सुपुत्राद्यपृथा तात त्वया पुत्रेण सत्तम। ऋषयोपि हि धैर्येण जिता वै ते महाभुज
O son, Kuntī is truly blessed to have you as her child, best among men; even the sages have been overcome by your steadfastness, O mighty-armed one.
यं च दत्तवती शापमुर्वशी तव मानद। स चापि तेऽर्थकृत्तात साधकश्च भविष्यति
And the curse that Urvaśī placed upon you, O honourable one, will indeed serve your purpose, O son, and will be accomplished.
अज्ञातवासो वस्तव्यो भवद्भिर्भूतलेऽनघ। वर्पे त्रयोदशे वीर तत्र त्वं गमयिष्यसि
You must dwell on earth in concealment, O sinless one, during the thirteenth year, O hero; there you will fulfill this.
तेन नर्तकवेपेण अपुंस्त्वेन तथैव च। वर्षमेकं विहृत्यैव ततः पुंस्त्वमवाप्स्यसि
With that dancer’s guise, and likewise with loss of manhood, after spending one year thus, you will regain your masculinity.
एवमुक्तस्तु शक्रेण फल्गुनः परवीरहा। मुदं परमिकां लेभे न च शापं व्यचिन्तयत्
Thus addressed by Śakra, Phālguna, destroyer of enemy heroes, felt the highest joy and did not worry about the curse.
चित्रसेनेन सहितो गन्धर्वेण यशस्विना। रेमे स स्वर्गभवने पाण्डुपुत्रो धनंजयः
Together with Citrarśena, the illustrious Gandharva, the son of Pāṇḍu, Dhanaṃjaya, enjoyed himself in the heavenly palace.
य इमां शृणुयान्नित्यं धृतिं पाण्डुसुतस्य वै। न तस्य कामः कामेषु पापकेषु प्रवर्तते
Whoever hears always of the steadfastness of the son of Pāṇḍu, his desire will not turn toward sinful pleasures.
इदममरवरात्मजस्य घोरं सुचि चरितं विनिशाम्य फल्गुनस्य। व्यपगतमददम्भरागदोषा- स्त्रिदिवगताऽभिरमन्ति मानवेन्द्राः
Having observed this pure and terrible conduct of Phālguna, son of the best of the immortals, the kings who have gone to heaven, free from pride, arrogance, and anger, rejoice.
ततो देवाः सगन्धर्वाः समादायार्घ्यमुत्तमम्। शक्रस्य मतमाज्ञाय पार्थमानर्चुर्जसा
Then the gods along with the Gandharvas, bringing the highest offering, honored Pārtha with energy, knowing Śakra’s wish.
पाद्यमाचमनीयं च प्रतिग्राह्य नृपात्मजम्। प्रवेशयामासुरथो पुरन्दरनिवेशनम्
They offered water for washing the feet and for sipping, and, receiving the prince, led him into the abode of Purandara.
एवं संपूजितो जिष्णुरुवास भवने पितुः। उपशिक्षन्महास्त्राणि ससंहाराणि पाण्डवः
Thus honored, Jishnu dwelled in his father’s palace, learning great weapons and their withdrawal, O Pāṇḍava.
स शक्रहस्ताद्दयितं वज्रमस्त्रं दुरुत्सहम्। अशनिं च महानादां मेघबृंहितलक्षणाम्
From Śakra’s hand he received the beloved thunderbolt weapon, hard to withstand, and the thunderbolt with a great roar, marked by the swelling of clouds.
गृहीतास्त्रस्तु कौन्तेयो भ्रातॄन्सस्मार पाण्डवः। पुरन्दरनियोगाच्च पञ्चाब्दमवसत्सुखम्
Having received the weapons, the son of Kuntī remembered his brothers, and by Purandara’s command, dwelled happily for five years.
ततः शक्रोऽब्रवीत्पार्थं कृतास्त्रं काल आगते। नृत्तं गीतं च कौन्तेय चित्रसेनादवाप्नुहि
Then Śakra spoke to Pārtha, who had mastered the weapons, when the time had come: 'Learn dance and song from Citrarśena, O son of Kuntī.'
वादित्रं दैवविहितं नृलके यन्न विद्ते। मदाज्ञया च कौन्तेय श्रेयो वै ते भविष्ति
'And the music devised by the gods, which men do not know—by my command, O son of Kuntī, this will bring you benefit.'
सखायं प्रददौ चास्य चित्रसेनं पुरन्दरः। स तेन सह संगम्य रेमे पार्थो निरामयः
And Purandara gave him Citrarśena as a companion; joining with him, Pārtha enjoyed himself, free from affliction.
कदाचिदटमानस्तु महर्षिरथ लोमशः। जगाम शक्रभवनं पुरंदरदिदृक्षया
Once, the great sage Lomaśa, while wandering, went to the abode of Indra, desiring to see the lord of the gods.
स समेत्य नमस्कृत्य देवराजं महामुनिः। ददर्शार्धासनगतं पाण्डवं वासवस्य हि
Having arrived and offered his respects to the king of the gods, the great sage saw Arjuna, seated on half a throne beside Indra.
ततः शक्राभ्यनुज्ञात आसने विष्टरोत्तरे। निषसाद द्विजश्रेष्ठः पूज्यमानो महर्षिभिः
Then, with Indra's permission, the best of twice-born, honored by the great sages, sat down on a spacious seat.
तस्य दृष्ट्वाऽभवद्बुद्धिः पार्थमिन्द्रासने स्थितम्। कथं नु क्षत्रियः पार्थः शक्रासनमवाप्तवान्
Seeing Arjuna seated on Indra's throne, it occurred to him: How has this Kshatriya, Partha, attained the seat of Indra?
किं त्वस्य सुकृतं कर्म के लोका वै विनिर्जिताः। स एवमनुसंप्राप्तः स्थानं देवनमस्कृतम्
What meritorious deeds has he performed, what worlds has he conquered, that he has reached this revered place of the gods?
तस्य विज्ञाय संकल्पं शक्रो वृत्रविमर्दनः। लोमशं प्रहसन्वाक्यमिदमाह शचीपतिः
Knowing his thoughts, Indra, the slayer of Vritra, smiling, spoke these words to Lomaśa, lord of Śacī.
देवर्षे श्रूयतां यत्ते मनसैतद्विवक्षितम्। नायं केवलमर्त्योऽभूत्क्षत्रियत्वमुपागतः
O divine sage, listen to what you have in mind; this one is not merely a mortal who has taken birth as a Kshatriya.
महर्षे मम पुत्रोऽयं कुन्त्यां जातो महाभुजः। अस्त्रहेतोरिह प्राप्तः कस्माच्चित्कारणान्तरात्
O great sage, this mighty-armed one is my son, born of Kunti; he has come here for weapons, for a certain other reason.
अहो नैनं भवान्वेत्ति पुराणमृषिसत्तमम्। शृणु मे वदतो ब्रह्मन्योऽयं यच्चास्य कारणम्
Indeed, you do not know him, the ancient and foremost of sages; hear from me as I speak, he is devoted to Brahman, and this is his reason.
नरनारायणौ यौ तौ पुराणावृषिसत्तमौ। ताविमावभिजानीहि हृषीकेशधनंजयौ
Those two ancient and foremost sages, Nara and Nārāyaṇa—know these two as Hṛṣīkeśa and Dhanañjaya.
विख्यातौ त्रिषु लोकेषु नरनारायणावृषी। कार्यार्थमवतीर्णौ तौ पृथ्वीं पुण्यप्रतिश्रयाम्
Nara and Nārāyaṇa, renowned in the three worlds, have descended to the holy earth for a purpose.
यन्न शक्यं शुरैर्द्रष्टुमृषिभिर्वा महात्मभिः। तदाश्रमपदं पुण्यं बदरीनाम विश्रुतम्
That sacred hermitage called Badarī, famed and inaccessible to heroes or great sages, is their abode.
स निवासोऽभवद्विप्र विष्णोर्जिष्णोस्तथैव च। यतः प्रववृते गङ्गा सिद्धचारणसेविता
O Brahmin, that was the dwelling of Viṣṇu and Jishnu; from there the Gaṅgā, served by Siddhas and Cāraṇas, began to flow.
तौ मन्नियोगाद्ब्रह्मर्षे क्षितौ जातौ महाद्युती। भूमेर्भारावतरणं महावीर्यौ करिष्यतः
By my command, O Brahmarṣi, those two radiant ones have taken birth on earth, to relieve her burden by their great might.