तस्मिन्यज्ञे प्रवृत्ते तु वाग्मिनो हेतुवादिनः। हेतुवादान्बहून्प्राहुः परपक्षजिगीषवः
When the sacrifice began, eloquent speakers versed in reasoning engaged in many arguments, seeking to defeat opposing views.
ददृशुस्ते नृपतयो यज्ञस्य विधिमुत्तमम्। उपेन्द्रस्येव विहितं सहदेवेन भारत
The kings saw the supreme procedure of the sacrifice, arranged by Sahadeva for Upendra, O Bharata.
तद्यज्ञे न्यवसन्राजन्ब्राह्मणा भृशमुत्सुकाः। कथयन्तः कथाः पुण्याः पश्यन्तो नटनर्तकान्
At that sacrifice, O king, the Brahmanas, greatly eager, dwelled there, telling sacred stories and watching dancers and performers.
ददृशुस्तोरणान्यत्र हेमतालमयानि च। दीप्तभास्करतुल्यानि प्रदीप्तानीव तेजसा
They saw there gateways made of gold and copper, shining like blazing suns, radiant as if illuminated by their own brilliance.
स यज्ञस्तोरणैस्तत्र ग्रहैर्द्योरिव सम्बभौ। शय्यासनविहारांश्च सुबहून्रत्नसंवृतान्
That sacrifice, adorned with gateways, shone like the sky with stars; there were many beds, seats, and places of leisure, all covered with jewels.
घटान्पात्रीकटाहानि कलशानि समन्ततः। न ते किञ्चिदसौवर्णमपश्यंस्तत्र पार्थिवाः
Jars, bowls, dishes, and pitchers were seen everywhere; the kings saw nothing there that was not made of gold.
भुञ्जानानां च विप्राणां स्वादुभोज्यैः पृथग्विधैः। अनिशं श्रूयते तत्र मुदितानां महात्मनाम्
Among the Brahmanas, who were eating various delicious foods, the joyful voices of those great souls were constantly heard.
दीयतां दीयतामेषां भुज्यतां भुज्यतामिति। एवम्प्रकाराः सञ्जल्पाः श्रूयन्ते तत्र नित्यशः
"Let it be given, let it be given to them! Let them eat, let them eat!"—such words were heard there continually.
ओदनानां विकाराणि स्वादूनि च बहूनि च। विविधआनि च भक्ष्याणि पेयानि मधुराणि च
There were many varieties of rice dishes, all delicious, and various foods and drinks, sweet and diverse.
ददुर्द्विजानां सततं राजप्रेष्या महाध्वरे। पूर्णे शतसहस्रे तु विप्राणां भुञ्जतां तदा
The royal servants constantly gave to the Brahmanas at the great sacrifice; at that time, a hundred thousand Brahmanas were eating.
स्थापितस्तत्र सञ्ज्ञार्थं शङ्खोऽध्मायत नित्यशः। मुहुर्मुहुः प्रणादस्तु तस्य शङ्खस्य भारत
A conch was placed there as a signal and was blown continually; again and again its loud sound was heard, O Bharata.
उत्तमः श्रूयते शब्दः श्रुत्वा विस्मयमागमन्। एवं प्रवृत्ते यज्ञे तु तुष्टपुष्टजनायुते
The excellent sound was heard, and upon hearing it, wonder arose; thus, as the sacrifice proceeded, it was filled with satisfied and nourished people.
अन्नस्य बहुशो राजन्नुत्सेधाः पर्वतोपमाः। दधिकुल्याश्च ददृशुः सर्पिषश्च ह्रदाञ्जनाः
Heaps of food, O king, rose like mountains; streams of curds were seen, and lakes of clarified butter appeared to the people.
जम्बूद्वीपो हि सकलो नानाजनपदायुतः। राजन्नदृश्यतैकस्थो राज्ञस्तस्मिन्महाक्रतौ
The entire Jambudvipa, filled with many peoples and regions, seemed to be gathered in one place at that great sacrifice of the king.
तत्र राजसहस्राणि पुरुषाणां ततस्ततः। गृहीत्वा धनमाजग्मुस्तस्य राज्ञो महाक्रतौ
There, thousands of kings and men from various places brought wealth to the king's great sacrifice.
राजानः स्रग्विणश्चैव संमृष्टमणिकुण्डलाः। तान्परीविविषुर्विप्राञ्छतशोऽथ सहस्रशः
The kings, adorned with garlands and polished jeweled earrings, surrounded the Brahmanas by the hundreds and thousands.
विविधान्यन्नपानानि लेह्यानि विविधानि च। तेषां नृपोपभोग्यानि ब्राह्मणेभ्यो ददुः स्म ते
They gave to the Brahmins various kinds of food and drink, and many sorts of delicacies, all meant for the enjoyment of the kings.
नानाविधानि भक्ष्याणि स्वादुपुष्पफलानि च। गुलानि स्वादुक्षौद्राणि ददुस्ते ब्राह्मणेषु वै
They gave to the Brahmins many kinds of sweets, delicious flowers and fruits, and confections made with sweet honey.
एतानि सततं भुक्त्वा तस्मिन्यज्ञे द्विजातयः। परां प्रीतिं ययुः सर्वे मोदमानास्ततस्ततः
Having continually enjoyed these things at that sacrifice, all the twice-born were filled with supreme delight, rejoicing again and again.
एवं प्रमुदितं सर्वं बहुशो धनधान्यवत्। यज्ञवाटं नृपा दृष्ट्वा विस्मयं परमं ययुः
Seeing the entire sacrificial enclosure, abundant with wealth and grain and filled with joy, the kings were struck with the highest wonder.
यथाबद्धूयमानाग्निं राजसूयं महाक्रतुम्। पाण्डवस्य यथाशास्त्रं जुहुवुः सर्वयाजकाः
All the officiating priests offered oblations into the properly kindled fire of the great Rājasūya sacrifice of the Pāṇḍava, according to the prescribed rules.
व्यासधौम्यादयः सर्वे विधिवत्षोडशर्त्विजः। स्वस्वकर्माणि चक्रुस्ते पाण्डवस्य महाक्रतौ
Vyāsa, Dhaumya, and all the sixteen priests performed their respective duties in the great sacrifice of the Pāṇḍava, in accordance with the ritual.
नाषडङ्गविदत्रासीत्सदस्यो नाबहुश्रुतः। नाव्रतो नानुपाध्यायो न पापो नाक्षमो द्विजः
There was no member of the assembly who lacked knowledge of the six limbs of the Veda, nor anyone unlearned, undisciplined, without a teacher, sinful, or lacking in self-control among the twice-born.
न तत्र कृपणः कश्चिद्दरिद्रो न बभूव ह। क्षुधितो दुःखितो वापि प्राकृतो वापि मानुषः
There was no one there who was poor, destitute, hungry, suffering, or of lowly status among the people.
भोजनं भोजनार्थिभ्यो दापयामास सर्वदा। सहदेवो महातेजाः सततं राजशासनात्
Sahadeva, of great energy, always had food distributed to those who sought it, by the king’s command.
संस्तरे कुशलाश्चापि सर्वकर्माणि याजकाः। दिवस दिवसे चक्रुर्यथाशास्त्रार्थचक्षुषः
The priests, skilled in all rites, performed every task each day with eyes fixed on the meaning of the scriptures.
ब्राह्मणा देवशास्त्रज्ञः कथाश्चक्रुश्च सर्वतः। रेमिरे च कथान्ते तु सर्वे तस्मिन्महाक्रतौ
The Brahmins, learned in the scriptures of the gods, engaged in discussions everywhere, and at the end of their conversations, all rejoiced at that great sacrifice.
सा वेदिर्वेदसम्पन्नैर्देवद्विजमहर्षिभिः। बभासे तदा कीर्णा नक्षत्रैर्द्यौरिवामला
That altar, filled with those accomplished in the Vedas—gods, Brahmins, and great sages—shone then like the spotless sky adorned with stars.
पाण्डित्यदर्शनार्थाय केचन द्विजसत्तमाः। तर्कार्थमागताः केचित्केचिद्विद्याभिमानिनः
Some excellent Brahmins came to display their learning, some for debate, and some out of pride in their knowledge.
केचिद्दिदृक्षया केचिद्भीत्या राज्ञः प्रतापिनः। सर्वेऽप्यवभृथस्नाता याजकाः केचन द्विजाः
Some came out of curiosity, some out of fear of the powerful king; all the officiating priests and some Brahmins had bathed after the concluding rite.