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.
ऋषीञ्शान्तनवो दृष्ट्वा सभाद्वारमुपस्थितान् । त्वरमाणस्ततो भृत्यानासनानीत्यचोदयत्
Seeing the sages at the entrance to the assembly, Bhishma, son of Shantanu, quickly ordered his attendants to bring seats.
आसनान्यथ मृष्टानि महान्ति विपुलानि च ।। मणिकाञ्चनचित्राणि समाजह्रुस्ततस्ततः
Then, large and splendid seats, adorned with jewels and gold, were brought there from all sides.
तेषु तत्रोपविष्टेषु गृहीतार्घ्येषु भारत ।। निषसादासने कृष्णो राजानश्च यथासनम्
When the sages had sat down there and received the arghya, Krishna and the kings each took their seats.
दुःशासनः सात्यकये ददावासनमुत्तमम् ।। विविंशतिर्ददौ पीठं काञ्चनं कृतवर्मणे
Duhshasana gave the best seat to Satyaki, and Vivimsati gave a golden stool to Kritavarma.
अविदूरे तु कृष्णस्य कर्णदुर्योधनावुभौ ।। एकासने महात्मानौ निषीदतुरमर्षणौ
Not far from Krishna, Karna and Duryodhana, both great-souled and proud, sat together on one seat.
गान्धारराजः शकुनिर्गान्धारैरभिरक्षितः ।। निषसादासने राजा सहपुत्रो विशांपते
King Shakuni of Gandhara, protected by the Gandharas, sat on a seat with his son, O lord of the people.
विदुरो मणिपीठे तु शुक्लस्पर्ध्याजिनोत्तरे ।। संस्पृशन्नासनं शौरेर्महामतिरुपाविशत्
Vidura, of great wisdom, sat on a jeweled seat covered with a white antelope skin, touching the seat of Sauri.
चिरस्य दृष्ट्वा दाशार्हं राजानः सर्व एव ते ।। अमृतस्येव नातृप्यन्प्रेक्षमाणा जनार्दनम्
After a long time, all those kings, seeing Dasarha, gazed at Janardana insatiably, as if at nectar.
अतसीपुष्पसङ्काशः पीतवासा जनार्दनः ।। व्यभ्राजत सभामध्ये हेम्नीवोपहितो मणिः
Janardana, wearing yellow garments and shining like the flax flower, blazed in the midst of the assembly like a jewel set in gold.
ततस्तूष्णीं सर्वमासीद्गोविन्दगतमानसम् । न तत्र कश्चित्किंचिद्वा व्याजहार पुमान्क्वचित्
Then all became silent, their minds fixed on Govinda; no man there uttered a word at any time.