ईशौ हितौ महात्मानौ सर्वकार्यप्रवर्तिनौ। धर्मकामार्थलोकानां कार्याणां च प्रवर्तकौ
These two great souls, sovereign and benevolent, initiators of all undertakings, are the promoters of the worlds of righteousness, desire, and wealth, and of all noble deeds.
कुरुभ्यः प्रस्थितास्ते तु मध्येन कुरुजाङ्गलम्। रम्यं पद्मसरो गत्वा कालकूडमतीत्य च
Departing from the Kuru lands, they traveled through the heart of Kurujangala, reached the delightful Padma lake, and passed beyond Kalakuta.
गण्डकीं च महाशोणं सदानीरां तथैव च। एकपर्वतके नद्यः क्रमेणैत्याव्रजन्त ते
They crossed the Gandaki, the great Shona, and the Sadanira rivers; then, in turn, they traversed the rivers at Ekaparvata.
उत्तीर्य सरयूं रम्यां दृष्ट्वा पूर्वांश्च कोसलान्। अतीत्य जग्मुर्मिथिलां मालां चर्मण्वतीं नदीम्
Having crossed the lovely Sarayu and seen the eastern Kosalas, they passed on to Mithila, Mala, and the river Carmanvati.
अतीत्य गङ्गां शोणं च त्रयस्ते प्राङ्मुखास्तदा। कुशचीरच्छदा जग्मुर्मागधं क्षेत्रमच्युताः
Crossing the Ganga and the Shona, those three, facing east, journeyed on, clad in kusa grass and bark, to the land of the Magadhas.
ते शश्वद्गोधनाकीर्णमम्बुमन्तं शुभद्रुमम्। गोरथं गिरिमासाद्य ददृशुर्मागधं पुरम्
Arriving at the mountain teeming with cattle, abundant water, and beautiful trees, they beheld the city of the Magadhas.
एष पार्थ महान्भाति पशुमान्नित्यमम्बुमान्। निरामयः सुवेश्माढ्यो निवेशो मागधः शुभः
O Partha, this great and splendid settlement of the Magadhas shines forth, ever rich in cattle and food, full of water, free from affliction, with fine houses and prosperity.
वैहारो विपुलः शैलो वाराहो वृषभस्तथा। तथा ऋषिगिरिस्तात शुभाश्चैत्यकपञ्चमाः
Vaihāra, the vast mountain, Vārāha, and Vṛṣabha as well, and also Ṛṣigiri, father, and the five auspicious peaks of Caityaka.
एते पञ्चमहाशृङ्गाः पर्वताः शीतलद्रुमाः। रक्षन्तीवाभिसंहत्य संहताङ्गा गिरिव्रजम्
These five great-peaked mountains, cool with trees, stand together as if guarding Girivraja with their joined forms.
पुष्पवेष्टितशाखाग्रैर्गन्धवद्भिर्मनोहरैः। निगूढा इव लोध्राणां वनैः कामिजनप्रियैः
With branches adorned by fragrant, delightful flowers, and hidden by the beloved forests of lodhra trees, they seem concealed.
यत्र दीर्घतमा नाम ऋषिः परमन्त्रितः'। शूद्रायां गौतमो यत्र महात्मा संशितव्रतः। औशीनर्यामजनयत्काक्षीवाद्यान्सुतान्मुनिः
Here dwelled the great sage Dirghatamas, deeply versed in mantras, where the high-souled Gautama, steadfast in his vows, begot sons like Kakshivat with the Shudra woman from Ushinara.
गौतमः प्रणयात्तस्माद्यथाऽसौ तत्र सद्मनि। भजते मागधं वंशं स नृपाणामनुग्रहः
Out of affection, Gautama resides there in that abode; thus, he grants his favor to the royal line of Magadha.
अङ्गवङ्गादयश्चैव राजानः सुमहाबलाः। गौतमक्षयमभ्येत्य रमन्ते स्म पुरार्जुन
Kings of Anga, Vanga, and others of great might, O Arjuna, came to Gautama’s hermitage and found delight in the city.
वनराजीस्तु पश्येमाः पिप्लानां मनोरमाः। लोघ्राणां च शुभाः पार्थ गौतमौकः समीपजाः
Behold these charming groves of pipal trees and the beautiful lodhra forests, O Partha, near the dwelling of Gautama.
अर्बुदः शक्रवापी च पन्नगौ शत्रुतापनौ। स्वस्तिकस्यालयश्चात्र मणिनागस्य चोत्तमः
Here are Arbuda and Shakravapi, and the serpents Pannaga and Shatrutapana; this is the abode of Svastika and the noble Mani-naga.
अपारिहार्या मेघानां मागधा मनुना कृताः। कौशिको मणिमांश्चैव चक्राते चाप्यनुग्रहम्
These Magadha fortresses, made by Manu, are impregnable to clouds; Kaushika and Maniman also bestowed their favor here.
पाण्डरे विपुले चैव तथा वाराहकेऽपि च। चैत्यके चज गिरिश्रेष्ठे मादङ्गे च शिलोच्चये
On the broad mountain Pāṇḍara, as well as on Vārāhaka, on Caityaka, and on the great peak Mādaṅga, and on the rocky heights—
एतेषु पर्वतेन्द्रेषु सर्वसिद्धसमालयाः। यतीनामाश्रमाश्चैव मुनीनां च महात्मनाम्
On these chief mountains, all filled with accomplished beings, are the hermitages of ascetics and of great-souled sages.
वृषभस्य तमालस्य महावीर्यस्य वै तथा। गन्धर्वरक्षसां चैव नागानां च तथाऽऽलयाः
There are also the abodes of the mighty Vṛṣabha and Tamāla, and likewise of Gandharvas, Rākṣasas, and Nāgas.
कक्षीवतस्तपोवीर्यात्तपोदा इति विश्रुताः। पुण्यतीर्थाश्च ते सर्वे सिद्धानां चैव कीर्तिताः। मणेश्च दर्शनादेव भद्रं शिवमवाप्नुयात्
Because of Kakṣīvata’s ascetic power, these are renowned as Tapodā; all these are sacred for accomplished beings, and it is said that by merely seeing the jewel, one attains auspiciousness and well-being.
एवं प्राप्य पुरं रम्यं दुराधर्पं समन्ततः।। अर्थसिद्धिं त्वनुपमां जरासन्धोऽभिमन्यते
Thus, having reached the delightful and utterly unassailable city, Jarāsandha considered himself to have achieved incomparable success.
एवमुक्त्वा ततः सर्वे भ्रातरो विपुलौजसः
Having spoken thus, all the brothers of great strength—
वार्ष्णेयः पाण्डवौ चैव प्रतस्थुर्मागधं पुरम्। हृष्टपुष्टजनोपेतं चातुर्वर्ण्यसमाकुलम्
Vārṣṇeya and the two Pāṇḍavas set out for the city of the Magadhas, teeming with joyful and prosperous people, crowded with all four social orders.
स्फीतोत्सवमनाधृष्यमासेदुश्च गिरिव्रजतम्। ततो द्वारमनासाद्य पुरस्य गिरिमुच्छ्रितम्
They approached Girivraja, flourishing with festivals and unassailable, and then, reaching the city’s gate, they saw the towering mountain.
बार्हद्रथैः पूज्यमानं तथा नगरवासिभिः। मागधानां तु रुचिरं चैत्यकान्तरमाद्रवन्
Honored by the Bārhadrathas and the city dwellers, they entered the beautiful caitya-grove of the Magadhas.
यत्र मांसादमृषभमाससाद बृहद्रथः। तं हत्वा मासतालाभिस्तिस्रो भेरीकारयत्
There, Bṛhadratha encountered a bull that ate meat; after slaying it, he had three drums beaten with the meat as the prize.
स्वपुरे स्थापयामास तेन चानह्य चर्मणा। यत्र ताः प्राणदन्भेर्यो दिव्यपुष्पावचूर्णिताः
He placed them in his own city, and with the skin of that bull, he had the drums covered, where those drums resounded, sprinkled with divine flowers.
भङ्क्त्वा भेरीत्रयं तेऽपि चैत्यप्राकारमाद्रवन्। द्वारतोऽभिमुखाः सर्वे ययुर्नानायुधास्तधा
After breaking those three drums, they rushed toward the caitya wall; all of them, armed with various weapons, advanced directly from the gate.
मागधानां सुरुचिरं चैत्यकं तं समाद्रवन्। शिरसीव समाघ्नन्तो जरासन्धं जिघांस्वः
They rushed at that splendid caitya of the Magadhas, as if striking at Jarāsandha’s head, intent on killing him.
स्थिरं सुविपुलं शृङ्गं सुमहत्तत्पुरातनम्। अर्चितं गन्धमाल्यैश्च सततं सुप्रतिष्ठितम्
It was a firm, vast, and ancient peak, greatly honored, always adorned with fragrant garlands and well established.