रौक्मिणेयश्च साम्बश्च युयुधानश्च सात्यकिः। सुधर्मा चानिरुद्धश्च शैव्यश्च नरपुङ्गवः
Raukmiṇeya, Sāmba, Yuyudhāna Sātyaki, Sudharmā, Aniruddha, and Śaivya, the foremost among men—
एते चान्ये च बहवो राजानः पृथिवीपते। धनञ्जयसखा चात्र नित्यमास्ते स्म तुम्बुरुः
These and many other kings, O lord of the earth, and Tumburu, the constant companion of Dhanañjaya, were present there.
उपासते महात्मानमासीनं सप्तविंशतिः। चित्रसेनः सहामात्यो गन्धर्वाप्सरसस्तथा
Twenty-seven, including Citraseṇa with his ministers, as well as Gandharvas and Apsarases, attended upon the great-souled one as he sat.
गीतवादित्रकुशलाः साम्यतालविशारदाः। प्रमाणोऽथ लये स्थाने किन्नराः कृतनिश्रमाः
The Kinnaras, skilled in singing and instrumental music, expert in rhythm and tempo, and accomplished in measure and beat, performed there.
सञ्चोदितास्तुम्बुरुणा गन्धर्वसहितास्तदा। गायन्ति दिव्यतानैस्ते यथान्यायं मनस्विनः
Urged on by Tumburu, the Gandharvas, together with their companions, sang with divine melodies as was proper, their minds intent.
पाण्डुपुत्रानृषींश्चैव रमयन्त उपासते। तस्यां सभायामासीनाः सुव्रताः सत्यसङ्गराः
They delighted the sons of Pāṇḍu and the sages, attending upon them; in that assembly sat those of virtuous vows and steadfast in truth.
दिवीव देवा ब्रह्माणं युधिष्ठिरमुपासते
Just as the gods in heaven honor Brahmā, so do they honor Yudhishthira.
सम्पूज्याथाभ्यनुज्ञातो महर्षेर्वचनात्परम्। प्रत्युवाचानुपूर्व्येण धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः
Having been duly honored and permitted by the great sage, King Yudhishthira responded in proper order.
भगवत्याय्यमाहैतं यथावद्धर्मनिश्चयम्। यथाशक्ति यथान्यायं क्रियतेऽयं विधिर्मया
O venerable one, as you have declared, this rule of righteousness is carried out by me as best as I am able and according to justice.
राजभिर्यद्यथा कार्यं, पुरा वै तन्न संशयः। यथान्यायोपनीतार्थं कृतं हेतुमदर्थवत्
Whatever was done by kings of old, there is no doubt about that; what has been accomplished is proper, meaningful, and based on reason, having been brought forth according to justice.
वयं तु सत्पथं तेषां यातुमिच्छामहे प्रभो। न तु शक्यं तथा गन्तुं यथा तैर्नियतात्मभिः
We, O lord, wish to follow the righteous path of those kings, but it is not possible for us to proceed exactly as they, whose self-control was firm.
एकमुक्त्वा स धर्मात्मा वाक्यं तदभिपूज्य च। ` तं तु विश्रान्तमासीनं देवर्षिममितद्युतिम्'।। मुहूर्तात्प्राप्तकालं च दृष्ट्वा लोकचरं मुनिम्
Having spoken thus a single statement, that righteous-souled one, after duly honoring him, saw the divine sage of immeasurable splendor seated at rest, and, perceiving that the time was right, addressed the sage who moves among the worlds.
नादरदं सुस्थमासीनमुपासीनो युधिष्ठिरः। अपृच्छत्पाण्डवस्तत्र राजमध्ये माहद्युतिः
Yudhishthira, radiant among kings, approached the sage, who was seated comfortably and without arrogance, and questioned him there in the midst of the assembly.
भवात्सञ्चरते लोकान्सदा नानाविधान्बहून्। ब्रह्मणा निर्मितान्पूर्वं प्रेक्षमाणो मनोजवः
O revered one, you travel among many and various worlds, created long ago by Brahmā, observing them with the speed of thought.
ईदृशी भविता काचिद्दृष्टपूर्वा सभा क्वचित्। इतो वा श्रेयसी ब्रह्मंस्तन्ममाचक्ष्व पृच्छतः।। वैशम्पायन उवाच
Has there ever been seen or is there anywhere a hall like this, or one superior to it? O Brahman, tell me as I ask you.
तच्छ्रुत्वा नारदस्तस्य धर्मराजस्य भाषितम्। पाण्डवं प्रत्युवाचेदं स्मयन्मधुरया गिरा
Hearing the words of King Yudhishthira, Nārada replied to the Pāṇḍava with a gentle smile and sweet speech.
मानुषेषु न मे तात दृष्टपूर्वा न च श्रुता। सभा मणिमयी राजन्यथेयं तव भारत
Among men, O dear one, I have neither seen nor heard of a hall made of gems like this one of yours, O Bhārata.
सभां तु पितृराजस्य वरुणस्य च धीमतः। कथयिष्ये तथेन्द्रस्य कैलासनिलयस्य च
But I shall describe to you the halls of the king of the ancestors, of wise Varuṇa, of Indra, and of him who dwells on Kailāsa.
ब्रह्मणश्च सभां दिव्यां कथयिष्ये गतक्लमाम्। दिव्यादिव्यैरभिप्रायैरुपेतां विश्वरूपिणीम्
I shall also describe the divine hall of Brahmā, free from fatigue, adorned with both celestial and non-celestial intentions, and of universal form.
देवैः पितृगणैः साध्यैर्यज्वभिर्नियतात्मभिः। जुष्टां मुनिगणैः शान्तैर्वेदयज्ञैः सदक्षिणैः।। यदि ते श्रवणे बुद्धिर्वर्तते भरतर्षभ
That hall is graced by gods, hosts of ancestors, Sādhyas, sacrificers of controlled mind, peaceful sages, and Vedic sacrifices with proper gifts; if you, bull among the Bharatas, desire to listen.
नारदेनैवमुक्तस्तु धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः। प्राञ्जलिर्भ्रातृभिः सार्धं तैश्च सर्वैर्द्विजोत्तमैः
Thus addressed by Nārada, King Yudhishthira, together with his brothers and all those eminent Brāhmaṇas, with joined palms, replied.
नारदं प्रत्यवाचेदं धर्मराजो महामनाः। सभाः कथय ताः सर्वाः श्रोतुमिच्छामहे वयम्
The high-minded King Yudhishthira said to Nārada: 'Describe to us all those halls; we wish to hear about them.'
किन्द्रव्यास्ताः सभा ब्रह्मन्किंविस्ताराः किमायताः। पितामहं च के तस्यां सभायां पर्युपासते
O Brahman, what are the riches of those halls, how vast are they, how wide? And who are those who honor the grandsire in that assembly?
वासवं देवराजं च यमं वैवस्वतं च के। वरुणं च कुबेरं च सभायां पर्युपासते
Who, in the assembly, honor Vāsava, the king of the gods, Yama, son of Vivasvat, Varuṇa, and Kubera?
एतत्सर्वं यथान्यायं ब्रह्मर्षे वदतस्तव। श्रोतुमिच्छाम सहिताः परं कौतूहलं हि नः
O Brahmarshi, as you recount all this properly, we all wish to hear it, for our curiosity is indeed great.
एवमुक्तः पाण्डवेन नारदः प्रत्यभाषत। क्रमेण राजन्दिव्यास्ताः श्रूयन्तामिह नः सभाः
Thus addressed by the son of Pandu, Narada replied: 'O King, let these divine assemblies be heard from me in order.'
कथयिष्ये सभां याम्यां युधिष्ठिर निबोध ताम्। वैवस्वतस्य यां पार्थ विश्वकर्मा चकार ह
I shall describe to you the southern assembly, Yudhishthira; listen to it, which Vishvakarma made for Vaivasvata, O Partha.
तैजसी सा सभा राजन्बभूव शतयोजना। विस्तारायामसम्पन्ना भूयसी चापि पाण्डव
That assembly, O King, was made of light, measuring a hundred yojanas in length and breadth, and was exceedingly vast, O Pandava.
अर्कप्रकाशा भ्राजिष्णुः सर्वतः कामरूपिणी। नातिशीता च चात्युष्णा मनसश्च प्रहर्षिणी
Radiant like the sun, resplendent on all sides, able to take any form at will, neither too cold nor too hot, and gladdening the mind.
न शोको न जरा तस्यां क्षुत्पिपासे न चाप्रियम्। न च दैन्यं क्लमो वाऽपि प्रतिकूलं न चाप्युत
Within it there is no sorrow, no old age, no hunger or thirst, nothing unpleasant, no misery or fatigue, nor anything adverse.