सैन्यनिर्याण पर्व — बलरामको तीर्थयात्रा

Janamejaya said The great-souled Bhishma, the foremost among all wielders of weapons, the grandfather of the Bharatas, the flag as it were of all the rulers of the earth,

In intelligence equal to Brihaspati, in power equal to the earth, in gravity equal to the sea, in calmness equal to the Himavat,

In generosity equal to the lord of all creatures, in effulgence equal to the sun, and in destroying the enemies by downpours of arrows equal to great Indra,

Was employed for life as the chief priest of that sacrifice of battle, which was fierce and hair-stirring. Healing this what did Yudhishthira,

Of long arms, the foremost among all wielders of weapons, say and what did Bhimasena and Arjuna and what did Krishna say?

Vaishampayana said Yudhishthira, who was skillful in virtue and worldly profit especially in seasons of calamities, having summoned together all his brothers as also the eternal Vasudeva,

That foremost of speakers said these words in a calm spirit: “Go round the army and remain watchful being clad in mail.

Our first encounter will be with our grandfather, therefore do you look for the seven leaders of my army.

Krishna said By you, O best among the race of Bharatas, have these words pregnant with meaning been said, which indeed are proper in these circumstances which have presented themselves.

All this I approve of, O you of long arms, and now do what ought to be done; select seven leaders for your army.

Vaishampayana said Then summoning before him Drupada, Virata, and that best among the Shini race, and Dhrishtadyumna the prince of Panchala, and the ruler of the earth Dhrishtaketu,

Shikhandin, the prince of Panchala Sahadeva and the king of Magadha summoning these seven heroes of great attributes who were anxious for war,

Yudhishthira duly installed them as the leaders of his army and made Dhrishtadyumna the general commander of all.

This Dhrishtadyumna, who was destined to be the cause of the end of Drona, was born of the blazing sacrificial fire. And over all these great souled men assembled together,

Dhananjaya of curling hairs was made the general; and the guide of Arjuna and the driver of his horses,

Was the younger brother of Sankarashana, Janardana of great intelligence, endued with great beauty. Then seeing that a great battle : was near at hand,

The one, who had the slough for his। weapon (elder brother of Krishna), entered the encampment of the Pandavas, o king, in company with Akrura, Akrura, Gadha, Samba, Uddahava,

And the son of Rukmini (Pradyumna) and the son of Ahuka and Charudeshna and others, Surrounded and protected by those foremost of the Vrishni race like a hard of powerful tigers,

The one of long arms like Vasava protected by Maruts with blue garments on and looking majestic as the peak of the Kailasa,

With the gait of a sporting lion, endued with beauty and with eyes having the ends reddened by drinking wine (entered there. Seeing him, the virtuous king and Keshava of great effulgence,

Rose up from their seats as also did the son of Pritha, and Vrikodara of fierce deeds and the wielder of the Gandiva bow and the other kings that were there.

And they assembled together did worship the approaching Halayudha. Then did the Pandava king touch him in the hand by his own hands.

And all those kings with Vasudeva at their head greeting him, Halayudha too saluted Virata and Drupada and those who were aged.

That chastiser of foes then sat down with Yudhishthira and the son of Rohini then said, with his eyes on Vasudeva, to those rulers of the earth seated together.

There will be a very fierce and harsh massacre of men, it is ordained by the fate surely, I think, and cannot be avoided.

And I entertain the hope that I shall see you come out of that battle along with your well wishers without any disease, and without any scars on your persons.

All these Kshatriyas, these rulers of the earth have their hour come and there will be a great massacre which will make the earth one mass of clay of flesh and blood.

Vasudeva was thus addressed by me again and again in private: “Behave with impartiality to those who are equally related to you, O slayer of Madhu.

As the sons of Pandu are to us, so is that ruler of men Duryodhana; and do you therefore help him also for he applied for it again and again.

For your sake, however, did the slayer of Madhu, not act up to my words. He has with all his heart set himself to your interests, with his eye on the interests of Dhananjaya.

Victory will surely come to the sons of Pandu; such is my opinion, for such is the purpose of Vasudeva.

I do not dare to look on this world separated from Krishna and therefore shall I remain inactive in what Krishna wishes.

Both of these heroes, well skilled in fighting with maces, are my pupils and I bear the same affection for Duryodhana as for that ruler of men Bhima.

Therefore shall I now go to make a pilgrimage to the sacred places on the banks of the Sarasvati for I shall not be able to look on with indifference at this massacre of the Kurus.

The one of long arms, Rama saying this with the leave of the sons of Pandava, went to visit the holy places making the slayer of Madhu return, (he had accompanied him for some distance)