इति संदिश्य तं पार्थः पुनरेव धनञ्जयम् । अब्रवीदायुधानीह निधातुं भरतर्षभः ।। 18
Having instructed him thus, Pārtha again spoke to Dhanañjaya, urging him to hide the weapons here, O bull among the Bharatas.
येन देवान्मनुष्यांश्च पिशाचोरगराक्षसान् । निवातकवचांश्चापि पौलोमांश्च परंतपः । कालकेयांश्च दुर्धाषान्सर्वांश्चैकरथोऽजयत् ।। 19
With these weapons, the conqueror of foes defeated gods, humans, spirits, serpents, demons, the invincible Nivātakavacas, the Paulomas, the fierce Kālakeyas, and all others, riding alone in his chariot.
स्फीताञ्जनपदांश्चान्यानजयत्कुरुनन्दनः। तदुदग्रं महाघोरं सपत्नगणमूदनम्। अपज्यमकरोत्पार्थो गाण्डीवं च भयंकरम् ।। 20
The son of Kuru conquered other prosperous kingdoms, destroyed the formidable and dreadful hosts of rivals, and made the mighty, fearsome Gāṇḍīva unstrung.
येन वीरः कुरुक्षेत्रमभ्यरक्षत्परंतपः । जृम्भिते च धनुःश्रेष्ठे न्यासार्थं नृपसत्तमः ।। 21
With this bow, the hero defended Kurukṣetra; when the great bow was unstrung, the noble king prepared it for safekeeping.
धर्मपुत्रो महातेजाः सर्वलोकवशंकरम्। भुजङ्गभोगसदृशं मणिकाञ्चनभूषितम् ।। 22
The son of Dharma, radiant with great energy, brought forth a bow adorned with jewels and gold, resembling the coil of a serpent, which subdues all the worlds.
वित्रासनं दानवानां राक्षसानां च नित्यशः । धनूरत्नं महातेजा जृम्भयामास पाण्डवः ।। 23
That best of bows, ever a terror to Dānavas and Rākṣasas, was stretched by the mighty Pāṇḍava.
पाञ्चालान्येन संग्रामे भीमसेनोऽजयत्पुरा । प्रत्यषेधद्बहूनेकः सपत्नांश्चापि दिग्जये ।। 24
With that bow, Bhīmasena once conquered the Pāñcālas in battle, and single-handedly repelled many rivals during his conquest of the directions.
निशम्य यस्य विष्कारं विद्रवन्ति रणे परे । पर्वतस्येव दीर्णस्य विस्फोटमशनेरिव ।। 25
At the sound of its string, enemies would flee on the battlefield, as at the thunderous crash of a mountain split by a bolt of lightning.
सैन्धवं येन राजानं जित्वा क्रुद्धः परामृशत् । येन क्रोधवशाञ्जघ्ने पर्वते गन्धमादने ।। 26
With that bow, he defeated the king of Sindhu in anger, and, overcome by wrath, struck down foes on Mount Gandhamādana.
दिव्यं सौगन्धिकं पुष्पं येनाजैषीत्स पाण्डवः। 0
With it, that Pāṇḍava won the divine Saugandhika flower.
इन्द्राशनिसमस्पर्शं वज्रहाटकभूषितम् । ज्यापाशं धनुषस्तस्य भीमसेनोऽवतारयत् ।। 28
Bhīmasena unstrung his bow, whose string, adorned with gold and diamonds, had the touch of Indra's thunderbolt.
नकुलं पुनराहूय धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः। उवाच येन संग्रामे सर्वशत्रूञ्जिघांससि ।। 29
Then, Yudhiṣṭhira, king of righteousness, summoned Nakula and said, 'With which bow do you seek to vanquish all your enemies in battle?'
सुराष्ट्राञ्जितवान्येन शार्ङ्गगाण्डीवसन्निभम् । सुवर्णविकृतं सारमिन्द्रायुधनिभं वरम् ।। 30
With which you conquered the Suraṣṭras, a splendid bow, golden and strong as Śārṅga or Gāṇḍīva, shining like Indra's weapon.
तवानुरूपं सुकृतं चापमेतदलङ्कृतम्। तद्व्यंसयित्वा ज्यापाशं निधातुं धनुराहर ।। 31
This beautifully adorned bow suits you well; now unstring it and lay it down.
अजयत्पश्चिमामाशां धनुषा येन पाण्डवः। माद्रीपुत्रो महाबाहुस्ताम्रास्यो मितभाषिता ।। 32
With that bow, the mighty-armed, copper-faced, and sparing-of-words son of Mādrī conquered the western direction.
कुले नास्ति समो रूपे यस्येति नकुलः स्मृतः ।। 33
In his lineage, there is none equal to him in beauty; thus is Nakula renowned.
सहदेवं च संप्रेक्ष्य पुनर्धर्मसुतोऽब्रवीत्। कलिङ्गान्द्राक्षिणात्यांश्च मागधांश्चाजिशोभनः ।। 34
Then, beholding Sahadeva, the son of Dharma again spoke: 'He who conquered the Kaliṅgas, the southern peoples, and the Magadhas in battle.'
येनैव शत्रून्समरे अधाक्षीररिमर्दन। तत्स्रंसयित्वा ज्यापाशं निधातुं धनुराहर ।। 35
With which, in battle, you subdued your enemies, O crusher of foes—unstring that bow and lay it down.
दक्षिणां दक्षिणाचारो दिशं येनाजयत्प्रभुः । अपज्यमकरोद्वीरः सहदेवस्तदायुधम् ।। 36
The mighty Sahadeva, master of southern conduct, conquered the southern direction and made his bow unstrung.
दीप्तान्खण्डांश्च सुदृढान्सुतीक्ष्णान्कनकत्सरून् । विविधान्क्षुरनाराचान्निस्त्रिंशांश्च शरानपि । आयुधानि कलापांश्च गदाश्च निदधुः सह ।। 37
They placed together shining swords, strong and sharp, with golden hilts, various arrows—razor-headed, barbed, and triple-bladed—quivers, and maces.
अथाब्रवीद्धर्मराजः सहदेवं परन्तपः। आरुह्येमां शमीं वीर निधत्स्वेहायुधानि नः ।। 38
Then the king of righteousness, subduer of foes, said to Sahadeva: 'Climb this śamī tree, hero, and hide our weapons here.'
इदं गोमृगमभ्याशे गतसत्वमचेतनम् । एतदुत्कृत्य वै वीर धनूंपि परिवेष्टय ।। 39
Near this cow-shed lies a lifeless, inert corpse; cut it open, hero, and wrap our bows within it.
एवमुक्तो महाबाहुः सहदेवो यथोक्तवत् । शमीमारुह्य त्वरितो धनूंपि परिवेष्टयत् ।। 40
Thus addressed, mighty-armed Sahadeva did as instructed; swiftly climbing the shami tree, he wrapped the bow around it.
शीतवातातपभयाद्वर्पत्राणाय दुर्जयः। तानि वीरो यथा जानन्निरावाधानि सर्वशः । पुनः पुनः सुसंवेष्ट्य कृत्वा सुकृतमावरम् ।। 41
To protect it from cold, wind, heat, and danger, the unconquerable hero, knowing well how to secure it, repeatedly wrapped it carefully, making a fine covering.
यत्र चापश्यत स वै तिरोवर्पाणि वर्पति। तत्र तानि दृढैः पाशैः सुगाढं पर्यवन्धत ।। 42
Wherever he saw the bow exposed, he covered those places with strong cords, binding them tightly.
ततः परमदूरस्थमुञ्छवृत्तिकलेवरम्। प्रायोपवेशनाच्छुष्कं स्नायुचर्मास्थिसंयुतम् ।। 43
Then, from a very distant place, he brought a body with raised limbs, dried from fasting, joined with sinews, skin, and bones.
तच्चानीय धनुर्मध्ये निबबन्धु पाण्डवाः । उपायकुशलाः सर्वे प्रणदन्तः समब्रुवन् ।। 44
Bringing it, the Pandavas bound it to the bow, all skilled in strategy, making loud sounds as they spoke together.
अस्य बद्धस्य दौर्गन्ध्यान्मनुष्या वनचारिणः। दूरात्परिहरिष्यन्ति सशवेयं शमी इति ।। 45
Because of its foul smell, people and forest-dwellers will avoid this shami tree from afar, seeing it with the corpse.
अथाब्रवीन्महाराजो धर्मात्मा स युधिष्ठिरः। रञ्जुभिः सुकृतं प्राज्ञ विनिर्वध्नीहि पाण्डव ।। 46
Then King Yudhishthira, righteous and wise, said: 'Bind it well, O Pandava, with straight and skillful knots.'
यानि चात्र विशालानि रूढमूलानि मन्यसे। तेपामुपरि बध्नीहि इदं विप्रकलवरम् ।। 47
Whatever broad, deep-rooted branches you see here, tie them above; this will be the best concealment.