14.061
Offering of śrāddha for Abhimanyu by Vasudeva.
Vaiśampāyana said.
On hearing these words of his son, the son of Śūra then, abandoning sorrow, that righteous man performed the most excellent oblation. (14-61-1)
Similarly, Vāsudeva also continually performed the funeral rites for his own beloved relative, the great-souled father. (14-61-2)
The mighty-armed one caused sixty hundred thousand Brāhmaṇas to be fed with food possessing every good quality, in accordance with the prescribed rules. (14-61-3)
And having covered (their minds), the mighty-armed Kṛṣṇa dispelled the brāhmaṇas' greed for wealth at that time; that event became hair-raising (wondrous). (14-61-4)
The Brāhmaṇas then said, "Gold, cows, and bedding and coverings are being given in abundance." (14-61-5)
Vāsudeva, the Daśārha, Baladeva, and Sātyaki, along with Satyaka, then performed the śrāddha ceremony for Abhimanyu. Being exceedingly distressed by sorrow, they did not attain peace. (14-61-6)
Likewise, the heroic Pāṇḍavas in the city called Nāgasāhvaya do not seek peace, having lost Abhimanyu. (14-61-7)
O best of kings, for many days the daughter of Virāṭa, afflicted with grief for her husband, did not eat; that was a truly great and pitiful thing. The fetus that remained in her womb was dissolved. (14-61-8)
Then Vyāsa came, having perceived with his divine vision; approaching, the wise one spoke to Pṛthā, the large-eyed, and to Uttarā as well, the one of great splendor: "Let this grief be abandoned." (14-61-9)
O illustrious one, your son, of great splendor, will be born through the power of Vāsudeva and also by my utterance. This son of the Pāṇḍavas, too, will protect the earth at the end. (14-61-10)
O Bhārata, Vyāsa, as if to gladden, spoke this speech, having looked at Dhanañjaya while Dharmarāja watched. (14-61-11)
O mighty-armed, your grandson of great mind will be born, and he will surely protect the earth bounded by the ocean. (14-61-12)
Therefore, O best of the Kurus, abandon your grief, O slayer of foes. On consideration, this will not be the truth for you; it will not come to pass. (14-61-13)
And whatever was spoken before by the hero of the Vṛṣṇis, by Kṛṣṇa, O delight of the Kurus, that will certainly come to pass; do not concern yourself about it. (14-61-14)
He has attained the imperishable worlds of the wise, won by their own self-mastery; he should not be mourned by you, O dear one, nor in that way by the other Kurus. (14-61-15)
Thus, O great king, the righteous Dhananjaya, addressed by the grandsire, cast off his sorrow and became glad at that time. (14-61-16)
Your father, O knower of dharma, also grew in that womb, O great-minded one, just as the moon grows in the bright fortnight, in due time. (14-61-17)
Then Vyāsa urged King Yudhiṣṭhira, son of Dharma, to perform the horse sacrifice. Thereupon, he disappeared. (14-61-18)
The wise king Yudhishthira, upon hearing Vyāsa’s words, O father, resolved to depart in search of wealth. (14-61-19)
