देवैः पूर्वं विचीर्णानि मुनिभिश्च महात्मभिः। यथाक्रममशेषेण द्विजैः संपूजितानि च
These were previously examined by the gods and by great sages, and honored in full by the twice-born according to proper order.
ऋषीणां पूर्वचरितं तपोधर्मविचेष्टितम्। राजर्षीणां च चरितं कथाश्च विविधाः शुभाः
The ancient deeds of the sages, their acts of austerity and righteousness, and the stories of royal sages, as well as various auspicious tales.
शृण्वानास्तत्रतत्र स्म आश्रमेषु शिवेषु च। अभिषेकं द्विजैः सार्धं कृतवन्तो विशेषतः
Listening here and there in the sacred hermitages, they performed ablutions together with the twice-born, especially.
अर्चिताः सततं देवाः पुष्पैरद्भिः सदा च वः। यथालब्धैर्मूलफलैः पितरश्चापि तर्पिताः
The gods were always worshipped with flowers and water, and you too, with whatever roots and fruits were obtained, and the ancestors were also satisfied.
पर्वतेषु च रम्येषु सर्वेषु च सरस्सु च। उदधौ च महापुण्ये सूपस्पृष्टं महात्मभिः
On beautiful mountains, in all the lakes, and in the most sacred ocean, the great souls bathed thoroughly.
इला सरस्वती सिन्धुर्यमुना नर्मदा तथा। नानातीर्थेषु रम्येषु सूपस्पृष्टं सह द्विजैः
In Ilā, Sarasvatī, Sindhu, Yamunā, and Narmadā, and in various delightful holy places, they bathed together with the twice-born.
गङ्गाद्वारमतिक्रम्य बहवः पर्वताः शुभाः। हिमवान्पर्वतश्चैव नानाद्विजगणायुतः
Passing beyond the gateway of the Ganges, many auspicious mountains were seen, including Himavat, crowded with various groups of twice-born.
विशाला बदरी दृष्टा नरनारायणाश्रमः। दिव्यपुष्करिणी दृष्टा सिद्धदेवर्षिपूजिता
Viśālā and Badarī were seen, as well as the hermitage of Nara and Nārāyaṇa; the divine lake was seen, worshipped by accomplished sages and gods.
यथाक्रमविशेषेण सर्वाण्यायतनानि च। दर्शितानि द्विजेनद्रेण लोमशेन महात्मना
All the sanctuaries were shown in proper sequence by the great-souled sage Lomasha, the twice-born Indra.
इमं वैश्रवणावासं दुर्गमं गन्धमादनम्। कथं भीम गमिष्यामो मतिरत्र विधीयताम्
This is the abode of Vaiśravaṇa, the difficult Gandhamādana mountain; Bhīma, how shall we proceed? Let a plan be made here.
एवं ब्रुवति राजेन्द्रे वागुवाचाशरीरिणी। न शक्यो दुर्गमो गन्तुं पर्वतो गन्धमादनः
As the king spoke thus, a bodiless voice said: 'The difficult Gandhamādana mountain cannot be traversed.'
अननैव पथा राजन्प्रतिगच्छ यथागतम्। नरनारायणस्थानं बदरीत्यभिविश्रुतम्
Return by the same path, O king, as you came, to the place of Nara and Nārāyaṇa, renowned as Badarī.
तस्माद्यास्यसि कौन्तेय सिद्धचारणसेवितम्। बहुपुष्पफलं रम्यमाश्रमं वृषपर्वणः
From there, O son of Kunti, you will go to the delightful hermitage of Vṛṣaparvan, frequented by accomplished beings and celestial singers, abundant in flowers and fruits.
अतिक्रम्य च तं पार्थ त्वार्ष्टिषेणाश्रमे वसेः। ततो द्रक्ष्यसि कौन्तेय निवेशं धनदस्य च
Having passed that, O Pārtha, you will reside in the hermitage of Arṣṭiṣeṇa; then, O son of Kunti, you will see the abode of Dhanada.
एतस्मिन्नन्तरे वायुर्दिव्यगन्धवहः शुभः। भनःप्रह्लादनः शीतः पुष्पवर्षं ववर्ष वै
Meanwhile, a divine wind carrying fragrant scents, pleasant and refreshing, blew and showered flowers.
तच्छ्रुत्वा दिव्यमाकाशाद्विस्मयः समपद्यत। ऋषीणां ब्राह्मणानां च पार्थिवानां विशेषतः
Hearing that, a wondrous amazement arose, especially among the sages, the Brahmins, and the kings.
श्रुत्वा तन्महदाश्चर्यं द्विजो धौम्यस्त्वभाषत। न शक्यमुत्तरं गन्तुं प्रतिगच्छाम पाण्डव
Hearing that great marvel, the Brahmin Dhaumya spoke: 'It is not possible to go further north; let us return, O Pāṇḍava.'
ततो युधिष्ठिरो राजा विस्मयोत्फुल्ललोचनः। [प्रत्यागम्य पुनस्तं तु नरनारायणाश्रमम् ।।]
Then King Yudhishthira, his eyes wide with astonishment, [returned again to the hermitage of Nara and Nārāyaṇa.]
भीमसेनादिभिः सर्वैर्भ्रातृभिः परिवारितः। पाञ्चाल्या ब्राह्मणैश्चैव न्यवसत्सुसुखं तदा
Surrounded by all his brothers, including Bhimasena, as well as by Draupadi and the Brahmanas, he then dwelled there in great comfort.
ततस्तान्परिविश्वस्तान्वसतस्तत्र पाण्डवान्। [पर्वतेन्द्रे द्विजैः सार्धं पार्तागमनकाङ्क्षया ।।]
Then, as the Pandavas lived there, feeling secure, together with the Brahmanas on that great mountain, they awaited Arjuna’s return.
गतेषु तेषु रक्षःसु भीमसेनात्मजेऽपि च। रहितान्मीमसेनेन कदाचित्तान्यदृच्छया। जहार धर्मराजं वै यमौ कृष्णां च राक्षसः
When the Rakshasas had departed, and even Bhimasena’s son was gone, at a moment when Bhimasena was absent, by chance, a Rakshasa seized King Yudhishthira, the twins, and Krishna (Draupadi).
ब्रह्मन्कथं धर्मराजं यमौ कृष्णां च राक्षसः। जहार चित्रं भीमश्च गतो राक्षसकण्टकः। वक्तुमर्हसि विप्राग्र्य व्यक्तमेतन्ममाऽनघ
O Brahman, how did the Rakshasa seize King Yudhishthira, the twins, and Krishna? It is strange, for Bhima had gone to deal with the Rakshasa threat. You, foremost of Brahmins, ought to tell me this clearly, O sinless one.
ब्राह्मणो मन्त्रकुशलः सर्वास्त्रेष्वस्त्रवित्तमः। इति ब्रुवन्पाण्डवेयान्पर्युपास्ते स्म नित्यदा । परीप्समानः पार्थानां कलापांश्च धनूंषि च
A Brahmin, skilled in mantras and foremost in the knowledge of all weapons, always attended upon the Pandavas, seeking to observe the bows and quivers of the sons of Pritha.
अन्तरं संपरिप्रेप्सुर्द्रौपद्या हरणं प्रति। दुष्टात्मा पापबुद्धिः स नाम्ना ख्यातो जटासुरः
Desiring to find an opportunity to abduct Draupadi, that wicked-souled and evil-minded one, known by the name Jatasura, sought a chance.
[पोषणं तस् राजेनद्र चक्रे पाण्डवनन्दनः। बुबुधे न च तं पापं भस्मच्छन्नमिवानलम्
That son of the Pandavas, thinking him to be a Brahmin, provided for his needs, but did not recognize that evil one, just as one does not perceive fire covered by ashes.
स भीमसेने निष्क्रान्ते मृगयार्थमरिंदमे। [घटोत्कचं सानुचरं दृष्ट्वा विप्रद्रुतं दिशः
When Bhimasena, the subduer of foes, had gone out for hunting, and Ghatotkacha with his followers had departed, the Brahmin fled in fear in all directions.
लोमशप्रभृतींस्तांस्तु महर्षीश्च समाहितान्। स्नातुं विनिर्गतान्दृष्ट्वा पुष्पार्थं च तपोधनान्]
Seeing the great sages like Lomasha and others, who had gone out with concentrated minds to bathe and to gather flowers, the ascetic ones departed.
रूपमन्यत्समास्थाय विकृतं भैरवं महत्। गृहीत्वा सर्वशस्त्राणि द्रौपदीं परिगृह्य च। प्रातिष्ठत सुदुष्टात्मा त्रीन्गृहीत्वा च पाण्डवान्
Assuming another form, terrible and frightful, he seized all the weapons, took hold of Draupadi, and, with a thoroughly wicked heart, set out, having also seized the three Pandavas.
[विक्रम्य कौशिकं खङ्गं मोक्षयित्वा ग्रहं रिपोः।] आक्रन्दद्भीमसेन वै येन यातो महाबलः
Having overpowered the Kauśika sword and freed it from the enemy’s grasp, Bhimasena, the mighty one, rushed forth at the sound of their cries.
तमब्रवीद्धर्मराजो ह्रियमाणो युधिष्ठिरः। धर्मस्ते हीयते मूढ न चैनं समवेक्षसे
As he was being carried away, King Yudhishthira said to him: 'O fool, you abandon dharma and do not observe it.'