Mahabharata — Volume I (Dutt edition) — Chapter 246
MBh 1 246.1
युधिष्ठिर उवाच प्रायशो राजलोकस्ते कथितो वदतां वर। वैवस्वतसभायां तु यथा वदसि मे प्रभो॥
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca prāyaśo rājalokaste kathito vadatāṃ vara| vaivasvatasabhāyāṃ tu yathā vadasi me prabho||
Yudhishthira said O best of eloquent men, O lord, from your descriptions it appears that all the monarchs (of the earth) are in the Sabha of the son of Vaivasvata (Yama).
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 1 246.2
वरुणस्य सभायां तु नागास्ते कथिता विभो। दैत्येन्द्राश्चापि भूयिष्ठाः सरितः सागरास्तथा॥
varuṇasya sabhāyāṃ tu nāgāste kathitā vibho| daityendrāścāpi bhūyiṣṭhāḥ saritaḥ sāgarāstathā||
O lord, you have said that in the Varuna's Sabha are the Nagas, the chief Daityas, the rivers, and the oceans,
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 1 246.3
तथा धनपतेर्यक्षा गुह्यका राक्षसास्तथा। गन्धर्वाप्सरसश्चैव भगवांश्च वृषध्वजः॥
tathā dhanapateryakṣā guhyakā rākṣasāstathā| gandharvāpsarasaścaiva bhagavāṃśca vṛṣadhvajaḥ||
And in that of the lord of wealth (Kubera) the Yakshas, Guhyakas, Guhyakas, Rakshasas, Gandharvas, Apsaras, and the exalted Vishvadeva (Shiva).
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 1 246.4
पितामहसभायां तु कथितास्ते महर्षयः। सर्वे देवनिकायाश्च सर्वशास्त्राणि चैव ह॥
pitāmahasabhāyāṃ tu kathitāste maharṣayaḥ| sarve devanikāyāśca sarvaśāstrāṇi caiva ha||
You have said that in the Sabha of the Grandsire are the great Rishis, all the celestials, and all the Shastras.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 1 246.5
शक्रस्य तु सभायां तु देवाः संकीर्तिता मुने। उद्देशतश्च गन्धर्वा विविधाश्च महर्षयः॥
śakrasya tu sabhāyāṃ tu devāḥ saṃkīrtitā mune| uddeśataśca gandharvā vividhāśca maharṣayaḥ||
O Rishi, you have said that in the Sabha of Shakra (Indra) are the celestials, the Gandharvas and the various great Rishis.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 1 246.6
एक एव तु राजर्षिर्हरिश्चन्द्रो महामुने। कथितस्ते सभायां वै देवेन्द्रस्य महात्मनः॥
eka eva tu rājarṣirhariścandro mahāmune| kathitaste sabhāyāṃ vai devendrasya mahātmanaḥ||
O great Rishi, you have said that one king namely the royal sage Harishchandra, is in the Sabha of the illustrious lord of the celestials.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 1 246.7
किं कर्म तेनाचरितं तपो वा नियतव्रतः। येनासौ सह शक्रेण स्पर्द्धते सुमहायशाः॥
kiṃ karma tenācaritaṃ tapo vā niyatavrataḥ| yenāsau saha śakreṇa sparddhate sumahāyaśāḥ||
What act, what asceticism, what steady vows were performed by that greatly famous (king) that he has alone become equal to Indra? are
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 1 246.8
पितृलोकगतश्चैव त्वया विप्र पिता मम। दृष्टः पाण्डुर्महाभागः कथं वापि समागतः॥
pitṛlokagataścaiva tvayā vipra pitā mama| dṛṣṭaḥ pāṇḍurmahābhāgaḥ kathaṃ vāpi samāgataḥ||
O Brahmana, how did you meet with my father, the illustrious Pandu, now living in the region of the Pitris?
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 1 246.9
किमुक्तवांश्च भगवंस्तन्ममाचक्ष्व सुव्रतः। त्वत्तः श्रोतुं सर्वमिदं परं कौतूहलं हि मे॥
kimuktavāṃśca bhagavaṃstanmamācakṣva suvrataḥ| tvattaḥ śrotuṃ sarvamidaṃ paraṃ kautūhalaṃ hi me||
O exalted one, O Rishi of excellent vows, what did he tell you? Tell me all. I am filled with great curiosity to hear all this.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 1 246.10
नारद उवाच यन्मां पृच्छसि राजेन्द्र हरिश्चन्द्रं प्रति प्रभो। तत् तेऽहं सम्प्रवक्ष्यामि माहात्म्यं तस्य धीमतः॥
nārada uvāca yanmāṃ pṛcchasi rājendra hariścandraṃ prati prabho| tat te'haṃ sampravakṣyāmi māhātmyaṃ tasya dhīmataḥ||
Narada said O king of kings, O lord, I shall tell you all about the greatness of the greatly intelligent Harishchandra which you ask me to narrate.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 1 246.11
(इक्ष्वाकूणां कुले जातस्त्रिशङ्कुर्नाम पार्थिवः। अयोध्याधिपतिर्वीरो विश्वामित्रेण संस्थितः।। तस्य सत्यवती नाम पत्नी केकयवंशजा। तस्यां गर्भः समभवद् धर्मेण कुरुनन्दन॥ सा च काले महाभागा जन्ममासं प्रविश्य वै। कुमारं जनयामास हरिश्चन्द्रमकल्मषम्॥ वै राजा हरिश्चन्द्रस्त्रैशङ्कव इति स्मृतः।) स राजा बलवानासीत् सम्राट् सर्वमहीक्षिताम्। तस्य सर्वे महीपालाः शासनावनताः स्थिताः॥
(ikṣvākūṇāṃ kule jātastriśaṅkurnāma pārthivaḥ| ayodhyādhipatirvīro viśvāmitreṇa saṃsthitaḥ|| tasya satyavatī nāma patnī kekayavaṃśajā| tasyāṃ garbhaḥ samabhavad dharmeṇa kurunandana|| sā ca kāle mahābhāgā janmamāsaṃ praviśya vai| kumāraṃ janayāmāsa hariścandramakalmaṣam|| vai rājā hariścandrastraiśaṅkava iti smṛtaḥ|) sa rājā balavānāsīt samrāṭ sarvamahīkṣitām| tasya sarve mahīpālāḥ śāsanāvanatāḥ sthitāḥ||
That king (Harishchandra) was very powerful and an Emperor over all the monarchs of the earth. All the kings of the world were under his sway.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 1 246.12
तेनैकं रथमास्थाय जैत्रं हेमविभूषितम्। शस्त्रप्रतापेन जिता द्वीपाः सप्त जनेश्वर॥
tenaikaṃ rathamāsthāya jaitraṃ hemavibhūṣitam| śastrapratāpena jitā dvīpāḥ sapta janeśvara||
O king of men, riding alone on his car adorned with gold, he conquered all the seven islands (of the world) by the prowess of his weapons.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 1 246.13
स निर्जित्यमहीं कृत्स्ना सशैलवनकाननाम्। आजहार महाराज राजसूयं महाक्रतुम्॥
sa nirjityamahīṃ kṛtsnā saśailavanakānanām| ājahāra mahārāja rājasūyaṃ mahākratum||
O great king, having conquered the whole of the earth with her mountains, forests and woods, he made preparation to perform a great Rajasuya sacrifice.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 1 246.14
तस्य सर्वे महीपाला धनान्याजह्वराज्ञया। द्विजानां परिवेष्टारस्तस्मिन् यज्ञे च तेऽभवन्॥
tasya sarve mahīpālā dhanānyājahvarājñayā| dvijānāṃ pariveṣṭārastasmin yajñe ca te'bhavan||
All the monarchs at his command brought wealth to that sacrifice. They became the distributors of food to the Brahmanas in that sacrifice.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 1 246.15
प्रादाच्च द्रविणं प्रीत्या याचकानां नरेश्वरः। यथोक्तवन्तस्ते तस्मिंस्ततः पञ्चगुणाधिकम्॥
prādācca draviṇaṃ prītyā yācakānāṃ nareśvaraḥ| yathoktavantaste tasmiṃstataḥ pañcaguṇādhikam||
The king (Harishchandra) in that sacrifice cheerfully gave away to the sacrificial Brahmanas wealth five times more than what each asked.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 1 246.16
अतर्पयच्च विविधैर्वसुभिर्ब्राह्मणांस्तदा। प्रसर्पकाले सम्प्राप्ते नानादिग्भ्यः समागतान्॥
atarpayacca vividhairvasubhirbrāhmaṇāṃstadā| prasarpakāle samprāpte nānādigbhyaḥ samāgatān||
At the conclusion of the sacrifice, the king gratified the Brahmanas that assembled there from various quarters with large presents of various kinds of wealth.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 1 246.17
भक्ष्यभोज्यैश्च विविधैर्यथाकामपुरस्कृतैः। रत्नौघतर्पितैस्तुष्टैर्द्विजैश्च समुदाहृतम्। तेजस्वी च यशस्वी च नृपेभ्योऽभ्यधिकोऽभवत्॥
bhakṣyabhojyaiśca vividhairyathākāmapuraskṛtaiḥ| ratnaughatarpitaistuṣṭairdvijaiśca samudāhṛtam| tejasvī ca yaśasvī ca nṛpebhyo'bhyadhiko'bhavat||
Having been gratified by various kinds of food and enjoyable things given to them to their fill and by the heaps of jewels distributed amongst them, the Brahmanas said: “The king Harishchandra has became superior to all the kings in energy and in renown".
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 1 246.18
एतस्मात् कारणाद् राजन् हरिश्चन्द्रो विराजते। तेभ्यो राजसहस्रेभ्यस्तद् विद्धि भरतर्षभा॥
etasmāt kāraṇād rājan hariścandro virājate| tebhyo rājasahasrebhyastad viddhi bharatarṣabhā||
O king, O best of the Bharata race, know that for this reason, Harishchandra has shone more brightly than thousands of other kings.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 1 246.19
समाप्य च हरिश्चन्द्रो महायज्ञं प्रतापवान्। अभिषिक्तश्च शुशुभे साम्राज्येन नराधिप॥
samāpya ca hariścandro mahāyajñaṃ pratāpavān| abhiṣiktaśca śuśubhe sāmrājyena narādhipa||
O king, having concluded his great sacrifice, the mighty Harishchandra, being installed in his Empire, looked resplendent.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 1 246.20
ये चान्ये च महीपाला राजसूयं महाक्रतुम्। यजन्ते ते सहेन्द्रेण मोदन्ते भरतर्षभ।॥
ye cānye ca mahīpālā rājasūyaṃ mahākratum| yajante te sahendreṇa modante bharatarṣabha|||
O best of the Bharata race, all the kings that perform the great Rajasuya sacrifices pass their time in bliss in company with Indra.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 1 246.21
ये चापि निधनं प्राप्ताः संग्रामेष्वपलायिनः। ते तत् सदनमासाद्य मोदन्ते भरतर्षभ॥ ते
ye cāpi nidhanaṃ prāptāḥ saṃgrāmeṣvapalāyinaḥ| te tat sadanamāsādya modante bharatarṣabha|| te
O best of the Bharata race, those kings, that give their lives on the field of battle without turning their backs, go to the abode (of Indra) and pass their time in felicity.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 1 246.22
तपसा ये च तीव्रण त्यजन्तीह कलेवरम्। तत् स्थानं समासाद्य श्रीमन्तो भान्ति नित्यशः॥२२
tapasā ye ca tīvraṇa tyajantīha kalevaram| tat sthānaṃ samāsādya śrīmanto bhānti nityaśaḥ||22
Those also that give up their lives after undergoing severe ascetic penances go to the same region and shine brightly there for ages.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 1 246.23
पिता च त्वाऽऽह कौन्तेय पाण्डुः कौरवनन्दन। हरिश्चन्द्रे श्रियं दृष्ट्वा नृपतौ जातविस्मयः॥
pitā ca tvā''ha kaunteya pāṇḍuḥ kauravanandana| hariścandre śriyaṃ dṛṣṭvā nṛpatau jātavismayaḥ||
O son of Kunti, O descendant of Kuru, seeing the good fortune of Harishchandra and being much astonished at it, your father Pandu has told you something (through me).
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 1 246.24
विज्ञाय मानुषं लोकमायान्तं मां नराधिप। प्रोवाच प्रणतो भूत्वा वदेथास्त्वं युधिष्ठिरम्॥
vijñāya mānuṣaṃ lokamāyāntaṃ māṃ narādhipa| provāca praṇato bhūtvā vadethāstvaṃ yudhiṣṭhiram||
O king of men, knowing that I was coming to the world of men, he bowed to me and said, "Tell this to Yudhishthira,
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 1 246.25
समर्थोऽसि महीं जेतुं भ्रातरस्ते स्थिता वशे। राजसूयं क्रतुश्रेष्ठमाहरस्वेति भारत॥
samartho'si mahīṃ jetuṃ bhrātaraste sthitā vaśe| rājasūyaṃ kratuśreṣṭhamāharasveti bhārata||
That he can subjugate the whole earth as his brothers are obedient to him". O descendant of Bharata, he said, “Let him perform the great Rajasuya sacrifice.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 1 246.26
त्वयीष्टवति पुत्रेऽहं हरिश्चन्द्रवदाशु वै। मोदिष्ये बहुलाः शश्वत् समाः शक्रस्य संसदि॥
tvayīṣṭavati putre'haṃ hariścandravadāśu vai| modiṣye bahulāḥ śaśvat samāḥ śakrasya saṃsadi||
He is my son, if he performs that sacrifice, I can go like Harishchandra to the region of Indra and pass my time there in everlasting bliss in company with Indra in his Sabha."
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 1 246.27
एवं भवतु वक्ष्येऽहं तव पुत्रं नराधिपम्। भूलोकं यदि गच्छेयमिति पाण्डुमथाब्रवम्॥
evaṃ bhavatu vakṣye'haṃ tava putraṃ narādhipam| bhūlokaṃ yadi gaccheyamiti pāṇḍumathābravam||
O king, I told him thus (in reply), “If I go to the world of men, I shall speak to your son." I have told you what Pandu told me.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 1 246.28
पुरुषव्याघ्र संकल्पं कुरु पाण्डव। गन्तासि त्वं महेन्द्रस्य पूर्वैः सह सलोकताम्॥
puruṣavyāghra saṃkalpaṃ kuru pāṇḍava| gantāsi tvaṃ mahendrasya pūrvaiḥ saha salokatām||
O best of men, O son of Pandu, accomplish then the intentions of your father. If you do this, you will go with your ancestors to the region of Indra.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 1 246.29
तस्य त्वं बहुविघ्नश्च नृपते क्रतुरेष स्मृतो महान्। छिद्राण्यस्य तु वाञ्छन्ति यज्ञना ब्रह्मराक्षसाः॥
tasya tvaṃ bahuvighnaśca nṛpate kratureṣa smṛto mahān| chidrāṇyasya tu vāñchanti yajñanā brahmarākṣasāḥ||
O king, it is said that this sacrifice is full of many obstacles. The Brahma Rakshasas who always harm sacrifices search for holes when this sacrifice is begun.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 1 246.30
युद्धं च क्षत्रशमनं पृथिवीक्षयकारणम्। किंचिदेव निमित्तं च भवत्यत्र क्षयावहम्॥
yuddhaṃ ca kṣatraśamanaṃ pṛthivīkṣayakāraṇam| kiṃcideva nimittaṃ ca bhavatyatra kṣayāvaham||
On the commencement of such a sacrifice a war may break out which may destroy the Kshatriyas, and which may be the cause of the total destruction of the whole world. A slight obstacle (to it) may cause the ruin of the whole earth.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 1 246.31
एतत् संचिन्त्य राजेन्द्र यत् क्षेमं तत् समाचर। अप्रमत्तोत्थितो नित्यं चातुर्वर्ण्यस्य रक्षणे॥
etat saṃcintya rājendra yat kṣemaṃ tat samācara| apramattotthito nityaṃ cāturvarṇyasya rakṣaṇe||
O king of kings, reflecting on all this, do what is beneficial to you. Be always watchful in protecting the four orders (of your subjects).
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 1 246.32
भव एधस्व मोदस्व धनैस्तर्पय च द्विजान्। एतत् ते विस्तरेणोक्तं यन्मां त्वं परिपृच्छसि। आपृच्छे त्वां गमिष्यामि दाशार्हनगरी प्रति॥
bhava edhasva modasva dhanaistarpaya ca dvijān| etat te vistareṇoktaṃ yanmāṃ tvaṃ paripṛcchasi| āpṛcche tvāṃ gamiṣyāmi dāśārhanagarī prati||
Grow in prosperity, enjoy felicity gratify the Brahmans with wealth. I have thus answered in detail all that you have asked me. With your permission, I shall now go towards the city of the Dasharahas (Dwarka).
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 1 246.33
वैशम्पायन उवाच एवमाख्याय पार्थेभ्यो नारदो जनमेजय। जगाम तैर्वृतो राजनृषिभिर्यैः समागतः॥
vaiśampāyana uvāca evamākhyāya pārthebhyo nārado janamejaya| jagāma tairvṛto rājanṛṣibhiryaiḥ samāgataḥ||
Vaishampayana said O Janamejaya, O king, having said this to the son of Pritha, Narada went away with those Rishis with whom he had come.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)
MBh 1 246.34
गते तु नारदे पार्थो भ्रातृभिः सह कौरवः। राजसूयं क्रतुश्रेष्ठं चिन्तयामास पार्थिवः॥
gate tu nārade pārtho bhrātṛbhiḥ saha kauravaḥ| rājasūyaṃ kratuśreṣṭhaṃ cintayāmāsa pārthivaḥ||
O descendants of Kuru, on the departure of Narada, the King (Yudhishthira), the son of Pritha, began to think with his brothers (how to perform) that best of sacrifice Rajasuya.
— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)