अहो बत महद्भूतं स्वयम्भूर्यदिदं स्वयम्। आदास्यति पुनः क्षत्रमेवं बलसमन्वितम्
Ah, what a great wonder it is that the self-born Lord himself will once again assume the kṣatriya power, endowed with such might.
इत्येतां नारदश्चिन्तां चिन्तयामास सर्ववित्। हरिं नारायणं ज्ञात्वा यज्ञैरीज्यं तमीश्वरम्
Thus Nārada, the all-knowing, reflected on this thought, recognizing Hari Nārāyaṇa, the Lord who is worshipped through sacrifices.
तस्मिन्धर्मविदां श्रेष्ठो धर्मराजस्य धीमतः। महाध्वरे महाबुद्धिस्तस्थौ स बहुमानतः
There, at the great sacrifice of the wise king Dharmarāja, the best among those who know dharma stood with great respect.
ततः समुदिता मुख्यैर्गुणैर्गुणवतां वराः। बहवो भावितात्मानः पृथक्पृथगरिन्दमाः
Then many foremost among the virtuous, their souls purified, each distinguished by their own qualities, gathered together.
आत्मकृत्यमिति ज्ञात्वा पाञ्चालास्तत्र सर्वशः। समीयुर्वृष्णयश्चैव तदाऽनीकाग्रहारिणः
Knowing it to be their duty, all the Pāñcālas and the Vṛṣṇis, leaders of armies, assembled there at that time.
दाराः सजनामात्या वहन्तो रत्नसञ्चयान्। विकृष्टत्वाच्च देशस्य गुरुभारतया च ते
With their wives, relatives, and ministers, carrying heaps of jewels, they came, burdened by the distance and the weight of their treasures.
ययुः प्रमुदिताः पश्चाद्भगवन्तं समन्वयुः। बलशेषं समुदितं परिगृह्य समन्ततः
Joyful, they set out and followed the Blessed One, gathering the remaining forces all around.
अजश्चक्रायुधः शौरिरमित्रगणमर्दनः। बलाधिकारे निक्षिप्य संमान्यानकदुन्दुभिम्
Aja, wielder of the discus, destroyer of enemy hosts, entrusted the command of the army to Anakadundubhi with honor.
सम्प्रायाद्यादवश्रेष्ठो जयमाने युधिष्ठिरे। उच्चावचमुपादाय धर्मराजाय माधवः
Then the foremost of the Yādavas set out, as Yudhiṣṭhira triumphed, Mādhava bringing various gifts for King Dharma.
धनौघं पुरतः कृत्वा खाण्डवप्रस्थमाययौ। तत्र यज्ञगतान्पश्यंश्चैद्यवर्गसमागतान्
Bringing a great wealth of treasure before him, he arrived at Khāṇḍavaprastha, seeing those gathered for the sacrifice, including the assembly of the Caidyas.
भूमिपालगणान्सर्वान्सप्रभानिव तोयदान्। घकायान्निवसतो यूथपानिव यूथपः
He saw all the groups of kings, resplendent like clouds with lightning, dwelling together like herds with their leader.
बलिनः सिंहसङ्काशान्महीमावृत्य तिष्ठतः। ततो जनौघसम्बाधं राजसागरमव्ययम्
Mighty as lions, standing upon the earth, they filled the land; then, crowded with multitudes, the royal ocean became inexhaustible.
नादयन्रथघोषेण ह्युपायान्मधुसूदनः। असूर्यमिव सूर्येण निवातमिव वायुना
With the roar of chariots resounding, Madhusūdana advanced, like the sun dispelling darkness, like the wind clearing the still air.
कृष्णेन समुपेतेन जहर्षे भारतं पुरम्। ब्राह्मणक्षत्रियाणां तु पूजार्थं ह्यर्थधर्मवित्
With Kṛṣṇa present, the city of the Bhāratas rejoiced, for he, knowing the ways of wealth and dharma, had come for the honoring of brāhmaṇas and kṣatriyas.
सहदेवो विशेषज्ञो माद्रीपुत्रः कृतोऽभवत्। भगवन्तं तु भूतानां भास्वन्तमिव तेजसा
Sahadeva, the son of Madri, who was especially knowledgeable, became as radiant among them as the blazing lord of beings.
विशन्तं यज्ञभूमिं तां सितस्यावरजं प्रभुम्। तेजोराशिमृषिं विप्रमदृश्यं वै विजानताम्
As he entered that sacrificial ground, the illustrious younger brother of Sita, a master, a sage, a brahmin, a mass of brilliance, was seen by those who understood.
वयोधिकानां वृद्धानां मार्गमात्मनि तिष्ठताम्। जगतस्तस्थुषश्चैव प्रभवाप्ययमच्युतम्
Among the elders, advanced in age, who stood firm in their own path, and among those who uphold the world, he was recognized as the unfailing origin and dissolution.
अनन्तमन्तं शत्रूणाममित्रगणमर्दनम्। प्रभवं सर्वभूतानामापत्स्वभयमच्युतम्
He is endless, the end of enemies, the crusher of hosts of foes, the source of all beings, the unfailing refuge in times of danger.
भविष्यं भावनं भूतं द्वारवत्यामरिन्दमम्। स दृष्ट्वा कृष्णमायान्तं प्रतिपूज्यामितौजसम्
He is the future, the creator, the past, the subduer of enemies in Dvaraka; seeing Krishna approaching, they honored him, possessed of immense energy.
यथार्हं केशवे वृत्तिं प्रत्यपद्यत पाण्डवः। ज्यैष्ठ्यकानिष्ठ्यसंयोगं सम्प्रधार्य गुणागुणैः
The Pandava rendered to Kesava the honor due, considering the order of seniority and juniority, along with their virtues and faults.
आरिराधयिषुर्धर्मः पूजयित्वा द्विजोत्तमान्। महदादित्यसङ्काशमासनं च जगत्पतेः। ददौ नासादितं कैश्चित्तस्मिन्नुपविवेश सः
Desiring to please Dharma, after honoring the foremost brahmins, he offered a seat to the lord of the world, shining like the great sun, which none had yet occupied, and he sat there.
ततो भीष्मोऽब्रवीद्राजन्धर्मराजं युधिष्ठिरम्। क्रियतामर्हणं राज्ञां यथार्हमिति भारत
Then Bhishma spoke to King Yudhishthira, the king of dharma: 'Let the honoring of the kings be performed as is proper, O Bharata.'
आचार्यमृत्विजं चैव संयुजं च युधिष्ठिर। स्नातकं च प्रियं प्राहुः षडर्घार्हान्नृपं तथा
O Yudhishthira, the teacher, the officiating priest, the companion, the graduate, the dear one, and the king—these six are said to be worthy of the arghya offering.
एतानर्घ्यानभिगतानाहुः संवत्सरोषितान्। त इमे कालपूगस्य महतोऽस्मानुपागताः
Those who have not received the arghya and have dwelled for a year are said to be such; now, these have come to us at this great gathering.
एषामेकैकशो राजन्नर्घ आनीयतामिति। अथ तैषां वरिष्ठाय समर्थायोपनीयताम्
For each of these, O king, let the arghya be brought individually; then, let it be presented to the most distinguished and worthy among them.
कस्मै भवान्मन्यतेऽर्घमेकस्मै कुरुनन्दन। उपनीयमानं युक्तं च तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह
To whom, O descendant of Kuru, do you think the arghya should be given first? Tell me, grandfather, to whom it is fitting to present it.
ततो भीष्मः शान्तनवो बुद्ध्या निश्चित्य वीर्यवान्। वार्ष्णेयं मन्यते कृष्णमर्हणीयतमं भुवि
Then Bhishma, son of Shantanu, resolute and wise, judged with his intellect that Krishna, the Vrishni, was the most worthy of honor on earth.
एष ह्येषां समस्तानां तेजोबलपराक्रमैः। मध्ये तपन्निवाभाति ज्योतिषामिव भास्करः
For among them all, by brilliance, strength, and valor, he shines in the midst like the sun among the stars.
असूर्यमिव सूर्येण निर्वातमिव वायुना। भासितं ह्लादितं चैव कृष्णेनेदं सदो हि नः
Just as the sun illumines the asuryas, or the wind enlivens the still, so has Krishna brightened and gladdened this assembly of ours.
तस्मै भीष्माभ्यनुज्ञातः सहदेवः प्रतापवान्। उपजह्रेऽथ विधिवद्वार्ष्णेयायार्घ्यमुत्तमम्
Then, authorized by Bhishma, the mighty Sahadeva duly presented the highest arghya to Krishna, the son of the Vrishni.