03.293
वैशम्पायन उवाच॥
Vaiśampāyana said.
एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु धृतराष्ट्रस्य वै सखा। सूतोऽधिरथ इत्येव सदारो जाह्नवीं ययौ ॥०३-२९३-१॥
But at that very time, Adhiratha the charioteer, friend of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, indeed went to the Jāhnavī river with his wife. (03-293-1)
तस्य भार्याभवद्राजन्रूपेणासदृशी भुवि। राधा नाम महाभागा न सा पुत्रमविन्दत ॥ अपत्यार्थे परं यत्नमकरोच्च विशेषतः ॥०३-२९३-२॥
His wife, O king, was Rādhā, who was unrivaled in beauty on earth and highly fortunate, but she did not have a son. She made considerable effort, especially, for the sake of having a child. (03-293-2)
सा ददर्शाथ मञ्जूषामुह्यमानां यदृच्छया। दत्तरक्षाप्रतिसरामन्वालभनशोभिताम् ॥ ऊर्मीतरङ्गैर्जाह्नव्याः समानीतामुपह्वरम् ॥०३-२९३-३॥
She then saw a box that, carried by the waves of the Ganges, had been brought to the bank by chance, adorned with a protective amulet, bracelet, and other ornaments. (03-293-3)
सा तां कौतूहलात्प्राप्तां ग्राहयामास भामिनी। ततो निवेदयामास सूतस्याधिरथस्य वै ॥०३-२९३-४॥
She, driven by curiosity, had her presented to the radiant one, and then she caused it to be reported to Sūta Adhiratha. (03-293-4)
स तामुद्धृत्य मञ्जूषामुत्सार्य जलमन्तिकात्। यन्त्रैरुद्घाटयामास सोऽपश्यत्तत्र बालकम् ॥०३-२९३-५॥
He lifted up that box, removed the water nearby, and using devices began to open it. There he saw a child. (03-293-5)
तरुणादित्यसङ्काशं हेमवर्मधरं तथा। मृष्टकुण्डलयुक्तेन वदनेन विराजता ॥०३-२९३-६॥
He, resembling a youthful sun, wearing golden armor, and shining with a face adorned with polished earrings, also (stood there). (03-293-6)
स सूतो भार्यया सार्धं विस्मयोत्फुल्ललोचनः। अङ्कमारोप्य तं बालं भार्यां वचनमब्रवीत् ॥०३-२९३-७॥
He, the charioteer, along with his wife, his eyes widened in amazement, placed the child on his lap and spoke words to his wife. (03-293-7)
इदमत्यद्भुतं भीरु यतो जातोऽस्मि भामिनि। दृष्टवान्देवगर्भोऽयं मन्येऽस्मान्समुपागतः ॥०३-२९३-८॥
O timid one, this is very wonderful; because I have been born, O radiant lady, this divine being has seen (me); I think he has approached us. (03-293-8)
अनपत्यस्य पुत्रोऽयं देवैर्दत्तो ध्रुवं मम। इत्युक्त्वा तं ददौ पुत्रं राधायै स महीपते ॥०३-२९३-९॥
He is the son granted by the gods to the sonless, undoubtedly my own. Saying this, he gave the child to Rādhā, O king. (03-293-9)
प्रतिजग्राह तं राधा विधिवद्दिव्यरूपिणम्। पुत्रं कमलगर्भाभं देवगर्भं श्रिया वृतम् ॥०३-२९३-१०॥
Rādhā accepted him as her son according to the proper rite; he was of divine form, lotus-hued, of divine origin, and surrounded by beauty. (03-293-10)
पुपोष चैनं विधिवद्ववृधे स च वीर्यवान्। ततः प्रभृति चाप्यन्ये प्राभवन्नौरसाः सुताः ॥०३-२९३-११॥
He nourished him as prescribed, and he grew up strong. From then on, other sons born from his own lineage were also born. (03-293-11)
वसुवर्मधरं दृष्ट्वा तं बालं हेमकुण्डलम्। नामास्य वसुषेणेति ततश्चक्रुर्द्विजातयः ॥०३-२९३-१२॥
Having seen that boy adorned with Vasu's armor and golden earrings, the twice-born then named him 'Vasuṣeṇa'. (03-293-12)
एवं स सूतपुत्रत्वं जगामामितविक्रमः। वसुषेण इति ख्यातो वृष इत्येव च प्रभुः ॥०३-२९३-१३॥
Thus, he of immeasurable prowess assumed the status of a charioteer's son; he became known as Vasuṣeṇa, and also simply as Vṛṣa, the lord. (03-293-13)
स ज्येष्ठपुत्रः सूतस्य ववृधेऽङ्गेषु वीर्यवान्। चारेण विदितश्चासीत्पृथाया दिव्यवर्मभृत् ॥०३-२९३-१४॥
He, the eldest son of the charioteer, grew up powerfully in the kingdom of Aṅga. Through espionage, it became known that he was the one bearing the divine armor of Pṛthā. (03-293-14)
सूतस्त्वधिरथः पुत्रं विवृद्धं समये ततः। दृष्ट्वा प्रस्थापयामास पुरं वारणसाह्वयम् ॥०३-२९३-१५॥
But the charioteer Adhiratha, seeing that his son had grown, then at the appointed time sent him to the city of Vāraṇasāhvaya (Varanasi). (03-293-15)
तत्रोपसदनं चक्रे द्रोणस्येष्वस्त्रकर्मणि। सख्यं दुर्योधनेनैवमगच्छत्स च वीर्यवान् ॥०३-२९३-१६॥
There, he attended to Droṇa in the practice of archery, and thus, through Duryodhana, he gained friendship, and he was powerful. (03-293-16)
द्रोणात्कृपाच्च रामाच्च सोऽस्त्रग्रामं चतुर्विधम्। लब्ध्वा लोकेऽभवत्ख्यातः परमेष्वासतां गतः ॥०३-२९३-१७॥
Having obtained the four kinds of missile-weapons from Droṇa, Kṛpa, and Rāma, he became famous in the world, attaining the supreme skill in archery. (03-293-17)
सन्धाय धार्तराष्ट्रेण पार्थानां विप्रिये स्थितः। योद्धुमाशंसते नित्यं फल्गुनेन महात्मना ॥०३-२९३-१८॥
Having made an alliance with Dhṛtarāṣṭra's son, having taken a hostile stand against the sons of Pṛthā, he constantly wishes to fight with the noble-souled Phalguna (Arjuna). (03-293-18)
सदा हि तस्य स्पर्धासीदर्जुनेन विशां पते। अर्जुनस्य च कर्णेन यतो दृष्टो बभूव सः ॥०३-२९३-१९॥
O lord of men, there was always rivalry felt by him toward Arjuna; and by Arjuna toward Karṇa, because thus he was regarded. (03-293-19)
तं तु कुण्डलिनं दृष्ट्वा वर्मणा च समन्वितम्। अवध्यं समरे मत्वा पर्यतप्यद्युधिष्ठिरः ॥०३-२९३-२०॥
But seeing him adorned with earrings and armor, and realizing that he was invulnerable in battle, Yudhiṣṭhira became troubled. (03-293-20)
यदा तु कर्णो राजेन्द्र भानुमन्तं दिवाकरम्। स्तौति मध्यंदिने प्राप्ते प्राञ्जलिः सलिले स्थितः ॥०३-२९३-२१॥
O King, when Karṇa, standing in water with hands joined in reverence, praises the radiant sun at midday, (this happens). (03-293-21)
तत्रैनमुपतिष्ठन्ति ब्राह्मणा धनहेतवः। नादेयं तस्य तत्काले किञ्चिदस्ति द्विजातिषु ॥०३-२९३-२२॥
There, brāhmaṇas motivated by wealth approach him. At that time, there is nothing to be given by him among the twice-born. (03-293-22)
तमिन्द्रो ब्राह्मणो भूत्वा भिक्षां देहीत्युपस्थितः। स्वागतं चेति राधेयस्तमथ प्रत्यभाषत ॥०३-२९३-२३॥
Indra, having assumed the form of a brāhmaṇa, approached him saying 'Give alms.' The son of Radha then addressed him, saying 'Welcome.' (03-293-23)
