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.
यस्य बाहुबलं सर्वे पाण्डवाः पर्युपासते। स सर्वरथिनां श्रेष्ठः पाण्डवः सत्यविक्रमः
All the Pandavas honor his strength of arms; he, the best among all chariot-warriors, the Pandava of true valor.
यं गत्वाऽभिमुखः सङ्ख्ये न जीवन्तश्चिदाव्रजेत् । यो जेता सर्वभूतानामजेयो जिष्णुरच्युत
He whom none return alive after facing in battle, who conquers all beings, unconquerable Jishnu, O Achyuta—
योऽपाश्रयः पाण्डवानां देवानामिव वासवः । स ते भ्राता सखा चैव कथमद्य धनञ्जयः
He who is the refuge of the Pandavas, as Vasava is for the gods—he is your brother and friend; tell me, how is Dhananjaya today?
दयावान्सर्वभूतेषु ह्रीनिषेवो महास्रवित् । मृदुश्च सुकुमारश्च धार्मिकश्च प्रियश्च मे
Compassionate to all beings, devoted to modesty, of great purity, gentle and delicate, righteous and dear to me—
सहदेवो महेष्वासः शूरः समितिशोभनः । भ्रातृणां कृष्ण शुश्रूषुर्धर्मार्थकुशलो युवा
Sahadeva, mighty archer, heroic and splendid in battle, ever attentive to his brothers, skilled in dharma and wealth, youthful—
सदैव सहदेवस्य भ्रातरो मधुसूदन । वृत्तं कल्याणवृत्तस्य पूजयन्ति महात्मनः
The brothers of Sahadeva, O Madhusudana, always honor the conduct of that great-souled one, whose ways are virtuous.
ज्येष्ठोपचायिनं वीरं सहदेवं युधां पतिम्। शुश्रूषुं मम वार्ष्णेय माद्रीपुत्रं प्रचक्ष्व मे
Tell me, O descendant of Vrishni, about Sahadeva, the heroic and eldest-serving lord of battles, the son of Madri, who is devoted to me and attentive.
सुकुमारो युवा शूरो दर्शनीयश्च पाण्डवः। भ्रातॄणां चैव सर्वेषां प्रियः प्राणो बहिश्चरः
This son of Pandu is gentle, young, valiant, and handsome; he is dear to all his brothers, and his heart is open to all.
चित्रयोधी च नकुलो महेष्वासो महाबलः । कच्चित्स कुशली कृष्ण वत्सो मम सुखैधितः
Nakula, skilled in many kinds of warfare, mighty archer, and of great strength—O Krishna, tell me if my dear child is well and happy.
सुखोचितमदुःखार्हं सुकुमारं महारथम् । अपि जातु महाबाहो पश्येयं नकुलं पुनः
Nakula, who deserves comfort and is unfit for suffering, that tender and great chariot-warrior—O mighty-armed one, will I ever see him again?