16-1-001
वैशंपायन उवाच
षट्त्रिंशे त्वथ संप्राप्ते वर्षे कौरवनन्दनः
ददर्श विपरीतानि निमित्तानि युधिष्ठिरः
Vaiśampāyana said, 'When thirty-six years had passed, Yudhiṣṭhira, descendant of the Kuru lineage, saw contrary portents.
16-1-002
ववुर्वाताः सनिर्घाता रूक्षाः शर्करवर्षिणः
अपसव्यानि शकुना मण्डलानि प्रचक्रिरे
Rough and violent winds began to blow, showering stones. Birds began to circle around on the left.
16-1-003
प्रत्यगूहुर्महानद्यो दिशो नीहारसंवृताः
उल्काश्चाङ्गारवर्षिण्यः प्रपेतुर्गगनाद्भुवि
The giant rivers retraced their courses. The directions were covered in mist. From the sky, meteors showered down on the ground, with blazing coals.
16-1-004
आदित्यो रजसा राजन्समवच्छन्नमण्डलः
विरश्मिरुदये नित्यं कबन्धैः समदृश्यत
O king! The solar disc was covered in dust. When it arose, the sun always seemed to be without any rays and headless torsos could be seen in it.
16-1-005
परिवेषाश्च दृश्यन्ते दारुणाः चन्द्रसूर्ययोः
त्रिवर्णाः श्यामरूक्षान्तास्तथा भस्मारुणप्रभाः
The sun and the moon were seen to be enveloped in terrible circles. These had three colours, black and rough at the extremities and with red and hues like ash elsewhere.
16-1-006
एते चान्ये च बहव उत्पाता भयशंसिनः
दृश्यन्तेऽहरहो राजन्हृदयोद्वेगकारकाः
There were many other omens, signifying fear and terror. O king! These could be seen continuously and caused anxiety in the minds.
16-1-007
कस्यचित्त्वथ कालस्य कुरुराजो युधिष्ठिरः
शुश्राव वृष्णिचक्रस्य मौसले कदनं कृतम्
After some time, Yudhiṣṭhira, king of the Kurus, heard of the carnage that had occurred among the Vrishnis because of the clubs.
16-1-008
विमुक्तं वासुदेवं च श्रुत्वा रामं च पाण्डवः
समानीयाब्रवीद्भ्रातॄन्किं करिष्याम इत्युत
Pāṇḍava heard that only Vāsudeva and Rāma had escaped. He summoned his brothers, to discuss what should be done.
16-1-009
परस्परं समासाद्य ब्रह्मदण्डबलात्कृतान्
वृष्णीन्विनष्टांस्ते श्रुत्वा व्यथिताः पाण्डवाभवन्
Having heard that the Vrishnis had been destroyed because of the force of the brāhmaṇa's staff, the Pandavas were distressed and consulted each other.
16-1-010
निधनं वासुदेवस्य समुद्रस्येव शोषणम्
वीरा न श्रद्दधुस्तस्य विनाशं शार्ङ्गधन्वनः
The brave ones could not believe the death of Vāsudeva, the wielder of the Śārṅga bow. It was like the drying up of the ocean.
16-1-011
मौसलं ते परिश्रुत्य दुःखशोकसमन्विताः
विषण्णा हतसंकल्पाः पाण्डवाः समुपाविशन्
Hearing about the incident with the clubs, they were overcome by sorrow and grief. Distressed and devoid of resolution, the Pandavas sat down.