द्वितीयं तु सभापर्व बहुवृत्तान्तमुच्यते। सभाक्रिया पाण्डवानां किङ्कराणां च दर्शनम्
The second book, Sabhāparvan, filled with many events, is described; the assembly of the Pāṇḍavas and the sight of their attendants.
लोकपालसभाख्यानं नारदाद्देवदर्शिनः। राजसूयस्य चारम्भो जरासन्धवधस्तथा
The account of the assembly of the guardians of the worlds, as seen by Nārada, the seer of the gods, and the commencement of the Rājasūya sacrifice, as well as the slaying of Jarāsandha.
गिरिव्रजे निरुद्धानां राज्ञां कृष्णेन मोक्षणम्। तथा दिग्विजयोऽत्रैव पाम्डवानां प्रकीर्तितः
The liberation of the kings imprisoned in the mountain fortress by Krishna; likewise, the conquest of the directions by the Pandavas is also recounted here.
राज्ञामागमनं चैव सार्हणानां महक्रतौ। राजसूयेऽर्घसंवादे शिशुपालवधस्तथा
The arrival of the kings and the presentation of gifts at the great sacrifice; in the Rajasuya, the dispute over the offering and the slaying of Shishupala as well.
यज्ञे विभूतिं तां दृष्ट्वा दुःखामर्षान्वितस्य च। दुर्योधनस्यावहासो भीमेन च सभातले
Having witnessed that splendor at the sacrifice, the mockery of Duryodhana, filled with grief and anger, by Bhima on the floor of the assembly.
यत्रास्य मन्युरुद्भूतो येन द्यूतमकारयत्। यत्र धर्मसुतं द्यूते शकुनिः कितवोऽजयत्
Where his wrath arose, causing him to arrange the game of dice; where Shakuni, the gambler, defeated the son of Dharma in the game.
यत्र द्यूतार्णवे मग्नां द्रौपदीं नौरिवार्णवात्। धृतराष्ट्रो महाप्राज्ञः स्नुषां परमदुःखिताम्
Where Draupadi, plunged into the ocean of dice like a boat in the sea, was rescued by Dhritarashtra, the wise king, though his daughter-in-law was in utmost distress.
तारयामास तांस्तीर्णाञ्ज्ञात्वा दुर्योधनो नृपः। पुनरेव ततो द्यूते समाह्वयत पाण्डवान्
After rescuing them, knowing they had crossed over, King Duryodhana again summoned the Pandavas to the game of dice.
जित्वा स वनवासाय प्रेषयामास तांस्ततः। एतत्सर्वं सभापर्व समाख्यातं महात्मना
Having defeated them, he sent them into exile in the forest; all this is narrated in the Sabha Parva by the great soul.
अध्यायाः सप्ततिर्ज्ञेयास्तथा चाष्टौ प्रसंख्यया। श्लोकानां द्वे सहस्रे तु पञ्च श्लोकशतानि च
Seventy chapters are to be known, and eight more by enumeration; and two thousand five hundred verses in total.
श्लोकाश्चैकादश ज्ञेयाः पर्वण्यस्मिन्द्विजोत्तमाः। अतः परं तृतीयं तु ज्ञेयमारण्यकं महत्
And eleven verses are to be known in this section, O best of twice-born; after this, the third, the great Aranyaka, is to be known.
वनवासं प्रयातेषु पाण्डवेषु महात्मसु। पौरानुगमनं चैव धर्मपुत्रस्य धीमतः
When the great-souled Pandavas departed for the forest, the citizens accompanied the wise son of Dharma.
अन्नौषधीनां च कृते पाण्डवेन महात्मना। द्विजानां भरणार्थं च कृतमाराधनं रवेः
For the sake of food and herbs, the great Pandava performed worship of the Sun; for the support of the Brahmins, he made offerings.
धौम्योपदेशात्तिग्मांशुप्रसादादन्नसंभः। हितं च ब्रुवतः क्षत्तुः परित्यागोऽम्बिकासुतात्
By Dhaumya's instruction and the Sun's favor, food was obtained; and the departure of the wise charioteer, who spoke kindly, from the son of Ambika.
त्यक्तस्य पाण्डुपुत्राणां समीपगमनं तथा। पुनरागमनं चैव धृतराष्ट्रस्य शासनात्
The approach of the Pandu sons to the one who had departed, and their return again by the command of Dhritarashtra.
कर्णप्रोत्साहनाच्चैव धार्तराष्ट्रस्य दुर्मतेः। वनस्थान्पाण्डवान्हन्तुं मन्त्रो दुर्योधनस्यच
And by Karna's encouragement, the evil-minded son of Dhritarashtra devised a plan to kill the Pandavas dwelling in the forest.
तं दुष्टभावं विज्ञाय व्यासस्यागमनं द्रुतम्। निर्याणप्रतिषेधश्च सुरभ्याख्यानमेव च
Recognizing that wicked intent, Vyasa's swift arrival; the prevention of their departure, and the account of Surabhi as well.
मैत्रेयागमनं चात्र राज्ञश्चैवानुशासनम्। शापोत्सर्गश्च तेनैव राज्ञो दुर्योधनस्य च
The arrival of Maitreya here, and the king's admonition; the curse pronounced by him upon King Duryodhana as well.
किर्मीरस्य वधश्चात्र भीमसेनेन संयुगे। वृष्णीनामागमश्चात्र पाञ्चालानां च सर्वशः
Here too, the slaying of Kirmira by Bhimasena in battle; the arrival of the Vrishnis and all the Panchalas.
श्रुत्वा शकुनिना द्यूते निकृत्या निर्जितांश्च तान्। क्रुद्धस्यानुप्रशमनं हरेश्चैव किरीटिना
Hearing that they had been defeated by Shakuni's deceit in the game of dice, the appeasement of the wrathful Hari by the crowned one.
परिदेवनं च पाञ्चाल्या वासुदेवस्य सन्निधौ। आश्वासनं च कृष्णेन दुःखार्तायाः प्रकीर्तितम्
The lamentation of Draupadi in the presence of Krishna, and the consolation given to her in her distress by Krishna, are described.
तथा सौभवधाख्यानमत्रैवोक्तं महर्षिणा। सुभद्रायाः सपुत्रायाः कृष्णेन द्वारकां पुरीम्
Likewise, the tale of Saubhadra is narrated here by the great sage—the journey of Subhadra with her son, led by Krishna, to the city of Dvaraka.
नयनं द्रौपदेयानां धृष्टद्युम्नेन चैव ह। प्रवेशः पाण्डवेयानां रम्ये द्वैतवने ततः
The escorting of Draupadi’s sons by Dhrishtadyumna, and then the entry of the Pandavas into the delightful Dvaita forest, are recounted.
धर्मराजस्य चात्रैव संवादः कृष्णया सह। संवादश्च तथा राज्ञा भीमस्यापि प्रकीर्तितः
Here also is the conversation between King Yudhishthira and Krishna, as well as the dialogue between Bhima and the king, as related.
समीपं पाण्डुपुत्राणां व्यासस्यागमनं तथा। प्रतिश्रुत्याथ विद्याया दानं राज्ञो महर्षिणा
The coming of Vyasa to the Pandava brothers, and the bestowal of knowledge by the great sage to the king after receiving his promise, are also told.
गमनं काम्यके चापि व्यासे प्रतिगते ततः। अस्त्रहेतोर्विवासश्च पार्थस्यामिततेजसः
Then, after Vyasa’s departure, the Pandavas’ journey to Kamyaka is described, as well as Arjuna’s exile for the sake of weapons.
महादेवेन युद्धं च किरातवपुषा सह। दर्शनं लोकपालानामस्त्रप्राप्तिस्तथैव च
The battle with Mahadeva, who appeared in the form of a hunter, and the vision of the guardians of the worlds, as well as the obtaining of weapons, are likewise narrated.
महेन्द्रलोकगमनमस्त्रार्थे च किरीटिनः। यत्र चिन्ता समुत्पन्ना धृतराष्ट्रस्य भूयसी
The journey of Arjuna, the wearer of the diadem, to the realm of Indra for the sake of weapons, and the great anxiety that arose in Dhritarashtra, are described.
दर्शनं बृहदश्वस्य महर्षेर्भावितात्मनः। युधिष्ठिरस्य चार्तस्य व्यसने परिदेवनम्
The meeting with the great sage Brihadashva, whose soul is perfected, and the lamentation of Yudhishthira, afflicted by misfortune, are recounted.
नलोपाख्यानमत्रैव धर्मिष्ठं करुणोदयम्। दमयन्त्याः स्थितिर्यत्र नलस्य चरितं तथा
Here too is the noble and moving tale of Nala, where the steadfastness of Damayanti and the deeds of Nala are told.