Mahabharata - Ādi Parva (महाभारत - आदि पर्व)
01.185
Pancharatra: Brahmana visits Pandavas, followed by a messenger.
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
tatas tathoktaḥ parihṛṣṭarūpaḥ; pitre śaśaṃsātha sa rājaputraḥ। dhṛṣṭadyumnaḥ somakānāṃ prabarho; vṛttaṃ yathā yena hṛtā ca kṛṣṇā ॥1-185-1॥
Then, having heard thus, Dhṛṣṭadyumna, the prince and chief of the Somakas, with a delighted appearance, reported to his father the event of how Kṛṣṇā (Draupadī) was taken.
yo'sau yuvā svāyata-lohitākṣaḥ; kṛṣṇājinī deva-samāna-rūpaḥ। yaḥ kārmukāgryaṃ kṛtavān-adhijyaṃ; lakṣyaṃ ca tat-pātitavān-pṛthivyām ॥1-185-2॥
Who is that young man with long red eyes, clad in black antelope skin, whose form is like a god? Who has strung the greatest bow and brought down the target to the earth?
asajjamānaś ca gatastarastvī; vṛto dvijāgryair abhipūjyamānaḥ। cakrāma vajrīva diteḥ suteṣu; sarvaiś ca devair ṛṣibhiś ca juṣṭaḥ ॥1-185-3॥
He, unattached and swift, surrounded and honored by the foremost Brāhmaṇas, proceeded like Indra among the sons of Diti, honored by all the gods and sages.
kṛṣṇā ca gṛhyājinamanvayāttaṃ; nāgaṃ yathā nāgavadhūḥ prahṛṣṭā. amṛṣyamāṇeṣu narādhipeṣu; kruddheṣu taṃ tatra samāpatatsu ॥1-185-4॥
Kṛṣṇā (Draupadī), having taken and donned the deerskin, approached Bhīma (the Nāga) just as a delighted serpent-wife approaches her mate; when the kings, unable to bear (the insult), became enraged and rushed at him there.
tato'paraḥ pārthivarājamadhye; pravṛddhamārujya mahīpraroham। prakalayanneva sa pārthivaughān; kruddho'ntakaḥ prāṇabhṛto yathaiva ॥1-185-5॥
Then, another king, mounting a great tree, shook the assembly of kings in his anger, just as Death would among living beings.
tau pārthivānāṃ miṣatāṃ narendra; kṛṣṇām-upādāya gatau narāgrhyau. vibhrājamānāv-iva candrasūryau; bāhyāṃ purād-bhārgavakarmaśālām ॥1-185-6॥
O king, those two foremost men, having taken Kṛṣṇā, departed from the city to the hall of Bhārgava's rites, shining like the moon and the sun, while the kings looked on.
tatropaviṣṭārcirivānalasya; teṣāṃ janitrīti mama pratarkaḥ. tathāvidhaireva narapravīrai; rūpopaviṣṭaistribhiragnikalpaiḥ ॥1-185-7॥
There, seated like the flame of fire, I conjecture that she is their mother. Indeed, by such excellent men, three in number and resembling fire, seated in form.
tasyās tatastāv abhivādya pādā; vuktvā ca kṛṣṇām abhivādayeti. sthitau ca tatraiva nivedya kṛṣṇāṃ; bhaikṣapracārāya gatā narāgryāḥ ॥1-185-8॥
Then, having saluted her feet, those two said, "Let Kṛṣṇā be saluted." Standing right there, after informing Kṛṣṇā, the foremost women went out to seek alms.
teṣāṃ tu bhaikṣaṃ pratigṛhya kṛṣṇā; kṛtvā baliṃ brāhmaṇasācca kṛtvā. tāṃ caiva vṛddhāṃ pariviṣya tāṃśca; narapravīrān svayam apy abhuṅkta ॥1-185-9॥
But Kṛṣṇā, having received alms from them, made an offering to the Brāhmaṇas as well. After serving food to the old woman and to those best of men, she herself also ate.
suptās tu te pārthiva sarva eva; kṛṣṇā tu teṣāṃ caraṇopadhānam। āsīt pṛthivyāṃ śayanaṃ ca teṣāṃ; darbha-ajināgrya-āstaraṇa-upapannam ॥1-185-10॥
All the kings had fallen asleep; but Kṛṣṇā (Draupadī) served as their foot-rest. Their bed was on the earth, furnished with excellent coverings of darbha grass and deerskin.
te nardamānā iva kālameghāḥ; kathā vicitrāḥ kathayāṃ babhūvuḥ। na vaiśyaśūdraupayikīḥ kathāstā; na ca dvijāteḥ kathayanti vīrāḥ ॥1-185-11॥
They, like roaring dark clouds, began to narrate varied stories. Those stories are not suitable for Vaiśyas and Śūdras, nor are they told by heroes of the twice-born.
niḥsaṃśayaṃ kṣatriyapuṅgavās te; yathā hi yuddhaṃ kathayanti rājan। āśā hi no vyaktam iyaṃ samṛddhā; muktān hi pārthāñ śṛṇumo'gnidāhāt ॥1-185-12॥
O king, without doubt, those foremost among warriors describe the battle just as it happened. Our hope is clearly fulfilled, for we hear that the sons of Pṛthā have been released from the burning by fire.
yathā hi lakṣyaṃ nihataṃ dhanuśca; sajyaṃ kṛtaṃ tena tathā prasahya। yathā ca bhāṣanti parasparaṃ te; channā dhruvaṃ te pracaranti pārthāḥ ॥1-185-13॥
Just as a target is struck and the bow is strung by that, so too by force; and just as they speak with each other, the sons of Pṛthā, being hidden, certainly move about.
tataḥ sa rājā drupadaḥ prahṛṣṭaḥ; purohitaṃ preṣayāṃ tatra cakre. vidyām yuṣmān iti bhāṣamāṇo; mahātmanaḥ pāṇḍusutāḥ stha kaccit ॥1-185-14॥
Then King Drupada, delighted, sent his priest there. Addressing them, he said, "I recognize you; are you well, O great-souled sons of Pāṇḍu?"
gṛhītavākyo nṛpateḥ purodhā; gatvā praśaṁsāmabhidhāya teṣām। vākyaṁ yathāvannṛpateḥ samagra; uvāca tāns kramavitkrameṇa ॥1-185-15॥
The priest, having received the king's words, went and praised them, then conveyed the king's entire message to them in proper sequence, as one who knows the order.
vijñātum icchati avanīśvaro vaḥ; pāñcālarājo drupado varārhāḥ. lakṣyasya veddhāram imaṃ hi dṛṣṭvā; harṣasya nāntaṃ paripaśyate saḥ ॥1-185-16॥
Your lord of the earth, King Drupada of the Pāñcālas, who is worthy of the best, desires to know. Having seen this piercer of the target, he perceives no end to his joy.
tadācaḍḍhvaṃ jñātikulānupūrvīṃ; padaṃ śiraḥsu dviṣatāṃ kurudhvam। prahlādayadhvaṃ hṛdayaṃ mamedaṃ; pāñcālarājasya sahānugasya ॥1-185-17॥
Then, proceed in order to the families of the kinsmen; place your feet on the heads of the enemies. Gladden the heart of this king of the Pāñcālas along with his followers.
pāṇḍur hi rājā drupadasya rājñaḥ; priyaḥ sakhā cātmasamo babhūva. tasyaiṣa kāmo duhitā mameyaṃ; snuṣā yadi syāditi kauravasya ॥1-185-18॥
Pāṇḍu, the king, was indeed a dear friend and equal to King Drupada. This is his wish: "May this daughter of mine become the daughter-in-law of the Kaurava."
ayaṃ ca kāmo drupadasya rājño; hṛdi sthito nityamaninditāṅgāḥ। yadarjuno vai pṛthudīrghabāhu; rdharmeṇa vindeta sutāṃ mameti ॥1-185-19॥
This is also the wish of King Drupada; in his heart always are those of blameless limbs. That Arjuna, broad and long-armed, may by righteousness win my daughter—thus (is his thought).
tathokta-vākyaṃ tu purohitaṃ taṃ; sthitaṃ vinītaṃ samudīkṣya rājā. samīpasthaṃ bhīmam idaṃ śaśāsa; pradīyatāṃ pādyam arghyaṃ tathāsmai ॥1-185-20॥
The king, seeing the humble priest standing there, instructed Bhīma, who was nearby, "Give him water for the feet and the offering as is proper."
mānyaḥ purodhā drupadasya rājñaḥ; tasmai prayojyābhyadhikaiva pūjā. bhīmas tathā tat kṛtvān narendra; tāṃ caiva pūjāṃ pratisaṅgṛhītvā ॥1-185-21॥
The honored priest of King Drupada was to be offered even greater worship; Bhima likewise did so, O king, and having accepted that worship, returned it.
sukhopaviṣṭaṃ tu purohitaṃ taṃ; yudhiṣṭhiro brāhmaṇamityuvāca. pāñcālarājena sutā nisṛṣṭā; svadharmadṛṣṭena yathānukāmam ॥1-185-22॥
Yudhishthira addressed the comfortably-seated priest, saying, "The king of Panchala gave his daughter in accordance with his own understanding of dharma and as per her wish."
pradiṣṭaśulkā drupadena rājñā; sānena vīreṇa tathānuvṛttā. na tatra varṇeṣu kṛtā vivakṣā; na jīvaśilpe na kule na gotre ॥1-185-23॥
The fee was appointed by King Drupada; she was thus followed by this hero. No distinction was made there among castes, nor in livelihood, nor in family, nor in lineage.
kṛtena sajyena hi kārmukeṇa; viddhena lakṣyeṇa ca saṁnisṛṣṭā. seyaṁ tathānena mahātmaneha; kṛṣṇā jitā pārthivasaṅghamadhye ॥1-185-24॥
Indeed, with the bow strung and the target pierced and released, Kṛṣṇā (Draupadī) was thus won here by this great-souled one in the midst of the assembly of kings.
naivaṅgate saumakiradya rājā; santāpamarhatyasukhāya kartum। kāmaśca yo'sau drupadasya rājñaḥ; sa cāpi sampatsyati pārthivasya ॥1-185-25॥
In this situation, the Saumaki king today does not deserve to grieve for unhappiness. And the wish that King Drupada has will also be fulfilled for the king.
aprāpyarūpāṃ hi narendrakanyā; mimāmahaṃ brāhmaṇa sādhu manye। na taddhanurmandabalena śakyaṃ; maurvyā samāyojayituṃ tathā hi ॥ na cākṛtāstreṇa na hīnajena; lakṣyaṃ tathā pātayituṃ hi śakyam ॥1-185-26॥
The king's daughter is truly unattainable; O Brāhmaṇa, I think this is right. That bow cannot be strung by one of weak strength, nor can the target be brought down by one unskilled in weapons or of inferior birth.
tasmān na tāpaṃ duhiturnimittaṃ; pāñcālarājo 'rhati kartum adya. na cāpi tat pātanam anyatheha; kartuṃ viṣahyaṃ bhuvi mānavena ॥1-185-27॥
Therefore, the king of the Pāñcālas should not cause his daughter suffering today for this reason; nor is it right for any man on earth to inflict such a downfall in any other way.
evaṃ bruvaty-eva yudhiṣṭhire tu; pāñcālarājasya samīpato'nyaḥ. tatrājagāmāśu naro dvitīyo; nivedayiṣyann-iha siddham-annam ॥1-185-28॥
As Yudhiṣṭhira was thus speaking, another man came quickly from near the king of the Pāñcālas. There, a second man arrived, intending to announce that the prepared food was ready here.

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ॐ असतो मा सद्गमय। तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय। मृत्योर्माऽमृतं गमय। ॐ शान्ति: शान्ति: शान्ति: ॥ - बृहदारण्यकोपनिषद् 1.3.28
"Ōm! Lead me from the unreal to the real, from darkness to light, and from death to immortality. Let there be peace, peace, and peace. Ōm!" - Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 1.3.28

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