Tirthayatra Parva — Departure of the Yadus

Satyaki said : ORama, this is not the time for lamentation. Let us do without any further delay that which is proper and suited to the present occasion, though Yudhishthira does not say anything.

Those in the world who have other persons to look after them do not undertake to do anything themselves. They have others to do their work as did Shibi and others of Yayati.

O Rama, those, whose help-mate sact according to their own opinion, those men having others to look after them, never meet with disaster like men who have none to help them.

How is it that when the sons of Pritha have these two men, Rama and Janardana (Krishna) also Pradyumna, Samba and myself, all able to protect the three worlds, that they are living in the forest?

It is proper that this very day the army of the Dasharahas should march out, variously armed and well clad in armours. Let the sons of Dhritarashtra be attacked with the Vrishni soldiers and let them all go with their friends to the abode of Yama. Let him alone who wields the bow made of horn (Krishna), let yourself alone who, if roused, is capable of subverting the wholé, earth, kill the sons of Dhritarashtra with all their friends as the chief of the celestials killed Vitra.

The son of Pritha (Arjuna) is my brother, he is my friend, he is also my preceptor; and he is like the second self of Krishna. It is for this reason that men desire for a worthy son and that a preceptor seeks an obedient and obliging pupil.

It is for this reason the time has (at last) come for that, excellent work which is the best of all works and which is difficult to perform. I shall baffle his (Duryodhana's) showers of weapons by my excellent weapon, I shall overpower all in battle.

O Rama, I shall in anger cut off his head from his body with my excellent weapons which are like snakes or poison or fire. I shall by force with my sword sever his head from his body in the field of battle.

Then I shall kill all his followers, Duryodhana and all the Kurus. O son of Rohini, let the followers of Bhima look at me with joy when I take up my weapons at the field of battle.

I shall alone kill all the chief men of the Kurus as fire burns heaps of straw at the end of the Yuga. Kripa, Drona, Vikarna and Karna, are not (at all) able to withstand the sharp arrows shot by Pradyumna.

I know the power of this son (of Krishna). I know how Krishna's son conducts himself in the field of battle. Samba will with great force chastise by his arms Dushashana with his charioteer and car.

Nothing exists which can withstand the force of the son of Jambavati when he becomes irresistible in fight on the field of battle. The army of the Daitya Shamba was speedily routed (by him) when he was but a boy.

Ashvachakra whose thighs were round and whose mascular arms were of exceeding length was killed by him in battle. Who is there who can go before the car of the great car-warrior Samba?

As men coming within the clutches of death can never come out of it, so who is there that once coming under his clutches in the field of battle, escapes with his life.

The son of Vasudeva will consume by the shower of his fiery weapons all the soldiers together with those two great car-warriors, Bhishma and Drona and also Somadatta surrounded by his sons.

Who is there in all the world including the celestials whom Krishna cannot fight on equal footing? When he takes up his weapons, wields his excellent arrows, arms himself with the discus, he becomes matchless in fight.

Let Anirudha also take up in his hand buckler and sword, let him cover the earth with Dhritarashta's sons, their heads being severed from their bodies, as in a sacrifice the altar is covered with Kusha (grass).

Gada, Ulmuka, Bahuka, Bhanu, Nitha and heroic in battle but young in age, Nishatha, Sarana and Charudeshna, irresistible in war, let all of them perform feats befitting their race.

Let the united armies of Satvatas and the Suras, together with the chief heroes of the Vrishnis and the Andhakas, killing the sons of Dhritarashtra in the field of battle, spread their fame all over the world,

Let Abhimanyu rule the earth so long this foremost of virtuous men, the high-souled Yudhishthira is engaged in fulfilling the vow which this best of the Kuru race took on the occasion of the celebrated gambling match.

After his enemies are all defeated by the arrows discharged by us, let the virtuous king then rule over the earth. There will be then no son of Dhritarashtra (Duryodhana) or the son of the charioteer (Karna). This is the most important work for us to do and this will surely lead us to fame.

Krishna said: O descendant of Madhu, there is no doubt what you say is true. O greatly courageous hero, we accept your words. This foremost of Kurus, (Yudhishthira) does not desire to possess the land that is not won by his won prowess of arms.

Neither for the sake of pleasure, nor from fear, nor from covetousness would Yudhishthira ever abandon the rules of his (Kshatriya) order, nor would the two great carwarriors, Bhima and Arjuna, nor the twins (Nakula and Sahadeva), nor Krishna, the daughter of Drupada.

Vrikodara (Bhima) and Dhananjaya (Arjuna) are both unrivalled in fight on earth. Why should he not rule over the earth when the two sons of Madri are there to espouse his cause?

When the illustrious king of Panchala together with the king of Kekaya and we also, would put forth our united strength, then the enemies of Yudhishthira would surely be annihilated.

Yudhishthira said: O descendant of Madhu, there is nothing to be surprised that you should speak thus. To me truth is over my sovereignty. It is Krishna alone who knows what I am and it is I alone who know what Krishna is.

O descendant of Madhu, O foremost of the Sinis, when this best of men (Krishna) will perceive that the proper time is come for displaying courage, you and he will then defeat Suyodhana (Duryodhana).

Let the heroes of the Dasharaha race go back today. They are my patrons, these best of men have come here to visit me. O immeasurably powerful heroes, never fall off from the path of virtue. I shall see you again when you will be happily assembled together.

Vaishampayana said: Then after mutual greeting and obeisance to the seniors and embracing the youthful, those foremost of the Yadus and the sons of Pandu separated. The Yadus went home and they (the Pandavas, continued their journey to the Tirthas.

Having parted with Krishna, Dharmaraja with his younger brothers and with Lomasha and with servants went to the sacred river Payoshini the landing place of which was constructed by the king of Vidharbha.

He lived on the banks of the Payoshini waters of which were mingled with the Soma juice. There the illustrious Yudhishthira was greeted with excellent laudatory terms by the chiefs of the Brahmanas who came to see him there.