कुरुभिः संवृतः कृष्णो वृष्णिभिश्चाभिरक्षितः । आतिष्ठत रथं शौरिः सर्वयादवनन्दनः
Surrounded by the Kurus and guarded by the Vrishnis, Krishna, the descendant of Shura and joy of all the Yadavas, mounted the chariot.
अन्वारुरोह दाशार्हं विदुरः सर्वधर्मवित्। सर्वप्राणभृतां श्रेष्ठं सर्वबुद्धिमतां वरम्
Vidura, knower of all dharma, ascended after the Dasharha, the best among all living beings and foremost among the wise.
ततो दुर्योधनः कृष्णं शकुनिश्चापि सौबलः । द्वितीयेन रथेनैनमन्वयातां परन्तपम्
Then Duryodhana and Shakuni, son of Subala, followed the scorcher of foes in a second chariot.
सात्यकिः कृतवर्मा च वृष्णीनां चापरे रथाः । पृष्ठतोऽनुययुः कृष्णं गजैरश्वै रथैरपि
Satyaki, Kritavarma, and other Vrishni charioteers followed Krishna from behind, with elephants, horses, and chariots as well.
तेषां हेमपरिष्कारैर्युक्ताः परमवाजिभिः । गच्छतां घोषिणश्चित्ररथा राजन्विरेजिरे
Their splendid chariots, adorned with gold and drawn by excellent horses, shone forth, O King, as they proceeded, resounding with music.
संमृष्टसंसिक्तरजः प्रतिपेदे महापथम् । राजर्षिचरितं काले कृष्णो धीमाञ्श्रिया ज्वलन्
The great road, cleansed and sprinkled to remove dust, welcomed Krishna, wise and radiant, as he traveled along the path once trodden by royal sages.
ततः प्रयाते दाशार्हे प्रावाद्यन्तैकपुष्कराः। शङ्खाश्च दध्मिरे तत्र वाद्यान्यन्यानि यानि च
As the descendant of Dasharha departed, single-lotus conch shells were sounded, and other musical instruments, whatever there were, played as well.
प्रवीराः सर्वलोकस्य युवानः सिंहविक्रमाः। परिवार्य रथं शौरेरगच्छन्त परन्तपाः
The valiant young men of all people, possessing lion-like prowess, surrounded the chariot of Shauri, those scorcher of foes, and accompanied him.
ततोऽन्ये बहुसाहस्रा विचित्राद्भुतवाससः । असिप्रासायुधधराः कृष्णस्यासन्पुरःसराः
Then many thousands more, clad in wondrous and marvelous garments, bearing swords, spears, and weapons, marched at the forefront for Krishna.
गजाः पञ्चशतास्तत्र रथाश्चासन्सहस्रशः। प्रयान्तमन्वयुर्वीरं दाशार्हमपराजितम्
There were five hundred elephants and thousands of chariots, following the invincible hero of the Dasharhas as he advanced.
पुरं कुरूणां संवृत्तं द्रष्टुकामं जनार्दनम् । सबालवृद्धं सस्त्रीकं रथ्यागतमरिन्दम
The city of the Kurus, with its people—children, elders, women, and those on the streets—had gathered, eager to see Janardana, the subduer of enemies.
वेदिकामाश्रिताभिश्च समाक्रान्तान्यनेकशः । प्रचलन्तीव भारेण योषिद्भिर्भवनान्युत
Many women crowded the balconies and platforms, so numerous that their weight seemed to make the buildings sway.
स पूज्यमानः कुरुभिः संश्रृण्वन्मधुराः कथाः । यथार्हं प्रतिसत्कुर्वन्प्रेक्षमाणः शनैर्ययौ
Honored by the Kurus, listening to sweet words, Krishna responded to each as appropriate, observing everything, and proceeded slowly.
ततः सभां समासाद्य केशवस्यानुयायिनः। सशङ्खैर्वेणुनिर्घोषैर्दिशः सर्वा व्यनादयन्
Then, as Krishna's followers reached the assembly hall, the sound of conches and flutes echoed, resounding in all directions.
ततः सा समितिः सर्वा राज्ञाममिततेजसाम्। संप्राकम्पत हर्षेण कृष्णागमनकाङ्क्षया
At that moment, the entire assembly of kings, radiant and mighty, trembled with joy, longing for Krishna's arrival.
ततोऽभ्याशंगते कृष्णे समहृष्यन्नराधिपाः। श्रुत्वां तं रथनिर्घोषं पर्जन्यनिनदोपमम्
As Krishna drew near, the kings rejoiced, hearing the thunderous sound of his chariot, like the roar of a storm cloud.
आसाद्य तु सभाद्वारमृषभः सर्वसात्वताम् । अवतीर्य रथाच्छौरिः कैलासशिखरोपमात्
Having reached the entrance of the hall, the bull among the Satvatas, Shauri, descended from his chariot, resembling a peak of Kailasa.
नवमेघप्रतीकाशां ज्वलन्तीमिव तेजसा । महेन्द्रसदनप्रख्यां प्रविवेश सभां ततः
He entered the hall, shining with the brilliance of a new cloud, as if ablaze with splendor, and resembling the palace of Indra.
पाणौ गृहीत्वा विदुरं सात्यकिं च महायशाः। ज्येतींष्यादित्यवद्राजन्कुरून्प्राच्छादयच्छ्रिया
Taking Vidura and Satyaki by the hand, the illustrious one, like the victorious sun, covered the Kurus with his glory, O King.
अग्रतो वासुदेवस्य कर्णदुर्योधनावुभौ । कृष्णयः कृतवर्मा चाप्यासन्कृष्णस्य पृष्ठतः
In front of Vasudeva were Karna and Duryodhana; behind Krishna stood Kritavarma and the Krishna brothers.
धृतराष्ट्रं पुरस्कृत्य भीष्मद्रोणादयस्ततः । आसनेभ्योऽचलन्सर्वे पूजयन्तो जनार्दनम्
Then, with Dhritarashtra at the forefront, Bhishma, Drona, and the others rose from their seats, all honoring Janardana.
अभ्यागच्छति दाशार्हे प्रज्ञाचक्षुर्नरेश्वर। सहैव द्रोणभीष्माभ्यामुदतिष्ठन्महायशाः
As the Dasharha approached, the wise king, along with Drona and Bhishma, stood up, renowned for their greatness.
उत्तिष्ठति महाराजे धृतराष्ट्रे जनेश्वरे । तानि राजसहस्राणि समुत्तस्थुः समन्ततः
As King Dhritarashtra, lord of men, rose up, those thousands of kings all around also stood up.
आसनं सर्वतोभद्रं जाम्बूनदपरिष्कृतम् । कृष्णार्थे कल्पितं तत्र धृतराष्ट्रस्य शासनात्
A seat, auspicious on all sides and adorned with gold from the Jambu river, was prepared there for Krishna at Dhritarashtra’s command.
स्मयमानस्तु राजानं भीष्मद्रोणौ च माधवः । अभ्यभाषत धर्मात्मा राज्ञश्चान्यान्यथावयः
Then Madhava, righteous in soul, smiling, spoke to the king, to Bhishma and Drona, and to the other kings as was proper.
तत्र केशवमानर्चुः सम्यगभ्यागतं सभाम्। राजानः पार्थिवाः सर्वे कुरवश्च जनार्दनम्
There, all the kings, rulers of the earth, and the Kurus honored Kesava, Janardana, who had properly entered the assembly.
तत्र तिष्ठन्स दाशार्हो राजमध्ये परन्तपः। अपश्यदन्तरिक्षस्थानृषीन्परपुरञ्जयः
Standing there in the midst of kings, the mighty Dasarha, conqueror of foes, saw the sages who stood in the sky.
ततस्तानभिसंप्रेक्ष्य नारदप्रमुखानृषीन् ।। अभ्यभाषत दाशार्हो भीष्मं शान्तनवं शनैः
Then, seeing those sages led by Narada, Dasarha gently addressed Bhishma, son of Shantanu.
पार्थिवीं समितिं द्रष्टुमृषयोऽभ्यागता नृप ।। निमन्त्र्यन्तामासनैश्च सत्कारेण च भूयसा
O king, the sages have come to witness the royal assembly; let them be invited with seats and with great honor.
नैतेष्वनुपविष्टेषु शक्यं केनचिदासितुम् ।। पूजा प्रयुज्यतामाशु मुनीनां भावितात्मनाम्
While these sages have not yet been seated, no one should sit; let worship be quickly offered to these ascetics of purified souls.