अस्मिन्नूनं महारण्ये भ्रातरः सुहृदश्च ते। त्वत्कथाः कथयिष्यन्ति चारणा ऋषयस्तथा
Surely, in this great forest, your brothers and friends, as well as wandering bards and sages, will recount your deeds.
यत्ते कुन्ती महाबाहो जातस्यैच्छद्धनञ्जय। तत्तेऽस्तु सर्वं कौन्तेय यथा च स्वयमिच्छसि
Whatever your mother Kunti desired for you at your birth, O mighty-armed Dhananjaya, may all that be yours, and whatever you yourself desire, O son of Kunti.
वसुदेवस्वसा देवी त्वामार्या पुनरागतम्। पश्यतु त्वां पृथा पार्थ सहस्राक्षमिवादितिः
May the noble lady, sister of Vasudeva, see you returned, O Partha, just as Aditi beheld Indra of a thousand eyes.
नूनं ते भ्रातरः सर्वे त्वत्कथाभिः प्रजागरे। रंस्यन्ते तव कर्माणि कीरत्यन्तः पुनः पुनः
Surely, all your brothers will delight through the night in stories of you, repeatedly praising your deeds.
न च नः पार्थ भोगेषु न धने नोत जीविते। तुष्टिर्बुद्धिर्भवित्री वा त्वयि दीर्घप्रवासिनि
O Partha, neither in pleasures, nor in wealth, nor even in life itself, will we find satisfaction or peace of mind while you are away for so long.
त्वयि नः पार्थ सर्वेषां सुखदुःखे प्रतिष्ठते। जीवितं मरणं चैव राज्यमैश्वर्यमेव च
In you, O Partha, are established for all of us both happiness and sorrow, life and death, as well as the kingdom and its splendor.
आपृष्टो नोसि कौन्तेय स्वस्ति प्राप्नुहि पाण्डव। कृतास्त्रं स्वस्तिमन्तं त्वां द्रक्ष्यामि पुनरागतम्
You have taken leave of us, O son of Kunti; may you attain well-being, O Pandava. I shall see you return, accomplished in arms and blessed with good fortune.
बलवद्भिर्विरुद्धं न कार्यमेतत्त्वयाऽनघ। प्रयाह्यविघ्नेयैवाशु विजयाय महाबल
You should not contend with those who are powerful, O faultless one; go swiftly, without hindrance, to victory, O mighty one.
ह्रीः श्रीः कीर्तिर्धृतिः पुष्टिरुमा लक्ष्मीः सरस्वती। इमा वै तव पान्थस् पालयन्तु धनञ्जय
Modesty, fortune, fame, steadfastness, nourishment, Uma, Lakshmi, and Sarasvati—may these goddesses guard your path, O Dhananjaya.
एवमुक्त्वाऽऽशिषः कृष्णा विरराम यशस्विनी
Having thus spoken her blessings, the illustrious Krishna fell silent.
ततःप्रदक्षिणं कृत्वा भ्रातॄन्धौम्यं च पाण्डवः। प्रातिष्ठत महाबाहुः प्रगृह्य रुचिरं धनुः
Then, having circumambulated his brothers and Dhaumya, the mighty-armed Pandava set out, taking up his splendid bow.
शनैरिव दिशं वीर उदीचीं भरतर्षभ। संहरंस्तरसा वृक्षाँल्लता वल्लीश्च भारत। असज्जमानो वृक्षेषु जगाम सुमहाबलः
Slowly, O best of Bharatas, the hero moved northward, forcefully clearing away trees, creepers, and vines, yet without getting entangled among them, the exceedingly strong one advanced.
तस्य मार्गादपाक्रामन्सर्वभूतानि गच्छतः। युक्तस्यैन्द्रेण योगेन पराक्रान्तस्य शुष्मिणः
As he went, all creatures withdrew from his path, for he was empowered by Indra's yoga, advancing with great energy.
सोऽगच्छत्पर्वतांस्तात तपोधननिषेवितान्। दिव्यं हैमवतं पुण्यं देवजुष्टं परंतपः
He reached mountains frequented by ascetics, the divine, golden Himalaya, sacred and beloved of the gods, O scorcher of foes.
अगच्छत्पर्वतं पुण्यमेकाह्नैव महामनाः। मनोजवगतिर्भूत्वा योगयुक्तो यथाऽनिलः
With a resolute mind, endowed with yogic power and moving as swiftly as the wind, he traversed the sacred mountain in a single day.
हिमवन्तमतिक्रम्य गन्धमादनमेव च। अत्यक्रामत्स दुर्गाणि दिवारात्रमतन्द्रितः
Crossing over Himavat and Gandhamadana, he passed through difficult regions tirelessly, by day and by night.
इन्द्रिकीलं समासाद्य ततोऽतिष्ठद्धनंजयः। `गत्वा स षडहोरात्रान्सप्तमेऽहनि पाण्डवः
Arriving at Indrakila, Dhananjaya halted there; after traveling for six days and nights, on the seventh day, the Pandava reached his destination.
प्रस्थेन्द्रकीलस्य शुभे तपोयोगपरोऽभवत्। ऊर्ध्वबाहुर्न चाङ्गानि प्रास्पन्दयत किंचन
At the auspicious summit of Indrakila, he devoted himself to ascetic practice and yoga, standing with arms upraised, not moving any part of his body.
समाहितात्मा नियतः सहस्राक्षसुतोऽच्युतः'। अन्तरिक्षे स शुश्राव तिष्ठेति स वचस्तदा
With mind composed and self-controlled, the steadfast son of the thousand-eyed one, Achyuta, heard a voice in the sky saying, 'Halt!'
तच्छ्रुत्वा सर्वतो दृष्टिं चारयामास रपाण्डवः। अथापश्यत्सव्यसाची वृक्षमूले तपस्विनम्
Hearing this, Pandava looked all around, and then Savyasachi saw an ascetic at the foot of a tree.
ब्राह्म्या श्रिया दीप्यमानं पिङ्गलं जटिलं कृशम्। सोऽब्रवीदर्जुनं तत्रस्थितं दृष्ट्वा महातपाः
He saw a tawny, matted-haired, emaciated ascetic, radiant with Brahmanic splendor; that great ascetic, seeing Arjuna standing there, spoke to him.
कस्त्वं तातेह संप्राप्तो धनुष्मान्कवची शरी। निबद्धाऽसितलत्राणः क्षत्रधर्ममनुव्रतः
Who are you, child, who has come here armed with bow and armor, with black finger-guards bound on, devoted to the warrior's duty?
नेह शस्त्रेण कर्तव्यं शान्तानामेष आलयः। विनीतक्रोधहर्षाणां ब्राह्मणानां तपस्विनाम्
Here, weapons are not to be used; this is the abode of peaceful, self-restrained, and gentle ascetic Brahmins.
नेहास्ति धनुषा कार्यं न संग्रामोऽत्र कर्हिचित्। निक्षिपैतद्धनुस्तात प्राप्तोसि परमां गतिम्
Here, there is no use for the bow, nor is there ever any battle; lay down your bow, child, for you have attained the highest goal.
इत्यनन्तौजसं वीरं यथा चान्यं पृथग्जनम्। तथा हसन्निवाभीक्ष्णं ब्राह्मणोऽर्जुनमब्रवीत्। न चैनं चालयामास धैर्यात्सुधृतनिश्चयम्
Thus, the Brahmin repeatedly addressed Arjuna, the hero of boundless energy, just as he would any other person, smiling as if in jest; yet, out of firmness and resolve, he did not disturb him.
तमुवाच ततः प्रीतः स द्विजः प्रहसन्निव। वरं वृणीष्व भद्रं ते शक्रोऽहमरिसूदन
Then, pleased, that twice-born one, smiling, said: 'Choose a boon, blessings upon you; I am Shakra, O slayer of foes.'
एवमुक्तः सहस्राक्षं प्रत्युवाच धनंजयः। प्राञ्जलिः प्रणतो भूत्वा सूरः कुरुकुलोद्वहः
Thus addressed, Dhananjaya, the illustrious descendant of the Kurus, joined his palms, bowed, and replied to the thousand-eyed one.
ईप्सितो ह्येष वै कामो वरं चैनं प्रयच्छ मे। त्वत्तोऽद्य भगवन्नस्त्रंकृत्स्नमिच्छामि वेदितम्
This is indeed my cherished desire; grant me this boon: O Lord, today I wish to learn from you all the celestial weapons.
प्रत्युवाच महेन्द्रस्तं प्रीतात्मा प्रहसन्निव। इह प्राप्तस्य किं कार्यमस्त्रैस्तव धनंजय
Mahendra, his heart pleased and smiling, replied to him: 'What need have you for weapons here, Dhananjaya, now that you have arrived?'
कामान्वृणीष्व लोकांस्त्वं प्राप्तोसि परमां गतिम्। एवमुक्तः प्रत्युवाच सहस्राक्षं धनंजयः
'Choose whatever worlds you desire; you have attained the highest state.' Thus addressed, Dhananjaya replied to the thousand-eyed one.