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.
सा नूनं म्रियते दुःखैः सा चेज्जीवति केशव। तथा पुत्राधिभिर्गाढमार्तामर्चय सत्कृत
Surely, she is dying of sorrow; if she yet lives, O Keshava, honor her, deeply afflicted by grief for her sons.
अभिवाद्याऽथ सा कृष्ण त्वया मद्वचवाद्विभो । धृतराष्ट्रश्च कौरव्यो राजानश्च वयोधिकाः
Then, O Krishna, after saluting her, speak to her on my behalf, and also to Dhritarashtra, the Kaurava, and the elder kings.
भीष्मं द्रोणं कृपं चैव महाराजं च वाह्लिकम्। द्रौणिं च सोमदत्तं च सर्वांश्च भरतान्पृथक्
To Bhishma, Drona, Kripa, the great king Vahlika, Drona's son, Somadatta, and all the Bharatas individually—
यथावयो यथास्थानं प्रपद्यस्व जनार्दन।' विदुरं च महाप्राज्ञं कुरूणां मन्त्रधारिणम्। अगाधबुद्धिं मर्मज्ञं स्वजेथा मधुसूदन
According to their age and rank, approach them, Janardana; and to Vidura, the wise counselor of the Kurus, deep in understanding and knowing the heart, speak, O Madhusudana.
इत्युक्त्वा केशवं तत्र राजमध्ये युधिष्ठिरः। अनुज्ञातो निववृते कृष्णं कृत्वा प्रदक्षिणम्
Having thus spoken to Keshava in the midst of the kings, Yudhishthira, having been permitted, circled Krishna and withdrew.
व्रजन्नेव तु बीभत्सुः सखायं पुरुषर्षभम् । अब्रवीत्परवीरघ्रं दाशार्हमपराजितम्
As he departed, Arjuna spoke to his friend, the best of men, the slayer of enemy heroes, the unconquered Dasharha.
यदस्माकं विभो वृत्तं पुरा वै मन्त्रनिश्चये । अर्धराज्यस्य गोविद विदितं सर्वराजसु
O mighty one, what happened among us before, in the council regarding the division of the kingdom, is known to all the kings.
तच्चेद्दद्यादखङ्गेन सत्कृत्यानवमत्य च। प्रियं मे स्यान्महाबाहो मुच्येरन्महतो भयात्
If they would grant that without deceit, with due honor and without contempt, O mighty-armed one, it would please me, and we would be freed from great fear.
अतश्चेदन्यथाकर्ता धार्तराष्ट्रोऽनुपायवित्। अन्तं नूनं करिष्यामि क्षत्रियाणां जनार्दन
But if Dhritarashtra's son acts otherwise, lacking in right means, I will surely bring about the end of the Kshatriyas, O Janardana.
एवमुक्ते पाण्डवेन समहृष्यद्वृकोदरः। मुहुर्मुहुः क्रोधवशात्प्रावेपत च पाण्डवः
When the son of Pandu spoke thus, Bhima, filled with joy, trembled again and again under the sway of anger.