भगवद्यान पर्व — देवताओं का दौत्य

Arjuna said You are now the best friend of the Kurus. Being related to both parties by thick ties, you are now their friend.

O Keshava, you are competent to bring about what is good both for the Pandavas and the son of Dhritarashtra; and therefore it is proper that you should bring about peace between them.

Having set out from here, O you like lotus, being free from wrath to Suyodhana, with the objects of peace, speak to our brothers what should be spoken, O you slayer of enemies.

with eyes If the boy does not accept your beneficial words conducive both to morality and worldly good and calculated to assure their weal; then shall he be subject to his fate,

The blessed God said I shall go to king Dhritarashtra with the desire of doing what is righteous and what is our good and the benefit of the Kuru.

Vaishampayana said The night passed away and the sun having risen, as it were and on the setting in of the moment, called Maitri, while the rays of the sun were still mild.

In the month of Kaumuda (Kartika) under the constellation of Revati after the passing away of Autumn and in the dewy season and at time when the earth had an abundance of crops on it, that foremost of men of prowess

(Janardana) listening to auspicious and lily sounding words by the Brahmanas, like Vasava hearing the prayers of the Rishis and having performed the customary rites of the morning and after a bath wearing holy ornaments, worshipped the sun and the fire, having touched the tail of a bull and having paid due respect to the Brahmanas and going round the fire and looking an auspicious object placed before him, Janardana addressed Satyaki, the grandson of Shirii, who was seated near, after knowing the exact wishes of the Pandava (Yudhishthira), sayingरथ आरोप्यतां शङ्खश्चक्रं च गदया सह।

‘Make ready my car along with my conch, discus and mace and my arrows and arrowholders all sorts of offensive and defensive weapons;

For Duryodhana is wicked-souled and so are Karna and the son of Subala. Even by a strong man an enemy should not be made light of though be he weak.

Knowing his wishes, the attendants of Keshava, the wielder of the mace and the discus, employed themselves in yoking the car.

The car was shining and effulgent like the fire appearing before the dissolution of the world and quick of speed like the wind and ornamented with two wheels which were shining like the sun and the moon.

(And it was ornamented) with figures of half moons and of fishes, animals and birds with various kinds of flowers and with all sorts of precious stones all over.

It was beautiful to look at, being large and effulgent like the morning sun and having its several parts ornamented with gems and gold and furnished with nice flags and banners. Ornamented with gems and gold and furnished with nice flags and banners.

Ornamented with beautiful objects and covered over with tiger skins, it was incapable of being opposed, the destroyer of the fame of enemies and the cause of enhancement of the joys of the Yadu race.

They yoked to it the horses Shaivya, Sugriva, Meghapushpa and Balahaka, after they had been bathed and attired in all their harness.

And, as if enhancing the glory of Krishna, the chariot with flag was perched on with a loud noise by the chief of the fatherly creation.

Shaurin then ascended the chariot, which moved along at the will of the rider, which was high as the peak of the Meru and which rattled as the roar of the clouds or the sound of the kettle drums.

Then having caused Satyaki to mount on it, that best of male beings set out filling the earth and the sky with the rattle of the wheels of the chariot.

And in a moment the sky became cloudless; and favourable winds blew; and the weather became calm and serene.

Auspicious animals and birds going round the car became the followers of Vasudeva in his journey.

The birds of the crane peacock and goose species followed the slayer of Madhu with sounds signifying the attainment of the object for which the journey was undertaken.

The fire, too, on which had been offered Homa libations accompanied by incantations, became bright and smokeless inclining towards the right.

Vasishtha and Vamadeva, Bhuridyumna, Gaya, Kratha, Shukra, Narada and Valmika, Maruta, Kushika and Bhrigu and other Brahmarshis and the gods united together and stood to the right of Krishna, who contributed to the happiness of the Yadus and was ihe younger brother of Vasava.

In this way worshipped by this blessed group of great qualities, Krishna set out for the encampment of the Kurus.

Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, Bhimasena and Arjuna and the two descendants of Pandu-the two sons of Madri followed him as he proceeded along. The powerful Chekitana and Dhrishtaketu, the lord of the Chedis, Drupada, Kashi and the great car-warrior Shikhandi and Dhrishtadyumna and Virata in company with his sons, the Kaikeya princes, all Kshatriyas followed the bull of the Kshatriya race to attain his object.

And the just king Yudhishthira, endued with luster, having followed Govinda to some distance, said these words in the midst of those kings.

He, who from desire or anger, fear or object of gaining his ends, never does an unjust act; and he who is of a calm intellect and not given to avarice,

Who knows what virtue is, who is wise and endued with intelligence, who is cognizant of the inner working of the hearts of all beings, who is the lord of all creatures and the eternal god of the gods.

The son of Kunti embracing this being, endued with all the virtues and having the mark of the auspicious whirl on his person, began to address thus-

Yudhishthira said The lady, who had reared us from our infancy, with whom fasts and devotion are habits and who is ever attached to propitiatory rites and ceremonics, who is attached to the worship of the Gods and the guest and the due service of her elder, who is fond of her sons and bearing great affection for them and who, OJanardana, are dear to us, who has saved us from the wickedness of Suyodhana, O grinder of enemies, like a boat (saving the ship wracked) from the great and terrific death in the sea and by whom troubles have often been encountered, O Madhava, for our sake, though she herself is not desiring it, should be interrogated regarding her welfare.

Having saluted her first, embrace this lady and comfort her, who is filled with grief for her sons by talking again and again of the Pandavas.

Ever since her wedding has she, O chastiser of foes, encountered troubles and grief's due to her father-in-law, though she has not deserved these.

Will there ever come a time, O Krishna, when at the end of all my troubles, I shall give my troubled mother happiness, O chastiser of foes.

When we were about to go into exile, she followed us in distress out of fondness for her children crying aloud; but we went to the forest leaving her behind.

One does not necessarily die of grief and if she is alive, O Keshava, hospitably entertained by the Anartas through in extreme distress on account of her sons and others.

Then, O Krishna, having greeted her on my behalf, O Lord and also Dhritarashtra and the kings on the side of the Kurus and those who are my seniors in age and Bhishma and Drona and Kripa and the great king Balhika and the son of Drona and Somadatta and all the Bharatas and the exceedingly wise Vidura, the adviser of the Kurus, O slayer of Madhu, that man of illimitable knowledge and conversant with the rulers of morality should be embraced by you.

Yudhishthira, having thus addressed Keshava in the midst of those kings, returned at the bidding of Krishna, after going round him.

Vibhatsu, too, as he proceeded along, said to his friend, that bull among men, that slayer of heroes on the enemy's side, that scion of the Dasharha race who has never been defeated.

O Lord, O Govinda, it is know among all the kings that it has already been decided in our consultation to demand the return of one half of the kingdom.

And if they give us that for the sake of honesty without insult to us and with due respect to yourself, then, O you with long arms, they should do what is desired by me and themselves escape a great evil.

But if the son of Dhritarashtra, who is not cognizant of the proper way of executing acts, does otherwise, I shall surely bring on the annihilation of the Kshatriyas, O Janardana.

The son of Pandu (Arjuna) having thus addressed, Vrikodara became greatly pleased; and every moment out of rage, the Pandava's frames shook.

And while trembling, the son of Kunti sent forth loud shouts hearing the words of Dhananjaya; and his mind was exceedingly filled with delight.

Hearing that shout of his, the bowmen trembled (with fear); and the animals in the army passed urine and dung.

Having thus addressed Keshava and thus given out his resolve, he (Arjuna) returned at his bidding after first going round Janardana.

And all these kings having returned Janardana made good progress in his journey, light of heart, drawn by Saivya and Sugriva.

These horses of Vasudeva, led by Daruka, (wenton) as if kissing the roads and swallowing the sky.

Keshava of long arms saw on the road, standing on either side, several Rishis effulgent with the Brahmic luster; and Janardana, too, quickly alighting from his chariot paid them due respects.

Then Janardana quickly step down from his chariot, and said all those Rishis with adoration and respect.

As he worshipped them, he addressed to each in suitable terms, inquiring of them if all went on well in the worlds and if piety was well established there. And also if the three orders acted in obedience to the Brahmanas.

Having paid them due honours, the slayer of Madhu said to them. What is the object of you prosperous ones? Where are you going? What are you, prosperous beings, going to do? What shall I do for you? With what object have you, prosperous ones, come down to the face of the earth?

The son of Jamadagni said coming near that slayer of Madhu the friend of the lord of the gods and the Asuras had embraced Govinda and said-

The divine Rishis and vastly learned Brahmanas of a pious life. And Rishis of royal descent, O you of the Dasharha race, as also venerable devotees, who were witnesses, O you exceedingly wise Being, to the ancient feats of the gods and the Asuras. Are desirous of seeing all the Kshatriya rulers of the earth and the countries and the kings assembled together from all sides, as also yourself, the true Janardana. We are going, O Keshava, to behold this grand sight worthy of being seen; and we desire to hear, O Madhava, words conducive to morality and worldly profit. Which will be addressed by you to the Kurus in the midst of the kings, O you chastiser of foes.

Bhishma, Drona and others as also the greatly intelligent Vidura and yourself, O you tiger among the race of the Yadus, will be assembled together in the Council Chamber.

O Govinda, O Madhava, we desire to hear your divine, truth and of benefit words assembled together in the Council Chamber.

You now know our purpose, O you of long arms; and you will again see us. O hero, we will see you come to the Council safely and sealed on a divine seat, endued with strength and prowess.