न पर्याप्तोस्मि यद्राजञ्श्रियं निष्केवलामहम् । तैः सहेमामुपाश्रीयां यावज्जीवं पितामह
O King, I am not satisfied with the unalloyed prosperity I possess; with them, I would enjoy this golden wealth as long as I live, O Grandsire.
इदं तु सुमहत्कार्यं श्रुणु मे यत्समर्थितम् । परायणं पाण्डवानां नियच्छामि जनार्दनम्
But hear from me this very great matter which I have resolved: I assign Janārdana as the refuge of the Pāṇḍavas.
तस्मिन्बद्धे भविष्यन्ति वृष्णयः पृथिवी तथा। पाण्डवाश्च विधेया मे स च प्रातरिहैप्यति
When he is bound to them, the Vṛṣṇis and the earth will also be so; the Pāṇḍavas will be subject to me, and he will arrive here in the morning.
अत्रोपायान्यथा सम्यङ्न बुद्ध्येत जनार्दनः । न चापायो भवेत्कश्चित्तद्भवान्प्रब्रवीतु मे
If Janārdana does not devise other means properly here, and if there is no danger, then let your majesty tell me so.
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा घोरं कृष्णेऽभिसंहितम्। धृतराष्ट्रः सहामात्यो व्यथितो विमनाभवत्
Hearing those terrible words, directed at Krishna, Dhritarashtra, together with his ministers, became distressed and disheartened.
ततो दुर्योधनमिदं धृतराष्ट्रोऽब्रवीद्वचः । मैवं वोचः प्रजापाल नैष धर्मः सनातनः
Then Dhritarashtra spoke these words to Duryodhana: 'Do not speak so, protector of the people; this is not the eternal law.'
दूतश्च हि हृषीकेशः संबन्धी च प्रियश्च नः। अपापः कौरवेयेषु स कथं बन्धमर्हति
For Hrishikesha is both a messenger and our relative, and dear to us; he is innocent among the Kauravas—how can he deserve imprisonment?
परीतस्तव पुत्रोऽयं धृतराष्ट्र सुमन्दधीः । वृणोत्यनर्थं नैवार्थं याच्यमानः सुहृज्जनैः
Your son, Dhritarashtra, whose understanding is very poor, is surrounded and, when urged by friends, chooses harm and not benefit.
इममुत्पथि वर्तन्तं पापं पापानुबन्धिनम्। वाक्यानि सुहृदां हित्वा त्वमप्यस्यानुवर्तसे
Abandoning the words of friends, you too follow this son of yours, who walks this evil path, bound to sin and its consequences.
कृष्णमक्लिष्टकर्माणमासाद्यायं सुदुर्मतिः । तव पुत्रः सहामात्यः क्षणेन न भविष्यति
Having approached Krishna, whose deeds are blameless, your son, together with his ministers, will not survive even a moment.
पापस्यास्य नृशंसस्य त्यक्तधर्मस्य दुर्मतेः । नोत्सहेऽनर्थसंयुक्ताः श्रोतुं वाचः कथंचन
I am unable to bear, in any way, the words of this sinful, cruel, lawless, and wicked man, filled with misfortune.
इत्युक्त्वा भरतश्रेष्ठो वृद्धः परममन्युमान् । उत्थाय तस्मात्प्रातिष्ठद्भीष्मः सत्यपराक्रमः
Having spoken thus, the venerable Bhishma, greatest of the Bharatas and full of intense anger, rose and departed from there, steadfast in truth and valor.
प्रातरुत्थाय कृष्णस्तु कृतवान्सर्वमाह्निकम्। ब्राह्मणैरभ्यनुज्ञातः प्रययौ नगरं प्रति
Rising early in the morning, Krishna performed all his daily rites; having been given leave by the Brahmanas, he set out for the city.
तं प्रयान्तं महाबाहुमनुज्ञाप्य महाबलम् । पर्यवर्तन्त ते सर्वे वृकस्थलनिवासिनः
Having taken leave of the mighty-armed Krishna as he departed, all the inhabitants of Vrikasthala turned back.
प्रददौ पुण्डरीकाक्षो रत्नानि च धनानि च। तान्प्रस्थाप्य महाबाहुरुपायात्कुरुसंसदम्
Lotus-eyed Krishna gave away jewels and wealth; after sending them off, the mighty-armed one proceeded to the Kuru assembly.
धार्तराष्ट्रास्तमायान्तं प्रत्युञ्जग्मुः स्वलङ्कृताः । दुर्योधनादृते सर्वे भीष्मद्रोणकृपादयः
The sons of Dhritarashtra, except for Duryodhana, together with Bhishma, Drona, Kripa, and others, all adorned, came forth to meet him as he arrived.
पौराश्च बहुला राजन्हृषीकेशं दिदृक्षवः । यानैर्बहुविधैरन्ये पद्भिरेव तथाऽपरे
And many citizens, O King, eager to see Hrishikesha, came in various vehicles, while others came on foot.
स वै पथि समागम्य भीष्मेणाक्लिष्टकर्मणा । द्रोणेन धार्तराष्ट्रैश्च तैर्वृतो नगरं ययौ
Meeting on the road with Bhishma, whose deeds are blameless, with Drona, and with the sons of Dhritarashtra, Krishna entered the city surrounded by them.
कृष्णसंमाननार्थं च नगरं समलङ्कृतम्। बभूव राजमार्गश्च बहुरत्नसमाचितः
For Krishna's honoring, the city was splendidly adorned, and the royal road was heaped with many precious gems.
न च कश्चिद्गृहे राजंस्तदाऽऽसीद्भरतर्षभ। न स्त्री न वृद्धो न शिशुर्वासुदेवदिदृक्षया
At that time, O bull among the Bharatas, there was no one in their house—not a woman, not an elder, not a child—all eager to see Vasudeva.
राजमार्गे नरास्तस्मिन्संस्तुवन्त्यवनिं गताः । तस्मिन्काले महाराज हृषीकेशप्रवेशने
On that royal road, men who had come to the ground praised the earth, O great king, at the time of Hrishikesha's entry.
आवृतानि वरस्त्रीभिर्गृहाणि सुमहान्त्यपि । प्रचलन्तीव भारेण दृश्यन्तेस्म महीतले
Even the very large houses, filled with noble women, appeared as if they were swaying under their weight on the earth.
तथा च गतिमन्तस्ते वासुदेवस्य वाजिनः । प्रनष्टगतयोऽभूवन्राजमार्गे नरैर्वृते
And thus the swift horses of Vāsudeva lost their speed, surrounded by people on the royal road.
स गृहं धृतराष्ट्रस्य प्राविशच्छत्रुकर्शनः। पाण्डुरैः पुण्डरीकाक्षः प्रासादैरुपशोभितम्
Then the subduer of enemies, the lotus-eyed Pāṇḍava, entered the house of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, adorned with white palaces.
तिस्रः कक्ष्या व्यतिक्रम्य केशवो राजवेश्मनः । वैचित्रवीर्यं राजानमभ्यगच्छदरिन्दमः
Crossing three enclosures of the royal residence, Keśava, the slayer of foes, approached King Vaicitravīrya.
अभ्यागच्छति दाशार्हे प्रज्ञाचक्षुर्नराधिपः । तहैव द्रोणभीष्माभ्यामुदतिष्ठन्महायशाः
As the descendant of Daśārha approached, the wise king, along with Droṇa and Bhīṣma, rose up, renowned as they were.
कृपश्च सोमदत्तश्च महाराजश्च बाह्लिकः। आसनेभ्योऽचलन्सर्वे पूजयन्तो जनार्दनम्
Kṛpa, Somadatta, and the great king Bāhlika—all of them rose from their seats, honoring Janārdana.
ततो राजानमासाद्य धृतराष्ट्रं यशस्विनम्। सभीष्मं पूजयामास वार्ष्णेयो वाग्भिरञ्जसा
Then, approaching the illustrious king Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Vārṣṇeya, together with Bhīṣma, honored him with gracious words.
तेषु धर्मानुपूर्वी तां प्रयुज्य मधुसूदनः । यथावयः समीयाय राजभिः सह माधवः
There, Madhusūdana, following the proper order of righteousness, greeted the kings according to their age.
अथ द्रोणं सबाह्लीकं सपुत्रं च यशस्विनम्। कृपं च सोमदत्तं च समीयाय जनार्दनः
Then Janārdana greeted Droṇa, Bāhlika with his son, Kṛpa, and Somadatta, all renowned men.