Critical Edition
अर्जुन उवाच ततस्तामवसं प्रीतो रजनीं तत्र भारत प्रसादाद्देवदेवस्य त्र्यम्बकस्य महात्मनः
M. N. Dutt: Arjuna said : Then, O Bharata, by the favour of that highsouled god of gods-Tryambaka-I pleasantly passed that night there.
व्युषितो रजनीं चाहं कृत्वा पूर्वाह्णिकक्रियाम् अपश्यं तं द्विजश्रेष्ठं दृष्टवानस्मि यं पुरा
M. N. Dutt: Having performed my morning devotions when the night drew to a close, I beheld that best of the Brahmanas whom I had previously seen. see
तस्मै चाहं यथावृत्तं सर्वमेव न्यवेदयम् भगवन्तं महादेवं समेतोऽस्मीति भारत
M. N. Dutt: I related to him faithfully all that occurred, namely, O Bharata, my interview with the divine Mahadev.
स मामुवाच राजेन्द्र प्रीयमाणो द्विजोत्तमः दृष्टस्त्वया महादेवो यथा नान्येन केनचित्
M. N. Dutt: O king of kings, that best of the Brahmanas said to me pleased "none else can Mahadeva as you have seen.
समेत्य लोकपालैस्तु सर्वैर्वैवस्वतादिभिः द्रष्टास्यनघ देवेन्द्रं स च तेऽस्त्राणि दास्यति
M. N. Dutt: O sinless being, you will behold the lord of the celestials, together with Vaivasvata and all the Lokapalas, who (the lord of the celestials) will grant you weapons.
एवमुक्त्वा स मां राजन्नाश्लिष्य च पुनः पुनः अगच्छत्स यथाकामं ब्राह्मणः सूर्यसंनिभः
M. N. Dutt: O king, saying this and embracing me again and again, that sun-like Brahmana went away whither he liked.
अथापराह्णे तस्याह्नः प्रावात्पुण्यः समीरणः पुनर्नवमिमं लोकं कुर्वन्निव सपत्नहन्
M. N. Dutt: Then, O destroyer of foes, in the afternoon of that day, it pure brceze began to blow, as if making this world anew.
दिव्यानि चैव माल्यानि सुगन्धीनि नवानि च शैशिरस्य गिरेः पादे प्रादुरासन्समीपतः
M. N. Dutt: (And) at the foot of the mountain Himalayas, fragrant, fresh and fair flowers began to blossomi near and around me.
वादित्राणि च दिव्यानि सुघोषाणि समन्ततः स्तुतयश्चेन्द्रसंयुक्ता अश्रूयन्त मनोहराः
M. N. Dutt: (And) there was heard from all sides, celestials and sweet symphony together with charming eulogy to Indra.
गणाश्चाप्सरसां तत्र गन्धर्वाणां तथैव च पुरस्ताद्देवदेवस्य जगुर्गीतानि सर्वशः
M. N. Dutt: Multitudes of Gandharvas and Apsaras chanted various songs before the god of gods.
मरुतां च गणास्तत्र देवयानैरुपागमन् महेन्द्रानुचरा ये च देवसद्मनिवासिनः
M. N. Dutt: And the whole body of the Marutas, the followers of Mahendra and all the inhabitants of the heavenly regions appeared there on celestials cars.
ततो मरुत्वान्हरिभिर्युक्तैर्वाहैः स्वलंकृतैः शचीसहायस्तत्रायात्सह सर्वैस्तदामरैः
M. N. Dutt: Then Marutvana, accompanied by Sachi and all the immortals, appeared there in ornamental cars drawn by horses.
एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु कुबेरो नरवाहनः दर्शयामास मां राजँल्लक्ष्म्या परमया युतः
M. N. Dutt: And, at the very moment, O king, Kubera, of transcendental beauty who is carried on the shoulders of men, came to my presence.
दक्षिणस्यां दिशि यमं प्रत्यपश्यं व्यवस्थितम् वरुणं देवराजं च यथास्थानमवस्थितम्
M. N. Dutt: (And) I beheld Yama seated towards the southern point and the king of the gods and Varuna in their respective places.
ते मामूचुर्महाराज सान्त्वयित्वा सुरर्षभाः सव्यसाचिन्समीक्षस्व लोकपालानवस्थितान्
M. N. Dutt: Having cheered me up, O great king, O best of mortals, they said to me, “O Savyasachi, behold us the Lokapalas seated (here).
सुरकार्यार्थसिद्ध्यर्थं दृष्टवानसि शंकरम् अस्मत्तोऽपि गृहाण त्वमस्त्राणीति समन्ततः
M. N. Dutt: You have beheld Mahadeva in order to perform the task in behalf of the celestials. Now, receive the weapons from us seated around.
ततोऽहं प्रयतो भूत्वा प्रणिपत्य सुरर्षभान् प्रत्यगृह्णं तदास्त्राणि महान्ति विधिवत्प्रभो
M. N. Dutt: Thereupon, O lord bowing down to those best of the celestials and with a pure heart I duly accepted those powerful weapons.
गृहीतास्त्रस्ततो देवैरनुज्ञातोऽस्मि भारत अथ देवा ययुः सर्वे यथागतमरिंदम
M. N. Dutt: O Bharata, having accepted the weapons I was recognized by the gods (as one of them). And then, O tormentor of foes, all the gods returned to their respective places.
मघवानपि देवेशो रथमारुह्य सुप्रभम् उवाच भगवान्वाक्यं स्मयन्निव सुरारिहा
M. N. Dutt: And the lord king of the gods-Maghavana too, having ascended his splendid car, said "O Falguni, you will have to visit the celestials regions.
पुरैवागमनादस्माद्वेदाहं त्वां धनंजय अतः परं त्वहं वै त्वां दर्शये भरतर्षभ
M. N. Dutt: O Dhananjaya, even before my arrival here I had known you (would come). After this, O best of the Bharatas, I will reveal myself to you (in heaven).
त्वया हि तीर्थेषु पुरा समाप्लावः कृतोऽसकृत् तपश्चेदं पुरा तप्तं स्वर्गं गन्तासि पाण्डव
M. N. Dutt: O Pandava, as you formerly performed ablutions in various Tirthas (i.e. sacred places resorted to by pilgrims) and were absorbed in rigid asceticism, you will be able to go to heaven.
भूयश्चैव तु तप्तव्यं तपः परमदारुणम् उवाच भगवान्सर्वं तपसश्चोपपादनम्
AI Translation: And he must again perform a very fierce penance. The Blessed Lord spoke about the entire origin of penance.
Supplementary Passages:
3.164.22 After 22ab, S ins.: *841 दुश्चरं घोरमस्त्राणां तपसश्चोपदर्शनम् S cont.: B Dc Dn D4.6 ins. after 22ab (B3, after 22): *842 स्वर्गस्त्ववश्यं गन्तव्यस्त्वया शत्रुनिषूदन
मातलिर्मन्नियोगात्त्वां त्रिदिवं प्रापयिष्यति विदितस्त्वं हि देवानामृषीणां च महात्मनाम्
M. N. Dutt: At my command Matali will take you to heaven, You are already known to the celestials and the high-souled sages.'
Supplementary Passages:
3.164.23 After 23, S ins.: *843 इहस्थः पाण्डवश्रेष्ठ तपः कुर्वन्सुदुष्करम्
ततोऽहमब्रुवं शक्रं प्रसीद भगवन्मम आचार्यं वरये त्वाहमस्त्रार्थं त्रिदशेश्वर
M. N. Dutt: Thereupon I said to Sakra, “be favourably disposed towards me. In order to learn (the science of) weapons, O lord of heaven, I make you my preceptor."
इन्द्र उवाच क्रूरं कर्मास्त्रवित्तात करिष्यसि परंतप यदर्थमस्त्राणीप्सुस्त्वं तं कामं पाण्डवाप्नुहि
M. N. Dutt: Indra said: O tormentor of foes, O child, you will achieve terrible feats (of arms). And that desire of yours which makes you eager to obtain weapons shall be fulfilled.
अर्जुन उवाच ततोऽहमब्रुवं नाहं दिव्यान्यस्त्राणि शत्रुहन् मानुषेषु प्रयोक्ष्यामि विनास्त्रप्रतिघातनम्
M. N. Dutt: Thereupon I replied, "O destroyer of foes, I will never hurt these celestials weapons at mortals except to ward off their weapons.
तानि दिव्यानि मेऽस्त्राणि प्रयच्छ विबुधाधिप लोकांश्चास्त्रजितान्पश्चाल्लभेयं सुरपुंगव
M. N. Dutt: Therefore, O lord of the gods, O best of the celestials, grant me those celestials weapons. Then I shall afterwards attain to the region of the warriors."
इन्द्र उवाच परीक्षार्थं मयैतत्ते वाक्यमुक्तं धनंजय ममात्मजस्य वचनं सूपपन्नमिदं तव
M. N. Dutt: Indra said : "O Dhananjaya, in order to test you I have said these words. You being my son, this speech is worthy of you.
शिक्ष मे भवनं गत्वा सर्वाण्यस्त्राणि भारत वायोरग्नेर्वसुभ्योऽथ वरुणात्समरुद्गणात्
M. N. Dutt: Repairing to my abode, O Bharata, learn all the weapons of Vayu, of Agni, of the Vasus, of Varuna of the Marutas,
साध्यं पैतामहं चैव गन्धर्वोरगरक्षसाम् वैष्णवानि च सर्वाणि नैरृतानि तथैव च मद्गतानि च यानीह सर्वास्त्राणि कुरूद्वह
M. N. Dutt: Of the Sadhyas, of Pitamaha, of the Gandharvas, of the Uragas, of the Rakshasas, of Vishnu and of the Nairitas;
अर्जुन उवाच एवमुक्त्वा तु मां शक्रस्तत्रैवान्तरधीयत अथापश्यं हरियुजं रथमैन्द्रमुपस्थितम् दिव्यं मायामयं पुण्यं यत्तं मातलिना नृप
M. N. Dutt: Then, O king, I saw that sacred, celestials and wonderful and car of Indra, yoked with horses and driven by Matali arrive (there).
लोकपालेषु यातेषु मामुवाचाथ मातलिः द्रष्टुमिच्छति शक्रस्त्वां देवराजो महाद्युते
M. N. Dutt: The Lokapalas having gone away, Matali said to me “O you of unrivalled splendour, the lord of the celestials, Sakra, wishes to see you.
संसिद्धस्त्वं महाबाहो कुरु कार्यमनुत्तमम् पश्य पुण्यकृतां लोकान्सशरीरो दिवं व्रज
M. N. Dutt: O creation of powerful arms, acquire perfection first and then perform your task. Behold the regions of the virtuous and repair to heaven even in the (mortal) frame.
Supplementary Passages:
3.164.33 After 33, B Dc Dn D4.6 ins.: *844 देवराजः सहस्राक्षस्त्वां दिदृक्षति भारत
इत्युक्तोऽहं मातलिना गिरिमामन्त्र्य शैशिरम् प्रदक्षिणमुपावृत्य समारोहं रथोत्तमम्
AI Translation: Thus addressed by Matali, I took leave of the snowy mountain, and having circumambulated it, I ascended the excellent chariot.
चोदयामास स हयान्मनोमारुतरंहसः मातलिर्हयशास्त्रज्ञो यथावद्भूरिदक्षिणः
AI Translation: He urged the horses, swift as the wind, Mātali, skilled in the science of horses, as is proper, with great generosity.
अवैक्षत च मे वक्त्रं स्थितस्याथ स सारथिः तथा भ्रान्ते रथे राजन्विस्मितश्चेदमब्रवीत्
AI Translation: And the charioteer, standing there, looked at my face. And when the chariot was thus shaken, O king, he was amazed and said this:
अत्यद्भुतमिदं मेऽद्य विचित्रं प्रतिभाति माम् यदास्थितो रथं दिव्यं पदा न चलितो भवान्
AI Translation: This is very wonderful to me today, this marvelous thing appears to me. When you were seated in the divine chariot, you did not move your foot.
देवराजोऽपि हि मया नित्यमत्रोपलक्षितः विचलन्प्रथमोत्पाते हयानां भरतर्षभ
AI Translation: Even the king of the gods is always recognized by me here. When the horses are first released, O bull of the Bharata lineage,
त्वं पुनः स्थित एवात्र रथे भ्रान्ते कुरूद्वह अतिशक्रमिदं सत्त्वं तवेति प्रतिभाति मे
AI Translation: But you, O bearer of the Kurus, are still standing on the chariot, though it has been overturned. This courage of yours seems to me to be superhuman.
इत्युक्त्वाकाशमाविश्य मातलिर्विबुधालयान् दर्शयामास मे राजन्विमानानि च भारत
AI Translation: Having said this, Matali entered the sky and showed me, O king, the celestial abodes and the palaces, O descendant of Bharata.
Supplementary Passages:
3.164.40 After 40, B Dc Dn D2.4.6 ins.: *845 स रथो हरिभिर्युक्तो ह्यूर्ध्वमाचक्रमे ततः ऋषयो देवताश्चैव पूजयन्ति नरोत्तम ततः कामगमाँल्लोकानपश्यं वै सुरर्षिणाम् गन्धर्वाप्सरसां चैव प्रभावममितौजसाम्
नन्दनादीनि देवानां वनानि बहुलान्युत दर्शयामास मे प्रीत्या मातलिः शक्रसारथिः
AI Translation: The charioteer of Indra, Matali, showed me with affection the many forests of the gods, such as Nandana.
ततः शक्रस्य भवनमपश्यममरावतीम् दिव्यैः कामफलैर्वृक्षै रत्नैश्च समलंकृताम्
AI Translation: Then I saw the abode of Shakra, Amaravati, Adorned with divine wish-fulfilling trees and jewels.
न तां भासयते सूर्यो न शीतोष्णे न च क्लमः रजः पङ्को न च तमस्तत्रास्ति न जरा नृप
AI Translation: The sun does not illuminate it, nor cold, heat, nor fatigue. There is no dust, mud, or darkness there, O king, no old age.
न तत्र शोको दैन्यं वा वैवर्ण्यं चोपलक्ष्यते दिवौकसां महाराज न च ग्लानिररिंदम
AI Translation: There is no grief, no despondency, no pallor to be seen there. O great king, O conqueror of enemies, there is no sickness among the gods.
न क्रोधलोभौ तत्रास्तामशुभं च विशां पते नित्यतुष्टाश्च हृष्टाश्च प्राणिनः सुरवेश्मनि
AI Translation: There was no anger or greed, nor any evil, O Lord of the people. The beings in the abode of the gods were always content and joyful.
नित्यपुष्पफलास्तत्र पादपा हरितच्छदाः पुष्करिण्यश्च विविधाः पद्मसौगन्धिकायुताः
AI Translation: There are trees with eternal flowers and fruits, with green leaves, And various lotus ponds filled with fragrant lotuses.
शीतस्तत्र ववौ वायुः सुगन्धो जीवनः शुचिः सर्वरत्नविचित्रा च भूमिः पुष्पविभूषिता
AI Translation: There blew a cool wind, fragrant, life-giving, and pure. The ground was adorned with all kinds of jewels and flowers.
मृगद्विजाश्च बहवो रुचिरा मधुरस्वराः विमानयायिनश्चात्र दृश्यन्ते बहवोऽमराः
AI Translation: Many deer and birds with beautiful and sweet voices And many immortals are seen here riding in celestial vehicles.
ततोऽपश्यं वसून्रुद्रान्साध्यांश्च समरुद्गणान् आदित्यानश्विनौ चैव तान्सर्वान्प्रत्यपूजयम्
AI Translation: Then I saw the Vasus, Rudras, Sadhyas, and the group of Maruts, and the Adityas and the Ashvins, and I worshipped them all.
ते मां वीर्येण यशसा तेजसा च बलेन च अस्त्रैश्चाप्यन्वजानन्त संग्रामविजयेन च
AI Translation: May they follow me with energy, glory, splendor, and strength, and also with weapons and victory in battle.
प्रविश्य तां पुरीं रम्यां देवगन्धर्वसेविताम् देवराजं सहस्राक्षमुपातिष्ठं कृताञ्जलिः
AI Translation: Having entered that beautiful city, frequented by gods and gandharvas, I approached the thousand-eyed king of the gods, with folded hands.
ददावर्धासनं प्रीतः शक्रो मे ददतां वरः बहुमानाच्च गात्राणि पस्पर्श मम वासवः
AI Translation: The best of givers, the pleased Shakra gave me half his throne. And out of great respect, Vasava touched my body.
तत्राहं देवगन्धर्वैः सहितो भूरिदक्षिण अस्त्रार्थमवसं स्वर्गे कुर्वाणोऽस्त्राणि भारत
AI Translation: There, together with the gods and gandharvas, I, the one of great generosity, dwelled in heaven for the sake of weapons, O descendant of Bharata, while creating weapons.
विश्वावसोश्च मे पुत्रश्चित्रसेनोऽभवत्सखा स च गान्धर्वमखिलं ग्राहयामास मां नृप
AI Translation: And my son, Vishva-vasu, had a friend named Chitrasena, who taught me all the Gandharva arts.
ततोऽहमवसं राजन्गृहीतास्त्रः सुपूजितः सुखं शक्रस्य भवने सर्वकामसमन्वितः
AI Translation: Then, O king, I lived in the abode of Shakra, well-honored and armed, endowed with all desires.
शृण्वन्वै गीतशब्दं च तूर्यशब्दं च पुष्कलम् पश्यंश्चाप्सरसः श्रेष्ठा नृत्यमानाः परंतप
AI Translation: Hearing the sound of songs and the sound of musical instruments, and seeing the best of apsarases dancing, O scorcher of enemies,
तत्सर्वमनवज्ञाय तथ्यं विज्ज्ञाय भारत अत्यर्थं प्रतिगृह्याहमस्त्रेष्वेव व्यवस्थितः
M. N. Dutt: O Bharata, without despising those fine arts which I learnt properly, I specially devoted my attention to the acquisition of arms.
ततोऽतुष्यत्सहस्राक्षस्तेन कामेन मे विभुः एवं मे वसतो राजन्नेष कालोऽत्यगाद्दिवि
M. N. Dutt: Thereupon, that thousand-eyed lord was pleased with that desire of mine. O king, thus dwelling in heaven I have passed this period.