14.070
yudhiṣṭhirasya yajñadīkṣā
The consecration for sacrifice of Yudhiṣṭhira.
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
tān samīpagatān śrutvā pāṇḍavān śatrukarśanaḥ। vāsudevaḥ sahāmātyaḥ pratyudyāto didṛkṣayā॥14-70-1॥
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)
te sametya yathā-nyāyaṁ pāṇḍavā vṛṣṇibhiḥ saha। viviśuḥ sahitā rājan puraṁ vāraṇasāhvayam ॥14-70-2॥
O king, having assembled according to rule, the Pāṇḍavas together with the Vṛṣṇis entered the city named Vāraṇasā (Vārāṇasī). (14-70-2)
mahatas tasya sainyasya khura-nemi-svanena ca। dyāvā-pṛthivyau khaṃ caiva śabdenāsīt samāvṛtam ॥14-70-3॥
The heaven, earth, and even the sky were enveloped by the sound of the great army’s hoofs and wheels. (14-70-3)
te kośam agrataḥ kṛtvā viviśuḥ svapuraṃ tadā। pāṇḍavāḥ prītamanasaḥ sā-mātyāḥ sa-suhṛd-gaṇāḥ ॥14-70-4॥
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)
te sametya yathā-nyāyaṁ dhṛtarāṣṭraṁ janādhipam। kīrtayantaḥ sva-nāmāni tasya pādau vavandire॥14-70-5॥
They approached Dhritarashtra, the lord of men, and, according to propriety, praised their own names and bowed at his feet. (14-70-5)
dhṛtarāṣṭrād anu ca te gāndhārīṃ subalātmajām। kuntīṃ ca rājaśārdūla tadā bharatasattamāḥ॥14-70-6॥
O tiger among kings, then the best of the Bharatas, after Dhṛtarāṣṭra, (went to) Gāndhārī, the daughter of Subala, and Kuntī. (14-70-6)
viduraṃ pūjayitvā ca vaiśyāputraṃ sametya ca. pūjyamānāḥ sma te vīrā vyarājanta viśāṃ pate ॥14-70-7॥
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)
tatas tat paramāścaryaṃ vicitraṃ mahadadbhutam। śuśruvus te tadā vīrāḥ pitus te janma bhārata ॥14-70-8॥
Then, O Bhārata, at that time, the heroes heard of the supreme, marvelous and great wonder—the birth of their father. (14-70-8)
tad-upaśrutya te karma vāsudevasya dhīmataḥ। pūjārhaṃ pūjayāmāsuḥ kṛṣṇaṃ devakinandanam ॥14-70-9॥
Upon hearing of that deed of wise Vāsudeva, they worshipped Kṛṣṇa, the son of Devakī, as he was worthy of worship. (14-70-9)
tataḥ katipayāhasya vyāsaḥ satyavatī-sutaḥ। ājagāma mahā-tejā nagaraṃ nāga-sāhvayam॥14-70-10॥
After a few days, the illustrious Vyāsa, son of Satyavatī, arrived at the city called Nāgasāhvaya. (14-70-10)
tasya sarve yathā-nyāyaṃ pūjāṃ cakruḥ kurūdvahāḥ। saha vṛṣṇy-andhaka-vyāghraiḥ upāsāṃ cakrire tadā ॥14-70-11॥
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)
tatra nānāvidhākārāḥ kathāḥ samanukīrtya vai। yudhiṣṭhiro dharmasuto vyāsaṃ vacanamabravīt॥14-70-12॥
There, after various kinds of stories were thoroughly recounted, Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma, spoke to Vyasa. (14-70-12)
bhavatprasādādbhagavanyadidaṃ ratnamāhṛtam। upayoktuṃ tadiĉchāmi vājimedhe mahākratau ॥14-70-13॥
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)
tadanujñātum icchāmi bhavatā munisattama। tvadadhīnā vayaṃ sarve kṛṣṇasya ca mahātmanaḥ॥14-70-14॥
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)
vyāsa uvāca॥
Vyāsa said.
anujānāmi rājaṁs tvāṁ kriyatāṁ yad anantaram। yajasva vājimedhena vidhivad dakṣiṇāvatā ॥14-70-15॥
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)
aśvamedho hi rājendra pāvanaḥ sarvapāpmānām। teneṣṭvā tvaṁ vipāpmā vai bhavitā nātra saṁśayaḥ॥14-70-16॥
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)
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
ityuktaḥ sa tu dharmātmā kururājo yudhiṣṭhiraḥ। aśvamedhasya kauravya cakāra āharaṇe matim ॥14-70-17॥
Thus addressed, that righteous-souled Kuru king Yudhiṣṭhira formed the resolve to undertake the Aśvamedha (horse sacrifice), O Kauravya. (14-70-17)
samanujñāpya tu sa taṃ kṛṣṇadvaipāyanaṃ nṛpaḥ। vāsudevam atha āmantrya vāgmī vacanam abravīt ॥14-70-18॥
But after having jointly permitted that Kṛṣṇadvaipāyana, the king, having addressed Vāsudeva, the eloquent one, spoke these words. (14-70-18)
devakī suprajā devī tvayā puruṣasattama। yadbrūyāṃ tvāṃ mahābāho tatkṛthāstvamihācyuta ॥14-70-19॥
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)
tvat-prabhāvārjitān bhogān aśnīmi yadu-nandana। parākrameṇa buddhyā ca tvayaiyaṁ nirjitā mahī ॥14-70-20॥
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)
dīkṣayasva tvam ātmānaṁ tvaṁ naḥ paramako guruḥ। tvayi iṣṭavati dharmajña vipāpmā syām ahaṁ vibho ॥ tvaṁ hi yajño'kṣaraḥ sarvas tvaṁ dharmas tvaṁ prajāpatiḥ ॥14-70-21॥
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)
vāsudeva uvāca॥
Vāsudeva said.
tvam eva etan mahā-bāho vaktum arhasi ariṁ-dama। tvaṁ gatiḥ sarva-bhūtānām iti me niścitā matiḥ॥14-70-22॥
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)
tvaṁ cādya kuru-vīrāṇāṁ dharmeṇābhivirājase। guṇa-bhūtāḥ sma te rājan tvaṁ no rājan-mato guruḥ॥14-70-23॥
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)
yajasva mad-anujñātaḥ prāpta eva kratur-mayā। yunaktu no bhavān kārye yatra vāñchasi bhārata॥ satyaṁ te pratijānāmi sarvaṁ kartāsmi te'nagha॥14-70-24॥
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)
bhīmasenārjunau caiva tathā mādravatīsutau। iṣṭavanto bhaviṣyanti tvayīṣṭavati bhārata ॥14-70-25॥
O Bhārata, Bhīmasena, Arjuna, and also the two sons of Mādravatī will perform the sacrifice after you have performed the sacrifice. (14-70-25)
