16.008
vasudevanidhanam। vajrābhiṣekaḥ
The death of Vasudeva. The coronation of Vajra.
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
evam-uktaḥ sa bībhatsur-mātulena parantapaḥ| durmanā dīnam-anasaṁ vasudevam-uvāca ha ॥16-8-1॥
Thus, when addressed by his maternal uncle, the scorcher of foes Bībhatsu (Arjuna), with a troubled mind and dejected heart, spoke to Vasudeva. (16-8-1)
nāhaṃ vṛṣṇipravīreṇa madhubhiścaiva mātula। vihīnāṃ pṛthivīṃ draṣṭuṃ śaktaściram iha prabho॥16-8-2॥
O uncle, I am not able to look for long at the earth deprived of the chief of the Vṛṣṇis and the Madhus, O lord. (16-8-2)
rājā ca bhīmasenaś ca sahadevaś ca pāṇḍavaḥ। nakulo yājñasenī ca ṣaḍ ekamanaso vayam ॥16-8-3॥
The king, Bhīmasena, Sahadeva, the son of Pāṇḍu, Nakula, and Yājñasenī—all six of us are of one mind. (16-8-3)
rājñaḥ saṅkramaṇe cāpi kālo'yaṁ vartate dhruvam. tamimaṁ viddhi samprāptaṁ kālaṁ kālavidāṁ vara ॥16-8-4॥
O best of knowers of time, this is the time that surely occurs at the king's transition. Know that this time has arrived. (16-8-4)
sarvathā vṛṣṇidārāṃstu bālavṛddhāṃstathaiva ca। nayiṣye parigṛhyāhamindraprasthamariṃdama ॥16-8-5॥
O subduer of foes, I will collect and lead the wives of the Vṛṣṇis, as well as the children and elders, to Indraprastha in every way. (16-8-5)
ity uktvā dārukam idaṃ vākyam āha dhanañjayaḥ। amātyān vṛṣṇivīrāṇāṃ draṣṭum icchāmi mā ciram ॥16-8-6॥
Having thus spoken these words to Dāruka, Dhanañjaya said: "I wish to see the ministers of the Vṛṣṇi heroes; do not delay." (16-8-6)
ityevam uktvā vacanaṃ sudharmāṃ yādavīṃ sabhām। praviveśārjunaḥ śūraḥ śocamāno mahārathān॥16-8-7॥
Having spoken thus, Arjuna, the heroic one, entered the Sudharmā, the assembly hall of the Yādavas, grieving for the great warriors. (16-8-7)
tam āsanagatam tatra sarvāḥ prakṛtayaḥ tathā| brāhmaṇāḥ naigamāḥ ca eva parivārya upatastire ॥16-8-8॥
All the ministers, Brāhmaṇas, and merchants, having surrounded him as he was seated there, duly approached and attended him. (16-8-8)
tān dīnamānasaḥ sarvān nibhṛtān gata-cetasaḥ। uvāca idaṃ vacaḥ pārthaḥ svayam dīnataraḥ tadā ॥16-8-9॥
Seeing them all, with downcast minds, modest and inattentive, Pārtha (Arjuna), himself even more dejected at that time, spoke these words. (16-8-9)
śakraprastham ahaṃ neṣye vṛṣṇy-andhaka-janaṃ svayam। idaṃ tu nagaraṃ sarvaṃ samudraḥ plāvayiṣyati ॥16-8-10॥
I myself shall lead the Vṛṣṇi and Andhaka people to Śakraprastha. But the ocean will flood this entire city. (16-8-10)
sajjīkuruta yānāni ratnāni vividhāni ca। vajro'yaṃ bhavatāṃ rājā śakraprasthe bhaviṣyati॥16-8-11॥
Prepare the vehicles and the various gems. Vajra, this (person), will be your king at Śakraprastha. (16-8-11)
saptame divase caiva ravau vimala udgate। bahir vatsyāmahe sarve sajjībhavata māciram ॥16-8-12॥
On the seventh day, indeed, when the spotless Sun has arisen, we shall all go outside; all of you, be ready without delay. (16-8-12)
ity uktās tena te paurāḥ pārthenākliṣṭakarmaṇā. sajjam āśu tataś cakruḥ svasiddhyarthaṃ samutsukāḥ ॥16-8-13॥
Thus addressed by him, those citizens, eager for their own success, quickly made preparations at the instruction of Partha, who was of unwearied action. (16-8-13)
tāṁ rātrim avasat pārthaḥ keśavasya niveśane। mahatā śoka-mohena sahasā abhipariplutaḥ ॥16-8-14॥
That night, Pārtha (Arjuna) stayed in Keśava's (Krishna's) abode, suddenly overcome by great grief and delusion. (16-8-14)
śvobhūte'tha tataḥ śaurir-vasudevaḥ pratāpavān| yuktvātmānaṃ mahātejā jagāma gatim-uttamām ॥16-8-15॥
When the next day dawned, then Vasudeva, the powerful son of Shura, full of great splendor, having controlled his self, attained the supreme path. (16-8-15)
tataḥ śabdo mahān āsīd vasudevasya veśmani। dāruṇaḥ krośatīnām ca rudatīnām ca yoṣitām ॥16-8-16॥
Then there arose a great and terrible sound in the house of Vasudeva, with women wailing and weeping. (16-8-16)
prakīrṇamūrdhajāḥ sarvā vimuktābharaṇasrajaḥ. urāṃsi pāṇibhir ghnantyo vyalapan karuṇaṃ striyaḥ ॥16-8-17॥
All the women, with their hair dishevelled and their ornaments and garlands cast off, struck their chests with their hands and wailed pitifully. (16-8-17)
taṃ devakī ca bhadrā ca rohiṇī madirā tathā। anvāroḍhuṃ vyavasitā bhartāraṃ yoṣitāṃ varāḥ॥16-8-18॥
Devakī, Bhadrā, Rohiṇī, and also Madirā, all foremost among women, resolved to follow their husband in marriage. (16-8-18)
tataḥ śauriṃ nṛyuktena bahumālyena bhārata| yānena mahatā pārtho bahirniṣkrāmayattadā ||16-8-19||
Then, O Bhārata, Pārtha (Arjuna) caused Śauri (Kṛṣṇa) to be taken out by a great chariot drawn by men, adorned with many garlands. (16-8-19)
tam anvayus tatra tatra duḥkha-śoka-samāhatāḥ। dvārakā-vāsinaḥ paurāḥ sarva eva nararṣabha ॥16-8-20॥
O best of men, the citizens, all the inhabitants of Dvārakā, afflicted by pain and sorrow, followed him here and there. (16-8-20)
tasyāśvamedhikaṃ chatraṃ dīpyamānāś ca pāvakāḥ. purastāt tasya yānasya yājakāś ca tato yayuḥ॥16-8-21॥
His umbrella related to the horse-sacrifice and the shining fires, and in front of his chariot the priests went. (16-8-21)
anujagmuś ca taṃ vīraṃ devyās tā vai svalakṣitāḥ। strī-sahasraiḥ parivṛtā vadhūbhiś ca sahasraśaḥ ॥16-8-22॥
Splendidly adorned, the queens followed that hero, surrounded by thousands of women and brides in their thousands. (16-8-22)
yastu deśaḥ priyastasya jīvato'bhūnmahātmanaḥ। tatra enam upasaṅkalpya pitṛmedhaṃ pracakrire ॥16-8-23॥
But the place that was dear to him during his lifetime, there they prepared and performed his funeral rite for the great-souled one. (16-8-23)
taṃ citāgnigataṃ vīraṃ śūraputraṃ varāṅganāḥ। tato'nvāruruhuḥ patnyaś catasraḥ patilokagāḥ॥16-8-24॥
The noble women, the four wives, ascended after him—the heroic son of Śūra—into the funeral fire, going to the world of their husband. (16-8-24)
taṁ vai catasṛbhiḥ strībhiḥ anvitaṁ pāṇḍunandanaḥ। adāhayat candanaiś ca gandhair uccāvacair api ॥16-8-25॥
The son of Pāṇḍu set fire to him, accompanied by four women, using sandalwood and various perfumes. (16-8-25)
tataḥ prādurabhūcchabdaḥ samiddhasya vibhāvasoḥ। sāmagānāṃ ca nirghoṣo narāṇāṃ rudatāmapi॥16-8-26॥
Then there arose the sound of the blazing fire, and the chant of the Sāma hymns, and also the wailing of the men. (16-8-26)
tato vajrapradhānās te vṛṣṇivīra-kumārakāḥ। sarva eva udakaṃ cakruḥ striyaś caiva mahātmanaḥ॥16-8-27॥
Then, led by Vajra, all the young sons of the heroic Vṛṣṇi clan, together with the women, performed the water oblation for the great-souled ones. (16-8-27)
aluptadharmas taṃ dharmaṃ kārayitvā sa phalgunaḥ। jagāma vṛṣṇayo yatra vinaṣṭā bharatarṣabha ॥16-8-28॥
Phalguna, whose dharma was uncorrupted, having ensured that righteous duty was performed, went to where the Vṛṣṇis were destroyed, O best of the Bharatas. (16-8-28)
sa tān dṛṣṭvā nipatitān kadane bhṛśaduḥkhitaḥ। babhūvāṭīva kauravyaḥ prāptakālaṃ cakāra ca ॥16-8-29॥
Having seen them fallen in the battle, the Kaurava became exceedingly afflicted with pain and acted at the proper time. (16-8-29)
yathā-pradhānatāś-caiva cakre sarvāḥ kriyās-tadā। ye hatā brahma-śāpena musalaiḥ erakodbhavaiḥ॥ 16-8-30॥
He performed all the rites at that time for those who were killed by the curse of Brahma, with clubs that had sprung from the eraka grass. (16-8-30)
tataḥ śarīre rāmasya vāsudevasya cobhayoḥ। anviṣya dāhayāmāsa puruṣair āptakāribhiḥ॥16-8-31॥
Then, after searching out the bodies of both Rāma and Vāsudeva, men who fulfilled their duties caused them to be cremated. (16-8-31)
sa teṣāṃ vidhivat kṛtvā pretakāryāṇi pāṇḍavaḥ। saptame divase prāyād ratham āruhya satvaraḥ॥ aśvayuktai rathaiś cāpi gokharoṣṭrayutair api॥16-8-32॥
The Pāṇḍava, having performed the funeral rites for them according to the rule, departed on the seventh day, quickly mounting the chariot; with horse-yoked chariots, and also with vehicles yoked with cows, donkeys, and camels. (16-8-32)
striyastā vṛṣṇivīrāṇāṃ rudatyaḥ śokakarśitāḥ। anujagmurmahātmānaṃ pāṇḍuputraṃ dhanañjayam ॥16-8-33॥
The women, belonging to the heroes of the Vṛṣṇi lineage, weeping and afflicted by grief, followed the great-souled son of Pāṇḍu, Dhanañjaya (Arjuna). (16-8-33)
bhṛtyās tv andhakavṛṣṇīnām sārdino rathinaś ca ye. vīrahīnaṃ vṛddhabālaṃ paura-jānapadās tathā ॥ yayus te parivāryātha kalatraṃ pārthaśāsanāt ॥16-8-34॥
But the servants of the Andhakas and Vṛṣṇis, the horsemen and charioteers, and those without warriors, the old and children, the townsmen and countryfolk also—these, then, surrounded the women and departed at the command of Pārtha (Arjuna). (16-8-34)
kuñjaraiś ca gajārohā yayuḥ śailanibhaiḥ tathā। sapādarakṣaiḥ saṁyuktāḥ sottarāyudhikā yayuḥ ॥16-8-35॥
The elephant riders mounted on elephants, which resembled mountains, went forth; together with foot soldiers and those equipped with excellent weapons, they advanced. (16-8-35)
putrāś cāndhaka-vṛṣṇīnām sarve pārtha-manuvratāḥ। brāhmaṇāḥ kṣatriyā vaiśyāḥ śūdrāś caiva mahādhanāḥ॥16-8-36॥
All the sons of the Andhakas and Vṛṣṇis were devoted to Pārtha; and the Brāhmaṇas, Kṣatriyas, Vaiśyas, and Śūdras also were greatly wealthy. (16-8-36)
daśa ṣaṭ ca sahasrāṇi vāsudevāvarodhanam। puraskṛtya yayur vajraṃ pautraṃ kṛṣṇasya dhīmataḥ ॥16-8-37॥
Sixteen thousand women of Vāsudeva, having placed at the front Vajra—the grandson of wise Kṛṣṇa—departed. (16-8-37)
bahūni ca sahasrāṇi prayutāni arbūdāni ca। bhoja-vṛṣṇy-andhaka-strīṇāṃ hata-nāthāni niryayuḥ ॥16-8-38॥
Countless (many thousands, tens and hundreds of millions) of the women of the Bhoja, Vṛṣṇi, and Andhaka clans, whose protectors had been killed, departed. (16-8-38)
tatsāgarasamaprakhyaṃ vṛṣṇicakraṃ maharddhimat| uvāha rathināṃ śreṣṭhaḥ pārthaḥ parapurañjayaḥ ||16-8-39||
That greatly resplendent Vṛṣṇi chariot, appearing like the ocean, was driven by Arjuna, the foremost charioteer and conqueror of enemy cities. (16-8-39)
niryāte tu jane tasmin sāgaro makarālayaḥ। dvārakāṃ ratnasampūrṇāṃ jalenāplāvayattadā॥16-8-40॥
But when the people had gone out from there, then the ocean, abode of makaras, flooded Dvārakā, which was filled with jewels, with water. (16-8-40)
tad adbhutam abhiprekṣya dvārakā-vāsino janāḥ। tūrṇāt tūrṇataraṃ jagmur aho daivam iti bruvan ॥16-8-41॥
Having seen that wonderful event, the people dwelling in Dvārakā went even more quickly, exclaiming, "Oh! Destiny!" (16-8-41)
kānaneṣu ca ramyeṣu parvateṣu nadīṣu ca। nivasannānayāmāsa vṛṣṇidārāndhanañjayaḥ॥16-8-42॥
Dhanañjaya (Arjuna), dwelling in forests, delightful places, mountains, and along rivers, led the wives of the Vṛṣṇis. (16-8-42)
sa pañcanadam āsādya dhīmān ati-samṛddhimat। deśe gopa-śu-dhānya-āḍhye nivāsam akarot prabhuḥ ॥16-8-43॥
Having reached Pañcanada, the wise and exceedingly prosperous Lord made his dwelling in a land rich in cowherds, cattle, and grain. (16-8-43)
tato lobhaḥ samabhavad dasyūnāṃ nihateśvarāḥ. dṛṣṭvā striyo nīyamānāḥ pārthenāikena bhārata ॥16-8-44॥
Then, O Bhārata, seeing the women being led away by Pārtha (Arjuna) alone, greed arose among the robbers whose leaders had been slain. (16-8-44)
tataste pāpakarmāṇo lobhopahatacetasaḥ। ābhīrā mantrayāmāsuḥ sametyāśubhadarśanāḥ ॥16-8-45॥
Then the Ābhīras, whose minds were overcome by greed and who performed evil deeds, gathered together and held counsel, being of inauspicious appearance. (16-8-45)
ayam-eko'juno yoddhā vṛddha-bālaṃ hateśvaram। nayatyasmānatikramya yodhāś-ceme hataujasaḥ ॥16-8-46॥
This Arjuna alone, the warrior, having surpassed us, leads both old and young whose leaders have been slain; and these remaining warriors here are without strength. (16-8-46)
tato yaṣṭipraharaṇā dasyavaste sahasraśaḥ। abhyadhāvanta vṛṣṇīnāṃ taṃ janaṃ loptrahāriṇaḥ॥16-8-47॥
Then thousands of rod-armed robbers, bearing hoes, rushed toward that crowd of the Vṛṣṇis. (16-8-47)
mahatā siṃhanādena drāvayantaḥ pṛthagjanam। abhipetur dhanārthaṃ te kālaparyāyacoditāḥ॥16-8-48॥
With a great lion's roar, driving away others, they attacked for the sake of wealth, being prompted by the progression of time. (16-8-48)
tato nivṛttaḥ kaunteyaḥ sahasā sapadānugaḥ। uvāca tān mahābāhur arjunaḥ prahasann iva ॥16-8-49॥
Then, the son of Kuntī, suddenly turning back with his attendants, mighty-armed Arjuna, as if smiling, spoke to them. (16-8-49)
nivartadhvam adharmajñā yadi stha na mumūrṣavaḥ। nedānīṁ śaranirbhinnaāḥ śocadhvaṁ nihatā mayā॥16-8-50॥
Turn back, you who know unrighteousness, if you do not wish to die; do not grieve now, having been killed and pierced by my arrows. (16-8-50)
tathokta-stena vīreṇa kadarthīkṛtya tad-vacaḥ. abhipetur janaṃ mūḍhā vāryamāṇāḥ punaḥ punaḥ ॥16-8-51॥
Though thus addressed by the hero and repeatedly checked, the deluded ones disregarded his words and again and again approached the people. (16-8-51)
tato 'rjuno dhanur divyaṁ gāṇḍīvam ajaraṁ mahat। āropayitum ārebhe yatnād iva kathaṁcana ॥16-8-52॥
Then Arjuna endeavored with great effort, as if with difficulty, to string the mighty, undecaying divine bow, Gāṇḍīva. (16-8-52)
cakāra sajyaṃ kṛcchreṇa sambhrame tumule sati। cintayāmāsa cāstrāṇi na ca sasmāra tānyapi॥16-8-53॥
With difficulty, in the midst of confusion and tumult, he made the bow ready. He thought about the missiles but could not remember even those. (16-8-53)
vaikṛtyaṃ tan-mahad-dṛṣṭvā bhuja-vīrye tathā yudhi। divyānāṃ ca mahāstrāṇāṃ vināśād vrīḍito ’bhavat॥16-8-54॥
When he saw that great distortion of strength in his arms in battle, and also the destruction of the divine great weapons, he became ashamed. (16-8-54)
vṛṣṇiyodhāś ca te sarve gajāśvarathayāyinaḥ. na śekur āvartayituṁ hriyamāṇaṁ ca taṁ janam ॥16-8-55॥
The Vṛṣṇi warriors, including all those riding elephants, horses, and chariots, could not turn back the people who were being carried away. (16-8-55)
kalatrasya bahutvāttu sampatatṣu tatastataḥ। prayatnamakarot pārtho janasya parirakṣaṇe ॥16-8-56॥
But because there were many wives and in the manifold incidents that arose, Pārtha (Arjuna) made efforts here and there for the protection of the people. (16-8-56)
miṣatāṃ sarvayodhānāṃ tatastāḥ pramadottamāḥ। samantato'vakṛṣyanta kāmāccānyāḥ pravavrajuḥ॥16-8-57॥
Then, as all the warriors looked on, those foremost women were dragged away from all sides, and others left of their own desire. (16-8-57)
tato gāṇḍīva-nirmuktaiḥ śaraiḥ pārtho dhanañjayaḥ। jaghāna dasyūn sodvego vṛṣṇibhr̥tyaiḥ saha prabhuḥ ॥16-8-58॥
Then, Pārtha, Dhanañjaya (Arjuna), the lord, together with the Vṛṣṇi attendants, calmly killed the robbers with arrows released from the Gāṇḍīva. (16-8-58)
kṣaṇena tasya te rājan kṣayaṃ jagmur ajihmagāḥ। akṣayā hi purā bhūtvā kṣīṇāḥ kṣataja-bhojanāḥ॥16-8-59॥
O king, within a moment those straight-moving weapons perished; though once imperishable, they now became exhausted, having fed on blood. (16-8-59)
sa śarakṣayam āsādya duḥkhaśokasamāhataḥ। dhanuṣkoṭyā tadā dasyūn avadhīt pākaśāsaniḥ॥16-8-60॥
He, having exhausted his arrows and overwhelmed by grief and sorrow, then struck down the robbers with the tip of his bow, like Indra. (16-8-60)
prekṣatas tvaiva pārthasya vṛṣṇy-andhaka-vara-striyaḥ। jagmur ādāya te mlecchāḥ samantāt janamejaya ॥16-8-61॥
But, O Janamejaya, even as Pārtha looked on, the noble women of the Vṛṣṇis and Andhakas were carried off from all sides by the barbarians.
dhanañjayastu daivaṃ tanmanasācintayatprabhuḥ। duḥkhaśokasamāviṣṭo niḥśvāsaparamobhavat ॥16-8-62॥
But Dhanañjaya (Arjuna), the lord, thought upon fate with his mind. Overcome by pain and grief, he became wholly absorbed in sighing. (16-8-62)
astrāṇāṃ ca praṇāśena bāhuvīryasya saṅkṣayāt। dhanuṣaścāvidheyatvāccharāṇāṃ saṅkṣayeṇa ca॥16-8-63॥
By the destruction of missiles, the diminution of arm-strength, the loss of control over the bow, and the depletion of arrows. (16-8-63)
babhūva vimanāḥ pārtho daivam ity anucintayan। nyavartata tato rājann edam astīti cābravīt ॥16-8-64॥
Pārtha became discouraged, thinking "It is fate." Then, O king, he turned back and said, "This is not present." (16-8-64)
tataḥ sa śeṣam ādāya kalatrasya mahāmatiḥ। hṛtabhūyiṣṭharatnasya kurukṣetram avātarat ॥16-8-65॥
Then he, the great-minded one, having taken the remains of his wife's possessions, with most of his treasures having been taken away, descended to Kurukṣetra. (16-8-65)
evaṁ kalatram ānīya vṛṣṇīnām hṛtaśeṣitam। nyaveśayata kauravyas tatra tatra dhanañjayaḥ ॥16-8-66॥
Thus, Dhanañjaya (Arjuna), the Kaurava, having brought the wives of the Vṛṣṇis who were left after being taken away, settled them here and there. (16-8-66)
hārdikya-tanayaṁ pārtho nagaraṁ mārtikāvatam। bhojarāja-kalatraṁ ca hṛtaśeṣaṁ narottamaḥ ॥16-8-67॥
Arjuna, the best of men, took captive the son of Hārdikya, the city of Mārtikāvata, the wife of the Bhoja king, and whatever remained after being seized. (16-8-67)
tato vṛddhāṃś ca bālāṃś ca striyaś cādāya pāṇḍavaḥ। vīrair vihīnān sarvān tāñ śakraprasthe nyaveśayat ॥16-8-68॥
Then the Pāṇḍava, having taken all the elderly, children, and women left without heroes, settled them in Śakraprastha. (16-8-68)
yauyudhāniṁ sarasvatyāṁ putraṁ sātyakinaḥ priyam। nyaveśayata dharmātmā vṛddhabālapuraskṛtam ॥16-8-69॥
The righteous one caused Yuyudhana, the beloved son of Satyaki, to be laid to rest in the Sarasvati river, with elders and children leading the way. (16-8-69)
indraprasthe dadau rājyaṃ vajrāya paravīrahā। vajreṇākrūradārāstu vāryamāṇāḥ pravavrajuḥ ॥16-8-70॥
In Indraprastha, the slayer of enemy heroes gave the kingdom to Vajra. However, the wives of Akrūra, although restrained by Vajra, departed. (16-8-70)
rukmiṇī tv atha gāndhārī śaibyā haimavatīty api। devī jāmbavatī caiva viviśur jātavedasam ॥16-8-71॥
Rukmiṇī, then Gāndhārī, Śaibyā called Haimavatī, goddess Jāmbavatī, and indeed, entered into the fire (Jātavedas). (16-8-71)
satyabhāmā tathaiva anyā devyaḥ kṛṣṇasya saṃmatāḥ। vanaṃ praviviśū rājaṃs tāpasye kṛtaniscayāḥ॥16-8-72॥
Satyabhama and the other wives of Kṛṣṇa, O king, who were respected, entered the forest with firm resolve for penance. (16-8-72)
dvārakāvāsino ye tu puruṣāḥ pārtham anvayuḥ। yathārhaṃ saṃvibhajya enān vajre paryadadad jayaḥ ॥16-8-73॥
The men dwelling in Dvārakā who had followed Pārtha (Arjuna), Jaya (Yudhiṣṭhira), after duly assigning them their share, gave them food in the stronghold. (16-8-73)
sa tatkṛtvā prāptakālaṃ bāṣpeṇāpihito'rjunaḥ। kṛṣṇadvaipāyanaṃ rājandadarśāsīnamāśrame ॥16-8-74॥
Having done that, when his time had come, Arjuna, with his eyes covered in tears, saw Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana (Vyāsa) seated in the hermitage, O King. (16-8-74)
