गाधा सामानुसामज्ञः साम्नां परमवल्गुनाम्। आत्मनः सर्वमोक्षिभ्यः कृतिमान्कृत्यवित्सदा
Gādhi was known as one who understood the proper use of the Sāman hymns, which are supremely melodious; he was always skilled in action and knowledgeable in duties, excelling all who sought liberation.
यजुर्धर्मैर्बहुविधैर्मतो मतिमतां वरः। विदितार्थः समश्चैव च्छेत्ता निगमसंशयान्
He was versed in the many forms of Yajurvedic rites, foremost among the wise, one who understood the meaning of texts, impartial, and a resolver of doubts in the scriptures.
अर्थनिर्वचने नित्यं संशयच्छिदसंशयः। प्रकृत्या धर्मकुशलो दाता धर्मविशारदः
Constantly engaged in explaining meanings, he was himself free from doubt and dispelled the doubts of others; by nature skilled in righteousness, a giver, and thoroughly learned in dharma.
लोपेनागमधर्मेण संक्रमेण च वृत्तिषु। एकशब्दांश्च नानार्थानेकार्थांश्च पृथक्कृतान्
Through omission, scriptural exceptions, and transitions in usages, he distinguished single words with many meanings and those with distinct meanings.
पृथगर्थाभिधानांश्च प्रयोगानन्ववेक्षिता। प्रमाणभूतो लोकेषु सर्वाधिकरणेषु च
He recognized usages expressing different meanings and those not carefully examined; he was an authority among people and in all matters of judgment.
सर्ववर्णविकारेषु नित्यं कुशलपूजितः। स्वरेऽस्वरे च विविधे वृत्तेषु विविधेषु च
Honored always by the skilled in all variations of sound and accent, and in the various meters and forms.
समस्थानेषु सर्वेषु समाम्नायेषु धातुषु। उद्देश्यानां समाख्याता सर्वमाख्यातमुद्दिशन्
In all positions, in all recitations, and among the roots of words, he was the one who declared the intended meanings, indicating everything that was to be expressed.
अभिसन्धिषु तत्त्वज्ञः पदान्यङ्गान्यनुस्मरन्। कालधर्मेण निर्दिष्टं यथार्थं च विचारयन्
Knowing the truth in intentions, recalling words and their components, he examined what was prescribed by the order of time and as it truly was.
चिकीर्षितं च यो वेत्ता यथा लोकेन संवृतम्। विभाषितं च समयं भाषितं हृदयंगमम्
He understood what was intended, as concealed by people, and the agreements expressed, as well as speech that touched the heart.
आत्मने च परस्मै च स्वरसंस्कारयोगवित्। एषां स्वराणां ज्ञाता च बोद्धा प्रवचनः स्वराट्
For himself and for others, he was skilled in the application of accent and sound; he knew these tones, understood them, and was a sovereign in teaching about them.
विज्ञाता चोक्तवाक्यानामेकतां बहुतां तथा। बोद्धा हि परमार्थांश्च विविधांश्च व्यतिक्रमान्
He understood the unity and diversity of spoken statements, and grasped the highest truths as well as various distinctions.
अभेदतश्च बहुशो बहुशश्चापि भेदतः। वक्ता विविधवाक्यानां नानादेशसमीक्षिता
He spoke of many things both as non-different and as different; he was a speaker of various statements, considering the instructions of many regions.
पञ्चागमांश्च विविधानादेशांश्च समीक्षिता। नानार्थकुशलस्तत्र तद्धितेषु च कृत्स्नशः
He examined the five scriptural traditions and various instructions, being skilled in many meanings and thoroughly so in derivative forms.
परिभूषयिता वाचां वर्णतः स्वरतोऽर्थतः। प्रत्ययं च समाख्याता नियतं प्रतिधातुकम्
He adorned speech in letter, accent, and meaning; he explained the sense of suffixes, always with reference to their roots.
पञ्च चाक्षरजातानि स्वरसंज्ञानि यानि च। तमागतमृषिं दृष्ट्वा प्रत्युद्गम्याभिवाद्य च
He knew the five classes of letters and the names of the accents; seeing that sage arrive, he rose to greet and salute him.
आसनं रुचिरं तस्मै प्रददौ स युधिष्ठिरः। `कृष्णाजिनोत्तरे तस्मिन्नुपविष्टो महानृषिः
Yudhishthira offered him a beautiful seat; the great sage sat upon it, covered with black antelope skin.
देवर्षेरुपविष्टस्य स्वयमर्ध्यं यथाविधि। प्रादाद्युधिष्ठिरो धीमान्राज्यं तस्मै न्यवेदयत्। प्रतिगृह्य तु तां पूजामृषिः प्रीतमनास्तदा
As the devarṣi sat, Yudhishthira himself, wise as he was, offered him the proper hospitality and presented the kingdom to him as was fitting; the sage, pleased at heart, accepted that honor.
आशीर्भिर्वर्धयित्वा च तमुवाचास्यतामिति। निषसादाभ्यनुज्ञातस्ततो राजा युधिष्ठिरः
Blessing him with good wishes, the sage said, 'Be seated,' and, having been permitted, King Yudhishthira sat down.
प्रेषयामास कृष्णायै भगवन्तमुपस्थितम्। श्रुत्वैतद्द्रौपदी चापि शुचिर्भूत्वा समाहिता
He sent for Krishna, who was present there; and Draupadi, having heard this, purified herself and composed her mind.
जगाम तत्र यत्रास्ते नारदः पाण्डवैः सह। तस्याभिवाद्य चरणौ देवर्षेर्धर्मचारिणी
She went to the place where Narada was staying with the Pandavas; and, following the path of righteousness, she bowed at the feet of the divine sage.
कृताञ्जलिः सुसंवीता स्थिताऽथ द्रुपदात्मजा। तस्याश्चापि स धर्मात्मा सत्यवागृषिसत्तमः
With joined palms, well-clad, the daughter of Drupada stood there; and to her, that righteous, truthful, and foremost of sages—
आशिषो विविधाः प्रोच्य राजपुत्र्यास्तु नारदः। गम्यतामिति होवाच भगवांस्तामनिन्दिताम्
Narada spoke various blessings to the princess, and then the venerable one said to her, blameless as she was, 'You may go.'
गतायामथ कृष्णायां युधिष्ठिरपुरोगमान्। विविक्ते पाण्डवान्सर्वानुवाच भगवानृषिः
After Krishna had departed, the divine sage addressed all the Pandavas, with Yudhishthira at their head, in a secluded place.
पाञ्चाली भवतामेका धर्मपत्नी यशस्विनी। यथा वो नात्र भेदः स्यात्तथा नीतिर्विधीयतां
Panchali is the sole, illustrious wife among you; let a rule be established so that there may be no discord among you.
सुन्दोपसुन्दौ हि पुरा भ्रातरौ सहितावुभौ। आस्तामवध्यावन्येषां त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतौ
Long ago, the brothers Sunda and Upasunda, united, were renowned throughout the three worlds as invincible by others.
एकराज्यावेकगृहावेकशय्यासनाशनौ। तिलोत्तमायास्तौ हेतोरन्योन्यमभिजघ्नतुः
They shared one kingdom, one house, one bed, seat, and meal; yet, because of Tilottama, they struck each other down.
रक्ष्यतां सौहृदं तस्मादन्योन्यप्रीतिभावकम्। यथा वो नात्र भेदः स्यात्तत्कुरुष्व युधिष्ठिर
Therefore, let friendship, which fosters mutual affection, be preserved; do what is necessary, Yudhishthira, so that there may be no division among you.
सुन्दोपसुन्दावसुरौ कस्य पुत्रौ महामुने। उत्पन्नश्च कथं भेदः कथं चान्योन्यमघ्नताम्
O great sage, whose sons were Sunda and Upasunda, those asuras? How did discord arise, and how did they come to kill each other?
अप्सरा देवकन्या वै कस्य चैषा तिलोत्तमा। यस्याः कामेन संमत्तौ जघ्नतुस्तौ परस्परम्
And who is Tilottama, the apsara, daughter of the gods? For whose sake, maddened by desire, those two slew each other?
एतत्सर्वं यथा वृत्तं विस्तरेण तपोधन। श्रोतुमिच्छामहे ब्रह्मन्परं कौतूहलं हि मे
O possessor of austerities, we wish to hear in detail how all this happened, for my curiosity is great, O Brahman.