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.'
निवर्तस्व महाबाहो कुरुष्व वचनं मम। न हि ते धर्मलोपोऽस्ति न च ते धर्पणा कृता
'Turn back, mighty-armed one, do as I say; you have not transgressed dharma, nor have you caused me any shame.'
न व्याजेन चरेद्धर्ममिति मे भवतः श्रुतम्। न सत्याद्विचलिष्यामि सत्येनायुधमालभे
'I have heard from you that one should not practice dharma by deceit; I will not stray from truth, and by truth I take up arms.'
सोऽभ्यनुज्ञाय राजानं वनचर्याय दीक्षितः। वने द्वादश मासांस्तु वासायानुजगाम ह
Thus permitted by the king, he who was devoted to forest life departed, and went to dwell in the forest for twelve months.
तं प्रयान्तं महाबाहुं कौरवाणां यशस्करम्। अनुजग्मुर्महात्मानो ब्राह्मणा वेदपारगाः
As that mighty-armed one, bringer of glory to the Kauravas, departed, great-souled Brahmins, masters of the Vedas, followed him.
वेदवेदाङ्गविद्वासस्तथैवाध्यात्मचिन्तकाः। भैक्षाश्च भगवद्भक्ताः सूताः पौराणिकाश्च ये
Those learned in the Vedas and Vedangas, those engaged in contemplation of the Self, mendicants devoted to the Lord, bards, and reciters of ancient tales also followed.
कथकाश्चापरे राजञ्श्रमणाश्च वनौकसः। दिव्याख्यानानि ये चापि पठन्ति मधुरं द्विजाः
There were also storytellers, ascetics dwelling in the forest, and twice-born who sweetly recited divine legends, O King.
एतैश्चान्यैश्च बहुभिः सहायैः पाण्डुनन्दनः। वृतः श्लक्ष्णकथैः प्रायान्मरुद्भिरिव वासवः
Surrounded by these and many other companions, the son of Pandu set out, like Indra among the Maruts, accompanied by gentle tales.
रमणीयानि चित्राणि वनानि च सरांसि च। सरितः सागरांश्चैव देशानपि च भारत
He beheld beautiful and varied forests, lakes, rivers, seas, and many regions, O Bharata.
पुण्यान्यपि च तीर्थानि ददर्श भरतर्षभः। स गङ्गाद्वारमाश्रित्य निवेशमकरोत्प्रभुः
The best of the Bharatas beheld the sacred fords, and, taking up residence at the gateway of the Ganga, established his camp there.
तत्र तस्याद्भुतं कर्म शृणु त्वं जनमेजय। कृतवान्यद्विशुद्धात्मा पाण्डूनां प्रवरो हि सः
There, listen now, Janamejaya, to the wondrous deed performed by him, the pure-hearted and foremost among the Pandavas.