11.008
Pancharatra-Ext: Vyasa visits and consoles Dhritarashtra.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said:
विदुरस्य तु तद्वाक्यं निशम्य कुरुसत्तमः। पुत्रशोकाभिसन्तप्तः पपात भुवि मूर्छितः ॥११-८-१॥
But when he heard Vidura's words, the noble Kuru, overwhelmed by grief for his son, collapsed unconscious to the ground.
तं तथा पतितं भूमौ निःसञ्ज्ञं प्रेक्ष्य बान्धवाः। कृष्णद्वैपायनश्चैव क्षत्ता च विदुरस्तथा ॥११-८-२॥
Seeing him fallen unconscious on the ground, the relatives, Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana, the charioteer, and Vidura also gathered around.
सञ्जयः सुहृदश्चान्ये द्वाःस्था ये चास्य संमताः। जलेन सुखशीतेन तालवृन्तैश्च भारत ॥११-८-३॥
O Bharata, Sanjaya, his friends, other attendants, and the doorkeepers he approved, served with pleasantly cool water and palm leaves.
पस्पृशुश्च करैर्गात्रं वीजमानाश्च यत्नतः। अन्वासन्सुचिरं कालं धृतराष्ट्रं तथागतम् ॥११-८-४॥
They touched Dhritarashtra's body with their hands and carefully fanned him; for a long time, they stayed by his side after he had arrived.
अथ दीर्घस्य कालस्य लब्धसञ्ज्ञो महीपतिः। विललाप चिरं कालं पुत्राधिभिरभिप्लुतः ॥११-८-५॥
Then, after a long time, the king regained consciousness and, overwhelmed by grief for his son, lamented for a long while.
धिगस्तु खलु मानुष्यं मानुष्ये च परिग्रहम्। यतोमूलानि दुःखानि सम्भवन्ति मुहुर्मुहुः ॥११-८-६॥
Truly, let human nature and human attachments be condemned, for from these roots, sufferings arise repeatedly.
पुत्रनाशेऽर्थनाशे च ज्ञातिसम्बन्धिनामपि। प्राप्यते सुमहद्दुःखं विषाग्निप्रतिमं विभो ॥११-८-७॥
O lord, when one loses a son, wealth, or even relatives and connections, one experiences immense grief, as if struck by poison or fire.
येन दह्यन्ति गात्राणि येन प्रज्ञा विनश्यति। येनाभिभूतः पुरुषो मरणं बहु मन्यते ॥११-८-८॥
That which burns the limbs, destroys wisdom, and, when it overpowers a person, makes him regard death as highly significant.
तदिदं व्यसनं प्राप्तं मया भाग्यविपर्ययात्। तच्चैवाहं करिष्यामि अद्यैव द्विजसत्तम ॥११-८-९॥
This misfortune has come upon me because of a reversal of fortune. I will indeed do that today itself, O best of the twice-born.
इत्युक्त्वा तु महात्मानं पितरं ब्रह्मवित्तमम्। धृतराष्ट्रोऽभवन्मूढः शोकं च परमं गतः ॥ अभूच्च तूष्णीं राजासौ ध्यायमानो महीपते ॥११-८-१०॥
Having thus addressed his great-souled father, the knower of Brahman, Dhritarashtra became bewildered and overwhelmed with intense grief. The king then fell silent, lost in contemplation, O lord of the earth.
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा कृष्णद्वैपायनः प्रभुः। पुत्रशोकाभिसन्तप्तं पुत्रं वचनमब्रवीत् ॥११-८-११॥
Hearing those words, Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana, the revered sage, addressed his son, who was overwhelmed with grief for his own son.
धृतराष्ट्र महाबाहो यत्त्वां वक्ष्यामि तच्छृणु। श्रुतवानसि मेधावी धर्मार्थकुशलस्तथा ॥११-८-१२॥
O mighty-armed Dhritarashtra, listen to what I am about to say to you. You are learned, wise, and skilled in matters of righteousness and wealth.
न तेऽस्त्यविदितं किञ्चिद्वेदितव्यं परन्तप। अनित्यतां हि मर्त्यानां विजानासि न संशयः ॥११-८-१३॥
O Parantapa, there is nothing unknown or left to be known by you. You certainly know the impermanence of mortals—there is no doubt about it.
अध्रुवे जीवलोके च स्थाने वाशाश्वते सति। जीविते मरणान्ते च कस्माच्छोचसि भारत ॥११-८-१४॥
O Bhārata, in this impermanent world, where life inevitably ends in death, why do you grieve?
प्रत्यक्षं तव राजेन्द्र वैरस्यास्य समुद्भवः। पुत्रं ते कारणं कृत्वा कालयोगेन कारितः ॥११-८-१५॥
O King, the direct origin of this enmity has arisen; your son has been made the cause, brought about by the conjunction of time.
अवश्यं भवितव्ये च कुरूणां वैशसे नृप। कस्माच्छोचसि ताञ्शूरान्गतान्परमिकां गतिम् ॥११-८-१६॥
O king, what was destined to happen in the massacre of the Kurus has certainly occurred; why do you grieve for those heroes who have attained the highest state?
जानता च महाबाहो विदुरेण महात्मना। यतितं सर्वयत्नेन शमं प्रति जनेश्वर ॥११-८-१७॥
O mighty-armed one, know that Vidura, the high-souled, made every possible effort for peace towards you, O lord of men.
न च दैवकृतो मार्गः शक्यो भूतेन केनचित्। घटतापि चिरं कालं नियन्तुमिति मे मतिः ॥११-८-१८॥
And it is my opinion that no being can control the path made by fate, even if they try for a long time.
देवतानां हि यत्कार्यं मया प्रत्यक्षतः श्रुतम्। तत्तेऽहं सम्प्रवक्ष्यामि कथं स्थैर्यं भवेत्तव ॥११-८-१९॥
I will now explain to you what I have directly heard about the actions of the deities, so that you may attain steadiness.
पुराहं त्वरितो यातः सभामैन्द्रीं जितक्लमः। अपश्यं तत्र च तदा समवेतान्दिवौकसः ॥ नारदप्रमुखांश्चापि सर्वान्देवऋषींस्तथा ॥११-८-२०॥
Once, having overcome my fatigue, I quickly went to Indra's assembly. There I saw the gods gathered together, as well as all the divine sages led by Nārada.
तत्र चापि मया दृष्टा पृथिवी पृथिवीपते। कार्यार्थमुपसम्प्राप्ता देवतानां समीपतः ॥११-८-२१॥
O lord of the earth, there I saw the earth herself, who had come from near the gods for a specific purpose.
उपगम्य तदा धात्री देवानाह समागतान्। यत्कार्यं मम युष्माभिर्ब्रह्मणः सदने तदा ॥ प्रतिज्ञातं महाभागास्तच्छीघ्रं संविधीयताम् ॥११-८-२२॥
Then, having approached, the Earth addressed the assembled gods: "O greatly fortunate ones, the task you promised me in Brahmā's abode—let it be accomplished quickly."
तस्यास्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा विष्णुर्लोकनमस्कृतः। उवाच प्रहसन्वाक्यं पृथिवीं देवसंसदि ॥११-८-२३॥
Hearing her words, Viṣṇu, honored by all worlds, smiled and addressed the Earth in the assembly of the gods.
धृतराष्ट्रस्य पुत्राणां यस्तु ज्येष्ठः शतस्य वै। दुर्योधन इति ख्यातः स ते कार्यं करिष्यति ॥ तं च प्राप्य महीपालं कृतकृत्या भविष्यसि ॥११-८-२४॥
Duryodhana, the eldest of Dhritarashtra's hundred sons, who is well known, will accomplish your task. By gaining him, the king, you will achieve your purpose.
तस्यार्थे पृथिवीपालाः कुरुक्षेत्रे समागताः। अन्योन्यं घातयिष्यन्ति दृढैः शस्त्रैः प्रहारिणः ॥११-८-२५॥
For his sake, the kings of the earth have assembled at Kurukshetra and will strike each other down with firm weapons.
ततस्ते भविता देवि भारस्य युधि नाशनम्। गच्छ शीघ्रं स्वकं स्थानं लोकान्धारय शोभने ॥११-८-२६॥
Then, O goddess, the burden will be destroyed in battle. Go quickly to your own abode and support the worlds, O beautiful one.
स एष ते सुतो राजँल्लोकसंहारकारणात्। कलेरंशः समुत्पन्नो गान्धार्या जठरे नृप ॥११-८-२७॥
O king, this son of yours, who is a portion of Kali, has been born in the womb of Gandhari for the purpose of the destruction of the world.
अमर्षी चपलश्चापि क्रोधनो दुष्प्रसाधनः। दैवयोगात्समुत्पन्ना भ्रातरश्चास्य तादृशाः ॥११-८-२८॥
He was intolerant, restless, irascible, and difficult to subdue; by fate, brothers of a similar nature were also born to him.
शकुनिर्मातुलश्चैव कर्णश्च परमः सखा। समुत्पन्ना विनाशार्थं पृथिव्यां सहिता नृपाः ॥ एतमर्थं महाबाहो नारदो वेद तत्त्वतः ॥११-८-२९॥
Shakuni, the maternal uncle, and Karna, the closest friend, along with the assembled kings, have arisen on earth for the purpose of destruction. O mighty-armed one, Narada truly knows this matter.
आत्मापराधात्पुत्रास्ते विनष्टाः पृथिवीपते। मा ताञ्शोचस्व राजेन्द्र न हि शोकेऽस्ति कारणम् ॥११-८-३०॥
O king, your sons perished because of your own fault. Do not mourn for them, for there is truly no reason in grief.
न हि ते पाण्डवाः स्वल्पमपराध्यन्ति भारत। पुत्रास्तव दुरात्मानो यैरियं घातिता मही ॥११-८-३१॥
O Bhārata, your Pāṇḍavas have not committed even the slightest offense. It is your wicked-minded sons by whom this earth has been destroyed.
नारदेन च भद्रं ते पूर्वमेव न संशयः। युधिष्ठिरस्य समितौ राजसूये निवेदितम् ॥११-८-३२॥
Nārada had already declared this for your well-being, without any doubt, in the assembly of Yudhiṣṭhira at the Rājasūya sacrifice.
पाण्डवाः कौरवाश्चैव समासाद्य परस्परम्। न भविष्यन्ति कौन्तेय यत्ते कृत्यं तदाचर ॥११-८-३३॥
O son of Kunti, the Pāṇḍavas and the Kauravas, having come face to face, will not survive. Therefore, do what you must do.
नारदस्य वचः श्रुत्वा तदाशोचन्त पाण्डवाः। एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं देवगुह्यं सनातनम् ॥११-८-३४॥
When the Pāṇḍavas heard Nārada's words, they were filled with sorrow. All of this, the eternal divine secret, has now been revealed to you.
कथं ते शोकनाशः स्यात्प्राणेषु च दया प्रभो। स्नेहश्च पाण्डुपुत्रेषु ज्ञात्वा दैवकृतं विधिम् ॥११-८-३५॥
O lord, how can your sorrow be destroyed, and how can you feel compassion for all beings and affection for the sons of Pandu, knowing that everything is ordained by fate?
एष चार्थो महाबाहो पूर्वमेव मया श्रुतः। कथितो धर्मराजस्य राजसूये क्रतूत्तमे ॥११-८-३६॥
O mighty-armed one, I had already heard this meaning before and it was narrated at Dharmarāja's Rājasūya, the greatest of sacrifices.
यतितं धर्मपुत्रेण मया गुह्ये निवेदिते। अविग्रहे कौरवाणां दैवं तु बलवत्तरम् ॥११-८-३७॥
Dharmaputra and I made efforts in secret and communicated them; but in the Kauravas' refusal to fight, fate proved stronger.
अनतिक्रमणीयो हि विधी राजन्कथञ्चन। कृतान्तस्य हि भूतेन स्थावरेण त्रसेन च ॥११-८-३८॥
O king, the decree of Death cannot be transgressed in any way, whether by living beings, immovable objects, or anything else.
भवान्कर्मपरो यत्र बुद्धिश्रेष्ठश्च भारत। मुह्यते प्राणिनां ज्ञात्वा गतिं चागतिमेव च ॥११-८-३९॥
O Bhārata, you, devoted to action and the best among the wise, become deluded where, having known both the path and the non-path, of living beings.
त्वां तु शोकेन सन्तप्तं मुह्यमानं मुहुर्मुहुः। ज्ञात्वा युधिष्ठिरो राजा प्राणानपि परित्यजेत् ॥११-८-४०॥
But if King Yudhishthira were to see you so repeatedly tormented and bewildered by grief, he might even give up his own life.
कृपालुर्नित्यशो वीरस्तिर्यग्योनिगतेष्वपि। स कथं त्वयि राजेन्द्र कृपां वै न करिष्यति ॥११-८-४१॥
The ever-compassionate hero, who extends mercy even to animals, how could he possibly not show compassion to you, O King?
मम चैव नियोगेन विधेश्चाप्यनिवर्तनात्। पाण्डवानां च कारुण्यात्प्राणान्धारय भारत ॥११-८-४२॥
O Bhārata, by my command, by the inevitability of fate, and out of compassion for the Pāṇḍavas, you must sustain your life.
एवं ते वर्तमानस्य लोके कीर्तिर्भविष्यति। धर्मश्च सुमहांस्तात तप्तं स्याच्च तपश्चिरात् ॥११-८-४३॥
Thus, your present fame will spread in the world. And, O dear one, your virtue will be very great, and your austerity will be accomplished after a long time.
पुत्रशोकसमुत्पन्नं हुताशं ज्वलितं यथा। प्रज्ञाम्भसा महाराज निर्वापय सदा सदा ॥११-८-४४॥
O great king, just as a blazing fire arises from grief for a son, always extinguish it with the water of wisdom.
एतच्छ्रुत्वा तु वचनं व्यासस्यामिततेजसः। मुहूर्तं समनुध्याय धृतराष्ट्रोऽभ्यभाषत ॥११-८-४५॥
After hearing these words from Vyāsa, who possessed immeasurable energy, Dhṛtarāṣṭra paused for a moment and then spoke.
महताशोकजालेन प्रणुन्नोऽस्मि द्विजोत्तम। नात्मानमवबुध्यामि मुह्यमानो मुहुर्मुहुः ॥११-८-४६॥
O best of the twice-born, I am overwhelmed by a great net of grief and, repeatedly deluded, I am unable to recognize myself.
इदं तु वचनं श्रुत्वा तव दैवनियोगजम्। धारयिष्याम्यहं प्राणान्यतिष्ये च नशोचितुम् ॥११-८-४७॥
But having heard this speech of yours, which is born of divine command, I will sustain my life and survive, and I will not grieve.
एतच्छ्रुत्वा तु वचनं व्यासः सत्यवतीसुतः। धृतराष्ट्रस्य राजेन्द्र तत्रैवान्तरधीयत ॥११-८-४८॥
O king, after hearing these words, Vyāsa, the son of Satyavatī, disappeared from Dhṛtarāṣṭra right there.
