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.
ततो वै हेमयूपांश्च सर्वरत्नसमाचितान्। शोभार्थं कारयामास सहदेवो महाद्युतिः
Then Sahadeva, radiant with splendor, had golden posts adorned with all kinds of jewels erected for beauty.
ददृशुस्तोरणान्यत्र हेमतालमयानि च। स यज्ञस्तोरणैस्तैश्च ग्रहैर्द्योरिव सम्बभौ
There they saw gateways made of gold and palmyra wood; with those gateways, the sacrifice shone like the sky with planets.
तालानां तोरणैर्हैमैर्दान्तैरिव दिशागजैः। दिक्षु सर्वासु विन्यस्तैस्तेजोभिर्भास्करैर्यथा
With golden palmyra gateways, like the tusks of elephants of the quarters, set in all directions, they shone like the radiant suns.
सकिरीटैर्नृपैश्चैव शुशुभे तत्सदस्तदा। देवैर्दिव्यैश्च यक्षैश्च उरगैर्दिव्यमानुषैः
That assembly then was resplendent with crowned kings, as well as with gods, celestial Yakṣas, serpents, and both divine and human beings.
विद्याधरगणैः कीर्णः पाण्डवस्य महात्मनः। स राजसूयः शुशुभे धर्मराजस्य धीमतः
That royal sacrifice of the great-souled Pandava, the wise king of dharma, shone forth, crowded with hosts of Vidyādharas.
गन्धर्वगणसङ्कीर्णः शोभितोऽप्सरसां गणैः। देवैर्मुनिगणैर्यक्षैर्देवलोक इवापरः
Filled with groups of Gandharvas and adorned by companies of Apsarases, it gleamed like another heavenly realm, with gods, sages, Yakshas all present.
स किम्पुरुषगीतैश्च किन्नरैरुपशोभितः। नारदश्च जगौ तत्र तुम्बुरुश्च महाद्युतिः
Enhanced by the songs of Kimpurushas and Kinnaras, Narada and the radiant Tumburu sang there.
विश्वासुश्चित्रसेनस्तथाऽन्ये गीतकोविदाः। रमयन्ति स्म तान्सर्वान्यज्ञकर्मान्तरेष्वथ
Vishvavasu, Citrar Sena, and other experts in song delighted all the assembled guests during the sacrificial rites.
तत्र चाप्सरसः सर्वाः सुन्दर्यः प्रियदर्शनाः। ननृतुश्च जगुश्चात्र नित्यं कर्मान्तरेष्वथ
There, all the Apsarases—beautiful and pleasing to behold—danced and sang continually during the rituals.
इतिहासपुराणानि आख्यानानि च सर्वशः। ऊचुर्वै शब्दशास्त्रज्ञा नित्यं कर्मान्तरेष्वथ
There, those skilled in the science of sound recited histories, ancient tales, and stories in every ritual.
भेर्यश्च मुरजाश्चैव मड्डुका गोमुखाश्च ये। शृङ्गवंशाम्बुजा वीणाः श्रूयन्ते स्म सहस्रशः
Thousands of drums, murajas, maddukas, gomukhas, horns, flutes, lotuses, and vinas were heard.
लोकेऽस्मिन्सर्वविप्राश्च वैश्याः शूद्रा नृपादयः। सर्वे म्लेच्छाः सर्वगणास्त्वादिमध्यान्तजास्तथा
In that place, all Brahmins, Vaishyas, Shudras, kings, and even all foreigners of every group—those born at the beginning, middle, and end—were present.
नानादेशसमुद्भूतैर्नानाजातिभिरागतैः। पर्याप्त इव लोकोऽयं युधिष्ठिरनिवेशने
With people from many regions and of many races gathered, it seemed as if the whole world was contained in Yudhishthira's residence.
भीष्मद्रोणादयः सर्वे कुरवः ससुयोधनाः। वृष्णयश्च समग्राश्च पाञ्चालाश्चापि सर्वशः
All the Kurus, including Bhishma, Drona, and Suyodhana, as well as all the Vrishnis and Panchalas, were present.
यज्ञेऽस्मिन्सर्वकर्माणि चक्रुर्दासा इव क्रतौ। एवं प्रवृत्तो यज्ञः स धर्मराजस्य धीमतः
In that sacrifice, all duties were performed as if by servants in a ritual; thus proceeded the sacrifice of the wise king of dharma.
शुशुभे च महाबाहो सोमस्येव क्रतुर्यथा। वस्त्राणि कम्बलांश्चैव प्रावारांश्चैव सर्वदा
It shone, O mighty-armed one, like the Soma sacrifice, with garments, blankets, and cloaks always present.
निष्कहेमजभाण्डानि भूषणानि च सर्वशः। प्रददौ तत्र विप्राणां धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः
There, King Yudhishthira, lord of dharma, gave to the Brahmins all kinds of gold, ornaments, and jewelry.
यानि तत्र महीपालैर्लब्धवान्भरतर्षभः। तानि सर्वाणि रत्नानि ब्राह्मणानां ददौ तदा
Whatever gems the bull among the Bharatas had received from the assembled kings, he gave all of them to the Brahmins at that time.
ततः स कुरुराजस्य सर्वकर्मसमृद्धिमान्। यज्ञः प्रीतिकरो राजन्संबभौ विपुलोत्सवः
Then that sacrifice of the Kuru king, accomplished in every detail, brought joy, O king, and was celebrated with great festivity.
शान्तविघ्नः सुखारम्भः प्रभूतधनधान्यवान्। अन्नवान्बहुभक्ष्यश्च केशवेन सुरक्षितः
Free from obstacles, beginning in happiness, abundant in wealth and grain, full of food and many delicacies, it was protected by Kesava.