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.'
अत्यद्भुतं महाप्राज्ञ रोमहर्षणमर्जुनः। भवेन सह संग्रामं चकाराप्रतिमं किल। पुरा प्रहरतांश्रेष्ठः संग्रामेष्वपराजितः
'Most wondrous, O wise one, is the unparalleled battle Arjuna fought with Bhava. Formerly, he was the foremost among warriors, undefeated in battle.'
यच्छ्रुत्वा नरसिंहानां दैन्यहर्षातिविस्मयात्। शूराणामपि पार्थानां हृदयानि चकम्पिरे
'Hearing this, from amazement, joy, and awe, even the hearts of the lion-like Parthas, heroes, trembled.'
यद्यच्च कृतवानन्यत्पार्थस्तदस्विलं वद
'And whatever else Partha did, tell me all of that as well.'
न ह्यस् निन्दितं जिष्णोः सुसूक्ष्ममपि लक्षये। चरितं यस्य शूरस्य तन्मे सर्वं प्रकीर्तय
'I do not perceive anything blameworthy, not even the slightest, in Jishnu's conduct. Tell me all of the deeds of that hero.'
कथयिष्यामि ते तात कथामेतां महात्मनः। दिव्यां कौरवशार्दूल महतीमद्भुतोपमाम्
'I shall tell you, dear one, this story of the great-souled one, wondrous and immense, O tiger of the Kurus.'
गात्रसंस्पर्शसंबद्धां त्र्यम्बकेण महाहवे। पार्थस्य देवदेवेन शृणु सम्यक्समागमम्
'Hear of the proper meeting between Partha and the god of gods, Tryambaka, in the great battle, bound by bodily contact.'
युधिष्ठिरनियोगात्स जगामामितविक्रमः। शक्रं सुरेश्वरं द्रष्टुं देवदेवं च शंकरम्
At Yudhishthira’s command, he of immeasurable valor set out to see Indra, lord of the gods, and Shankara, god of gods.
दिव्यं तद्धनुरादाय खङ्गं च पुरुषर्षभः। महाबलो महाबाहुरर्जुनः कार्यसिद्धये
Taking up that divine bow and his sword, the mighty and strong-armed Arjuna, bull among men, went forth to accomplish his purpose.
दिशं ह्युदीचीं कौरव्यो हिमवच्छिखरं प्रति। ऐन्द्रिः स्थिरमना राजन्सर्वलोकमहारथः
With steady mind, the son of Kuru, wielder of Indra’s power and great chariot-warrior of all the worlds, journeyed north toward the peaks of the Himalaya.
त्वरया परया युक्तस्तपसे धृतनिश्चयः। वनं कण्टकितं घोरमेक एवान्वपद्यत
Endowed with utmost speed and firm resolve for austerity, he entered alone a dreadful forest bristling with thorns.