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.
तच्छ्रुत्वा सहदेवस्तु पर्यबध्नत तच्छवम् ।। 48
Hearing this, Sahadeva bound the corpse as instructed.
युधिष्ठिरः शुचिर्भूत्वा मनसाऽभिप्रणम्य च। ब्रह्माणामिन्द्रं वरदं कुबेरं वरुणानिलौ ।। 49
Yudhishthira, pure in mind, bowed inwardly to Brahma, Indra the granter of boons, Kubera, Varuna, and the wind gods.
रुद्रं यमं च विष्णुं च सोमार्कौ धर्ममेव च । पृथिवीमन्तरिक्षं च दिशश्चोपदिशस्तथा । वसूश्चं मरुतश्चैव ज्वलनं चातितेजसम् ।। 50
He bowed to Rudra, Yama, Vishnu, Soma, the sun, Dharma, the earth, the sky, the directions and their sub-directions, the Vasus, the Maruts, and the blazing fire.
दिवाचरा रात्रिचराणि वाऽपि यानीह भूतान्यनुकीर्तितानि । तेभ्यो नमस्कृत्य च सुव्रतेभ्यः प्रणम्य तेपां शरणं गतोऽहम् ।। 51
He bowed to the beings who move by day and by night, and to those not mentioned here; saluting the virtuous ones, he declared, 'I have taken refuge in you.'
सर्वायुधानीह महाबलानि न्यासं महादेवसमीपतो वै। न्यस्याम्यहं वायुसमीपतश्च वनस्पतीनां च सपर्वतानाम् ।। 52
Here I deposit all mighty weapons, near Mahadeva, near the wind, and among the trees and mountains.
एष न्यासो मया दत्तः सोममूर्यानिलान्तिके। मम पार्थस्य वा देयं पूर्णे वर्षे त्रयोदशे ।। 53
This deposit has been made by me near Soma, the moon, and the wind; it shall be given to me or to Partha when the thirteenth year is complete.
नेदं भीमे प्रदातव्यमयं क्रुद्धो वृकोदरः। आमर्षान्नित्यसंक्रुद्धो धृतराष्ट्रसुतान्प्रति। अपूर्णकाले प्रहरेत्क्रोधसंजातमत्सरः ।। 54
It must not be given to Bhima, for Vrikodara is wrathful; ever angry against Dhritarashtra's sons, he might strike before the time is fulfilled, driven by rage and jealousy.
पुनः प्रवेशो नः स्यात्तु वनवासाय सर्वदा । समये परिपूर्णे तु धार्तराष्ट्रान्निहन्महे ।। 55
If we re-enter the forest, it will be for exile again; but when the time is fulfilled, we shall destroy the Dhartarashtras.
एष चार्थश्च धर्मश्च कामः कीर्तिरलं यशः। मदायत्तमिदं सर्वं जीवितं च न संशयः ।। 56
This purpose, righteousness, desire, fame, and glory—all depend on me; so does life itself, without doubt.
दैवतेभ्यो नमस्कृत्य शमीं कृत्वा प्रदक्षिणम्। नगरं गन्तुमायाताः सर्वे ते भ्रातरः सह ।। 57
Having saluted the deities and circumambulated the shami tree, all the brothers together set out to enter the city.