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.
ऋजुवक्रविशालानां प्रयोक्ता फाल्गुनोऽभवत्। लाघवे सौष्ठवे चैव नान्यः कश्चन विद्यते
Arjuna became the foremost wielder of straight, curved, and broad weapons; in speed and skill, no one else could match him.
बीभत्सुसदृशो लोक इति द्रोणो व्यवस्थितः। ततोऽब्रवीद्गुडाकेशं द्रोणः कौरवसंसदि
Drona, convinced that no one in the world was equal to Arjuna, said this to Gudakesha in the Kaurava assembly.
अगस्त्यस्य धनुर्वेदे शिष्यो मम गुरुः पुरा। अग्निवेश्य इति ख्यातस्तस्य शिष्योऽस्मि भारत
In the science of archery, my teacher was once the disciple of Agastya, known as Agniveshya; I am his disciple, O Bharata.
तीर्थात्तीर्थं गमयितुमहमेतत्समुद्यतः। तपसा यन्मया प्राप्तममोघमशनिप्रभम्
I set out to visit holy places, and through austerity I obtained a weapon, unfailing and brilliant as lightning.
अस्त्रं ब्रह्मशिरो नाम यद्दहेत्पृथिवीमपि। ददता गुरुणा चोक्तं न मनुष्येष्विदंत्वया
That weapon is called Brahmashira, which could burn even the earth; my teacher gave it to me, saying, 'Do not use this among men.'
भारद्वाज विमोक्तव्यमल्पवीर्येषु संयुगे। यद्यदन्तर्हितं भूतं किंचिद्युद्ध्येत्त्वया सह
O Bharadvaja, it is to be released only against beings of little strength in battle, or if any hidden being fights with you.
महातेजस्त्वमेतेन हन्याः शस्त्रेण संयुगे। त्वया प्राप्तमिदं वीर दिव्यं नान्योऽर्हति त्विदम्
With this weapon of great power, you could destroy in battle; you alone, O hero, have obtained this divine weapon—no other is worthy.
समयस्तु त्वया रक्ष्यो मुनिसृष्टो विशांपते। आचार्यदक्षिणां देहि ज्ञातिग्रामस्य पश्यतः
But you must keep the vow established by the sage, O lord of men: give your teacher's fee in the presence of your kinsmen and village.
ददानीति प्रतिज्ञाते फाल्गुनेनाब्रवीद्गुरुः। युद्धेऽहं प्रतियोद्धव्यो युध्यमानस्त्वयाऽनघ
When Phalguna promised to give, the teacher said, 'You must fight me in battle, O sinless one, as your teacher's fee.'
तथेति च प्रतिज्ञाय द्रोणाय कुरुपुङ्गवः। उपसंगृह्य चरणावुपतस्थे विनीतवत्
Having agreed, the best of the Kurus bowed respectfully, embraced Drona's feet, and stood before him with humility.