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.
उद्वृत्ता ह्यसुराः केचिन्निवातकवचा इति। विप्रियेषु स्थिताऽस्माकं वरदानेन मोहिताः
Some Asuras, known as the Nivātakavacas, have grown arrogant in strength, deluded by boons, and stand opposed to us.
तर्कयन्ते सुरान्हन्तुं बलदर्पसमन्विताः। देवान्न गणयन्त्येते तथा दत्तवरा हि ते
Filled with pride and power, they plot to destroy the gods, disregarding the deities, for such are the boons they have received.
पातालवासिनो रौद्रा दनोः पुत्रा महाबलाः। सर्वे देवनिकाया हि नालं योधयितुं हि तान्
The fierce and mighty sons of Danu, dwelling in the netherworld, cannot be fought by all the hosts of the gods together.
योसौ भूमिगतः श्रीमान्विष्णुर्मुधुनिषूदनः। कपिलो नाम देवोसौ भगवानजितो हरिः
That illustrious Viṣṇu, slayer of Madhu, who dwells on earth, is the god named Kapila, the blessed, unconquered Hari.
येन पूर्वंमहात्मानः खनमाना रसातलम्। दर्शनादेव निहताः सगरस्यात्मजा विभो
By whose mere sight, O mighty one, the great-souled sons of Sagara, while digging into the netherworld, were destroyed.
तेन कार्यं महत्कार्यमस्माकं द्विजसत्तम। पाथेन च महायुद्धे समेताभ्यामसंशयम्
By him, O best of twice-born, a great task must be accomplished for us; with his aid, we shall face the great battle without doubt.
सोऽसुरान्दर्शनादेव शक्तो हन्तुं सहानुगान्। निवातकवचान्सर्वान्नागानिव महाह्रदे
He is able, by his very sight, to destroy the Asuras along with their followers, just as he destroyed all the Nivatakavachas in the great abyss.
किंतु नाल्पेन कार्येण प्रबोध्यो मधुसूदनः। तेजसः सुमहाराशिः प्रबुद्धः प्रदहेज्जगत्
However, Madhusudana should not be awakened for a minor task; when awakened, he is a vast mass of energy and could burn up the world.
अयं तेषां समस्तानां शक्तः प्रतिसमासने। तान्निहत्यरणे शूरः पुनर्यास्यति मानुषान्
He alone is able to face all of them in battle; after slaying them in the field, the valiant one will return to the world of men.
भवानस्मन्नियोगेन यातु तावन्महीतलम्। काम्यके द्रक्ष्यसे वीरं निवसन्तं युधिष्ठिरम्
You, by our command, should go to the earth; in Kamyaka you will see the heroic Yudhishthira residing there.