इदं तु चिन्तयन्नेव परिमुह्यामि केवलम्। निश्चयं नाधिगच्छामि नावगच्छामि किंचन
Yet, pondering this, I am utterly bewildered; I do not arrive at certainty, nor do I understand anything at all.
एवं वराङ्गरूपस्य लक्षणैः सूचितस्य च। केन कर्मविपाकेन क्लीबत्वं त्वामुपागतम्
Though you possess excellent form and are marked by auspicious signs, by what karmic result has this state of impotence come upon you?
मन्ये त्वां क्लीबरूपेण चरन्तं शूलपाणिनम्। गन्धर्वराजप्रतिमं देवं वाऽपि शतक्रतुम्
I consider you, though moving in the form of a eunuch, as Śūlapāṇi, or as a king among Gandharvas, or even as the god Indra.
भ्रातुर्नियोगाञ्ज्येष्ठस्य संवत्सरमिदं व्रतम्। चरामि ब्रह्मचर्यं वै सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीमि ते
By the command of my elder brother, I am observing this vow for a year, practicing celibacy; this is the truth I declare to you.
नास्मि क्लीबो महाबाहो परवान्धर्मसंयुतः । उर्वशीशापसंभूतं क्लैब्यं समुपसंस्थितम्
I am not a eunuch, O mighty-armed one, nor bound by another's dharma; the impotence that has arisen is due to Urvaśī's curse.
पुराऽहमाज्ञया भ्रातुर्ज्येष्ठस्यास्मि सुरालयम्। प्राप्तवानुर्वशी दृष्टा सुधर्मायां मया तदा
Once, by the order of my elder brother, I went to the abode of the gods; there, in Sudharma, I saw Urvaśī.
नृत्यन्तीं परमं रूपं बिभ्रतीं वज्रिसन्निधौ । अपश्यं तामनिमिषं कूटस्थामन्वयस्य मे
I saw her dancing, displaying supreme beauty, in the presence of the wielder of the thunderbolt, gazing at her unblinking, fixed in my lineage.
रात्रौ समागता मह्यं शयनं रन्तुमिच्छया। अहं तामभिवाद्यैव मातृसत्कारमाचरम्
At night, she approached me, desiring pleasure in my bed; I greeted her and honored her as a mother.
सा च मामशपत्क्रुद्धा शिखण्डी त्वं भवेति वै। श्रुत्वा तमिन्द्रो मामाह मा भैस्त्वं पार्थ षण्डता
Angry, she cursed me, saying, 'You shall become Śikhaṇḍī!' Hearing this, Indra said to me, 'Do not fear, Pārtha, from this emasculation.'
उपकारो भवेत्तुभ्यमज्ञातवसतौ पुरा। इतीन्द्रो मामनुग्राह्य ततः प्रेषितवान्वृषा
Indra, showing me favor, said, 'This will be helpful to you during your stay in disguise,' and then sent me away.
तदिदं समनुप्राप्तं व्रतं चीर्णं मयाऽनघ । समाप्तव्रतमुत्तीर्णं विद्धि मां त्वं नृपात्मज
Thus, this vow has come upon me, and I have fulfilled it, O sinless one; know me, O prince, as having completed the vow and passed through it.
परमोऽनुग्रहो मेऽद्य यत्प्रतर्को न मे वृथा। न हीदृशाः क्लीबरूपा भवन्ति तु नरोत्तमाः
Today, the highest favor is mine, for my suspicion was not in vain; indeed, such forms of impotence do not occur among the best of men.
सहायवानस्मि रणे युद्ध्येयममरैरपि । साध्वसं तत्प्रनष्टं मे किं करोमि ब्रवीहि मे
I am accompanied; I could fight even with immortals in battle. That fear is now gone from me—tell me, what should I do?
अहं ते संग्रहीष्यामि हयाञ्शत्रुनिर्बहण। शिक्षितो ह्यस्मि सारथ्ये निष्ठितः पुरुषर्षभ
I will gather your horses, destroyers of enemies; I am trained in charioteering and steadfast, O best of men.
दारुको वासुदेवस्य यथा शक्रस्य मातलिः। तथा मां विद्धि सारथ्ये शिक्षितं नरपुङ्गव
Just as Daruka is to Vasudeva, and Matali to Shakra, so know me, O foremost of men, as trained in charioteering.
अश्वा ह्येते महाबाहो तवैवाहवदुर्जयाः। योग्या रथवरे युक्ताः प्राणवन्तो जितश्रमाः
These horses, O mighty-armed one, are yours alone, difficult to defeat in battle; fit for the best chariot, harnessed, spirited, and tireless.
यस्य यातेन पश्यन्ति भूमौ क्षिप्तं पदंपदम्। दक्षिणां यो धुरं वोढा सुग्रीवोण समो हयः
Whose movement is seen by the marks left on the ground, step by step; the one who bears the right yoke, the horse named Sugriva, is equal to the wind.
योऽयं हयो धुर्यवरो वामां वहति शोभनः। तं मन्ये मेघपुष्पस्य जवेन सदृशं हयम्
This horse, best among those at the yoke, bears the left side beautifully; I consider him equal in speed to Meghapuspa.
योऽयं वहति वै पार्ष्णिं दक्षिणामञ्चितोद्यतः । वलाहकादभिमतस्तेजसा वीर्यवत्तरः
This one, bearing the rear right, raised and alert, is superior in energy and strength to Valahaka, whom you favor.
योऽयं काञ्चनसन्नाहो वामं वहति शोभनः । धुर्यं शैब्यस्य तं मन्ये जवेन बलवत्तरम्
This one, adorned with golden harness, bears the left side beautifully; I consider him, the yoke horse of Shaibya, stronger and swifter.
त्वामेवायं रथो वोढुं संग्रामेऽर्हति धन्विनम् । त्वं चे.. रथमास्थाय योद्धुमर्हो मतो मम। शर्वशत्रुभिरायातो देवराज इवासुरैः
This chariot is fit for you alone, O archer, to bear in battle; you, mounting the chariot, are worthy to fight, in my opinion, arriving against all enemies like the lord of gods against the asuras.
ततो रथादवस्कन्द्य वीर्यवानरिमर्दनः। प्रणम्य देवान्गाण्डीवमादाय रुरुचे श्रिया
Then, the mighty crusher of foes, dismounting from the chariot, bowed to the gods, took up the Gandiva, and shone with splendor.
ततो विमुच्य बाहुभ्यां सङ्खचूडानि पाण्डवः । तौ च दुन्दुभिसन्नादौ प्रतिबद्ध्य तलावुभौ
Then Pandava, releasing the conch bracelets with his arms, fastened both to the drum-sounding palms.
इन्द्रदत्ते च ते दिव्ये उद्धृत्यामुच्य कुण्डले । श्लक्ष्णान्केशान्मृदून्स्निग्धाञ्श्वेतेनोद्ग्रथ्य वाससा
He took off the divine earrings given by Indra, and, lifting his soft, smooth, glossy hair with a white cloth, set them aside.
अथासौ प्राङ्मुखो भूत्वा शुचिः प्रयतमानसः। अभिदध्यौ महाबाहुः सर्वास्त्राणि रथोत्तमे
Then, facing east, pure and with concentrated mind, the mighty-armed one meditated on all weapons in the excellent chariot.
ऊचुश्च पार्थं सर्वाणि प्राञ्जलीनि नृपात्मजम्। इमानि स्मो महोदार किङ्कराणीन्द्रनन्दन
All the weapons, with joined palms, spoke to Partha, the prince: 'We are here, O noble one, servants of you, O son of Indra.'
प्रणिपत्य ततः पार्थः समालभ्य च पाणिना। सर्वाणि मानसानीह भवतेत्यभ्यभाषत
Then Partha, bowing and touching them with his hand, said: 'All of you, in mind, are here for me.'
प्रतिगृह्य ततोऽस्त्राणि प्रह्लष्टवदनोऽभवत् । अधिज्यं तरसा कृत्वा गाण्डीवं व्याक्षिपद्धनुः
Having received the weapons, his face radiant, he swiftly strung the Gandiva and drew the bow.
तस्य विक्षिप्यमाणस्य धनुषोऽभून्महास्वनः । यथा शैलस्य महतः शैलानाक्षिप्य जघ्रुषः
As he drew the bow, a great sound arose, like the thunder of a mighty mountain when struck and shaken.
सनिर्घाताऽभवद्भूमिर्दिक्षु वायुर्ववौ भृशम्। भ्रान्तद्विजं खमभवत्प्राकम्पन्त महाद्रुमाः
The earth trembled with thunder; the wind blew fiercely in all directions; the sky was disturbed with circling birds, and great trees shook.