शिशुर्यथा पितुश्चाङ्के सुखं शेते तटे तथा। मया तवाङ्के ललितं शैलराज महाप्रभो
Just as a child happily sleeps in his father's lap, so have I, O great and illustrious king of mountains, delighted in your embrace.
अप्सरोगणसंकीर्णए ब्रह्मघोषानुनादिते। सुखमस्म्युषितः शैल तव सानुषु नित्यदा
Amidst the throngs of Apsarases and the resounding chants of Brahman, I have always dwelt happily on your slopes, O mountain.
एवमुक्त्वार्जुनः शैलमामन्त्र्य परवीरहा। आरुरोह रथं दिव्यं द्योतयन्निव भास्करः
Having spoken thus, Arjuna, the slayer of enemy heroes, took leave of the mountain and ascended the divine chariot, shining like the sun.
स तेनादित्यरूपेण दिव्येनाद्भुतकर्मणा। ऊर्ध्वमाचक्रमे धीमान्प्रहृष्टः कुरुनन्दनः
Then, with that divine, wondrously acting form of the sun, the wise and delighted son of the Kurus rose upward.
सोऽदर्शनपथं यातो मर्त्यानां धर्मचारिणाम्। ददर्शाद्भुतरूपाणि विमानानि सहस्रशः
He entered a path unseen by mortals who follow righteousness, and saw thousands of wondrously shaped aerial cars.
न तत्र सूर्यः सोमो वा द्योतते न च पावकः। स्वयैव प्रभया तत्र द्योतन्ते पुण्यलब्धया
There, neither sun nor moon nor fire shines; by their own merit-gained radiance, they shine forth there.
तारारूपाणि यानीह दृश्यन्ते द्युतिमन्ति वै। आकाशे विप्रकृष्टत्वात्तनूनि सुमहान्त्यपि
Those forms that appear here as shining stars, vast yet distant in the sky, are seen there in their true, immense forms.
तानि तत्र प्रभास्वन्ति रूपवन्ति च पाण्डवः। ददर्श स्वेषु धिष्ण्येषु दीप्तिमन्ति स्वयाऽर्चिषा
There, O son of Pandu, he saw those radiant and beautiful forms, each in their own seats, shining with their own brilliance.
तत्र राजर्षयः सिद्धा वीराश्च निहता युधि। तपसा च जितं स्वर्गं संपेतुः शतसङ्घशः
There, royal sages, perfected beings, and heroes slain in battle, and those who have won heaven through austerity, gathered in hundreds of groups.
गन्धर्वाणां सहस्राणि मूर्यज्वलिततेजसाम्। गुह्यकारनामृषीणां च तथैवाप्सरसां गणान्
Thousands of Gandharvas, blazing with fiery splendor, and hosts of Guhyakas, Kinnaras, and Apsarases were also there.
लोकानात्मप्रभान्पश्यन्फल्गुनो विस्मयान्वितः। पप्रच्छ मातलिं प्रीत्या स चाप्येनमुवाच ह
Beholding those worlds shining with their own radiance, Phalguna, filled with wonder, questioned Matali with affection, and he replied to him.
एते सुकृतिनः पार्थ स्वेषु धिष्ण्येष्ववस्थिताः। तान्दृष्टवानसि विभो तारारूपाणि भूतले
These, O Partha, are the virtuous, established in their own seats; you have seen them, O mighty one, those star-like forms upon the earth.
ततोऽपश्यत्स्थितं द्वारि मत्तं विजयिनं गजम्। ऐरावतं चतुर्दन्तं कैलासमिव शृङ्गिणम्
Then he saw at the gate a victorious, intoxicated elephant—Airavata, four-tusked, towering like Kailasa with its peaks.
स सिद्धमार्गमाक्रम्य कुरुपाण्डवसत्तमः। व्यरोचत यथापूर्वं मान्धाता पार्थिवोत्तमः
Having entered the path of the perfected, the best of the Kurus and Pandavas shone as Mandhata, the foremost of kings, did before.
अभिचक्राम लोकान्स राज्ञां राजीवलोचनः
That lotus-eyed one proceeded through the worlds of kings.
[एवं स संक्रमंस्तत्र स्वर्गलोके महायशाः ।] ततो ददर्श शक्रस्य पुरीं ताममरावतीम्
Thus, in that passage in the world of the gods, the illustrious one then beheld the city of Shakra, that Amaravati.
ददर्श स पुरीं रम्यां सिद्धचारणसेविताम्। सर्वर्तुकुसुमैः पुण्यैः पादपैरुपशोभिताम्
He beheld that delightful city, frequented by perfected beings and celestial bards, adorned with auspicious trees blooming in all seasons.
तत्र सौगन्धिकानां च पुष्पाणां पुण्यगन्धिनाम्। उपवीज्यमानो मिश्रेण वायुना पुण्यगन्धिना
There, fanned by a gentle, fragrant wind mingled with the sacred scent of Saugandhika flowers, he was refreshed.
नन्दनं च वनं दिव्यमप्सरोगणसेवितम्। ददर्श दिव्यकुसुमैराह्वयद्भिरिव द्रुमैः
He saw the divine Nandana grove, attended by hosts of Apsarases, with celestial trees inviting with their heavenly blossoms.
नातप्ततपसा शक्यो द्रष्टुं नानाहिताग्निना। स लोकः पुण्यकर्तॄणां नापि युद्धे पराङ्युखैः
That world of the virtuous cannot be seen by one who has not performed austerities, nor by one who has not offered sacred fires, nor by those who turn away in battle.
नायज्वभिर्नाव्रतिकैर्न वेदश्रुतिवर्जितैः। नानाप्लुताङ्गैस्तीर्थेषु यज्ञदानबहिष्कृतैः
One who does not perform sacrifices, who does not observe vows, who is devoid of Vedic study, or who is impure in body, and who is excluded from sacrifices and gifts at holy places—
नापि यज्ञहनैः क्षुद्रैर्द्रष्टुं शक्यः कथंचन। पानपैर्गुरुतल्पैश्च मांसादैर्वा दुरात्मभिः
Nor by those who destroy sacrifices, who are base, who drink intoxicants, who approach their teacher’s wife, who eat meat, or who are wicked—such a one can never behold me.
स तद्दिव्यं वनं पश्यन्दिव्यगीतनिनादितम्। प्रविवेश महाबाहुः शक्रस्य दयितां पुरीम्
Then that mighty-armed one beheld that divine forest, resounding with celestial songs, and entered the beloved city of Indra.
तत्र देवविमानानि कामगानि सहस्रशः। संस्थितान्यभियातानि ददर्शायुतशस्तदा
There he saw thousands upon thousands of celestial chariots, moving at will, stationed and arriving in great numbers.
संस्तूयमानो गन्धर्वैरप्सरोभिश्च पाण्डवः। पुष्पगन्धवहैः पुण्यैर्वायुभिश्चानुवीजितः
The son of Pandu was praised by Gandharvas and Apsaras, and fanned by auspicious breezes carrying the fragrance of flowers.
ततो देवाः सगन्धर्वाः सिद्धाश्च परमर्षयः। हृष्टाः संपूजयामासुः पार्थमक्लिष्टकारिणम्
Then the gods, along with Gandharvas, Siddhas, and great sages, delighted, honored Partha, the doer of blameless deeds.
आसीर्वादैः स्तूयमानो दिव्यवादित्रनिःस्वनैः। प्रतिपेदे महाबाहुः शङ्खदुन्दुभिनादितम्
Praised with blessings and the sounds of celestial instruments, the mighty-armed one advanced, as conches and drums resounded.
नक्षत्रमार्गं विपुलं सुरवीथीति विश्रुतम्। इन्द्राज्ञया ययौ पार्थः स्तूयमानः समन्ततः
By Indra’s command, Partha traveled the broad path of the stars, renowned as the way of the gods, being praised on all sides.
तत्र साध्यास्तथा विश्वे मरुतोऽथाश्विनौ तथा। आदित्या वसवो रुद्रास्तथा ब्रह्मर्षयोऽमलाः
There were the Sadhyas, the Vishvedevas, the Maruts, the Ashvins, the Adityas, the Vasus, the Rudras, and the pure Brahmarshis.
राजर्षयश्च बहवो दिलीपप्रमुखा नृपाः। तम्बुरुर्नारदश्चैव गन्धर्वौ च हाहा हूहूः
And many royal sages, foremost among them Dilipa, kings, Tamburu, Narada, and the Gandharvas Haha and Huhu.