Duryodhana's Vaishnava Sacrifice

Verse 1 (3.257.1)

ततस्तु शिल्पिनः सर्वं कृतमूचुर्नराधिपम् । विदुरश्च महाप्राज्ञो धृतराष्ट्रे न्यवेदयत् ॥

tatastu śilpinaḥ sarvaṃ kṛtamūcurnarādhipam | viduraśca mahāprājño dhṛtarāṣṭre nyavedayat

Vaishampayana said: Then the craftsmen told the king that everything was done, and the wise Vidura reported to Dhritarashtra:

Note on the text: Corrected कृतमूर्चुर्नराधिपम् → कृतमूचुर्नराधिपम् (misprint in Wikisource; stray repha in ऊचुः). The first line differs from the critical edition's (tatas tu śilpinaḥ sarve amātyapravarāś ca ha); kept as a recension variant.

Verse 2 (3.257.2)

सज्जं क्रतुवरं राजन्कालप्राप्तं च भारत । सौवर्णं च कृतं सर्वं लाङ्गलं च महाधनम् ॥

sajjaṃ kratuvaraṃ rājankālaprāptaṃ ca bhārata | sauvarṇaṃ ca kṛtaṃ sarvaṃ lāṅgalaṃ ca mahādhanam

"The finest of sacrifices is ready, O king, and its time has come, Bharata; all the golden things have been made, and the costly plough as well."

Verse 3 (3.257.3)

एतच्छ्रुत्वा नृपश्रेष्ठो धृतराष्ट्रो विशांपते । आज्ञापयामास नृपः क्रतुराजप्रवर्तनम् ॥

etacchrutvā nṛpaśreṣṭho dhṛtarāṣṭro viśāṃpate | ājñāpayāmāsa nṛpaḥ kraturājapravartanam

Hearing this, O lord of the people, Dhritarashtra, best of kings, gave the order for that king of sacrifices to begin.

Note on the text: Corrected एवच्छ्रुत्वा → एतच्छ्रुत्वा and विशंपते → विशांपते (misprints in Wikisource; the critical edition reads etac chrutvā … viśāṃ pate). धृतराष्ट्रो (CE dhārtarāṣṭro) is kept as the Wikisource reading.

Verse 4 (3.257.4)

ततः प्रववृते यज्ञः प्रभूतार्थः सुसंस्कृतः । दीक्षितश्चापि गान्धारिर्यथाशास्त्रं यथाक्रमम् ॥

tataḥ pravavṛte yajñaḥ prabhūtārthaḥ susaṃskṛtaḥ | dīkṣitaścāpi gāndhāriryathāśāstraṃ yathākramam

Then the sacrifice began, rich in wealth and well ordered, and Gandhari's son was consecrated for it according to scripture and in due order.

Verse 5 (3.257.5)

प्रहृष्टो धृतराष्ट्रश्च विदुरश्च महायशाः । भीष्मो द्रोणः कृपः कर्णो गान्धारी च यशस्विनी ॥

prahṛṣṭo dhṛtarāṣṭraśca viduraśca mahāyaśāḥ | bhīṣmo droṇaḥ kṛpaḥ karṇo gāndhārī ca yaśasvinī

Dhritarashtra was delighted, and so were the illustrious Vidura, Bhishma, Drona, Kripa, Karna and the renowned Gandhari.

Verse 6 (3.257.6)

निमन्त्रणार्थं दूतांश्च प्रेषयामास शीघ्रगान् । पार्थिवानां च राजेन्द्र ब्राह्मणानां तथैव च ॥

nimantraṇārthaṃ dūtāṃśca preṣayāmāsa śīghragān | pārthivānāṃ ca rājendra brāhmaṇānāṃ tathaiva ca

He sent swift messengers to invite the kings of the earth, O king of kings, and the brahmins as well.

Note on the text: Corrected दूर्तांश्च → दूतांश्च (misprint in Wikisource; stray repha; the critical edition reads dūtāṃś ca). This verse is 3.242.6ab–cd of the critical edition.

Verse 7 (3.257.7)

ते प्रयाता यथोद्दिष्टा दूतास्त्वरितवाहनाः । तत्र कंचित्प्रयान्तं तु दूतं दुःशासनोऽब्रवीत् ॥

te prayātā yathoddiṣṭā dūtāstvaritavāhanāḥ | tatra kaṃcitprayāntaṃ tu dūtaṃ duḥśāsano'bravīt

The messengers set out as directed on swift mounts. And to one messenger as he was setting out Duhshasana said:

Note on the text: Corrected कचित्प्रयान्तं → कंचित्प्रयान्तं (misprint in Wikisource; dropped anusvara; the critical edition reads kaṃ cit prayātaṃ). The verse spans the critical edition's 3.242.6ef and 3.242.7ab.

Verse 8 (3.257.8)

गच्छ द्वैतवनं शीघ्रं पाण्डवान्पापपूरुषान् । निमन्त्रय यथान्यायं विप्रांस्तस्मिन्वने तदा ॥

gaccha dvaitavanaṃ śīghraṃ pāṇḍavānpāpapūruṣān | nimantraya yathānyāyaṃ viprāṃstasminvane tadā

"Go quickly to the Dvaita forest and invite the wicked Pandavas, and the brahmins in that forest too, as is proper."

Note on the text: Corrected विप्रांस्त स्मिन्वने → विप्रांस्तस्मिन्वने (misprint in Wikisource; a word broken by a stray space). The verse is the critical edition's 3.242.7cd–ef.

Verse 9 (3.257.9)

स गत्वा पाण्डवान्सर्वानुवाचाभिप्रणम्य च । दुर्योधनो महाराज यजते नृपसत्तमः ॥

sa gatvā pāṇḍavānsarvānuvācābhipraṇamya ca | duryodhano mahārāja yajate nṛpasattamaḥ

He went to all the Pandavas, bowed to them and said: "Duryodhana, great king, best of kings, is performing a sacrifice,

Verse 10 (3.257.10)

स्ववीर्यार्जितमर्थौघमवाप्य कुरुसत्तमः । तत्र गच्छन्ति राजानो ब्राह्मणाश्च ततस्ततः ॥

svavīryārjitamarthaughamavāpya kurusattamaḥ | tatra gacchanti rājāno brāhmaṇāśca tatastataḥ

that best of the Kurus, having won a flood of wealth by his own prowess. Kings and brahmins are going there from every side.

Verse 11 (3.257.11)

अहं तु प्रेषितो राजन्कौरवेण महात्मना । आमन्त्रयति वो राजा धार्तराष्ट्रो जनेश्वरः । मनोभिलषितं राज्ञस्तं क्रतुं द्रष्टुमर्हथ ॥

ahaṃ tu preṣito rājankauraveṇa mahātmanā | āmantrayati vo rājā dhārtarāṣṭro janeśvaraḥ | manobhilaṣitaṃ rājñastaṃ kratuṃ draṣṭumarhatha

I have been sent, O king, by the great-souled Kaurava. The king, Dhritarashtra's son, lord of men, invites you: come and see that sacrifice so dear to the king's heart."

Verse 12 (3.257.12)

ततो युधिष्ठिरो राजा तच्छ्रुत्वा दूतभाषितम् । अब्रवीन्नृपशार्दूलो दिष्ट्या राजा सुयोधनः । यजते क्रतुमुख्येन पूर्वेषां कीर्तिवर्धनः ॥

tato yudhiṣṭhiro rājā tacchrutvā dūtabhāṣitam | abravīnnṛpaśārdūlo diṣṭyā rājā suyodhanaḥ | yajate kratumukhyena pūrveṣāṃ kīrtivardhanaḥ

Then King Yudhishthira, tiger among kings, hearing the messenger's words, said: "It is good fortune that King Suyodhana is sacrificing with the foremost of sacrifices, adding to the glory of his forebears.

Verse 13 (3.257.13)

वयमप्युपयास्यामो न त्विदानीं कथंचन । समयः परिपाल्यो नो यावद्वर्षं त्रयोदशम् ॥

vayamapyupayāsyāmo na tvidānīṃ kathaṃcana | samayaḥ paripālyo no yāvadvarṣaṃ trayodaśam

We too would come — but by no means now; we must keep our pledge until the thirteenth year is over."

Verse 14 (3.257.14)

श्रुत्वैतद्धर्मराजस्य भीमो वचनमब्रवीत् । तदा तु नृपतिर्गन्ता धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः ॥

śrutvaitaddharmarājasya bhīmo vacanamabravīt | tadā tu nṛpatirgantā dharmarājo yudhiṣṭhiraḥ

Hearing these words of the Dharma king, Bhima said: "King Yudhishthira, the Dharma king, will go then —

Verse 15 (3.257.15)

अस्त्रशस्त्रप्रदीप्तेऽग्नौ यदा तं पातयिष्यति । वर्षात्रयोदशादूर्ध्वं रणसत्रे नराधिपः ॥

astraśastrapradīpte'gnau yadā taṃ pātayiṣyati | varṣātrayodaśādūrdhvaṃ raṇasatre narādhipaḥ

when, after the thirteenth year, in the sacrifice of battle, he casts that king into the fire that blazes with missiles and weapons.

Verse 16 (3.257.16)

यदा क्रोधहविर्मोक्ता धार्तराष्ट्रेषु पाण्डवः । आगन्तारस्तदा स्मेति वाच्यस्ते स सुयोधनः ॥

yadā krodhahavirmoktā dhārtarāṣṭreṣu pāṇḍavaḥ | āgantārastadā smeti vācyaste sa suyodhanaḥ

When the Pandava pours the oblation of his wrath upon the sons of Dhritarashtra, then we will come — that is what you are to tell Suyodhana."

Verse 17 (3.257.17)

शेषास्तु पाण्डवा राजन्नैवोचुः किंचिदप्रियम् । दूतश्चापि यथावृत्तं धार्तराष्ट्रे न्यवेदयत् ॥

śeṣāstu pāṇḍavā rājannaivocuḥ kiṃcidapriyam | dūtaścāpi yathāvṛttaṃ dhārtarāṣṭre nyavedayat

The other Pandavas, O king, said nothing unpleasant, and the messenger reported to Dhritarashtra's son exactly what had happened.

Verse 18 (3.257.18)

अथाजग्मुर्नरश्रेष्ठा नानाजनपदेश्वराः । ब्राह्मणाश्च महाभाग धार्तराष्ट्रपुरं प्रति ॥

athājagmurnaraśreṣṭhā nānājanapadeśvarāḥ | brāhmaṇāśca mahābhāga dhārtarāṣṭrapuraṃ prati

Then the best of men, the lords of many lands, came to the city of Dhritarashtra's son, and the brahmins too, O fortunate one.

Verse 19 (3.257.19)

ते त्वर्चिता यथाशास्त्रं यथाविधि यथाक्रमम् । मुदा परमया युक्ताः प्रीताश्चापि नरेश्वराः ॥

te tvarcitā yathāśāstraṃ yathāvidhi yathākramam | mudā paramayā yuktāḥ prītāścāpi nareśvarāḥ

Honoured according to scripture, according to rule and in due order, those lords of men were filled with the greatest joy and were well pleased.

Verse 20 (3.257.20)

धृतराष्ट्रोऽपि राजेन्द्र संवृतः सर्वकौरवैः । हर्षेण महता युक्तो विदुरं प्रत्यभाषत ॥

dhṛtarāṣṭro'pi rājendra saṃvṛtaḥ sarvakauravaiḥ | harṣeṇa mahatā yukto viduraṃ pratyabhāṣata

Dhritarashtra too, O king of kings, surrounded by all the Kauravas and filled with great joy, said to Vidura:

Verse 21 (3.257.21)

यथा सुखी जनः सर्वः क्षत्तः स्यादन्नसंयुतः । तुष्येत्तु यज्ञसदने तथा नीतिर्विधीयताम् ॥

yathā sukhī janaḥ sarvaḥ kṣattaḥ syādannasaṃyutaḥ | tuṣyettu yajñasadane tathā nītirvidhīyatām

"Kshattri, see that such arrangements are made that all the people in the sacrificial hall may be happy, well fed and content."

Verse 22 (3.257.22)

विदुरस्तु तदाज्ञाय सर्ववर्णानरिंदम । यथा प्रमाणतो विद्वान्पूजयामास धर्मवित् ॥

vidurastu tadājñāya sarvavarṇānariṃdama | yathā pramāṇato vidvānpūjayāmāsa dharmavit

Understanding this, O subduer of enemies, the learned Vidura, who knew dharma, honoured people of every class according to their standing,

Verse 23 (3.257.23)

भक्ष्यपेयान्नपानेन माल्यैश्चापि सुगन्धिभिः । वासोभिर्विविधैश्चैव योजयामास हृष्टवत् ॥

bhakṣyapeyānnapānena mālyaiścāpi sugandhibhiḥ | vāsobhirvividhaiścaiva yojayāmāsa hṛṣṭavat

and he gladly provided them with food to eat and drink, with fragrant garlands and with clothes of many kinds.

Verse 24 (3.257.24)

कृत्वा ह्यवभृथं वीरो यथाशास्त्रं यथाक्रमम् । सान्त्वयित्वा च राजेन्द्रो दत्त्वा च विविधं वसु । विसर्जयामास नृपान्ब्राह्मणांश्च सहस्रशः ॥

kṛtvā hyavabhṛthaṃ vīro yathāśāstraṃ yathākramam | sāntvayitvā ca rājendro dattvā ca vividhaṃ vasu | visarjayāmāsa nṛpānbrāhmaṇāṃśca sahasraśaḥ

The hero performed the closing bath of the sacrifice according to scripture and in due order; and the king of kings, after speaking kindly to them and giving them wealth of many kinds, dismissed the kings and the brahmins by the thousand.

Note on the text: Corrected नपान् → नृपान् (misprint in Wikisource; dropped vowel sign; the critical edition reads nṛpān).

Verse 25 (3.257.25)

विसृज्यच नृपान्सर्वान्भ्रातृभिः परिवारितः । विवेश हास्तिनपुरं सहितः कर्णसौबलैः ॥

visṛjyaca nṛpānsarvānbhrātṛbhiḥ parivāritaḥ | viveśa hāstinapuraṃ sahitaḥ karṇasaubalaiḥ

Having dismissed all the kings, he entered Hastinapura surrounded by his brothers, together with Karna and Subala's son.