Mahābhārata

M. N. Dutt: Yudhishthira said O grandfather, it has been said that all righteous men attain to the same region after death. It is true, O Bharata, that there is difference of position among them?

M. N. Dutt: Bhishma said By different acts, O son of Pritha, men acquire different regions. They who are righteous in conduct acquire blissful regions, while they who are sinful acquire miserable regions.

M. N. Dutt: Regarding it is cited the old discourse, O son, between the ascetic Gautama and Vasava.

M. N. Dutt: A certain Brahmana named Gautama, mild and selfcontrolled and with all his senses under complete control, saw an infant elephant that had lost his mother and that was highly cheerless on that account.

M. N. Dutt: Full of mercy and steady in the observance of his vows, the ascetic nursed that infant animal. After a long time the little beast grew up into a large and powerful elephant.

M. N. Dutt: One day, Indra, in the guise of king Dhritarashtra, scized that powerful clephant which was as huge as a hill and from whose rent temples the juice was trickling down.

M. N. Dutt: Seeing the elephant dragged away, the great ascetic Gautama of rigid vows said to king Dhritarashta, O ungrateful Dhritarashtra, do not rob me of this elephant. It is considered by me as a son and I have reared it with much pain. It is said that between the pious, friendship if formed by merely the exchange of seven words. You should see, O king, that the sin of injuring a friend does not affect you,

M. N. Dutt: Gautamia said You should not, O king, take away by force this elephant which brings me my fuel and water, which protects my hermitage when I am away, which is exceedingly docile and obedient to his instructor, which carefully does what his preceptor commands, which is mild and wellbroken, and which is grateful and very dear to me. Indeed, you should not take it away without caring for my protestalions and cries.

M. N. Dutt: Dhritarashtra said I shall give you a thousand kine, a hundred maidservants, and five hundred pieces of gold. I shall also, O great Rishi, give you various other kinds of wealth. What use can Brahmanas have with elephant?

M. N. Dutt: Gautama said Keep O king, your kine and maid servants and coins of gold and various gems and various other kinds of riches. What, o king, have Brahmanas to do with riches.

M. N. Dutt: Dhritarashtra said Brahmanas have no use for elephants. Indeed, O learned Brahmana, elephants are intended for Kshatriyas. In taking away an animal, viz., this foremost of elephants, for my use, I cannot be considered as committing any sin. Do you cease obstructing me thus, o Gautama.

M. N. Dutt: Gautama said O illustrious king, going even to that region of Yama where the pious live happily and the sinful in grief, I shall take from you this my elephants.

M. N. Dutt: Dhritarashtra said They who are destitute of religious acts, they who have no religious faith and are atheists, they who are sinful and are always engaged in pleasing their appetites only they have to go to the region of Yama and suffer the misery he inflicts. Dhritarashtra shall go to a higher region and not there.

M. N. Dutt: Gautama said Men are restrained in the region of Yama. No falsehood can be told there. Only truth prevails in that place. There the weak persecute the strong. Going there I shall compel you to yield up this elephant to me.

M. N. Dutt: Dhritarashtra said Only those persons who, intoxicated with pride, treat their eldest sister and father and mother as enemies, have to go, O great ascetic, to such a region. I shall go to a higher region. Indeed, Dhritarashtra shall not have to go there.

M. N. Dutt: Gautama said Those highly blessed ones go to the region called Mandakini, of king Vaishravana for enjoying joy and comfort. There live Gandharvas and Yakshas and Apsaras. Going even there, O kine, I shall compel you to yield up this elephant to me.

M. N. Dutt: Dhritarashtra said Those persons who consider hospitality to guests as a vow, who observe good vows, who give shelter to Brahmanas, and who eat what remains after distribution among his dependants, adorn the region called Mandakini of Kubera. I shall not go there, for a higher region is reserved for me.

M. N. Dutt: Gautama said If you go to those charming woods, decked with flowers, which stand on the summit of Meru, which echo with the melodious notes of Kinnaris, and which are graced with beautiful Jamvus of wide spreading branches, I shall proceed even there and compell you to yield up this elephant to me. Dhritarashtra said

M. N. Dutt: Those Brahmanas who have mild dispositions, who are devoted to truth, who are endued with scriptural knowledge, who are compassionate to all creatures, who study, the Puranas with all the histories, who pour libations on the sacred fire and make gifts of honcy to the Brahmanas, go to such regions, O great Rishi! I shall go to a higher region. Indeed, Dhritarashtra shall not go there. If you are acquainted with any other wellknown region of happiness, speak to me, for I shall go even there.

M. N. Dutt: Gautama said If you go to the woods owned by Narada and held dear by him, which are adorned with flowers and which echo with the melodious songs of the prince of Kinnaras, and which are the eternal habitation of Gandharvas an Apsaras. I shall follow you there and compell you to yield up this elephant to me.

M. N. Dutt: Dhritarashtra said They who never beg, they who cultivate music and dancing, and always move about happily, proceed to such regions. O great Rishi, I shall go to a region which is higher. Indeed Dhritarashtra shall not have to go there.

M. N. Dutt: Gautama said If you go that region where the Uttara Kurus blaze in beauty and pass their days happily, O king, in the company of the very celestials, where those beings who originate from fire, those who originate from water, and those who originate from mountains, live happily, and where Shakra rains down the fruition of every desire, and where women live in perfect freedom, uncotrolled by rules of any kind regulating their conduct or motions, and where there is no feeling of jealousy among both the sexes, if you go there, even there shall I go and compel you to yield up this elephant to me.

M. N. Dutt: Dhritarashtra said Those men who are freed from desire for all articles of enjoyment, who abstain from meat, who never take up the rod of punishment, and never inflict the least harm on mobile and immobile creatures, who have formed themselves the soul of all creatures, who never accost others by pronouncing blessings upon them, who are entirely freed from the idea of mineness, who are shorn of attachments for every thing, who view profit and loss as also praise and blame in equal light, only those men, O great Rishi, go to such regions. I shall go to a higher region. Indeed, Dhritarashtra shall not go there.

M. N. Dutt: Gautama said Next to these shine in beauty those eternal regions, full of excellent perfumes which are free from passions of every kind and which are destitute of sorrow. These forin the abode of the great king Soma. If you go there, even there shall I proceed and compell you to yield up this elephant to me.

Corresponding verse not found in M. N. Dutt's version.

Corresponding verse not found in M. N. Dutt's version.

M. N. Dutt: Gautama said Next to these shine in beauty those eternal regions, full of excellent perfumes which are free from passions of every kind and which are destitute of sorrow. These forin the abode of the great king Soma. If you go there, even there shall I proceed and compell you to yield up this elephant to me.

Corresponding verse not found in M. N. Dutt's version.

Corresponding verse not found in M. N. Dutt's version.

M. N. Dutt: Gautama said Next to these shine in beauty those eternal regions, full of excellent perfumes which are free from passions of every kind and which are destitute of sorrow. These forin the abode of the great king Soma. If you go there, even there shall I proceed and compell you to yield up this elephant to me.

M. N. Dutt: Dhritarashtra said Those men who always make gifts without receiving any gift, who never accept any service from others, who possess nothing which they cannot give to a worthy person, who are hospitable to all creatures, who are inclined to show favour to every one, who are of for giving dispositions, who never speak ill of others, who protect all creatures by covering them with mercy, and who are always righteous in their conduct, only those men, O great Rishi, go to such regions. I shall go to a higher region. Indeed, Dhritarashtra shall not go there.

M. N. Dutt: Gautama sajd Next to these shine in beauty other regions that are eternal free from passion and Darkness and sorrow, and which lie at the foot of the great SunGod. If you go there, even there shall I go and compell you to yield up this elephant to me.

M. N. Dutt: Dhritarashtra said Those man who attentively study the Vedas, who are given to the service of their preceptors, who observe penances and excellent vows, who are firm in truth, who never utter words of disobedience or enmity to their preceptors, who are always alert, and ever ready in the service of elders and preceptors, they go, O great Rishi, to such regions, they who are pure who are gifted with cleansed souls, who are of controlled speech, who arc firm in truth and who are well versed in the Vedas. I shall proceed to a higher region. Indeed, Dhritarashtra shall not go there.

M. N. Dutt: Gautama said Next to those are the eternal regions which shine in beauty, which are full of excellent perfumes, which are free from passion, and which are destitute of every sorrow. They form the abode of the great king Varuna. If you proceed there, even there shall I go and compell you to yield up this elephant to me.

M. N. Dutt: Dhritarashtra said Those men who adore the celestials by observing the vow called Chaturmasya, who perform a hundred and ten sacrifices, who pour libations every day on their sacred fire with devotion and faith for three years according to the ordinances declared in the Vedas, who perform without hesitation of all duties, who walk steadily along the way trod by the pious, who steadily sustain the course of conduct followed by the righteousshould, only they go to such region, I shall go to a higher region. Indeed, Dhritarashtra shall not go there.

M. N. Dutt: Gautama said Above them are the regions of Indra, free from passion and sorrow, which are difficult of access and coveted by all men. Going even to the abode of indra himself of great energy, I shall, O king, compel you to yield up this elephant to me.

M. N. Dutt: Dhritarashtra said He who lives for a hundred years, who is gifted with heroism, who studies the Vedas and who celebrates sacrifices with devotion, indeed, such men proceed to the region of Shakra. I shall go to a higher region, Indeed, Dhritarashtra shall not go there.

M. N. Dutt: Gautama said Above the firmament are the regions of the Prajapatis, of superior happiness, abounding in every happiness, and shorn of sorrow. Belonging to those powerful ones from whom the creation has originated, they are coveted by all persons. If you go there, even their shall I go and compel you to yield up this elephant to me.

M. N. Dutt: Dhritarashtra said Those kings who have bathed upon the termination of the Rajasuya sacrifice, who are gifted with righteous souls, who have protected their subjects properly, and who have washed their limbs with purified water upon the termination of the Horsesacrifice, go to such regions. Indeed Dhritarashtra shall not go there.

M. N. Dutt: Gautama said Next to those, shine in beauty those eternal regions, full of delicious perfumes, freed from passion, and transcending all sorrow. Those are the regions of kine, very hard to get in, where oppression can never be. If you go there, I shall go even there and compell you to yield up this elephant to me.

M. N. Dutt: Dhritarashtra said He who, having a thousand kine, gives away a hundred kine every year, or having a hundred kine gives away ten every year to the best of his power, or possessing only ten or even five kine gives away therefrom one cow, and they who give a mature old age practising the vow of celibacy all their days, who obey the injunctions of the Vedas, and who, gifted with energy of mind, go to sacred waters and shrines, live happily in the region of kine.

M. N. Dutt: They who go to Prabhasa and Manasa, the lakes of Pushkara, the large lake called Mahatsara the sacred forest of Naimisha, Vahuda, Karatoya, Ganga, Gayashiras, Vipasha, Sthulavaluka, Krishna, the five rivers (of the Punjab), the extensive lake called Mahahrada, Gomati, Kaushiki, Champa, Sarasvati, Drishadvati, and Yamuna, indeed those illustrious Brahmanas, firm in the observance of vows, who go to these sacred waters, go to the regions of which you speak. Gifted with celestial bodies and adorned with celestial garlands, those blessed individuals, always emitting the sweetest perfumes, go to the regions of joy. Indeed, Dhritarashtra shall not go there.

M. N. Dutt: Gautama said Next to these are regions where there is no fear of the least cold or heat, no hunger, no thirst, no pain, no sorrow, no joy, no one who is agreeable or disagreeable, no friend, and no enemy, no decrepitude and no death, and where there is neither virtue nor sin.

M. N. Dutt: Going, even to that region which is freed from passion, which is full of happiness, and where there is wisdom and the quality of Sattwa, indeed, going to even that sacred abode of the selfcreate Brahman, I shall compel you to yield up this elephant to me.

M. N. Dutt: Dhritarashtra said They who are shorn of all attachments, who are gifted with purified souls, who steadily observe the foremost vows, who are given to Yoga which is the outcome of the pacification of the mind, and who have acquired the happiness of Heaventhose persons possessed of the quality of Sattwacome to the sacred region of Brahman. O great ascetic, you shall not be able to discover Dhritarashtra there.

M. N. Dutt: Gautama said There where the foremost of Rathantaras is sung, where altars are covered with the sacred Kusha blades, for the celebration of Pundarika sacrifices, there where Soma drinking Brahmanas sojourn on cars drawn by excellent horses, going even there I shall compel you to yield up this elephant.

M. N. Dutt: I think you are the destroyer of Vritra, viz., the god who has celebrated a hundred sacrifices, engaged in passing through all the regions of the universe. I hope I have not through mental weakness, committed any fault by the words I have addressed you.

M. N. Dutt: The God of a hundred sacrifices said Yes, I am Maghavat. I come on earth for seizing this elephant. I bow to you. Do you command me. I shall immediately accomplish all that you may be pleased to say.

M. N. Dutt: Gautama said Do you give me, O king, of the celestials, this white elephant that is so young, for it is only ten years of age. I have raised it as a child of my own. Living in this forest, it has grown under my eye and has been to me a dear companion. Do you set free this my child that you have seized and wish to take away.

M. N. Dutt: The god of a hundred sacrifices said This elephant that has been a son, to you, O foremost of Brahmanas, comes to you loO king wistfully at you. See, it smells your feet with its nostrils. My salutations to you. Do you pray for my wellbeing.

M. N. Dutt: Gautama said O king, of the celestials, I do always think of your good. I always offer you worship. Do you also, O Shakra, impart your blessings to me. Given by you, I accept this elephant.

M. N. Dutt: The God of a hundred sacrifices said Amongst all those great and foremost of Rishis, who firmly follow truth and who have the Vedas planted in their heart, you alone have been able to recognise me. Therefore I am exceedingly pleased with you.

M. N. Dutt: Do you, therefore, O Brahmana, come with me speedily, accompanied by this your son. You are worthy of going to various regions of great happiness, without the delay of even a single day.

M. N. Dutt: Bhishma said Having said these words, the holder of the thunderbolt, taking Gautama with him and placing him before, along with his son, viz., that elephant, went to Heaven, that is difficult of attainment by even the pious.

M. N. Dutt: He who would listen to this history every day or would recite it, controlling his senses all the while, will go to the region of Brahman even as Gautama himself. the while, will go to the region of Brahman even as Gautama himself.