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.
न लोभान्न पुनः कामान्न देवत्वं पुनः सुखम्। न च सर्वामरैश्वर्यं कामये त्रिदशाधिप
'Neither from greed nor from desire, nor for divinity nor for pleasure, nor do I wish for all the sovereignty of the gods, O lord of the thirty gods.'
भ्रातॄंस्तान्विपिने त्यक्त्वा वैरमप्रतियात्य च। अकीर्तिं सर्वलोकेषु गच्छेयं शाश्वतीः समाः
'Having abandoned my brothers in the forest and not returning the enmity, I would incur lasting disgrace among all people for countless years.'
एवमुक्तः प्रत्युवाच वृत्रहा पाण्डुनन्दनम्। सान्त्वयञ्श्लक्ष्णया वाचा सर्वलोकनमस्कृतः
Thus addressed, the slayer of Vritra spoke to the son of Pandu, consoling him with gentle words, honored by all worlds.
यदा द्रक्ष्यसि भूतेशं त्र्यक्षं शूलधरं शिवम्। तदा दाताऽस्मि ते तात दिव्यान्यस्त्राणि सर्वशः
'When you see Bhutesha, the three-eyed, the wielder of the trident, Shiva, then, dear one, I shall grant you all the divine weapons.'
क्रियतां दर्शने यत्नो देवस्य परमेष्ठिनः। दर्शनात्तस्य कौन्तेय संसिद्धः स्वर्गमेष्यसि
'Make every effort to behold the supreme lord, the god. By seeing him, O son of Kunti, you will attain perfection and reach heaven.'
इत्युक्त्वा फल्गुनं शक्रो जगामादर्शनं पुनः। अर्जुनोप्यथ तत्रैव तस्थौ योगसमन्वितः
Having spoken thus to Phalguna, Shakra vanished from sight again. Arjuna remained there, absorbed in yoga.
भगवञ्श्रोतुमिच्छासमि पार्थस्याक्लिष्टकर्मणः। विस्तरेण कथामेतां यथाऽस्त्राण्युपलब्धवान्
'Revered one, I wish to hear in detail the story of Partha, whose deeds are unblemished, and how he obtained the weapons.'
कथं च पुरुषव्याघ्रो दीर्घबाहुर्धनंजयः। वनं प्रविष्टस्तेजस्वी निर्मनुष्यमभीतवत्
'And how did Dhananjaya, tiger among men, long-armed and radiant, enter the forest, fearless though it was deserted?'
किंचानेन कृतंतत्रवसता ब्रह्मवित्तम। कथं च भगवान्स्थाणुर्देवराजश्च तोषितः
'What did he do there while dwelling, O knower of Brahman? And how were the lord Sthanu and the king of the gods pleased?'
एतदिच्छाम्यहं श्रोतुं त्वत्प्रसादाद्द्विजोत्तम। त्वं हि सर्वज्ञ दिव्यं च मानुषं चैव वेत्थ
'I wish to hear all this from you, O best of twice-born. For you know all, both divine and human.'