श्रीमद्भागवतमहापुराणम् प्रथम स्कन्ध: द्वादश: अध्याय: शौनक उवाच - Shaunaka said - अश्वत्थाम्नोपसृष्टेन ब्रह्मशीर्ष्णोरुतेजसा ।
उत्तराया हतो गर्भ ईशेनाजीवित: पुन: ॥१॥
अश्वत्थाम्ना-उपसृष्टेन by Ashwatthaamaa discharged
ब्रह्मशीष्णा-उरु-तेजसा Brahmaastra the very powerful उत्तराया: हत: गर्भ: Uttaraa's was destroyed foetus ईशेन-आजीवित: पुन: by The Lord was enlivened again The very powerful Brahmaastra discharged by Ashwatthaamaa, had killed the foetus in Uttaraa's womb, but was brought back to life by The Lord.


तस्य जन्म महाबुद्धे: कर्माणि च महात्मन: ।
निधनं च यथैवासीत्स प्रेत्य गतवान् यथा ॥२॥
तस्य जन्म महाबुद्धे: his birth of the highly wise
कर्माणि च महात्मन: exploits and of the noble one निधनम् च यथा-एव-आसीत्- death and how it did happen स: प्रेत्य गतवान् यथा he after death went where The birth of the highly wise and most noble, his exploits and his death and how it happened and after death what was his destiny,…


तदिदं श्रोतुमिच्छामो गदितुं यदि मन्यसे ।
ब्रूहि न: श्रद्दधानानां यस्य ज्ञानमदाच्छुक: ॥३॥
तत्-इदम् श्रोतुम्-इच्छाम: that this to hear (we) desire
गदितुम् यदि मन्यसे do say if (you) deem proper ब्रूहि न: श्रद्दधानानाम् tell us, the earnest ones यस्य ज्ञानम्-अदात्-शुक: to whom knowledge gave Shuka That story we earnestly want to hear. If you deem this to be proper, please tell us about him to whom sage Shuka imparted the true knowledge.


सूत उवाच - Soota said - अपीपलद्धर्मराज: पितृवद् रञ्जयन् प्रजा: ।
नि:स्पृह: सर्वकामेभ्य: कृष्णपादाब्जसेवया ॥४॥
अपीपलत्-धर्मराज: nurtured Dharmaraaja (Yudhishtthira)
पितृ-वत् रञ्जयन् प्रजा: like a father, pleasing the public नि:स्पृह: सर्व-कामेभ्य: desire less, from all desires कृष्ण-पाद-अब्ज-सेवया by Krishna's lotus feet's service Dharmaraaja Yudhishtthira was free from all desires because of serving the lotus feet of Krishna and he nurtured his public like a father and also kept them pleased.


सम्पद: क्रतवो लोका महिषी भ्रातरो मही ।
जम्बूद्वीपाधिपत्यं च यशश्च त्रिदिवं गतम् ॥५॥
सम्पद: क्रतव: लोका: wealth, sacrifices, public,
महिषी भ्रातर: मही queen, brothers and land जम्बूद्वीप-आधिपत्यम् च Bhaarata's sovereignty and यश:-च त्रिदिवम् गतम् fame, and till heavens extended He had immense wealth, and performed many a sacrifices and had obedient subjects. His queen (Draupadi) and his brothers were devoted to him. He had the sovereiginity over the whole land of Bhaarata and his fame extended till the heavens.


किं ते कामा: सुरस्पार्हा मुकुन्दमनसो द्विजा: ।
अधिजह्रुर्मुदं राज्ञ: क्षुधितस्य यथेतरे ॥६॥
किम् ते कामा: what of those (objects of) delight
सुर-स्पार्हा: god's coveted मुकुन्द-मनस: (for) the Krishna enraptured द्विजा: O sages! अधिजह्रु:-मुदम् राज्ञ: not in the least, pleased the king क्षुधितस्य यथा-इतरे for a hungry (man) like other than (food) To the king who was enraptured into Krishna consciousness, could the objects of delight, coveted even by gods, give any pleasure? Not the least, like nothing but food can satisfy a hungry person.


मातुर्गर्भगतो वीर: स तदा भृगुनन्दन ।
ददर्श पुरुषं कञ्चिद्दह्यमानोऽस्त्रतेजसा ॥७॥
मातु:-गर्भ-गत: वीर: in mother's womb present, powerful
स: तदा भृगुनन्दन he then, O Shaunaka! ददर्श पुरुषम् कञ्चित्- saw a person, some दह्यमान:-अस्त्र-तेजसा (even though) scorched by the missile's fire Then, even though the powerful Pareekshit was scorched by the Brahmaastra's fire, in his mothers womb, he saw some Person,…


अङ्गुष्ठमात्रममलं स्फुरत्पुरटमौलिनम् ।
अपीच्यदर्शनं श्यामं तडित्वाससमच्युतम् ॥८॥
अङ्गुष्ठ-मात्रम्-अमलम् thumb sized, brilliant
स्फुरत्-पुरट-मौलिनम् shining golden diadem अपीच्य-दर्शनम् श्यामम् a marvellous sight, dark (hued) तडित्-वाससम्-अच्युतम् lightening (like shining) robed Achyuta He saw Achyuta Himself, the size of a thumb, brilliant and wearing a shining golden diadem, dark hued and a marvellous sight to look at, wearing lightening like bright yellow robes.


श्रीमद्दीर्घचतुर्बाहुं तप्तकाञ्चनकुण्डलम् ।
क्षतजाक्षं गदापाणिमात्मन: सर्वतोदिशम् ॥
परिभ्रमन्तमुल्काभां भ्रामयन्तं गदां मुहु: ॥९॥
श्रीमत्-दीर्घ-चतुर्-बाहुम् graceful long four armed
तप्त-काञ्चन-कुण्डलम् molten gold earrings क्षतज-अक्षम् गदा-पाणिम्- red eyed, mace in hand आत्मन: सर्वत:-दिशम् His own self around परिभ्रमन्तम्-उल्का-आभाम् revolving like firebrand भ्रामयन्तम् गदाम् मुहु: wielding the mace again and again He had four majestic long arms, wearing earings made of molten gold, red eyed, holding a mace in hand, Himself revolving around the infant like a fireband, weilding the mace again and again.


अस्त्रतेज: स्वगदया नीहारमिव गोपति: ।
विधमन्तं संनिकर्षे पर्यैक्षत क इत्यसौ ॥१०॥
अस्त्र-तेज: स्व-गदया Brahmaastra's brilliance by Own mace
नीहारम्-इव गोपति: fog like by the Sun विधमन्तम् संनिकर्षे dimming, near by (the infant) पर्यैक्षत क: इति-असौ thought, who, thus he The infant Pareekshit, in the womb, saw that He dimmed the brilliance of the Brahmaastra by His own mace, just as the Sun destroys the fog. He saw Him near by and thought who He was.


विधूय तदमेयात्मा भगवान् धर्मगुप् विभु: ।
मिषतो दशमासस्य तत्रैवान्तर्दधे हरि: ॥११॥
विधूय तत्-अमेय-आत्मा (having) dispelled that (fire), the omnipotent Self,
भगवान् धर्म-गुप् विभु: Lord of virtues the protector, omnipresent, मिषत: दश-मासस्य as looked on the ten month (old infant) तत्र-एव-अन्तर्दधे हरि: there (in the womb) only disappeared, Shree Hari The omnipotent Lord, who is omnipresent and is the protector of virtue, dispelled the fire of the missile, and there in the womb only disappeared, as the ten month old infant looked on.


तत: सर्वगुणोदर्के सानुकूलग्रहोदये ।
जज्ञे वंशधर: पाण्डोर्भूय: पाण्डुरिवौजसा ॥१२॥
तत: सर्व-गुण-उदर्के then, all noble traits developing
सानुकूल-ग्रह-उदये at favourable stars ascending जज्ञे वंशधर: पाण्डो:- (was) born lineage bearing to Paandu, भूय: पाण्डु:-इव-ओजसा again Paandu like in valour Then when all the noble traits in the child had developed and the favourable stars had ascended, the lineage bearer of Paandu was born, who was also equal to Paandu in valour.


तस्य प्रीतमना राजा विप्रैर्धौम्यकृपादिभि: ।
जातकं कारयामास वाचयित्वा च मङ्गलम् ॥१३॥
तस्य प्रीत-मना: राजा his (the child's), the happy minded king (Yudhishtthira)
विप्रै:-धौम्य-कृप-आदिभि: by Braahmanas, Dhaumya and Kripaachaarya and others जातकम् कारयामास birth rituals got done, वाचयित्वा च मङ्गलम् after chanting benedictory hymns The happy minded king Yudhishtthira, got the Brahamans Dhaumya, Kripaachaarya and others to perform the birth rituals of the child after benedictory hymns were chanted.


हिरण्यं गां महीं ग्रामान् हस्त्यश्वान्नृपतिर्वरान् ।
प्रादात्स्वन्नं च विप्रेभ्य: प्रजातीर्थे स तीर्थवित् ॥१४॥
हिरण्यम् गाम् महीम् gold, cows, land,
ग्रामान् हस्ति-अश्वान्- villages, elephants, horses, नृपति:-वरान् प्रादात्- the king the best gave सु-अन्नम् च विप्रेभ्य: good grain and to the Braahmanas प्रजा-तीर्थे स: तीर्थवित् at the child's birth, he, the knower of the right time The king, Yudhishtthira, the knower of the right time, at the time of the child's birth, gave to the Braahamanas, gold, good cows, land, villages, elephants, and horses and the best food grains.


तमूचुर्ब्राह्मणास्तुष्टा राजानं प्रश्रयान्वितम् ।
एष ह्यस्मिन् प्रजातन्तौ पुरूणां पौरवर्षभ ॥१५॥
तम्-ऊचु:-ब्राह्मणा:-तुष्टा: to him said Braahmanas satisfied
राजानम् प्रश्रय-अन्वितम् the king with humility adorned एष हि-अस्मिन् प्रजा-तन्तौ this alone, in this race cord पुरूणाम् पौरव-ऋषभ of the Purus, O Best of the Pauravas! To him, the king full of humbleness, the satified Braahamans said, ' in this child is the cord of the race of the Purus, O best of the Pauravas.'


दैवेनाप्रतिघातेन शुक्ले संस्थामुपेयुषि ।
रातो वोऽनुग्रहार्थाय विष्णुना प्रभविष्णुना ॥१६॥
दैवेन-अप्रतिघातेन by Providence irretrievable
शुक्ले संस्थाम्-उपेयुषि the untainted (Purus race) extinct, inevitable (seeing) रात: व:-अनुग्रह-अर्थाय preserved it, to you all, to bless, wanting विष्णुना प्रभविष्णुना by Lord Vishnu, the Almighty By the effect of the unretrievable Providance, the untainted Puru race was all but extinct. Seeing this, The Almighty Lord Vishnu, by saving this child has preserved it and has thereby blessed you all.


तस्मान्नाम्ना विष्णुरात इति लोके बृहच्छ्रवा: ।
भविष्यति न संदेहो महाभागवतो महान् ॥१७॥
तस्मात्-नाम्ना विष्णुरात: इति therefore by name, Vishnuraata thus
लोके बृहत्-श्रवा: भविष्यति in this world, well known will be न संदेह: महा-भागवत: महान् without doubt, great devotee and noble soul Therefore, in this world he will be known by the name - Vishnuraata. He will be well known and without a doubt, will become a great devotee and a noble soul.


युधिष्ठिर उवाच - Yudhishtthira said - अप्येष वंश्यान् राजर्षीन् पुण्यश्लोकान् महात्मन: ।
अनुवर्तिता स्विद्यशसा साधुवादेन सत्तमा: ॥१८॥
अपि-एष वंश्यान् राजर्षीन् also he of (his) line's royal sages
पुण्य-श्लोकान् महात्मन: of untainted repute, great souled अनुवर्तिता स्वित्-यशसा follow, in fame साधुवादेन सत्तमा: by applause, O great ones! O great ones! he will also follow the royal sages of his line, who were great souled and of high repute, in his fame and good will.


ब्रह्मणा ऊचु: - The Braahmanas said - पार्थ प्रजाविता साक्षादिक्ष्वाकुरिव मानव: ।
ब्रह्मण्य: सत्यसंधश्च रामॊ दाशरथिर्यथा ॥१९॥
पार्थ प्रजा-अविता O Ydhishtthira! subjects' protector
साक्षात्-इक्ष्वाकु:-इव in fact Ikshwaaku like मानव: ब्रह्मण्य: Manu's son, devoted to Braahmanas सत्य-संध:-च truth holding and रामॊ दाशरथि:-यथा Raama Dasharatha's son like O Yudhishtthira! He will always protect his subjects, absolutely like Manu's son Ikshwaaku, he will be devoted to the Braahmanas and hold truth just as Dasharatha's son Raama.


एष दाता शरण्यश्च यथा ह्यौशीनर: शिवि: ।
यशो वितनिता स्वानां दौष्यन्तिरिव यज्वनाम् ॥२०॥
एष: दाता शरण्य:-च he will be a giver and a shelter
यथा हि-औशीनर: शिवि: like indeed, king of Ushinara, Shivi यश: वितनिता स्वानाम् fame extending of his lineage दौष्यन्ति:-इव यज्वनाम् Dhushyanta's son (Bharata) like, in Yagya performers He will be an alms and shelter giver like the king of Ushinara, Shivi, and will extend the fame of his lineage like Bharata the son of Dushyanta, among the Yagya performers.


धन्विनामग्रणीरेष तुल्यश्चार्जुनयोर्द्वयो: ।
हुताश इव दुर्धर्ष: समुद्र इव दुस्तर: ॥२१॥
धन्विनाम्-अग्रणी:-एष: among archers will lead, he
तुल्य:-च-अर्जुनयो:-द्वयो: and comparable to Arjunas, both हुताश: इव दुर्धर्ष: fire like incompatible समुद्र: इव दुस्तर: ocean like unconquerable He will be leader among the archors, comparable to both Arjunas, Sahasrabaahoo Arjuna and his own grand father. He will be uncompatible like fire and unconquerable like the ocean.


मृगेन्द्र इव विक्रान्तो निषेव्यो हिमवानिव ।
तितिक्षुर्वसुधेवासौ सहिष्णु: पितराविव ॥२२॥
मृगेन्द्र: इव विक्रान्त: lion like in valour
निषेव्य: हिमवान्-इव shelter providing Himalaya like तितिक्षु:-वसुधा-इव- enduring earth like असौ सहिष्णु: पितरौ-इव he, forbearing parents like He will be like a lion in valour, and shelter providing like the Himaalaya. Like the earth he will be enduring and forebearing like parents.


पितामहसम: साम्ये प्रसादे गिरिशोपम: ।
आश्रय: सर्वभूतानां यथा देवो रमाश्रय: ॥२३॥
पितामह-सम: साम्ये Brahmaa like even minded
प्रसादे गिरिश-उपम: in wish granting Shiva like आश्रय: सर्व-भूतानाम् resort for all beings यथा देव: रमा-आश्रय: just as Lord (Vishnu) Rama's abode He will be even minded like Brahmaa, and in wish granting he will be compared to Shiva. He will be the resort for all beings just as Lord Vishnu, who is the Abode of Ramaa - Goddess Lakshmi.


सर्वसद्गुणमाहात्म्ये एष कृष्णमनुव्रत: ।
रन्तिदेव इवोदारो ययातिरिव धार्मिक: ॥२४॥
सर्व-सद्-गुण-माहात्म्ये in all high virtues, in excellence
एष: कृष्णम्-अनुव्रत: this (child) Krishna's follower (will be) रन्तिदेव: इव-उदार: Rantideva like generous ययाति:-इव धार्मिक: (and) Yayaati like pious This child will follow Krishna in all high virtues and excellence. He will be generous like Rantideva and pious like Yayaati.


धृत्या बलिसम: कृष्णे प्रह्लाद इव सद्ग्रह: ।
आहर्तैषोऽश्वमेधानां वृद्धानां पर्युपासक: ॥२५॥
धृत्या बलि-सम: in firmness (king) Bali like
कृष्णे प्रह्लाद: इव सद्ग्रह: in Krishna, Prahlaada like unflinching आहर्ता-एष:-अश्वमेधानाम् performer, this (child), of Ashwamedhaas वृद्धानाम् पर्युपासक: of aged service rendering This child will be firm like king Bali, and like Prahalaad will be unflinching in devotion to Krishna, he will perform many Ashwamedha Yagyas and will serve the aged.


राजर्षीणां जनयिता शास्ता चोत्पथगामिनाम् ।
निग्रहीता कलेरेष भुवो धर्मस्य कारणात् ॥२६॥
राजर्षीणाम् जनयिता of royal sages, progenitor
शास्ता च-उत्पथ-गामिनाम् punisher, and of (from virtuous) path straying निग्रहीता कले:-एष: will subdue Kali (Yuga) this (child) भुव: धर्मस्य कारणात् (for) earth and righteousness sake This child will be the progenitor of royal sages. He will punish those who stray from the path of virtue. He will subdue Kali Yuga in the interest of the earth and righteousness.


तक्षकादात्मनो मृत्युं द्विजपुत्रोपसर्जितात् ।
प्रपत्स्यत उपश्रुत्य मुक्तसङ्ग: पदं हरे: ॥२७॥
तक्षकात्-आत्मन: मृत्युम् by Takshaka, own death
द्विज-पुत्र-उपसर्जितात् Braahmana's son sent curse प्रपत्स्यते उपश्रुत्य will take refuge, in hearing मुक्त-सङ्ग: पदम् हरे: free of bondages, of feet of Shree Hari This child hearing of his death by the snake Takshaka, sent as a curse by a Braahmana's son, will take refuge at the feet of Shree Hari, giving up all attachments.


जिज्ञासितात्मयाथात्म्यो मुनेर्व्याससुतादसौ ।
हित्वेदं नृप गङ्गायां यास्यत्यद्धाकुतोभयम् ॥२८॥
जिज्ञासित-आत्म- (having) inquired (about) self
याथा-आत्म्य: as the (true) self मुने:-व्यास-सुतात्-असौ of sages Vyaasa's son from, this (child) हित्वा-इदम् नृप casting away this, O king गङ्गायाम् यास्यति- in Gangaa will attain अद्धा-अकुत:-भयम् indeed from nowhere fear (fearlessness) Having inquiered about the self and knowing the truth about the Self, from Sage Vyaasa's son Shukadeva, O king, he will cast away this body in Gangaa river and surely attain the state of fearlessness.


इति राज्ञ उपादिश्य विप्रा जातककोविदा: ।
लब्धापचितय: सर्वे प्रतिजग्मु: स्वकान् गृहान् ॥२९॥
इति राज्ञे उपादिश्य thus to the king saying
विप्रा: जातक-कोविदा: the Braahmanas, astrology knowers लब्ध-अपचितय: सर्वे receiving fees, all प्रतिजग्मु: स्वकान् गृहान् went away to their houses The Braahamanas who were experts in astrology, thus enlightened king Yudhishtthira about the future of the child Pareekshita and after receiving their fees they all went away to their respective houses.


स एष लोके विख्यात: परीक्षिदिति यत्प्रभु: ।
गर्भे दृष्टमनुध्यायन् परीक्षेत नरेष्विह ॥३०॥
स: एष: लोके विख्यात: that this, in this world well known
परीक्षित्-इति यत्-प्रभु: Pareekshita thus, because, capable गर्भे दृष्टम्-अनुध्यायन् in the womb, seen and reflecting on परीक्षेत नरेषु-इह judged (among) the men here Thus, this child is well known as Pareekshita. He came to be known by this name because, he used to judge and look for, among the men here, in this world, the Person whom he had seen in his mother's womb, and whom he remembered and always reflected upon.


स राजपुत्रो ववृधे आशु शुक्ल इवोडुप: ।
आपूर्यमाण: पितृभि: काष्ठाभिरिव सोऽन्वहम् ॥३१॥
स: राजपुत्र: ववृधे आशु that prince (Pareekshita) grew soon
शुक्ले इव-उडुप: in the bright (fortnight) like the moon आपूर्यमाण: पितृभि: being nurtured by parents काष्ठाभि:-इव स:-अन्वहम् by waxing in degrees like, he everyday The Prince Parikshita, nurtured by his parents everyday, grew soon, just as the moon of the bright fortnight waxes in degrees and soon becomes full.


यक्ष्यमाणोऽश्वमेधेन ज्ञातिद्रोहजिहासया ।
राजालब्धधनो दध्यावन्यत्र करदण्डयो: ॥३२॥
यक्ष्यमाण:-अश्वमेधेन wanting to perform Yagya Ashvamedha
ज्ञाति-द्रोह-जिहासया kith and kin's hostility, to atone राजा-अलब्ध-धन: the king (Yudhishtthira) not having wealth दध्यौ-अन्यत्र कर-दण्डयो: was thoughtful, except for taxes and fines King Yudhishtthira wanted to perform the Ashwamedha Yagya to atone for his hostality towards his kith and kin. But having no resources except from taxes and fines, he became thoughtful.


तदभिप्रेतमालक्ष्य भ्रातरोऽच्युतचोदिता: ।
धनं प्रहीणमाजह्रुरुदीच्यां दिशि भूरिश: ॥३३॥
तत्-अभिप्रेतम्-आलक्ष्य his wish understanding
भ्रातर:-अच्युत-चोदिता: the brothers by Achyuta (Lord Krishna) encouraged धनम् प्रहीणम्-आजह्रु:- wealth abandoned brought back, उदीच्याम् दिशि भूरिश: in the north direction much Knowing Yudhishtthira's wish, Achyuta Lord Krishna encouraged the younger brothers, who brought back much wealth from the north direction, which was abondoned there.


तेन सम्भृतसम्भारो धर्मपुत्रो युधिष्ठिर: ।
वाजिमेधैस्त्रिभिर्भीतो यज्ञै: समयजत् हरिम् ॥३४॥
तेन सम्भृत-सम्भार: by that (wealth) gathered material
धर्मपुत्र: युधिष्ठिर: Dharma's son Yudhishtthira वाजिमेधै:-त्रिभि:-भीत: by Ashwamedhaas three, afraid of (sin) यज्ञै: समयजत् हरिम् by Yagya propitiated Shree Hari Dharma's son Yudhishtthira, afraid of commiting sins, then, by that wealth, gathered requisit material and performed three Ashwamedha Yagyas and thereby propitiated Shree Hari.


आहूतो भगवान् राज्ञा याजयित्वा द्विजैर्नृपम् ।
उवास कतिचिन्मासान् सुहृदां प्रियकाम्यया ॥३५॥
आहूत: भगवान् राज्ञा invited, The Lord, by the king
याजयित्वा द्विजै:-नृपम् getting Yagya performed, by Brahmanas, of the king उवास कतिचित्-मासान् stayed back, for some months सुहृदाम् प्रिय-काम्यया for the friend's good wishing The Lord Krishna was invited by the king, and He got the Braahamanas to perform the Yagyas for the king. Then He stayed on for some months as desired by His friends and relatives.


ततो राज्ञाभ्यनुज्ञात: कृष्णया सह बन्धुभि: ।
ययौ द्वारवतीं ब्रह्मन् सार्जुनो यदुभिर्वृत: ॥३६॥
तत: राज्ञा-अभ्यनुज्ञात: then by king's permission
कृष्णया सह बन्धुभि: Draupadi with and other brothers ययौ द्वारवतीम् ब्रह्मन् went to Dwaarakaa, O Shaunaka! सार्जुन: यदुभि:-वृत: with Arjuna and surrounded by Yadu's Then, taking leave of the king, Lord Krishna went to Dwaaraka, O Shaunaka! Along with Draupadi, the other brothers, and Arjuna, surrounded by the Yadus.



इति श्रीमद्भागवते महापुराणे पारमहंश्यां संहितायां प्रथमस्कन्धे नैमिषीयोपाख्याने
प्अरीक्षिज्जन्माद्युत्कर्षो नाम द्वादश: अध्याय: ॥१२॥
Thus ends the twelfth discourse entitled 'The Glory of birth etc., of Pareekshita,' forming part of the story relating to the Naimisha forest, in Book One of the great and glorious Bhaagavata Puraana.