03.025
Pancharatra: Pandavas enter Dvaitavana forest.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
ततस्तेषु प्रयातेषु कौन्तेयः सत्यसङ्गरः। अभ्यभाषत धर्मात्मा भ्रातॄन्सर्वान्युधिष्ठिरः ॥३-२५-१॥
Then, after they had departed, Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti who was steadfast in truth and righteous-souled, addressed all his brothers. (3-25-1)
द्वादशेमाः समास्माभिर्वस्तव्यं निर्जने वने। समीक्षध्वं महारण्ये देशं बहुमृगद्विजम् ॥३-२५-२॥
We must dwell here in this deserted forest for twelve years. Please look for a place in the great forest that is abundant with animals and birds. (3-25-2)
बहुपुष्पफलं रम्यं शिवं पुण्यजनोचितम्। यत्रेमाः शरदः सर्वाः सुखं प्रतिवसेमहि ॥३-२५-३॥
May we dwell happily through all these autumns in a place that is beautiful, auspicious, full of many flowers and fruits, and suitable for virtuous people. (3-25-3)
एवमुक्ते प्रत्युवाच धर्मराजं धनञ्जयः। गुरुवन्मानवगुरुं मानयित्वा मनस्विनम् ॥३-२५-४॥
When this was said, Dhanañjaya (Arjuna) replied to Dharmarāja (Yudhiṣṭhira); having honored the high-minded human teacher as one would a guru. (3-25-4)
अर्जुन उवाच॥
Arjuna said.
भवानेव महर्षीणां वृद्धानां पर्युपासिता। अज्ञातं मानुषे लोके भवतो नास्ति किञ्चन ॥३-२५-५॥
You alone are attended by the great sages and elders. There is nothing about you that is unknown in the world of men. (3-25-5)
त्वया ह्युपासिता नित्यं ब्राह्मणा भरतर्षभ। द्वैपायनप्रभृतयो नारदश्च महातपाः ॥३-२५-६॥
O best of the Bharatas, you have always served Brāhmaṇas, especially great ascetics such as Dvaipāyana and Nārada. (3-25-6)
यः सर्वलोकद्वाराणि नित्यं सञ्चरते वशी। देवलोकाद्ब्रह्मलोकं गन्धर्वाप्सरसामपि ॥३-२५-७॥
He who, being self-controlled, constantly moves through all the gates of the worlds, from the world of the gods to Brahma's world, and even among the Gandharvas and Apsarases. (3-25-7)
सर्वा गतीर्विजानासि ब्राह्मणानां न संशयः। प्रभावांश्चैव वेत्थ त्वं सर्वेषामेव पार्थिव ॥३-२५-८॥
O king, you know all the paths of the Brāhmaṇas without any doubt, and you also know the powers of everyone.
त्वमेव राजञ्जानासि श्रेयःकारणमेव च। यत्रेच्छसि महाराज निवासं तत्र कुर्महे ॥३-२५-९॥
You alone, O king, know the best reason; wherever you wish, O great king, we shall make our residence there. (3-25-9)
इदं द्वैतवनं नाम सरः पुण्यजनोचितम्। बहुपुष्पफलं रम्यं नानाद्विजनिषेवितम् ॥३-२५-१०॥
This is the lake called Dvaitavana, suitable for virtuous people, abundant with many flowers and fruits, delightful, and frequented by various brāhmaṇas and other twice-born. (3-25-10)
अत्रेमा द्वादश समा विहरेमेति रोचये। यदि तेऽनुमतं राजन्किं वान्यन्मन्यते भवान् ॥३-२५-११॥
I wish that we may dwell here for these twelve years, if it is approved by you, O king. Or does your mind consider something else? (3-25-11)
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
ममाप्येतन्मतं पार्थ त्वया यत्समुदाहृतम्। गच्छाम पुण्यं विख्यातं महद्द्वैतवनं सरः ॥३-२५-१२॥
O Pārtha, I too hold the same opinion as you have expressed; let us go to the renowned and sacred great lake of Dvaitavana. (3-25-12)
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
ततस्ते प्रययुः सर्वे पाण्डवा धर्मचारिणः। ब्राह्मणैर्बहुभिः सार्धं पुण्यं द्वैतवनं सरः ॥३-२५-१३॥
Then all the Pāṇḍavas, who were followers of righteousness, together with many Brāhmaṇas, set out for the sacred lake in the Dwaita forest. (3-25-13)
ब्राह्मणाः साग्निहोत्राश्च तथैव च निरग्नयः। स्वाध्यायिनो भिक्षवश्च सजपा वनवासिनः ॥३-२५-१४॥
Brāhmaṇas who perform Agnihotra, as well as those without fire, those devoted to self-study, mendicants, those who recite, and forest-dwellers. (3-25-14)
बहवो ब्राह्मणास्तत्र परिवव्रुर्युधिष्ठिरम्। तपस्विनः सत्यशीलाः शतशः संशितव्रताः ॥३-२५-१५॥
There, many Brāhmaṇas, ascetics of truthful nature and firm vows, by the hundreds, surrounded Yudhiṣṭhira. (3-25-15)
ते यात्वा पाण्डवास्तत्र बहुभिर्ब्राह्मणैः सह। पुण्यं द्वैतवनं रम्यं विविशुर्भरतर्षभाः ॥३-२५-१६॥
Having gone there together with many Brāhmaṇas, the Pāṇḍavas, the best of the Bharatas, entered the holy and pleasant Dvaita forest. (3-25-16)
तच्छालतालाम्रमधूकनीप; कदम्बसर्जार्जुनकर्णिकारैः। तपात्यये पुष्पधरैरुपेतं; महावनं राष्ट्रपतिर्ददर्श ॥३-२५-१७॥
The king saw that great forest, filled with śāla, palmyra, mango, madhūka, nīpa, kadamba, sarja, arjuna, and karṇikāra trees, adorned with flowers at the end of the hot season. (3-25-17)
महाद्रुमाणां शिखरेषु तस्थु; र्मनोरमां वाचमुदीरयन्तः। मयूरदात्यूहचकोरसङ्घा; स्तस्मिन्वने काननकोकिलाश्च ॥३-२५-१८॥
Groups of peacocks, cranes, and partridges stood on the tops of great trees, uttering pleasing sounds; in that forest, there were also forest-cuckoos. (3-25-18)
करेणुयूथैः सह यूथपानां; मदोत्कटानामचलप्रभाणाम्। महान्ति यूथानि महाद्विपानां; तस्मिन्वने राष्ट्रपतिर्ददर्श ॥३-२५-१९॥
In that forest, the king saw great herds of mighty elephants, led by their chiefs, accompanied by groups of female elephants, all of whom were exceedingly intoxicated and whose splendour was like that of mountains. (3-25-19)
मनोरमां भोगवतीमुपेत्य; धृतात्मनां चीरजटाधराणाम्। तस्मिन्वने धर्मभृतां निवासे; ददर्श सिद्धर्षिगणाननेकान् ॥३-२५-२०॥
Having reached the charming and delightful place, the abode of self-restrained ascetics clad in bark and matted hair, in that forest, he saw many groups of perfected sages. (3-25-20)
ततः स यानादवरुह्य राजा; सभ्रातृकः सजनः काननं तत्। विवेश धर्मात्मवतां वरिष्ठ; स्त्रिविष्टपं शक्र इवामितौजाः ॥३-२५-२१॥
Then the king, accompanied by his brothers and people, descended from the vehicle and entered that forest; the foremost among the righteous, he entered it like Indra of immeasurable energy enters heaven. (3-25-21)
तं सत्यसन्धं सहिताभिपेतु; र्दिदृक्षवश्चारणसिद्धसङ्घाः। वनौकसश्चापि नरेन्द्रसिंहं; मनस्विनं सम्परिवार्य तस्थुः ॥३-२५-२२॥
The charaṇas and siddhas, desiring to see him who was truthful in promise, approached together; and the forest-dwellers also, having surrounded the high-minded lion among kings, stood there. (3-25-22)
स तत्र सिद्धानभिवाद्य सर्वा; न्प्रत्यर्चितो राजवद्देववच्च। विवेश सर्वैः सहितो द्विजाग्र्यैः; कृताञ्जलिर्धर्मभृतां वरिष्ठः ॥३-२५-२३॥
He respectfully greeted all the perfected beings there and was honored in return like a king and a god. Then, accompanied by all the foremost Brahmins, with joined palms, the most eminent among the upholders of dharma entered. (3-25-23)
स पुण्यशीलः पितृवन्महात्मा; तपस्विभिर्धर्मपरैरुपेत्य। प्रत्यर्चितः पुष्पधरस्य मूले; महाद्रुमस्योपविवेश राजा ॥३-२५-२४॥
He, the virtuous and great-souled king, honored by ascetics devoted to dharma, approached and sat at the root of the great flower-bearing tree, like a father. (3-25-24)
भीमश्च कृष्णा च धनञ्जयश्च; यमौ च ते चानुचरा नरेन्द्रम्। विमुच्य वाहानवरुह्य सर्वे; तत्रोपतस्थुर्भरतप्रबर्हाः ॥३-२५-२५॥
Bhima, Kṛṣṇa, Dhanañjaya, the twins, and their attendants, having unyoked their vehicles and descended, all approached the king there, the foremost among the Bharatas. (3-25-25)
लतावतानावनतः स पाण्डवै; र्महाद्रुमः पञ्चभिरुग्रधन्विभिः। बभौ निवासोपगतैर्महात्मभि; र्महागिरिर्वारणयूथपैरिव ॥३-२५-२६॥
He, like a great tree with creepers, unbent, shone among the Pāṇḍavas—the five fierce bowmen; just as a great mountain shines when approached by elephant chiefs, so did he shine when approached by the great-souled ones for dwelling. (3-25-26)
