Mahabharata English

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.

“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.

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Vyasa continued, ‘In days of yore, the celestialshad once commenced a grand sacrifice in the forest of Naimisha. At thatsacrifice, O king, Yama, the son of Vivaswat, became the slayer of thedevoted animals.

Vaisampayana said, “King Yudhishthira, hearing from the illustriousMarkandeya the story of the royal sage Indradyumna’s regaining of Heaven,again asked the Muni, saying, ‘O great Muni, tell me in what conditionshould a man practise charity in order to gain admission into the regionsof Indra?

“Yudhishthira said, ‘Thou hadst referred to the dispute between Time,Mrityu, Yama, Ikshvaku, and a Brahmana. It behoveth thee to narrate thestory in full.’

“Dhritarashtra said, Upon the slaughter of the Atiratha, viz., Drona, byPrishata’s son, what did my sons and the Pandavas next do?’

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Like Duryodhana, king Yudhishthira also, the son ofKunti and Dharma, ordered out, O Bharata, his heroic warriors headed byDhrishtadyumna.

“Sanjaya said, ‘Then Adhiratha’s son of the Suta caste, knowing thatBhishma had been slain, became desirous of rescuing, like a brother, thyson’s army from the distress into which it had fallen, and which thenresembled a boat sunk in the fathomless ocean. [Indeed],

Vaishampayana said, “Upon the fall of Karna, O monarch, the son ofGavalgana, with a cheerless heart, set out that night for Nagapura, onsteeds that rivalled the wind in speed.

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Thus worshipped by the Pandavas, the royal soil ofAmvika passed his time happily as before, waited upon and honoured by theRishis.

Vaishampayana said: “While the Vrishnis and the Andhakas were thusendeavouring (to avoid the impending calamity), the embodied form of Time(death) every day wandered about their houses.

“Baladeva said, ‘You have all listened to the speech of him who is theelder brother of Gada, characterised as it is by a sense of virtue andprudence, and salutary alike to Yudhishthira and king Duryodhana.

Vaishampayana said: “Those princes of restrained souls and devoted toYoga, proceeding to the north, beheld Himavat, that very large mountain.Crossing the Himavat, they beheld a vast desert of sand.

Vaisampayana said,–“Seeing then the two armies (standing) on the eastand the west for the fierce battle that was impending, the holy RishiVyasa, the son of

Kripa said, “We have heard all that thou hast said, O puissant one!Listen, however, to a few words of mine, O mighty armed one!

“Yudhishthira said, Ye deities, I do not see here Radhas son ofimmeasurable prowess, as also my high-souled brothers, and Yudhamanyu andUttamaujas, those great car-warriors that poured their bodies (aslibations) on the fire of battle, those kings and princes that met withdeath for my sake in battle.

“Vaisampayana said,–“Janardana deserving the worship of all, havinglived happily at Khandavaprastha for some time, and having been treatedall the while with respectful love and affection by the sons of Pritha,became desirous one day of leaving Khandavaprastha to behold his father.

“Vaisampayana said, ‘When that night passed away and day broke in, thoseBrahmamas who supported themselves by mendicancy, stood before thePandavas of exalted deeds, who were about to enter the forest.

Vaishampayana said, “Listen, O Janamejaya, to the nectar-like words thatVidura said unto the son of Vicitravirya and by which he gladdened thatbull among men!

Bhima said, “I intend to present myself before the lord of Virata as acook bearing the name of Vallabha.

“The Rishis said, ‘O son of Suta, we wish to hear a full andcircumstantial account of the place mentioned by you as Samanta-panchaya.’

Vaishampayana said, “After the ladies had been dismissed, Dhritarashtra,the son of Ambika, plunged into grief greater than that which hadafflicted him before, began, O monarch, to indulge in lamentations,exhaling breaths that resembled smoke, and repeatedly waving his arms,and reflecting a little, O monarch, he said these words.

“Vaisampayana said, ‘That foremost of speakers, the sage Narada, thusquestioned, narrated everything about the manner in which he who wasbelieved to be a Suta’s son had been cursed (in former days).’

“Yudhishthira said, ‘O grandsire, O wisest of men, O thou that artlearned in all the scriptures, I have listened to this great story, Oforemost of intelligent men.

“Vaisampayana said, “Thus addressed by the intelligent king DhritarashtraYudhishthira, possessed of understanding, became calm.

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Those foremost of ascetics, viz. Narada and Parvataand Devala of austere penances, came there to see king Dhritarashtra.

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Then Drupada’s priest, having approached the Kauravachief, was honoured by Dhritarashtra as also by Bhishma and Vidura.

Dhritarashtra said,–“When the Sun rose, O Sanjaya, of my army led byBhishma and the Pandava army led by Bhima, which first cheerfullyapproached the other, desirous of fight?

“Dhritarashtra said, ‘Thou didst mention to me before the name of Pandya,that hero of world-wide celebrity, but his feats, O Sanjaya, in battlehave never been narrated by thee. Tell me today in detail of the prowessof that great hero, his skill, spirit, and energy, the measure of hismight, and his pride.’

“Krishna said,–both Hansa and Dimvaka have fallen; Kansa also with allhis followers has been slain. The time hath, therefore come for thedestruction of Jarasandha. He is incapable of being vanquished in battleeven by all the celestials and the Asuras (fighting together).

“Draupadi said, ‘Alas, on account of that desperate gambler, I am nowunder Sudeshna’s command, living in the palace in the guise of aSairindhri.

“Sauti said, ‘Thus have I recited to you the whole story of how Amritawas churned out of the Ocean, and the occasion on which the horseUchchaihsravas of great beauty and incomparable prowess was obtained.

“Vasudeva said, ‘When Salwa had left the city of the Anarttas, I returnedto it, O king, on the completion of thy great Rajasuya sacrifice!

Vaisampayana said, “After Yudhishthira had stopped, the great asceticDevasthana, possessed of eloquence, said these words, fraught withreason, unto the king.”

“Gandhari said, He whose might and courage were regarded, O Keshava, as aone and half times superior to those of his sire and thee,

“Vasudeva said, ‘In this connection is cited the ancient narrative, O sonof Pritha, of the discourse that took place between a married couple.

“Sanjaya said, ‘Having passed the night, that mighty car-warrior viz.,Bharadwaja’s son, addressed Suyodhana, O monarch, saying, ‘I amthine![33] I have made arrangements for Partha’s encounter with theSamsaptaka.’

“Sanjaya said, ‘After the (Kuru) army had been rallied, Shalva, the rulerof the Mlecchas, filled with rage, rushed against the large force of thePandavas, riding on a gigantic elephant, with secretions issuing from theusual limbs, looking like a hill, swelling with pride, resembling

“Bhishma said, ‘Thus commanded, the lady said,–Be it so. She thenbrought oil (for rubbing the Rishi’s body therewith) and a piece of clothfor his wear during the ablutions.

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Drupada, on hearing this, observed, O great Rishi,it was only when I had not heard this from thee that I had sought to actin the way I told thee of. Now, however, that I know all, I cannot beindifferent to what hath been ordained by the gods.

Vaisampayana said, “Having, O great king, heard from the illustriousMarkandeya the history of the attainment of heaven by the royal

“Yudhishthira said, ‘Tell me, O grandsire, what reply was given by eitherthe Brahmana or the monarch to Virupa after the conclusion of thelatter’s speech.

“Sanjaya said, ‘Having battled fiercely for five days, O king, theBrahmana (Drona) endued with great strength, fell and repaired to theregion of Brahma.

“Vaisampayana said, ‘King Drupada, after his alliance with the Pandavas,had all his fears dispelled. Indeed, the monarch no longer stood in feareven of the gods. The ladies of the illustrious Drupada’s householdapproached Kunti and introduced themselves unto her, mentioning theirrespective names, and worshipped her feet with heads touching the ground.

Markandeya said, “O king, after the death of Ikshvaku, a highly virtuousking of the name of Sasada, ascending the throne of Ayodhya ruled thisearth. And from Sasada was descended Kakutstha of great energy.

“Yudhishthira said, ‘What are the fruits of the yoga represented byKnowledge, of all the Vedas, and of the (various) observances and vows?How also may the creature-soul be known? Tell us, this, O grandsire!’

“Vaisampayana said, ‘The news was carried unto all the monarchs (who hadcome to the Self-choice of Draupadi) by their trusted spies that thehandsome Draupadi had been united in marriage with the sons of Pandu.

“Markandeya said, ‘Thus addressed by Utanka, that unvanquished royalsage, with joined hands, O thou foremost of the Kuru race, replied untoUtanka, saying, ‘This visit of thine, O Brahmana, will not be in vain.

“Manu said, ‘From that eternal and undeteriorating One first sprangSpace; from space came Wind; from wind came Light; from light came Water;from water sprang the Universe; and from the universe, all things thatoccur in it.