SABHAKRIYA PARVA: Chapter 2

Departure of Srikrishna to Dwarka

वैशम्पायन उवाच उषित्वा खाण्डवप्रस्थे सुखवासं जनार्दनः। पाथैः प्रीतिसमायुक्तैः पूजनार्दोऽभिपूजितः॥
Vaishampayana said Janardana, (Krishna) who deserved the worship of all, lived for sometime Khandavaprastha, worshipped with love and affection by the sons of Pritha.

यमनायं मतिं चक्रे पितुर्दर्शनलालसः। धर्मराजमथामन्त्र्य पृथां च पृथुलोचनः॥ ववन्दे चरणौ मूर्धा जगद्वन्द्यः पितृष्वसुः। स तया मूर्युपाघ्रात: परिष्वक्तश्च केशवः॥
The receiver of the worship of all the world, the possessor of large eyes, Keshava (Krishna) being desirous of seeing his father, made up his mind to go to (Dwarka). He saluted both Dharmaraja (Yudhishthira) and Pritha and bowed down to his aunt with his head touching her feet. She smelt his head and embraced him.

ददर्शानन्तरं कृष्णो भगिनीं स्वां महायशाः। तामुपेत्य हृषीकेशः प्रीत्या वाष्पसमन्वितः॥ अर्घ्य तथ्यं हितं वाक्यं लघु युक्तमनुत्तरम्। उवाच भगवान् भद्रां सुभद्रां भद्रभाषिणीम्॥
The greatly illustrious Hrishikesha Krishna, coming with affection and with tears in his eyes to the sweet-speeched and amiable Subhadra, his sister, spoke to her words of best import and truth, words that were terse, proper and full of good.

तया स्वजनगामीनि श्रावितो वचनानि सः। सम्पूजितश्चाप्यसकृच्छिरसा चाभिवादितः॥
She too saluted him in return and worshipped him with bowing down her head. She then told him all that she desired to be told to her relatives.

तामनुज्ञाय वार्ष्णेयः प्रतिनन्द्य च भामिनीम्। ददर्शानन्तरं कृष्णां धौम्यं चापि जनार्दनः॥
Bidding her farewell and uttering blessings on that beautiful lady, the hero of the Vrishni race Janardana (Krishna) then saw Krishna (Draupadi) and Dhananjaya.

बवन्दे च यथान्यायं धौम्यं पुरुषसत्तमः। द्रौपदी सान्त्वयित्वा च आमन्त्र्य च जनार्दनः॥
That best of men (Krishna) then duly worshipped Dhananjaya; then consoling Draupadi he obtained her leave.

भ्रातृनभ्यगमद् विद्वान् पार्थेन सहितो बली। भ्रातृभिः पञ्चभिः कृष्णो वृतः शक्र इवामरैः॥
The learned and heroic (Krishna) then went with Partha (Arjuna) to his (other) cousins (the Pandavas). Surrounded by the five brothers Krishna looked like Shakra (Indra) surrounded by the celestials.

यात्राकालस्य योग्यानि कर्माणि गरुडध्वजः। कर्तुकामः शुचिर्भूत्वा स्नातवान् समलंकृतः॥
Being desirous of performing the due rites of departure, the Garuda-bannered hero (Krishna), purified himself by a bath and adorned himself with ornaments.

अर्चयामास देवांश्च द्विजांश्च यदुपुङ्गवः। माल्यजाप्यनमस्कारैर्गन्धैरुच्चावचैरपि।॥
The best of the Yadu race, (Krishna) then worshipped the celestials and the Brahmanas with garlands, with mantras, with various kinds of excellent perfumes and with bowing down his head.

स कृत्वा सर्वकार्याणि प्रतस्थे तस्थुषां वरः। उपेत्य स यदुश्रेष्ठो बाह्यकक्षाद् विनिर्गतः॥
Having performed all (those) ceremonies, that foremost of all virtuous men, the best of the Yadu race (Krishna), wishing to start, came out to the outer apartments.

स्वस्तिवाच्याहतो विप्रान् दधिपात्रफलाक्षतैः। वसु प्रदाय च ततः प्रदक्षिणमथाकरोत्॥
By presenting vessels of curd, fruits and fried rice, he made the Brahmanas utter blessings on him. Presenting them wealth, he walked round them.

काञ्चनं रथमास्थाय तार्क्ष्यकेतनमाशुगम्। कदाचक्रासिशायद्यैरायुधैरावृतं शुभम्॥ तिथावप्यथ नक्षत्रे मुहूर्ते च गुणान्विते। प्रययौ पुण्डरीकाक्षः शैब्यसुग्रीववाहनः॥
Ascending on his golden and Garudabannered swift chariot, to which was yoked Shaibya and Sugriva (his two horses) and taking also his mace, discus, sword, his bow Sharanga and other auspicious weapons, the lotus-eyed hero (Krishna) started on an excellent moment of a lunar day in an auspicious constellation.

अन्वारुरोह चाप्येनं प्रेम्णा राजा युधिष्ठिरः। अपास्य चास्य यन्तारं दारुकं यन्तृसत्तमम्॥ अभीषून् सम्प्रजग्राह स्वयं कुरुपतिस्तदा। उपारुह्यार्जुनश्चापि चामरव्यजनं सितम्॥ रुक्मदण्डं बृहद्वाहुर्विदुधाव प्रदक्षिणम्।
The king of the Kurus, Yudhishthira, ascended the chariot after him (Krishna), and out of love for him he made that best of charioteers (Dwarka) to stand aside, and himself took the reins. The long-armed Arjuna walked round him (Krishna) and he then got on the car and waved a golden-handled Chamara over him.

तथैव भीमसेनोऽपि यमाभ्यां सहितो बली॥ पृष्ठतोऽनुययौ कृष्णमृत्विक्पौरजनैः सह। स तथा भ्रातृभिः सर्वैः केशवः परवीरहाः॥
The heroic Bhimasena with the twins (Nakula and Sahadeva), the Ritvikas and the citizens walked behind Krishna. That slayer of hostile heroes, Keshava (Krishna), thus followed by all the brothers,

अन्वीयमानः शुशुभे शिष्यैरिव गुरुः प्रियैः। पार्थमामन्त्र्य गोविन्दः परिष्वज्य सुपीडितम्॥
Shone like a preceptor followed by his beloved pupils. After bidding farewell to Partha (Arjuna) Govinda (Krishna) cmbraced him firmly (with all the ardour of love).

युधिष्ठिरं पूजयित्वा भीमसेनं यमौ तथा। परिष्वक्तो भृशं तैस्तु यमाभ्यामभिवादितः॥
He then worshipped Yudhishthira and also Bhimasena and he embraced the twins. Being embraced in return (by the sons of Pritha) and worshipped by the twins (Nakula and Sahadeva).

योजनार्धमथो गत्वा कृष्णः परपुरंजयः। युधिष्ठिरं समामत्र्य निवर्तस्वेति भारत।॥
O Descendant of Bharata, that vanquisher of hostile cities, Krishna, bade Yudhishthira farewell and requested him to return, when he had gone about half a Yojana.

ततोऽभिवाद्य गोविन्दः पादौ जग्राह धर्मवित्। उत्थाप्य धर्मराजस्तु मूर्युपाघ्राय केशवम्॥
Govinda (Krishna) learned in all the precepts of virtue, then worshipped Dharmaraja (Yudhishthira) and touched his feet. He (Yudhishthira) raised Keshava up and smelt his head.

पाण्डवो यादवश्रेष्ठ कृष्णं कमललोचनम्। गम्यतामित्यनुज्ञाप्य धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः॥
The Pandava Dharamraja Yudhishthira then gave permission to the best of Yadava race, the lotus-eyed Krishna to go be saying "Go".

ततस्तैः संविदं कृत्वा यथावन्मधुसूदनः। निवर्त्य च तथा कृच्छ्रात् पापडवान् सपदानुगान्॥
After duly making an appointment (for again coming to Indraprastha) and after preventing the Pandavas with great deal of difficulty from following him the slayer of Madhu (Krishna).

स्वां पुरी प्रययौ हृष्टो यथा शक्रोऽमरावतीम्। लोचनैरनुजग्मुस्ते तमादृष्टिपथात् तदा॥ मनोभिरनुजग्मुसते कृष्णं प्रीतिसमन्वयात्। अतृप्तमनसामेव तेषां केशवदर्शने॥
Went to his own city with a cheerful heart like Shakra (Indra) towards Amaravati (the soon celestials city). Out of love for him, they the Pandavas gazed at him so long he was within the sight; and when he went out of sight, their minds followed him, but they were not satiated with seeing Keshava (Krishna).

क्षिप्रमन्तर्दधे शौरिश्चक्षुषां प्रियदर्शनः। अकामा एव पार्थास्ते गोविन्दगतमानसाः॥ निवृत्योपययुस्तूर्णं स्वं पुरं पुरुषर्षभा। स्यन्दनेनाथ कृष्णोऽपि त्वरितं द्वारकामगात्॥
The handsome hero (Krishna) disappeared from their view. The sons of Pritha, those best of men with their minds fixed on Govinda (Krishna) desisted (from following him); and they then soon returned to their own city, although they were not (at all) willing (to return). Riding on his car Krishna also soon started for Dwarka.

सात्वतेन च वीरेण पृष्ठतो यायिना तदा। दारुकेण च सूतेन सहितो देवकीसुतः। स गतो द्वारकां विष्णुर्गरुत्मानिव वेगवान्॥
Followed by the hero, Satyaki, the son of Devaki, Sauri (Krishna) with his charioteer Daruka reached Dwarka with the speed of Garuda.

वैशम्पायन उवाच निवृत्य धर्मराजस्तु सह भ्रातृ भिरच्युतः। सुहृत्परिवृतो राजा प्रविवेश पुरोत्तमम्॥
The king Dharmaraja of unfading glory and his brothers, surrounded by their friends and relatives, entered the excellent city (Indraprastha).

विसृज्य सुहृदः सर्वान् भ्रातृन् पुत्रांश्च धर्मराट्। मुमोद पुरुषव्याघ्रो द्रौपद्या सहितो नृप।॥ केशवोऽपि मुदा युक्तः प्रविवेश पुरोत्तमम्। पूज्यमानो यदुश्रेष्ठस्यसेनमुखैस्तथा॥
That virtuous king, that best of men (Yudhishthira) then sent away all his friends and relatives, his brothers and sons; he then amused himself with Draupadi.

आहुकं पितरं वृद्धं मातरं च यशस्विनीम्। अभिवाद्य बलं चैव स्थितः कमललोचनः॥
Keshava also, having been welcomed by the Chief Yadus with Ugrasena at their head, entered the excellent city (Dwarka) with joy.

प्रद्युम्नसाम्बनिशद्दांश्चारुदेष्णं गदं तथा। अनिरुद्धं च भानुं च परिष्वज्य जनार्दनः॥
Worshipping his old father and his illustrious mother, and saluting Baladeva (his brother) also, the lotus-eyed (hero) took his seat.

स वृद्धैरभ्यनुज्ञाातो रुक्मिण्या भवनं ययौ। मयोऽपि स महाभागः सर्वरत्नविभूषिताम्। विधिवत् कल्पयामास सभां धर्मसुताय वै॥
He embraced Pradyumna, Samba, Nishatha, Charudeshna, Gada, Aniruddha and Bhanu. Receiving leave of the elderly men, Janardana then went to the house of Rukmani (his wife).