श्रुत्वा तु वचनं तेषां यज्ञसेनो महामतिः। यथा तज्जनकः शोचेदौरसस्य विनाशे
Hearing those words, the wise Yajnasena grieved, just as a father would mourn the destruction of his own son.
तथाऽतप्यत वै राजा पाण्डवानां विनाशने। समाहूय प्रकृतयः सहिताः सर्वनागरैः
Thus, the king was deeply pained at the loss of the Pandavas; he summoned his ministers together with all the citizens.
कारुण्यादेव पाञ्चालः प्रोवाचेदं वचस्तदा
Out of compassion, the Panchala king then spoke these words.
चिन्तयामि दिवारात्रमर्जुनं प्रति बान्धवाः। भ्रातृभिः सहितो मात्रा सोऽदह्यत हुताशने
Day and night I worry about Arjuna, my kinsman, who, along with his brothers and mother, was burned in the fire.
किमाश्चर्यमितो लोके कालो हि दुरतिक्रमः। मिथ्याप्रतिज्ञो लोकेषु किं करिष्यामि सांप्रतं
What wonder is there in this world? For time is insurmountable. Now that my promise has become false among people, what am I to do?
अन्तर्गतेन दुःखेन दह्यमानो दिवानिशम्। याजोपयाजौ सत्कृत्य याचितौ तौ मयाऽनघौ
Consumed by inner sorrow day and night, I earnestly sought out Yaja and Upayaja, those faultless ones.
भारद्वाजस्य हन्तारं देवीं चाप्यर्जुनस्य वै। लोकस्तद्वेद यच्चापि तथा याजेन मे श्रुतम्
I asked Yaja and Upayaja to slay Bharadvaja’s killer and Arjuna’s enemy, the goddess herself; the world knows this, and so have I heard from Yaja.
याजेन पुत्रकामीयं हुत्वा चोत्पादिताविमौ। धृष्टद्युम्नश्च कृष्णा च मम तुष्टिकरावुभौ
Desiring a son, I performed a sacrifice with Yaja, and from it these two were born—Dhrishtadyumna and Krishna—both bringing me satisfaction.
किं करिष्यामि ते नष्टाः पाण्डवाः पृथया सह
What am I to do? The Pandavas are lost, along with Pritha.
दृष्ट्वा शोचन्तमत्यर्थं पाञ्चालमिदमब्रवीत्। पुरोधाः सत्वसंपन्नः सम्यग्विद्याविशेषवित्
Seeing the king of Panchala grieving so deeply, the wise and virtuous priest, learned in all knowledge, spoke to him.
वृद्धानुशासने सक्ताः पाण्डवा धर्मचारिणः। तादृशा न विनश्यन्ति नैव यान्ति पराभवम्
The Pandavas are devoted to the instructions of their elders and follow righteousness; such as they do not perish nor do they meet with defeat.
मया दृष्टमिदं सत्यं शृणु त्वं मनुजाधिप। ब्राह्मणैः कथितं सत्यं वेदेषु च मया श्रुतम्
I have seen this to be true—listen, O king of men; the Brahmanas have told me this truth, and I have also heard it in the Vedas.
बृहस्पतिमतेनाथ पौलोम्या च पुरा श्रुतम्। नष्ट हन्द्रो बिसग्रन्थ्यामुपश्रुत्या हि दर्शितः
I have heard it of old from the doctrine of Brihaspati and from Paulomi: the lost moon was found in the lotus stalk by means of upashruti.
उपश्रुतिर्महाराज पाण्डवार्थे मया श्रुता। यत्रकुत्रापि जीवन्ति पाण्डवास्ते न संशयः
O great king, I have heard by upashruti regarding the Pandavas: wherever they may be, the Pandavas are alive—of this there is no doubt.
मया दृष्टानि लिङ्गानि इहैवैष्यन्ति पाण्डवाः। यन्निमित्तमिहायान्ति तच्छृणुष्व नराधिप
I have seen signs that the Pandavas will come here; listen, O king, to the reason why they will come.
स्वयंवरः क्षत्रियाणां कन्यादाने प्रदर्शितः। स्वयंवरस्तु नगरे घुष्यतां राजसत्तम
A svayamvara has been proclaimed for the giving of a maiden among Kshatriyas; let the svayamvara be announced in the city, O best of kings.
यत्र वा निवसन्तस्ते पाण्डवाः पृथया सह। दूरस्था वा समीपस्था स्वर्गस्था वाऽपि पाण्डवाः
Wherever the Pandavas dwell with Pritha—whether far or near, or even if they are in heaven—
श्रुत्वा स्वयंवरं राजन्समेष्यन्ति न संशयः। तस्मात्स्वयंवरो राजन्घुष्यतां मा चिरं कृथाः
Hearing of the svayamvara, O king, they will surely come—there is no doubt; therefore, let the svayamvara be proclaimed, do not delay.
श्रुत्वा पुरोहितेनोक्तं पाञ्चालः प्रीतिमांस्तदा। घोषयामास नगरे द्रौपद्यास्तु स्वयंवरम्
Hearing the words spoken by the priest, the king of the Panchalas was pleased, and at that time announced in the city the self-choice ceremony of Draupadi.
पुष्यमासे तु रोहिण्यां शुक्लपक्षे शुभे तिथौ। दिवसैः पञ्चसप्तत्या भविष्यति न संशयः
In the month of Pushya, under the Rohini constellation, on an auspicious day in the bright fortnight, after seventy-five days, it will certainly take place—there is no doubt.
देवगन्धर्वयक्षाश्च ऋषयश्च तपोधनाः। स्वयंवरं द्रष्टुकामा गच्छन्त्येव न संशयः
Gods, Gandharvas, Yakshas, and ascetic sages rich in austerity, all desiring to witness the self-choice, are indeed coming—there is no doubt.
तव पुत्रा महात्मानो दर्शनीयो विशेषतः। यदृच्छया सा पाञ्चाली गच्छेद्वान्यतमं पतिम्
Your sons are great-souled and especially worthy of being seen; by chance, that Panchali may choose any one of them as her husband.
को हि जानाति लोकेषु प्रजापतिमतं शुभण्। तस्मात्सपुत्रा गच्छेथा यदि ब्राह्मणि रोचते
For who in the worlds knows the will of the Lord of creatures, O auspicious one? Therefore, you should go with your sons, if it pleases you, O Brahmin.
नित्यकालं सुभिक्षास्ते पाञ्चालास्तु तपोधने। यज्ञसेनस्तु राजा स ब्रह्मण्यः सत्यसङ्गरः
The Panchalas always have abundant alms for ascetics; and King Yajnasena is devoted to Brahmins and steadfast in truth.
ब्रह्मण्या नागराः सर्वे ब्राह्मणाश्चातिथिप्रियाः। नित्यकालं प्रदास्यन्ति आमन्त्रणमयाचितम्
All the citizens are devoted to Brahmins, and the Brahmins are fond of guests; at all times they will provide whatever is requested as alms or invitation.
अहं च तत्र गच्छामि ममैभिः सह शिष्यकैः। एकसार्थाः प्रयाताः स्मो ब्राह्मण्या यदि रोचते
I too will go there, together with these my disciples; we shall travel as one company, if it pleases you, O Brahmin.
एतावदुक्त्वा वचनं ब्राह्मणो विरराम ह
Having spoken thus, the Brahmin fell silent.
एतच्छ्रुत्वा ततः सर्वे पाण्डवा भरतर्षभ। मनसा द्रौपदीं जग्मुरनङ्गशरपीडिताः
Hearing this, then, all the Pandavas, O bull of the Bharatas, were pierced by the arrows of love and in their hearts went to Draupadi.
ततस्तां रजनीं राजञ्छल्यविद्धा इवाभवन्। सर्वे चास्वस्थमनसो बभूवुस्ते महाबलाः
Then, O king, that night they were as if struck by darts; all those mighty ones became restless in mind.
ततः कुन्ती सुतान्दृष्ट्वा सर्वांस्तद्गतचेतसः। युधिष्ठिरमुवाचेदं वचनं सत्यवादिनी
Then Kunti, seeing all her sons with their minds fixed on her, spoke these words to Yudhishthira, she who always spoke the truth.