Description of the Bharata and Its Incarnations

Verse 1 (garuda.1.145.1)

ब्रह्मोवाच । भारतं संप्रवक्ष्यामि भारावतरणं भुवः । चक्रे कृष्णो युध्यमानः पाण्डवादिनिमित्ततः

brahmovāca bhārataṁ saṁpravakṣyāmi bhārāvataraṇaṁ bhuvaḥ cakre kṛṣṇo yudhyamānaḥ pāṇḍavādinimittataḥ

Brahma said: I shall now relate the Bharata — the lightening of the earth's burden, which Krishna accomplished by bringing about the war for the sake of the Pandavas and others.

Verse 2 (garuda.1.145.2)

विष्णुनाभ्यब्जतो ब्रह्मा ब्रह्मपुत्रोऽत्रिरत्रितः । सोमस्ततो बुधस्तस्मादिलायां च पुरूरवाः

viṣṇunābhyabjato brahmā brahmaputro'triratritaḥ somastato budhastasmādilāyāṁ ca purūravāḥ

From the lotus of Vishnu's navel came Brahma; Brahma's son was Atri; from Atri, Soma; from Soma, Budha; and from Budha, through Ila, Pururavas.

Verse 3 (garuda.1.145.3)

तस्यायुस्तत्र वंशेऽभूद्ययातिर्भरतः कुरुः । शन्तनुस्तस्य वंशेऽभूद्गङ्गायां शन्तनोः सुतः

tasyāyustatra vaṁśe'bhūdyayātirbharataḥ kuruḥ śantanustasya vaṁśe'bhūdgaṅgāyāṁ śantanoḥ sutaḥ

In his dynasty came Ayus, then Yayati, Bharata, and Kuru. In that same line came Shantanu; through Ganga, Shantanu's son —

Verse 4 (garuda.1.145.4)

भीष्मः सर्वगुणैयुक्तो ब्रह्मवैवर्तपारगः

bhīṣmaḥ sarvaguṇaiyukto brahmavaivartapāragaḥ

was Bhishma, endowed with every virtue, one who had mastered the wisdom of Brahman.

Verse 5 (garuda.1.145.5)

शन्तनोः सत्यवत्यां च द्वौ पुत्रौ संबभूवतुः । चित्राङ्गदन्तु गन्धर्वः पुत्रं चित्राङ्गदोऽवधीत्

śantanoḥ satyavatyāṁ ca dvau putrau saṁbabhūvatuḥ citrāṅgadantu gandharvaḥ putraṁ citrāṅgado'vadhīt

Through Satyavati, Shantanu had two more sons. A Gandharva slew the son Chitrangada.

Verse 6 (garuda.1.145.6)

अन्यो विचित्रवीर्योऽभूत्काशीराजसुतापतिः । विचित्रवीर्ये स्वर्याते व्यासात्तत्क्षेत्रतोऽभवत्

anyo vicitravīryo'bhūtkāśīrājasutāpatiḥ vicitravīrye svaryāte vyāsāttatkṣetrato'bhavat

The other was Vichitravirya, who became husband of the daughters of the king of Kashi. When Vichitravirya went to heaven, through Vyasa, upon that field —

Verse 7 (garuda.1.145.7)

धृतराष्टोऽम्बिकापुत्रः पाण्डुराम्बालिकासुतः । भुजिष्यायान्तु विदुरो गान्धार्यां धृतराष्ट्रतः

dhṛtarāṣṭo'mbikāputraḥ pāṇḍurāmbālikāsutaḥ bhujiṣyāyāntu viduro gāndhāryāṁ dhṛtarāṣṭrataḥ

were born Dhritarashtra, son of Ambika, and Pandu, son of Ambalika; and, through a maidservant, Vidura. Through Gandhari, from Dhritarashtra —

Verse 8 (garuda.1.145.8)

दुर्योधनप्रधानास्तु शतसंख्या महाबलाः । पाण्डोः कुन्त्याञ्च माद्यां च पञ्च पुत्राः प्रजज्ञिरे

duryodhanapradhānāstu śatasaṁkhyā mahābalāḥ pāṇḍoḥ kuntyāñca mādyāṁ ca pañca putrāḥ prajajñire

were born a hundred mighty sons, Duryodhana foremost among them. Through Pandu, by Kunti and Madri, were born five sons —

Verse 9 (garuda.1.145.9)

युधिष्ठिरो भीमसेनो ह्यर्जुनो नकुलस्तथा । सहदेवश्च पञ्चैते महाबलपराक्रमाः

yudhiṣṭhiro bhīmaseno hyarjuno nakulastathā sahadevaśca pañcaite mahābalaparākramāḥ

Yudhishthira, Bhimasena, Arjuna, Nakula, and Sahadeva — these five were endowed with great strength and prowess.

Verse 10 (garuda.1.145.10)

कुरुपाण्डवयोर्वैरं दैवयो गाद्बभूव ह । दुर्योधनेनाधीरेण पाण्डवाः समुपद्रुताः

kurupāṇḍavayorvairaṁ daivayo gādbabhūva ha duryodhanenādhīreṇa pāṇḍavāḥ samupadrutāḥ

Enmity arose between the Kurus and Pandavas, as if by fate. The reckless Duryodhana began to persecute the Pandavas.

Verse 11 (garuda.1.145.11)

दग्धा जतुगृहे वीरास्ते मुक्ताः स्वधियामलाः

dagdhā jatugṛhe vīrāste muktāḥ svadhiyāmalāḥ

Though those heroes were burned in the house of lac, they escaped, pure of soul, through their own wisdom.

Verse 12 (garuda.1.145.12)

ततस्तदेकचक्रायां ब्राह्मणस्य निवेशने । विविशुस्ते महात्मानो निहत्य बकराक्षसम्

tatastadekacakrāyāṁ brāhmaṇasya niveśane viviśuste mahātmāno nihatya bakarākṣasam

Then those great souls dwelt in a Brahmin's house in the city of Ekachakra, and there slew the demon Baka.

Verse 13 (garuda.1.145.13)

ततः पाञ्चालविषयेद्रौपद्यास्ते स्वयंवरम् । विज्ञाय वीर्यशुल्कान्तां पाण्डवा उपयेमिरे

tataḥ pāñcālaviṣayedraupadyāste svayaṁvaram vijñāya vīryaśulkāntāṁ pāṇḍavā upayemire

Then, in the land of Panchala, hearing of Draupadi's svayamvara — that her hand was the prize of valor — the Pandavas won and married her.

Verse 14 (garuda.1.145.14)

द्रोणभीष्मानुमत्या तु धृतराष्ट्रः समानयत् । अर्द्वराज्यं ततः प्राप्ता इन्द्रप्रस्थे पुरोत्तमे

droṇabhīṣmānumatyā tu dhṛtarāṣṭraḥ samānayat ardvarājyaṁ tataḥ prāptā indraprasthe purottame

With the assent of Drona and Bhishma, Dhritarashtra brought about a reconciliation. They then received half the kingdom, at the excellent city of Indraprastha.

Verse 15 (garuda.1.145.15)

राजसूयन्ततश्चक्रुः सभां कृत्वा यतव्रताः । अर्जुनो द्वारवत्यान्तु सुभद्रां प्राप्तवान्प्रियाम् । वासुदेवस्य भगिनीमनुमत्या मुरद्विषः

rājasūyantataścakruḥ sabhāṁ kṛtvā yatavratāḥ arjuno dvāravatyāntu subhadrāṁ prāptavānpriyām vāsudevasya bhaginīmanumatyā muradviṣaḥ

Keeping their vows, they built an assembly hall and performed the Rajasuya sacrifice. In Dvaravati, with the consent of the slayer of Mura, Arjuna won his beloved Subhadra, sister of Vasudeva.

Verse 16 (garuda.1.145.16)

नन्दिघोषं रथं दिव्यमग्नेर्घनुरनुत्तमम् । गाण्डीवं नाम तद्दिव्यं त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतम् । अक्षयान्सायकांश्चैव तथाभेद्यञ्च दंशनम्

nandighoṣaṁ rathaṁ divyamagnerghanuranuttamam gāṇḍīvaṁ nāma taddivyaṁ triṣu lokeṣu viśrutam akṣayānsāyakāṁścaiva tathābhedyañca daṁśanam

He received the divine chariot named Nandighosha, and from Agni the supreme divine bow named Gandiva, renowned in all three worlds, together with inexhaustible arrows and impenetrable armor.

Verse 17 (garuda.1.145.17)

स तेन धनुषा वीरः पाण्डवो जातवेदसम् । कृष्णद्वितीयो बीभत्सुरतर्पयत वीर्यवान्

sa tena dhanuṣā vīraḥ pāṇḍavo jātavedasam kṛṣṇadvitīyo bībhatsuratarpayata vīryavān

With that bow, the heroic Pandava called Bibhatsu, together with Krishna, valiantly satisfied the Fire-god.

Verse 18 (garuda.1.145.18)

नृपान्दिग्विजये जित्वा रत्नान्यादाय वै ददौ । युधिष्ठिराय महते भ्रात्रे नीतिविदे मुदा

nṛpāndigvijaye jitvā ratnānyādāya vai dadau yudhiṣṭhirāya mahate bhrātre nītivide mudā

Having conquered kings in his conquest of the quarters and taken their treasures, he gladly gave them to his great, statecraft-wise brother Yudhishthira.

Verse 19 (garuda.1.145.19)

युधिष्ठिरोऽपि धर्मात्मा भ्रातृभिः परिवारितः । जितो दुर्योधनेनैव मायाद्यूतेन पापिना । कर्णदुः शासनमते स्थितेन शकुनेर्मते

yudhiṣṭhiro'pi dharmātmā bhrātṛbhiḥ parivāritaḥ jito duryodhanenaiva māyādyūtena pāpinā karṇaduḥ śāsanamate sthitena śakunermate

The righteous Yudhishthira, surrounded though he was by his brothers, was defeated by the sinful Duryodhana through a deceitful game of dice, contrived at the counsel of Karna and Duhshasana, on Shakuni's advice.

Verse 20 (garuda.1.145.20)

अथ द्वादश वर्षाणि वने तेपुर्महत्तपः । सधौम्या द्रौपदीषष्ठा मुनिवृन्दाभिसंवृताः

atha dvādaśa varṣāṇi vane tepurmahattapaḥ sadhaumyā draupadīṣaṣṭhā munivṛndābhisaṁvṛtāḥ

Then, for twelve years, they performed great austerity in the forest, together with the priest Dhaumya and Draupadi, surrounded by throngs of sages.

Verse 21 (garuda.1.145.21)

ययुर्विराटनगरं गुप्तरूपेण संश्रिताः । वर्षमेकं महाप्राज्ञा गोग्रहात्तमपालयन्

yayurvirāṭanagaraṁ guptarūpeṇa saṁśritāḥ varṣamekaṁ mahāprājñā gograhāttamapālayan

They then went to the city of Virata, taking refuge there in disguise. For a year, those of great wisdom protected the kingdom there, up to the cattle-raid.

Verse 22 (garuda.1.145.22)

तते याताः स्वकं राष्ट्रं प्रार्थयामासुरादृताः । पञ्चग्रामानर्धराज्याद्वीरा दुर्योधनं नृपम्

tate yātāḥ svakaṁ rāṣṭraṁ prārthayāmāsurādṛtāḥ pañcagrāmānardharājyādvīrā duryodhanaṁ nṛpam

Then they went to their own kingdom, and those heroes respectfully requested King Duryodhana for only five villages, in place of their half of the kingdom.

Verse 23 (garuda.1.145.23)

नाप्तवन्तः कुरुक्षेत्रे युद्धञ्चक्रुर्बलान्विताः । अक्षौहिणीभिर्दिव्याभिः सप्तभिः परिवारिताः

nāptavantaḥ kurukṣetre yuddhañcakrurbalānvitāḥ akṣauhiṇībhirdivyābhiḥ saptabhiḥ parivāritāḥ

Not obtaining even that, the mighty Pandavas fought the war at Kurukshetra, surrounded by seven divine Akshauhini armies.

Verse 24 (garuda.1.145.24)

एकादशभिरुद्युक्ता युक्ता दुर्योधनादयः । आसीद्युद्धं संकुलं च देवासुररणोपमम्

ekādaśabhirudyuktā yuktā duryodhanādayaḥ āsīdyuddhaṁ saṁkulaṁ ca devāsuraraṇopamam

Duryodhana and his allies mustered eleven Akshauhinis against them. The battle that followed became chaotic, resembling the war of gods and demons.

Verse 25 (garuda.1.145.25)

भीष्मः सेनापतिरभूदादौ दौर्योधने बले । पाण्डवानां शिखण्डी च तयोर्युद्धं बभूव ह । शस्त्राशस्त्रि महाघोरं धसरात्रं शराशरि

bhīṣmaḥ senāpatirabhūdādau dauryodhane bale pāṇḍavānāṁ śikhaṇḍī ca tayoryuddhaṁ babhūva ha śastrāśastri mahāghoraṁ dhasarātraṁ śarāśari

At first Bhishma became the commander of Duryodhana's army, and Shikhandi of the Pandavas'. Between them a most terrible battle raged, weapon against weapon, arrow against arrow, day and night.

Verse 26 (garuda.1.145.26)

शिखण्ड्यर्जुनबाणैश्च भीष्मः शरशतैश्चितः । उत्तरायणमावीक्ष्य ध्यात्वा देवं गदाधरम्

śikhaṇḍyarjunabāṇaiśca bhīṣmaḥ śaraśataiścitaḥ uttarāyaṇamāvīkṣya dhyātvā devaṁ gadādharam

Pierced by hundreds of arrows from Shikhandi and Arjuna, Bhishma, waiting for the sun's northward course, meditated upon the mace-bearing God,

Verse 27 (garuda.1.145.27)

उक्त्वा धर्मान्बहुविधांस्तर्पयित्वा पितॄन्बहून् । आनन्दे तु पदे लीनो विमले मुक्तकिल्बिषे

uktvā dharmānbahuvidhāṁstarpayitvā pitṝnbahūn ānande tu pade līno vimale muktakilbiṣe

and, having declared dharma in its many forms and satisfied many of his ancestors, merged into that blissful, spotless, sin-free state.

Verse 28 (garuda.1.145.28)

ततो द्रोणो ययौ योद्धुं धृष्टद्युम्नेन बीर्यवान् । दिनानि पञ्च तद्युद्धमासीत्परमदारुणम्

tato droṇo yayau yoddhuṁ dhṛṣṭadyumnena bīryavān dināni pañca tadyuddhamāsītparamadāruṇam

Then the valiant Drona went forth to fight against Dhrishtadyumna; that battle raged for five days, most terrible,

Verse 29 (garuda.1.145.29)

यत्र ते पृथिवीपाला हताः पार्थेन संगरे । शोकसागरमासाद्य द्रोणोऽपि स्वर्गमाप्तवान्

yatra te pṛthivīpālā hatāḥ pārthena saṁgare śokasāgaramāsādya droṇo'pi svargamāptavān

in which many kings were slain by the sons of Pritha. Sunk in an ocean of grief, Drona too attained heaven.

Verse 30 (garuda.1.145.30)

ततः कर्णा ययौ योद्धुमर्जुनेन मिहात्मना । दिनद्वयं महायुद्धं कृत्वा पार्थास्त्रसागरे । निमग्नः सूर्यलोकन्तु ततः प्राप स वीर्यवान्

tataḥ karṇā yayau yoddhumarjunena mihātmanā dinadvayaṁ mahāyuddhaṁ kṛtvā pārthāstrasāgare nimagnaḥ sūryalokantu tataḥ prāpa sa vīryavān

Then Karna went forth to fight against the great-souled Arjuna; after two days of great battle, sunk in the ocean of Partha's weapons, that valorous one attained the world of the Sun.

Verse 31 (garuda.1.145.31)

ततः शल्यो ययौ योद्धुं धर्मराजेन धीमता । दिनार्धेन हतः शल्यो बाणैर्ज्वलनसन्निभैः

tataḥ śalyo yayau yoddhuṁ dharmarājena dhīmatā dinārdhena hataḥ śalyo bāṇairjvalanasannibhaiḥ

Then Shalya went forth to fight against the wise Dharmaraja Yudhishthira; within half a day Shalya was slain by arrows resembling blazing fire.

Verse 32 (garuda.1.145.32)

दुर्योधनोऽथ वेगेन गदामादाय वीर्यवान् । अभ्यधावत वै भीभं कालान्तकयमोपमः

duryodhano'tha vegena gadāmādāya vīryavān abhyadhāvata vai bhībhaṁ kālāntakayamopamaḥ

Then the valiant Duryodhana, swiftly taking up his mace, charged at Bhima, resembling Yama, the ender of all things.

Verse 33 (garuda.1.145.33)

अथ भीमेन वीरेण गदया विनिपातितः । अश्वत्थामा गतो द्रौणिः सुप्तसैन्यं ततो निशि

atha bhīmena vīreṇa gadayā vinipātitaḥ aśvatthāmā gato drauṇiḥ suptasainyaṁ tato niśi

The heroic Bhima struck him down with his mace. Ashvatthama, son of Drona, then went at night to the sleeping army,

Verse 34 (garuda.1.145.34)

जघान बाहुवीर्येण पितुर्वधमनुस्मरन् । धृष्टद्युम्नं जघानाथ द्रौपदेयांश्च वीर्यवान्

jaghāna bāhuvīryeṇa piturvadhamanusmaran dhṛṣṭadyumnaṁ jaghānātha draupadeyāṁśca vīryavān

and, remembering his father's death, slew them by the might of his own arms; that mighty one also slew Dhrishtadyumna and Draupadi's sons.

Verse 35 (garuda.1.145.35)

द्रौपद्यां रुद्यमानायामश्वत्थाम्नः शिरोमणिम् । ऐषिकास्त्रेण तं जित्वा जग्राहार्जुन उत्तमम्

draupadyāṁ rudyamānāyāmaśvatthāmnaḥ śiromaṇim aiṣikāstreṇa taṁ jitvā jagrāhārjuna uttamam

While Draupadi wept, Arjuna, conquering Ashvatthama with the Ishika weapon, seized the excellent jewel from his head.

Verse 36 (garuda.1.145.36)

युधिष्ठिरः समाश्वास्य स्त्रीजनं शोकसंकुलम् । स्नात्वा सन्तर्प्य देवांश्च पितॄनथ पितामहान्

yudhiṣṭhiraḥ samāśvāsya strījanaṁ śokasaṁkulam snātvā santarpya devāṁśca pitṝnatha pitāmahān

Yudhishthira consoled the grief-stricken women; having bathed, he satisfied the gods, the ancestors, and the forefathers.

Verse 37 (garuda.1.145.37)

आश्वासितोऽथ भीष्मेण राज्यञ्चैवाकरोन्महत् । विष्णुमीजेऽश्वमेधेन विधिवद्दक्षिणावता

āśvāsito'tha bhīṣmeṇa rājyañcaivākaronmahat viṣṇumīje'śvamedhena vidhivaddakṣiṇāvatā

Consoled by Bhishma, he then ruled the great kingdom. He worshipped Vishnu with an Ashvamedha sacrifice, duly performed with abundant gifts.

Verse 38 (garuda.1.145.38)

राज्ये परीक्षितं स्थाप्य यादवानां विनाशनम् । श्रुत्वा तु मौसले राजा जप्त्वा नामसहस्रकम्

rājye parīkṣitaṁ sthāpya yādavānāṁ vināśanam śrutvā tu mausale rājā japtvā nāmasahasrakam

Having established Parikshit in the kingdom, and having heard of the destruction of the Yadavas in their fratricidal club-battle, King Yudhishthira, having recited the thousand names of Vishnu —

Verse 39 (garuda.1.145.39)

विष्णोः स्वर्गं जगामाथ भीमाद्यैर्भ्रातृभिर्युतः । वासुदेवः पुनर्बुद्धसंमोहाय सुरद्विषाम्

viṣṇoḥ svargaṁ jagāmātha bhīmādyairbhrātṛbhiryutaḥ vāsudevaḥ punarbuddhasaṁmohāya suradviṣām

then departed for Vishnu's heaven, together with Bhima and his other brothers. Vasudeva will again appear, as the Buddha, to delude the enemies of the gods,

Verse 40 (garuda.1.145.40)

कल्किर्विष्णुश्च भविता शंभलग्रामके पुनः । अश्वारूढोऽखिलांल्लोकांस्तदा भस्मीकरिष्यति

kalkirviṣṇuśca bhavitā śaṁbhalagrāmake punaḥ aśvārūḍho'khilāṁllokāṁstadā bhasmīkariṣyati

and again, in the village of Shambhala, Vishnu will appear as Kalki; mounted on a horse, he will then reduce all the wicked worlds to ash.

Verse 41 (garuda.1.145.41)

देवादीनां रक्षणाय ह्यधर्महारणाय च । दुष्टानाञ्च वधार्थाय ह्यवतारं करोति च

devādīnāṁ rakṣaṇāya hyadharmahāraṇāya ca duṣṭānāñca vadhārthāya hyavatāraṁ karoti ca

It is for the protection of the gods and others, for the destruction of adharma, and for the slaying of the wicked, that he takes incarnation.

Verse 42 (garuda.1.145.42)

यथा धन्वन्तरिर्वंशे जातः क्षीरोदमन्थने । देवादीनां जीवनाय ह्यायुर्वेदमुवाच ह

yathā dhanvantarirvaṁśe jātaḥ kṣīrodamanthane devādīnāṁ jīvanāya hyāyurvedamuvāca ha

Just as, at the churning of the Ocean of Milk, Dhanvantari was born in that lineage and, for the life of the gods and others, declared the Ayurveda —

Verse 43 (garuda.1.145.43)

विश्वामित्रसुतायैव शुश्रुताय महात्मने । भारतांश्चावतारांश्च श्रुत्वा स्वर्गं व्रजेन्नरः

viśvāmitrasutāyaiva śuśrutāya mahātmane bhāratāṁścāvatārāṁśca śrutvā svargaṁ vrajennaraḥ

to the great-souled Sushruta, son of Vishvamitra. A man who hears this account of the Bharata and these divine incarnations shall go to heaven.