असङ्ख्येया गुणाः पार्थे तद्विशिष्टो जनार्दनः। त्वमेव भूयो जानासि कुन्तीपुत्रं धनञ्जयम्
Countless virtues belong to Pārtha, and Janārdana surpasses even those; you alone, again, know the son of Kuntī, Dhanañjaya.
नरनारायणौ यौ तौ तावेवार्जुनकेशवौ । विजानीहि महाराज प्रवीरौ पुरुषोत्तमौ
Those two, Nara and Nārāyaṇa, are indeed Arjuna and Keśava; know them, O great king, as mighty and supreme among men.
यद्येतदेवं जानासि न च मामभिशङ्कसे । आर्यां मतिं समास्थाय शाम्य भारत पाण्डवैः
If you know this to be so and do not suspect me, then, adopting noble intent, make peace with the Pāṇḍavas, O Bhārata.
अथ चेन्मन्यसे श्रेयो न मे भेदो भवेदिति । प्रशाम्य भरतश्रेष्ठ मा च युद्धे मनः कृथाः
But if you think it is better that there be no division with me, then, O foremost of the Bharatas, make peace and do not set your mind on war.
भवतां च कुरुश्रेष्ठ कुलं बहुमतं भुवि । तत्तथैवास्तु भद्रं ते स्वार्थमेवोपचिन्तय
Your lineage, O best of the Kurus, is highly esteemed on earth; let it remain so—may blessings be yours—consider only your own true interest.
जामदग्न्यवचः श्रुत्वा कण्वेऽपि भगवानृषिः । दुर्योधनमिदं वाक्यमब्रवीत्कुरुसंसदि
After hearing the words of Jāmadagnya, the revered sage Kaṇva also spoke these words to Duryodhana in the Kuru assembly.
अक्षयश्चाव्ययश्चैव ब्रह्मा लोकपितामहः। तथैव भगवन्तौ तौ नरनारायणावृषी
Brahmā, the eternal and imperishable grandsire of the worlds, and likewise those two blessed sages, Nara and Nārāyaṇa.
आदित्यानां हि सर्वेषां विष्णुरेकः सनातनः। अजथ्यश्चाव्ययश्चैव शाश्वतः प्रभुरीश्वरः
Among all the Ādityas, Viṣṇu alone is eternal, unborn, imperishable, everlasting, the master and lord.
निमित्तमरणाश्चान्ये चन्द्रसूर्यौ मही जलम् । वायुरग्निस्तथाऽऽकाशं ग्रहास्तारागणास्तथा
Others are causes of death: the moon, the sun, earth, water, wind, fire, space, the planets, and the hosts of stars.
ते च क्षयान्ते जगतो हित्वा लोकत्रयं सदा। क्षयं गच्छन्ति वै सर्वे सृज्यन्ते च पुनः पुनः
At the end of the world’s cycle, all these, always abandoning the three worlds, perish; and are created again and again.
मुहूर्तमरणास्त्वन्ये मानुषा मूगपक्षिणः। तैर्यग्योन्याश्च ये चान्ये जीवलोकचरास्तथा
Others are causes of momentary death: humans, mute creatures, birds, those of other animal births, and all who move among the living.
भूयिष्ठेन तु राजानः श्रियं भुक्त्वाऽऽयुषः क्षये। तरुणाः प्रतिपद्यन्ते भोक्तुं सुकृतदुष्कृते
Most often, kings, having enjoyed prosperity, when their lifespan ends, are reborn young to experience the results of their good and evil deeds.
स भवान्धर्मपुत्रेण शमं कर्तुमिहार्हसि । पाण्डवाः कुरवश्चैव पालयन्तु वसुन्धरान्
Therefore, you ought to make peace here with the son of Dharma; let the Pāṇḍavas and Kurus together protect the earth.
बलवानहमित्येव न मन्तव्यं सुयोधन । बलवन्तो बलिभ्यो हि दृश्यन्ते पूरुषर्षभ
Do not think, ‘I am strong,’ O Suyodhana; for among the powerful, stronger ones are always seen, O bull among men.
न बलं बलिनां मध्ये बलं भवति कौरव । बलवन्तो हि ते सर्वे पाण्डवा देवविक्रमाः
Among the strong, O Kaurava, strength does not prevail; for all the Pāṇḍavas are powerful, possessing divine prowess.
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् । मातलेर्दातुकामस्य कन्यां मृगयतो वरम्
Here too, they recite an ancient legend: about Mātali, who wished to give his daughter in marriage and sought a suitable groom.
मतस्त्रिलोकराजस्य मातलिर्नाम सारथिः। तस्यैकैव कुले मन्या रूपतो लोकविश्रुता
O Mother, the charioteer of the lord of the three worlds is named Mātali; in his family there is one renowned maiden, famed for her beauty.
गुणकेशीति विख्याता नाम्ना सा देवरूपिणी । श्रिया च वपुषा चैव स्त्रियोऽन्याःसाऽतिरिच्यते
She is known by the name Guṇakeśī, divine in form; in splendor and appearance she surpasses all other women.
तस्याः प्रदानसमयं मातलिः सह भार्यया । ज्ञात्वा विममृशे राजंस्तत्परः परिचिन्तयन्
Knowing the time for her marriage had come, Mātali, together with his wife, considered carefully, his mind intent on this matter.
धिक्खल्वलघुशीलानामुच्छ्रितानां यशस्विनाम्। नराणां मृदुसत्वानां कुले कन्याप्ररोहणम्
Alas, in the families of men who are fickle, of light conduct, or even among the noble and famous, the growth of a gentle-natured maiden is a challenge.
मातुः कुलं पितृकुलं यत्र चैव प्रदीयते। कुलत्रयं संशयितं कुरुते कन्यका सताम्
The maiden, when given in marriage, connects three families: her mother's, her father's, and the one she enters; thus, among the virtuous, the union of these three lineages is a matter of doubt.
देवमानुषलोकौ द्वौ मानुषेणैव चक्षुषा। अपगाह्यैव विचितौ न च मे रोचते वरः
I have surveyed both the worlds of gods and men with human eyes, examining them thoroughly, yet I do not find a suitable husband.
न देवान्नैव दितिजान्न गन्धर्वान्न मानुषान्। अरोचयद्वरकृते तथैव बहुलानृषीन्
For the sake of choosing a husband, neither gods, nor Dānavas, nor Gandharvas, nor men, nor even many sages, pleased her.
भार्यया तु स संमन्त्र्य सह रात्रौ सुधर्मया । मातलिर्नागलोकाय चकार गमने मतिम्
Then, after consulting with his wife Sudharmā at night, Mātali resolved to go to the world of the Nāgas.
न मे देवमनुष्येषु गुणकेश्याः समो वरः। रूपतो दृश्यते कश्चिन्नागेषु भविता ध्रुवम्
Among gods and men, there is no one equal to Guṇakeśī in beauty; surely, among the Nāgas, such a one will be found.
इत्यामन्त्र्य सुधर्मां स कृत्वा चाभिप्रदक्षिणम्। कन्यां शिरस्युपाघ्राय प्रविवेश महीतलम्
Thus addressing Sudharmā, and having circumambulated her, he embraced his daughter on the head and entered the earth.
एतत्तु नागलोकस्य नाभिस्थाने स्थितं पुरम्। पातालमिति विख्यातं दैत्यदानवसेवितम्
This city, situated at the navel of the Nāga world, is known as Pātāla, frequented by Daityas and Dānavas.
इदमद्भिः समं प्राप्ता ये केचिद्भुवि जङ्गमाः। प्रविशन्तो महानादं नदन्ति भयपीडिताः
Here, all creatures who move upon the earth, when they enter together with water, utter great cries, afflicted by fear.
अत्रासुरोऽग्निः सततं दीप्यते वारिभोजनः। व्यापारेण धृतात्मानं निबद्धं समबुध्यत
Here, the Asuric fire, ever blazing and fed by water, is perceived as binding those who are steadfast in their actions.
अत्रामृतं सुरैः पीत्वा निहितं निहतारिभिः ।। अतः सोमस्य हानिश्च वृद्धिश्चैव प्रदृश्यते
Here, the gods, having drunk the nectar and defeated their enemies, concealed it; from this place, the waning and waxing of the moon is seen.