Vaishampayana continued:  “Having heard these words of Vyasa of immeasurable energy, the son of Pritha, receiving his permission, returned to the city named after the elephant.  Entering it, the hero approached Yudhishthira and informed him of all that had taken place with reference to the Vrishnis.”

The end of Mausala-parv

The Mahabharata

of

Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa

BOOK 17

Mahaprasthanika-parva

Translated into English Prose from the Original Sanskrit Text

by

Kisari Mohan Ganguli

[1883-1896]

Scanned and Proofed by Mantra Caitanya.  Additional proofing and formatting at sacred-texts.com, by J. B. Hare, October 2003.

1

Om!  Having bowed down unto Narayana, and to Nara, the foremost of men, as also to the goddess Sarasvati, should the word “Jaya” be uttered.

Janamejaya said:  “Having heard of that encounter with iron bolts between the heroes of the Vrishni and the Andhaka races, and having been informed also of Krishnas ascension to Heaven, what did the Pandavas do?”

Vaishampayana said:  “Having heard the particulars of the great slaughter of the Vrishnis, the Kaurava king set his heart on leaving the world.  He addressed Arjuna, saying, O thou of great intelligence, it is Time that cooks every creature (in his cauldron).  I think that what has happened is due to the cords of Time (with which he binds us all).  It behoveth thee also to see it.

“Thus addressed by his brother, the son of Kunti only repeated the word Time, Time! and fully endorsed the view of his eldest brother gifted with great intelligence.  Ascertaining the resolution of Arjuna, Bhimasena and the twins fully endorsed the words that Arjuna had said.  Resolved to retire from the world for earning merit, they brought Yuyutsu before them.  Yudhishthira made over the kingdom to the son of his uncle by his Vaisya wife.  Installing Parikshit also on their throne, as king, the eldest brother of the Pandavas, filled with sorrow, addressed Subhadra, saying, This son of thy son will be the king of the Kurus.  The survivor of the Yadus, Vajra, has been made a king.  Parikshit will rule in Hastinapura, while the Yadava prince, Vajra, will rule in Shakraprastha.  He should be protected by thee.  Never set thy heart on unrighteousness.

“Having said these words, king Yudhishthira the just, along with his brothers, promptly offered oblations of water unto Vasudeva of great intelligence, as also unto his old maternal uncle and Rama and others.  He then duly performed the Sraddhas of all those deceased kinsmen of his.  The king, in honour of Hari and naming him repeatedly, fed the Island-born Vyasa, and Narada, and Markandeya possessed of wealth of penances, and Yajnavalkya of Bharadwajas race, with many delicious viands.  In honour of Krishna, he also gave away many jewels and gems, and robes and clothes, and villages, and horses and cars, and female slaves by hundreds and thousands unto foremost of Brahmanas.  Summoning the citizens.  Kripa was installed as the preceptor and Parikshit was made over to him as his disciple, O chief of Bharatas race.