Mahābhārata · Adhyāya 2.17
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2.17.1
जातस्य भारते वंशे तथा कुन्त्याः सुतस्य च ।
या वै युक्ता मतिः सेयमर्जुनेन प्रदर्शिता ॥ २.१७.१ ॥
This is the fitting wisdom shown by Arjuna, born in the Bharata line and the son of Kuntī.
2.17.2
न स्म मृत्युं वयं विद्म रात्रौ वा यदि वा दिवा ।
न चापि कञ्चिदमरमयुद्धेनानुशुश्रुम ॥ २.१७.२ ॥
We do not know death, whether by night or by day, nor have we heard of anyone becoming immortal without battle.
2.17.3
एतावदेव पुरुषैः कार्यं हृदयतोषणम् ।
नयेन विधिदृष्टेन यदुपक्रमते परान् ॥ २.१७.३ ॥
This much alone should men do to gladden the heart: attack enemies by the policy prescribed in the rules.
2.17.4
सुनयस्यानपायस्य संयोगे परमः क्रमः ।
सङ्गत्या जायतेऽसाम्यं साम्यं च न भवेद्द्वयोः ॥ २.१७.४ ॥
In the union of sound and unfailing policy lies the highest course; through association inequality arises, and equality between the two does not remain.
2.17.5
अनयस्यानुपायस्य संयुगे परमः क्षयटः ।
संशयो जायते साम्याज्जयश्च न भवेद्द्वयोः ॥ २.१७.५ ॥
In battle without sound policy or means, the highest outcome is ruin; from equality doubt arises, and victory belongs to neither of the two.
2.17.6
ते वयं नयमास्थाय शत्रुदेशसमीपगाः ।
कथमन्तं न गच्छेम वृक्षस्येव नदीरयाः
पररन्ध्रे पराक्रान्ताः स्वरन्ध्रावरणे स्थिताः ॥ २.१७.६ ॥
We who take up policy and go near the enemy's land — how shall we not reach our end, like the force of a river against a tree? Having attacked the enemy's weak point, let us stand guarding our own.
2.17.7
व्यूढानीकैरतिबलैर्न युद्व्येदरिभिः सह ।
इति बुद्धिमतां नीतिस्तन्ममापीह रोचते ॥ २.१७.७ ॥
One should not fight with enemies who have arrayed armies and great strength; this is the policy of the wise, and here it pleases me too.
2.17.8
अनवद्या ह्यसम्बुद्धाः प्रविष्टाः शत्रुसद्म तत् ।
शत्रुदेशमुपाक्रम्य तं कामं प्राप्नुयामहे ॥ २.१७.८ ॥
Blameless and unrecognised, let us enter that enemy's dwelling; having approached the enemy's land, we may attain that desire.
2.17.9
एको ह्येव श्रियं नित्यं बिभर्ति पुरुषर्षभः ।
अन्तरात्मेव भूतानां तत्क्षयं नैव लक्षये ॥ २.१७.९ ॥
He alone, the bull among men, constantly bears fortune, like the inner self of beings; I do not foresee its destruction.
2.17.10
अथवैनं निहत्याजौ शेषेणापि समाहताः ।
प्राप्नुयाम ततः स्वर्गं ज्ञातित्राणपरायणाः ॥ २.१७.१० ॥
Or else, having slain him in battle, struck even by the rest, intent on protecting our kinsmen, we shall then attain heaven.
2.17.11
कृष्ण कोऽयं जरासन्धः किंवीर्यः किम्पराक्रमः ।
यस्त्वां स्पृष्ट्वाऽग्निसदृशं न दग्धः शलभो यथा ॥ २.१७.११ ॥
Kṛṣṇa, who is this Jarāsandha, and of what might and valour is he, that having touched you, who are like fire, he was not burnt like a moth?
2.17.12
शृणु राजञ्जरासन्धो यद्वीर्यो यत्पराक्रमः ।
यथा चोपेक्षितोऽस्माभिर्बहुशः कृतविप्रियः ॥ २.१७.१२ ॥
Listen, O king, to the might and valour of Jarāsandha, and how we disregarded him though he had repeatedly done us wrong.
2.17.13
अक्षौहिणीनां तिसृणां पतिः समरदर्पितः ।
राजा बृहद्रथो नाम मगधाधिपतिर्बली ॥ २.१७.१३ ॥
Lord of three akṣauhiṇī armies, proud in battle, king named Bṛhadratha, lord of Magadha, mighty.
2.17.14
रूपवान्वीर्यसम्पन्नः श्रीमानतुलविक्रमः ।
नित्यं दीक्षाङ्किततनुः शतक्रतुरिवापरः ॥ २.१७.१४ ॥
Handsome, endowed with valour, splendid, of incomparable prowess, his body always marked by the signs of sacrificial consecration, like another Śatakratu, Indra.
2.17.15
तेजसा सूर्यसङ्काशः क्षमया पृथिवीसमः ।
यश्चान्तकसमः क्रोधे श्रिया वैश्रवणोपमः ॥ २.१७.१५ ॥
Like the sun in radiance, equal to the earth in patience, like Death in anger, and like Kubera in splendour.
2.17.16
स्वराज्यं कारयामास मगधेषु गिरिव्रजे ।
तस्याभिजनसंयुक्तैर्गणैर्भरतसत्तम।
व्याप्तेयं पृथिवी सर्वा सूर्यस्येव गभस्तिभिः ॥ २.१७.१६ ॥
He ruled his own kingdom at Girivraja in Magadha. O best of the Bharatas, with troops joined to his kinsmen, this entire earth was pervaded as by the sun's rays.
2.17.17
स काशिराजस्य सुते यमजे भरतर्षभः ।
उपयेमे महावीर्यो रूपद्रविणसंयुते।
तयोश्चकार समयं मिथः स पुरुषर्षभः ॥ २.१७.१७ ॥
That bull of the Bharatas, of great valour, married the twin daughters of the king of Kāśī, who were endowed with beauty and wealth. That bull among men made a mutual agreement with the two of them.
2.17.18
नातिवर्तिष्य इत्येवं पत्नीभ्यां सन्निधौ तदा ।
स ताभ्यां शुशुभे राजा पत्नीभ्यां वसुधाधिपः ॥ २.१७.१८ ॥
'I shall not transgress' — thus, in the presence of his two wives, he spoke then. That king, lord of the earth, shone with those two wives.
2.17.19
प्रियाम्भामनुरूपाभ्यां करेणुभ्यामिव द्विपः ।
तयोर्मध्यगतश्चापि रराज वसुधाधिपः ॥ २.१७.१९ ॥
Between his two beloved and fitting wives, like an elephant between two she-elephants, the lord of the earth shone.
2.17.20
गङ्गायमुनयोर्मध्ये मूर्तिमानिव सागरः ।
विषयेषु निमग्रस्य तस्य यौवनमत्यगात् ॥ २.१७.२० ॥
Between the Gaṅgā and the Yamunā, like the ocean embodied, his youth passed away while he was immersed in sense-pleasures.
2.17.21
न च वंशकरः पुत्रस्तस्याजायत कश्चन ।
मङ्गलैर्बभिर्होमैः पुत्रकामाभिरिष्टिभिः ॥ २.१७.२१ ॥
And no son was born to him who would continue the line, not even by auspicious rites, …, oblations, and sacrifices undertaken with the desire for a son.
2.17.22
नाससाद नृपश्रेष्ठः पुत्रं कुलविवर्धनम् ।
स भार्याभ्यां च सहितो निर्वेदमगमद्धृशम् ॥ २.१७.२२ ॥
The best of kings did not obtain a son to enhance the family; and he, together with his two wives, fell into deep despondency.
2.17.23
राज्यं चापि परित्यज्य तपोवनमथाश्रयत् ।
वार्यमाणः प्रकृतिभिर्नृपभक्त्या विशाम्पते ॥ २.१७.२३ ॥
Having even abandoned the kingdom, he betook himself to the forest of asceticism, though, O lord of the people, he was restrained by his subjects out of devotion to the king.
2.17.24
अथ काक्षीवतः पुत्रं गौतमस्य महात्मनः ।
शुश्राव तपसि श्रेष्ठमुदारं चण्डकौशिकम् ॥ २.१७.२४ ॥
Then he heard of Caṇḍakauśika, the son of Kākṣīvat, the son of the great-souled Gautama — foremost in asceticism, and noble.
2.17.25
यदृच्छयाऽऽगतं तं तु वृक्षमूलमुपाश्रितम् ।
पत्नीभ्यां सहितो राजा सर्वयत्नैरतोषयत् ॥ २.१७.२५ ॥
Coming there by chance and resting at the foot of a tree, the sage was pleased by the king, who was with his two wives, through every effort.
2.17.26
बृहद्रथं च स ऋषिर्यथावच्चाभ्यनन्दत ।
उपविष्टः स तेनाथ अनुज्ञातो महात्मना ॥ २.१७.२६ ॥
That sage duly welcomed Bṛhadratha, and then, with permission from the great-souled one, he sat down.
2.17.27
तमपृच्छत्तदा विप्रः किमागमनमित्यथ ।
विप्रैरनुगतस्यैव पत्नीभ्यां सहितस्य च ॥ २.१७.२७ ॥
Then that brahmin asked him, "What is the reason for your coming?" — he who was accompanied by brahmins and was with his two wives.
2.17.28
स उवाच मुनिं राजा भगवन्नास्ति मे सुतः ।
अपुत्रस्य तु राज्येन वृद्धत्वे किं प्रयोजनम् ॥ २.१७.२८ ॥
The king said to the sage, "Venerable one, I have no son. For one without a son, what use is the kingdom, or old age?"
2.17.29
सोऽहं तपश्चरिष्यामि पत्नीभ्यां सहितो वने ।
नाप्रजस्य मुने किर्तिः स्वधा चैवाक्षया भवेत्।
एवमुक्तः स राज्ञा तु मुनिः कारुण्यमागतः ॥ २.१७.२९ ॥
"Therefore I shall perform austerity in the forest with my two wives. O sage, for one without offspring, fame and the offerings to the ancestors do not become imperishable." When the king had spoken thus, that sage was moved to compassion.
2.17.30
तमब्रवीत्सत्यधृतिः सत्यवागृषिसत्तमः ।
परितुष्टोऽस्मि राजेन्द्र वरं वरय सुव्रत ॥ २.१७.३० ॥
That sage, steadfast in truth and truthful in speech, the best of sages, said to him: "King of kings, I am pleased. O one of good vows, choose a boon."
2.17.31
ततः सभार्यः प्रणतस्तमुवाच बृहद्रथः ।
पुत्रदर्शननैराश्याद्बाष्पसन्दिग्धया गिरा ॥ २.१७.३१ ॥
Then Bṛhadratha, bowing low with his wife, spoke to him in a voice choked with tears, despairing of ever seeing a son.
2.17.32
भगवन् राज्यमुत्सृज्य प्रस्थितस्य तपोवनम् ।
किं वरेणाल्पभाग्यस्य किं राज्येनाप्रजस्य मे ॥ २.१७.३२ ॥
O revered one, what use is a boon to me, who have little fortune and no offspring, who have set out for the forest of asceticism after abandoning my kingdom? What use is the kingdom?
2.17.33
एतच्छ्रुत्वा मुनिर्ध्यानमगमन्क्षुभितेन्द्रियः ।
तस्यैव चाम्रवृक्षस्य छायायां समुपाविशत ॥ २.१७.३३ ॥
Hearing this, the sage, his senses stirred, fell into meditation and sat down in the shade of that same mango tree.
2.17.34
तस्योपविष्टस्य मुनेरुत्सङ्गे निपपात ह ।
अवानमशुकादष्टमेकमाम्रफलं किल ॥ २.१७.३४ ॥
Into the lap of the seated sage there fell a single mango, bitten by a parrot.
2.17.35
तत्प्रगृह्य मुनिश्रेष्ठो हृदयेनाभिमन्त्र्य च ।
राज्ञे ददावप्रतिमं पुत्रसम्प्राप्तिकारणम् ॥ २.१७.३५ ॥
Taking up that fruit, the foremost of sages consecrated it with mantras in his heart and gave it to the king, an incomparable means of obtaining a son.
2.17.36
उवाच च महाप्राज्ञस्तं राजानं महामुनिः ।
गच्छ राजन्कृतार्थोऽसि निवर्तस्व नराधिप ॥ २.१७.३६ ॥
And the great sage, very wise, said to that king: Go, O king, your purpose is accomplished; return, O lord of men.
2.17.37
एष ते तनयो राजन्मा तपेह तपोवने ।
प्रजाः पालय धर्मेण एव धर्मो महीक्षिताम् ॥ २.१७.३७ ॥
O king, here is your son. Do not practise austerity here in the forest of asceticism. Protect the subjects by dharma; for this is indeed the dharma of earth-rulers.
2.17.38
यजस्व विविधैर्यज्ञैरिन्द्रं तर्पय चेन्दुना ।
पुत्रं राज्ये प्रतिष्ठाप्य तत आश्रममाव्रज ॥ २.१७.३८ ॥
Perform sacrifice with various sacrifices, and gratify Indra with soma. Having established your son on the throne, then go to the hermitage.
2.17.39
अष्टौ वरान्प्रयच्छामि तव पुत्रस्य पार्थिव ।
ब्रह्मण्यत्वमजेयत्वं युद्धेषु च तथा मतिः ॥ २.१७.३९ ॥
O king, I bestow eight boons upon your son: devotion to brahmins, invincibility, wisdom in battles,
2.17.40
प्रियातिथेयतां चैव दीनानामन्ववेक्षणम् ।
तथा बलं च सुभहल्लोके कीर्ति च शाश्वतीम् ॥ २.१७.४० ॥
hospitality to guests, care for the afflicted, great strength in the world, and everlasting fame,
2.17.41
अनुरागं प्रजानां चेत्येवमष्टौ वरान्नृप ।
गच्छ त्वं कृतकृत्योऽसि निवर्तस्व जनाधिप ॥ २.१७.४१ ॥
and affection for the subjects—thus, O king, are the eight boons. Go, your task is accomplished; return, O lord of men.
2.17.42
अनुज्ञातः स ऋषिणा पत्नीभ्यां सहितो नृपः ।
पौरैरनुगतश्चापि विवेश स्वपुरं ततः ॥ २.१७.४२ ॥
Having been given leave by the sage, that king, together with his two wives and followed by the citizens, then entered his own city.
2.17.43
यथासमयमाज्ञाय तदा स नृपसत्तमः ।
द्वाभ्यामेकं फलं प्रादात्पत्नीभ्यां भरतर्षभ ॥ २.१७.४३ ॥
Then that best of kings, understanding the right time, gave one fruit to the two wives, O bull of the Bharatas.
2.17.44
मुनेश्च बहुमानेन कालस्य च विपर्ययात् ।
ते तदाम्रं द्विधा कृत्वा भक्षयामासतुः शुभे। ॥ २.१७.४४ ॥
Out of great respect for the sage, and through a reversal of time, the two of them divided that mango in two and ate it, O fair one.
2.17.45
तयोः समभवद्गर्भः फलप्राशनसम्भवः ।
ते च दृष्ट्वा स नृपतिः परां मुदमवाप ह ॥ २.१७.४५ ॥
From eating the fruit, pregnancy arose in the two of them, and seeing them the king obtained supreme joy.
2.17.46
अथ काले महाप्राज्ञ यथासमयमागते ।
जायेतामुभे राजञ्शरीरशकले तदा ॥ २.१७.४६ ॥
Then, O very wise one, when the proper time had come, O king, both of them were to be born as two fragments of a body.
2.17.47
एकाक्षिबाहुचरणे अर्धोदरमुखस्फिचे ।
दृष्ट्वा शरीरशकले प्रवेपतुरुभे भृशम् ॥ २.१७.४७ ॥
Seeing those body-fragments, with one eye, one arm, one leg, half a belly, half a face and half a buttock, both of them trembled greatly.
2.17.48
उद्विग्रे सह संमन्त्र्य ते भगित्यौ तदाऽबले ।
सजीवे प्राणिशकले तत्यजाते सुदुःखिते ॥ २.१७.४८ ॥
O weak one, then, agitated and after deliberating together, the two sisters, greatly grieved, abandoned those living fragments of body.
2.17.49
तयोर्धात्र्यौ सुसंवीते कृत्वा ते गर्भसम्प्लवे ।
निर्गम्यान्तः पुरद्वारात्समुत्सृज्याभिजग्मतुः ॥ २.१७.४९ ॥
The two nurses, having wrapped them well, went out through the inner-palace gate amid the flood of the embryo, and abandoned them and departed.
2.17.50
दुकूलाभ्यां सुसञ्छन्ने पाण्डराभ्यामुभे तदा ।
अज्ञाते कस्यचित्ते तु जहतुस्ते चतुष्पथे ॥ २.१७.५० ॥
Well covered in two white silken cloths, unknown to anyone, they left the two at the crossroads.
2.17.51
ततो विविशतुर्धात्र्यौ पुनरन्तः पुरं तदा ।
कथयामासतुरुभे देवीभ्यां तु पृथक्पृथक् ॥ २.१७.५१ ॥
Then the two nurses entered the inner palace again and told the two queens, each separately.
2.17.52
ते चतुष्पथनिक्षिप्ते जरा नामाथ राक्षसी ।
जग्राह मनुजव्याघ्र मांसशोणितभोजना ॥ २.१७.५२ ॥
O tiger among men, the rakshasi named Jarā, who feeds on flesh and blood, seized the two laid at the crossroads.
2.17.53
कर्तुकामा सुखवहे शकले सा तु राक्षसी ।
संयोजयामास तदा विधानबलचोदिता ॥ २.१७.५३ ॥
Desiring to make them whole for a happy outcome, the rakshasi, impelled by the power of destiny, then joined the two pieces together.
2.17.54
ते समानीतमात्रे तु शकले पुरुषर्षभ ।
एकमूर्तिधरो वीरः कुमारः समपद्यत ॥ २.१७.५४ ॥
O bull among men, as soon as the two pieces were brought together, a heroic prince bearing a single form came into being.
2.17.55
ततः सा राक्षसी राजन्विस्मयोत्फुल्ललोचना ।
न शशाक समुद्वोदुं वज्रसारमयं शिशुम् ॥ २.१७.५५ ॥
Then the rākṣasī, O king, her eyes wide open in wonder, was unable to lift the infant made of the essence of thunderbolts.
2.17.56
बालस्ताम्रतलं मुष्टिं कृत्वा चास्ये निधाय सः ।
प्राक्रोशदतिसंरब्धः सतोय इव तोयदः ॥ २.१७.५६ ॥
The child, having made a fist with reddened palm and placed it in his mouth, cried out, greatly enraged, like a rain cloud full of water.
2.17.57
तेन शब्देन सम्भ्रान्तः सहसाऽन्तः पुरे जनः ।
निर्जगाम नरव्याघ्र राज्ञा सह परन्तप ॥ २.१७.५७ ॥
At that sound the people of the inner palace were suddenly alarmed and went out together with the king, O tiger among men, O scorcher of foes.
2.17.58
ते चाबले परिम्लाने पयः पूर्णपयोधरे ।
निराशे पुत्रलाभाय सहसैवाब्यगच्छताम् ॥ २.१७.५८ ॥
And those two frail, faded queens, their breasts full of milk, hopeless of gaining a son, suddenly departed from there.
2.17.59
ते च दृष्ट्वा तथाभूते राजानं चेष्टसंततिम् ।
तं च बालं सुबलिनं चिन्तयामास राक्षसी ॥ २.१७.५९ ॥
And the rākṣasī, having seen the king in such a state and his continuing efforts, reflected upon that very strong child.
2.17.60
नार्हामि विषये राज्ञो वसन्ती पुत्रगृद्धिनः ।
बालं पुत्रमिमं हन्तुं धार्मिकस्य महात्मनः ॥ २.१७.६० ॥
Dwelling in the realm of this king who is eager for a son, it is not fitting for me to kill this infant son of the righteous, great-souled king.
2.17.61
सा तं बालमुपादाय मेघलेखेन भास्करम् ।
कृत्वा च मानुषं रूपमुवाच वसुधाधिपम् ॥ २.१७.६१ ॥
Taking up that child, shining like the sun with a line of clouds, and assuming a human form, she spoke to the lord of the earth.
2.17.62
बृहद्रथ सुतस्तेऽयं मया दत्तः प्रगृह्यताम् ।
तव पत्नीद्वये जातो द्विजातिवरशासनात्।
धात्रीजनपरित्यक्तो मयाऽयं परिरक्षितः ॥ २.१७.६२ ॥
Bṛhadratha, here is your son; I have given him, let him be received. He was born to your two wives by the boon-command of an excellent brahmin. Abandoned by the nurses, he has been protected by me.
2.17.63
ततस्ते भरतश्रेष्ठ काशिराजसुते शुभे ।
तं बालमभिपद्याशु प्रस्रवैरभ्यषिञ्जताम् ॥ २.१७.६३ ॥
Then, O best of the Bharatas, the two auspicious daughters of the king of Kāśi quickly approached that child and sprinkled him with milk.
2.17.64
ततः स राजा संहृष्टः सर्वं तदुपलभ्य च ।
अपृच्छद्धेमगर्भाभां राक्षसीं तामराक्षसीम् ॥ २.१७.६४ ॥
Then that king, delighted and having perceived all of it, asked that gold-hued woman—who was in truth not a rākṣasī.
2.17.65
कात्वं कमलगर्भाभे मम पुत्रप्रदायिनी ।
कामं मा ब्रूहि कल्याणि देवता प्रतिभासि मे ॥ २.१७.६५ ॥
Who are you, O lotus-hued one, giver of a son to me? Speak what you wish, O auspicious one; you appear to me as a goddess.