द्वावत्र ब्राह्मणौ क्रूरौ वाय्विन्द्रसदृशौ बले। ये वा के वा नमस्तेभ्यो गच्छामः स्वपुरं वयम्
'Here are two fierce Brahmanas, equal in strength to wind and Indra; whoever they may be, we salute them and will return to our own city.'
एवं संभाषमाणास्ते न्यवर्तन्ताथ कौरवाः। जहृषुर्ब्राह्मणास्तत्र समेतास्तत्र सङ्घशः
Thus speaking, the Kauravas withdrew; and the Brahmanas gathered there rejoiced together in groups.
बहुशस्ते ततस्तत्र क्षत्रिया रणमूर्धनि। प्रेक्षमाणास्तथाऽतिष्ठन्ब्राह्मणांश्च समन्ततः
Then, many Kshatriyas stood there on the battlefield, watching, and likewise surrounded the Brahmanas on all sides.
ब्राह्मणाश्च जयं प्राप्ताः कन्यामादाय निर्ययुः। विजिते भीमसेनेन शल्ये कर्णे च निर्जिते
And the Brahmanas, having achieved victory, departed with the maiden, after Bhimasena had conquered and Shalya and Karna had been defeated.
दुर्योधने चापयाते तथा दुःशासने रणात्।' शङ्किताः सर्वराजानः परिवव्रुर्वृकोदरम्
When Duryodhana had retreated and likewise Duhshasana had withdrawn from the battle, all the kings, now apprehensive, surrounded Bhimasena.
ऊचुश्च सहितास्तत्र साध्विमौ ब्राह्मणर्षभौ। विज्ञायेतां क्वजन्मानौ क्वनिवासौ तथैव च
There, all those assembled said together: 'Truly, who are these two eminent Brahmanas? Let their lineage and place of residence be known.'
को हि राधासुतं कर्णं शक्तो योधयितुं रणे। अन्यत्र रामाद्द्रोणाद्वा पाण्डवाद्वा किरीटिनः
For who, except Rama, Drona, or the crowned Pandava, is able to fight Karna, son of Radha, in battle?
कृष्णाद्वा देवकीपुत्रात्कृपाद्वापि शरद्वतः। को वा दुर्योधनं शक्तः प्रतियोथयितुं रणे
Or who, except Krishna the son of Devaki, or Kripa son of Sharadvata, is able to withstand Duryodhana in battle?
तथैव मद्राधिपतिं शल्यं बलवतांवरम्। बलदेवादृते वीरात्पाण्डवाद्वा वृकोदरात्
Likewise, who but Baladeva, or the heroic Pandava Bhimasena, is able to overcome Shalya, the mighty king of Madra?
वीराद्दुर्योधनाद्वाऽन्यः शक्तः पातयितुं रणे। क्रियतामवहारोऽस्माद्युद्धाद्ब्राह्मणसंवृतात्
Who else, apart from the heroic Duryodhana, is able to bring down such a warrior in battle? Let us withdraw from this fight, surrounded as it is by Brahmanas.
ब्राह्मणा हि सदा रक्ष्याः सापराधाऽपिनित्यदा। अथैनानुपलभ्येह पुनर्योत्स्याम हृष्टवत्
For Brahmanas must always be protected, even if they have erred, and at all times; if we do not find them here, then we shall fight again with renewed vigor.
तांस्तथावादिनः सर्वान्प्रसमीक्ष्य क्षितीश्वरान्। अथान्यान्पुरुषांश्चापि कृत्वा तत्कर्म संयुगे
Seeing all the kings thus speaking, he then, having accomplished that deed in battle, gathered other men as well.
तत्कर्म भीमस्य समीक्ष्य कृष्णः कुन्तीसुतौ तौ परिशङ्कमानः। निवारयामास महीपतींस्ता- न्धर्मेण लब्धेत्यनुनीय सर्वान्
Observing Bhima's deed, Krishna, suspecting those two sons of Kunti, restrained those kings, persuading them that the maiden had been won according to dharma.
एवं ते विनिवृत्तास्तु युद्धाद्युद्धविशारदाः। यथावासं ययुः सर्वे विस्मिता राजसत्तमाः
Thus, those skilled in battle withdrew from the fight; all the foremost kings departed to their own abodes, astonished.
वृत्तो ब्रह्मोत्तरो रङ्गः पाञ्चाली ब्राह्मणैर्वृता। इति ब्रुवन्तः प्रययुर्ये तत्रासन्समागताः
The contest had ended with the Brahmanas victorious, and Panchali was taken by them; so spoke all those who had assembled there as they departed.
ब्राह्मणैस्तु प्रतिच्छन्नौ रौरवाजिनवासिभिः। कृच्छ्रेण जग्मतुस्तौ तु भीमसेनधनञ्जयौ
Concealed by Brahmanas clad in ruru-deer skins, Bhimasena and Dhananjaya made their way out with difficulty.
विमुक्तौ जनसंबाधाच्छत्रुभिः परिविक्षतौ। कृष्णयानुगतौ तत्र नृवीरौ तौ विरेजतुः
Freed from the crowd and guarded from enemies, those two heroic princes, accompanied by Krishna, shone forth there.
पौर्णमास्यां घनैर्मुक्तौ चन्द्रसूर्याविवोदितौ। तेषां माता बहुविधं विनाशं पर्यचिन्तयत्
On the full moon night, emerging from the clouds like the moon and sun, their mother pondered many kinds of dangers for them.
अनागच्छत्सु पुत्रेषु भैक्षकाले च लिङ्घिते। धार्तराष्ट्रैर्हताश्च स्युर्विज्ञाय कुरुपुङ्गवाः
As her sons had not returned and the time for alms had passed, she thought the Kurus might have slain them, having recognized them.
मायान्वितैर्वा रक्षोभिः सुघोरैर्दृढवैरिभिः। विपरीतं मतं जातं व्यासस्यापि महात्मनः
Or perhaps by demons endowed with illusion, fierce and implacable foes; even the great Vyasa's opinion had turned to misfortune.
इत्येवं चिन्तयामासं सुतस्नेहावृता पृथा। ततः सुप्तजनप्राये दुर्दिने मेघसंप्लुते
Thus, filled with affection for her sons, Kunti pondered in this way; then, on a day dark with clouds, when most people were asleep—
महत्यथापराह्णे तु घनैः सूर्य इवावृतः। ब्राह्मणैः प्राविशत्तत्र जिष्णुर्भार्गववेश्म तत्
In the late afternoon, when the sun was veiled by thick clouds, Arjuna entered the house of the Bhargava, accompanied by Brahmins.
गत्वा तु तां भार्गवकर्मशालां पार्थौ पृथां प्राप्य महानुभावौ। तां याज्ञसेनीं परमप्रतीतौ भिक्षेत्यथावेदयतां नराग्र्यौ
Having gone to that workshop of the Bhargava, the two mighty sons of Pritha, after meeting her, and with full confidence in Yajnaseni, those foremost of men announced, 'We have come for alms.'
कुटीगता सा त्वनवेक्ष्य पुत्रौ प्रोवाच भुङ्क्तेति समेत्य सर्वे। पश्चाच्च कुन्ती प्रसमीक्ष्य कृष्णां कष्टं मया भाषितमित्युवाच
She, being inside the hut and not seeing her sons, said, 'Eat together,' when all had assembled; but then Kunti, seeing Krishna, said, 'Alas, what harsh words I have spoken.'
साऽधर्मभीता परिचिन्तयन्ती तां याज्ञसेनीं परमप्रतीताम्। पाणौ गृहीत्वोपजगाम कुन्ती युधिष्ठिरं वाक्यमुवाच चेदम्
Fearing unrighteousness and reflecting deeply, Kunti, taking the hand of Yajnaseni, who was fully assured, approached Yudhishthira and spoke these words:
इयं तु कन्या द्रुपदस्य राज्ञ- स्तवानुजाभ्यां मयि संनिसृष्टा। यथोचितं पुत्र मयाऽपि चोक्तं समेत्य भुङ्क्तेति नृप प्रमादात्
This maiden, the daughter of King Drupada, has been entrusted to me by your two younger brothers; and, as is proper, I too said, 'Eat together,' O prince, but it was out of inadvertence.
मया कथं नानृतमुक्तमद्य भवेत्कुरूणामृषभ ब्रवीहि। पञ्चालराजस्य सुतामधर्मो न चोपवर्तेत न विभ्रमेच्च
How can it be that I have spoken a falsehood today? Tell me, bull among the Kurus. Let there be no unrighteousness or confusion regarding the daughter of the king of the Panchalas.
स एवमुक्तो मतिमान्नृवीरो मात्रा मुहूर्तं तु विचिन्त्य राजा। कुन्तीं समाश्वास्य कुरुप्रवीरो धनञ्जयं वाक्यमिदं बभाषे
Thus addressed by his mother, the wise and heroic king, after pondering for a moment, comforted Kunti and spoke these words to Dhananjaya:
त्वया जिता फाल्गुन याज्ञसेनी त्वयैव शोभिष्यति राजपुत्री। प्रज्वाल्यतामग्निरमित्रसाह गृहाण पाणिं विधिवत्त्वमस्याः
You have won Yajnaseni, Phalguna, and she will shine with you, O prince. Let the fire be kindled, O conqueror of foes, and take her hand according to the rite.
मा मां नरेन्द्र त्वमधर्मभाजं कृथा न धर्मोऽयमशिष्टदृष्टः। भवान्निवेश्यः प्रथमं ततोऽयं भीमो महाबाहुरचिन्त्यकर्मा
O king, do not make me one who acts unrighteously; this is not the way of righteousness, nor is it approved by the wise. You should be established first, then Bhima of mighty deeds.