क्रूरकर्माऽस्त्रवित्तात भविष्यसि परंतप। यदर्थमस्त्राणीप्सुस्त्वं तं कामं पाण्डवाप्नुहि
He said: 'You will become skilled in weapons, O scorcher of foes, and whatever desire you have for weapons, O Pāṇḍava, may you obtain it.'
ततोऽहमब्रुवं नाहं दिव्यान्यस्त्राणि शत्रुहन्। मानुषेषु प्रयोक्ष्यामि विनाऽस्त्रप्रतिघातनात्
Then I said: 'O slayer of enemies, I shall not use these divine weapons among men, except in countering other weapons.'
तानि दिव्यानि मेऽस्त्राणि प्रयच्छ विबुधाधिप। लेकांश्चास्त्रजितान्पश्चाल्लभेयं सुरपुङ्गव
Grant me those divine weapons, O lord of the wise; later, O best of the gods, may I obtain the weapons that conquer the hosts.
परीक्षार्थं मयैतत्ते वाक्यमुक्तं धनंजय। ममात्मजस्य वचनं सूपपन्नमिदं तव
For the sake of testing you, O Dhanañjaya, I spoke those words; this request of yours is indeed fitting, as my own son has said.
शिक्ष मे भवनं गत्वासर्वाण्यस्त्राणि भारत। वायोरग्नेर्वसुभ्योऽपि वरुणात्समरुद्गणात्
Learn from me, O Bhārata, after going to my abode, all the weapons—even those of the Wind, Fire, the Vasus, Varuṇa, and the Maruts.
साध्यं पैतामहं चैव गन्धर्वोरगरक्षसाम्। वैष्णवानि च सर्वाणि नैर्ऋतानि तथैव च
And also those of the Sādhyas, the grandsire, the Gandharvas, serpents, and Rākṣasas; all the weapons of Viṣṇu, and likewise those of Nairṛta.
मद्गतानि च जानीहि सर्वास्त्राणि कुरूद्वह। एवमुक्त्वा तु मां शक्रस्तत्रैवान्तरधीयत
Know also, O joy of the Kurus, all the weapons that are with me; having spoken thus, Śakra vanished there itself.
अथापश्यं हरियुजं रथमैन्द्रमुपस्थितम्। दिव्यं मायामयं पुण्यं यत्तं मातलिना नृप
Then I saw the Indra-chariot, yoked with celestial horses, present before me—divine, wondrous, meritorious, fashioned by Mātaḷi, O King.
लोकपालेषु यातेषु मामुवाचाथ मातलिः। द्रष्टुमिच्छति शक्रस्त्वां देवराजो महाद्युते
When the guardians of the worlds had departed, Mātaḷi spoke to me: 'Śakra, the king of the gods, O radiant one, wishes to see you.'
संसिद्धस्त्वं महाबाहो कुरु कार्यमनुत्तमम्। पश्य पुण्यकृतां लोकान्सशरीरो दिवं व्रज
'You are accomplished, O mighty-armed one; perform the supreme task. Behold the worlds of the virtuous—ascend to heaven in your own body.'
देवराजः सहस्राक्षस्त्वां दिदृक्षति भारत। इत्युक्तोऽहं मातलिना गिरिमामन्त्र्य शैशिरम्
'The king of the gods, thousand-eyed, desires to see you, O Bhārata.' Thus addressed by Mātaḷi, I saluted the Śaiśira mountain.
प्रदक्षिणमुपावृत्य समारोहं रथोत्तमम्। चोदयामास स हयान्मनोमारुतरंहसः
Circumambulating it, I ascended the excellent chariot; he urged on the horses, swift as thought and wind.
[मातलिर्हयतत्त्वज्ञो यथावद्भूरिदक्षिणः। अवैक्षत च मे वक्रृंस्तितस्याथ ससारथिः। तथा भ्रान्ते रथे राजन्विस्मितश्चेदमब्रवीत्
[Mātaḷi, expert in the lore of horses, skillful and attentive, observed my posture as I stood; then the charioteer, as the chariot moved, astonished, spoke these words:]
अत्यद्भुतमिदं त्वद्यविचित्रं प्रतिभाति मे। यदास्थितो रथं दिव्यं पदान्न चलितः पदम् ।।]
'This is truly wondrous and marvelous to me today, that though you have mounted this divine chariot, your foot has not shifted a step.'
देवराजोऽपिहि मया नित्यमत्रोपलक्षितः। विचलन्प्रथमोत्पाते हयानां भरतर्षभ
'The king of the gods, O Bhārata, I have always seen here, moving at the first leap of the horses.'
त्वं पुनः स्थित एवात्ररथे भ्रान्ते कुरूद्वह। अतिशक्रमिदं सर्वं तवेति प्रतिभाति मे
'But you, O joy of the Kurus, remain steady here even as the chariot moves; all this seems to surpass even Śakra, in my view.'
इत्युक्त्वाऽऽकाशमाविश्य मातलिर्विबुधालयान्। दर्शयामास मे राजन्विमानानि च भारत
Having spoken thus, Mātaḷi entered the sky and showed me, O King, the abodes of the gods and their aerial mansions.
[स रथो हरिभिर्युक्तो ह्यूर्ध्वमाचक्रमे ततः। ऋषयो देवताश्चैव पूजयन्ति नरोत्तम
[That chariot, yoked with celestial steeds, then ascended upward; sages and gods worshipped you, O best of men.]
ततः कामगमाँल्लोकानपश्यं वै सुरर्षिणाम्। गन्धर्वाप्सरसां चैव प्रभावममितौजसाम् ।।]
Then I beheld the worlds, attainable at will, of the divine sages, and the splendor of the Gandharvas and Apsarases of immeasurable might.
नन्दनादीनि देवानां वनान्युपवनानि च। दर्शयामास मे शीघ्रं मातलिः शक्रसारथिः
Mātaḷi, charioteer of Śakra, swiftly showed me the Nandana and other forests and groves of the gods.
ततः शक्रस्य भवनमपश्यभमरावतीम्। दिव्यैः कामफलैर्वृक्षै रत्नैश्च समलंकृताम्
Then I beheld Amarāvatī, the abode of Śakra, adorned with trees bearing celestial fruits and decorated with jewels.
न तां भासयते सूर्यो न शीतोष्णे न च क्लमः। न बाधते तत्ररजस्तत्रास्ति न जरा नृप
There, the sun does not shine, nor is there heat or cold, nor fatigue; dust does not trouble there, nor is there old age, O King.
न तत्रशोको दैन्यं वा वैवर्ण्यं चोपलक्ष्यते। दिवौकसां महाराज न ग्लानिररिमर्दन। न क्रोधलोभौ तत्रास्तामशुबं वा विशांपते
There, O King, no sorrow, dejection, or pallor is seen among the dwellers of heaven; no weariness, O subduer of foes, nor anger or greed, nor anything inauspicious is found there, O lord of men.
नित्यं तुष्टाश् ते राजन्प्राणिनः सुरवेश्मनि। नित्यपुष्पफलास्तत्र पादपा हरितच्छदाः
There, O King, all beings in the mansion of the gods are always content; the trees there are ever green, bearing flowers and fruits at all times.
पुष्करिण्यश्च विविधाः पद्मसौगन्धिकायुताः। शीतस्तत्रववौ वायुः सुगन्धो वीजते शुभः
There are various lakes adorned with lotuses and blue lilies; a cool, fragrant, and auspicious breeze blows there.
सर्वरत्नविचित्रा च भूमिः पुष्पविभूषिता। मृगद्विजाश्च बहवो रुचिरा मधुरस्वराः। विमानगामिनश्चात्रदृश्यन्ते बहवोऽमराः
The earth is adorned with all kinds of jewels and decorated with flowers; many beautiful animals and birds with sweet voices are seen there, and many immortals are visible, moving in aerial chariots.
ततोऽपश्यं वसून्रुद्रान्साध्यांश्च समरुद्गणान्। आदित्यानश्विनौ चैव तान्सर्वान्प्रत्यपूजयम्
Then I saw the Vasus, Rudras, Sādhyas with the Marut hosts, the Ādityas, and the two Ashvins; I offered reverence to all of them.
ते मां वीर्येण यशसा तेजसा च बलेन च। अस्त्रैश्चाप्यन्वजानन्त संग्रामे विजयेन च
They recognized me for my valor, fame, energy, and strength, and also for my mastery of weapons and victories in battle.
प्रविश्य तां पुरीं दिव्यां देवगन्धर्वपूजिताम्। देवराजं सहस्राक्षमुपातिष्ठं कृताञ्जलिः
Entering that divine city, honored by gods and Gandharvas, I approached the thousand-eyed king of the gods with joined palms.
ददावर्धासनं प्रीतः शक्रो मे ददतांवरः। बहुमानाच्च गात्राणि पस्पर्श मम वासवः
Pleased, Śakra, the bestower of boons, offered me a seat of honor, and out of great respect, Vāsava touched my limbs.