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.
निविष्टे तत्र कौन्तेये ब्राह्मणेषु च भारत। अग्निहोत्राणि विप्रास्ते प्रादुश्चक्रुरनेकशः
When the son of Kunti had settled there, O Bharata, and the Brahmanas as well, those Brahmanas began to perform many Agnihotra rites.
तेषु प्रबोध्यमानेषु ज्वलितेषु हुतेषु च। कृतपुष्पोपहारेषु तीरान्तरगतेषु च
As those fires were being kindled, blazing, and offered into, with flowers presented and the priests moving along the riverbanks,
कृताभिषेकैर्विद्वद्भिर्नियतैः सत्पथे स्थितैः। शुशुभेऽतीव तद्राजन्गङ्गाद्वारं महात्मभिः
With learned men, self-restrained and steadfast in the righteous path, having completed their ablutions, that place at the Ganga's gateway shone exceedingly with those great souls.
तथा पर्याकुले तस्मिन्निवेशे पाण्डवर्षभः। अभिषेकाय कौन्तेयो गङ्गामवततार ह
In that encampment, now bustling, the bull among the Pandavas, the son of Kunti, descended into the Ganga to perform his ablutions.
तत्राभिषेकं कृत्वा स तर्पयित्वा पितामहान्। उत्तितीर्षुर्जलाद्राजन्नग्निकार्यचिकीर्षया
There, having bathed and offered libations to his ancestors, the king, wishing to cross the water for the sake of a fire ritual, prepared to depart.
अपकृष्टो महाबाहुर्नागराजस्य कन्यया। अन्तर्जले महाराज उलूप्या कामयानया
Then, mighty-armed one, he was drawn away by the daughter of the serpent king, Ulupi, who desired him, into the depths of the water.
ददर्श पाण्डवस्तत्र पावकं सुसमाहितः। कौरव्यस्याथ नागस्य भवने परमार्चिते
There, the Pandava, composed in mind, beheld the sacred fire in the splendid palace of the Kaurava serpent king.
तत्राग्निकार्यं कृतवान्कुन्तीपुत्रो धनञ्जयः। अशङ्कमानेन हुतस्तेनातुष्यद्धुताशनः
There, the son of Kunti, Dhananjaya, performed the fire ritual; and the fire-god, gratified by the offering made without hesitation, was well pleased.
अग्निकार्यं स कृत्वा तु नागराजसुतां तदा। प्रसहन्निव कौन्तेय इदं वचनमब्रवीत्
Having completed the fire ritual, the son of Kunti then addressed the serpent king's daughter, as if reproaching her, with these words:
किमिदं साहसं भीरु कृतवत्यसि भामिनि। कश्चायं सुभगे देशः का च त्वं कस्य वात्मजा
"What is this reckless act you have done, timid lady? What is this place, O fortunate one, and who are you? Whose daughter are you?"
ऐरावतकुले जातः कौरव्यो नाम पन्नगः। तस्यास्मि दुहिता राजन्नुलूपी नाम पन्नगी
"Born in the line of Airavata is the serpent Kauravya by name; I am his daughter, O king, and my name is Ulupi, a serpent maiden."
साऽहं त्वामभिषेकार्थमवतीर्णं समुद्गाम्। दृष्ट्वैव पुरुषव्याघ्र कन्दर्पेणाभिमूर्च्छिता
"Seeing you descend for ablution, O tiger among men, I was overcome with love by Kama at that very moment."
तां मामनङ्गग्लपितां त्वत्कृते कुरुनन्दन। अनन्यां नन्दयस्वाद्य प्रदानेनात्मनोऽनघ
"Now, O joy of the Kurus, gladden me, who am weakened by love for you and devoted to none other, by giving yourself to me, O sinless one."
ब्रह्मचर्यमिदं भद्रे मम द्वादशमासिकम्। धर्मराजेन चादिष्टं नाहमस्मि स्वयं वशः
"This vow of celibacy, gentle lady, is for twelve months; it was enjoined upon me by Yudhishthira, and I am not my own master."
तव चापि प्रियं कर्तुमिच्छामि जलचारिणि। अनृतं नोक्तपूर्वं च मया किंचन कर्हिचित्
"Yet I wish to do what pleases you, O dweller in the waters; never have I spoken a falsehood at any time."
कथं च नानृतं मे स्यात्तव चापि प्रियं भवेत्। न च पीड्येत मे धर्मस्तथा कुर्या भुजङ्गमे
"How can I avoid falsehood, please you, and not violate my dharma? Thus, O serpent maiden, I shall act."
जानाम्यहं पाण्डवेय यथा चरसि मेदिनीम्। यथा च ते ब्रह्मचर्यमिदमादिष्टवान्गुरुः
I know, O son of Pandu, how you conduct yourself upon the earth, and how your teacher instructed you in this vow of celibacy.
परस्परं वर्तमानान्द्रुपदस्यात्मजां प्रति। यो नोऽनुप्रविशेन्मोहात्स वै द्वादशमासिकम्
Regarding the daughter of Drupada, as we live together, whoever approaches her out of delusion must undergo twelve months of exile.
वने चरेद्ब्रह्मचर्यमिति वः समयः कृतः। तदिदं दौपदीहेतोरन्योन्यस्य प्रवासनम्
It was agreed among you that one who enters the forest would observe celibacy; thus, for the sake of Draupadi, you each undertook exile.
कृतवांस्तत्र धर्मार्थमत्र धर्मो न दुष्यति। परित्राणं च कर्तव्यमार्तानां पृथुलोचन
You acted there for the sake of righteousness and wealth; in this, dharma is not violated. Protection must be given to the afflicted, O wide-eyed one.