03.174
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
नगोत्तमं प्रस्रवणैरुपेतं; दिशां गजैः किंनरपक्षिभिश्च। सुखं निवासं जहतां हि तेषां; न प्रीतिरासीद्भरतर्षभाणाम् ॥०३-१७४-१॥
Although they were leaving an excellent mountain adorned with streams, filled with elephants of the quarters and Kinnara birds, those foremost among the Bharatas did not feel joy in departing from their pleasant abode. (03-174-1)
ततस्तु तेषां पुनरेव हर्षः; कैलासमालोक्य महान्बभूव। कुबेरकान्तं भरतर्षभाणां; महीधरं वारिधरप्रकाशम् ॥०३-१७४-२॥
Then indeed, for them, great joy arose again upon seeing Kailāsa. For the foremost of the Bharatas, the mountain beloved of Kubera shone like a carrier of clouds. (03-174-2)
समुच्छ्रयान्पर्वतसंनिरोधा; न्गोष्ठान्गिरीणां गिरिसेतुमालाः। बहून्प्रपातांश्च समीक्ष्य वीराः; स्थलानि निम्नानि च तत्र तत्र ॥०३-१७४-३॥
The heroes, observing elevations, mountain enclosures, cow-pens of the mountains, chains of mountain ridges, and many precipices, as well as low-lying tracts of land here and there, (proceeded on their way). (03-174-3)
तथैव चान्यानि महावनानि; मृगद्विजानेकपसेवितानि। आलोकयन्तोऽभिययुः प्रतीता; स्ते धन्विनः खड्गधरा नराग्र्याः ॥०३-१७४-४॥
In the same way, the outstanding warriors, who were archers and sword-bearers, confidently proceeded, surveying other great forests inhabited by many kinds of beasts and birds. (03-174-4)
वनानि रम्याणि सरांसि नद्यो; गुहा गिरीणां गिरिगह्वराणि। एते निवासाः सततं बभूवुः निशानिशं प्राप्य नरर्षभाणाम्॥०३-१७४-५॥
Pleasant forests, lakes, rivers, mountain caves, and grottoes—these always became the dwellings, night after night, of the best among men. (03-174-5)
ते दुर्गवासं बहुधा निरुष्य; व्यतीत्य कैलासमचिन्त्यरूपम्। आसेदुरत्यर्थमनोरमं वै; तमाश्रमाग्र्यं वृषपर्वणस्ते ॥०३-१७४-६॥
Having traversed many difficult regions and passed the incomparable form of Kailāsa, they finally reached the exceedingly delightful, eminent hermitage of Vṛṣaparvan. (03-174-6)
समेत्य राज्ञा वृषपर्वणस्ते; प्रत्यर्चितास्तेन च वीतमोहाः। शशंसिरे विस्तरशः प्रवासं; शिवं यथावद्वृषपर्वणस्ते ॥०३-१७४-७॥
Having approached, those who were free from delusion were respectfully received by King Vṛṣaparvan, and they explained in detail their auspicious exile to Vṛṣaparvan as was proper. (03-174-7)
सुखोषितास्तत्र त एकरात्रं; पुण्याश्रमे देवमहर्षिजुष्टे। अभ्याययुस्ते बदरीं विशालां; सुखेन वीराः पुनरेव वासम् ॥०३-१७४-८॥
After spending one restful night there, in the holy hermitage inhabited by celestial sages, the heroes again approached the vast Badarī and dwelt there comfortably. (03-174-8)
ऊषुस्ततस्तत्र महानुभावा; नारायणस्थानगता नराग्र्याः। कुबेरकान्तां नलिनीं विशोकाः; सम्पश्यमानाः सुरसिद्धजुष्टाम् ॥०३-१७४-९॥
Then the great-souled noble men, having gone to the abode of Nārāyaṇa, approached and, free from sorrow, beheld the lotus lake dear to Kubera, cherished by gods and siddhas. (03-174-9)
तां चाथ दृष्ट्वा नलिनीं विशोकाः; पाण्डोः सुताः सर्वनरप्रवीराः। ते रेमिरे नन्दनवासमेत्य; द्विजर्षयो वीतभया यथैव ॥०३-१७४-१०॥
Then, having beheld the lotus-lake, the sons of Pāṇḍu, foremost among men, free from sorrow, rejoiced on reaching the delightful Nandana grove, just like the fearless Brahmin sages. (03-174-10)
ततः क्रमेणोपययुर्नृवीरा; यथागतेनैव पथा समग्राः। विहृत्य मासं सुखिनो बदर्यां; किरातराज्ञो विषयं सुबाहोः ॥०३-१७४-११॥
Then the heroic men, all together, returned in order by the same path they had come. After spending a month happily at Badari, they went to the territory of Subāhu, the king of the Kirātas. (03-174-11)
चीनांस्तुखारान्दरदान्सदार्वा; न्देशान्कुणिन्दस्य च भूरिरत्नान्। अतीत्य दुर्गं हिमवत्प्रदेशं; पुरं सुबाहोर्ददृशुर्नृवीराः ॥०३-१७४-१२॥
Having crossed the difficult Himalayan region and the jewel-rich countries of the Chinese, Tukhāras, Daradas, Sadarvas, and Kuṇinda, the heroic princes saw the city of Subāhu. (03-174-12)
श्रुत्वा च तान्पार्थिवपुत्रपौत्रा; न्प्राप्तान्सुबाहुर्विषये समग्रान्। प्रत्युद्ययौ प्रीतियुतः स राजा; तं चाभ्यनन्दन्वृषभाः कुरूणाम् ॥०३-१७४-१३॥
Having heard that all those sons and grandsons of kings had arrived in his territory, King Subāhu, full of affection, went forth to meet them; and the chiefs of the Kurus welcomed him. (03-174-13)
समेत्य राज्ञा तु सुबाहुना ते; सूतैर्विशोकप्रमुखैश्च सर्वैः। सहेन्द्रसेनैः परिचारकैश्च; पौरोगवैर्ये च महानसस्थाः ॥०३-१७४-१४॥
Having assembled by the king and by Subāhuna, they, along with all the charioteers headed by Viśoka, together with Indrasena and the attendants, the family priests, and those stationed in the kitchen, (acted thus). (03-174-14)
सुखोषितास्तत्र त एकरात्रं; सूतानुपादाय रथांश्च सर्वान्। घटोत्कचं सानुचरं विसृज्य; ततोऽभ्ययुर्यामुनमद्रिराजम् ॥०३-१७४-१५॥
After spending a pleasant night there, they took all their charioteers and chariots, dismissed Ghaṭotkaca and his followers, and then proceeded to the king of mountains by the Yamunā. (03-174-15)
तस्मिन्गिरौ प्रस्रवणोपपन्ने; हिमोत्तरीयारुणपाण्डुसानौ। विशाखयूपं समुपेत्य चक्रु; स्तदा निवासं पुरुषप्रवीराः ॥०३-१७४-१६॥
On that mountain, which had springs and peaks snowy, reddish, and pale, with diverging summits like stakes, the foremost of men then made their dwelling. (03-174-16)
वराहनानामृगपक्षिजुष्टं; महद्वनं चैत्ररथप्रकाशम्। शिवेन यात्वा मृगयाप्रधानाः; संवत्सरं तत्र वने विजह्रुः ॥०३-१७४-१७॥
They went to a great forest endowed with boars, various beasts, and birds, shining like Caitraratha; having gone there auspiciously, being devoted to hunting, they spent a year in that forest. (03-174-17)
तत्राससादातिबलं भुजङ्गं; क्षुधार्दितं मृत्युमिवोग्ररूपम्। वृकोदरः पर्वतकन्दरायां; विषादमोहव्यथितान्तरात्मा ॥०३-१७४-१८॥
There in the mountain cave, Vṛkodara, his innermost self afflicted by grief and confusion, approached a mighty serpent, ghastly and fierce like death itself, tormented by hunger. (03-174-18)
द्वीपोऽभवद्यत्र वृकोदरस्य; युधिष्ठिरो धर्मभृतां वरिष्ठः। अमोक्षयद्यस्तमनन्ततेजा; ग्राहेण संवेष्टितसर्वगात्रम् ॥०३-१७४-१९॥
Yudhiṣṭhira, the foremost among bearers of dharma, released Vṛkodara, whose every limb was enveloped by the crocodile, on the island. (03-174-19)
ते द्वादशं वर्षमथोपयान्तं; वने विहर्तुं कुरवः प्रतीताः। तस्माद्वनाच्चैत्ररथप्रकाशा; च्छ्रिया ज्वलन्तस्तपसा च युक्ताः ॥०३-१७४-२०॥
When the twelfth year was coming to an end, the Kurus appeared ready to roam in the forest. Therefore, coming from the forest, brilliant as Caitraratha, radiant with beauty and endowed with asceticism. (03-174-20)
ततश्च यात्वा मरुधन्वपार्श्वं; सदा धनुर्वेदरतिप्रधानाः। सरस्वतीमेत्य निवासकामाः; सरस्ततो द्वैतवनं प्रतीयुः ॥०३-१७४-२१॥
Then, having gone to the side of Maru-dhanva, those who were always chiefly devoted to the science of archery, upon reaching the Sarasvati river and wishing to settle, from the lake there they proceeded towards the Dvaita forest. (03-174-21)
समीक्ष्य तान्द्वैतवने निविष्टा; न्निवासिनस्तत्र ततोऽभिजग्मुः। तपोदमाचारसमाधियुक्ता; स्तृणोदपात्राहरणाश्मकुट्टाः ॥०३-१७४-२२॥
After observing them, the inhabitants settled in Dvaita forest there approached. They were engaged in austerity, gifts, virtuous conduct, and concentration, and were gatherers of grass, water-pots, fetchers, and grinders of stones. (03-174-22)
प्लक्षाक्षरौहीतकवेतसाश्च; स्नुहा बदर्यः खदिराः शिरीषाः। बिल्वेङ्गुदाः पीलुशमीकरीराः; सरस्वतीतीररुहा बभूवुः ॥०३-१७४-२३॥
Ficus, Terminalia bellirica, Symplocos, bamboos, Euphorbia, jujube, acacia, albizia, bilva, Schleichera, Salvadora, śamī, and karīra trees all grew on the bank of the Sarasvatī. (03-174-23)
तां यक्षगन्धर्वमहर्षिकान्ता; मायागभूतामिव देवतानाम्। सरस्वतीं प्रीतियुताश्चरन्तः; सुखं विजह्रुर्नरदेवपुत्राः ॥०३-१७४-२४॥
The sons of kings enjoyed the Sarasvatī—beloved of yakṣas, gandharvas, and great sages, appearing like an illusory creation of the gods—roaming about with joy. (03-174-24)
