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.
पुण्याहघोषमिश्रेण पूज्यमाना द्विजातिभिः । वस्त्रै रत्नैरलङ्कारैः पूजयन्तो द्विजन्मनः
With auspicious chants mixed with the proclamation of holy days, honored by the twice-born with garments, jewels, and ornaments, they worshipped the Brahmanas.
गीर्भिर्मङ्गलयुक्ताभिर्ब्राह्मणानां महात्मनाम् । अर्चितैरर्चनार्हैश्च स्तुवद्भिरभिनन्दिताः
With words of blessing from the great-souled Brahmanas, praised and honored by those worthy of worship, they were celebrated and lauded.
प्रासादाग्नेष्वबोध्यन्त राङ्खवाजिनशायिनः । क्रूरं च निनदं श्रुत्वा श्वापदानां महावने
They were awakened in palaces and at sacrificial fires, lying on soft beds, but in the great forest, hearing the cruel howls of beasts.
न स्मोपयान्ति निद्रां ते नतदर्हा जनार्दन । भेरीमृदङ्गनिनदैः शङ्खवैणवनिस्वनैः
O Janardana, those who did not deserve such fate now cannot find sleep, disturbed by the sounds of drums, kettledrums, conches, and flutes.
स्त्रीणां गीतनिनादैश्च मधुरैर्मधुसूदन ।। वन्दिमागधसूतैश्च स्तुवद्भिर्बोधिताः कथम्
O Madhusudana, how could they, once awakened by the sweet singing of women and the praises of bards, minstrels, and heralds, now endure this?
महावनेष्वबोध्यन्त श्वापदानां रुतेन च । ह्रीमात्सत्यधृतिर्दान्तो भूतानामनुकम्पिता
Now, in the great forests, they are awakened by the cries of wild beasts; steadfast in truth, self-controlled, and compassionate to all beings.
कामद्वेषौ वशे कृत्वा सतां वर्त्मानुवर्तते । अम्बरीषस्य मान्धातुर्ययातेर्नहुषस्य च
Having subdued desire and anger, they follow the path of the righteous, as did Ambarisha, Mandhata, Yayati, and Nahusha.
भरतस्य दिलीपस्य शिबेरौशीनरस्य च। राजर्षीणां पुराणानां धुरं धत्ते दुरुद्वहाम्
Like Bharata, Dilipa, Sibi, and Ushinara, those ancient royal sages, they bear the heavy burden of duty.
शीलवृत्तोपसंपन्नोः धर्मज्ञः सत्यसङ्गरः । राजा सर्वगुणोपेतस्त्रौलोक्यस्यापि यो भवेत्
A king endowed with good conduct and character, who knows righteousness and is steadfast in truth, who possesses all virtues—such a one could rule even the three worlds.
अजातशत्रुर्धर्मात्मा शुद्धजाम्बूनदप्रभः । श्रेष्ठः कुरुषु सर्वेषु धर्मतः श्रुतवृत्ततः । प्रियदर्शो दीर्घभुजः कथं कृष्ण युधिष्ठिरः
Ajātaśatru, whose soul is established in dharma, radiant like pure gold, is the foremost among all the Kurus in righteousness and learning, pleasant to behold, long-armed—how is Yudhishthira, O Krishna?
यः स नागायुतप्राणो वातरंहा महाबलः । सामर्षः पाण्डवो नित्यं प्रियो भ्रातुः प्रियंकरः
He whose life is equal to ten thousand elephants, swift as the wind, of great strength, ever spirited, the Pandava who is always dear to his brother and brings him joy—
कीचकस्य तु सज्ञातेर्यो हन्ता मधुसूदन । शूरः क्रोधवशानां च हिडिम्बस्य बकस्य च
He who slew Kichaka, their powerful kinsman, O Madhusudana, the hero who vanquished the wrathful Hidimba and Baka—
पराक्रमे शक्रसमो मातरिश्वसमो बले। महेश्वरसमः क्रोधे भीमः प्रहरतां वरः
In prowess equal to Indra, in strength like the wind-god, in wrath like Maheshvara, Bhima is the foremost among those who strike in battle.
क्रोधं बलममर्षं च यो निधाय परंतपः । जितात्मा पाण्डवोऽमर्षी भ्रातुस्तिष्ठति शासने
He who, scorcher of foes, sets aside anger, strength, and impatience, who has mastered himself, yet is unyielding, stands obedient to his brother’s command.
तेजोराशिं महात्मानं वरिष्ठमभितौजसम् । भीमं प्रदर्शनेनापि भीमसेनं जनार्दन
That Bhima, a great soul, a mass of energy, supreme in might, O Janardana, even his appearance inspires awe.
तं ममाचक्ष्व वार्ष्णेय कथमद्य वृकोदरः । आस्ते परिघबाहुः स मध्यमः पाण्डवो बली
Tell me, O descendant of Vrishni, how is that strong-armed, powerful middle Pandava, Vrikodara, today?
अर्जुनेनार्जुनो यः स कृष्ण बाहुसहस्रिणा । द्विबाहुः स्पर्धते नित्यमतीतेनापि केशव
He who, though two-armed, ever contends with Arjuna, who has a thousand arms, O Krishna, striving even beyond his own limits—
क्षिपत्येकेन वेगेन पञ्चबाणशतानि यः । इष्वस्त्रे सदृशो राज्ञः कार्तवीर्यस्य पाण्डवः
He who, with a single motion, hurls hundreds of arrows, the Pandava who rivals King Kartavirya in the science of weapons—
तेजसाऽऽदित्यसदृशो महर्षिसदृशो दमे। क्षमया पृथिवीतुल्यो महेन्द्रसमविक्रमः
In brilliance like the sun, in self-control like a great sage, in forbearance equal to the earth, in valor like mighty Indra—
आधिराज्यं महद्दीप्तं प्रथितं मधुसूदन । आहृतं येन वीर्येण कुरूणां सर्वराजसु
The great and illustrious sovereignty, renowned among all kings of the Kurus, was won by his valor, O Madhusudana.