01.179
Core-Pancharatra: Arjuna wins Draupadi.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
यदा निवृत्ता राजानो धनुषः सज्यकर्मणि। अथोदतिष्ठद्विप्राणां मध्याज्जिष्णुरुदारधीः ॥१-१७९-१॥
When the kings withdrew from the contest of stringing the bow, then from among the Brāhmaṇas, the noble-minded and victorious one arose.
उदक्रोशन्विप्रमुख्या विधुन्वन्तोऽजिनानि च। दृष्ट्वा सम्प्रस्थितं पार्थमिन्द्रकेतुसमप्रभम् ॥१-१७९-२॥
The chief Brāhmaṇas cried out loudly, shaking their deerskins, when they saw Pārtha (Arjuna) departing, radiant like Indra's banner.
केचिदासन्विमनसः केचिदासन्मुदा युताः। आहुः परस्परं केचिन्निपुणा बुद्धिजीविनः ॥१-१७९-३॥
Some were dispirited, while others were filled with joy. Some skilled intellectuals spoke among themselves.
यत्कर्णशल्यप्रमुखैः पार्थिवैर्लोकविश्रुतैः। नानतं बलवद्भिर्हि धनुर्वेदपरायणैः ॥१-१७९-४॥
That bow, which even kings like Karna and Śalya, famed throughout the world and mighty warriors devoted to the science of archery, could not bend.
तत्कथं त्वकृतास्त्रेण प्राणतो दुर्बलीयसा। बटुमात्रेण शक्यं हि सज्यं कर्तुं धनुर्द्विजाः ॥१-१७९-५॥
So how, O Brāhmaṇas, could it be possible for you, unskilled in weapons, alive, weak, and merely a boy, to string the bow?
अवहास्या भविष्यन्ति ब्राह्मणाः सर्वराजसु। कर्मण्यस्मिन्नसंसिद्धे चापलादपरीक्षिते ॥१-१७९-६॥
Brāhmaṇas will be ridiculed by all kings when actions are left unaccomplished and unexamined due to impulsiveness.
यद्येष दर्पाद्धर्षाद्वा यदि वा ब्रह्मचापलात्। प्रस्थितो धनुरायन्तुं वार्यतां साधु मा गमत् ॥१-१७९-७॥
If this person, whether out of pride, arrogance, or brahminical recklessness, has set out to string the bow, restrain him, O noble one; do not let him proceed.
नावहास्या भविष्यामो न च लाघवमास्थिताः। न च विद्विष्टतां लोके गमिष्यामो महीक्षिताम् ॥१-१७९-८॥
We will not become objects of ridicule, nor will we resort to triviality; nor will we come to be hated among the kings of the world.
केचिदाहुर्युवा श्रीमान्नागराजकरोपमः। पीनस्कन्धोरुबाहुश्च धैर्येण हिमवानिव ॥१-१७९-९॥
Some described him as a young, prosperous man, whose hands resembled those of the serpent king, with thick shoulders and broad arms, and whose fortitude was like that of the Himalaya.
सम्भाव्यमस्मिन्कर्मेदमुत्साहाच्चानुमीयते। शक्तिरस्य महोत्साहा न ह्यशक्तः स्वयं व्रजेत् ॥१-१७९-१०॥
This action is inferred in this person from his enthusiasm; his great enthusiasm shows his power, for indeed, a powerless person would not go on his own.
न च तद्विद्यते किञ्चित्कर्म लोकेषु यद्भवेत्। ब्राह्मणानामसाध्यं च त्रिषु संस्थानचारिषु ॥१-१७९-११॥
There is no action in the worlds that is impossible for Brāhmaṇas, even among those who perform the three sacred rites.
अब्भक्षा वायुभक्षाश्च फलाहारा दृढव्रताः। दुर्बला हि बलीयांसो विप्रा हि ब्रह्मतेजसा ॥१-१७९-१२॥
Those Brāhmaṇas who eat only water, subsist on air, or live on fruits, and are firm in their vows, though physically weak, are indeed stronger by the power of Brahman.
ब्राह्मणो नावमन्तव्यः सद्वासद्वा समाचरन्। सुखं दुःखं महद्ध्रस्वं कर्म यत्समुपागतम् ॥१-१७९-१३॥
A Brāhmaṇa should never be despised, whether he acts well or poorly. Whatever happiness, sorrow, great or small deed has come to him.
एवं तेषां विलपतां विप्राणां विविधा गिरः। अर्जुनो धनुषोऽभ्याशे तस्थौ गिरिरिवाचलः ॥१-१७९-१४॥
As the Brāhmaṇas lamented in various voices, Arjuna stood near his bow, unmoving like a mountain.
स तद्धनुः परिक्रम्य प्रदक्षिणमथाकरोत्। प्रणम्य शिरसा हृष्टो जगृहे च परन्तपः ॥१-१७९-१५॥
He joyfully circumambulated that bow to the right, bowed his head, and the scorcher of foes took it.
सज्यं च चक्रे निमिषान्तरेण; शरांश्च जग्राह दशार्धसङ्ख्यान्। विव्याध लक्ष्यं निपपात तच्च; छिद्रेण भूमौ सहसातिविद्धम् ॥१-१७९-१६॥
He strung the bow in the blink of an eye, took ten and a half arrows, pierced the target, and it fell to the ground through the hole, having been struck straight through.
ततोऽन्तरिक्षे च बभूव नादः; समाजमध्ये च महान्निनादः। पुष्पाणि दिव्यानि ववर्ष देवः; पार्थस्य मूर्ध्नि द्विषतां निहन्तुः ॥१-१७९-१७॥
Then, a sound arose in the sky and a great uproar in the midst of the assembly. The god showered divine flowers on the head of Pārtha, the destroyer of his enemies.
चेलावेधांस्ततश्चक्रुर्हाहाकारांश्च सर्वशः। न्यपतंश्चात्र नभसः समन्तात्पुष्पवृष्टयः ॥१-१७९-१८॥
Then they made banners and raised cries of lamentation everywhere; and here, showers of flowers fell from the sky in all directions.
शताङ्गानि च तूर्याणि वादकाश्चाप्यवादयन्। सूतमागधसङ्घाश्च अस्तुवंस्तत्र सुस्वनाः ॥१-१७९-१९॥
Various kinds of musical instruments and their players also played. Groups of bards and panegyrists praised there with melodious voices.
तं दृष्ट्वा द्रुपदः प्रीतो बभूवारिनिषूदनः। सहसैन्यश्च पार्थस्य साहाय्यार्थमियेष सः ॥१-१७९-२०॥
Seeing him, Drupada was pleased and, as the destroyer of enemies, with his army, he wished to aid Pārtha.
तस्मिंस्तु शब्दे महति प्रवृत्ते; युधिष्ठिरो धर्मभृतां वरिष्ठः। आवासमेवोपजगाम शीघ्रं; सार्धं यमाभ्यां पुरुषोत्तमाभ्याम् ॥१-१७९-२१॥
But as that great sound arose, Yudhishthira, the foremost among the upholders of dharma, quickly went to the residence together with the two best of men, the two Yamas.
विद्धं तु लक्ष्यं प्रसमीक्ष्य कृष्णा; पार्थं च शक्रप्रतिमं निरीक्ष्य। आदाय शुक्लं वरमाल्यदाम; जगाम कुन्तीसुतमुत्स्मयन्ती ॥१-१७९-२२॥
Kṛṣṇā (Draupadī), after carefully observing the pierced target and glancing at Arjuna, who was like Indra, took the white, excellent garland and, smiling, approached the son of Kuntī.
स तामुपादाय विजित्य रङ्गे; द्विजातिभिस्तैरभिपूज्यमानः। रङ्गान्निरक्रामदचिन्त्यकर्मा; पत्न्या तया चाप्यनुगम्यमानः ॥१-१७९-२३॥
He took her after his victory in the arena, and, being highly honored by the twice-born, the man of wondrous deeds departed from the arena, followed by his wife.
