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.
सर्वेषां दीयतां देयं मुष्णन्कोपमदावुभौ। साधु धर्मेति धर्मेति नान्यच्छ्रूयेत भाषितम्
Let what is to be given be given to all; suppressing both anger and mildness, only ‘righteousness, righteousness’ was heard spoken—nothing else.
एवं गते ततस्तस्मिन्पितरीवाश्वसञ्जनाः। न तस्य विद्यते द्रेष्टा ततोऽस्याजातशत्रुता
With things thus, his people were as trusting as towards a father; he had no one to hate him, and so he was called ‘one whose enemies are unborn’.
परिग्रहान्नरेन्द्रस्य भीमस्य परिपालनात्। शत्रूणां क्षपणाच्चैव बीभत्सोः सव्यसाचिनः
Because of Bhima’s protection of the king’s possessions, and Arjuna’s destruction of enemies, none dared oppose them.
बलीनां सम्यगुत्थानान्नकुलस्य यशस्विनः'। धीमतः सहदेवस्य धर्माणामनुशासनात्
Through the proper efforts of the mighty and renowned Nakula, and the wise guidance of Sahadeva in matters of dharma,
वैनत्यात्सर्वतश्चैव नकुलस्य स्वभावतः। अविग्रहा वीतभयाः स्वकर्मनिरताः सदा
Because of Nakula’s vigilance everywhere and his very nature, the people were free from disputes and fear, always devoted to their own duties.
निकामवर्षाः स्फीताश्च आसञ्जनपदास्तथा। वार्धुषी यज्ञसत्वानि गोरक्षं कर्षणं वणिक्
There was abundant rainfall and prosperity in all the regions; the people, the sacrificial animals, the cattle-keepers, farmers, and merchants thrived.
विशेषात्सर्वमेवैतत्सञ्जज्ञे राजकर्मणा। अनुकर्षं च निष्कर्षं व्याधिपावकमूर्छनम्
All this arose especially because of the king’s actions: prosperity, the removal of poverty, the quelling of disease, fire, and disturbances.
सर्वमेव न तत्रासीद्धर्मनित्ये युधिष्ठिरे। दस्युभ्यो वञ्चकेभ्यश्च राज्ञः प्रति परस्परम्
There was nothing contrary to righteousness there, while Yudhishthira ruled; neither from robbers nor deceivers, nor from the king towards his people, nor among themselves.
राजवल्लभतश्चैव नाश्रूयत मृषाकृतम्। प्रियं कर्तुमुपस्थातुं बलिकर्म स्वकर्मजम्
And from those favored by the king, no false act was ever heard of; they came forward to perform the bali-offering, each according to his own duty.
अभिहर्तुं नृपाः षट्सु पृथक्जात्यैश्च नैगमैः। ववृधे विषयस्तत्र धर्मनित्ये युधिष्ठिरे
The kings, each with their own retinues and guilds of various castes, came to pay homage; and the realm flourished under Yudhishthira, who was ever devoted to righteousness.