न ह्यहं हातुमिच्छामि भवन्तमिह कर्हिचित्। शैलेऽस्मिन्राक्षसाकीर्णे दुर्गेषु विपमेषु च
For I do not wish ever to leave you here, on this mountain filled with rākṣasas, in these difficult and perilous places.
इयं चापि महाभागा राजपुत्री पतिव्रता। त्वामृते पुरुषव्याघ्र नोत्सहेद्विनिवर्तितुम्
And this noble princess, devoted to her husband, could not bear to turn back without you, O tiger among men.
तथैवसहदेवोऽयं सततं त्वामनुव्रतः। न जातु विनिवर्तेत मतज्ञो ह्यहमस्य वै
Likewise, Sahadeva here is always devoted to you; he would never turn back, for I know his mind well.
अपिचात्र महाराज सव्यसाचिदिदृक्षया। सर्वे लालसभूताः स्म तस्माद्यास्यामहे सह
Moreover, O great king, out of longing to see Savyasācin, we all have become eager; therefore, we will go together.
यद्यशक्यो रथैर्गन्तुं शैलोऽयं बहुकन्दरः। पद्भिरेव गमिष्यामो मा राजन्विमना भव
Even if this mountain, with its many caves, cannot be crossed by chariots, we will go on foot; do not be disheartened, O king.
अहं वहिष्ये पाञ्चालीं यत्रयत्र न शक्ष्यति। इति मे वर्तते बुद्धिर्मा राजन्विमना भव
Wherever Pāñcālī is unable to proceed, I will carry her; such is my resolve—do not be disheartened, O king.
सुकुमारौ तथा वीरौ माद्रीनन्दिकरावुभौ। दुर्गे संतारयिष्यामि यत्राशक्तौ भविष्यतः
The two sons of Mādrī, both tender and valiant, I will help across the difficult terrain wherever they are unable to go.
एवं ते भाषमाणस्य बलं भीमाभिवर्धताम्। यत्त्वमुत्सहसे वोढुं पाञ्चालीं विपुलेऽध्वनि
As you speak thus, Bhīma’s strength increases, for you are determined to carry Pāñcālī on this vast journey.
यमजौ चापि भद्रं ते नैतदन्यत्र विद्यते। बलं तव यशश्चैवधर्मः कीर्तिश्च वर्धताम्
May the twin sons of Yama bring you good fortune; nowhere else does such strength, fame, righteousness, and glory as yours exist—may they ever increase.
यत्त्वमुत्सहसे नेतुं भ्रातरौ सह कृष्णया। मा ते ग्लानिर्महाबाहो मा च तेऽस्तु पराभवः
Since you are determined to lead your brothers along with Krishna, O mighty-armed one, may you not falter, and may you never know defeat.
ततः कृष्णाऽब्रवीद्वाक्यं प्रहसन्ती मनोरमा। गमिष्यामि न संताप कार्यो मां प्रति भारत
Then Krishna, charming and smiling, spoke these words: 'I will go; do not be troubled on my account, O descendant of Bharata.'
तपसा शक्यते गन्तुं पर्वतो गन्धमादनः। तपसा चैव कौन्तेय सर्वे योक्ष्यामहे वयम्
By austerity, even the Gandhamadana mountain can be reached; and by austerity, O son of Kunti, we all shall surely attain our goal.
नकुलः सहदेवश्च भीमसेनश् पार्थिव। अहं च त्वं च कौन्तेय द्रक्ष्यामः श्वेतवाहनम्
Nakula, Sahadeva, Bhimasena, O king, myself, and you, O son of Kunti, shall see the white-horsed one.
एवं संभाषमाणास्ते सुबाहुविषयं महत्। ददृशुर्मुदिता राजन्प्रभूतगजवाजिमत्
Thus conversing, they joyfully beheld the great realm of Subahu, teeming with many elephants and horses, O king.
किराततङ्गणाकीर्णं पुलिन्दशतसंकुलम्। हिमवत्यमरैर्जुष्टं बह्वाश्चर्यसमाकुलम्। सुबाहुश्चापि तान्दृष्ट्वा पूजयाप्रत्यगृह्णत
Crowded with Kiratas and Tangana tribes, thronged with hundreds of Pulindas, graced by the immortals on the Himalaya, and filled with many wonders—Subahu, seeing them, welcomed them with honor.
विषयान्ते कुलिन्दानामीश्वरः प्रीतिपूर्वकम्। तत्र ते पूजितास्तेन सर्व एव सुखोपिताः
At the border of the Kulinda territory, their lord received them with affection; there, all of them were honored by him and made comfortable.
प्रतस्थुर्विमले सूर्ये हिमवन्तं गिरिं प्रति। इन्द्रसेनमुखांश्चापि भृत्यान्पौरोगवांस्तथा
When the sun rose clear, they set out toward the Himalayan mountain, along with their attendants led by Indrasena and their priests.
सूदांश्च पारिबर्हांश्च द्रौपद्याः सर्वशो नृप। राज्ञः कुलिन्दाधिपतेः परिदाय महारथाः
They entrusted all of Draupadi’s cooks and provisions to the king of the Kulindas, O ruler, before departing, those mighty warriors.
पद्भिरेव महावीर्या ययुः कौरवनन्दनाः। ते शनैः प्राद्रवन्सर्वे कृष्णया सह पाण्डवाः। तस्माद्देशात्सुसंहृष्टा द्रष्टुकामा धनंजयम्
The heroic sons of Kuru went on foot; together with Krishna, the Pandavas advanced slowly from that land, filled with joy, eager to see Dhananjaya.
भीमसेनयमौ चोभौ पाञ्चालि च निबोधत। नास्ति भूतस्य नाशो वै पश्यतास्मान्वनेचरान्
Hear, Bhimasena, the twins, and Panchali: there is no destruction for what exists—look at us, dwellers of the forest.
दुर्बलाः क्लेशिताः स्मेति यद्ब्रुवामेतरेतरम्। अशक्येऽपि व्रजामो यद्नंजयदिदृक्षया
When we say to each other, 'We are weak and afflicted,' yet we still go on, even when it seems impossible, longing to see Arjuna.
तन्मे दहति गात्राणि तूलराशिमिवानलः। यच्च वीरं न पश्यामि धनंजयमुपान्तिके
This longing burns my limbs like fire consumes a heap of cotton—because I do not see the heroic Dhananjaya nearby.
तस्यादर्शनतप्तं मां सानुजं वनमास्थितम्। याज्ञसेन्याः परामर्शः स च वीर दहत्युत
Afflicted by his absence, I dwell in the forest with my brothers; the thought of Yajnaseni’s sorrow, too, burns me, O hero.
नकुलात्पूर्वजं पार्थं न पश्याम्यमितौजसम्। अजेयमुग्रधन्वानं तेन तप्ये वृकोदर
I do not see Partha, elder to Nakula, of boundless energy, unconquerable and mighty-armed; because of this, O Vrikodara, I am tormented.
तीर्थानि चैव रम्याणि वनानि च सरांसि च। चरामि सह युष्माभिस्तस्य दर्शनकाङ्क्षया
The holy places, the lovely forests, and the lakes—I wander through them all with you, yearning to see him.
पञ्चवर्षाण्यहं वीरं सत्यसन्धं धनंजयम्। यन्न पश्यामि बीभत्सुं तेन तप्ये वृकोदर
For five years I have not seen the truthful Dhananjaya, the terrible Bibhatsu; because of this, O Vrikodara, I am tormented.
तं वै श्यामं गुडाकेशं सिंहविक्रान्तगामिनम्। न पश्यामि महाबाहुं तेन तप्ये वृकोदर
I do not see that dark-complexioned, lotus-eyed one, who moves with the stride of a lion and has mighty arms; because of this, Bhima, I am tormented.
कृतास्त्रं निपुणं युद्देऽव्रतिमानं धनुष्मताम्। न पश्यामि कुरुश्रेष्ठ तेन तप्ये वृकोदर
I do not see that foremost of the Kurus, skilled in weapons, accomplished in battle, unrivaled among archers; because of this, Bhima, I am tormented.
चरन्तमरिसङ्घेषु क्रुद्धं कालमिवानघ। प्रभिन्नमिव मातङ्गं सिंहस्कन्धं धनंजयम्
I do not see Dhananjaya, moving among hosts of enemies, enraged like Time itself, with shoulders like a lion and charging like a maddened elephant.
यः स शक्रादनवरो वीर्येण च बलेन च। यमयोः पूर्वजः पार्थः श्वेताश्वोऽमितविक्रमः
That Partha, elder among the sons of Pandu, whose strength and valor are not less than Indra's, whose steeds are white and whose prowess is boundless—