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.
तथाक्षहृदयप्राप्तिस्तस्मादेव महर्षितः। लोमशस्यागमस्तत्र स्वर्गात्पाण्डुसुतान्प्रति
Likewise, the gaining of mastery over dice by Yudhishthira from that very sage, and the arrival of Lomasha from heaven to the sons of Pandu, are narrated.
वनवासगतानां च पाण्डवानां महात्मनाम्। स्वर्गे प्रवृत्तिराख्याता लोमशेनार्जुनस्य वै
The account is given by Lomasha of Arjuna’s activities in heaven, while the great-souled Pandavas were dwelling in the forest.
संदेशादर्जुनस्यात्र तीर्थाभिगमनक्रिया। तीर्थानां च फलप्राप्तिः पुण्यत्वं चापि कीर्तितम्
Here is the message from Arjuna and the undertaking of pilgrimage to sacred places, as well as the attainment of merit and the sanctity of the holy sites.
पुलस्त्यतीर्थयात्रा च नारदेन महर्षिणा। तीर्थयात्रा च तत्रैव पाण्डवानां महात्मनां
The pilgrimage to Pulastya’s sacred place by the great sage Narada, and likewise the pilgrimage of the great-souled Pandavas, are described there.
तथा यज्ञविभूतिश्च गयस्यात्र प्रकीर्तिता
Likewise, the glory of the sacrifice performed by Gaya is recounted here.
आगस्त्यमपि चाख्यानं यत्र वातापिभक्षणम्। लोपामुद्राभिपमनमपत्यार्थमृषेस्तथा
Also, the tale of Agastya is told, including the consumption of Vatapi and the union with Lopamudra for the sake of offspring by the sage.
ऋश्यशृङ्गस्य चरितं कौमारब्रह्मचारिणः। जामदग्न्यस्य रामस्य चरितं भूरितेजसः
The life of Rishyashringa, the youthful celibate, and the deeds of Rama, son of Jamadagni, of great splendor, are narrated.
कार्तवीर्यवधो यत्र हैहयानां च वर्ण्यते। प्रभासतीर्थे पाण्डूनां वृष्णिभिश्च समागमः
The slaying of Kartavirya and the account of the Haihayas are described, as well as the meeting of the Pandavas and the Vrishnis at the sacred place of Prabhasa.
सौकन्यमपि चाख्यानं च्यवनो यत्र भार्गवः। शर्यातियज्ञे नासत्यौ कृतवान्सोमपीथिनौ
The tale of Sukanya is also recounted, where Cyavana, the descendant of Bhrigu, caused the Ashvins to partake of Soma at the sacrifice of Sharyati.
ताभ्यां च यत्र स मुनिर्यौवनं प्रतिपादितः। मान्धातुश्चाप्युपाख्यानं राज्ञोऽत्रैवप्रकीर्तितं
There, too, is told how the sage regained his youth through them, and the story of King Mandhata is also narrated here.