SECTION LXV
Dhritarashtra said, 'Hearing of those feats of the sons of Pandu which
are incapable of being achieved by the gods themselves, my heart, O
Sanjaya, is filled with fear and wonder. Hearing also of the humiliation
of my sons in every way, great hath been my anxiety as to the consequence
that will ensue. The words uttered by Vidura will, no doubt, consume my
heart. Everything that hath happened seemeth to be due to Destiny, O
Sanjaya. The combatants of the Pandava army are encountering and smiting
those best of warriors having Bhishma for their head, those heroes
conversant with every weapon. What ascetic penances have been performed
by the high-souled and mighty sons of Pandu, what boon hath they
obtained, O son, or what science is known to them, in consequence of
which, like the stars in the firmament, they are undergoing no
diminution? I cannot bear it that my army should be repeatedly
slaughtered by the Pandavas. The divine chastisement, highly severe, both
fallen on me alone. Tell me everything truly, O Sanjaya, about that for
which the sons of Pandu have become unslayable and mine slayable. I do
not see the other shore of this (sea of) distress.[383] I am like a man
desirous of crossing the vastly deep ocean with my two arms alone. I
certainly think that a great calamity hath overtaken my sons. Without
doubt, Bhima will slay all my sons. I do not see that hero who is able to
protect my sons in battle. The death of my sons in this battle, O
Sanjaya, is certain. It behoveth thee, therefore, O Suta, to tell me, who
asketh thee, everything about the true cause of all these. Beholding his
own troops retreating from battle, what did Duryodhana do? And what old
Bhishma and Drona, and Kripa, and Suvala's son, and Jayadratha, and that
mighty bowman, viz., Drona's son and Vikarna of great strength do? When
also, O you of great wisdom, my sons turned back from the fight, what O
Sanjaya, became the resolve of those high-souled warriors?"
Sanjaya said, "Listen, O king, with attention, and having listened, let
it go to your heart. Nothing (in this) is the result of incantation,
nothing the result of illusion of any king. Nor have the sons of Pandu
created any new terrors. They are endued with might; and they are
fighting by fair means in this battle. Desirous of high fame, the sons of
Pritha always do every act, including even the support of their lives,
agreeably to the way of morality. Endued with every kind of prosperity,
and possessed of great strength, they never desist from battle, keeping
their eyes on righteousness. And victory is there where righteousness is.
It is for this, O king, that the sons of Pritha are unslayable in battle
and always victorious. Thy sons are of wicked souls and are addicted to
sinfulness. They are cruel and wedded to mean acts. It is for this that
they are being weakened in battle. Thy sons, O king, like despicable men,
did many cruel and deceitful acts to the sons of Pandu. Disregarding,
however, all those offences of your sons, the sons of Pandu always
concealed those acts, O elder brother of Pandu. Thy sons also, O king, on
numerous occasions humiliated the Pandavas. Let them now reap the
terrible fruit, like poison, of that persistent course of
sinfulness.[384] That fruit should be enjoyed by you also, O king, with
thy sons and kinsmen, since thou, O king, could not be awakened even
though counselled by your well-wishers. Repeatedly forbidden by Vidura, by
Bhishma, by the high-souled Drona, and by myself also you didst not
understand, rejecting our words intended for your good and worthy of thy
acceptance, like a sick man rejecting the medicine prescribed. Accepting
the views of your sons you had regarded the Pandavas as already
vanquished. Listen again, O king, to what you hast asked me, viz., the
true cause, O chief of the Bharatas, of the victory of the Pandavas. I
will tell you whit I have heard, O chastiser of foes. Duryodhana had
asked the grandsire this very question. Beholding his brothers, all
mighty car-warriors, vanquished in battle, your son Duryodhana, O Kaurava,
with heart confounded with grief, repairing with humility during the
night to the grandsire possessed of great wisdom, asked him this
question. Listen to me, O monarch, about it all.
"Duryodhana said, 'Drona and thou, and Salya, and Kripa, and Drona's son,
and Kritavarman the son of Hridika, and Sudakshina the ruler of the
Kamvojas, and Bhurisravas, and Vikarna, and Bhagadatta of exceeding
prowess, are all regarded as mighty car-warriors. All of these, again,
are high-born, and prepared to throw away their lives in battle. It is my
opinion that these are a match for even the three worlds (united
together). Even all the warriors of the Pandava army (united together)
cannot bear your prowess. A doubt has arisen in my mind. Explain it to me
who enquireth of thee. Who it is, relying on whom the Pandavas are
vanquishing us repeatedly.'
"Bhishma said, 'Listen, O king, to the words that I will speak unto thee,
O you of Kuru's race. Frequently wert you addressed by me to the same
effect but you didst not do what I said. Let peace be made with the
Pandavas, O best of the Bharatas. I regard this to be beneficial both to
the world and thee, O lord. Enjoy this earth, O king, with your brothers
and be happy, gratifying all your well-wishers and delighting thy
kinsfolk. Although I cried myself hoarse before this, you didst not yet
listen to me, O sire. Thou had always disregarded the sons of Pandu.
The effect of all that hath now overtaken thee. Listen also, O king, from
me as I speak of it, O Lord, to the reason why the Pandavas, whose
achievements tire them not, are unslayable.[385] There is not, was not,
will not be, the being in all the worlds who would or will be able to
vanquish the sons of Pandu who are all protected by the wielder of
Saranga. Listen truly, O you that are conversant with morality, to that
ancient history which was recited to me by sages of souls under control.
In days of yore, all the celestials and the Rishis, united together,
waited reverentially on the Grandsire upon the mountains of Gandhamadana.
And the Lord of all creatures, seated at his case in their midst, beheld
an excellent car stationed in the firmament, blazing with effulgence.
Having ascertained (everything about it) by meditation, joining his hands
with restrained heart, Brahman, with delighted soul, made his salutations
to the highest Divine Being. And the Rishis and the celestials, beholding
in the firmament (the form thus) displayed, all stood up with joined
hands, their eyes fixed on that wonder of wonders. Worshipping him duly,
Brahma, the foremost of all conversant with Brahman, the Creator of the
universe, acquainted with the highest morality, uttered these high words:
Thou are the Glory of the Universe for your form. Thou are the Lord of the
Universe. O you whose protection extendeth through the whole Universe, O
thou that hath the Universe for your work, O you that hath your soul under
control, Thou are the Supreme Master of the Universe. Thou are Vasudeva.
Therefore, I seek refuge in Thee that are the soul of Yoga and the
highest Divinity. Victory to Thee that are the Supreme God of the
Universe. Victory to Thee that are ever employed in the good of the
worlds. Victory to Thee that are the Lord of Yoga. Thee that art
all-powerful. Victory to Thee that are prior, and subsequent to Yoga.
Having the lotus springing from your navel, and having large expansive
eyes, victory to Thee that are Lord of Lords of the Universe. O Lord of
the Past, the Present, and the Future, victory to Thee that are the
embodiment of gentleness. Thee that are the sun of suns. O you that art
the receptacle of untold attributes, victory to Thee that are the refuge
of all things. Thou are Narayana, you are incapable of being understood,
victory to Thee that are the wielder of the bow called Saranga. Victory
to Thee that are endued with every attribute, O you that hast the
Universe for your form, O you that are ever hale. O Lord of the Universe,
O you of mighty arms, victory to Thee that are always ready for
benefitting the worlds. O great Snake, O huge Boar, O first Cause, O thou
of tawny locks, victory to Thee that are Almighty. O you of yellow
robes, O Lord of the cardinal and the subsidiary points of the compass, O
thou that hast the Universe for your abode, O you that are Infinite, O
thou that hast no decay, O you that are the Manifest, O you that art
the Unmanifest, O you that are the immeasurable Space, O you that hast
all your senses under control, O you that always achievest what is good,
O you that are immeasurable, O you that alone knowest your own nature,
victory to Thee that are deep, O you that are the giver of all wishes, O
thou that are without end, O you that are known as Brahma, O you that
art Eternal, O you that are the Creator of all creatures, O you that
art ever successful, O you whose acts always display wisdom, O you that
art conversant with morality, O you that givest victory, O you of
mysterious Self, O you that are the Soul of all Yoga, O you that art
the Cause of everything that hath sprung into existence, O you that art
the knowledge of the selves of all beings, O Lord of the worlds, victory
to you that are the Creator of all beings. O you that hath thyself for
thy origin, O you that are highly blessed, O you that are the Destroyer
of everything, O you that are the inspirer of all mental thoughts,
victory to Thee that are dear to all conversant with Brahma. O you that
art busy in creation and destruction, O controller of all wishes, O
Supreme Lord, O you that are the Cause of Amrita, O you that art
All-existent, O you that are the first that appears at the end of the
Yuga, O you that are the giver of victory, O Divine Lord of the Lord of
all creatures, O you that hast the lotus springing from your navel, O
thou of mighty strength, O you that are sprung from Thyself, O you that
art the great elements in their primeval state, O you that are the soul
of all (religious) rites, victory to Thee that givest all. The goddess
Earth represents your two feet, the cardinal and the subsidiary directions
thy arms, and the heavens your head. I am your form, the celestials
constitute your limbs, and the Sun, the moon are your two eyes. Ascetic
austerities and Truth born of morality and (religious) rites, constitute
thy strength. Fire is your energy, the wind is your breath, and the waters
have sprung from your sweat. The twins Aswins constitute your ears, and the
goddess Saraswati is your tongue. The Vedas are your Knowledge, and upon
thee resteth this Universe. O Lord of Yoga and Yogins, we do not know thy
extent, your measure, your energy, your prowess, your might, your origin. O
God, O Vishnu, filled with devotion in thee, and depending upon you with
vows and observances, we ever worship Thee as the highest Lord, the God
of gods. The Rishis, the gods, Gandharvas, the Yakshas, the Rakshasas,
the Pannagas, the Pisachas, human beings, beasts, birds, reptiles,--all
these were created by me on Earth through Thy grace. O you having the
lotus springing from your navel, O you of large expansive eyes, O
Krishna, O Dispeller of all woe, Thou are the Refuge of all creatures,
and Thou are their Guide. Thou hast the Universe for your mouth. Through
thy grace, O Lord of the gods, the gods are ever happy. Through your grace
the Earth hath always been freed from terrors. Therefore, O you of large
eyes, take birth in the race of Yadu.[386] For the sake of establishing
righteousness, for slaying the sons of Diti, and for upholding the
Universe, do what I have said, O Lord. O Vasudeva, that which is thy
supreme mystery, that, O Lord hath been sung by me through Thy grace.
Having created the divine Sankarshana out of your own Self by Thyself,
thou didst then, O Krishna, create Thyself as Pradyumna born of thyself.
From Pradyumna you didst then create Aniruddha who is known as the
eternal Vishnu. And it was Aniruddha who created me as Brahma, the
upholder of the Universe. Created out of Vasudeva's essence I have,
therefore, been created by thee. Dividing Thyself into portions, take
birth, O Lord, among human beings. And slaughtering the Asuras there for
happiness of all the worlds, and establishing righteousness, and winning
renown, Thou wilt again truly attain to Yoga. The regenerate Rishis on
Earth and the gods, O you of infinite prowess, devoted to thee, sing of
thy wonderous Self under those names that belong to thee. O you of
excellent arms, all classes of creatures rest on thee, having taken
refuge in Thee, you giver of boons. The regenerate ones sing Thee as the
world's bridge, having no beginning, middle and end, and as possessed of
unlimited Yoga.'"
--------------------END OF PARVA 6 : UPA-PARVA 65 ---------------------
