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.
तां चापि जातां सुश्रोणीं वागुवाचाशरीरिणी। सर्वयोषिद्वरा कृष्णा क्षयं क्षत्रस्य नेष्यति
Then, a disembodied voice spoke: 'This beautiful woman, the foremost among all women, dark-complexioned, will bring about the destruction of the Kshatriya race.'
सुरकार्यमियं काले करिष्यति सुमध्यमा। अस्या हेतोः क्षत्रियाणां महदुत्पत्स्यते भयम्
'This slender-waisted one will accomplish a task for the gods at the proper time. Because of her, great fear will arise among the Kshatriyas.'
तच्छ्रुत्वा सर्वपाञ्चालाः प्रणेदुः सिंहसङ्घवत्। न चैनान्हर्षसंपन्नानियं सेहे वसुन्धरा
Hearing this, all the Panchalas roared like a pride of lions. The earth could not bear their joy.
तथा तु मिथुनं जज्ञे द्रुपदस्य महात्मनः। कुमारश्च कुमारी च मनोज्ञौ तौ नरर्षभौ
Thus, a pair of children was born to the great Drupada: a son and a daughter, both exceedingly handsome, the best among men.
श्रिया परमया युक्तौ क्षात्रेण वपुषा तथा। तौ दृष्ट्वा पृषती याजं प्रपेदे सा सुतार्थिनी
Endowed with supreme beauty and noble bearing, when Prishati saw them, she approached Yaja, desiring children.
न वै मदन्यां जननीं जानीयातामिमाविति। तथेत्युवाच तां याजो राज्ञः प्रियचिकीर्षया
'Let no other woman be known as their mother but me,' she said. Yaja replied, 'So be it,' wishing to please the king.
तयोस्तु नामनी चक्रुर्द्विजाः संपूर्णमानसाः। धृष्टत्वादप्रधृष्यत्वात् द्युम्नाद्युत्संभवादपि
With minds full of joy, the Brahmins gave them names: from boldness and invincibility, and from glory and exalted birth.
धृष्टद्युम्नः कुमारोऽयं द्रुपद्सय भवत्विति। कृष्णेत्येवाभवत्कन्या कृष्णा भूत्सा हि वर्णतः
'Let this son of Drupada be called Dhrishtadyumna,' they said. The daughter was named Krishna, for she was dark in complexion.
तथा तन्मिथुनं जज्ञे द्रुपदस्य महामखे। वैदिकाध्ययने पारं धृष्टद्युम्नो गतस्तदा
Thus, the pair was born at Drupada's great sacrifice. Dhrishtadyumna then mastered the Vedic studies.
धृष्टद्युम्नं तु पाञ्चाल्यमानीय स्वं निवेशनम्। उपाकरोदस्त्रहेतोर्भारद्वाजः प्रतापवान्
The mighty Bharadvaja brought Dhrishtadyumna, the Panchala prince, to his own abode and taught him weapons.
अमोक्षणीयं दैवं हि भावि मत्वा महामतिः। तथा तत्कृतवान्द्रोण आत्मकीर्त्यनुरक्षणात्
Knowing that fate cannot be avoided, the wise Drona acted thus, out of desire to preserve his own fame.
सर्वास्त्राणि स तु क्षिप्रमाप्तवान्परया धिया
With supreme intelligence, he quickly acquired all weapons.
द्रुपदस्यापि विप्रर्षे श्रोतुमिच्छामि संभवम्। कथं चापि समुत्पन्नः कथमस्त्राण्यवाप्तवान्
O sage among Brahmins, I wish to hear about Drupada's birth: how he was born and how he obtained weapons.
एतदिच्छामि भगवंस्त्वत्तः श्रोतुं द्विजोत्तम। कौतूहलं जन्मसु मे कीर्त्यमानेष्वनेकशः
O venerable one, I wish to hear this from you, best of Brahmins. I am curious about these births, which are spoken of in many ways.
राजा बभूव पाञ्चालः पुत्रार्थी पुत्रकारणात्। वनं गतो महाराजस्तपस्तेपे सुदारुणम्
The king of the Panchalas, desiring a son, went to the forest for the sake of obtaining a son, and performed severe austerities.
आराधयन्प्रयत्नेन महर्षीन्संशितव्रतान्। तस्य संतप्यमानस्य वने मृगगणायुते
With great effort, he worshipped the great sages who were firm in their vows. While he was suffering in the forest, surrounded by herds of deer,
कालस्तु सुमहान्राजन्नत्ययात्सुतकारणात्। स तु राजा महातेजास्तपस्तीव्रं समाददे
A very long time passed, O king, as he sought a son. That king of great energy undertook intense austerities.
कंचित्कालं वायुभक्षो निराहारस्तथैव च। तथैव तु महाबाहोर्वर्तमानस्य भारत
For some time, he lived on air alone, without food. Thus did the mighty Drupada continue, O Bharata.
कालस्तस्य महाराज यातो वै नृपसत्तम। ततो नातिचिरात्काले वसन्ते कामदीपने
O great king, the appointed time arrived for him, O best of rulers; then, not long after, in the spring, the season that kindles desire—
फुल्लाशोकवने चैव प्राणिनां सुमनोहरे। नद्यास्तीरं ततो गत्वा गङ्गायाः पद्मलोचनः
In a grove of blooming ashoka trees, delightful to all beings, he went to the riverbank, O lotus-eyed one, to the Ganga.