18.002
Dismissal of the divine messenger.
Yudhishthira said.
O gods, here I do not see Rādheya of immeasurable energy, nor the two great-souled brothers, Yudhāmanyu and Uttamaujas. (18-2-1)
The great chariot-warriors who offered their bodies in the fire of battle, and the kings and princes who were slain on the battlefield for my sake. (18-2-2)
Where are all your great chariot-warriors, whose valor equals that of tigers? Has this world also truly been conquered by those foremost among men? (18-2-3)
If all these great warriors have attained these worlds, know that I, along with the gods and those great souls, am established (there). (18-2-4)
I hope those kings have indeed attained this imperishable and auspicious world; without them, I will not remain, even among my own kinsmen and brothers. (18-2-5)
Having heard indeed the words of my mother, then, during the water-rite, (her words) 'Let water be offered for Karṇa', I am truly pained by that. (18-2-6)
I am tormented again and again by this, O gods, for though I am of immeasurable energy, I am like my mother's feet to him. (18-2-7)
Truly, having seen him, he did not follow Karna, the destroyer of enemy hosts. Not even Indra could conquer us, together with Karna, in battle. (18-2-8)
I wish to see him, the son of the Sun, who, being unrecognized by me and present somewhere, was slain by Savyasācī (Arjuna). (18-2-9)
Bhīma, who is of terrible prowess and dearer to me than my own life; Arjuna, who is like Indra; and the two sons of Yama, who are equal to Yama—these (are my sons). (18-2-10)
I wish to see her, Pañcālī, who follows dharma, and I do not wish to remain here. This is the truth I speak to you. (18-2-11)
O best of gods, what use is heaven to me, one who is without his brother? Wherever he is, that is my heaven; this is not regarded as heaven by me. (18-2-12)
The gods said;
If, indeed, you have faith there, let it go, my son, do not delay. Dear one, truly, we remain here according to the command of the king of the gods. (18-2-13)
Vaiśampāyana said.
Having thus spoken to him, the gods then instructed the divine messenger, 'Show Yudhishthira's friends,' O scorcher of foes. (18-2-14)
Then, O tiger among kings, Kunti's son the king and the divine messenger went together to where those foremost of men were. (18-2-15)
The messenger of the gods went ahead, but the king followed behind, (along) a difficult and inauspicious path, frequented by those who perform evil deeds. (18-2-16)
It is covered by darkness, terrible, filled with matted hair, seaweed, and moss, pervaded by the stench of the wicked, with mud made of flesh and blood. (18-2-17)
It is produced by biting insects, filled with crickets, swarming with flies and mosquitoes, and all around, here and there, surrounded by corpses. (18-2-18)
Covered with bones and hair, infested with worms and insects, and surrounded on all sides by blazing fire. (18-2-19)
It was completely assailed by iron-mouthed beings, kākolas, and vultures; also by needle-mouthed creatures and pretas, covered with those resembling the Vindhya mountains. (18-2-20)
There, fat mixed with blood, together with severed arms, thighs, hands, bellies, and feet, was cast all about here and there. (18-2-21)
He, the righteous king, while thinking much in the midst, went towards that corpse with its inauspicious, foul odor and hair-raising nature. (18-2-22)
He saw a river filled with hot water, very hard to cross, and a sword-leaf forest covered everywhere with sharp razors. (18-2-23)
Heated sand mixed with grain-paste, and separately iron stones; and iron cauldrons filled with boiling oil all around. (18-2-24)
The son of Kuntī (Arjuna) also saw the spiked śālmalī tree, difficult to touch and covered with sharp thorns, as well as the torments inflicted upon evil-doers. (18-2-25)
Having noticed the foul smell, he said to the divine messenger: "How much of such a path remains for us to go?" (18-2-26)
Where are your brothers? You ought to tell me that. What is this place of the gods? I wish to know this. (18-2-27)
He withdrew after hearing Dharmarāja’s words. The divine messenger said to him, 'Your journey goes only this far.' (18-2-28)
I must return, for I have thus been told by the gods. If you are tired, O king, then you may come. (18-2-29)
But Yudhiṣṭhira, O Bhārata, dispirited and fainted by that smell, having resolved to turn back, returned. (18-2-30)
He, having returned—a righteous man filled with pain and sorrow—heard there, from all sides, the words of the distressed as they spoke. (18-2-31)
O dharma-born, royal sage of virtuous lineage, O Pāṇḍava, please stay at least for a moment out of compassion for us. (18-2-32)
O irresistable one, a holy breeze comes to you, blowing and carrying your fragrance, dear sir; by which happiness has come to us. (18-2-33)
O Pārtha, best of kings, having seen you after a long time, we shall obtain happiness. (18-2-34)
O mighty-armed Bharata, remain for even a moment. O Kaurava, while you stay, sorrow does not trouble us. (18-2-35)
Thus, in that place, the king heard from all sides the pitiful words of many kinds uttered by those suffering. (18-2-36)
Having heard their words, being compassionate for those speaking in distress, Yudhiṣṭhira said, "Alas, how difficult!" He stood still. (18-2-37)
But the Pāṇḍava did not recognize those voices coming repeatedly from in front, which he had heard before, as they were of people weary and sorrowful. (18-2-38)
As he awakened, Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma, spoke those words: "Who are you indeed, and for what reason do you stand here?" (18-2-39)
Thus having been addressed, then all of them on every side spoke out, each declaring, 'I am Karna, I am Bhimasena, I am Arjuna,' O lord. (18-2-40)
Nakula, Sahadeva, and Dhṛṣṭadyumna, each (cried) 'I'; Draupadī and the sons of Draupadī as well—thus, in this manner, they all wailed aloud. (18-2-41)
O king, having heard those words suitable to that place, the king then pondered, "What indeed is this that has been wrought by fate?" (18-2-42)
What is that impure deed which has been done by these great-souled ones—by Karṇa, or by the sons of Draupadī, or by Pāñcālī, the slender-waisted one? (18-2-43)
I do not know what evil deed has been committed by all these people of meritorious actions, who now dwell in this terribly evil-tainted place. (18-2-44)
What did Suyodhana, the son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra and king, do—he who was thus endowed with splendour, sinful, and accompanied by all his attendants? (18-2-45)
He, like Mahendra, who is endowed with fortune, sits greatly honoured. Now, whose is this change, if these have gone to hell? (18-2-46)
They are knowers of all dharmas, valiant, devoted to truth and tradition, dedicated to the kṣatriya duty, wise, performers of sacrifices, and givers of great gifts. (18-2-47)
What is this? Am I asleep or awake? Though I am conscious, I do not perceive. Ah! perhaps this is a disturbance of my mind, or it may be my own mental confusion. (18-2-48)
Thus, King Yudhishthira, overcome with pain and sorrow and with his senses disturbed by anxiety, considered many different matters. (18-2-49)
The son of Dharma, the king Yudhishthira, indeed brought forth intense anger. Yudhishthira censured both the gods and Dharma. (18-2-50)
Afflicted by the intense odor, he said to the divine messenger: "Go, O fortunate one, to the presence of those whom you serve as a messenger." (18-2-51)
Indeed, let it be communicated that I shall not go there and that I remain here. By my protection, let my messenger inform that my brothers are truly happy. (18-2-52)
Thus, having been addressed by the wise son of Pāṇḍu, the messenger then went to that place where the king of the gods, Indra, abides. (18-2-53)
He reported to the king all that had been intended by Dharmarāja, just as Dharmaputra had spoken. (18-2-54)
