12.038
Core and Pancharatra: When further enquired, Vyasa advised Yudhishthira to ask Bhishma, who is most knowledgeable on the subject. The son of Pāṇḍu, surrounded by friends and praised with auspicious words, entered the city.
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said:
śrotum icchāmi bhagavan vistareṇa mahāmune। rājadarmān dvijaśreṣṭha cāturvarṇyasya ca akhilān ॥12-38-1॥
O revered one, I wish to hear in detail from you, O great sage, about the duties of kings, O best of the twice-born, and all the duties of the four classes.
āpatsu ca yathā nītir vidhātavyā mahīkṣitā। dharmyamalambya panthānaṃ vijayeyam kathaṃ mahīm ॥12-38-2॥
In times of calamity, how should a king establish policy and, relying on the righteous path, conquer the earth?
prāyaścittakathā hyeṣā bhakṣyābhakṣyavivardhitā। kautūhalānupravāṇā harṣaṃ janayatīva me ॥12-38-3॥
This story of expiation, indeed, expanded by the discussion of what is edible and inedible, and inclined towards curiosity, seems to produce joy in me.
dharmacaryā ca rājyaṃ ca nityam-eva virudhyate। yena muhyati me cetaś-cintayānasya nityaśaḥ ॥12-38-4॥
The pursuit of dharma and the responsibilities of ruling are always in conflict; this is what constantly confuses my mind as I reflect upon it.
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said:
tamuvāca mahātejā vyāso vedavidāṃ varaḥ। nāradaṃ samabhiprekṣya sarvaṃ jānan purātanam ॥12-38-5॥
Vyāsa, the great-brilliant sage and foremost among the knowers of the Veda, having looked upon Nārada and knowing all that is ancient, spoke to him.
śrotum icchasi ced dharmān akhilena yudhiṣṭhira। praihi bhīṣmaṃ mahābāho vṛddhaṃ kurupitāmaham ॥12-38-6॥
O Yudhiṣṭhira, if you wish to learn all the dharmas in their entirety, go to Bhīṣma, the mighty-armed and aged grandsire of the Kurus.
sa te sarvarahasyeṣu saṃśayān manasi sthitān। chettā bhāgīrathīputraḥ sarvajñaḥ sarvadharmavit ॥12-38-7॥
He, Bhāgīrathī's son, who is all-knowing and knower of all dharmas, will remove all the doubts that are situated in your mind regarding all secrets.
janayāmāsa yaṃ devī divyā tripathagā nadī। sākṣāddadarśa yo devānsarvāñśakrapurogamān ॥12-38-8॥
The goddess, the divine river Ganga, gave birth to him, who directly saw all the gods led by Indra.
bṛhaspatipurogāṃś ca devarṣīn asakṛt prabhuḥ। toṣayitvopacāreṇa rāj nītim adhītavān ॥12-38-9॥
The lord, having repeatedly pleased Bṛhaspati and the divine sages with respect, studied political science.
uśanā veda yac chāstraṃ devāsuragurur dvijaḥ। tac ca sarvaṃ savaiyākhyaṃ prāptavān kurusattamaḥ ॥12-38-10॥
O best of the Kurus, Uśanas, the preceptor of gods and asuras, who is twice-born, knows that treatise and has obtained all of it with its explanation.
bhārgavāc cyavanāc cāpi vedānaṅgopabṛṃhitān। pratipede mahābuddhir vasiṣṭhāc ca yatavratāt ॥12-38-11॥
The great intellect received the Vedas, complete with their supplementary limbs, from Bhārgava, Cyavana, Vasiṣṭha, and the one of controlled vows.
pitāmahasutaṃ jyeṣṭhaṃ kumāraṃ dīptatejasam। adhyātmagatitattvajñamupāśikṣata yaḥ purā ॥12-38-12॥
He who, in ancient times, instructed the eldest prince, the son of the grandfather, endowed with blazing splendor and knowledge of the truth of the path of the self.
mārkaṇḍeyamukhātkṛtsnaṃ yatidharmamavāptavān। rāmādastrāṇi śakrācca prāptavānbharatarṣabha ॥12-38-13॥
He learned the complete duties of an ascetic from Markandeya, and, O best of the Bharatas, he received weapons from Rama and Indra.
mṛtyurātmechchhayā yasya jātasya manujeṣvapi। tathānapatyasya sataḥ puṇyalokā divi śrutāḥ ॥12-38-14॥
It is heard that among men, death by one's own wish occurs; likewise, for one who is childless but virtuous, the worlds of merit in heaven are spoken of.
yasya brahmarṣayaḥ puṇyā nityam āsan sabhāsadaḥ। yasya na aviditaṃ kiñcit jñāna-jñeyeṣu vidyate॥12-38-15॥
In whose assembly the pure brahma-ṛṣis always resided, and for whom nothing remains unknown among knowledge and knowables.
sa te vakṣyati dharmajñaḥ sūkṣmadharmārthatattvavit। tam abhyēhi purā prāṇāṁs sa vimuñcati dharmavit॥12-38-16॥
He, who knows the essence of subtle dharma and artha, will explain it to you. Go to him before he, the knower of dharma, passes away.
evam-uktas-tu kaunteyo dīrghaprajño mahādyutiḥ। uvāca vadatāṃ śreṣṭhaṃ vyāsaṃ satyavatīsutam ॥12-38-17॥
Thus addressed, the wise and illustrious son of Kunti spoke to Vyāsa, the best among speakers and son of Satyavatī.
vaiśaṁ sumahat kṛtvā jñātīnāṁ lomaharṣaṇam। āgaskṛt sarvalokasya pṛthivīnāśakārakaḥ ॥12-38-18॥
Having perpetrated a tremendous massacre that horrified his kinsmen, he became a sinner in the eyes of all worlds and the cause of the earth's destruction.
ghātayitvā tamevājau chalenājihmayodhinam। upasamprashṭumarhāmi tamahaṃ kena hetunā ॥12-38-19॥
By what reason am I worthy to approach him, having caused only him, who fights honestly, to be killed in battle by deceit?
tatastaṃ nṛpatiśreṣṭhaṃ cāturvarṇyahitepsayā। punarāha mahābāhuryaduśreṣṭho mahādyutiḥ ॥12-38-20॥
Then the mighty-armed, illustrious best of the Yadus, again addressed that foremost of kings, wishing for the welfare of the four orders.
nedānīmatinirbandhaṃ śoke kartumihārhasi। yadāha bhagavānvyāsastatkuruṣva nṛpottama ॥12-38-21॥
Now, you should not persist excessively in grief here. Do what the venerable Vyāsa has said, O best of kings.
brāhmaṇās tvāṃ mahābāho bhrātaraś ca mahaujasaḥ। parjanyam iva gharmārtā āśaṃsānā upāsate॥12-38-22॥
Brāhmaṇas and your powerful brothers, O mighty-armed one, worship you with hope, just as those suffering from heat long for the rain-cloud.
hataśiṣṭāś ca rājānaḥ kṛtsnaṃ caiva samāgatam। cāturvarṇyaṃ mahārāja rāṣṭraṃ te kurujāṅgalam ॥12-38-23॥
O great king, the surviving kings and the entire assembled fourfold society—your kingdom is the Kuru-jāṅgala.
priyārtham api caiteṣāṃ brāhmaṇānāṃ mahātmanām। niyogād asya ca guror vyāsasyāmitatejasaḥ ॥12-38-24॥
Even for the sake of affection for these Brāhmaṇas of great soul, and by the command of the teacher Vyāsa of immeasurable brilliance.
suhṛdāṃ cāsmadādīnāṃ draupadyāś ca parantapa। kuru priyam amitraghna lokasya ca hitaṃ kuru ॥12-38-25॥
O Parantapa, do what is pleasing to your friends, to us, and to Draupadī, and also act for the welfare of the people, O destroyer of enemies.
evam-uktas-tu kṛṣṇena rājā rājīvalocanaḥ। hitārthaṃ sarvalokasya samuttasthau mahātapāḥ ॥12-38-26॥
When Kṛṣṇa had spoken thus, the lotus-eyed king, the great ascetic, arose for the welfare of all beings.
so'nunīto naravyāghro viṣtaraśravasā svayam। dvaipāyanena ca tathā devasthānena jiṣṇunā ॥12-38-27॥
He, the tiger among men, was persuaded by Viṣṭaraśravas himself, as well as by Dvaipāyana, Devasthāna, and Jiṣṇu (Arjuna).
etaiś cānyaiś ca bahubhir anunīto yudhiṣṭhiraḥ। vyajahān mānasaṃ duḥkhaṃ santāpaṃ ca mahāmanāḥ॥12-38-28॥
Consoled by these and many others, Yudhishthira, the great-minded, abandoned his mental sorrow and affliction.
śrutavākyaḥ śrutanidhiḥ śrutaśravyaviśāradaḥ। vyavasya manasaḥ śāntim agacchat pāṇḍunandanaḥ ॥12-38-29॥
O son of Pāṇḍu, who is renowned for his words, a treasure of knowledge, and an expert in all that is heard and to be heard, having resolved in his mind, attained peace.
sa taiḥ parivṛto rājā nakṣatrairiva candramāḥ। dhṛtarāṣṭraṃ puraskṛtya svapuraṃ praviveśa ha ॥12-38-30॥
He, surrounded by them like the moon by stars, entered his own city with Dhritarashtra at the forefront.
pravivikṣuḥ sa dharmajñaḥ kuntīputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ। arcayāmāsa devāṃś ca brāhmaṇāṃś ca sahasraśaḥ ॥12-38-31॥
Desiring to enter, Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti and knower of dharma, worshipped the gods and thousands of Brahmanas.
tato rathaṃ navaṃ śubhraṃ kambalājinasaṃvṛtam। yuktaṃ ṣoḍaśabhirgobhiḥ pāṇḍuraiḥ śubhalakṣaṇaiḥ ॥12-38-32॥
Then there appeared a new, bright chariot, covered with blankets and animal skins, yoked with sixteen white bulls of auspicious marks.
mantrair abhyarcitaḥ puṇyaiḥ stūyamāno maharṣibhiḥ। āruroha yathā devaḥ somo'mṛtamayaṃ ratham ॥12-38-33॥
Worshipped with hymns and praised by the meritorious and great sages, he ascended just as the god Soma ascends his chariot of nectar.
jagrāha raśmīn kaunteyo bhīmo bhīma-parākramaḥ। arjunaḥ pāṇḍuraṃ chatraṃ dhārayāmāsa bhānumat ॥12-38-34॥
Bhima, the mighty son of Kunti, took hold of the reins, while Arjuna held aloft the shining white umbrella.
dhriyamāṇaṃ tu tac chatraṃ pāṇḍuraṃ tasya mūrdhani| śuśubhe tārakā-rāja-sitam abhram ivāmbare ||12-38-35||
But that white umbrella, held above his head, shone like a cloud illuminated by the moon, the king of stars, in the sky.
cāmaravyajane cāsya vīrau jagṛhatustadā। candrarāśmiprabhe śubhre mādrīputrāvalaṅkṛte ॥12-38-36॥
At that time, the two heroes held yak-tail fans for him; the son of Mādrī, adorned and bright as moonbeams, was present.
te pañca ratham āsthāya bhrātaraḥ samalaṅkṛtāḥ। bhūtānīva samastāni rājandadṛśire tadā ॥12-38-37॥
O king, then those five well-adorned brothers, having mounted the chariot, appeared as if they were all beings themselves.
āsthāya tu rathaṃ śubhraṃ yuktamaśvairmahājavaiḥ। anvayātpṛṣṭhato rājanyuyutsuḥ pāṇḍavāgrajam ॥12-38-38॥
But, O king, desiring battle, he mounted his white chariot yoked with swift horses and followed the eldest of the Pāṇḍavas from behind.
rathaṃ hemamayaṃ śubhraṃ sainyasugrīvayojitam। saha sātyakinā kṛṣṇaḥ samāsthāyānvayātkurūn ॥12-38-39॥
Kṛṣṇa, along with Sātyaki, mounted the bright golden chariot yoked by the army-chief and advanced towards the Kurus.
narayānena tu jyeṣṭhaḥ pitā pārthasya bhārata। agrato dharmarājasya gāndhārīsahito yayau ॥12-38-40॥
O Bhārata, the eldest, the father of Pārtha, went ahead of Dharmarāja in a chariot, accompanied by Gāndhārī.
kurustriyaś ca tāḥ sarvāḥ kuntī kṛṣṇā ca draupadī। yānair uccāvacair jagmur vidureṇa puraskṛtāḥ ॥12-38-41॥
All the Kuru women, including Kuntī, Kṛṣṇā, and Draupadī, proceeded in various vehicles, with Vidura leading them.
tato rathāś ca bahulā nāgāś ca samalaṅkṛtāḥ। pādātāś ca hayāś caiva pṛṣṭhataḥ samanuvrajan ॥12-38-42॥
Then, well-adorned chariots, numerous elephants, foot-soldiers, and horses followed together from behind.
tato vaitālikaiḥ sūtair māgadhaiś ca subhāṣitaiḥ। stūyamāno yayau rājā nagaraṃ nāgasāhvayam ॥12-38-43॥
Then, as he was praised with eloquent words by bards, charioteers, and Māgadhas, the king proceeded to the city called Nāgasāhvaya.
tatprayāṇaṃ mahābāhorbabhūvāpratimaṃ bhuvi। ākulākulamutsṛṣṭaṃ hṛṣṭapuṣṭajanānvitam ॥12-38-44॥
The departure of the mighty-armed was unmatched on earth, filled with great commotion, as it was left behind and accompanied by joyful and robust people.
abhiyāne tu pārthasya narair nagaravāsibhiḥ। nagaraṃ rājamārgaś ca yathāvat samalaṅkṛtam ॥12-38-45॥
But during Pārtha's expedition, the city and the royal road were properly and splendidly decorated by the city-dwellers and other men.
pāṇḍureṇa ca mālyena patākābhiś ca vedibhiḥ। saṁvṛto rājamārgaś ca dhūpanair ca sudhūpitaḥ ॥12-38-46॥
The royal road was covered with white decorations and garlands, adorned with flags and altars, and was well-perfumed with incense.
atha cūrṇaiś ca gandhānāṃ nānāpuṣpaiḥ priyaṅgubhiḥ। mālyadāmabhir āsaktai rājaveśmābhi saṃvṛtam ॥12-38-47॥
Then, the area was adorned with powders, fragrances, various flowers, Priyangu flowers, and garland-strings, and was enclosed by royal mansions.
kumbhāś ca nagaradvāri vāri-pūrṇā dṛḍhā navāḥ। kanyāḥ sumanasaś chāgāḥ sthāpitās tatra tatra ha॥12-38-48॥
Water-pots filled with water, firm and new, were placed at the city gate; maidens, flowers, and goats were also stationed here and there.
tathā swalaṅkṛtadvāraṃ nagaraṃ pāṇḍunandanaḥ। stūyamānaḥ śubhairvākyaiḥ praviveśa suhṛdvṛtaḥ ॥12-38-49॥
Thus, the son of Pāṇḍu, surrounded by friends and praised with auspicious words, entered the city whose gate was beautifully adorned.
