एवमुक्ताः केशवेन मुनयः शंसितव्रताः । नारदप्रमुखाः सर्वे प्रत्यनन्दन्त केशवम्
Thus addressed by Kesava, all the sages of firm vows, with Narada at their head, welcomed him.
अधश्शिराः सर्पमाली महर्षिः स हि देवलः । अर्वावसुः सुजानुश्च मैत्रेयः शुनको बली
Devala the great sage, wearing a garland of serpents, with head bowed, Arvavasu, Sujanu, Maitreya, and mighty Sunaka,
बको दाल्भ्यः स्थूलशिराः कृष्णद्वैपायनस्तथा। आपोदधौम्यो धौम्यश्च आणिमाण्डव्यकौशिकौ
Baka, Dalbhya, Sthulashira, Krishna-Dvaipayana, Apodadhaumya, Dhaumya, Animandavya, and Kaushika,
दामोष्णीषस्त्रिषवणः पर्णादो घटजानुकः। मौञ्जायनो वायुभक्षः पाराशर्योऽथ शालिकः
Dama, Ushnisha, Trishavana, Parnada, Ghatajanuka, Maunjayana, Vayubhaksha, Parashara, and Shalika,
शीलवानशनिर्धाता शून्यपालोऽकृतव्रणः। श्वेतकेतुः कहोलश्च रामश्चैव महातपाः
Shilavana, Ashanirdhata, Shunyapala, Akritavrana, Shvetaketu, Kahola, and Rama, the great ascetic,
तमब्रवीज्जामदग्न्य उपेत्य मधुसूदनम्। परिष्वज्य च गोविन्दं सुरासुरपतेः सखा
Jamadagnya approached Madhusudana, embraced Govinda, the friend of the lord of gods and demons, and spoke to him.
देवर्षयः पुण्यकृतो ब्राह्मणाश्च बहुश्रुताः । राजर्षयश्च दाशार्ह मानयन्ति तपस्विनः
O Dāśārha, the divine sages who perform virtuous deeds, the learned Brāhmaṇas, and the royal sages honor those who practice austerity.
दैवासुरस्य द्रुष्टारः पुराणस्य महामते। समेत पार्थिवं क्षत्रं दिदृक्षन्तश्च सर्वतः। सभासदश्च राजानस्त्वां च सत्यं जनार्दनम्
O wise one, the seers of the ancient conflict between gods and demons, the assembled kings and warriors from all quarters, the members of the assembly, and the kings, all wish to see you, O Janārdana, who are truth itself.
एतन्महत्प्रेक्षणीयं द्रुष्टुमिच्छाम केशव
O Keśava, we wish to behold this great and wondrous sight.
धर्मार्थसहिता वाचः श्रोतुमिच्छाम माधव। त्वयोच्यमानाः कुरुषु राजमध्ये परन्तप
O Mādhava, we desire to hear words united with righteousness and profit, spoken by you among the Kurus in the midst of the kings, O scorcher of foes.
सभायां मधुरा वाचः शुश्रूषन्तस्त्वयेरिताः । कुरूणां प्रतिवाचश्च श्रोतुमिच्छाम माधव
Longing to listen in the assembly to your sweet words, O Mādhava, we also wish to hear the Kurus' reply.
भीष्मद्रोणादयश्चैव विदुरश्च महामतिः । त्वं च यादवशार्दूल सभायां वै समेष्यथ
Bhīṣma, Droṇa, and others, as well as the wise Vidura, and you, O foremost of the Yādavas, will all be present in the assembly.
तव वाक्यानि दिव्यानि तथा तेषां च माधव। श्रोतुमिच्छाम गोविन्द सत्यानि च हितानि च। आपृष्टोऽसि महाबाहो पुनर्द्रक्ष्यामहे वयम्
O Govinda, we wish to hear your divine words, as well as theirs, words that are true and beneficial; O mighty-armed one, having taken leave, we shall see you again.
याह्यविघ्नेन वै वीर द्रक्ष्यामस्त्वां सभागतम्। आसीनमासने दिव्ये बलतेजःसमाहितम्
Go forth without hindrance, O hero; we shall see you seated in the assembly on a splendid seat, radiant with strength and energy.
प्रयान्तं देवकीपुत्रं परवीररुजो दश। महारथा महाबाहुमन्वयुः शस्त्रपाणयः
As the son of Devakī, the subduer of enemy heroes, departed, ten great chariot-warriors, armed with weapons, followed him.
पदातीनां सहस्रं च सादिनां च परन्तप। भोज्यं च विपुलं राजन्प्रेष्याश्च शतशोपरे
A thousand foot soldiers and many horsemen, O subduer of foes, along with abundant provisions and hundreds of attendants, accompanied him, O king.
कथं प्रयातो दाशार्हो महात्मा मधुसूदनः। कानि वा व्रजतस्तस्य निमित्तानि महौजसः
How did the high-souled Dāśārha, the slayer of Madhu, set out, and what were the omens when that mighty one departed?
तस्य प्रयाणे यान्यसन्निमित्तानि महात्मनः। तानि मे श्रृणु सर्वाणि दैवान्यौत्पातिकानि च
Hear from me all the divine and inauspicious omens that appeared at the departure of that great soul.
अनभ्रेऽशनिनिर्घोषः सविद्युत्समजायत । अन्वगेव च पर्जन्यः प्रावर्षद्विघने भृशम्
There arose a thunderous sound from a cloudless sky, flashing with lightning, and immediately a heavy rain fell from a dense cloud.
प्रत्यगूहुर्महानद्यः प्राङ्मुखाः सिन्धुसप्तमाः । विपरिता दिशः सर्वा न प्राज्ञायत किंचन
The great rivers, the seven Sindhus, flowed backward, facing west; all directions were reversed, and nothing could be discerned.
प्राज्वलन्नग्नयो राजन्पृथिवी समकम्पत । उदपानाश्च कुम्भाश्च प्रासिञ्चञ्शतशो जलम्
Fires blazed up, O king, the earth trembled, and wells and jars poured out water by the hundreds.
तमःसंवृतमप्यासीत्सर्वं जगदिदं तथा। न दिशो नादिशो राजन्प्रज्ञायन्तेस्म रेणुना
All this world was shrouded in darkness; neither directions nor intermediate directions could be distinguished, O king, because of dust.
प्रादुरासीन्महाञ्छब्दः खेशरीरमदृश्यत । सर्वेषु राजन्देशेषु तदद्भुतमिवाभवत्
A great sound arose, and something unseen moved in the sky; in all the lands, O king, it seemed a marvel.
प्रामथ्नाद्धास्तिनपुरं वातो दक्षिणपश्चिमः । आरुजन्गणशो वृक्षान्परुषोऽशनिनिःस्वनः
A fierce wind from the southwest battered Hastinapura, breaking trees in groups, harsh as the roar of thunder.
यत्रयत्र च वार्ष्णेयो वर्तते पथि भारत । तत्रतत्र सुखो वायुः सर्वं चासीत्प्रदक्षिणम्
Wherever the son of Vṛṣṇi went along the road, O Bhārata, there the wind was pleasant, and everything turned auspiciously to the right.
ववर्ष पुष्पवर्षं च कमलानि च भूरिशः । समश्च पन्था निर्दुःखो व्यपेतकुशकण्टकः
A shower of flowers and many lotuses fell; the road was level, free from hardship, cleared of grass and thorns.
संस्तुतो ब्राह्मणैर्गीर्भिस्तत्रतत्र सहस्रशः । अर्च्यते मधुपर्कैश्च वसुभिश्च वसुप्रदः
He was praised by Brahmins with thousands of hymns in every place, and was honored with offerings of honey and curds, and with gifts of wealth, as the giver of riches.
तं किरन्ति महात्मानं वन्यैः पुष्पैः सुगन्धिभिः । स्त्रियः पथि समागम्य सर्वभूतहिते रतम्
Women, gathering along the road, showered that great-souled one, devoted to the welfare of all beings, with fragrant wild flowers.
स शालिभवनं रम्यं सर्वसस्यसमाचितम्। सुख परमधर्मिष्ठमभ्यगाद्भरतर्षभ
That foremost of the Bharatas entered a delightful village of rice-fields, abundant with all crops, supremely comfortable and righteous.
पश्यन्बहुपशून्ग्रामान्रम्यान्हृदयतोपणान्। पुराणि च व्यतिकामन्राष्ट्राणि विविधानि च
He beheld many herds of cattle, charming villages pleasing to the heart, ancient towns, and various regions as he passed through.