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.
नियमस्थश्च राजासीत्तदा भरतसत्तम। ततो नातिचिरात्काले वनं तन्मनुजेश्वर
The king, steadfast in his vows, was there, O best of Bharatas; then, not long after, O lord of men, in that forest—
संप्राप्ता ह्यप्सरा राजन्मेनकेत्यभिविश्रुता। पुष्पद्रुमान्सज्जमाना राज्ञो दर्शनमागमत्
There arrived, O king, the renowned Apsara named Menaka, adorning herself with flowers and trees, and she came to appear before the king.
न ददर्श तु सा राजंस्तत्र स्थानगतं नृपम्। दृष्ट्वा चाप्सरसं तां तु शुक्रं राज्ञोऽपतद्भुवि
But she did not see the king standing there in his place; and seeing that Apsara, the king's seed fell to the ground.
ततः स राजा राजेन्द्र लज्जया नृपतिः स्वयम्। पद्भ्यामाक्रमतायुष्मंस्ततस्तु द्रुपदोऽभवत्
Then the king himself, O lord of kings, out of shame, stepped on that vital seed with his foot, and from that, Drupada was born.
ततस्तु तपसा तस्य राजर्षेर्भावितात्मनः। पुत्रः समभवच्छीघ्रं पदोस्तस्य क्रमेण तु
Then, through the austerity of that royal sage, whose soul was purified, a son was quickly born from the place where his foot had stepped.
तेनास्य ऋषयः सर्वे समागम्य तपोधनाः। नाम चुक्रुर्हि विद्वांसो द्रुपदोऽस्त्विति भारत
Then all the sages, possessing ascetic wealth, assembled and, being learned, gave him the name Drupada, O Bharata.
स तस्यैवाश्रमे राजन्भरद्वाजस्य भारत। ववृधे सुमुखं तत्र कामैः सर्वैर्नृपोत्तम
He grew up there, O king, in the very hermitage of Bharadvaja, with a beautiful face, cherished by all desires, O best of kings.
पाञ्चालोऽपि हि राजेन्द्र स्वराज्यं गतवान्प्रभुः। भरद्वाजस्य विद्यार्थं सुतं दत्वा महात्मनः
And the Panchala king, O lord of kings, having attained his own sovereignty, entrusted his son to the great-souled Bharadvaja for the sake of learning.
स कुमारस्ततो राजन्द्रोणेन सहितो वने। वेदांश्चाधिजगे साङ्गान्धनुर्वेदांश्च भारत
Then that prince, O king, together with Drona in the forest, mastered the Vedas with their branches, and the science of archery, O Bharata.
परया स मुदा युक्तो विचचार वने सुखम्। तस्यैवं वर्तमानस्य वने वनचरैः सह
Filled with supreme joy, he wandered happily in the forest, living in this way among the forest-dwellers.
कालेनातिचिराद्राजन्पिता स्वर्गमुपेयिवान्। स समागम्य पाञ्चालैः पाञ्चालेष्वभिषेचितः
After a long time, O king, his father departed to heaven; then, meeting with the Panchalas, he was consecrated among them.
प्राप्तश्च राज्यं राजेन्द्र सुहृदां प्रीतिवर्धनः। राज्यं ररक्ष धर्मेण यथा चेन्द्रस्त्रिविष्टपम्
Having attained the kingdom, O lord of kings, he increased the joy of his friends; he protected the kingdom with righteousness, as Indra does his heavenly realm.
एतन्मया ते राजेन्द्र यथावत्परिकीर्तितम्। द्रुपदस्य च राजर्षेर्धृष्टद्युम्नस्य जन्म च
Thus have I recounted to you, O lord of kings, as it happened, the birth of Drupada, the royal sage, and of Dhrishtadyumna.
धृतराष्ट्रस्तु राजन्द्रे यदा कौरवनन्दनम्। युधिष्ठिरं विजानन्वै समर्थं राज्यरक्षणे
But when Dhritarashtra, O king, knew that Yudhishthira, the joy of the Kauravas, was indeed capable of protecting the kingdom—
यौवराज्याभिषेकार्थममन्त्रयत मन्त्रिभिः। ते तु बुद्ध्वान्वतप्यन्त धृतराष्ट्रात्मजास्तदा
He consulted with his ministers about installing him in the office of crown prince; but the sons of Dhritarashtra, learning of this, were troubled.
ततः संवत्सरस्यान्ते यौवराज्याय पार्थिव। स्थापितो धृतराष्ट्रेण पाण्डुपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः
Then, at the end of the year, Yudhishthira, son of Pandu, was established as crown prince by Dhritarashtra.
ततोऽदीर्घेण कालेन कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः। पितुरन्तर्दधे कीर्तिं शीलवृत्तसमाधिभिः
Then, in a short time, Yudhishthira, son of Kunti, by his character, conduct, and composure, revived his father's fame.
असियुद्धे गदायुद्धे रथयुद्धे च पाण्डवः। संकर्षणादशिक्षद्वै शश्वच्छिक्षां वृकोदरः
In sword-fighting, mace-fighting, and chariot warfare, Bhima, the son of Pandu, constantly received instruction from Sankarshana.
समाप्तशिक्षो भीमस्तु द्युमत्सेनसमो बले। पराक्रमेण संपन्नो भ्रातॄणामचरद्वशे
Having completed his training, Bhima became equal in strength to Dyumatsena, endowed with prowess, and acted under the authority of his brothers.
प्रगाढदृढमुष्टित्वे लाघवे वेधने तथा। क्षुरनाराचभल्लानां विपाठानां च तत्त्ववित्
Firm in his grip, swift, and skilled in piercing, he was an expert in the use of razors, arrows, and broad-headed shafts, knowing their true nature.