Baladeva Meets Narada (ch54)

CHAPTER 54
(GADAYUDDHA PARVA)-Continued

Baladeva meets Narada

SYNOPSIS

Baladeva, the Satwata hero, visits the sacred hermitages and holy Tirthas during his pilgrimage. Among the serene locations he visits is a beautiful hermitage, once a site of penance for Lord Vishnu and a Brahmani maiden who attained ascetic success and ascended to heaven.

Exploring further, Baladeva marvels at the splendor of the Sarasvati River and other holy sites like Plakshaprasravana and Karavapana, where he bathes, offers prayers, and listens to the teachings of sages. His journey brings him to an assembly of Rishis, where the celestial sage Narada arrives with grave news.

Narada recounts the devastating destruction of the Kurukshetra War: the deaths of Bhishma, Drona, Karna, Shalya, and countless other warriors. He informs Baladeva that only Kripa, Kritavarman, and Ashwatthama survive among Duryodhana's forces, with Duryodhana himself hiding in the Dvaipayana Lake. However, Duryodhana has risen from the lake, armed with his mace, to face Bhima in a final, deadly battle.

Eager to witness the encounter between his two disciples, Bhima and Duryodhana, Baladeva concludes his pilgrimage. Singing praises of the Sarasvati's sanctity, he bids farewell to the sages, sends his attendants back to Dwaraka, and ascends his chariot to journey toward the battlefield.

CHAPTER 54

वैशम्पायन उवाच
कुरुक्षेत्रं ततो दृष्ट्वा दत्त्वा दायांश्च सात्वतः ।
आश्रमं सुमहद् दिव्यमगमजनमेजय ॥ १ ॥

vaiśampāyana uvāca
kurukṣetraṃ tato dṛṣṭvā dattvā dāyāṃśca sātvataḥ |
āśramaṃ sumahad divyamagamajanamejaya || 1 ||

Vaishampayana said

"Having visited Kurukshetra and distributed wealth there the Satwata hero then proceeded, O Janamejaya, to a large and exceedingly beautiful hermitage.

मधूम्रवणोपेतं प्लक्षन्यग्रोधसंकुलम्।
चिरबिल्वयुतं पुण्यं पनसार्जुनसंकुलम्॥२॥

madhūmravaṇopetaṃ plakṣanyagrodhasaṃkulam|
cirabilvayutaṃ puṇyaṃ panasārjunasaṃkulam||2||

That hermitage was overgrown with Madhuka and mango trees and abounded with Plakshas and Nyagrodhas. And it contained many Vilvas and many excellent jack and Arjuna trees.

तं दृष्ट्वा यादवश्रेष्ठः प्रवरं पुण्यलक्षणम् ।
पप्रच्छ तानृषीन् सर्वान् कस्याश्रमवरस्त्वयम् ॥ ३ ॥

taṃ dṛṣṭvā yādavaśreṣṭhaḥ pravaraṃ puṇyalakṣaṇam |
papraccha tānṛṣīn sarvān kasyāśramavarastvayam || 3 ||

Seeing that beautiful hermitage Baladeva asked the Rishis as to whom it belonged.

 
ते तु सर्वे महात्मानमूचु राजन् हालयुधम् ।
शृणु विस्तरशराम यस्यायं पूर्वमाश्रमः ॥ ४ ॥

te tu sarve mahātmānamūcu rājan hālayudham |
śṛṇu vistaraśarāma yasyāyaṃ pūrvamāśramaḥ || 4 ||

Those great ones, O king, said Baladeva- 'Listen in full, O Rama, as to whose asylum this was formerly.

अत्र विष्णुः पुरा देवस्तप्तवांस्तप उत्तमम् ।
अत्रास्य विधिवद् यज्ञाः सर्वे वृत्ताः सनातनाः ॥ ५ ॥

atra viṣṇuḥ purā devastaptavāṃstapa uttamam |
atrāsya vidhivad yajñāḥ sarve vṛttāḥ sanātanāḥ || 5 ||

Here the god Vishnu formerly practiced austere penances. Here he celebrated duly all the eternal sacrifices.

अत्रैव ब्राह्मणी सिद्धा कौमारब्रह्मचारिणी ।
योगयुक्ता दिवं याता तपः सिद्धा तपस्विनी ॥ ६ ॥

atraiva brāhmaṇī siddhā kaumārabrahmacāriṇī |
yogayuktā divaṃ yātā tapaḥ siddhā tapasvinī || 6 ||

Here leading from youth the vow of Brahmacharya, a Brahmani maiden, was crowned with ascetic success. Ultimately possessed of Yoga powers that ascetic lady went to heaven.

बभूव श्रीमती राजशाण्डिल्यस्य महात्मनः ।
सुता धृतव्रता साध्वी नियता ब्रह्मचारिणी ॥ ७ ॥

babhūva śrīmatī rājaśāṇḍilyasya mahātmanaḥ |
sutā dhṛtavratā sādhvī niyatā brahmacāriṇī || 7 ||

The great Shandilya, O king, had a beautiful daughter who was chaste, observant of severe vows self-restrained, and led a life of celibacy.

सा तु तप्त्वा तपो घोरं दुश्वरं स्त्रीजनेन ह ।
गता स्वर्गं महाभागा देवब्राह्मणपूजिता ॥ ८ ॥
श्रुत्वा ऋषीणां वचनमाश्रमं तं जगाम ह ।

sā tu taptvā tapo ghoraṃ duśvaraṃ strījanena ha |
gatā svargaṃ mahābhāgā devabrāhmaṇapūjitā || 8 ||
śrutvā ṛṣīṇāṃ vacanamāśramaṃ taṃ jagāma ha |

Having practiced the hardest of penances such as the incapable of being performed by women, the blessed lady at last went to heaven, adored by the gods and Brahmanas. Having heard these words of the Rishis, Baladeva entered that hermitage.

ऋषींस्तानभिवाद्याथ पार्श्वे हिमवतोऽच्युतः ॥ ९ ॥
संध्याकार्याणि सर्वाणि निर्वर्त्यारुरुहेऽचलम् ।

ṛṣīṃstānabhivādyātha pārśve himavato’cyutaḥ || 9 ||
saṃdhyākāryāṇi sarvāṇi nirvartyāruruhe’calam |

Bidding a farewell to the Rishis, Baladeva performed all the rites and ceremonies of the evening on the side of Himavat and then began to ascend the mountain.

नातिदूरं ततो गत्वा नगं तालध्वजो बली ॥ १० ॥
तीर्थवरं दृष्ट्वा विस्मयं परमं गतः ।

nātidūraṃ tato gatvā nagaṃ tāladhvajo balī || 10 ||
tīrthavaraṃ dṛṣṭvā vismayaṃ paramaṃ gataḥ |

The powerful Valarama having the emblem of the Palmyra of his banner had not ascended far when he saw a sacred and goodly Tirtha and was stricken with wonder at the sight.

 
प्रभावं च सरस्वत्याः प्लक्षप्रस्रवणं बलः ॥ ११ ॥
सम्प्राप्तः कारपवनं प्रवरं तीर्थमुत्तमम् ।
हलायुधस्तत्र चापि दत्त्वा दानं महाबलः ॥ १२ ॥

prabhāvaṃ ca sarasvatyāḥ plakṣaprasravaṇaṃ balaḥ || 11 ||
samprāptaḥ kārapavanaṃ pravaraṃ tīrthamuttamam |
halāyudhastatra cāpi dattvā dānaṃ mahābalaḥ || 12 ||

Seeing the glory of the Sarasvati as also the Tirtha called Plakshaprasaravana, Vala next reached another excellent and foremost of Tirthas called Karavapana.

आप्लुतः सलिले पुण्ये सुशीते विमले शुचौ ।
संतर्पयामास पितॄन् देवांश्च रणदुर्मदः ॥ १३ ॥

āplutaḥ salile puṇye suśīte vimale śucau |
saṃtarpayāmāsa pitṝn devāṃśca raṇadurmadaḥ || 13 ||

Having made many presents there, the powerful Baladeva bathed in the cool, clear, sacred, and sin-cleansing water (of that Tirtha).

 
तत्रोयैकां त रजनीं यतिभिर्ब्राह्मणैः सह । तु
मित्रावरुणयोः पुण्यं जगामाश्रममच्युतः ॥ १४ ॥

tatroyaikāṃ ta rajanīṃ yatibhirbrāhmaṇaiḥ saha | tu
mitrāvaruṇayoḥ puṇyaṃ jagāmāśramamacyutaḥ || 14 ||

Passing one night there with the ascetics and the Brahmanas, Rama then went to the sacred hermitage of the Mitravarunas.

 
इन्द्रोऽग्निरर्यमा चैव यत्र प्राक् प्रीतिमाप्नुवन् ।
तं देशं कारपवनाद् यमुनायां जगाम ह।। १५ ।।

indro’gniraryamā caiva yatra prāk prītimāpnuvan |
taṃ deśaṃ kārapavanād yamunāyāṃ jagāma ha|| 15 ||

From Karavapana he proceeded to that spot on the Yamuna where formerly Indra and Agni and Aryaman had obtained great felicity.

स्नात्वा तत्र च धर्मात्मा परां प्रीतिमवाप्य च।
ऋषिभिश्चैव सिद्धैश्च सहितो वै महाबलः ॥ १६ ॥
उपविष्टः कथाः शुभ्राः शुश्राव यदुपुङ्गवः ।

snātvā tatra ca dharmātmā parāṃ prītimavāpya ca|
ṛṣibhiścaiva siddhaiśca sahito vai mahābalaḥ || 16 ||
upaviṣṭaḥ kathāḥ śubhrāḥ śuśrāva yadupuṅgavaḥ |

Bathing there, that Yadu's chief of pious soul, obtained great happiness. The hero then sat himself down with the Rishis and the Siddhas there to listen to their excellent discourses.

तथा तु तिष्ठतां तेषां नारदो भगवानृषिः ॥ १७ ॥
आजगामाथ तं देशं यत्र राम्रो व्यवस्थितः ।

tathā tu tiṣṭhatāṃ teṣāṃ nārado bhagavānṛṣiḥ || 17 ||
ājagāmātha taṃ deśaṃ yatra rāmro vyavasthitaḥ |

There where Rama sat in that assemblage the adorable Rishi Narada came while trembling.

जटामण्डलसंवीत: स्वर्णचीरो महातपाः ॥ १८ ॥

हेमदण्डधरो राजन् कमण्डलुधरस्तथा ।

jaṭāmaṇḍalasaṃvīta: svarṇacīro mahātapāḥ || 18 ||
hemadaṇḍadharo rājan kamaṇḍaludharastathā |

Wearing matted locks and shining like gold, he carried in his hands, O king, a golden staff, and a waterpot.

कच्छपी सुखशब्दां तां गृह्य वीणां मनोरमाम् ॥ १९ ॥
नृत्ये गीते च कुशलो देवब्राह्मणपूजितः ।

kacchapī sukhaśabdāṃ tāṃ gṛhya vīṇāṃ manoramām || 19 ||
nṛtye gīte ca kuśalo devabrāhmaṇapūjitaḥ |

Accomplishment in song and dance and worshipped of gods and Brahmanas, he had with him a beautiful Vina of sweet notes, made of the tortoise-shell.

प्रकर्ता कलहानां च नित्यं च कलहप्रियः ॥ २० ॥
तं देशमदमद् यत्र श्रीमान् रामो व्यवस्थितः ।

prakartā kalahānāṃ ca nityaṃ ca kalahapriyaḥ || 20 ||
taṃ deśamadamad yatra śrīmān rāmo vyavasthitaḥ |

A creator of quarrels and ever fond of quarrels, the celestial Rishi came where the handsome Rama was resting.

प्रत्युत्थाय च तं सम्यक् पूजयित्वा यतव्रतम् ॥ २१ ॥
देवर्षिं पर्यपृच्छत् स यथा वृत्तं कुरून् प्रति ।

pratyutthāya ca taṃ samyak pūjayitvā yatavratam || 21 ||
devarṣiṃ paryapṛcchat sa yathā vṛttaṃ kurūn prati |

Standing up and greatly honoring the celestial Rishis restricted vows, Rama asked him about all that had befallen the Kurus.

ततोऽस्याकथयद् राजन् नारदः सर्वधर्मवित् ॥ २२ ॥
सर्वमेतद् यथावृत्तमतीव कुरुसंक्षयम् ।

tato’syākathayad rājan nāradaḥ sarvadharmavit || 22 ||
sarvametad yathāvṛttamatīva kurusaṃkṣayam |

Conversant with duty and practices, Narada, then, O king, told him everything, as it had occurred, about the dreadful destruction of the Kurus.

ततोऽब्रवीद् रौहिणेयो नारदं दीनया गिरा ॥ २३ ॥
किमवस्थं तु तत् क्षत्रं ये तु तत्राभवन् नृपाः ।

tato’bravīd rauhiṇeyo nāradaṃ dīnayā girā || 23 ||
kimavasthaṃ tu tat kṣatraṃ ye tu tatrābhavan nṛpāḥ |

The Rohini's son then, in sorrowful words, enquired of the Rishi, saying- 'What is the state of the field? How are those kings now that had assembled there?

श्रुतमेतन्मया पूर्वं सर्वमेव तपोधन ॥ २४ ॥
विस्तरश्रवणे जातं कौतूहलमतीव मे ।

śrutametanmayā pūrvaṃ sarvameva tapodhana || 24 ||
vistaraśravaṇe jātaṃ kautūhalamatīva me |

I have heard everything before, O Rishi, but my curiosity is great for hearing it in detail!'

नारद उवाच
पूर्वमेव हतो भीष्मो द्रोणः सिन्धुपतिस्तथा ॥ २५ ॥
हतो वैकर्तनः कर्णः पुत्राश्चास्य महारथाः ।

nārada uvāca
pūrvameva hato bhīṣmo droṇaḥ sindhupatistathā || 25 ||
hato vaikartanaḥ karṇaḥ putrāścāsya mahārathāḥ |

Narada said

Already Bhishma and Drona and the lord of the Sindhus have died! Vikartana's son Karna also has been killed, with his sons.

भूरिश्रवा रौहिणेय मद्रराजश्च वीर्यवान् ॥ २६ ॥
एते चान्ये च बहवस्तत्र तत्र महाबलाः ।
प्रियान् प्राणान् परित्यज्य जयार्थं कौरवस्य वै ॥ २७ ॥
राजानो राजपुत्राश्च समरेष्वनिवर्तिनः ।

bhūriśravā rauhiṇeya madrarājaśca vīryavān || 26 ||
ete cānye ca bahavastatra tatra mahābalāḥ |
priyān prāṇān parityajya jayārthaṃ kauravasya vai || 27 ||
rājāno rājaputrāśca samareṣvanivartinaḥ |

Bhurishravas too, O son of Rohini, and the brave chief of the Madras have died! These and many other great heroes that had assembled there, ready to sacrifice this dear life itself for the victory of Duryodhana-have all fallen!

 
अहतांस्तु महाबाहो शृणु मे तत्र माधव ॥ २८ ॥
धार्तराष्ट्रबले शेषास्त्रयः समितिमर्दनाः ।

ahatāṃstu mahābāho śṛṇu me tatra mādhava || 28 ||
dhārtarāṣṭrabale śeṣāstrayaḥ samitimardanāḥ |

Listen now to me, O Madhava, about those that are yet alive! In the army of Dhritarashtra's son, only three yet survive.

 
कृपश्च कृतवर्मा च द्रोणपुत्रश्च वीर्यवान्॥ २९ ॥
तेsपि वै विद्रुता राम दिशो दश भयात् तदा ।

kṛpaśca kṛtavarmā ca droṇaputraśca vīryavān|| 29 ||
tespi vai vidrutā rāma diśo daśa bhayāt tadā |

They are Kripa and Kritavarman the powerful son of Drona! These also, O Rama, have from fear fled away on all sides!

दुर्योधने हते शल्ये विद्रुतेषु कृपादिषु ।। ३० ।।
हृदं द्वैपायनं नाम विवेश भृशदुःखितः ।

duryodhane hate śalye vidruteṣu kṛpādiṣu || 30 ||
hṛdaṃ dvaipāyanaṃ nāma viveśa bhṛśaduḥkhitaḥ |

After Shalya's fall and the fight between Kripa and the others, Duryodhana, in great sorrow entered the Dvaipayana Lake.

शयानं धार्तराष्ट्रं तु सलिले स्तम्भिते तदा ॥ ३१ ॥
पाण्डवाः सह कृष्णेन वाग्भिरुग्राभिरार्दयन्।

śayānaṃ dhārtarāṣṭraṃ tu salile stambhite tadā || 31 ||
pāṇḍavāḥ saha kṛṣṇena vāgbhirugrābhirārdayan|

While resting at the bottom of the lake after solidifying its waters, Duryodhana was approached by the Pandavas with Krishna and cut to the quick by their cruel words.

सतुद्यमानो बलवान् वाग्मी रामसमन्ततः ॥ ३२ ॥
उत्थितः स ह्रदाद् वीरः प्रगृह्य महतीं गदाम् ।

satudyamāno balavān vāgmī rāmasamantataḥ || 32 ||
utthitaḥ sa hradād vīraḥ pragṛhya mahatīṃ gadām |

Cut with wordy darts, O Rama, from every side, the powerful and heroic Duryodhana has risen from the lake, armed with his heavy mace.

स चाप्युपगतो योद्धुं भीमेन सह साम्प्रतम् ॥ ३३ ॥
भविष्यति तयोर युद्धं राम सुदारुणम् ।

sa cāpyupagato yoddhuṃ bhīmena saha sāmpratam || 33 ||
bhaviṣyati tayora yuddhaṃ rāma sudāruṇam |

He has come forward to fight Bhima for the present. The terrible encounter, o Rama, will take place today!

यदि कौतूहलं तेऽस्ति ब्रज माधव मा चिरम् ।
पश्य युद्धं महाघोरं शिष्ययोर्यदि मन्यसे ॥ ३४॥

yadi kautūhalaṃ te’sti braja mādhava mā ciram |
paśya yuddhaṃ mahāghoraṃ śiṣyayoryadi manyase || 34||

If you feel any curiosity, then hasten O Madhava, without delay! Go, if you like, and witness that terrible battle between your two disciples!'

वैशम्पायन उवाच
नारदस्य वचः श्रुत्वा तानभ्यर्च्य द्विजर्षभान्।
सर्वान् विसर्जयामास ये तेनाभ्यागताः सह ॥ ३५ ॥

vaiśampāyana uvāca
nāradasya vacaḥ śrutvā tānabhyarcya dvijarṣabhān|
sarvān visarjayāmāsa ye tenābhyāgatāḥ saha || 35 ||

Vaishampayana said

"Hearing Narada, Rama bade a respectful farewell to those great Brahmanas and sent away all those that had accompanied him (in his pilgrimage).

गम्यतां द्वारकां चेति सोऽन्वशादनुयायिनः ।
सोऽवतीर्याचलश्रेष्ठात् प्लक्षप्रस्रवणाच्छुभात् ॥ ३६ ॥

gamyatāṃ dvārakāṃ ceti so’nvaśādanuyāyinaḥ |
so’vatīryācalaśreṣṭhāt plakṣaprasravaṇācchubhāt || 36 ||

He ordered his attendant saying-Return you to Dwaraka!' He then got down from that prince of mountains and that fair hermitage called Plakshaprashravana.

ततः प्रीतमना रामः श्रुत्वा तीर्थफलं महत् ।
विप्राणां संनिधौ श्लोकमगायदिममच्युतः ॥ ३७ ॥

tataḥ prītamanā rāmaḥ śrutvā tīrthaphalaṃ mahat |
viprāṇāṃ saṃnidhau ślokamagāyadimamacyutaḥ || 37 ||

Having listened to the discourse of the sages about the great merits of Tirthas, Rama sang this verse amid the Brahmanas.

 
सरस्वतीवाससमा कुतो रति: सरस्वतीवाससमाः कुतो गुणाः ।
सरस्वतीं प्राप्य दिवं गता जनाः सदा स्मरिष्यन्ति नदीं सरस्वतीम् ॥ ३८ ॥

sarasvatīvāsasamā kuto rati: sarasvatīvāsasamāḥ kuto guṇāḥ |
sarasvatīṃ prāpya divaṃ gatā janāḥ sadā smariṣyanti nadīṃ sarasvatīm || 38 ||

Where is such happiness as is obtainable by living by the Sarasvati? Where else do such merits as those obtainable by living by the Sarasvati? Men have departed for heaven, having approached the Sarasvati! All should ever remember the Sarasvati! Sarasvati is the most sacred of all rivers.

सरस्वती सर्वनदीषु पुण्या सरस्वती लोकशुभावहा सदा ।
सरस्वतीं प्राप्य जनाः सुदुष्कृतं सदा न शोचन्ति परत्र चेह च ॥ ३९ ॥

sarasvatī sarvanadīṣu puṇyā sarasvatī lokaśubhāvahā sadā |
sarasvatīṃ prāpya janāḥ suduṣkṛtaṃ sadā na śocanti paratra ceha ca || 39 ||

Sarasvati always confers the greatest happiness on men! After approaching the Sarasvati, men will not have to give for their sins either here or hereafter!"

ततो मुहुर्मुहुः प्रीत्या प्रेक्षमाणः सरस्वतीम् ।
हयैर्युक्तं रथं शुभ्रमातिष्ठत परंतपः॥४०॥

tato muhurmuhuḥ prītyā prekṣamāṇaḥ sarasvatīm |
hayairyuktaṃ rathaṃ śubhramātiṣṭhata paraṃtapaḥ || 40 ||

Repeatedly looking with joy at the Sarasvati, that destroyer of foes then ascended an excellent car to which were yoked beautiful horses.

स शीघ्रगामिना तेन रथेन यदुपुङ्गवः ।
दिदृक्षुरभिसम्प्राप्तः शिष्ययुद्धमुपस्थितम् ॥४१॥

sa śīghragāminā tena rathena yadupuṅgavaḥ |
didṛkṣurabhisamprāptaḥ śiṣyayuddhamupasthitam ||41||

Journeying then on that highly fleet car Baladeva, that best of Yadu's race, desirous of seeing the approaching encounter of his two disciples, arrived on the field.”