03.044
Core: Indra welcomes Arjuna and the description of Indra’s splendour.
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
स ददर्श पुरीं रम्यां सिद्धचारणसेविताम्। सर्वर्तुकुसुमैः पुण्यैः पादपैरुपशोभिताम् ॥३-४४-१॥
He saw the beautiful city, served by siddhas and celestial bards, adorned with auspicious trees blossoming in every season. (3-44-1)
तत्र सौगन्धिकानां स द्रुमाणां पुण्यगन्धिनाम्। उपवीज्यमानो मिश्रेण वायुना पुण्यगन्धिना ॥३-४४-२॥
There, he was fanned by the mixed wind carrying the auspicious fragrance of the Saugandhika flowers and the trees of auspicious scent. (3-44-2)
नन्दनं च वनं दिव्यमप्सरोगणसेवितम्। ददर्श दिव्यकुसुमैराह्वयद्भिरिव द्रुमैः ॥३-४४-३॥
He saw the Nandana, the divine forest attended by groups of apsarases, with trees as if inviting with divine flowers. (3-44-3)
नातप्ततपसा शक्यो द्रष्टुं नानाहिताग्निना। स लोकः पुण्यकर्तॄणां नापि युद्धपराङ्मुखैः ॥३-४४-४॥
That world of the meritorious cannot be seen by one who has not performed austerities, nor by one who has not kindled the sacred fire. It is not for those who turn away from battle. (3-44-4)
नायज्वभिर्नानृतकैर्न वेदश्रुतिवर्जितैः। नानाप्लुताङ्गैस्तीर्थेषु यज्ञदानबहिष्कृतैः ॥३-४४-५॥
Sacrifices and gifts are not to be performed in sacred places by non-sacrificers, by those who speak untruth, by those excluded from hearing the Veda, or by those with various bodily deformities. (3-44-5)
नापि यज्ञहनैः क्षुद्रैर्द्रष्टुं शक्यः कथञ्चन। पानपैर्गुरुतल्पैश्च मांसादैर्वा दुरात्मभिः ॥३-४४-६॥
He cannot be seen in any way by sacrificer-slayers, mean persons, drinkers, those who violate the teacher's bed, flesh-eaters, or evil-minded people. (3-44-6)
स तद्दिव्यं वनं पश्यन्दिव्यगीतनिनादितम्। प्रविवेश महाबाहुः शक्रस्य दयितां पुरीम् ॥३-४४-७॥
He, beholding that divine forest resounding with celestial music, the mighty-armed entered the beloved city of Śakra. (3-44-7)
तत्र देवविमानानि कामगानि सहस्रशः। संस्थितान्यभियातानि ददर्शायुतशस्तदा ॥३-४४-८॥
There, he saw thousands and tens of thousands of divine aerial cars, moving at will, stationed and approaching at that time. (3-44-8)
संस्तूयमानो गन्धर्वैरप्सरोभिश्च पाण्डवः। पुष्पगन्धवहैः पुण्यैर्वायुभिश्चानुवीजितः ॥३-४४-९॥
The son of Pāṇḍu, praised by Gandharvas and Apsarases, was fanned by auspicious winds carrying the fragrance of flowers. (3-44-9)
ततो देवाः सगन्धर्वाः सिद्धाश्च परमर्षयः। हृष्टाः सम्पूजयामासुः पार्थमक्लिष्टकारिणम् ॥३-४४-१०॥
Then the gods, Gandharvas, Siddhas, and the great sages, being delighted, honored Arjuna, the performer of effortless deeds. (3-44-10)
आशीर्वादैः स्तूयमानो दिव्यवादित्रनिस्वनैः। प्रतिपेदे महाबाहुः शङ्खदुन्दुभिनादितम् ॥३-४४-११॥
While being praised with blessings and the sounds of divine musical instruments, the mighty-armed hero reached the place resounding with conch and drum. (3-44-11)
नक्षत्रमार्गं विपुलं सुरवीथीति विश्रुतम्। इन्द्राज्ञया ययौ पार्थः स्तूयमानः समन्ततः ॥३-४४-१२॥
By Indra's command, Pārtha proceeded along the vast and well-known star-path, the road of the gods, being praised on all sides. (3-44-12)
तत्र साध्यास्तथा विश्वे मरुतोऽथाश्विनावपि। आदित्या वसवो रुद्रास्तथा ब्रह्मर्षयोऽमलाः ॥३-४४-१३॥
There were present the Sādhyas, the Viśve gods, the Maruts, then also the Aśvin twins, the Ādityas, the Vasus, the Rudras, and likewise the pure Brahmarṣis. (3-44-13)
राजर्षयश्च बहवो दिलीपप्रमुखा नृपाः। तुम्बुरुर्नारदश्चैव गन्धर्वौ च हहाहुहू ॥३-४४-१४॥
There were royal sages and many kings led by Dilīpa; also present were Tumburu, Nārada, and the two Gandharvas, Hahā and Hūhū. (3-44-14)
तान्सर्वान्स समागम्य विधिवत्कुरुनन्दनः। ततोऽपश्यद्देवराजं शतक्रतुमरिंदमम् ॥३-४४-१५॥
Having properly approached all of them, the descendant of Kuru then saw the king of the gods, Indra, the destroyer of enemies. (3-44-15)
ततः पार्थो महाबाहुरवतीर्य रथोत्तमात्। ददर्श साक्षाद्देवेन्द्रं पितरं पाकशासनम् ॥३-४४-१६॥
Then mighty-armed Arjuna, the son of Pṛthā, after descending from the excellent chariot, saw his father Indra, the slayer of Pāka, standing before him. (3-44-16)
पाण्डुरेणातपत्रेण हेमदण्डेन चारुणा। दिव्यगन्धाधिवासेन व्यजनेन विधूयता ॥३-४४-१७॥
He was fanned with a beautiful white umbrella with a golden staff and with a fan perfumed with divine fragrance. (3-44-17)
विश्वावसुप्रभृतिभिर्गन्धर्वैः स्तुतिवन्दनैः। स्तूयमानं द्विजाग्र्यैश्च ऋग्यजुःसामसंस्तवैः ॥३-४४-१८॥
He was being praised by the Gandharvas headed by Viśvāvasu with songs of praise and salutations, and also by the foremost Brāhmaṇas with hymns from the Ṛg, Yajur, and Sāma Vedas. (3-44-18)
ततोऽभिगम्य कौन्तेयः शिरसाभ्यनमद्बली। स चैनमनुवृत्ताभ्यां भुजाभ्यां प्रत्यगृह्णत ॥३-४४-१९॥
Then, having approached, the strong son of Kunti bowed his head; and he received him with his two bent arms. (3-44-19)
ततः शक्रासने पुण्ये देवराजर्षिपूजिते। शक्रः पाणौ गृहीत्वैनमुपावेशयदन्तिके ॥३-४४-२०॥
Then, on the holy seat of Indra, which was worshipped by the king of gods and sages, Indra took him by the hand and made him sit close by. (3-44-20)
मूर्ध्नि चैनमुपाघ्राय देवेन्द्रः परवीरहा। अङ्कमारोपयामास प्रश्रयावनतं तदा ॥३-४४-२१॥
Then Indra, the destroyer of enemy heroes, after smelling him on the head, placed him, who was bowed down with humility, on his lap. (3-44-21)
सहस्राक्षनियोगात्स पार्थः शक्रासनं तदा। अध्यक्रामदमेयात्मा द्वितीय इव वासवः ॥३-४४-२२॥
Then, by the command of Sahasrākṣa (Indra), Pārtha (Arjuna), whose self was immeasurable, ascended the seat of Śakra (Indra), like a second Vāsava (Indra). (3-44-22)
ततः प्रेम्णा वृत्रशत्रुरर्जुनस्य शुभं मुखम्। पस्पर्श पुण्यगन्धेन करेण परिसान्त्वयन् ॥३-४४-२३॥
Then, with affection, Indra (the enemy of Vṛtra) gently touched Arjuna's auspicious face with his fragrant hand, soothing him. (3-44-23)
परिमार्जमानः शनकैर्बाहू चास्यायतौ शुभौ। ज्याशरक्षेपकठिनौ स्तम्भाविव हिरण्मयौ ॥३-४४-२४॥
He, wiping slowly, had long and beautiful arms, hard for drawing the bowstring and shooting arrows, like golden pillars. (3-44-24)
वज्रग्रहणचिह्नेन करेण बलसूदनः। मुहुर्मुहुर्वज्रधरो बाहू संस्फालयञ्शनैः ॥३-४४-२५॥
The destroyer of strength, the vajra-holder, repeatedly and slowly struck his arms together with the hand marked by grasping the vajra. (3-44-25)
स्मयन्निव गुडाकेशं प्रेक्षमाणः सहस्रदृक्। हर्षेणोत्फुल्लनयनो न चातृप्यत वृत्रहा ॥३-४४-२६॥
Vṛtrahā (Indra), smiling as if at Guḍākeśa (Arjuna), gazed at him with eyes expanded in joy, and the thousand-eyed one was not satisfied (with looking at him). (3-44-26)
एकासनोपविष्टौ तौ शोभयां चक्रतुः सभाम्। सूर्याचन्द्रमसौ व्योम्नि चतुर्दश्यामिवोदितौ ॥३-४४-२७॥
Seated together on one seat, those two made the assembly splendid, like the Sun and the Moon risen in the sky on the fourteenth day. (3-44-27)
तत्र स्म गाथा गायन्ति साम्ना परमवल्गुना। गन्धर्वास्तुम्बुरुश्रेष्ठाः कुशला गीतसामसु ॥३-४४-२८॥
There, indeed, the Gandharvas, the foremost among Tumburu, skilled in song and Sāman, sing songs with supremely melodious Sāman. (3-44-28)
घृताची मेनका रम्भा पूर्वचित्तिः स्वयम्प्रभा। उर्वशी मिश्रकेशी च डुण्डुर्गौरी वरूथिनी ॥३-४४-२९॥
Ghṛtācī, Menakā, Rambhā, Pūrvacittiḥ, Svayamprabhā, Urvaśī, Miśrakeśī, Ḍuṇḍurgaurī, and Varūthinī were (the apsarases). (3-44-29)
गोपाली सहजन्या च कुम्भयोनिः प्रजागरा। चित्रसेना चित्रलेखा सहा च मधुरस्वरा ॥३-४४-३०॥
Gopālī, born together, and Kumbhayoni, ever-wakeful; Citrasenā, Citralekhā, with and sweet-voiced. (3-44-30)
एताश्चान्याश्च ननृतुस्तत्र तत्र वराङ्गनाः। चित्तप्रमथने युक्ताः सिद्धानां पद्मलोचनाः ॥३-४४-३१॥
These and other excellent women, lotus-eyed, engaged in agitating the minds of the siddhas, danced here and there. (3-44-31)
महाकटितटश्रोण्यः कम्पमानैः पयोधरैः। कटाक्षहावमाधुर्यैश्चेतोबुद्धिमनोहराः ॥३-४४-३२॥
Women with broad hips and quivering breasts, whose sidelong glances and graceful gestures are sweet, enchant the mind, intellect, and heart. (3-44-32)
