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.’
अप्रमत्तः सदा दक्षः सत्यवादी जितेन्द्रियः। ब्रह्मण्यश्चास्त्रविच्चासि शूरश्चासि कुरूद्वह
You are ever vigilant, always skillful, truthful in speech, master of your senses, devoted to the Brahmanas, learned in weapons, and valiant, O joy of the Kurus.
अस्त्राणि समवाप्तानि त्वया दश च पञ्च च। पञ्चभिर्विधिभिः पार्थ विद्यते न त्वया समः
You have acquired fifteen weapons, O Partha, and by five methods; there is no one equal to you in these.
प्रयोगमुपसंहारमावृत्तिं च धनञ्जय। प्रायश्चित्तं च वेत्थ त्वं प्रतीघातं च सर्वशः
You know, O Dhananjaya, the deployment, withdrawal, and repetition of weapons, as well as all expiations and counteractions.
तव गुर्वर्थकालोऽयं समुत्पन्नः परंतप। प्रतिजानीष्व तं कर्तुं ततो वेत्स्याम्यहं परम्
Now the time has come for you to serve your preceptor, O scorcher of foes; declare your intent to do so, and then I will instruct you further.
ततोऽहमब्रवं राजन्देवराजमिदं वचः। विषह्यं यन्मया कर्तुं कृतमेव निबोध तत्
Then I said to the king of the gods these words: 'Whatever I am able to accomplish, consider that already done.'
ततो मामब्रवीद्राजन्प्रहसन्बलवृत्रहा। नाविपह्यं तवाद्यास्ति त्रिषु लोकेषु किंचन
Then, smiling, the slayer of Vritra said to me, 'There is nothing in the three worlds that is beyond your power now.'
निवातकवचा नाम दानवा मम शत्रवः। समुद्रकुक्षिमाश्रित्य दुर्गे प्रतिवसन्त्युत
The Danavas called Nivatakavachas are my enemies; they dwell in a fortress within the ocean's depths.
तिस्रः कोट्यः समाख्यातास्तुल्यरूपबलप्रभाः। तांस्तत्रजहि कौन्तेय गुर्वर्थस्ते भविष्यति
Three crores of them are said to exist, equal in form, strength, and splendor; slay them, O son of Kunti, for this will be your service to your teacher.
ततो मातलिसंयुक्तं मयूरसमरोमभिः। हयैरुपेतं प्रादान्मे रथं दिव्यं महाप्रभम्
Then he gave me a splendid divine chariot, yoked with horses adorned with peacock plumes and accompanied by Matali.
बबन्ध चैव मे मूर्ध्नि किरीटमिदमुत्तमम्। स्वरूपसदृशं चैव प्रादादङ्गविभूषणम्
He placed this excellent crown upon my head, and gave me ornaments befitting my form.