Mahabharata, Book 6, Section VIIIभीष्मपर्व

Kisari Mohan Ganguli’s English prose (1883–96), beside the Sanskrit of adhyāya 6.8.

8Sanskrit adhyāya 6.8 · Sanskrit source · English source

Sanskrit

धृतराष्ट्र उवाच।
वर्षाणां चैव नामानि पर्वतानां च संजय।
आचक्ष्व मे यथातत्त्वं ये च पर्वतवासिनः ।।
संजय उवाच।
दक्षिणेन तु श्वेतस्य नीलस्यैवोत्तरेण तु।
वर्षं रमणकं नाम जायन्ते तत्र मानवाः ।।
शुक्लाभिजनसंपन्नाः सर्वे सुप्रियदर्शनाः।
निःसपत्नाश्च ते सर्वे जायन्ते तत्र मानवाः ।।
दशवर्षसहस्राणि शतानि दश पञ्च च।
जीवन्ति ते महाराज नित्यं मुदितमानसाः ।।
दक्षिणे शृङ्गिणश्चैव श्वेतस्याथोत्तरेण तु।
वर्षं हिरण्मयं नाम यत्र हैरण्वती नदी ।।
यत्र चायं महाराज पक्षिराट् पतगोत्तमः।
यक्षानुगा महाराज धनिनः प्रियदर्शनाः ।।
महाबलास्तत्र जना राजन्मुदितमानसाः।
एकादशसहस्राणि वर्षाणां ते जनाधिप ।।
आयुःप्रमाणं जीवन्ति शतानि दश पञ्च च।
श्रृङ्गाणि वै श्रृङ्गवतस्त्रीण्येव मनुजाधिप ।।
एकं मणिमयं तत्र तथैकं रौक्ममद्भुतम् ।
सर्वरत्नमयं चैकं भवनैरुपशोभितम् ।
तत्र स्वयंप्रभा देवी नित्यं वसति शाण्डिली ।।
उत्तरेण तु श्रृङ्गस्य समुद्रान्ते जनाधिप ।
वर्षमैरावतं नाम तस्माच्छृङ्गवतः परम् ।।
न तत्र सूर्यस्तपति न जीर्यन्ते च मानवाः ।
चन्द्रमाश्च सनक्षत्रो ज्योतिर्भूत इवावृतः ।।
पद्मप्रभाः पद्मवर्णाः पद्मपत्रनिभेक्षणाः ।
पद्मपत्रसुगन्धाश्च जायन्ते तत्र मानवाः ।।
अनिष्पन्दा इष्टगन्धा निराहारा जितेन्द्रियाः ।
देवलोकच्युताः सर्वे तथा विरजसो नृप ।।
त्रयोदशसहस्राणि वर्षाणां ते जनाधिप ।
आयुःप्रमाणं जीवन्ति नरा भरतसत्तम ।।
क्षीरोदस्य समुद्रस्य तथैवोत्तरतः प्रभुः ।
हरिर्वसति वैकुण्ठः शकटे कनकोञ्ज्वले ।।
अष्टचक्रं हि तद्यानं भूतयुक्तं मनोजवम् ।
अग्निवर्णं महातेजो जाम्बूनदविभूषितम् ।।
स प्रभुः सर्वभूतानां विभुश्च भरतर्षभ ।
संक्षेपो विस्तरश्चैव कर्ता कारयिता तथा ।।
पृथिव्यापस्तथाऽऽकाशं वायुस्तेजश्च पार्थिव ।
स यज्ञः सर्वभूतनामास्यं तस्य हुताशनः ।।
वैशंपायन उवाच।
एवमुक्तः संजयेन धृतराष्ट्रो महामनाः।
ध्यानमन्वगमद्राजा पुत्रान्प्रति जनाधिप ।।
स विचिन्त्य महातेजाः पुनरेवाब्रवीद्वचः।
असंशयं सूतपुत्र कालः संक्षिपते जगत् ।।
सृजते च पुनः सर्वं नेह विद्यति शाश्वतम् ।
नरो नारायणश्चैव सर्वज्ञः सर्वभूतहृत् ।।
देवा वैकुण्ठ इत्याद्दुर्वेदा विष्णुरिति प्रभुम् ।।
।। इति श्रीमन्महाभारते भीष्मपर्वणि
जम्बूखण्‍डविनिर्माणपर्वणि अष्टमोऽध्यायः ।।

English Ganguli

“Dhritarashtra said,—‘Tell me truly, O Sanjaya, the names of all the Varshas, and of all the mountains, and also of all those that dwell on those mountains.’

“Sanjaya said,—‘On the south of Sweta and the north of Nishadha, is the Varsha, called Romanaka. The men that are born there are all of white complexion, of good parentage, and handsome features. And the men born there are also all without enemies. And they live, O king, for eleven thousand and five hundred years, being ever of cheerful hearts. On the south of Nishadha is the Varsha called Hiranmaya where is the river called Hiranwati. There, O king, liveth that foremost of birds named Garuda. And the people there, O monarch, are all followers of the Yakshas, wealthy, and of handsome features. And, O king, the men there are endued with great strength and have cheerful hearts. And they live for twelve thousand and five hundred years, O king, which is the measure of their lives. The mountains of Sringavat,56 O ruler of men, have three beautiful summits. One of these is made of jewels and gems, another is very wonderful, being made of all kinds of gems and adorned with palatial mansions. There the self-luminous lady named Sandili always liveth. On the north of Sringavat and up to the margin of the sea, O king, the Varsha called Airavat. And because this jewelled mountain is there, therefore is this Varsha superior to all. The sun giveth no heat there and men are not subject to decay. And the moon there, with the stars, becoming the only source of light, covereth (the firmament). Possessing the radiance and complexion of the lotus, and endued with eyes that resemble lotus-petals, the men born there have the fragrance of the lotus. With winkless eyes, and agreeable scent (emanating from their bodies), they go without food and have their senses under control. They are all fallen from the region of the celestials, and are all, O king, without sin of any kind. And they live, O monarch, for thirteen thousand years, that being, O best of the Bharatas, the measure of their lives. And so on the north of the milky ocean, the Lord Hari of unlimited puissance dwelleth on his car made of gold. That vehicle is endued with eight wheels, with numerous supernatural creatures stationed on it, and having the speed of the mind. And its complexion is that of fire, and it is endued with mighty energy and adorned with Jamvunada gold. He is the Lord of all creatures, and is possessed, O bull of Bharata’s race, of every kind of prosperity. In him the universe merges (when dissolution comes), and from him it again emanates (when the creative desire seizes him). He is the actor, and it is He that makes all others act. He, O monarch, is earth, water, space, air, and fire. He is Sacrifice’s self unto all creatures, and fire is His mouth.’"

Vaisampayana continued,—“The high-souled king Dhritarashtra, thus addressed by Sanjaya, became, O monarch, absorbed in meditation about his sons. Endued with great energy, he then, having reflected, said these words: ‘Without doubt, O Suta’s son, it is Time that destroyeth the universe. And it is Time that again createth everything. Nothing here is eternal. It is Nara and Narayana, endued with omniscience, that destroyeth all creatures.57 The gods speak of him as Vaikuntha (of immeasurable puissance), while men call him Vishnu (one that pervadeth the Universe)!’"