MAHABHARATA- VANA PARVA (EXILE OF PANDAVAS IN THE FORESTS)

THE MAHABHARATA
CONDENSED IN THE POET’S OWN WORDS
By PANDIT A. M. SRINIVASACHARIAR
                                   
                         अथ वनपर्व
                       VANA PARVA
                         एवं द्यूतजिताः पार्था
निर्ययुर्गजसाह्वयात्।
                    उदङ्मुखाः शस्त्रभृतः प्रययुस्सह
कृष्णया।
         एतान्भृत्या अनुययुस्स्त्रिय
आदाय सर्वशः॥
Conquered
thus in the game of dice, the sons of Kunti went out of the city of
Hastinapura.  Bearing their arms, they
went northward, with Draupadi.  Their
servants followed them taking all the ladies (of the Pandavas).
          व्रजतस्तान्विदित्वा तु पौराश्शोकाभिपीडिताः।
          साधु गच्छामहे सर्वे यत्र
गच्छन्ति पान्डवाः।
          एवमुक्त्वाऽनुजग्मुस्ते पाण्डवांस्तान्समेत्य
च ॥
Learning that
the Pandavas were departing, the sorrow-stricken citizens said: “Well, we will
go where the Pandavas go,” and followed them in a body.
       
          युधिष्ठिरः-
          ’भीष्मः पितामहो राजा विदुरो
जननी च मे।
          सुहृज्जनश्च प्रायो मे नगरे
नागसाह्वये ॥
Yudhishthira-
“Our
grandfather Bhishma, king Dhritarashtra, Vidura, my mother Kunti and most of my
friends are in the city of Hastinapura.”
         ‘ते त्वस्मद्धितकामार्थं पालनीया प्रयत्नतः।
         निवर्ततागता दूरं समागमनकाङ्क्षिणः॥’
“ For the love you have for our good, all of
them must be protected (by you) with effort. 
You have come far; go back
(and be) awaiting (our) return.”
         
अथानुमन्त्रितास्तेन ताः प्रजाः परमातुराः।
         
अकामास्सन्न्यवर्तन्त, रथमास्थाय पाण्डवाः।
          प्रययुः काम्यकं नाम वनं मुनिजनप्रियम् ॥
So requested by Yudhishthira, those intensely
afflicted subjects returned against their wish.   And the Pandavas, riding their chariots,
went to the forest named Kamyaka, dear to ascetics.
         
तत्र ते न्यवसन्वीरा वने बहुमृगद्विजे।
         
अन्वास्यमाना मुनिभिस्सान्त्व्यमानाश्च [भारत]॥
There, in that forest abounding in beast and
bird, the heroic Pandavas lived in the company of ascetics, soothed by them.
           भोजाः प्रव्रजिताच्छ्रुत्वा वृष्णयश्चान्धकैस्सह।
          
पाण्डवान्दुःखसन्तप्तान् समाजग्मुर्महावने ।
          
पाञ्चालस्य च दायादः, क्रोधामर्षसमन्विताः।
          
वासुदेवं पुरस्कृत्य सर्वे ते क्षत्रियर्षभाः।
          
परिवार्योपविविशुर्धर्मराजं युधिष्ठिरम्॥
Hearing that the Pandavas had gone into exile,
the Bhojas and the Vrishnis, along with the Andhakas, came to the Pandavas who
were suffering in sorrow, in the big forest; and the son of the Panchala king
(Dhrishtadyumna) also came.  With Krishna
at their head, all those indignant Kshatriya chiefs sat, surrounding the
righteous Yudhishthira.          
         
द्रौपदी-
          “वासुदेव हृषीकेश त्वयि सर्वं प्रतिष्ठितम्।
          
सा तेऽहं दुःखमाख्यास्ये प्रणयान्मधुसूदन॥
Draupadi-
“Immanent and transcendent God, Lord of
our senses, in you is everything established. 
To you, Krishna, I speak my grief out of our friendship.’
          
“कथं नु भार्या पर्थानां तव कृष्ण सखी विभो।
           
धृष्टद्युम्नस्य भगिनी सभां कृष्येत मादृशी ॥
“Lord, how can one like me, the wife of
the Pandavas, a friend of yours, Krishna, and the sister of Dhrishtadyumna, be
dragged into the assembly?
             ‘दासभावेन मां भोक्तुमीयुस्ते
मधुसूदन’।
Krishna, they wanted to enjoy me, keeping
me as a servant!
 
            शाश्वतोऽयं धर्मपथस्सद्भिराचरितस्सदा।
           
यद् भार्यां परिरक्षन्ति भर्तारोऽल्पबला अपि॥
“That husbands, even of little strength,
protect their wives, is the eternal way of Dharma followed by good men.”
         
नन्विमे शरणं प्राप्तं न त्यजन्ति कदाचन।
         
ते मां शरणमापन्नां नान्वपद्यन्त पाण्डवाः॥
“These Pandavas never forsake one who
seeks them as refuge!
They did not come to rescue me who had
taken shelter under them!”
             अधर्मेण हृतं राज्यं सर्वे
दासाः कृतास्तथा।
             सभायां परिकृष्टाऽहमेकवस्त्रा
रजस्वला।
             धिग्बलं भीमसेनस्य धिक्
पार्थस्य च पौरुषम्॥
“Unrighteously, the
kingdom has been snatched away; in the same unrighteous manner, every one (of
us) has been made a
slave; unwell and clad in
a single garment, I have been dragged into the assembly! Fie upon Bhima’s
strength! Fie on Arjuna’s manliness!”
             ‘कुले महति जाताऽस्मि
दिव्येन विधिना किल।
              केशग्रहमनुप्राप्ता का
नु जीवेत मादृशी ॥
“I was born in a great family and, it is
said, in a divine manner.  And I have
been dragged by my hair! Which woman in my state would (still) be alive?”
             “नैव मे पतयस्सन्ति न
पुत्रा न च बान्धवाः।
              न भ्रातरो न च पिता नैव
त्वं मधुसूदन॥“
“I have no husbands, no sons, no kinsmen,
no brothers, no father, not even you, Krishna.”
              चतुर्भिः कारणैः कृष्ण
त्वया रक्ष्याऽस्मि नित्यशः।
              संबन्धात् गौरवात्सख्यात्
प्रभुत्वेनैव केशव ॥
“For four reasons , Krishna, I must be
protected by you always –
for kinship, for honour, for friendship
and above all, for the reason that you are the all-powerful Lord,
Krishna.”      
      
  
         
कृष्णः-
         
’यत्समर्थं पाण्डवानां तत्करिष्यामि मा शुचः।
          
सत्यं ते प्रतिजानामि राज्ञां राज्ञी भविष्यसि॥
Krishna-
“What must be done for the Pandavas, I
will do; grieve not; I promise you in truth; you will become the queen of
kings.”
       
   नैतत्कृच्छ्रमनुप्राप्तो
भवान्स्यात् वसुधाधिप।
          
यद्यहं द्वारकायां स्यां राजन्सन्निहितः पुरा॥
(Addressing Yudhishthira) – “King, had I
been  present in Dwaraka then, you would
not have come to this pass.”
          
आगच्छेयमहं द्यूतमनाहूतोऽपि कौरवैः।
          
वारयेयमहं द्यूतं बहून्दोषान्प्रदर्शयन् ॥
“I would have come to that game of dice,
though not invited by the Kauravas; pointing out (its) many evils, I would have
prevented the game.
           
स्त्रियोऽक्षा मृगया पानमेतत्कामसमुत्थितम्।
           
दुःखं चतुष्टयं प्रोक्तं यैर्नरो भ्रश्यते श्रियः॥
“Women, gambling, hunting and drinking, –
these are said to be the four vices born of passion, by which man is thrown
down from prosperity.”
                “एकाहात् द्रव्यनाशोऽत्र
ध्रुवं व्यसनमेव च।
                 अभुक्तनाशश्चार्थानां
वाक्पारुष्यं च केवलम्॥“
“By this will result loss
of property in a day and certain grief; and loss of wealth, without one
enjoying it and mere violence of words.”
                 एवमुक्त्वा महाबाहुः
कौरवं पुरुषोत्तमः।
                 सुभद्रामभिमन्युं
च रथमारोप्य काञ्चनम्।
                 द्वारकां प्रययौ कृष्णः,
धृष्टद्युम्नोऽपि पार्षतः।
                 द्रौपदेयानुपादाय
प्रययौ स्वपुरं तदा॥
Having told Yudhishthira
thus, the mighty Krishna, the best among men, left for Dwaraka,  taking with him Subhadra and Abhimanyu in his
golden chariot.   And Dhrishtadyumna, son
of Drupada, also departed for his city, taking the sons of Draupadi.
                पुण्यं द्वैतवनं रम्यं
विविशुर्भरतर्षभाः॥
The illustrious scions of Bharata, the
Pandavas, entered the holy and beautiful Dvaita forest.
                अथ कृष्णा धर्मराजमिदं
वचनमब्रवीत्॥
Then, Draupadi addressed these words to
Yudhishthira.
             “नूनं च तव नैवास्ति मन्युर्भरतसत्तम।
             यत्ते भ्रातॄंश्च मां
चैव दृष्ट्वा न व्यथते मनः॥“
“ you best of the Bharatas! Surely, you
have no indignation, you whose mind is not pained on seeing your brothers and
me.”
         
                  
      
     ‘नेह धर्मानृशंस्याभ्यां न क्षान्त्या
नार्जवेन च।
            पुरुषः श्रियमाप्नोति न घृणित्वेन
कर्हिचित्॥’
“Not by Dharma and
kindness, not by forbearance, not by straightforwardness, and never by being
compassionate, does a man attain prosperity in this world.”
          तवेममापदं दृष्ट्वा समृद्धिं
च सुयोधने।
          धातारं गर्हये पार्थ विषमं
योऽनुपश्यति॥
“Son of Kunti! Seeing
this calamity of yours and the prosperity of Duryodhana, I blame the Creator
who views with partiality.”
          युधिष्ठिर:-
          नाहं धर्मफलाकाङ्क्षी राजपुत्रि
चराम्युत।
         
धर्म एव मनः कृष्णे स्वभावाच्चैव मे धृतम्।
          न धर्मफलमाप्नोति यो धर्मं
दोग्धुमिच्छति॥
Yudhishthira-
“Princess! I do not
observe [Dharma] expecting fruit out of it. By my very nature, my mind is set
on Dharma only, Draupadi.  He who exploits
Dharma misses its true purpose.”
       ‘धर्म एव प्लवो नान्यस्स्वर्गं
द्रौपदि गच्छताम्।
        ईश्वरं चापि भूतानां धातारं
मा च वै क्षिप ॥’
“Draupadi! To those who
go to heaven, Dharma alone is the boat (that will take them), nothing
else.  And do not traduce the Lord who is
the creator of all beings.”
       द्रौपदी-
       ’नावमन्ये न गर्हे च धर्मं पार्थ
कथञ्चन।
       ईश्वरं कुत एवाहमवमंस्ये प्रजापतिम्।
       अतोऽहं प्रलपामीदमिति मां विद्धि [भारत] ॥
Draupadi-
“Son of Kunti! I do not
insult or abuse Dharma in any manner; why should I insult the Lord who is the
father of beings?  Afflicted, I prattle
this. Understand me so.”
        भीमः-
        ’भवतोऽनुविधानेन राज्यं नः
पश्यतां हृतम्।
        भवान्धर्मो  धर्म इति सततं व्रतकर्शितः।
        क्षत्रियस्य विशेषेण धर्मस्तुबलमौरसम्।
        स्वधर्माद्धि मनुष्याणां चलनं
न प्रशस्यते ।
        तस्माच्छत्रुवधे राजन् क्रियतां निश्चयस्त्वया॥’
Bhima-
“Through our  obedience to you, our kingdom has been
snatched away before our very eyes. Saying ‘Dharma, Dharma’, you emaciate
yourself with austerities.  The special
dharma of a kshatriya is bodily strength. 
Swaying from one’s Dharma is not praiseworthy for men.  Therefore, king, may you decide upon killing
our foes.”
          युधिष्ठिर:-
          ’धर्मस्य जानमानोऽहं गतिमन्यां
सुदुर्विदाम्।
          कथं बलात्करिष्यामि मेरोरिव
विवर्तनम्॥
Yudhishthira-
“Knowing as I do the
lofty and very inscrutable way of Dharma, how can I force Dharma any more than
turn the Meru around?”
          ‘राजानः पार्थिवाश्चैव येऽस्माभिरुपतापिताः।
          ते श्रिताः कौरवं पक्षं जातस्नेहाश्च
सांप्रतम्।
          अशक्तो ह्यसहायेन हन्तुं
दुर्योधनस्त्वया ॥‘
The kings who had been
put to trouble by us have joined the side of the Kauravas and are now attached
(to them).  Duryodhana cannot be killed
by you unaided.
          ‘न निद्रामधिगच्छामि चिन्तयानो
वृकोदर।
          अति सर्वान्धनुर्ग्राहान् सूतपुत्रस्य
लाघवम्॥
“Bhima, thinking of the
dexterity of Karna that is above all archers, I do not get sleep.”
          एतद्वचनमाज्ञाय भीमसेनोऽत्यमर्षणः।
          बभूव शान्तिसंयुक्तो गुरोर्वचनवारितः
Understanding these words
and checked by his elder’s words, Bhima who was very furious, became calm.
      तयोस्संवदतोरेवं तदा पाण्डवयोर्द्वयोः।
      आजगाम महायोगी व्यासस्सत्यवतीसुतः॥
As these two sons of
Pandu were thus conversing, there arrived Vyasa, the great Yogin, the son of
Satyavati.
      व्यासः-
       यत्ते भयममित्रघ्न हृदि संपरिवर्तते।
       तत्तेऽहं नाशयिष्यामि विधिदृष्टेन
हेतुना॥
Vyasa-
“Destroyer of enemies!
The fear that is revolving in your heart, I will end by a duly prescribed
device.”
       विद्यां प्रतिस्मृतिर्नाम प्रपन्नाय ब्रवीमि ते।
       यामवाप्य महाबाहुरर्जुनस्साधयिष्यति।
       अस्त्रहेतोर्महन्द्रं च रुद्रं
चैवाभिगच्छतु।
       वनादस्माच्च कौन्तेय वनमन्यद्विचिन्त्यताम्॥
“To you who have sought
me, I will communicate a Vidya named Pratismriti, obtaining which the mighty
Arjuna will achieve success; let him seek Indra and Siva for obtaining divine
missiles.  Son of Kunti! Think also of
some forest other than this (for living in).”
      एवमुक्त्वा योगविद्यां स व्यासोऽन्तरधीयत।
      युधिष्ठिरस्तु धर्मात्मा वनाद्
द्वैतवनात्ततः।
      ययौ सरस्वतीकूले काम्यकं नाम
काननम्॥
After imparting thus the
Yoga vidya, Vyasa disappeared.  The
righteous Yudhishthira went from that Dwaita forest to the forest known as Kamyaka
on the banks of the Saraswati.
         संसृत्य मुनिसन्देशमर्जुनं [भरतर्षभ] ।
         अनुजज्ञे तदा वीरं भ्राता भ्रातरमग्रजः॥
Remembering the sage’s
behest, Yudhishthira, the eldest brother, permitted his heroic brother Arjuna
(to go and propitiate Indra and Siva).
        प्रातिष्ठत महाबाहुर्हिमवच्छिखरं
प्रति।
The valorous Arjuna started
towards a peak of the Himalayas.
        तपस्युग्रे वर्तमान उग्रतेजा
महामनाः।
        प्रसादयामास हरं पार्थः परपुरञ्जयः॥
Performing severe
penance, the intensely resplendent and lofty-minded Arjuna, the conqueror of
his enemies’ cities, propitiated Siva.
       तमुवाच महातेजाः प्रहसन् वृषभध्वजः।
       ’ददामि तेऽस्त्रं दयितमहं पाशुपतं
विभो’॥
Smiling, Siva of great
splendour told Arjuna “Sovereign, I give you this Pasupata missile that is dear
to you.”
       ततोऽर्जुनो महातेजा लोकपालान्समागतान्।
       पूजयामास विधिवल्लब्धास्त्रः
पुरुषर्षभः ॥
Then having obtained
missiles (from them), the very powerful Arjuna, the best among men, worshipped
in the prescribed manner all the guardian-gods of the world who had manifested
themselves together (to Arjuna)
          ततो ददर्श शक्रस्य पुरीं
ताममरावतीं।
          ददर्श साक्षाद्देवेशं शिरसाऽभ्यगमद्बली॥
The
powerful Arjuna then saw Amaravati, the city of Indra, met Indra in person and
bowed to him.
        गृहीतास्त्रस्तु कौन्तेयो भ्रातॄन्सस्मार
पाण्डवः।
After
receiving the missiles, Arjuna thought of his brothers.
         गते तु पाण्डवे [तात] काम्यकात्सव्यसाचिनि।
         मुदमप्राप्नुवन्तस्ते
वसन्तस्तत्र तत्र ह।
         ददृशुर्विविधाश्चर्यं कैलासं पर्वतोत्तमम्।
         तस्याभ्याशे तु ददृशुर्नरनारायणाश्रमम्॥
 
After Arjuna left the
Kamyaka forest, the other Pandavas had no happiness; living in place after
place, they saw the greatest of mountains, the Kailasa of manifold wonders, and
in its vicinity, saw also the hermitage of Nara and Narayana.
        तत्र ते पुरुषव्याघ्रा धनञ्जय
दिदृक्षया।
        ऊषुर्नातिचिरं कालं गन्धमादनसानुषु
There, in the table-lands
of the Gandhamadana, those illustrious men (the Pandavas) lived for some time,
wishing to see Arjuna.
        आगच्छदर्जुनः प्रीतो भ्रातृभिस्सह
संगतः ।
        कृष्णया वैव बीभत्सुर्धर्मराजमपूजयत्॥
Arjuna returned and
joined his brothers and
Draupadi in joy.  He paid his respects to
Yudhishthira.
        समेत्य पार्थेन यथैकरात्र-
          मूषुस्समास्तत्र तथा चतस्रः।
        पूर्वाश्च षट् ता दश पाण्डवानां
          शिवा बभूवुर्वसतां वनेषु॥
With Arjuna, they lived
there four years in such a manner that they passed away like a single
night.  For them who were living in the
forest, the six years they had spent previously, and these four, making ten
together, passed well.
          यथागतेनैव पथा समग्रा
            अतीत्य दुर्गं हिमवत्प्रदेशम्।
         ततोऽभ्ययुर्यामुनमद्रिराजं
            संवतसरं तत्र वने विजह्रुः॥
Crossing back the
impassable Himalayan region along the same route by which they went, all the
Pandavas then reached that part of the big mountain where the Jumna has its
source; and in the forest there, they lived for a year.
  
        ते द्वादशं वर्षमथोपयान्तं
          सरस्वतीमेत्य निवासकामाः।
        सरस्ततो द्वैतवनं प्रतीयुः
          सुखं विजह्रुः नरदेवपुत्राः॥
Desiring to proceed to
the Sarasvati and live there the twelfth year that was approaching, the princes
then proceeded to the lake in the Dvaita forest and spent their time happily.
         तत्रैव वसतां प्रावृडभ्यतीताऽभवच्छरत्।
         पर्वसन्धौ स्म तत्रासीत्कार्तिकी
[जनमेजय]।
         तमिस्राभ्युदये तस्मिन् काम्यकं
प्रययुर्वनम् ॥
To them living in that
same place, the rains passed and autumn came and (then) the autumnal full-moon night.
In the dark fortnight that followed, they left for the Kamyaka forest.
        ततस्तान्वसतस्तत्र सहितस्सत्यभामया।
        उपायाद्देवकीपुत्रो दिदृक्षुः
कुरुसत्तमान्॥
Then, accompanied by (his
wife) Satyabhama, the son of Devaki (Krishna) came to the Pandavas, the best of
the Kurus, living there (in the Kamyaka forest), wishing to see them.
        कृष्णः-
        धर्मः परः पाण्डव राज्यलाभात्।
           तस्यादिमाहुस्तप एव राजन्।
        सत्यार्जवाभ्यां चरतां स्वधर्मं
          जितस्त्वयाऽयं च परश्च लोकः॥
Krishna-
“King Yudhishthira,
Dharma is superior to the acquisition of a kingdom; of that Dharma, they say,
Tapas is the root; and by you who observe your Dharma with truthfulness and
honesty, this world, as well as the world beyond, has been conquered.
            सेना तवार्थेषु नरेन्द्र
यत्ता
              ससादिपत्त्यश्वरथा सनागा। 
            दाशार्हयोधैस्तु हतारियोधं
             
प्रतीक्षतां नागपुरं प्रभग्नम्॥
“King, with horsemen,
foot-soldiers, horses, chariots and elephants, the army is ready for your
purposes.  May you see the city of
Hastinapura razed, with the enemy warriors killed by my  Dasarha soldiers.”
            युधिष्ठिरः-
           ‘असंशयं केशव पाण्डवानां
               भवान्गतिस्त्वच्छरणा
हि पार्थाः।
            कालोदये तच्च ततश्च भूयः
              कर्ता भवान् कर्म न संशयोऽस्ति॥
Yudhishthira-
“Without any doubt,
Krishna, you are the refuge of the Pandavas; they have taken shelter under
you.  There is no doubt that when the
proper time comes you will do this and even more.
            ’यथा प्रतिज्ञं विहृतश्च
कालः
               सर्वास्समा द्वादश निर्जनेषु।
             अज्ञातचर्यां विधिवत्समाप्य
               भवद्गताः केशव पाण्डवेयाः
“As undertaken, the
period, all the twelve years, has been spent in uninhabited forests; finishing
in the due manner the incognito life, the Pandavas will resort to you,
Krishna.”
            ततस्तैस्संविदं कृत्वा
द्रौपदीं परिसान्त्व्य च ।
            उपावर्त्य ततश्शीघ्रैर्हयैः प्रायात्परन्तपः
After conversing with
them and consoling Draupadi, Krishna, the tormentor of his enemies, then
returned from that place and went (to Dwaraka) by swift horses.
           अनुज्ञातस्तु गान्धारिः
कर्णेन सहितस्तदा।
           संवृतो  भ्रातृभिस्स्त्रीभिस्तत्रतत्र वने
वसन्।
           जगाम घोषानभितस्तत्र चक्रे
निवेशनम्॥
At that time, permitted
(by his father) and surrounded by his brothers and ladies, Duryodhana, along
with Karna, staying at different places in the forest, went round the hamlets
of cowherds and camped there.
         
           यदृच्छया च तत्रस्थो धर्मपुत्रो
युधिष्ठिरः।
Accidentally,
Yudhishthira also was there.
  
           सेनाग्र्यं धार्तराष्ट्रस्य
गन्धर्वास्समवारयन्।
           तत्र गन्धर्वराजो वै पूर्वमेव
गणावृतः ॥
Gandharvas offered
resistance to the van of Duryodhana’s army. 
The king of the Gandharvas, surrounded by his retinue, had camped there
earlier.
      आपतन्तीं तु संप्रेक्ष्य गन्धर्वाणां
महाचमूम्।
      महता शरवर्षेण राधेयः प्रत्यवारयत्॥
Seeing the big army of
the Gandharvas rushing up, Karna stemmed it with a great shower of arrows.
        गन्धर्वैस्तु [महाराज] भग्ने कर्णे महारथे।
        दुर्योधनं चित्रसेनो जीवग्राहमथाग्रहीत्॥
When the great warrior
Karna was beaten back by the Gandharvas, Chitrasena (the Gandharva King)
captured Duryodhana alive.       
        ’गन्धर्वैर्ह्रियते राजा राजदाराश्च
सर्वशः।’
        इति दुर्योधनामात्याः क्रोशन्तो
राजगृद्धिनः।
        आर्ता दीनास्ततस्सर्वे युधिष्ठिरमुपागमन्॥
“King Duryodhana and all
his harem are being carried by the Gandharvas.” 
So cried Duryodhana’s ministers who loved their king.  Afflicted and miserable, all of them came to
yudhishthira.
        भीमः-
         ’अस्माभिर्यदनुष्ठेयं गन्धर्वैस्तदनुष्ठितम्।
         दिष्ट्या लोके पुमानस्ति कश्चिदस्मत्प्रिये
स्थितः॥
Bhima-
“What we ought to have
done, the Gandharvas have done.  Luckily,
there is someone in this world who stands for what is dear to us.”
           एवं ब्रुवाणं कौन्तेयमिति
राजाऽभ्यभाषत।
           ’भवन्ति भेदा ज्ञातीनां
ज्ञातिधर्मो न नश्यति।
            सुयोधनस्य मोक्षाय प्रयतध्वमतन्द्रिताः॥
King Yuhishthira told
Bhima who was talking thus: ”Differences do exist among kinsmen; (but) the duty
of kinsmen does not suffer (thereby). 
Strive without sloth to rescue Duryodhana.”
               
           ’परैः परिभवे प्राप्ते वयं
पञ्चोत्तरं शतम्।
           परस्परविरोधे तु वयं पञ्चैव
ते शतम्॥’
“When there is insults
from others, we are a hundred and five; when there is mutual quarrel, we are
five and they are hundred.”
           युधिष्ठिरवचश्श्रुत्वा समनह्यन्त
पाण्डवा:।
Hearing Yudhishthira’s  words, the Pandavas got ready for fight.
           ततस्सुतुमुलं युद्धं गन्धर्वाणां
तरस्विनाम्।
           बभूव भीमवेगानां पाण्डवानां
च [भारत]॥
Then, there was a very
thick battle between the powerful Gandharvas and the Pandavas of terrible
force.
          ततोऽर्जुनश्चित्रसेनं प्रहसन्निदमब्रवीत्।
          ’किं ते व्यवसितं वीर कौरवाणां
विनिग्रहे’
Then Arjuna said this to
Chitrasena, laughing: “You warrior, what may be your intentions in capturing
the Kauravas?”
        चित्रसेनः-
       ’वनस्थान्भवतो ज्ञात्वा क्लिश्यमानाननर्हवत्।
       इमेऽवहसितुं प्राप्ता द्रौपदीं
च यशस्विनीम्।
       वचनाद्देवराजस्य ततोऽस्मीहागतो द्रुतम्॥
Chitrasena-
“Knowing you who are
suffering without deserving, to be in this forest, these men, (Duryodhana and
others), came here to jeer at you and the glorious Draupadi. At the word of
Indra, I hastened here.”
         अजातशत्रुस्तच्छ्रुत्वा गन्धर्वस्य
वचस्तदा।
         मोक्षयामास तान्सर्वान् गन्धर्वान्प्रशशंस
च ॥
        
At that time,
Yudhishthira, hearing those words of the Gandharva (Chitrasena), liberated all
of them (Duryodhana and others) and praised the Gandharvas.
        ततो दुर्योधनं मुक्तमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्।
        ’मा स्म तात पुनः कार्षीरीदृशं
साहसं क्वचित्।
        गृहान्व्रज यथाकामं वैमनस्यं
च मा कृथाः ॥
Then, Yudhishthira told
the freed Duryodhana these words: “My dear Duryodhana, don’t venture thus again
anywhere; go home as you please; don’t be sorry.”
   
       पाण्डवेनाभ्यनुज्ञातो राजा दुर्योधनस्तदा।
       विदीर्यमाणो व्रीडावान् जगाम
नगरं प्रति॥
Given leave by the
Pandavas, king Duryodhana, being torn as it were by shame, went towards his
city.
       पुनर्द्वैतवनं रम्यमाजगाम युधिष्ठिरः
       अजातशत्रुमासीनं भ्रातृभिस्सहितं
वने
       आगम्य ब्राह्मणस्तूर्णं सन्तप्तश्चेदमब्रवीत्॥
Yudhishthira came again
to the beautiful  Dwaita forest.  An afflicted 
Brahmin came in haste to Yudhishthira sitting along with his brothers in
that forest and said thus:
        ‘अरणीसहितं भाण्डं समासक्तं
वनस्पतौ।
        तमादाय गतो राजन्त्वरमाणो महामृगः।
        तस्य गत्वा पदं राजंस्तदानयत
पाण्डवाः॥
“A vessel containing the
Sami sticks used to kindle fire was hung in a tree. King, a big stage has taken
it and sped away.  Tracking it, king
(and) you Pandavas, bring it back (to me),
         ब्राह्मणार्थे यतन्तस्ते शीघ्रमन्वगमन्मृगम्।
         अपश्यन्तो मृगं श्रान्ता दुःखं
प्राप्ता मनस्विनः॥
         शीतलच्छागमागम्य न्यग्रोधं
समुपाविशन् ॥
Making effort in the task
of the Brahmin, the Pandavas   quickly
went after the deer.  Not finding it, the
resolute Pandavas, tired
and sad, came to a banyan
tree of cool shade and sat down.
        ततो युधिष्ठिरो राजा नकुलं
वाक्यमब्रवीत्।
        पानीयमन्तिके पश्य तूणैः पानीयमानय॥
Then king Yudhishthira
said to Nakula “See if there is water near by and bring (some) water in the
quivers.”
         नकुलः प्राद्रवद्यत्र पानीयं
चान्वपद्यत।
         पातुकामस्ततो वाचमन्तरिक्षात्स
शुश्रुवे ॥
Nakula ran to where there
was water and approached it; then as he was desirous of drinking it, he heard
an aerial voice.
        यक्ष उचाच-
        ’मा तात साहसं कार्षीर्मम पूर्वपरिग्रहः।
        प्रश्नानुक्त्वा तु माद्रेय
ततः पिब हरस्व च॥
A Yaksha said:
“Son, commit not any rash
act; (this pond)  is already in my
possession.  Son of Madri, having
answered my questions, drink and take water afterwards”
         अनादृत्य तु तद्वाक्यं नकुलस्सुपिपासितः।
         अपिबच्छीतलं तोयं पीत्वा च
निपपात ह ॥
Disregarding the yaksha’s
words, the very thirsty Nakula drank the cool water and having drunk, fell down
(dead).
        सहदेवस्तथा तोयं पीत्वा च निपपात
ह ।
        सव्यसाची पिपासार्तः पीत्वैव
निपपात ह।
        भीमोऽभ्यधावत्पानीयं पीत्वैव
निपपात ह॥
Similarly, Sahadeva drank
the water and fell down; Arjuna, afflicted with thirst, drank and fell down;
Bhima ran to the water, drank and fell down.
          ततश्चिरागतान्भ्रातॄनथाज्ञाय
युधिष्ठिरः
          उपागम्य सरो दृष्ट्वा हतान्
भ्रातॄन् विलप्य च।
          पातुकामश्च तत्तोयमन्तरिक्षात्स
शुश्रुवे।
          प्रश्नानुक्त्वा तु कौन्तेय
ततः पिब हरस्व च॥
Finding then that the
brothers had long been absent, Yudhishthira came to the lake, saw the brothers
killed and wept; and as he was about to drink, he heard a voice from the skies:
“Yudhishthira, after answering my questions drink and take water”
         युधिष्ठिरः-
         ’यथाप्रज्ञं तु ते प्रश्नान्प्रतिवक्ष्यामि
पृच्छ माम्॥
Yudhishthira-
“To the measure of my
knowledge, I will answer your questions; question me.”
[Click on the links below
for the questions posed by the Yaksha and the replies given by Yudhishthira].
Yaksha Prasna – I
Yaksha Prasna – II
        
यक्षः-
         अहं ते जनकस्तात धर्मो मृदुपराक्रम।
         आरणेयमिदं तस्य ब्राह्मणस्य हृतं मया॥
         वर्षं त्रयोदशमिदं मत्प्रसादात्कुरूद्वहाः।
         विराटनगरे गूढा अविज्ञाताश्चरिष्यथ॥
         यद्वस्संकल्पितं रूपं तादृशं धारयिष्यथ।
         अरणीसहितं भाण्डं ब्राह्मणाय प्रयच्छत ॥
Yaksha-
“My son, you who are mild in the display
of your power! I am your father, God Dharma. 
These fire-rods of that Brahmin were carried away by me.
Kuru-scions!  by my grace you will spend
this thirteenth year, hidden and unknown, in the Virata capital.  Take such forms as you desire for
yourselves.  Hand over this vessel with
the fire-sticks to the Brahmin”
         इत्युक्त्वाऽन्तर्दधे धर्मः पाण्डवाश्च मनस्विनः।
         आरणेयं ददुस्तस्मै ब्राह्मणाय तपस्विने ॥
Having said so, God Dharma disappeared; and the
high-minded pandavas also gave the vessel with the sami sticks to that
austere Brahmin.
                
||इति वनपर्व समाप्तम्॥
         
              
THUS ENDS THE VANA PARVA
        
   

   
        
      
  
             
       
      
                               
t
    
    
  
       
 
  
 
 
           
                           
           
“   
     

   

Sri P R Ramamurthy Ji was the author of this website. When he started this website in 2009, he was in his eighties. He was able to publish such a great number of posts in limited time of 4 years. We appreciate his enthusiasm for Sanskrit Literature. Authors story in his own words : http://ramamurthypr1931.blogspot.com/

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