सम्पद्यमानमाज्ञाय भीष्मं ब्रह्मणि निष्कले । सर्वे बभूवुस्ते तूष्णीं वयांसीव दिनात्यये
Recognizing that Bhīṣma was merging into the indivisible Brahman, all present became silent, like birds at the end of the day.
तत्र दुन्दुभयो नेदुः देवमानव वादिताः । शशंसुः साधवो राज्ञां खात्पेतुः पुष्पवृष्टयः
At that moment, drums resounded, played by gods and humans; the virtuous praised him, and showers of flowers fell from the sky upon the king.
तस्य निर्हरणादीनि सम्परेतस्य भार्गव । युधिष्ठिरः कारयित्वा मुहूर्तं दुःखितोऽभवत्
After Bhīṣma’s passing, Yudhiṣṭhira, son of Bhārgava, performed the proper rites for the departed; yet for a while, he remained deeply sorrowful.
तुष्टुवुर्मुनयो हृष्टाः कृष्णं तत् गुह्यनामभिः । ततस्ते कृष्णहृदयाः स्वाश्रमान्प्रययुः पुनः
The delighted sages praised Kṛṣṇa with secret names, and then, their hearts devoted to Kṛṣṇa, they returned to their own hermitages.
ततो युधिष्ठिरो गत्वा सहकृष्णो गजाह्वयम् । पितरं सान्त्वयामास गान्धारीं च तपस्विनीम्
Then Yudhiṣṭhira, accompanied by Kṛṣṇa, went to Gajāhvaya and comforted his father and the ascetic Gāndhārī.
पित्रा चानुमतो राजा वासुदेवानुमोदितः । चकार राज्यं धर्मेण पितृपैतामहं विभुः
With his father’s approval and Kṛṣṇa’s consent, the mighty king ruled the kingdom righteously, as inherited from his father and grandfather.
पयः स्तनाभ्यां सुस्राव नेत्रजैः सलिलैः शिवैः । तदाभिषिच्यमानाभ्यां वीर वीरसुवो मुहुः
From her breasts flowed milk, and from her eyes, auspicious tears, as the mother of heroes repeatedly anointed her son.
तां शशंसुर्जना राज्ञीं दिष्ट्या ते पुत्र आर्तिहा । प्रतिलब्धश्चिरं नष्टो रक्षिता मण्डलं भुवः
The people said to the queen: 'By good fortune, your son, the remover of distress, has been restored after long absence, and will protect the circle of the earth.'
अभ्यर्चितस्त्वया नूनं भगवान् प्रणतार्तिहा । यदनुध्यायिनो धीरा मृत्युं जिग्युः सुदुर्जयम्
Surely, O queen, you have worshipped the Lord, the remover of the distressed, for those who meditate on him with steady mind conquer even death, which is so hard to overcome.
लाल्यमानं जनैरेवं ध्रुवं सभ्रातरं नृपः । आरोप्य करिणीं हृष्टः स्तूयमानोऽविशत्पुरम्
Thus, as the people cherished him and his brothers, the joyful king mounted the elephant and, praised by all, entered the city.
तत्र तत्रोपसङ्कॢप्तैः लसन् मकरतोरणैः । सवृन्दैः कदलीस्तम्भैः पूगपोतैश्च तद्विधैः
There, at every entrance, were splendid makara-archways, clusters of banana trunks, and heaps of betel nuts, all beautifully arranged.
चूतपल्लववासःस्रङ् मुक्तादामविलम्बिभिः । उपस्कृतं प्रतिद्वारं अपां कुम्भैः सदीपकैः
Each gateway was adorned with pitchers of water with lamps, garlands of young mango leaves, and strings of pearls hanging down.
प्राकारैः गोपुरागारैः शातकुम्भपरिच्छदैः । सर्वतोऽलङ्कृतं श्रीमद् विमानशिखरद्युभिः
The city was decorated on all sides with ramparts, gateways, and houses adorned with golden ornaments, and with the shining spires of mansions.
मृष्टचत्वररथ्याट्ट मार्गं चन्दनचर्चितम् । लाजाक्षतैः पुष्पफलैः तण्डुलैर्बलिभिर्युतम्
The courtyards, streets, and crossroads were clean and sprinkled with sandal paste, and offerings of parched rice, unbroken grains, flowers, fruits, and rice were everywhere.
ध्रुवाय पथि दृष्टाय तत्र तत्र पुरस्त्रियः । सिद्धार्थाक्षतदध्यम्बु दूर्वापुष्पफलानि च
As the steadfast king passed along the road, the city women at various places brought auspicious items—rice, unbroken grains, curd, water, sacred grass, flowers, and fruits.
उपजह्रुः प्रयुञ्जाना वात्सल्यादाशिषः सतीः । शृण्वन् तद्वल्गुगीतानि प्राविशद्भवनं पितुः
Out of affection, the virtuous women offered their blessings as he entered his father's palace, listening to their sweet, childish songs.
महामणिव्रातमये स तस्मिन् भवनोत्तमे । लालितो नितरां पित्रा न्यवसद् दिवि देववत्
In that splendid palace, adorned with clusters of great jewels, he was cherished exceedingly by his father and dwelled there like a god in heaven.
पयःफेननिभाः शय्या दान्ता रुक्मपरिच्छदाः । आसनानि महार्हाणि यत्र रौक्मा उपस्कराः
There, the beds were white as milk foam, with golden ornaments; the seats were most precious, and the furnishings were all made of gold.
यत्र स्फटिककुड्येषु महामारकतेषु च । मणिप्रदीपा आभान्ति ललनारत्नसंयुताः
In that place, on crystal walls and great emeralds, jeweled lamps shone, adorned with gems from women's ornaments.
उद्यानानि च रम्याणि विचित्रैरमरद्रुमैः । कूजद्विहङ्गमिथुनैः गायन्मत्तमधुव्रतैः
There were delightful gardens with wondrous celestial trees, filled with cooing pairs of birds and intoxicated bees singing.
वाप्यो वैदूर्यसोपानाः पद्मोत्पलकुमुद्वतीः । हंसकारण्डवकुलैः जुष्टाश्चक्राह्वसारसैः
There were ponds with steps of lapis lazuli, filled with lotuses, water lilies, and kumuda flowers, frequented by swans, cranes, and chakravaka ducks.
उत्तानपादो राजर्षिः प्रभावं तनयस्य तम् । श्रुत्वा दृष्ट्वाद्भुततमं प्रपेदे विस्मयं परम्
King Uttānapāda, the royal sage, upon hearing and seeing his son's extraordinary glory, was filled with the highest wonder.
वीक्ष्योढवयसं तं च प्रकृतीनां च सम्मतम् । अनुरक्तप्रजं राजा ध्रुवं चक्रे भुवः पतिम्
Seeing him grown and beloved by the people, and approved by the ministers, the king made Dhruva the lord of the earth.
आत्मानं च प्रवयसं आकलय्य विशाम्पतिः । वनं विरक्तः प्रातिष्ठद् विमृशन्नात्मनो गतिम्
Realizing his own old age, the lord of men, detached, set out for the forest, contemplating the path of his soul.
शौनक उवाच । (वंशस्थ) हत्वा स्वरिक्थस्पृध आततायिनो युधिष्ठिरो धर्मभृतां वरिष्ठः । सहानुजैः प्रत्यवरुद्धभोजनः कथं प्रवृत्तः किमकारषीत्ततः
Śaunaka said: O best of the righteous, after Yudhiṣṭhira killed the enemies who coveted his kingdom and wealth, and his meals were secured with his brothers, what did he do next? How did he proceed?
सूत उवाच । वंशं कुरोर्वंशदवाग्निनिर्हृतं संरोहयित्वा भवभावनो हरिः । निवेशयित्वा निजराज्य ईश्वरो युधिष्ठिरं प्रीतमना बभूव ह
Sūta said: Hari, the creator of the world, restored the Kuru dynasty, which had been destroyed by the fire of its own descendants, and, having established Yudhiṣṭhira in his own kingdom, was pleased at heart.
निशम्य भीष्मोक्तमथाच्युतोक्तं प्रवृत्त विज्ञान विधूत विभ्रमः । शशास गामिन्द्र इवाजिताश्रयः परिध्युपान्तां अनुजानुवर्तितः
Having heard the words of Bhīṣma and Acyuta, his doubts dispelled by true knowledge, Yudhiṣṭhira ruled the earth, supported by the unconquered, like Indra, with his brothers following him.
(अनुष्टुप्) कामं ववर्ष पर्जन्यः सर्वकामदुघा मही । सिषिचुः स्म व्रजान् गावः पयसोधस्वतीर्मुदा
The clouds rained as desired, the earth yielded all that was wished for, and the cows joyfully drenched the villages with abundant milk.
नद्यः समुद्रा गिरयः सवनस्पतिवीरुधः । फलन्त्योषधयः सर्वाः कामं अन्वृतु तस्य वै
The rivers, oceans, mountains, forests, and plants—all the herbs—produced their fruits as desired for him.
नाधयो व्याधयः क्लेशा दैवभूतात्महेतवः । अजातशत्रौ अवभवन् जन्तूनां राज्ञि कर्हिचित्
No ailments, diseases, or troubles—whether from fate, other beings, or oneself—ever afflicted the creatures during the reign of the king whose enemy was never born.