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.
तमाददानं प्रमदा जहासिरे ह्यधोमुखं वीरवरोऽभ्यधारयत्। ततस्तिरश्चीनकृतं सपत्नहा ह्यधोमुखं कवचमथाभ्यकर्षत ।। 61
As he was taking it up, the women laughed, and the foremost hero looked downward; then the slayer of rivals, still looking down, drew the armor, which was fashioned obliquely.
सम्यक्प्रजानन्नपि सत्यविक्रमो ह्यज्ञातवत्सर्वकुरुप्रवीरः। ऊर्ध्वं क्षिपन्वीरतरोऽभ्यधारयत्पुनश्च यन्ता कवचं धनञ्जयः ।। 62
Though fully aware, the truly valiant, disguised hero among all the Kurus, Dhananjaya, repeatedly lifted the armor and put it on, acting as the charioteer.
एवंप्रकाराणि बहूनि कुर्वति तस्मिन्कुमार्यः प्रमदा जहासिरे । तथापि कुर्वन्तममित्रकर्शनं नैवोत्तरः पर्यभवद्धनञ्जयम् ।। 63
While he was performing many such acts, the princesses and women laughed; yet, even as he did so, Uttara could not surpass Dhananjaya, the tormentor of foes.
तं राजपुत्रः समनाहयत्स्वयं जाम्बूनदान्तेन शुभेन वर्मणा। कृशानुतप्तप्रतिमेन भास्वता जाज्वल्यमानेन सहस्ररश्मिना ।। 64
The prince himself then equipped him with a beautiful armor, adorned with gold and shining like fire, blazing with a thousand rays.
अथास्य शीघ्रं प्रसमीक्ष्य भोजयद्रथे हयान्काञ्चनजालसंवृतान्। सुवर्णजालान्तरयोक्तभूषणं सिंहं च सौवर्णमुपाश्रयद्रथे ।। 65
Then, after quickly inspecting, he fed the horses in the chariot, which were covered with golden nets; he also placed a golden lion as an ornament on the chariot.
धनूंषि च विचित्राणि बाणांश्च रुचिरान्बहून्। आयुधानि च वै तत्र रथोपस्थे च स न्यसत् ।। 66
He placed various bows, many beautiful arrows, and weapons in the chariot, arranging them all in the chariot's interior.
आरुह्य प्रययौ वीरः सबृहन्नलसारथिः। अथोत्तरा च कन्याश्च स ख्यश्चैवाब्रुवंस्तदा ।। 67
The hero, with Brihannala as charioteer, mounted and set out; then Uttara, the maidens, and the attendants spoke thus.
बृहन्नले आनयेथा वासांसि रुचिराणि नः। पाञ्चालिकार्थं सूक्ष्माणि रत्नानि विविधानि च । विजित्य संग्रामगतान्भीष्मद्रोणमुखान्कुरून् ।। 68
Brihannala, bring us beautiful garments, fine jewels, and various ornaments for Panchali, after defeating the Kurus led by Bhishma and Drona in battle.
अथ ता ब्रुवतीः कन्याः सहिताः कुरुनन्दनः। प्रत्युवाच हसन्पार्थो मेघदुन्दुभिनिस्वनः ।। 69
Then, as the maidens spoke together, the son of the Kurus, Partha, whose voice was like thunder, replied with a smile.
यद्युत्तरोऽयं संग्रामे विजेष्यति महारथान् । अथाहरिष्ये वासांसि सूक्ष्माण्याभरणानि च ।। 70
If Uttara conquers the great chariot-warriors in battle, then I will bring you fine garments and ornaments.