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.'
येऽन्ये क्वचिन्मनुष्येषु तिर्यग्योनिगताश्च ये। धर्मं ते समवेक्षन्ते रक्षांसि च विशेषतः
All others among men, and even those born in other wombs, observe dharma; especially do the Rakshasas observe it.
धर्मस्यराक्षसा मूलं धर्मं ते विदुरुत्तमम्। एतत्परीक्ष्यसर्वं त्वं समीपे स्थातुमर्हसि
Rakshasas are the root of dharma; they know the highest dharma. You should consider all this and remain near it.
देवाश्च ऋषयः सिद्धाः पितरश्चापि राक्षस। गन्धर्वोरगरक्षांसि वयांसि पशवस्तथा
O Rakshasa, the gods, sages, perfected beings, ancestors, Gandharvas, serpents, Rakshasas, birds, and beasts—
तिर्यग्योनिगताश्चैव अपि कीटपिपीलिकाः। मनुष्यानुपजीवन्ति ततस्त्वमपि जीवसि
And even those born in other wombs, such as insects and ants, live depending on humans; therefore, you too live because of them.
समृद्ध्या यस्य लोकस्य लोको युष्माकमृध्यति। इमं च लोकं शोचन्तमनुशोचन्ति देवताः। पूज्यमानाश्च वर्धन्ते हव्यकव्यैर्यथाविधि
When the world prospers, your world also prospers. The gods grieve for this world when it is afflicted; and when they are properly worshipped with offerings, they increase.
वयं राष्ट्रस्य गोप्तारो रक्षितारश्च राक्षस। राष्ट्रस्यारक्ष्यमाणस्य कुतो भूतिः कुतः सुखम्
We are the protectors and guardians of the kingdom, O Rakshasa. If the kingdom is not protected, how can there be prosperity or happiness?
न च राजाऽवमन्तव्यो रक्षसा जात्वनागसि। अनुरप्यपचारश्च नास्त्यस्माकं नराशन
Nor should the king be disrespected, for he has committed no wrong; nor do we, who eat the food of men, ever act improperly toward those who show us kindness.
विघसाशान्यथाशक्त्या कुर्महे देवतादिषु। गुरूंश्च ब्राह्मणांश्चैव प्रमाणप्रवणाः सदा
We offer leftovers as we are able to the gods and others; and we always honor teachers and Brahmins, submitting to proper authority.
द्रोग्धव्यं न च मित्रेषु न विश्वस्तेषु कर्हिचित्। येषां चान्नानि भुञ्जीत यत्रच स्यात्प्रतिश्रयः
One must never betray friends or those who trust us; nor those whose food one has eaten, or with whom one has found shelter.
स त्वं प्रतिश्रयेऽस्माकं पूज्यमानः सुखोषितः। भुक्त्वा चान्नानि दुष्प्रज्ञ कथमस्माञ्जिहीर्षसि
You have been honored and well cared for as our guest, enjoying our food—how, then, foolish one, do you wish to harm us?