02.023
Pancharatra: Pandavas go on conquest, Arjuna to north, Bheema to east, Nakula to west, and Sahadeva to south.
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
pārthaḥ prāpya dhanuḥśreṣṭham-akṣayyau ca maheṣudhī। rathaṃ dhvajaṃ sabhāṃ caiva yudhiṣṭhiram-abhāṣata ॥2-23-1॥
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)
dhanurastraṃ śarā vīryaṃ pakṣo bhūmiryaśo balam। prāptametanmayā rājan duṣprāpaṃ yadabhīpsitam ॥2-23-2॥
O king, I have obtained the bow, missile, arrows, strength, side, earth, fame, and power—everything that was difficult to obtain and desired.
tatra kṛtyam ahaṃ manye kośasya asya vivardhanam। karam āhārayiṣyāmi rājñaḥ sarvān nṛpottama ॥2-23-3॥
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)
vijayāya prayāsyāmi diśaṃ dhanadarakṣitām। tithāvatha muhūrte ca nakṣatre ca tathā śive ॥2-23-4॥
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)
dhanañjayavacaḥ śrutvā dharmarājo yudhiṣṭhiraḥ। snigdhagambhīranādinyā taṃ girā pratyabhāṣata ॥2-23-5॥
Hearing Arjuna's words, Yudhishthira, the king of dharma, replied to him in a gentle and deep, resonant voice. (2-23-5)
svasti vācyārhato viprān prayāhi bharatarṣabha। durhṛdām apraharṣāya suhṛdāṃ nandanāya ca ॥ vijayas te dhruvaṃ pārtha priyaṃ kāmam avāpnuhi ॥2-23-6॥
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)
ityuktaḥ prayayau pārthaḥ sainyena mahatā vṛtaḥ। agnidattena divyena rathenādbhutakarmaṇā ॥2-23-7॥
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)
tathaiva bhīmaseno'pi yamau ca puruṣarṣabhau। sasainyāḥ prayayuḥ sarve dharmarājābhipūjitāḥ ॥2-23-8॥
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)
diśaṃ dhanapater iṣṭām ajayat pākāśāsaniḥ। bhīmasenas tathā prācīṃ sahadevas tu dakṣiṇām ॥2-23-9॥
Indra conquered the direction desired by Kubera. Likewise, Bhīmasena conquered the east, and Sahadeva conquered the south. (2-23-9)
pratīcīṃ nakulo rājan diśaṃ vyajayad astravit | khāṇḍavaprastham adhyāste dharmarājo yudhiṣṭhiraḥ ॥2-23-10॥
Nakula, skilled in weapons, conquered the western direction, O king; Dharmaraja Yudhishthira resides at Khandavaprastha. (2-23-10)
janamejaya uvāca॥
Janamejaya said.
diśām abhijayaṃ brahman vistareṇānukīrtaya। na hi tṛpyāmi pūrveṣāṃ śṛṇvānaś caritaṃ mahat ॥2-23-11॥
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)
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
dhanañjayasya vakṣyāmi vijayaṃ pūrvameva te। yaugapadyena pārthair hi vijiteyaṃ vasundharā ॥2-23-12॥
I will tell you beforehand of Dhananjaya's victory. This earth has indeed been conquered simultaneously by the sons of Pritha. (2-23-12)
pūrvaṃ kuṇindaviṣaye vaśe cakre mahīpatīn। dhanañjayo mahābāhur nātitīvreṇa karmaṇā ॥2-23-13॥
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)
ānartān kālakūṭāṁś ca kuṇindāṁś ca vijitya saḥ। sumaṇḍalaṁ pāpajitaṁ kṛtavān anusaīnikam ॥2-23-14॥
After conquering the Ānartas, Kālakūṭas, and Kuṇindas, he established the prosperous region, previously subdued by Pāpa, along with his army. (2-23-14)
sa tena sahito rājan savyasācī parantapaḥ। vijigye sakalaṃ dvīpaṃ prativindhyaṃ ca pārthivam ॥2-23-15॥
O king, Savyasācī (Arjuna), the scorcher of foes, together with him, conquered all the islands and the kingdom of Prativindhya. (2-23-15)
sakaladvīpavāsāṃś ca saptadvīpe ca ye nṛpāḥ। arjunasya ca sainyānāṃ vigrahastumulo'bhavat ॥2-23-16॥
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)
sa tān api maheṣvāso vijitya bharatarṣabha. tair eva sahitaḥ sarvaiḥ prāgjyotiṣam upādravat ॥2-23-17॥
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)
tatra rājā mahān āsīd bhagadatto viśāṃ pate। tenāsīt sumahad yuddhaṃ pāṇḍavasya mahātmanaḥ ॥2-23-18॥
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)
sa kirātaiś ca cīnaiś ca vṛtaḥ prāgjyotiṣaḥ abhavat। anyaiḥ ca bahubhiḥ yodhaiḥ sāgara-anūpa-vāsibhiḥ ॥2-23-19॥
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)
tataḥ sa divasānaṣṭau yodhayitvā dhanañjayam। prahasannabravīdrājā saṅgrāme vigataklamaḥ ॥2-23-20॥
Then, after fighting Dhanañjaya for eight days, the king, smiling and without any fatigue, spoke in the midst of the battle. (2-23-20)
upapannaṃ mahābāho tvayi pāṇḍavanandana। pākaśāsanadāyāde vīryamāhavaśobhini ॥2-23-21॥
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)
ahaṃ sakhā surendrasya śakrādanavamo raṇe। na ca śaknomi te tāta sthātuṃ pramukhato yudhi ॥2-23-22॥
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)
kimīpsitaṃ pāṇḍaveya brūhi kiṃ karavāṇi te। yadvakṣyasi mahābāho tatkariṣyāmi putraka ॥2-23-23॥
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)
arjuna uvāca॥
Arjuna said.
kurūṇām ṛṣabho rājā dharmaputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ। tasya pārthivatām īpse karas tasmai pradīyatām ॥2-23-24॥
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)
bhavān pitṛsakhā caiva prīyamāṇo mayāpi ca। tato nājñāpayāmi tvāṃ prītipūrvaṃ pradīyatām ॥2-23-25॥
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)
bhagadatta uvāca॥
Bhagadatta said.
kuntīmātar yathā me tvaṃ tathā rājā yudhiṣṭhiraḥ। sarvam etat kariṣyāmi kiṃ ca anyat karavāṇi te ॥2-23-26॥
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)
