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.
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana spoke:
kurukṣetraṁ tato dṛṣṭvā dattvā dāyāṁśca sātvataḥ। āśramaṁ sumahaddivyamagamajjanamejaya ॥9-53-1॥
After witnessing Kurukshetra and distributing the shares, Sātvata proceeded to the magnificent and divine hermitage, O Janamejaya.
madhūkāmravanopetaṃ plakṣanyagrodhasaṅkulam। ciribilvayutaṃ puṇyaṃ panasārjunasaṅkulam ॥9-53-2॥
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.
taṁ dṛṣṭvā yādavaśreṣṭhaḥ pravaraṁ puṇyalakṣaṇam। papraccha tānṛṣīnsarvānkasyāśramavarastvayam ॥9-53-3॥
Upon seeing him, the foremost among the Yadavas, marked with auspicious signs, inquired of all the sages, 'To whom does this excellent hermitage belong?'
te tu sarve mahāt-mānam ūcuḥ rājan halāyudham। śṛṇu vistarato rāma yasyāyaṃ pūrvam āśramaḥ ॥9-53-4॥
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."
atra viṣṇuḥ purā devastaptavāṃstapa uttamam। atrāsya vidhivadyajñāḥ sarve vṛttāḥ sanātanāḥ ॥9-53-5॥
In this place, Vishnu, the god, once performed supreme penance. Here, all his sacrifices were carried out in accordance with the eternal traditions.
atraiva brāhmaṇī siddhā kaumārabrahmacāriṇī। yogayuktā divaṃ yātā tapaḥsiddhā tapasvinī ॥9-53-6॥
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.
babhūva śrīmatī rājañśāṇḍilyasya mahātmanaḥ। sutā dhṛtavratā sādhvī niyatā brahmacāriṇī ॥9-53-7॥
The auspicious daughter of the great King Shandilya was known for her firm vows, virtue, discipline, and celibacy.
sā tu prāpya paraṃ yogaṃ gatā svargamanuttamam। bhuktvāśrame'śvamedhasya phalaṃ phalavatāṃ śubhā ॥ gatā svargaṃ mahābhāgā pūjitā niyatātmabhiḥ ॥9-53-8॥
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.
abhigamyāśramaṃ puṇyaṃ dṛṣṭvā ca yadupuṅgavaḥ। ṛṣīṃstānabhivādyātha pārśve himavato'cyutaḥ ॥ skandhāvārāṇi sarvāṇi nivartyāruruhe'calam ॥9-53-9॥
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.
nātidūraṃ tato gatvā nagaṃ tāladhvajo balī। puṇyaṃ tīrthavaraṃ dṛṣṭvā vismayaṃ paramaṃ gataḥ ॥9-53-10॥
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.
prabhavaṁ ca sarasvatyāḥ plakṣaprasravaṇaṁ balaḥ। samprāptaḥ kārapacanaṁ tīrthapravaramuttamam ॥9-53-11॥
The origin and might of the Sarasvati river reached the Plaksha Prasravana, the most excellent pilgrimage site of Karapachana.
halāyudhastatra cāpi dattvā dānaṁ mahābalaḥ। āplutaḥ salile śīte tasmāccāpi jagāma ha ॥ āśramaṁ paramaprīto mitrasya varuṇasya ca ॥9-53-12॥
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.
indro'gniraryamā caiva yatra prākprītimāpnuvan। taṃ deśaṃ kārapacanādyamunāyāṃ jagāma ha ॥9-53-13॥
Indra, Agni, and Aryaman once found joy in that place. He then traveled to that region from Kārapacana along the Yamuna.
snātvā tatrāpi dharmātmā parāṃ tuṣṭimavāpya ca। ṛṣibhiścaiva siddhaiśca sahito vai mahābalaḥ ॥ upaviṣṭaḥ kathāḥ śubhrāḥ śuśrāva yadupuṅgavaḥ ॥9-53-14॥
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.
tathā tu tiṣṭhatāṃ teṣāṃ nārado bhagavānṛṣiḥ। ājagāmātha taṃ deśaṃ yatra rāmo vyavasthitaḥ ॥9-53-15॥
While they were standing there, the divine sage Nārada arrived at the place where Rāma was present.
jaṭāmaṇḍalasaṁvītaḥ svarṇacīrī mahātapāḥ। hemadaṇḍadharo rājankamaṇḍaludharastathā ॥9-53-16॥
The great ascetic, enveloped in matted hair and clothed in golden attire, bore a golden staff and a water-pot, O king.
kacchapīṃ sukhaśabdāṃ tāṃ gṛhya vīṇāṃ manoramām। nṛtye gīte ca kuśalo devabrāhmaṇapūjitaḥ ॥9-53-17॥
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.
prakartā kalahānāṃ ca nityaṃ ca kalahapriyaḥ। taṃ deśamagamadyatra śrīmānrāmo vyavasthitaḥ ॥9-53-18॥
The instigator of quarrels, who is always fond of them, went to the place where the illustrious Rama resides.
pratyutthāya tu te sarve pūjayitvā yatavratam। devarṣiṃ paryapṛcchanta yathāvṛttaṃ kurūnprati ॥9-53-19॥
After rising, they all paid homage to the sage with vows and inquired from the divine sage about the events concerning the Kurus.
tato'syākathayadrājannāradaḥ sarvadharmavit। sarvameva yathāvṛttamatītaṃ kurusaṅkṣayam ॥9-53-20॥
Then Nārada, who knows all dharmas, narrated to the king everything that had happened in the past, including the destruction of the Kurus.
tato'bravīdrauhiṇeyo nāradaṃ dīnayā girā। kimavasthaṃ tu tatkṣatraṃ ye ca tatrābhavannṛpāḥ ॥9-53-21॥
Then the son of Rohini, in a distressed voice, asked Narada about the condition of the Kshatriya and the kings who were present there.
śrutametanmaya pūrvaṃ sarvameva tapodhana। vistaraśravaṇe jātaṃ kautūhalamatīva me ॥9-53-22॥
"I have heard all this before, O sage. However, my curiosity has greatly increased upon hearing it in detail."
nārada uvāca॥
Narada said:
pūrvameva hato bhīṣmo droṇaḥ sindhupatistathā। hato vaikartanaḥ karṇaḥ putrāścāsya mahārathāḥ ॥9-53-23॥
Previously, Bhishma, Drona, the king of Sindhu, Karna, and his sons, the great warriors, were all slain.
bhūriśravā rauhiṇeya madrarājaśca vīryavān। ete cānye ca bahavastatra tatra mahābalāḥ ॥9-53-24॥
Bhūriśravā, the son of Rohiṇī, and the powerful king of Madra were present there, along with many other mighty warriors.
priyān prāṇān parityajya priyārthaṃ kauravasya vai। rājāno rājaputrāś ca samareṣv anivartinaḥ ॥9-53-25॥
Kings and princes, having forsaken their cherished lives for the sake of the beloved Kaurava, indeed, do not retreat in battles.
ahatāṁstu mahābāho śṛṇu me tatra mādhava। dhārtarāṣṭrabale śeṣāḥ kṛpo bhojaśca vīryavān ॥ aśvatthāmā ca vikrānto bhagnasainyā diśo gatāḥ ॥9-53-26॥
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.
duryodhano hate sainye pradruteṣu kṛpādiṣu। hradaṃ dvaipāyanaṃ nāma viveśa bhṛśaduḥkhitaḥ ॥9-53-27॥
Duryodhana, deeply distressed by the defeat and the fleeing of Kṛpa and others, entered the lake called Dvaipāyana.
śayānaṃ dhārtarāṣṭraṃ tu stambhite salile tadā। pāṇḍavāḥ saha kṛṣṇena vāgbhirugrābhirārdayan ॥9-53-28॥
Dhritarashtra's son was lying in the still water, and then the Pandavas, along with Krishna, tormented him with harsh words.
sa tudyamāno balavānvāgbhī rāma samantataḥ। utthitaḥ prāghradādvīraḥ pragṛhya mahatīṃ gadām ॥9-53-29॥
Rama, the strong hero, was verbally attacked from all sides. He rose from the lake, holding a great mace, ready to confront the challenge.
sa cāpyupagato yuddhaṃ bhīmena saha sāmpratam। bhaviṣyati ca tatsadyastayo rāma sudāruṇam ॥9-53-30॥
He has now joined the battle with Bhima. O Rama, it will soon become very terrible for both of them.
yadi kautūhalaṁ te'sti vraja mādhava mā ciram। paśya yuddhaṁ mahāghoraṁ śiṣyayoryadi manyase ॥9-53-31॥
If you are curious, Madhava, go quickly. Witness the dreadful battle between the disciples, if you wish.
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaishampayana spoke:
nāradasya vacaḥ śrutvā tānabhyarcya dvijarṣabhān। sarvānvisarjayāmāsa ye tenābhyāgatāḥ saha ॥ gamyatāṃ dvārakāṃ ceti so'nvaśādanuyāyinaḥ ॥9-53-32॥
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."
so'vatīryācaleśreṣṭhāt plakṣaprasravaṇācchubhāt। tataḥ prītamanā rāmaḥ śrutvā tīrthaphalaṃ mahat॥ viprāṇāṃ sannidhau ślokamagāyadidamacyutaḥ॥9-53-33॥
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.
sarasvatīvāsasamā kuto ratiḥ; sarasvatīvāsasamāḥ kuto guṇāḥ। sarasvatīṃ prāpya divaṃ gatā janāḥ; sadā smariṣyanti nadīṃ sarasvatīm ॥9-53-34॥
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.
sarasvatī sarvanadīṣu puṇyā; sarasvatī lokasukhāvahā sadā। sarasvatīṃ prāpya janāḥ suduṣkṛtāḥ; sadā na śocanti paratra ceha ca ॥9-53-35॥
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.
tato muhurmuhuḥ prītyā prekṣamāṇaḥ sarasvatīm। hayairyuktaṃ rathaṃ śubhramātiṣṭhata parantapaḥ ॥9-53-36॥
Then, repeatedly and affectionately gazing at Sarasvati, the scorcher of foes stood on the white chariot harnessed with horses.
sa śīghragāminā tena rathena yadupuṅgavaḥ। didṛkṣurabhisamprāptaḥ śiṣyayuddhamupasthitam ॥9-53-37॥
The chief of the Yadus arrived swiftly by chariot, eager to witness the battle of the disciples that was taking place.
