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.
तत्राहं देवगन्धर्वैः सहितो भूरिदक्षिणैः। अस्त्रार्तमवसं स्वर्गे शिक्षाणोऽस्त्राणि भारत
There, together with the gods and Gandharvas, who are generous with gifts, I stayed in heaven, O Bhārata, learning weapons as I desired.
विश्वावसोश्च वै पुत्रश्चित्रसेनोऽभवत्सखा। स च गान्धर्वमखिलं ग्राहयामास मां नृप
Chitrasena, the son of Viśvāvasu, became my friend, and he taught me all the arts of the Gandharvas, O King.
तत्राहमवसं राजन्गृहीतास्त्रः सुपूजितः। सुखं शक्रस् भवने सर्वकामसमन्वितः
There, O King, I stayed, honored and equipped with weapons, enjoying happiness in Śakra’s mansion, with every desire fulfilled.
शृण्वन्वै गीतशब्दं च तूर्यशब्दं च पुष्कलम्। पश्यंश्चाप्सरसः श्रेष्ठा नृत्यन्तीर्भरतर्षभ
Hearing the sounds of songs and abundant music, and seeing the foremost Apsarases dancing, O bull among the Bharatas.
तत्सर्वमनवज्ञाय तथ्यं विज्ञाय भारत। अत्यर्थं प्रतिगृह्याहमस्त्रेष्वेव व्यवस्थितः
Having truly understood and not disregarded all that, O Bhārata, I devoted myself entirely to the mastery of weapons.
ततोऽतुष्यत्सहस्राक्षस्तेन कामेन मे विभुः। एवं मे वसतो राजन्नेष कालोऽत्यगाद्दिवि
Then the thousand-eyed lord was exceedingly pleased with my devotion, and thus, O King, my time in heaven passed.
कृतास्त्रमतिविश्वस्तमथ मां हरिवाहनः। रसंस्पृश्य मूर्ध्नि पाणिब्यामिदं वचनमब्रवीत्
Then, when I had mastered the weapons and was filled with confidence, the bearer of the discus, touching my head with his hands, spoke these words:
न त्वमद्य युधा जेतुं शक्यः सुरगणैरपि। किं पुनर्मानुषे लोके मानुषैरकृतात्मभिः
Today, not even the hosts of gods could defeat you in battle; what then of men in the world, especially those whose spirits are untrained?
अप्रमेयोऽप्रधृष्यश्च युद्धेष्वप्रतिमस्तथा। `अजेयस्त्वं हि सङ्ग्रामे सर्वैरपिसुरासुरैः
You are immeasurable, unassailable, and unrivaled in battle; truly, you are invincible in combat even by all the gods and demons together.
अथाब्रवीत्पुनर्देवः संप्रहृष्टतनूरुहः। अस्त्रयुद्धे समो वीर न ते कश्चिद्भविष्यति
Then again the god, his body thrilled with joy, said: ‘O hero, in the warfare of weapons, there will be no one equal to you.’