01.211
Pancharatra: Krishna notices Arjuna's desire for Bhadra and asks him to abduct her.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
ततः कतिपयाहस्य तस्मिन्रैवतके गिरौ। वृष्ण्यन्धकानामभवत्सुमहानुत्सवो नृप ॥१-२११-१॥
Then, after a few days, O king, a grand festival of the Vṛṣṇis and Andhakas was held on the Raivataka mountain.
तत्र दानं ददुर्वीरा ब्राह्मणानां सहस्रशः। भोजवृष्ण्यन्धकाश्चैव महे तस्य गिरेस्तदा ॥१-२११-२॥
There, the heroes gave thousands of gifts to the Brāhmaṇas; at that time, the Bhojas, Vṛṣṇis, and Andhakas also offered to the great one of that mountain.
प्रासादै रत्नचित्रैश्च गिरेस्तस्य समन्ततः। स देशः शोभितो राजन्दीपवृक्षैश्च सर्वशः ॥१-२११-३॥
That region all around the mountain was splendidly adorned with palaces, gem-studded decorations, and was entirely filled with king-lamp trees.
वादित्राणि च तत्र स्म वादकाः समवादयन्। ननृतुर्नर्तकाश्चैव जगुर्गानानि गायनाः ॥१-२११-४॥
There, the players played musical instruments together; the dancers danced, and the singers sang songs.
अलङ्कृताः कुमाराश्च वृष्णीनां सुमहौजसः। यानैर्हाटकचित्राङ्गैश्चञ्चूर्यन्ते स्म सर्वशः ॥१-२११-५॥
The adorned princes, the mighty sons of the Vṛṣṇis, were being carried everywhere in chariots with golden and decorated parts.
पौराश्च पादचारेण यानैरुच्चावचैस्तथा। सदाराः सानुयात्राश्च शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः ॥१-२११-६॥
Citizens, both on foot and in various vehicles, accompanied by their wives and followers, came in hundreds and thousands.
ततो हलधरः क्षीबो रेवतीसहितः प्रभुः। अनुगम्यमानो गन्धर्वैरचरत्तत्र भारत ॥१-२११-७॥
Then, O Bhārata, the lord Balarāma, intoxicated and accompanied by Revati, wandered there followed by the Gandharvas.
तथैव राजा वृष्णीनामुग्रसेनः प्रतापवान्। उपगीयमानो गन्धर्वैः स्त्रीसहस्रसहायवान् ॥१-२११-८॥
Likewise, King Ugrasena of the Vṛṣṇis, renowned for his majesty, was praised by the Gandharvas and accompanied by a thousand women.
रौक्मिणेयश्च साम्बश्च क्षीबौ समरदुर्मदौ। दिव्यमाल्याम्बरधरौ विजह्रातेऽमराविव ॥१-२११-९॥
Raukmiṇeya and Sāmba, intoxicated and proud in battle, adorned with divine garlands and garments, sported together like the gods.
अक्रूरः सारणश्चैव गदो भानुर्विडूरथः। निशठश्चारुदेष्णश्च पृथुर्विपृथुरेव च ॥१-२११-१०॥
Akrura, Sarana, Gada, Bhanu, Viduratha, Nishatha, Charudesna, Prithu, and Viprithu were present.
सत्यकः सात्यकिश्चैव भङ्गकारसहाचरौ। हार्दिक्यः कृतवर्मा च ये चान्ये नानुकीर्तिताः ॥१-२११-११॥
Satyaka, Sātyaki, and their fellow breakers; Hārdikya, Kṛtavarmā, and others who have not been mentioned.
एते परिवृताः स्त्रीभिर्गन्धर्वैश्च पृथक्पृथक्। तमुत्सवं रैवतके शोभयां चक्रिरे तदा ॥१-२११-१२॥
At that time, these people, each surrounded by women and Gandharvas, made the festival at Raivataka splendid.
तदा कोलाहले तस्मिन्वर्तमाने महाशुभे। वासुदेवश्च पार्थश्च सहितौ परिजग्मतुः ॥१-२११-१३॥
Then, while that very auspicious tumult was ongoing, Vāsudeva and Pārtha together circumambulated.
तत्र चङ्क्रम्यमाणौ तौ वासुदेवसुतां शुभाम्। अलङ्कृतां सखीमध्ये भद्रां ददृशतुस्तदा ॥१-२११-१४॥
There, as they walked, the two saw the auspicious and adorned daughter of Vasudeva, Bhadrā, among her companions at that time.
दृष्ट्वैव तामर्जुनस्य कन्दर्पः समजायत। तं तथैकाग्रमनसं कृष्णः पार्थमलक्षयत् ॥१-२११-१५॥
As soon as he saw her, the god of love arose in Arjuna. Kṛṣṇa noticed Pārtha (Arjuna) thus absorbed in concentration.
अथाब्रवीत्पुष्कराक्षः प्रहसन्निव भारत। वनेचरस्य किमिदं कामेनालोड्यते मनः ॥१-२११-१६॥
Then the lotus-eyed one, smiling as if in amusement, said, "O Bhārata, why is the mind of the forest-dweller disturbed by desire?"
ममैषा भगिनी पार्थ सारणस्य सहोदरा। यदि ते वर्तते बुद्धिर्वक्ष्यामि पितरं स्वयम् ॥१-२११-१७॥
O Pārtha, this is my sister, the own sister of Sāraṇa. If you have the intention, I will speak to the father myself.
अर्जुन उवाच॥
Arjuna said.
दुहिता वसुदेवस्य वासुदेवस्य च स्वसा। रूपेण चैव सम्पन्ना कमिवैषा न मोहयेत् ॥१-२११-१८॥
She is the daughter of Vasudeva and the sister of Vāsudeva, truly endowed with beauty; who would not be captivated by her?
कृतमेव तु कल्याणं सर्वं मम भवेद्ध्रुवम्। यदि स्यान्मम वार्ष्णेयी महिषीयं स्वसा तव ॥१-२११-१९॥
Truly, all good fortune would be mine if your sister, the daughter of Vṛṣṇi, were to become my queen.
प्राप्तौ तु क उपायः स्यात्तद्ब्रवीहि जनार्दन। आस्थास्यामि तथा सर्वं यदि शक्यं नरेण तत् ॥१-२११-२०॥
But upon reaching (this situation), what means are there? Tell me that, O Janardana. I will undertake everything accordingly, if it is possible for a man.
वासुदेव उवाच॥
Vāsudeva said.
स्वयंवरः क्षत्रियाणां विवाहः पुरुषर्षभ। स च संशयितः पार्थ स्वभावस्यानिमित्ततः ॥१-२११-२१॥
O best of men, the svayaṃvara, the marriage of kṣatriyas, is also considered doubtful, O Pārtha, due to its nature and without any specific cause.
प्रसह्य हरणं चापि क्षत्रियाणां प्रशस्यते। विवाहहेतोः शूराणामिति धर्मविदो विदुः ॥१-२११-२२॥
The abduction by force is also praised among Kṣatriyas; the knowers of dharma say that, for the purpose of marriage, this is for the brave.
स त्वमर्जुन कल्याणीं प्रसह्य भगिनीं मम। हर स्वयंवरे ह्यस्याः को वै वेद चिकीर्षितम् ॥१-२११-२३॥
Therefore, Arjuna, you should forcibly take my auspicious sister at the svayaṃvara; for who indeed knows what she intends.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
ततोऽर्जुनश्च कृष्णश्च विनिश्चित्येतिकृत्यताम्। शीघ्रगान्पुरुषान्राजन्प्रेषयामासतुस्तदा ॥१-२११-२४॥
Then, O king, Arjuna and Kṛṣṇa, after deciding what should be done, immediately dispatched swift messengers.
धर्मराजाय तत्सर्वमिन्द्रप्रस्थगताय वै। श्रुत्वैव च महाबाहुरनुजज्ञे स पाण्डवः ॥१-२११-२५॥
All that was told to Dharmarāja, who had gone to Indraprastha; having heard it, the mighty-armed Pāṇḍava consented.
