नारद उवाद विनीय दुःखमबला आत्मन्येव प्रजापतिम्। उवाच प्राञ्जलिर्भूत्वा लतेवावर्जिता पुनः॥
Narada said Then that helpless lady restraining her grief within herself, thus addressed the lord of the people, with folded palms and bending like a creeper with humility.
मृत्युरुवाच त्वया सृष्टा कथं नारी ईदृशी वदतां वर। क्रूरं कर्माहितं कुर्यां तदेव किमु जानती॥
Death said O most eloquent of all speakers, how shall I, created a female by you, do such heartless and mischievous deeds, knowing them at the same time to be so?
बिभेम्यहमधर्माद्धि प्रसीद भगवन् प्रभो। प्रियान् पुत्रान् वयस्यांश्च भ्रातॄन् मातृः पितॄन् पतीन्॥३ अपध्यास्यन्ति मे देव मृतेष्वेभ्यो विभेम्यहम्।
I fear sin greatly-O illustrious lord, be propitious on me. Sons, friends, brothers, fathers and husbands are always dear to creatures. If they are destroyed by my hands, they that will incur the loss, shall endeavour to avenge themselves on me. It is them that I fear.
कृपणानां हि रुदतां ये पतन्त्यश्रुबिन्दवः॥ तेभ्योऽहं भगवन् भीता शरणं त्वाहमागता।
The drops of tears that will fall from the eyes of grief-stricken and bewailing persons. Fill me with terror. Thus affrighted, O illustrious Lord, I seek your protection.
यमस्य भवनं देव गच्छेयं न सुरोत्तम॥ कायेन विनयोपेता मोदग्रनखेन च। एतदिच्छाम्यहं कामं त्वत्तो लोकपितामह॥
O foremost of the celestials, O Divine Being, I will not go to Yama's abode. O you. that bestow boons, I do propitiate you, by bending my head low and by folding my hands, O Grandsire of the worlds, I desire the fulfillment of even this wish of mine at your hands.
इच्छेयं त्वत्प्रसादाद्धि तपस्तप्तुं प्रजेश्वर। प्रदिशेमं वरं देव त्वं मह्यं भगवन् प्रभो॥
O Lord of the creation, I desire to carry on ascetic austerities through your grace. O great Lord, O divine being, accord me this boon.
त्वया झुक्ता गमिष्यामि धेनुकाश्रममुत्तमम्। तत्र तप्स्ये तपस्तीनं तवैवाराधने रता॥
Permitted by you, I shall go to the excellent hermitage of Dhenuka and there shall I practice ascetic austerities of the most severe sort, being engaged in worshipping yourself.
न हि शक्ष्यामि देवेश प्राणान् प्राणभृतां प्रियान्। हर्तुं विलपमानानामधर्मादभिरक्ष माम्॥
O Lord of the celestials, I shall not be able to destroy the dear lives of living creatures, when they will weep in grief. Save me from unrighteousness.
ब्रह्मोवाच मृत्यो संकल्पितासि त्वं प्रजासंहारहेतुना। गच्छ संहर सर्वास्त्वं प्रजा मा ते विचारणा॥
Brahma said You have been created, O Death, for causing the destruction of creatures; go, destroy all the creatures; entertain no scruples whatsoever.
भविता त्वेतदेवं हि नैतज्जात्वन्यथा भवेत्। भव त्वनिन्दिता लोके कुरुष्व वचनं मम॥
This must have happened and nothing could have prevented it. Carry out my command; none in the world will find any fault with you.
नारद उवाच एवमुक्ताभवत् प्रीता प्राञ्जलिर्भगवन्मुखी। संहारे नाकरोद् बुद्धिं प्रजानां हितकाम्यया॥
Narada said Thus spoken to, the lady became pleased and she stood with her face turned towards the illustrious god. And out of desire for doing good to the creatures, she did not set her heart upon the destruction of creature.
तूष्णीमासीत् तदा देवः प्रजानामीश्वरेश्वरः। प्रसादं चागमत् क्षिप्रमात्मनैव प्रजापतिः॥
Then that Divinity, the Lord of the lords of creatures also remained silent for a while; and the grandsire soon became satisfied with his ownself.
स्मयमानश्च देवेशो लोकान् सर्वानवेक्ष्य च। लोकास्त्वासन् यथापूर्वे दृष्टास्तेनापमन्युना॥
Then turning his eyes upon the creatures he smiled. Then the creatures lived cheerfully as before, undisturbed by premature death.
निवृत्तरोषे तस्मिंस्तु भगवत्यपराजिते। सा कन्यापि जगामाथ समीपात् तस्य धीमतः॥
When that invincible and illustrious divinity had cast his wrath off, that lady also went away from the presence of that intelligent being.
अपसृत्याप्रतिश्रुत्य प्रजासंहरणं तदा। त्वरमाणा च राजेन्द्र मृत्युर्धेनुकमभ्यगात्॥
Then without having promised the destruction of creatures, she went away, O king; and then Death hastily came to Dhenuka.
सा तत्र परमं तीव्र चचार व्रतमुत्तमम्। सा तदा ह्येकपादेन तस्थौ पद्मानि षोडश॥ पञ्च चाब्दानि कारुण्यात् प्रजानां तु हितैषिणी। इन्द्रियाणीनिद्रयार्थेभ्यः प्रियेभ्यः संनिवर्त्य सा॥
There she practised a vow excellent and greatly severe. There she stood on one leg for sixteen times ten billions of years and five times ten billions also, through compassion for living creatures and through desire for doing them good, all the time withholding her senses from their dear objects.
ततस्त्वेकेन पादेन पुनरन्यानि सप्त वै। तस्थौ पद्मानि षट् चैव सप्त चैकं च पार्थिव॥
Once more, O monarch, she stood there on one leg for twenty one times ten billions of years.
ततः पद्मायुतं तात मृगैः सह चचार सा। पुनर्गत्वा ततो नन्दा पुण्यां शीतामलोदकाम्॥
Then she roved for ten times ten thousand billions of years with the animals. Then once again repairing to the holy river Nanda that was full of cool and translucent water.
अप्सु वर्षसहस्राणि सप्त चैकं च साऽनयत्। धारयित्वा तु नियमं नन्दायां वीतकल्मषा॥
She passed in those waters eight thousand years. Practising austere penances on the banks of the Nanda, she purged herself of all her sins.
सा पूर्वे कौशिकी पुण्यां जगाम नियमैघिता। तत्र वायुजलाहारा चचार नियमं पुनः॥
Then observant of her vows, she first visited the sacred Kousiki; living upon air and water only, she practised penances there.
पञ्चगङ्गसु सा पुण्या कन्या वेतसकेषु च। तपोविशेषैर्बहुभिः कर्षयद् देहमात्मनः॥
Going then to Panchaganga and afterwards to Vetasa, that already-purified lady, pulled her own body down by performing various kinds of asceticism.
ततो गत्वा तु सा गङ्गां महामेरुं च केवलम्। तस्थौ चाश्मेव निश्चेष्टा प्राणायामपरायणा॥
Repairing next to the Ganga and thence to the great Meru, she remained inert like a block of stone, devoting herself in the practice of Pranayama (suspension of breaths).
पुनर्हिमवतो मूर्ध्नि यत्र देवाः पुराऽयजन्। तत्राङ्गुष्ठेन सा तस्थौ निखर्वं परमा शुभा॥
From that place repairing to the crest of the Himavat mountain, where, in the days of yore, the gods had performed their sacred sacrifices, that excellent and auspicious damsel stood on her tip toe for a billion of years.
पुष्करेष्वथ गोकर्णे नैमिषे मलये तथा अपाकर्षत् स्वकं देहं नियमैर्मानसप्रियैः॥
Thence going to Puskara and Gokarna and Naimisha and Malaya, she pulled her health down by the practice of penances after her own choice.
अनन्यदेवता नित्यं दृढभक्ता पितामहे। तस्थौ पितामहं चैव तोषयामास धर्मतः॥
Without worshipping any other god and with firin devotion to the Grandsire, she lived and propitiated him in every way and everywhere.
ततस्तामब्रवीत् प्रीतो लोकानां प्रभवोऽव्ययः। सौम्येन मनसा राजन् प्रीत: प्रीतमनास्तदा॥
Thereafter the undeteriorating Creator of die universe, thus propitiated, spoke to her with
मृत्यो किमिदमत्यन्तं तपांसि चरसीति ह। ततोऽब्रवीत् पुनर्मूतवुर्भगवन्तं पितामहम्॥
"O Death, what for are you under-going all these severe ascetic penances?" Thereat Death once more addressed the illustrious divinity, the Grandsire, sayingनाहं हन्यां प्रजा देव स्वस्थाश्चाक्रोशतीस्तथा।
एतदिच्छामि सर्वेश त्वत्तो वरमहं प्रभो॥
"O God, I shall not be able to destroy of living creatures. They are all in the enjoyment of health and do not envy one another. O Lord, even this is the boon that I want at your hands, Omaster of all.
अधर्मभयभीताऽस्मि ततोऽहं तप आस्थिता। भीतायास्तु महाभाग प्रयच्छाभयमव्यय॥
I am afraid of sin; and it is for this reason hat I am engaged in the practice of ascetic austerities. 0 blessed Lord! vouchsafe assurances of eternal safety to overwhelmed with terror.
आर्ता चानागसी नारी याचामि भव मे गतिः। तामब्रवीत् ततो देवो भूतभव्यभविष्यवित्॥
A woman by birth, helpless and sinless, I iimplore your mercy, be you my refuge." Thereupon that Divinity possessed to the knowledge of the past, the present and the future thus spoke to her again.
अधर्मोनास्ति ते मृत्योसंहरन्त्या इमाः प्रजाः। मया चोक्तं मृषा भद्रे भविता न कथंचन॥
“in destroying all these creatures, O Death, vou shall reap no sin. My words, O handsome dainsel, can never be false. me
तस्मात् संहर कल्याणि प्रजाः सर्वाश्चतुर्विधाः। धमः सनातनश्च त्वां सर्वथा पावयिष्यति॥
Therefore, O blessed lady, destroy these four kinds of creatures. Eternal virtue shall always be yours.
लोकपालो यमश्चैव सहाया व्याधयश्च ते। अहं च विबुधाश्चैव पुनर्दास्याम ते वरम्॥
Yama, the Regent of the worlds and the vai tous maladies, shall help you in your work of destruction. Myself and the celestials also will bestow boons on you;
यथा त्वमेनसा मुक्ता विरजाः ख्यातिमेष्यसि। सैवमुक्ता महाराज कृताञ्जलिरिदं विभुम्॥ पुनरेवाब्रवीद् वाक्यं प्रसाद्य शिरसा तदा। यद्येवमेतत् कर्तव्यं मया न स्याद् विना प्रभो॥
So that purged of all sins and perfectly purified, you shall attain glory. Having been thus spoken to, O mighty monarch, she, with her palms folded, thus addressed the Lord, saluting him by bending her head low. "If, O lord, such be the state of things and if it cannot do without me.
तवाज्ञा पूर्ध्निमेन्यस्ता यत् ते वक्ष्यामि तच्छृणु। लोभः क्रोधोऽभ्यसूयेाद्रोहोमोहश्च देहिनाम्॥
Then I place your behest upon my own head. However hear what I have to say. Let covetousness, anger, animosity malice, dissensions and folly and shamelessness and other stern passions tear to pieces the frames of corporeal beings.'
ब्रह्मोवाच अह्रश्चान्योन्यपरुषा देहं भिन्छुः पृथग्विधाः। तथा भविष्यते मृत्या साधु संहर भोः प्रजाः। अधर्मस्तेन भविता नापध्यास्याम्यहं शुभे॥
Brahma said It shall be as you desire, O Death. Do you begin to destroy the creatures. No sin will hang on you; I shall not seek to injure you, O blessed damsel.
स्ते व्याधयः प्राणिनामात्मजाताः। ते मारयिष्यन्ति नरान् गतासून् नाधमस्ते भविता मास भैषीः॥
There tears of yours which I hold in my hands, even they will become maladies, starting into existence from the creatures themselves. They will destroy men whose lifetime has been exhausted. No sin will hang on you. Do not be frightened.
नाधर्मस्ते भविता प्राणिनां वै त्वं वै धर्मस्त्वं हि धर्मस्य चेशा। धा भूत्वा धर्मनित्या धरित्री तस्मात् प्राणान् सर्वथेमान् नियच्छ॥
Verily sin shall not be yours. You shall be the righteousness of living creatures, and the presiding deity of that righteousness. Devoted to virtue and observant of your duties, you shall control all creatures. Therefore destroy always the lives of these corporeal creatures.
सर्वेषां वै प्राणिनां कामरोषौ संत्यज्य त्वं संहरस्वेह जीवान्। एवं धर्मस्त्वां भविष्यत्यनन्तो मिथ्यावृत्तात् मानयिष्यत्यधर्मः॥
Renouncing both desire and anger, snatch out the lives of all living creatures. In this way you shall sccure eternal merit. Sin will destroy those who are vicious in their conduct of life.
तेनात्मानं पावयस्वात्मना त्वं पापेऽऽत्मानं मज्जयिष्यन्त्यसत्यात्। तस्मात् कामं रोषमप्यागतं त्वं संत्यज्यान्तः संहरस्वेति जीवान्॥
Carrying out my command, purify yourself. The task of plunging those who are wicked, in their own sins, will be left to you. Therefore renounce desire and anger and begin destroying those creatures possessed of life.”
नारद उवाच च्छापाद् भीता बाढमित्यब्रवीत् तम्। सा च प्राणं प्राणिनामन्तकाले कामक्रोधौ त्यज्य हरत्यसक्ता॥
Narada said Thereafter that lady, seeing that she was persistently called by the name of Death, became afraid of acting otherwise. And in fear of Brahma's malediction, she said Yea.' Unable to set at naught the behests of Brahma, she began, renouncing wrath and desire, 10 deprive living creatures of their lives, when their last days came.
मृत्युस्त्वेषां व्याधयस्तत्प्रसूता व्याधी रोगो रुज्यते येन जन्तुः। सर्वेषां च प्राणिनां प्रायणान्ते तस्माच्छोकं मा कृथा निष्फलं त्व त्वम्॥
Death is the lot of all living creatures. Maladies originate out of living creatures. Maladies are the abnormal conditions of living beings and they are pained by them. Discase and death fall to the share of all creatures. Therefore do you not indulge in fruitless griet
सर्वे देवाः प्राणिभिः प्रायणान्ते गत्वा वृत्त संनिवृत्तास्तथैव। एवं सर्वे प्राणिनस्तत्र गत्वा वृत्ता देवा मर्त्यवद् राजसिंह॥
Upon the death of living creatures, their senses go with them; and achieving their respective functions in the other world, they come back with their possessors, (when they are born anew). Thus all creatures including the gods going thither, have to act like mortals, O best of all kings.
वायुीमो भीमनादो महौजा भेत्ता देहान् प्राणिनां सर्वगोऽसौ। नो वाऽऽवृत्तिं नैव वृत्तिं कदाचित् प्राप्नोत्युग्रोऽनन्ततेजोविशिष्टः॥
The wind that is tremendous. of dreadful roars and great strength, omni-present and endowed with energy infinite, even that wind will tear open the bodies of living creatures. It will, in this action, put forth no active energy. nor will it suspend its workings.
स्तस्मात् पुत्रं मा शुचोराजसिंह। स्वर्गे प्राप्तो मोदते ते तनूजो नित्यं रम्यान् वीरलोकानवाप्य॥
Even all the gods and qualified with the adjective mortal. Therefore, o foremost of kings, do not bewail you son. Your son having ascended to heaven, is enjoying perpetual happiness, in those delightful regions allotted to the heroes.
रेषा मृत्युर्देवदिष्टा प्रजानाम्। प्राप्ते काले संहरन्ती यथावत् स्वयं कृता प्राणहरा प्रजानाम्॥
Renouncing all grief, he has obtained the fellowship of the virtuous. Death has been ordained for all corporeal beings by the Creator himself. So when their days are numbered, they suffer destruction. The death of creatures is brought about by their ownselves.
आत्मानं वै प्राणिनो मन्ति सर्वे नैतान् मृत्युदण्डपाणिर्हिनस्ति। तस्मान्मृतान् नानुशोचन्ति धीरा मृत्युं ज्ञात्वा निश्चयं ब्रह्मसृष्टम्। इत्थं सृष्टि देवक्लप्तां विदित्वा पुत्रान्नष्टाच्छोकमाशु त्यजस्व॥
Creatures destroy themselves. Death does not destroy any one, armed though she is with the mortal dart. Therefore the wise, knowing death to be unavoidable being ordained by Brahma, never lament for those that are dead. Now knowing that death is ordained by the highest divinity, renounce, without delay, your sorrow for you son.
व्यास उवाच एतच्छुत्वार्थवद् वाक्यं नारदेन प्रकाशितम्। उवाचाकम्पनो राजा सखायं नारदं तथा॥
Vyasa said Having heard these words of grave signification uttered by Narada, Narada, king Akampana, addressing his friend Narada said-
व्यपेतशोकः प्रीतोऽस्मि भगवऋषिसत्तम। श्रुत्वेतिहासं त्वत्तस्तु कृतार्थोऽस्म्यभिवादये॥
"O illustrious one, O foremost of Rishis, I am gratified an my sorrow has left me. Hearing this story from you, I am contented and I salute you.”
तथोक्तो नारदस्तेन राज्ञा ऋषिवरोत्तमः। जगाम नन्दनं शीघ्रं देवर्षिरमितात्मवान्॥
Thus spoken to by that monarch, Narada, that excellent of all the foremost sages, that celestial sage of immeasurable soul, speedily went back to the Nandana forest.
पुण्यं यशस्यं स्वर्णं च धन्यमायुष्यमेव च। अस्येतिहासस्य सदा श्रवणं श्रावणं तथा॥
The frequent audition as well as the recital of this piece of history is held to be purifying, fame-giving leading to paradise, life-giving and fraught with all blessings.
एतदर्थपदं श्रुत्वा तदा राजा युधिष्ठिरः। क्षत्रधर्मे च विज्ञाय शूराणां च परां गतिम्॥ सम्प्राप्तोऽसौ महावीर्यः स्वर्गलोकं महारथः।
Having heard this instructive story, renounce your sorrow, O king Yudhishthira, you know the duties of a Kshatriya and the region they may attain to after death.
युध्यमानो महेष्वासो हतः सोऽभिमुखो रणे। असिना गदया शक्त्या धनुषा च महारथः। विरजाः सोमसूनुः स पुनस्तत्र प्रलीयते॥
The mighty car-warrior Abhimanyu endued with great energy has ascended to heaven, having slain his enemies in battle, before the presence of all bowmen. That mighty carwarrior, that fierce bowman, has been slain, when fighting, with swords, lances, maces and bows. He is the sinless son of the moon and is now dissolved in the lunar essence.
तस्मात् परां धृति कृत्वा भ्रातृभिः सह पाण्डव। अप्रमत्तः सुसंनद्धः शीघ्रं योद्भुमुपाक्रम॥
Therefore, O son of Pandu, mustering all your courage, yourself accompanied by your brothers, speedily march out for battle inflamed with wrath and without allowing your senses to become stupefied.