कृष्णः स्वभवनं रम्यं प्रविवेश महाबलः। प्रभासादागतं देव्यः सर्वाः कृष्णमपूजयन्
Krishna, mighty in strength, entered his splendid home; all the queens, having come from Prabhasa, worshipped Krishna.
ततः कतिपयाहस्य तस्मिन्रैवतके गिरौ। वृष्ण्यन्धकानामभवदुत्सवो नृपसत्तम
Then, after a few days, on Mount Raivataka, O best of kings, a festival was held for the Vrishnis and Andhakas.
तत्र दानं ददुर्वीरा ब्राह्मणेभ्यः सहस्रशः। भोजवृष्ण्यन्धकाश्चैव महे तस्य गिरेस्तदा
There, the heroes gave gifts to the Brahmins by the thousands; the Bhojas, Vrishnis, and Andhakas also gave generously on that mountain.
प्रसादै रत्नचित्रैश्च गिरेस्तस्य समन्ततः। स देशः शोभितो राजन्कल्पवृक्षैश्च सर्वशः
With offerings and jewels of many kinds, all around that mountain, O king, the region was adorned, and everywhere were wish-fulfilling trees.
वादित्राणि च तत्रान्ये वादकाः समवादयन्। ननृतुर्नर्तकाश्चैव जगुर्गेयानि गायनाः
There, musicians played various instruments, and dancers performed, while singers sang their songs.
अलङ्कृताः कुमाराश्च वृष्णीनां सुमहौजसाम्। यानैर्हाटकचित्रैश्च चञ्चूर्यन्ते स्म सर्वशः
The sons of the Vrishnis, adorned and of great energy, moved about everywhere in vehicles decorated with gold.
पौराश्च पादचारेण यानैरुच्चावचैस्तथा। सदाराः सानुयात्राश्च शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः
The townspeople, some on foot and others in vehicles of various heights, accompanied by their wives and entourages, came by the hundreds and thousands.
ततो हलधरः क्षीबो रेवतीसहितः प्रभुः। अनुगम्यमानो गन्धर्वैरचरत्रत्र भारत
Then, the lord Haladhara, intoxicated and accompanied by Revati, roamed there, O Bharata, followed by Gandharvas.
तथैव राजा वृष्णीनामुग्रसेनः प्रतापवान्। अनुगीयमानो गन्धर्वैः स्त्रीसहस्रसहायवान्
Likewise, Ugrasena, the illustrious king of the Vrishnis, accompanied by thousands of women, was praised by Gandharvas.
रौक्मिणेयश्च साम्बश्च क्षीबौ समरदुर्मदौ। दिव्यमाल्याम्बरधरौ विजह्वातेऽमराविव
Rukmini's son and Samba, both intoxicated and proud in battle, wearing divine garlands and garments, wandered like immortals.
अक्रूरः सारणश्चैव गदो बभ्रुर्विदूरथः। निशठश्चारुदेष्णश्च पृथुर्विपृथुरेव च
Akrura, Sarana, Gada, Babhru, Viduratha, Nishatha, Charudeshna, Prithu, and Viprithu were also present.
सत्यकः सात्यकिश्चैव भङ्गकारमहारवौ। हार्दिक्य उद्धवश्चैव ये चान्ये नानुकीर्तिताः
Satyaka, Satyaki, the mighty Bhanga-kara, Hardikya, Uddhava, and others not named were there as well.
एते परिवृताः स्त्रीभिर्गन्धर्वैश्च पृथक्पृथक्। तमुत्सवं रैवतके शोभयाञ्चक्रिरे तदा
Surrounded by women and Gandharvas, each separately, they all enhanced the festival at Raivataka.
वासदेवो ययौ तत्र सह स्त्रीभिर्मुदान्वितः। दत्त्वा दानं द्विजातिभ्यः परिव्राजमपश्यत
Vasudeva went there, accompanied by women and filled with joy; after giving gifts to the twice-born, he saw the ascetics.
चित्रकौतूहले तस्मिन्वर्तमाने महाद्भुते। वासुदेवश्च पार्थश्च सहितौ परिजग्मतुः
While that wondrous spectacle of art and marvel was taking place, Vasudeva and Partha together walked about.
तत्र चङ्क्रममाणौ तौ वसुदेवसुतां शुभाम्। अलङ्कृतां सखीमध्ये भद्रां ददृशतुस्तदा
There, as they wandered, the two saw Bhadrā, Vasudeva's beautiful daughter, adorned and among her friends.
दृष्ट्वैव तामर्जुनस्य कन्दर्पः समजायत। तं तदैकाग्रमनसं कृष्णः पार्थमलक्षयत्
Upon seeing her, desire arose in Arjuna; Krishna noticed Partha's mind fixed solely upon her.
अब्रवीत्पुरुषव्याघ्रः प्रसहन्निव भारत। वनेचरस्य किमिदं कामेनालोड्यते मनः
The tiger among men spoke, as if forcefully, O Bharata: 'Why is the mind of a forest-dweller agitated by desire?'
ममैषा भगिनी पार्थ सारणस्य सहोदरी। सुभद्रा नाम भद्रं ते पितुर्मे दयिता सुता। यदि ते वर्तते बुद्धिर्वक्ष्यामि पितरं स्वयम्
This is my sister, O Partha, the full sister of Sāraṇa; her name is Subhadrā, may good befall you. She is my father's beloved daughter. If you have the intention, I will speak to my father myself.
दुहिता वसुदेवस्य वासुदेवस्य च स्वसा। रूपेण चैषा संपन्ना कमिवैषा न मोहयेत्
She is the daughter of Vasudeva and the sister of Vāsudeva; endowed with beauty, whom would she not enchant?
कृतमेव तु कल्याणं सर्वं मम भवेद्ध्रुवम्। यदि स्यान्मम वार्ष्णेयी महिषीयं स्वसा तव
All good fortune would certainly be mine if this Vārṣṇeya maiden, your sister, were to become my queen.
प्राप्तौ तु क उपायः स्यात्तं व्रवीहि जनार्दन। आस्थास्यामि तदा सर्वं यदि शक्यं नरेण तत्
But what means might there be to obtain her? Tell me that, O Janārdana. I will undertake whatever is possible for a man to do.
स्वयं वरः क्षत्रियाणां विवाहः पुरुषर्षभ। स च संशयितः पार्थ स्वभावस्यानिमित्ततः
Among kṣatriyas, O best of men, marriage by self-choice is customary; but, O Pārtha, that is uncertain due to the unpredictable nature of events.
प्रसह्य हरणं चापि क्षत्रियाणां प्रशस्यते। विवाहहेतुः शूराणामिति धर्मविदो विदुः
Marriage by forceful abduction is also praised among kṣatriyas; the learned in dharma say this is the way of heroes for the sake of marriage.
स त्वमर्जुन कल्याणीं प्रसह्य भगिनीं मम। `यतिरूपधरस्तं तु यथा कालविपाकता।' हर स्वयंवरे ह्यस्याः को वै वेद चिकीर्षितम्
Therefore, Arjuna, seize my virtuous sister by force, disguised as an ascetic, according to the ripening of time; for at her svayaṃvara, who indeed knows what is intended?
ततोऽर्जुनश्च कृष्णश्च विनिश्चित्येतिकृत्यताम्। शीघ्रगान्पुरुषानन्प्रेषयामासतुस्तदा
Then Arjuna and Krishna, having resolved upon this course of action, immediately sent swift messengers.
धर्मराजाय तत्सर्वमिन्द्रप्रस्थगताय वै। श्रुत्वैव च महाबाहुरनुजज्ञे समातृकः
All this was reported to King Yudhishthira at Indraprastha, and upon hearing it, the mighty-armed king gave his consent together with his mother.
भीमसेनस्तु तच्छ्रुत्वा कृतकृत्यं स्म मन्यते। इत्येवं मनुजैरुक्तं कृष्णः श्रुत्वा महामतिः
When Bhīmasena heard this, he considered the matter as accomplished; thus spoke the men, and Krishna, of great wisdom, heard them.
अनुज्ञाप्य तदा पार्थं हृदि स्थाप्य चिकीर्षितम्। इत्येवं मनुजैः सार्धं द्वारकां समुपेयिवान्
Then, having obtained Partha's approval and keeping his intention in his heart, Krishna, together with the men, went to Dvārakā.
चैराः संचारिते तस्मिन्ननुज्ञाते युधिष्ठिरे। वासुदेवाभ्यनुज्ञातः कथयित्वेतिकृत्यताम्
When the spies had been dispatched and Yudhishthira had given his consent, Vāsudeva, having explained the plan, was approved.