तथा प्रयान्तं वार्ष्णेयं द्वारकां भरतर्षभाः। परिष्वज्य न्यवर्तन्त सानुयात्रा परंतपाः॥
Vaishampayana said, As he of Vrishni's family was going to Dwraka, those foremost princes of Bharata's race, those chastisers of enemies, embraced him and fell back with their attendants.
पुनः पुनश्च वार्ष्णेयं पर्यष्वजत फाल्गुनः। आ चक्षुर्विषयाच्चैनं स ददर्श पुनः पुनः॥
Phalguna repeatedly embraced the Vrishni hero and as long as he was within he range of eye-sight he repeatedly turned his eyes towards him.
कृच्छ्रेणैव तु तां पार्थो गोविन्दे विनिवेशिताम्। संजहार ततो दृष्टि कृष्णश्चाप्यपराजितः॥
With great difficulty, the son of Pritha withdrew his look that had fallen on Govinda. The undefeated Krishna also (did the same).
तस्य प्रयाणे यान्यासन् निमित्तानि महात्मनः। बहून्यद्भुतरूपाणि तानि मे गदतः शृणु॥
The marks which were displayed on the occasion of the great one's departure, I shall now fully describe. Do you listen to me.
वायुर्वेगेन महता रथस्य पुरतो ववौ। कुर्वत्रिःशर्करं मागं विरजस्कमकण्टकम्॥
The wind blew with great force before the car, clearing the path of sand grains and dust and thorns.
ववर्षं वासवश्चैव तोयं शुचि सुगन्धि च। दिव्यानि चैव पुष्पाणि पुरतः शार्ङ्गधन्वनः॥
Vasava rained pure and fragrant showers and celestial flowers before the holder of Sharnga.
स प्रयातो महाबाहुः समेषु मरुधन्वसु। ददर्शाथ मुनिश्रेष्ठमुत्तङ्कममितौजसम्॥
As the mighty-armed hero went on he came upon the desert ill-supplied with water. there a he saw that foremost of ascetics, named Utanka, of immeasurable energy.
स तं सम्पूज्य तेजस्वी मुनि पृथुललोचनः। पूजितस्तेन च तदा पर्यपृच्छदनामय॥
The hero of large eyes and grcat energy adored that ascetic. He was then adored by the ascetic in return Vasudeva then enquired after his well-being.
स पृष्टः कुशलं तेन सम्पूज्य मधुसूदनम्। उत्तङ्को ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठस्तत: पप्रच्छ माधवम्॥
That foremost of Brahmanas, viz., Utanka, politely accosted by Madhava, honoured him duly and then addressed him in these words.
कच्चिच्छौरे त्वया गत्वा कुरुपाण्डवसद्म तत्। कृतं सौभ्रात्रमचलं तन्मे व्याख्यातुमर्हसि॥
O Shaurin, having gone to the palaces of the Kurus and the Pandavas, have you succeeded in establishing durable understanding between them such as should exit between brothers? You should tell me every thing.
अपि संधाय तान् वीरानुपावृत्तोऽसि केशव। सम्बन्धिनः स्वदयितान् सततं वृष्णिपुङ्गव॥
Do you come, O Keshava, after having united them in peace, them who are your relatives and who are ever dear to you, O forcmost one of Vrishni's race.
कच्चित् पाण्डुसुताः पच्च धृतराष्ट्रस्य चात्मजाः। लोकेषु विहरिष्यन्ति त्वया सह परंतप॥
Will the five sons of Pandu, and the children of Dhritarashtra, o destroyer of enemies, sport in the world in joy with you?
स्वराष्ट्रे ते च राजानः कच्चित् प्राप्स्यन्ति वै सुखम्। कौरवेषु प्रशान्तेषु त्वया नाथेन केशव॥
Will all the kings enjoy happiness in their respective kingdoms, on account of the pacification of the Kauravas brought about by you?
या मे सम्भावना तात त्वयि नित्यमवर्तत। अपि सा सफला तात कृता ते भरतान् प्रति॥
Has that trust, O son, which I had always reposed on you, borne fruit about the Kauravas?
श्रीभगवानुवाच कृतो यत्नो मया पूर्वे सौम्ये कौवान् प्रति। नाशक्यन्त यदा साम्ये ते स्थापयितुमञ्जसा॥ ततस्ते निधनं प्राप्ताः सर्वे ससुतबान्धवाः। न दिष्टमप्यतिक्रान्तुं शक्यं बुद्ध्या बलेन वा॥
I tried my test at first, for bringing about a good understanding, about the Kauravas. When I could not by any means establish them on peace, it happened that all of them, with their relatives and kinsmen, died. It is impossible to transgress destiny by either intelligence of power.
महर्षे विदितं भूयः सर्वमेतत् तवानघ। तेऽत्यक्रामन् मतिं मह्यं भीष्मस्य विदुरस्य च॥
O great Rishi, O sinless one, this also cannot he unknown to you. They (the Kauravas) disregarded which Bhishma and Vidura gave them referring to me.
ततो यमक्षयं जग्मुः समासाद्येतरेतरम्। पञ्चैव पाण्डवाः शिष्टा हतामित्रा हतात्मजाः। धार्तराष्ट्राश्च निहताः सर्वे ससुतबान्धवाः॥
Encountering one another they then becaine guests of Yama's palace. Only the five Pandavas form the remnant of the un-slain, all their friends and all their children having been destroyed. All the sons Dhritarashtra also, with thcir children and kinsmen, have been killed.
इत्युक्तवचने कृष्णे भृशं क्रोधसमन्वितः। उत्तङ्क इत्युवाचैनं रोषादुत्फुल्ललोचनः॥
When Krishna had said these words, Utanka, filled with anger, and with eyes expanded in rage, addressed him in these words.
यस्माच्छक्तेन ते कृष्ण न त्राताः कुरुपुङ्गवाः। सम्बन्धिनः प्रियास्तस्माच्छप्स्येऽहं त्वामसंशयम्॥
Since, though able, O Krishna, you did not rescue those foremost ones of Kuru's race, who were your relatives and, therefore, dear to you, I shall, forsooth, curse you.
न च ते प्रसभं यस्मात् ते निगृह्य निवारिताः। तस्मान्मन्युपरीतस्त्वां शप्स्यामि मधुसूदन॥
Since you did not forcibly compel them to forbear, therefore, O destroyer of Madhu, I shall, filled with anger denounce a course on you.
त्वया शक्तेन हि सता मिथ्याचारेण माधव। ते परीताः कुरुश्रेष्ठा नश्यन्तः स्म ह्यपेक्षिताः॥
It seems, O Madhava, that, though fully able (to save them), you were in different to these foremost of Kurus who, overwhelmed by insincerity and hypocrisy, have all met with destruction.
वासुदेव उवाच शृणु मे विस्तरेणेदं यद् वक्ष्ये भृगुनन्दन। गृहाणानुनयं चापि तपस्वी ह्यसि भार्गव॥
O scion of Bhrigu's race listen, to what I say in full. Do you accept my apologies also. O you of Bhrigu's race you are an ascetic!
श्रुत्वा च मे तदध्यात्म मुञ्चेथाः शापमद्य वै। न च मां तपसाऽल्पेन शक्तोऽभिभवितुं पुमान्॥
After having heard my words about the soul, you may then utter your curse. No man is able, by a little ascetic merit, to put me down.
न च ते तपसो नाशमिच्छामि तपतां वर। तपस्ते सुमहद्दीप्तं गुरवश्चापि तोषिताः॥
O foremost of ascetics, I do not wish to see the destruction of all your penances! You have a large measure of blazing penances. You have passed your preceptors and seniors.
कौमारं ब्रह्मचर्यं ते जानामि द्विजसत्तम। दुःखार्जितस्य तपसस्तस्मन्निच्छामि ते व्ययम्॥
O foremost of twice-born ones. I know that you have observed the rules of Brahmacharya from your infancy. I do not, therefore wish the loss or diminution of your penances acquired with so much pain!