02.023
Pancharatra: Pandavas go on conquest, Arjuna to north, Bheema to east, Nakula to west, and Sahadeva to south.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
पार्थः प्राप्य धनुःश्रेष्ठमक्षय्यौ च महेषुधी। रथं ध्वजं सभां चैव युधिष्ठिरमभाषत ॥२-२३-१॥
Arjuna, having acquired the best bow, inexhaustible quivers, and great arrows, as well as the chariot, banner, and assembly hall, spoke to Yudhiṣṭhira. (2-23-1)
धनुरस्त्रं शरा वीर्यं पक्षो भूमिर्यशो बलम्। प्राप्तमेतन्मया राजन्दुष्प्रापं यदभीप्सितम् ॥२-२३-२॥
O king, I have obtained the bow, missile, arrows, strength, side, earth, fame, and power—everything that was difficult to obtain and desired.
तत्र कृत्यमहं मन्ये कोशस्यास्य विवर्धनम्। करमाहारयिष्यामि राज्ञः सर्वान्नृपोत्तम ॥२-२३-३॥
There, I consider the increase of this treasury to be my duty. I shall collect tax for the king from everyone, O best of kings. (2-23-3)
विजयाय प्रयास्यामि दिशं धनदरक्षिताम्। तिथावथ मुहूर्ते च नक्षत्रे च तथा शिवे ॥२-२३-४॥
I will set out for victory towards the direction guarded by Dhanada (Kubera), choosing an auspicious lunar day, moment, and constellation, and also at a favorable time. (2-23-4)
धनञ्जयवचः श्रुत्वा धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः। स्निग्धगम्भीरनादिन्या तं गिरा प्रत्यभाषत ॥२-२३-५॥
Hearing Arjuna's words, Yudhishthira, the king of dharma, replied to him in a gentle and deep, resonant voice. (2-23-5)
स्वस्ति वाच्यार्हतो विप्रान्प्रयाहि भरतर्षभ। दुर्हृदामप्रहर्षाय सुहृदां नन्दनाय च ॥ विजयस्ते ध्रुवं पार्थ प्रियं काममवाप्नुहि ॥२-२३-६॥
Offer blessings to the worthy brāhmaṇas and proceed, O best of the Bharatas, not for the joy of the wicked but for the happiness of friends. Victory is assured for you, O Pārtha; may you attain your cherished desire. (2-23-6)
इत्युक्तः प्रययौ पार्थः सैन्येन महता वृतः। अग्निदत्तेन दिव्येन रथेनाद्भुतकर्मणा ॥२-२३-७॥
Thus addressed, Pārtha (Arjuna) set out, surrounded by the great army, riding the divine chariot given by Agni, renowned for its wondrous deeds. (2-23-7)
तथैव भीमसेनोऽपि यमौ च पुरुषर्षभौ। ससैन्याः प्रययुः सर्वे धर्मराजाभिपूजिताः ॥२-२३-८॥
Likewise, Bhīmasena, as well as Nakula and Sahadeva, the foremost among men, all with their armies, departed after being honored by Dharmarāja. (2-23-8)
दिशं धनपतेरिष्टामजयत्पाकशासनिः। भीमसेनस्तथा प्राचीं सहदेवस्तु दक्षिणाम् ॥२-२३-९॥
Indra conquered the direction desired by Kubera. Likewise, Bhīmasena conquered the east, and Sahadeva conquered the south. (2-23-9)
प्रतीचीं नकुलो राजन्दिशं व्यजयदस्त्रवित्। खाण्डवप्रस्थमध्यास्ते धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिरः ॥२-२३-१०॥
Nakula, skilled in weapons, conquered the western direction, O king; Dharmaraja Yudhishthira resides at Khandavaprastha. (2-23-10)
जनमेजय उवाच॥
Janamejaya said.
दिशामभिजयं ब्रह्मन्विस्तरेणानुकीर्तय। न हि तृप्यामि पूर्वेषां शृण्वानश्चरितं महत् ॥२-२३-११॥
O Brāhmaṇa, please narrate in detail the conquest of the directions. I never tire of hearing the great deeds of the ancients. (2-23-11)
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
धनञ्जयस्य वक्ष्यामि विजयं पूर्वमेव ते। यौगपद्येन पार्थैर्हि विजितेयं वसुन्धरा ॥२-२३-१२॥
I will tell you beforehand of Dhananjaya's victory. This earth has indeed been conquered simultaneously by the sons of Pritha. (2-23-12)
पूर्वं कुणिन्दविषये वशे चक्रे महीपतीन्। धनञ्जयो महाबाहुर्नातितीव्रेण कर्मणा ॥२-२३-१३॥
In earlier times, Dhanañjaya, the mighty-armed, brought the kings of the Kuṇinda territory under his control, not by excessive force, but through his actions. (2-23-13)
आनर्तान्कालकूटांश्च कुणिन्दांश्च विजित्य सः। सुमण्डलं पापजितं कृतवाननुसैनिकम् ॥२-२३-१४॥
After conquering the Ānartas, Kālakūṭas, and Kuṇindas, he established the prosperous region, previously subdued by Pāpa, along with his army. (2-23-14)
स तेन सहितो राजन्सव्यसाची परन्तपः। विजिग्ये सकलं द्वीपं प्रतिविन्ध्यं च पार्थिवम् ॥२-२३-१५॥
O king, Savyasācī (Arjuna), the scorcher of foes, together with him, conquered all the islands and the kingdom of Prativindhya. (2-23-15)
सकलद्वीपवासांश्च सप्तद्वीपे च ये नृपाः। अर्जुनस्य च सैन्यानां विग्रहस्तुमुलोऽभवत् ॥२-२३-१६॥
A tumultuous conflict arose among all the islanders and the kings of the seven islands, as well as among Arjuna's armies. (2-23-16)
स तानपि महेष्वासो विजित्य भरतर्षभ। तैरेव सहितः सर्वैः प्राग्ज्योतिषमुपाद्रवत् ॥२-२३-१७॥
He, the mighty archer, having conquered them as well, O best of the Bharatas, then, accompanied by all of them, advanced towards Prāgjyotiṣa. (2-23-17)
तत्र राजा महानासीद्भगदत्तो विशां पते। तेनासीत्सुमहद्युद्धं पाण्डवस्य महात्मनः ॥२-२३-१८॥
There, the king, the mighty Bhagadatta, lord of men, was present. By him, a very great battle was fought with the noble Pāṇḍava. (2-23-18)
स किरातैश्च चीनैश्च वृतः प्राग्ज्योतिषोऽभवत्। अन्यैश्च बहुभिर्योधैः सागरानूपवासिभिः ॥२-२३-१९॥
He was surrounded by the Kirātas and the Chinese, and became the king of Prāgjyotiṣa, along with many other warriors and the dwellers of the ocean and marshlands. (2-23-19)
ततः स दिवसानष्टौ योधयित्वा धनञ्जयम्। प्रहसन्नब्रवीद्राजा सङ्ग्रामे विगतक्लमः ॥२-२३-२०॥
Then, after fighting Dhanañjaya for eight days, the king, smiling and without any fatigue, spoke in the midst of the battle. (2-23-20)
उपपन्नं महाबाहो त्वयि पाण्डवनन्दन। पाकशासनदायादे वीर्यमाहवशोभिनि ॥२-२३-२१॥
O mighty-armed one, heroism is fitting in you, O delight of the Pāṇḍavas, O heir of Indra, O one who shines in battle. (2-23-21)
अहं सखा सुरेन्द्रस्य शक्रादनवमो रणे। न च शक्नोमि ते तात स्थातुं प्रमुखतो युधि ॥२-२३-२२॥
I am the friend of the lord of the gods, not inferior to Śakra (Indra) in battle, yet, dear one, I am unable to stand before you in battle. (2-23-22)
किमीप्सितं पाण्डवेय ब्रूहि किं करवाणि ते। यद्वक्ष्यसि महाबाहो तत्करिष्यामि पुत्रक ॥२-२३-२३॥
Tell me, O son of Pāṇḍu, what you desire; what shall I do for you? Whatever you say, O mighty-armed one, that I shall do, dear son. (2-23-23)
अर्जुन उवाच॥
Arjuna said.
कुरूणामृषभो राजा धर्मपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः। तस्य पार्थिवतामीप्से करस्तस्मै प्रदीयताम् ॥२-२३-२४॥
Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma and the foremost among the Kurus, is the king; I desire his sovereignty; let tribute be paid to him. (2-23-24)
भवान्पितृसखा चैव प्रीयमाणो मयापि च। ततो नाज्ञापयामि त्वां प्रीतिपूर्वं प्रदीयताम् ॥२-२३-२५॥
You are the friend of my father and are also dear to me; therefore, I do not command you, but let it be given with affection. (2-23-25)
भगदत्त उवाच॥
Bhagadatta said.
कुन्तीमातर्यथा मे त्वं तथा राजा युधिष्ठिरः। सर्वमेतत्करिष्यामि किं चान्यत्करवाणि ते ॥२-२३-२६॥
O mother Kuntī, as you instruct me and as King Yudhiṣṭhira commands, I will do all this. What else can I do for you? (2-23-26)
