वर्तमानेषु धर्मेण पाण्डवेषु महात्मसु। व्यवर्धन्कुरवः सर्वे हीनदोषाः सुखान्विताः
While the great-souled Pandavas lived righteously, all the Kurus prospered, free from faults and endowed with happiness.
अथ दीर्घेण कालेन ब्राह्मणस्य विशांपते। कस्यचित्तस्करा जह्रुः केचिद्गा नृपसत्तम
Then, after a long time, O lord of men, some thieves stole the cows of a certain Brahmin.
ह्रियमाणे धने तस्मिन्ब्राह्मणः क्रोधमूर्च्छितः। आगम्य खाण्डवप्रस्थमुदक्रोशत्स पाण्डवान्
As his wealth was being taken away, the Brahmin, overcome with anger, came to Khāṇḍava-prastha and cried out to the Pāṇḍavas.
ह्रियते गोधनं क्षुद्रैर्नृशंसैरकृतात्मभिः। प्रसह्य चास्मद्विषयादभ्यधावत पाण्डवाः
Our herd of cows is being seized by vile, cruel men of unrighteous conduct; and the Pāṇḍavas have rushed from our land by force.
ब्राह्मणस्य प्रशान्तस्य हविर्ध्वाङ्क्षैः प्रलुप्यते। शार्दूलस्य गुहां शून्यां नीचः क्रोष्टाभिमर्दति
The offerings of a peaceful Brahmin are destroyed by thieves; just as a lowly jackal ravages the empty cave of a tiger.
अरक्षितारं राजानं बलिषद्भागहारिणम्। तमाहुः सर्वलोकस्य समग्रं पापचारिणम्
A king who does not protect, who takes tribute but fails in his duty, is called by all people a complete evildoer.
ब्राह्मणस्वे हृते चोरैर्धर्मार्थे च विलोपिते। रोरूयमाणे च मयि क्रियतां हस्तधारणा
When a Brahmin's property is stolen by thieves and righteousness is lost, and I am crying out, let someone take up arms.
रोरूयमाणस्याभ्याशे भृशं विप्रस्य पाण्डवः। तानि वाक्यानि शुश्राव कुन्तीपुत्रो धनञ्जयः
Near the crying Brahmin, the Pāṇḍava heard those words; Kuntī's son, Dhanañjaya, listened intently.
श्रुत्वैव च महाबाहुर्मा भैरित्याह तं द्विजम्। आयुधानि च यत्रासन्पाण्डवानां महात्मनां
Upon hearing this, the mighty-armed one said to the Brahmin, 'Do not fear,' and where the weapons of the great-souled Pāṇḍavas were kept.
कृष्णया सह तत्रास्ते धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः। संप्रवेशाय चाशक्तो गमनाय च पाण्डवः
There, together with Kṛṣṇa, was the righteous king Yudhiṣṭhira; but the Pāṇḍava was unable to enter or depart.
तस्य चार्तस्य तैर्वाक्यैश्चोद्यमानः पुनःपुनः। आक्रन्दे तत्र कौन्तेयश्चिन्तयामास दुःखितः
Urged again and again by the words of the distressed Brahmin, the son of Kuntī, sorrowful, pondered amid the cries.
ह्रियमाणे धने तस्मिन्ब्राह्मणस्य तपस्विनः। अश्रुप्रमार्जनं तस्य कर्तव्यमिति निश्चयः
As the wealth of the ascetic Brahmin was being taken, he resolved that it was his duty to wipe away the Brahmin's tears.
उपर्रेक्षणजोऽधर्मः सुमहान्स्यान्महीपतेः। यद्यस्य रुदतो द्वारि न करोम्यद्य रक्षणम्
A great injustice arises for a king if, today, I do not offer protection at the door to one who weeps.
अनास्तिक्यं च सर्वेषामस्माकमपि रक्षणे। प्रतितिष्ठेत लोकेऽस्मिन्नधर्मश्चैव नो भवेत्
If we fail to protect, disbelief will spread among all, and unrighteousness will prevail in this world.
अनापृच्छय तु राजानं गते मयि न संशयः। अजातशत्रोर्नृपतेर्मयि चैवानृतं भवेत्
If I depart without seeking the king's permission, there is no doubt that falsehood will attach to the king Ajātaśatru and to me.
अनुप्रवेशे राज्ञस्तु वनवासो भवेन्मम। सर्वमन्यत्परिहृतं धर्षणात्तु महीपतेः
If I enter without the king's leave, I must dwell in the forest; all else is avoided, but the king's command must not be violated.
अधर्मो वै महानस्तु वने वा मरणं मम। शरीरस्य विनाशेन धर्म एव विशिष्यते
A great unrighteousness would occur, or death in the forest for me; but even with the destruction of the body, righteousness is supreme.
एवं विनिश्चित्य ततः कुन्तीपुत्रो धनञ्जयः। अनुप्रविश्य राजानमापृच्छय च विशांपते
Having thus resolved, Kuntī's son Dhanañjaya entered and sought permission from the king, lord of the people.
मुखमाच्छाद्य निबिडमुत्तरीयेण वाससा। अग्रजं चार्जुनो गेहादभिवाद्याशु निःसृतः
Covering his face closely with a garment, Arjuna quickly left the house after bowing to his elder brother.
धनुरादाय संहृष्टो ब्राह्मणं प्रत्यभाषत। ब्राह्मणा गम्यतां शीघ्रं यावत्परधनैर्षिणः
Taking up his bow with delight, he addressed the Brahmin: 'Brahmin, let us go swiftly, while the thieves still possess your wealth.'
न दूरे ते गताः क्षुद्रास्तावद्गच्छावहे सह। यावन्निवर्तयाम्यद्य चोरहस्ताद्धनं तव
Those petty thieves have not gone far; let us go together now, until I recover your wealth today from the hands of the robbers.
सोऽनुसृत्य महाबाहुर्धन्वी वर्मी रथी ध्वजी। शरैर्विध्वस्य तांश्चोरानवजित्य च तद्धनम्
Then, the mighty-armed one, armed with bow and armor, mounted on his chariot with banner, pursued those thieves, scattering them with arrows and recovering that wealth.
ब्राह्मणं समुपाकृत्य यशः प्राप्य च पाण्डवः। ततस्तद्गेधनं पार्थो दत्त्वा तस्मै द्विजातये
Having brought the Brahmin back and gained renown, the son of Pandu then returned that wealth to the twice-born.
आजगाम पुरं वीरः सव्यसाची धनञ्जयः। सोऽभिवाद्य गुरून्सर्वान्सर्वैश्चाप्यभिनन्दितः
The heroic Savyasachi Dhananjaya came to the city, greeted all his elders, and was welcomed by everyone.
धर्मराजमुवाचेदं व्रतमादिश मे प्रभो। समयः समतिक्रान्तो भवत्संदर्शने मया
He addressed Dharmaraja: 'Command me, lord, in my vow; the appointed time for seeing you has now passed for me.'
वनवासं गमिष्यामि समयो ह्येष नः कृतः। इत्युक्तो धर्मरास्तु सहसा वाक्यमप्रियम्
'I shall go to the forest, for that is the agreement we made.' Thus addressed, Dharmaraja suddenly spoke these unwelcome words.
कथमित्यब्रवीद्वाचा शोकार्तः सज्जमानया। युधिष्ठिरो गुडाकेशं भ्राता भ्रातरमच्युतम्
Distressed and preparing himself, Yudhishthira said to Gudakesha, his faultless brother, 'How is this so?'
उवाच दीनो राजा च धनञ्जयमिदं वचः। प्रमाणमस्मि यदि ते मत्तः शृणु वचोऽनघ
The sorrowful king spoke these words to Dhananjaya: 'If I am your authority, O blameless one, then listen to my words.'
अनुप्रवेशे यद्वीर कृतवांस्त्वं ममाप्रियम्। सर्वं तदनुजानामि व्यलीकं न च मे हृदि
'O hero, whatever displeasing thing you did by entering on my behalf, I fully permit it; there is no fault in my heart.'
गुरोरनुप्रवेशो हि नोपघातो यवीयसः। यवीयसोऽनुप्रवेशो ज्येष्ठस्य विधिलोपकः
'For the younger entering after the elder is not a violation of the rule regarding the teacher; but the younger entering before the elder is a breach of order.'