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.
दृष्टवान्सर्वलोकेश अर्जुनेन समन्वितः। पीताम्बरधरो देवस्तद्वनं बहुधा चरन्
The lord of all worlds, accompanied by Arjuna, beheld it; the god, clad in yellow garments, wandered in many ways through that forest.
सद्रुमस्य सयक्षस्य सभूतगणपक्षिणः। खाण्डवस्य विनाशं तं ददर्श मधुसूदनः
Madhusudana saw the destruction of Khandava, with its trees, yakshas, hosts of creatures, and birds.
विहारदेशं संप्राप्य नानाद्रुममनुत्तमम्। गृहैरुच्चावचैर्युक्तं पुरन्दरपुरोपमम्
Arriving at that delightful place for sport, adorned with excellent and diverse trees, and filled with houses both high and low, resembling the city of Indra.
भक्ष्यैर्भोज्यैश्च पेयैश्च रसवद्बिर्महाधनैः। माल्यैश्च विविधैर्गन्धैस्तथा वार्ष्मेयपाण्डवौ
There, the sons of Pritha and Vasudeva enjoyed various foods, drinks, and delicacies, as well as garlands and fragrances of many kinds, and great treasures.
तदा विविशतुः पूर्णं रत्नैरुच्चावचैः शुभैः। यथोपजोषं सर्वश्च जनश्चिक्रीड भारत
Then they entered that place, filled with splendid jewels both high and low; and all the people played there as they pleased, O Bharata.
स्त्रियश्च विपुलश्रोष्ण्यश्चारुपीनपयोधराः। मदस्खलितगामिन्यश्चिक्रीडुर्वामलोचनाः
And women with broad hips and lovely, full breasts, their movements unsteady from intoxication, and with charming eyes, played there as well.
वने काश्चिज्जले काश्चित्काश्चिद्वेश्मसु चाङ्गनाः। यथादेशं यथाप्रीति चिक्रीडुः पार्थकृष्णयोः
Some women played in the forest, some in the water, and others in the houses, each according to place and pleasure, delighting in the company of Partha and Krishna.
वासुदेवप्रिया नित्यं सत्यभामा च भामिनी। द्रौपदी च सुभद्रा च वासांस्याभरणानि च। प्रायच्छन्त महाराज स्त्रीणां ताः स्म मदोत्कटाः
Satyabhama, ever dear to Vasudeva, along with Draupadi and Subhadra, radiant women, gave clothes and ornaments to the other women, O great king, intoxicated with joy.
काश्चित्प्रहृष्टा ननृतुश्चुक्रुशुश्च तथा पराः। जहसुश्च परा नार्यः पपुश्चान्या वरासवम्
Some women, exhilarated, danced; others shouted; yet others laughed, while some drank excellent wine.
रुरुधुश्चापरास्तत्र प्रजघ्नुश्च परस्परम्। मन्त्रयामासुरन्याश्च रहस्यानि परस्परम्
Some women wept there, others struck one another, while some exchanged secrets among themselves.
वेणुवीणामृदङ्गानां मनोज्ञानां च सर्वशः। शब्देन पूर्यते हर्म्यं तद्वनं सुमहर्द्धिमत्
The mansion and that splendid forest were filled entirely with the enchanting sounds of flutes, lutes, and drums.
तस्मिंस्तदा वर्तमानो कुरुदाशार्हनन्दनौ। समीपं जग्मतुः कंचिदुद्देशं सुमनोहरम्
At that time, the sons of Kuru and Dasharha, present there, went together to a certain delightful spot nearby.
तत्र गत्वा महात्मानौ कृष्णौ परपुरञ्जयौ। महार्हासनयो राजंस्ततस्तौ सन्निषीदतुः
Having arrived there, the two great souls, Krishna and the conqueror of enemy cities, sat down upon seats of great worth, O king.
तत्र पूर्वव्यतीतानि विक्रान्तानीतराणि च। बहूनि कथयित्वा तौ रेमाते पार्थमाधवौ
There, after recounting many past deeds, both heroic and otherwise, Partha and Madhava enjoyed themselves.
तत्रोपविष्टौ मुदितौ नाकपृष्ठेऽश्विनाविव। अभ्यागच्छत्तदा विप्रो वासुदेवधनञ्जयौ
Seated there, joyful like the Ashvins in heaven, Vasudeva and Dhananjaya were approached by a Brahmin.
बृहच्छालप्रतीकाशः प्रतप्तकनकप्रभः। हरिपिङ्गोज्ज्वलश्मश्रुः प्रमाणायामतः समः
He resembled a tall tree, shone like refined gold, his beard bright and tawny, his stature equal in all respects.
तरुणादित्यसङ्काशश्चीरवासा जटाधरः। पद्मपत्राननः पिङ्गस्तेजसा प्रज्वलन्निव
He looked like a young sun, wore bark garments, had matted hair, a face like a lotus leaf, and his tawny radiance seemed to blaze.
जगाम तौ कृष्णपार्थौ दिधक्षुः खाण्डवं वनम्। उपसृष्टं तु तं कृष्णो भ्राजमानं द्विजोत्तमम्। अर्जनो वासुदेवश्च तूर्णमुत्पत्य तस्थतुः
He approached Krishna and Partha, desiring to burn the Khandava forest; as the illustrious Brahmin drew near, Krishna and Arjuna quickly rose and stood.
सोऽब्रवीदर्जुनं चैव वासुदेवं च सात्वतम्। लोकप्रवीरौ तिष्ठन्तौ काण्डवस्य समीपतः
He spoke to Arjuna and Vasudeva, the foremost among men, who were standing near Khandava.
ब्राह्मणो बहुभोक्ताऽस्मि बुञ्जेऽपरिमितं सदा। भिक्षे वार्ष्णेयपार्थौ वामेकां तृप्तिं प्रयच्छतम्
I am a Brahmin who enjoys much, always consuming the limitless; O Vrishni and Partha, grant me a single satisfaction through alms.