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When all those Kṣatriyas had withdrawn on every side, the powerful king of the Cedis, fierce as Death, arose.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.
ततो वरिष्ठः सुरदानवाना- मुदरधीर्वृष्णिकुलप्रवीरः। जहर्ष रामेण स पीड्य हस्तं हस्तंगतां पाण्डुसुतस्य मत्वा
Then the foremost among gods and asuras, wise, the chief of the Vrishnis, rejoiced, thinking that the hand of Pāṇḍu's son was now in his grasp, as Rāma pressed his hand.
न जज्ञिरेऽन्ये नृपविप्रमुख्याः संछन्नरूपानथ पाण्डुपुत्रान्। विना हि लोके च यदुप्रवीरौ धौम्यं हि धर्मं सह सोदरांश्च
But the other leading kings and brahmins did not recognize the Pāṇḍavas, whose forms were concealed; except for the two foremost Yadus in the world, Dhaumya, Dharma, and their brothers.
यदा निवृत्ता राजानो धनुषः सज्यकर्मणः। अथोदतिष्ठद्विप्राणां मध्याज्जिष्णुरुदारधीः
When the kings had ceased their attempts to string the bow, then Arjuna, noble-minded, rose from among the brahmins.
उदक्रोशन्विप्रमुख्या विधुन्वन्तोऽजिनानि च। दृष्ट्वा संप्रस्थितं पार्थमिन्द्रकेतुसमप्रभम्
The foremost brahmins cried out, shaking their deer-skins, seeing Pārtha, shining like Indra's banner, set forth.
केचिदासन्विमनसः केचिदासन्मुदान्विताः। आहुः परस्परं केचिन्निपुणा बुद्धिजीविनः
Some were disheartened, some were filled with joy; some, skilled and wise, spoke among themselves.
यत्कर्णशल्यप्रमुखैः क्षत्रियैर्लोकविश्रुतैः। नानतं बलवद्भिर्हि धनुर्वेदपरायणैः
This bow, renowned among men, has been handled by mighty Kshatriyas such as Karna and Shalya, who are devoted to the science of archery.
तत्कथं त्वकृतास्त्रेण प्राणतो दुर्बलीयसा। वटुमात्रेण शक्यं हि सज्यं कर्तुं धनुर्द्विजाः
How then could it be possible for one untrained in weapons, weak in body, and merely a youth, to string this bow, O twice-born ones?
अवहास्या भविष्यन्ति ब्राह्मणाः सर्वराजसु। कर्मण्यस्मिन्नसंसिद्धे चापलादपरीक्षिते
The Brahmanas will become a laughingstock among all kings if, out of rashness and without proper testing, this task is not accomplished.
यद्येष दर्पाद्धर्षाद्वाप्यथ ब्राह्मणचापलात्। प्रस्थितो धनुरायन्तुं वार्यतां साधु मा गमत्
If he has come forth out of pride, arrogance, or Brahmanical impulsiveness to string the bow, let him be restrained—do not let him proceed.
नावहास्या भविष्यामो न च लाघवमास्थिताः। न च विद्विष्टतां लोके गमिष्यामो महीक्षिताम्
We shall not become objects of ridicule, nor be considered insignificant, nor incur the enmity of the rulers of the earth.