Adhyaya 118

Verse 1

इस प्रकार श्रीमहाभारत वनपर्वके अन्तर्गत तीर्थयात्रापर्वमें लोमशती र्थयात्राके प्रस॑ंगमें कार्तवीर्योपाख्यानविषयक एक सौ सत्रहवाँ अध्याय पूरा हुआ ॥/ ११७ ॥। हि मय ० | है >> अष्टादशाधिकशततमोब&् ध्याय: युधिष्ठिरका विभिन्न तीथॉमें 24% प्रभासक्षेत्रमें पहुँचकर तपस्यामें प्रवृत्त होना और [का पाण्डवोंसे मिलना वैशम्पायन उवाच गच्छन्‌ स तीर्थानि महानुभाव: पुण्यानि रम्याणि ददर्श राजा | सर्वाणि विप्रैरुषशोभितानि क्वचित्‌ क्वचिद्‌ भारत सागरस्य,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! आगे जाते हुए महानुभाव राजा युधिष्छिरने समुद्रतटके समस्त पुण्य तीर्थोंका दर्शन किया। वे सभी तीर्थ परम मनोहर थे। उनमें कहीं- कहीं ब्राह्मणलोग निवास करते थे, जिससे उन तीर्थोंकी बड़ी शोभा होती थी

Vaiśampāyana said: As he journeyed on, the illustrious king Yudhiṣṭhira beheld the sacred fords—holy and delightful—along the sea-coast. Here and there those tīrthas were graced by the presence of brāhmaṇas dwelling there, which heightened their sanctity and splendor.

Verse 2

स वृत्तवांस्तेषु कृताभिषेक: सहानुजः: पार्थिवपुत्रपौत्र: । समुद्रगां पुण्यतमां प्रशस्तां जगाम पारिक्षित पाण्डुपुत्र:,परीक्षितनन्दन! सदाचारी पाण्डुकुमार युधिष्ठिर कश्यपपुत्र सूर्यदेवके पौत्र थे (क्योंकि उनकी उत्पत्ति सूर्यकुमार धर्मसे हुई थी)। वे भाइयोंसहित उन तीर्थोमें स्नान करके समुद्रगामिनी पुण्यमयी प्रशस्ता नदीके तटपर गये

Vaiśampāyana said: Having duly performed the prescribed bathing rites at those sacred fords, the righteous son of Pāṇḍu—Yudhiṣṭhira, descendant of kings—set out together with his younger brothers and reached a most holy and renowned river that flows to the sea, O Parīkṣit. The passage underscores his disciplined conduct: pilgrimage is treated not as display, but as a dharmic act of purification and right living.

Verse 3

तत्रापि चाप्लुत्य महानुभाव: संतर्पयामास सका सुरांश्व । द्विजातिमुख्येषु धनं गोदावरीं सागरगामगच्छत्‌,महानुभाव युधिष्ठटिरने वहाँ भी स्नान करके देवताओं और पितरोंका तर्पण किया तथा श्रेष्ठ ब्राह्यणोंको धन दान करके सागरगामिनी गोदावरी नदीकी ओर प्रस्थान किया

Verse 4

ततो विपाप्मा द्रविडेषु राजन्‌ समुद्रमासाद्य च लोकपुण्यम्‌ । अगस्त्यतीर्थ च महापवित्रं नारीतीर्थान्यथ वीरो ददर्श,जनमेजय! गोदावरीमें स्नान करके पवित्र हो वे वहाँसे द्रविड़देशमें घूमते हुए संसारके पुण्यमय तीर्थ समुद्रके तटपर गये। वहाँ स्नानादि करनेके पश्चात्‌ वीर पाण्डुकुमारने आगे बढ़कर परम पवित्र अगस्त्यतीर्थ तथा -नारीतीर्थोंका दर्शन किया

Vaiśampāyana said: Then that hero, now cleansed of sin, O King, wandered through the Draviḍa lands and reached the sea-shore, a sacred place renowned for the merit it bestows upon the world. After bathing and performing the proper observances there, the valiant son of Pāṇḍu went on and beheld the supremely pure Agastya-tīrtha, and also the various holy fords known as the Nārī-tīrthas, O Janamejaya.

Verse 5

तत्रार्जुनस्थाग्रय धनुर्धरस्य निशम्य तत्‌ कर्म नरैरशक्यम्‌ | सम्पूज्यमान: परमर्षिसड्घै: परां मुर्द पाण्डुसुत: स लेभे,वहाँ श्रेष्ठ धनुर्धर अर्जुनके उस पराक्रमको, जो दूसरे मनुष्योंके लिये असम्भव था, सुनकर पाण्डुनन्दन युधिष्ठिरको बड़ी प्रसन्नता प्राप्त हुई। उन तीर्थोमें बड़े-बड़े ऋषिगण भी उनका सत्कार करते थे। जनमेजय! द्रौपदी तथा भाइयोंके साथ राजा युधिष्ठिरने उन पाँचों तीर्थोमें स्नान करके अर्जुनके पराक्रमकी प्रशंसा करते हुए बड़े हर्षका अनुभव किया

There, hearing of the deed of Arjuna—the foremost of bowmen—an exploit impossible for ordinary men, that son of Pāṇḍu (Yudhiṣṭhira) attained supreme joy. Honoured and welcomed by assemblies of great seers, he rejoiced, praising Arjuna’s prowess—an affirmation that extraordinary power, when aligned with dharma and supported by the wise, becomes a source of rightful confidence rather than pride.

Verse 6

स तेषु तीर्थेष्वभिषिक्तगात्र: कृष्णासहाय: सहितो<्नुजैश्न । सम्पूजयन्‌ विक्रममर्जुनस्य रेमे महीपाल पति: पृथिव्या:,वहाँ श्रेष्ठ धनुर्धर अर्जुनके उस पराक्रमको, जो दूसरे मनुष्योंके लिये असम्भव था, सुनकर पाण्डुनन्दन युधिष्ठिरको बड़ी प्रसन्नता प्राप्त हुई। उन तीर्थोमें बड़े-बड़े ऋषिगण भी उनका सत्कार करते थे। जनमेजय! द्रौपदी तथा भाइयोंके साथ राजा युधिष्ठिरने उन पाँचों तीर्थोमें स्नान करके अर्जुनके पराक्रमकी प्रशंसा करते हुए बड़े हर्षका अनुभव किया

Vaiśaṃpāyana said: Having bathed in those sacred fords, King Yudhiṣṭhira—the lord of the earth—accompanied by Kṛṣṇā (Draupadī) and joined by his younger brothers, rejoiced. As he honored and praised Arjuna’s valor, he experienced deep gladness, for such prowess was beyond the reach of ordinary men; and in those holy places great ṛṣis, too, received and honored them.

Verse 7

ततः सहस्राणि गवां प्रदाय तीर्थेषु तेष्वम्बुधरोत्तमस्य । हृष्ट: सह भ्रातृभिरर्जुनस्य संकीर्तयामास गवां प्रदानम्‌,तदनन्तर समुद्रतटवर्ती उन सभी तीर्थोर्में सहस्रों गोदान करके भाइयोंसहित युधिष्छिरने प्रसन्नतापूर्वक अर्जुनके द्वारा किये हुए गोदानका बारंबार वर्णन किया

Then, after giving away thousands of cows at those sacred fords along the shore of the great ocean, Yudhiṣṭhira—delighted and accompanied by his brothers—repeatedly proclaimed and celebrated Arjuna’s act of gifting cows. The passage highlights how righteous generosity, performed at holy places and for worthy ends, becomes a deed to be remembered and publicly affirmed as an ethical exemplar.

Verse 8

स तानि तीर्थानि च सागरस्य पुण्यानि चान्यानि बहूनि राजन । क्रमेण गच्छन्‌ परिपूर्णकाम: शूर्पारक॑ पुण्यतमं ददर्श,राजन! समुद्रसम्बन्धी तथा अन्य बहुत-से पुण्य तीर्थो्में क्रमश: भ्रमण करते हुए पूर्णकाम राजा युधिष्ठिरने अत्यन्त पुण्यमय शूर्पारकतीर्थका दर्शन किया

Verse 9

तत्रोदथे: कंचिदतीत्य देशं ख्यातं पृथिव्यां वनमाससाद । तप्तं सुरैस्तत्र तपः पुरस्ता- दिष्टं तथा पुण्यपरैनरिन्द्रै:,वहाँ समुद्रके कुछ भागको लाँघकर वे एक ऐसे वनमें आये जो भूमण्डलमें सर्वत्र विख्यात था। वहाँ पूर्वकालमें देवताओंने तपस्या की थी और पुण्यात्मा नरेशोंने यज्ञोंका अनुष्ठान किया था

Vaiśampāyana said: Having crossed a certain stretch of the ocean, they reached a forest renowned throughout the world. In former times the gods had practiced austerities there, and likewise righteous kings—rich in merit—had performed sacrificial rites. The place is thus marked as a sanctified landscape where discipline and lawful ritual have long been upheld.

Verse 10

स तत्र तामग्रयधनुर्धरस्य वेदीं ददर्शायतपीनबाहु: । ऋचीकपुत्रस्थ तपस्विसड्चै: समावृतां पुण्यकृदर्चनीयाम्‌,लम्बी और मोटी भुजाओंवाले युधिष्ठिरने उस वनमें धनुर्धरशिरोमणि ऋचीकवंशी परशुरामजीकी वेदी देखी, जो पुण्यात्मा पुरुषोंके लिये पूजनीय थी तथा तपस्वियोंके समुदाय उसे सदा घेरे रहते थे

Vaiśampāyana said: There, Yudhiṣṭhira—broad-shouldered and strong-armed—beheld the sacred altar of the foremost of bowmen, Paraśurāma, the descendant of Ṛcīka. Revered by the righteous as an object of worship, it was continually surrounded by assemblies of ascetics, marking the forest as a place where spiritual merit and disciplined conduct prevail over mere martial power.

Verse 11

ततो वसूनां वसुधाधिप: स मरुठ्गणानां च तथाश्रिनोशक्ष । वैवस्वतादित्य धने श्वराणा- मिन्द्रस्य विष्णो: सवितुर्विभोश्व,राजन! तत्पश्चात्‌ उन महात्मा नरेशने वसु, मरुठ्वण, अश्विनीकुमार, यम, आदित्य, कुबेर, इन्द्र, विष्णु, भगवान्‌ सविता, शिव, चन्द्रमा, सूर्य, वरुण, साध्यगण, धाता, पितृगण, अपने गणोंसहित रुद्र, सरस्वती, सिद्धसमुदाय तथा अन्य पुण्यमय देवताओंके परम पवित्र और मनोहर मन्दिरोंके दर्शन किये

Vaiśampāyana said: Then that king, O ruler, went on to behold the sacred and delightful shrines of many divine hosts—of the Vasus and the Maruts, of the Aśvin twins, of Yama, the Ādityas, Kubera the lord of wealth, Indra, Viṣṇu, the venerable Savitṛ, Śiva, the Moon and the Sun, Varuṇa, the Sādhyas, Dhātṛ, the Pitṛs, Rudra with his attendants, Sarasvatī, the assembly of Siddhas, and other auspicious deities—each together with their own retinues.

Verse 12

भवस्य चन्द्रस्य दिवाकरस्य पतेरपां साध्यगणस्य चैव । धातु: पितृणां च तथा महात्मा रुद्रस्य राजन्‌ सगणस्य चैव,राजन! तत्पश्चात्‌ उन महात्मा नरेशने वसु, मरुठ्वण, अश्विनीकुमार, यम, आदित्य, कुबेर, इन्द्र, विष्णु, भगवान्‌ सविता, शिव, चन्द्रमा, सूर्य, वरुण, साध्यगण, धाता, पितृगण, अपने गणोंसहित रुद्र, सरस्वती, सिद्धसमुदाय तथा अन्य पुण्यमय देवताओंके परम पवित्र और मनोहर मन्दिरोंके दर्शन किये

Vaiśampāyana said: “O king, (he beheld the sacred shrines) of Bhava (Śiva), of the Moon, of the Sun, of Varuṇa the lord of waters, and of the host of Sādhyas; also of Dhātṛ and of the Pitṛs; and likewise of the great-souled Rudra together with his attendant hosts.” In this passage the narrative emphasizes reverent pilgrimage: the king’s encounter with many divine abodes underscores humility, gratitude to cosmic guardians, and the ethical ideal that rulers should seek purification and right orientation (dharma) through devotion and disciplined seeing (darśana).

Verse 13

सरस्वत्या: सिद्धगणस्य चैव पुण्याश्न ये चाप्यमरास्तथान्ये । पुण्यानि चाप्यायतनानि तेषां ददर्श राजा सुमनोहराणि,राजन! तत्पश्चात्‌ उन महात्मा नरेशने वसु, मरुठ्वण, अश्विनीकुमार, यम, आदित्य, कुबेर, इन्द्र, विष्णु, भगवान्‌ सविता, शिव, चन्द्रमा, सूर्य, वरुण, साध्यगण, धाता, पितृगण, अपने गणोंसहित रुद्र, सरस्वती, सिद्धसमुदाय तथा अन्य पुण्यमय देवताओंके परम पवित्र और मनोहर मन्दिरोंके दर्शन किये

Vaiśampāyana said: The king beheld the supremely pure and delightful sanctuaries belonging to Sarasvatī, to the hosts of Siddhas, and to other deathless gods who partake of sacred offerings. In doing so, he encountered the visible signs of dharma—places where reverence, purity, and right conduct are upheld—strengthening the moral atmosphere of his journey.

Verse 14

तेषूपवासान्‌ विबुधानुपोष्य दत्त्वा च रत्नानि महान्ति राजा । तीर्थेषु सर्वेषु परिप्लुताड़: पुन: स शूर्पारकमाजगाम,उन तीर्थोंके निकट निवास करनेवाले दिद्वान्‌ ब्राह्मणोंको वस्त्राभूषणोंसे आच्छादित एवं विभूषित करके उन्हें बहुमूल्य रत्नोंकी भेंट दे वहाँके सभी तीर्थोमें सनान करके महाराज युधिष्ठिर पुनः शूर्परिक-क्षेत्रमें लौट आये

Vaiśampāyana said: Having duly honored the learned Brahmins who lived near those sacred places—sustaining them during their fasts, clothing and adorning them, and presenting them with precious gems—the king bathed at all the tīrthas. Enriched by these rites and gifts, he then returned once more to the region of Śūrpāraka.

Verse 15

स तेन तीर्थन तु सागरस्य पुन: प्रयातः सह सोदरीयै: । द्विजै: पृथिव्यां प्रथितं महद्ि- स्तीर्थ प्रभासं समुपाजगाम,वहाँसे प्रस्थित हो वे भाइयोंसहित सागरतटवर्ती तीर्थोंके मार्गसे होते हुए फिर प्रभासक्षेत्र आये जो श्रेष्ठ ब्राह्मणोंके कारण भूमण्डलमें अधिक प्रसिद्ध है

Vaiśampāyana said: Having visited that sacred ford by the sea, he set out again with his brothers. Traveling along the coastal pilgrimage route, he once more arrived at the holy place Prabhāsa—widely renowned across the earth, especially because of the presence and sanctity of eminent Brahmins. The passage underscores the Mahābhārata’s ethic that tīrtha-yātrā is not mere travel but a disciplined return to places where dharma is preserved and clarified through learned, self-restrained spiritual communities.

Verse 16

तत्राभिषिक्त: पृथुलोहिताक्ष: सहानुजैर्देवगणान्‌ पितृश्न । संतर्पयामास तथैव कृष्णा ते चापि विप्रा: सह लोमशेन,वहाँ भाइयोंसहित स्नान करके विशाल एवं लाल नेत्रोंवाले राजा युधिष्ठिरने देवताओं और पितरोंका तर्पण किया। इसी प्रकार द्रौपदीने, साथ आये हुए उन ब्राह्मणोंने तथा महर्षि लोमशने भी वहाँ स्नान एवं तर्पण किये

There, after bathing, King Yudhiṣṭhira—broad and red-eyed—together with his younger brothers, offered the rites of satisfaction (tarpana) to the hosts of gods and to the ancestors. In the same manner, Draupadī, the accompanying Brahmins, and the sage Lomaśa also bathed there and performed tarpana. The scene underscores the exiles’ steadfast adherence to dharma: even in hardship, they honor divine order, repay ancestral obligations, and maintain purity through prescribed rites.

Verse 17

स द्वादशाहं जलवायुभक्ष: कुर्वन्‌ क्षपाह:सु तदाभिषेकम्‌ । समन्ततोःग्नीनुपदीपयित्वा तेपे तपो धर्मभूतां वरिष्ठ:,धर्मात्माओंमें श्रेष्ठ युधिष्ठिर वहाँ बारह दिनोंतक केवल जल और वायु पीकर रहते हुए दिनमें और रातमें भी स्नान करते तथा अपने चारों ओर आग जलाकर तपस्यामें लगे रहते थे

For twelve days, the foremost among the righteous—Yudhiṣṭhira—lived on nothing but water and air. During both day and night he repeatedly performed ritual bathing, and after kindling fires all around himself, he undertook austere penance grounded in dharma—an act of self-discipline meant to purify intention and uphold ethical order amid hardship.

Verse 18

तमुग्रमास्थाय तपश्चरन्तं शुश्राव रामश्न जनार्दनश्व । तौ सर्ववृष्णिप्रवरौ ससैन्यौ युधिष्ठिरं जग्मतुराजमीढम्‌,इसी समय वृष्णिवंशशिरोमणि भगवान्‌ श्रीकृष्ण और बलरामने सुना कि महाराज युधिष्ठिर प्रभासक्षेत्रमें उग्र तपस्या कर रहे हैं; तब वे अपने सैनिकोंसहित अजमीढकुलभूषण युधिष्ठिरसे मिलनेके लिये गये

Vaiśampāyana said: Balarāma and Janārdana (Kṛṣṇa) heard that Yudhiṣṭhira, having undertaken a severe vow, was practicing intense austerities. Then those two foremost among the Vṛṣṇis, accompanied by their forces, went to meet Yudhiṣṭhira, the glory of the Ājamīḍha line—signaling support for righteous endurance and the duty of kin to uphold dharma in times of hardship.

Verse 19

ते वृष्णय: पाण्डुसुतान्‌ समीक्ष्य भूमौ शयानान्‌ मलदिग्धगात्रान्‌ अनर्तहतीं द्रौपदी चापि दृष्टवा सुदु:खिताश्लुक्रुशुरातनादम्‌,वहाँ जाकर वृष्णिवंशियोंने देखा, पाण्डवलोग पृथ्वीपर सो रहे हैं, उनके सारे अंग धूलसे सने हुए हैं तथा कष्टसहनके अयोग्य द्रौपदी भी भारी दुर्दशा भोग रही है। यह सब देखकर वे बड़े दुःखी हुए और आर्त स्वरसे रोने लगे

Vaiśampāyana said: When the Vṛṣṇis went there and saw the sons of Pāṇḍu lying on the ground, their bodies smeared with dust and grime, and also beheld Draupadī—unable to endure such suffering—fallen into grievous distress, they were overwhelmed with sorrow and cried out in a lamenting, anguished voice. The scene underscores how visible humiliation and hardship of the righteous evokes compassionate outrage and signals a grave breach of dharma that demands redress.

Verse 20

ततः स रामं॑ च जनार्दनं च कार्ष्णि च साम्बं च शिनेश्व पौत्रम्‌ अन्यांश्व वृष्णीनुपगम्य पूजां चक्रे यथाधर्ममहीनसत्त्व:,(उस महान्‌ संकटमें भी) महाराज युधिष्ठिरने अपना धैर्य नहीं छोड़ा था। उन्होंने बलराम, श्रीकृष्ण, प्रद्युम्न, साम्ब, सात्यकि तथा अन्यान्य वृष्णिवंशियोंके पास जा-जाकर धर्मानुसार उन सबका आदर-सत्कार किया

Then, undaunted in spirit even amid that great crisis, King Yudhiṣṭhira went to Balarāma, to Janārdana (Kṛṣṇa), to Pradyumna, to Sāmba, to the grandson of Śini (Sātyaki), and to the other Vṛṣṇis; approaching each in turn, he honored them with due reverence in accordance with dharma.

Verse 21

ते चापि सर्वान्‌ प्रतिपूज्य पार्था- स्तै: सत्कृता: पाण्डुसुतैस्तथैव । युधिष्ठिरं सम्परिवार्य राज- न्लुपाविशन्‌ देवगणा यथेन्द्रम्‌,राजन! पाण्थुपुत्रोंद्वारा सत्कृत होकर यादवोंने भी उन सबका यथोचित सत्कार किया और फिर देवता जैसे इन्द्रके चारों ओर बैठ जाते हैं उसी प्रकार वे धर्मराज युधिष्ठिरको सब ओरसे घेरकर बैठ गये

Vaiśampāyana said: The Pārthas, having duly honored them all, were in turn honored by the sons of Pāṇḍu as well. Then, O king, surrounding Yudhiṣṭhira on every side, they sat down—just as the hosts of gods sit around Indra—signaling reverence for righteous leadership and the ethical order upheld by the king.

Verse 22

तेषां स सर्व चरित॑ परेषां वने च वासं परमप्रतीत: । अस्त्रार्थमिन्द्रस्य गतं च पार्थ निवेशनं हृष्टमना: शशंस,तत्पश्चात्‌ राजा युधिष्ठिरने अत्यन्त विश्वस्त होकर यादवोंसे शत्रुओंकी सारी करतूतें कह सुनायीं और अपने वनवासका भी सब समाचार बताया। साथ ही बड़ी प्रसन्नताके साथ यह भी सूचित किया कि अर्जुन दिव्यास्त्रोंकी प्राप्तिके लिये इन्द्रलोकमें गये हैं

Vaiśampāyana said: Fully confident, he related to King Yudhiṣṭhira the entire conduct and stratagems of their adversaries, and also reported in detail the circumstances of their dwelling in the forest. With a heart uplifted by hope, he further announced that Pārtha (Arjuna) had gone to Indra’s realm to obtain divine weapons—an act presented as prudent preparation, undertaken not for aggression but for safeguarding dharma against impending hostility.

Verse 23

श्रुत्वा तु ते तस्य वच: प्रतीता- स्तांक्षापि दृष्टवा सुकुशानतीव । नेत्रोद्धवं सम्मुमुचुर्महार्हा दुःखार्तिजं वारि महानुभावा:,युधिष्ठिरका यह वचन सुनकर उन्हें कुछ सान्त्वना मिली। परंतु पाण्डवोंको अत्यन्त दुर्बल देखकर वे परम पूजनीय महानुभाव यादव वीर दुःख और वेदनासे पीड़ित हो आँसू बहाने लगे

Hearing his words, they felt somewhat reassured; yet, on seeing the Pāṇḍavas reduced to extreme emaciation, those venerable, great-souled heroes could not restrain their tears—shedding grief-born water from their eyes, stricken with sorrow and pain. The scene underscores how compassion and kinship respond to suffering even when counsel offers momentary consolation.

Verse 118

इति श्रीमहाभारते वनपर्वणि तीर्थयात्रापर्वणि लोमशतीर्थयात्रायां प्रभासे यादवपाण्डवसमागमे अष्टादशाधिकशततमो<ध्याय:

Thus, in the Śrī Mahābhārata, within the Vana Parva—specifically the section on pilgrimage—during Lomasa’s pilgrimage narrative, at Prabhāsa, in the episode of the meeting between the Yādavas and the Pāṇḍavas, ends the one-hundred-and-eighteenth chapter. This is a colophon marking the close of a chapter set in a sacred landscape, framing the narrative as a dharma-oriented journey where holy places and encounters shape ethical reflection and communal bonds.