01.105
Core:Kunti chooses Pandu in a Swayamvara; Madri, the beautiful, is bought for a price.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said:
रूपसत्त्वगुणोपेता धर्मारामा महाव्रता । दुहिता कुन्तिभोजस्य कृते पित्रा स्वयंवरे ॥१-१०५-१॥
Endowed with beauty, strength, and virtue, delighting in righteousness and of great vows, the daughter of Kuntibhoja was offered in svayaṁvara by her father.
सिंहदंष्ट्रं गजस्कन्धमृषभाक्षं महाबलम् । भूमिपालसहस्राणां मध्ये पाण्डुमविन्दत ॥१-१०५-२॥
Amidst thousands of kings, she chose Pāṇḍu — lion-toothed, elephant-shouldered, bull-eyed, and of great strength.
स तया कुन्तिभोजस्य दुहित्रा कुरुनन्दनः । युयुजेऽमितसौभाग्यः पौलोम्या मघवानिव ॥१-१०५-३॥
The fortunate Kuru prince was united with the daughter of Kuntibhoja, like Indra with Paulomī.
यात्वा देवव्रतेनापि मद्राणां पुटभेदनम् । विश्रुता त्रिषु लोकेषु माद्री मद्रपतेः सुता ॥१-१०५-४॥
Even Bhīṣma journeyed through the gates of the Madra kingdom; Mādrī, daughter of the Madra king, was famed in the three worlds.
सर्वराजसु विख्याता रूपेणासदृशी भुवि । पाण्डोरर्थे परिक्रीता धनेन महता तदा ॥ विवाहं कारयामास भीष्मः पाण्डोर्महात्मनः ॥१-१०५-५॥
Unmatched in beauty on earth and renowned among all kings, Mādrī was purchased with great wealth for Pāṇḍu, and Bhīṣma arranged the marriage of the great-souled Pāṇḍu.
सिंहोरस्कं गजस्कन्धमृषभाक्षं मनस्विनम् । पाण्डुं दृष्ट्वा नरव्याघ्रं व्यस्मयन्त नरा भुवि ॥१-१०५-६॥
Seeing lion-chested, elephant-shouldered, bull-eyed, and high-minded Pāṇḍu, a tiger among men, the people of earth were amazed.
कृतोद्वाहस्ततः पाण्डुर्बलोत्साहसमन्वितः । जिगीषमाणो वसुधां ययौ शत्रूननेकशः ॥१-१०५-७॥
Having completed his marriage, Pāṇḍu, full of strength and zeal, set out to conquer the earth, defeating many enemies.
पूर्वमागस्कृतो गत्वा दशार्णाः समरे जिताः । पाण्डुना नरसिंहेन कौरवाणां यशोभृता ॥१-१०५-८॥
First challenged and defeated in battle by Pāṇḍu, the lion among men, the Daśārṇas brought fame to the Kauravas.
ततः सेनामुपादाय पाण्डुर्नानाविधध्वजाम् । प्रभूतहस्त्यश्वरथां पदातिगणसङ्कुलाम् ॥१-१०५-९॥
Then Pāṇḍu marched forth with an army adorned with various banners, rich in elephants, horses, and chariots, and crowded with foot soldiers.
आगस्कृत्सर्ववीराणां वैरी सर्वमहीभृताम् । गोप्ता मगधराष्ट्रस्य दार्वो राजगृहे हतः ॥१-१०५-१०॥
Dārva, the protector of the Magadha kingdom, who had challenged all heroes and was the enemy of all kings, was slain at Rājagṛha.
ततः कोशं समादाय वाहनानि बलानि च । पाण्डुना मिथिलां गत्वा विदेहाः समरे जिताः ॥१-१०५-११॥
Then, having taken his treasury, vehicles, and forces, Pāṇḍu went to Mithilā and conquered the Videhas in battle.
तथा काशिषु सुह्मेषु पुण्ड्रेषु भरतर्षभ । स्वबाहुबलवीर्येण कुरूणामकरोद्यशः ॥१-१०५-१२॥
Likewise among the Kāśis, Suhmas, and Puṇḍras, the bull among the Bharatas, Pāṇḍu, by his own strength, brought fame to the Kurus.
तं शरौघमहाज्वालमस्त्रार्चिषमरिंदमम् । पाण्डुपावकमासाद्य व्यदह्यन्त नराधिपाः ॥१-१०५-१३॥
Approaching Pāṇḍu, blazing like fire with torrents of arrows and flames of weapons, the enemy-subduing kings were scorched.
ते ससेनाः ससेनेन विध्वंसितबला नृपाः । पाण्डुना वशगाः कृत्वा करकर्मसु योजिताः ॥१-१०५-१४॥
Those kings, with their forces shattered by Pāṇḍu’s army, were subdued and engaged in paying tributes.
तेन ते निर्जिताः सर्वे पृथिव्यां सर्वपार्थिवाः । तमेकं मेनिरे शूरं देवेष्विव पुरंदरम् ॥१-१०५-१५॥
All kings on earth, having been conquered by him, regarded the valiant Pāṇḍu as the sole hero, like Indra among the gods.
तं कृताञ्जलयः सर्वे प्रणता वसुधाधिपाः । उपाजग्मुर्धनं गृह्य रत्नानि विविधानि च ॥१-१०५-१६॥
All rulers of the earth, with folded hands and bowed in respect, approached him bearing wealth and various kinds of gems.
मणिमुक्ताप्रवालं च सुवर्णं रजतं तथा । गोरत्नान्यश्वरत्नानि रथरत्नानि कुञ्जरान् ॥१-१०५-१७॥
They brought gems, pearls, coral, as well as gold and silver, prized cows, horses, fine chariots, and elephants.
खरोष्ट्रमहिषांश्चैव यच्च किञ्चिदजाविकम् । तत्सर्वं प्रतिजग्राह राजा नागपुराधिपः ॥१-१०५-१८॥
Donkeys, camels, buffaloes, and whatever goats or sheep were given — all that the king, lord of Nāgapura, accepted.
तदादाय ययौ पाण्डुः पुनर्मुदितवाहनः । हर्षयिष्यन्स्वराष्ट्राणि पुरं च गजसाह्वयम् ॥१-१०५-१९॥
Having taken all that, Pāṇḍu returned with a joyful army, wishing to gladden his kingdoms and the city of Hastināpura.
शन्तनो राजसिंहस्य भरतस्य च धीमतः । प्रनष्टः कीर्तिजः शब्दः पाण्डुना पुनरुद्धृतः ॥१-१०५-२०॥
The lost glory of the lion among kings, Śantanu, and of the wise Bharata, was revived by Pāṇḍu once again.
ये पुरा कुरुराष्ट्राणि जह्रुः कुरुधनानि च । ते नागपुरसिंहेन पाण्डुना करदाः कृताः ॥१-१०५-२१॥
Those who had formerly seized the Kuru territories and wealth were made tributaries by Pāṇḍu, the lion of Nāgapura.
इत्यभाषन्त राजानो राजामात्याश्च सङ्गताः । प्रतीतमनसो हृष्टाः पौरजानपदैः सह ॥१-१०५-२२॥
Thus spoke the assembled kings and ministers, their minds confident and joyous, together with the citizens and people of the land.
प्रत्युद्ययुस्तं सम्प्राप्तं सर्वे भीष्मपुरोगमाः । ते न दूरमिवाध्वानं गत्वा नागपुरालयाः ॥ आवृतं ददृशुर्लोकं हृष्टा बहुविधैर्जनैः ॥१-१०५-२३॥
All, led by Bhīṣma, went out to welcome the returning Pāṇḍu; the people of Nāgapura, not going far, saw the land filled with joyful multitudes of various kinds.
नानायानसमानीतै रत्नैरुच्चावचैस्तथा । हस्त्यश्वरथरत्नैश्च गोभिरुष्ट्रैरथाविकैः ॥ नान्तं ददृशुरासाद्य भीष्मेण सह कौरवाः ॥१-१०५-२४॥
With treasures brought on many vehicles, high and low in value — elephants, horses, chariots, cows, camels, goats and sheep — the Kauravas, with Bhīṣma, saw no end to the offerings.
सोऽभिवाद्य पितुः पादौ कौसल्यानन्दवर्धनः । यथार्हं मानयामास पौरजानपदानपि ॥१-१०५-२५॥
He, the enhancer of Kausalyā’s joy, bowed to his father’s feet and honored the citizens and country folk as was fitting.
प्रमृद्य परराष्ट्राणि कृतार्थं पुनरागतम् । पुत्रमासाद्य भीष्मस्तु हर्षादश्रूण्यवर्तयत् ॥१-१०५-२६॥
Beholding his son returned after crushing enemy realms and fulfilling his aims, Bhīṣma, overwhelmed with joy, shed tears.
स तूर्यशतसङ्घानां भेरीणां च महास्वनैः । हर्षयन्सर्वशः पौरान्विवेश गजसाह्वयम् ॥१-१०५-२७॥
Amidst great sounds from hundreds of musical bands and drums, delighting all the citizens, he entered Hastināpura.
