The Glory of the Gita's Sixteenth Chapter

Verse 1 (padma.6.190.1)

ईश्वर उवाच- अतः परं प्रवक्ष्यामि षोडशाध्यायगौरवम् । आकर्णय कुरंगाक्षि हर्षोत्कंठप्रवर्षिणि

īśvara uvāca- ataḥ paraṁ pravakṣyāmi ṣoḍaśādhyāyagauravam ākarṇaya kuraṁgākṣi harṣotkaṁṭhapravarṣiṇi

Ishvara said: Now I shall further tell the greatness of the sixteenth chapter; listen, O doe-eyed one, you who shower forth eagerness and joy.

Verse 2 (padma.6.190.2)

अस्ति सौराष्ट्रिकं नाम्ना पुरं गुर्जरमंडले । तत्रासीत्खङ्गबाहुश्च राजा चंद्र इवापरः

asti saurāṣṭrikaṁ nāmnā puraṁ gurjaramaṁḍale tatrāsītkhaṅgabāhuśca rājā caṁdra ivāparaḥ

There is a city named Saurashtrika in the region of Gurjara; there lived a king, Khadgabahu, like a second moon.

Verse 3 (padma.6.190.3)

यदीय कुसुमामोदमालासुरभितोदरे । वारांनिधौ हरिः स्वास्थ्यादशेत सह पद्मया

yadīya kusumāmodamālāsurabhitodare vārāṁnidhau hariḥ svāsthyādaśeta saha padmayā

In the ocean fragrant with garlands woven of his fame's flowers, Hari himself would recline at ease together with Padma.

Verse 4 (padma.6.190.4)

यदीय कीर्तिकर्पूरकणाभांतिनभोंगणे । कीर्णा वैरिकृतश्वास मारुतैस्तारकाछलात्

yadīya kīrtikarpūrakaṇābhāṁtinabhoṁgaṇe kīrṇā vairikṛtaśvāsa mārutaistārakāchalāt

The particles of his camphor-white fame, scattered across the vault of the sky, seemed, disguised as stars, to be blown about by the sighing breaths of his defeated enemies.

Verse 5 (padma.6.190.5)

यस्यासिधारा तीर्थेषु स्नाता वै रिपुभूभुजः । व्यावर्त्तं ते दिवोऽद्यापि स्वर्गस्त्रीवाग्विमोहिताः

yasyāsidhārā tīrtheṣu snātā vai ripubhūbhujaḥ vyāvarttaṁ te divo'dyāpi svargastrīvāgvimohitāḥ

Enemy kings, bathed as if at sacred fords by the edge of his sword, have not returned from heaven even today, enchanted by the words of the celestial women there.

Verse 6 (padma.6.190.6)

तस्यारिमर्दनोनाम मदहस्ती मदोद्धुरः । मदांबुधारा सलिले गुंजद्भ्रमरमंडलः

tasyārimardanonāma madahastī madoddhuraḥ madāṁbudhārā salile guṁjadbhramaramaṁḍalaḥ

He had an elephant in must named Arimardana, wild with rut, in whose streams of temporal fluid swarms of bees hummed.

Verse 7 (padma.6.190.7)

कपोलफलकोत्तीर्ण मदधाराजलाविलः । बभौ यो निर्झरोद्गोरैरंजनाद्रिरिवाच्चकैः

kapolaphalakottīrṇa madadhārājalāvilaḥ babhau yo nirjharodgorairaṁjanādririvāccakaiḥ

Streaked with streams of rut-fluid flowing down its cheeks, it shone like a mountain of dark collyrium-stone laced with cascading waterfalls.

Verse 8 (padma.6.190.8)

यस्यांगेषु व्यराजंत चामराश्चंद्रिकोज्ज्वलाः । किरणाइव शीतांशोः पतिताः काननोदरे

yasyāṁgeṣu vyarājaṁta cāmarāścaṁdrikojjvalāḥ kiraṇāiva śītāṁśoḥ patitāḥ kānanodare

On its body shone chowries bright as moonlight, like rays of the cool-rayed moon fallen into the heart of a forest.

Verse 9 (padma.6.190.9)

सिंदूरपांसुपटली राजत्कुंभस्थलो बभौ । यः संध्यावारिदव्याप्तं वियत्खंडमिव स्थितम्

siṁdūrapāṁsupaṭalī rājatkuṁbhasthalo babhau yaḥ saṁdhyāvāridavyāptaṁ viyatkhaṁḍamiva sthitam

With its temples gleaming beneath a layer of vermilion dust, it appeared like a patch of sky pervaded by evening clouds.

Verse 10 (padma.6.190.10)

स कदाचिन्मोचयित्वा शृंखलान्निगडानपि । भंक्त्वा लौहदृढस्तंभं प्रसह्य निशि निर्गतः

sa kadācinmocayitvā śṛṁkhalānnigaḍānapi bhaṁktvā lauhadṛḍhastaṁbhaṁ prasahya niśi nirgataḥ

Once, having freed itself of its chains and fetters, and forcibly breaking the iron-strong post, it broke out at night.

Verse 11 (padma.6.190.11)

आधोरणगणान्सर्वान्पार्ष्णिविस्फूर्जदंकुशान् । क्रोधादवगणय्यैव निजशालां बभंज सः

ādhoraṇagaṇānsarvānpārṣṇivisphūrjadaṁkuśān krodhādavagaṇayyaiva nijaśālāṁ babhaṁja saḥ

Utterly disregarding, in its fury, all the mahouts with their goads flashing at its heels, it demolished its own stable.

Verse 12 (padma.6.190.12)

तीक्ष्णांकुशमुखैर्विष्वक्हन्यमानोऽपि वैणवैः । दंडैस्तु त्रासयामासुः सादिनो न मनागपि

tīkṣṇāṁkuśamukhairviṣvakhanyamāno'pi vaiṇavaiḥ daṁḍaistu trāsayāmāsuḥ sādino na manāgapi

Though struck on all sides with sharp goad-tips and with bamboo staves, the riders were unable to frighten it even in the slightest.

Verse 13 (padma.6.190.13)

ततो राजा समागत्य निशम्येदं कुतूहलम् । तत्र हस्तिकलाभिज्ञैः समं राजकुमारकैः

tato rājā samāgatya niśamyedaṁ kutūhalam tatra hastikalābhijñaiḥ samaṁ rājakumārakaiḥ

Then the king, hearing of this commotion, together with the princes skilled in the lore of elephants—

Verse 14 (padma.6.190.14)

अदृश्यत समागत्य राज्ञा दंतावलो बली । मोहयन्नुद्भटाटोपो हृताट्टालिकमालिकः

adṛśyata samāgatya rājñā daṁtāvalo balī mohayannudbhaṭāṭopo hṛtāṭṭālikamālikaḥ

—came and beheld that powerful tusker, its ferocious fury bewildering all, its rows of turrets torn down.

Verse 15 (padma.6.190.15)

ददृशुस्तं महाभीमं पौरा दूरतरं स्थिताः । गोपायंतः शिशून्भीत्या निवृत्तान्यकुतूहलाः

dadṛśustaṁ mahābhīmaṁ paurā dūrataraṁ sthitāḥ gopāyaṁtaḥ śiśūnbhītyā nivṛttānyakutūhalāḥ

The townsfolk, standing far off, watched that terrifying beast, protecting their children out of fear, all their other curiosity abandoned.

Verse 16 (padma.6.190.16)

रुद्धेषु तत्र मार्गेषु पलायनपरैर्जनैः । वासितेषु तदीयोग्रदानधारांबुसीकरैः

ruddheṣu tatra mārgeṣu palāyanaparairjanaiḥ vāsiteṣu tadīyogradānadhārāṁbusīkaraiḥ

With the roads there blocked by people intent only on fleeing, and the air made pungent by the spray of drops from its fierce streams of musth-fluid—

Verse 17 (padma.6.190.17)

स्नात्वा तेनाध्वना यातः सरसः कश्चन द्विजः । गीतानां षोडशाध्यायश्लोकान्कतिपयाञ्जपन्

snātvā tenādhvanā yātaḥ sarasaḥ kaścana dvijaḥ gītānāṁ ṣoḍaśādhyāyaślokānkatipayāñjapan

—a certain brahmin, having bathed at a lake, went along that very road, reciting a few verses of the sixteenth chapter of the Gita—

Verse 18 (padma.6.190.18)

निषिद्ध्यमानो बहुधा पौरैराधोरणैरपि

niṣiddhyamāno bahudhā paurairādhoraṇairapi

—though forbidden in many ways by the townsfolk and by the mahouts as well—

Verse 19 (padma.6.190.19)

अमन्यमानः करिणो भीतान्चलितवांस्ततः । फूत्कारेण स आवृण्वञ्जनान्विपरिमर्दयन्

amanyamānaḥ kariṇo bhītāncalitavāṁstataḥ phūtkāreṇa sa āvṛṇvañjanānviparimardayan

—unafraid, went on undaunted; while the elephant, trumpeting, enveloping and trampling people all around—

Verse 20 (padma.6.190.20)

स्पृशन्दानांबुजं तस्य स्वस्तिमान्निर्गतो द्विजः । ततो महानभूत्तत्र विस्मयो वागगोचरः

spṛśandānāṁbujaṁ tasya svastimānnirgato dvijaḥ tato mahānabhūttatra vismayo vāgagocaraḥ

—the brahmin, touching the drop of its temporal fluid, came out unharmed. Then a great astonishment, beyond words, arose there—

Verse 21 (padma.6.190.21)

मानसे भूमिपालस्य पौराणामपि पश्यताम् । समाहूय ततो राजा फुल्लराजीवलोचनः

mānase bhūmipālasya paurāṇāmapi paśyatām samāhūya tato rājā phullarājīvalocanaḥ

—in the mind of the king, and of the townsfolk who were watching. Then the king, his lotus-eyes wide open in wonder, summoned him—

Verse 22 (padma.6.190.22)

तमापृच्छद्द्विजं वाहादवतीर्य प्रणम्य च

tamāpṛcchaddvijaṁ vāhādavatīrya praṇamya ca

—and, dismounting from his mount and bowing, questioned that brahmin.

Verse 23 (padma.6.190.23)

राजोवाच- अलौकिकमिदं विप्र त्वयाद्याचरितं महत् । कृतांतकल्पादेतस्मात्कथं निर्यातवान्गजात्

rājovāca- alaukikamidaṁ vipra tvayādyācaritaṁ mahat kṛtāṁtakalpādetasmātkathaṁ niryātavāngajāt

The king said: 'O brahmin, this great feat you performed today is superhuman. How did you emerge unharmed from this elephant, which was like Death itself?'

Verse 24 (padma.6.190.24)

कमर्चयसि गीर्वाणं कं मंत्रं जपसि प्रभो । का च सिद्धिस्तवास्तीति द्विजन्मन्समुदीरय

kamarcayasi gīrvāṇaṁ kaṁ maṁtraṁ japasi prabho kā ca siddhistavāstīti dvijanmansamudīraya

'Which god do you worship? What mantra do you recite, O venerable one? And what accomplishment is yours? Tell me, O brahmin.'

Verse 25 (padma.6.190.25)

द्विज उवाच । गीतायाः षोडशोध्यायः श्लोकान्कतिपयानहम् । जपामि प्रत्यहं भूप तेनैताः सर्वसिद्धयः

dvija uvāca gītāyāḥ ṣoḍaśodhyāyaḥ ślokānkatipayānaham japāmi pratyahaṁ bhūpa tenaitāḥ sarvasiddhayaḥ

The brahmin said: 'I recite daily, O king, a few verses of the sixteenth chapter of the Gita; by that alone come all these accomplishments.'

Verse 26 (padma.6.190.26)

ततो विहाय द्विरदं कौतूहलरसं नृपः । आजगाम द्विजन्मानमादाय निजमंदिरम्

tato vihāya dviradaṁ kautūhalarasaṁ nṛpaḥ ājagāma dvijanmānamādāya nijamaṁdiram

Then the king, setting aside his curiosity about the elephant, took the brahmin along and returned to his own palace.

Verse 27 (padma.6.190.27)

शुभं मुहूर्तमन्वीक्ष्य तोषयित्वा द्विजोत्तमम्

śubhaṁ muhūrtamanvīkṣya toṣayitvā dvijottamam

Having ascertained an auspicious moment, and having gratified that excellent brahmin—

Verse 28 (padma.6.190.28)

सुवर्णैर्लक्ष्यसंख्याकैर्गीतामंत्रमुपाददे । गीतायाः षोडशाध्यायश्लोकान्कतिपयानपि

suvarṇairlakṣyasaṁkhyākairgītāmaṁtramupādade gītāyāḥ ṣoḍaśādhyāyaślokānkatipayānapi

—with a hundred thousand gold pieces, he received from him the Gita-mantra — those few verses of the sixteenth chapter of the Gita as well.

Verse 29 (padma.6.190.29)

समभ्यस्य ततो राजा सत्कारेण सकौतुकः । अथैकदा विनिर्गत्य बाह्यालीं सह सैनिकैः

samabhyasya tato rājā satkāreṇa sakautukaḥ athaikadā vinirgatya bāhyālīṁ saha sainikaiḥ

Having then diligently practiced them with honor and delight, the king, one day, went out with his soldiers to the outskirts.

Verse 30 (padma.6.190.30)

तमेवामोचयद्राजा मत्तमाधोरणाद्गजम् । विस्पष्टमिति वाक्यानि राज्यसौख्यममानयन्

tamevāmocayadrājā mattamādhoraṇādgajam vispaṣṭamiti vākyāni rājyasaukhyamamānayan

There the king himself released that very musth-elephant from its mahout, holding the pleasures of kingship as nothing, uttering these words plainly—

Verse 31 (padma.6.190.31)

तृणवज्जीवितं राजा गजस्याग्रेविशत्ततः । आदाय गंडफलकं मदपंक्तिनिरंकुशम्

tṛṇavajjīvitaṁ rājā gajasyāgreviśattataḥ ādāya gaṁḍaphalakaṁ madapaṁktiniraṁkuśam

—regarding his life as trivial as a blade of grass, the king went right up in front of the elephant, and seized its temple, streaked with rows of musth-fluid, without any goad—

Verse 32 (padma.6.190.32)

आययौ मंत्रिविश्वासान्नृपः साहसिकाग्रणीः । राहोरिव मुखादिंदुः कालास्यादिव धार्मिकः

āyayau maṁtriviśvāsānnṛpaḥ sāhasikāgraṇīḥ rāhoriva mukhādiṁduḥ kālāsyādiva dhārmikaḥ

—and, by the trust his ministers placed in him, the king, foremost among the daring, came forth unharmed — like the moon from the mouth of Rahu, like a righteous man from the very mouth of Death—

Verse 33 (padma.6.190.33)

साधुः खलस्य वदनान्नृयोनिरगमद्गजात् । आगत्य नगरं राजा त्वभिषिच्य कुमारकम्

sādhuḥ khalasya vadanānnṛyoniragamadgajāt āgatya nagaraṁ rājā tvabhiṣicya kumārakam

—like a good man from the mouth of a wicked man, that human-born king emerged from the elephant. Returning to the city, and having anointed his son as heir—

Verse 34 (padma.6.190.34)

गीतायाः षोडशाध्यायादवाप परमां गतिम्

gītāyāḥ ṣoḍaśādhyāyādavāpa paramāṁ gatim

—through the sixteenth chapter of the Gita, he attained the supreme goal.