वासुदेवोऽपि जग्राह प्रीतिं पार्थेन शाश्वतीम्। ददौ सुरपतिश्चैव वरं कृष्णाय धीमते
Vasudeva too received lasting favor from Partha, and the lord of the gods granted a boon to wise Krishna.
एवं दत्त्वा वरं ताभ्यां सह देवैर्मरुत्पतिः। हुताशनमनुज्ञाप्य जगामत्रिदिवं प्रभुः
Thus, having granted them boons along with the gods, the lord of the Maruts, after taking leave of the Fire-god, returned to the heavenly world.
पावकश्च तदा दावं दग्ध्वसमृगपक्षिणम्। अहोभिरेकविंशद्भिर्विरराग्सुतर्पितः
Then the Fire-god, having burned the forest along with its beasts and birds, was satisfied after twenty-one days.
जग्ध्वा मांसानि पीत्वा चदांसि रुधिराणि च। युक्तः परमया प्रीत्या तावुत्वाच्युतार्जुनौ
Having eaten the flesh and drunk the blood and marrow, filled with supreme satisfaction, he addressed Krishna and Arjuna.
युवाभ्यां पुरुषाग्र्याभ्यां ततोऽस्मि यथासुखम्। अनुजानामि वां वीरौ चरतंत्र वाञ्छितम्
Therefore, O foremost among men, I grant you both leave to go as you wish, O heroes, and act according to your desire.
गाण्डिवं च धनुर्दिव्यमक्षौ च महेषुधी। कपिध्वजो रथश्चायं तव द महामते
Here is the divine bow Gandiva, inexhaustible quivers, and this chariot with the ape-banner, O wise one—these are yours.
अनेन धनुषा चैव रथेनाने भारत। विजेष्यसि रणे शत्रून्सदेवामानुषान्
With this bow and this chariot, O descendant of Bharata, you will conquer your enemies in battle, both celestial and human.
एवं तौ समनुज्ञातौ पाववेमहात्मना। अर्जुनो वासुदेवश्च दानवश्चयस्तथा
Thus, having been granted permission by the great-souled god of fire, Arjuna, Vasudeva, and also the Danava, departed.
परिक्रम्य ततः सर्वे त्रयोऽभरतर्षभ। रमणीये नदीकूले सहितामुपाविशंन्
Then all three, O bull among the Bharatas, circumambulated and together sat down on the beautiful riverbank.
नारायणं नमस्कृत्य नरं चैव नरोत्तमम्। देवीं सरस्वतीं चैव (व्यासं)ततो जयमुदीरयेत्
Having bowed to Narayana, and to Nara, the best among men, and to the goddess Sarasvati, and to Vyasa, one should then utter victory.
अर्जुनो जयतां श्रेष्ठो मोचयित्वा मयं तदा। किं चकार महातेजास्तन्मे ब्रूहि द्विजोत्तम
What did Arjuna, the best of the victorious, do after freeing Maya, O best of twice-born? Tell me, O illustrious one.
शृणु राजन्नवहितश्चरितं पूर्वकस्य ते। मोक्षयित्वा मयं तत्र पार्थः शस्त्रभृतां वरः
Listen attentively, O king, to the deeds of your ancestor: there, after freeing Maya, Partha, the foremost among warriors—
गाण्डिवं कार्मुकश्रेष्ठं तूणी चाक्षयसायकौ। दिव्यान्यस्त्राणि राजेन्द्र दुर्लभानि नृपैर्भुवि
Gandiva, the best of bows, inexhaustible quivers, and divine weapons, O king, rare even among men on earth—
रथध्वजपताकाश्च श्वेताश्वांश्च स वीर्यवान्। एतानि पावकात्प्राप्य मुदा परमया युतः। तस्थौ पार्थो महावीर्यस्तदा सह मयेन सः
The heroic one, having obtained from the fire these—chariot, banner, white horses—stood there joyfully, Partha of great valor, together with Maya.
ततोऽब्रवीन्मयः पार्थं वासुदेवस्य सन्निधौ। `पाण्डवेन परित्रातस्तत्कृतं प्रत्यनुस्मरन्
Then Maya spoke to Partha in the presence of Vasudeva, remembering the favor done by the son of Pandu.
प्राञ्जलिः श्लक्ष्णया वाचा पूजयित्वा पुनः पुनः। अस्माच्च कृष्णात्सङ्क्रुद्धात्पावकाच्च दिधक्षतः
With joined palms and gentle words, having honored him again and again, and also Krishna, who was angry, and the fire, who wished to burn—
त्वया त्रातोऽस्मि कौन्तेय ब्रूहि किं करवाणि ते। `अहं हि विश्वकर्मा वै असुराणां परन्तप
I have been saved by you, O son of Kunti; tell me, what shall I do for you? For I am indeed Visvakarma among the Asuras, O subduer of foes.
तस्मात्ते विस्मयं किञ्चित्कुर्यामन्यैः सुदुष्करम्
Therefore, let me do something for you, something difficult for others to accomplish.
एवमुक्तो महावीर्यः पार्थो मायाविदं मयम्। ध्यात्वा मुहूर्तं कौन्तेयः प्रहसन्वाक्यमब्रवीत्
Thus addressed, the mighty Partha, after reflecting for a moment, smiled and spoke these words to Maya, the master of illusion.
कृतमेव त्वया सर्वं स्वस्ति गच्छ महाऽसुर। प्रीतिमान्भव मे नित्यं प्रीतिमन्तो वयं च ते
All has already been done by you; go in peace, O great Asura. Always remain pleased with me, and we shall always be pleased with you.
प्रोपकारादर्थं हि नादास्यामीति मे व्रतम्'। युक्तमेतत्त्वयि विभो यदात्थ पुरुषर्षभ
'It is my vow not to refuse a request made for the sake of help.' This is fitting for you, O lord, as you have said, O best of men.
प्रीतिपूर्वमहं किञ्चित्कर्तुमिच्छामि तेऽर्जुन। अहं हि विश्वकर्मा वै दानवानां महाकविः
With affection, I wish to do something for you, Arjuna; for I am indeed Visvakarma, the great architect of the Danavas.
सोऽहं वै त्वत्कृते किञ्चित्कर्तुमिच्छामि पाण्डव। `दानवानां पुरा पार्थ प्रासादा हि मया कृताः
Therefore, O Pāṇḍava, I wish to do something for you; O Pārtha, in former times I built palaces for the Dānavas.
रम्याणि सुखगर्भाणि भोगाढ्यानि सहस्रशः। उद्यानानि च रम्याणि सरांसि विविधानि च
Charming and comfortable, filled with pleasures by the thousands, delightful gardens and various kinds of lakes.
विचित्राणि च वस्त्राणि कामगानि रथानि च। नगराणि विशालानि साट्टप्राकारवन्ति च
Also, wondrous garments, chariots that move at will, and vast cities with ramparts and moats.
वाहनानि च मुख्यानि विचित्राणि सहस्रशः। बिलानि रमणीयानि सुखयुक्तानि वै भृशम्। एते कृता मया तस्मादिच्छामि फल्गुन
And principal vehicles, marvelous by the thousands, and delightful dwellings full of comfort—these I have made, O Phālguna.
प्राणकृच्छ्राद्विनिर्मुक्तमात्मानं मन्यसे मया। एवं गते न शक्ष्यामि किञ्चित्कारयितुं त्वया
If you consider that I am freed from the hardship of sustaining life, then, in such a case, I will not be able to accomplish anything with you.
न चापि तव सङ्कल्पं मोघमिच्छामि दानव। कृष्णस्य क्रियतां किञ्चित्तथा प्रतिकृतं मयि
Nor do I wish, O Dānava, for your intention to be in vain; let something be done for Kṛṣṇa, so that it may be reciprocated to me.
चोदितो वासुदेवस्तु मयं प्रति नरर्षभ। मुहूर्तमिव सन्दध्यौ किमयं चोद्यतामिति
Thus urged, O best of men, Vāsudeva considered for a moment what task should be assigned to Maya.
ततो विचिन्त्य मनसा लोकनाथः प्रजापितः। चोदयामास तं कृष्णः सभा वै क्रियतामिति
Then, having reflected in his mind, Kṛṣṇa, lord of the worlds and progenitor, instructed him: 'Let a hall be built.'