14.090
yūpocchrayaḥ
the elevation (raising) of the sacrificial post;
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
sa praviśya yathā-nyāyaṁ pāṇḍavānāṁ niveśanam। pitāmahm abhhyavadat sāmnā parama-valgunā ॥14-90-1॥
He duly entered the residence of the Pāṇḍavas and addressed his grandmother with very gentle and sweet words. (14-90-1)
tathā citrāṅgadā devī kauravyasyātmajāpi ca। pṛthāṃ kṛṣṇāṃ ca sahite vinayenābhijagmatuḥ ॥ subhadrāṃ ca yathānyāyaṃ yāścānyāḥ kuruyoṣitaḥ ॥14-90-2॥
Thus, Citramgada, the noble lady, and also the daughter of Kauravya, along with Pṛthā and Kṛṣṇā together, respectfully approached Subhadrā, as well as the other Kuru women, as was appropriate. (14-90-2)
dadau kuntī tatastābhyāṃ ratnāni vividhāni ca. draupadī ca subhadrā ca yāś cāpy anyā daduḥ striyaḥ ॥14-90-3॥
Then Kuntī gave various jewels to those two; Draupadī, Subhadrā, and the other women also gave (gifts). (14-90-3)
ūṣatus tatra te devyau mahārhaśayanāsane। supūjite svayaṃ kuntyā pārthasya priyakāmyayā॥14-90-4॥
There, those two ladies slept on luxurious couches, having been personally honored by Kuntī out of her wish to please Pārtha. (14-90-4)
sa ca rājā mahāvīryaḥ pūjito babhruvāhanaḥ। dhṛtarāṣṭraṃ mahīpālam upatasthe yathāvidhi ॥14-90-5॥
Then the king of great strength, honored Babhruvāhana, approached King Dhṛtarāṣṭra according to proper procedure. (14-90-5)
yudhiṣṭhiraṃ ca rājānaṃ bhīmādīṃś cāpi pāṇḍavān। upagamya mahātejā vinayenābhyavādayat ॥14-90-6॥
The greatly luminous one, having humbly approached king Yudhishthira and Bhima and the other Pāṇḍavas, saluted them. (14-90-6)
sa taiḥ premṇā pariṣvaktaḥ pūjitaś ca yathāvidhi. dhanaṁ cāsmai dadur bhūri prīyamāṇā mahārathāḥ ॥14-90-7॥
He was embraced with love and honored according to custom by them. The great chariot-warriors, being pleased, gave much wealth to him. (14-90-7)
tathaiva sa mahīpālaḥ kṛṣṇaṃ cakragadādharam। pradyumna iva govindaṃ vinayenopatastivān ॥14-90-8॥
In the same manner, the king approached Kṛṣṇa, the wielder of the discus and mace, with humility, just as Pradyumna would approach Govinda. (14-90-8)
tasmai kṛṣṇo dadau rājñe mahārham-abhipūjitam। rathaṃ hema-pariṣkāraṃ divyāśvayujam-uttamam ॥14-90-9॥
Kṛṣṇa gave the king an excellent, honored, and very precious chariot, adorned with gold and yoked with divine horses. (14-90-9)
dharmarājaś ca bhīmaś ca yamajau phalgunas tathā। pṛthak-pṛthag-atīva enaṃ mānārhaṃ samapūjayan ॥14-90-10॥
Dharmarāja, Bhīma, the two sons of Yama, and Phalguna likewise, each separately honored him who was worthy of honor with great respect. (14-90-10)
tatas tṛtīye divase satyavatyāḥ suto muniḥ। yudhiṣṭhiraṃ samabhyetya vāgmī vacanam abravīt ॥14-90-11॥
Then, on the third day, the eloquent sage, son of Satyavati, approached Yudhishthira and spoke these words. (14-90-11)
adya prabhṛti kaunteya yajasva samayo hi te। muhūrto yajñiyaḥ prāptaś codayanti ca yājakāḥ ॥14-90-12॥
O son of Kunti, from today onward, sacrifice, for it is indeed your time. The auspicious moment fit for sacrifice has arrived, and the priests also urge you. (14-90-12)
ahīno nāma rājendra kratus te'yaṁ vikalpavān। bahutvāt kāñcanasyāsya khyāto bahusuvarṇakaḥ ॥14-90-13॥
O king, your sacrifice called Ahīna, since it is varied and abounds in gold, is known as Bahusuvarṇaka (the sacrifice with much gold). (14-90-13)
evam-eva mahārāja dakṣiṇāṃ triguṇāṃ kuru। tritvaṃ vrajatu te rājan brāhmaṇā hy atra kāraṇam ॥14-90-14॥
In this manner, O great king, make the gift threefold. Let your offering become triple, O king, for the Brāhmaṇas are truly the cause in this regard. (14-90-14)
trīnaśvamedhānatra tvaṃ samprāpya bahudakṣiṇān । jñātivadhyākṛtaṃ pāpaṃ prahāsyasi narādhipa ॥14-90-15॥
O king, by performing three aśvamedha sacrifices here, accompanied by abundant gifts, you will remove the sin committed by killing your kindred. (14-90-15)
pavitraṃ paramaṃ hy etat pāvanānāṃ ca pāvanam। yad aśvamedhāvabhṛthaṃ prāpsyase kurunandana ॥14-90-16॥
O joy of the Kurus, this is indeed the supreme purity and the purifier of purifiers; you will attain that which is the final bath of the horse-sacrifice. (14-90-16)
ityuktaḥ sa tu tejasvī vyāsenāmitatejasā। dīkṣāṃ viveśa dharmātmā vājimedhāptaye tadā॥ narādhipaḥ prāyajata vājimedhaṃ mahākratum॥14-90-17॥
Thus addressed by Vyāsa of immeasurable energy, the brilliant and righteous-souled king entered upon the preparatory rites for attaining the horse-sacrifice at that time. The king then caused the Vājimedha, the great sacrifice, to be performed. (14-90-17)
tatra vedavido rājan ścakruḥ karmāṇi yājakāḥ| parikramantaḥ śāstrajñā vidhivatsādhuśikṣitāḥ ॥14-90-18॥
There, O King, the knowers of the Vedas performed the rituals. The priests, who were learned in the scriptures and well-trained in correct procedures, moved about as required. (14-90-18)
na teṣāṃ skhalitaṃ tatra nāsīdapahutaṃ tathā। kramayuktaṃ ca yuktaṃ ca cakrustatra dvijarṣabhāḥ ॥14-90-19॥
There, among them, there was no mistake nor any misplaced utterance. The foremost of the twice-born performed everything there in proper order and suitably. (14-90-19)
kṛtvā pravargyaṃ dharmajñā yathāvad dvijasattamāḥ। cakrus te vidhivad rājaṃs tathaivābhiṣavaṃ dvijāḥ॥14-90-20॥
Having properly performed the Pravargya sacrifice, the best of the twice-born who knew dharma, O king, likewise performed the Abhiṣava rite according to the prescribed injunctions. (14-90-20)
abhiṣūya tato rājan somaṃ somapasattamāḥ। savanāny anupūrvyeṇa cakruḥ śāstrānusāriṇaḥ ॥14-90-21॥
O king, then the foremost Soma-drinkers, having filtered the Soma, performed the libations in the proper order according to the scriptures. (14-90-21)
na tatra kṛpaṇaḥ kaścin na daridro babhūva ha। kṣudhito duḥkhito vāpi prākṛto vāpi mānavaḥ॥14-90-22॥
There, no one at all became miserable or poor. Nor was any man found hungry, afflicted, or ordinary. (14-90-22)
bhojanaṃ bhojanārthibhyo dāpayāmāsa nityadā। bhīmaseno mahātejāḥ satataṃ rājaśāsanāt ॥14-90-23॥
Bhīmasena, of great brilliance, always caused food to be given to those desiring it, constantly, by the king's command. (14-90-23)
saṁstare kuśalāś cāpi sarvakarmāṇi yājakāḥ। divase divase cakrur yathā-śāstra-artha-cakṣuṣaḥ॥14-90-24॥
In the ritual beds, the skilled sacrificers performed all the rites each day, acting with an understanding of the true import of the scriptures. (14-90-24)
nāṣaḍaṅgavida trāsīt sadasyas tasya dhīmataḥ। nāvrato nānupādhyāyo na ca vādākṣamo dvijaḥ॥14-90-25॥
In his learned assembly, there was no one who was not a knower of the six limbs, no one without vows, no one without a preceptor, and no twice-born who was not skilled in disputation. (14-90-25)
tato yūpocchraye prāpte ṣaḍ-bailvān bharatarṣabha। khādirān bilva-samitāṁs tāvataḥ sarva-varṇinaḥ ॥14-90-26॥
Then, when the sacrificial post was raised, O bull of the Bharata dynasty, six sticks of bilva wood, as well as sticks of khādira and bilva, all by all classes, were used. (14-90-26)
devadārumayau dvau tu yūpau kurupateḥ kratau। śleṣmātakamayaṃ ca ekaṃ yājakāḥ samakārayan ॥14-90-27॥
In the sacrifice of the lord of the Kurus, the priests caused two sacrificial posts made of deodar wood and one made of śleṣmātaka wood to be constructed. (14-90-27)
śobhārthaṃ cāparānyūpān kāñcanān puruṣarṣabha. sa bhīmaḥ kārayāmāsa dharmarājasya śāsanāt ॥14-90-28॥
O bull among men, for the sake of splendor, Bhīma had other golden sacrificial posts made at the command of Dharmarāja. (14-90-28)
te vyarājanta rājarṣe vāsobhir upaśobhitāḥ। narendrābhigatā devān yathā saptarṣayo divi ॥14-90-29॥
O royal sage, they, adorned with garments, shone brilliantly upon approaching the king, like the seven sages (Saptarṣis) shining among the gods in heaven. (14-90-29)
iṣṭakāḥ kāñcanīś cātra cayanārthaṃ kṛtābhavan। śuśubhe cayanaṃ tatra dakṣasyaiva prajāpateḥ ॥14-90-30॥
Golden bricks were made here for constructing the altar; the altar there shone like that of Dakṣa, the lord of creatures. (14-90-30)
catuścityaḥ sa tasya āsīd aṣṭādaśakarātmakaḥ। sa rukmapakṣo nicitās triguṇo garuḍākṛtiḥ॥14-90-31॥
He had four storeys and for it had a form with eighteen hands. He was golden-winged, adorned, possessed of threefold qualities, and had the form of Garuḍa. (14-90-31)
tato niyuktāḥ paśavo yathāśāstraṃ manīṣibhiḥ। taṃ taṃ devaṃ samuddiśya pakṣiṇaḥ paśavaś ca ye ॥14-90-32॥
Thereafter, the wise assigned animals according to the śāstra; offering each to its respective deity, both birds and animals as prescribed. (14-90-32)
ṛṣabhāḥ śāstrapaṭhitās tathā jalacarāś ca ye। sarvāṁs tān abhyayuñjan te tatra agnicayakarmaṇi ॥14-90-33॥
The eminent ones learned in the scriptures, as well as aquatic beings and others, all of them they engaged there in the agnicayana ritual. (14-90-33)
yūpeṣu niyataṁ cāsīt paśūnāṁ triśataṁ tathā। aśva-ratna-uttaraṁ rājñaḥ kaunteyasya mahātmanaḥ ॥14-90-34॥
At the sacrificial posts, there was also a fixed number of three hundred cattle, surpassing even the finest horses, belonging to the king, the great-souled son of Kunti. (14-90-34)
sa yajñaḥ śuśubhe tasya sākṣād devarṣi-saṅkulaḥ। gandharva-gaṇa-saṅkīrṇaḥ śobhitaḥ apsarasāṃ gaṇaiḥ॥14-90-35॥
That sacrifice shone forth, being directly filled with divine sages, crowded with groups of Gandharvas, and adorned by companies of the celestial nymphs. (14-90-35)
sa kimpuruṣa-gītaiś ca kiṁnaraiḥ upaśobhitaḥ | siddha-vipra-nivāsaiś ca samantāt abhisaṁvṛtaḥ ॥14-90-36॥
He was adorned by the songs of the Kimpuruṣas and by the Kinnaras, and was surrounded on all sides by the abodes of Siddhas and sages. (14-90-36)
tasmin sadasi nityās tu vyāsaśiṣyā dvijottamāḥ। sarvaśāstrapraṇetāraḥ kuśalā yajñakarmasu ॥14-90-37॥
In that assembly were always present the disciples of Vyāsa, the foremost among the twice-born, who authored all the śāstras and were skilled in sacrificial rites. (14-90-37)
nāradaś ca babhūv ātra tumburuś ca mahādyutiḥ। viśvāvasuś citrasenas tathānye gītakovidāḥ॥14-90-38॥
Nārada, Tumburu of great splendor, Viśvāvasu, Citraseṇa, and other experts in singing were present here. (14-90-38)
gandharvā gītakuśalā nṛtteṣu ca viśāradāḥ। ramayanti sma tān viprān yajñakarmāntareṣu atha ॥14-90-39॥
The Gandharvas, who are skilled singers and accomplished in dance, delighted those Brāhmaṇas during the intervals of the sacrificial ceremonies. (14-90-39)
