Mahabharata — Volume VII (Dutt edition) — Chapter 53

MBh 7 53.1

वैशम्पायन उवाच ततः शयनमाविश्य प्रसुप्तो मधुसूदनः। याममात्रार्धशेषायां यामिन्यां प्रत्यबुद्ध्यत॥ स ध्यानपथमाविश्य सर्वज्ञानानि माधवः। अवलोक्य ततः पश्चाद् दध्यौ ब्रह्म सनातनम्॥

vaiśampāyana uvāca tataḥ śayanamāviśya prasupto madhusūdanaḥ| yāmamātrārdhaśeṣāyāṃ yāminyāṃ pratyabuddhyata|| sa dhyānapathamāviśya sarvajñānāni mādhavaḥ| avalokya tataḥ paścād dadhyau brahma sanātanam||

Vaishampayana said Retiring to his bed the destroyer of Madhu slept happily. Awaking when half a period was wanting for the approach of the day, he made himself ready for meditation. Concentrating all his senses, he meditated on the eternal Brahma.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 7 53.2

ततः स्तुतिपुराणज्ञा रक्तकण्ठाः सुशिक्षिताः। अस्तुवन् विश्वकर्माणं वासुदेवं प्रजापतिम्॥

tataḥ stutipurāṇajñā raktakaṇṭhāḥ suśikṣitāḥ| astuvan viśvakarmāṇaṃ vāsudevaṃ prajāpatim||

Then a number of well-trained and sweet voiced persons conversant with hymns and the Puranas, began to sing the praises of Vasudeva, the master of all creatures and the creator of the universe.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 7 53.3

पठन्ति पाणिस्वनिकास्तथा गायन्ति गायनाः। शङ्खानथ मृदङ्गांश्च प्रवाद्यन्ति सहस्रशः॥

paṭhanti pāṇisvanikāstathā gāyanti gāyanāḥ| śaṅkhānatha mṛdaṅgāṃśca pravādyanti sahasraśaḥ||

Others, keeping time by the clapping of hands, began to sing sweet hymns, and vocalists began to sing. Thousands of conchshells and drums were blown and beat.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 7 53.4

वीणापणववेणूनां स्वनश्चातिमनोरमः। सहास इव विस्तीर्णः शुश्रुवे तस्य वेश्मनः॥

vīṇāpaṇavaveṇūnāṃ svanaścātimanoramaḥ| sahāsa iva vistīrṇaḥ śuśruve tasya veśmanaḥ||

The charming sound also of Vinas; Panavas, and bamboo flutes, was heard. The spacious edifice of Krishna, seemed, as if to laugh with music.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 7 53.5

ततो युधिष्ठिरस्यापि राज्ञो मङ्गलसंहिताः। उच्चेरुर्मधुरा वाचो गीतवादिनि:स्वनाः॥

tato yudhiṣṭhirasyāpi rājño maṅgalasaṃhitāḥ| uccerurmadhurā vāco gītavādini:svanāḥ||

In the mansion of King Yudhishthira also melodious voices were heard, exclaiming auspicious wishes, and the sound of songs too and musical instruments.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 7 53.6

तत उत्थाय दाशार्हः स्नातः प्राञ्जलिरच्युतः। जप्त्वा गुह्यं महाबाहुरग्नीनाश्रित्य तस्थिवान्॥

tata utthāya dāśārhaḥ snātaḥ prāñjaliracyutaḥ| japtvā guhyaṃ mahābāhuragnīnāśritya tasthivān||

Then the Dasharha here performed his ablutions. Joining his hands, the mighty armed hero, of undecaying glory, silently recited his sacred Mantras, and lighting up a fire poured libations of clarified butter upon it.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 7 53.7

ततः सहस्रं विप्राणां चतुर्वेदविदां तथा। गवां सहस्रेणैकैकं वाचयामास माधवः॥

tataḥ sahasraṃ viprāṇāṃ caturvedavidāṃ tathā| gavāṃ sahasreṇaikaikaṃ vācayāmāsa mādhavaḥ||

Distributing a thousand kine amongst a thousand Brahmanas all of whom were masters of the four Vedas, he made them utter benedictions upon him.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 7 53.8

मङ्गलालम्भनं कृत्वा आत्मानमवलोक्य च। आदर्श विमले कृष्णस्ततः सात्यकिमब्रवीत्॥ गच्छ शैनेय जानीहि गत्वा राजनिवेशनम्। अपि सज्जो महातेजा भीष्मं द्रष्टुं युधिष्ठिरः॥

maṅgalālambhanaṃ kṛtvā ātmānamavalokya ca| ādarśa vimale kṛṣṇastataḥ sātyakimabravīt|| gaccha śaineya jānīhi gatvā rājaniveśanam| api sajjo mahātejā bhīṣmaṃ draṣṭuṃ yudhiṣṭhiraḥ||

Touching next various sorts of sacred articles and beholding himself in a clear mirror, Krishna addressed Satyaki, saying,—'Go, O descendant of Shini, and repairing to Yudhishthira's palace, ascertain whether if the king is dressed for visiting Bhishma.'

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 7 53.9

ततः कृष्णस्य वचनात् सात्यकिस्त्वरितो ययौ। उपगम्य च राजानं युधिष्ठिरमभाषत॥ युक्तो रथवरो राजन् वासुदेवस्य धीमतः। समीपमापगेयस्य प्रयास्यति जनार्दनः॥

tataḥ kṛṣṇasya vacanāt sātyakistvarito yayau| upagamya ca rājānaṃ yudhiṣṭhiramabhāṣata|| yukto rathavaro rājan vāsudevasya dhīmataḥ| samīpamāpageyasya prayāsyati janārdanaḥ||

Thus commanded by Krishna, Satyaki, proceeding quickly to the royal son of Pandu, said to him-'The foremost of cars, belonging to the highly intelligent Vasudeva, is ready, O king, for Janardana will go to see Ganga's son.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 7 53.10

भवत्प्रतीक्षः कृष्णोऽसौ धर्मराज महाद्युते। यदत्रानन्तरं कृत्यं तद् भवान् कर्तुमर्हति॥ एवमुक्तः प्रत्युवाच धर्मपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः।

bhavatpratīkṣaḥ kṛṣṇo'sau dharmarāja mahādyute| yadatrānantaraṃ kṛtyaṃ tad bhavān kartumarhati|| evamuktaḥ pratyuvāca dharmaputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ|

O righteous, great, and powerful king! Krishna is waiting for you. You should now do what should be done next. Thus addressed, Dharma's son Yudhishthira answered as follows.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 7 53.11

युधिष्ठिर उवाच युज्यतां मे रथवरः फाल्गुनाप्रतिमद्युते॥ न सैनिकैश्च यातव्यं यास्यामो वयमेव हि।

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca yujyatāṃ me rathavaraḥ phālgunāpratimadyute|| na sainikaiśca yātavyaṃ yāsyāmo vayameva hi|

‘O Phalguna of matchless splendour, let my best of cars be made ready. We should not be accompanied by the soldiers, but we shall proceed alone.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 7 53.12

न च पीडयितव्यो मे भीष्मो धर्मभृतां वरः॥ अतः पुरःसराश्चापि निवर्तन्तु धनंजय।

na ca pīḍayitavyo me bhīṣmo dharmabhṛtāṃ varaḥ|| ataḥ puraḥsarāścāpi nivartantu dhanaṃjaya|

That best or righteous person viz., Bhishma, should not be vexed. Let not the guards, therefore, O Dhananjaya accompany us today.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 7 53.13

अद्यप्रभृति गाङ्गेयः परं गुह्यं प्रवक्ष्यति॥ अतो नेच्छामि कौन्तेय पृथग्जनसमागमम्।

adyaprabhṛti gāṅgeyaḥ paraṃ guhyaṃ pravakṣyati|| ato necchāmi kaunteya pṛthagjanasamāgamam|

From this day Ganga's son will discourse on things that are great mysteries, I do not, therefore, O son of Kunti, wish that there should be a miscellaneous assembly.'

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 7 53.14

वैशम्पायन उवाच स तद्वाक्यमथाज्ञाय कुन्तीपुत्रो धनंजयः॥ युक्तं रथवरं तस्मा आचचक्षे नरर्षभः।

vaiśampāyana uvāca sa tadvākyamathājñāya kuntīputro dhanaṃjayaḥ|| yuktaṃ rathavaraṃ tasmā ācacakṣe nararṣabhaḥ|

Hearing these words of the king, Kunti's son Dhananjaya, that best of men went out and returning said to him that his best of cars stood ready for him.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 7 53.15

ततो युधिष्ठिरो राजा यमौ भीमार्जुनावपि॥ भूतानीव समस्तानि ययुः कृष्णनिवेशनम्।

tato yudhiṣṭhiro rājā yamau bhīmārjunāvapi|| bhūtānīva samastāni yayuḥ kṛṣṇaniveśanam|

King Yudhishthira, the twins Bhima and Arjuna, the five resembling the five elements, then proceeded towards Krishna's mansion.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 7 53.16

आगच्छत्स्वथ कृष्णोऽपि पाण्डवेषु महात्मसु॥ शैनेयसहितो धीमान् रथमेवान्वपद्यत।

āgacchatsvatha kṛṣṇo'pi pāṇḍaveṣu mahātmasu|| śaineyasahito dhīmān rathamevānvapadyata|

While the great Pandavas were coming, Krishna accompanied by the grandson of Shini, got upon his car.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 7 53.17

रथस्थाः संविदं कृत्वा सुखां पृष्ट्वा च शर्वरीम्॥ मेघघोषै रथवरैः प्रययुस्ते नरर्षभाः।

rathasthāḥ saṃvidaṃ kṛtvā sukhāṃ pṛṣṭvā ca śarvarīm|| meghaghoṣai rathavaraiḥ prayayuste nararṣabhāḥ|

Saluting one another from their cars and each enquiring of the other whether he had passed the night happily, those foremost of men proceeded, without stopping, on those foremost of cars whose rattle resembled the roar of the clouds.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 7 53.18

बलाहकं मेघपुष्पं शैब्यं सुग्रीवमेव च॥ दारुकश्चोदयामास वासुदेवस्य वाजिनः। ते हया वासुदेवस्य दारुकेण प्रचोदिताः।२२॥ गां खुरागैस्तथा राजंल्लिखन्तः प्रययुस्तदा।

balāhakaṃ meghapuṣpaṃ śaibyaṃ sugrīvameva ca|| dārukaścodayāmāsa vāsudevasya vājinaḥ| te hayā vāsudevasya dārukeṇa pracoditāḥ|22|| gāṃ khurāgaistathā rājaṃllikhantaḥ prayayustadā|

Krishna's horses, viz., Balahaka, Meghapushpa, Shaivya and Sugriva were driven by Daruka. The animals, urged by him, O king, ran on marking the Earth with their hoofs.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 7 53.19

ते ग्रसन्त इवाकाशं वेगवन्तो महाबलाः॥ क्षेत्रं धर्मस्य कृत्स्नस्य कुरुक्षेत्रमवातरन्। ततो ययुर्यत्र भीष्मः शरतल्पगतः प्रभुः॥ आस्ते महर्षिभिः सार्धं ब्रह्मा देवगणैर्यथा।

te grasanta ivākāśaṃ vegavanto mahābalāḥ|| kṣetraṃ dharmasya kṛtsnasya kurukṣetramavātaran| tato yayuryatra bhīṣmaḥ śaratalpagataḥ prabhuḥ|| āste maharṣibhiḥ sārdhaṃ brahmā devagaṇairyathā|

Highly strong and quick-coursing, they flew onwards, devouring as if the very skies. Traversing the sacred field of Kuru, the princes went to that spot where the powerful Bhishma was lying on his bed of arrows, surrounded by those great Rishis, like Brahman himself in the midst of the celestials.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 7 53.20

ततोऽवतीर्य गोविन्दो रथात् स च युधिष्ठिरः॥ भीमो गाण्डीवधन्वा च यमौ सात्यकिरेव च। ऋषीनभ्यर्चयामासुः करानुद्यम्य दक्षिणान्॥

tato'vatīrya govindo rathāt sa ca yudhiṣṭhiraḥ|| bhīmo gāṇḍīvadhanvā ca yamau sātyakireva ca| ṛṣīnabhyarcayāmāsuḥ karānudyamya dakṣiṇān||

Then Govinda, Yudhishthira. Bhima, and the wielder of Gandiva, the twins and Satyaki, getting down from their cars, saluted the Rishis by raising their right hands.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 7 53.21

स तैः परिवृतो राजा नक्षत्रैरिव चन्द्रमाः। अभ्याजगाम गाङ्गेयं ब्रह्माणमिव वासवः॥

sa taiḥ parivṛto rājā nakṣatrairiva candramāḥ| abhyājagāma gāṅgeyaṃ brahmāṇamiva vāsavaḥ||

Encircled by them, king Yudhishthira, like the moon in the midst of the stars, approached Ganga's son like Vasava proceeding towards Brahman.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 7 53.22

शरतल्पे शयानं तमादित्यं पतितं यथा। स ददर्श महाबाहुं भयाच्चागतसाध्वसः।२८॥

śaratalpe śayānaṃ tamādityaṃ patitaṃ yathā| sa dadarśa mahābāhuṃ bhayāccāgatasādhvasaḥ|28||

Possessed by fear, the king timidly cast his eyes on the mighty-armed hero lying on his bed of arrows like the Sun himself dropped from the sky.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)