योजनान्ते शतद्वारं वीरविक्रमतोरणम्। अष्टादशावरैर्नद्धं क्षत्रियैर्युद्धदुर्मदैः
At the end of a yojana, with a hundred gates and heroic, valiant gateways, it was guarded by eighteen ramparts and Kṣatriyas fierce in battle.
अष्टादश सहस्राणि भ्रातृणां सन्ति नः कले। आहुकस्य शतं पुत्रा एकैकस्त्रिदशावरः
There are eighteen thousand brothers among us; Āhuka has a hundred sons, each one guarding three ramparts.
चारुदेष्णः सह भ्रात्रा चक्रदेवोऽथ सात्यकिः। अहं च रोहिणेयश्च साम्बः प्रद्युम्न एव च
Cārudeṣṇa with his brother, Cakradeva, Sātyaki, myself, the son of Rohiṇī, Sāmba, and Pradyumna as well.
एवमेते रथाः सप्त राजन्नन्यान्निबोध मे। कृतवर्मा ह्यनाधृष्टिः समीकः समिर्तिजयः
Thus, these are seven chariot-warriors, O king; now hear from me of others: Kṛtavarmā, Anādhṛṣṭi, Samīka, and Samīrtijaya.
कङ्कः शङ्कुश्च कुन्तिश्च सप्तैते वै महारथाः। `प्रद्युम्नश्चानिरुद्धश्च भानुरक्रूरसारणौ
Kaṅka, Śaṅku, and Kunti—these seven are great chariot-warriors; Pradyumna, Aniruddha, Bhānu, Akrūra, and Sāraṇa.
निशठश्च गदश्चैव सप्त चैते महारथाः। विकमो झिल्लिबभ्रू च उद्धवोऽथ विदूरथः
Niśaṭha and Gada, these two, and seven other great chariot-warriors: Vikama, Jhillika, Babhrū, Uddhava, and Vidūratha.
वसुदेवोग्रसेनौ च सप्तैते मन्त्रिपुङ्गवाः। प्रसेनजिच्च यमलो राजराजगुणान्वितः
Vasudeva, Ugrasena, and these seven foremost counselors, along with Prasenajit and Yamala, endowed with kingly virtues—
स्यमन्तको मणिर्यस्य रुक्मं निस्रुवते बहु। पुत्रौ चान्धकभोजस्य वृद्धो राजा च ते दश
—the Syamantaka jewel, from which much gold flows, belongs to him; and the two sons of Andhaka and Bhoja, the aged king, and these ten—
वज्रसंहनना वीरी वीर्यवन्तो महाबलाः। स्मरन्तो मध्यमं देशं वृष्णिवीरा गतज्वराः
—are heroes with bodies hard as thunderbolts, mighty and strong, remembering their central land, the Vṛṣṇi warriors, free from distress.
पाण्डवैश्चापि सततं नाथवन्तो वयं नृप। सर्वसम्पद्गुणैः सिद्धे तस्मिन्नेवं व्यवस्थिते
And we are always protected by the Pāṇḍavas, O King, endowed with all perfections and virtues, with matters thus established.
क्षत्रे सम्राजमात्मानं कर्तुमर्हसि भारत। दुर्योधनं शान्तनवं द्रोणं द्रौणायनिं कृपम्
Therefore, O Bhārata, you should make yourself emperor in the Kṣatriya order; but Duryodhana, the son of Śāntanu, Droṇa, the son of Droṇa, and Kṛpa—
कर्णं च शिशुपालं च रुक्मिणं च धनुर्धरम्। एकलव्यं द्रुमं श्वेतं शैब्यं शकुनिमेव च
—Karna, Śiśupāla, Rukmi the archer, Ekalavya, Druma, Śveta, Śaibya, and also Śakuni—
एतानजित्वा सङ्ग्रामे कथं शक्नोषि तं क्रतुम्। तथैते गौरवेणैव न योत्स्यन्ति नराधिपाः
—without conquering these in battle, how can you accomplish that sacrifice? And these kings, out of respect, will not fight.
एकस्तत्र बलोन्मत्तः कर्णो वैकर्तनो वृषा। योत्स्यते स परामर्षी दिव्यास्रबलगर्वितः
There, Karṇa, son of Vikartana, intoxicated with strength, will fight alone, full of anger and proud of his divine weapons.
न तु शक्यं जरासन्धे जीवमाने महाबल राजसूयस्त्वयाऽवाप्तुमेषा राजन्मतिर्मम
But as long as Jarāsandha, the mighty, lives, you cannot obtain the Rājasūya, O King—this is my opinion.
तेन रुद्धा हि राजानः सर्वे जित्वा गिरिव्रजे। कन्दरे पर्वतेन्द्रस्य सिंहेनेव महाद्विपाः
For all the kings, having been conquered at Girivraja, are restrained by him, like great elephants by a lion in the mountain cave.
स हि राजा जरासन्धो यियक्षुर्वसुधाधिपैः। `अभिषिक्तः स राजन्यैः सहस्रैरुत चाष्टभिः'। महादेवं महात्मानमुमापतिमरिन्दम
That king Jarāsandha, desiring to sacrifice with the lords of the earth, was consecrated by thousands and also by eight kings, O subduer of enemies, after worshipping the great soul, Mahādeva, the lord of Umā.
आराध्य तपसोग्रेण निर्जितास्तेन पार्थिवाः। प्रतिज्ञायाश्च पारं स गतः पार्थिवसत्तम
By severe austerity he propitiated him, and by that, O best of kings, he conquered the rulers of the earth and fulfilled his vow.
स हि निर्जित्य निर्जित्य पार्थिवान्पृतनागतान्। पुरमानीय बद्ध्वा च चकार पुरुषव्रजम्
Having conquered again and again the kings who came with their armies, he brought them to his city, bound them, and made a multitude of men.
वयं चैव महाराज जरासन्धभयात्तदा। मधुरा सम्परित्यज्य गता द्वारवतीं पुरीम्
And we, O great king, out of fear of Jarāsandha at that time, abandoned Mathurā and went to the city of Dvāravatī.
यदि त्वेनं महाराज यज्ञं प्राप्तुमभीप्ससि। यतस्व तेषां मोक्षाय जरासन्धवधाय च
If, O great king, you desire to obtain that sacrifice, then strive for their release and for the slaying of Jarāsandha.
समारम्भो न शक्योऽयमन्यथा कुरुनन्दन। राजसूयस्य कार्त्स्न्येन कर्तुं मतिमतां वर
This undertaking cannot be accomplished otherwise, O joy of the Kurus, by any means; only thus can the Rājasūya be performed in its entirety, O best of the wise.
इत्येषा मे मती राजन्यथा वा मन्यसेऽनघ। एवं गते ममाचक्ष्व स्वयं निश्चित्य हेतुभिः
This is my opinion, O king; but if you think otherwise, O sinless one, then tell me your own view, having considered the reasons.
सम्राड्गुणमभीप्सन्वै युष्मान्स्वार्थपरायणः। कथं प्रहिणुयां कृष्ण सोऽहं केवलसाहसात्
Desiring the status of emperor for myself, devoted to my own interests, how could I send you, Kṛṣṇa, merely out of rashness?
भीमार्जुनावुभौ नेत्रे मनो मन्ये जनार्दनम्। मनश्चक्षुर्विहीनस्य कीदृशं जीवितं भवेत्
I consider Bhima and Arjuna to be both the eyes, and Janardana the mind; what kind of life would there be for one deprived of mind and sight?
जरासन्धबलं प्राप्य दुष्पारं भीमविक्रमम्। यमोपि न विजेताऽऽजौ तत्र वः किं विचेष्टितम्
Having encountered the army of Jarasandha, insurmountable and fierce with Bhima's valor—where even Yama could not prevail in battle—what could you possibly accomplish there?
अस्मिंस्त्वर्थान्तरे युक्तमनर्थः प्रतिपद्यते। तस्मान्न प्रतिपत्तिस्तु कार्या युक्ता मता मम
In this matter, pursuing an unsuitable course leads to disaster; therefore, I do not think it is proper to proceed in that way.
यथाऽहं विमृशाम्येकस्तत्तावच्छ्रूयतां मम। संन्यासं रोचये साधु कार्यस्यास्य जनार्दन। प्रतिहन्ति मनो मेऽद्य राजसूयो दूराहरः
Hear now my own considered view, Janardana: I favor renunciation as the right course in this matter; today my mind is dissuaded by the distant and difficult Rajasuya sacrifice.
पार्थः प्राप्य धनुः श्रेष्ठमक्षय्यौ च महेषुधी। रथं ध्वजं हयांश्चैव युधिष्ठिरमभाषत
Partha, having obtained the finest bow, two inexhaustible quivers, a chariot, a banner, and horses, spoke to Yudhishthira.
धनुः शस्त्रं शरा वीर्यं पक्षो भूमिर्यशो बलम्। प्राप्तमेतन्मय राजन्दुष्प्रापं यदभीप्सितम्
O King, bow, weapons, arrows, strength, allies, land, fame, and power—all that was difficult to obtain, I have now acquired as I desired.