13.105
Elephant peak;
Yudhiṣṭhira said;
O grandsire, you say there is one world for all the virtuous; or is there also diversity there? Tell me that, O grandsire. (13-105-1)
Bhīṣma said.
O Pārtha, by their actions, men attain various worlds: the doers of good go to auspicious worlds, while the doers of evil go to sinful worlds. (13-105-2)
Here also, dear one, they cite this ancient history, the dialogue between the sage Gautama and Vāsava (Indra). (13-105-3)
A certain Brāhmaṇa named Gautama, who was gentle, self-controlled, and had conquered his senses, saw a distressed, motherless elephant-calf in the great forest. (13-105-4)
Seeing him, the compassionate and firm-vowed (person) saved his life. But in due course of time, he became very strong and great. (13-105-5)
Śakra (Indra), taking the form of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, seized the great elephant who, broken, was flowing with ichor from all sides. (13-105-6)
But when he saw him being taken away, Gautama, firm in his vow and a great ascetic, addressed King Dhritarashtra. (13-105-7)
Do not rejoice, my son, at this elephant—nourished in suffering, ungrateful to Dhritarashtra. The wise say that friendship is made in seven steps; O king, let the betrayal of a friend never touch you. (13-105-8)
He who provides fuel and water, who looks after the empty quarters in the hermitage, behaves respectfully in the preceptor's family, and is properly engaged in the duties toward the teacher. (13-105-9)
My elephant, who is well-mannered, restrained, grateful, dear, and always with me, O king, you should not take away from me while (it is) crying. (13-105-10)
Dhritarashtra said.
I give you a thousand cows, a hundred female servants, five hundred gold coins, and other various wealth, O great sage. What use does a Brāhmaṇa have here for an elephant? (13-105-11)
Gautama spoke.
May the cows, female servants with niṣka-coins, various gems, and every kind of wealth come to you alone, O king. What use does a brāhmaṇa have for wealth here? (13-105-12)
Dhritarashtra said.
Brāhmaṇas have nothing to do with elephants; O Brāhmaṇa, elephant-herds belong to royals. There is no fault in using one's own vehicle; O Gautama, turn us away from the best of elephants. (13-105-13)
Gautama said.
Where those who performed virtuous deeds rejoice after death, and where those who committed sinful deeds suffer—there, in the mansion of the great-souled Vaivasvata, I shall send you, O elephant. (13-105-14)
Dhritarashtra said.
Those who are inactive, disbelievers, without faith; evil-natured and immersed in sense pleasures—such persons suffer Yama's torments. Dhritarashtra will not go there (to that torment). (13-105-15)
Gautama said.
In Yama’s Saṁyamanī, the dwelling of beings, where untruth is not spoken and truth is spoken, where the weak torment the strong—there I will torment you, O elephant. (13-105-16)
Dhritarashtra said;
Those who honor their elder sister, father, mother, and teacher—such people, O great sage, will attain this world; beyond that, Dhritarashtra will not go there. (13-105-17)
Gautama spoke.
I will send the elephant to the Mandakini river of King Vaiśravaṇa, which is rich in pleasures, entered by pleasure-seekers, and enjoyed by Gandharvas, Yakṣas, and Apsaras there. (13-105-18)
Dhritarashtra said.
Those people devoted to serving guests and who keep good vows, who truly offer shelter to Brāhmaṇas, who eat only after sharing their food with those dependent on them—they too beautify the heavenly river Mandākinī. (13-105-19)
Gautama said.
In front of Mount Meru, the beautiful blooming forest enjoyed by the songs of Kinnaras, where the splendid and great Jambu trees stand, there I will release you, the elephant. (13-105-20)
Dhṛtarāṣṭra said.
Those Brāhmaṇas who are gentle, truthful, learned, and pleasing to all beings, who study the Itihāsa and Purāṇa, and who make offerings of honey to other twice-born—such are described here. (13-105-21)
O great sage, this world is of such kind; Dhritarashtra will not go further there. Whatever known place exists, tell me that quickly, for I now go there. (13-105-22)
Gautama said;
The well-flowered forest, Nandana, adorned by the king of Kiṃnaras and beloved by Nārada, is the abode also of the Gandharvas and Apsarases; there, I shall lead you, O elephant. (13-105-23)
Dhritarashtra said:
Those people who are always skilled in dance and song, moving together without begging—such is this world, O great sage; but Dhṛtarāṣṭra will not go further there. (13-105-24)
Gautama said;
Where the beautiful northern Kurus shine, rejoicing with the gods, O king; where sages born from fire, as well as those not born of a womb and those of mountain birth, dwell. (13-105-25)
Where Indra rains and all desires prevail; where women roam with freedom as they please; and where there is no jealousy between women and men—there I shall send the elephant. (13-105-26)
Dhṛtarāṣṭra said.
Those who, among all beings, are free from desires, do not eat flesh, who are non-violent and wander about, do not harm either the stationary or the moving, and who are identified with the Self of all beings.
Those who are free from desire for results, possessiveness, and passion; who are equal in gain and loss, blame and praise—people of such nature, O great sage, will attain the supreme state. Dhritarashtra, however, will not reach there. (13-105-28)
Gautama said.
Beyond that shine the everlasting worlds, endowed with excellent fragrance, pure and free from sorrow. In the abode of the great-souled King Soma, there I will cause you, the elephant, to go. (13-105-29)
Dhritarashtra said.
Those who are generous by nature never accept (gifts) themselves, nor do they take wealth from others. For such people, there is nothing that they would not give to a deserving person; they are hospitable to all guests and are very gracious people. (13-105-30)
Those who are forgiving do not speak back, and others, even when able, are always of virtuous conduct. Of people with such disposition, O great sage, this world—Dhritarashtra will not reach the higher (state) there. (13-105-31)
Gautama said.
Then, beyond that, there are eternal worlds, pure, free from darkness and sorrow. They belong to the sun, vast and noble; there I will send you, as an elephant. (13-105-32)
Dhritarashtra said.
They are fond of self-study and devoted to serving their teachers; they practice austerity, observe good vows, and are truthful. They do not speak against their teachers, are always diligent, and are beyond reproach in fulfilling their teachers' tasks. (13-105-33)
O great sage, this realm is for those of such a nature—the purified, whose speech and minds are cultivated, who live in truth, who know the Vedas, and who are noble souls; Dhritarashtra will not reach that highest state there. (13-105-34)
Gautama said.
Then, farther beyond, there shine eternal worlds, possessing the excellent fragrance of merit, free from impurity and sorrow. In the abode of Varuṇa, the king, the great-souled one, there I will send you, the elephant. (13-105-35)
Dhritarashtra said.
Those people who always perform the Cāturmāsya sacrifices gain thereby the result of one thousand iṣṭi sacrifices. And those Brāhmaṇas who offer the Agnihotra ritual with faith, according to the prescribed method, for three years (attain the same result). (13-105-36)
Dhritarashtra will not attain that supreme path which is followed by great-souled, righteous men devoted to their own wives and well established in their proper duty. (13-105-37)
Gautama said.
The worlds of Indra are spotless and free from sorrow; difficult to attain, desired by men. For him, O king of much energy, I shall send this elephant to your house. (13-105-38)
Dhṛtarāṣṭra said.
Those who live a hundred years, who are valiant men, who study the Veda and who are vigilant performers of sacrifice—all these go to the realm of Indra; but Dhṛtarāṣṭra will not attain that supreme place there. (13-105-39)
Gautama said.
There are great worlds belonging to Prajāpati; on the heights of heaven, abundant and free from sorrow. Desired by all who are born in all worlds; there, I will send you, the elephant. (13-105-40)
Dhritarashtra said;
Those kings anointed in the Rājasūya, righteous and protectors of their people, and those whose bodies were bathed at the avabhṛtha of the Aśvamedha; in the worlds attained by them, Dhṛtarāṣṭra is not found there. (13-105-41)
Gautama said.
Then, beyond that, shine the eternal worlds—fragrant with supreme virtue, pure, and free from sorrow. There, in that rare and unassailable world of cows, I will dispatch the elephant. (13-105-42)
Dhṛtarāṣṭra said.
Who gives a thousand cows a hundred times equally; who gives a hundred cows or gives ten (cows) as he is able. Likewise, he who gives one cow here to ten or to five people, or the generous one gives one, (all these are considered meritorious). (13-105-43)
Those Brahmans who grow old in celibacy, who protect Brahmanic speech, and who, being strong-minded, are devoted to pilgrimage—they there rejoice in the mansion of cows. (13-105-44)
Prabhāsa, Mānasa, the holy Puṣkara lakes, the great lake, the sacred Naimiṣa, the holy ford, Bāhudā, and Karatoyinī. (13-105-45)
Gayā, Gayaśiras as well, Vipāśā, Sthūlavālukā, Tūṣṇīṃgaṅgā, Daśagaṅgā, and the great pool, too. (13-105-46)
Those great-souled persons, steadfast in their vows, who go to the rivers Gautamī, Kauśikī, Pākā, Sarasvatī, Dṛṣadvatī, and Yamunā. (13-105-47)
There, those who abide in the divine, wearing divine garlands and endowed with auspicious fragrance, the blessed souls, go; but Dhritarashtra does not go there, indeed. (13-105-48)
Gautama said.
Where there is no fear of cold, nor even the slightest fear of heat; where there is no hunger or thirst, no fatigue, no pain, nor pleasure in this way. (13-105-49)
There is no one who is hated nor dear, no relative nor enemy likewise; there is neither old age and death, nor even merit, nor sin. (13-105-50)
In that pure and abundant place, established in intellect and steadfastness, in the auspicious mansion of Svayambhu, my elephant will reach there. (13-105-51)
Dhritarashtra said;
Freed from all attachments, self-controlled, devoted to discipline, and established in the yoga of the self, they have attained the path to heaven. (13-105-52)
Those of sattvic nature here attain the holy abode of Brahman. There, Dhritarashtra is not able to be seen, O great sage. (13-105-53)
Gautama said.
Where the Rathantara and the Bṛhat hymns are sung, where the altar is strewn with lotuses, where the Soma-drinker arrives with horses—there, I shall take you, O elephant. (13-105-54)
I realize you, Vṛtra-slayer, possessor of a hundred powers, as one who surpasses all the worlds. Surely, never by speech, have I ever done any wrong to you out of an attachment of mind. (13-105-55)
Śakra said.
Since Manu found this path of the people by following the elephant's footprints, therefore, O lord, I bow to you; whatever you command, I will do all. (13-105-56)
Gautama said.
Give me that elephant—my white female son-elephant, whom you brought to me as a young one for ten years, who while I was dwelling in the forest became as a second son to me, O Indra, lord of gods. (13-105-57)
Indra said;
This son of yours, O foremost of Brāhmaṇas, the serpent, is also smelling you while gazing at you and smelling your feet closely with his nose. Please think of my welfare; and let my homage be to you. (13-105-58)
Gautama said.
O lord of gods, I always meditate on auspiciousness for you here, and I always perform worship. O Śakra, you too grant me auspiciousness; I accept the serpent you have given. (13-105-59)
Indra said;
Of those wise, steadfast, and great-souled ones in whose hearts the Vedas are truly set, I am understood by you alone, O great-souled one; therefore, today I am full of joy toward you. (13-105-60)
O brāhmaṇa, may you, being quickly killed together with your son by the elephant, attain auspicious worlds both for a day and for a long time. (13-105-61)
Bhīṣma said.
Having placed Gautama at the forefront, along with his son and elephant, the wielder of the thunderbolt ascended to heaven with the noble ones, to that difficult-to-approach abode. (13-105-62)
