अतिसूक्ष्माणि ह्रस्वानि सर्वाणि च मृदूनि च। आयुधानि महाबाहो तवैतानि महाबल
All these weapons, O mighty-armed one, are too fine, too small, and too soft for you, O greatly powerful one.
तस्माद्भूमिंजयारुह्य शमीमेतां पलाशिनीम् । अस्यां हि पाण्डुपुत्राणां धनूंषि निहितात्युत
Therefore, O Bhuminjaya, climb this leafy Shami tree, for upon it indeed the bows of the Pandu sons are truly placed.
युधिष्ठिरस्य भीमस्य बीभत्सोर्यमयोस्तथा । ध्वजा शराश्च शूराणां दिव्यानि कवचानि च
There are the banners, arrows, and divine armors of the heroic Yudhishthira, Bhima, Bibhatsu, and the twins.
अत्रैव तु महावीर्यं धनुः पार्थस्य गाण्डिवम् । एकं शतसहस्रेण संमितं राष्ट्रवर्धनम्
Here too is the great and mighty bow Gandiva of Partha, alone equal to a hundred thousand, increasing the kingdom.
व्यायामसहमत्यर्थं तृणराजसमं महत् । सर्वायुधमहामात्रं सर्वारिक्षयकारकम्
It endures great exertion, is as large as a bundle of grass, is the greatest among all weapons, and is the destroyer of all enemies.
सुवर्णविकृतं दिव्यं श्लक्ष्णमायतमव्रणम्। अलं भारं गुरुं सोढुं वारुणं च सुदर्शनम्
It is fashioned of gold, divine, smooth, long, unblemished, fit to bear a heavy load, Varuna’s, and beautiful to behold.
तादृशान्येव सर्वाणि बलवन्ति दृढानि च। युधिष्ठिरस्य भीमस्य बीभत्सोर्यमयोस्तथा । प्रथितानि विशिष्टानि दुर्दशानि भवन्त्युत
All the weapons of Yudhishthira, Bhima, Bibhatsu, and the twins are likewise strong, firm, renowned, distinguished, and difficult to look upon.
शरीरमिह चासक्तं शम्यां शुष्कं पुरा किल। तदहं राजपुत्रः सन्स्पृशेयं पाणिना कथम्
Here too, long ago, a dry Shami tree was attached to a body; how then, O prince, could I touch it with my hand?
न मामेवंविधं कर्म कारयस्व बृहन्नले । कथं वा शक्यते कर्तुं बुद्ध्या त्वं मन्यसे कथं
Do not make me perform such a task in the great fire, Brihannala. How could it be accomplished, or how do you think it might be done with reason?
नैवंविधं मया युक्तमालब्धुं क्षत्रयोनिना । महता राजपुत्रेण मन्त्रयज्ञविदा सता
Such a thing is not proper for me to undertake, born of the warrior lineage, a great prince, versed in counsel and sacrifice, and a virtuous man.
स्पृष्टवन्तं शरीरं मां शववाहमिवाशुचिम्। कथं वा व्यवहार्यं वै कुर्वीथास्त्वं बृहन्नले
Having touched my body, as if I were impure like a bearer of corpses, how could you, Brihannala, engage in dealings with me?
तमुवाच ततः शूरः पार्थं परपुंरजयः। दायादं सर्वमत्स्यानां कुले जातं विशारदम्
Then the valiant one, conqueror of enemies, spoke to Partha: 'Heir to all the Matsyas, born in the royal line, skilled and wise.'
जानामि त्वां महाप्राज्ञ शुभं जात्या कुलेन च । कथं नु पापकं कर्म ब्रूयां त्वाऽहं परन्तप
I know you, O greatly wise one, noble in birth and lineage. How could I instruct you in a sinful act, O scorcher of foes?
व्यवहार्यश्च राजेन्द्र शुद्धश्चैव भविष्यसि । धनूंष्येतानि मा भैस्त्वं शरीरं नात्र विद्यते
You will be fit for dealings, O king, and pure as well. Do not fear these bows; there is no body here.
दायादं मत्स्यराजस्य कुले जातं मनस्विनम् । कथं वा नन्दितं कर्म कारये त्वां नृपात्मज
Heir to the king of the Matsyas, born in the royal line and noble in mind, how could I make you perform a pleasing task, O prince?
एवमुक्तः स पार्थेन रथात्प्रस्कन्द्य कुण्डली। आरुरोह शमीवृक्षं वैराटिरवशस्तदा
Thus addressed by Partha, the one with earrings dismounted from the chariot and, compelled, climbed the Shami tree, O King of the Viratas.
तमन्वशासच्छत्रुघ्नो रथे तिष्ठन्धनञ्जयः । अवरोपय वृक्षाग्राद्धनूंष्येतानि माचिरम्
Standing on the chariot, Dhananjaya, destroyer of enemies, commanded him: 'Bring down the bows quickly from the top of the tree.'
सोपहृत्य महार्हाणि धनूंषि पृथुवक्षसाम् । परिवेष्टनपत्राणि विमुच्य समुपानयत्
Having brought down the splendid bows of broad-chested heroes, he removed their wrappings and presented them.
परिवेष्टनमेतेषां सर्वं मुञ्चस्व माचिरम् । तेषां संनहनीयानि परिमुच्य परन्तपः। अपश्यत्तत्र गाण्डीवं चतुर्भिरपरैः सह
Remove all the wrappings from these quickly. The scorcher of foes, after unwrapping their coverings, saw Gandiva there along with four others.
तेषां विमुच्यमानानां धनुषामर्कवर्चसाम्। विनिश्चेरुः प्रभा दिव्या ग्रहाणामुदयेष्विव
As those divine bows, radiant as immortals, were being unwrapped, a brilliant light emerged, like the rising of planets.
स तेषां रूपमालेक्य भोगिनामिव दृम्भताम् । हृष्टरोमा भयोद्विग्रः प्रवेपिततनुस्तदा
Seeing their form and splendor, like serpents in their majesty, his hair stood on end, seized by fear, his body trembling.
अर्जुनेन समाश्वस्तः किंचिद्धृष्टो नृपात्मजः। तेषां संदर्शनाभ्यासं स्पर्शाभ्यासं पुनः पुनः ।। 58
Reassured by Arjuna, the prince became somewhat emboldened; repeatedly he practiced seeing and touching them.
आमील्य पुनरुन्मील्य स्पृष्ट्वास्पृष्ट्वा चकार सः। सम्यग्घुण्टस्तदाऽऽश्वस्तः क्षणेन समपद्यत ।। 59
He closed and opened his eyes, touched and withdrew, and did so again; then, properly instructed and reassured, he was ready in a moment.
संस्पृश्य तानि चापानि भानुमन्ति बृहन्ति च। वैराटिरर्जुनं राजन्निदं वचनमब्रवीत् ।। 60
Having touched those bows, radiant and mighty, King Virata spoke to Arjuna: 'O Arjuna, what is this?'
सारथे किमिदं दिव्यं नागो वा यदि वा धनुः। सौवर्णान्यत्र पद्मानि शतपत्राणि भागशः । कुशाग्निप्रतितप्तानि भानुमन्ति बृहन्ति च
Charioteer, what is this divine thing—an elephant or a bow? Here are golden lotuses, with hundred petals in parts, heated by kusa fire, radiant and large.
बिन्दवश्चात्र सौवर्णा मणिप्रोताः समन्ततः। शशिसूर्यप्रभाः पृष्ठे भान्ति रुक्मपरिष्कृताः
And here are golden drops, strung with gems all around; on the back, they shine with the brilliance of moon and sun, adorned with gold.
पुष्पाण्यत्र सुवर्णानि शतपत्राणि भागशः । विस्मापनीयरूपं च भीमं भीमप्रदर्शनम्
Here are golden flowers, lotuses with a hundred petals, in abundance; their appearance is astonishing, fearsome, and awe-inspiring to behold.
नीलोत्पलनिभं कस्य शातकुम्भपरिष्कृतम्। ऋषभा यस्य सौवर्णाः पृष्ठे तिष्ठन्ति शृङ्गिणः
Whose is this, adorned with gold, resembling a blue lotus? Upon its back stand golden bulls with horns.
तालप्रमाणं कस्येदं मणिरुक्मविभूषितम् हाटकस्य सुवर्णस्य यस्मिञ्शाखामृगा दश
To whom does this jewel-encrusted, gold-adorned bow of palm-tree size belong, upon which ten golden branch-antelopes are set?
दुरानमं महादीर्घं सुरूपं दुष्प्रधर्षणम् । कस्येदमीदृशं चित्रं धनुः सर्वे च दंशिताः
Whose is this remarkable, long-reaching, beautiful, and unassailable bow, and all these arrows that are arrayed?