Section LXV

Dhritarashtra said,

'Hearing of those feats of the sons of Pandu which are incapable of being achieved by the gods themselves, my heart, O Sanjaya, is filled with fear and wonder. Hearing also of the humiliation of my sons in every way, great has been my anxiety as to the consequence that will ensue. The words uttered by Vidura will, no doubt, consume my heart. Everything that has happened seems to be due to Destiny, O Sanjaya. The combatants of the Pandava army are encountering and smiting those best of warriors having Bhishma for their head, those heroes conversant with every weapon.

What ascetic penances have been performed by the high-souled and mighty sons of Pandu, what boon has they obtained, O son, or what science is known to them, in consequence of which, like the stars in the firmament, they are undergoing no diminution? I cannot bear it that my army should be repeatedly slaughtered by the Pandavas. The divine chastisement, highly severe, both fallen on me alone. Tell me everything truly, O Sanjaya, about that for which the sons of Pandu have become unslayable and mine slayable. I do not see the other shore of this (sea of) distress.^[1] I am like a man desirous of crossing the vastly deep ocean with my two arms alone. I certainly think that a great calamity has overtaken my sons. Without doubt, Bhima will slay all my sons. I do not see that hero who is able to protect my sons in battle. The death of my sons in this battle, O Sanjaya, is certain. It behoves you, therefore, O Suta, to tell me, who asks you, everything about the true cause of all these.

Beholding his own troops retreating from battle, what did Duryodhana do? And what old Bhishma and Drona, and Kripa, and Suvala’s son, and Jayadratha, and that mighty bowman, viz., Drona’s son and Vikarna of great strength do? When also, O you of great wisdom, my sons turned back from the fight, what O Sanjaya, became the resolve of those high-souled warriors?"

Sanjaya said,

"Listen, O king, with attention, and having listened, let it go to your heart. Nothing (in this) is the result of incantation, nothing the result of illusion of any king. Nor have the sons of Pandu created any new terrors. They are endued with might; and they are fighting by fair means in this battle. Desirous of high fame, the sons of Pritha always do every act, including even the support of their lives, agreeably to the way of morality. Endued with every kind of prosperity, and possessed of great strength, they never desist from battle, keeping their eyes on righteousness. And victory is there where righteousness is. It is for this, O king, that the sons of Pritha are unslayable in battle and always victorious. Your sons are of wicked souls and are addicted to sinfulness. They are cruel and wedded to mean acts. It is for this that they are being weakened in battle. Your sons, O king, like despicable men, did many cruel and deceitful acts to the sons of Pandu. Disregarding, however, all those offences of your sons, the sons of Pandu always concealed those acts, O elder brother of Pandu. Your sons also, O king, on numerous occasions humiliated the Pandavas. Let them now reap the terrible fruit, like poison, of that persistent course of sinfulness.^[2]

That fruit should be enjoyed by you also, O king, with your sons and kinsmen, since you, O king, could not be awakened even though counselled by your well-wishers. Repeatedly forbidden by Vidura, by Bhishma, by the high-souled Drona, and by myself also you didst not understand, rejecting our words intended for your good and worthy of your acceptance, like a sick man rejecting the medicine prescribed. Accepting the views of your sons you had regarded the Pandavas as already vanquished. Listen again, O king, to what you hast asked me, viz., the true cause, O chief of the Bharatas, of the victory of the Pandavas. I will tell you whit I have heard, O chastiser of foes. Duryodhana had asked the grandsire this very question. Beholding his brothers, all mighty car-warriors, vanquished in battle, your son Duryodhana, O Kaurava, with heart confounded with grief, repairing with humility during the night to the grandsire possessed of great wisdom, asked him this question. Listen to me, O monarch, about it all.

"Duryodhana said,

'Drona and you, and Salya, and Kripa, and Drona’s son, and Kritavarman the son of Hridika, and Sudakshina the ruler of the Kamvojas, and Bhurisravas, and Vikarna, and Bhagadatta of exceeding prowess, are all regarded as mighty car-warriors. All of these, again, are high-born, and prepared to throw away their lives in battle. It is my opinion that these are a match for even the three worlds (united together). Even all the warriors of the Pandava army (united together) cannot bear your prowess. A doubt has arisen in my mind. Explain it to me who enquirs of you. Who it is, relying on whom the Pandavas are vanquishing us repeatedly.'

"Bhishma said,

'Listen, O king, to the words that I will speak unto you, O you of Kuru’s race. Frequently were you addressed by me to the same effect but you didst not do what I said. Let peace be made with the Pandavas, O best of the Bharatas. I regard this to be beneficial both to the world and you, O lord. Enjoy this earth, O king, with your brothers and be happy, gratifying all your well-wishers and delighting your kinsfolk. Although I cried myself hoarse before this, you didst not yet listen to me, O sire. You had always disregarded the sons of Pandu. The effect of all that has now overtaken you. Listen also, O king, from me as I speak of it, O Lord, to the reason why the Pandavas, whose achievements tire them not, are unslayable.^[3]

There is not, was not, will not be, the being in all the worlds who would or will be able to vanquish the sons of Pandu who are all protected by the wielder of Saranga. Listen truly, O you that art conversant with morality, to that ancient history which was recited to me by sages of souls under control. In days of yore, all the celestials and the Rishis, united together, waited reverentially on the Grandsire upon the mountains of Gandhamadana. And the Lord of all creatures, seated at his case in their midst, beheld an excellent car stationed in the firmament, blazing with effulgence.

Having ascertained (everything about it) by meditation, joining his hands with restrained heart, Brahman, with delighted soul, made his salutations to the highest Divine Being. And the Rishis and the celestials, beholding in the firmament (the form thus) displayed, all stood up with joined hands, their eyes fixed on that wonder of wonders.

Worshipping him duly, Brahma, the foremost of all conversant with Brahman, the Creator of the universe, acquainted with the highest morality, uttered these high words:

You are the Glory of the Universe for your form. You are the Lord of the Universe.

O you whose protection extends through the whole Universe, O you that has the Universe for your work, O you that has your soul under control, You are the Supreme Master of the Universe. You are Vasudeva. Therefore, I seek refuge in You that art the soul of Yoga and the highest Divinity. Victory to You that art the Supreme God of the Universe. Victory to You that art ever employed in the good of the worlds. Victory to You that art the Lord of Yoga. You that art all-powerful. Victory to You that art prior, and subsequent to Yoga. Having the lotus springing from your navel, and having large expansive eyes, victory to You that art Lord of Lords of the Universe.

O Lord of the Past, the Present, and the Future, victory to You that art the embodiment of gentleness. You that art the sun of suns. O you that art the receptacle of untold attributes, victory to You that art the refuge of all things. You are Narayana, you are incapable of being understood, victory to You that art the wielder of the bow called Saranga.

Victory to You that art endued with every attribute, O you that hast the Universe for your form, O you that art ever hale. O Lord of the Universe, O you of mighty arms, victory to You that art always ready for benefitting the worlds. O great Snake, O huge Boar, O first Cause, O you of tawny locks, victory to You that art Almighty.

O you of yellow robes, O Lord of the cardinal and the subsidiary points of the compass, O you that hast the Universe for your abode, O you that art Infinite, O you that hast no decay, O you that art the Manifest, O you that art the Unmanifest, O you that art the immeasurable Space, O you that hast all your senses under control, O you that always achievest what is good, O you that art immeasurable, O you that alone knowest your own nature, victory to You that art deep, O you that art the giver of all wishes, O you that art without end, O you that art known as Brahma, O you that art Eternal, O you that art the Creator of all creatures, O you that art ever successful, O you whose acts always display wisdom, O you that art conversant with morality, O you that givest victory, O you of mysterious Self, O you that art the Soul of all Yoga, O you that art the Cause of everything that has sprung into existence, O you that art the knowledge of the selves of all beings, O Lord of the worlds, victory to you that art the Creator of all beings.

O you that has thyself for your origin, O you that art highly blessed, O you that art the Destroyer of everything, O you that art the inspirer of all mental thoughts, victory to You that art dear to all conversant with Brahma. O you that art busy in creation and destruction, O controller of all wishes, O Supreme Lord, O you that art the Cause of Amrita, O you that art All-existent, O you that art the first that appears at the end of the Yuga, O you that art the giver of victory, O Divine Lord of the Lord of all creatures, O you that hast the lotus springing from your navel, O you of mighty strength, O you that art sprung from Thyself, O you that art the great elements in their primeval state, O you that art the soul of all (religious) rites, victory to You that givest all.

The goddess Earth represents your two feet, the cardinal and the subsidiary directions your arms, and the heavens your head. I am your form, the celestials constitute your limbs, and the Sun, the moon are your two eyes. Ascetic austerities and Truth born of morality and (religious) rites, constitute your strength. Fire is your energy, the wind is your breath, and the waters have sprung from your sweat. The twins Asvins constitute your ears, and the goddess Sarasvati is your tongue. The Vedas are your Knowledge, and upon you rests this Universe.

O Lord of Yoga and Yogins, we do not know your extent, your measure, your energy, your prowess, your might, your origin. O God, O Vishnu, filled with devotion in you, and depending upon you with vows and observances, we ever worship You as the highest Lord, the God of gods.

The Rishis, the gods, Gandharvas, the Yakshas, the Rakshasas, the Pannagas, the Pisachas, human beings, beasts, birds, reptiles,—all these were created by me on Earth through Your grace. O you having the lotus springing from your navel, O you of large expansive eyes, O Krishna, O Dispeller of all woe, You are the Refuge of all creatures, and You are their Guide. You have the Universe for your mouth. Through your grace, O Lord of the gods, the gods are ever happy. Through your grace the Earth has always been freed from terrors. Therefore, O you of large eyes, take birth in the race of Yadu.^[4]

For the sake of establishing righteousness, for slaying the sons of Diti, and for upholding the Universe, do what I have said, O Lord. O Vasudeva, that which is your supreme mystery, that, O Lord has been sung by me through Your grace. Having created the divine Sankarshana out of your own Self by Thyself, you didst then, O Krishna, create Thyself as Pradyumna born of thyself. From Pradyumna you didst then create Aniruddha who is known as the eternal Vishnu. And it was Aniruddha who created me as Brahma, the upholder of the Universe.

Created out of Vasudeva’s essence I have, therefore, been created by you. Dividing Thyself into portions, take birth, O Lord, among human beings. And slaughtering the Asuras there for happiness of all the worlds, and establishing righteousness, and winning renown, You will again truly attain to Yoga. The regenerate Rishis on Earth and the gods, O you of infinite prowess, devoted to you, sing of your wonderous Self under those names that belong to you. O you of excellent arms, all classes of creatures rest on you, having taken refuge in You, you giver of boons. The regenerate ones sing You as the world’s bridge, having no beginning, middle and end, and as possessed of unlimited Yoga.'"