15.041
Vaiśampāyana said.
Then those best of the Bharatas approached each other, all entirely free from anger, envy, and sin. (15-41-1)
All, with pleased minds, performed the supreme and auspicious rite established by the Brahmarṣis, like the gods in the world of the immortals. (15-41-2)
O king, the son with his father, the wife with her husband, the brother with his brother, the friend indeed with his friend — all have assembled together. (15-41-3)
But the Pāṇḍavas, the mighty archer Karṇa, the son of Subhadrā, and, in great joy, all went to the sons of Draupadī. (15-41-4)
Then, indeed, the Pāṇḍavas together with Karṇa, having come together, and the lords of the earth, all remained established in friendship. (15-41-5)
By the sage's favor, they and the other kṣatriyas, with their pride gone, gave up enmity and abided in friendship. (15-41-6)
Thus all, having assembled along with elders, kinsmen, sons, and mighty men, the Kurus and others, gathered together. (15-41-7)
Having spent that entire single night, the kings, their hearts satisfied, felt as content as the dwellers of heaven. (15-41-8)
O bull of the Bharatas, among the assembled warriors, there was neither sorrow, fear, terror, displeasure, nor disgrace here. (15-41-9)
Those women, having come together with their fathers, brothers, husbands, and sons, having attained the greatest happiness, then abandoned their sorrow. (15-41-10)
Thus, having spent one night, the heroes and those women, after bidding each other farewell and embracing, then departed each by the way they had come. (15-41-11)
Then the chief of sages sent those beings away; in a moment, they indeed vanished before the very eyes of those watching. (15-41-12)
After bathing in the holy river Gangā, the great-souled ones, with their chariots and banners, indeed reached their own places. (15-41-13)
Some went to the world of the gods, some to the assembly of Brahmā; some attained the realm of Varuṇa, and some the world of Kubera. (15-41-14)
In this way, some kings attained the realm of Vaivasvata (Yama); and among the rākṣasas and piśācas, some also reached the land of the northern Kurus. (15-41-15)
All those great-souled ones, having attained (their destination) together with the immortals, came with their vehicles and attendants, all moving in various wondrous ways. (15-41-16)
After all those had gone, the great sage—standing in the water, ever virtuous and of great brilliance, always devoted to the welfare of the Kurus—then spoke to all those Kṣatriya women whose husbands were slain. (15-41-17)
Those excellent women who wish for the worlds attained by their husbands should quickly, without delay, bathe in the waters of the Jahnavi (Ganga). (15-41-18)
Then those noble women, full of faith, after hearing his speech and properly obtaining permission from their father-in-law, entered into the waters of the Jāhnavī (Gaṅgā). (15-41-19)
O king, then all those virtuous women who had been freed from their human bodies approached together with their husbands. (15-41-20)
In this way, one after another, all those virtuous ladies of noble families entered the water and, freed from their bodies, attained the realm where their husbands dwelled. (15-41-21)
Endowed with divine forms, adorned with divine ornaments, and wearing divine garlands and garments, their husbands were the same as them. (15-41-22)
Those women, possessed of good conduct and fortitude, free from pride and weariness, endowed with all virtues, each went to her own place. (15-41-23)
To whichever person, whatever desire arose at that time, Vyāsa, the bestower of boons, devoted to righteousness, granted that to each. (15-41-24)
When they heard of the return of the king-gods, the people rejoiced, were gladdened, and even those who had attained other bodies were happy. (15-41-25)
Whoever man hears this, he always attains dear things, meeting with beloved ones, both here and indeed after death. (15-41-26)
Desired union with kinsmen, freedom from difficulty and disease—whoever, being learned, causes this (text) to be heard may attain the highest accomplishment. (15-41-27)
O Bhārata, men engaged in self-study, in ritual actions, who practice spiritual discipline and are steadfast—such humans, upon hearing this section always, will attain the highest goal. (15-41-28)
