Mahabharata 3.241: eka catvāriṃśadadhika dviśatatamo'dhyāyaḥ

3.241.1

janamejaya uvāca |
vasamāneṣu pārtheṣu vane tasminmahātmasu |
dhārtarāṣṭrā maheṣvāsāḥ kimakurvanta sattama || 1 ||

Janamejaya said, "When the high-souled sons of Pritha were living in the forest, what did those foremost of men and mighty archers--the sons of Dhritarashtra--do? And what did the offspring of the Sun, Karna, and the mighty Sakuni, and Bhishma, and Drona, and Kripa do? It behoveth thee to relate this unto me."

Vaisampayana said, "When, O mighty king, in this manner the Pandavas had gone, leaving Suyodhana, and when, having been liberated by Pandu's sons, he had come to Hastinapura, Bhishma said these words to the son of Dhritarashtra, 'O child, I had told thee before, when thou wert intent upon going to the hermitage that thy journey did not please me. But thou didst do so. And as a consequence, O hero, wert thou forcibly taken captive by the enemy, and wert delivered by the Pandavas versed in morality. Yet art thou not ashamed. Even in the presence of thee, O son of Gandhari, together with thy army, did the Suta's son, struck with panic, fly from the battle of the Gandharvas, O king. And, O foremost of kings, O son of the monarch! while thou with thy army wert crying distressfully, thou didst witness the prowess of the high-souled Pandavas, and also, O mighty-armed one, of the wicked son of the Suta, Karna. O best of kings, whether in the science of arms, or heroism, or morality, Karna, O thou devoted to virtue, is not a fourth part of the Pandavas. Therefore, for the welfare of this race, the conclusion of peace is, I think, desirable with the high-souled Pandavas."

'Having been thus addressed by Bhishma, Dhritarashtra's son the king, laughed a good deal, and then suddenly sailed out with the son of Suvala. thereupon, knowing that he was gone, those mighty bowmen with Karna, and Dussasana at their head, followed the highly powerful son of Dhritarashtra. And seeing them gone, Bhishma, the grandfather of the Kurus, hung down his head from shame, and then, O king, went to his own quarters. And, O mighty monarch, when Bhishma had left, that lord of men, Dhritarashtra's son came there again, and began to consult with his counsellors, 'What is it that is good for me? What remaineth to be done? And how we can most effectively bring about the good we shall discuss to-day.' Karna said, 'O Kuru's son, Duryodhana, do thou lay to heart tie words that I say. Bhishma always blameth us, and praiseth the Pandavas. And from the ill-will he beareth towards thee, he hateth me also. And, O lord of men, in thy presence he ever crieth me down. I shall never, O Bharata, bear these words that Bhishma had said in thy presence in relation to this matter, extolling the Pandavas, and censuring thee, O represser of foes! Do thou, O king, enjoin on me, together with servants, forces, and cars. I shall, O monarch, conquer the earth furnished with mountains and woods and forests. The earth had been conquered by the four powerful Pandavas. I shall, without doubt, conquer it for thee single-handed. Let that wretch of the Kuru race, the exceedingly wicked-minded Bhishma, see it,--he who vilifies those that do not deserve censure, and praises those that should not be praised. Let him this day witness my might, and blame himself. Do thou, O king, command me. Victory shall surely be thine. By my weapon, O monarch, I swear this before thee.'

"O king, O bull of the Bharata race, hearing those words of Karna, that lord of men, experiencing the highest delight, spoke unto Karna, saying, 'I am blessed. I have been favoured by thee,--since thou, endued with great strength, art ever intent on my welfare. My life hath borne fruit, to-day. As thou, O hero, intendest to subdue all our enemies, repair thou. May good betide thee! Do thou command me (what I am to do),' O subduer of foes, having been thus addressed by Dhritarashtra's intelligent son, Karna ordered all the necessaries for the excursion. And on an auspicious lunar day, at an auspicious moment, and under the influence of a star presided over by an auspicious deity, that mighty bowman, having been honoured by twice-born ones, and been bathed with auspicious and holy substances and also worshipped by speech set out, filling with the rattle of his car the three worlds, with their mobile and immobile objects."

Janamejaya said, "When the high-souled sons of Pritha were living in the forest, what did those foremost of men and mighty archers--the sons of Dhritarashtra--do? And what did the offspring of the Sun, Karna, and the mighty Sakuni, and Bhishma, and Drona, and Kripa do? It behoveth thee to relate this unto me."

3.241.2

karṇo vaikartanaścāpi śakuniśca mahābalaḥ |
bhīṣmadroṇakṛpāścaiva tanme śaṃsitumarhasi || 2 ||

3.241.3

vaiśaṃpāyana uvāca |
evaṃ gateṣu pārtheṣu visṛṣṭe ca suyodhane |
āgate hāstinapuraṃ mokṣite pāṇḍunandanaiḥ |
bhīṣmo'bravīnmahārāja dhārtarāṣṭramidaṃ vacaḥ || 3 ||

Vaisampayana said, "When, O mighty king, in this manner the Pandavas had gone, leaving Suyodhana, and when, having been liberated by Pandu's sons, he had come to Hastinapura, Bhishma said these words to the son of Dhritarashtra, 'O child, I had told thee before, when thou wert intent upon going to the hermitage that thy journey did not please me. But thou didst do so. And as a consequence, O hero, wert thou forcibly taken captive by the enemy, and wert delivered by the Pandavas versed in morality. Yet art thou not ashamed. Even in the presence of thee, O son of Gandhari, together with thy army, did the Suta's son, struck with panic, fly from the battle of the Gandharvas, O king. And, O foremost of kings, O son of the monarch! while thou with thy army wert crying distressfully, thou didst witness the prowess of the high-souled Pandavas, and also, O mighty-armed one, of the wicked son of the Suta, Karna. O best of kings, whether in the science of arms, or heroism, or morality, Karna, O thou devoted to virtue, is not a fourth part of the Pandavas. Therefore, for the welfare of this race, the conclusion of peace is, I think, desirable with the high-souled Pandavas."

3.241.4

uktaṃ tāta mayā pūrvaṃ gacchataste tapovanam |
gamanaṃ me na rucitaṃ tava tanna kṛtaṃ ca te || 4 ||

3.241.5

tataḥ prāptaṃ tvayā vīra grahaṇaṃ śatrubhirbalāt |
mokṣitaścāsi dharmajñaiḥ pāṇḍavairna ca lajjase || 5 ||

3.241.6

pratyakṣaṃ tava gāndhāre sasainyasya viśāṃ pate |
sūtaputro'payādbhīto gandharvāṇāṃ tadā raṇāt |
krośatastava rājendra sasainyasya nṛpātmaja || 6 ||

3.241.7

dṛṣṭaste vikramaścaiva pāṇḍavānāṃ mahātmanām |
karṇasya ca mahābāho sūtaputrasya durmateḥ || 7 ||

3.241.8

na cāpi pādabhākkarṇaḥ pāṇḍavānāṃ nṛpottama |
dhanurvede ca śaurye ca dharme vā dharmavatsala || 8 ||

3.241.9

tasya te'haṃ kṣamaṃ manye pāṇḍavaistairmahātmabhiḥ |
saṃdhiṃ saṃdhividāṃ śreṣṭha kulasyāsya vivṛddhaye || 9 ||

3.241.10

evamuktastu bhīṣmeṇa dhārtarāṣṭro janeśvaraḥ |
prahasya sahasā rājanvipratasthe sasaubalaḥ || 10 ||

'Having been thus addressed by Bhishma, Dhritarashtra's son the king, laughed a good deal, and then suddenly sailed out with the son of Suvala. thereupon, knowing that he was gone, those mighty bowmen with Karna, and Dussasana at their head, followed the highly powerful son of Dhritarashtra. And seeing them gone, Bhishma, the grandfather of the Kurus, hung down his head from shame, and then, O king, went to his own quarters. And, O mighty monarch, when Bhishma had left, that lord of men, Dhritarashtra's son came there again, and began to consult with his counsellors, 'What is it that is good for me? What remaineth to be done? And how we can most effectively bring about the good we shall discuss to-day.' Karna said, 'O Kuru's son, Duryodhana, do thou lay to heart tie words that I say. Bhishma always blameth us, and praiseth the Pandavas. And from the ill-will he beareth towards thee, he hateth me also. And, O lord of men, in thy presence he ever crieth me down. I shall never, O Bharata, bear these words that Bhishma had said in thy presence in relation to this matter, extolling the Pandavas, and censuring thee, O represser of foes! Do thou, O king, enjoin on me, together with servants, forces, and cars. I shall, O monarch, conquer the earth furnished with mountains and woods and forests. The earth had been conquered by the four powerful Pandavas. I shall, without doubt, conquer it for thee single-handed. Let that wretch of the Kuru race, the exceedingly wicked-minded Bhishma, see it,--he who vilifies those that do not deserve censure, and praises those that should not be praised. Let him this day witness my might, and blame himself. Do thou, O king, command me. Victory shall surely be thine. By my weapon, O monarch, I swear this before thee.'

3.241.11

taṃ tu prasthitamājñāya karṇaduḥśāsanādayaḥ |
anujagmurmaheṣvāsā dhārtarāṣṭraṃ mahābalam || 11 ||

3.241.12

tāṃstu saṃprasthitāndṛṣṭvā bhīṣmaḥ kurupitāmahaḥ |
lajjayā vrīḍito rājañjagāma svaṃ niveśanam || 12 ||

3.241.13

gate bhīṣme mahārāja dhārtarāṣṭro janādhipaḥ |
punarāgamya taṃ deśamamantrayata mantribhiḥ || 13 ||

3.241.14

kimasmākaṃ bhavecchreyaḥ kiṃ kāryamavaśiṣyate |
kathaṃ nu sukṛtaṃ ca syānmantrayāmāsa bhārata || 14 ||

3.241.15

karṇa uvāca |
duryodhana nibodhedaṃ yattvā vakṣyāmi kaurava |
śrutvā ca tattathā sarvaṃ kartumarhasyariṃdama || 15 ||

Vaisampayana continued, "O king, O lord of men, that slayer of hostile heroes, the Suta's son, said these words to Duryodhana, 'O Kaurava Duryodhana, do thou lay unto thy heart the words that I shall tell thee; and, O represser of foes, after having heard my words, it behoveth thee to act accordingly every way. Now, O best of monarchs, O hero, hath the earth been rid of foes. Do thou rule her even like the mighty-minded Sakra himself, having his foes destroyed."

Vaisampayana continued, "O king, O lord of men, that slayer of hostile heroes, the Suta's son, said these words to Duryodhana, 'O Kaurava Duryodhana, do thou lay unto thy heart the words that I shall tell thee; and, O represser of foes, after having heard my words, it behoveth thee to act accordingly every way. Now, O best of monarchs, O hero, hath the earth been rid of foes. Do thou rule her even like the mighty-minded Sakra himself, having his foes destroyed."

Vaisampayana continued, "Having been thus addressed by Karna, the king again spake unto him, saying, 'O bull among men, nothing whatever is unattainable to him who hath thee for refuge, and to whom thou art attached and on whose welfare thou art entirely intent. Now, I have a purpose, which do thou truly listen to. Having beheld that foremost of sacrifices, the mighty Rajasuya, performed by the Pandavas, a desire hath sprung up in me (to celebrate the same). Do thou, O Suta's son, fulfil this desire of mine.' Thus addressed, Karna spake thus unto the king, 'Now that all the rulers of the earth have been brought under thy subjection, do thou summon the principal Brahmanas, and, O best of Kurus, duly procure the articles required for the sacrifice. And, O represser of foes, let Ritwijas as prescribed, and versed in the Vedas, celebrate thy rites according to the ordinance, O king. And, O bull of the Bharata race, let thy great sacrifice also, abounding in meats and drinks, and grand with parts, commence.'

"O king, having been thus addressed by Karna, Dhritarashtra's son summoned the priest, and spake unto him these words, 'Do thou duly and in proper order celebrate for me that best of sacrifices, the Rajasuya furnished with excellent Dakshinas.' Thus accosted, that best of Brahmanas spake unto the king, saying, 'O foremost of the Kauravas, while Yudhishthira is living, that best of sacrifices cannot be performed in thy family, O Prince of kings! Further, O monarch, thy father Dhritarashtra, endued with long life, liveth. For this reason also, O best of kings, this sacrifice cannot be undertaken by thee. There is, O lord, another great sacrifice, resembling the Rajasuya. Do thou, O foremost of kings, celebrate that sacrifice. Listen to these words of mine. All these rulers of the earth, who have, O king, become tributary to thee, will pay thee tribute in gold, both pure and impure. Of that gold, do thou, O best of monarchs, now make the (sacrificial) plough, and do thou, O Bharata, plough the sacrificial compound with it. At that spot, let there commence, O foremost of kings, with due rites, and without any disturbance the sacrifice, sanctified with mantras abounding in edibles. The name of that sacrifice worthy of virtuous persons, is Vaishnava. No person save the ancient Vishnu hath performed it before. This mighty sacrifice vies with that best of sacrifices--the Rajasuya itself. And, further, it liketh us--and it is also for thy welfare (to celebrate it). And, moreover, it is capable of being celebrated without any disturbance. (By undertaking this), thy desire will be fufilled.'

"Having been thus addressed by those Brahmanas, Dhritarashtra's son, the king, spake these words to Karna, his brothers and the son of Suvala, 'Beyond doubt, the words of the Brahmanas are entirely liked by me. If they are relished by you also, express it without delay.' Thus appealed, they all said unto the king, 'So be it.' Then the king one by one appointed persons to their respective tasks; and desired all the artisans to construct the (sacrificial) plough. And, O best of kings, all that had been commanded to be done, was gradually executed."

3.241.16

tavādya pṛthivī vīra niḥsapatnā nṛpottama |
tāṃ pālaya yathā śakro hataśatrurmahāmanāḥ || 16 ||

3.241.17

vaiśaṃpāyana uvāca |
evamuktastu karṇena karṇaṃ rājābravītpunaḥ |
na kiṃciddurlabhaṃ tasya yasya tvaṃ puruṣarṣabha || 17 ||

Vaisampayana continued, "Having been thus addressed by Karna, the king again spake unto him, saying, 'O bull among men, nothing whatever is unattainable to him who hath thee for refuge, and to whom thou art attached and on whose welfare thou art entirely intent. Now, I have a purpose, which do thou truly listen to. Having beheld that foremost of sacrifices, the mighty Rajasuya, performed by the Pandavas, a desire hath sprung up in me (to celebrate the same). Do thou, O Suta's son, fulfil this desire of mine.' Thus addressed, Karna spake thus unto the king, 'Now that all the rulers of the earth have been brought under thy subjection, do thou summon the principal Brahmanas, and, O best of Kurus, duly procure the articles required for the sacrifice. And, O represser of foes, let Ritwijas as prescribed, and versed in the Vedas, celebrate thy rites according to the ordinance, O king. And, O bull of the Bharata race, let thy great sacrifice also, abounding in meats and drinks, and grand with parts, commence.'

3.241.18

sahāyaścānuraktaśca madarthaṃ ca samudyataḥ |
abhiprāyastu me kaścittaṃ vai śṛṇu yathātatham || 18 ||

3.241.19

rājasūyaṃ pāṇḍavasya dṛṣṭvā kratuvaraṃ tadā |
mama spṛhā samutpannā tāṃ saṃpādaya sūtaja || 19 ||

3.241.20

evamuktastataḥ karṇo rājānamidamabravīt |
tavādya pṛthivīpālā vaśyāḥ sarve nṛpottama || 20 ||

3.241.21

āhūyantāṃ dvijavarāḥ saṃbhārāśca yathāvidhi |
saṃbhriyantāṃ kuruśreṣṭha yajñopakaraṇāni ca || 21 ||

3.241.22

ṛtvijaśca samāhūtā yathoktaṃ vedapāragāḥ |
kriyāṃ kurvantu te rājanyathāśāstramariṃdama || 22 ||

3.241.23

bahvannapānasaṃyuktaḥ susamṛddhaguṇānvitaḥ |
pravartatāṃ mahāyajñastavāpi bharatarṣabha || 23 ||

3.241.24

evamuktastu karṇena dhārtarāṣṭro viśāṃ pate |
purohitaṃ samānāyya idaṃ vacanamabravīt || 24 ||

"O king, having been thus addressed by Karna, Dhritarashtra's son summoned the priest, and spake unto him these words, 'Do thou duly and in proper order celebrate for me that best of sacrifices, the Rajasuya furnished with excellent Dakshinas.' Thus accosted, that best of Brahmanas spake unto the king, saying, 'O foremost of the Kauravas, while Yudhishthira is living, that best of sacrifices cannot be performed in thy family, O Prince of kings! Further, O monarch, thy father Dhritarashtra, endued with long life, liveth. For this reason also, O best of kings, this sacrifice cannot be undertaken by thee. There is, O lord, another great sacrifice, resembling the Rajasuya. Do thou, O foremost of kings, celebrate that sacrifice. Listen to these words of mine. All these rulers of the earth, who have, O king, become tributary to thee, will pay thee tribute in gold, both pure and impure. Of that gold, do thou, O best of monarchs, now make the (sacrificial) plough, and do thou, O Bharata, plough the sacrificial compound with it. At that spot, let there commence, O foremost of kings, with due rites, and without any disturbance the sacrifice, sanctified with mantras abounding in edibles. The name of that sacrifice worthy of virtuous persons, is Vaishnava. No person save the ancient Vishnu hath performed it before. This mighty sacrifice vies with that best of sacrifices--the Rajasuya itself. And, further, it liketh us--and it is also for thy welfare (to celebrate it). And, moreover, it is capable of being celebrated without any disturbance. (By undertaking this), thy desire will be fufilled.'

3.241.25

rājasūyaṃ kratuśreṣṭhaṃ samāptavaradakṣiṇam |
āhara tvaṃ mama kṛte yathānyāyaṃ yathākramam || 25 ||

3.241.26

sa evamukto nṛpatimuvāca dvijapuṃgavaḥ |
na sa śakyaḥ kratuśreṣṭho jīvamāne yudhiṣṭhire |
āhartuṃ kauravaśreṣṭha kule tava nṛpottama || 26 ||

3.241.27

dīrghāyurjīvati ca vai dhṛtarāṣṭraḥ pitā tava |
ataścāpi viruddhaste kratureṣa nṛpottama || 27 ||

3.241.28

asti tvanyanmahatsatraṃ rājasūyasamaṃ prabho |
tena tvaṃ yaja rājendra śṛṇu cedaṃ vaco mama || 28 ||

3.241.29

ya ime pṛthivīpālāḥ karadāstava pārthiva |
te karānsaṃprayacchantu suvarṇaṃ ca kṛtākṛtam || 29 ||

3.241.30

tena te kriyatāmadya lāṅgalaṃ nṛpasattama |
yajñavāṭasya te bhūmiḥ kṛṣyatāṃ tena bhārata || 30 ||

3.241.31

tatra yajño nṛpaśreṣṭha prabhūtānnaḥ susaṃskṛtaḥ |
pravartatāṃ yathānyāyaṃ sarvato hyanivāritaḥ || 31 ||

3.241.32

eṣa te vaiṣṇavo nāma yajñaḥ satpuruṣocitaḥ |
etena neṣṭavānkaścidṛte viṣṇuṃ purātanam || 32 ||

3.241.33

rājasūyaṃ kratuśreṣṭhaṃ spardhatyeṣa mahākratuḥ |
asmākaṃ rocate caiva śreyaśca tava bhārata |
avighnaśca bhavedeṣa saphalā syātspṛhā tava || 33 ||

3.241.34

evamuktastu tairviprairdhārtarāṣṭro mahīpatiḥ |
karṇaṃ ca saubalaṃ caiva bhrātṝṃścaivedamabravīt || 34 ||

"Having been thus addressed by those Brahmanas, Dhritarashtra's son, the king, spake these words to Karna, his brothers and the son of Suvala, 'Beyond doubt, the words of the Brahmanas are entirely liked by me. If they are relished by you also, express it without delay.' Thus appealed, they all said unto the king, 'So be it.' Then the king one by one appointed persons to their respective tasks; and desired all the artisans to construct the (sacrificial) plough. And, O best of kings, all that had been commanded to be done, was gradually executed."

3.241.35

rocate me vacaḥ kṛtsnaṃ brāhmaṇānāṃ na saṃśayaḥ |
rocate yadi yuṣmākaṃ tanmā prabrūta māciram || 35 ||

3.241.36

evamuktāstu te sarve tathetyūcurnarādhipam |
saṃdideśa tato rājā vyāpārasthānyathākramam || 36 ||

3.241.37

halasya karaṇe cāpi vyādiṣṭāḥ sarvaśilpinaḥ |
yathoktaṃ ca nṛpaśreṣṭha kṛtaṃ sarvaṃ yathākramam || 37 ||