ब्रह्मणा वाटधानाश्च गोमन्तः शतसङ्घशः। त्रिखर्वं बलिमादाय द्वारि तिष्ठन्ति वारिताः
Brahmins with matted hair and herds of cows by the hundreds, having brought tribute of three krores, stand waiting at the gates, restrained.
कमण्डलूनुपादाय जातरूपमयाञ्शुभान्। त्रैखर्वाः प्रतिवेद्यास्मै लेभिरेऽथ प्रवेशनम्
Having brought pure golden water pots, three krores of them, and having reported to him, they were then admitted.
यथैव मधु शक्राय धारयन्त्यमरस्त्रियटः। तदस्मै कांस्यमाहार्षीद्वारुणं कलशोदधिः
Just as the wives of the gods pour out honey for Shakra, so did the ocean, in the form of a golden vessel, offer Varuna’s liquor to him.
शङ्खप्रवरमादाय वासुदेवोऽभिषिक्तवान्। शक्यं रुक्मसहस्रस्य बहुरत्नविभूषितम्
Vasudeva, taking the foremost conch, anointed him with a thousand golden coins, adorned with many jewels.
दृष्ट्वा च मम तत्सर्वं ज्वररूपमिवाभवत्। गृहीत्वा तत्तु गच्छन्ति समुद्रौ पूर्वदक्षिणौ
Seeing all that, I was overcome as if by fever; and those who had taken it departed to the eastern and southern oceans.
तथैव पश्चिमं यान्ति गृहीत्वा भरतर्षभ। त्तरं तु न गच्छन्ति विना तात पतत्रिणः। तत्र गत्वाऽर्जुनो दण्डमाजहारामितं धनम्
In the same way, they go to the western ocean, O bull of the Bharatas, but to the north they do not go, except for the birds; there Arjuna went and brought back immense wealth with his staff.
कृतां बैन्दुसरै रत्नैर्मयेन स्फाटिकच्छदाम्। अपश्यं नलिनीं पूर्णामुदकस्येव भारत
I saw a lake, full like the ocean, made by Maya with gems and covered with crystal, shining with lunar rays.
उत्कर्षन्तं च वासश्च प्राहसन्मां वृकोदरः। किङ्कराश्च सभापाला जहसुर्भरतर्षभ
Vrikodara laughed at me as I lifted my garment, and the attendants and guards of the assembly also laughed, O bull of the Bharatas.
पित्रोरर्थे विशेषेण प्रावृण्वं तत्र जीवितम्। तत्र त्म यदि शक्तः स्यां घातयेयं वृकोदरम्
For the sake of my parents, I especially endured life there; if I had the power, I would have killed Vrikodara there.
सपत्नेनापहासो हि स मां दहति भारत
For the mockery by my rival burns me, O Bharata.
तत्र स्फाटिकतोयां हि स्फाटिकाम्बुजशोभिताम्। सभां पुष्करिणीं मत्वा पतितोऽस्मि नराधिप
There, mistaking the crystal-clear water, adorned with crystal lotuses, for a lotus pond, I fell in, O king.
तत्र मामहसद्भीमः सह पार्थेन सस्वरम्। द्रौपदी चसह स्त्रीभिः पातयन्ती मनो मम
There Bhima, together with Partha, laughed aloud at me, and Draupadi, along with the women, made my mind fall.
क्लिन्नवस्त्रस्य च जले किङ्करा राजचोदिताः। ददुर्वासांसि मेऽन्यानि तच्च दुःखतरं मम
When my garments became wet in the water, the servants, acting on the king’s command, gave me other clothes; and that was even more painful for me.
अस्तम्भा इव तिष्ठन्ति स्तम्भा इव सहस्रशः। सोहं तत्राहतो राजन्स्फटिकाभ्यन्तरे विभो
There, pillars stand unmoving, like thousands of posts; and I, struck there, O king, within the crystal chamber, was wounded.
अद्वारेण विनिर्गच्छन्द्वारसंस्थानरूपिणा। अभिहत्य शिलां भूयो ललाटेनास्मि विक्षतः
Trying to leave by a doorless passage that appeared to be a doorway, I struck my forehead against a stone and was injured again.
आमृशन्निव तां दृष्ट्वा मार्गान्तरमुपाविशम्। इदं द्वारमिदं राजन्नद्वारमिति मां प्रति। अद्भुतं प्रहसन्वाक्यं बभाषे स वृकोदरः
Seeing me touch that place, I sat down at another path; then Bhima, laughing in amazement, said to me, 'This is a door, and this is not a door, O king.'
स्त्रियश्च तत्र मां दृष्ट्वा जहसुस्तादृशं नृप। सर्वं हासकरं तेषां सदस्यानां नरर्षभ
And there, O king, the women, seeing me in such a state, laughed; everything about me was a source of amusement for those assembled, O best of men.
न श्रुतानि न दृष्टानि यानि रत्नान मे क्वचित्। तानि मे तत्र दृष्टानि तेन तप्तोस्मि दुःखितः
Jewels I had never heard of or seen anywhere before—I saw them there; because of this, I am tormented and distressed.
हुताशनं प्रवेक्ष्यामि प्रवेक्ष्यामि महोदधिम्। सम्भावितस्य चाकीर्तिर्मरणादतिरिच्यते
I will enter the fire, or I will enter the great ocean; for a person of honor, disgrace exceeds even death.
इदं चाद्भुतमत्रासीत्तन्मे निगदतः शृणु
And there was something wondrous there—listen as I recount it to you.
पूर्णे शतसहस्रे तु विप्राणां भुञ्जतां सदा। स्थापितस्तत्र सञ्ज्ञार्थं शङ्खो ध्मायति नित्यसः
When a hundred thousand Brahmins were always eating there, a conch was placed to mark the occasion, and it was blown constantly.
मुहुर्मुहुः प्रणदतस्तस्य शङ्खस्य भारत। अनिशं शब्दमश्रौषं ततो रोमाणि मेऽहृषन्
As that conch was sounded again and again, O Bharata, I heard its unceasing noise, and my hair stood on end.
पार्थिवैर्बहुभिः कीर्णमुपस्थानं दिदृक्षुभिः। अशोभत महाराज नक्षत्रैर्द्यैरिवामला
The assembly, crowded with many kings who came to pay their respects, shone, O great king, like a spotless sky filled with stars.
सर्वरत्नान्युपादाय पार्थिवा वै जनेश्वर। ज्ञे तस्य महाराज पाण्डुपुत्रस्य धीमतः
All the kings, O lord of men, brought every kind of jewel to the wise son of Pandu, recognizing his greatness.
वैश्या इव महीपाला द्विजातिपरिवेषकाः। न सा श्रीर्देवराजस्य यमस्य वरुणस्य च। गुह्यकाधिपतेर्वापि या श्री राजन्युधिष्ठिरे
The kings served like merchants, attending upon the twice-born; not even the wealth of the lord of the gods, or Yama, or Varuna, or the lord of the Guhyakas, compares to the splendor that was with King Yudhishthira.
तां दृष्ट्वा पाण्डुपुत्रस्य श्रियं परमिक्रामहम्। शान्तिं न परिगच्छामि दह्यमानेन चेतसा
Having seen that supreme prosperity of the son of Pandu, I find no peace, my heart burning within me.
अप्राप्य पाण्डवैश्वर्यं शमो मम न विद्यते। अरीन्बाणैः शाययिष्ये शयिष्ये वा हतः परैः
Without attaining the sovereignty of the Pandavas, I will have no peace; I will lay my enemies low with arrows, or I will lie slain by others.
एतादृशस्य मे किं तु जीवितेन परन्तप। वर्धन्ते पाण्डवा राजन्वयं हि स्थितवृद्धयः
What is the use of life for me in such a state, O subduer of foes? The Pandavas prosper, while we remain as we were.
यामेतामतुलां लक्ष्मीं दृष्टवानसि पाण्डवे। तस्याटः प्राप्तावुपायं मे शृणु सत्यपराक्रम
Having seen this incomparable fortune of the Pandavas, O mighty one, hear from me the means by which I shall obtain it.
अहमक्षेष्वभिज्ञोऽस्मि पृथिव्यामपि भारत। हृदयज्ञः पणज्ञश्च विशेषज्ञश्च देवने
I am skilled in dice, O Bharata, and on earth as well; I know the hearts of men, I know the stakes, and I am expert in distinguishing the odds in gambling.