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.
तत्रासीदूर्जितं मृष्टं काञ्चनं महदासनम् । शासनाद्धृतराष्ट्रस्य तत्रोपाविशदच्युतः
There was a splendid, well-polished golden seat, and by the command of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Acyuta sat upon it.
अथ गां मधुपर्कं चाप्युदकं च जनार्दने । उपजह्नुर्यथान्यायं धृतराष्ट्रपुरोहिताः
Then, as was proper, the priests of Dhṛtarāṣṭra brought a cow, madhuparka, and water for Janārdana.
कृतातिथ्यस्तु गोविन्दः सर्वान्परिहसन्कुरून् । आस्ते सांबन्धिकं कुर्वन्कुरुभिः परिवारितः
Having been received as a guest, Govinda, surrounded by the Kurus, sat, exchanging pleasantries with all the Kurus as relatives.
सोऽर्चितो धृतराष्ट्रेण पूजितश्च महायशाः । राजानं समनुज्ञाप्य निरक्रामदरिन्दमः
Thus honored by Dhṛtarāṣṭra and worshipped by all, the illustrious slayer of foes, having taken leave of the king, departed.
तैः समेत्य यथान्यायं कुरुभिः कुरुसंसदि । विदुरावसथं रम्यमुपातिष्ठत माधवः
Having met with the Kurus in their assembly according to custom, Mādhava went to the pleasant residence of Vidura.
विदुरः सर्वकल्याणैरभिगम्य जनार्दनम् । अर्चयामास दाशार्हं सर्वकामैरुपस्थितम्
Vidura, approaching Janārdana with all auspiciousness, honored the Daśārha, offering all that was desired.
कृतातिथ्यं तु गोविन्दं विदुरः सर्वधर्मवित्। कुशलं पाण्डुपुत्राणामपृच्छन्मधुसूदनम्
When Govinda had been received as a guest, Vidura, knower of all dharma, inquired of Madhusūdana about the welfare of the sons of Pāṇḍu.
प्रीयमाणस्य सुहृदो विदुरो बुद्धिसत्तमः । धर्मार्थनित्यस्य सतो गतरोवस्य धीमतः
To his dear friend, Vidura, the wisest and ever devoted to righteousness and prosperity, who had come after a long time, being wise and steadfast—
तस्य सर्वं सविस्तारं पाण्डवानां विचेष्टितम् । क्षत्तुराचष्ट दाशार्हः सर्वं प्रत्यक्षदर्शिवान्
To him, the Daśārha, who had seen everything with his own eyes, recounted in detail all the actions of the Pāṇḍavas.
अथोपगम्य विदुरमपराह्णे जनार्दनः। पितृष्वसारं स पृथामभ्यगच्छदरिन्दमः
Then, in the afternoon, Janārdana went to Vidura and approached Pṛthā, his paternal aunt, the subduer of enemies.
सा दृष्ट्वा कृष्णमायान्तं प्रसन्नादित्यवर्चसम्। कण्ठे गृहीत्वा प्राक्रोशत्स्मरन्ती तनयान्पृथा
Seeing Krishna approaching, radiant like the clear sun, Kunti embraced him by the neck and cried out, remembering her sons.
तेषां सत्ववतां मध्ये गोविन्दं सहचारिणम् । चिरस्य दृष्ट्वा वार्ष्णेयं बाष्पमाहारयत्मृथा
In the midst of those steadfast ones, seeing Govinda, the companion from the Vrishni line, after a long time, Pritha shed tears.
साऽब्रवीत्कृष्णमासीनं कृतातिथ्यं युधां पतिम् । बाष्पगद्गदपूर्णेन मुखेन परिशुष्यता
She spoke to Krishna, seated and honored as a guest, the lord of warriors, her face choked with tears and parched with grief.
एते बाल्यान्प्रभृत्येव गुरुशुश्रूषणे रताः । परस्परस्य सुहृदः संमताः समचेतसः। निकृत्या भ्रंशिता राज्याञ्जनार्हा निर्जनं गताः
From childhood, these sons were devoted to serving their elders, mutually dear, of one mind, and esteemed by friends; yet, through deceit, they were deprived of their kingdom and, though worthy, cast into solitude.
विनीतक्रोधहर्षाश्च ब्रह्मण्याः सत्यवादिनः । त्यक्त्वा प्रियमुखे पार्था रुदतीमपहाय माम्
Humble, free from anger and joy, devoted to the Brahmanas, speakers of truth, the sons of Pritha abandoned me, weeping, their beloved mother, and left for the forest.
अहार्षुश्च वनं यान्तः समूलं हृदयं मम। अतदर्हा महात्मानः कथं केशव पाण्डवाः
As they departed for the forest, they took my heart with them, root and all; O Kesava, how could the great-souled Pandavas, so undeserving of such fate, endure this?
ऊषुर्महावने तात सिंहव्याघ्रगजाकुले । बाला विहीनाः पित्रा ते मया सततलालिताः
In the great forest, filled with lions, tigers, and elephants, those children, deprived of their father and always cherished by me, lived on, O dear one.
अपश्यन्तश्च पितरौ कथमुषूर्महावने। शङ्खदुन्दुभिनिर्घोषैर्भृदङ्गैर्वेणुनिस्वनैः
How did they dwell in the great forest, separated from both parents, who from childhood had known only the sounds of conches, drums, and flutes?
पाण्डवाः समबोध्यन्त बाल्यात्प्रभृति केशव । ये स्म वारणशब्देन हयानां हेषितेन च
From their earliest days, O Kesava, the Pandavas were awakened by the trumpeting of elephants and the neighing of horses.
रथेनेमिनिनादैश्च व्यबोध्यन्त तदा गृहे । शङ्खभेरीनिनादेन वेणुवीणानुनादिना
At home, they were roused by the rumbling of chariots, the sounds of conches and kettledrums, and the music of flutes and lutes.