The consolation of Yudhishthira's grief

Sanjaya said Thus when the son of Kunti, king Yudhishthira, was indulging in lamentations, there came to him the mighty sage Krishna Dvaipayana.

Then having duly worshipped him, Yudhishthira resumed his seat; and afflicted with grief at the death of his brother's son, he then thus addressed the Rishi.

Yudhisthira said The son of Subhadra has been slain in battle when fighting with many, by several fierce bowmen of vicious tendencies, who, mighty car-warriors as they were, surrounded him on all sides.

That layer of hostile heroes that son of Subhadra, was a mere child in years and in understanding. And he fought in battle against overwhelming numbers.

During the course of the fight I said to him “Open a passage for us," then he penetrated into the hostile array and then we could not follow him, prevented by the ruler of the Sindhus. an

Those who live by fighting should surely desire equal combats. But his battle that the enemy fought with Abhimanyu was extremely unfair one.

It is this that burns me with the fire of grief and draws tears of sorrow from my eyes. Brooding over this thought I cannot regain the tranquility of my mind.

Sanjaya said Then the almighty Vyasa addressing Yudhishthira who was thus bewailing and was unmanned by the force of his grief, spoke the following words.

Vyasa said O Yudhishthira, O son of superior wisdom, son who are well-learnt in all the branches of knowledge, O foremost of the Bharatas, people of your stamp are never confounded in seasons of calamity.

This hero (Abhimanyu), this foremost of all male beings, has attained paradise after having slain numerous enemies in batile and having achieved many feats not at all boy-like.

O Yudhishthira, this law (that created being shall die) cannot be violated. O Bharata, Death takes away all Gods, Danavas and Gandharvas, (without exception).

Yudhishthira said These rulers of earth, all endued with great might, are now lying on the bare ground of the battle-field being slain and deprived of their senses.

Some of them possessed strength equal to that of ten thousand elephants; some, on the other hand, possessed the impetus and force of the very tempest. They have all been slain in battle by beings of their species and are all equal now.

I do not see the slayer of these created beings in battle, (save one of their own class). They were possessed of prowess and endued with might and energy.

Alas even those who entertained in their heart the hopes of conquering one another in battle, are now lying slain deprived of their senses, in spite of all their wisdom.

The significance of the word 'Death' hastoday been clearly brought home (to our minds), as almost all these rulers of earth possessed of fierce prowess, lie dead on the field of battle.

These heroes having succumbed to their foes and now lying motionless and shorn of their pride. Many princes inflamed with wrath have fallen upon the fire of their antagonist's anger.

On this point a great doubt has taken possession of me, namely, whence has the word "dead" been derived? Whose offspring is Death? Whence does it come and why does it take away creatures? O you equal to a celestial, O grandsire, speak to me about all this.

Sanjaya said Then that illustrious sage spoke these comforting words to Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, who had been questioning him in the above manner.

Vyasa said On this subject, O monarch, an ancient story is cited as an example, story that was related to Akampana by Narada.

So far as I know, O king, Akampana, while in this world, was also afflicted with the overwhelming and unbearable grief caused by his son's death.

I shall now recount to you the excellent story of the origin of Death. Hearing that story you shall be freed from grief and from the bondage of affection.

Listen to me, O sire, as I go on repeating that ancient story. This story is excellent and enhances the period of life and kills sorrow and bestows health.

It is holy, capable of destroying large numbers of foes and the most auspicious of all auspicious things. Verily this story is like the study or recital of the Vedas themselves.

It should, O king, be every morning listened to be those foremost of the twice-borns, who desire to obtain long-lived sons, sovereignty and their own welfare.

In the days of yore during the Krita-yuga, O Sire, there lived a certain king by name Akampana. Once on a time, on the field of battle, amongst his foes, he was on the point of succumbing to his enemies.

He had a son by name Hari, who was equal to Narayana himself in might; he was exceedingly handsome, accomplished in the use of weapons, intelligent, powerful and equal to Shakra in battle.

Surrounded by countless foes on the field of battle, he shot thousands of shafts at the warriors and elephants that encompassed him.

Having achieved many feats difficult of being achieved, that afflicter of foes, 0 Yudhisthira, was slain amidst this troops by his adversaries.

Performing the funeral ceremonies of his son, king Akampana became purified. But bewailing his son, day and night. he could not regain his peace of mind.

Then cognisant of his grief caused by the death of his son, there came near him the celestial sage Narada himself.

That monarch of illustrious qualities, beholding the sage come, worshipped him duly and then spoke to him these words.

And then that ruler of men spoke to the Rishi all that had happened, his defeat by his foes and the slaughter of his son by them.

Akampana said My son of great energy and mighty equal to Indra or Vishnu himself in effulgence, has been killed in battle by his numerous enemies, when engaged in fighting vigorously with them.

But, O illustrious sage, who is this Death, what is his prowess, might and manliness? O foremost of intelligent beings, I desire to know the real truth about all these questions.

Vyasa said Having heard those words of his, the lord Narada, that bestower of boons, related this story that is capable of destroying the great sorrow caused by the death of one's son.

Hear, O mighty-armed monarch, this long story, exactly, O ruler of earth, as I myself have heard it.

In the beginning of the creations, the Grandsire Brahma created all beings. Then that highly powerful one, seeing that the beings of his creation suffered no decay.

Fell to thinking, O king, as to how he should cause their destruction. Meditating long over the subject, he then failed to find out any means of destruction, O ruler of earth.

(Then he waxed wroth) and inconsequence of that wrath then, a fire sprang out from the skies. That fire spread in all the quarters of heaven and it began to consume all the regions of the universe.

Thereat heaven, earth and the welkin, ail became overspread with tongues of flame. And that Almighty lord then burnt down the universe with its mobile and immobile creatures and objects.

Then mobile and immobile, all creatures were annihilated. Verily the puissant Brahma did all this, frightening the worlds with the fierceness of his angers.

Thereupon Hara, otherwise called Sthanu, wearing matted locks on his head, that Lord of all the night-rangers, sought shelter from the divine Brahma that foremost of all gods.

Thus when Sthanu had fallen (at Brahma's feet) desirous of doing good to the creatures, that highest divinity, the foremost of all asceties, burning with effulgence said-

What desire of yours shall we fulfill. O you that deserve to have all your wishes gratified! O son, you are born out of our will. We shall accomplish all that is dear unto you. Speak, O Sthanu, what you desire (to have).