Bhagavata Purana

इत्युक्तो धर्मराजेन सर्वं तत् समवर्णयत् । यथानुभूतं क्रमशो विना यदुकुलक्षयम्

Thus addressed by Dharmaraja, he described everything as he had experienced it, step by step, except for the destruction of the Yadu dynasty.

नन्वप्रियं दुर्विषहं नृणां स्वयमुपस्थितम् । नावेदयत् सकरुणो दुःखितान् द्रष्टुमक्षमः

Although something unpleasant and unbearable had occurred, he did not report it, being compassionate and unable to witness the sorrow of others.

कञ्चित् कालमथ अवात्सीत् सत्कृतो देववत्सुखम् । भ्रातुर्ज्येष्ठस्य श्रेयस्कृत् सर्वेषां सुखमावहन्

For some time, he stayed there, honored and happy like a god, bringing well-being to his elder brother and happiness to all.

अबिभ्रदर्यमा दण्डं यथावत् अघकारिषु । यावद् दधार शूद्रत्वं शापात् वर्षशतं यमः

Aryama carried out punishment upon wrongdoers as required, while Yama, due to a curse, maintained the status of a Shudra for a hundred years.

युधिष्ठिरो लब्धराज्यो दृष्ट्वा पौत्रं कुलन्धरम् । भ्रातृभिर्लोकपालाभैः मुमुदे परया श्रिया

Yudhishthira, having regained his kingdom and seeing his grandson as the heir of the dynasty, rejoiced with his brothers, who resembled guardians of the world, in supreme prosperity.

एवं गृहेषु सक्तानां प्रमत्तानां तदीहया । अत्यक्रामत् अविज्ञातः कालः परमदुस्तरः

Thus, for those attached to their homes and heedless, absorbed in such pursuits, time, exceedingly difficult to overcome, passed unnoticed.

विदुरस्तत् अभिप्रेत्य धृतराष्ट्रं अभाषत । राजन् निर्गम्यतां शीघ्रं पश्येदं भयमागतम्

Vidura, perceiving this, spoke to Dhritarashtra: 'O King, depart quickly; see how danger has arrived.'

प्रतिक्रिया न यस्येह कुतश्चित् कर्हिचित् प्रभो । स एष भगवान् कालः सर्वेषां नः समागतः

There is no remedy here, from anywhere or at any time, O Lord; this is the Supreme Time, the Lord, who has come for all of us.

येन चैवाभिपन्नोऽयं प्राणैः प्रियतमैरपि । जनः सद्यो वियुज्येत किमुतान्यैः धनादिभिः

By whom even those most dear, with their very lives, are overtaken, and people are suddenly separated; what to say of others, like wealth and so forth?

पितृभ्रातृसुहृत्पुत्रा हतास्ते विगतं वयः । आत्मा च जरया ग्रस्तः परगेहमुपाससे

Fathers, brothers, friends, sons—all have been slain; youth has departed; your self is consumed by old age, and you reside in another's house.

अहो महीयसी जन्तोः जीविताशा यया भवान् । भीमापवर्जितं पिण्डं आदत्ते गृहपालवत्

Ah, how great is the hope for life in a living being, by which you, like a caretaker, accept food left aside by Bhima.

अग्निर्निसृष्टो दत्तश्च गरो दाराश्च दूषिताः । हृतं क्षेत्रं धनं येषां तद्दत्तैरसुभिः कियत्

Fire has been set, gifts given, poison administered, wives dishonored, land and wealth stolen—how much remains for those who gave their lives for such things?

तस्यापि तव देहोऽयं कृपणस्य जिजीविषोः । परैत्यनिच्छतो जीर्णो जरया वाससी इव

Even your body, O pitiable one, desiring to live, though unwilling, will depart, worn out by old age, like clothes that are threadbare.

गतस्वार्थमिमं देहं विरक्तो मुक्तबन्धनः । अविज्ञातगतिः जह्यात् स वै धीर उदाहृतः

One who, having lost all purpose for this body, becomes detached and freed from bonds, leaves it without concern for its destination; such a person is called wise.

यः स्वकात्परतो वेह जातनिर्वेद आत्मवान् । हृदि कृत्वा हरिं गेहात् प्रव्रजेत् स नरोत्तमः

He who, whether from his own or another's cause, has become disillusioned and self-possessed, placing Hari in his heart, leaves home; such a man is supreme.

अथोदीचीं दिशं यातु स्वैरज्ञात गतिर्भवान् । इतोऽर्वाक् प्रायशः कालः पुंसां गुणविकर्षणः

Therefore, let your journey be toward the northern direction, with your path unknown to others; for from here onward, time generally draws men away through the influence of the qualities.

एवं राजा विदुरेणानुजेन प्रज्ञाचक्षुर्बोधित आजमीढः । छित्त्वा स्वेषु स्नेहपाशान्द्रढिम्नो निश्चक्राम भ्रातृसन्दर्शिताध्वा

Thus, King Dhritarashtra, awakened by his wise younger brother Vidura, cut the strong bonds of affection for his own people and departed along the path shown by his brother.

पतिं प्रयान्तं सुबलस्य पुत्री पतिव्रता चानुजगाम साध्वी । हिमालयं न्यस्तदण्डप्रहर्षं मनस्विनामिव सत्सम्प्रहारः

The virtuous daughter of Subala, devoted to her husband, followed him as he left, laying aside her staff of authority, just as noble souls relinquish their attachments at the end.

अजातशत्रुः कृतमैत्रो हुताग्निः विप्रान् नत्वा तिलगोभूमिरुक्मैः । गृहं प्रविष्टो गुरुवन्दनाय न चापश्यत् पितरौ सौबलीं च

Ajatashatru, having made peace with all, performed fire sacrifices, honored the brahmins with sesame, cows, land, and gold, and entered his house to pay respects to his elders, but did not see his parents or the daughter of Subala.

तत्र सञ्जयमासीनं पप्रच्छोद्विग्नमानसः । गावल्गणे क्व नस्तातो वृद्धो हीनश्च नेत्रयोः

There, finding Sanjaya seated, he anxiously asked, 'O Gavalgana, where is our aged father, now deprived of sight?'

अम्बा च हतपुत्राऽऽर्ता पितृव्यः क्व गतः सुहृत् । अपि मय्यकृतप्रज्ञे हतबन्धुः स भार्यया । आशंसमानः शमलं गङ्‌गायां दुःखितोऽपतत्

'And where is mother, grieving for her slain sons? Where has my uncle, our friend, gone? Perhaps, thinking me lacking in wisdom and now bereft of kin, he has, with his wife, sought the Ganga, hoping for relief from sorrow,' he wondered, falling into distress.

पितर्युपरते पाण्डौ सर्वान्नः सुहृदः शिशून् । अरक्षतां व्यसनतः पितृव्यौ क्व गतावितः

'After our father Pandu passed away, our uncles protected all our friends and children from calamity. Where have those protectors gone now, leaving us behind?'

सूत उवाच । कृपया स्नेहवैक्लव्यात् सूतो विरहकर्शितः । आत्मेश्वरमचक्षाणो न प्रत्याहातिपीडितः

Suta said: Out of compassion and the pain of separation, Suta, overwhelmed and unable to see the Lord within himself, could not reply, being deeply afflicted.

विमृज्याश्रूणि पाणिभ्यां विष्टभ्यात्मानमात्मना । अजातशत्रुं प्रत्यूचे प्रभोः पादावनुस्मरन्

Wiping his tears with his hands and steadying himself, Sanjaya answered Ajatashatru, remembering the feet of the Lord.

सञ्जय उवाच । नाहं वेद व्यवसितं पित्रोर्वः कुलनन्दन । गान्धार्या वा महाबाहो मुषितोऽस्मि महात्मभिः

Sanjaya said: O delight of your lineage, I do not know the decision of your parents or of Gandhari, O mighty-armed one; I have been deceived by these great souls.

अथाजगाम भगवान् नारदः सहतुम्बुरुः । प्रत्युत्थायाभिवाद्याह सानुजोऽभ्यर्चयन् मुनिम्

Then the venerable sage Narada arrived with Tumburu. Rising to greet and honor him, Yudhishthira and his brothers worshipped the sage.

युधिष्ठिर उवाच । नाहं वेद गतिं पित्रोः भगवन् क्व गतावितः । अम्बा वा हतपुत्रार्ता क्व गता च तपस्विनी

Yudhishthira said: O revered one, I do not know where my parents have gone, nor where my mother, grieving for her slain sons and devoted to austerity, has departed.

कर्णधार इवापारे भगवान् पारदर्शकः । अथाबभाषे भगवान् नारदो मुनिसत्तमः

Then, like a helmsman who shows the way across the sea, the illustrious sage Narada, best among sages, spoke.

यथा गावो नसि प्रोताः तन्त्यां बद्धाः स्वदामभिः । वाक्तन्त्यां नामभिर्बद्धा वहन्ति बलिमीशितुः

Just as cows, tied by their own ropes to a stake, are bound by a cord, so too are beings bound by names and words, carrying out the offerings for the Lord.