अर्धचन्द्रैश्च चन्द्रैश्च मत्स्यैः समृगपक्षिभिः । पुष्पैश्च विविधैश्चित्रं मणिरत्नैश्च सर्वशः
Beautifully decorated everywhere with crescents, full moons, fish, beasts, birds, various flowers, and all kinds of gems and jewels,
तरुणादित्यसङ्काशं बृहन्तं चारुदर्शनम् । मणिहेमविचित्राङ्गं सुध्वजं सुपताकिनम्
Resembling the young sun in brilliance, large and pleasing to behold, with parts adorned with gems and gold, bearing a fine banner and excellent pennants.
सूपस्करमनाधृष्यं वैयाघ्रपरिवारणम्। यशोघ्नं प्रत्यमित्राणां यदूनां नन्दिवर्धनम्
That city, well-fortified and unassailable, surrounded by tiger-like warriors, a destroyer of the fame of enemies, and an increaser of the glory of the Yadus—
वाजिभिः शैब्यसुग्रीवमेधपुष्पबलाहकैः । स्नातैः संपादयामासुः संपन्नैः सर्वसंपदा
With horses named Shaibya, Sugriva, Medha, Pushpa, and Balāhaka, all bathed and adorned with every auspicious mark, they prepared the chariot.
महिमानं तु कृष्णस्य भूय एवाभिवर्धयन्। सुघोषः पतगेन्द्रेण ध्वजेन युयुजे रथः
Further exalting Krishna’s majesty, Satyaki yoked to the chariot the banner bearing Garuda, the king of birds.
तं मेरुशिखरप्रख्यं मेघदुन्दुभिनिस्वनम् । आरुरोह रथं सौरिर्विमानमिव कामगम्
Sauri (Krishna) ascended that chariot, towering like the peak of Meru and resounding like thunderclouds, as if it were a celestial vehicle moving at will.
ततः सात्यकिमारोप्य प्रययौ पुरुषोत्तमः। पृथिवीं चान्तरिक्षं च रथघोषेण नादयन्
Then, having Satyaki mount, the Supreme Person set out, filling the earth and sky with the sound of his chariot.
व्यपोढाभ्रस्ततः कालः क्षणेन समपद्यत। शिवश्चानुववौ वायुः प्रशान्तमभवद्रजः
Then the clouds dispersed, the time became auspicious in a moment, the wind blew gently, and the dust settled into calm.
प्रदक्षिणानुलोमाश्च मङ्गल्या मृगपक्षिणः। प्रयाणे वासुदेवस्य बभूवुरनुयायिनः
Auspicious beasts and birds, moving in a rightward and favorable direction, followed Vasudeva on his journey.
मङ्गल्यार्थप्रदैः शब्दैरन्ववर्तन्त सर्वशः। सारसाः शतपत्राश्च हंसाश्च मधुसूदनम्
Cranes, swans, and sarasa birds accompanied Madhusudana, uttering sounds that bestowed blessings and good fortune.
मन्त्राहुतिमहाहोमैर्हूयमानश्च पावकः । प्रदक्षिणशिखो भूत्वा विधूमः समपद्यत
The fire, offered great oblations with mantras, became smokeless, its flames turning rightward, as if circumambulating.
वसिष्ठो वामदेवश्च भूरिद्युम्नो गयः क्रथः। शुकनारदवाल्मीका मरुत्तः कुशिको भृगुः
Vasishtha, Vamadeva, Bhuridyumna, Gaya, Kratha, Shuka, Narada, Valmiki, Marutta, Kushika, and Bhrigu—
देवब्रह्मर्षयश्चैव कृष्णं यदुसुखावहम्। प्रदक्षिणमवर्तन्त सहिता वासवानुजम्
The divine sages and Brahmarshis, together with Indra’s younger brother, circumambulated Krishna, the bringer of happiness to the Yadus.
एवमेतैर्महाभागैर्महर्षिगणसाधुभिः । पूजितः प्रययौ कृष्णः कुरूणां सदनं प्रति
Thus honored by these great and virtuous sages, Krishna departed for the assembly of the Kurus.
देवताभ्यो नमस्कृत्य ब्राह्मणान्स्वस्ति वाच्य च। प्रययौ पुण्डरीकाक्षः सात्यकेन सहाच्युतः
Having bowed to the deities and spoken words of blessing to the Brahmins, lotus-eyed Achyuta set out with Satyaki.
तं प्रयान्तमनुप्रायात्कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः । भीमसेनार्जुनौ चोभौ माद्रीपुत्रौ च पाण्डवौ
As he departed, Kunti’s son Yudhishthira followed him, along with Bhimasena, Arjuna, and the two sons of Madri.
चेकितानश्च विक्रान्तो धृष्टकेतुश्च चेदिपः । द्रुपदः काशिराजश्च शिखण्डी च महारथः
The valiant Chekitana, Dhṛṣṭaketu the king of the Cedis, Drupada, the king of Kashi, and the great chariot-warrior Shikhandi also followed.
धृष्टद्युम्नः सपुत्रश्च विराटः केकयैः सह। संसाधनार्थं प्रययुः क्षत्रियाः क्षत्रियर्षभम्
Dhṛṣṭadyumna with his sons, Virata with the Kekayas, and other Kshatriyas set out to accompany the best among warriors.
ततोऽनुव्रज्य गोविन्दं धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः। राज्ञां सकाशे द्युतिमानुवाचेदं वचस्तदा
Then, having followed Govinda, King Yudhishthira, radiant among kings, spoke these words in their presence.
यो वै न कामान्न भयान्न लोभान्नार्थकारणात्। अन्यायमनुवर्तेत स्थिरबुद्धिरलोलुपः
He who does not follow unrighteousness out of desire, fear, greed, or for the sake of gain, whose mind is steady and not covetous—
धर्मज्ञो धृतिमान्प्राज्ञः सर्वभूतेषु केशवः । ईश्वरः सर्वभूतानां देवदेवः सनातनः
Keshava, who knows righteousness, is steadfast and wise; he is the Lord of all beings, the God of gods, eternal.
तं सर्वगुणसंपन्नं श्रीवत्सकृतलक्षणम्। संरिष्वज्य कौन्तेयः सन्देष्टुमुपचक्रमे
Having embraced him, who is endowed with all virtues and marked by the Śrīvatsa, Kaunteya began to deliver his message.
या सा बाल्यात्प्रभृत्यस्मान्पर्यवर्धयताबला। उपवासतपःशीला सदा स्वस्त्ययने रता
She who, from our childhood, raised us with great care, always devoted to fasting, austerity, and auspicious rites—
देवतातिथिपूजासु गुरुशुश्रूषणे रता। वत्सला प्रियपुत्रा च माताऽस्माकं जनार्दन
Devoted to honoring gods and guests, attentive in serving elders, loving her dear sons—she is our mother, Janardana.
सुयोधनभयाद्या नो त्रायतामित्रकर्शन । महतो मृत्युसंबाधुद्दुस्तरान्नौरिवार्णवात्
O subduer of enemies, may she save us from the fear of Suyodhana, from the great peril of death, as a boat saves from the ocean.
अस्मत्कृते च सततं यया दुःखानि माधव । अनुभूतान्यदुःखार्हां तां स्म पृच्छेरनामयम्
And for our sake, O Madhava, she has constantly endured sufferings undeserved by her; inquire after her well-being.
भृशमाश्वासयेश्चैनां पुत्रशोकपरिप्लुताम् । अभिवाद्य स्वजेथास्त्वं पाण्डवान्परिकीर्तयन्
Greatly comfort her, who is overwhelmed by grief for her sons; after saluting her, speak of the Pandavas.
ऊढात्प्रभृति दुःखानि श्वशुराणामरिन्दम। निराकाराऽतदर्हा च पश्यन्ती दुःखमश्रुते
From the time of her marriage, O subduer of foes, she has seen only undeserved suffering from her fathers-in-law, and has endured sorrow unheard of.
अपि जातु स कालः स्यात्कृष्ण दुःखविपर्ययः । यदहं मातरं क्लिष्टां सुखं दद्यामरिन्दम
O Krishna, may that time come when her sorrow is reversed, so that I, subduer of enemies, may bring happiness to my afflicted mother.
प्रव्रजन्तोऽनुधावन्तीं कृपणां पुत्रगृद्धिनीम् । रुदतीमपहायैनामगच्छाम वयं वनम्
As we departed for the forest, we left her behind, wretched and longing for her sons, following us and weeping.