03.173
ājagaraparva
The Python Episode
janamejaya uvāca॥
Janamejaya said.
tasmin-kṛtāstre rathināṃ pradhāne; pratyāgate bhavanād vṛtrahantuḥ। ataḥ paraṃ kim akurvanta pārthāḥ; sametya śūreṇa dhanañjayena॥03-173-1॥
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)
vaiśampāyana uvāca॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
vaneṣu teṣveva tu te narendrāḥ; sahārjunenendrasamena vīrāḥ. tasmiṁśca śailapravare suramye; dhaneśvarākrīḍagatā vijahruḥ ॥03-173-2॥
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)
veśmāni tānyapratimāni paśya; krīḍāś ca nānādruma-saṃnikarṣāḥ| cacāra dhanvī bahudhā narendraḥ; so'streṣu yattaḥ satataṃ kirīṭī ॥03-173-3॥
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)
avāpya vāsaṃ naradevaputrāḥ; prasādajaṃ vaiśravaṇasya rājñaḥ। na prāṇināṃ te spṛhayanti rājan; śivaś ca kālaḥ sa babhūva teṣām ॥03-173-4॥
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)
sametya pārthena yathaikarātra; mūṣuḥ samās tatra tadā catasraḥ. pūrvāś ca ṣaṭ tā daśa pāṇḍavānāṃ; śivā babhūvur vasatāṃ vaneṣu ॥03-173-5॥
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)
tato'bravīd vāyu-sutas tarasvī; jiṣṇuś ca rājānam upopaviśya. yamau ca vīrau sura-rāja-kalpā; ekāntam āsthāya hitaṃ priyaṃ ca ॥03-173-6॥
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)
tava pratijñāṃ kururāja satyāṃ; cikīrṣamāṇās tvad-anu priyaṃ ca. tato 'nugacchāma vanāny apāsya; suyodhanaṃ sānucaraṃ nihan-tum ॥03-173-7॥
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)
ekādaśaṃ varṣam idaṃ vasāmaḥ; suyodhanenātta-sukhāḥ sukhārhāḥ. taṃ vañcayitvā adhama-buddhi-śīla; ajñāta-vāsaṃ sukham āpnuyāmaḥ ॥03-173-8॥
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)
tavājñayā pārthiva nirviśaṅkā; vihāya mānaṃ vicaran vanāni. samīpavāsena vilobhitās te; jñāsyanti nāsmānapakṛṣṭadeśān ॥03-173-9॥
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)
saṃvatsaraṃ taṃ tu vihṛtya gūḍhaṃ; narādhamam taṃ sukham uddharema. niryātya vairaṃ saphalaṃ sapuṣpaṃ; tasmai narendrādhamapūruṣāya ॥03-173-10॥
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)
suyodhanāyānucarairvṛtāya; tato mahīmāhara dharmarāja. svargopamaṃ śailamimaṃ caradbhiḥ; śakyo vihantuṃ naradeva śokaḥ ॥03-173-11॥
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)
kīrtiś ca te bhārata puṇyagandhā; naśyet lokeṣu carācareṣu। tatprāpya rājyaṃ kurupuṅgavānāṃ; śakyaṃ mahatprāptam atha kriyāś ca ॥03-173-12॥
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)
idaṃ tu śakyaṃ satataṃ narendra; prāptuṃ tvayā yallabhase kuberāt। kuruṣva buddhiṃ dviṣatāṃ vadhāya; kṛtāgasāṃ bhārata nigrahe ca ॥03-173-13॥
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)
tejas tavo ugraṁ na saheta rājan; na sametya sākṣād api vajrapāṇiḥ। na hi vyathāṁ jātu kariṣyataḥ tau; sametya devair api dharmarāja ॥03-173-14॥
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)
tvad-artha-siddhy-artham-abhipravṛttau; suparṇa-ketuś ca shineś ca naptā. yathaiva kṛṣṇo'pratimo balena; tathaiva rājans śini-pravīraḥ ॥03-173-15॥
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)
tavārthasiddhyartham abhipravṛttau; yathaiva kṛṣṇaḥ saha yādavaistaiḥ। tathaiva cāvāṃ naradevavarya; yamau ca vīrau kṛtinau prayoge॥ tvadarthayogaprabhavapradhānāḥ; samaṃ kariṣyāma parān sametya॥03-173-16॥
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)
tatas tad ājñāya mataṃ mahātmā; teṣāṃ sa dharmasya suto variṣṭhaḥ। pradakṣiṇaṃ vaiśravaṇādhivāsaṃ; cakāra dharmārthavid uttamaujaḥ॥03-173-17॥
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)
āmantrya veśmāni nadīḥ sarāṃsi; sarvāṇi rakṣāṃsi ca dharmarājaḥ. yathāgataṃ mārgam avekṣamāṇaḥ; punar giriṃ caiva nirīkṣamāṇaḥ ॥03-173-18॥
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)
samāptakarmā sahitaḥ suhṛdbhiḥ jitvā sapatnān pratilabhya rājyam। śailendra bhūyas tapase dhṛtātmā draṣṭā tav āsmi iti matiṁ cakāra॥03-173-19॥
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)
vṛtaḥ sa sarvair anujair dvijaiś ca; tenaiva mārgeṇa patiḥ kurūṇām। uvāha ca enān saghaṇāṁs tathaiva; ghaṭotkacaḥ parvata-nirjhareṣu ॥03-173-20॥
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)
tān prasthitān prītimanā maharṣiḥ; pitā iva putrān anuśiṣya sarvān। sa lomaśaḥ prītimanā jagāma; divaukasāṃ puṇyatamaṃ nivāsam ॥03-173-21॥
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)
tenānuśiṣṭārṣṭiṣeṇena caiva; tīrthāni ramyāṇi tapovanāni. mahānti cānyāni sarāṁsi pārthāḥ; sampaśyamānāḥ prayayurnarāgryāḥ ॥03-173-22॥
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)
