Critical Edition
वैशंपायन उवाच ततः कुन्तीसुतो राजा पौरजानपदं जनम् पूजयित्वा यथान्यायमनुजज्ञे गृहान्प्रति
M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said Then having duly honoured the citizens and the inhabitants of the province, the royal son of Kunti dismissed them to their respective homes.
सान्त्वयामास नारीश्च हतवीरा हतेश्वराः विपुलैरर्थदानैश्च तदा पाण्डुसुतो नृपः
M. N. Dutt: The Pandava king then consoled those women, who had lost their heroic husbands and sons in the battle, with profuse gifts of wealth.
सोऽभिषिक्तो महाप्राज्ञः प्राप्य राज्यं युधिष्ठिरः अवस्थाप्य नरश्रेष्ठः सर्वाः स्वप्रकृतीस्तदा
M. N. Dutt: Having recovered his kingdom, Yudhishthira caused himself to be duly installed on the throne. That foremost of men then assured all his subjects by various deeds of good will.
द्विजेभ्यो बलमुख्येभ्यो नैगमेभ्यश्च सर्वशः प्रतिगृह्याशिषो मुख्यास्तदा धर्मभृतां वरः
M. N. Dutt: That foremost of righteous men set himself to acquire the substantial blessings of the Brahmanas, of the foremost inilitary officers, and the leading citizens.
उषित्वा शर्वरीः श्रीमान्पञ्चाशन्नगरोत्तमे समयं कौरवाग्र्यस्य सस्मार पुरुषर्षभः
M. N. Dutt: Having passed fifty nights in the capital, the blessed monarch recollected the time indicated by his grandfather as the hour of his departure from this world.
Supplementary Passages:
13.153.5 After 5, T1 ins.: *715 ततश्च पुण्डरीकाक्षमाह धर्मभृतां वरः भगवन्योगयुक्तोऽसि तूष्णीं ध्यायसि शत्रुहन् ब्रूहि मां पुरुषश्रेष्ठ आज्ञाप्यो भवता ह्यहम् ध्यायस्व पुण्डरीकाक्ष श्रेयो मे परमं हितम् श्रीभगवान् शरतल्पगतो भीष्मः शाम्यन्निव हुताशनः मां ध्याति पुरुषव्याघ्रस्ततो मे तद्गतं मनः
स निर्ययौ गजपुराद्याजकैः परिवारितः दृष्ट्वा निवृत्तमादित्यं प्रवृत्तं चोत्तरायणम्
M. N. Dutt: Accompanied by a number of priests he then left the city of Hastinapur having seen that the sun ceasing to go southwards, had begun to proceed in his northward course.
घृतं माल्यं च गन्धांश्च क्षौमाणि च युधिष्ठिरः चन्दनागरुमुख्यानि तथा कालागरूणि च
AI Translation: Ghee, garlands, fragrances, and silk garments, O Yudhiṣṭhira, sandalwood, agaru, and other chief fragrances, and black agaru,
प्रस्थाप्य पूर्वं कौन्तेयो भीष्मसंसाधनाय वै माल्यानि च महार्हाणि रत्नानि विविधानि च
AI Translation: Having first sent off the ornaments and various precious gems for Bhishma's sake, and also the costly garlands,
धृतराष्ट्रं पुरस्कृत्य गान्धारीं च यशस्विनीम् मातरं च पृथां धीमान्भ्रातॄंश्च पुरुषर्षभः
AI Translation: With Dhritarashtra and the glorious Gandhari at the head, and with his mother Pritha, the wise bull among men bowed to his brothers.
Supplementary Passages:
13.153.9 For 9cd, T1 subst.: *716 भ्रातॄंश्चैव पुरस्कृत्य मातरं च पृथामपि
जनार्दनेनानुगतो विदुरेण च धीमता युयुत्सुना च कौरव्यो युयुधानेन चाभिभो
AI Translation: Followed by Janardana, the wise Vidura, Yuyutsu, the son of Kuru, and Yuyudhana, O Lord,
महता राजभोग्येन परिबर्हेण संवृतः स्तूयमानो महाराज भीष्मस्याग्नीननुव्रजन्
AI Translation: Surrounded by a great retinue fit for a king, Praised by the great king, following Bhishma's fires,
निश्चक्राम पुरात्तस्माद्यथा देवपतिस्तथा आससाद कुरुक्षेत्रे ततः शांतनवं नृपम्
M. N. Dutt: Thus accompanied, the king started from his city like a second king of the celestials. Soon he came upon the spot where the son of Shantanu was still lying on his bed of arrows.
उपास्यमानं व्यासेन पाराशर्येण धीमता नारदेन च राजर्षे देवलेनासितेन च
AI Translation: Worshipped by Vyasa, the wise son of Parashara, By Narada, the royal sage, by Devabali and Asita,
हतशिष्टैर्नृपैश्चान्यैर्नानादेशसमागतैः रक्षिभिश्च महात्मानं रक्ष्यमाणं समन्ततः
AI Translation: With the remaining kings and others who had come from various countries, and with the protectors, who were protecting the great one from all sides,
शयानं वीरशयने ददर्श नृपतिस्ततः ततो रथादवारोहद्भ्रातृभिः सह धर्मराट्
AI Translation: Then the king saw him lying on the bed of heroes. Then the king of Dharma, together with his brothers, descended from the chariot.
Supplementary Passages:
13.153.15 After 15ab, T1 ins.: *717 ध्यायन्तं परमात्मानं कृष्णधर्मं सनातनम्
अभिवाद्याथ कौन्तेयः पितामहमरिंदमम् द्वैपायनादीन्विप्रांश्च तैश्च प्रत्यभिनन्दितः
AI Translation: Having saluted the grandfather, the destroyer of enemies, and the brahmins headed by Dvaipayana, he was welcomed by them.
Supplementary Passages:
13.153.16 For 16cd, D10 S subst.: *718 द्वैपायनप्रभृतिभिर्मुनिभिः प्रतिनन्दितः
ऋत्विग्भिर्ब्रह्मकल्पैश्च भ्रातृभिश्च सहाच्युतः आसाद्य शरतल्पस्थमृषिभिः परिवारितम्
M. N. Dutt: Accompanied by his priests each of whom resembled the grandfather Brahman himself, as also by his brothers, Yudhishthira, of undecaying glory, then approach that spot whereon Bhishma lay on his bed of arrows surrounded by those reverend Rishis.
Supplementary Passages:
13.153.17 After 17ab, B4 repeats 16ab; while T1 ins. after 17ab: *719 माधवेन महाराजः कृष्णेनाक्लिष्टकर्मणा
अब्रवीद्भरतश्रेष्ठं धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः भ्रातृभिः सह कौरव्य शयानं निम्नगासुतम्
AI Translation: Yudhiṣṭhira, the son of Dharma, spoke to the best of Bharatas, to the son of the river, who was lying down with his brothers, O descendant of the Kuru lineage.
युधिष्ठिरोऽहं नृपते नमस्ते जाह्नवीसुत शृणोषि चेन्महाबाहो ब्रूहि किं करवाणि ते
AI Translation: O king, I am Yudhiṣṭhira. Salutations to you, O son of Jahnavi. If you hear, O mighty-armed one, tell me what I should do for you.
प्राप्तोऽस्मि समये राजन्नग्नीनादाय ते विभो आचार्या ब्राह्मणाश्चैव ऋत्विजो भ्रातरश्च मे
AI Translation: O king, I have come at the appointed time, O lord, having brought the fires. The teachers, the Brahmanas, the officiating priests, and my brothers,
पुत्रश्च ते महातेजा धृतराष्ट्रो जनेश्वरः उपस्थितः सहामात्यो वासुदेवश्च वीर्यवान्
AI Translation: And your son, the very bright Dhritarashtra, the lord of men, has come with his ministers and the valorous Vasudeva.
हतशिष्टाश्च राजानः सर्वे च कुरुजाङ्गलाः तान्पश्य कुरुशार्दूल समुन्मीलय लोचने
M. N. Dutt: The remnant of unslain warriors, and all the denizens of Kurujangala, are also here, Opening the eyes, O chief of Kuru's race, do you see them.
यच्चेह किंचित्कर्तव्यं तत्सर्वं प्रापितं मया यथोक्तं भवता काले सर्वमेव च तत्कृतम्
M. N. Dutt: Whatever should be done on this occasion have all been arranged and provided for by me. Indeed, at this hour which you hadst spoken of, all things have been kept in readiness.
एवमुक्तस्तु गाङ्गेयः कुन्तीपुत्रेण धीमता ददर्श भारतान्सर्वान्स्थितान्संपरिवार्य तम्
M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said Thus addressed by the highly intelligent Kunti's son the son, of Ganga opened his eyes and all the Bharatas assembled there and stood around him.
ततश्चलवलिर्भीष्मः प्रगृह्य विपुलं भुजम् ओघमेघस्वनो वाग्मी काले वचनमब्रवीत्
M. N. Dutt: The mighty Bhishma then, taking the strong hand of Yudhishthira, addressed hiin, in a voice deep as that of the clouds.
दिष्ट्या प्राप्तोऽसि कौन्तेय सहामात्यो युधिष्ठिर परिवृत्तो हि भगवान्सहस्रांशुर्दिवाकरः
M. N. Dutt: By good luck, O son of Kunti, you have come here with all your counsellors, O Yudhishthira. The thousandrayed maker of day, the holy Sun, has begun his northward course.
अष्टपञ्चाशतं रात्र्यः शयानस्याद्य मे गताः शरेषु निशिताग्रेषु यथा वर्षशतं तथा
M. N. Dutt: I have been lying on my bed here for fiftycight nights. Stretched these on shai ppointed arrows, I have felt this period to be as long as if it was a century.
माघोऽयं समनुप्राप्तो मासः पुण्यो युधिष्ठिर त्रिभागशेषः पक्षोऽयं शुक्लो भवितुमर्हति
M. N. Dutt: O Yuthishthira, the lunar month of Magha has come. This is, again, the lighted fortnight and a fourth part of it ought by this (according to my calculations) be over.
एवमुक्त्वा तु गाङ्गेयो धर्मपुत्रं युधिष्ठिरम् धृतराष्ट्रमथामन्त्र्य काले वचनमब्रवीत्
M. N. Dutt: Having said so to Yudhishthira the son of Dharma, Ganga's son Bhishma then saluted Dhritarashtra and said to him as follows.
राजन्विदितधर्मोऽसि सुनिर्णीतार्थसंशयः बहुश्रुता हि ते विप्रा बहवः पर्युपासिताः
M. N. Dutt: Bhishma said O king, you know well the duties. All your doubts, again, relating to the science of wealth, have been well solved. You have served many learned Brahmanas.
वेदशास्त्राणि सर्वाणि धर्मांश्च मनुजेश्वर वेदांश्च चतुरः साङ्गान्निखिलेनावबुध्यसे
M. N. Dutt: You know the subtile sciences connected with the Vedas, all the duties of religion, O king, and the whole of the four Vedas.
न शोचितव्यं कौरव्य भवितव्यं हि तत्तथा श्रुतं देवरहस्यं ते कृष्णद्वैपायनादपि
M. N. Dutt: You should not grieve, therefore, O son of Kuru. That which was preordained has come to pass. It could not be otherwise. You have heard the mysteries relating to the deities from the lips of the Islandborn Rishi himself.
यथा पाण्डोः सुता राजंस्तथैव तव धर्मतः तान्पालय स्थितो धर्मे गुरुशुश्रूषणे रतान्
M. N. Dutt: Yuthishthira and his brothers are morally as much your sons as are the sons of Pandu. Following the duties of religion, cherish and protect them. In their turn, they are always devoted to the service of their elders.
धर्मराजो हि शुद्धात्मा निदेशे स्थास्यते तव आनृशंस्यपरं ह्येनं जानामि गुरुवत्सलम्
M. N. Dutt: King Yudhishthira, the just, is pure souled. He will always be obedient to you. I know that he is given to the virtue of mercy or abstention from injury. He is devoted to his elders and preceptors.
तव पुत्रा दुरात्मानः क्रोधलोभपरायणाः ईर्ष्याभिभूता दुर्वृत्तास्तान्न शोचितुमर्हसि
M. N. Dutt: Your sons wore all wickedsouled. They were full of anger and cupidity. Overwhelmed by envy they were all of wicked conduct. You should not grieve for them.
वैशंपायन उवाच एतावदुक्त्वा वचनं धृतराष्ट्रं मनीषिणम् वासुदेवं महाबाहुमभ्यभाषत कौरवः
M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said Having said this much to Dhritarashtra of great wisdom, the Kuru chief then addressed Vasudeva of great arms.
भगवन्देवदेवेश सुरासुरनमस्कृत त्रिविक्रम नमस्तेऽस्तु शङ्खचक्रगदाधर
M. N. Dutt: O holy one, O god of all gods O you adored by all the deities and Asuras, O you who didst cover the three worlds with three steps of thine, I bow unto thee, O wielder of the conch, the discus, and the mace.
Supplementary Passages:
13.153.37 After 37, D10 T G M4 ins.: *720 वासुदेवो हिरण्यात्मा पुरुषः सविता विराट् जीवभूतोऽनुरूपस्त्वं परमात्मा सनातनः त्वद्भक्तं त्वद्गतस्वान्तमदारमपरिग्रहम् त्रायस्व पुण्डरीकाक्ष पुरुषोत्तम नित्यशः
अनुजानीहि मां कृष्ण वैकुण्ठ पुरुषोत्तम रक्ष्याश्च ते पाण्डवेया भवान्ह्येषां परायणम्
M. N. Dutt: Do you, O lotuseyed one, save me, O foremost of all beings. Do you give me to permission, O Krishna, to depart from this world, O you who are supreme happiness, O foremost of all beings. You should always protect the sons of Pandu. You are, indeed, already their sole refuge.
उक्तवानस्मि दुर्बुद्धिं मन्दं दुर्योधनं पुरा यतः कृष्णस्ततो धर्मो यतो धर्मस्ततो जयः
M. N. Dutt: Formerly, I spoke the foolish Duryodhana of wicked understanding that there is Virtue where Krishna is, and that there is victory where Virtue is.
Supplementary Passages:
13.153.39 After 39ab, D5-9 ins.: *721 दुर्योधनं दुराचारं क्षत्रियान्तकरं रणे
वासुदेवेन तीर्थेन पुत्र संशाम्य पाण्डवैः संधानस्य परः कालस्तवेति च पुनः पुनः
M. N. Dutt: I further advised him that depending on Vasudeva as his refuge, he should make peace with the Pandavas, Indeed, I repeatedly told him, “This is the fittest time for you to make peace.'
Supplementary Passages:
13.153.40 After 40ab, T1 ins.: *722 सुहृद्भिः सहितो राजन्भुङ्क्ष्व राज्यमकण्टकम्
न च मे तद्वचो मूढः कृतवान्स सुमन्दधीः घातयित्वेह पृथिवीं ततः स निधनं गतः
M. N. Dutt: The foolish and wicked Duryodhana however did not do what I said. Having caused a great havoc on Earth, at last, he himself gave up his life.
त्वां च जानाम्यहं वीर पुराणमृषिसत्तमम् नरेण सहितं देवं बदर्यां सुचिरोषितम्
M. N. Dutt: I know thee, O illustrious one, to be that ancient and best of Rishis who lived for many years in the company of Nara, in hermitage of Badari.
तथा मे नारदः प्राह व्यासश्च सुमहातपाः नरनारायणावेतौ संभूतौ मनुजेष्विति
M. N. Dutt: The celestial Rishi Narada told me this, as also Vyasa of austere penances. Even they have said to me that, Thyself and Arjuna are the old Rishis Narayana and Nara born among men.
Supplementary Passages:
13.153.43 After 43, V1 B Dn D5.8 ins.: *723 स मां त्वमनुजानीहि कृष्ण मोक्ष्ये कलेवरम् त्वयाहं समनुज्ञातो गच्छेयं परमां गतिम्
वासुदेव उवाच अनुजानामि भीष्म त्वां वसूनाप्नुहि पार्थिव न तेऽस्ति वृजिनं किंचिन्मया दृष्टं महाद्युते
M. N. Dutt: Vasudeva said I give you leave, O Bhishma, O king, to attain to the status of the Vasus. O you of great splendour, you have not been guilty of a single sin, in this world.
पितृभक्तोऽसि राजर्षे मार्कण्डेय इवापरः तेन मृत्युस्तव वशे स्थितो भृत्य इवानतः
M. N. Dutt: O royal sage, you are devoted to your father. You are, therefore, like a second Markandeya. It is, therefore, that death depends upon your pleasure like a slave.
वैशंपायन उवाच एवमुक्तस्तु गाङ्गेयः पाण्डवानिदमब्रवीत् धृतराष्ट्रमुखांश्चापि सर्वान्ससुहृदस्तथा
M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said Having said these words, the son of Ganga once more addressed the Pandavas headed by Dhritarashtra, and other friends and wellwishers of his.
प्राणानुत्स्रष्टुमिच्छामि तन्मानुज्ञातुमर्हथ सत्ये प्रयतितव्यं वः सत्यं हि परमं बलम्
M. N. Dutt: I wish to renounce my life. You should give me leave. You should strive for attaching to truth. Truth forms the highest power.
आनृशंस्यपरैर्भाव्यं सदैव नियतात्मभिः ब्रह्मण्यैर्धर्मशीलैश्च तपोनीत्यैश्च भारत
M. N. Dutt: You should always live with Brahmanas of righteous conduct, devoted to penances, ever abstaining from cruel conduct, and who have their souls under restraint.
इत्युक्त्वा सुहृदः सर्वान्संपरिष्वज्य चैव ह पुनरेवाब्रवीद्धीमान्युधिष्ठिरमिदं वचः
AI Translation: Having thus spoken to all his friends and embraced them, the wise one again spoke these words to Yudhishthira:
Supplementary Passages:
13.153.49 After 49ab, D10 T G M4 ins.: *724 धनं बहुविधं राजन्दत्त्वा नित्यं द्विजातिषु
ब्राह्मणाश्चैव ते नित्यं प्राज्ञाश्चैव विशेषतः आचार्या ऋत्विजश्चैव पूजनीया नराधिप
AI Translation: And the Brahmanas, always, and especially the wise, The teachers and the priests, O king, are to be honored.