01.211
Pancharatra: Krishna notices Arjuna's desire for Bhadra and asks him to abduct her.
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
tataḥ katipayāhasya tasmin raivatake girau। vṛṣṇy-andhakānām abhavat sumahān utsavo nṛpa ॥1-211-1॥
Then, after a few days, O king, a grand festival of the Vṛṣṇis and Andhakas was held on the Raivataka mountain.
tatra dānaṃ dadurvīrā brāhmaṇānāṃ sahasraśaḥ। bhojavṛṣṇyandhakāścaiva mahe tasya girestadā ॥1-211-2॥
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.
prāsādai ratnacitraiś ca gires tasya samantataḥ। sa deśaḥ śobhito rājandīpavṛkṣaiś ca sarvaśaḥ॥1-211-3॥
That region all around the mountain was splendidly adorned with palaces, gem-studded decorations, and was entirely filled with king-lamp trees.
vāditrāṇi ca tatra sma vādakāḥ samavādayan। nanṛturnartakāścaiva jagurgānāni gāyanāḥ ॥1-211-4॥
There, the players played musical instruments together; the dancers danced, and the singers sang songs.
alaṅkṛtāḥ kumārāś ca vṛṣṇīnāṃ sumahaujasaḥ। yānair hāṭaka-citrāṅgaiś cañcūryante sma sarvaśaḥ॥1-211-5॥
The adorned princes, the mighty sons of the Vṛṣṇis, were being carried everywhere in chariots with golden and decorated parts.
paurāś ca pādacāreṇa yānair uccāvacais tathā। sadārāḥ sānuyātrāś ca śataśo'tha sahasraśaḥ ॥1-211-6॥
Citizens, both on foot and in various vehicles, accompanied by their wives and followers, came in hundreds and thousands.
tato haladharaḥ kṣībo revatīsahitaḥ prabhuḥ। anugamyamāno gandharvairacarat tatra bhārata॥1-211-7॥
Then, O Bhārata, the lord Balarāma, intoxicated and accompanied by Revati, wandered there followed by the Gandharvas.
tathaiva rājā vṛṣṇīnām ugraseṇaḥ pratāpavān। upagīyamāno gandharvaiḥ strī-sahasra-sahāyavān ॥1-211-8॥
Likewise, King Ugrasena of the Vṛṣṇis, renowned for his majesty, was praised by the Gandharvas and accompanied by a thousand women.
raukmiṇeyaś ca sāmbaś ca kṣībau samaradurmadau। divyamālyāmbaradharau vijahrāte'marāv iva ॥1-211-9॥
Raukmiṇeya and Sāmba, intoxicated and proud in battle, adorned with divine garlands and garments, sported together like the gods.
akrūraḥ sāraṇaścaiva gado bhānurviḍūrathaḥ| niśaṭhaścārudeṣṇaśca pṛthurvipṛthureva ca ॥1-211-10॥
Akrura, Sarana, Gada, Bhanu, Viduratha, Nishatha, Charudesna, Prithu, and Viprithu were present.
satyakaḥ sātyakiścaiva bhaṅgakārasahācarau। hārdikyaḥ kṛtavarmā ca ye cānye nānukīrtitāḥ ॥1-211-11॥
Satyaka, Sātyaki, and their fellow breakers; Hārdikya, Kṛtavarmā, and others who have not been mentioned.
ete parivṛtāḥ strībhir gandharvaiś ca pṛthak pṛthak। tam utsavaṃ raivatake śobhayāṃ cakrire tadā॥1-211-12॥
At that time, these people, each surrounded by women and Gandharvas, made the festival at Raivataka splendid.
tadā kolāhale tasmin vartamāne mahāśubhe। vāsudevaś ca pārthaś ca sahitau parijagmatūḥ ॥1-211-13॥
Then, while that very auspicious tumult was ongoing, Vāsudeva and Pārtha together circumambulated.
tatra caṅkramyamāṇau tau vāsudevasutāṃ śubhām। alaṅkṛtāṃ sakhī-madhye bhadrāṃ dadṛśatus-tadā ॥1-211-14॥
There, as they walked, the two saw the auspicious and adorned daughter of Vasudeva, Bhadrā, among her companions at that time.
dṛṣṭvaiva tām arjunasya kandarpaḥ samajāyata. taṃ tathaikāgramanasaṃ kṛṣṇaḥ pārtham alakṣayat ॥1-211-15॥
As soon as he saw her, the god of love arose in Arjuna. Kṛṣṇa noticed Pārtha (Arjuna) thus absorbed in concentration.
athābravītpuskarākṣaḥ prahasanniva bhārata। vanecarasya kimidaṃ kāmenāloḍyate manaḥ ॥1-211-16॥
Then the lotus-eyed one, smiling as if in amusement, said, "O Bhārata, why is the mind of the forest-dweller disturbed by desire?"
mamaiṣā bhaginī pārtha sāraṇasya sahodarā। yadi te vartate buddhir vakṣyāmi pitaraṃ svayam ॥1-211-17॥
O Pārtha, this is my sister, the own sister of Sāraṇa. If you have the intention, I will speak to the father myself.
arjuna uvāca॥
Arjuna said.
duhitā vasudevasya vāsudevasya ca svasā। rūpeṇa caiva sampannā kamiva eṣā na mohayet॥1-211-18॥
She is the daughter of Vasudeva and the sister of Vāsudeva, truly endowed with beauty; who would not be captivated by her?
kṛtameva tu kalyāṇaṃ sarvaṃ mama bhaveddhruvam। yadi syānmama vārṣṇeyī mahiṣīyaṃ svasā tava ॥1-211-19॥
Truly, all good fortune would be mine if your sister, the daughter of Vṛṣṇi, were to become my queen.
prāptau tu ka upāyaḥ syāt tad bravīhi janārdana। āsthāsyāmi tathā sarvaṃ yadi śakyaṃ nareṇa tat ॥1-211-20॥
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.
vāsudeva uvāca॥
Vāsudeva said.
svayaṃvaraḥ kṣatriyāṇāṃ vivāhaḥ puruṣarṣabha. sa ca saṃśayitaḥ pārtha svabhāvasyānimittataḥ ॥1-211-21॥
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.
prasahya haraṇaṃ cāpi kṣatriyāṇāṃ praśasyate। vivāhahetoḥ śūrāṇāmiti dharmavido viduḥ ॥1-211-22॥
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.
sa tvam arjuna kalyāṇīṃ prasahya bhaginīṃ mama। hara svayaṃvare hy asyāḥ ko vai veda cikīrṣitam ॥1-211-23॥
Therefore, Arjuna, you should forcibly take my auspicious sister at the svayaṃvara; for who indeed knows what she intends.
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
tato'rjunaś ca kṛṣṇaś ca viniścitya iti kṛtyatām। śīghragān puruṣān rājan preṣayām āsatus tadā ॥1-211-24॥
Then, O king, Arjuna and Kṛṣṇa, after deciding what should be done, immediately dispatched swift messengers.
dharmarājāya tatsarvamindraprasthagatāya vai। śrutvaiva ca mahābāhuranujajñe sa pāṇḍavaḥ ॥1-211-25॥
All that was told to Dharmarāja, who had gone to Indraprastha; having heard it, the mighty-armed Pāṇḍava consented.
