युधिष्ठिर उवाच नेह पश्यामि विबुधा राधेयममितौजसम्। भ्रातरौ च महात्मानौ युधामन्यूत्तमौजसौ॥ जुहुवुर्ये शरीराणि रणवह्नौ महारथाः। राजानो राजपुत्राश्च ये मदर्थे हता रणे॥
Yudhishthira said “You deities, I do not see here Radha's son of incomparable prowess, as also my largehearted brothers, and and Yudhamanyu and Uttamaujas, those great car-warriors who poured their bodies (as libations on the fire of battle, those kings and princess who met with death for my sake in battle.
क्व ते महारथाः सर्वे शार्दूलसमविक्रमाः। तैरप्ययं जितो लोकः कच्चित् पुरुषसत्तमैः॥
Where are those great car-warriors who possessed of the prowess of tigers? Have those foremost of men gained this region?
यदि लोकानिमान् प्राप्तास्ते च सर्वे महारथाः। स्थितं वित्त हि मां देवा: सहितं तैर्महात्मभिः॥
If thosc great car-warriors have obtained these regions, than only do you know, O good, that I shall live here with those greet ones.
कच्चिन्न तैरवाप्तोऽयं नृपैर्लोकोऽक्षयः शुभः। न तैरहं विना रंस्ये भ्रातृभिर्जातिभिस्तथा॥
If this auspicious and eternal region has not becn gained by those kings, then, know, O gods, that without those brothers and kinsmen of mine, I shall not live here.
मातुर्हि वचनं श्रुत्वा तदा सलिलकर्मणि। कर्णस्य क्रियतां तोयमिति तप्यामि तेन वै॥
At the time of celebrating the water rites (after the battle), I heard my mother say, Do you offer oblations of water to Karna! I am burning with grief.
इदं च परितप्यामि पुनः पुनरहं सुराः। यन्मातुः सदृशौ पादौ तस्याहममितात्मनः॥ दृष्ट्वैव तौ नानुगतः कर्णं परबलार्दनम्। न ह्यस्मान् कर्णसहितान् जयेच्छक्रोऽपि संयुगे॥
I grieve also continually at this, O gods that when I marked the resemblance between the feet of my mother and those of Karna of high soul, I did not immediately place myself under the orders of that destroyer of hostile ranks! Ourselves joined with Karna, Shakra himself would have been unable to defeat in battle.
तमहं यत्र तत्रस्थं द्रष्टुमिच्छामि सूर्यजम्। अविज्ञातो मया योऽसौ घातितः सव्यसाचिना॥
Wherever may that child of the sum be, I wish to see him. Alas, not knowing his relationship with us, I caused him to be killed by Arjuna.
भीमं च भीमविक्रान्तं प्राणेभ्योऽपि प्रियं मम। अर्जुनं चेन्द्रसंकाशं यमौ चैव यमोपमौ॥ द्रष्टुमिच्छामि तां चाहं पाञ्चालीं धर्मचारिणीम्। न चेह स्थातुमिच्छामि सत्यमेवं ब्रवीमि वः॥
Bhima also of dreadful prowess and dearer to me than my life. Arjuna too, resembling Indra himself, the twins also who resembled the Destroyer the Destroyer himself in prowess, I wish to see ! I wish to see the princess of Panchala, of good conduct, I wish not to stay here. I tell you the truth.
किं मे भ्रातृविहीनस्य स्वर्गेण सुरसत्तमाः। यत्र ते मम स स्वर्गो नायं स्वर्गो मतो मम॥
O foremost of the deities, what is Heaven to me if I am separated from my brothers? That is Heaven where those brothers of mine are. This in my opinion, is not Heaven.
देवा ऊचुः यदि वै तत्र ते श्रद्धा गम्यतां पुत्र मा चिरम्। प्रिये हि तव वर्तामो देवराजस्य शासनात्॥
The Deities said If you wish to be there, go them, O son, forthwith, At the command of the king of the celestials, we are ready to do what you like.
वैशम्पायन इत्युक्त्वा तं ततो देवा देवदूतमुपादिशन्। युधिष्ठिरस्य सुहृदो दर्शयेति परंतप॥ ततः कुन्तीसुतो राजा देवदूतश्च जग्मतुः। सहितौ राजशार्दूल यत्र ते पुरुषर्षभाः॥
Having said so, the celestials then ordered the celestial messenger, o destroyer of enemies, saying, 'Do you show to Yudhishthira his friends and kinsmen, Then the royal son of Kunti and the celestial messenger went together, O fore-most of kings to that place where those chiefs of men were.
अग्रतो देवदूतश्च ययौ राजा च पृष्ठतः। पन्थानमशुभं दुर्गं सेवितं पापकर्मभिः॥
The celestial messenger went first, followed by the king. The path was difficult and trodden by men of sinful deeds.
तमसा संवृतं घोरं केशशैवलशाद्वलम्। युक्तं पापकृतां गन्धैर्मीसशोणितकर्दमम्॥ दंशोत्पातकभल्लूकमक्षिकामशकावृतम्। इतश्चेतश्च कुणपैः समन्तात् परिवारितम्॥
It was covered with thick darkness, and covered with hair and moss forming its grassy vesture. Polluted with the blood, it was filled with gad-flies and stinging bees and gnats and was endangered by the inroads of grisly bars. Rotting corpses lay here and there.
अस्थिकेशसमाकीर्णं कृमिकीटसमाकुलम्। ज्वलनेन प्रदीप्तेन समन्तात् परिवेष्टितम्॥
Overspread with bones and hair, it was noisesome with worms and insects. It was bounded all along with a burning fire.
अयोमुखैश्च काकाद्यैर्गुधैश्च समभिद्रुतम्। सूचीमुखैस्तथा प्रेतैर्विथ्यशैलोपमैर्वृतम्॥
It was infested by crows and other birds and vultures, tall having beaks of iron, as also by evil spirits with long mouths pointed like needles. And it was filled with inaccessible fastness like the Vindhya mountains,
मेदोरुधिरयुक्तैश्च च्छिन्नबाहूरुपाणिभिः। निकृत्तोदरपादैश्च तत्र तत्र प्रवेरितैः॥
Human corpses were scattered over it, smeared with fat and blood, with arms and thighs out off, or with entrails torn out and legs severed.
स तत्कुणपदुर्गन्धमशिवं लोमहर्षणम्। जगाम राजा धर्मात्मा मध्ये बहु विचिन्तयन्॥
Along that path so disagreeable with the stench of corpses and awful with other incidents, the righteous-souled king went filled with various thoughts.
ददर्शोष्णोदकैः पूर्णा नदीं चापि सुदुर्गमाम्। असिपत्रवनं चैव निशितं क्षुरसंवृतम्॥
He saw a river full of boiling water and therefore difficult to cross as also a forest of trees whose leaves were sharp swords and razors.
करम्भवालुकास्तप्ता आयसीश्च शिलाः पृथक्। लोहकुम्भीश्च तैलस्य क्वाथ्यमानाः समन्ततः॥
There were plains full of fine white sand highly heated, and rocks and stones made of iron. There were many jars of iron all around, with boiling oil in them.
कूटशाल्मलिकं चापि दुःस्पर्श तीक्ष्णकण्टकम्। ददर्श चापि कौन्तेयो यातनाः पापकर्मिणाम्॥
Many a Kuta-shalmalika was there with sharp thorns, and therefore, greatly painful to the touch. The son of Kunti saw also the tortures inflicted upon sinful men.
स तं दुर्गन्धमालक्ष्य देवदूतमुवाच ह। कियदध्वानमस्माभिर्गन्तव्यमिममीदृशम्॥
Seeing that inauspicious region full of every sort of fouiness, Yudhishthira asked the celestial messenger, saying, How far shall we go along a path like this?
क्व च ते भ्रातरो मह्यं तन्ममाख्यातुमर्हसि। देशोऽयं कश्च देवानामेतदिच्छामि वेदितुम्॥
You should tell me where those brothers, of mine are. I wish also to know what region is this of the celestials.
स संनिववृते श्रुत्वा धर्मराजस्य भाषितम्। देवदूतोऽब्रवीच्चैनमेतावद् गमनं तव॥
Hearing these words of king Yudhishthira, the just, the celestial messenger stopped in his course and replied, saying, Thus far is your way.
निवर्तितव्यो हि मया तथासम्युक्तो दिवौकसैः। यदि श्रान्तोऽसि राजेन्द्र त्वमथागन्तुमर्हसि॥
The dwellers of the celestial region ordered me that having come thus far, I am to stop! If you are tired, O king of kings, you may return with me. was sorrow
युधिष्ठिरस्तु निर्विण्णस्तेन गन्धेन मूर्च्छितः। निवर्तने धृतमनाः पर्यावर्तत भारत॥
Yudhishthira, however sorely disconsolate and stupefied by the foul stench. Resolved to return, O Bharata, he retraced his steps.
स संनिवृत्तो धर्मात्मा दुःखशोकसमाहतः। शुश्राव तत्र वदतां दीना वाचः समन्ततः॥
Stricken with and grief, the righteous-souled king turned back. Directly then he heard piteous cries all around.
भो भो धर्मज राजर्षे पुण्याभिजन पाण्डव। अनुग्रहार्थमस्माकं तिष्ठ तावन्मुहूर्तकम्॥
O son Dharma, O royal sage, O you of holy birth, o son of Pandu, do you say a moment of favouring us.
आयाति त्वयि दुर्धर्षे वाति पुण्यः समीरणः। तव गन्धानुगस्तात येनास्मान् सुखमागमत्॥
At your approach, O invincible one, a delightful breeze has begun to blow, bearing the sweet smell of your body. We have been greatly relieved at this.
ते वयं पार्थ दीर्घस्य कालस्य पुरुषर्षभ। सुखमासादयिष्यामस्त्वां दृष्ट्वा राजसत्तम॥
O foremost of king seeing you, O first of men, we have been highly pleased O son of Pritha, let that happiness last longer through your stay here for a few moments more.
संतिष्ठस्व महाबाहो मुहूर्तमपि भारत। त्वयि तिष्ठति कौरव्य यातनास्मान् न बाधते॥
Do you remain here, O Bharata, for even a short time! As long as you are here O you of Kuru's race, tortures cease to afflict us.
एवं बहुविधा वाचः कृपणा वेदनावताम्। तस्मिन् देशे स शुश्राव समन्ताद् वदतां नृप॥
This king, heard there these and many similar words, uttered piteously by persons in distress, reaching his ears from all sides.
तेषां तु वचनं श्रुत्वा दयावान् दीनभाषिणाम्। अहो कृच्छ्रमिति प्राह तस्थौ स च युधिष्ठिरः॥
Hearing those words of beings in distress, Yudhishthira of compassionate heart exclaimed aloud, Alas, how pain-full! and the king stood still.
स ता गिरः पुरस्ताद् वै श्रुतपूर्वा पुनः पुनः। ग्लानानां दुःखितानां च नाभ्यजानत पाण्डवः॥
The words of those woe-begone and afflicted persons seemed to the son of Pandu to be uttered in voices that he had heard before although he could not, then recognise thein.
अबुध्यमानस्ता वाचो धर्मपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः। उवाच के भवन्तो वै किमर्थमिह तिष्ठथ॥
Unable to recognise the voice, Dharma's son, Yudhishthira, enquired, saying, who are you? Why also do you stay here?
इत्युक्तास्ते ततः सर्वे समन्तादवभाषिरे। कर्णोऽहं भीमसेनोऽहमर्जुनोऽहमिति प्रभो॥
Thus addressed, they answered him from all sides, saying, I am Karna! I am Bhimasena! I am Arjuna!
नकुलः सहदेवोऽहं धृष्टद्युम्नोऽहमित्युत। द्रौपदी द्रौपदेयाश्च इत्येवं ते विचुक्रुशुः॥
I am Nakula, I am Sahadeva! I am Dhrishtadyumna! I am Draupadi! We are the sons of Draupadi! thus O king did those voice speak.
ता वाचः स तदा श्रुत्वा तद्देशसदृशीर्नृप। ततो विममृशे राजा किं त्विदं दैवकारितम्॥
Hearing those cries, O king, uttered in voice of pain suitable to that place, the royal Yudhishthira asked himself, What perverse destiny is this?
किं तु तत् कलुषं कर्म कृतमेभिर्महात्मभिः। कर्णेन द्रौपदेयैर्वा पाञ्चाल्या वा सुमध्यया॥ य इमे पापगन्धेऽस्मिन् देशे सन्ति सुदारुणे। नाहं जानामि सर्वेषां दुष्कृतं पुण्यकर्मणाम्॥
What are those sinful deeds which were committed by those grcat beings, viz., Karna and the sons of Draupadi and the slenderwaisted princess of Panchala, so that they have been compelled to live in this region of fetid smell and great distress. I am not aware of any sin that can be attributed to these persons of auspicious deeds.
किं कृत्वा धृतराष्ट्रस्य पुत्रो राजा सुयोधनः। तथा श्रिया युतः पापैः सह सर्वैः पदानुगैः॥
What is that deed by doing which Dhritarashtra's son king Suyodhana with all his sinful followers, has acquired such prosperity?
महेन्द्र इव लक्ष्मीवानास्ते परमपूजितः। कस्येदानी विकारोऽयं य इमे नरकं गताः॥
Gifted with prosperity like that of the great Indra himself, he is reverently worshipped. What is that deed for which these (high-souled ones) have fallen into Hell?
सर्वधर्मविदः शूराः सत्यागमपरायणाः। क्षत्रधर्मरताः सन्तो यज्वानो भूरिदक्षिणाः॥
All of them knew duty, were heroes, were devoted to truth and the Vedas; were observant of Kshatriya practices, were righteous in their decds; were performers of sacrifices; and givers of large presents to Brahmanas.
किं नु सुप्तोऽस्मि जागर्मि चेतयामि न चेतये। अहोचित्तविकारोऽयं स्याद् वा मे चित्तविभ्रमः॥
Am I asleep or awake? Am I conscious or unconscious? Or, is all this an aberration of the intellect?
एवं बहुविधं राजा विममर्श युधिष्ठिरः। दुःखशोकसमाविष्टश्चिन्ताव्याकुलितेन्द्रियः॥
Overwhelmed by sorrow and grief, and with his senses ruffled by anxiety, king Yudhishthira indulged in such thoughts for a long time.
क्रोधमाहारयच्चैव तीव्र धर्मसुतो नृपः। देवांश्च गर्हयामास धर्मं चैव युधिष्ठिरः॥
The royal son of Dharma was them filled with righteous indigatio. Indeed, Yudhishthira then censured the celestials as also Dharma himself.
स तीव्रगन्धसंतप्तो देवदूतमुवाच ह। गम्यतां तत्र येषां त्वं दूतस्तेषामुपान्तिकम्॥
Afflicted by the very foul smell, he addressed the celestial messenger, saying, Return to the presence of those whose messenger you are.
न ह्यहं तत्र यास्यामि स्थितोऽस्मीति निवेद्यताम्। मत्संश्रयादिमे दूताः सुखिनो भ्रातरो हि मे॥
Tell them that I shall not return to where they are, but shall stay even here, since, on account of my companionship, these afflicted brothers of mine have become comforted.
इत्युक्तः स तदा दूतः पाण्डुपुत्रेण धीमता। जगाम तत्र यत्रास्ते देवराजः शतक्रतुः॥
Thus addressed by the intelligent son of Pandu, the celestial messenger returned to the place where the king of the celestials was, viz., he of a hundred sacrifices.
निवेदयामास च तद् धर्मराजचिकीर्षितम्। यथोक्तं धर्मपुत्रेण सर्वमेव जनाधिप॥
He represented to hiin the of Yudhishthira. Indeed, O king, he informed Indra of all that Dharma's son had said. acts