शरण्यः सर्वभूतानां देवदेवो जनार्दनः
Janardana, the god of gods, is the refuge of all beings.
तथेति च प्रतिज्ञाय द्रोणाय कुरुपुङ्गवः। उपसंगृह्य चरणौ युधिष्ठिरवशोऽभवत्
Having promised thus, the best of the Kurus bowed to Drona and, grasping his feet, Yudhishthira became submissive.
स्वभावादगमच्छब्दो महीं सागरमेखलाम्। अर्जुनस्य समो लोके नास्ति कश्चिद्धनुर्धरः
By his own nature, the sound of Arjuna's bow encircled the earth girdled by the ocean; in the world, there is no archer equal to Arjuna.
गदायुद्धेऽसियुद्धे च रथयुद्धे च पाण्डवः। पारगश्च धनुर्युद्धे बभूवाथ धनञ्जयः
In mace combat, sword fighting, and chariot warfare, the son of Pandu excelled; and Dhananjaya became accomplished in archery.
नीतिमान्सकलां नीतिं विबुधाधिपतेस्तदा। `अस्त्रे शस्त्रे च शास्त्रे च रथनागाश्वकर्मणि।' अवाप्य सहदेवोऽपि भ्रातॄणां ववृते वशे
Sahadeva, possessing all the wisdom of the king of the gods, mastered weapons, scriptures, and the arts of chariots, elephants, and horses, and became obedient to his brothers.
द्रोणेनैवं विनीतश्च भ्रातॄणां नकुलः प्रियः। चित्रयोधी समाख्यातो बभूवातिरथोदितः
Nakula, trained by Drona and beloved of his brothers, was renowned as a distinguished warrior and was called an atiratha.
त्रिवर्षकृतयज्ञस्तु गन्धर्वाणामुपप्लवे। अर्जुनप्रमुखैः पार्थैः सौवीरः समरे हतः
In the Gandharva conflict, Sauvira, who had performed sacrifices for three years, was slain in battle by the Pandavas led by Arjuna.
न शशाक वशे कर्तुं यं पाण्डुरपि वीर्यवान्। सोऽर्जुनेन वशं नीतो राजासीद्यवनाधिपः
Even the mighty Pandu could not subdue the king of the Yavanas, but Arjuna brought him under control.
अतीव बलसंपन्नः सदा मानि कुरून्प्रति। विपुलो नाम सौवीरः शस्तः पार्थेन धीमता
A man of great strength, always proud before the Kurus, named Vipula of Sauvira, was defeated by the wise Partha.
दत्तामित्र इति ख्यातं सङ्ग्रामे कृतनिश्चयम्। सुमित्रं नाम सौवीरमर्जुनोऽदमयच्छरैः
In battle, Arjuna subdued with his irresistible arrows the resolute Sauvira named Sumitra, known as Dattamitra.
भीमसेनसहायश्च रथानामयुतं च सः। अर्जुनः समरे प्राच्यान्सर्वानेकरथोऽजयत्
With Bhimasena as his ally, Arjuna, alone on his chariot, conquered all the eastern kings and their ten thousand chariots in battle.
तथैवैकरथो गत्वा दक्षिणामजयद्दिशम्। धनौघं प्रापयामास कुरुराष्ट्रं धनञ्जयः
Likewise, going alone on his chariot, Dhananjaya conquered the southern direction and brought a great wealth to the Kuru kingdom.
यतः पञ्चदशे वर्षे सर्वमेतच्चकार सः। तं दृष्ट्वा धार्तराष्ट्राणां ततो भयमजायत
All this he accomplished in his fifteenth year; seeing this, fear arose among the sons of Dhritarashtra.
यः सर्वान्धृतराष्ट्रस्य पुत्रान्विप्रचकार ह। भीमसेनो महाबाहुर्बलाद्बलवतां वरः
Bhimasena, of mighty arms and foremost among the strong, subdued all the sons of Dhritarashtra by force.
अदुष्टभावं तं दोषैर्जगृहुर्दोषबुद्धयः। धार्तराष्ट्रास्तथा सर्वे भयाद्भीमस्य कर्मणा
Though he was blameless in intent, the sons of Dhritarashtra, out of fear of Bhima's deeds, found fault with him, being of malicious mind.
तं दृष्ट्वा कर्मभिः पार्थान्सर्वानागतलक्षणान्। बलाद्बहुगुणांस्तेभ्यो बिभियुर्दोषबुद्धयः
Seeing the Pandavas, marked by great deeds and excelling in strength and virtues, those of evil mind feared them.
एवं सर्वे महात्मानः पाण्डवा मनुजोत्तमाः। परराष्ट्राणि निर्जित्य स्वराष्ट्रं ववृधुः पुरा
Thus, all the great-souled Pandavas, best among men, having conquered foreign kingdoms, prospered their own realm in former times.
ततो बलमतिख्यातं विज्ञाय दृढधन्विनाम्। दूषितः सहसा भावो धृतराष्ट्रस्य पाण्डुषु। स चिन्तापरमो राजा न निद्रामलभन्निशि
Then, recognizing the extraordinary strength of these mighty archers, King Dhritarashtra's feelings toward the Pandavas suddenly soured; overwhelmed by anxiety, he could not sleep at night.
प्राणाधिकं भीमसेनं कृतविद्यं धनञ्जयम्। दुर्योधनो लक्षयित्वा पर्यतप्यत दुर्मनाः
Duryodhana, observing Bhimasena as dearer than life and Dhananjaya accomplished in all arts, was deeply troubled in mind.
ततो वैकर्तनः कर्णः शकुनिश्चापि सौबलः। अनेकारभ्युपायैस्ते जिघांसन्ति स्म पाण्डवान्
Then Karna, son of Vikartana, and Shakuni, son of Subala, sought to destroy the Pandavas by various means.
पाण्डवा अपि तत्सर्वं प्रतिचक्रुर्यथाबलम्। उद्भावनमकुर्वन्तो विदुरस्य मते स्थिताः
The Pandavas, too, responded to all this as best they could, refraining from boasting, and abiding by Vidura’s counsel.
गुणैः समुदितान्दृष्ट्वा पौराः पाण्डुसुतांस्तदा। कथयाञ्चक्रिरे तेषां गुणान्संसत्सु भारत
The citizens, seeing the Pandava sons endowed with virtues, began to speak of their qualities among themselves, O Bharata.
राज्यप्राप्तिं च संप्राप्तं ज्येष्ठं पाण्डुसुतं तदा। कथयन्ति स्म संभूय चत्वरेषु सभासु च
They spoke together in the squares and assemblies about the eldest Pandava’s attainment of the kingdom.
प्रज्ञाश्चक्षुरचक्षुष्ट्वाद्धृतराष्ट्रो जनेश्वरः। राज्यं न प्राप्तवान्पूर्वं स कथं नृपतिर्भवेत्
Dhritarashtra, the king, though wise, was blind; he had not previously obtained the kingdom, so how could he now become ruler?
तथा शान्तनवो भीष्मः सत्यसन्धो महाव्रतः। प्रत्याख्याय पुरा राज्यं न स जातु ग्रहीष्यति
Similarly, Bhishma, son of Shantanu, steadfast in truth and great vows, had once renounced the kingdom and would never accept it.
ते वयं पाण्डवज्येष्ठं तरुणं वृद्धशीलिनम्। अभिषिञ्चाम साध्वद्य सत्यकारुण्यवेदिनम्
Therefore, let us anoint the eldest Pandava, young yet possessing the conduct of elders, who knows truth and compassion.
स हि भीष्मं शान्तनवं धृतराष्ट्रं च धर्मवित्। सपुत्रं विविधैर्भोगैर्योजयिष्यति पूजयन्
He will honor Bhishma, son of Shantanu, and Dhritarashtra, the knower of dharma, along with his sons, with various enjoyments.
तेषां दुर्योधनः श्रुत्वा तानि वाक्यानि जल्पताम्। युधिष्ठिरानुरक्तानां पर्यतप्यत दुर्मतिः
Hearing these words spoken by those devoted to Yudhishthira, Duryodhana, of evil mind, was greatly distressed.
स तप्यमानो दुष्टात्मा तेषां वाचो न चक्षमे। ईर्ष्यया चापि संतप्तो धृतराष्ट्रमुपागमत्
Tormented, wicked-hearted, he could not endure their words; burning with envy, he approached Dhritarashtra.
ततो विरहितं दृष्ट्वा पितरं प्रतिपूज्य सः। पौरानुरागसंतप्तः पश्चादिदमभाषत
Seeing his father alone, he paid his respects; afflicted by the citizens’ affection, he then spoke as follows.