एतस्मिन्नन्तरे राजंश्चित्रसेनेन वै हृतः। विललाप सुदुःखार्तो नीयमानः सुयोधनः
Meanwhile, O king, Suyodhana was seized by Citraratha and, being led away, wailed in great distress.
युधिष्ठिर महाबाहो सर्वधर्मभृतांवर। सपुत्रान्सहदारांश्च गन्धर्वेण हृतान्बलात्
Yudhishthira, mighty-armed, best upholder of dharma, together with his sons and wives, was forcibly taken by the Gandharva.
पाण्डुपुत्र महाबाहो कौरवाणां यशस्कर' सर्वधर्मभृतां श्रेष्ठ गन्धर्वेण हृतं बलात्। रक्षस्व पुरुषव्याघ्र युधिष्ठिर महायशः
O mighty-armed son of Pandu, bringer of glory to the Kauravas, best of all upholders of dharma, Yudhishthira the illustrious has been seized by the Gandharva; protect him, O tiger among men.
भ्रातरं ते महाबाहो बद्ध्वा नयति मामयम्। दुश्शासनं दुर्विषहं दुर्मुखं दुर्जयं तथा
This one is leading away your mighty-armed brother, having bound him, along with Dushasana, Durvishaha, Durmukha, and also Durjaya.
बद्ध्वा हरन्ति गन्धर्वा अस्मान्दारांश्च सर्वशः। अनुधावत मां क्षिप्रं रक्षध्वं पुरुषोत्तमाः
The Gandharvas have bound us and are taking away all our wives; pursue me quickly and protect us, O best of men!
यमौ मामनुधावेतां रक्षार्थं मम सायुधौ। कुरुवंशस्य सुमहदयशः प्राप्तमीदृशम्। व्यपोहयध्वं गन्धर्वाञ्जित्वा वीर्येण पाण्डवाः
Let the two sons of Yama, armed, follow me for my protection; such great fame has come to the Kuru lineage—dispel the Gandharvas, Pandavas, by your valor!
एवं विलपमानस्य कौरवस्यार्तया गिरा। श्रुत्वा विलापं संभ्रान्तो घृणयाऽभिपरिप्लुतः
Hearing the lament of the Kaurava, who was crying out in distress, Yudhishthira was filled with compassion and became agitated.
युधिष्ठिरः पुनर्वाक्यं भीमसेनमथाब्रवीत्। सुयोधनस्य मोक्षाय प्रयतध्वमतन्द्रिताः
Then Yudhishthira spoke again to Bhimasena: 'Strive diligently for the release of Suyodhana.'
क इवार्यो दयेत्प्राणानभिधावेति चोदितः। प्राञ्जलं शरणापन्नं दृष्ट्वा शत्रुमपि ध्रुवम्
Who among the noble, when urged, would not risk his life to help, seeing even an enemy, hands joined, seeking refuge?
वरप्रदानं राज्यं च पुत्रजन्म च पाण्डवाः। शत्रोश्च मोक्षणं क्लेशास्त्रीणि चैकं च तत्समम्
Granting a boon, giving a kingdom, the birth of a son, and the release of an enemy—these three, Pandavas, and this one, are equal in difficulty.
न ह्यस्त्यधिकमेतस्माद्यदापन्नः सुयोधनः। त्वद्बाहुबलमाश्रित्य जीवितं परिमार्गते
There is nothing greater than this: that Suyodhana, in distress, seeks to preserve his life relying on your strength of arms.
स्वयमेव प्रधावेयं यदि न स्याद्वृकोदर। विततो मे क्रतुर्वीर न हि मेऽत्र विचारणा
If, O Vrikodara, my sacrificial vow were not underway, I would go myself; for me, there is no hesitation here.
साम्नैव तु यथा भीम मोक्षयेथाः सुयोधनम्। तथा सर्वैरुपायैस्त्वं यतेथाः कुरुनन्दन
But, Bhima, if you can, release Suyodhana by conciliation; if not, Kurunandana, strive by all means.
न साम्ना प्रतिपद्येत यदि गन्धर्वराडसौ। पराक्रमेण मृदुना मोक्षयेथाः सुयोधनम्
If the king of the Gandharvas does not yield to conciliation, then release Suyodhana by gentle force.
अथासौ मृदुयुद्धेन न मुञ्चेद्भीम कौरवान्। सर्वोपायैर्पिमोच्यास्ते निगृह्य परिपन्थिनः
But if, Bhima, he does not release the Kauravas even with gentle combat, then by all means free them, subduing the obstructors.
एतावद्धि मया शक्यं संदेष्टुं वै वृकोदर। वैताने कर्मणि तते वर्तमाने च भारत। `वरप्रदानं सुमहद्याचकस्य प्रकीर्तितम्
This much, O Vrikodara, can I instruct you, as my sacrificial rite is ongoing, O Bharata; granting a great boon to a suppliant is praised in the ritual.
अजातसत्रोर्वचनं तच्छ्रुत्वा तु धनंजयः। प्रतिजज्ञे गुरोर्वाक्यं कौरवाणां विमोक्षणम्
Hearing these words of Ajatasatru, Dhananjaya pledged to fulfill the teacher’s command and release the Kauravas.
यदि ककसाम्ना न मोक्ष्यन्ति गन्धर्वा धृतराष्ट्रजान्। अद्य गन्धर्वराजस्य भूमिः पास्यति शोणितम्
If the Gandharvas do not release the sons of Dhritarashtra by conciliation, then today the earth shall drink the blood of the king of the Gandharvas.
अर्जुनस्य तु तां श्रुत्वा प्रतिज्ञां सत्यवादिनः। कौरवाणां तदा राजन्पुनः प्रत्यागतं मनः
Hearing Arjuna’s vow, who always speaks the truth, the minds of the Kauravas, O King, returned to hope.
युधिष्ठिरवचः श्रुत्वा भीमसेनपुरोगमाः। प्रहृष्टवदनाः सर्वे समुत्तस्थुर्नरर्षभाः
Hearing Yudhishthira’s words, all the best of men, led by Bhimasena, rose up with joyful faces.
अभेद्यानि ततः सर्वे समनह्यन्त भारत। जाम्बूनदविचित्राणि कवचानि महारथाः। आयुधानि च दिव्यानि विविधानि समादधुः
Then all the great warriors, O Bharata, donned impenetrable golden armor and took up various divine weapons.
ते दंशिता रथैः सर्वे ध्वजिनः सशरासनाः। पाण्डवाः प्रत्यदृश्यन्त ज्वलिता इवपावकाः
All those warriors, adorned, mounted their chariots with banners and bows in hand; the Pandavas appeared like blazing fires.
तान्रथान्साधुसंपन्नान्संयुक्ताञ्जवनैर्हयैः। आस्थाय रथशार्दूलाः शीघ्रमेव ययुस्ततः
Those tiger-like warriors mounted chariots well-equipped and yoked with swift horses, and departed quickly.
ततः कौरवसैन्यानां प्रादुरासीन्महास्वनः। प्रयातान्सहितान्दृष्ट्वा पाण्डुपुत्रान्महारथान्
Then a great roar arose from the Kaurava army, seeing the Pandava princes, mighty chariot-warriors, proceeding together.
जितकाशिनश्च स्वचरास्त्वरिताश्च महारथाः। क्षणेनैव वने तस्मिन्समाजग्मुरभीतवत्
The victorious Gandharvas, their own forces, and the swift great chariot-warriors, all gathered in that forest within a moment, fearless.
न्यवर्तन्त ततः सर्वे गन्धर्वा जितकाशिनः। दृष्ट्वा रथगतान्वीरान्पाण्डवांश्चतुरो रणे
Then all the Gandharvas who had conquered the Kauravas withdrew, seeing the four Pandava heroes in their chariots on the battlefield.
तांस्तु विभ्राजितान्दृष्ट्वा लोकपालानिवोद्यतान्। व्यूढानीका व्यतिष्ठन्त गन्धमादनवासिनः
Seeing them shining like the guardians of the worlds, arrayed for battle, the Gandharvas dwelling in Gandhamadana formed their ranks.
राज्ञस्तु वचनं श्रुत्वा धर्मपुत्रस्य धीमतः। क्रमेण मृदुना युद्धमुपक्रान्तं च भारत
Hearing the words of the wise king Yudhishthira, the battle began gently and in order, O Bharata.
न तु गन्धर्वराजस्य सैनिका मन्दचेतसः। शक्यन्ते मृदुना श्रेयः प्रतिपादयितुं तदा
But at that time, the soldiers of the Gandharva king, dull-minded, could not be led to good by gentle means.
ततस्तान्युधि दुर्धर्षान्सव्यसाची परंतपः। सान्त्वपूर्वमिदं वाक्यमुवाच खचरान्रणे
Then Arjuna, scorcher of foes, addressed those difficult-to-defeat Gandharvas in battle, speaking these words with conciliation first.