Narada Visits the Pandavas; Bhishma Meets Pulastya

Verse 1 (3.79.1)

धनञ्जयोत्सुकास्ते तु वने तस्मिन्महारथाः । न्यवसन्त महाभागा द्रौपद्या सह कृष्णया ॥

dhanañjayotsukāste tu vane tasminmahārathāḥ | nyavasanta mahābhāgā draupadyā saha kṛṣṇayā

Longing for Dhananjaya, those illustrious great chariot-warriors lived on in that forest together with Krishna, the daughter of Drupada.

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki marks (` and ') that Wikisource uses to set off this verse.

Verse 2 (3.79.2)

धनंजयोत्सुकानां तु भ्रातॄणां कृष्णया सह । श्रुत्वा वाक्यानि विमना धर्मराजोऽप्यजायत ॥

dhanaṃjayotsukānāṃ tu bhrātṝṇāṃ kṛṣṇayā saha | śrutvā vākyāni vimanā dharmarājo'pyajāyata

Hearing the words of his brothers and of Krishna, all longing for Dhananjaya, the King of Dharma too grew downcast.

Note on the text: Corrected धनं जयोत्सुकानां → धनंजयोत्सुकानां (misprint in Wikisource; a stray space splits the compound) and धर्मराजोप्यजायत → धर्मराजोऽप्यजायत (missing avagraha; the critical edition's apparatus reads dharmarājo 'py ajāyata). Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 3.80.1d*0374.

Verse 3 (3.79.3)

अथापश्यन्महात्मानं देवर्षिं तत्र नारदम् । दीप्यमानं श्रिया ब्राह्म्या दीप्ताग्निसमतेजसम् ॥

athāpaśyanmahātmānaṃ devarṣiṃ tatra nāradam | dīpyamānaṃ śriyā brāhmyā dīptāgnisamatejasam

Then they saw there the great-souled divine sage Narada, shining with the splendour of brahman and glowing like a blazing fire.

Verse 4 (3.79.4)

तमागतमभिप्रेक्ष्य भ्रातृभिः सह धर्मराट् । प्रत्युत्थाय यथान्यायं पूजां चक्रे महात्मने ॥

tamāgatamabhiprekṣya bhrātṛbhiḥ saha dharmarāṭ | pratyutthāya yathānyāyaṃ pūjāṃ cakre mahātmane

Seeing him arrive, the King of Dharma rose with his brothers and paid the great-souled sage due honour.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 3.80.2d*0375.

Verse 5 (3.79.5)

स तैः परिवृतः श्रीमान्भ्रातृभिः कुरुसत्तमः । विबभावतिदीप्तौजा देवैरिव शतक्रतुः ॥

sa taiḥ parivṛtaḥ śrīmānbhrātṛbhiḥ kurusattamaḥ | vibabhāvatidīptaujā devairiva śatakratuḥ

Surrounded by his brothers, the glorious best of the Kurus shone with surpassing radiance, like Indra of the hundred sacrifices among the gods.

Verse 6 (3.79.6)

यथा च वेदान्सावित्री याज्ञसेनी तथा पतीन् । न जहौ धर्मतः पार्थान्मेरुमर्कप्रभा यथा ॥

yathā ca vedānsāvitrī yājñasenī tathā patīn | na jahau dharmataḥ pārthānmerumarkaprabhā yathā

As Savitri does not forsake the Vedas, and as the sun's light does not forsake Mount Meru, so Yajnaseni, true to dharma, did not forsake her husbands, the sons of Pritha.

Verse 7 (3.79.7)

अर्घ्यं पाद्यमथानीय त्वभ्यवादयदच्युतः । नारदस्तु महातेजाः स्वस्त्यस्त्वित्यभ्यभाषत ॥

arghyaṃ pādyamathānīya tvabhyavādayadacyutaḥ | nāradastu mahātejāḥ svastyastvityabhyabhāṣata

Bringing the guest-offering and water for the feet, the steadfast king saluted him, and Narada of great splendour answered, "May it be well with you."

Note on the text: Removed a stray wiki mark (`) at the start of the verse. Corrected अर्ध्यं → अर्घ्यं (misprint in Wikisource; ध for घ) and त्वभ्यवायदच्युतः → त्वभ्यवादयदच्युतः (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped akshara leaves the pada a syllable short; the critical edition's apparatus reads tv abhyavādayad). Wikisource's अच्युतः (the critical edition's apparatus has acyutam) is kept as a recension variant. Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 3.80.4d*0376.

Verse 8 (3.79.8)

ततो युधिष्ठिरो राजा दृष्ट्वा देवर्षिसत्तमम् । यथार्हं पूजयामास विधिवत्कुरुनन्दनः ॥

tato yudhiṣṭhiro rājā dṛṣṭvā devarṣisattamam | yathārhaṃ pūjayāmāsa vidhivatkurunandanaḥ

Then King Yudhishthira, joy of the Kurus, looking upon the best of divine sages, worshipped him fittingly and according to rule.

Note on the text: Removed a stray wiki mark (') at the end of the verse. Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 3.80.4d*0377.

Verse 9 (3.79.9)

प्रतिगृह्य च तां पूजां नारदो भगवानृषिः । आश्वासयद्धर्मसुतं युक्तरूपमिवानघ ॥

pratigṛhya ca tāṃ pūjāṃ nārado bhagavānṛṣiḥ | āśvāsayaddharmasutaṃ yuktarūpamivānagha

Accepting that worship, the blessed sage Narada comforted the son of Dharma in fitting words, O sinless one.

Verse 10 (3.79.10)

उवाच च महात्मानं धर्मराजं युधिष्ठिरम् । ब्रूहि धर्मभृतां श्रेष्ठ केनार्थः किं ददानि ते ॥

uvāca ca mahātmānaṃ dharmarājaṃ yudhiṣṭhiram | brūhi dharmabhṛtāṃ śreṣṭha kenārthaḥ kiṃ dadāni te

And he said to the great-souled King of Dharma, Yudhishthira: "Tell me, best of those who uphold dharma, what do you need? What shall I give you?"

Verse 11 (3.79.11)

अथ धर्मसुतो राजा प्रणम्य भ्रातृभिः सह । उवाच प्राञ्जलिर्भूत्वा नारदं देवसंमितम् ॥

atha dharmasuto rājā praṇamya bhrātṛbhiḥ saha | uvāca prāñjalirbhūtvā nāradaṃ devasaṃmitam

Then the king, the son of Dharma, bowed down with his brothers, and with joined palms he said to Narada, who is held equal to the gods:

Verse 12 (3.79.12)

त्वयि तुष्टे महाभाग सर्वलोकाभिपूजिते । कृतमित्येव मन्येऽहं प्रसादात्तव सुव्रत ॥

tvayi tuṣṭe mahābhāga sarvalokābhipūjite | kṛtamityeva manye'haṃ prasādāttava suvrata

"Illustrious one, honoured by all the worlds, when you are pleased, I count everything as already done, by your grace, O keeper of vows.

Note on the text: Corrected न्वयि → त्वयि (misprint in Wikisource; न for त; the critical edition reads tvayi). Direct speech of Yudhishthira, announced in verse 11 with no printed heading; given to him.

Verse 13 (3.79.13)

यदि त्वहमनुग्राह्यो भ्रातृभिः सहितोऽनघ । संदेहं मे मुनिश्रेष्ठ तत्त्वतश्छेत्तुमर्हसि ॥

yadi tvahamanugrāhyo bhrātṛbhiḥ sahito'nagha | saṃdehaṃ me muniśreṣṭha tattvataśchettumarhasi

But if I and my brothers deserve your favour, sinless one, then, best of sages, you should truly resolve a doubt of mine.

Note on the text: Corrected सुनिश्रेष्ठ → मुनिश्रेष्ठ (misprint in Wikisource; स for म; the critical edition reads muniśreṣṭha) and तत्वतश् → तत्त्वतश् (misspelling in Wikisource; tattva has a doubled t). Direct speech of Yudhishthira, with no printed heading; given to him.

Verse 14 (3.79.14)

प्रदक्षिणां यः कुरुते पृथिवीं तीर्थतत्परः । किं फलं तस्य कार्त्स्न्येन तद्भवान्वक्तुमर्हति ॥

pradakṣiṇāṃ yaḥ kurute pṛthivīṃ tīrthatatparaḥ | kiṃ phalaṃ tasya kārtsnyena tadbhavānvaktumarhati

What is the fruit, in full, for one who, devoted to the sacred fords, goes round the earth keeping it on his right? Please tell me that."

Note on the text: Direct speech of Yudhishthira, with no printed heading; given to him.

Verse 15 (3.79.15)

शृणु राजन्नवहितो यथा भीष्मेण धीमता । पुलस्त्यस्य सकाशाद्वै सर्वमेतदुपश्रुतम् ॥

śṛṇu rājannavahito yathā bhīṣmeṇa dhīmatā | pulastyasya sakāśādvai sarvametadupaśrutam

Listen attentively, king, to all this as the wise Bhishma heard it from Pulastya.

Verse 16 (3.79.16)

पुरा भागीरथीतीरे भीष्मो धर्मभृतां वरः । पित्र्यं व्रतं समास्थाय न्यवसन्मुनिभिः सह ॥

purā bhāgīrathītīre bhīṣmo dharmabhṛtāṃ varaḥ | pitryaṃ vrataṃ samāsthāya nyavasanmunibhiḥ saha

Long ago Bhishma, foremost of those who uphold dharma, undertook a vow in honour of the ancestors and lived with the sages on the bank of the Bhagirathi.

Note on the text: Restored a missing word space (धर्मभृतांवरः → धर्मभृतां वरः).

Verse 17 (3.79.17)

शुभे देशे तथा राजन्पुण्ये देवर्षिसेविते । गङ्गाद्वारे महाभाग देवगन्धर्वसेविते ॥

śubhe deśe tathā rājanpuṇye devarṣisevite | gaṅgādvāre mahābhāga devagandharvasevite

This was at Gangadvara, O fortunate king, a lovely and holy place frequented by divine sages, by gods and by gandharvas.

Verse 18 (3.79.18)

स पितॄंस्तर्पयामास देवांश्च परमद्युतिः । ऋषींश्च तर्पयामास विधिदृष्टेन कर्मणा ॥

sa pitṝṃstarpayāmāsa devāṃśca paramadyutiḥ | ṛṣīṃśca tarpayāmāsa vidhidṛṣṭena karmaṇā

There that man of great splendour satisfied the ancestors and the gods with offerings, and satisfied the seers too, by the rites the scriptures lay down.

Verse 19 (3.79.19)

कस्य चित्त्वथ कालस्य जपन्नेव महायशाः । ददर्शाद्भुतसंकाशं पुलस्त्यमृषिसत्तमम् ॥

kasya cittvatha kālasya japanneva mahāyaśāḥ | dadarśādbhutasaṃkāśaṃ pulastyamṛṣisattamam

After some time, while the renowned Bhishma was at his silent prayer, he saw Pulastya, best of seers, wondrous to behold.

Verse 20 (3.79.20)

स तं दृष्ट्वोग्रतपसं दीप्यमानमिव श्रिया । प्रहर्षमतुलं लेभे विस्मयं परमं ययौ ॥

sa taṃ dṛṣṭvogratapasaṃ dīpyamānamiva śriyā | praharṣamatulaṃ lebhe vismayaṃ paramaṃ yayau

Seeing that sage of fierce austerity, who seemed to blaze with glory, Bhishma felt boundless joy and was filled with wonder.

Verse 21 (3.79.21)

उपस्थितं महाभागं पूजयामास भारत । भीष्मो धर्मभृतां श्रेष्ठो विधिदृष्टेन कर्मणा ॥

upasthitaṃ mahābhāgaṃ pūjayāmāsa bhārata | bhīṣmo dharmabhṛtāṃ śreṣṭho vidhidṛṣṭena karmaṇā

Bhishma, best of those who uphold dharma, worshipped the illustrious sage who had come to him, O Bharata, with the rites the scriptures lay down.

Verse 22 (3.79.22)

शिरसा चार्घमादाय शुचिः प्रयतमानसः । नाम संकीर्तयामास तस्मिन्ब्रह्मर्षिसत्तमे ॥

śirasā cārghamādāya śuciḥ prayatamānasaḥ | nāma saṃkīrtayāmāsa tasminbrahmarṣisattame

Pure and with a controlled mind, he took the guest-offering upon his head and announced his name to that best of brahmin seers:

Note on the text: Corrected चाघमादाय → चार्घमादाय (misprint in Wikisource; the repha of अर्घ is dropped; the critical edition reads cārghyam ādāya).

Verse 23 (3.79.23)

भीष्मोऽहमस्मि भद्रं ते दासोऽस्मि तव सुव्रत । तव संदर्शनादेव मुक्तोऽहं सर्वकिल्बिषैः ॥

bhīṣmo'hamasmi bhadraṃ te dāso'smi tava suvrata | tava saṃdarśanādeva mukto'haṃ sarvakilbiṣaiḥ

"I am Bhishma. Blessings on you! I am your servant, O keeper of vows. By the mere sight of you I am freed from every sin."

Note on the text: Corrected किल्वपैः → किल्बिषैः (misprint in Wikisource; not a word, and the critical edition reads kilbiṣaiḥ). Direct speech of Bhishma within Narada's account, with no printed heading; given to him.

Verse 24 (3.79.24)

एवमुक्त्वा महाराज भीष्मो धर्मभृतां वरः । वाग्यतः प्राञ्जलिर्भूत्वा तूष्णीमासीद्युधिष्ठिर ॥

evamuktvā mahārāja bhīṣmo dharmabhṛtāṃ varaḥ | vāgyataḥ prāñjalirbhūtvā tūṣṇīmāsīdyudhiṣṭhira

Having said this, great king, Bhishma, foremost of those who uphold dharma, held his tongue and stood silent with joined palms, Yudhishthira.

Note on the text: Corrected रएवमुक्त्वा → एवमुक्त्वा (misprint in Wikisource; a stray र; the critical edition reads evam uktvā). Restored missing word spaces (धर्मभृतांवरः → धर्मभृतां वरः, भूत्वातूष्णीम् → भूत्वा तूष्णीम्).

Verse 25 (3.79.25)

तं दृष्ट्वा नियमेनाथ स्वाध्यायाम्नायकर्शितम् । भीष्मं कुरुकुलश्रेष्ठं मुनिः प्रीतमनाऽभवत् ॥

taṃ dṛṣṭvā niyamenātha svādhyāyāmnāyakarśitam | bhīṣmaṃ kurukulaśreṣṭhaṃ muniḥ prītamanā'bhavat

Seeing Bhishma, best of the Kuru line, worn thin by his vows and by study and recitation of the Veda, the sage was glad at heart.

Verse 26 (3.79.26)

ततः स मधुरेणाथ स्वरेण सुमहातपाः । उवाच वाक्यं धर्मज्ञः पुलस्त्यः प्रीतमानसः ॥

tataḥ sa madhureṇātha svareṇa sumahātapāḥ | uvāca vākyaṃ dharmajñaḥ pulastyaḥ prītamānasaḥ

Then Pulastya, the great ascetic who knew dharma, pleased at heart, spoke these words in a sweet voice.

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki marks (` and ') that Wikisource uses to set off this verse. Not in the critical edition (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as 3.80.21b*0378, where it falls between the two lines of 3.80.21.