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.
शिवे देशे समे चैव न्यवसत्पाण्डवस्तदा। ततोराजन्समाहूय शोकविह्वलया गिरा
In a good and level place, the Pandava stayed; then, O King, he summoned Vidura, who spoke with a voice choked by sorrow.
तद्वाक्यं च सर्वस्वं धृतराष्ट्रचिकीर्षितम्। आचचक्षे यथावृत्तं विदुरोऽथ नृपस्य ह
Then Vidura related to the king all that Dhritarashtra intended, just as it had happened.
तच्छ्रुत्वा भाषितं तेन धर्मराजोऽब्रवीदिदम्। न मर्षयाम्यहं क्षत्तः समाह्वानं व्रतं हि मे। स्वस्त्यस्तु लोके विप्राणां प्रजानां चैव सर्वदा
Hearing these words, the king of righteousness said: 'I do not resent the summons, Kshatta, for it is my vow. May there always be welfare in the world for the Brahmins and all people.'
प्रविवेश ततो राजा नगरं नागसाह्वयम्। धृतराष्ट्रेण चाहूतः कालस्य समयेन च
Then the king entered the city called Nagasahvaya, having been summoned by Dhritarashtra at the appointed time.
स हास्तिनपुरं गत्वा धृतराष्ट्रगृहं ययौ। समियाय च धर्मात्मा धृतराष्ट्रेण पाण्डवः
He went to Hastinapura and entered the house of Dhritarashtra; the virtuous Pandava met with Dhritarashtra.
तथा भीष्मेण द्रोणेन कर्णेन च कृपेण च। समियाय यथान्यायं द्रौणिना च विभुः सह
He met, as was proper, with Bhishma, Drona, Karna, Kripa, and also with Ashvatthama, the illustrious one.
समेत्य च महाबाहुः सोमदत्तेन चैव ह। दूर्योधनेन सभ्रात्रा सौबलेन च वीर्यवान्
The mighty-armed one met with Somadatta, Duryodhana with his brothers, and the valiant Saubala.
ये चान्ये तत्र राजानः पूर्वमेव समागताः। दुःशासनेन वीरेण सर्वैर्भ्रातृभिरेव च
And the other kings who had already gathered there, along with the heroic Duhshasana and all his brothers.
जयद्रथेन च तथा कुरुभिश्चापि सर्वशः। ततः सर्वैर्महाबाहुर्भ्रातृभिः पिरवारितः
He met also with Jayadratha and all the Kurus; then, surrounded by his brothers, the mighty-armed entered.
प्रविवेश गृहं राज्ञो धृतराष्ट्रस्य धीमतः। ददर्श तत्र गान्धारीं देवीं पतिमनुव्रताम्
He entered the house of the wise king Dhritarashtra and saw Gandhari, the queen devoted to her husband.