# The Mahabharata/Book 17: Mahaprasthanika Parva/Section I

MAHĀPRASTHĀNIKA PARVA.
Section I.
Bowing down unto Nārāyana, and to Nara, the foremost of men, as also to the goddess Saraswati, 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 Krishna's ascension to Heaven, what did the Pāndavas do?"1
Vaiçampāyana 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,2—'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 behooveth thee also to see it.'3 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.4 Ascertaining the resolution of Arjuna, Bhimasena and the twins fully endorsed the words that Arjuna had said.5 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 Vaiçyā wife.6 Installing Parikshit also on their throne, as king, the eldest brother of the Pāndavas, filled with sorrow, addressed Subhadrā, saying,7—'This son of thy son will be the king of the Kurus. The survivor of the Yadus, viz., Vajra, has been made a king.8 Parikshit will rule in Hastināpura, while the Yādava prince, Vajra, will rule in Cakraprastha. ​He should be protected by thee. Never set thy heart on unrighteousness!'9 Having said these words, king Yudhishthira the just, along with his brothers, promptly offered oblations of water unto Vāsudeva of great intelligence, as also his old maternal uncle, and Rāma and others. He then duly performed the Crāddhas of all those deceased kinsmen of his.10-11 The king, in honor of Hari and naming him repeatedly, fed the Island-born Vyāsa, and Nārada, and Mārkandeya possessed of wealth of penances, and Yājnavalkya of Bharadwāja's race, with many delicious viands.12 In honor of Krishna, he also gave away many jewels and gems, and robes and clothes, and villages, and horses and cars,13 and female slaves by hundreds and thousands unto foremost of Brāhmanas. Summoning the citizens, Kripa was installed as the preceptor and Parikshit was made over to him as his disciple, O chief of Bharata's race! Then Yudhishthira once more summoned all his subjects.14-15 The royal sage informed them of his intentions. The citizens and the inhabitants of the provinces, hearing the king's words,16 became filled with anxiety and disapproved of them. 'This should never be done'—said they unto the king.17 The monarch, well versed with the changes brought about by time, did not listen to their counsels. Possessed of righteous soul, he persuaded the people to sanction his views.18 He then set his heart on leaving the world. His brothers also formed the same resolution. Then Dharma's son, Yudhishthira, the king of the Kurus,19 casting off his ornaments, wore barks of trees. Bhima and Arjuna and the twins, and Draupadi also of great fame,20 similarly clad themselves in barks of trees, O king. Having caused the preliminary rites of religion, O chief of Bharata's race, which were to bless them in the accomplishment of their design,21 those foremost of men cast off their sacred fires into the water. The ladies, beholding the prices in that guise, wept aloud.22 They seemed to look as they had looked in days before when with Draupadi forming the sixth in number they had set out of the capital after their defeat at dice. The brothers, however, were all very cheerful at the prospect of retirement.23 Ascertaining the intentions of Yudhishthira and seeing the ​destruction of the Vrishnis, no other course of action could please them then. The five brothers, with Draupadi forming the sixth, and a dog forming the seventh,24 set out on their journey. Indeed, even thus did king Yudhishthira depart, himself the head of a party of seven, from the city named after the elephant. The citizens and the ladies of the royal household followed them for some distance.25 None of them, however, could venture to address the king for persuading him to give up his intention. The denizens of the city then returned.26 Kripa and other stood around Yuyutsu as their centre. Ulupi, the daughter of the Nāga chief, O thou of Kuru's race, entered the waters of Gangā.27 The princess Chitrāngadā set out for the capital of Manipura. The other ladies who were the grandmothers of Parikshit centered around him.28 Meanwhile the high-souled Pāndavas, O thou of Kuru's race, and Draupadi of great fame, having observed the preliminary fast, set out with their faces towards the east.29 Setting themselves on Yoga, those high-souled ones, resolved to observe the religion of Renunciation, traversed through various countries and reached diverse rivers and seas.30 Yudhishthira proceeded first. Behind him was Bhima; next walked Arjuna; after him were the twins in the order of their birth;31 behind them all, O foremost one of Bharata's race, proceeded Draupadi, that first of women, possessed of great beauty, of dark complexion, and endued with eyes resembling lotus petals.32 While the Pāndavas set out for the forest, a dog followed them. Proceeding on, those heroes reached the sea of red waters.33 Dhananjaya had not cast off his celestial bow Gān​diva nor his couple of inexhaustible quivers, actuated, O king, by the cupidity that attaches one to things of great value.34 The Pāndavas there beheld the deity of fire standing before them like a hill. Closing their way, the god stood there in his embodied form.35 The deity of seven flames then addressed the Pāndavas, saying,—'Ye heroic sons of Pāndu, know me for the deity of fire.36 O mighty-armed Yudhishthira, O Bhimasena that art a scorcher of foes, O Arjuna, and ye twins of great courage, listen to what I say!37 Ye foremost ones of Kuru's race, I am the god of fire. The forest of Khāndava was burnt by me, through the puissance of Arjuna and of Nārāyana himself.38 Let your brother, Phālguna proceed to the woods after casting off Gāndiva, that high weapon. He has no longer any need of it.39 That precious discus, which was with the high-souled Krishna, has disappeared (from the world). When the time again comes, it will come back into his hands.40 This foremost of bows, viz., Gāndiva, was procured by me from Varuna for the use of Pārtha. Let it be made over to Varuna himself.'41 At this, all the brothers urged Dhananjaya to do what the deity said. He then threw into the waters (of the sea) both the bow and the couple of inexhaustible quivers.42 After this, O chief of Bharata's race, the god of fire disappeared then and there. The heroic sons of Pāndu next proceeded with their faces turned towards the south.43 Then, by the northern coast of the salt sea, those princes of Bharata's race proceeded to the south-west.44 Turning next towards the west, they beheld the city of Dwārakā covered by the ocean.45 Turning next to the north, those foremost ones proceeded on. Observant of Yoga, they were desirous of making a round of the whole Earth."46