गन्धारराजः शकुनिर्विशाम्पते राजाऽतिदेवी कृतहस्तो मताक्षः। विनिंशतिश्चित्रसेनश्च राजा सत्यव्रतः पुरुमित्रो जयश्च
The king of Gandhara, Shakuni, O lord of men, the king Atidevi, skilled with dice and expert in the game, Viniṃshati, King Citrasena, Satyavrata, Purumitra, and Jaya.
महाभयाः कितवाः सन्निविष्टा मायोपधा देवितारोऽत्र सन्ति। धात्रा तु दिष्टस्य वशे किलेदं सर्वं जगत्तिष्ठति न स्वतन्त्रम्
These formidable gamblers have assembled, skilled in deceit and trickery; but truly, everything in this world stands under the sway of destiny, not by its own will.
नाहं राज्ञो धृतराष्ट्रस्य शासना- न्न गन्तुमिच्छामि कवे दुरोदरम्। इष्टो हि पुत्रस्य पिता सदैव तदस्मि कर्ता विदुरात्थ मां यथा
I do not wish, O wise one, to go to the gaming hall at the command of King Dhritarashtra; yet a father is always dear to his son, so I must act as you instruct me, Vidura.
न चाकामः शकुनिना देविताहं न चेन्मां जिष्णुराह्वयिता सभायाम्। आहूतोऽहं न निवर्ते कदाचित् तदाहितं शाश्वतं वै व्रतं मे
Nor do I wish to gamble with Shakuni against my will, unless Arjuna summons me to the assembly; but once called, I never turn back—such is the unchanging vow I have taken.
एवमुक्त्वा विदुरं धर्मराजः प्रायात्रिकं सर्वमाज्ञाप्य तूर्णम्। प्रायाच्छ्वोभूते सगणः सानुयात्रः सह स्त्रीभिर्दौपदामादि कृत्वा
Having spoken thus to Vidura, the righteous king, after quickly giving all necessary orders for the journey, set out the next day with his retinue, accompanied by his wives, with Draupadi at their head.
दैवं हि प्रज्ञां मुष्णाति चक्षुस्तेज इवापतत्। धातुश्च वशमन्वेति पाशैरिव नरः सितः
For fate steals away wisdom, just as a sudden blow dims the eye’s brightness; and a man is bound by the power of destiny, as if by cords.
इत्युक्त्वा प्रययौ राजा सह क्षत्र्रा युधिष्ठिरः। अमृष्यमाणस्तस्याथ समाह्वानमरिन्दमः
Having said this, King Yudhishthira, the subduer of foes, departed with his kshatriya companions, unable to bear the summons.
बाह्लिकेन रथं यत्तमास्थाय परवीरहा। परिच्छन्नो ययौ पार्थो भ्रातृभिः सह पाण्डवः। राजश्रिया दीप्यमानो ययौ ब्रह्मपुरः सरः
Mounting the prepared chariot of Bahlik, the destroyer of enemy heroes, Partha, the Pandava, set out with his brothers, shining with royal splendor, heading toward the city of Brahmapura.
सन्दिदेश ततः प्रेष्यानागतान्नगरं प्रति। ततस्ते नृपशार्दूल चक्रुर्वै नृपशासनम्
Then he dispatched messengers toward the city, and those tiger-like kings carried out the royal command.
ततो राजा महातेजाः संयम्य सपरिच्छदम्। ह्मणैः स्वस्ति वाच्याथ प्रययौ मन्दिराद्बहिः
Then the great and radiant king, gathering his attendants, had blessings pronounced by the Brahmins, and departed from his palace.
ब्राह्मणेभ्यो धनं दत्त्वा गत्यर्थं स यथाविधि। अन्येभ्यः स तु दत्त्वा च गन्तुमेवोपचक्रमे
He gave wealth to the Brahmins for their journey, as was proper, and after giving to others as well, he began his departure.
सर्वलक्षणसम्पन्नं राजहंसपरिच्छदम्। तमारुह्य महाराजो गजेन्द्रं षष्टिहायनम्
Mounting the great elephant, sixty years old, adorned with all auspicious marks and attended by royal swans, the great king set forth.
हारी किरीटी हेमाभः सर्वाभरणभूषितः। रराज राजन्पार्थो वै परया नृपशोभया
Adorned with a necklace, crown, golden in hue, and all ornaments, Partha shone, O king, with supreme royal splendor.
रुक्मवेदिगतः प्राज्यो ज्वलन्निव हुताशनः। ततो जगाम राजा स प्रहृष्टनरवाहनः
Seated on a golden platform, resplendent like blazing fire, the king then proceeded, his men rejoicing.
रथघोषेण महता पूरयन्वै नभः स्थलम्। संस्तूयमानः स्तुतिभिः सूतमागधबन्दिभिः
With the great sound of chariot wheels filling the sky and earth, he was praised with hymns by bards, sutas, and magadhas.
महासैन्येन सहितो यथादित्यः स्वरश्मिभिः। ण्डुरेणातपत्रेण ध्रियमाणेन मूर्धनि
Accompanied by a great army, like the sun with its rays, he was shaded on his head by a white parasol.
बभौ युधिष्ठिरो राजा पौर्णमास्यामिवोडुराट्। चामरैर्हेमदण्डैश्च धूयमानः समन्ततः
King Yudhishthira shone like the lord of the stars on the full moon night, fanned all around with yak-tail whisks with golden handles.
याशिषः प्रहृष्टानां नराणां पथि पाण्डवः। प्रत्यगृह्णाद्यथान्यायं यथआवद्भरतर्षभः
The bull among the Bharatas, the son of Pandu, received the blessings of the joyful people along the way, properly and as was fitting.
तथैव सैनिका राजन्राजानमनुयान्ति ये। तेषां हलहलाशब्दो दिवं स्तब्धः प्रतिष्ठितः
In the same way, O King, those soldiers who followed the king made a tumultuous sound that stood firm in the sky.
नृपस्याग्ने ययौ राजन्भीमसेनो रथी बली। उभौ पार्श्वगतौ राज्ञः सतल्पौ वै सुकल्पितौ
Bhimasena, mighty and armed with a chariot, went at the king’s side, both of them well-seated on their splendid seats.
अधिरूढौ यमौ चापि जग्मतुर्भरतर्षभ। शोभयन्तौ महासैन्यं तावुभौ रूपशालिनौ
The two sons of Yama also mounted their chariots, O bull among the Bharatas, both of them adorned with noble forms, enhancing the great army.
पृष्ठतोऽनुययौ जिष्णुर्वीरः शस्त्रभृतां वरः। श्वेताश्वो गाण्डिवं गृह्य अग्निदत्तं रथं गतः
Behind them followed Jishnu, the heroic best of warriors, with white horses, holding the Gandiva, riding the chariot given by Agni.
सैन्यमध्ये ययौ राजन्कुरुराजो युधिष्ठिरः। द्रौपदीप्रमुखा नार्यः सानुगाः सपरिच्छदाः
In the midst of the army went King Yudhishthira, lord of the Kurus, and the women led by Draupadi, with their attendants and retinue.
आरुह्य ता विचित्राङ्ग्यो यानानि विविधानि च। महत्या सेनया राजन्नग्रे यानानि विविधानि च
Those women of varied beauty mounted various vehicles, and at the head of the great army, O King, were many kinds of carriages.
समृद्धनरनागाश्वं सपताकरथध्वजम्। संनद्धवरनिस्त्रिंशं पथि निर्घोषनिः स्वनम्
With abundant men, elephants, and horses, with banners and chariot-standards, armed with excellent swords, the army resounded along the road.
शङ्खदुन्दुभितालानां वेणुवीणानुवनादितम्। शुशुभे पाण्डवं सैन्यं प्रयास्यत्तत्तदा नृप
With the sounds of conches, drums, cymbals, flutes, and lutes echoing, the Pandava army shone as it set out, O King.
यथा कुबेरो लङ्कायां पुरा चात्यन्तशोभया। महत्या सेनया सार्धं गुरुमिन्द्रं स गच्छति
Just as Kubera once went to mighty Indra in Lanka, with his splendid army, so did he proceed.
तथा ययौ स पार्थोऽपि असङ्ख्येयविभूतिना। सुसमृद्धेन सैन्येन यथा वैश्रवणस्तथा
In the same way, that Partha advanced, with immeasurable wealth and a well-furnished army, just like Vaishravana.
स सरांसि नदीश्चैव वनान्युपवनानि च। अत्यक्रामन्महाराज पुरीं चाभ्यवपद्यत
He crossed lakes, rivers, forests, and groves, O great king, and then reached the city.
स हास्तिनसमीपे तु कुरुराजो युधिष्ठिरः। चक्रे निवेशनं तत्र ततः स सहसैनिकाः
There, near Hastinapura, King Yudhishthira of the Kurus established his encampment, together with his army.