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.
कृष्णस्य मतमास्थाय प्रययौ भरतर्षभः। द्वारकाया उपवने तस्थौ वै कार्यसाधनः
Following Krishna's counsel, the best of the Bharatas went to a grove near Dvārakā and stayed there to accomplish his purpose.
निवृत्ते ह्युत्सवे तस्मिन्गिरौ रैवतके तदा। वृष्णयोऽप्यगमन्सर्वे पुरीं द्वारवतीमनु
When the festival on Mount Raivataka had ended, all the Vṛṣṇis also returned to the city of Dvārakā.
चिन्तयानस्ततो भद्रामुपविष्टः शिलातले। रमणीये वनोद्देशे बहुपादपसंवृते
Sitting on a stone slab, pondering over Subhadrā, in a delightful part of the forest covered with many trees, he remained there.
सालतालाश्वकर्णैश्च बकुलैरर्जुनैस्तथा। चम्पकाशोकपुन्नागैः केतकैः पाटलैस्तथा
There were śāla, tāla, aśvakarṇa, bakula, arjuna, campaka, aśoka, punnāga, ketaka, and pāṭala trees.
कर्णिकारैरशोकैश्च अङ्कोलैरतिमुक्तकैः। एवमादिभिरन्यैश्च संवृते स शिलातले
There were also karṇikāra, aśoka, aṅkola, atimuktaka, and other such trees surrounding that stone slab.
पुनःपुनश्चिन्तयानः सुभद्रां भद्रभाषिणीम्। यदृच्छया चोपपन्नान्वृष्णिवीरान्ददर्श सः
Thinking again and again of Subhadrā, who spoke sweetly, he happened to see the Vṛṣṇi heroes approaching by chance.
बलदेवं च हार्दिक्यं साम्बं सारणमेव च। प्रद्युम्नं च गदं चैव चारुदेष्णं विदूरथम्
Baladeva, the son of Hardika, Samba, Sāraṇa, Pradyumna, Gada, Cārudeṣṇa, and Vidūratha,
भानुं च हरितं चैव विपृथुं पृथुमेव च। तथान्यांश्च बहून्पश्यन्हृदि शोकमधारयत्
Bhānu, Harita, Vipṛthu, and Pṛthu as well; seeing many others also, he held sorrow in his heart.
ततस्ते सहिताः सर्वे यतिं दृष्ट्वा समुत्सुकाः। वृष्णयो विनयोपेताः परिवार्योपतस्थिरे
Then, all together, the Vṛṣṇis, eager upon seeing the ascetic, surrounded him with humility and approached.
ततोऽर्जुनः प्रीतमनाः स्वागतं व्याजहार सः। आस्यतामास्यतां सर्वै रमणीये शिलातले
Thereupon, Arjuna, with a delighted mind, spoke words of welcome: 'Please be seated, all of you, upon this pleasant stone slab.'
इत्येवमुक्ता यतिना प्रीतास्ते यादवर्षभाः। उपोपविविशुः सर्वे ते स्वागतमिति ब्रुवन्
Thus addressed by the ascetic, the foremost of the Yādavas, pleased, all sat down, saying, 'Welcome.'
परितः सन्निविष्टेषु वृष्णिवीरेषु पाण्डवः। आकारं गूहमानस्तु कुशलप्रश्नमब्रवीत्
With the Vṛṣṇi heroes seated all around, the Pāṇḍava, concealing his appearance, asked after their welfare.
सर्वत्र कुशलं चोक्त्वा बलदेवोऽब्रवीदिदम्। प्रसादं कुरु मे विप्र कुतस्त्वं चागतो ह्यसि
Having declared all is well everywhere, Baladeva spoke: 'Grant me your favor, O Brahmin; from where have you come?'
त्वया दृष्टानि पुण्यानि वद त्वं वदतांवर। पर्वतांश्चैव तीर्थानि वनान्यायतनानि च
'You have seen holy places; tell us, O best of speakers, about the mountains, the sacred sites, the forests, and the shrines.'
तीर्थानां दर्शनं चैव पर्वतानां च भारत। आपगानां वनानां च कथयामास ताः कथाः
He narrated stories of the sights of sacred places, mountains, rivers, and forests, O Bhārata.
श्रुत्वा धर्मकथाः पुण्या वृष्णिवीरा मुदान्विताः। अपूजयंस्तदा भिक्षुं कथान्ते जनमेजय
Hearing those virtuous tales of dharma, the Vṛṣṇi heroes, filled with joy, honored the ascetic at the end of the stories, O Janamejaya.
ततस्तु यादवाः सर्वे मन्त्रयन्ति स्म भारत। अयं देशातिथिः श्रीमान्यतिलिङ्गधरो द्विजः
Then all the Yādavas deliberated, O Bhārata: 'This honored guest, bearing the ascetic's marks, is a distinguished Brahmin.'
आवासं कमुपाश्रित्य वसेत निरुपद्रवः। इत्येवं प्रब्रुवन्तस्तु रौहिणेयं च यादवाः
'Let him reside here, having sought shelter, without disturbance,' thus spoke the Yādavas to the son of Rohiṇī.
ददृशुः कृष्णमायान्तं सर्वे यादवनन्दनम्। एहि केशव तातेति रौहिणेयो वचोऽब्रवीत्
All the Yādavas saw Kṛṣṇa arriving, the delight of the Yādavas; Rohiṇī's son spoke, 'Come, Keśava, dear one.'
यतिलिङ्गधरो विद्वान्देशातिथिरयं द्विजः। वर्षमासनिवासार्थमागतो नः पुरं प्रति। स्थाने यस्मिन्निवसतु तन्मे ब्रूहि जनार्दन
'This learned Brahmin, bearing the ascetic's marks, is our honored guest, having come to our city for a four-month stay; tell me, Janārdana, where he should reside.'