12.053
Pancharatra: The Pandavas, along with Krishna and Satyaki, purify themselves and visit Bhishma, leaving behind the army and others.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
ततः प्रविश्य भवनं प्रसुप्तो मधुसूदनः। याममात्रावशेषायां यामिन्यां प्रत्यबुध्यत ॥१२-५३-१॥
Then Madhusūdana entered the house and fell asleep. He awoke when only a watch of the night was left.
स ध्यानपथमाश्रित्य सर्वज्ञानानि माधवः। अवलोक्य ततः पश्चाद्दध्यौ ब्रह्म सनातनम् ॥१२-५३-२॥
Mādhava, having resorted to the path of meditation and having observed all knowledges, then afterwards meditated upon the eternal Brahman.
ततः श्रुतिपुराणज्ञाः शिक्षिता रक्तकण्ठिनः। अस्तुवन्विश्वकर्माणं वासुदेवं प्रजापतिम् ॥१२-५३-३॥
Then, those who knew the Vedas and Purāṇas, who were well-trained and red-throated, praised Viśvakarman, Vāsudeva, the Lord of all beings.
पठन्ति पाणिस्वनिकास्तथा गायन्ति गायनाः। शङ्खानकमृदङ्गांश्च प्रवाद्यन्त सहस्रशः ॥१२-५३-४॥
The hand-clappers recite, and likewise the singers sing; conch-shells, drums, and mridangas are played by the thousands.
वीणापणववेणूनां स्वनश्चातिमनोरमः। प्रहास इव विस्तीर्णः शुश्रुवे तस्य वेश्मनः ॥१२-५३-५॥
From his mansion, the exceedingly delightful sound of lutes, drums, and flutes, spreading like laughter, was heard.
तथा युधिष्ठिरस्यापि राज्ञो मङ्गलसंहिताः। उच्चेरुर्मधुरा वाचो गीतवादित्रसंहिताः ॥१२-५३-६॥
In the same way, for King Yudhiṣṭhira too, auspicious songs resounded; sweet voices accompanied by singing and instrumental music rose up.
तत उत्थाय दाशार्हः स्नातः प्राञ्जलिरच्युतः। जप्त्वा गुह्यं महाबाहुरग्नीनाश्रित्य तस्थिवान् ॥१२-५३-७॥
Then Acyuta (Krishna), the mighty-armed descendant of the Daśārhas, having bathed, rose, joined his palms, muttered the secret mantra, and stood by the sacred fires.
ततः सहस्रं विप्राणां चतुर्वेदविदां तथा। गवां सहस्रेणैकैकं वाचयामास माधवः ॥१२-५३-८॥
Then Mādhava caused each of a thousand Brāhmaṇas, who were also knowers of the four Vedas, to recite, giving each one a thousand cows.
मङ्गलालम्भनं कृत्वा आत्मानमवलोक्य च। आदर्शे विमले कृष्णस्ततः सात्यकिमब्रवीत् ॥१२-५३-९॥
After performing the auspicious act and looking at himself in the clear mirror, Kṛṣṇa then spoke to Sātyaki.
गच्छ शैनेय जानीहि गत्वा राजनिवेशनम्। अपि सज्जो महातेजा भीष्मं द्रष्टुं युथिष्ठिरः ॥१२-५३-१०॥
Go, O Śaineya, and find out by going to the royal residence whether the mighty Yudhiṣṭhira is prepared to visit Bhīṣma.
ततः कृष्णस्य वचनात्सात्यकिस्त्वरितो ययौ। उपगम्य च राजानं युधिष्ठिरमुवाच ह ॥१२-५३-११॥
Then, at Kṛṣṇa's command, Sātyaki quickly went and, approaching King Yudhiṣṭhira, spoke to him.
युक्तो रथवरो राजन्वासुदेवस्य धीमतः। समीपमापगेयस्य प्रयास्यति जनार्दनः ॥१२-५३-१२॥
O king, the excellent chariot of wise Vāsudeva was yoked; Janārdana (Kṛṣṇa) will proceed near to the son of the river (Bhīṣma).
भवत्प्रतीक्षः कृष्णोऽसौ धर्मराज महाद्युते। यदत्रानन्तरं कृत्यं तद्भवान्कर्तुमर्हति ॥१२-५३-१३॥
O Dharmarāja, Kṛṣṇa is waiting for you, O greatly illustrious one. Whatever needs to be done next here, you should do that.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
युज्यतां मे रथवरः फल्गुनाप्रतिमद्युते। न सैनिकैश्च यातव्यं यास्यामो वयमेव हि ॥१२-५३-१४॥
Let my excellent chariot, whose brilliance rivals that of Arjuna, be yoked. We ourselves shall go, not with soldiers.
न च पीडयितव्यो मे भीष्मो धर्मभृतां वरः। अतः पुरःसराश्चापि निवर्तन्तु धनञ्जय ॥१२-५३-१५॥
Bhishma, the best among the upholders of dharma, is not to be harmed by me; therefore, O Dhananjaya, let the leaders also withdraw.
अद्यप्रभृति गाङ्गेयः परं गुह्यं प्रवक्ष्यति। ततो नेच्छामि कौन्तेय पृथग्जनसमागमम् ॥१२-५३-१६॥
From this day, Bhishma (the son of Ganga) will reveal the highest secret. Therefore, O son of Kunti, I no longer wish to associate with others.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
तद्वाक्यमाकर्ण्य तथा कुन्तीपुत्रो धनञ्जयः। युक्तं रथवरं तस्मा आचचक्षे नरर्षभ ॥१२-५३-१७॥
O bull among men, having heard those words, Kuntī's son Dhanañjaya informed him that the excellent chariot was yoked.
ततो युधिष्ठिरो राजा यमौ भीमार्जुनावपि। भूतानीव समस्तानि ययुः कृष्णनिवेशनम् ॥१२-५३-१८॥
Then King Yudhishthira, along with Nakula, Sahadeva, Bhima, and Arjuna, all went to Krishna's residence, just as all beings do.
आगच्छत्स्वथ कृष्णोऽपि पाण्डवेषु महात्मसु। शैनेयसहितो धीमान्रथमेवान्वपद्यत ॥१२-५३-१९॥
Then Kṛṣṇa, accompanied by Sātyaki, also came to the great-souled Pāṇḍavas and, being wise, ascended the chariot.
रथस्थाः संविदं कृत्वा सुखां पृष्ट्वा च शर्वरीम्। मेघघोषै रथवरैः प्रययुस्ते महारथाः ॥१२-५३-२०॥
After conferring while standing on their chariots and inquiring about the pleasant night, those great chariot-warriors set out with their thunderous, excellent chariots.
मेघपुष्पं बलाहं च सैन्यं सुग्रीवमेव च। दारुकश्चोदयामास वासुदेवस्य वाजिनः ॥१२-५३-२१॥
Dāruka, the charioteer, urged on Vāsudeva's horses—Meghapuṣpa, Balāha, Sugrīva—and the army.
ते हया वासुदेवस्य दारुकेण प्रचोदिताः। गां खुराग्रैस्तथा राजँल्लिखन्तः प्रययुस्तदा ॥१२-५३-२२॥
Then, O king, those horses of Vāsudeva, urged on by Dāruka, went forth, scratching the earth with the tips of their hooves.
ते ग्रसन्त इवाकाशं वेगवन्तो महाबलाः। क्षेत्रं धर्मस्य कृत्स्नस्य कुरुक्षेत्रमवातरन् ॥१२-५३-२३॥
The mighty and swift warriors, as if devouring the sky, descended into the entire field of dharma, Kurukṣetra.
ततो ययुर्यत्र भीष्मः शरतल्पगतः प्रभुः। आस्ते ब्रह्मर्षिभिः सार्धं ब्रह्मा देवगणैर्यथा ॥१२-५३-२४॥
Then they proceeded to the place where Bhīṣma, the lord, lay on his bed of arrows, surrounded by the Brahmarṣis, just as Brahmā is surrounded by the hosts of gods.
ततोऽवतीर्य गोविन्दो रथात्स च युधिष्ठिरः। भीमो गाण्डीवधन्वा च यमौ सात्यकिरेव च ॥ ऋषीनभ्यर्चयामासुः करानुद्यम्य दक्षिणान् ॥१२-५३-२५॥
Then Govinda, Yudhishthira, Bhima, Arjuna (the wielder of Gandiva), Nakula and Sahadeva (the sons of Yama), and Satyaki, having descended from the chariot, raised their right hands and worshipped the sages.
स तैः परिवृतो राजा नक्षत्रैरिव चन्द्रमाः। अभ्याजगाम गाङ्गेयं ब्रह्माणमिव वासवः ॥१२-५३-२६॥
Surrounded by his followers, the king advanced towards Bhīṣma, just as the moon is surrounded by stars, or as Indra approaches Brahman.
शरतल्पे शयानं तमादित्यं पतितं यथा। ददर्श स महाबाहुर्भयादागतसाध्वसः ॥१२-५३-२७॥
The mighty-armed one saw him lying on the bed of arrows, fallen like the sun, overcome with anxiety arising from fear.
