स एवमुक्तो नृपतिमुवाच द्विजसत्तमः
Thus addressed, the best of the twice-born spoke to the king.
ब्राह्मणैः सहितो राजन्ये तत्रासन्समागताः'। न स शक्यः क्रतुश्रेष्ठो जीवमाने युधिष्ठिरे। आहर्तुं कौरवश्रेष्ठ कुले तव नृपोत्तम
Accompanied by Brahmanas, the Kshatriyas assembled there; but, O best of the Kurus, this foremost sacrifice cannot be performed in your lineage while Yudhishthira is alive, O best of kings.
दीर्घायुर्जीवति च ते धृतराष्ट्रः पिता नृप। अतश्चापि विरुद्धस्ते क्रतुरेणष नृपोत्तमः
Your father Dhritarashtra, O king, is long-lived and still alive; therefore, O best of kings, this sacrifice is also opposed to you.
अस्ति त्वन्यन्महत्सत्रं राजसूयसमं प्रभो। तेन त्वं यज राजेन्द्र शृणु चेदं वचो मम
There is, however, another great sacrifice equal to the Rajasuya, O lord; with that you should perform the rite, O king of kings, and listen now to my words.
य इमे पृथिवीपालाः करदास्तव पार्थिव। ते करान्संप्रयच्छन्तु सुवर्णं च कृताकृतम्
Let those rulers of the earth who are subject to you, O king, present their tributes, both gold that is wrought and unwrought.
तेन ते क्रियतामद्यलाङ्गलं नृपसत्तम। यज्ञवाटस् ते भूमिः कृष्यतां तेन भारत
With that, let the plough be prepared today, O best of kings; let the ground for your sacrificial enclosure be tilled with it, O descendant of Bharata.
तत्र यज्ञो नृपश्रेष्टः प्रभूतान्नः सुसंस्कृतः। प्रवर्ततां यथान्यायं सर्वतो ह्यनिवारितः
There, O foremost of kings, let the sacrifice, abundant with well-prepared food, be conducted in due order, unrestricted in every way.
एष ते वैष्णवो नाम यज्ञः सत्पुरुषोचितः। एतेन नेष्टवान्कश्चिदृतेविष्णुं पुरातनम्
This is the sacrifice called Vaishnava, worthy of noble men; by this, none has been worshipped except the ancient Vishnu.
राजसूयं क्रतुश्रेष्ठं स्पर्धत्येष महाक्रतुः। अस्माकं रोचते चैव श्रेयश्च तव भारत
This great sacrifice rivals the Rajasuya, the foremost of rites; it pleases us, and it will also bring you prosperity, O Bharata.
निर्विघ्नश्च भवत्येष सफला स्यात्स्पृहा तव। `तस्मादेष महाबाहो तव यज्ञः प्रवर्तताम्
This sacrifice proceeds without obstacles and will fulfill your desire; therefore, O mighty-armed one, let this sacrifice of yours be performed.
एवमुकत्स्तु तैर्विप्रैर्धार्तराष्ट्रो महीपतिः। कर्णं च सौबलं चैव भ्रातॄश्चैवेदमब्रवीत्
Thus addressed by those Brahmanas, the king, son of Dhritarashtra, spoke these words to Karna, Saubala, and his brothers.
रोचते मे वचः कृत्स्नं ब्राह्मणानां न संशयः। रोचते यदि युष्माकं तस्मात्प्रब्रूत माचिरम्
The entire statement of the Brahmanas pleases me, without doubt; if it pleases you as well, then speak without delay.
एवमुक्तास्तु ते सर्वे तथेत्यूचुर्नराधिपम्। संदिदेश ततोराजाव्यापारस्थान्यथाक्रमम्
Thus addressed, they all replied to the king, 'So be it'; then the king gave orders for the necessary arrangements in due sequence.
हलस्य करणे चापि व्यादिष्टाः सर्वशिल्पिनः। यथोक्तं च नृपश्रेष्ठ कृतं सर्वं यथाक्रमम्
All the artisans were instructed regarding the making of the plough; and, O best of kings, everything was done as ordered, in due sequence.
ततस्तु शिल्पिनः सर्वं कृतमूर्चुर्नराधिपम्। विदुरश्च महाप्राज्ञो धृतराष्ट्रे न्यवेदयत्
Then, when all the work was completed by the craftsmen, the wise Vidura reported everything to King Dhritarashtra.
सज्जं क्रतुवरं राजन्कालप्राप्तं च भारत। सौवर्णं च कृतं सर्वं लाङ्गलं च महाधनम्
O Bharata, the great sacrifice was ready and prepared at the proper time, and all the golden implements and the valuable plough were made.
एवच्छ्रुत्वा नृपश्रेष्ठो धृतराष्ट्रो विशंपते। आज्ञापयामास नृपः क्रतुराजप्रवर्तनम्
Hearing this, the illustrious king Dhritarashtra, best of rulers, ordered the commencement of the royal sacrifice.
ततः प्रववृते यज्ञः प्रभूतार्थः सुसंस्कृतः। दीक्षितश्चापि गान्धारिर्यथाशास्त्रं यथाक्रमम्
Then the grand, well-prepared sacrifice, abundant in wealth, began; Gandhari's son was consecrated according to the scriptures and proper order.
प्रहृष्टो धृतराष्ट्रश्च विदुरश्च महायशाः। भीष्मो द्रोणः कृपः कर्णो गान्धारी च यशस्विनी
Dhritarashtra was delighted, as was the renowned Vidura, along with Bhishma, Drona, Kripa, Karna, and the illustrious Gandhari.
निमन्त्रणार्थं दूर्तांश्च प्रेषयामास शीघ्रगान्। पार्थिवानां च राजेन्द्र ब्राह्मणानां तथैव च
For the purpose of inviting guests, swift messengers were dispatched to the kings and likewise to the Brahmins, O king of kings.
ते प्रयाता यथोद्दिष्टा दूतास्त्वरितवाहनाः। तत्र कचित्प्रयान्तं तु दूतं दुःशासनोऽब्रवीत्
Those messengers, mounted on fast vehicles, set out as instructed; then, as one messenger was departing, Duhshasana spoke to him.
गच्छ द्वैतवनं शीघ्रं पाण्डवान्पापपूरुषान्। निमन्त्रय यथान्यायं विप्रांस्त स्मिन्वने तदा
Go quickly to the Dvaita forest and invite the Pandavas, those sinful men, as well as the Brahmins who are there, according to proper custom.
स गत्वा पाण्डवान्सर्वानुवाचाभिप्रणम्य च। दुर्योधनो महाराज यजते नृपसत्तमः
He went and, after respectfully greeting all the Pandavas, said: 'King Duryodhana, the foremost of rulers, is performing a sacrifice.'
स्ववीर्यार्जितमर्थौघमवाप्य कुरुसत्तमः। तत्र गच्छन्ति राजानो ब्राह्मणाश्च ततस्ततः
Having obtained a great wealth through his own strength, the best of the Kurus is gathering kings and Brahmins from various places.
अहं तु प्रेषितो राजन्कौरवेण महात्मना। आमन्त्रयति वो राजा धार्तराष्ट्रो जनेश्वरः। मनोभिलषितं राज्ञस्तं क्रतुं द्रष्टुमर्हथ
As for me, O king, I have been sent by the great-souled Kaurava; the king, son of Dhritarashtra, invites you, O lord of men, to witness the sacrifice that the king desires in his heart.
ततो युधिष्ठिरो राजा तच्छ्रुत्वा दूतभाषितम्। अब्रवीन्नृपशार्दूलो दिष्ट्या राजा सुयोधनः। यजते क्रतुमुख्येन पूर्वेषां कीर्तिवर्धनः
Then King Yudhishthira, having heard the messenger's words, said: 'It is fortunate that King Suyodhana is performing the foremost of sacrifices, increasing the fame of his ancestors.'
वयमप्युपयास्यामो न त्विदानीं कथंचन। समयः परिपाल्यो नो यावद्वर्षं त्रयोदशम्
We too shall come, but not at this time in any way; we must observe our agreement until the thirteenth year is complete.
श्रुत्वैतद्धर्मराजस्य भीमो वचनमब्रवीत्। तदा तु नृपतिर्गन्ता धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः
Hearing this from the king of righteousness, Bhima spoke: 'Then the king, Yudhishthira, will go.'
अस्त्रशस्त्रप्रदीप्तेऽग्नौ यदा तं पातयिष्यति। वर्षात्रयोदशादूर्ध्वं रणसत्रे नराधिपः
When, after thirteen years, the king casts him into the fire blazing with weapons and missiles in the battle-sacrifice—
यदा क्रोधहविर्मोक्ता धार्तराष्ट्रेषु पाण्डवः। आगन्तारस्तदा स्मेति वाच्यस्ते स सुयोधनः
When the Pandava offers the fuel of his wrath upon the sons of Dhritarashtra, then say to Suyodhana: 'They will come at that time.'