सहायवति सर्वार्थाः सतिष्ठन्तीह सर्वशः। किंनु तस्याजितं सङ्ख्ये यस् भ्राता धनंजयः
When one has companions, all purposes are accomplished in every way; what could remain unconquered in battle for him whose brother is Dhanaṃjaya?
अयं च बलिनांश्रेष्ठो भीमो भीमपराक्रमाः। युवानौ च महेष्वासौ वीरौ माद्रवतीसुतौ
Here too is Bhīma, foremost among the strong, of terrible prowess, and the two young, mighty archers, the heroic sons of Mādravatī.
एभिः सहायैः कस्मात्त्वं विषीदसि परंतप। य इमे वज्रिणः सेनां जयेयुः समरुद्गणाम्
With these allies, why do you despair, O scorcher of foes? These could defeat the army of the thunderbolt-wielder and the hosts of Maruts.
त्वमप्येभिर्महेष्वासैः सहायैर्देवरूपिभिः। विजेष्यसि रणे सर्वानमित्रान्भरतर्षभ
You too, with these mighty archers, companions resembling the gods, will conquer all enemies in battle, O bull among the Bharatas.
इतश्च त्वमिमां पश्यसैन्धवेन दुरात्मना। बलिना वीर्यमत्तेन हृतामेभिर्महात्मभिः
And here you see this, that the Sindhu king, wicked in mind and intoxicated with strength, was subdued by these great souls.
आनीतां द्रौपदीं कृष्णां कृत्वा कर्म सुदुष्करम्। जयद्रथं च राजानं विजितं वशमागतम्
Draupadī, called Kṛṣṇā, was brought back after a most difficult deed, and King Jayadratha was conquered and brought under control.
असहायेन रामेण वैदेही पुनराहृता। हत्वासङ्ख्ये दशग्रीवं राक्षसं भीमविक्रमम्
Even without allies, Rāma recovered Vaidehī, having slain the ten-headed Rākṣasa, fierce in valor, in battle.
यस् शाखामृगामित्राण्यृक्षाः कालमुखास्तथा। जात्यन्तरगता राजन्नेतद्बुद्ध्याऽनुचिन्तय
Those who were enemies among the monkey chiefs, bears, and Kālāmukhas, and those of other races, O king, consider this with your understanding.
तस्मात्सर्वं कुरुश्रेष्ठ मा शुचो भरतर्षभ। त्वद्विधा हि महात्मानो न शोचन्ति परंतप
Therefore, best of the Kurus, do not grieve, bull among the Bharatas; for men like you, great-souled and scorcher of foes, do not lament.
एवमाश्वासितो राजामार्कण्डेयेन धीमता। त्यक्त्वा दुःखमदीनात्मा पुनरप्येनमब्रवीत्
Thus comforted by the wise Markandeya, the king, setting aside his sorrow and regaining composure, again spoke to him.
नात्मानमनुशोचामि नेमान्भ्रातॄन्महामुने। हरणं चापि राज्यस् यथेमां द्रुपदात्मजाम्
I do not grieve for myself, nor for these brothers, O great sage, nor even for the loss of the kingdom or for this daughter of Drupada.
द्यूते दुरात्मभिः क्लिष्टाः कृष्णया तारिता वयम्। जयद्रथेन चपुनर्वनाच्चापि हृता बलात्
We were afflicted by wicked men in the dice game, and rescued by Krishna; and again, we were seized by Jayadratha and by the Rakshasa, by force.
अस्ति सीमन्तिनी काचिद्दृष्टपूर्वाऽपिवा श्रुता। पतिव्रता महाभागा यथेयं द्रुपदात्मजा
Is there any noble lady, ever seen or even heard of, as devoted to her husband and greatly fortunate as this daughter of Drupada?
शृणु राजन्कुलस्त्रीणां महाभाग्यं युधिष्ठिर। सर्वमेतद्यथाप्राप्तं सावित्र्या राजकन्यया
Hear, O king, of the great fortune of noble women, Yudhishthira; all this happened before, as with Savitri, the royal maiden.
आसीन्मद्रेषु धर्मात्मा राजा परमधार्मिकः। ब्रह्मण्यश्चमहात्मा च सत्यसन्धो जितेन्द्रियः
There was in Madra a righteous king, supremely virtuous, devoted to Brahmins, great-souled, truthful, and self-controlled.
यज्वा दानपतिर्दक्षः पौरजानपदप्रियः। पार्थिवोऽश्वपतिर्नाम सर्वभूतहिते रतः
He was a performer of sacrifices, generous, skilled, beloved by citizens and countryfolk, a ruler named Ashvapati, devoted to the welfare of all beings.
क्षमावाननपत्यश्च सत्यवाग्विजितेन्द्रियः। अतिक्रान्तेन वयसा संतापमुपजग्मिवान्
Patient, childless, truthful, and self-restrained, he, advanced in years, was overtaken by sorrow.
अपत्योत्पादनार्थं च तीव्रं नियममास्थितः। काले परिमिताहारो ब्रहमचारी जितेन्द्रियः
For the sake of begetting offspring, he undertook severe vows, eating little at the proper time, practicing celibacy and self-control.
हुत्वा शतसहस्रं स सावित्र्या राजसत्तम। षष्ठेषष्ठे तदाकाले बभूव मितमोजनः
That best of kings, together with Savitri, performed a hundred thousand offerings; every sixth month, he would eat sparingly.
एतेन नियमेनासीद्वर्षाण्यष्टादशैव तु। पूर्णे त्वष्टादशे वर्षे सावित्री तुष्टिमभ्यगात्
By this observance, for eighteen years it was so; when the eighteenth year was complete, Savitri attained satisfaction.
रूपिणी तु तदा राजन्दर्शयामास तं नृपम्। अग्निहोत्रात्समुत्थाय हर्षेण महताऽन्विता
Then, O king, radiant in form, she revealed herself to that king, rising from the sacrificial fire, filled with great joy.
उवाच चैनं वरदा वचनं पार्थिवं तदा। सा तमश्वपतिं राजन्सावित्री नियमे स्थितम्
She, the bestower of boons, then spoke these words to the king, O ruler: Savitri addressed Ashvapati, who was steadfast in his vow.
ब्रह्मचर्येण शुद्धेन दमेन नियमेन रच। सर्वात्मना च भक्त्या च तुष्टाऽस्मि तव पार्थिवाः
By your pure celibacy, self-restraint, and observance, and by your wholehearted devotion, O king, I am pleased with you.
वरं वृणीष्वाश्वपते मद्रराज यदीप्सितम्। न प्रामादश्च धर्मेषु कर्तव्यस्ते कथंचन
Choose a boon, Ashvapati, king of Madra, whatever you desire; and never, in any way, neglect righteousness.
अपत्यार्थः समारम्भः कृतो धर्मेप्सया मया। पुत्रा मे बहवो देवि भवेयुः कुलभावनाः
For the sake of offspring, I have undertaken this effort, desiring righteousness; may I have many sons, O goddess, who will uphold the lineage.
तुष्टाऽसि यदि मे देवि वरमेतं वृणोम्यहम्। संतां परमो धर्म इत्याहुर्मां द्विजातयः
If you are pleased with me, O goddess, I choose this boon: let there be progeny; for the highest righteousness, so say the twice-born, is lineage.
पूर्वमेव मया राजन्नभिप्रायमिमं तव। ज्ञात्वा पुत्रार्थमुक्तो वै भगवांस्ते पितामहः
O King, I had already understood your intention; for the sake of your son, the venerable grandsire spoke thus to you.
प्रसादाच्चैव तस्मात्ते स्वयं विहितवत्यहम्। कन्या तेजस्विनी सौम्य क्षिप्रमेव भविष्यति
And by his grace, I myself have arranged this; O gentle one, a radiant daughter will soon be born to you.
उत्तरं च न ते किंचिद्व्याहर्तव्यं कथंचन। पितामहनियोगेन तुष्टा ह्येतद्ब्रवीमि ते
You must not say anything further at all; by the command of the grandsire, satisfied, I declare this to you.
स तथेति प्रतिज्ञाय सावित्र्या वचनं नृपः। प्रसादयामास पुनः क्षिप्रमेतद्भविष्यति
The king, having pledged 'So be it' to Savitri's words, again sought her favor, and soon this came to pass.