अश्रूणि मुमुचे तेषां दर्शनात्सा पुनःपुनः। `न श्रद्धेयं ततस्तेषांर्शनं वै पुनःपुनः
At the sight of them, she shed tears again and again; yet their repeated lament seemed unbelievable to her.
इति मत्वाऽब्रवीद्वाकजरिता पुत्रगृद्धिनी।' एकाकशश्च पुत्रांस्तन्त्र्शमानान्वपद्यत
Thinking thus, Jaritā, yearning for her sons, spoke these words, and alone approached her sons, trembling.
जरिता तु परिष्वज्युत्रस्नेहाच्चुचुम्ब ह
Jaritā, out of maternal affection, embraced and kissed her sons.
ततोऽभ्यगच्छत्सहसमन्दपालोऽपि भारत। अथ ते सर्व एवैनं भ्यनन्दंस्तदा सुताः
Then Mandapāla also arrived swiftly, O Bhārata; and at that moment, all his sons rejoiced at his coming.
गुरुत्वान्मन्दपालस्तपसश्च विशेषतः। अभिवादामहे सर्वे तपक्षाः प्रसादतः
Because of Mandapāla's seniority and especially his asceticism, all the ascetics respectfully greeted him.
एवमुक्तवतां तेषां तनन्द्य महातपाः। परिष्वज्य ततो मू उपाघ्राय च बलकान्। पुत्रान्स्वयं समाहूयतः प्रोवाच गौतमः
Having spoken thus, the great ascetic, delighted, embraced and smelled his sons, and Gautama himself called his sons and spoke.
लालप्यमानमेकैकंरितां च पुनःपुनः। न चैवोचुस्तदा किंतमृषिं साध्वसाधु वा
As each child was fondled again and again, neither did they say anything to the sage, whether good or bad.
ज्येष्ठः सुतस्ते कत कतमस्तस्य चानुजः। मध्यमः कतमश्चैव यान्कतमश्च ते
Which one is your eldest son, which is his younger, which is the middle one, and which among them is yours?
एवं ब्रुवन्तं दुःखाकं मा न प्रतिभाषसे। कृतवानस्मि हव्यानैव शान्तिमितो लभे। `एवमुक्त्वा तु तां मन्दपालस्तदाऽस्पृशत्
Why do you not answer, though you are sorrowful and speak thus? I have performed the offerings and thereby attained peace; having said this, Mandapāla touched her.
किं नु ज्येष्ठेन ते किमनन्तरजेन ते। किं वा मध्यमजातेन किं कनिष्ठेन वा पुनः
What is there for you in the eldest, or in the next-born, or in the middle-born, or again in the youngest?
यां त्वं मां सर्वतो हीनामुत्सृज्यासि गतः पुरा। तामेव लपितां गच्छ तरुणीं चारुहासिनीम्
You once abandoned me, who was inferior in every way, and departed; now go to that young, beautiful one whom you praised.
न स्त्रीणां विद्यते किंचिदमुत्र पुरुषान्तरात्। सापत्नकमृते लोके नान्यदर्थविनाशनम्
There is nothing among women that differs from men, except rivalry with co-wives; in this world, nothing else destroys purpose.
वैराग्निदीपनं चैव भृशुद्वेगकारि च। सुव्रता चापि कल्याणी सर्वभूतेषु विश्रुता
It kindles the fire of enmity and causes great distress; yet she is virtuous and auspicious, renowned among all beings.
अरुन्धती महात्मानं वसिष्ठं पर्यशङ्कत। विशुद्धभावमत्यन्तं सदा प्रियहिते रतम्
Arundhatī suspected the great-souled Vasiṣṭha, though he was always pure in intent and devoted to her welfare.
सप्तर्षिमध्यगं वीरमवमेने च तं मुनिम्। अपध्यानेन सा तेन धूमारुणसमप्रभा। लक्ष्याऽलक्ष्या नाभिरूपा निमित्तमिव पश्यति
She regarded that sage, radiant as smoke and fire, among the seven sages, with suspicion; she saw him as both visible and invisible, like a sign.
अपत्यहेतोः संप्राप्तं तथा त्वमपि मामिह। इष्टमेवं गते हि त्वं सा तथैवाद्य वर्तते
Just as you came to me for the sake of offspring, so she too acts thus even now, as things have turned out.
न हि भार्येति विश्वासः कार्यः पुंसा कथंचन। न हि कार्यमनुध्याति नारी पुत्रवती सती
A man should never place his trust in a wife; for a woman, even if she is chaste and has sons, does not keep her mind fixed on her duties.
ततस्ते सर्व एवैनं पुत्राः सम्यगुपासते। स च तानात्मजान्सर्वानाश्वासयितुमुद्यतः
Then all his sons gathered around him and served him well, and he, in turn, endeavored to comfort each of his sons.
युष्माकमपवर्गार्थं ती ज्वलनो मया। अग्निना च तथेत्येतिज्ञातं महात्मना
For your liberation, I entered the fire; and by the fire, so it was ordained by the great-souled one.
अग्नेर्वचनमाज्ञाय धर्मज्ञतां च वः। भवतां च परं वीर्यं नाहमिहागतः
Knowing the command of Agni, your knowledge of righteousness, and your extraordinary strength, I have come here.
न सन्तापो हि वर्त्थः पुत्रका हृदि मां प्रति। ऋषीन्वेद हुताशो ब्रह्म तद्विदितं च वः
There is no sorrow in my heart, dear sons, for the sages, the Vedas, the Fire-god, and Brahma are all known to you.
एवमाश्वासितान्पुत्रान्भार्यामादाय स द्विजः। मन्दपालस्ततो देशादन्यं देशं जगाम ह
Thus comforting his sons, that twice-born man took his wife and left that place for another region.
भगवानापि तिग्मांशुः समिद्धः खाण्डवं ततः। ददाह सह कृष्णाभ्यां जनयञ्जगतो हितम्
Then the glorious blazing Sun, together with Krishna and Arjuna, burned down the Khandava forest, bringing benefit to the world.
वसामेदोवहाः कुल्यास्तत्र पीत्वा च पावकः। जगाम दर्शयामास चार्जुनम्
There, the Fire-god drank the fat and marrow-filled streams, and then revealed himself to Arjuna.
ततोऽञन्तरिक्षाद्भगवानवतीर्य पुरन्दरः। मरुद्गणैर्वृतः पार्थं केशवं चेदमब्रवीत्
Then the lord Purandara descended from the sky, surrounded by the Maruts, and spoke these words to Partha and Kesava.
कृतं युवाभ्यां कर्मेदममरैरपि दुष्करम्। वरं वृणीतं तुष्टोऽस्मि दुर्लभं पुरुषेष्विह
You two have accomplished a deed difficult even for the gods; I am pleased—choose a boon, something rare among men.
पार्थस्तु वरयामास शक्रादस्त्राणि सर्वशः। प्रदातुं तच्च शक्रस्तु कालं चक्रे महाद्युतिः
Partha then asked Indra for all his weapons, and the radiant Indra set a time for granting them.
यदा प्रसन्नो भगवान्महादेवो भविष्यति। तदातुभ्यं प्रदास्यामि पाण्डवास्त्राणि सर्वशः
When the great lord Mahadeva is pleased, then I will give you all the weapons of the Pandavas.
अहमेव च तं कालं वेत्स्यामि कुरुनन्दन। तपसा महता चापि दास्यामि भवतोऽप्यहम्
I alone will know that time, O joy of the Kurus, and by great austerity I will also give them to you.
आग्नेयानि च सर्वाणि वायव्यानि च सर्वशः। मदीयानि च सर्वाणि ग्रहीष्यसि धनञ्जय
All the weapons of fire, all the weapons of wind, and all of mine as well, you shall receive, O Dhananjaya.