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.
विपुलैर्बाहुभिर्वीरस्तेऽभिहत्याभ्यपातयन्। ततस्ते मागधं हृष्टाः पुरं प्रविविशुस्तदा
With their mighty arms, those heroes struck and brought it down; then, delighted, they entered the city of the Magadhas.
एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु ब्राह्मणा वेदपारगाः। दृष्ट्वा तु दुर्निमित्तानि जरासन्धमदर्शयन्
At that very time, Brahmins learned in the Vedas, seeing evil omens, showed them to Jarāsandha.
पर्युग्न्यकुर्वंश्च नृपं द्विरदस्थं पुरोहिताः। ततस्तच्छान्तये राजा जरासन्धः प्रतापवान्। दीक्षितो नियमस्थोऽसावुपवासपरोऽभवत्
The priests performed expiatory rites for the king, who was seated on an elephant; then, to pacify those omens, the powerful king Jarāsandha undertook vows and devoted himself to fasting.
स्नातकव्रतिनस्ते तु बाहुशस्त्रा निरायुधाः। युयुत्सवः प्रविविशुर्जरासन्धेन भारत
But those who had completed their student vows, unarmed and skilled in wrestling, entered into contest with Jarāsandha, O Bhārata.
भक्ष्यमाल्यापणानां च ददृशुः श्रियमुत्तमाम्। स्फीतां सर्वगुणोपेतां सर्वकामसमृद्धिनाम्
They beheld the finest prosperity in the shops of food and garlands, abundant, endowed with every virtue, and filled with all desired enjoyments.
तां तु दृष्ट्वा समृद्धिं ते वीथ्यां तस्यां नरोत्तमाः। राजमार्गेण गच्छन्तः कृष्णभीमधनञ्जयाः। बलाद्गृहीत्वा माल्यानि मालाकारान्महाबलाः
Seeing that prosperity along the avenue, those foremost of men—Krishna, Bhima, and Dhananjaya—proceeded along the royal road, and, by force, took garlands from the powerful garland-makers.
कर्पूरशृङ्गं कोष्ठं च सफलं चान्तरापणे। वैश्याद्बलाद्गृहीत्वा ते विहृत्य च महारथाः
They seized camphor, fragrant horns, and fruit from the inner shops by force from a merchant, and those mighty warriors sported about.
विरागवसनाः सर्वे स्रग्विणो मृष्टकुण्डलाः। निवेशनमथाजग्मुर्जरासन्धस्य धीमतः
All of them wore faded garments, adorned with garlands and polished earrings, and then they entered the residence of the wise Jarasandha.
गोवासमिव वीक्षन्तः सिंहा हैमवता यथा। शालस्तम्भनिभास्तेषां चन्दनागुरुरूषिताः
They looked like lions from the Himalayas clad in cowhide, their arms resembling sala tree trunks, perfumed with sandal, aloe, and fragrant substances.
अशोभन्त महाराज बाहवो युद्धशालिनाम्। तान्दृष्ट्वा द्विरदप्रख्याञ्शालस्कन्दानिवोद्गतान्
O King, the arms of those skilled in battle shone brilliantly, resembling the trunks of elephants emerging from the sala trees, an impressive sight.
व्यूढोरस्कान्मागधानां विस्मयः समपद्यत। `अद्वारेणाभ्यवस्कन्द्य विविशुर्मागधालयम्
The broad-chested Magadhas were astonished upon seeing them, and they entered the house of the Magadha king through a side entrance.
ते त्वतीत्य जनाकीर्णाः कक्षास्तिस्रो नरर्षभाः। अहङ्कारेण राजानमुपतस्थुर्गतव्यथाः
Those bull-like men passed through three crowded courtyards and, filled with pride and without fear, approached the king.
भो शब्देनैव राजानमुचुस्ते तु महारथाः'। तान्पाद्यमधुपर्कार्हान्गवार्हान्सत्कृतिं गतान्। प्रत्युत्थाय जरासन्ध उपतस्थे यथाविधि
The mighty warriors addressed the king with the word 'Ho!' Seeing them, who were worthy of foot-washing, honey-mixture, and cows, and who had attained honor, Jarasandha rose and received them according to custom.
उवाच चैतान्राजाऽसौ स्वागतं वोस्त्विति प्रभुः। मौनमासीत्तदा पार्थभीमयोर्जनमेजय
That ruler spoke to them, saying, 'Welcome to you.' At that time, Partha and Bhima remained silent, O Janamejaya.
तेषां मध्ये महाबुद्धिः कृष्णो वचनमब्रवीत्। वक्तुं नायाति राजेन्द्र एतयोर्नियमस्थयोः
Among them, Krishna, of great wisdom, spoke, for those two, bound by their vow, would not speak, O king.
अर्वाङ्निशीथात्परतस्त्वाया सार्धं वदिष्यतः। यज्ञागारे स्थापयित्वा राजा राजगृहं वदिष्यतः
After midnight, these two will speak with you together, having been placed in the sacrificial hall; the king will speak in the royal residence.
ततोऽर्धरात्रे सम्प्राप्ते यातो यत्र स्थिता द्विजाः। तस्य ह्येतद्व्रतं राजन्बभूव भुवि विश्रुतम्
Then, when midnight had arrived, he went to where the brahmins were assembled; for this was his vow, O king, renowned upon the earth.
स्नातकान्ब्राह्मणान्प्राप्ताञ्श्रुत्वा स समितिञ्जयः। अप्यर्धरात्रे नृपतिः प्रत्युद्गच्छति भारत
Hearing that the snataka brahmins had arrived, that victorious king, even at midnight, went out to meet them, O Bharata.
तांस्त्वपूर्वेण वेषेण दृष्ट्वा स नृपसत्तमः। उपतस्थे जरान्धो विस्मितश्चाभवत्तदा
Seeing them in an unusual guise, that foremost of kings, Jarasandha, approached them and was astonished at that moment.
ते तु दृष्ट्वैव राजानं जरासन्धं नरर्षभाः। इदमूचुरमित्रघ्नाः सर्वे भरतसत्तम
But those destroyers of enemies, upon seeing King Jarasandha, all addressed him thus, O best of the Bharatas.