10.012
Pancharatra: Krishna tells Yudhisthira, Ashwatthama is restless and has Brahmashira weapon, and so, Bhima should be protected.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said:
तस्मिन्प्रयाते दुर्धर्षे यदूनामृषभस्ततः। अब्रवीत्पुण्डरीकाक्षः कुन्तीपुत्रं युधिष्ठिरम् ॥१०-१२-१॥
After Durdharsha, the foremost among the Yadus, had departed, the lotus-eyed Krishna spoke to Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti.
एष पाण्डव ते भ्राता पुत्रशोकमपारयन्। जिघांसुर्द्रौणिमाक्रन्दे याति भारत भारतः ॥१०-१२-२॥
O Pāṇḍava, your brother, unable to bear the grief for his son, is going in lamentation to kill Aśvatthāman, O descendant of Bharata.
भीमः प्रियस्ते सर्वेभ्यो भ्रातृभ्यो भरतर्षभ। तं कृच्छ्रगतमद्य त्वं कस्मान्नाभ्यवपद्यसे ॥१०-१२-३॥
O bull of the Bharatas, Bhima is dear to you and to all your brothers. Why do you not approach him today when he is afflicted?
यत्तदाचष्ट पुत्राय द्रोणः परपुरञ्जयः। अस्त्रं ब्रह्मशिरो नाम दहेद्यत्पृथिवीमपि ॥१०-१२-४॥
Droṇa, the conqueror of enemy cities, explained to his son the weapon called Brahmashira, which could burn even the earth.
तन्महात्मा महाभागः केतुः सर्वधनुष्मताम्। प्रत्यपादयदाचार्यः प्रीयमाणो धनञ्जयम् ॥१०-१२-५॥
The great-souled and most fortunate leader among all archers, the teacher, being pleased, entrusted Dhananjaya (Arjuna).
तत्पुत्रोऽस्यैवमेवैनमन्वयाचदमर्षणः। ततः प्रोवाच पुत्राय नातिहृष्टमना इव ॥१०-१२-६॥
Then his son Damarshana requested him in this way. Then, appearing not very pleased, he spoke to his son.
विदितं चापलं ह्यासीदात्मजस्य महात्मनः। सर्वधर्मविदाचार्यो नान्विषत्सततं सुतम् ॥१०-१२-७॥
It was well known that the son of the great-souled man was restless; the teacher, who knew all dharmas, did not constantly look for the boy.
परमापद्गतेनापि न स्म तात त्वया रणे। इदमस्त्रं प्रयोक्तव्यं मानुषेषु विशेषतः ॥१०-१२-८॥
O dear one, even if you are in the greatest danger, you must never use this weapon in battle, especially against humans.
इत्युक्तवान्गुरुः पुत्रं द्रोणः पश्चादथोक्तवान्। न त्वं जातु सतां मार्गे स्थातेति पुरुषर्षभ ॥१०-१२-९॥
After saying this, the teacher Droṇa then addressed his son again: 'You will never follow the path of the virtuous, O best of men.'
स तदाज्ञाय दुष्टात्मा पितुर्वचनमप्रियम्। निराशः सर्वकल्याणैः शोचन्पर्यपतन्महीम् ॥१०-१२-१०॥
He, realizing the unpleasant words of his father, the wicked-minded one, lost all hope for happiness and, grieving, collapsed to the ground.
ततस्तदा कुरुश्रेष्ठ वनस्थे त्वयि भारत। अवसद्द्वारकामेत्य वृष्णिभिः परमार्चितः ॥१०-१२-११॥
Then, O best of the Kurus, while you were living in the forest, O Bharata, he went to Dvārakā and was greatly honored by the Vṛṣṇis.
स कदाचित्समुद्रान्ते वसन्द्रारवतीमनु। एक एकं समागम्य मामुवाच हसन्निव ॥१०-१२-१२॥
Once, while dwelling at the edge of the ocean along the Draravati, he approached me one by one and said, as if smiling.
यत्तदुग्रं तपः कृष्ण चरन्सत्यपराक्रमः। अगस्त्याद्भारताचार्यः प्रत्यपद्यत मे पिता ॥१०-१२-१३॥
O Krishna, my father, whose valor was truth, practiced severe austerities and obtained them from Agastya, the teacher of the Bharatas.
अस्त्रं ब्रह्मशिरो नाम देवगन्धर्वपूजितम्। तदद्य मयि दाशार्ह यथा पितरि मे तथा ॥१०-१२-१४॥
O Dasharha, today I possess the weapon called Brahmashira, revered by gods and gandharvas, just as my father did.
अस्मत्तस्तदुपादाय दिव्यमस्त्रं यदूत्तम। ममाप्यस्त्रं प्रयच्छ त्वं चक्रं रिपुहरं रणे ॥१०-१२-१५॥
O best of the Yadus, after taking that divine weapon from me, please grant me your own weapon as well—the discus that destroys enemies in battle.
स राजन्प्रीयमाणेन मयाप्युक्तः कृताञ्जलिः। याचमानः प्रयत्नेन मत्तोऽस्त्रं भरतर्षभ ॥१०-१२-१६॥
O king, he, with joined palms and affection, earnestly begged me for the weapon, O best of the Bharatas.
देवदानवगन्धर्वमनुष्यपतगोरगाः। न समा मम वीर्यस्य शतांशेनापि पिण्डिताः ॥१०-१२-१७॥
Gods, demons, gandharvas, humans, birds, and serpents are not even equal to a hundredth part of my strength.
इदं धनुरियं शक्तिरिदं चक्रमियं गदा। यद्यदिच्छसि चेदस्त्रं मत्तस्तत्तद्ददानि ते ॥१०-१२-१८॥
Here are this bow, this spear, this discus, and this mace. Whatever weapon you desire from me, I will give it to you.
यच्छक्नोषि समुद्यन्तुं प्रयोक्तुमपि वा रणे। तद्गृहाण विनास्त्रेण यन्मे दातुमभीप्ससि ॥१०-१२-१९॥
Take whatever you are able to raise or use in battle, even without a weapon; whatever you wish to give me.
स सुनाभं सहस्रारं वज्रनाभमयस्मयम्। वव्रे चक्रं महाबाहो स्पर्धमानो मया सह ॥१०-१२-२०॥
O mighty-armed one, he chose the discus with a thousand spokes, a good and thunderbolt hub, and iron rim, competing together with me.
गृहाण चक्रमित्युक्तो मया तु तदनन्तरम्। जग्राहोपेत्य सहसा चक्रं सव्येन पाणिना ॥ न चैतदशकत्स्थानात्सञ्चालयितुमच्युत ॥१०-१२-२१॥
I told him, 'Take the discus.' But right after that, he quickly approached and seized the discus with his left hand. Yet, O Acyuta, he could not move it from its place.
अथ तद्दक्षिणेनापि ग्रहीतुमुपचक्रमे। सर्वयत्नेन तेनापि गृह्णन्नेतदकल्पयत् ॥१०-१२-२२॥
Then he tried to grasp it with his right hand as well, but despite all his efforts, he could not succeed in holding it.
ततः सर्वबलेनापि यच्चैतन्न शशाक सः। उद्धर्तुं वा चालयितुं द्रौणिः परमदुर्मनाः ॥ कृत्वा यत्नं परं श्रान्तः स न्यवर्तत भारत ॥१०-१२-२३॥
Then, O Bhārata, Drona's son, despite all his strength, could not lift or move it; after making every effort and becoming exhausted and deeply dejected, he turned back.
निवृत्तमथ तं तस्मादभिप्रायाद्विचेतसम्। अहमामन्त्र्य सुस्निग्धमश्वत्थामानमब्रुवम् ॥१०-१२-२४॥
Then, seeing him withdrawn from that purpose and dispirited, I addressed Aśvatthāman very affectionately and spoke to him.
यः स देवमनुष्येषु प्रमाणं परमं गतः। गाण्डीवधन्वा श्वेताश्वः कपिप्रवरकेतनः ॥१०-१२-२५॥
He, who among gods and men has reached the highest standard—Arjuna, the wielder of the Gandiva bow, with white horses and the banner of Hanuman.
यः साक्षाद्देवदेवेशं शितिकण्ठमुमापतिम्। द्वंद्वयुद्धे पराजिष्णुस्तोषयामास शङ्करम् ॥१०-१२-२६॥
He who, having been defeated in the duel, directly pleased Śaṅkara, the blue-throated Lord of lords and husband of Umā.
यस्मात्प्रियतरो नास्ति ममान्यः पुरुषो भुवि। नादेयं यस्य मे किञ्चिदपि दाराः सुतास्तथा ॥१०-१२-२७॥
There is no man on earth dearer to me than him; there is nothing of mine, not even my wives or sons, that I would not give to him.
तेनापि सुहृदा ब्रह्मन्पार्थेनाक्लिष्टकर्मणा। नोक्तपुर्वमिदं वाक्यं यत्त्वं मामभिभाषसे ॥१०-१२-२८॥
O Brahman, even by that friend, Arjuna, whose actions are tireless, you now address to me this statement which was never spoken before.
ब्रह्मचर्यं महद्घोरं चीर्त्वा द्वादशवार्षिकम्। हिमवत्पार्श्वमभ्येत्य यो मया तपसार्चितः ॥१०-१२-२९॥
Having practiced intense celibacy for twelve years and having come to the side of the Himalayas, he whom I worshipped with austerities.
समानव्रतचारिण्यां रुक्मिण्यां योऽन्वजायत। सनत्कुमारस्तेजस्वी प्रद्युम्नो नाम मे सुतः ॥१०-१२-३०॥
My son Pradyumna, also known as Sanatkumara, the brilliant one, was born to Rukmini, who followed the same vows.
तेनाप्येतन्महद्दिव्यं चक्रमप्रतिमं मम। न प्रार्थितमभून्मूढ यदिदं प्रार्थितं त्वया ॥१०-१२-३१॥
O fool, even he did not ask for this great, divine, unparalleled discus of mine, which you have now requested.
रामेणातिबलेनैतन्नोक्तपूर्वं कदाचन। न गदेन न साम्बेन यदिदं प्रार्थितं त्वया ॥१०-१२-३२॥
Neither Rāma nor Atibala, nor Gada nor Sāmba, has ever spoken or requested this before, as you have now done.
द्वारकावासिभिश्चान्यैर्वृष्ण्यन्धकमहारथैः। नोक्तपूर्वमिदं जातु यदिदं प्रार्थितं त्वया ॥१०-१२-३३॥
Neither the residents of Dvārakā nor any other great warriors among the Vṛṣṇis and Andhakas have ever before spoken what you have requested.
भारताचार्यपुत्रः सन्मानितः सर्वयादवैः। चक्रेण रथिनां श्रेष्ठ किं नु तात युयुत्ससे ॥१०-१२-३४॥
O father, the son of Bhārata’s teacher, honored by all the Yādavas and the best among chariot-warriors wielding the discus—why do you wish to fight?
एवमुक्तो मया द्रौणिर्मामिदं प्रत्युवाच ह। प्रयुज्य भवते पूजां योत्स्ये कृष्ण त्वयेत्युत ॥१०-१२-३५॥
When I spoke thus, the son of Droṇa replied to me: "O Krishna, after offering worship to you, I will fight."
ततस्ते प्रार्थितं चक्रं देवदानवपूजितम्। अजेयः स्यामिति विभो सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीमि ते ॥१०-१२-३६॥
Then I gave you the discus, worshipped by gods and demons, as you requested. You said, "May I be invincible," O Lord; truly, I say this to you.
त्वत्तोऽहं दुर्लभं काममनवाप्यैव केशव। प्रतियास्यामि गोविन्द शिवेनाभिवदस्व माम् ॥१०-१२-३७॥
O Keśava, since I have not obtained my difficult wish from you, I will now return, O Govinda; please bid me farewell with auspiciousness.
एतत्सुनाभं वृष्णीनामृषभेण त्वया धृतम्। चक्रमप्रतिचक्रेण भुवि नान्योऽभिपद्यते ॥१०-१२-३८॥
O chief of the Vṛṣṇis, this well-centered discus, held by you, is unmatched; no one else on earth can attain it.
एतावदुक्त्वा द्रौणिर्मां युग्यमश्वान्धनानि च। आदायोपययौ बालो रत्नानि विविधानि च ॥१०-१२-३९॥
Having said this, the son of Droṇa yoked the horses and treasures to my chariot; then, taking the boy, he approached various gems and riches.
स संरम्भी दुरात्मा च चपलः क्रूर एव च। वेद चास्त्रं ब्रह्मशिरस्तस्माद्रक्ष्यो वृकोदरः ॥१०-१२-४०॥
He is impetuous, wicked, restless, and cruel, and he knows the Brahmashiras weapon; therefore, Bhima (Vrikodara) must be protected.
