BHAGAVAD-YANA PARVA: Chapter 85

The embassy of the God

वैशम्पायन उवाच तथा दूतैः समाज्ञाय प्रयान्तं मधुसूदनम्। धृतराष्ट्रोऽब्रवीद् भीष्ममर्चयित्वा महाभुजम्॥ द्रोणं च संजयं चैव विदुरं च महामतिम्। दुर्योधनं सहामात्यं हृष्टरोमाब्रवीदिदम्॥
Vaishampayana said In the mean time, having come to know of the departure of the slayer of Madhu (from the Pandava camp) through his spies, Dhritarashtra said to Bhishma of long arms after paying him due honours; and also to Drona and Sanjaya and the greatly intelligent Vidura his hairs standing up and also to Duryodhana and his ministers.

अद्भुतं महदाश्चर्यं श्रूयते कुरुनन्दन। स्त्रियो बालाश्च वृद्धाश्च कथयन्ति गृहे गृहे॥ सत्कृत्याचक्षते चान्ये तथैवान्ये समागताः। पृथग्वादाश्च वर्तन्ते चत्वरेषु सभासु च॥
o descendant of Kuru, I hear a strange thing-an exceedingly one. Women and children and old men are talking about it in every household. Some are discussing the subject out of good motives; while others are doing it, united together or separately; and the discussion is going on within the houses, as also in open spots.

उपायास्यति दाशार्हः पाण्डवार्थं पराक्रमी। स नो मान्यश्च पूज्यश्च सर्वथा मधुसूदनः॥
The powerful scion of Dasharha race is coming here for the sake of the Pandavas; and that slayer of Madhu is by all means the object of our respect and regard.

तस्मिन् हि यात्रा लोकस्य भूतानामीश्वरो हि सः। तस्मिन् धृतिश्च वीर्यं च प्रज्ञा चौजश्च माधवे॥
On him depends the course of the world. He is the lord of all creatures, and in that scion of Madhu's are centered patience, prowess, wisdom and energy.

स मान्यता नरश्रेष्ठः स हि धर्मः सनातनः। पूजितो हि सुखाय स्यादसुखः स्यादपूजितः॥
That chief among men ought to be respected by the good; for he is the eternal virtue. For the sake of happiness is he worshipped. If he is not due regard, misery race ensues.

स चेत् तुष्यति दाशार्ह उपचारैररिंदमः। कृष्णात् सर्वानभिप्रायान् प्राप्स्यामः सर्वराजसु॥
If that chastiser of foes of the Dasharha race is satisfied with due reception; them shall we obtain the fulfillment of all our wishes from i Krishna in the midst of all the kings.

तस्य पूजार्थमद्यैव संविधत्स्व परंतप। सभाः पथि विधीयन्तां सर्वकामसमन्विताः॥
O chastiser of foes, prepare for his worship from this moment and erect pavilions on the way filled with all necessary articles.

यथा प्रीतिर्महाबाहो त्वयि जायेत तस्य वै। तथा कुरुष्व गान्धारे कथं वा भीष्म मन्यसे॥१०
So that one of long arins may be gratified with you. Do that, O son of Gandhari. What do you think. O Bhisma?

ततो भीष्मादयः सर्वे धृतराष्ट्र जनाधिपम्। ऊचुः परममित्येवं पूजयन्तोऽस्य तद् वचः॥
Then Bhishma and others all approving of those words of his said to Dhritarashtra, the ruler of men-"This excellent."

तेषामनुमतं ज्ञात्वा राजा दुर्योधनस्तदा। सभावास्तूनि रम्याणि प्रदेष्टुमुपचक्रमे॥
King Duryodhana, then ascertaining that desire of theirs began to order the selection of sites for the erection of enchanting Pavilions.

ततो देशेषु देशेषु रमणीयेषु भागशः। सर्वरत्नसमाकीर्णा: सभाश्चक्रुरनेकशः॥
Then in all places and in the most enchanting sites there were erected many pavilions (at proper intervals) adorned with all sorts of gems and precious stones.

आसनानि विचित्राणि युतानि विविधैर्गुणैः। स्त्रियो गन्धानलंकारान् सूक्ष्माणि वसनानि च॥ गुणवन्त्यन्नपानानि भोज्यानि विविधानि च। माल्यानि च सुगन्धीनि तानि राजा ददौ ततः॥
The king then sent there beautiful seats endued with various good qualities, girls, scents ornaments fine cloths, eatables and drinks of excellent qualities, garlands and perfumes of several kinds.

विशेषतश्च वासार्थं सभां ग्रामे वृकस्थले। विदधे कौरवो राजा बहुरत्नां मनोरमाम्॥
Especially for his residence in the town of Vrikasthala the Kuru king erected an enchanting palace adorned with many gems and precious stones.

एतद् विधाय वै सर्वं देवाहमतिमानुषम्। आचख्यौ धृतराष्ट्राय राजा दुर्योधनस्तदा।॥
Having done all this, which could be done only by gods and men of superhuman qualifications, king Duryodhana informed Dhritarashtra of what he had done.

ता: सभाः केशवः सर्वा रत्नानि विविधानि च। असमीक्ष्यैव दाशार्ह उपायात् कुरुसद्म तत्॥
That scion of the Dasharha race, Keshava, however, came to that encampment of the Kurus without even casting his eyes on all those pavilions and diverse sorts of gems and precious stones.