Mahabharata English

“Utanka said, ‘I know thee, O Janarddana, to be the creator of theuniverse. Without doubt, this knowledge that I have is the result of thygrace towards me, O thou of unfading glory, my heart is possessed ofcheerful tranquillity in consequence of its being devoted to thee.

“Narada said, ‘The heroic king Paurava also, O Srinjaya, we hear, fell aprey to death. That king gave away a thousand times thousand horses thatwere all white in hue.

“Duryodhana said, ‘Fear not, O king. Nor shouldest thou grieve for us. Omonarch, O lord, we are quite able to vanquish the foe in battle.

“Vrihadaswa continued, ‘O Bharata, Nala pledged his word to thecelestials saying, ‘I will do it.’ And then approaching these, he askedwith folded hands.

Sanjaya said, “When the forenoon of that day had passed away, O Bharata,and when the destruction of cars, elephants, steeds, foot-soldiers andhorse-soldiers, proceeded on, the prince of Panchala engaged himself inbattle with these three mighty car-warriors, viz.,

“Sakuni said,–O thou foremost of victorious persons, I will snatch (forthee) this prosperity of Yudhishthira, the son of Pandu, at the sight ofwhich thou grievest so.

“Vaisampayana said, ‘And the ranks of those fierce bowmen, the Kurus,looked like masses of clouds in the rainy season drifting before a gentlewind.

Janamejaya said, ‘Though this one is but a boy, he speaks yet like a wiseold man. He is not a boy but one wise and old. I think, I desire tobestow on him a boon. Therefore, ye Brahmanas, give me the necessarypermission.’

“Chyavana said, ‘I should certainly, O chief of men, tell you everythingabout the circumstance for which, O monarch, I came hither forexterminating thy race.

Vaishampayana said, “At the outset, O Janamejaya a fierce wordy encountertook place between the two heroes.

Vaisampayana said, ‘Having bowed unto Hrishikesa, and saluted Bhishma,and taken the permission of all the seniors assembled there, Yudhishthirabegan to put questions unto Bhishma.’

“Sanjaya said, ‘Meanwhile Vikartana himself, resisting Bhimasenasupported by the Pancalas and the Cedis and the Kaikayas, covered himwith many arrows.

“Janamejaya said, ‘With what penances was the high-souled Utanka enduedso that he entertained the wish to denounce a curse on Vishnu himself,who is the source of all puissance?’

“Narada said, Usinara’s son, Sivi also, O Srinjaya, we hear, fell a preyto death. That king had, as it were, put a leathern girdle around theearth, making the earth with her mountains and islands and seas andforests resound with the clatter of his car.

“Duryodhana said, ‘Having obtained, O Sanjaya, an army numbering sevenAkshauhinis, what is Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, with the other kingsin his company, doing in view of the war?’

“Vrihadaswa said, ‘Damayanti, having bowed down unto the gods, thusaddressed Nala with a smile, ‘O king, love me with proper regard, andcommand me what I shall do for thee.

Sanjaya said,–“When the night having passed away, the dawn came,Santanu’s son Bhishma, that chastiser of foes, gave the order for the(Kuru) army to prepare for battle.

Vaisampayana said,–“King Dhritarashtra, ascertaining the inclinations ofhis son and knowing that Fate is inevitable, did what I have said.

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Beholding the army of the Kurus arrayed in order ofbattle, that descendant of the Kuru race, Partha, addressing Virata’sson, said, ‘Do thou proceed to the spot where Kripa, the son of Saradwat,is going by the southern side of that car whose flag is seen to bear thedevice of a golden altar.’

“Saunaka said, ‘O son of a Suta, I desire to hear the names of all thosesnakes that fell into the fire of this snake-sacrifice!’

“Yudhishthira said, ‘Hearing thy words I become stupefied, O grandsire!Reflecting that the earth is now destitute of a very large number ofkings all of whom were possessed of great prosperity, my heart becomesfilled with grief.

“Sanjaya said, ‘Duryodhana, with heart undepressed, beholding Bhimasenain that state, rushed furiously against him, uttering a loud roar.

“Bhishma said, ‘The king, O Yudhishthira, should always be ready foraction. That king is not worth of praise who, like a woman, is destituteof exertion.

“Vaisampayana said, “Beholding the king, who had become so, of frightfulmien, wearing a long beard smeared with the blood of human beings, theBrahmana Utanka, O king, did not become agitated.

“Sanjaya said, ‘Then Duryodhana, O chief of Bharatas, repairing to Karna,said unto him as also unto the ruler of the Madras and the other lords ofEarth present there, these words, “Without seeking hath this occasionarrived, when the gates of heaven have become wide open.

“Narada said, ‘Rama, the son of Dasaratha, O Srinjaya, we hear, fell aprey to death. His subjects were as much delighted with him, as a sire isdelighted with the children of his loins.

“Dhritarashtra said, ‘Whom hast thou, O Sanjaya, seen to have, fromaffection, arrived there, and who will, on behalf of the Pandavas, fightmy son’s forces?’

“Vrihadaswa continued, ‘Then at the sacred hour of the holy lunar day ofthe auspicious season, king Bhima summoned the kings to the Swayamvara.

Sanjaya said, “After the ranks of thy army and theirs had been disposedin battle-array, that mighty car-warrior, Dhananjaya, felling in thatconflict leaders of car-divisions with his arrows, caused a greatcarnage,

Vaisampayana said,–“Vidura then, thus commanded against his will by kingDhritarashtra, set out, with the help of horses of high mettle and enduedwith great speed and strength, and quiet and patient, for the abode ofthe wise sons of Pandu.

“Vaisampayana said, ‘After Kripa had thus been taken away, the invincibleDrona of red steeds, taking up his bow to which he had already stringedan arrow, rushed towards Arjuna of white steeds.

“Sauti said, ‘Listen now to another very wonderful incident in connectionwith Astika. When king Janamejaya was about to gratify Astika by grantingthe boon, the snake (Takshaka), thrown off Indra’s hands, remained in midair without actually falling. King Janamejaya thereupon became curious,for Takshaka, afflicted with fear, did not at once fall into the firealthough libations were poured in proper form into the blazingsacrificial Agni in his name.’

“Yudhishthira said, ‘I desire, O chief of the Bharatas, to hear from theewhat the rewards are which are attached, O best of the Kurus, to theplanting of trees and the digging of tanks.’

“Sanjaya said, ‘Beholding that fight thus raging between those twoforemost heroes of Kuru’s race, Arjuna said unto Vasudeva, “Between thesetwo, who, in thy opinion, is superior? Who amongst them hath what merit?Tell me this, O Janardana.”

“Bhishma said, ‘Protection of the subject, O Yudhishthira, is the verycheese of kingly duties. The divine Vrihaspati does not applaud any otherduty (so much as this one).

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Utanka, coming back to king Saudasa who was alwayswell-disposed towards all his friends, solicited him for some sign (toconvince Madayanti of the fact of his being really commissioned by theking). That foremost one of Ikshwaku’s race then gave him a sign.’

“Sanjaya said, ‘Thus raged that great battle between those lords of Earthwhen Arjuna and Karna and Bhimasena, the son of Pandu became angry.

“Narada said, ‘Even king Bhagiratha, O Srinjaya, we hear, was dead. Hecaused the shores of Ganga, called after his name Bhagirath to be coveredwith flights of steps made of gold.[99]

“Dhritarashtra said, Yudhishthira the son of Pandu is endued withKshatriya energy and leadeth the Brahmacharya mode of life from his veryyouth.

Sanjaya said, “Then those kings, excited with rage, beholding Phalguni inbattle, surrounded him on all sides with many thousands of cars.

“Vrihadaswa said, ‘When the blazing guardians of the worlds werereturning after the daughter of Bhima had chosen Naishadha, on their waythey met Dwapara with Kali approaching towards them.

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.’

“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)?

“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.

“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.

“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.