नारदप्रभृतीनां तु देवर्षीणां मया श्रुतम्। गुणान्कथयतां वीर पूर्वेषां तव धीमताम्
I have heard from the divine sages, beginning with Narada, as they spoke of the virtues of your wise ancestors, O hero.
स्वयं चापि मया दृष्टश्चरता सागराम्बराम्। इमां वसुमतीं कृत्स्नां प्रभावः सुकुलस्य ते
And I myself have seen, as I traveled the earth and the ocean, the power of your noble house, throughout this entire world.
वेदे धनुषि चाचार्यमभिजानामि तेऽर्जुन। विश्रुतं त्रिषु लोकेषु भारद्वाजं यशस्विनम्
In the Veda and in archery, I recognize your teacher, O Arjuna—renowned in the three worlds, the illustrious Bharadvaja.
सर्ववेदविदां श्रेष्ठं सर्वशस्त्रभृतां वरम्। द्रोणमिष्वस्त्रकुशलं धनुष्यह्गिरसां वरम्
Drona, the best among those who know all the Vedas, the foremost of all weapon-bearers, skilled in the science of archery, and the best among the descendants of Angiras.
धर्मं वायुं च शक्रं च विजानाम्यश्विनौ तथा। पाण्डुं च कुरुशार्दूल षडेतान्कुरुवर्धनान्। पितॄनेतानहं पार्थ देवमानुषसत्तमान्
O tiger of the Kurus, I know Dharma, Vayu, Shakra, the Ashvins, and Pandu—these six enhancers of the Kuru line; O Partha, I am the leader of the ancestors, both divine and human, the best among beings.
दिव्यात्मानो महात्मानः सर्वशस्त्रभृतां वराः। भवन्तो भ्रातरः शूराः सर्वे सुचरितव्रताः
They are divine souls, great in spirit, foremost among all wielders of weapons; you brothers are all valiant and steadfast in noble vows.
उत्तमां च मनोबुद्धिं भवतां भावितात्मनाम्। जानन्नपि च वः पार्थ कृतवानिह धर्षणाम्
Knowing well your supreme mind and intellect, O Partha, you who are noble in spirit, yet even so I have committed this outrage here.
स्त्रीसकाशे च कौरव्य न पुमान्क्षन्तुमर्हति। धर्षणामात्मनः पश्यन्ब्राहुद्रविणमाश्रितः
In the presence of women, O Kaurava, no man should tolerate an insult to himself, especially one who relies on strength and wealth.
नक्तं च बलमस्माकं भूय एवाभिवर्धते। यतस्ततो मां कौन्तेय सदारं मन्युराविशत्
At night, our strength grows even greater; therefore, O son of Kunti, anger always seizes me and my wife.
सोऽहं त्वयेह विजितः सङ्ख्ये तापत्यवर्धन। येन तेनेह विधिना कीर्त्यमानं निबोध मे
Thus, O increaser of the Tapatya line, I have been defeated by you here in battle; listen to the reason why this has happened to me, as it is recounted.
ब्रह्मचर्यं परो धर्मः स चापि नियतस्त्वयि। यस्मात्तस्मादहं पार्थ रणे।ञस्मि विजितस्त्वया
Supreme is the vow of celibacy, and that is firmly established in you; therefore, O Partha, I have been conquered by you in battle.
यस्तु स्यात्क्षत्रियः कश्चित्कामवृत्तः परन्तप। नक्तं च युधि युध्येत न स जीवेत्कथंचन
Any Kshatriya who is driven by desire and fights at night in battle would never survive, O subduer of foes.
यस्तु स्यात्कामवृत्तोऽपि पार्थ ब्रह्मपुरस्कृतः। जयेन्नक्तञ्चरान्सर्वान्स पुरोहितधूर्गतः
But even one who is driven by desire, O Partha, if he is guided by Brahman and accompanied by a priest, can defeat all night-roaming foes.
तस्मात्तापत्य यत्किंचिन्नृणां श्रेय इहेप्सितम्। तस्मिन्कर्मणि योक्तव्या दान्तात्मानः पुरोहिताः
Therefore, whatever benefit is sought by men in this world, in that action self-controlled priests should be engaged.
वेदे षडङ्गे निरताः शुचयः सत्यवादिनः। धर्मात्यागः कृतात्मानः स्युर्नृपाणां पुरोहिताः
Priests of kings should be devoted to the Vedas and their six limbs, pure, speakers of truth, steadfast in righteousness, and disciplined in self-control.
जयश्च नियतो राज्ञः स्वर्गश्च तदनन्तरम्। यस्य स्याद्धर्मविद्वाग्मी पुरोधाः शीलवाञ्शुचिः
Victory is assured for the king, and heaven thereafter, whose priest is learned in dharma, eloquent, virtuous, and pure.
लाभं लब्धुमलब्धं वा लब्धं वा परिरक्षितुम्। पुरोहितं प्रकुर्वीत राजा गुणसमन्वितम्
Whether gain has been achieved or not, or to protect what has been gained, a king should appoint as priest one endowed with virtues.
पुरोहितमते तिष्ठेद्य इच्छेद्भूतिमात्मनः। प्राप्तुं वसुमतीं सर्वां सर्वशः सागराम्बराम्
He who desires prosperity for himself and wishes to obtain the entire earth, bounded by the sea, should act according to the counsel of his priest.
न हि केवलशौर्येण तापत्याभिजनेन च। जयेदब्राह्मणः कश्चिद्भूमिं भूमिपतिः क्वचित्
For by mere valor or noble birth alone, no king who is not guided by a Brahmin ever conquers the earth anywhere.
तस्मादेवं विजानीहि कुरूणां वंशवर्धन। ब्राह्मणप्रमुखं राज्यं शक्यं पालयितुं चिरम्
Therefore, understand thus, O enhancer of the Kuru line: a kingdom led by Brahmins can be preserved for a long time.
तापत्य इति यद्वाक्यमुक्तवानसि मामिह। तदहं ज्ञातुमिच्छामि तापत्यार्थं विनिश्चितम्
You have spoken of 'Tapatya' regarding me here; I wish to know the precise meaning of 'Tapatya.'
तपती नाम का चैषा तापत्या यत्कृते वयम्। कौन्तेया हि वयं साधो तत्त्वमिच्छामि वेदितुम्
Who is this Tapati, and for whose sake are we called Tapatya? O son of Kunti, we wish to know the truth of this matter.
एवमुक्तः स गन्धर्वः कुन्तीपुत्रं धनञ्जयम्। विश्रुतं त्रिषु लोकेषु श्रावयामास वै कथाम्
Thus addressed, that Gandharva began to recount to Arjuna, son of Kunti, the renowned story known in the three worlds.
हन्त ते कथयिष्यामि कथामेतां मनोरमाम्। यथावदखिलां पार्थ सर्वबुद्धिमतां वर
Indeed, I shall tell you this delightful tale in full, O Partha, exactly as it happened, best of all the wise.
उक्तवानस्मि येन त्वां तापत्य इति यद्वचः। तत्तेऽहं कथयिष्यामि शृणुष्वैकमना भव
The reason I called you 'born of Tapati'—I will now explain that to you; listen with focused mind.
य एष दिवि धिष्ण्येन नाकं व्याप्नोति तेजसा। एतस्य तपती नाम बभूव सदृशी सुता
He who, with his brilliance, fills the heavens and the sky—his daughter, equal to him, was named Tapati.
विवस्वतो वै देवस्य सावित्र्यवरजा विभो। विश्रुता त्रिषु लोकेषु तपती तपसा युता
She was the illustrious Tapati, endowed with ascetic power, the younger sister of Savitri, daughter of the god Vivasvat, famed in the three worlds.
न देवी नासुरी चैव न यक्षी न च राक्षसी। नाप्सरा न च गन्धर्वी तथा रूपेण काचन
No goddess, nor asura woman, nor yakshi, nor rakshasi, nor apsara, nor gandharvi could match her in beauty.
सुविभक्तानवद्याङ्गी स्वसितायतलोचना। स्वाचारा चैव साध्वी च सुवेषा चैव भामिनी
Her limbs were perfectly formed and flawless, her eyes long and dark, her conduct noble and virtuous, and her attire always splendid.
त तस्याः सदृशं कंचित्त्रिषु लोकेषु भारत। भर्तारं सविता मेने रूपशीलगुणश्रुतैः
O Bharata, Savita considered that, in all the three worlds, no one was her equal in beauty, character, virtue, or learning to be her husband.