शशंस रामाय युधिष्ठिरं स भीमं सजिष्णुं च यमौ च वीरौ। शनैःशनैस्तान्प्रसमीक्ष्य रामो जनार्दनं प्रीतमना ददर्श ह
He informed Rāma about Yudhiṣṭhira, Bhīma, Arjuna, and the two valiant sons of Dharma; and as Rāma slowly observed them one by one, he saw Janārdana with a heart full of joy.
अन्ये तु वीरा नृपपुत्रपौत्राः कृष्णागतैर्नत्रमनःस्वभावैः। व्यायच्छमाना ददृशुर्न तान्वै सन्दष्टदन्तच्छदताम्रनेत्राः
But the other warriors, princes and grandsons of kings, whose minds were unsettled by Kṛṣṇā’s presence, strained to look but could not truly see them—those with clenched teeth and coppery eyes.
तथैव पार्थाः पृथुबाहवस्ते वीरौ यमौ चैव महानुभावौ। तां द्रौपदीं प्रेक्ष्य तदा स्म सर्वे कन्दर्पबाणाभिहता बभूवुः
Likewise, those sons of Pṛthā, broad-armed and mighty, and the two heroic sons of Dharma, upon seeing Draupadī at that moment, all became as if struck by the arrows of Kāma.
देवर्षिगन्धर्वसमाकुलं त- त्सुपर्णनागासुरसिद्धजुष्टम्। दिव्येन गन्धेन समाकुलं च दिव्यैश्च पुष्पैरवकीर्यमाणम्
That place was crowded with gods, sages, and gandharvas, attended by Suparṇas, nāgas, asuras, and siddhas, filled with celestial fragrance and showered with divine flowers.
महास्वनैर्दुन्दुभिनादितैश्च बभूव तत्सङ्कुलमन्तरिक्षम्। विमानसंबाधमभूत्समन्ता- त्सवेणुवीणापणवानुनादम्
The sky became tumultuous with the great sounds of drums and the roaring of dundubhis, crowded with flying chariots on all sides, resounding with flutes, vīṇās, and paṇavas.
समाजवाटोपरि संस्थितानां मेघैः समन्तादिव गर्जमानैः। ततस्तु ते राजगणाः क्रमेण कृष्णानिमित्तं कृतविक्रमाश्च। सकर्णदुर्योधनशाल्वशल्य- द्रौणायनिक्राथसुनीथवक्राः
Above the assembly enclosure, as if surrounded by thundering clouds, the groups of kings, each in turn, displayed their prowess for Kṛṣṇā’s sake—Karna, Duryodhana, Śālva, Śalya, Drauni, Nikṛti, Sunītha, and Vakra.
कलिङ्गवङ्गाधिपपाण्ड्यपौण्ड्रा विदेहराजो यवनाधिपश्च। अन्ये च नानानृपपुत्रपौत्रा राष्ट्राधिपाः पङ्कजपत्रनेत्राः
The kings of Kaliṅga, Vaṅga, Pāṇḍya, Pauṇḍra, the king of Videha, the lord of the Yavanas, and many other princes and grandsons of kings, rulers of realms, with eyes like lotus petals, were present.
किरीटहाराङ्गदचक्रवालै- र्विभूषिताङ्गाः पृथुबाहवस्ते। अनुक्रमं विक्रमसत्वयुक्ता बलेन वीर्येण च नर्दमानाः
Those broad-armed ones, adorned with crowns, garlands, armlets, and bracelets, endowed with valor and strength, roared in succession, displaying their courage and might.
तत्कार्मुकं संहननोपपन्नं सज्यं न शेकुर्मनसाऽपि कर्तुम्। ते विक्रमन्तः स्फुरता दृढेन विक्षिप्यमाणा धनुषा नरेन्द्राः
That bow, fit for a great feat, they could not even string in their minds; though they strove, the kings were shaken by the quivering, unyielding bow as they tried to bend it.
विचेष्टमाना धरणीतलस्था यथाबलं शैक्ष्यगुणक्रमाश्च। गतौजसः स्नस्तकिरीटहारा विनिःश्वसन्तः शमयांबभूवुः
Struggling on the ground according to their strength and skill, their vigor spent, their crowns and garlands loosened, they sighed in exhaustion and withdrew.
हहाकृतं तद्धनुषा दृढेन विस्रस्तहाराङ्गदचक्रवालम्। कृष्णानिमित्तं विनिवृत्तकामं राज्ञां तदा मण्डलमार्तमासीत्
The sound made by that unyielding bow caused an outcry; their garlands, armlets, and bracelets slipped off. Because of Kṛṣṇā, the circle of kings was then filled with disappointment and pain.
एवं तेषु निवृत्तेषु क्षत्रियेषु समन्ततः। चेदीनामधिपो वीरो बलवानन्तकोपमः
When all those Kṣatriyas had withdrawn on every side, the powerful king of the Cedis, fierce as Death, arose.
दमघोषात्मजो धीमाञ्शिशुपालो महाद्युतिः। धनुषोऽभ्याशमागम्य तस्थौ राज्ञां समक्षतः
Śiśupāla, the wise and radiant son of Damaghoṣa, approached the bow and stood before the assembled kings.
तदप्यारोप्यमाणं तु माषमात्रेऽभ्यताडयत्। धनुषा पीड्यमानस्तु जानुभ्यामगमन्महीम्
As he tried to string it, he struck it when the string was only a barleycorn’s width from the notch; but pressed by the bow, he fell to his knees upon the ground.
तत उत्थाय राजा स स्वराष्ट्राण्यभिजग्मिवान्। ततो राजा जरासन्धो महावीर्यो महाबलः
Then, rising up, that king returned to his own kingdom; after him came Jarāsandha, of great strength and valor.
कम्बुग्रीवः पृथुव्यंसो मत्तवारणविक्रमः। मत्तवारणताम्राक्षो मत्तवारणवेगवान्
Jarāsandha, with a neck like a conch, broad-chested, possessing the might and stride of a maddened elephant, with eyes coppery like a maddened elephant, and the speed of a maddened elephant.
धनुषोऽभ्याशमागत्य तस्थौ गिरिरिवाचलः। धनुरारोप्यमाणं तु सर्षमात्रेऽभ्यताडयत्
Coming near the bow, he stood firm like a mountain; as the bow was being strung, he struck it to the measure of a mustard seed.
ततः शल्यो महावीर्यो मद्रराजो महाबलः। धनुरारोप्यमाणं तु मुद्गमात्रेऽभ्यताडयत्
Then Shalya, the mighty king of Madra, of great strength, as the bow was being strung, struck it to the measure of a pulse grain.
तदैवागात्स्वयं राज्यं पश्चादनवलोकयन्। इदं धनुर्वरं कोऽद्य सज्यं कुर्वीत पार्थिवः
At that moment, the king himself arrived, not looking back; 'Which king today will string this excellent bow?'
इति निश्चित्य मनसा भूय एव स्थितस्तदा। ततो दुर्योधनो राजा धार्तराष्ट्रः परन्तपः
Having thus resolved in his mind, he stood there again; then King Duryodhana, the Kaurava, subduer of foes,
मानी दृढास्त्रसंपन्नः सर्वैश्च नृपलक्षणैः। उत्थितः सहसा तत्र भ्रातृमध्ये महाबलः
Proud, skilled in firm weapons, possessing all royal marks, rose up suddenly there among his brothers, of great might.
विलोक्य द्रौपदीं हृष्टो धनुषोऽभ्याशमागमत्। स बभौ धनुरादाय शक्रश्चापधरो यथा
Seeing Draupadī, delighted, he approached the bow; taking up the bow, he shone like Indra bearing his bow.
धनुरारोपयामास तिलमात्रेऽभ्यताडयत्। आरोप्यमाणं तद्राजा धनुषा बलिना तदा
He began to string the bow and struck it to the measure of a sesame seed; as the strong king was stringing it at that time,
उत्तानशय्यमपतदङ्गुल्यन्तरताडितः। स ययौ ताडितस्तेन व्रीडन्निव नराधिपः
Struck between the fingers, he fell flat on his back; struck thus, the king departed, as if ashamed.
ततो वैकर्तनः कर्णो वृषा वै सूतनन्दनः। धनुरभ्याशमागम्य तोलयामास तद्धनुः
Then Karṇa, son of a charioteer, bull among men, approached the bow and began to lift it.
तं चाप्यारोप्यमाणं तद्रोममात्रेऽभ्यताडयत्। त्रैलोक्यविजयी कर्णः सत्वे त्रैलोक्यविश्रुतः
And as he was stringing it, he struck it to the measure of a hair; Karṇa, conqueror of the three worlds, famed throughout the three worlds for his strength.
धनुषा सोऽपि निर्धूत इति सर्वे भयाकुलाः। एवं कर्णे विनिर्धूते धनुषा च नृपोत्तमाः
He too was shaken off by the bow, and all were seized with fear; thus, when Karṇa was cast off by the bow, the best of kings,
चक्षुर्भिरपि नापश्यन्विनम्रमुखपङ्कजाः। दृष्ट्वा कर्णं विनिर्धूतं लोके वीरा नृपोत्तमाः
Even with their eyes, they could not see, their lotus-like faces downcast; seeing Karṇa cast off, the heroes, best of kings,
निराशा धनुरुद्धारे द्रौपदीसंगमेऽपि च
Lost hope both in drawing the bow and in winning Draupadī.
तस्मिंस्तु संभ्रान्तजने समाजे निक्षिप्तवादेषु जनाधिपेषु। कुन्तीसुतो जिष्णुरियेष कर्तुं सज्यं धनुस्तत्सशरं च वीरः
But as the assembly was confused, with the kings having given up, the son of Kuntī, Arjuna, the victorious one, prepared to string the bow with arrow, O hero.