वैशम्पायन उवाच ततः सन्नादयशक्रो दिवं भूमिं च सर्वशः। रथेनोपययौ पार्थमारोहेत्यब्रवीच्च तम्॥
Vaishampayana said Causing the Heaven and the Earth to be filled by a loud sound, then Shakra came to the son of Pritha on a car and asked him to ascend it.
स्वभ्रातृन् पतितान् दृष्ट्वा धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः। अब्रवीच्छोकसंतप्तः सहस्राक्षमिदं वचः॥ भ्रातरः पतिता मेऽत्र गच्छेयुस्ते मया सह। न विना भ्रातृभिः स्वर्गमिच्छे गन्तुं सुरेश्वर॥
Seeing the brothers fallen on the Earth, king Yudhishthira the just said to that deily of a thousand eyes these words, 'My brothers have all dropped down here! They must go with me. Without them by me I do not wish to go to the celestial region, O lord of all the celestials.
सुकुमारी सुखार्हा च राजपुत्री पुरंदर। सास्माभिः सह गच्छेत तद् भवाननुमन्यताम्॥
The delicate princess (Draupadi) deserving of every comfort, O Purandara, should go with us! You should permit this.'
शक्र उवाच भ्रातॄन् द्रक्ष्यसि स्वर्गे त्वमग्रतस्त्रिदिवं गतान्। कृष्णया सहितान् सर्वान् मा शुचो भरतर्षभ॥
Shakra said You shall behold your brothers in the celestial region. They have reached it before you. Indeed, you shall see all of them there, with Krishna. Do not give way to grief, O chief of the Bharatas!
निक्षिप्य मानुषं देहं गतास्ते भरतर्षभ। अनेन त्वं शरीरेण स्वर्ग गन्ता न संशयः॥
Having renounced their human bodies they have gone there, O chief of Bharata's race! As for you, it is ordained that you shall go there in this very body of yours.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच अयं श्वा भूतभव्येश भक्तो मां नित्यमेव ह। स गच्छेत मया सार्धमानृशंस्या हि मे मतिः॥
Yudhishthira said This dog, O lord of the Past and the Present, is highly devoted to me. He should go with me. My heart is full of mercy for him.
शक्र उवाच अमर्त्यत्वं मत्समत्वं च राजन् श्रियं कृत्स्नां महतीं चैव सिद्धिम्। संप्राप्तोऽद्य स्वर्गसुखानि च त्वं त्यज श्वानं नात्र नृशंसमस्ति॥
Shakra said You have acquired today Immortality and a status equal to mine, O king, prosperity extending in all directions and high success, and all the felicities of heaven. Do you cast off this dog. In this there will be no cruelty.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच अनार्यमार्येण सहस्रनेत्र शक्यं कर्तुं दुष्करमेतदार्य। मा मे श्रिया सङ्गमनं तयास्तु यस्याः कृते भक्तजनं त्यजेयम्॥
Yudhishthira said O you of a thousand eyes, O you, who ere of righteous conduct, it is extremely difficult for one that is of righteous conduct to perpetrate an act which is unrighteous. I do not with that union with prosperity for which I shall have to cast off one that is devoted to me.
शक्र उवाच स्वर्गे लोके श्ववतां नास्ति धिष्ण्य मिष्टापूर्ते क्रोधवशा हरन्ति। ततो विचार्य क्रियतां धर्मराज त्यज श्वानं नात्र नृशंसमस्ति॥
Indra said There is no place in the celestial region for persons with dogs. Besides the Krodhavashas take away all the merits of such persons. Thinking of this, acts, O king Yudhishthira the just! Do you abandon this dog. There is no cruelty in this.'
युधिष्ठिर उवाच भक्तत्यागं प्राहुरत्यन्तपापं तुल्यं लोके ब्रह्मवध्याकृतेन। तस्मान्नाहं जातु कथंचनाद्य त्यक्ष्याम्येनं स्वसुखार्थी महेन्द्र॥
Yudhishthira said It has been said that the abandonment of one that is devoted in sinful beyond measure. It is equal to the sin of Brahmanicide. Hence, o great Indra, I shall not cast off this dog today from desire of my happiness.
भीतं भक्तं नान्यदस्तीति चात प्राप्तं क्षीणं रक्षणे प्राणलिप्सुम्। प्राणत्यागादप्यहं नैव मोक्तुं यतेयं वै नित्यमेतद् व्रतं मे॥
This is my vow, viz., that I never give up a person that is terrified, not one that is devoted to me, nor one that seeks my help, saying, that he is destitute, nor one that is afflicted, nor one that has come to me, nor one that is weak in protecting oneself, nor one that begs for life. I shall never give up such a one till my own life goes away.
इन्द्र उवाच शुना दृष्टं क्रोधवशा हरन्ति यद्दत्तमिष्टं विवृतमथो हुतं च। तस्माच्छुनस्त्यागमिमं कुरुष्व शुनस्त्यागाद् प्राप्स्यसे देवलोकम्॥
Indra said Whatever gifts, or sacrifices spread out, or libations poured on the sacred fire, are seen by a dog, are taken away by the Krodhavashas. Do you, therefore, renounce this dog. By renouncing this dog you will acquire the region of the celestial.
त्यक्त्वा भ्रातृन् दयितां चापि कृष्णां प्राप्तो लोकः कर्मणा स्वेन वीर। श्वानं चैनं न त्यजसे कथं त्यागं कृत्स्नं चास्थितो मुझसेऽद्य॥
Having abandoned you brothers brothers and Krishna, you have, o hero, acquired a region of happiness by your own deeds. Why are you so stupefied? You have renounced everything. Why then do you not renounce this dog?
नु युधिष्ठिर उवाच न विद्यते संधिरथापि विग्रहो मृतैर्मत्यैरिति लोकेषु निष्ठा। स्ततस्त्यागस्तेषु कृतो न जीवताम्॥
Yudhishthira said This is well known in all the worlds that there is neither friendship nor enmity with the dead. When my brothers and Krishna died, I was unable to revive them. Hence it was that I renounced them, I did not, however, renounce them as long as they were alive.
भीतिप्रदानं शरणागतस्य स्त्रिया वधो ब्राह्मणस्वापहारः। मित्रद्रोहस्तानि चत्वारि शक्र भक्तत्यागश्चैव समो मतो मे॥
To frighten one that has sought protection, the killing of a woman, the theft of what belongs to a Brahmana, and injuring a friend, each of these four, O Shakra, is I think equal to the abandonment of one that is devoted.
वैशम्पायन उवाच तद् धर्मराजस्य वचो निशम्य धर्मस्वरूपो भगवानुवाचा युधिष्ठिरं प्रीतियुक्तो नरेन्द्र श्लक्ष्णैर्वाक्यैः संस्तवसम्प्रयुक्तैः॥
Hearing these words of king Yudhishthira the just, (the dog became transformed into) the deity of Virtue, who well pleased, said words to him in a sweet voice fraught with praise,
धर्म उवाच अभिजातोऽसि राजेन्द्र पितुर्वृत्तेन मेधया। अनुक्रोशेन चानेन सर्वभूतेषु भारत॥
Dharma said You are well born, O king of kings. and endued with the intelligence and the good conduct of Pandu! You have mercy for all creatures, O Bharata, of which this is a bright example!
पुरा द्वैतवने चासि मया पुत्र परीक्षितः। पानीयार्थे पराक्रान्ता यत्र ने भ्रातरो हताः॥
Formerly, O son, you were once examined by me in the forest of Dvaita, where your brothers of great prowess met with (an appearance of) death,
भीमार्जुनौ परित्यज्य यत्र त्वं भ्रातरावुभौ। मात्रोः साम्यमभीप्सन् वै नकुलं जीवमिच्छसि।॥
Disregarding both your brothers Bhima and Arjuna, you did wish for the revival of Nakula from your desire of doing good to your (step) mother.
अयं श्वा भक्त इत्येवं त्यक्तो देवरथस्त्वया। तस्मात् स्वर्गे न ते तुल्यः कश्चिदस्ति नराधिपः॥
On the present occasion, thinking the dog to be devoted to you, you have renounced the very car of the celestials instead of renouncing him. Hence, O king, there is not one in Heaven that is equal to you.
अतस्तवाक्षया लोका: स्वशरीरेण भारत। प्राप्तोऽसि भरतश्रेष्ठ दिव्यां गतिमनुत्तमाम्॥
Hence, O Bharata, regions of inexhaustible happiness are yours? You have acquired them, O chief of the Bharatas, and yours is a celestial and high end.
वैशम्पायन उवाच ततो धर्मश्च शक्रश्च मरुतश्चाश्विनावपि। देवा देवर्षयश्चैव रथमारोप्य पाण्डवम्॥ प्रययुः स्वैर्विमानैस्ते सिद्धाः कामविहारिणः। सर्वे विरजसः पुण्या: पुण्यवाग्बुद्धिकर्मिणः॥
Vaishampayana said, Then Dharma and Shakra, and the Maruts, and the Ashvins and other deities and the celestial Rishis, causing Yudhishthira to ascend on a car, went to the celestial region. Those beings crowned with success and capable of going everywhere at will,orode their respective cars.
स तं रथं समास्थाय राजा कुरुकुलोद्वहः। अर्ध्वमाचक्रमे शीघ्रं तेजसाऽऽवृत्य रोदसी।॥
King Yudhishthira, that perpetuator of Kuru's race, riding on that car, ascended quickly, causing the entire sky to blaze with his effulgence.
ततो देवनिकायस्थो नारदः सर्वलोकवित्। उवाचोच्चैस्तदा वाक्यं बृहद्वादी बृहत्तपाः॥ येऽपि राजर्षयः सर्वे ते चापि समुपस्थिताः। कीर्तिं प्रच्छाद्य तेषां वै कुरुराजोऽधितिष्ठति॥
Then Narada, that foremost of all speakers, gifted with penances, and conversant with all the worlds, from amidst that concourse of celestials, said these words:-'All those royal sages who are here have their achievements transcended by hose of Yudhishthira.
लोकानावृत्य यशसा तेजसा वृत्तसम्पदा। स्वशरीरेण सम्प्राप्तं नान्यं शुश्रुम पाण्डवात्॥
Covering all the worlds by his fame and splendour and by his wealth of conduct, he has attained to the celestial region in his own (human) body! None else than the son of Pandu has been heard to achieve this.'
तेजांसि यानि दृष्टानि भूमिष्ठेन त्वया विभो। वेश्मानि भुवि देवानां पश्यामूनि सहस्रशः॥
O lord, look at these several abodes of the gods living on the earth, you see in the form of stars and constellations in the sky.
नारदस्य वचः श्रुत्वा राजा वचनमब्रवीत्। देवानामन्त्र्य धर्मात्मा स्वपक्षांश्चैव पार्थिवान्॥ शुभं वा यदि वा पापं भ्रातृणां स्थानमद्य मे। तदेव प्राप्तुमिच्छामि लोकानन्यान्न कामये॥
Hearing these words of Narada, the righteous-souled king, saluting the celestials and all the royal sages there present, said, ‘Happy or miserable, whatever the region be that is now any brothers, I wish to proceed to. I do not wish to go anywhere else.'
राज्ञस्तु वचनं श्रुत्वा देवराजः : पुरंदरः। आनृशस्यसमायुक्तं प्रत्युवाच युधिष्ठिरम्॥ स्थानेऽस्मिन् वस राजेन्द्र कर्मभिर्निर्जिते शुभैः। किं त्वं मानुष्यकं स्नेहमद्यापि परिकर्षसि॥
Hearing this speech of the king the chief of the celestials, Purandara, said these words pregnant with noble meaning, 'Do you live in this place, O king of kings, which you have acquired by your meritorious decds! Why do you still cherish human affections?
सिद्धि प्राप्तोऽसि परमां यथा नान्यः पुमान् क्वचित्। नैव ते भ्रातरः स्थानं सम्प्राप्ताः कुरुनन्दन॥
You have acquired great success, the like of which no other man has ever been able to attain. Your brothers, Odelighter of the Kurus, have succeeded in acquiring happy regions.
अद्यापि मानुषो भावः स्पृशते त्वां नराधिय। स्वर्गोऽयं पश्य देवर्षीन् सिद्धांश्च त्रिदिवालयान्॥
Human affections still touch you. This is Heaven. See these celestial Rishis and Siddhas who have attained to the region of the gods.'
युधिष्ठिरस्तु देवेन्द्रमेवंवादिनमीश्वरम्। पुनरेवाब्रवीद् धीमानिदं वचनमर्थवत्॥ तैर्विना नोत्सहे वस्तुमिह दैत्यनिबर्हण। गन्तुमिच्छामि तत्राहं यत्र ते भ्रातरो गताः॥
Endued with great intelligence, Yudhishthira answered the king of the deities once more, saying, 'O conqueror of Daityas, I venture not to live anywhere, separated from them! I wish to go there where my brothers have gone!
यत्र सा बृहती श्यामा बुद्धिसत्त्वगुणान्विता। द्रौपदी योषितां श्रेष्ठा यत्र चैव गता मम॥
I wish to go there where that foremost of women, Draupadi, of ample proportions and darkish complexion and gifted with great intelligence and righteousness of conduct, has gone!'