ANUGITA PARVA: Chapter 68

Krishna is requested to restore Abhimanyu's son to life

वैशम्पायन उवाच एवमुक्तस्तु राजेन्द्र केशिहा दुःखमूर्छितः। तथेति व्याजहारोच्चै दयन्निव तं जनम्॥
Vaishampayana said Thus addressed, O king, the destroyer of Keshni, greatly possessed by sorrow answered, So be it! These words were uttered with sufficicnt loudness and they pleased all the inmates of the inner apartments of the place.

वाक्येनतेन हि तदा तं जनं पुरुषर्षभः। ह्लादयामास स विभुर्धर्मार्ते सलिलैरवि॥
The powerful Krishna, that foremost of men, by uttering these words, pleased all the people assembled there, like one pouring cold water on a person afflicted with sweat.

ततः स प्राविशत् तूर्णं जन्मवेश्म पितुस्तवा अर्चि पुरुषव्याघ्र सितैर्माल्यैर्यथाविधि॥ अपां कुम्भैः सुपूर्णश्च विन्यस्तैः सर्वतोदिशम्। घृतेन तिन्दुकालातैः सर्षपैश्च महाभुज॥ अस्त्रैश्च विमलैर्व्यस्तैः पावकैश्च समन्ततः। वृद्धाभिश्चापि रामाभिः परिचारार्थमावृतम्॥
He then quickly entered the lying in-room in which your father was born. It was duly sanctificd, O king, with many garlands, of while flowers; with many well-filled waterpots arranged on every side; with char-coal, soaked in clarified butter of Tinduka-wood, and mustard-seeds, o you of mighty arms; with shining weapons properly arranged and several fires on every side. And it was filled with many agreeable and aged dames summoned for waiting.

दक्षैश्च परितो धीर भिषग्भिः कुशलैस्तथा। ददर्श च स तेजस्वी रक्षोनान्यपि सर्वशः॥ द्रव्याणि स्थापितानि स्म विधिवत् कुशलैर्जनैः। तथायुक्तं च तद् दृष्ट्वा जन्मवेश्म पितुस्तव॥
It was also surrounded by many well-skilled and clever physicians, O you of great intelligence! Gifted with great energy, he also beheld there all articles that are destructive of Rakshasas, duly placed by persons knowing the subject. Seeing the lying-in-room in which your father was born thus equipt, Hrishikesha became very glad and said, Excellent, Excellent!'

हटोऽभवद्धषीकेशः साधु साध्विति चाब्रवीत्। तथा ब्रुवति वार्ष्णेये प्रहृष्टवदने तदा॥ द्रौपदी त्वरिता गत्वा वैराटी वाक्यमब्रवीत्। अयमायाति ते भद्रे श्वशुरो मधुसूदनः॥
When he of Vrishni's racc said so and presented such a chcerful look, Draupadi, going there quickly, addressed the daughter of Virata, saying, O blessed lady, here comes to you your father-in-law, the destroyer of Madhu, that ancient Rishi of inconceivable soul, that unvanquished one.

पुराणर्षिरचिन्त्यात्मा समीपमपराजितः। सापि बाष्पकलां वाचं निगृहाश्रूणि चैव ह॥ सुसंवीताभवद् देवी देववत् कृष्णमीयुषी।
Virata's daughter, checking her tears said these words in a voice chocked with grief. Covering herself properly, the pincess waited for Krishna like the celestials reverentially waiting for him.

सा तथा दूयमानेन हृदयेन तपस्विनी॥ दृष्ट्वा गोविन्दमायान्तं कृपणं पर्यदेवयत्।
The helpless lady with heart agitated by Sorrow, seeing Govinda coming, bewailed, saying :

पुण्डरीकाक्ष पश्यावां बालेन हि विनाकृतौ। अभिमन्युं च मां चैव हतौ तुल्यं जनार्दन॥
O lotus-eyed one, sce us two deprived of our child! O Janardana, both Abhimanyu and myself have been equally killed.

वार्ष्णेय मधुहन् वीर शिरसा त्वां प्रसादये। द्रोणपुत्रास्त्रनिर्दग्धं जीवयैनं ममात्मजम्॥
o you of Vrishni's race, O destroyer of Madhu, I seek to please you by bending my head, O hero to you! Do you revive this child of mine who has been consumed by the weapon of Drona's son.

यदि स्म धर्मराज्ञा वा भीमसेनेन वा पुनः। त्वया वा पुण्डरीकाक्ष वाक्यमुक्तमिदं भवेत्॥ अजानतीमिपीकेयं जनित्री हन्त्विति प्रभो। अहमेव विनष्टा स्यां नैतदेवंगते भवेत्॥
If king Yudhishthira the just, or Bhimasena, or yourself, O lotus-eyes one, had, on that occasion, said, Let the blade of grass destroy the unconscious mother, O powerful one, then I would have been destroyed and this would not have taken place.

गर्भस्थस्यास्य बालस्य ब्रह्मास्त्रेण निपातनम्। कृत्वा नृशंसं दुर्बुद्धिौणिः किं फलमश्नुते॥
Alas, what benefit has been reaped by Drona's son by doing this cruel deed, viz., the destruction of the child in the womb by his Brahma-weapon.

सा त्वां प्रसाद्य शिरसा याचे शत्रुनिबर्हणम्। प्राणांस्त्यक्ष्यामि गोविन्द नायं संजीवते यदि॥
That self-same mother now seeks to please you, O slayer of enemies, by bending her head! Surely, O Govinda, I shall kill myself if this child does not revive.

अस्मिन् हि बहवः साधो ये ममासन् मनोरथाः। ते द्रोणपुत्रेण हताः किं नु जीवामि केशव॥
In him, Orighteous one, I placed many expectations! Alas, when these have been frustrated by Drona's son, what necessity have I, O Keshava, to carry on the burden of life?

आसीन्मम मतिः कृष्ण पुत्रोत्सङ्गा जनार्दन। अभिवादयिष्ये हृष्टेति तदिदं वितथीकृतम्॥
I hoped, O Krishna, that with my child on my lap, O Janardana, I would salute you with respect! Alas, O Keshava, that hope has beelu destroyed.

चपलाक्षस्य दायादे मृतेऽस्मिन् पुरुषर्षभ। विफला मे कृताः कृष्ण हृदि सर्वे मनोरथाः॥
O foremost of all beings at the death of this heir of Abhimanyu of restless eyes, all my hopes have been destroyed.

चपलाक्षः किलातीव प्रियस्ते मधुसूदन। सुतं पश्य त्वमस्यैनं ब्रह्मास्त्रेण निपातितम्॥
Abhimanyu of restless eyes, O destroyer of Madhu, was exceedingly dear to you. Behold this child of his killed by the Brahma-weapon.

कृतघ्नोऽयं नृशंसोऽयं यथास्य जनकस्तथा। यः पाण्डवीं श्रियं त्यक्त्वा गतोऽद्य यमसादनम्॥२२
This child is very ungrateful and very heartless, like his father, for, sce, disregarding the prosperity and affluence of the Pandavas, he has gone to Yama's house.

मया चैतत् प्रतिज्ञातं रणमूर्धनि केशवा अभिमन्यौ हते वीर त्वामेष्याम्यचिरादिति।॥
I had, before this, vowed, O Keshava, that if Abhimanuyu fell on the field of battle, O hero, I would follow him immediately.

तच्च नाकरवं कृष्ण नृशंसां जीवितप्रिया। इदानीं मां गतां तत्र किं नु वक्ष्यति फाल्गुनिः॥
I did not, however, keep my vow, cruel that I am and fond of life! If I go to him now, what indeed, will Phalguna's son say?