Parva 2 Chapter 40: gomantārohaṇam - Ascent of Gomanta Mountain

vaiśampāyana said: After drinking the milk of that cow, the best among yādava-s (balarāma and kṛṣṇa) endowed with power and pride, soon left along with (bhārgava) rāma. gomantaṁ parvataṁ draṣṭuṁ mattanāgendragāminau | jāmadgnyapradiṣṭena mārgeṇa vadatāṁ varau ||2-40-2 Those experts in speech, traveled like elephants in rut along the route indicated by the son of jamadagni (bhārgava rāma) to see the gomanta mountain. jāmadagnyatṛtīyāste trayastraya ivāgnayaḥ | shobhayanti sma panthānaṁ tridivaṁ tridaśā iva ||2-40-3 Blazing like three fires, along with the third person, the son of jamadagni, they beautified the route, like the deva-s beautify heaven. te cādhvavidhinā sarve tato vai divasakramāt | gomantamachalaṁ prāptā mandaraṁ tridaśā iva ||2-40-4 According to the route, with the passage of days, they arrived at the gomanta mountain, like deva-s reaching the mandara (mountain). latācāruvicitraṁ ca nānādrumavibhūṣitam | nānāgurupinaddhāṅgaṁ citraṁ citramanoharaiḥ ||2-40-5 The place was scenic and beautiful, decorated with strange creepers and variety of trees and plants. dvirephagaṇasaṅkīrṇaṁ śilāsaṅkaṭapādapam | mattabarhiṇanirghoṣairnāditaṁ meghanādibhiḥ ||2-40-6 The trees located among stones were surrounded by bees. The peacocks produced sounds, excited by the roar of thunder clouds. gaganālagnaśikharaṁ jaladāsaktapādapam | mattadvipaviṣāṇāgraiḥ parighṛṣṭopalāṅkitam ||2-40-7 The branches of the trees reached the sky, surrounded by rain clouds. The rocks were broken, struck by the elephants in rut. kūjadbhiścāṇḍajagaṇaiḥ samantātpratināditam | darīprapātāmburavaiśchannaṁ śārdūlapallavaiḥ ||2-40-8 The chirping of the birds spread everywhere. The sound of water falls and the sound of birds among the young shoots filled the air. nīlāśmachayasaṅghātairbahuvarṇaṁ yathā ghanam | dhātuvisrāvadigdhāṅgaṁ sānuprasravabhūṣitam ||2-40-9 Blue black rocks were found around like multi-coloured clouds. River beds were found to have variety of elements. kīrṇaṁ suragaṇaiḥ kāntairmainākamiva kāmagam | ucchritaṁ suviśālāgraṁ samūlāmbuparisravam ||2-40-10 Desirable like the mountain mainākam beautified by the presence of deva-s, huge and high, along with rivers in the valley, sakānanadarīprasthaṁ śvetābhragaṇabhūṣitam | panasāmrātakāmraughairvetrasyandanachandanaiḥ ||2-40-11 that mountain was with forests, pits and plateaus, decorated by white clouds. There were jack-fruit trees (Artocarpus Integrifolia), plum trees (Spondias Mangifera), mango trees (Mangifera Indica ), large reeds (Calamus Rotang or Fasciculatus), Dalbergia Ougeinensis and sandalwood (Sirium Myrtifolium) trees. tamālailāvanayutaṁ marīcakṣupasaṅkulam | pippalīvallikalilaṁ citramiṅgudipādapaiḥ ||2-40-12 There were tamāla (Xanthochymous Pictorius) trees, aila and pepper shrubs, creepers of Peepal (Ficus Religiosa) and beautiful trees of iṇgudi (Terminalia Catappa). drumaiḥ sarjarasānāṁ ca sarvataḥ parishobhitam | prāṁśuśālavanairyuktaṁ bahucitravanairyutam ||2-40-13 Trees with the sarja juice (Vatica Robusta) imparted beauty to the surroundings. Forests of śāla (Artocarpus Locucha) and other beautiful trees were found all over. sarjaniṁbārjunavanaṁ pāṭalīkulasaṅkulam | hintālaiścha tamālaiścha punnāgaiśchopaśobhitam ||2-40-14 Forests of sarja (Vatica Robusta), niṁba (Azadirachta Indica), arjuna (Terminalia Arjuna), pāṭalī (Bignonia Suaveolens) were found everywhere. hintāla (Phoenix or Elate Paludosa), tamāla (Xanthochymous Pictorius), punnāga (Rottleria Tinctoria or Calophyllum inophyllum) trees added beauty to the surroundings. jaleṣu jalajaiśchannaṁ sthaleṣu sthalajairapi | paṅkajairdrumakhaṇḍaiścha sarvataḥ pratibhūṣitam ||2-40-15 In the water, varieties of aquatic plants were found and on the land, terrestrial plants. Lotus flowers and shrubs added beauty to the surroundings. jambūjaṁbūlavṛkṣāḍhyaṁ kadrukandalabhūṣitam | champakāśokabakulaṁ bilvatindukashobhitam ||2-40-16 Trees of jambu (Eugenia Jambolana), jaṁbūla (Pandanus odoratissimus) etc., and shoots of kadru decorated the surroundings. Champaka (Michelia Campaka), ashoka (Jonesia Asoka Roxb), bakula (Mimusops Eleng), bilva (Aegle Marmelos) and tinduka (Diospyros embryopteris) trees added beauty to the surroundings. kuṣjaiścha nāgapuṣpaiścha samantādupaśobhitam | nāgayūthasamākīrṇaṁ mṛgasaṅghātaśobhitam ||2-40-17 kuṣja-s and nāga flowers decorated the surroundings. Herds of elephants and deer roamed in the surroundings. siddhacāraṇarakṣobhiḥ sevitaprastarāntaram | gandharvaishcha samāyuktaṁ guhyakaiḥ pakṣibhistathā ||2-40-18 Groups of siddha, cāraṇa and rakṣa stood on the rocks. There were gandharva-s, guhyaka-s and birds. vidyādharagaṇairnityamanukīrṇaśilātalam | siṁhaśārdūlasannādaiḥ satataṁ pratināditam | On the rocks, groups of vidhyādhara-s stood. The echoes of the roar of lions and tigers reflected in the surroundings always. sevitaṁ vāridhārābhiścandrapādaiścha shobhitam ||2-40-19 stutaṁ tridaśagandharvairapsarobhiralaṅkṛtam | The surroundings were decorated by water falls and variety of trees. The deva-s , gandharva-s and divine women decorated the place. vanaspatīnāṁ divyāṇāṁ puṣpairuchcāvacaiḥ shritam ||2-40-20 śakravajraprahārāṇāmanabhijṣaṁ kadācana | There were varieties of divine plants. These plants had never felt the strike of the thunder clouds (hard like the strike of vajra of indra). dāvāgnibhayanirmuktaṁ mahāvātabhayojjhitam ||2-40-21 prapātaprabhavābhiścha saridbhirupashobhitam | There was no fear of forest fire or the fear of winds. The place was made beautiful by the rivers sparkling with water falls. kānanairānanākārairviśeṣadbhiriva shriyam ||2-40-22 jalaśaivalaśṛṅgāgrairunmiṣantamiva śriyā | It appeared as if a face with splendour was specially added to the forest. The top of peaks adorned with streams appeared with splendour. sthalībhirmṛgajuṣṭābhiḥ kāntābhirupaśobhitam ||2-40-23 pārśvairupalakalmāṣairmeghairiva vibhūṣitam | The plateaus along with deer sparkled with beauty. The sides with rocks looked beautiful adorned with rain clouds. pādapracchannabhūmībhiḥ sapuṣpābhiḥ samantataḥ |2-40-24 maṇḍitaṁ vanarājībhiḥ pramadābhiḥ patiryathā | Flowers covered the marks of feet on the ground foot all around. The forests appeared decorated like women along with their husbands. sundarībhirdarībhiścha kandarābhistathaiva ca ||2-40-25 teṣu teṣvavakāśeṣu sadāramiva shobhitam | The forest looked beautiful with caves and cliffs. There were openings to the sky at appropriate places. auṣadhīdīptaśikharaṁ vānaprasthaniṣevitam | jātarūpairvanoddeśaiḥ kṛtrimairiva būṣitam ||2-40-26 People retired from family life were living on the peak sparkling with herbs. The peak appeared as if it is artificially beautified with forests. mūlena suviśālena śirasāpyucchritena ca | pṛthivīmantarikṣaṁ ca gāhayantamiva sthitam ||2-40-27 With a vast valley on the base and a tall peak as its head, (the mountain) was situated as if covering the earth and the sky. te samāsādya gomantaṁ ramyaṁ bhūmidharottamam | ruciraṁ ruruchuḥ sarve vāsāyāmarasannibhāḥ ||2-40-28 They arrived seeing the beautiful and the best among mountains, gomanta. They, having the splendour of deva-s, considered the beautiful place suitable for residence. ruruhuste girivaraṁ khamūrdhvamiva pakṣiṇaḥ | asajjamānā vegena vainateyaparākramāḥ ||2-40-29 They, valiant like the son of vinata (garuḍa), climbed the best mountain quickly without any hindrance, like birds flying high in the sky. te tu tasyottaraṁ śṛṅgamārūḍhāstridaśā iva | agāraṁ sahasā cakrurmanasā nirmitopamam ||2-40-30 They climbed the highest peak of the mountain like devas. They quickly constructed a dwelling place as if it was made mentally. niviṣtau yādavau dṛṣṭvā jāmadagnyo mahāmatiḥ | rāmo'bhimatamakliṣṭamāpraṣṭumupacakrame ||2-40-31 Seeing that the yādava-s (balarāma and kṛṣṇa) have constructed a dwelling place for them, the son of jamadagni (bhārgava) rāma, having great intellect, undisturbed, started to say farewell. kṛṣṇa yāsyāmyahaṁ tāta puraṁ śūrpārakaṁ vibho | yuvayornāsti vaimukhyaṁ saṅgrāme daivatairapi ||2-40-32 kṛṣṇa! Son! Let me go to the city of śūrpāraka. O Lord! You have no hesitation to fight even the devas. prāptavānasmi yāṁ prītiṁ mārgānugamanādapi | sā me kṛṣṇānugṛhṇāti śarīramidamavyayam ||2-49-33 Now I have gained your pleasure by accompanying you on the way. O kṛṣṇa! You blessed my body which does not have any decline. idaṁ yatsthānamuddiṣṭaṁ yatrāyudhasamāgamaḥ | yuvayorvihito devaiḥ samayaḥ sāmparāyikaḥ ||2-40-34 This is the place, our destination, where you will receive your weapons. The deva-s have decided the time of battle for you. devānāṁ mukhya vaikuṇṭha viṣṇo devairabhiṣṭuta | kṛṣṇa sarvasya lokasya śṛṇu me naiṣṭhikaṁ vacaḥ ||2-40-35 O the leader of deva-s! one who resides in vaikuṇṭha! O viṣṇu who is praised by deva-s, Listen to my words for the benefit of all people. yadidaṁ prastutaṁ karma tvayā govinda laukikam | mānuṣāṇāṁ hitārthāya loke mānuṣadehinā ||2-40-36 govinda! Taking the form of human body, among the work in the world done by you for the benefit of people, tasyāyaṁ prathamaḥ kalpaḥ kālena tu viyojitaḥ | jarāsaṁdhena vai sārdhaṁ saṅgrāme samupasthite ||2-40-37 this is the first duty as decided by time, as the battle with jarāsaṁdha is approaching. tatrāyudhabalaṁ caiva rūpaṁ ca raṇakarkaśam | svayamevātmanā kṛṣṇa tvayātmānaṁ vidhatsva ha ||2-40-38 kṛṣṇa! In the battle, the strength of weapons, the form and the terrible nature has to be determined by yourself. cakrodyatakaraṁ dṛṣṭvā tvām gadāpāṇimāhave | caturdviguṇapīnāṁsaṁ bibhyedapi śatakratuḥ ||2-40-39 Seeing you in the battle holding the discus and holding the mace, with your eight arms, even indra will be afraid. adya prabhṛti te yātra svargoktā samupasthitā | pṛthivyāṁ pārthivendrāṇāṁ kṛtāstre tvayi mānada ||2-40-40 O the one who respects others! From today onwards, you are sending the best kings of the earth, to heaven, by shooting arrows. vainateyasya cāhvānaṁ vāhanaṁ dhvajakarmaṇaḥ | kuru śīghraṁ mahābāho govinda vadatāṁ vara ||2-40-41 O govinda! The best among speakers! One who is having great arms! Now call the son of vinata quickly to become your flag bearer. yuddhakāmā nṛpatayastridivābhimukhodyatāḥ | dhārtarāṣṭrasya vaśagāstiṣṭhanti raṇavṛttayaḥ || 2-40-42 The kings, eager for battle, whose destination is heaven, are ready on the side of the sons of dhṛtarāṣṭra, engaged in battle. rājṣāṁ nidhanadṛṣṭārthā vaidhavyenādhivāsitā | ekaveṇīdharā cheyaṁ vasudhā tvāṁ pratīkṣate ||2-40-43 Miserable due to the killing of kings, becoming a widow, the earth is waiting for you, like a woman wearing a single plait of hair. sagrahaṁ kṛṣṇa nakṣatraṁ saṅkṣipyārivimardana | tvayi mānuṣyamāpanne yuddhe ca samupasthite ||2-40-44 O the oppressor of enemies! As you take the human form, as the battle is approaching, the kṣatraiya-s, affected by planets, will not last long. tvarasva kṛṣṇa yuddhāya dānavānāṁ vadhāya ca | svargāya ca narendrāṇāṁ devatānāṁ sukhāya ca ||2-40-45 kṛṣṇa! Now get ready for battle, for killing the dānava-s (daitya-s), for the best among kings to attain heaven and for the comfort of devas. satkṛto'haṁ tvayā kṛṣṇa lokaishcha sacarācaraiḥ | tvayā satkṛtarūpeṇa yena satkṛtavānaham ||2-40-46 kṛṣṇa! I have done a good work, since I was felicitated by you, who is felicitated by the world of mobile and immobile beings. sādhayāmi mahābāho bhavataḥ kāryasiddhaye | smartavyaścāsmi yuddheṣu kāntāreṣu mahīkṣitām ||2-40-47 O the one with great arms! I am proceeding to accomplish your work. Remember me in the terrible battles with the kings of earth. ityuktvā jāmadagnyastu kṛṣṇamakliṣṭakāriṇa | jayāśiṣā varddhayitvā jagāmābhīpsitāṁ disham ||2-49-48 Saying this to the unperturbed kṛṣṇa, the son of jamadagni, wished him victory and went to the place he liked. iti śrīmahābhārate khileṣu harivaṁśe viṣṇuparvaṇi gomantārohaṇaṁ nāma catvāriṁśo'dhyāyaḥ Thus this is the fourtieth chapter of viṣṇuparva of harivaṁśa, khila of śrimahābhārata, ascent of gomanta mountain. nīlakaṇṭha commentary catvāriṁśattame'dhyāye varṇyate rāmakṛṣṇayoḥ | gomantārohaṇaṁ tasmātpratyāvṛttirdvijanmanaḥ || 1 || · 2-40-1 adhvavidhinā mānuṣagatyā || · 2-40-5 citraiḥ mayūraiḥ || · 2-40-11 prasthāni sānūni || · 2-40-25 darīkandarayoḥ kṛ+trimākṛtrimatvena vyavasthā || · 2-40-27 gāhayantaṁ gāhamānam || · 2-40-31 sāmparāyikaḥ paralokahitaḥ || · 2-40-35 naiṣṭhikaṁ tāttvkam || · 2-40-36 idaṁ bhūbhāraharaṇarūpaṁ prastutam Arabdam || · 2-40-37 prthamo mukhyaḥ kalpakaḥ prayogaḥ || · 2-40-38 tatrote | tvameva tavāyudhādikaṁ bhāvyamalaukikena sāmarthena | yadāha yāskaḥ - "ātmaivaiṣāṁ ratho bhavatyātmāśvā ātmāyudhamātmeṣava ātmā sarve devasya" iti || · 2-40-39 caturdviguṇapīnāṁsam aṣḥṭabāhumityarthaḥ | etena kṛṣṇasya sākṣādviṣṇutvamuktaṁ na tu tadaṁśtvaṁ vidvaddṛśyaṁ kṛṣṇasyedamevaṁ rūpaṁ dvibhujaṁ tvavidvaddṛśyamiti jṣeyam || · 2-40-43 vaidhavyena āgāminā adhivāsitā parigṛhītā ata eva ekaveṇīdharā asaṁskṛtakeśabandhā || · 2-40-44 he kṛṣṇa kṣatraṁ saṁkṣipya na pratīkṣate iti pūrveṇa saṁbandhaḥ | kṣatriyāḥ maraṇabhayātsaṁkocaṁ prāpya kālāvadhīṁ na pratīkṣante api tu utphullā bhūtvā śīghrameva maraṇaṁ kāmayante | yataḥ saṁgrahaṁ krūraiḥ grahairākrāntaṁ nakṣatramasti ityarthaḥ | · 2-40-46 satkṛtaṁ satkārastadvānahaṁ tvayā viśvātmanā yato'smi ataḥ sarvatra satkṛto'smītyarthaḥ || · 2-40-47 sādhayāmiti | etena yuddhe jayārthibhiḥ | śūraiḥ paraśurāmaḥ smartavya iti vidhīyata iti jṣeyam || iti śrīharivaṁśe viṣṇuparvaṇi ṭīkāyāṁ catvāriṁśo'dhyāyaḥ |