥ karṣaty eva vasundharām ॥9-52-7॥
With a smile, Indra then returned to heaven, the lord of the gods. Meanwhile, the royal sage, undeterred, continues to till the earth.
āgamyāgamya caivainaṃ bhūyo bhūyo'vahasya ca। śatakraturanirviṇṇaṃ pṛṣṭvā pṛṣṭvā jagāma ha ॥9-52-8॥
Indra, repeatedly coming and mocking him, without losing heart, asked again and again and then departed.
yadā tu tapasogreṇa cakarṣa vasudhāṃ nṛpaḥ। tataḥ śakro'bravīddevānrājarṣeryaccikīrṣitam ॥9-52-9॥
When the king, through intense penance, pulled the earth, Indra then spoke to the gods about the intentions of the royal sage.
tacchrutvā cābruvandevāḥ sahasrākṣamidaṃ vacaḥ। vareṇa cchandyatāṃ śakra rājarṣiryadi śakyate ॥9-52-10॥
Upon hearing this, the gods addressed Indra, saying: "O Indra, if it is possible, let the royal sage be pleased by a boon."
yadi hyatra pramītā vai svargaṃ gacchanti mānavāḥ। asmānaniṣṭvā kratubhirbhāgo no na bhaviṣyati ॥9-52-11॥
If indeed the deceased go to heaven without offering sacrifices to us, then our share will not exist.
āgamya ca tataḥ śakrastadā rājarṣimabravīt। alaṃ khedena bhavataḥ kriyatāṃ vacanaṃ mama ॥9-52-12॥
Upon arriving, Indra then addressed the royal sage, saying, "Enough of your distress; please heed my words."
mānavā ye nirāhārā dehaṃ tyakṣyantyatandritāḥ। yudhi vā nihatāḥ samyagapi tiryaggatā nṛpa ॥9-52-13॥
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.
te svargabhājo rājendra bhavantviti mahāmate। tathāstviti tato rājā kuruḥ śakramuvāca ha ॥9-52-14॥
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.
tatastamabhyanujñāpya prahṛṣṭenāntarātmanā। jagāma tridivaṃ bhūyaḥ kṣipraṃ balaniṣūdanaḥ ॥9-52-15॥
Then, having joyfully permitted him, the destroyer of enemies quickly returned to heaven.
evametadyaduśreṣṭha kṛṣṭaṃ rājarṣiṇā purā। śakreṇa cāpyanujñātaṃ puṇyaṃ prāṇānvimuñcatām ॥9-52-16॥
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.
api cātra svayaṃ śakro jagau gāthāṃ surādhipaḥ। kurukṣetre nibaddhāṃ vai tāṃ śṛṇuṣva halāyudha ॥9-52-17॥
Indra, the lord of gods, himself sang a song here in Kurukshetra. Listen to it, O Halayudha.
pāṁsavo'pi kurukṣetrādvāyunā samudīritāḥ। api duṣkṛtakarmāṇaṁ nayanti paramāṁ gatim ॥9-52-18॥
Even the dust particles from Kurukshetra, carried by the wind, can lead a person who has committed evil deeds to the highest spiritual destination.
suraṛṣabhā brāhmaṇasattamāśca; tathā nṛgādyā naradevamukhyāḥ। iṣṭvā mahārhaiḥ kratubhirnṛsiṃha; saṃnyasya dehānsugatiṃ prapannāḥ ॥9-52-19॥
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.
tarantukārantukayoryadantaraṁ; rāmahradānāṁ ca macakrukasya। etatkurukṣetrasamantapañcakaṁ; prajāpateruttaravedirucyate ॥9-52-20॥
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.
śivaṁ mahatpuṇyamidaṁ divaukasāṁ; susaṁmataṁ svargaguṇaiḥ samanvitam। ataśca sarve'pi vasundharādhipā; hatā gamiṣyanti mahātmanāṁ gatim ॥9-52-21॥
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.
