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.
स्वस्त्यस्तु कुशलं राजन्निति तत्र व्यवस्थिताः। तं नृपं नृपशार्दूल प्रेक्षमाणाः परस्परम्
Standing there, they said, 'May there be well-being, may all be well, O king,' as they gazed at that tiger among kings and at each other.
तानब्रवीञ्जरासन्धस्तथा पाण्डवयादवान्। आस्यतामिति राजेन्द्र ब्राह्मणच्छद्मसंवृतान्
Jarasandha then spoke to the Pandavas and Yadavas, who were disguised as brahmins: 'Be seated,' O king.
अथोपविविशुः सर्वे त्रयस्ते पुरुषर्षभाः। सम्प्रदीप्तास्त्रयो लक्ष्म्या महाध्वर इवाग्नयः
Then all three of those best of men sat down, blazing with splendor like three fires at a great sacrifice.
तानुवाच जरासन्धः सत्यसन्धो नराधिपः। विगर्हमाणः कौरव्य वेषग्रहणवैकृतान्।। न स्नातकव्रता विप्रा वहिर्माल्यानुलेपनाः
Jarasandha, the truthful king, addressed them, reproaching the Kaurava for their odd adoption of disguises: 'You are not wearing the garlands and ointments of brahmins who have taken the vow after bathing.'
भवन्तीति नृलोकेऽस्मिन्विदितं मम सर्वशः। के यूयं पुष्पवन्तश्च भुजैर्ज्याकृतलक्षणैः
'It is well known to me in this world that you are not such men. Who are you, adorned with flowers, with arms marked by the bowstring?'
बिभ्रतः क्षात्रमोजश्च ब्राह्मण्यं प्रतिजानथ। एवं विरागवसना बहिर्माल्यानुलेपनाः
'You bear the energy of warriors, yet you claim to be brahmins. Thus, dressed in faded garments, adorned with garlands and ointments on the outside—'
क्षत्रिया एव लोकेऽस्मिन्विदिता मम सर्वशः'।। सत्यं वदत के यूयं सत्यं राजसु शोभते
'It is clear to me that you are kshatriyas in this world. Speak the truth—who are you? Truth befits kings.'
चैत्यकस्य गिरेः शृङ्गं भित्त्वा किमिह सद्मनि। अद्वारेण प्रविष्टाः स्थ निर्भया राजकिल्विषात्
'Having broken through the peak of the Caityaka mountain, how did you enter this house? You have come in by a secret way, unafraid of royal wrongdoing.'
वदध्वं वाचि वीर्यं च ब्राह्मणस्य विशेषतः। कर्म चैतद्विलिङ्गस्थं किं वोऽद्य प्रसमीक्षितम्
'Speak your purpose and your prowess, especially if you are brahmins. This action of yours reveals your true nature—what do you seek here today?'
एवं च मामुपास्थाय कस्माच्च विधिर्नाहणाम्। प्रणीतां नानुगृह्णीत कार्यं किं वाऽस्मदागमे
'And why, having approached me in this way, have you not spoken the proper words? Why do you not accept the hospitality offered? What is your purpose in coming to us?'
एवमुक्ते ततः कृष्णः प्रत्युवाच महामनाः। स्निग्धगमभीरया वाचा वाक्यं वाक्यविशारदः।। xकृष्ण उवाच
When he had spoken thus, Krishna, great of mind and skilled in speech, replied with gentle and fearless words.
स्नातकान्ब्राह्मणान्राजन्विद्ध्यस्मांस्त्वं नराधिप। स्नातकव्रतिनो राजन्ब्राह्मणाः क्षत्रिया विशः
Krishna said: 'Know us, O king, to be brahmins who have taken the vow after bathing. O ruler of men, brahmins, kshatriyas, and vaishyas all take the vow after bathing.'
विशेषनियमाश्चैषामविशेषाश्च सन्त्युत। विशेषवांश्च सततं क्षत्रियः श्रियमृच्छति
'There are both special and general rules for them, indeed. Yet it is always the kshatriya who attains prosperity.'
पुष्पवत्सु ध्रुवा श्रीश्च पुष्पवन्तस्ततो वयम्। क्षत्रियो बाहुवीर्यस्तु न तथा वाक्यवीर्यवान्।। अम्प्रगल्भं वचस्तस्य तस्माद्बार्हद्रथेरितम्
'Where there are flowers, there is surely fortune; and so, we are adorned with flowers. The kshatriya has strength of arms, but not so much strength in words. Therefore, his speech is not bold, but restrained, as befits the lineage of Bharata.'
स्ववीर्यं क्षत्रियाणां तु बाह्वोर्धाता न्यवेशयत्। तद्दिदृक्षसि चेद्राजन्द्रष्टास्यद्य न संशयटः
'The Creator placed the strength of kshatriyas in their arms. If you wish to see it, O king, you shall witness it today, without doubt.'
अद्वारेण रिम्पोर्गेहं द्वारेण सुहृदो गृहान्। प्रविशन्ति नरा धीरा द्वाराण्येतानि धर्मतः
'The brave enter a house by a secret way, and friends by the door; these are the proper ways to enter houses, according to dharma.'
कार्यवन्तो गृहानेत्य शत्रुतो नार्हणां वयम्। प्रतिगृह्णीम् तद्विद्वि एतन्नः शाश्वतं व्रतम्
'We have come to your house with a purpose, not as enemies, and so we do not deserve hospitality. Accept this from us—this is our enduring vow.'
न स्मरामि कदा वैरं कृतं युष्माभिरित्युत। चिन्तयंश्च न पश्यामि भवतां प्रति वैकृतम्
'I do not recall any enmity ever committed by you, nor, upon reflection, do I see any fault on your part.'
वैकृते वा सति कथं मन्यध्वं मामनागसम्। अरिं वै ब्रूत हे विप्राः सतां समय एष हि
'Even if there were some fault, why do you consider me blameless? Speak, O brahmins, for this is the custom among the virtuous.'
अर्थधर्मोपघाताद्धि मनः समुपतप्यते। योऽनागसि प्रसजति क्षत्रियो हि न संशयटः
'The mind is tormented by harm done to wealth or dharma; whoever attacks the innocent, surely, is a kshatriya—there is no doubt.'