17.001
महाप्रस्थानिकपर्व
The Book of the Great Departure
पाण्डवप्रव्रजनम्
Departure of the Pāṇḍavas;
जनमेजय उवाच॥
Janamejaya said.
एवं वृष्ण्यन्धककुले श्रुत्वा मौसलमाहवम्। पाण्डवाः किमकुर्वन्त तथा कृष्णे दिवं गते ॥१७-१-१॥
Thus, after hearing of the Mausala battle in the Vṛṣṇi and Andhaka families and after Kṛṣṇa had departed to heaven, what did the Pāṇḍavas do? (17-1-1)
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
श्रुत्वैव कौरवो राजा वृष्णीनां कदनं महत्। प्रस्थाने मतिमाधाय वाक्यमर्जुनमब्रवीत् ॥१७-१-२॥
As soon as he heard of the great slaughter of the Vṛṣṇis, the Kaurava king, setting his mind on departure, spoke to Arjuna as follows. (17-1-2)
कालः पचति भूतानि सर्वाण्येव महामते। कर्मन्यासमहं मन्ये त्वमपि द्रष्टुमर्हसि ॥१७-१-३॥
O great-minded one, time matures all beings. I consider that you also ought to see the cessation of action. (17-1-3)
इत्युक्तः स तु कौन्तेयः कालः काल इति ब्रुवन्। अन्वपद्यत तद्वाक्यं भ्रातुर्ज्येष्ठस्य वीर्यवान् ॥१७-१-४॥
Thus addressed, the mighty son of Kunti, speaking "Time, Time", followed the command of his elder brother. (17-1-4)
अर्जुनस्य मतं ज्ञात्वा भीमसेनो यमौ तथा। अन्वपद्यन्त तद्वाक्यं यदुक्तं सव्यसाचिना ॥१७-१-५॥
Having understood Arjuna's opinion, Bhīmasena and the twin sons of Yama likewise followed the statement made by Savyasācin (Arjuna). (17-1-5)
ततो युयुत्सुमानाय्य प्रव्रजन्धर्मकाम्यया। राज्यं परिददौ सर्वं वैश्यापुत्रे युधिष्ठिरः ॥१७-१-६॥
Then Yudhiṣṭhira, desiring dharma and departing, handed over the entire kingdom to Yuyutsu, the son of a Vaiśya. (17-1-6)
अभिषिच्य स्वराज्ये तु तं राजानं परिक्षितम्। दुःखार्तश्चाब्रवीद्राजा सुभद्रां पाण्डवाग्रजः ॥१७-१-७॥
But after anointing King Parīkṣit in his own kingdom, the eldest of the Pāṇḍavas, afflicted by sorrow, spoke to Subhadrā. (17-1-7)
एष पुत्रस्य ते पुत्रः कुरुराजो भविष्यति। यदूनां परिशेषश्च वज्रो राजा कृतश्च ह ॥१७-१-८॥
This son of your son will be the king of the Kurus. Of the Yadus, the remnant Vajra has indeed been made king. (17-1-8)
परिक्षिद्धास्तिनपुरे शक्रप्रस्थे तु यादवः। वज्रो राजा त्वया रक्ष्यो मा चाधर्मे मनः कृथाः ॥१७-१-९॥
Let Parikṣit remain in Hāstinapura, and the Yādava (Vajra) in Śakraprastha. You must protect King Vajra, and do not let your mind incline to unrighteousness. (17-1-9)
इत्युक्त्वा धर्मराजः स वासुदेवस्य धीमतः। मातुलस्य च वृद्धस्य रामादीनां तथैव च ॥१७-१-१०॥
Having thus spoken, King Yudhiṣṭhira addressed wise Vāsudeva, his maternal uncle, the elder, and Rāma and the others in the same way. (17-1-10)
मातृभिः सह धर्मात्मा कृत्वोदकमतन्द्रितः। श्राद्धान्युद्दिश्य सर्वेषां चकार विधिवत्तदा ॥१७-१-११॥
At that time, the righteous-souled one, together with his mothers and without fatigue, performed all the funeral offerings, having previously conducted the water rituals, all according to proper rules. (17-1-11)
ददौ रत्नानि वासांसि ग्रामानश्वान्रथानपि। स्त्रियश्च द्विजमुख्येभ्यो गवां शतसहस्रशः ॥१७-१-१२॥
He gave gems, garments, villages, horses, and chariots; also women and hundreds of thousands of cows to the foremost of the twice-born. (17-1-12)
कृपमभ्यर्च्य च गुरुमर्थमानपुरस्कृतम्। शिष्यं परिक्षितं तस्मै ददौ भरतसत्तमः ॥१७-१-१३॥
The best of the Bharatas, having worshipped Kṛpa as the honored teacher with due respect, gave the tested disciple to him. (17-1-13)
ततस्तु प्रकृतीः सर्वाः समानाय्य युधिष्ठिरः। सर्वमाचष्ट राजर्षिश्चिकीर्षितमथात्मनः ॥१७-१-१४॥
Then Yudhishthira gathered all the nobles, and the royal sage explained to them all that he himself intended to do. (17-1-14)
ते श्रुत्वैव वचस्तस्य पौरजानपदा जनाः। भृशमुद्विग्नमनसो नाभ्यनन्दन्त तद्वचः ॥१७-१-१५॥
When they heard his words, the citizens and the people of the country, greatly disturbed in mind, did not welcome those words. (17-1-15)
नैवं कर्तव्यमिति ते तदोचुस्ते नराधिपम्। न च राजा तथाकार्षीत्कालपर्यायधर्मवित् ॥१७-१-१६॥
“It should not be done this way”—thus they said that to the king; and the king, being aware of the duties appropriate to time, did not act in that manner. (17-1-16)
ततोऽनुमान्य धर्मात्मा पौरजानपदं जनम्। गमनाय मतिं चक्रे भ्रातरश्चास्य ते तदा ॥१७-१-१७॥
Then, having informed the citizens and country people, the righteous one made the decision to depart, and his brothers did likewise at that time. (17-1-17)
ततः स राजा कौरव्यो धर्मपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः। उत्सृज्याभरणान्यङ्गाज्जगृहे वल्कलान्युत ॥१७-१-१८॥
Then King Yudhishthira, the Kaurava and son of Dharma, removed the ornaments from his body and took up bark garments. (17-1-18)
भीमार्जुनौ यमौ चैव द्रौपदी च यशस्विनी। तथैव सर्वे जगृहुर्वल्कलानि जनाधिप ॥१७-१-१९॥
Bhīma and Arjuna, the twins, and Draupadī the renowned, and in the same way all the others took up the bark-cloth, O ruler of men. (17-1-19)
विधिवत्कारयित्वेष्टिं नैष्ठिकीं भरतर्षभ। समुत्सृज्याप्सु सर्वेऽग्नीन्प्रतस्थुर्नरपुङ्गवाः ॥१७-१-२०॥
O foremost of the Bharatas, after duly performing the naishṭhika sacrifice and consigning all the sacrificial fires to the waters, all the best of men set forth. (17-1-20)
ततः प्ररुरुदुः सर्वाः स्त्रियो दृष्ट्वा नरर्षभान्। प्रस्थितान्द्रौपदीषष्ठान्पुरा द्यूतजितान्यथा ॥१७-१-२१॥
Then, seeing the six heroes of Draupadī departing, all the women wept aloud, just as they had before when those heroes were defeated in gambling. (17-1-21)
हर्षोऽभवच्च सर्वेषां भ्रातॄणां गमनं प्रति। युधिष्ठिरमतं ज्ञात्वा वृष्णिक्षयमवेक्ष्य च ॥१७-१-२२॥
Joy arose among all the brothers regarding the departure, as they had come to know Yudhishthira’s decision and had observed the destruction of the Vrsni clan. (17-1-22)
भ्रातरः पञ्च कृष्णा च षष्ठी श्वा चैव सप्तमः। आत्मना सप्तमो राजा निर्ययौ गजसाह्वयात् ॥ पौरैरनुगतो दूरं सर्वैरन्तःपुरैस्तथा ॥१७-१-२३॥
The five brothers, Kṛṣṇā as the sixth, and the dog as the seventh, thus, with himself as the seventh, the king departed from Gajasāhvaya (Hastināpura). He was followed for a long distance by the townspeople, and by all the women of the inner palace as well. (17-1-23)
न चैनमशकत्कश्चिन्निवर्तस्वेति भाषितुम्। न्यवर्तन्त ततः सर्वे नरा नगरवासिनः ॥१७-१-२४॥
And no one was able to say to him, 'Turn back.' Then all the men of the city turned back. (17-1-24)
कृपप्रभृतयश्चैव युयुत्सुं पर्यवारयन्। विवेश गङ्गां कौरव्य उलूपी भुजगात्मजा ॥१७-१-२५॥
Kṛpa and the rest, indeed, surrounded Yuyutsu, while Ulūpī, the daughter of the Nāga, entered the Gaṅgā river, O descendant of Kuru. (17-1-25)
चित्राङ्गदा ययौ चापि मणिपूरपुरं प्रति। शिष्टाः परिक्षितं त्वन्या मातरः पर्यवारयन् ॥१७-१-२६॥
Citrāṅgadā also went to the city of Maṇipūra, while the other mothers, along with the rest, surrounded Parikṣit. (17-1-26)
पाण्डवाश्च महात्मानो द्रौपदी च यशस्विनी। कृतोपवासाः कौरव्य प्रययुः प्राङ्मुखास्ततः ॥१७-१-२७॥
The Pāṇḍavas, along with the great-souled Draupadī, after performing their fast, O son of Kuru, set out facing east at that time. (17-1-27)
योगयुक्ता महात्मानस्त्यागधर्ममुपेयुषः। अभिजग्मुर्बहून्देशान्सरितः पर्वतांस्तथा ॥१७-१-२८॥
Endowed with yoga, those great souls, having taken up the principle of renunciation, journeyed to many lands, rivers, and mountains. (17-1-28)
युधिष्ठिरो ययावग्रे भीमस्तु तदनन्तरम्। अर्जुनस्तस्य चान्वेव यमौ चैव यथाक्रमम् ॥१७-१-२९॥
Yudhiṣṭhira went in front, Bhīma immediately after him, Arjuna just after Bhīma, and the twins (Nakula and Sahadeva) followed, each in due order. (17-1-29)
पृष्ठतस्तु वरारोहा श्यामा पद्मदलेक्षणा। द्रौपदी योषितां श्रेष्ठा ययौ भरतसत्तम ॥१७-१-३०॥
But Draupadī, who had excellent hips, dark complexion, and eyes like lotus petals, and who was the best among women, followed from behind, O best of the Bharatas. (17-1-30)
श्वा चैवानुययावेकः पाण्डवान्प्रस्थितान्वने। क्रमेण ते ययुर्वीरा लौहित्यं सलिलार्णवम् ॥१७-१-३१॥
A dog also indeed, alone, followed the Pāṇḍavas as they set out into the forest. One by one, those heroes went to the ocean of water named Lauhitya. (17-1-31)
गाण्डीवं च धनुर्दिव्यं न मुमोच धनञ्जयः। रत्नलोभान्महाराज तौ चाक्षय्यौ महेषुधी ॥१७-१-३२॥
O great king, Dhanañjaya did not let go of Gāṇḍīva and the divine bow; moved by the desire for jewels, those two great archers remained inexhaustible. (17-1-32)
अग्निं ते ददृशुस्तत्र स्थितं शैलमिवाग्रतः। मार्गमावृत्य तिष्ठन्तं साक्षात्पुरुषविग्रहम् ॥१७-१-३३॥
There, they saw fire standing before them like a mountain, blocking the path, manifest in a human form. (17-1-33)
ततो देवः स सप्तार्चिः पाण्डवानिदमब्रवीत्। भो भो पाण्डुसुता वीराः पावकं मां विबोधत ॥१७-१-३४॥
Then the god with seven flames spoke to the Pāṇḍavas: "O sons of Pāṇḍu, O heroes, know me as Fire." (17-1-34)
युधिष्ठिर महाबाहो भीमसेन परन्तप। अर्जुनाश्विसुतौ वीरौ निबोधत वचो मम ॥१७-१-३५॥
Yudhishthira, O mighty-armed one; Bhimasena, O subduer of foes; Arjuna and the sons of Ashvi, heroes, listen to my words. (17-1-35)
अहमग्निः कुरुश्रेष्ठा मया दग्धं च खाण्डवम्। अर्जुनस्य प्रभावेण तथा नारायणस्य च ॥१७-१-३६॥
O best of the Kurus, I am Agni; Khandava was burnt by me, by the power of Arjuna and also of Narayana. (17-1-36)
अयं वः फल्गुनो भ्राता गाण्डीवं परमायुधम्। परित्यज्य वनं यातु नानेनार्थोऽस्ति कश्चन ॥१७-१-३७॥
This Phalguna, your brother, having abandoned the supreme weapon Gāṇḍīva, should go to the forest; there is no purpose served by him here. (17-1-37)
चक्ररत्नं तु यत्कृष्णे स्थितमासीन्महात्मनि। गतं तच्च पुनर्हस्ते कालेनैष्यति तस्य ह ॥१७-१-३८॥
But the discus-jewel, which was with Kṛṣṇa, the great soul, that has departed, will again in time come into his hand indeed. (17-1-38)
वरुणादाहृतं पूर्वं मयैतत्पार्थकारणात्। गाण्डीवं कार्मुकश्रेष्ठं वरुणायैव दीयताम् ॥१७-१-३९॥
This Gāṇḍīva, the best of bows, which was formerly brought by me from Varuṇa for the sake of Pārtha, should now indeed be given to Varuṇa. (17-1-39)
ततस्ते भ्रातरः सर्वे धनञ्जयमचोदयन्। स जले प्राक्षिपत्तत्तु तथाक्षय्यौ महेषुधी ॥१७-१-४०॥
Then all the brothers urged Dhanañjaya, and he threw that into the water, namely the two inexhaustible great bows. (17-1-40)
ततोऽग्निर्भरतश्रेष्ठ तत्रैवान्तरधीयत। ययुश्च पाण्डवा वीरास्ततस्ते दक्षिणामुखाः ॥१७-१-४१॥
Then, O best of the Bharatas, the fire disappeared right there. And the heroic Pāṇḍavas then proceeded facing south. (17-1-41)
ततस्ते तूत्तरेणैव तीरेण लवणाम्भसः। जग्मुर्भरतशार्दूल दिशं दक्षिणपश्चिमम् ॥१७-१-४२॥
Then, O Bharata, tiger among men, they proceeded along the northern shore of the salty sea in the southwest direction. (17-1-42)
ततः पुनः समावृत्ताः पश्चिमां दिशमेव ते। ददृशुर्द्वारकां चापि सागरेण परिप्लुताम् ॥१७-१-४३॥
Then again, as they returned towards the west, they saw that Dvārakā too had been submerged by the ocean. (17-1-43)
उदीचीं पुनरावृत्त्य ययुर्भरतसत्तमाः। प्रादक्षिण्यं चिकीर्षन्तः पृथिव्या योगधर्मिणः ॥१७-१-४४॥
Having turned back towards the north, the best of the Bharatas, endowed with the virtue of yoga, proceeded, wishing to circumambulate the earth. (17-1-44)
