Harivamsha MahA PurANam - ViShNu Parva
    atha ekonapa~nchAshattamo.adhyAyaH
    dantavaktrasya bhAShaNaM bhIShmakasya nirNayashcha
    harivamsha in the mahAbharata - viShNuparva
    Chapter 49 - dantavaktra's speech and bhIShmaka's review
vaishampAyana uvAcha
ityevamukte vachane sunIthena mahAtmanA |
karUShAdhipatirvIro dantavaktro.abhyabhAShata ||2-49-1
vaishampAyana said:
(O janamejaya!) After sunItha, the great soul, spoke these words, the king of karUSha, the valiant dantavaktra spoke (as follows):
dantavaktra uvAcha
yaduktaM mAgadhenAtra sunIthena narAdhipAH |
yuktapUrvamahaM manye yadasmAkaM vacho hitam ||2-49-2
dantavaktra said:
O kings! I consider the words spoken by the king of magadha (jarAsaMdha) and king sunItha as appropriate, because the words are to our liking.
na cha vidveShaNenAhaM na chAha~NkAravAdinA |
na chAtmavijigIShutvAddUShayAmi vacho.amR^itam ||2-49-3
I will not pollute my nectar like words with hatred, pride or the desire of self-victory.
vAkyArNavaM mahAgAdhaM nItishAstrArthabR^iMhitam |
ka eSha nikhilaM vaktuM shakto vai rAjasaMsadi ||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?
kiM tvanusmaraNArthe.ahaM yadbravImi shR^iNuShva me |
Agato vAsudeveti kimAshcharyaM narAdhipAH ||2-49-5
But hear what I am saying, just to remind you. O kings! What is the surprise in vAsudeva's (kR^iShNa) arrival?
yathA.a.agatA vayaM sarve kR^iShNo.apIha tathA.a.agataH |
kimatra dosho gauNyo vA kanyAhetoH samAgatAH ||2-49-6
kR^iShNa 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?
yadasmAbhiH sametyaikyAtkR^itaM gomantarodhanam |
tatra yuddhakR^itaM doShaM kathaM 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?
vanavAse sthitau vIrau kaMsavyAmohahetunA |
devarShivachanAdrAjanvR^indAvanataTe sthitau ||2-49-8
O king! These valiant lived in the forest, vR^indAvana on the banks (of the river yamunA) to confuse kaMsa, as per the words of the deva sage (nArada).
tAvAhUya vadhArthena ubhau rAmajanArdanau |
nagenoddIpitau vIrau hatvA nAgaM viveshatuH ||2-49-9
Both (bala)rAma and janArdana (kR^iShNa) were summoned (to mathurA) for killing them. The elephant was prompted (to kill them), but the valiant killed the elephant and entered (the city).
tataH svavIryamAshritya nihato ra~NgasAgare |
gatAsuriva chAsIno mathureshaH sahAnugaH ||2-49-10
Then, by their own valour, they killed the lord of mathurA (kaMsa) along with his followers, who were as good as dead, on the stage, vast like an ocean.
kimatra vihito doSho yenAsmAbhirvayo.adhikaiH |
uparodhaparA rAjanvayaM sarve sAmAgatAH ||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.
senAtibalamAlokya vitrastau rAmakeshavau |
puraM balaM samutsR^ijya gomante cha gatAvubhau ||2-49-12
(bala)rAma and keshava (kR^iShNa) were frightened, considering the large powerful army. Leaving the city and army, both went to the gomanta mountain.
tatrApi gatamasmAbhirhantuM samarayodhibhiH |
We, ready for fighting the battle, went there as well.
aprAptayauvanAbhyAM cha padAtibhyAM raNAjire ||2-49-13
rathAshvanaranAgena nAsmAbhirvigrahaH kR^itaH |
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.
kR^itvoparodhaM shailasya kShatradharmeNa dIpitaH ||2-49-14
We, prompted by our duty as kShatriya-s, blocked the mountain (gomanta).
dAvAgnimukhamAvishya durvinItatapasvinau |
vinIta iti manyAmaH sarve kShatriyapu~NgavAH |
We, all the kShatriya leaders, thought that those two, humble and doing penance, were humbled by the raging forest fire.
pratiyuddhe kR^ite tvevaM dUShayAma janArdanam ||2-49-15
Fighting against him like this, we have acted wrongly against janArdana (kR^iShNa).
yatra yatra prayAsyAmo vayaM tatra bhavetkaliH |
prItyarthaM prayatiShyAmaH kR^iShNena saha bhUmipAH ||2-49-16
Wherever we go, there will be a quarrel. O kings! Let us look for gratification with kR^iShNa.
idaM kuNDipuraM kR^iShNo nAgataH kalihetunA |
kanyAnimittAgamane kasya yuddhaM prayachChati ||2-49-17
kR^iShNa has come to this city of kuNDina not for quarrelling. When he has come here due to the maiden, with whom will he fight?
martye.asminpuruShendro.asau na kashchitprAkR^ito naraH |
devalokeShu deveShu pravaraH puruShottamaH ||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.
devAnAmapi kartAsau lokAnAM cha visheShataH |
na chaiva bAlishA buddhirna cherShyA nApi matsaraH ||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 kR^isho nArtaH praNatArtiharaH sadA |
He is neither rigid nor insignificant. He is not struck by calamity. He always removes the pains of those who respect him.
eSha viShNuH prabhurdevo devAnAmapi daivatam ||2-49-20
He is viShNu, the lord, the deva. He is god even to the deva-s.
Agato garuDeneha chChadmaprAkAshyahetunA |
nAnAstrasahito yAti kR^iShNaH shatruvinAshane ||2-49-21
For revealing his disguise, he came along with garuDa. kR^iShNa comes along with various weapons for destroying the enemies.
imAM yAtrAM vijAnIdhvaM prItyarthaM hyAgato hariH |
sahito yAdavendraishcha bhojavR^iShNyandhakairiha ||2-49-22
Understand that this journey of hari (kR^iShNa) along with leaders of yAdava=s, bhoja-s, vR^iShNi-s and andhaka-s is for friendly disposition.
arghyamAchamanaM dattvA AtithyaM cha narAdhipAH |
kariShyAmo vayaM sarve keshavAya mahAtmane ||2-49-23
O kings! All of us should welcome the great soul keshava (kR^iShNa) offering a respectful reception and water for purification.
evaM saMdhAnataH kR^itvA kR^iShNena sahitA vayam |
vasAmo vigatodvegA nirbhayA vigatajvarAH ||2-49-24
After making peace with kR^iShNa, all of us can stay without anxiety, fear and mental pain.
tasya tadvachanaM shrutvA dantavaktrasya dhImataH |
shAlvaH pravadatAM shreShThastAnuvAcha narAdhipAn ||2-49-25
(vaishampAyana said: O janamejaya!) Hearing these words of the intelligent dantavaktra, shAlva, the best among speakers, spoke to the kings.
shAlva uvAcha
kiM bhayenAsya naH sarve nyastashastrA bhavAmahe |
saMdhAnakaraNAddhetoH kR^iShNasya bhayakampitAH ||2-49-26
shAlva 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 kR^iShNa?
parastavena kiM kAryaM vinindya balamAtmanaH |
naiSha dharmo narendrANAM kShAtre dharme cha tiShThatAm ||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 kShatriya-s.
mahatsu rAjavaMsheShu saMbhUtAH kulavarddhanAH |
teShAM kApuruShA buddhiH kathaM 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?
ahaM jAnAmi vai kR^iShNamAdidevaM sanAtanam |
prabhuM sarvAmarendrANAM nArAyaNaparAyaNam ||2-49-29
I know that kR^iShNa is the first god, the eternal, the lord of all the eternal deva-s, who are dependent on nArAyaNa.
vaikuNThamajayaM loke charAcharaguruM harim |
saMbhUtaM devakIgarbhe viShNuM lokanamaskR^itam ||2-49-30
He is hari, the resident of vaikuNTha, the undefeatable, the preceptor of the mobile and immobile beings in the world, viShNu, born to devakI, respected by the world.
kaMsarAjavadhArthAya bhArAvataraNAya cha |
asmAkaM cha vinAshAya lokasaMrakShaNAya cha ||2-49-31
For killing king kaMsa, for reducing the load of earth, for destroying us and protecting the world,
aMshAvataraNe kR^itsnaM jAne viShNorvicheShTitam |
a portion of viShNu has descended in the world. I know that these are acts of viShNu.
sa~NgrAmamatulaM kR^itvA viShNunA saha bhUmipAH ||2-49-32
chakrAnalavinirdagdhA yAsyAmo yamasAdanam |
O lords of the earth (kings)! Fighting an unequal war with viShNu and burning in the fire of discus, let us proceed to the house of death.
tattvaM jAnAmi rAjendrAH kAlenAyuHkShayo bhavet ||2-49-33
kings! I know the truth that the duration of life decreases with time.
nAkAle mriyate kashchitprApte kAle na jIvati |
evaM vinishchayaM kR^itvA na kuryAtkasyachidbhayam ||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 bhagavAnviShNurAlokya tapasaH kShayam |
nihantA ditijendrANAM yathAkAlena yogavit ||2-49-35
Seeing the decline of the religious austerity in the world, lord viShNu, is killing the best ones born to diti (daitya-s), in combination with the suitable time.
baliM vairochaniM chaivaM baddhvAvadhyaM mahAbalam |
kR^itavAndevadeveshaH pAtAlatalavAsinam ||2-49-36
Tying up the highly powerful bali, the son of virochana, the supreme deva (viShNu), the lord of deva-s made him reside in pAtAla, the lower region.
evamAdIni vai viShNushcheShTAni cha narAdhipAH |
tasmAdayuktaM bhavatAM vigrahArthaM vichAraNam ||2-49-37
O kings! These are the acts of the eternal viShNu. Hence it is not suitable for you to discuss about any battle (with him).
na cha sa~NgrAmahetorhi kR^iShNasyAgamanaM tviha |
Also, kR^iShNa has not come here for the reason of battle.
yasya vA kasya vA kanyA varayiShyati tasya sA |
kimatra vigraho rAj~nAM prItirbhavatu 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.
vaishampAyana uvAcha
evaM kathayamAnAnAM nR^ipANAM buddhishAlinAm |
na ki~nchidabravIdrAjA bhIShmakaH putrakAraNAt ||2-49-39
vaishampAyana said:
(O janamejaya!) When the kings with intellect spoke like this, king bhIShmaka did not speak anything, because of his son.
mahAvIryamadotsiktaM bhArgavAstrAbhirakShitam |
raNaprachaNDAtirathaM vichintya manasA 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 bhArgava(rAma), the ferocious chariot fighter.
bhIShmaka uvAcha
kR^iShNaM na sahate nityaM putro me baladarpitaH |
nityAbhimAnI cha raNe na bibheti cha kasyachit ||2-49-41
bhIShmaka said:
My son, proud of his power, is always unable to bear kR^iShNa. Always proud, he is not afraid of anyone in the battle.
kR^iShNasya bhujavIryeNa hriyate nAtra saMshayaH |
bhaviShyati tato yuddhaM mahApuruShavigraham ||2-49-42
It is certain that the maiden will be taken by the power of arms of kR^iShNa. Hence there will be a battle, a battle among great men.
dveShI chaivAbhimAnI cha kuto jIvati me sutaH |
jIvitaM nAtra pashyAmi mama putrasya keshavAt ||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 (kR^iShNa).
kanyAhetoH sutaM jyeShThaM pitR^INAM nandivarddhanam |
kArayiShye kathaM yuddham putreNa 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 kR^iShNa?
na cha nArAyaNaM devaM varamichChati rukmavAn |
rukmi does not wish the deva, nArAyaNa to become the bridegroom (of his sister).
mUDhabhAvo madonmattaH sa~NgrAmeShvanivartakaH |
niyataM bhasmasAdyAti tUlarAshiryathAnalAT ||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.
karavIreshvaraH shUraH shR^igAlashchitrayodhinA |
kShaNena bhasmasAnnItaH keshavena balIyasA ||2-49-46
The powerful keshava (kR^iShNa), capable of fighting in strange ways, quickly reduced the valiant shR^igAla, the king of karavIra.
vR^indAvane.avasachChrImAnkeshavo balinAM varaH |
uddhR^ityaikena hastena saptAhaM dhR^itavAngirim ||2-49-47
The auspicious keshava (kR^iShNa), the best among the powerful, held the mountain (govarddhana) up with one hand for seven days, while he was living at vR^indAvana.
duShkaraM karma saMsmR^itya manaH sIdati me bhR^isham |2-49-48
Thinking about those difficult tasks, (performed by keshava), my mind is weakened.
nagendre sahasA.a.agamya devataiH saha vR^itrahA |
abhiShichyAbravItkR^iShNamupendreti shachIpatiH ||2-49-49
The slayer of vR^itra (indra), the husband of shachI, arriving quickly on the king of mountains (govarddhana) along with deva-s, anointed kR^iShNa as upendra.
yathA vai damino nAgaH kAliyo yamunAhrade |
viShAgnijvAlito ghoraH kAlAntakasamaprabhaH ||2-49-50
At the pool of yamunA, kR^iShNa conquered the serpent kAliya, terrible, blazing with poisonous flames, sparkling like the slayer of death.
keshI chApi mahAvIryo dAnavo hayavigrahaH |
nihato vAsudevena devairapi durAsadaH ||2-49-51
The great valiant daitya keshI in the form of horse, undefeatable even by the deva-s, was also killed by vAsudeva (kR^iShNa).
sandIpanisutashchaiva chiranaShTo hi sAgare |
daityaM pa~nchajanaM hatvA AnIto yamamandirAt ||2-49-52
killing the daitya pa~nchajana, kR^iShNa brought back the son of sAndIpani also, lost in the ocean long ago, from the residence of death.
gomante sumahadyuddhaM bahubhirveShTitAvubhau |
kR^itvA vitrAsajananaM nAgAshvarathasa~NkShayam ||2-49-53
On the mountain gomanta, a great battle was fought by both (balarAma and kR^iShNa), when they were surrounded by many people, destroying elephants, horses and chariots.
gajena gajavR^indAni rathena rathayodhinaH |
sAdinashchAshvayodhena nareNa cha padAtinaH |
jaghnatustau mahAvIryau vasudevasutAvubhau ||2-49-54
Both the highly valiant sons of vasudeva (balarAma and kR^iShNa) killed groups of elephants by striking them with elephants, charioteers by chariots, horse riders with horses and infantry with men.
na devAsuragandharvA na yakShoragarAkShasAH |
na nAgA na cha daityendrA na pishAchA na guhyakAH ||2-49-55
kR^itavantastathA ghoraM gajAshvarathasa~NkShayam |
Such a terrible destruction of elephants, horses and chariots was never done by deva-s, daitya-s (asuras-), gandharva-s, yakSha-s, snakes, rAkShasa-s, serpents, kings of daitya-s, flesh eating demons or demi-gods living in mountainous caverns.
tamanusmR^itya sa~NgrAmaM bhR^ishaM sIdati me manaH ||2-49-56
Thinking about that war, my mind is getting weakened.
na mayA shrutapUrvo vA dR^iShTapUrvaH kuto.api vA |
tAdR^isho bhuvi martyo.anyo vAsudevAtsurottamAt ||2-49-57
Neither I have heard before, nor I have seen before, anywhere on earth, another man like vAsudeva (kR^iShNa), the best among deva-s.
saMyagAha mahAbAhurdantavaktro mahIpatiH |
sAntvayitvA mahAvIryaM saMvidhAsyAma yatkShamam ||2-49-58
dantavaktra, the one with great arms, the lord of earth spoke good. Let us concur with the great valiant kR^ishNa and do the needful further.
vaishampAyana uvAcha
iti sa~nchintya manasA balAbalavinishchayam |
gamanAya matiM chakre prasAdayitumachyutam ||2-49-59
vaishampAyana 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 (kR^iShNa).
chintayAno narendrastu bahubhirnayashAlibhiH |
sUtamAgadhabandibhyo bodhitaH stutima~NgalaiH ||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 (bhIShmaka) woke up, by (hearing) the praises and well wishes of (sUta-s) royal bards, (mAgadha-s) panegyrists and also (bandi-s) heralders.
prabhAtAyAM rajanyAM tu kR^itapUrvAhnikakriyAH |
upaviShTA nR^ipAH sarve sveShu vishrAmaveshmasu ||2-49-61
After performing the morning rituals in the early morning, all the kings remained at their respective rest houses.
ye visR^iShTAstu rAjAno vidarbhAyAM narAdhipaiH |
tairAgamya svabhUpeShu raho gatvA 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.)
shrutvA kR^iShNAbhiShekaM tu kechiddhR^iShTA narAdhipAH |
kechiddInatarA bhItA udAsInAstathA pare ||2-49-63
Some of the kings were happy to hear about the (proposed) anointment of kR^iShNa, some were depressed, some were pained, some were afraid and some were indifferent.
tridhA prabhinnA sA senA naranAgAshvamAlinI |
mahArNava iva kShubdhA abhiShekeNa chAlitA ||2-49-64
The kings (see nIlakaNTha commentary) having infantry, elephants and horses were separated into three groups. By the (proposed) anointment (of kR^iShNa), the kings were agitated like a great ocean.
nR^ipANAM bhedamAlokya bhIShmako rAjasattamaH |
vyatikramamachintyaM cha kR^itaM nR^ipatinA svayam ||2-49-65
Beholding the division of kings and considering the transgression committed by himself, bhIShmaka, the best among kings,
vichintya manasA rAjA dahyamAnena chetasA |
jagAma naradevAnAM samAje 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 dUtAH saMprAptAH krathakaishikau |
lekhamuddhR^itya shirasA vivishuste nR^ipArNavam ||2-49-67
Meanwhile, messengers (of indra - see nIlakaNTha 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 shrImahAbhArate khileShu harivaMshe viShNuparvaNi rukmiNIsvayaMvare ekonapa~nchAshattamo.adhyAyaH
Thus this is the forty-ninth chapter of viShNuparva, harivaMsha, khila of mahAbhArata, dantavaktra's Speech and bhishmaka's review.
    nIlakaNTha commentary
Unapa~nchasapttame.athAdhyAye mAgadhabhAShitAt |
dantavaktrasya shAlvasya vachanaM samyaguchyate || 1 ||
iti shrIharivaMshe viShNuparvaNi TIkAyAmekonapa~nchAshatamo.adhyAyaH ||
## Itranslated by K S Ramachandran, ramachandran_ksr @ yahoo.ca August 26, 2008
Note : vayaH adhikaM yeShAM te vayo.adhikAH. is not avagraha necessary there?
Further proof-read by Gilles Schaufelberger, schaufel @ wanadoo.fr
If you find any errors compared to Chitrashala Press edition, send corrections to A. Harindranath harindranath_a @ yahoo.com
Translated to English by A. Purushothaman [purushothaman_avaroth @ yahoo.com] and A. Harindranath
February 19, 2010##