यमाश्रित्य महाबाहुं पाञ्चालाः कुरवस्तथा। सुराणामपि यत्तानां पृतनासु न बिभ्यति
Relying on that mighty-armed one, the Panchalas and Kurus, and even the gods in battle, do not fear their foes.
यस्य बाहू समाश्रित्य वयं सर्वेमहात्मनः। मन्यामहे जितानाजौ परान्प्राप्तां च मेदिनीम्
Relying on the arms of that great soul, we all believe we have conquered our enemies in battle and gained the earth.
तमृते फल्गुनं वीरं न लभे काम्यके धृतिम्। पश्यामि च दिशः सर्वास्तिमिरेणावृता इव
Without that heroic Phalguna, I find no courage in Kamyaka; I see all directions as if covered in darkness.
ततोऽब्रवीत्साश्रुकण्ठो नकुलः पाण्डुनन्दनः। यस्मिन्दिव्यानि कर्माणि कथयन्ति रणाजिरे। देवा अपि युधांश्रेष्ठं तमृतेका रतिर्वने
Then Nakula, son of Pandu, his throat choked with tears, said: 'Even the gods recount his divine deeds in battle—without him, there is no joy for me in the forest.'
उदीचीं चो दिशं गत्वा जित्वा युधि महाबलान्। गन्धर्वमुख्याञ्शतशो हर्याँल्लेबे महाद्युतिः
And having gone to the northern direction, conquering in battle the mighty leaders of the Gandharvas by the hundreds, the radiant one seized their splendid horses.
राज्ञे तित्तिरिकल्माषाञ्श्रीमतोऽनिलरंहसः। प्रादाद्भात्रे प्रियः प्रेम्णा राजसूये महाक्रतौ
He lovingly gave to the king, his elder brother, the beautiful Tittiri and Kalmasa horses of swift speed, at the great Rajasuya sacrifice.
तमृतेभीमधन्वानं भीमादवरजं वने। कामये काम्यके वासं नेदानीममरोपमम्
Except for that bowman, Bhima's younger brother, I do not desire to dwell in Kamyaka forest now, for he is without equal among immortals.
यो धनानिन कन्याश्च युधि हित्वा महाबलान्। `शतशो घातयित्वाऽरीन्पृतनामध्यगस्तदा'। आजहार पुरा राज्ञे राजसूये महाक्रतौ
He who, leaving behind the wealthy and maidens, struck down hundreds of powerful foes in battle and brought them before the king at the great Rajasuya sacrifice.
यः समेतान्मृधे जित्वायादवानमितद्युतिः। सुभद्रामाजहारैको वासुदेवस्य संमते
He whose brilliance is boundless, who alone defeated the assembled Yadavas in battle and carried off Subhadra with Vasudeva's approval.
येनार्धराज्यमाच्छिद्य द्रुपदस्य महात्मनः। आचार्यदक्षिणा दत्ता रणे द्रोणश्यभारत
By whom, having seized half the kingdom of the great-souled Drupada, the teacher's fee was paid to Drona in battle, O Bharata.
तस्य जिष्णोर्बृसीं दृष्ट्वा सून्यत्रेव निवेशने। हृदयं मे महाराज न शाम्यात्रकदाचन
O great king, seeing the bow of Jishnu lying abandoned in the dwelling, my heart can never find peace here.
विनादस्माद्विवासं तु रोचयेऽहमरिंदम। न हि नस्तमृते वीरं रमणीयमिदं वनम्
O subduer of foes, except for this exile, I do not find this forest delightful without that hero among us.
धनञ्जयोत्सुकास्ते तु वने तस्मिन्महारथाः। न्यवसन्त महाभागा द्रौपद्या सह कृष्णया
Longing for Dhananjaya, those great chariot-warriors, blessed ones, dwelled in that forest together with Krishna, Draupadi.
धनं जयोत्सुकानां तु भ्रातॄणां कृष्णया सह। श्रुत्वा वाक्यानि विमना धर्मराजोप्यजायत
Hearing the words of his brothers, who were longing for Dhananjaya along with Krishna, King Yudhishthira became dispirited.
अथापश्यन्महात्मानं देवर्षिं तत्र नारदम्। दीप्यमानं श्रिया ब्राह्म्या दीप्ताग्निसमतेजसम्
Then the great-souled king saw the divine sage Narada there, shining with Brahmic splendor, his brilliance equal to blazing fire.
तमागतमभिप्रेक्ष्य भ्रातृभिः सह धर्मराट्। प्रत्युत्थाय यथान्यायं पूजां चक्रे महात्मने
Beholding him arrive, King Yudhishthira, together with his brothers, rose up according to custom and offered worship to the great-souled one.
स तैः परिवृतः श्रीमान्भ्रातृभिः कुरुसत्तमः। विबभावतिदीप्तौजा देवैरिव शतक्रतुः
Surrounded by his brothers, the illustrious best of the Kurus shone with exceeding radiance, like Indra among the gods.
यथा च वेदान्सावित्री याज्ञसेनी तथा पतीन्। न जहौ धर्मतः पार्थान्मेरुमर्कप्रभा यथा
Just as Savitri never abandoned the Vedas, so Yajnaseni never abandoned her husbands in righteousness, like the sun's brilliance never leaving Meru.
अर्ध्यं पाद्यमथानीय त्वभ्यवायदच्युतः। नारदस्तु महातेजाः स्वस्त्यस्त्वित्यभ्यभाषत
Then, having brought arghya and water for washing the feet, Achyuta offered food; but the mighty Narada spoke, 'May there be welfare.'
ततो युधिष्ठिरो राजा दृष्ट्वा देवर्षिसत्तमम्। यथार्हं पूजयामास विधिवत्कुरुनन्दनः
Then King Yudhishthira, seeing the foremost of divine sages, honored him as was fitting, according to the proper rites, O joy of the Kurus.
प्रतिगृह्य च तां पूजां नारदो भगवानृषिः। आश्वासयद्धर्मसुतं युक्तरूपमिवानघ
And having accepted that worship, the blessed sage Narada comforted the son of Dharma in a manner appropriate to the occasion, O sinless one.
उवाच च महात्मानं धर्मराजं युधिष्ठिरम्। ब्रूहि धर्मभृतां श्रेष्ठ केनार्थः किं ददानि ते
And he spoke to the great-souled King Yudhishthira: 'Speak, O best of the upholders of Dharma, for what purpose have I come? What shall I give you?'
अथ धर्मसुतो राजा प्रणम्य भ्रातृभिः सह। उवाच प्राञ्जलिर्भूत्वा नारदं देवसंमितम्
Then King Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma, together with his brothers, bowed down and, with joined palms, addressed Narada, who is esteemed among the gods.
न्वयि तुष्टे महाभाग सर्वलोकाभिपूजिते। कृतमित्येव मन्येऽहं प्रसादात्तव सुव्रत
O greatly fortunate one, honored by all the worlds, if you are pleased, I consider my purpose accomplished solely by your grace, O steadfast one.
यदि त्वहमनुग्राह्यो भ्रातृभिः सहितोऽनघ। संदेहं मे सुनिश्रेष्ठ तत्वतश्छेत्तुमर्हसि
If I, together with my brothers, am worthy of your favor, O sinless one, then you, best of the virtuous, ought to dispel my doubt in its entirety.
प्रदक्षिणां यः कुरुते पृथिवीं तीर्थतत्परः। किं फलं तस्य कार्त्स्न्येन तद्भवान्वक्तुमर्हति
What is the complete fruit for one who, intent on holy places, circumambulates the earth? You should declare this, O blessed one.
शृणु राजन्नवहितो यथा भीष्मेण धीमता। पुलस्त्यस्य सकाशाद्वै सर्वमेतदुपश्रुतम्
Listen attentively, O king, to what was once heard by the wise Bhishma from Pulastya, as it was related in full.
पुरा भागीरथीतीरे भीष्मो धर्मभृतांवरः। पित्र्यं व्रतं समास्थाय न्यवसन्मुनिभिः सह
Long ago, on the banks of the Bhagirathi, Bhishma, foremost among the righteous, undertook ancestral vows and dwelt there with sages.
शुभे देशे तथा राजन्पुण्ये देवर्षिसेविते। गङ्गाद्वारे महाभाग देवगन्धर्वसेविते
In that auspicious and sacred place, O king, frequented by divine sages, at the gateway of the Ganga, honored by gods and gandharvas,
स पितॄंस्तर्पयामास देवांश्च परमद्युतिः। ऋषींश्च तर्पयामास विधिदृष्टेन कर्मणा
That illustrious one offered oblations to the ancestors and to the gods, and also satisfied the sages with rites prescribed by tradition.