नारायणं नमस्कृत्य नरं चैव नरोत्तमम्। देवी सरस्वती व्यासं ततो जयमुदीरयेत्।।
Having saluted Narayana and Nara the best of mal beings, as also Sarasvati the Goddess of learning, let us cry success.
जनमेजय उवाच एवं वृष्ण्यन्धककुले श्रुत्वा मौसलमाहवम्। पाण्डवाः किमकुर्वन्त तथा कृष्णे दिवं गते॥
Janamejaya said Having heard of that fighting with iron bolts between the heroes of the Vrishni and the Andhaka races, and having been informed also Krishna's departure from this world, what did the Pandavas do?
वैशम्पायन उवाच श्रुत्वैवं कौरवो राजा वृष्णीनां कदनं महत्। प्रस्थाने मतिमाधाय वाक्यमर्जुनमब्रवीत्॥ काल: पचति भूतानि सर्वाण्येव महामते। कालपाशमहं मन्ये त्वमपि द्रष्टुमर्हसि॥
Vaishampayana said, Having heard the particulars of the great destruction of the Vrishnis, the Kaurava king was determined on leaving the world. He addressed Arjuna saying—'O you of great intelligence, it is time which cooks every creature (in is cauldron), I thing that what has taken place is due to the cords of Time (with which he binds us all). You should also see it.'
इत्युक्तः स तु कौन्तेयः कालः काल इति ब्रुवन्। अन्वपद्यत तद् वाक्यं भ्रातुर्येष्ठस्य धीमतः॥
Thus addressed by his brother, the son of Kunti only repeated the word, “Time, Time!' and fully endorsed the view of his eldest brother endured with great intelligence.
अर्जुनस्य मतं ज्ञात्वा भीमसेनो यमौ तथा। अन्वपद्यन्त तद् वाक्यं यदुक्तं सव्यसाचिना॥
Knowing the resolution of Arjuna, Bhimasena and the twins fully endorsed the words which Arjuna had said.
ततो युयुत्सुमानाय्य प्रव्रजन् धर्मकाम्यया। राज्यं परिददौ सर्वं वैश्यापुत्रे युधिष्ठिरः॥
Determined upon retiring from the world for acquiring merit, they brought Yuyutsu before them. Yudhishthira made over the kingdom to the son of his uncle by his Vaishya wife.
अभिषिच्य स्वराज्ये च राजानं च परिक्षितम्। दुःखार्तश्चाब्रवीद् राजा सुभद्रा पाण्डवाग्रजः॥ एष पुत्रस्य पुत्रस्ते कुरुराजो भविष्यति। यदूनां परिशेषश्च वज्रो राजा कृतश्च ह॥
Installing Parikshit also on their throne, as king, the eldest brother of the Pandavas, filled with sorrow, addressed Subhadra, saying, 'This son of your son will be the king of the Kurus. The survivor of the Yadus, viz., Vajra, has been made a king.
परिक्षिद्धास्तिनपुरे शक्रप्रस्थे च यादवः। वज्रो राजा त्वया रक्ष्यो मा चाधर्मे मनः कृथाः॥
Parikshit will rule in Hastinapur, while the Yadava prince, Vajra, will rule in Shakraprastha. You should protect him, Never set you heart on sin,
इत्युक्त्वा धर्मराजः स वासुदेवस्य धीमतः। मातुलस्य च वृद्धस्य रामादीनां तथैव च॥ भ्रातृभिः सह धर्मात्मा कृत्वोदकमतन्द्रितः श्राद्धान्युद्दिश्य सर्वेषां चकार विधिवत् तदा॥
Having said these words, king Yudhishthira, the just, alone with his brothers, promptly offered oblations of water to Vasudevas of great intelligence, as also his old maternal uncle, and Rama add others. He then duly performed the Shraddhas of all those kinsmen.
द्वैपायनं नारदं च मार्कण्डेयं तपोधनम्। भारद्वाजं याज्ञवल्क्यं हरिमुद्दिश्य यत्नवान्॥
The king, in honour of Hari, and naming him repeatedly, fed the Dvaipayana Vyasa, and Narada, and Markandeya having penances for wealth, and Yajnavalkya of Bharadvaja race, with many delicious food.
अभोजयत् स्वादु भोज्यं कीर्तयित्वा च शाङ्गिणम्। ददौ रत्नानि वासांसि ग्रामानश्वान् रथांस्तथा॥ स्त्रियश्च द्विजमुख्येभ्यस्तदा शतसहस्रशः। कृपमभ्यर्च्य च गुरुमथ पौरपुरस्कृतम्॥ शिष्यं परिक्षितं तस्मै ददौ भरतसत्तमः। ततस्तु प्रकृतीः सर्वाः समानाय्य युधिष्ठिरः॥
In honour of Krishna, he also gave away many jewels and gems, and presses and clothes, and villages and horses and cars, and female salves by hundreds and thousands to foremost of Brahmanas. Calling the citizens, Kripa was installed as the preceptor and Parikshit was made over to him as his disciple, O chief of Bharata's race! Then Yudhishthira once more summoned all his subjects.
सर्वमाचष्ट राजर्षिश्चिकीर्षितमथात्मनः। ते श्रुत्वैव वचस्तस्य पौरजानपदा जनाः॥ भृशमुद्विग्नमनमो नाभ्यनन्दन्त तद्वचः। नैवं कर्तव्यमिति ते तदोचुस्तं जनाधिपम्॥
The royal sage informed them of his desire. The citizens and the villagers hearing it kings' words became stricken with anxiety and disapproved of them. “This should never be done'—said they to the king.
न च राजा तथाकार्षीत् कालपर्यायधर्मवित्। ततोऽनुमान्य धर्मात्मा पौरजानपदं जनम्॥
The king, knowing the changes brought about by time, did not listen to their advice. were Possessed of righteous soul, he persuaded the people to submit his views.
गमनाय मतिं चक्रे भ्रातरशास्य ते तदा। ततः स राजा कौरव्यो धर्मपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः॥ उत्सृज्याभरणान्यङ्गाज्जगृहे वल्कलान्युत। भीमार्जुनयमाश्चैव द्रौपदी च यशस्विनी॥ तथैव जगृहु: सर्वे वल्कलानि नराधिप। विधिवत् कारयित्वेष्टिं नैष्ठिकी भरतर्षभ॥ समुत्सृज्याप्सु सर्वेऽग्नीन् प्रतस्थुर्नरपुङ्गवाः। तत: प्ररुरुदुः सर्वाः स्त्रियो दृष्ट्वा नरोत्तमान्॥
He them made up his mind he leave the world. His brothers also formed the same resolution. Then Dharma's son Yudhishthira, the king of the Kurus, renouncing his ornaments, wore barks of trees Bhima and Arjuna and the twines, and the illustrious Draupadi similarly clad them salves in barks of trees, O sing. Having caused the preliminary rites of religion, O chief of Bharata's race which to bless them in the accomplishment of their design, those foremost of men renounced their sacred fires to the water. Seeing the preaches in that guise the ladies wept aloud.
प्रस्थितान् द्रौपदीषष्ठान् पुरा द्यूतजितान् यथा। हर्षोऽभवच्च सर्वेषां भ्रातॄणां गमनं प्रति॥
They seemed to look as they had looked formerly when with Draupadi forming the sixth in number they had left the capital after their defect at dice. All the brothers, however, were infinitely delighted at the prospect of their retirement.
युधिष्ठिरमतं ज्ञात्वा वृष्णिक्षयमवेक्ष्य च। भ्रातरः पञ्च कृष्णा च षष्ठी श्वा चैव सप्तमः॥ आत्मना सप्तमो राजा निर्ययौ गजसाह्वयात्। पौरेरनुगतो दूरं सर्वैरन्तःपुरैस्तथा।॥
Ascertaining the desire of Yudhishthira and seeing the destruction of the Vrishnis, no other course of action could satisfy them then. The five brothers, with Draupadi forming the sixth, and a dog forming the seventh, started on their Journey. Thus did king Yudhishthira depart, himself heading a party of seven, from the city of Hastinapur. The citizens and they royal ladies followed them for some distance.
न चैनमशकत् कश्चिन्निवर्तस्वेति भाषितुम्। न्यवर्तन्त ततः सर्वे नरा नगरवासिनः॥
None of them, however, could venture to address the king for persuading him so give up his intention. The citizens then returned.
कृपप्रभृतयश्चैव युयुत्सुं पर्यवारयन्। विवेश गङ्गां कौरव्य उलूपी भुजगात्मजा।॥
Kripa and, others stood around Yuyutsu as their centre, Ulupi the daughter of the Naga chief, O you of Kuru's race, entered the waters of Ganga.
चित्राङ्गदा ययौ चापि मणिपूरपुरं प्रति। शिष्टाः परिक्षितं त्वन्या मातरः पर्यवारयन्॥
The princess Chitrangada started for the capital of Manipur. The other ladies who were the grandmothers of Parikshit gathered around him.
पाण्डवाश्च महात्मानो द्रौपदी च यशस्विनी। कृतोपवासाः कौरव्य प्रययुः प्रामुखस्ततः॥
Meanwhile the great Pandavas, O you of Kuru's race, and the illustrious Draupadi, having observed the preminary fast, started with their faces towards he est.
योगयुक्ता महात्मानस्त्यागधर्ममुपेयुषः। अभिजग्मुर्बहून् देशान् सरितः सागरांस्तथा॥
Seeing themselves on Yoga those great ones, resolved to observe the religion of Renunciation, passed through various countries and teached various rivers and seas.
युधिष्ठिरो ययावग्रे भीमस्तु तदनन्तरम्। अर्जुनस्तस्य चान्वेव यमौ चापि यथाक्रमम्॥ पृष्ठतस्तु वरारोहा श्यामा पद्मदलेक्षणा। द्रौपदी योषितां श्रेष्ठा ययौ भरतसत्तम॥
Yudhishthira proceeded first Behind him was Bhima;. next walked Arjuna; after him were the twins in the order of their birth; behind them all, O foremost one of Bharata's race, went Draupadi, that first of women, endued with great beauty, of dark Complexion, and having eyes like lotus petals.
श्वा चैवानुययावेकः प्रस्थितान् पाण्डवान् वनम्। क्रमेण ते ययुर्वीरा लौहित्यं सलिलार्णवम्॥
While the Pandavas started for the forest a dog followed them, Proceeding on, those heroes reached the sea of red waters.
गाण्डीवं तु धनुर्दिव्यं न मुमोच धनञ्जयः। रत्नलोभान्महाराज ते चाक्षय्ये महेषुधी॥
Dhananjaya had not thrown off is celestial bow Gandiva nor his couple of inexhaustible quivers, actuated, O king by the cupidity for valuable things.
अग्निं ते ददृशुस्तत्र स्थितं शैलमिवाग्रतः। मार्गमावृत्य तिष्ठन्तं साक्षात्पुरुषविग्रहम्॥
The Pandavas there saw the God of Fire standing before them like hill. Closing their way, the god stood there in his embodied form.
ततो देवः स सप्तार्चिः पाण्डवानिदमब्रवीत्। भो भोः पाण्डुसुता वीराः पावकं मां निबोधत॥
The deity of seven flames then addressed the Pandavas, saving—'O heroic sons of Pandu, known me as the God of Fire.
युधिष्ठिर महाबाहो भीमसेन परंतप। अर्जुनाश्विसुतौ वीरौ निबोधत वचो मम॥
O mighty-armed Yudhishthira, O Bhimasena who are a scorcher of enemies, O Arjuna, and O twines of great courage, listen to what I say!
अहमग्निः कुरुश्रेष्ठा मया दग्धं च खाण्डवम्। अर्जुनस्य प्रभावेण तथा नारायणस्य च॥
Oforemost ones of Kuru's race, I am the God of Fire. The forest of Khandava was burnt by me, through the power of Arjuna and of Narayana himself.
अयं वः फाल्गुनो भ्राता गाण्डीवं परमायुधम्। परित्यज्य वने यातु नानेनार्थोऽस्ति कश्चन॥
Let your brother Phalguna proceed to the forest after casting off Gandiva, that great weapon. He has no longer any necessity for it.
चक्ररत्नं तु यत् कृष्णे स्थितमासीन्महात्मनि। गतं तच्च पुनर्हस्ते कालेनैष्यति तस्य ह॥
That precious discus, which was with the great Krishna, has disappeared (from the world).. When the time again comes, it will return into and his hands.
वरुणादाहृतं पूर्वं मयैतत् पार्थकारणात्। गाण्डीवं धनुषां श्रेष्ठं वरुणायैव दीयताम्॥
This foremost of hows viz., Gandiva, was procured by me from Varuna for the us of Partha. let it be made over to Varuna himself.
ततस्ते भ्रातरः सर्वं धनञ्जयमचोदयन्। स जले प्राक्षिपच्चैतत्तथाक्षय्ये महेषुधी॥
At this, all the brothers requested Dhananjaya to do what the god said. He then threw into the waters (of the sea) both the bow and the couple of inexhaustible quivers.
ततोऽग्निर्भरतश्रेष्ठ तत्रैवान्तरधीयत। ययुश्च पाण्डवा वीरास्ततस्ते दक्षिणामुखाः॥
After this, O chief of Bharata's race the God of Fire disappeared then and these the heroic sons of Pandu next went out with their faces turned towards the South.
ततस्ते तूत्तरेणैव तीरेण लवणाम्भसः। जग्मुर्भरतशार्दूल दिशं दक्षिणपश्चिमाम्॥
Then, by the northern coast of the salt sea, those princes of Bharata's race, went to the south west.
ततः पुनः समावृत्ता पश्चिमां दिशमेव ते। ददृशुभरकां चापि सागरेण परिप्लुताम्॥
Turning next towards the west, they saw the city of Dwraka covered by the ocean.
उदीची पुनरावृत्य ययुर्भरतसत्तमाः। प्रादक्षिण्यं चिकीर्षन्तः पृथिव्या योगधर्मिणः॥
Turning next to the north, those foremost ones went on observant of Yoga, they were desirous of going round the whole earth.