15.047
धृतराष्ट्रश्राद्धकरणम्
Performance of the śrāddha (funeral rite) for Dhṛtarāṣṭra.
नारद उवाच॥
Nārada said.
नासौ वृथाग्निना दग्धो यथा तत्र श्रुतं मया। वैचित्रवीर्यो नृपतिस्तत्ते वक्ष्यामि भारत ॥१५-४७-१॥
He was not burnt by useless fire, as I have heard there; I shall tell you about that king Vicitravīrya, O Bhārata. (15-47-1)
वनं प्रविशता तेन वायुभक्षेण धीमता। अग्नयः कारयित्वेष्टिमुत्सृष्टा इति नः श्रुतम् ॥१५-४७-२॥
We have heard that, when that wise one living on air entered the forest, the sacred fires, having had the sacrifice performed, were abandoned. (15-47-2)
याजकास्तु ततस्तस्य तानग्नीन्निर्जने वने। समुत्सृज्य यथाकामं जग्मुर्भरतसत्तम ॥१५-४७-३॥
But the priests then left his fires in a deserted forest and went away as they wished, O best of the Bharatas. (15-47-3)
स विवृद्धस्तदा वह्निर्वने तस्मिन्नभूत्किल। तेन तद्वनमादीप्तमिति मे तापसाब्रुवन् ॥१५-४७-४॥
That increased fire then arose in that forest, indeed. Because of that, the ascetics said to me that the forest was ignited. (15-47-4)
स राजा जाह्नवीकच्छे यथा ते कथितं मया। तेनाग्निना समायुक्तः स्वेनैव भरतर्षभ ॥१५-४७-५॥
O best of Bharatas, that king, on the bank of the Jāhnavī, as I have told you, was himself united with that very fire. (15-47-5)
एवमावेदयामासुर्मुनयस्ते ममानघ। ये ते भागीरथीतीरे मया दृष्टा युधिष्ठिर ॥१५-४७-६॥
Thus, the sages reported to me, O sinless one. O Yudhishthira, those whom you saw on the bank of the Bhagirathi River were shown to me. (15-47-6)
एवं स्वेनाग्निना राजा समायुक्तो महीपते। मा शोचिथास्त्वं नृपतिं गतः स परमां गतिम् ॥१५-४७-७॥
Thus, by his own fire the king has departed, O lord of the earth. Do not grieve—you; the king has gone to the supreme state. (15-47-7)
गुरुशुश्रूषया चैव जननी तव पाण्डव। प्राप्ता सुमहतीं सिद्धिमिति मे नात्र संशयः ॥१५-४७-८॥
By service to the teacher, your mother, O Pāṇḍava, has surely attained very great success—of this I have no doubt. (15-47-8)
कर्तुमर्हसि कौरव्य तेषां त्वमुदकक्रियाम्। भ्रातृभिः सहितः सर्वैरेतदत्र विधीयताम् ॥१५-४७-९॥
O descendant of Kuru, you ought to perform the water-rite for them. Together with all your brothers, let this be done here. (15-47-9)
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
ततः स पृथिवीपालः पाण्डवानां धुरन्धरः। निर्ययौ सह सोदर्यैः सदारो भरतर्षभ ॥१५-४७-१०॥
Then that king, chief among the Pāṇḍavas, departed together with his full brothers and his wife, O best of the Bharatas. (15-47-10)
पौरजानपदाश्चैव राजभक्तिपुरस्कृताः। गङ्गां प्रजग्मुरभितो वाससैकेन संवृताः ॥१५-४७-११॥
The inhabitants of the towns and countryside, led by loyalty to the king, went from all directions to the Gaṅgā, clothed in a single garment. (15-47-11)
ततोऽवगाह्य सलिलं सर्वे ते कुरुपुङ्गवाः। युयुत्सुमग्रतः कृत्वा ददुस्तोयं महात्मने ॥१५-४७-१२॥
Then, after entering the water, all those chiefs of the Kurus, with the one who desired battle positioned in front, offered water to the great-souled one. (15-47-12)
गान्धार्याश्च पृथायाश्च विधिवन्नामगोत्रतः। शौचं निवर्तयन्तस्ते तत्रोषुर्नगराद्बहिः ॥१५-४७-१३॥
Gāndhārī and Pṛthā, observing purification according to proper procedure with due regard to name and lineage, stayed there outside the city. (15-47-13)
प्रेषयामास स नरान्विधिज्ञानाप्तकारिणः। गङ्गाद्वारं कुरुश्रेष्ठो यत्र दग्धोऽभवन्नृपः ॥१५-४७-१४॥
He, O best of the Kurus, sent men expert in the proper rites to Gaṅgādvāra, where the king had been cremated. (15-47-14)
तत्रैव तेषां कुल्यानि गङ्गाद्वारेऽन्वशात्तदा। कर्तव्यानीति पुरुषान्दत्तदेयान्महीपतिः ॥१५-४७-१५॥
At that very place, the king caused water channels for them to be dug at Gaṅgādvāra at that time, and commanded that men worthy of receiving gifts should be provided for this purpose. (15-47-15)
द्वादशेऽहनि तेभ्यः स कृतशौचो नराधिपः। ददौ श्राद्धानि विधिवद्दक्षिणावन्ति पाण्डवः ॥१५-४७-१६॥
On the twelfth day, the son of Pāṇḍu, having performed purification, gave to them the ancestral rites according to rule, accompanied by gifts, as the lord of men. (15-47-16)
धृतराष्ट्रं समुद्दिश्य ददौ स पृथिवीपतिः। सुवर्णं रजतं गाश्च शय्याश्च सुमहाधनाः ॥१५-४७-१७॥
Addressing Dhṛtarāṣṭra, the king gave gold, silver, cows, and beds of very great value. (15-47-17)
गान्धार्याश्चैव तेजस्वी पृथायाश्च पृथक्पृथक्। सङ्कीर्त्य नामनी राजा ददौ दानमनुत्तमम् ॥१५-४७-१८॥
The splendid king, having recited separately the names of Gandhari and Pritha, gave unsurpassed gifts. (15-47-18)
यो यदिच्छति यावच्च तावत्स लभते द्विजः। शयनं भोजनं यानं मणिरत्नमथो धनम् ॥१५-४७-१९॥
The twice-born (brāhmaṇa) obtains whatever and however much he desires—bed, food, vehicle, jewels, and also wealth. (15-47-19)
यानमाच्छादनं भोगान्दासीश्च परिचारिकाः। ददौ राजा समुद्दिश्य तयोर्मात्रोर्महीपतिः ॥१५-४७-२०॥
The king, the lord of the earth, gave vehicles, coverings, enjoyments, female servants and attendants, having designated them for the two mothers. (15-47-20)
ततः स पृथिवीपालो दत्त्वा श्राद्धान्यनेकशः। प्रविवेश पुनर्धीमान्नगरं वारणाह्वयम् ॥१५-४७-२१॥
Then the wise king, having performed many funeral rites, once again entered the city of Varanasi. (15-47-21)
ते चापि राजवचनात्पुरुषा ये गताभवन्। सङ्कल्प्य तेषां कुल्यानि पुनः प्रत्यागमंस्ततः ॥१५-४७-२२॥
Then those men who had gone on the king's command, having identified their families, returned again. (15-47-22)
माल्यैर्गन्धैश्च विविधैः पूजयित्वा यथाविधि। कुल्यानि तेषां संयोज्य तदाचख्युर्महीपतेः ॥१५-४७-२३॥
Having worshipped with garlands, scents, and various offerings according to the prescribed rule, and having connected their water-channels, they informed the king of this. (15-47-23)
समाश्वास्य च राजानं धर्मात्मानं युधिष्ठिरम्। नारदोऽप्यगमद्राजन्परमर्षिर्यथेप्सितम् ॥१५-४७-२४॥
And having consoled the righteous-souled King Yudhishthira, O king, the supreme sage Narada also departed as he wished. (15-47-24)
एवं वर्षाण्यतीतानि धृतराष्ट्रस्य धीमतः। वनवासे तदा त्रीणि नगरे दश पञ्च च ॥१५-४७-२५॥
Thus, the years passed for the wise Dhritarashtra: three in forest dwelling, and fifteen (ten and five) in the city. (15-47-25)
हतपुत्रस्य सङ्ग्रामे दानानि ददतः सदा। ज्ञातिसम्बन्धिमित्राणां भ्रातॄणां स्वजनस्य च ॥१५-४७-२६॥
He whose son has been slain in battle always gives gifts to the kinsmen, relatives, friends, brothers, and his own people. (15-47-26)
युधिष्ठिरस्तु नृपतिर्नातिप्रीतमनास्तदा। धारयामास तद्राज्यं निहतज्ञातिबान्धवः ॥१५-४७-२७॥
But King Yudhishthira, though not very pleased at heart then, bore that kingdom, having had his relatives and friends killed. (15-47-27)
