Kṛshṇa’s Farewell to Arjuna

After the great war, Yudhishṭhira was at last consoled. He performed the funeral rites for his kinsmen and took up the rule of the earth from Hastināpura. Kṛshṇa and Arjuna, their work in the war finished, spent a happy season together in the Maya Sabhā at Indraprastha. Then Kṛshṇa, whose purpose in Bhārata was fulfilled, told Arjuna that he wished to return to Dvārakā. This farewell closes the Aśvamedhika Parva proper. The Anugītā Parva begins right after it.

Yudhishṭhira is consoled and takes up the rule

Vaiśampāyana tells Janamejaya how Yudhishṭhira found peace. Many munis who are rich in tapas (austerity) spoke to him. Above all, Bhagavān Śrī Nārāyaṇa himself consoled him. So did Kṛshṇa Dvaipāyana Vyāsa, Devasthāna, Nārada, Bhīma, Nakula, Draupadī, Sahadeva and the wise Arjuna. Other leading men and brāhmaṇas who knew the śāstras also spoke to him. At last Yudhishṭhira let go of the turmoil of his senses (indriyas) and the grief that clung to his mind.

He then performed the preta rites again for all his kinsmen, the funeral rites and the monthly (māsika) rites. He honoured the devas and the brāhmaṇas. The dharmātmā (the righteous one), best of the Kuru line, took up the rule of his own kingdom. With a calm mind he governed the earth, whose garment is the ocean.

Yudhishṭhira spoke to Vyāsa, Nārada and the other great ṛshis. He said: “You elders, you best of the munis, have consoled me before this as well. Now I hold no grief at all. Great wealth has come to us, and with it we can perform yajña (fire ritual) for the devas. With all of you in front of us, we shall perform the yajña. Grandsire! Best of brāhmaṇas! With you protecting us, let us go to the Himavat. That land, it is heard, holds many wonders.”

Bhagavān Nārāyaṇa himself spoke many wondrous and auspicious words on this occasion. So did the devarshi Nārada and Devasthāna. Yudhishṭhira thought that only a man of the greatest fortune, after passing through the greatest hardship, comes to gain such gurus, approved by the good and full of friendship (maitrī). As he said this, all the great ṛshis spoke to Dharmarāja, Kṛshṇa and Arjuna. Then they vanished there, before the eyes of all.

Funeral rites for the Kuru dead

Yudhishṭhira stayed on at Kurukshetra a while longer. He was busy with the rites of purification that followed Bhīshma’s departure to the next world. With Dhṛtarāshṭra, the great king performed the funeral rites for Bhīshma, Karṇa and the rest of the Kuru dead. He gave great gifts (dāna) to the brāhmaṇas on their behalf.

Only then, having given freely to the vipras, did Yudhishṭhira enter Hastināpura with Dhṛtarāshṭra. The righteous king consoled Dhṛtarāshṭra, whose only sight was now prajñā (inner wisdom). Together with his brothers he ruled the earth well.

Kṛshṇa and Arjuna in the Maya Sabhā

Janamejaya asks Vaiśampāyana what the heroic Vāsudeva and Dhanañjaya did once the Pāṇḍavas had won their realm and all was at peace. Vaiśampāyana answers that, with the kingdom won and the country calm, Vāsudeva and Dhanañjaya were full of joy. They were like the kings of the devas in the Nandana garden, and like the two Aśvins. They wandered happily among wondrous forests, hill paths, sacred tīrthas, streams and rivers.

The two mahātmās (great souls) entered the lovely Maya Sabhā at Indraprastha and rejoiced there. Wherever they saw a place they remembered, they talked together of the wonders of the war and the hardships they had borne. They were at heart ancient and best among ṛshis, so they spoke with affection of the lineages of the ṛshis and the devas.

Keśava, whose knowledge held every certainty, told Arjuna sweet and wondrous accounts, firm in their meaning. Pārtha was still bowed by grief for the loss of thousands of kinsmen and sons. Janārdana consoled him with many such accounts. Kṛshṇa, the great tapasvin (one who practises tapas) who knows all vijñāna (higher knowledge), consoled him as was fitting. Then he seemed to rest, with his own burden set down.

Kṛshṇa’s farewell to Arjuna

When their talk was finished, Vāsudeva spoke to Arjuna with loving and well-reasoned words.

“Savyasācī! Parantapa! King Yudhishṭhira, son of Dharma, has conquered the whole earth with the strength of your arm. Through the might of Bhīma and the twin sons of Mādrī, Dharmarāja Yudhishṭhira now enjoys an earth free of enemies. He has won a kingdom free of trouble, by dharma. King Suyodhana met his death in battle, following the path of dharma. The wicked sons of Dhṛtarāshṭra were devoted to adharma and wholly selfish, and they always spoke what is unpleasant. They have perished together with their followers. Son of Kuntī! Best of the Kurus! Under your protection, the son of Dharma has ruled the whole peaceful earth.

“Destroyer of enemies! I take joy in your company even in the forests. How much more so here, where the people and Kuntī Devī herself are present! Wherever King Yudhishṭhira, mighty Bhīmasena and the sons of Mādrī are, my heart is completely at peace. And to wander with you, as now, in these lovely and holy grounds of the sabhā, which are like the very fields of svarga (heaven), is a great joy to me.

“Descendant of Kuru! It has been a long time since I have seen my father Vasudeva, son of Śūra, and Baladeva, and the rest of the foremost Vṛshṇis. I now wish to go to Dvārāvatī. You must give your consent to this journey of mine. Along with Bhīshma, I spoke many words of comfort to King Yudhishṭhira at various times, whenever grief arose in him, and we gave what comfort was fitting. That son of Pāṇḍu is worthy to command even us, yet he allowed himself to be guided by us. Such is the mahātmā‘s grasp of our words. He knows dharma, he is grateful, and he is always truthful. That son of Dharma holds within him satya (truth), dharma, subtle buddhi (understanding) and steady action at all times.

“Arjuna! If it pleases you, go to that mahātmā and tell him that I am leaving. Even if my life were at stake, I would do nothing that displeases him. How much less would I fail to tell him of so small a matter as my going to Dvārāvatī! Pārtha! I say all this for your good and your pleasure, and it is entirely true. There is no falsehood in it. Arjuna! The purpose for which I remained here is now fulfilled. Duryodhana, son of Dhṛtarāshṭra, the great king, has perished, together with his armies and his followers.

“The whole ocean-girdled earth, with its mountains and forests, now lies in the hands of the wise son of Dharma, and with it many hoards of jewels. May that knower of dharma rule the whole earth by dharma! May the people, forever praised by the mahātmās and the siddhas, hold him in reverence.

“Go with me to that increaser of the Kurus, and gently tell him that I am going to Dvārakā. Pārtha! I have always given over this body of mine, and all the wealth of my house, to Yudhishṭhira. He is dear to me, worthy of honour, of the most excellent understanding, and always the master of the Kuru race. Prince! I have no other reason to remain here but you. Pārtha! The earth now rests upon your command, and upon the good conduct of your guru Yudhishṭhira.”

Hearing this, Arjuna, whose valour has no limit, said with great difficulty, “So be it.” He honoured Janārdana with the greatest reverence.

The close of the Aśvamedhika Parva

With this exchange the Aśvamedhika Parva proper comes to its end. The text marks the change plainly with the words athānugītā parva, “now begins the Anugītā Parva.” What follows is Arjuna’s admission that he has forgotten the teaching of the Bhagavad Gītā, and Kṛshṇa’s retelling of its essence through the itihāsa of the Brāhmaṇa and Kāśyapa. That belongs to the Anugītā Parva.

Sources

• Mahābhārata, Aśvamedhika Parva, Chapter 14: the consolation of Yudhishṭhira, the rites for the Kuru dead, and his entry into Hastināpura.
• Mahābhārata, Aśvamedhika Parva, Chapter 15: Kṛshṇa and Arjuna in the Maya Sabhā, and Kṛshṇa’s farewell.