यत्रास्य शक्तिं तुष्टोऽसावदादेकवधाय च। आरणेयमुपाख्यानं यत्र धर्मोऽन्वशात्सुतम्
There, being pleased, he gave him the spear for the purpose of a single killing; and the story of Arani is told, where Dharma pursued his son.
जग्मुर्लब्धवरा यत्र पाण्डवाः पश्चिमां दिशम्। एतदारण्यकं पर्व तृतीयं परिकीर्तितम्
There, having obtained boons, the Pandavas went to the western direction; this is declared to be the third book, the Aranyaka Parva.
अत्राध्यायशते द्वे तु संख्यया परिकीर्तिते। एकोनसप्ततिश्चैव तथाऽध्यायाः प्रकीर्तिताः
Here, two hundred chapters are enumerated, and also sixty-nine chapters are mentioned.
एकादश सहस्राणि श्लोकानां षट् शतानि च। चतुःषष्टिस्तथा श्लोकाः पर्वण्यस्मिन्प्रकीर्तिताः
In this book are declared eleven thousand six hundred and sixty-four verses.
अतः परं निबोधेदं वैराटं पर्व विस्तरम्। विराटनगरे गत्वा श्मशाने विपुलां शमीम्
Now, listen in detail to the Virata Parva: how, after reaching the city of Virata, the Pandavas hid their great weapons in a large shami tree at the cremation ground.
दृष्ट्वा संनिदधुस्तत्र पाण्डवा ह्यायुधान्युत। यत्र प्रविश्य नगरं छद्मना न्यवसंस्तु ते
There, having seen the place, the Pandavas concealed their weapons; then, entering the city in disguise, they dwelled there.
पाञ्चालीं प्रार्थयानस्य कामोपहतचेतसः। दुष्टात्मनो वधो यत्र कीचकस्य वृकोदरात्
There, Kichaka, whose mind was overcome by desire, sought Draupadi; and it was there that the wicked Kichaka was slain by Bhima.
पाण्डवान्वेषणार्थं च राज्ञो दुर्योधनस्य च। चाराः प्रस्थापिताश्चात्र निपुणाः सर्वतोदिशं
Also, for the purpose of searching for the Pandavas, King Duryodhana sent out skilled spies in all directions.
न च प्रवृत्तिस्तैर्लब्धा पाण्डवानां महात्मनाम्। गोग्रहश्च विराटस्य त्रिगर्तैः प्रथमं कृतः
But those spies could not discover any information about the great-souled Pandavas; and the first cattle raid against Virata was carried out by the Trigartas.
यत्रास्य युद्धं सुमहत्तैरासील्लोमहर्षणम्। ह्रियमाणश्च यत्रासौ भीमसेनेन मोक्षितः
There, a great and hair-raising battle took place; and as the cattle were being driven away, Bhimasena rescued them.
गोधनं च विराटस्य मोक्षितं यत्र पाण्डवैः। अनन्तरं च कुरुभिस्तस्य गोग्रहणं कृतम्
The cattle of Virata were thus freed by the Pandavas; and soon after, the Kauravas also attempted a cattle raid.
समस्ता यत्र पार्थेन निर्जिताः कुरवो युधि। प्रत्याहृतं गोधनं च विक्रमेण किरीटिना
There, all the Kauravas were defeated in battle by Arjuna; and the cattle were heroically recovered by the one with the diadem.
विराटेनोत्तरा दत्ता स्नुषा यत्र किरीटिनः। अभिमन्युं समुद्दिश्य सौभद्रमरिघातिनम्
Then, Virata gave his daughter Uttara as a daughter-in-law to the diademed one, for Abhimanyu, the son of Subhadra and slayer of foes.
चतुर्थमेतद्विपुलं वैराटं पर्व वर्णितम्। अत्रापि परिसंख्याता अध्यायाः परमर्षिणा
This is the fourth, the great Virata Parva, as described; and here too, the chapters have been enumerated by the supreme sage.
सप्तषष्टिरथो पूर्णाः श्लोकानामपि मे शृणु। श्लोकानां द्वे सहस्रे तु श्लोकाः पञ्चाशदेव तु
There are sixty-seven full chapters; and as for the verses, listen: there are two thousand and fifty verses in total.
उक्तानि वेदविदुषा पर्वण्यस्मिन्महर्षिणा। उद्योगपर्व विज्ञेयं पञ्चमं शृण्वतः परम्
These have been recounted by the sage learned in the Vedas in this Parva; next, hear of the Udyoga Parva, the fifth.
उपप्लाव्ये निविष्टेषु पाण्डवेषु जिगीषया। दुर्योधनोऽर्जुनश्चैव वासुदेवमुपस्थितौ
When the Pandavas had settled in Upaplavya, desiring victory, both Duryodhana and Arjuna approached Vasudeva.
साहाय्यमस्मिन्समरे भवान्नौ कर्तुमर्हति। इत्युक्ते वचने कृष्णो यत्रोवाच महामतिः
"You should grant us your assistance in this battle"—when this was said, Krishna, the wise one, spoke there.
अयुध्यमानमात्मानं मन्त्रिणं पुरुषर्षभौ। अक्षौहिणीं वा सैन्यस्य कस्य किं वा ददाम्यहम्
"On one side, I myself, unarmed and not fighting, as a counselor; on the other, an entire Akshauhini of troops—who shall have which?"
वव्रे दुर्योधनः सैन्यं मन्दात्मा यत्र दुर्मतिः। अयुध्यभानं सचिवं वव्रे कृष्मं धनंजयः
Then Duryodhana, of dull mind and poor judgment, chose the army; while Dhananjaya chose Krishna, who would not fight, as his counselor.
मद्रराजं व राजानमायान्तं पाण्डवान्प्रति। उपहारैर्वञ्चायत्वा वर्त्मन्येव सुयोधनः
As the king of Madra was coming to the Pandavas, Suyodhana deceived him on the way with gifts.
वरदं तं वरं वव्रे साहाय्यं क्रियतां मम। शल्यस्तस्मै प्रतिश्रुत्य जगामोद्दिश्य पाण्डवान्
That bestower of boons was asked for a boon: 'Grant me your assistance.' Shalya, having promised him, then went to the Pandavas.
शान्तिपूर्वं चाकथयद्यत्रेन्द्रविजयं नृपः। पुरोहितप्रेषणं च पाण्डवैः कौरवान्प्रति
There is recounted how, with peaceful intent, the king narrated Indra's victory, and how the priest was sent by the Pāṇḍavas to the Kauravas.
वैचित्रवीर्यस्य वचः समादाय पुरोधसः। तथेन्द्रविजयं चापि यानं चैव पुरोधसः
There, having accepted the words of the priest of Vicitravīrya, both Indra's victory and the priest's journey are likewise described.
संजयं प्रेषयामास शमार्थी पाण्डवान्प्रति। यत्र दूतं महाराजो धृतराष्ट्रः प्रतापवान्
Desiring peace with the Pāṇḍavas, the mighty king Dhṛtarāṣṭra sent Saṃjaya as an envoy.
श्रुत्वा च पाण्डवान्यत्र वासुदेवपुरोगमान्। प्रजागरः संप्रजज्ञे धृतराष्ट्रस्य चिन्तया
And when the Pāṇḍavas, led by Vāsudeva, were heard of, Dhṛtarāṣṭra, troubled in mind, spent the night awake in anxious thought.
विदुरो यत्र वाक्यानि विचित्राणि हितानि च। श्रावयामास राजानं धृतराष्ट्रं मनीषिणम्
There, Vidura spoke many varied and beneficial words to the wise king Dhṛtarāṣṭra.
तथा सनत्सुजातेन यत्राध्यात्ममनुत्तमम्। मनस्तापान्वितो राजा श्रावितः शोकलालसः
Likewise, Sanatsujāta expounded the supreme teaching of the Self to the grief-laden king, whose mind was afflicted.
प्रभाते राजसमितौ संजयो यत्र वा विभो। ऐकात्म्यं वासुदेवस्य प्रोक्तवानर्जुनस्य च
At dawn, in the royal assembly, Saṃjaya spoke of the unity of Vāsudeva and Arjuna.
यत्र कृष्णो दयापन्नः सन्धिमिच्छन्महामतिः। स्वयमागाच्छणं कर्तुं नगरं नागसाह्वयम्
There, Kṛṣṇa, full of compassion and great wisdom, wishing for peace, himself came to the city called Nāgasāhvaya to make an agreement.