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.
केचिदाहुर्युवा श्रीमान्नागराजकरोपमः। पीनस्कन्धोरुबाहुश्च धैर्येण हिमवानिव
Some said, 'He is young, radiant, with arms and shoulders like the king of serpents, steadfast as the Himalaya in courage.'
सिंहखेलगतिः श्रीमान्मत्तनागेन्द्रविक्रमः। संभाव्यमस्मिन्कर्मेदमुत्साहाच्चानुमीयते
He moves with the gait of a lion, is splendid, and possesses the valor of a maddened elephant; from his enthusiasm, this task seems possible for him.
शक्तिरस्य महोत्साहा न ह्यशक्तः स्वयं व्रजेत्। न च तद्विद्यते किंचित्कर्म लोकेषु यद्भवेत्
He has great strength and zeal; for one without power would not approach on his own, nor is there any task in the world that cannot be accomplished.
ब्राह्मणानामसाध्यं च नृषु संस्थानचारिषु। अब्भक्षा वायुभक्षाश्च फलाहारा दृढव्रताः
There is nothing unattainable for Brahmanas who dwell among men; some subsist on water, air, or fruits, steadfast in their vows.
दुर्बला अपि विप्रा हि बलीयांसः स्वेतजसा। ब्राह्मणो नावमन्तव्यः सदसद्वा समाचरन्
Even if weak, Brahmanas are powerful through their inner energy; a Brahmana should never be despised, whether his actions are good or bad.
सुखं दुःखं महद्ध्रस्वं कर्म यत्समुपागतम्। जामदग्न्येन रामेण निर्जिताः क्षत्रिया युधि
Pleasure or pain, great or small—whatever the deed encountered, the Kshatriyas were defeated in battle by Rama, son of Jamadagni.
पीतः समुद्रोऽगस्त्येन अगाधो ब्रह्मतेजसा। तस्माद्ब्रुवन्तु सर्वेऽत्र वटुरेष धनुर्महान्
The ocean, though unfathomable, was drunk up by Agastya through Brahmanical power; therefore, let all declare—this youth is great, and so is the bow.
आरोपयतु शीघ्रं वै तथेत्यूचुर्द्विजर्षभाः
Let him string it quickly,' so said the foremost of the twice-born.
अर्जुनो धनुषोऽभ्याशे तस्थौ गिरिरिवाचलः। `अर्जुनः पाण्डवश्रेष्ठो धृष्टद्युम्नमथाब्रवीत्
Arjuna stood near the bow, unmoving like a mountain; then Arjuna, best of the Pandavas, spoke to Drupada's son.
तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा धृष्टद्युम्नोऽब्रवीद्वचः
Hearing these words, Drupada's son, Dhrishtadyumna, replied.
ब्राह्मणो वाथ राजन्यो वैश्यो वा शूद्र एव वा। एतेषां यो धनुःश्रेष्ठं सज्यं कुर्याद्द्विजोत्तम
Whether he is a Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vaishya, or even a Shudra—whoever among them strings this excellent bow, O best of the twice-born,
तस्मै प्रदेया भगिनी सत्यमुक्तं मया वचः
To him shall my sister be given; this is my truthful word.
ततः पश्चान्महातेजाः पाण्डवो रणदुर्जयः।' स तद्धनुः परिक्रम्य प्रदक्षिणमथाकरोत्
Then, the mighty and unconquerable Pandava, radiant with great energy, circumambulated that bow, performing a clockwise circuit.
प्रणम्य शिरसा देवमीनं वरदं प्रभुम्। कृष्णं च मनसा कृत्वा जगृहे चार्जुनो धनुः
Having bowed his head to the god in the form of a fish, the bestower of boons and lord, and having fixed Krishna in his mind, Arjuna took up the bow.
यत्पार्थिवै रुक्मसुनीथवक्रै राधेयदुर्योधनशल्यसाल्वैः। तदा धनुर्वेदपरैर्नृसिंहैः कृतं न सज्यं महतोऽपि यत्नात्
That bow, which kings with golden standards and curved shafts—Karna, Duryodhana, Shalya, and the Salva prince—along with lion-like masters of the science of archery, could not string despite great effort,
तदर्जुनो वीर्यवतां सदर्प- स्तदैन्द्रिरिन्द्रावरजप्रभावः। सज्यं च चक्रे निमिषान्तरेण शरांश्च जग्राह दशार्दसङ्ख्यान्
That bow, Arjuna—proud among the valiant, possessing the power of Indra and the splendor of Indra's younger brother—strung in a moment, and took up five arrows.
विव्याध लक्ष्यं निपपात तच्च छिद्रेण भूमौ सहसातिविद्धम्। ततोऽन्तरिक्षे च बभूव नादः समाजमध्ये च महान्निनादः
He struck the target, and it fell swiftly to the ground, pierced through the opening; then a sound arose in the sky, and a great uproar in the midst of the assembly.
पुष्पाणि दिव्यानि ववर्ष देवः पार्थस्य मूर्ध्नि द्विषतां निहन्तुः
The god showered divine flowers upon the head of Partha, the slayer of his enemies.
चेलानि विव्यधुस्तत्र ब्राह्मणाश्च सहस्रशः। विलक्षितास्ततश्चक्रुर्हाहाकारांश्च सर्वशः। न्यपतंश्चात्र नभसः समन्तात्पुष्पवृष्टयः
There, the Brahmanas by the thousands waved their garments, and, astonished, raised cries of wonder on all sides; and from the sky, showers of flowers fell everywhere.
शताङ्गानि च तूर्याणि वादकाः समवादयन्। सूतमागधसङ्घाश्चाप्यस्तुवंस्तत्र सुस्वराः
Musicians played hundreds of instruments, and groups of bards and panegyrists praised him there with sweet voices.