18.003
युधिष्ठिरस्वर्गारोहणम्
The ascent of Yudhishthira to heaven.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
स्थिते मुहूर्तं पार्थे तु धर्मराजे युधिष्ठिरे। आजग्मुस्तत्र कौरव्य देवाः शक्रपुरोगमाः ॥१८-३-१॥
When the king of dharma, Yudhiṣṭhira, son of Pritha, was standing thus for a moment, then, O Kauravya, the gods led by Śakra arrived there. (18-3-1)
स्वयं विग्रहवान्धर्मो राजानं प्रसमीक्षितुम्। तत्राजगाम यत्रासौ कुरुराजो युधिष्ठिरः ॥१८-३-२॥
Dharma, embodied in person, came there to examine the king—where the Kuru king Yudhishthira was. (18-3-2)
तेषु भास्वरदेहेषु पुण्याभिजनकर्मसु। समागतेषु देवेषु व्यगमत्तत्तमो नृप ॥१८-३-३॥
O king, when those gods—radiant in body and of meritorious birth and actions—had gathered together, that darkness disappeared. (18-3-3)
नादृश्यन्त च तास्तत्र यातनाः पापकर्मिणाम्। नदी वैतरणी चैव कूटशाल्मलिना सह ॥१८-३-४॥
Those torments of evil-doers were not seen there, nor the river Vaitarani together with the thorny Shalmali tree. (18-3-4)
लोहकुम्भ्यः शिलाश्चैव नादृश्यन्त भयानकाः। विकृतानि शरीराणि यानि तत्र समन्ततः ॥ ददर्श राजा कौन्तेयस्तान्यदृश्यानि चाभवन् ॥१८-३-५॥
The king, the son of Kunti, saw all around iron pots, stones, and horrible deformed bodies—those things were not visible and became unseen to him. (18-3-5)
ततो वायुः सुखस्पर्शः पुण्यगन्धवहः शिवः। ववौ देवसमीपस्थः शीतलोऽतीव भारत ॥१८-३-६॥
Then, O Bhārata, a wind very cool, pleasant to the touch, carrying auspicious fragrance, and auspicious, blew near the gods. (18-3-6)
मरुतः सह शक्रेण वसवश्चाश्विनौ सह। साध्या रुद्रास्तथादित्या ये चान्येऽपि दिवौकसः ॥१८-३-७॥
The Maruts along with Śakra, the Vasus, and the two Aśvins; the Sādhyas, Rudras, and also the Ādityas; and all other heavenly beings. (18-3-7)
सर्वे तत्र समाजग्मुः सिद्धाश्च परमर्षयः। यत्र राजा महातेजा धर्मपुत्रः स्थितोऽभवत् ॥१८-३-८॥
All the perfected beings and supreme sages assembled there, where the king of great splendor, the son of Dharma, was standing. (18-3-8)
ततः शक्रः सुरपतिः श्रिया परमया युतः। युधिष्ठिरमुवाचेदं सान्त्वपूर्वमिदं वचः ॥१८-३-९॥
Then Śakra, the lord of the gods, resplendent with supreme glory, addressed these consoling words to Yudhishthira. (18-3-9)
युधिष्ठिर महाबाहो प्रीता देवगणास्तव। एह्येहि पुरुषव्याघ्र कृतमेतावता विभो ॥ सिद्धिः प्राप्ता त्वया राजँल्लोकाश्चाप्यक्षयास्तव ॥१८-३-१०॥
Yudhishthira, O mighty-armed, the divine hosts are pleased with you. Come, come, O tiger among men—by this much, O lord, it is accomplished. O king, you have attained success, and the imperishable worlds are also yours. (18-3-10)
न च मन्युस्त्वया कार्यः शृणु चेदं वचो मम। अवश्यं नरकस्तात द्रष्टव्यः सर्वराजभिः ॥१८-३-११॥
You should not give way to anger; listen also to this speech of mine. Certainly, O dear one, hell is to be seen by all kings. (18-3-11)
शुभानामशुभानां च द्वौ राशी पुरुषर्षभ। यः पूर्वं सुकृतं भुङ्क्ते पश्चान्निरयमेति सः ॥ पूर्वं नरकभाग्यस्तु पश्चात्स्वर्गमुपैति सः ॥१८-३-१२॥
O best of men, there are two kinds of destinies, auspicious and inauspicious; the one who first enjoys the fruits of good deeds later goes to hell, while the one who first experiences hell later attains heaven. (18-3-12)
भूयिष्ठं पापकर्मा यः स पूर्वं स्वर्गमश्नुते। तेन त्वमेवं गमितो मया श्रेयोर्थिना नृप ॥१८-३-१३॥
O king, especially it is the one of evil deeds who first attains heaven; thus, you have been sent by me, who seek your welfare. (18-3-13)
व्याजेन हि त्वया द्रोण उपचीर्णः सुतं प्रति। व्याजेनैव ततो राजन्दर्शितो नरकस्तव ॥१८-३-१४॥
Indeed, by pretext, Droṇa was overthrown by you for the sake of your son. By that same pretext thereafter, O king, hell was shown to you. (18-3-14)
यथैव त्वं तथा भीमस्तथा पार्थो यमौ तथा। द्रौपदी च तथा कृष्णा व्याजेन नरकं गताः ॥१८-३-१५॥
Just as you, so Bhīma, Pārtha (Arjuna), the twins, and Draupadī (Kṛṣṇā) have gone to hell by pretext. (18-3-15)
आगच्छ नरशार्दूल मुक्तास्ते चैव किल्बिषात्। स्वपक्षाश्चैव ये तुभ्यं पार्थिवा निहता रणे ॥ सर्वे स्वर्गमनुप्राप्तास्तान्पश्य पुरुषर्षभ ॥१८-३-१६॥
Come, O tiger among men, your own people and the kings who were slain in battle for you have been freed from sin; all of them have attained heaven—see them, O bull among men. (18-3-16)
कर्णश्चैव महेष्वासः सर्वशस्त्रभृतां वरः। स गतः परमां सिद्धिं यदर्थं परितप्यसे ॥१८-३-१७॥
Karṇa, the great archer and the best among all bearers of weapons, has attained the supreme achievement for which you grieve. (18-3-17)
तं पश्य पुरुषव्याघ्रमादित्यतनयं विभो। स्वस्थानस्थं महाबाहो जहि शोकं नरर्षभ ॥१८-३-१८॥
O mighty one, see him, the tiger among men, the son of Āditya, standing in his own place. O long-armed bull among men, abandon grief. (18-3-18)
भ्रातॄंश्चान्यांस्तथा पश्य स्वपक्षांश्चैव पार्थिवान्। स्वं स्वं स्थानमनुप्राप्तान्व्येतु ते मानसो ज्वरः ॥१८-३-१९॥
See, both brothers and others, as well as your own party and the kings, each having attained their own respective positions; let the fever of your mind be dispelled. (18-3-19)
अनुभूय पूर्वं त्वं कृच्छ्रमितः प्रभृति कौरव। विहरस्व मया सार्धं गतशोको निरामयः ॥१८-३-२०॥
Now that you have experienced suffering in the past, O Kaurava, hereafter live happily with me, free from sorrow and free from illness. (18-3-20)
कर्मणां तात पुण्यानां जितानां तपसा स्वयम्। दानानां च महाबाहो फलं प्राप्नुहि पाण्डव ॥१८-३-२१॥
O mighty-armed son of Pāṇḍu, O dear one, attain for yourself the fruit of virtuous actions and of gifts, which have been conquered by your own austerity. (18-3-21)
अद्य त्वां देवगन्धर्वा दिव्याश्चाप्सरसो दिवि। उपसेवन्तु कल्याणं विरजोम्बरवाससः ॥१८-३-२२॥
Today, may the deva-gandharvas and the divine apsaras in heaven serve you with auspiciousness, they who wear garments spotless as the sky. (18-3-22)
राजसूयजिताँल्लोकानश्वमेधाभिवर्धितान्। प्राप्नुहि त्वं महाबाहो तपसश्च फलं महत् ॥१८-३-२३॥
O mighty-armed one, attain the worlds won by the rājasūya sacrifice and increased by the aśvamedha, and also attain the great fruit of penance. (18-3-23)
उपर्युपरि राज्ञां हि तव लोका युधिष्ठिर। हरिश्चन्द्रसमाः पार्थ येषु त्वं विहरिष्यसि ॥१८-३-२४॥
O Yudhiṣṭhira, higher and higher worlds among the kings, equal to Hariścandra, will be yours, O Partha, in which you shall enjoy. (18-3-24)
मान्धाता यत्र राजर्षिर्यत्र राजा भगीरथः। दौःषन्तिर्यत्र भरतस्तत्र त्वं विहरिष्यसि ॥१८-३-२५॥
Where Mandhātā the royal sage, where king Bhagīratha, and where Bharata the descendent of Duṣyanta have been, there you will dwell. (18-3-25)
एषा देवनदी पुण्या पार्थ त्रैलोक्यपावनी। आकाशगङ्गा राजेन्द्र तत्राप्लुत्य गमिष्यसि ॥१८-३-२६॥
O son of Pritha, this divine and holy river—the purifier of the three worlds, the heavenly Ganga, O king—there, after bathing, you will go. (18-3-26)
अत्र स्नातस्य ते भावो मानुषो विगमिष्यति। गतशोको निरायासो मुक्तवैरो भविष्यसि ॥१८-३-२७॥
Here, when you have bathed, your human condition will leave you. With sorrow gone, free from toil, and rid of enmity, you will become. (18-3-27)
एवं ब्रुवति देवेन्द्रे कौरवेन्द्रं युधिष्ठिरम्। धर्मो विग्रहवान्साक्षादुवाच सुतमात्मनः ॥१८-३-२८॥
While the lord of the gods was thus speaking to Yudhiṣṭhira, king of the Kauravas, Dharma himself, having assumed a bodily form, directly addressed his own son. (18-3-28)
भो भो राजन्महाप्राज्ञ प्रीतोऽस्मि तव पुत्रक। मद्भक्त्या सत्यवाक्येन क्षमया च दमेन च ॥१८-३-२९॥
O O king, most wise, I am pleased with you, child, because of my devotion, truthfulness, forgiveness, and self-restraint. (18-3-29)
एषा तृतीया जिज्ञासा तव राजन्कृता मया। न शक्यसे चालयितुं स्वभावात्पार्थ हेतुभिः ॥१८-३-३०॥
This is the third question of yours, O king, which I have made. By your nature, O Pārtha, you are not able to mislead me by giving reasons. (18-3-30)
पूर्वं परीक्षितो हि त्वमासीर्द्वैतवनं प्रति। अरणीसहितस्यार्थे तच्च निस्तीर्णवानसि ॥१८-३-३१॥
Formerly, you were indeed tested when you went to Dvaitavana; for the purpose of carrying the arani fire-sticks, even that you have accomplished. (18-3-31)
सोदर्येषु विनष्टेषु द्रौपद्यां तत्र भारत। श्वरूपधारिणा पुत्र पुनस्त्वं मे परीक्षितः ॥१८-३-३२॥
O Bhārata, when your own brothers had perished with Draupadī there, my son, by one assuming the form of a corpse, you were, once again, my Parīkṣita (the tested one, i.e., Parikshit). (18-3-32)
इदं तृतीयं भ्रातॄणामर्थे यत्स्थातुमिच्छसि। विशुद्धोऽसि महाभाग सुखी विगतकल्मषः ॥१८-३-३३॥
You wish to stand for this third cause for the sake of the brothers. You are pure, O greatly fortunate one, happy and free from impurity. (18-3-33)
न च ते भ्रातरः पार्थ नरकस्था विशां पते। मायैषा देवराजेन महेन्द्रेण प्रयोजिता ॥१८-३-३४॥
O Pārtha, your brothers are not in hell, O lord of the people. This is an illusion created by the king of the gods, Mahendra (Indra). (18-3-34)
अवश्यं नरकस्तात द्रष्टव्यः सर्वराजभिः। ततस्त्वया प्राप्तमिदं मुहूर्तं दुःखमुत्तमम् ॥१८-३-३५॥
Certainly, dear father, hell is to be witnessed by all kings; therefore, you have now experienced the greatest suffering for a moment. (18-3-35)
न सव्यसाची भीमो वा यमौ वा पुरुषर्षभौ। कर्णो वा सत्यवाक्षूरो नरकार्हाश्चिरं नृप ॥१८-३-३६॥
O king, neither Savyasācī (Arjuna), nor Bhīma, nor the two sons of Yama, nor the foremost men, nor Karṇa, the valiant speaker of truth, are truly deserving of hell for long. (18-3-36)
न कृष्णा राजपुत्री च नरकार्हा युधिष्ठिर। एह्येहि भरतश्रेष्ठ पश्य गङ्गां त्रिलोकगाम् ॥१८-३-३७॥
Kṛṣṇā, the princess, is not deserving of hell, O Yudhiṣṭhira! Come, come, best of the Bharatas, behold the Gaṅgā who traverses the three worlds. (18-3-37)
एवमुक्तः स राजर्षिस्तव पूर्वपितामहः। जगाम सह धर्मेण सर्वैश्च त्रिदशालयैः ॥१८-३-३८॥
Having thus been addressed, your former great-grandfather, the royal sage, went together with righteousness and all the dwellers of the abode of the gods. (18-3-38)
गङ्गां देवनदीं पुण्यां पावनीमृषिसंस्तुताम्। अवगाह्य तु तां राजा तनुं तत्याज मानुषीम् ॥१८-३-३९॥
After immersing himself in the Gaṅgā—the divine, holy, purifying river praised by sages—the king left his human body. (18-3-39)
ततो दिव्यवपुर्भूत्वा धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः। निर्वैरो गतसन्तापो जले तस्मिन्समाप्लुतः ॥१८-३-४०॥
Then Yudhishthira, the king of dharma, having assumed a divine body, free from enmity and with his sorrow gone, was completely immersed in that water. (18-3-40)
ततो ययौ वृतो देवैः कुरुराजो युधिष्ठिरः। धर्मेण सहितो धीमान्स्तूयमानो महर्षिभिः ॥१८-३-४१॥
Then the Kuru king Yudhiṣṭhira, accompanied by the gods and virtue, wise and being praised by the great sages, went onward. (18-3-41)
