धार्मिक ग्रंथ

Vaisampayana said,–“The sons of Pritha with Yudhishthira at their head,having entered that assembly house, approached all the kings that werepresent there.

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Then, O mighty king, Drona’s son rushed to anencounter with Arjuna in battle. And beholding his rush to the conflictlike a hurricane, showering shafts like a rain charged cloud Pritha’s sonreceived him with a cloud of arrows.

“Saunaka said, ‘O son, thou hast narrated to me this extensive and greathistory commencing from the progeny of Bhrigu. O son of Suta, I have beenmuch gratified with thee. I ask thee again, to recite to me, O son of aSuta, the history composed by Vyasa.

“Yudhishthira said, ‘Amongst all those gifts that are mentioned in thetreatises other than the Vedas, which gift, O chief of Kuru’s race, isthe most distinguished in thy opinion? O puissant one, great is thecuriosity I feel with respect to this matter. Do thou discourse to mealso of that gift which follows the giver into the next world.'[317]

“Sanjaya said, ‘Beholding Duryodhana felled upon the earth like agigantic Sala uprooted (by the tempest) the Pandavas became filled withjoy.

Vaisampayana said, “Rising from their beds the next day and performingthe morning rites laid down in the scriptures, the Pandavas and theYadavas set out (for the spot where Bhishma lay) on their cars resemblingfortified towns.

“Janamejaya said, ‘After having conferred that boon on Utanka, O foremostof regenerate persons, what did the mighty-armed Govinda of greatcelebrity next do?’

“Sanjaya said, ‘Then the Kurus and the Srinjayas once more fearlesslyencountered each other in battle, the Parthas being headed byYudhishthira, and ourselves headed by the Suta’s son.

“Narada said, ‘Dilipa, the son of Havila, too, O Srinjaya, we hear, fella prey to death. Brahmanas, vested in knowledge of Truth, devoted to theperformance of sacrifices, blessed with children and children’s childrenand numbering myriads upon myriads, were present at his hundreds ofsacrifices.

Dhritarashtra said, ‘Tell me, O thou of great wisdom, what high-souledVasudeva and Dhananjaya said. I am anxious to hear from thee all aboutthis.’

Dhritarashtra said, “After that dreadful vow had been made in battle byBhishma enraged by the words of my son, what, O Sanjaya, did Bhishma dounto the sons of Pandu or what did the Panchalas do unto the grandsire?Tell it all unto me, O Sanjaya.”

Vaisampayana said,–“When the play commenced, all those kings withDhritarashtra at their head took their seats in that assembly.

“Vrihadaswa said, ‘Having made this compact with Dwapara, Kali came tothe place where the king of the Nishadhas was.

“Sanjaya said, ‘Hearing these words of Karna, king Duryodhana. then saidthis unto Drona who was staying in the midst of the troops.’

¹ And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,

¹ And Jehovah said unto Moses, Now shalt thou see what I will do to Pharaoh: for by a strong hand shall he let them go, and by a strong hand shall he drive them out of his land.

“Dhritarashtra said, ‘Thou hast, O son, mentioned the names of those ofmy side that have been slain in battle by the Pandavas. Tell me now, OSanjaya, the names of those amongst the Pandavas that have been slain bythe people of my side!’

“Dhritarashtra said, Thou shouldst always ascertain the Mandalas thatbelong to thee, to thy foes, to neutrals, and to those that are disposedequally towards thee and thy foes, O Bharata.

“Drupada said, ‘Of beings those that are endowed with life are superior.Of living beings those that are endowed with intelligence are superior.Of intelligent creatures men are superior.

Vaishampayana said: “The Kuru prince beheld the heroic and high-souledAnakadundubhi lying on the ground and burning with grief on account ofhis sons. The broad-chested and mighty-armed son of Pritha, moreafflicted than his uncle, with eyes bathed in tears, touched his unclesfeet, O Bharata.

“Dhritarashtra said.—“Thou art intelligent, O Sanjaya, and acquaintedwith the truth (about everything). Thou hast duly given a description ofthe island in brief.

Dhritarashtra said, “Seeing Drona’s son stop at the gate of theencampment, what, O Sanjaya, did those two mighty car-warriors, Kripa andKritavarma, do? Tell me this!”

Janamejaya said, “O holy one, according to what rites should the learnedlisten to the Bharata? What are the fruits (acquirable by hearing it)?

¹ And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the ground, and daughters were born unto them,

“Vaisampayana said, ‘O king, after Vidura had gone to the abode of thePandavas, Dhritarashtra, O Bharata, of profound wisdom, repented of hisaction.

“Dhritarashtra said, Alas, great was the distress of that person and verypainful his mode of life! Tell me, O first of speakers, whence was hisattachment to life and whence his happiness?

Vaisampayana said, “And while Yudhishthira was on his way to thedelightful city of Virata, he began to praise mentally the

“Sauti said, ‘O Brahmana, having heard these words from the god of fire,the Rakshasa assumed the form of a boar, and seizing the lady carried heraway with the speed of the wind–even of thought. Then the child ofBhrigu lying in her body enraged at such violence, dropped from hismother’s womb, for which he obtained the name of Chyavana.

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Having said these words, the celestial Rishi Naradabecame silent. The royal sage Yudhishthira, filled with grief, becameplunged in meditation.

¹ Now this is the commandment, the statutes, and the ordinances, which Jehovah your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go over to possess it;

“Sanjaya said, ‘On that table land at the foot of Himavat, thosewarriors, O monarch, delighting at the prospect of battle and assembledtogether, passed the night.

¹ And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,

“Yudhishthira said, ‘Tell me, O learned sire that art versed in all thescriptures, of Exertion and Destiny which is the most powerful?’

“Vyasa said, ‘The ancient legend of Vrihaspati and the wise Marutta iscited in this connection. On hearing of the compact made by Angira’s sonVrihaspati with the lord of the gods (Indra), king Marutta made thenecessary preparations for a great sacrifice.

“Arjuna said, ‘The time, O Karna, hath now come for making good thyloquacious boast in the midst of the assembly, viz., that there is noneequal to thee in fight.

‘Sauti said, ‘Hearing that Janamejaya was installed in thesnake-sacrifice, the learned Rishi Krishna-Dwaipayana went thither on theoccasion. And he, the grand-father of the Pandavas, was born in an islandof the Yamuna, of the virgin Kali by Sakti’s son, Parasara.

“Yudhishthira said, ‘Unto which of two Brahmanas, when both happen to beequally pure in behaviour, equally possessed of learning and purity, ofbirth and blood, but differing from each other in only this, viz.,

Vaisampayana said, “After this, Yudhishthira, saluted his grandsire, viz.the son of Ganga, and with joined hands and concentrated attention, oncemore asked him, saying, ‘What are the general duties of the four ordersof men, and what the special duties of each order?

“Dhritarashtra said, ‘Beholding the (Kuru) king struck down unfairly,what O Suta, did the mighty Baladeva, that foremost one of Yadu’s race,say? Tell me, O Sanjaya, what Rohini’s son, well-skilled in encounterswith the mace and well acquainted with all its rules, did on thatoccasion!’

“Sanjaya said, ‘Meanwhile Krishna, pointing out king Yudhishthira thejust, unto Kunti’s son Partha, addressed him in these words:

“Vasudeva said, ‘O thou of Vrishni’s race, I have repeatedly heard menspeaking of the wonderful battle (between the Kurus and the Pandavas).

“Narada said, ‘Mandhatri’ the son of Yuvanaswa, O Srinjaya, we hear, fella prey to death. That king vanquished the gods, the Asuras and men.

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Having heard these words of Sanjaya, the monarchendued with the eye of wisdom, took that speech into his consideration asregards its merits and demerits.

Sanjaya said,–“When the night passed away, O Bharata, the high-souledBhishma, with wrath engendered, supported by a large force, and stationedat the head of the Bharata army, proceeded against the foe.

Yudhishthira said,–“Thou hast won this stake of me by unfair means. Butbe not so proud, O Sakuni. Let us play staking thousands upon thousands.I have many beautiful jars each full of a thousand Nishkas in mytreasury, inexhaustible gold, and much silver and other minerals. This, Oking, is the wealth with which I will stake with thee!'”

Vrihadaswa said. “Bhima’s daughter, the cool-headed Damayanti, seeing therighteous king maddened and deprived of his senses at dice, was filled, Oking, with alarm and grief.

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Having defeated Vikartana’s son, Arjuna said untothe son of Virata, ‘Take me towards that division where yonder device ofa golden palmyra is seen.

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Bowing down in the first place to my preceptor withthe eight parts of my body touching the ground, with devotion andreverence, and with all my heart, worshipping the whole assembly ofBrahmanas and other learned persons, I shall recite in full what I haveheard from the high-souled and great Rishi Vyasa, the first ofintelligent men in the three worlds.

“Bhishma said, ‘O mighty-armed one, listen now to me, O thou of prowessincapable of being baffled, as I mention the names of the four modes oflife and the duties in respect of each.

“Yudhishthira said, ‘I wish to know in detail, O Bharata, where one meetswith the high rewards of gifts and sacrifices. Are those rewards earnedhere or are they to come hereafter?

“Dhritarashtra said, ‘Beholding Duryodhana struck down in battle byBhimasena, what, O Sanjaya, did the Pandavas and the Srinjayas do?’

“Vaisampayana said, ‘After the high-souled Vasudeva of great prowess hadfinished his narration of the great battle of the Bharatas before hissire, it was plain that that hero had passed over the slaughter ofAbhimanyu.

“Dhritarashtra said, ‘When Bhima and Pandu’s son Yudhishthira wereengaged in battle, when my troops were being slaughtered by the Pandusand the Srinjayas, when, indeed, my vast army being broken and routedrepeatedly became cheerless, tell me, O Sanjaya, what the Kauravas did.’

“Narada said, ‘Yayati, the son of Nahusha, O Srinjaya, we hear, fell aprey to death.

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Hearing these words of his father, the passionateson of Dhritarashtra inflamed with great wrath, again said these words,of envy, of ‘Thou thinkest the Parthas having the celestials for theirallies, are incapable of being vanquished.

Sanjaya said, “And Drona’s son, and Bhurisravas, and Chitrasena, O sire,and the son of Samyamani also, all fought with Subhadra’s son.

Vaisampayana said,–“During the course of this gambling, certain to bringabout utter ruin (on Yudhishthira), Vidura, that dispeller of all doubts,(addressing Dhritarashtra) said, ‘O great king,

“Vrihadaswa said, ‘After Varshneya had gone away, Pushkara won from therighteous Nala that latter’s kingdom and what else of wealth he had.

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Then, O thou of the Bharata race, all the greatcar-warriors of the Kurus, united together, began to assail Arjuna to thebest of their might from all sides.

“Janamejaya said, ‘O excellent Brahmana, thou hast, indeed, told me, inbrief, the history, called Mahabharata, of the great acts of the Kurus.But, O thou of ascetic wealth, recite now that wonderful narration fully.I feel a great curiosity to hear it.

“Yudhishthira said, ‘Tell his those duties in respect of persons likeourselves which are auspicious, productive of happiness in the future,benevolent, approved by all, pleasant, and agreeable.’

“Yudhishthira said, ‘People accept with affection the declarations of theSrutis which say, ‘This is to be given.’ ‘This other thing is to begiven!’ As regards kings, again, they make gifts of various things untovarious men. What, however, O grandsire, is the best or foremost of allgifts.’

Sanjaya said, “All those kings, possessed of arms that resembled spikedbludgeons, then proceeded towards their tents, filled with joy andblowing their conchs on their way.

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Having heard these words of his son Vasudeva, thatdescendant of Sura, of righteous soul, casting off his grief, madeexcellent obsequial offerings (unto Abhimanyu).

“Narada said, ‘Nabhaga’s son, Amvarisha, O Srinjaya, we hear, fell a preyto death. Alone he battled a thousand times with a thousand kings.Desirous of victory, those foes, accomplished in weapons, rushed againsthim in battle from all sides, uttering fierce exclamations.

“Sanjaya said, ‘The handsome Arjuna then, on that foremost car of his,unto which were yoked white steeds, and which was urged by Narayanahimself, appeared on the scene.

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Without much minding Dhritarashtra, the son ofVichitravirya who was about to ask of Partha,

Dhritarashtra said,–“I regard destiny to be superior to exertion, OSanjaya, inasmuch as the army of my son is continually slaughtered by thearmy of the Pandavas.

“Vidura said,–“Gambling is the root of dissensions. It bringeth aboutdisunion. Its consequences are frightful. Yet having recourse to this,Dhritarashtra’s son Duryodhana createth for himself fierce enmity.

“Nala said, ‘Surely, thy father’s kingdom is as my own. But thither Iwill not, by any means, repair in this extremity. Once I appeared therein glory, increasing thy joy. How can I go there now in misery,augmenting thy grief?’

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Then while a great havoc was being made among theKurus, Santanu’s son, Bhishma, and grandsire of the Bharatas rushed at

“Vaisampayana said, ‘There was a king of the name of Uparichara. Thatmonarch was devoted to virtue. He was very much addicted also to hunting.That king of the Paurava race, called also Vasu, conquered the excellentand delightful kingdom of Chedi under instructions from Indra. Some timeafter, the king gave up the use of arms and, dwelling in a secludedretreat, practised the most severe austerities.

“Bhishma said, ‘Drawing the bow-string, destruction of foes, agriculture,trade, tending cattle, and serving others for wealth, these are improperfor a Brahmana.

“Yudhishthira said, ‘When a king becomes desirous of making gifts in thisworld, what, indeed, are those gifts which he should make, O best of theBharatas, unto such Brahmanas as are possessed of superioraccomplishments?

Janamejaya said, “For what reason did that tiger among kings,Yudhishthira the just, despatch that scorcher of foes, Vasudeva, untoGandhari?

“Janamejaya said, ‘Having heard these words, O regenerate one, that werespoken by the high-souled Vyasa in respect of the horse-sacrifice, whatsteps were taken by Yudhishthira? Do thou tell me, O foremost ofregenerate ones, how the king succeeded in obtaining the wealth whichMarutta had buried in the Earth.’

“Narada said, ‘King Sasavindu, O Srinjaya, we hear, fell a prey to death.Of great beauty and of prowess incapable of being baffled, he performeddiverse sacrifices.

“Sanjaya said, ‘Meanwhile Karna also began, with his arrowy showers, toafflict the mighty car-warriors of the Kaikayas, viz., those great bowmenthat stood before him.

“Duryodhana said, ‘The son of Pritha are all as other men, and are, infact, of earthly birth as other men. Why then dost thou think that theyare sure to win victory?

Sanjaya said, “When that elephant division was exterminated, thy sonDuryodhana urged his entire army, commanding the warriors to slayBhimasena.

Duryodhana said,–‘O Kshatta, thou art always boasting of the fame of ourenemies, deprecating the sons of Dhritarashtra. We know, O Vidura, ofwhom thou art really fond.

Vrihadaswa said, “O king, after Nala had gone away, the beauteousDamayanti, now refreshed, timorously awoke in that lonely forest. And Omighty monarch, not finding her lord Naishadha, afflicted with grief andpain, she shrieked aloud in fright, saying, ‘O lord?

“Vaisampayana said, ‘After Bhishma had fled, leaving the van of battle,the illustrious son of Dhritarashtra hoisting high flag approachedArjuna, bow in hand and setting up a loud roar.

“Janamejaya said, ‘O Brahmana, those thou hast named and those thou hastnot named, I wish to hear of them in detail, as also of other kings bythousands. And, O thou of great good fortune, it behoveth thee to tell mein full the object for which those Maharathas, equal unto the celestialsthemselves, were born on earth.’

“Bhishma said, ‘The duties in respect of all the four modes of life,those of yatis, O son of Pandu, and the customs relating to the conductof men in general, are all included in kingly duties.

“Yudhishthira said, ‘I have heard the discourse regarding the ordinanceabout the gift of food. Do thou discourse to me now about the conjunctionof the planets and the stars in relation to the subject of makinggifts.[334]

“Dhritarashtra said, ‘Kicked at the head, his thighs broken, prostratedon the ground, exceedingly proud, what, O Sanjaya, did my son then say?

“Vaisampayana said, ‘They then set out, with cheerful hearts, andaccompanied by men and animals all of whom and which were equallycheerful.

“Narada said, ‘Gaya, the son of Amartarayas, O Srinjaya, we hear, fell aprey to death, That king, for a hundred years, ate nothing but whatremained of the libations of clarified butter poured into the sacrificialfire.

“Sanjaya said, ‘Meanwhile Drona’s son, surrounded by a large car-force, Oking, suddenly proceeded to that spot where Partha was.

“Vidura said, ‘We have heard, O sire, from old men, that once on a time afowler spread his net on the ground for catching feathery denizens of theair.

Sanjaya said, “Then, O king, Bhurisravas, excited with great wrath,pierced Satyaki with nine arrows like the conductor of an elephantpiercing an elephant with the iron hook.

“Sakuni said,–‘Thou hast, O Yudhishthira, lost much wealth of thePandavas. If thou hast still anything that thou hast not yet lost to us,O son of Kunti, tell us what it is!”

“Vrihadaswa continued, ‘Having destroyed that hunter Damayanti of eyeslike lotus leaves, went onwards through that fearful and solitary forestringing with the chirp of crickets.

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Thus summoned to battle by the illustrious hero,Dhritarashtra’s son turned back stung by those censures, like aninfuriate and mighty elephant pricked by a hook.

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Then Indra had a consultation with Narayana aboutthe latter’s descent on the earth from heaven with all the gods accordingto their respective parts. And, having commanded all the dwellers inheaven, Indra returned from the abode of Narayana.

“Indra said, ‘Kshatriya duties, O king, which are possessed of suchenergy, which include in their exercise all other duties, and which arethe foremost of all duties, should be observed by persons that are, likethee, so high-souled and so employed in seeking the good of the world.

“Bhishma said, ‘The illustrious Atri, the son of the Grandsire Brahman,said, ‘They who make gifts of gold are said to make gifts of everythingin the world.’

“Sanjaya said, ‘Having heard of Duryodhana’s fall from the messengers,those mighty car-warriors, the unslain remnant of the Kaurava army,exceedingly wounded with keen shafts, and maces and lances and darts,those three,