वरः कुरूणामधिपः प्रजानां पितेव पुत्रानपहाय चास्मान्। पौरानिमाञ्जानपदांश्च सर्वान् हित्वा प्रयातः क्वनु धर्मराजः
The best of the Kurus, lord of the people, like a father to his sons, has abandoned us; where has King Yudhishthira gone, leaving behind all these citizens and countryfolk?
धिग्धार्तराष्ट्रं सुनृशंसबुद्धिं धिक्सौबलं पापमतिं च कर्णम्। अनर्थमिच्छन्ति नरेन्द्र पापा ये धर्मनित्यस्य सतस्तवोग्राः
Shame on Dhritarashtra, of cruel mind! Shame on Shakuni, wicked in thought, and on Karna! Evil kings desire calamity for the ever-righteous, steadfast in virtue, like you.
स्वयं निवेश्याप्रतिमं महात्मा पुरं महादेवपुरप्रकाशम्। शतक्रतुप्रस्थममोघकर्मा हित्वा प्रयातः क्वनु धर्मराजः
The great-souled one himself established an unrivaled city, shining like the city of Mahadeva; the infallible in deeds, like Indra, has departed—where has King Yudhishthira gone?
चकार यामप्रतिमां महात्मा सभां मयो देवसभाप्रकाशाम्। तां देवगुप्तामिव देवमायां हित्वाप्रयातः क्वनु धर्मराजः
The great-souled one built a wondrous assembly hall, like the divine hall of the gods, crafted by Maya; leaving that, guarded as if by the gods and full of divine illusion, where has King Yudhishthira gone?
तान्धर्मकामार्थविदुत्तमौजा बीभत्सुरुच्चैः सहितानुवाच। आदास्यते वासमिमं निरुष्य रवनेषु राजा द्विषतां यशांसि
Then the mighty Bhimasena, knower of righteousness, wealth, and desire, addressed those assembled, together with Arjuna: 'The king, having left this dwelling, will win glory among the enemies in the forests.'
द्विजातिमुख्याः सहिताः पृथक्व भवद्भिरासाद्य तपस्विनश्च। प्रसाद्य धर्मार्थविदश्च वाच्या यथार्थसिद्धिः परमा भवेन्नः
The foremost Brahmanas, together with you and the ascetics, should be approached separately; having pleased those who know righteousness and wealth, ask them so that we may attain the highest success.
इत्येवमुक्ते वचनेऽऽर्जुनेन ते ब्राह्मणाः सर्ववर्णाश्च राजन्। मुदाऽभ्यनन्दन्सहिताश्च चक्रुः प्रदक्षिणं धर्मभृतांवरिष्ठम्
When Arjuna had spoken these words, O King, all the Brahmanas and people of every class, rejoicing together, circled the foremost upholder of righteousness.
आमन्त्र्य पार्थं च वृकोदरं च धनंजयं याज्ञसेनीं यमौ च। प्रतस्थिरे राष्ट्रमरपेतहार्षा युधिष्ठिरेणानुमता यथास्वम्
Taking leave of Partha, Vrikodara, Dhananjaya, Draupadi, and the twins, they departed for their own lands, their joy gone, with Yudhishthira's permission.
ततस्तेषु प्रयातेषु कौन्तेयः सत्यसंगरः। अभ्यभाषत धर्मात्मा भ्रातॄन्सर्वान्युधिष्ठिरः
When they had departed, Kunti's son, steadfast in truth, the righteous Yudhishthira, addressed all his brothers.
द्वादशेमाः समाऽस्माभिर्वस्तव्यं निर्जने वने। समीक्षध्वं महारण्ये देशं बहुमृगद्विजम्
We must dwell in this lonely forest for twelve years; search out a place in this great wilderness, rich in deer and birds.
बहुपुष्पफलं रम्यं शिवं पुण्यजनोचितम्। यत्रेमा द्वादश समाः सुखं प्रतिवसेमहि
A place abundant with flowers and fruits, delightful, auspicious, and fit for the virtuous—where we may happily reside for these twelve years.
एवमुक्ते प्रत्युवाच धर्मराजं धनंजयः। गुरुवन्मानववरं मानयित्वा मनस्विनम्
When he had spoken thus, Dhananjaya replied to the king of righteousness, honoring him as a disciple honors a wise and noble teacher.
भवानेव महर्षीणां वृद्धानां पर्युपासिता। अज्ञातं मानुषे लोके भवतो नास्ति किंचन
You alone, among the elders and sages, are attended by all; nothing in the world of men is unknown to you.
त्वया ह्युपासिता नित्यं ब्राह्मणा वेदपारगाः। द्वैपायनप्रभृतयो नारदश्च महातपाः
For you have always served Brahmanas accomplished in the Vedas—like Vyasa and the great ascetic Narada.
यः सर्वलोकद्वाराणि नित्यं संचरते वशी। देवलोकाद्ब्रह्मलोकं गन्धर्वाप्सरसामपि
He, self-controlled, moves constantly through all the worlds' gates—from the world of the gods up to the world of Brahma, and even among the Gandharvas and Apsaras.
अनुभावांश्च जानासि ब्राह्मणानां न संशयः। प्रभावांश्चैव वेत्थ त्वं सर्वेषामेव पार्थिव
You know the powers of the Brahmanas, without doubt; and you also understand the might of all, O king.
त्वमेव राजञ्जानासि श्रेयःकारणमेव च। यत्रेच्छसि महाराज निवासं तत्र कुंर्महे
You alone, O king, know what is truly beneficial and the reasons for it; wherever you wish to dwell, O great king, there we shall reside.
इदं द्वैतवनं नाम सरः पुण्यजनोषितम्। बहुपुष्पफलं रम्यं नानाद्विजनिषेवितम्
This is the lake called Dvaitavana, inhabited by virtuous people, delightful with many flowers and fruits, and frequented by various twice-born sages.
अत्रेमा द्वादश समा विहरेमेति रोचये। यदि तेऽनुमतं राजन्किमन्यन्मन्यते भवान्
Here I wish to spend twelve years; if this pleases you, O king, what else do you think?
ममाप्येतन्मतं पार्थ त्वया यत्समुदाहृतम्। गच्छामः पुण्यविख्यातं महद्द्वैतवनं सरः
This is also my opinion, O Partha, what you have proposed; let us go to the great and renowned holy lake Dvaitavana.
ततस्ते प्रययुः सर्वे पाण्डवा धर्मचारिणः। ब्राह्मणैर्बहुभिः सार्धं पुण्यं द्वैतवनं सरः
Then all the Pandavas, followers of righteousness, together with many Brahmanas, went to the sacred lake Dvaitavana.
ब्राह्मणाः साग्निहोत्राश्च तथैव च निरग्नयः। स्वाध्यायिनो भिक्षवश्च तथैव वनवासिनः
There were Brahmanas with sacred fires, as well as those without fires, students of the Vedas, mendicants, and forest-dwellers.
बहवो ब्राह्मणास्तत्र परिवव्रुर्युधिष्ठिरम्। तपस्विनः सत्यशीलाः शतशः संशितव्रताः
Many Brahmanas surrounded Yudhishthira there—ascetics of truthful conduct, hundreds devoted to strict vows.
ते यात्वा पाण्डवास्तत्रब्राह्मणैर्बहुभिः सह। पुण्यं द्वैतवनं रम्यं विविशुर्बरतर्षभाः
Having arrived there, the Pandavas, together with many Brahmanas, entered the delightful and sacred Dvaitavana, O bull of the Bharatas.
तत्सालतालाम्रमधूकनीप- कदम्बसर्जार्जुनकर्णिकारैः। तपात्यये पुष्पधरैरुपेतं महावनं राष्ट्रपतिर्ददर्श
That great forest, adorned with sala, palmyra, madhuka, kadamba, sarja, arjuna, and karnikara trees, was covered with flowers at the end of the hot season—the ruler of the land beheld it.
महाद्रुमाणां शिखरेषु तस्थु- र्मनोरमां वाचमुदीरयन्तः। मयूरदात्यूहचकोरसङ्घा- स्तस्मिन्वने बर्हिणकोकिलाश्च
On the tops of the great trees stood flocks of peacocks, herons, chakoras, and groups of bar-headed geese and cuckoos, uttering pleasant sounds in that forest.
करेणुयूथैः सह यूथपानां मदोत्कटानामचलप्रभाणाम्। महान्ति यूथानि महाद्विपानां तस्मिन्वने राष्ट्रपतिर्ददर्श
The ruler of the land saw in that forest great herds of mighty elephants, led by chiefs, accompanied by their females, intoxicated and shining like mountains.
मनोरमां भोगवतीमुपेत्य पूतात्मनां चीरजटाधराणाम्। तस्मिन्वने धर्मभृतां निवासे ददर्श सिद्धर्षिगणाननेकान्
Coming to the delightful Bhogavati, the dwelling of the pure-hearted, clad in bark and matted hair, he saw in that forest many groups of perfected rishis, abodes of righteousness.
ततः स यानादवरुह्य राजा सभ्रातृकः सजनः काननं तत्। विवेश धर्मात्मवतां बरिष्ठ- स्त्रिविष्टपं शक्र इवामितौजाः
Then the king, together with his brothers and followers, descended from his vehicle and entered that forest, foremost among the righteous, possessing great energy like Indra entering heaven.
तं सत्यसन्धं सहिताऽभिपेतु- र्दिदृक्षवश्चारणसिद्धसङ्घाः। वनौकसश्चापि नेरन्द्रसिंहं मनस्विनं तं परिवार्य तस्थुः
Then, desiring to see that truthful king, groups of Charanas and Siddhas approached together; and the forest-dwellers, too, surrounded that lion among kings, that wise one, and stood there.