The Departure of Krishna and the Pandavas' Farewell

Verse 1 (vishnu.5.38.1)

पराशर उवाच । अर्जुनोऽपि तदान्विष्य कृष्णरामकलेवरे । संस्कारं लम्भयाम् आस तथान्येषाम् अनुक्रमात्

parāśara uvāca arjuno'pi tadānviṣya kṛṣṇarāmakalevare saṁskāraṁ lambhayām āsa tathānyeṣām anukramāt

Parashara said: Arjuna too, having searched, then had the funeral rites performed for the bodies of Krishna and Rama, and in due order for all the others as well.

Verse 2 (vishnu.5.38.2)

अष्टौ महिष्यः कथिता रुक्मिणीप्रमुखास्तु याः । उपगुह्य हरेर्देहं विविशुस्ता हुताशनम्

aṣṭau mahiṣyaḥ kathitā rukmiṇīpramukhāstu yāḥ upaguhya harerdehaṁ viviśustā hutāśanam

The eight chief queens who have already been named, with Rukmini foremost among them, embraced Hari's body and entered the fire.

Verse 3 (vishnu.5.38.3)

रेवती चैव रामस्य देहम् आश्लिष्य सत्तम । विवेश ज्वलितं वह्निं तत्सङ्गाह्लादशीतलम्

revatī caiva rāmasya deham āśliṣya sattama viveśa jvalitaṁ vahniṁ tatsaṅgāhlādaśītalam

Revati too, O worthy one, embracing Rama's body, entered the blazing fire, made cool for her by the joy of that final union.

Verse 4 (vishnu.5.38.4)

उग्रसेनस्तु तच्छ्रुत्वा तथैवानकदुन्दुभिः । देवकी रोहिणी चैव विविशुर्जातवेदसम्

ugrasenastu tacchrutvā tathaivānakadundubhiḥ devakī rohiṇī caiva viviśurjātavedasam

And Ugrasena, hearing of this, and Anakadundubhi likewise, and Devaki and Rohini too, entered into the fire.

Verse 5 (vishnu.5.38.5)

ततोऽर्जुनः प्रेतकार्यं कृत्वा तेषां यथाविधि । निश्चक्राम जनं सर्वं गृहीत्वा वज्रम् एव च

tato'rjunaḥ pretakāryaṁ kṛtvā teṣāṁ yathāvidhi niścakrāma janaṁ sarvaṁ gṛhītvā vajram eva ca

Then Arjuna, having duly performed their funeral rites, set out, taking with him all the people, and Vajra as well.

Verse 6 (vishnu.5.38.6)

द्वारवत्या विनिष्क्रान्ताः कृष्णपत्न्यः सहस्रशः । वज्रं जनं च कौन्तेयः पालयञ् छनकैर्ययौ

dvāravatyā viniṣkrāntāḥ kṛṣṇapatnyaḥ sahasraśaḥ vajraṁ janaṁ ca kaunteyaḥ pālayañ chanakairyayau

Krishna's wives, by the thousands, departed from Dvaravati; and Kunti's son, protecting Vajra and the people, advanced slowly onward.

Verse 7 (vishnu.5.38.7)

सभा सुधर्मा कृष्णेन मर्त्यलोके समुज्झिते । स्वर्गं जगाम मैत्रेय पारिजातश्च पादपः

sabhā sudharmā kṛṣṇena martyaloke samujjhite svargaṁ jagāma maitreya pārijātaśca pādapaḥ

When Krishna had left the mortal world, O Maitreya, the Sudharma assembly hall, and the Parijata tree as well, returned to heaven.

Verse 8 (vishnu.5.38.8)

यस्मिन् दिने हरिर्यातो दिवं संत्यज्य मेदिनीम् । तस्मिन्न् एवावतीर्णोऽयं कालकायो बली कलिः

yasmin dine hariryāto divaṁ saṁtyajya medinīm tasminn evāvatīrṇo'yaṁ kālakāyo balī kaliḥ

On the very day that Hari left the earth and went to heaven, on that same day this mighty Kali, embodiment of that degenerate age, descended into the world.

Verse 9 (vishnu.5.38.9)

प्लावयाम् आस तां शून्यां द्वारकां च महोदधिः । यदुदेवगृहं त्व् एकं नाप्लावयत सागरः

plāvayām āsa tāṁ śūnyāṁ dvārakāṁ ca mahodadhiḥ yadudevagṛhaṁ tv ekaṁ nāplāvayata sāgaraḥ

The great ocean flooded that now-deserted Dvaraka; but the sea did not submerge the one dwelling of the Yadus' own god.

Verse 10 (vishnu.5.38.10)

नातिक्रान्तुम् अलं ब्रह्मंस्तद् अद्यापि महोदधिः । नित्यं संनिहितस्तत्र भगवान् केशवो यतः

nātikrāntum alaṁ brahmaṁstad adyāpi mahodadhiḥ nityaṁ saṁnihitastatra bhagavān keśavo yataḥ

Even today, O Brahmin, the great ocean cannot pass beyond that dwelling, for the Blessed Keshava remains eternally present there.

Verse 11 (vishnu.5.38.11)

तद् अतीव महापुण्यं सर्वपातकनाशनम् । विष्णुक्रीडान्वितं स्थानं दृष्ट्वा पापात् प्रमुच्यते

tad atīva mahāpuṇyaṁ sarvapātakanāśanam viṣṇukrīḍānvitaṁ sthānaṁ dṛṣṭvā pāpāt pramucyate

That place is exceedingly sacred, destroying every sin; merely beholding that spot, filled as it is with Vishnu's own play, one is freed from sin.

Verse 12 (vishnu.5.38.12)

पार्थः पञ्चनदे देशे बहुधान्यसमन्विते । चकार वासं सर्वस्य जनस्य मुनिसत्तम

pārthaḥ pañcanade deśe bahudhānyasamanvite cakāra vāsaṁ sarvasya janasya munisattama

O best of sages, Partha made a halt with all the people in the land of the Five Rivers, rich with abundant grain.

Verse 13 (vishnu.5.38.13)

ततो लोभः समभवत् पार्थेनैकेन धन्विना । दृष्ट्वा स्त्रियो नीयमाना दस्यूनां निहतेश्वराः

tato lobhaḥ samabhavat pārthenaikena dhanvinā dṛṣṭvā striyo nīyamānā dasyūnāṁ nihateśvarāḥ

Then greed arose in the bandits, seeing those women, their lords already slain, being escorted by Partha, the bowman, alone.

Verse 14 (vishnu.5.38.14)

ततस्ते पापकर्माणो लोभोपहतचेतसः । आभीरा मन्त्रयाम् आसुः समेत्यात्यन्तदुर्मदाः

tataste pāpakarmāṇo lobhopahatacetasaḥ ābhīrā mantrayām āsuḥ sametyātyantadurmadāḥ

Then those sinful Abhiras, their minds overpowered by greed, exceedingly arrogant, gathered together and began to conspire.

Verse 15 (vishnu.5.38.15)

अयम् एकोऽर्जुनो धन्वी स्त्रीजनं निहतेश्वरम् । नयत्य् अस्मान् अतिक्रम्य धिग् एतद् भवतां बलम्

ayam eko'rjuno dhanvī strījanaṁ nihateśvaram nayaty asmān atikramya dhig etad bhavatāṁ balam

'This lone bowman Arjuna is leading these lordless women right past us, treating us with contempt — shame on this, and shame on your strength!'

Verse 16 (vishnu.5.38.16)

हत्वा गर्वं समारूढो भीष्मद्रोणजयद्रथान् । कर्णादींश्च न जानाति बलं ग्रामनिवासिनाम्

hatvā garvaṁ samārūḍho bhīṣmadroṇajayadrathān karṇādīṁśca na jānāti balaṁ grāmanivāsinām

'Puffed up with pride at having slain Bhishma, Drona, Jayadratha, and Karna and the rest, he has no idea what the strength of us villagers is worth.'

Verse 17 (vishnu.5.38.17)

हे हे यष्टीर्महायामा गृह्णीतायं सुदुर्मतिः । सर्वान् एवावजानाति किं वो बाहुभिरुन्नतैः

he he yaṣṭīrmahāyāmā gṛhṇītāyaṁ sudurmatiḥ sarvān evāvajānāti kiṁ vo bāhubhirunnataiḥ

'Ho, ho, you mighty-armed ones — take up your staves! This ill-minded man scorns us all. What use are your raised arms otherwise?'

Verse 18 (vishnu.5.38.18)

पराशर उवाच । ततो यष्टिप्रहरणा दस्यवो लोप्त्रहारिणः । सहस्रशोऽभ्यधावन्त तं जनं निहतेश्वरम्

parāśara uvāca tato yaṣṭipraharaṇā dasyavo loptrahāriṇaḥ sahasraśo'bhyadhāvanta taṁ janaṁ nihateśvaram

Parashara said: Then those robbers, armed with staves, bent on plunder, rushed by the thousand upon that lordless company of people.

Verse 19 (vishnu.5.38.19)

ततो निवृत्य कौन्तेयः प्राहाभीरान् हसन्न् इव । निवर्तध्वम् अधर्मज्ञा यदि न स्थ मुमूर्षवः

tato nivṛtya kaunteyaḥ prāhābhīrān hasann iva nivartadhvam adharmajñā yadi na stha mumūrṣavaḥ

Then Kunti's son turned back and said to the Abhiras, almost laughing: 'Turn back, you who know nothing of righteousness — unless you wish to die.'

Verse 20 (vishnu.5.38.20)

अवज्ञाय वचस्तस्य जगृहुस्ते तदा धनम् । स्त्रीजनं चैव मैत्रेय विष्वक्सेनपरिग्रहम्

avajñāya vacastasya jagṛhuste tadā dhanam strījanaṁ caiva maitreya viṣvaksenaparigraham

Scorning his words, O Maitreya, they then seized the wealth, and the women too — the very household of Vishvaksena.

Verse 21 (vishnu.5.38.21)

ततोऽर्जुनो धनुर्दिव्यं गाण्डीवम् अजरं युधि । आरोपयितुम् आरेभे न शशाक च वीर्यवान्

tato'rjuno dhanurdivyaṁ gāṇḍīvam ajaraṁ yudhi āropayitum ārebhe na śaśāka ca vīryavān

Then Arjuna set about stringing his divine bow Gandiva, unaging in battle; but mighty as he was, he found he could not.

Verse 22 (vishnu.5.38.22)

चकार सज्जं कृच्छ्राच्च तच्चाभूच्छिथिलं पुनः । न सस्मार तथास्त्राणि चिन्तयन्न् अपि पाण्डवः

cakāra sajjaṁ kṛcchrācca taccābhūcchithilaṁ punaḥ na sasmāra tathāstrāṇi cintayann api pāṇḍavaḥ

With great effort he managed to string it, but it slackened again; and though he tried to recall his weapons, the Pandava could not remember them.

Verse 23 (vishnu.5.38.23)

शरान् मुमोच चैतेषु पार्थो वैरिष्व् अमर्षितः । त्वग्भेदं ते परं चक्रुरस्ता गाण्डीवधन्वना

śarān mumoca caiteṣu pārtho vairiṣv amarṣitaḥ tvagbhedaṁ te paraṁ cakrurastā gāṇḍīvadhanvanā

Enraged, Partha loosed his arrows at those enemies; but those arrows, shot by the wielder of Gandiva, did no more than graze their skin.

Verse 24 (vishnu.5.38.24)

वह्निना येऽक्षया दत्ताः शरास्तेऽपि क्षयं ययुः । युध्यतः सह गोपालैरर्जुनस्य भवक्षये

vahninā ye'kṣayā dattāḥ śarāste'pi kṣayaṁ yayuḥ yudhyataḥ saha gopālairarjunasya bhavakṣaye

Even those inexhaustible arrows given by Agni ran dry, as Arjuna fought on against those cowherds, in that hour of his own decline.

Verse 25 (vishnu.5.38.25)

अचिन्तयच्च कौन्तेयः कृष्णस्यैव हि तद् बलम् । यन् मया शरसंघातैः सकला भूभृतो जिताः

acintayacca kaunteyaḥ kṛṣṇasyaiva hi tad balam yan mayā śarasaṁghātaiḥ sakalā bhūbhṛto jitāḥ

And Kunti's son reflected: 'It was Krishna's power alone by which I once conquered all those kings with my mass of arrows.'

Verse 26 (vishnu.5.38.26)

मिषतः पाण्डुपुत्रस्य ततस्ताः प्रमदोत्तमाः । आभीरैरपकृष्यन्त कामाच्चान्याः प्रवव्रजुः

miṣataḥ pāṇḍuputrasya tatastāḥ pramadottamāḥ ābhīrairapakṛṣyanta kāmāccānyāḥ pravavrajuḥ

Then, before the very eyes of Pandu's son, those excellent women were dragged off by the Abhiras, while others went away of their own will.

Verse 27 (vishnu.5.38.27)

ततः शरेषु क्षीणेषु धनुष्कोट्या धनंजयः । जघान दस्यूंस्ते चास्य प्रहाराञ् जहसुर्मुने

tataḥ śareṣu kṣīṇeṣu dhanuṣkoṭyā dhanaṁjayaḥ jaghāna dasyūṁste cāsya prahārāñ jahasurmune

Then, his arrows spent, Dhananjaya struck at the robbers with the very tip of his bow; but they, O sage, only laughed at his blows.

Verse 28 (vishnu.5.38.28)

प्रेक्षतश्चैव पार्थस्य वृष्ण्यन्धकवरस्त्रियः । जग्मुरादाय ते म्लेच्छाः समस्ता मुनिसत्तम

prekṣataścaiva pārthasya vṛṣṇyandhakavarastriyaḥ jagmurādāya te mlecchāḥ samastā munisattama

Right before Partha's very eyes, O best of sages, those barbarians made off with all the excellent women of the Vrishnis and Andhakas.

Verse 29 (vishnu.5.38.29)

ततः सुदुःखितो जिष्णुः कष्टं कष्टम् इति ब्रुवन् । अहो भगवता तेन मुक्तोऽस्मीति रुरोद वै

tataḥ suduḥkhito jiṣṇuḥ kaṣṭaṁ kaṣṭam iti bruvan aho bhagavatā tena mukto'smīti ruroda vai

Then Jishnu, deeply grieved, crying, 'Alas, alas!', wept, saying: 'Ah, I have truly been abandoned by that Blessed One.'

Verse 30 (vishnu.5.38.30)

तद् धनुस्तानि शस्त्राणि स रथस्ते च वाजिनः । सर्वम् एकपदे नष्टं दानम् अश्रोत्रिये यथा

tad dhanustāni śastrāṇi sa rathaste ca vājinaḥ sarvam ekapade naṣṭaṁ dānam aśrotriye yathā

That bow, those weapons, that chariot, and those horses — all were lost in a single instant, like a gift given to one unworthy of it, wasted entirely.

Verse 31 (vishnu.5.38.31)

अहोऽतिबलवद् दैवं विना तेन महात्मना । यद् असामर्थ्ययुक्तेऽपि नीचवर्गे जयप्रदम्

aho'tibalavad daivaṁ vinā tena mahātmanā yad asāmarthyayukte'pi nīcavarge jayapradam

'Ah, how immensely powerful fate is, that, without that great soul, it grants victory even to this powerless, base rabble!'

Verse 32 (vishnu.5.38.32)

तौ बाहू स च मे मुष्टिः स्थानं तत् सोऽस्मि चार्जुनः । पुण्येनैव विना तेन गतं सर्वम् असारताम्

tau bāhū sa ca me muṣṭiḥ sthānaṁ tat so'smi cārjunaḥ puṇyenaiva vinā tena gataṁ sarvam asāratām

'These are the same two arms, the same fist, the same stance — I am still that same Arjuna; and yet, without him, all of it, for all my merit, has become worthless.'

Verse 33 (vishnu.5.38.33)

ममार्जुनत्वं भीमस्य भीमत्वं तत् कृतं ध्रुवम् । विना तेन यद् आभीरैर्जितोऽहं कथम् अन्यथा

mamārjunatvaṁ bhīmasya bhīmatvaṁ tat kṛtaṁ dhruvam vinā tena yad ābhīrairjito'haṁ katham anyathā

'My very identity as Arjuna, Bhima's very identity as Bhima — that was surely all his doing; how else, without him, could I have been defeated by mere Abhiras?'

Verse 34 (vishnu.5.38.34)

पराशर उवाच । इत्थं वदन् ययौ जिष्णुर्मथुराख्यं पुरोत्तमम् । चकार तत्र राजानं वज्रं यादवनन्दनम्

parāśara uvāca itthaṁ vadan yayau jiṣṇurmathurākhyaṁ purottamam cakāra tatra rājānaṁ vajraṁ yādavanandanam

Parashara said: Speaking thus, Jishnu made his way to the excellent city called Mathura, and there installed Vajra, the delight of the Yadus, as king.

Verse 35 (vishnu.5.38.35)

स ददर्श ततो व्यासं फाल्गुनः काननाश्रयम् । तम् उपेत्य महाभागं विनयेनाभ्यवादयत्

sa dadarśa tato vyāsaṁ phālgunaḥ kānanāśrayam tam upetya mahābhāgaṁ vinayenābhyavādayat

Then Phalguna saw Vyasa, dwelling there in a forest hermitage; approaching that most fortunate sage, he greeted him with humility.

Verse 36 (vishnu.5.38.36)

तं वन्दमानं चरणाव् अवलोक्य मुनिश्चिरम् । उवाच पार्थं विच्छायः कथम् अत्यन्तम् ईदृशः

taṁ vandamānaṁ caraṇāv avalokya muniściram uvāca pārthaṁ vicchāyaḥ katham atyantam īdṛśaḥ

Gazing for a long while at him bowing at his feet, the sage said to Partha: 'Why do you appear so utterly drained of your former radiance?'

Verse 37 (vishnu.5.38.37)

अवीरजोऽनुगमनं ब्रह्महत्याथवा कृता । दृढाशाभङ्गदुःखीव भ्रष्टच्छायोऽसि साम्प्रतम्

avīrajo'nugamanaṁ brahmahatyāthavā kṛtā dṛḍhāśābhaṅgaduḥkhīva bhraṣṭacchāyo'si sāmpratam

'Have you followed some non-heroic death, or committed the killing of a brahmin? You seem grieved, as though by the shattering of some firm hope; you have lost your luster now.'

Verse 38 (vishnu.5.38.38)

सान्तानिकादयो वा ते याचमाना निराकृताः । अगम्यस्त्रीरतिर्वा त्वं तेनासि विगतप्रभः

sāntānikādayo vā te yācamānā nirākṛtāḥ agamyastrīratirvā tvaṁ tenāsi vigataprabhaḥ

'Or have supplicants such as the Santanikas been turned away by you, unsatisfied? Or have you taken pleasure with some forbidden woman? Is that why your splendor has vanished?'

Verse 39 (vishnu.5.38.39)

भुङ्क्तेऽप्रदाय विप्रेभ्यो एको मिष्टम् अथो भवान् । किं वा कृपणवित्तानि हृतानि भवतार्जुन

bhuṅkte'pradāya viprebhyo eko miṣṭam atho bhavān kiṁ vā kṛpaṇavittāni hṛtāni bhavatārjuna

'Or, Arjuna, have you eaten something sweet alone, without first offering it to the brahmins? Or have you seized the wealth of the poor and helpless?'

Verse 40 (vishnu.5.38.40)

कच्चित् त्वं शूर्पवातस्य गोचरत्वं गतोऽर्जुन । दुष्टचक्षुर्हतो वापि निःश्रीकः कथम् अन्यथा

kaccit tvaṁ śūrpavātasya gocaratvaṁ gato'rjuna duṣṭacakṣurhato vāpi niḥśrīkaḥ katham anyathā

'Have you perhaps come within the reach of a winnowing-fan's wind, Arjuna? Or been struck by some evil eye? How else could you be so utterly bereft of splendor?'

Verse 41 (vishnu.5.38.41)

स्पृष्टो नखाम्भसा वाथ घटवार्युक्षितोऽपि वा । तेनातीवासि विच्छायो न्यूनैर्वा युधि निर्जितः

spṛṣṭo nakhāmbhasā vātha ghaṭavāryukṣito'pi vā tenātīvāsi vicchāyo nyūnairvā yudhi nirjitaḥ

'Or have you been touched by water used to wash fingernails, or sprinkled with water from an impure jar? Is that why you are so utterly drained of splendor? Or have you been defeated in battle by lesser men?'

Verse 42 (vishnu.5.38.42)

पराशर उवाच । ततः पार्थो विनिश्वस्य श्रूयतां भगवन्न् इति । प्रोक्तो यथावद् आचष्टे व्यासायात्मपराभवम्

parāśara uvāca tataḥ pārtho viniśvasya śrūyatāṁ bhagavann iti prokto yathāvad ācaṣṭe vyāsāyātmaparābhavam

Parashara said: Then Partha, sighing deeply, said, 'Hear me, O Blessed one,' and, thus addressed, related to Vyasa exactly what had happened — his own defeat.

Verse 43 (vishnu.5.38.43)

अर्जुन उवाच । यद् बलं यच्च नस्तेजो यद् वीर्यं यः पराक्रमः । या श्रीश्छाया च नः सोऽस्मान् परित्यज्य हरिर्गतः

arjuna uvāca yad balaṁ yacca nastejo yad vīryaṁ yaḥ parākramaḥ yā śrīśchāyā ca naḥ so'smān parityajya harirgataḥ

Arjuna said: 'Whatever strength was ours, whatever splendor, valor, prowess, glory, and radiance — all of that was Hari himself, and he has now abandoned us and gone.'

Verse 44 (vishnu.5.38.44)

इतरेणेव महता स्मितपूर्वाभिभाषिणा । हीना वयं मुने तेन जातास्तृणमया इव

itareṇeva mahatā smitapūrvābhibhāṣiṇā hīnā vayaṁ mune tena jātāstṛṇamayā iva

'Bereft of him, O sage — who always spoke first, with that smile of his, as though he were merely a great man among men — we have become like men made of straw.'

Verse 45 (vishnu.5.38.45)

अस्त्राणां सायकानां च गाण्डीवस्य तथा मम । सारता याभवन् मूर्ता स गतः पुरुषोत्तमः

astrāṇāṁ sāyakānāṁ ca gāṇḍīvasya tathā mama sāratā yābhavan mūrtā sa gataḥ puruṣottamaḥ

'That Purushottama, who was the very embodied essence of my weapons, my arrows, my Gandiva, and of my own self — he has gone.'

Verse 46 (vishnu.5.38.46)

यस्यावलोकनाद् अस्माञ् श्रीर्जयः संपद् उन्नतिः । न तत्याज स गोविन्दस्त्यक्त्वास्मान् भगवान् गतः

yasyāvalokanād asmāñ śrīrjayaḥ saṁpad unnatiḥ na tatyāja sa govindastyaktvāsmān bhagavān gataḥ

'By whose mere glance, glory, victory, prosperity, and eminence never once deserted us — that same Govinda, that Blessed Lord, has now abandoned us and gone.'

Verse 47 (vishnu.5.38.47)

भीष्मद्रोणाङ्गराजाद्यास्तथा दुर्योधनादयः । यत्प्रभावेन निर्दग्धाः स कृष्णस्त्यक्तवान् भुवम्

bhīṣmadroṇāṅgarājādyāstathā duryodhanādayaḥ yatprabhāvena nirdagdhāḥ sa kṛṣṇastyaktavān bhuvam

'That same Krishna, by whose power Bhishma, Drona, the king of Anga, and Duryodhana and the rest were consumed to ash — he has abandoned this earth.'

Verse 48 (vishnu.5.38.48)

निर्यौवना हतश्रीका भ्रष्टच्छायेव मे मही । विभाति तात नैकोऽहं विरहे तस्य चक्रिणः

niryauvanā hataśrīkā bhraṣṭacchāyeva me mahī vibhāti tāta naiko'haṁ virahe tasya cakriṇaḥ

'The earth seems to me as if drained of its youth, its glory slain, its very shadow gone; O father, in separation from that discus-bearer I feel I am not even wholly myself any longer.'

Verse 49 (vishnu.5.38.49)

यस्यानुभावाद् भीष्माद्यैर्मय्य् अग्नौ शलभायितम् । विना तेनाद्य कृष्णेन गोपालैरस्मि निर्जितः

yasyānubhāvād bhīṣmādyairmayy agnau śalabhāyitam vinā tenādya kṛṣṇena gopālairasmi nirjitaḥ

'By whose power Bhishma and the rest became, before me, like moths flying into fire — today, without that same Krishna, I have been defeated by mere cowherds.'

Verse 50 (vishnu.5.38.50)

गाण्डीवं त्रिषु लोकेषु ख्यातिं यदनुभावतः । गतं तेन विनाभीरैर्लगुडैस्तन्निराकृतम्

gāṇḍīvaṁ triṣu lokeṣu khyātiṁ yadanubhāvataḥ gataṁ tena vinābhīrairlaguḍaistannirākṛtam

'That Gandiva, famed throughout the three worlds through his power — without him, it has now been rendered useless by nothing more than the clubs of the Abhiras.'

Verse 51 (vishnu.5.38.51)

स्त्रीसहस्राण्य् अनेकानि मन्नाथानि महामुने । यततो मम नीतानि दस्युभिर्लगुडायुधैः

strīsahasrāṇy anekāni mannāthāni mahāmune yatato mama nītāni dasyubhirlaguḍāyudhaiḥ

'Many thousands of women, O great sage, under my own protection, were carried off by club-wielding robbers, for all that I strove to stop them.'

Verse 52 (vishnu.5.38.52)

आनीयमानम् आभीरैः कृष्ण कृष्णावरोधनम् । हृतं यष्टिप्रहरणैः परिभूय बलं मम

ānīyamānam ābhīraiḥ kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇāvarodhanam hṛtaṁ yaṣṭipraharaṇaiḥ paribhūya balaṁ mama

'Krishna's own household women, being led along, were seized right from me by those club-wielding Abhiras, my strength scorned and overpowered.'

Verse 53 (vishnu.5.38.53)

निःश्रीकता न मे चित्रं यज्जीवामि तद् अद्भुतम् । नीचावमानपङ्काङ्की निर्लज्जोऽस्मि पितामह

niḥśrīkatā na me citraṁ yajjīvāmi tad adbhutam nīcāvamānapaṅkāṅkī nirlajjo'smi pitāmaha

'That I have lost my glory is no wonder; what is astonishing is that I still live at all. Marked with the mire of a base man's insult, O grandsire, I remain shameless enough to go on living.'

Verse 54 (vishnu.5.38.54)

व्यास उवाच । अलं ते व्रीडया पार्थ न त्वं शोचितुम् अर्हसि । अवेहि सर्वभूतेषु कालस्य गतिरीदृशी

vyāsa uvāca alaṁ te vrīḍayā pārtha na tvaṁ śocitum arhasi avehi sarvabhūteṣu kālasya gatirīdṛśī

Vyasa said: 'Enough of this shame, Partha; you have no cause to grieve. Know that such is the way of Time among all beings.'

Verse 55 (vishnu.5.38.55)

कालो भवाय भूतानाम् अभावाय च पाण्डव । कालमूलम् इदं ज्ञात्वा भव स्थैर्यधनोऽर्जुन

kālo bhavāya bhūtānām abhāvāya ca pāṇḍava kālamūlam idaṁ jñātvā bhava sthairyadhano'rjuna

'Time is the cause both of the coming-into-being of creatures and of their passing away, O Pandava; knowing that all this is rooted in Time, O Arjuna, let steadiness be your true wealth.'

Verse 56 (vishnu.5.38.56)

नद्यः समुद्रा गिरयः सकला च वसुंधरा । देवा मनुष्याः पशवस्तरवः ससरीसृपाः

nadyaḥ samudrā girayaḥ sakalā ca vasuṁdharā devā manuṣyāḥ paśavastaravaḥ sasarīsṛpāḥ

'Rivers, oceans, mountains, and the whole earth; gods, men, animals, trees, and creeping things —'

Verse 57 (vishnu.5.38.57)

सृष्टाः कालेन कालेन पुनर्यास्यन्ति संक्षयम् । कालात्मकम् इदं सर्वं ज्ञात्वा शमम् अवाप्नुहि

sṛṣṭāḥ kālena kālena punaryāsyanti saṁkṣayam kālātmakam idaṁ sarvaṁ jñātvā śamam avāpnuhi

'— created by Time, they shall, by Time again, go to their destruction. Knowing that all this is nothing but the nature of Time, attain your peace.'

Verse 58 (vishnu.5.38.58)

यच्चात्थ कृष्णमाहात्म्यं तत् तथैव धनंजय । भारावतारकार्यार्थम् अवतीर्णः स मेदिनीम्

yaccāttha kṛṣṇamāhātmyaṁ tat tathaiva dhanaṁjaya bhārāvatārakāryārtham avatīrṇaḥ sa medinīm

'And what you have said of Krishna's greatness, Dhananjaya, is indeed true; he descended to the earth solely for the task of lightening its burden.'

Verse 59 (vishnu.5.38.59)

भाराक्रान्ता धरा याता देवानां समितिं पुरा । तदर्थम् अवतीर्णोऽसौ कालरूपी जनार्दनः

bhārākrāntā dharā yātā devānāṁ samitiṁ purā tadartham avatīrṇo'sau kālarūpī janārdanaḥ

'The earth, oppressed by its burden, once went before the assembly of the gods; for that very purpose, Janardana, in the very form of Time, descended.'

Verse 60 (vishnu.5.38.60)

तच्च निष्पादितं कार्यम् अशेषा भूभृतो हताः । वृष्ण्यन्धककुलं सर्वं तथा पार्थोपसंहृतम्

tacca niṣpāditaṁ kāryam aśeṣā bhūbhṛto hatāḥ vṛṣṇyandhakakulaṁ sarvaṁ tathā pārthopasaṁhṛtam

'And that task has now been accomplished: all the kings have been slain, and the entire Vrishni-Andhaka clan, O Partha, has likewise been gathered back in.'

Verse 61 (vishnu.5.38.61)

न किंचिद् अन्यत् कर्तव्यम् अस्य भूमितले प्रभोः । अतो गतः स भगवान् कृतकृत्यो यथेच्छया

na kiṁcid anyat kartavyam asya bhūmitale prabhoḥ ato gataḥ sa bhagavān kṛtakṛtyo yathecchayā

'There was nothing else left for that Lord to accomplish on this earth; and so, his task fulfilled, the Blessed one has departed, exactly as he wished.'

Verse 62 (vishnu.5.38.62)

सृष्टिं सर्गे करोत्य् एष देवदेवः स्थितौ स्थितिम् । अन्तेऽन्ताय समर्थोऽयं साम्प्रतं वै यथा कृतम्

sṛṣṭiṁ sarge karoty eṣa devadevaḥ sthitau sthitim ante'ntāya samartho'yaṁ sāmprataṁ vai yathā kṛtam

'This god of gods brings about creation at the time for creating, and preservation at the time for preserving; and he, capable of bringing about the end when the end is due, has now done exactly what was fitting.'

Verse 63 (vishnu.5.38.63)

तस्मात् पार्थ न संतापस्त्वया कार्यः पराभवात् । भवन्ति भवकालेषु पुरुषाणां पराक्रमाः

tasmāt pārtha na saṁtāpastvayā kāryaḥ parābhavāt bhavanti bhavakāleṣu puruṣāṇāṁ parākramāḥ

'Therefore, Partha, you should feel no distress over your defeat; the prowess of men waxes and wanes according to their own appointed times.'

Verse 64 (vishnu.5.38.64)

त्वयैकेन हता भीष्मद्रोणकर्णादयो नृपाः । तेषाम् अर्जुन कालोत्थः किं न्यूनाभिभवो न सः

tvayaikena hatā bhīṣmadroṇakarṇādayo nṛpāḥ teṣām arjuna kālotthaḥ kiṁ nyūnābhibhavo na saḥ

'You alone slew Bhishma, Drona, Karna, and the other kings; was not their defeat too, Arjuna, brought about by Time — was it in any way a lesser thing than this?'

Verse 65 (vishnu.5.38.65)

विष्णोस्तस्यानुभावेन यथा तेषां पराभवः । त्वत्तस्तथैव भवतो दस्युभ्योऽन्ते तदुद्भवः

viṣṇostasyānubhāvena yathā teṣāṁ parābhavaḥ tvattastathaiva bhavato dasyubhyo'nte tadudbhavaḥ

'Just as their defeat came about through Vishnu's power working through you, so too, in the end, this defeat of yours at the hands of robbers arose from that same source.'

Verse 66 (vishnu.5.38.66)

स देवोऽन्यशरीराणि समाविश्य जगत्स्थितिम् । करोति सर्वभूतानां नाशं चान्ते जगत्पतिः

sa devo'nyaśarīrāṇi samāviśya jagatsthitim karoti sarvabhūtānāṁ nāśaṁ cānte jagatpatiḥ

'That god, entering into other bodies, sustains the order of the world; and, as Lord of the world, he it is who, in the end, brings about the destruction of all beings too.'

Verse 67 (vishnu.5.38.67)

तवोद्भवे स कौन्तेय सहायोऽभूज्जनार्दनः । भवान्ते त्वद्विपक्षास्ते केशवेनावलोकिताः

tavodbhave sa kaunteya sahāyo'bhūjjanārdanaḥ bhavānte tvadvipakṣāste keśavenāvalokitāḥ

'At the time of your rising, O Kaunteya, Janardana became your helper; and at the ending of that time, it was your very opponents whom Keshava favored with his glance.'

Verse 68 (vishnu.5.38.68)

कः श्रद्दध्यात् सगाङ्गेयान् हन्यास्त्वं सर्वकौरवान् । आभीरेभ्यश्च भवतः कः श्रद्दध्यात् पराभवम्

kaḥ śraddadhyāt sagāṅgeyān hanyāstvaṁ sarvakauravān ābhīrebhyaśca bhavataḥ kaḥ śraddadhyāt parābhavam

'Who would ever have believed that you would slay all the Kauravas, along with the son of the Ganga? And who would believe now that you have been defeated by mere Abhiras?'

Verse 69 (vishnu.5.38.69)

पार्थैतत् सर्वभूतस्य हरेर्लीलाविचेष्टितम् । त्वया यत् कौरवा ध्वस्ता यद् आभीरैर्भवाञ् जितः

pārthaitat sarvabhūtasya harerlīlāviceṣṭitam tvayā yat kauravā dhvastā yad ābhīrairbhavāñ jitaḥ

'All of this, Partha, is nothing but the playful sport of Hari, the very self of all beings — that the Kauravas were destroyed by you, and that you have now been defeated by Abhiras.'

Verse 70 (vishnu.5.38.70)

गृहीता दस्युभिर्यच्च भवता शोचिताः स्त्रियः । तद् अप्य् अहं यथावृत्तं कथयामि तवार्जुन

gṛhītā dasyubhiryacca bhavatā śocitāḥ striyaḥ tad apy ahaṁ yathāvṛttaṁ kathayāmi tavārjuna

'And as for the women seized by the robbers, over whom you now grieve — that too, Arjuna, I shall relate to you, exactly as it came about.'

Verse 71 (vishnu.5.38.71)

अष्टावक्रः पुरा विप्रो जलवासरतोऽभवत् । बहून् वर्षगणान् पार्थ गृणन् ब्रह्म सनातनम्

aṣṭāvakraḥ purā vipro jalavāsarato'bhavat bahūn varṣagaṇān pārtha gṛṇan brahma sanātanam

'Long ago, Partha, the brahmin Ashtavakra took delight in dwelling in the water, reciting the eternal Brahman there for many long years.'

Verse 72 (vishnu.5.38.72)

जितेष्व् असुरसंघेषु मेरुपृष्ठे महोत्सवः । बभूव तत्र गच्छन्त्यो ददृशुस्तं सुरस्त्रियः

jiteṣv asurasaṁgheṣu merupṛṣṭhe mahotsavaḥ babhūva tatra gacchantyo dadṛśustaṁ surastriyaḥ

'When the hosts of the asuras had been conquered, a great festival took place upon the summit of Meru; and the women of the gods, on their way there, caught sight of him.'

Verse 73 (vishnu.5.38.73)

रम्भातिलोत्तमाद्याश्च शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः । तुष्टुवुस्तं महात्मानं प्रशशंसुश्च पाण्डव

rambhātilottamādyāśca śataśo'tha sahasraśaḥ tuṣṭuvustaṁ mahātmānaṁ praśaśaṁsuśca pāṇḍava

'Rambha, Tilottama, and the others, by the hundreds and thousands, O Pandava, praised and extolled that great soul.'

Verse 74 (vishnu.5.38.74)

आकण्ठमग्नं सलिले जटाभारधरं मुनिम् । विनयावनताश्चैनं प्रणेमुः स्तोत्रतत्पराः

ākaṇṭhamagnaṁ salile jaṭābhāradharaṁ munim vinayāvanatāścainaṁ praṇemuḥ stotratatparāḥ

'Bowing humbly before that sage, immersed in the water up to his neck, his matted locks piled high, they, intent on his praise, prostrated themselves before him.'

Verse 75 (vishnu.5.38.75)

यथा यथा प्रसन्नोऽसौ तुष्टुवुस्तं तथा तथा । सर्वास्ताः कौरवश्रेष्ठ वरिष्ठं तं द्विजन्मनाम्

yathā yathā prasanno'sau tuṣṭuvustaṁ tathā tathā sarvāstāḥ kauravaśreṣṭha variṣṭhaṁ taṁ dvijanmanām

'In whatever way he seemed pleased, O foremost of the Kauravas, in just that way all of them went on praising that most excellent of brahmins.'

Verse 76 (vishnu.5.38.76)

अष्टावक्र उवाच । प्रसन्नोऽहं महाभागा भवतीनां यद् इष्यते । मत्तस्तद् व्रियतां सर्वं प्रदास्याम्य् अतिदुर्लभम्

aṣṭāvakra uvāca prasanno'haṁ mahābhāgā bhavatīnāṁ yad iṣyate mattastad vriyatāṁ sarvaṁ pradāsyāmy atidurlabham

Ashtavakra said: 'I am pleased, most fortunate ones; ask of me whatever you desire, and I shall grant it, however difficult to obtain.'

Verse 77 (vishnu.5.38.77)

रम्भातिलोत्तमाद्यास्तं वैदिक्योऽप्सरसोऽब्रुवन् । प्रसन्ने त्वय्य् अपर्याप्तं किम् अस्माकम् इति द्विज

rambhātilottamādyāstaṁ vaidikyo'psaraso'bruvan prasanne tvayy aparyāptaṁ kim asmākam iti dvija

Rambha, Tilottama, and the other apsaras, well-versed in the Vedas, said to him: 'O brahmin, with you now pleased, what is there that could remain beyond our reach?'

Verse 78 (vishnu.5.38.78)

इतरास्त्व् अब्रुवन् विप्र प्रसन्नो भगवान् यदि । तद् इच्छामः पतिं प्राप्तुं विप्रेन्द्र पुरुषोत्तमम्

itarāstv abruvan vipra prasanno bhagavān yadi tad icchāmaḥ patiṁ prāptuṁ viprendra puruṣottamam

But the other apsaras said: 'O brahmin, if the Blessed one is truly pleased, then, O foremost of brahmins, we wish to obtain the very best of men as our husband.'

Verse 79 (vishnu.5.38.79)

व्यास उवाच । एवं भविष्यतीत्य् उक्त्वा उत्ततार जलान् मुनिः । तम् उत्तीर्णं च ददृशुर्विरूपं वक्रम् अष्टधा

vyāsa uvāca evaṁ bhaviṣyatīty uktvā uttatāra jalān muniḥ tam uttīrṇaṁ ca dadṛśurvirūpaṁ vakram aṣṭadhā

Vyasa said: Saying, 'So it shall be,' the sage rose up out of the water; and once he had emerged, they saw him deformed, bent crooked in eight places.

Verse 80 (vishnu.5.38.80)

तं दृष्ट्वा गूहमानानां यासां हासः स्फुटोऽभवत् । ताः शशाप मुनिः कोपम् अवाप्य कुरुनन्दन

taṁ dṛṣṭvā gūhamānānāṁ yāsāṁ hāsaḥ sphuṭo'bhavat tāḥ śaśāpa muniḥ kopam avāpya kurunandana

Seeing him, O delight of the Kurus, those among the apsaras who, despite trying to hide it, burst out laughing openly — them the sage, overcome with anger, cursed.

Verse 81 (vishnu.5.38.81)

यस्माद् विरूपरूपं मां मत्वा हासावमानना । भवतीभिः कृता तस्माद् एषं शापं ददामि वः

yasmād virūparūpaṁ māṁ matvā hāsāvamānanā bhavatībhiḥ kṛtā tasmād eṣaṁ śāpaṁ dadāmi vaḥ

'Since, taking me for a deformed and misshapen creature, you have insulted me with your laughter, I therefore lay this curse upon you:'

Verse 82 (vishnu.5.38.82)

मत्प्रसादेन भर्तारं लब्ध्वा तु पुरुषोत्तमम् । मच्छापोपहताः सर्वा दस्युहस्तं गमिष्यथ

matprasādena bhartāraṁ labdhvā tu puruṣottamam macchāpopahatāḥ sarvā dasyuhastaṁ gamiṣyatha

'By my grace you shall indeed obtain the finest of men as your husband — but afterward, struck by my curse, all of you shall fall into the hands of robbers.'

Verse 83 (vishnu.5.38.83)

व्यास उवाच । इत्य् उदीरितम् आकर्ण्य मुनिस्ताभिः प्रसादितः । पुनः सुरेन्द्रलोकं वै प्राह भूयो गमिष्यथ

vyāsa uvāca ity udīritam ākarṇya munistābhiḥ prasāditaḥ punaḥ surendralokaṁ vai prāha bhūyo gamiṣyatha

Vyasa said: Hearing this, and then appeased by them, the sage said: 'You shall, nonetheless, return once more to the world of the king of the gods.'

Verse 84 (vishnu.5.38.84)

एवं तस्य मुनेः शापाद् अष्टावक्रस्य केशवम् । भर्तारं प्राप्य ता याता दस्युहस्तं वराङ्गनाः

evaṁ tasya muneḥ śāpād aṣṭāvakrasya keśavam bhartāraṁ prāpya tā yātā dasyuhastaṁ varāṅganāḥ

Thus, by the curse of the sage Ashtavakra, those excellent women, having first obtained Keshava as their husband, in the end fell into the hands of robbers.

Verse 85 (vishnu.5.38.85)

तत् त्वया नात्र कर्तव्यः शोकोऽल्पोऽपि हि पाण्डव । तेनैवाखिलनाथेन सर्वं तद् उपसंहृतम्

tat tvayā nātra kartavyaḥ śoko'lpo'pi hi pāṇḍava tenaivākhilanāthena sarvaṁ tad upasaṁhṛtam

'Therefore, Pandava, you should feel not even the slightest grief over this; by that very Lord of all, everything has now been gathered back in.'

Verse 86 (vishnu.5.38.86)

भवतां चोपसंहारम् आसन्नं तेन कुर्वता । बलं तेजस्तथा वीर्यं माहात्म्यं चोपसंहृतम्

bhavatāṁ copasaṁhāram āsannaṁ tena kurvatā balaṁ tejastathā vīryaṁ māhātmyaṁ copasaṁhṛtam

'And, bringing your own withdrawal near as well, he has also gathered back your strength, splendor, valor, and greatness.'

Verse 87 (vishnu.5.38.87)

जातस्य नियतो मृत्युः पतनं च तथोन्नतेः । विप्रयोगावसानश्च संयोगः संचयात् क्षयः

jātasya niyato mṛtyuḥ patanaṁ ca tathonnateḥ viprayogāvasānaśca saṁyogaḥ saṁcayāt kṣayaḥ

'For one who is born, death is certain, and so too is the fall that follows every rise; union ends always in separation, and every accumulation ends in decay.'

Verse 88 (vishnu.5.38.88)

विज्ञाय न बुधाः शोकं न हर्षम् उपयान्ति ये । तेषाम् एवेतरे चेष्टां शिक्षन्तः सन्ति तादृशाः

vijñāya na budhāḥ śokaṁ na harṣam upayānti ye teṣām evetare ceṣṭāṁ śikṣantaḥ santi tādṛśāḥ

'Knowing this, the wise fall neither into grief nor into joy; and others too, learning from their conduct, become just such men themselves.'

Verse 89 (vishnu.5.38.89)

तस्मात् त्वया नरश्रेष्ठ ज्ञात्वैतद् भ्रातृभिः सह । परित्यज्याखिलं तन्त्रं गन्तव्यं तपसे वनम्

tasmāt tvayā naraśreṣṭha jñātvaitad bhrātṛbhiḥ saha parityajyākhilaṁ tantraṁ gantavyaṁ tapase vanam

'Therefore, O best of men, knowing this, you should, together with your brothers, abandon all worldly affairs and go to the forest for austerity.'

Verse 90 (vishnu.5.38.90)

तद् गच्छ धर्मराजाय निवेद्यैतद् वचो मम । परश्वो भ्रातृभिः सार्धं यथा यासि तथा कुरु

tad gaccha dharmarājāya nivedyaitad vaco mama paraśvo bhrātṛbhiḥ sārdhaṁ yathā yāsi tathā kuru

'So go now, and, having delivered this word of mine to Dharmaraja, arrange matters so that, the day after tomorrow, you set out together with your brothers.'

Verse 91 (vishnu.5.38.91)

पराशर उवाच । इत्य् उक्तोऽभ्येत्य पार्थाभ्यां यमाभ्यां च सहार्जुनः । दृष्टं चैवानुभूतं च कथितं तद् विशेषतः

parāśara uvāca ity ukto'bhyetya pārthābhyāṁ yamābhyāṁ ca sahārjunaḥ dṛṣṭaṁ caivānubhūtaṁ ca kathitaṁ tad viśeṣataḥ

Parashara said: Thus addressed, Arjuna went to Bhima and the twins and related to them in full detail all that he had seen and experienced.

Verse 92 (vishnu.5.38.92)

व्यासवाक्यं च ते सर्वे श्रुत्वार्जुनसमीरितम् । राज्ये परीक्षितं कृत्वा ययुः पाण्डुसुता वनम्

vyāsavākyaṁ ca te sarve śrutvārjunasamīritam rājye parīkṣitaṁ kṛtvā yayuḥ pāṇḍusutā vanam

And all of them, hearing Vyasa's words as related by Arjuna, established Parikshit upon the throne, and the sons of Pandu then departed for the forest.

Verse 93 (vishnu.5.38.93)

इत्य् एतत् तव मैत्रेय विस्तरेण मयोदितम् । जातस्य यद् यदोर्वंशे वासुदेवस्य चेष्टितम्

ity etat tava maitreya vistareṇa mayoditam jātasya yad yadorvaṁśe vāsudevasya ceṣṭitam

Thus, O Maitreya, I have related to you in full detail these deeds of Vasudeva, born within the lineage of Yadu.