Parva 2 Chapter 49: dantavaktrasya bhāṣaṇaṁ bhīṣmakasya nirṇayaścha - dantavaktra's speech and bhīṣmaka's review

vaiśampāyana said: (O janamejaya!) After sunītha, the great soul, spoke these words, the king of karūṣa, the valiant dantavaktra spoke (as follows): dantavaktra uvāca yaduktaṁ māgadhenātra sunīthena narādhipāḥ | yuktapūrvamahaṁ manye yadasmākaṁ vacho hitam ||2-49-2 dantavaktra said: O kings! I consider the words spoken by the king of magadha (jarāsaṁdha) and king sunītha as appropriate, because the words are to our liking. na ca vidveṣaṇenāhaṁ na cāhaṅkāravādinā | na cātmavijigīṣutvāddūṣayāmi vacho'mṛtam ||2-49-3 I will not pollute my nectar like words with hatred, pride or the desire of self-victory. vākyārṇavaṁ mahāgādhaṁ nītiśāstrārthabṛṁhitam | ka eṣa nikhilaṁ vaktuṁ shakto vai rājasaṁsadi ||2-49-4 Who (else) will speak all these words like an ocean of great depth enriched with the principles of the science of political wisdom in this assembly of kings? kiṁ tvanusmaraṇārthe'haṁ yadbravīmi śṛṇuṣva me | āgato vāsudeveti kimāścaryaṁ narādhipāḥ ||2-49-5 But hear what I am saying, just to remind you. O kings! What is the surprise in vāsudeva's (kṛṣṇa) arrival? yathā''gatā vayaṁ sarve kṛṣṇo'pīha tathā''gataḥ | kimatra dosho gauṇyo vā kanyāhetoḥ samāgatāḥ ||2-49-6 kṛṣṇa has also come (for the same purpose) due to the reason of the maiden, for which all of us have come. What is bad or good in this? yadasmābhiḥ sametyaikyātkṛtaṁ gomantarodhanam | tatra yuddhakṛtaṁ doṣaṁ kathaṁ vai vaktumarhatha ||2-49-7 When all of us together surrounded the mountain of gomanta, what is bad about the fighting there, to be told? vanavāse sthitau vīrau kaṁsavyāmohahetunā | devarṣivacanādrājanvṛndāvanataṭe sthitau ||2-49-8 O king! These valiant lived in the forest, vṛndāvana on the banks (of the river yamunā) to confuse kaṁsa, as per the words of the deva sage (nārada). tāvāhūya vadhārthena ubhau rāmajanārdanau | nagenoddīpitau vīrau hatvā nāgaṁ viveśatuḥ ||2-49-9 Both (bala)rāma and janārdana (kṛṣṇa) were summoned (to mathurā) for killing them. The elephant was prompted (to kill them), but the valiant killed the elephant and entered (the city). tataḥ svavīryamāśritya nihato raṅgasāgare | gatāsuriva cāsīno mathureśaḥ sahānugaḥ ||2-49-10 Then, by their own valour, they killed the lord of mathurā (kaṁsa) along with his followers, who were as good as dead, on the stage, vast like an ocean. kimatra vihito doṣo yenāsmābhirvayo'dhikaiḥ | uparodhaparā rājanvayaṁ sarve sāmāgatāḥ ||2-49-11 O king! What is bad in this? All of us, who are older than them by age, gathered together to block them. senātibalamālokya vitrastau rāmakeśavau | puraṁ balaṁ samutsṛjya gomante ca gatāvubhau ||2-49-12 (bala)rāma and keshava (kṛṣṇa) were frightened, considering the large powerful army. Leaving the city and army, both went to the gomanta mountain. tatrāpi gatamasmābhirhantuṁ samarayodhibhiḥ | We, ready for fighting the battle, went there as well. aprāptayauvanābhyāṁ ca padātibhyāṁ raṇājire ||2-49-13 rathāśvanaranāgena nāsmābhirvigrahaḥ kṛtaḥ | On the battle field, we along with chariots, horses, men and elephants fought with them, who had not even attained youth, fighting on their feet. kṛtvoparodhaṁ shailasya kṣatradharmeṇa dīpitaḥ ||2-49-14 We, prompted by our duty as kṣatriya-s, blocked the mountain (gomanta). dāvāgnimukhamāviśya durvinītatapasvinau | vinīta iti manyāmaḥ sarve kṣatriyapuṅgavāḥ | We, all the kṣatriya leaders, thought that those two, humble and doing penance, were humbled by the raging forest fire. pratiyuddhe kṛte tvevaṁ dūṣayāma janārdanam ||2-49-15 Fighting against him like this, we have acted wrongly against janārdana (kṛṣṇa). yatra yatra prayāsyāmo vayaṁ tatra bhavetkaliḥ | prītyarthaṁ prayatiṣyāmaḥ kṛṣṇena saha bhūmipāḥ ||2-49-16 Wherever we go, there will be a quarrel. O kings! Let us look for gratification with kṛṣṇa. idaṁ kuṇḍipuraṁ kṛṣṇo nāgataḥ kalihetunā | kanyānimittāgamane kasya yuddhaṁ prayacchati ||2-49-17 kṛṣṇa has come to this city of kuṇḍina not for quarrelling. When he has come here due to the maiden, with whom will he fight? martye'sminpuruṣendro'sau na kaśchitprākṛto naraḥ | devalokeṣu deveṣu pravaraḥ puruṣottamaḥ ||2-49-18 He is the best among men. He is not a mere ordinary man. In the world of deva-s, among the deva-s, he is the foremost. He is the best among men. devānāmapi kartāsau lokānāṁ ca viśeṣataḥ | na caiva bāliśā buddhirna cherṣyā nāpi matsaraḥ ||2-49-19 Specially he is the one who created even the deva-s and the men. His intellect is not childish as well. He is devoid of anger as well as competition. na stabdho na kṛśo nārtaḥ praṇatārtiharaḥ sadā | He is neither rigid nor insignificant. He is not struck by calamity. He always removes the pains of those who respect him. eṣa viṣṇuḥ prabhurdevo devānāmapi daivatam ||2-49-20 He is viṣṇu, the lord, the deva. He is god even to the devas. āgato garuḍeneha cchadmaprākāśyahetunā | nānāstrasahito yāti kṛṣṇaḥ śatruvināśane ||2-49-21 For revealing his disguise, he came along with garuḍa. kṛṣṇa comes along with various weapons for destroying the enemies. imāṁ yātrāṁ vijānīdhvaṁ prītyarthaṁ hyāgato hariḥ | sahito yādavendraiścha bhojavṛṣṇyandhakairiha ||2-49-22 Understand that this journey of hari (kṛṣṇa) along with leaders of yādava=s, bhoja-s, vṛṣṇi-s and andhaka-s is for friendly disposition. arghyamācamanaṁ dattvā ātithyaṁ ca narādhipāḥ | kariṣyāmo vayaṁ sarve keśavāya mahātmane ||2-49-23 O kings! All of us should welcome the great soul keshava (kṛṣṇa) offering a respectful reception and water for purification. evaṁ saṁdhānataḥ kṛtvā kṛṣṇena sahitā vayam | vasāmo vigatodvegā nirbhayā vigatajvarāḥ ||2-49-24 After making peace with kṛṣṇa, all of us can stay without anxiety, fear and mental pain. tasya tadvacanaṁ śrutvā dantavaktrasya dhīmataḥ | śālvaḥ pravadatāṁ śreṣṭhastānuvāca narādhipān ||2-49-25 (vaiśampāyana said: O janamejaya!) Hearing these words of the intelligent dantavaktra, śālva, the best among speakers, spoke to the kings. śālva uvāca kiṁ bhayenāsya naḥ sarve nyastaśastrā bhavāmahe | saṁdhānakaraṇāddhetoḥ kṛṣṇasya bhayakampitāḥ ||2-49-26 śālva said: Why should all of us become devoid of weapons, afraid of him? Are we trembling with fear so that we should make peace with kṛṣṇa? parastavena kiṁ kāryaṁ vinindya balamātmanaḥ | naiṣa dharmo narendrāṇāṁ kṣātre dharme ca tiṣṭhatām ||2-49-27 What is the use of praising others, despising our own strength? This can never be the duty of kings bound by the duty of kṣatriyas. mahatsu rājavaṁśeṣu saṁbhūtāḥ kulavarddhanāḥ | teṣāṁ kāpuruṣā buddhiḥ kathaṁ bhavitumarhati ||2-49-28 Is it appropriate for those born in the races of great kings, those who flourish the races, to have bad intellect? ahaṁ jānāmi vai kṛṣṇamādidevaṁ sanātanam | prabhuṁ sarvāmarendrāṇāṁ nārāyaṇaparāyaṇam ||2-49-29 I know that kṛṣṇa is the first god, the eternal, the lord of all the eternal deva-s, who are dependent on nārāyaṇa. vaikuṇṭhamajayaṁ loke carācaraguruṁ harim | saṁbhūtaṁ devakīgarbhe viṣṇuṁ lokanamaskṛtam ||2-49-30 He is hari, the resident of vaikuṇṭha, the undefeatable, the preceptor of the mobile and immobile beings in the world, viṣṇu, born to devakī, respected by the world. kaṁsarājavadhārthāya bhārāvataraṇāya ca | asmākaṁ ca vināśāya lokasaṁrakṣaṇāya ca ||2-49-31 For killing king kaṁsa, for reducing the load of earth, for destroying us and protecting the world, aṁśāvataraṇe kṛtsnaṁ jāne viṣṇorvicheṣṭitam | a portion of viṣṇu has descended in the world. I know that these are acts of viṣṇu. saṅgrāmamatulaṁ kṛtvā viṣṇunā saha bhūmipāḥ ||2-49-32 cakrānalavinirdagdhā yāsyāmo yamasādanam | O lords of the earth (kings)! Fighting an unequal war with viṣṇu and burning in the fire of discus, let us proceed to the house of death. tattvaṁ jānāmi rājendrāḥ kālenāyuḥkṣayo bhavet ||2-49-33 kings! I know the truth that the duration of life decreases with time. nākāle mriyate kaśchitprāpte kāle na jīvati | evaṁ viniśchayaṁ kṛtvā na kuryātkasyachidbhayam ||2-49-34 One will never die without the arrival of the time (of death). When the time of death arrives, one will not live further. If one thinks like this, there is nothing to fear. sa eva bhagavānviṣṇurālokya tapasaḥ kṣayam | nihantā ditijendrāṇāṁ yathākālena yogavit ||2-49-35 Seeing the decline of the religious austerity in the world, lord viṣṇu, is killing the best ones born to diti (daitya-s), in combination with the suitable time. baliṁ vairochaniṁ caivaṁ baddhvāvadhyaṁ mahābalam | kṛtavāndevadeveśaḥ pātālatalavāsinam ||2-49-36 Tying up the highly powerful bali, the son of virochana, the supreme deva (viṣṇu), the lord of deva-s made him reside in pātāla, the lower region. evamādīni vai viṣṇuśceṣṭāni ca narādhipāḥ | tasmādayuktaṁ bhavatāṁ vigrahārthaṁ vicāraṇam ||2-49-37 O kings! These are the acts of the eternal viṣṇu. Hence it is not suitable for you to discuss about any battle (with him). na ca saṅgrāmahetorhi kṛṣṇasyāgamanaṁ tviha | Also, kṛṣṇa has not come here for the reason of battle. yasya vā kasya vā kanyā varayiṣyati tasya sā | kimatra vigraho rājṣāṁ prītirbhavatu vai dhruvam ||2-49-38 The maiden is for him, who is chosen by her. Why the kings are fighting for this? Definitely, there will be peace. vaiśampāyana uvāca evaṁ kathayamānānāṁ nṛpāṇāṁ buddhiśālinām | na kiṣchidabravīdrājā bhīṣmakaḥ putrakāraṇāt ||2-49-39 vaiśampāyana said: (O janamejaya!) When the kings with intellect spoke like this, king bhīṣmaka did not speak anything, because of his son. mahāvīryamadotsiktaṁ bhārgavāstrābhirakṣitam | raṇaprachaṇḍātirathaṁ vichintya manasā sutam ||2-49-40 The king thought about his son mentally, who was proud of his great valour, protected by the (expertise on) arrows gained from bhārgava(rāma), the ferocious chariot fighter. bhīṣmaka uvāca kṛṣṇaṁ na sahate nityaṁ putro me baladarpitaḥ | nityābhimānī ca raṇe na bibheti ca kasyachit ||2-49-41 bhīṣmaka said: My son, proud of his power, is always unable to bear kṛṣṇa. Always proud, he is not afraid of anyone in the battle. kṛṣṇasya bhujavīryeṇa hriyate nātra saṁśayaḥ | bhaviṣyati tato yuddhaṁ mahāpuruṣavigraham ||2-49-42 It is certain that the maiden will be taken by the power of arms of kṛṣṇa. Hence there will be a battle, a battle among great men. dveṣī chaivābhimānī ca kuto jīvati me sutaḥ | jīvitaṁ nātra paśyāmi mama putrasya keśavāt ||2-49-43 My son is angry as well as proud. Will he live? I do not see life for my son, because of keshava (kṛṣṇa). kanyāhetoḥ sutaṁ jyeṣṭhaṁ pitṝṇāṁ nandivarddhanam | kārayiṣye kathaṁ yuddham putreṇa saha keshavam ||2-49-44 Because of the maiden, why should I make my elder son, who increases the welfare of the father, fight with kṛṣṇa? na ca nārāyaṇaṁ devaṁ varamicchati rukmavān | rukmi does not wish the deva, nārāyaṇa to become the bridegroom (of his sister). mūḍhabhāvo madonmattaḥ saṅgrāmeṣvanivartakaḥ | niyataṁ bhasmasādyāti tūlarāśiryathānalāṭ ||2-49-45 My son is foolish and excited by pride. He does not retire from war. It is certain that he will become ashes like cotton burned by fire. karavīreśvaraḥ śūraḥ śṛgālaścitrayodhinā | kṣaṇena bhasmasānnītaḥ keshavena balīyasā ||2-49-46 The powerful keshava (kṛṣṇa), capable of fighting in strange ways, quickly reduced the valiant śṛgāla, the king of karavīra. vṛndāvane'vasacchrīmānkeśavo balināṁ varaḥ | uddhṛtyaikena hastena saptāhaṁ dhṛtavāngirim ||2-49-47 The auspicious keshava (kṛṣṇa), the best among the powerful, held the mountain (govarddhana) up with one hand for seven days, while he was living at vṛndāvana. duṣkaraṁ karma saṁsmṛtya manaḥ sīdati me bhṛśam |2-49-48 Thinking about those difficult tasks, (performed by keshava), my mind is weakened. nagendre sahasā''gamya devataiḥ saha vṛtrahā | abhiṣichyābravītkṛṣṇamupendreti śacīpatiḥ ||2-49-49 The slayer of vṛtra (indra), the husband of śacī, arriving quickly on the king of mountains (govarddhana) along with deva-s, anointed kṛṣṇa as upendra. yathā vai damino nāgaḥ kāliyo yamunāhrade | viṣāgnijvālito ghoraḥ kālāntakasamaprabhaḥ ||2-49-50 At the pool of yamunā, kṛṣṇa conquered the serpent kāliya, terrible, blazing with poisonous flames, sparkling like the slayer of death. keśī cāpi mahāvīryo dānavo hayavigrahaḥ | nihato vāsudevena devairapi durāsadaḥ ||2-49-51 The great valiant daitya keśī in the form of horse, undefeatable even by the deva-s, was also killed by vāsudeva (kṛṣṇa). sandīpanisutaścaiva ciranaṣṭo hi sāgare | daityaṁ paṣchajanaṁ hatvā ānīto yamamandirāt ||2-49-52 killing the daitya paṣchajana, kṛṣṇa brought back the son of sāndīpani also, lost in the ocean long ago, from the residence of death. gomante sumahadyuddhaṁ bahubhirveṣṭitāvubhau | kṛtvā vitrāsajananaṁ nāgāśvarathasaṅkṣayam ||2-49-53 On the mountain gomanta, a great battle was fought by both (balarāma and kṛṣṇa), when they were surrounded by many people, destroying elephants, horses and chariots. gajena gajavṛndāni rathena rathayodhinaḥ | sādinaścāśvayodhena nareṇa ca padātinaḥ | jaghnatustau mahāvīryau vasudevasutāvubhau ||2-49-54 Both the highly valiant sons of vasudeva (balarāma and kṛṣṇa) killed groups of elephants by striking them with elephants, charioteers by chariots, horse riders with horses and infantry with men. na devāsuragandharvā na yakṣoragarākṣasāḥ | na nāgā na ca daityendrā na piśācā na guhyakāḥ ||2-49-55 kṛtavantastathā ghoraṁ gajāśvarathasaṅkṣayam | Such a terrible destruction of elephants, horses and chariots was never done by deva-s, daitya-s (asuras-), gandharva-s, yakṣa-s, snakes, rākṣasa-s, serpents, kings of daitya-s, flesh eating demons or demi-gods living in mountainous caverns. tamanusmṛtya saṅgrāmaṁ bhṛśaṁ sīdati me manaḥ ||2-49-56 Thinking about that war, my mind is getting weakened. na mayā śrutapūrvo vā dṛṣṭapūrvaḥ kuto'pi vā | tādṛśo bhuvi martyo'nyo vāsudevātsurottamāt ||2-49-57 Neither I have heard before, nor I have seen before, anywhere on earth, another man like vāsudeva (kṛṣṇa), the best among devas. saṁyagāha mahābāhurdantavaktro mahīpatiḥ | sāntvayitvā mahāvīryaṁ saṁvidhāsyāma yatkṣamam ||2-49-58 dantavaktra, the one with great arms, the lord of earth spoke good. Let us concur with the great valiant kṛśṇa and do the needful further. vaiśampāyana uvāca iti saṣchintya manasā balābalaviniśchayam | gamanāya matiṁ cakre prasādayitumachyutam ||2-49-59 vaiśampāyana said: (O janamejaya!) Considering the strengths and weaknesses, thinking like this mentally, the king decided to proceed for pleasing the one who does not suffer any decline (kṛṣṇa). cintayāno narendrastu bahubhirnayaśālibhiḥ | sūtamāgadhabandibhyo bodhitaḥ stutimaṅgalaiḥ ||2-49-60 The king consulted with many other kings of men, who are experts in political wisdom on the matter. (In the morning), the king (bhīṣmaka) woke up, by (hearing) the praises and well wishes of (sūta-s) royal bards, (māgadha-s) panegyrists and also (bandi-s) heralders. prabhātāyāṁ rajanyāṁ tu kṛtapūrvāhnikakriyāḥ | upaviṣṭā nṛpāḥ sarve sveṣu viśrāmaveśmasu ||2-49-61 After performing the morning rituals in the early morning, all the kings remained at their respective rest houses. ye visṛṣṭāstu rājāno vidarbhāyāṁ narādhipaiḥ | tairāgamya svabhūpeṣu raho gatvā niveditam ||2-49-62 The kings (princes) deputed by the kings to the (city of) vidarbha, returned and informed their respective kings, privately (about the developments.) śrutvā kṛṣṇābhiṣekaṁ tu kechiddhṛṣṭā narādhipāḥ | kechiddīnatarā bhītā udāsīnāstathā pare ||2-49-63 Some of the kings were happy to hear about the (proposed) anointment of kṛṣṇa, some were depressed, some were pained, some were afraid and some were indifferent. tridhā prabhinnā sā senā naranāgāśvamālinī | mahārṇava iva kṣubdhā abhiṣekeṇa cālitā ||2-49-64 The kings (see nīlakaṇṭha commentary) having infantry, elephants and horses were separated into three groups. By the (proposed) anointment (of kṛṣṇa), the kings were agitated like a great ocean. nṛpāṇāṁ bhedamālokya bhīṣmako rājasattamaḥ | vyatikramamacintyaṁ ca kṛtaṁ nṛpatinā svayam ||2-49-65 Beholding the division of kings and considering the transgression committed by himself, bhīṣmaka, the best among kings, vichintya manasā rājā dahyamānena chetasā | jagāma naradevānāṁ samāje pratibodhitum ||2-49-66 thought in his mind and his consciousness was burning. He went to the assembly of kings to make them understand. etasminnantare dūtāḥ saṁprāptāḥ krathakaishikau | lekhamuddhṛtya śirasā vivishuste nṛpārṇavam ||2-49-67 Meanwhile, messengers (of indra - see nīlakaṇṭha commentary) arrived at the (courts of kings) kratha and kaishika. Holding a letter, heads lowered with humility, they entered the ocean (assembly) of kings. iti śrīmahābhārate khileṣu harivaṁśe viṣṇuparvaṇi rukmiṇīsvayaṁvare ekonapaṣcāśattamo'dhyāyaḥ Thus this is the forty-ninth chapter of viṣṇuparva, harivaṁśa, khila of mahābhārata, dantavaktra's Speech and bhishmaka's review. nīlakaṇṭha commentary ūnapaṣchasapttame'thādhyāye māgadhabhāṣitāt | dantavaktrasya śālvasya vacanaṁ samyagucyate || 1 || · 2-49-1 ityevamiti || · 2-49-5 vāsudeveti sandhirārṣaḥ || · 2-49-6 gauṇyaḥ guṇaḥ || · 2-49-9 nāgena kuvalayāpīḍena uddīpitau kopitau viveśatuḥ | raṅgamiti śeṣaḥ || · 2-49-10 gatāsurivetyasāvadhānatvamasyoktam || · 2-49-11 yena kaṁsaṁ nighnatā vayodhikairasmābhiḥ saha vairaṁ kṛtaṁ tasya uparodhaparā yadi vayaṁ tadā kimatra doṣo vihitaḥ nako'pītyarthaḥ || · 2-49-14 rathādibalena upetairasmābhiḥ saha tena vigraho yuddhaṁ na kṛtam | athoparodhashcha kṛtastatra daṇḍo dahanameva yuktamityāśayaḥ || · 2-49-15 na cāpyayamadharma ityāha - dāvāgnīti | tapasvino dāvāgnimaraṇaṁ śreya iti etau ca durvinītatapasvinau | ata etayormukhyo durvinītataraḥ san etena maraṇena vinītaḥ suśikṣitaḥ syāditi manyām iti yojanā | atha yuddhakaraṇaṁ śreyovimukhasya dūṣaṇamiti tṛtīyārdhārthaḥ | sārdhaślokavākyam | · 2-49-16 evaṁ svasthānaparādhitvamuktvā samprati virodhe hetvantaramāha yatra yatredyādinā || · 2-49-18 pūrvavairaṁ smṛtvā yuddhaṁ dāsyatītyāpi netyāśayenāha martya iti | martye manuṣyaloke || · 2-49-19 īrṣyāḥ akṣamā matsaraḥ parotkarṣāsahanam || · 2-49-21 chadmaprakāśyahetunā svayamvarāgamanavyājena svarūpaṁ prakāśanīyamiti hetoḥ || · 2-49-22 yādavendrāṇāṁ mukyairbhojādibhiḥ | · 2-49-24 saṁdhānata sāmnā vigata udvego yeṣāṁ te vigatodvegaḥ || · 2-49-26 kimiti | asya asmāt no'smākaṁ bhaye sati kiṁ nyastaśastrāḥ na bhavāmahe api tu bhavāmahe eva | bhītena śastratyāgapūrvakaṁ saṁdhānamavaśyaṁ kartavyaṁ na tu vayaṁ bhītā sma ityarthaḥ || · 2-49-33 yamasādhanaṁ mṛtyormṛtyuṁ | viṣṇumityarthaḥ | · 2-49-37 ceṣṭāni karmaṇi | · 2-49-38 yasya yaṁ tasya tam || · 2-49-41 kasyachit kasmācchit || · 2-49-42 hriyate kanyeti śeṣaḥ | yadvā'yameva hriyate kāleneti śeṣaḥ | · 2-49-44 jyeṣṭhaṁ sutaṁ keshavena saha keśavaṁ ca putreṇa saha kathaṁ yuddhaṁ kārayiṣye iti yojyam || · 2-49-45 rukmavān rukmī || · 2-49-48 mahāvīryaṁ śrīkṛṣṇam || · 2-49-60 narendro bhīhmakaḥ || · 2-49-64 senā nṛpamaṇḍalī || · 2-49-65 vyatikramaṁ rājṣo'nādṛtya saṁkaram || · 2-49-67 dūtāḥ indrasyeti śeṣaḥ | lekhaṁ rājendratva sarvaiḥ kṛṣṇo'bhiṣicyatāmityevaṁsvayam uddhṛtya krathakaishiko samarpitavanta iti śeṣaḥ || iti śrīharivaṁśe viṣṇuparvaṇi ṭīkāyāmekonapaṣcāśatamo'dhyāyaḥ ||