वैशम्पायन उवाच कुरुक्षेत्रं ततो दृष्ट्वा दत्त्वा दायांश्च सात्वतः। आश्रमं सुमहद् दिव्यमगमजनमेजय॥

Vaishampayana said "Having visited Kurukshetra and distributed wealth there the Satwata hero then proceeded, O Janamejaya, to a large and exceedingly beautiful hermitage.

Shalya Parva 54.1

मधूराम्रवणोपेतं प्लक्षन्यग्रोधसंकुलम्। चिरबिल्वयुतं पुण्यं पनसार्जुनसंकुलम्॥

That hermitage was overgrown with Madhuka and mango trees, and abounded with Plakshas and Nyagrodhas. And it contained many Vilvas and many excellent jack and Arjuna trees.

Shalya Parva 54.2

तं दृष्ट्वा यादवश्रेष्ठः प्रवरं पुण्यलक्षणम्। पप्रच्छ तानृषीन् सर्वान् कस्याश्रमवरस्त्वयम्॥

Seeing that beautiful hermitage Baladeva asked the Rishis as to whom it belonged.

Shalya Parva 54.3

ते तु सर्वे महात्मानमूचु राजन् हालयुधम्। शृणु विस्तरशो राम यस्यायं पूर्वमाश्रमः॥

Those great ones, O king, said Baladeva 'Listen in full, O Rama, as to whose asylum this was formerly.

Shalya Parva 54.4

अत्र विष्णुः पुरा देवस्तप्तवांस्तप उत्तमम्। अत्रास्य विधिवद् यज्ञाः सर्वे वृत्ताः सनातनाः॥

Here the god Vishnu formerly practised austere penances. Here he celebrated duly all the eternal sacrifices.

Shalya Parva 54.5

अत्रैव ब्राह्मणी सिद्धा कौमारब्रह्मचारिणी। योगयुक्ता दिवं याता तप:सिद्धा तपस्विनी॥

Here leading from youth the vow of Brahmacharya, a Brahmani inaiden, was crowned with ascetic success. Ultimately possessed of Yoga powers that ascetic lady went to heaven.

Shalya Parva 54.6

बभूव श्रीमती राजशाण्डिल्यस्य महात्मनः। सुता धृतव्रता साध्वी नियता ब्रह्मचारिणी॥

The great Shandilya, O king, had a beautiful daughter who was chaste, observant of severe vows self-restrained, and led a life of cclibacy.

Shalya Parva 54.7

सा तु तत्त्वा तपो घोरं दुश्चरं स्त्रीजनेन ह। गता स्वर्ग महाभागा देवब्राह्मणपूजिता॥ श्रुत्वा ऋषीणां वचनमाश्रमं तं जगाम ह।

Having practised the hardest of penances such as the incapable of being performed by women, the blessed lady at last went to heaven, adored by the gods and Brahmanas. Having heard these words of the Rishis, Baladeva entered that hermitage.

Shalya Parva 54.8

ऋषींस्तानभिवाद्याथ पार्श्वे हिमवतोऽच्युतः॥ संध्याकार्याणि सर्वाणि निर्वारुरुहेऽचलम्।

Bidding a farewell to the Rishis, Baladeva performed all the rites and ceremonies of the evening on the side of Himavat and then began to ascend mountain.

Shalya Parva 54.9

नातिदूरं ततो गत्वा नगं तालध्वजो बली॥ पुण्यं तीर्थवरं दृष्ट्वा विस्मयं परमं गतः।

The powerful Valarama having the emblem of the palmyra of his banner had not ascended far when he saw a sacred and goodly Tirtha and was stricken with wonder at the sight.

Shalya Parva 54.10

प्रभावं च सरस्वत्याः प्लक्षप्रस्रवणं बलः॥ सम्प्राप्तः कारपवनं प्रवरं तीर्थमुत्तमम्। हलायुधस्तत्र चापि दत्त्वा दानं महाबलः॥

Sceing the glory of the Sarasvati as also the Tirtha called Plakshaprasaravana, Vala next reached another excellent and foremost of Tirthas called Karavapana.

Shalya Parva 54.11

आप्लुतः सलिले पुण्ये सुशीते विमले शुचौ। संतर्पयामास पितॄन् देवांश्च रणदुर्मदः॥

Having made many presents there, the powerful Baladeva bathed in the cool, clear, sacred, and sin-cleansing water (of that Tirtha).

Shalya Parva 54.12

तत्रोष्यैकां त रजनी यतिभिर्ब्राह्मणैः सह। मित्रावरुणयोः पुण्यं जगामाश्रममच्युतः॥

Passing one night there with the ascetics and the Brahmanas, Rama then went to the sacred hermitage of the Mitravarunas.

Shalya Parva 54.13

इन्द्रोऽग्निरर्यमा चैव यत्र प्राक् प्रीतिमाप्नुवन्। तं देशं कारपवनाद् यमुनायां जगाम ह॥

From Karavapana he proceeded to that spot on the Yamuna where formerly Indra and Agni and Aryaman had obtained great felicity.

Shalya Parva 54.14

स्नात्वा तत्र च धर्मात्मा परां प्रीतिमवाप्य च। ऋषिभिश्चैव सिद्धैश्च सहितो वै महाबलः॥ उपविष्टः कथाः शुभ्राः शुश्राव यदुपुङ्गवः।

Bathing there, that Yadu's chief of pious soul, obtained great happiness. The hero then sat himself down with the Rishis and the Siddhas there for listening to their excellent discourses.

Shalya Parva 54.15

तथा तु तिष्ठतां तेषां नारदो भगवानृषिः॥ आजगामाथ तं देशं यत्र रामो व्यवस्थितः।

There where Rama sat in the midst of that assemblage the adorable Rishi Narada came while trembling.

Shalya Parva 54.16

जटामण्डलसंवीत: स्वर्णचीरो महातपाः॥ हेमदण्डधरो राजन् कमण्डलुधरस्तथा।

Wearing matted locks and shining like gold, he carried in his hands, O king, a golden stalf and a waterpot.

Shalya Parva 54.17

कच्छपी सुखशब्दां तां गृह्य वीणां मनोरमाम्॥ नृत्ये गीते च कुशलो देवब्राह्मणपूजितः।

Accomplishment in song and dance and worshipped of gods and Brahmanas, he had with him a beautiful Vina of sweet notes, made of the tortoise-shell.

Shalya Parva 54.18

प्रकर्ता कलहानां च नित्यं च कलहप्रियः॥ तं देशमदमद् यत्र श्रीमान् रामो व्यवस्थितः।

A creator of quarrels and ever fond of quarrel, the celestial Rishi came where the handsome Rama was resting.

Shalya Parva 54.19

प्रत्युत्थाय च तं सम्यक् पूजयित्वा यतव्रतम्॥ देवर्षि पर्यपृच्छत् स यथा वृत्तं कुरून् प्रति।

Standing up and greatly honoring the celestial Rishis if restricted vows, Rama asked him about all that had befallen the Kurus.

Shalya Parva 54.20

ततोऽस्याकथयद् राजन् नारदः सर्वधर्मवित्॥ सर्वमेतद् यथावृत्तमतीव कुरुसंक्षयम्।

Conversant with duty and practices, Narada, then, O king, told him everything, as it had occurred, about the dreadful destruction of the Kurus.

Shalya Parva 54.21

ततोऽब्रवीद् रौहिणेयो नारदं दीनया गिरा॥ किमवस्थं तु तत् क्षत्रं ये तु तत्राभवन् नृपाः।

The Rohini's son then, in sorrowful words, enquired of the Rishi, saying-'What is the state of the field? How are those kings now that had assembled there?

Shalya Parva 54.22

श्रुतमेतन्मया पूर्वं सर्वमेव तपोधन॥ विस्तरश्रवणे जातं कौतूहलमतीव मे।

I have heard everything before, O Rishi, but iny curiosity is great for hearing it in detail!'

Shalya Parva 54.23

नारद उवाच पूर्वमेव हतो भीष्मो द्रोणः सिन्धुपतिस्तथा॥ हतो वैकर्तनः कर्णः पुत्राश्चास्य महारथाः।

Narada said Already Bhishma and Drona and the lord of the Sindhus have died! Vikartana's son Karna also has been killed, with his sons.

Shalya Parva 54.24

भूरिश्रवा रौहिणेय मद्रराजश्च वीर्यवान्॥ एते चान्ये च बहवस्तत्र तत्र महाबलाः। प्रियान् प्राणान् परित्यज्य जयार्थं कौरवस्य वै॥ राजानो राजपुत्राश्च समरेष्वनिवर्तिनः।

Bhurishravas too, O son of Rohini, and the brave chief of the Madras have died! These and many other great heroes that had assembled there, rcady to sacrifice this dear life itself for the victory of Duryodhana—have all fallen!

Shalya Parva 54.25

अहतांस्तु महाबाहो शृणु मे तत्र माधव॥ धार्तराष्ट्रबले शेषास्त्रयः समितिमर्दनाः।

Listen now to me, O Madhava, about those that yet alive! In the army of Dhritarashtra's son, only three yet survive.

Shalya Parva 54.26

कृपश्च कृतवर्मा च द्रोणपुत्रश्च वीर्यवान्॥ तेऽपि वै विद्रुता राम दिशो दश भयात् तदा।

They are Kripa and Kritavarman and the powerful son of Drona! These also, O Rama, have from fear fled away on all sides!

Shalya Parva 54.27

दुर्योधने हते शल्ये विदुतेषु कृपादिषु॥ ह्रदं द्वैपायनं नाम विवेश भृशदुःखितः।

After Shalya's fall and the fight of Kripa and the others, Duryodhana, in great sorrow had entered the Dvaipayana lake.

Shalya Parva 54.28

शयानं धार्तराष्ट्रं तु सलिले स्तम्भिते तदा॥ पाण्डवाः सह कृष्णेन वाग्भिरुयाभिरादयन्।

While resting at the bottom of the lake after solidifying its waters, Duryodhana approached by the Pandavas with Krishna and cut to the quick by their cruel words. are was

Shalya Parva 54.29

उत्थितः स ह्रदाद् स तुद्यमानो बलवान् वाग्मी रामसमन्ततः॥ वीरः प्रगृह्य महतीं गदाम्।

Cut with wordy darts, O Rama, from every side, the powerful and heroic Duryodhana has risen from the lake, armed with his heavy inace.

Shalya Parva 54.30

स चाप्युपगतो योद्धं भीमेन सह साम्प्रतम्॥ भविष्यति तयोरा युद्धं राम सुदारुणम्।

He has come forward for fighting Bhima for the present. The terrible encounter, O Rama, will take place today!

Shalya Parva 54.31

यदि कौतूहलं तेऽस्ति व्रज माधव मा चिरम्। पश्य युद्धं महाघोरं शिष्ययोर्यदि मन्यसे॥

If you feel any curiosity, then hasten O Madhava, without delay! Go, if you like and witness that terrible battle between your two disciples!'

Shalya Parva 54.32

वैशम्पायन उवाच नारदस्य वचः श्रुत्वा तानभ्यर्च्य द्विजर्षभान्। सर्वान् विसर्जयामास ये तेनाभ्यागताः सह॥

Vaishampayana said "Hearing Narada, Rama bade a respectful farewell to those great Brahmanas and sent away all those that had accompanied him (in। his pilgrimage).

Shalya Parva 54.33

गम्यतां द्वारकां चेति सोऽन्वशादनुयायिनः। सोऽवतीर्याचलश्रेष्ठात् प्लक्षप्रस्रवणाच्छुभात्॥

He ordered his attendant saying-Return you to Dwaraka!' He then got down from that prince of mountains and that fair hermitage called Plakshaprashravana.

Shalya Parva 54.34

ततः प्रीतमना रामः श्रुत्वा तीर्थफलं महत्। विप्राणां संनिधौ श्लोकमगायदिममच्युतः॥

Having listened to the discourse of the sages about the great merits of Tirthas, Rama sang this verse in the midst of the Brahmanas.

Shalya Parva 54.35

सरस्वतीवाससमा कुतो रतिः सरस्वतीवाससमाः कुतो गुणाः। सरस्वतीं प्राप्य दिवं गता जनाः सदा स्मरिष्यन्ति नदीं सरस्वतीम्॥

Where is such happiness as is obtainable by living by the Sarasvati? Where else such merits as those obtainable by living by the Sarasvati? Men have departed for heaven, having approached the Sarasvati! All should ever remember the Sarasvati! Sarasvati is the most sacred of all rivers.

Shalya Parva 54.36

सरस्वती सर्वनदीषु पुण्या सरस्वती लोकशुभावहा सदा। सरस्वतीं प्राप्य जनाः सुदुष्कृतं सदा न शोचन्ति परत्र चेह च॥

Sarasvati always confers the greatest happiness on men! After approaching the Sarasvati, men will not have to give for their sins either here or hereafter!'

Shalya Parva 54.37

ततो मुहुर्मुहुः प्रीत्या प्रेक्षमाण: सरस्वतीम्। हयैर्युक्तं रथं शुभ्रमातिष्ठत परंतपः॥

Repeatedly looking with joy at the Sarasvati, that destroyer of foes then ascended an excellent car to which were yoked beautiful horses.

Shalya Parva 54.38

स शीघ्रगामिना तेन रथेन यदुपुङ्गवः। दिदृक्षुरभिसम्प्राप्तः शिष्ययुद्धमुपस्थितम्॥

Journeying then on that highly fleet car Baladeva, that best of Yadu's race, desirous of seeing the approaching encounter of his two disciples, arrived on the field.”

Shalya Parva 54.39