प्रतिलप्स्यामहे सर्वं दृष्ट्वा कृष्णां स्वयंवरे। यं च सा क्षत्रियं रङ्गे कुमारी वरयिष्यति
"We shall witness everything at Kṛṣṇā's self-choice ceremony, and see which Kṣatriya the maiden will choose in the arena."
तदा वैतालिकाश्चैव नर्तकाः सूतमागधाः। निबोधकाश्च देशेभ्यः समेष्यन्ति महाबलाः
"Then, bards, dancers, charioteers, and Magadhas, as well as heralds from various regions, mighty in strength, will assemble there."
एतत्कौतूहलं तत्र दृष्ट्वा वै प्रतिगृह्य च। सहास्माभिर्महात्मानो मात्रा सह निवत्स्यथ
Having witnessed this curiosity there and accepted it, you will remain with us, great souls, together with your mother.
दर्शनीयांश्च वः सर्वानेकरूपानवस्थितान्। समीक्ष्य कृष्मा वरयेत्संगत्यान्यतमं पतिम्
Having observed all of you, handsome and of various forms, standing together, Kṛṣmā will choose one among you as her husband.
अयमेकश्च वो भ्राता दर्शनीयो महाभुजः। नियुध्यमानो विजयेत्संगत्य द्रविणं महत्
Here is your brother, handsome and mighty-armed; when he competes, he will win, and together he will gain great wealth.
परमं भो गमिष्यामो द्रष्टुं तत्र स्वयंवरम्। द्रौपदीं यज्ञसेनस्य कन्यां तस्यास्तथोत्सवम्
O best, we shall go to witness the svayaṃvara there, the festival of Draupadī, daughter of Yajñasena.
ते प्रतस्थुः पुरस्कृत्य मातरं पुरुषर्षभाः। समैरुदङ्मुकैर्मार्गैर्यथोद्दिष्टं च भारत
Those best among men set out, placing their mother at the forefront, proceeding northward along the prescribed paths, O Bhārata.
अहोरात्रेणाभ्यगच्छन्पाञ्चालनगरं प्रति। अभ्याजग्मुर्लोकनदीं गङ्गां भागीरथीं प्रति
Within a day and night, they approached the city of the Pāñcālas, and came to the world-river Gaṅgā, the Bhāgīrathī.
चन्द्रास्तमयवेलायामर्धरात्रसमागमे। वारि चैवानुमज्जन्तस्तीर्थं सोमाश्रयायणम्
At the hour of moonset, in the middle of the night, they entered the water, seeking the sacred place of Soma's refuge.
आसेदुः पुरुषव्याघ्रा गङ्गायां पाण्डुनन्दनाः।। उल्मुकं तु समुद्यम्य तेषामग्रे धनञ्जयः
The tiger-like sons of Pāṇḍu reached the Gaṅgā; Dhanañjaya, raising a torch, went before them.
प्रकाशार्थं ययौ तत्र रक्षार्थं च महारथः।। तत्र गङ्गाजले रम्ये विविक्ते क्रीडयन् स्त्रियः
The great chariot-warrior went there to provide light and protection; in the beautiful, secluded waters of the Gaṅgā, women were playing.
शब्दं तेषां स शुश्राव नदीं समुपसर्पताम्। तेन शब्देन चाविष्टश्चुक्रोध बलवद्बली
He heard their voices as they approached the river; disturbed by that sound, the powerful one became greatly angry.
स दृष्ट्वा पाण्डवांस्तत्र सह मात्रा परन्तपान्। विष्फारयन्धनुर्घोरमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्
Seeing the Pāṇḍavas there with their mother, the scorcher of foes, he drew his terrible bow and spoke these words:
सन्ध्या संरज्यते घोरा पूर्वरात्रागमेषु या। अशीतिभिर्लवैर्हीनं तन्मुहूर्तं प्रचक्षते
The fierce twilight arises at the beginning of the night; that moment, lacking eighty lavas, is called a muhūrta.
विहितं कामचाराणां यक्षगन्धर्वरक्षसाम्। शेषमन्यन्मनुष्याणां कर्मचारेषु वै स्मृतम्
It is allotted for the free movement of yakṣas, gandharvas, and rākṣasas; the rest is remembered as belonging to humans for their activities.
लोभात्प्रचारं चरतस्तासु वेलासु वै नरान्। उपक्रान्ता निगृह्णीमो राक्षसैः सह बालिशान्
Out of greed, those men who wander during these times are seized and restrained by rākṣasas together with the foolish.
अतो रात्रौ प्राप्नुवतो जलं ब्रह्मविदो जनाः। गर्हयन्ति नरान्सर्वान्बलस्थान्नृपतीनपि
Therefore, those who obtain water at night, even if they are learned in the Vedas, are condemned by all men, even by kings in power.
आराच्च तिष्ठतास्माकं समीपं नोपसर्पत। कस्मान्मां नाभिजानीत प्राप्तं भागीरथीजलम्
Remain far from us; do not approach closely. Why do you not recognize me, who has come to the Bhāgīrathī's water?
अङ्गारपर्णं गन्धर्वं वित्त मां स्वबलाश्रयम्। अहं हि मानी चेर्ष्युश्च कुबेरस्य प्रियः सखा
Know me as Angāraparṇa the Gandharva, relying on my own strength; I am proud, jealous, and a dear friend of Kubera.
अङ्गारपर्णमित्येवं ख्यातं चेदं वनं मम। अनुगङ्गं चरन्कामांश्चित्रं यत्र रमाम्यहम्
I am known as Angāraparṇa, and this forest is mine; wandering along the Gaṅgā as I please, I delight here in many ways.
न कौणपाः शृङ्गिणो वा न देवा न च मानुषाः। कुबेरस्य यथोष्णीषं किं मां समुपसर्पथ
Neither spirits, nor horned beings, nor gods, nor humans—no one, not even Kubera’s own attendants, would approach me as you do. Why do you come near me?
समुद्रे हिमवत्पार्श्वे नद्यामस्यां च दुर्मते। रात्रावहनि सन्ध्यायां कस्य क्लृप्तः परिग्रहः
O foolish one, on the ocean, beside the Himalaya, or in this river—by night, by day, or at twilight—who has the right to claim possession here?
भुक्तो वाऽप्यथ वाऽभुक्तो रात्रावहनि खेचर। न कालनियमो ह्यस्ति गङ्गां प्राप्य सरिद्वरां
Whether one has eaten or not, by night or by day, or while moving through the sky—there is no fixed time for approaching the Ganga, the best of rivers.
वयं च शक्तिसम्पन्ना अकाले त्वामधृष्णुम। अशक्ता हि रणे क्रूर युष्मानर्चन्ति मानवाः
We possess strength and have approached you at an unseasonable time; but in battle, O cruel one, powerless men worship you.
पुरा हिमवतश्चैषा हेमशृङ्गाद्विनिःसृता। गङ्गा गत्वा समुद्राम्भः सप्तधा समपद्यत
Long ago, this Ganga issued forth from the golden peak of the Himalaya, and after reaching the ocean’s waters, she divided into seven streams.
गङ्गां च यमुनां चैव प्लक्षजातां सरस्वतीम्। रथस्थां सरयूं चैव गोमतीं गण्डकीं तथा
The Ganga, Yamuna, Sarasvati born from the Plaksha tree, Sarayu flowing by chariot, as well as the Gomati and Gandaki—
अपर्युषितपापास्ते नदीः सप्त पिबन्ति ये। इयं भूत्वा चैकवप्रा शुचिराकाशगा पुनः
Those who drink from these seven rivers, whose sins are not yet settled, become pure; and this river, having become one again, ascends to the sky, pure once more.
देवेषु गङ्गा गन्धर्व प्राप्नोत्यलकनन्दताम्। तथा पितॄन्वैतरणी दुस्तरा पापकर्मभिः। गङ्गा भवति वै प्राप्य कृष्णद्वैपायनोऽब्रवीत्
Among the gods, O Gandharva, Ganga becomes Alakananda; for the ancestors, she is the Vaitarani, hard to cross for those of evil deeds. Thus, having attained the Ganga, so said Krishna Dvaipayana.
असम्बाधा देवनदी स्वर्गसंपादनी शुभा। कथमिच्छसि तां रोद्धुं नैष धर्मः सनातनः
The divine river is unimpeded, bestowing heaven, and auspicious. How do you wish to obstruct her? This is not the eternal law.
अनिवार्यमसम्बाधं तव वाचा कथं वयम्। न स्पृशेम यथाकामं पुण्यं भागीरथीजलम्
How could we, by your words, be prevented from freely touching the holy water of Bhagirathi, which is irresistible and unimpeded?