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.
सर्वे कामाः स्थितास्तस्यां ये दिव्या ये च मानुषाः। रसवच्च प्रभूतं च भक्ष्यं भोज्यमरिन्दम
All desires, both divine and human, are fulfilled there; abundant and delicious are the foods and dishes, O subduer of enemies.
लेह्यं चोप्यं च पेयं च हृद्यं स्वादु मनोहरम्। पुण्यगन्धाः स्रजस्तस्य नित्यं कामफला द्रुमाः
There are relishes, condiments, and drinks—pleasing, sweet, and delightful; garlands with sacred fragrance, and trees that always bear the fruits of desire.
रसवन्ति च तोयानि शीतान्युष्णानि चैव हि। तस्यां राजर्षयः पुण्यास्तथा ब्रह्मर्षयोऽमलाः
The waters there are flavorful, cool and warm as desired; in that place dwell righteous royal sages and pure brahmarshis.
यमं वैवस्वतं तात प्रहृष्टाः पर्युपासते। ययातिर्नहुषः पुरुर्मान्धाता सोमको नुगः
There, O dear one, the delighted souls worship Yama, son of Vivasvat: Yayati, Nahusha, Pururavas, Mandhata, Somaka, and Naga.
त्रसदस्युश्च राजर्षिः कृतवीर्यः श्रुतश्रवाः। अरिष्टनेमिः सिद्धश्च कृतवेगः कृतिर्निमिः
There also are the royal sage Trasadasyu, Kritavirya, Shrutashravas, Arishtanemi, Siddha, Kritavega, Kriti, and Nimi.
प्रतर्दनः शिबिर्मत्स्यः पृथुलाक्षो बृहद्रथः। वार्तो मरुत्तः कुषिकः साङ्काश्यः साङ्कृतिर्ध्रुवः
Pratardana, Shibi, Matsya, Prithulaksha, Brihadratha, Varta, Marutta, Kushika, Sankashya, Sankriti, and Dhruva.
चतुरश्चः सदस्योर्मिः कार्तवीर्यश्च पार्थिवः। भरतः सुरथश्चैव सुनीथो निशठोऽनलः
Caturashcha, Sadasyormi, Kartavirya the king, Bharata, Suratha, Sunitha, Nishatha, and Anala.
दिवोदासश्च सुमना अम्बरीषो भगीरथः। व्यश्वः सदश्वो वाघ्र्यश्वः पृथुवेगः पृथुश्रवाः
Divodasa, Sumana, Ambarisha, Bhagiratha, Vyashva, Sadashva, Vaghryashva, Prithuvega, and Prithushravas.
पृपदश्वो वसुमनाः क्षुपश्च सुमहाबलः। रुषद्रुर्वृषसेनश्च पुरुकुत्सो ध्वजी रथी
Pripadasva, Vasumana, Kshupa of great might, Rushadru, Vrishasena, Purukutsa, Dhvaji, and Rathi.
आर्ष्टिषेणो दिलीपश्च महात्मा चाप्युशीनरः। औशीनरिः पुण्डरीकः शर्यातिः शरभः शुचिः
Arstishena, Dilipa, the great-souled Ushinara, Aushinari, Pundarika, Sharyati, Sharabha, and Shuchi.