अर्हस्त्वमसि धर्मज्ञ राजसूयं महाक्रतुम्। अथैवमुक्ते नृपतावृत्विग्भिर्ऋषिभिस्तथा
You are worthy, O knower of righteousness, to perform the great Rajasuya sacrifice; so spoke the priests and sages to the king.
मन्त्रिणो भ्रातरश्चास्य तद्वचः प्रत्यपूजयन्। स तु राजा महाप्राज्ञः पुनरेवात्मनाऽऽत्मवान्
His ministers and brothers honored that statement; but the wise king, self-controlled, again reflected within himself.
भूयो विममृशे पार्थो लोकानां हितकाम्यया। सामर्थ्ययोगं सम्प्रेक्ष्य देशकालौ व्ययागमौ
Desiring the welfare of all people, Partha considered once more, observing the means, the right time and place, and the balance of expenditure and gain.
विमृश्य सम्यक् च धिया कुर्वन्प्राज्ञो न सीदति। नहि यज्ञसमारम्भः केवलात्मविनिश्चयात्
One who reflects well with intelligence does not falter; for the undertaking of a sacrifice does not rest on personal resolve alone.
भवतीति समाज्ञाय यत्नतः कार्यमुद्वहन्। स निश्चयार्थं कार्यस्य कृष्णमेव जनार्दनम्
Knowing this, he took up the task with care; and for certainty in the matter, he turned to Krishna, Janardana.
सर्वलोकात्परं मत्वा जगाम मनसा हरिम्। अप्रमेयं महाबाहुं कामाञ्जातमजं नृषु
Considering Krishna to be beyond all worlds, he turned his mind to Hari, the immeasurable, mighty-armed, desireless, and unborn among men.
पाण्डवस्तर्कयामास कर्मभिर्देवसंमतैः। नास्य किञ्चिदविज्ञातं नास्य किञ्चिदकर्मजम्
The Pandava reasoned that Krishna's actions are approved by the gods; nothing is unknown to him, nor is anything beyond his power.
न स किञ्चिन्न विषहेदिति कृष्णममन्यत। स तु तां नैष्ठिकीं बुद्धिं कृत्वा पार्थो युधिष्ठिरः
He thought, 'There is nothing Krishna cannot accomplish.' Thus, Yudhishthira, having formed this firm resolve,
गुरुवद्भूतगुरवे प्राहिणोद्दूतमञ्जसा। शीघ्रगेन रथेनाशु स दूतः प्राप्य यादवान्
Sent a messenger directly to Krishna, who was as revered as a preceptor; the swift envoy, riding a fast chariot, quickly reached the Yadavas.
द्वारकावासिनं कृष्णं द्वारवत्यां समासदत्। ` स प्रभुं प्राञ्जलिर्भूत्वा व्यज्ञापयत माधवम्
He approached Krishna, who dwelt in Dvaraka, and, joining his palms in reverence, made his request to Madhava.
धर्मराजो हृषीकेश धौम्यव्यासादिभिः सह। पाञ्चालमात्स्यसहितैर्भ्रातृभिश्चैव सर्वशः
Dharmaraja, together with Dhaumya, Vyasa, and others, and with all his brothers, as well as the Panchalas and Matsyas,
त्वद्दर्शनं महाबाहो काङ्क्षते स युधिष्ठिरः
Yudhishthira, O mighty-armed one, longs to see you.
इन्द्रसेनवचः श्रुत्वा यादवप्रवरो बली'। दर्शनाकाङ्क्षिणं पार्थं दर्शनाकाङ्क्षयाच्युतः
Hearing Indrasena's words, the powerful chief of the Yadavas, desiring to see Partha who wished to see him,
आमन्त्र्य राजन्सुहृदो वसुदेवं च माधवः'। इन्द्रसेनेन सहित इन्द्रप्रस्थमगात्तदा। व्यतीत्य विविधान्देशांस्त्वरावान्क्षिप्रवाहनवः
Madhava, having taken leave of his friends and Vasudeva, set out with Indrasena for Indraprastha, swiftly crossing many lands with fast horses.
इन्द्रप्रस्थगतं पार्थमभ्यगच्छज्जनार्दनः। स गृहे पितृवद्धात्रा धर्मराजेन पूजितः
Janardana went to Indraprastha to see Partha, and in the house he was honored by Dharmaraja, the king, as a father would be by his son.
भीमेन च ततोऽपश्यत्स्वसारं प्रीतिमान्पितुः। प्रीतः प्रीतेन सुहृदा रेमे स सहितस्तदा
Then, Bhima, joyful, saw his sister, beloved of their father; pleased by his dear friend, he delighted together with him at that time.
अर्जुनेन यमाभ्यां च गुरुवत्पर्युपासितः। तं विश्रान्तं शुभे देशे क्षणिनं कल्पमच्युतम्। धर्मराजः समागम्य ज्ञापयत्स्वप्रयोजनम्
By Arjuna and the twins, he was attended to as one would serve a teacher; when Achyuta had rested for a moment in a pleasant place, Dharmaraja approached him and made known his purpose.
प्रार्थितो राजसूयो मे न चासौ केवलेप्सया। प्राप्यते येन तत्ते हि विदितं कृष्ण सर्वशः
I have been urged to perform the Rajasuya, but it is not attained merely by desire; you know fully, Krishna, by what means it is achieved.
यस्मिन्सर्वं सम्भवति यश्च सर्वत्र पूज्यते। यश्च सर्वेश्वरो राजा राजसूयं स विन्दति
He in whom everything exists, who is honored everywhere, who is the lord of all—such a king alone attains the Rajasuya.
तं राजसूयं सुहृदः कार्यमाहुः समेत्य मे। तत्र मे निश्चिततमं तव कृष्ण गिरा भवेत्
My friends, having gathered, say that the Rajasuya should be undertaken; in this matter, Krishna, let your word be my firmest resolve.
केचिद्धि सौहृदा देवे न दोषं परिचक्षते। स्वार्थहेतोस्तथैवान्ये प्रियमेव वदन्त्युत
Some, out of friendship, O god, do not point out faults; others, for their own interests, speak only what is pleasing.
प्रियमेव परीप्सन्ते केचिदात्मनि यद्धितम्। एवम्प्रायाश्च दृश्यन्ते जनवादाः प्रयोजने
Some seek only what is pleasing, whatever they think is good for themselves; such are the opinions commonly seen among people regarding their aims.
त्वं तु हेतूनतीत्यैतान्कामक्रोधौ व्युदस्य च। परमं यत्क्षमं लोके यथावद्वक्तुमर्हसि
But you, surpassing these motives, having set aside desire and anger, ought to speak, as is proper, what is the highest and most fitting in the world.
सर्वैर्गुणैर्महाराज राजसूयं त्वमर्हसि। जानतस्त्वेव ते सर्वं किञ्चिद्वक्ष्यामि भारत
O great king, you are worthy of the Rajasuya in every way; yet, knowing all, I will say a little to you, descendant of Bharata.
जामदग्न्येन रामेण क्षत्रं यदवशेषितम्। तस्मादवरजं लोके यदिदं क्षत्रसंज्ञितम्
Whatever Kshatriyas remained after Rama, son of Jamadagni, that is what is now called the Kshatriya class in the world.
कृतोऽयं कलुसङ्कल्पः क्षत्रियैर्वसुधाधिप। निदेशवाग्भिस्तत्तेह विदितं भरतर्षभ
These Kshatriyas, O lord of the earth, have become intent on evil; you know well, O bull of the Bharatas, their words and commands here.
ऐलस्येक्ष्वाकुवंशस्य प्रकृतिं परिचक्षते। राजानः श्रेणिबद्धाश्च तथाऽन्ये क्षत्रिया भुवि
The nature of the Aila dynasty of the Ikshvaku line is described; and the kings, arranged in succession, as well as other Kshatriyas on earth.
ऐलवंश्याश्च ये राजंस्तथैवेक्ष्वाकवो नृपाः। तानि चैकशतं विद्धि कुलानि भरतर्षभ
O king, those of the Aila line and the Ikshvaku kings—know, O bull of the Bharatas, that there are a hundred such royal families.
ययातेस्त्वेव भोजानां विस्तरो गुणतो महान्। भजतेऽद्य महाराज विस्तरं सचतुर्दिशम्
But among the Bhojas, the greatness of Yayati’s line is especially renowned, O great king, and today it has spread in all four directions.
तेषां तथैव तां लक्ष्मीं सर्वक्षत्रमुपासते। इदानीमेव वै राजञ्जरासन्धो महीपतिः
All the Kshatriyas now serve that same prosperity among them; and at this very time, O king, Jarasandha, lord of the earth—