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.
कामतोऽप्युपयुञ्जानै राजसैर्लोभजैर्जनैः। सर्वव्यापी सर्वगुणी सर्वसाहः स सर्वराट्
Even when approached by kings and greedy men acting as they wished, he, the universal sovereign, all-pervading, possessing all virtues and endurance, prevailed over all.
यस्मिन्नधिकृतः सम्राड् भ्राजमानो महायशाः। यत्र राजन्दश दिशः पितृतो मातृतस्तथा। अनुरक्ताः प्रजा आसन्नागोपाला द्विजातयः
In whom the emperor, resplendent and greatly renowned, was established; where, O king, in all ten directions, the people, herdsmen, and twice-born were devoted, as to a father and mother.
स मन्त्रिणः समानाय्य भ्रातृंश्च वदतां वरः। bराजसूयं प्रति तदा पुनः पुनरपृच्छत
He, the best of speakers, summoned his ministers and brothers, and repeatedly questioned them regarding the Rajasuya sacrifice.
ते पृच्छ्यमानाः सहिता वचोऽर्थ्यं मन्त्रिणस्तदा। युधिष्ठिरं महाप्राज्ञं यियक्षुमिदमब्रुवन्
Those ministers, thus asked together, spoke these fitting words to the wise Yudhishthira, who wished to perform the sacrifice.
येनाभिषिक्तो नृपतिर्वारुणं गुणमृच्छति। तेन राजाऽपि तं कुत्स्नं सम्राड्गुणमभीप्सृति
By whom a king is consecrated, he attains the quality of Varuna; by that same means, the emperor desires to obtain that complete excellence.
तस्य सम्राड्गुणार्हस्य भवतः कुरुनन्दन। राजसूयस्य समयं मन्यन्ते सुहृदस्तव
For you, O joy of the Kurus, who are worthy of imperial qualities, your friends consider the time for the Rajasuya sacrifice to be at hand.
तस्य यज्ञस्य समयः स्वाधीनः क्षत्रसम्पदा। साम्ना षडग्नयो यस्मिंश्चीयन्ते शंसितव्रतैः
The time for that sacrifice is under the control of one who possesses royal power, in whom the six fires are increased by those who have undertaken vows with praise.
दर्वीहोमानुपादाय सर्वान्यः प्राप्नुते क्रतून्। अभिषेकं च यज्ञान्ते सर्वजित्तेन चोच्यते
By taking up the ladle for oblations, one attains all other sacrifices, and at the end of the rite, the consecration is said to belong to him who has conquered all.
समर्थोऽसि महाबाहो सर्वे ते वशगा वयम्। अचिरात्त्वं महाराज राजसूयमवाप्स्यसि
You are capable, O mighty-armed one, and we are all under your command; soon, O great king, you will attain the Rajasuya.
अविचार्य महाराज राजसूये मनः कुरु। इत्येवं सुहृदः सर्वे पृथक्च सह चाब्रुवन्
Without hesitation, O great king, set your mind on the Rajasuya; thus all your friends, both individually and together, spoke.