क्षत्रोच्छेदाय विहितो जामदग्न्य इवास्थितः
He stands, like Jamadagni's son, established for the destruction of the Kshatriya order.
सहितं क्षत्रवेगेन ब्रह्मवेगेन सांप्रतम्। उपपन्नं हि मन्येऽहं भारद्वाजं यशस्विनम्
Now, joined with the force of Kshatriyas and the force of Brahmans, I consider the illustrious Bharadvaja to be truly accomplished.
नेषवस्तमपाकुर्युर्न च प्रासा न चासयः। ब्राह्मं तस्य महातेजो मन्त्राहुतिहुतं यथा
No arrows, no spears, nor missiles can repel him; his Brahmanic great energy is like the oblations offered with mantras.
तस्य ह्यस्त्रबलं घोरमप्रसह्यं परैर्भुवि। शत्रून्समेत्य जयति क्षत्रं ब्रह्मपुरस्कृतम्
His terrifying power of weapons is irresistible by others on earth; meeting his enemies, he conquers, with Brahman placed before Kshatriya.
ब्रह्मक्षत्रे च सहिते ब्रह्मतेजो विशिष्यते। सोऽहं क्षत्रबलाद्दीनो ब्रह्मतेजः प्रपेदिवान्
When Brahman and Kshatriya are united, Brahmanic energy prevails; thus, weakened by Kshatriya power, I have sought Brahmanic energy.
द्रोणाद्विशिष्टमासाद्य भवन्तं ब्रह्मवित्तमम्। द्रोणान्तकमहं पुत्रं लभेयं युधि दुर्जयम्
Having approached you, who surpass Drona and are the foremost knower of Brahman, I may obtain a son, difficult to defeat in battle, who will be Drona's end.
द्रोणमृत्युर्यथा मेऽद्य पुत्रो जायेत वीर्यवान्। तत्कर्म कुरु मे याज निर्वपाम्यर्बुद्धं गवाम्
May a son be born to me today, valiant, who will be Drona's death; perform that act for me, O Yaja, and I will offer a great number of cows.
तथेत्युक्त्वा तुं तं याजो यज्ञार्थमुपकल्पयन्। गुर्वर्थ इति चाकाममुपयाजमचोदयत्
Saying 'so be it,' Yaja prepared for the sacrifice; for the sake of the teacher, he summoned Upayaja, though unwilling, to assist.
द्रुपदं च महाराजमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्। मा भैस्त्वं संप्रदास्यामि कर्मणा भवतः सुतम्
He spoke these words to Drupada, the great king: 'Do not fear; I will give you a son by my action.'
एवमुक्त्वा प्रतिज्ञाय कर्म चास्याददे मुनिः
Having spoken thus and made the promise, the sage undertook the act.
ब्राह्मणो द्विपदां श्रेष्ठो यथाविधि कथाक्रमम्। याजो द्रोणविनाशाय याजयामास तं नृपम्
The Brahman, best among men, performed the ritual according to proper procedure; Yaja began the sacrifice for Drona's destruction for that king.
गुर्वर्थेऽयोजयत्कर्म याजस्यापि समीपतः। ततस्तस्य नरेन्द्रस्य उपयाजो महातपाः
For the sake of the teacher, he initiated the ritual near Yaja; then Upayaja, of great austerity, assisted that king.
आचव्यौ कर्म वैतानं तथा पुत्रफलाय वै। इह पुत्रो महावीर्यो महातेजा महाबलः। इष्यते यद्विधो राजन्भविता स तथाविधः
Having performed the Vaitāna ritual for the sake of obtaining a son, a son of great might, great energy, and great strength is desired here, O King; whatever kind of son is wished for, such a one will be born.
भारद्वाजस्य हन्तारं सोऽभिसन्धाय पार्थिवः। आजहेऽथ तदा राजन्द्रुपदः कर्म सिद्धये
With the intention of begetting a slayer of Bhāradvāja, King Drupada then performed the rite, O King, for the accomplishment of his purpose.
ब्राह्मणो द्विपदां श्रेष्ठो जुहाव च यथाविधि। कौसवी नाम तस्यासीद्या वै तां पुत्रगृद्धिनः
The foremost of twice-born, the Brāhmaṇa, offered the oblation according to the prescribed rule; his wife was named Kausavī, and she too desired a son.
सौत्रामणिं तथा पत्नीं ततः कालेऽभ्ययात्तदा। याजस्तु सवनस्यान्ते देवीमाह्वापयत्तदा
Then, at the proper time, his wife, having performed the Sautrāmaṇi rite, approached; and at the end of the sacrifice, the priest summoned the queen.
प्रेहि मां राज्ञि पृषति मिथुनं त्वामुपस्थितम्। कुमारश्च कुमारी च पितृवंशविवृद्धये
"Come to me, Queen Pṛṣati, a pair awaits you: a boy and a girl, for the increase of the royal lineage."
नालिप्तं वै मम मुखं पुण्यान्गन्धान्बिभर्मि च। न पत्नी तेऽस्मि सूत्यर्थे तिष्ठ याज मम प्रिये
"My face is not anointed, yet I bear auspicious fragrances; I am not your wife for the purpose of childbirth. Remain, O priest, my dear."
याजेन श्रपितं हव्यमुपयाजेन मन्त्रितम्। कथं कामं न संदध्यात्पृषति प्रेहि तिष्ठ वा
"The oblation consecrated by Yāja, and sanctified by the Upayāja mantra—how could it fail to fulfill desire? Pṛṣati, go or stay as you wish."
एवमुक्त्वा तु याजेन हुते हविषि संस्कृते। उत्तस्थौ पावकात्तस्मात्कुमारो देवसंनिभः
When Yāja had spoken thus, and the oblation had been offered into the prepared fire, a boy, resembling a god, arose from the flames.
ज्वालावर्णो घोररूपः किरीटी वर्म धारयन्। वीरः सखङ्गः सशरो धनुष्मान्स नदन्मुहुः
He was of blazing appearance, terrifying in form, crowned and clad in armor, a hero with sword and arrows, bearing a bow, and roaring repeatedly.
सोऽभ्यरोहद्रथवरं तेन च प्रययौ तदा। जातमात्रे कुमारे च वाक्किलान्तर्हिताब्रवीत्
He ascended a splendid chariot and departed; and as soon as the boy was born, a voice, invisible, spoke from the air.
एष शिष्यश्च मृत्युश्च भारद्वाजस्य जायते। भयापहो राजपुत्रः पाञ्चालानां यशस्करः
"This one is both disciple and death for Bhāradvāja; a royal son, remover of fear, bringer of fame to the Pāñcālas."
राज्ञः शोकापहो जात एष द्रोणवधाय हि। इत्यवोचन्महद्भूतमदृश्यं खेचरं तदा
"He is born to remove the king's sorrow, indeed for the slaying of Droṇa;" so spoke that great, unseen, celestial being.
ततः प्रणेदुः पाञ्चालाः प्रहृष्टाः साधुसाध्विति। द्वितीयायां च होत्रायां हुते हविषि मन्त्रिते
Then the Pāñcālas, delighted, cheered, exclaiming 'Well done, well done!'; and when the second oblation, sanctified by mantra, was offered by the priest—
कुमारी चापि पाञ्चाली वेदिमध्यात्समुत्थिता। प्रत्याख्याते पृषत्या च याजके भरतर्षभ
A maiden, too, O bull among the Bharatas, arose from the middle of the altar, after Pṛṣati had declined and the priest had performed the rite.
पुनः कुमारी पाञ्चाली सुभगा वेदिमध्यगा। अन्तर्वेद्यां समुद्भूता कन्या सा सुमनोहरा
Again, the fortunate Pāñcālī maiden emerged from the center of the altar, a lovely girl, born within the sacrificial enclosure.
श्यामा पद्मपलाशाक्षी नीलकुञ्चितमूर्धजा। मानुषं विग्रहं कृत्वा साक्षाच्छ्रीरिव वर्णिनी
Dark-complexioned, with eyes like lotus petals, her hair curled and blue-black, she assumed a human form, radiant as the goddess of fortune herself.
ताम्रतुङ्गनखी सुभ्रूश्चारुपीनपयोधरा। नीलोत्पलसमो गन्धो यस्याः क्रोशात्प्रधावति
With coppery, prominent nails, beautiful brows, and charming, full breasts, her fragrance, like a blue lotus, spread for a distance.
या बिभर्ति परं रूपं यस्या नास्त्युपमा भुवि। देवदानवयक्षाणामीप्सिता वरवर्णिनी
She bore supreme beauty, unmatched on earth; this splendidly complexioned maiden was desired by gods, Dānavas, and Yakṣas alike.