आर्तस्य रक्षणे पुण्यं यज्ञाधिकमुदाहृतम् । भयतस्तस्य दीनस्य विशेषफलदं स्मृतम्
It is said that protecting the afflicted yields merit greater than sacrifice; especially when one rescues the fearful and destitute, the reward is considered supreme.
ऋषिरुवाच निर्भया वस कल्याणि पुत्रं पालय सुव्रते । न ते भयं विशालाक्षि कर्तव्यं शत्रुसम्भवम्
The sage said: 'Live here without fear, O auspicious one, and care for your son, O virtuous lady; O wide-eyed one, you need not fear any threat from enemies.'
पालयस्व सुतं कान्तं राजा तेऽयं भविष्यति । नात्र दुःखं तथा शोकः कदाचित्सम्भविष्यति
Care for your beloved son; he will become king. Here, neither sorrow nor suffering will ever befall you.
व्यास उवाच इत्युक्ता मुनिना राज्ञी स्वस्था सा सम्बभूव ह । उटजे मुनिना दत्ते वीतशोका तदावसत्
Vyāsa said: Thus addressed by the sage, the queen regained her composure; dwelling in the hut given by the sage, she lived there free from grief.
सैरन्ध्रीसहिता तत्र विदल्लेन च संयुता । सुदर्शनं पालयाना न्यवसत्सा मनोरमा
There, together with her maidservants and Vidalla, Manoramā stayed, caring for Sudarśana.
युधाजिद्भारद्वाजयोः संवादवर्णनम् व्यास उवाच युधाजित्त्वथ सङ्ग्रामाद्गत्वाऽयोध्यां महाबलः । मनोरमां च पप्रच्छ सुदर्शनजिघांसया
Description of the conversation between Yudhājit and Bhāradvāja. Vyāsa said: Then Yudhājit, mighty in battle, returned from the war to Ayodhyā and inquired about Manoramā, intent on killing Sudarśana.
सेवकान् प्रेषयामास क्व गतेति मुहुर्वदन् । शुभे दिनेऽथ दौहित्रं स्थापयामास चासने
He repeatedly sent servants, asking where she had gone; then, on an auspicious day, he seated his grandson on the throne.
मन्त्रिभिश्च वसिष्ठेन मन्त्रैराथर्वणैः शुभैः । अभिषिक्तश्च सम्पूर्णैः कलशैर्जलपूरितैः
With ministers and Vasiṣṭha, and with auspicious Atharvan mantras, he was consecrated with full jars filled with water.
भेरीशङ्खनिनादैश्च तूर्याणां चाथ निःस्वनैः । उत्सवस्तु नगर्या वै सम्बभूव कुरूद्वह
With the sounds of drums and conches, and the blaring of musical instruments, a festival arose in the city, O best of the Kurus.
विप्राणां वेदपाठैश्च बन्दिनां स्तुतिभिस्तथा । अयोध्या मुदितेवासीज्जयशब्दैः सुमङ्गलैः
With the chanting of the Vedas by the priests and the praises of bards, Ayodhyā rejoiced with shouts of victory and auspicious cries.
हृष्टपुष्टजनाकीर्णा स्तुतिवादित्रनिःस्वना । नवे तस्मिन्महीपाले पूर्बभौ नूतनेव सा
Filled with joyful and prosperous people, resounding with music and praise, the city seemed renewed with the new king.
केचित्साधुजना ये वै चक्रुः शोकं गृहे स्थिताः । सुदर्शनं विचिन्त्याद्य क्व गतोऽसौ नृपात्मजः
Yet some righteous people, remaining in their homes, grieved, wondering today where Sudarśana, the prince, had gone.
मनोरमातिसाध्वी सा क्व गता सुतसंयुता । पिताऽस्या निहतः संख्ये राज्यलोभेन वैरिणा
Where has that supremely virtuous Manoramā gone, together with her son? Her father was slain in battle by an enemy driven by greed for the kingdom.
इत्येवं चिन्त्यमानास्ते साधवः समबुद्धयः । अतिष्ठन्दुःखितास्तत्र शत्रुजिद्वशवर्तिनः
While thus reflecting, those righteous and even-minded men remained there, afflicted by sorrow and under the control of Shatrujit.
युधाजिदपि दौहित्रं स्थापयित्वा विधानतः । राज्यञ्च मन्त्रिसात्कृत्वा चलितः स्वां पुरीं प्रति
Yudhājit, having duly installed his grandson and entrusted the kingdom to his ministers, departed for his own city.
श्रुत्वा सुदर्शनं तत्र मुनीनामाश्रमे स्थितम् । हन्तुकामो जगामाशु चित्रकूटं स पर्वतम्
Hearing that Sudarshana was staying in the hermitage of the sages, he quickly set out for Mount Chitrakūṭa, intent on killing him.
निषादाधिपतिं शूरं पुरस्कृत्य बलाभिधम् । दुर्दर्शाख्यमगादाशु शृङ्गवेरपुराधिपम्
Placing the valiant king of the Niṣādas at the forefront of his army, he swiftly approached Durdarśa, the lord of Śṛṅgaverapura.
श्रुत्वा मनोरमा तत्र बभूवातिसुदुःखिता । आगच्छन्तं बालपुत्रा भयार्ता सैन्यसंयुतम्
When Manoramā heard of this, she became deeply distressed, fearing for her young son as the army approached.
तमुवाचातिशोकार्ता मुनिं साश्रुविलोचना । किं करोमि क्व गच्छामि युधाजित्समुपस्थितः
Overwhelmed by intense grief, her eyes filled with tears, she said to the sage: 'What shall I do? Where shall I go, now that Yudhājit has arrived?'
पिता मे निहतोऽनेन दौहित्रो भूपतिः कृतः । सुतं मे हन्तुकामोऽत्र समायाति बलान्वितः
'My father was slain by him, and he has made his grandson king. Now, he comes here with his forces, intent on killing my son.'
पुरा श्रुतं मया स्वामिन्पाण्डवा वै वने स्थिताः । मुनीनामाश्रमे पुण्ये पाञ्चाल्या सहितास्तदा
'O master, I once heard that the Pāṇḍavas, together with Pāñcālī, were staying in the hermitage of the sages during their time in the forest.'
गतास्ते मृगयां पार्था भ्रातरः पञ्च एव ते । द्रौपदी संस्थिता तत्र मुनीनामाश्रमे शुभे
'Those five brothers, the sons of Pāṇḍu, had gone hunting, and Draupadī remained there in the auspicious hermitage of the sages.'
धौम्योऽत्रिर्गालवः पैलो जावालिर्गौतमो भृगुः । च्यवनश्चात्रिगोत्रश्च कण्वश्चैव जतुः क्रतुः
'There were Dhaumya, Atri, Gālava, Paila, Jāvāli, Gautama, Bhṛgu, Cyavana, Ātri's descendant, Kaṇva, Jatu, and Kratu.'
वीतिहोत्रः सुमन्तुश्च यज्ञदत्तोऽथ वत्सलः । राशासनः कहोडश्च यवक्रीर्यज्ञकृत्क्रतुः
'Vītihotra, Sumantu, Yajñadatta, Vatsala, Rāśāsana, Kahoḍa, Yavakrī, Yajñakṛt, and Kratu were also present.'
एते चान्ये च मुनयो भारद्वाजादयः शुभाः । वेदपाठयुताः सर्वे संस्थिताश्चाश्रमे स्थिताः
'These and other auspicious sages, beginning with Bhāradvāja, all well-versed in the Vedas, were residing in the hermitage.'
दासीभिः सहिता तत्र याज्ञसेनी स्थिता मुने । आश्रमे चारुसर्वाङ्गी निर्भया मुनिसंवृते
'There, Yājñasenī, beautiful in every limb, stayed in the hermitage with her maidservants, fearless among the sages.'
पार्था मृगानुगास्तावत्प्रयाताश्च वनाद्वनम् । धनुर्बाणधरा वीराः पञ्च वै शत्रुतापनाः
'Meanwhile, the Pāṇḍavas, those five heroic brothers armed with bows and arrows, went from forest to forest in pursuit of game, tormentors of their foes.'
तावत्सिन्धुपतिः श्रीमान्मार्गस्थो बलसंयुतः । आगतश्चाश्रमाभ्याशे श्रुत्वा तु निगमन्ध्वनिम्
'At that time, the illustrious lord of Sindhu, accompanied by his army, arrived near the hermitage, having heard the sound of the sacred recitation.'
श्रुत्वा वेदध्वनिं राजा मुनीनां भावितात्मनाम् । उत्ततार रथात्तूर्णं दर्शनाकाङ्क्षया नृपः
'Hearing the sound of the Vedas chanted by the sages of pure mind, the king quickly descended from his chariot, eager for a meeting.'
यदा निरगमत्तत्र भृत्यद्वयसमन्वितः । वेदपाठयुतान्वीक्ष्य मुनीनुद्यमसंस्थितः
When he came out there, accompanied by two attendants, he saw the sages engaged in Vedic recitation, all intent on their practice.