Indian Poetry Part 15

THE SWARGAROHANA PARVA OF THE MAHaBHARATA; OR, "THE ENTRY INTO HEAVEN."

_To Narayen, Lord of lords, be glory given, To Queen Saraswati be praise in heaven; Unto Vyasa pay the reverence due,-- So may this story its high course pursue._

Then Janmejaya said: "I am fain to learn How it befell with my great forefathers, The Pandu chiefs and Dhritarashtra's sons, Being to heaven ascended. If thou know'st,-- And thou know'st all, whom wise Vyasa taught-- Tell me, how fared it with those mighty souls?"

Answered the Sage: "Hear of thy forefathers-- Great Yudhishthira and the Pandu lords-- How it befell. When thus the blameless king Was entered into heaven, there he beheld Duryodhana, his foe, throned as a G.o.d Amid the G.o.ds; splendidly sate that prince, Peaceful and proud, the radiance of his brows Far-shining like the sun's; and round him thronged Spirits of light, with Sadhyas,--companies Goodly to see. But when the king beheld Duryodhana in bliss, and not his own,-- Not Draupadi, nor Bhima, nor the rest,-- With quick-averted face and angry eyes The monarch spake: 'Keep heaven for such as these If these come here! I do not wish to dwell Where he is, whom I hated rightfully, Being a covetous and witless prince, Whose deed it was that in wild fields of war Brothers and friends by mutual slaughter fell, While our swords smote, sharpened so wrathfully By all those wrongs borne wandering in the woods: But Draupadi's the deepest wrong, for he-- He who sits there--haled her before the court, Seizing that sweet and virtuous lady--he!-- With grievous hand wound in her tresses. G.o.ds, I cannot look upon him! Sith 'tis so, Where are my brothers? Thither will I go!'

"Smiling, bright Narada, the Sage, replied: 'Speak thou not rashly! Say not this, O King!

Those who come here lay enmities aside.

O Yudhishthira, long-armed monarch, hear!

Duryodhana is cleansed of sin; he sits Worshipful as the saints, worshipped by saints And kings who lived and died in virtue's path, Attaining to the joys which heroes gain Who yield their breath in battle. Even so He that did wrong thee, knowing not thy worth, Hath won before thee hither, raised to bliss For lordliness, and valour free of fear.

Ah, well-beloved Prince! ponder thou not The memory of that gaming, nor the griefs Of Draupadi, nor any vanished hurt Wrought in the pa.s.sing shows of life by craft Or wasteful war. Throne happy at the side Of this thy happy foeman,--wiser now; For here is Paradise, thou chief of men!

And in its holy air hatreds are dead.'

"Thus by such lips addressed the Pandu king Answered uncomforted: 'Duryodhana, If he attains, attains; yet not the less Evil he lived and ill he died,--a heart Impious and harmful, bringing woes to all, To friends and foes. His was the crime which cost Our land its warriors, horses, elephants; His the black sin that set us in the field, Burning for rightful vengeance. Ye are G.o.ds, And just; and ye have granted heaven to him.

Show me the regions, therefore, where they dwell, My brothers, those, the n.o.ble-souled, the loyal, Who kept the sacred laws, who swerved no step From virtue's path, who spake the truth, and lived Foremost of warriors. Where is Kunti's son, The hero-hearted Karna? Where are gone Satyaki, Dhrishtadyumna, with their sons?

And where those famous chiefs who fought for me.

Dying a splendid death? I see them not.

O Narada, I see them not! No King Draupada! no Virata! no glad face Of Dhrisktaketu! no Shikandina, Prince of Panchala, nor his princely boys!

Nor Abhimanyu the unconquerable!

President G.o.ds of heaven! I see not here Radha's bright son, nor Yudhamanyu, Nor Uttamanjaso, his brother dear!

Where are those n.o.ble Maharashtra lords, Rajahs and rajpoots, slain for love of me?

Dwell they in glory elsewhere, not yet seen?

If they be here, high G.o.ds! and those with them For whose sweet sakes I lived, here will I live, Meek-hearted; but if such be not adjudged Worthy, I am not worthy, nor my soul Willing to rest without them. Ah, I burn, Now in glad heaven, with grief, bethinking me Of those my mother's words, what time I poured Death-water for my dead at Kurkshetra,-- "Pour for Prince Karna, Son!" but I wist not His feet were as my mother's feet, his blood Her blood, my blood. O G.o.ds! I did not know,-- Albeit Sakra's self had failed to break Our battle, where _he_ stood. I crave to see Surya's child, that glorious chief who fell By Saryasachi's hand, unknown of me; And Bhima! ah, my Bhima! dearer far Than life to me; Arjuna, like a G.o.d, Nakla and Sahadev, twin lords of war, With tenderest Draupadi! Show me those souls!

I cannot tarry where I have them not.

Bliss is not blissful, just and mighty Ones!

Save if I rest beside them. Heaven is there Where Love and Faith make heaven. Let me go!'

"And answer made the hearkening heavenly Ones: 'Go, if it seemeth good to thee, dear Son!

The King of G.o.ds commands we do thy will.'"

So saying [the Bard went on] Dharma's own voice Gave ordinance, and from the shining bands A golden Deva glided, taking hest To guide the king there where his kinsmen were.

So wended these, the holy angel first, And in his steps the king, close following.

Together pa.s.sed they through the gates of pearl, Together heard them close; then to the left Descending, by a path evil and dark, Hard to be traversed, rugged, entered they The 'SINNERS' ROAD.' The tread of sinful feet Matted the thick thorns carpeting its slope; The smell of sin hung foul on them; the mire About their roots was trampled filth of flesh Horrid with rottenness, and splashed with gore Curdling in crimson puddles; where there buzzed And sucked and settled creatures of the swamp, Hideous in wing and sting, gnat-clouds and flies, With moths, toads, newts, and snakes red-gulleted, And livid, loathsome worms, writhing in slime Forth from skull-holes and scalps and tumbled bones.

A burning forest shut the roadside in On either hand, and 'mid its crackling boughs Perched ghastly birds, or flapped amongst the flames,-- Vultures and kites and crows,--with brazen plumes And beaks of iron; and these grisly fowl Screamed to the shrieks of Prets, lean, famished ghosts, Featureless, eyeless, having pin-point mouths, Hungering, but hard to fill,--all swooping down To gorge upon the meat of wicked ones; Whereof the limbs disparted, trunks and heads, Offal and marrow, littered all the way.

By such a path the king pa.s.sed, sore afeared If he had known of fear, for the air stank With carrion stench, sickly to breathe; and lo!

Presently 'thwart the pathway foamed a flood Of boiling waves, rolling down corpses. This They crossed, and then the Asipatra wood Spread black in sight, whereof the undergrowth Was sword-blades, spitting, every blade, some wretch; All around poison trees; and next to this, Strewn deep with fiery sands, an awful waste, Wherethrough the wicked toiled with blistering feet, 'Midst rocks of bra.s.s, red hot, which scorched, and pools Of bubbling pitch that gulfed them. Last the gorge Of Kutashala Mali,--frightful gate Of utmost h.e.l.l, with utmost horrors filled.

Deadly and nameless were the plagues seen there; Which when the monarch reached, nigh overborne By terrors and the reek of tortured flesh, Unto the angel spake he: 'Whither goes This hateful road, and where be they I seek, Yet find not?' Answer made the heavenly One: 'Hither, great King, it was commanded me To bring thy steps. If thou be'st overborne, It is commanded that I lead thee back To where the G.o.ds wait. Wilt thou turn and mount?'

"Then (O thou Son of Bharat!) Yudhishthir Turned heavenward his face, so was he moved With horror and the hanging stench, and spent By toil of that black travel. But his feet Scarce one stride measured, when about the place Pitiful accents rang: 'Alas, sweet King!-- Ah, saintly Lord!--Ah, Thou that hast attained Place with the Blessed, Pandu's offspring!--pause A little while, for love of us who cry!

Nought can harm _thee_ in all this baneful place; But at thy coming there 'gan blow a breeze Balmy and soothing, bringing us relief.

O Pritha's son, mightiest of men! we breathe Glad breath again to see thee; we have peace One moment in our agonies. Stay here One moment more, Bharata's child! Go not, Thou Victor of the Kurus! Being here, h.e.l.l softens and our bitter pains relax.'

"These pleadings, wailing all around the place, Heard the King Yudhishthira,--words of woe Humble and eager; and compa.s.sion seized His lordly mind. 'Poor souls unknown!' he sighed, And h.e.l.lwards turned anew; for what those were.

Whence such beseeching voices, and of whom, That son of Pandu wist not,--only wist That all the noxious murk was filled with forms, Shadowy, in anguish, crying grace of him.

Wherefore he called aloud,'Who speaks with me?

What do ye here, and what things suffer ye?'

Then from the black depth piteously there came Answers of whispered suffering: 'Karna I, O King!' and yet another,'O my Liege, Thy Bhima speaks!' and then a voice again, 'I am Arjuna, Brother!' and again, 'Nakla is here and Sahadev!' and last A moan of music from the darkness sighed, 'Draupadi cries to thee!' Thereat broke forth The monarch's spirit,--knowing so the sound Of each familiar voice,--'What doom is this?

What have my well-beloved wrought to earn Death with the d.a.m.ned, or life loathlier than death In Narak's midst? Hath Karna erred so deep, Bhima, Arjuna, or the glorious twins, Or she, the slender-waisted, sweetest, best, My princess,--that Duryodhana should sit Peaceful in Paradise with all his crew, Throned by Mahendra and the shining G.o.ds?

How should these fail of bliss, and he attain?

What were their sins to his, their splendid faults?

For if they slipped, it was in virtue's way Serving good laws, performing holy rites, Boundless in gifts and faithful to the death.

These be their well-known voices! Are ye here, Souls I loved best? Dream I, belike, asleep, Or rave I, maddened with accursed sights And death-reeks of this h.e.l.lish air?'

"Thereat For pity and for pain the king waxed wroth.

That soul fear could not shake, nor trials tire, Burned terrible with tenderness, the while His eyes searched all the gloom, his planted feet Stood fast in the mid horrors. Well-nigh, then, He cursed the G.o.ds; well-nigh that steadfast mind Broke from its faith in virtue. But he stayed Th' indignant pa.s.sion, softly speaking this Unto the angel: 'Go to those thou serv'st; Tell them I come not thither. Say I stand Here in the throat of h.e.l.l, and here will bide-- Nay, if I perish--while my well-belov'd Win ease and peace by any pains of mine.'

"Whereupon, nought replied the shining One, But straight repaired unto the upper light, Where Sakra sate above the G.o.ds, and spake Before the G.o.ds the message of the king."

"Afterward what befell?" the prince inquired.

"Afterward, Princely One!" replied the Sage, "At hearing and at knowing that high deed (Great Yudhishthira braving h.e.l.l for love), The Presences of Paradise uprose, Each Splendour in his place,--G.o.d Sakra chief; Together rose they, and together stepped Down from their thrones, treading the nether road Where Yudhishthira tarried. Sakra led The shining van, and Dharma, Lord of laws, Paced glorious next. O Son of Bharata, While that celestial company came down-- Pure as the white stars sweeping through the sky, And brighter than their brilliance--look! h.e.l.l's shades Melted before them; warm gleams drowned the gloom; Soft, lovely scenes rolled over the ill sights; Peace calmed the cries of torment; in its bed The boiling river shrank, quiet and clear; The Asipatra Vana--awful wood-- Blossomed with colours; all those cruel blades, And dreadful rocks, and piteous scattered wreck Of writhing bodies, where the king had pa.s.sed, Vanished as dreams fade. Cool and fragrant went A wind before their faces, as these G.o.ds Drew radiant to the presence of the king,-- Maruts; and Vasus eight, who shine and serve Round Indra; Rudras; Aswins; and those Six Immortal Lords of light beyond our light, Th' Adityas; Saddhyas; Siddhas,--those were there, With angels, saints, and habitants of heaven, Smiling resplendent round the steadfast prince.

"Then spake the G.o.d of G.o.ds these gracious words To Yudhishthira, standing in that place:-- "'King Yudhishthira! O thou long-armed Lord, This is enough! All heaven is glad of thee.

It is enough! Come, thou most blessed one.

Unto thy peace, well-gained. Lay now aside Thy loving wrath, and hear the speech of Heaven.

It is appointed that all kings see h.e.l.l.

The reckonings for the life of men are twain: Of each man's righteous deeds a tally true, A tally true of each man's evil deeds.

Who hath wrought little right, to him is paid A little bliss in Swarga, then the woe Which purges; who much right hath wrought, from him The little ill by lighter pains is cleansed, And then the joys. Sweet is peace after pain, And bitter pain which follows peace; yet they, Who sorely sin, taste of the heaven they miss, And they that suffer quit their debt at last.

Lo! We have loved thee, laying hard on thee Grievous a.s.saults of soul, and this black road.

Bethink thee: by a semblance once, dear Son!

Drona thou didst beguile; and once, dear Son!

Semblance of h.e.l.l hath so thy sin a.s.soiled, "Which pa.s.seth with these shadows. Even thus Thy Bhima came a little s.p.a.ce t' account, Draupadi, Krishna,--all whom thou didst love, Never again to lose! Come, First of Men!

These be delivered and their quittance made.

Also the princes, son of Bharata!

Who fell beside thee fighting, have attained.

Come thou to see! Karna, whom thou didst mourn,-- That mightiest archer, master in all wars,-- He hath attained, shining as doth the sun; Come thou and see! Grieve no more, King of Men!

Whose love helped them and thee, and hath its meed.

Rajas and maharajahs, warriors, aids,-- All thine are thine for ever. Krishna waits To greet thee coming, 'companied by G.o.ds, Seated in heaven, from toils and conflicts saved.

Son! there is golden fruit of n.o.ble deeds, Of prayer, alms, sacrifice. The most just G.o.ds Keep thee thy place above the highest saints, Where thou shalt sit, divine, compa.s.sed about With royal souls in bliss, as Hari sits; Seeing Mandhata crowned, and Bhagirath, Daushyanti, Bharata, with all thy line.

Now therefore wash thee in this holy stream, Gunga's pure fount, whereof the bright waves bless All the Three Worlds. It will so change thy flesh To likeness of th' immortal, thou shalt leave Pa.s.sions and aches and tears behind thee there.'

"And when the awful Sakra thus had said, Lo! Dharma spake,--th' embodied Lord of Right:

"'Bho! bho! I am well pleased! Hail to thee, Chief!

Worthy, and wise, and firm. Thy faith is full, Thy virtue, and thy patience, and thy truth, And thy self-mastery. Thrice I put thee, King!

Unto the trial. In the Dwaita wood, The day of sacrifice,--then thou stood'st fast; Next, on thy brethren's death and Draupadi's, When, as a dog, I followed thee, and found Thy spirit constant to the meanest friend.

Here was the third and sorest touchstone, Son!

That thou shouldst hear thy brothers cry in h.e.l.l, And yet abide to help them. Pritha's child, We love thee! Thou art fortunate and pure, Past trials now. Thou art approved, and they Thou lov'st have tasted h.e.l.l only a s.p.a.ce, Not meriting to suffer more than when An evil dream doth come, and Indra's beam Ends it with radiance--as this vision ends.

It is appointed that all flesh see death, And therefore thou hast borne the pa.s.sing pangs, Briefest for thee, and brief for those of thine,-- Bhima the faithful, and the valiant twins Nakla and Sahadev, and those great hearts Karna, Arjuna, with thy princess dear, Draupadi. Come, thou best-beloved Son, Blessed of all thy line! Bathe in this stream,-- It is great Gunga, flowing through Three Worlds.'

"Thus high-accosted, the rejoicing king (Thy ancestor, O Liege!) proceeded straight Unto that river's brink, which floweth pure Through the Three Worlds, mighty, and sweet, and praised.

There, being bathed, the body of the king Put off its mortal, coming up arrayed In grace celestial, washed from soils of sin, From pa.s.sion, pain, and change. So, hand in hand With brother-G.o.ds, glorious went Yudhishthir, Lauded by softest minstrelsy, and songs Of unknown music, where those heroes stood-- The princes of the Pandavas, his kin-- And lotus-eyed and lovliest Draupadi, Waiting to greet him, gladdening and glad."