यवीयान्देवलस्यैष वने भ्राता तपस्यति। धौम्य उत्कोचके तीर्थे तं वृणुध्वं यीच्छथ
The younger brother of Devala is practicing austerities in the forest at the Utkocaka ford; if you wish, choose him.
ततोऽर्जुनोऽस्त्रमाग्नेयं प्रददौ तद्यथाविधि। गन्धर्वाय `स च प्रीतो वचनं चेदमब्रवीत्
Then Arjuna duly gave the Agneya weapon to the Gandharva, and, pleased, he spoke these words:
मयि सन्ति हयश्रेष्ठास्तव दास्यामि वै सखे। उपकारकृतं मित्रं प्रतिकारेण योजये
I have excellent horses with me, friend; I will surely give them to you. I repay a friend who has rendered help with a favor in return.
गृह्णीष्व चाक्षुषीं विद्यामिमां भरतसत्तम। एवमुक्तोऽर्जुनः' प्रीतो वचनं चेदमब्रवीत्
Take also this Akshushi knowledge, best of the Bharatas. Thus addressed, Arjuna, pleased, spoke these words:
त्वय्येव तावत्तिष्ठन्तु हया गन्धर्वसत्तम। कार्यकाले ग्रहीष्यामः स्वस्ति तेऽस्त्विति चाब्रवीत्
Let the horses remain with you for now, best of Gandharvas; we will take them when the need arises. May you fare well, he said.
तेऽन्योन्यमभिसंपूज्य गन्धर्वः पाण्डवाश्च ह। रम्याद्भागीरथीतीराद्यथाकामं प्रतस्थिरे
Having mutually honored each other, the Gandharva and the Pandavas set out as they wished along the beautiful banks of the Bhagirathi.
तत उत्कोचकं तीर्थं गत्वा धौम्याश्रमं तु ते। तं वव्रुः पाण्डवा धौम्यं पौरोहित्याय भारत
Then, going to the Utkocaka ford, they reached Dhaumya's hermitage; the Pandavas chose Dhaumya for priestly duties, O Bharata.
तान्धौम्यः प्रतिजग्राह सर्ववेदविदां वरः। वन्येन फलमूलेन पौरोहित्येन चैव ह
Dhaumya, best among those who know all the Vedas, accepted them, providing them with wild fruits and roots, and by performing priestly rites.
ते समाशंसिरे लब्धां श्रियं राज्यं च पाण्डवाः। ब्राह्मणं तं पुरस्कृत्य पाञ्चालीं च स्वयंवरे
With that Brahmin at their head, the Pandavas hoped to regain their prosperity and kingdom, and to win Panchali at her self-choice ceremony.
पुरोहितेन तेनाथ गुरुणा संगतास्तदा। नाथवन्तमिवात्मानं मेनिरे भरतर्षभाः
With that priest and teacher united with them, the foremost of the Bharatas felt as if they had found a protector.
स हि वेदार्थतत्त्वज्ञस्तेषां गुरुरुदारधीः। वेदविच्चैव वाग्मी च धौम्यः श्रीमान्द्विजोत्तमः
For Dhaumya, wise and noble-minded, was their teacher, knowing the true meaning of the Vedas, eloquent, learned in the Vedas, and a distinguished Brahmin.
तेजसा चैव बुद्ध्या च रूपेण यशसा श्रिया। मन्त्रैश्च विविधैर्धौम्यस्तुल्य आसीद्बृहस्पतेः
In brilliance, intellect, appearance, fame, and prosperity, and in various mantras, Dhaumya was equal to Brihaspati.
स चापि विप्रस्तान्मेने स्वभावाभ्यधिकान्भुवि। तेन धर्मविदा पार्था योज्या सर्वविदा वृताः
And that Brahmin, considering them to surpass others by nature, accepted the Parthas, who were versed in all knowledge and chosen by him, as worthy.
मेनिरे सहिता वीराः प्राप्तं राज्यं च पाण्डवाः। बुद्धिवीर्यबलोत्साहैर्युक्ता देवा इवापरे
The heroic Pandavas, united, believed that the kingdom had been attained, endowed as they were with intelligence, strength, vigor, and enthusiasm, like gods.
कृतस्वस्त्ययनास्तेन ततस्ते मनुजाधिपाः। मेनिरे सहिता गन्तुं पाञ्चाल्यास्तं स्वयंवरम्
Having been blessed by him, those rulers of men, united, considered themselves ready to go to Panchali's self-choice ceremony.
ततस्ते नरशार्दूला भ्रातरः पञ्च पाण्डवाः। तं ब्राह्मणं पुरस्कृत्य पाञ्चाल्याश्च स्वयंवरम्। प्रययुर्द्रौपदीं द्रष्टुं तं च देशं महोत्सवम्
Then those five Pandava brothers, tigers among men, with the Brahmin at their head, set out for Panchali's self-choice, to see Draupadi and that great festival.
ततस्ते तं महात्मानं शुद्धात्मानमकल्मषम्। ददृशुः पाण्डवा वीराः पथि द्वैपायनं तदा
On the way, the heroic Pandavas saw that great-souled, pure-hearted, sinless man—Vyasa.
तस्मै यथावत्सत्कारं कृत्वा तेन च सत्कृताः। कथान्ते चाभ्यनुज्ञाताः प्रययुर्द्रुपदक्षयम्
Having duly honored him, and being honored by him in turn, they, with his permission at the end of their conversation, proceeded to Drupada's abode.
पश्यन्तो रमणीयानि वनानि च सरांसि च। तत्रतत्र वसन्तश्च शनैर्जग्मुर्महराथाः
Observing the beautiful forests and lakes along the way, those mighty chariot-warriors traveled slowly, halting here and there.
स्वाध्यायवन्तः शुचयो मधुराः प्रियवादिनः। आनुपूर्व्येण संप्राप्ताः पाञ्चालान्पाण्डुनन्दनाः
The sons of Pandu, learned in the scriptures, pure, and gentle in speech, arrived among the Panchalas in due order.
ते तु दृष्ट्वा पुरं तच्च स्कन्धावारं च पाण्डवाः। कुम्भकारस्य शालायां निवासं चक्रिरे तदा
Having seen that city and the encampment, the Pandavas then took up residence in a potter’s house.
तत्र भैक्षं समाजह्रुर्ब्राह्मणीं वृत्तिमाश्रिताः। तान्संप्राप्तांस्तथा वीराञ्जज्ञिरे न नराः क्वचित्
There, adopting the livelihood of brahmins, they gathered alms; yet nowhere did people recognize those heroic men who had arrived.
यज्ञसेनस्तु पाञ्चालो भीष्मद्रोमकृतागसम्। ज्ञात्वाऽऽत्मानं तदारेभे त्राणायात्मक्रियां क्षमां
Yajnasena, the king of the Panchalas, knowing himself to be threatened by Bhishma, Drona, and Kripa, then undertook measures for his own protection.
अवाप्य धृष्टद्युम्नं हि न स द्रोणमचिन्तयत्। स तु वैरप्रसङ्गाच्च भीष्माद्भयमचिन्तयत्
Having obtained Dhrishtadyumna, he no longer feared Drona; but because of enmity, he did fear Bhishma.
कन्यादानात्तु शरणं सोऽमन्यत महीपतिः।' यज्ञसेनस्य कामस्तु पाण्डवाय किरीटिने
The king considered the giving of his daughter as a means of safety; Yajnasena’s desire was to give her to Arjuna, the son of Pandu.
दास्यामि कृष्मामिति वै न चैनं विवृणोति सः। `जामातृबलसंयोगं मेने हि बलवत्तरम्
He resolved, 'I will give my daughter,' but did not openly declare it; for he deemed the alliance of a powerful son-in-law to be strongest.
सोऽन्वेषमाणः कौन्तेयान्पाञ्चालो जनमेजय। दृढं धनुरथानम्यं कारयामास भारत
Seeking the sons of Kunti, O Janamejaya, the king of the Panchalas had a mighty, unbreakable bow made.
वैयाघ्रपद्यस्योग्रं वै सृञ्जयस्य महीपतिः। तद्धनुः किन्धुरं नाम देवदत्तमुपानयत्
The king of the Srinjayas brought forth that fierce bow, called Kindhura, belonging to Vaiyaghrapadya, given by the gods.
आयसी तस्य च ज्याऽऽसीत्प्रतिबद्धा महाबला। न तु ज्यां प्रसहेदन्यस्तद्धनुःप्रवरं महत्
Its iron bowstring was firmly fastened and of great strength; yet no one else could string that excellent, mighty bow.
शङ्करेण वरं दत्तं प्रीतेन च महात्मना। तन्निष्फलं स्यान्न तु मे इति प्रामाण्यमागतः
That bow, given as a boon by the gracious and great-souled Shiva, must not be rendered fruitless—thus he was convinced.