गान्धारिपुत्राः शोचन्तः सर्वे ते सह बान्धवैः। ज्ञात्वा शोकं च पुत्राणां धृतराष्ट्रोऽब्रवीदिदं
The sons of Gandhari, grieving together with their relatives, when they learned of the sorrow of the sons, Dhritarashtra spoke these words:
समक्षं वासुदेवस्य कुरूणां च समक्षतः। अभिषेकस्त्वया प्राप्तो दुष्प्रापो ह्यकृतात्मभिः
In the presence of Vasudeva and all the Kurus, you have attained the consecration, which is indeed difficult to obtain for those who have not mastered themselves.
गच्छ त्वमद्यैव नृप कृतकृत्योऽसि कौरव। आयुः पुरूरवा राजन्नहुषेण ययातिना
Go now today, O king, your duties are accomplished, O Kaurava; your lifespan, like that of Pururavas, Nahusha, and Yayati, is fulfilled.
तत्रैव निवसन्ति स्म खाण्डवे तु नृपोत्तम। राजधानी तु सर्वेषां पौरवाणां महाभुज
There, in Khandava, the best of kings once resided; that was the capital of all the mighty-armed descendants of Puru.
विनाशितं मुनिगणैर्लोभाद्बुधसुतस्य वै। तस्मात्त्वं खाण्डवप्रस्थं पुरं राष्ट्रं च वर्धय
It was destroyed by bands of sages out of greed for the son of Budha; therefore, you must now cause the city and kingdom of Khandavaprastha to flourish.
ब्राह्मणाः क्षत्रिया वैश्याः शूद्राश्च कृतलक्षणाः। त्वद्भक्त्या जन्तवश्चान्ये भजन्त्येव पुरं शुभम्
Brahmanas, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras, all marked by their own duties, and other beings devoted to you, all honor this auspicious city.
पुरं राष्ट्रं समृद्धं वै धनधान्यसमाकुलम्। तस्माद्गच्छस्व कौन्तेय भ्रातृभिः सहितोऽनघ
The city and kingdom are prosperous, filled with wealth and grain; therefore, O son of Kunti, go there with your brothers, O sinless one.
प्रतिगृह्य तु तद्वाक्यं तस्मै सर्वे प्रणम्य च। रथैर्नागैर्हयैश्चापि सहितास्तु पदातिभिः
Having accepted those words, and having bowed to him, they all, together with chariots, elephants, horses, and also foot soldiers, set out.
प्रतस्थिरे ततो घोषसंयुक्तैः स्यन्दनैर्वरैः। तान्दृष्ट्वा नागराः सर्वे भक्त्या चैव प्रतस्थिरे
Then they departed with excellent chariots adorned with musical instruments; seeing them, all the citizens also set out with devotion.
गच्छतः पाण्डवैः सार्धं दृष्ट्वा नागपुरालयात्। पाण्डवैः सहिता गन्तुं नार्हतेति च नागरान्
As the Pandavas departed together, the citizens of Nagapura, seeing them, said that they should not go with the Pandavas.
घोषयामास नगरे धार्तराष्ट्रः ससौबलः।' ततस्ते पाण्डवास्तत्र गत्वा कृष्णपुरोगमाः
Dhritarashtra's son, together with Saubala, proclaimed this in the city; then the Pandavas, led by Krishna, went there.
मण्डयाञ्चक्रिरे तद्वै पुरं स्वर्गादिव च्युतम्। `वासुदेवो जगन्नाथश्चिन्तयामास वासवम्
They adorned that city, which seemed as if fallen from heaven; Vasudeva, Lord of the world, began to contemplate Indra.
महेन्द्रश्चिन्तितो राजन्विश्वकर्माणमादिशत्। विश्वकर्मन्महाप्राज्ञ अद्यप्रभृति तत्पुरम्
O king, as Indra was contemplated, he commanded Vishvakarman; the wise Vishvakarman, from that moment, was to make that city.
इन्द्रप्रस्थमिति ख्यातं दिव्यं भूम्यां भविष्यति। महेन्द्रशासनाद्गत्वा विश्वकर्मा तु केशवम्
It will be known on earth as Indraprastha, a divine city; by Mahendra's command, Vishvakarman went to Keshava.
प्रणम्य प्रणिपातार्हं किं करोमीत्यभाषत। वासुदेवस्तु तच्छ्रुत्वा विश्वकर्माणमूचिवान्
Having bowed to the venerable one, he said, 'What shall I do?'; Vasudeva, hearing this, spoke to Vishvakarman.
कुरुष्व कुरुराजस्य महेन्द्रपुरसन्निभम्। इन्द्रेण कृतनामानमिन्द्रप्रस्थं महापुरम्
Construct for the king of the Kurus a great city like Indra's own; let it be named Indraprastha, as named by Indra.
ततः पुण्ये शिवे देशे शान्तिं कृत्वा महारथाः। स्वस्तिवाच्य यथान्यायमिन्द्रप्रस्थं भवत्विति
Then, in that holy and auspicious place, the great chariot-warriors, having performed rites of peace and auspicious words as was proper, declared, 'Let it be Indraprastha.'
तत्पुरं मापयामासुर्द्वैपायनपुरोगमाः। `ततः स विश्वकर्मा तु चकार पुरमुत्तमम्
There, led by Dvaipayana, they caused that city to be built; then Vishvakarman made that excellent city.
सागरप्रतिरूपाभिः परिखाभिरलङ्कृतम्। प्राकारेण च संपन्नं दिवमावृत्य तिष्ठता
Adorned with moats resembling the ocean, and encircled by a strong rampart, it stood as if enveloping the heavens.
पाण्डुराभ्रप्रकाशेन हिमरश्मिनिभेन च। शुशुभे तत्पुरश्रेष्ठं नागैर्भोगवती यथा
That foremost city shone with a radiance like pale clouds and the rays of the winter sun, just as Bhogavati shines with serpents.
द्विपक्षगरुडप्रख्यैर्द्वारैः सौधैश्च शोभितम्। गुप्तमभ्रचयप्रख्यैर्गोपुरैर्मन्दरोपमैः
It was splendid with gates and turrets resembling the wings of Garuda and elephants, guarded by lofty gateways like clusters of clouds and as grand as Mount Mandara.
विविधैरपि निर्विद्धैः शस्त्रोपेतैः सुसंवृतैः। शक्तिभिश्चावृतं तद्धि द्विजिह्वैरिव पन्नगैः
It was protected by various kinds of well-armed warriors, equipped with weapons, and surrounded by forces like serpents with two tongues.
तल्पैश्चाभ्यासिकैर्युक्तं शुशुभे योधरक्षितम्। थीक्ष्णाङ्कुशशतघ्नीभिर्यन्त्रजालैश्च शोभितम्
Furnished with couches for the guards, it shone, protected by warriors, and was adorned with sharp goads, engines of war, and intricate mechanical devices.
आयसैश्च महाचक्रैः शुशुभे तत्पुरोत्तमम्। सुविभक्तमहारथ्यं देवताबाधवर्जितम्
That excellent city gleamed with great iron wheels, had well-laid broad avenues, and was free from any disturbance by supernatural beings.
विरोचमानं विविधैः पाण्डुरैर्भवनोत्तमैः। तत्त्रिविष्टपसंकाशमिन्द्रप्रस्थं व्यरोचत
Radiant with various splendid white mansions, that Indraprastha appeared like the celestial city of the gods.
मेघवृन्दमिवाकाशे विद्धं विद्युत्समावृतम्। तत्र रम्ये शिवे देशे कौरव्यस्य निवेशनम्
In that beautiful and auspicious place, the residence of the Kaurava, shone like a cluster of clouds in the sky pierced and surrounded by lightning.
शुशुभे धनसंपूर्णं धनाध्यक्षक्षयोपमम्। तत्रागच्छन्द्विजा राजन्सर्ववेदविदां वराः
Filled with wealth, it shone like the abode of the lord of treasures; there, O King, came the foremost of twice-born, masters of all the Vedas.
निवासं रोचयन्ति स्म सर्वभाषाविदस्तथा। वणिजश्चाययुस्तत्र नानादिग्भ्यो धनार्थिनः
There, those skilled in all languages chose to dwell, and merchants seeking wealth arrived from all directions.
सर्वशिल्पविदस्तत्र वासायाभ्यागमंस्तदा। उद्यानानि च रम्याणि नगरस्य समन्ततः
At that time, all those skilled in every art came there to reside, and delightful gardens surrounded the city on all sides.
आम्रैराम्रातकैर्नीपैरशोकैश्चम्पकैस्तथा। पुन्नागैर्नागपुष्पैश्च लकुचैः पनसैस्तथा
With mango, amrataka, nipa, ashoka, champaka, punnaga, nagapushpa, lakucha, and jackfruit trees,