09.053
Library: Significance of Plaksha Prasravana, the most excellent pilgrimage site of Karapachana. Holiness of the river Sarasvati. Narada recounts the events of the war, and curious Balarama decides to see the mace battle between Bhima and Duryodhana.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana spoke:
कुरुक्षेत्रं ततो दृष्ट्वा दत्त्वा दायांश्च सात्वतः। आश्रमं सुमहद्दिव्यमगमज्जनमेजय ॥९-५३-१॥
After witnessing Kurukshetra and distributing the shares, Sātvata proceeded to the magnificent and divine hermitage, O Janamejaya.
मधूकाम्रवनोपेतं प्लक्षन्यग्रोधसङ्कुलम्। चिरिबिल्वयुतं पुण्यं पनसार्जुनसङ्कुलम् ॥९-५३-२॥
The forest, rich with Madhuka and mango trees, is densely populated with fig and banyan trees. It is also adorned with Bilva trees, considered sacred, and is filled with jackfruit and Arjuna trees.
तं दृष्ट्वा यादवश्रेष्ठः प्रवरं पुण्यलक्षणम्। पप्रच्छ तानृषीन्सर्वान्कस्याश्रमवरस्त्वयम् ॥९-५३-३॥
Upon seeing him, the foremost among the Yadavas, marked with auspicious signs, inquired of all the sages, 'To whom does this excellent hermitage belong?'
ते तु सर्वे महात्मानमूचू राजन्हलायुधम्। शृणु विस्तरतो राम यस्यायं पूर्वमाश्रमः ॥९-५३-४॥
All of them addressed the great soul, King Halayudha, saying, "Listen in detail, O Rama, to the story of this hermitage as it was in the past."
अत्र विष्णुः पुरा देवस्तप्तवांस्तप उत्तमम्। अत्रास्य विधिवद्यज्ञाः सर्वे वृत्ताः सनातनाः ॥९-५३-५॥
In this place, Vishnu, the god, once performed supreme penance. Here, all his sacrifices were carried out in accordance with the eternal traditions.
अत्रैव ब्राह्मणी सिद्धा कौमारब्रह्मचारिणी। योगयुक्ता दिवं याता तपःसिद्धा तपस्विनी ॥९-५३-६॥
Here, a Brahmin woman, who was perfected and practiced celibacy from her youth, engaged in yoga, has ascended to heaven, perfected through her penance, as an ascetic.
बभूव श्रीमती राजञ्शाण्डिल्यस्य महात्मनः। सुता धृतव्रता साध्वी नियता ब्रह्मचारिणी ॥९-५३-७॥
The auspicious daughter of the great King Shandilya was known for her firm vows, virtue, discipline, and celibacy.
सा तु प्राप्य परं योगं गता स्वर्गमनुत्तमम्। भुक्त्वाश्रमेऽश्वमेधस्य फलं फलवतां शुभा ॥ गता स्वर्गं महाभागा पूजिता नियतात्मभिः ॥९-५३-८॥
She attained the supreme state of union and went to the highest heaven. After enjoying the fruits of the horse sacrifice in the hermitage, she, being auspicious and greatly fortunate, was honored by those with disciplined minds and ascended to heaven.
अभिगम्याश्रमं पुण्यं दृष्ट्वा च यदुपुङ्गवः। ऋषींस्तानभिवाद्याथ पार्श्वे हिमवतोऽच्युतः ॥ स्कन्धावाराणि सर्वाणि निवर्त्यारुरुहेऽचलम् ॥९-५३-९॥
Having reached the sacred hermitage and seen it, the chief of the Yadus, Krishna, saluted the sages and then, beside the Himalayas, withdrew all the camps and ascended the mountain.
नातिदूरं ततो गत्वा नगं तालध्वजो बली। पुण्यं तीर्थवरं दृष्ट्वा विस्मयं परमं गतः ॥९-५३-१०॥
Tāladhvaja, the strong one, traveled not very far to the mountain and upon seeing the sacred and best of pilgrimage sites, he was filled with supreme wonder.
प्रभवं च सरस्वत्याः प्लक्षप्रस्रवणं बलः। सम्प्राप्तः कारपचनं तीर्थप्रवरमुत्तमम् ॥९-५३-११॥
The origin and might of the Sarasvati river reached the Plaksha Prasravana, the most excellent pilgrimage site of Karapachana.
हलायुधस्तत्र चापि दत्त्वा दानं महाबलः। आप्लुतः सलिले शीते तस्माच्चापि जगाम ह ॥ आश्रमं परमप्रीतो मित्रस्य वरुणस्य च ॥९-५३-१२॥
Halayudha, the mighty warrior, after offering gifts and bathing in the cold waters, proceeded to the hermitage of his friends, Mitra and Varuna, feeling very pleased.
इन्द्रोऽग्निरर्यमा चैव यत्र प्राक्प्रीतिमाप्नुवन्। तं देशं कारपचनाद्यमुनायां जगाम ह ॥९-५३-१३॥
Indra, Agni, and Aryaman once found joy in that place. He then traveled to that region from Kārapacana along the Yamuna.
स्नात्वा तत्रापि धर्मात्मा परां तुष्टिमवाप्य च। ऋषिभिश्चैव सिद्धैश्च सहितो वै महाबलः ॥ उपविष्टः कथाः शुभ्राः शुश्राव यदुपुङ्गवः ॥९-५३-१४॥
After bathing there, the righteous soul, accompanied by sages and perfected beings, found supreme satisfaction. The mighty one, seated, listened to the pure stories, being the chief of the Yadus.
तथा तु तिष्ठतां तेषां नारदो भगवानृषिः। आजगामाथ तं देशं यत्र रामो व्यवस्थितः ॥९-५३-१५॥
While they were standing there, the divine sage Nārada arrived at the place where Rāma was present.
जटामण्डलसंवीतः स्वर्णचीरी महातपाः। हेमदण्डधरो राजन्कमण्डलुधरस्तथा ॥९-५३-१६॥
The great ascetic, enveloped in matted hair and clothed in golden attire, bore a golden staff and a water-pot, O king.
कच्छपीं सुखशब्दां तां गृह्य वीणां मनोरमाम्। नृत्ये गीते च कुशलो देवब्राह्मणपूजितः ॥९-५३-१७॥
He, who is worshipped by gods and Brahmins, took the charming, tortoise-shaped lute that produces pleasant sounds, and is skilled in dance and song.
प्रकर्ता कलहानां च नित्यं च कलहप्रियः। तं देशमगमद्यत्र श्रीमान्रामो व्यवस्थितः ॥९-५३-१८॥
The instigator of quarrels, who is always fond of them, went to the place where the illustrious Rama resides.
प्रत्युत्थाय तु ते सर्वे पूजयित्वा यतव्रतम्। देवर्षिं पर्यपृच्छन्त यथावृत्तं कुरून्प्रति ॥९-५३-१९॥
After rising, they all paid homage to the sage with vows and inquired from the divine sage about the events concerning the Kurus.
ततोऽस्याकथयद्राजन्नारदः सर्वधर्मवित्। सर्वमेव यथावृत्तमतीतं कुरुसङ्क्षयम् ॥९-५३-२०॥
Then Nārada, who knows all dharmas, narrated to the king everything that had happened in the past, including the destruction of the Kurus.
ततोऽब्रवीद्रौहिणेयो नारदं दीनया गिरा। किमवस्थं तु तत्क्षत्रं ये च तत्राभवन्नृपाः ॥९-५३-२१॥
Then the son of Rohini, in a distressed voice, asked Narada about the condition of the Kshatriya and the kings who were present there.
श्रुतमेतन्मया पूर्वं सर्वमेव तपोधन। विस्तरश्रवणे जातं कौतूहलमतीव मे ॥९-५३-२२॥
"I have heard all this before, O sage. However, my curiosity has greatly increased upon hearing it in detail."
नारद उवाच॥
Narada said:
पूर्वमेव हतो भीष्मो द्रोणः सिन्धुपतिस्तथा। हतो वैकर्तनः कर्णः पुत्राश्चास्य महारथाः ॥९-५३-२३॥
Previously, Bhishma, Drona, the king of Sindhu, Karna, and his sons, the great warriors, were all slain.
भूरिश्रवा रौहिणेय मद्रराजश्च वीर्यवान्। एते चान्ये च बहवस्तत्र तत्र महाबलाः ॥९-५३-२४॥
Bhūriśravā, the son of Rohiṇī, and the powerful king of Madra were present there, along with many other mighty warriors.
प्रियान्प्राणान्परित्यज्य प्रियार्थं कौरवस्य वै। राजानो राजपुत्राश्च समरेष्वनिवर्तिनः ॥९-५३-२५॥
Kings and princes, having forsaken their cherished lives for the sake of the beloved Kaurava, indeed, do not retreat in battles.
अहतांस्तु महाबाहो शृणु मे तत्र माधव। धार्तराष्ट्रबले शेषाः कृपो भोजश्च वीर्यवान् ॥ अश्वत्थामा च विक्रान्तो भग्नसैन्या दिशो गताः ॥९-५३-२६॥
O mighty-armed one, listen to me, O Mādhava, about those who remain unharmed in the Kaurava army: Kṛpa, Bhoja, the valiant Aśvatthāmā, and the courageous ones with broken armies have scattered in all directions.
दुर्योधनो हते सैन्ये प्रद्रुतेषु कृपादिषु। ह्रदं द्वैपायनं नाम विवेश भृशदुःखितः ॥९-५३-२७॥
Duryodhana, deeply distressed by the defeat and the fleeing of Kṛpa and others, entered the lake called Dvaipāyana.
शयानं धार्तराष्ट्रं तु स्तम्भिते सलिले तदा। पाण्डवाः सह कृष्णेन वाग्भिरुग्राभिरार्दयन् ॥९-५३-२८॥
Dhritarashtra's son was lying in the still water, and then the Pandavas, along with Krishna, tormented him with harsh words.
स तुद्यमानो बलवान्वाग्भी राम समन्ततः। उत्थितः प्राग्घ्रदाद्वीरः प्रगृह्य महतीं गदाम् ॥९-५३-२९॥
Rama, the strong hero, was verbally attacked from all sides. He rose from the lake, holding a great mace, ready to confront the challenge.
स चाप्युपगतो युद्धं भीमेन सह साम्प्रतम्। भविष्यति च तत्सद्यस्तयो राम सुदारुणम् ॥९-५३-३०॥
He has now joined the battle with Bhima. O Rama, it will soon become very terrible for both of them.
यदि कौतूहलं तेऽस्ति व्रज माधव मा चिरम्। पश्य युद्धं महाघोरं शिष्ययोर्यदि मन्यसे ॥९-५३-३१॥
If you are curious, Madhava, go quickly. Witness the dreadful battle between the disciples, if you wish.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaishampayana spoke:
नारदस्य वचः श्रुत्वा तानभ्यर्च्य द्विजर्षभान्। सर्वान्विसर्जयामास ये तेनाभ्यागताः सह ॥ गम्यतां द्वारकां चेति सोऽन्वशादनुयायिनः ॥९-५३-३२॥
Upon hearing Nārada's words, he honored the best of the twice-born and dismissed all those who had accompanied him, instructing the followers, "Proceed to Dvārakā."
सोऽवतीर्याचलश्रेष्ठात्प्लक्षप्रस्रवणाच्छुभात्। ततः प्रीतमना रामः श्रुत्वा तीर्थफलं महत् ॥ विप्राणां संनिधौ श्लोकमगायदिदमच्युतः ॥९-५३-३३॥
Rama, pleased after hearing about the great benefits of the pilgrimage, descended from the best mountain, the auspicious banyan tree spring, and in the presence of the Brahmins, the infallible one sang this verse.
सरस्वतीवाससमा कुतो रतिः; सरस्वतीवाससमाः कुतो गुणाः। सरस्वतीं प्राप्य दिवं गता जनाः; सदा स्मरिष्यन्ति नदीं सरस्वतीम् ॥९-५३-३४॥
Where can one find pleasure comparable to the abode of Saraswati? Where can one find qualities comparable to the abode of Saraswati? Those who have reached heaven after attaining Saraswati will always remember the river Saraswati.
सरस्वती सर्वनदीषु पुण्या; सरस्वती लोकसुखावहा सदा। सरस्वतीं प्राप्य जनाः सुदुष्कृताः; सदा न शोचन्ति परत्र चेह च ॥९-५३-३५॥
Sarasvati is considered sacred among all rivers and is always known to bring happiness to the world. Those who reach Sarasvati, even if they have committed bad deeds, do not grieve either in this world or the next.
ततो मुहुर्मुहुः प्रीत्या प्रेक्षमाणः सरस्वतीम्। हयैर्युक्तं रथं शुभ्रमातिष्ठत परन्तपः ॥९-५३-३६॥
Then, repeatedly and affectionately gazing at Sarasvati, the scorcher of foes stood on the white chariot harnessed with horses.
स शीघ्रगामिना तेन रथेन यदुपुङ्गवः। दिदृक्षुरभिसम्प्राप्तः शिष्ययुद्धमुपस्थितम् ॥९-५३-३७॥
The chief of the Yadus arrived swiftly by chariot, eager to witness the battle of the disciples that was taking place.
