एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु विश्वामित्रो दिवं गतः। पुरुहूतपुरीं रम्यामाजगामेन्द्रसेवया
At that very time, Vishvamitra ascended to heaven and came to the delightful city of Indra, serving the lord of the gods.
उपस्थाने च संवृत्ते देवेन्द्रस्य महात्मनः। आजगाम वसिष्ठोऽपि वामदेवसहायवान्
When the assembly of the great-souled Indra was convened, Vasistha also arrived, accompanied by Vamadeva.
उपस्थाने च संवृत्ते सुखासीने पुरंदरे। वर्ण्यमानेषु च तदा सत्यवादिषु राजसु
When the assembly was gathered and Indra was seated comfortably, the truth-speaking kings were being praised at that time.
तस्यां संसदिसर्वस्माद्धरिश्चन्द्रोऽपि पप्रथे। यज्ञदानतपःशीलसत्यवाक्यदृझव्रतैः
Among all in that assembly, Harishchandra became renowned for his sacrifices, gifts, austerities, truthfulness, and firm vows.
वसिष्ठः परमप्रीतः स्वयाज्यपरिकीर्तनात्। तथापि विश्वामित्रस्तं न सेहे सत्यभूषितम्
Vasistha was extremely pleased by the praise of his own yajamana; yet even so, Vishvamitra could not tolerate Harishchandra, adorned with truth.
हरिश्चन्द्रं प्रति तदा विश्वामित्रवसिष्ठयोः। पणः कृतस्तदा पश्चाद्विश्वामित्रेण पार्थिवः
Then, concerning Harishchandra, a wager was made between Vishvamitra and Vasistha; afterwards, the king became the subject of Vishvamitra's test.
राज्याच्चापि सुखाच्चापि सहसा चावरोपितः। अवाप परमं दुःखं मरणादमनोहरम्
Suddenly deprived of his kingdom and happiness, he suffered the utmost misery, more dreadful than death.
तच्छ्रुत्वा परमप्रीतो धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः। भ्रातृभिर्ब्राह्मणैश्चैव द्रौपद्या च समन्वितः। विस्मयं परमं गत्वा साधुसाध्वित्यभाषत
Hearing this, King Yudhishthira, the lord of dharma, was greatly delighted; accompanied by his brothers, Brahmanas, and Draupadi, he was filled with supreme wonder and exclaimed, 'Excellent! Excellent!'
ततो हरिश्चन्द्रकथां च सर्वे श्रुत्वा तु राजा मनुजेन्द्रकेतुः। विहाय शोकं विजहार भूयः स्मरन्हरिश्चन्द्रमनन्तकीर्तिम्
Then, having heard the tale of Harishchandra, King Manujendraketu cast off his sorrow and rejoiced again, remembering Harishchandra's endless fame.
कथामेवं तथा कृत्वा हरिश्चन्द्रनलाश्रयाम्। आमन्त्र्य पाण्डवान्सर्वान्बृहदश्वो जगाम ह'। उक्त्वा चाशु सरोऽगच्छदुपस्प्रष्टुं महातपाः
Having thus recounted the story centered on Harishchandra and Nala, Brihadashva took leave of all the Pandavas and departed; and the great ascetic quickly went to the lake to perform his ablutions.
बृहदश्व गते पार्थमश्रौषीत्सव्यसाचिनम्। वर्तमनं तपस्युग्रे वायुभक्षं मनीषिणम्
When Brihadashva had gone, Arjuna heard of the mighty Savyasacin, living on air, engaged in fierce austerities.
ब्राह्मणएभ्यस्तपस्विभ्यः संपतद्भ्यस्ततस्ततः। तीर्थशैलवनेभ्यश्च समेतेभ्यो दृढव्रतः
From brahmins and ascetics, from those assembled at holy places, mountains, and forests, all steadfast in their vows, he heard of him.
इतिपार्थो महाबाहुर्दुरापं तप आस्थितः। न तथा दृष्टपूर्वोऽन्यः कश्चिदुग्रतपा इति
Thus Partha, mighty-armed, undertook an arduous penance; never before had anyone been seen performing such severe austerity.
यथा धनंजयः पार्थस्तपस्वी नियतव्रतः। मुनिरेकचरः श्रीमान्धर्मो विग्रहवानिव
Just as Dhananjaya, son of Pritha, steadfast in his vow, practiced austerity—like a sage living alone, radiant, as if Dharma himself had taken form.
तं श्रुत्वा पाण्डवो राजंस्तप्यमानं महावने। अन्वशोचत कौन्तेयः प्रियं वै भ्रातरं जयम्
Hearing of his beloved brother Jaya enduring austerities in the great forest, the Pandava, son of Kunti, grieved for him.
दह्यमानेन तु हृदा शरणार्थी महावने। ब्राह्मणान्विविधज्ञानान्पर्यपृच्छद्युधिष्ठिरः
With a heart burning with anguish, seeking refuge in the great forest, Yudhishthira questioned brahmins of various knowledge.
प्रतिगृह्याक्षहृदयं कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः। आसीद्धृष्टमना राजन्भीमसेनादिभिर्युतः
Having received comfort for his afflicted heart, Kunti's son Yudhishthira sat with a cheerful mind, surrounded by Bhimasena and the others.
स्वभ्रातॄन्सहितान्पश्यन्कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः। अपश्यन्नर्जुनं तत्रबभूवाश्रुपरिप्लुतः
Seeing his brothers gathered together, Kunti's son Yudhishthira, not seeing Arjuna there, became overcome with tears.
संतप्यमानः कौन्तेयो भीमसेनमुवाच ह। कदा द्रक्ष्यामि वै भीम पार्तमत्र तवानुजम्
Tormented, the son of Kunti spoke to Bhimasena: 'Bhima, when shall I see your younger brother Partha here again?'
मत्कृते हि कुरुश्रेष्ठ तष्यते परमं तपः। तस्याक्षहृदयज्ञानमाख्यास्यामि कदा न्बहम्
'For my sake, O best of Kurus, he endures supreme austerity; when will I tell him the knowledge of dice, which I have learned?'
स हि श्रुत्वाऽक्षहृदयं समुपात्तं मया विभो। प्रहृष्टः पुरुषव्याघ्रो भविष्यति न संशयः
'When he hears the knowledge of dice, which I have acquired, that tiger among men will rejoice—of this there is no doubt.'
भगवान्काम्यकात्पार्थे गते मे प्रपितामहे। पाण्डवाः किमकुर्वंस्ते तमृते सव्यसाचिनम्
O venerable one, when Partha had gone from Kamyaka, what did my grandfathers, the Pandavas, do in the absence of Savyasacin?
स हि तेषां महेष्वासो गतिरासीदनीकजित्। आदित्यानां यथा विष्णुस्तथैव प्रतिभाति मे
For he, the mighty archer, was their refuge in battle; just as Vishnu is among the Adityas, so he appears to me.
तेनेन्द्रसमवीर्येण संग्रामेष्वनिवर्तिना। विनाभूता वने वीराः कथमासन्पितामहाः
With him, equal in strength to Indra, unyielding in battle, gone, how did those heroes, my grandfathers, fare in the forest?
गते तु पाण्डवेतात काम्यकात्सव्यसाचिनि। बभूवुः कौरवेयास्ते दुःखशोकपरायणाः
When Savyasacin had departed from Kamyaka, the Kauravas became absorbed in grief and sorrow.
आक्षिप्तसूत्रा मणयश्छिन्नपक्षा इवाण्डजाः। अप्रीतमनसः सर्वे बभूवुरथ पाण्डवाः
Like jewels with their threads broken, like birds with their wings cut, all the Pandavas became dispirited and joyless.
वनं तु तदभूत्तेन हीनमक्लिष्टकर्मणा। कुबेरेण यथाहीनं वनं चैत्ररथं तथा
That forest, deprived of him whose deeds were flawless, became like the Chaitraratha wood when it was abandoned by Kubera.
तमृते ते नरव्याघ्राः पाण्डवा जनमेजय। मुदमप्राप्नुवन्तो वै काम्यके न्यवसंस्तदा
Without him, O Janamejaya, the tiger-like Pandavas did not find joy as they dwelled in Kamyaka.
ब्राह्मणार्थे पराक्रान्ताः शुद्धैर्वाणैर्महारथाः। निघ्नन्तो भरतश्रेष्ठ मेध्यान्बहुविधान्मृगान्
Those mighty warriors, striving for the sake of the Brahmanas and with pure vows, O best of Bharatas, hunted many kinds of clean game.
नित्यंहि पुरुषव्याघ्रा वन्याहारमरिंदमाः। प्रविसृत्य समाहृत्य ब्राह्मणेभ्यो न्यवेदयन्
Always, those subduers of foes, tiger-like men, would go out, gather wild food, and present it to the Brahmanas.