Bhagavatapurana 10.75: atha pañcasaptatitamo'dhyāyaḥ

10.75.1

/0 śrī-rājovāca
ajāta-śatros tam dṛṣṭvā rājasūya-mahodayam /
sarve mumudire brahman nṛ-devā ye samāgatāḥ //

The king said:
Seeing that great success of the Rājasūya sacrifice of Ajātaśatru, / all who were assembled, the men and the gods, rejoiced, O brahmin,

1. & 2. The king said:— At the splendid success in the Rajasuya of Ajatasatru all the kings who had met there were rejoiced, O sage, — all the kings except Duryodhana, Rishis and the gods, so we are told; O worshipful one, be pleased to tell us of its cause.

10.75.2

duryodhanaṃ varjayitvā rājānaḥ sarṣayaḥ surāḥ /
iti śrutaṃ no bhagavaṃs tatra kāraṇam ucyatām //

except for Duryodhana—kings, sages, and gods alike. / This has been heard by us, O Lord; let the reason for it be told.

10.75.3

/0 śrī-bādarāyaṇir uvāca
pitāmahasya te yajñe rājasūye mahātmanaḥ /
bāndhavāḥ paricaryāyāṃ tasyāsan prema-bandhanāḥ //

The son of Bādarāyaṇa said:
At the Rājasūya sacrifice of your noble grandfather, / his kinsmen were engaged in service to him, bound by love.

3. Rishi said:— During the Rajasuya sacrifice of Thy nobleminded grandfather all his relations bound to him with affection, engaged themselves in rendering him service (in different departments).

10.75.4

bhīmo mahānasādhyakṣo dhanādhyakṣaḥ suyodhanaḥ /
sahadevas tu pūjāyāṃ nakulo dravya-sādhane //

Bhīma was the superintendent of the kitchen, Suyodhana the superintendent of wealth; / Sahadeva was appointed to hospitality, and Nakula to the procurement of supplies;

4. to 7. Bhima was the superintendent of the culinary department, Duryodhana of treasures; Sahadeva was engaged in doing honour to the visitors, Nakula in procuring supplies of required things, Arjuna in waiting on the elders and preceptors and Krishna in washing their feet, Draupadi in distributing food, the munificent Karna in bestowing gifts, Yuyudhana, Vikarna, Hardikya, Vidura and others, Bhuri and other sons of Balhika, Santardana and others were directed to superintend various other departments of work during the great sacrifice; and all these, O great king, endeavoured to do what pleased the king.

10.75.5

guru-śuśrūṣaṇe jiṣṇuḥ kṛṣṇaḥ pādāvanejane /
pariveṣaṇe drupada-jā karṇo dāne mahā-manāḥ //

Jiṣṇu to attending on the elders, Kṛṣṇa to washing the feet, / the daughter of Drupada to serving food, and the noble Karṇa to giving gifts;

10.75.6

yuyudhāno vikarṇaś ca hārdikyo vidurādayaḥ /
bāhlīka-putrā bhūry-ādyā ye ca santardanādayaḥ //

Yuyudhāna, Vikarṇa, the son of Hṛdīka, Vidura and others, / the sons of Bāhlīka such as Bhūri, and Santardana and others—

10.75.7

nirūpitā mahā-yajñe nānā-karmasu te tadā /
pravartante sma rājendra rājñaḥ priya-cikīrṣavaḥ //

assigned to various duties in that great sacrifice at that time, / they acted, O best of kings, eager to please the king.

10.75.7.p1

ṛtvik-sadasya-bahu-vitsu suhṛttameṣu $ sv-iṣṭeṣu sūnṛta-samarhaṇa-dakṣiṇābhiḥ &

When the priests, the members of the assembly, the great scholars, and the dearest friends had been well worshipped / with truthful words, honors, and sacrificial fees,

8. When the priests, members of the assembly and those who were known for extensive knowledge and great friends were well honoured with kind words, valuable presents and Dakshinas and Chaidya had entered the feet of the Lord of Satvatas, they (Pandavas) performed the concluding ablutions (Avabhrita) in the celestial river (Ganga).

10.75.8

caidye ca sātvata-pateś caraṇaṃ praviṣṭe % cakrus tatas tv avabhṛtha-snapanaṃ dyu-nadyām //

and when the king of Cedi had entered the feet of the Lord of the Sātvatas, / they then performed the final ablution in the river of the heavens.

10.75.9

mṛdaṅga-śaṅkha-paṇava- dhundhury-ānaka-gomukhāḥ /
vāditrāṇi vicitrāṇi nedur āvabhṛthotsave //

Mṛdaṅgas, conches, paṇavas, / dhundhuris, ānakas, and gomukhas—various instruments resounded at that festival of the final ablution.

9. At (the festive occasion of) Avabhrita (ablutions) Mridangas, Sankhas, Panavas, Dundubhi, Anakas, Gomukhas, and similar musical instruments of great variety were played upon.

10.75.10

nārtakyo nanṛtur hṛṣṭā gāyakā yūthaśo jaguḥ /
vīṇā-veṇu-talonnādas teṣāṃ sa divam aspṛśat //

Delighted female dancers danced, and singers sang in groups; / the sound of their lutes, flutes, and hand-clapping touched the heavens.

10. Courtesans danced in great joy, songsters sang in accompaniment to lofty tunes of music evolved from their Veenas, flutes and cymbals which filled the sky.

10.75.11

citra-dhvaja-patākāgrair ibhendra-syandanārvabhiḥ /
sv-alaṅkṛtair bhaṭair bhūpā niryayū rukma-mālinaḥ //

Wearing golden garlands, kings set forth with well-adorned warriors, / with lordly elephants, chariots, and horses bearing colorful pennants and flags at their tips.

11. Adorned with golden wreaths the kings issued forth with their regiments of well-adorned soldiers, elephants, chariots and horses and with wonderful flags and pendants waving in the air and proceeded towards the Ganga.

10.75.12

yadu-sṛñjaya-kāmboja- kuru-kekaya-kośalāḥ /
kampayanto bhuvaṃ sainyair yayamāna-puraḥ-sarāḥ //

The Yadus, Sṛñjayas, Kāmbojas, Kurus, Kekayas, and Kośalas, / making the earth tremble with their armies, marched ahead of the performer of the sacrifice.

12. Also Yadus, Srinjayas, Kambojas, Kauravas, Kekayas and Kosalas, with the sacrificer in the front and with their armies made the earth shake under their feet.

10.75.13

sadasyartvig-dvija-śreṣṭhā brahma-ghoṣeṇa bhūyasā /
devarṣi-pitṛ-gandharvās tuṣṭuvuḥ puṣpa-varṣiṇaḥ //

The foremost twice-born priests and assembly members [chanted] with a resounding sacred roar of the Vedas, / while celestial sages, ancestors, and Gandharvas showered flowers and sang praises.

13. The members of the sacrificial assembly, the priests, great brahmins with immense roar of Vedic recitation, and the gods, Rishis, Pitris, Gandharvas, showered flowers and sang hymns of praise.

10.75.14

sv-alaṇkṛtā narā nāryo gandha-srag-bhūṣaṇāmbaraiḥ /
vilimpantyo 'bhisiñcantyo vijahrur vividhai rasaiḥ //

Well-adorned with fragrant pastes, garlands, ornaments, and fine clothes, / the men and women enjoyed themselves, smearing and sprinkling one another with various colored liquids.

14. Men and women well adorned with spices and flowers, ornaments and cloths sported on, smearing and sprinkling one another with various colours.

10.75.15

taila-gorasa-gandhoda- haridrā-sāndra-kuṅkumaiḥ /
pumbhir liptāḥ pralimpantyo vijahrur vāra-yoṣitaḥ //

Courtesans smeared by men and smearing [them in turn] / with oil, milk products, scented water, turmeric, and thick saffron paste, made merry.

15. Courtesans sported, being smeared with and themselves smearing others with, oil and milk, pigments, saffron and thick solution of Kunkuma.

10.75.15.p1

guptā nṛbhir niragamann upalabdhum etad $ devyo yathā divi vimāna-varair nṛ-devyo &

Guarded by men, the queens came out to behold this scene, / just as the wives of gods [look down] in the heavens from excellent aerial chariots;

16. Escorted by guards the consorts of kings, curious to have a look at the grand procession and festivity, went out like goddesses in the skies seated in their best vehicles, and, being sprinkled over with water by the friends of their uncle's son, shone with faces blooming with bashful smiles.

10.75.16

tā mātuleya-sakhibhiḥ pariṣicyamānāḥ % sa-vrīḍa-hāsa-vikasad-vadanā virejuḥ //

being sprinkled with water by their cousins and female companions, / their faces blossomed with modest smiles and shone radiant.

10.75.16.p2

tā devarān uta sakhīn siṣicur dṛtībhiḥ $ klinnāmbarā vivṛta-gātra-kucoru-madhyāḥ &

They sprayed their brothers-in-law and companions with leather water-bags; / their garments drenched, their limbs, breasts, thighs, and waists exposed,

17. Those queens also sprinkled with their syringes their brothers-in-law and friends. The moist clothes made their body, their breast and hips visible (as through transparent glass). In the hurry of the sport their braids got loosened and flowers dropped therefrom. Thus by their winning sportful ways they caused agitation in impious hearts.

10.75.16.p3

tā devarān uta sakhīn siṣicur dṛtībhiḥ $ klinnāmbarā vivṛta-gātra-kucoru-madhyāḥ &

They sprayed their brothers-in-law and companions with leather water-bags; / their garments drenched, their limbs, breasts, thighs, and waists exposed,

10.75.17

autsukya-mukta-kavarāc cyavamāna-mālyāḥ % kṣobhaṃ dadhur mala-dhiyāṃ rucirair vihāraiḥ //

their garlands dropping from braids loosened in their excitement, / they stirred desire in lustful minds through their charming play.

10.75.18

sa samrāḍ ratham āruḍhaḥ sad-aśvaṃ rukma-mālinam /
vyarocata sva-patnībhiḥ kriyābhiḥ kratu-rāḍ iva //

Mounted on a chariot drawn by excellent horses and adorned with golden garlands, / that emperor shone alongside his wives, like the king of sacrifices with the sacred rites.

18. Having mounted the chariot drawn by best horses and decked with gold ornaments, the emperor looked very glorious with his consorts like the great sacrifice with its various ritualistic processes.

10.75.19

patnī-samyājāvabhṛthyaiś caritvā te tam ṛtvijaḥ /
ācāntaṃ snāpayāṃ cakrur gaṅgāyāṃ saha kṛṣṇayā //

Having performed the patnīsaṃyāja and final purificatory rites, those priests / made him sip water and bathed him together with Draupadī in the Gaṅgā.

19. After conducting the sacrificial rites of Patnī-Samyaja and Avabhṛtya, the king performed Achamana and then, directed by the priests, he bathed along with Draupadi.

10.75.20

deva-dundubhayo nedur nara-dundubhibhiḥ samam /
mumucuḥ puṣpa-varṣāṇi devarṣi-pitṛ-mānavāḥ //

The kettle-drums of the gods sounded together with the drums of mortals; / celestial sages, ancestors, and humans showered rains of flowers.

20. The celestial Dundubhis as well as Dundubhis of human make simultanously sounded, the gods, Rishis, Pitris as also men let fall showers of flowers.

10.75.21

sasnus tatra tataḥ sarve varṇāśrama-yutā narāḥ /
mahā-pātaky api yataḥ sadyo mucyeta kilbiṣāt //

Then all people of every class and stage of life bathed there, / for even a perpetrator of great sins is instantly freed from evil [in that water].

21. At that hour in that Ganga all the people following Varnasrama rules bathed, for even the most sinful bathing at the time get at once rid of all sin.

10.75.22

atha rājāhate kṣaume paridhāya sv-alaṅkṛtaḥ /
ṛtvik-sadasya-viprādīn ānarcābharaṇāmbaraiḥ //

Then, having put on fresh silk garments and finely adorned himself, / the king worshiped the priests, assembly members, Brāhmaṇas, and others with jewelry and clothing.

22. Then the king wore two new silk cloths and was well-adorned and he honoured the ritvicks (priests), Sadasyas, brahmins and others with ornaments and cloths.

10.75.23

bandhūñ jñātīn nṛpān mitra- suhṛdo 'nyāṃś ca sarvaśaḥ /
abhīkṣnaṃ pūjayām āsa nārāyaṇa-paro nṛpaḥ //

Relatives, kinsmen, kings, friends, / well-wishers, and all others without exception—the king, devoted to Nārāyaṇa, honored them unceasingly.

23. The king devoted to Sri Narayana honoured at every step all the relations and princes, friends and well-wishers and also others.

10.75.23.p1

sarve janāḥ sura-ruco maṇi-kuṇḍala-srag- $ uṣṇīṣa-kañcuka-dukūla-mahārghya-hārāḥ &

All the people shone like gods with jeweled earrings, flower garlands, / turbans, tunics, silk robes, and priceless necklaces,

24. All men looked like celestials wearing jewelled ear-rings, wreaths of flowers, turbans, coats, silks and costly wreaths of pearls, and women shone with the grace of their face enhanced by their ear-ornaments and overhanging curls of locks and with zones of gold.

10.75.24

nāryaś ca kuṇḍala-yugālaka-vṛnda-juṣṭa- % vaktra-śriyaḥ kanaka-mekhalayā virejuḥ //

and the women, the beauty of their faces graced by pairs of earrings and locks of hair, / shone radiant with golden girdles.

10.75.25

athartvijo mahā-śīlāḥ sadasyā brahma-vādinaḥ /
brahma-kṣatriya-viṭ-śudrā- rājāno ye samāgatāḥ //

Then the priests of noble conduct, the assembly members who proclaim the Veda, / the Brāhmaṇas, Kṣatriyas, Vaiśyas, and Śūdras, the kings who had assembled,

25. & 26. Then the priests of great virtue, the *sadasyas* versed in the Vedas, brahmins, kshatriyas, vaisyas, sudras and kings—all who had met there, the gods, Rishis, Pitris and Bhutas, Indra and other protectors of the world with their attendants---all, being honoured, requested leave of the king and returned to their home.

10.75.26

devarṣi-pitṛ-bhūtāni loka-pālāḥ sahānugāḥ /
pūjitās tam anujñāpya sva-dhāmāni yayur nṛpa //

the celestial sages, ancestors, spirits, and world guardians along with their followers, / having been honored, took their leave of him and departed for their own abodes, O king.

10.75.27

hari-dāsasya rājarṣe rājasūya-mahodayam /
naivātṛpyan praśaṃsantaḥ piban martyo 'mṛtaṃ yathā //

Praising the magnificent success of the royal sage, that servant of Hari, / they never felt satiated, just as a mortal [never tires] while drinking nectar.

27. They were not satiated with praising the great splendour and success of the Rajasuya of the saintly king, a humble votary of Hari.

10.75.28

tato yudhiṣṭhiro rājā suhṛt-sambandhi-bāndhavān /
premṇā nivārayām āsa kṛṣṇaṃ ca tyāga-kātaraḥ //

Then King Yudhiṣṭhira, distressed at parting, / detained his well-wishers, in-laws, relatives, and Kṛṣṇa out of love.

28. But the closer friends as well as the kith and kin and also Krishna were importuned out of affection to stay longer by king Yudhishtira who was unwilling to lose their company.

10.75.29

bhagavān api tatrāṅga nyāvātsīt tat-priyaṃ-karaḥ /
prasthāpya yadu-vīrāṃś ca sāmbādīṃś ca kuśasthalīm //

The Lord also stayed there, my dear [Parīkṣit], to please him, / sending the Yadu heroes along with Sāmba and the rest back to Kuśasthalī.

29. The Lord also, O dear prince, stayed there for the pleasure of the king, having sent away to Dwaraka Samba and other Yadava warriors.

10.75.30

itthaṃ rājā dharma-suto manoratha-mahārṇavam /
su-dustaraṃ samuttīrya kṛṣṇenāsīd gata-jvaraḥ //

Thus King [Yudhiṣṭhira], the son of Dharma, having crossed that great, / impassable ocean of desire with Kṛṣṇa's help, became free of all feverish anxiety.

30. Thus king Yudhishtira crossed, with the help of Krishna, the impassable sea of his long-cherished purpose and was freed from all anxiety.

10.75.31

ekadāntaḥ-pure tasya vīkṣya duryodhanaḥ śriyam /
atapyad rājasūyasya mahitvaṃ cācyutātmanaḥ //

One day Duryodhana, seeing the opulence in his palace / and the grandeur of the Rājasūya sacrifice of him whose self is devoted to Acyuta, burned with jealousy,

31. On a certain day, Duryodhana was greatly troubled at heart to note the splendour of the harem and the greatness and grandeur of the Rajasuya of Yudhishtira who was devoted to Achyuta.

10.75.31.p1

yasmiṃs narendra-ditijendra-surendra-lakṣmīr $ nānā vibhānti kila viśva-sṛjopakḷptāḥ &

in which palace various splendors of human kings, Daitya kings, and the king of gods, / fashioned indeed by the architect of the universe, shone resplendent;

32. In that harem shine all phases of splendour that may be found in the cities of princes, the great daityas and exalted celestials, variously arranged and appointed by the Maker: in the midst of those splendid surroundings the brilliant Draupadi waited on her consorts and the Kaurava king Duryodhana set his heart on her and felt greatly troubled.

10.75.32

tābhiḥ patīn drupada-rāja-sutopatasthe % yasyāṃ viṣakta-hṛdayaḥ kuru-rāḍ atapyat //

with those [splendors], the daughter of King Drupada attended upon her husbands, / and with his heart attached to her, the Kuru king burned with envy.

10.75.32.p2

yasmin tadā madhu-pater mahiṣī-sahasraṃ $ śroṇī-bhareṇa śanakaiḥ kvaṇad-aṅghri-śobham &

In that [palace], the thousands of queens of the Lord of Madhu [walked] slowly / under the heavy weight of their hips, their feet tinkling beautifully,

33. There, at that time, were a thousand queens of Sri Krishna, on whose feet the anklets charmingly jingled when they slowly walked on account of their heavy hips: the apartment was specially charming with that company whose wreaths of pearls were red with saffron on the breast, whose faces were gracefully radiant with curly locks and looked full with rocking ear-rings.

10.75.32.p3

yasmin tadā madhu-pater mahiṣī-sahasraṃ $ śroṇī-bhareṇa śanakaiḥ kvaṇad-aṅghri-śobham &

In that [palace], the thousands of queens of the Lord of Madhu [walked] slowly / under the heavy weight of their hips, their feet tinkling beautifully,

10.75.33

madhye su-cāru kuca-kuṅkuma-śoṇa-hāraṃ % śrīman-mukhaṃ pracala-kuṇḍala-kuntalāḍhyam //

their waists slender and fair, their necklaces reddened by the saffron from their breasts, / their glorious faces adorned with trembling earrings and curls.

10.75.34

sabhāyāṃ maya-kḷptāyāṃ kvāpi dharma-suto 'dhirāṭ /
vṛto 'nugair bandhubhiś ca kṛṣṇenāpi sva-cakṣuṣā //

In the assembly hall fashioned by Maya, the emperor, the son of Dharma, was once / surrounded by his followers, relatives, and even Kṛṣṇa, his very eye,

34. In some part of the sabha constructed by Maya the emperor Dharmaraja was seen in the company of his brothers, relations and Krishna, his own eye and he was seated in a golden chair like Indra himself on his seat, in his imperial glory attended and praised by bards.

10.75.35

āsīnaḥ kāñcane sākṣād āsane maghavān iva /
pārameṣṭhya-śrīyā juṣṭaḥ stūyamānaś ca vandibhiḥ //

seated upon a golden throne like Maghavan himself, / endowed with the splendor of supreme sovereignty, and being praised by bards.

10.75.36

tatra duryodhano mānī parīto bhrātṛbhir nṛpa /
kirīṭa-mālī nyaviśad asi-hastaḥ kṣipan ruṣā //

There the proud Duryodhana, accompanied by his brothers, O king, / wearing a diadem and garland, entered with sword in hand, insulting [others] in his fury.

36. (Sri Suka said:---) There with his brothers the proud Duryodhana adorned with crowns and garlands, sword in hand, entered in rage, threatening the guards and others. 37. Taking a certain part of the floor for a sheet of water he drew up his clothes and stumbled on it. (When he mistook the bare ground for a pond of water, all people laughed at him; similarly the king going forward to a pond of water, took it for a floor of crystals and tumbled into it) and, deluded by the skill of Maya, he mistook water for bare ground.

10.75.37

sthale 'bhyagṛhṇād vastrāntaṃ jalaṃ matvā sthale 'patat /
jale ca sthala-vad bhrāntyā maya-māyā-vimohitaḥ //

Mistaking solid ground for water, he lifted the hem of his garment; on solid ground he fell; / and in the water he walked as if on dry land due to delusion, bewildered by the illusion of Maya.

10.75.38

jahāsa bhīmas taṃ dṛṣṭvā striyo nṛpatayo pare /
nivāryamāṇā apy aṅga rājñā kṛṣṇānumoditāḥ //

Seeing him, Bhīma laughed, as did the women and other kings; / though restrained by the king, my dear, they were encouraged by Kṛṣṇa's nod.

38. Bheema saw and laughed at him: so also did the ladies and other princes, though they were asked to refrain from it by the king: Krishna was pleased with them.

10.75.39

sa vrīḍito 'vag-vadano ruṣā jvalan niṣkramya tūṣṇīṃ prayayau gajāhvayam /
hā-heti śabdaḥ su-mahān abhūt satām ajāta-śatrur vimanā ivābhavat /
babhūva tūṣṇīṃ bhagavān bhuvo bharaṃ samujjihīrṣur bhramati sma yad-dṛśā //

Humiliated, his head cast down, burning with rage, he departed in silence and went to Hastināpura; / a great cry of dismay arose among the virtuous devotees, and Ajātaśatru became downcast; / the Lord remained silent, wishing to relieve the burden of the earth, by whose glance [all this] turned.

39. Abashed, with face cast down, burning with rage, he went away silently and journeyed on to Hastina: great was the uproar of the good people and Dharmaraja was greatly concerned: the Almighty Lord, intent upon reducing the burden of the earth, kept quiet, and by His glance indeed Duryodhana was led into this mistake.

10.75.40

etat te 'bhihitaṃ rājan yat pṛṣṭo 'ham iha tvayā /
suyodhanasya daurātmyaṃ rājasūye mahā-kratau //

This has been told to you, O king, as you asked me here / concerning the wickedness of Suyodhana at the great sacrifice, the Rājasūya.

40. Thus I have told thee what you asked me about on this point, how the ill-will of Duryodhana sprang during the great sacrifice of Rajasuya.