जातकर्माण्यानुपूर्व्याच्चूडोपनयनानि च। चकार विधिवद्धौम्यस्तेषां भरतसत्तम
Then Dhaumya, in due order and according to the prescribed rites, performed the birth ceremonies, the tonsure, and the sacred thread investiture for them, O best of the Bharatas.
कृत्वा च वेदाध्ययनं ततः सुचरितव्रताः। जगृहुः सर्वमिष्वस्त्रमर्जुनाद्दिव्यमानुषम्
After completing their study of the Vedas, those of virtuous vows received from Arjuna all the divine and human weapons.
दिव्यगर्भोपमैः पुत्रैर्व्यूढोरस्कैर्महारथैः। अन्विता राजशार्दूल पाण्डवा मुदमाप्नुवन्
Endowed with sons whose chests were broad like those born of divine wombs, and who were great chariot-warriors, the Pandavas, O tiger among kings, attained joy.
इन्द्रप्रस्थे वसन्तस्ते जघ्रुरन्यान्नराधिपान्। शासनाद्धृतराष्ट्रस्य राज्ञः शान्तनवस्य च
Dwelling in Indraprastha, they received tribute from other kings, by the command of King Dhritarashtra and the son of Shantanu.
आश्रित्य धर्मराजानं सर्वलोकोऽवसत्सुखम्। पुण्यलक्षणकर्माणं स्वदेहमिव देहिनः
All people, taking refuge in King Yudhishthira—whose deeds were marked by virtue—lived happily, as embodied beings do in their own bodies.
स समं धर्मकामार्थान्सिषेवे भरतर्षभ। त्रीनिवात्मसमान्बन्धून्नीतिमानिव मानयन्
He, O bull among the Bharatas, honored his three brothers, who were like his own self, and wisely attended to righteousness, desire, and wealth together.
तेषां समविभक्तानां क्षितौ देहवतामिव। बभौ धर्मार्थकामानां चतुर्थ इव पार्थिवः
Among them, who shared equally on earth like embodied beings, the king shone forth as if he were the fourth among righteousness, wealth, and desire.
अध्येतारं परं वेदान्प्रयोक्तारं महाध्वरे। रक्षितारं शुभाँल्लोकाँल्लोभिरे तं जनाधिपम्
People longed for that ruler, who was the foremost student of the Vedas, the chief officiant at great sacrifices, and the protector of auspicious worlds.
अधिष्ठानवती लक्ष्मीः परायणवती मतिः। वर्धमानोऽखिलो धर्मस्तेनासीत्पृथिवीक्षिताम्
Prosperity, firmly established, and wisdom, steadfast in its goal, increased in every way through him; thus he watched over the earth.
भ्रातृभिः सहितौ राजा चतुर्भिरधिकं बभौ। प्रयुज्यमानैर्विततो वेदैरिव महाध्वरः
The king, together with his four brothers, shone even more, like a great sacrifice extended by the Vedas being recited in unison.
तं तु धौम्यादयो विप्राः परिवार्योपतस्थिरे। बृहस्पतिसमा मुख्याः प्रजापतिमिवामराः
Then Dhaumya and the other Brahmins, chief among them and equal to Brihaspati, surrounded and attended him as the immortals do Prajapati.
धर्मराजे ह्यतिप्रीत्या पूर्णचन्द्र इवामले। प्रजानां रेमिरे तुल्यं नेत्राणि हृदयानि च
For King Yudhishthira, out of great affection, the eyes and hearts of the people delighted in him equally, as in a spotless full moon.
न तु केवलदैवेन प्रजा भावेन रेमिरे। यद्बभूव मनःकान्तं कर्मणा स चकार तत्
But it was not only by fate that the people rejoiced; whatever was pleasing to their minds, he accomplished by his actions.
न ह्ययुक्तं न चासत्यं नासह्यं न च वाऽप्रियम्। भाषितं चारुभाषस्य जज्ञे पार्थस्य धीमतः
Nothing improper, untrue, unbearable, or disagreeable was ever spoken by Partha, wise and sweet-spoken as he was.
स हि सर्वस्य लोकस्य हितमात्मन एव च। चिकीर्षन्सुमहातेजा रेमे भरतसत्तम
For, wishing for the welfare of all people and himself, that mighty and radiant one, O best of the Bharatas, rejoiced.
तथा तु मुदिताः सर्वे पाण्डवा विगतज्वराः। अवसन्पृथिवीपालाँस्तापयन्तः स्वतेजसा
Thus, all the Pandavas, free from distress and filled with joy, dwelt as rulers of the earth, shining with their own splendor.
ततः कतिपयाहस्य बीभत्सुः कृष्णमब्रवीत्। उष्णानि कृष्ण वर्तन्ते गच्छावो यमुनां प्रति
Then, after a few days, Arjuna said to Krishna, 'The weather is hot, Krishna; let us go to the Yamuna.'
सुहृज्जनवृतौ तत्र विहृत्य मधुसूदन। सायाह्ने पुनरेष्यावो रोचतां ते जनार्दन
There, surrounded by their friends, let us enjoy ourselves, Madhusudana; in the evening, let us return again, if it pleases you, Janardana.
कुन्तीमातर्ममाप्येतद्रोचते यद्वयं जले। सुहृज्जनवृताः पार्थ विहरेम यथासुखम्
O mother Kunti, I too am pleased by this idea—that we, surrounded by friends, should enjoy ourselves freely in the water, O son of Pritha.
आमन्त्र्य तौ धर्मराजमनुज्ञाप्य च भारत। जग्मतुः पार्थगोविन्दौ सुहृज्जनवृतौ ततः
Having taken leave of King Yudhishthira and received his permission, O Bharata, Partha and Govinda, accompanied by their friends, departed.
विहरन्खाण्डवप्रस्थे काननेषु च माधवः। पुष्पितोपवनां दिव्यां ददर्श यमुनां नदीम्
As Madhava wandered in Khandava-prastha and its forests, he beheld the divine Yamuna river, bordered by blossoming groves.
तस्यास्तीरे वनं दिव्यं सर्वर्तुसुमनोहरम्। आलयं सर्वभूतानां खाण्डवं खड्गचर्मभृत्
On its bank was a wondrous forest, delightful in every season, a dwelling place for all creatures—Khandava, frequented by those bearing swords and shields.
ददर्श कृत्स्नं तं देशं सहितः सव्यसाचिना। ऋक्षगोमायुशार्दूलवृककृष्णमृगान्वितम्
Together with Savyasacin, he beheld that entire region, teeming with bears, hyenas, tigers, wolves, and black antelopes.
शाखामृगगणैर्जुष्टं गजद्वीपिनिषेवितम्। शकबर्हिणदात्यूहहंससारसनादितम्
It was filled with herds of monkeys, frequented by elephants, and resounded with the cries of peacocks, herons, cranes, swans, and sarasa birds.
नानामृगसहस्रैश्च पक्षिभिश्च समावृतम्। मानार्हं तच्च सर्वेषां देवदानवरक्षसाम्
It was crowded with thousands of various beasts and birds, and was a place worthy of honor for all—gods, asuras, and rakshasas.
आलयं पन्नगेन्द्रस्य तक्षकस्य महात्मनः। वेणुशाल्मलिबिल्वातिमुक्तजंब्वाम्रचम्पकैः
It was the abode of the great serpent king Takshaka, adorned with bamboo, silk-cotton, bael, jambu, mango, and champaka trees.
अङ्कोलपनसाश्वत्थतालजम्बीरवञ्जुलैः। एकपद्मकतालैश्च शतशश्चैव रौहिणैः
It was rich with ankola, jackfruit, sacred fig, palmyra, citron, and vangu trees, with single-petaled palmyras and hundreds of rauhini trees.
नानावृक्षैः समायुक्तं नानागुल्मसमावृतम्। वेत्रकीचकसंयुक्तमाशीविषनिषेवितम्
It was filled with many kinds of trees, overgrown with various bushes, thick with cane and bamboo, and inhabited by venomous serpents.
विगतार्कं महाभोगविततद्रुमसङ्कटम्। व्यालदंष्ट्रिगणाकीर्णं वर्जितं सर्वमानुषैः
Deprived of sunlight, dense with great creepers and crowded trees, it was filled with groups of fanged beasts and entirely devoid of people.
रक्षसां भुजगेन्द्राणां पक्षिणां च महालयम्। खाण्डवं सुमहाप्राज्ञः सर्वलोकविभागवित्
Khandava was the great abode of rakshasas, serpent kings, and birds—a place well known to the wise, who understand the divisions of all the worlds.