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.
मया कर्तव्यमधुना दुष्करं लक्ष्यवेधनम्। इति निश्चित्य मनसा कारितं लक्ष्यमुत्तमम्
Now I must set a difficult target to be pierced—so resolved in mind, he had a supreme target prepared.
यन्त्रं वैहायसं चापि कारयामास कृत्रिमम्। तेन यन्त्रेण सहितं राजँल्लक्ष्यं च काञ्चनम्
He also had a mechanical device, crafted of metal, constructed; with that device, O king, a golden target was set up.
इदं सज्यं धनुः कृत्वा सज्जैरेभिश्च सायकैः। अतीत्य लक्ष्य यो वेद्धा स लब्धा मत्सुतामिति
'Whoever, having strung this bow and equipped with these arrows, pierces the target, shall win my daughter,' he proclaimed.
इति स द्रुपदो राजा स्वयंवरमघोषयत्। तच्छ्रुत्वा पार्थिवाः सर्वे समीयुस्तत्र भारत
Thus King Drupada announced the svayamvara; hearing this, all the kings assembled there, O Bharata.
ऋषयश्च महात्मानः स्वयंवरदिदृक्षवः। दुर्योधनपुरोगाश्च सकर्णाः कुरवो नृप
Great sages, eager to witness the svayamvara, and the Kurus led by Duryodhana with Karna, also gathered, O king.
यादवा वासुदेवेन सार्धमन्धकवृष्णयः।' ततोऽर्चिता राजगुणा द्रुपदेन महात्मना
The Yadavas, along with Vasudeva, and the Andhakas and Vrishnis, were then honored by the high-souled Drupada for their royal virtues.
उपोपविष्टा मञ्चेषु द्रष्टुकामाः स्वयंवरम्। `ब्राह्मणाश्च महाभागा देशेभ्यः समुपागमन्
Noble Brahmanas from various regions, desiring to witness the svayamvara, sat upon couches.
ब्राह्मणैरेव सहिताः पाण्डवाः समुपाविशन्। त्रयस्त्रिंशत्सुराः सर्वे विमानैर्व्योम्न्यवस्थिताः
Together with the Brahmanas, the Pandavas also sat down; all thirty-three gods stood in the sky in their celestial chariots.
ततः पौरजनाः सर्वे सागरोद्धूतनिःस्वनाः। शिंशुमारशिरः प्राप्य न्यविशंस्ते स्म पार्थिवाः
Then all the townspeople, their voices roaring like the ocean, and the kings, reaching the place called Simsumara's Head, took their seats.
प्रागुत्तरेण नगराद्भूमिभागे समे शुभे। समाजवाटः शुशुभे भवनैः सर्वतो वृतः
To the northeast of the city, on a level and auspicious ground, the assembly enclosure shone, surrounded on all sides by buildings.
प्राकारपरिखोपेतो द्वारतोरणमण्डितः। वितानेन विचित्रेण सर्वतः समलङ्कृतः
Adorned with ramparts, moats, gateways, and arches, it was decorated everywhere with a splendid and varied canopy.
तूर्यौघशतसङ्कीर्णः परार्ध्यागुरुधूपितः। चन्दनोदकसिक्तश्च माल्यदामोपशोभितः
Filled with the sounds of hundreds of musical instruments, perfumed with the finest aloe incense, sprinkled with sandalwood water, and adorned with garlands.
कैलासशिखरप्रख्यैर्नभस्तलविलेखिभिः। सर्वतः संवृतः शुभ्रैः प्रासादैः सुकृतोच्छ्रयै
Enclosed on all sides by splendid mansions, tall and well-built, resembling the peaks of Mount Kailasa and touching the sky.
सुवर्णजालसंवीतैर्मणिकुट्टिमभूषणैः। सुखारोहणसोपानैर्महासनपरिच्छदैः
Covered with golden lattices, decorated with jeweled floors, furnished with comfortable stairways and grand seats.
स्रग्दामसमवच्छन्नैरगुरूत्तमवासितैः। हंसांशुवर्णैर्बहुभिरायोजनसुगन्धिभिः
Draped with garlands and fragrant with the finest aloe, adorned with many golden swans, and filled with delightful scents extending for miles.
असंबाधशतद्वारैः शयनासनशोभितैः। बहुधातुपिनद्धाङ्गैर्हिमवच्छिखरैरिव
With a hundred spacious gates, resplendent with beds and seats, its parts inlaid with many metals, like the peaks of the Himalayas.
तत्र नानाप्रकारेषु विमानेषु स्वलङ्कृताः। स्पर्धमानास्तदाऽन्योन्यं निषेदुः सर्वपार्थिवाः
There, in those variously adorned pavilions, all the kings, splendidly arrayed, sat down, each vying with the others.
तत्रोपविष्टान्ददृशुर्महासत्वान्पृथग्जनाः। राजसिंहान्महाभागान्कृष्णागुरुविभूषितान्
There, the common people beheld those great-souled lion-like kings, adorned with the fragrance of black aloe.
महाप्रसादान्ब्राह्मण्यान्स्वराष्ट्रपरिरक्षिणः। प्रियान्सर्वस्य लोकस्य सुकृतैः कर्मभिः शुभैः
They saw the noble Brahmanas, protectors of their realms, beloved by all the world, shining with the merit of their virtuous deeds.
मञ्चेषु च परार्द्ध्येषु पौरजानपदा जनाः। कृष्णादर्शनसिद्ध्यर्थं सर्वतः समुपाविशन्
On splendid couches, the citizens and country folk all sat down from every side, eager to behold Krishna.