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.
तं दृष्ट्वा द्रुपदः प्रीतो बभूव रिपुसूदनः। सह सैन्यैश्च पार्थस्य साहाय्यार्थमियेष सः
Seeing him, Drupada, destroyer of foes, was pleased, and, along with his armies, wished to assist Partha.
तस्मिंस्तु शब्दे महति प्रवृद्धे युधिष्ठिरो धर्मभृतां वरिष्ठः। आवासमेवोपजगाम शीघ्रं सार्धं यमाभ्यां पुरुषोत्तमाभ्याम्
As that great sound swelled, Yudhishthira, foremost among the righteous, quickly returned to his quarters together with the two exalted sons of Yama.
विद्धं तु लक्ष्यं प्रसमीक्ष्य कृष्णा पार्थं च शक्रप्रतिमं निरीक्ष्य। `स्वभ्यस्तरूपापि नवेव नित्यं विनापि हासं हसतीव कन्या
Having seen the target struck and Partha, who resembled Indra, Krishna, though outwardly composed, seemed as if newly blossoming, and though not smiling, appeared to smile like a maiden.
मदादृतेऽपि स्खलतीव भावै- र्वाचा विना व्याहरतीव दृष्ट्या। आदाय शुक्लं वरमाल्यदाम जगाम कुन्तीसुतमुत्स्मयन्ती
Though not intoxicated, she seemed unsteady with emotion; though silent, she spoke with her glance; taking the white garland of choice, she approached the son of Kunti, smiling gently.
गत्वा च पश्चात्प्रसमीक्ष्य कृष्णा पार्थस्य वक्षस्यविशङ्कमाना। क्षिप्त्वा स्रजं पार्थिववीरमध्ये वराय वव्रे द्विजसङ्घमध्ये
Then, after approaching and looking back, Krishna, without hesitation, placed the garland upon Partha’s chest in the midst of the assembled kings, and chose him as her husband among the Brahmanas.
शचीव देवेन्द्रमथाग्निदेवं स्वाहेव लक्ष्मीश्च यथा मुकुन्दम्। उषेव सूर्यं मदनं रतीव महेश्वरं पर्वतराजपुत्री
Just as Shachi chose Indra, or Svaha chose Agni, or Lakshmi chose Mukunda, or Usha chose Surya, or Rati chose Madana, or the mountain-daughter chose Maheshvara—so did she.
स तामुपादाय विजित्य रङ्गे द्विजातिभिस्तैरभिपूज्यमानः। रङ्गान्निरक्रामदचिन्त्यकर्मा पत्न्या तया चाप्यनुगम्यमानः
Having won her in the arena, and honored by the Brahmanas, he, whose deeds are beyond comprehension, departed from the assembly, accompanied by his new wife.
तस्मै दित्सति कन्यां तु ब्राह्मणाय तदा नृपे। कोप आसीन्महीपानामालोक्यान्योन्यमन्तिकात्
When the king was about to give his daughter to the Brahmana, anger arose among the assembled kings as they looked at one another nearby.
ऊचुः सर्वे समागम्य परस्परहितैषिणः। वयं सर्वे समाहूता द्रुपदेन दुरात्मना। संहत्य चाभ्यगच्छाम स्वयंवरदिदृक्षया
All of them gathered together and said, seeking each other's welfare: 'We were all summoned here by Drupada, that wicked-minded one, and have come together to witness the svayamvara.'
अस्मानयमतिक्रम्य तृणीकृत्य च संगतान्। दातुमिच्छति विप्राय द्रौपदीं योषितां वराम्
'He disregards us, who have assembled here, and wishes to give Draupadi, the best of women, to a Brahmana.'
अवरोप्येह वृक्षस्तु फलकाले निपात्यते। निहन्मैनं दुरात्मानं योयमस्मान्न मन्यते
Just as a tree is felled here when its fruit has ripened, let us strike down this wicked man who does not regard us.
न ह्यर्हत्येष संमानं नापि वृद्धक्रमं गुणैः। हन्मैनं सह पुत्रेण दुराचारं नृपद्विषम्
He does not deserve honor, nor the respect due to age or virtue; let us kill this evil-doer, enemy of kings, together with his son.
अयं हि सर्वानाहूय सत्कृत्य च नराधिपान्। गुणवद्भोजयित्वान्नं ततः पश्चान्न मन्यते
For, after inviting all the kings and honoring them, and after feeding the worthy, he now disregards us.
अस्मिन्राजसमवाये देवानामिव सन्नये। किमयं सदृशं कंचिन्नृपतिं नैव दृष्टवान्
In this assembly of kings, like a gathering of the gods, has he not seen any king here who is his equal?
न च विप्रेष्वधीकारो विद्यते वरणं प्रति। स्वयंवरः क्षत्रियाणामितीयं प्रथिता श्रुतिः
And among Brahmins there is no right regarding the choice; the svayaṃvara is renowned in tradition as belonging to Kshatriyas.
अथवा यदि कन्येयं न च कंचिद्बुभूषति। अग्नावेनां परिक्षिप्य याम राष्ट्राणि पार्थिवाः
Or, if this maiden does not desire any of us, let us, O kings, surround her with fire and return to our kingdoms.
ब्राह्मणो यदि चापल्याल्लोभाद्वा कृतवानिदम्। विप्रियं पार्थिवेन्द्राणां नैष वध्यः कथंचन
If a Brahmin, out of recklessness or greed, has done this act displeasing to the lords of the earth, he is by no means to be slain.
ब्राह्मणार्थं हि नो राज्यं जीवितं हि वसूनि च। पुत्रपौत्रं च यच्चान्यदस्माकं विद्यते धनम्
For our kingdom, our lives, our wealth, our sons and grandsons, and whatever other riches we possess, are all for the sake of Brahmins.
अवमानभयाच्चैव स्वधर्मस्य च रक्षणात्। स्वयंवराणामन्येषां मा भूदेवंविधा गतिः
And out of fear of disgrace and for the protection of our own duty, let not such an outcome befall the svayaṃvaras of others.
इत्युक्त्वा राजशार्दूला रुष्टाः परिघबाहवः। द्रुपदं तु जिघांसन्तः सायुधाः समुपाद्रवन्
Having spoken thus, the tiger-like kings, enraged and armed with clubs, rushed upon Drupada, intent on killing him.