Vyasa Permits the Horse Sacrifice; Krishna Is Asked to Take the Consecration

Verse 1 (14.71.1)

तान्समीपगताञ्श्रुत्वा पाण्डवाञ्शत्रुकर्शनः । वासुदेवः सहामात्यः प्रययौ ससुहृद्गणः । ते समेत्य यथान्यायं प्रत्युद्याता दिदृक्षया ॥

tānsamīpagatāñśrutvā pāṇḍavāñśatrukarśanaḥ | vāsudevaḥ sahāmātyaḥ prayayau sasuhṛdgaṇaḥ | te sametya yathānyāyaṃ pratyudyātā didṛkṣayā

Hearing that the Pandavas, tamers of their foes, had come near, Vasudeva set out with his ministers and his band of friends. Meeting them as custom required, they went forward to receive them, eager to see them.

Note on the text: Wikisource's three-line verse = CE 14.70.1a, then 14.70.1c with the star lines 14,070.001c*0143_01 (प्रययौ ससुहृद्गणः) and *0143_02 (ते समेत्य यथान्यायं), then 1c's end (प्रत्युद्याता for CE pratyudyāto). Recension variant, kept.

Verse 2 (14.71.2)

ते समेत्य तथाधर्मं पाण्डवा वृष्णिभिः सह । विविशुः सहिता राजन्पुरं वारणसाह्वयम् ॥

te sametya tathādharmaṃ pāṇḍavā vṛṣṇibhiḥ saha | viviśuḥ sahitā rājanpuraṃ vāraṇasāhvayam

Having met them as dharma required, O king, the Pandavas, together with the Vrishnis, entered the city called Varanasahvaya (Hastinapura).

Verse 3 (14.71.3)

विशतस्तस्य सैन्यस्य खुरनेमिस्वनेन ह । द्यावापृथिव्यौ खं चैव सर्वमासीत्समावृतम् ॥

viśatastasya sainyasya khuranemisvanena ha | dyāvāpṛthivyau khaṃ caiva sarvamāsītsamāvṛtam

As that army entered, the sky and the earth and all of space were filled with the sound of hooves and wheel-rims.

Verse 4 (14.71.4)

ते कोशानग्रतः कृत्वा विविशुः स्वं पुरं तदा । पाण्डवाः प्रीतमनसः सामात्याः ससुहृद्गणाः ॥

te kośānagrataḥ kṛtvā viviśuḥ svaṃ puraṃ tadā | pāṇḍavāḥ prītamanasaḥ sāmātyāḥ sasuhṛdgaṇāḥ

Putting the treasure in front, the Pandavas, glad at heart, entered their own city then, with their ministers and bands of friends.

Verse 5 (14.71.5)

ते समेत्य यथान्यायं धृतराष्ट्रं जनाधिपम् । कीर्तयन्तः स्वनामानि तस्य पादौ ववन्दिरे ॥

te sametya yathānyāyaṃ dhṛtarāṣṭraṃ janādhipam | kīrtayantaḥ svanāmāni tasya pādau vavandire

Meeting King Dhritarashtra as was proper, they spoke their own names and bowed at his feet.

Verse 6 (14.71.6)

धृतराष्ट्राभ्यनुज्ञाता गान्धारीं सुबलात्मजाम् । कुन्तीं च राजशार्दूल तदा भरतसत्तम ॥

dhṛtarāṣṭrābhyanujñātā gāndhārīṃ subalātmajām | kuntīṃ ca rājaśārdūla tadā bharatasattama

With Dhritarashtra's leave, O best of kings, O best of the Bharatas, they then greeted Gandhari, the daughter of Subala, and Kunti.

Note on the text: Wikisource reads धृतराष्ट्राभ्यनुज्ञाता (with his leave) where the critical edition has धृतराष्ट्रादनु च ते (after Dhritarashtra); recension variant, kept.

Verse 7 (14.71.7)

विदुरं पूजयित्वा च वैश्यापुत्रं समेत्य च । पूज्यमानाः स्म ते वीरा व्यरोचन्त विशाम्पते ॥

viduraṃ pūjayitvā ca vaiśyāputraṃ sametya ca | pūjyamānāḥ sma te vīrā vyarocanta viśāmpate

Having honoured Vidura as well, and having met the son of the Vaishya woman, those heroes, honoured in turn, shone, O lord of the people.

Note on the text: Corrected यूजयित्वा → पूजयित्वा (misprint in Wikisource; wrong initial akshara; the critical edition has pūjayitvā). The commentary note printed after the colophon (14-71-7, 'वैश्यापुत्रं युयुत्सुम्', glossing the Vaishya woman's son as Yuyutsu) is not added.

Verse 8 (14.71.8)

ततस्तत्परमाश्चर्यं विचित्रं महदद्भुतम् । शुश्रुवुस्ते तदा वीराः पितुस्ते जन्म भारत ॥

tatastatparamāścaryaṃ vicitraṃ mahadadbhutam | śuśruvuste tadā vīrāḥ pituste janma bhārata

Then those heroes heard of that supreme, strange, great and marvellous event, O Bharata, the birth of your father.

Verse 9 (14.71.9)

तदुपश्रुत्य तत्कर्म वासुदेवस्य धीमतः । पूजार्हं पूजयामासुः कृष्णं देवकीनन्दनम् ॥

tadupaśrutya tatkarma vāsudevasya dhīmataḥ | pūjārhaṃ pūjayāmāsuḥ kṛṣṇaṃ devakīnandanam

Hearing of that deed of the wise Vasudeva, they honoured Krishna, the son of Devaki, who was worthy of honour.

Note on the text: Wikisource reads तदुपश्रुत्य तत्कर्म (CE: तद् उपश्रुत्य ते कर्म), recension variant, kept.

Verse 10 (14.71.10)

ततः कतिपयाहस्य व्यासः सत्यवतीसुतः । आजगाम महातेजा नगरं नागसाह्वयम् ॥

tataḥ katipayāhasya vyāsaḥ satyavatīsutaḥ | ājagāma mahātejā nagaraṃ nāgasāhvayam

A few days later Vyasa, the son of Satyavati, of great radiance, came to the city of Hastinapura.

Verse 11 (14.71.11)

तस्य सर्वे यथान्यायं पूजां चक्रुः कुरूद्वहाः । सह वृष्ण्यन्धकव्याघ्रैरुपासांचक्रिरे तदा ॥

tasya sarve yathānyāyaṃ pūjāṃ cakruḥ kurūdvahāḥ | saha vṛṣṇyandhakavyāghrairupāsāṃcakrire tadā

All the chiefs of the Kurus paid him due honour, and together with the tigers of the Vrishnis and Andhakas they sat in attendance on him.

Note on the text: Corrected पूजा चक्रुः → पूजां चक्रुः (misprint in Wikisource; dropped anusvara; the critical edition has pūjāṃ cakruḥ). Wikisource's उपासांचक्रिरे is the run-together form of CE upāsāṃ cakrire; kept.

Verse 12 (14.71.12)

तत्र नानाविधाकाराः कथाः समभिकीर्त्य वै । युधिष्ठिरो धर्मसुतो व्यासं वचनमब्रवीत् ॥

tatra nānāvidhākārāḥ kathāḥ samabhikīrtya vai | yudhiṣṭhiro dharmasuto vyāsaṃ vacanamabravīt

After they had told many kinds of tales there, Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma, spoke these words to Vyasa.

Note on the text: Wikisource reads समभिकीर्त्य (CE: समनुकीर्त्य), recension variant, kept.

Verse 13 (14.71.13)

भवत्प्रसादाद्भगवन्यदिदं रत्नमाहृतम् । उपयोक्तुं तदिच्छामि वाजिमेधे महाक्रतौ ॥

bhavatprasādādbhagavanyadidaṃ ratnamāhṛtam | upayoktuṃ tadicchāmi vājimedhe mahākratau

Blessed one, by your grace this treasure has been brought. I wish to use it in the great sacrifice, the Vajimedha (horse sacrifice).

Note on the text: The verse is Yudhishthira's speech (introduced by the previous verse); in the input it was left under the narrator.

Verse 14 (14.71.14)

तमनुज्ञातुमिच्छामि भवता मुनिसत्तम । त्वदधीना वयं सर्वे कृष्णस्य च महात्मनः ॥

tamanujñātumicchāmi bhavatā munisattama | tvadadhīnā vayaṃ sarve kṛṣṇasya ca mahātmanaḥ

Best of sages, I wish to have your permission for it; all of us depend on you, and on the great-souled Krishna.

Note on the text: Yudhishthira's speech; in the input it was left under the narrator.

Verse 15 (14.71.15)

अनुजानामि राजंस्त्वां क्रियतां यदनन्तरम् । यजस्व वाजिमेधेन विधिवद्दक्षिणावता ॥

anujānāmi rājaṃstvāṃ kriyatāṃ yadanantaram | yajasva vājimedhena vidhivaddakṣiṇāvatā

I give you my leave, O king; let what must follow now be done. Perform the horse sacrifice in due form, with generous gifts to the priests.

Verse 16 (14.71.16)

अश्वमेधो हि राजेन्द्र पावनः सर्वपाप्मनाम् । तेनेष्ट्वा त्वं विपाप्मा वै भविता नात्र संशयः ॥

aśvamedho hi rājendra pāvanaḥ sarvapāpmanām | teneṣṭvā tvaṃ vipāpmā vai bhavitā nātra saṃśayaḥ

The horse sacrifice, O king of kings, purifies all sins. By offering it you will be free of sin; of this there is no doubt.

Note on the text: Corrected विपात्मा → विपाप्मा (misprint in Wikisource; broken conjunct; the critical edition has vipāpmā). The commentary gloss printed after the colophon (14-71-16, 'पावनः नाशकः') is not added.

Verse 17 (14.71.17)

इत्युक्तः स तु धर्मात्मा कुरुराजो युधिष्ठिरः । अश्वमेधस्य कौरव्य चकाराहरणे मतिम् ॥

ityuktaḥ sa tu dharmātmā kururājo yudhiṣṭhiraḥ | aśvamedhasya kauravya cakārāharaṇe matim

Thus addressed, Yudhishthira, the righteous-souled king of the Kurus, O descendant of Kuru, set his mind on performing the horse sacrifice.

Note on the text: Speaker corrected from व्यास (carried over in the input) to वैशम्पायन: the verse is narration (CE 14.70.17 has the heading vaiśaṃpāyana uvāca).

Verse 18 (14.71.18)

समनुज्ञाप्य तत्सर्वं कृष्णद्वैपायनं नृपः । वासुदेवमथाभ्येत्य वाग्मी वचनमब्रवीत् ॥

samanujñāpya tatsarvaṃ kṛṣṇadvaipāyanaṃ nṛpaḥ | vāsudevamathābhyetya vāgmī vacanamabravīt

Having obtained Krishna Dvaipayana's leave for all this, the eloquent king went to Vasudeva and said to him:

Note on the text: Corrected कृष्मद्वैपायनं → कृष्णद्वैपायनं (misprint in Wikisource; wrong akshara; the critical edition has kṛṣṇadvaipāyanaṃ). Speaker corrected from व्यास (carried over in the input) to वैशम्पायन: narration. Wikisource reads समनुज्ञाप्य तत्सर्वं … अभ्येत्य (CE: samanujñāpya tu sa taṃ … āmantrya), recension variant, kept.

Verse 19 (14.71.19)

देवकी सुप्रजा देवी त्वया पुरुषसत्तम । यद्ब्रूयां त्वां महाबाहो तत्कृथास्त्वमिहाच्युत ॥

devakī suprajā devī tvayā puruṣasattama | yadbrūyāṃ tvāṃ mahābāho tatkṛthāstvamihācyuta

Best of men, Devaki is blessed with a noble son in you. Whatever I may say to you, O mighty-armed, O Achyuta, do it here.

Note on the text: Speaker corrected from व्यास (carried over in the input) to युधिष्ठिर: this and the next three verses are Yudhishthira's address to Krishna (no heading printed).

Verse 20 (14.71.20)

त्वत्प्रभावार्जितान्भोगानश्नीम यदुनन्दन । पराक्रमेण बुद्ध्या च त्वयेयं निर्जिता मही ॥

tvatprabhāvārjitānbhogānaśnīma yadunandana | parākrameṇa buddhyā ca tvayeyaṃ nirjitā mahī

We enjoy the pleasures won by your power, O joy of the Yadus; by your valour and wisdom this earth has been conquered.

Note on the text: Speaker corrected from व्यास to युधिष्ठिर (Yudhishthira's address to Krishna).

Verse 21 (14.71.21)

दीक्षयस्व त्वमात्मानं त्वं हि नः परमो गुरुः । त्वयीष्टवति दाशार्ह विपाप्मा भविता ह्यहम् ॥

dīkṣayasva tvamātmānaṃ tvaṃ hi naḥ paramo guruḥ | tvayīṣṭavati dāśārha vipāpmā bhavitā hyaham

Take the consecration yourself, for you are our supreme teacher. When you have offered the sacrifice, O descendant of Dasharha, I shall be free of sin.

Note on the text: Speaker corrected from व्यास to युधिष्ठिर (Yudhishthira's address to Krishna). Lines = CE 14.70.21a and a variant of 21c (Wikisource: दाशार्ह … विपाप्मा भविता ह्यहम्; CE: dharmajña vipāpmā syām ahaṃ vibho); the input found no match, kept as the page's reading.

Verse 22 (14.71.22)

त्वं हि यज्ञो गुरुश्च त्वं धर्मज्ञस्त्वं प्रजापतिः । त्वं गतिः सर्वभूतानामिति मे निश्चिता मतिः ॥

tvaṃ hi yajño guruśca tvaṃ dharmajñastvaṃ prajāpatiḥ | tvaṃ gatiḥ sarvabhūtānāmiti me niścitā matiḥ

You are the sacrifice, you are the teacher, you know dharma, you are Prajapati. You are the refuge of all beings; so my mind is settled.

Note on the text: Speaker corrected from व्यास to युधिष्ठिर (Yudhishthira's address to Krishna). First line = a variant of CE 14.70.21e (Wikisource: त्वं हि यज्ञो गुरुश्च त्वं धर्मज्ञस्त्वं प्रजापतिः; CE: tvaṃ hi yajño 'kṣaraḥ sarvas tvaṃ dharmas tvaṃ prajāpatiḥ); the second line repeats the second line of the next verse (CE 14.70.22c, Krishna's reply) and has no place of its own in the critical edition; kept as the page prints it.

Verse 23 (14.71.23)

त्वमेवैतन्महाबाहो कर्तुमर्हस्यरिंदम । त्वं गतिः सर्वभूतानामिति मे निश्चिता मतिः ॥

tvamevaitanmahābāho kartumarhasyariṃdama | tvaṃ gatiḥ sarvabhūtānāmiti me niścitā matiḥ

It is you, O mighty-armed, tamer of foes, who ought to do this. You are the refuge of all beings; so my mind is settled.

Note on the text: Wikisource's heading वासुदेव उवाच (14-71-23x) is kept. Second line = CE 14.70.22c; first line reads कर्तुम् where the CE has वक्तुम् (recension variant, kept).

Verse 24 (14.71.24)

त्वं चाद्य कुरुवीराणां धर्मेण हि विराजसे । गुणीभूताः स्म ते राजंस्त्वं नो राजन्गुरुर्मतः । यजस्व मदनुज्ञातः प्राप्य एष क्रतुस्त्वया ॥

tvaṃ cādya kuruvīrāṇāṃ dharmeṇa hi virājase | guṇībhūtāḥ sma te rājaṃstvaṃ no rājangururmataḥ | yajasva madanujñātaḥ prāpya eṣa kratustvayā

Today you shine among the heroes of the Kurus by your dharma. We, O king, are only your instruments; you, O king, are held to be our teacher. Perform the sacrifice with my leave; this rite is yours to accomplish.

Note on the text: Corrected चाद्यि → चाद्य (misprint in Wikisource; stray vowel sign; the critical edition has cādya). Lines = CE 14.70.23a, 23c, then 24a (यजस्व मदनुज्ञातः …, the page places it last; reading प्राप्य एष क्रतुस्त्वया for CE prāpta eva kratur mayā is a recension variant, kept); the input found no match.

Verse 25 (14.71.25)

युनक्तु नो भवान्कार्ये यत्र वाञ्छसि भारत । सत्यं ते प्रतिजानामि सर्वं कर्तास्मि तेऽनघ ॥

yunaktu no bhavānkārye yatra vāñchasi bhārata | satyaṃ te pratijānāmi sarvaṃ kartāsmi te'nagha

Employ us, O Bharata, in whatever task you wish. I promise you truly, sinless one, that I shall do all of it.

Note on the text: Lines = CE 14.70.24c and 24e; the input found no match.

Verse 26 (14.71.26)

भीमसेनार्जुनौ चैव तथा माद्रवतीसुतौ । इष्टवन्तो भविष्यन्ति त्वयीष्टवति पार्थिवे ॥

bhīmasenārjunau caiva tathā mādravatīsutau | iṣṭavanto bhaviṣyanti tvayīṣṭavati pārthive

Bhimasena and Arjuna, and the two sons of Madri, will also have performed the sacrifice when you, O king, perform it.

Note on the text: Wikisource reads पार्थिवे (CE: bhārata), recension variant, kept.