14.070
युधिष्ठिरस्य यज्ञदीक्षा
The consecration for sacrifice of Yudhiṣṭhira.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
तान्समीपगताञ्श्रुत्वा पाण्डवाञ्शत्रुकर्शनः। वासुदेवः सहामात्यः प्रत्युद्यातो दिदृक्षया ॥१४-७०-१॥
Upon hearing that the Pāṇḍavas had come near, Vāsudeva, the destroyer of enemies, together with his ministers, went out eagerly to meet them. (14-70-1)
ते समेत्य यथान्यायं पाण्डवा वृष्णिभिः सह। विविशुः सहिता राजन्पुरं वारणसाह्वयम् ॥१४-७०-२॥
O king, having assembled according to rule, the Pāṇḍavas together with the Vṛṣṇis entered the city named Vāraṇasā (Vārāṇasī). (14-70-2)
महतस्तस्य सैन्यस्य खुरनेमिस्वनेन च। द्यावापृथिव्यौ खं चैव शब्देनासीत्समावृतम् ॥१४-७०-३॥
The heaven, earth, and even the sky were enveloped by the sound of the great army’s hoofs and wheels. (14-70-3)
ते कोशमग्रतः कृत्वा विविशुः स्वपुरं तदा। पाण्डवाः प्रीतमनसः सामात्याः ससुहृद्गणाः ॥१४-७०-४॥
Having placed the treasury at the front, the Pāṇḍavas then entered their own city, their minds filled with delight, together with their ministers and groups of friends. (14-70-4)
ते समेत्य यथान्यायं धृतराष्ट्रं जनाधिपम्। कीर्तयन्तः स्वनामानि तस्य पादौ ववन्दिरे ॥१४-७०-५॥
They approached Dhritarashtra, the lord of men, and, according to propriety, praised their own names and bowed at his feet. (14-70-5)
धृतराष्ट्रादनु च ते गान्धारीं सुबलात्मजाम्। कुन्तीं च राजशार्दूल तदा भरतसत्तमाः ॥१४-७०-६॥
O tiger among kings, then the best of the Bharatas, after Dhṛtarāṣṭra, (went to) Gāndhārī, the daughter of Subala, and Kuntī. (14-70-6)
विदुरं पूजयित्वा च वैश्यापुत्रं समेत्य च। पूज्यमानाः स्म ते वीरा व्यराजन्त विशां पते ॥१४-७०-७॥
O lord of the people, having honored Vidura and approached the son of a Vaiśya, those heroes, being honored, indeed shone forth. (14-70-7)
ततस्तत्परमाश्चर्यं विचित्रं महदद्भुतम्। शुश्रुवुस्ते तदा वीराः पितुस्ते जन्म भारत ॥१४-७०-८॥
Then, O Bhārata, at that time, the heroes heard of the supreme, marvelous and great wonder—the birth of their father. (14-70-8)
तदुपश्रुत्य ते कर्म वासुदेवस्य धीमतः। पूजार्हं पूजयामासुः कृष्णं देवकिनन्दनम् ॥१४-७०-९॥
Upon hearing of that deed of wise Vāsudeva, they worshipped Kṛṣṇa, the son of Devakī, as he was worthy of worship. (14-70-9)
ततः कतिपयाहस्य व्यासः सत्यवतीसुतः। आजगाम महातेजा नगरं नागसाह्वयम् ॥१४-७०-१०॥
After a few days, the illustrious Vyāsa, son of Satyavatī, arrived at the city called Nāgasāhvaya. (14-70-10)
तस्य सर्वे यथान्यायं पूजां चक्रुः कुरूद्वहाः। सह वृष्ण्यन्धकव्याघ्रैरुपासां चक्रिरे तदा ॥१४-७०-११॥
All of them, in accordance with propriety, performed worship of him — the heroes of the Kurus, together with the eminent Vṛṣṇis and Andhakas, then paid him veneration. (14-70-11)
तत्र नानाविधाकाराः कथाः समनुकीर्त्य वै। युधिष्ठिरो धर्मसुतो व्यासं वचनमब्रवीत् ॥१४-७०-१२॥
There, after various kinds of stories were thoroughly recounted, Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma, spoke to Vyasa. (14-70-12)
भवत्प्रसादाद्भगवन्यदिदं रत्नमाहृतम्। उपयोक्तुं तदिच्छामि वाजिमेधे महाक्रतौ ॥१४-७०-१३॥
O venerable one, by your grace, I desire to use this jewel, which has been brought, in the horse-sacrifice, the great sacrificial rite. (14-70-13)
तदनुज्ञातुमिच्छामि भवता मुनिसत्तम। त्वदधीना वयं सर्वे कृष्णस्य च महात्मनः ॥१४-७०-१४॥
O best of sages, I wish to obtain your permission for that matter. All of us, as well as the great-souled Kṛṣṇa, are subject to you. (14-70-14)
व्यास उवाच॥
Vyāsa said.
अनुजानामि राजंस्त्वां क्रियतां यदनन्तरम्। यजस्व वाजिमेधेन विधिवद्दक्षिणावता ॥१४-७०-१५॥
O king, I permit you; let that which must follow be done. Perform the horse-sacrifice with proper gifts according to the rules. (14-70-15)
अश्वमेधो हि राजेन्द्र पावनः सर्वपाप्मनाम्। तेनेष्ट्वा त्वं विपाप्मा वै भविता नात्र संशयः ॥१४-७०-१६॥
O king of kings, the horse-sacrifice is indeed a purifier of all sins. By performing it, you will indeed become sinless; there is no doubt about this. (14-70-16)
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
इत्युक्तः स तु धर्मात्मा कुरुराजो युधिष्ठिरः। अश्वमेधस्य कौरव्य चकाराहरणे मतिम् ॥१४-७०-१७॥
Thus addressed, that righteous-souled Kuru king Yudhiṣṭhira formed the resolve to undertake the Aśvamedha (horse sacrifice), O Kauravya. (14-70-17)
समनुज्ञाप्य तु स तं कृष्णद्वैपायनं नृपः। वासुदेवमथामन्त्र्य वाग्मी वचनमब्रवीत् ॥१४-७०-१८॥
But after having jointly permitted that Kṛṣṇadvaipāyana, the king, having addressed Vāsudeva, the eloquent one, spoke these words. (14-70-18)
देवकी सुप्रजा देवी त्वया पुरुषसत्तम। यद्ब्रूयां त्वां महाबाहो तत्कृथास्त्वमिहाच्युत ॥१४-७०-१९॥
O Acyuta, O mighty-armed, whatever I, Devakī the blessed mother, say to you here, O best of men, may you do that. (14-70-19)
त्वत्प्रभावार्जितान्भोगानश्नीम यदुनन्दन। पराक्रमेण बुद्ध्या च त्वयेयं निर्जिता मही ॥१४-७०-२०॥
O son of Yadu, the enjoyments that I partake are acquired by your power. Indeed, by your valor and intelligence, this earth has been conquered. (14-70-20)
दीक्षयस्व त्वमात्मानं त्वं नः परमको गुरुः। त्वयीष्टवति धर्मज्ञ विपाप्मा स्यामहं विभो ॥ त्वं हि यज्ञोऽक्षरः सर्वस्त्वं धर्मस्त्वं प्रजापतिः ॥१४-७०-२१॥
You consecrate me; you are our supreme teacher. When you are worshipped, O knower of dharma, may I, O mighty one, become free from sin. Indeed, you are the sacrifice, the imperishable, you are all, you are dharma, you are Prajapati. (14-70-21)
वासुदेव उवाच॥
Vāsudeva said.
त्वमेवैतन्महाबाहो वक्तुमर्हस्यरिंदम। त्वं गतिः सर्वभूतानामिति मे निश्चिता मतिः ॥१४-७०-२२॥
You alone, O mighty-armed, are worthy to speak this, O subduer of enemies. You are the path of all beings—this is my firm conviction. (14-70-22)
त्वं चाद्य कुरुवीराणां धर्मेणाभिविराजसे। गुणभूताः स्म ते राजंस्त्वं नो राजन्मतो गुरुः ॥१४-७०-२३॥
Today, you shine forth with righteousness among the heroes of the Kuru dynasty. O king, the qualities have indeed become yours; you are regarded by us as our teacher, O king. (14-70-23)
यजस्व मदनुज्ञातः प्राप्त एव क्रतुर्मया। युनक्तु नो भवान्कार्ये यत्र वाञ्छसि भारत ॥ सत्यं ते प्रतिजानामि सर्वं कर्तास्मि तेऽनघ ॥१४-७०-२४॥
Perform the sacrifice, having received my permission, for the sacrifice is indeed accomplished by me. You may join us in the work wherever you desire, O Bhārata. Truly, I promise you, O sinless one, I will fulfill everything for you. (14-70-24)
भीमसेनार्जुनौ चैव तथा माद्रवतीसुतौ। इष्टवन्तो भविष्यन्ति त्वयीष्टवति भारत ॥१४-७०-२५॥
O Bhārata, Bhīmasena, Arjuna, and also the two sons of Mādravatī will perform the sacrifice after you have performed the sacrifice. (14-70-25)
