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.
देवेन्द्रसारथिर्वीरो मातलिः ख्यातविक्रमः । सुमहो जामदग्नेश्च विष्णोर्यन्ता च दारुकः ।। 51
The heroic Matali, charioteer of Indra, famed for his prowess; the great charioteer of Jamadagni, and Daruka, charioteer of Vishnu.
सुमन्त्रो वा दाशरथेः सूर्ययन्ता तथाऽरुणः। सर्वे सारथयः ख्याता न बृहन्नलया समाः ।। 52
Sumantra, charioteer of Dasharatha, and Aruna, charioteer of the Sun—all these renowned charioteers are not equal to Brihannala.
इत्युक्तोऽहं च सैरन्ध्र्या तेन त्वामाह्वयामि वै । आहुता त्वं मया सार्धं योद्धुं याहि बृहन्नले ।। 53
Thus addressed by Sairandhri, I now summon you; you are called by me to fight together—come, Brihannala.
दूराद्दूरतरं गावो भवन्ति कुरुभिर्हृताः। तथोक्ता प्रत्युवाचेदं राजपुत्रं बृहन्नला ।। 54
From a distance, the cows are being taken farther away by the Kurus; thus spoken, Brihannala replied to the prince.
का शक्तिर्मम सारथ्यं कर्तुं संग्राममूर्धनि । नृत्तं वा यदि वा गीतं वादित्रं वा पृथग्विधम् । तत्करिष्यामि भद्रं ते सारथ्यं तु कुतो मम ।। 55
What power do I have to act as a charioteer in the midst of battle? Whether it is dancing, singing, or playing various instruments, I will do that for you, but how could I possibly be a charioteer?
त्वं नर्तको वा यदि वाऽपि गायकः क्षिप्रं तनुत्रं परिधत्स्व भानुमत्। अभीक्ष्णमाहुस्तव कर्म पौरुषं स्त्रियः प्रशंसन्ति ममाद्य चान्तिके ।। 56
If you are a dancer or a singer, quickly put on your radiant attire; women constantly praise your deeds and valor, and today they commend you in my presence.
इत्येवमुक्त्वा नृपसूनुसत्तमस्तदा स्मयित्वाऽर्जुनमभ्यनन्दयत्। अथोत्तरः पारशवं शताक्षिमत्सुवर्णचित्रं परिगृह्य भानुमत् ।। 57
Having spoken thus, the noble son of the king smiled and welcomed Arjuna; then Uttara took up the splendid, gold-adorned, hundred-eyed bow.
बृहन्नलायै प्रददौ स्वयं तदा विराटपुत्रः परवीरघातिने। तदाज्ञया मात्स्यसुतस्य वीर्यवानकर्तुकामेव समाददे तदा ।। 58
At that moment, Virata's son, the destroyer of enemy heroes, personally gave that bow to Brihannala; by the command of the Matsya prince, the valiant one eagerly accepted it.
यद्यस्ति च रणे शौर्यं शक्यः स्याद्द्विषतां वधः। अहं त्वामभिगच्छामि यत्र त्वं यासि तत्र भो ।। 59
If there is courage in battle, the destruction of enemies is possible; I will follow you wherever you go, O noble one.
ततः स नर्मसंयुक्तमकरोत्पाण्डवो बहु। उत्तरायाः प्रमुखतः सर्वं जानन्नरिन्दमः ।। 60
Then Pandava, knowing everything, made many playful remarks before Uttara, the prince, in her presence.