Mahabharata English

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Dhritarashtra replied saying, I desire to do exactlywhat you would recommend. But I do not wish to inform Vidura of it evenby a change of muscle. It was, therefore, O son, that I was applaudingthe Pandavas in Vidura’s presence, so that he might not know even by asign what is in my mind. Now that Vidura hath gone away, this is thetime, O Suyodhana (Duryodhana), for telling me what thou hast hit upon,and what, O Radheya (Karna), thou too hast hit upon.’

“Markandeya said, ‘The illustrious Dhundhu, O king, was the son of Madhuand Kaitabha, and possessed of great energy and prowess, he underwentascetic

“Manu said, ‘The mind united with the senses, recollects after a longtime the impressions of the objects received in the past.

“Manu said, ‘As in a dream this manifest (body) lies (inactive) and theenlivening spirit in its subtile form, detaching itself from the former,walks forth after the same manner, in the state called deep slumber (ordeath), the subtile form with all the senses becomes inactive and the

Vaisampayana said, “O thou foremost of the Bharata race, king Yudhisthirathen asked the illustrious Markandeya a difficult question aboutmorality, saying, ‘I desire to hear, O holy one, about the high andexcellent virtue of women.

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Thus addressed by Duryodhana, Karna said, ‘It dothnot seem to me, O Duryodhana, that thy reasoning is well-founded. Operpetuator of the Kuru race, no method will succeed against thePandavas.

“Manu said, ‘Upon the appearance of the physical and mental sorrow, onedoes not become able to practise yoga.

“Markandeya said, ‘There was, O Bharata, a virtuous ascetic of the nameof Kausika and endued with wealth of asceticism and devoted to the studyof the Vedas, he was a very superior Brahmana and that best of Brahmanasstudied all the

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Asked by Dhritarashtra to give his opinion, Bhishmareplied, ‘O Dhritarashtra, a quarrel with the Pandavas is what I cannever approve of. As thou art to me, so was Pandu without doubt. And thesons of Gandhari are to me, as those of Kunti.

“Manu said, ‘When the fivefold attributes are united with the five sensesand the mind, then is Brahma seen by the individual like a thread passingthrough a gem.

“Markandeya said, ‘Continually reflecting upon that wonderful discourseof the woman, Kausika began to reproach himself and looked very much likea guilty person and meditating on the subtle ways of morality and virtue,he said to himself,

“Vaisampayana said, ‘After Bhishma had concluded, Drona spoke, saying, ‘Oking Dhritarashtra, it hath been heard by us that friends summoned forconsultation should always speak what is right, true, and conductive tofame.

“Yudhishthira said, ‘O grandsire, O thou of great wisdom, I desire tohear in detail, O chief of the Bharatas, of that lotus-eyed andindestructible one, who is the

“Markandeya continued, ‘The pious fowler, O Yudhishthira, then said tothat Brahmana, ‘Undoubtedly my deeds are very cruel, but, O Brahmana,Destiny is all-powerful and it is difficult to evade the consequence ofour past actions.

“Vaisampayana said, ‘After Drona had ceased, Vidura spoke, saying, ‘Omonarch, thy friends without doubt, are saying unto thee what is for thygood. But as thou art unwilling to listen to what they say, their wordsscarcely find a place in thy ears.

“Yudhishthira asked, ‘Who were the first Prajapatis, O bull of Bharata’srace? What highly-blessed Rishis are there in existence and on whichpoints of the compass do each of them dwell?’

Markandeya continued, “O Yudhishthira, the virtuous fowler, eminent inpity, then skilfully addressed himself again to that foremost ofBrahmanas, saying,

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Hearing these various speeches, Dhritarashtra said,The learned Bhishma, the son of Santanu, and the illustrious Rishi Drona,and thyself also (O Vidura), have said the truth and what also is mostbeneficial to me. Indeed, as those mighty car-warriors, the heroic sonsof Kunti.

“Yudhishthira said, ‘O grandsire, O thou of great wisdom and invincibleprowess in battle, I wish to hear in detail of Krishna who is immutableand omnipotent. O bull among men, tell me truly everything about hisgreat energy and the great feats achieved by him in days of old. Why didthat puissant one assume the form of an animal, and for achieving whatparticular act? Tell me all this, O mighty warrior!’

“Markandeya continued, ‘Hear, O king Yudhishthira what the virtuousfowler, thus interrogated by that Brahmana, said to him in reply. Thefowler said, ‘Men’s minds are at first bent on the acquisition ofknowledge.

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Hearing these words of Vidura, Drupada said, ‘It iseven so as thou, O Vidura of great wisdom, hast said. Venerable one, Itoo have been exceedingly happy in consequence of this alliance. It ishighly proper that these illustrious princes should return to theirancestral kingdom. But it is not proper for me to say this myself.

“Yudhishthira said, ‘Tell me why had that lady no fear of Ashtavakra’scurse although Ashtavakra was endued with great energy? How also didAshtavakra succeed in coming back from that place?'”

” Vaisampayana said, ‘Upon the retirement of the chief of the Kurus intothe forest, the Pandavas, O king, afflicted besides by grief on accountof their mother, became very cheerless.

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Having heard his words, Bhishma, senior in wisdom,and endued with great effulgence, paid honours to him, and then spokewords suitable to the occasion.

Sanjaya said,–“Beholding the vast Dhartarashtra army ready for battle,king Yudhisthira, the son of Kunti, gave way to grief.

“Dhritarashtra said, ‘When Pandya had been slain and when that foremostof heroes, viz., Karna was employed in routing and destroying the foe,what, O Sanjaya, did Arjuna do in battle?

“Vasudeva said,–‘behold, O Partha, the great capital of Magadha,standing in all its beauty.

“Bhima said, ‘Fie on the might of my arms and fie on the Gandiva ofFalguni, inasmuch as thy hands, red before, now become covered withcorns.

“Sauti said. ‘Then when the night had passed away and the sun had risenin the morning, O thou whose wealth is asceticism, the two sisters Kadruand Vinata, having laid a wager about slavery, went with haste andimpatience to view the steed Uchchaishravas from a near point.

“Vasudeva said, ‘O thou tiger among men, my great enemy king Salwa, thusencountered by me in battle, again ascended the sky.

“Devasthana said, ‘In this connection is cited an old history, viz., thediscourse that Vrihaspati, asked by Indra, delivered unto him.

“Gandhari said, Then the mighty Karna, that great bowman, lieth on theground! In battle he was like a blazing fire!

“The Brahmana said, ‘In this connection is cited the following ancientstory. Do thou understand, of what kind the institution is of the tenHotris (sacrificing priests).

“Sanjaya continued, ‘Then Drona, beholding Yudhishthira near himfearlessly received him with a thick shower of arrows.

“Sanjaya said, ‘After the heroic Salwa, that ornament of assemblies, hadbeen slain, thy army speedily broke like a mighty tree broken by theforce of the tempest.

“Yudhishthira said, ‘Tell me, O sire, of that high yoga by which, OBharata, I may obtain Emancipation, O foremost of speakers, I desire toknow everything about that yoga truly.’

“Markandeya continued, ‘O Bharata, the Brahmana, thus interrogated by thevirtuous fowler, resumed again this discourse so pleasing to the mind.

“Janamejaya said, ‘O thou possessed of ascetic wealth, what did thosehigh-souled ones, my grandsires, the illustrious Pandavas, do, afterobtaining the kingdom of Indraprastha? How did their wife Draupadi obeythem all? How is it also that no dissensions arose amongst thoseillustrious rulers of men, all attached to one wife, viz., Krishna?

“Bhishma said, ‘All immobile and mobile beings, distributed into fourclasses, have been said to be of unmanifest birth and unmanifest death.

Markandeya continued, “O Bharata, the fowler having expounded theseabstruse points, the Brahmana with great attention again enquired of himabout these subtle topics.

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Hearing these words of Yudhishthira, Narada replied,’O son of Pritha, listen with thy brothers to me as I recite this oldstory, O Yudhishthira, exactly as everything happened. In olden days, amighty Daitya named Nikumbha, endued with great energy and strength wasborn in the race of the great Asura, Hiranyakasipu.

“Bhishma said, ‘Persons engaged in the practice of acts regard thepractice of acts highly. Similarly, those that are devoted to Knowledgedo not regard anything other than Knowledge.

“The Brahmana enquired, ‘How is it that fire (vital force) in combinationwith the earthly element (matter), becomes the corporeal tenement (ofliving creatures), and how doth the vital air (the breath of life)according to

‘Narada continued, ‘As soon as those festivities came to an end, thebrothers Sunda and Upasunda, desirous of the Sovereignty of the threeworlds, took counsel and commanded their forces to be arranged.

“Bhishma said, ‘From the attribute of Passion arises delusion or loss ofjudgment. From the attribute of Darkness, O bull of Bharata’s race, arisewrath and cupidity and fear and pride.

“Markandeya said, ‘When, O Yudhishthira, all this mystery of salvationwas explained to that Brahmana, he was highly pleased and he saidaddressing the fowler,

“Narada continued, ‘Then the celestial Rishis, the Siddhas, and thehigh-souled Rishis possessing the attributes of tranquillity andself-restraint, beholding that act of universal slaughter, were afflictedwith great grief.

“Bhishma said, ‘I shall now tell thee what the means are (for conqueringthe senses) as seen with the eye of the scriptures. A person, O king,will attain to the highest end by the help of such knowledge and byframing his conduct accordingly. Amongst all living creatures man is saidto be the foremost.

“Markandeya continued, ‘The virtuous fowler, having introduced his (both)parents to that Brahmana as his highest gurus, again spoke to him asfollows, ‘Mark thou the power of this virtue of mine, by which my innerspiritual vision is extended.

“Narada continued, ‘Meanwhile the Asura brothers having subjugated theearth were without a rival. The fatigue of exertion gone, they, havingbrought the three worlds under equal sway, regarded themselves as personsthat had nothing more to do.

“Bhishma said, ‘Living creatures, by being attached to objects of thesenses which are always fraught with evil, become helpless.

“The fowler continued, ‘Thus cursed by that rishi, I sought to propitiatehim with these words: ‘Pardon me, O muni, I have done this wicked deedunwittingly.

“Vaisampayana said, ‘The Pandavas, having established such a rule,continued to reside there. By the prowess of their arms they brought manykings under their sway. And Krishna became obedient unto all the fivesons of Pritha, those lions among men, of immeasurable energy.

Vaisampayana continued, “The virtuous king Yudhishthira, having listenedto this excellent religious discourse, again addressed himself to therishi Markandeya saying,

“Vaisampayana said, ‘When that spreader of the renown of Kuru’s race, thestrong-armed Arjuna, set out (for the forest), Brahmanas conversant withthe Vedas walked behind that illustrious hero to a certain distance.

“Bhishma said, ‘The yogin who wishes to always practise sinlessBrahmacharya and who is impressed with the faults attaching to dreamsshould, with his whole heart, seek to abandon sleep.

Markandeya continued, ‘O ornament of Kuru’s race, he (Angiras) who wasthe third son of Brahma had a wife of the name of Subha. Do thou hear ofthe children he had by her.

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Then the son of the wielder of the thunderboltnarrated everything unto those Brahmanas (residing with him there), setout for the breast of Himavat. Arriving at the spot called Agastyavata,he next went to Vasishtha’s peak.

“Bhishma said, ‘He cannot be said to know Brahma who does not know thefour topics (viz., dreams, dreamless slumber, Brahma as indicated byattributes, and

“Markandeya continued, ‘Vrishaspati had a wife (called Tara) belonging tothe lunar world. By her, he had six sons partaking of the energy of fire,and one daughter.

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Then that bull of Bharata’s race went to the sacredwaters on the banks of the southern ocean, all adorned with the asceticsresiding there. And there lay scattered five such regions where alsodwelt many ascetics.

“Yudhishthira said, ‘By following what conduct, O thou that artconversant with all courses of conduct, did Janaka, the ruler of Mithilaversed in the religion of Emancipation, succeed in attaining toEmancipation, after casting off all worldly enjoyments?’

“Markandeya continued, ‘He (Uktha) performed a severe penance lasting formany years, with the view of having a pious son equal unto Brahma inreputation.

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Varga continued, ‘We were then, O foremost one ofBharata’s race, deeply distressed at this curse. We sought to propitiatethat Brahmana of ascetic wealth that departed not from his vow.

“Bhishma said, ‘Janadeva of the race of Janaka, thus instructed by thegreat Rishi Panchasikha, once more asked him about the topic of existenceor nonexistence after death.’

“Yudhishthira said, ‘Whom do the eternal Brahmanas strictly observingreligious rites call a proper object of gifts? Is a Brahmana that bearsthe symbols of the order of life he follows to be regarded as such or onewho does not bear such indications is to be so regarded?'[202]

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Those foremost of men, the heroic Pandavas,–thosedelighters of their mother–became exceedingly afflicted with grief.

“Dhritarashtra said, ‘They say, O Sanjaya, that the Pandavas have arrivedat Upaplavya. Go thou and enquire after them.

Sanjaya said,–“Then, O bull of Bharata’s race, king Yudhishthira,disposing his own troops in counter array against the divisions ofBhishma, urged them on, saying

“Sanjaya said, ‘Many elephant-warriors riding on their beasts, urged bythy son, proceeded against Dhrishtadyumna, filled with rage and desirousof compassing his destruction.

“Bhima said, ‘I will, O timid one, do even as thou sayest. I willpresently slay Kichaka with all his friends.

“Sauti said, ‘The Nagas after consultation arrived at the conclusion thatthey should do their mother’s bidding, for if she failed in obtaining herdesire she might withdraw her affection and burn them all. If, on theother hand, she were graciously inclined, she might free them from hercurse. They said, ‘We will certainly render the horse’s tail black.’ Andit is said that they then went and became hairs in the horse’s tail.

“Vasudeva continued, ‘Then O thou foremost of the Bharata race, taking upmy beautiful bow, I began to cut off with my arrows the heads of theenemies of the celestials, from off that car of costly metals!

Vaisampayana said, “After this, Arjuna once more addressed his eldestbrother of unfading glory, viz., king Yudhishthira of cheerless heart,and said these words:

“Gandhari said, Slain by Bhimasena, behold, the lord of Avanti liesthere! Vultures and jackals and crows are feeding upon that hero!

“The Brahmana said, ‘In this connection is cited the ancient story, Oblessed one, of what the institution is of the seven sacrificing priests.

“Dhritarashtra said, ‘When the Pandavas were broken by Bharadwaja’s sonin hat dreadful battle, and the Panchalas also, was there anybody thatapproached Drona for battle?

“Sanjaya said, ‘That foremost of car-warriors, O monarch, thy son, ridingon his car and filled with the courage of despair, looked resplendent inthat battle like Rudra himself of great valour.

“Markandeya continued, ‘The fire called Bharata was bound by severe rulesof asceticism. Pushtimati is another name of his fire; for when he issatisfied he vouchsafes pushti (development) to all creatures, and forthis reason he is called Bharata (or the Cherisher).

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Then Arjuna of immeasurable prowess saw, one afteranother, all the sacred waters and other holy places that were on theshores of the western ocean. Vibhatsu reached the sacred spot calledPrabhasa.

“Yudhishthira said, ‘By doing what does one acquire happiness, and whatis that by doing which one meets with woe? What also is that, O Bharata,by doing which one becomes freed from fear and sojourns here crowned withsuccess (in respect of the objects of life)?’

Markandeya continued, “Mudita, the favourite wife of the fire Swaha, usedto live in water. And Swaha who was the regent of the earth and sky begetin that wife of his a highly sacred fire called Advanta.

“Vaisampayana said, ‘O best of monarchs, within a few days after this,there commenced on the Raivataka mountain, a grand festival of theVrishnis and the Andhakas. At the mountain-festival of the Bhojas, theVrishnis and the Andhakas, the heroes of those tribes began to give awaymuch wealth unto Brahmanas by thousands.

“Yudhishthira said, ‘The three regenerate classes, who are given tosacrifices and other rites, sometimes eat the remnants, consisting ofmeat and wine, of sacrifices in honour of the deities, from motives ofobtaining children and heaven. What, O grandsire, is the character ofthis act?’

“Markandeya continued, ‘O sinless scion of Kuru’s race, I have describedto thee the various branches of the race of Agni. Listen now to the storyof the birth of the intelligent Kartikeya.

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Then Dhananjaya, informed of the assent ofYudhishthira, and ascertaining, O Janamejaya, that the maiden had gone tothe Raivataka hill, obtained the assent of Vasudeva also, after havingsettled in consultation with him all that required to be done.

“Yudhishthira said, ‘In this world, O Bharata, acts good and bad attachthemselves to man for the purpose of producing fruits for enjoyment orendurance. Is man, however, to be regarded as their doer or is he not tobe regarded so? Doubt fills my mind with respect to this question. Idesire to hear this in detail from thee, O grandsire!’

“The lady replied, ‘I am a daughter of Prajapati (the lord of allcreatures, Brahma) and my name is Devasena. My sister Daityasena has erethis been ravished by Kesin.

“Vaisampayana said, ‘When the heroes of the Vrishni race began to speakrepeatedly in this strain, Vasudeva uttered these words pregnant withdeep import and consistent with true morality. Gudakesa (the conqueror ofsleep or he of the curly hair), by what he hath done, hath not insultedour family.

“Yudhishthira said, ‘Tell me, O grandsire, by adopting what sort ofintelligence may a monarch, who has been divested of prosperity andcrushed by Time’s heavy bludgeon, still live on this earth.’

“Markandeya continued, ‘O lord of men, the beautiful Siva endowed withgreat virtues and an unspotted character was the wife of Angiras (one ofthe seven Rishis).

“Vaisampayana said, ‘The Pandavas, after they had taken up their abode atIndraprastha at the command of Dhritarashtra and Bhishma began to bringother kings under their sway. All the subjects (of the kingdom) livedmost happily depending upon Yudhishthira the just, like a soul livinghappily depending upon a body blest with auspicious marks and piousdeeds.

“Bhishma said, ‘Once more, laughing at Vali who was sighing like a snake,Sakra addressed him for saying something more pointed than what had saidbefore.[837]

“Markandeya continued, ‘When that powerful, high-souled, and mighty beingwas born, various kinds of fearful phenomena occurred. And the nature ofmales and females, of heat and cold, and of such other pairs ofcontraries, was reversed.

“Bhishma said, ‘After this, he of hundred sacrifices beheld the goddessof Prosperity, in her own embodied form that blazed splendour, issue outof the form of the high-souled Vali. The illustrious chastiser of Paka,beholding the goddess blazing with radiance, addressed Vali in thesewords, with eyes expanded in wonder.’

“Markandeya continued, The planets with their satellites, the Rishis andthe Mothers, Agni and numerous other blazing courtiers and many otherdwellers of heaven of terrible mien, waited on Mahasena along with theMothers.

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Then Havyavahana (Agni) in anger and disappointment,with his ailment uncured, went back to the Grandsire.

“Bhishma said, ‘In this connection is also cited the old narrative of thediscourse between him of a hundred sacrifices and the Asura Namuchi, OYudhishthira.

“Markandeya continued, ‘Now hear of those terrible and curious-lookingfollowers of Skanda. A number of male children came into being whenSkanda was struck with the thunder-bolt,–those terrific creatures