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.'
यदस्वाभीप्सितं यज्ञं मयि श्रेयस्यवस्थिते। नियुङ्क्ष्व त्वं च मां कृत्ये सर्वं कर्तास्मि ते वचः
If there is any aspect of the sacrifice that you do not desire, while I am present for your welfare, command me in any task; I will do all that you say.
सफलः कृष्ण सङ्कल्पः सिद्धिश्च नियता मम। यस्यमे त्वं हृषीकेश यथेप्सितमुपस्थितः
O Krishna, my resolve is fruitful and success is assured for me, since you, O Hrishikesha, are present as I desire.
अनुज्ञातस्तु कृष्णेन पाण्डवो भ्रातृभिः सह। ईजितुं राजसूयेन साधनान्युपचक्रमे
Having been permitted by Krishna, the son of Pandu, together with his brothers, began preparations for performing the Rajasuya sacrifice.
ततस्त्वाज्ञापयामास पाण्डवोऽरिनिबर्हणः। सहदेवं युधां श्रेष्ठं मन्त्रिणश्चैव सर्वशः
Then the subduer of enemies, the Pandava, ordered Sahadeva, the best among warriors, and all the ministers accordingly.
अस्मिन्क्रतौ यथोक्तानि यज्ञाङ्गानि द्व्जातिभिः। यथोपकरणं सर्वं मङ्गलानि च सर्वशः
In this sacrifice, let all the prescribed rites be performed by the twice-born, and let all the necessary and auspicious items be prepared in every way.
अधियज्ञांश्च सम्भारान्दौम्योक्तान्क्षिप्रमेव हि। समानयन्तु पुरुषा यथायोगं यथाक्रमम्
Let the men quickly bring, as appropriate and in due order, all the sacrificial materials for the chief priests as instructed by Daumya.
इन्द्रसेनो विशोकश्च पूरश्चार्जुनसारथिः। अन्नाद्याहरणे युक्ताः सन्तु मत्प्रियकाम्यया
Indrasena, Vishoka, and Purascha, the charioteer of Arjuna, were assigned to procure food and provisions, in accordance with my wish to please.
सर्वकामाश्च कार्यन्तां रसगन्धसमन्विताः। मनोरथप्रीतिकरा द्विजानां कुरुसत्तम
Let all desirable things be prepared, endowed with taste and fragrance, pleasing to the mind and delighting the Brahmins, O best of the Kurus.
तद्वाक्यसमकालं च कृतं सर्वं न्यवेदयत्। सहदेवो युधां श्रेष्ठो धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरे
At that very moment, Sahadeva, foremost among warriors, reported everything accomplished to King Yudhishthira, the lord of righteousness.
ततो द्वैपायनो राजन्नृत्विजः समुपानयत्। वेदानिव महाभागान्साक्षान्मूर्तिमतो द्विजान्
Then, O King, Vyasa brought the officiating priests, just as one brings forth the blessed Vedas, the Brahmins appearing in person.