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.
गामर्घ्यं मधुपर्कं च ह्यानीयोपाहरत्तदा। एतस्मिन्नन्तरे राजन्निदमासीत्तदाऽद्भुतम्
He brought the arghya—cow, honey, and curds—and offered it; at that moment, O king, a marvelous event occurred.
तां दृष्ट्वा क्षत्रियाः सर्वे पूजां कृष्णस्य भूयसीम्। सम्प्रेक्ष्यान्योन्यमासीना हृदयैस्तामधारयन्
Seeing that great honor paid to Krishna, all the assembled kshatriyas looked at one another and bore it in their hearts.
प्रतिजग्राह तां कृष्णः शास्त्रदृष्टेन कर्मणा। शिशुपालस्तु तां पूजां वासुदेवे न चक्षमे
Krishna accepted that honor in accordance with the injunctions of the scriptures; but Shishupala could not tolerate that worship being offered to Vasudeva.
उपालभ्य स भीष्मं च धर्मराजं च संसदि। अवाक्षिपद्वासुदेवं चेदिराजो महाबलः
Thereupon, the mighty king of Chedi reproached both Bhishma and the king of righteousness in the assembly, and he harshly criticized Vasudeva.
तेषामाकारभावज्ञः सहदेवो न चक्षमे। मानिनां बलिनां राज्ञां पुरुः सन्दर्शिते पदे
Sahadeva, who understood their expressions and intentions, did not accept this, for a proud and powerful king had been shown his place before all.
पुष्पवृष्टिर्महत्यासीत्सहदेवस्य मूर्धनि। जन्मप्रभृति वृष्णीना सुनीथः शत्रुरब्रवीत्
A great shower of flowers fell upon Sahadeva's head; from birth, the enemy of the Vrishnis, Sunitha, spoke thus.
प्रष्टा वियोनिजो राजा प्रतिवक्ता नदीसुतः। प्रतिग्रहीता गोपालः प्रदाता च वियोनिजः
The king born of the sky is the questioner, the son of the river is the responder, the cowherd is the recipient, and the one born of the sky is the giver.
सदस्या मूकवत्सर्वे आसतेऽत्र किमुच्यते। इत्युक्त्वा स विहस्याशु पाण्डुं पुनरब्रवीत्
All the members sat there silent as if mute—what is there to say? Having spoken thus and laughing, he quickly addressed Pandu's son again.
अतिपश्यसि वा सर्वान्न वा पश्यसि पाण्डव। तिष्ठत्स्वन्येषु पूज्येषु गोपमर्चितवानसि
Do you consider all, or do you not see, O Pandava? While others worthy of honor stand here, you have honored a cowherd.
एते चैवोभये तात कार्यस्य तु विनाशके। अतिदृष्टिरदृष्टिर्वा तयोः किं त्वं समास्थितः
Both of these, dear one, either excessive regard or disregard, lead to the destruction of the task; which of these two have you chosen?