महाभारतम् — १६.९

वैशंपायन उवाच ।

प्रविशन्नर्जुनो राजन्नाश्रमं सत्यवादिनः ।
ददर्शासीनमेकान्ते मुनिं सत्यवतीसुतम् ॥

M N Dutt As Arjuna entered the hermitage of the truthful Rishi, he saw the son of Satyavati seated in a solitary spot.

स तमासाद्य धर्मज्ञमुपतस्थे महाव्रतम् ।
अर्जुनोऽस्मीति नामास्मै निवेद्याभ्यवदत्ततः ॥

M N Dutt Approaching that Rishi of high vows and gifted with a knowledge of al duties, he said, 'I am Arjuna'-~and then awaited his pleasure.

१६.९.३

स्वागतं तेऽस्त्विति प्राह मुनिः सत्यवतीसुतः ।
आस्यतामिति चोवाच प्रसन्नात्मा महामुनिः ॥

M N Dutt Satyavati's son, endued with high penances, answered, saying, "Welcome!' Of tranquil soul the great ascetic further said, 'Take our seat.'

१६.९.४

तमप्रतीतमनसं निःश्वसन्तं पुनः पुनः ।
निर्विण्णमनसं दृष्ट्वा पार्थं व्यासोऽब्रवीदिदम् ॥

M N Dutt Seeing that the son of Pritha was greatly cheerless and breathing heavy sighs repeatedly and filled with despair, Vyasa, addressed him, saying——Have you been sprinkled with water from anybody's nails or hair or the end of anybody's cloth, or from the mouth of a jar? Did you know any woman before the cessation of her menses? Have you killed a Brahmana?

१६.९.५

अवीरजोऽभिघातस्ते ब्राह्मणो वा हतस्त्वया ।
युद्धे पराजितो वासि गतश्रीरिव लक्ष्यसे ॥

१६.९.६

न त्वा प्रत्यभिजानामि किमिदं भरतर्षभ ।
श्रोतव्यं चेन्मया पार्थ क्षिप्रमाख्यातुमर्हसि ॥

M N Dutt Have you been defeated in battle? You look like one shorn of prosperity! I do not know that you have been defeated by any one. Why then, O chief Bharata's race, this exceedingly dejected look! You should O of Pritha, tell me all, if, indeed, there be no harm in telling it.

अर्जुन उवाच ।

१६.९.७

यः स मेघवपुः श्रीमान्बृहत्पङ्कजलोचनः ।
स कृष्णः सह रामेण त्यक्त्वा देहं दिवं गतः ॥

१६.९.८

मौसले वृष्णिवीराणां विनाशो ब्रह्मशापजः ।
बभूव वीरान्तकरः प्रभासे रोमहर्षणः ॥

१६.९.९

ये ते शूरा महात्मानः सिंहदर्पा महाबलाः ।
भोजवृष्ण्यन्धका ब्रह्मन्नन्योन्यं तैर्हतं युधि ॥

१६.९.१०

गदापरिघशक्तीनां सहाः परिघबाहवः ।
त एरकाभिर्निहताः पश्य कालस्य पर्ययम् ॥

१६.९.११

हतं पञ्चशतं तेषां सहस्रं बाहुशालिनाम् ।
निधनं समनुप्राप्तं समासाद्येतरेतरम् ॥

१६.९.१२

पुनः पुनर्न मृष्यामि विनाशममितौजसाम् ।
चिन्तयानो यदूनां च कृष्णस्य च यशस्विनः ॥

M N Dutt Thinking repeatedly of this destruction of the Yadava warriors of immeasurable energy and of the illustrious Krishna, I cannot get peace of mind.

१६.९.१३

शोषणं सागरस्येव पर्वतस्येव चालनम् ।
नभसः पतनं चैव शैत्यमग्नेस्तथैव च ॥

१६.९.१४

अश्रद्धेयमहं मन्ये विनाशं शार्ङ्गधन्वनः ।
न चेह स्थातुमिच्छामि लोके कृष्णविनाकृतः ॥

M N Dutt The death of the holder of Sharnga is as incredible as the drying up of the ocean, the displacement of a mountain, the falling down of the heaven, or the cooling property of fie. Deprived of the company of the Vrishni heroes, I wish not to live in this world.

१६.९.१५

इतः कष्टतरं चान्यच्छृणु तद्वै तपोधन ।
मनो मे दीर्यते येन चिन्तयानस्य वै मुहुः ॥

M N Dutt Another event has taken place that is more painful than this, O you having penances for wealth. Repeatedly thinking of it, my heart is breaking.

१६.९.१६

पश्यतो वृष्णिदाराश्च मम ब्रह्मन्सहस्रशः ।
आभीरैरनुसृत्याजौ हृताः पञ्चनदालयैः ॥

M N Dutt In my very sight, O Brahmana, thousands of Vrishni ladies were carried away by the Abhiras of the country of the five waters, who attacked us.

१६.९.१७

धनुरादाय तत्राहं नाशकं तस्य पूरणे ।
यथा पुरा च मे वीर्यं भुजयोर्न तथाभवत् ॥

M N Dutt Taking up my bow, I found myself unequal to even string it. The power that had existed in my arms seemed to have disappeared on that occasion.

१६.९.१८

अस्त्राणि मे प्रनष्टानि विविधानि महामुने ।
शराश्च क्षयमापन्नाः क्षणेनैव समन्ततः ॥

M N Dutt O great ascetic, my weapons of various kinds failed to appear. Soon, again, my arrows became exhausted.

१६.९.१९

पुरुषश्चाप्रमेयात्मा शङ्खचक्रगदाधरः ।
चतुर्भुजः पीतवासा श्यामः पद्मायतेक्षणः ॥

M N Dutt That person of immeasurable soul, of four arms, holding the conch, the discus, and the mace, clad in yellow robes, dark of complexion, and possessing eyes resembling lotus-petals, is no longer seen by me! Alas, reft of Govinda, what have I to live for, dragging my life in sorrow?

१६.९.२०

यः स याति पुरस्तान्मे रथस्य सुमहाद्युतिः ।
प्रदहन्रिपुसैन्यानि न पश्याम्यहमद्य तम् ॥

१६.९.२१

येन पूर्वं प्रदग्धानि शत्रुसैन्यानि तेजसा ।
शरैर्गाण्डीवनिर्मुक्तैरहं पश्चाद्व्यनाशयम् ॥

१६.९.२२

तमपश्यन्विषीदामि घूर्णामीव च सत्तम ।
परिनिर्विण्णचेताश्च शान्तिं नोपलभेऽपि च ॥

१६.९.२३

विना जनार्दनं वीरं नाहं जीवितुमुत्सहे ।
श्रुत्वैव हि गतं विष्णुं ममापि मुमुहुर्दिशः ॥

M N Dutt I dare not live, reft of the heroic Janardana. As soon as I heard that Vishnu had left the earth, my eyes became dim and all things disappeared from my vision.

१६.९.२४

प्रनष्टज्ञातिवीर्यस्य शून्यस्य परिधावतः ।
उपदेष्टुं मम श्रेयो भवानर्हति सत्तम ॥

M N Dutt O best of men, you should tell me what is good for me now, for I am now a wanderer with an empty heart, despoiled of my kinsmen and of my prowess.

व्यास उवाच ।

१६.९.२५

ब्रह्मशापविनिर्दग्धा वृष्ण्यन्धकमहारथाः ।
विनष्टाः कुरुशार्दूल न ताञ्शोचितुमर्हसि ॥

M N Dutt Vyasa said The powerful car-warriors of the Vrishni and the Andhaka races have all been consumed by the Brahmanas' course. O chief of Kuru's race, you should not grieve for their destruction.

१६.९.२६

भवितव्यं तथा तद्धि दिष्टमेतन्महात्मनाम् ।
उपेक्षितं च कृष्णेन शक्तेनापि व्यपोहितुम् ॥

M N Dutt That which has taken place, had been ordained. It was the destiny of those great warriors. Krishna allowed it to take place although he was fully competent to befell it.

१६.९.२७

त्रैलोक्यमपि कृष्णो हि कृत्स्नं स्थावरजङ्गमम् ।
प्रसहेदन्यथा कर्तुं किमु शापं मनीषिणाम् ॥

M N Dutt Govinda was able to after the very course of the universe with all its mobile and immobile creatures. What need then be said of the curse of even great Brahmanas?

१६.९.२८

रथस्य पुरतो याति यः स चक्रगदाधरः ।
तव स्नेहात्पुराणर्षिर्वासुदेवश्चतुर्भुजः ॥

M N Dutt for you He who used to proceed in front of your car, arined with discus and mace, through affection was the four-armed Vasudeva, that ancient Rishi.

१६.९.२९

कृत्वा भारावतरणं पृथिव्याः पृथुलोचनः ।
मोक्षयित्वा जगत्सर्वं गतः स्वस्थानमुत्तमम् ॥

M N Dutt That great one of expansive eyes, viz., Krishna, having lightened the burthen of the Earth and cast off his (human) body, has attained to his own high seat.

१६.९.३०

त्वया त्विह महत्कर्म देवानां पुरुषर्षभ ।
कृतं भीमसहायेन यमाभ्यां च महाभुज ॥

M N Dutt By you also, O foremost of men, with Bhima for your helpmate and the twins, O mighty-armed hero, has the great work of the gods been done.

१६.९.३१

कृतकृत्यांश्च वो मन्ये संसिद्धान्कुरुपुंगव ।
गमनं प्राप्तकालं च तद्धि श्रेयो मतं मम ॥

M N Dutt O foremost one of Kuru's race, I regard you and your brothers as crowned with success, for you have accomplished the great purpose of your lives! The Time has come for your departure from the world. Even this, O powerful one, is what is beneficial for you now.

१६.९.३२

बलं बुद्धिश्च तेजश्च प्रतिपत्तिश्च भारत ।
भवन्ति भवकालेषु विपद्यन्ते विपर्यये ॥

M N Dutt Even thus, understanding and prowess and foresight. O Bharata, arise when days of prosperity have gone. These very acquisitions disappear when the hour of adversity comes.

१६.९.३३

कालमूलमिदं सर्वं जगद्बीजं धनंजय ।
काल एव समादत्ते पुनरेव यदृच्छया ॥

M N Dutt All this has Time for its root. Time is, indeed, the seed of the of the universe, O not FINISH MA Dhananjaya! It is Time, again, which withdraws everything at its pleasure.

१६.९.३४

स एव बलवान्भूत्वा पुनर्भवति दुर्बलः ।
स एवेशश्च भूत्वेह परैराज्ञाप्यते पुनः ॥

M N Dutt One becomes powerful, and, again, losing that power, becomes weak. One becomes a master and rules others, and again, losing that position, becomes a servant for obeying the order of others.

१६.९.३५

कृतकृत्यानि चास्त्राणि गतान्यद्य यथागतम् ।
पुनरेष्यन्ति ते हस्तं यदा कालो भविष्यति ॥

M N Dutt Your weapons, having achieved success, have gone away to the place they came from. They will, again, come into your hands when the Time for their coming approaches.

१६.९.३६

कालो गन्तुं गतिं मुख्यां भवतामपि भारत ।
एतच्छ्रेयो हि वो मन्ये परमं भरतर्षभ ॥

M N Dutt The Time has come, O Bharata, for you all to attain to the highest end. This is what I consider to be highly beneficial for you all, O chief of Bharata's race.

१६.९.३७

एतद्वचनमाज्ञाय व्यासस्यामिततेजसः ।
अनुज्ञातो ययौ पार्थो नगरं नागसाह्वयम् ॥

M N Dutt Having heard these words of Vyasa of great energy, the son of Pritha, receiving his permission, returned to the city of Hastinapur.

१६.९.३८

प्रविश्य च पुरीं वीरः समासाद्य युधिष्ठिरम् ।
आचष्ट तद्यथावृत्तं वृष्ण्यन्धकजनं प्रति ॥

M N Dutt Entering it, the hero approached Yudhishthira and informed him of all that had taken place about the Vrishnis. JSALA PARVA