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.
नित्यं हृष्टाः सुमनसो भारतैरभिरक्षिताः। नोद्विग्नाः परचक्राणां व्यसनानामकोविदाः
The people, always joyful and of good spirit, protected by the Bhāratas, were untroubled by foreign armies and skilled in avoiding misfortune.
उपप्लाव्यादथागम्य जनाः पुरनिवासिनः। यथ्यतिष्ठन्त सहिता विष्वक्सेनदिदृक्षया
Then, arriving at Upaplāvya, the townspeople gathered together, standing in order, eager to see Viṣvaksena.
ते तु सर्वे समायान्तमग्निमिद्धमिव प्रभुम् । अर्चयामासुरर्चार्हं देशातिथिमुपस्थितम्
All of them honored the arriving lord, worthy of worship, like fire kindled, as a guest come from afar.
वृकस्थलं समासाद्य केशवः परवीरहा । प्रकीर्णरश्मावादित्ये व्योम्नि वै लोहितायति
Keśava, slayer of enemy heroes, reached Vṛkasthala as the sun, with its rays scattered, reddened the sky.
ततो ह्यनुचरान्सर्वानुवाच मधुसूदनः। युधिष्ठिरस्य कार्यार्थमिह वत्स्यामहे वयम्
Then Madhusūdana addressed all his attendants: 'For Yudhiṣṭhira's purpose, we shall stay here.'
तस्य तन्मतमाज्ञाय चक्रुरावसथं नराः । क्षणेन चान्नपानानि ररावन्ति समार्जयन्
Hearing his decision, the men quickly prepared a lodging, and in a moment arranged food and drink, cleaning everything.
अवतीर्य रथात्तूर्णं कृत्वा शौचं यथाविधि । रथमोचनमादिश्य सन्ध्यामुपविवेश ह
Swiftly descending from the chariot, performing purification as prescribed, and ordering the unyoking of the chariot, he sat down for the evening rites.
दारुकोऽपि हयान्मुक्त्वा परिचर्य च शास्त्रतः। मुमोच सर्वं योक्तादि मुक्त्वा चैतानवासृजत्
Dāruka too, after unharnessing the horses and attending to them according to rule, released all the harness and let them go.
तस्मिन्ग्रामे प्रधानास्तु य आसन्ब्राह्मणा नृप । आर्याः कुलीना ह्रीमन्तो ब्राह्मीं वृत्तिमनुष्ठिताः
In that village, O king, the leading Brahmins were noble, of good family, modest, and devoted to the conduct of Brahmins.
तेऽभिगम्य महात्मानं हृषीकेशमरिन्दमम्। पूजां चक्रुर्यथान्यायमाशीर्मङ्गलसंयुताम्
They approached the great-souled Hṛṣīkeśa, subduer of enemies, and performed worship as was proper, with blessings and auspicious words.