धार्मिक ग्रंथ

Vaisampayana said, “O son of Kuru, they, Yudhishthira and others, havingreached the forest of Kamyaka, were, hospitably received by hosts ofsaints and they lived together with Krishna.

“The Gandharva continued, ‘The Brahmana sage (Parasara) thus addressed bythe illustrious Vasishtha restrained his wrath from destroying theworlds. But the Rishi Parasara endued with great energy–the son ofSaktri–the foremost of all persons acquainted with the Vedas–performeda grand Rakshasa sacrifice.

“Bharadwaja said, ‘Tell me, O best of Brahmanas, how the puissant Brahmanresiding within Meru, created these diverse kinds of objects.’

“Sanjaya said, ‘At this time Duryodhana, under the influence of wrath,approached Drona and addressing him said these words, for inspiring himwith joy and provoking his anger.’

“Bhishma said, ‘After the battle had ceased, my charioteer, well-skilledin such operations, drew out from his own body, from the bodies of mysteeds, and from my body as well, the arrows that struck there.

Vaisampayana continued,–“The sons of Pandu said to the high-souledMarkandeya, ‘We long to hear of the greatness of the Brahmanas Do thoutell us of it!’

“Arjuna asked, ‘What for, O Gandharva, did king Kalmashapada command hisqueen to go unto that foremost of all persons conversant with theVedas–the master Vasishtha? Why also did that illustrious and greatRishi Vasishtha himself who was acquainted with every rule of moralityknow a woman he should not have known?

“Bharadwaja said, ‘When the high-souled Brahman has created thousands ofcreatures, why is it that only these five elements which he createdfirst, which pervade all the universe and which are great creatures, havecome to have the name of creatures applied to them exclusively?'[554]

“Sanjaya said, ‘When three-fourths of that night had worn away, thebattle, O king, once more commenced between the Kurus and the Pandavas.Both sides were elated with joy.

“Bhishma said, ‘The next day, O bull of Bharata’s race, frightful againwas the combat that wok place between me and Rama when I encountered himonce more.

“Markandeya continued, ‘Do ye again hear from me the glory of theBrahmanas! It is said that a royal sage of the name of Vainya was onceengaged in performing the horse-sacrifice and that Atri desired to go tohim for alms.

“Bharadwaja said, ‘How does bodily fire or heat, entering the body,reside there? How also does the wind, obtaining space for itself, causethe body to move and exert itself?’

“Bhishma said, ‘Next morning, O king, when the sun rose brightly, thecombat between myself and him of Bhrigu’s race, again, commenced.

“Markandeya continued, ‘O thou conqueror of hostile cities, in thisconnection Saraswati too, when interrogated by that intelligent MuniTarkshya, had said (this). Do thou listen to her words!

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Then those tigers among men–those brothers–thefive Pandavas, set out for Panchala to behold that country and Draupadiand the festivities (in view of her marriage).

“Bharadwaja said, ‘If it is the wind that keeps us alive, if it is thewind that causes us to move and exert, if it is the wind that causes usto breathe and to speak, then it seems that life is worth little.

“Sanjaya said, ‘Then Duhsasana, filled with wrath, rushed againstSahadeva, causing the earth to tremble with the fierce speed of his car,O Madri’s son, however, that crusher of foes, with a broad-headed arrow,quickly cut of the head, decked with the head-gear of his rushingantagonist’s driver.

“Bhishma said, ‘Then, O great king, during the night, having bowed untothe Brahmanas, the Rishis, the gods, and all those creatures that wanderduring the dark, and also all the kings of the earth,

Then Yudhishthira, the son of Pandu, said to the Brahmana, Markandeya,’Do thou now narrate the history of Vaivaswata Manu?

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Thus addressed by the Brahmanas, the Pandavas, OJanamejaya, proceeded towards the country of the southern Panchalas ruledover by the king Drupada. And on their way those heroes beheld theillustrious Dwaipayana–that Muni of pure soul, and perfectly sinless.

“Bhrigu said, ‘There is no destruction of the living creature, or of whatis given, or of our other acts. The creature that dies only goes intoanother form. The body along dissolves away. The living creature, thoughdepending upon the body, does not meet with destruction when the body isdestroyed.

“Sanjaya said, ‘During that fearful carnage of men and steeds andelephants, Duhsasana, O king, encountered Dhrishtadyumna.

“Bhishma said, ‘After the night had passed away, I awoke, O Bharata, andthinking of my dream I was filled with great joy. Then, O Bharata, thecombat began between him and me–a combat that was fierce and unrivalledand that made the hairs of all creatures stand on their ends.

“Then the virtuous king Yudhishthira in all humility again enquired ofthe illustrious Markandeya, saying, ‘O great Muni, thou hast seen manythousands of ages pass away.

“Dhrishtadyumna said, ‘Duryodhana, Durvisaha, Durmukha andDushpradharshana, Vivinsati, Vikarna, Saha, and Duhsasana; Yuyutsu andVayuvega and Bhimavegarava; Ugrayudha, Valaki, Kanakayu, and Virochana,Sukundala, Chitrasena, Suvarcha, and Kanakadhwaja; Nandaka, and Vahusali, and Tuhunda, and Vikata; these, O sister, and many other mighty sons of Dhritarashtra–all heroes–accompanied by Karna, have come for thy hand.Innumerable other illustrious monarchs all bulls among Kshatriyas–havealso come for thee.

“Bhrigu said, ‘Brahman first created a few Brahmanas who came to becalled Prajapatis (lords of creation).

“Sanjaya said, ‘Then Drona caused a great carnage among the Panchalas,like the slaughter caused by Sakra himself in rage amongst the Danavas inthe days of yore.

“Bhishma said, ‘When I had formed this resolution, O king, a din oftumultuous voices arose in the sky. And it said,–O son of Kuru’s race,do not let off the Praswapa weapon!–Notwithstanding this, I still aimedthat weapon at Bhrigu’s descendant.

“Markandeya continued, ‘The Deity then said, ‘O Brahmana, the gods evendo not know me truly! As however, I have been gratified with thee, I willtell thee how I created the universe!

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Then those youthful princes adorned with ear-rings,vying with one another and each regarding himself accomplished in armsand gifted with might, stood up brandishing their weapons. Andintoxicated with pride of beauty, prowess, lineage, knowledge, wealth,and youth, they were like Himalayan elephants in the season of rut withcrowns split from excess of temporal juice.

“Bharadwaja said, ‘By what acts does one become a Brahmana? By what, aKshatriya? O best of regenerate ones, by what acts again does one becomea Vaisya or a Sudra? Tell me this, O foremost of speakers.’

“Sanjaya said, ‘Beholding Drona filled with great anxiety and almostdeprived of his senses by grief, Dhrishtadyumna, the son of the Panchalaking, rushed at him.

“Rama said, ‘O damsel, in the very sight of all these persons, I havefought according to the best of my power and displayed my prowess! Byusing even the very best of weapons I have not been able to obtain anyadvantage over Bhishma, that foremost of all wielders of weapons!

“Vaisampayana said Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, once more asked thegreat Muni Markandeya about the future course of the government of theEarth.

“Vaisampayana said. ‘Following the advice of Vidura, the king took up hisabode on the banks of the Bhagirathi which were sacred and deserved to bepeopled with the righteous.

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Then Yuyudhana, the great hero of the Satwata race,came to Yudhishthira with a large army of foot, and horses and cars andelephants.

¹ And Jehovah spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,

“Sanjaya said, ‘Wheeling round, like the planet Mercury in the curvatureof its orbit, Jishnu (Arjuna) once more slew large number of thesamsaptakas.

¹ In the third month after the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai.

Dhritarashtra said,–“Beholding our ten and one Akshauhinis arrayed inorder of battle, how did Yudhishthira, the son of Pandu, make hiscounter-array with his forces smaller in number?

“Krishna said,–some time after this, the great ascetic, the exaltedChandakausika, again came into the country of the Magadhas. Filled withjoy at the advent of the Rishi, king Vrihadratha, accompanied by hisministers and priest and wives and son, went out to receive him.

“Draupadi said, ‘This O Bharata, that I am going to tell thee is anothergreat grief of mine. Thou shouldst not blame me, for I tell thee thisfrom sadness of heart.

¹ And the two angels came to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot saw them, and rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face to the earth;

“Sauti said, ‘Then the Daityas and the Danauas equipped with first-classarmours and various weapons attacked the gods. In the meantime thevaliant Lord Vishnu in the form of an enchantress accompanied by Naradeceived the mighty Danavas and took away the Amrita from their hands.

Vasudeva continued, Thus addressed, the son of Suta race replied in hasteunto Pradyumna, that foremost of all endued with strength, in these sweetwords, ‘O son of Rukmini, I fear not to guide the horses on the field ofbattle, and I am acquainted also with the customs of the Vrishnis in war!

“Yudhishthira said, ‘I am conversant with both the Vedas and thescriptures that lead to the attainment of Brahma.

“Gandhari said, There, O Madhava, my son Vikarna, applauded by the wise,lieth on the bare ground, slain by Bhima and mangled horribly!

“–The Brahmana said, ‘He who becomes absorbed in the one receptacle (ofall things), freeing himself from even the thought of his own identitywith all things,–indeed, ceasing to think of even his ownexistence,–gradually casting off one after another, will succeed incrossing his bonds.

“Sanjaya said, ‘Beholding those Samsaptakas once more return to thefield, Arjuna addressed the high-souled Vasudeva, saying, ‘Urge thesteeds, O Hrishikesa, towards the Samsaptakas.

¹ When Jehovah thy God shall cut off the nations, whose land Jehovah thy God giveth thee, and thou succeedest them, and dwellest in their cities, and in their houses;

¹ And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,

“Sanjaya said, ‘Upon the fall of that great king and mighty car-warrior,that invincible hero (Shalya) in battle, thy troops as also thy sonsalmost all turned away from the fight. Indeed, upon the slaughter of thathero by the illustrious

“Yudhishthira said, ‘I ask, O chief of Bharata’s race, what is the originof the saying, about discharging all duties jointly at the time of aperson’s taking the hand of his spouse in marriage?

“Bhrigu said, ‘Truth is Brahma; Truth is Penance; it is Truth thatcreates all creatures. It is by Truth that the whole universe is upheld;and it is with the aid of Truth that one goes to heaven.

“Sanjaya said, ‘Beholding those feats of the Satwata hero, Duryodhana andothers, filled with rage, quickly encompassed the grandson of Sini on allsides.

“Bhishma said, ‘Then all those ascetics (that dwell in Vatsabhumi),beholding the princess of Kasi firmly resolved on ascetic austerities,dissuaded her and enquired of her, saying, ‘What is thy business?’

“Markandeya continued, ‘Having exterminated the thieves and robbers,Kalki will, at a great Horse-sacrifice, duly give away this earth to

Janamejaya said, “It behoveth thee to narrate to me in full the greatnessof the Brahmanas even as the mighty ascetic Markandeya had expounded itto the sons of Pandu.”

“Vaisampayana said, ‘When the king (Drupada) expressed his desire ofbestowing his daughter on that Brahmana (who had shot the mark), allthose monarchs who had been invited to the Swayamvara, looking at oneanother, were suddenly filled with wrath.

“Bharadwaja said, ‘What has been said to be the consequence of gift? Whatof Righteousness? What of conduct? What of Penances well-performed? Whatof the study and recitation of the Vedas? And what of pouring libationsupon the fire?’

“Sanjaya said, ‘Upon the fall of Drona, O king, the Kurus, afflicted withweapons, deprived of their leader, broken and routed, became filled withexertion, and deprived of energy through grief.

“Duryodhana said, ‘Tell me, O grandsire, how Sikhandin, O Ganga’s son,having before been born a daughter, afterwards became a man, O foremostof warriors.’

Vaisampayana said, “The Rishis, the Brahmanas, and Yudhishthira thenasked Markandeya, saying, ‘How did the Rishi Vaka become so long lived?’

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Then those bulls among Brahmanas shaking theirdeer-skins and water-pots made of cocoanut-shells exclaimed, ‘Fear not,we will fight the foe!’ Arjuna smilingly addressing those Brahmanasexclaiming thus, said, ‘Stand ye aside as spectators (of the fray) Showering hundreds of arrows furnished with straight points even I shallcheck, like snakes with mantras, all those angry monarchs.’ Having saidthis, the mighty Arjuna taking up the bow he had obtained as doweraccompanied by his brother Bhima stood immovable as a mountain.

“Bhrigu said, ‘Forest recluses seeking the acquisition of virtue go tosacred waters and rivers and springs, and undergo penances in lone andsecluded woods abounding with deer and buffaloes and boars and tigers andwild elephants.

“Dhritarashtra said, ‘Hearing, O Sanjaya, of the slaughter, byunrighteous means, of his aged sire, by Dhrishtadyumna, what, did thevaliant

“Bhishma said, ‘Drupada, O chastiser of foes, bestowed great attention oneverything in connection with that daughter of his, teaching her writingand painting and all the arts.

Vaisampayana said, “Then the sons of Pandu again addressed Markandeyasaying, ‘Thou hast told us of greatness of Brahmanas. We desire now tohear of the greatness of the royal Kshatriyas!”

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Then those illustrious sons of Pritha, on returningto the potter’s abode, approached their mother. And those first of menrepresented Yajnaseni unto their mother as the alms they had obtainedthat day.

“Yudhishthira said, ‘I think, O grandsire, that thou art acquainted witheverything, O thou that art conversant with duties. I desire to hear theediscourse to me, O sinless one, of the ordinances about conduct.’

“Yudhishthira said, ‘I think, O grandsire, that thou art acquainted witheverything, O thou that art conversant with duties. I desire to hear theediscourse to me, O sinless one, of the ordinances about conduct.’

“Sanjaya said.. ‘Hearing of the slaughter of his sire by Dhrishtadyumna,of sinful deeds, Drona’s son was filled with grief and rage, O bull amongmen.

“Bhishma said, ‘Thus addressed, O king, by that messenger, king Drupada,like a thief caught (in the act), could not speak. He exerted himselfgreatly, by sending sweet-speeched emissaries with his own instruction tothem, saying,–This is not so,–in order to pacify his brother.

Markandeya continued, “Listen now to another story. One day as kingYayati, the son of Nahusha, was sitting on his throne, surrounded by thecitizens, there came unto him a Brahmana desirous of soliciting wealthfor his preceptor, and approaching the king, the Brahmana said,

“Vaisampayana said, ‘When the Kuru princes (Bhima and Arjuna) werewending towards the abode of the potter, Dhrishtadyumna, the Panchalaprince followed them. And sending away all his attendants, he concealedhimself in some part of the potter’s house, unknown to the Pandavas.

“Yudhishthira said, ‘Tell me, O grandsire, what and of what nature isthat which is called by the name of Adhyatma and which is laid down forevery person.[600] O thou that art acquainted with Brahma, whence hasthis universe consisting of mobile and immobile things, been created?When universal destruction sets in, to whom does it go? It behoveth theeto discourse to me upon this topic.'[601]

“Sanjaya said, ‘When the weapon called Narayana was invoked, violentwinds began to blow with showers of rain, and peals of thunder were heardalthough the sky was cloudless.

“Bhishma said. ‘Then, O mighty-armed king, Sikhandin’s mother representedunto her lord the truth about her daughter, Sikhandin. And she said,’Childless, O great king, as I was, from fear of my co-wives, whenSikhandini, my daughter, was born, I represented unto you that it was ason!

Vaisampayana said, “The son of Pandu again addressed the Rishi and said,’Speak thou unto us of the high fortune of royal Kshatriyas!’

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Thus addressed Dhrishtadyumna, that foremost of theLunar princes, cheerfully said unto his father all that had happened andby whom Krishna had been won.

“Bhishma said, ‘I shall now, O son of Pritha, discourse to thee upon thefour kinds of yoga meditation. The great Rishis, obtaining a knowledge ofthe same, attain to eternal success even here.

“Sanjaya said, ‘Hearing these words of Arjuna, the mighty car-warriorspresent there said not a single word, O monarch, agreeable ordisagreeable, unto Dhananjaya.

“Bhishma said, ‘Hearing, O bull of Bharata’s race, those words ofSikhandini, afflicted by destiny, that Yaksha, said after reflecting inhis mind, these words, ‘Indeed, it was ordained to be so, and, O Kaurava,it was ordained for my grief!’

“Markandeya said, ‘One day it was resolved by the gods that they shoulddescend on the earth and try the goodness and virtue of king Sivi, theson of Usinara. And addressing each other,–‘Well’–Agni and Indra cameto the earth.

“Yudhishthira said, ‘Thou hast discoursed on the four modes of life andtheir duties. Thou hast also spoken of the duties of kings.

“Dhritarashtra said, ‘That illustrious person who had duly studied theVedas with all their branches, he, in whom the entire science of arms andmodesty

“Sanjaya said, ‘When the night passed away and morning came, thy sonsonce more, in the midst of all the troops, asked their grandsire, saying,’O son of

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Then the illustrious king of Panchala, addressingprince Yudhishthira in the form applicable to Brahmanas, cheerfullyenquired of that illustrious son of Kunti, saying, ‘Are we to know you asKshatriyas, or Brahamanas, or are we to know you as celestials whodisguising themselves as Brahmanas are ranging the earth and come hitherfor the hand of Krishna?

Vaisampayana said, “And the son of Pandu once more addressed Markandeya,saying, ‘Tell us again of the great good fortune of kings.’ AndMarkandeya said, ‘There came unto the horse-sacrifice of king Ashtaka ofViswamitra’s race, many kings.

“Yudhishthira said, ‘Thou hast said that as regards Reciters, they obtainthis very high end.[627] I beg to enquire whether this is their only endor there is any other to which they attain.’

“Sanjaya said, ‘Then Drona’s son began to cause a great carnage amongsthis foes in that battle, like the Destroyer himself at the end of theYuga.

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Hearing these words (of the leaders of the Kuruarmy), Kunti’s son Yudhishthira, summoning all his brothers, said untothem these words in private.’

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Then all the Pandavas and the illustrious king ofthe Panchalas and all others there present stood up and saluted withreverence the illustrious Rishi Krishna (Dwaipayana).

Vaisampayana said, “The sons of Pandu and those Rishis then askedMarkandeya, ‘Is there anybody that is blessed with longer life thanthou?’

“Yudhishthira said, ‘Tell me what description of hell is obtained by aReciter? I feel, O king, a curiosity to know this. It behoveth thee todiscourse on the subject.’

“Sanjaya said, “Beholding Bhimasena overwhelmed by that weapon,Dhananjaya, for baffling its energy, covered him with the Varuna weapon.

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Next morning, under a cloudless sky, all the kings,urged by Dhritarashtra’s son, Duryodhana,–set out against the Pandavas.