15.045
nāradāgamana-parva
The section describing the arrival of Nārada.
dhṛtarāṣṭrādīnāṃ dāvāgnau dāhaḥ
Burning of Dhṛtarāṣṭra and his party in the forest fire.
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
dvivarṣopanivṛtteṣu pāṇḍaveṣu yadṛcchayā। devarṣir nārado rājann ājagāma yudhiṣṭhiram ॥15-45-1॥
O king, when two years had passed among the Pāṇḍavas, the divine sage Nārada happened to come to Yudhiṣṭhira. (15-45-1)
tam abhyarcya mahābāhuḥ kururājo yudhiṣṭhiraḥ। āsīnaṃ pariviśvastaṃ provāca vadatāṃ varaḥ ॥15-45-2॥
Having worshipped him, the mighty-armed king of the Kurus, Yudhiṣṭhira, spoke to the one who was seated and fully trusting, being the best of speakers. (15-45-2)
cirasya khalu paśyāmi bhagavantam-upasthitam। kaccit-te kuśalaṃ vipra śubhaṃ vā pratyupasthitam ॥15-45-3॥
Indeed, after a long time I see that the venerable one has arrived. O brāhmaṇa, I hope welfare or auspicious fortune has come to you. (15-45-3)
ke deśāḥ paridṛṣṭās te kiṁ ca kāryaṁ karomi te। tad brūhi dvija-mukhya tvam asmākaṁ ca priyo'tithiḥ ॥15-45-4॥
Which countries have you seen? What shall I do for you? Tell me that, O foremost of the twice-born, for you are a dear guest to us. (15-45-4)
nārada uvāca॥
Nārada said.
ciradṛṣṭo'si me rājan nāgato'smi tapovanāt। paridṛṣṭāni tīrthāni gaṅgā caiva mayā nṛpa ॥15-45-5॥
O king, I see you again after a long time; I have come from the ascetic grove. I have seen all the sacred places and the Ganga, O king. (15-45-5)
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
Yudhishthira said.
vadanti puruṣā me'dya gaṅgātīranivāsinaḥ। dhṛtarāṣṭraṃ mahātmānamāsthitaṃ paramaṃ tapaḥ॥15-45-6॥
Men residing on the bank of the Ganga have told me today that the great-souled Dhritarashtra has undertaken supreme penance. (15-45-6)
api dṛṣṭastvayā tatra kuśalī sa kurūdvahaḥ। gāndhārī ca pṛthā caiva sūtaputraśca sañjayaḥ ॥15-45-7॥
Has that chief of the Kurus, whom you saw there, been well? And Gāndhārī, Pṛthā, the son of a charioteer, and Sañjaya? (15-45-7)
kathaṁ ca vartate ca adya pitā mama sa pārthivaḥ। śrotum icchāmi bhagavan yadi dṛṣṭaḥ tvayā nṛpaḥ ॥15-45-8॥
O venerable one, I wish to hear how my father, that king, is faring today, if the king has been seen by you. (15-45-8)
nārada uvāca॥
Nārada said.
sthirībhūya mahārāja śṛṇu sarvaṃ yathātatham। yathā śrutaṃ ca dṛṣṭaṃ ca mayā tasmiṃstapovane ॥15-45-9॥
O great king, after becoming steady, listen to everything just as it truly happened—as I heard and saw it in that sacred forest. (15-45-9)
vanavāsa-nivṛtteṣu bhavatsu kuru-nandana। kurukṣetrāt pitā tubhyaṃ gaṅgādvāraṃ yayau nṛpa ॥15-45-10॥
O delight of the Kurus, when you all had returned from living in the forest, your father, the king, came from Kurukṣetra to Gaṅgādvāra to meet you. (15-45-10)
gāndhāryā sahito dhīmān vadhvā kuntiyā samanvitaḥ। sañjayena ca sūtena sāgnihotraḥ sayājakaḥ॥15-45-11॥
Accompanied by Gandhari, and wise, joined by his wife Kunti, along with Sanjaya the charioteer, as well as priests performing Agnihotra and Yajnas. (15-45-11)
ātasthe sa tapastīvraṃ pitā tava tapodhanaḥ। vīṭāṃ mukhe samādhāya vāyubhakṣo'bhavanmuniḥ ॥15-45-12॥
Your father, the ascetic, undertook severe austerity; placing betel-nut in his mouth, the sage became one who lived only on air. (15-45-12)
vane sa munibhiḥ sarvaiḥ pūjyamāno mahātapāḥ। tvag-asthi-mātra-śeṣaḥ sa ṣaṇ-māsān abhavan nṛpaḥ ॥15-45-13॥
He, a great ascetic, honored by all the sages in the forest, remained as only skin and bones and thus survived as king for six months. (15-45-13)
gāndhārī tu jalāhārā kuntī māsopavāsinī। sañjayaḥ ṣaṣṭhabhaktena vartayāmāsa bhārata ॥15-45-14॥
But Gandhari survived only on water, Kunti observed a fast for a month, and Sanjaya sustained himself with a meal on every sixth day, O Bhārata. (15-45-14)
agnīṁs tu yājakās tatra juhuvur vidhivat prabho। dṛśyataḥ adṛśyataḥ ca eva vane tasmin nṛpasya ha ॥15-45-15॥
O lord, the priests there offered oblations into the fires according to rule, both visible and invisible, in the forest belonging to that king. (15-45-15)
aniketo'tha rājā sa babhūva vanagocaraḥ. te cāpi sahite devyau sañjayaś ca tam anvayuḥ ॥15-45-16॥
Then the king became homeless, living in the forest; the two queens and Sanjaya also accompanied and followed him. (15-45-16)
sañjayo nṛpater netā sameṣu viṣameṣu ca. gāndhāryās tu pṛthā rājan cakṣur āsīd aninditā ॥15-45-17॥
Sañjaya was the king’s leader in all situations, both even and uneven, while, O king, blameless Pṛthā was the eyes of Gandhari. (15-45-17)
tataḥ kadācid gaṅgāyāḥ kacche sa nṛpasattamaḥ। gaṅgāyām āpluto dhīmān āśramābhimukho'bhavat ॥15-45-18॥
Then, at some time, on the bank of the Gaṅgā, he, the best of kings and wise, having bathed in the Gaṅgā, proceeded towards the hermitage. (15-45-18)
atha vāyuḥ samudbhūto dāvāgnir abhavan mahān। dadāha tad vanaṃ sarvaṃ parigṛhya samantataḥ॥15-45-19॥
Then the wind, having arisen, became a great forest fire; surrounding it on all sides, it burned the entire forest. (15-45-19)
dahyatsu mṛgayūtheṣu dvijihveṣu samantataḥ। varāhāṇāṃ ca yūtheṣu saṃśrayatsu jalāśayān ॥15-45-20॥
While the herds of deer, the snakes on all sides, and the herds of boars were being burnt and seeking refuge, they entered the water bodies. (15-45-20)
samāviddhe vane tasmin prāpte vyasana uttame। nirāhāratayā rājā mandaprāṇaviceṣṭitaḥ॥ asamartho'pasaraṇe sukṛśau mātarau ca te॥15-45-21॥
In that forest, when the greatest calamity arrived, due to lack of food the king was barely breathing and powerless to move, and your two mothers were exceedingly thin and unable to depart. (15-45-21)
tataḥ sa nṛpatir dṛṣṭvā vahnim āyāntam antikāt. idam āha tataḥ sūtaṃ sañjayaṃ pṛthivīpate ॥15-45-22॥
Then, the king, having seen the fire approaching from close by, said the following to his charioteer Sanjaya, O lord of the earth. (15-45-22)
gaccha sañjaya yatrāgnir na tvāṁ dahati karhicit। vayam atrāgninā yuktā gamiṣyāmaḥ parāṁ gatim ॥15-45-23॥
Go, Sañjaya, to where the fire never burns you. Here, joined by fire, we will attain the highest state. (15-45-23)
tam uvāca kilodvignaḥ sañjayo vadatāṃ varaḥ। rājan mṛtyur aniṣṭo'yaṃ bhavitā te vṛthāgninā॥15-45-24॥
Sañjaya, greatly troubled, the best among speakers, said to him: "O King, this undesired death will come to you because of a useless fire." (15-45-24)
na copāyaṃ prapaśyāmi mokṣaṇe jātavedasaḥ। yad atrānantaraṃ kāryaṃ tad bhavān vaktum arhati ॥15-45-25॥
And I do not see any means for the release of Jātavedas; whatever subsequent action is here, you are worthy to speak of that. (15-45-25)
ity-uktaḥ sañjayenedaṃ punarāha sa pārthivaḥ। naiṣa mṛtyuraniṣṭo no niḥsṛtānāṃ gṛhātsvayam॥15-45-26॥
After Sañjaya spoke thus, the king again said: "This death is not unwelcome to us who have left the house voluntarily." (15-45-26)
jalam-agnis-tathā vāyuḥ-atha vā api vikarṣaṇam। tāpasānām praśasyante gaccha sañjaya mā aciram ॥15-45-27॥
Water, fire, wind, or austerities are praised among ascetics; therefore, go, O Sañjaya, without delay. (15-45-27)
ity-uktvā sañjayaṃ rājā samādhāya manas-tadā। prāṅmukhaḥ saha gāndhāryā kuntyā copāviśat-tadā॥15-45-28॥
Thus, after speaking to Sañjaya, the king composed his mind, and then, facing east, sat down together with Gandhari and Kunti. (15-45-28)
sañjayas taṃ tathā dṛṣṭvā pradakṣiṇam athākarot। uvāca cainaṃ medhāvī yuṅkṣv ātmānam iti prabho ॥15-45-29॥
Sañjaya, seeing him in that manner, then performed circumambulation. The wise man then spoke to him, "Yoke yourself, O lord." (15-45-29)
ṛṣiputro manīṣī sa rājā cakre'sya tadvacaḥ। saṁnirudhya indriyagrāmam āsīt kāṣṭhopamas tadā ॥15-45-30॥
The wise son of the sage, that king, having spoken so, completely controlled his senses and then sat as if he were lifeless like a log of wood. (15-45-30)
gāndhārī ca mahābhāgā jananī ca pṛthā tava। dāvāgninā samāyukte sa ca rājā pitā tava ॥15-45-31॥
Gāndhārī and the most fortunate Pṛthā, your mother, and also your father the king, were embraced by the wildfire. (15-45-31)
sañjayastu mahāmātrastas māddāvādam ucyata। gaṅgākūle mayā dṛṣṭastāpasaiḥ parivāritaḥ ॥15-45-32॥
But Sañjaya, the high minister, was said to have gone towards the wildfire from there. I saw him on the bank of the Ganga, surrounded by ascetics. (15-45-32)
sa tān-āmantrya tejasvī nivedya etat ca sarvaśaḥ। prayayau sañjayaḥ sūtaḥ himavantaṃ mahīdharam ॥15-45-33॥
Having addressed them, the radiant Sañjaya, after reporting all this fully, departed as the charioteer towards Himavat, the great mountain. (15-45-33)
evaṃ sa nidhanaṃ prāptaḥ kururājo mahāmanāḥ। gāndhārī ca pṛthā caiva jananyau te narādhipa ॥15-45-34॥
Thus, the Kuru king of great mind attained death; and Gāndhārī and Pṛthā, your two mothers, O ruler of men. (15-45-34)
yadṛcchayānu-vrajatā mayā rājñaḥ kalevaram। tayoś ca devyor ubhayoḥ dṛṣṭāni bharatarṣabha ॥15-45-35॥
O best of the Bharatas, by chance, as I was following, I saw the body of the king and both the queens. (15-45-35)
tatas tapovane tasmin samājagmus tapodhanāḥ। śrutvā rājñas tathā niṣṭhāṃ na tvaśocan gatiṃ ca te॥15-45-36॥
Then, in that forest of austerity, the ascetics gathered together; having heard thus of the king's conclusion, they did not grieve for him or his departure. (15-45-36)
tatrāśrauṣam ahaṃ sarvam etat puruṣasattama। yathā ca nṛpatir dagdho devyau te ca iti pāṇḍava ॥15-45-37॥
O Pāṇḍava, there I heard all this, O best among men—how the king was burned and also those two queens. (15-45-37)
na śocitavyaṃ rājeṃdra svantaḥ sa pṛthivīpatiḥ। prāptavān agnisaṃyogaṃ gāndhārī jananī ca te॥15-45-38॥
Do not mourn, O King; that lord of the earth did so of his own will. He has entered the fire—so too Gāndhārī, your mother. (15-45-38)
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
etac chrutvā tu sarveṣāṃ pāṇḍavānāṃ mahātmanām। niryāṇaṃ dhṛtarāṣṭrasya śokaḥ samabhavan mahān ॥15-45-39॥
But having heard this, great grief arose in all the great-souled Pāṇḍavas at the departure of Dhṛtarāṣṭra. (15-45-39)
antaḥpurāṇāṃ ca tadā mahānārtasvaro'bhavat। paurāṇāṃ ca mahārāja śrutvā rājñastadā gatim ॥15-45-40॥
Then, O great king, a great cry of distress arose from the women of the inner apartments, and also from the townspeople, having heard the fate of the king. (15-45-40)
aho dhig iti rājā tu vikruśya bhṛśaduḥkhitaḥ। ūrdhvabāhuḥ smaran mātuḥ praruroda yudhiṣṭhiraḥ॥ bhīmasenapurogāś ca bhrātaraḥ sarva eva te॥15-45-41॥
Ah! Fie! So the king, loudly crying out, greatly distressed, with raised arms, remembering his mother, Yudhishthira wept. His brothers, all of them headed by Bhimasena, also did so. (15-45-41)
antaḥpureṣu ca tadā sumahān ruditasvanaḥ। prādurāsīn mahārāja pṛthāṃ śrutvā tathāgatām ॥15-45-42॥
O great king, at that time, a very great sound of weeping arose in the inner chambers when Kuntī had come and was heard. (15-45-42)
taṁ ca vṛddhaṁ tathā dagdhaṁ hataputraṁ narādhipam। anvaśocanta te sarve gāndhārīṁ ca tapasvinīm॥15-45-43॥
They all lamented the aged king who had been burnt and whose son was slain, as well as Gandhari, the ascetic. (15-45-43)
tasmin nuparate śabde muhūrtād iva bhārata। nigṛhya bāṣpaṃ dhairyeṇa dharmarājo'bravīd idam ॥15-45-44॥
When that sound ceased, after a moment, as if, O Bhārata, having held back his tears with courage, King Yudhiṣṭhira spoke these words. (15-45-44)
