12.193
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhishthira said.
kimuttaraṃ tadā tau sma cakratustena bhāṣite. brāhmaṇo vātha vā rājā tanme brūhi pitāmaha ॥12-193-1॥
What answer did those two give when he spoke thus? Was it the Brāhmaṇa or the king? Tell me that, O grandsire.
atha vā tau gatau tatra yad etat kīrtitaṃ tvayā। saṃvādo vā tayoḥ ko'bhūt kiṃ vā tau tatra cakratuḥ॥12-193-2॥
Or, did those two go there as you have recounted? What was the conversation between them, or what did those two do there?
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said.
tathetyevaṃ pratiśrutya dharmaṃ sampūjya cābhibho। yamaṃ kālaṃ ca mṛtyuṃ ca svargaṃ sampūjya cārhataḥ ॥12-193-3॥
Thus, having promised in this way and having worshipped dharma, O lord, and having worshipped Yama, Time, Death, heaven, and the worthy ones.
pūrvaṃ ye cāpare tatra sametā brāhmaṇaṛṣabhāḥ। sarvān sampūjya śirasā rājānaṃ so'bravīd vacaḥ ॥12-193-4॥
In earlier times, those and other eminent Brāhmaṇas who had gathered there, after respectfully greeting everyone with bowed head, addressed the king with these words.
phalena anena saṁyukto rājarṣe gaccha puṇyatām। bhavatā ca abhyanujñātaḥ japeyam bhūya eva hi ॥12-193-5॥
O royal sage, united with this fruit, go to the state of merit. And, having been permitted by you, I may indeed recite again.
varaś ca mama pūrvaṃ hi devyā datto mahābala। śraddhā te japato nityaṃ bhaviteti viśāṃ pate ॥12-193-6॥
O lord of men, the goddess had previously granted me a boon, O mighty one: "Faith will always be yours as you recite."
rājovāca॥
The king said.
yadyevamaphalā siddhiḥ śraddhā ca japituṃ tava। gaccha vipra mayā sārdhaṃ jāpakaṃ phalamāpnuhu ॥12-193-7॥
If this is so, and the attainment is fruitless, and you have faith to recite, then go, O brāhmaṇa, together with me and obtain the fruit of the reciter.
brāhmaṇa uvāca॥
The brāhmaṇa said.
kṛtaḥ prayatnaḥ sumahān sarveṣāṃ saṃnidhāv iha। saha tulyaphalau cāvāṃ gacchāvo yatra nau gatiḥ॥12-193-8॥
A very great effort has been made here in the presence of all; let us both, who have equal results, go together to where our destination lies.
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said.
vyavasāyaṃ tayostatra viditvā tridaśeśvaraḥ। saha devairupayayau lokapālaistathaiva ca ॥12-193-9॥
Having known the determination of those two there, the lord of the gods, together with the gods and the guardians of the worlds, likewise approached.
sādhyā viśve'tha maruto jyotīṃṣi sumahānti ca। nadyaḥ śailāḥ samudrāśca tīrthāni vividhāni ca ॥12-193-10॥
The Sādhyas, all the gods, the Maruts, the great luminaries, rivers, mountains, oceans, and the various sacred fords.
tapāṃsi saṃyogavidhirvedāḥ stobhāḥ sarasvatī। nāradaḥ parvataścaiva viśvāvasurhahā huhūḥ ॥12-193-11॥
Austerities, the method of union, the Vedas, chants, Sarasvati, Narada, Parvata, as well as Vishvavasu, Haha, and Huhu.
gandharvaś citrasenaś ca parivāra-gaṇair yutaḥ। nāgāḥ siddhāś ca munayo devadevaḥ prajāpatiḥ॥ viṣṇuḥ sahasra-śīrṣaś ca devo'cintyaḥ samāgamat॥12-193-12॥
Gandharva Citraseṇa, along with his retinue, the serpents, perfected beings, sages, the god of gods, the lord of creatures, and Viṣṇu, the thousand-headed and inconceivable god, all assembled together.
avādyantāntarikṣe ca bheryastūryāṇi cābhibho। puṣpavarṣāṇi divyāni tatra teṣāṃ mahātmanām ॥ nanṛtuścāpsaraḥsaṅghāstatra tatra samantataḥ ॥12-193-13॥
Drums and musical instruments resounded in the sky. Divine showers of flowers fell there for those great souls. Groups of apsarases danced everywhere all around.
atha svargas tathā rūpī brāhmaṇaṃ vākyam abravīt। saṃsiddhas tvaṃ mahābhāga tvaṃ ca siddhas tathā nṛpa ॥12-193-14॥
Then heaven, taking a form, addressed the Brāhmaṇa: "You are perfected, O greatly fortunate one; you are also accomplished thus, O king."
atha tau sahitau rājan anyonyena vidhānataḥ। viṣayaprati-saṃhāram ubhāv eva pracakratuḥ ॥12-193-15॥
Then, O king, those two together, in accordance with the procedure, both performed the withdrawal of the senses with each other.
prāṇāpānau tathodānaṃ samānaṃ vyānameva ca। evaṃ tānmanasi sthāpya dadhatuḥ prāṇayormanaḥ ॥12-193-16॥
They placed the five vital airs—prāṇa, apāna, udāna, samāna, and vyāna—in the mind, and thus held the mind between the two breaths.
upasthitakṛtau tatra nāsikāgramadho bhruvau। kuṅkuṇyāṃ caiva manasā śanair dhārayataḥ sma tau ॥12-193-17॥
They both, having fixed their attention below the tip of the nose, at the space between the eyebrows, and in the kuṅkuṇī, slowly held it with their minds.
niśceṣṭābhyāṃ śarīrābhyāṃ sthiradṛṣṭī samāhitau। jitāsanau tathādhāya mūrdhanyātmānameva ca ॥12-193-18॥
With unmoving bodies and steady gaze, concentrated, having mastered posture, thus having placed the self indeed on the head.
tāludeśam athoddālya brāhmaṇasya mahātmanaḥ। jyotirjvālā sumahatī jagāma tridivaṃ tadā ॥12-193-19॥
Then, having arisen from the palate of the great-souled Brāhmaṇa, a very great flame of light ascended to heaven.
hāhākārastato dikṣu sarvāsu sumahānabhūt। tajjyotiḥ stūyamānaṃ sma brahmāṇaṃ prāviśattadā ॥12-193-20॥
Then, a very great wailing arose in all directions. That light, being praised, then entered Brahman.
tataḥ svāgatam ity āha tat-tejaḥ sa pitāmahaḥ। prādeśa-mātraṃ puruṣaṃ pratyudgamya viśāṃ pate ॥12-193-21॥
Then, that radiant grandfather said "Welcome" and went forth to meet the man of a span's height, O lord of the people.
bhūyaścaivāparaṃ prāha vacanaṃ madhuraṃ sma saḥ। jāpakais tulyaphalatā yogānāṃ nātra saṃśayaḥ॥12-193-22॥
He again spoke another sweet statement: "For yogas, the fruit is equal to that of reciters; there is no doubt about this here."
yogasya tāvadetebhyaḥ phalaṃ pratyakṣadarśanam। jāpakānāṃ viśiṣṭaṃ tu pratyutthānaṃ samādhikam ॥12-193-23॥
The fruit of yoga, to this extent, is direct perception from these. But for the chanters, the special attainment is an elevation that surpasses even this.
uṣyatāṃ mayi cetyuktvā cetayatsa tataḥ punaḥ। athāsya praviveśāsyaṃ brāhmaṇo vigatajvaraḥ ॥12-193-24॥
Saying, "Let it remain in me," he revived him again. Then the Brāhmaṇa, now free from fever, entered his mouth.
rājāpy etena vidhinā bhagavantaṃ pitāmaham। yathaiva dvijaśārdūlas tathaiva prāviśat tadā ॥12-193-25॥
The king, following this procedure, approached the venerable grandfather; just as the foremost of the twice-born had done, so too did he enter at that time.
svayambhuvam atho devā abhivādya tato'bruvan। jāpakārtham ayaṃ yatnas tadarthaṃ vayam āgatāḥ ॥12-193-26॥
Then the gods, having saluted Svayambhu, spoke: "We have come here for the purpose of recitation; this effort is for that purpose."
kṛtapūjāvimau tulyaṃ tvayā tulyaphalāvimau। yogajāpakayordṛṣṭaṃ phalaṃ sumahadadya vai ॥ sarvāṃllokānatītyaitau gacchetāṃ yatra vāñchitam ॥12-193-27॥
Having performed worship, these two are considered equal by you; both are of equal fruit. The result seen from yoga and recitation is very great indeed today. Having surpassed all worlds, these two may go wherever they desire.
brahmovāca॥
Brahmā said.
mahāsmṛtiṃ paṭhed yastu tathaivānusmṛtiṃ śubhām। tāv apy etena vidhinā gacchetāṃ matslokatām ॥12-193-28॥
Whoever recites the great Smṛti and likewise the auspicious Anusmṛti in this manner, both of them will attain my world.
yaś ca yoge bhaved bhaktaḥ so'pi nāsty atra saṃśayaḥ। vidhinā anena dehānte mama lokān avāpnuyāt॥ gamyatāṃ sādhayiṣyāmi yathā sthānāni siddhaye॥12-193-29॥
Whoever is a devotee in yoga, there is no doubt that he too, by this method, at the end of his life, may attain my worlds. Let him go; I shall arrange the appropriate places for attainment.
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said.
ity uktvā sa tadā devas tatraiva antaradhīyata। āmantrya taṃ tato devā yayuḥ svaṃ svaṃ niveśanam ॥12-193-30॥
Having thus spoken, the god disappeared right there. After addressing him, the gods then went each to their own abodes.
te ca sarve mahātmāno dharmaṃ satkṛtya tatra vai। pṛṣṭhato'nuyayū rājansarve suprītamānasāḥ ॥12-193-31॥
And all those great-souled ones, having duly honored dharma there, followed from behind, O king, all with hearts full of joy.
etatphalaṃ jāpakānāṃ gatiścaiva prakīrtitā। yathāśrutaṃ mahārāja kiṃ bhūyaḥ śrotumicchasi ॥12-193-32॥
This is the fruit and destination of the chanters as has been proclaimed. O great king, what more do you wish to hear?
