स चास्य गतभी राजन्प्रतिजग्राह शासनम्। ततः शाकलमभ्येत्य मद्राणां पुटभेदनम्
And he, O King, having lost his fear, accepted the command; then, arriving at Shakala, he subdued the Madras and the Puṭabhedanas.
मातुलं प्रीतिपूर्वेण शल्यं चक्रे वशे बली। स तेन सत्कृतो राज्ञा सत्कारार्हो विशाम्पते
With affection, he brought his powerful maternal uncle Shalya under his sway; and that king, worthy of honor, was duly honored by him.
रत्नानि भूरीण्यादाय सम्प्रतस्थे युधां पतिः। ततः सागरकुक्षिस्थान्म्लेच्छान्परमदारुणान्
The lord of battles, having received abundant jewels, set forth; then from the lands by the ocean's gulf, he subdued the fierce mlecchas.
पह्लवान्वर्बरांश्चैव किरातान्यवनाञ्शकान्। ततो रत्नान्यपादाय वशे कृत्वा च पार्थिवान्। न्यवर्तत कुरुश्रेष्ठो नकुलश्चित्रमार्गवित्
He brought the Pahlavas, Varbaras, Kiratas, Yavanas, and Shakas under his control, taking their jewels; then Nakula, best of Kurus and knower of many paths, returned.
करमाणां सहस्राणि कोशं तस्य महात्मनः। ऊहर्दश महाराज कृच्छ्रादिव महाधनम्
He brought thousands of tributes, O great king, and immense wealth, as if drawn from hardships, to the treasury of that high-souled one.
इन्द्रप्रस्थगतं वीरमभ्येत्य स युधिष्ठिरम्। ततो माद्रीसुतः श्रीमान्धनं तस्मै न्यवेदयत्
Coming to Indraprastha, he approached Yudhishthira, and the illustrious son of Madri presented that wealth to him.
एवं विजित्य नकुलो दिशं वरुणपालिताम्। प्रतीचीं वासुदेवेन निर्जितां भरतर्षभ
Thus Nakula conquered the region guarded by Varuna, O bull among Bharatas, the western quarter, already subdued by Vasudeva.
रक्षणाद्धर्मराजस्य सत्यस्य परिपालनात्। शत्रूणां क्षपणाच्चैव स्वकर्मनिरताः प्रजाः
Because of the protection of the king of dharma, the upholding of truth, and the destruction of enemies, the people devoted themselves to their own duties.
बलीनां सम्यगादानाद्धर्मतश्चानुशासनात्। निकामवर्षी पर्जन्यः स्फीतो जनपदोऽभवत्
Because of proper collection from the strong and righteous governance, the rain fell abundantly, and the land became prosperous.
सर्वारम्भाः सुप्रवृत्ता गोरक्षा कर्षणं वणिक्। विशेषात्सर्वमेवैतत्सञ्जज्ञे राजकर्मणः
All undertakings flourished—cattle-keeping, ploughing, and trade; all this arose especially due to the king’s actions.
दस्युभ्यो वञ्चकेभ्यो वा राजन्प्रति परस्परम्। राजवल्लभतश्चैव नाश्रूयन्त मृषागिरः
From robbers or deceivers, O King, or from each other, and because of the king’s favor, false words were not heard.
अवर्षं चातिवर्षं च व्याधिपावकमूर्छनम्। सर्वमेतत्तदा नासीद्धर्मनित्ये युधिष्ठिरे
Drought, excessive rain, disease, fire, and fainting—none of these occurred then, while Yudhishthira, steadfast in dharma, ruled.
प्रियं कर्तुमुपस्थातुं बलिकर्म स्वभावजम्। अभिहर्तुं नृपा जग्मुर्नान्यैः कार्यैः कथञ्चनः
The kings came only to perform their natural tribute duties, to do what was pleasing; they did not come for any other purpose.
धर्मैर्धनागमैस्तस्य ववधे निचयो महान्। कर्तुं यस्य न शक्येन क्षयो वर्षशतैरपि
Through righteousness and the acquisition of wealth, his accumulation became vast, one which could not be diminished even in a hundred years.
स्वकोष्ठस्य परीमाणं कोशस्य च महीपतिः। विज्ञाय राजा कौन्तेयो यज्ञायैव मनो दधे
Knowing the measure of his own treasury and wealth, King Kaunteya fixed his mind solely on the sacrifice.
सुहृदश्चैव ये सर्वे पृथक्च सहचाब्रुवन्। यज्ञकालस्तव विभो क्रियतामत्र साम्प्रतम्
All his friends, both individually and together, said: ‘O mighty one, let the time for the sacrifice be now arranged here.’
अथैवं ब्रुवतामेव तेषामभ्याययौ हरिः। ऋषिः पुराणो वेदात्मा दृश्यश्चैव विजानताम्
As they were thus speaking, Hari, the ancient seer, the embodiment of the Vedas, who is visible to those who know, arrived.
जगतस्तस्थुषां श्रेष्ठः प्रभवश्चाप्ययश्च ह। भूतभव्यभवन्नाथः केशवः केशिसूदनः
He is the best among all beings, moving and unmoving, the source and dissolution, the lord of past, future, and present—Keshava, slayer of Kesi.
प्राकारः सर्ववृष्णीनामापत्स्वभयदोऽरिहा। बलाधिकारे निक्षिप्य सम्यगानकदुन्दुभिम्
The rampart of all the Vrishnis, a bringer of safety in times of danger and a destroyer of enemies, was placed under the command of the army, with proper arrangements for music and drums.
उच्चावचमुपादाय धर्मराजाय माधवः। धनौघं पुरुषव्याघ्रो बलेन महता वृतः
Having gathered various kinds of wealth, Madhava, the tiger among men, surrounded by a great force, brought it to King Yudhishthira.
तं धनौघमपर्यन्तं रत्नसागरमक्षयम्। नादयन्रथघोषेण प्रविशेश पुरोत्तमम्
That endless flood of wealth, an inexhaustible ocean of jewels, resounded with the noise of chariots as he entered the foremost city.
पूर्णमापूरयंस्तेषां द्विषच्छोकावहोऽभवत्। असूर्यमिव सूर्येण निवातमिव वायुना। कृष्णेन समुपेतेन जहृषे भारतं पुरम्
As Krishna filled their treasury to the brim, it brought grief to their enemies, just as the sun eclipses darkness or the wind dispels stillness; with Krishna present, the city of the Bharatas rejoiced.
तं मुदाऽभिसमागम्य सत्कृत्य च यथाविधि। स पृष्ट्वा कुशलं चैव सुखासीनं युधिष्ठिरः
Meeting him joyfully and honoring him according to custom, Yudhishthira asked after his well-being and seated him comfortably.
म्यद्वैपायनमुखैर्ऋत्विग्भिः पुरुषर्षभः। भीमार्जुनयमैश्चैव सहितः कृष्णमब्रवीत्
Together with Bhima, Arjuna, and the twins, and in the presence of the officiating priests led by Vyasa, Yudhishthira spoke to Krishna.
त्वत्कृते पृथिवी सर्वा मद्वशे कृष्ण वर्तते। धनं च बहु वार्ष्णेय त्वत्प्रसादादुपार्जितम्
Because of you, Krishna, the entire earth is under my sway, and much wealth has been acquired through your favor, O descendant of Vrishni.
सोऽहमिच्छामि तत्सर्वं विधिवद्देवकीसुत। उपयोक्तुं द्विजाग्र्येभ्यो हव्यवाहे च माधव
Therefore, O son of Devaki, I wish to use all this wealth properly for the foremost Brahmins and for the sacred fire, O Madhava.
तदहं यष्टुमिच्छामि दाशार्ह सहितस्त्वया। अनुजैश्च महाबाहो तन्माऽनुज्ञातुमर्हसि
For that reason, O Dasharha, I desire to perform the sacrifice together with you and my brothers of mighty arms; you should grant me permission for this.
तद्दीक्षापय गोविन्द त्वमात्मानं महाभुज। त्वयीष्टवति दाशार्ह विपाप्मा भविता ह्यहम्
Therefore, O Govinda of mighty arms, you should consecrate yourself for the rite; if you are willing, O Dasharha, I shall become free from sin.
मां वाप्यभ्यनुजानीह सहैभिरनुजैर्विभो। अनुज्ञातस्त्वया कृष्ण प्राप्नुयां क्रतुमुत्तमम्
Or else, O lord, grant me your permission, along with my brothers; if permitted by you, Krishna, I shall attain the supreme sacrifice.
तं कृष्णःस प्रत्युवाचेदं बहूक्त्वा गुणविस्तरम्। त्वमेव राजशार्दूल रम्राडर्हो महाक्रतुम्। सम्प्राप्नुहि त्वया प्राप्ते कृतकृत्यास्ततो वयम्
Krishna replied to him, after praising his many virtues: 'You alone, O tiger among kings, are worthy of the great sacrifice; attain it, for when you achieve it, our purpose will be fulfilled.'