क्षिप्रं निवर्तध्वमलं मृगैर्नो मनो हि मे दूयति दह्यते च। बुद्धिं समाच्छाद्य च मे समन्यु- रुद्धूयते प्राणपतिः शरीरे
Quickly turn back; enough of hunting! My mind is troubled and burning. My reason is clouded, and my breath is agitated within my body.
सरः सुपर्णन हृतोरगेन्द्र- मराजकं राष्ट्रमिवेह शान्तम्। एवंविधं मे प्रतिभाति काम्यकं शौण्डैर्यथा पीतसुरश्च कुम्भः
This lake, bereft of the great bird and the serpent king, is as desolate as a kingdom without a king. Thus does the Kamyaka forest appear to me, like a wine jar drained by heroes.
ते सैन्धवैरग्न्यनिलोग्रवेगै- र्महाजवैर्वाजिभिरुह्यमानाः। युक्तैर्बृहद्भिः सुरथैर्नृवीरा- स्तदाश्रमायाभिमुखा बभूवुः
Then those mighty warriors, drawn by swift horses of great speed yoked to large, noble chariots—horses as forceful as fire, wind, and thunder—headed toward the hermitage.
तेषां तु गोमायुरनल्पघोषो निवर्ततां वाममुपेत्य पार्श्वम्। प्रव्याहरत्तत्प्रविमृश्य राजा प्रोवाच भीमं च धनंजयं च
As they turned back, a jackal with a loud cry approached their left side; the king, reflecting on this, spoke to Bhima and Dhananjaya.
यथा वदत्येप विहीनयोनिः सालावृकोवाममुपेत्य पार्स्वम्। सुव्यक्तमस्मानवमत्य पापैः कृतोऽभिमर्दः कुरुभिः प्रसह्य
Just as this jackal, born in a lowly womb, comes to our left and howls, so too have the Kurus, with evil intent, openly oppressed us, holding us in contempt.
एत्याथ ते तद्वनमाविशन्तो महत्यरण्ये मृगयां चरित्वा। बालामपश्यन्त तदा रुदन्तीं धात्रेयिकां प्रेष्यवधूं प्रियायाः
Then, as they entered that great forest after hunting, they saw a young woman weeping—she was the maidservant of their beloved, the nurse’s daughter-in-law.
तामिन्द्रसेनस्त्वरितोऽभिसृत्य रथादवप्लुत्य ततोऽभ्यधावत्। प्रोवाच चैनां वचनं नरेन्द्र धात्रेयिकामार्ततरस्तदानीम्
Indrasena, hastening, leapt from the chariot and ran toward her; deeply distressed, the king spoke these words to the nurse’s daughter-in-law.
कच्चित्परैर्नापकृतं वनेऽस्मिन्
Has anyone harmed you in this forest?
पर्याकुला साधु समीक्ष्यसूत- मभ्यापतन्तं द्रुतमिन्द्रसेनम्। उरो घ्नती कष्टतरं तदानी- मुच्चैः प्रचुक्रोश हृतेति देवी
Seeing the charioteer Indrasena rushing swiftly toward her, the queen, overwhelmed, struck her breast in anguish and cried out loudly, 'She has been taken!'
अनिन्द्यरूपा तु विशालनेत्रा शरीरतुल्या कुरुपुङ्गवानाम्। `केनात्मनाशाय यदापनीता छिद्रं समासाद्य नरेन्द्रपत्नी
She, faultless in form and wide-eyed, equal in stature to the foremost Kurus—by whom, finding an opportunity, was the queen, wife of the king, taken away for her own destruction?
यद्येव देवीं पृथिवीं प्रविष्टा दिवं प्रपन्नाऽप्यथवा समुद्रम्। तस्या गमिष्यन्ति पदे हि पार्था- स्तथा हि संतप्यति धर्मराजः
Whether the queen has entered the earth, ascended to heaven, or gone to the sea, the Parthas will follow her path; so deeply does Yudhishthira grieve.
को हीदृशानामरिमर्दनानां क्लेशक्षमाणामपराजितानाम्। प्राणैः समामिष्टतमां जिहीर्षे- दनुत्तमं रत्नमिव प्रमूढः
Who, among such slayers of foes, enduring hardship and undefeated, would foolishly wish to seize their dearest one—like a priceless gem—at the risk of his own life?
न बुध्यते नाथवतीमिहाद्य बहिश्चरं हृदयं पाण्डवानाम्। कस्याद्य कायं प्रतिभिद्य घोरा महीं प्रवेक्ष्यन्ति शिताः शराग्र्याः
Today, the hearts of the Pandavas, though their protector is gone, do not perceive her absence; whose body will the sharp, terrible arrowheads pierce today and send to the earth?
मा त्वं शुचस्तां प्रति भीरु विद्धि यथाऽद्य कृष्णा पुनरेष्यतीति। निहत्य सर्वान्द्विषतः समग्रा- न्पार्थाः समेष्यनत्यथ याज्ञसेन्या
Do not grieve for her, O timid one; know that Krishna will return today. The Parthas will bring back Yajnaseni after destroying all their enemies together.
अथाब्रवीच्चारुमुखं प्रसृज्य धात्रेयिका सारथिमिन्द्रसेनम्। जयद्रथेनापहृताप्रमथ्य पञ्चेन्द्रकल्पान्परिभूय कृष्णा
Then the nurse’s daughter-in-law, letting go her lovely-faced companion, spoke to the charioteer Indrasena: 'Krishna was seized and carried off by Jayadratha, overpowering even those like Indra.'
तिष्ठन्ति वर्त्मानि नवान्यमूनि वृक्षाश्च न म्लान्ति तथैव भग्नाः। आवर्तयध्वं ह्यनुयात शीघ्रं न दूरयातैव हि राजपुत्री
Here are new tracks; the trees, though broken, have not withered. Quickly turn and follow— the princess is not far ahead.
सन्नह्यध्वं सर्व एवेन्द्रकल्पा महान्ति चारूणि च दंशनानि। गृह्णीत चापानि महाधनानि शरांश्च शीघ्रं पदवीं व्रजध्वम्
All of you, mighty as Indra, arm yourselves; put on your great, shining armor, take up your splendid bows and sharp arrows, and swiftly pursue the path.
पुरा हि निर्भर्त्सनदण्डमोहिता प्रमूढचित्ता वदनेन शुष्यता। ददाति कस्मैचिदनर्हते तनुं वराज्यपूर्णामिव भस्मनि स्रुचम्
Once, bewildered by harsh words and punishment, her mind confused and her face withered, she was given to someone unworthy—like a ladle full of clarified butter cast into ashes.
पुरा तुषाग्नाविव हूयते हविः पुरा श्मशाने स्रगिवापविद्ध्यते। पुरा च सोमोऽध्वरगोऽवलिह्यते शुना यथा विप्रजने प्रमोहिते
Once, like an offering cast into cold ashes, or a garland thrown away in a cremation ground, or Soma left at a sacrifice and licked by a dog when the priests are absent, so was she treated.
पुरा हि पार्थाश्च दृतौ च कापिली प्रसिच्छते क्षीरधारा यतध्वम्'। महत्यरण्ये मृगयां चरित्वा पुरा सृगालो नलिनीं विगाहते
Once, O Parthas, you and the daughter of Drupada, like streams of milk, were restrained; after hunting in the great forest, once a jackal entered a lotus pond.
पुरा हि मन्त्राहुतिपूजितायां हुताग्निवेद्यां बलिभुङ्गिलीयते। श्रुतिं च सम्यक्प्रसृतां महाध्वरे ग्राम्यो जनो यद्वदसौ न नाशयेत्
In ancient times, when offerings were made with proper mantras and the sacred fire was honored, the food placed for sacrifice was consumed by the rightful recipient; and the pure recitation of scripture at a great ritual should not be disturbed by ordinary people, just as it is prescribed.
मा वः प्रियायाः सुनसं सुलोचनं चन्द्रप्रभाच्छं वदनं प्रसन्नम्। स्पृश्याच्छुभं कश्चिदकृत्यकारी श्वा वै पुरोडाशमिवाध्वरस्थम्
Let no one, acting wrongly, touch the beautiful nose, lovely eyes, radiant moon-like face, or cheerful countenance of your beloved, just as a dog should not touch the sacrificial cake placed at the altar.
एतानि वर्त्मान्यनुयात शीघ्रं मा वः कालः क्षिप्रमिहात्यगाद्वै
Quickly follow these paths, so that time does not swiftly pass you by here.
शीघ्रं प्रधावध्वमितो नरेन्द्रा यावन्न दूरं व्रजतीति पापः। प्रत्याहरध्वं द्विषतां सकाशा- ल्लक्ष्मीमिव स्वां दयितां नृसिंहाः
Run swiftly from here, O kings, before the evil one goes far; withdraw from the enemy's presence, O lion-hearted ones, as you would reclaim your own beloved fortune.
भद्रे प्रतिक्राम नियच्छ वाचं माऽस्मत्सकाशे परुषाण्यवोचः। राजानो वा यदि वा राजपुत्रा बलेन मत्ताः पञ्चतां प्राप्नुवन्ति
O gentle one, turn back and restrain your speech; do not utter harsh words in our presence. Whether kings or princes, intoxicated by power, they meet their end.
एतावदुक्त्वा प्रययुर्हि शीघ्रं तान्येव वर्त्मान्यनुवर्तमानाः। मुहुर्मुहुर्व्यालवदुच्छ्वसन्तो ज्यां विक्षिपन्तश्च महाधनुर्भ्यः
Having spoken thus, they departed quickly, following those same paths; again and again, breathing like serpents, they stretched the bowstrings of their great bows.
ततोऽपश्यंस्तस्य सैन्यस्य रेणु- मुद्धूतं वै वाजिस्वुरप्रणुन्नम्। पदातीनां मध्यगतं च धौम्यं विक्रोशन्तं भीम पार्थेत्यभीक्ष्णम्
Then they saw the dust of that army stirred up by the galloping horses; and in the midst of the foot soldiers was Dhaumya, repeatedly crying out, 'Bhima! Partha!'
ते सान्त्व्य धौम्यं परिदीनसत्वाः सुखं भवानेत्विति राजपुत्राः। श्येना यथैवामिषसंप्रयुक्ता जवेन तत्सैन्यमथाभ्यधावन्
The princes, consoling Dhaumya who was distressed, said, 'May you be well.' Then, like hawks drawn to meat, they rushed at that army with speed.
तेषां महेन्द्रोपमविक्रमाणां संरब्धानां धर्षणाद्याज्ञसेन्याः। क्रोधः प्रजज्वाल जयद्रथं च दृष्ट्वा प्रियां तस्य रथे स्थितां च
Among those whose valor was like Indra's, who were enraged and daring, the anger blazed forth, especially upon seeing Jayadratha with his beloved standing on his chariot.
प्रचुक्रुशुश्चाप्यथ सिन्धुराजं वृकोदरश्चैव धनंजयश्च। यमौ च राजा च महाधनुर्धरा- स्ततो दिशः संमुमुहुः परेषाम्
Then Bhimasena, Dhananjaya, the two sons of Yama, and the king, all wielders of great bows, shouted at the king of Sindhu; and the enemy ranks were thrown into confusion.