स विजित्य दुराधर्षं भीष्मकं माद्रिनन्दनः। कोसलाधिपतिं चैव तथा वेणातटाधिपम्
Having conquered the formidable Bhishmaka, O son of Madri, as well as the lord of Kosala and the ruler of Venatata,
कान्तारकांश्च समर तथा प्राकोटकान्नृपान्। नाटकेयांश्च समरे तथा हेरम्बकान्युधि
He also defeated the Kantarakas in battle, as well as the Prakotaka kings, the Natakeyas in combat, and likewise the Herambakas in war.
मारुधं च विनिर्जित्य रम्यग्राममथो बलात्। नाचीनानर्बुकांश्चैव राजानश्च महाबलः
He overcame Marudha and forcefully took Ramyagrama, as well as the Nachinas and Arbukas, and other mighty kings.
तांस्तानाटविकान्सर्वानजयत्पाण्डुनन्दनः। नाताधिपं च नृपतिं वशे चक्रे महाबलः
The son of Pandu conquered all those forest-dwelling kings, and the powerful one brought the lord of Nata under his control.
पुलिन्दांश्च रणे जित्वा ययौ दक्षिणतः पुरः। युयुधे पाण्ड्यराजेन दिवसं नकुलानुजः
Having defeated the Pulindas in battle, he went southward; the younger brother of Nakula fought with the king of the Pandyas for a day.
तं जित्वा स महाबाहुः प्रययौ दक्षिणापथम्। गुहामासादयामास किष्किन्धां लोकविश्रुताम्
Having conquered him, the mighty-armed one proceeded along the southern path and reached the renowned cave of Kishkindha.
पुरा वानरराजेन वालिना चाभिरक्षिताम्। ततः कोसलराजस्य रामस्यैवानुगेन च। सुग्रीवेणाभिगुप्तां तां प्रविष्टस्तमथाह्वयत्
That place, once protected by the monkey king Vali, and later guarded by Sugriva, the follower of Rama, king of Kosala, he entered and then challenged him.
तत्र वानरराजाभ्यां मैन्देन द्विविदेन च। युयुधे दिवसान्सप्त न च तौ विकृतिं गतौ
There, he fought for seven days with the monkey kings Mainda and Dvivida, but neither of them showed any sign of defeat.
ततस्तुष्टौ महात्मानौ सहदेवाय वानरौ। ऊचतुश्चैव संहृष्टौ प्रीतिपूर्वमिदं वचः
Then those two great-souled monkeys, pleased, joyfully spoke these words to Sahadeva:
गच्छ पाण्डवशार्दूल रत्नान्यादाय सर्वशः। अविघ्नमस्त कार्याय धर्मराजाय धीमते
"Go, O tiger among the Pandavas, taking all the jewels; may your task for the wise king Yudhishthira be accomplished without hindrance."
ततो रत्नान्युपादाय पुरीं माहिष्मतीं ययौ।। तत्र नीलेन राज्ञा स चक्रे युद्धं नरर्षभः
Then, taking the jewels, he went to the city of Mahishmati; there, the bull among men fought a battle with King Nila.
पाण्डवः परवीरघ्नः सहदेवः प्रतापवान्।। ततोऽस्य सुमहद्युद्धमासीद्भीरुभयङ्करम्
The heroic Sahadeva, destroyer of enemy heroes among the Pandavas, then engaged in a great battle with him, terrifying to the timid.
सैन्यक्षयकरं चैव प्राणानां संशयावहम्। चक्रे तस्य हि साहाय्यं भगवान्हव्यवाहनः
And indeed, the divine carrier of oblations, Agni, aided him, causing the destruction of the army and bringing danger to the lives of men.
ततो रथा हया नागाः पुरुषाः कवचानि च। प्रतीप्तानि व्यदृश्यन्त सहदेवबले तदा
Then, O king, chariots, horses, elephants, men, and their armor were seen blazing in the army of Sahadeva.
ततः सुसंभ्रान्तमना बभूव कुरुनन्दनः। नोत्तरं प्रतिवक्तुं च शक्तोऽभूज्जनमेजय
Thereupon, O descendant of the Kurus, his mind became greatly agitated, and Janamejaya was unable to give any reply.
किमर्थं भगवान्वह्निः प्रत्यमित्रोऽभवद्युधि। सहदेवस्य यज्ञार्थं घटमानस्य वै द्विज
O Brahmin, for what reason did the divine Agni become hostile in battle, when Sahadeva was striving for the sake of the sacrifice?
तत्र माहिष्मतीवासी भगवान्हव्यवाहनः। श्रूयते हि गृहीतो वै पुरस्तात्पारदारिकः
There, in the city of Mahishmati, the divine carrier of oblations, Agni, is said to have been previously seized in the form of a paramour.
नीलस्य राज्ञो दुहिता बभूवतातीव शोभना। साऽग्निहोत्रमुपातिष्ठद्बोधनाय पितुः सदा
The daughter of King Nila was exceedingly beautiful; she always performed the agnihotra for the awakening of her father.
व्यजनैर्धूयमानोऽपि तावत्प्रज्वलते न सः।। यावच्चारुपुटौष्ठेन वायुना न विधूयते
Even when fanned with fans, the fire would not blaze up until it was kindled by the wind from her lovely, cupped lips.
ततः स भगवानग्निश्चकमे तां सुदर्शनाम्। नीलस्य राज्ञः सर्वेषामुपनीतश्च सोऽभवत्
Then the divine Agni desired that beautiful maiden, and he was brought near to all by King Nila.
ततो ब्रह्मणरूपेण रममाणो यदृच्छया।। चकमे तां वरारोहां कन्यामुत्पललोचनाम्।। तं तु राजा यथाशास्त्रमशासद्धार्मिकस्तदा
Thereafter, assuming the form of a Brahmin, Agni, by chance, enjoyed the company of that high-hipped, lotus-eyed maiden; but the righteous king, as prescribed by the scriptures, forbade him.
प्रजज्वाल ततः कोपाद्भगवान्हव्यवाहनः। तं दृष्ट्वा विस्मितो राजा जगाम शिरसाऽवनिम्
Then, out of anger, the divine carrier of oblations, Agni, blazed forth; seeing this, the astonished king bowed his head to the ground.
ततः कालेन तां कन्यां तथैव हि तदा नृपः। प्रददौ विप्ररूपाय वह्रये शिरसा नतः
After some time, the king, with head bowed, gave that maiden, just as before, to Agni, who had taken the form of a Brahmin.
प्रतिगृह्य च तां सुभ्रुं नीलराज्ञः सुतां तदा। चक्रे प्रसादं भगवांस्तस्य राज्ञो विभावसुः
Having received that beautiful-browed daughter of King Nila, the divine Agni was pleased with the king.
वरेण च्छन्दयामास तं नृपं स्विष्टकृत्तमः। अभयं च स जग्राह स्वसैन्ये वै महीपतिः
And Agni, the best of acceptors of oblations, granted the king a boon of his choice; and the king obtained safety for his own army.
ततः प्रभृति ये केचिदज्ञानात्तां पुरीं नृपाः। जिगीषन्ति बलाद्राजंस्ते दह्यन्ते स्म वह्निना
From that time onward, O king, any kings who, out of ignorance, tried to conquer that city by force were burned by fire.
स्यां पुर्यां तदा चैव माहिष्मत्यां कुरूद्वह। बभूवुरनतिग्राह्य योषितश्छन्दतः किल
And in that city of Mahishmati, O best of the Kurus, women could not be taken by force, but only by their own consent.
एवमग्निर्वरं प्रादात्स्त्रीणामप्रतिवारणे। रिण्यस्तत्र च राजानस्तत्पुरं भरतर्षभ
Thus Agni granted the boon that women there could not be seized against their will, and the kings of that city were freed from that debt, O bull among the Bharatas.
र्जयन्ति च राजानस्तत्पुरं भरतर्षभ। भयादग्नेर्महाराज तदाप्रभृति सर्वदा
And, O best of the Bharatas, the kings, out of fear of Agni, always ruled that city from that time onward.
सहदेवस्तु धर्मात्मा सैन्यं दृष्ट्वा भयार्दितम्। परीतमग्निना राजन्नाकम्पत यथाऽचलः। उपस्पृश्य शुचिर्भूत्वा सोऽब्रवीत्पावकं ततः
But Sahadeva, righteous-souled, seeing his army terrified and surrounded by fire, did not waver, O king; becoming pure by touching water, he then spoke to Agni.