12.029
Library: Krishna narrates the conversation between sage Narada and Sṛñjaya, where various great kings like Bharata, Bhagirata, Rama, Dilipa, Mandhata, Yayati, Nahusha, Shashibindu, Chaitraratha, Rantideva, Sagara, and Prithu are narrated, and all are dead, and hence one should not be miserable because of death.
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
avyāharati kaunteye dharmaputre yudhiṣṭhire। guḍākeśo hṛṣīkeśam abhyabhāṣata pāṇḍavaḥ ॥12-29-1॥
As Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti and Dharma, remained silent, Arjuna (Guḍākeśa), the son of Pandu, spoke to Krishna (Hṛṣīkeśa).
jñāti-śokābhi-santapto dharma-rājaḥ parantapaḥ। eṣa śoka-arṇave magnas tam āśvāsaya mādhava ॥12-29-2॥
O Mādhava, the King of Dharma, scorcher of foes, is tormented by the grief of his kinsmen and is immersed in an ocean of sorrow; please console him.
sarve sma te saṃśayitāḥ punareva janārdana। asya śokaṃ mahābāho praṇāśayitumarhasi ॥12-29-3॥
O Janardana, all your followers are again doubtful. O mighty-armed, you ought to dispel this sorrow.
evam-uktas tu govindo vijayena mahātmanā। paryavartata rājānaṃ puṇḍarīkeṣaṇo'cyutaḥ ॥12-29-4॥
Thus, when addressed by Vijaya, the great-souled Govinda, the lotus-eyed Acyuta, turned the king back.
anatikramaṇīyo hi dharmarājasya keśavaḥ। bālyātprabhṛti govindaḥ prītyā cābhyadhiko'rjunāt ॥12-29-5॥
Keśava is truly not to be opposed by Dharmarāja. From childhood, Govinda has, out of affection, always been dearer than Arjuna.
sampragṛhya mahābāhur bhujaṃ candanabhūṣitam। śailastambhopamaṃ śaurir uvācābhivinodayan ॥12-29-6॥
Śauri (Krishna), grasping the sandalwood-adorned arm of the mighty-armed one, which was like a mountain pillar, spoke words of encouragement.
śuśubhe vadanaṃ tasya sudaṃṣṭraṃ cārulocanam। vyākośamiva vispaṣṭaṃ padmaṃ sūryavibodhitam ॥12-29-7॥
His face, adorned with beautiful teeth and lovely eyes, shone like a fully blossomed lotus made radiant by the sun.
mā kṛthāḥ puruṣavyāghra śokaṃ tvaṃ gātraśoṣaṇam। na hi te sulabhā bhūyo ye hatāsminraṇājire ॥12-29-8॥
O tiger among men, do not grieve and waste your body. Those who have been slain in this battlefield are not easily found again.
svapnalabdhā yathā lābhā vitathāḥ pratibodhane। evaṃ te kṣatriyā rājanye vyatītā mahāraṇe ॥12-29-9॥
Just as the gains acquired in a dream are found to be unreal upon waking, so too, O King, those warriors of the royal lineage have perished in the great battle.
sarve hy abhimukhāḥ śūrā vigatā raṇaśobhinaḥ। naiṣāṃ kaścit pṛṣṭhato vā palāyan vāpi pātitaḥ ॥12-29-10॥
All these heroes are indeed facing forward, glorious in battle; among them, not a single one has turned his back, fled, or even fallen from behind.
sarve tyaktvātmanaḥ prāṇān uddhvā vīrā mahāhave। śastrapūtā divaṃ prāptā na tāñśocitumarhasi ॥12-29-11॥
All those heroes, having given up their lives in the great battle and purified by weapons, have attained heaven; you should not grieve for them.
atraivodāharantīmam itihāsaṃ purātanam। sṛñjayaṃ putraśokārtaṃ yathāyaṃ prāha nāradaḥ ॥12-29-12॥
Right here, an ancient story is told: how Nārada spoke to Sṛñjaya, who was grieving for his son.
sukhaduḥkhairahaṃ tvaṃ ca prajāḥ sarvāśca sṛñjaya। avimuktaṃ cariṣyāmas tatra kā paridevanā ॥12-29-13॥
O Sṛñjaya, I, you, and all the people will live in Avimukta, whether in happiness or sorrow; so what is there to grieve about?
mahābhāgyaṃ paraṃ rājñāṃ kīrtyamānaṃ mayā śṛṇu। gacchāvadhānaṃ nṛpate tato duḥkhaṃ prahāsyasi॥12-29-14॥
Hear from me of the supreme great fortune of kings, which is being praised. Go attentively, O king; then you will abandon sorrow.
mṛtān mahānubhāvāṁs tvaṁ śrutvaiva tu mahīpatīn। śrutvā apanaya santāpaṁ śṛṇu vistaraśaś ca me ॥12-29-15॥
When you hear of the death of the great-souled kings, do not grieve; instead, listen to me as I tell you everything in detail.
āvikṣitaṃ maruttaṃ me mṛtaṃ sṛñjaya śuśruhi। yasya sendrāḥ savaruṇā bṛhaspatipurōgamāḥ ॥ devā viśvasṛjo rājño yajñamīyurmahātmanaḥ ॥12-29-16॥
O Sṛñjaya, listen: My Āvikṣita and Marutta are dead. The gods, creators of all, together with Indra, Varuṇa, and led by Bṛhaspati, went to the sacrifice of the great-souled king.
yaḥ spardhāmanayacchakraṃ devarājaṃ śatakratum। śakrapriyaiṣī yaṃ vidvānpratyācaṣṭa bṛhaspatiḥ ॥ saṃvarto yājayāmāsa yaṃ pīḍārthaṃ bṛhaspateḥ ॥12-29-17॥
He who brought rivalry to Śakra, the king of the gods, the hundred-sacrificed one; whom, desiring Śakra's favor, the wise Bṛhaspati explained. Saṃvarta caused that one to perform a sacrifice for the distress of Bṛhaspati.
yasmin praśāsati satāṃ nṛpatau nṛpasattama। akṛṣṭapacyā pṛthivī vibabhau caityamālinī ॥12-29-18॥
When the best among kings, the king of the virtuous, ruled, the earth, with its uncultivated land, shone, adorned with shrines.
āvikṣitasya vai satre viśve devāḥ sabhāsadaḥ। marutaḥ pariveṣṭāraḥ sādhyāś cāsan mahātmanaḥ॥12-29-19॥
At the sacrificial session of Āvikṣita, all the gods, the assembly members, the Maruts, the attendants, and the Sādhyas of the great-souled one were present.
marudgaṇā maruttasya yat somam apibanta te। devān manuṣyān gandharvān atyaricyanta dakṣiṇāḥ ॥12-29-20॥
The Marut hosts drank the Soma offered by Marutta; those gifts surpassed those given to gods, men, and Gandharvas.
sa cen mamāra sṛñjaya caturbhadrataras tvayā। putrāt puṇyataras caiva mā putram anutapyathāḥ ॥12-29-21॥
O Sṛñjaya, if my son dies, he will be four times more auspicious and more meritorious by you than your own son; therefore, do not grieve for your son.
suhotraṃ ced vaitithinaṃ mṛtaṃ sṛñjaya śuśruma। yasmai hiraṇyaṃ vavṛṣe magahvān parivatsaram ॥12-29-22॥
O Sṛñjaya, we have heard that if Suhotra, the descendant of Vaithithi, has died, then to whom did you, O Magahvan, bestow gold for a year?
satyanāmā vasumatī yaṃ prāpyāsīj janādhipa। hiraṇyam avahan nadyas tasmiñ janapadeśvare ॥12-29-23॥
When he obtained the earth called Satya, he became the ruler of the people. In that land, the rivers brought gold for the lord of the country.
kūrmān karkatakān nakrān makarāñ śiṃśukān api। nadīṣv apātayat rājan maghavā loka-pūjitaḥ ॥12-29-24॥
O king, Maghavan (Indra), honored by the world, caused tortoises, crabs, crocodiles, makaras, and śiṃśukas to fall into the rivers.
hairaṇyān patitān dṛṣṭvā matsyān makara-kacchapān। sahasraśo 'tha śataśas tato 'smayata vaitithiḥ ॥12-29-25॥
When the descendant of Vītihotra saw the fallen golden beings, fishes, crocodiles, and tortoises by the thousands and hundreds, he smiled.
taddhiraṇyamaparyantamāvṛttaṃ kurujāṅgale। ījāno vitate yajñe brāhmaṇebhyaḥ samāhitaḥ ॥12-29-26॥
That endless gold, enclosed in the land of the Kurus, was offered by the attentive sacrificer to the Brāhmaṇas in the great sacrifice.
sa cen mamāra sṛñjaya caturbhadrataras tvayā| putrāt puṇyataras caiva mā putram anutapyathāḥ || adakṣiṇam ayajvānaṃ śvaitya saṃśāmya mā śucaḥ ||12-29-27||
If he has died, O Sṛñjaya, he is four times more auspicious by your action and indeed more meritorious than a son; do not grieve for your son. One who does not give dakṣiṇā, a non-sacrificer, O Śvaitya, having passed away, do not grieve for him.
aṅgaṃ bṛhadrathaṃ caiva mṛtaṃ śuśruma sṛñjaya। yaḥ sahasraṃ sahasrāṇāṃ śvetānaśvān avāsṛjat ॥12-29-28॥
O Sṛñjaya, we have heard that Anga, Bṛhadratha too, is dead; he who released thousands upon thousands of white horses.
sahasraṃ ca sahasrāṇāṃ kanyā hemavibhūṣitāḥ। ījāno vitate yajñe dakṣiṇāmatyakālayat ॥12-29-29॥
In the great sacrifice, the sacrificer gave as gifts thousands upon thousands of maidens adorned with gold.
śataṃ śatasahasrāṇāṃ vṛṣāṇāṃ hemamālinām। gavāṃ sahasrānucaraṃ dakṣiṇāmatyakālayat ॥12-29-30॥
He gave as a gift a hundred hundred-thousands of bulls adorned with gold garlands, along with thousands of cows, in great abundance.
aṅgasya yajamānasya tadā viṣṇupade girau। amādyadindraḥ somena dakṣiṇābhirdvijātayaḥ ॥12-29-31॥
At that time, on the mountain at Vishnu's abode, Indra was gladdened by Soma and offerings, along with the twice-born (Brahmins), for the limb of the sacrificer.
yasya yajñeṣu rājendra śatasaṅkhyeṣu vai punaḥ। devānmanuṣyāngandharvānatyaricyanta dakṣiṇāḥ ॥12-29-32॥
O king, in whose sacrifices, again and again, the gifts given in hundreds in number surpassed those given to the gods, men, and gandharvas.
na jāto janitā cānyaḥ pumānyastatpradāsyati। yadaṅgaḥ pradadau vittaṃ somasaṃsthāsu saptasu ॥12-29-33॥
No one born, nor any begetter, nor any other man will give that which the limb gave as wealth in the seven Soma sacrifices.
sa cen mamāra sṛñjaya caturbhadrataras tvayā। putrāt puṇyataras caiva mā putram anutapyathāḥ ॥12-29-34॥
If my son has died, O Sṛñjaya, you have one who is four times more auspicious and more meritorious than a son; therefore, do not grieve for your son.
śibimauśīnaraṃ caiva mṛtaṃ śuśruma sṛñjaya। ya imāṃ pṛthivīṃ kṛtsnāṃ carmavatsamaveṣṭayat ॥12-29-35॥
O Sṛñjaya, we have heard that Śibi, the descendant of Ushīnara, who had enveloped this entire earth like a hide, is dead.
mahatā rathaghoṣeṇa pṛthivīmanunādayan। ekacchatrāṃ mahīṃ cakre jaitreṇaikarathena yaḥ ॥12-29-36॥
He, who, with the mighty sound of his chariot, made the earth echo and brought it under one rule with his victorious single chariot.
yāvadadya gavāśvaṃ syādāraṇyaiḥ paśubhiḥ saha। tāvatīḥ pradadau gāḥ sa śibirauśīnaro'dhvare ॥12-29-37॥
Śibi, the king of the Uśīnaras, gave as many cows in the sacrifice as there are cows and horses today together with the animals of the forest-dwellers.
nodyantāraṃ dhuraṃ tasya kañcinmene prajāpatiḥ। na bhūtaṃ na bhaviṣyantaṃ sarvarājasu bhārata ॥ anyatrāuśīnarācchaibyādrājarṣerindravikramāt ॥12-29-38॥
O Bharata, Prajapati considered that, among all kings, there was no one in the past or future who could bear his burden, except for the royal sage of Indra-like prowess, from Ushinara and Shaibya.
sa cen mamāra sṛñjaya caturbhadrataras tvayā। putrāt puṇyataras caiva mā putram anutapyathāḥ॥ adakṣiṇam ayajvānaṃ taṃ vai saṃśāmya mā śucaḥ॥12-29-39॥
If he has died, O Sṛñjaya, know that by you he is four times more blessed and more meritorious than a son; do not grieve for your son. Understand that one who does not give gifts and does not perform sacrifices is not worthy of sorrow.
bharataṃ caiva dauḥṣantiṃ mṛtaṃ sṛñjaya śuśruma। śākuntaliṃ maheṣvāsaṃ bhūridraviṇatejasam ॥12-29-40॥
O Sṛñjaya, we have heard that Bharata, the son of Duḥṣanta, the descendant of Śakuntalā, the great archer endowed with great wealth and energy, is dead.
yo baddhvā triṃśato hyaśvāndevebhyo yamunāmanu। sarasvatīṃ viṃśatiṃ ca gaṅgāmanu caturdaśa ॥12-29-41॥
He who, having bound thirty horses for the gods along the Yamunā, twenty along the Sarasvatī, and fourteen along the Gaṅgā.
aśvamedhasahasreṇa rājasūyaśatena ca। iṣṭavān sa mahātejā dauḥṣantirbharataḥ purā ॥12-29-42॥
Long ago, Bharata, the illustrious descendant of Duḥṣanta, performed a thousand aśvamedha and a hundred rājasūya sacrifices.
bharatasya mahatkarma sarvarājasu pārthivāḥ। khaṃ martyā iva bāhubhyāṃ nānugantumaśaknuvan ॥12-29-43॥
The great deed of Bharata among all kings was such that the other earthly kings, like mortals trying to reach the sky with their arms, were unable to follow him.
paraṃ sahasrādyo baddhvā hayānvedīṃ vicitya ca। sahasraṃ yatra padmānāṃ kaṇvāya bharato dadau ॥12-29-44॥
Bharata, having tied horses beyond a thousand and constructed the altar, gave a thousand lotuses to Kaṇva.
sa cen mamāra sṛñjaya caturbhadrataras tvayā। putrāt puṇyataras caiva mā putram anutapyathāḥ ॥12-29-45॥
If my son dies, O Sṛñjaya, he is by you four times more auspicious and indeed more meritorious than your son; therefore, do not grieve for your son.
rāmaṃ dāśarathiṃ caiva mṛtaṃ śuśruma sṛñjaya। yo'nvakampata vai nityaṃ prajāḥ putrānivaurāsān ॥12-29-46॥
O Sṛñjaya, we have heard that Rāma, the son of Daśaratha, is dead—the one who always showed compassion to his subjects as if they were his own sons.
vidhavā yasya viṣaye nānāthāḥ kāścanābhavan। sarvasyāsītpitṛsamo rāmo rājyaṃ yadānvaśāt ॥12-29-47॥
When Rama ruled the kingdom, there was not a single widow without a protector in his territory. Rama was like a father to all.
kālavarṣāś ca parjanyāḥ sasyāni rasavanti ca। nityaṃ subhikṣam evāsīd rāme rājyaṃ praśāsati ॥12-29-48॥
When Rāma ruled the kingdom, there were timely rains, the clouds poured, the crops were full of sap, and there was always abundance.
prāṇino nāpsu majjanti nānarthe pāvako'dahat। na vyālajaṃ bhayaṃ cāsīdrāme rājyaṃ praśāsati ॥12-29-49॥
When Rāma ruled the kingdom, living beings did not drown in water, fire did not burn in calamity, and there was no fear from serpents.
āsan varṣasahasrāṇi tathā putrasahasrikāḥ। arogāḥ sarvasiddhārthāḥ prajā rāme praśāsati॥12-29-50॥
During the reign of Rāma, the subjects lived for thousands of years, had thousands of sons, were free from disease, and all their aims were fulfilled.
nānyonyena vivādo'bhūtsstrīṇāmapi kuto nṛṇām। dharmanityāḥ prajāścāsan rāme rājyaṃ praśāsati ॥12-29-51॥
There was no quarrel among women, so how could there be among men? The subjects were steadfast in dharma when Rāma ruled the kingdom.
nityapuṣpaphalāścaiva pādapā nirupadravāḥ। sarvā droṇadughā gāvo rāme rājyaṃ praśāsati ॥12-29-52॥
When Rāma ruled the kingdom, the trees always bore flowers and fruits, were free from disturbance, and all cows yielded a drona of milk.
sa caturdaśa varṣāṇi vane proṣya mahātapāḥ। daśāśvamedhāñjārūthyānājahāra nirargalān ॥12-29-53॥
After spending fourteen years in the forest, the great ascetic performed ten Aśvamedha sacrifices with all proper rites and without any hindrance.
śyāmo yuvā lohitākṣo mattavāraṇavikramaḥ। daśa varṣasahasrāṇi rāmo rājyamakārayat ॥12-29-54॥
Rama, dark-complexioned, youthful, and red-eyed, possessing the strength of an intoxicated elephant, ruled the kingdom for ten thousand years.
sa cen mamāra sṛñjaya caturbhadrataras tvayā। putrāt puṇyataras caiva mā putram anutapyathāḥ ॥12-29-55॥
If he has died, O Sṛñjaya, he is by you four times more blessed and indeed more meritorious than your son; therefore, do not grieve for your son.
bhagīrathaṃ ca rājānaṃ mṛtaṃ śuśruma sṛñjaya। yasyendro vitate yajñe somaṃ pītvā madotkaṭaḥ ॥12-29-56॥
O Sṛñjaya, we have heard that Bhagīratha, the king, is dead; in whose grand sacrifice Indra, having drunk Soma, became intoxicated.
asurāṇāṃ sahasrāṇi bahūni surasattamaḥ। ajayadbāhuvīryeṇa bhagavānpākaśāsanaḥ ॥12-29-57॥
O best of the gods, Indra, the blessed subduer of Pāka, conquered many thousands of asuras by the strength of his arms.
yaḥ sahasraṃ sahasrāṇāṃ kanyā hemavibhūṣitāḥ। ījāno vitate yajñe dakṣiṇāmatyakālayat ॥12-29-58॥
He who, in the great sacrifice, gave away as gifts thousands upon thousands of maidens adorned with gold.
sarvā rathagatāḥ kanyā rathāḥ sarve caturyujaḥ। rathe rathe śataṃ nāgāḥ padmino hemamālinaḥ ॥12-29-59॥
All the maidens were on chariots, and all the chariots were drawn by four horses; in each chariot, there were a hundred elephants with lotus-standards and adorned with golden garlands.
sahasramaśvā ekaikaṃ hastinaṃ pṛṣṭhato'nvayuḥ। gavāṃ sahasramaśve'śve sahasraṃ gavyajāvikam ॥12-29-60॥
A thousand horses followed each elephant from behind. On each horse, there were a thousand cows, and a thousand goats and sheep.
upahvare nivasato yasyāṅke niṣasāda ha। gaṅgā bhāgīrathī tasmādurvaśī hyabhavatpurā ॥12-29-61॥
While he was dwelling at the riverbank, Gaṅgā Bhāgīrathī sat on his lap; from him, Urvaśī was formerly born.
bhūridakṣiṇamikṣvākuṃ yajamānaṃ bhagīratham। trilokapathagā gaṅgā duhitṛtvamupeyuṣī ॥12-29-62॥
Gaṅgā, who traverses the three worlds, became the daughter of the generous sacrificer Bhagīratha, a descendant of Ikṣvāku.
sa cen mamāra sṛñjaya caturbhadrataras tvayā। putrāt puṇyataras caiva mā putram anutapyathāḥ ॥12-29-63॥
If he has died, O Sṛñjaya, know that he is by you four times more auspicious and more meritorious than your son; therefore, do not grieve for your son.
dilīpaṃ caiva ilavilaṃ mṛtaṃ śuśruma sṛñjaya। yasya karmāṇi bhūrīṇi kathayanti dvijātayaḥ ॥12-29-64॥
O Sṛñjaya, we have heard that Dilīpa and Ilavila are dead; the Brāhmaṇas recount their many deeds.
imāṃ vai vasusampannāṃ vasudhāṃ vasudhādhipaḥ। dadau tasminmahāyajñe brāhmaṇebhyaḥ samāhitaḥ ॥12-29-65॥
The lord of the earth, with full concentration, gave this earth, endowed with wealth, to the Brāhmaṇas during that great sacrifice.
tasyeha yajamānasya yajñe yajñe purohitaḥ। sahasraṃ vāraṇān haimān dakṣiṇām atyakālayat ॥12-29-66॥
Here, in each sacrifice of that sacrificer, the priest caused a thousand golden elephants to be given as gifts.
yasya yajñe mahān āsīd yūpaḥ śrīmān hiraṇmayaḥ। taṃ devāḥ karma kurvāṇāḥ śakra-jyeṣṭhā upāśrayan ॥12-29-67॥
In his sacrifice, there was a great and splendid golden sacrificial post; the gods, led by Indra, approached it while performing the ritual acts.
caṣālo yasya sauvarṇas tasmin yūpe hiraṇmaye। nanṛtur devagandharvāḥ ṣaṭsahasrāṇi saptadhā ॥12-29-68॥
On the sacrificial post with a golden peg, six thousand divine Gandharvas danced in seven ways.
avādayattatra vīṇāṃ madhye viśvāvasuḥ svayam। sarvabhūtānyamanyanta mama vādayatītyayam ॥12-29-69॥
Viśvāvasu himself played the vīṇā there in the midst, and all beings thought: "This one is playing my instrument."
etad rājño dilīpasya rājānaḥ na anucakrire। yat striyaḥ hema-sampannāḥ pathi mattāḥ sma śerate॥12-29-70॥
The kings did not follow this example of King Dilīpa, where women adorned with gold, intoxicated, would indeed lie on the path.
rājānam ugradhanvānaṃ dilīpaṃ satyavādinam। ye'paśyan sumahātmānaṃ te'pi svargajito narāḥ ॥12-29-71॥
Those men who saw King Dilipa, mighty-armed and truth-speaking, the very great-souled one, they too became conquerors of heaven.
trayaḥ śabdā na jīryante dilīpasya niveśane। svādhyāyaghoṣo jyāghoṣo dīyatāmiti caiva hi ॥12-29-72॥
In the house of Dilīpa, three sounds are ever-present: the chanting of study, the twang of the bowstring, and the words 'let it be given.'
sa cen mamāra sṛñjaya caturbhadrataras tvayā। putrāt puṇyataras caiva mā putram anutapyathāḥ ॥12-29-73॥
If my son has died, O Sṛñjaya, then by you he will be four times more auspicious and more meritorious than your son; therefore, do not grieve for your son.
māndhātāraṃ yauvanāśvaṃ mṛtaṃ śuśruma sṛñjaya। yaṃ devā maruto garbhaṃ pituḥ pārśvādapāharan ॥12-29-74॥
O Sṛñjaya, we have heard that Māndhātā, the son of Yauvanāśva, has died; he whom the gods, the Maruts, took as an embryo from his father's side.
saṁvṛddho yuvanāśvasya jaṭhare yo mahātmanaḥ। pṛṣadājyodbhavaḥ śrīmāṁstrilokavijayī nṛpaḥ ॥12-29-75॥
The king, illustrious and conqueror of the three worlds, who was born from pṛṣadājya and grew in the womb of the great-souled Yuvanāśva.
yaṃ dṛṣṭvā piturutsaṅge śayānaṃ devarūpiṇam। anyonyam abruvan devāḥ kam ayaṃ dhāsyatīti vai ॥12-29-76॥
Seeing him, who had the form of a god, lying in his father's lap, the gods said to one another, 'Who will bear this one?'
māmeva dhāsyatītyevam indro abhyavapadyata। māndhāteti tataḥ tasya nāma cakre śatakratuḥ ॥12-29-77॥
Indra accepted, 'He will hold only me.' Therefore, Śatakratuḥ gave him the name Māndhātā.
tatastu payaso dhārāṃ puṣṭihetormahātmanaḥ। tasyāsye yauvanāśvasya pāṇirindrasya cāsravat ॥12-29-78॥
Then, for the nourishment of the great-souled Yauvanāśva, a stream of water flowed from his mouth, as if it were the hand of Indra.
taṃ piban-pāṇim-indrasya samāmahnā vyavardhata. sa āsīd-dvādaśasamo dvādaśāhena pārthiva ॥12-29-79॥
O king, as he drank Indra's hand, he grew by a year each day, and in twelve days he became as if twelve years old.
tam iyaṃ pṛthivī sarvā ekāhnā samapadyata। dharmātmānaṃ mahātmānaṃ śūram indrasamaṃ yudhi ॥12-29-80॥
He conquered this entire earth in a single day. In battle, he was a righteous, great-souled, heroic man equal to Indra.
ya āṅgāraṃ hi nṛpatiṃ maruttamasitaṃ gayam। aṅgaṃ bṛhadrathaṃ caiva māndhātā samare'jayat ॥12-29-81॥
Māndhātā, in battle, conquered Aṅgāra the king, Marutta, Asita, Gaya, Aṅga, and Bṛhadratha.
yauvanāśvo yadāṅgāraṃ samare samayodhayat। visphārairdhanuṣo devā dyaurabhedīti menire ॥12-29-82॥
When Yauvanāśva fought with Aṅgāra in battle, the twangings of his bow made the gods think that the sky itself had been split.
yataḥ sūrya udeti sma yatra ca pratitiṣṭhati। sarvaṃ tad yauvanāśvasya māndhātuḥ kṣetram ucyate ॥12-29-83॥
The entire region from where the sun rises to where it sets is said to be the territory of Yauvanāśva Māndhātṛ.
aśvamedhaśateneṣṭvā rājasūyaśatena ca। adadād rohitān matsyān brāhmaṇebhyo mahīpatiḥ ॥12-29-84॥
After performing a hundred aśvamedha and a hundred rājasūya sacrifices, the king gave red fishes to the brāhmaṇas.
hairaṇyānyojanotsedhānāyatāndaśayojanam। atiriktaāndvijātibhyo vyabhajannitare janāḥ ॥12-29-85॥
The golden objects, each ten yojanas in height and length, the additional ones, were distributed to the twice-born; the rest were given to the other people.
sa cen mamāra sṛñjaya caturbhadrataras tvayā। putrāt puṇyataras caiva mā putram anutapyathāḥ ॥12-29-86॥
If my son dies, O Sṛñjaya, know that by you he is four times more auspicious and more meritorious than a son; therefore, do not grieve for your son.
yayātiṃ nāhuṣaṃ caiva mṛtaṃ śuśruma sṛñjaya। ya imāṃ pṛthivīṃ sarvāṃ vijitya sahasāgarām ॥12-29-87॥
O Sṛñjaya, we have heard that Yayāti and Nahusha, who conquered this entire earth together with the oceans, are dead.
śamyāpātenābhyatīyādvedībhiś citrayann ṛpa। ījānaḥ kratubhiḥ puṇyaiḥ paryagacchad vasundharām ॥12-29-88॥
The king, by casting the goad and adorning the altars, performing meritorious sacrifices, traversed the earth.
iṣṭvā kratusahasreṇa vājimēdhaśatēna ca। tarpayāmāsa dēvēndraṃ tribhiḥ kāñcanaparvataiḥ ॥12-29-89॥
After performing a thousand sacrifices and a hundred horse-sacrifices, he satisfied Indra, the king of the gods, by offering three golden mountains.
vyūḍhe devāsure yuddhe hatvā daiteyadānavān। vyabhajat pṛthivīṃ kṛtsnāṃ yayātir nahuṣātmajaḥ ॥12-29-90॥
When the battle between the gods and asuras was arrayed, Yayāti, the son of Nahusha, having slain the Daiteya and Dānava demons, divided the whole earth.
anteṣu putrān nikṣipya yadudruhyupurogamān। pūruṃ rājye'bhiṣicya sve sadāraḥ prasthito vanam ॥12-29-91॥
Having entrusted his sons Yadu, Druhya, and others with leadership, and having installed Puru as king, he set out to the forest with his wife.
sa cen mamāra sṛñjaya caturbhadrataras tvayā। putrāt puṇyataras caiva mā putram anutapyathāḥ ॥12-29-92॥
O Sṛñjaya, if my son is dead, then by you one who is four times more auspicious and more meritorious than a son has been gained; therefore, do not grieve for your son.
ambarīṣaṃ ca nābhāgaṃ mṛtaṃ śuśruma sṛñjaya। yaṃ prajā vavrire puṇyaṃ goptāraṃ nṛpasattama ॥12-29-93॥
O Sṛñjaya, we have heard that Ambarīṣa and Nābhāga, the virtuous protectors and best among kings, were chosen by their subjects, though now dead.
yaḥ sahasraṃ sahasrāṇāṃ rājñām ayuta yājinām | ījānaḥ vitate yajñe brāhmaṇebhyaḥ samāhitaḥ ॥12-29-94॥
He who, as a devoted worshipper in the great sacrifice, gives away the wealth of thousands of kings and ten thousand sacrificers to the Brāhmaṇas.
naitatpūrve janāścakrurna kariṣyanti cāpare। ityambarīṣaṃ nābhāgamanvamodanta dakṣiṇāḥ ॥12-29-95॥
No one in the past has done this, nor will others in the future; thus, at Ambarīṣa, the priests rejoiced with Nābhāga.
śataṃ rājasahasrāṇi śataṃ rājaśatāni ca। sarve'śvamedhairījānāste'bhayurdakṣiṇāyanam ॥12-29-96॥
Hundreds of thousands of kings and hundreds of groups of kings, all performers of horse-sacrifices, approached the southern path.
sa cen mamāra sṛñjaya caturbhadrataras tvayā। putrāt puṇyataras caiva mā putram anutapyathāḥ ॥12-29-97॥
If my son has died, O Sṛñjaya, he is four times more auspicious and more meritorious by you than your own son; therefore, do not grieve for your son.
śaśabinduṃ caitrarathaṃ mṛtaṃ śuśruma sṛñjaya। yasya bhāryāsahasrāṇāṃ śatam āsīn mahātmanaḥ ॥12-29-98॥
O Sṛñjaya, we have heard that Śaśabindu Caitraratha, the great-souled one, who had a hundred out of thousands of wives, is dead.
sahasraṃ tu sahasrāṇāṃ yasyāsañśāśabindavaḥ। hiraṇyakavacāḥ sarve sarve cottamadhanvinaḥ ॥12-29-99॥
Among thousands, there were a thousand descendants of Śaśabindu, all of whom wore golden armor and were excellent archers.
śataṃ kanyā rājaputram ekaikaṃ pṛṣṭhato'nvayuḥ। kanyāṃ kanyāṃ śataṃ nāgā nāgaṃ nāgaṃ śataṃ rathāḥ ॥12-29-100॥
A hundred maidens followed each prince from behind. For each maiden, a hundred elephants, and for each elephant, a hundred chariots.
rathaṃ rathaṃ śataṃ cāśvā deśajā hemamālinaḥ। aśvamaśvaṃ śataṃ gāvo gāṃ gāṃ tadvadajāvikam ॥12-29-101॥
A hundred chariots, each with native horses adorned with gold; a hundred horses, cows, and likewise goats and sheep.
etaddhanamaparyantam aśvamedhe mahāmakhe। śaśabindur mahārāja brāhmaṇebhyaḥ samādiśat ॥12-29-102॥
At the great horse-sacrifice, King Śaśabindu gave this inexhaustible wealth to the Brāhmaṇas.
sa cen mamāra sṛñjaya caturbhadrataras tvayā। putrāt puṇyataras caiva mā putram anutapyathāḥ ॥12-29-103॥
If he has died, O Sṛñjaya, know that he is by you four times more auspicious and more meritorious than a son; therefore, do not grieve for your son.
gayamāmūrtarayaṃsaṃ mṛtaṃ śuśruma sṛñjaya। yaḥ sa varṣaśataṃ rājā hutaśiṣṭāśano'bhavat ॥12-29-104॥
O Sṛñjaya, it is said that King Gaya, who had an incorporeal essence and ate the remnants of offerings, lived for a hundred years and then died.
yasmai vahnir varān prādāt tato vavre varān gayaḥ। dadato me'kṣayā cāstu dharme śraddhā ca vardhatām॥12-29-105॥
To whom Agni granted boons, then Gaya chose those boons. May there be inexhaustibility for me in giving, and may faith in dharma increase.
mano me ramatāṃ satye tvatprasādāddhutāśana। lebhe ca kāmāṃstānsarvānpāvakāditi naḥ śrutam ॥12-29-106॥
May my mind find joy in truth; by your grace, O Fire-consumer, we have heard that all those desires were obtained from Pāvaka (Agni).
darśena paurṇamāsena cāturmāsyaiḥ punaḥ punaḥ। ayajatsa mahātejāḥ sahasraṃ parivatsarān ॥12-29-107॥
He of great energy performed the Darśa, Paurnamasa, and Cāturmāsya sacrifices again and again for a thousand years.
śataṃ gavāṃ sahasrāṇi śatamaśvaśatāni ca। utthāyotthāya vai prādātsahasraṃ parivatsarān ॥12-29-108॥
He gave hundreds of cows, thousands, and hundreds of horses; having risen again and again, indeed, he gave for a thousand years.
tarpayāmāsa somena devān vittair dvijān api। pitṝn svadhābhiḥ kāmaiś ca striyaḥ svāḥ puruṣarṣabha ॥12-29-109॥
O best of men, he gratified the gods with Soma, the Brahmins with wealth, the ancestors with oblations, and his own women with desired objects.
sauvarṇāṃ pṛthivīṃ kṛtvā daśavyāmāṃ dvirāyatām। dakṣiṇāmadadadrājā vājimēdhamahāmakhē ॥12-29-110॥
The king, having fashioned a golden earth ten yojanas wide and twice as long, gave it as a ritual gift (dakṣiṇā) at the great aśvamedha sacrifice.
yāvatyaḥ sikatā rājan gaṅgāyāḥ puruṣarṣabha। tāvatīr eva gāḥ prādād amūrtarayaso gayaḥ ॥12-29-111॥
O king, as many grains of sand as are in the Gaṅgā, that many cows did Gaya, of immeasurable merit, give.
sa cen mamāra sṛñjaya caturbhadrataras tvayā। putrāt puṇyataras caiva mā putram anutapyathāḥ ॥12-29-112॥
O Sṛñjaya, if my son is four times more auspicious and more meritorious than your son, then do not grieve for your son.
rantidevaṃ ca sāṅkṛtyaṃ mṛtaṃ śuśruma sṛñjaya। samyag ārādhya yaḥ śakraṃ varaṃ lebhe mahāyaśāḥ ॥12-29-113॥
O Sṛñjaya, we have heard that Rantideva and Sāṅkṛtya, both now dead, were greatly renowned for having properly worshipped Indra and obtained a boon from him.
annaṃ ca no bahu bhaved-atithīṃś-ca labhemahi। śraddhā ca no mā vyagaman-mā ca yāciṣma kañcana ॥12-29-114॥
May we have abundant food, may we receive guests; may faith not leave us, and may we not have to beg from anyone.
upātiṣṭhanta paśavaḥ svayaṃ taṃ saṃśitavratam। grāmyāraṇyā mahātmānaṃ rantidevaṃ yaśasvinam ॥12-29-115॥
Both domestic and wild animals themselves approached and served the great-souled and illustrious Rantideva, who was firm in his vows.
mahānadī carmarāśerutkledātsusruve yataḥ। tataścarmaṇvatītyevaṃ vikhyātā sā mahānadī ॥12-29-116॥
The great river originated from a heap of skins due to their soaking; therefore, that great river became well-known as Carmaṇvatī.
brāhmaṇebhyo dadau niṣkānsadasi pratate nṛpaḥ। tubhyaṃ tubhyaṃ niṣkamiti yatrākrośanti vai dvijāḥ॥ sahasraṃ tubhyamityuktvā brāhmaṇānsma prapadyate॥12-29-117॥
The king gave gold coins to the Brāhmaṇas in the assembly. Wherever the twice-born shout, 'To you, to you, a gold coin,' and after saying, 'A thousand to you,' he approaches the Brāhmaṇas.
anvāhāryopakaraṇaṃ dravyopakaraṇaṃ ca yat। ghaṭāḥ sthālyaḥ kaṭāhāś ca pātryaś ca piṭharā api॥ na tat kiñcid asauvarṇaṃ rantidevasya dhīmataḥ॥12-29-118॥
All the implements for serving food, the vessels, pots, cauldrons, bowls, and jars belonging to the wise Rantideva were not made of gold.
sāṅkṛte rantidevasya yāṃ rātrim avasad gṛhe। ālabhyanta śataṃ gāvaḥ sahasrāṇi ca viṃśatiḥ॥12-29-119॥
On the night when Rantideva stayed in the house at the assembly, a hundred cows and twenty thousand were taken.
tatra sma sūdāḥ krośanti sumṛṣṭamaṇikuṇḍalāḥ। sūpabhūyiṣṭhamaśnīdhvaṃ nādya māṃsaṃ yathā purā ॥12-29-120॥
There, indeed, the cooks with well-polished jeweled earrings shout: "Eat food that is abundant in soup; do not eat meat today as you did formerly."
sa cen mamāra sṛñjaya caturbhadrataras tvayā। putrāt puṇyataras caiva mā putram anutapyathāḥ ॥12-29-121॥
If my son dies, O Sṛñjaya, he will be four times more auspicious and more meritorious than your son by your actions; therefore, do not grieve for your son.
sagaraṃ ca mahātmānaṃ mṛtaṃ śuśruma sṛñjaya। aikṣvākaṃ puruṣavyāghram-atimānuṣavikramam ॥12-29-122॥
O Sṛñjaya, we have heard that Sagara, the great-souled king, the descendant of Ikṣvāku, a tiger among men and of superhuman valor, is dead.
ṣaṣṭiḥ putrasahasrāṇi yaṃ yāntaṃ pṛṣṭhato'nvayuḥ। nakṣatrarājaṃ varṣānte vyabhre jyotirgaṇā iva ॥12-29-123॥
Sixty thousand sons followed him as he departed, just as groups of stars follow the king of stars at the end of the rainy season in a cloudless sky.
ekacchatraā mahī yasya praṇatā hy abhavat purā। yo'śvamedhasahasreṇa tarpayāmāsa devatāḥ ॥12-29-124॥
He, to whom the entire earth once bowed in submission, satisfied the gods with a thousand horse-sacrifices.
yaḥ prādāt kāñcanastambhaṃ prāsādaṃ sarvakāñcanam। pūrṇaṃ padmadalākṣīṇāṃ strīṇāṃ śayanasaṅkulam ॥12-29-125॥
He who gave a palace with golden pillars, made entirely of gold, filled with beds crowded by women with lotus-petal eyes.
dvijātibhyo'nurūpebhyaḥ kāmānuccāvacāṃstathā। yasyādeśena tadvittaṃ vyabhajanta dvijātayaḥ ॥12-29-126॥
The twice-borns distributed the wealth among themselves according to their respective eligibility and desires, higher and lower, as per his command.
khānayāmāsa yaḥ kopāt pṛthivīṃ sāgarāṅkitām। yasya nāmnā samudraś ca sāgaratvam upāgataḥ ॥12-29-127॥
He, who out of anger excavated the earth marked by the ocean, and by whose name the ocean came to be known as 'Sāgara'.
sa cen mamāra sṛñjaya caturbhadrataras tvayā। putrāt puṇyataras caiva mā putram anutapyathāḥ॥12-29-128॥
If my son dies, O Sṛñjaya, you will have a son who is four times more auspicious and more meritorious than a son; therefore, do not grieve for your son.
rājānaṃ ca pṛthuṃ vainyaṃ mṛtaṃ śuśruma sṛñjaya। yam abhyaṣiñcan sambhūya mahāraṇye maharṣayaḥ ॥12-29-129॥
O Sṛñjaya, we have heard that King Pṛthu, the son of Vena, died; the great sages, having assembled in the great forest, anointed him.
prathayiṣyati vai lokān pṛthur ity eva śabditaḥ। kṣatāc ca nas trāyatīti sa tasmāt kṣatriyaḥ smṛtaḥ ॥12-29-130॥
Pṛthu is so named because he will expand the worlds; and since he protects us from harm, he is therefore remembered as a Kṣatriya.
pṛthuṃ vainyaṃ prajā dṛṣṭvā raktāḥ smeti yad abruvan। tato rājeti nāmāsya anurāgād ajāyata ॥12-29-131॥
When the people saw Pṛthu, the descendant of Vena, and became attached to him, they said, "King"; thus, out of their affection, this name arose for him.
akṛṣṭapacyā pṛthivī puṭake puṭake madhu। sarvā droṇadughā gāvo vainyasyāsan praśāsataḥ ॥12-29-132॥
The earth, without being ploughed, yielded honey in every clod. All the cows of Vainya, during his reign, gave a drona of milk.
arogāḥ sarvasiddhārthā manuṣyā akutobhayāḥ। yathābhikāmam avasan kṣetreṣu ca gṛheṣu ca ॥12-29-133॥
Humans, free from disease and fear, with all their objectives accomplished, lived as they wished both in the fields and in their homes.
āpaḥ saṃstambhire yasya samudrasya yiyāsataḥ। saritaś cānudīryanta dhvaja-saṅgaś ca nābhavat ॥12-29-134॥
The waters of the ocean, which he desired to cross, were restrained; the rivers also ceased to flow, and there was no obstruction from banners.
hairaṇyāṃs trin alotsedhān parvatān ekaviṃśatim। brāhmaṇebhyo dadau rājā yo'śvamedhe mahāmakhe ॥12-29-135॥
The king, during the great horse-sacrifice, gave to the Brāhmaṇas twenty-one golden mountains with three Nala elevations.
sa cen mamāra sṛñjaya caturbhadrataras tvayā। putrāt puṇyataras caiva mā putram anutapyathāḥ ॥12-29-136॥
If my son has died, O Sṛñjaya, then by you he is four times more blessed and more meritorious than a son; therefore, do not grieve for your son.
kiṁ vai tūṣṇīṁ dhyāyasi sṛñjaya tvaṁ; na me rājan vācam imāṁ śṛṇoṣi। na cen moghaṁ vipralaptaṁ mayedaṁ; pathyaṁ mumūrṣor iva samyag uktam ॥12-29-137॥
Why are you sitting silently in meditation, Sṛñjaya? O king, do you not listen to my words? If what I have spoken is not in vain or false, then it is wholesome, like proper advice given to one who is dying.
sṛñjaya uvāca॥
Sṛñjaya said.
śṛṇomi te nārada vācam etām; vicitrārthāṃ srajam iva puṇyagandhām। rājarṣīṇāṃ puṇyakṛtāṃ mahātmanāṃ; kīrtyā yuktāṃ śokanirṇāśanārtham ॥12-29-138॥
O Nārada, I hear your words, which are full of wondrous meaning, like a garland fragrant with virtue, associated with the royal sages, the meritorious, and the great-souled, endowed with fame, and intended to dispel sorrow.
na te moghaṃ vipralaptaṃ maharṣe; dṛṣṭvaiva tvāṃ nāradāhaṃ viśokaḥ. śuśrūṣe te vacanaṃ brahmavādin; na te tṛpyāmyamṛtasyeva pānāt ॥12-29-139॥
O great sage, your words are never in vain; just seeing you, O Nārada, removes my sorrow. I eagerly listen to your words, O knower of Brahman, yet I am never fully satisfied, just as one is never satisfied by drinking nectar.
amoghadarśin mama cet prasādaṃ; sutāghadagdhasya vibho prakuryāḥ. mṛtasya sañjīvanam adya me syāt tava prasādāt suta-saṅgamaś ca ॥12-29-140॥
O infallible-seer, if you grant me your grace, O Lord, to one burned by the sin of his son, please do so; let there be revival of the dead for me today, and by your grace, let there also be union with my son.
nārada uvāca॥
Nārada said.
yas te putro dayito'yaṃ viyātaḥ; svarṇaṣṭhīvī yamadātparvatas te. punas te taṃ putram ahaṃ dadāmi; hiraṇyanābhaṃ varṣasahasriṇaṃ ca ॥12-29-141॥
The son who is dear to you and has been separated, the golden-spitting Yamadāt mountain is yours. Again, I give you that son, the golden-navelled one, who is a thousand years old.
