Ṛṣi Nārada adresses Yudhiṣṭhira, continued III

 kaccid raktāmbaradharāḥ khaṅgahastāḥ svalaṅkṛtāḥ

upāsate tvāmabhito rakṣaṇārthamarindama

O chastiser of foes, do men attired in purple clothes, armed with swords and adorned with ornaments, stand by you to protect your person?

kaccid daṇḍyeṣu yamavatpūjyeṣu ca viśāmpate

parīkṣya vartase samyagapriyeṣu priyeṣu ca

O king! Do you conduct yourself like Yama in meeting our proper punishments to those who deserve it and also proper worship to those who deserve it? Do you do this equally to those who are dear to you and to those who you do not like?

kaccicchārīramābādhamauṣadhairniyamena vā

mānasaṁ vṛddhasevābhiḥ sadā pārthāpakarṣasi

O Pārtha! Do you take care of your bodily ailments by taking medicines and also taking recourse to fast and regularly of diet and of your mental illness by taking advice of old men?

kaccid vaidyāścikitsāyāmaṣṭāṅgāyāṁ viśāradāḥ

sudaścānuraktāśca śarīre te hitāḥ sadā

Physicians that have been appointed by you to look after your health are surely learned in 8 divisions of the science of treatment? They are surely all attached to you and devoted to you?

kaccinna lobhānmohād vā mānād vāpi viśāmāte

arthipratyarthinaḥ prāptān na paśyasi kathañcana

O king! Out of covetuousness or folly or pride, you surely never fail to decide the case between plaintiff and defendant who come to you?

kaccinna lobhānmohād vā viśrambhāt praṇayena vā

āśritānāṁ manuṣyāṇāṁ vṛttiṁ tvaṁ saṁruṇātsi vai

Do you, out of covetuousness or folly, deprive of pensions men who have come to you for protection out trustfulness or love?

kaccid paurā na sāhitā ye ca te rāṣṭravāsinaḥ

tvayā saha virudhyante paraiḥ krītā kathañcana

Do citizens and people of your kingdom, being bought by your enemies with bribe, try to create a quarrel with you by forming into an united party?

kaccinna durbalaḥ śatrurbalena paripīḍitaḥ

mantreṇa balavān kaścidubhābhyāṁ ca kathañcana

Are your enemies, especially those who are weak, always repressed by you with the help of your troops? Are those who are strong repressed with the help of both good counsel and troops?

kaccit sarve ̍ nuraktāstvāṁ bhūmipālāḥ pradhānataḥ

kaccit prāṇāṁstvadartheṣu saṁtyajanti tvayā ādṛtāḥ

Are all your principal tributary chiefs rules the land attached to you? Are they ready to give up their lives for you, if they are commanded by you?

kaccit te sarvavidyāsu guṇato ̍ rcā pravartate

brāhmaṇāṁ ca sādhūnāṁ tava naiḥśreyasī śubhā

dakṣiṇāstvaṁ dadāsyeṣāṁ nityaṁ svargāpavargadāḥ

Do you worship Brāhmaṇas and wise men according to their respective merits as regards their knowledge in all branches of learning? Such worship is undoubtedly beneficial to you.

kaccid dharme trayīmūle pūrvairācarite janaiḥ

yatamānastathā kartuṁ tasmin karmaṇi vartase

Have you your faith in religion based on 3 Vedas and followed by men who have gone before you? Do you with care follow the practices done by them?

kaccittava gṛhe ̍ nnāni svādūnyaśnanti vai dvijāḥ

guṇavanti guṇopetāstavādhyakṣaṁ sadakṣiṇam

Are accomplished Brāhmaṇas entertained in your presence with delicious and nutritive food in your house? Do they get proper Dakṣiṇas after the feast?

kaccit kratūnekacitto vājapeyāśca sarvaśaḥ

puṇḍarīkāṁśca kārtsnenyena yatase kartumātmavān

With steadiness of mind and with complete self possession, do you try to perform Vājapeya, Puṇḍarīkas and other sacrifices with all necessary rites?

kaccijjñātīn gurūn vṛddhān daivatāṁstāpasānapi

caityāṁśca vṛkṣān kalyāṇān brāhmaṇāṁśca namasyasi

Do you bow your head to your relatives and to your superiors, to gods, ascetics, old men, large trees that are so beneficial to men and to Brāhmaṇas?

kaccichoko na manyurvā tvayā protpadyate ̍ nagha

api maṅgalahastaśca janaḥ pārśve nu tiṣṭhati

O sinless one! You do not surely inspire anger or create grief in another person? Do men that are capable of granting you auspicious fruits, always stand at your side?

kaccideṣā ca te buddhirvṛttireṣā ca te ̍ nagha

āyuṣyā ca yaśasyā ca dharmakāmārthadarśanī

O sinless one! Are your disposition and practice such as I have described and such as always lenghten the period of life spread fame and help the cause of Dharma, Artha and Kāma?

Ṛṣi Nārada adresses Yudhiṣṭhira, continued II

  kaccit koṣaśca kośca koṣṭhaṁ ca vāhanaṁ dvāramāyudham

āyaśca kṛtakalyāṇaistava bhaktairanuṣṭhitaḥ 

kaccidābhyantarebhyaśca bāhmebhyaśca viśāmpate

rakṣasyātmānamevāgre tāṁśca svebhyo mithaśca tān

O king! Are your treasury, banks, stables, arsenals and female apartments well guarded by servants who are ever devoted to you and who always seek your welfare? You no doubt first protect yourself from your domestic and public servants and you then protect those servants from your relatives and the last of all you no doubt, protect all of them from one another.

kaccinna pāne dyūte vā krīḍāsu pramadāsu ca

pratijānanti pūrvāhne vyayaṁ vyasanajaṁ tava

Can anybody know in the forenoon any of your extravagance in drink, in sports, gambling and in women?

kaccidāyasya cārdhena caturbhāgena vā punaḥ

pādabhāgaistribhirvāpi vyayaḥ saṁśuddhyate tava

kaccijjhñātīn gurūnvṛddhānvaṇijaḥ śilpinaḥ śritān

abhīkṣṇamanugṛhṇāsi dhanadhānyena durgatān

Is your expense always covered by a half, a third or 4th part of your income? Do you always cherish with food and wealth your superiors, merchants, old, helpless, protected and distressed?

kacciccāyavyaye yuktāḥ sarve gaṇakalekhakāḥ

anutiṣṭhanti pūrvāhṇe nityamāyaṁ vyayaṁ tava

Do your accountants and clerks employ in looking after your income and expenditure always inform you in forenoon all about your income and expenditure?

kaccidartheṣu samprauḍhān hitakāmānanupriyān

nāpakarṣasi karmabhyaḥ pūrvamaprāpya kilbiṣam

You surely do not dismiss without fault servants who are able in work, who are popular and who are always devoted to your welfare.

kaccid viditvā puruṣānuttamādhamamadhyamān

tvaṁ karmasvanurūpeṣu niyojayasi bhārata

O descendant of Bharata! Do you appoint after duly examinating all 3 classes of men, namely good, indifferent and bad in posts to which they are respectively fit to be appointed?

kacinna lubdhāścaurā vā vairiṇo vā viśāmpate

aprāptavyavahārā vā tava karmasvanuṣṭhitāḥ 

O king! Do you appoint men who are thievish, who are open to temptation, who are under age?

kaccinna caurerlubdhairvā kumāraiḥ strībalena vā

tvayā vā pīḍyate rāṣṭraṁ kaccittuṣṭāḥ kṛṣīvalaḥ

Do you oppress people of your kingdom by the help of thievish or by  men who are open to temptation or by minors or by women? Are peasants of your kingdom contented?

kaccid rāṣṭre taḍāgāni pūrṇāni ca bṛhanti ca

bhāgaśo viniviṣṭāni na kṛṣirdevamātṛkā

Are large tanks dug in your kingdom at proper distance, for which agriculture is not in your realm entirely dependent on rains?

kaccinna bhaktaṁ bījaṁ ca karṣakasyāvasīdati

pratyekaṁ ca śataṁ vṛddyā dadāsyṛṇamanugraham

Are agriculturists in your kingdom in want of food or seed? Do you kindly advance them loan of seed grain taken only a 4th part over every 100 seer, mound etc.

kacciṛt svanuṣṭhitā tāta vārtā te sādhubhirjanaiḥ

vārtāyāṁ saṁśritastāta loko ̍ yaṁ sukhamedhate

O child! Do 4 kinds of agriculture, trade, cattle rearing and lending in interest are carried in your kingdom by honest men? O child! Upon these depend happiness of your subjects.

kaccicchūrāḥ kṛtaprajñāḥ pañca pañca svanuṣṭhitāḥ

kṣemaṁ kurvanti saṁhatya rājañjanapade tava

O king! Do 5 wise and brave men employed in 5 chief ports, namely that of protecting the city, fort, merchant and agriculturists and punishing criminals always do good to your kingdom by working in unison?

kaccinnagaraguptyarthaṁ grāmā nagaravat kṛtāḥ

grāmavacca kṛtāḥ prāntāste ca sarve tvadarpaṇāḥ

Have villages been made by you like towns and outskirts of towns like villages for protection of your city? Are they all under your supervision and away?

kaccid balenānugatāḥ samāni viṣamāṇi ca

purāṇi cairān nighnantaścaranti viṣaye tava

Are thieves and robbers who steal in your city and loot your towns pursued by your soldiers over even and uneven grounds?

kaccit striyaḥ sāntvayasi kaccit tāśca surakṣitāḥ

kaccinna śraddadhāsyāsāṁ kaccid guhyaṁ na bhāṣase

Do you console and protect women? You surely do not place any confidence on them or divulge any secret before any of them?

kaccidātyayikaṁ śrutvā tadarthamanucintya ca

priyāṇyanubhavañcheṣe na tvamantaḥpure nṛpa

O king! Hearing of any danger and even reflecting over it, do you lie in inner apartments and enjoy luxury there?

kaccid dvau prathamau yāmau rātreḥ suptvā viśāmpate

saṁcintayasi dharmārthau yāma utthāya paścime

kaccidarthayase nityaṁ manuṣyān samalaṁkṛtaḥ

utthāya kāle kālajñaiḥ saha pāṇḍavamantribhiḥ

O king! O Pāṇḍava! Having slept during the second and third divisions of the night, do you reflect over Dharma and Artha in the last division of the night? Do you accompanied by your ministers feared in the mystery of time, show your self well adorned to your people after walking at the proper time?

Ṛṣi Nārada adresses Yudhiṣṭhira, continued I

 kaccid durgāṇi sarvāṇi dhanadhānyāyudhodakaiḥ

yantraiśca paripūrṇāni tathā śilpidhanurdharaiḥ

Are all your forts always kept filled with treasure, food, weapons, water, engines, instruments and they are protected by artisans and bowmen?

eko ̍ pyamātyo medhāvī śūro dānto vicakṣaṇaḥ

rājānaṁ rājaputraṁ vā prāpayenmahatīṁ śriyam

Even one single minister who is intelligent, heroic, self controlled and discriminating confers the greatest good on a king and on king ̍ s son.

kaccidaṣṭādaśānyeṣu svapakṣe daśa pañca ca

tribhistribhiravijñātairvetsi tīrthāni cārakaiḥ

Do you ascertain by the means of 3 and 3 spies who are all unaccounted with one, after everything about 18 Tīrthas of enemy and 15 of your own means?

kaccid dviṣāmaviditaḥ pratipannaśca sarvadā

nityayukto ripūn sarvān vīkṣase ripusūdana

O slayer of foes! Do you watch your enemies with all possible care and attention and do you accomplish this task unknown to them?

 

kaccid vinayasampannaḥ kulaputro bahūśrutaḥ

anasū yuranupraṣṭā satkṛtaste purohitaḥ

kaccidagniṣu te yukto vidhijño matimānṛjuḥ

hutaṁ ca hoṣyamāṇaṁ ca kāle vedayate sadā

kaccidaṅgeṣu niṣṇāto jyotiṣaḥ pratipādakaḥ

utpāteṣu ca sarveṣu daivajñaḥ kuśalastava

Does your honored priest possess humility and purity of blood? Is he without jealousy and illiberality? Is he renowned? Has some well behaved, intelligent and simple Brāhmaṇa, learned in the ordinances, been employed by you to perform your daily rites before sacred fire? Does he always perform rites before sacred fire? Does he always remind you in proper time as to when your Homa has been performed and when it should be performed again? Is astrologer you have employed, competent in reading physiognomy and intercepting omens and in neutralizing disturbances of nature?

 kaccinmukhyā mahatsveva madhyameṣu ca madhyamāḥ

jaghanyāśca jaghanyeṣu bhṛtyāḥ karmasu yojitāḥ

Have you appointed respectable servants in respectable posts, indifferent ones in indifferent posts and low ones in low posts?

amātyānupadhātītān pitṛpaitāmahāñchucīn

śreṣṭhāñcheṣṭheṣu kaccit tvaṁ niyojayasi karmasu

Have you appointed in high posts ministers who are guideless and well conducted from generations to generations and who are above common people?

kaccinnogreṇa daṇḍena bhṛśamudvijase prajāḥ

rāṣṭraṁ tavānuśāsanti mantriṇo bharatarṣabha

O best of Bharata race! Your subjects are not solely oppressed by your severe rule? Do your ministers govern your kingdom always receiving all orders from you?

kaccit tvaṁ nāvajānanti yājakāḥ patitaṁ yathā

ugrapatigrahītāraṁ kāmayānamiva striyaḥ

Do they ever slight you as sacrificial priests slight men who are fallen from religious path, or as wives slight their husbands who are proud and who are debauches?

kacciddhṛṣṭaśca śūraśca matimān dhṛtimāñchuciḥ

kulīnaścānuraktaśca dakṣaḥ senāpatistathā

Is your commander in chief brave, intelligent, patient, well conducted, nobly born, competent, devoted to you and a man of confidence?

kaccid balasya te mukhyāḥ sarvayuddhaviśāradāḥ

dhṛṣṭāvadātā vikrāntāstvayā satkṛtya mānitāḥ

Do you treat with respect and regard chief generals of your army, who are experts in every kind of war fare, who are pushing, who are well behaved and endued with great prowess?

kaccid balasya bhaktaṁ ca vetanaṁ ca yathocitam

samprāptakāle dātavyaṁ dadāsi na vikarṣasi

Do you give to your soldiers their proper rations and pay at appointed time? Surely you do not oppress them by withholding from them their rations and pay.

kālātikramaṇādete bhaktavetanayorbhṛtāḥ

bhartuḥ kupyanti yadbhṛtyāḥ so ̍ narthaḥ sumahān smṛtaḥ

Are you aware that misery caused by the arrears of pay and irregularity of issue of rations creates mutiny amongst soldiers? Learned men call it the greatest of all mischief.

kaccit sarve ̍ nuraktāstvāṁ kulaputrāḥ pradhānataḥ

kaccit prāṇāṁstavārtheṣu saṁtyajanti sadā yudhi

Are all the chief men of your kingdom nobly born? Are they all attached to you? Are they ready to give their lives cheerfully for you on the field of battle?

kaccinaiko bahūnarthān sarvaśaḥ sāmparāyikān

anuśāsti yathākāmaṁ kāmātmā śāsanātigaḥ

Surely in your kingdom a man who is beyond all control does not out of desire rule at pleasure over things pertaining military affairs.

kaccit puruṣakāreṇa puruṣaḥ karma śobhayan

labhate mānamadhikaṁ bhūyo vā bhaktavetanam

Does a man who shows exceptional merit in an act get from you more regard and also an increase of rations and pay?

kaccid vidyāvinītāṁśca narāñjñānaviśāradān

yathārthaṁ guṇataścaiva dānenābhyupapadyase

Surely you reward by bestowing wealth and proper honors on men of learning and humility and men who are skilled in every kind of knowledge.

kaccid dārānmanuṣyāṇāṁ tavārthe mṛtyumīṣām

vyasanaṁ cābhyupetānāṁ bibharṣi bharatarṣabhā

O best of Bharata race! Do you support wives and children of those who have given their lives for you and those who have fallen into distress for you?

kaccid bhayādupagataṁ kṣīṇaṁ vā ripumāgatam

yuddhe vā vijitaṁ pārtha putravat parirakṣasi

O Pārtha! Do you cherish as your sons enemy who having been vanquished in battle, comes to you from fear who has become weak and who has sought your protection?

kaccit tvameva sarvasyāḥ pṛthivyāḥ pṛthivīpate

samaścānabhiśaṅkyaśca yathā mātā yathā pitā

O king! Do people of all the world consider you an embodiment of impartiality? Can they come to you fearlessly as if you are their mother and father?

kaccid vyasaninaṁ śatruṁ niśamya bharatarṣabha

abhiyāsi javenaiva samīkṣya trividhaṁ balam

O best of Bharata race! Do you reflecting well upon 3 kinds of force at once march, against your enemy when you hear that he is in distress?

yātrāmārase diṣṭyā prāptakālamariṁdama

pārṣṇimūlaṁ ca vijñāya vyavasāyaṁ parājayam

balasya ca mahārāja dattvā vetanamagrataḥ

kaccicca balamukhyebhyaḥ pararāṣṭre paraṁtapa

upacchannāni ratnāni prayacchasi yathārhataḥ

O chastiser of foes, when the proper time comes, taking into your consideration all the omens you might see and having been convinced that resolutions you have formed and their unsuccesses depend on the 12 Maṇḍalas and having paid your troops their pays do you begin your march? O great king! O chastiser of foes! Do you have gems and jewels to the chief officers of the enemy as they, each of them, deserve without the knowledge of the enemy?

kaccidātmānamevāgre vijitya vijitendriyaḥ

parān jigīṣase pārtha pramattānajitendriyān

O Pārtha! Do you try to conquer your angry enemies, who are slaves to their passions? Do you do it by conquering your own soul and getting mastery over your own passions?

kaccit te yāsyataḥ śatrūn pūrvaṁ yānti svanuṣṭhitāḥ

sāma dānaṁ ca bhedaśca daṇḍaśca vidhivad guṇāḥ

Before you march against your enemy do you properly employ 4 arts of conciliation, gift of wealth, production of disunion and application of strength?

kaccinmūlaṁ dṛḍhaṁ kṛtvā parān yāsi viśāmpate

tāṁśca vikramase jetuṁ jitvā ca parirakṣasi

O king! Do you march against your enemy after first strengthening your own kingdom? Having marched against them, do you try your best to obtain victory over them? Having conquered them with your might, do your might afterwards protect them?

kaccidaṣṭāṅgasaṁyuktā caturvidhabalā camūḥ

balamukhyaiḥ sunītā te dviṣatāṁ prativardhinī

Are your Camūs consisting of 4 kinds of troops, each furnished with 8 limbs, after having been well trained by superior officers, led out against your enemy?

kaccillavaṁ ca muṣṭiṁ ca pararāṣṭre paraṁtapa

avihāya mahārāja niṁhasi samare ripūn

O chastiser of foes! O great king! In having to the kingdom of your enemy, you surely do not kill your enemies without regarding seasons of reaping or famine, reging.

kaccit svapararāṣṭreṣu bahavo ̍ dhikṛtāstava

arthān samadhitiṣṭhanti rakṣanti ca parasparam

Do various servants in your own kingdom and those of your enemies continue to carry on their respective duties? Do they continue to protect one another?

kaccidabhyavahāryāṇi gātrasaṁspaśanāni ca

preyāṇi ca mahārāja rakṣantyanumatāstava

O great king! You have surely appointed trusted servants to look after the food you eat, robes you wear and perfume you use.

Ṛṣi Nārada adresses Yudhiṣṭhira

 tutoṣa ca yathāvacca pūjāṁ prāpya Yudhiṣṭhirāt

so ̍ rcitaḥ pāṇḍavaiḥ sarvairmaharṣirvedapāragaḥ

dharmakāmārthasaṁyuktaṁ papracchedaṁ yudhiṣṭhiram

Nārada was gratified by receiving worship from Yudhiṣṭhira in proper form. Having been thus worshipped by all Pāṇḍavas, great Ṛṣi, learned in Vedas, spoke to Yudhiṣṭhira following words on Dharama, Artha and Kāma.

nārada uvāca

kaccidarthāśca kalpante dharme ca ramate manaḥ

sukhāni cānubhūyante manaśca na vihanyate

Nārada said: Is wealth you are earning spent in proper objects? Does your mind take pleasure in virtue? Does your mind sink under their weight?

kaccidācaritaṁ pūrvairnaradeva pitāmahaiḥ

vartasae vṛttimakṣudrāṁ dharmārthasahitāṁ triṣu

O chief of men! Do you continue in noble conduct consistent with Dharma and Artha with the respect to 3 classes, good, bad and indifferent of your subjects as practised by your ancestors?

kaccidarthena vā dharmaṁ dharmeṇārthamathāpi vā

ubhau vā prītisāreṇa na kāmena prabādhase

Do you injure Dharma for the sake of profit ( Artha ), or profit for the sake of Dharma, or both Dharma and Artha for the sake of Kāma, which easily tempts men?

kaccidarthaṁ ca dharmaṁ ca kāmaṁ ca jayatāṁ vara

vibhajya kāle kālajñaḥ sadā varada sevase

O foremost of pious men! O king learned in timelines of everything, do you dividing your time judiciously follow religion, profit and pleasures?

kaccid rājaguṇaiḥ ṣaḍbhiḥ saptopāyāṁstathānagha

balābalaṁ tathā samyak caturdaśa parīkṣase

O sinless one! Do you attend with 6 attributes of kings to 7 means? Do you examine after surveying your own strength and weakness and 14 possessions of your enemies?

kaccidātmānamanvīkṣya parāṁśca jayatāṁ vara 

tathā saṅdhāya karmāṇi aṣṭau bhārata sevase

O foremost of pious men! O descendant of Bharata! Do you attend to 8 occupations, having surveyed your own and your enemy ̍ s means and also having made peace with your enemies?

kaccit prakṛtayaḥ sapta na lupta na luptā bharatarṣabha

āḍhyāstathā vyasaninaḥ svanuraktāśca sarvaśaḥ

O best of Bharata race! Have your 7 chief officers of state been tempted by your enemies? Have they become idle for wealth they have earned? Are they all attached to you?

kaccinna kṛtakairdūtairye cāpyapariśaṅkitāḥ

tvatto vā tava cāmātyairbhidyate mantritaṁ tathā

Your counsels are not surely divulged by your trusted and disguised spies or by yourself or by your ministers?

mitrodāsīnaśatrūṇāṁ kaccid vetsi cikīrṣitam

kaccit saṅdhiṁ yathākālaṁ vigrahaṁ copasevase

Do you ascertain what your friends, your enemies and ascetics are doing? Do you make war and peace at proper time?

kaccid vṛttimudāsīne madhyame cānumanyase

kaccidātmasamā vṛddhāḥ śuddhāḥ sambodhana kṣamāḥ

kulīnāścānuraktāśca kṛtāste vīra mantriṇaḥ

vijayo mantramūlo hi rājño bhavati bhārata

Do you obsereve neutrality towards ascetics and towards those who show neutrality towards you? O hero! Have you appointed as your ministers men like yourself, men who are old and pious, who are capable of understanding what should be done, and what should not be done, who are nobly born  who are attached to you? O descendant of Bharata! Ministers are the basis of the victories of kings.

kaccit saṁvṛtamantraistairamātyaiḥ śāstrakovidaiḥ

rāṣṭraṁ surakṣitaṁ tāta śatrubhirna vilupyate

O child! Is your kingdom protected by ministers, learned in Śāstras, men who are keeping all counsels secret? Enemies are surely not desroying kingdom.

kaccinnidrāvaśaṁ naiṣi kaccit kāle vibuddhyase

kacciccāpararātreṣu cintayasyarthamarthavit

You have not surely became a slave to sleep. Do you get up from sleep at proper time? O king! You are learned in the mysteries of Artha! Do you think at the dead of night what you should do and what you should not?

kaccinmantrayase naikaḥ kaccinna bahubhiḥ saha

kaccit te mantrito mantro na rāṣṭraṁ paridhāvati

Do not, surely, settle anything alone or take advice of many? Counsels received from ministers surely do not spread all over your kingdom.

kaccidarthān viniścitya laghumūlān mahodayān

kṣipramārabhase kartuṁ na vighnayasi tādṛśān

Do you without procastination accomplish measures of great utility that can be easily accomplished? Such measures are surely never obstructed in your kingdom.

kaccinna sarve karmāntāḥ parokṣāste viśāṅkitāḥ

sarve vā punarutsṛṣṭāḥ saṁsṛṣṭaṁ cātra kāraṇam

Do the ends of all works come to your sight? Are they all fearlessly examined? Once commencing any work are they given up and begun again? Do they fall into confusion at tha commencement?

aptairalubdhaiḥ kramikaiste ca kaccidanuṣṭhitāh

kaccid rājan kṛtānyeva kṛtaprāyāṇi vā punaḥ

viduste vīra karmāṇi nānavāptāni kānicit

kaccit kāraṇikā dharme sarvaśāstreṣu kovidāḥ

kārayanti kumārāṁśca yodhamukhyāṁśca sarvaśaḥ

O king! Do you accomplish your works by mṇen who are trusted and incorruptible and who possess of practical experience? O hero! People surely know only measures that have been accomplished or partially accomplished and surely they can not know those that are merely in contemplation. Have you appointed teachers learned in all Śāstras and religious precepts for princes and for chief warriors?

kaccit sahasrairmūrkhāṇāmekaṁ krīṇāsi paṇḍitam

paṇḍito hyarthakṛcchreṣu kuryānniḥśreyasaṁ param

Do you purchase one single learned man in exchanges of 1,000 ignorant men? Learned man confers greatest good at the time of distress.

Nārada also visits the hall

 ete cānye ca bahavo rājānaḥ pṛthivīpate

dhanaṅjayasakhā cātra nityamāste sma tumburuḥ

upāsate mahātmānamāsīnaṁ saptaviṁśatiḥ

citrasenaḥ sahāmātyo gandharvāpsarasastathā

gītavāditrakuśalāḥ sāmyatālaviśāradāḥ

pramāṇe ̍ tha laye sthāne kinnarāḥ kṛtaniśramāḥ

saṁcoditāstumburuṇā gandharvasahitāstadā

gāyanti divyatānaiste yathānyāyaṁ manasvinaḥ

pāṇḍuputrānṛṣīṁścaiva ramayanta upāsate

tasyāṁ sabhāyāmāsīnāḥ suvratāḥ satyasaṁgarāḥ

divīva devā brahmāṇaṁ yudhiṣṭhiramupāsate

O lord of the Earth! These and many other kings waited upon Yudhiṣṭhira, friend of Arjuna, Tumburu, Citrasena with his ministers and many other Gandharvas and Apsaras, all well skilled in singing and playing music, experts in dance, Kinnaras, well skilled in measures and motions, all at the command of Tumburu waited upon and amused Pāṇḍavas and also Ṛṣis who were present there, by singing celestial songs in proper and charming voices. Those best of men, those men of rigid vows, those men with hearts devoted to truth, all waited upon Yudhiṣṭhira, as celestials wait upon Brahmā in heaven.

vaiśampāyana uvāca

atha tatropaviṣṭeṣu pāṇḍaveṣu mahātmasu

mahatsu copaviṣṭeṣu gandharveṣu ca bhārata

Vaiśampāyana said: O descendant of Bharata! When illustrious Pāṇḍavas were seated in thair assembly hall with chief Gandharvas, Nārada came there.

vedopaniṣadāṁ vettā ṛṣiḥ suragaṇārcitaḥ

itihāsapurāṇajñaḥ purākalpaviṣavit

Celestial Ṛṣi who was learned in Vedas and Upaniṣads, who was worshipped by celestials, who was learned in histories and Purāṇas, who was well versed in all that had happened in old Kalpas,

nyāyavid dharmattvajñaḥ ṣaḍaṅgavidanuttamaḥ

aikyasaṁyoganānātvasamavāyaviśāradaḥ

Who was well skilled in Nyāya and in truths of moral science, who was possessor of complete knowledge and Aṅgas, a perfect master of reconciling contradictory taxes.

vaktā pragalbho medhāvī smṛtimān nayavit kaviḥ

parāparavibhāgajñaḥ pramāṇakṛtaniścayaḥ

Who was eloquent, resolute, intelligent, learned, possessor of powerful memory, learned in the science of morality and politucs, proficient in distinguishing inferior things from superior.

pañcāvayavayuktasya vākyasya guṇadoṣavit

uttarottaravaktā ca vadato ̍ pi bṛhaspateḥ

Skilled in drawing inference from evidence, cometent to judge of correctness or incorrectness of syllogistic statements consisting of 5 propositions, capable of answering successfully the queries of Bṛhaspati.

dharmakāmārthamokṣeṣu yathāvat kṛtaniścayaḥ

tathā bhuvanakośasya sarvasyāsya mahāmatiḥ

pratyakṣadarśī lokasya tiryagūrdhvamadhastathā

sāṅkhyayogavibhāgajño nirvivitsuḥ surāsurān

Who was man with definite conclusions properly framed about Dharma, Artha, Kāma and Mokṣa, who was a man with great soul seeing the universe abowe, below and around as if it were present before his eyes, who was a master of Sāṅkhya and Yoga and who was ever desirious of humbling Devas and Asuras by fomenting quarrels amongst them.

saṅdhigrahatattvajñastvanumānavibhāgavit

ṣāḍguṇavidhiyuktaśca sarvaśāstraviśāradaḥ

Who was learned in the science of war and treaty, proficient in making disposition of things by guesses, teacher of 6 sciences of treaty, war, march, defending military posts, strategem by ambuscade and learned in all Śāstras.

yuddhagāndharvasevī ca sarvatrāpratighastathā

etaiścānyaiśca bahubhiryukto guṇagaṇairmuniḥ

lokānanucaran sarvānāgamat tāṁ sabhāṁ nṛpa

nāradaḥ sumahātejā ṛṣibhiḥ sahitastadā

Who was fond of war and music and incapable of being repulsed by any science of learning. Possessed of these and many other accomplishments, greatly effulgent Ṛṣi Nārada with many other Ṛṣis, after having traveled over the world, came at last to the assembly hall.

pārijātena rājendra parvatena ca dhīmatā

sumukhena ca saumyena devaeṣiramitadyutiḥ

O king! Celestial Ṛṣi of immeasurable effulgence was accompanied by Parijāta, intelligent Raivata, Saumya and Sumukha.

sabhāsthān pāṇḍavān draṣṭuṁ prīyamāṇo manojavaḥ

jayaśīrbhistu taṁ vipro dharmarājānamārcayat

Ṛṣi who moved about with the speed of the mind, was filled with joy on seeing assembly hall of Pāṇḍavas. Brāhmaṇa Nārada, wishing him victory, uttered blessings on Dharmarāja Yudhiṣṭhira.

tamāgatamṛṣiṁ dṛṣṭvā nāradaṁ sarvadharmavit

sahasā pāṇḍavaśreṣṭhaḥ pratyutthāyānujaiḥ saha

Seeing Ṛṣi Nārada arrived in assembly hall, that best of Pāṇḍavas, Yudhiṣṭhira learned in all religious precepts, soon stood up with his brothers.

abhyavādayata prītyā vinayāvanatastadā

tadarhamāsanaṁ tasmai sampradāya yathāvidhi

Bowing low with humility, he saluted him with joy and hither offered him with due ceremonies, a befitting seat.

gāṁ caiva madhuparkaṁ ca sampradāyarghyameva ca

arcayāmāsa ratnaiśca sarvakāmaiśca dharmavit

Virtuous king offered him kine, Argyu and Madhuparka. He worshipped him with gems and jewels and with his whole heart.

Yudhiṣṭhira enters the hall with guests

 vaiśampāyana uvāca

tataḥ praveśanaṁ tasyāṁ cakre rājā yudhiṣṭhiraḥ

ayutaṁ bhojayitvā tu brāhmaṇānāṁ narādhipaḥ

sājyena payasenaiva madhunā miśritena ca

kṛsareṇātha jīvantyā haviṣyeṇa ca sarvaśaḥ

Vaiśampāyana said: Having fed thousands of Brāhmaṇas with sweetened milk mixed with rice, honey and ghee, fruits, roots, meat of the boar and deer, king Yudhiṣṭhira entered into the palace with food seasoned with seasame, Tabanti, a sort of vegetable, with rice mixed with ghee.

bhakṣyaprakārairvividhaiḥ phalaiścāpi tathā nṛpa

coṣyaiśca vividhai rājan peyaiśca bahuvistaraiḥ

ahataiścaiva vāsobhirmālyairuccāvacairapi

tarpayāmāsa viprendrān nānādigbhyaḥ samāgatān

With various preparations of meat, with various kinds of other food, various suckable and drinkable viands, unused robes and clothes, excellent garlands king gratified superior Brāhmaṇas that assembled there from various directions.

dadau tebhyaḥ sahasrāṇi gavāṁ pratyekaśaḥ punaḥ

puṇyāhaghoṣastatrāsīd divaspṛgiva bhārata

He also gave them each 1,000 kine. O descendant of Bharata! Their cry: What an auspicious day! rose to the sky.

vāditrairvividhairdivyairgandhairuccāvacairapi̍

pūjayitvā kuruśreṣṭho daivatāni niveṣya ca

Having worshipped gods with various kinds of music and with numerous sorts of costly perfumes, that best of Kurus, Yudhiṣṭhira, entered the hall.

tatra mallā naṭā jhñallāḥ sūtā vaitālikāstathā

upatasthurmahātmānaṁ dharmaputraṁ yudhiṣṭhiram

Athletes, actors, prize fighter bards and praise singers exibited their skill to amuse illustrious son of Dharma, Yudhiṣṭhira.

tathā sa kṛtvā pūjāṁ tāṁ bhrātṛbhiḥ saha pāṇḍavaḥ

tasyāṁ sabhāyāṁ ramyāyāṁ reme śakro yathā divi

Having thus performed many ceremonies, Yudhiṣṭhira with his brothers sported in that charming assembly hall as Śakra, Indra in heaven.

sabhāyāmṛṣayastasyāṁ pāṇḍavaiḥ saha āsate

āsāṁcakrurnarendrāśca nānādeśasamāgatāḥ

On the seats in that assembly hall sat with Pāṇḍavas Ṛṣis and kings who came from various countries.

asito devalaḥ satyaḥ sarpirmālī mahāśirāḥ

arvāvasuḥ sumitraśca maitreyaḥ śunako baliḥ

bako dālbhyaḥ sthūlaśirāḥ kṛṣṇadvaipāyanaḥ śukaḥ

sumanturjaiminiḥ pailo vyāsaśiṣyāstathā vayam

tittiriryājñavalkyaśca sasuto lomaharṣaṇaḥ

apsuhomyaśca dhaumyaśca aṇīmāṇḍavyakauśikau

dāmoṣṇīṣṇīṣastraibaliśca parṇādo ghaṭajānukaḥ

mauñjāyano vāyubhakṣaḥ pārāśaryaśca sārikaḥ

balivākaḥ sinīvākaḥ satyapālaḥ kṛtaśramaḥ

jātūkarṇaḥ śikhāvāṁśca ālambaḥ pārijātakaḥ

parvataśca mahābhāgo mārkaṇḍeyo mahāmuniḥ

pavitrapāṇiḥ sāvarṇo bhālukirgālavastathā

pavitrapāṇiḥ sāvarṇo bhālukirgālavastathā

jaṅghābandhuśca raibhyaśca kopavegastathā bhṛguḥ

haribabhruśca kauṇḍinyo babhrumālī sanātanaḥ

kākṣīvānauśijaścaiva nāciketo ̍ tha gautamaḥ

paiṅgyo varāhaḥ śunakaḥ śāṇḍilyaśca mahātapāḥ

kukkuro veṇujaṅgho ̍ tha kālāpaḥ kadda eva ca

munayo dharmavidvāṁso dhṛtātmāno jitendriyāḥ

Asita, Devala, Satya, Sarpirmālī, Mahāśirā, Arvāvasu, Sumitra, Maitreya, Śunaka, Bali, Baka, Dalbhya, Sthūlaśirā, Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana, Śuka, Sumanta, Jaimini, Paila, disciples of Vyāsa namely ourselves, Tittiri, Yājñavalkya, Lomaharṣaṇa with his son, Apsuhomya, Dhaumya, Aṇīmāṇḍavya, Kauśika, Dāmoṣṇīṣa, Traibali, Parṇāda, Ghaṭajānuka, Mauñjāyana, Vāyubhakṣa, Pārāśarya, Sārika, Balivāka, Sinīvāka, Satyapāla, Kṛtaśrama, Jātūkarṇa, Śikhāvāṁśa, Ālamba, Pārijātaka, Parvata, great Ṛṣi Mārkaṇḍeya, Pavitrapāṇi, Sāvarṇa, Bhāluki, Gālava, Jaṅghābandhu, Raibhya, Kopavega, Bhṛgu, Haribabhru, Kauṇḍinya, Babhrumālī, Sanātana, Kākṣīvān, Auśija, Nāciketu, Gautama, Paiṅga, Varāha, greatly ascetic Śāṇḍilya, Kukura, Veṇujaṅgha, Kālāpa, Kadda. All were Ṛṣis of great virtue and learning with their souls under complete control and passions under complete subjugation.

ete cānye ca bahavo vedavedāṅgapāragāḥ

upāsate mahātmānaṁ sabhāyāmṛṣisattamāḥ

kathayantaḥ kathāḥ puṇyā dharmajñā śucayo ̍ malāḥ

tathaiva kṣatriyaśreṣṭhā dharmarājamupāsate

These and many others, as numerous as above, all learned in Vedas and Vedāṅgas, conversant with all moralities, all pure and spotless in conduct, waited upon illustrious king and pleased him with their sacred discourses. Many chief Kṣatriyas also waited upon Dharmarāja Yudhiṣṭhira.

śrīmān mahātmā dharmātmā muñjaketurvivardhanaḥ

saṁgrāmajid dumukhaśca ugrasenaśca vīryavān

kakṣasenaḥ kamaddaḥ kampanaśca mahābalaḥ

satataṁ kampayāmāsa yavanāneka eva yaḥ

balapauruṣasampannān kṛtāstrānamitaujasaḥ

yathāsurān kālakeyān devo vajradharāstathā

Fortunate and virtuous Muñjaketu, Vivardhana, Saṁgrāmajit, Durmukha, powerful Ugrasena, Kakṣasena, king of the Earth, invincible Kṣemaka, king of  Kāmbhoja, Kamatha, mighty Kampana, who made Javanas tremble at his name as the wielder of thunder Indra made Asuras Kālakeyas tremble at his name.

jaṭāsuro madrakāṇāṁ ca rājā

kuntiḥ pulindaśca kirātarājaḥ

tathā āṅgavāṅgau saha puṇḍrakeṇa

pāṇḍyoḍrarājau ca sahāndhrakeṇa

aṅgo vaṅgaḥ sumitraśca śaibyaścāmitrakarśanaḥ

kirātarājaḥ sumanā yavanādhipatistathā

cāṇūro devarātaśca bhojo bhīmarathaśca yaḥ

śrutāyudhaśca kāliṅgo jayasenaśca māgadhaḥ

sukarmā cekitānaśca puruścāmitrakarśanaḥ

ketumān vasudānaśca vaideho ̍ tha kṛtakṣaṇa

sudharmā cāniruddhaśca śrutāyuśca mahābalaḥ

anūparājo durdharṣaḥ kramajicca sudarśanaḥ

śiśupālaḥ sahasutaḥ karūṣādhipatistathā

vṛṣṇīnāṁ caiva durdharṣāḥ kumārā devarūpiṇaḥ

āhuko vipṛthuścaiva gadaḥ sāraṇa eva ca

akrūraḥ kṛtavarmā ca satyakaśca śineḥ sutaḥ

bhīṣmako ̍ thākṛtiścaiva dyumatsenaśca vīryavān

kekayāśca maheṣvāsā yajñasenaśca saumakiḥ

Jatāsura, king of Madrakās, Kunti, king of Kirātas, kings of Aṅga and Vaṅga, Puṇḍraka, Pāṇḍya, king of Andhraka, Aṅga, Vaṅga, Sumitra, slayer of foes Śaibya, king of Kirātas, Sumanā, king of Yavanas, Cāṇūra, Devarāta, Bhoja, Bhīmaratha, Śrutāyudha, king of Kaliṅga, Jayatsena, Māgadha, Sukarmā, Cekitāna, slayer of foes, Pūru, Ketumāna, Vasudāna, Vadeha, Kṛtakṣaṇa, Sudharmā, Aniruddha, greatly strong Śrutāyu, invincible Anuparāja, handsome Kramajit, Śiśupāla with his son, king of Karūṣā, invincible and celestial like young heroes of Vṛṣṇi race namely Āhūka, Vipṛthu, Gada, Sāraṇa, Akrūra, Kṛtavarmā, son of Śni, Satyaka, Bhīṣmaka, Akṛti, powerful Dyumatsena, those chiefs of bow men, Kaikeyāsand Yajñasena of Somaka race.

 

ketumān vasumāṁścaiva kṛtāstraśca mahābalaḥ

ete cānye ca bahavaḥ kṣatriyā mukhyasammatāḥ

upāsate sabhāyāṁ sma kuntīputraṁ yudhiṣṭhiram

arjunaṁ ye ca saṁśritya rājaputrā mahābalāḥ

tatraiva śikṣitā rājan kumārā vṛṣṇinandanāḥ

These greatly powerful and well armed and wealthy Ketumāna and Vasumāna, many other Kṣatriyas, as numerous as above, all considered to be the foremost men amongst Kṣatriyas, waited on that assembly hall upon Kaunteya Yudhiṣṭhira. O king! Those powerful princes who learned the science of arms from Arjuna, dressing themselves in deer skins and those princes of Vṛṣṇi race,

raukmiṇeyaśca sāmbaśca yuyudhānaśca sātyakiḥ

sudharmā cāniruddhaśca śaibyaśca narapuṅgavaḥ

Namely, son of Rukmiṇi, Pradyumna, Sāmba, Yuyudhāna, son of Satyaka, Sātyaki, Sudharmā, Aniruddha, Śaibya, those foremost of men all waited upon Yudhiṣṭhira.

Description of a hall, completed

 mandānilasamuddhūtāṁ muktābindubhirācitām

mahāmaṇiśilāpaṭṭabaddhaparyantavedikām

Gentle breeze shook flowers that suddened its waters, its banks were adorned with costly marble slabs set with pearls.

maṇiratnacitāṁ tāṁ tu kecidabhyetya pārthivāḥ

dṛṣṭvāpi nābhyajānanta te ̍ jñānāt prapatantyuta

Seeing that tank thus adored with jewels and precious stones, many kings that came there mistook it for land and fell into it with their eyes open.

tāṁ sabhāmabhito nityaṁ puṣpavanto mahādrumāḥ

āsan nānāvidhā lolāḥ śītacchāyā manoramāḥ

Assembly hall was adorned with many charming, large and ever blossoming trees with green foliage and cool shade.

kānanāni sugandhīni puṣkariṇyaśca sarvaśaḥ

haṁsakāraṇḍavopetāścakrakopaśobhitāḥ

jalajānāṁ ca padmānāṁ sthalajānāṁ ca sarvaśaḥ

māruto gandhamādāya pāṇḍavān sma niṣevate

And with many gardens emitting delicious fragrance. There was many tanks adorned with swans, Kāraṇḍavas and Cakrāvakas. Breezes carried fragrance of lotuses that grew in the waters and flowers that grew in the land and ministered to the pleasures of Pāṇḍavas.

īdṛśīṁ tāṁ sabhāṁ kṛtvā māsaiḥ paricaturdaśaiḥ

niṣṭhitāṁ dharmarājāya mayo rājan nyavedayat

O king! Having built such an assembly hall in 14 months, Maya informed Dharmarāja Yudhiṣṭhira that it had been completed.

Dānava Maya building a hall

 vaiśampāyana uvāca

athābravīnmayaḥ pārthamarjunaṁ jayatāṁ varam

āpṛcche tvāṁ gamiṣyāmi punareṣyāmi cāpyaham

Then Maya spoke thus to Pārtha Arjuna, foremost of all victorious warriors: I shall now go away with your permission, but I shall soon come back.

uttareṇa tu kailāsaṁ mainākaṁ parvataṁ prati

yiyākṣamāṇeṣu purā dānaveṣu mayā kṛtam

citraṁ maṇimayaṁ ramyaṁ bindusaraḥ prati

sabhāyāṁ satyasaṁdhasya yadāsīd vṛṣaparvaṇaḥ

When Dānavas were engaged in a sacrifices on the banks of Bindu lake, in the North of Kailāsa near Maināka mountains, I gathaered a charming and variegated Bindu sāra, mass of rough stones, of jewels and gems. I kept it in the house of Vṛṣaparva.

āgamiṣyāmi tad gṛhya yadi tiṣṭhati bhārata

tataḥ sabhāṁ kariṣyāmi pāṇḍavasya yaśasvinīm

manaḥ prahlādinīṁ citrāṁ sarvaratnabhūṣitām

asti bindusarasyugrā gadā ca kurunandana

O descendant of Bharata, if it still exists there, I shall come back with it. I shall then build a renowned, delightful and beautiful assembly hall for Pāṇḍavas, which will be adorned with all gems and jewels. O descendant of Kuru! There is also a club in the Bindu lake.

nihitā bhāvayāmyevaṁ rājñā hatvā raṇe ripūn

suvarṇabindubhiścitrā gurvī bhārasahā dṛḍhā

Kept there by king of Dānavas, who killed with it all his foes in battle. It is hard and strong and variegated with golden knobs, it is capable of standing great weight.

sā vai śatasahasrasya sammitāṁ śatrughātinī

anurūpā ca bhīmasya gāṇḍīvaṁ bhavato yathā

It can kill all foes and it is equal in strength to 100,000 clubs. It is fit wepon for Bhīma as Gāṇḍīva bow is yours.

vāruṇaśca mahāśaṅkho devadattaḥ sughoṣavān

sarvametat pradāsyāmi bhavate nātra saṁśayaḥ

There is also in that lake a large counch shell of loud sound, named Devadatta, which was produced by Varuṇa. There is no doubt I shall give all these to you!

ityuktvā so ̍ suraḥ pārthaṁ prāgudīcīṁ diśaṁ gataḥ

athottareṇa kailāsānmainākaṁ parvataṁ prati

Having said this to Pārtha, that Asura Maya went away in a North Eastern direction. On the North of Kailāsa, near Maināka mountains.

hiraṇyaśṛṅgaḥ sumahān mahāmaṇimayo giriḥ

ramyaṁ bindusaro nāma yatra rājā bhagīrathaḥ

There is a great peak full of many gems and jewels, called Hiraṇya Śṛṅga. There is a charming lake named Bindusara, where once dwelt king Bhagīratha.

draṣṭuṁ bhāgīrathīṁ gaṅgāmuvāsa bahulaḥ samāḥ

yatreṣṭaṁ sarvabhūtānāmīśvareṇa mahātmanā

he lived there for a long period with desire of seeing Gaṅgā, which is called Bhagīrathī after him. Here illustrious lord of all creatures.

āhṛtāḥ kratavo mukhyāḥ śataṁ bharatasattama

yatra yūpā maṇimayāścaityāścāpi hiraṇmayāḥ

śobhārthaṁ vihitāstatra na tu dṛṣṭāntataḥ kṛtāḥ

atreṣṭvā sa gataḥ siddhiṁ sahasrākṣaḥ śacīpatiḥ

O best of Bharata race! Performed 100 great sacrifices. There were placed at this spot for beauty, many sacrificrificial stakes made of gems and many sacrificial ultras made of gold through not according to ordinance. Here after performing those sacrifices, deity of 1,000 eyes, husband of Śacī, acquired Siddhi, final success.

yatra bhūtapatiḥ sṛṣṭvā sarvān lokān sanātanaḥ

upāsyate tigmatejāḥ sthito bhūtaiḥ sahasraśaḥ

Here greatly effulgent lord of spirits, Śiva, eternal lord of all creatures lived after creating all the worlds and here he was worshipped by all the spirits.

naranārāyaṇau brahmā yamaḥ sthāṇuśca pañcamaḥ

upāsate yatra satraṁ sahasrayugaparyaye

Here Nara and Narāyaṇa, Brahmā, Yama and 5th Sthāṇu, performed sacrifices after expiration of 1,000 Yugas.

yatreṣṭaṁ vāsudevena satrairvarṣagaṇān bahūn

śraddadhānena satataṁ dharmasampratipattaye

Here for establishment of virtue and religon Vāsudeva with pious devotion performed his sacrifices with extended for many long years.

suvarṇamālino yupāścaityāścāpyatibhāsvarāḥ

dadau yatra sahasrāṇi prayutāni ca keśavaḥ

Where Keśava placed thousands and tens of thousands of sacrificial stakes adorned with garlands of gold and innumerable sacrificial altars of great splendour.

tatra gatvā sa jagrāha gadāṁ śaṅkhaṁ ca bhārata

sphāṭikaṁ ca sabhādravyaṁ yadāsīd vṛṣaparvaṇaḥ

O descendant of Bharata! Going there Maya brought the club, conch shell and various articles of crystal which belonged to Vṛṣaparvā, Dānava king.

kiṁkaraiḥ saha rakṣobhiryadarakṣanmahad dhanam

tadagṛhaṇānmayastatra gatvā sarvaṁ mahāsuraḥ

Going there great Asura maya took all great wealth which was guarded by Takṣas, Rākṣasas and Kinkaras.

tadāhṛtya ca tāṁ cakre so ̍ suro ̍ pratimāṁ sabhām

viśrutāṁ triṣu lokeṣu divyāṁ maṇimayīṁ śubhām

Bringing them away, Asura Maya built with them a matchless assembly hall. It was celebrated throughout 3 worlds, it was beautiful, it was celestial and it was full of gems and jewels.

yadāṁ ca bhīmasenāya pravarāṁ pradadau tadā

devadattaṁ cārjunāya śaṅkhapravaramuttamam

He gave to Bhīmasena that best of clubs, that was in the lake. He also gave to Arjuna that excellent and the best conch.

yasya śaṅkhasya nādena bhūtāni pracakampire

sabhā ca sā mahārāja śātakumbhamayadrumā

daśakiṣkusahasrāṇi samantādāyatābhavat

yathā vahneryathārkasya somasya ca yathā sabhā

bhrājamānā tathātyarthaṁ dadhāra paramaṁ vapuḥ

abhighnatīva prabhayā prabhāmarkasya bhāsvarām

Sound of that conch used to make all creatures tremble in fear. O great king! Assembly hall that Maya built, stood on golden pillars and it occupied an area of 5,000 cubits square, possessing an most beautiful form. Hall shone in great splendour like fire, sun or moon. By its great effulgence it seemed to darken even rays of the sun.

prababhau jvalamāneva divyā divyena varcasā

navameghapratīkāśā divamātya viṣṭhitā

āyatā vipulā ramyā vipāpmā vigataklamā

uttamadravyasampannā ratnaprakāratoraṇā

bahucitrā bahudhanā sukṛtā viśvakarmaṇā

With its effulgence, which was the mixture of both celestial and terrestila light, it appeared as if it was on fire. Like a mass of new clouds rising in the sky, it filled whole of the view. It was spacious, large, charming, soothing, full of celestial effulgence and filled with all sorts of excellent things, it was adorned with jewels and gates, with many pictures and much wealth. It appeared like work of Viśvakarmā himself.

na daśārhī sudharmā vā brahmaṇo vātha tādṛśī

sabhā rūpeṇa sampannā yāṁ cakre matimān mayaḥ

Sudharmā, Assembly hall of Daśārhas, Vṛṣṇis, not even abode of Brahmā was not so grand and endued with so much beauty as this assembly hall built by intelligent Maya.

tāṁ sma mayenoktā rakṣanti ca vahanti ca

sabhāmaṣṭau sahasrāṇi kiṁkarā nāma rākṣasāḥ

Being appointed by Maya, 8,000 Rākṣasas named Kiṅkaras guarded and supported this assembly hall.

antarikṣacarā ghorā mahākāyā mahābalāḥ

raktākṣāḥ piṅgalākṣāśca śuktikkarṇāḥ prahāriṇaḥ

They were capable of ranging in the sky. They were fearful, huge bodied, greatly strong and had blood like red and coppery eyes and arrowy ears. They were all well armed.

tasyāṁ sabhāyāṁ nalinīṁ cakārāpratimāṁ mayaḥ

vaidūryatravitatāṁ maṇinālamayāmbujām

padmasaugandhikavatīṁ nānādvijagaṇāyutām

puṣpitaiḥ paṅkajaiścitrāṁ kūrmairmatsyaiśca kāñcanaiḥ

citrasphaṭikasopānāṁ niṣpaṅkasalilāṁ śubhām

In that assembly hall Maya built a matchless tank and in that tank were lilies with leaves made of dark coloured gems and with stalks made of brilliant gems. There were also other aquatic flowers of golden leaves, various kinds of water fowls played in its water. It was adorned with full blossomed lotuses. Its water was transparent and golden coloured tortoises and fishes played in its bottom which was without mud. A flight of crystal steps rose from the edge of water to the banks.

Kṛṣṇa with his charioteer Dāruka, reaches Dvārakā

 sātvatena ca vīreṇa pṛṣṭhato yāyinā tadā

dārukeṇa ca sūtena sahito devakīsutaḥ

sa gato dvārakāṁ viṣṇurgarutmāniva vegavān

Following by hero, Sātyaki, son of Devakī, Śauri, Kṛṣṇa, with his charioteer Dāruka, reached Dvārakā with speed of Garuḍa.

vaiśampāyana uvāca

nivṛtya dharmarājastu saha bhrātṛ bhiracyutaḥ

suhṛtparivṛto rājā praviveśa purottamam

King Dharmarāja of unfading glory and his brothers, surrounded by their friends and relatives, entered excellent city of Indraparstha.

visṛjya suhṛdaḥ sarvān bhrātṛn putrāṁśca dharmarāṭ

mumoda puruṣavyāghro draupadyā sahito nṛpa

keśavo ̍ pi mudā yuktaḥ praviveśa purottamam

pūjyamāno yaduśreṣṭhairugrasenamukhaistathā

That virtuous king, that best of men Yudhiṣṭhira, then sent away all his friends and relatives, his brothers and sons and then amused himself with Draupadī.

āhukaṁ pitaraṁ vṛddhaṁ mātaraṁ ca yaśasvinīm

abhiavādya balaṁ caiva sthitaḥ kamalalocanaḥ

Keśava also, having been welcomed by the chief of Yadus with Ugrasena at their head, entered excellent Dvārakā city with joy.

pradyumnasāmbaniśaddāṁścārudeṣṇaṁ gadaṁ tathā

aniruddhaṁ ca bhānuṁ ca pariṣvajya janārdanaḥ

Worshipping his old father and his illustrious mother, saluting Baladeva also, lotus eyed hero took his seat.

sa vṛddhairabhyanujñāto rukmiṇyā bhavanaṁ yayau

mayo ̍ pi sa mahābhāgaḥ sarvaratnavibhūṣitām

vidhivat kalpayāmāsa sabhāṁ dharmasutāya vai

He embraced Pradyumna, Sāmba, Niṣatha, Cārudeṣṇā, Gada, Aniruddha and Bhānu. Receiving leave of elderly men, Janārdana then went to the house of Rukmiṇī, his wife.

Kṛṣṇa going to Dvārakā

 vaiśampāyana uvāca

uṣitvā khāṇḍavaprasthe sukhavāsaṁ janārdanaḥ

pārthaiḥ prītisamāyuktaiḥ pūjanārho ̍ bhipūjitaḥ

Vaiśampāyana said: Janārdana Kṛṣṇa, who deserved worship of all, lived for some time at Khāṇḍavaprastha, worshipped with love and affection by Pārthas.

yamanāyaṁ matiṁ cakre piturdarśanalālasaḥ

dharmarājamathāmantrya pṛthāṁ ca pṛthulocanaḥ

vavande caraṇau mūrdhnā jagadvandyaḥ pitṛṣvasuḥ

sa tayā mūrdhnyupāghrātaḥ pariṣvaktaśca keśavaḥ

Receiver of worship of all the world, possessor of large eyes, Keśava Kṛṣṇa, being desirous of seeing his father, made up his mind to go to Dvārakā. He saluted both Dharmarāja Yudhiṣṭhira and Pṛthā and bowed down to his aunt with his head touching her feet. She smelt his head and embraced him.

dadarśanantaraṁ kṛṣṇo bhaginīṁ svāṁ mahāyaśāḥ

tāmupetya hṛṣīkeśaḥ prītyā vāṣpasamanvitaḥ

arghyaṁ tathyaṁ vākyaṁ laghu yuktamanuttaram

uvāca bhagavān bhadrāṁ subhadrāṁ bhadrabhāṣiṇīm

Greatly illustrious Hṛṣīkeśa Kṛṣṇa, coming with affection and with tears in his eyes to sweet speeched and amiable Subhadrā, his sister, spoke to her words of the best import and truth, words that were terse, proper and full of good.

tayā svajanagāmīni śrāvito vacanāni saḥ

sampūjitaścāpyasakṛcchirasā cābhivāditaḥ

She too saluted him in return and worshipped him with bowing down her head. She then told him all that she desired to be told to her relatives.

tāmanujñāya vārṣṇeyaḥ pratinandya ca bhāminīm

dadarśanantaraṁ kṛṣṇāṁ dhaumyaṁ cāpi janārdanaḥ

Bidding her farewell and uttering blessings on that beautiful lady, hero of Vṛṣṇi race, Janārdana Kṛṣṇa then saw Kṛṣṇā, Draupadī and Dhanaṅjaya.

bavande ca yathānyāyaṁ dhaumyaṁ puruṣasattamaḥ

draupadīṁ sāntvayitvā ca āmantrya ca janārdanaḥ

That best of men, Kṛṣṇa, then duly worshipped Dhanaṅjaya and then consoling Draupadī, obtained her leave.

bhrātṝnabhyagamad vidvān pārthena sahito balī

bhrātṛbhiḥ pañcabhiḥ kṛṣṇo vṛtaḥ śakra ivāmaraiḥ

Learned and heroic Kṛṣṇa then went with Pārtha Arjuna to his other causins Pāṇḍavas. Surrounded by 5 brothers, Kṛṣṇa looked like Śakra Indra surrounded by celestials.

yātrākālasya yogyāni karmāṇi garuḍadhvajaḥ

kartukāmaḥ śucirbhūtvā snātavān samalaṁkṛtaḥ

Being desirous of performing due rites of departure, Garuḍa bannered hero Kṛṣṇa purified himself by a bath and adorned himself with ornaments.

arcayāmāsa devāṁśca dvijāṁśca yadupuṅgavaḥ

mālyāpyanamaskārairgandharuccāvacairapi

The best of Yadu race, Kṛṣṇa, then worshipped celestials and Brāhmaṇas with garlands, mantras, various kinds of excellent perfumes and by bowing down his head.

sa kṛtvā sarvakāryān]i pratasthe tasthuṣāṁ varaḥ

upetya sa yaduśreṣṭho bāhyakakṣād vinirgataḥ

Having performed all those ceremonies, that foremost of all virtuous men, the best of Yadu race Kṛṣṇa, wishing to start, came out to the outer apartments.

svastivācyārhato viprān dadhipātraphalākṣataiḥ

vasu pradāya ca tataḥ pradakṣiṇamathākarot

By presenting vessels of curd, fruits and fried rice, he made Brāhmaṇas to utter blessings on him. Presenting them wealth, he walked round them.

kāñcanaṁ rathamāsthāya tārkṣyaketanamāśugam

kadācakrāsiśārṅgādyairāyudhairāvṛtaṁ śubham

tithāvapyatha nakṣatre mukṣatre muhūrte ca guṇānvite

prayayau puṇḍarīkākṣaḥ śaibyasugrīvavāhanaḥ

Ascending on his golden and Garuḍa banned swift chariot to which was yoked Śaibya and Sugrīva, his two horses and taking also his mace, discus, sword, his bow Śārṅga and other auspicious weapons, lotue eyed hero Kṛṣṇa statredon an excellent moment of a lunar day in auspicious constellation.

anvāruroha cāpyenaṁ premṇā rājā yudhiṣṭhiraḥ

apāsya cāsya yantāraṁ dārukaṁ yantṛsattamam

abhīṣūn samprajagrāha svayaṁ kurupatistadā

upāruhyārjunaścāpi cāmaravyajanaṁ sitam

rukmadaṇḍaṁ bṛhadbāhurvidhāva pradakṣiṇam

King of Kurus, Yudhiṣṭhira, ascended the chariot after Kṛṣṇa and out of love for him made that best of charioteers, Dāruka, to stand aside and himself took the reins. Long armed Arjuna walked round Kṛṣṇa and then got on the car and waved a golden handled Cāmara over him.

tathaiva bhīmaseno ̍ pi yamābhyāṁ sahito balī

pṛṣṭhato ̍ nuyayau kṛṣṇamṛtvikpaurajanaiḥ saha

sa tathā bhrātṛbhiḥ sarvaiḥ keśavaḥ paravīrahāḥ

Heroic Bhīmasena with twins Nakula and Sahadeva, Ṛtviks and citizens walked behind Kṛṣṇa. That slayer of hostile heroes, Keśava Kṛṣṇa, thus followed by all brothers, 

anvīyamānaḥ śuśubhe śiṣyairiva guruḥ priyaiḥ

pārthamāmantrya govindaḥ pariṣvajya supīḍitam

Shone like a Guru followed by his beloved disciples. After bidding farewell to Arjuna, Govinda embraced him firmly with all the ardour of love.

yudhiṣṭhiraṁ pūjayitvā bhīmasenaṁ yamau tathā

pariṣvakto bhṛśaṁ taistu yamābhyāmabhivāditaḥ

He then worshipped Yudhiṣṭhira and Bhīmasena and embraced twins. Being embraced in return, by Pārthas and worshipped by twins Nakula and Sahadeva.

yojanārdhamatho gatvā kṛṣṇaḥ parapuraṅjayaḥ

yudhiṣṭhiraṁ samāmantrya nivartasveti bhārata

O descendant of Bharata! That vanquisher of hostile cities, Kṛṣṇa, bade farewell and requested him to return, when he had gone about a half of a Yojana.

tato ̍ bhivādya govindaḥ pādau jagrāha dharmavit

utthāpya dharmarājastu mūrdhnyupāghrāya keśavam

Govinda Kṛṣṇa learned in all the precepts of virtue, then worshipped Dharmarāja Yudhiṣṭhira and touched his feet. Yudhiṣṭhira raised Keśava up and smelt his head.

pāṇḍavo yādavaśreṣṭha kṛṣṇaṁ kamalalocanam

gamyatāmityanujñāpya dharmarājo yudhiṣṭhiraḥ

Pāṇḍava Yudhiṣṭhira then gave permission to the best of Yadava race, lotue eyed Kṛṣṇa, to go by saying: Go!

tatastaiḥ saṁvidaṁ kṛtvā yathāvanmadhusūdanaḥ

nivartya ca tathā kṛcchrāt pāṇḍavān sapadānugān

After duly making an appointment for again coming to Indraprastha and after preventing Pāṇḍavas with great deal of difficulty from following him, slayer of Madhu, Kṛṣṇa,

svāṁ purīṁ prayayau hṛṣṭo yathā śakro ̍ marāvatīm

locanairanujagmuste tamādṛṣṭipathāt tadā

manobhiranujagmusate kṛṣṇaṁ prītisamanvayāt

atṛptamanasāmeva teṣāṁ keśavadarśane

Went to his own city with cheerful heart like Śakra, Indra, towards Amarāvatī, city of celestials. Out of love for him, Pāṇḍavas gazed at him so long he was within the sight and when he went out of sight, their minds followed him, but they were not satiated with seeing Keśava Kṛṣṇa.

kṣipramantardadhe śauriścakṣuṣāṁ priyadarśanaḥ

akāmā eva pārthāste govindagatamānasāḥ

nivṛtyopayayustūrṇaṁ svaṁ puraṁ puruṣarṣabhā

syandanenātha kṛṣṇo ̍ pi tvaritaṁ dvārakāmagāt

Handsome hero Kṛṣṇa soon disappeared from their view. Pārthas, those best of men with their minds fixed on Govinda Kṛṣṇa, desisted from following him and soon returned to their own city, although they were not at all willing to return. Riding on his car, Kṛṣṇa also soon started for Dvārakā.

Assembly hall by Maya Dānava

 nārāyaṇaṁ namaskṛtya naraṁ caiva narottamam

devīṁ sarasvatīṁ vyāsaṁ tato jayamudīrayet

Having saluted Supreme Deity Narāyaṇa and the highest of all male beings Nara and also Goddess of Learning Sarasvatī, let us cry Success!

vaiśampāyana uvāca

tato ̍ bravīnmayaḥ pārthaṁ vāsudevasya saṁnidhau

prāñjaliḥ ślakṣṇayā vācā pūjayitvā punaḥ punaḥ

Vaiśampāyana said: Thereupon again and again worshipping Pārtha before Vāsudeva, Maya spoke to him with joined hands in sweet words.

maya uvāca

asmāt kṛṣṇāt susaṁ rabdhāt pāvakācca didhakṣataḥ

tvayā trāto ̍ smi kaunteya brūhi kiṁ karavāṇi te

Maya said: O Kaunteya! I have been saved by you from this angry Kṛṣṇa and this Pāvaka fire, who was desirous of consuming me. Tell me what I should do for you.

arjuna uvāca

kṛtameva tvayā sarvaṁ svasti gaccha mahāsura

prītimān bhava me nityaṁ prītimanto vayaṁ ca te

Arjuna said: O great Asura! Everything has been done by you. Be blessed! Go wherever you like. Be always well disposed towards me as we are well disposed totards you.

maya uvāca

yuktametat tvayi vibho yathā ātthā puruṣarṣabha

prītipūrvamahaṁ kiṁcit kartumicchāmi bhārata

Maya said: O best of men! What you have said fully deserves you. O descendant of Bharata! I gladly desire to do something for you.

ahaṁ hi viśvakarmā vai dānavānāṁ mahākaviḥ

so ̍ haṁ vai tvatkṛte kartuṁ kiṁcidicchāmi pāṇḍava

I am a great artist, in fact, I am Viśvakarmā of Dānavas. Therefore, O Pāṇḍava, I desire to do something for you.

arjuna uvāca

prāṇakṛcchrād vimuktaṁ tvamātmānaṁ manyase mayā

evaṁ gate na śakṣyāmi kiṁcit kārayituṁ tvayā

Arjuna said: O sinless one! You consider that your life has been saved by me from an instant death. Such being the case, I cannot make you do anything for me.

na cāpi tava saṁkalpa moghamicchāmi dānava

kṛṣṇasya kriyatāṁ kiṁcit tathā pratikṛtaṁ mayi

O Dānava! I am not willing to frustrate your intention also. Do something for Kṛṣṇa, that will be sufficient requital for my services to you.

codito vāsudevastu mayena bharatarṣabha

muhūrtamiva saṁdadhyau kimayaṁ codyatāmiti

Vaiśampāyana said: O best of Bharata race! Thus requested by Maya, Vāsudeva Kṛṣṇa reflected for a moment thus: What would be done for me?

tato vicintya manasā lokanāthaḥ prajāpatiḥ

codayāmāsa taṁ kṛṣṇaḥ sabhā vai kriyatāmiti

Thereupon lord of the universe, creator of all things, Kṛṣṇa, having reflected for a moment, commanded Maya thus:

yadi tvaṁ kartukāmo ̍ si priyaṁ śilpavatāṁ vara

dharmarājasya daiteya yādṛśīmiha manyase

Kṛṣṇa said: O best of artists! O Daitya! If you desire to do some good to me, build a large assembly hall for Dharmarāja Yudhiṣṭhira, a hall to your own liking.

yāṁ kṛtāṁ nānukurvanti mānavāḥ prekṣya vismitāḥ

manuṣyaloke sakale tādṛśīṁ kuru vai sabhām

Build such an assembly hall that persons belonging to this world may not be able to build another like it, though he sits within it and observes it carefully.

yatra divyānabhiprāyān paśyema hi kṛtāṁstvayā

āsurān mānuṣāṁścaiva sabhāṁ tāṁ kuru vai maya

O Maya! Build an assembly hall in which we may see all celestial, Asura and human designs of architekture.

vaiśampāyana uvāca

pratigṛhya tu tadvākyaṁ samprahṛṣṭo mayastadā

vimānapratimāṁ cakre pāṇḍavasya śubhāṁ sabhām

Vaiśampāyana said: Having heard these words, May became exceedingly glad. He drew up a design of an auspicious palace for Pāṇḍavas.

tataḥ kṛṣṇaśca pārthaśca dharmarāje yudhiṣṭhire

sarvametat samāvedya darśayāmāsaturmayam

Then Kṛṣṇa and Pārtha, having told everything to Dharmarāja Yudhiṣṭhira, introduced maya to him.

tasmai yudhiṣṭhiraḥ pūjāṁ yathārhamakarot tadā

sa tu tāṁ pratijagrāha mayaḥ satkṛtya bhārata

O descendant of Bharata! Yudhiṣṭhira received him with all the honour he deserved and Maya accepted them showing all respects to Yudhiṣṭhira.

sa pūrvadevacaritaṁ tadā tatra viśāmpate

kathayāmāsa daiteyaḥ pāṇḍuputreṣu bhārata

O king! O descendant of Bharata! then that son of Diti Maya narrated before Pāṇḍavas old history of Vṛṣaparvā.

sa kālaṁ kaṁcidāśvasya viśvakarmā vicintya tu

sabhāṁ pracakrame kartuṁ pāṇḍavānāṁ mahātmanām

After resting for some time, Maya commenced after much reflection to build an assembly hall for illustrious Pāṇḍvas.

abhiprāyeṇa pārthānāṁ kṛṣṇasya ca mahātmanaḥ

puṇye ̍ hani mahātrjāḥ kṛtakautukamaṅgalaḥ

According to wishes of illustrious Pāṇḍavas and of Kṛṣṇa, greatly energetic Maya performed on an auspicious day initiatory rites of propitiation.

tarpayitvā dvijaśreṣṭhān pāyasena sahasraśaḥ

dhanaṁ bahuvidhaṁ dattvā tebhya eva ca vīryavān

That greatly powerful Dānava gratified thousands of excellent Brāhmaṇas with Pāyasa - sweet milk and rice and with presents of various kinds of wealth.

sarvartuguṇasampannāṁ divyarūpāṁ manoramām

daśakiṣkusahasrāṁ tāṁ māpayāmāsa sarvataḥ

He then measured out a piece of land 5,000 cubits square. It was well suited to the exigencies of every season. It was celestial like and it was delightful.

Visit of Indra

 bhagavānapi tigmāṁśuḥ samiddhaḥ khāṇḍavaṁ tataḥ

dadāha saha kṛṣṇābhyāṁ janayañjagato hitam

Having grown in strength, illustrious deity of fearful rays also consumed Khāṇḍava with assistance of two Kṛṣṇa ̍ s for good of the world.

vasāmedovahāḥ kulyāstatra pītvā ca pāvakaḥ

jagāma paramāṁ tṛptiṁ darśayāmāsa cārjunam

Having drunk many rivers of fat and marrow, Agni became highly gratified and he then appeared before Arjuna.

tato ̍ ntarikṣād bhagavān vatīrya puraṅdaraḥ

marudgaṇairvṛtaḥ pārthaṁ keśavaṁ cedamabravīt

Then Purandara Indra, surrounded by Maruts, came down from the sky and spoke thus to Pārtha and Keśava:

kṛtaṁ yuvābhyāṁ karmedamamarairapi duṣkaram

varaṁ vṛṇītaṁ tuṣṭāṁ ̍ smi durlabhaṁ puruṣeṣviha

You have achieved a feat that even celestial can never do. ask each of you a boon that is not obtainable by man. I am very much pleased with you.

pārthastu varayāmāsa śakrādastrāṇi sarvaśaḥ

pradātuṁ tacca śakrastu kālaṁ cakre mahādyutiḥ

Pārtha asked Indra to bestow upon him all his weapons. Thereupon greatly effulgent Śakra, Indra, fixed the time to bestow them on Arjuna. Then he said:

yadā prasanno bhagavān mahādevo bhaviṣyati

tadā tubhyaṁ pradāsyāmi pāṇḍavāstrāṇi sarvaśaḥ

O Pāṇḍava! When illustrious Mahādeva, Śiva, will be pleased with you. I shall give to you all my weapons.

ahameva ca taṁ kālaṁ vetsyāmi kurunandana

tapasā mahatā cāpi dāsyāmi bhavato ̍ pyaham

āgneyāni ca sarvāṇi vāyavyāni ca sarvaśaḥ

madīyāni ca sarvāṇi grahīṣyasi dhanaṅjaya

O Kuru prince! O Dhanaṅjaya! I shall know when that time will come. I shall bestow upon you for severe asceticism all my fire and wind weapons. You will get them all from me.

vāsudevo ̍ pi jagrāha prītiṁ pārthena śaśvatīm

dadau surapatiścaiva varaṁ kṛṣṇāya dhīmate

Vāsudeva Kṛṣṇa asked that his friendship with Arjuna might last forever. Chief of celestials, Indra, granted to intelligent Kṛṣṇa the boon he asked.

evaṁ dattvā varaṁ tābhyāṁ saha devairmarutpatiḥ

hutāśanamanujñāpya jagāma tridivaṁ prabhuḥ

Having granted these boons to those heroes and having spoken to Agni, lord of Marutas, accompanied by celestials, went away to heaven.

pāvakaśca tadā dāvaṁ dagdhvā samṛgapakṣiṇam

ahāni pañca caikaṁ ca virarāma sutarpitaḥ

Agni also, having burnt that forest with all its creatures, animals and birds continually for 15 days, became gratified and he then extinguished himself.

jagdhvā māṁsāni pītvā ca medāṁsi rudhirāṇi ca

yuktaḥ paramayā prītyā tāvuvācācyutārjunau

yuvābhyāṁ puruṣāṅghayābhyāṁ tarpito ̍ smi yathāsukham

anujānāmi vāṁ vīrau carataṁ yatra vāñchitam

Having eaten flesh in plentiful quantities and drank fat and blood to his heart ̍ s content, he became highly gratified and spoke thus to Arjuna and Kṛṣṇa: I have been gratified by you two best of men. O heroes, you will be able to go at my command wherever you like.

evaṁ tau samanujñātau pāvakena mahātmanā

arjuno vāsudevaśca dānavaśca mayastathā

parikramya tataḥ sarve trayo ̍ pi bharatarṣabha

ramaṇīye nadīkūle sahitāḥ samupāviśan

Having been thus addressed by illustrious Agni, Arjuna and Vāsudeva Kṛṣṇa and Dānava Maya also then roamed there for some time. Then they all sat down on the charming banks of a river.

An outcome of the situation, a lesson

 sā tān kuśalinaḥ sarvān vimuktāñjātavedasaḥ

rorūyamāṇān dadṛśe vane putrān nirāmayān

She found that all of them had escaped from the conflagration and they were all well. Seeing their mother, they too began to weep, although they were safe and well.

aśrūṇi mumuce teṣāṁ darśanāt sā punaḥ punaḥ

ekaikaśyena tān sarvān krośamānānvapadyata

Seeing them well, she too shed tears again and again. She embraced one by one all her weeping children.

tato ̍ bhyagacchat sahasā mandapālo ̍ pi bhārata

atha te sarva evainaṁ nābhyanandaṁstadā sutāḥ

O descendant of Bharata! Just at that very time, Mandapāla suddenly arrived there, but none of his sons expressed any joy on seeing him.

lālapyamānamekaikaṁ jaritāṁ ca punaḥ punaḥ

na caivocustadā kiṁcit tamṛṣiṁ sādhvasādhu vā

But he spoke to them one after the other and then he spoke to Jaritā, but none of them said ill or well to him in reply.

mandapāla uvāca

jyeṣṭhaḥ sutaste katamaḥ katamastasya cānujāḥ

madhyamaḥ katamaścaiva kanīyān katamaśca te

Mandapāla said: Who amongst these my sons is your first born and who is born next to him? Who is the third and who is the youngest?

evaṁ bruvantaṁ duḥkhārtaṁ kiṁ māṁ na pratibhāṣase

kṛtavānapi hi tyāgaṁ naiva śāntimito labhe

I am speaking to you in sorrow. Why do you not reply to me? It is true, I left you, but I did not get peace where I was.

jaritovāca

kiṁ nu jyeṣṭhena te kāryaṁ kimanantarajena te

kiṁ vā madhyamajātena kiṁ kaniṣṭhena vā punaḥ

Jaritā said: What business have you with the eldest of these sons and with him also who is the next and with him also, who is the third and with him who is the youngest?

yāṁ tvāṁ māṁ sarvato hīnāmṛtsṛjyāsi gataḥ purā

tāmeva lapitāṁ gaccha taruṇīṁ cāruhāsinīm

Go to Lapitā of sweet smiles, who is endued with beauty and youth and to whom you had gone on seeing me difficult in everything.

mandapāla uvāca

na strīṇāṁ vidyate kiṁcidamutra puruṣāntarāt

sāpatnakamṛte loke nānyadarthavināśanam

Mandapāla said: As regards woman, there is nothing that destroys their happiness more in this or the next world than a co wife and a clandestine lover.

vairāgnidīpanaṁ caiva bhṛśamuddhegakāri ca

suvratā cāpi kalyāṇī sarvabhūteṣu viśrutā

arundhatī mahātmānaṁ vasiṣṭhaṁ paryaśarūta

viśuddhabhāvamatyantaṁ sadā priyahite ratam

saptarṣimadhyagaṁ dhīramavamene ca taṁ munim

apadhyānena sā tena dhūmāruṇasamprabhā

lakṣyālakṣyā nābhirūpā nimittamiva paśyati

They inflame the fire of hostility and cause great anxiety. Even auspiciously blessed and well behaved Arundhatī ever renowned among all creatures, felt jealousy against illustrious and pure minded Vasiṣṭha, ever devoted to greatly good of his wife. She insulted even that Ṛṣi, one of & great Ṛṣis, mind born sons of Brahmā. On account of her insulting thought, she has become a little star and looks like fire covered with smoke, sometimes visible and sometimes invisible, as if she is an evil omen.

apatyehetoḥ samprāptaṁ tathā tvamapi māmiha

iṣṭamevaṁ gate hi tvaṁ sā tathaivādya vartate

I had connection with you for an offspring. I have never wronged you as did not Ṛṣi Vasiṣṭha of old, but you have become jealous as Arundhatī once was.

na hi bhāryeti viśvāsaḥ kāryaḥ puṁsā kathaṁcana

na hi kāryamanudhyāti nārī putravatī satī

Men should never trust women, even if they be wedded wives. When women become mothers, they do not much care to serve teir husbands.

vaiśampāyana uvāca

tataste sarva evainaṁ putrāḥ samyagupāsate

sa ca tānātmajān sarvānāśvāsayitumudyataḥ

Vaiśampāyana said: Thereupon all his sons came to worship him and he too, giving them all assurance, spoke kindly towards them.

mandapāla uvāca

yuṣmākamapavargārthaṁ vijñapto jvalano mayā

agninā ca tathetyevaṁ pratijñātaṁ mahātmanā

Mandapāla said: I spoke to Agni about your safety and illustrious deity promised me that he would do what I wished.

agnevarcanamājñāya māturdharmajñatāṁ ca vaḥ

bhavatāṁ ca paraṁ vīryaṁ pūrvaṁ nāhamihāgataḥ

On account of those words of Agni and also knowing virtuous character of your mother and great effulgence that are in you, I did not come here earlier.

na saṁtāpo hi vaḥ kāryaḥ putrakā hṛdi māṁ prati

ṛṣīn veda hutāśo ̍ pi brahma tad viditaṁ ca vaḥ

O sons! therefore do not allow anger to enter your hearts. You are all Ṛṣis learned in Vedas. Agni knows you full well.

vaiśampāyana uvāca

evamāśvāsitān putrān bhāryāmādāya sa dvijaḥ

mandapālastato deśādanyaṁ deśaṁ jagāma ha

Vaiśampāyana said: Having thus assuring his sons, Brāhmaṇa Mandapāla took with him his wife and children and leaving that region he went away to some other country.

Lamentations of Ṛṣi

jaritāriḥ kathaṁ putraḥ sārisṛkkaḥ kathaṁ ca me

stambamitraḥ kathaṁ droṇaḥ kathaṁ sāca tapasvinī

Alas! How is Jaritāri, my son? How is Stambamitra and how is Droṇa? Alas! How is also ascetic lady, their helpless mother?

lalapyamānaṁ tamṛṣiṁ mandapālaṁ tathā vane

lapitā pratyuvācedaṁ sāsūyamiva bhārata

O descendant of Bharata! When Ṛṣi Mandapāla was thus lamenting in the forest, Lapitā, out of jealousy, replied thus to him:

na taṁ putreṣvavekṣāsti yānṛṣīnuktavānasi

tejasvino vīryavanto na teṣāṁ jvalanād bhayam

You need not to be in anxiety for your children, who, as you have assured me, are all greatly effulgent and powerful Ṛṣis. They can have no fear from fire!

tvayāgnau te parītāśca svayaṁ hi mama saṁnidhau

pratiśrutaṁ tathā ceti jvalanena mahātmanā

Did you not spoke to Agni in my presence on their behalf? Did not illustrious deity promised to save them?

lokapālo na tāṁ vācamuktvā mithyā kariṣyati

samakṣaṁ bandhukṛtye na tena taṁ svastha mānasam

Being protector of creatures, Agni will never falsify his words. You have no anxiety in your mind, your heart is never inclined towards your friends.

tāmeva tu mamāmitrāṁ cintayan  paritapyasaṁ

dhruvaṁ mayi na te sneho yathā tasyāṁ purābhavat

It is only by thinking of her, my enemy, Jaritā, that you are very much in anxiety. It is certain that love you bear for her is not equal to that you bear for me.

na hi pakṣavatā nyāyyaṁ niḥsnehena suhṛjjane

pīḍyamāna upadraṣṭuṁ śaktenātmā kathaṁcana

He who has parties to divide his attention can easily see one of them suffer all sorts of pangs. But he can never disregard the party next to his heart.

gaccha tvaṁ jaritāmeva yadarthaṁ paritapyase

cariṣyāmyahamapyekā yathā kupuruṣāśritā

Go to Jaritā for whom your heart is so much sorrowful. As for myself, I shall roam alone, it would be a fit regard for me for having attached myself to a wicked man.

mandapāla uvāca

nāhamevaṁ care loke yathā tvamabhimanyase

apatyatorvicare tacca kṛcchragataṁ mama

Mandapāla said: I do not roam over the world with such intentions as you believe. It is only for begetting offspring that I am here, but even those that I have is now in danger.

bhūtaṁ hitvā ca bhāvyarthe yo ̍ valambet sa mandadhīḥ

avamanyeta taṁ loko yathecchasi tathā kuru

He who casts off that which he has for the sake of what he may acquire in the future, is a wicked man. World disregards and insults him. As for myself, you are at liberty to do what you choose.

eṣa hi prajvalannagnirlelihāno mahīruhān

āvigne hṛdi saṁtāpaṁ janayatyaśivaṁ mama

This blazing fire that licks up trees, produces sorrow in my anxious heart. It creates in my mind an anticipation of fear.

vaiśampāyana uvāca

tasmād deśādatikrānte jvalane jaritā punaḥ

jagāma putrakāneva tvaritā putragṛddhinī

Vaiśampāyana said: After Agni has left the place where Śārṅgakās lives, Jaritā, very much attached to her sons, came with all speed to see how they all are.

Prayers of the Ṛṣis, continued

 droṇa uvāca

tvamannaṁ prāṇibhirbhuktamantarbhūto jagatpate

nityapravṛddhaḥ pacasi tvayi sarvaṁ pratiṣṭhitam

Droṇa said: O lord of the universe! Growing in strength and remaining within their bodies, you cause to be digested the food that creatures eat. Everything is established in you.

sūryo bhūtvā raśimabhirjātavedo

bhūmerambho bhūmijātān rasāṁśca

viśvānādāya punarutsṛjya kāle

dṛṣṭvā vṛṣṭyā bhāvayasīha śukra

O Śukra! O deity from whose mouth the Vedas have sprung. In the form of the sun you suck up the waters of the Earth and every liquid juice that Earth yields. You then again in proper time and in proper season give them back in the form of rain and you thus cause everything to grow.

tvatta etāḥ punaḥ śukra vīrudho haritacchadāḥ

jāyante puṣkariṇyaśca subhadraśca mahodadhiḥ

O Śukra! These plants and creepers with green leaves have all sprung through you. These tanks and ponds and ever blessed great ocean also, have all sprung from you.

idaṁ vai sadma tigmāṁśo varuṇasya parāyaṇam

śivastrātā bhavāsmākaṁ māsmānadya vināśaya

O deity of fearful rays! This our mortal body depends on Varuṇa, god of water. We are incapable of bearing your heat. Therefore, O deity, be our blessed protector. Do not destroy us doday.

piṅgāśca lohitagrīva kṛṣṇavartman hutāśana

pareṇa prehi muñcāsmān sāgarasya gṛhāniva

O Agni of copper coloured eyes and of red neck! O deity whose path is marked by black colour, save us as the ocean saves the houses on its banks by going away from this place by some other way.

vaiśampāyana uvāca

evamukto jātavedā droṇena brahmavādinā

droṇamāha pratītātmā mandapālapratijñayā

Vaiśampāyana said: Having been thus addressed by that utterer of Vedas, Droṇa, deity from whose mouth Vedas have sprung, Agni, being well pleased and remembering his promise to Mandapāla, spoke thus:

agniruvāca

ṛṣirdroṇastvamasi vai brahma tad vyāhṛtaṁ tvayā

īpsitaṁ te kariṣyāmi na ca te vidyate bhayam

Agni said: O Droṇa! You are Ṛṣi, What you have said is Vedic truth. I shall do you a pleasure. You have nothing to fear!

mandapālena vai yūyaṁ mama pūrvaṁ niveditāḥ

varjayeḥ putrakān mahyaṁ dahan dāvamiti sma ha

tasya tad vacanaṁ droṇa tvayā yacceha bhāṣitam

ubhayaṁ te garīyastu brūhi kiṁ karavāṇi te

bhṛśaṁ prīto ̍ smi bhadraṁ te brahman stotreṇa sattama

I was formerly asked by Mandapāla to spare his sons when consuming the forest. Words he spoke and your speech both are entitled to great weight. Tell me what I am to do? O excellent Brāhmaṇa! I have been greatly pleased with your blessed hymn.

droṇa uvāca

ime mārjārakā śukra nityamudvejayanti naḥ

etān kuruṣva dagdhāṁstvaṁ hutāśana sabāndhavān

Droṇa said: O Śukra! These rats trouble us every day. O fire! Consume them with their friends and relatives.

tathā tat kṛtavānagnirabhyanujñāya śārṅgakān

dadāha khāṇḍavaṁ dāvaṁ samiddho janamejaya

Vaiśampāyana said: O Janamejaya! Telling them what were his intentions, Agni then accomplished all that Śārṅgakās asked him to do. Growing in strength, he then again began to consume Khāṇḍava.

vaiśampāyana uvāca 

mandapālo ̍ pi kauravya cintayāmāsa putrakān

uktvāpi ca sa tigmāṁśuṁ naiva śarmādhigacchati

Vaiśampāyana said: O descendant of Kuru! Mandapāla became anxious for his sons. Although he had spoken of them to the deity of fearful rays, Agni, his mind was not in peace.

sa tapyamānaḥ putrārthe lapitāmidamabravīt

kathaṁ nu śaktāḥ śaraṇe lapite mama putrakāḥ

vardhamāne hutavahe vāte cāśu pravāyati

asamarthā vimokṣāya bhaviṣyanti mamātmajāḥ

Being very much anxious for his sons, he spoke thus to Lapitā: My children are now in possession of the power of moving. How are they now? When the fire will grow in strength and when the wind begin to blow with violence, my children will not be capable of saving themselves!

kathaṁ tvaśaktā trāṇāya mātā teṣāṁ tapasvinī

bhaviṣyati hi śokārtā putratrāṇamapaśyatī

How their ascetic mother will be able to save them? She is going to be afflicted with great sorrow when she will find herself unable to save them.

kathamuyane ̍ śaktān patane ca mamātmajān

saṁtapyamānā bahudhā vāśamānā pradhāvatī

She will run about uttering various lamentations, for my sons are incapable of flying or rising up in the air.