YAKSHA YUDDHA PARVA: Chapter 161

Seeing of Kubera

वैशम्पायन उवाच श्रुत्वा बहुविधैः शब्दैर्नाद्यमानां गिरेर्गुहाम्। अजातशत्रुः कौन्तेयो माद्रीपुत्रावुभावपि॥ धौम्यः कृष्णा च विप्राश्च सर्वे च सुहृदस्तथा। भीमसेनमपश्यन्तः सर्वे विमनसोऽभवन्॥
Hearing the caves of the mountains resound with various sounds and not seeing Bhimasena, Ajatshatru (Yudhishthira), the son of Kunti and both the sons of Madri and Dhaumya and Krishna together with all the friends (of the Pandavas) became sick at heart.

द्रौपदीमार्षिणाय सम्प्रधार्य महारथाः। सहिताः सायुधाः शूराः शैलमारुरुहुस्तदा।॥
Thereupon leaving Draupadi under the care of Arstisena and furnished with weapons, those heroes and mighty car-warriors ascended the mountain.

ततः सम्प्राप्य शैलाचं वीक्षमाणा महारथाः। ददृशुस्ते महेष्वासा भीमसेनमरिंदमाः॥
Then those mighty car-warriors and great bowmen and tormentors of foes having reached the summit of the mountain and casting their looks around saw Bhimasena.

स्फुरतश्च महाकायान् गतसत्त्वांश्च राक्षसान्। महाबलान् महासत्त्वान् भीमसेनेन पातितान्॥
And those huge Rakshasas of vast strength and courage slaughtered by Bhimasena, many of whom were (still) moving and many lay dead.

शुशुभे स महाबाहुर्गदाखड्गधनुधरः। निहत्य समरे सर्वान् दानवान् मघवानिव॥
And he (Bhima) of mighty arms, armed with mace, sword and bow looked like Maghavana (Indra) having slain all the Danavas in battle.

ततस्ते भ्रातरं दृष्ट्वा परिष्वज्य महारथाः। तत्रोपविविशुः पार्थाः प्राप्ता गतिमनुत्तमाम्॥
Then having seen their brother and having embraced him and having attained to excellent state, those mighty car-warriors the Parthas-sat down (there).

तैश्चतुर्भिर्महेष्वासैर्गिरिशृङ्गमशोभता लोकपालैर्महाभागैर्दिवं देववरैरिव॥
That summit with those four great bowmen (seated on it) appeared as grandly beautiful as the heaven (itself) with those foremost of the celestials, the highly fortunate Lokapalas.

कुबेरसदनं दृष्ट्वा राक्षसांश्च निपातितान्। भ्राता भ्रातरमासीनमब्रवीत् पृथिवीपतिः॥
(And) the lord of the Earth, (Yudhishthira), having beheld the abode of Kubera and those Rakshasas killed (by Bhima), addressed his brother (Bhima) who was seated, thus

युधिष्ठिर उवाच साहसाद् यदि वा मोहाद् भीम पापमिदं कृतम्। नैतत् ते सदृशं वीर मुनेरिव मृषा वधः॥
"O Bhima, whether you have committed this sinful act through rashness or ignorance, it is as unworthy of you as falsehood of the ascetics.

राजद्विष्टं न कर्तव्यमितिधर्मविदो विदुः। त्रिदशानामिदं द्विष्टं भीमसेन त्वया कृतम्॥
Righteous men affirm that acts giving offence to the king ought not to be done; but, O Bhimasena, you have committed an act which will offend even the gods.

अर्थधर्मावनादृत्य यः पापे कुरुते मनः। कर्मणां पार्थ पापानां स फलं विन्दतेधुवम्। पुनरेवं न कर्तव्यं मम चेदिच्छसि प्रियम्॥
O Partha, he, who despising profit and virtue gives himself up to vice, is sure to pay the penalty of his sinful acts. If you look to my welfare, do not commit such (sinful) acts again."

वैशम्पायन उवाच एवमुक्त्वा सधर्मात्मा भ्राता भ्रातरमच्युतम्। अर्थतत्त्वविभागज्ञः कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः॥ विरराम महातेजास्तमेवार्थं विचिन्तयन्। ततस्ते हतशिष्टा ये भीमसेनेन राक्षसाः॥
Yudhishthira the virtuous highly energetic and firm-minded son of Kunti, versed in the particulars of the science of profit having addressed his brother (Bhima) thus, kept quiet and began to ponder upon the matter. On the other hand the survivors of the Rakshasas slain by Bhimasena,

सहिताः प्रत्यपद्यन्त कुबेरसदनं प्रति। ते जवेन महावेगाः प्राप्य वैश्रवणालयम्॥
Proceeded together towards the abode of Kubera. And they of great fleetness having hastily reached the abode of Kubera,

भीममार्तस्वरं चक्रुर्भीमसेनभयार्दिताः। न्यस्तशस्त्रायुधाः क्लान्तः शोणिताक्ततनुच्छदाः॥
Began to utter loud wails of distress afflicted with the fear of Bhimasena. Casting off their weapons and wearied with their armour besmeared with blood,

प्रकीर्णमूर्धजा राजन् यक्षाधिपतिमब्रुवन्। गदापरिघनिस्त्रिंशतोमरप्रासयोधिनः॥ राक्षसा निहताः सर्वे तव देव पुरःसराः। प्रमृद्य तरसा शैलं मानुषेणधनेश्वर।॥ एकेन सहिताः सङ्घये रणे क्रोधवशा गणाः।। प्रवरा राक्षसेन्द्राणां यक्षाणां च नराधिप॥ शेरते निहता देव गतसत्त्वाः परासवः। लब्धशेषा वयं मुक्ता मणिमांस्ते सखा हतः॥
And with dishevelled hair, O king, (they) addressed the lord of the Yakshas thus, "O lord, all your foremost Rakshasas who fought with maces, swords, clubs, glances and barbed darts, have all been slaughtered. O lord of wealth, a single man crushing the mountain with great velocity have alone killed in battle all the Rakshasas of the Krodhavara clan and also the best of the Rakshasas and the Yakshas (who) lie senseless with life extinct; we only have been spared; your friend Maniman too has been killed.

मानुषेण कृतं कर्म विधत्स्व यदनन्तरम्। स तच्छ्रुत्वा तु संक्रुद्धः सर्वयक्षगणाधिपः॥
All this has been done by one man. Do what you think proper now." Hearing all this, the king of all the Yakshas in great anger,

कोपसंरक्तनयनः कथमित्यब्रवीद् वचः। द्वितीयमपराध्यन्तं भीमं श्रुत्वाधनेश्वरः॥
And with eyes reddened with ire, exclaimed "what.” And the Lord of wealth hearing of Bhima's second offence,

चुक्रोध यक्षाधिपतिर्युज्यतामिति चाब्रवीत्। अथाभ्रघनसंकाशं गिरिशृङ्गमिवोच्छ्रितम्॥ रथं संयोजयामासुर्गन्धर्हममालिभिः। तस्य सर्वगुणोपेता विमलाक्षा हयोत्तमाः॥
Waxed wrath and then the king of the Yakshas said, "Yoke (the horses to the car)." Thereupon, (the attendants of Kubera) yoked to the car horses, wearing golden garlands, having the colour of dark clouds and high as a mountain summit. And those excellent horses of his, with clear eyes and endued with every noble quality.

तेजोबलगुणोपेता नानारत्नविभूषिताः। शोभमाना रथे युक्तास्तरिष्यन्त इवाशुगाः॥
And possessed of energy and strength and decorated with various gems and having grand appearance, being yoked to the car, looked as if desirous of speeding like the wind,

द्वेषयामासुरन्योन्यं हृषितैर्विजयावहैः। स तामस्थाय भगवान् राजराजो महारथम्॥ प्रययौ देवगन्धर्वैः स्तूयमानो महाद्युतिः। तं प्रयान्तं महात्मानं सर्वे यक्षाधनाधिपम्॥ रक्ताक्षा हेमसंकाशा महाकाया महाबलाः। सायुधा बद्धनिस्त्रिंशा यक्षा दशशतावराः॥
And began to send forth neighs at each other indicative of victory. (And) that resplendent and divine king of kings, ascending the mighty car and being eulogised by the celestials and the Gandharvas, set out. A thousand principal Yakshas, of reddened eyes, golden lustre and huge structure, possessed of vast strength and equipped with weapons and girding on their swords, followed the noble-minded lord of wealth and king of all the Yakshas.

ते जवेन महावेगाः प्लवमाना विहायसा। गन्धमादनमाजग्मुः प्रकर्षन्त इवाम्बरम्॥
(And) they (the horses) of great swiftness ranging through the firmament with great speed reached the Gandhamadanas as if drawing forward the sky.

तत् केसरिमहाजालंधनाधिपतिपालितम्। कुबेरं च महात्मानं यक्षरक्षोगणावृतम्॥ ददृशुर्हष्टरोमाणः पाण्डवाः प्रियदर्शनम्। कुबेरस्तु महासत्त्वान् पाण्डोः पुत्रान् महारथान्॥ आत्तकार्मुकनिस्त्रिंशान् दृष्ट्वा प्रीतोऽभवत् तदा। देवकार्यं चिकीर्षन् स हृदयेन तुतोष ह॥
The Pandavas then, with their hair standing on the end and with delight beheld that mighty array of horses maintained by the lord of wealth and also the noble-minded and graceful Kubera himself surrounded by the Yakshas and the Rakshasas. Kubera too, seeing those mighty car-warriors, the sons of Pandu, gifted with great strength and equipped with bows and swords, became pleased; and desirous of performing the task of the celestials was glad at heart.

ते पक्षिण इवापेतुर्गिरिशृङ्ग महाजवाः। तस्थुस्तेषां समभ्याशेधनेश्वरपुरःसराः॥
They (the followers of Kubera) (then) alighted like birds on the summit of the mountain with great swiftness and with the lord of wealth at their head remained before them (the Pandavas).

ततस्तं हृष्टमनसं पाण्डवान् प्रति भारत। समीक्ष्य यक्षगन्धर्वा निर्विकारमवस्थिताः॥
Then, O Bharata, the Yakshas and Rakshasas seeing that he (Kubera) was well pleased with the Pandavas stood there with indifferent.

पाण्डवाश्च महात्मानः प्रणम्यधनदं प्रभुम्। नकुलः सहदेवश्चधर्मपुत्रश्चधर्मवित्॥ अपराद्धमिवात्मानं मन्यमाना महारथाः। तस्थुः प्राञ्जलयः सर्वे परिवार्यधनेश्वरम्॥
Then those mighty car-warriors, the highsouled Pandavas-Nakula, Sahadeva and the virtuous son of Dharma-having saluted that lord, the giver of wealth and having considered themselves as guilty, stood surrounding the lord of the wealth with joined hands.

स ह्यासनवरं श्रीमत् पुष्पकं विश्वकर्मणा। विहितं चित्रपर्यन्तमातिष्ठतधनाधिपः॥
That illustrious one (Kubera) was seated on that excellent seat the Pushpaka painted with various colours.

तमासीनं महाकायाः शङ्कुकर्णा महाजवाः। उपोपविविशुर्यक्षा राक्षसाश्च सहस्रशः॥ शतशश्चापि गन्धर्वास्तथैवाप्सरसां गणाः। परिवार्योपतिष्ठन्त यथा देवाः शतक्रतुम्॥
Thousands of Rakshasas and Yakshas of great fleetness and huge structure and having ears resembling javelins and hundreds of Gandharvas and Apsaras sat surrounding that one who seated the gods (sit surrounding the performer of hundred sacrifices (Indra).

काञ्चनीं शिरसा बिभ्रद् भीमसेनः स्रजं शुभाम्। पाशखड्गधनुष्पाणिरुदैक्षतधनाधिपम्॥
Wearing an auspicious golden garland round his head and holding in his hands noose, sword and bow, Bhimasena began to look at the lord of wealth.

भीमसेनस्य न ग्लानिर्विक्षतस्यापि राक्षसैः। आसीत् तस्यामवस्थायां कुबेरमपि पश्यतः॥
Bhimasena did not experience any depression of mind (either) on account of his being wounded by the Rakshasas (or) seeing Kubera in that state.

आददानं शितान् बाणान् यो काममवस्थितम्। दृष्ट्वा भीमंधर्मसुतमब्रवीन्नरवाहनः॥
was as He that is carried on the shoulders of men seeing Bhima in a warlike attitudes and armed with sharpened arrows, addressed the son of Dharma thus,

विदुस्त्वां सर्वभूतानि पार्थ भूतहिते रतम्। निर्भयश्चापि शैलाचे वस त्वं भ्रातृभिः सह॥
O Partha, all the creatures are aware that you are actively intent on the welfare of the whole creation. (Therefore) dwell on the summit of this mountain without fear.

न च मन्युस्त्वया कार्यो भीमसेनस्य पाण्डव। कालेनैते हताः पूर्वं निमित्तमनुजस्त्व।॥
Nor, O Pandava, you ought to be angry with Bhimasena. They (the Rakshasas and Yakshas) were killed before by Destiny, your younger brother being merely the instrument.

व्रीडा चात्र न कर्तव्या साहसं यदिदं कृतम्। दृष्टश्चापि सुरैः पूर्वं विनाशो यक्षरक्षसाम्॥
Nor you ought to be ashamed at his act of rashness. The destruction of the Yakshas and the Rakshasas had been fore ordained by the celestials.

न भीमसेने कोपो मे प्रीतोऽस्मि भरतरर्षभ। कर्मणः भीमसेनस्य मम तुष्टिरभूत् पुरा॥
O the most exalted of the Bharatas, I am rather pleased than angry with Bhimasena-nay this act of Bhimasena has made me supremely happy.

वैशम्पयान उवाच एवमुक्त्वा तु राजानं भीमसेनमभाषत। नैतन्मनसि मे तात वर्तते कुरुसत्तम॥
Vaishampayana said : Having said to the king thus, (Kubera) spoke to Bhimasena, “O child, O the best of the Kurus, I do not (at all) mind it.

यदिदं साहसं भीम कृष्णार्थे कृतवानसि। मामनादृत्य देवांश्च विनाशं यक्षरक्षसाम्॥ स्वबाहुबलमाश्रित्य तेनाहं प्रीतिमांस्त्वयि। शापादद्य विनिर्मुक्तो घोरदस्मि वृकोदर॥
O Bhima, if disregarding the gods and relying on your own strength of arms you have committed this act of rashness-the destruction of the Yakshas and the Rakshasas-for the sake of Draupadi, I am the more pleased with you for that. O Vrikodara, I have been this day delivered from a terrible curse.

अहं पूर्वमगस्त्येन कुद्धेन परमर्षिणा। शप्तोऽपराधे कस्मिंश्चित् तस्यैषा निष्कृतिः कृता॥
Formerly I was cursed by the great sage Agastya in anger for some offence. You have freed me from it by this act (of yours).

दृष्टो हि मम संक्लेशः पुरा पाण्डवनन्दन। न तवात्रापराधोऽस्ति कथंचिदपि पाण्डव॥
O son of Pandava, my disgrace was foreordained. O Pandava, no blame, therefore, in any way, can be attributed to you,

युधिष्ठिर उवाच कथं शप्तोऽसि भगवन्नगस्त्येन महात्मना। श्रोतुमिच्छाम्यहं देव तवैतच्छापकारणम्॥
Yudhishthira said : O lord, what were you cursed by the nobleminded Agastya for? O God, I am desirous of hearing the cause of that imprecation.

इदं चाश्चर्यभूतं मे यत् क्रोधात् तस्यधीमतः। तदैव त्वं न निर्दग्धः सबल: सपदानुगः॥
It seems wonder to me that you were not at that very moment consumed by the anger of that wise Agastya together with all your forces and attendants.

धनेश्वर उवाच देवतानामभू-मन्त्रः कुशवत्यां नरेश्वर। वृतस्तत्राहमगमं महापद्मशतैस्त्रिभिः॥ यक्षाणां घोररूपाणां विविधायुधधारिणाम्। अध्वन्यहमथापश्यमगस्त्यमृषिसत्तमम्॥ उग्रं तपस्तप्यमानं यमुनातीरमाश्रितम्। नानापक्षिगणाकीर्णं पुष्पितद्रुमशोभितम्॥
The Lord of wealth said : O lord of men, once I was proceeding to Kushavati, where a Synod of the gods was being held, surrounded by three hundred Mahapadma terrible-looking Yakshas carrying various weapons. On my way, I beheld the most exalted of the sages Agastya practising rigid austerities on the banks of the Yamuna teeming with various birds and adorned with blossoming plants.

तमूर्ध्वबाहुं दृष्टैव सूर्यस्याभिमुखे स्थितम्। तेजोराशिं दीप्यमानं हुताशनमिवैधितम्॥ राक्षसाधिपतिः श्रीमान् मणिमानाम मे सखा। मौदज्ञानभावाच्च दर्पान्मोहाच्च पार्थिव॥
Beholding that mass of lustre, blazing and bright as fire, with upraised arms facing the sun, my illustrious friend Maniman, the lord of the Rakshasas, who was ranging through the firmament, O lord of the earth, through stupidity, foolishness arrogance and ignorance.

न्यष्ठीवदाकाशगतो महर्षेस्तस्य मूर्धनि। स कोपान्मामुवाचेदं दिशः सर्वा दहन्निव॥
Spat on the head of that great sage. He (Agastya) as if burning all the cardinal points with his anger,

मामवज्ञाय दुष्टात्मा यस्मादेव सखा तव। धर्षणां कृतवानेतां पश्यतस्तेधनेश्वर॥
Said this 'O Lord of wealth, since your friend, this evil-minded one, despising me, has insulted me in your very presence,

तस्मात् सहैभिः सैन्यैस्ते वधं प्राप्स्यति मानुषात्। त्वं चाप्येभिर्हतैः सैन्यैः क्लेशं प्राप्येह दुर्मतिः। तमेव मानुषं दृष्ट्वा किल्बिषाद् विप्रमोक्ष्यसे॥
He will, on that account, meet with his end together with his forces at the hands of a man. O evil-minded one, you too shall be sorely grieved at the death of your forces and shall be absolved from your sin on seeing that man.

सैन्यानां तु तवैतेषां पुत्रपौत्रबलान्वितम्। न शापं प्राप्यते घोरं तत् तवाज्ञां करिष्यति॥
(But) this terrible curse shall not touch those powerful sons and grandsons of your forces, that will remain obedient to your commands.

एष शापो मय प्राप्तः प्राक् तस्मादृषिसत्तमात्। स भीमेन महाराज भ्रात्रा तव विमोक्षितः॥
O king, I, who formerly received this imprecation from that most exalted of the Rishis, have been absolved from it by your brother Bhima.