18.005
जनमेजय उवाच॥
Janamejaya said.
भीष्मद्रोणौ महात्मानौ धृतराष्ट्रश्च पार्थिवः। विराटद्रुपदौ चोभौ शङ्खश्चैवोत्तरस्तथा ॥१८-५-१॥
Bhīṣma and Droṇa, the great-souled, Dhṛtarāṣṭra the king, Virāṭa and Drupada both, and also Śaṅkha and Uttara likewise. (18-5-1)
धृष्टकेतुर्जयत्सेनो राजा चैव स सत्यजित्। दुर्योधनसुताश्चैव शकुनिश्चैव सौबलः ॥१८-५-२॥
Dhṛṣṭaketu, Jayatsena, the king, Satyajit, the sons of Duryodhana, and Śakuni, the son of Subala, (were present). (18-5-2)
कर्णपुत्राश्च विक्रान्ता राजा चैव जयद्रथः। घटोत्कचादयश्चैव ये चान्ये नानुकीर्तिताः ॥१८-५-३॥
The valiant sons of Karṇa, the king Jayadratha, Ghaṭotkaca and others, and those others not mentioned. (18-5-3)
ये चान्ये कीर्तितास्तत्र राजानो दीप्तमूर्तयः। स्वर्गे कालं कियन्तं ते तस्थुस्तदपि शंस मे ॥१८-५-४॥
Tell me also how long those other kings, mentioned there, who were of radiant forms, remained in heaven. (18-5-4)
आहो स्विच्छाश्वतं स्थानं तेषां तत्र द्विजोत्तम। अन्ते वा कर्मणः कां ते गतिं प्राप्ता नरर्षभाः ॥ एतदिच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुं प्रोच्यमानं त्वया द्विज ॥१८-५-५॥
O best of the twice-born, is that truly the wished-for state for them there? Or, at the end of their actions, which path did those best of men attain? This I wish to hear, O twice-born, as told by you. (18-5-5)
सूत उवाच॥
Sūta said;
इत्युक्तः स तु विप्रर्षिरनुज्ञातो महात्मना। व्यासेन तस्य नृपतेराख्यातुमुपचक्रमे ॥१८-५-६॥
Thus addressed, the sage among the twice-born, having been permitted by the great-souled Vyāsa, began to narrate the story of that king. (18-5-6)
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
गन्तव्यं कर्मणामन्ते सर्वेण मनुजाधिप। शृणु गुह्यमिदं राजन्देवानां भरतर्षभ ॥ यदुवाच महातेजा दिव्यचक्षुः प्रतापवान् ॥१८-५-७॥
O king of men, all must go at the end of their actions. Listen to this secret of the gods, O king, O best of the Bharatas, as spoken by the greatly radiant, divine-eyed, powerful one. (18-5-7)
मुनिः पुराणः कौरव्य पाराशर्यो महाव्रतः। अगाधबुद्धिः सर्वज्ञो गतिज्ञः सर्वकर्मणाम् ॥१८-५-८॥
O descendant of Kuru, the sage, son of Parāśara, who is ancient, of great vows, possessing unfathomable intellect, all-knowing, knower of the ways and actions of all (beings). (18-5-8)
वसूनेव महातेजा भीष्मः प्राप महाद्युतिः। अष्टावेव हि दृश्यन्ते वसवो भरतर्षभ ॥१८-५-९॥
O best of the Bharatas, the greatly splendid Bhīṣma attained great brilliance like the Vasus themselves. Indeed, only eight Vasus are seen. (18-5-9)
बृहस्पतिं विवेशाथ द्रोणो ह्यङ्गिरसां वरम्। कृतवर्मा तु हार्दिक्यः प्रविवेश मरुद्गणम् ॥१८-५-१०॥
Bṛhaspati entered; then Droṇa, indeed the best among the Aṅgiras, and Kṛtavarmā, son of Hārdika, entered the group of Maruts. (18-5-10)
सनत्कुमारं प्रद्युम्नः प्रविवेश यथागतम्। धृतराष्ट्रो धनेशस्य लोकान्प्राप दुरासदान् ॥१८-५-११॥
Pradyumna entered where Sanatkumara was, just as he had come. Dhritarashtra attained the worlds of Kubera, which are difficult to access. (18-5-11)
धृतराष्ट्रेण सहिता गान्धारी च यशस्विनी। पत्नीभ्यां सहितः पाण्डुर्महेन्द्रसदनं ययौ ॥१८-५-१२॥
Pāṇḍu, accompanied by his two illustrious wives—Gāndhārī and Dhṛtarāṣṭra—went to the mansion of Indra. (18-5-12)
विराटद्रुपदौ चोभौ धृष्टकेतुश्च पार्थिवः। निशठाक्रूरसाम्बाश्च भानुः कम्पो विडूरथः ॥१८-५-१३॥
Virāṭa and Drupada, both kings, Dhṛṣṭaketu, as well as Nishaṭha, Ākrūra, Sāmbā, Bhānu, Kampa, and Viḍūratha. (18-5-13)
भूरिश्रवाः शलश्चैव भूरिश्च पृथिवीपतिः। उग्रसेनस्तथा कंसो वसुदेवश्च वीर्यवान् ॥१८-५-१४॥
Bhūriśravāḥ, Śala, Bhūri, the king of the earth, Ugrasena, Kaṃsa, and Vasudeva, who is powerful, (are mentioned here). (18-5-14)
उत्तरश्च सह भ्रात्रा शङ्खेन नरपुङ्गवः। विश्वेषां देवतानां ते विविशुर्नरसत्तमाः ॥१८-५-१५॥
The northern prince, along with his brother Śaṅkha, the foremost of men, these best of men entered among all the deities. (18-5-15)
वर्चा नाम महातेजाः सोमपुत्रः प्रतापवान्। सोऽभिमन्युर्नृसिंहस्य फल्गुनस्य सुतोऽभवत् ॥१८-५-१६॥
There was one named Varcā, of great splendor, the mighty son of Soma. He became Abhimanyu, the son of Nṛsiṃha and Phalguna. (18-5-16)
स युद्ध्वा क्षत्रधर्मेण यथा नान्यः पुमान्क्वचित्। विवेश सोमं धर्मात्मा कर्मणोऽन्ते महारथः ॥१८-५-१७॥
He, having fought according to the warrior's duty as no other man ever did, the great chariot-warrior of righteous nature entered Soma at the end of his deeds. (18-5-17)
आविवेश रविं कर्णः पितरं पुरुषर्षभ। द्वापरं शकुनिः प्राप धृष्टद्युम्नस्तु पावकम् ॥१८-५-१८॥
Karṇa entered the Sun, O best of men. Śakuni attained Dvāpara, but Dhṛṣṭadyumna entered fire. (18-5-18)
धृतराष्ट्रात्मजाः सर्वे यातुधाना बलोत्कटाः। ऋद्धिमन्तो महात्मानः शस्त्रपूता दिवं गताः ॥ धर्ममेवाविशत्क्षत्ता राजा चैव युधिष्ठिरः ॥१८-५-१९॥
All the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, though exceedingly strong and prosperous like fiends, purified by weapons, have gone to heaven. Only Dharma was embraced by the charioteer (Vidura) and the king Yudhiṣṭhira. (18-5-19)
अनन्तो भगवान्देवः प्रविवेश रसातलम्। पितामहनियोगाद्धि यो योगाद्गामधारयत् ॥१८-५-२०॥
Ananta, the blessed Lord, god, entered the nether region; by the command of the grandsire, he indeed, by his power, supported the earth. (18-5-20)
षोडशस्त्रीसहस्राणि वासुदेवपरिग्रहः। न्यमज्जन्त सरस्वत्यां कालेन जनमेजय ॥ ताश्चाप्यप्सरसो भूत्वा वासुदेवमुपागमन् ॥१८-५-२१॥
O Janamejaya, in the course of time, the sixteen thousand wives of Vāsudeva sank into the Sarasvatī river. They then became apsarases and approached Vāsudeva. (18-5-21)
हतास्तस्मिन्महायुद्धे ये वीरास्तु महारथाः। घटोत्कचादयः सर्वे देवान्यक्षांश्च भेजिरे ॥१८-५-२२॥
All those heroes who were great chariot-warriors, including Ghaṭotkaca and others, who were slain in that great battle, all attained to the ranks of the gods and yakṣas. (18-5-22)
दुर्योधनसहायाश्च राक्षसाः परिकीर्तिताः। प्राप्तास्ते क्रमशो राजन्सर्वलोकाननुत्तमान् ॥१८-५-२३॥
O king, the rākṣasas who were companions of Duryodhana—these, it is declared, have attained, one after another, all the unsurpassed worlds. (18-5-23)
भवनं च महेन्द्रस्य कुबेरस्य च धीमतः। वरुणस्य तथा लोकान्विविशुः पुरुषर्षभाः ॥१८-५-२४॥
The foremost among men entered the abodes of Mahendra, the wise Kubera and Varuṇa, as well as their worlds. (18-5-24)
एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं विस्तरेण महाद्युते। कुरूणां चरितं कृत्स्नं पाण्डवानां च भारत ॥१८-५-२५॥
O Bhārata, all this — the entire account of the Kurus and the Pāṇḍavas — has been declared to you in detail, O greatly radiant one. (18-5-25)
सूत उवाच॥
Sūta said;
एतच्छ्रुत्वा द्विजश्रेष्ठात्स राजा जनमेजयः। विस्मितोऽभवदत्यर्थं यज्ञकर्मान्तरेष्वथ ॥१८-५-२६॥
Having heard this from the best of the Brāhmaṇas, King Janamejaya became extremely astonished during the performance of the sacrificial rites at that time. (18-5-26)
ततः समापयामासुः कर्म तत्तस्य याजकाः। आस्तीकश्चाभवत्प्रीतः परिमोक्ष्य भुजङ्गमान् ॥१८-५-२७॥
Then the priests completed his ritual. Āstīka was also pleased, intending to release the serpents. (18-5-27)
ततो द्विजातीन्सर्वांस्तान्दक्षिणाभिरतोषयत्। पूजिताश्चापि ते राज्ञा ततो जग्मुर्यथागतम् ॥१८-५-२८॥
Thereafter, the king satisfied all the twice-born with gifts. Having been honored by the king, they then departed just as they had arrived. (18-5-28)
विसर्जयित्वा विप्रांस्तान्राजापि जनमेजयः। ततस्तक्षशिलायाः स पुनरायाद्गजाह्वयम् ॥१८-५-२९॥
Having dismissed those brāhmaṇas, King Janamejaya then returned from Takṣaśilā to Gajāhvaya. (18-5-29)
एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं वैशम्पायनकीर्तितम्। व्यासाज्ञया समाख्यातं सर्पसत्रे नृपस्य ह ॥१८-५-३०॥
All this has been related to you as narrated by Vaiśampāyana. By Vyāsa’s command, it was fully narrated at the king’s snake-sacrifice. (18-5-30)
पुण्योऽयमितिहासाख्यः पवित्रं चेदमुत्तमम्। कृष्णेन मुनिना विप्र नियतं सत्यवादिना ॥१८-५-३१॥
O brāhmaṇa, this auspicious story, which is called 'Itihāsa', is supremely purifying and excellent, certainly composed by Kṛṣṇa, the sage, the speaker of truth. (18-5-31)
सर्वज्ञेन विधिज्ञेन धर्मज्ञानवता सता। अतीन्द्रियेण शुचिना तपसा भावितात्मना ॥१८-५-३२॥
By the all-knowing, the knower of procedure, endowed with knowledge of dharma, by the virtuous, by one beyond the senses, by the pure, through austerity, by one with a purified mind. (18-5-32)
ऐश्वर्ये वर्तता चैव साङ्ख्ययोगविदा तथा। नैकतन्त्रविबुद्धेन दृष्ट्वा दिव्येन चक्षुषा ॥१८-५-३३॥
Dwelling in sovereignty, and indeed thus by one who knows Sāṅkhya and Yoga—not by one awakened only in a single doctrine, having seen with the divine eye. (18-5-33)
कीर्तिं प्रथयता लोके पाण्डवानां महात्मनाम्। अन्येषां क्षत्रियाणां च भूरिद्रविणतेजसाम् ॥१८-५-३४॥
Spreading the fame in the world of the great-souled Pāṇḍavas and also of other kṣatriyas endowed with abundant wealth and energy. (18-5-34)
य इदं श्रावयेद्विद्वान्सदा पर्वणि पर्वणि। धूतपाप्मा जितस्वर्गो ब्रह्मभूयाय गच्छति ॥१८-५-३५॥
Whoever, being learned, always causes this to be heard on every festival day, becomes one whose sins are removed, who has conquered heaven, and goes to attain the state of Brahman. (18-5-35)
यश्चेदं श्रावयेच्छ्राद्धे ब्राह्मणान्पादमन्ततः। अक्षय्यमन्नपानं वै पितॄंस्तस्योपतिष्ठते ॥१८-५-३६॥
Whoever causes this to be heard at the śrāddha ceremony to Brāhmaṇas—even a quarter portion—, to him inexhaustible food and drink indeed accrue to his ancestors. (18-5-36)
अह्ना यदेनः कुरुते इन्द्रियैर्मनसापि वा। महाभारतमाख्याय पश्चात्सन्ध्यां प्रमुच्यते ॥१८-५-३७॥
Whatever sin is committed during the day by the senses or even by the mind, after reciting the Mahābhārata following the evening twilight, one becomes freed from it. (18-5-37)
धर्मे चार्थे च कामे च मोक्षे च भरतर्षभ। यदिहास्ति तदन्यत्र यन्नेहास्ति न तत्क्वचित् ॥१८-५-३८॥
O best of the Bhāratas, in regard to dharma, artha, kāma, and mokṣa: whatever is here can be found elsewhere, but whatever is not here is found nowhere. (18-5-38)
जयो नामेतिहासोऽयं श्रोतव्यो भूतिमिच्छता। राज्ञा राजसुतैश्चापि गर्भिण्या चैव योषिता ॥१८-५-३९॥
The story called 'Victory' should be heard by anyone who seeks prosperity—by the king, the king’s sons, as well as by both pregnant women and women in general. (18-5-39)
स्वर्गकामो लभेत्स्वर्गं जयकामो लभेज्जयम्। गर्भिणी लभते पुत्रं कन्यां वा बहुभागिनीम् ॥१८-५-४०॥
He who desires heaven may obtain heaven, he who desires victory may obtain victory. A pregnant woman obtains a son or a very fortunate daughter. (18-5-40)
अनागतं त्रिभिर्वर्षैः कृष्णद्वैपायनः प्रभुः। संदर्भं भारतस्यास्य कृतवान्धर्मकाम्यया ॥१८-५-४१॥
Within three years, the master Kṛṣṇadvaipāyana compiled this Bhārata out of a desire for righteousness. (18-5-41)
नारदोऽश्रावयद्देवानसितो देवलः पितॄन्। रक्षो यक्षाञ्शुको मर्त्यान्वैशम्पायन एव तु ॥१८-५-४२॥
Nārada announced (the story) to the gods, Sita and Devala to the ancestors, Rakṣa to the Yakṣas, Śuka to mortals, and Vaiśampāyana also (did so), but (to mortals especially). (18-5-42)
इतिहासमिमं पुण्यं महार्थं वेदसंमितम्। श्रावयेद्यस्तु वर्णांस्त्रीन्कृत्वा ब्राह्मणमग्रतः ॥१८-५-४३॥
Whoever causes this history—which is auspicious, of great meaning, and equal to the Veda—to be heard by the three castes, with a brāhmaṇa seated in front, (18-5-43)
स नरः पापनिर्मुक्तः कीर्तिं प्राप्येह शौनक। गच्छेत्परमिकां सिद्धिमत्र मे नास्ति संशयः ॥१८-५-४४॥
O Śaunaka, a man who is freed from sin and attains fame here will surely achieve the highest perfection; in this, I have no doubt. (18-5-44)
भारताध्ययनात्पुण्यादपि पादमधीयतः। श्रद्दधानस्य पूयन्ते सर्वपापान्यशेषतः ॥१८-५-४५॥
By studying even a quarter of the Mahābhārata, the faithful person's sins are completely purified, even more so than by other meritorious acts. (18-5-45)
महर्षिर्भगवान्व्यासः कृत्वेमां संहितां पुरा। श्लोकैश्चतुर्भिर्भगवान्पुत्रमध्यापयच्छुकम् ॥१८-५-४६॥
The great sage Vyāsa, in former times, having composed this collection, taught his son Śuka using four verses. (18-5-46)
मातापितृसहस्राणि पुत्रदारशतानि च। संसारेष्वनुभूतानि यान्ति यास्यन्ति चापरे ॥१८-५-४७॥
Thousands of mothers and fathers, hundreds of sons and wives, have been experienced in the worlds of transmigration; they go, and others will go too. (18-5-47)
हर्षस्थानसहस्राणि भयस्थानशतानि च। दिवसे दिवसे मूढमाविशन्ति न पण्डितम् ॥१८-५-४८॥
Each day, thousands of occasions for joy and hundreds of occasions for fear come upon the fool, but not upon the wise one. (18-5-48)
ऊर्ध्वबाहुर्विरौम्येष न च कश्चिच्छृणोति मे। धर्मादर्थश्च कामश्च स किमर्थं न सेव्यते ॥१८-५-४९॥
I cry aloud with arms raised, yet no one listens to me. Why is it that artha (wealth) and kāma (desire), which come from dharma, are not pursued? (18-5-49)
न जातु कामान्न भयान्न लोभा; द्धर्मं त्यजेज्जीवितस्यापि हेतोः। नित्यो धर्मः सुखदुःखे त्वनित्ये; जीवो नित्यो हेतुरस्य त्वनित्यः ॥१८-५-५०॥
At no time, for the sake of desire, fear, or greed, should one ever abandon duty—even for the sake of life itself. Duty endures eternally; pleasure and pain are fleeting. The soul is eternal, but the cause of its embodied existence is impermanent. (18-5-50)
इमां भारतसावित्रीं प्रातरुत्थाय यः पठेत्। स भारतफलं प्राप्य परं ब्रह्माधिगच्छति ॥१८-५-५१॥
Whoever, having risen in the morning, recites this Bhārata-Sāvitrī, obtains the fruit of the Mahābhārata and attains the highest Brahman. (18-5-51)
यथा समुद्रो भगवान्यथा च हिमवान्गिरिः। ख्यातावुभौ रत्ननिधी तथा भारतमुच्यते ॥१८-५-५२॥
Just as the ocean, O Lord, and the Himavat mountain are both famous as treasure-houses of jewels, so Bhārata is known. (18-5-52)
महाभारतमाख्यानं यः पठेत्सुसमाहितः। स गच्छेत्परमां सिद्धिमिति मे नास्ति संशयः ॥१८-५-५३॥
Whoever reads the account of the Mahābhārata with a well-collected mind surely attains the highest perfection—of this I have no doubt. (18-5-53)
द्वैपायनोष्ठपुटनिःसृतमप्रमेयं; पुण्यं पवित्रमथ पापहरं शिवं च। यो भारतं समधिगच्छति वाच्यमानं; किं तस्य पुष्करजलैरभिषेचनेन ॥१८-५-५४॥
That which has emerged from the mouth of Vyāsa is immeasurable, meritorious, purifying, a remover of sin, and auspicious. Whoever hears and grasps the Mahābhārata as it is being recited—what further need does he have for ceremonial bathing with the sacred waters of Puṣkara? (18-5-54)
