03.173
आजगरपर्व
The Python Episode
जनमेजय उवाच॥
Janamejaya said.
तस्मिन्कृतास्त्रे रथिनां प्रधाने; प्रत्यागते भवनाद्वृत्रहन्तुः। अतः परं किमकुर्वन्त पार्थाः; समेत्य शूरेण धनञ्जयेन ॥०३-१७३-१॥
When, in the forefront of the charioteers where weapons were deployed, the slayer of Vṛtra had returned from his abode, what then did the Pāṇḍavas do, having assembled with the heroic Dhanañjaya? (03-173-1)
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
वनेषु तेष्वेव तु ते नरेन्द्राः; सहार्जुनेनेन्द्रसमेन वीराः। तस्मिंश्च शैलप्रवरे सुरम्ये; धनेश्वराक्रीडगता विजह्रुः ॥०३-१७३-२॥
But those kings, heroes equal to Indra, together with Arjuna, enjoyed themselves in those very forests and upon that delightful, foremost mountain, engaging in the pastimes of Kubera. (03-173-2)
वेश्मानि तान्यप्रतिमानि पश्य; न्क्रीडाश्च नानाद्रुमसंनिकर्षाः। चचार धन्वी बहुधा नरेन्द्रः; सोऽस्त्रेषु यत्तः सततं किरीटी ॥०३-१७३-३॥
Behold those unrivalled mansions and the sports amidst various trees; the crowned king, the archer, wandered about in many ways, always devoted to weapons. (03-173-3)
अवाप्य वासं नरदेवपुत्राः; प्रसादजं वैश्रवणस्य राज्ञः। न प्राणिनां ते स्पृहयन्ति राज; ञ्शिवश्च कालः स बभूव तेषाम् ॥०३-१७३-४॥
Having obtained residence through the favor of King Vaiśravaṇa, O king, those princes harbored no desire for the possessions of living beings; for them, time was auspicious. (03-173-4)
समेत्य पार्थेन यथैकरात्र; मूषुः समास्तत्र तदा चतस्रः। पूर्वाश्च षट्ता दश पाण्डवानां; शिवा बभूवुर्वसतां वनेषु ॥०३-१७३-५॥
It seemed to Pārtha that the four years spent there passed like one night. Previously, six years—these ten years of the Pāṇḍavas—became auspicious for them as they dwelled in the forests. (03-173-5)
ततोऽब्रवीद्वायुसुतस्तरस्वी; जिष्णुश्च राजानमुपोपविश्य। यमौ च वीरौ सुरराजकल्पा; वेकान्तमास्थाय हितं प्रियं च ॥०३-१७३-६॥
Then the mighty son of Vāyu, having come near and seated himself by the king, along with the two heroic sons of Yama—heroes as splendid as the lord of the gods—having taken themselves aside in solitude, spoke what was both beneficial and dear. (03-173-6)
तव प्रतिज्ञां कुरुराज सत्यां; चिकीर्षमाणास्त्वदनु प्रियं च। ततोऽनुगच्छाम वनान्यपास्य; सुयोधनं सानुचरं निहन्तुम् ॥०३-१७३-७॥
Your vow, Kuru king, is true; desiring to fulfill it, we, following you and in what is pleasing to you, therefore abandon the forests to go to slay Suyodhana along with his followers. (3-173-7)
एकादशं वर्षमिदं वसामः; सुयोधनेनात्तसुखाः सुखार्हाः। तं वञ्चयित्वाधमबुद्धिशील; मज्ञातवासं सुखमाप्नुयामः ॥०३-१७३-८॥
We are passing this eleventh year here; deprived of our due happiness by Suyodhana, though we deserve happiness. May we, having deceived that wickedly minded one, obtain happiness through living incognito. (3-173-8)
तवाज्ञया पार्थिव निर्विशङ्का; विहाय मानं विचरन्वनानि। समीपवासेन विलोभितास्ते; ज्ञास्यन्ति नास्मानपकृष्टदेशान् ॥०३-१७३-९॥
O king, by your command, without hesitation, we abandon pride and wander the forests; those who are enticed by living nearby will not recognize us when we are in distant lands. (3-173-9)
संवत्सरं तं तु विहृत्य गूढं; नराधमं तं सुखमुद्धरेम। निर्यात्य वैरं सफलं सपुष्पं; तस्मै नरेन्द्राधमपूरुषाय ॥०३-१७३-१०॥
Let us, after secretly spending a year, joyfully kill that worst of men. Having thus fulfilled and completed our enmity towards that vile man, that lowest among kings. (03-173-10)
सुयोधनायानुचरैर्वृताय; ततो महीमाहर धर्मराज। स्वर्गोपमं शैलमिमं चरद्भिः; शक्यो विहन्तुं नरदेव शोकः ॥०३-१७३-११॥
Surrounded by the followers of Suyodhana, then take the earth, O Dharmarāja. This mountain, like heaven, being traversed by wandering men, O king, grief can be conquered. (03-173-11)
कीर्तिश्च ते भारत पुण्यगन्धा; नश्येत लोकेषु चराचरेषु। तत्प्राप्य राज्यं कुरुपुङ्गवानां; शक्यं महत्प्राप्तमथ क्रियाश्च ॥०३-१७३-१२॥
O Bhārata, your fame, possessing auspicious fragrance, would perish among all beings in the worlds, both moving and unmoving. Therefore, having attained the kingdom of the foremost among the Kurus, great deeds then are possible. (03-173-12)
इदं तु शक्यं सततं नरेन्द्र; प्राप्तुं त्वया यल्लभसे कुबेरात्। कुरुष्व बुद्धिं द्विषतां वधाय; कृतागसां भारत निग्रहे च ॥०३-१७३-१३॥
O king, this is always possible for you—to obtain that which you have gotten from Kubera. Make up your mind for destroying your enemies and for restraining those who have committed offences, O descendant of Bharata. (03-173-13)
तेजस्तवोग्रं न सहेत राज; न्समेत्य साक्षादपि वज्रपाणिः। न हि व्यथां जातु करिष्यतस्तौ; समेत्य देवैरपि धर्मराज ॥०३-१७३-१४॥
O king, even Indra himself, if directly confronted, could not withstand your fierce energy; nor would those two (warriors), even if faced by all the gods and Dharmarāja (Yama), ever cause distress. (03-173-14)
त्वदर्थसिद्ध्यर्थमभिप्रवृत्तौ; सुपर्णकेतुश्च शिनेश्च नप्ता। यथैव कृष्णोऽप्रतिमो बलेन; तथैव राजन्स शिनिप्रवीरः ॥०३-१७३-१५॥
For attaining your objective, both Suparṇa-ketu and the grandson of Śini are engaged. Just as Kṛṣṇa is unparalleled in strength, so too, O king, is that heroic descendant of Śini. (03-173-15)
तवार्थसिद्ध्यर्थमभिप्रवृत्तौ; यथैव कृष्णः सह यादवैस्तैः। तथैव चावां नरदेववर्य; यमौ च वीरौ कृतिनौ प्रयोगे ॥ त्वदर्थयोगप्रभवप्रधानाः; समं करिष्याम परान्समेत्य ॥०३-१७३-१६॥
For the accomplishment of your purpose, we are engaged—just as Kṛṣṇa was with the Yādavas, so also, O best of kings, we two sons of Yama, heroic and capable in action, originating as chief ones for your sake, will together oppose the others after assembling. (03-173-16)
ततस्तदाज्ञाय मतं महात्मा; तेषां स धर्मस्य सुतो वरिष्ठः। प्रदक्षिणं वैश्रवणाधिवासं; चकार धर्मार्थविदुत्तमौजः ॥०३-१७३-१७॥
Then, having understood their opinion, the great-souled and most eminent son of Dharma, a knower of dharma and artha endowed with great vigor, performed the circumambulation of Vaiśravaṇa's abode. (03-173-17)
आमन्त्र्य वेश्मानि नदीः सरांसि; सर्वाणि रक्षांसि च धर्मराजः। यथागतं मार्गमवेक्षमाणः; पुनर्गिरिं चैव निरीक्षमाणः ॥०३-१७३-१८॥
After taking leave of the mansions, rivers, lakes, and all the rakṣasas, king Yudhiṣṭhira, while looking back on the way he had come and once again gazing at the mountain, continued onward. (03-173-18)
समाप्तकर्मा सहितः सुहृद्भि; र्जित्वा सपत्नान्प्रतिलभ्य राज्यम्। शैलेन्द्र भूयस्तपसे धृतात्मा; द्रष्टा तवास्मीति मतिं चकार ॥०३-१७३-१९॥
Having completed his tasks, together with his friends, conquering his rivals and regaining the kingdom, O king of mountains, he resolved with firm mind to perform penance again, thinking, 'I am your seer.' (03-173-19)
वृतः स सर्वैरनुजैर्द्विजैश्च; तेनैव मार्गेण पतिः कुरूणाम्। उवाह चैनान्सगणांस्तथैव; घटोत्कचः पर्वतनिर्झरेषु ॥०३-१७३-२०॥
He, surrounded by all his younger brothers and Brahmins, the lord of the Kurus, proceeded by that very path, and Ghaṭotkaca in the same manner carried them and their retinues through the mountain streams. (03-173-20)
तान्प्रस्थितान्प्रीतिमना महर्षिः; पितेव पुत्राननुशिष्य सर्वान्। स लोमशः प्रीतमना जगाम; दिवौकसां पुण्यतमं निवासम् ॥०३-१७३-२१॥
Seeing them depart, the great sage, his mind pleased, instructed them all like a father instructs his sons. Then Lomaśa, pleased of mind, went to the most sacred abode of the gods. (03-173-21)
तेनानुशिष्टार्ष्टिषेणेन चैव; तीर्थानि रम्याणि तपोवनानि। महान्ति चान्यानि सरांसि पार्थाः; सम्पश्यमानाः प्रययुर्नराग्र्याः ॥०३-१७३-२२॥
Thus instructed by Ṛṣṭiṣeṇa, the sons of Pṛthā—foremost among men—beholding the beautiful holy places, ascetic groves, and the great and other lakes, proceeded on their way. (03-173-22)
