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.
नानापुष्पफलोपेतं नानापक्षिनिनादितम्। नानामृगगणाकीर्णं सिद्धचारणसेवितम्
That forest was filled with various flowers and fruits, resounded with the cries of many birds, teemed with diverse beasts, and was frequented by Siddhas and Charanas.
ततः प्रयाते बीभत्सौ वनं मानुषवर्जितम्। शङ्खानां पटहानां च शब्दः समभवद्दिवि
When Vibhatsu entered that forest devoid of people, a sound of conches and drums arose in the sky.
पुष्पवर्षं च सुमहन्निपपात महीतले। मेघजालं च सततं छादयामास सर्वतः
A great shower of flowers fell upon the earth, and masses of clouds continually covered everything on all sides.
सोतीत्य वनदुर्गाणि सन्निकर्षे महागिरेः। शुशुभे हिमवत्पृष्ठे वसमानोऽर्जुनस्तदा
Traversing the difficult forest regions near the great mountain, Arjuna shone as he dwelled upon the slopes of Himavat.
तत्रतत्र द्रुमान्फुल्लान्विहगैर्वल्गुनादितान्। नदीश्च विपुलावर्ता वैदूर्यनीलसंनिभाः
Here and there he saw blossoming trees filled with sweetly singing birds, and rivers with broad eddies, shining like beryl and sapphire.
हंसकारण्डवोद्गीताः सारसाभिरुतास्तथा। पुंस्कोकिलरुताश्चैव क्रौञ्चबर्हिणनादिताः
There were swans and cranes singing, and the cries of sarasa birds, as well as the calls of male cuckoos, and the sounds of curlews and peacocks.
मनोहरवनोपेतास्तस्मिन्नतिरथोऽर्जुनः। पुण्यशीतामलजलाः पश्यन्प्रीतमनाऽभवत्
In that enchanting forest, Arjuna, the mighty chariot-warrior, beheld pure, cool, spotless waters and became joyful at heart.
रमणीये वनोद्देशे रममाणोऽर्जुनस्तदा। तपस्युग्रे वर्तमान उग्रतेजा महामनाः
Delighting in that beautiful part of the forest, Arjuna, possessed of great energy and mind, engaged in severe austerities.
दर्भचीरं निवस्याथ दण्डाजिनबिभूषितः। शीर्णं च पतितं भूमौ पर्णं समुपभुक्तवान्
Clad in grass-garments, adorned with staff and deer-skin, he ate fallen and withered leaves lying on the ground.
पूर्णेपूर्णे त्रिररात्रे तु मासमेकं फलाशनः। द्विगुणेनैव कालेन द्वितीयं मासमत्ययात्
For a month, eating only fruits every third night, he completed the period; then, for twice that time, he continued with even greater restraint.