कीर्तयन्गुणमन्नानामघृणी च पुनः पुनः। तं वै फलार्थिनं मन्ये भ्रातरं तर्कचक्षुषा
He repeatedly praised the virtues of various foods, and was without compassion; I consider that brother, with the eye of reasoning, as one who seeks fruit.
तं वै गच्छस्व नृपते स त्वां संयाजयिष्यति। जुगुप्समानो नृपतिर्मनसेदं विचिन्तयन्
Go to him, O king; he will perform the sacrifice for you, though the king, contemplating this in his mind, will feel aversion.
उपयाजवचः श्रुत्वा याजस्याश्रममभ्यगात्। अभिसम्पूज्य पूजार्हमथ याजमुवाच ह
Hearing Upayāja’s words, Yājāsa approached the hermitage; after honoring him who was worthy of respect, he spoke to Yāja.
अयुतानि ददान्यष्टौ गवां याजय मां विभो। द्रोणवैराभिसन्तप्तं प्रह्लादयितुमर्हसि
I will give you eighty thousand cows; conduct the sacrifice for me, O illustrious one. You ought to gladden me, afflicted by enmity with Droṇa.
स हि ब्रह्मविदां श्रेष्ठो ब्रह्मास्त्रे चाप्यनुत्तमः। तस्माद्द्रोणः पराजैष्ट मां वै स सखिविग्रहे
He is the foremost among those who know Brahman, and unsurpassed in the Brahma weapon; thus Droṇa defeated me in the contest of friends.
क्षत्रियो नास्ति तस्यास्यां पृथिव्यां कश्चिदग्रणीः। कौरवाचायर्मुख्यस्य भारद्वाजस्य धीमतः
There is no Kshatriya on this earth who is superior to him—the chief preceptor of the Kauravas, the wise son of Bhāradvāja.
द्रोणस्य शरजालानि प्राणिदेहहराणि च। षडरत्नि धनुश्चास्य दृश्यते परमं महत्
Droṇa’s showers of arrows take away life and body; his six-gemmed bow is seen to be supremely great.
स हि ब्राह्मणवेषेण क्षात्रं वेगमशंसयम्। प्रतिहन्ति महेष्वासो भारद्वाजो महामनाः
Though clad as a Brahmin, he displays the speed of a Kshatriya; the great-minded Bhāradvāja, mighty archer, repels all.
क्षत्रोच्छेदाय विहितो जामदग्न्य इवास्थितः। तस्य ह्यस्त्रबलं घोरमप्रधृष्यं नरैर्भुवि
He stands, like Jāmadagnya, intent on the destruction of Kshatriyas; his terrible power of weapons is invincible by men on earth.
ब्राह्मं सन्धारयंस्तेजो हुताहुतिरिवानलः। समेत्य स दहत्याजौ क्षात्रधर्मपुरःसरः
Bearing Brahmin energy, like fire fed by offerings, he meets and burns in battle, preceded by the duty of Kshatriyas.
ब्रह्मक्षत्रे च विहिते ब्राह्मं तेजो विशिष्यते। सोऽहं क्षात्राद्बलाद्धीनो ब्राह्मं तेजः प्रपेदिवान्
Where both Brahmin and Kshatriya powers are present, Brahmin energy prevails; thus, though weak in Kshatriya strength, I have sought Brahmin energy.
द्रोणाद्विशिष्टमासाद्य भवन्तं ब्रह्मवित्तमम्। द्रोणान्तकमहं पुत्रं लभेयं युधि दुर्जयम्
Having attained you, superior to Droṇa and foremost knower of Brahman, I may obtain a son who will be Droṇa’s slayer and unconquerable in battle.
तत्कर्म कुरु मे मे याज वितराम्यर्बुदं गवाम्। तथेत्युक्त्वा तु तं याजो याज्यार्थमुपकल्पयत्
Perform this act for me, O Yāja; I will grant you ten million cows. Saying ‘so be it,’ Yāja prepared for the sacrifice.
गुर्वर्थ इति चाकाममुपयाजमचोदयत्। याजो द्रोणविनाशाय प्रतिजज्ञे तथा च सः
For the sake of the teacher, though unwilling, Upayāja urged Yāja; Yāja vowed to destroy Droṇa, and so he did.
ततस्तस्य नरेन्द्रस्य उपयाजो महातपाः। आचख्यौ कर्म वैतानं तदा पुत्रफलाय वै
Then Upayāja, the great ascetic, explained to that king the Vaitāna ritual, which indeed brings forth sons.
स च पुत्रो महावीर्यो महातेजा महाबलः। इष्यते यद्विधो राजन्भविता ते तथाविधः
And the son, O King, who is desired to be of great strength, great energy, and great might, will be born to you just as you wish.
भारद्वाजस्य हन्तारं सोऽभिसन्धाय भूपतिः। आजह्वे तत्तथा सर्वं द्रुपदः कर्मसिद्धये
With the intent of obtaining a slayer for Bhāradvāja, the king Drupada performed all the rites accordingly for the accomplishment of his purpose.
याजस्तु हवनस्यान्ते देवीमाज्ञापयत्तदा। प्रेहि मां राज्ञि पृषति मिथुनं त्वामुपस्थितम्
At the conclusion of the sacrifice, Yāja instructed the queen, 'Come to me, O Queen Pṛṣati, the pair is now present.'
अवलिप्तं मुखं ब्रह्मन्दिव्यान्गन्धान्बिभर्मि च। सूतार्थे नोपलब्धाऽस्मि तिष्ठ याज मम प्रिये
'My face is smeared, O Brāhmaṇa, and I bear divine fragrances; but I am not yet prepared for conception. Wait, Yāja, my dear.'
याजेन श्रपितं हव्यमुपयाजाभिमन्त्रितम्। कथं कामं न सन्दध्यात्सा त्वं विप्रेहि तिष्ठ वा
'The oblation consecrated by Yāja has been offered, and Upayāja has recited the mantras. How could the desired result not be achieved? So, either go, Brāhmaṇa, or stay.'
एवमुक्त्वा तु याजेन हुते हविषि संस्कृते। उत्तस्थौ पावकात्तस्मात्कुमारो देवसन्निभिः
Having spoken thus, when the sanctified oblation was offered by Yāja, a boy, resembling a god, arose from the fire.
ज्वालावर्णो घोररूपः किरीटी वर्म चोत्तमम्। बिभ्रत्सखङ्गः सशरो धनुष्मान्विनदन्मुहुः
He was blazing like a flame, terrifying in form, crowned, wearing excellent armor, holding a sword and arrows, and repeatedly sounding his bow.
सोऽध्यारोदद्रथवरं तेन च प्रययौ तदा। ततः प्रणेदुः पञ्चालाः प्रहृष्टाः साधुसाध्विति
He mounted a splendid chariot and departed; then the delighted Pañcālas cheered, exclaiming, 'Well done! Well done!'
हर्षाविष्टांस्ततश्चैतान्नेयं सेहे वसुन्धरा। भयापहो राजपुत्रः पञ्चालानां यशस्करः
The earth could scarcely bear the joy that seized them; the prince, dispelling fear, brought glory to the Pañcālas.
राज्ञः शोकापहो जात एष द्रोणवधाय वै। इत्युवाच महद्भूतमदृश्यं खेचरं तदा
'This one is born to remove the king’s sorrow and to slay Droṇa.' Thus spoke a wondrous, unseen, celestial voice.
कुमारी चापि पाञ्चाली वेदीमध्यात्समुत्थिता। सुभगा दर्शनीयाङ्गी स्वसितायतलोचना
And a maiden, Pāñcālī, also arose from the midst of the altar—beautiful, with lovely limbs, dark-eyed, and wide-hipped.
श्यामा पद्मपलाशाक्षी नीलकुञ्चितमूर्धजा। ताम्रतुङ्गनखी सुभ्रूश्चारुपीनपयोधरा
Dark-skinned, with eyes like lotus petals, hair curled and dark-blue, coppery prominent nails, lovely brows, and charming, full breasts.
मानुषं विग्रहं कृत्वा साक्षादमरवर्णिनी। नीलोत्पलसमो गन्धो यस्याः क्रोशात्प्रधावति
Assuming a human form, yet shining with divine beauty, her fragrance, like blue lotuses, spread for a distance.
या बिभर्ति परं रूपं यस्या नास्त्युपमा भुवि। देवदानवयक्षाणामीप्सितां देवरूपिणीम्
She possessed supreme beauty, unmatched on earth, desired by gods, Dānavas, and Yakṣas, and resembled a goddess in form.
सदृशी पाण्डुपुत्रस्य अर्जुनस्येति भारत। ऊचुः प्रहृष्टमनसो राजभक्तिपुरस्कृताः
'She is a fitting match for Arjuna, son of Pāṇḍu,' said the delighted courtiers, led by the king’s loyal followers.