तस्य सर्वे महीपाला धनान्याजह्रुराज्ञया। द्विजानां परिवेष्टारस्तस्मिन्यज्ञे च तेऽभवन्
All the kings, by his command, brought wealth for him; and in that sacrifice, they became servers of the Brahmins.
समाप्तयज्ञो विधिवद्धरिश्चन्द्रः प्रतापवान्। अभिषिक्तश्च शुशुभे साम्राज्येन नराधिपः
When the sacrifice was duly completed, the glorious Harishchandra, anointed, shone as the sovereign among men.
राजसूयेऽभिषिक्तश्च समाप्तवरदक्षिणे
And when he had been consecrated at the Rājasūya, and the desired gifts and fees had been completed,
प्रादाच्च द्रविणं प्रीत्या याचकानां नरेश्वरः। यथोक्तवन्तस्ते तस्मिंस्ततः पञ्चगुणाधिकम्
the lord of men gladly gave wealth to the petitioners; and as they had requested, he gave them five times as much.
अतर्पयच्च विविधैर्वसुभिर्ब्राह्मणांस्तदा। प्रसर्पकाले सम्प्राप्ते नानादिग्भ्यः समागतान्
Then he satisfied the Brāhmaṇas with various kinds of riches, who had come from many directions at the time of distribution.
भक्ष्यभोज्यैश्च विविधैर्यथाकामपुरस्कृतैः। रत्नौघतर्पितैस्तुष्टैर्द्विजैश्च समुदाहृतम्। तेजस्वी च यशस्वी च नृपेभ्योऽभ्यधिकोऽभवत्
He honored them with all sorts of foods and delicacies, according to their wishes, and with treasures in abundance, so that the delighted twice-born proclaimed that he, full of energy and fame, surpassed other kings.
एतस्मात्कारणाद्राजन्हरिश्चन्द्रो विराजते। तेभ्यो राजसहस्रेभ्यस्तद्विद्वि भरतर्षभ
For this reason, O King, Hariścandra shines forth; among thousands of kings, he is renowned, O bull of the Bharatas.
समाप्य च हरिश्चन्द्रो महायज्ञं प्रतापवान्। अभिषिक्तश्च शुशुभे साम्राज्येन नराधिप
And having completed the great sacrifice, the mighty Hariścandra, consecrated as emperor, shone among men.
ये चान्ये च महीपाला राजसूयं महाक्रतुम्। यजन्ते ते सहेन्द्रेण मोदन्ते भरतर्षभ
And all other rulers of the earth who perform the great Rājasūya sacrifice rejoice together with Indra, O best of the Bharatas.
ये चापि नि नं प्राप्ताः सङ्ग्रामेष्वपलायिनः। ते तत्सदनम् ताद्य मोन्दते भरतर्षभ
And those who, though defeated, did not flee in battle, now rejoice in that assembly, O best of the Bharatas.
तपसा ये च तीव्रेण त्यजन्तीह कलेवरम्। ते तत्स्थानं समासाद्य श्रीमन्तो भान्ति नित्यशः
And those who, through intense austerity, give up their bodies in this world, attain that place and shine forth, ever glorious.
पिता च त्वाऽऽह कौन्तेय पाण्डुः कौरवनन्दन। हरिश्चन्द्रे श्रियं दृष्ट्वा नृपतौ जातविस्मयः
And your father, O son of Kuntī, Pāṇḍu, the joy of the Kurus, was amazed when he saw the prosperity of King Hariścandra.
विज्ञाय मानुषं लोकमायान्तं मां नराधिप। प्रोवाच प्रणतो भूत्वा वदेथास्त्वं युधिष्ठिरम्
Knowing that I was coming to the world of men, the king, bowing down, said to me: 'You must tell Yudhiṣṭhira this.'
समर्थोऽसि महीं जेतुं भ्रातरस्ते स्थिता वशे। राजसूयं क्रतुश्रेष्ठमहारस्वेति भारत
'You are able to conquer the earth; your brothers are under your command. Perform the Rājasūya, the foremost of sacrifices, O Bhārata.'
त्वयीष्टवति पुत्रेऽहं हरिश्चन्द्रवदाशु वै। मोदिष्ये बहुलाः शश्वत्समाः शक्रस्य संसदि
'If you, my son, perform it, I shall rejoice for many endless years in Indra's assembly, just like Hariścandra.'
एवं भवतु वक्ष्येऽहं तव पुत्रं नराधिपम्। भूलोकं यदि गच्छेयमिति पाण्डुमथाब्रुवम्
'So be it; I will tell your son, O king, if I return to the world of men,' thus I spoke to Pāṇḍu.
तस्य त्वं पुरुषव्याघ्र सङ्कल्पं कुरु पाण्डव। गन्तासित्वं महेन्द्रस्य पूर्वैः सह सलोकताम्
Therefore, O tiger among men, fulfill his wish, O Pāṇḍava; you will go to the same world as Indra, together with your ancestors.
बहुविघ्नश्च नृपते क्रतुरेष स्मृतो महान्। छिद्राण्यस्य वाञ्छन्ति यज्ञघ्ना ब्रह्मराक्षसाः
But this great sacrifice, O king, is known to be full of many obstacles; those who hate sacrifices and Brahma-rākṣasas seek its flaws.
युद्धं च क्षत्रशमनं पृथिवीक्षयकारणम्। किञ्चिदेव निमित्तं च भवत्यत्र क्षयावहम्
War, the destruction of kṣatriyas, and the ruin of the earth may arise from even a small cause in this matter.
एतत्सञ्चिन्त्य राजेन्द्र यत्क्षमं तत्समाचर। अप्रमत्तोत्थितो नित्यं चातुर्वर्ण्यस्य रक्षणे
Considering this, O king of kings, do what is proper; always rise with vigilance for the protection of the fourfold order.
भव एधस्व मोदस्व धनैस्तर्पय च द्विजान्। एतत्ते विस्तरेणोक्तं यन्मां त्वं परिपृच्छसि। आपृच्छे त्वां गमिष्यामि दाशार्हनगरीं प्रति
Prosper, flourish, and rejoice; satisfy the Brahmins with wealth. I have explained to you in detail what you have asked me. Now, I take my leave of you and will go to the city of the Dasharhas.
एवमाख्याय पार्थेभ्यो नारदो जनमेजय। जगाम तैर्वृतो राजन्नृषिभिर्यैः समागतः
Having spoken thus to the sons of Pritha, O Janamejaya, Narada, surrounded by those sages who had assembled, departed.
गते तु नारदे पार्थो भ्रातृभिः सह कौरवः। राजसूयं क्रतुश्रेष्ठं चिन्तयामास पार्थिवः
When Narada had gone, the Kaurava prince, together with his brothers, began to contemplate the great sacrifice, the Rajasuya.
ऋषेस्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा निशश्वास युधिष्ठिरः। चिन्तयन्राजसूयेष्टिं न लेभे शर्म भारत
Hearing the sage’s words, Yudhishthira sighed, reflecting on the Rajasuya sacrifice, and found no peace, O Bharata.
राजर्षीणां च तं श्रुत्वा महिमानं महात्मनाम्। यज्वनां कर्मभिः पुण्यैर्लोकप्राप्तिं समीक्ष्य च
And having heard of the greatness of those royal sages, the exalted ones, and seeing how sacrificers attained worlds through their virtuous deeds,
हरिश्चन्द्रं च राजर्षि रोजमानं विशेषतः। यज्वानं यज्ञमाहर्तुं राजसूयमियेष सः
He especially considered the royal sage Harishchandra, renowned for his sacrifices, and desired to perform the Rajasuya sacrifice.
युधिष्ठिरस्ततः सर्वानर्चयित्वा सभासदः। प्रत्यर्चितश्च तैः सर्वैर्यज्ञायैव मनो दधे
Then Yudhishthira, having honored all the members of the assembly, and being honored in return by them all, fixed his mind solely on the sacrifice.
स राजसूयं राजेन्द्र कुरूणामृषभस्तदा। आहर्तुं प्रवणं चक्रे मनः सञ्चिन्त्य चासकृत्
At that time, the bull among the Kurus, O king, became intent on undertaking the Rajasuya, pondering it again and again.
भूयश्चाद्भुतवीर्यौजा धर्ममेवानुचिन्तयन्। किं हितं सर्वलोकानां भवेदिति मनो दधे
Once more, that wondrously powerful and energetic one, reflecting only on righteousness, set his mind on what would be beneficial for all beings.
अनुगृह्णन्प्रजाः सर्वाः सर्वधर्मभृतां वरः। अविशेषेण सर्वेषां हितं चक्रे युधिष्ठिरः
Yudhishthira, foremost among upholders of dharma, showed favor to all his subjects, and without distinction, acted for the welfare of all.