12.248
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
ya ime pṛthivīpālāḥ śerate pṛthivī-tale। pṛtanāmadhya ete hi gata-sattvā mahā-balāḥ ॥12-248-1॥
These mighty protectors of the earth, who now lie on the ground, have lost their lives in the midst of battle.
ekaikaśo bhīmabalā nāgāyutabalās tathā। ete hi nihatāḥ saṅkhye tulyatejobalair naraiḥ ॥12-248-2॥
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.
naiṣāṃ paśyāmi hantāraṃ prāṇināṃ saṃyuge purā। vikrameṇopasampannāstejobalasamanvitāḥ ॥12-248-3॥
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.
atha ceme mahāprājña śerate hi gatāsavaḥ। mṛtā iti ca śabdo'yaṃ vartatyeṣu gatāsuṣu ॥12-248-4॥
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.
ime mṛtā nṛpatayaḥ prāyaśo bhīmavikramāḥ। tatra me saṃśayo jātaḥ kutaḥ sañjñā mṛtā iti ॥12-248-5॥
These kings, most of whom were of terrible prowess, are dead. There arises in me a doubt: why is the designation 'dead' used?
kasya mṛtyuḥ kuto mṛtyuḥ kena mṛtyuriha prajāḥ। haratyamarasaṅkāśa tanme brūhi pitāmaha ॥12-248-6॥
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?
bhīṣma uvāca॥
Bhīṣma said.
purā kṛtayuge tāta rājāsīdavikampakaḥ। sa śatruvaśamāpannaḥ saṅgrāme kṣīṇavāhanaḥ ॥12-248-7॥
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.
tatra putro harirnāma nārāyaṇasamo bale। sa śatrubhirhataḥ saṅkhye sabalaḥ sapadānugaḥ ॥12-248-8॥
There, the son named Hari, who was as strong as Nārāyaṇa, was killed along with his army and followers by the enemies in battle.
sa rājā śatruvaśagaḥ putraśokasamanvitaḥ। yadṛcchayāśāntiparo dadarśa bhuvi nāradam ॥12-248-9॥
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.
sa tasmai sarvam ācaṣṭa yathā vṛttaṃ janeśvaraḥ। śatrubhir grahaṇaṃ saṅkhye putrasya maraṇaṃ tathā ॥12-248-10॥
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.
tasya tadvacanaṃ śrutvā nārado'tha tapodhanaḥ। ākhyānamidamācaṣṭa putraśokāpahaṃ tadā ॥12-248-11॥
Having heard those words, Nārada, the ascetic, then narrated this story, which removes the grief caused by the loss of a son.
rājan śṛṇu samākhyānam adya idaṃ bahu-vistaram। yathā vṛttam śrutam ca eva mayā api vasudhādhipa ॥12-248-12॥
O king, listen today to this very extensive narration, as it happened and as I also heard it, O lord of the earth.
prajāḥ sṛṣṭvā mahātejāḥ prajāsarge pitāmahaḥ। atīva vṛddhā bahulā nāmṛṣyata punaḥ prajāḥ॥12-248-13॥
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.
na hy antaram abhūt kiñcit kvacit jantubhiḥ acyuta। nirucchvāsaṃ iva unnaddhaṃ trailokyam abhavat nṛpa ॥12-248-14॥
O Acyuta, there was not the slightest interval anywhere among beings. The three worlds, as if raised and breathless, became so, O king.
tasya cintā samutpannā saṃhāraṃ prati bhūpate। cintayannādhyagacchacca saṃhāre hetukāraṇam ॥12-248-15॥
O king, he became concerned about destruction. While pondering, he also understood the cause and reason for destruction.
tasya roṣān mahārāja khebhyaḥ agniḥ udatiṣṭhata। tena sarvā diśaḥ rājan dadāha sa pitāmahaḥ ॥12-248-16॥
O king, from his anger, fire arose from the skies, and by that fire, the grandsire burned all the directions.
tato divaṃ bhuvaṃ khaṃ ca jagacca sacarācaram। dadāha pāvako rājanbhagavatkopasambhavaḥ ॥12-248-17॥
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.
tatrādahyanta bhūtāni jaṅgamāni dhruvāṇi ca। mahatā kopavegena kupite prapitāmahe ॥12-248-18॥
There, all beings, both moving and unmoving, were consumed by the intense force of anger when the great-grandfather Brahmā became enraged.
tato harijaṭaḥ sthāṇur vedādhvarapatiḥ śivaḥ। jagāda śaraṇaṃ devo brahmāṇaṃ paravīrahā ॥12-248-19॥
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.
tasminnabhigate sthāṇau prajānāṃ hitakāmyayā। abravīdvarado devo jvalanniva tadā śivam ॥12-248-20॥
At that time, having approached Sthāṇu for the welfare of the beings, the god who grants boons, blazing like fire, spoke to Śiva.
karavāṇyadya kaṃ kāmaṃ varārho'si mato mama। kartā hyasmi priyaṃ śambho tava yaddhṛdi vartate ॥12-248-21॥
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.
