एतेन वा सारथिना तदाऽर्जुनः सदेवगन्धर्वमहासुरोरगान् । सर्वाणि भूतान्यजयस्तस वीर्यवानतर्पयच्चापि हिरण्यरेतसम् ।। 21
With that very charioteer, Arjuna once conquered all beings—gods, Gandharvas, great asuras, and serpents—and satisfied the golden-seeded one with his valor.
यदस्य संस्थामपि तस्य संयुगे जानामि वीर्यं परवीरमध्यगम् । संगृह्य रश्मीनपि चास्य वीर्यवानादाय चापं प्रययौ रथे स्थितः ।। 22
I know his prowess in battle, for I have seen him among mighty warriors; seizing the reins and taking up the bow, that valiant one stood firm on the chariot.
न सर्वभूतानि न देवदानवा न चापि सर्वे कुरवः समागताः। धनं हरेयुस्तव जातु धन्विनो बृहन्नला तूत्तरसारथिर्यदि ।। 23
Neither all beings, nor gods and asuras, nor even all the assembled Kurus could ever seize your wealth if Brihannala, Uttara’s charioteer, holds the reins.
धनुष्यनवमश्चासीत्तस्य शिष्यो महात्मनः । सुदृष्टपूर्वो हि मया चरन्त्या पाण्डवालये ।। 24
He was not inferior with the bow, and was a disciple of that great soul; I have seen him before, while moving about in the Pandava’s house.
स चानेन सहायेन खाण्डवं चादहत्पुरा । अर्जुनस्य तदाऽनेन संगृहीता हयोत्तमाः ।। 25
With this very companion, he once burned Khandava; at that time, this one held the excellent horses for Arjuna.
तेन सारथिना पार्थः सर्वभूतानि सर्वशः। अजयत्खाण्डवप्रस्थे न हि यन्ताऽस्ति तादृशः ।। 26
With that charioteer, Partha conquered all beings entirely on the field of Khandava; there is truly no charioteer like him.
ततः सैरन्ध्रिसहिता उत्तरा भ्रातुरब्रवीत्। अभ्यर्थयैनां सारथ्ये वीर शीघ्रं बृहन्नलाम् ।। 27
Then, accompanied by Sairandhri, Uttara spoke to her brother: ‘O hero, quickly ask Brihannala to be your charioteer.’
शिक्षितैषा हि सारथ्ये नर्तने गीतवादिते । सैरन्ध्य्राह महाप्राज्ञा स्तुवन्ती वै बृहन्नलाम् ।। 28
She is skilled in charioteering, in dancing, and in singing and playing instruments; Sairandhri, wise and praising, spoke thus of Brihannala.
सैरन्ध्रि जानासि मम व्रतं हि क्लीबेन पुंसा न हि संवदाम्यहम्। सोहं न शक्ष्यामि बृहन्नलां शुभे वक्तुं स्वयं यच्छ हयान्ममेति ।। 29
Sairandhri, you know my vow: I do not converse with a man who is a eunuch; so, O lovely one, I will not be able to ask Brihannala myself to take up the horses for me.
भयकाले तु संप्राप्ते न व्रतं नाव्रतं पुनः। यथा दुःखं प्रतरति कर्तुं युक्तं चरेद्बुधः । इति धर्मविदः प्राहुस्तस्माद्वाच्या बृहन्नला ।। 30
But when a time of danger arrives, neither vow nor non-vow matters; a wise person should act as is fitting to overcome distress—so say those who know dharma. Therefore, Brihannala should be asked.
येयं कुमारी सुश्रोणी भगिनी ते यवीयसी। अस्यास्तु वचनं वीर करिष्यति न संशयः ।। 31
This maiden, your younger sister with beautiful hips—O hero, she will surely do what is asked, without doubt.
यदि ते सारथिः सा स्यात्कुरून्सर्वान्न संशयः। जित्वा गाश्च समादाय ध्रुवमागमनं भवेत् ।। 32
If she becomes your charioteer, then, without doubt, you will defeat all the Kurus, seize the cows, and surely return.
एवमुक्तः स सैरन्ध्र्या भगिनीं प्रत्यभाषत। गच्छ त्वमनवद्याङ्गि तामानय बृहन्नलाम् ।। 33
Thus addressed by Sairandhri, he spoke to his sister: ‘Go, O faultless one, and bring Brihannala here.’
सा प्राद्रवत्काञ्चनमाल्यधारिणी ज्येष्ठेन भ्रात्रा प्रहिता यशस्विनी । भ्रातुर्नियोगं तु निशम्य सुभ्रुः शुभानना हाटकवज्रभूषिता ।। 34
Sent by her elder brother, the illustrious one, adorned with golden garlands, with lovely brows and beautiful face, decked in gold and gems, she hastened after hearing her brother’s command.
सा वज्रमुक्तामणिहेमकुण्डला मृदुक्रमा भ्रातृनियोगचोदिता। प्रदक्षिणावर्ततनुः शिखण्डिनी पद्मानना पद्मदलायताक्षी ।। 35
Wearing earrings of gold, diamonds, and pearls, moving gently, prompted by her brother’s command, with slender form, crested hair, lotus face, and eyes like lotus petals, she set out.
तन्वी समाङ्गी मृदुमन्द्रलोचना मात्स्यस्य राज्ञो दुहिता विलासिनी । सा नर्तनागारमरालपक्ष्मा शतह्रदा मेघमिवान्वपद्यत ।। 36
Slender, well-formed, with soft, gentle eyes, the playful daughter of the Matsya king, with curling lashes, entered the dancing hall like a peacock approaching a rain cloud.
सा नागनासोपमसंहितोरूरनिन्दिता वेदिविलग्नमध्या। आसाद्य तस्थौ वरमाल्यधारिणी पार्थं शुभा नागवधूरिव द्विपम् ।। 37
She, whose thighs were joined together like those of a serpent-woman, whose form was beyond reproach, whose waist was adorned with Vedic marks, approached and stood, wearing a splendid garland, before Partha, beautiful as a serpent-bride before an elephant.
तामागतामायतताम्रलोचनामवेक्ष्य पार्थः समयेऽभ्यभाषत ।। 38
Seeing her arrive, with wide coppery eyes, Partha spoke to her at the appointed time.
किमागता काञ्चनमाल्यधारिणी सुगात्रि किंचित्त्वरिताऽसि सुभ्रु । किं ते मुखं सुन्दरि न प्रसन्नमाचक्ष्व शीघ्रं मम चारुहासिनि ।। 39
Why have you come, O golden-garlanded one, with graceful limbs, and why are you somewhat hurried, O lovely-browed woman? Why is your face not cheerful, O beautiful one? Tell me quickly, O charmingly smiling lady.
सा वज्रवैडूर्यविकारकुण्डला विनिद्रपद्मोत्पलपन्नगन्धिनी । प्रसन्नताराधिपसंनिभानना पार्थे कुमारी वचनं बभाषे ।। 40
She, whose earrings were fashioned of diamond and beryl, whose fragrance was like lotus, water-lily, and serpent, whose face shone like a clear moon, spoke to Partha, the maiden, with words.
हरन्ति वित्तं कुरवाः पितुर्मे शतं सहस्राणि गवां बृहन्नले। सा भ्रातुरश्वान्मम संयमस्व पुरा परे दूरतरं हरन्ति गाः ।। 41
The Kurus are stealing my father's wealth—one hundred thousand cows—from the great pasture; so restrain my brother's horses, for soon the others will drive the cows farther away.
सैरन्ध्रिराख्याति बृहन्नले त्वां सुशिक्षिता संग्रहणे रथाश्वयोः । अहं मरिष्यामि न मेऽत्र संशयो मया वृता तत्र न चेद्गमिष्यसि ।। 42
Sairandhri says you are skilled in gathering chariots and horses at the great pasture; I will die, there is no doubt, if you do not go there as I have requested.
तथा नियुक्तो नरदेवकन्यया नरोत्तमः प्रीतमना धनञ्जयः। उवाच पार्थः शुभमन्द्रया गिरा शुभाननां शुक्लदतीं शुचिस्मिताम् ।। 43
Thus commanded by the princess, Dhananjaya, best among men, with a pleased heart, spoke to the beautiful-faced, fair-toothed, pure-smiling maiden in gentle words.
गच्छामि यत्रेच्छसि चारुहासिनि हुताशनं प्रज्वलितं विशामि वा। इच्छामि तेऽहं वरगात्रि जीवितं करोमि किं ते प्रियमद्य सुन्दरि। न मत्कृते द्रक्ष्यसि तत्पुरं प्रिये वैवस्वतं प्रेतपतेर्महाभयम् ।। 44
I will go wherever you wish, O charmingly smiling one, whether into blazing fire or wherever; I desire your life, O noble lady—what shall I do for you today, O beautiful one? For my sake, you will not see that city, dear one, nor the great terror of Yama, lord of the dead.
एतावदुक्त्वा कुरुवीरपुङ्गवो विलासिनीं शुक्लदतीं शुचिस्मिताम्। बृहन्नलारूपविभूषिताननो विराटपुत्रस्य समीपमाव्रजत् ।। 45
Having spoken thus, the foremost of Kuru heroes approached the son of Virata, his face adorned in the form of Brihannala, accompanied by the fair-toothed, pure-smiling maiden.
तथा व्रजन्तं वरभूषणैर्वृतं महाप्रभं वारणयूथपोपमम्। गजेन्द्रबाहुं कमलायतेक्षणं कवाटवक्षस्थलमुन्नतांसम् ।। 46
As he went, adorned with splendid ornaments, radiant, resembling the leader of elephant herds, with arms like an elephant's, wide lotus-like eyes, a broad chest, and prominent shoulders.
तमागतं पार्थममित्रकर्शनं महाबलं नागमिव प्रमाथिनम्। वैराटिरामन्त्र्य ततो बृहन्नलां गवां निनीषन्पदमुत्तरोऽब्रवीत् ।। 47
When Partha, destroyer of enemies, mighty as a rampaging elephant, arrived, the son of Virata addressed Brihannala, wishing to lead the cows, and spoke thus.
तमाव्रजन्तं त्वरितं प्रभिन्नमिव कुञ्जरम्। अन्वगच्छद्विशालाक्षी गजं गजवधूरिव ।। 48
As he approached swiftly, like a charging elephant, the wide-eyed maiden followed him, like an elephant-cow follows her mate.
दूरादेव तु संप्रेक्ष्य राजपुत्रोऽभ्यभाषत । त्वया सारथिना पार्थः खाण्डवेऽग्निमतर्पयत् ।। 49
Seeing him from afar, the prince spoke: With you as charioteer, Partha satisfied the fire of Khandava.
पृथिवीं चाजयत्कृत्स्नां कुन्तीपुत्रो धनञ्जयः। सैरन्ध्री त्वां ममाचष्ट सा हि जानाति पाण्डवान् ।। 50
Kunti's son Dhananjaya conquered the whole earth; Sairandhri told me about you, for she knows the Pandavas.