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युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
य इमे पृथिवीपालाः शेरते पृथिवीतले। पृतनामध्य एते हि गतसत्त्वा महाबलाः ॥१२-२४८-१॥
These mighty protectors of the earth, who now lie on the ground, have lost their lives in the midst of battle.
एकैकशो भीमबला नागायुतबलास्तथा। एते हि निहताः सङ्ख्ये तुल्यतेजोबलैर्नरैः ॥१२-२४८-२॥
One by one, these warriors of terrible strength, possessing the might of ten thousand elephants, have indeed been slain in battle by men of equal energy and strength.
नैषां पश्यामि हन्तारं प्राणिनां संयुगे पुरा। विक्रमेणोपसम्पन्नास्तेजोबलसमन्विताः ॥१२-२४८-३॥
I do not see among these anyone who was formerly a slayer of living beings in battle; they are endowed with valor, brilliance, and strength.
अथ चेमे महाप्राज्ञ शेरते हि गतासवः। मृता इति च शब्दोऽयं वर्तत्येषु गतासुषु ॥१२-२४८-४॥
Now, these greatly wise ones indeed lie here, their life-breath having departed. The word 'dead' is used for these whose life-breath has left them.
इमे मृता नृपतयः प्रायशो भीमविक्रमाः। तत्र मे संशयो जातः कुतः सञ्ज्ञा मृता इति ॥१२-२४८-५॥
These kings, most of whom were of terrible prowess, are dead. There arises in me a doubt: why is the designation 'dead' used?
कस्य मृत्युः कुतो मृत्युः केन मृत्युरिह प्रजाः। हरत्यमरसङ्काश तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह ॥१२-२४८-६॥
O grandsire, tell me: Whose is death, from where does death arise, by whom does death take away creatures here, O one resembling the immortals?
भीष्म उवाच॥
Bhīṣma said.
पुरा कृतयुगे तात राजासीदविकम्पकः। स शत्रुवशमापन्नः सङ्ग्रामे क्षीणवाहनः ॥१२-२४८-७॥
Long ago, in the Kṛta Yuga, O dear one, there was a king named Avikampaka. In battle, his vehicle depleted, he fell under the control of the enemy.
तत्र पुत्रो हरिर्नाम नारायणसमो बले। स शत्रुभिर्हतः सङ्ख्ये सबलः सपदानुगः ॥१२-२४८-८॥
There, the son named Hari, who was as strong as Nārāyaṇa, was killed along with his army and followers by the enemies in battle.
स राजा शत्रुवशगः पुत्रशोकसमन्वितः। यदृच्छयाशान्तिपरो ददर्श भुवि नारदम् ॥१२-२४८-९॥
The king, who was under the control of his enemies and afflicted with grief for his son, happened to see Nārada on the earth while he was absorbed in unrest.
स तस्मै सर्वमाचष्ट यथा वृत्तं जनेश्वरः। शत्रुभिर्ग्रहणं सङ्ख्ये पुत्रस्य मरणं तथा ॥१२-२४८-१०॥
The lord of men told him everything as it had happened: how the enemies captured (him) in battle and also about the death of his son.
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा नारदोऽथ तपोधनः। आख्यानमिदमाचष्ट पुत्रशोकापहं तदा ॥१२-२४८-११॥
Having heard those words, Nārada, the ascetic, then narrated this story, which removes the grief caused by the loss of a son.
राजञ्शृणु समाख्यानमद्येदं बहुविस्तरम्। यथा वृत्तं श्रुतं चैव मयापि वसुधाधिप ॥१२-२४८-१२॥
O king, listen today to this very extensive narration, as it happened and as I also heard it, O lord of the earth.
प्रजाः सृष्ट्वा महातेजाः प्रजासर्गे पितामहः। अतीव वृद्धा बहुला नामृष्यत पुनः प्रजाः ॥१२-२४८-१३॥
Having created the offspring, the illustrious grandsire, at the time of creation, saw that the exceedingly old and numerous beings could not be endured again.
न ह्यन्तरमभूत्किञ्चित्क्वचिज्जन्तुभिरच्युत। निरुच्छ्वासमिवोन्नद्धं त्रैलोक्यमभवन्नृप ॥१२-२४८-१४॥
O Acyuta, there was not the slightest interval anywhere among beings. The three worlds, as if raised and breathless, became so, O king.
तस्य चिन्ता समुत्पन्ना संहारं प्रति भूपते। चिन्तयन्नाध्यगच्छच्च संहारे हेतुकारणम् ॥१२-२४८-१५॥
O king, he became concerned about destruction. While pondering, he also understood the cause and reason for destruction.
तस्य रोषान्महाराज खेभ्योऽग्निरुदतिष्ठत। तेन सर्वा दिशो राजन्ददाह स पितामहः ॥१२-२४८-१६॥
O king, from his anger, fire arose from the skies, and by that fire, the grandsire burned all the directions.
ततो दिवं भुवं खं च जगच्च सचराचरम्। ददाह पावको राजन्भगवत्कोपसम्भवः ॥१२-२४८-१७॥
Then, O king, the fire that arose from the Lord's anger burned heaven, earth, sky, and the entire world with all its moving and unmoving beings.
तत्रादह्यन्त भूतानि जङ्गमानि ध्रुवाणि च। महता कोपवेगेन कुपिते प्रपितामहे ॥१२-२४८-१८॥
There, all beings, both moving and unmoving, were consumed by the intense force of anger when the great-grandfather Brahmā became enraged.
ततो हरिजटः स्थाणुर्वेदाध्वरपतिः शिवः। जगाद शरणं देवो ब्रह्माणं परवीरहा ॥१२-२४८-१९॥
Then Śiva, the one with tawny matted hair, steadfast and lord of Veda and sacrifice, spoke to Brahmā, the destroyer of enemy heroes, offering him refuge.
तस्मिन्नभिगते स्थाणौ प्रजानां हितकाम्यया। अब्रवीद्वरदो देवो ज्वलन्निव तदा शिवम् ॥१२-२४८-२०॥
At that time, having approached Sthāṇu for the welfare of the beings, the god who grants boons, blazing like fire, spoke to Śiva.
करवाण्यद्य कं कामं वरार्होऽसि मतो मम। कर्ता ह्यस्मि प्रियं शम्भो तव यद्धृदि वर्तते ॥१२-२४८-२१॥
Today, I shall fulfill whichever desire you have, O Śambhu, for you are worthy of a boon and esteemed by me. Indeed, I am the one who will do whatever dear wish abides in your heart.
