वासाय स्वाण्डवप्रस्थं व्रजध्वं गतमत्सराः। तयोस्ते वचनाज्जग्मुः सह सर्वैः सुहृज्जनैः
Go, free from envy, to your own Khandavaprastha to dwell; thus addressed, they departed with all their friends.
नगरं खाण्डवप्रस्थं रत्नान्यादाय सर्वशः। तत्र ते न्यवसन्पार्थाः संवत्सरगणांन्बहून्
The sons of Pritha took all their wealth and went to the city of Khandavaprastha; there they dwelt for many years.
वशे शस्त्रप्रतापेन कुर्वन्तोऽन्यान्महीभृतः। एवं धर्मप्रधानास्ते सत्यव्रतपरायणाः
By the power of their weapons, they brought other kings under their control; thus, they were devoted to righteousness and steadfast in truthfulness.
अप्रमत्तोत्थिताः क्षान्ताः प्रतपन्तोऽहितान्बहून्। अजयद्भीमसेनस्तु दिशं प्राचीं महायशाः
Ever vigilant, patient, and subduing many foes, the illustrious Bhimasena conquered the eastern direction.
उदीचीमर्जुनो वीरः प्रतीचीं नकुलस्तथा। दक्षिणां सहदेवस्तु विजिग्ये परवीरहा
The heroic Arjuna conquered the north, Nakula likewise the west, and Sahadeva, slayer of enemy heroes, conquered the south.
एवं चक्रुरिमां सर्वे वशे कृत्स्नां वसुन्धराम्। पञ्चभिः सूर्यसङ्काशैः सूर्येण च विराजता
In this way, all of them brought the entire earth under their sway, shining like five suns together with the radiant Sun himself.
षट्सूर्येवाभवत्पृथ्वी पाण्डवैः सत्यविक्रमैः। ततो निमित्ते कस्मिंश्चिद्धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः
By the Pandavas of true valor, the earth became as if adorned with six suns; then, for a certain reason, King Yudhishthira,
वनं प्रस्थापयामास तेजस्वी सत्यविक्रमः। प्राणेभ्योऽपि प्रियतरं भ्रातरं सव्यसाचिनम्
The glorious and truly valiant Yudhishthira sent his dear brother, Savyasacin Arjuna, to the forest, who was dearer to him than life itself.
अर्जुनं पुरुषव्याघ्रं स्थिरात्मानं गुणैर्युतम्। स वै संवत्सरं पूर्णं मासं चैकं वने वसन्
That tiger among men, Arjuna, steadfast and endowed with virtues, dwelled in the forest for a full year and one month.
तीर्थयात्रां च कृतवान्नागकन्यामवाप च। पाण्ड्यस्य तनयां लब्ध्वा तत्र ताभ्यांसहोषितः
He undertook a pilgrimage to holy places and obtained the Naga maiden; having gained the daughter of the Pandya king, he lived there with both of them.
ततोऽगच्छद्धृषीकेशं द्वारवत्यां कदाचन। लब्धवांस्तत्र बीभत्सुर्भार्यां राजीवलोचनाम्
Then, at some time, he went to Hrishikesha in Dvaravati, where the mighty-armed Arjuna obtained as wife the lotus-eyed maiden.
अनुजां वासुदेवस्य सुभद्रां भद्रभाषिणीम्। सा शचीव महेन्द्रेण श्रीः कृष्णेनेव सङ्गता
Subhadra, the eloquent sister of Vasudeva; she was united with Arjuna as Shachi is with Indra, as Fortune is with Krishna.
सुभद्रा युयुजे प्रीत्या पाण्डवेनार्जुनेन ह। अतर्पयच्च कौन्तेयः खाण्डवे हव्यवाहनम्
With affection, Subhadra was joined to Arjuna, the Pandava; and the son of Kunti satisfied Agni in the Khandava forest.
बीभत्सुर्वासुदेवेन सहितो नृपस्तम। नातिभारो हि पार्थस्य केशवेन सहाभवत्
Arjuna, together with Vasudeva, the foremost of men, was not overburdened in that task because he had Krishna as his companion.
व्यवसायसहायस्य विष्णोः शत्रुवधेष्विव। पार्थायाग्निर्ददौ चापि गाण्डीवं धनुरुत्तमम्
With Krishna, helper in resolve like Vishnu in the destruction of enemies, Agni gave to Partha the supreme bow Gandiva.
इषुधी चाक्षयैर्बाणै रथं च कपिलक्षणम्। मोक्षयामास बीभत्सुर्मयं यत्र महासुरम्
And also quivers with inexhaustible arrows, and a chariot marked with the sign of Kapila; there Arjuna freed Maya, the great Asura.
स चकार सभां दिव्यां सर्वरत्नसमाचिताम्। तस्यां दुर्योधनो मन्दो लोभं चक्रे सुदुर्मतिः
He built a divine assembly hall adorned with all gems; in that hall, the foolish Duryodhana, blinded by greed, became envious.
ततोऽक्षैर्वञ्चयित्वा च सौबलेन युधिष्ठिरम्। वनं प्रस्थापयामास सप्तवर्षाणि पञ्च च
Then, having deceived Yudhishthira at dice with the son of Subala, he sent him to the forest for thirteen years—twelve in exile and one in concealment.
अज्ञातमेकं राष्ट्रे च ततो वर्षं त्रयोदशम्। ततश्चतुर्दशे वर्षे याचमानाः स्वकं वसु
One year incognito in the kingdom, after those thirteen years; then, in the fourteenth year, when they sought their rightful wealth,
नालभन्त महाराज ततो युद्धमवर्तत। ततस्ते क्षत्रमुत्साद्य हत्वा दुर्योधनं नृपम्
They did not obtain it, O great king; then war broke out. Thereupon, having destroyed the Kshatriya host and slain King Duryodhana,
राज्यं विहतभूयिष्ठं प्रत्यपद्यन्त पाण्डवाः। `इष्ट्वा क्रतूंश्च विविधानश्वमेधादिकान्बहून्
The Pāṇḍavas regained a kingdom that had been greatly diminished, and they performed many diverse sacrifices, including the Aśvamedha and others.
धृतराष्ट्रे गते स्वर्गं विदुरे पञ्चतां गते। गमयित्वा क्रियां स्वर्ग्यां राज्ञाममिततेजसाम्
When Dhṛtarāṣṭra had departed to heaven and Vidura had passed away, they performed the proper rites for those kings of immeasurable splendor, leading them to the heavenly realm.
स्वं धाम याते वार्ष्णेये कृष्णदारान्प्ररक्ष्य च। महाप्रस्थानिकं कृत्वा गताः स्वर्गमनुत्तमम्
When Vārṣṇeya (Kṛṣṇa) had gone to his own abode, and after protecting Kṛṣṇa's wives, they undertook the great departure and attained the supreme heaven.
एवमेतत्पुरावृत्तं तेषामक्लिष्टकर्मणाम्। भेदो राज्यविनाशश्च जयश्च जयतांवर
Thus, in ancient times, these events occurred for those whose deeds were unblemished: division, the destruction of the kingdom, and victory, O best of the victorious.
कथितं वै समासेन त्वया सर्वं द्विजोत्तम। महाभारतमाख्यानं कुरूणां चरितं महत्
O best of the twice-born, you have indeed recounted in summary the entire Mahābhārata, the great tale of the deeds of the Kurus.
कथां त्वनघ चित्रार्थां कथयस्व तपोधन। विस्तरश्रवणे जातं कौतूहलमतीव मे
O sinless one, tell the story with its vivid meanings in detail, O possessor of austerity; for in hearing the full account, my curiosity has grown exceedingly.
स भवान्विस्तरेणेमां पुनराख्यातुमर्हति। न हि तृप्यामि पूर्वेषां शृण्वानश्चरितं महत्
You should narrate this again in detail, for I am never satisfied by hearing the great deeds of the ancients.
न तत्कारणमल्पं वै धर्मज्ञा यत्र पाण्डवाः। अवध्यान्सर्वशो जघ्नुः प्रशस्यन्ते च मानवैः
Surely, the reason is not small why the Pāṇḍavas, who know dharma, though innocent, endured and overcame all those adversities, and are praised among men.
किमर्थं ते नरव्याघ्राः शक्ताः सन्तो ह्यनागसः। प्रयुज्यमानान्संक्लेशान्क्षान्तवन्तो दुरात्मनाम्
For what reason were those tiger-like men, though capable and blameless, able to patiently endure the afflictions inflicted by the wicked?
कथं नागायुतप्राणो बाहुशाली वृकोदरः। परिक्लिश्यन्नपि क्रोधं धृतवान्वै द्विजोत्तम
How did Vṛkodara, strong as ten thousand elephants, though afflicted, restrain his anger, O best of the twice-born?