03.253

vaiśampāyana uvāca॥

Vaiśampāyana said.

tato diśaḥ sampravihṛtya pārthāḥ; mṛgān varāhān mahiṣāṁś ca hatvā. dhanur-dharāḥ śreṣṭhatamāḥ pṛthivyām; pṛthak-carantaḥ sahitā babhūvuḥ ॥03-253-1॥

Then, the sons of Pṛthā, the best of bowmen, having spread out in all directions and slain deer, boars, and buffaloes, moved about the earth separately, yet together. (03-253-1)

tato mṛgavyālaganānukīrṇaṃ; mahāvanaṃ tadvihagopaghuṣṭam. bhrātṝṃś ca tān abhyavadad yudhiṣṭhiraḥ; śrutvā giro vyāharatāṃ mṛgāṇām ॥03-253-2॥

Then, in that great forest teeming with herds of deer and wild beasts, and resounding with birds, Yudhishthira, having heard the calls uttered by the deer, addressed his brothers. (03-253-2)

ādityadīptāṃ diśam-abhyupetya; mṛga-dvijāḥ krūram-ime vadanti. āyāsam-ugraṃ prativedayanto; mahāhavam śatrubhir-vāvamānam ॥03-253-3॥

Having reached the direction brightened by the sun, these animals and birds utter cruel sounds, reporting severe hardship and the distressful state of the great battle, humiliated by the enemies. (03-253-3)

kṣipraṃ nivartadhvam alaṃ mṛgair no; mano hi me dūyati dahyate ca. buddhiṃ samācchādya ca me samanyu; ruddhūyate prāṇapatiḥ śarīre ॥03-253-4॥

Quickly turn back, enough of following the deer for us; my mind is truly tormented and burning. My anger covers my understanding, and the lord of my life-breath feels obstructed in my body. (03-253-4)

saraḥ suparṇena hṛtoragaṃ yathā; rāṣṭraṃ yathā-rājakam-ātta-lakṣmi. evaṃ-vidhaṃ me pratibhāti kāmyakaṃ; śauṇḍaiḥ yathā pīta-rasaś ca kumbhaḥ ॥03-253-5॥

Kamyaka seems to me just like a lake after Garuḍa has carried away its snake, or a kingdom deprived of fortune without a king, or like a pitcher from which drunkards have drained the sap. (03-253-5)

te saindhavair aty-anila-augha-vegair mahā-javair vājibhir uhyamānāḥ। yuktair bṛhadbhiḥ surathair nṛvīrāḥ; tat āśramāya abhimukhā babhūvuḥ॥03-253-6॥

They, heroic men, drawn by swift Sindhu horses and great noble chariots, proceeded towards the hermitage. (03-253-6)

teṣāṃ tu gomāyur analpa-ghoṣaḥ; nivartatāṃ vāmam upetya pārśvam। pravyāharat taṃ pravimṛśya rājā; provāca bhīmaṃ ca dhanañjayaṃ ca ॥03-253-7॥

But as they were returning, a loud-voiced jackal approached their left side and cried out. Considering this, the king spoke to Bhīma and to Dhanañjaya (Arjuna). (03-253-7)

yathā vadatyeṣa vihīnayoniḥ; śālāvṛko vāmamupetya pārśvam. suvyaktamasmānavamanya pāpaiḥ; kṛto'bhimardaḥ kurubhiḥ prasahya ॥03-253-8॥

Just as this base-born one speaks, the jackal approaching from the left—clearly, we have been contemptuously overpowered by the wicked Kauravas by force. (03-253-8)

ityeva te tadvanam āviśanto; mahaty araṇye mṛgayāṃ caritvā. bālām apaśyanta tadā rudantīṃ; dhātreyikāṃ preṣyavadhūṃ priyāyāḥ ॥03-253-9॥

Thus indeed, entering that forest, they, after roaming in the great wilderness on a hunt, then saw the young girl—the weeping servant-wife, daughter of the nurse, of their beloved. (03-253-9)

tām indrasenas tvarito'bhisṛtya; rathād avalplutya tato'bhyadhāvat। provāca caināṃ vacanaṃ narendra; dhātreyikām ārtataras tadānīm ॥03-253-10॥

Indrasena swiftly approached her, leapt down from the chariot and then rushed towards her. The king, being most distressed at that time, spoke a word to Dhātreyikā. (03-253-10)

kiṁ rodiṣi tvaṁ patitā dharaṇyāṁ; kiṁ te mukhaṁ śuṣyati dīnavarṇam. kaccinna pāpaiḥ sunṛśaṁsakṛdbhiḥ; pramāthitā draupadī rājaputrī ॥ anindyarūpā suviśālanetrā; śarīratulyā kurupuṅgavānām ॥03-253-11॥

Why are you crying, you who have fallen to the ground? Why is your face so dried and discolored? Surely, Draupadī, princess of irreproachable beauty and large eyes, equal in form to the best of the Kurus, has not been assaulted by wicked men of cruel deeds? (03-253-11)

yadyeva devī pṛthivīṃ praviṣṭā; divaṃ prapannāpyatha vā samudram। tasyā gamiṣyanti padaṃ hi pārthā; tathā hi santapyati dharmarājaḥ ॥03-253-12॥

If the goddess has entered the earth, or gone to heaven, or to the ocean, then the Pārthas will surely go to her; thus indeed the king of dharma (Yudhiṣṭhira) is grieving. (03-253-12)

ko hīdṛśānām arimardanānām; kleśakṣamāṇām aparājitānām। prāṇaiḥ samāmiṣṭatamāṃ jihīrṣe; danuttamaṃ ratnam iva pramūḍhaḥ ॥ na budhyate nāthavatīm ihādya; bahiścaraṃ hṛdayaṃ pāṇḍavānām ॥03-253-13॥

Who, indeed, among such unconquered slayers of enemies, endurers of hardship, would desire to take away, as if deluded, the greatest treasure—one as dear as life itself—just as one seeks a jewel? He does not realize that, here today, she who possesses protectors is, in truth, the outward-going heart of the Pāṇḍavas. (03-253-13)

kasyādya kāyaṃ pratibhidya ghorā; mahīṃ pravekṣyanti śitāḥ śarāgryāḥ. mā tvaṃ śucastāṃ prati bhīru viddhi; yathādya kṛṣṇā punareṣyatīti ॥ nihatya sarvān-dviṣataḥ samagrāḥ pārthāḥ sameṣyantyatha yājñasenyā ॥03-253-14॥

Today, whose body will be pierced by terrible, sharp arrow-tips and will enter the earth? Do not grieve for her, fearful one; know that today Kṛṣṇā (Draupadī) will return again. When all enemies are slain, the Pāṇḍavas will be wholly reunited with Yājñasenī (Draupadī). (03-253-14)

athābravīc cārumukhaṃ pramṛjya; dhātreyikā sārathim indrasenam। jayadrathenāpahṛtā pramathya; pañcendrakalpān paribhūya kṛṣṇā ॥03-253-15॥

Then Dhātreyikā, having consoled the one with a beautiful face, spoke to the charioteer Indrasena: 'Kṛṣṇā was carried away by Jayadratha after overpowering and defeating the five who were equal to Indra.' (03-253-15)

tiṣṭhanti vartmāni navāny amūni; vṛkṣāś ca na mlānti tathaiva bhagnāḥ. āvartayadhvaṃ hy anuyāta śīghraṃ; na dūrayātaiva hi rājaputrī ॥03-253-16॥

These new paths remain; and the trees, even when broken, do not wither. Turn back and follow quickly, for the princess indeed has not gone far. (03-253-16)

saṁnahyadhvaṁ sarva evendrakalpā; mahānti cāruṇi ca daṁśanāni. gṛhṇīta cāpāni mahādhanāni; śarāṁś ca śīghraṁ padavīṁ vrajad hvam ॥03-253-17॥

All of you, equip yourselves like Indra; put on great and beautiful armors. Take powerful bows and arrows, and quickly proceed on the path. (03-253-17)

purā hi nirbhartsanadaṇḍamohitā; pramūḍhacittā vadanena śuṣyatā. dadāti kasmaicidanarhate tanuṃ; varājyapūrṇāmiva bhasmani srucam ॥03-253-18॥

Long ago, truly, deluded by reproach and punishment, with her mind confused and mouth parched, she gives her body to someone unworthy—just like offering a ladle filled with clarified butter onto ashes. (03-253-18)

purā tuṣāgnāviva hūyate haviḥ; purā śmaśāne sragivāpavidhyate. purā ca somo'dhvarago'valihyate; śunā yathā viprajane pramohite ॥ mahatyaraṇye mṛgayāṃ caritvā; purā śṛgālo nalinīṃ vigāhate ॥03-253-19॥

Once, an offering is poured into the chaff-fire; once, a garland is discarded in the cremation ground. Previously, even the Soma meant for sacrifice is licked up by a dog when people are confused. After a great hunt in the forest, the jackal, in earlier times, enters the lotus pond. (03-253-19)

mā vaḥ priyāyāḥ sunasaṃ sulocanaṃ; candraprabhācchaṃ vadanaṃ prasannam। spṛśyāc chubhaṃ kaścid akṛtyakārī; śvā vai puroḍāśam ivopayuṅkṣīta॥ etāni vartmāny anuyāta śīghraṃ; mā vaḥ kālaḥ kṣipram ihātyagād vai॥ 03-253-20॥

Let not an evil-doer touch the lovely-nosed, beautiful-eyed, moon-bright and pleasant face of your beloved, as a dog would consume the sacrificial cake. Follow these paths quickly; do not let your time here pass swiftly. (03-253-20)

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥

Yudhiṣṭhira said.

bhadre tūṣṇīm āssva niyaccha vācaṃ; māsmatsakāśe paruṣāṇyavocaḥ. rājāno vā yadi vā rājaputrā; balena mattā vañcanāṃ prāpnuvanti ॥03-253-21॥

O gentle lady, be silent, restrain your speech; do not speak harshly in our presence. Kings or princes, intoxicated by power, achieve deception. (03-253-21)

vaiśampāyana uvāca॥

Vaiśampāyana said.

etāvad uktvā prayayur hi śīghram; tān eva vartmāny anuvartamānāḥ. muhur muhur vyālava d ucchvasanto; jyāṃ vikṣipantaś ca mahādhanurbhyaḥ ॥03-253-22॥

After having said this much, they quickly set out, following exactly those paths, and again and again, like serpents breathing out, they sounded the bowstrings of their mighty bows. (03-253-22)

tato'paśyaṃstasya sainyasya reṇu; muddhootaṃ vai vājikhurapraṇunnam। padātīnāṃ madhyagataṃ ca dhaumyaṃ; vikrośantaṃ bhīmamabhidrāvīti ॥03-253-23॥

Then I saw the dust of his army, indeed raised by the hoofbeats of the horses. In the midst of the foot soldiers was Dhaumya, shouting, 'Bhīma, charge!' (03-253-23)

te sāntvya dhaumyaṃ paridīnasattvāḥ; sukhaṃ bhavānetviti rājaputrāḥ. śyenā yathaivāmiṣasamprayuktā; javena tatsainyamathābhyadhāvan ॥03-253-24॥

The princes, after consoling Dhaumya with their distressed hearts, said, "Go safely, O revered one." Then, just as kites urged by the desire for flesh, they swiftly rushed against that army. (03-253-24)

teṣāṃ mahendropama-vikramāṇāṃ; saṃrabdhānāṃ dharṣaṇād yājñasenyāḥ. krodhaḥ prajajvāla jayadrathaṃ ca; dṛṣṭvā priyāṃ tasya rathe sthitāṃ ca ॥03-253-25॥

Among them, whose valor was equal to Indra and who were enraged by the outrage upon Draupadi, anger blazed at Jayadratha as they saw their beloved standing upon his chariot. (03-253-25)

pracukruśuś cāpy atha sindhurājaṃ; vṛkodaraś caiva dhanañjayaś ca. yamau ca rājā ca mahādhanurdharāḥ; tato diśaḥ saṃmumuḥuḥ pareṣām ॥03-253-26॥

Then, the king of elephants cried out; Vṛkodara (Bhīma), Dhanañjaya (Arjuna), the twin sons of Yama (Nakula and Sahadeva), and the king (Yudhishthira), all great bowmen, shouted, and thus the directions of the enemy became confused. (03-253-26)