TIRTHAYATRA PARVA: Chapter 91

The colloquy between Yudhishthira and Lomasha

वैशम्पायन उवाच एवं सम्भाषमाणे तुधौम्ये कौरवनन्दन। लोमशः स महातेजा ऋषिस्तत्राजगाम ह॥ तं पाण्डवाचजो राजा सगणो ब्राह्मणाश्च ते। उपातिष्ठन्महाभागं दिवि शक्रमिवामराः॥
Vaishampayana said : O descendant of Kuru, when Dhaumya was thus talking, at that very time the greatly effulgent Rishi Lomasha came here. Thereupon the eldest Pandava, the king (Yudhishthira) with his followers and other Brahmanas sat round that greatly exalted one (Lomasha), as Shakra (Indra) is surrounded by the celestials.

समभ्यर्च्य यथान्यायंधर्मपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः। पप्रच्छागमने हेतुमटने च प्रयोजनम्॥
Having duly adored him, the son of Dharma Yudhishthira asked the reason of his arrival and the object of his wandering.

स पृष्टः पाण्डुपुत्रेण प्रीयमाणो महामनाः। उवाच श्लक्ष्णया वाचा हर्षयन्निव पाण्डवान्॥
Having been asked by the son of Pandu, the high-minded (Rishi), being well pleased, spoke in sweet words and delighted the Pandavas.

संचरन्नस्मि कौन्तेय सर्वाल्लँकोकान् यदृच्छया। गतः शक्रस्य भवनं तत्रापश्यं सुरेश्वरम्॥
Lonmasha said: O son of Kunti, travelling over all the worlds at pleasure I went to the abode of Sakra (Indra) and there I saw the king of the celestials.

तव च भ्रातरं वीरमपश्यं सव्यसाचिनम्। शक्रस्यार्धासनगतं तत्र मे विस्मये महान्॥
saw your brother also, the heroic Savyasachi (Arjuna) sitting on the half of Shakra's seat and I became very much astonished,

आसीत् पुरषशार्दूल दृष्टवा पार्थं तथागतम्। आह मां तत्र देवेशो गच्छ पाण्डुसुतान् प्रति॥
On seeing Partha sitting in that way. O foremost of men, then the chief of the celestials said to me, “Go to the sons of Pandu."

सोऽहमभ्यागतः क्षिप्रं दिदृक्षुस्त्वां सहाजुनम्। वचनात् पुरुहूतस्य पार्थस्य च महात्मनः॥
At the request of Indra and the high-souled Partha. I have speedily come here to see you with your younger brothers.

आख्यास्ये ते प्रियं तात महत् पाण्डवनन्दन। ऋषिभिः सहितो राजन् कृष्णया चैव तच्छृणु॥ यत् त्वयोक्तो महाबाहुरस्त्रार्थं भरतर्षभ। तदस्त्रमाप्तं पार्थेन रुद्रादप्रतिमं विभो॥
O child, O descendant of Pandu, O king, I shall tell you something which will give you great pleasure. Listen to it with Krishna (Draupadi) and with the Rishis that are with you. O lord, O best of the Bharata race, Partha has obtained from Rudra that matchless weapon for which you had sent that mighty armed hero to the celestials region.

यत् तद् ब्रह्मशिरो नाम तपसा रुद्रमागमत्। अमृतादुत्थितं रौद्रं तल्लब्धं सव्यसाचिना॥
That fearful weapon, known by the name of Brahinashira which rose after the Ambrosia (in the churning of the ocean) and which Rudra obtained after great asceticism, has been obtained by Savyasachi (Arjuna).

तत् समन्त्रं ससंहारं सप्रायश्चित्तमङ्गलम्। वज्रमस्त्राणि चान्यानि दण्डादीनि युधिष्ठिर॥
Together with the Mantras for hurling and withdrawing it and also the rites of expiation and revival. O Yudhishthira, the weapon Vajra, Dandas and other weapons,

यमात् कुबेराद् वरुणादिन्द्राच्च कुरुनन्दन। अस्त्राण्यधीतवान् पार्थो दिव्यान्यमितविक्रमः॥
O descendant of Kuru, have been obtained by the immeasurably powerful Partha from Yama, Kubera, Varuna and Indra.

विश्वावसोस्तु तनयाद् गीतं नृत्यं च साम च। वादित्रं च यथान्यायं प्रत्यविन्दद् यथाविधि॥
He has learnt from Vishvavasu's son both vocal and instrumental music and also singing and also the reciting of the Sama (Veda) as thoroughly as they should be learnt.

एवं कृतास्त्रः कौन्तेयो गान्धर्वं वेदमाप्तवान्। सुखं वसति बीभत्सुरनुजस्यानुजस्तव॥
Having thus acquired all weapons and learnt the Gandharva Veda (knowledge) your third brother Vivatsu (Arjuna) lives happily in (heaven).

यदर्थं मां सुरश्रेष्ठ इदं वचनमब्रवीत्। तच्च ते कथयिष्यामि युधिष्ठिर निबोध मे॥
O Yudhishthira, I shall now tell you what the chief of the celestials spoke to me. Listen to me.

भवान् मनुष्यलोकेऽपि गमिष्यति न संशयः। ब्रूयाद् युधिष्ठिरं तत्र वचनान्मे द्विजोत्तम॥
(He said), “You will certainly go to the world of men. O foremost of men, tell Yudhishthira my these words.

आगमिष्यति ते भ्राता कृतास्त्रः क्षिप्रमर्जुनः। सुरकार्यं महत् कृत्वा यदशक्यं दिवौकसाम्॥
Your brother will soon came back to you after having obtained all weapons and after having accomplished a great deed for the celestials which is incapable of being done by them.

तपसापि त्वमात्मानं योजय भ्रातृभिः सह। तपसो हि परं नास्ति तपसा विन्दते महत्॥
Devote yourself with your brothers to asceticism; there is nothing superior to asceticism and asceticism produces great results.

अहं च कर्णं जानामि यथावद् भरतर्षभ। सत्यसंधं महोत्साहं महावीर्यं महाबलम्॥
O best of the Bharata race, I know very well that Karna possesses great ardour, energy, strength and prowess.

महाहवेष्वप्रतिमं महायुद्धविशारदम्। महाधनुर्धरं वीरं महास्त्रं वरवर्णिनम्॥
He is matchless in great battle, highly learned in the science of war, a great wielder of bow, a hero clad in the best of armour and skilled in the best of weapons.

महेश्वरसुतप्रख्यमादित्यतनयं प्रभुम्। तथार्जुनमतिस्कन्दं सहजोल्बणपौरुषम्॥
That exalted son of Aditya resembles the son of Maheshvara himself. I know also very well and naturally great prowess of the broadshouldered Arjuna.

न स पार्थस्य संग्रमे कलामर्हति षोडशीम्। यच्चापि ते भयं कर्णान्मनसिस्थमरिंदम॥
In battle Karna is not equal even to a sixteenth part of Partha (Arjuna). The fear that you bear in your mind from Karna, O chastiser of foes.

तच्चाप्यपहरिष्यामि सव्यसाचिन्युपागते। यच्च ते मानसं वीर तीर्थयात्रामिमां प्रति। स महर्षिर्लोमशस्ते कथयिष्यत्यसंशयम्॥
Will be dispelled when Savyasachi (Arjuna) would come here from heaven. O Hero and as regards your desire to go to visit the Tirthas, the great Rishi Lomasha will no doubt speak to you.

यच्च किंचित् तपोयुक्तं फलं तीर्थेषु भारत! ब्रह्मर्षिरेष ब्रूयात् ते तच्छ्रद्धेयं न चान्यथा॥
O descendant of Bharata, whatever that Brahmana Rishi would speak about the fruits of asceticism and Tirthas, should be accepted by you with all respect and never otherwise.