वृतं सदस्यैर्बहुभिर्धर्मराजं युधिष्ठिरम्। तत्सदः पार्थिवैः कीर्णं ब्राह्मणैश्च महर्षिभिः। भ्राजते स्म तदा राजन्नाकपृष्ठं यथाऽमरैः
Surrounded by many learned members, King Yudhishthira presided; that assembly, filled with princes and great sages, shone brightly, O King, like the celestial summit among the immortals.
पितामहं गुरुं चैव प्रत्युद्गम्य युधिष्ठिरः। अभिवाद्य ततो राजन्निदं वचनमब्रवीत्
Yudhishthira approached his grandfather and teacher, and after offering his respects, O King, he spoke these words.
भीष्मं द्रोणं कृपं द्रौणिं दुर्योधनविविंशती। अस्मिन्यज्ञे भवन्तो मामनुगृह्णन्तु सर्वशः
To Bhishma, Drona, Kripa, Ashvatthama, Duryodhana, and Vivimshati, he said: 'May you all kindly assist me in this sacrifice.'
इदं वः सुमहच्चैव यदिहास्ति धनं मम। प्रणयन्तु भवन्तो मां यथेष्टमभिमन्त्रितः
Whatever great wealth I possess here, let it be distributed by you as you see fit, according to your counsel.
एवमुक्त्वा स तान्सर्वान्दीक्षितः पाण्डवाग्रजः। युयोज स यथायोगमधिकारेष्वनन्तरम्
Having spoken thus to them all, the eldest Pandava, having undertaken the vow, assigned each person their appropriate duties in turn.
पङ्क्त्यारोपणकार्ये च उच्छिष्टापनये पुनः। भोजनावेक्षणे चैव युयुत्सुं समयोजयत्
For arranging the seating order, removing leftovers, and overseeing the meals, he appointed Yuyutsu.
भक्ष्यभोज्याधिकारेषु दुःशासनमयोजयत्। परिग्रहे ब्राह्मणानामश्वत्थामानमुक्तवान्
For the management of food and delicacies, he assigned Duhshasana; for the distribution to the Brahmins, he entrusted Ashvatthama.
राज्ञां तु प्रतिपूजार्थं सञ्जयं न्ययोजयत्। कृताकृतपरिज्ञाने भीष्णद्रोणौ महामती
For honoring the kings, he appointed Sanjaya; for distinguishing between accomplished and unaccomplished guests, he assigned Bhishma and Drona, the wise.
हिरण्यस्य सुवर्णस्य रत्नानां चान्ववेक्षणे। दक्षिणानां च वै दाने कृपं राजा न्ययोजयत्
For the supervision of gold, jewels, and gifts, as well as the distribution of rewards, the king appointed Kripa.
तथाऽऽन्यान्पुरुषव्याघ्रांस्तस्मिंस्तस्मिन्न्ययोजयत्। बाह्लिको धृतराष्ट्रश्च सोमदत्तो जयद्रथः। नकुलेन समानीताः स्वामिवत्तत्र रेमिरे
Similarly, he assigned other tiger-like men to various tasks; Bahlika, Dhritarashtra, Somadatta, and Jayadratha, brought by Nakula, enjoyed themselves there like masters.
क्षत्ता व्ययकरस्त्वासीद्विदुरः सर्वधर्मवित्। दुर्योधनस्त्वर्हणानि प्रतिजग्राह सर्वशः
Vidura, the knower of all duties, served as the treasurer; Duryodhana received all the honors.
कुन्ती साध्वी च गान्धारी स्त्रीणां कुर्वन्ति चार्चनम्।। अन्याः सर्वाः स्नुषास्तासां सन्देशं यान्तु माचिरम्। तिष्ठेत्कृष्णान्तिके सोयमर्जुनः कार्यसिद्धये
Kunti and the virtuous Gandhari performed the worship of the women; all the daughters-in-law quickly carried out their instructions. Krishna remained nearby for the accomplishment of tasks, along with Arjuna.
चरणक्षालने कृष्णो ब्राह्मणानां स्वयं ह्यभूत्। सर्वलोकसमावृत्तः पिप्रीषुः फलमुत्तमम्
Krishna himself washed the feet of the Brahmins, attended by all the worlds, desiring to obtain the highest fruit.
द्रष्टुकामः सभां चैव धर्मराजं यधिष्ठिरम्। न कश्चिदाहरत्तत्र सहस्रावरमर्हणम्
Desiring to see the assembly and King Yudhishthira, no one there demanded excessive honors.
रत्नैश्च बहुभिस्तत्र धर्मराजमवर्धयत्। कथं तु मम कौरव्यो रत्नदानैः समाप्नुयात्
With many jewels, they honored King Yudhishthira; but how could my Kaurava attain equal status through gifts of jewels?
यज्ञमित्येव राजानः स्पर्धमाना ददुर्धनम्। भवनैः सविमानाग्रैः सोदर्कैर्बलसंवृतैः
Competing with each other, the kings gave wealth for the sacrifice, along with mansions topped with towers and filled with their forces.
लोकराजविमानैश्च ब्राह्मणावसथैः सह। कृतैरावसथैर्दिव्यैर्विमानप्रतिमैस्तथा
With celestial palaces for the kings, Brahmin residences, and divine dwellings resembling flying palaces, all were constructed.
विचित्रै रत्ववद्भिश्च ऋद्ध्या परमया युतैः। राजभिश्च समावृत्तैरतीव श्रीसमृद्धिभिः। अशोभत सदो राजन्कौन्तेयस्य महात्मनः
Adorned with splendid and varied riches, attended by kings endowed with great prosperity, the assembly of the noble son of Kunti shone exceedingly.
ऋद्ध्या तु वरुणं देवं स्पर्धमानो युधिष्ठिरः। षडग्निनाथ यज्ञेन सोऽयजद्दक्षिणावता
Yudhishthira, competing in prosperity with the god Varuna, performed the Shadagnin sacrifice, complete with gifts.
सर्वाञ्जनान्सर्वकामैः समृद्धैः समतर्पयत्। अन्नवान्बहुभक्ष्यश्च भुक्तवज्जनसंवृतः। रत्नोपहारसम्पन्नो बभूव स समागमः
He satisfied all the people with every desired object, abundant and plentiful; there was much food and many delicacies, and the gathering was filled with people who had eaten their fill, adorned with offerings of jewels.
इडाज्यहोमाहुतिभिर्मन्त्रशिक्षाविशारदैः। तस्मिन्हि ततृपुर्देवास्तते यज्ञे महर्षिभिः
In that sacrifice, the gods were gratified by the learned sages with offerings of clarified butter and oblations, accompanied by mantras.
यथा देवास्तथा विप्रा दक्षिणान्नमहाधनैः। ततृपुः सर्ववर्णाश्च तस्मिन्यज्ञे मुदाऽन्विताः
Just as the gods were satisfied, so too were the Brahmins, with gifts, food, and great wealth; all the social orders rejoiced in that sacrifice.
ततोऽभिषेचनीयेऽह्नि ब्राह्मणा राजभिः सह। अन्तर्वेदीं प्रविविशुः सत्कारार्हा महर्षयः
Then, on the day of the anointing, the Brahmins, together with the kings, entered the sacrificial enclosure; the great sages, worthy of honor, entered as well.
नारदप्रमुखास्तस्यामन्तर्वेद्यां महात्मनः। समासीनाः शुशुभिरे सहराजर्षिभिस्तदा
There, in that enclosure, the illustrious sages, led by Narada, sat together, shining among the royal sages.
समेता ब्रह्मभवने देवा देवर्षयस्तथा। कर्मान्तरमुपासन्तो जजल्पुरमितौजसः
Gathered in the hall of Brahma were the gods and the divine sages, observing the proceedings with great energy.
एवमेतन्न चाप्येवमेवं चैतन्न चान्यथा। इत्यूचुर्बहवस्तत्र वितण्डां वै परस्परम्
There, many engaged in debate, saying, 'It is so,' and 'It is not so,' and, 'It is thus,' and, 'It is otherwise.'
कृशानर्थांस्ततः केचिदकृशांस्तत्र कुर्वते। अकृशांश्च कृशांश्चक्रुर्हेतुभिः शास्त्रनिश्चयैः
Some made subtle points, others countered them; some refuted the unrefuted, and others established the refuted, using reasoning and scriptural conclusions.
तत्र मेधाविनः केचिदर्थमन्यैरुदीरितम्। विचिक्षिपुर्यथा श्येना नभोगतमिवामिषम्
There, some wise men disputed the meanings expressed by others, just as hawks snatch meat flying in the sky.
केचिद्धर्मार्थकुशलाः केचित्तत्र महाव्रताः। रेमिरे कथयन्तश्च सर्वभाष्यविदां वराः
Some were skilled in righteousness and wealth, some were great observers of vows; they delighted, conversing, being foremost among those learned in all commentaries.
सा वेदिर्वेदसम्पन्नैर्देवद्विजमहर्षिभिः। आबभासे समाकीर्णा नक्षत्रैर्द्यौरिवायता
That altar, filled with gods, Brahmins, and great sages learned in the Vedas, shone like the sky adorned with stars.